Brief Newsy Notes.
Black-backed Woodpecker.—In Michigan, while camping about fifteen miles from Little Traverse Bay, I saw three specimens, but not having a gun I did not secure any.—W. J. Simpson.
Large Set of Eggs.—April 29, ’82, took a set of seven Bluebirds’ eggs, and April 30 I took a set of six pure white eggs from Bluebirds of the natural color.—W. J. Simpson, Ithaca, N. Y.
Barred Owl.—A very fine specimen was brought me by a friend a few days ago, who, while driving along saw it perched on the fence. A club was thrown at it, but as it did not move my friend walked up to it and found it was blind. He lifted it into his sleigh and brought it in, when I found that the bird had had iritis, in which extreme adhesions had taken place, rendering the eyes almost wholly useless. The bird has a fine plumage although almost a skeleton.—G. A. McCallum, Dunville, Ontario.
Ornithological works, written by honest, conscientious men, never deteriorate in value, but advance to a premium as soon as the edition is exhausted.
Bluebirds. As I am writing this 10 A. M. I think I hear a Bluebird, and on going to the window I see three sitting on the vane of the church across the street from the house. Now we can hardly put this down as the earliest arrival for ’83, but it’s certainly the latest for ’82.—W. W. Coe, Portland, Conn., Dec. 31, 1882.
Sharp-shinned Hawk.—S. F. Rathbun, Auburn, N. Y., reports shooting a Sharp-shinned Hawk, Jan. 16.
Ring-billed Gull.—April 29, ’82, I shot a specimen of Larus Delawarensis at Rochester, N. Y. It proved to be an adult female; length 21.50 inches, extent 49.50.—C. H. Wilder, Syracuse, N. Y.
Spotted Sandpiper.—July 12, ’82. Saw a Sandpiper (probably the spotted) with something that looked like a minnow in its bill. Do they eat fish?—C. H. Wilder, Syracuse, N. Y.
King Fisher shot at Portland, Conn., Jan. 14, in good plumage.—W. W. Coe.
Owls.—Messrs. Southwick & Jencks report about 150 Owls this season—about seventy-five Barred Owls, and including all the varieties but Great Gray and Hawk Owls. Among them is a Sparrow Owl taken near Providence and nineteen Snowy Owls, one nearly white.
Golden Eagle.—A. D. Butterfield, San Jose, California, shot a young male Golden Eagle, Dec. 20, 1882, which measured 33 inches in length, 6 feet 5½ inches across the wings, 24 inch wing, 24 inch tail. A good skin was made from it.
Pine Grosbeaks.—Saw six Pine Grosbeaks, Dec. 17. They were very tame—almost touched one with my hand—no old ones among them—these are the first specimens noted this season.—John H. Sage.
A Snowy Owl was seen here on Sunday and followed across the river but not killed.—John H. Sage, Portland, Conn.
Eggs in a Set.—May 30, ’81, found set of five Catbird’s eggs—nest in hazel bush. In West Newton, Mass., June 20, ’81, found set of six Bluebirds in bird box. In Peotine, Ill., have found seven American Bittern; usual set three or four and sometimes five. Also a set of seven White-rumped Shrike; usual set five; have found six.—D. H. Eaton, Woburn, Mass.
Albino Redwing Blackbird, (Agelæus phœniceus).—From a flock of Redwing “Starlings” I shot an Albino of a beautiful Golden Yellow except the wings which are white. The iris and tarsus were pink.—Dr. F. W. Goding, Kaneville, Ill., September 1, 1881.
Clapper Rails’ Eggs.—During the season of 1881 1,000 eggs were taken from a tract of land not two miles square, and yet not half was taken that could have been. These eggs were taken to sell for cooking purposes in New York market.
The World Moves and so do some of our young men. Southwick & Jencks are out with a new Checking List that leaves ours in the shade, and they are preparing a catalogue that will excel anything yet produced in that line. These two boys have got a collection together that is worth going a very long distance to see, only leave your wallet at home, and “Lead us not into temptation.”
“Brown Creeper,” (Certhia familiaris,) winters in dense woods, but very rarely.—A. Hall, East Rockport, Ohio.
Wild Goose.—I saw a Wild Goose last night that was shot January 4 in the Middlefield Reservoir, two or three miles out of the City of Middletown. He had been seen in several places within a few miles of here all Winter. Could fly well enough and I could find no wounds on him except the fresh ones. “Every day brings something new.”—W. W. Coe, Portland, Conn.
J. L. Goff writes that this Goose had been in the company of a flock of crows during the Winter.
Albino Cowbird.—Aug. 11, 1881, while at Kaneville, Ill., I shot an Albino Cowbird (Molothrus ater.) It measured 7½ inches long and was of a creamy white color with the exception of the head and breast, which were a little more on the yellow tint. It was with a flock of Redwing Blackbirds. When I picked it up its eyes shone like fire. The iris was of a fire red. The pupil being pink the effect can be imagined. I could not discern the sex.—Jos. L. Hancock, Chicago, Ill.