Part 2

Anyone desiring questions answered relating to Birds, their Nests and Eggs, will favor us by sending them in, and we will answer them through this column to the best of our ability.

On the 28th of March, 1885, I found a nest of the Red-shouldered Hawk, containing two eggs, which I took. Returning seven days later, and seeing the bird fly from the nest, I concluded to take another look at it, and was very much surprised to find two more eggs, although the shells were much lighter marked than those taken previously, which went to prove they were deposited by the same bird.

J. H. B.,

Oswego, Kansas.

Last summer, while out collecting, I found a three-storied nest of the Summer Yellow bird. Each story contained one egg of the Cow bird, and two of the Warblers. I also found a double nest of the Bronzed Grackle containing nine eggs; four in the lower part, and five in the upper. The total number of eggs from both nests were eighteen. Don’t you think this a pretty good haul from two nests?

W. A. W.

Quincy, Ill’s.

I like the appearance of your paper very much, and trust it will be a financial success.

D. H. Eaton

Woburn, Mass.

It is said that alligators’ eggs are esteemed by the natives of the regions where those reptiles abound. 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; but with the recent observations on the habits of this bird, by N. S. Goss, in the Auk, April, 1885, we have additional light thrown upon the subject. He found quite a number of nests of the Blue-fronted Jay in the vicinity of Julian, California, in the spring of 1884, and “in all cases but one, in holes and trough-like cavities in trees and stubs, ranging from four to fifty feet from the ground, generally ten to twenty feet. The nest found outside was built upon a large horizontal limb of an oak close beside a gnarl, the sprout-like limbs of which thickly covered the nest overhead, and almost hid it from view below.” They were quite bulky, loosely made of sticks, stems of weeds, and lined with fibrous rootlets and grasses; and, as they were all built at or near the opening, the tell-tale sticks projected and made the finding of the nests not difficult. Mr. Goss gives the color of the eggs as light blue, speckled and spotted with dark brown, rather thickest at large end, and the measurements of two sets, as follows: One taken May 19, 1.20 by .87, 1.20 by .88, 1.21 by .88; May 21, 1.22 by .88, 1.15 by .86, 1.19 by .86, 1.16 by .85.

Mr. W. O. Emerson informs me that he finds the nests in the vicinity of Haywards, Cal., placed in oaks, redwood and other tall trees.

The above interesting article is an extract from _Davies’ New Key to the Nests and Eggs of North American Birds_, taken from specimen leaves sent me, and of which is a fair sample of descriptions of the nests and eggs of each bird contained in that book.—Editor.

Birds of Pennsylvania.

The following data is taken from notes made during a series of years, all within this state, and all from personal observation.

(“C” means common, “R” means rare.)

1. Wood Thrush. (C). Breeds May 1st, to June 15th. Nests generally placed in thick woods, near clearings.

2. Wilson’s Thrush. (R). Breeds June 2nd. Nests placed in thickets, with southern exposure.

7. American Robin. (C). Breeds May 1st to July 25th. Nests made near habitations, in trees, outhouses, anywhere almost.

11. Mocking Bird. (R). Only one known instance in Delaware county.

12. Catbird. (C). Breeds May 15th to July 1st. Nests placed in gardens or clearings of woods, always near man.

13. Brown Thrasher. (C). Breeds May 15th to June 20th. Nests found in blackberry tangle or thickets, high or lowland.

22. Bluebird. (C). Breeds May 1st to July 20th. Nests found anywhere, in bird boxes, natural holes in trees, etc.

41. Black-capped Chickadee. (C). Breeds May 10th to 25th. Nests found in timber cleared districts, in stumps about 6 feet high.

51. White-bellied Nuthatch. (R). Breeds April 15th to May 1st. Nests found in excavated holes, remote from habitation.

60. Carolina Wren. (C). Breeds April 8th to May 10th, (two broods). Nests found about rocks, remote from habitation.

63. House Wren. (C). Breeds May 15th to June 10th. Nests found in Orchards, or about farm houses.

67. Long-billed Marsh Wren. (C). Breeds June 12th to 18th. Nest found in low, fresh meadows.

93. Summer Yellowbird. (C). Breeds June 10th to 20th. Nests found near running water, in low, flat country.

99. Chestnut-sided Warbler. (R). Breeds June 20th. Nests found in pastures, or small woods.

115. Golden-crowned Thrush (C). Breeds June 10th to 25th. Nests found on the ground, in deep woods.

123. Yellow-breasted Chat. (C). Breeds May 28th to June 10th. 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.

152. Purple Martin. (C). Breeds June 2nd. Nests placed in bird boxes.

153. Cliff Swallow. (C). Breeds June 1st to 5th. Nests placed in barns and under eaves.

154. Barn Swallow. (C). Breeds June 1st to 15th. Nests placed in barns.

155. White-bellied Swallow. (R). Breeds June 1st to 15th. Nests placed in bird boxes.

157. Bank Swallow. (C). Breeds May 22 to June 1st. Nest placed in sand banks, etc., at the end of a burrow.

161. Scarlet Tanager. (C). Breeds June 10th. Nest found in deep woods.

E. S. English Sparrow. (C). Too well known to detail.

181. American Goldfinch. (C). Breeds from July 15th to Aug. 20th. Nests found by a roadside, or in orchards.

197. Grass Finch. (C). Breeds June 10th. Nests placed in pastures or meadow.

198. Yellow-winged Sparrow. (R). Breeds June 25th. Nests placed in meadows or pasture.

211. Chipping Sparrow. (C). Breeds May 8th to June 30th. Nests near houses or in parks.

214. Field Sparrow. (C). Breeds May 1st to June 10th. Nests placed on or near the ground, in high country generally.

231. Song Sparrow. (C). Breeds May 1st to June 30th. (three broods). Nests found anywhere.

233. Swamp Sparrow. (R). Breeds July 4th. Nests placed in swampy meadows.

237. Chewink; Towhee. (C). Breeds June 1st to 15th. Nests placed on the ground in open woodland.

242. Cardinal Grosbeak. (C). Breeds April 20th to May 30th. Nests found in wooded tangle and briars.

244. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (R). Breeds June 10th. Nests found in borders of woods.

248. Indigo Bunting. (C). Breeds June 2nd. Nests placed in blackberry tangle in open fields.

257. Bobolink. (R). Seldom found breeding in southern Pennsylvania.

258. Cowbird. (C). Breeds from April to August. Eggs placed in nests of Pewees, Sparrows, Chats, Tanagers, etc.

261. Red and Black, Sh’d Blackbird. (C). Breeds May 20th to June 20th. Nests placed on the ground, or in low bushes in swampy places.

263. Meadow Lark. (C). Breeds May 20th to June 30th. Nests placed in dry pastures and fields.

270. Orchard Oriole. (C). Breeds June 5th to 20th. Nests placed in orchards.

271. Baltimore Oriole. (C). Breeds June 5th to 20th. Nests found near houses generally.

278. Purple Grackle. (C). Breeds April 25th. Nesting in colonies, in cedar trees.

282. Common Crow. (C). Breeds April 15th to 30th. Nests placed in very high trees in woods.

289. Blue Jay. (R). Breeds April 15th to 30th. Nests found in deep woods.

304. Kingbird. (C). Breeds June 1st to 20th. Nests placed in sycamore trees, or in orchards.

312. Gt. Crested Flycatcher. (C). Breeds June 1st to 20th. Nests found in orchards, in natural cavities of trees.

315. Pewee; Phœbebird. (C). Breeds April 20th to June 10th. Nests placed under bridges or eaves of small spring houses, etc.

320. Wood Pewee. (C). Breeds June 1st. Nests placed in woods or orchards.

324. Acadian Flycatcher. (C). Breeds June 5th to 20th. Nests found near running water or sloping ground.

335. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. (R). Breeds June 1st to 15th. Nests found near a spring of water in orchard or woods.

351. Chimney Swift. (C). Breeds July 1st to 15th. Nests placed in chimneys.

357. Night Hawk. (C). Breeds June 1st to 20th. Nests placed on bare ground on an elevated plateau.

361. Downy Woodpecker. (R). Breeds in May. Nests placed in excavated holes in woods.

575. Red-headed Woodpecker. (C). Breeds June 15th. Nests placed in solitary trees in fields.

378. Yellow-shafted Flicker. (C). Breeds May 15th to June 15th. Nests placed anywhere.

382. Belted Kingfisher. (C). Breeds May 10th to June 15th. Nests placed in holes in banks along streams in low lands.

387. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. (C). Breeds June 5th to 12th. Nests placed in densest thickets of bramble and grapevine.

388. Black-billed Cuckoo. (C). Breeds same as preceding species.

394. Am. Barn Owl. (R). Breeds April 1st to 15th. Nests placed in dead trees, on low meadow lands.

402. Little Screech Owl. (C). Breeds April 1st to 15th. Nests placed in beech trees, or apple trees.

420. Sparrow Hawk. (C). Breeds May 1st to June 1st. Nests placed in holes of dead trees, anywhere.

425. Fish Hawk. Common in New Jersey, but rare in Pennsylvania.

431. Cooper’s Hawk. (C). Breeds April 10th to May 1st. Nests generally placed in deep and solitary woods, in large trees.

432. Sharp-shinned Hawk. (R). Same as 431.

436. Red-tailed Hawk. (R), Same as 431.

439. Red-shouldered Hawk. (R). Same as 431.

443. Broad-winged Hawk. (R). Same as 431.

460. 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.

The Rails breed plentifully on New Jersey coast, but sparsely in Pennsylvania.

613. Summer Duck. (R). Breeds May to June 15th. Nest placed in hollow tree near water.

In filling out the above data, I have omitted several species which occasionally breed here.

Harry G. Parker.

Chester, Delaware Co., Pa.

Nesting of the Long-eared Owl.

(ASIO AMERICANUS)

For the Sunny South Oologist:

It was on the bright spring morning of April 25, 1885, that a friend and myself started for the big woods in search of hawks’, crows’, etc., eggs.

We first went to a crows’ nest we found building the Saturday before, and were most fortunate in securing 3 fresh eggs. This was comparatively a good find, owing to the scarcity of that bird in this locality.

We next made our way to a tammerac swamp, and on the edge we went a little out of our way to look at an old crow’s nest that we knew of, for mere curiosity sake. In the center of the nest two prongs poked out and we thought they were two sticks sticking up; but, to be sure, my friend kicked on the tree, and to my great joy the two prongs moved. At this my friend began to climb the tree, and when about half way up, a large yellowish-brown bird flew sluggishly off the nest, and I could see it was an owl, but what kind I was uncertain. When he reached the nest and shouted down there were 5 eggs in it, I was so excited that I went up and helped him down with them, although there was no need of it. They were of a clear white, and almost globular in form, and measured about 1.60 x 1.40 inches. We imagined them to be all kinds of owls, and were very anxious to find out what they were.

We hunted around now until noon and then sat down by a spring and ate our dinner, which we had brought with us. After a little “lounge” in the sun after our meal, we started out again, and by 3 o’clock p. m., had found nothing but last year’s nests. About 3:30 we came to another tammerac swamp, and in the center there was an old marsh hawk’s nest I was acquainted with, and we made for it, thinking there might be an owl’s nest in it, and you may imagine my delight at seeing the same kind of horns sticking up in the center. This nest was only about 7 feet from the ground, and as soon as I kicked the tree the owl flew off and lit on a limb close by, and I identified her as being a long-eared owl. I regretted that I did not have my gun with me, or I would have had her this day all mounted. I climbed the tree, and in the nest found four more eggs just like those in the first nest, and now our minds were lightened.

As it was getting time to be going home, we started, and on arriving, blew our eggs and found them to be fresh; and one of the sets now glow in the collection of the editor of this paper.

I have found several sets besides this, and know of others being found around here, and they invariably occupy other birds’ nests.

Geo. G. Cantwell,

Minneapolis, Minn.

The Road-runner; Chaparral Cock.

(GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS).

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. It was a bulky structure 16 inches in diameter, 5 inches in depth, and nearly flat on the top—not more than an inch deep, built of large sticks, twigs, and weeds in the lining. I visited the nest on the 9th and 10th, and although the bird was “tu hum” every time, the set had not increased any in number. 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.

J. A. Singley,

Giddings, Texas.

The Chinese pheasants turned loose in Oregon some time since have interbred with the native grouse, and a new game bird with the head of a pheasant and wing and tail feathers of a grouse is the result.

Transcriber’s Notes

—Silently corrected a few typos.

—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Sunny South Oölogist. Vol. 1, by Edwin C. Davis