Various

“ The assembling of these birds is usually at some large lake convenient for their purpose, and the additions in the shape of small straggling flocks, are very probably detachments of ducks which have left the small ponds and streams, where they have passed the winter in detached flocks, and as if by some previously concerted plan assemble here so as to take their departure en masse for the possible view of both company and protection. ”

“ It was so late in the season for owl’s eggs that I was afraid they would hatch out before I could get them to the ground. On blowing them I was much surprised to find them all perfectly fresh. Has any one ever taken a fresh set of 395 as late as this?
Also took one set of B. B. magpies (286) 5 eggs, incubation well advanced; nest 6 feet from the ground. We saw several herons busily fixing up their old nests in the high tops of a large cottonwood, but we never get fresh heron’s eggs until the last of May. ”

“ The female averages smaller, and the tail is much shorter, while the color of the plumage is duller than that of the male.
They begin to nest about the 10th of May, and fresh eggs may be found as late as June 25th. The nest and eggs resemble those of the kingbird very much, and it is almost impossible to distinguish them from each other, unless they are well identified; but, as a general thing, the scissor-tails’ eggs have larger and more conspicuous blotches than those of the kingbird. ”

“ During the 11th, 12th and 13th, three more eggs were added to the set, making five in all. I waited until the 19th, when, as no more eggs were laid, I took the nest, shooting the female. On dissection I found that within the next two or three days two more eggs would have been added to the set. Incubation was about one-half advanced in two of the eggs. The question is, can I call this a full set? The female when flushed from the nest would fly to the ground, and all to be seen of her afterwards was a streak. They are famous runners, and it takes a fast “pony” to overtake them. ”

“ It is a veritable paradise for ducks of all species; and during the sporting season I have spent some very pleasant and well repaid time, by trudging around its extremities, armed with a good ten-bore “breech-loader,” with an evil intent upon the unsuspecting ducks and geese. Not withstanding the thousands and thousands of birds annually slaughtered in these swamps by the professional “pot” or market hunters, as well as the havoc wrought by amateur sportsmen, still the number of the birds never decrease to a perceptible extent ”

“ For the Sunny South Oologist:
This species (which may be described as a rather long tail with a small bird on the “for’ard” end of it) occurs rarely in this locality. Ornithologists generally give the number of eggs in a set as “6 to 9.” I had previously taken several sets, containing from two to four eggs; and finding a nest with two eggs on May 8th, 1885, I concluded to give the bird a chance to fill out the set. The nest was placed in the bushy top of a small black-jack oak, about twelve feet from the ground. ”

“ Mr. Joseph, in his “History of Trinidad,” says that he found the eggs of the cayman very good. The female alligator lays from 120 to 160 eggs. They are about as large as the eggs of a turkey, and have a rough shell filled with a thick albumen.
There is an eagles nest on the stump of an old tree in the middle of Caddo lake, near Jefferson, Texas, and a pair of eagles have occupied this as their home for more than twenty years.
Blue-fronted Jay. (CYANOCITTA STELLERI FRONTALIS.)
One would, with a general knowledge of the nesting habits of the Jays, look for their nests in trees and bushes ”

“ This bird has a very peculiar way when flying, of stopping—as it appears—in the air, and then making a straight shoot upward to the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and instantly darting downward to about a level with where it started. ”

“ While making this tumble as it were, it always gives loud, quick screams, and is very conspicuous by the display it makes in opening and closing the tail like scissor blades. It is a very active, dashing and noisy bird ”

“ June 19th, Kingbird, the second set that I have taken in Texas during six years’ collecting.
J. A. Singley,
Giddings, Texas.
The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. (milvulus forficatus (Gm.) swains.)
This beautiful bird is one of the commonest summer residents of North Texas. They usually arrive from the south about the 15th of April in small flocks or pairs, and always make themselves known by their loud and noise-some voices. ”

“ And now a person cannot walk a mile through the suburbs of the town, without noticing several large flocks of these birds feeding contentedly by the roadside, or industriously probing among decayed limbs, or under dead leaves for bugs and larvæ, upon which they delight to feed. ”

“ Along towards spring the birds begin to assemble together in vast flocks of countless thousands, and depart for unknown latitudes in the “far north.” Their time of departure seems to be invariably during the night; in fact 14 I have often noticed large numbers of ducks assembling at the same given lake or pond. This congregating would perhaps occupy a lapse of several days, the numbers apparently augmented by large additions each succeeding night. At length, after a vast number has congregated, you will notice a great deal of excitement among the large flocks ”

“ Quite a number of these ducks remain with us during the breeding season; in fact I have personally obtained “sets” of eggs of the Cinnamon Teal, Baldpate, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Godwall, Redhead, Pintail and Greenwinged Teal; besides I have heard several authentic accounts of “sets” of some other species of ducks being secured by other Oologists in different portions of this county. The principal or most profitable grounds on which to successfully search for nests of various species of ducks and other waterfowl is amongst the immense “tule lands” and sloughs of a marsh called “Gospel Swamp.” ”

“ We are more than pleased with the number of subscribers received since our last issue, and in return for your promptness shall promise to give a year’s subscriptions worth of valuable information in each succeeding issue.
What has become of the “Standard Directory” to be published by A. E. Southworth & Co., of Woodstock. Ill’s., and to appear January 10th, 1886? We have heard several complaints of its non-appearance. Echo answers.
Go! Get thee to work!! You have only one more month to compete for premiums offered (on the inside of front cover page) to club-getters. ”

“ Wilson’s Thrush—Hylocichla fuscesceus—The situation of the nest is retired, and often in the depths of woods. Begins nesting about May 20th.
3. Gray-cheeked Thrush—Hylocichla aliciae—Low, damp woods and thickets. Begins nesting about May 1st.
4. Russet-backed Thrush—Hylocichla ustulata—Pacific coast regions abundant. Begins nesting about May 15th.
4a. Olive-backed Thrush—Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni—Dry, scrubby woods. Begins nesting about June 1st.
5. Dwarf Thrush—Hylocichla unalascae—Thick woods and swamps. Begins nesting early in May. ”

“ The price is only 50 cents per year.
What do you think of the appearance of “our” little journal this month? Don’t you think you have been fully repaid already for the small amount invested—fifty cents—for a year’s subscription?
Collectors look for the nests of the crow, chickadee, nuthatch and hawk this month. You will find the chickadee’s and nuthatche’s the latter part of the month, while the hawks and crows breed earlier.
Two Canvas-back ducks were killed near Gainesville, Tex. ”

“ Sage Thrasher—Oreoscoptes montanus—Inhabits open, mountainous countries. Begins nesting May 15th.
11. Mocking Bird—Mimus polyglottus—Nests placed in open country, orchards, vineyards, etc. Always near man. Begins nesting April 20th.
12. Catbird—Galeoscoptes carolinensis—In gardens or clearings of woods, always near habitations. Nests May 15th to July 1st.
13. Brown Thrasher—Harporhynchus rufus—In blackberry tangle or thickets, high or low land. May 10th to June 20th.
13a. Mexican Brown Thrasher—Harporhynchus rufus longirostris—Nesting 15 places similar to foregoing species. ”

“ Nests found in upland thickets, southern exposure.
128. American Redstart. (R) . Breeds June 15th. Nests placed near roadsides.
135. Red eyed Vireo. (C) . Breeds June 10th to 20th. Nest found in woods of young trees, not over ten feet from the ground.
139. Warbling Vireo. (C) . Breeds June 10th to 20th. Nests placed in trees, generally 25 feet from the ground, or more.
143. White-eyed Vireo. (R) . Breeds June 10th to 20th. Nests placed in blackberry thickets, near the ground.
151. Cedar Waxwing. (C) . Breeds June 15th to 25th. Nests generally found in orchards. ”

“ Mourning Dove. (C) . Breeds May 1st to June 30th (2 broods) . Nests found remote from man, in silent places.
480. Bobwhite. (C) . Breeds May 20th to June 30th. Nests on the ground in field or pasture.
494. Green Heron. (C) . Breeds May 10th to June 10th. Nests placed in large trees, sometimes in orchards near swamps.
516. Killdeer. (C) . Breeds June 1st to 15th. Eggs placed on ground (no nest) , on a slope near water.
557. Spotted Sandpiper. (C) . Breeds June 1st to 15th. No nest. Eggs placed on the ground, on a slope near water. ”