A Day’s Collecting.

BY H. C. COOK, POTSDAM, N. Y.

On the 23d of May, last season, my chum and myself started out for a good solid day’s work in the field. We took our climbing irons, egg-boxes and a big lunch, for it has been our experience that it makes a fellow awful hungry to walk eight or ten miles and shin up as many trees before dinner.

About a mile from the village we came to a small grove of high timber. Just before we reached it, a crow flew out to meet us, circled over our heads and returned again, a sure sign of a nest. We had, however, considerable difficulty in finding it, as it was remarkably well concealed for so large a nest, in a beech about thirty-five feet from the ground. It contained five highly incubated eggs of nearly uniform size, but differing considerably in the ground color and markings. The average measurement was 1.60×1.12. Three of the eggs were dark green, marked with darker blotches, and the other two a much lighter green in ground color with the same colored blotches.

After leaving this grove, we passed through several orchards without finding anything until we came to the last one, where my chum spied a nest in a low apple tree. Approaching it carefully, we obtained a good view of the bird, which I at once knew to be a Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccygus erythrophthalmus.) The nest contained three dull green eggs, very peculiar in regard to size, as one was small, the next larger and the last measured nearly twice the size of the first. One was fresh and the other two in different stages of incubation.

We stopped here to blow our eggs and eat our dinner, as it was about noon. After we had accomplished this last most important duty, we continued our search looking here and there, but seeing no desirable nest, until it began to get rather discouraging, when, while hunting for the nests of the White-rumped Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides) in a large field of thorn apple trees, skirted by a swampy woods, I made the great find of the day. I was passing by an old dead stump, when, from between the roots and almost under my feet, a brownish colored bird started up and flew away, making a peculiar whistling noise as it went. Looking down, I saw a fine set of four eggs of the American Woodcock (Philohela minor.) They were of unusual size, the largest measuring 1.85×1.10 in.

This ended our day’s collecting, and we went home well satisfied with the fruits of our labor.

HERE IS YOUR CHANCE

To enlarge your collection without cash. In order to increase the circulation of our magazine, we have decided to give to the persons sending us the 5 greatest number of paid yearly subscribers for the B. S. O. before June 1st, 1888, the following prizes:

ANOTHER CHANCE.

To the first person answering the above offer by sending in their subscription and stating plainly that you wish to try for a prize, we will give a fine set of four eggs of the Prothonotary Warbler, or a set of four of the Black Snow-bird. To the fifth person, we will give a set of four eggs of the Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. To the tenth person, we will give a set of 2 eggs of the Red-tailed Hawk; to the fifteenth, twentieth and twenty-fifth each a copy of Davies’ “Key” 3d edition. We will also send every person wishing to try for a prize, and stating so in their letter, a few extra copies to use as samples.

CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PRIZES ARE GIVEN.

To be entitled to any of the first five prizes, you must (if not already a subscriber) send in your subscription with your first list. Subscriptions mailed from your office May 31st, will count, but not later. The names of the winners will be published in the June B. S. O. and prizes forwarded June 4th.

Should two or more parties send the same number of subscribers, the highest prize will be awarded to the party whose list was sent earliest. We can give Cash in place of prizes if desired. Commence work at once and secure a prize. Address, plainly,

W. H. FOOTE,
43 FENN STREET, PITTSFIELD, MASS.

FOR SALE CHEAP!!

A Kelsey (Excelsior) Printing Press, nearly new. Self-inker. Cost $22. Will sell cheap.

JUST THE THING

For an amateur printer, who can print his own paper and make the press pay for itself in a short time. Make me an offer, or write for particulars, reasons for selling, etc., and address

W. H. FOOTE.

For E. H. B.

43 Fenn St., Pittsfield. Mass.

VICKS FLORAL GUIDE

For 1888 is better than ever, and should be in the hands of every person contemplating buying SEEDS, PLANTS or BULBS. It contains 3 Colored plates, thousands of Illustrations, and nearly 150 pages, telling what to buy, and where to get it, and naming lowest prices for honest goods. Price of GUIDE only 10 cents, including a Certificate good for 10 cents worth of Seeds.

JAMES VICK, SEEDSMAN,
Rochester, N. Y.

A FEW MORE CHOICE SPECIMENS OF

New Mexico BIRDS’ SKINS & EGGS,

Still in Stock.

These will be closed out at very low rates.

PRICE LIST FOR STAMP.

25 arrow-heads, slightly imperfect,25c
Fine Moss Agate Pebbles,15c. per doz
Obsidian Pebbles, 25c. ” 100

CHARLES H. MARSH,
DULZURA,
San Diego Co., California.

SUBSCRIBE
AT ONCE!

H. C. Kells

BOOK & JOB PRINTING

PITTSFIELD, MASS.

Every description of Job and Commercial Printing neatly done at Lowest Prices. Send copy for estimates on any printing you need. Printing for Naturalists and Collectors’ Papers or Magazines, Circulars, Price Lists, Data Blanks, etc.

THE BAY STATE OOLOGIST.

Edited and Published by W. H. FOOTE.

A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Study of Birds, their Nests and Eggs.

It has a large and varied list of contributors and is of great interest to both young and advanced Oologists and Ornithologists.

Subscription Price. 50 Cents per Annum in Advance.

SINGLE COPIES, 5 CENTS.

All Subscribers are Entitled to One Free Exchange Notice.

ADVERTISING RATES.

Full Outside Page,$10.00
Full Inside Page,9.00
One Column, inside,5.00
One-half Column, inside,3.00
Less than one-half Column, per inch,1.00
Half-inch,.50

No “ads” taken for less than one-half inch. Discount of 20 per ct. on standing “ads” for three months. Larger discounts for six month and yearly “ads.”

Make all drafts and orders, and address all subscriptions and communications to

W. H. FOOTE,
43 FENN STREET, PITTSFIELD, MASS.