Part 7
The circumstances attending the discovery of these two eggs make me think that such cases of parasitic Cuckoo’s eggs might not be so very exceptional and still evade the watchful eye of the collecting oölogist or of the observing ornithologist. I went out to look for nests of _Empidonax acadicus_. I took my nephew, a lad of fifteen, with me to assist in taking down nests from trees. In passing a thicket by the wayside, he looked in and immediately called out, “a big nest, blue eggs.” Judging from the surroundings, I replied without taking the trouble to look at the thing, “a Catbird’s nest; let it alone.” We passed on and after a little while a Catbird crossed our way. He saw the bird and I told him that this was the Catbird whose nest he had just found. He wondered that a bird of this size lays such large eggs. Inquiring how large the egg was, he showed the size with thumb and index. I smiled and said it was not exactly that big, but he insisted, and I concluded to walk back and look at the eggs, when the discovery was made. Who cares to look into each of the dozen of Catbird’s nests we find in the course of a season? We are satisfied to know that this is the nest of the Robin, the Wood thrush, the Catbird; but we do not think of taking the trouble to look every time at their eggs or young.
Still more likely to elude discovery would the strange egg be in the other Cookoo’s nest. In this neighborhood at least are the Cuckoo’s nests generally amidst such a terribly entangled mass of wild vine that we do not care to go up for mere pleasure. I do not know how regular egg-collectors go to work; other ornithologists may operate differently. My case may be no measure. I give it only to draw attention to the matter, and I have made up my mind to despise no more Catbirds’s nests in future.—O. WIDMAN, _St. Louis, Mo._
[Mr. Widman has overlooked a note which appeared in an early number of this Bulletin (Vol. II, p. 110), where three instances of the laying of our Cuckoos in other bird’s nests are given. Years ago when I used to take many Cuckoo’s nests each season in the apple orchards about Cambridge it was no uncommon thing to find an egg of the Black-billed species in a clutch of the Yellow-bills, and on more than one occasion, but less often, the situation would be reversed. An instance of the latter kind came under my notice in 1878, when at Belmont, Mass., I found a nest of the Black-billed Cuckoo which contained, besides two eggs of the rightful proprietor, a single one of the Yellow-bill. Speaking from memory, and without consulting my notes on the subject, I should say that at least ten per cent of the Cuckoo’s nests that I have found contained eggs of both species. But in no case have I ever seen the eggs of either kind in the nests of other birds.—WILLIAM BREWSTER.]
_Melanerpes erythrocephalus_ ABOUT BOSTON.—Massachusetts, at least the extreme eastern part, has shared in the flight of Red-headed Woodpeckers that has been reported as visiting Southern Connecticut last fall.[38] During the latter part of September, through October and into November, the oak groves in the suburbs of Boston were tenanted by numbers of these truly handsome birds. I should judge that about one third were in full plumage, and their conspicuous dress attracting attention many were shot. Twelve years ago the individual occurrence of this species among us was thought worthy of record. Of late years, during the months above named, it has become a more frequent though irregular visitor, but never in such numbers as have recently shown themselves. In spring or summer it is rarely seen, yet an instance of its nesting in Brookline is given me by Mr. H. K. Job, who early in June, 1878, found five eggs in the hole of an apple tree. According to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, this Woodpecker is a common resident of Lewis County, N. Y.[39] May not our _visitors_ have come from that direction?—H. A. PURDIE, _Newton, Mass._
THE BARN OWL IN MAINE: A RETRACTION.—In the Bulletin for January, 1877, p. 28, I added the Barn Owl (_Aluco flammeus americanus_) to the catalogue of Maine birds, basing the record upon a specimen, which I had examined, in the possession of a taxidermist then of Portland. I very much regret to say that I now believe the account given me of this bird’s capture within our state limits to have been false. Several other statements in relation to ornithology have since been made me by the same man, of a character so improbable and with such contradictory details that they can only be regarded as wilfully and utterly untrue. Their author has recently left the city under circumstances which dispel any doubts which may previously have existed as to the reliability of his word. I cannot longer be responsible for a statement emanating from such a source, and wish to formally withdraw the name of the Barn Owl from the list of birds known to occur in Maine.—NATHAN CLIFFORD BROWN, _Portland, Maine_.
THE SNOWY OWL AT FORT WALLA WALLA, W. T.—On November 10, 1881, one of my men shot here a female of this species (_Nyctea scandiaca_), which I have made into a fine skin. I reported the capture of one on December 1, 1880 (see this Bulletin, Vol. VI, p. 128), and these two are the only records known to me for the Pacific coast. The occurrence of this species here seems to be much rarer than in the Eastern States.—CHARLES BENDIRE, _Fort Walla Walla, W. T._
CAPTURE OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE IN CRAWFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.—A Golden Eagle (_Aquila chrysaëtus canadensis_) was shot in Rookdale Township this (Crawford) County on December 10, under the following circumstances. A farmer, by the name of Hull, early one morning saw the bird fly from a carcass in his field to the woods some distance off. He conceived the idea that it would return to the carrion and at once made a blind of the rails of a fence near by. The following morning he repaired to the blind long before daylight with gun in hand, and, although he was well concealed and waited patiently until nearly noon, no bird put in an appearance. Nothing daunted, however, he repeated the watching on the second morning, and about eight o’clock was rewarded by the return of the bird, which he shot. The eagle was purchased by Mr. Roe Reisinger of our city and is now mounted. It is the first recorded specimen, I believe, of this species taken in this county. The sex I could not ascertain, as the entire contents of the bird’s body were drawn by Mr. Hull before bringing it to town, but from the following dimensions I should judge it to be a young female: Extent, 83 inches; wing, 24.50 inches; tail, 15 inches. Tail about two-thirds white. The black terminal zone was about four inches deep on outer quills and about one and one-half inches deep on the centre ones. The general color of the bird is brown, with wings almost deep black. The hood extends well down on the nape and is of a light tawny brown, approaching the golden hue probably as much as any of them do. The tarsus is well covered with feathers to the toes. On the whole it is a very clean and perfect specimen.—GEORGE B. SENNETT, _Meadville, Pa._
THE SWALLOW-TAILED KITE IN DAKOTA.—On November 14, 1881, when a short distance west of Jamestown, Dakota Territory, I saw several Swallow-tailed Kites (_Elanoïdes forficatus_) flying around apparently in search of food. The day was clear and the Kites were much separated; one even was seen alone skimming along an alkali lake, showing every indication of searching for food. On November 17, farther to the west, about midway between Jamestown and Bismark, near the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, I saw some fifty more of these beautiful birds, but this time in a flock, and each movement being common with them all it was a glorious sight. The weather had changed from that of the 14th, and was now cloudy with a brisk wind from the northwest, accompanied at times by a slight shower of rain, but this change they seemed to enjoy. So easily did they ride the storm, so beautiful were their evolutions, so much at home did they appear in mid-air, that when they had passed out of sight I was pained, for in this northern latitude such a sight is of very rare occurrence.—D. H. TALBOT, _Sioux City, Ia._
A REMARKABLE SPECIMEN OF THE PINNATED GROUSE (_Cupidonia cupido_).—While overhauling some Grouse in the Boston markets a few years since I came across a specimen which exhibits the following peculiarities of plumage:
Adult ♂ (No. 2691, author’s collection, Boston Markets, February 27, 1873—said to have come from Iowa). Ground-color above warm, brownish-cinnamon. Shorter neck-tufts or pinnate coverts, bright reddish-brown. Breast, reddish-chestnut, becoming almost clear chestnut anteriorly. A band or collar of broad, stiff feathers extends continuously around the neck in front and across the lower portion of the jugulum about in a line with the neck-tufts. These feathers although less stiff than the longest ones in the neck-tufts, are nevertheless quite as much so as the shorter ones. They make a conspicuous ruff which is mainly black mixed with a good deal of reddish-chestnut. The latter color on the shorter and overlapping feathers occurs in the form of narrow central stripes, which in some cases are nearly orange in tint; on the longer ones as a more or less broad, lateral margining.
I offer the above description solely for the purpose of calling attention to this remarkable specimen for I am entirely at a loss to account for its peculiarities. Several who have seen it have suggested that it may be a hybrid between the Prairie Hen and the Ruffed Grouse, but this hypothesis seems hardly a probable one, inasmuch as none of the combined characters which would be expected in such an offspring are here presented. The ruff does indeed remotely suggest that of _Bonasa_, but otherwise the bird shows all the well-marked structural characters of _Cupidonia_. To simply say that it is abnormal will hardly satisfy the numerous investigators of this pushing age of inquiry.—WILLIAM BREWSTER, _Cambridge, Mass._
WILSON’S PLOVER (_Ægialites wilsonius_) IN NEW ENGLAND.—Mr. W. A. Stearns sends me a letter from Mr. Arthur S. Fiske, dated Gurnet, Conn., Aug. 22, 1877. “This morning I shot a bird of this species on the beach at the south of the hotel. It was alone, though there were several flocks of other Plovers near at hand. In note and actions it closely resembled the Piping Plover, but was larger and lighter colored. Capt. Hall called it the ‘Pale Ring-neck,’ and said he had seen it at the Gurnet before.” The description given by Mr. Fiske (length 7.75 inches; bill fully 1 inch, black, etc.) leaves no doubt that the bird was Wilson’s Plover.—ELLIOTT COUES, _Washington, D. C._
CAPTURE OF BAIRD’S SANDPIPER ON LONG ISLAND.—On September 22, 1880, I shot a specimen of _Tringa bairdi_ on Montauk, Long Island. The bird was in a flock of “Peeps” (_Ereunetes pusillus_), feeding on the beach of Great Pond, a brackish lake often in communication with the Sound. It so closely resembled the “Peeps” that I only noticed it on account of its larger size. The skin I preserved, though badly cut by the shot.—DANIEL E. MORAN, _Brooklyn, N. Y._
[This is apparently the first known occurrence of this species on the Atlantic Coast south of New England.—EDD.]
AN ADDITION TO THE MAINE FAUNA.—On October 8, 1881, I received from Mr. Alpheus G. Rogers, of Portland, an immature specimen of _Rallus elegans_, the King Rail, which he shot on Scarborough Marsh, on the morning of that day. This species is new to the State of Maine, and has occurred in New England only about half a dozen times.
Its previous New England record is as follows: (1) Stratford, Conn., breeding, Linsley, Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, Vol. XLIV, No. 2, p. 267. (2) Portland. Conn., one specimen: (3) Saybrook, Conn., one specimen, Merriam, Rev. Birds Conn., p. 115. (4) Nahant, Mass., one specimen, Purdie, this Bulletin, Vol. II. p. 22. (5) Sudbury Meadows, Mass., one specimen, Purdie, this Bulletin, Vol. III, p. 146.—NATHAN CLIFFORD BROWN, _Portland, Maine_.
CAPTURE OF _Larus leucopterus_ NEAR BOSTON.—In November last Mr. Charles I. Goodale showed me an immature specimen of _Larus leucopterus_ in the flesh, which he stated was shot near Boston. The bird is now in my collection.—CHARLES B. CORY, _Boston, Mass._
THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (_Larus marinus_) FROM A NEW LOCALITY.—Mr. Howard Saunders, in his excellent synopsis of the _Larinæ_ (P. Z. S., 1878, pp. 155–212), p. 180, in defining the known range of this species, says that there is “no record from the American side of the Pacific,” but that he had “examined undoubted specimens from Japan,” this being considered “a very great extension of its previously known range.” During the present year the National Museum has received specimens of this species, in alcohol, from Herald Island, in the Arctic Ocean, northwest of Behring’s Straits, and from Port Clarence on the American side of the Straits, the former collected by Captain C. M. Hooper, of the U. S. Revenue Cutter “Corwin,” the latter by Dr. T. H. Bean, of the National Museum.—ROBERT RIDGWAY, _Washington, D. C._
THE SNAKE-BIRD IN KANSAS.—Prof. F. H. Snow, of the University of Kansas, writes as follows: “I have the pleasure of informing you of the capture of a specimen of the Snake-bird, _Plotus anhinga_, in the Solomon Valley in Western Kansas. It was taken in August of this year by C. W. Smith, Esq., of Stockton, and the skin is now in my possession.”—ELLIOTT COUES, _Washington, D. C._
CAPTURE OF THE SEA DOVE 150 MILES FROM THE SEA:—On November 8th, 1881, a Sea Dove (_Alle nigricans_), was shot in the Hudson River, at Lansingburg, by Alfred Benjamin of that village. The bird was mounted by William Gibson of the same place, and is in his collection.—AUSTIN F. PARK, _Troy, N. Y._
ADDITIONS TO THE CATALOGUE OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.—The following list includes all the species that have been added to the North American fauna since the publication of the “Nomenclature of North American Birds.” The numbers given these additional species indicate their position in the list; and I would suggest that any author publishing a species new to our fauna do the same, so that collectors and others may know its number.
440.* =Buteo fuliginosus= _Scl._ LITTLE BLACK HAWK.
440.** =Buteo brachyurus= _Vieill._ SHORT-TAILED HAWK; WHITE-FRONTED HAWK.
708.* =Puffinus borealis= _Cory_. NORTHERN SHEARWATER.
717.* =Œstrelata gularis= (_Peale_) _Brewster_. PEALE’S PETREL.—ROBERT RIDGWAY, _Washington, D. C._
NOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF THE BELT MOUNTAINS, MONTANA TERRITORY.—The following observations were made in the southern range of the Belt Mountains, latitude about 46° 30′, some miles to the west and south of the head-waters of the Musselshell, from which the land, intersected by frequent smaller streams, gradually rises to the foot of the low mountains, which are mostly forest-clad and of some 6,000 feet elevation. The streams have little or no timber save in the mountains or among the foot-hills where scattering firs appear; but willows grow in dense thickets along the bank, striving apparently by numbers to make up for any lack in size.
The notes extend from June 22 to July 3, 1880, three days excepted, when the writer was absent. All the birds were found within an area of a square mile, perhaps less, but the locality was unusually favorable, including several patches of burnt timber, a large open tract stretching up the mountain side to almost the summit, and two streams flowing in rather open cañons with clumps of willows on either bank.
Several interesting birds which were sought for unsuccessfully at this time I have since found in the Belt Range, viz. _Cinclus mexicanus_, _Cyanocitta stelleri_ (_macrolopha?_) and _Tetrao canadensis franklini_. Skins of most of the species mentioned were preserved.
1. =Turdus migratorius propinquus.=—Common. A bird nesting June 25.
2. =Turdus fuscescens.=—Found only in the cañons. Common.
3. =Sialia arctica.=—Nesting in deserted Woodpecker’s holes.
4. =Regulus calendula.=—Everywhere among the firs.
5. =Parus montanus.=—Common. It never whistles more than two successive notes, at least I have never heard it.
6. =Sitta carolinensis aculeata.=—One pair found breeding in the knot-hole of a large fir. Young hatched on or shortly before the 25 June.
7. =Neocorys spraguei.=—A pair breeding on a high, grass-covered knoll just outside the timber. The male was often observed flying high overhead, constantly shifting his position, but keeping at about the same elevation while uttering his song—a rather monotonous carol, unless one is sufficiently near to hear the wonderful resonance of the blended notes.
8. =Dendrœca auduboni.=—Common.
9. =Pyranga ludoviciana.=—Rather common. A female observed nest-building June 26, the male meantime singing in a neighboring treetop. July 3 the nest was apparently completed but without eggs. It was built in a fir some thirty feet from the ground and about midway on a small horizontal limb where several twigs projected out on either side.
10. =Cotyle riparia.=—Swallows apparently of this species were seen flying high overhead. Their homes were found lower down on the streams.
11. =Vireo gilvus swainsoni.=—A common bird in the cañons.
12. =Carpodacus purpureus.=—Two individuals observed.
13. =Chrysomitris pinus.=—A flock of these restless little creatures appeared almost daily, uttering their querulous notes.
14. =Poœcetes gramineus confinis.=—Common on the grassy slopes.
15. =Melospiza fasciata fallax.=—Occasional among the willows of the streams.
16. =Junco oregonus.=—Apparently this form was not uncommon.
17. =Spizella socialis.=—Abundant in the patches of dead timber.
18. =Cyanospiza amœna.=—Not uncommon but confined to the willows etc. along the streams.
19. =Sturnella magna neglecta.=—Breeding on the grassy hillsides.
20. =Picicorvus columbianus.=—Occasional. Much commoner lower down among the scattered firs of the _coulées_.
21. =Perisoreus canadensis capitalis.=—A single bird shot July 2. It was almost full-grown, but in the “fluffy” plumage peculiar to young birds.
22. =Contopus borealis.=—One bird seen.
23. =Contopus virens richardsoni.=—Common.
24. =Chordiles virginianus henryi.=—In dead timber, common.
25. =Picus villosus.=—Young of perhaps a week old were found on the 25th of June.
26. =Picoides arcticus.=—Rather common.
27. =Picoides americanus dorsalis.=—Two or three specimens noted.
28. =Melanerpes erythrocephalus.=—One bird observed.
29. =Colaptes mexicanus.=—Common. The young of this species doubtless hatching on June 28, as an old bird was seen carrying out and dropping, a hundred or two yards from the nest, the fragment of an egg shell at that time.
30. =Buteo borealis.=—Hawks apparently of this species occasionally observed.
31. =Bonasa umbellus umbelloides.=—Not common. Is mostly found in the cottonwood timber of the valleys.
32. =Tetrao obscurus richardsoni.=—Not as common here as in some other localities of the Belt Mountains. They prefer rough and rocky ledges with only a moderate growth of fir to denser forests. Occasionally one finds them outside of the mountains, but only among the scattered clumps of fir growing on the high bluffs of some of the streams. Their “tooting” is a low, muffled sort of cooing, uttered without vigor, or any visible effort on the bird’s part, which may be squatting on some rock at the time.
33. =Tringoides macularius.=—Found on the streams.—R. S. WILLIAMS, _Benton, W. T._
REMARKS ON SOME WESTERN VERMONT BIRDS.—The Red-headed Woodpecker (_Melanerpes erythrocephalus_, Sw.), is a strangely erratic species. Mr. C. S. Paine has taken but a single specimen in the eastern part of the State, and five years ago it was a very rare species about here (Brandon). Now they are nearly as abundant as the common Golden-wings. At Orwell, only ten miles to the west, they outnumber the Golden-wings, and appear to be on the increase. Dr. C. H. Merriam mentions (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. III, No. 3, p. 124) their remaining in Northern New York during some of the severest winters known. I have never observed them in this vicinity later than the 2d of October, except in one instance (January 7, 1879), when I took a single specimen. At Rutland, sixteen miles south of Brandon, Mr. Jenness Richardson informs me that they are a resident species, being as abundant in winter as in summer. They were particularly abundant about here during August and September, 1879, being attracted, no doubt, by the great abundance of black cherries (_Prunus serotina_), which they appear to relish greatly. I have frequently observed this species to employ the same nest for several successive seasons.
The Pileated Woodpecker (_Hylotomus pileatus_, Bd.), is by no means as rare as might be expected in so thickly populated a section. Not a year passes but that from one to five specimens are taken. I have notes of at least fifteen specimens, taken during the last four or five years, all of which occurred from the month of September to May, inclusive; the last record being the capture of two young females, September 28, 1881. Of the remaining _Picidæ_, _Sphyrapicus varius_ is a rather rare summer visitant; _Picoides arcticus_, a very rare winter visitant: while _Picus pubescens_ and _P. villosus_ are resident species, the former being by far the most abundant.
During the winter of 1880–81, no less than seven specimens of the little Acadian Owl (_Nyctale acadica_) were taken, all within a few days’ time. Two specimens of the Snowy Owl (_Nyctea scandiaca_) were also taken at the same time. During the fall of 1879, a fine specimen of the American Raven (_Corvus corax carnivorus_) remained in this immediate vicinity for nearly a month, but successfully eluded capture. A single specimen of the Canada Jay (_Perisoreus canadensis_) was taken in December, 1874.
Although the recorded instances of the breeding of the Loggerhead Shrike (_Lanius ludovicianus_) in New England are rather numerous, the following notes may not be entirely devoid of interest. One rainy day last season (June 5, 1880) as I was seated on the porch of a neighbor’s house, my attention was attracted by a Shrike flying past several times. I watched the bird and saw it fly to the top of an old apple tree. The tree was not more than _two rods_ from the house, and was densely overrun with a large grape vine. I climbed the tree, and, about twenty feet from the ground, found the nest, and, much to my disappointment, found no eggs, but four nearly fledged young. The old birds were very tame, and flew about within a few feet of my head.
This season I visited the locality May 16, and was fortunate enough to find a nest and four fresh eggs. The nest was in an apple tree, perhaps three rods from the nest of last year; was composed of coarse sticks and weeds, very deeply hollowed, and lined with wool and twine. I took both parent birds with the nest, thus rendering the identification positive.
A few days after this (May 23, 1881) some boys told me they had found a “Cat Bird’s” nest in an apple tree about a mile from the vicinity of the other nests. They had climbed the tree, and said “the old bird flew at them, and snapped her bill _hard_!” I knew this to be a Shrike, and, when I visited the place, had the pleasure of securing another nest, containing six eggs, with the female parent. The nest was much like the other, but was perhaps deeper, and lined entirely with feathers.
The Great Northern Shrike (_Lanius borealis_) is a rather rare species, being most frequently observed in spring.