It is a curious coincidence that this biographical sketch should have been written and a faithful portrait for the first time shown on the two hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the Black Swan. [Illustration: From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences. BLACK SWAN. Copyright by Nature Study Pub. Co., 1898, Chicago.] LIFE IN THE NEST. Blithely twitting, gayly flitting Thro' the budding glen; Golden-crested, sunny-breasted, Goes the tiny Wren. Peeping, musing, picking, choosing, Nook is found at last; Moss and feather, twined together-- Home is shaped at last. Brisk as ever, quick and clever, Brimming with delight-- Six wee beauties, bring new duties, Work from morn to night. Peeping, musing, picking, choosing, Nook is found at last; Moss and feather, twined together-- Home is shaped at last. --J. L. H. THE SNOWY PLOVER. About one hundred species are comprised in the Plover family, which are distributed throughout the world. Only eight species are found in North America. Their habits in a general way resemble those of the true Snipes, but their much shorter, stouter bills are not fitted for probing, and they obtain their food from the surface of the ground. Probably for this reason several species are so frequently found on the uplands instead of wading about in shallow ponds or the margins of streams. They frequent meadows and sandy tracts, where they run swiftly along the ground in a peculiarly graceful manner. The Plovers are small or medium-sized shore-birds. The Snowy Plover is found chiefly west of the Rocky Mountains, and is a constant resident along the California coast. It nests along the sandy beaches of the ocean. Mr. N. S. Goss found it nesting on the salt plains along the Cimarron River in the Indian Territory, the northern limits of which extend into southwestern Kansas. The birds are described as being very much lighter in color than those of California. Four eggs are usually laid, in ground color, pale buff or clay color, with blackish-brown markings. Mr. Cory says the nest is a mere depression in the sand. He says also that the Snowy Plover is found in winter in many of the Gulf States, and is not uncommon in Northwestern Florida.