44 
ORJSTITB 
the measurements they vary much in size, l’o] 
give an accurate description of the coloration 
would be a difficult task. The ground color is 
of a dull white, wreathed and sprinkled, more 
abundantly around the greater end, with spots 
of light purple running into dark brown, seem- 
ingly beneath the surface of the shell. Ovei 
these markings, and scattered over the entin 
shell, are points, blotches and streaks of a riel 
brown shade. The general appearance is plain 
notably free from any of the bold markings 
common in this species. They measure, .S0> 
.63; .78 x .55) ; .78x.60; .75x.59; .76x.58; am 
.75 x.59. 
A description of the nest can be given witl 
more accuracy than of the eggs. The eutin 
body or bulk of it was composed of dead leave: 
of the white oak put together in a loose mass 
that stood above the ground six inches or more 
The lining of the nest was made of the tine ten 
drils and stems of some creeping plant, witl 
which I am not familiar, together with a smal 
quantity of horse hair imbeded in the bottom 
but altogether so thin and flimsy that the leave, 
showed through. The nest is quite a large one 
measuring two inches in depth (inside) by tlirei 
inches across the top. 
O.& O. XII. Mar 1887. P Y 
Some Birds of Heron Lake, Minn. 
by .1. W. l’KESTOX, BAXTElt, IOw/. 
Of all the localities which it has beeti my priv- 
ilege to visit, Heron I -eke stands at;' the head O; 
the list, To any one interested iu the study o, 
bird life' who may have it in his /o weir to spent 
a season there, 1 can assure an abundance o. 
valuable material. From earliest migrant t 
late summer-resident the region abounds in spi 
cies. 
The locality ’is a well-known rendezvous fo 
sportsmen, for < spring and fall Shooting 
Among other game-birds are found vast mini 
hers of Canvas-back and Red-head Ducks 
Both these species 'he main to breed, thougl 
not so plentifully fis formerly. Here also ms; 
be found White Pelican, Rouble-crested Cor 
morants, an occasional 'pair of Ring-billei 
Gulls, besides very many \species of ducks 
-mostly remaining to breed, T^nd so abundan 
are many kpeeies that he u divas of nests uni ) 
easily be found. A few pair of kfln-tail Duck 
remain during the summer and th\ nests ma; 
be expected in grassy places baok\from th 
lakesf. \ 
O-lie pair at least, of Merganser (Menfns me i 
gabser) had hidden their treasures near the lak 
