THE NATURALISTS* ICOMPANION. 
37 
tipped with white; the back and 
sides are black—the sides spotted 
with white; from the crown of its 
head a white strip of feathers runs 
part way down its neck. Its legs 
are only about three inches long, 
and the teet are webbed, as in all 
swimmers. The darter builds its 
nest in trees near the water, so that 
it can dive into it in time of danger. 
* It lays from three to five eggs of a 
bluish or dark greenish-white color, 
oval in shape. Its habitat is near 
the fresh waters of the South Atlan¬ 
tic and Gulf States. A gentleman 
who saw these birds in Florida, says: 
‘‘They delight to sit in little groups, 
on dry limbs of trees overhanging 
the still water. At such times, if 
any one approaches them, they drop 
off*the limbs into th water, as if dead, 
and for a minute or two are not to 
be seen, when suddenly, at a great 
distance, their long, slender heads 
and necks appear, like a snake rising 
out of the water. When they swim 
no part of them is to be seen except 
the head and neck, and sometimes 
the tip ot the tail. In the heat of 
the day they are seen in great num¬ 
bers, sailing very high in the air over 
the lakes and rivers.” Kinney. 
JVEST AJSTD EGGS OF THE 
RED-EYED VIREO. 
(VIREOSYLVIA OLIVACEA.) 
This bird breeds very extensively 
in this locality, [Eastern North 
America] and their nests are a very 
common thing. They are very fond 
ct building in low hushes, but their 
nests may be found in trees from 
25 to 50 feet from the ground. The 
nest is composed of very thin bark 
and grass, and lined with grape- 
bark and fine grass. The outside 
of a new nest is very curiously cov¬ 
ered with cobwebs and bits of white 
birch bark. The nest is usually 
placed at the extremity of a long 
lirhb, and is about 3x3 inches out¬ 
side and 2Jx2 inches inside. The 
eggs are four in number, of a glossy 
white ground, sprinkled near the 
larger end with small reddish-brown 
spots. In size they average about 
.75x.60. Falcon. 
Near the mouth of the Little Chey¬ 
enne river, Dakota, is a rock with 
curious indentations. It is twelve 
feet long by seven or eight wide, 
and rises above the surface of the 
ground about eighteen inches. Its 
edges are angular, its surface flat, 
and shows little effect of ice action. 
It appears to be magnesion lime¬ 
stone, and its whiteness makes it a 
conspicuous object. On the surface 
are several deep and perfect foot¬ 
prints, as though made by the left 
moccasined foot of a woman or boy. 
It is known to the Indians as a re¬ 
ligious rock, and they worship it. 
The celebrated collection of Indian 
relics of J. H. Mcllvain, late ot 
Philadelphia, is to be sold at auction, 
at the above named place, October 
19th and 20th. Those who are like¬ 
ly to bid at this sale can obtain a 
catalogue by addressing J. W. Has- 
eltine, 3812 Spruce St.,Philadelphia, 
Penn. 
The nightingale and crow have 
vocal organs similarly constructed ; 
yet one sings and the other croaks. 
Selma, Ala., has over sixty artesian 
wells, and the water from no two of 
them alike. 
