ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEBRASKA. fjoKusaaixveiiam 1896. Mp JOSJS.FM M. MAJDMIW^OJ^. r^ D.w III Umiekwoiiu Rked. ANNUAL REPORT OF IHE NEBRASKA State Horticultural Society For the Year 1896, CONTAINING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD AT LINCOLN, JANUARY, 1896. The Small Fruits. The Birds of Nebraska. By JOSEPH H. HADKINSON, LINCOLN, NEB.: PUBLISHED BY THE STATE. 1896. b 1x STATE JOURNAL COMPANY, Pbinters, likcoln, nkubaska. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. To His Excellency, Silas A. Holcomb, Governor of Nebraska: lu compliance with statute this report is respectfully submitted. JOSEPH H. HADKINSON, Secretary State Horticultural Society. Lincoln, May 1, 1896. F.EW YORK BOTANICAL CONTENTS. The Small Fruits — page General Papers and Discussion 12-45, 185-202 Notes on the Botany of the Strawberry 237 Botany of the Bush Fruits , 241 The Birds of Nebraska — Introd uction „ . , 48 Remarks About Birds in General 50 List and Notes 57 Append ix 164 Preparation of Soil for Orchard and Garden 9 Sunshine and Cloudiness in Nebraska 45 Observations on Soil Moisture 179 Homo Canning of Fruit 203 Ethics of Horticulture 209 Discussion on the Peach in Nebraska 223 Irrigation for Orchard and Garden 224 President's Address 256 Treasurer's Report 259 Proceedings of Suninaer and Winter Meetings 264 PREFACE. Continuing the policy of the Society in recent years, commenced by our past Secretary, Professor F. W. Taylor, certain special subjects are taken up and exhaustively treated in this volume. The Secretary feels that some explanation should be made regarding the matter appearing in this report. Much of it had been arranged for by the late lamented Secretary, D. U. Reed, whose untimely death left the Society for some months previous to the winter meeting with- out an active Secretary. During that time the executive board, and members of the Society who were conversant with the details of the proposed volume, completed the arrangements for the matter needed. At the close of the winter meeting the newly elected Secretary took up the work as best he could, and wishes to thank his friends for their kindness in helping him, not forgetting his apprecilation of the excel- lent planning which had been 'done previous to his coming into pos- session of the office, and begs indulgence for any errors or omissions which may have occurred in the work as the result of the change in officers during the preparation of this report. PREPARATION OF SOIL FOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN WORK. PETER YOUNGERS, JR. As the two things most essential to plant life are air and water, so in the preparation of the soil the prime object should be to so pre- pare it as to retain all the moisture possible. All living plants con- tain a very large per cent of water. For instance, the potato contains nearly 75 per cent, while experiments have developed the fact that an ash tree cut down in January contained 29 per cent of water, maple 34 percent, and fir 53 per cent. The same kinds of trees felled early in April contained 39, 40, and 61 per cent respectively. This water must come from the soil, and as the roots are the feeders that convey it to the plant or body of the tree, the most essential thing is the feed- ing ground of the roots. The soil of a large portion of Nebraska is of a very refractory char- acter, and in order to properly fit it for the orchard and garden it is very essential that it be loosened as deep as possible with the imple- ments of the day for the purpose of storing the moisture necessary to plant life. We find by experiments conducted on our nursery grounds the past season that the preparation of the soil has much to do with the relative amount of water it will retain. We sent samples of soil daily to the Department of Agriculture at Washington, commencing on the 2d day of May and continuing until September 13. These samples were taken at 6 o'clock p. m. in brass tubes about eighteen inches long. The tubes were driven into the ground to the depth of sixteen inches, then taken up and tightly sealed with rubber caps, making them air tight, and sent to Washington. There each sample was carefully weighed, all the moisture extracted, and weighed again to determine the amount of moisture in each sample. The samples were all taken within a radius of ten rods, the ground having been se- 2 (9) 10 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. lected with a view to the experiment. Sample No. 1 was taken from prairie sod, No. 2 from land plowed eight inches deep, and No. 3 from laud subsoiled sixteen inches deep in the fall of 1894. The average amount of moisture in each kind of soil fur each mouth during the growing season was as follows : No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. May 12.41 14.09 16.41 June 15.80 16.10 20.41 July 14.46 12.98 17.45 August 11.29 11.19 17.24 September (first 13 days) 10.82 12.35 14.37 Now using the land under ordinary cultivation as a basis, it will be seeu from the foregoing table that the increase of moisture in the sub- soiled land over that in the land under ordinary cultivation during the month of May was 16.18 per cent; June, 26.77; July, 34.43; and for August, 54.06, or more than half as much again. This is certainly a remarkable showing in favor of deej) stirring of the soil, and I firmly believe that a large percentage of the failures in orchard and garden work are due to the neglect of planters in this respect. For the past nine years we have used the subsoil plow and tree digger to loosen up the soil. Our method is to follow the ordinary stirring plow set to run eight inches deep, with a subsoil plow also running eight inches deep. This plow does not throw the earth to the surface, but merely loosens it up in the bottom of the furrow. The next furrow of the stirring plow covers up the subsoiled land, and in this manner the rich surface soil is always retained on top. Every evening we harrow or plank down the ground plowed during the vood as soon as the last berries are picked. I usually set a lot of men in, after the last pickers, to cut out and carry out all bearing canes. They have filled their usefulness, and only detract from young growth and ^•houId be removed at once. Were I to plant in open ground I would make the rows seven feet iipart, plants two to two and one-half feet apart in rows; but assuredly I very much prefer the shade the apple trees make for them, besides I get two crops from same ground and always get moreai)ples from that eight acres than any other eight acres of my orchard of thirty acres. In picking, I use a light stand which holds six boxes, with handle made of old barrel hoops, after the style of the basket handle. The stands have legs about twenty inches long, made of old barrel staves or strips of thin boards, put on so as to be wider at the bottom than the box, so as to not be upset or knocked over. In these we carry berries to the place of packing in crates, where they are always kept well shaded and covered with heavy paper until shipped. If berries are allowed to stand for only a short time exposed to sun, they are very much injured, if not spoilt entirely. Always keep them in a cool, dry, and well shaded |)lace. There is another very important matter to look after, — that is, marketing the berries after they are grown. For a few years after I iiad berries to sell I found ready sale and satisfactory prices by ship- ping to commission houses, but each year my portion grew rapidly less until I had the fun of growing them and some other fellow get- ting the money. I began to look about for other customers. I soon found a few good reliable retail dealers in different towns along the railroads and made arrangements to ship about so many cases a day. I found this to be a mutual benefit to myself and the dealers. I got fair prices, the dealer getting better and fresher berries than they pos- sibly could gel from the commission houses for the same money. Of late years I have had ready sales in the field for nearly all I can grow for the farmers and villages around me. Had I to depend on selling to the commission houses, I fear I should be tempted to give up in despair. Those that only grow a limited amount and are near some small town or a village will usually find ready sale at fairly good prices. Many of the fiarmers will buy from one to three cases each season. THE RASPBERRY. 31 In conclusion, I would say, plant good hardy varieties not farther than two and one-half feet in rows. Cultivate carefully, and pinch back the young canes as soon as they are high enough. Don't wait until they are all up, but go through them at least three times, usually five to eight days after last pinching, until all are pinched back. Keep thoroughly clean by plowing and hoeing from early spring until last of August, and always cut out the old or bearing canes as soon as the last berries have been picked, and you will find raspberry culture both pleasant and profitable. DISCUSSION. W. R. Harris — I have found the raspberry the only fruit that has never gone back on me. Since I have been growing fruit the rasp- berry has always given me a crop that paid for the time and labor spent on it. I would like to ask Mr. Hesser whether he has ever been troubled with scab on any of his plants? Mr, Hesser — On. the foliage? Mr. Harris — On the plants themselves. Mr. Hesser — I have never noticed anything of that kind. Some seasons I have a little rust on the foliao;e. Mr. Harris — With me the Tyler, especially, has a kind of scab on the wood that has killed it out. Mr. Hesser — My wood is not quite so strong as it used to be, but I attribute that to the fact that my orchard trees are getting so large that they cover the ground; they have been planted twenty-three years. Mr, Harris — Perhaps the fact that you cut out the old wood just as soon as the fruit crop is off would make some difference. I have never done that. Mr. Hesser — That makes a very great difference. Those old bearing canes will keep alive nearly all summer, and though they are all dead and gone before spring, yet they will take a certain amount of moisture from the ground that should go to the young plants, be- sides shading them and obstructing the ground. The day the pickers go through the last time I send a gang of men right after them to cut out the old wood and carry it out with forks. Mr. Jenkins — I would like to have it appear in the record what the expression "pinching back" means. 32 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Hesser — In the spring after the young canes get up to about the proper height we just go through and pinch the tops out. Mr. Jenkins — What is the jH-oper height? Mr. Hesser — I would say from one and one-half to two feet. Mr. Jenkins — I have been using a long bladed knife — say an ex- tra long butcher knife — and cutting them oflF. Mr. Hesser — You may do that if you like, but I can pinch two while you are cutting one. Professor Card — What is your hardiest berry? Do you protect them in winter? Mr. Hesser — They have no protection but the trees. The Tyler has done better than anything else I have planted. A Member — How does the Tyler compare in size with the Gregg? Mr. Hesser — It is a little smaller than the Gregg. A Member — AVill it grow as many quarts to the acre as the Gregg? Mr. Hesser — I can grow just as many quarts to the acre. Mr. Whitford — Have you had any difficulty with winter killing? I understood you to say you do not cover your plants. Mr. Hesser — No, sir'; I do not cover them and the canes go through in good shape. Of course, when you pinch them back they go right ahead and throw out shoots; many of these will run to the ground, and by the next spring more or less of those tips will be killed. Then, after they get started, we go through with the pruning shears and cut them down to the live wood. Professor Card — I want to emphasize one point in regard to pinching back; that is, the importance of going through two or three times and pinching back the canes as they reach the proper height. It is a bad plan to allow the cane to grow up to double the height you want it and then go through and cut it back down ; you weaken the cane immensely if you do that. Then another point, Mr. Hesser, do you pinch back both reds and blacks in the same way ? Mr. Hesser — No, sir; I do not have the same success with the reds. Mr. Stilson — The difficulty with my raspberries is that for the last five years there has not been a season when it was wet enough so they made any growth whatever to pinch back. The consequence is that each year has seen my plantation so much reduced, and the last five years it has been wiped out of existence. I have had a plantation ranging from ten to fifteen acres in the past, but now I haven't a bush left. THE EASPBERRY. 33 Professor Card — How old is your plantation ? Mr. Stilson — My oldest plantation would have been fifteen years old this spring. I had seven acres of that planting; then two years later I planted more, and two years later still more, and so on till I got up to fifteen acres. Since that time it has been steadily going back on me. The past five years has been such that I just got a spindling growth, and this last year I didn't get a growth of over eighteen inches. Professor Card — That is owing to the age of your plantation. In New York state it doesn't pay to take over three or four crops form one planting. Mr. Stevens — Mr. Hesser, will you explain how often your planta- ation is renewed ? Mr. Hesser — That would be a little hard to do. A portion of it was planted in 1883, then right after that, in 1884 and 1885, 1 planted some more. They have borne reasonably well until the last year or two. Since that time, on account of the extreme dry weather, they have not made a good growth of canes and have not borne so many berries, I think it is all right to let them stand ten or twelve years, if they are properly cultivated, the old wood cut out, and the tops pinched back. I can't help thinking that pinching is a big thing; also cutting out the old wood as soon as the crop is off. Mr. Stevenson — I want to ask Mr. Hesser one question that I have not been fully decided on myself; that is, whether or not to allow all the young sprouts to grow. Mr. Hesser — When we cut out the old wood I tell my men, if there are too many young sprouts, to cut out some of the weaker ones. I leave five, six, or seven, owing to how healthy they are. Mr. Wilcox — I would like to ask the gentleman if there is any difference in the fruiting as between rows standing in the apple rows and those standing in the middles, taking the same age and conditions of the canes. Mr. Hesser — There was not for some time. After the trees got larger, of course, the plants in the tree rows began to get smaller each year. My trees were ten years old when I planted ray raspberries, yet when they had been there five years you could scarcely tell any difference, and I am not sure but those in the tree rows bore the best. Lately they have not done so well. 34 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. NEGLECTED NATIVE FRUITS. PETEE YOUNGERS, JR. Nebraska is blessed with a wonderful amount and remarkable vari- ety of native fruits. By far the greater number of our counties are practically treeless, yet every stream, no matter how small, and even the breaks that head the formation of the streams, abound with native fruits. Among the best, and at the same time most neglected, is the black- cap raspberry. This berry covers the entire state, and there is no fruit that will yield better returns to the intelligent horticulturist than the black raspberry. In the spring of 1876 we dug 700 plants from the banks of Turkey creek and transplanted them in rows. We gave them very high cultivation, and we have never planted any other small fruit that gave us as good returns for the amount invested. I believe there were at least thirty varieties in the lot that would prove remunerative to the propagator, and but a very small percentage of the fruit was unsatisfactory. Again, in 1878, we dug 1,600 more plants from the same source, and the same results were obtained — good, large berries, hardy bushes, and abundant bearers. If these results can be obtained by simply transplanting wild bushes from their native state to the garden, may it not be possible that we have in them the foundation for a black-cap raspberry that will surpass anything we are now propagating for Nebraska? It seems to me that by a judicious selection ot some of the very best of these wild plants a berry might be produced which would meet with all the requirements of our cli- mate, and while the fruit might not be quite so good in quality as some of the tame sorts, yet this would be more than counterbalanced by the hardiness and productiveness of the plants. The wild black currant is another of Nebraska's neglected fruits. They abound in the western part of the state in many distinct varie- ties, and if properly selected they will prove an acquisition to the list of fruits we now cultivate. In fact, they have already been quite largely sold by nurserymen, the Crandall currant being of the wild KEGLECTED NATIVE FRUITS. 35 black currant type, and the true Crandall is well worthy of cultiva- tion. We have fruited some that were dug in Kansas and trans- planted from the wild state into nursery rows. A portion of them jiroduced a good crop of fine fi-uit, and others were practically worth- less, showing that this fruit requires more careful selection than the raspberry in order to be made profitable. The plum abounds in a wild state nearly all over Nebraska and is doubtless better known and receives more attention than any other wild fruit. We can all remember how when other fruit has failed the wild plum has come nobly to the rescue. By selecting sprouts from the best varieties and planting in clumps near the hennery, the wild plum will pay well for all the care and cultivation bestowed upon it, and will make good shelter for the chickens. We also have a very valuable acquisition in the way of wild cher- ries, of which we have two varieties that will in time be in almost every price-list issued by Nebraska nurserymen. The dwarf sand cherry, or Rocky Mountain Dwarf, is worthy of a place in every family garden. It is found throughout the western portion of the state, and while nearly all we have found were good, still, like all other fruits, some varieties are much larger and sweeter than others. We notice that some nurserymen offer the Improved Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherry for sale, and I believe that when we have established a standard of excellence for this fruit it will be propalgated much as we now propagate the standard cherry, and our neglected sand cherry will become a fixture in the horticultural world. The other cherry is often called and mistaken for the choke cherry, while, in fact, it is a dwarf wild black cherry, having much the same flavor and somewhat larger fruit. It is very useful for preserves, jellies, pies, etc. It is found growing ip much the same portion of the state in which the dwarf sand cherry is found, and we deem it well worthy of cultiva- tion. We observed that the wild cherries will stand a much greater degree of frost than many of our forest trees. Last spring, when the frost of May 20 killed the ash, maple, and catalpa to the ground on low land, the Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherries on the same plot were uninjured. There is also a standard sand cherry tree, a native of Da- kota, which attains a height of from four to six feet, but the fruit is not as large as our Nebraska dwarf cherry. We also have a very nice ornamental shrub which produces fruit 36 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. in abundance which is good for jellies, and when fully ripened makes a good substitute for currants; that is, the buffalo berry, which is found growing throughout almost the entire length of the state along the Platte river. We have both the red and yellow berry. This shrub is worthy of cultivation for its beautiful silvery foliage and also for its good fruit. In the eastern portion of our state we might add the persimmon, pawpaw, and elderberry, which are all worthy of careful attention ; and while this list is not complete we will find it a valuable one to work on, and much good can be accomplished by the careful selection and propagation of our neglected native fruits. HOW AVE GROW SMALL FRUIT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. GEORGE A. MARSHALL. As I read the subject assigned me, my mind wandered over the con- dition of the garden and small fruit plantation on the average farm. While I could see a marked improvement in the last fifteen years, yet I could see a great deficiency, and chances for much greater improve- ments. No farm table is complete without a supply of small fruit the year around, and unless it is grown on the farm it will never be sup- plied. I know this from experience; as the first few years in Ne- braska, we listened to our neighbors who told us fruit would do no good here and that we could buy it cheaper than we could raise it. At first we started off on the idea that we could buy just when we wanted to and just what we wanted to, and that would beat growing it all to smash. However, we soon found ourselves hungry for fruit and the table destitute of same. Few farmers who depend on buying are generous enough, are thoughtful enough, and have pocket-books large enough, and goes to market often enough to purchase his fruit and keep his table supplied first, last, and all the time with fresh, fine qualitied small fruit, equal in every respect to that which can be grown at home on the farm. Almost any kind of small fruit can be satisfactorily grown in Wash- ington county if planted and cared for properly. However, the first SMALL FRUIT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 37 thing we must bear in mind is that a small fruit patch once planted is by no means a completed plantation, but that the steady and interest- ing time has just begun and that the good luck expected •tuust be ac- companied by some common sense and hard labor. This well carried out, no otlier patch on the farm of equal size and given equal labor will give one-lialf the returns or satisfaction one year with another that the small fruit patch will. SELECTION OF LOCATION. Wiiile the small fruit patch siiould be near the house, yet it must be borne in mind that we must keep out of the hollows, as we must have good air drainage in order to prevent late frosts from cutting short our crops of fruit. High east or northeast slopes preferable. South and west slopes bad. If land is level, a wind-break should be planted on the south and west. If east slope, a south wind-break will be suffi- cient. We have learned by experience that this wind-break is very important, especially with blackberries and raspberries. PREPARATION OF GROUND. In preparing the ground for the planting of any small fruits, it should be plowed from eight to ten inches deep and subsoiled if possi- ble, followed by harrow; then with plank drag or roller. This will leave the ground mellow and easy to mark out in rows. WHAT TO PLANT. We can plant the following with satisfactory results : Blackberry, raspberry, juneberry, gooseberry, currant, strawberry, and grape. However, as before said, when once planted, we must not sit down and expect "luck" to bring us success. Blackberry plants should be fresh and lively, with at least one good strong cross-root; should not be started too much (with new shoots not over one-half inch in length) ; should be planted in rows six to eight feet apart and two to three feet in the row. This can easily be done by running out the rows with a plow or lister running twice in a row. Please remember that a common lister or fourteen-inch plow run once in a row will not make the furrow deep enough for black- berry plants. They should be planted at least two or three inches deeper than they stood in the nursery row, with dirt pressed about 38 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. them. Be careful, liowever, not to disturb the new shoots or huds, which will be very easily broken off at time of planting. The weeds should be l#ept down by constant cultivation, being careful not to dis- turb the small young shoots, as the life and success of the blackberry patch depends on the preservation and growth of those young canes. Pruning should begin the second year by pinching off the ends of the young canes when about two to three feet high. This will cause them to become stocky and send out strong limbs. They will need no more pruning until the next spring, when the tips of these limbs should be shortened and all straggling canes and canes that hang over in the row should be cut out; also all old canes removed, leaving nothing but the wood that is expected to bear the crop. Never allow the berry canes to form a wilderness by filling up the middles. Briers are easier kept down than weeds; therefore the task of keeping them in rows is not so hard after all. Very little hoeing is needed. The one-horse garden cultivator will complete the job. The Haspberry. — In selecting the plants it should be remem- bered that the raspberry plant is weak enough at best, therefore the freshest and strongest plants obtainable should be planted. Plants that have been carted around on railroads and laid around depots and nursery packing houses for a week or so are perfiectly worthless, and will result in failure if planted. For planting would recommend the running out of rows six feet apart with i^pme plow that will make a small furrow five or six inches deep; then set the plants at one side, in the furrow, with crown one or two inches under the surface. Be sure to get the roots well spread, with dirt well mixed through and firm about them. In doing this be careful not to press on the crown or break the new white shoots started. They should be cultivated about the same as blackberry, only they will need a little bit more hoeing in the row. Pruning. — The following spring the canes should be shortened to about twelve or eighteen inches. If the growth has been strong we may reasonably expect a light crop of very nice fruit from these little canes. The second summer, and thereafter when the canes arc from one and one-half to two feet high, they should be j)inched oflf' same as blackberry. By September 1st they will have numerous long side branches, some of which will reach the ground. New plants can easily be grown by simply covering these tips with earth. This is SMALL FRUIT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 39 also claimed to help the old plants to winter, as the new plants will have strong roots in a few weeks and thus the cane is strengthened and fed from both ends. As soon as the fruit has been picked, the old canes can be removed, and should be if bothered by insects; other- wise they can remain until spring, when it should be cut and all new canes shortened to two to three feet, according to strength of cane. Our mode of cultivating the old blackberry and raspberry patches is to plow them shallow with an eight or ten inch stirring plow once a year, always throwing the dirt to the row. The balance of the sea- son's cultivation will be with a hoe. Planter Jr. one-horse cultivator, or something similar. They should have a good dressing of manure once in four or five years. A raspberry or blackberry patch thus treated will remain profitable for from eight to twelve years. The most satisfactory varieties with us are Snyder blackberry, and Gregg, Nemaha, Older, Palmer, and the Old Mammoth Cluster rasp- berries. The Turner is the best red raspberry yet tried. The Mam- moth Cluster may not be so promising in the start, but holds out wonderfully under good care, being in good condition and bearing profitable crops for twelve years. The juneberry, gooseberry, and currant should be planted from four to five feet apart each way and kept clean by thorough cultivation. They bear well. Currants do not seem to enjoy our bright hot sun and dry south winds, therefore will be more satisfactory if planted where the south winds do not disturb them, in rows with young orchard trees. The thin shade the young fruit trees will furnish through the heat of the day is just what currants need to make the fruit stick on the full length of the stem, thus giving the best results. Our most satisfactory method of growing strawberries is to plant in rows from three to three and one-half feet apart and fifteen to eighteen inches in the row, and cultivate and hoe thoroughly. Trail the run- ners up and down the row until it is filled with plants to a width of from six to eight inches; say two to three plants wide. Keep middles clean all summer by cultivation, and when ground is freezing in late fall cover two inches deep with old hay or straw that has no weed seed in it. In the spring this covering should be raked olf the plants and left between the rows until the fruit is jiicked, when it should be re- moved from the patch and the plants cultivated as before. 40 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Grapes. — The old saying that grapes should be planted on a south slope with rows running north and south has proven a dead failure with us. High level land on east slope has given best satisfaction. In planting on level laud where there is no danger of wash, plant in rows running east and west; thus the canes will never slide together by a north and south wind. Have the rows six feet apart, except the drive-\vay rows, which should be ten feet apart. Plant eight to ten feet apart in the row. Plant in furrow made by running twice in a place with a common stirring plow. Be sure that this furrow is ten or twelve inches deep. In setting the plant dig three or four inches deeper with a spade and leave only two or three buds of plant above surface. We lose a great many plants by root killing unless planted deep. Keep weeds out by thorough cultivation. In October, when leaves have fallen, trim them to one or two canes and cover with dirt, then a light covering of old hay or straw. Trail them up to a stake the second year, and if they make an ordinary growth, the canes can be left three feet long the second fall and be ready for the trellis the third year. I deem it advisable to cover all vines the first two or three years, and if location and varieties are such that they will always need cov- erino-, the cane must not be trained to stand perpendicular from the root, but must be trained to lay almost on the ground with top trained up and trained on the wire. This way the vine can easily be pressed to the ground without breaking it. Always bear in mind, in trim- ming, that it is easier to trim too little than too much, and that the fruit grows on the new wood. Cut out all the weak struggling canes, shape the vine up so that when tied on the wire the fruit wood will be evenly distributed over the trellis. Never leave the fruit wood over four or five buds in length. The above conclusions and directions are based on actual experience, accompanied by failure and success, and if followed by any planter in east central Nebraska, will give satisfaction. There is no visible rea- son why any farmer should not have his table blessed with an abun- dance of small fruits. A patch of ground along side of the garden, and the same size, planted to small fruits will take less labor and produce more for the table and give more satisfactory returns than the best garden I ever saw in Washington county. SMALL FRUIT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 41 A farm of twenty acres planted to small fruits and well attended will yield more solid cash than can possibly be dug out of a quarter section by common farming. If planting in large quantities for market, it is best in the long run to plant blackberry, raspberry, and currants in young orchards, as the cultivation given the berries is just what the young trees need, and the small amount of shade produced by the young trees will only add to the yield of berries. DISCUSSION. Question 1 — I would like to ask the gentlemen at what time of the year and how often he pinches his raspberry and blackberry bushes back? Answer — We pinch them just as quick as the plant is high enough ; and go over them four or five times a season, keeping them pinched back. Question 2 — How many canes would you generally leave standing? Answer — Three or four canes is, I think, a great plenty ; however, it might vary in different varieties. Question 3 — What success do you have with the currant? Answer — The bushes grow all right with us, but they have been rather irregular and uncertain in bearing. We have an extra good crop this season. Question 4 — What is the best variety of currant? Answer — We like the White Grape. The White Dutch is the best bearer, but is rather small, as is also the Red Dutch, although a good currant. The cherry currant is too small. We like a large currant and a large bush as well. Question 5 — When you pinch back the raspberries do you pinch back the branches? Answer — No, just let them grow. If they will make good strong limbs, let them grow. 42 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. BEES THE FRIEND OF THE HORTICULTURIST. E. WHITCOMB. While the honey-bee is the only one of the thousands of insects which man is able to put to his own exclusive use, yet by a great mis- understanding of this interesting insect we have laid at her door many accusations which a better study of her make-up and habits have en- tirely acquitted her of the charges. It has long since been established that the jaws of the honey-bee are far too feeble to enable it to j)unct- ure the skin of the most delicate fruit. Even some of the warm friends of the honey-bee have been heard lamenting its propensity to banquet on his beautiful peaches, pears, plums, and choicest grapes. Were the honey-bee able to puncture even the pistil of the most deli- cate flower, we, as bee-keepers, would be able to supply the market with rich red clover honey in abundance, and at a much cheaper price. Had the honey-bee been so constructed as to be able to puncture the skin of the most delicate fruit, juices would have taken the j)lace of the bright clear nectar; we would be eating a condensed fruit jam in- stead of honey, and there certainly would have been cause for just complaint on the part of the horticulturist, as well as from the bee- keeper. Bees do gather the sweet juices of fruits when nothing else is at hand to gather, yet their jaws, having been constructed mainly for wax making, are constructed more like two spoons working towards each other. Imagine, if you will, the experiment of attempting to pinch a hole through a rubber ball with the thumb and finger and without the use of the nails, and you have at once the uselessness of the honey-bee attempting to puncture the skin of the most delicate grape. It has also been charged that the visits of the honey-bee to different flowers are a great injury to them. This is the grandest of all delusions. Horticulturists all agree that in order to produce per- fect fruit, if at all, there must necessarily be a pollenization from one flower to another. In the past we have regarded the wind as the great agent through which this is accomplished. Here on the great prairies,. BEES THE FRIEND OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 43 where the gentle breezes are often wafted into gales, the rich pollen of our fruit trees is often wafted into Kansas, or vice versa into the Da- kotas, while we seek for a cause as to why our fruit has not been plen- tier or better formed. Nothing is so admirably adapted to the fertili- zation of flowers as the bee as she flits from flower to flower in quest of either nectar or pollen. The particular construction of her feet and legs renders her especially valuable for this work. And here in Nebraska, where the absence of wild bees in any considerable numbers is so marked, I am fully persuaded that apiculture and horticulture should be consolidated together, so far as the needs of the latter would require the good offices of the former. We might with as much propriety wait for our neighbor to pull the weeds out of our strawberries as to wait for his bees to pollenize the blossoms for us. The first instance of the value of the honey-bee as a fertilizer of fruit brouglit to my notice was four years ago. The weather being wet and cold, the honey-bee was able to fly but little, and as a direct result what at first promised to be an abundant crop dwindled into insignificance with a small amount of imperfectly formed fruit. In my own orchard on this occasion sufficient fruit formed to have made a good crop, but on account of its imperfect fertilization dropped off^ soon afterwards. On this occasion, and while my cherries were in full bloom, the weather was such as to allow my entire apiary to work on them for two days. As a result I harvested 150 bushels of fine cher- ries, which brought in the orchard ten cents per quart, while my neigh- bors, whose trees were equally as well cared for as mine and were equally as well loaded with blossoms, got none. Do you think I erred; in attributing this crop to the little honey-bee? An eminent horticult- urist of our state, when approached upon this subject, attributed the failure to continued rains which washed the pollen from the flower and prevented its proper fertilization. This being the case, to what! cause are we to attribute those orchards which, being visited by the bee, bore an abundant crop; for in Saline county, when rain falls at all it falls alike upon the just as well as the unjust, and of which I am persuaded the latter are in a very large majority, and lay no claim to being bee-keepers. In introducing the red clover into Australia it was found that this plant did nicely in that fertile island of the sea, but the clover pro- duced no seed. Finally, the great companion of the red clover blossom^ 44 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the bumble-bee, was likewise imported tbere, aud there was no more trouble iu producing the seed of this clover in that clime. Do you not think that the breezes of Australia would be quite as efficient in waft- ing the pollen from one flower to another as here in Nebraska, or that the bee does not ))erforra as efficient service iu one locality as another? A controversy has lately been going on between a gentleman of Iowa and one from Missouri, as to the value of the honey-bee in fer- tilizing the strawberry. Having scrutinized the evidence in this case carefully, most is in favor of its fertilization by the bee, and many have been frank to admit that without the good offices of the bee there would have been no berries. Many of us have sought out the causes for failures, and after finding them have applied the reme- dies. We are not aware but that a cake of nice honey would look as nice and be as palatable on the table of the horticulturist as on the board of his neighbor, the bee-keeper. We know of no reason why these industries so necessary to each other should not go hand in hand, or why the horticulturist should depend upon his neighbor for bees to iertilize his fruit or for honey to supply his table. DISCUSSION. Question 1 — Do I understand you to take the position that the bee is the principal agent in the fertilization of the strawberry? Answer — I do think if it were not for the bees we would not get very ;niany perfect strawberries. When you see an ill-formed strawberry you may set it down that the honey-bee has not visited that berry, or iblossom. I would like to say that the honey-bee has never bothered us by destroying fruit, not but that it has pretty strong jaws, but I believe these are used for the purpose of destroying the moth. I do not think they arc able to puncture the skin of the choicest grape, and do not think they would do it if grapes were placed in the hive. In same cases the saw-toothed wasp is the fellow that punctures the grape and the bee gets the credit for it. The bee will run its tongue into the grape after it has been broken, perhaps three-eighths of an incii, to get the sweet juice. Speaking of fertilization, I have been examining this very closely for the last four years. My observation tells me that the strawberry is visited by the honey-bee, but it is not the honey-bee that does the fertilizing for me. There is a little sweat-bee, not nearly as large as the honey-bee. I do not know wiiether the regular honey- SUNSHIxVE AND CLOUDINESS IN NEBRASKA. 45 bee is after honey, he is probably after the pollen. But I have observed it very closely and have made up my mind that this little sweat-bee is the fellow that does the work of fertilization. Question 2 — Do you not think if the berries were properly fertilized they would be perfect if they were not visited by the bees? Answer — I would rather have the bees around, I think it better. I think the failure in our apples is sometimes caused by its being too cold for the bees to fly. SUNSHINE AND CLOUDINESS IN NEBRASKA. G. D. SWEZEY. The amount and the intensity of sunshine in any locality is an ele- ment of the weather which possesses large practical importance from the agricultural and horticultural point of view, since not only the growth, but especially the maturing of the crops, as well as the har- vesting of them, is largely dependent upon it. Nebraska, as will ap- pear from the following statements, is favored in this respect. While the greater part of our rainfall occurs in the growing season, and es- pecially in the earlier part of the season when crops are developing most rapidly as regards gross weight, the latter part of the growing season on the other hand is characterized by a steady decrease in the amount of cloudiness, a large |)ercentage of sunshine, and a high de- gree in the intensity of sunshine as well as in its actual duration. This large percentage and high intensity of sunshine follows as a natural corollary to the fact of the inland position and clear, dry at- mosphere of Nebraska. The instrument by which the hours of sunshine are determined is ^n electrical sunshine recorder, placed on the roof and operating elec- trically one of the three pens of the triple register. It consists of an outer tube of glass for protection, containing another glass tube expanded at the ends into air chambers, A and B, and partly filled with a column of mercury, which separates the air in the two chambers. The lower chamber or bulb is coated with lampblack, which when the sun is shining absorbs the sun's rays and heats the air in 46 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the lower bulb more than that in the upper. Tliis causes the lower air to exjiaiul and j)ush the mercury up until it comes in contact with the wire C, which is soldered into the tube. The other wire, D, is im- mersed in the mercury all the while, and as the two form an electric circuit leading to the recording instrument, the rise of the mercury to the wire C will close the circuit and register on the cylinder the fact of sunshine; then when the sun goes under a cloud, the lower bulb cools to the temperature of the upper, the mercury falls away from the wire C, and so the circuit is broken and the sunshine record ceases to be made on the cylinder. The result of observations on sunshine and cloudiness in eastern Nebraska is shown on the chart. The broken line shows what per- centage of the time the sky is cloudy. It will be seen that the cloudi- est month is May, when the sky is on the average 55 per cent over- cast, or, what amounts to practically the same thing, there is sunshine 45 per cent of the day, while in September the cloudiness reaches its lowest point for the year with an average of 41 per cent. The greatest amount of actual sunshine, however, in the different months varies in a somewhat different manner. The longer duration of daylight during the earlier months of summer more than compen- sates for the lack of clear skies. The longest days of course occur in June, when the average duration of daylight in this latitude is about fifteen hours. This brings the season of greatest actual sunshine earlier than it ap|)ears from the chart. In fact, the actual amount of sunshine is greatest in the month of July, when it averages about 8.3. hours a day; next in amount of sunshine comes August with an aver- SUNSHINE AND CLOUDINESS IN NEBRASKA. 47 age of 8.0 hours; June averages 7.5 hours; and September 7.4 hours. It will thus be seen that the percentage of sunshine is relatively great- est at that season of the year when crops are ripening and being har- vested, in other words, when sunshine is most welcome to the ao'ri- cullurist. As to the intensity of sunshine in Nebraska we know as yet but little by direct measurement of it. A few months' observations have been made at the experiment station at Lincoln with a self- registering actinometer, but the data are as yet too few to give much information. By inference, however, we know that the intensity of the sun's rays in Nebraska is greater than in most parts of the country. Our abso- lute humidity, or the actual amount of moisture present in the atmos- phere, is decidedly less on the average than in the states lying nearer the seaboard or to the great lakes, and this low degree of humidity is, to some extent, a measure of the capacity of the atmosphere to trans- mit the sun's rays. Further, the number of days in summer with a high mean temperature is large for this latitude and argues large pen- etrating power for the sun's rays. It will thus be seen that in the years when we have our normal amount of rainfall the conditions could scarcely be more favorable than they are in Nebraska; with about two-thirds of our rainfall oc- curring in the' five months of the growing season and reaching its maximum in the earlier part of the season when growth is most rapid, and with sunshine at a maximum when crops are maturing and being gathered we have conditions well nigh ideal. But what shall we say of the years of drought when the intensity and duration of sunshine proves an adversary instead of a friend? It is important then that we should clearly understand the forces with which we have to contend, and should so cultivate our farms and orchards as to reduce the evil to its lowest terms. At the summer meeting of the Society I presented facts showing how excessive is our evaporation and how important therefore that, by means of surface cultivation and mulching, we should husband our resources in the mat- ter of soil moisture. The facts presented to-day will show one reason why evaporation is so large in the summer months and will serve to emphasize this matter of the importance of learning how to handle the soil to the best advantage, which is evidently one of the problems which is to demand our careful attention here in Nebraska. 48 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. LAWRENCE BRUNER. INTRODUCTION. For upwards of tweuty-five years the writer has taken an interest in our birds and made notes relative to their abundance, migrations, nesting, food-habits, etc., simply for personal gratification. About two years ago, during a conversation in which the relation of birds to horticulture incidentally arose, Professor F. W. Taylor sug- gested the advisability of devoting a portion of a succeeding annual report to our Nebraska birds. With this object in view both the pro- fessor and the writer broached the matter to other members of the So- ciety. Several at once not only became interested in the matter, but suggested its early accomplishment. Our late lamented Secretary, D. U. Reed, was especially in favor of the scheme. Accordingly it was decided that my usual report as entomologist should be* omitted from the present volume and its place given to one on birds. It is on these grounds that I now present for publication some "Notes on Nebraska Birds," and it is to be hoped that they will in a measure, at least, have the desired effect, viz., the protection of our birds, which means the destruction of insect pests in proprotion as tiie protection reaches out. Just so soon as it was decided that this sub- ject be treated in the present report efforts were at once made to secure all such additional material and information as would tend towards making our knowledge as complete as possible. Correspondence with various persons interested resulted in the bringing together of notes taken by about forty separate workers located in different parts of the state. Of course the vast am'ount of material thus brought together had to be assorted and arranged at odd times between working hours in the University. While the paper is not what it should be, nor even what it might have been, if coming from a different person, still it is fairly satisfactory as a basis for future work. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 49 By referring to the catalogue on the succeeding pages it will be seen that there are 415 distinct species and subspecies listed. Of these, future more critical examination may eliminate six or seven forms. Perhaps it will also be found that at least twenty-five are only acci- dental visitors. To counteract these possible eliminations there will undoubtedly be several additions made when we shall be better ac- quainted with our bird fauna. These notes, besides definitely extending the recorded ranges of many of our North American birds, will show that at least 227 breed within the state and that more than 100 remain within our borders during ordinary winters. It is but just here to acknowledge all the aid that has been received from the various persons whose names will be found in succeeding pages in connection with the notes furnished by each. Without such aid these notes in their present state of completeness could not have been written. It should also be generally known that it is due to the liberal policy of the Society that so many illustrations of the birds treated accompany the paper. These illustrations were either loaned by the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History and the United States Department of Agriculture, or were redrawn and en- graved from plates published in Warren's "Birds of Pennsylvania" and from the birds themselves. The drawings were made by Nelly Zehrung and Edna Hyatt of this city, and the engraving done by Blomgren Bros. & Co. of Chicago, 111. Lawrence Bruner. 50 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. REMARKS ABOUT BIRDS IN GENERAL. The horticulturist, living as he does among stately trees, graceful shrubs, trailing vines, and showy flowers, must enjoy life to a greater extent than do most other people. Still, it appears to me that unless he is intimately acquainted with his almost constant companions, the birds, he loses much of the real enjoyment that might otherwise be his. These little creatures are so closely connected with all that inter- ests the devotee of horticulture that there should be a mutual acquaint- ance struck up at once. What is true of the horticulturist in this connection is also true to a greater or less extent of all persons who are in any way related to the growth of trees, or even to the cultiva- tion of the soil. I would even go further and say that everybody should be interested in the birds, be his occupation what it may. This being true, it gives me great pleasure at this time to be able to intro- duce to the readers of this paper our mutual friends, the birds of Nebraska. Perhaps birds are better known, in a general way at least, than are the members of any other natural group among animal forms — in fact than all the others combined. Yet the ignorance of the general pub- lic as relates to the habits, modes of life, food, names, etc., of even our commoner species is simply appalling. Although birds are comparatively few in species they are moderately numerous in individuals when compared with some other groups of animal forms. They are also quite general in their distribution over the earth's surface. In tli^ir relations to other animal forms, birds approach most closely to the reptiles. In fact, some of the earlier geological birds were more like reptiles than they were like the species of our day. Some of our species even now have very marked reptilian characteristics. Yet we seldom, if ever, think of birds in such a relation. Their beautiful forms, musical voices, gaudy plumages, smooth tempers, and many other pleasing features have endeared them to us from childhood. These, along with their general usefulness, have won for them our sincere friendship. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 51 In size birds vary greatly, rauging from the miuutest humming-bird, which is scarcely larger than a bumble-bee, to the largest ostrich that stands higher than the tallest mau. Yet in size, color, form and habits they are perfectly fitted for the respective places which each fills in the vast sea of life about them. Unlike most other animals, birds are much less restricted in their distribution over the earth's surface. This is undoubtedly due to their power of locomotion, which enables them "to choose their climates and their seasons, — thus avoiding, in a great measure, one of the most destructive checks upon the multiplication of animals." And, by the way, the organs which they possess for locomoting the air are very characteristic of these creatures alone. They are made up of a series of modified scales, or, perhaps more properly speaking, hairs that grow out of the front pair of limbs and the tail. Consequently it is that in birds the law of migration reaches its climax. Directly related to this trait, and largely regulating its diiferent phases, are such feat- ures as chauge in the seasons with their accompanying variations in heat and cold, food supply, reproduction, moulting of feathers, etc. When a|)plied to the entire feathered tribe, bird migrations are cer- tainly more of a study than one would at first suppose. Hardly any two species seem to possess this trait in the same degree, nor to act in precisely the same manner during its performance. Some of them make the change from one region to another so gradually that the movement is barely noticed. Others remain either in the sunny south, where they revel among showy flowers and the giant trees of tropical forests dressed in their festoons of clinging vines and deep green mosses, or in the northland, where the memories of their wooings, and, more re- cently, the caring for their hungry little ones, occupied the long sum- mer days. At last the moment for action has come, and they are up and away. Some birds travel in flocks, some by families, and others in pairs, or singly, as the case may be. These journeys are made with some only during the day-time, while others travel only by night, and still others move along as necessity demands. In spring they go north- ward, in fall towards the south. Some migrate principally for breed- ing, others on account of food supply, all of them seemingly of a ne- cessity. During their migrations, as well as at other times, the speed attained in their flights by some birds is simply marvelous, if not al- most incredible. Some ducks are said to travel at the rate of two 52 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. miles or more per minute. The doves, hawks, and even the snipes, and many of the song birds are rapid fliers. A few of tliese are known to draw on a vast scope of country for their food supply, and it is not an uncommon occurrence for some of them to reacli a point at least one hundred miles or more from their nests during a single day's search. Although not directly in the line of greatest interest to the cultivator of the soil, one of the most cliarming features in 'bird study is that connected with their nest building and the rearing of their young. So varied are the methods employed in nest Ijuilding, and later in caring for the offspring among different birds, that the student never has learned all that is to be known on this topic alone, even though he has spent a lifetime in observing and remembering what he has seen. From no nest at all, as we find the night-hawk providing for its eggs, to the complicated structure made by the orioles, tailor bird, and allies, all variations of nest building are to be found. The locations where these structures are placed by their builders also vary much. Plumage, as we find it with different birds, also offers much food for reflection. In the female and young it is usually modest, while the males of some species at least are very gaudily attired. In some it is protective, while with others it seems to be the reverse. The habits and peculiarities of most birds coincide with their sur- roundings. The waders are long-legged, long-necked, and live about the margins of streams and bodies of water and in the depths of swamps. They are usually drowsy-appearing creatures, not especially noted for their beauty of form nor melody of voice, nevertheless many of them are gaily attired. The love-song of the Bittern is not of a kind that would i)roduce within the reader poetical dreams. But to these birds accustomed to the coarse croak of the bull-frog and roar of alligators it is sweet music, no doubt. The soul-stirring, hair-lifting hoots of the Great Horned Owl are songs which in all probability produce reflective moods in these naturally wise-looking nocturnal prowlers among the feathered tribe. The predaceous forms delight in shrill, piercing cries, while the graminivorous ones habitually modulate their voices. Aside from taking life very seriously, many birds seem to be imbuetl at times with a spirit of fun. The Meadow Lark will sometimes start out with a plaintive call, and after attracting its mate wmII go off into SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 53 a paroxysm of laughter, as it were. Other birds, notably the domestic cock, will call up to himself hens and chicks to partake of some sup- posed dainty morsel, and then slap his leg with his wing and laugh at the practical joke he has perpetrated. With these miscellaneous and general remarks about birds as an in- troduction, and for the uninitiated, it will be more to the point in the present paper to speak of the practical side of the subject. Quoting from a paper by Professor S. A. Forbes, who has done much in the study of birds and their direct relation to man, we have the following: "Excluding the inhabitants of the great seas, birds are the most abundant of the Vertebrata, occupying in this great sub- kingdom the same prominent position that insects do among inverte- brate animals." This position of the two groups in their respective divisions of the animal life of the globe cannot be due simply to chance. There must be some connection between them. Let us see. In my former reports, to both this Society and to the State Board of Agriculture, it has been shown time and again that not only are the distinct kinds of insects almost myriads in number, but also that the individuals of each species are incalculable. That their powers of re- production are simply wonderful, being limited only by the amount of food available, etc. Now, the disproportionate number of birds on the other hand, with "their universal distribution, the remarkable lo- comotive»power which enables them readily to escape unfavorable con- ditions, and their higher rate of life, requiring for their maintenance an amount of food relatively enormous," give to them a significance which few seem ever to have realized. While naturally birds are quite numerous both in species and individuals, their greatest enemy, man, has so depleted their ranks in many localities that they have be- come scarce. Perhaps few of us have ever thought much about what birds eat. Yet those who have studied these creatures assure us that a very large per cent of their food, possibly fully three-fourths, consists of insects. Even those species which are classed as graminivorous, during the summer months from choice partake chiefly of an insect diet. Careful estimates of three conservative ornithologists have placed the bird-life of Illinois at three birds per acre during the six summer months. Now, if we place their number for Nebraska at one and one-half birds to each acre during a similar period, we would have in 54 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. round numbers about 75,000,000 of birds. If, as has been estimated, tliree-fourtlis of the food of this host of l)irds shoukl consist of in- sects, what would this mean? A very conservative estimate as to the number of insects eaten daily by each bird can be set down at twenty- five.* This being true, it would take one billion eight hundred and seventy-five millions of insects for a single day's rations for our birds during any one of the 175 days of summer. If these insects were spread out at the average of ten thousand to the acre, a day's work of our birds would mean the complete clearing of 18,750 acres. Professor Forbes says: "On this basis, if the operations of the birds were to be suspended, the rate of increase of these insect hosts would be accelerated about seventy per cent, and their numbers, in- stead of remaining year by year at the present average figure, would be increased over two-thirds each year. Any one familiar with geo- metrical ratios will understand the inevitable result. In the second year we should find insects nearly three times as numerous as now, and in about twelve years if this increase were not otherwise checked, we should have the entire state carpeted with insects, one to the square inch over our whole territory." f What would be true in Illinois would apply equally well for Nebraska. More than twenty-five years ago Benjamin Walsh, the first state entomologist of Illinois, estimated the damage done by insects in that state at twenty million dollars annually. Again splitting these fig- ures in the middle and allowing only half as much for our state, or ten million dollars. Supposing that by some means or other we could increase tlie efficiency of our birds only one per cent, the saving that would result could be plainly set down at $100,000. This increase in the efficiency of our birds, like all other estimates, is very low. Sup- posing it should be five per cent instead, then the saving would be an even half million dollars annually. The si)aring of a single bird an- nually for each inhabitant of the state would more than meet the above estimates. Even if birds do destroy alike the injurious and the parasitic insects, * These figures, large as they seem, are much too small. Most birds eat at least two meals each day, and the stomach contents of all birds examined by those en- {ra'^ed in the stndy of their food-habits would indicate that seventy-five or a hun- dred insects per day would be more nearly correct. t Bulletin of the Illinois .State Laboratory of Natural History. Vol. I, No. 3, p. 81. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 55 no dire result will follow. It is not from the depredations of the masses of insect species that we lose our crops or suffer severe losses in a single direction; but on the contrary, from the few that at times become abnormally numerous. This being true, the birds naturally turn their attention to these latter for the bulk of their food supply. We may infer from this statement then that even a bird is not fool enough to ignore a plentiful food supply for that which is difficult to obtain. While a very large per cent of our birds retire toward the south as winter approaches, a few of the species remain with us over winter. Of course these that remain must be fed, and if left to themselves they will find that food. Most of them now change to a vegetable diet of which they find a plentiful store in the numerous weeds and other, to man, useless seeds that lie strewn about the country everywhere. These seeds, which are quite rich in oils, give the necessary fuel supply and energy that warm the small snow-buntings and sustain their powers as they hurl themselves into the very teeth of the arctic blasts when the thermometer registers many degrees below zero. Even here the birds befriend the tiller of the soil by searching out and destroying the seeds of many a noxious weed that would quickly grow up and occupy the ground to the disadvantage or destruction of that which is being cul- tivated. There are instances where a bird may be harmful during one part of the year and exceedingly beneficial during the remainder. In such cases, if we apply business principles, we will carefully estimate both sides of the account before a summary settlement is made by destroy- ing the bird. He is a poor business man who pays ten dollars for that which he knows must later be sold for fifteen cents, or even less. Yet I have known of instances where a robin that had saved ten to fifteen bushels of apples that were worth a dollar per bushel, by clearing the tree from canker worms in spring, was shot when he simply pecked one of the apples that he had saved for the grateful or ungrateful fruit- grower. Some persons would gladly sell cherries to their neighbors at the rate of ten cents per quart, but would refuse to let a bird have them at ten cents apiece after they had been paid for in advance. The ordinary Hed-headed Woodpecker, which is almost universally credited with being an insect destroyer, has been found by actual ex- amination to take more corn and other vegetable food than is taken by any of the thrushes — birds which most of us brand as rascals. 56 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Some birds, but tliese are comparatively few, are harmful through- out the year; i. e., their food-habit is such as to count against them when the ledger is balanced. Two of our hawks, the Blue Jay and English Sparrow will fall in this category, but aside from these it would not be safe to begin killing birds indiscriminately, for in so do- ing we might be injuring ourselves financially. It is true that reports have reached us at the University of Ne- braska to the effect that certain birds like the blackbirds, Robin, Brown Thrush, English Sparrow, and orioles had done great injury by pecking apples full of holes as they hung on the trees. It has also reached us that these same birds had occasionally been observed to destroy certain injurious insects. On the following pages is given as nearly a complete list of the dif- ferent species and varieties of Nebraska birds as could at this time be compiled from the data available. While it has been impossible to give an account of the food-habits of each one separately, or even of each group fully, I trust that in most cases sufficient has been said to warrant the reader in looking into the subject more closely for himself before he ruthlessly kills birds about whicii he knows nothing or but little. lu certain special cases where birds have been known to attack fruit and other crops the food-habits, along with other notes, will be found in connection with the bird's name at its proper place in the list. In closing this preliminary chapter to a list of our Nebraska birds, it might be well to suggest that the subject is of sufficient importance to call for its being taught in our public schools to a limited extent at least. We should have a "Bird" day just as we have an "Arbor" day, and a "Flag" day, when suitable exercises should be held com- memorative of the occasion. It might also be well to add that we have laws in this state against the indiscriminate slaughter of birds wiiich it might be worth know- ing about. These will be found incorporated in the appendix to the list which follows. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA. BIRDS. 57 A LIST OF NEBRASKA BIRDS, TOGETHER WITH NOTES ON THEIR ABUNDANCE, MIGRATIONS, BREEDING, FOOD-HABITS, ETC. Nebraska appears to be well fitted as a home for many distinct forms of birds, just as it is for the other kinds of animal life. From our studies of these creatures for the past twenty-five years and those of about fifty other persons whose notes we have had for reference, it would appear that although a prairie state, Nebraska has an unusually large bird fauna. These notes show 415 species and subspecies as visiting the state, while there are records of 227 breeding within our borders and more than 100 winter residents. When we learn that only about 780 species are recorded for the whole of North America north of the Mexican boundary, it certainly seems astonishing that from among these we should receive so large a percentage. If, how- ever, we take into consideration the variations in altitude above sea level, the diiferences in surface configuration, climate, etc., that pertain to our state, its location and the relation which it bears to the country at large, perhaps the wonderment will become less. Our southeastern corner is only about 800 feet, our western border almost 6,000 feet above tide water. The state is divided into timbered, prairie and plains regions. We lie nearly in the middle of the United States, with a high mountain chain to the west and a giant waterway along our eastern boundary. In fact in Nebraska meet eastern, western, southern, and northern faunas; while we also have a fauna of our own. We find forms belonging to low and high altitudes, to wet and dry climates, to timbered and prairie countries, as well as to semi-desert and alkali regions. Order PYGOPODES.— The Diving Birds. Family PODICIPIDiE.— The Grebes. The grebes feed chiefly upon snails and other aquatic animals, such as are found in and about their haunts. They also destroy grass- hoppers and such other insects as come across their path. They cannot 5 58 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. be set down as injurious, neitlier can they be termed beneficial, on account of their food-habits. 1. .fflchmophorus occidentalis {Laior.). — Western Grebe. Cut-ofl' lake near Omaha (L. Skow); "North Platte, common migrant in spring and fall" (M. K. Barnum). 2. Colymbus holbcellii (Reinh.). — American Red-necked Grebe. Reported and taken at Alda, Nebr., rare (Bull. 2, U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Ornith.); North America (Ridgeway). Fig. 1. — Horned Grebe. 3. Colymbus aiiritus imn.— Horned Grebe. West Point, Nebr., common (L. Bruner) ; "Migratory, rare" (Taylor); "Northern hemisphere" (Goss); northern portions of northern hemisphere (Ridgeway); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); "a common breeder in alkali lakes of Cherry connty, .Tune 20-30" (T. S. Trostler). 4. Colymbus nigricollis californicus {Heerm.). — American Eared Grebe. Throughout the state, especially along larger streams and lakes (L. Brnner); "Rather abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant, arrive in SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 5^ May and September (Taylor); " Western North America, east to the Mississippi river" (Goss); east to the Mississippi valley (Ridgeway); Omaha — breeding (L, Skow); a common migrant — a few breeding in Florence and Cut-ofF lakes near Omaha (I. S. Trostler). 6. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn.). — Pied-billed Grebe; Hell- diver; Dabchick. Common over most of the state (L. Bruner); " Migratory, rare " (Taylor); "British Provinces southward into South America" (Goss); The whole of America (Ridgeway); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "an abundant migrant and common breeder " (I. S. Trostler). Family URINATORIDiE.— The Loons. 7. Urinator imber (Gunn.). — Loon. West Point, Nebr. , Omaha, Nebr. (L. Bruner); not common, "Migratory, common, arrive the first of April and in September and October" (Taylor); "Northern part of the northern hemisphere" (Goss); Omaha, Rockport (L. Skow); Lincoln (Brezee); "Migrant, not rare " (I. S. Trostler). 11. Urinator lumme (Gunn.). — Red-throated Diver. Missouri river at Omaha (L. Skow); "a rare migrant, one killed on the- Missouri river near Bellevue, Sept. 28, 1894" (L S. Trostler). Family STERCORARIID-ai.— Skuas and Jaegers. 36. Stercorarius pomarinus [Temm.). — Pomarine Jaeger. "Twice seen in Nebraska" (Aughey); "one shot at North Platte, Nov. II, 1895" (M. K. Barnum); " Seas and inland waters of northern portions of the northern hemisphere, south in winter to Africa, Australia, and probably South. America (A. O. U. Check List). Order LONGIPENNES. — The Long- winged Swimmers.. Family LARIDiE. — Gulls and Terns. The gulls, on account of their long wings and powers for flight, are not confined to the sea coast, hence they reach far inland in their mi- grations, feeding extensively upon insects like locusts, June beetles, crickets, etc., large numbers of which they destroy. Several kinds of these birds are known to follow the plow and pick up large numbers- of white-grubs and other insects that are laid bare. In early days, when grasshoppers did much harm in this state, large flocks of these birds were seen to feed upon the insects. 60 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 47. Larus marinus Linn. — Great Black-racked Gull. "I ouly saw this bird once in Nebraska, and then it was dead. Some Win- nebago Indians brought one to Dakota City in May, 1871 " (Aughey). 61a. Larus argentatus smithsonms Cones. — Herring Gull. Kockport, Nebr. , West Point, Nebr. (L. Bruner); northeastern Nebraska (Aughey); " Common during spring migration " (Taylor); " North America in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); "a rare migrant, April 15, 18}»4 " (L S. Trostler). 54. Larus delawarensis OrcZ.— Ring-billed Gull. Migrant spring and foil, West Point, Omaha, and Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Rather common in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Migratory, common, arrive from May till July" (Taylor); "North America at large" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Dakota City, Wood River (D. H. Talbot); "not uncommon as a migrant at Omaha " (I. S. Trostler). 58. Larus atricilla Linn. — Laughing Gull. Alda, Nebr. (Bull. No. 2,U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Ornith.); Omaha (L. Skow) 59. Larus franklinii Sw. & Rich. — Franklin's Gull. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Large numbers here during the spring and fall migrations" (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant, arrive in April, May, September, and October " (Taylor); " Interior of North America '' (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Genoa (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, common migrant (I. S. Trostler). 60. Larus Philadelphia (Ord). — Bonaparte's Gull. Lincoln, Nebr. (W. D. Hunter); "The whole of North America" (Goss); Lincoln, Nov. 3d (A. Eiche). -62. Xema sabinii (Sab.). — Sabine's Gull. "A rare visitant, south in winter to Kansas" (Goss). ^64. Sterna tsehegrava Lepech. — Caspian Tern. Lincoln, spring 1893 (Dr. F. L. Riser). 69. Sterna forsteri Nutt. — Forster's Tern. West Point, Swan lake, Lincoln — breeds in Sand Hills (L. Bruner); "Dixon county. May, 1871" (Aughey); "Migratory, rare, arrive about the first of May" (Taylor); " North America generally " (Goss); Cherry county — breeds" (J. M. Bates); Gage county (A. Colby); Omaha, "a not uncommon migrant," " Several pairs seen in Cherry county June 20 to 30, where they probably breed " (I. S. Trostler); Fairbury (Dr. M. L. Eaton). 70. Sterna hirundo iinn. — Common Tern; Sea Swallow. Lincoln, West Point (L. Bruner); "Migratory, rare, arrive about the first of .May" (Taylor); "Migratory, very rare" (Goss, Birds of Kansas); Omaha (L. Skow). SOME NOTES OX NEBRASKA BIRDS. 61 71. Sterna paradisaea {Brilnn). — Arctic Tern. "Only saw a few of these terns in Dixon county, in May, 1866 " (Aughey). 74. Sterna antillarum (Less.). — Least Tern. West Point, Nebr. (L. Bruner) ; " Rather common in Nebraska " (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant; summer resident, not uncommon " (Taylor); "North America, northward to California and New England" (Goss); Omaha — breed- ing (L. Skow); Peru, abundant— probably breeds (G. A. Coleman); "A few seen around Cut-off lake near Omaha during summer of 1893" (I. S. Trostler). 77. Hydrchelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmel.). — Black Tern. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Holt county, Platte river (L. Bruner); "Breeds here" (Aughey); "Migratory, common; summer resident, rare: arrive about the first of May and in October" (Taylor); "Temperate North America" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Swan lake, Holt county (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "A common migrant and not an uncommon summer resident — breeds" (I. S. Trostler). OuDER STEGANOPODES.— ToTiPALMATE Swimmers. Family ANHINGID^.— Darters. 118. Anhinga anhinga (i^mn.). — Anhinga, Snake Bird. An accidental visitor — based on a single specimen that was .shot several years ago within a few miles of Omaha and mounted by F. J. Brezee (L. Bruner). Family PHALACROCORACIDJE.— Cormorants. 120. Phalacrocorax dilophus {Sioaiyi.). — Double-crested Cor- morant. Florence lake (J. Budd); Cut-off lake (F. J. Brezee); West Point (L. Braner); '■ Perhaps passing through the state in April and November " (Tay- lor); "South in winter to the Gulf coast" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "migrant, not rare" (I. S. Trostler). 120a. Phalacrocorax dilophus floridanus (Aud.). — Florida Cormorant. West Point, Omaha, Platte river, Lincoln (L. Bruner); Omaha (F. J. Brezee). 121. Phalacrocorax mexicanus {Brandt). — Mexican Cormo- rant. North in the interior to Kansas and southern Illinois (A. O. U. Check List); Reported in spring from West Point, Cuming county, by a friend (L. Bruner). ^2 >EBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Family PELECANIDiE.— Pelicans. 125. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmel. — American White Pelican. Numeroas localities (L. Bruner); " Frequently seen in Nebraska during its migrations" (Augbey); " Migratory, abundant, arrive in April, May, October, and November " (Taylor); "Temperate Nortb America" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "migratory, not uncommon" (I. S. Trostler). 126. Pelecanus fuscus Linn. — Brown Pelican. St. Paul, Nebr., Oct. 10, 1885, one male specimen (D. H. Talbot); Honey Creek lake, near Omaha, in spring, "Saw fragments of six specimens in hog-pen where they had been thrown by the man who shot them " (L. Skow). Order ANSERES. — Short- winged Swimmers or Ducks, Geese, etc. Family ANATID.^. — Ducks, Brants, Geese, Swans. 129. Merganser americanus {Cass.). — American Merganser. West Point, Omaha, Platte river, and Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Migratory, rare, arrive the last of April or first of May" (Taylor); "The whole of North America" (Go^s); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); "Omaha, migratory, common" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln (Dr. F. L. Riser). 130. Merganser serrator {Linn.). — Red Breasted Merganser. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Platte river (L. Bruner); "Winter resident, rare" (Taylor); "south in winter throughout the United States" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); "Omaha, migratory, several killed on Florence lake in 1894" (I. S. Trostler). 131. Lophodytes cucuUatus (X^w??.). — Hooded Merganser. West Point, Omaha, Fremont, Holt county, Rockport, South Bend, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Winter re.sident, somewhat common; resident, rare'' (Taylor); North America in general " (Goss) ; Omaha (L. Skow) ; Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); "Occasionally seen in summer around lakes in Burt and Washington counties" (I. S. Trostler). 132. Anas boschas Linn. — Mallard. Common over state — breeds (L. Bruner); 'Very abundant in Nebraska dur- ing its migrations; many also breed here" (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant; resident, common" (Taylor); "Whole of Northern hemisphere" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); .several Nebra.ska localities (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "an abundant migrant, rare breeder in vicinity of Omaha, but common breeder in Cherry county" (I. S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 63 133. Anas obscura Gmel. — Black Duck; Dusky Duck. Once at West Point {L. Bruner); occasional in market in Omaha (L. Bruner); Lincoln, occasionally (W. D. Hunter); "Occurs sparingly in Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Migratory, common, arrive the last of March or first of April" (Taylor); "Eastern North America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); not rare as a migrant — seen in company with the mallard at Omaha" (I. S. Trost- ler). 135. Anas strepera Linn. — Gad wall. West Point, Swan lake, Lincoln, Omaha — breeding in Holt county ( L. Bruner); "Migratory, common, probably breeds in Nebraska" (Taylor); "Northern hemisphere in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); a common migrant (I. S. Trostler). 136. Anas penelope Linn. — Widgeon. A single specimen at West Point years ago, also seen in Omaha markets on rare occasions (L. Bruner). Fig. 2. — Green-winged Teal. 137. Anas americana Gmel. — Baldpate; American Widgeon. A common duck over all Nebraska — West Point, Norfolk, Neligh, Holt county, Platte river, Omaha, etc. (L. Bruner); "Migratory, common, arrive the last of March or first of April" (Taylor); "North America in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); " Omaha, a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 139. Anas carolinensis Gmel. — Green- winged Teal. West Point, Holt county, Norfolk, Dakota county, Omaha, Platte river, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Very abundant in Nebraska during its migrations" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant, arrive in April and September" (Taylor); " North America in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county ( J. M. 64 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICUI^TURAI. SOCIETY. Bates); Genoa, Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A.Colby); Omaha, "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 140, Anas discors Linn. — Blue-winged Teal. A common summer resident over most of the state — numerous localities (L. Bruuer); found in Nebraska (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant; summer resident, rare— arrive in May" (Taylor); "North America in general, but chiefly east of the Rocky mountains " (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha- breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county— breeding (J. M. Bates); Genoa, O'Neill (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby): Omaha, an abundant migrant and common breeder over state" (I. S. Trostler). HI. Anas cyanoptera \uilL — Cinnamon Teal. West Point, Omaha, Niobrara (L. Bruner); Grand Island, Florence (F. J. Brezee); "Occasional visitant" (Bull. No. 2, U. S. Div. Ornith); "In North America east to the plains, and casual to Florida and Manitoba" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county— rare (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a rare mi- grant—seen in company with Blue-winged Teal" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln (Dr. F. L. Riser). 142. Spatula clypeata {Linn.). — Shoveller Duck. Common summer resident over state, numerous localities (L. Bruner); "Oc- casionally met with in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Migratory, sometimes common, arrive about the first of April, a few may breed in the state (Taylor) ; " North- ern hemisphere in general "(Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common— may breed (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); Elm Creek (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, a common migrant, breeding in Cherry county" (I. S. Trostler). 143. Dafila acuta {Linn.). — Pintail; Sprigtail. A common migrant, West Point, Norfolk, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "common in Nebraska, especially during its migrations " (Aughey); "Migra- tory, abundant, arrive in March and first of April" (Taylor); "Northern hemi- sphere in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, migrant (G. A. Coleman), Cherry county— breeding (J. M. Bates); Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "an abundant migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 144. Aix sponsa {Linn.). — AVood Duck; Summer Duck. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Oakdale (L. Bruner); "Rather abundant in Nebraska and breeds here" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrive the first of April and stay till October" (Taylor); "The whole of temperate North America" (Goss); Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Genoa, O'Neill (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a com- mon migrant and summer resident in vicinity of Omaha" (I. S. Trostler). 146. Aythya americana {J^yt.). — Red-head Duck. West Point, Holt county, Lyons, Blair, Omaha, South Bend, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner) ; "Migratory, common, arrive in April and May, September and Octo- ber" (Taylor); "North America in general" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 65 Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeding (J. M. Bates) ; Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby) ; "Omaha, an abundant migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 147. Aythya vallisneria ( Wils.). — Canvas-back Duck. West Point, Lyons, Lincoln, Omaha (L. Bruner); "Migratory, sometimes abundant" (Taylor); " North America in general " (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county— rare (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "an irreguair migrant, some years abundant and others rare " (I. S. Trostler). 148. Ay thya marila nearctica Siejn. — Blue-bill; Scaup Duck. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Probably migratory, rare " (Tay- lor); "North America in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare mi- grant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a common mi- grant" (I. S. Trostler). 149. Aythya affinis (-%<■)• — Little Blue-bill; Lesser Scaup Duck. West Point, Holt county, Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Migratory, common, arrive in April (Taylor); "North America in General" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a common migrant" (L S. Trostler). 150. Aythya collaris {Donov.). — Ring-necked Duck. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Probably migratory and not uncommon" (Taylor); "North America in general " (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, " a not uncommon migrant" (L S. Trostler). 151. Glaucionetta clangula americana {Bonap.). — Golden- eye ; Whistler. Omaha, Lyons (L. Bruner); Omaha, Grand Island (F. J. Brezee); "Migra- tory, common, arrive in April and May" (Taylor); " North America in gen- eral" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a not uncommon migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 152. Glaucionetta islandica (G^me/.)-— Harrow's Golden-eye; E,0CKY-M0UNTAIN WhISTLER. Long Pine (L. Bruner); Grand Island (F. J. Brezee); Omaha, "a rare mi- grant in company with American Golden-eye" (I. S. Trostler). 153. Charitonetta albeola {Linn.). — Butterball; Buffle- HEAD; Spirit Duck. West Point, Norfolk, Lyons, Blair, Omaha, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner); " along the Missouri and its tributaries in Nebraska" (Aughey); " Migratory, com- mon " (Taylor); "North America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a not un- common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 66 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 154. Clangula hyemalis (imn.).— OldSquaw Duck. Omaha market, lake near Blair, Nebr. (L. Bruner). 155. Histrionicus histrionicus {Linn.). — Harlequin Duck. a specimen was obtained in Omaha market from among birda said to have been shot in Burt county (L. Bruner); Omaha, "a rare migrant, two seen which were killed on the Missouri river, Sept. 16, 1893, one also killed Sept. 19, 1895, on Florence lake" (I. S. Trostler). 165. Oidemia deglandi Bonap. — White-avinged Scoter. Tekamah or some point in Burt or Washington counties (F. J. Brezee). 166. Oidemia perspicillata {Linn.). — Surf Scoter. "South in winter to Jamaica, Florida, Ohio river, Kansas, and Lower Cali- fornia" (Goss). Three birds that without doubt belong here were shot on "Salt Lake" near Lincoln, November, 1895, by students of the University. The specimens were unfortunately picked and cooked before their value was known (L. Bruner). 167. Erismatura rubida ( IFi/s.).— Ruddy Duck. Numerous localities in the state (L. Bruner); "Rather common along the Missouri during its migrations" (Aughey); " Migratory, common, arrive in May and October" (Taylor); "North America in general" (Gtoss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a very irregular migrant" (L S. Trostler). 169. Chen hyperborea {Pall.). — Lesser Snow Goose. West Point, Lincoln, Ashland (L. Bruner); "Migratory, abundant, arrive in April and in October" (Taylor); "East to the Mississippi valley" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); a number of localities on Platte river (D. H. Talbot); an abundant migrant in company with Canada and Hutchin's geese" (I. S. Trostler). 169a. Chen hyperborea nivalis {Forst). — Greater Snow Goose. Occasional on Platte and Missouri rivers, West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "Abundantin Nebraska during its migrations" (Aughey); Omaha (L. Skow); "a common migrant " (I. S. Trostler). 169. 1. Chen coerulescens {Linn). — Blue Goose. West I'oint, Omaha, Ashland (L. Bruner); "Migratory in fall, common; winter resident, rare; arrive October 1 and leave about the middle of Decem- ber " (Taylor); "Interior of North America, east of the Kocky mountains" (Goss) ; Omaha (L. Skow); Gibbon, Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, "a not common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 171a. Anser albifrons gambeli {Hard.). — American White- fronted Goose. West Point, Platte river (L. Bruner); "Migratory, common, arrive about the first of March" (Taylor); "North America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); SOME KOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 67 Omaha, "a common migrant, the first goose in spring" (I. S. Trostler); Wood River, Gibbon, Elm Creek, and Grand Island (D. H. Talbot). 172. Branta canadensis (Linn.). — Canada Goose. West Point, Omaha, Lyons, Lincoln, South Bend, etc. (L. Bruner); " Migra- tory, somewhat common; summer resident, rare" (Taylor); "Temperate North America "(Goss); Omaha (L. Skovv); Peru, common — migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); numerous localities in central part of state (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, "a very abundant migrant" (I. S. Trostler); "very abundant in Nebraska, and occasionally breeds here" (Aughey). 172a. Branta canadensis hutchinsii (Rich.). — Hutchin's Goose. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "Migratory, abundant, arrives in April" (Taylor); "South in winter chiefly through the Mississippi valley" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow) ; Cherry county (J. M, Bates); Omaha, "a common migrant" (L S. Trostler). 173. Branta bernicla {Liyin.). — Brant; Bernicle Goose. In Omaha gun store, said to have been shot on Platte river (L. Skow); Omaha, "a not very rare migrant, saw three that were killed on the Missouri river, Nov. 9, 1895 — sportsmen say they are commonest in/aZ/" (I. S. Trostler). 180. Olor columbianus (Ord). — Whistling Swan. West Point, North Bend, Ashland, Lincoln, etc. — formerly bred in Holt county (L. Bruner); "Probably migratory, rare " (Taylor); "North America in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, "a rare migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 181. Olor buccinator (Rich.). — Trumpeter Swan. Platte river (L. Bruner) ; " Rare in Nebraska " (Aughey); " Migratory, rare, arrives in April and October" (Taylor); "chiefly the interior of North Amer- ica" (Goss); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Grant county (J. D. Knight); Omaha, "a rare migrant" (I. S. Trostler). Order HERODIONES. — Herons, Storks, Ibises, etc. Family IBID.ffi. — Ibises. 186. Plegadis autumnalis {Hasselq.). — Glossy Ibis. Omaha (F.J. Brezee); "wandering northward to New England and Illi- nois. In America only locally abundant and of irregular distribution " (A. O. U. Check List). 187. Plegadis guarauna {Linn.). — White -faced Glossy Ibis. Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, "a straggler was killed on Florence lake, Aug. 19, 1893 (I. S. Trostler); Clarks, Nebr. (Frank Parmalee). 68 nebraska state hohticui.tural society. Family CICONIID^.— Storks and Wood Ibises. 188. Tantalus loculator Linn. — Wood Ibis. a rare, irregular straggler, if the reports of several persons, the names of whom cannot be recalled at this moment, can be relied upon ( L. Bruner). Family ARDEID.^. —Herons, Bitterns, etc. 190. Botaurus lentiginosus {Monlag,). — Bittern; Thunder Pumper. West Point, Holt county, Lincoln, Platte river — breeds in state (L. Bruner); "Occasionally seen in Nebraska " (Aughey); "summer resident, common, ar- rives in April and leaves in October " (Taylor); "The whole of temperate and tropical North America" (Goss); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River, O'Neill, Hartington (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, a common migrant, but uncommon summer resident (I. S. Trostler). 191. Ardetta exilis (Gmelin). — Least Bittern. West Point, Lincoln— breeding at West Point (L. Bruner); "The whole of temperate North America" (Goss); Omaha— nesting (L. Skow); Peru, abun- dant — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "an abun- dant migrant and a common summer resident " (L S. Trostler). 194. Ardea herodias Linn. — Great Blue Her(w. West Point, Norfolk, Florence, Blair, Lincoln, etc. — breeding at West Point (L. Bruner); "occasionally seen in Nebraska" (Aughey): "migratory, some- times common, more abundant in the fall than spring" (Taylor); "North America from the Arctic regions southward" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Oakdale, Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a common migrant and not uncommon resident" (I. S. Trostler). 196. Ardea egretta Gmelin. — Great White Egret. Richardson county. May, 1873 (Samuel Aughey); "North casually to the British provinces" (Goss); Nebraska City, Florence lake (L. Skow); "a strag- gler was killed near Omaha, July 12, 1894" (L S. Trostler). 197. Ardea candidissima Gmelin. — Snowy Heron; Little White Egret. Reported from southeastern Nebraska — not rare (L. Bruner); "Otoe and Richardson counties" (Aughey); "From the northern United Stiites to Chili " (Goss); " Straggler, one was killed near Fremont, Sept. 4, 1893" (I. S. Trost- ler). 200. Ardea coerulea Linn. — Little Blue Heron. Omaha (?) (Brezee); occasional in south part of state (L. Bruner); " Probably not an uncommon summer resident" (Taylor); "Casually north to Massachu- setts, Illinois, Kansas, etc." (Goss); Butler county, on Platte river (Dr. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 69 Peebles) ; " Rare in tlie vicinity of Omaha, but a colony breed annually thirty miles north of here " (I. S. Trostler). 201. Ardea virescens (i^»m.). — Green Heron; Poke. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Oakdale, etc. — common, breeds (L. Bruner); " Probably not an uncommon summer resident " (Taylor) ; " The whole of tem- FiG. 3. — Green Heron : Poke. perate North America" (Goss); Beatrice — nesting, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "not rare as a summer resident " (I. S. Trostler). 202. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Bodd.). — Black- crowned Night Heron. West Point, Oakland, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Nearly the whole of America except the Arctic regions " (Goss); Omaha— nesting (L. Skow); Peru, not uncommon — may breed (G. A. Coleman); Bow creek, Nebr. (D. H. Tal- bot); "Straggler, saw one that was killed Sept. 3, 1894, near Cut-off lake" (I. S. Trostler). 203. Nycticorax violaceus (Zinn.).— Yellow-croavned Night Heron. Reported from Platte river— a single specimen seen from Valley (L. Bruner); " Probaby a rare summer resident " (Taylor); " Breeding regularly north into Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, etc. (Goss); "A rare summer resident" (L S. Trostler). 70 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Order PALUDICOL/E. — Cranes, Rails, etc. Family GRUID^.— Cranes. 204. Grus americana {Linn.). — Whooping Crane. West Point, Craig, Holt county, Omaha, etc. (L. Brunei); "Occasionally seen in northern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Migratory, somewhat common" (Tay- lor); "Interior of North America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skew); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Grand Island (F. J. Brezee); Elm Creek, Wolf creek (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 205. Grus canadensis {Linn.). — Little Brown Crane. " Migrating south through western United States, east of the Rocky mount- ains" (Goss); West Point, Scribner, Nebr. (L. Brunei); Omaha (L. Skow). 206. Grus mexicana {MlllL). — Sandhill Crane. Omaha, West Point, Lyons, Holt county, Platte river — breeding in Holt county (L. Bruner); " Rather abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant, arrive in March and in the fall " (Taylor); " From the Mississippi valley to the Pacific coast" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A.Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); numerous localities (D. H. Talbot); "A common migrant, observed breeding one-half mile north of state line — five young in nest owned by two females and one male " (I. S. Trostler). Family RALLIDiE. — Rails, Gallinules, and Coots. 208. Rallus elegans Aud. — King Rail. West Point, Omaha, P]lkhorn (L. Bruner); "Southeastern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare, arrives in May" (Taylor); "Fresh water marshes of eastern, southern, and middle United States" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); "Summer resident — breeds in June" (L S. Trostler). 212. Rallus virginianus Linn. — Virginia Rail. West Point, Oakland, Plattsmouth (L. Bruner); "Migratory, abundant, may breed in the state" (Taylor); "The whole of temperate North America" (Go.ss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "An abundant mi- grant — probably breeds" (I. S. Trostler). 214. Porzana Carolina {Linn.). — Sora Rail; Carolina Rail, West Point, Oakland, Holt county — breeding, Omaha, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner); "Have seen this bird but once in Nebraska — Richardson county" (Aughey); " Whole of temperate North America ' (Goss); Omaha — nesting(L. Skow); Peru, common — may breed (G. A. Coleman); Cherry connty — breeds (J. M. Bates); Ponca, Ewing, O'Neill (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "A not uncommon migrant — probably breeds" (I. S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 71 215. Porzana noveboracensis ( (rme^m). — Yellow Rail. Omaha iu market, Bellevue (L. Bruner); "North America, breeding chiefly northward (Goss). Fig. 4. — Virginia Rail. 216. Porzana jamaicensis (G^me/m). — Black Rail. West Point, Omaha markets (L. Bruner); southeastern Nebraska (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith); "Eare in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare" (Taylor); "North to Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Oregon" (Goss). 218. lonornis martinica (Linn.). — Purple Gallinule. Once at West Point (L. Bruner). 219. Gallinula galeata (LichL). — Florida Gallinule. Omaha, Platte river (L. Bruner); "Sent to me from Beatrice in Sept., 1872 " (Aughey); "North to the British provinces" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. 72 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIP^TY, Skow); "A common migrant and summer resident — breeds in June" (I. S. Trostler). 221, Fulica americana Gmelin. — Coot; Mud Hen. Over entire state, common, breeds (L. Bruner); " often seen in Nebraska " (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant, found in the state from the first of May till the last of September" (Taylor); "The whole of North America" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); O'Neill, Harding (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "Abundant migrant, formerly a com- mon breeder in vicinity of Omaha, still so in Cherry county " (I. S. Trostler). Order LIMICOL^.— Shore Birds. Family PHALAROPODID^.— Phalaropes. 223. Phalaropus lobatus {Linn.). — Northern Phalarope. Alda. Nebr. (Bull. No. 2, U. S. Dept. Agric, Div. Ornith.); D. A. Haggard took a specimen at Lincoln in May; "Northern portion of northern hemi- sphere, -south iu winter to Guatemala" (Goss); ''a rare migrant, Omaha" (I. S. Trostler). 224. Phalaropus tricolor ( Vieill.). — Wilson's Phalarope. West Point, Holt county, Fremont, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Common in eastern Nebraska" ( Aughey j; " Migratory, common, found in the state from last of April till September " (Taylor) ; " Temperate North America, but chiefly in the interior" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare migrant (G. A. Cole- man); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Omaha "' an abundant migrant " (I. S. Trostler); Fullerton, Nance county (C. E. Barker). Family RECURVIROSTRIDJE.— Avocets and Stilts. 225. Recurvirostra americana Gmelin. — American Avocet. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "in the vicinity of ponds, lakelets, and streams" (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant, summer resident rare" (Taylor); "Temperate North America, abundant in the interior" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River (D. H. Talbot); "an abundant migrant, breeds in Dewey Lake Township, Cherry county" (L S. Trostler). 226. Himantopus mexicanus {Midi.). — Black-necked Stilt. Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, "an occasional visitor, never common" (I. S. Trostler). Family SCOLOPACID.ai.— Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. 228. Philohela minor {Gmelin). — American Woodcock. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "Occasionally seen in Nebraska, and breeds here" (Aughey); "Migratory, somewhat common; summer resident SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 73 rare" (Taylor); "west to the plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha "migrant, not common; as a resident rare, gradually diminishing in numbers" (I. S. Trostler). 230. Gallinago delicata {07-d}. — Wilson's Snipe. West Point, Lyons, Norfolk, Holt county, Neligh, Omaha, etc. (L. Bruner); " Common in Nebraska during its migrations" (Aughey); " Migratory, abun- dant, arrives in April, September, and October" (Taylor); "The whole of North America" (Goss); Fairbury (M. L. Eaton); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — remains throughout win- ter at Long Pine (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "an abundant migrant" (L S. Trost- ler); Sioux county, Dec, 1895 (L. Bruner); Feb. 24, 26, 1896 (W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). 231. Macrorhamphus griseus {Gmelin). — Dowitcher; Red- breasted Snipe. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Abundant during its migra- tions" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant, arrives in May, September, and October" (Taylor); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 232. Macrorhamphus scolopaceus (Say). — Long-billed Dow- itcher. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Migratory, somewhat rare, has been found in April" (Taylor); "North America in general, but chiefly in the western provinces" (Goss); Cherry county (J. M, Bates); Omaha, " a not un- common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 233. Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.). — Stilt Sandpiper. West l^oint, Omaha, Lincoln, Holt county (L. Bruner); "West to the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, " a not uncommon migrant" (L S. Trostler). 234. Tringa canutus Linn. — Knot ; Robin Snipe. "Occasionally seen in Nebraska" (Aughey); Nebraska (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith.); "Migratory, rare, has been seen in October" (Taylor); Omaha, " a very rare migrant, one killed on Missouri river by a gunner Sept. 30, 1893 " (I. S. Trostler). 239. Tringa maculata VieitL — Pectoral Sandpiper; Jack Snipe. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Migratory, common — the records of the Normal Science Society show its arrival as early as April 12" (Taylor); "Nearly the whole of America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 6 74 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 240. Tringa fuscicollis Vieil/. — White-rumped Sandpiper; Bo- naparte's Sandpiper. " I have only occasionally seen this bird in Nebraska " ( Aughey) ; Lincoln (D. A. Haggard); "Migratory, rare" (Taylor); "Nearly the whole of America" (Goss); Fairbury (M. L. Eaton); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common, migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a not common migrant" L S. Trostler). 241. Tringa bairdii ( Coues). — Baird's Sandpiper. West Point, Holt county, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Rather common in Ne- braska during its migrations" (Aughey); "Migratory, common, arrive in May and October" (Taylor); "America in general, but chiefly the interior" (Goss); Omaha(L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "rarely seen^ but probably a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 242. Tringa minutilla Vieill. — Least Sandpiper. West Point, Lincoln, Holt county (L. Bruner); "Very abundant in Nebraska during its migrations" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant; arrive in April, September, and October" (Taylor); "America in general" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, "an abundant migrant" (L S. Trostler). 243a. Tringa alpina pacifica(Cbiies). — Red-backed Sandpiper. Lincoln (D. A. Haggard); North America in general (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, "quite common as a migrant in spring" (I. S. Trostler). 246. Eureunetes pusillus (Linn.). — Semi-palmated Sandpiper. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Occasionally present in Nebraska during its migrations " (Aughey); "Migratory, rare, arrive about the first of May" (Taylor); "West during migration to the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 247. Ereunetes occidentalis Lawr. — Western Sandpiper. Omaha (L. Skow). 248. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). — Sanderling. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Nearly cosmopolitan, but breeding only in northern portions of the northern hemisphere" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); North Loup, Nebr. (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, "not rare as a migrant" (L S. Trostler). 249. Limosa fedoa {Linn.). — Marbled God wit. West Point, Holt county (L. Bruner); "Common in Nebraska and breeds here" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant; summer resident, common; arrives in May and September" (Taylor); "North America in general, breeding from Iowa, Dakota, etc. (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Hates); Omaha, "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 75 251. Limosa hsemastica (i^mw.). — Hudsonian Godwit. West Point, Oakland, Lincoln, Holt county (L. Bruner); "Probably occa- sionally found in May" (Taylor); "Nearly the whole of America" (Goss). 254. Totanus melanoleucus (G^^Jie^)- — Greater Yellow-legs. West Point, Norfolk, Neligb, Holt county — breeds, Lincoln, Omaha (L. Bruner); "Abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); " Migratory, common, arrives in April, May, September, and October" (Taylor); "Nearly the whole of Amer- ica" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a common migrant" (L S. Trostler). 255. Totarms flavipes (Gme/.).— Yellow-legs. West Point, Holt county, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner); abundant in Nebraska (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant, arrives in April, September, and October " (Taylor); "The whole of North America" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse) ; Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "an abundant mi- grant" (L S. Trostler). 256. Totanus solitarius ( TF^/s.).— Solitary Sandpiper. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Only seen in Nebraska during its migra- tions" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant; summer resident, common ; arrives in April" (Taylor); " The whole of temperate North Xmerica " (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Pouca (D. H. Tal- bot); Omaha, "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 258a. Symphemia seMipalmata inornata Brewster.— We^terk Willet. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Probably not uncommon in the state" (Taylor); "Western North America, east to the Mississippi valley" (Goss); Omaha (Skow) ; Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); "a common migrant and probably a summer resident in the lake region of north and northwest Ne- braska" (L S. Trostler). 261. Bartramia longicauda (5ecAs^.).— Bartramian Sand- piper; Field Plover. Greater portion of state— breeding (L. Bruner); exceedingly abundant in Nebraska " (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant; summer resident, common; ar- rives in May and September " (Taylor); " Eastern and central North America " (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt— breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— nesting (L. Skow); Peru, rare— probably breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a very common migrant and not uncommon resident, very common in Cherry county in late June, 1895 (L S. Trostler). 262. Tringites subruficollis ( FieiY/.)— Buff-breasted Sand- piper. West Point (L. Bruner); " Rare in Nebraska,— Nebraska City" (Aughey); " Migratory, rare, arrives in May and September " (Taylor) : "North America 76 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTUUAL SOCIETY. in general, especially the interior" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow) ; Lincoln (D. A. Haggard); Gage county (F. A. Colby). 263. Actitis macularia (Linn.). — Spotted Sandpiper. , West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Rather common in Nebraska, especially during its migrations ' (Aughey) ; "Migratory, common; summer resident, probably rare; arrives in May and September" (Taylor); " North America in general" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman): Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "an abundant migrant, and an occasional sum- mer resident" (I. S. Trostler) 264. Numenius longirostris Wils. — Long-billed Curlew. West Point, Holt county, Omaha — breeding in Holt county (L. Bruner); "Formerly abundant in Nebraska — breeds here" (Au;ihey); "Migratory, common; summer resident, rare; arrives in April and September" (Taylor); "The whole of temperate North America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); "A common migrant, and saw young just hatched in Cherry county June 22, 1895" (L S. Trostler). 265. Numenius hudsonicus Lath. — Hudsonian Cueleav. West Point, Holt county (L. Bruner); "Rare in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Nearly the Svhole of North America, breeds from northern Dakota to the Arctic coast " (Goss) ; Omaha (L. Skow). 266. Numenius borealis (ForsL). — Eskimo Curlew. Omaha, West Point (L. Bruner), " in northe^tern Nebraska during its mi- grations" (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant, arrive in April, May, and Octo- ber" (Taylor); "Northern and eastern North America" (Goss); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "A common migrant" (L S. Trostler). Family CHARADRIIDiE.— Plovers. 270. Charadrius squatarola (Xmn.).— Black-bellied Plover. Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Occasionally seen in Nebraska" (Aughey); Lincoln (A. Eiche); "Migratory, rare" (Taylor); "Nearly cosmopolitan" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Alliauce, Atkinson (.J. M. Bates); Omaha, "a not common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 272. Charadrius dominicus JV /*//.— Golden Plover. West Point, Norfolk, Holt county, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Have only seen this plover pass through Nebraska during its migrations" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant, arrives in April, May, September, and October" (Tay- lor); "Nearly the whole of America" (Goss); Genoa (D. H. Talbot); "A com- mon migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 273. ^gialtis vocifera (Lmn.).— Killdeer. Common throughout the state — breeds (L. Bruner); "Sparingly present in Nebra.ska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, arrive in April, May, SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 77 September, and October" (Taylor); "The whole of temperate North America" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— nests (L. Skow) ; Peru — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Genoa, O'Neill, Bow creek (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, an abundant migrant, and a common summer resident" (I. S. Trostler). Fk: -Golden Plover. 274. ^gialtis semipalmata Bonap. — Semipalmated Plover. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Abundant in Nebraska during its spring and fall migrations" (Aughey); " Migratory, common, arrive in May and September" (Taylor); "The whole of North America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, "a common migrant" (I. S. Trostler). 277a. ^gialtis meloda circumcincta Ridgw. — Belted Piping Plover. Lincoln, West Point (L. Bruner); "Common in Nebraska, and breeds here" (Aughey); "Migratory, common; summer resident, occasional; arrives in May and September" (Taylor); "Breeding from northern Illinois and Nebraska, northward" (Goss); Peru, rare migrant (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, "a rare mi- grant" (I. S. Trostler). 278. .^gialtis nivosa Cass. — Snowy Plover. A small flock of what was supposed to be this plover was seen in Holt county in spring of 1885 (L. Bruner); "from California east to Kansas and western Gulf states" (A. O. U. Check List); "quite common as a summer resident in western Nebraska" (a "travelling salesman " through I. S. Trostler). 281. ^gialtis montana (Tomjms.).— Mountain Plover. Sidney, Marsland, Harrison (L. Bruner); "Abundant in Nebraska, especially in the western poitions of the state" (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant in 78 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. western Nebraska; summer resident, common; arrives in May and September" (Taylor); " East into Texas and Dakota" (Goss). Family APHRIZIDJE. — Surf Birds and Turnstones. 283. Arenaria interpres — {Linn.). — Turnstone. Lincoln, on salt basins. May 25th (W. D. Hunter); do., May 16, 1895 (A. Eiche). Fig. 6. — Turnstone. 286. Haematopus palliatus Tonm. — The American Oyster- catcher. Northeastern Nebraska — accidental, a single specimen of this bird is reported as having been shot in spriug of 1889 by a Mr. Chas Vaughn of Vermillion, S. Dak. (Dr. G. S. Agersborg). Order GALLIN^E. — Gallinaceous Birds. Family TETRAONID.^. — Grouse, Partridges, etc. The various members of the present family, while belonging to a grain eating group, are certainly quite prominent as insect destroyers. Especially is this true with respect to the Quail, Prairie Hen, Sharp- tailed Grouse, and Wild Turkey, all of which occupy most of the sum- mer in capturing and destroying vast numbers of sucii insects as are found on the prairies. Grasshopper.-^, locusts, crickets, caterpillars and similar insects thus form the bulk of their insect food, forms that are all among the most numerous as well as destructive species. In SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 79 writing about these birds as insect destroyers Professor Samuel Angbey writes :* "I happened to be in the Republican valley, in southwestern Nebraska, in August, 1874, when the locusts invaded that region. Prairie chickens and quails, that previous to their coming iiad a large number of seeds in their stomachs when dissected, seemed now for a time to abandon all other kinds of food. At least from this on- ward for a month little else than locusts were found in their stomachs. All the birds seemed now to live solely on locusts for a while." In winter and at other times of the year when insect life is scarce and difficult to obtain these birds feed more or less extensively upon seeds and other kinds of vegetation. Some even enter cultivated grounds and seek food that belongs to the farmer, thereby doing more or less direct injury. The extent of such injury, of course, depends upon the number of birds engaged in the depredations, and also on the time over which it is allowed to extend. If corn and other grain is har- vested at the proper time but little damage ensues; but if allowed to remain in the field throughout winter much of the crop is liable to be taken by the birds. 289. Colinus virginianus (imn.).— Bob- white; Quail. Greater part of state — breeds (L. Bruuer); "Common in Nebraska" (Aughej); " Resident, common " (Taylor); " the greater portion of Nebraska" (Bendire); "West to Dakota, Kansas, Indian Territory, and eastern Texas" (Gosa); Beatrice, De Witt — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Elm Creek, Elk Creek, Wood River, Verdigris, etc. (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "formerly an abundant resident, gradually becoming rarer, although still comparatively common, breeds April 15 to Aug. 1 — two to four broods" (I. S. Trostler). Perhaps no other bird that frequents the farm pays higher prices for the grain it eats than does the Quail. Living about the hedge- rows, groves, and ravines, where insect enemies gather and lurk during the greater part of the year, this bird not only seizes large numbers of these enemies daily during the summer months when they are "abroad in the land," but all winter through it scratches among the fallen leaves and other rubbish that accumulates about its haunts seeking for hiber- nating insects of various kinds. Being a timid little creature, the quail seldom leaves cover to feed openly in the fields, and therefore does but little actual harm in the way of destroying grain. In fact it Only takes stray kernels that otherwise might be lost. *See 1st Rept, U. S. Ent. Com., p. 341. 80 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. It is also one of the few birds that feeds upon that unsavory insect, the Chinoh-bug; and the number of this pest that occasionally fall its prey is really astonishing. A single Chinch-bug is a small thing, still I have seen a quail's stomach filled with them — more than 500 at least calculation having been sacrificed for a single meal of the bird examined. Fig. 7. — Bob-white ; Quail. No farmer or fruit-grower should ever kill a quail himself, nor should he allow any one else to hunt them on his premises. Among the many complimentary things that have been said and written about the Quail the following is worthy of note: A statement was made by Rev. J. E. Long, of Ithaca, Mich., and printed in the Gratiot Journal, to the effect that "several weeks ago a pair of quails flew up out of his garden. In making the turn about the corner of the house, one of them missed its reckoning in some way, and striking the house, fell dead. On examining its distended crop, 101 potato bugs were found, the little fellow's breakfast, for the bugs were yet alive and began to move about when brought to the fresh air." SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 81 2976. Dendragapus obscurus richardsonii (i^oii^^/.).— Rich- ardson's Dusky Grouse. "Baird mentions ten specimens collected in western Nebraska in the month of August" (Taylor); "Eastward through Wyoming and western South Da- kota" (Bendire). The last edition of the A. O. U. Check List gives the typical obscurus as reaching "eastward to the Black Hills of South Dakota." Fig. 8.— Ruffed Grouse. 300. Bonasa umbellus {Linn.). — Ruffed Grouse. Weeping Water (T. A. Williams); " Rare in Nebraska " (Aughey); "Prob- ably may be found in the western part of the state " (Taylor) ; "South through southeastern Nebraska" (Bendire); "West to the edge of the Great Plains " (Goss); South Omaha, Rockport — breeding (L. Skow); "rare resident, one killed near Florence Nov. 4, 1894, and several killed near Bellevue winter of 1893" (I. S. Trostler). 305. Tympanuchus americanus {Reich.). — Prairie Hen; Pin- nated Grouse. Greater portion of the state, breeds (L. Bruner); "enormously abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Resident, abundant in the western part of the state, but somewhat rare in eastern Nebraska" (Taylor); "throughout Nebraska " (Bendire); "Prairies of the Mississippi valley (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); numerous localities in eastern half of state (D. H. Talbot); Gage county— breeds (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "formerly a common resident, and may still be met with occasionally in flocks of from four to fifteen individuals" (I. S. Trostler). 82 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 307. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Ridgw. — Lesser Prairie Hex. Eastern border of Great Plains, from Nebraska (?), southwestern Kansas, southwestern Missouri (?),and western part of Indian Territory to western Texas (Ridgway); Vermillion, S. Dak.* (Agersborg); a number of years ago several specimens were reported as having been seen in Cuming county near West Point (L. Bruner); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates). Hon. E. K. Valentine, of West Point, just recently told me that in the early fall, 1870, he killed two of these birds, and that H. C. Plimton and Sam Greggory killed one each out of a flock of about a dozen that was found on the west side of the Elkorn river in Cuming county. In the winter of 1871-'72, while at home for holiday vaca- tion, I saw one of these birds in a corn-field just adjoining th« town of West Point (L. Bruner). At about this time B. E. B. Kennedy, of Omaha, reports the killing of several of these birds in Washington county by Henry Homan, of Omaha. Still other birds were killed by George A. Hogland, near West Point, in Cuming county, but on the east side of the Elkhorn river (Notes col- lected by I. S. Trostler). Fig. 9. — Prairie Hen ; Pinnatod Grouse. 308a. Pediocaetes phasinellus columbianus {Ord). — Colum- bian Sharp-tailed Grouse. Pine Ridge near Hay Springs (Wm. Waterman); Sioux county, Feb. 24, 1896 — several specimens (W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). 3086. Pediocaetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw.— VukiB.!^ OR Common Sharp-tailed Grouse. West Point, Holt county, Harrison, Thedford — breeds (L. Bruner); "For- merly very abundant in Nebraska" (Aughly); " Resident, formerly abundant, becoming rare" (Taylor); "North thruogh western Nebraska" (Bendire); "Plains and prairies east of the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Hay Springs — breeds (Wm. Waterman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Wood River, * Specimen shot by Ed. Spatz, Mechling, Clay county. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 83 O'Neill (D. H. Talbot); "not seen in the vicinity of Omaha, but a fine male taken in Cherry county June 25, 1895, where it is a common resident" (I. S. Trostler). Fig. 10. — Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. 309. Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonap.) — Sage Grouse; Sage Cock. Hat creek basin, Sioux county (L. Bruner); western Nebraska (Aughey); "An occasional resident in western Nebraska" (Taylor); "through western Nebraska" (Bendire); Indian creek, in Sioux county, Feb., 1896 — not rare (El- liott W. Brown). Family PHASIANIDiE. — Pheasants, etc. 310. Meleagris gallopavo Linn. — Wild Turkey. Kockport and Ft. Calhoun (L. Bruner); "Formerly very abundant in Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Formerly an abundant resident, but now rapidly disap- pearing" (Taylor); "It was not uncommon in southern South Dakota and Nebraska within the last ten years" (Bendire); west along the timbered streams to the edge of the Great Plains (Goss); Bellevue (L. Skow); "formerly found in southern part of Lincoln county, in canyons and along Medicine creek, but none left" (M. K. Barnumj. Order COLUMB^E.— Pigeons. Family COLUMBID.^.— Pigeons. The various species of doves or pigeous are not, as a rule, thought of as being especially harmful, yet repeated examinations of their stomach contents would indicate that their food seldom, if ever, con- sists of anything but grains and various kinds of seeds along with other particles of vegetation. The good done by these birds as de- stroyers of weed seeds more than balances for the harm done by them as grain eaters. 84 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 315. Ectopistes migratorius {Linn.). — Passenger Pigeon. West Point, Norfolk (L. Hruner); "Some years abundant in Nebniska " (Aughey); "Summer resident, irregular, arrives in May and leaves in Septem- ber " (Taylor); " Deciduous forest regions of eastern North America"' (Bend- ire); west to the great plains (Goss); Florence (L. Skow); "One killed out of flock of fifteen or twenty by Hon. Edgar Howard, of Papillion, in woods five miles south east of that place, in Sarpy county, Nov. 9, 1895, — also a flock of fifteen was by Geo. W. Sabine, of Omaha, seen flying over his residence on morning of Nov. 28, 1895" (I. S. Trostler); Cumin j; county (J. H. Mockett, Jr.). Fig. 11. — Carolina Dove. 816. Zenaidura macroura {Linn.). — Mourning Dove; Caro- lina Dove. Especially common over wooded portions of the state where it breeds (L. Bruner); " Abundant in Nebraska " (Aughey): "Summer resident, abundant, arrives in April and leaves in September" (Taylor); "Extends over the entire United States" (Bendire); " The whole of temperate North America" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — nesting (L. Skow); Peru, breeds, winters (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Genoa (D. H. Talbot) ; Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "an abundant sum- mer resident — breeds Apr. 1 to Sept. 1 " (L S. Trostler). Order RAPT0RE8.— Birds of Prey. In summing up tiie food-habits of the hawks and owls as found in the state, I can do no better than to quote Dr. C. Hart Merriam's words used in his letter of transmittal to the Secretary of Agriculture when submitting for publication a report on the hawks and owls of the United States. He writes as follows :* •*"The Hawks and Owls of the United States in Their Relation to Agriculture," by A. K. Fisher, U. S. Dept. Agric. , Div. Ornith. and Mam., Bui. No. 3. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 85 "Tlie statements herein contaiueJ respecting the food of the various hawks and owls are based on a critical examination, by scientific ex- perts, of the actual contents of about 2,700 stomachs of these birds, and consequently may be fairly regarded as a truthful showing of the normal food of each species. The result proves that a class of birds commonly looked upon as enemies to the farmer*, and indiscriminately destroyed whenever occasion offers, really rank among his best friends, and with few exceptions should be preserved and encouraged to take up their abode in the neighborhood of his home. Only six of the seventy-three species and subspecies of hawks and owls of the United States are injurious. Of these, three are so extremely rare they need hardly be considered, and another (the Fish Hawk) is only indirectly injurious, leaving but two (the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks) that really need be taken into account as enemies to agriculture. Omitting the six species that feed largely on poultry and game, 2,212 stomachs were examined, of which 56 per cent contained mice and other small mammals, 27 per cent insects, and only 3| per cent poul- try or game birds. In view of these facts the folly of offering boun- ties for the destruction of hawks and owls, as has been done by sev- eral states, becomes apparent, and the importance of an accurate knowledsfe of the economic status of our common birds and mammals is overwhelmingly demonstrated." Family CATHARTIDiE.— American Vultures. 325. Cathartes aura {Linn.).— Turkey Buzzard ; Turkey Vul- ture, Omaha, West Point, Dismal river— breeding, Crawford, Lincoln (L. Brunei); "Summer resident, common, arrive in April and leave in September " (Taylor) ; "Nearly the whole of temperate and tropical America " (Bendire); do. (Go-^s); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru, breeds— common (Coleman); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "quite common summer resident" (I. S. Trostler). 326. Catharista atrata (Bartram).— Black Vulture; Carrion Crow. "Casually to * * Kansas and South Dakota" (Bendire); "Casually to Maine, Nev^ York, Illinois, Dakota, etc." (Goss); Wolf Creek, Nebr. (D. H. Talbot). The food-habits of both the Turkey Vulture and the Carrion Crow or Black Vulture, are of such a nature that the destruction of these 86 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. birds should be prohibited. In fact, in many of the states this is done by law. They live almost exclusively upon carrion or decomposing animal matter, and in this manner aid in the prevention of diseases that might result from the presence of such filth. They may, how- ever, be the cause of indirectly spreading hog cholera where animals that have died from this disease are left unburied or unburnt. Fn;. 12. — Black Vulture ; Carrion Crow. Family FALC0NID.S1. — Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc. 327. Elanoides forficatus (Linn.). — Swallow-tailed Kite. Omaha, West Point, Tekamab (L. Bruner); "I have seen this kite as far north as Cedar county and as far west as the meridian of Ft. Kearney" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrive in May and leave in September'' (Taylor); north to Wisconsin, Minne.sota, Dakota (Goss); "North regularly to Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, etc." (Fisher); Kockport — breeds (L. Skow); "rarely seen — a pair reported to breed eighteen miles north of Omaha" (I. S. Trostler); Fullerton, Nance county (C. E. Barker). 329. Ictinia mississippiensis ( IVils,). — Mississippi Kite. "A flock of six or seven was seen October 12 at Omaha" (R. E. Diuges); " North to South Carolina, southern Illinois, Kansas, etc." (Goss) ; "Casually to Iowa and Wisconsin" (Fisher), 328. Elanus leucurus ( T'^teiV^.). — White-tailed Kite. Lanham, Nebr., "one seen March 14, 1893" (Amos Pyfer). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 87 331. Circus hudsonius (Xinn.). — Marsh Hawk. Entire state — common — breeds (L. Brnner); "Occasionally seen in Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Summerresident, common, may remain in the state dur- ing the winter" (Taylor); "Nearly the entire North American continent" (Bendire); "The whole of North America" (Goss); "Inhabits the whole of North America" (Fisher); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds, also winters here (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a not common summer resident — never observed earlier in spring than May 25 " (I. S. Trostler). Fig. 13. — Swallow-tailed Kite. 332. Accipiter velox ( H%.).— Sharp-shinned Hawk. West Point, Omaha, South Bend, Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; "Migratory, common, may breed in northern Nebraska" (Taylor); "North America in general" (Bendire); "Nearly the whole of North America" (Goss); "It breeds in most, if not all, of the states" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare (G. A. Coleman) ; Gage county (F. A. Colby) ; Omaha, "somewhat rare, permanent resident, seen in April, May, and September (I. S. Trostler) ; Sioux county (Mrs. Wallace). 333. Accipiter cooperi (^onap.).— Cooper's Haavk. West Point, Hat Creek Basin— breeding, Lincoln (L. Bruner); common (Aughey); "Resident, common " (Taylor); " Whole of temperate North Amer- ica " (Bendire); "They breed in suitable localities throughout the United 88 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. States (Gosa) ; " " Throughout the United States and the greater part of Mexico " (Fisher) ; Omaha — nesting (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Cole- man); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Omaha (F. J. Brezee) ; Gage county (F. A. Colby) ; "common resident, except in coldest weather — breeds April 7-20 " (I. S. Trostler). 334. Accipiter atricapillus ( Tf/k).— American Goshawk. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner) ; "Present but rare on the prairies of Ne- braska" (Aughey) ; "South in winter to the Middle States" (Bendire); "West SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 89 to and including the Rocky mountains " (Goss); " Northern and eastern North America" (Fisher); Rockport, Florence (L. Skow) ; Lincoln (F. J. Brezee) ■ Sioux county, Feb. 24, 1896 (L. Skow). 334a. Accipiter atricapillus striatulus Ridgw. HAWK. Florence, Nebr., 1889 (L. Skow). -Western Gos- FiG. 1-5. — Cooper's Hawk. 337. Buteo borealis (Gmel.). — Red-tailed Hawk. Timbered portion of state, breeding (L. Bruner); "Common in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Found in the summer and fall, and may remain all winter" (Taylor); "West to border of Great Plains" (Bendire); " West to the Great Plains" (Goss); do. (Fisher); Beatrice, De Witt — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow) ; Gage county (F. A. Colby); common resident, breeds April 1 to 20 (I. S. Trostler); Jamaica— breeding (R. E. Dinges). 7 90 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Krider's Hawk. " Great plains of the United 337a. Buteo borealis kriderii Hoopes.- West Point, Lincoln, Tekamah (L. Brunei) States, from Minnesota to Texas " (Bendire); " East casually to Illinois and Iowa" (Goss); "Great Plains from Minnesota to Texas " (Fisher); Omaha- breeding (L. Skow) ; Omaha, "have twice taken eggs from a pair of very light Eed-tails that would probably be classified as Kriderii" (I. S. Trostler). Fig. 16.— Goshawk. 3376. Buteo borealis calurus {Cass.). — Western Red-tail Hawk. Lincoln, West Point (L. Bruner); "Baird mentions two specimens taken in August, 1857" (Taylor); "casual east to Illinois" (Bendire); "East to Kan- sas, casually to Illinois" (Goss); "Country west of the Kocky mountains" (Fisher) ; Omaha (L. Skow) ; "this dark phase is occasionally seen in the vi- cinity of Omaha" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln (Dr. F. L. Kiser). 337d. Buteo borealis harlani {Aud.). — Harlan's Hawk. Lincoln, Omaha, West Point (L. Bruner) ; " The records of the Normal Sci- ence Society show two specimens killed in April" (Taylor); "North to Kan- sas, Iowa, and Illinois" (Bendire); " Casually to Iowa, Illiuoia, and Pennsyl- vania" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); "One killed on farm near Omaha and mounted by L. Skow" (I. S. Trostler). 339. Buteo lineatus ( (T?ne/.). — Red-shouldered Hawk. Omaha, Bellevue, Kulo (L. Bruner); "Probably a common resident" (Tay- lor); "West to Texas and the Great Plains" (Bendire); " West to the edge of SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 91 the Great Plains" (Goss) ; "West to the Great Plains " (Fisher); Omaha- breeding (L. Skow); Omaha, "rarely seen" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln (A. Eiche, Dr. F. L. Riser). 342. Buteo swainsoni Bonap. — Swainson's Hawk. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; " Rather abundant in the state " (Aughey); "A common summer resident and may remain in the state during the winter " (Taylor); "east to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Arkansas" (Bendire); do. (Goss); "As far south as South Dakota and Nebraska it is a migratory species " (Fisher) ■ Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); " Resident, except in coldest weather, but not commonly seen " (L S. Trostler). Fig. 17.— Red-shouldered Hawk. 343. Buteo latissimus ( Wils.). — Broad-winged Hawk. West Point, Omaha, Harrison, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Rather common dur- ing the fall along the bluffs of the Missouri" (Taylor); "West to edge of Great Plains" (Bendire); do. (Goss); "East of the Great Plains" (Fisher) ; Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, rare — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, summer resident, rather rare — breeds in May" (I. S. Trostler). 347a. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis (Gmel.). — Ameri- can Rough-legged Hawk. West Point, Oakland, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Rare in southern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Whole of North America" (Bendire); "The whole of North 92 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. America north of Mexico" (Goss); " lu the west it extends far south in win- ter" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); "I have never observed this hawk in vicinity of Omaha, but on June 27, 1895, saw a pair in Cherry county flying very low in vicinity of a colony of striped ground squirrels " (I. S. Trostler) ; Lincoln (Dr. F. L. Riser). V\i.. IS. — Swainson s Hawk. 348. Archibuteo ferrugineus (i/cA^.).— Ferruginous Rough- leg ; Ferruginous Buzzard. Omaha (L. Bruner}; "1 have seen but one of these hawks in Nebraska" (Aughey); " Resident, rare" (Taylor); "east to and across the Great Plains" (Bendire); " East into Iowa and casually to Illinois" (Goss); " Ranging to the eastern border of the Great Plains" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); "not ob- served in vicinity of Omaha, a common summer resident in Cherry county" (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, Feb. 24, 1896 (W. D. Hunter); Harrison— breed- ing (E. H. Barbour). 349. Aquila chrysaetos {Linn.). — Golden Eagle. West Point, Oakland, Decatur, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner); "Resident, rare" (Taylor); "Northern portions of northern hemisphere" ^Bendire); do. (Goss); SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 83 do. (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); Grand Island (F. J. Brezee) ; Wood River (D. H. Talbot); "Straggler, one seen Sept. 21, 1895, in Sarpy county, breeds annually on Scott's Blufif, Scott's Bluff county" (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, Feb. 19, 1896 (L. Bruner). Fig. 19. — Fen-nginous Rough-leg. 352. Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Z/mn.).— Bald Eagle; White- headed Eagle. South Bend, West Point (L. Bruner) ; "Resident, somewhat common " (Tay- lor); "Whole of North America" (Bendire); do. (Goss); do. (Fisher); Alliance (O. Bowman); Rockford— breeding (A. S. Pearse) ; Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); Wood River (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "accidental visitor, not common at North Platte" (M. K. Barnum). 354a. Falco rusticolus gyrfalco (imn.). — Gyrfalcon ; Mc- Farlane's GyRFALCOxV. Norfolk, We.st Point (L. Bruner); "An accidental winter visitant in Kansas" (Goss). 355. Falco mexicanus Schleg.—F rairie Falcon. West Point, Holt county (L Bruner); "Only occasionally seen in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Has been seen in the state in the summer and fall" (Taylor); 94 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. "From eastern border of Great Plains to the Pacific" (Bendire); " East to the eastern border of Great Plains" (Goss); "Eastern border of Great Plains to the Pacific" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "occasion- ally seen during spring and fall, one killed near Bellevue, May 12, 1694" (I. S. Trostler); Sarpy county (A. K. Fisher); Sioux county, Feb. 25, 1896, a pair (W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). Fig. 20. — Prairie Falcon. 356. Falco peregrinus anatum (^ona^j.).— Duck Hawk ; Per- egrine Falcon. West Point (L. Bruner) ; "Have seen this hawk but three times in the state " (Aughey); " Not uncommon in thespringand fall " (Taylor); " Wholeof Amer- ica" (Bendire); do. (Goss); "Inhabits all of North America" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow). 357. Falco columbarius Linn. — Pigeon Hawk. Pine Ridge in Dawes and Sioux counties. West Point (L. Broner); " Unfort- unately too abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Abundant during spring and fall" (Taylor); "The whole of North America" (Bendire); do. (Goss); "In- habits the whole of North America" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates). 358. Falco richardsonii Ridgw. — Kichardson's Merlin. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); " Rather common in Nebraska, breeds here" (Aughey); "Resident, common" (Taylor); "From the Mississippi river to SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 95 the Pacific coast" (Bendire); do. (Goss); "Inhabits the interior of- North America" (FisherJ. 360. Falco sparverius Linn. — American Sparrow Hawk. Omaha, Lincoln, West Point, Holt county, etc. (L. Bruner) ; breeds; " Very abundant and breeds here (Aughey); "Abundant during spring, summer, and fall, and probably during the winter" (Taylor); '"Whole of temperate Fig. 21. — Sparrow Hawk. North America " (Bendire); do. (Goss.); " Entire temperate North America" (Fisher) ; Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common summer resident (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. B.-ttes); Ponca (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "common during migrations, a few remain to breed" (I. S. Trostler). 364. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (GmeL). — Osprey; Fish- Hawk. West Point, Lyons, South Bend, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner); "Temperate and tropical America in general" (Bendire); "North America in general" (Goss); tropical and temperate America (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha (F. J. Brezee); Om:vha, "occasionally seen during spring and fall" (L S. Trostler). 96 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Family STRIGIDiE.— Barn Owls. 365. Strix pratinicola Bonap. — American Barn Om l; Monkey- faced Owl. West Point, Gilmore, Lincoln, Scribner (L. Bruner); "Only occasionally found in Nebraska, but breeds here" (Aughey); breeding in hole in ground in Saline county, breeding in Lancaster county (R. E. Diuges) ; "An occasional summer resident " (Taylor); " United States generally " (Bend ire); do. (Goss); "Reaches southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc." (Fisher); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby) ; " occasionally seen in late spring and summer, a set of eggs taken June 12, 1891, at Hebron, Thayer county, others known to have bred in wolf den in Sarpy county " (I. S. Trostler). Tr Fic. -J-J. — B;irn Owl. Family BUBONID.^.— Horned Owls, etc. 366. Asio wilsonius (Less.). — A^ferican Long-eared Owl. West Point, Lincoln, Gilmore (L. Bruner); rare (Aughey); "Occasionally found in summer and fall " (Taylor); " Whole of temperate North America" (Bendire) ; do. (Goss); do. (Fisher); Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River, Genoa, Jackson (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, "resident, not common — breeds " (I. S. Trostler). 367. Asio accipitrinus {Pall). — Short-eared Owl. West Point, Omaha, Lyons, Holt county, Gilmore, Lincoln, etc., breeding, Dodge county in April (L. Bruner) ; "This owl is frequently seen on the bor- ders of the Missouri bottoms in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Resident, rare " SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 97 (Taylor); " Entire western hemisphere " (Bendire); " The entire continent of America" (Goss); " Greater part of both hemispheres " (Fisher); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River, Elm Creek, Dakota City (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "resident, rare, seen in vicinity of Omaha in summer and winter" (I. S. Trostler). Fig. 23. — Short-eared Owl. 368. Syrnium nebulosum (i^o/s«.).— Barred Owl. West Point, Tekamah, Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; "Very seldom seen in Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Rarely seen in the state, but may be a constant resi- dent" (Taylor); " West to eastern Nebraska and Kansas " (Bendire); " I have never met with them west of Kansas " (Goss); " Westward to Manitoba, Da- kota, Kansas, and Texas" (Fisher); Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); Lincoln- breeding (A. Cook); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, " resident, not rare- breeds in March " (I. S. Trostler). 98 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICUIVrURAL SOCIETY. 370. Scotiaptex cinerium [GmeL). — Great Gray Owl. Long Pine, Neb. — specimen in a saloon (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "rare winter resident, one seen Dec. 17, 1893, in county poor farm woods" (I. S. Trostler). 371. Nyctala tergmalmi richardsoni [Bonap.). — Richardson's Saw-whet Owl. Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 10,1892 (L. Brunei); "to northern United States in winter" (Bendire). Fig. 24.— Barred Owl 372. Nyctala acadica {GmeL). — Saw-whet Owl. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "rarely south of 40° in eastern portions" (Bendire); "The United States and southern British possessions, from Atlantic to the Pacific " (Goss); " Ranging south to about the thirty-ninth parallel in the east" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Sioux county, Feb. 22, 1896, heard at night (W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). 373. Megascops asio {Linn.). — Screech Owl. West Point, Omaha, Rockport, Lincoln, etc — breeds (L. Bruner): "Often met with in the wooded portions of Nebraska, where it breeds" (Aughey); "Resident, abundant" (Taylor); "west to the Great Plains" (Bendire); "Temperate eastern North America" (Goss); "West to the Great Plains" (Fisher); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Show); Da- kota City (D. H. Talbot); Gage county— breeds (F. A. Colby); "resident, not SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS 99 commou, breeds in April" (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, Feb. 25, 1896 (L. Skew, W. D. Hunter). 373e. Megascops asio maxwelliae {Ridgw.). — Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. "It is likely to be found in the extreme northwestern parts of Nebraska" (Bendire); "From Colorado to eastern Montana" (Fisher). Fig. 25.— Great Gray Owl. 375. Bubo virginianus {GmeL). — Great Horned Owl. West Point, Tekamah, Bellevue, Lincoln, Rockport, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); Dakota county (Aughey); " Not common during the spring, summer, and fall, and probably remains during the winter (Taylor); "Eastern North America" (Bendire); "West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Go.ss); "Ranges from Labrador and the eastern United States south through eastern Mexico" (Fisher); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county — one form (J. M. Bates); Dakota City, Elk Creek (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "resident, not common, usually one pair in each piece of heavy timber — breed in latter part of February and early March" (I. S. Trostler). 100 NEBRASKA STATE HOUTICUI.TURAL SOCIETY. 375a. Bubo virginianus subarcticus(//o?/). — Western Horned Owl. West Point (L. Bruner); "eastward across the Great Plains" (Bendire); "East across the Great Plains to western Texas and western Manitoba " (Goss); do. (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Sioax county, Feb. 26, 1896, several seen but not taken (W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). Fig. -iG.— Saw-whet Owl. 3756. Bubo virginianus arcticus (Swains.). — Arctic Horned Owiv. West Point (L. Bruner); "South in winter to Manitoba and the mountains of Dakota and Montana" (Fisher); Florence (L. Skow). 375c. Bubo virginianus saturatus Ridgw. — Dusky Horned Owl. Near Omaha — accidental (?) (L. Skow). 376. Nyctea nyctea {Linn.). — Snowy Owl. Omaha, Papilliou, West Point, Oakland, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Frequently seen in winter and occasionally in late autumn " (Aughey) ; "A common win- ter visitant " (Taylor) ; "Southward in winter * * * almost across the United States" (Bendire); "Northern portion of the northern hemisphere, mi- grating south in winter " (Goss); "Sometimes common as far south as the for- tieth parallel" (Fisher); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wakefield (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "not rare as a winter resident" (I. S. Trostler). I 377a. Surnia ulula caparoch {MlllL). — American Hawk Owl. Raymond, Nebr., Nov., 1891 (E. R. Mockett); once near Omaha (?) (L. Skow). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 101 378. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea (Bonap.).— Burrowing Owl. Omaha, Lincoln, West Point, Crawford, Sidney, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Abundant in central and western Nebraska, and sparingly present almost to the Missouri" (Aughey); "Abundant during spring, summer, and fall, and probably remains during the winter" (Taylor); "east throughout the Great . Fig. 27. — Great Horned Owl Plains" (Bendire); "East to middle Texas and Nebraska " (Goss) ; "East to Dakota, Nebraska, etc." (Fisher) Beatrice, De Witt— breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J, M. Bates); Genoa (D. H. Talbot); Gage county— breeds (F. A. Colby); "none in the vicinity of Omaha within the past twelve years— formerly a small colony about ten miles west" (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county in Hat creek valley (Mr, Plunkett). 102 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Fig. 28.— Hawk Owl. Fig. 29.— Burrowing Owl. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 103 Order PSITTACI. — Parrots, Macaws, Paroquets, etc. Family PSITTACID.^. — Parrots and Paroquets. 382. Conurus carolinensis {Linn.). — Carolina Paroquet. Mouth of Platte river (Coues, Birds of Northwest); not now reaching the state, "Formerly abundant, even in eastern Nebraska, now rare, if found in the state " (Taylor); " Regularly to Ohio, Illinois, and southern Nebraska" (Goss). Fig. 30. — Carolina Paroquet. Order COCCYGES.— Cuckoos, etc. Family CUCULID-ai.— Cuckoos. The cuckoos are among the few birds that habitually feed upon hairy caterpillars, such as the various " tent-making " species. They also destroy large numbers of other caterpillars, and do not object to beetles and other insects which they find among the foliage of trees. Although shy birds they are frequently seen in cities, where they do their share in protecting the trees from the ravages of insect pests. 104 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 387. Coccyzus americanus (Linn.). — Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Omaha, Blair, West Point, Lincoln — breeds (L. Bruner); " More frequently seen in Nebraska tban the last one (erythropthalmus) " (Aughey); "Summer resident, arrives in May and leaves in September " (Taylor); " West to eastern Mexico and edge of Great Plains" (Goss); Beatrice — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "common summer resident, arrives May 1 to 10" (I. S. Trostler). 388. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus (Wils.). — Black-billed Cuckoo. West Point, Lincoln, Omaha — breeds (L. Bruner); "only occasionally met in this state" (Aughey); "Summer resident, somewhat rare, arrives in May and leaves in September " (Taylor) ; "West to the Rocky mountains " (Goss); Omaha — nesting (L. Skow) ; "summer resident, not so common as the preced- ing" (L S. Trostler). Fh!. :n.— Black-billed Cuckoo. Family ALCEDINID^ffi.— Kingfishers. 390. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.). — Belted Kingfisher. West Point, Lyons, Norfolk, Omaha, Lincoln, South Bend, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Frequently seen in Nebraska" (Aughey); "A very common summer resident" (Taylor); " The whole of North America " (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "summer resident, quite common, sometimes seen in midwinter" (I. S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 105 <^^^^. ^ ^i' Fig. 32.— Belted Kingfisher. Oeder PICI. — Woodpeckers, Wrynecks, etc. Family PICID.ffi. — Woodpeckers. Taking the woodpeckers as a family, there are but few persons but who will readily admit that these birds are a very useful group. Feeding as many, in fact most of them, do, upon the larvae of wood-boring insects, they can readily do much greater good for the actual number destroyed in comparison with others that feed upon the foliage of trees. Not unfrequently will a single borer kill an entire tree if left to itself, while hundreds of foliage-feeding caterpillars of the same size make but litttle effect upon the appearance, to say noth- ing of the health of it. Separately, the different species of woodpeckers vary much in habits and the nature of food taken, therefore it would be quite difficult to summarize as to the group with respect to their relation to agriculture. Several years ago the United States Department of Agriculture under- took the study of these birds from this standpoint, with the result, so far as made public, at least, of showing that all of the species and sub- species embraced in the study — nineteen — with but a single exception, 8 106 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. possibly, are beneficial. The Downy Woodpecker seems to possess the fewest traits that might count against it, while the Yellow-bellied species has been found to do much harm at times in "sap-sucking." The Flicker and Red-headed Woodpecker both eat fruit and more or less grain, and most of the other species at times eat various propor- tions of different wild seeds and berries. Fig. 33. — Hain- Woodjiecker. Mr. F. E. L. Beal, assistant in the Division of Ornithology and Mammology of the United States Department of Agriculture, in .sum- ming up the results obtained frpm the examination of 679 stomachs of these birds, writes as follows:* "In reviewing the results of these investigations and comparing one * See Bull. No. 7, Div. Ornith. & Mamolog., p. 9. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 107 species with another, without losing sight of the fact that comparative good is not necessarily positive good, it appears that of seven species considered the Downy Woodpecker is the most beneficial." He then goes on to give the food habits based on contents of the stomachs of our most common species. "Judged by the results of the stomach exami- nations of the Downy and Hairy Woodpecker and Flicker it would be hard to find three other species of our common birds with fewer harm- ful qualities." 392. Campephilus principalis (im?i.).— Ivory-billed Wood- pecker. Reported as rare in vicinity of Peru (G. A. Coleman). 393. Dryobates villosus (Linn.). — Hairy Woodpecker. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, etc., breeding at West Point (L. Bruner); " Resident, common " (Taylor); "Atlantic coast to near the base of the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); Peru— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county— breeds (?) (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a not uncommon resident — breeds (I. S. Trostler). 393a. Dryobates villosus leucomelas (Bodd.).— Northern Hairy Woodpecker. Omaha (L. Skow) ; Omaha, " a rather rare winter visitor " (I. S. Trostler). 393c. Dryobates villosus harrisii (^wd).— Harris's Wood- pecker. West Point (L. Bruner); "Abundant in the woody portions" (Aughey); "Given by Baird as taken in Nebraska" (Taylor); Sioux county, Dec, 1895 (L. Bruner, D. A. Haggard); northeastern Nebraska, common, breeds- (Dr. Agersborg); Sioux county, Feb. 20,25,1896 (W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). 394. Dryobates pubescens (Linn.).— Downy Woodpecker. West Point, Dakota City, Blair, Omaha, Lincoln, etc.— breeds (L. Bruner) ^ "frequently seen among the timber of river bottoms " (Aughey) ; " Common during spring, summer, and fall, probably a constant resident" (Taylor); "Northern North America" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt— breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); Peru, breeds -not common (G. A. Cole- man) ; Gage county (F. A. Colby) ; "a common resident in vicinity of Omaha" (L S. Trostler). 394a. Dryobates pubescens gairdnerii (ylMf/.).— Gairdner's Woodpecker. Omaha (L. Skow); Sioux county, Feb. 19, 1396 (L. Bruner). This may possibly be the form 3946, described by Batchelder in Auk, VI, 253. I do not happen to have access to this paper. r 108 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 400. Picoides arcticus {Swains.). — Arctic Three-toed Wood- pecker. Omaha (F. J. Brezee) ; Dakota City (Wallace Bruner); Omaha, "a rare winter visitant, one taken Dec. 15, 1895" (L S. Trostler). J' Fig. 84. — Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. 402. Sphyrapicus varius {Linn.). — Yellow-bellied Wood- pecker; Yellow-bellied Sap-sucker. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); " Kalher common * * in eastern Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Common during spring, summer, and fall" (Taylor); "North and east ot the Rocky mountain slope" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skew); Peru, rare — probably breeds (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, "not rare as a summer resident — breeds late in May " (I. S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 109 405. Ceophloeus pileatus {Linn.). — Pileated Woodpecker. Rockport, Tekaraah (L. Bruner); "la the heavily wooded districts of North America at large" (Goss); Rockport (L. Skow); "Probably only a winter visitor in the heavy timber along the Missouri river " (Dr. Agersborg); Omaha, "a very rare straggler, one seen May 20, 1895" (I. S. Trostler). V Fig. 35. — Pileated Woodpecker. 406. Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Zinn.). — Red-headed Woodpecker. Omaha, West Point, Lincoln, Sioux county, etc.— breeds (L. Bruner); "wherever there is timber euough " (Aughey); "Common during spring, summer, and fall" (Taylor); "Westward to within the Rocky mountains " (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt— nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— breeding (L. 110 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Skow); Peru, common— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "common resident, returning southward in very cold weather" (I. S. Trostler). Fig. 36. — Eed-headed Woodpecker. The Red-headed Woodpecker, according to the results obtained from examinations of stomach contents of various birds belonging to this family, is a trifle more inclined to eat fruits of the orchard than are its allies. It is said to partake "rather freely of cultivated va- rieties, showing some preference for the larger ones, such as apples." It also feeds upon corn and beechnuts in winter where these are to be had. To counteract these injuries it eats large numbers of grasshop- pers and other injurious insects. 408. Melanerpes torqatus ( Wils.). — Lewis's Woodpecker. Sioux county (L. Bruner) ; "Given by Baird as taken in August and March " (Taylor) ; "East to the Black hills and western Texas " (Goss) ; Cherry county (J. M. Bates). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. HI 409. Melanerpes carolinus {Linn.). — Red-bellied Wood- pecker. West Point, Omaha, Harrison (L. Bruner); "Rather common in spots in southern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Resident, not uncommon " (Taylor) "West to eastern base of the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Lincoln (F. J. Brezee); " Not commonly seen — breeds in Sarpy county" (L S. Trost- ler). 412. Colaptes auratus (Linn.). — Flicker; Yellow-shafted Flicker. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Pine Ridge, Holt county (L. Bruner); breeds; "Wooded portions of Nebraska — breeds" (Aughey); "Abundant during spring, summer, and fall, and probably a constant resident" (Taylor); "West to the eastern slopes of the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Wood River, Newcastle, Genoa, O'Neill (D. H. Talbot); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "a common resident — becoming scarcer and being replaced by the Red-shafted Flicker " (I. S. Trostler) ; Sioux county, Feb. 25, 1896 (L. Skow). :^i7l Fig. 37.— Flicker. The Flicker is one of our most common woodpeckers in Nebraska, and does much towards keeping down a number of different kinds of insects. It is verv fond of, in fact it is partial to, ants as a diet and 112 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAI. SOCIETY. this element forms almost half of its entire food-supply during the year. It also occasionally feeds upon the Chinch-bug, as can be at- tested by the fact that the stomach of a specimen killed near Lincoln contained in the vicinity of 1,000 of these bugs. It is also a fruit eater to the extent of about one-quarter of its entire bill of fare, but nature, not man, furnishes the supply. It takes the wild kinds in preference to those that are cultivated. 413. Colaptes cafer {GmeL). — Red-shafted Flicker. West Point, Omaha (L. Bniner); "is not abundant" (Anghey); "Foundin the summer and late fall" (Taylor); "Western United States" (Goss) ; De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow), Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Lincoln (D. A. Haggard); Wood River, Genoa, St. Edward (D. H. Talbot); "formerly rare but gradually becoming more common — breeds same time as preceding" (L S. Trostler). Order MACROCHIRES. — Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc. Family CAPRIMULGIDJE. — Goatsuckers, etc. 417. Antrostomus vociferus ( TVi^.). — Whippoorwill. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Thomas county (L. Bruner); "Occasionally found in eastern Nebraska, where it breeds" (Aughey); "Summer resident, not uncommon" (Taylor); "Eastern United States to the plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — perhaps breeds (J. M. Bates); " a common summer resident — breeds May 16 to July 1 " (I. S. Trostler). 418. Phalaenoptilus nuttalii {Aud.). — Poorwill. Crawford, Harrison (L. Bruner); "Rather in central and western Nebraska in the vicinity of timber" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common" (Taylor); " East into Iowa and Missouri " (Goss). 420. Chordeiles virginianus (GmeL). — Nighthawk. West Point, Omaha, Holt county, Lincoln, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Com- mon in Nebraska, and breeds here " (Aughey); "Summer resident, common " (Taylor); "West to edge of Great Plains" (Goss) ; Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "common summer resident — breeds in latter May and early June" (I. S. Trostler). 420a. Chordeiles virginianus henryi (Cass.). — Western Nighthawk. Holt county, Harrison, Thedford — breeds (L. Bruner) ; "Occasionally strag- gling east into Illinois " (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county — SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 113 breeds (J. M. Bates); North Platte, "summer resident, common" (M. K. Barnum) ; Omaha, one killed Aug. 1, 1892, from flock seen in evening (1. S. Trostler). Family MICROPODID^.— Swifts. 423. Chaetura pelagica {Linn.). — Chimney Swift. Omaha, West Point, Lincoln — breeds (L. Bruner); "Abundant in eastern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrive in May" (Tay- lor); "West to the edge of the plains" (Goss) ; Beatrice — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow) ; Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "common summer resident, breeds in Omaha in large numbers" (L S. Trostler). 425. Aeronautes melanoleucus {Baird.) — White-throated Rook Swift. Harrison, Crawford — breeds (L. Bruner). Family TROCHILID.^. — Hummingbirds, 428. Trochilus colubris Linn. — Ruby-throated Hummingbird. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); Lincoln, June (Aughey); "Sum- mer resident, common (Taylor) ; "West to the high central plains" (Goss); Omaha — nesting (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); "not un- common in residence portions of Omaha, where it nests among vines on ^ porches, etc. " (I. S. Trostler). 432. Selasphorus platycercus (Swains.). — Broad-tailed Hum- mingbird. Cheyenne, Wyo.— common (Allen, Cones); Black Hills— quite common (C. H. Holden) ; several specimens, supposed to be this bird, were seen on Pine Ridge, Sioux, and Dawes counties in the summer of 1891 (L. Bruner). Order PASSERES. —Perching Birds. Family TYRANNIDJE.— Tyrant Flycatchers. The various species of flycatchers, as the uarae implies, feed upon iusects which they capture for the most part while on the wing. Flies and allied insects are quite prominent ou the bill-of-fare; but these by no means are the only kinds of insects destroyed by them. Many a luckless locust, butterfly, moth or even beetle is snapped up and de- voured by the difi'erent species of the family. The "Bee-bird," or Kingbird as it is more frequently called, some times even catches bees. These latter, however, consist largely of 114 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. drones, and lience comparatively little harm is done. If worker bees should be persistently destroyed by some individual bird that develops an abnormal appetite, he should be killed. 443. Milvulus f ov^csitvLS {G)neL). — Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Once near Lincoln, fall of 1872 (L. Bruner) ; "Accidental * * * Mani- toba, and even at York Factory Hudson's Bay Territory " (Goss). 444. Tyrannus tyrannus (imw.). — Kingbird; Bee-bird. ah parts of state, breeds (L. Bruner) ; "Abundant as far west as the middle of Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, arrive in April and May, leave in September " (Taylor) ; "Chiefly east of the Rocky mountains " (Goss) ; Beatrice, De Witt — nesting (A. S. Pearse) ; Omaha — breeds (L. Skov?); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby) ; Omaha, common summer resident, arrives April 20 to May 12, breeds May 16 to 30, departs about September 15 '"' (I. S. Trostler). 447. Tyrannus verticalis Say. — Arkansas Flycatcher. West Point, Sidney, Ft. Robinson. Lincoln, etc., breeds (L. Bruner) ; "This bird abounds along the wooded streams in southwestern Nebraska " (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in May" (Taylor); "Western United States, east to Missouri and western Minnesota" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); "a scarce summer visitor, one seen September, 1895" (I. S. Trostler). # 452. Myiarchuscrinitus(itnrj.). — Great-crested Flycatcher. West Point (L. Bruner); southeastern portion of state (Aughey); "Summer resident, common" (Taylor) ; "East [west?] to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Lincoln (D. A. Haggard); "a not rare summer resident — breeds in June" (L S. Trostler). 456. Sayornis phcebe {Lath.). — Phcebe; Pewee. Omaha, Lincoln, West Point (L. Bruner); breeds, along the Missouri (Aughey) ; "Summer resident, common" (Taylor) ; " West to eastern Colorado and western Texas " (Goss) ; Beatrice, De Witt — breeding (A. S. Pearse) ; Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common, breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "a com- mon summer resident, earliest seen 15th — breed in late April, depart in Septem- ber" (I. S. Trostler). 457. Sayornis saya (Bonap.). — Say's Phcebe. Lincoln (L. Bruner) "Have only observed it in central and western Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Abundant in western Nebraska, where it breeds" (Taylor) ; "East to Dakota, south through middle Kansas" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); "Summer resident, common," North Platte (M. K. Barnum). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 115 459. Contopus borealis (Swains.). — Olive-sided Flycatcher. Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; "only occasionally met it in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare" (Taylor); "The whole of northern North America" (Goss). 461. Contopus virens (Linn.). — Wood Pewee. Lincoln, Weeping Water, Nebraska City (L. Bruner); eastern Nebraska (Aughey); "Summer resident, common" (Taylor) "West to edge of Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow) ; Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, " a not common summer resident, breeds" (L S. Trostler). 462. Contopus richardsonii («SM7ams.). — Western Wood Pewee. Sioux county, Dismal river (L. Bruner); "Frequently seen wherever there is woodland or timber-skirted streams in western Nebraska " (Aughey); "Given by Bayard and Aughey as a summer resident in the western part of the state " (Taylor); " East to western Nebraska and Texas " (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow). 463. Empidonax flaviventris -Baird— Yellow-bellied Fly- catcher. Lincoln, West Point (L. Bruner) ; sparingly in eastern Nebraska (Aughey). Fig. 38. — Acadian Flycatcher. 465. Empidonax virescens (F/ei//.). — Green-crested Fly- catcher; Acadian Flycatcher. West Point (L. Bruuer); "West into Nebraska and middle Texas" (Goss); Omaha— breeding (L. Skow); "a common summer resident, breeds in June and departs in September" (L S. Trostler.) 466a. Empidonax traillii (^^/d).— Traill's Flycatcher. Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; " moat abundant of the two [forms] " (Aughey) ; " Migratory, rare, has been seen in the western part of the state in August " (Tay- IIG NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. lor); " Eastern North America, to the plains " (Goss); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru, rare— may breed (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, "a common summer resi- dent " (L S. Trostler). 467. Empidonax minimus Baird. — Least Flycatcher. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); " Rather common in Nebraska, and occa- sionally breeds in northeastern portion of the state" (Aughey); " Migratory, common; summer resident, occasional" (Taylor); "West to the Yellowstone river and base of Rocky mountains in Colorado" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); "a rare summer visitor, one taken Aug. 2, 1892 " (L S. Trostler). Family ALAUDID.^.— Larks. 474. Otocoris alpestris (i^imi.). — Horned Lark; Shore Lark. West Point, Lincoln, Omaha, etc. (L. Bruner); "A winter resident in Kan- sas and Dakota, and probably Nebraska" (Taylor); Coviugton, Nebr. (D. H. Talbot). 474a. Otocoris alpestris leucolaema {Coaes). — Pallid Horned Lark; White-throated Horned Lark. West Point (L. Bruner); Lincoln (Aughey); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates) ; Lincoln (F. J. Brezee, D. A. Haggard); Omaha, abundant resident — breeds (L S. Trostler). 4746. Otocoris alpestris praticola i/ens/i.— Prairie Horned Lark. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln— breeds (L. Bruner); "Some seasons quite abundant in eastern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Common, probably a resident " (Taylor); "West to central Dakota and Kansas" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse) ; Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru— breeds, common (G. A. Cole- man); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "an abundant resident, found breeding March :>:{ to .July 20 " (L S. Trostler). 474c. Otocoris alpestris arenicola Hensh. — Desert Horned Lark. Hat creek basin, Sidney (L. Bruner); " Resident, common " (Taylor); " Resi- dent in the western to middle portion of the state" — Kansas (Goss); Omaha- breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); Sioux county, Feb. 18 to 26, very numerous (L. Bruner, W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). Family CORVID^.— Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc One should be unprejudiced in order to write a fiiir biography of even a bird, or group of birds. To say that I am without such preju- dice with reference to some of the members of the family of birds now under consideration, would be a falsehood. Still, I shall endeavor to SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 117 o o a o a o o Oi CO 6 118 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. give as unbiased testimony as possible with reference to their food- habits at least, and let the reader judge for himself as to what would be the proper treatment for these birds. Taking the family as a whole, it is made up of birds like the crows, ravens, magpies, jays, nut-crackers, camp-robbers, etc., many of which have unenviable reputations at least if they are not really as bad as we are sometimes requested to believe they are. The crows, ravens, magpies, and immediate relatives are what might be termed "omnivorous" in food-habit — eating everything that comes their way. The crows, however, have been shown to feed largely upon insects, which in a great measure, at least, offsets the harm done in other directions. They also feed upon various substances, the re- moval of which is for the general good. The Raven is too rare a bird in this state to be taken into considera- tion in respect to food-habit, and the Magpie certainly can be put out of the question of d.oing any possible harm for the same reason. This leaves then to be considered, the jays, of which we seem to have six or seven distinct kinds; but only two of these are at all common. The Blue Jay is found over the entire state, and is familiar to everybody. The second species is found only in the western and northwestern por- tions among the pine forests, and is known as the Piiion Jay or Camp Robber — the latter name not very flatteriiig to the bird I must confess. For a more explicit account of each the reader is referred to the dif- ferent species recorded below. 475. Pica pica hudsonica (Sab.). — American Magpie. . West Point, Norfolk, Harrison — breeds latter locality (L. Bruner); "Occa- sional in northern and more common in western Nebraska" (Aughey); "Fall and winter visitant, somewhat rare" (Taylor); summer resident (L. E. Hicks); "East to the edge of the plains" (Goss); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Cherry county, breeding (I. S. Trostler). 477. Cyanocitta cristata {Linn.). — Blue Jay. Throughout state — breeds (L. Bruner); "Comparatively few in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Resident, abundant'' (Taylor); "West to the Great Plains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "a com- mon resident, breeds May 1 to June 15 " (L S. Trostler). 478c. Cyanocitta stelleri annectens [Baird). — Black-headed Jay. Sioux county, April, 1891 (L. Bruner). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 119 Fig. 40.— Blue Jay. 120 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICUI/rURAL SOCIETY. In writing about the Long-crested Jay, Dr. Elliott Cones says:* "All jays make their share of noise in the world ; they fret and scold about trifles, quarrel over anything, and keep everything in a ferment when they are about. The particular kind we are now talking about is nowise behind his fellows in these respects — a stranger to modesty and forbearance and the many gentle qualities that charm us in some little birds and endear them to us; he is a regular fillibuster, ready for any sort of adventure that promises sport or spoil, even if spiced with danger. Sometimes he ])rowls about alone, but oftener has a band of choice spirits with him, who keep each other in countenance (for our jay is a coward at heart, like other bullies), and share the plunder on the usual terms in such cases, of each one taking all he can get. Once I had a chance of seeing a band of these guerillas on a raid; they went at it in good style, but came off very badly, indeed. A vagabond troop made a descent upon a bush-clump, where, proba- bly, they expected to find eggs to suck, or at any rate a chance for mischief and amusement. To their intense joy they surprised a little owl quietly digesting his grasshoppers, with both eyes shut. Here was a lark ! and a chance to wipe out a part of the score that jays keep ao^ainst owls for iniuries received time out of mind. In the tumult that ensued the little birds scurried off, the woodpeckers overhead stopped taj)piug to look on, and a snake that was basking in a sunny spot concluded to crawl into his hole. The jays lunged furiously at their enemy, who sat helpless, bewildered by the sudden onslaught, trying to look as big as possible, with his wings set for bucklers and his bill snapping; meanwhile twisting his head till I thought he would wring it off trying to look all ways at once. The jays, emboldened by partial success, grew more impudent, till their victim made a break through their ranks and flapped into the heart of a neigiiboring juni- j>er, hoping to be protected by the tough, thick foliage. Tlie jays went trooping aft.er, and 1 hardly know how the fight would have ended had I not thought it time to take a hand in the game myself. I secured the owl first, * * * and then shot four of the jays before they made up their minds to be off." "It is difficult to describe the notes of this jay, he is such a gar- rulous creature and has such a variety of outcries. He ordinarily screams at the top of his voice, until he is tired or something attracts * " Birds of the Colorado Valley." SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 121 his attention. This cry is something like that of a Blue Jay, but hoarser and heavier. * * * jjg Ij^g ^jgQ ^ (.^u sounding like the rataplan of a Flicker; and again, when greedily regaling on acorns, and iiopping aimlessly about, or peering curiously down through the pine fronds to watch a suspicious character, he talks to himself in a queer way, as if thinking aloud, and chuckling over some comical notions of his own. * * * "The Long-crested Jay will eat anything eatable. It is said jays kill and devour small birds, and doubtless they do so on occasion, though I do not think it is habitual with them. They suck eggs, de- spoiling many a pretty nest; and if they cannot catch winged insects, fat larvse and beetles do not come amiss; but after all, they are prin- cipally vegetarians, feeding mainly upon seeds, hard fruits, and berries. * * * Wherever he goes he has it pretty much his own way, hated and feared by the other birds, whom he silences with a scream and subdues by a show of authority. But who of his kind has not ene- mies? Cassin's Flycatcher, almost as noisy and audacious, has many a set-to with him, and even the nimble little Wood Pewees pester him sometimes. The woodpeckers tease him persistently ; they can scramble about faster than he can follow, and laugh at him from the other side of a bough, till he quite loses his temper. But after all, our Jay has good points, and I confess to a sneaking sort of regard for him. An elegant dashing fellow, of good presence, if not good manners; a tough, wiry, independent creature, with sense enough to take precious good care of himself, as any one who wants his skin will discover." The above will apply equally well to our Blue Jay, only that he is more of a coward and will not attempt as many conquests as will Stel- ler's Jay. He does much of the mischief that is laid at the door of the Robin, Oriole, thrushes, and other birds, and then sneaks away unob- served. He is a good bird to practice on, both for the sportsman and taxidermist. 480. Ampelocoma woodhouseii (JSmVrf).— Woodhouse's Jay. "Transient visitor" at North Platte — common (M. K. Barnum); east to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico (A. O. U. Check List). 484. Perisoreus canadensis (iym?i.).— Canada Jay. West Point, Crawford (L. Bruner). 486. Corvus corax sinuatus (TFa^r^.).— American Raven. Sand Hills of Brown county, Sidney (L. Bruner); "Formerly frequently seen in Nebraska, especially in its northern part" (Aughey); "Resident, formerly 9 122 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICUI/rUKAL SOCIETY. abundant, but at present rare" (Taylor); "Western United States" (Goss) ; Omaha (L. Skow). 487. Corvus ciyptoleucus Couch. — White-necked Raven. Once near Sidney (L. Bruuer); "Republican river near west line of state " (Aughey); "East to the edge of the plains" (Goss); "a mounted specimen seen in Cherry county, — ranchers say that they are seen occasionally during fall and winter in nortliwestern part of state" (I. S. Trostler). 488. Corvus americanus Au'd. — Common Crow. Omaha, West Point, Lincoln, Fremont, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); " Exceed- ingly abundant " (Aughey); "Extremely abundant in all eastern Nebraska, resident" (Taylor); " North America, from the fur countries to Mexico" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse) ; Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River, Genoa, Omaha (D. H. Talbot); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "an abundant resident in vicinity of Omaha — breeds March 20 to May 25" (I. S. Trostler). The common crow has recently received special study in the Di- vision of Ornithology and Mamniology of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, and the results have been published in Btdletin No 6 of that division. The report in question was based on the ex- amination of the contents of nearly one thousand stomachs of these birds collected at different localities and scattered throughout the year. Dr. Merriam, in summing up the results of this study, says in his letter of submittal to the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture that ''The quantity and quality of the evidence seems sufficient to justify a final conclusion respecting the economic status of the crow, although a larger number of stomachs from some parts of the country would have l)een acceptable. "The most important charges brought against the crow are: (1) That it pulls sprouting corn ; (2) that it injures corn in the milk ; (3) that it destroys cultivated fruit; and (4) that it feeds on the eggs and young of poultry and wild birds. "All of these charges are sustained by the stomach examinations, so far as the simj)le fact that crows feed upon the substances named. But the extent of the injury is a very different matter. " In order to ascertain whether the sum of the harm done outweighs the sum of the good, or the contrary, the different kinds of food found in the stomachs have been reduced to quantitative jiercentages and contrasted. The total quantity of corn eaten during the entire year amounts to 25 per cent of the food of adult crows, and only 9.3 per SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 123 cent of the food of young crows. Leaving the young out of consid- eration, it may be said that in agricultural districts about one-fourth of the food of crows consists of corn. But less than 14 per cent of this corn, and only 3 per cent of the total food of the crow, consists of sprouting corn and corn in the milk; the remaining 8Q per cent of corn, or 97 per cent of the total food, is chiefly waste grain picked up here and there, mainly in winter, and of no economic value. "In the case of cultivated fruits the loss is trivial. The same is true of the eggs and young of poultry and wild birds, the total for the year amounting to only 1 per cent of the food. "As an offset of his bad habits, the crow is to be credited with the good done in destroying noxious insects and other injurious animals. Insects form 26 per cent of the entire food, and the great majority of these are grasshoppers, May beetles, cut- worms, and other injurious kinds. It is shown by Mr. Schwarz that during the May-beetle season, in May and June, these beetles form the principal insect food of the crow. Only a few stomachs do not contain them, and stomachs are often filled with them. The fact that the May-beetle season coincides with the breeding season of the crow is of special importance, the principal insect food of nestling crows consisting of these beetles. Mr, Schwarz also finds that grasshoppers occur in the stomaciis through- out the year; that during the May-beetle season they occur in the vast majority of stomachs, but usually in moderate numbers ; that with the disappearance of May beetles toward the end of June they increase in number until in August, and throughout the fall they constitute by- far the greater part of the insect food, often occurring in astonishing- numbers, and often forming the only insect food. " To the same side of the scale must be added the destruction of mice, rabbits, and other injurious rodents by the crow. " In summing up the benefits and losses resulting from the food- habits of this bird, it is clear that the good exceeds the bad and that the crow is a friend rather than an enemy of the farmer." 491. Nucifraga columbiana (Wils.). — Clark's Nutcracker. Sidney, Pine Kidge ( L. Bruner); Ft. Kearney (Dr. Cooper); "Only found in the western part of the state" (Aughey); "To edge of Great Plains" (Goss); North Platte — abundant in town both winter of 1895 and 1896 (E. D. Snyder); "Two seen and one shot, October, 1883 (Dr. Agersborg, Birds of Southeastern Dakota). 124 NEBRASKA STATE HOHTIOUI/rUIJAL SOCIETY. 492. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus ( ir/W.).— Maximilian's Nutcracker; Pinon Jay. Pine Ridge, near Ft. Kobinson, IMiie Hlufts (L. Bruner); "A rare visitant " in Kansas (Goss); Cherry county, Lung Pine— winters here (J. M. Bates); Sioux county, Feb. 19, 18!)() (L. Bruner, \V. D. Hunter, L. Skow); do., Decem- ber, 1895 (D. A. Haggard); Fullerton, Nance county, February, 1889 (Chas. E. Barker.) Family ICTERIDiE.— Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. The various members of the family Icteridce differ so ranch amoug themselves in food-habit that it would be quite difficult to briefly summarize this. This much, however, can be said of the group, viz., that it is essentially insectivorous. The Meadowlark, orioles, Red- winged and Yellow-headed blackbirds certainly have this trait very marked indeed while with us; and, if we are to believe the results obtained by the United States in the recent examinations into the food of the Crow blackbirds, where 2,258 stomachs were examined cover- ing the entire year with the result of 46 per cent being insects, we must acknowledge that the work of these birds is beneficial in the main. This leaves to be considered by us the Bobolink and Cowbird, both of which as Nebraska birds are insectivorous. A more detailed ac- count of the food-habits of these birds will be found under the respect- ive species beyond. 494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Lmu.).— Bobolink. Omaha, Scribner, Holt county, Norfolk— breeds (L. Bruner); "abundant in Nebraska, where it breeds" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, arrives in May" (Taylor); " West to the high plains" (Goss); Beatrice(A. S. Pear.se); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); numerous Nebraska localities (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); a common mi- grant and rare summer resident in vicinity of Omaha, but common summer resident and breeder in Cherry county" (1. S. Trostler). 495. Molothrus ater (^o(Zc/.).— Cowbird. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Thedford, Crawlbrd, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "This bird is unfortunately abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrive in May and leave in October" (Taylor); "From the Atlantic to the Pacific" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Peajise); Fairbury (M. L. Eaton); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county, Holt county— breeds, "saw a nest of Kedwiog Bhickbird at Stuart with live eggs of this bird and three of its host" (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "an abundant migrant and summer resident —May 2 to O.t. 15" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, Oct. 10 (D. A. Haggard). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 125 Tlie Cowbird is peculiarly distinct from all other species of the feathered tribe as represented in our state. Unlike other birds that seem to enjoy nest-building and caring for their young, this species is a genuine parasite, building no nest itself, " but inflicting its eggs usually on smaller birds, leaving to them the labor and care of rear- ing its young. It appears to be entirely devoid of conjugal affection, and practices polyandra, the small flocks in which it is found during the season of reproduction generally containing several more males than females" (Bendire). Of cour.se the bird is harmful if we judge it from this particular feature of its life-history, but if we take into account its food-habits it is beneficial. Living, as it does, about cattle, and including in its bill of fare a large number of various insects like flies, ticks, lice, grasshoppers, caterpillars, beetles, etc., this habit partly ofl'sets the bad traits above referred to. Bendire lists ninety different species and subspecies of birds in the nests of which the eggs of this bird have been taken. To this large list Mr. I. S. Trostler adds the three following, viz.: Tiie Chestnut- sided Warbler {Dendroica pennsylvanica), Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii)^ and the Grasshopper Sparrow {Ammodramus savannarum passerinus). 497. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.). — Yellow- headed Blackbird. Omaha, Lincoln, West Point, Holt county, breeds (L. Bruner); "Very abundant in Nebraska, where it breeds " (Aujjhey); ".Summer resident, com- mon; migratory, abundant" (Taylor); "Temperate western North America" (Goss); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); O'Neill, Holt county (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "abundant migrant and common summer resi- dent, abundant breeder in Cherry county " (L S. Trostler). 498. Agelaius phcEniceus {Linn.). — Red-winged Blackbird. Entire state — breeds (L. Bruner); "Common along water-courses in Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common'' (Taylor); " Temperate North America in general'- (Goss); Beatrice, Be Witt — breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry and Holt counties — breeds, occasionally remains throughout winter about cat- tle yards (J. M. Bates); several Nebraska localities (D. H. Talbot); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "an abundant migrant and summer resident, arrives March 15 to April 1 — breeds Alay 15 to July 4, departs Sept. 25 to Oct. 16" (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 12, Oct. 10 (D. A. Haggard). In the Red-winged Blackbird we have a friend that we little dream of when we see the large flocks gathering about our corn-fields during 126 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTUHAL SOCIETY. late summer and early fall. During the balance of the year it is en- gaged most of the time in waging war upon various insect pests, in- cluding such forms as the ** grub- worms," cut-worms, grasshoppers, army worm, beet cater j)iliar, etc. Even when it visits our corn-fields it more than pays for the corn it eats by the destruction of the worms that lurk under the husks of a large per cent of the ears in every field. Several years ago the beet-fields in the vicinity of Grand Island were threatened great injury by a certain caterpillar that had nearly defo- liated all the beets growing in many of them. At about this time large flocks of this bird appeared and after a week's sojourn the cater- pillar plague had vanished, it having been converted into bird tissues. Numerous other records of the efficiency of their labor as destroyers of insect pests might be quoted in favor of these birds, but I do not believe this to be necessary, although considerable evidence has been recorded of its destroying both fruits and grains. 501. Sturnella magna (Linn.). — Meadowlark. Entire stale, breeds (L. Braner); eastern form not beyond Ft. Kearney; "Resident, common " (Taylor); " West to the edge of the Great Plains " (Goas); Beatrice, De Witt — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county— breeds (F. A. Colby); " probably occurs here, have heard it in Iowa opposite Omaha" (I. S. Trostler); Long Pine (J. M. Bates). 5016. Sturnella magna neglecta (^uc?.).— Western Meadow- lark. West Point, Lincoln, Thedford, Sidney, Ft. Robinson, Harrison, etc. — breeds. Only occasionally in eastern part, very common in western part of state (L. Bruner); " »(efir?eda most abundant " (Aughey); "Resident, common " (Taylor); "From Nebraska and Texas to the Pacific coast " (Goss); Omaha— nesting (L. Skovv); Peru — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — nesting, also occasion- ally ^vintering (J. M. Bates); numerous localities in state (D. H. Talbot); "An abundant resident— breeds April 20 to Aug. 3" (L S. Trostler); Hat creek basin, one specimen remained throughout winter (Elliott W. Brown). 506. Icterus spurius (Linn.). — Orchard Oriole. Omaha, Lincoln, West Point, South Bend, Bellevue — breeds (L. Brnner); " Common but not abundantin Nebraska, and breeds here" (Aughey); "Sum- mer resident, abundant" (Taylor); "West to the base of the Rocky moun- tains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt— nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common— breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M.Bates); Newcastle (D.H.Talbot); Gage county— breeds (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a common summer resident, arrives May 1 to 10, breeds June 10 to 20, depart in September" (L S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 127 507. Icterus glabula {Linn.). — Baltimore Oijiole. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, South Bend, etc.— breeds (L Bruner); "Com- mon all over eastern Nebraska where there is woodland or orchard " (Aughey) ; "Summer resident, abundant, arrive in April and May" (Taylor); " West to the base of the Kocky mountains "(Goss); Beatrice, De Witt — breeds (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common— breeds (G. A. Cole- man); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Ponca, Hartingtou (D. H. Tal- bot); Gage county — breeds (F. A.Colby); "a common summer resident, arrives May 6 to 20, breeds June 1 to 20, depart middle of September " (I. S. Trostler). Fig. 41.— Orchard Oriole. The Baltimore Oriole has received such a bad reputation here in Ne- braska as a grape thief during the past two or three years that I feel inclined to give extra time and space in endeavoring to "clear him" of such an unenviable a charge. This, however, I hardly think nec- essary when the facts in the case are known. As insect destroyers both this bird and the Orchard Oriole have had an undisputed reputa- tion for many years; and the kinds of insects destroyed by both are of such a class as to count in their favor. Caterpillars, and beetles belonging to injurious species comprising 96 per cent of the food of three specimens killed, is the record we have in their favor. On the other hand grapes have been punctured only "presumably by this bird, since he has so frequently been found in the vineyard and must be the culprit." Now, I myself have seen the oriole in apple orchards un- 128 NEBRASKA STATE HOHTICULTURAI^ S(XJIETY. (ler compromising .circumstances, and have heard pretty strong evi- dence to the effect that it will occasionally j)iincturc ripe apples. It also belongs in the same family with some generally acceded " rascals," hence I will admit that possibly some of the charges with which he is credited may be true; but I still believe that most of the injuries to grapes in this and other states must be laid to other origin. If we take pains to water our birds during the dry seasons they will be much less apt to seek this supply from the juices of fruits that are so temptingly near at hand. Place little pans of water in the orchard and vineyard where the birds can visit them without fear of being seized by the house cat or knocked over by a missile from the alert "small boy," and I am sure that the injury to fruit, to a great extent at least, will cease. (See also account of English Sparrow.) 508. Icterus bullocki (Stoains.). — Bullock's Oriole. West Point, Ft. Robinson — breeds (L. Bruner); "is also frequently seen in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common; Ibnnd mostly in the western part of the state" (Taylor); "East to Dakota and Texas" (Goss). 509. Scolecophagus carolinus {Mull.). — Rusty Blackbird. West Point, Lincoln, Lyons, a few remain with us all winter (L. Bruner); "This species abounds in early spring and in the last of September and Octo- ber during its migrations" (Aughey); "Found in early spring and September and October, probably remains in the state during winter" (Taylor); " West to Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "An abundant migrant" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, Oct. 8, 10, 25 (D. A. Hag- gard). 510. Scolecophagus cyanocephalusf IFa^/^.).— Brewer's Black- bird. West Point, Holt county (L. Bruner); " very abundant in Nebraska, where it breeds" (Aughey); "Migratory, common; summer resident, not common; arrives in April and leaves in September" (Taylor); "East to western Minne- sota and Texas" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (.1. M. Bates); Omaha, "a common migrant, usually in company with Bronzed and Purple grackles(I. S. Trostler). 511. duiscalus quiscula (im>i.).— Purple Grackle. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner) ; " abundant in eastern Nebraska " ( Aughey) ; Omaha — nesting (L. Skow); "an abundant migrant and somewhat common summer resident, arrives March 20 to April 10, breeds May 10 to 20, departs last of September and early October" (I. S. Trostler). 61 16. duiscalus quiscula aeneus (i?%?(;.).— Bronzed Grackle. Lincoln, West Point, Omaha, Fremont, etc. — breeds { L. Bruner); "Summer resident, common, probably remains in the state during winter" (Taylor); SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 129 "West to the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt— breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — nesting (L. Skow); Peru, breeds occasionally (G. A. Cole- man); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county— breeds (F. A. Colby); "common summer resident, dates same as the preceding species" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 25, 28 (D. A. Haggard). Mr. Beal, in his summary of the food-habit study of the Crow- blackbirds, says of them: "From the foregoing results it appears that if the mineral element be rejected as not properly forming a part of the diet, the food of the Crow-blackbird for the whole year consists of animal and vegetable matter in nearly equal proportions. Of the Fig. 42.— Crow-Blackbird. animal component twenty-three twenty-fourths are insects, and of the insects five-sixths are noxious species. The charge that the blackbird is a habitual robber of other bird's nests seems to be disproved by the stomach examinations." **Of the vegetable food it has been found that corn constitutes half and other grain one-fourth. Oats are seldom eaten except in April and August, and wheat in July and August. Fruit is eaten in such mod- erate quantities that it has no economic inportance, particularly in viewof the fact that so little belongs to cultivated varieties." * * * 130 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. " Upon the wliole, Crow-blackbirds are so useful that no general war of extermination should be waged against them. While it must be admitted that at times they injure crops, such depredations can usually be prevented. On the other hand, by destroying insects they do incalculable good." Family FRINGILLIDiE— Finches, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, ETC. Our sparrows and their allies, taken together, form a very extensive family of very beautiful as well as useful birds. Like the warblers, they occupy themselves with searching for and destroying insects; but this is not all they do that is good. In fall, winter, and early spring, when mother earth has lost her brilliant green and rests in sombre browns or beneath ice and snow, the longspurs, snow buntings, snowbirds, and some of the sparrows that have remained with us, are busily engaged in gathering for themselves a living. They hop and fly about from place to place searching for and picking up little seeds of grass, grain, and weeds, of shrubs and trees, and appropriating the same to their use, chirping merrily as they work away. 514. Coccothraustes vespertinus (Coo/jer). — Evening Gros- beak. West Point, November 19, 1885 (L. Bruner); "a few times in winter" (Aughey); "Migratory, rare" (Taylor); "East to Manitoba, Michigan, and Illinois" (Goss); Peru, rare (G. A. Coleman); North Platte, "accidental vis- itant; a pair was seen in town frequently, and one killed May 11, 1895" (M. K. Barnum). 515. Pinicola enucleator (imn.). — Pine Grosbeak. Grand Island (F. J. Brezee); Alda (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith., p. 178); "This species occurs in southeastern Nebraska in winter, but in small num- bers" (Aughey); "Winter resident, rare, has been found as early as Novem- ber and late as February" (Taylor); "Casually to Kansas, Kentucky, etc." (Goss); Lincoln, Nov. 11, 1895 (L. Bruner); Omaha (L Skow); Omaha, "an irregular winter visitor— usually met with after cold north winds in midwinter " (L S.Trostler). 517. Carpodacus purpureus ((rmg^.). — Purple Finch. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; " have only seen this bird in Nebraska in October" (Aughey); "Has been found in the state in May and October'' (Taylor); "West to the high plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, not common (G. A. Coleman); "An irregular migrant and winter resident — occurs about Omaha during latter October to April 15 " (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, Oct. 30 (D. A. Haggard). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 131 518. Carpodacus cassini Baird. — Cassin's Purple Finch. Sioux county (J. B. White). 521. Loxia curvirostra minor {Brehm). — American Crossbill. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); " Entered upon authority of Baird " (Tay- lor); "Chiefly far northward and east of the Great Plains" (Goss) ; Sioux county, Dec. 14, 1895 (L. Bruner); Fairbury (M. L. Eaton); Omaha (L. Skew); Peru, rare migrant (G. A. Coleman); Gage county, (F. A. Colby); "an irregu- lar migrant and winter resident, occurs in vicinity of Omaha from latter part of October to March 1" (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, Feb. 19 to 27, quite common (W. D. Hunter, L. Skow); Fullerton, Nance county (C. E. Barker). 521a. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi Ridgw. — Mexican Cross- bill. Mr. L. Skow of Omaha reports having taken a number of specimens of what might be this Crossbill. " From eastern Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, etc. — wintering on Agricultural College grounds, Manhattan, Kansas" (Goss). 522. Loxia leucoptera Gmel. — White-winged Crossbill. West Point, Omaha, December, 1887 (L. Bruner); "Entered upon the au- thority of Baird " (Taylor); "South in winter to about latitude 39°" (Goss); Fairbury (M. L. Eaton); "an irregular winter resident, rare, seen in company with the American Crossbill, but only in coldest midwinter " (I. S. Trostler). 524. Leucosticte tephracotis Swains. — Gray-crowned Leu- COSTICTE. "This bird is frequently seen in Nebraska in winter, but rarely in summer " (Aughey); Omaha (L. Skow); Sioux county, Feb. 18, 1896 (L. Bruner and L. Skow'i; "south in winter throughout the entire Rocky mountain region of the United States, but most abundant on the eastern slope " (A. O. U. Check List) ; reported by Elliott W. Brown of Hat Creek, Wyo., as living in the nests of the Cliff or Eave Swallow during very cold winter weather (W. D. Hunter). 528. Acanthis linaria {Linn.). — Common Redpoll. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "This bird appears irregularly in Ne- braska" (Aughey) ; " Winter resident, rare, has been seen as early as Novem- ber and as late as February (Taylor); "South in winter through the northern to middle United States" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha (F. J. Brezee); "common winter resident and migrant, earliest seen in tall at Omaha, Sept. 30 " (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, December and February, exceedingly com- mon (L. Bruner, D. A. Haggard, F. W. Taylor, W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). 5286. Acanthis linaria rostrata ( Cowes).— Greater Redpoll. "A common winter resident and migrant, a large flock seen near Omaha, Nov. 17, 1895" (L S. Trostler). 529. Spinus tristis {Linn.). — American Goldfinch. Omaha, West Point, Lincoln, Fremont, etc.— breeds (L. Bruner); "Common in northern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common" (Taylor); 1 32 NEJ5KASKA STATE HOHTK ULTUKAL SOCIETY, "Temperate North America generally " (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); several localities in state (D. H. Talbot i; (Jage connty — breeds (F. A. Colby); "an abundant resident, breeds July 2U to Sept. 1 (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, Nov. 5 (D. A. Haggard). 533. Spinus pinus {Wils.). — Pine Siskin; Pine Goldfinch. Omaha, West Point (L. Bruner); " In December, 18"i7, two specimens were collected by members of the zoology class — has been found in the state as early as September" (Taylor); "Temperate North America" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Genoa, Wood River (D. H. Talbot); "an irregular migrant and winter resident — earliest seen October 10" (L S. Trostler). 000. Passer domesticus (Linn.). — European House Sparrow; English Sparrow. Nearly all of state in towns — breeds most of year (L. Bruner); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L, Skow); Gordon. Nebr.,and in towns this side — east — breeds (J. I\L Bates); Beatrice (F. A. Colby); Omaha, " a very abundant resident, breeds every month in the year except December, January, and Feb- ruary — rapidly driving out the Purple Martin, House wrens, and Bluebird" (I. S. Trostler). Fic. 43. — English Sparrow. The European House Sparrow, or EnglLsli Sparrow, as it is more commonly called in this country, while doing considerable in the line of destroying in.sects of various kinds that are common to the garden, is a nuisance in many ways. To tho.se who are familiar with the bird SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 133 no description of" its habits are necessary; but to those who are not acquainted with it a few words may be of service. A lover of cities and towns and the company and protection of man, this bird has become exceedingly numerous. It is very pugnacious, incessantly fighting with its own kind, as well as with all other birds that it can overawe by its repeated onslaughts. In this way it soon drives away orioles, bluebirds, wrens, etc., that would otherwise make their homes in our parks. Among the many other charges that have been made against this bird is that of injury to fruits; and I believe that much of the blame that has been laid to the orioles, robins, and thrushes should be laid to him. Quoting from Bulletin No. 1 of the Division of Economic Orinthology and Mammology, United States Department of Agriculture, we have the following: "Among fruits, grapes appear to suffer most, and, although many grapes are raised without protection in places where sparrows are con- sidered fairly abundant, there is every reason to believe that sooner or later this bird will discover and injure them wherever its increase is tolerated. It has been shown that grape buds are frequently destroyed in the early spring, and the fact that one hundred and twenty-seven observers, representing twenty-six states and the District of Columbia, now (1888) bear witness to injury to ripening fruit, may well cause apprehension among grape-growers who have not suffered any loss as vet " * * * "Those who have watched closely the movements of the sparrow when among the grapes agree that he pecks many more grapes than he eats, and his actions at such times, together with the fact that he frequently picks off leaves and shoots, which he does not eat, lend some color to the statements that he willfully destroys simply for the pleasure of destruction.'^ 534. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). — Snow Bunting; Snow- flake. West Point, Omaha, Norfolk, Sidney, etc. (L. Bruner); "abundant in Ne- braska in winter" (Aughey); "Winter resident, common, has been seen in November and February" (Taylor); "Casually to Georgia, southern Illinois, and Kansas" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, "irregular migrant and winter resident, Nov. 5 to March 1" (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, Feb. 19, 1896 (L. Bruner). 536. Galcarius lapponicus {Linn.), — Lapland Longspur. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Present in Nebraska " (Aughey) ; "South in winter to Kentucky, southern Illinois, Kansas, etc." (Goss); Beat- 134 KEBRASKA STATE IIORTICULTUUAL SOCIETY. rice (A. S. Pearce); Omaha (L. Skow) ; Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood Kiver (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "common winter resident, Nov. 20 to March 1" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, Feb. S, March 2 (D. A. Hag- gard). 537. Calcarius pictus (Swains.). — Smith's Longspur, West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Probably migratory, passing through the state in April and October" (Taylor); "From the Arctic coast to Hlinois and Texas" (Goss); Lincoln, Oct. 25 (D. A. Haggard). 538. Calcarius ornatus [Toums.). — Chestnut-collared Long- spur. West Point, Grand Island, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Abundant in Nebraska, where it breeds" (?) (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in May" (Taylor); "A bird of the plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county ( J. M. Bates); Albion, O'Neill, Wood River (D. H. Talbot); a common migrant, March 20 to April 16, Oct. 1 to 15 (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, Oct. 25 (D. A. Haggard). 539. Rhynehophanes mccownii (Lawr.). — McCown's Long- spur. West Point (L. Bruner); "A few found in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare" (Taylor); "South in winter through Kansas" (Goss); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Wood River (D. H. Talbot); "a not very common mi- grant, March 20 to April 16, Oct. 1 to 15 " (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 11 (D. A. Haggard). 540. Poocaetes gramineus (Gmel.). — Vesper Sparrow; Grass Finch. West Point, Lincoln, breeds (L. Bruner); "Abundant only in certain locali- ties" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, probably arrives in April and has been seen as late as September " (Taylor); " Eastern North America to the plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, rare — may breed (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); several localities in east cen- tral part of state (D. H. Talbot); Omaha, "a not common summer resident, April 20 to Oct. 10" (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, April 12 (D. A. Haggard). 540«. Poocaetes gramineus confinis Baird. — Western Vesper Sparrow. Holt county. Sand Hills (L. Bruner); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates). 542a. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna ( Wifs.). — Sa- vanna Sparrow. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Migratory, common, arrives in April, May, and September" (Taylor); " West to the plains " (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — may breed (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); O'Neill, Genoa, Wood River — exceedingly com- mon (D. H. Talbot); "a not common summer resident, arrive early in May — SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 135 breeds June 1 to 12, departs late August and September" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, April 19, .Oct. 14, 16, 23 (D. A. Haggard). 5426. Ammodramus sandwichensis alaudinus {Bonap.). — Western Savanna Sparrow. Lincoln (L. Braner); "Western North America in general" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Lincoln, Oct. 10 (D. A. Haggard). 545. Ammodramus bairdi (ylucL).— Baird's Bunting. Lincoln, West Point, Sioux county — breeding in latter locality (L. Bruner); "One specimen mentioned by Baird as collected at Ft. Union, Nebraska (Tay- lor); O'Neill, Nebr., September 1884 (D. H. Talbot); "from the plains of the Red river and Saskatchewan south to Texas" (A. O. U. Check List); "quite a common migrant — I have a set of five eggs taken by myself May 30, 1893, near Omaha that I feel positive are of this species" (L S. Trostler), 546. Ammodramus savannarum passerinus ( I Fi/s.).— Grass- hopper Sparrow; Yellow- winged Sparrow. West Point, Lincoln, Holt county (L. Bruner); "Abundant in Nebraska, and breeds here " (Aughey); " Summer resident, abundant " (Taylor); " West to the plains" (Goss); Peru, abundant — breeds (G. A. Coleman); a number of east middle Nebraska localities (D. H. Talbot); "common summer resident, arrives April 10 to May 1, breeds May 15 to 25, departs. Sept. 5 to 30 " (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, May 10, 17 (D. A. Haggard). 546a. Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus (Ridgic). — Western Grasshopper Sparrow. Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates). 547. Ammodramus henslowii {Aud). — Henslow's Sparrow. Lincoln, West Point (L. Bruner) ; " I haveonly occasionally met with this bird in Nebraska'' (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare, has been found in the state as late as September " (Taylor) ; " West to the Plains " (Goss). 548. Ammodramus leconteii (^wrf.).— Le Conte's Sparrow. West Point, Lincoln, Omaha, Holt county (L. Bruner); "The Great Plains, north to Manitoba ", (Goss) ; Wood River, Ponca (D. H. Talbot); " from the plains eastward to Illinois" (A. O. U. Check List); Lincoln, May 17 (D. A. Haggard); Lincoln (B. Shimek). 549a. Ammodramus cadacutus nelsoni ^^/ew. — Nelson's Sparrow. "From northern Illinois northward to North Dakota and Manitoba, south in winter to Texas" A. O. U. Check List); "chiefly in the Mississippi valley (Goss); Ft. Sisseton aud Devil's lake, N. Dak. (Vernon Bailey). 552. Chondestes grammacus (Say). — La^k Finch; Lark Bunting. Lincoln, West Point— breeds (L. Bruner); Abundant— breeds (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, arrives in May and remains as late as Septem- 136 NKBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ber" (Taylor); "Mississippi valley, north to Iowa, Wisconsin, etc." (Goss); Beatrice— breeding (A. S. Pearae); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Jackson, Ponca, Newcastle (D. H. Talbot); Gage county — breeds (F. A.Colby); abundant sum- mer resident, arrives April 1 to 10, breeds May 20 to June 10, departs Sept. 5 to :W (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, May 10 (D. A. Haggard). 553. Zonotrichia querula {Nutt.).— Harris's Sparrow. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Common in eastern Nebraska along the Missouri" (Aughey); "Common" (Taylor); "west to eastern Mon- tana and western Nebraska" (Goss); Beatrice (M. L. Eaton); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman) ; Cherry county (J. M. Bates) ; Wood River, Genoa ( D. H. Talbot), Lincoln (D. A. Haggard, D. F. Hall). 554. Zonotrichia leucophrys (i^ors^.).— White-crowned Spar- row. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Only occasionally seen in Ne- braska" (Aughey); "Migratory, common; summer resident, rare" (Taylor); "North America at large" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "a common migrant April 12 to May 1 — not noted in autumn" (I. S. Trostler). 554«. Zonotrichia leucophrys intermedia Ridgw. — Interme- diate Sparrow. Lincoln, West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "From the eastern edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. H. Bates); An abundant migrant and common winter resident, Omaha, Oct. 1 to April 2 to 30" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, Crete, April 19 (D. A. Haggard). 5546. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli Nutt. — Gambel's Spar- row. "Baird mentions two specimens taken in 1856 " (Taylor). 558. Zonotrichia albicoUis ((?m^/.).— White-throated Spar- row. West Point, Lincoln, Weeping Water (L. Bruner); " abundant in Nebraska during its migrations " (Aughey); " Migratory, abundant, arrives in May, Sep- tember, and October" (Taylor); "West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare migrant (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, "a common migrant April 12 to May 15, Sept. 20 to Nov. 1 " (I. S. Trostler). 559. Spizella monticola (G^meZ.).— Tree Sparrow. West Point, Lincoln, Omaha, Weeping Water, etc. (L. Bruner); "Abundant in winter and a few breed here in sumfner" (Aughey); "West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county— winters (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "an abun- dant winter resident, arrives Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, departs before April 1 " (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 25, Oct. 21, Nov. 5 (D. A. Haggard). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 137 559a. Spizella monticola ochracea i>Ve?<;s^.— Western Tree Sparroav. " Possibly may be found in Nebraska, mentioned in A. O. U. Check List as 'east to Dakota and western Kansas'" (Taylor); "East to Dakota, middle Kansas and Texas" (Goss); Peru, common winter resident (G. A. Coleman); Omaha (L. Skow); Sioux county, Feb. 18, 1896 (L. Bruner). 560. Spizella socialis ( Wils.). — Chipping Sparrow. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; " Very abundant in portions of Nebraska " (Augbey); "Abundant in spring and fall, and probably breeds in the state " (Taylor); "west to the Rocky mountains " (Goss) ; Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, rare — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, "an abundant migrant and common summer resident, arrives April 1 to 15, breeds in June, departs Sept. 10 to Oct. 1" (L S. Trostler). Fig. 44. — Chipping Sparrow. 561. Spizella pallida («S'toams.).— Clay-colored Sparrow. West Point, Lincoln, Rulo (L. Bruner); "abundant in portions of Nebraska in May and October " (Aughey) ; " Migratory, common; summer resident, occa- sional; arrives in May and October " (Taylor); "Interior of North America I am inclined to believe that the bird occasionally breeds in Nebraska " (Goss) Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates) Omaha, "a common migrant. May 1 to 25 and Sept. 20 to Oct. 25" (I. S Trostler); Lincoln, May 17 and Oct. 7 (D. A. Haggard). 562. Spizella breweri Cass. — Brewer's Sparrow. Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates). 10 138 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 563. Spizella pusilla ( "'Vson). — Field Sparrow. Lineolu, West Point, Kulo, Weeping Water, etc. i^L. Bruner); "Summer resident, common, arrives as early as the last of April and has been found as late as September" (Taylor); "West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss), Beatrice, De Witt — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G A. Coleman); Omaha, "an abundant migrant and common summer resident, arrives March 20 to May 1, breeds May 10 to Aug. 1 — three broods— departs Sept. 15 to Oct. 10" (I.S. Trostler). 563a. Spizella pusilla arenacea Chadb. — Western Field Sparrow. Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "Great Plains, from Texas to Montana and Dakota" (A. O. U. Check List). 566. Junco aikeni Ridgw. — White-winged Junco. "Kocky mountains in Colorado and Wyoming, straggling east in winter ta middle Kansas and Indian Territory" (Goss); Ft. Robinson, Sioux county, December, 1895 (L. Bruner, D. A. Haggard); Sioux county, Feb. 18 to 29,1896, abundant (L. Bruner, W. D. Hunter, L. Skow). Several specimens were taken in which the white wing-bands were wanting, and a single one with decidedly pinkish sides. 567. Junco hyemalis {Linn.). — Junco; Slate-colored Snow- bird. Lincoln, Omaha, Bellevue, West Point, Rulo, etc. (L. Bruner); "A fevr are found here during the whole year, but the great mass pass northward in spring '* (Aughey); "Winter resident, abundant" (Taylor); "South in winter through- out the eastern United States and straggling westward to the Pacific coast" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, an abundant winter resident, Oct. 10 to 30, March 20 to April 10 — a few seen during summer — probably breeds here" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 25 (D. A. Haggard). 567a. Junco hyemalis oregonus ( Tot6'us.). — Oregon Junco. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Baird mentions two specimens taken in October, probably a rare winter resident in the western part of the state" (Taylor); "In winter straggling east to the Mississippi river" (Goss); Sioux county, December, 1895 (L. Bruner, D. A. Haggard); "In winter to middle Kansas" (Ridgeway); Omaha (L. Skow); Sioux county, Feb. 19, 1896" (L. Skow); Long Pine, April 8 (L M. Bates). 5676. Junco hyemalis shufeldti Coale. — Shufeldt's Junco. Cherry county, Nebr. (J. M. Bates); "Accidental in Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, etc. (A. O. U. Check List). 568. Junco annectens Baird. — Pink-sided Junco. Lincoln, March 11, 1895 (Student). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 139 569. Junco caniceps ( WoodL). — Gray-headed Junco. Sioux county, Dec. 14, 1895 (L. Bruner, D. A. Haggard). 578. Peucaea cassini (Tf^ood/i.). — Cassin's Sparrow. Suiunier resident in middle and western part of Kansas (Goss); central and western Kansas (A. O. U. Check List); this bird very likely reaches the Ee- publican river valley in Nebraska (L. Bruner). 581. Melospiza fasciata (GmeL). — Song Sparrow. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Common in certain localities" (Anghey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in April and May, and found as late as September, probably a winter resident in some parts of the state " (Taylor); "West to the b.ise of the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); an abundant winter resident, also common resident, commonest Oct. 1 to March 20" (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 25, Oct. 7, 23, 30, Crete, April 19 (D. A. Haggard); Crawford, Dec. 12 (L. Bruner); Long Pine, April 9 (J. M. Bates). 583. Melospiza lincolnii (Aud.). — Lincoln's Sparrow. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); " Great numbers pass through Nebraska in spring and fall " (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant, arrives in April, May, September, and October " (Taylor) ; "North America at Large" (Goss); Peru, common miiirant (G. A. Coleman); Lincoln, April 22, May 8, 10, Oct. 7,8 (D, A. Haggard). 584. Melospiza georgiana {Lath.). — Swamp Sparrow. Lincoln, West Point, Lyons (L. Bruner); "One specimen mentioned by Baird" (Taylor); "West to the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman); Lincoln, April 26, May 3, Dec. 15 (D. A. Haggard). 585. Passerella iliaca {Merrem). — Fox Sparrow. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "One specimen mentioned in the records of the Normal Science Society" (Taylor); "West to the plains andl Alaska" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common' migrant (G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a common mi- grant, Oct. 1 to 26, March 20 to April 10 — occasionally seen during warm winter weather" (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, April 9, Oct. 29 (D. A. Haggard). 585c. Passerella iliaca schistacea {Baird). — Slate-colored Sparrow. Omaha, Florence, Rockport (L. Skow). 587. Pipilo erythropthalmus (imn.).— Chewink ; Towhee. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Rulo, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Large num- bers pass through northern Nebraska on their migration, a few stop to breed " (Aughey); "Migratory, abundant; summer resident, somewhat rare; arrive in March and April, may occasionally spend the winter in the state" (Taylor); " West to eastern Dakota and Texas" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt— breeding (A. 140 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. S. Pearse) ; Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Genoa, Wood River — abundant (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "an abundant migrant and common resi- dent, breeds April 20 to June '25, — two or three broods— have taken fresh eggs and two-weeks-old young in same nest" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln (D. A. Hag- gard). 588. Pipilo maculatus arcticus {Swains.). — Arctic Towhee. Sioux county (L. Bruuer); " Baird mentions eighteen specimens collected in western Nebraska, ten in May, four in summer, and three the latter part of September" (Taylor); "East to Kansas, Nebraska, etc. " (Goss); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Sioux county— breeding (K. E. Dinges). 590. Pipilo chlorurus (Towns.). — Green-tailed Towhee. "Baird mentions several taken in August in extreme western Nebraska" (Taylor). 593. Cardinalis cardinalis {Linn.). — Cardinal, Grosbeak. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln Eulo, Nebraska City, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); " Abundant in southern Nebraska, where it breeds" (Aughey); " Kesident, com- mon " (Taylor); ''West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Fairbury ( M. L. Eaton); Omaha, Kockport — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a not uncommon resident, commonest in winter, breed.? in latter part of May" (1. S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 5, Kulo, April 18 (D. A. Haggard). 595. Habia ludoviciana {Linn.). — Rose-breasted Grosbeak. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, etc., breeds (L. Bruner); "Rather abundant in northern Nebra.ska " (Aughey I; "Summer resident, common, ar- rives in April and May" (Taylor); " West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Beatrice (M. L. Eaton); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); a common summer resident, arrives April iiO to May 10, "breeds May 25 to June 10, departs for the south during latter September" (I. S. Trostler). 596. Habia melanocephala {Sioalns.). — Black-headed Gros- beak. Sioux county (L. Bruner); Lincoln (R. E. Dinges); "I have seen this bird myself only along, the Republican river in southwestern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare, arrives in May and has been found as late as Septem- ber" (Taylor); "East to middle Nebraska" (Go.ss); Omaha, "a rare strag- gler — one tbund dead under telegraph wire Oct. 26, 1894" (I. S. Trostler). 597. Guiraca caerulea {Linn.). — Blue Grosbeak. Grand Island (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare, has been seen as late as September" (Taylor); "North occasionally to New England and southern Ne- braska" (Goss); Gage county (Fred Wesphal, F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a strag- gler, rare, one seen Oct. 26, 1894 " (L S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON- NEBRASKA BIRDS. 141 597a. Guiraca caerulea eurhyncha Coues. — Western Blue Grosbeak. " From South Dakota, Colorado," etc. (A. O. U. Check List). 598. Passerina cyanea (i^wH.). — Indigo Bunting; Indigo Bird, Oinaha, West Point, Weeping Water, Lincoln — breeds (L. Bruner); "Rare in Nebraska" (Augbey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in May " (Tay- lor); " West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss) ; Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Cole- man); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "common summer resident, arrives May 1 to 10, breeds June 15 to 15, departs early in September" (I.S. Trostler); Lincoln, Aug. 15 (D. A. Haggard). 599. Pdsserina amoeaa (Say). — Lazuli Finch; Lazuli Bunt- ing. West Point, Sioux county — breeds (L, Brnner); "Summer resident, rare" (Taylor) ; " East to the Great Plains " (Goss). 604. Spiza americana (Gmei). — Dickcissel; Black-throated Bunting. West Point, Omaha, Norfolk, Schuyler, Lincoln, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Common in eastern Nebraska, and found to the west line of the state" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, f mad as late as September " (Tay- lor); "North to New England and southern Dakota" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, abundant — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); numerous localities in state (D. H. Talbot); Gage county — breeds (F. A Colby); "An abundant migrant and com- mon summer resident, arrives May 7 to 15, breeds June 2 to July 15'' (I. S. Trostler). 605. Calamospiza melanocorys Stejn. — Lark Bunting. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Rather abundant in southern Nebraska, wliere it breeds" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, probably arrives in May" (Taylor); "West to tlie Rocky mountains" (Goss); Lincoln (D. A. Hag- gard); Beatrice — breeding, De Witt (A. S. Pearse); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Thomas county — breeding (L. Bruner). Family TANAGRID.ffi.— Tanagers. 607. Piranga ludoviciana [Wils.). — Louisiana Tanager; Crimson-headed Tanager. Sioux county — breeds (L. Bruuer); " Baird mentions five specimens collected in western Nebraska in August and September " (Taylor). 608. Piranga erythromelas Vieill. — Scarlet Tanager. Wesk Point, Omaha, Lincoln, La Platte, Weeping Water, etc. — breeds (L. Bruuer); "in the southeastern part of the state" (Aughey); "Summer resi- 142 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. dent, somewhat rare " (Taylor); " West to tbe Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "quite common summer resident, arrives about May 1, breeds June 5 to 20, and departs early in September" (I. S. Trostler). <310. Piranga rubra (Linn.). — Summer Redbird. Lincoln, breeds (R. E. Dinges); " Have seen this bird only in southeastern Nebraska (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare, arrives in May" (Taylor); "North to New Jersej', Illinois, and Nebraska" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); "a rare summer resident, one seen in western partof Douglas county, July 7, 1894" (L S. Trostler). ' Family HIRUNDINID-S:.— Swallows. All of our swallows are insect destroyers, feediug u|)oii such forms as gnats, flies, etc., which they capture on the wing. The large colo- nies of different sjiecies of these bird^ that breed within the state, as well as those that paps through during their migrations, destroy vast numbers of these insects. They should be protected. 611. Progne subis (Linn.). — Purple Martin; House Martin. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Rather com- mon in Nebraska, where it breeds" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in May " (Taylor); " The whole of temperate North America" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt — breeding (AS. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a common resident, formerly abundant, but being driven out by European House Sparrow; arrives March 10 to April 1, breeds April 25 to June 1 " (L S. Trost- ler). 612. Petrochelidon lunifrons (-S'o^/). — Cliff Swallow; Eaves Swallow ; Mud Swallow. West Point, Lincoln, Sioux county, Omaha, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Oc- curs in eastern Nebraska in great numbers" (Aughey) ; "Summer resident, arrive in May" (Taylor); "North America at large" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeding (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "common sum- mer resident, arrives May 1, breeds May 20 to July 1, departs Aug. 10 to Sept. 15" (L S. Trostler). 613. Chelidon erythrogastra {Bodd.). — Barn Swallow. Holt county, Omaha, Lincoln, West Point, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); " various localities in eastern Nebraska, and also breeds here (Aujihey); "Summer resi- dent, common, arrives in May" (Taylor); "North America in general " (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt — breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds Jan. 2, 1892 (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); Omaha, "a common summer resident, arrives May 1 to 10, breeds May 25 to July 10, departs Aug. 10 to Sept. 15" (L S. Trostler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 143 614. Tachycineta bicolor (VieilL). — White-bellied Swallow; Tree Shallow. West Point, Lincoln, Sioux county, breeds in latter locality (L. Brunei) ; "found but sparingly in Nebraska" (Augbey,); "Summer resident, rare, ar- rives in April" (Taylor); "The whole of North America" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); "a common migrant, but as summer resident not common in vicinity of Omaha, arrives April 10 to May 1, breeds June 1 to 10, departs Sept. 1 to 25" (L S. Trostler). 615. Tachycineta thalassina (-S'Mjams.). — Violet-green Swal- low. West Point, Sioux county — breeds in latter locality (L. Bruner); "in west- ern Nebraska, where I found it nesting " (Augbey); " Mentioned by both Baird and Augbey as taken in the summer season in western Nebraska " (Taylor). 616. Clivicola riparia (Linn.). — Bank Swallow. Entire state — breeds in suitable localities (L. Bruner); "Common in eastern Nebraska — breeds (Augbey); " Summer resident, common " (Taylor); "North- ern hemisphere in general" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt — breeds (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "an abundant summer resident — breeds" (I. S. Trost- ler). 617. Stelgidopteryx serripennis (u4wf/.). — Rough-winged Swallow. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "breeding in Richardson county" (Augbey); "summer resident, common " (Taylor); " United States at large " (Goss); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); "rare summer resident, a small colony seen nesting in bank of Elkhorn river in western part of Douglas county July 15, 1894" (I. S. Trostler). Family AMPELID.ZE. — Waxwings. The " waxwings," both the Cedar Bird and Bohemian Waxwiug, feed principally upon berries, etc., which they find throughout the year. Still, in his studies of the food contents of the stomachs of a variety of birds taken in a certain orchard that was overrun with canker-worms, Professor Forbes found that the seven specimens of the Cedar Waxwing had eaten nothing but canker-worms and a few dung beetles — these latter in such small numbers as to scarcely count. The number of caterpillars eaten by each bird ranged from 70 to 101. 618. Ampelis garrulus Lin7i. — Bohemian Waxwing; North- ern Waxwing. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Rare in Nebraska in winter" (Aughey); "Winter resident" (Taylor); "in North America south in winter 144 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. more or less regularly to latitude 40°" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); "a very irregular winter resident" (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, common (George Toole) ; Lincoln, Dec. 7 (D. A. Ha'^gard); Lin- coln, Nov. 14, 28 — fourteen specimens (J. S. Hunter); Fullerton, Nance county (C. E. Barker). Fig. 45. — liolicmian Waxwing. 619. Ampelis cedrorum ( ^«eiY/.). — Ckdar Bird; Cedar Wax- wing ; Cherky Bird. West Point. Omaha, Tekamah, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner); "only a few times in Nebraska" (Aughey); " An irregular resident, generally common " (Taylor); "The whole of temperate North America " (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — may breed (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 145 Gage couutj' (F. A. Colby); "not uncommon as a late migrant in autumn and early spring— probably breeds in Nebraska" (I. S. Trostler) ; Lincoln, March 8 (D. A. Haggard). Family LANIID-ffi. — Shrikes. The shrikes or "butcher birds" are kuown as veritable "brigands" or "pirates" when it comes to the destruction of other forms of life. They are true to their name, and "butcher" for pastime large num- bers of insects, mice, lizards, small snakes, and even birds. They then fly to some thorn bush or barb-wire fence and impale the luck- less victim and leave it for future use, or to dry up and finally blow away. The good they do will outweigh the harm. 621. Lanius borealis VieilL — Great Northern Shrike, West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Rulo, etc. (L. Bruner); "fall of the year sparingly" (Aughey); "Winter resident, common, arrive in September and probably leave in March" (Taylor); "South in winter to about latitude 35° " (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt (A. S. Pearse) ; Omaha (L, Skow) ; Peru, winter resi- dent (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Lincoln (R. E. Dinges, J. B. White, D. A. Haggard, etc. ) ; Gage county (F. A. Colby); "quite a common winter resident, arriving at the same time and preying upon the smaller spar- rows " (I. S. Trostler); Sioux county, Feb. 27, 1896 (W. D. Hunter). Fig. -iCi. — Great Northern Shrike. 622. Lanius ludovicianus Linn. — Loggerhead Shrike ; Butcher Bird. West Point — breeding, Omaha (L. Bruner); "North irregularly to Ohio, Ver- mont, etc." (Goss); Lincoln (Dr. F. L. Riser), 146 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 622a. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides {Swains.). — White- KUMPED Shrike. West Point, Lincoln, Omaha (L. Bruner); Lincoln — breeding (R. E. Dinges); "Rather abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, arrive in April and found as late as September" (Taylor); "Thecentral regions of North America" (Goss); Beatrice — nesting (A. S. Pearse); Omaha (L. Skow); Pern, breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "Summer resident — breeds, not common, earliest seen March 23 — departs late in September" (L S. Trostler). Family VIREONID.ffi.— Vireos. The food of the various "greenlets" or vireos is made up almost entirely of insects, of which a large per cent is composed of the cat- erpillars of different moths, such as infest trees and the larger shrubs. They should be protected and encouraged about the orchard in par- ticular. 624. Vireo olivaceus {Linn.). — Red-eyed Vireo. Common over eastern half of state— breeds (L. Bruner); "common in the timber belts along the Missouri and its tributaries in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, probably arrives in May" (Taylor); "West to the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); common summer resident, arrives May 1, breeds May 22 to July 1— departs Sept. 1 to 25 " (I. S. Trostler). 626. Vireo philadelphicus ( Cass.). — Philadelphia Vireo. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "common in eastern Nebraska" (Aughey); Omaha (L. Skow). 627. Vireo gilvus ( VieilL). — Warbling Vireo. West Point (L. Bruner); "abundant in northeastern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in May" (Taylor); "North America in general" (Goss); Omaha — breeding (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); "a not uncommon summer resident, arrives, breeds, and departs same as Red-eyed Vireo" (I. S. Trostler). 628. Vireo flavifrons VieilL — Yelloa\'-throated Vireo. Lincoln (L. Bruner); Fairbury (Dr. Eaton); "Somewhat abundant in south- eastern Nebraska, but rare north of the Platte" (Aughey); "Summer resi- dent" (Taylor); "Eastern United States" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common — may breed (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, "not rare as a summer resi- dent, arrives about May 1, departs late in August, seen during summer, doubt- less breeds" (I. S. Trostler). 629. Vireo solitarius {Wils.). — Blue-headed Vireo. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "Found in the timber belts of eastern Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare, arrives in May" (Taylor); SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 147 " Eastern North America, migratory in Kansas" (Goss); Omaha, Child's Point (L. Skow); Omaha, "a rare summer resident, occasionally seen during May, June, and July during past six years" (I. S. Trostler). 630. Vireo atricapillus Woodh. — Black-capped Vireo. Bellevue (L. Skow) ; Omaha, "a rare straggler, one seen June 19, 1894 (I was very close to this bird and positively identified it)" (I. S. Trostler). 631. Vireo noveboracensis (GmeL). — White-eyed Vireo. Omaha, Lincoln, West Point (L. Bruner); "Occasionally met with in Ne- braska" — nesting (Aughey); "Probably a summer resident" (Taylor); "West to the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Omaha, "not uncommon summer resident, arrives early in May, breeds June 24 to 30, de- parts Sept. 20 to 30" (I. S. Trostler). 633. Vireo bellii Aud. — Bell's Vireo. Lincoln (L. Bruner) ; " This bird is sparingly present in Nebraska " (Aughey) ; "Summer resident, rare"' f Taylor); "From Illinois and Minnesota west to the eastern base of the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "a common summer resident — by far our commonest Vireo, arrives May 1 to 10, breeds May 25 to July 24, departs Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 " (I. S. Trostler). Family MNIOTILTID^.— Wood Warblers. In the words of that pleasing writer, Dr. Elliott Coues,* " The war- blers have we always with us, all in their own good time; they come out of the south, pass on, return, aud are away again, their appearance and withdrawal scarcely less than a mystery; many stay with us all summer long, aud some brave the winters in our midst. Some of these slight creatures, guided by unerring instinct, travel true to the meridian in the hours of darkness, slipping past like a 'thief in the night,' stopping at daybreak from their lofty flights to rest and recruit for the next stage of the journey. Others pass more leisurely from tree to tree, in a ceaseless tide of migration, gleaning as they go; the hardier males, in full song and plumage, lead the way for the weaker females and the yearlings. With tireless industry do the warblers be- friend the human race; their unconscious zeal j)lays due part in the nice adjustment of nature's forces, helping to bring about the balance of vegetable and insect life without which agriculture would be in vaiu. They visit the orchard when the apple and pear, the peach, plum, and cherry are in bloom, seeming to revel carelessly amid the sweet-scented and delicately-tinted blossoms, but never faltering in their good work. * Key to North American Birds, p. 288. 148 ^NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. They peer into the crevices of the bark, scrutinize each leaf, aud ex- plore the very heart of the buds, to detect, drag forth, and destroy those tiny creatures, singly insignificant, collectively a scourge, which prey upon the hopes of the fruit-grower, and which, if undisturbed, would brino; his care to naught. Some warblers flit incessantly in the terminal foliage of the tallest trees; others hug close to the scored trunks and gnarled boughs of the forest kings; some peep from the thicket, coppice, the impenetrable mantel of shrubbery that decks tiny water-courses, playing at hide-and-seek with all comers; others more humble still, descend to the ground, whefe they glide with pretty mincing steps and affected turning of the head this way and that, their delicate flesh-tinted feet just stirring the layer of withered leaves with which a past season carpeted the ground. We may seek warblers everywhere in the season; we shall find them a continual surprise; all mood and circumstance is theirs." 636. Mniotilta varia (Linn.).— Black and White Creeping Warbler. West Point, Plattsmonth, Omaha, Lincoln, (L. Bruuer); "wooded sections of Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in April and May" (Taylor); "West to the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common— may breed (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); "common migrant and not uncommon summer resident and breeder, arrives early in April, departs Sept. 2 to 25— G. W. Sabine saw young in nest in middle of June, 1894, in northern Sarpy county — breeds about May 15" (I. S. Trostler). 637. Protonotaria citrea (Bodd.). — Prothonotary Warbler. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "Have only seen this bird a few times in southeastern Nebraska" (Aughey); "summer resident, somewhat rare" (Tay- lor); "North re2;ularly to Georgia, Iowa, aud Nebraska" (Goss); Omaha- breeds (L. Skow); "a not uncommon summer resident, arrives May 1 to 15, departs Aug. 25 to Sept. 10— breeds" (I. S. Trostler). 639. Helmitherus vermivorus (G^/yie/.).— Worm-eating War- bler. Omaha (F. J. Brezee); "extends to Nebraska" (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith.); "have only seen this species in the southeastern part of the state" (Aughey); " West to eastern Nebraska and Texas" (Goss); Omahi, "a rare summer resi- dent, seen during July and August" (L S. Trostler). 641. Helminthophila pinus (Xmn.).— Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. Omaha, Weeping Water, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "southeastern part of the state" (Aughey); "West to Nebraska, middle Kansas, aud Texas" (Goss); SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 149 Omaba — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, rare, probably breeds (G. A. Coleman); Omaba, "a rare summer resident, probably breeds, but have never found the nest, earliest seen May 20, latest August 25" (I. S. Trostler). 642. Helminthophila chrysoptera (Linn.). — Golden-winged Warbler, "It has been found a few times in Nebraska" (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith.); "Occasionally seen in eastern Nebraska" (Aughey). 644. Helminthophila virginiae (Baird). — Virginia's Warbler. "Have only seen one specimen of this bird in southwestern Nebraska" (Aughey). 645. Helminthophila riificapilla {Wils.). — Nashville War- bler. West Point, Omaha, "Weeping Water (L. Bruner); "This bird arrives in eastern Nebraska about May 1" (Aughey); "Summer resident, rare, arrives in May — probably common during migration" (Taylor); "West to the Great Plains" (Goss) ; Omaha, "a not uncommon migrant and rare summer resident — probably a rare breeder" (I. S. Trostler). 646. Helminthophila celata (Say). — Orange-crowned War- bler. West Point, Lincoln, Omaha (L. Bruner); "One specimen mentioned in the records of the Normal Science Society" (Taylor); "Quite common in the middle states and throughout the Mississippi valley " (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common migrant (G. A. Coleman). 647. Helminthophila peregrina ( Wils.). — Tennessee Warbler. Lincoln, West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner); "Occurs sparingly in eastern Ne- braska" (Aughey); " Migratory, common, arrive in May" (Taylor); "West to the base of the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow) ; Peru, rare — may breed (G. A. Coleman); Omaha, "a somewhat common migrant, May 1 to 15, Sept. 10 to 20" (L S. Trostler). 648. Compsothlypis americana(i"m.). — Blue Yellow-backed Warbler; Parula Warbler. "Rearing their young in various parts of Nebraska" (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith, ) ; " It reaches Nebraska about the 1st of May " (Aughey); " Migratory, common, arrive in April and May" (Taylor); "West to the base of the Rocky mountains" (Goss). 650. Dendroica tigrina (Gmel.). — Cape May Warbler. Alda (F. W. Powell). 652. Dendroica aestiva {Gmel). — Yellow Warbler; Summer Ybllow Bird. West Point, Holt county, Omaha, Lincoln, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Abun- dant in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, arrives in May" 150 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. (Taylor); "North America at large" (Goas) ; Beatrice, breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "an abun- dant summer resident, arrives May 1 to 10, breeds May 25 to July Iti, departs Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 " (I. S. Trostler). 654. Dendroica caerulescens (Gme/.). — Black-throated Blue Waklleu Omaha, West Point (L. Bruner); "Is present in spring and fall during its migrations" (Aughey). 655. Dendroica coronata {Linn.). — Yellow-rumped Warbler; Myrtle Warbler. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Rulo, Fremont, etc. (L. Bruner); "It is fre- quently seen along our timber belts" (Aughey); " Migratory, common, arrives in April and May" (Taylor); "The vs-hole of North America" (Gosa.); Omaha (L. Skow); Pern, abundant migrant (G. A. Coleman); "a common migrant, April 1 to 20, Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 " (I. S. Trostler); Crete, Nebr., April 19 (D, A. Haggard). 656. Dendroica auduboni (Towns.). — Audubon's Warbler. Belmont, on Pine Ilidge (L. Bruner); "One specimen mentioned by Baird as found in the western part of the state" (Taylor); "east to the eastern border of the Great Plains" (Goss). 657. Dendroica maculosa ((rjue^.). — Magnolia Warbler; Black AND Yellow Warbler. Omaha (F. J. Brezee); "Occasionally .seen on its migrations in northeastern Nebraska" (Aughey); " Migratory, rare, arrive the first of May" (Taylor); " West to the base of the Rocky mountains " (Goss). 658. Dendroica caerulea ( H%.). — Cerulean Warbler. West Point, Blair (L. Bruner); "Abundant in eastern Nebraska along the wooded river-bottoms, where it is in the habit of breeding" (Aughey); summer resident, common " (Taylor); " West to the Great Plains " (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha "a quite common migrant and not rare summer resident, ar- rives May 1 to 10, departs latter August — seen in summer and doubtless 'breeds" (I. S. Trostler). 659. Dendroica pensylvanica (Linn.). — Chestnut-sided War- bler. Omaha, Weeping Water (L. Bruner); "Rather common in eastern Nebraska during its migrations" (Aughey); "Migratory, common, arrives the last of April and in September" (Taylor); "West to the Great Plains" (Go.ss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Omaha, "not rare migrant and an occasional summer resident, took a set of four eggs and nest June 23, 1894 " (I. S. Trost- ler). SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 151 660. Dendroica castanea ( WUs.). — Bay-breasted Warbler. " It has been found in Nebraska " (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith.) ; " Occasionally met with in eastern Nebraska " (Aughey). 661. Dendroica striata (Forst.), — Black-poll Warbler. West Point, (L. Brunei) ; " Rather common in eastern Nebraska during its migrations" (Aughey); " Migratory, common, arrives in May (Taylor); "West to the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Peru, common — proba- bly breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Lincoln (F. J. Brezee); Omaha, "quite common migrant, earliest seen May 7, returning in latter August" (I. S. Trostler). 662. Dendroica blackburniae {Gmel.}. — Blackburnian War- bler. West Point, Omaha, (L. Bruner); "occasionally, in eastern Nebraska" (Aughey); " Migratory, rare " (Taylor); " West to the Great Plains" (Goss); North Platte, "transient visitor, common" (M. K. Barnum). 663a. Dendroica dominica albilora Ridgw. — Sycamore War- bler. "Migratory, rare, may breed in the state" (Taylor); "North to southern Michigan and northern Illinois, west to eastern Kansas and Texas" (Goss). 667. Dendroica virens((Twie^.)- — Black-throated Green War- bler. Omaha,' Florence, Weeping Water (L. Bruner); " Migratory, rare, has been seen in June " (Taylor); " west to the edge of the Great Plains (Goss). 671. Dendroica vigorsii {Aud.). — Pine-creeping Warbler. Sionx county (L. Bruner); "passes through Nebraska in early spring, and loiters here in autumn" (Aughey); " Migratory, rare, arrives in April and September" (Taylor); " West to the plains " (Goss). 672. Dendroica palmarum ( G^me^.). — Red-poll Warbler; Palm Warbler. "Abundant in eastern, Nebraska in early spring while passing north " (Aughey) ; " Migratory, abundant, arrives in April, May, September, and Oc- tober" (Taylor) ; "migrating through the Mississippi valley, aud wintering in the Gulf states" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow). 673. Dendroica discolor ( Fi'ei//.).— Prairie Warbler. Omaha, West Point (L. Bruner); "eastern Nebraska (Bull. No. 2, Div. Or- nith. ) ; "Abundant in eastern Nebraska, where it breeds " (Aughey) ; " Summer resident, common" (Taylor); "West into Nebraska and Kansas" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow). 674. Seiurus aurocapillus {Linn.). — Oven-bird ; Golden- crowned Thrush. West Point, Lincoln, Bellevue (L. Bruner); "rather abundant— breeds " (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrives in April" (Taylor); "West to 152 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICUI/FURAL SOCIETY. the base of the Rocky mountains'' (Goss); Child's Point, Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); "quite common summer resi- dent, arrives May 1 to 15, breeds June 1 to 20, departs latter August" (I. S. Trostler). 675. Seiurus noveboracensis (6^me/.). — Water Thrush. " Occasionally met with in northeastern Nebraska, where, near Ponca, in Dixon county, I found the young, but never saw the nest" (Aughey); " Mi- gratory, rare, probably arrives in May " (Taylor); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow). 675a. Seiurus noveboracensis notB^hilis {Ridgw.). — Grinnell's Water Thrush. West Point, Sioux county, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "east into the Mississippi valley, straggling to Illinois, Indiana, etc." (Goss). 676. Seiurus motacilla (VieilL). — Louisiana Water Thrush; Large-billed Water Thrush. Southeastern Nebraska (Aughey) ; " is rare in Nebraska '' (Bull. No. 2, Div. Ornith.); "Probably summer resident" (Taylor); "west to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow) ; Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Cole- man); Omaha, "a rare summer resident and breeder" (I. S. Trostler). 677. Geothlypis formosa ( Wils.). — Kentucky Warbler. " Kathercoraraon in southeastern Nebraska" (Aughey); "summer resident, common, probably arrive in May" (Taylor); "West to the edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, rare— breeds (G. A. Cole- man); Omaha, "one seen by G. W. Sabine, Nov. 28, 1895, in this city " (I. S. Trostler). 679. Geothlypis Philadelphia ( Wils.). — Mourning Warbler. ''Found in eastern Nebraska, and breeds in at least the .southeastern part" (Aughey); "Eastern North America, west to the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow). 680. Geothlypis macgillivrayi {Aud.). — Macgillivray's Warbler. "Both Baird and Aughey mention this species as seen in extreme western Nebraska in the month of August" (Taylor). 681. Geothlypis trichas (Linn.). — Maryland Yellow-throat. West Point, Norfolk, Omaha, Lincoln, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); "Common in Nebraska and breeds here" (Aughey); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county, Sept. 23 (J. M. Bates). 681 «. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis Brewsi. — Western Maryland Yellow Throat. West Point, Sioux county. Holt county (L. Bruner); "summer resident, abundant, arrives in April and has been seen as late as September " (Taylor); "East to the Mississippi valley " (Goss); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru, SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS, 153 common — breeds {G. A. Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a quite com- mon summer resident, arrives April 20 to May 30, breeds June Id to 20, departs middle of September" (I. S. Trostler). 683. Icteria virens (Linn.). — Yellow-breasted Chat. West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Weeping Water, etc. — breeds (L. Brunerj ; " Found over the greater part of Nebraska, and breeding in at least the eastern part of the state" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, arrives in May " (Taylor); "west to the edge of the Great Plains, north to southern New England, Ontario, Iowa, etc." (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A.Coleman); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "an abundant summer resident, arrives May 1 to Sept. 1, breeds May 26 to June 24, departs Sept. 1 to 10" (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, May 12 (D. A. Haggard). 683a. Icteria virens longicauda {Lawr.). — Long-tailed Chat. "Summer resident, common, arrives in May and has been seen in September " (Taylor); "East to the eastern edge of the Great Plains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Lincoln, (F. J. Brezee). Fig. 47. — Hooded Warbler. 684. Sylvania mitrata (Gmel.). — Hooded Warbler. Southeastern part of the state (Aughey); "Summer resident, probably not uncommon, arrives in May, and has been seen as late as September" (Taylor); "west to eastern Nebraska and Texas" (Goss). 685. Sylvania pusilla ( TIV/s.).— Wilson's Warbler; Black- capped Yello^v Warbler. West Point, Omaha (L. Bruner) ; "Met sparingly in both eastern and west- ern Nebraska" (Aughey); " Migratory, rare, arrive in May" (Taylor); "west to and including the Rocky mountains" (Goss). 11 154 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 686. Sylvaiiia canadensis (Z»in.).— Canadian Warbler. "Observed only during spring migration in eastern part of state " (Aughey); "Migratory, rare, arrive in May" (Taylor); "west to Minnesota, eastern Ne- braska and Texas " (Goss). 687. Setophaga ruticilla (iin>i.).— American Redstart. West Point, Omaha, Blair, Bellevne, Lincoln, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner) ; " Com- mon in the timbered river-bottoms of Nebraska, and breeding extensively" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common, arrive in May" (Taylor); "west to and including the Kocky mountains" (Goss); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county (J. M. Bates); Gage county (F. A. Colby); "a common summer resident, arrives May 1 to 10, breeds June 10 to 25, departs Sept. 1 to 15 " (I. S. Trostler). Family MOTACILLIDiE.— Wagtails. 697. Anthus pensilvanicus {Lath.).— American Pipit; Tit- lark. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); Lancaster county (Aughey) ; " Migratory » rare, arrives in May and September" (Taylor); "The whole of North Amer- ica" (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow); Omaha, "a common migrant April 10 to May 1, Sept. 20 to Oct. 10" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln Oct. 19-25 (D. A. Haggard). 700. Anthus spragueii {And.). — Sprague's Titlark; Missouri Titlark. West Point, Lincoln (L. Bruner); "One specimen mentioned by Baird " (Taylor); "Interior plains of North America, east to western Manitoba and eastern Kansas" (Goss); Omaha (I;. Skow). Family CINCLIDiE.— Dippers. 701. Cinclus mexicanus Swains. — American Dipper; Water Ouzel. White river in northwest Nebraska (L. Bruner) ; "Otoe county" (Aughey); "in August on the Niobrara about seven miles from its mouth" (Aughey). Family TROGLODYTIDiE.— Wrens, Thrashers, etc. Much could be written concerning the food-habits of the various members of this group of birds. Three of the species at least are known to be more or less destructive to fruits, viz., the Catbird, Brown Thrasher, and Mockingbird. Still if we take into account what these birds eat during the entire time spent within the state, the balance sheet stands in favor of the birds as insect destroyers. The wrens are pre-eminently insect destroyers, and the others are not much behind them in this respect. SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 155 702. Oroscoptes montanus (Towns.). — Sage Thrasher, "Mentioned by Baird as collected in extreme western Nebraska" (Taylor); "Sage-brush plains of western United States" (Ridgeway); " east to Ft. Lara- mie and Black Hills" (Coues); Hat Creek valley, Nebr. (?) (L. Bruner). 703. Mimus polyglottos [Linn.). — Mockingbird. Omaha, Bellevue, Weeping Water, Nebraska City, Lincoln, etc. (L. Bruner); "Rare in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, formerly rare, but be- coming common " (Taylor;) "north to Massachusetts, southern Iowa, southern Wyoming, etc." (Goss); Omaha (L. Skow). The food-habits of the Mockingbird matter but little so far as this bird is concerned in the state of Nebraska, since it is not at all plen- tiful even in the extreme southeastern corner of the state. It is safe to assert, however, that the food of this bird includes an equally large per cent of insect life as that taken by either the Catbird or Browtt Thrush. Fig. 48.— Catbird. 704. Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.). — Catbird. Entire state in suitable places — breeds (L. Bruner); "Abundant in the- wooded portions of Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, ar- rives in April and May" (Taylor); "west to the western base ef the Rocky mountains" (Goss); Beatrice, De Witt — breeding (A. S. Pearse); Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, abundant — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry county — breeds (J. M. Bates); Gage county— breeds (F. A. Colby); "an abundant mi- grant and summer resident" (L S. Trostler). 3 56 XKBUA.SKA ^TATK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Professor S. A. Forhet;, whom we have quoted quite extensively in this paper relative to the ibod-habits of ditJerent ones of our birds, says of the Catbird : "Keniemberiug that the chief economical service of the Robin is done before and after the midsummer wealth of fruits tempts it from the chase of insects, we find it not unreasonable that the Catbird, coming later and departing earlier, scarcely anticipating the garden fruits in its arrival and disappearing when the vineyard and orchard are at their best, should be a much less useful bird than its comj)anion. The credit I have given it must be still further re- duced becau&e of its serious depredations in the apple orchard. I iiave often i-een it busily scooping out the fairest side of the ripest early apples, unsurpassed in skill and indufctry at this employment by the Red-headed Woodpecker or the Blue Jay." The percentages of ini-ect food taken by this bird for five months, as recorded by Forbes, are as follows, beginning with May and ending with September: 83, 49, 18, 46, 21, or an average of 43. Each farmer and fruit-grower can judge for himself as to what should be Kinglet, Golden-crowned, 161 Kinglet, Ruby-crowned, 161 Kite, Mississippi, 86 Swallow-tailed, 86, 87 White-tailed, 86 Knot, 73 Laniidaj, 145 Lanius, borealis, 145 ludovicianus, 145 ludovicianus excubitoroides, 146 Laridse, 59 Lark, Desert Horned, 116 Horned, 116 Pallid Horned, 116 Prairie Horned, 116 Shore, 116 White-throated Horned, 116 Larus argentatus smithsonius, 60 atricilla, 60 delawarensis, 60 frankllnii, 60 marinus, 60 Philadelphia, 60 Leucosticte, Gray-crowned, 131 tephracotis, 131 Limicoliae, 72 Limosa fedoa, 74 haemastica, 75 Longipennes, 59 Longspur, Chestnut-collared, 134 Lapland, 133 McCown's, 134 Smith's, 134 Loon, 59 Lophodytes cucullatus, 62 Loxia curvirostra minor, 131 curvirostra stricklandi, 131 leucoptera, 131 Macaws, 103 Macrochires, 112 Macrorharaphus griseus, 73 scolopaceus, 73 Magpie, Americaa, 118 Martin, House, 142 Purple, 142 Meadowlark, 124, 126 food-habits of, 124 Western, 126 INDEX TO NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 173 Megascops asio, 98 asio maxwellise, 99 Melanerpes carolinus, 111 erythrocephalus, 109 torquatus, 110 Meleagrifi gallopavo, 83 Melospiza fasciata, 139 georgiana, 139 lincolnii, 139 Merganser, American, 62 americanus, 62 Hooded, 62 Red-breasted, 62 serrator, 62 Merlin, Richardson's, 94 Merula migratoria, 162 migratoria propinqua, 163 Micropalama himantopus, 73 Micropodidse, 113 Mimus polyglottos, 155 Milvulus forficatus, 114 Mniotilta varia, 148 Mniotiltidse, 147 Mockingbird, 154, 155 Sandy, food-habits, 156 Molothrus ater, 124 Motacillidae, 154 Mud Hen, 72 Myadestes townsendii, 161 Myiarchus crinitus, 114 Nighthawk, 112 Nucifraga columbiana, 123 Numenius borealis, 76 hudsonicus, 76 longirostris, 76 Nutcracker, Clark's, 123 Maximillian's, 124 Nuthatch, Brown-headed, 160 Pygmy, 160 Red-bellied, 159 Slender-billed, 159 White-bellied, 159, 160 Nyctala acadica, 98 tengmalmi richardsoni, 98 Nyctea nyctea, 100 Nycticorax nycticorax nsevius, 69 yiolaceus, 69 Oidemia deglandi, 66 perspicillata, 66 Olor bncciuator, 67 columbiauus, 67 Oriole, Baltimore, 127 Bullock's, 128 Orchard, 126, 127 Orioles, as insect destroyers, 56 injurious to fruit, 56 Oroscoptes montanus, 155 Osprey, 95 Otocoris alpestris, 116 alpestris arenicola, 116 alpestris leucolsema, 116 alpestris praticola, 116 Oven-bird, 151 Owl, American Barn, 96 American Hawk, 100 American Long-eared, 96 Arctic Horned, 100 Barred, 97 Burrowing, 101, 102 Hawk, 102 Dusky Horned, 100 Great Gray, 98, 99 Great Horned, 99, 101 Great Horned, song, 52 Monkey-faced, 96 Richardson's Saw-whet, 98 Rocky-mountain Screech, 99 Saw- whet, 98, 100 Screech, 98 Short-eared, 96, 97 Snowy, 100 Western Horned, 100 Owls, food-habits of, 84, 85 Paludicolje, 70 Pandion haliaetus carolinensis, 95 Paridae, 159 food-habits of, 159 Paroquet, Carolina, 103 Partridges, 78 Parus atricapillus, 160 atricapillus septentrionalis, 160 bicolor, 160 gambeli, 161 hudsonicus, 161 174 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Passer domesticus, 132 Passerella iliaca, 139 iliaca schistacea, 139 Passeres, 113 Passerina amoena, 141 cyanea, 141 Pediocjetes pbasiuellus campestris, 82 phasinellus colnmbianus, 82 Pelican, American White, 62 Brown, 62 Pelecanidae, 62 Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, 62 fuscus, 62 Perisoreus canadensis, 121 Petrochelidon luuifrons, 142 Peucsea cassini, 139 Pewee, 114 Western Wood, 115 Wood, 115 Phalacrocorax dilophus, 61 dilophus floridanus, 61 mexicanus, 61 Phalacrocoracidai, 61 Phalsenoptilus nuttalii, 112 Phalarope, Northern, 72 Wilson's, 72 Phalaropodidse, 72 Phalaropus lobatus, 72 tricolor, 72 Phasianidae, 83 Pheasants, Mongolian, to protect, 165 Philohela minor, 72 Phoebe, 114 Say's, 114 Pica pica hudsonica, 118 Pici, 105 Picidse, 105 Picoides arcticus, 108 Pigeon, Passenger, 84 Pigeons, food-habits of, 83 Pinicola enucleator, 130 Pipilo chlorurus, 140 erythrophthalmus, 139 maculatus arcticus, 140 Pipit, American, 154 Piranga erythromelas, 141 ludoviciana, 141 rubra, 142 Plectrophenax nivalis, 133 Plegadis autumnalis, 67 guarauna, 67 Plover, American Golden, 76 Belted Piping, 77 Black-bellied, 76 Field, 75 Mountain, 77 Semipalmated, 77 Snowy, 77 Podicipidaj, 57 Podilymbus podiceps, 59 Poke, 69 Polioptila cserulea, 161 Poocaites gramineus confinis, 13 I Poorwill, 112 Porzana Carolina, 70 jamaicensis, 71 noveboracensis, 71 Prairie Hen, 78, 81 Lesser, 82 Progne subis, 142 Protonotaria citrea, 148 Psittaci, 103 Psittacidae, 103 Pygopodes, 57 Quail, 78, 79, 80 food-habits of, 79, 80 value of, on farm, 79, 80 Quiscalus quiscula, 128 quiscula seneus, 128 Rail, Black, 71 Carolina, 70 King, 70 Sora, 70 Yellow, 71 Virginia, 70 Rallida',70 Rallus elegans, 70 virginianus, 70 Raptores, 84 Raven, 118 American, 121 White-necked, 122 Recurvirostra americana, 72 Recurvirostridaj, 72 Redbird, Summer, 142 INDEX TO NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 175 Redpoll, Common, 131 Greater, 131 Redstart, American, 154 Regains calendula, 161 satrapa, 161 Robin, American, 162 as an insect destroyer, 56, 163 food-habits of, 162, 163 injuring apples, 56 Western, 163 Rhynoophanes mccownii, 134 Sage cock, 83 Salpinctes obsoletus, 156 Sanderling, 74 Sandpiper, Baird's, 74 Bartramian, 75 Bonaparte's, 74 Buflf-breasted, 75 Least, 74 Pectoral, 73 Red-backed, 74 Semi-palmated, 74 Solitary, 75 Spotted, 76 Stilt, 73 Western, 74 White-rumped, 74 Sap-sucker, Yellow-bellied, 106, 108 Sayornis phoebe, 114 say a, 114 Scolecophagus carolinus, 128 cyanocephalus, 128 Scolopacida}, 72 Scotiaptex cinerium, 98 Sea Swallow, 60 Seiurus aurocapillus, 151 motacilla, 152 noveboracensis, 152 noveboracensis notabilis, 152 Selaspborus platycercus, 113 Setophaga ruticilla, 154 Shore Birds, 72 Shrike, Great Northern, 145 Loggerhead, 145 White-rumped, 146 Shrikes, food-habits of, 145 Sialia arctica, 163 Sialia mexicana occidentalis, 163 sialis, 163 Siskin, Pine, 132 Sitta canadensis, 159 carolinensis, 159 carolinensis aculeata, 159 pusilla, 160 pygmsea, 160 Snake Bird, 61 Snipe, Jack, 73 Red -breasted, 73 Robin, 73 Wilson's, 73 Snowbird, Slate-colored, 138 Snowflake, 133 Solitaire, Townsend's, 161 Solitaires, food-habits of, 161 Sparrow, Brewer's, 137 Chipping, 137 Clay-colored, 137 English, 132 European House, 132 Field, 138 Fox, 139 Gambel's, 136 Grasshopper, 125, 135 Harris's, 116 Henslow's, 135 Intermediate, 136 Leconte's, 135 Lincoln's, 139 Nelson's, 135 Savanna, 134 Slate-colored, 139 Song, 139 Swamp, 139 Tree, 136 Vesper, 134 Western Field, 138 Western Grasshopper, 135 Western Savanna, 135 Western Tree, 137 Western Vesper, 134 White-crowned, 136 White-throated, 136 Yellow-winged, 135 Spatula clypeata, 64 Speotyta cunicularia hypogaia, 101 176 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Sphyrapicus varius, 108 Spinas pinus, 132 tristis, 131 Spiza americana, 141 Spizella breweri, 137 monticola, 136 monticola ochracea, 137 pallida, 137 pusilla, 138 pusilla arenacea, 138 socialifl, 137 Steganopodes, 61 Stelgidopteryx serripenuis, 143 St«rcorariida% 59 Stercorarins pomarinus, 59 Sterna antillarum, 61 forsteri, 60 hirnndo, 60 paradissea, 61 tschegrava, 60 Stilt, Black-necked, 72 Strigidje, 96 Strix pratinicola, 96 Sturnella magna, 126 magna neglecta, 126 Bnrnia ulula caparoch, 100 Swallow, Bank, 143 Barn, 142 Cliff, 142 Eares, 142 Mud, 142 Rough-winged, 143 Tree, 142 Violet-green, 143 White-bellied, 143 Swallows, food-habits of, 142 Swan, Trumpeter, 67 Whistling, 67 Swift, Chimney, 113 White-throated Rock, 113 Swimmers, Long-winged, 59 Short-winged, 62 Totipalmate, 61 Sylvania canadensis, 154 mitrata, 153 pusilla, 153 Sylviidie, 161 Symphemia semipalmata inornata, 75 Syrninm nebulosum, 97 Tachycineta bicolor, 143 thalassina, 143 Tanager, Crimson-headed, 141 Louisiana, 141 Scarlet, 141 Tanagrida% 141 Tantalus loculator, 63 Tern, Arctic, 61 Black, 61 Caspian, 60 Common, 60 Forster's, 60 Least, 61 Tetraonidse, 78 Thrasher, Brown, 154, 156 Sage, 155 Thrush, Brown, 155 Golden-crowned, 151 Gray-cheeked, 162 Hermit, 162 Olive-backed, 162 Wilson's, 162 Wood, 161 Thrushes, food-habits of, 161 Thryothorus bewickii, 157 bewickii bairdi, 157 ludovicianus, 157 Thunder Pumper, 68 Titlark, 154 Missouri, 154 Sprague's, 154 Tit-mouse, Black-capped, 160 Tufted, 160 Tetanus tlavipes, 75 melanoleucus, 75 solitarius, 75 Towhee, 139 Arctic, 140 Green-tailed, 140 Tringa alpina pacifica, 74 bairdii, 74 canutus, 73 fuscicollis, 74 maculata, 73 minutilla, 74 INDEX TO NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 177 Tringites subruficollis, 75 Trochilidae, 113 Trochilus colubris, 113 Troglodytes aedon, 157 aedon aztecus, 157 hiemalis, 158 Troglodytid^, 154 Turdidffi, 161 Tardus alicise, 162 aonalaschkse pallasii, 162 fuscescens, 162 mustelinus, 161 ustulus swainsonii, 162 Turkey, Wild, 78, 83 Turnstone, 78 Tympanuchus americanus, 81 pallidicinctus, 81 Tyrannidfe, 113 Tyrannus tyrannus, 114 Terticalis, 114 Urinatoridse, 59 Urinator imber, 59 Inmme, 59 Vireo atricapillus, 147 bellii, 125, 147 Bell's, 125, 147 Black-capped, 147 Blue-headed, 146 flavifrons, 146 gilvus, 146 noveboracensis, 147 olivaceus, 146 Philadelphia, 146 philadelphicus, 146 Red-eyed, 146 solitarius, 146 Warbling, 146 White-eyed, 147 Yellow-throated, 146 Vireonidse, 146 Vireoa, food-habits of, 146 Vulture, Black, 85, 86 Turkey, 85 Vultures, American, 85 Waders, peculiarities of, 52 Warbler, Audubon's, 150 Warbler, Bay-breasted, 151 Black and White Creeping, 148 Black and Yellow, li:0 Blackburnian, 151 Black-capped Yellow, 153 Black-poll, 151 Black-throated Blue, 150 Black-throated Green, 151 Blue-winged Yellow, 148 Blue Yellow-backed, 149 Canadian, 154 Cape May, 149 Cerulean, 150 Chestnut-sided, 125, 150 Golden-winged, 149 Hooded, 153 Kentucky, 152 Macgillivray's, 152 Magnolia, 150 Mourning, 152 Myrtle, 150 Nashville, 149 Orange-crowned, 140 Parula, 149 Pine-creeping, 151 Prairie, 151 Prothonotary, 148 Red-poll, 151 Sycamore, 151 Tennessee, 149 Virginia's, 149 Wilson's, 153 Worm-eating, 148 Yellow, 149 Yellow-rumped, 150 Warblers, Wood, 147 food-habits of, 147, 148 Water Ouzel, 154 Thrush, 152 Thrash, Grinnell's, 152 Thrush, Large-billed, 152* Thrush, Louisiana, 152 Waxwing, Bohemian, 143, 144 Cedar, 143, 144 Northern, 143 Waxwings, food-habits of, 143 Whippoorwill, 112 Wild Turkey, 78 178 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Willet, Western, 75 Woodcock, American, 72 Woodpecker, Arctic Three-toed, 108 Downy, 106, 107 Gairdner's, 107 Hairy, 106, 107 Harris's, 107 Ivory-billed, 107 Lewis's, 110 Northern Hairy, 107 Pileated, 109 Eed-bellied, 111 Red -headed, 106, 109, 110, 156 Red-headed, injuries by, 55 Red -headed, injuring fruit, 110 Yellow-bellied, 106, 108 Woodpeckers, food-habits of, 105, 106 Wren, Baird's, 157 Bewick's, 157 Carolina, 157 Wren, House, 157 Long-billed Marsh, 159 Rock, 156 Short-billed Marsh, 158 Western House, 157 Winter, 158 Wrens, food-habits of, 154 Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, 125 Xema sabinii, 60 Yellow-legs, 75 Greater, 75 Yellow-throat, Maryland, 152 Western Maryland, 152 Zenaidura macroura, 84 Zonotrichia albicollis, 136 leucophrys, 136 leucophrys gambeli, 136 leucophrys intermedia, 136 querula, 136 OBSERVATIONS ON SOIL MOISTURE. 179 OBSERVATIONS ON SOIL MOISTURE. E. A. EMERSON. During the past summer, the Department of Horticulture of the University of Nebraska conducted some experiments to show the amount of water retained in garden and orchard soils by different modes of treatment. To determine the per cent of moisture in the soil, small samples of the soil were taken and the water driven off by heat. In every case soil samples were taken at the depths of six, twelve, and twenty inches, the samples from these three depths forming a "set." In every case two sets, and in some cases three sets, were taken at the same time in different parts of the plot whose moisture was to be determined. The average of these six or nine samples is taken as representing approxi- mately the per cent of moisture of the first twenty-four inches of the soil of the whole plot at the time of taking the samples, and these averages are alone given in all the per cents of moisture below. CULTIVATION VS. SEEDING OF ORCHARDS. The apple orchard on the Experiment Station farm was divided lengthwise into three parts, each part being about eight rods wide. Tlie middle part was plowed in the spring, and was cultivated to a depth of about four inches about every two weeks during the summer, eleven cultivations in all. The part of the orchard on one side of this cultivated part was left in grass and weeds. This part was mowed two times during the summer. The part of the orchard on the other side of the cultivated part was also left in grass and weeds, but was used as a hog pasture. The hogs kept the weeds down fairly well. On August 26 and October 19 the per cent of soil moisture was de- termined, as above described, for each of these parts of the orchard, nine samples being taken from each part on each date. The per cent of moisture of each part is given in the diagrams (Figs. 1 and 2). The difference in moisture in favor of the cultivated partis even more 180 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Grass Pastured. 14.(>% 2A Grass Mowed. 14.6% Cultivated. 21.2%. 777, m V\r,. 1. Shows the per cent of moisture in tlie tlirce parts of the orchard on Aug. 26, '95. \ inch =-1%. Wa Mowed. 9.9% Pastured. 10.()%. "^y Cultivated. 14.1% I'^k;. 2. Shows per cent of water in the three parts of the orchard on Oct. 19, '95. \ mch-^l %. OBSERVATIONS ON SOIL MOISTURE. 181 marked wlien the six-inch samples are considered alone. The influ- ence of cultivation was felt, however, quite strongly even at the depth of twenty inches. GARDEN SOIL — CULTIVATED, UNCULTIVATED, MULCHED — IN GRASS. In order to get more uniform conditions than could be had in the orchard, three small plots were laid out in the gardeu. The garden was plowed to a medium depth early in the spring. On June 6 a mulch of coarse horse manure was spread on one plot. The mulch was three inches thick after having settled for two months. Another plot was cultivated about tiiree inches deep, on an average once in two weeks during the summer. A third plot was left uncultivated. The weeds wCTe cut off at the surface of the ground with a sharp hoe as soon as they appeared. The three plots together covered a space about three rods long by two rods wide. Adjoining these plots was the head-land of the garden, a strip about one rod wide, covered with an old, thick June grass sod. Next to this was a field of alfalfa two years old. The land here was quite level. This, together with the small size of the plots, rendered the conditions of the five plots quite uniform. Determinations of the soil-moisture of these plots was made June 15, June 25, July 27, and September 6. Two sets (six samples) gave the average per cent of moisture for each plot at each date. The re- sults are shown by the curves (Fig. 3). It will be seen that the mulched plot gave the highest and most uniform per cent of water. The cultivated plot came next, and the uncultivated third. The al- falfa and June grass gave very much lower per cents of moisture. On June 15 and June 25, the samples twenty inches deep gave almost no difference in per cent of water between the plots cultivated, uncul- tivated, and mulched. This was no doubt because the mulch had been applied so recently. By July 27 the effect of the cultivation and mulch was readily seen in the twenty-inch samples. POTATOES — MULCHED VS. CULTIVATED. A small plot of potatoes was mulched with three indies of straw at the time of planting. Another plot was given shallow cultivation. On June 25 the per cent of water in the cultivated plot was 19.6; in the mulched plot, 21.6. 182 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1-H o C) Oi CJ CO L^ OBSERVATIONS ON SOIL MOISTURE. 183 PALL PLOWED SPRING PLOWED — UNPLOWED. A piece of garden soil cultivated thoroughly without plowing for two years contained, on April 23, 18.9 per cent of water. A strip of garden near by, plowed early in the spring, contained, at the same date, but 16.6 per cent of water. On June 15 the strip plowed in the spring contained 18.4 per cent of water. The strip cultivated without plowing contained 21.5 per cent of water. And a third strip, near the others, plowed late the fall before, contained 20.3 per cent of water. WIND-BREAKS. By Forest Trees. Several series of samples were taken to determine the effect wind- breaks have in checking the evaporation of water from the soil. On November 5 a series of samples was taken in a field north of a belt of forest trees, consisting of five rows of soft maple nearly thirty feet high and ten rows of catalpa about twenty feet high. The trees were from four to six feet apart in the rows, and the rows were about eight feet apart. There were very few branches near the ground. The field north of these trees had grown a crop of corn, but this had been cut and removed from the field. Duplicate sets of samples were taken every two rods, beginning one rod from the trees and going fifteen rods into the field. The averages of the six samples taken at each distance from the trees are given in the diagram (Fig. 4). It will be seen that there is a general decrease in per cent of water as the dis- tance from the trees increases, excepting the irregularity at the distance of seven rods from the trees. The decrease in per cent of moisture is noticable for the first ten rods from the trees. From that point on the per cent is quite uniform. It must be remembered, first, that the trees made by no means a model wind-break, having but few limbs low down; second, the corn grown on the field probably acted as a wind-break itself. The corn, by checking the wind, would probably protect the interior part of the field more than the part near the trees. The trees, on the other hand, would naturally be expected to protect most the part of the field near- est them. The two wind-breaks, while in no sense destroying each other's efiFect, yet would give more uniform protection to the field and thus make the effect of either wind-break less easy to be determined. 184 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1 rod from trees. 14.0% :> rods from trees. 12.6% o rods from trees. 11.3% 7 rods from trees. 12.3% f > re )ds from trees. 10.7% 11 rods from trees. 10.5% 13 rods from trees. 10. G% 15 rods from trees. 10.8%. m m ^ 1m(;. 4. Showing per cent of water in soil at increasinj^^ distances from several rows of forest trees. )i inch~i% Nov. 5. '95. SMALL FRUITS IN DODGE COUNTY. 185 By Hedges. During the month of September one series of samples was taken south and three series were taken north, of osage orange hedges. The hedges were about five feet high and in some places not very thick, some of the trees having died out. Although there was considerable variation in per cent of moisture at different distances from the hedges, yet there was no uniformity in the variation. The per cent of mois- ture at any point seemed to have no relation to the distance of that point from the hedge. SMALL FRUITS IN DODGE COUNTY. J. W. STEVENSOX. The drouth of 1894 and the dry, freezing winter following the drouth, have very seriously injured the plants and yield of nearly all small fruits. The frosts of May destroyed the principal part of the fruit on plants that survived the winter. Grapes, raspberries, black- berries, and strawberries were almost a failure in yielding a crop. Currants, juneberries, gooseberries, and cherries have yielded a par- tial crop. We will speak of some of these varieties more particularly. STRAWBERRIES. The drouth of 1894 and dry winter destroyed most of the plants, and those surviving were feeble plants. Where irrigated they grew finely and came through the winter in a healthy, thrifty condition. If we had commenced irrigating earlier in 1894 we would have had a better stand of plants, more uniform growth, and would no doubt have had still greater confidence in irrigating strawberry plants. We had doubts about the beneficial eifect of water pumped from the well and applied directly to the plants, but soon discovered that the plants thrived the best where the most water was used. Many said that cold water would kill the plants, and that a reservoir or tank should be used to warm the water, but we are satisfied it was not necessary. The irrigation of the plants early in the spring, even before the frost was all out of the ground, was very beneficial. The prospects for an abundant crop were very flattering till the frosts of May cut short the 13 186 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. crop fully two-thirds. We had a fair crop on some plants we covered with the mulching that laid between the rows, but the covering and uncovering for ten or twelve days (as was the case this season) was a tedious operation, injuring the blossoms some and hindering their pol- lenization; the mulching seemed to wear out with so much handling and did not cover the plants as well as at first. If plants only re- quired to be protected from one or two frosts as in May, 1894, pro- tection in this manner would be very successful if enough of the ma- terial was on hand. Another season we will have plenty of material for covering plants conveniently placed where it can be quickly spread over the plants when there is danger of frost, if we are not caught napping. Varieties whose foliage covered the fruit stems escaped the frost the best, while some varieties, such as Captain Jack and Mount Vernon, that push their fruit stems above the foliage, had nearly all their ber- ries and blossoms frozen. Late sorts, like Wolverton, Saunders, Mrs. Cleveland, Staymau No. 1, and Great Pacific, blossomed freely after the frosts and bore a light crop of nice berries. The AVarfield and Beder- wood yielded the most fruit, aud the former is certainly worthy of first place on the list. It is a good shipper, excellent quality, bears early and late, and abundantly. Bederwood and Enhance are our best fertilizers, the first for early, and the latter for early and late sorts. Saunders, Wolverton, and Parker Earl are good late fertilizers only. We think it advisable to plant both early and late fertilizers in same field, alternating the rows. Bubach No. 5 has made a poor record the past two years in blossom and fruit, and must be discarded if it does not redeem itself next season. Of some of the newer sorts, Eureka, Dayton, Greenville^ and Robinson give excellent promise. RASPBERRIES. Raspberries suffered severely by the drouths of last year and the past winter. A timely rain in the spring induced a vigorous growth which blossomed freely, but the May frosts destroyed nearly all of these blossoms. The Gregg blossomed after the frosts and yielded some fruit. We plant blackcap sorts in the apple tree rows of our orchard, running north and south. They are shaded some in this way from the sun, summer and winter, and we find they are injured SMALL FRUITS IN DODGE COUNTY. 187 less than those exposed without shelter. Red sorts are a nuisance in an orchard and caunot be controlled by plowing out unnecessary suckers. BLACKBERRIES. Blackberries have yielded very little fruit for two years. Drouths and frosts have killed many of the plants and all the fruit. We find by experience they should be planted on the lowest ground, or where they can have sufficient moisture. The Snyder canes will usually stand the severest winters if the roots are in moist soil. JUNEBERRIES. Juneberries yielded an immense crop of juicy, plump berries. Neither drouth nor frosts of May seem to have had any injurious effect on them. They always yield a crop, and no variety of fruit is so easily cared for or yields so much very good fruit for the amount of labor spent on them. They are emphatically the lazy man's fruit, and their existence renders the laziest man without excuse for not having plenty of fruit. CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. The frosts of May curtailed the crops of these fully one-half. All sorts seemed to yield equally well and were equally injured by the frosts. The young plants of Fay's Prolific yield better than the old plants. The quality of fruit is fine, but the bushes are short-lived and of inferior growth. The North Star is prolific and a vigorous, grower, but the berries are not as large as we would wish. GRAPES. For two years the grape blossoms have been killed by frosts, and many of the vines, three to ten years old, have been killed by drouth and winter freezing. Many of the vines now alive grow feebly. All varieties have suffered, though some sorts more than others. Planters are discouraged about grape growing and are disposed to invest but little in this fruit. As drouth more than freezing is to blame for this heavy loss of vines, we must seek the most successful method of overcoming this difficulty. We would recommend thorough cultiva- tion during the summer and irrigation if possible, when needed in summer and fall, and mulching of the ground during fall and winter. The roots should freeze up in moist earth and tops be covered, after pruning, with mulching or earth. 188 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. REPORT FROM RICHARDSON COUNTY. G. A. SLAYTON. The year 1895 was not a very favorable one for the fruit-growers of Richardson county. The crop was far below an average one, both in quantity and quality, for nearly all kinds of fruits. The excep- tions to the rule were in plums and peaches. The planting of plums has never been very extensive, but tliose who were fortunate enough to have trees of bearing age in 1895 received a good reward for their previous efforts in this direction, as the fruit was abundant and of good quality. There are no extensive peach orchards in our county, and most of the trees we have are seedlings, only a very few of the better budded sorts having been planted; but trees of all varieties were loaded to the breaking down point, and the quality of the fruit was good, consider- ing the varieties and health fulness, or rather unhealthfulness, of the trees. Many of the trees were old and nearly ready to fall down from age and decay. Moi'e interest is being taken in peaches by our fruit raisers, and we believe the indications are that the planting of peach orchards on a more extended scale is a feature of the near future. The cherry crop was a light one, a few varieties in favored localities only producing a full crop. The lack of rainfall and consequent lack of moisture in the soil for three successive years has had very disastrous effect upon the small fruit plantings. Many patches of strawberries and raspberries have died out and the new plantings have been few and not very successfid. The one good rain of May 30 caused excellent fruit on such straw- berry vines as were in good condition, but the supply of fruit was meager, owing to scarcity of vines. Raspberries, blackberries, dew- berries, and currants all suffered from drouth, and the crop was light. Our grape crop was the nearest to a failure we have experienced in many years. Very little good fruit produced. Our greatest disappointment in the fruit line was our apple crop. FRUIT CROP OF EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA. 189 During the early part of the season it seemed quite promising;, and of some early varieties and medium early ones, as Early Harvest and Oldenburg, a fair yield was obtained and the quality was good, but of course the market price was not so favorable. Later the eifect of dry weather, hot and high winds, and above all the ravages of the codling moth began to appear, and by the beginning of September the pros- pects for a crop of winter varieties was ebbing rapidly, and a month later, when the harvest time was fully come, not one bushel of good fruit was to be found where sixty days previous a score of bushels was seemingly a certainty. Many farmers who had expected to have a hundred or more bushels to sell had not enough for family use. Most of the crop had become windfalls, and they decayed so rapidly that very few were utilized in any way, even in the production of cider for vinegar. A few good apples were obtained from young orchards bearing first crops, especially where protected on the south by location of ground and wind-breaks. The varieties which gave the best results were the Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Little Romanite, and Ben Davis. Only a few of our fruit-growers have given any attention to spray- ing for any purpose, and those who have, mostly only for the codling moth. During 1895, owing to the scarcity and inconvenience of the water supply, spraying was neglected, perhaps more generally thaa heretofore, which may account in part for our shortage in apples. REPORT OF THE FRUIT CROP OF EAST CENTRAL NEBRASKA. G. A. MARSHALL. (Stenographic report.) Mr. President: I have not prepared any written report. I took it from the program that you wanted a report of the crop of the past season, consequently I am not prepared to say anything concerning the prospect for next year. Our fruit crop the past season has been very satisfactory considering everything, although some varieties of the small fruits have been a total failure, and among these is the straw- •berry. The main cause was that we had no strong plants. What few strawberry plants had survived the severe drouth of the year be- fore had but very little life to begin with, and then they were injured by late killing frosts. 190 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Tlie raspberry crop was about 30 per cent of a full crop. They ■were injured to some extent by the winter, and badly injured by the late frosts. These causes combined reduced the crop to the percentage given. The blackberry crop was a total failure; were not worth picking in any blackberry patch in Washington county that I heard of. I do not know the cause; they simply didn't blossom. In a great many instances the briers were not killed down during the winter; they leaved out well, but we had no blossoms. We took it for granted that it was the effects of the severe drouth, although I do not know that to be the cause. The currant crop was about 60 per .cent, and the gooseberry crop about 50 per cent. The juneberry crop was 100 per cent; that is al- ways 100 per cent. The grape crop was about 30 per cent. The vines had been injured by the dry weather, and this followed up by the work of the borers left our vines in very poor shape. Then this frost that I have spoken of cut them down to about 30 per cent. The cherry crop was immense, there being no variety that failed. Even the Late Richmond gave us a good fair crop, and the Early Richmond and English Morello were just weeping with cherries. The plum crop was about the same as the cherries — a very full crop and very satisfactory, although some of the trees bore so heavily that the plums were under size. The effect on the market, however, was bad, as it brought the price down lower than I ever knew it before. Miner plums sold for fifty cents per bushel, and I don't know that I ever knew them to be under $1.25 before. How is that, Mr. Whitford? Mr. Whitford — I think some have been sold there for $1. Mr. Marshall — (Continuing). The summer and fall apples were very good and free from worms, full size, well colored up, and good fruit in general. The winter apples were affected by worms, especially in some orchards. Some of the younger orchards were somewhat freer from worms, and some were only moderately affected. As to the con- ditions for next year, I am not prepared to make any statements. Mr. Heath — You didn't mention peaches. Mr. Marshall — We haven't very many trees. Wherever we had- peach trees we had a good crop of peaches. Peaches in Blair at one time were as low as $1 per bushel. SUMMER FRUITS IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA. 191 Mr. Heath — What varieties of grapes are the best? Mr. Marshall — Concord and Worden did the best. Moore's Early and Pocklington bore a light crop. Those four are the only varieties that are planted to any extent, that bore anything. The Agawam did not bear scarcely at all. The raspberries that bloomed very early bore about 20 per cent of a crop, while those that bloomed just after them were almost a total failure on account of the frost. Those injured the worst were the Palmer; the Older came a little later and they made from 20 to 25 per cent of a crop. The Nemaha and Gregg followed these with a better crop. The fruit was very nice: I never saw finer. I think the Older is one of the coming berries. With us it winters well so far, and the fruit is extra fine. In the market the Older will sell better than the Gregg, and that is saying a good deal for a berry. I know it does not ship well, but we will have to grow a great many more raspberries before we have to ship very far, and it can easily be shipped fifty to one hundred miles. Our great trouble is to get them up into the center of town; they sell at sight. Mr. Heath — Did the winter apples drop from the trees before they were fully matured? ]Mr. Marshall — In some instances they did, but generally they were pretty well matured before they dropped off, and they kept very well. We thought in September, during those hot, dry weeks, that our apples would not keep at all, but we have Grimes' Golden and Jonathan here that had no special care; we just picked them out of the bins. The Grimes' Golden with us is usually gone before this time, but they are in pretty good condition yet; the Jonathan is about ready to decay. SUMMER FRUITS IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA. W. F. JENKINS. Mr. President: I live in Valley county, at Arcadia, about on a line with Omaha 150 miles west from her^. I have been trying to grow fruit there for the past fourteen or fifteen years, and have suc- ceeded far beyond my expectations. I will commence with strawber- ries, and will say in the first place that I came from Michigan, the south central part, where we had a good fruit country, and we can 192 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. grow better strawberries in Valley county with less work than we could in iSIichigan. I have the credit of growing and selling the first strawberries that were ever sold in Broken Bow. 1 used to send two pails west to Broken Bow one day and two pails east to Loup City the next, and got twenty-five cents a quart for them. I have grown a raspberry there that I brought from Michigan fif- teen years ago. There never has been but one season until last year but that they have stood the severe winters without laying down, and I have had from half a crop to the heaviest crop that ever was grown every year. This morning Mr. Hesser mentioned the Tyler as being the best raspberry he is growing. I bought 500 plants from Mr. Hesser a few years ago and set them right adjoining those I have been growing there for fifteen years, and the difference is very marked. Those of my own raising are more than double the size in cane, and I much prefer them to the Tyler. I wish to emphasize this a little moi'e strongly than I should have done had not the remark been made by Mr. Hartley that we were a little outside the territory for growing fruit to ship. I have invited people in there when we had fruit that would show, on purpose to let them know what we could do. I have had them come from twenty-five to forty miles in every direction, as high as thirty or forty people in a day, and have been very much en- couraged by such remarks as this : " I came from one of the best fruit growing sections of the east, and I never saw anything to sur|)ass this." This remark was frequently made in regard to the raspberries, also in regard to the grapes. The blackberry is something we have failed to raise. I would not recommend any one to plant them in that part of the state. I had the wild Michigan blackberry, but it j)roved a failure. I have also tried the Snyder. Of course, by laying' them down in winter we might succeed, but if we allow them to stand up as we do the rasp- berries we cannot succeed. We have had good success with the gooseberry. We grow the Downing as a rule. The juneberry is a native of that part of the state and it does first rate. We have grown eight or ten varieties of currants and they have done fully as well for us as they ever did in ^Michigan. 1 regard the Red Dutch the best of the red currants for a farm garden. 1 have tried eight or ten other varieties of the reds, but do not like any of them as well as the Red Dutch. The White Grape, I think, is the best of the white currants. FRUIT IN SARPY COUNTY. 193 FRUIT IN SARPY COUNTY. E. K. SANBORN. The season of 1895 has been a very good one for the apple crop in this locality. We have not had such nice apples for years, so free from insects and matured so well. The hot winds caused a good many to drop ; then we had two days of very hard wind when the apple was about one-third size, and blew about one-third of them off, and as the trees were very heavily loaded, I think that was a benefit to the crop, for it thinned the fruit and made it better quality. The yield was better than we have had for years. From 200 Ben Davis and Winesap trees I had 2,000 bushels of apples this year. My trees are twenty-four feet apart, and about seventy-six trees to the acre, and an average yield of ten bushels to the tree would be 760 bushels per acre. My average price was sixty-five cents per bushel ; that would give me $494 per acre. My orchard of 1,200 bearing trees yielded me about 5,000 bushels of apples this year. When I selected my trees, if I had chosen the right varieties, and only about twelve varieties instead of about seventy, my profit would have been much greater. I have many varieties that are worthless for a commercial orchard, and if we do not learn from others experience what to plant for profit, we must learn from our own, and the old saying that "experience is a dear teacher" is true. In selecting varieties for a commercial orchard we must consider where our market is to be, for some varieties will not bear shipping a long distance. For this market I would select a few summer, such as Oldenburg, Red June, and Early Harvest ; and a very few fall, such as Wealthy, Utter's Red, and Maiden Blush; but my main crop would be winter varieties, such as Ben Davis, Winesap, Jonathan, Grimes' Golden, Missouri Pippin, and York Imperial. This will give a list of twelve varieties, and all hardy and productive. The Ben Davis will not sell as high in the market as the Jonathan or the Grimes' Golden, but I can make more profit on the Ben Davis at fifty cents a bushel than on the Jonathan at $1. Last fall the Jona- 194 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. than sold for $1.25 when the Ben Davis sold for sixty-five cents a bushel. If we want to get the greatest profit from our orchard we must spray our trees and cultivate and manure the ground. I put on twenty acres of ground 100 loads of barn-yard manure each year, spray twice, and keep ray traps out to catch the codling moth. If we grow choice fruit we will get a good price, but if we neglect our trees we grow small, poor fruit, and we get a small price. We all know that it costs the same per bushel to gather, pack, and market a poor lot of fruit as it does a choice lot. There is where our profit comes in. Then how much better pleased our customers are, and we feel better ourselves, to have a choice lot of fruit. We always get the best fruit from young trees. I have planted three orchards. My old orchard is now twenty-five years old, and some of the trees that are not profitable I am cutting out for fire wood. When trees get old the fruit is very small. I get one-third more per bushel for my fruit in my young orchard than the fruit in my old orchard, and that is all clear profit. Fruit trees are so cheap now, a person should plant trees every few years — at least every ten years. The trees do not come into full bearing until they are ten years old. The first ten years of bearing is where we get our greatest profit. After the trees get old, say twenty-five years, it is not always economy to let them stand, but have young trees coming along to take their place. The fruit of an old tree is small, the price is small, and the profit is small, and when a man is trying to sell it he feels small. THE CURRANT. J. p. DUNLAP. All of the Dutch varieties of currants do well, but I have had as good success with the La Versailles as with any of the red varieties. The White Grape currants have been the best of the white varieties. Plant in rows five feet apart and two feet apart in the rows. Plant two year old bushes, cultivate with a hand 'wheel garden cultivator, from one to one and a half inches deep, as soon as the frost is out and he surface dry enough in the spring and before the spring rains have ADVANTAGES OF THOROUGH CULTIVATION. 195 settled the ground, as it works much easier and is better for the plants. Then cultivate after that until the middle of August as frequently as the weeds show through the ground, or about once every ten days, and if only cultivated with the wheel cultivator the ground will be smooth and the work light. A man can cultivate two acres a day. Use the hoe around the plants and in the rows where the cultivator will not reach, but do not use the hoe between the rows, as the hoe is apt to leave the surface in ridges, which allows the ground to dry worse and makes harder work for the cultivator next time. The Dutch varieties sell better generally than the others and do well in all parts of the state, but in the extreme western part of the state they need irrigation. With irrigation they appear to do as well there as in the eastern part of the state. An acre should yield from three thousand to six thousand quarts. Market with the stems on, either in baskets or boxes to suit your trade. They yield better on rich moist land than they do on poor land, atid thorough cultivation is necessary. The black Naples currant should be planted three feet apart in the row, otherwise cultivate the same as the others. They yield well and sell well to people from England and some other parts of Europe, but Americans, as a rule, do not like them. The native currants of western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming are very hardy, and where they have sufficient moisture are prolific, and where other fruits are scarce will pay to cultivate in a limited way. They should be planted three feet apart in the rows and the rows seven feet apart. They have lobed leaves, yellow blossoms, and by using care they may be had of either black or yellow varieties. There are other varieties of the wild currant in the state, but as far as my experience goes they are not worthy of cul- tivation. ADVANTAGES OF THOROUGH CULTIVATION. D. U. REED. [Read at the summer meeting, 1895.] It will not be expected that in tiiis short paper all the benefits of thorough cultivation will be answered. Thorough cultivation in- cludes thorough preparation of the land to be used. Duriug the four- teen years of our sojourn in Gage county we have been engaged in lyt) NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. tilling the soil for our particular industry. AVe have found it neces- sary and much less expensive to have land well prepared to receive the seed or plants than to use more labor after the seed was in the ground. We have practiced deep plowing (ten to twelve inches) until the advent of the subsoiler, which we find indispensable for the thorough cultivation of the land. We are speaking now of spring plowing. When it is possible we prefer to plow late in tlie fall, al- lowing the land to lay up loose until spring, except in special cases. Experience has taught us the absolute necessity of having land well prepared. A few dollars expended in pulverizing, rubbing, and level- ing the surface of the ground is well invested, giving a kind, mellow surface in which to put seeds or plants, thus giving equal advantages for all seeds to germinate, an even stand of jjlants, greater ease in cultivating (say nothing of the pleasure over rough, cloddy ground), and cheapness of cultivation by having a blanket of mellow soil. Hand or team work can move along without covering plants, as is the case in cloddy or poorly prepared ground. BENEFITS. Ease of cultivation, more rapid growth of plants, and continued growth weeks after the poorly cultivated plants have checked. The destruction of weeds while small, thus saving expense and securing good growth in dry seasons, retaining moisture through the season and into the following spring. Increasing profits by lessening expense. There can be from one-third to two-fifths expense saved in the culti- vation, if well done and at the proper season. Many instances are in mind of the vast difference between ordinary cultivation and neglect, and as the thoroughness of the cultivation advances, a marked differ- ence is shown on plant or tree. Especially is this seen in our or- chards. In our judgment the thing most needed after plant has been made is to cultivate once a week, or more frequently in some cases, and es- pecially after rains that pack the ground and run it together. This will hold good on the farm, in the orchard, or garden. I wish to speak here of watering trees and plants recently set. This is generally done by i)utting the water on the surface of the ground, and, as a rule, is of no benefit, as the moisture never reaches the roots, therefore imparts no benefit to the tree. Instances have THE DM'ARF JUNEBERRY. 197 come under our observation where trees were supposed to be well watered, and upon raising the tree, earth would be found at the roots almost as dry as powder, uuder which circumstances it is almost im- possible for growth to be made. To water a tree remove a portion of the soil from over the roots two to four inches, fill this space with water, allowing it to settle. Repeat this operation until the roots are thoroughly soaked. When water is all settled replace the soil around the tree or plant. Thus you have created a reservoir for the roots to draw from for ten days to two weeks. It improves this kind treatment by putting on a vigor- ous growth to the satisfaction and delight of the owner. THE DWARF JUNEBERRY. GEO. B. GALBRAITH. This is a subject of great importance to the people of the entire western states. It is a subject that should interest every one whether we have a large or small tract of land, and a subject that should be thoroughly discussed. If I am rightly informed, it is a plant native to the Rocky mountains, and in that rocky region it is no more tena- cious to life than it is on our plains after it is cared for and brought throuorh the first season. There seem to be two varieties that have a similar habit but still are a little different in flavor, size of berry, and growth of plant. The large size bush has the smallest berry, and the berry is a very little more tart in taste than the berry of the small bush. Neither is the large bush as productive as the smaller variety of plant. In the spring (this year as early as the 15th of April) our entire Juneberry plant was one mass of flowers, and was as pretty a sight as any lover of fruit would wish to see. No doubt some of you who have not planted this wonderful western fruit may think the frosts we got late in April would destroy the fruit in the blossom, but on the contrary the entire plant brought through its full load, and it was certainly a heavy load. The small-sized plants that were from one to three feet high, and that bear the largest and the finest berries, were a wonder to behold. Frosts that killed potato tops to the ground had 198 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. no effect in destroying even a portion of tliis wonderful plant's prod- uct, even though the frost came as late as the middle of May. The fruit of the Dwarf Juneberry, as its name denotes, begins to ripen about the 10th of June and continues ripening throughout the month in bountiful quantities, even as late as the 4th of July. Tlie flavor of the fruit is mild, sweet, juicy, and is very pleasant to the taste. A great many people think the Dwarf Juneberry is the same thing as the New England huckleberry, but that is a mistake. Though the shape and color of the berries are the same, the time of ripening the huckleberry is at least six or eight weeks later than the Dwarf Juneberry. The huckleberry is native to the eastern states and will not thrive in the west, while the Dwarf Juneberry is native to the western states, and is not only good for Nebraska, but it is equally as good for Kansas, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Mis- souri, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Colorado. In fact, it is a fruit for the entire west, and, as I said in the beginning, should inter- est every westerner. It should be planted in every home garden, whether that home is in the country or in the city. If you have room for a garden you have room for the Dwarf Juneberry, for there is nothing more pleasing and healthy for the child than the privilege of gathering at will until their appetites are satisfied with this luscious fruit fresh from the bushes. It is equally as good for the grown boys and girls, mothers, fathers, and grand-parents. When gathered the fruit should be used at once, for unless it is used while fresh it loses a great deal of that pleasant flavor that is peculiar to this fruit. A few growers have placed the berries on sale in our stores, and I believe that practice is wrong, as the berries are generally gathered the day before marketed, and though the flavor is apparently all right on the start, it soon loses that freshness and good wholesome flavor that is retained when fresh. When this flavor is lost the ber- ries make a poor impression on the customer. I do not call the Dwarf Juneberry a fruit for the market, but a good fruit for the western peo- ple, to be grown in every home garden and for home use. The growth of the Dwarf Juneberry is in the form of a bush, the large variety attaining a height of about six feet, while the small va- riety seems to have reached its full growth at four feet. The plants grow from suckers that shoot up from the roots, about as the lilac multiplies. Plants that come up and gain a growth of twelve to THE STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY. 199 eighteen inches in one season are generally full of berries the follow- ing year. The size of the berry varies according to the time of ripen- ing, the first fruit being as large as the ordinary cranberry and gradu- ally get smaller as the season advances, but all are a fair size to the last picking. Color of the fruit is a blue-black when fully ripe, though it is very palatable when it reaches the reddish or purple stage. There is no better fruit for pie or sauce that can be grown so easy as the Dwarf Juneberry. There is no richer looking fruit. Dry weather does not injure it. Wet weather does not injure it. There is no insect that attacks it. The wind never blows hard enough to cause the fruit to fall. It never gets too cold or too warm for the Dwarf Juneberry. It is native to the west. It is a sure crop. THE STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY. G. N. TITUS. • When our Secretary requested that I prepare a paper for this meet- ing, he suggested that I deal more particularly with the different va- rieties that we have been testing and fruiting. I believe that the average person is more bewildered in knowing what to plant that will furnish a succession of berries throughout the season, in abundance, than in the method of setting and cultivating, as there is plenty of information upon the subject of cultivation by writers of national ability that will apply to the country as a whole with few exceptions. This is not the case with regard to varieties, as every practical fruit-grower knows that the sort that does well in one locality may not thrive at all in another, perhaps of only a dis- tance of a few miles, hence the necessity of the beginner or inexpe- rienced planter in depending upon someone who has had the experi- ence in his locality in order to get such varieties as will best succeed there. The all-important thing in starting a berry garden is begin- ning with the right varieties. No matter how well located, or how well planted or cultivated, if the proper sorts have not been planted, failure and disappointment must be the result. 200 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. STRAWBERRIES. I am asked a great many times the best varieties of strawberries. This is hard to answer. But in my experience of the past ten years, during which I have tested a great many old and new sorts, if con- fined to only one berry, it would be without doubt the Parker Earl. This berry comes as near filling the bill as any berry I have fruited, and is bound to become popular, not only on account of its great pro- ductiveness, but also by its remarkable resistance to the drouth. It is a large berry, good quality, and one of the most vigorous, healthiest looking plants, with a great mass of roots extending out twelve to fif- teen inches. It is perfect in blossom and is the berry for those that do not wish to bother with fertilizing the imperfect sorts. Next to the Parker Earl I place the Warfield, the greatest market berry of the present time, which produces more fruit of uniform size to the square rod than any berry I have grown. It is very handsome, good in quality, and ripens a few days after the Crescent. It is a fa- vorite everywhere. For an early berry it is hard to give up the Cres- cent, but we are setting it more sparingly each year. After the second year it is worthless as a market berry. The Warfield at this time is more attractive and will outsell it on any market, yet I believe it to \>e the berry for the family garden, as it will produce fair crops when only half tended, and sometimes when not tended at all ; while other berries under similar treatment would produce scarcely any fruit. Haverland is a very large, productive berry, but must be well cul- tivated and mulched. It is a very poor berry for the family garden. I have fruited the much praised Bubach No. 5 five years, and have failed to see anything yet to recommend in it. It is nothing more than a large show berry. Beder Wood is a medium sized berry, productive, and inclined to be small during a dry season. It is one of the best pollenizers for Warfield, Crescent, and Haverland. We set two rows of Beder Wood to four of Warfield, Crescent, or Haverland. Michel's Early is a complete failure, also May King and Gandy. Captain Jack is a favorite with many; while we have other berries preferable, it is yet too good a pollenizer to set aside. The low price has created a demand for a very productive, liealthy, vigorous berry, so we have discarded Cumberland, Miner, Sharpless, THE STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY. 201 Edgar Queen, Great Pacific, Jewell, Stayman, Jessie, Wilson, and Enhance. The past two seasons have been so unfavorable that it would be un- just to pass an opinion on the newer sorts that we are testing. Of the newer sorts, the Lovett did very well for the season and promises well, also Robinson, which I think will make an excellent fertilizer, and the Greenville, which I think has a good future. The Timbrell is overestimated. Of the varieties set this year, the Brandy wine is mak- ing the strongest, healthiest, and most luxuriant growth, with Bissell a close second. Enormous and Cyclone are making a good supply of runners. Another point I am frequently asked is how long will a strawberry bed continue in fruiting in paying quantities. This is owing to the season. Under ordinary conditions it should last six or seven years, with proper cultivation. Our first planting consisted of three-fourths of an acre, and we picked our largest crop the seventh season, which brought $275. Before passing the strawberry I wish to caution the inexperienced from setting plants from an old bed. Too many make this mistake in order to economize. RASPBERRIES. I advise the planting of raspberries in young orchards whenever possible. The trees not only help protect the bushes, but the rasp- berries are beneficial to the trees, occupying considerable waste land in the tree row that would otherwise be vacant. They also bear the expense of cultivating the orchard and protecting the trees from being barked by careless hands. Raspberries have always been a paying crop with us, and are a fine crop this season, the demand far exceeding the supply. The red raspberry with us has made a huge failure during the past eight years. They have winter killed to the ground every vvinter, and during this time all the red raspberries picked from one-half acre would not make one good crop. They demand a sheltered place, and then their room is preferable to their company. We have tried the different methods of winter protection, and have found them unsatis- factory as well as expensive. I would also advise setting them closer in the row than we have been accustomed to. We shall plant here- after two by six feet. 14 202 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. As to varieties, we have not as many sorts to choose from as the strawberry. TJie Palmer is by far the best early l>lackcap we have. It is larger than the Souhegan and a very strong, upright grower, very })roductive, good in quality, and has been free from disease. During the past seven years it has not winter-killed, while other well knowD sorts planted along side of the Palmer have been injured very seriously. We grow more favorable toward it each season. The Hopkins begins to ripen before the Palmer is picked, and is our best second early sort. It is superior in flavor and very productive; it has been very hardy with us. The Nemaha is the best and most pro- ductive large berry we have, and the best paying berry of tiie late sorts. It is hard to identify the berry from the Gregg, it being only superior in hardiness. The Kansas fruited for us this season and we were somewhat disappointed in it. It is not as early as we expected^ nor as large as it was recommended to be. Its canes are of strong growth and came through the winter uninjured. It is larger than the Palmer and of the best quality, and promises to be one of the best paying second early sorts. The Shafer is growing more out of favor each season, having neither quality nor hardiness. It goes begging- for buyers. The Muskingum is of the Shafer type, but no im|)rove- ment except in hardiness. The Souhegan or Tyler, which has long held the favor of berry growers as the best early blackcap, must give way when the Palmer is better known. We shall discontinue plant- ing the Souhegan, also the Gregg, as Nemaha is much the hardier. The Japanese wineberry is a grand humbug, at least in the west. The Marnmoth Cluster is too far behind the times to continue in cul- tivation. Carman and Johnson Sweet too small; Pioneer not pro- ductive; Ohio the most vigorous and hardiest blackcap; would recommend it where better sorts have winter killed. Munson's Ever- bearing will stand more cold and dry weather than any berry we know. It is the first to ripen and very productive. I am sorry to say, however, that it is a very small berry, poor in quality, and crum- bles some when picked. Would say, in conclusion, that our best pay- ing blackcaps are Palmer, Hopkins, and Nemaha. HOME CANNING OF FRUIT. 203 HOME CANNING OF FRUIT. MRS. W. F. JENKINS. As I have been requested to send an article on the home canning of fruit and vegetables, I give the following directions for putting up a few of those with which I have succeeded the best. STRAWBERRIES. Strawberries are a very juicy fruit and unless great care is taken there will, when canned, be more juice than fruit. Pick four quarts of not overripe berries, add one cup of water and two of sugar for a two-quart can. Cook slowly but thoroughly. When cooked enough, remove from the stove and wrap the can in a wet cloth to prevent breaking, after which dip the berries into it, allowing the juice to drain off, so that when the can is filled, the contents will be fruit and not all jui^e. Pile on all the can will hold and fasten cover. Turn can on the side, and when no juice runs out it is air tight. I use the juice left for cooking. It can be canned and kept any length of time,, and makes delicious puddings, frozen ices, etc. All juicy fruits should be canned in this way. Too much sugar changes the flavor, and if not sweet enough for the taste of everyone, more can be added wheni the can is opened. Can all fruit as soon as possible after it is gathered. CHERRIES. Take out all pits. Use one cup sugar and one cup water for a two- quart can. PLUMS. Plums should be peeled, which can easily be done when not too ripe. One cup water and one and a half cups sugar for a two-quart can. APPLES, PEACHES, AND PEARS. I steam until tender, pack in can, and make a syrup and pour over them. The syrup must be boiling hot. I never cook fruit in cans except for exhibition purposes. 204 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SWEET CORN. Sweet corn may be successfully canned as follows : Cut from cob when just right for table use. Fill eight two-quart cans and pack the corn in as solidly as possible, just set covers on but do not screw down. Put two pieces of two-by-four across the ends of a wash boiler, then fit in a board that is full of holes to let steam through. Put in about eight quarts of water and set cans in on the board. Pack hay or cloths around them so they will not touch each other, cover with the boiler cover and boil four hours without stopping. When water gets low, fill from boiling tea-kettle. When time is up, lift from stove, and after steam passes off a little, put rubbers on and fasten down covers very tight. Leave in the boiler until cool enough to handle. If this plan is exactly carried out, you will have as fine canned corn as you ever ate. I use the ISIason can. THE LEONARD METHOD OF ORCHARD PLANTING. I. N. LEONARD. [This article is supplemental to one which appeared in "Vol. 25, page 75.] I am requested (o submit notes on the conduct of my orchards dur- ing the years of 1894 and 1895, supplemental to my paper published in the Horticultural Report of 1894. The trees passed through the drouth of 1894 with an abundance of soil moisture at all times. This condition was maintained throughout the season, and during the severest of the drouth was examined by representative men of the Nebraska experiment stations. The con- dition during the year was an abundance of soil moisture to within a half inch of the surface, so moist that the soil would ball in the hand by gentle pressure, leaving the impress of the fingers. It was thought by some that the moist condition was due to the fact that no crop was grown among the trees and the orchard had been given strictly clean and thorough cultivation. Thedrouth during 1895 has been nearly as severe here as during 1894, and to include the period from September 1 to January 1, 1896, has been much worse. During the past season sweet corn, potatoes, cabbage, LEONARD METHOD OF ORCHARD PLANTING. 205 and other garden vegetables were planted in one orchard, all of which made a good average yield. The corn was as good as the average corn of a good season, the potatoes made a yield of 150 bushels per acre, and cabbage, beets, tomatoes, melons, and beans were fully up to the average of our best seasons. During this season this orchard has not shown as much moisture, but had enough to make a good crop and to keep trees up to a full average growth. During September the corn and potatoes were harv^ested and the orchard cultivated. A two-horse cultivator would throw up an abundance of moisture that could be seen the full length of the orchard. The condition of this orchard January 1, 1896, was found to be thoroughly moist to within one-half inch of the surface. Of eighty-five trees set in the spring of 1895, three Ben Davis and one York Imperial and two Jeiferies perished in the hot winds of September. These trees were badly dried out when planted and made a late start. Others of the same varieties passed through the season in good condition. This experimental work is in its third year and they have been three of the hardest consecutive years ever known to the state, and yet trees planted when two years of age now stand eleven feet in height and nine and one-half inches in circumference one foot from the ground, and some of the trees now measure nine feet from tip to tip through the top. Many of the trees set their first fruits in 1895, some up to as high as 150 apples, but were whipped off when about the size of walnuts by sand storms in June, also many leaves. East European plum trees have attained the heights of ten and twelve feet and have a circumference of seven to ten inches one foot from the ground. Communia, Dame Aubert, Moldavaka, Richland, Hungarian Prune, Arab No. 2, and Orel 19 and 20 have borne their first specimens of fruit. The first four named have, I believe, special value. The fruit is of excellent quality and thus far wholly free from the attacks of curculio and gougers. The last two named are a small blue plum not larger than Blue Damsel. Native plums, Wyant, Wolf, and a variety that came to me labeled Weir 49, but which is said to be by nurserymen the Weaver plum, is a freestone and of ex- cellent quality. The Wyant is a great bearer, freestone, and of good quality. The Wolf has no value above the Miner. East European cherries have borne their first specimens of fruit, mostly running smaller than Richmond. Abbesie appears to be slow 206 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL, SOCIETY. in coming into bearing. They are the oldest and largest trees, but have thus far borne no fruit. East European pears are making a rapid growth, and thus far are free from blight. Bokara peaches have borne one crop. The fruit is of good quality and some larger than the average commercial size. [Note. — The following letter, from Colorado, offers some sugges- tions along the same line:] LovELAND, Colo., September 11, 1895. Mr. I. N. Leonard, Lincoln, Neb. — Dear Sir: In reading your Horticultural Report of 1894 (Nebraska) I see in that on page 77 a discussion of best methods of planting apple or other fruit trees. I believe I can help you very much out of your troubles in a new method which some of our board have adopted and recommended to others in planting fruit trees. That method is to dynamite your holes for trees. Take a sharp crow-bar and j)robe down three or four or more feet, put down a half or a whole stick of dynamite with cap and fuse attached, and carefully put in fine dirt at first on dynamite, and as nearing the top tamp as solidly as you can. Set fire to the fuse, step back a few feet. When it goes off you have a hole that is fit to set any tree in. Clear out holes a little and put surface dirt to imbed the tree. This will be worth thousands of dollars to Nebraska. Respectfully, W. B. Osborn. Rev. C. S. Harrison. THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. 209 THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. KEV. C. S. HARRISON. Plato and Aristotle give a good definition of ethics, — "The perfect development of a man's self in moral and intellectual excellence." As a means to this end we will look at horticulture. We want to get all the good we can out of it. It is not a matter merely of dollars and cents. We want to lift it above the plane of hogs and corn and unfold its grand mission, that it may make the world healthier^ bettei', and elevate it. Too often, if a man knows how to insert a graft or put in a bud, he is called a horticulturist. But the field is vast; it covers the world, and gives study for a lifetime. It reaches from the useful up to the beautiful. While it gives to the pocket it also ministers to the soul. The horticulturist is the high priest of Nature — admitted into her sanctuary, at home in her holy of holies. He is co-worker with God, the senior partner furnishing the capital while the other does the work. This makes a strong firm, as the man goes forth on his mission to make the world better and more beautiful. The man helps God give expression to his own plans and purposes for advancing the ^yorld's weal. They tell of a London pugilist who was soundly converted. He hadn't a great deal to bring as he crossed the dividing line, but he took his pluck and muscle with him and in his own peculiar way conse- crated them to the new cause. One night a company of roughs came in to disturb the meeting. Somebody went up to the minister and told him that Tom was making it lively out in the entrance. He hurried to the scene, and the stalwart convert was laying the foe right and left. Three or four were in a battered and dazed condition. " Oh," said he, " Tom ! Tom ! the Bible says, ' Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.' " " Yes," said Tom, as he dealt the bully of the crowd a staggering blow, "and I'se just a helping the Lord to give 'em vengeance, and now," said he, " lads, I'se got a new Master and I ain't going to see Him insulted, nuther," and with that he led 210 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. three or four of them up to one of the front seats where they could get the truth at sliort range, and turning to his minister he said r " Now, you lielp the Lord up to that end and I will attend to this end, and we will have a first-class meeting." Helping the Lord. Now, that is pretty good. I want to talk about it a little while, of this partnership of capital and labor in human and divine relation- ship. Let us turn back a little. When the great coal measures were beiuor formed and the lakes of oil were being distilled for the use of men to- day, there was little of beauty. The time for flowers and fruits was not yet. The huge ichthyosaurus with his dull brain didn't need roses, and he could live without strawberries. It was not necessary to raise oranges and bananas for these huo;e monsters of sea and land. Mists enveloped the earth, and there was no glory of cloudland, no rainbow, uone of the splendors of the air. Note this as you follow the ages down in the vast preparation for the coming of man. You will note that all along the lines everything was converging toward the coming Prince who was to be hailed by all nature as the Son of God. As His time drew near the grains and vegetables began to appear, ex- quisite flowers began to bloom, and luscious fruits were provided. At least the species were formed out of which sprang unending variety. Stranger still, as we draw near the human era, those marvelous gems — earth's fadeless flowers — were formed, beautiful, rich, and im- perishable. Beauty for the ages, the topaz; the opal, sea of glass mingled with fire; the emerald, in which is garnered the greenness of earth and sea; the sapphire, with the azure compressed in its marvel- ous blue; and the diamond, the richest of them all. These were formed in comparatively recent times. The diamond grew by accre- tions and has layers like an onion. Some gems are growing now. Though God made the gems, he never mines them. He does not run a lapidary. He does not polish them or give them their setting in the field of gold. There was the peacock throne of India. Every feather of the wonderful bird made of exquisite gems. It was worth fifty million dollars. It was one mingled blaze of dazzling splendor. One eastern prince had a flower garden made of jewels and they were always in bloom. Now these wonderful stones were not formed in the heart of the earth, but near the surface. They were not hung on trees where they could easily be picked. Men had to work for them. THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. 211 Beauty of every type belongs to that geologic age to which man be- longs. With man came the splendor of the sky and those mountains of burning amber and gold which often stand sentinel at the gates of re- tiring day. I never knew an ox or a horse to show the least apprecia- tion of the beautiful, but I have seen the child of a year old go into an ecstasy of rapture over a gorgeous sunset, and apostrophize in baby glee and in his unknown tongue the loveliness with which he wished to be better acquainted. I have driven over vast areas of wiUl flow- ers where, far as the eye could reach, greenness and blossom were blended and the air was all fragrant with the breath of the sweetness, but I never knew my horse to take the least interest in it all. So we are irresistibly brought to the conclusion that all the beauty and splen- dor of earth and sky, the loveliness of forest and plain, and mountain sublimity are especially for man. All these things are the alphabet by which he is to study the sublimer lessons of the hereafter. It is amazing how man can develop the useful and the beautiful and what he has done with the material given him. In the Arnold Arboretum of Boston are about six of the world's primitive apples. These in their own habitats have remained the'same with no power to improve themselves, some of these apples no larger than a currant^ and it is supposed that hybridization and cultivation has evolved from these the mighty and luscious apple family of to-day. The single flower is a product of nature, the double flower the de- vice of man to a large extent. Who ever saw a double rose growing wild? Some of the brightest intellects of the world are now at work on new species. I have a friend who is at work on developing new roses. He crossed the little single rose of Japan with the General Jack and sold the product for $300. There is an endless field for de- velopment here. We have no idea how much of talent there is given to the science of horticulture. In our eastern states they have gath- ered the beauty of the world, and by crossing and improving, there are almost endless varieties. I have seen 120 kinds of lilacs alone, and the work of improvement has only just begun. So with the honeysuckle. Going through a nursery in Massachusetts I saw an upright honeysuckle one flaming mass of red berries. "Where did you get that?" I asked. " liaised it from seed" was the answer. A friend of mine saw a remarkable shrub growing in Newbury- port, Mass. It was one mass of white. He took a branch down to 212 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Only one man could name it. It was the Viburnum tomentosum of Japan. A single flowering snowball. What a furor it awakened. One horti- culturist got a chance to cut off the twigs and he set his greenhouse at work striking cuttings. One got on the track of some in Europe and bought them all. I saw them growing and iielped cut some for the greenhouse propagation. Then I thought of the future of the plant. Somebody would get seedlings from it, which would if possible be an improvement, and this would go on and on. Our French and Ger- man horticulturists are hard at work improving the beauty of the world, and some of our own propagators are doing wonders. Jack- son Dawson put a trailing juniper on a red cedar and made an ever- green umbrella and sold it for $50. There is money in brains, and earth has a broader range than cattle, hogs, and hominy. There is no science on earth which brings in such marvelous re- turns. Fertile brains and deft hands are sure of a reward. The high priest of nature has wonderful advantages. He goes into a new land and to him is given the eye of prophecy. He sees in the earth and air, in the sun and shower, millions on millions of bushels of luscious apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, and berries. He plants the trees, shrubs, and vines, and, too, the crystallization of all this unseen wealth. Around him in the viewless air and in the furrows are arches of beauty, marvelous in fullness and fragrance. He has only to phint the bushes and the bulbs and they rise before him like children of the light. The multiplication of species and varieties is something marvelous. The facility of propagation almost surpasses belief. The stock-grower pushes his show animals till they can go no further. They are the last of their race. The horticulturist pushes his products till he has the seedless grape and pear and orange wonderful in beauty, and so with flowers. Many of the most lovely are sterile, yet by budding and grafting the process goes on with wonderful rajndity. Dr. Bull, of Concord, died only last year, but the old Concord vine is yet alive and thriving in his garden. But who can estimate the vast train loads of vines and fruits which have come from that parent vine. It al- most passes belief. Why if the progeny, vine and fruit, were piled up by the pound it would be a vast mountain. Ages ago there grew a beautiful shrub in Abyssinia; thence it was THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. 213 sent to Arabia, then to Africa, thence to Ceylon. It grows to the height of fifteen or twenty feet and in springtime it is covered with blossoms of snowy white. A thousand years ago its product was un- known to commerce. Now it is one of the world's staples, the coffee tree, and its treasures are found in all lands and climes. There is a remarkable history of one plant. In 1690 there was no coffee save what was raised in Abyssinia and Arabia. Some merchants brought a few seeds to the governor-general of the East Indies. He planted them in his garden and from these Java was supplied. He sent one plant to a friend in Holland. It was planted in the Botanical Garden in Amsterdam. Plants from this stock were sent to the western conti- nent and other parts of the world, and it is now estimated that one- half of the entire production is from that Amsterdam plant — almost a billion pounds a year coming from that one parent. About the fourth century a few plants with fair white blossoms were taken from Corea to China, and thence sprang that marvelous industry, the tea trade. This profession is at the morning of a glorious achievement. Some of us whose hair is growing gray wish we could look well over into a new century and see the marvelous transformations. We are just ready to do something. The art of propagation is understood as never before. Improvement by hybridizing and other processes is now well underway. The choicest products of the world are being gathered within a few years. Luscious fruits by nature too tender for our try- ing climate have been transferred to hardier stocks, as in the case of many of our apples. The Wealthy apple alone has moved the fruit belt north 200 miles. So with other fruits. We shall have crosses which will give luscious cherries on hardy stocks. And so far as flowers are concerned, what attainments have been made? See the displays of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society every week for sixteen months and see what progress is made, with more to follow. Horticulture is the most ancient and honorable of the employments which have come down to us. The parent of the human race was put in the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it, and some way the work grew upon him so he had to have an assistant, and so the mother of the human race belonged to the same calling. It had a wide range even in those far off days. There were "trees pleasant to the sight and good for food," fruit and ornamental trees. The Saviour of men 214 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. was a horticulturist also. How vivid the story of the barren fig tree wiiich for tliree years disaj)pointed the owner, "cut it down, why cum- bereth it the ground," and the gardener pleads for another year, he will dig about it and fertilize it, "Oh, let it have a year more." I am the vine, ye the branches. He pruueth it that it may bring forth more fruit. There never was a more exquisite poem given in any language than the unmetered song of triumph Christ left for his followers: "Cousider the lilies how they grow; they toil uot, they spin not: Yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his j^lory wa? not arrayed like one of these. If, then, God so clothe the grass which is to-day in the field and to-morrow is cast into the oven, how much more yoa, oh, ye of little faith ? ' ' Grapes of thorns. The good tree bringeth forth good fruit. Everything the Great Teacher touched He glorified. The raven and the sparrow, the mustard seed, the tree, the seed falling from the hand of the sower, the grass, and the flower, are the mute sermons, the beauty of whose unspoken eloquence will cheer tired mortals while the ages go by. The softening, elevating, and harmonizing influence of flowers is well known. They are messengers of peace, sympathy, and love. The little child dragging out a desolate life in the dark alley of the city, shut away from the fragrance of the greenness of a beautiful world, is wonderfully encouraged by the presence of a single flower which seems to lighten her burdens, and the life of the tired mother is freshened as she looks at the little messenger which brings sweetness and fragrance into her lowly dwelling. The flower missions in our great cities are important factors in the way of encouragement. Some years ago Mr. Baker, then gardener of the Old Colony rail- road, said, "I am carrying on one of the most important branches of city missions." He wanted the railroad company to plant eveiy plat of ground in and near the city with flowers. They said, "It is no use, the children will destroy them." Said he, "I will see to that," and having gotten permission, he went ahead. Every spring and often in the summer he planted for a succession of flowers. Children by the hundred gathered around him. "Now," said he, "these flowers are ours — yours and mine, but they must not be picked; we want to see them bloom, and we want the people to sea them as they go in and out of the city." Then he explained each kind and when they would THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. 215 bloom, and having a great abundance he brought a large quantity to distribute. They were accepted by girls and boys with rapturous de- light, and ever after they looked upon flowers as sacred things and their blooming was watched with an intensity of interest. Years ago in one of our cities there was a woman who was an Amazon in wickedness. She was a most desperate character. It took half a dozen policemen to arrest her. Her huge hand, like the paw of a bear, soon made a fine uniform rags. One day she had been worse than ever. It seemed as if all the resources of power were ex- hausted, and she only grew worse and worse. She seemed to hate her own sex also, and often sent them from her presence with most violent language. In one of the asylums was a quiet and saintly matron who had a most intense desire to see and help the poor wayward creature. Hearing she had been arrested again, she begged a chance to see her. They said it would be madness, that she would be torn in pieces. Preparing a beautiful bouquet of flowers, she insisted on going into her cell. She found her an object of terror. Her countenance was distorted with rage, and her eyes blazed with such fierceness the jan- itor was glad to get out of their range. Nothing daunted, our good lady went up to her with tears of pity in her eyes and said: ''My poor sister, I am so sorry you have such sore trouble. I bring you these flowers." " You call yourself my sister. How is this?" "We have the same Brother, his name is Jesus, and of course we are sisters; and see these flowers." Flowers and love prevailed, and for the first time in years she wept. Pier woman-soul came back again. The farmer should be also a horticulturist. It belongs to him to beautify the fairest lands on earth. Many a man has made his home yard a cattle-pen and a pig-sty. Everything must bend to beef and pork. The family have no rights which the hog and steer are bound to respect. That ground about the house might be adorned with su- preme loveliness. A clump of evergreens here and of flowering shrubs there, graceful walks and well kept beds of flowers — an at- tractive instead of a repulsive home. Many a noble woman with love for the beautiful has died under the slow martyrdom of ugliness. Deformity where harmony should prevail. Home made so repulsive the children cannot and will not stay. The home, which should be a bower of beauty, becomes a weariness and detestation. We mourn the exodus from the country into the city where people climb over 216 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. each other to find work. Much of this is owing to the fact that the average farmer puts forth no effort to make home attractive, wlierea& a little money and a good deal of care would make home so alluring it would he hard, very hard, to leave it, and the very thought of it will be a refreshiup; memory. Now, it is strancre that when the farmer is so very apt and intelligent about everything else he should be so- deficient along this line. Why, he can tell you all about a railroad from the tie to the roundhouse, and how much it costs to run it, and all about the minutiae of it, far better than men who have been forty years in the business. He knows all about currency. He can talk bi-metallism, silver and gold, and greenbacks till you are tired. Send him to the legislature and he is a natural detective. He will appro- 23riate $40,000 or $50,000 to smell out a fraud and then appropriate to the horticultural department of a great state just about enough for a respectable coffin for it. But in horticulture he persists in being ut- terly and entirely indifferent, and so fraud comes along and preys on his ignorance. There are two classes of men who sell trees. One is the tree fiend. No one knows whence he comes or whither he goes. One visit is enough, ultimately bringing up at the fiend's home. He used to sell Russian apples at seventy-five cents and then go over to Iowa nurser- ies and pick these same Russian trees out of refuse brush piles to fill his bills. He is famous for selling an immense amount of cheek and lip and very poor trees. Then there is the tree dealer. God bless him. He is a benediction. He awakens an interest and an enthusi- asm. Most of our fine orchards and fine grounds are traceable to his influence. He does not get rich at it, but he is a blessing to a new land. You know where to find him. He gladly rectifies mistakes. Well, to return to the fiend. I met a fiend in Polk county one day who told me with great glee that he had "just bought twelve tree strawberries for only $3." *' Is that so," said I. Then that city girl was not so far out of the way after all. She was visiting out in the country with some friends aud they noticed she was constantly looking up into the tops of a stately row of elms. " What are you looking for up there?" "Oh," was the sweet answer, "I wanted to find some strawberries." Another fiend met a prominent farmer in Adams county aud he took him out to see his orchard and he asked him why it didn't bear. "Well, I will examine it." He had a little magnifying glasa THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. 217 and he took it out and examined the buds, cut some of them open, and put them under most careful inspection. He went from tree to tree and from row to row, and he was so intent the farmer says, " Now that fellow understands his business." When he got throus^h he said. CD O 7 " Have your trees ever blossomed ? " " Yes, but they fell oif." " Ex- actly just as I expected. Every tree in your orchard I find is a fe- male tree, so the pollen or blossom dust is not fertilized. Now you must buy a lot of male trees and plant between these rows," and he actually sold the man several hundred trees at an enormous price. Too often all the recommendation the tiller of the soil wants is that the man is a total stranpjer. Then his influence seems to be supreme. There is no science that makes such a speedy impression on a land as this of horticulture, and it should be studied more than it is. The magnificent Bussey institute of Boston, in connection with Harvard, sometimes will not have a dozen students. I hope the time will come when text-books will be used in all our academies and colleges. We are glad we have a department connected with this University. A western college president once asked me to come and see his catalpas which he thought were coming up. He planted a quantity for a timber claim. I went to see them. There was not a catalpa there, only a milkweed. " How deep did you plant them?" "Oh, about six or eight inches, and stamped the ground solid." "Well," said I, "take off your hat and bid them an affectionate farewell, for you will never see them again." Then he pointed to a fine lot of apple trees he had just planted. The rows resembled the zigzags of a Virginia rail fence, only the "zigs" didn't match the "zags" at all. It was the worst job I ever saw. I lost all my respect for his Greek and Latin, and asked how he ever expected his students to lead straight lives with such rows of trees to look at. Many a man having no knowledge or care in the matter of tree-planting is induced to buy a dozen trees. The drouth and cattle soon make way with them, and then he is like the Irishman who wanted to try the luxury of a feather bed. I think no material trust was ever given to a man of more impor- tance than a good farm. It needs more than three mules to work it, one to drive and the others to pull the plow. It is against Scripture, "Be not as the horse or the mule which have no understanding." The farm gives the owner one of the grandest foundations for a full orbed and well developed character. 218 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. FJoriculture gives delightful employment to ladies. It should be a field of conquest for them. It is immensely ahead of puppy culture. In this age of widening horizons, it is sad to see the soul of a young woman narrowed down to supreme affection for a little dog. Said a a very small and exquisite dude to a young lady: "Wouldn't you like a little puppy?" "Oh," said she, with a gasp of breath, "give me time; this is so sudden." Another young lady sat stroking her dog. As her white fingers went flashing through his silken hair and he sat there drinking into his dog's soul the deep bliss of such kindly attention, a young fellow, looking on lovingly, said: " I wish I was a dog." "Well, you'll grow." The noble science of which we are speaking opens wide possibilities and an endless fund of enjoyment. It permits the young enthusiast to take the blank leaves of nature and fill them up with pictures of transcendent loveliness. He is said to be a benefactor who makes two blades of grass grow where there was only one. What shall we say of the victor, who, in place of the grass, calls out from the unseen forms of loveliness which are a joy to the eye and an inspiration to the soul. "Kindly Mother Nature ever stands before us, and in the in- tensity of her longing would unfold before us the treasures of her store-house. Art unlocks her doors, enters her palace, and brings out her marvelous gifts." It should be the mission of this Horticultural Society to demand some rights in the name of this great commonwealth. Having seen the wealth, culture, and energy and enthusiasm displayed in some of our older states, I am impressed with the fact that there is something sadly lacking in Nebraska, so, instead of being content with a crumb, we should now and then demand a loaf. We need a fine conservatory laid out on a generous plan, and hail proof, where our students, where the farmers and the people can come and in a short time become ac- quainted with the treasures of the tropical world. Such a place is needed for some of the more delicate experiments of horticulture which cannot be carried on in the turbulent climate of the outside world. Again, we should have plenty of room and plenty of means for out- door experiments. All the past years we have as a state played a little at horticulture. Now we need to get down to business. Our state has had a hard time, but will emerge from these terrible drouths and show unwonted vigor. This long season of trial has been healthy. THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. '^" "?"- 219 It has shown what will endure trial and wliat will not. We are amazed at the possibilities of our soil. For three years we have seen orchards laden with fruit when in all that time it was impossible for a drop of water to reach the lower roots. Our eastern counties con- stitute one of the finest fruit belts of the world, and all over the state we begin to know our possibilities. Instead of yielding to dipcour- agement it is time to sound the "forward march." Every farmer can have a select patch near his windmill, and the time to irrigate is in the winter. Let the subsoil be laden with moisture in the spring; then, with good cultivation, you can laugh at what may come. Irrigation will be used more and more. Our rivers carry off waste enough to make a whole state fruitful. Time will come when the farmer may have his greenhouse, which will be a pleasure and a profit. Very economical plants can be put in at small expense, and with a little care even exotic grapes can be raised with profit, and home can have both luxury and beauty. Art aids nature wonderfully. Our bright win- ter suns would aid greenhouses materially. An English horticultur- ist tells me that nature cannot keep up with art, that there is no cli- mate and there are no conditions so perfect as man creates under the glass. Pineapples are made to grow twice their natural size, and the Muscat grape has been grown in clusters two feet long with the berries cut in two large enough to match the old English penny. There is very much waste time in winter which could be very profitably de- voted to the greenhouse, bringing the beauty of a tropical summer into the frozen heart of winter. But aside from this what changes can be produced? In 1884 I started a place under the 100th meridian. I raised evergreens from seed by the thousand and planted thousands more from the Rockies. I found that forty kinds of lilacs did remarkably well and there were twenty kinds of honeysuckles that were a decided success. There was a large family of a dozen kinds of syringas, also flowering almonds, and a large family of hardy roses. There were deciduous trees of forty kinds or more, and a large collection furnished by eastern friends. For some time it was an experiment station connectetl with this Society. It seemed almost an elysium of beauty. Farmers would come from their bleak prairie homes and wander about in astonishment that such changes could be wrought in so short a time. Well, I was obliged to leave and then came three years of drouth, and neglect, and weeds. 15 220 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Weeds instead of beaiity. Now you can go there after the liot wind has scorched out and smitten every tender thing, and fruit and orna- mental trees have succumbed, and what is left will endure. What a weeding out of every vine. How the spruces went down ! Wiiite, Norway, Black Hills, and Douglas dazed and staggered, not killed. But there is the Ponderosa in all its rugged beauty, not one n)issing; and there the Platte and Rocky Mountain cedars and the Concolor, and there the Chinese Arbor Vitse. These five trees went unscathed through the fiery furnace, and perhaps I should also mention the Aus- trian pine. These all seemed to lift up their heads as to an old friend and said, "Did you say drouth? We have not noticed it." So there are things which will stand, and to these we give preference, and I know that amid the most adverse circumstances of hail and blizzard^ and sirocco, there are things which will endure the test. I lor one and with others have spent a good many thousands finding out what I could not do, but it is worth thousands more to find out what we can do,, and there is no use in being discouraged. If the phlegmatic Hol- lander can smoke his pipe complacently while he raises his great Hol- steins below the sea lev^el, the Nebraska farmer should not be discour- aged while he lives over an underground ocean. One uses a windmill to pump out the ocean, the other can use the same power, to a limited extent at least, to raise the inland sea. Artificial screen and shelters do much. I had one-half an acre under screen — an artificial forest, and thus sheltered it was wonderful how trees would grow and flow- ers would bloom, and how easy it was to raise seedlings and tender vegetables. Let a man think, study, read, and experiment, and with resources already at hand, he will be amazed at what he can accom- plish. I once visited the home of Webster with his old pastor, Rev. Alden, descendant of John and Priscilla. A poor piece of ground, but the touch of genius was there. There was the little office where he forged those mighty thunderbolts more vigorous than those welded by the hand of iron. There was where, while dying, he had the cattle driven by his window that he might see their honest faces and bid them good- bye. I looked over it, all that barren farm transformed into beauty, and then I wished we had the brains of a Webster to run every farm in Nebraska, and what a transformation would come over us. What we want is more brains and less weeds, smaller farms, better kept, and THE ETHICS OF H9RTICULTURE. 221 fewer mortgages. Never one acre of land west of the Missouri river has ever been put to its fullest test. Yes, give us rich thought and we shall have a rich land. While genius is harnessing the powers above and around and making obedient servants of the lightnings, we want not altogether the genius which walks the air, but which will walk the earth and transform it and glorify it. It is possible that the conditions of the other life will bear some resemblance to this. On this earth we find the key which unlocks many of the mysteries of other worlds. Here we have about seventy elements entering into combination to form this globe and some twenty- five of the same elements have been tossed upon this earth by those heavenly trumps the meteors, and the spectroscope shows that the flames burning in the mantles of the far off sun is the combustion of such material as earth aflbrds. It may have been real gems John saw flashing in the wall of heaven. Horticulture stands looking from the fairest landscapes of earth with their wondrous adorning of shrub and tree and flowers of wondrous hue. Vast possibilities hem us in here. There will be a different world here a hundred vears from now, and looking from the fields of future development, men will be impressed with the thought of more beyond. You know the legend of Gibral- tar, — " Ne plus ultra.'" The promise of more beyond meets us on every hand. You collect the fairest gems of earth and they awaken a longing for more beauty, more splendor. You listen to the strains of the sweetest song and you seem wet with the spray of a vast ocean of melody whose mighty billows roll in from the evermore. The: highest art inspires an almost pensive longing for some higher art,, which is to be unveiled hereafter. Beauty of gem, of foliage, and bloom are prophetic of the beauty of the Lord which is to be upon us. The poet tells of "Sweefc fields beyond the swelling flood, And never withering flowers." There the water of life's river irrigates the heavenly plains, and there is the tree of life in the fullness of its beauty and fruitage. Sometimes there comes to the soul, as it nears the border, foretastes of the awaiting splendor. I cannot forget the vision of a little girl^ who died on the frontier, who spoke in rapture of the wonderfid farm filled with such beautiful trees and flowers. In October, during the great exposition, I lay at the point of death. I could almost look 222 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. over to the further shore. I remember one night we had ja.st received news from some of our friends, and though but half conscious, I took in some of their descriptions ot the beauties they saw and the raptures they awakened. There wore descriptions of plants, flowers, tapestries, and adornings, and with the thought of all these things clinging about me, blending with the memory of the marvelous exhibits of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which I often attended, I went over into the land of dreams, and I wandered that night in an expo- sition which the genius and wealth of earth could never devise. I was in Elysian fields. The horizons were frescoed with the shifting and flashino- splendors of the aurora borealis. Above, light itself had dis- solved into rainbow hues and all the azure was aglow with unrivaled splendor. And such forests of flowers! You have seen vast bouquets of roses with their harmony of color. Such I saw, only they grew into trees of marvelous size, and from lowest twig to topmost bough one full blaze of beauty. There were vast and stately forests of azaleas and rhododendrons, strangers to our western eyes. There were forests of chrysanthemums vast as the trees of the Yosemite, and there I wandered back and forth in a very intoxication of rapture. It was the beauty of earth drawn out on a vaster scale. I awoke in the utter exhaustion of rapture. In the morning I told my friends Chicago was nowhere, and all its beauty was but dross, for I had been in a grander exposition than earth could possbly give. I do not claim the vision to have been an absolute unveiling of the reality, and yet it opened to me amazing possibilities. For beyond us is a country where our fairest dreams are verities; where the most adventurous fancy shall sit on a throne and be satisfied; where the wish shall be the reality. All things are yours; the universe is to be your university and eternity the term time. All the sciences true here are true beyond. We are destined for growth, not to be dwarfs. All truth is God's. Read his book of nature, as well as that of grace, — a book illustrated as no other volume can be, with vast nebulre, which are cities of stars; with resplendent suns; with effulgence of the sky and ocean grandeur ; with flash and sparkle of river and lake; with mountain sublimity; with glory of plain, forest, and landscape. THE PEACH. 223 "THE PEACH IN NEBRASKA/'— DISCUSSION. ANSWERS BY J. M. RUSSELL. Question — I would like to ask Mr. Russell if he cannot find a freestone peach that will ripen as early as the cling? Answer — Almost. I am going to show that pretty soon. I have the, peach here on exhibition and will show it. This is the fruit. [Showing fruit.] Question — What name do you give it? Answer— We call it "The Russell No. 1." Question — I would like to ask if there are some trees which bear one year and some another year, so that there is always some fruit? Answer — No, sir; not always; some yeai's we get none at all. Question — Is it because of the cultivation every other year ? Answer — No, sir. Question — Might you not get it started so that some trees would bear this year and some the iiext. Answer — No, sir; some years all varieties will kill. Question — Is it not on account of the condition of the buds in the fall? Answer — Yes, sir; I suppose the condition of the buds at that time has something to do with it. Question — I would like to ask if you think that the buds mature any better the year that you have the crop? Answer — I suppose so. I cannot account for it. One year the sleet killed them. If the buds are soaked when the freezing begins it will kill them. Question — The question that I was going to ask was, what va- riety you would recommend if you were going to recommend but one variety. The one that would be most successful over the greatest ter- ritory. Answer — I would recommend the Wright. Question — Have you ever tried early fall trimming to secure good, hardy buds? 224 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Ansm'ER — I have not. Question — A man told me that he tried it, and the trees he cut back bore fruit while the same variety were a failure. He cut one-half of the limb. Is not that the California system of pruning? Answer — Yes, sir; I think it is. I think they are practicing that in California quite largely. IRRIGATION FOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN IN NEBRASKA. I. N. FORT. I am requested to confine myself to facts and results, as the theory of the benefits of irrigation for fruits is now acknowledged and ad- mitted in our state. The first successful orchard planted and grown in Lincoln county •was created by a homesteader by the name of Edwin Myers, who lo- cated on a piece of government land near the mouth of Morin canyon? about twelve miles southeast of North Platte on the south side of the Platte river. Mr. Myers planted in 1876 an orchard of about one- half acre, consisting of apple, peach, pear, and other fruit trees. Not believing in the theory of the increase in rainfall, and having seen the benefits derived from irrigating while soldiering in Arizona and New Mexico, he collected all the empty ban-els that he could gather from about the fort, seven miles east of his place. These he set where they could be pumped full by the windmill, and every evening about sun- down .the water was allowed to run off on to the orchard. Mr- Myers successfully raised quite a quantity of apples, peaches, and small fruit. He sold this place in 1886, and as the orchard passed into the hands of parties from the east who knew nothing of the value of ir- rigation, but little success has been the result until the past years. But since the irrigation movement lias taken place, and now the owner is successfully raising fruit by the use of the old irrigation method of -windmill and pump. Small fruits have borne splendidly on this place. Mr. Myers was also very successful with his garden. In 1884 Harry Hershey, a resident of our county, moved upon the lands west of North Platte that could be irrigated by the North Platte IRRIGATION FOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 225 canal. Mr. Hershey at once planted a small orchard of two acres. The trees were of a number of the different hardy varieties, and con- sisted of apple, cherry, pear, and plum trees. With all these he has had splendid success. The trees have borne fruit steadily since 1889. His losses are very light. Mr. Hershey has had splendid success in growing gra])es. These never fail to produce fruit every season. Mr. Hershey waters his trees twice during growing season, once immedi- ately after the trees have blossomed and the small fruit commences to form; once when the fruit is increasing rapidly in size and give indi- cations of ripening. Vegetables are grown between the rows, but that will be discontinued owing to the large size that the trees have now attained. With small fruits the yields of all varieties are enor- mous. Mr. Hershey has now about five acres in orchard. H. Otter, whose farm is situated about six miles northwest of North Platte, is another successful irrigation farmer and fruit- grower. Mr. Otter has about ten acres now growing to fruit. His oldest trees are six years of age, and they have borne already quite a quantity of fruit. In 1895 he i)icked twenty bushels of apples from five of the oldest trees. All varieties of apples do well. Grapes give a very abundant yield, and Mr. Otter is demonstrating that with ir- rigation, Nebraska can excel in producing this class of fruit and of excellent quality. William Park, of North Platte, has now thirty acres of fruit trees planted on his farm that is situated eight miles west of North Platte. As Mr, Park's trees have been planted but two years, it is too early to give any results. Irrigation is the method by which Mr. Park ex- pects to raise fruit and compete with the Colorado and California fruit- growers. His orchard is planted every year to vegetables, and the water that is used to irrigate these crops also irrigates the trees. After the trees have commenced bearing, this will be discontinued in order to enable the trees to obtain all the subsistence possible from the soil. Mr. Park's trees are set out and planted on the Parker Earl block system. In his orchard he has the following varieties : Ben Davis, Jefferies, York Imperial, Maiden Blush, Red Astrachan, Baldwin, Stark, King, Shockley, Minkler, and all the standard varieties. In ir- riMtino; fruit trees no water is allowed to come in contact with the bark or trunk of the tree. On this farm the depth to water is ten feet. Mr. Park's trees are all in a healthy growing condition, and if 226 ' ^NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. the success attained on smaller farms is any criterion, Mr. Park's or- chard will in a few years return him a large income. Another fruit-grower who expects to successfully raise fruit by irri- gation in Lincoln county is William Conners. In 1895 Mr. Conners planted 11,000 fruit trees. Immediately after planting, the ground was well irrigated. As a result only twelve trees were lost from the whole number planted, a fraction over one per thousand ; but lew fruit-growers can show this result. Until the trees reach a bearing age, the land will be cultivated to crops that can be tilled. N. B. Spurrier is another successful fruit-grower. On this farm five acres are uow planted in orchard. On the farm of Samuel Hostettor a fine orchard is now to be found with all the trees in a healthy growing condition, Mr. "Hostettor 's trees are as yet not of an age sufficient to show what the result will be for the larger varieties of fruit. During the past season of 1895 he sold two hundred dollars worth of grapes that were picked from his vines. His small fruits produce wonderfully under irrigation. William White is another farmer who has now ten acres planted to fruit trees. Mr. Jenkins and David Hunter are also successfully growing fruit. All these farms lay west of North Platte, and they are irrigated by the North Platte canal. One great difficulty the ])eople of central and western Nebraska have met are the fallacies that have been current in relation to the proper method of growing fruit trees. The rules that were generally accepted as correct in Ohio and Indiana have been transplanted to Nebraska, witii the result that failure has followed failure, and disas- tar succeded disaster. Tlie Nebraska statutes contain a law that encourages the planting of rows of trees on the north and west of each quarter section. Actual experience has shown that we should protect ourselves from the. hot winds of the south and west. The north winds do us but little damage. We have discovered that in planting fruit trees a slope facing the north and east is bringing the most successful return to the fruit-grower. We have also discovered that we should trim our trees at the top so as to prevent the tree attaining any great height, the nearer we can make the tree grow in shape of an open umbrella the better the tree produces and thrives. We have also discovered that planting thickly is beneticial, and that where we can protect the soil IRRIGATION rOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 227 from the scorching rays of the sun, the growth and productiveness of the trees are accelerated and increased. We recommend that trees be planted from ten to eighteen feet apart; plums and peaches even nearer than these distances. But where trees are thus platited thickly, irri- gation is imperatively required and necessary. In Lincoln county we have successfully grown peaches by this method. There are two good examples of windmill irrigation that should be mentioned. J. C. Keen, who resides about seven miles north of North Platte, among what are known as the "sand hills," has an orchard of about three-fourths of an acre. He has been successfully irrigating this tract for about seven years. By the means of a twelve- foot windmill })umping the water from a well 120 feet deep, he has grown apples, pears, peaches, and other fruit that would compare fa- vorably with the Grand Junction fruit of Colorado, His orchard is also in the garden and the water applied is made to do double duty. D, B. McNeal, who resides about twelve miles northwest of North Platte, whose orchard is also on a sand hill or ridge, has about an acre planted to fruit trees. He makes his water or mill do trij)le duty. The well is about twenty feet deep. The water is first pumped into the creamery tank, from this it flows into the cattle troughs or tanks in the corral ; from thence, when any remains, it is conveyed into the orchard and garden. His trees are planted very thick, and they are protected on the south by the cattle sheds, on the west by a grove of Cottonwood. The windmills used are the old-fashioned wooden pump- inar mills. Both these small orchards are situated on what we called "sand hill land." The garden is also situated with the orchard. Another successful fruit-grower is William Staflbrd, of Big Springs, Neb. Mr. Stafford has now erected and at work six windmills, all pumping into a reservoir of about an acre in extent. His orchard occupies about five acres of land, and being young has only borne a small quantity of fruit, but he has no difficulty in maintaining a rapid and steady growth to his trees, and has demonstrated that all western Nebraska requires is water to make it the leading fruit section of the plains. In regard to the cost of irrigation, this is difficult to state, as on all the orchards described the water is doing double duty by aiding in the growing of crops as well as trees. Our water rights cost us from $5 to |10 per acre. The annual charges vary from 25 cents to $1 228 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. annually. The cost of application amounts to about $1 j)er acre in labor per year applied to distributing water. A very economical method is now coming into use where trees are irrigated from wells by windmills that enables the farmer to utilize nearly every drop of water, and it is making fruit-growing by the means of windmill pumping plants practical. About four feet on each side of the tree there is set upright in the ground four joints of common drainage tile of about five or six inches in diameter and sixteen inches in length. By filling these joints with water during the growing season once or twice a day a large number of trees can be irrigated. By this method, as no water is lost by evaporation, it all goes down to the roots of the trees ; the roots work down where the earth is cool and moist. By this system from ten to twenty acres could be successfully irrigated by the means of a sixteen-foot windmill pumping water from the depth of one hundred feet or more. The results that have been obtained from irrigation by the different systems have practically proven that fruit-growing can be profitably and successfully carried on in any portion of Nebraska and crops obtained annually if the trees are properly supplied with sufficient moisture. There have been several recommendations made when I stated the object of the inquiries. Three different farmers recommended that I advise grape growing; that grapes could be as successfully and easily grown, where the farmer would learn how, as potatoes. Plums and cherries were also recommended, and every variety of small fruits. It is safe to assert that in the new era that is coming to Nebraska fruit-growing will become one of the most important of the leading industries of our state, and that Nebraska will successfully compete with California and Utah in the exportation of this class of farm production. DISCUSSION. Question — At what distance from the trees are those tiles placed that you speak of. Mr. Fort — They advise placing them four feet or so on each side of the tree, from three to four feet. The advantage of that method is that none of the water is lost ; it all goes down. The soil in the western part of our state during the growing season gets very hot and very dry, and a small quantity of water put upon the surface of the IRRIGATION FOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 229 ground will evaporate very quickly and the roots of the tree derive no benefit from it. Question — Have you had any success with fertilizers, or don't you use any ? ^ Mr. Fort — No, sir; the arid lands are the richest lands of Amer- ica and there is no necessity for using fertilizers. They have never had the rains to leach out the mineral qualities in the soil. Mr. Jenkins — Do I understand you that on Mr. Park's land it is only ten feet to water? Mr. Fort— That is all. Question — Do the roots run down easily to water? Mr. Fort — 1 hardly think they would run down to water. Un- derlying all the land, after you get down two or three feet, is a stratum of clay mixed with alkali, and when the roots strike that they can't go through; but if you get it thoroughly saturated with water it be- comes soft and the roots will work down. Question — What methods are being used for conveying the water by means of tiling;? Mr. Fort — Oh, some use gas pipe, some buy this cheap locomotive boiler tubins, similar to what is used for making; fences around the yards here in the city, and some use hose. I came across one man who had a hose made out of duck cloth sewed together and was irri- gating his orchard and garden with that; it made a very cheap hose. Question — I asked that because I know that people when they first start in are so apt to think that it I'equires a very carefully con- structed ditch, and that they must have all sorts of apparatus for run- ning the water to where it is needed. Mr. Fort — Water runs down hill; we all know that. There is nothing difficult about this question of irrigation ; it is the easiest thing imaginable. Just simply get your water up on the highest piece of land and let it run down hill. If you have a little valley between, throw up the earth and carry it over, or if there is higher groiuid, put in a siphon. Question — Would it not be a good deal of work to run the water from one pipe to another where you have two pipes, one on either side of the tree? Mr. Fort-^I would arrange to run the water from one pipe to the other without too much labor. That plan is only recommended for 230 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. irrigation on a small scale where yon only liave to run the water one or two hundred feet, or where you are short on Avater and need to util- ize every drop of it. It isn't practicable for a large orchard, and I do not recommend it in any case where the water is under two liun- dred feet. A very small amount of water will go a long ways if you handle it right. Question — Is any one using subirrigation in your country? Mr. Fort — They are using subirrigation all up along the valley of the Lodge Pole. They throw dikes across the Lodge Pole creek, along which the soil is gravelly, and the water pushes out on either side. Tiiere is a Mr. George, who lives south of Brady Island, and has a piece of land where the water is only four feet below the sur- face. He had a splendid crop every year, and in 1894 he had about sixty bushels of corn to the acre. This was by subirrigation; he didn't have to irrigate by ditches or canals. Dr. Bessey — Mr. Fort, the inquiry lias been made here at Lincoln and in this county whether it is possible to take water out of these streams successfully for irrigating purposes. We have a rather roll- ing country and our streams are rather low. Mr. Fort — In this section of the state canals would never be practicable, taking into consideration tlie large amount of annual rain- fall and the fact that the water would have to be taken from the streams by machinery; and some of these old-fiashioned machines that have been \u use for three or four thousand years are just as good as the new-fashioned ones that have been patented, and they cost a good deal less. For instance, uj) at that Sidney convention, also at the Omaha convention, there was a man with one of those old Archimedes screws. He had gotten up what he called an invention for drilling wells with a screw for lifting the water, and he could lift more water with one of these screws for the amount of power applied than any- thing 1 have seen yet. And in the matter of pumps, the old-lashioned ship bilge pump is a good one. Mr. Coddington, of Kearney, lias made a pump of that kind, though he hasn't any patent on it. Tlie centrifugal pump will lift more water, where you have the power, than anything I know of. In Indiana last summer I saw one of those six-inch pumps lift water enough in four hours to irrigate two acres of land. The President — In this portion of the state we frequently liave IRRIGATION FOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 231 frosts late in the spring. Now, I noticed this last summer, that a number of persons on the Blue river had an abundance of everything; their orchards bore well and their garden vegetables were not injured by the frosts in May. Have you noticed anything in your country that would indicate that a consideral)le amount of water would have a tendency to prevent injury by frost? Mr. Fort — I have never noticed anything of that kind there; I have been told that in New York along Long Island Sound they claim the moisture coming off the ocean tends to prevent any damage that might result from frost. We do not have enough moisture out where I live to judge of that question. The President — There is one point I would like to ask Mr. Fort about, that is the extent of irrigation in the state. How many miles of ditch are already constructed, and how many acres of land can be irrigated when those under construction are completed? Mr. Fort — The canals now constructed and under construction will irrigate a million acres; canals proposed, another million acres; the total irrigable area of the state — that which can be irrigated by canals, I mean — will not exceed three million acres. There are 49,- 500,000 acres in the state, so we have only forty-six and a half mill- ions of acres yet to irrigate. And there is one thing I want to speak of that the i>eople of Nebraska ought to take up, and that is windmill irrigation. We have 46,000,000 acres yet to irrigate, and there are probably not over 2,000,000 acres that will be irrigated by canals within the next twenty years, while there might be two or three or four or five million acres irrigated by pumping plants within the same length of time. The President — Can you give briefly some figures, say for five acres. What would it cost to put in a plant that would irrigate that amount of land profitably ? Mr. Fort — That varies so much that it would be hard to tell. I visited about fifty pumping plants on the Platte river. One man was pumping from a well sixty feet deep three miles west of Paxton, and he told me that his entire plant did not cost him over $100; that did not include his labor; they don't count labor anything at the present time. Where the depth is not over 100 feet, in a good many cases pumping plants can be worked cheaper than you can buy water from these canal companies. Mr. Wilcox spoke about winter irrigation. I 232 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. saw au irrigated orchard of seventy acres wliere they pumped the water from a depth of 100 feet and it only cost from §100 to §150 to put it on the soil. Of course they have to exercise economy with water, construct reservoirs, etc. I used to be in the windmill business about twenty years ago, and I didn't have any faith in windmills ir- rigating any amount of land until I visited those fifty pumping plants and saw what they are doing. Question — Is the power entirely by wind ? Mr. Fort — All by wind. Of course, in lifting water from wells they have to build reservoirs, and some are raising fish, and they cut ice off them in the winter time and use them for a number of different purposes. At one place they had a bath house and a little boat. That is just across the line of our state near Julesburg, Colorado. W. F. Jenkins — My well is fifteen feet deep and I have a two- inch cylinder in it. The pipe is four feet in the gravel. I don't know how deep the gravel is below that. I would like to know how large a pipe I could sink there that would fill with water. I have a sixteen- foot mill. Mr. Fort — You would find there is a vast difference between a two or three inch cylinder and a six-inch cylinder. While you might have no difficulty in obtaining a sufficient amount of water for a two- inch cylinder, when you come to put in a six-inch cylingler it might make a great difference with that well. I don't advocate this theory of hydraulic wells for windmill purposes; I would rather dig right down and get a supply that you know will be sufficient. If you don't, something will be breaking all the time and giving you trouble. I wouldn't advocate these six or eight inch bored wells, such as thev have over the state, for these large pumps at all. A sixteen-foot mill, one that runs slow, will work a five or six inch cylinder in a 200-foot well with a six to ten inch stroke, depending on the water supply — the freedom with which the water enters. A. J. Brown — How large a bore is necessary for a six-inch cylin- der? Mr. Fort — That is a question that I cannot answer. Mr. Brown — We have at our place two of those wells; they are ten-inch bore and have a stroke of nearly two feet. They are pumped by steam and the supply is inexhaustible. Mr. Fort — In a great many localities that might be true, but I IRRIGATION FOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 233 don't like to advocate anything of that kind unless you know you have a large supply of water. A Member — Do you advocate drive wells? Mr. Fort — No, sir; I do not. The water does not enter freely. Question — Do you find generally that the windmill is a reliable source of power so as to be depended upon? Mr. Fort — Yes, sir; I think west of the 100th meridian — west of Cozad — taking a mean average of the 365 days of the year it will average sixteen hours a day that the mill will work. Question — Would it be advisable to use these gasoline eno-ines? Mr. Fort — I don't advocate anything of that kind that requires fuel and care. A Member — I noticed at Omaha last fall a windmill that is a mar- vel of simplicity and cheapness, manufactured at Silver City. Have you had any practical experience with that particular mill? Mr. Fort — I have never seen that mill. The mills are all too high priced. A Member — This mill sold for about $25. 'Mr. Fort — The old style Dutch mill with cross-sails that has been in use for centuries, with some few improvements, makes about as serviceable a mill for the amount of money invested in it as any I know of. Our people should be encouraged in constructing some cheap form of strong windmill suitable for irrigation plants. A Member — Why don't you call the law-makers' attention to that fact? Mr. Fort — I tried to and didn't have backing enough. I would like to have the people take that up. A Member — It seems to me the Society would back that up. Mr. Fort — The Horticultural Society of our state is the one that should push that thing. We have laws for the encouragement of canal irrigation, and windmill irrigation is fully as cheap if not cheaper. With canal irrigation you have lots of inconveniences, while with wind- mill irrigation those inconveniences are all your own. You^^have your plant and can take care of it yourself and have nobody to blame if it goes wrong. Another thing, we don't require the amount'of water that they do in Colorado or New Mexico. From statements made by some of the windmill irrigators west of our town, I believe that six inches of water in connection with the rainfall would have been suffi- cient to insure splendid crops. 234 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Question — If you had an orchard in hearing, of course it would be forming fruit buds for the next year while the present crop is on the trees. Now, would it do to irrigate that orchard after the apples reach the size they would be at the time the fruit buds are forming for the next year? Mr. Wilcox — By irrigating an orchard after the apples are half- grown you can increase the actual size of the fruit fully one-fourth, and that is the very period at which the fruit buds are forming for the next year. That rule will apply to all kinds of fruit. Strawber- ries during the fruiting period should be irrigated at least every other day. We irrigate one day and pick the next. Another thing, you not only increase the size of the fruit, but you increase the yield of the tree. We never have an "off" year; our trees bear year in and year out. The trouble is we ruin our trees by growing too many apples on them. Question — Would you irrigate after the fruit was picked and the leaves had dropped so as to put the trees into good condition for winter? Mr. Wilcox — Yes, sir; we irrigate in November. Question — In this country would it be likely to bring the trees forward too early in the spring to have the ground saturated in No- vember? Mr. Wilcox — No, sir. Question — It would do no harm to irrigate now, would it ? Mr. Wilcox — It would be all right to go out to-day and irrigate. Mr. Hartley — About what is your average annual evaporation? Mr, Wilcox — We lose one-third of our water from evaporation. Mr. Fort — In northern Indiana this year if I saw one barrel of apples lying under the trees I saw 10,000. The apples were nearly ripened, but it kept getting drier and drier until the trees were com- pelled to drop their fruit. Do you have any trouble of that kind in your country, Mr. Wilcox? Mr. Wilcox — The apples never fall for us; no, sir. In regard to retarding the blossoms by means of moisture, I want to say that there is nothing in that theory whatever. We have made thorough demon- strations in western Colorado, where we piled up ice two feet deep for six or eight feet all around a tree and then mulched it to keep it frozen, and I tell you there wasn't fifteen minutes difference in the blossoming of those trees. [Laughter.] IRRIGATION FOR ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 235 Question — If the ground under them was frozen wouldn't it make a difference? Mr. Wilcox — The ground was frozen, but we packed this ice around them as a precautionary measure. There is nothing in it whatever. Prof. F. W. Card — At Cornell it was demonstrated very thor- oughly that the blossoming depends on the temperature of the air and ■not on the temperature of the soil. A branch of a tree that grew near a window was brought inside by means of raising the sash, and that branch went on and budded and blossomed inside while every- thing outside was frozen up. Dr. Bessey — Mr. Chairman, just a word. This question has been settled, but I want to get in my botanical word, because science always settles these things after people have talked about them. The experi- ment that Professor Card refers to demonstrates exactly what Mr. Wilcox has said. The fact is that the plant has in it the means of doing its own work. This error comes from another error that I have been trying to root out of the horticultural societies of Iowa and Ne- braska for a good many years. I have gotten it pretty well rooted out, but I find the question occasionally coming up. That error is the old theory that a tree in the fall runs its sap down into the ground, and then in the spring it comes up out of the ground. That is abso- lute error. Investigations have proved that there is more sap in a tree • in the winter time than there is in the summer. In order to empha- size the absurdity of this theory of the sap going down into the ground in the fall and coming up out of the ground in the spring, I want to tell you a story. An engineer engaged in some work in one of the southern states was working up a canyon. He had observed every once in a while there was a heavy freshet which he supposed to be from a sudden rain up stream. One day, as he was working up stream, suddenly the creek began to rise rapidly, and as he passed along he met a native and said to him: "It must have been raining up the canyon." The native looked at him and said : "Naw." " What does it mean ? " " It's a sap-rise." That didn't explain it to this engineer, and he said : " What's a ^sap-rise'?" 16 236 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The man looked at him witli a sort of" pity and said: "In the fall the sap goes down into the roots, and when it gets there it comes out of tiie roots into the ground and runs out into the creeks and makes this rise." [Laughter.] But that we don't believe up north. People used to think that it was absolutely necessary that the roots should be active in the spring before the tops could be, but that is not true, as you can easily demonstrate for yourself. Just cut off a few twigs that have fruit buds on them, bring them into the house and put them where they will have sufficient moisture to start them, and they will throw themselves into blossoming, although they haven't a sign of root at all. A few years ago when I wanted to have some draw- ings made of the flowers of the common little sand cherry I simply got some cuttings and set them in the greenhouse; they didn't strike root at all, but simply absorbed moisture enough .and came out into full bloom. Then there's that old experiment made long ago at Cor- nell University of taking a grape-vine in the dead of winter and bringing part of it inside. The roots and all on the outside were frozen solid, but inside the buds opened and the flowers came out. So I think, Mr. Wilcox, your position is demonstrated, and there is no need of laughing at you. Question — I would like to ask Professor Bessey one question. Is there any probability that a tree would come into bloom if it were mulched and frozen around the roots? Dr. Bessey — Yes, sir; certainly. Mr. Youngers — If you lay that tree down and cover the tops over and keep them frozen, it won't blossom. [Laughter.] Question — If there is more sap in a tree in the winter time than in the summer, what is the reason the bark will slip in the summer and will not in the winter? Dr. Bessey — There is no connection between those two facts at all. The reason why the bark slips at certain times in the year is this: There is a little belt of new cells — it has nothing to do with the sap at all — simply a little belt of new cells forming around the outside of the wood. When these are young and soft they will be easily broken ; when they grow older they become hard and you can't break them. Question — What is the object in being more water in a tree in the winter than in th« summer? Dr. Bessey — There is no "object" in it at all. A plant is just THE BOTANY OF THE STRAWBERRY. 23T like a water tank in one respect. Suppose you had a water tank that held a million barrels of water; suppose that tank is leaking all the time; now suppose the leaks all freeze up and your pump keeps going for a while. Daring that time your tank will be full, but you can't have it full in the summer when it is leaking all the time. A tree has these little pumps — little roots — down in the ground at work bringing in moisture. In the summer time there are thousands of leaves all over the surface; they are porous, the water passes off, and the tree is never full in the summer time any more than a leaky water tank can be made full. In the fall the leaves drop, the buds are sealed over, and it has no chance for leaking, but these little roots are pump- ing away until everything is frozen up, and in that way they fill the tree. A tree is simply filled up because of the fact that the roots are pumping away. There is no object in it, but simply that's the nature of the thing and it can't help it; that's just the word, it can't help it. NOTES ON THE BOTANY OF THE STRAWBERRY. CHAKLES B. BESSEY. There are less than a dozen species of strawberries [Fragaria) in the world, more than half of which (seven) are natives of North America. They resemble one another very closely, and are quite diffi- cult to separate, especially when they have been modified by long cul- tivation ; in fact, it is probable that the eleven species enumerated be- low could be easily reduced to five or at most six. The genus Fragaria may be described as follows: Fragaria L., Sp. PI., 494 (1753). — The Strawberry. — Flowers: hermaphrodite or polygamo-dioecious; receptacle enlarged, conical or spheroidal, bearing the numerous small one-ovuled pistils, which eventu- ally become seed-like, dry, indehiscent fruits ("seed"); sepals five, green ;: petals five, white or rarely pinkish ; stamens many, in some varieties im- perfect on some of the flowers, such flowers being known as pistillate. The plants are perennial, bearing trifoliate leaves (rarely simple, lobed leaves); their lateral branches form runners which strike root and give rise to new plants. They are natives of temperate and Alpine regions throughout tl>e northern hemisphere, and occur in the mountains of 238 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. South America. They do not occur otherwise in the southern hemi- sphere, except under cultivation. The species taken up in this paper may be summarily characterized as follows: Original Home. a, s .2 'S < ct u 5 a -J 02 A. " Berry " smooth ; " seeds " superficial. 1 Rilkv liairv nhint . F. vesca * * * * * * * * * 2. Silky hairy plant; leaves thiu F. collina 3 Softlv villose olant- leaves thin F. americana... 4 Rnnipwhnt villose nlant* leaves thin F. californica.. -T T pavpsj