AND OOLOGIST. 
155 
Sept., 1882.] 
1 , 1881, while collecting in this marsh 
with Mr. S. F. Rathbun, of this place, I 
quote a description of three from six 
found to illustrate ditferent modes of 
building. No. 1, on the ground, w’ell 
raised from mud and water by the broad, 
middle portion of the old flag piled cross¬ 
wise to the height of eighteen inches. 
No. 2, three feet above the water, in the 
shape of a platform, after the manner of 
the Least Bitterns. No. 3, five and one- 
half feet from the water by weaving the tojis 
of the flags together so compactly as to 
prevent swaying in the wind. 
So far as my observations of the breed¬ 
ing habits of the Florida Gallinule ex¬ 
tend, I am inclined to believe they natu¬ 
rally prefer the ground on which to build, 
as there seems to be the majority of nests ; 
and when they select a site towards the 
water, they build a nest high, in propor¬ 
tion as the depth of the water increases. 
Now, if this holds good as a rule, what is 
the cause of this variation in building ?— 
Frank N. Wright, Auburn, JV. Y. 
Barred Owl’s Nests.— We have seen four 
nests since our residence in Norwich, and 
as they all vary we will try and describe 
them. No. 1 was in a very large, healthy, 
chestnut. The nest was in a rent or slit 
in the side of the tree, about thirty feet 
from the ground. This hole was about 
three feet high by not over six inches wide. 
The nest was level with the entrance. 
When we visited it in company with Mr. 
Brand, the old bird was on the nest, which 
contained two fresh eggs. There was 
snow at the nest's entrance as well as on 
the ground. Mr. Brand has taken eggs 
from this nest for seventeen years. No. 2 
was entirely different. It was also in a hol¬ 
low in the top of a chestnut tree, not over 
twenty feet high and easy to get at. The 
hollow place has evidently been burned at 
some time to drive out squirrels. This 
nest was in the stub or top of the tree, 
which had been blown off and was open 
and the nest or cavity was about the size 
of half a flour barrel. The female was on 
the nest and left at our approach. She 
was remarkably large and a beautiful spec¬ 
imen. The nest at this time contained a 
hen’s egg, which had been placed there 
when the owl’s egg had been removed. 
This nest has been taken for many years 
by “ J. M. W. ” No. 3 was in a large 
chestnut about fifty feet high and was the 
nest of a Red-tail or Red-shouldered 
Hawk, and in nowise different from w'hat 
a Hawk usually builds. This pair has 
been robbed for years by “ J. M. W,” but 
not in the same nest or even same piece of 
wood. No. 4 was in the crotch of a but¬ 
ternut tree, about twenty-five feet high. 
This cavity was half hole and half shelf, 
so that when the bird was on the nest she 
could be seen from the ground. This was 
not occupied the season we saw it, but “ J. 
M. W.” has taken many sets from this pair. 
Piping Plover.— If any of our readers 
reside in localities where this Plover 
breeds plentifully, we should be glad to 
hear from them with notes on its breeding 
habits. 
Field Sparrow.— The first nests of this 
bird will be found in old fields or by the 
roadsides in tufts of dry grass, some¬ 
times in low cedars not over one or two 
feet from the ground. As vegetation 
commences, they build in blackberry 
bushes or other deciduous shrubs above 
the level of the ground. 
Hummer’s Nest and Eggs.— We are in¬ 
debted to Fred Corey, Santa Paula, Cal., 
for a nest and two eggs of the Anna Hum¬ 
ming Bird, which are on the drooping 
branch of an almond tree. The nest is f 
deep by ^ wide, built entirely of a cot¬ 
tony substance from flowers all of one 
color, and it is a perfect gem of a nest, 
and the eggs are prepared in a manner 
suggestive of steady nerve. It is a 
“ thing of beauty,” and it not a joy for¬ 
ever it certainly will be while it lasts. 
Thank you, Mr. Corey. 
