FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

A,M,N.H,
1913

/A? J

JSirli lore

AN ILLUSTRAriil) Bl-MOSTlll.Y MAGAZIMi Df-rOTED TO
THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS

EDITED BY

FRANK M. CHAPMAN

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

((^iiimX O^rgan of tf)c ;SlubutJon Societies!

Audubon Department Edited By

ALICE HALL WALTER

T. GILBERT PEARSON

/^-^^cP^y^A^^^'^

VOLUME XIV~IQI3

D. AFPLETON & COMPANY

HARRISBURG. PA., AND NEW YORK CITY

INDEX TO ARTICLES IN VOLUME XIV
BY AUTHORS

Abbott, Charles H., Christmas Census, 22.

Abbott, Chas. H., and Robert J., Christmas
Census, 19.

Abbott, Clinton G., see Davis, William T.

Abbs, A. W., Christmas Census, 43.

Ainsworth, Sarah F., Christmas Census, 32.

Aldrich, Frank W., The Starling in Illinois,
113; An Unusual Nest-Site, 350; Intelli-
gence of Grackles, 355.

Alleman, Hattie M., Secretary, Report of,
448.

Allen, A. A., Phoebe vs. Catbird, 269.

Allen, Mrs. Eustace L., Christmas Census,
24.

Allen, Francis H., The White-breasted and
Red-breasted Nuthatches, 316; A Field
Mark for the Least Sandpiper, 348.

Allen, Mary Pierson, Christmas Census, 27;
"Pete." 248.

Allen, Walter Fox, The Starling in New Jer-
sey, III.

Arnold, Clarence M., Christmas Census, 2^.

Badeau, Harriet B., Christmas Census, 25.
Bailey, Guy A., Photographs by, 12, 95.
Baker, Myle Peirce, Christmas Census, 21.
Barber, Bertram A., Christmas Census, 39.
Barker. H. S., Photograph by, 135.
Barnett, Joe Allen, see Chapman, Rev. C. L.
Barrett, H. L., H. U. Mitchell. J. A. Hagar,

and Joseph C. Hagar, Christmas Census,

22.
Baxter, M., see Gans, L. E.
Baynard, O. E., Photographs by, 262, 382,

.587.
Baynes, Ernest Harold, Christmas Census,

19.
Beck, Herbert H., and Palmer E. Kautz,

Christmas Census, 29.
Bell, W. B., Secretary, Report of, 439.
Bennett, Walter W., see Lindsey, Arthur.
Bettle, Griscom, see Griscom, Ludlow.
Betts, Norman de W., Christmas Census, 42.
Blunt, Mary Giles, Nesting of the Carolina

Wren, 296.
Boardman, E. D., and Lidian E. Bridge,

Christmas Census, 22.
Bogardus, Charlotte, Christmas Census, 24.
Borneman, Henry L., Christmas Census, 29.
Bourne, Thomas L., Christmas Census 24.
Bowdish, Beecher S., Secretary, Report of,

435-
Bowne, Mrs. J. N., A Tribute to the Late

Mrs. Henry T. Grant, 139-
Brandeis, Edith C. M., A Robin Winter

Colony. 353.
Brasher, Philip. Colored plate bv, facing 316.
Breitfield, William, Edgar Dyke, and Otto

McCreary, Christmas Census, 24.
Brewer, O. C., Christmas Census, 31.
Bridge, Edmund and Lidian E., Christmas

Census, 22.
Bridge, Lidian E., Christmas Census, 21, 22.
Brooks, Allan, Colored plates by, facing 186,

facing 250. facing 312, facing 376; see

Munro. James.
Brown, C. E., see Burrill, A. C.

Burdsall, E. Morris, see Burdsall, Richard L.
Burdsall, Richard L., P. Cecil Spofford, E.

Morris Burdsall, and James Maples,

Christmas Census, 25.
Burdsall, Richard L., Samuel N. Comly,

James C. Maples, and W. Bolton Cook,

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher near New Roch-

elle, N. Y., 167.
Burrill, A. C, C. E. Brown, and R. E.

Kremers, Christmas Census, 41.
Butler, Jefferson, Christmas Census, 38;

Annual Report as Field Agent, 410.

Caduc, E. E., and Horace W. Wright, Christ-
mas Census, 20.

Cady, W. G., Note on the Screech Owl, 231.

Calhoun, James A., and Robt. A. Hennesy,
Christmas Census, 37.

Calvert, E. W., Christmas Census, 19.

Calvert, J. F., Christmas Census. 19.

Cameron, John E., Christmas Census, 34.

Carey, Henry R., Photographs by, 17, 90.

Carlson, Victor, see Ekblaw, George E.

Carpenter, Miss, see Gans, L. E.

Cartwright, W. J., Goldfinches and Blue-
birds in Massachusetts, 297.

Case, Clifford M., Christmas Census, 23.

Caskey, R. C, Christmas Census, 27.

Caton, Wm. P., Christmas Census, 31.

Chapman, Rev. C. L., and Joe Allen Barnett,
Christmas Census, 35.

Chapman, F. M., Bird-Lore's Twelfth
Christmas Bird Census, 18; Notes on the
Plumage of North American Sparrows,
47, 105, 162, 2i8, 290; Reviews by, 49, 50.
IIS, 116, 173, 232, 233, 234, 23s, 298, 299,
357, 358; Editorials by, 52, 117, 175, 237,
301, 344, 361; The Orizaba Group in
the American Museum of Natural His-
tory, 97; An Eighteen -year Retrospect,
141; Unusual Abundance of Goldfinches,
171; Two Problems in Identification,
284; Thirtieth Annual Congress of the
American Ornithologists' Union, 355.

Chase, Annie, How the Gulls Won the Vote,
226.

Cheney, L. S., Christmas Census, 40.

Childs, H. P., Secretary, Report of, 428.

Christie, Edward H., Christmas Census, 34.

Clarke, S. Belle, Christmas Census, 40.

Clarke, William Cogswell, The Duck Hawk
on the Palisades. 81.

Claude, L., .\ Bluebird Study, 91.

Cleaves, Howard H., Photographs by, 55;
Bird-banding, 114; see Davis, William T.

Coffin, :Mrs. P. B., see Gans. L. E.

Comey, Arthur C, Christmas Census, 28.

Comly, Samuel N., see Burdsall, Richard L

Conetee, .\. S., see Grube, Wallace.

Conetee, Mrs. A. S., see Grube, Wallace.

Conetee, Helen, see Grube, Wallace.

Conkle, Caas., Christmas Census, 37.

Cooke, Jean M., see Orton, Susanne.

Cooke, Wells W., Christmas Census, 30;
The Migration of North American Spar-
rows, 45, 98, 158, 218, 287, 345-

Cook, Miss, see Field, Miss.

(ii)

Index

Cook, W. Bolton, sue Burdsall, Richard L.
Copeland, Harold \V., Christmas Census, 21.
Cornish, Marion B., Our Winter Friends, 125.
Cox, Elizabeth C, The Northern Shrike, 352.
Cram, W. E., Rilldeer in New Hampshire,

Crosby, Maunsell S., Christmas Census, 26;
The Barred Owl at Rhinebeck, N. Y., 87;
The (iolden-winged Warbler at Rhine-
beck, N. v., 145.

Curtis, H. H., Pine Crosbeaksin Au-^ust. 1O4.

Dale, Melville, see Watson, C. Ci.
Darling, David, Christmas Census, 24.
Davenport, Janet, The Nest of a Crippled

Towhee, 60.
Davis, Edwin Kussel, Christmas Census, 21.
Davis, Jane S., Poem by, 144.
Davis, Mrs. M. B., Assistant Secretary,

Report o', 445.
Davis, S. L., see Shaw, Bertha E.
Davis, William T., Tame Wild Turkeys. 342.
Davis, William T., Clinton (;. Abbott, and

Howard H. Cleaves, Christmas Census, 25.
Dawson, William Leon, and Stewart Edward

White, Christmas Census. 44.
Day, Nellie M., and Emma E. Drew.,

Christmas Census. 20.
Debes, V. A.. Winter Robins IV. iii.
Delp. I. W., Christmas Census, 38.
Dennison. George A., A Talented Song

Sparrow. 292.
Dill. Homer R... "Report of an E.xpedition lo

Laysan Island in igii," 279.
Dodge, V. K., Christmas Census. 35.
Dow, Everett D., Hooded Warbler at Hart-
ford, Conn., 230.
Downhour, Elizabeth, Indiana Audubon

Society, 259; Secretary's Report, 431.
Drew, Emma E., see Day, Nellie M.
Dwight, Dr. J., Jr., Reviews by, 50, 172, 173

358.
Dyke, Edgar, see Breitfield, William.

Earle, Carlos, Christmas Census, si-
Eckstorm, Fanny Hardy, The Story of

Peter, a Purple Martin, 275.
Edney, Miss, see F'ield, Miss.
Edwards, Leland, and Donald B. Vail,

Christmas Census, 28.
Edwards, Robert, Paul McQuillen, and Carl

W. Vail, Christmas Census, 28.
Ehinger, C. E., Christmas Census, 29.
Eigenberger, George H., Christmas Census

40.
Ekblaw, George E., Victor Carlson, and W

Elmer Ekblaw, Christmas Census, 40.
Ekblaw, W. Elmer, see Ekblaw, George I'..
Emmich, Maurice B., \ Little Story .\b()u(

the Mockingbird, 309.
Evans, William B., and George H. Hallett.
Jr., Christmas Census. 27.

Fair, Wm. W., Christmas Census, 28.
Farrar, C. D. and L. E., Christmas Census,

19.
Fenton, Marie, Christmas Cer.suG, 19.
Field, Miss, Miss Edney, and Miss Cook.

Christmas Census, 38.
Finley, William Lovell. I'ield Agent. Annual

Reijprt of, 415.
Finseth, Ole A., Christmas Census, 41.
Fisher E. W., Secretary, Report of, 442.
Fisher G. Clyde, see Ulman, Joseph N.

Fisher, Mrs. G. Clyde, sec Ulman, Joseph N.

Fisher, M. L., Christmas Census, 35.

Fleischer, Edward, Christmas Census, 25.

F'orbush, Edward Howe, The Chickadee,
372; Annual Report as F^ield Agent, 393.

F'ordyce, Geo. L., Christmas Census, 38.

Fortenberry, >. D., Christmas Census, 34.

Francis, Sara 1 Helen Martin, and Mary
Northen, Cr.ristmas Census, 40.

Freer, Ruskin S. and C. .\., Christmas Cen-
sus, 37.

Fuertes, L. \., Colored i)lates by, facing 1,
facing Si, facing 141, facing 201, facing
26g, facing 329.

Fuller, H. C, Christmas Census, 30.

I'uUer, Wm., January Bluebirds, 231.

Galey, Thos. .\L, Wild Ducks on an Oil Lake,

3.56.
Gans, I^. K., M. Ba.\ler, Miss Carpenter,

Mrs. J. C. Sutton, and Mrs. P. B. Coffin,

Christmas Census, 35.
Gardener, Jas. H., and Chas. K. Morrell,

Christmas Census, 35.
Gates, Elizabeth and Frank C, Christmas

Census, 38.
Gates, F'rank C, Christmas Census, 39.
Gerberding, R. H., Christmas Census, 29.
Gordon, Harry, and Oscar F. Schaefer,

Christmas Census, 26.
Gorham, Dean, and Walter J. Risley, Jr.,

Christmas Census, 39.
Grant, William W., see Nichols, John Tread-
well.
Graves, E. W., Christmas Census, a.
(iraves, Frances M., Christmas Census, 23.
Gregory, Charles, see W'aldo, Jennie E.
Gregory, Lottie B., sec Waldo, Jennie E.
Grinnell, Joseph, The Willow Ptarmiean, 376.
Griscom, Ludlow, 191 1 Bird Notes from

Long Beach, L. I., 167.
Griscom, Ludlow, Griscom Bettle, and

Leverett Saltonstall, Christmas Census, 33.
Gross, Alfred O. and Edna G., Christmas

Census, 29.
Grube, Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Conetee,

and Helen Conetee, Christmas Census, 25.

Hagar, A. F., Starlings in Princeton, N. J.,

112; Note on the White-throated Sparrow,

229.
Hagar, J. A., see Barrett, H. L.; List of

Birds observed in Massachusetts from

January i, 1911, to December 31, 1911.

220.
Hagar. Joseph C, see Barrett, H. L.
Haight. .\my R., Goldfinches in the Ozarks,

3 5 5 ■
Hallett, George H., Jr., see Evans, William B.
Hardman, Mary .\lma. Secretary, Report

of. 430.

Harper, Francis, Christmas Census, 25;

Observations in a Laughing Gull Colony,

204; Report of Expedition into Okefenoke

Swamp. Georgia. 402.
Harris, Mrs. W'. E.. President. Report of, 447.
Hathaway, Harry S., Christmas Census, 23.
Haulenbeck, R. F., Christmas Census, 28;

Winter Robins II, no.
Haynes, J., and Stone, H. H., Christmas

Census. 24.
Heil. Charles E., Christmas Census, 22.
Henderson. H. C. Christmas Census, 39.
Hennesy, Robt. A., see Calhoun, James A.

Index

Hersey, F. Seymour, and Chark's 1.. I'liilli|i^,

Christmas Census, 21.
Hicks, Helen C, Our Winter Visitors. 125.
Hill. J. Irving, Christmas Census. 22.
Hippie, Harry. Christmas Census, 37.
Hitchcock, Charles, sec Ross, Lucretius H.
Hitchcock, Charles S., Cht Nesting in

Vermont, 355.
Hitchcock, Mrs. C. \V., Christmas Census,

41.
Hix, George E., Christmas Census. 25.
Hole, Robert J., see White, C. A.
Honywill, Albert W.. Jr.. and Dwight B.

Pangburn, Christmas Census. 23.
Hooper, John L., Christmas Census. 41.
Horsfall. Bruce, Colored plates by, facing 62,

facing 64, facing 372.
Howe, Carlton, D., Christmas Census, 20.
Howell, Benj. F., Christmas Census, 27.
Hulse, M. L., Winter Robins I, no.
Hunt, Edwin B., Christmas Census, 30.
Hunter, Sam, Christmas Census, 19.
Hutchins, B. A., Christmas Census, 24.

Isely, F. B., Christmas Census, 34.
Isely, Merrill, Christmas Census, 34.

Jackson, Thomas H.. Christmas Census, 30.

Jacobs. J. Warren. Where Are the Blue-
birds? 163.

James, Mrs. Elizabeth F., Christmas Census.
28.

Johnson, Julius, A Long Island Brown
Pelican, 226.

Jones, Harold E., Christmas Census, 23.

Jones, Joseph C, Christmas Census, 31.

Kautz, Elmer E., see Beck, Herbert H.

Keith, Edward D., Christmas Census. 22.

Kelly, Berners B., Christmas Census, 43.

Kennard. Frederic H.. My Experience with
Von Berlepsch Nesting-boxes, i; A List
of Trees. Shrubs, Vines, and Herbaceous
Plants Native to New England, Bearing
Fruit or Seeds Attractive to Birds, 201.
A Rustic Food House, 337.

Kimball, Jessie E., Secretary, Report of. 433-

Kimes, Edward D., Christmas Census, 36.

Kohler, Louis S., Christmas Census, 26.

Kremers, R. E.. see Burrill, A. C; Secre-
tary's Report, 449.

Kuser. John Dryden. The Turkey Vulture
in New Jersey. 14; Notes on the Bald
Eagle, Starling, and Song Sparrow, at Ber-
nardsville, N. J., 34Q-

Lacey, Lottie Alvord, A Winter Oriole. log.

LaDow, Stanley V.. Christmas Census. 26.

Lambert, Lilian, One of Our Neighbors. 210.

Lange. Dietrich, Secretary. Report of. 43.S.

Larson. Adrian. Christmas Census, 42: A
Screech Owl Incident, 228.

Latham, Roy, Harry and Frank, Christmas
Census, 25.

Lawless. Howard, Christmas Census. 36.

Lear, George, 2nd., Christmas Census. 29.

Lear, Henry, Poem by, 149.

Lee, Charlotte E., Christmas Census, 24.

Lemmon, Isabel McC, Long Island Notes.
291.

Levey, Mrs. William M., and W. Charles-
worth Levey, Christmas Census, 20.

Lewis, Merriam G., Christmas Census, 31;
A Woodcock's Nest, 163

Lindsey, Arthur, and Walter \\ . Bennett,
Christmas Census. 42.

Linkletter. Elihu, Christmas Census, 38.

Lippincott, J. W., Robins on an Ocean Beach.
354-

Lockwood. P-mma H.. Secretary. Report of.
438.

Logan. Harry, Jr., Christmas Census, 41;
A Winter Record from Minnesota, 126;
Notes on the Purple Martin, 246; Blue-
birds in Minnesota, 296.

Longstreet, R. J., see Vrooman, Ray H.

Lozier, Rolla, Christmas Census, 36.

Lundwall, Nelson, Christmas Census, 42.

Luther, E. J., A Yellow Warblers Nest, 296.

Lyle, Lizzie \., Wrens in Our Garden, 165.

Mabbott, D. C, Christmas Census, 40.

Madison, Harold L., Secretary. Report of,
443-

Mailliard Joseph,. The California Quail, 312.

Maples, James, see Burdsall, Richard L.

Marrs. Mrs. Kingsmill, Secretary, Report of,
429.

Marr, T. E., Photograph by, 3.

Marshall, Pendleton, A Sparrow and a
Dragon-fly, 309.

Martin, Helen, see Francis, Sarah.

Martin. Isabel D., .\ November Black-
throated Blue Warbler, no.

Mason, Mrs. George L., Christmas Census.
22.

Matlack, Bennett K., Christmas Census, 20.

Maury, R. B., President, Report of, 444.

May, John B., Unusual Visitors in Massa-
chusetts, 226.

McAtee, W. L., Christmas Census. 30.

McConnell, Harry B., and John Worley.
Christmas Census, 36.

McCracken, Mary, and Farida Wiley.
Christmas Census, 38.

McCreary, Otto, see Breitfield, William.

McQuillen, Paul, see Edwards. Robert.

Meech. H. P.. see Wardwell. Mr. and Mrs.
N. C.

Meech. Mrs. H. P., see Wardwell. Mr. and
and Mrs. N. C.

Mellish. John E., Christmas Census, 40.

Mengel, G. Henry, Christmas Census, 29;
A Second Winter Oriole, 109.

Metcalf, Rest H., The Starling in New
Hampshire, 113.

Miller, Eliza F., Christmas Census, 19;
Notes on the Bluebird and Robin, 230;
Our Winter Guests, m.

Miller. W. DeW., Christmas Census, 28.

Mills. Dr. H. R.. Photographs by, 385. 386.

Mills, Mrs. Mary Granger. Christmas Cen-
sus. 32.

Mills, Sanford. Leucostictes Making Cliff
Swallows' Nests Their Night Abode, 170

Mitchell. H. D., Christmas Census, 21; List
of Birds observed in Massachusetts, from
Jan. I, i9n, to Dec. 31, 1911, 220; see
Barrett, H. L.

Mitchell, I. N., Christmas Census. 41; Win-
ter Robins in Wisconsin. 165.

Moesel, Julia. Christmas Census, 24.

Morrell, Chas. K., see Gardener. Jas. H.

Morris. Robert T.. Kingbirds Eating Sassafras

Berries. 354.
Morrow, Clarence .\., see Wells, Reed.
Morse, H. G., and RoUand Pierce, Christmas
Census, 37.

Index

Moselcy, K. L., (iull rcnsioners, ,538.
Mowry, Anna 1'. ('., C'hristmas Census, 22.
Mueller, Carl an<l Julius. Christmas Census,

43.
Munro, James, and .Mian Brooks, Chrjstmas

Census, 43.
Myers, Harriet Williams. Secretary. Report

of. 4-'7.

Naumun. K. I)., .\ 'rraKe(l.\- Narrowly

Averted, 2g4.
Nesbit, Patience, Christmas Census 41
Newkirk, Garrett, Poem by, 311.
Nichols. John Treadwell. The Semipalmatt-d

Sandpiper as a Marsh Bird. 22y.
Nichols, John Treadwell. and William W

Grant, Christmas Census. 27.
Niebergall. K.. IMiolo^raphs by. 33S, .s.^g.

340, 341-
Noble, J. A.. Christmas Census, ly.
Northen, Mary, see Francis, Sarah.
Norton. Arthur H., Secretary, Report of, 432.

Orton, Susanne, and Jean M. Cooke. Christ-
mas Census, 40.
Osgood, H. W., Photograph by. 240.

Palmer, T. S.. Re\iews b\ . 51. 110. 174. 235,
300, 300.

Palmer. William M.. Christmas Census,
28: Pine Siskin in Trenton, N. J.. 103.

Palmer, Winifred Holway. One Little Hum-
mer and I, 147.

Pangburn, Clifford H.. Christmas Census, 2^-

Pangburn, Dwight B.. see Honvwill, Albert
W.

Pearson, T. Gilbert, The White Egrets, 62;
Editorials by, 70, 131, igo, 254, 320, 380;
Annual Report, 383.

Pennington, F. A., Christmas Census, 3g.

Pennock, J. Winthrop, Christmas Census, 26.

Pepper, B. Franklin, see Piatt, Charles, 3d.

Pepper, Dr. and Mrs. Wm., Christmas Cen-
sus, 2g.

Pepper, William, A Myrtle Warbler Nest,
is; Christmas Census, 2g; Photograph by
224.

Perkins, Anne E., Bird Notes from Collins
N. Y., 225.

Perkins, Edward H., Notes on the Pine
Warbler and House Wren. 166.

Perkins, Edward H. and Ernest R.. Christ-
mas Census, ig.

Peter. Julius C., Christmas Census. 30.

Phillips, Charles, Christmas Census, 41.

Phillips, Charles L., see Hersey, F. Seymour.

Philipp, P. B., Photographs by, 63, 67, 71,
72.

Pickens, Andrew, Christmas Census. 31.

Pierce, Nettie Sellinger, Christmas Census,
26.

Pierce, Rolland, see Morse, H. G

Pitt, Zella, see Tlbbets, Elliot R.

Piatt. Charles, 3d., and B. Franklin Pepper,
Christmas Census. 29.

Posson, Cornelius F., Christmas Census, 36.

Potter, Julian K., Christmas Census, 26;
Red-headed Woodpecker at Camden, N.
J., 216.

Potter, L. H., Christmas Census. 20.

Pound, Edward Harold, Photograph by,
209

Powers, Arthur G., Christmas Census, 2^.

Praeger, W. E., Christmas Census, 39.

I'r.ilt, .Mice Oa;

Carton, i()8.
Price. Bessie M.

Census. 30.

e Mir.U o! I.illlc |-:ik
I'r.-.nk M., Christmas

Ratlermati. Katherine. S.(rttary, Report of,
440.

Rebman. Mrs. II. R.. Christmas Census, 42.

Redlield, Alfred C. Making an Acquaint-
ance: the White-eyed \ireo, 153.

Reed, B. G. R,, Christmas Census, 3O.

Reynolds, Carrie A., Christmas Census, 39.

Rice, James Henry, Field .\gent. Annual
Report of, 398.

Ringwalt, A. A., see Stockbridge, Chas. .\.

Rit)ley, Caryl H., Christmas Census, 44.

Risley. Walter J., Jr., see (Jorham. Dean.

Roberts, Thomas S.. The ^•ellow-hea<K•d
Blackbird, 250.

Rogers. Charles H., Christmas Census, 27.

Ross. Lucretius H., and Charles Hitchcock,
Christmas Census, 20.

Russell. Agnes E.. Christmas Census, 41.

Russell. B. R., Christmas Census, 35.

Ryland, Elizabeth llawes, Christmas C:ensus,

Saltonstall, Leverett, see Griscom, Lufllow.

Sanford, James M., Christmas Census, s^-

Saunders, Aretas A., Christmas Census, 42;
Wilson's Snipe and Its Nest, 170.

Sawyer, E. J., Colored plate by, facing 127.

Schaefer, Oscar F., see Gordon, Harry.

Schreck, J. M., Photograph by, 159.

Schreiman, Ferdinand, Christmas Census, 34

Scully, Chas. Alison, The Starling in Phila-
delphia, 113.

Sedgwick, James H. and Donald L.. Christ-
mas Census, 41.

Selby, Maud Jamison, Ezekiel. 154.

Severson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry P., Christmas
Census, 41.

Shadle, Albert R., Christmas Census, 37.

Shaw, Bertha E., and S. L. Davis, Christmas
Census, 38.

Sheldon, Israel R., Christmas Census, 22.

Sherman, Althea R., Relative Number of
Birds in 1912, ,^47.

Shiras. George, 3d.. Photograph by, 274.

Simonds, Susie L., Christmas Census, 41.

Sloan, Mrs. E. J., Christmas Census, 34.

Smith, Allyn G.. Christmas Census, 44.

Smith, Bertha B.. The First Record of the
Mocking-bird Nesting in Rhode Island, 310.

Smith, E. E., Christmas Census, 37.

Smith, Wilbur F., Prothonotary Warbler in
Connecticut in November, log; Bird Notes
from South Norwalk, Conn., 114; .\n
Eagle Story, 228.

Sovereign, Edith P., see Waldo. Jennie E.

Spofford, P. Cecil, see Burdsall, Richard L

Spurrell, John A., Christmas Census. 42.

Stanley, Mrs. Mary R., Goldfinches in
Massachusetts, 354.

Starr, Minna D., Secretary, Report of, 432.

Stillman, Wm. M., Florida Notes, 164.

Stockbridge. Chas. A., and A A. Ringwalt.
Christmas Census, 35.

Stone, Clayton E., Christmas Census, 21.

Stone, H. H., see Haynes, J.

Stoner, E. A., Christmas Census, 42.

Stover, A. J., Northern Pileated Woodpecker
at Corvallis, (Jregon, 297.

Strong. Kate W., see Strong, Mrs. S. B.

VI

Index

Strong, Mrs. S. B., Kate W. Strong and
Walter White, Christmas Census, 2b.

Stuart, Miss Katherine H., I'^ield ARenl,
Annual Report of, .595.

Sutton, George M., The Bravery of the Non-
pareil, 61; An Albinic Burrowing Owl, 184.

Sutton, Mrs. J. G., see Gans, L. E.

Sweeney, Joseph, Christmas Census, 26.

Swope, Dr. Eugene, Field .\gcnt. Annual
Report of, 407.

Tavenner, George W., Jr., N'alue of Winter

Birds, 348.
Tebbetts, J. M., Christmas Census, 20.
Tennyson, Esther, Christmas Census, 41.
Thayer, May R., Some Nesting Habits of

the Oregon Junco, 212.
Tibbets, Elliot R., and Zella Pitt, Christmas

Census, 35.
Turner,Mrs. George M., Christmas Census,24.
Tweedy, E., Christmas Census, 31.
Tyler, Mr. and Mrs. John G., Christmas

Census, 43.
Tyler, Winsor M., A Vireo Courtship, 22g;

The Shrike in Action, 351.

Ueland, Sigurd, see Van Tuyl, Ray.
Ulman, Joseph N., and Mr. and Mrs. G.
Clyde Fisher, Christmas Census. 30.

Vail, Carl W., see Edwards, Robert.

Vail, Donald B., see Edwards, Leland.

Vanderpool, Mrs. Isaac, The Florida Audu-
bon Society, 257.

Van Dyke, Tertius, From the Maine Coast,
225.

Van Tuyl, Ray, and Sigurd Ueland, Christ-
mas Census, 41.

Vickers, Ernest Waters, Christmas Census. 3O.

Vietor, Kate P. and E. W., Notes on ClifT
Swallows, 150; Notes from Prospect Park,
Brooklyn, N. Y., 171.

Visher, Stephen Sargent, A Day's Water-
fowl Migration in South Dakota, 169

Vogt, Anna A. and Frank D., Christmas
Census, 27.

Vrooman, Ray H., and R. J. Longstreet,
Christmas Census, 32.

Wade, Jesse H. and Francis C, Christmas

Census, 21.
Waldo, Jennie E., Charles Gregory, Lottie

B. Gregory, and Edith B. Sovereign,

Christmas Census, 40.

Walmsley, Mr. and Mrs. H. R., Christmas

Census, 34.
Walter, Alice Hall, Editorials by, S3. nS.

176, 238, 302, 363; The Hairy and Downy

Woodpeckers, 127.
Walter, Mrs. Anna, Secretary, Report of, 434.
Wardwell, Mr. and Mrs. N. C, Mr. and Mrs.

FI. P. Meech, and Miss Julia F. White,

Christmas Census, 24.
Waring, Mrs. M. M., Bluebirds vs. Wrens,

293-
Warren, Edward R., The Magpies of Culebra

Creek, 329.
Waterman, W. H., Prairie Horned Lark in

Maine, 297.
Watson, C. G., and Melville Dale, Records

from London, Ont., 166.
Weisgerber, H. W., Christmas Census, 38.
Wellman, Gordon Boit, Christmas Census,

21.
Wells, Reed, and Clarence A. Morrow,

Christmas Census, 42.
W^elty, Emma J., Secretary, Report of, 441.
Wheeler, E. B., Jr., Christmas Census, 31
Wheeler, Mrs. E. E., Christmas Census,

19.
White, C. A., and Robert J. Hole, Christmas

Census, 37.
White, Miss Julia F., see Wardwell, Mr. and

Mrs. N. C.
White, Stewart Edward, see Dawson,

William Leon.
W'hite, Walter, see Strong, Mrs. S. B.
W'hiting, Anne H., Christmas Census, 20.
Wiley, Farida, see McCracken, Mary.
Willett, G. Field .\gent. Annual Report of.

419.
Williams, Mrs. A. D., Christmas Census, 39
Williams, R. W., Jr., A. Glimpse into the

Life History of the Turkey Vulture, 13.
Wilson, Burtis H., Christmas Census, 40.
Wisman, W. H., Christmas Census, 37;
Winter Robins IIL no; White Pelicans

in Ohio, 297.
WoodrufT, Carolyn, In the Orchard, 370.
Wood, Sheridan F., Christmas Census, 37.
Woodward, Frank E., A Winter Towhee, 109.
Woodward, Magnolia, Christmas Census, 35;

Secretary's Report, 413-
Worley, John, see McConnell, Harry B.
Wright, Horace W., Christmas Census, 20;
and E. E. Caduc, Christmas Census, 20.
Wright, Mabel Osgood, The Ruby-throated
Hummingbird, iSb.

INDEX TO CONTENTS

Abbott's 'The Home Life of the Osprey,

reviewed, 49.
Advisory Council, 107.
Alaska, 390.

Albatross, Laysan, figured, 280, 281.
American Ornithologists' Union, Thirtieth

.\nnual Congress of, 355.
Auklet, Rhinoceros, 422.
.\uk, The, re\iewed, 50, 173. 358.

Bagg's '.\nnotated List of the Birds of
Oneida County, N. Y., and of the West
Canada Creek Valley', reviewed, 358.

Bahamas, 116.

Barrow's 'Michigan Bird Life,' reviewed,
298.

Bird Banding, 1 14.

Bird-boxes, i, 55-

Bird Classes of the .\udubon Society of the
District of Columbia, The, reviewed, 233.

Bird-Lists of the Massachusetts .\udubon
Society, 220.

Bird records. 237.

Blackbird, Yellow-headed, 250; figured, fa-
cing 250.

Blatchley's 'Woodland Idyls,' reviewed, 173.

Index

Bluebird, 7, 01, ii), r6.?, 226, 2,?o, 231, 2<)i.

297. 348.
Bobolink, 347, sos-
Bob-white, 114, 133; figured, 274.
Boxes, Bird, see Bird-boxes.
Brown's 'The Birds of (lod,' reviewed, 3.sS.
Buckland, James. 320.
Bunting, IndiRo, figured. 224; Lark, 226.

California, 353.

Canada, 164, i6().

Canvasback, 131.

Cardinal. i66. 22(1.

Cassinia, reviewed, 2^is.

Catbird, 114, 26g. 204.

Cats, 139-

Census, Bird-Lore's Thirteenth Christmas
Bird, 344-

Chapman's 'Handbook of Birds of Kasterp
North .\merica.' reviewed. 172.

Chat, Yellow-breasted, 114, 16O, 355.

Chickadee, 6, 126, 33s, 352, 372.

Clarke's 'Studies in Bird Migration.' re-
viewed, 232.

Classification of Birds, 177, 2,f,Q.

Condor, The, reviewed, 51. iit), 17 1, 235,
300, 360.

Colorado, 173, 32Q.

Connecticut. log, 114, 228, 230, 231, 354.

Cooke's 'The Migratory Movements of
Birds in Relation to the Weather,' re-
viewed, 115.

Cormorant, Farallone, 417; Pelagic, 424.

Cowbird, figured. 12.

Crane. Sandhill. i6g, 404, 405.

Crossbill. Red, figured, facing i; 45, 47.

White-winged, figured, facing i; 46, 48.

Crow, figured, 17, go; 210.

Curlew, Hudsonian. 167.

Davis, Capt. M. B., 254.

DeGroat's 'Bird Studies for Home and

School,' reviewed, 50.
Dickcissel. 347.
Dommerich. M. L.. 257.
Duck. American Scaup. i()7: Black, 114. 133;

Lesser Scaup. 167.
Ducks, in oil lake, 336.

Eagle, 228.

Eagle, Bald, 34g.

Egret, American, 02, 135, igi, 262, 2O3;

figured, 382, 386, 405, 406, 415, 416;

Snowy, 62, igi, 265, vSO; figured, ^86.
Elk, 416.

Feeding of Birds in winter, 131, 2^, 348.

Finch, Rosy, 170.

Flicker, 6, 85, 112.

Flight of Birds, 233.

Florida, 13, 135, 164, igi, 262, 342, 387.

Food-House, Rustic, 337.

Geographical Distribution, 2gg, 303, 364.

Gnatcatcher. Blue-Gray. 167.

Goldfinch, 171. 226, 207, 354. 355.

Crackle, Bronzed, 347, 355.

Grebe, Eared. 418.

Grinnell. George Bird, 77.

Grosbeak, Black-headed, figured, facing 141;
158, 162; Evening, 1O6; Pine, 164, figured,
facing 3 2g. 345. 346; Rose-breasted,
figured, facing 141; 154, 158, 162.

Guillemot, Pigeon, 423.

(lull. Glaucous-winged, 423; Herring, 226,
338; Laughing, 167, 205.

Hawaiian Islands, 270,

Hawk, Duck, 81.

Headieys 'The Flight of Birds,' reviewed.

Heron, (ireat Blue, figured, 209, 415, 417;
Little Blue. 405; Night, 70, 415; Snowy,
see Egret. Snowy; Ward's, 262, 405; Yel-
low-crowned Night, 406.

Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, 147, 18O;
figured, facing 186.

Hiis, Glossy, 103; White, ig3; Wood, 262,

405-
Identification of birds. 237. 284.
Illinois, no, 154, 350, 355.
Iowa, 210, 204, 347-

Jacobs' 'The .American Bird-House Journal

for igi2,' reviewed. iiO.
Jay, Blue, 164, 347.
Junco, Oregon. 212.

Kentucky, 165.
Killdeer, 231, 350.
Kingbird, 307, 354.

Kuser's 'The Birds of Somerset Hills,'
reviewed, 234.

Lark, Horned, 114; Prairie Horneil, iii, 107,

-'97. 347-
Laysan Islands, 270.
Leucosticte, Gray-crowned, 170.
Limpkin, 262, 404, 405.
Lowe's 'A Naturalist on Desert Islands,'

reviewed, 4g.

Magpie, 329.

Maine, 15, i47, 225, 297.

Mallard, 167.

Martin, Purple. 116, 246, 275.

Maryland, 2g6.

Massachusetts, i, log, 201, 226, 2 2g, 231.

2g6, 2g7. 354.
McAtee's "The Experimental Method of

Testing the Eflficiency of Warning and

Cryptic Coloration in Protecting Animals

from Their Enemies.' reviewed, 357.
McAtee and Beal's 'Some Common Game,

Aquatic and Rapacious Birds in Relation

to Man,' reviewed, 234.
Meadowlark, 1 14.

Meriden Bird Club. First Report of, 233.
Mexico. 07-

Migration, 115, 120, 2,^2.
Mill's "The Spell of the Rockies,' reviewed

234-
Minnesota, 2g6, 307.
Mississippi, 309.
Missouri, 355.
Mockingbird, 309, 310.
Montana 170.

Nehrlings 'Our Native Birds of Song and

Beauty,' reviewed, 357.
Nesting-boxes, see Bird-boxes.
New Hampshire, 150, 166, 231, 235.
New Jersey, 14, iio, in, 163, 171, 21O, 22g.

234, 349-
New York, 81, 87, 145, 107, 171, 225, 227

269, 291, 292.
Nonpareil, 6t,

viii

Index

Nuthatch, Red-breasted, 311, 316; figured,
facing 316; White-breasted, 311, 316,
figured, facing 316.

Ohio, no, 297. 338.

Okefenoke Swamp, 402.

Ontario, 166.

Oregon, 297.

Oriole, Baltimore, 100, 307.

Osprey, 49.

Owl, Barred, 87; Burrowing, 184; Great-
horned, figured, 90; Screech, 228, 231;
Short-eared, 167.

Oyster-catcher, Black, 425.

Palmer's '\ational Reservations for the
Protection of Wild Life," reviewed, 358.

Partridge. California, see Quail, California.

Pelican, Brown, 191, 226; White, 297.

Pennsylvania, 109, iii, 153, 163, 352, 354-

Petrel, Beal, 424; Fork-tailed, 423.

Phoebe, 269.

Plants useful to attract birds, 201.

Plover, Black-bellied. 167; Piping, 167, 168;
Semipalmated, 414.

Porto Rico, 73.

Ptarmigan, Willow, 376.

PufHn, Horned, 422; Tuftefl, 422.

Quail, see Bob-white.

Quail, California, 312; figured, facing 312.

Quebec, 164.

Redhead, 167.

Redstart, figured, 249.

Retrospect. Eighteen- Year, 141.

Rhode Island, 310.

Robin, 57; figured, 95; no, in, 124, 165,
167, 230, 248,353,354.

Ruthven's 'A Biological Survey of the Sand
Dune Region on the South Shore of Sag-
inaw Bay, Michigan,' reviewed. 115.

Sanderling, 168.

Sandpiper, Least, 227, 348; Pectoral, 168;

Semipalmated. 227, 348; White-rumped,

167.
Scharf's 'Distribution and Origin of Life in

America,' reviewed, 299.
Sclater's 'A History of the Birds of Colorado,'

reviewed, 173.
Shrike, 'Northern, 351, 352.
Siskin, Pine, 163, 335.
Snipe, Wilson's, 170.
Snow Bunting, 114, itiy.
South Dakota, 168, 169. 228.
Sparrow, Black-chinned, figured, facing 81;

105, 106; English, 309, 351; Fox, 167:

Song, 292, 350; Tree, 352; White-crowned
figured, facing 81; 98, 106; White-throated,
figured, facing 81; loi, 105, 229.

Spoonbill, Roseate. 262.

Starling, in, 112, 113, 117, 126, 349.

Swallow, Clifif, 150, 170.

Tennessee, 293.

Tern, Black, 413; ("ommon, 227, 413, 414.

Texas, 184.

Thrasher. Brown, 114.

Thrush. Hermit. 149; Wood. 144.

Todd and Worthington's ■.\ Contribution
to the Ornithology of the Bahama Islands,'
reviewed, 116.

Towhee, 60, 109; figured, facing 269; 287, 290;
Abert's. figured, facing 201; 218, 219;
.\rtic. figured, facing 269; 290; California,
figured, facing 201; 218, 219; Canon,
figured, facing 201; 218; Spotted, 289.

Troupial, 284.

Turkey, Florida Wild. 342.

Turnstone, 167.

Veery, figured, 159.

Vermont, 230, 333, 355.

Vireo, Red-eyed, 229; White-eyed, 153.

Virginia, 163, 205.

Vulture, Turkey, 13, 14.

Warbler, Black-throated Blue, no; Blue-
winged, 146; Brewster's, 146; Golden-
winged, 145; Hooded, 230; Myrtle, 15,
225; Pine, 166; Prothonotary, 109; Yel-
low, 296.

W'ashington, 212.

Water-Turkey, 405.

Waxwing, Cedar, 307.

West Virginia, 348.

White's 'The Natural History and Anti-
quities of Selbourne in the County of
Southampton,' reviewed, 49.

Willett's 'Birds of the Pacific Slope of
Southern California.' reviewed, 357.

Wisconsin, 91, 165.

Woodcock, 163.

Woodpecker, Downy, 127; figured, facing
127; 13s; Hairy, 127; figured, facing 127;
Ivory-billed, 405; Northern Pileated, 297;
Red-bellied, 165; Red-headed, 216.

Wren, Carolina, 226, 296; House, 165, 166
293, 347-

Wright's, 'The Birds of the Jefferson Region
in the White Mountains, New Hamp-
shire,' reviewed. 235.

Wyoming, 170.

Yellow-throat, Maryland, 308.

Copyright, 191 2
By frank M. CHAPMAN

Fig. 1 — Red Crossbill. Adult Male Fig. 4 — White-winged Crossbill. Aduh Male

Fig. 2 — Red Crossbill, Im. Male Fig. 5 — White-winged Crossbill. !m. Male

Fig. 3 — Red Crossbill, Female Fig. 6 — White-winged Crossbill, Adult Female

(One-half natural size)

A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE

DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS

Official Organ of thc Audubon Societies

Vol. XIV January— February, 1912 No. 1

My Experience with Von Berlepsch Nesting-boxes

By FREDERIC H. KENNARD, Newton Centre, Mass.
With photographs by Fred B. McKechnie

OUR place in Newton Centre, Mass., consists of a piece of land, about
forty-four acres in extent, lying along the southerly and westerly side
of a hill, and includes as follows:

Three acres of lawn between the house and road on the westerly side of
the place; with a few picturesque old apple trees scattered about, remnants
of an orchard of the previous generation. We keep clipped only that portion of
the lawn immediately about the house, garden and tennis lawn; and on the
remainder cultivate hay, thus affording the ground-building birds additional
chance. Such a lawn, with its waving grass tops, with their lights and shadows
and many tints, and, in their season, thousands of crocuses, narcissi, and daisies,
is always far more satisfactory to me than any closely trimmed lawn could
ever be.

Six acres of rather wet tussock-grown meadow, on the southerly side of
the place and at the base of the hill. Through this runs a brook, bordered
by birches, elms, red maples, witch hazels, alders, wild roses, etc.

And about thirty-five acres of woods, which may be divided, for con-
venience of description, into two areas. East and West.

Unfortunately, the spring before my purchase of the place, five years ago,
a very destructive brush fire had run through the woods, and in the East
portion the underbrush, which had included a second growth of white pines,
birches, etc., had been entirely destroyed; and today the wood here is an open
park, in which the underbrush is just springing up again, but devoid of that
coppice so necessary for affording protection to the birds, shading and protect-
ing the ground, as well as cloaking the naked monotony of the trunks.

In the seventeen acres comprising the West wood, however, the fire
was providentially checked before it had burned over the whole of it.

This area, on the westerly portion of which the house is set, is nearly covered
by a wood of tall white pines, pitch pines, and a few hemlocks, interspersed

2 Bird -Lore

with oaks of various sorts, red maples, hickories, and quantities of gray birch,
while on the southerly slope are hundreds of cedars. Scattered among these
trees, and along their edges as border plantations, are clumps of high-bush
blueberries, wild azalea, shad bush, witch hazel, Florida dogwood, privet,
buckthorn, and the Hke, and perhaps, commonest of all,, quantities of bar-
berries. Beneath these, in turn, is a carpet consisting of two kinds of blue-
berries, huckleberries, bayberry, sweet fern, wild rose, etc., interspersed with
great quantities of ferns of various kinds, partridge berry, and numbers of
berry-bearing herbaceous perennials.

Since my purchase of the place, I have allowed the meadow practically
to take care of itself, and, in the case of the East Wood, am simply waiting for
the native underbrush to grow again; but, with the West Wood, a great deal
of care has been taken in thinning trees, and affording a better light for the
development of the undergrowth beneath them. Though the progress is
necessarily slow, there has been a lot of pruning for thickening purposes; but
in certain places there is not, as yet, so much of the taller undergrowth as
I should like.

We have, however, in addition to those already growing there naturally,
planted numbers of cornels and viburnums of various kinds, including the high-
bush cranberry and mountain ash, for their berries, as well as native rhodo-
dendrons for winter protection.

In the winter of 1908-1909, my friend, Ernest Harold Baynes, happened,
while visiting us, to call my attention to the little book "How to Attract and
Protect the Wild Birds," by Martin Hiesemann, translated by Emma S.
Buchheim.

While numerous notices and a few brief reviews of this work have appeared,
it does not seem to me that sufficient attention has been paid to it, and I
cannot too strongly recommend its purchase and perusal by every lover of
birds who has not yet chanced to see it*.

For the benefit of those, however, who have not yet seen the book, it may
be briefly stated that it is an account of the system employed by Baron von
Berlepsch on his family estate at Seebach, "The District of Lagensalza, in
Thuringea," for the preservation and increase of useful birds.

This system, which the Baron has carried on for a number of years with
phenomenal success, includes:

1. Creating of opportunities for breeding.

a. For birds that build in holes (by putting up bird-boxes).

b. For birds that build in the open (by the planting, cultivating and
pruning of underbrush for the birds' protection; food-supply, and convenience
in nesting).

2. Winter feeding (the construction and distribution of various appliances

♦For sale by the National Association of Audubon Societies, ig74 Broadway, New York City. Price,
40 cents.

Bird- Lore

for placing before tlie birds, in all weathers, food that shall be acceptable,
accessible and cheap).

3. Fighting the enemies of birds.

After examining a number of holes of different species of Woodpeckers,
and noticing that they were all built on the same general plan, Baron von
Berlepsch finally succeeded, with the help of special
machinery, in making out of sections of trees some
remarkably good imitations, which he attached to the
trees in his park and woods, and with the most
astonishing results.

There are three types of these boxes manufactured:
A, A^, B, C and D, vertical, and of various sizes; E,
horizontal; and F, cup-shaped, with an open side.

A, with the entrance hole 32 mm. in diameter, and
about the size of those made by our Downy Wood-
peckers; and useful also, I should say, for Tree
Swallows, and White-bellied Nuthatches, if they can
be persuaded to build in them.

A', with the entrance hole 27 mm. in diameter,,
useful for Chickadees, and House Wrens (and too small
for EngUsh Sparrows).

B, with the entrance hole 46 mm. in diameter, of
the size best adapted for Bluebirds.

C, with the entrance hole 60 mm. in diameter,
readily adopted by Golden-winged Woodpeckers and
Screech Owls.

D, with the entrance hole 85 mm. in diameter, for
which there seems to be no especial call here in New

England, although Golden-winged Woodpeckers and Screech Owls would
•doubtless use them if they could not get the smaller sizes, and possibly
Sparrow Hawks.

Of the other two types, E is a horizontal box with the hole in the end,
which, Mr. Hiesemann says, is "for Swifts," and which, in this country, might
be utilized by Tree Swallows (and doubtless by English Sparrows); while F
is an open-sided cup-shaped arrangement, which, the author states, "Is made

NESTING-BOX, STYLE
"A" OPENING I A
INCHES.

NESTING-BOX, STYLE "E." \ HORIZONTAL BOX

My Experience with Von Berlepsch Nesting- boxes 5

for such birds as Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers and Pied-waj^tails," and
which, in this country, might, if properly placctl, be used by Robins anrl Phcebes
(and English Sparrows).

These boxes are bolted to an oaken batten, by which they are in turn
fastened to the trees. They have oak covers, which are screwed on, but which
should be fastened with hinges and hooks, so as to allow, when necessary, a
more easy examination of their contents.

Explicit directions are given as to the season, position, and method of
hanging these boxes, as applied to European birds. j

After reading the book and digesting its contents, I immediately ordered
from Germany twenty of the Berlepsch nesting-boxes for trial, five each \,
A^, B, and C. I ordered none of type D, for I
knew of no birds in my immediate vicinity that
would use them that could not get into type C. I
was afraid of type E as being too attractive to
English Sparrows, and type F sesmed to me un-
necessary on this place, where the Robins that
might use it have so many natural sites for their
nests among the apple trees and cedars. The boxes
arrived late in March, during my absence on a
business trip; but I returned in time to get them
into position on April 10, 1909, and they seemed to
prove an instant success, for a pair of Bluebirds
were flying in and out of one of them on my lawn
within half an hour.

.,,,.. ,. . . ,, ^ NESTING-BOX, STYLE "F"

As the directions regarding position are all for
European birds, and as a great deal, of course, depends upon the choice,
the simplest directions I can give, from my experience, to those putting up
the boxes in this country, is to use their knowledge of the birds' habits as
fully as possible in the choice of locaUty and position. In other words, if
you were a Bluebird or a Chickadee or a Flicker, where would you most often
be found, and where would you like your nest? If you have not this knowledge,
I would suggest that you commandeer into service some one who has.

I did not expect anything like the percentage of occupancy shown at
Seebach. The nests were put up late, and we have here nothing like the num-
ber of birds, twenty-seven or more, as shown on Mr. Hiesemann's list, that
build in deep holes. The following list of ten birds includes most of the
species hereabouts that would, under ordinary circumstances, utilize such
boxes: Screech Owls, Golden-winged, Hairy, and Downy Woodpeckers,
Great-crested Flycatchers, Tree Swallows, White-bellied Nuthatches, Chick-
adees, House Wrens, and Bluebirds; and I had to content myself, the first
year, with the fact that five out of the twenty were surely occupied, and I
have reason to believe two others.

Bird- Lore

A pair of Chickadees raised a brood in a type A^ box on the side of a cedar
within thirty feet of my library window, and I have every reason to believe
that another pair occupied another type A' nest on the side of a hard pine,
in the woods south of the house; but, by the time I had examined it, an
officious red squirrel had furnished the box to suit himself, and so mixed up

the original contents as to make re-
cognition impossible. The same thing
happened with a box, type C, about
which I had seen a Great-crested Fly-
catcher; a pair of red squirrels got in
there also.

A pair of Bluebirds occupied two
boxes of type B for their first and
second broods respectively, and a pair
of Golden-wnnged Woodpeckers raised
a brood in a type C, while another box
of this type was utilized at once for a
sleeping-apartment by a Screech Owl.

In the spring of 1910, I imported
15 more nest-boxes, 5 each A, A', and
B, making 35 in all, of which six were
in apple trees on the lawn, as an at-
traction for Tree Swallows and House
Wrens, as well as Bluebirds that
already nested there; while six others
were scattered through the East Wood
for the Woodpeckers and Nuthatches
that frequent it.

In 1910, no additional birds bred
in the boxes on the lawn. The Blue-
birds were still there, but Tree Swal-
lows and House Wrens scorned my
repeated offers of hospitality, and no
birds occupied the six nests placed in
the East Wood.

I had hoped particularly to attract
a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers that spent
much of their time there, and had, for the last two years, built their nests
within a few feet of, though just the other side of the boundary wall; but, as
their entrance holes average between 36 and 39 mm. in diameter, perhaps they
could not avail themselves of the boxes I put up (t>T)e A), entrance to which
is only 32 mm. in diameter.

In the West Wood, where the remaining twenty-three boxes were located,

NESTING-BOX USED BY CHICKADEE
IN CEDAR JUST OUTSIDE AUTHOR'S
LIBRARY WINDOW.

My Experience with Von Berlepsch Nesting- boxes 7

the pair of Chickadees nested again in the cedar by my Ubrary window,
while the Screech Owls this year raised three young in the box, type C, in
which they roosted last year. The Golden-winged Woodpeckers seemed to
like their new houses, type C, and two pairs used them. One of them raised
a brood witliout difTiculty, but the other had its first nest broken up by red
squirrels, and so moved to another box in which a gray squirrel had just raised

APPLE-TREE WITH NESTING-BOX USED BY BLUEBIRD

a litter of young, and, pulling out the lining of this nest, proceeded to raise a
brood there.

This year, 1911, apparently the same pairs of birds are nesting in the same
places, though the Bluebirds took a different box for their first brood. Flickers
occupied two boxes, and the Chickadees came back as usual; while White-
bellied Nuthatches and Great-crested Flycatchers were seen about other boxes.

The Screech Owls were apparently so disgusted with the disturbance we
made last year in photographing their young that they nested elsewhere.

I have been, of course, very much disappointed in the above showing; and
yet, after due consideration, it seems to mc that many of the difficulties

8

Bird -Lore

may be overcome in time, and I have this year imported more boxes
from abroad.

In the orchard on the lawn there were six boxes, three of size A' and three
of size B. Two of these are occupied, each year, by a pair of Bluebirds for their
first and second broods, but I have, so far, failed to attract either Tree Swallows
or House Wrens, though I hope to be able to do so some time in the future.

^^L^

^%

\

ysif^\-t^j^ <fii

'^:r^^:im

A FEEDING SHELTER

The East Wood, where there were also six boxes, has, with its lack of under-
brush, proved to be unattractive to birds that build in boxes, and the few
Woodpeckers that frequent it make their nests elsewhere.

That a large percentage of the bo.xes in the West Wood were not occupied
seems to be due to various causes. There have been three pairs of Flickers

My Experience with Von Berlepsch Nest

ing- boxes

9

("hickadecs, and
1(1 Great-crested

breeding there, one pair of Screech Owls, two j^airs
probably one pair each of White-bellied Nulhatche;
Flycatchers.

In this country, I have always found that, in the case of non-grcgarious
species, there are usually only about so many to a given area. There may be
numerous cousins, but each
pair of a given species hunts
over a given area, to the exclu-
sion of others of a given species.

At Seebach, however, the
birds seem to be changing their
habits, in order to adapt
themselves to the exceptionally
favorable conditions that there
prevail.

On our place, particularly
in the East Wood, lack of the
proper kind of under-brush and
coppice and "whorls," which
Baron von Berlepsch finds so
necessary for nest-building, is,
undoubtedly, still somewhat of
a deterrent ; though in the
West Wood, birds of the un-
derbrush, Towhees, Catbirds,
and the like are increasing in
numbers each year.

Of food, I am sure that
birds on our place have enough
both in winter and in summer.

Squirrels, particularly red
ones, besides their destructive-
ness in general, seem to be the
most important factor in pre-
venting occupancy of bird-
houses.

Of the thirty-five nests put up in 1910, nearly all had their entrance holes
more or less gnawed, several had been ruined, twenty-five had their contents
tampered with, while seven contained red squirrels' nests, two, flying squirrels'
nests, and one a litter of grays.

I ordered no food appliances from abroad, but at once built a food-house,
as shown in the plate, which, instead of standing rather clumsily on four legs,
is upheld by one central rustic cedar post, set in concrete three feet in the

IXG ROX OCCUPIED
CKER

Bird- Lore

ground, amono; a clump of Barberries and Buckthorn bushes, just outside the
library window, from which I can in winter watch the almost constant stream
of Chickadees, Juncos, and White-bellied Nuthatches that feed there. Other
birds come there occasionally — Blue Jays, and Goldfinches, and an occasional
Song Sparrow, but the three first species are there daily.

This food-house proved so successful that I have since put up another
in a nearby thicket.

What these two food-houses do not supply, the birds get from the many
weeds, berry-bearing trees and bushes, old stumps and coverts, with which

the West Wood is supplied.

While the experience with nest-boxes
has not been so gratifying as I could
have wished, those tending to provide
nesting-places in the open have cer-
tainly shown marked results, as the fol-
lowing lists of birds that are at present
breeding, and their comparison, will
show :

On the lawn among the old apple-
trees. — Golden - winged Woodpecker,
Kingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Robin,
Bluebird.

A^nong the bordering shrubbery. —
Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Yellow
Warbler, Robin, Catbird.

Among the trees bordering the road-
side.— Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-throated
and Warbling Vireos.

In the meadow. — Red-winged Black-
birds, Song Sparrows, and numbers of
Maryland Yellow Throats, and, in iqii,
a pair of Redstarts and a pair of
Yellow-throated Vireos.
In the East Wood, which is of about the same area as the West Wood, and
which before the fire was one of the best coverts hereabouts, and filled with
birds, there are today only one pair of Wood Pewees, one pair of Bluebirds
in an old Woodpecker's hole, and, probably, two or three pairs of Ovenbirds
among the new undergrowth. While, in a pond at the back of the place, a
brood of ten young Black Duck 'flappers' were seen disporting themselves
during the past summer.

In the West Wood, with its protecting evergreens, coppice, and the under-
growth, which we are working so hard to develop, there breed each year the
following birds:

NESTING-BOX IN PINE OCCUPIED
BY SCREECH OWL

My Experience with Von Berlepsch Nesting- boxes ii

Robin, Purple Fincli,

Catbird, Goldfinch,

Brown Thrasher, Song Sparrow,

Chickadee, Chipping Sparrow,

Ovenbird, Towhee,

Maryland Yellow-throat, Indigo bird.

Golden-winged Warbler, Crow,

Nashville Warbler, Blue Jay,

Black and White Warbler, Phoebe,

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird,

Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo,

Pine Warbler, Golden-winged Woodpecker,

Scarlet Tanager, Downy Woodpecker,

Cedar Waxwing, Screech Owl,

Red-eyed Vireo, Ruffed Grouse.

In the chimneys of the house, which is here located, are Swifts; and a pair
of Phocbes build their nest each year upon the cornice over the front door.
Great-crested Flycatchers and White-bellied Nuthatches undoubtedly build
here too, although I have never yet found their nests; and there are several
other varieties which ought to be found here, and probably do build here, but of
whose breeding I have as yet had no proof, such as Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
I have found also Red-shouldered and Cooper's Hawks' nests here, but
have discouraged them from breeding.

In putting up nest-boxes on a place like this, a record should be kept of
their position as well as what happens to each.

Each box should be numbered on the bottom and in plain sight, or perhaps
with a brass tag at the base of the tree. They should be inspected carefully
each year just before the breeding-season, and squirrels' nests, etc., removed;
and again after the breeding-season (second brood, if any) is over, and the
old nests removed; and, in this locality, the gipsy moths, and their egg
clusters taken care of.

Against the enemies of the birds on this place we keep up a constant war-
fare.

With cats we are seldom bothered, for the few venturesome ones belonging
to our neighbors, committed suicide long ago by trespassing within our boun-
daries. Skunks are eliminated as fast as they can be caught, and foxes seem
to find my neighbor's hens and chickens more fattening than the small birds
on my place.

Of the squirrels, the red ones are the worst pests we have. I have been sus-
picious of the gray squirrels, but they were too pretty to molest, as were the
flying squirrels; but my advice to people putting up Berlepsch boxes is, to go
out and kill all the red squirrels, and then go out and do it all over again,
for there will be plenty come to their funerals.

12 Bird - Lore

Cooper's and Red-shouldered Hawks, which used to live here, have
departed, while English Sparrows, that are never very keen about places of
this sort, seem to shun it. Once in a while I shoot a few young ones in
the autumn about the hen-yard, but that is all.

Of Crows we have many. They have always built upon the place; and
within half a mile is a roost that, in summer, lodges each night from 150 to 800,
depending upon the season. I can not find that on this place they ever destroyed
a bird's nest, though I do have to protect my corn and peas by various devices.

Of Jays we have numbers, at least two pairs breeding, and, while I am
usually distrustful of them, I can not find but that here they live on amicable
terms with their neighbors. There have been many nests of young birds upon
which I have kept an eye, and I have yet to find any evidence of their
having been disturbed by Jays.

Of the Screech Owls I wish I could speak as well. They are great pets of
mine, whistUng almost nightly outside my window, and coming close when
I imitate them.

We are taught by our paternal government that they are beneficial, and
the majority of them undoubtedly are; but I found, in the spring of 1910, that
this especial pair had lined their nest very warmly and elaborately with the
freshly-plucked feathers of many small birds, including Chickadees, Juncos,
Downy Woodpeckers, Flickers, and Jays, that I had lately missed; and it
seems to me that the career of these Owls, like this article, should end.

'r^j^ ■ \ ^f:*<i\^ ",

^^mP^ ^

^-.v,^

COWBIRD
Photographed by Guy A. Bailey

A Glimpse into the Life History of the Turkey Vulture

By R. W. WILLIAMS. Jr., Tallahassee. Fla.

With :i |)lu,liiKr;ii)h by the author

THE rusty, prosaic, semi-domestic Turkey Vulture has been the theme
of many scientific and popular articles in years gone by, and, let us
hope, will continue to be in the years to come, so long as there remains
anything to be added to an exhaustive history of its life. I recall how, some
years ago, ornithological sages engaged in a spirited disputation as to whether
the Vulture is guided to its accustomed food by the sense of smell or the sense
of sight. So far as I am informed, a solution of the problem is still in abeyance,
or, at all events, is not settled to the satisfaction of every one who has given
the matter thought. It is not my purpose here to enter upon any philosophical
disquisition about the bird. I merely wish to submit to the readers of Bird
Lore a snapshot photograph,
with a few remarks pertinent ;
thereto, of the Turkey Vulture
as he may be seen, any day
during the winter, at my home
in Tallahassee, Florida. The
accompanying picture illus-
trates the bird at rest and
ease on the roof of our house,
and was taken from our back
yard during the first week in
December last. When I hur-
ried into the house for the
kodak, there were sixteen of
the birds resting and sunning
themselves on the roof. By
the time I w'as able to return
and properly focus the kodak,
seven of them had taken wing.
Two of the remaining nine wall
be seen on the chimney, out
of which there is issuing a substantial volume of smoke from the fire down
in the sitting-room. It is a common practice of these birds to thus warm
themselves on cold or damp days by heat that rises from the fires in our home;
and one often finds them sitting on the apex of the roof, with wings outstretched
to the sun, for the purpose, it is possible, as some one has cruelly suggested,
of ridding themselves of the unpleasant odors which must inevitably, to some
degree, be communicated to their plumage by the food they customarily eat
and the manner in which they sometimes eat it. I am, however, inclined to

(rs)

^

1

J

' .' •' i

m

TURKEY VULTURES ON HOUSE-TOP

14 Bird -Lore

the belief that, in thus spreading himself, the Vulture is impelled by all the
motives that actuate the good housewife when she exposes the garments of
the family to the purifying rays of the sun.

It is not alone in the day that our premises are a resort for Turkey Vul-
tures, but we also have them with us during the long winter nights, when they
roost in the immense live oak all draped and bedecked in Spanish moss in the
front yard. Here they congregate a while before dark and, after more or less
shifting of position from one limb to another, settle down for the night— that
is, as I should say, for such nights as we neglect to drive them away; and
drive them away we must, for several good and sufficient reasons.

Their services in Tallahassee are valuable. They manage to clear away
much minor offal and garbage that otherwise would escape prompt and sanitary
destruction. They enjoy immunity from harm, not because of the law of the
state which prescribes a fine for killing or maiming them, but because of the
tradition that it is wrong to injure a Buzzard. From time immemorial, people
of the South seem to have instinctively realized what a valuable friend the bird
is aHve, and what a useless thing it is dead. Would that the same good sense
might prevail in behalf of many other birds of our country.

The Turkey Vulture in New Jersey

By JOHN DRYDEN KUSER, Bernardsville, N. J.

During the summer of 1908, Turkey Vultures were frequently seen at
Bernards\ille, N. J, In 1909, they were a common summer resident. One bird
was seen April 10, 1910, but very few were seen, following that date, until
well into June, and even then they were decidedly scarcer than in the pre\dous
year. But in late July and early August they were more common. The latest
record for that year was November 19. Once during the summer of 19 10 a
flock of twenty-one birds was seen.

The year 191 1 brought an early record, for, on March 20, one bird was
seen; but, as in the year before, hardly any were noted in May. In June, they
were somewhat more common than during the same month in 1910. There
is a breeding-record of one not very far from Bernardsville. (See Mr. C. Wil-
liam Beebe, N. Y. Zoological Bulletin.)

In 1909, over sixty Vultures were counted on a dead tree near AUamuchy,
N. J. At Bordentown (six miles south-east of Trenton, N. J.), Vultures
remained during the winter of 1908-9.

At High Point, N. J., which is six miles from Sussex, N. J., and four and
one-half miles from Port Jer\is, N. Y., at an altitude of 1,809 feet, two Buz-
zards were often seen in July and August, 191 1. The place where they roosted
was discovered. It was a dead pine tree, on the south-east side of a mountain.
On October 10, six birds were seen, and on November 2, 191 1, one bird was
seen sailing over High Point, just before a snowstorm.

A Myrtle Warbler Nest

By WILLIAM PEPPER, Philadelphia
With photographs by the author

'T^^HE discovery of a bird's-nest close to one's house is always a treat to
I any bird lover; but when it turns out to be that of a bird with whose
nesting-habits we are unfamiliar, it should be reckoned as one of the
choicest events of the bird year. One day, about the middle of July, at North
East Harbor, Maine, after watching from our porch two Myrtle Warblers
that seemed to show a great partiality to a large spruce tree near the house, I
was delightfully surprised to see their nest just showing between two of the
branches of the tree and on the side toward the house. On going to the attic
and opening the window, the nest could be seen seven feet away and just
a little below the level of the window-sill. True, the nest could not be plainly
seen on account of an overhanging branch; but, when the young birds stirred

MYRTLE WARBLER NEAR NEST, A PART OF WHICH MAY BE SEEN SLIGHTLY
TO THE LEFT, AND THREE-FOURTHS OF AN INCH BELOW THE BIRD

in the nest, I could see something move, and, when the wind blew, feathers
around the edge of the nest could be made out, weaving back and forth. I sub-
sequently found that the nest had quite a number of feathers incorporated
in it.

Our house had been occupied since May 27, and so, I suppose, the nest had
been built while various members of the family were coming and going under
the tree every day. It was not possible accurately to count the number of
young birds in the nest, Init i)rol)ably there were three. Both the male and

('5)

i6

Bird -Lore

female birds fed the young, and fed them incessantly and without pause, but
the female did more work than the male. The birds would become slightly
alarmed if any one sat too close to the open window, but paid no attention to
any one back a few feet in the rather dark room. I tried to take photographs
of both the adult birds, but the male was too quick, and had the habit of
sneaking to the nest by a covered route, so that I could not catch him. The
female, however, seemed bolder, and would, on returning to the nest, or on

MYRTLE WARBLER IN JUVENAL PLL MA(,K

leaving it, often alight on a branch near-by. I thus got a snapshot of her.
On July 20, I saw one of the young birds crawling around on the branch near
the nest, and later in the day found one of them on the ground under the
tree, and, placing it on a young spruce tree close at hand, took four photo-
graphs of it while it posed nicely for its picture. For several days, I saw a
young Myrtle Warbler around the house being fed by an adult male, and felt
confident that it was one of those from the nest I had been watching. I
never saw more than one of the young birds at a time after they left the nest,
and did not see the female feeding the young except in the nest. A few days
later, I climbed the tree and brought down the nest, which was about 24 feet
from the ground and about 4 feet from the trunk of the tree and 7 feet from
the window. It was a pretty little nest, with a ring of feathers, mostly chicken,
around the edge, which curled up over the hollow of the nest, and thus pro-
bably served in a way as a protection to the young birds. It was quite
compactly built with twigs of conifers, grass, rootlets, and a few hairs. The
young bird which I photographed showed plainly the peculiarities of the
nesthng plumage of the Myrtle Warbler, having a white breast very distinctly
streaked with black, whitish wdng-bars, and the back brown streaked with
black; a very different looking bird from the handsome adult.

PHOTOGRAPH OF A CROW BY HIMSELF
Taken at Portsmouth, N. H., September 7, 1908, by means of a device invented by H. R. Carey

(17)

Bird-Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census

IN the northern States, at least, the weather on Christmas Day of 1911
was far more favorable for bird students than for birds! While the excep-
tionally open season has induced some species to remain with us, north of
their usual winter range, their presence by no means compensates for the
almost entire lack of those rare and more irregular winter birds towards
whose coming we always look forward with a peculiar pleasure.

Santa Barbara, California, again appears to be the resort most favored by
birds in the United States during the winter. Last year's census from this
locality of 76 species, recorded by J. H. Bowles, W. Leon Dawson and Watson
Snyder, is not 'in the running' with the remarkable list of 100 species observed
this year by W. Leon Dawson and Stewart Edward White. Indeed, we doubt
if so large a number of birds has heretofore been identified in North America
on a single winter day.

Second place in the census also goes to California, with the list of 60 species
from Marysville, sent by Carl and Julius Mueller.

The editor takes this opportunity to thank those contributors to the
census who prepared their manuscript in accordance with the model given in
December Bird Lore, and which has been employed in all preceding censuses,
and to plead with all others to adopt it should they take part in future censuses.
While he is perfectly willing to admit that better methods of recording census
observations exist, the uniformity of treatment which the case demands can
be attained only by following the form given, and, incidentally, thereby adding
greatly to the pleasure with which the editor, in revising, shares the experience
of each census-taker!

May we also call attention to the doubtless already well-known fact that
comparatively few printers are ornithologists, and suggest that greater clear-
ness in writing birds' names will tend to greater accuracy in printing them.

The comparatively small question of typographical accuracy suggests the
far more important one of ornithological accuracy. While the editor uses all
possible care in revising these lists, time is lacking for correspondence con-
cerning records which appear to have been based on erroneous or insufficient
identification, and where the circumstances do not appear to warrant thtir
arbitrary exclusion, such records are left, with the understanding that the
author alone is responsible.

Should he find subsequently that a species had been wrongly entered, we
trust that he will follow the example of Mr. Wilbur F. Smith of South Nor-
walk. Conn., who on discovering that his census record of the "Shoveller"
published in Bird Lore for February, 1904, is incorrect, asks us to make a
statement to that effect. — F. M. C.

(18)

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 19

Guelph, Ontario. — Dec. 23; 7. a.m. to 12.45 p-M- Very foggy; about one inch of
snow; wind liK'hl, southwest; temp., 35". RufTed Grouse, 6; Hairy Woodpecker, i;
Downy \Voodi)ccker, 2; Purple Finch, 4; Pine Siskin, 116; Junco, 6; Brown Creeper, 2;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Red-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 57; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 5. Total, 11 species, 205 individuals. — E. W. Calvert.

Homings Mills, Ont. — Dec. 25; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clear; about two inches of snow;
wind west, strong; temp., 34°. Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, 3; White-winged Cross-
bill, 80; Snow Flake; Slate-colored Junco, 30; White-breasted Nuthatch; Black-capped
Chickadee, 22; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2. Total, 8 species, 141 individuals. — J. A.
Noble.

London, Ontario. — -Dec. 23; 3.45 to 4.45 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind west,
strong and raw; temp., ^^°. Kingfisher, i; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 3; Tree Sparrow, 2;
Junco, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Black-capped Chickadee, 9; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, i. Total, 8 species, 22 individuals.

Millbrooke, Ontario. — Dec. 24; 9 a.m. to 12 m. Clear; one inch of snow on ground;
wind southwest; temp., 34°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 3; Pine Siskin, 12;
Snow Bunting, 50; Chickadee, 16. Total, 5 species, 82 individuals.^SAM Hunter.

Reaboro, Ontario. — Dec. 25; 9.15 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. Cloudy; about three inches of
snow; strong westerly wind; temp., 36 °F. Ruffed Grouse, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 2;
Downy Woodpecker, i; Redpoll, about 100; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee,
about 30. Total, 6 species, about 136 individuals. Dec. 26 several Pine Siskin, i Blue-
Jay and about 25 Snowflakes were seen, also i Crow. — J. F. Calvert.

Toronto, Ontario, High Park and Humber Bay. — Dec. 23; 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Cloudy; ground bare; moderate northwest wind; temp., about 38°. American Mer-
ganser, 6; Downy Woodpecker, i; Tree Sparrow, 30; Brown Creeper, 6; Chickadee, 15.
Total, 5 species, 58 individuals. — Marie Fenton.

Lewiston, Maine. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Clear; ground partly snow-covered;
calm; temp., 38°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Crow, 35; Redpoll, 3; White-breasted Nut-
hatch, 2; Chickadee, 4; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5. Total, 6 species, 50 individuals. —
C. D. Farrar and L. E. Farrar.

Antrim, N. H. — Dec: 26; 10.30 to 11 a.m.; 1.30 to 4 p.m. Cloudy; snow on ground in
woods, patches of snow elsewhere; wind northwest, light; temp., 38 to 45°. Ruffed
Grouse, i; Northern Pileated Woodpecker, 2; Goldfinch, 7; White-breasted Nuthatch, i;
Chickadee, 12. Total, 5 species, 23 individuals. — Chas. H. and Robert J. Abbott.

Meriden, N. H. — Dec. 25; 3 to 5 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind west; temp., 40°.
Crow, i; Goldfinch, i; Nuthatch, i. Total, 3 species, 3 individuals. — Mrs. E. E.
Wheeler.

Corbin Game Preserve, Meriden, N. H. — Dec. 25; 10.45 a.m. to 12.45 pm. Bright
sunshine; ground sparsely covered with brittle snow; wind southwest, light; temp., 42°.
Screech Owl, i (in a nest-box); Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue
Jay, 12; American Crow, 5; American Crossbill, 2; White- winged Crossbill, 13; Northern
Shrike, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 7;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, 8. Total, 12 species, 57 individuals. — Ernest Harold
Baynes.

Tilton, N. H. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Clear; ground bare in open, snow in
woods; wind none; temp., 35°. Great Blue Heron, i; Canadian Ruffed Grouse, 4;
Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 5; Redpoll, 248; Tree Sparrow, 6; Brown
Creeper, 8; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 14; Chickadee, 44. Total, 10 species, S33 individ-
uals.— Edward H. Perkins and Ernest R. Perkins.

Bethel, Vermont. — ^Dec. 19; 1.30 to 4 p.m. Clear; two inches of snow, some bare
hillsides; wind northwest, light; temp., 26°. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker,
i; Goldfinch, 4; Redpoll, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Red-breasted Nuthatch, i;

20 Bird - Lore

Brown Creeper, 2; Chickadee, 12; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3. Total, 9 species, 28
individuals. — Eliza F. Miller.

Bennington, Vt. — Dec. 25; 8 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind
west, very light, temp., 35 to 45°. Ruffed Grouse, i; Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay,
7; Crow, 20; American Goldfinch, 7; Vesper Sparrow, i; Slate-colored Junco, 4; Brown
Creeper, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, 10.
Total, II species, 58 individuals. — Lucretius H. Ross, M.D., and Charles Hitchcock.

Burlington, Vt. — 8 to 10.30 a.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind west, light; temp., 35°.
From window rear "lunch-counter." Chickadee, 8; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3;
Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 5. 3 to 4 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind
west, light; temp., 40°. "Bird-walk." Crow, i; Chickadee, 5; White-breasted Nuthatch,
3; Downy Woodpecker, 2. Total, 5 species, 28 individuals. — Nellie M. Day and
Emma E. Drew.

Cabot, Vt. — Dec. 25; 10 a.m. to i p.m. Clear; four inches snow; wind south, light;
temp., 50°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Pine Grosbeak, 300; Nuthatch, 4;
Chickadee, 12. Total, 5 species, 320 individuals. — J. M. Tebbetts.

Clarendon, Vt. — Dec. 24; 10.55 a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind west,
light; temp., ^,3,°. Ruffed Grouse, 15; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Pine Gros-
beak, 16; Purple Finch, 2; White-winged Crossbill, 32; Redpoll, 6; Pine Siskin, 32;
Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee,
15; Golden-crowned Kinglet, i. — Total, 13 species, 129 individuals. — L. H. Potter.

Essex Junction, Vt. — Dec. 26; 1.30 to 4.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind south,
light; temp., 45°. Redpoll, 300, feeding in white birch trees; Goldfinch, 50; Blue Jay, 2;
Crow, i; Chickadee, 6. Total, 5 species, 359 individuals. Saw flock of Snow Buntings
on Nov. 15. — Carlton D. Howe.

Berkshire, Mass. — Dec. 25; 2.30 to 5 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; light east wind;
temp., 35°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Redpoll, 12; Tree Sparrow, 2; White-breasted
Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 2; Total, 5 species, 18 individuals. — Anne H. Whiting.

Boston, Mass. (Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, Olmsted and Riverway Parks). —
Dec. 25; 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clear, ground bare; wind west to southwest, light; temp.,
34 to 44°. Herring Gull, i; Mallard, i; Black Duck, 261; Baldpate, i; Lesser Scaup
Duck, 5; Golden-eye, 4; Sparrow Hawk, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Northern Flicker,
9; Blue Jay, 15; Crow, 16; Purple Finch, 4; Goldfinch, 28; Pine Siskin, 2; White-throated
Sparrow, 6; Tree Sparrow, 32; Junco, 8; Song Sparrow, 5; Mockingbird, i; Catbird, i;
Chickadee, 14; Hermit Thrush, i; Robin, i. Total, 23 species, 424 individuals. — E. E.
Caduc and Horace W. Wright.

Boston, Mass. (Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Pond, Olmsted and Riverway Parks,
the Charles River Basin, and Beacon Hills. — Dec. 22; 10.15 a.m. to 3.15 p.m. Cloudy;
ground bare; wind north to southeast, light; temp., 36 to 43°. Great Black-backed
Gull, i; Herring Gull. 109; Merganser, 16; Mallard, i drake; Black Duck, 251; Baldpate,
I drake; Scaup Duck, loi; Lesser Scaup Duck, 4; Golden-eye, 130; Ring-necked Pheas-
ant, i; Sparrow Hawk, i; Barred Owl (Beacon Hill), i; Downy Woodpecker, i; Northern
Flicker, 11; Blue Jay, 15; Crow, 22; Purple Finch, 2 (one singing); Goldfinch, 10; White-
throated Sparrow, 5; Tree Sparrow, 4; Slate-colored Junco, 3; Song Sparrow, 8; White-
breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 13; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4; Total, 25 species,
716 individuals. — Horace W. Wright.

Boston, Mass. (Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica and Leverett Ponds.) — Dec. 26; 11
A.M. to 1.30 P.M. Fair; ground bare, and grass green; wind west, scarcely perceptible;
temp., 45°. Mallard, i; Black Duck, 282; Baldpate, i; Lesser Scaup, 5; Golden-eye, 3;
Flicker, 2; Blue Jay, 8; Crow, 5; Purple Finch, i; Goldfinch, 2; White-throated Sparrow,
i; Tree Sparrow, 12; Junco, 6; Song Sparrow, i; Palm Warbler, i; Chickadee, 7; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 2; Ring-necked Pheasant, 4. Total, 18 species, 344 individuals. We

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 21

watched the Palm Warbler feeding on the ground and in the bushes close at hand for
about fifteen minutes. It has been in the same locality^for a week or two. — Mrs. Wil-
liam M. Levey and W. Charlesworth Levey.

Bridgewater, Mass. — Dec. 25; 9 to 11 a.m. Partly cloudy; ground hare; wind west,
moderate; temp., 40°. Hlack Duck, i; Bob-white, 8; RulTcd Grouse, 2; Red-tailed Hawk,
i; Downy Woodpecker, i; I-'licker, i; Blue Jay, 6; Crow, 15; Meadowlark, 20; Purple
Finch, 10; Goldfinch, 15; White-throated Sparrow, 2; Tree Sparrow, 20; Junco, 10;
Song Sparrow, i; Brown Creeper, 3; Chickadee, 8; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 8. Total,
18 species, 132 individuals. — Harold W. Copeland.

Cambridge, Mass. (Fresh Pond). — Dec. 25; 2.45 to 3.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare;
slight westerly wind; teni])., 39°. Herring Gull, 150; American Merganser, 14; Lesser
Scaup, 5; Black Duck, 100; Northern Flicker, i; Crow, 4; Chickadee, i; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, i. Total, 8 species, 276 individuals. — Myle Peirce Baker.

Cambridge, Mass. — Dec. 26; 2 to 3 p.m. Clear; ground bare; light west wind;
temp., 45°. Black-backed Gull, 2; Herring Gull, 1,500; (American) Merganser, 20;
Black Duck, 100; Lesser Scaup Duck, 9; Barred Owl (in Boston), i; Crow, 6; Goldfinch,
2; Chickadee, 2. Total, 9 species, about 1,640 individuals. — H. D. Mitchell.

Dighton, Mass. — Dec. 25; 8 to 11 a.m. Clear; ground bare; wind southwest, light;
temp., 40°. Bob-white, 5; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 15; Purple Finch, 5; Goldfinch, 15; White-
throated Sparrow, 25; Tree Sparrow, 20; Field Sparrow, 20; Slate-colored Junco, 25;
Song Sparrow, 5; Myrtle Warbler, 15; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 10; Chickadee, 12;
Robin, 4. Total, 14 species, 181 individuals. — F. Seymour Hersey and Charles L.
Phillips.

Ipswich, Mass. — Dec. 25; 11 a.m. to i p.m.; 2.30 to 4 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare;
wind northwest, brisk; temp., 40°. Herring Gull, i; Pheasant, 2; Crow, 22; Snow Bunt-
ing, 40; Chipping Sparrow, i; Chickadee, 10. Total, 6 species, 76 individuals. — Jesse
H. Wade and Francis C. Wade.

Leominster, Mass. (Leominster to Chelmsford). — Dec. 25; clear, and very warm
for the season; wind west, very light; ground bare. Pheasants, 13; Mottled Owl, i;
Downy Woodpecker, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 4; Goldfinch, 100;
Tree Sparrow, 14; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 6; Partridge, i. Total, 11
species, 149 individuals. — Edwin Russel Davis.

Lunenburg, Mass. — Dec. 24; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Partially cloudy, turning to cloudy
in afternoon; ground entirely bare; wind southwest; temp., 32°. RufTed Grouse, 4;
Pheasant, 2; Barred Owl, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 7; Crow, 328; Goldfinch,
16; Pine Siskin, i; American Crossbill, 5; Northern Shrike, i; Brown Creeper, 6; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 4; Red-bellied Nuthatch, 12; Chickadee, 42; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, 5. Total, 15 species, 437 individuals. (I cannot account for the total absence
of Tree Sparrows and Juncos from this locality the past three weeks). — Clayton E.
Stoxe.

Maiden, Mass. (Through Middlesex Fells to Spot Pond). — Dec. 20; 10 to 12 a.m.
Clear; ground bare; wind west, light; temp., 30°. Herring Gull, 40; .American Mergan-
ser, 9; Black Duck, 225; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, i; Crow, 8; Purple Finch, 2;
Redpoll, 36; Goldfinch, 7; Slate-colored Junco, 8; Brown Creeper, 3; Chickadee, 5;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3. Total, 13 species, 349 individuals. — Gordon Boit
Wellman.

Marblehead Neck, Mass. — Dec. 22; 12.30 to 2.15 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare;
wind northeast, light; temp., 34°. Horned Grebe, 7; Loon, 3; Black Guillemot, i; Great
Black-backed Gull, 2; Herring Gull, 16; Red-breasted Merganser, 37; Golden-eye, 25;
Old Squaw, 15; Scoter, 8; Ring-necked Pheasant, 2; Downy Woodpecker, i; Flicker, 2;
Crow, 4; Tree Sparrow, 10; Song Sparrow, 2; Myrtle Warbler, 15. Total, 16 species,
150 individuals. — Lidian E. Bridge.

22 Bird - Lore

Marshfield, Mass. — Dec. 25; 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Fair; ground bare; wind
northwest, light; temp., 38 to 50°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Flicker, i; Crow, 24; Song
Sparrow, i; Myrtle Warbler, 12; Chickadee, 20. Total, 6 species, 59 individuals. — Mrs.
George L. M.\son.

Needham, Mass. — Dec. 23; 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Partly cloudy; ground bare;
wind northwest, brisk; temp., 45°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 7;
Crow, 13; Meadowlark, 30; Purple Finch, 20; Tree Sparrow, 12; Brown Creeper, 2;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 7; Golden-crowned Kinglet. Total, 11 species,
97 individuals. — Charles E. Heil.

Boston, Mass. (Newtonville to Arnold Aboretum and Jamaica Pond). — Dec. 24;
8 A.M. to 3 P.M., 3.30 to 4.30 P.M. Clear in morning, clouding over later; ground bare;
temp, about 45°. Herring Gull 20; Black and Red-legged Black Duck 150; Baldpate
i; Lesser Scaup 5; Golden-eye 5; Pheasant 2; Red-shouldered Hawk (?) i; Barred
Owl i; Downy Woodpecker i; Flicker 4; Blue Jay 6; Crow 30; Purple Finch 4; Goldfinch
3; Pine Siskin 40; White-throated Sparrow 3; Tree Sparrow 30; Slate-colored Junco
60; Song Sparrow 6; Palm Warbler i; Brown Creeper i; White-breasted Nuthatch 2;
Chickadee 25; Golden-crowned Kinglet 30; Robin 8. Total 25 species about about 430
individuals. — H. L. Barrett, H. D. Mitchell, J. A. Hagar and Joseph C. Hagar.

Rockport, Mass. — Dec. 21; 11.30 a.m. to 2.15 p.m. Partly cloudy; ground bare with
light patches of snow; wind northeast, light; temp., 32°. Holbcell's Grebe, 2; Loon, 4;
Red-throated Loon, i; Black Guillemot, 7; Dovekie, i; Great Black-backed Gull, i;
Herring Gull, 150; Red-breasted Merganser, 33; White- winged Scoter, 9; Flicker, 2;
Horned Lark, 3; Crow, 9; Ipswich Sparrow, i; Tree Sparrow, 15; Song Sparrow, 5;
Myrtle Warbler, 2. Total, 16 species, 245 individuals. — E. D. Boardman and Lidian
E. Bridge.

West Medford, Mass. (including west side of Middlesex Fells, and South Basin). ^
Dec. 24; 9 A.M. to 12 M. Cloudy; ground bare; wind southwest, light; temp., 40°. Her-
ring Gull, 16; Merganser, 17; Black Duck, 200; Lesser Scaup, i; Ring-necked Pheasant,
4; Crow, 8; Blue Jay, 2; Purple Finch, i; Tree Sparrow, i; Chickadee, 6; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 5. Total, 12 species, 261 individuals. Sharp-shinned Hawk, i, seen
in P.M. — Edmund and Lidian E. Bridge.

Glocester, R. L — Dec. 25; 8.45 to 10.15 a.m. Clear; ground bare; wind northwest,
very light; temp., 32°. Blue Jay, 2; Chickadee, 5. Total, 2 species, 7 individuals. —
J. Irving Hill.

Manville, R. I. — Dec. 26; 9.30 a.m. to 12 m. Hazy; ground bare; no wind; temp., 34°.
Downy Woodpecker, i; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 4; Purple Finch (a large flock),
100; Tree Sparrow, 12; Song Sparrow, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 6.
Total, 9 species, 131 individuals. — Anna P. C. Mowry.

Point Judith, R. I. — Dec. 25; Clear; warm; wind southwest, light. Herring Gull,
2,000; Red-breasted Merganser, 3; Black Duck, 10; Greater Scaup, 50; Golden-eye, 200;
White-winged Coot, 100; Marsh Owl, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, 4; Shore Lark,
20; Crow, 4; Meadowlark, 50; Field Sparrow, 5; Song Sparrow, i; Fox Sparrow, 2; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 2. Total, 17 species, 2,419 individuals. — Israel
R. Sheldon.

Providence, R. I. (Blackstone Park). — Dec. 20; 12.45 to i-45 pm- Clear; ground
bare; wind south. Herring Gull, 30; Flicker, 4; Blue Jay, 3; Crow, i; Junco, 3; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 3; Golden-crowned Kinglet. 2. Total, 8 species, 48
individuals. — Charles H. Abbott.

Providence, R. I. — Dec. 24; 11 a.m. to i p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind southwest;
temp., 44°. Downy Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, 3; Blue Jay, 4; Crow, 2; Goldfinch, 3;
Snow Bunting, 25; Myrtle Warbler, i; Brown Creeper, 2; Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, 2.
Total, ID species, 47 individuals. — Edward D. Keith.

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 23

Warwick, R. I. — Dec. 24; 10.45 '^-^i- ^'^ - ^'■'^'- ^'ItHidy; j^round bare; light northwest
wind; tomp., 46°. Herring Gull, 65; Scaup Duck, 6; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, 6;
Blue Jay, 15; Crow, 11; Purple Finch, 4; Goldfinch, 9; Tree Sparrow, 35; Junco, 48;
Song Sparrow, 2; Myrtle Warbler, 53; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2;
Chickadee, 65; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 29; Robin, i. Total, 17 species, 354 individuals.
— H.ARRY S. Hathaway.

Woonsocket, R. I. — Dec. 25; 9.15 to 11.15 a.m. Clear; ground entirely bare; wind
west, very light; temp., 32 to 42°. Blue Jay, 8; Crow, 6; Goldfinch, 15; Tree Sparrow,
20; Junco, about 50; Song Sparrow, 3; Chickadee, 9; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5. Total,
8 species, about 116 individuals. — Clarence M. Arnold.

Hartford, Conn. — Dec. 25; 10.30 a.m. to 12 m. Clear; ground bare; no wind; temp.,
46°. Sparrow Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Flicker i; Blue
Jay, 15; Crow, 24; Starling, 12; Meadowlark, 2; Redpoll, 2; Goldfinch, 2; Tree Sparrow,
27; Slate-colored Junco, 52; Song Sparrow, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee,
q; Hermit Thrush, i. Total, 16 species, 155 individuals. — Clifford M. Case.

Hartford, Conn. — Dec. 25; 9.40 to 11.40 a.m. Clear; ground bare; no wind; bright
sun; temp., 30°. Down}' Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay. 4; Crow, 11; Junco, 6; Mocking-
bird, i; Chickadee, 15. Total, 7 species, 40 individuals. The Juncos and Mockingbird
were seen the previous afternoon. To my knowledge a Mockingbird has spent the last
three winters in this same identical spot, even staying in the same clump of rose bushes
nearly all of its stay. I have watched diligently for three years to learn of its summer
haunts, but am still as much in the dark as when I began. Last winter I saw two others
wintering in different places in West Hartford, all three disappearing synchronously. —
Arthur G. Powers.

New Canaan, Conn. — Dec. 23; 10.30 a.m. to 12 m., 1.30 to 4 p.m. Cloudy and rainy;
ground bare; wind light; temp., 38°. Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 3; Crow, 6;
Goldfinch, 2; Pine Siskin, 20; Tree Sparrow, 12; Junco, 15; Song Sparrow, 3; Fox Spar-
row, i; Chickadee, 7; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5. Total,
12 species, 78 individuals. — Harold E. Jones.

New Haven, Conn. (East shore and Edgewood Park). — Dec. 25; 9.30 a.m. to 1.30
P.M. Light west wind; cloudy; temp., 35°. Horned Grebe, 2; Herring Gull, 18; Old
Squaw, 2; Blue Jay, 3; Crow, 21; Starling, 57; Meadowlark, 1; Purple Finch, 2; Gold-
finch, i; Savannah Sparrow, i; White-throated Sparrow, 10; Tree Sparrow, 25; Song
Sparrow, 5; Swamp Sparrow, i; Fox Sparrow, 2; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted
Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 7. Total, 18 species, 161 individuals. — Albert W. Honywill,
Jr., and Dwight B. Pangburx.

New Haven, Conn. (Edgewood Park and Marvel Wood). — Dec. 25; 9 a.m. to 1.30
p.m., and Sandy Point 3.30 to 4 p.m. Clear; ground bare; no wind; temp., 34 to 46°.
Herring Gull, 50; Golden-eye, 2; Ruffed Grouse, i; Sharp-shinned Hawk, i; Red-
shouldered Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Flicker, i; Horned
Lark, 3; Blue Jay, 24; Crow, 18; Starling, 35; Meadowlark, 2 (singing); Rusty Black-
bird, 26; Purple Finch, 2; Goldfinch, 16; Tree Sparrow, 120; Field Sparrow, 6; Junco,
7; Song Sparrow, 9; Swamp Sparrow, 6; Brown Creeper, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3;
Chickadee, 18; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4. Total, 25 species, 364 individuals. — Clif-
ford H. Pangburn.

New London, Conn. — Dec. 26; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind west,
light; temp., 38°. Pied-billed Grebe, 13; Herring Gull, 22; White-winged Scoter, 2;
Kingfisher, 2; Down)- Woodpecker, 3; Shore Lark, 7; Crow, 58 (afterward found a
roost of 300, estimated); Jay, 3; Starling, 103; Meadowlark, 8; Tree Sparrow, 7; Song
Sparrow, 9; Savannah Sparrow, 6; Fox Sparrow, 2; Junco, 4; Goldfinch, i; Brown
Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 9; Golden-crowned Kinglet, i;
Total, 21 species, 61; individuals. — Frances M. Graves.

24 Bird -Lore

Spencer, Mass. — Dec. 24; 9.30 to 11.30 .a.m. Cloudy; ground bare; northwest wind,
light; temp., 28°. Ruffed Grouse, 2; Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 4; Crow, 6;
Tree Sparrow, 3; Junco, 4; Fo.x Sparrow, i; Brown Creeper, 8; White-breasted Nuthatch,
i; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 14; Chickadee, 30. Total, 11 species, 74 individuals. — B.

A. HUTCHINS.

Sturbridge, Mass. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to 12 m. Clear; ground bare; wind west; temp.,
36°. Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, i; Crow, 6; Goldfinch, 13; Tree Sparrow, 4;
Brown Creeper, i; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 5. Total, 8 species, 34 indi-
viduals.— J. Hayxes and H. H. Stone.

West Hartford, Conn., and Reservoir Park. — Dec. 25; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clear;
ground bare; wind westerly, light; temp., 32°. Ruffed Grouse, i; Downy Woodpecker,
3; Crow, 158; Goldfinch, i; Tree Sparrow, 6; Junco, 20; Chickadee, 33; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, i. Total, 8 species, 223 individuals. — Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Wardwell, Mr.
and Mrs. H. P. Meech, and Miss Julia F. White.

Windsor, Conn. — Dec. 26; 10 a.m. to 2.45 p.m. Cloudy all day; no wind; temp., 40°.
American Merganser, i; Bob-white, 8; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 10;
Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 800; Starling, 50; Redpoll, i; Goldfinch, 9; White-throated Spar-
row, i; Junco, 12; Song Sparrow, 3; Tree Sparrow, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 8;
Chickadee, 19; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3. Total, 16 species, 1,133 individuals. —
Mrs. Eustace L. Allen.

Buffalo, N. Y. — Dec. 25; 11 a. m. to 1.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind west,
light; temp., 47°. Crow, 6; White-throated Sparrow, i; Brown Creeper, 2; Chickadee,
5. Total, 4 species, 14 individuals. — Mrs. George M. Turner.

Canandaigua, N. Y. — Dec. 25; 2.30 to 5 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind northwest,
light and steady; temp., 50°. Horned Grebe, 3; Herring Gull, 10; American Merganser,
i; Mallard, 7; Black Duck, 20; Redhead Duck, 25; Canada Goose, 100; Ruffed Grouse,
2; Rough-legged Hawk, i; Screech Owl, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker,
3; American Crow, 20; Meadowlark, i; Song Sparrow, 30; Towhee, i; Northern Shrike,
i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 4; Chickadee, 6. Total, 19 species, 237 individuals. —
David Darling.

Fairport, N. Y. — Dec. 26; 12 m. to i p.m. Cloudy; ground bare. Downy Wood-
pecker, I ; Chickadee, 2. Total, 2 species, 3 individuals. — Julia Moesel.

Far Rockaway, N. Y. — Dec. 23; 2 to 4.30 p.m. Partly cloudy; ground bare; wind
south, light; temp., 45°. Herring Gull, 1,000 (estimated).; Canada Goose, 15;
Sparrow Hawk, i; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Crow, i; Starling, 10; Junco, 8; Song
Sparrow, 7; Robin, 2. Total, 9 species, 1,048 individuals (estimated). — Charlotte
Bogardus.

Geneva, N. Y. — Dec. 24; all day. Cloudy; wind north, light; temp., 36°. Hol-
boell's Grebe, 2; Horned Grebe, 15; Herring Gull, 2; Ring-billed Gull, i; Redhead, 100;
Canvasback, 15; Greater Scaup, 500; Lesser Scaup, 12; Golden-eye, 17; Old Squaw, 125;
King Eider, i; Canada Goose, 43; Red-shouldered Hawk, i; Screech Owl, i; Hairy Wood-
pecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Crow, 50; Tree Sparrow, 20; Junco, 9; Song Spar-
row, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 6; Brown Creeper, 3; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, i. Total, 24 species, 935 individuals, — William Breitfield, Edgar Dyke,
and Otto McCreary.

Hamburg, N. Y. — Dec. 24; 1.30 to 5 p.m. Ground bare; cloudy; wind southwest,
light; temp., 35°. Flicker, i; Prairie Horned Lark, 2; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 6; Junco, i;
Northern Shrike, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 6; Robin, i. Total, 8 species, 20 indi-
viduals.— Tho-mas L. Bourne.

Huntington, L. L, N. Y. — Dec. 26; 8 to 11 a.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind south-
west, light; temp., 45°. American Herring Gull, 29; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 5;
American Crow, 15; Starling, 2; American Goldfinch, 8; White-throated Sparrow, i;

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 25

Tree Sparrow, 2; Junto, 30; Song Sparrow, 19; Chickadee, 2. Total, 11 species, 116
individuals. — Charlotte E. Lee.

Long Beach, L. L, N. Y. — Dec. 24; 9.45 a.m. to 3.40 p.m. Dull, cloudy; wind west,
light; temp., 40°. Horned Grebe, 3; Great Black-backed Gull, 7; Herring Gull, 300;
Old Squaw, 20; Canada Goose, 5; Crow (sp.?), i; Goldfinch, 3; Tree Sparrow, 75; Song
Sparrow, 12; Swamp Sparrow, 4; Myrtle Warbler. 25. Total, 1 1 species, 455 individuals.
— Francis Harper.

Matteawan, N. Y. — Dec. 25; 11 a.m. to i p.m. Gray and cloudy; ground bare and
thawing; temp., 45°. Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Crow, 5; Goldfinch, 3; Brown Creeper, 2;
White-breasted Nuthatch. 1; Chickadee. 3. Total, 6 species, 14 individuals. — Harriet
B. Badeai'.

Sheepshead Bay and Manhattan Beach, New York City. — Dec. 23; 1.15 to 4.45
P.M. Cloudy at start, then clear; wind northwest, strong; temp., 51°. Great Black-
backed Gull, 24; Herring Gull, 2,000; Horned Lark, 200; Starling, 44; Lapland Long-
spur, 4; Song Sparrow, 2. Total 6 species, 2,250 indi\-iduals. — (jeorge E. Hix.

New York, N. Y. (Bronx River to Pelham Bay Park). — Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cloudy; wind variable, light; ground bare; temp., 38°. Herring Gull, 64; Bob- white, 1;
Red-tailed Hawk, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Crow, 34; Starling, 29; White-throated
Sparrow, i; Tree Sparrow, 23; Junco, 9; Song Sparrow, 30; Fox Sparrow, i; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, i. Total, 13 species, 200 individuals. — Edward
Fleischer.

New York City. South Ferry, New York, and Princes Bay, S. I., to Dongan Hills,
S. L, thence to Great Kills, S. I. — Dec. 24; 9>a.m. to 4.45 p.m. Wind, light to brisk
west; sky, overcast; light shower in late p.m.; temp., 38°. Great Black-backed Gull,
7; Herring Gull, 575; Ring-billed, Gull, i; Bonaparte's Gull, 12; American Scaup Duck,
6; Golden-eye, 8; Old Squaw, 8; Marsh Hawk, i; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Sparrow
Hawk, 3; Barn Owl, i; Short-eared Owl, 3; Barred Owl, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3;
Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 28; Meadowlark, 29; Starling, 297; Goldfinch, 7; Seaside Sparrow, i;
White-throated Sparrow, i; Tree Sparrow, 50; Song Sparrow, 11; Cardinal, i; Chickadee,
2. Total, 25 species, 1,060 individuals. — William T. Davis, Clinton G. Abbott,
and Howard H. Cleaves.

Orient, L. I., N. Y. — Dec. 25; 7 a.m. to 5. 30 p.m. a.m., cloudy, misty; heavy rain
all preceding night; p.m., clearing; wind, fresh to brisk northwest; ground bare, free
from frost; temp., 40°. Horned Grebe, 11; Loon, 9; Black-backed Gull, 2; Herring
Gull, 550; Red-breasted Merganser, 39; Black Duck, 4; Scaup Duck, 300; Lesser Scaup,
30; Bufllehead, 35; Old Squaw, 430; White-winged Scoter, 1,050; Surf Scoter, 400;
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, i; Marsh Hawk, 4; Screech Owl, 2; King-
fisher, 3; Flicker, 23; Downy, 4; Horned Lark, 515; Crow, 535, Fish Crow, i; Blue Jay,
3; Starling, 47; Cowbird, 3; Meadowlark, 373 (common in song); Goldfinch, 6; Snow
Bunting, 130; Siskin, i; Savannah Sparrow, i; White-throated Sparrow, 6; Tree Spar-
row, 170; Song Sparrow, 88; Swamp Sparrow, i; Fo.\ Sparrow, i; Myrtle Warbler, 167;
Chickadee, 23; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 14; Robin, 12. Total, 39 species, 5,018 indi-
viduals.— Roy, Harry and Frank L.\tham. ~-

Otto, N. Y. — Dec. 26; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cloudy; wind southeast, light; ground bare;
temp., 40°. Partridge, i; Kingfisher, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3;
Junco, 6; White-breasted Nuthatch, 11; Brown Creeper, 2; Black-capped Chickadee, 14.
Total, 8 species, 39 individuals. — Wallace Grube, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Coxetee,
and Helen Conetee.

Port Chester, N. Y. — Dec. 23; 8.15 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind
west, moderate; temp., 47°. Horned Grebe, 2; Loon, i; Herring Gull. 150; Ring-billed
Gull, 4; American Golden-eye, 31; Old Squaw, 4; White-winged Scoter, 3,000; Red-
shouldered Hawk, i; Downy Woodpecker, 10; Northern Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 3; .\meri-

26 Bird - Lore

can Crow, 17; Starling, 45; Meadowlark, 10; Goldfinch, i; White- throated
Sparrow, i; Tree Sparrow, 40; Slate-colored Junco, 25; Song Sparrow, 8; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 7; Chickadee, 27; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5. Total, 22 species,
3,393 individuals. — Richard L. Burdsall, P. Cecil Spofford, E. Morris Burd-
SALL, James Maples.

Rhinebeck, N. Y. — Dec. 25; 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind south-
west, light; temp., 40°. Barred Owl, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker, 4;
Blue Jay, 9; Crow, 14; Purple Finch, 20; Goldfinch, 15; Tree Sparrow, 10; Song Spar-
row, i; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 11; Chickadee, 10; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 4; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, i. Total, 14 species, 105 individuals. On
Dec. 26, Starling, 8. — Maunsell S. Crosby.

Rexville, N. Y. — Dec. 25; 2 to 4 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind south, light; temp.,
45°. Redpoll, 24; White-breasted Nuthatch, 4; Chickadee, 6. Total, 3 species, 34
individuals. — Joseph Sweeney.

Rochester, N. Y. (Bushnell Basin). — Dec. 24; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare;
no wind; temp., 37°. Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, i; Crow, 4; Tree Sparrow, 50;
Junco, 12; White-breasted Nuthatch, 14; Chickadee, 35; Brown Creeper, 2. Total,
8 species, 120 individuals. — Harry Gordon and Oscar F. Schaefer.

Rochester, N. Y. (Sea Breeze to Forest Lawn and return). — Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to
1 P.M. and from 2 to 3 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare, soft; wind west, light; temp., 36°.
Herring Gull, 19; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Crow, 5; Tree Sparrow, 30; Brown Creeper,
i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 8; Total, 7 species, 69 individuals. —
Nettie Sellinger Pierce.

Setauket, L. I., N. Y. — Dec. 25. Clear; ground bare; wind west, light; temp., 44 to
35°. Loon, 2; Herring Gull, 200; Black Duck, 75; Shelldrake, 3; Old Squaw, 50; Coot,
1,000; Night Heron, 3; Horned Lark, 12; Blue Jay (heard), i; Crow, 7; Starling, 75;
Meadowlark, 3; Junco, 25; Chickadee, 3. Total, 14 species, 10,459 individuals. — Mrs.
S. B. Strong, Kate W. Strong, Walter White.

Syracuse, N. Y. — Dec. 25; i to 5 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; temp., 40°. Northern
Loon, 2; Black Duck, 3; Horned Lark, 4; Snow Bunting, i; Song Sparrow, 2. Total,
5 species, 12 individuals. — J. Winthrop Pennock.

Bloomfield and Newark, N. J. — Dec. 25; 9.15 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Clear; ground bare;
no wind; temp., 32°. Sharp-shinned Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk, i; Barred Owl, i; Downy
Woodpecker, 4; Blue Jay, i; Crow, 26; Starling, 500; Goldfinch, 7; White-throated
Sparrow, 3; Tree Sparrow, i; Junco, 26; Song Sparrow, 14; Fox Sparrow, i; Brown
Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 6; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2.
Total, 17 species, 595 individuals. — Louis S. Kohler.

Bridgeton, N. J. — Dec. 27; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Morning rain, afternoon clear; no
snow; west winds; temp., 55°. Herring Gull, 2; Turkey Vulture, 39; Red-tailed Hawk,
2; Belted Kingfisher, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Flicker, i;
Jay, 6; Crow, (about) 1,500; Meadowlark, 19; Goldfinch, 6; Tree Sparrow, 94; Junco,
155; Song Sparrow, 32; Fox Sparrow, 9; Cardinal, 43; Winter Wren, 2; Tufted Titmouse,
21; Chickadee, 12; Robin, 49; Bluebird, 2; Mourning Dove, 36. Total, 22 species, 2,039
individuals. — Bennett K. Matlack.

Camden, N. J. — Dec. 24; 7.15 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Cloudy until i p.m., rained rest
of the day; wind west; temp., 40°. Herring Gull, 14; Sharp-shinned Hawk, i; Red-
tailed Hawk, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Crow, 25; Red-winged Blackbird, 15; Goldfinch,
17; White-throated Sparrow, 6; Song Sparrow, 20; Tree Sparrow, 70; Field Sparrow, i;
Junco, 40; Fox Sparrow, 2; Towhee, i; Cardinal, 6; Yellow Palm Warbler, i; Winter
Wren, 4; Carolina Wren, 2; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Tufted
Titmouse, 4; Chickadee, i. Total, 22 species, 240 individuals. — Julian K. Potter.

Edgewater, N. J. (Up the river, along base of Palisades, returning through Coytes-

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 27

ville, Nordhoff and Phelps Estate). — Dec. 28; 10.30 a.m. to 3.45 p.m. Partly cloudy;
wind west, very strong; ground bare; temp., 25 to 27°. No ice in river. Herring Gull,
30; Red-shouldered Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Flicker, i;
Crow, 3; Starling, i; Goldfinch, 28; Pine Siksin, 4; White-throated Sparrow, 50; Tree
Sparrow, 20; Junco, 5; Song Sparrow, 15; Cardinal, 2; Carolina Wren, 6; Brown Creeper,
3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 25; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3. Total, 19
species, 205 individuals. — Stanlfa' V. LaDow.

Englewood and Leonia, N. J. (Palisades, woods marshes, etc.). — Dec. 24; 9 a.m.
to 4 P.M. Overcast; temp, about 40°; wind, light, variable. Herring Gull, 20; Marsh
Hawk, 2; Red-tailed Hawk, 3; (?) Red-shouldered Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i;
Downy Woodpecker, 8; Flicker, 2; Blue Jay, 6; Crow, 12; Starling, 250; Meadowlark, i;
Purple Finch, 7; Goldfinch, 8; White-throated Sparrow, 50; Tree Sparrow, 125; Junco,
55; Song Sparrow, 20; Fox Sparrow, 2; Carolina Wren (Palisades), 20; Winter Wren, 3;
Brown Creeper, 4; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 17; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, 6; Hermit Thrush, 4; Robin, i. Total, 26 species, 633 individuals. — John
Treadwell Nichols and William W. Grant.

Hackettstown, N. J. — Dec. 26; 8 to 10.50 a.m., 1.35 to 4.30 p.m. Fog, partly clear
later. Downy Woodpecker, 3; FHcker, 3; Blue Jaj^ i; Crow, 160; Starling, 2; Meadow-
lark, 9; Purple Finch, 9; Goldfinch, i; Tree Sparrow, 9; Junco, 17; Myrtle Warbler,
2; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 8; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, 4; Bluebird heard repeatedly on Christmas day. Total, 17 species, 231 indi-
viduals.— Mary Pierson Allen.

Morristown, N. J. — Dec. 25; 8.30 to 11 a.m., 3.30 to 4.30 p.m. Clear, ground bare;
wind light, northwest; temp., 36°. Screech Owl, i (heard at night); Kingfisher, i;
Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay 4; Crow, 8; Starling, 20; Purple Finch, 6; Goldfinch,
17; White-throated Sparrow, 5; Tree Sparrow, 7; Junco, 16; Song Sparrow, i; Winter
Wren, i; Brown Creeper, 7; White-breasted Nuthatch, 17; Tufted Titmouse, 2; Chick-
adee, 25; Golden-crowned Kinglet, i. Total, iS species, 140 individual. — R. C. Caskey.

130th St. Ferry, N. Y. City (to Coytesville, Nordhoff and Leonia, N. J.).— Dec. 24;
10.40 A.M. to 4.40 P.M. Cloudy; ground bare; wind southwest, light; temp., about 42°.
Herring Gull, 300; Red-tailed Hawk, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3;
Northern Flicker, i; Crow, i; Starling, 4; Purple Finch, 3; Goldfinch, 2; White-throated
Sparrow, i; Tree Sparrow, 20; Chipping Sparrow, i; Junco, 24; Song Sparrow, 18;
Fox Sparrow, i ; Carolina Wren, i ; Brown Creeper, i ; White-breasted Nuthatch, i ;
Chickdee, 7; Golden-crowned Kinglet, i. Total, 20 species, 395 individuals. — Charles
H. Rogers.

Moorestown, N. J. — Dec. 25; 5.45 to 7.30 a.m., 8.10 a.m. to 5.51 p.m. Clear to
partly cloudy; ground bare; wind, northwest; temp., at start, 30°. Mourning Dove, 8;
Red-tailed Hawk, 3; Red-shouldered Hawk, i; Broad- winged Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk,
S; Long-eared Owl, i; Belted Kingfisher, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Downy Woodpecker,
9; Horned Lark, 8; Blue Jay, 13; Crow, 70; Starling, 10; Purple Finch, 2; Goldfinch, 32;
White-throated Sparrow, 14; Tree Sparrow, 124; Junco, 73; Song Sparrow, 56; Swamp
Sparrow, i; Fox Sparrow, 3; Cardinal, 18; Northern Shrike, i; Myrtle Warbler, 2;
Yellow Palm Warbler, 4; Carolina Wren, i; Winter Wren, 7; Brown Creeper, 2; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 4; Tufted Titmouse, 5; Chickadee, 5; Golden-crowned Kinglet,
10; Robin, 4. — Total, 33 species, 501 individuals. — William B. Evans, and George
H. Hallett, Jr.

Morristown, N. J. — Dec. 25; 9.30 to 11 a.m. Clear; ground bare; light westerly
wind; temp., 24°. Sparrow Hawk, i; Crow, 3; Blue Jay, 23; Downy Woodpecker, 2;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Goldfinch, 7; Bluebird, i; Junco, 35; Chickadee, i; White-
throated Sparrow, 2. Total, 10 species, 70 individuals. — Anna A. and Frank D. Vogt.

Newark, N. J. (Branch Brook Park, vacant lot near Second River, Morris Canal.) —

28 Bird -Lore

Dec. 26; 10.30 .\.M. to 12.15 M-, 2.45 to 5 P.M. Cloudy, very damp; light fog; ground
bare, soft; wind west, light, temp., 46, 48, 49, 45°. Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay,
2; Starling, about 85; White-throated Sparrow, 8; Tree Sparrow, 9; Junco, 20; Field
Sparrow, i; Song Sparrow, 2; Fox Sparrow, i. Total, 9 species, about 130 individuals.
Note. — All except 10 Starlings seen in a.m. in or very near Park. It seems worthy of
notice that I always find White-throated Sparrows about Christmas time in Newark in
considerable numbers, but in two winters and part of a third at Princeton, 40 miles
south, I have only one winter record, though the bird is common in migration. — R. F.

H.4ULENBECK.

Newfield, N. J. — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind west, light; temp., 32°.
Bob-white, 9; Blue Jay, 4; Crow, 9; Downy Woodpecker, i; Goldfinch, 10; Purple
Finch, 3; Tree Sparrow, 30; Junco, 100; Song Sparrow, 5; Myrtle Warbler, i; Bluebird,
2. Total, II species, about 174 individuals. — Wm. W. Fair.

Passaic, N. J. — Dec. 27; 10 to 11 a.m. Foggy; no wind; ground clear; temp., 45°.
Blue Jay, 6; Junco, 7; Song Sparrow, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, i. Total, 4 species,
16 individuals. — Leland Edwards and Donald B. Vail.

Passaic, N. J., and vicinity. — Dec. 25; 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Clear; wind, light,
west; ground bare; temp., 47°. Downy Woodpecker, 3; Crow, 3; Starling, 75; Tree
Sparrow, 12; Song Sparrow, 3; Brown Creeper, i. Total, 6 species, 97 individuals. — -
Robert Edwards, Paul McQuillen, Carl W. Vail.

Plainfield, N. J. (to Ash Swamp). — Dec. 25; 9.20 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Clear; ground
bare. Cooper's Hawk, i(im.); Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, i; Barred Owl,
i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, 12; Crow, 120; Fish Crow,
2; European Starling, 10; Purple Finch, 4; Goldfinch, 18; Pine Siskin, 2; Tree Sparrow,
50; Field Sparrow, 2; Junco, 40; Song Sparrow, 14; Swamp Sparrow, i; Carolina Wren,
2; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Tufted Titmouse, i; Chickadee, 22;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, i; Hermit Thrush, i; Robin, i. Total, 26 species, 315 indi-
viduals. The Carolina Wrens, a pair, are the only ones noted in this vicinity for over a
year. On Dec. 24 a Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen by me near Plainfield and most
satisfactorily identified. This is my first winter record of this species. — W. DeW.
Miller.

Trenton, N. J. — Dec. 17; 10 a.m. to i p.m. Clear; ground bare; brisk west wind;
temp., 47°. Downy Woodpecker, 6; Crow, 20; Junco, 25; Song Sparrow, 4; Chickadee,
15; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2. Total, 4 species, 72 individuals. On Dec. 3, Redpoll,
Purple Finch and Fox Sparrow were observed in this vicinity. — William M. Palmer.

Troy Hills, N. J. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Clear; ground bare, but wet; wind
west, light; temp., 30°. Mallard, 2; Black Duck, 9; Pin-tail, 4; Marsh Hawk, 2; Red-
shouldered Hawk, i; Sparrow-Hawk; Short-eared Owl, i; Screech Owl, i; Bob-white, 20;
Ring-necked Pheasant, 2; Downy W'oodpecker, 2; Red-headed Woodpecker, i; Flicker,
i; Belted Kingfisher, 2; Blue Jay, 3; Crow, 29; Meadowlark, 7; Starling, 5; American
Goldfinch, 6; Tree Sparrow, about 50; Song Sparrow, 5; Brown Creeper, 4; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 2; Black-capped Chickadee, 8. Total, 26 species, about 171 indi-
viduals.— Benj. F. Howell.

Buckingham, Pa. — Dec. 25. Sparrow Hawk, i; Owl, i; Downy Woodpecker, 6;
Flicker, 2; Blue Jay, 10; Crow, 30; Rusty Blackbird, 2; Cardinal, 4; Song Sparrow, 8;
Tree Sparrow, 8; English Sparrow (i flock); White-breasted Nuthatch, 4; Tufted Tit-
mouse, i; Chickadee, 20; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, i; Robin,
i; Bluebird, 3. Total, 19 species, 125 individuals. — ]\Irs. Elizabeth F. James

Chester, Pa. (and Crum Creek from Crum Lyime to Avendale and Swarthmore). —
Dec. 25; 10 a.m. to 12.30 P.M. Clear, almost calm; temp., 37°. Downy Woodpecker, 4;
Flicker, i; American Crow, 17; Bronzed Crackle, i; Goldfinch, 6; Purple Finch, 35;
Tree Sparrow, 10; Junco, 85; Song Sparrow, 35; Cardinal, 7; Carolina Wren, i; Brown

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 29

Creeper, i; \Vliite-l)reast>.'<l NuthaUli, 2; Tufted 'I'il mouse, 2. 'l\>\.ii\, 14 species, 207
individuals. — Artiiik V. Comkv.

Chestnut Hill, Pa. (the Cresheim Valley).— Dec. 25; 1 1.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Clear;
ground bare; wind west, light; temp., 53°. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker,
3; Flicker, i; Crow, 9; Meadowlark, 8; Goldfinch, 9; White-throated Sparrow, i; Tree
Sparrow, i; Junco, 50; Song Sparrow, 12; Field Sparrow, 9; Cardinal, 6; Carolina Wren,
3 (one singing); Winter Wren, 2; Chickadee, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4; Bluebird,
4. Total, 17 species, 125 individuals. — George Le.^r, 2nd.

Frankford in Philadelphia, Pa. — Dec. 25; 10.30 a.m. to 12 m. Clear; bright sunshine;
ground bare and wet; wind west, light; temp., 40°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Flicker, 3;
Crow, 6; Meadowlark, i; Junco, 60; Song Sparrow, 2; Tufted Titmouse, i; Chickadee, 2.
Total, 8 species. 76 individuals. — Henry L. Borneman.

Greenville, Pa., Riverside Park, Pa. — Dec. 25; 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Weather,
cloudy, at times clearing; light southwest wind; slight traces of snow; temp., 37 °. Hairy
Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, i; Purple Finch, 6; Gold-
finch, 2; Tree Sparrow, 13; Cardinal, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Black-capped
Chickadee, 2. Total, 10 species, 43 individuals. — R. H. Gekberding.

Lititz, Pa. (Northern Lancaster County, Upper Valley of the Hammer Creek).—
Dec. 26; 7 a.m. to 5 P.M. Cloudy, with fog and intermittent rain; ground bare; wind
east, light; temp., 45°. Ruffed Grouse, 4; Bob- white, 11; Turkey Vulture, i; Sparrow
Hawk, 2; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Flicker, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker,
13; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Blue Jay, 4; Crow, 250; Cardinal Grosbeak, 3; Junco, 115,
Song Sparrow, 7; Tree Sparrow, 265; Goldfinch, 22; Horned Lark, 55; Brown Creeper,
4; White-bellied Nuthatch, 6; Black-capped Chickadee, 19; Tufted Titmouse, 5; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 9; Bluebird, 6. Totals, 23 species, 806 individuals. — Herbert H.
Beck and Elmer E. Kautz.

Philadelphia, Pa. (Wissahickon and Cresheim Creeks, within city limits). — Dec. 26;
10.30 a.m. to 4 P.M Cloudy; heavy fog with occasional showers and hail; Hght northeast
wind; temp., 41°. Downy Woodpecker, 3; American Crow, 3; White-throated Sparrow,
i; Tree Sparrow, 12; Junco, 40; Song Sparrow, 4; Cardinal, 10; CaroHna Wren, 2;
Winter Wren, i. Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Tufted Titmouse, 2;
Chickadee, 12; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 8. Total, 14 species, loi individuals. — Dr.
and Mrs. Wm. Pepper.

LaFayette, Pa., to Chestnut Hill, Pa. — Dec. 23; 1.30 to 4.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground
bare; wind south, light; temp., 54°. Blue Jay, i; Crow, 6; White-throated Sparrow, 9;
Junco, 41; Song Sparrow, 10; Cardinal, 2; Carolina Wren, 7; Chickadee, i; Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 2. Total, 9 species, 79 individuals. — Charles Platt, 30, and B.
Franklin Pepper.

Reading, Pa. — Dec. 25; 2.30 to 5 p.m. Very cloudy, damp, muddy. American
Crow, 3; Purple Finch, 8. Total, 2 species, 11 individuals. Alfred O. Gross and
Edna G. Gross.

Reading, Pa. (Along the Wyomissing Creek). — Dec. 25; 9 a.m. to 12 m. Traces of
snow; cloudy to clear; hght wind; temp., 38 to 45°. Sparrow Hawk, 5; Belted King-
fisher, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Crow, 10; Baltimore Oriole, i (positive identification;
saw same bird at same place Dec. 10 and 17); Goldfinch, 5; Tree Sparrow, 20; Junco,
50; Song Sparrow, 20; Cardinal, 2 (male and female); Winter Wren, 2; Chickadee, 5;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, i. Total, 13 species, 125 individuals. — G. Henry Mengel.

West Chester, Pa. — Dec. 25; 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and 4 to 5 p.m. Clear; ground
bare, slightly frozen at start, very muddy at noon; no wind. Red-tailed Hawk, 5;
Sparrow Hawk, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 9; Crow, 250; Purple
Finch, i; Goldfinch, 2; Tree Sparrow, 75; Junco, 60; Song Sparrow, 14; Cardinal, i;
Pipit, 4; Carolina Wren, i; Brown Creeper, 44; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Tufted

30 Bird -Lore

Titmouse, 7; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3; Total, 17 species, 444 indi\'iduals. — C. E.
Ehinger.

West Chester, Pa. — Dec. 25; 9 to 12 m. Clear; light fall of snow on ground; wind,
southwest; temp., 34°. Red-tailed Hawk, i; Red-shouldered Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk,
i; Screech Owl, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Starling, 7; Crow, 500; Purple Crackle, 10;
Purple Finch, 2; Goldfinch, 30; Slate-colored Junco, 300; Song Sparrow, 10; Tree
Sparrow, 60; Brown Creeper, 2. Total, 14 species, 928 individuals. — Thomas H.

J.ACKSON.

Baltimore, Md. (Windsor Hills, Valley of Gwynn's Falls, and vicinity). — Dec. 25;

8a. m. to 12.45 ^■^- Clear; ground practically bare; no wind; temp., 34°. Bob-white,
9; Turkey Vulture, 13; Red-shouldered (?) Hawk, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Yellow-
bellied Sapsucker, i; Red-headed Woodpecker, i; Northern Flicker, 2; Blue Jay, 4;
Crow, no; Fish Crow, 6; Purple Finch, 15; Goldfinch, 3; White-throated Sparrow, 25;
Tree Sparrow, 3; Slate-colored Junco, 130; Song Sparrow, 17; Cardinal, 16; Myrtle
Warbler, i; Mockingbird, i; Carolina Wren, 9; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Tufted
Titmouse, 10; Chickadee, 7; Carolina Chickadee, 4; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2;
Bluebird, 6. Total, 26 species, 403 individuals. On Dec. 17, a Yellow Palm Warb-
ler was seen in the same vicinity. — Joseph N. Ulman and Mr. and Mrs. G. Clyde
Fisher.

Kenilworth, Md., and Congress Heights, D. C. — Dec. 24; 8.30 to 11.30 a.m. and
12.30 to 2 P.M. Rain or hail all the time, most of the time both; ground bare; no wind;
temp., 40°. Herring Gull, 3; Bob-white, 9; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Broad-winged
Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 7; Crow, 57; Fish Crow,
14; Meadowlark, 3; Goldfinch, 16; White-throated Sparrow, 29; Tree Sparrow, 76;
Field Sparrow, 6; Junco, 97; Song Sparrow, 54; Swamp Sparrow, 2; Fox Sparrow, 3;
Cardinal, 24; Mockingbird, 2; Carolina Wren, 5; Brown Creeper, i; White-bellied Nut-
hatch, 2; Tufted Titmouse, 10; Carolina Chickadee, 4; Golden-crowned Kinglet, i;
Bluebird, 3. Total, 27 species, 435 individuals. — Wells W. Cooke. (Additional
species, seen by Cooke, Fuller and McAtee in the vicinity of the District of Columbia,
Dec. 23-25. Great Blue Heron, i; Black-crowned Night Heron, 4; Ruffed Grouse, i;
Turkey Buzzard, 19; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Kingfisher, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Flicker,
2; Purple Finch, 7; Towhee; Cedarbird, 25; Winter Wren, 5; [Red-bellied Nuthatch,
one seen Dec. 17] Hermit Thrush, i; Robin. Making a total of 42 species now
wintering near Washington, D. C).

Cabin John Ridge to Plummer's Island, Md., and Dead Run and Turkey Run,
Fairfax Co., Va., and return. — Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain and sleet whole period.
Bob-white, 12; Ruffed Grouse, i; Kingfisher, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Wood-
pecker, 3; Flicker, 2; Blue Jay, 2; American Crow, i; White-throated Sparrow, 50;
Tree Sparrow, 109; Junco, 45; Song Sparrow, 15; Towhee, i; Cardinal, 14; Carolina
Wren, 9; Winter Wren, i; Brown Creeper, i; Tufted Titmouse, 4; Carolina Chickadee,
7; Golden-crowned Kinglet, i. Total, 20 species, 281 individuals. (Where were the
Buzzards and Bluebirds?) — W. L. McAtee.

Plummer's Island, Md. — Dec. 25. Foggy; ground bare; no wind; temp., 41°. Blue
Jay, 7; American Crow, i; Purple Finch, 3; Goldfinch, 20; Junco, 100; Song Sparrow,
12; Cardinal, 6; Cedar Waxwing, 25; Carolina Wren, i; Winter Wren, i; Tufted Tit-
mouse, 2; Carolina Chickadee, 10; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2; Robin, 2; Bluebird, 50.
Total, 15 species, 242 individuals. — H. C. Fuller.

Washington, D. C. (To the west of Rock Creek Park, along Piney Branch). — Dec.
25; II A.M. to 2 P.M. Cloudy; ground bare and very wet; wind calm; temp., 42°.
Turkey Vulture, 5; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Crow, 100; Gold-
finch, 11; White-throated Sparrow, i; Tree Sparrow, 67; Chipping Sparrow, 3; Slate-
colored Junco, 119; Song Sparrow, 16; Towhee, i female; Cardinal, 12; Carolina Wren,

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 31

3; Brown Creeper, 3; While-ljreasted NulhaUh, 4; Tufted Titmouse, 3; Chickadee, i.
Total, 17 species, 547 individuals. — Edwin B. Hunt.

Accotink, Va. — Dec. 25; on a drive from g.30 to 11.15 a.m. Very foggy, wind north
west, moderate; temp., 40°. Turkey Buzzard, 3; American Crow, i; Junco, 100; Car-
dinal, 3; Loggerhead Shrike, 3; Mocking Bird, 3; Chickadee, i; Bluebird, 5. Total, 8-
species, 119 individuals. — Wm. P. Caton.

Beulahville, Va. — Dec. 18; 11 to 11. 10 .-v.m. (looking from window into a cedar tree.)
Raining, not cold. Flicker, i; Yellow-bellied Sapsuckcr, i; Cardinal, 4; Myrtle Warbler,
6; Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 8; Hermit Thrush, i; Bluebird, 10. Total, 9 species, 2^
individuals. — Ki.izabetii Hawes Ryland.

Bowers Hill, Norfolk Co., Va. — Dec. 23; 8 to 10.30 a.m. Steady rain for four days
previous, still very cloudy; light south wind; temp., 48°. Herring Gull, i; Mourning
Dove, 21; Turkey Vulture, 9; Barred Owl, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Red-bellicdi
Woodpecker, i; Flicker, 6; Blue Jay, 3; Crow, 4; Red-winged Blackbird, 18; Meadow-
lark, 50; Purple Crackle, 234; Purple Finch, 6; Goldfinch, 11; Pine Siskin, ss', Savannah
Sparrow, 2; White-throated Sparrow, 8; Field Sparrow, 8; Junco, 25; Song Sparrow, 6;
Swamp Sparrow, 4; Fo.\ Sparrow, 8; Towhee, 3; Cardinal, 2; Myrtle Warbler, 5; Pipit,
27; Mockingbird, i; Brown Thrasher, 4; Carolina Wren, 6; White-breasted Nuthatch,
3; Tufted Titmouse, 2; Chickadee, 3; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3; Hermit Thrush, 2;
Robin, 4; Bluebird, 5. Total, 36 species, 598 individuals. — Merkiam G. Lewis.

Pulaski, Va. — Dec. 25; 12.45 to 4.30 p.m. Ground bare; cloudy; slight west wind;
temp., 42 to 44°; distance traveled six miles. Killdeer, i; Turkey Vulture, 116; Sparrow
Hawk, i; Southern Downy Woodpecker, 3; Meadowlark, 14; American Goldfinch, 4;
Tree Sparrow, 6; Slate-colored Junco, 84; Song Sparrow, 22; Cardinal, 14; Carolina
Wren, 2; House Wren, 2; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee,
2; (Kingfisher seen on December 9, which is a record for this section). Total, 16
species, 304 individuals. — O. C. Brewer.

Louisburg, N. C. — Dec. 25; 9.45 a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy; wind light; ground bare;
temp., 60°. Buzzard, 12; Marsh Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Flicker, 2; Phoebe, i;
Crow, i; American Crossbill, 2; Goldfinch, 3; White-throated Sparrow, 25; Field Spar-
row, 3; Slate-colored Junco, 150; Song Sparrow, 20; Fox Sparow, 2; Cardinal, 7; Mock-
ing Bird, 2; Brown Thrasher, i; Carolina Wren, 2; Winter Wren, 2; Brown Creeper, 2;
Brown-headed Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, 2; Robin, 24; Bluebird, 12. Total, 24 species,
286 individuals. — Joseph C. Jones.

Southern Pines, N. C. — Dec. 25; 10 a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy; wind southeast; temp.,
44°. Downy Woodpecker, i;Sapsucker, i; Flicker, 2; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 7; Meadow-
lark, 30; Purple Finch, i; White-throated Sparrow, i; Chipping Sparrow, i; Field Spar-
row, 25; Junco, 75; Carolina Junco, 2; Song Sparrow, 9; Pine Warbler, i; Cardinal
Grosbeak, 2; Mockingbird, 3; Carolina Wren, i; Brown Creeper, i; Tufted Titmouse,
2; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, i; Hermit Thrush, i; Bluebird, 2. Total, 22 species, 170
individuals. — E. Tweedy.

Easley, S. C. — Dec. 26; 10.35 a.m. to 4.35 p.m. Cloudy; mist and fog; temp., 52°.
Mourning Dove, 4; Turkey Buzzard, i; Downy Woodpecker, i; Pileated Woodpecker,
i; Red-bellied Woodpecker, i; Flicker, 3; Phoebe, i; Blue Jay, 3; Goldfinch, 2; Pine Sis-
kin, i; Fox Sparrow, 2; Towhee, i (heard); Cardinal, 4; Loggerhead Shrike, i; Mocking-
bird, i; Carolina Wren, 4; Brown-headed Nuthatch, 10; Tufted Titmouse, 3; Chicka-
dee, 3; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2; Bluebird, 2. Total, 20 species, 51 individuals. —
Andrew Pickens.

Marion, S. C. — Dec. 23; 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cloudy and cool, with very little wind;
temp., 54°. Bob-white, 15; Mourning Dove, 16; Turkey Vulture, 3; Black Vulture, 4;
Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, i; Southern Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Southerri
Downy Woodpecker, 3; Yellow-bellied Sapsuckcr, 4; Red-headed Woodpecker, i; Red-

32 Bird -Lore

bellied Woodpecker, 5; Southern Flicker, 4; Blue Jay, 17; American Crow, 14; Cowbird,
25; Red-winged Blackbird, 25; Meadowlark, 8; Florida Crackle, 11; Purple Finch, i;
Vesper Sparrow, 100; Savannah Sparrow, 25; White-throated Sparrow, 150; Chipping
Sparrow, 35; Field Sparrow, 50; Slate-colored Junco, 200; Song Sparrow, 75; Fox Spar-
row, 3; White-eyed Towhee, 5; Cardinal, 6; Loggerhead Shrike, 3; Pine Warbler, 4;
American Pipit, 7; Mockingbird, 6; Catbird, 2; Brown Thrasher, 5; Carolina Wren, 3;
Florida White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Tufted Titmouse, 14; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 20; Hermit Thrush, 12; Robin, 4; Bluebird, 5; Total, 43 species,
901 individuals. — E. B. Wheeler, Jr.

Atlanta, Ga. (Fulton Co. to Howell's Mill, via Roswell Road and Nancy's Creek
Valley). — Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cloudy; moist, ground wet; wind north, light;
temp., 55 to 60°. Killdeer, 12; Mourning Dove, 40; Turkey Buzzard, 2; Cooper's Hawk,
i; Red-shouldered Hawk, i; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk, i; Pileated Wood-
pecker, i; Southern Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Southern Downy Woodpecker, 12; Flicker, 2;
Phoebe, 2; Blue Jay, 20; Crow, 2; Meadowlark, 120; Purple Grackle, 2; Purple Finch,
8; Goldfinch, 150; Vesper Sparrow, 8; White-throated Sparrow, 100; Chipping Sparrow,
30; Field Sparrow, 60; Junco, 200; Song Sparrow, 30; Fox Sparrow, 10; Towhee, 20;
Cardinal, 12; Cedar Waxwing, 10; Loggerhead Shrike, i; Mockingbird, 2; Carolina
Wren, 12; Brown Creeper, 8; White-breasted Nuthatch, 8; Brown-headed Nuthatch, 6;
Tufted Titmouse, 50; Carolina Chickadee, 10; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 10; Ruby-
crowned Kinglet, 6; Hermit Thrush, i; Robin, 250; Bluebird, 20. Total, 42 species,
1,250 (approximately) individuals. — James M. Sanford.

Coronado Beach, Florida. — Dec. 25; 4.30 to 8 a.m., and 2 to 4 p.m. Clear and
warm; wind east-northeast; temp., 73°. Loon, 6; Herring Gull, 4; Laughing Gull, 30;
Bonaparte's Gull, 40; Caspian Tern, 50; Royal Tern, 10; Forster's Tern, 50; Black
Skimmer, 10; Florida Cormorant, i; Brown Pelican, 300; Hooded Merganser, i; Mal-
lard, 2; Scaup Duck, 40; Ward's Heron, 3; American Egret, i; Louisiana Heron, 20;
Little Blue Heron, 1; Clapper Rail, 5; Semipalmated Sandpiper, 30; Sanderling, 60;
Killdeer, 2; Semipalmated Plover, i; Ruddy Turnstone, 40; Mourning Dove, 25;
Ground Dove, 10; Turkey Vulture, i; Black Vulture, 4; Bald Eagle, i; Sparrow Hawk,
2; Barred Owl, i; Screech Owl, i; Belted Kingfisher, 5; Red-bellied Woodpecker, i;
Flicker, i; Phoebe, 10; Blue Jay, i; Seaside Sparrow, 10; Towhee, 10; Cardinal, 15;
Loggerhead Shrike, i; Blue-headed Vireo, i; Louisiana Water-Thrush, 5; Mocking-
bird, 15; Catbird, 10; Carolina Wren, i; House Wren, 2; Long-billed Marsh Wren, 5;
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, 2; Robin, 7. Total, 49 species, 855 individuals. — Ray H.
Vrooman and R. J. Longstreet.

Daytona Beach, Fla. — Dec. 24; 9.30 to 11.30 a.m., 3 to 4.30 p.m. Clear; light
southwest wind; temp., 82°. Pied-billed Grebe, i; Herring Gull, 9; Bonaparte's Gull,
19; Florida Cormorant, i; Brown Pelican, 10; Lesser Scaup Duck, 11; Ward's Heron,
6; Louisiana Heron, i; Little Blue Heron, i; Killdeer, 7; Quail, i; Bob- white, 2;
Ground Dove, 6; Turkey Vulture, 35; Black Vulture, i; Osprey, i; Belted Kingfisher, i;
Red-bellied Woodpecker, i ; Phoebe, 7; Florida Blue Jay, 5; Florida Jay, 9; Florida Crow,
2; Fish Crow, 21; Florida Redwing, 13; Chipping Sparrow, 16; Red-eyed Towhee, 4;
Florida Cardinal, i; Tree Swallow, 7; Loggerhead Shrike, 11; White-eyed \'ireo, 3;
Myrtle Warbler, 9; Pine Warbler, i; Palm Warbler, 6; Mockingbird, 24; Carolina
Wren, i; House Wren, i; Brown-headed Nuthatch, 2; Tufted Titmouse, 2; Carolina
Chickadee, i; Blue-Graj' Gnatcatcher, 2; Robin, 31; Bluebird, 32. Total, 40 species,
323 individuals. — Sarah F. Ainsworth (Mrs. H. A.)

Jacksonville, Fla. — Dec. 24; 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Cloudy and showers; light
southwest breeze; temp., 80°. Pied-billed Grebe, 3; Herring Gull, 10; Ring-billed Gull,
2; Laughing Gull, 5; Lesser Scaup, 9; Ground Dove, 3; Black Vulture, 7; Marsh Hawk,
i; Kingfisher, i; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 3; Phoebe, 5; Blue Jay, 3; Fish Crow, 11;

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 33

Mcadowlark, (); Soii^ Sinirrow, 2; Cardinal, 7; Tree Swallow, 40; Loggerhead Shrike, 6;
MjTtlc Warbler, 30; Palm Warbler, 12; Maryland Yellowlhroat, i; Pipit, i; Mocking-
bird, 15; House Wren, 4; Hermit Thrush, 3; Robin. 2; Hiucbird, 6. — Total, 27 sjx'cies,
200 indi\ iduals. — Mrs, Mary (iRwc.KR Mii.i.s.

Palma Sola to Passage Key Reservation and return. — Dec. 25. 'lime, all day;
foggy in morning to clear; temp., 73° in a.m., to So° in p.m. Holbcell's Grebe, 4; Loon,
28; Parasitic Jaeger, 2; Herring Gull, 50; Laughing (iuil, 125; Royal Tern, 150; Cabot
Tern, 75; Common Tern, 100; Florida Cormorant, 100; Brown Pelican, 450; Man-o'-
War-Bird, 3; Blue-winged Teal, 6; Lesser Scaup Duck, 50; Ward's Heron, 275; Snowy
Egret, i; Louisiana Heron, 35; Little Blue Heron, 2; Yellow-crowned Night Heron, 4;
Sanderling, 80; Semipalmated Sandpijier, 10; Spotted Sandpiper, i; Willel, 7; Black-
bellied Plover 8; Mourning Dove, 5; Ground Dove, 50; Black Skimmer, 18; Bald Eagle,
i; American Sparrow Hawk, i; Belted Kingfisher, 3; Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 2;
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 5; Southern Flicker, 10; Ruby-throated Hummingbird, i;
Phoebe, 6; Florida Blue Jay, 20; Florida Red-wing, 30; Southern Meadowlark, 6;
Savannah Sparrow, 30; Chipping Sparrow, 20; White-eyed Towhee, 15; Cardinal, 2;
Loggerhead Shrike, 2; White-eyed Vireo, 2; Myrtle Warbler, 65; Palm Warbler, 50;
Southern Yellow-throat, 3; Mockingbird, 55; Catbird, 6; Florida Wren, i; Marian's
Marsh Wren, 3; Blue-gray (inatcatcher, 10; Robin, 200; Bluebird, 85. Total, 53 species,
2,002 individuals. — Carlos Earj.e.

Horseshoe Plantation, 16 miles northwest of Tallahassee, Fla. — Dec. 25; daylight
until dark. Overcast all day; rain for the last week; temp., 68°; wind very light, south-
east. Country visited: Corn and cotton fields, roadside thickets, live-oak and pine
woods, shores of Lake Aimonia, swamps, marshes, and meadows. Birds so numerous
only minimum estimates given. Mallard, 9; Black Duck, 3; Ring-necked Duck, 300;
Sora Rail, i; Wilson's Snipe, 8; Killdeer, 12; Bob- white, 25; Mourning Dove, 120;
Ground Dove, i; Turkey Vulture, 2; Black Vulture, 50; Marsh Hawk, 3; Red-tailed
Hawk, 2; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Duck Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk, 3; Southern Downy
Woodpecker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 20; Flicker, 15; Phoebe, 15; Florida Blue
Jay, 50; Crow, 12; Fish Crow, i; Florida (?) Red-wing, 500; Southern Meadowlark, 5;
Rusty Blackbird, 3; Florida Grackle, 50; Purple Finch, 10; Goldfinch, 22; Pine Siskin,
2 (positively identified); Vesper Sparrow, 25; Savannah Sparrow, 25; White-throated
Sparrow, 100; Field Sparrow, 50; Song Sparrow, 25; Swamp Sparrow, 25; Towhee, 50;
Cardinal, 50 (singing); Cedar Waxwing, 65; Loggerhead Shrike, 4; Orange-crowned
Warbler, 3; Myrtle Warbler, 15; Yellow-throated Warbler, i; Northern Yellow-throat,
7; Pipit, 75; Mockingbird, 5; Brown Thrasher, 75; Carolina Wren, 25 (singing); Bewick's
Wren, i (singing); Short-billed Marsh Wren, 3; Carolina Chickadee, 6; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, 2; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 20; Hermit Thrush, 25; Robin, 250; Bluebird, 25.
Total, 56 species, at least 2,090 individuals. The following additional species have been
seen in last three days. Bittern, i ; Great Blue Heron, 3; Woodcock, 3; Wild Turkey, 25;
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 4; Great Horned Owl, 2; Southern Hairy Woodpecker, i; Grass-
hopper Sparrow, 2; Solitary Vireo, i; White-eyed Vireo, i; Black and White Warbler, i;
Pine Warbler, i; Palm Warbler, 15; Winier Wren, i; making in all, a grand total of
70 species found on the plantation around Christmas. — Ludlow Griscom, Griscom
Bettle, and Leverett Saltoxstall.

Long Island, Ala. (On Sand Mountain). — Dec. 25; 7.30 a.m. to 12 m., 2.10 to s pm.
Mistj' in the morning but clear about noon; ground bare; wind, south, light; temp.,
about 50°. Bob-white, 7; Mourning Dove, 5; Sparrow Hawk, i; Southern Hairy Wood-
pecker, i; Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker, i; Flicker, i; Blue
Jay, i; American Crow, 2; Meadowlark, 8; Goldfinch, 3; White-crowned Sparrow, i;
Tree Sparrow, 14; Junco, 26; Song Sparrow, 2; Cardinal, 7; Mockingbird, i; Carolina
Wren, 5; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Tufted Titmouse, 3; (iolden-crowned Kinglet, i;

34 Bird - Lore

Robin, s; Bluebird, 3; all seen within a half mile of my home. Total, 24 species, 109
individuals. — E. W. Graves.

Oak Vale, Miss. — Dec. 25; 9 a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy; light south wind; ground bare;
temp., 60°. Mourning Dove, 35; Sparrow Hawk, 2; Woodpecker, 7; Pileated Wood-
pecker, i; Flicker, 3; Phoebe, 7; Meadowlark, 12; Blue Jay, 6; Field Sparrow, 4;
Cardinal, 4; Pine Warbler, 2; Mockingbird, 3; Brown Thrasher, 4; House Wren, 5;
Chickadee, 5; Thrush, 4; Robin, 13; Bluebird, 12. Total, 18 species, about 59
individuals. — D. D. Fortenberry.

Palacios, Texas. — Dec. 24; one mile of Bayfront; from 10 a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy;
no wind; temp., 50°. Herring Gull, 5; Cormorant, i; Brown Pelican, 8; Canada Goose,
2 flocks; Bittern, i; Great Blue Heron, 4; Killdeer, 25; Mexican Ground Dove, 2;
Mourning Dove, 7; Black Vulture, 50; Marsh Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, i; Texas
Screech Owl, i; Belted Kingfisher, 2; Flicker, i; Horned Lark, 4; Meadowlark, great
numbers; Rusty Blackbird, great numbers; Great-tailed Grackle, 50; Goldfinches,
100; Sparrows, great number of many kinds not identified; Shrike, 4; Myrtle Warb-
ler, 6; American Pipit, 6 flocks; Mockingbird, 6. Total, 29 species. — Mrs. E. J.
Sloan.

Tonkawa, Okla. — Dec. 25; 1.30 to 3.30 p.m. Cloudy and rainy; wind northeast;
temp., about 35 °. Bob-white, i ; Marsh Hawk, i ; Sparrow Hawk, i ; Hairy Woodpecker,
2; Downy Woodpecker, i; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Meadow-
lark, 2; Tree Sparrow, 20; Song Sparrow, 2; Harris's Sparrow, 100; Cardinal, 3; Logger-
headed Shrike, i; Brown Creeper (?) i; Chickadee, 3; Robin, 100; Bluebird, i. Total,
17 species, 243 individuals. — F. B. Isely.

Wichita, Kan. (along the Ninnescah River). — Dec. 27; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clear;
a little snow; very light wind, west; temp., 25°. Bob-white, 9; Krider's Hawk, i; Downy
Woodpecker, i; Flicker, 4; Crow, 8; Meadowlark, 3; Harris's Sparrow, 25; Towhee, 2;
Cardinal, 18; Chickadee, 3; Robin, 4; Bluebird, 12; Total, 12 species, 100 individuals. —
Merrill Isely.

Marjrville, Mo. — Dec. 25; 9 a.m. to 12 m. Fair; four inches of snow; temp., 36°;
distance walked, five miles. Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 6; Red-bellied
Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 6; Crow, 15; Tree Sparrow, 35; Junco, 40; Brown
Creeper, 7; White-breasted Nuthatch, 8; Chickadee, 26; Tufted Titmouse, 12; Robin, i.
Total, 13 species, 163 individuals. (Robins are rarely seen in this vicinity at this time
of the year. The one noted was calling from the top of a tree as they usually do in the
«arly spring.) — John E. Cameron.

Concordia, Mo. — Dec. 25; i to 3 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind east; temp., 38°.
Swainson's Hawk, 2; Screech Owl, i; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Red-bellied Woodpecker,
5; Flicker, 5; Prairie Horned Lark, 65; Crow, 12; Blue Jay, 2; Junco, 38; Tree Sparrow,
11; Cardinal, 8; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Tufted Titmouse,
13; Chickadee, 14. Total, 15 species, 172 individuals. — Ferdinand Schreiman.

Kansas City, Mo. (Swope Park to Dodson). — Dec. 25; 11 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Clear;
wind northeasterly 12 miles; ground bare; temp., 21 to 29°. Mallard Duck, i; Bob-
white, 2; Turkey Vulture, 2; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Wood-
pecker, 7; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 5; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, i; Crow, 8; Goldfinch, 2;
Tree Sparrow, 19; Junco, 242; Cardinal, 18; Cedar Waxwing, i; Carolina Wren, 11;
Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Tufted Titmouse, 32; Black-capped
Chickadee, 30; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2. Total, 21 species, 390 individuals. — Mr.
and Mrs. H. R. Walmsley.

St. Louis, Mo. (Creve Coeur Lake). — Dec. 27; 10.15 a.m. to 2.15 p.m. Clear;
ground bare; wind west, strong and cold; temp., 24°. Downy Woodpecker, 8; Red-
bellied Woodpecker, 4; Flicker, 4; Crow, 12; Red-winged Blackbird, 30; Purple Finch,
4; Tree Sparrow, 50; Junco, 75; Cardinal, 20; Mockingbird, 2; Carolina Wren, 4; Brown

Bird- Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 3-5

Creeper, i; While-breasted XuLluitch, 6; Tufted Titmouse, 2; Chickadee, 8; liluehird,
4. Total, 16 species, 234 individuals. — Edward H. Christie.

Knoxville, Tenn.— Dec. 25; 7. a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy; rain, with alternate glimpses of
blue sky; wind, light; temp., 45°. Downy Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, i; Crow, i; Junco, i;
Carolina Wren, 2; Brown Creeper, i; Nuthatch, i; Tufted Titmouse, 4; Carolina Chick-
adee, s; Bluebird, i. Total, 10 species, 19 individuals. — Magnolia Woodward.

Stanton, Ky. (In the mountains of Kentucky), — Dec. 25; 7.35 a.m. to 4.10 p.m.
Clear; wind west, light; ground bare; temp., 50°. Mallard, 2; Black Duck, 4; Bob- white,
120; Mourning Dove, 3; Marsh Hawk, 2; Sharp-shinned Hawk, i; Cooper's Hawk, 2;
Red-tailed Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, 4; Great Horned Owl, i; Blue Jay, 23; Crow, 3;
Meadowlark, 2; Rusty Blackbird, 4; Tree Sparrow, 13; Slate-colored Junco, about 200;
Song Sparrow, 32; Cardinal, 46; Loggerhead Shrike, i; Carolina Wren, 2; Tufted Tit-
mouse, 8; Carolina Chickadee, 19; Robin, 64. Total, 23 species, 558 individuals. — V. K.
Dodge.

Lexington, Ky. — Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Clear; ground bare; no wind; temp.,
46°. Mourning Dove, i; Sparrow Hawk, 8; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker,
3; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Horned Lark, ^^-j Crow, 1,117; Meadowlark, 12; Rusty
Blackbird, i; White-crowned Sparrow, 6; Tree Sparrow, 15; Slate-colored Junco, 18;
Song Sparrow, 19; Towhee, i; Cardinal, 24; Carolina Wren, 4; Carolina Chickadee, 4;
Robin, 4. Total, 18 species, 1,273 individuals. — Jas. H. Gardener and Chas. K.

MORRELL.

Lafayette, Ind. — Dec. 25; 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; no breeze;
temp., about 32°. Distance traveled 4 miles, along Wabash River. Crow, 4; Blue Jay,
2; Cardinal, 10; Downy Woodpecker, 6; Slate-colored Junco, 35; Brown Creeper, 4;
Titmouse, 15; Bluebird, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Song Sparrow, 4; Winter
Wren, i; Black-capped Chickadee, i; Robin, i; Flicker, i; Sparrow Hawk, i. Total,
15 species, 90 individuals. — M. L. Fisher.

Charlestown, Ind. — Dec. 25; 7 a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind west, very
light; temp., 40°. Sparrow Hawk, i; Belted Kingfisher, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Red-
bellied Woodpecker, 3; Flicker, 2; Blue jay, 4; American Crow, 45; Meadowlark, 2;
Tree Sparrow, 18; Slate-colored Junco, 57; Song Sparrow, 6; Cardinal, 13; Mockingbird,
2; Carolina Wren, 9; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Tufted Titmouse,
7; Carolina Chickadee, 12; Bluebird, 8. Total, 19 species, 198 individuals. — Rev. C. L.
Chap.\ian and Joe Allen Barnett.

Fort Wayne, Ind. — Dec. 29; 8 a.m. to 12.40 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind south,
very light; temp., 23°. Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy W^oodpecker, 8; Flicker, 5; Blue
Jay 12; Crow, 2; Goldfinch, 26; Pine Siskin, 15; Tree Sparrow, 71; Slate-colored Junco,
37; Song Sparrow, 20; Cardinal, 3; Brown Creeper, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 21;
Tufted Titmouse, 20; Chickadee, 13. Total, 15 species, 258 individuals. — Chas. A.
Stockbridge and A. A. Ringwalt.

Indianapolis, Ind. — Dec. 27; 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare;
west, very heavy; temp., 23°. Kingfisher, i; Crow, 16; Cardinal, 4; Chickadee, 4.
Total, 4 species, 25 individuals. — Elliot R. Tibbets and Zella Pitt.

Kokomo, Ind. — Dec. 27. Partly cloudy; ground partly covered with light snow;
very high southwest wind; temp., 29°. Distance walked, about 6 miles. High wind
probably had something to do with few birds observed. Sparrow Hawk, i; Downy
Woodpecker, i; Flicker, 10; Blue Jay, i; Junco, about no. Total, 5 species, 123 indi-
viduals. Especially remarkable for number of Flickers observed in one fiock.^B. R.
Russell.

Richmond, Ind. — Dec. 25; 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Overcast; ground bare; wind
southwest, light; temp., 38°. Bob-white, 24; Dove, 12; Screech Owl, i; Hairy Wood-
pecker, 3; Downy W^oodpecker, 7; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Red-headed Woodpecker,

36 Bird -Lore

15; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 20; Crow, 10; Goldfinch, 5; Tree Sparrow, 50; Junco, 200;
Song Sparrow, 13; Cardinal, 36; Cedar Waxwing, 12; Carolina Wren, 3; Brown Creeper,
i; White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Tufted Titmouse, 8; Black-capped Chickadee, 80;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, 6; Robin, 52; Bluebird, 12. Total, 24 species, 566 individuals.
— L. E. Gans, jSI. Baxter, Miss Carpenter, Mrs. J. G. Sutton, Mrs. P. B. Coffin.

Se3miour, Ind. (White River). — Dec. 28; 1.30 to 5 p.m. Clear, sunny day; ground
bare; no wind; temp., 30°. American Merganser, 36; Marsh Hawk, 2; Red-tailed Hawk,
i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Tree Sparrow, 22; Slate-colored Junco, 4; Song Sparrow, 3;
Cardinal, 12; Carolina Wren, i; Tufted Titmouse, 3; Chickadee, 11. Total, 11 species,
98 individuals. On December 7 a male Towhee was seen, and on December 26 a Robin. —
Julius C. Peter.

Vincennes, Ind. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare and free from
frost; wind southwest, light; temp., 42°. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 7;
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 6; Northern Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 10; Crow, 17; Goldfinch, 2;
Tree Sparrow, 18; Slate-colored Junco, 17; Song Sparrow, 12; Cardinal, 16; Mocking-
bird, 2; Carolina Wren, 8; Brown Creeper, i; Tufted Titmouse, 14; Carolina Chickadee,
3; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3. Total, 17 species, 138 individuals. — Cornelius F.

POSSON.

Attica, Ohio. — Dec. 25; i to 4 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind south-southwest,
light; temp., 40°. Mourning Dove, 2; Barred Owl, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Red-
headed Woodpecker, 8; Flicker, 11; Blue Jay, 2; Tree Sparrow (one flock of 53);
White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Tufted Titmouse, i. Total, 9 species, 84 individuals. —
Rolla Lozier.

Berlin Center and Elsworth, Ohio. — Dec. 29; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Film of snow on
ground; wind southwest; temp., 26°; distance walked, 8 miles. Bob-white, 10; Ruffed
Grouse, 2; Mourning Dove, i; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Screech Owl. i; Hairy Woodpecker,
9; Downy Woodpecker, 13; Red-headed Woodpecker, 40; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 10;
Flicker, 10; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 59; Tree Sparrow, 74; Junco, i; Song Sparrow, 5; Towhee,
6; White-breasted Nuthatch, 31; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 6; Tufted Titmouse, 6;
Black-capped Chickadee, 3. Total, 20 species, 292 individuals. — Ernest Waters
Vickers.

Canton, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cloudy; ground practically bare; wind
southwest, light; temp., 40°. Sparrow Hawk, i; Kingfisher, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i;
Downy Woodpecker, 5; Blue Jay, i; Tree Sparrow, 200; Junco, 5; Song Sparrow, 16,
(one singing); Cardinal, 15; Winter Wren, i; Brown Creeper, 3; White-breasted Nut-
hatch, 7; Tufted Titmouse, 3; Chickadee, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 11; Robin, 36.
Total, 16 species, 308 individuals. — Edward D. Kimes.

Cadiz, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 10.40 a.m. to 12.40 p.m. Cloudy; about two inches of snow
on the ground; wind, southwest, light; temp., 35°. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy
Woodpecker, 6; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, i; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 6; Flicker, 2;
Prairie Horned Lark, 5; Crow, 8; Blue Jay, 2; Tree Sparrow, 115; Junco, 65; Song Spar-
row 11; Cardinal, 4; Carolina Wren, 2 (sings); White-breasted Nuthatch, 10; Tufted
Titmouse, 12; Chickadee, 14; Robin, 40; Bluebird, 20. Total, 18 species, 325 individuals.
We found the skunk cabbage growing, and the dandelions in bloom. — Harry B. McCon-
nell and John Worley.

Cincinnati, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 8.30 to 11.15 '^-M. Snowing, ground slightly covered;
strong southwest wind; temp., 20°. Bob-white, 16; Downy Woodpecker, i; Crow, 3;
Junco, 4; Song Sparrow, 10; Cardinal, 14; Carolina Wren, 7; Tufted Titmouse, 8;
Carolina Chickadee, 6; Robin (?) i. Total, 10 species, 70 individuals. — Howard
Lawless.

Chardon, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to i p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; thawing; wind
southwest; temp., 45°. Great Horned Owl, i ; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas l^ird Census 37

12; Red-headed Woodpecker, 6; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 2; Song Sparrow, 7; Hrown Creeper,
6; White-breasted Nuthatch, 23; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Black-capped Chickadee,
S. Total, II species, 76 individuals. — B. G. K. Rkkd.

Canton, Ohio. — Dec. 26; 7.15 a.m. to 12.45 i'-^'- Cloudy; f^rouncl bare; wind east,
light; teni])., 38°., distance covered, 9 miles. Red-tailed Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk, i;
Kingfisher, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 3; Tree Sparrow,
800; Slate-colored Junco, 100; Song Sparrow, 11; Cardinal, 17; Cedar Waxwing, i;
Winter Wren, i; Brown Creeper, 4; White-breasted Nuthatch, 12; Tufted Titmouse, i;
Black-capped Chickadee, 15; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 25; Robin, 6. Total, 18 species,
1,005 individuals. ^James A. Calhoun and Robt. A. Hennesy.

Cleveland, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Cloudy; wind southwest, moderate;
ground bare; temp., 38°; distance walked, eleven miles. Herring Gull, 3; Downy Wood-
pecker, i; Flicker, i; Song Sparrow, 2; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3;
Chickadee, 4. Total, 7 species, 15 individuals. — Sheridan F. Wood.

Delaware, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 3 to 4.30 p.m. Clear; ground bare; temp., 40°. Sparrow,
Hawk, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Red-headed Woodpecker, 4; Red-bellied Wood-
pecker, i; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 6; Song Sparrow, 3; Cardinal, 3; Carolina Wren, i;
Tufted Titmouse, i; Robin, i. Total, 11 species, 20 individuals. — Harry Hipple.

Huron, Ohio. — Dec. 26; 8.45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cloudy; becoming misty and rainy in
p.m.; ground bare; wind east, light; temp., 39°. Horned Grebe, i; Herring Gull, 3;
Red-tailed Hawk, i; Sparrow Hawk, i; Downy Woodpecker, i; Northern Flicker, 5;
Blue Jay, 3; Tree Sparrow, 100; Song Sparrow, 4; Cardinal, 8; Robin, 27. Total, 11
species, 154 individuals. — H. G. Morse and Rolland Pierce.

Laceyville, Ohio. — Dec. 24; i to 4 p.m. Cloudy; two inches of snow; wind, very
light, south; temp., 36°. Bob-white, 12; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 2;
Downy Woodpecker, 10; Flicker, i; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 12; Tree Sparrow, 115;
Junco, 25; Song Sparrow, 10; Cardinal, 5; Goldfinch, 4; Towhee, 3; Carolina Wren, 3;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 15; Tufted Titmouse, 15; Chickadee, 10; Robin, 25; Bluebird,
2. Total, 18 species, 270 individuals. — E. E. Smith.

Lisbon, Ohio. — 9 a.m. to 12 m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind light; temp., 35°. Downy
Woodpecker, 3; American Goldfinch, 11; Tree Sparrow, 10; Slate-colored Junco, 12;
Song Sparrow, 5; Cardinal, 4; Carolina Wren, i; Brown Creeper, 3; White-breasted
Nuthatch, 3; Tufted Titmouse, 5; Chickadee, 15; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 6. Total,
12 species, 75 individuals. — C. A. White and Robert J. Hole.

Lochbourne, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 8.30 to 11.30 a.m. Cloudy; air very heavy; temp., 30°;
distance covered, 22 miles. (Very hard to use binoculars, so that sometimes the species
could not be ascertained if the birds were far distant). Duck, 3; Blue Jay, 2; Cardinal
Grosbeak, 5; Tree Sparrow, 11; Song Sparrow, 20; 37 flocks of Tree and Song Sparrows;
Goldfinch, 2; Carolina Wren, 5. Total, 7 species, 186 individuals. — Albert R. Shadle.

Millersburg, Ohio. — Dec. 28; 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nine-mile circle, south of town.
A clear, bright day; cool, about 18° in a.m., 30° at m., 15° in evening; very light fall of
snow on the ground. Ruffed Grouse, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 7;
Red-headed Woodpecker, 4; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 50,
estimated; Goldfinch, i; Tree Sparrow, 15; Slate-colored Junco, 200, estimated; Song
Sparrow, 15; Towhee, 15; Cardinal, 7; CaroUna Wren, 3; Brown Creeper, 3; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 3; Tufted Titmouse, 13; Chickadee, 6; Robin, 1,000; estimated,
Bluebird, 6. Total, 20 species, 1,353 individuals. — Ruskin S. and C. A. Freer.

New Paris, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 9 to 11 a.m. Cloudy; ground bare and wet; temp., 40°.
Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2; Sparrow Hawk, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker,
3; Blue Jay, 4; Crow, 19; Slate-colored Junco, i; Song Sparrow, 7; Cardinal, 5; Black-
capped Chickadee, 8; Robin, 48. Total, 11 species, 99 individuals. — ^W. H. W'isman.

Salem, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 6.45 to 11 a.m. Partly cloud\-, later overcas ; ground bare:

38 Bird -Lore

wind southeast, light; temp., 34°; six-mile walk. Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 3;
Song Sparrow, i; Tree Sparrow, 6; White-breasted Nuthatch, 6. Total, 6 species, 19
individuals. — Chas. Conkle.

Salem, Ohio. — Same conditions as above. Nine-mile walk. Downy Woodpecker, 6;
Hairy Woodpecker, i; Red-bellied Woodpecker, i; Crow, 4; Blue Jay, 8; Goldfinch, 25;
Song Sparrow, 5; Cardinal, 4; Tree Sparrow, 25; Towhee, 2 males and 2 females; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 11; Tufted Titmouse, 8; Black-capped Chickadee, 2; Robin, i.
Total, 14 species, 105 individuals. — H. W. Weisgerber.

Salem, Ohio. — Dec. 26; 9.30 a.m. to 12 m. Conditions practically' as above; three-
mile walk. Ruffed Grouse, 3; Blue Jay, 14; Black-capped Chickadee, 2; Tufted Tit-
mouse, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 4. Total, 5 species, 15 individuals. — The Misses
Field, Edney and Cook.

Winchester, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 9.15 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind
west, very light; temp., 56°. Quail, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 2;
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 4; Flicker, 5; Crow, 4; Bronzed Crackle, 3; Tree Sparrow, 26;
Slate-colored Junco, 27; Song Sparrow, 5; Cardinal, 6; Mockingbird, 2; Carolina Wren,
6; Brown Creeper, i; Tufted Titmouse, 10; Carolina Chickadee, 4; Bluebird, 14. Total,
17 species, individuals (estimated 123). — I. W. Delp.

Youngstown, Ohio. — Dec. 25; 6.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clear until 8 a.m., cloudy rest
of day; ground bare; wind south; temp., 36°. Distance walked, 18 miles; by automobile,
24 miles. Bob-white, 12; Ruffed Grouse, i; Red-tailed Hawk, 2; Screech Owl, i; King-
fisher, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker, 8; Red-headed Woodpecker, 24;
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, 5; Blue Jay, 17; Crow, 21; Goldfinch, 44; Tree
Sparrow, 70; Slate-colored Junco, 40; Song Sparrow, 2; Towhee, 3; Cardinal, 13; Caro-
lina Wren, i; Winter Wren, i; Brown Creeper, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 46; Tufted
Titmouse, 7; Black-capped Chickadee, 23; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 16; Robin, 2.
Total, 26 species, 369 individuals.— Geo. L. Fordyce.

Sidney, Ohio. — Dec. 23; 8.15 to 10 a.m. Partly cloudy; wind southwest, light;
temp., 32°. Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 10; Crow, 22; Tree Sparrow, 6; Song
Sparrow, 3; Junco, 3; Cardinal, 8; Robin, i. Total, 8 species, 56 individuals. — Mary
McCracken and Farida Wiley.

Ann Arbor, Mich, (to Chicago, 111., via Interurban and L. S. & M. S.). — Dec. 20;
7 A.M. to 6 P.M. Cloudy; light northwest wind; light snow on the ground; temp., about
25°. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Prairie Horned Lark, 9; Blue Jay, 3; Tree Sparrow, 12;
Junco, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Black-capped Chickadee, 2. Total, 7 species, 33
individuals. — Elizabeth and Frank C. Gates.

Benzonia, Mich. — Dec. 25; 9 a.m. to 12 m., 2 to 4 p.m. Clear; ground lightly covered
with snow; wind west, moderate; temp., 28 to 33°. Herring Gull, 20; Bonaparte Gull,
50; Whistler, 4; Bob-white, 16; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue
Jay, 5; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Red-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 3. Total,
ID species, 107 individuals. — Elihu Linkletter.

Detroit, Mich. (Ford Farm, nine miles west of the city). — Dec. 24; 8.30 to 11.30
A.M. Cloudy; ground bare; wind southwest, light; temp., 29°. Dec. 25; 10 a.m. to 12.3c
P.M. (Ford farm, one mile east of Sunday's observation). Cloudy; ground bare; wind
westerly, light; temp., 31°. Herring Gull (over Detroit River), 6; Bob-white, 17;
Mourning Dove, 62; Marsh Hawk, 3; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2;
Downy Woodpecker, 19; Hairy Woodpecker, 5; Flicker, 6; Blue Jay, 17; Crow, 36;
■Goldfinch, 5; White-throated Sparrow, 2; Tree Sparrow, 140; Field Sparrow, 2; Song
Sparrow, 6; Fox Sparrow, 2; Cardinal, 2; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch,
47; Tufted Titmouse, i; Chickadee, 32; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2; Robin, i. Total,
^4 species, 408 individuals. — Jefferson Butler.

Grand Junction, Mich. (Silver and Saddle Lakes). — Dec. 25; 10.30 a.m. to i p.m.

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 39

Clear; wind souLhwesl; light, hazy; ground bare, except in woods; temp., 38 to 56°.
Herring Gull, 9; Ring-billed Gull, 1; Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 4;
Goldfinch (flock), 10; Tree Sparrow, 2; Red-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 6.
Total, 9 species. 36 individuals. — Bertha E. Sh.\w and S. L. Davis.

Hillsdale, Mich. — Dec. 26; 9 to 10 a.m. Cloudy; sleeting; east winds; temp., 30°.
Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 15; Song Sparrow, i; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee. 25. Total, 6 species, 48 individuals. — Bertram A.
Barber.

Jackson Co., Mich. (Northwest portion of Tompkins Township). — Dec. 24; 9.30
a.m. to 12 M. Clear; ground bare, slightly frozen; wind, southwest; temp., 34°. Charac-
ter of locality visited, oak woods. Hawk (unidentified),! ; Blue Jay, 3; White-breasted
Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, 25; Robin, 2. Total, 5 species, 34 individuals. — Carrie
A. Reyxolds.

Kalamazoo, Mich. — 10 a.m. to i p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind north, light;
temp., 40°. Herring Gull, 2; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 150; White-
bellied Nuthatch, 3; Robin. Total, 6 species, 162 individuals. — W. E. Praeger

South Haven, Mich. — Dec. 24; 8.15 to 11 a.m. Clear; ground bare; wind cast, light
temp., 40°. Herring Gull, 8; Tree Sparrow, 15; Evening Grosbeak, 18; Chickadee, 5;
White-breasted Nuthatch, i; Blue Jay, 3; Cardinal, i; Screech Owl, i. From 3 to 4 p.m.,
Goldfinches, 10. Total, 9 species, 45 individuals. — Mrs. A. D. Williams.

Chicago, 111. (Jackson Park and vicinity). — Dec. 25; 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Clear;
ground bare, except for small patches of old snow in some places; light westerly wind;
temp., 32 ° to 34°. Herring Gull, 37; Ring-billed Gull, 12; Bonaparte's Gull, 5; Hooded
Merganser, 5; Downy Woodpecker, i; Prairie Horned Lark, 10; Blue Jay, i; Tree
Sparrow, 3. Total, 8 species, 74 individuals. — F. A. Pennington.

Chicago, 111. (Des Plaines River in Leyden Township and Graceland Cemetery).—
Dec. 23; 8.30 A.M. to 3 P.M. Cloudy; west wind; ground bare; temp., 28°. Herring
Gull, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Prairie Horned Lark, 7; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 6; Junco, 3;
Tree Sparrow, 184; Song Sparrow, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Black-capped Chick-
adee, 3. Total, 10 species, 211 individuals. — Frank C. Gates.

Decatur, Dl. — ^Dec. 25. Cloudy; no snow, freezing; wind northwest, light. Hairy
Woodpecker, 3; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 5; Blue Jay, 8; Crow, 8; Tree Sparrow,
10; Slate-colored Junco, 22; Cardinal Grosbeak, 4; Tufted Titmouse, 19; Chickadee, 20.
Total, 9 species, 99 individuals. — Dean Gorham and Walter J. Risley, Jr.

Quiver Lake, Chautauqua Park, Havana, lU.^Dec. 24; 2 to 4 p.m. Clear; ground
bare; wind southeast, light; temp., 42°. Herring Gull, 4; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy
Woodpecker, i; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Flicker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 4; Tree
Sparrow, 8; Slate-colored Junco, 12; Cardinal, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Tufted
Titmouse, i; Black-capped Chickadee, 2; Robin, 7. Total, 14 species, individuals, 50.
— Bessie M. Price and Frank M. Price.

Milfordjlll. — Dec. 25; 9. a.m. to 3 p.m. Ground bare; partly cloudy; calm; temp., 35°,
Bob-white, 14; Red-tailed Hawk, 6; American Rough-legged Hawk, i; Hairy Wood-
pecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker, 21; Red-headed Woodpecker, i; Red-bellied Wood-
pecker, 3; Flicker, 3; Prairie Horned Lark, 8; Blue Jay, 8; Crow, 67; Purple Finch, 45;
Tree Sparrow, 80; Slate-colored Junco, 38; Song Sparrow, 2; Cardinal, 13; Brown
Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 16; Tufted Titmouse, 67; Black-capped Chick-
adee, 3; Robin, 3. Total, 21 species, 405 individuals. — H. C. Henderson.

Peoria, 111. — Dec. 27; 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Morning, clear; afternoon, cloudy; slight
sprinkling of snow on ground; cold, brisk west wind; temp., 19° to 12°. Herring Gull, 30;
Belted Kingfisher, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 4; Tree Sparrow, 6;
Slate-colored Junco, 35; Song Sparrow, i; Cardinal, 16; Brown Creeper, 2; White-

40 Bird - Lore

breasted Nuthatch, i; Tufted Titmouse, 5; Black-capped Chickadee, 10; Robin, i.
Total, 13 species, 113 individuals. — James H. Sedgwick and Donald L. Sedgwick.

Rock Island, 111. — Dec. 25. Clear; ground bare; wind northwest, light; temp., 22°.
at 9 A.M. R. I. Arsenal (Island) 9 a.m. to 12 m., Mississippi river full of floating ice.
Bob-white, 62; Ring-necked Pheasant (introduced), 10; Rough-legged Hawk, i; Barred
Owl, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 4; Downy Woodpecker, 10; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2;
Blue Jay, i; Crow, 2; Red Crossbill, i; Goldfinch, 4; Tree Sparrow, 25; Junco, 35;
Cardinal, 6; Brown Creeper, 5; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Tufted Titmouse, 2;
Chickadee, 28. Total,. 18 species, 204 individuals. — Burtis H. Wilson.

Rockford, III. — Dec. 27; 12.30 to 4.30 p.m. Clear; thin coating of snow and ice on
ground; wind west to northwest, high; temp., 14° to 7°. Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy
Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, i; Tree Sparrow, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee,
2. Total, 6 species, 12 individuals. — Jennie E. Waldo, Charles Gregory, Lottie
B. Gregory, Edith P. Sovereign.

Rantoul, 111. — Dec. 25; 7 a.m. to i p.m. Cloudy; ground bare; wind north, light;
temp., 28 to 35°. Sora, i; Sharp-shinned Hawk, i; Red-tailed Hawk, i; Barred Owl, i;
Screech.Owl, i; Hairy Woodpecker, 18; Northern Downy Woodpecker, 20; Red-headed
Woodpecker, 3; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3; Flicker, 5; Prairie Horned Lark, 40; Blue
Jay, 9; Crow, 72; Lapland Longspur, 10; Tree Sparrow, 150; Slate-colored Junco, 132;
Song Sparrow, i; Cardinal, 8; Bewick's Wren, i; Winter Wren, i; Red-breasted Nut-
hatch, s; Tufted Titmouse, 8; Black-capped Chickadee, 7; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2;
Robin, 65. Total, 25 species, 570 individuals. — George E. Ekblaw, Victor Carlson,
W. Elmer Ekblaw.

Baraboo, Wis. — Dec. 25. 8.40 to 11.30 a.m. Parti}- cloudy; ground bare; wind
southwest, moderate; temp., 20 to 30°. Ruffed Grouse, i; Screech Owl, i; Blue Jay,
i; Crow, 8; Goldfinch, 25; Lapland Longspur, 11; Tree Sparrow, 12; Junco, 9;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 8. Total, 10 species, 78 individuals. — D. C.
Mabbott.

Barron, Wis. — Dec. 22; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Temp., 8 to 32°; wind southeast to south,
light; ground covered with snow. Ruffed Grouse, 3; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; White-
winged Crossbill, i; Blue Jay, 4; Slate-colored Junco, 8; Black-capped Chickadee, 8;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 3. Total, 8 species, 54 individuals. — L. S. Cheney.

Belvit, Wis. — -Dec. 25; 10.30 a.m. to 12 m. Clear; ground bare; wind southwest, light;
temp., 32°. Downy Woodpecker, 12; Blue Jay, 4; Junco, 10; White-breasted Nuthatch,
6; Chickadee, 8; Robin, 2. Total, 6 species, 42 individuals. — S. Belle Clarke.

Cottage Grove, Wis. — Dec. 25; 7 a.m. to 4.30 h.m. Clear; wind southeast, light;
ground bare and dry; temp., 30°. Bob-white, 7; Marsh Hawk, i; Red-tailed Hawk, i;
Long-eared Owl, i; Screech Owl, 5; Woodpecker, 3; Downy Woodpecker, 8; Sapsucker,
i; Prairie Horned Lark, 6; Blue Jay, 13; Crow, 34; Red-winged Blackbird, i; Goldfinch,
2; Pine Siskin, 7; Lapland Longspur, 7; Tree Sparrow, 346; Junco, 11; Northern Shrike,
2; Loggerhead Shrike, i; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 8; Red-breasted
Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 18. Total, 24 species, 487 individuals. — John E. Mellish.

Darlington, Wis. — Dec. 26; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind northwest,
light; temp., 28°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Flicker, 1; Crow, 13; Blue Jay, 5; White-
breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 30. Total, 6 species, 65 individuals. — Susanne
Orton and Je.a.n M. Cooke.

Elkhom, Wis. — Dec. 24; 2 to 4 p.m. Clear; ground partially covered with snow;
wind south, brisk; temp., 60°. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue
Jay 2; Crow, 75; Slate-colored Junco, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, i. Total, 6 species,
83 individuals. — Sarah Francis, Helen Martin, and Mary Northen.

Green Lake, Wis. — Dec. 30; 8 a.m. to i p.m. West wind, strong; ground bare;

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 41

temp., 0°. Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Down}- Woodpecker, 2; Red-bellied Woodpecker, i;
Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 2; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, 5;
Golden-crowned Kinglet, i; Robin, i. Total, 10 species, 20 individuals. — Geo. H.

ElGENBKRC.KK.

Hartland, Wis. (Along wooded shores of Beaner and Pine Lakes). — Dec. 26; 8 a.m.
to 3.30 P.M. Ground snow-covered; east wind, strong, with snow and sleet storm; temp.,
32°. Blue Jay, 6; Crow, 6; Purple Finch, 11; Tree Sparrow, 9; Junco, 10; Fox Sparrow,
i; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 5. Total, 9 species, 52
individuals. — SrsiE L. Simonds.

Madison, Wis. — Dec. 26; 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Snowing, strong north wind,
Hob-wliite, 9; Blue Jay, 12; Crow, i; Goldfinch, 2; Tree Sparrow, 20; Slate-colored
Junco, S; Black-capped Chickadee, 8. Total, 8 species, 160 individuals. — .\. C. Hurku.l;
C. K. Browx; R. E. Kremers.

Milwaukee, Wis. — Dec. 24; 8.20 to 11.30 .\.m. Wind south, very light; cloudy, bright;
ground bare; temp., 30°. Herring Gull, 696 (three of them four miles inland); Golden-
eye Duck, 125; Screech Owl, i (6 a.m.); Downy Woodpecker, i; Crow, 3. Total, 5 species,
826 individuals. — I. N. Mitchell.

Berlin, Wis. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. Ground bare; wind southeast, light; temp., 40°.
Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 2; Bohemian Waxwings and Juncos here the last
week in November. — Mrs. C. W. Hitchcock.

Johnson's Creek, Wis. — Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to 12 m. Wind southwest; clear; temp., 32°.
Open farm land. Bob-white, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 6; Rusty
Crackle, i ; Snow Bunting, 15; Tree Sparrow, 5. Total, 7 species, 34 individuals. — John
L. Hooper.

Wauwatosa, Wis. — Dec. 25; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ground bare; wind south, light; temp.,
43°. Herring Gull, 58; Chicken Hawk, i; Screech Owl, i; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy
Woodpecker, 2; Crow, 8; Blue Jay, 16; Pine Siskin, 8; Junco, 2; Loggerhead Shrike, i;
Winter Wren, i; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Red-breasted Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 2;
Robin, I. Total, 15 species, 114 individuals.— Esther Tennyson.

Westfield, Wis.^Dec. 19; 8 to 11.30 a.m. Sunshine; ground bare; wind west, light;
temp., 14°. Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Prairie Horned Lark, 2;
Blue Jay, 5; Crow, 7; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 6; Golden-crowned
Kinglet, 2. Total, 8 species, 29 individuals. — P.\tience Nesbit.

Winneconne, Wis. — Dec. 25; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clear; wind west, light; ground bare;
cows in pasture; temp., 22°. Herring Gull, i; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Blue Jay, 4;
Crow, 9; Snow Bunting, 6; Chickadee, 5; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Brown Creeper,
3; Robin, 4. Total, 8 species, 38 individuals. — Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Severson.

Westfield, Wis. — Dec. 24; 3 to 5 p.m. Ground bare; wind southwest, light; temp.,
30°. RulTed Grouse, 37; Junco, 3; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, i;
Northern Shrike, i; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2. Total, 6 species, 45 individuals.^
Agnes E. Russell.

Minneapolis, Minn. — Dec. 26; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Snowing heavily; wind northeast;
temp., 17°. Blue Jay, i; Purple Finch, 8; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted Nuthatch,
2; Chickadee, 3. Total, 5 species, 15 individuals. — R.ay Van Tuyl and Sigurd Ueland.

Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnehaha Falls and Lake Nokomis). — Dec. 25; 9.30 a.m. to
12.30 P.M. Clear; six inches of snow; wind brisk and shifting; temp., 2°. Blue Jay, 5;
Crow, 3; Tree Sparrow, 3; Northern Shrike, i; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nut-
hatch, 7; Chickadee, 6. Total, 7 species, 27 individuals. — Charles Phillips.

Oslo, Minn. — Dec. 26; 11. a.m. to 4 p.m. Clear and calm; about ten inches of snow;
temp., zero. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, 2; Brown Creeper,
2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 5. Total, 5 species, 12 individuals. — Ole A. Finseth.

Royalton, Minn. — Dec. 25; 11 a.m. to 12 m. Clear; ground, snow covered; strong

42 Bird - Lore

west wind; temp., 8°. Downy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, 5; Redpoll, 100; (estimated);
White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, 5. Total, 5 species, 114 individuals. — Harry
Logan, Jr.

Des Moines, Iowa. — Dec. 26; 12.30 to 4.30 p.m. Cloudy; snowing all day, six inches
on ground; brisk northeast wind; temp., 27 to 22°. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Blue Jay, i;
Crow, i; Tree Sparrow, i; Slate-colored Junco, 26; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted
Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, 2. Total, 8 species, 35 individuals. — E. A. Stoner.

Sabula, Iowa. — Dec. 24; i to 5 p.m. Clear; ground bare; wind south, light; temp.,
45°. Blue-billed Duck, 12; Downy Woodpecker, 3; Hairy Woodpecker, 2; Crow, i;
Blue Jay, i; Cardinal, 10; Tree Sparrow, 25; Goldfinch, 6; Junco, 50; Brown Creeper,
3; White-breasted Nutchatch, 8; Chickadee, 35; Robin, 5. Total, 13 species, 161 indi-
viduals.— Mrs. H. R. Rebman.

Sioux City, Iowa. — Dec. 24; 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Clear; six inches of snow on ground;
moderate northwest wind; temp., 15°. Prairie Hen, 12; Hairy Woodpecker, i; Downy
Woodpecker, 2; Prairie Horned Lark, 8; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 15; Tree Sparrow, 30;
Northern Shrike (carrying portions of a small bird in its beak), i; Brown Creeper, 5;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 12. Total, 11 species, 93 individuals. — Arthur
LiXDSEY and Walter W. Bennett.

Wall Lake, Iowa. — Dec. 26; 11 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Cloudy; four to six inches of snow;
slight southwest breeze; temp., 22°. Prairie Chicken, about 32; Screech Owl, i; Horned
Lark, 35, in a mi.xed flock with about 15 Longspurs, (species?); Crow, 2; Snow Bunting,
i; Tree Sparrow, 35. Total, 7 species, 121 individuals. — John A. Spurrell.

Lincoln, Neb. — Dec. 25; 8.15 a.m. to 4.15 p.m. Cloudy; ground covered with snow,
crust; no wind; temp., 14° to 24°. Distance walked, sixteen miles. Hairy Woodpecker,
i; Downy Woodpecker, 9; Flicker, i; Prairie Horned Lark, 55; Blue Jay, 2; Crow, 20;
Meadowlark, 5; Tree Sparrow, 65; Junco, 26; Song Sparrow, 5; Brown Creeper, 6;
White-breasted Nuthatch, 5; Chickadee, 19. Total, 13 species, 219 individuals. — Reed
Wells and Clarence A. Morrow.

Sioux Falls, S. D. — Dec. 25; 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. Cloudy; ground snow-covered; wind
from south, light; temp., 16°. Prairie Chicken, 125; Short-eared Owl, i; Hairy Wood-
pecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker 3; Flicker, 2; Prairie Horned Lark, heard, i; Crow, 7;
Tree Sparrow, 200; White-breasted Nuthatch, 3; Chickadee, 15. Total, 10 species,
359 individuals. — Adrian Larson.

Sioux Falls, S. D. — Dec. 24; 10.15 a.m. to i p.m. Clear; ground snow-covered; wind
northwesterly, brisk; temp., about 20°. Prairie Chicken, 54; Hairy Woodpecker, i;
Downy Woodpecker, i; Crow, i; Tree Sparrow, 45; Brown Creeper, i; White-breasted
Nuthatch, i; Chickadee, i. Total, 8 species, 105 individuals. — Adrian Larson.

Boulder, CoL — Dec. 25; 8.45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pine mesas and bottomland. Snow-
squalls; ground lightly covered; wind, southerly, sharp; temp., 19°. Rough-legged
Hawk, i; Belted Kingfisher, i; Rocky Mt. Hairy Woodpecker, i; Red-shafted Flicker, 7;
Desert Horned Lark, i; Magpie, 60; Long-crested Jay, 13; Pink-sided Junco, 9; Gray-
headed Junco, i; Western Tree Sparrow, 7; Mountain Song Sparrow, 4; Dipper, i;
Canon Wren, 3; Rocky Mt. Creeper, 3; Long-tailed Chickadee, i; Mountain Chickadee,
i; Townsend's Solitaire, 7 (one singing); Western Robin, 6. Total, 18 species, 127
individuals. — Norman deW. Betts.

Bozeman, Mont. — Dec. 25 ; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cloudy; six inches of snow; wind north-
west, light; temp., 22°. Red-shafted Flicker, i; Magpie, 14; Bohemian Waxwing, 35
(the Bohemian Waxwing is a common winter visitor here, large flocks being seen every
winter); Northern Shrike, i; Long-tailed Chickadee, 15; Mountain Chickadee, 2. Total,
6 species, 68 individuals. — Nelson Lundwall.

Bozeman, Mont. — Dec. 26; 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Clear; no wind; four inches of snow;
temp., 15°. Wilson's Snipe, 5; Red-shafted Flicker, 2; ISIagpie, 18; Western Crow, 120;

Bird -Lore's Twelfth Christmas Bird Census 43

Redpoll, 75; Western Tree Sparrow, 115; Mountain Song Sparrow, 6; Hohemian Wax-
wing, 400; Long-tailed Chickadee, 44; Townsend's Solitaire, i; Western Robin, 3. Total,
II species, 780 individuals. — Aretas A. Saunders.

Great Falls, Mont. — Dec. 25; 12M. to 2 p.m. Fair; snow in air; wind northwest, light j
two degrees above zero. Golden-eye, 27 (on Missouri River); Hawk, i (unidentified)^
Downy Woodpecker, 3; Magpie, 4; Northern Shrike, 5; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 150 (one
flock). Total, 6 species, 210 individuals.— Berners B. Kelly.

Okanagan Landing, B. C. — Dec. 25; 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fair; three inches of snow in
valley, twelve inches in foothills; temp., 30°, max., 38°; fresh southwest wind; 18 miles
covered. Greater Scaup, 150, estimated; Redhead, 6; Mallard, i; Herring Gull, 4;
Short-eared Owl, i; Richardson's Grouse, i; Canadian Ruffed Grouse, i; Cabanis'
Woodpecker, i; Batchelder's Woodpecker, 2; Red-shafted Flicker, 2; Black-billed Mag-
pie, 36; Black-headed Jay, i; American Crow, 6; Clarke's Nutcracker, 10, estimated;
Western Meadowlark, 2; Alaskan Pine Grosbeak, 17; Rusty Song Sparrow, 22; Western
Tree Sparrow, 9; American Crossbill, 15, estimated; Rocky Mountain Nuthatch, 4; Red-
bellied Nuthatch, 40, estimated; Mountain Chickadee, 30, estimated; Black-capped
Chickadee, 2; Interior Marsh Wren (/>/e5Ji/5), i; Bohemian Waxwing, 20, estimated; Town-
send's Solitaire, i. Total, 26 species, 385 individuals. — J as. MuNROand Allan Brooke.

Vancouver, B. C. — Dec. 10; 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p. m. Drizzling rain; ground bare;
wind east, light; temp., 42°. Ring-necked Pheasant, i; Harris's Woodpecker, i; North-
west Crow, 20; Western Meadowlark, i; Pine Siskin, 20; Rusty Song Sparrow, 5;
Oregon Towhee, 15; Western Winter Wren, 7; Oregon Chickadee, 6; Western Golden-
crowned Kinglet, 40; Western Robin, 5; Varied Thrush, 6. Total, 12 species, 127 indi-
viduals.— A. W. Abbs.

Fresno, CaL — -Dec. 24; 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Clear; light northwest wind; temp.,
53°. Distance traveled, five miles along public road. Killdeer, 7; Valley Quail, 4;
Mourning Dove, 5; Sharp-shinned Hawk, i; Western Red-tail Hawk, i; Burrowing Owl,
2; Sierra Sapsucker, i; Red-shafted Flicker, 4; Black Phoebe, i; Western Meadowlark,
100; Brewer Blackbird, 20; House Finch, 150; Green-backed Goldfinch, 10; Western
Savannah Sparrow, 1; Western Vesper Sparrow, 6; Western Lark Sparrow, 5; Gambel
Sparrow, 225; Sierra Junco, 20; Heermann Song Sparrow, 3; San Diego Towhee, 7;
California Towhee, 2; California Shrike, 4; Audubon Warbler, 200; American Pipit, 40;
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2; Dwarf Hermit Thrush, i. Total, 26 species, 822 individuals. —
Mr. and Mrs. John G. Tyler.

Marysville, Gal. — 8 a.m. to 12 m., 2.45 to 3.45 p.m. Clear; heavy frost; wind, light,
north, changing to south; temp., 34°. Pied-billed Grebe, 2; White-fronted Goose, 5;
Hutchins's Goose (?), 16; Cackling Goose, 35; Great Blue Heron, 10; American Coot, 46;
Wilson Snipe, i; Spotted Sandpiper, i; Killdeer, 13; Valley Partridge, 27; Turkey Vul-
ture, 3; Marsh Hawk, i; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2; Western Red-tail, 3; Swainson's
Hawk, 5; Prairie Falcon, 2; Pigeon Hawk, 3; Desert Sparrow Hawk, 3; Belted
•Kingfisher, i; Gairdner Woodpecker, i; Nuttall's Woodpecker, 4; Red-breasted Sap-
sucker, i; California Woodpecker, 7; Red-shafted Flicker, 73; Western Black Phoebe,
4; Yellow-billed Magpie, 9; California Jay, 4; California Crow, 6; Bicolored Black-
bird, 335; Tricolored Blackbird, 4; Western Meadowlark, 850; Brewer Blackbird,
105; California Linnet, 6; California Goldfinch, 37; Green- backed Goldfinch, 23;
Western Vesper Sparrow, 7; Western Savannah Sparrow, 330; Western Lark Spar-
row, 4; Gambel's, and Golden-crowned Sparrow, 425; Thurber's Junco, 325; Heer-
mann's Song Sparrow, 15; Spurred Towhee, 48; California Towhee, 25; Northern
Shrike, 2; California Shrike, 4; Audubon's Warbler, 26; Pipit, 435; Vigor's Wren, 17;
Interior Tule Wren, 2; Sierra Creeper, i; Plain Titmouse, i; Pallid Wren-Tit,
3; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 21; Western Gnatcatcher, 2; Audubon's Hermit Thrush, i;
Western Bluebird, 5. Total, 60 species, 3,337 individuals. — Carl and Julius M eller.

4J- Bird -Lore

Los Angeles, Cal. — Dec. 24; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wind northwest, strong; clear; temp.,
55°. Shoveller, 25; Pintail, 2; Scaup Duck, 15; Coot, 200; Killdeer, 31; Desert Sparrow
Hawk, 2; Red-breasted Sapsucker, i; Red-shafted Flicker, 17; Anna's Hummingbird, 5;
Cassin's Kingbird, i; Black Phoebe, 5; Western Meadowlark, 15; Brewer's Blackbird,
220; House Finch, 100; Arkansas Goldfinch, 21; Western Lark Sparrow, 15; Gambel's
Sparrow, 35; Thurber's Junco, 30; Spurred Towhee, i; Anthony's Towhee, 13; California
Shrike, 3; Audubon's Warbler, 35; Pacific Yellow-throat, i; Mockingbird, 5; Cali-
fornia Bush-Tit, 15; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 6; Western Robin, 25. Total, 27 species,
836 individuals. — C.\ryl H. Ripley.

Redlands, Cal. — Dec. 27; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clear; wind, light, south; temp., 28°.
Ruddy Duck, i; Killdeer, 2; Valley Quail, 15; Cooper's Hawk, i; Western Red-tail, 2;
Desert Sparrow Hawk, i; Red-breasted Sapsucker, 2; Red-shafted Flicker, 14; White-
throated Swift, 47; Anna's Hummingbird, 17; Say's Phoebe, 6; Western Black Phoebe, 2;
California Horned Lark, 29; California Jay, 8; Western Meadowlark, 16; House Finch,
175; Green-backed Goldfinch, 99; Willow Goldfinch, 10; Western Vesper Sparrow, 2;
Intermediate Sparrow, 246; Golden-crowned Sparrow, 165; Western Chipping Sparrow, 2;
Thurber's Junco, 8; San Diego Song Sparrow, 14; purred Towhee, 7; Anthony's Towhee,
83; Cedar Wax wing, 12; Hutton's Vireo, 2; Audubon Warbler, 98; Pacific Yellow-throat,
2; Pipit 13; Western Mockingbird, 12; Pasadena Thrasher, i; Rock Wren, i; Southwest
Bewick's Wren, 7; Plain Titmouse, 2; California Bush-Tit, 14; Wren-Tit, 8; Ruby-
crowned Kinglet, 22; Western Gnatcatcher, 3; Alaska Hermit Thrush, 8; Western
Robin, 98; Western Bluebird, 8. Total, 43 species, about 1,185 individuals. — Allyn
G. Smith.

Santa Barbara, Cal. — Dec. 23; 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clear; light west wind at 10 a.m.,
freshening to gale at 5 p.m.; temp., min. 41° (frost near seashore), max. 58°. Course:
Stearns' wharf, the Estero, Mission Canon, Laguna Blanca, Carpinteria. Western
Grebe, 15; Eared Grebe, 3; Pied-billed Grebe, 16; Loon, 2; Pacific Loon, 3; Red- throated
Loon, 2; Glaucous- winged Gull, i; Western Gull, 100; Herring Gull, i; California Gull,
2; Ring-billed Gull, 40; Short-billed Gull, 30; Heermann's Gull, 12; Bonaparte's Gull,
40; Royal Tern, 40; Forster's Tern, 4; Pacific Fulmar, 6; Farallon Cormorant, 60;
Brandt's Cormorant, 3; California Brown Pelican, 8; Baldpate, 300; Green-winged
Teal, 60; Cinnamon Teal, i; Shoveller, 750; Pintail, 1,000; Red-head, i; Canvasback,
200; Lesser Scaup Duck, 100; Ring-necked Duck, 6; Bufllehead, 20; Scoter, 2; White-
winged Scoter, 2; Surf Scoter, 12; Ruddy Duck, 200; Treganza Blue Heron, 8; Black-
crowned Night Heron, 6; Sora, 3; Coot, 300; Least Sandpiper, 6; Sanderling, 40; Western
Willet, 2; Golden Plover, i; Killdeer, 20; Snowy Plover, 3; Valley Quail, i; Mourning
Dove, 2; Turkey Vulture, i; Cooper Hawk, 3; Western Red-tailed Hawk, i; Pigeon
Hawk, 2; Desert Sparrow Hawk, 8; Burro wling Owl, i; Cabanis's Woodpecker, i; Willow
Woodpecker, 2; Red-breasted Sapsucker, i; California Woodpecker, 30; Lewis's Wood-
pecker, i; Red-shafted Flicker, 12; White-throated Swift, 100; Anna's Hummer, 4;
Say's Phoebe, 10; Black Phoebe, 18; Belding's Jay, 40; San Diego Redwing, 40; Western
Meadowlark, 80; Brewer's Blackbird, 200; House Finch, 2,000; Willow Goldfinch, 3;
Green-backed Goldfinch, 20; Western Savannah Sparrow, 3; Belding's Sparrow, 3; Large--
billed Sparrow, 6; Gambel's Sparrow, 120; Nuttall's Sparrow, 40; Golden-crowned
Sparrow, i; San Deigo Song Sparrow, 20; Lincoln's Sparrow, i; San Diego Towhee, 15;
Anthony's Towhee, 60; Tree Swallow, 20; California Shrike, 14; Hutton's Vireo, i;
Dusky Warbler, 2; Audubon's Warbler, 200; Western Yellow-throat, 9; Pipit, 40; West-
ern Mockingbird, 5; California Thrasher, 6; San Diego Wren, 6; Tule Wren, 3; Plain
Titmouse, 5; Bush-tit, 20; Wren-tit, 4; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 18; Western Gnatcatcher,
6; Monterey Hermit Thrush, 2; Western Robin, 50; Varied Thrush, 9; Western Bluebird,
3. Total, 100 species, 6,700 individuals. — William Leon Dawson and Stewart
Edward White.

The Migration of North American Sparrows

FOURTEENTH PAPER

Compiled by Professor W. W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey

With Drawings by Lodis Aoassiz Fdertes

(See frontispiece)

RED CROSSBILL

The Red Crossbill is a well-known wanderer; in fact, many of its movements
are wanderings, as distinguished from true periodic migrations. It breeds
locally along the whole Alleghany range, from Gfeorgia to New England, and
during the winter season invades the lower districts both to the east and the
west. These invasions are exceedingly variable as to frequency, time of the
year, and number of individuals. This Crossbill is also probably the most
irregular of all North American birds in its time of nesting. At Craftsbury, Vt.,
it was found nesting in February; at Stephentown, N. Y., a bird, on July 12,
was found to contain an egg nearly ready to lay; in Yellowstone Park, Wyo.,
young were noted just out of the nest in August; at Flathead Lake, Mont.,
eggs were collected July 27, 1903; while eggs must sometimes be deposited
in December, or even November, since a young bird taken at Monument,
Colo., January 5, 1893, was only a day or two from the nest.

SPRING MIGRATION

PLACE

Number

of years'

record

Average date of
the last one seen

Latest date of the
last one seen

Yemassee, S. C

Mt. Pleasant S. C.

5
2

3

5
S
3

5

6

May 17
May 22
May 13

April 19
April 24
May 16

April 30

May I

May 22, 1887
May 26, 1900
June 5, 1887
May 7, 1902
June 30, 1884
June 8, 1884
June 18, 1910
March 27, 1888
May s, 1890
May I, 1907
May 30, 1888
April 29, 1890
May 25, 1897
June 18, 1878
June I, 1888
May 25, 1885
May 16, 1897
April 23, 1892
May 21, 1899
July IS, 1898

Raleigh N. C

Lvnchburg, Va

Washington, D. C

Philadelphia, Pa

Clinton, Ark

Shannon County, Mo

Northern Illinois

Northern Indiana

Oberlin, 0

Columbus, 0

Central, Iowa

Manhattan, Kan

Lincoln, Neb

Lamar, Col

(45)

46

Bird - Lore

FALL MIGRATION

Montauk, X. Y

New Providence, X. J

Morristown, X. J

Philadelphia, Pa

Washington, D. C

.^iken, S. C

Camden County, Ga. .

Fernandina, Fla

Ann Arbor, Mich

Southern Wisconsin. . ,

Lanesboro, Minn

Falls City, Xeb

Central Kansas

Central Iowa

Chicago, 111

Cleveland, O

Xew Haven, Mo

Lexington, Ky

Waco, Tex

Number

of years'

record

X'ovembcr 2b
Xovember 21

October :S
Xovember 13

Xovember 15
Xovember 3
October 27

Earliest date of
fall arrival

September 19
August I, 1893
October 20, 1909
Xovember 25, 1888
October 10, 1887
Xovember 12, 1887
Xovember 12, 1906
December 4^ 1906
October 10, 1899
October 15, 1904
October 25. 1891
Xovember 7, 1891
Xovember 13, 1885
October 2, 1888

October 6,
October 31
October 5,
October 2:

1906

[903
^903

December 24, 1886

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL

The White-winged Crossbill is much rarer than the Red; its breeding area
lies, for the most part, north of the United States, but it breeds sparingly in
Maine, the White Mountains, and the Adirondacks. It does not range so
far south in winter as the Red Crossbill, the southern limit being marked by
North Carolina, Kansas, and Oregon, and it is much less often seen and in
smaller numbers. It has a very variable nesting season, since young were
found in the nest at Wolfville, Nova Scotia, January 31, and eggs May 7. In
the valley of the Kowak River, Alaska, the earliest eggs were found May 28,
189Q.

SPRING MIGRATION

Number

PLACE of years'

record

Average date of
the last one seen

Latest date of the
last one seen

Raleigh, X. C

Erie, Pa

Princeton, X.J

Lower Hudson A'alley, X. V

Brookline, Mass

La esboro. Mass

Xcwtonville, Mass

Johnston, R. I

St. ohnsburg, Vt 3

Southern Maine 2

April 9
March 11

March 17

February 23, 1907
March 22. 1875
March 20, 1900
May 29, 1900
May 12, 1883
June 4, 1900
June 13, 1869
Februarv 24, 1900
May 28,' 1888
.\pril 9, IQ05
.\pril 18, 1907
March 30, 1885
April 10, 1S92
June 2V-, 1884
June 3, 1909
April 22, 1905

Shannon County, Mo

Central Illinois 3

Oberlin, 0

Michigan City, Ind

Madison, Wis

Big Sandy, Monl

Notes on the Plumage of North Atnerican Sparrows

47

FALL MIGRATION

PLACE

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
fall arrival

Earliest date of
fall arrival

Soullurn N ;iino. ...

Dublin. X. H . .

Roxbury, Mass

Norwich Conn

5
5

November 7
October 15

August 2 2, 1908
Sc])tember 15, 1897
November 4, i 882
December 7, 1880

Montaulc Point, X. Y

Warren Pa

November 7, 1899
November i. 1906
August II, 1907
October 7, 1906
November 23, 1887
September 12, 1905
September 15, ujc-
November 16. iSoo

Near Anacostia, I). C

Awemc, Manitoba

Lanesboro Minn

Big Sandv, Mont .

Ha\s City, Kan

La'Clranse. Mo

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows

THIRTEENTH PAPER

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

(See frontispiece)

Crossbill [fjixia cmviroslra, Figs. 1-3). The juxcnal, or nestling ])liiniage
of both sexes of this s))ecies stiggests that of a female Ptirijle Finch rather than
that of a Crossbill, being streaked with dusky and with no trace of red. By a
molt of the body feathers, this plumage is followed by the first winter plumage
(Fig. 2), with its widely varying mixture of red and green and yellow, never
exactly alike in any two specimens.

First nuptial plumage is acquired by wear, which, as Dwight has shown, lias
the efTect of brightening the whole plumage throtigh a loss of the grayish
barbules.

The adult plumage (Fig. i) is gained at the first postnuptial, that is, second
fall, molt, and there is no further change in the color of the bird aside from that
produced by the wear just mentioned.

The fem.de passes from the streaked nestling plumage into first winter
plumage, which, while averaging a little duller, is essentially like that of the
adult (Fig. 3).

The two American races of Crossbill stand in the A. O. U. Check-List as
follows:

Loxici cmviroslra minor (Brehm). Range: Xorthern North America.
Breeds from central Alaska, northern Mackenzie, central Ungava, and New-
foundland, south to California (Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Mountains),
southern Colorado, Michigan, and in the Alleghanies of northern Georgia
(casually in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia); winters irregularly
south to southern California, New Mexico, northern Texas, Louisiana, and
Florida; casual in Lower California. Guadalupe Island, and Bermuda.

48

Bird - Lore

Loxia curvirostra strlcklandi Ridgw. Range: High mountains of Arizona
(San Francisco, Chirachaua, Santa Catalina, and Mogollon mountains), cen-
tral New Mexico, western Texas, and the higher mountains of Mexico to
Chancus, Guatemala.

White-winged Crossbill {Loxia leucoptera, Figs. 4-6). The plumage
changes of this species are similar to those which the Red Crossbill undergoes.
The Juvenal plumage is similarly streaked, but there are pronounecd buflfy
wing-bars, which are replaced by white bars at the postjuvenal molt. This
brings the bird into the mottled plumage well shown by Figure 5, which is com-
parable with Figure 2, of the Red Crossbill.

The range of the White-winged Crossbill is given in the A. O. U. Check-
List as follows:

Northern North America. Breeds in Boreal zones from the Hmit of tree in
northern Alaska, northern Mackenzie, central Keewatin, and northern Ungava,
south to southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, central Ontario, New
York (Adirondacks) , New Hampshire (White Mountains) southern Maine,
and southern Nova Scotia; winters in much of its breeding-area and southward
irregularly to northern Oregon (Cascades), Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, south-
ern Illinois, southern Ohio, and North Carolina; more or less frequent in
Greenland, British Isles, and Heligoland.

iSooft jBtetD0 anti 3^et)ieto0

A Naturalist on Desert Islands. By
Percy A. Lowe. Witherby & Co., 326
High Holborn, London. x!i+ 300
pages; 3 maps, 32 plates.

This is an admirable book. Its author
is evidently well equipped for the work
in hand, and it seems to us that he has
succeeded to an exceptional degree in
conveying to his readers no small measure
of the keen enjoyment with which he
explored desert islands, and, at the same
time, he has presented attractively the
more salient facts in regard to their
formation, and the probable origin of their
plant and animal life. The islands in
question are Swan, Blanquilla, and the
Hermanos, all in the Caribbean Sea. Mr.
Lowe visited them while cruising in the
West Indies as the guest of Sir Frederic
Johnstone on the yacht 'Zenaida,' and
his observations make not alone most
interesting reading, but a truly valuable
contribution to the study of island life.
Mr. Lowe writes as a naturalist rather
than as an ornithologist, but it is obvious
that birds have the strongest claim on his
attention, and his book, therefore, will
appeal particularly to ornithologists .

We are not surprised that Mr. Lowe
should find it difficult to account for the
alleged breeding of Dendroica tigrina in
Jamaica, and Setophaga ruticilla in Domin-
ica, for it is quite improbable that either
record is correct.

Mr. Lowe's descriptions of the plumage
of the Man-o'-war-bird seem to require
revision, and we believe he will find that
the young birds of both sexes have the
head and neck white, while the adult
female has the head black with the
breast and sides white. Consequently,
the photograph facing page 214 is that
of a young, not an "old" female, while an
adult female is shown in the plate facing
page 211.

We trust that Mr. Lowe will continue
his natural history explorations. He has
far too facile a pen to warrant its going
out of commission. — F. M. C.

The Natural History and Antiqui-
ties OF Selborne in the County of
Southampton. By Gilbert White.
With illustrations in color by George
Edward Collins, R. B. A., Macmillan &
Co. 1911. Roy. 8vo.,x + 476 pp.; 24plls.

Mr. Collins has taken characteristic bits
from the Gilbert White country as sub-
jects for his paintings, and it is eminently
appropriate that they should be pub-
lished with the text which they so admir-
ably illustrate. White's work is not to be
annotated or edited. He told his own
story too plainly and directly to require
the services of a commentator, but we
may accept Mr. Collins' charming sketches
as both appropriate and desirable accom-
paniments to the latest edition of this
classic work. Those of the landscape
convey most pleasing impressions of the
pastoral scenery in which Selborne is so
fortunately placed, while those of the
birds show, it seems to us, a rare gift of
placing figures ot birds, of which any
ornithologist would approve, in a setting
such as only a true artist would select.
When one adds that these sketches are
evidently well reproduced, it is clear that
we have here an unusually attractive
book.— F. M. C.

The Home-Life of the Osprey. Photo-
graphed and Described by Clinton G.
Abbott. With some photographs by
Howard H. Cleaves. Witherby & Co., 326
High Holborn, London, W. C, 1911. Sm.
4to. 54 pages, 3 2 plates. Forsaleby Bren-
tano and by Forest and Stream Pub. Co.

This, the third volume in the Witherby
Home-Life Series, is of particular interest
to American readers, since it not only
treats of an American species but is based
on studies made in America. After a
residence in Great Britain, where the
Ospre}- is on the verge of extinction, Mr.
Abbott expresses his surprise at the
abundance and familiarity of this fine
bird near New York City; and when it
is remembered that no "economic"
argument can be advanced for its pro-
tection, it is indeed gratifying to realize

(49)

50

Bird -Lore

that the Ospre^- makes a sufficiently
strong appeal to our love of wild-life to
win it immunity from attack, such as no
other of our Hawks enjoys. Mr. Abbott's
studies were made mainly on Gardiner's
Island; and those who have had the for-
tune to visit this now famous bird resort
will bear witness to the skill with which
he describes the traits of its most dis-
tinguished feathered inhabitant, to a
knowledge of whose home-life he here
makes so valuable a contribution.

Mr. Abbott's te.xt is supplemented by
forty-three admirable and tastefully
mounted half-tones. — F. M. C.

Bird Studies for Home and ScHOoy.
Sixty Common Birds, their Haunts and
Habits. By Herman C. DeGro.a.t,
Principal Grammar School, No. 31,
Buffalo, New York. Published by the
author. Sm. 4to., 140 pages; 60 plates.

Mr. DeGroat tells us that "this book
is the outgrowth of four years of exper-
ience in the preparation of bird lessons for
a city school of more than two thousand
pupils." He thus has had the inestimable
advantage of addressing a definite audi-
ence, and of learning what the\- want as
well as what they do not want — which is
quite as important!

After introductory sections on "Direc-
tions to Teachers," "The Usefulness of
Birds," "Migration of Birds," "Birds'
Nests and Eggs," and the "Enemies of
the Birds," Mr. DeGroat devotes from
one to two pages to each of sixty common
birds, beginning with permanenth' resi-
dent species and adding the migrants in
the order of their arrival. These biog-
raphies are accompanied by Mumford
color plates of the species treated, and at
their end a blank space is left for "Bird
Notes," a feature which should encourage
recording the original observation the
book is well designed to stimulate.^
F. M. C.

The Ornithological Magazines

The Auk. — Since its inception in 1S84,
this journal has been edited by Dr. J. A.
Allen, and, for eight years prior to 1S84,

Dr. Allen was editor of the 'Bulletin of
the Nuttall Ornithological Club,' its
predecessor; so that for thirt_v-six con-
secutive years the destinies of North
American ornithology have been guided
by a master hand. Fortunate indeed has
it been for science in general, and for
ornithology in particular, that so able and
so painstaking an editor could be found.
Few of us realize the cares and responsi-
bilities of such a post, or know the labor
invohed in merely keeping abreast of the
great volume of literature that swells in
bulk from day to day. Nevertheless, the
reviews in 'The Auk,' chiefly written by
Dr. Allen himself, would make a good
bibliography of the ornithological liter-
ature of the past thirty-six years. The
time has come when he wishes to shift the
editorial mantle to other shoulders, and
it has now fallen upon those of I\lr.
Witmer Stone. We feel that such a change
should not be lightlj' passed over, and we
may be pardoned for taking this oppor-
tunity of expressing our profound respect
and admiration for Dr. Allen and his
work, which we feel sure is also felt by
ornithologists and mammalogists the world
over and, at the same time we congratu-
late the Americ&n Ornithologists' Union
on securing in Mr. Stone so worthy a
successor.

The January issue is quite up to the
usual standard. It opens with an obituary
notice of Mr. Henry A. Purdie, by Mr.
Wm. Brewster. There is a portrait of
Mr. Purdie, who was one of the old-school
ornithologists, and best known to mem-
bers of the 'Nuttall Club.' The passing of
Prof. C. O. Whitman, of whom there is a
half-tone, is also noticed bj- Mr. R. Strong.

Mr. Alfred O. Gross presents 'Observa-
tions on the Yellow-billed Tropic-bird
P/iaclIioii amcriciDiKs Grant) at the
Bermuda Islands.' Careful studies of the
birds, especially of the development of
nestlings, are illustrated by some good
plates. Aviators should read Mr. Wm.
Brewster's 'Notes on the Flight of Gulls,'
in which stress is laid on their ability to
glide into the teeth of a gale without the
use of so much as a single wing beat.

Book News and Reviews

51

'I1u- Imal lists ari- lumuTniis. comprising
one on the suiiiiiu-r l)irils of ilir St. Jolm
valley, New lirimswick; a similar oiu-, \)y
Mr. I'.dw. Arnold, on those of Newfound-
land; and still another, by Mr. H. H.
]iaile\', on those of the mountains of Vir-
ginia. Mr. I). Iseley also has '.\ List of
the Birds of Sed^wiik Co.. Kansas'— 208
in all. There are, besides, some j,'eneral
notes, ijy several authors, that helj) till
out earlier lists.

.Mr. J. (Irinnell, under title ".V Name for
the Hawaiian Linnet' calls it Carpodacus
iniitans, and Mr. John Sajje presents his
report on the twenty-ninth mcelinK of the
A. O. U., recently held in lMiiladel|)hia.—
J. D.. Jr.

TiiK Cdxddr. —The last two numbers of
volume XIII of 'The Condor" are more
than usually replete with interesting
notes on water birds contained in accounts
of trips to the Farallones. .\nacopa and
Santa Cruz Islands, and San Jacinto Lake,
California; San Quentin Bay, Lower
California; and the Harr Lakes. Colorado.

The September nund)er opens, with a
brief description, by .M. \\. Peck, of a
hybrid Mountain and \'alley Quail,
secured April i, 191 1, near Burns, Oregon.
A. B. Howell's paper on 'Some Birds of the
San Quentin Bay Region,' mentions
"scores of thousands" of Cormorants on
San Martin Island, April 26, iqio. and the
fact that the Black Brant is ])resent in
incredible numbers during the winter
months at this the southernmost point of
its range. Warren's 'Colorado Horned
Owl Notes' are based on observations
made in 1901 and 1902 near Paonia, on the
North Fork of the Gunnison River.
Willelt and Jay's 'May Notes from San
Jacinto Lake' contain important breeding
records of the Red-head Duck and Least
Bittern. In Swarth's 'Field Notes from
South-Central California,' in Kern and
San Luis Obispo counties, are several
additions to our knowledge of the dis-
tribution of typical desert birds in the
San Joaquin Valley, notably Leconte's
Thrasher, which was found eight miles
north of Bakersfield and at McKittrick

on the south western border of the valley.
Hurl's 'Larls Spring Trip to .\naca[)a
Island,' made in March, 191 1, notes the
presence of Brown Pelicans in consider-
able numbers at the same place where the
birds were found the previous season. .\s
many of the birds were seen carrying sea
weed, for repairing their old nests, the
records of the birds nesting on the Santa
Barbara Islands, both in 1910 and 191 1,
are reasonably satisfactory. Among the
brief notes, Dawson records the capture of
an Ovenbird and a Black-throated Green
Warbler on the Farallones, on May 29,
both si)ecies 'new to the state;' and Lin-
ton, the capture of two live Man-o'-war-
birds at Long Beach, on June 13, 191 1.
The November number is, in reality, a
double number, and brings the volume up
to the size of that of its predecessors.
Dawson's 'Another Fortnight on the
Farallones,' with its observations on
forty-three species, is a notable contri-
bution to the list of papers on this far-
famed bird colony. The California
Murre, instead of being the most abund-
ant species on South Farallon, is given
third rank, with an estimated number of
20,000; while the Ashy Petrel, here named
Coues Petrel, is given second rank, and
Cassin's .\uklet, whose numbers are
estimated at not less than 100,000, is
placed first. .V few Kaeding's Petrels
were present, and the colony of Farallon
Cormorants on Maintop, always small,
was found to be reduced to about thirty-
five pairs. Kennedy describes 'Some
Robins' and Mourning Doves' Nests in
the Lower Yakima Valley;' Rockwell
denotes the second part of his 'Nesting
Notes on the Ducks of the Bair Lake
Region, Colo.,' chiefly to the Pintail and
Red-head, both of which species have
increased in recent years; and Howell and
Van Rossen contribute 'P'urther Notes
from Santa Cruz Island,' supplementing
Linton's Mst of 1908. Bryant's paper,
entitled 'Relation of Birds to an Insect
Outbreak in Northern California,' is an
unusually interesting contribution to
economic ornithology. — T. S. P.

52

Bird -Lore

iltrtJ Hore

A Bi-monthly Mag;azine
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES

Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Contributine Editor, MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

Published by D. APPLETON & CO.

Vol. XIV Published February 1. 1912 No. 1

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

COPYRIGHTED, tgia. BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Bird-Lore's Motto :
A Bird in the Busk Is Worth Two in the Hand

The "Universal Feather Co.," of Phil-
adelphia, openly, one might indeed say
brazenly, invites the public at large to
join it in breaking the spirit, if not the
letter of the law, which prohibits the sale
of aigrettes in New York State. This
concern, we understand, is composed of
New York feather dealers whose business,
having become illegal in New York State,
has been transferred to Pennsylvania.

With an obvious, and possibly to be
expected, failure to realize the real ques-
tion at issue, the Universal Feather Co.
assures prospective patrons that "We
take all the responsibility, you take none"
and we wonder whether the purchasers of
its wares are as blind to the absurdity
of this statement as its makers seem to be.

Advocates of commercial forestry
methods in our National Parks should
remember that these areas have been set
aside by the Government, not as invest-
ments in timber, but as investments
in nature. The bird-lover, as well as the
tree-lover, has rights in these Parks, which
should not be violated by a too rigid
application of purely economic principles.
We want forests, not groves.

In view of the fact that the National
Association of Audubon Societies, as we
think, very properly refused to administer
the sum of $25,000 annually for the
seasonal protection of game birds on

behalf of the arms and ammunition com-
panies of this country, it is a satisfaction
to know that, through the formation of
the American Game Protective and Propa-
gation Association, this large amount of
money is not to be lost to the cause of
bird protection. This organization is
composed mainly of sportsmen, and its
object is primarily not only to prevent
the decrease but to promote the increase
of game birds, to the end that their
shooting may not tend to diminish the
supply.

It is needless to say that many mem-
bers of the Audubon Societies do not
approve of the killing of game birds under
any conditions; and for this reason, if
for no others, it was not possible for the
National Association to become the
agents of the donors of the fund in ques-
tion. But we must deal with man in the
light of his inheritance, and not expect
the rank and file to measure up to the
highest standard thus far attained. If
the past, through the present, throws any
light toward the future, beyond question
the most humane-minded have reason to
be encouraged. In the meantime, recog-
nizing the imperfections of human nature,
let the most tender-hearted sentimentaHst
join hands with the less sympathetic but
possibly more practical sportsman in
every honest effort to preserve wild life!

No one can read a summary of the
work performed by the Biological Survey
during 191 1 without being impressed by
the value to the country of this branch of
the Federal service. As an increasing pop-
ulation removes us farther and farther
from natural conditions, so does the pen-
alty exacted by nature for the violation
of laws become greater and increasingly
difficult to avoid.

Mr. Henshaw, Chief of the Survey,
comments particularly on the importance
of increasing our insectivorous birds, and
as steps toward this end, recommends that
artificial nesting-sites be provided; that
thickets of berry-bearing shrubs and trees
should be planted along the roadside, or
in waste places on the farm.

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Edited by ALICE HALL WALTER

Address all communications relative to the work of this depart-
ment to the Editor, at S3 Arlington Avenue, Providence, R. I.

PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR

In the encouraging reports from our State Audubon Societies, which
appear as a part of the annual report of the National Association, in the last
issue of Bird-Lore, two ideas are brought out with especial emphasis, namely:
the importance of nature-study and the need of trained workers.

To quote from the Maryland report: "Nature-study in the public schools is
proving the most effective factor in accomphshing the goal toward which
every Audubon Society is striving;" and, from the Illinois report: "We greatly
need a real, live missionary, to travel through the state and talk to schools,
clubs, Farmers' Institutes, etc."

A marked advance has been made, of late, toward the realization of both
these ideas. Public sentiment is much more in favor of nature-study in the
schools, as well as of organized, efficient work along the line of the conservation
of natural resources. There are only a few states, however, which can as yet
lay claim to either a comprehensive nature-study course in their schools, or
salaried field-workers. Fewer yet can boast of having both.

This is a time of large opportunities. It is also a time of large giving. In
making plans for the year, why not welcome the one and take advantage of the
other?

Michigan is seeking to establish its Audubon Society with a permanent
endowment. This is not only good business policy, it is also the most practical
way of attaining the ends for which Audubon Societies are organized.

Is it too ambitious a plan to appoint a committee in each society, to raise
an endowment fund of twenty-five thousand dollars? The interest on such a
sum would insure the salary of one trained worker in each state, a worker
such as California reports, whose entire time would be devoted to educational
effort in schools, granges, the legislature and elsewhere.

Other organizations raise much larger sums of money to carry on various
kinds of educational work. Has not the time arrived when the Audubon
Societies of this country may look to the public for a like confirmation of
their aims?

Whether funds of this kind be raised by appeals to persons of means, or
in small amoimts on the apportionment plan, or in some other way, it ought
not to be a discouraging task if undertaken with confidence and enthusiasm.

At present, the average resources of our state Societies are barely adequate,

(53)

54 Bird - Lore

and nol always that, to pay the current expenses of correspondence and dis-
tribution of literature, and to maintain a relatively small line of educational
work.

With permanent endowments in our Audubon societies, which, once estab-
lished, ought to be gradually added to instead of decreased, the progress of
nature-study and bird-protection could not fail to be greatly accelerated,
while the results which might be obtained by a body of trained field-workers
throughout the country can hardly be estimated.

Is this plan too large to meet the present opportunities? Who shall say?

A. H. W.

FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS

As has been suggested heretofore, in schools where no definite time is set
aside for nature-study, the most successful method of teaching this subject
seems to be by correlation with other studies.

In view of the fact that so many teachers have to meet this condition,
a series of exercises in which nature-study will be correlated with other branches
is to be presented in this department. It is hoped that these exercises will be
practical as well as suggestive. Teachers are invited to send in criticisms and
also, methods of teaching nature-study which they have personally tested.

Exercise I. The Coming of Spring

Correlated Studies : Physiography and Geography
THE WEATHER

What is the weather? There are many things which we can see, such as
houses and what is in them; some things which we can hear but cannot see,
such as music; still other things which we can smell but can neither see nor
hear, such as the fragrance of flowers; and many things which we feel but do
not see, hear or smell, as, for example, the softness of a cushion or the prick-
liness of a thorn.

The weather is something which we feel more than we see or hear or smell,
although at times we may see parts of it, hear parts of it, and even smell some
of it.

The weather is really not a thing at all, but only a state, or condition, of
something. This something is the air we breathe, and the air far up above
us which we could not breathe and live, and the air around not only us but
also the entire earth.

All of these kinds of air together are called the atmosphere, and you must
learn to think of the air or atmosphere as something which is movable, which
can be made hot or cold, wet or dry, which has weight and height, and which

The Audubon Societies

55

may be dense, thai is, thick and jiressi'd loL^ctluT, or. on the contrary, thin
^nd light.

If the air all o\-er and around tlir carlh was of exactly the same degree of
heat or cold (teni})eraturi'), and of exactly the same weight (pressure), and of
exactly the same wetness or (lr\-ncss (liuniidity), as well as of exactly the same
thickness (density), it would ha\-e no motion at all and there would be only
one kind of wi-alher e\erywheri'.

liut this is ne\-er the case. The air nia\- be \ery heax'V in one place and
\-erv li.siht in another; or, it nia>' be (|uit't where you li\-e, whiU' nio\in,i,f at a

HIRD-HOX PROTIXTED ^■R()^t CXI'.

IMu.tOKraphcd by H.nvaril H. Cleaves

furious rate elsewhere; it may even be freezing cold about the polar seas, and
at the same time summer-warm near the Gulf of Mexico.

All of these states, or conditions, of the air, taken at the same time but in
diflferent places and at different heights (altitudes), are what is called the
weather, and it is very important to understand all we can about the weather,
since we are obliged to live on this earth in weather which constantly changes.

The air in motion is called wind. When the wind blows hard, we really
hear that ]xirt of the weather. The air full of water-vapor falls upon us in
rain or snow, according as it is warm or cold. When it rains or snows, we can

56 Bird - Lore

see that part of the weather. The air full of heat or cold we feel, and we call
it hot or cold weather, as the season may be.

When the air is full of dust-particles or smoke, then we smell not the air,
but the foul matter in it.

It is when the air is full of pure, health-giving gases and vapors, sometimes
moist, sometimes dry, but always fresh and invigorating, that we actually
smell the weather — the very best kind of weather in all the world.

Not only man but all other animals, as well as the trees and plants, are so
made that changes in the weather have much to do with their growth and
habits.

Plants and animals in hot, rainless regions are quite unlike plants and
animals which live where it is always moist or cold. Even the same kind of
plants and animals become changed somewhat in habits and growth, when put
into very different kinds of weather for a long time (climate).

Most plants and animals, especially those living in cold cHmates, change
also in habit, and more or less in growth, with the seasons of the year.

It is for this reason that a study of the changes in weather which take place
during the four seasons of the year helps us to understand and look for the
growth of vegetation in spring, the coming of migrating birds and the awaken-
ing of animals which sleep during winter (hibernation).

In order to know when spring may be expected, we must watch the weather
from day to day. We must not only watch it, but must learn to measure it,
to weigh it and to make pictures of it.

Although it sounds strange to speak of measuring, weighing and making
pictures of the weather, this is really what is done in weather-bureaus all over
the world.

The air is measured in different ways, for example, by its hotness or cold-
ness (temperature) ; by the rate at which it travels when in motion (velocity) ;
or by the amount of moisture in it (humidity).

It is weighed by finding out how much it presses down upon the earth.

A thermometer, or heat-measure, is an instrument which tells just how hot
or cold the air is. A barometer, or weight-measure, is an instrument which
tells the weight (pressure) of the air.

A weather-vane is a very simple instrument, telling in which direction the
air is moving, while an anemometer, or wind-measure, tells how fast the air
moves.

Other instruments are made to show how wet or how dry the air is, how
much rain or snow it sheds upon the earth, and other things important for
man to know.

In order to make pictures of the weather, it is necessary first to weigh and
measure it in different places, and at different heights. An isotherm is a picture
of the temperature, while an isobar is a picture of the pressure of the air, or
atmosphere.

SPEED OF THE ROBIN MIGRATION
(Reproduced by permission of the Biological Survey from W. W. Cooke's 'Some New Facts About the
Migration of Birds,' Year book, Department of Agriculture, 1903, pp. 371-386.)

The black band indicates the average position of the isotherm of 35° F. at the several dates men-
tioned. The dotted band shows the approximate route of the Robins of northwestern Alaska. The dates
in this band represent the average time of arrival of the earliest Robins. The numbers at the side of the
migration route indicate in miles per day the average speed of migration between the dated places.

(57)

58 Bird -Lore

These pictures are simply imaginary lines drawn on a map of the world,
from place to place, wherever the heat (temperature) of the air or its weight
(pressure) are the same.

They may be called lines of equal temperature and lines of equal pressure,
but the words isotherms and isobars are shorter, and just as easy to remember
when once we know what they mean.

Now, since the weather is constantly changing, the pictures of it are differ-
ent from day to day; but it is possible, by studying the pictures which have
been made of the weather every day for a year, or ten years or twenty-five years,
to make a picture which shows what the weather usually is like on any particu-
lar day. The chart given below shows what the weather usually looks like
when it is heated up to 35° F., and where such weather may be found on the
fifteenth of each month from January to June.

The isotherm of 35° F. is often called the isotherm of spring, for when the
'thermometer stands at 35° F. we know it is time to look for spring.

Plants and animals do not need thermometers and barometers and weather-
vanes to tell them when spring is coming. They are themselves so sensitive to-
changes in the weather that many of them, at least, might be called "living
thermometers."

It is much easier to learn the plants and animals when we know their
habits with respect to the weather. Birds, for example, have quite different
habits at different seasons of the year. Some birds live all the year round in
the cold North, others in the hot South, others in places where it is only moder-
ately cold and warm. Many birds, however, have a wonderful habit of travel-
ing thousands of miles each spring and fall, in order to nest in the North and to
spend the winter in the South. This habit is called migration. We do not know-
just how much the weather has to do with it, but we do know that when the
spring isotherm reaches us, migrating birds begin to come too, just as surely
as the snow melts or the grass grows.

During February and March, you will see birds which have come down
from British America or the northernmost part of the United States to spend
the winter in your vicinity (winter residents); birds which live all the year
round with you (permanent residents); a few birds, perhaps, like the Pine
Grosbeak or Snowy Owl, which come South from the cold North only occasion-
ally or for a short time (winter visitors) ; and the earliest of the birds which
make long-distance journeys every year (spring and fall migrants). Learn
one of each of these groups of birds, if possible, and watch their movements
closely when the isotherm of 35° F. reaches you. As it grows warmer
than 35° F., find out where the different birds go.

There is so much that is worth knowing about the weather and its effect
upon all things, living or dead, that there is really no place to stop when once
we have started to study it.

Perhaps the most interesting fact about the weather is that there is so
much that has never yet been found out about it.

The Audubon Societies ^g

SUGGESTIONS

TnK Wkatiikk.

<7. Use a tluriiioi

nclcr, haroiiU'kT and weal

/). Keep a lar.ne i

haii luiii.!^ up in llu' scIkx

ature, haronu'trit' vv

adin.^s and llu' dirrction

•r-\anc.
[lol-rooni, lor rt'cords of lenipir-
)l' the wind. A U\r<s,v shrv\ of
manila i)ai)er will answer, dixicU'd into S(|uares eorrespondin,!,^ to the number
of days in ihi' month. I'.nter tlu' daily records in one s(|uare, usin<^ colored
pencils to distin<^uish the three records taken.

c. Divide the i)upils into s<|uads, whose dut}' it shall he to make wt'ather
observations and to till in the records day by day.

TlIK ISUTIIKRM OF Sl'RlNC.

</. Correlate observations on the weather with a simple study of the
advance of spring, following the isotherm of 35° F. from the Gulf States to
Alaska, using the accompanying map.

b. Hang uj) a plain manila chart, on which is sketched the outline of Xorth
•America with the divisions of the United States and British America, using
a colored pencil to trace the courses of the principal mountain ranges and larg-
est ri\-ers. On the following dates, Jan. 15, Feb. 15, Mar. 15, Apl. 15, May 15
and June 15, draw in the isotherm of 35°F. according to its average position at
those times, letting the pu])ils see how different in latitude, |)laces of e(|ual
temperature are likely to be.

c Keep a large colored map of X( rth America on the wall beside the
isothermal chart and the weather-rec(.)rd. As the pupils learn different geo-
graphical places, let them observe whether spring is likely to reach these-
places early or late, as compared with the locality of their home-town or city.

d. Procure a weather-map' from the U. S. Weather Bureau, Washing-
ton, D. C, and compare the pictures of the weather made by isobars with
ihose made by isotherms. Without attempting to explain in detail isobaric
lines, point out the most conspicuous areas of high and low pressure, stating
that, by a careful study of isobars and isotherms, it is possible to predict what
the weather is likely to be.

Xature.

(7. Find out what |)lants and trees will blossom when the temperature is
35° F., and also what insects and animals will be acti\"e at this time.

b. Follow the northward migration of the Robin as given on the accom-
panying map. Between what dates does it travel the fastest, and why?

c. Keep a record of the earliest arrivals of migrating birds, the length of
their stay in your neighborhood, the birds which come in flocks and those
which come singly or in pairs.

General.

Ask the ])upils to design and make weather-vanes. Explain in the simplest
way the principles of the thermometer and barometer.

6o Bird - Lore

Try to discover where winter remains the longest and where spring comes
the earliest; why Alaska is warmer than Greenland; whether large bodies of
water, such as the Great Lakes, tend to hinder or to hasten the advance of
spring; why isotherms do not run straight, across the great mountain-ranges;
why spring comes earlier on the south side of hills and valleys than on the north;
why one side of a tree will sometimes be covered with snow while the other
is dripping wet; where the earliest and latest violets (or any other common
wQd- flowers) bloom in your neighborhood; why trees and shrubs sometimes
bud ahead of the season; whether any migrating birds come north while the
rivers and ponds are still frozen.

Begin to make outdoor observations in February, and keep watch of the
way nature makes ready to welcome the coming of spring.

References.

Hand-book of Nature-Study, Mrs. Anna Botsford Comstock.

Some New Facts about the Migration of Birds, Wells W. Cooke. (See
Yearbook of the LT. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1903.)

FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS

The Nest of a Crippled Towhee

When walking along a pond, one warm summer day, we turned and took
a little path into a woods, mostly made up of locust trees and much poison ivy.
I looked up into a locust tree and saw a bulky nest. We were puzzled about
it, for it did not look like any nest we had ever seen before in such a place.

We sat down, therefore, and watched the nest. We did not have to wait
long, for a male Towhee was seen in the tree. He anxiously chipped. Suddenly
a female Towhee came to a near-by bush. At last the male Towhee got up
courage and, flying to the nest, fed some very young birds. After feeding
his young, which were in a crotch of the locust, surrounded by poison ivy, he
flew away. The female bird then got up her courage and fed the young. When
the male bird returned, we noticed a singular thing. He had only one legl

One day when we came to the nest, we found it vacant.

Then we collected the nest. It was made of the same material as other
Towhee nests that we had found on the ground. We thought it quite peculiar
to find a Towhee's nest ten feet up in a locust tree in the woods. We reached
the conclusion that, because the bird had one leg, it had met with an accident,
and probably had built in the tree for safety. — Janet Davenport (aged 13),
Cold Spring Harbor, L. I.

(This nest was on the edf;e of a thinly- wooded upland pasture, where the Towhee
occurs quite commonly. The undersigned observed the female on the nest once, so
completely hidden by poison ivy that only her tail and beak showed. Evidently this
nest was considerably higher than the one reported in Bird-Lore, Sept.-Oct., igii,

The Audubon Societies 6i

p. 253. During the same and the following seasons (1910-11) in which the nest described
above was discovered, two other nests of the Towhee were found in the immediate vicin-
ity; the first, a typical ground nest in a pasture abounding in i)oison ivy; the other, also
a ground-ncst, an unusually compact, cup-like structure, set firmly into the edge of a
rough lawn, without other protection than the shade of some large spruces. Will our
young observers take pains to find out whether variation in the nesting-site is more
common than variation in nesting-material, or in the size and shape of the nest itself?
Try the Robin as a good bird to study in working out this problem. — A. H. W.)

The Bravery of the Nonpareil

Having just come from Minnesota, a state fairly alive with birds, I was
very much surprised at the comparative absence of them in Texas.

For four days I saw no other bird than an English Sparrow, on the fifth I
saw a Turkey Vulture, and, from then on to the tenth saw none other than
these. But on the tenth I certainly had a surprise.

I was in the back yard, doing an odd job, when from a small hackberry
tree in the front, the only tree, came a most delightful, cheery Uttle ditty. I
excitedly ran toward it, and after looking for some time (the song had ceased),
discovered a Nonpareil on the topmost spray of the other side. He continued
his pipings, after a brief interval, and, after the family had had a thorough
survey of him, flew away to continue his song in a distant sycamore.

I then took careful notes on the Nonpareils, finding that, even though so
brightly colored, they are extremely hard to discern among the green foliage.

Three days afterward, I was in a neighbor's mulberry tree, watching a
female devour the ripe fruit, but no male was seen, when all at once a great
flock of English Sparrows commenced picking at the little female frightfully,
till I began to wonder what would happen to her. While in this mood of
inquiry, there was a brilliant flash of red fire (no wonder they are called Red-
birds), and the whole company of English Sparrows was scattered all to naught.

The male and female then leisurely ate the mulberries from the lower
branches, finely displaying their brilliant colors. — George M. Sutton (aged
13.) Fort Worth, Texas.

(For a colored illustration of the species described in this interesting letter, see the
Sept.-Oct. issue of Eird-i.ore. 191 i, under Painted Bunting. One of the most surpris-
ing things about birds of highly colored plumage is their inconspicuousness when seen
from certain angles and at certain heights. Will this young observer tells us how many
different species of birds he has found feeding upon the mulberry-tree? — A. H. W.)

THE WHITE EGRETS

By T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary

%tt J^attonal a^eoctation ot Siutiuhon ^otittite

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 54

The most beautiful, and one of the most popular millinery decorations
with civilized women, is that dainty and exquisitely formed feather known as
the ''aigrette" in America, and the "osprey" in Europe.

It is a sad fact that this personal decoration, so much esteemed b}- our
modishly dressed women, is procurable only by inflicting unspeakable agonies
on some of the most beautiful creatures which inhabit the earth.

In the early days of the Audubon movement, its leaders raised their hands
in protest against the traffic in these feathers. Their cry has been taken up by
many other organizations and societies interested in various phases of humane
work. Today it seems incredible that there should be any well-read person
in the United States who is not aware of the fact that the "aigrette" is the
nuptial plume worn by the white Egret at the nesting-time of the year, to
procure which it is necessary to shoot the birds, which means that the young,
in turn, are left to slowly die of starvation.

In fighting the traffic in these feathers, the Audubon Societies have pub-
lished and distributed millions of pages of literature bearing on the subject;
have contributed thousands of colunms of matter to the public press, and their
speakers have addressed audiences aggregating hundreds of thousands of
hearers, in all of which there have been set forth the unanswerable facts rela-
tive to the methods of procuring the material for this heartless trade.

In their efforts to safeguard the interests of these birds, agents have been
sent to those regions still inhabited by the wliite Egrets, and their nesting-
colonies located. Wardens have been employed to remain in the fever-infested
swamps to guard the localities which the birds had chosen for their rookeries.
Frequently, these men have had to contend with unscrupulous feather-gath-
erers. Three Audubon wardens have been killed, and at least two others
probably saved their lives only by promptly returning the rifle fire of their
would-be assassins.

Yet, despite all our efforts, the birds have continually become scarcer,
and, in fact, so depleted are their numbers today that we did not know of over
fifteen colonies in the United States in the summer of 191 1.

In these ancestral nesting-places still gather a few thousand birds, the
pitiful remnant of the great flocks which inhabited our southern states a few-
decades ago. These, this Association is exerting every possible efl"ort to protect.

In the summer of 1906, the writer spent five weeks on the Gulf Coast of
Elorida, covering the territory between Tampa and Key West. About twenty-

(62)

The White Egrets

63

uinu'ral>le fcedinji; -grounds
()i\ I wo hundred miles in
w iicrcas, in the same region

)Irntiful, and in places

five colonies of waler-hinls wcii' rxaiiiined, and i
of Herons were \isi(ed. In all this slrelth of Ivr
length — -less than a dozen white Egrets were foun<
eleven years before, the writer had found the hird
very abundant.

There are two species of plume-bearing white I'",grets in America. The
large one {Herod i as egretta) is a beautiful long-legged, long-necked bird, stand-
ing between three and four feet in height, and the Snowy Heron (Egretta can-

i

i^. "^

!:k

X. ^/v^Si^L ^ " ^^^^^^mB

H

t \^

W j^

'*••*£• ^^^^..\

''"'/'

V4i,^ ^-^i^'^-s

0'/

•».' \."

-

•

•^
». .'^- .— .

. i

SNOWY ECJRET
I'holoyraphcd by r. H. I'liilipp

didissima), of much shorter stature. From the back of the former are obtained
the long, straight plumes, and from the latter are taken the short, curved ones,
known to the trade as the "cross aigrette." Both species are normally found
in the same territory and under very simikir conditions. They formerly bred
from Oregon and New York on the north, south through Mexico and the
northern Central America to Patagonia and Chile. Their range, however,
in the United States has been greatly restricted. One small colony is reported
to be still in existence in eastern Oregon, and it is just possible that there are
one or more groups of birds in southern California. The most northern nest-

64 Bird - Lore

ing-place on the Atlantic Coast is in North Carolina, down close to the south-
ern boundary line. Large areas in Florida, where, in years gone by, the birds
were more abundant than in any other place in the United States, are now
devoid of either species, except now and then a rare straggler. After the nest-
ing season, a few Egrets wander northward. Thus, in the summer of 1911,
several were seen in Massachusetts, some of them being photographed by Dr.
Geo. W. Field, of Boston. If the colonies along the south Atlantic Coast can
be guarded and the traffic in plumes suppressed, there seems every reason to
beUeve that the birds will again extend their natural breeding-range north-
ward, until they once more inhabit suitable regions in the neighborhood of
New York.

Egrets feed chiefly in the rice-fields, and about the marshy borders of ponds,
lakes and streams. When the period of nidification arrives, they usually
retire to the depths of more or less inaccessible swamps, and there, in company
with other Herons, assemble to build their nests on the horizontal limbs of
the cypress or willow trees.

The eggs range from three to five in number. These are blue in color,
and are laid on a frail platform of sticks and twigs which the birds gather in
the neighborhood. For food, frogs, snakes, fish, and other aquatic forms of
life, are ready at hand.

Egrets are not regarded as of very great economic value as destroyers
of obnoxious insects. This, however, is no reason why they do not deserve our
protection. The pure, glossy whiteness of their plumage and the elegance of their
form and movement are sufficient reasons for preserving these Hving objects of
statuary of the southern marshes, even as civilized man preserves in the home
and in the forum the marble statues, carved by the hands of inspired artists.

The Audubon workers, by constant agitation and an immense amount of
labor, have succeeded in securing the passage of laws which prohibit the sale
of these birds in the states of New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Ohio, Mis-
souri, Massachusetts, Oregon, and California. This is only a beginning in the
line of legislation for suppressing the trafiic in their feathers, for the sale still
goes on in every city of any size in the other states of the Union.

Even where the trade in aigrettes is now declared to be illegal, there are
frequent evidences of violation of the law; for so valuable and so alluring are
the profits, that many annually run the risk of prosecution in order to deal in
the feathers. The price of aigrettes has gone up and up, until today prime
feathers are actually worth more than twice their weight in gold.

As the birds have become exterminated in the United States, the millinery
feather agents have turned their attention to the tierra caUente of Mexico, and
the rivers of South America. Here, in the swamps of the hot countries, the
feather-gatherers are to be found every year. It is such a profitable industry
that the fortunate hunter who gets possession of one of the big colonies, or
garzeros, usually guards it with jealous care, and his gun is turned against all

\ L

E S

U. W

n

mik

%

*--

o <

^ s

g g

U HI

■P 5=

The White Egrets 65

comers. It is customary to wait until the eggs are hatched, for then the old
birds, responding to the cries of their young, are loathe to leave the neighbor-
hood, and readily fall a prey to the gunners. The millinery dealers, in their
efforts to defend this nefarious traffic, seek to mislead the public by the state-
ments to the effect that aigrettes are gathered from the ground underneath the
nests. Every ornithologist, or other person, who has had experience with
Heron rookeries, knows the falsity of this statement. At least twenty well-
known naturalists have filed affidavits to this effect with the officers of the
National Association of Audubon Societies.

The following are abstracts from some of the sworn statements furnished
by men, many of whose names are well known to the reading public. Read
these and tell your friends of the atrocities of the aigrette traffic.

(From Affidavit of Prof. P. M. Rea, Charleston, S. C.)

"After practical observation of the breeding of Snowy Herons and American
Egrets on the coast islands and swamps of South Carolina, and on the basis
of experience with the work of plume-hunters, as well as from my knowledge
of the growth of the plumage in these birds, I desire to state most emphatically
that the plumes which are used for millinery purposes are worn by the birds
only during the breeding season, and when cast naturally are of practically
no commercial value."

(From Affidavit of Arthur T. Wayne, Mount Pleasant, S. C.)

"It is utterly impossible to get fifty egret plumes from any colony of breed-
ing birds without shooting the birds. Last spring, I went twice a week to a
breeding colony of American and Snowy Egrets, from early in April until
June 8. Despite the fact that I covered miles of territory in a boat, I picked
up but two American Egret plumes (which I now have) ; but not a single
Snowy Egret plume did I see, nor did my companion, who accompanied me
on every trip.

"I saw an American Egret plume on the water, and left it, purposely, to
see whether it would sink or not. Upon visiting the place a few days after-
wards, the plume was not in evidence, undoubtedly having sunk. The plumes
are chiefly shed in the air while the birds are going to or coming from their
breeding-grounds.

"If that millinery plume law is repealed, the fate of the American and
Snowy Egrets is sealed, for the few birds that remain will be shot to the very
last one."

(From Affidavit of T. J. Ashe, Key West, Fla.)

"I have seen many molted and dropped feathers from wild plumed birds.

I have never seen a molted or dropped feather that was fit for anything.

"It is the exception when a plumed bird drops feathers of any value while

66 Bird- Lore

in flight. What feathers are so dropped are those that are frayed, worn out,
and forced out by the process of molting.

"The molting season is not during the hatching season, but is after the
hatching season.

"The shedding, or molting, takes place once a year; and during this molt-
ing-season the feathers, after hav'ing the hard usage of the year from wind,
rain and other causes, when dropped are of absolutely no commercial value."

(From letter of Julian A. Dimock. Peekamose, New York.)

"I know a goodly number of the plume-hunters of Florida. I have camped
with them and talked to them. I ha\-e heard their tales of adventure and even
full accounts of the 'shooting-up" of an Egret rookery. Never has a man in
Florida suggested to me that plumes could be obtained without killing the
birds.

'T have known the wardens, and have visited rookeries after they had
been 'shot-up,' and the evidence all pointed to the everlasting use of the gun.

"// is certainly not true that the plumes can he obtained ivithout killing the
birds hearing them.

"Nineteen years ago, I visited the Cuthbert Rookery with one of the men
who discovered the birds nesting in that Lake. He and his partner had sold
the plumes gathered then for more than a thousand dollars. He showed me
how they hid in the bushes and shot the birds. He even ga^-e me a chance to
watch him kill two or three birds.

"I know personally the man chiefly responsible for the slaughter of the
birds at Alligator Bay. He laughed at the idea of getting plumes without
killing the birds. I well know the man who shot the birds up Rogers River,
and even saw some of the empty shells left on the ground by him.

"I have camped with Seminoles, whites, blacks, outlaws, and those within
the pale, connected with plume-hunting, and all tell the same story: The
birds are shot to get the plumes.

"The evidence of my own eyes, and the action of the birds themselves,
convinces me that there is not a shadow of doubt concerning this point."

(From Affidavit of George N. Chamberlin, Daytona, Fla.)

"George N. Chamberlin, Ijeing duly sworn, deposes and says that he has
been a resident of Daytona, Florida, for nearly twenty-four years and is fa-
miliar with the life and habits of the Egret, or Snowy Heron, large numbers
of which formerly nested in rookeries adjacent to the Halifax and Indian
River country, between St. Augustine and Miami. Large colonies of birds
once inhabiting these rookeries, have been almost entirely exterminated by
plume-hunters who, after shooting them, remove the plumes by a knife cut,
known as scalping, after which the bodies are left to rot or decay.

"It is during the nesting-season that the bird's natural fear of man disap-
pears under stress of providing for and protecting its young. It is then that

The White Egrets

67

the ])luiiit's arc in most perfect condition. The jxirent birds, at such tim?, are
easily killed, and. as a result, the young birds perish, thus making the annual
gathering of i)lumes one of the most destructive of all agencies oj^erating
against binl-life. Tliis beautiful bird is now nearing extinction in Florida,
there being but a remnant of former colonies remaining in s\vam|)y recesses
in extreme southern Florida.

AMERICAN EGRET
Photographed by P. B. Philipp

"The statement that Egrets or Snowy Herons are not killed for their
plumage, or that the plumes are picked up about the rookeries or nesting-
places, is a perversion of facts, and one that is absolutely false."

(From AffHlavil. of (). K. liaynard, (laiiicsville, Horida.)

"That he is acquainted with the customs and habits of what are known as
the Florida plumage birds; that he has been on the grounds and places of
roosting of the different plumage birds of Florida, and that he makes this
affidavit from the facts ascertained by himself in the personal investigation
and observation of the habits of the different plumage birds of Florida. Afffant
further swears that it is impossible to obtain such plumes of either the Snowy
Heron or American Egret, found principally in Florida, which will be of any

68 Bird - Lore

commercial value, without killing the birds; and that the plumes shed by these
birds around the nest or roosting-places are of no commercial value.

"Affiant further swears that these birds are of a very wild nature, and that
it is only during the nesting-season and while the young birds are in the nest
that there are any plumes on the birds of any commercial value, and that the
kilhng of the birds, in order to obtain the plumes, wall necessarily cause the
death of a large number of young birds."

(From letter of Casper Whitney.)

"During extended travel throughout South America, from 1903 to 1907
inclusive, I journeyed, on three separate occasions, by canoe (i 904-1 907) on
the Lower Orinoco and Apure rivers and their tributaries. This is the region,
so far as Venezuela is concerned, in which is the greatest slaughter of White
Herons for their plumage, or, more specifically, for the marital plumes, which
are carried only in the mating and breeding season, and are known in the mil-
linery trade as aigrettes.

"There is Hterally no room for question. The Snowy Herons are killed
exactly as I describe. It is the custom of all those who hunt for the millinery
trade, and is recognized by the natives as the usual method."

The following astounding confession of a plume-hunter has been furnished
us in the form of an affidavit by Mr. A. H. Meyer, who, for nine years was
engaged in the business of killing Egrets in South America for the New York
and European milliners:

"My attention has been called to the fact that certain commercial interests
in this city are circulating stories in the newspapers and elsewhere to the effect
that the aigrettes used in the miUinery trade come chiefly from Venezuela,
where they are gathered from the ground in the large garceros, or breeding-
colonies, of White Herons,

I wish to state that I have personally engaged in the work of collecting
the plumes of these birds in Venezuela. This was my business for the years
1896 to 1905, inclusive. I am thoroughly conversant with the methods
employed in gathering Egret and Snowy Heron plumes in Venezuela, and I
wish to give the following statement regarding the practices employed in
procuring these feathers :

The birds gather in large colonies to rear their young. They have the
plumes only during the mating and nesting season. After the period when they
are employed in caring for their young, it is found that the plumes are vir-
tually of no commercial value, because of the worn and frayed condition to
which they have been reduced. It is the custom in Venezuela to shoot the
birds while the young are in the nests. A few feathers of the large White
Heron (American Egret), known as the Garza blanca, can be picked up of a
morning about their breeding places, but these are of small value and are

The White Egrets 69

known as "dead feathers." They are worth locally not over $3.00 an ounce.
While the feathers taken from the bird, known as "hve feathers," are worth
$15.00 an ounce.

My work led me into every part of Venezuela and Colombia where these
birds are to be found, and I have never yet found or heard tell of any garceros
that were guarded for the purpose of simply gathering the feathers from the
ground. No such a concUtion exists in Venezuela. The story is absolutely
without foundation, in my opinion, and has simply been put forward for com-
mercial purposes. The natives of the country, who do virtually all of the
hunting for feathers, are not provident in their nature, and their practices
are of a most cruel and brutal nature. I have seen them frequently pull the
plumes from wounded birds, leaving the crippled birds to die of starvation,
unable to respond to the cries of their young in the nests above, which were
calling for food. I have known these people to tie and prop up wounded
Egrets on the marsh where they would attract the attention of other birds
flying by. These decoys they keep in this position until they die of their wounds
or from the attacks of insects. I have seen the terrible red ants of that country
actually eating out the eyes of these wounded, helpless birds that were tied
up by the plume-hunters. I could write you many pages of the horrors prac-
ticed in gathering aigrette feathers in Venezuela by the natives for the mil-
linery trade of Paris and New York.

"To illustrate the comparatively small number of dead feathers which
are collected, I will mention that in one year I and my associates shipped to
New York eighty pounds of the plumes of the large Heron and twelve pounds
of the little recurved plumes of the Snowy Heron. In this whole lot there were
not over five pounds of plumes that had been gathered from the ground — and
these were of Uttle value. The plume-birds have been nearly exterminated in
the United States and Mexico, and the same condition of affairs will soon exist
in tropical America. This extermination will come about because of the fact
that the young are left to starve in the nest when the old birds are killed, any
other statement made by interested parties to the contrary notwithstanding.

"I am so incensed at the ridiculously absurd and misleading stories that
are being published on this question that I want to give you this letter, and ,
before delivering it to you, shall take oath to its truthfulness."

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary

Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions to
the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City

President Dutcher

While we are unable to delect any very
marked improvement in the physical
condition of President William Dutcher,
it is much comfort to know that he is
surely growing stronger. It is, at this
time, his custom to be dressed and to sit
up a portion of each day. Many of his
friends have written him from lime to
time, and he is now able to read and
enjoy such communications. Anj- one
who may desire to write him may have
their letters reach him directly bj- address-
ing them to No. qqo Central Avenue,
Plainfield, N. J.— T. Gii.bkrt T^.^rsox.

A Gift of Five Thousand Dollars

The Association has recently recei\ed
a contribution of $5,000 to be used during
the year 191 2 in pushing the educational
feature of our work among the children
of the country.

The very encouraging results which
have been achieved along these lines in the
southern states for the past two years, as
a result of contributions of Mrs. Russell
Sage, have lead a friend of the birds to make
it possible for the Association to work in a
similar way in other sections of the United
States.

In a letter which accompanied the con-
tribution, we learn that the donor "is
deeplj' interested in the work of wild-life
protection, and believes that the National
Association of Audubon Societies is doing
more good work for this cause than any
other organization."

We regret not being able to publish the
name of this public-spirited member, who,
through modesty, has absolutely refused
to give us this pleasure. Full details
regarding the proposed expenditure of

(70

this fund have not been completed as we
go to press. We expect to have good
reports to make, from time to time, of
this new extension in our educational
endca\-or. — T. G. P.

Night Heron Colonies

The Association lias recentl\' under-
taken to obtain information regarding the
breeding of the Black-crowned Night
Heron within 200 miles of New York City.
To date, the following facts have devel-
oped:

A colony of these birds has existed for
many years near Roslyn, Long Island.
Mr. Frank M. Chapman visited the place
in 1899, and at that time estimated the
number of nests at 525. In 1907, Mr.
Francis Harper thought there were from
250 to 300 pairs. Mr. P. B. Philipp visited
the place the following year, and reported
only 200 nests. In 1910, the colony had
shrunk to about twenty-five birds. The
swamp in which the birds nested has been
reduced in size since that time, by the
dying of trees (thus making them unavail-
able as nesting-sites for the Herons), by
the cutting of timber, and by the con-
struction of a road. The swamp has now
virtually been converted into a private
park.

Mr. Clinton G. Abbott reports a colony
at Bordentown, New Jersey, which he
visited yearly from 1899 to 1907. In its
most populous condition, he states that
there were 150 or more nests. The
farmer on whose land this colony was
situated was well disposed towards the
birds and, while obliged to cut some wood,
took only trees from the border of the
swamp and, as far as possible, avoided
disturbing the birds. He also threatened
to shoot any one whom he found attempt -

)

VIEW IN ROOKKRV OK liLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS W ROSLVN, LONG ISLANl
Photographed by P. B. Philipp

(71)

72

Bird -Lore

ing to molest them. Mr. Abbott also
reports a colony in the vicinity of Mon-
tauk Point, Long Island, which may have
contained fifty nests. The character of
the nesting-place was such that even an
approximately accurate estimate was
rendered very difficult. Mr. Francis
Harper reports small colonies of five or
six birds each, scattered at intervals along
the south shore of Long Island; that a
group of nesting birds has been reported
to him from Walkill, Ulster County, New
York, and still another at Honeoye Lake,
near Rochester, New York.

Mr. P. B. Philipp reports that in 1910
there was a large colony located in a
maple swamp near Great Neck, Long
Island, and not five miles from the
Roslyn colony. He does not attempt to

estimate the number of birds. He also
reports a colony back of Greenwich, Con-
necticut, of which, however, he has no
particulars.

Mr. Henry W. Shoemaker has recently
written the Association concerning a
nesting colony of Night Herons in a grove
of large trees at Greenwich Cove, near
Sound Beach, Connecticut. He states
that this year there were over 100 nests,
and that the birds need a guard to pro-
tect them, as the summer residents can-
not be restrained from occasionally taking
shots at them. Formerly, Great Blue
Herons and Bitterns existed here, but this
year a solitary Great Blue Heron appeared,
and no Bitterns. The Association intends
to make an effort to give adequate pro-
tection to this colony.

NEST AND EGGS OF BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON IN ROOKKRV
ROSLYN, LONG ISLAND
Photographed by P. B. Philipp

The Audubon Societies

73

On July 30, last, the writer visited a
colon)- on Fisher's Island, New York,
which was estimated to contain in the
neighborhood of 100 pairs of these birds.
It is situated on the property of one of
our members, Mr. Alfred L. Ferguson,
who extends to it every protection. A
colony is also reported from Gardiner's
Island, New York.

It is desirable that further information
should be had concerning the history
and present status of the colonies enumer-
ated, and also regarding the location of
any additional groups of nesting birds.
Readers of Bird-Lore are, therefore,
requested to cooperate in this work of
of gathering further data. — T. G. P.

Bird Protection in Porto Rico

About the year 1877, that vigorous
little animal, the mongoose, was intro-
duced on the island of Porto Rico, for the
purpose, so it is said, of destroying the
rats which were playing havoc with the
sugar-cane.

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" found the climate
congenial and food abundant. His num-
bers rapidly increased, and the rats cor-
respondingly grew fewer. When in time,
however, hunting in the cane- fields became
unprofitable, the mongoose turned his
attention to birds, with the result that
before long the ground-breeding species
were greatly reduced in numbers.

Porto Rico is fairly thickly settled, and,
there having been practically no legal
restriction to bird-shooting, the shot-gun
has long aided the little mammal in its
work of destruction. Especially is this
true since American occupation began, in
1898. Of late, various reports of the
wanton killing of birds in the island by
soldiers and sailors have reached our
office.

This unfortunate state of affair has
recently received a sudden check, which,
in the end, is likely to prove of material
service in conserving the bird life. The
Sixth Legislative Assembly of Porto Rico
enacted a bird-protection law of which
the following is an extract: "Whoever

seizes, kills, destroys or keeps in his pos-
session any bird beneficial to agriculture
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
punished therefor with a fine of not less
than $5 or more than $25, or with impris-
onment of not more than ten days, or
with both penalties."

The Assembly went farther, and empow-
ered the Board of Commissioners of Agri-
culture to determine what birds are bene-
ficial to agriculture. At a regular meeting
of the Board, held July 14, 191 1, an order
was passed which names sixty-nine species
as being beneficial, and therefore coming
within the scope of the law.

Desiring to make doubly certain that
no useful birds should be omitted, a
second order was passed, which reads:
"That all other birds now found in Porto
Rico be declared beneficial to agriculture,
with the following exceptions, the family
of FalconidcR, migratory Ducks, and
Snipes (Gallinago wilsoni)."

The National Association of Audubon
Societies has, for some time, been in close
correspondence with the Board of Agri-
culture, and it may be mentioned that
there is now under advisement a plan for
further protecting the birds of the island
by placing limitations upon the sale of
their bodies or feathers.

From the published lists of Bowdish
and others, we learn that 160 species of
birds have thus far been recorded from
Porto Rico.— T. G. P.

Fatalities in Hunting

The short open season for hunting big
game closed in most states in December.
This year, as usual, there have been a
large number of people killed, as the result
of the careless handling of firearms. Hun-
dreds of inexperienced men and boys
annually go into the woods with the most
deadly weapons which the human hand
has been able to construct. Many of
these hunters, when once they get out of
town with a gun in their hands, imme-
diately fall prey to their imaginations, and
fancy that every thicket is inhabited by
some wild animal w'hich it is desirable to

74

Bird - Lore

bring to bag. It is astonishing how many
people are shot simply because irrespon-
sible hunters have seen a movement in
the bushes, and, without waiting to ascer-
tain what caused the disturbance of the
leaves, at once begin a fusillade, as if
endeavoring to sink a battle-ship. This
random shooting, indulged in by men
incompetent to handle a rifle, but who
fondly expect to thus slay a noble buck, is,
perhaps, the chief cause for this annual
human slaughter.

It is reported that the past season wit-
nessed the death by hunting accidents of
loi people in twenty-three states. These
all occurred within a period of sixty days.
During the same time, thirty-seven others
were injured. Incidentally, the slaughter
of cattle and other domestic animals, from
the same cause, was considerable.

Michigan is said to lead the list of
fatalities with 16 killed; 14 lost their
lives in Illinois, 13 in Wisconsin, 11 in
Maine, and 9 in New York state. This
terrific loss of life is surely an unnecessary
price to pay for the love of the chase; and
legislation looking to the preservation of
human life is evidently as much needed
among our game laws as legislation for
the protection of deer. Laws in some
states, intended to safeguard the hunters,
have already been considered, and various
suggestions have been made in regard to
bettering conditions. "Wear red shirts,"
someone has said. "Do not shoot until
you have seen the deer's horns," a second
advocates; while still another thinks it
might be well to stay at home, and let
some one else run the risk of being shot.

The hunting season for the past year
has been about an average one in reference
to the number of game animals killed.
Maine, of course, furnishes one of the
best-known hunting-fields in the country,
and it may be interesting in this connec-
tion to record that about 300 moose are
supposed to have been taken there the
past season. Despatches from Bangor
state that the carcasses of 2,700 deer have
passed through that town, and the total
number killed in the state for the ;;eason
is estimated at about 11,000. — T. G. P.

Funds Needed to Save the Egrets

Mr. John Dryden Kuser, of Newark,
New Jersey, one of our enthusiastic mem-
bers, has sent in a contribution for the
191 2 Egret Protection work, together
with the following letter, which he states
that he would be glad to have brought to
the attention of the readers of Bird-Lore:

"Last season (1911), $1,431 was raised
for the protection of Herons and Egrets.
More money is needed for the coming
year, and will not some of the readers of
Bird-Lore furnish it? I am starting by
giving $25, to which my father, Colonel
Anthony R. Kuser, has added $10 and my
mother, $5, making a total of $40. Car»
we not double, or at least exceed, the
amount raised last year?

"If mone\' can be secured by the
National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties to pay wardens to protect the few
remaining colonies of the beautiful Ameri-
can Egret, these birds may be saved from
extinction; but if they are left unprotected
what is to stop the plume-hunters from
slaughtering the entire colony. Next
year may be too late; so, to help save the
Egret, bird-lovers must contribute to the
Egret Fund. Money will be received by
Mr. Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Treasurer of
the National Association of Audubon So-
cieties, 1974 Broadway, New York Citj-."

A statement of results accomplished in
the work of protecting these rare and
beautiful birds during the past year will
shortly be mailed to all of the contributors
to this work during the year of 191 1. In
order that agents may be placed in the
field early in the spring, to resume the
arduous and difficult undertaking of
locating other colonies of Egrets in the
southern swamps, and in order that we
may have sufficient time to secure new
guards and renew contracts with wardens
employed last year, those persons inter-
ested in this phase of bird protection are
urged to seriously consider the advisa-
bility of making special contributions to
the work of saving the Egrets, and to
advise us as early as possible regarding the
extent of their financial aid.— T. G. P.

The Audubon Societies

75

New Members

Between November i, i()ii, and Jan-
uary I, 1912, the following new Life
Members of the National Association of
Audubon Societies were enrolled:

Bliss, Miss Catherine A.

Bowdoin, Miss Edith G.

Bowdoin, Mrs. Temple

Cudworth, Mrs. Frederic B.

French, IMis; Caroline L. \V.

Kuser, Mr. John Drvden

Rogers, Mr. Charles' H.

Wadsworth, Mr. Clarence S.
During the same period applications for
Sustaining Membership together with the
first annual fees, were recei\-cd as follows:

Acton, Miss Agnes A.

Adams, Edward H.

Angier, Albert K.

Bailey, Henry T.

Baker, Miss Marv K.

Barlow, Mrs. F. C

Bennett, Miss Marion

Bond, Air. Henry

Bowdoin, Mrs. (Jeorge S.

Bowen, Miss Jane

Bowles, R. P.

Brasher, R. I.

Brewer, Edward M.

Brock, Mrs. R. C. H.

Brooks, Miss M. W.

Burroughs, George

Carter, Richard B.

( hadwick, Mr. E. J.

Codman, Miss M. C.

Cope, Mrs. Walter

Cornwall, Mr. Eldridge L.

Cotton, Miss Elizabeth A.

Crawford, Mr. George E.

Crosby Mrs. Ernest

Dana, Miss M. T.

Dearborn, Miss Sarah

Dibble, Mrs. R. Wells

Draper, Mrs. Henry

Ellsworth, Mr. J. M.

Emerson, Mrs. Edward

Ernst, Mrs. H. C.

Ewart, Mr. William I.

Farnsworth, IMr. F. B.

Field, Mr. Charles H.

Fitzpatrick, Mr. Thos. B.

Frothingham, Mrs. Eugenia

Gay, Mrs. F. L.

Gilbert, Mr. Edward H.

Goodwin, Miss Amelia

Hastings, Miss Alice

Helm, Mr. Louis

Hoguet, :\Ir. Henri A. L.

Hoover, ^Vlr. M. H.

Hopkins, Mr. H. Lindsay

Horsfall, Mr. Robert B.

Hubha-d, Mrs. James M.

Hull, Miss Beatrice, Sec'y.

Hull, Mrs. G. W.

Jackson, Air. ICrnest
Jackson, Mr. l-'rancis de M.
James, Mr. Henry
Johnson, Mr. Lewis J.
Johnson, Miss Mary W.
Jones, Mrs. George E.
Jordan, Mrs. Donald
Justice, Mr. Henry
Kimball, Mr. Benjamin
King, Mr. Henry B.
Lee, Mr. Joseph
Lee, Mr. J. S.
Lee, Mrs. J. S.
Leeds, Mrs. John G.
LovelJ, Mrs. F. IL, Jr.
-Moos, Mrs. J. H.
Mori- on, Mr. George B.
Morris, Mrs. J. B.
Morse, Mr. Henr}' Lee
Moschowitz, Mrs. .\. V.
MacRae, Dr. Thomas
Norbeck, Miss Nellie
Osborn, Mrs. Henry Fairtield
Pack, Mrs. Charles L.
Parsons, Miss Katharine
Piatt, Miss Marie E.
Peters, Mr. William R.
Pomeroy, Mrs. Nelson
Putnam", Mr. J. B.
Putnam, Mrs. S. G.
Randolph, Mi-s Fannv F.
Rankine, Mrs. W. B. '
Reynal, Mr. N. C.
Reynal, Master E. S.
Rhein, Mr. John, Jr.
Richardson, Airs. Geo. F.
Ryan, Air. John Barrj^
Robbins, Air. X. E.
Rountree, Airs. H. H.
Rusch, Air. H. A.
Sanderson, Aliss Alarie
Scoville, Aliss Grace
Saute r. Air. J. V
Scranton, Aliss Alary E.
Sears, Aliss Alary P.
Seeler, Airs. Edgar V.
Sheffield, Air. G. ^t. J.
Smith, Air. W^ Hinckle
Sibley, Airs. P'dward A.
Spear, Airs. James
Speare, Mrs. Lewis R.
Spring, Air. Edward
Sprunt, Air. James
larbell, Air. .Vrthur P.
Tappan, Aliss Alary A.
Thomson, Air. Ernest A.
Thorn, Airs. I. B.
Tuckerman, Airs. Leveretl S.
Tuckerman, Lucius C.
Weaker, Airs. .Vlice Hall
Ward, Air. Charles W.
Warren, Air. Walter P.
Watt, Airs. Henry C.
Welch, Airs. Pierce N.
White, Air. Charl.s E.

76

Bird- Lore

Whiton, Miss Mary B.

Winston, Mr. G. Owen

Winthrop, Mr. H. R.

Wister, Mrs. Owen

Yarrow, Miss Mary C.
The following new contributors were
enrolled during the 60 days preceding
January i, 1912.

"A Bird Lover"

Benson, Mrs. L. F.

Brewster, Mrs. L. D.

Cass, Miss Marion

Chase, Mr. Frederick S.

Cushing, Miss Margaret W.

Dalney, Mr. Herbert

Daws, Miss E. A.

Dyer, Mrs. Ruth C.

Freedlcy, Mrs. A. S.

Hall, Mr. Edward H.

Hill, Mrs. L. C.

Lowell, Mrs. George G.

Olcott, Mr. Mason

Provost, Mrs. C. W.

Paladin, Mr. Arthur

Patterson, Miss Annie C.

Ray, Miss Marie V.

Roberts, Miss C. M.

Wells, Mr. W. S.

Wilcox, Miss Adelaide E.

"X. X. X. X. Anonymous"

Artificial Aigrettes

Now that the sale of Heron aigrettes
has become illegal in New York and
several other states, the business of man-
ufacturing imitations has again received
impetus. In almost any shop-window in
New York where millinery goods are dis-
displayed, one may see cleverly con-
structed "aigrettes." made from the
feathers of domestic fowls. One familiar
with the real article is not likely to be
misled. There are many zealous bird
lovers, however, who fail to distinguish
the difference, and several of these, in
their desire to aid the National Associa-
tion in its efforts to see that the law is
enforced, have written us anonymous
letters, giving the street number of stores
where they state aigrettes may be pur-
chased.

We take the greatest pleasure in investi-
gating all reports of this kind, but we
earnestly request that our members and
friends in future sign their names to all
complaints. They may rest assured that
their communications will be held in the

strictest confidence. By their doing this,
we shall be given an opportunity to reply
and let the complainants know why the
supposed aigrettes in the shop-windows,
which they viewed with so much dis-
pleasure, are not removed.

The writer recently had occasion to
spend fifteen minutes in the New York
Central depot, at Albany, New York.
The waiting-room contained, at that
time, sixty-six women. With note-book
and pencil, he quietly made the round of
the room and ascertained the following
facts in reference to the women's hats.

One was decorated with the entire
plumage of a Bonaparte's Gull; one had
the feathers of a Goura Pigeon (whether
real or artificial, it was difficult to deter-
mine); four were decorated with imitation
aigrettes; twelve bore other creations
made from the feathers of domestic
fowls; fifteen had plumes of the ostrich;
while thirty-three, or exactly one-half, held
no feather decorations of any character.

This may. or may not, have been a
typical assemblage of women, and the
results of the survey were probably more
interesting than significant. — T. G. P.

American Game Protective and
Propagation Association

The above is the title of an organization
which has opened its headquarters at
No. Ill Broadway, New York City. It
was incorporated September 25, 191 1, and
in a prospectus recently issued the state-
ment is made: "The credit of putting the
movement into concrete form belongs to
the arms and ammunition men of the
country. These men subscribe liberally
to the Association for the sole purpose of
game protection and game increase.
Their interests are identical with those
of the Association. Contributions have
been made without reservation, and the
Association is in no way tied to any busi-
ness interests, but is free to use its influ-
ence unrestricted for the broad and
worthy cause for which it was organized.
The Association's only battles will be
fought for game protection."

The Audubon Societies

77

The plans of the Association include a
cooperation with the various game com-
missions of the country to secure a more
vigorous enforcement of game laws; to
stand back of wardens who have gotten
into trouble through fearless obedience to
duty; to create among the wardens and
others whose duty it is entorce the law the
spirit of emulation and pride in their
profession, and to give gold and bronze
medals for meritorious service.

It believes in game refuges of all char-
acters, and in the natural and artificial
propagation of game. It desires to see
reasonable and uniform game-restrictive
laws enacted by the Legislatures in many
states of the union wherein they do not
now exist. It proposes, also, to expend
funds in the actual enforcement of game
laws by means of special agents emploj-ed
for the purpose. It declares for laws
providing a bag limit for game, absolute
protection to insectivorous birds, pro-
hibiting the sale of wild native game, and
other measures calculated to protect and
conserve the supply of American game-
birds and animals.

The Association, while founded and
heavily backed financially by the manu-
facturers of firearms and ammunition,
also makes an appeal for people interested
in this work to become associate mem-
bers. There is a Board of eleven directors
and twenty-two "honorary &nd advisory
members," — the latter including the
names of many men who are prominent
in game protective work.

The president and executive ofiicer is
Mr. John B. Burnham, who, for many
years, was connected with the Forest,
Fish and Game Commission of the state
of New York. Mr. Burnham is a practical
game protector, and a man whose person-
ality has made a forceful impression on the
people of the state. We predict that he
will give a good account of himself in his
new position.

In many respects, this new Associa-
tion stands for objects for which the
National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties has been fighting for years, and we
welcome it to the fields of endeavor for

the preservation of our wild bird and
animal life.— T. G. P.

Some Audubon Workers
IV. GEORGE BIRD QRINNELL

It was Mr. George Bird Grinnell who
created the name "Audubon Society."
This was over twenty-five years ago. It
is easy to understand why the name and
the ideals for which the Society stands
came to be created in his mind, when one
learns of the interesting environment of
his youth, and the spirit for the preser-
vation of wild life which has ever possessed
and molded his activities.

Mr. Grinnell was born in Brooklyn,
N. Y., September 20, 1849. When a very
small boy, his parents moved to Audubon
Park, New York City, which had formerly
been the estate of John James Audubon,
the artist-naturalist, and here for more
than fifty years Mr. Grinnell lived in the
same house, among scenes, almost un-
changed, which had surrounded the great
ornithologist during the last years of his
life.

Madame Audubon, the widow of the
naturalist, and her two sons and their
families, occupied two of the houses on
this estate, and in one of these Madame
Audubon conducted a school for small
children, which Mr. Grinnell attended.

He has told us something of the con-
ditions of this early boyhood life. The
walls of the Audubon home were decorated
with antlers, from which hung guns, shot-
pouches and powder-flasks. Portraits and
paintings of birds and mammals, done by
the naturalist and his sons, were seen
every where. The loft of John Woodhouse
Audubon's barn, where the boys often
played, contained great stacks of the old
red muslin-bound copies of the Ornitholog-
ical Biographies, while against the walls
were piled boxes of bird skins brought
back by the naturalist from his various
expeditions. John W. Audubon was con-
stantly receiving boxes of specimens from
distant parts of the continent, and often
when he opened these shipments, he was
surrounded by a group of small boys,

GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL
(.78)

The Audubon Societies

79

who stared in wonder at the strange
creatures that he drew forth and held up
for their inspection.

The associations of Au(lul)on Park lluis
gave Mr. Grinncll an interest in birds and
their ways which grew with his growth,
and it cannot be doubted that it was the
influence of these surroundings which,
years afterward, led him to name the bird-
protective societ\' wliich he founded "The
Audubon Society."

After graduation from Vale, in 1870
Mr. Grinncll went to the then Far West
as one of a scientific expedition, headed by
the great paleontologist, Professor 0. C.
Marsh, to collect vertebrate fossils, and a
little later he went to New Haven, Con-
necticut, to become an assistant to Pro-
fessor Marsh in the Peabody Museum
of Yale, where he w-orked for years on
vertebrate fossils.

In 1879, his health broke down, and
it became necessary to seek a change of
work. He was chosen President of the
Forest and Stream Publishing Company,
where, until a few months, he has had his
headquarters. His connection with the
paper began in 1876, as natural history
editor. During nearly thirty- five years,
therefore, he has been working in the
direction of protecting wild life — at first
game birds and mammals, and, when the
fashion of wearing plumage began to in-
crease in 1884 and 1885, in the protection
also of song and insectivorous birds.

The idea of the Audubon Society
orginated with Mr. Grinnell who wrote an
editorial pubUshed in "Forest and
Stream" of February 11, 1886, in which
was announced the formation of "an asso-
ciation for the protection of wild birds
and their eggs, which shall be called the
Audubon Society. Its membership to be
free to every one who is willing to lend a
helping hand in forwarding the objects
for which it is formed. These objects shall
be to prevent, so far as possible, (i) the
killing of any wild birds not used for
food; (2) the destruction of nests or
eggs of any wild bird, and (3) the wearing
of feathers as ornaments or trimming for
dress."

For a number of years previous, the
business of collecting small birds and
plume-birds as ornaments for women's
dress had been going on in a small way,
but it was not until 1885 that the danger
to bird life assumed proportions which
were actually alarming.

As newspaper man, member of the
American Ornithologists' Union, and one
who for years had kept well in touch with
wild life all over the United States, Mr.
Grinncll had clear ideas as to the dangers
threatened to the country by this whole-
sale destruction of bird life. On the other
hand, it was diflicult to determine how
most effectively to combat the growing
fashion of using plumage for decorative
purposes. It was obvious that resolutions
by scientific societies would accomplish
very little, partly because they would
reach a very small public, and more
particularly because the average person
among the 55,000,000 then in the United
States felt not the slightest interest in
wha.t scientific associations resolved, or
did not resolve. It seemed, therefore,
that the only means of attacking the ever-
growing evil was (i) to appeal directly to
the women, and (2), slower but more
effective, to interest the children in the
birds, and to teach them to see the beauty
and charm of bird life, as well as the
enormous services which birds perform
for man.

From the very beginning, the move-
ment received the warm approval of the
press and of the best people in the coun-
try. Literature was distributed in great
quantities by the Forest and Stream
PubHshing Company, and the movement
soon became widely known. Local
secretaries were established in town after
town all over the land. The members of
the bird-preservation committee of the
American Ornithologists' Union lent
powerful aid. Such eminent citizens as
Henry Ward Beecher, John G. Whittier,
John Burroughs, Oliver Wendell Holmes,
Bishop Potter, and a multitude of others
came forward with warm commendations
of the purposes and plans of the Society.
In the course of two or three years the

8o

Bird - Lore

Audubon Society had about forty thous-
and members scattered all over the coun-
try. The membership was absolutely
free, and depended merely on the signing
of the Audubon pledge. The expenses of
the Society were all borne by Forest and
Stream Publishing Company.

In February, 1887, the "Audubon
Magazine" was established. It was
devoted to the interests of Audubon
workers, dealt with bird life and other
natural history subjects, and discussed
the economic problems of animal life
in relation to agriculture and human
welfare.

In the year 1888, notwithstanding the
efforts put forth by the Audubon Society,
and those interested in bird protection, the
fashion of feather millinery continued to
grow. The newspapers, which at first
had so warmly supported the movement
for bird protection, lost interest, and
legislators and state authorities appeared
to regard the protective laws which had
been passed as nullities. Notwithstand-
ing the attention that had been called to
the ethical and economic aspect of this
destruction, the headgear of the women
continued to be largely made up of por-
tions of small birds. At the end of 1888,
the publication of the "Audubon Maga-

zine" ceased, for the expenses of the
movement were too heavy to be borne by
a single corporation, which, in fact, had
another object than bird protection for
its main purpose.

The seed sown by the original Audubon
Society was not wholly lost, but the
Society was in advance of its time. Much
of this seed lay dormant for eight or ten
years, and then, in the years 1896 to 1900,
began to grow. The name of the Audubon
Society was well known, and the revived
movement found a certain public already
well instructed in Audubon matters. In
the last ten years, very largely through
the patient, painstaking and enthusiastic
work of William Butcher, the Audubon
movement has achieved the success of
which we know so well today.

Mr. Grinnell, after being connected
with "Forest and Stream" for thirty-five
years, has within a few months given up
his chair in that ofl&ce, and is now devoting
himself to literary work, with special
reference to the habits and customs of
the Indians of Western North America,
with whom he has spent much time, both
in the tepees and on the hunting-trails,
and from whom he has gathered a great
store of knowledge as yet unpublished. —
T. Gilbert Pearson.

1. White-throated Sparrow, Adult

2. White-throated Sparrow, Immat

3. Black-chinned Sparrow, Adult

4. Black-chinned Sparrow, Immature

5. White-crowned Sparrow. Immature

6. White-crowned Sparrow, Adult

jiirti-iLore

A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE

DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS

Official Organ of The Audubon Socicties

Vol. XIV March— April, 1912 No. 2

The Duck Hawk on the Pahsades

By WILLIAM COGSWELL CLARKE. New York City

IT may interest many in Manhattan to know that occasionally a Peregrine
Falcon, or Duck Hawk, comes to town for the Pigeons that have their
homes on certain buildings in the city.

In late December, a Falcon flew over as I crossed Fifth Avenue at Fifty-
sixth Street. The sun of the early forenoon shone directly on the bird, flying
rapidly just above the housetops, upward and away. As the bird passed, the
rich dark plumage, barred in part with brownish yellow, was clearly in view
against the blue of the winter's sky; the rapidly beating wings and the tail,
widespread for the moment, were presented to good advantage. In January,
in the middle of the day, a Peregrine for some twenty minutes widely circled
over Sixth Avenue and Fifty-seventh Street.

This bird can easily come down from the Palisades, across the Hudson, to
the center of the city in ten minutes, he travels with such vigor and swiftness.
The proximity of the city's Pigeons, a ready food-supply, makes it more easy
for the Falcons to pass part of the winter, at least, near one of their summer
homes.

In late August, twenty-seven years ago, some haymakers in a Jersey meadow,
just west of the Palisades, were amazed to see a Duck Hawk, that was pursuing
a bird, plvmge nearly at their feet into the long grass and bushes. The Falcon,
in his haste, became entangled, and was caught before he could free himself.
From his plumage and apparent inexperience, he was presumed to have been
a young one of that season.

We kept him for several years in a cage so large that the bird was able to
exercise, flying from perch to perch. No fear entered into his makeup; his
equipoise was under no circumstances disturbed. A Red-tailed Hawk, if
captured, will show a fighting front, but will at the same time manifest fear;
never so a Peregrine Falcon. What respect this bold and self-possessed bird
must have commanded in its intimate association with knights and ladies in
the ancient days of Falconry!

Our Peregrine, perched upon my wrist, was never rough or at all familiar.

82 Bird -Lore

He would willingly accept food, and ate with dignity. He always insisted on
perching on the highest point of an outstretched arm. Because of this, it was
easy to seem to send the bird, by word of command, from the wrist to the
shoulder, and to the wrist again. Lowering the arm, the Falcon stepped side-
ways until the shoulder was gained; and, then elevating the arm, the bird
would walk back to the wrist.

Finally, we felt that our Falcon should have his freedom, so we carried him
up to the PaHsades and placed him on the cliff's edge. He flew out over and
up the river. We watched him until he faded out of sight in the haze hanging
over the water.

Several Falcon couples nest, even today, on the face of the Palisades,
particularly near Clinton and Ruckman's Points. For those familiar with the
location of a Falcon's nest, it is possible in the breeding-season, by standing
on the cliff over one of their regular homes, such as the projection of rock just
north of Clinton Point, to see a swift Peregrine dive from the ledge into the air
immediately beneath. The bird, wheeling and circling with incredible rapidity,
rarely sailing, emits a harsh, frequently repeated call of one note. Promptly
the mate seems, since he possesses such speed, to jump into sight out of space,
and as the pair circle the female is seen to be the larger. So long as one chooses
to remain upon the edge of the Palisades, the two birds may be observed
wheeling and shooting about, now out over the river and now close by; they
pass with the speed of an arrow, impelled by rapid wing-beats, and at the same
time calling loudly.

When viewed in the natural state and usually at some distance, the dark-
colored, pointed wings, shapely body, short squat neck and head, great speed,
and general fearlessness, serve to identify this medium-sized bird of the Falcon
family. The general configuration of pointed wings, constantly flapping, and
short neck, causes a Duck Hawk to simulate a huge Swallow, especially a
Tree Swallow.

In the spring of 191 1 we visited Clinton Point first on March 5, but did not
see a Peregrine. Fearing that too many people now frequent this locality, we
made several trips to the more remote Ruckman's Point, where we also failed
to find any Falcons. On our second visit to Clinton Point, on March 19, the
day raw and snowy, we were greeted by the welcome and familiar sight of
a Peregrine diving from a dead, weather-worn cedar-tree, projecting from the
face of the cHlT. On April 9, the male flew from the cliff to his favorite tree,
uttering his call, and sat in full view. While perched, the sound that he made
resembled a whistling scream. These birds' solicitude for their nest, as evi-
denced by their loud calls, tends to accomplish anything but its concealment.

This day, looking into a deep horizontal opening half-way up the cliff, the
female Falcon was discovered sitting on her nest. We watched her with our
glass for some time. The bed upon which she had placed her eggs was bordered
in front with green grass and overhung by projecting rocks. Since vegetation

84 Bird - Lore

is not present in similar clefts in the rock face of the Palisades, in which earth
falling from above cannot lodge, it is probable that the remnants of food left
by these birds year after year have formed sufficient soil to give grass an oppor-
timity to flourish — silent but convincing testimony that Peregrines have
always, figuratively speaking, fed and raised their broods upon this shelf over-
looking the Hudson. Just twenty-four years ago, a friend sketched the nest
and spot occupied, that spring, by some ancestors, doubtless, of our present
family. The female today sitting upon her eggs turned her head so that first
one eye and then the other glared at us as we watched her. The slate-colored
back and dark wings, darker than the rock, suggested black shadows in the
depths of similar holes and clefts. The bright yellow cere and light buff plumage
of the throat were interrupted by her black bill. Why should color-protection
be necessary for so capable a bird? Of the wild creatures, only a Crow would
do harm to unprotected Peregrine nests situated in such \Nild and inaccessible
places.

The sun coming out, the rich plumage of the sitting Falcon, the shelf in the
precipitous face of the cUff, and the fringe of green grass directly in front of the
bird, presented a splendid scene. I finally climbed to a point nearly over her,
and she left her nest, reveaUng four eggs. Their color blended well with the
rock on which they were lying, just behind the green grass. The female, now
in the air, made the squawking sound similar to, but hoarser than, that of
the male bird.

On April i6, we reached Clinton Point at 6.30 a.m. Clouds covered the sky,
the accompaniment of an April shower. The female was at the moment return-
ing to her nest, possibly from a foraging expedition across the river. When she
saw us, she perched upon a projecting tree, while her mate circled about,
calling. A sudden snow-squall swept over. We withdrew for a time, fearing
that the eggs, still unhatched, might be injured by her prolonged absence from
the nest. Shortly the clouds broke, the morning sun illuminated the sheer
cliffs confronting the east, and in the flood of bright light the breast of the
sitting Falcon shone as a white spot set in the dark gray rock.

Our next visit was on April 24, but we remained only long enough to see
that there were now but three eggs. On April 30, two eggs had hatched; pre-
sumably the two others had been failures. The yoimg birds were covered with
grayish white down, and apparently had been hatched some days before.
While able to hold up their heads, they could not as yet use their legs. Many
feathers were lying on the ledge, indications that the parent Falcons had had
good hunting. It was difficult at that distance to identify them, but several
were the size and shape of the wing feathers of domestic Pigeons. Besides
these, two bright yellow ones l>dng in full view probably came from the wing
of a Fhcker. The female Falcon was, on this occasion, even more noisy and
soHcitous than on any of our pre\aous visits. Smce we saw the four eggs first
on April 9, and they did not hatch until just after the 24th, incubation must

The Duck Hawk on the Palisades

85

have commenced in the first week of April, probably about the third of the
month.

When we reached the Point on iSIay 4, a ch-ar, seasonable day, the female

NESTIXr,->r[K 0

The female is on the nest on the ledge above the pendent dead cedar, siiowiug hor light.
breast and dark back. April i6, 191 r, 7.30 a. ii.

Falcon was found hovering her two young ones. Since our last visit, they had
grown considerably and had increased in vigor, although they could not stand.
On the ledge there were a large number of yellow, black-tipped, wing feathers
of the Flicker. The male Falcon was not in sight, and it was more than an hour

86 Bird -Lore

before we heard, off in the distance, a Peregrine calling. The female, at the
moment, was sitting in sight on the cedar stub. A Falcon, flying with great
speed, was immediately sighted coming up the river. Instantly he was upon
us. Calling, he circled in from over the river and perched upon the face of the
cliff. If at this time the male had been off hunting, he brought back no food
to the aery.

On May 13, the young birds were still safe and sound, sitting on their shelf
of rock. They had not lost their downy coat. But on May 15, we were dis-
appointed to find that both young ones had disappeared; the female alone
greeted us as she flew from the ledge. She acted greatly disturbed. Two sets
of initials were discovered, freshly cut into the rock just above the nest. If
those who cut the initials removed the young birds, let us trust that they may
return in the years to come and read their inscription in the living rock of the
Palisades, a worthy monument to fast-disappearing bird families, particularly
the Peregrine Falcon. If such interesting and famed birds, nesting in the
New York and New Jersey Interstate Park, are to be exterminated, one of its
attractive features will be lost. Soon the rock alone will be left for our descend-
ants, as a reminder of the past.

A momentary glimpse of bygone days was afforded us on May 29, our last
visit. The female Falcon, who had been sitting upon her cedar in quiet and
solitary grandeur, flew by, uttering a single note. Suddenly, coming down the
river directly toward us, we saw a large flock of domestic Pigeons. For the
moment they suggested scenes the Palisades must have witnessed in the past,
when swarms of Wild Pigeons took the same line of flight. A pair of Phoebes
alternated, flying in and out of a deep crevice beneath us, where probably
they had a nest.

Let us hope that no accident will befall the Falcons. Perhaps, another
year, they may be successful, and some young Falcons may grow up to
replace the old birds when they fall by the wayside.

The Barred Owl at Rhinebeck, N. Y.

By MAUNSELL S. CROSBY

WHEN I first came to Rhinebeck, in 1895, Screech Owls were the only-
common Owls and could be heard calling every evening. In winter,
an occasional Snowy Owl was shot by village "sportsmen," and
once or twice a Great Horned Owl was reported to me, although I never
saw one myself. One autumn, a Short-eared Owl appeared for a week or more,
on his way south, appropriated and beheaded a hen, and feasted nightly on
her dwindling remains.

It was in 1901 that I heard the first Barred Owls. They came in March,
and at once made themselves noticed by their loud hooting and hissing. I
presume they were fortunate in rearing a brood, for they returned in 1902, and
chose a dilapidated barn on my place for their nesting-site. I had never before
heard of such a site being used, especially as there were no trees very near, and,
as I was away at the time, I questioned the fact, but was assured of its truth

by several of my men. On my return, I heard that a laborer had killed the
mother bird, when he found her in the hay-loft, and had brought three
owlets, fully feathered but unable to fly, to my farmer, who fed them on raw
meat until I came to take charge of them. One fell off the limb of a tree where
he had been put, and died from the effects, but the other two lived and throve.
I kept them in a large stone barn and fed them on raw meat, mice, and young
EngUsh Sparrows. Although these were always dead when I brought them, the

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88

Bird -Lore

Owls invariably crushed their skulls with their beaks, and then swallowed them
whole, head first, with much elifort and a very himian opening and shutting of
the eyes. The only sounds they uttered were a threatening snapping of the
bill and a peculiar hissing with a rising inflection, accompanied by a side-to-
side swaying of the body. On seeing me approach, they would fly down to me

from their favorite rafter,
and alight on the floor with
their legs stretched out in
front of them like Ducks
striking the water. They
were able to distinguish me
from strangers and, when
frightened, snapped their
beaks and ruffled their
feathers till they appeared
very formidable.

The barn door was often
open, and one day they left
it and flew to the nearest
trees, and from then on
gradually made their way
further and further up the
drive till they reached some
\voodland, where they took
up their permanent quarters.
One of them became quite
shy, but the other stiU flew
down occasionally into the
road when I called him and
whistled to him. But before
winter he too became retir-
ing, like the rest of his race.
Since then, there has been a pair in my wood every year. In summer their
headquarters are among some tall oaks, and in winter they perch in a group of
Norway spruces very near the house. I have never succeeded in finding the
nest, but in July the young fly quite tamely about in broad daylight on the
edge of my pond and near the house. Both old and young hiss and hoot at all
hours of the day and night, and fly fearlessly about in the open, although too
often pursued by Crows, Jays, Kingbirds, and Robins. The only damage I
can attribute to them is the destruction of a nestful of young Catbirds and of
a brood of young JMallards. Since that episode, my Ducks have been kept safe
by the simple expedient of hanging rags from strings criss-crossed over their
yard. I have never known a Barred Owl to attack an adult bird.

YOUNG BARRED OWLS

The Barred Owl at Rhinebeck, N. Y.

89

On the night of May 24, 1909, a full-grown liarred Owl llcw in at the open
gate of my empty pheasant-yard, in pursuit, perhaps, of a rat or a mouse, and
was unable to find his way out. I discovered him there the next morning, and
locked myself and my camera in with him. He was on the ground, and, when
I approached him, snapped his beak angrily and rolled over on his back. In
reaching down for him I inadvertently stepped too near, and instantly his
talons seized my leg and gave me a good warning of what he could do. I found
he had no intention of using his beak, so I seized him by the "shoulders;"
but somehow he managed to reach me with his claws again and I quickly
dropped him, for he raked my wrists like a cat. I finally caught him with a

cloth, and thus transferred him to a perch

which I had prepared. It was a long time
before he would stand on it, as he kept
flopping o^•er backward or forward and
hanging head down by one foot. He
always let go, however, before I could
catch him with the lens in this original
pose. I eventually obtained several pho-
tographs of him and then let him out,
but, instead of flying away, he scurried
under a tool-house and remained there
at bay.

The next day, I found him in the
pheasant-yard again, hiding in a corner
A\ith his eyes almost closed. I photo-
graphed him without letting him know
that I had discovered him, and then gave
him raw meat and water, which he refused
to touch. On May 26, I found him on
top of another outbuilding, and when I
approached he tried to fly away, but,
instead, fell headlong to the ground. I now discovered that one of his wings
had been injured, probably when trying to find his way out of the yard on the
first night. I put him back in the yard, and, as he still refused butcher's meat,
I shot a chipmunk and set it before him. By next morning, not a hair
remained to tell of the feast; so I gave him an English Sparrow, and by
nightfall only a few feathers were left. On the 28th I gave him a mouse and
another Sparrow, and later found him with the mouse half-way down his
throat, only the hind feet and tail being visible. He had evidently had
enough to eat. I also found a pellet under his roost, apparently made up
chiefly of chipmunk remains, and the next day another consisting mainly
of Sparrow feathers. Thus it apparently look from two to three days for the
pellets to form.

HIDING IN A CORNER WITH HIS
EYES ALMOST CLOSED'

90

Bird - Lore

I refrained from feeding him for two days, but on June i, he ate a chipmunk,
and that night a red squirrel. On June 2, I found him perched on the tool-
house, and on the third he was in a large maple near-by, after which he went
back to the woods apparently as well as ever. He did not seem to be afraid
of me after the first day or two of our acquaintance, but he never let me see
him eat, although my frequent visits proved to me that he ate as often in the
daytime as at night.

A few days later, I found a dead young Barred Owl near the same yard,
but could find no clew to the cause of its death.

The Barred Owls are still with us, though I see them less often than I used
to, and the Screech Owls are beginning to be heard again in their old haunts.

CROW ATTACKING A STUFFED GREAT HORNED OWL
Photographed by Henry R. Carey, at Portsmouth, N. H., July 4, iQOQ

A Bluebird Study

By L. CLAUDE, Baraboo. Wis.

ON May 26, two Bluebirds were caroling gaily on the vine stakes near
the house, and I suspected that they had a nest in the plum thicket
close by. A search revealed the nest in one of the old stubs, but still
empty. So I concluded that they had raised their first brood and were pre-
paring for the second.

Three days afterward, there were three eggs in the nest, and the female
was sitting. From then on, during all the incubating period, the Bluebirds
were very quiet, their manner in this respect being quite dififerent from what
it had been the day I first noticed them.

The first time I saw the young Bluebirds after they were hatched, they
seemed to be suffering from the heat, though there was a crack at the back of
the nest which should have given ventilation. The old birds made some objec-
tion to my examining their nest, and the male circled over the stub, and then
flew to another plum tree, followed by a full-grown nestling, who appeared
more excited and disturbed than he did.

Everything that the old birds did was watched with interest by this nestling,
whose conduct was most unusual. As the old Bluebirds permitted the young
one to be with them, and to approach the nest, without molesting it; and as
it used the same trees and branches, and was so evidently at home in that
particular spot, I could only think that it was one of the nestlings of the first
brood. For all who are conversant with the ways of birds know that they are
exceedingly jealous of any encroachment on their particular haunts, especially
during the nesting-season, when each separate family guards its own home
spot, and the usual approaches to it, most vigilantly.

But, should the young bird not have belonged to that family, its next
proceeding was none the less surprising. For it soon came with a worm, and
hovered near the nest, but did not actually go to it, behaving just as the old
birds did, when made nervous by my presence.

It was some time before the male Bluebird could decide to feed the young
ones that morning, but at last he did it. And his mate was still slower in
making up her mind.

The next time I came to watch the Bluebirds, there was the usual period
of trouble before they could settle down to their regular work of attending
to the young in the nest. And again it was the male who fed them first. Soon
after the young bird appeared and alighted on the stub containing the nest.
He carried a large insect, and, in an instant more, came to the nest and, leaning
in, fed the young, then lingered, looking in, as the old birds do before going
away.

Amazing as this proceeding was, it was evidently something that he was
quite accustomed to do, and it gave point to all his unusual conduct. After

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92 Bird - Lore

he had shamed the still-hesitatmg mother bird by his courage, the nestling
rested on a dead branch of their favorite white oak, while the timid little
mother sat in a plum tree and looked thoughtful. Before long, the nestling
came again to the stub with food, and looked about, trying to get up courage
to feed the young. He uttered low baby notes, and was rather awkward in
his way of approaching the nest, and at last went away without feeding the
young ones. The female finally recovered from her timidity enough to con-
tinue feeding her family, but it was always an effort for her when I was in
sight, though, when she actually reached the nest,, she did not seem particularly
frightened, and usually lingered to take a critical look at her offspring before
leaving them.

Soon the nestling appeared again, carrying a small green caterpillar, and
alighted in the plum tree nearest the nest; and, after a short hesitation, he
flew to the stub rather awkwardly, and uttered his baby notes as he turned
to look about, then, still with some awkwardness, flew to the nest and fed the
young, and waited, looking at ihem as usual. He had a way of watching me
intently, but not with real nervousness, and I fancied that if the old birds
had not showed alarm he would have paid me very slight attention. When he
came again, he brought a large brown caterpillar, and alighted just above the
nest, chattering and watching me, hesitating and leaning over, seeming, as
usual, rather uncertain how he should approach the nest. At last he flew down,
trying quite a new way, and, coming from below, landed nicely at the nest.

When the male Bluebird came to the nest, it was usually with a bold swoop,
but so quietly that, unless you had your eyes on the spot, you did not know
he had arrived until you heard the young ones greeting him.

On the whole, the three older Bluebirds were very quiet at this stage of
the proceedings, only now and then warbling low greetings to each other,
or the young ones chattered when they came with food.

They were a most winning family, but nothing could be imagined more
utterly charming than the nestling, with his pretty hesitations, his courage,
and his air of responsibility mingled with the evidences of his extreme youth.
As time went on, and the young Bluebird continued to feed the young ones
regularly, it became evident that his doing so was no mere accident, and for
some reason this particular nestling had taken upon itself to assist (as I believe)
in bringing up the nestlings of the second brood belonging to his parents,
though his actions would be still more remarkable if he should be assisting
a strange bird. Unfortunately, it was not possible to determine the sex of
this altruistic nestling, for at that age both sexes wear the same plumage.

On June 22, the nestling was feeding the young and cleaning the nest, just
as the old birds did, though not so certain in his way of approaching the nest,
and wanting in that clock-like regularity which is so remarkable in old birds
when undisturbed; and he announced his arrival at the nest by chattering,
instead of coming with the smooth silence of the parents.

A Bluebird Study 93

One afternoon, when all hatl been going on very quietly with the Bluebird
family, the male suddenly flew into a white oak near-by, making a queer
snapping noise, and the female promptly joined him. Both were greatly
excited, and I saw that they were furiously and silently, except for the snap-
ping of their bills, pursuing a red squirrel, who was evidently frightened, and
ran back and forth trying to get away from them, and they did not leave him
until they had driven him out of the white oak, and into some pines further
from the nest. Then they came back, and resumed the business of feeding
the young. Later the red squirrel appeared again, and was again chased off
by the Bluebirds, with the same snapping of bills and fierce intentness.

The young Bluebird watched every bird that came near the nest, chattering
at them and attacking them if they were inclined to light, and showing as
great a sense of responsibility as the old birds.

The crack at the back of the nest was widening, and becoming a danger to
the young birds in the nest. By June 26, the notes that came from the nest
w-ere true Bluebird notes, not the mere squeaking of the earlier days, and the
little beaks were frequently seen at the entrance of the nest.

Late in the afternoon of the 26th, when I came again to the Bluebirds' nest,
the nestling and the female flew away in an agitated manner. I came close to
the nest, and the afternoon simshine fell directly on the entrance, lighting up
the interior, so that I could see one young one looking very alert and wide-
eyed. On the ground was a tuft of tiny bluish gray feathers, bloody at the
ends. Something had evidently happened.

I did not then go nearer the nest for fear of further disturbing the remaining
young, and making the parents more unhappy. But, the next morning early,
I went out to the nest. Going to the back of it, I saw that the crack had been
widened still further, and the nestling that was pressed against it was dead.
Some enemy, seeing the crack, had enlarged it and, having killed the young
bird, tried to draw it out to eat it, for the feathers that were scattered about
had been roughly pulled out. As it seemed impossible for the living to exist
in such close quarters with the dead, I removed the dead nestling, greatly to
the distress of the parents and the older nestling.

That afternoon, the birds were attending to their regular duties, though
rather more nervous than usual. It was astonishing to see how alertly the
little heads came out of the nest now when food was brought, and once one
of the young ones put its head out of the opening and, looking about with
evident interest, called once or twice. They showed great excitement when the
food arrived and, after the old birds left them, their heads were stretched out
longingly, and the suggestion of coming flight could be seen in every motion.
The female no longer came quietly to the nest, but chattered excitedly, sitting
just above the nest before feeding the young, holding the food, and uttering at
interv^als a note that even to a human, had a compelling quality, and, each
time she uttered it, she looked inquiringly toward the nest; seeming to call

94 Bird - Lore

the young to her, but they did not come, and she would feed them at last.
Once after she had gone, one of the nestUngs leaned out of the nest, looking
up and down, and straining against the side of the nest, with that peculiarly
significant motion that so suggests flight; then it called and, as the male came
•with food, it called again.

The two old birds and the older nestUng came now constantly back and
forth, to and from the nest, and their notes were heard most of the time.
Presently one nestling looked out, came to the side of the nest and, with a
curious half -frightened note, swayed forward as though about to leave the nest,
but fell back. The next time the female came to feed the young her calls were
so urgent that she nearly succeeded in getting them out of the nest, only
natural timidity preventing them.

This particular calling of the female to the young was so different from any
•of her other notes, and of so peculiar a quality, that one could not fail to feel
and understand it. And at the same time, her whole body seemed to call the
3'oung, and one could fancy that not only did her notes draw them toward her,
but that every motion of their small bodies indicated that her influence was
struggling with their fear.

It is almost impossible to imagine what that first flight must mean. Ever
since the young bird was hatched, it has been crowded closely against its
fellows, in semi-darkness, with no chance to use its wings except to flap them
for exercise. Then suddenly there comes a time when it must leave all this,
and launch out into a world hardly seen, and trust to those unused wings to
land it safely. No wonder they hesitate.

There are no words to interpret the yearning that is expressed in the motions
and notes of young birds, as they feel the first longing for flight. They look
out, and lean against the edge of the nest, seeming to struggle against it; then
there is the poising on the edge of the nest, the timid shrinking and falling
back, and then at last the courage of that final plunge into the air, the first
trial of the tiny soft wings that have been so cramped in the narrow, dark nest;
and then the wondering glances of the bright eyes, as the world "so beautiful,
so various, so new" opens before the escaped nestling.

The male did not call the young, as the female did at this time, and he
had a way of silently jabbing the food into his offspring's open beak, that was
a great contrast to his mate's present volubility. As the afternoon wore on,
the female became more and more insistent in her calling, and the young
grew very restless, leaning out, and then flapping their wings so that they made
a great deal of noise. Once they made so much disturbance with their wings
that both parents flew up excitedly, to see what was the matter. Then the
female flew to a twig below the nest, and plainly called to the young to come
out. This time she succeeded, and the most adventurous of the young ones
took its first flight.

There was at once a great outcrj- from his relatives, as he awkwardly

A Bluebird Story

95

fluttered into a low plum bush, and after a few more llutterin<fs landed on the
ground. Seeing that he could not raise himself very well, I picked him up,
amid the loud and excited protests of his relatives. He made no attempt to
escape, and did not utter a sound or seem frightened, only his claws clung
instinctively to the grass, and he panted slightly with the exertion of his
venture.

He was exceedingly pretty, but looked too young to be out of the nest.
His tail was very short, and his eyes seemed unusually large and bright. Think-
ing that he would be safer in the nest, I climbed up and replaced him, and he,
as soon as he could get his breath, turned around and came out again, this
time reaching a fairly safe place in one of the larger plum bushes. So, after
watching for a few moments, to see that he did not fall again, I left him, and,
thinking that I would only complicate matters by staying, I did not wait to
see the other nestlings leave the nest.

The next morning when I went out, the plum thicket was quiet and deserted.
And, though I made some search for the young Bluebirds, I could not find
them; but for the rest of the summer I heard them from time to time, and often
saw the old birds.

AN EARLY MIGRANT
Photographed by Guy A. Bailey, at Geneseo, N. V.

The Orizaba Group in the American Museum of
Natural History

THE last addition to the series of panoramic bird groups in the American
Museum of Natural History might be called a Faunal Group rather
than a Habitat Group, the term which has been applied to its prede-
cessors. Unlike them, it is not designed to show one or more species of a
definite locality, but the more characteristic species of a faunal area, — ^namely,
the forest-inhabiting species of tropical eastern Mexico, It is also intended to
serve as an object-lesson, in the influence of altitude on the distribution of
life.

The observer is supposed to be standing in the dense tropical forests which
clothe the foothills of the Sierras. In the luxuriant tropical vegetation about
him are Parrots, Toucans, Trogons, Motmots, and other equally characteristic
tropical birds, and from their home he may look 10,000 feet upward to the
Boreal Zone on Mt. Orizaba, where, in the grand forests of pines and spruces,
Crossbills, Evening Grosbeaks, Juncos, Brown Creepers, and other northern
types of birds, are nesting.

To encounter so radical a change, at sea-level, would require a journey
at least to northern Maine. Here the change is occasioned by altitude rather
than latitude, and an altitudinal journey of less than three miles produces as
striking a faunal difference as would a latitudinal one of 3,000 miles. Indeed,
one might travel from the Equator to the Poles without experiencing more
profound variations than one finds in passing from the Tropical Zone, at the
base of the mountains, through the Temperate Zone on their sides, to the Boreal
Zone above; and thence, beyond the limit of life, to the everlasting snows
which crown the summit of Orizaba (alt. 18,225 feet).

It is aimed to demonstrate the significance of the facts depicted in the
group by the use of large colored transparencies, set one above the other in
panels on each side of the group, and at a proper distance from it. These
transparencies were made from photographs representing typical scenes in
the Tropical, Temperate, and Boreal Zones, and above timber-line. At the
bottom is the picture on which was based that part of the painting which shows
the tropical forests. Above it is a view in the oaks of the Temperate Zone,
and over this are pictures in the pines and spruces, and among the rocks and
snow above timber-line. These pictures thus supply details of the view con-
tained in the background, and form, as it were, a vertical section in the Sierras
from sea-level to snow-line.

The accompanying photograph merely suggests the method of treatment,
without conveying a true impression of the unusual beauty of the group itself
or of the illusion of depth and distance which has been created. — F. M. C.

(97)

The Migration of North American Sparrows

FIFTEENTH PAPER

Compiled by Professor W, W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey

With Drawings by Locis Agassiz Fuertes

(See frontispiece)

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW

The summer home of the White-crowned Sparrow, in the eastern part of
its range, lies north of the United States, and these individuals winter in the
southern half of the eastern United States. The migratory movements of
these White-crowned Sparrows are fairly well shown in the accompanying
tables. But in the Rocky Mountain region and to the westward, this species
breaks up into several forms, one of which {leucophrys) breeds in the United
States south to New Mexico and central CaUfornia; another (gambeli) breeds,
for the most part, north of the United States; while, in the case of the third
(nuUalli), the summer and winter homes overlap for several hundred miles
from southern California to central Oregon. The data on hand indicate that
these forms migrate at widely differing dates, but there is not enough material
available to make detailed statement of these differences.

SPRING MIGRATION

Bakersville, N. C

White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.

Washington, D. C

Beaver, Pa

Renovo, Pa

Williamsport, Pa

Ithaca, N. Y

Ballston Spa, N. Y

West Winfield, N. Y

Alfred, N. Y

Portland, Conn

Beverly, Mass

St. Johnsbury, Vt

Monadnock, N. H. (near)

Durham, N. H

Westbrook, Me

Phillips, Me

East Sherbrooke, Quebec

Scotch Lake, N. B

Helena, Ark

Odin, 111

Quincy, 111

Bloomington, Ind

Brookville, Ind

Chicago, 111

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

Wauseon, Ohio

Number
of years'
record

Average date of

F-arliest date of

spring arrival

spring arrival

April 23, 1886

April 28, 1893

6

May I

April 26, 1908

s

May 3

April 18, 1 89 1

15

May 4

April 22, 1903

5

May 9

May I, 1890

6

May 4

February 24, igo6

5

May 5

April 23, 1894

7

May 7

May 3, 1910

7

May ID

April 29, 1892
March 20, 1875

4

May 16

May 12, 1900

12

May 6

April 28, 1905

4

May 12

May 6, 1905

3

May II

May 7, 1899

5

May 9

April 30, 1893

4

May 13

May II, 1909

6

May 12

May 9, 1905

6

May 13

May 8, 1901

4

April 25

April 17, 1900

5

April 23

March 6, 1892

3

April 20

February 9, 1889

8

April 23

April 10, 1902

7

April 30

April 27, 1888

18

May 3

April 24, 1896

7

May 3

April 30, 1896

14

May 2

April 28, 1896

(98)

The Migration of North American Sparrows

99

SPRING MIGRATION, continued

PLACE

Number

of years'

record

Oberlin, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Plymouth, Mich

Petersburg, Mich

Detroit, Mich

London, Ontario

Ottawa, Ontario

North Freedom, Wis

LaCrosse, Wis

Manhattan, Kan

Southeastern Nebraska

Lincoln, Neb

Southeastern South Dakota.

Pilot Mound, Manitoba

Indian Head, Saskatchewan .

Flagstaff, Alberta

Fort Providence, Mackenzie.
Fort Simpson, Mackenzie. . .
LaPierre House, Mackenzie.
Fort Anderson, Mackenzie. .

Yuma, Colo

Boulder, Colo, (near)

Colorado Springs, Colo

Cheyenne, Wyo

Terry, Mont

Columbia Falls, Mont

Newport, Ore

Portland, Ore

Tacoma, Wash

Chilliwack, B. C. (near)

Okanagan Landing, B. C . .
Kowak River, Alaska

Average date of
spring arrival

May I
April 30
May 3
May 6
May 7
May 6
May 7
April 29
April 26
May 3
May 2

May 4
May 6
May 10
May 12

May 21

April IS
April 18
April 21
April 23

May 5
April 30
April 6
March 25
April 7
April 19
April 21

Earliest date of
spring arrival

April 22, 1902
April 20, 1881
April 28, 1897
May I, 1887
April 27, 1889
May 2, 1901
April 30, 1906
April 25, 1901
April 20, 1902
April 26, 1884
January 16, 1891
April 22, 1899
April 24, 1889
April 30, 1905
April 26, 1908
May 7,1906
May 9, 1904
May 20, 1904
May 25, 1863
May 28, 1865
March 21, 1907
February 22, 1910
March 10, 1907
April 18, 1889
April 21, 1900
April 28, 1896
March 10, 1895
March 20, 1908
January 22, 1908
April 5, 1889
April 19, 1906
May 21, 1899

Number
of years'
record

Weaverville, N. C

French Creek, W. Va

Washington, D. C

Beaver, Pa

Renovo, Pa

Englewood. N. J. (near). .
New York City, N. Y....

Portland, Conn

Beverly, Mass

Monadnock, N. H. (near).

Westbrook, Me

Scotch Lake, N. B

New Orleans, La

Helena, Ark

Bellevue, Tenn

Lexington, Ky

St. Louis, Mo

Monteer, Mo ; . . . .

Bloomington, Ind

Brookville, Ind

Average date of
the last one seen

May 14
May 18
May 13
May 19

May 24
May 23

6 May 17

3 I May 20
5 May II

Latest date of the
last one seen

May 8, 1890

890
884
1899
1896
1899
1882
1888
1901

May 22
May 18;
May 23
May 25
May 22;
May 30,
May 22,
May 2 2; ^
May 30, 1906
May 24, 1895
May 25, 1905
May 2, 1897
May 7, 1897
May 22, 1895
May 22, 1904
May 22, 1907
May 27, 1908
May 16, 1903
May 27, 1892

Bird -Lore

SPRING MIGRATION, continued

PLACE

Number
of years'

Average date of
the last one seen

Latest date of the
last one seen

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

7
II
8
13
7
8
3

9

6

5

May 17
May 18
May 18
May 22
May 19
May 20
May 18

May 4

May 14

May 17
May 23

May 26, 1907
May 21, 1904
May 30, 1884
May 31, 1906
May 22, 1909
June I, 1889
May 20, 1890
May 23, 1902
May 2, 1909
May II, 1877
May 19, 1884
May 15, 190S
June 10, 1907
May 26, 1889
May 18, 1907
June I, 1906

Oberlin, Ohio . . .

Wauseon, Ohio ....

Chicago, 111

Detroit, Mich

Plymouth, Mich

Grinnell, Iowa

North Freedom, Wis

Brownsville, Tex

San Angelo, Tex

Springfield, Colo

Yuma, Colo

Cheyenne, W3^o

Aweme, Manitoba

Indian Head, Saskatchewan

FALL MIGRATION

PLACE

Scotch Lake, N. B

Phillips, Me

Durham, N. H

Randolph, Vt

North Truro, Mass

New York City, N. Y. (near).

West Winfield, N. Y

Morristown, N. J ,

Erie, Pa

Beaver, Pa

Renovo, Pa

Washington, D. C

Weaverville, N. C

Charleston, S. C

Fallon, Mont

Big Sandy, Mont

Cheyenne, Wyo. (near)

Yuma, Colo

Aweme, Manitoba

Lincoln, Neb

Onaga, Kan

North Freedom, Wis

Central Iowa

Plymouth, Mich

Detroit, Mich

Toronto, Ontario

Oberlin, Ohio

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

Chicago, 111

Odin, 111

Gainesville, Tex

Biloxi, Miss

Number

of years'

record

Average date of
fall arrival

Earliest date of
fall arrival

October 4
September 30

Octobei 12

October 12

October 6

October 14
October 18

September 16
September 7
September 19
September 24
September 29
October 12
September 30
September 29
September 21
October i

October 2
September 29
October 7

October 24

September

September

September

October 4,

September

October 4,

September

October 11

September

October 2,

September

October i,

October 16

October 26

September

September

September

September

September

September

October 6,

September

September

September

September

September

September

September

October 2,

October i,

October 21,

November

23, 1904
22, 1904

29, 1897
1889

30, 1889
1904

24, 1900
, 1907
10, 1900
18S8

28, 1905
1910
, 1889
, 1897
5, 1908

ID, 1906

4, 1884
17, 1904
22, 1906
28, 1893
1904
19, 1903

25, 1889
17, 1894

19, 1901

20, 1898

26, 1896
25, 1903
1893
189s

1879

ID, 1905

The Migration of North American Sparrows

FALL MIGRATION, Continued

Scotch Lake, N. B

Montreal, Canada

Phillips, Mc

Belmont, Mass

New York City, N. Y

Ithaca, N. Y

Renovo, Pa

\Vashington. D. C

Raleigh, N. C

Kowak River, Alaska

Great Bear Lake, Mack. . . .

Nushagak, Alaska

Edmonton, Alberta

Indian Head, Saskatchewan

Aweme, Manitoba

White Earth, Minn

Lanesboro, Minn

Newport, Ore

Big Sandy, Mont

Yuma, Colo

Onaga, Kan

Ottawa, Ontario

Detroit, Mich

Chicago, III..

Wauseon, Ohio

Oberlin, Ohio

Bicknell, Ind

Number

of years'

record

Average date of
the last one seen

October 21

October 15

October 21

October 13
November 20

October 2

October 10

October 7
October 17
November 16
October 8
October 18

October 19
October 15
November 23

Latest date of the
last one seen

October 30, 1901
November 8, 1908
November 8, 1908
November 5, 1898
October 24, 1889
October 28, 1908
October 15, 1894
January 20, 1901
December 28, 1901
September 2, 1899
September 5, 1903
September 18, 1903
September 26, 1894
October 2, 1904
October 4, 1896
October 10, 1880
October 14, 1888
October 13, 1900
October 16, 1906
October 24, 1906
November 19, 1891
November 4, 1887
October 23, 1906
October 28, 1906
October 24, 1886
November 8, 1890
January 22, 1906

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

The White-throated Sparrow winters from the Potomac and Ohio valleys
southward and breeds principally north of the United States. It rarely ranges
west of the middle of the Great Plains.

SPRING MIGRATION

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
spring arrival

Earliest date of
spring arrival

Philadelphia, Pa

Beaver, Pa

Renovo, Pa

Morristown, N. J. . . .

Ithaca, N. Y

Alfred, N. Y

New York City, N. Y
Ballston Spa, N. Y. .

Hartford, Conn

Providence, R. I

Cambridge, Mass. . . .

Beverlv, Mass

Randolph, Vt

St. Johnsbury, Vt. . .
Tilton, N. H

April 7
April 20
April 24
April 19
April 20
April 24
April 22
April 30
April 24
April 20
April 23
April 24
April 26
April 26
April 25

Rare, winter
April 10, 1891
April 14, 1906
February 5, 1905
April II, 1901
April 13, 19 10
January 4, 1909
April 20, 1894
April 7, 1901
Januarj' 20, 1905
Januarj^ 31, 1890
April 19, 1909
April 18, 1891
April 17, 1904
April 18, 1908

Bird -Lore

SPRING MIGRATION, continued

Portland, Me

Phillips, Me

Plymouth, Me

St. John, N. B

Scotch Lake, N. B

Halifax, N. S

Pictou, N. S

North River, Prince Ed. Island

Montreal, Canada

Quebec City, Canada

Godbout, Quebec

Lake Mistassini, Quebec

Bloomington, Ind

Brook ville, Ind

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

Chicago, 111

Rockford, III

Oberlin, Ohio

Wauseon, Ohio

Detroit, Mich

Petersburg, Mich

Ann Arbor, Mich

Bay City, Mich

Houghton, Mich

Plover Mills, Ontario

Ottawa, Ontario

Madison, Wis

Milwaukee, Wis

Ripon, Wis

LaCrosse, Wis

Keokuk, Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Grinnell, Iowa

Dewitt, Iowa

Lanesboro, Minn

Minneapolis, Minn, (near)

Elk River, Minn

Gainesville, Tex

Manhattan, Kan

Badger, Neb

Grand Forks, N. D

Pilot Mound. Manitoba

Aweme, Manitoba

Yuma, Colo

Great Falls, Mont

Edmonton, Alberta (near)

Indian Head, Saskatchewan

Fort Resolution, Mackenzie (near)
Fort Simpson, Mackenzie

Number

Average date of

Earliest date of

record

spring arrival

spring arrival

9

1
April 25

April 19, 1896

7

April 27

April 23, 1910

i8

April 29

April 20, 1894

11

April 27

April 14, 1890

II

April 28

April 22, 1906

4

April 27

April 21, 1902

3

April 28

April 26, 1894

5

April 30

April 26, 1889

6

May 2

April 18, 1908

i8

April 29

April 20, 1896

2

May 9

May 4, 1887
May 20, 1885

4

March 13

January 29, 1903

6

April 18

March 19, 1886

13

April 20

March 29, 1890

i8

April 18

April 8, 1900

6

April 23

March 22, 1894

13

April 18

April I, 1899

9

April 30

April 15, 1886

15

April 25

April 8, 1910

II

April 25

April 20, 1886

9

April 25

April 22, 1896

8

April 30

April 23, 1889

4

May 6

April 10, 1908

5

May 2

April IS, 1887

27

April 26

April 15, 1908

lO

April 23

April 17, 1908

6

April 23

April 14, 1896

5

April 22

April 17, 1908

5

April 20

April 5, 1905

lO

April 20

Februarv 26. 1895

II

April 21

March 26, 1886

5

April 18

March 25, 1890

13

April 22

April 18, 1909

lO

April 19

April 8, 1889

12

April 24

April 17, 1903

8

April 22

April 8, 1882

4

March 8

February 27, 1884

5

April 25

April 21, 1883

3

April 24

April 20, 1903

3

April 26

April 23, 1908

4

April 28

April 23, 1908

lO

April 30

April 22, 1908
May 3, 1908
May 12, 1890

s

May 7

May I, 1901

4

May 12

April 26, 1908

3

May 18

May 14, i860
May 16, 1904

The Migration of North American Sparrows

103

SPRING MIGRATION

Tallahassee, Fla

Gainesville, Fla

Savannah, Ga

Raleigh, N. C

French Creek, W. Va

Washington, D. C

Philadelphia, Pa

Beaver, Pa

Renovo, Pa

Morristown, N. J

Englewood, N. J

New York Citj-, N. Y

Hartford, Conn

Providence, R. I

Beverly', Mass

New Orleans, La

Biloxi, Miss

Helena, Ark

Athens, Tenn

Eubank, Ky

Lexington, Ky

St. Louis, Mo

BrookviUe, Ind

Bloomington, Ind

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

Chicago, 111

Rockford, 111

Oberlin, Ohio

Wauseon, Ohio

Petersburg, Mich

Detroit, Mich

Madison, Wis

LaCrosse, Wis

Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Keokuk, Iowa

Grinnell, Iowa

Lanesboro, Minn

Minneapolis, Minn

San Antonio, Tex

Bonham, Tex

Northeastern North Dakota.
Stockton, Calif

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
the last one seen

April 21

May 8
May 9
May 16
May 14
May II
May n
May 15
May 18
May 13
May 19
May 14
May 12
April 22
April 24
May 2
May 4
May 10
May II
May 16
May 6
May 11
May 10
May 17
May 17
May 16
May 17
May 12
May 19
May 17
May 20
May 14
May 10
May 14
May 17
May IS

May 5
May 19

1887
1892
1899
1888
1902
1907

Latest date of the
last one seen

May 3, 1903
April 27, 188
May II, 1909
May 18,
May 12,
June 14,
May 27,
May 14,
May 19,
May 30, 1907
May 24, 1907
May 22, 1895
May 25, 1907
May 21, 1899
May 26, 1906
April 27, 1903
April 27, 191a
May 19, 1907
May 10, 1909
June 2. 1887
May IS, 1903
May 24, 1883
May 8, 1886
May 16, 1903
May 26. 1907
May 2S, 1901
May 24, 1888
May 21, 1904
May 29, 1884
May 20, 1893
May 26, 1907
May 21, 1907
May 30, 1907
June 14, 1910
May 19, 189s
May 20, 1888
June I, 1882
June I, 1907
April 30, 1891
May 7, 1891
May 25, 1903
.^pril 22, 1892

FALL MIGRATION

Taunton, Mass

Providence, R. I.. . .

Hartford, Conn

New York City, N. \
Morristown, N. J. . .
Englewood, N. J.. .
Philadelphia, Pa. . . .

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
fall arrival

September 20
September 24
September 22
September 25
September 24
September 24
September 22

Earliest date of
fall arrival

September 18, 1889
September 13, 1908
September 14, 1909
September 18, 1887
September 18, 1908
September 17, 1887
September 17, i88s

I04

Bird - Lore

FALL MIGRATION, Continued

Number
of years'
record

Beaver, Pa I 6

Renovo, Pa lo

Washington, D. C 17

French Creek, W. Va 4

Raleigh, N.C I 14

Charleston, S. C | 3

Kirk wood, Ga j 7

Tallahassee, Fla i

Lanesboro, Minn 6

St. Anthony, Minn

Neligh, Nebr i

Grinnell, la j 6

Sabula, la ! 8

North Freedom, Wis 4

Chicago, 111 , 12

Detroit, Mich j 18

Oberlin, O j 11

Waterloo, Ind 6

Monteer, I\Io ' 5

Lexington, Ky 3

Eubank, Ky I 7

Athens, Tenn i 4

Helena, Ark \ 2

Covington, La ,

Ariel, Miss j

Denver, Colo

Santa Rosa, Calif I

Lawrence, Kans 3

Bonham, Tex 2

Average date of
fall arrival

September 22
September 19
October 3
October 3
October 15
October 13
October 23

September 17

September 23
September 23
September 13
September 18
September 20
September 30
September 24
October 10
October 6
October 13
October 18
October 15

October 14
October 23

Earliest date of
fall arrival

September
September
September
September
October 4,
October 9,
October 19,
October 27,
September
September
September,
September
September
September
September
September
September
September
October 5,
October 2,
October 3,
October 12,
October 10,
October 8,
October 13.
October 5,
October 13.
October 7,
October 16

19, 1908
10, 1903
15, 1889

1897
, 1904
, 1904
II, 1889

s, 1899

18, 1900

15, 1889
17, 1896

11, 1901
2, 1907

12, 1897

16, 1898
21, 1887

1905

1904

1886

,1909

, 1896

1885

, 1897

:885

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
the last one seen

Latest date of the
last one seen

Magdalen Islands, Canada

North River, Prince Ed. Island

Pictou, N. S

St. John, N. B

Scotch Lake, N. B

Montreal. Canada

Phillips, Me

Plymouth, Me

Tilton, N. H

Rochdale, Mass

Providence, R. I

Hartford. Conn

New York City, N. Y

Renovo, Pa 1 1

Beaver, Pa

Philadelphia, Pa

Flagstaff, Alberta

Aweme, Manitoba

Southeastern Nebraska

Lanesboro, Minn

Grinnell, la

Sabula, la

October 7

7

October 20

5

October 23

4

October 20

5

October 26

5

October 21

3

October 12

7

November i

7

November 20

6

November 2

6

November 9

I

October 25

8

October 24

8

November i

0

October 9

4

November 5

7

October 23

5

October 23

9

October 25

October, 9, 1899
October 16, 1S89
October 21, 1894
November 20, 1888
October 29, 1909
October 25, 1908
November 7, 1908
November 2, 1891
October 22, 1906
November 7, 1890
December 29, 1907
December 12, 1888
December 25, 1884
November 3, 1906
October 27, 1888
Rare, winter.
October 10, 1909
November 3, 1907
November 16, 1904
November 13, 1887
October 29, 1886
November 3, 1892

The Migration of North American Sparrows

105

FALL MIGRATION, continued

Keokuk, la

North Freedom, Wis

Chicago, 111

Houghton, Mich

Detroit, Mich

Ottawa. Ontario

Point Pelee, Ontario

Oberlin, O

Waterloo, Ind

Bloomington, Ind. . .

Fallon, Mont

Douglas, Wyo

Pueblo, Colo

Number

of years'

record

Average date of
the last one seen

November 17
October 23
October 22
October 9
October 30
October 19

November 5
October 29
November 13

October

Latest date'of the
last one seen

December 8, 1896
October 29, 1904
November 12, 1906
October 13, 1906
November 5, 1900
November 9, 1893
January 30, 1909
January i, 1906
November 4, 1894
November 22, 1903
October 5, 1908
October 8, 1894
October 24, 1886

BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW

From its winter home in Mexico, the Black-chinned Sparrow comes north
in spring, and its arrival has been noted in Cahuenga Valley, Los Angeles
County, Cal., April i, 1896; Johnson Canon, Panamint Mountains, Cal.,
April 6, 1891 ; Huachuca Mountains, Ariz., April 4, 1902. The individuals that
were seen at Tombstone, Ariz., February 13, 1910, and in the Santa Catalina
Mountains, Ariz., February 26, 1885, may have been unusually early
migrants, or they may have been birds that had wintered in the vicinity.

The last one was noted near Pasadena, Cal., September 10, 1897, and in
the Big Hachita Mountains, N. M., November 24, 1889.

Notes on the Plumage of North American Birds

FOURTEENTH PAPER
By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

(See frontispiece)

White-throated Sparrow (Zoiiotn'chia albicollis, Figs. 1-2). In juvenal
(nestling) plumage, the White-throated Sparrow is heavily streaked below,
the underparts at this age closely resembling those of a young Song Sparrow.
The back, however, is of about the same color as that of the first winter plumage
(Fig. 2), which, in late July and August, is acquired by molt of all the feathers
except the tail and wing quills. Some birds of this age more closely resemble
the adult below than the one figured, while in others, particularly females,
there is no trace of a white throat, this part, with the breast, being gray, with
a somewhat obscure spot on the center of the breast. This plumage has puzzled
many bird students. In it, the underparts more nearly resemble those of a
winter Swamp Sparrow than they do those of an adult White-throat. In
April, both immature and adults undergo a partial molt and pass into adult

io6 Bird -Lore

summer plumage (Fig. i). Adults, in winter, resemble Figure 2 above, but
have the white throat about as well defined as in Figure i.

White-crowne(f Sparrow {Zonolrichia leucophrys, Figs. 5-6). The
Juvenal plumage of the White-crowned Sparrow differs much more from the
first winter plumage than does that of the White-throat. So far as the under-
parts are concerned, they are both streaked and not unlike, but while the
dorsal plumage of the White-throat resembles in color that of the winter
plumage, which soon replaces it, the back of the nestling White-crowned is as
strongly streaked with black as that of a young Song Sparrow, for which,
indeed, it might easily be mistaken.

First winter plumage (Fig. 5) is apparently gained by molt of the body
feathers and wing-coverts, and varies comparatively little. The adult plumage
(Fig. 6) is accjuired by partial molt the first spring, and thereafter the bird
shows no color change, the adult in winter being like the adult in summer.

Three races of Zonotrichia leucophrys appear in the A. O. U. Check-List,
as follows:

Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys (White-crowned Sparrow). Range:
North America. Breeds in Hudsonian and Canadian zones of high mountains
from southern Oregon to central California, and east to Wyoming and southern
New ISIexico, and from limit of trees in central Keewatin and northern Ungava
to southeastern Keewatin, central Quebec, and southern Greenland; winters
from northern Lower California, southern Arizona, southern Kansas, and the
Ohio Valley (casually from the Potomac Valley), south to Louisiana and
Mississippi, and over the Mexican plateau to Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Guanajuato.

Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli (Gambel's Sparrow). Range: Western North
America. Breeds in Boreal zones from limit of trees in northwestern Alaska
and northern Mackenzie (rarely outside the mountains south of Great Slave
Lake) south to central Oregon and central Montana; west to coast mountains
of southwestern Alaska and British Columbia; winters from northern Cali-
fornia and Utah south to San Luis Potosi, Mazatlan, Lower California, and
outlying islands; casual east in migration to Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and
eastern Texas.

Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli (Nuttall's Sparrow). Range: Pacific coast.
Breeds in Humid Transition Zones from Port Simpson, British Columbia, to
San Luis Obispo County, California; winters from central Oregon southward
to Santa Margarita Island, Lower California.

Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis, Figs. 3-4). This Mexican
relative of our Field Sparrow is not sufficiently well represented in the American
Museum collections to enable me to describe its plumage changes. The adult
female resembles the male, but usually has less black on the throat. The
nestling plumage resembles the first winter (Fig. 4), and, unlike the correspond-
ing plumage of Spizella pusilla, is not streaked below.

Bird-Lore's Advisory Council

WITH some slij^fht alterations, we reprint l)elo\v the names and addresses
of the ornithologists forming Bird-Lore's 'Advisor>^ Council,
which were first published in Bird-Lore for February, 1900.

To those of our readers who are not familiar with the objects of the Council,
we may state that it was formed for the purpose of placing students in direct
communication with an authority on the bird-life of the region in which they
live, to whom they might appeal for information and advice in the many
difficulties which beset the isolated worker.

The success of the plan during the ten years that it has been in operation
fully equals our expectations; and from both students and members of the
Council we have had very gratif)ang assurances of the happy results attending
our etTorts to bring the specialist in touch with those who appreciate the oppor-
tunity to avail themselves of his wider experience.

It is requested that all letters of inquiry and to members of the Council be
accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope for use in replying.

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL
UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES

Alaska. — Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Biological Survey, Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C-
' Arizona. — Herbert Brown, Tucson, Ariz.
California. — Charles A. Keeler, Berkeley, Cal.
California.— Walter K. Fisher, Palo Alto, Cal.
Colorado.— Dr. W. H. Bergtold, 1460 Clayton Ave., Denver, Colo.
Connecticut. — J. H. Sage, Portland, Conn.
Delaware. — C. J. Pennock, Kennett Square, Pa.

District of Columbia. — Dr. C. W. Richmond, U. S. Nat'l. Mus., Washington, D. C.
Florida. — Frank M. Chapman, American Museum Natural History, New York City.
Florida, Western. — R. W. Williams, Jr., Talahassee, Fla.
Georgia. — Dr. Eugene Murphy, Augusta, Ga.
Illinois, Northern.— B. T. Gault, Glen Ellyn, III.

Illinois, Southern. — Robert Ridgway, U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C.
Indiana. — A. W. Butler, State House, Indianapolis, Ind.

Indian Territory. — Prof. W. W. Cooke, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.
Iowa. — C. R. Keyes, Mt. Vernon, la.
Kansas. — University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.

Louisiana. — Prof. George E. Beyer, Tulane University, New Orleans, La.
Maine. — O. W. Knight, Bangor, Me.
Massachusetts. — William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass.
Michigan. — Prof. W. B. Barrows, Agricultural College, Mich.
Minnesota. — Dr. T. S. Roberts, 1603 Fourth Avenue, South Minneapolis, Minn.
Mississippi. — Andrew Allison, Ellisville, Miss.
Missouri. — O. Widmann, 5105 Morgan St., St. Louis, Mo.
Montana. — Prof. J. M. Elrod, University of Montana, Missoula, Mont.
Nebraska. — Dr. R. H. Walcott, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.

(107)

io8 Bird -Lore

Nevada.^ — Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C.

New Hampshire. — Dr. G. M. Allen, Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Boston.

New Jersey, Northern. — Frank M. Chapman, Am. Nat. History, New York City.

New Jersey, Southern. — Witmer Stone, Academy Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa.

New Mexico. — Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C.

New York, Eastern. — Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.

New York, Northern. — Egbert Bagg, igi Genessee Street, Utica, N. Y.

New York, Western. — E. H. Eaton, Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y.

North Dakota. — Prof. O. G. Libby, University, N. D.

North Carolina. — Prof. T. G. Pearson, Greensboro, N. C.

Ohio. — Prof. Lynds Jones, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio.

Oklahoma. — Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C

Oregon. — W. L. Finley, Milwaukee, Ore.

Pennsylvania, Eastern. — Witmer Stone, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa.

Pennsylvania Western. — W. Clyde Todd, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Rhode Island. — H. S. Hathaway, Box 1466, Providence, R. I.

South Carolina. — Dr. Eugene Murphy, .\ugusta, Ga.

Texas. — H. P. Attwater, Houston, Tex.

Utah. — Prof. Marcus E. Jones, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Vermont. — Prof. G. H. Perkins, Burlington, Vt.

Virginia. — Dr. W. C. Rives, 1723 I Street, Washington, D. C.

Washington. — Samuel F. Rathburn. Seattle, Wash.

West Virginia. — Dr. W. C. Rives, 1723 I Street, Washington, D. C.

Wisconsin. — H. L. Ward, Public Museum, ^Milwaukee, Wis.

CANADA

Alberta. — G. F. Dippie, Calgary, .-Vita.

British Columbia, Western. — Francis Kermode. Provincial Museum, Victoria, B. C.

British Columbia, Eastern. — Allan Brooks, Okanagan Landing, B. C.

Manitoba. — Ernest Thompson Seton, Cos Cob, Conn.

Nova Scotia. — Harry Piers, Provincial Museum, Halifax, N. S.

Ontario, Eastern. — James H. Fleming, 267 Rusholme Road, Toronto, Ont.

Ontario, Western. — W. E. Saunders, London, Ont

Quebec— E. D. Wintle, 189 St. James Street, Montreal, Canada.

MEXICO
E. W. Nelson, Biological Survey, Department of .Vgriculture, Washington, D. C.

WEST INDIES
C. B. Cory, Field ^luseum, Chicago, 111.

GREAT BRITAIN

Clinton G. Abbott, 153 West 73rd St., New York City, N. Y.

jBtotee; from JFtem antj ^tuljp

Prothonotary Warbler in Connecticut
in November

On January 28, 191 2, Miss Mary Jen-
nings brought to me a Warbler that she
had kept in a box on the north side of her
house since it was picked up dead in front
of a garage in the suburbs of New Haven,
Conn., November, 27, 1911.

The bird had a tangle of plant fiber on
one leg, which may have caused its death
in a struggle for freedom. It was frozen
hard and after thawing it out, I prepared
the skin, and I could identify it as no
other than a female Prothonotary Warbler.

The bird was taken to Dr. Allen, at the
American Museum of Natural History,
and he has pronounced it an immature
female Prothonotary Warbler, the first
recorded occurrence for Connecticut,
and the latest seasonal record for the
eastern states.

The skin has been presented to the
museum. — Wilbur F. Smith, So. Nonvalk,
Conn.

A Winter Oriole

On Vt'ednesday, January 3, we had a
rare visitor among our birds. It was a
very beautiful male Baltimore Oriole.
He was first seen at noon eating suet
ravenously. The suet was tied on a limb
about fifteen feet from the house, and we
were able to examine the bird carefully
with field-glasses.

One wing had been injured in some way,
and the tip hung about an inch below
the normal position. He was indeed a piti-
ful sight, as he clung to the limb, with
feathers pufifed out, literally cramming
the suet. After eating steadily for five
minutes or more, he sat in the near-by
bush, sunning, for fifteen or twenty min-
utes, then flew away. We saw him again
at the suet at 3 o'clock, and I was able to
get a snapshot of him at a distance of
sixteen or eighteen feet. On my attempt to
draw nearer to him, he ilew to an arbor

fifty feet distant, going swiftly but with
some apparent difficulty, and we have
not seen him since.

The ground was covered with snow,
and although the temperature was 31°,
he seemed to be suffering from cold.

We fear that he may have succumbed
to the severe weather of the following
days. — Lottie .\lvord Lacey, South-
port, Conn.

A Second Winter Oriole

On Dec. 10, 191 2, while visiting a favor-
ite haunt of winter birds, along the
Wyomissing creek, I saw a Baltimore
Oriole. It was with flocks of Goldfinches,
Juncos, Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows,
and a pair of Cardinal Grosbeaks, that
were feeding in a field that was formerly
the bed of a mill dam, now overgrown
with weeds, and a tangle of alder and
blackberry bushes. I had the bird under
observation for one and a half hours,
watching it feeding. It fed considerably
on the ground, occasionalh' flying to
trees which fringed the field, and picked
for grubs under loose bark, pieces of
which several inches in length would fall
to the ground. It also picked at decayed
apples left hanging on the trees. On
December 17 and 25, the bird was still
there, in company with the above-men-
tioned species. On December 31, after
a rather severe snow-storm, the bird was
not observed. It was a brilliant male, and,
though apparently quite lively, did not
utter a sound. There could be no mis-
taking the bird, which is very common
here in summertime, and I had it in
view several hours the three different
times, as close as twenty feet. — G. Henry
Mexgel, Reading, Pa.

A Winter Towhee

It will perhaps be interesting to know
that I have been feeding a Towhee at mv

(109)

no

Bird- Lore

kitchen window all through the month of
December. For the first week there were
two; but for the last two weeks only one
has been seen. I have a table just outside
my kitchen window on which I place sev-
eral kinds of seed every day. The Towhee
prefers the hemp seed to any other, while
the Chickadees take the sunflower seeds
first. The bird is very tame, and will
come to the table while the window is
open, and myself not two feet away. —
Frank E. Woodward, Wellesley Hills,
Mass.

A November Black-Throated
Blue Warbler

At half-past eight o'clock this morning,
when everything was covered with ice and
slush after a night of storm, I saw a
Black-throated Blue Warbler not ten feet
from the window where I stood. It and a
flock of English Sparrows were under a
large forsythia bush, the Sparrow eating
corn cracked by Cardinals, which I feed
there daily. The Warbler flew close to the
window, and myself and another member
of the family watched it for some minutes
as it searched the branches. It was a
mature male, in fine plumage.

My latest record previous to this was
October 12, 1906. — (Miss) Isabel D.
Martin, Princeton, N. J., November
IS, 1911.

Winter Robins I

It may be of some interest to know that
the Robins are here, if, indeed, they have
ever been away. Yesterday morning
(January 3, 1912), the Robins were the
unusual visitors in our proverbially old
apple tree. The thermometer registered
3° above zero, and their frozen feast was,
on this occasion, some apples that were
still clinging to the limbs. The Jays and
Cardinals held but a minor interest on
this occasion. .\ few days before this
date, a flock of Robins was actually seen
(not heard) in a persimmon grove, appar-
ently delighted with the fruit. For many
years I have observed the coming and
departing of Robins, but this is quite the

earliest I have ever seen them, although
one supposed authority says that the
Robin is with us all winter. At any rate,
these birds in January are a very rare
sight in this section of the state, especially
for those who welcome and rejoice in the
return of the Redbreast. — M. L. Hulse,
Carlinville, III.

Winter Robins II

The present cold spell seems to have
produced an unusual visitation of Robins
in this neighborhood. On January 6, I
saw eight or more, and on January 7, at
least ten in a garden about half a mile
from town, the temperature each time
being so low, and the wind so fierce, that
we could not stop for a more accurate
count. On the 7th, we saw two more
about half a mile from the others, and on
the 14th two more about two miles from
either of the foregoing places. There was
a Hermit Thrush with the larger flock on
the 7th.

These are the first winter Robins I
have seen here, the dates for former
seasons being: Last November 21, 1909,
first March 5, 1910; last October 31, 1910,
first March 13, 1910. The present cold
wave is the most severe of the three
winters. — R. F. Haulenbeek, Princeton,
N. J.

Winter Robins III

It is such an unusual thing for Robins
to be seen in this locality during the
winter that the person announcing the
first Robin of the year is looked upon as a
sort of joker, and his announcement is
regarded as questionable. In fact, close
observation on my part during the past
half-dozen years has failed to reveal to me
any Robins in "the dead of winter."
Reports have occasionally come to me of a
single Robin having been seen in certain
localities, and upon investigation it has
been discovered that the locality would
be quite favorable for the shelter of such
birds, and very much the kind of place
they would be likely to select at this time
of year; but, in each case the person

Notes from Field and Study

III

reporting the discovery was not aI)solutcly
certain that the bird seen was a Robin.

This winter, however, has been an excep-
tion to the rule, and great numbers of
Robins have been seen everywhere; not-
withstanding the fact that the ground
has been covered with from six to eight
inches of snow, and the thermometer has
registered as much as 28 degrees below
zero.

On Christmas Day, which was rather
mild, I was somewhat surprised to see a
flock of forty-eight Robins, and attributed
the cause of their presence to the fact
that for some weeks the weather had
been warm. But when, the next week,
the snow came and the temperature went
down to extreme cold, and the Robins
were yet everywhere in evidence (on
January 16, with the thermometer stand-
ing at IS degrees below zero, I saw one
flock of 32 and another of perhaps 50,
or more, all in unprotected localities),
I had to seek for a new cause.

The question of food was one that pre-
sented itself to me. Upon what were
these birds feeding? I began to investigate,
and soon came to a satisfactory conclusion.

Last summer this locality was blessed
with a bumper crop of apples. There
were more than could be gathered and
disposed of, and, as a result, there are many
bushels yet remaining upon the trees,
and I found that upon these frozen apples
the Robins were feasting, and I at once
came to the conclusion that the abundance
of this kind of food accounted for the
presence of so many Robins at this
season of the year. — W. H. Wisman, New
Paris, Ohio.

Winter Robins IV

Have the Robins been changing their
habits, or is it force of circumstances that
has made it necessary for them to seek
new winter quarters?

On January 13 — our coldest day of
winter at that time (8 below at 7.30 a.m) —
I saw a flock of from 50 to 60. They were
in a compact flock, and had apparently
come from a clump of pines and other

Irrcs along a small stream, where later
I saw several birds scattered about; not
feeding, but calling lustily, and all appar-
ently in good condition.

From Washington county, at about the
same time, a report came of a flock of
1, 000 (an estimate, no doubt). Similar
reports have been common from near-by
districts. On February 11, I saw four.

From Mt. Vernon, Ohio (central),
reports of very large flocks are even more
common — of 500, one of 50, of sixes and
dozens. Today I received a letter in
which the writer states having seen a
flock last week in which were "hundreds
and hundreds."

Up to this year, I've never seen a Robin
during January nor before February 22,
and in Ohio, where I formerly lived, an
occasional winter Robin was a big event.

How about other sections of the coun-
try? Have others similar reports to make?
What might be a plausible explanation?

On February 1 1 , 1 also saw great numbers
of Horned Larks (about 200). Some were
feeding on the ground that the wind had
cleared of snow, others were chasing about
in pairs, while many were soaring high
in the air, singing just as I've heard them
do at nesting season. If only their song
was worthy of the sustained efifort with
which it is voiced!

Is this usual at this season of the year?
No doubt these were all of the same kind,
the Prairie Horned Lark. — V. A. Debes,.
900 Hill Ave., Wilkinsburg, Pa.

The Starling in New Jersey

The European Starling {Slum us vul-
garis) is becoming very common about
Trenton and Lawrenceville. The farmers,
and bird observers in general, have asked
me to identifj' these birds many times in
the past year or two. As nearly everyone
interested in ornithology knows, the
Starling was introduced into the United
States in 1890, at New York, and for
years thereafter the species remained
about Central Park, several pairs each
spring building nests under the eaves of
the American Museum of Natural History.

12

Bird - Lore

I first noticed the Starling in the vicinity
of Lawrenceville in the spring of 1909.
Since then I have found several nests
yearly, the birds becoming more and
more plentiful each season. A note from
field-book of May 2, 1909, reads: "Prin-
cipal find of the day, European Starling.
Nest with young in hole in small oak tree
by side of creek beyond F.'s woods.
Flicker's nest just above in same tree.
The two species did not seem to be the
best of neighbors. Some difiSculty in
identifying, I thinking at first the bird
was a Purple Martin, but the yellow bill
and mottled upper feathers argued con-
clusively against the Martin. Parent
birds most persistent in feeding their
young, and unusually suspicious of
intruders."

Journal of May 13, 1909, reads: "Young
in Starling's nest peeping out of hole,
evidently nearly ready to take wing.
Both parent birds near. Have often
noticed the extreme shyness of these
birds, they absolutely refusing to enter
hole while I was within twenty feet of the
tree. Often the old birds, coming home
with food in their bills for the little ones,
would deliberately drop the worm or
grub, or eat it, rather than venture to
the nest while I was near. Flicker has
evidently deserted her nest above Star-
ling's. Have not seen Flickers around in
several days."

May 16: "Starlings still in nest. Seem
unusually large for fledglings. Noted
peculiar actions of Tree Swallows (dozen
or more) which circled about stump con-
taining both the Starling's and the Flick-
er's nests. Occasionally one or two of
them would assail the Starlings in the air.
attacking them from below instead of
above, as the Kingbird does the Hawk.
Swallows disappeared all of a sudden.
Couldn't determine why the Swallows
desired combat with the Starlings. Flicker
again in her nest above the Starlings.
Five nests within fifteen rods — those of
the Starling, Flicker, Yellow Warbler,
Phoebe and Song Sparrow. Red-winged
Blackbird's nest with three eggs twenty
rods further on."

]May 25: "Starlings nesting again, this
time in the hole which the Flickers
occupied earlier."

I am certain the Starlings reared two
broods in the same stump, first in one
hole, then in the one above, hollowed out
originally by the Flickers. I am also
positive that the Starlings eventually
drove away the Flickers.

Mr. Witmer Stone, of the Academy of
Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, wrote me,
in answer to my letter describing the
Starlings and Flickers as nesting in the
same tree: "I am much interested in your
letter. We have a few Starlings breeding
at several points in Philadelphia, and in
one instance, at least, they have driven
away nesting Flickers. There is a large
flock established at Vineland, and they
have reached Tuckerton, Salem and
Delaware."

A few days ago, during one of our coldest
mornings of the present winter, a large
flock of Starlings was seen on the
Lawrenceville School campus. They may
be found in many places in this locality
in the spring and summer, and I have run
upon their nests in all kinds of trees.

Farmers hereabouts seem to be con-
siderably concerned as to the economic
value of the Starling, many believing the
bird will ultimately become as great a
pest as the English Sparrow. Judging
from the bird's habit of routing out cer-
tain of our native species of songbirds,
it would seem there were considerable
warrant for the anxiety of the farmers
with respect to Slur mis vulgaris. — Wal-
ter Fox Allen.

Starlings in Princeton, N. J.

Since the fourth of January, large
numbers of English Starlings have, fre-
quented the campus. This is the first
time I have ever noticed this bird in this
vicinity, although scattered individuals
have been reported. The Starlings play
about the buildings and most of the time
have been busy eating the berries on the
ivy. Altogether there are probably nearly
two hundred birds. Their arrival in such

Notes from Field and Study

113

numbers here I l)clievc was due to the
intense cold of the first two weeks of the
month, and since the moderation they
have gradually disappeared.

I noticed also several Starlings at
Chestnut Hill, Pa., on January 2, 191 2,
but have never seen such flocks in the
vicinity of Philadelphia as have been
here until the last few days. — A. F.
Hagar, Princeton, X. J.

The Starling in Illinois

On Thanksgiving day, November 30,
191 1, I saw a Starling. It was at the home
of my sister, Mrs. H. M. Palmer, at
McLean, McLean Co., 111., which is fifteen
miles southwest of Bloomington.

It was feeding on bread crumbs placed
on the bird tray attached to a tree, and
about thirty feet from the house. I
observed it carefully through glasses. I
recognized it from the pictures I had seen,
but especially from its Blackbird-like
characteristics. It was feeding with the
English Sparrows both on the the tray and
on the ground. There was snow covering
the ground. It would attack the Sparrows
that came too close, and when it was in the
trees the Sparrows attacked it. My sister
said she had seen the strange bird three
or four days before this, but did not
recognize it. It did not reappear after
the 30th. — Frank W. Aldrich, Bloom-
ington, III.

The Starling in Philadelphia

I wish to record a few observations
which I have made of the Starling. When
I returned to the city on September 15,
I noticed these birds in a tree in the back
of my home. The section of the city in
which I live is quite thickly built up, and
it is very unusual to see anything but
English Sparrows. Consequently, these
birds attracted my attention whenever I
had time for any observations.

At first there were but two of them.
They seemed to be considerably bothered
by the Sparrows, which never dared to
attack them but kept continualK- nagging

at them. However, there must have
been something about the neighborhood
that was attractive to them, for they could
be seen at almost any hour of the day in
the immediate vicinity. On November 26,
I noticed five birds. This, of course, is
rather an unusual number, and I suppose
there must have been others near-by, but
they were not visible at that time. Three
or four days later, I noticed eight of them.
They remained here until the bitter cold,
which set in about the fifth of this month.
I have not seen them since that time, and
presume that they have gone further
south.

I could not locate the nest of the birds,
but it was the impression of the other
members of my family and myself that
they nested on top of a tower of the house
in the rear of the one in which I live. The
birds seldom lighted on the ground, and
in fact, stayed in the high branches of the
trees or near the top of the house at all
times. I am sorry that I cannot give you
any exact data as to their food el al, but
I am somewhat of a novice at ornithology,
and probably with experience my powers
of observation in this particular branch
of study will improve. I thought, how-
ever, that it might be of interest to you
to know of the presence of these birds in a
closely built up portion of the city at this
season of the year. — Chas. Alison
Scully, Philadelphia, Pa.

The Starling in New Hampshire

A flock of strange birds was noticed, in
December, 191 1, flying about an old
orchard. They seemed especially fond of
the frozen apples found on the trees. The
refuse from a walnut-crack was thrown
out, and the whole flock came to eat. An
examination of a specimen proved it to
be a bird entirely new to this vicinity.
By the help of Chapman's Handbook of
Birds of Eastern North America, we
thought it must be the English Starling
and, by sending the feathers to Mr.
Chapman, we were assured that we really
had the Starling with us. The flock of
Starlings consists of between twenty and

114

Bird - Lore

thirty birds, and has attracted no little
interest. We hope they have come to
stay, and shall watch for them as warm
weather appears. Several people have
spoken of a strange flock of dark birds,
seen late in the fall, after Blackbirds were
supposed to have left us, but until De-
cember no one noticed them particularly.
After once recognizing them, their metallic
purplish and greenish plumage, with
every feather tipped with cream-buff,
makes a bird of great beauty, and one
easily identified.

It has been by far the coldest winter
for years here, the thermometer registering
often thirty degrees below zero. — Rest
H. Metcalf, Hinsdale, N. H.

Bird Notes from South Norwalk, Conn.

The past winter was notable because of
the long-continued cold (from January 3,
to February 17, heavy ice covering the
feeding-places of Ducks), the absence of
rare winter birds, and instances of summer
birds staying into the winter.

Mr. George Ells watched the tarrying
of a Yellow-breasted Chat, which he
showed to me on December 24, and that
afternoon he saw it again, together with
a Catbird, and Mr. James Hall saw the
Chat on January i, after which it was
not seen again.

A friend told me of a Brown Thrasher
that he had seen off-and-on up to January
17, and on Februarj' 11 he guided me and
another friend to a cat-briar thicket in a
swamp, where he showed us the Thrasher,
and I saw it again on February 22. It
lived near an open spring, on an abundance
of frozen apples and the refuse heaps
from two houses. The bird was in excel-
lent plumage and very shy, and on both
visits dived into the thicket before I
could secure a photograph.

In some places the Horned Larks were
scarce, but at the mouth of the Housatonic
river I found a flock of more than one
hundred and fifty living on the truck
gardens, and among them was one Snow
Bunting, the only one seen or heard of.

Fortunately there was little snow, and

the weed seeds and grasses remained above
the snow; else the loss of bird-life would
have been appalling. One Bluebird was
found frozen beside a stone fence, and
five Meadowlarks were found frozen under
a corn-shock at Bethel; and Deputy
Warden Fauble, of Stamford, found five
dead Quail, from a late brood, it would
seem, from their small size.

Not a Shrike or Crossbill has been
reported from this section, and but one
report of the Red-polls and Siskins, late
in February.

Black Ducks suffered most, as the ice
covered their feeding-places, and they
sat around on the ice and starved and
froze to death. I saw and picked up
thirty-eight that had died, and the con-
dition of hundreds was critical when the
ice broke and laid bare their feeding-
grounds. At the mouth of the Housatonic
river, the Black Ducks and Scaups gath-
ered in immense numbers and, by wearing
a white suit and walking among the ice-
floes, I was able to get within a few feet of
them; showing plainly that, but for the
protection given them by the closed sea-
son, it would have been possible to have
killed large numbers of them at a time
when they were hardly able to secure food
enough to keep alive. — -Wilbur F. Smith,
South Norwalk, Conn.

Bird Banding

The Bird-Banding Committee of the
Linnaean Society of New York wishes to
insert a paragraph here, for the purpose of
assuring the members of the American
Bird-Banding Association, and others,
that, as the nesting season approaches,
those in charge of the affairs of the Asso-
ciation are making preparations for an
active season, and a wide distribution of
bands among those who will be good
enough to use them. About seven thou-
sand five hundred bands of various sizes
are now in process of manufacture, and
members of the A. B. B. A. will be noti-
fied as soon as these are ready for dis-
tribution.— Howard H. Cleaves, Secy.-
Treas., Public Museum, New Brighton,
N. Y.

ilooft J^etD0 anti 3^etotetofi^

The Migratory Movements of Uirds
IN Relation to the Weather. By
Wells W. Cooke. From Yearbook of
Department of Agriculture, for iQio,
PP- 379-390, I map.

No one is better fitted than Professor
Cooke to discuss this ever-interesting
subject, and what he has to say in this
paper may be taken as adequately express-
ing our present knowledge. His "conclu-
sions" are as follows:

"The foregoing facts show conclusively
that weather conditions are not the cause
of the migration of birds, but that the
weather, by influencing the food-supply,
is the chief factor which determines the
average date of arrival at the breeding
grounds. Migration is undertaken in
response to physiological changes in
birds, and the date of starting, in the
case of most species, bears no relation
whatever to the local weather conditions
in the winter home. The weather encoun-
tered en route influences migration in a
subordinate way, retarding or accelerating
the birds' advance by only a few days, and
having slight relation to the date of
arrival at the nesting-site.

"Local weather conditions on the day
of arrival at any given locality are minor
factors in determining the appearance
of a species at that place and time. The
major factors in the problem are the
weather conditions far to the southward,
where the night's flight began, and the
relation which that place and time bear
to the average position of the bird under
normal weather conditions. Many, if not
most, instances of arrivals of birds under
adverse weather conditions are probably
explainable by the supposition that the
flight was begun under favorable auspices
and that late in the night the weather
changed. Spring migration usually occurs
with a rising temperature and the move-
ments of autumn with a falling temper-
ature. In each case the change seems to
be a more potent factor than the absolute
degree of cold.

(I

"The direction and force of the wind —
except as they are occasionally intimately
connected with sudden and extreme va-
riations in temperature — seem to have
only a slight influence on migration.

"Another conclusion, equally apparent,
is that neither time of migration, the
route, nor the speed of one species, can be
deduced from records of other species,
even though closely related; in other
words, each species, and even each group
of individuals of a species, is a law unto
itself."— F. M. C.

A Biological Survey of the Sand
Dune Region on the South Shore
of Saginaw Bay, Michigan. Prepared
under the direction of Alexander G.
RuTHVEN, Chief Field Naturalist, Michi-
gan Geological and Biological Survey.
Publication 4, Biological Series 2; Lan-
sing, Mich. 8vo., 347 pages, 19 plates,
I map.

This volume records the results of what
was evidently a biological survey in the
best sense of the term. Taking a well-
defined area where primitive conditions
existed, Mr. Ruthven secured the cooper-
ation of a corps of specialists, and we have
here, consequently, the observations and
conclusions of men who not only were
especially qualified for the particular
work in hand, but who had the inestimable
advantage of reporting on material which
they had collected themselves. Thus G.
H. Coons writes on the 'Ecological Rela-
tions of the Flora,' C. K. Dodge, gives
a 'Catalogue of Plants,' H. Burrington
Baker reports on the Mollusca, A. Frank-
lin ShuU on 'Thysanoptera and Orthop-
tera,' Charles A. Shull and M. A. Car-
riker, Jr. on 'Mallophaga,' A. L. Leathers
on 'Fish,' Alexander G. Ruthven on
'Amphibians and Reptiles' as well as on
the general biological problems of the
survey; N. A. Wood on 'Mammals' and
the same author with Frederick Gaige
gives a well-annotated list of the 128
species of the birds observed. The whole
undertaking embodies exactly the kind of

S)

ii6

Bird -Lore

work which we have long hoped might be
done on Gardiner's Island, a locality
which offers unique opportunities for
ecological investigation. — F. M. C

A Contribution to the Ornithology
OF THE Bahama Islands. By W. E.
Clyde Todd and W. W. Worthing-
TON. Annals of the Carnegie Museum,
VIII., Nos. 3-4, 1911, pp. 388-464, I
map.

From December 24, 1908, to May 13,
1909, Mr. Worthington collected birds on
New Providence, Great Inaugua, Acklin,
Watlings, Andros, and Abaco Islands, in
the interests of the Carnegie Museum. In
this paper he presents a 'Narrative of
the Expedition' and 'Field Notes' on the
species observed, while Mr. Todd con-
tributes the 'Introduction' and 'Critical
Notes' on the specimens; the whole
forming an important contribution to our
more definite knowledge of distribution
and relations of the birds of this interest-
ing group of islands. — F. M. C.

The American Bird-House Journal for
191 2. By J. Warren Jacobs, Waynes-
burg, Pa.

Mr. Jacobs proposes to continue his
important contributions to the natural
history of the Purple Martin, and ways
and means of promoting its increase
through the erection of nesting-houses,
under the above heading. The present
publication contains some fifty pages,
many illustrations, and much pertinent
matter in relation to the habits of Mar-
tins, based on the experiences of Mr.
Jacobs and his numerous correspondents.
— F. M. C.

The Ornithological Magazines

The Condor. — Of the five general
articles in the January number of 'The
Condor,' the first, by Bowles and Howell,
on 'The Shore Birds of Santa Barbara'
merits special mention. Notes are given
on twenty-nine species, attention is
called to the economic value of the
Plovers, Phalaropes and smaller Sand-
pipers, and to the desirability of removing
them from the game list. The paper is

illustrated by one of Dawson's photo-
graphs, showing Long-billed Dowitchers
feeding, and three photographs of Phala-
ropes by Bowles.

Ray's account of a trip 'Through
Tahoean Mountains' in 1909, and Swarth's
'\'isit to Nootka Sound" in 1910, both
illustrated, are somewhat different from
ordinary 'local lists,' and much more
interesting to the general reader. The
Tahoe trip occupied about two weeks, and
during this time observations were reported
on ten species of birds, five of which were
found nesting. Nootka Sound, on Van-
couver Island, has many historical asso-
ciations, but its chief interest to the
ornithologist lies in the fact that it is the
tj'^pe locality, or place where the original
specimens were collected, of the Rufous
Hummingbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker,
Blue-fronted Jay, and Varied Thrush.
Swarth succeeded in securing examples of
all except the Sapsucker. The paper closes
with a nominal list of forty-nine species
observed.

Saunders' 'Birds of Southwestern Mon-
tana,' containing notes on one hundred
and fifty species found in the most thickly
settled part of the state, is a welcome
contribution, as little or nothing has here-
tofore been published on the avifauna of
this region. Chester Lamb's 'Birds of a
Mohave Desert Oasis' is likewise a list
of more than ordinary interest, from the
fact that it comprises twelve months'
observation, from August i, 1910, to
August I, 191 1, of the birds at a desert
water-hole, nine miles east of Daggett,
California. Of the one hundred and
thirty-three species observed at this
apparently unpromising locality, forty-
two were water-birds or shore-birds.

Attention is called to the appointment
of F. S. Daggett as Director of the new
Museum of History, Science and Art, in
Los Angeles. Mr. Daggett's personal col-
lection of 8,000 birds, 3,000 species of
Coleoptera, thirty-six large drawers of but-
terflies, and his ornithological library of
1,800 volumes, and about as many pam-
phlets, will be deposited in the Museum.
— T. S. P.

Editorial

117

jitrli itore

A Bi-monthly Maeazine
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES

Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Contributing Editor, MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

Published by D. APPLETON & CO.

Vol. XIV Published April 1. 1912 No. 2

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Price in the United States. Canada and Mexico, twenty cents
a number, one dollar a year, postage paid.

COPYRIGHTED. 1912. BY FKANK M. CHAPMAN

Bird Lore's Motto:
A Bird in the Bush Is Worth Two in the Hand

The European Starling .seems to be
increasing its range at an unprecedented
pace. Under date of January 11, 1912,
B. B. Semmes writes to 'Forest and Stream'
(Jan. 20, 19 1 2, p. 83) of the appearance
of "many hundreds" of these birds at
Newport News, Virginia, whereas they
had not been reported in numbers before
much south of Philadelphia; and in this
issue of Bird-Lore we publish records of
their occurrence as far west as Illinois,
and as far north as Hinsdale, New Hamp-
shire. The presence of the birds south
of their previously known limits during
the winter is far less surprising than their
appearance at this season, with a temper-
ature of — 30°, some iif ty miles north of the
area in which they have heretofore been
regularly observed. The facts attending
this New Hampshire record clearly indi-
cate the Starling's hardiness and ability
to extend its territory under conditions
which would daunt even an English
Sparrow. Assuredly if any steps are to bi
taken by state or Federal government to
prevent the further spread of this species,
they should not be long delayed.

While the bird's economic status in
this country has not yet been definitely
established, many reports have shown that
it molests native species, and, in regions
when it is abundant, the sight ot a flock of
'Blackbirds" in March is now robbed of all
its charm and significance as a welcome
and undoubted sign of the return of spring
We have lately also had an experience

wiih the English Sparrows' jjowcr to
mar one's associations with native birds.
Returning recently to a Florida town
where the Mockingbirds' March music
was a cherished memory, imagine the
feelings with which we discovered that
the metallic, incessant chatter of the
lately arrived, but already countless,
English Sparrows was the dominant
bird-note of the place. Under the cir-
cumstances, one could no more enjoy the
rapturous melody of the Mockingbirds
than one can enjoy a symphony concert
with some one talking in the next row!

Numerous correspondents have asked
us to explain the presence of Robins,
during the past winter in unusual num-
bers north of their regular winter range,
and their queries are answered by some
of the contributors to this issue of Bird-
Lore. With a species of somewhat irreg-
ular migration habits, like the Robin,
favorable weather and a tempting food-
supply often induce many individuals to
linger after their migration period. Later,
the temperature and snow may fall, but as
long as food is available the birds remain.
This explanation is less applicable to
birds like the Baltimore Oriole, which
leave us long before they are forced to do
so by inclement weather or lack of food,
and late individuals of such species are
doubtless birds which for one reason or
another have been prevented from jour-
neying southward with others of their
kind and, under exceptionably favorable
climatic conditions, have survived long
after their species has left the United
States for the tropics.

To a lesser extent this may be true of
late Warbler records such as that, for
example, of the Black-throated Blue
Warbler, published on an earlier page of
this number, but the surprising record of
the Prothonotary Warbler in Connecticut
in November, which precedes it, defies
explanation. Not only is the species of
merely casual occurrence on the Atlantic
Coast north of Virginia, but the latest
previous record for the United States
appears to be 'Florida Keys, September 25.'

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Edited by ALICE HALL WALTER
Address all communications relative to the work of this depart-
ment to the Editor, at 53 Arlington Avenue, Providence, R. I.

We may shut our eyes but we cannot help knowing

That skies are clear and grass is growing,

The breeze comes whispering in our ear

That dandelions are blossoming near,

That maize has sprouted, that streams are flowing,

That the river is bluer than the sky,

That the robin is plastering his house hard by.

— James Russell Lowell.

ARBOR AND BIRD DAY IN THE HOME

How many of our Audubon Societies regularly take a hand in preparations
for the proper observance of Arbor and Bird Day, either in the home or in the
school? May not this day be celebrated at home as well as at school, and by
fathers and mothers as well as by children and teachers? Why, indeed, should
it not be made the most attractive holiday throughout the seasons for both
old and young?

My first recollection of Arbor Day dates back twenty-live years or more, to
a time when planting trees and protecting birds were matters which were just
beginning to receive some attention. Arbor Day met with instant approval
in at least one country preparatory school, and the story of its first celebration
there doubtless duplicates that of many similar celebrations elsewhere.

Both principal and pupils brought from the neighboring woods small trees,
and worked together, setting them out on the hilly campus. The day was
cloudy but exhilarating and the simple exercises, which were held out-of-doors
at the time of the tree-planting, took on a new meaning, with the smell of
spicy spring breeze and freshly dug earth in the nostrils. It was not the
exercises, nor even the tree-planting which counted so much as the fact that
all who shared in the events of that happy day took in the spirit of spring,
the joy and gladness of living and growing. Here was the true ring to Arbor Day.

Elaborate Arbor and Bird Day programmes are now arranged for our
schools and much is being written of general interest concerning the conser-
vation of the trees; but how little has yet been done to make Arbor and Bird
Day a home-festival of spring!

Many a city home would be gladdened if its members brought in from the
outskirts only a few basketfuls of new earth, a fern or growing shoot to freshen
the monotony of the back yard.

(118)

The Audubon Societies 119

There are numberless seeds which are scallered by the trees in places where
they are strangled for want of room, and these starvelings might be taken up,
without injuring either woodland or roadside.

How many a country home would be improved and made the richer, if one
day a year was set aside for tree-planting or transplanting, for touching hands
with spring at some spot about the grounds!

It would be a glorious thing if each child in all this land might plant at least
one tree during his lifetime, on his home grounds, as well as on public school
land.

Arbor Day is a good time to set about putting up a birds' drinking-fountain
on the home lawn, and to see that sunflower seeds and other weedy tid-bits
for the birds are planted in odd corners of the garden. And why should fences
between our garden and our neighbor's run sharp lines of division? The
birds, who fly over all obstructions, know no such artificial bounds to
freedom. Let us set our trees in our home grounds with reference to the land
adjoining, and have a community of interests with our neighbors, in the soil,
if nowhere else. Of all days, Arbor and Bird Day ought to bring men and birds
and trees into a fellowship that outlasts spring and summer, abiding through
autumn days and the chill winter.

Our Audubon Societies can do a great deal for the homes of this country as
w^ell as for its schools. It is not preaching so much as teaching that is needed;
not precept, so much as example. To observe Arbor and Bird Day fitly in our
own homes is better than making many speeches or writing exhortations.
Perhaps a neighbor may catch a glimpse of our simple ceremonies. We might
possibly invite him to share in them, and to help us bear the message of spring
to others, through school grounds, town and city streets and parks.

Let us take this beautiful day for our own, for our home, our school, our
village or city, and make it not only a day of tree-planting and bird-lore, but
also a day of much joy and that gladness which only spring can give. — A. H. W.

There's a lesson of strength and beauty

That grows as the days go by,
In the trees the children are planting

Under the springtime sky.
May the lives of those who plant them

Grow strong and fair, to be
A blessing to all about them;

That's the lesson of the tree.

— Eben E. Rexford, in "The Wisconsin Agriculturist."

Summer or winter, day or night,

The woods are an ever new delight;

They give us peace, and they make us strong,

Such wonderful balms to them belong.

— Richard Henry Stoddard.

FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS
Exercise II. Spring Travelers

CDirelated Studies: Geography, Map- Making and Clay-Modeling

It is rather difficult to think of stud\-ing geography, the way it ought to be
studied, according to the actual ups and downs of the earth's surface, instead of
on a flat map or polished globe. Maps and globes are useful; without them we
cotild hardly gain a clear idea, perhaps, of the relation of all the land and water
areas which make up the earth's siu^'ace.

Still, we can never see the world as it really is. imless we tr\- to look at it, as
the bird does, from above.

Beginning with that part of the world with which we are most familiar,
let us take a large lump of modeling clay, and out of part of it first make a
perfectly flat surface. After tracing the entire coast-line of North .\merica
on this surface, we will next mold and place upon it three great moxmtain-
ranges — the Sierras and Rockies in the West, and the Alleghany in the East,
dotting in, with smaller Iimips of clay, the White and Green ^Mountains and the
Adirondacks and Catskills. Lastly, we will scoop out the Great Lakes, the
St. Lawrence, Mississippi, Ohio. Missouri, and Hudson Rivers, and also the
Gulfs of Mexico and California and Hudson Bay.

Without attempting in this lesson, to place the moimtains, lakes and
rivers of Mexico, or of Central and British America, we may complete this
rough model by outlining the principal islands from the West Indies to New-
foundland on the Atlantic coast, and from Guadalupe to the Aleutian Islands
on the Pacific.

So far, we have only succeeded in finding some of the most striking land and
water diferences of the earth's surface as they appear in Xorth America.

Remembering what we have already learned about the weather and tem-
perature, let us next tr\- to think of the climates, that is, the heat and cold
differences, which occur over this vast surface of land and water. Turning to
any geography, we find lines running from east to west across the globe, called
lines of latitude. These lines help to show us distances on the earth's surface,
from a middle line, called the equator, to each of the poles. By means of these
lines, we may quickly locate some of the principal heat and cold differences, or
climates.

Down around the equator, and for some distance north and south of it,
we learn that it is ver>- hot, because more of the sim's heat strikes this part of
the earth than any other. From o (the equator) to 15°, let us mark our map,
"ver>' hot'' and from 15° to 25°, "hot. " -\11 of this hot region we may describe
as torrid, and call it tropical in climate.

From 25° to 35°, we will say it is '"warm;" from 35° to 45°, "medimn;"
from 45° to 55°, "cool," and all of this region we may describe as temperate.

(120)

The Audubon Societies 121

Abo\e 50^, it is growing cold, and we are also getting \er\- far away from the
hot equator, so let us put down from 50° to 60°, "cold," and from 60° to the
North Pole, "ver\' cold," describing this region as arctic, or boreal, in climate.
But we must not get the idea that all the hot and cold places on the earth are
either in the tropics or about the poles, for that is not true. We shall understand
this a Uttle better if we picture differences in altitude and depth, that is the
height and depth of the earth's surface above and below the level of the sea.
Now the higher any part of the earth is above the sea-level in the atmos-
phere, or below it in the water, the colder it will be. Let us fix in oiu- minds
the highest mountain-peaks in the United States, where the climate is
usually temperate or mediimi, and discover, if possible, how far north one
would have to travel to find a climate as cold as that which encircles these
lofty points.*

\Mien we stop to think of this matter, we know that in traveling from the
base of a mountain far up to its summit, we go from a warm, or moderately
warm, temperature to one much colder, just as truly as in going from the
equator toward either pole.

In one case, we reach the cold region by going up as far as the land will
carr>- us above the level of the sea: in the other, we get as far away from the
hot part of the earth's surface as we can by going to the cold part, north or
south.

If we look at the clay map now, and think about where it is cold and where it
is warm, we will see that all the cold places cannot be around the pole, because
there are so many ver\- high mountain peaks, as far south even, as Xew Mexico,
where it must also be cold. Just how to make our map show us where to look
for heat and cold is rather more difficult than to make it show where there is
land and -water; but by sprinkling talcum powder over the clay, we can show
the coldest places, not only those that are high above the level of the sea, but
also those that are far from the equator.

The reasons why it is hot or cold, high or low, or why there is land or water
at any one place, need not concern us here, but they make a long and interesting
stor\'.

The birds cannot think about these things, neither can the trees nor the
grass and plants; but they can all respond to heat and cold, and the birds can
see high and low places as well as the difference between land and water,
while plants and trees can go down helow the earth, as well as up into the air
above it. Each tiny seed that is dropped into the soil, makes a wonderful
journey from the dark depths through which our eyes cannot see up into the
air and sunshine, just as truly as the bird, which travels from the hot equator
to the far cold north, or the mountain-climber, who leaves the grassy plains

*5ee article on page 97 of this issue in which it is stated Ithat in climbing up three miles in
altitude on Mt. Orizaba (Mexico), as great changes in vegetation and animal life are found as there
would be n going north three thousand miles in latitude from the base of this lofty elevation in the
tropics.

122 Bird - Lore

and pushes his way steadily up to the treeless and grassless, snow-covered
peak where the air is cold and thin.

Learning the heights of mountain-peaks or the different depths of the salt
ocean and fresh- water lakes and bays will mean much more to us, if we stop
to think of the many kinds of plants and animals which make their homes all
over the earth, at different heights and depths of the land and water, and in
different cHmates.

Looking down now upon the earth, as the flying bird does, we see great
plains and mountains; vast forests and long stretches of desert where neither
trees nor grass grow; lakes, large and small; rivers with fertile valleys, and
crooked coast-lines, here rocky and boldly jutting out into the ocean, while
yonder, gently sloping down to the water's edge in shining, sandy beaches.

Should we try to look down through the ocean or great inland bodies of
water, we should find a water-world more strange and quite as wonderful as
this land-world, one where many curious animals and plants live at different
depths. Among these water-folk are some great travelers. While seeds are
sprouting and leaves are unfolding, while bears and other hibernating animals
are waking up from their long sleep, and migrating birds are starting on their
long journeys, the leaping salmon leave the sea and, entering some river's
mouth in schools, swim steadily against the current toward its head. Around
eddies and rapids these fishes go, surmounting falls and artificial dams by
great leaps, until at last, thin and exhausted, they reach the spot which instinct
has taught them to seek, where they may safely deposit their eggs.

No one has yet succeeded in fully explaining why each springtime sees so
many finny, furred, and feathered travelers on their perilous paths.

Different kinds of land and water, different degrees of heat and cold, differ-
ent heights and depths, along with many other things doubtless, play a part
in this mystery.

Looking over our map again, it might help us to trace some of the trails
over which migrating birds travel, for, by following these airy highways, we
shall be getting a bird's-eye viev: of all North America.

Starting from the tropics, in the latitude of the Isthmus of Panama, let
us see how many ways there are of getting from South America to North
America.

There is certainly very little land and a great deal of water to choose
between, but since birds fly whither they please, the one really important
matter to take into account is food.

You and I would need much extra clothing for a journey from the tropics
to the Arctic Circle, but the birds' chief concern is for food. The suits of
feathers which they wear protect them from the cold as well as from the heat.
A very high wind or a hea\'y storm might interfere with their movements, but
in any ordinary weather, the birds have no concern for the protection of their
bodies.

The Audubon Societies 123

Let us draw lines on our luap or lay colored threads along the different
routes we lind to tra\el, numbering and naming each one to help us remember
them.

First, we will start by land, because that seems safer, and travel along
the western lowlands of Mexico up to Arizona and California, keeping along
the Pacific Coast away from the great mountains and deserts. It seems to be
an easy route to fly over, but we do not find so many kinds of birds traveling
this way as might be expected. Calling this the "Pacific Coast Route," let us
start again a little more to the eastward, and enter the United States at New
IMexico, pushing north to the Great Plains. There is an almost limitless
stretch of land here, but much of it is dry and treeless. We see at once that
many birds will never come this way, because they could not find proper food,
water or nesting-sites. Perhaps we may name this little-traveled route, the
"Route of the Plains, or the Interior." These western trails are most conve-
nient for those birds which winter in Mexico but are somewhat out of the way
for those which come north from South America. We must make a fresh start,
if we expect to keep company with the great mass of northward-bound birds.

It looks, on the map, as though we might get across from Yucatan to Cuba
and then to Florida without much exertion or danger but for some unknown
reason the birds do not like this way. So they cross anywhere from Vera
Cruz to Yucatan, and fly northeast over the great Gulf of Mexico, a sea-flight
of 500 to 700 miles, according to the point of departure.

We may leave the coast with them at night flying on and on through the
darkness, until we come to land once more somewhere between Louisiana and
northwestern Florida. There our feathered companions, many of whom are
mong the smallest and weakest birds, will separate, some to keep on
through the popular "Alississippi Valley Route" to the far north, others to
continue up the Atlantic coast, and others to seek the valley of the Missouri
as far as the western plains.

The "Island Route" is frequented by certain birds which spend the winter
in the West Indies and by some others who leave South America and fly 500
miles to Jamaica, then 90 miles across to Cuba, and from there 150 miles to
southern Florida. The Bobolinks, with a few companions, cut out Jamaica,
making a direct flight of 700 miles from South America to Cuba, and so on to
Florida. We will call this the "Bobolink Route" from the jaunty travelers who
go over it. There are birds of stronger wing and more endurance than e\-en
the Bobolink, who like to travel by sea better than by land. Wild Ducks and
many shore-birds follow up the Atlantic coast, well out to sea, except as they
stop to feed and rest in secluded places along the shore.

One famous traveler, the Golden Plover, goes north by land through the
great plains of the West, but comes back mostly by water, to its winter home
in South America. No other bird is known that takes so long a sea-flight with-
out stopping. It is 2,500 miles from Nova Scotia to northeastern South Amer-

124 Bird -Lore

ica, but this Plover, in good weather, is beheved to cover that immense dis-
tance in a single flight.

Our next lesson will describe where these spring travelers go to nest, and
some of the things they must see on their way thither. Do not forget that when
they have reached the United States many of them still have a long journey
ahead. Wherever they go, there is much for us to learn about the places that
they visit.— A. H. W.

SUGGESTIONS

If clay is not at hand, let the scholars draw outline maps and color them to show
the points mentioned above.

Geo. F. Cram, Chicago, publishes an orographical map, on which are marked altitudes
below SCO feet, from 500 to 2,000 feet, 2,000 to 5,000 feet, 5,000 to 10,000 feet, over
10,000 feet; also the northern and Mississippi watersheds and the Atlantic, Gulf and
Rocky Mountain slopes.

Learn the heights of the loftiest mountain-peaks in the United States, and try to
find out how far one would have to travel north in order to reach as cold a climate and
the same vegetation and animal life as are found upon them.

Which way do the rivers run in the western United States? Which way do those in
the eastern United States run?

How is the "Route of the Plains, or the Interior" hemmed in? What animals have
the habit of migration? Of hibernation? What is the difference between migration,
emigration, and immigration? Is the English Sparrow in this country a migrant, emi-
grant, or immigrant?

How do birds' feathers protect them from heat and cold?

For an Arbor and Bird Day programme see Bird-Lore, Vol. XIII, No. 2, pp. 108-
115. Consult the works of David Starr Jordan. Read his story of the travels of the
salmon.

FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS

Wintering of the Robin in the Northern United States

W. D. Rice, a teacher, writes from Vanderbilt, Michigan: "Two of my
pupils saw two Robins this morning [February 16] near their home. We will
watch and report again. We think it is pretty early for Robins in northern
Michigan."

[The following unusual records of the appearance of the Robin at various points in
the northern United States suggest the probability of the wintering of certain indivi-
duals of this species during an exceptionally cold season, where food and water and
sufficient shelter have been available. At Ferrycliff Farm, Bristol Neck, Rhode Island,
a flock of over 200 Robins is reported to be spending the winter, feeding largely on weed-
seed and waste grain. This flock has been fed by the caretaker of the estate when the
ground was covered with snow, but no artificial shelter has been furnished the birds.
A thick grove of junipers, with a protected glen where springs of water remain open,
seems to have attracted this large flock of Robins. The owner of the estate. Dr. H. M.
Howe, has for many years seen that feathered visitors were fed and protected within
his premises.

On the morning of February 12, while driving to the railroad station at Burke,

The Audubon Societies

125

Vermont, Dr. II. E. Waller saw a siiif^k' R(il)in. riu- bird llcw directl_\' across the road.
It seemed in good condition, aIlhou<;h the lemperalure durin}; that weei^ fell to iS^ and
30° below zero at night.— .\. II. W.j

Our Winter Visitors

Our school-house is near the woods, and Ijirds — Chickadees, Tufted Tit-
mice, Juncos, Nuthatches and Blue Jays— from there visit us. On a little elm
tree by the side of the school, and on an apple tree in front, we put suet for
our visitors. The crows come unasked sometimes and take away the suet.
We also put corn on a cherr>- tree on the other side of the school for the Blue
Jays. In a cigar-box, on the window-sill, we put corn, cracked nuts and chicken-
food, and we were very much surprised to see how quickly it went; but one
day we saw a gray squirrel up at the bo.x and he jumped into the bo.x, and then
we knew what had become of the nuts and food. One of us took some pictures
of the squirrel and birds. We are so near the birds here that we see them
plainly and can make out the colors. — Helen C. Hicks (aged 8), Millington,
N.J.

Our Winter Friends

Our school has a woods right back of it. We have put out suet, corn and
nuts. The Blue Jay likes to eat the corn on the cobs that we hung up in the

THE COMPETITORS IN A BIRD-BOX CONTEST

"We live in the semi-arid West, and there is a lack of birds here and a lack of trees.
To encourage more birds and less slaughter, a bird-box contest was started in which a
small prize was given to the pupil in the school who made the best bird-box. Over 100
were entered, and this photograph shows the pupils with the boxes in their hands." —
Wilson Tout, North Platte, Neb.

126 Bird -Lore

tree. The White-breasted Nuthatch, the Tufted Titmouse and the Chickadee
like the nuts, suet and the corn.

On the window-sill there is fastened a cigar-box that has nuts and corn in
it, and we can stand a foot away from the box and watch the different birds
come. They sit on the edge of the box, and hold the shells in their claws and
pick the meat out. The Chickadees are the tamest.

All the children of our school belong to the Audubon Society. We put out
whole nuts for the squirrels who come every day. — Marion B. Cornish (aged
12), Stirling, N.J. '

These interesting records come from two scholars who attend the same school.
If they will send pictures of the squirrels and birds, which can be reproduced, Bird-Lore
will be glad to publish them. — A. H. W.]

A Winter Record from Minnesota

I feed the birds in winter, and the following species come to feed regularly ;
Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, and Downy Woodpecker.
The main thing, however, is the "taming" of the Chickadees, as I call it.
From January 7 to January 20 the Chickadees ate from my hand every day
and seldom less than a dozen times a day. They would alight on my head and
then into my hand, or directly come to my hand. One Chickadee became so
tame that whenever it saw me, whether I was in the front yard, back yard or
anywhere near the house, it would come down and look for something to eat.
Many persons witnessed it, and thought it the cutest thing they had even seen
in bird-life. Some said they had read of it but never believed it until they saw
my birds do it. I was after the photographer several times to take the picture,
but he would not come out in the cold to do it and always looked for a warm
day. Since the weather has grown warmer the birds have ceased to eat from
my hand, much to my disappointment. — Harry B. Logan, Jr. (aged 16),
Royalton, Minn.

[This lad lives in a town where nature-study is not carried on in the schools, where
only a few people care either to study or to protect the native birds, and where gunners
shoot birds by the wholesale for sport. Aside from the great pleasure he is deriving by
feeding and attracting bird-neighbors, he is doing a work of which any public-spirited
citizen should be proud. Note the observation of the feeding-habits of the Chickadee. —
A. H. W.]

Can the Starling Resist the Cold as Well as the Robin?

E. A. BurUngame, of Providence, R. I., reports that about the middle of
February he picked up a dead StarUng at Bristol Highland, R. I., on a porch,
where it had flown, apparently for shelter. The weather had been extremely
cold for this locality the week preceding. It is possible that this Starling was
one of the brood hatched out last spring at South Swansea, Mass., which is
only five or six miles distant from Bristol Highland. So far as known, this is
the second record of the Starling in Rhode Island. — A. H. W.

DOWNY (figs. 1 and 2) and HAIRY WOODPECKERS (fig. 3.)

Order— Pici Family— Pic id.«

Genus— Dryob.ates Species— Pubescens (Downy)

Species— Vii.i.osus (Hairy)

National Association of Audubon Societies

Educational Leaflet. No. 52

THE HAIRY AND DOWNY WOODPECKERS

By ALICE HALL WALTER

%^t Rational ja00ociation of jaudubon ^otUtitu

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 55

Of ihe three hundred and fifty kinds of Woodpeckers which occur

throughout the world, with the exception of Madagascar and the region
Distribution ^^ .Australia, twenty-four species and thirty-two subspecies are found in

North America, besides two species which are accidental. The genus
Dryobates, to which the Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers belong, is much subdivided,
and, for this reason, the geographical distribution of the species and subspecies com-
prising it is a most interesting subject of study. One may travel from Panama and
the Gulf of Mexico all through the wooded parts of North America, almost to the tree
limit, and be sure of finding some form of the Hairy Woodpecker, while its smaller
relative, the Downy, is as widely distributed within the boundaries of the temperate
zone. Although the Hairy is the less common of the two, both are permanent
residents and may be seen at all seasons of the year.

Diagnostic points to remember about the Hairy and Downy
Description Woodpeckers are: (i), that they differ in size but are almost

identical in plumage; (2), that the outer tail-feathers of the Hairy
are pure white, while those of the Downy are white, barred with black; (3),
that the adult males have a bright scarlet nape-patch, which is lacking in the
females, while immature birds of either sex have the crown more or less spotted
with red or yellow; (4), that the difference in the size of the bill is an excellent
field-mark; and (5), that the notes and even the "drumming" of the two may
be distinguished with practice.

The trained ear finds little difficulty in detecting the presence
Notes of the unobtrusive Downy, as it works about from tree to tree,

calling peek, or tap-tapping along the bark with expert bill. When
it fiies from place to place, the ordinary note is usually quickly reiterated. It
is not only softer in quaUty, but also longer and steadier than the rattle of the
Hairy, and is a fine example of an unbroken diminuendo.

The "drumming" notes, or roll-calls, of all the Woodpeckers are note-
worthy. In spring, the ear is greeted with these reverberating sounds, which
tell that the season of courtship and mating is at hand. A dead limb furnishes
the drum, and the powerful beak of the player, the stick, unless chance puts
in the way of the performer a tin roof, lightning-rod, telegraph-pole, or
some equally attractive metallic instrument, on any one of which the Flicker
drums with apparent satisfaction.

John Burroughs has recorded the instance of a Downy Wood-
Hearing pecker which drummed in different keys, by tapping alternately

in two places, an inch or so apart on the same branch. This exam-
ple of the possible acuteness of the sense of hearing in the Woodpeckers is more

(127)

128 Bird -Lore

striking, but no less remarkable, than the quickness with which they detect
the sounds, or vibrations, made by insects boring under the bark of trees; or,
more mysterious yet, the way in which they discover colonies of dormant
wood-gnawing ants. It is possible that the sense of touch as well as of hearing
may aid in their search for grubs, but no observer seems as yet to have deter-
mined the truth of this suggestion.

Much has been written and pictured about the tools which the

Tools Woodpeckers use in their beneficial routine of food-getting. Few

other families of birds indeed have so many speciaUzed structures.

In the first place, the feet of Woodpeckers are different from those of most
of our birds, in that the toes, which are four in number, are placed two in
front and two behind, with the exception of the small group of three-toed
Woodpeckers. Such feet serve to clamp the bird to the tree.

Additional support is furnished by the stiff, sharply pointed tail-feathers,
that act as a brace when the bird dehvers heavy blows with its beak. Effective
as this tool is for the work of hammer, wedge, drill and pick-axe, it could not
obtain the deeply hidden grubs known as "borers," from their tortuous, tun-
neled grooves, without the aid of the long, slender, extensile tongue. In the
case of the Hairy and Downy, as well as some others of the family, this re-
markable tool is provided with barbs, converting it into a spear, which may be
hurled one inch, two inches or even more, beyond the tip of the beak. The
correlation between food and tongue in all Woodpeckers is most striking.

While searching for food, both the Hairy and the Downy sound the bark by
tapping lightly. The instant a grub is detected, however, they stop in their
tracks and begin hammering in earnest. If the grub is directly under the spot
chosen for drilling, and the bark is not too tough, a perforation straight in
suffices to reach the prey. The operation of making the circular hole is rapid
and strenuous, and the grub seldom has time to make its escape, especially
in live trees, where it is often not far under the surface of the bark.

There are trees, however, the bark of which is too hard and unyielding for
this simple method of drilling, and in such instances the Hairy Woodpecker
has been observed to attack the fortifications of the grub with surprising per-
servance and, one might almost add, ingenuity, if such a term could be applied
to a bird. Drilling first from one side and then from the other, in all directions,
ripping off the bark in considerable pieces meanwhile, it soon reaches the tunnel
of its prey. Should the tunnel be deep and crooked, the Woodpecker cannot
catch the grub with its beak, but must run out the spearlike tongue and "har-
poon" the "borer," adroitly drawing it in when the strongly nipping mandibles
close upon it.

In the genus Dryobates, a sticky secretion about the tongue aids in the
capture of smaller insects, while clumps of stiff hairs that cover the nostrils
prevent dust or tiny chips from entering the air-passages. Some Woodpeckers
drill more than others, and among these are the Hairy and Downy.

The Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers 129

Nolall of ihc ha]TinuTin<,f aiul (lrillin<^,'ho\vever,is done to secure
Nest and ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ branch, stub, or dying part of a living tree,
°""^ where the wood is sufficiently decayed to make exca\ation easy,

the Woodpecker begins nesting operations, seldom choosing a natural cavity,
preferring to drill a fresh hole from start to finish. To quote John Burroughs:
"The bird goes in horizontally for a few inches, making a hole perfectly-
round and smooth and adapted to his size, then turns downward, gradually
enlarging the hole, as he proceeds, to the depth of ten, fifteen, twenty inches,
according to the softness of the tree and the urgency of the mother bird to
deposit her eggs. While excavating, male and female work alternately. After
one has been engaged fifteen or twenty minutes, drilling and carrying out
chips, it ascends to an upper limb, utters a loud call or two; when its mate soon
appears, and, alighting near it on the branch, the pair chatter and caress a
moment, then the fresh one enters the cavity and the other flies away." A
layer of fine chips is left on the bottom of this skilfully fashioned nest, upon
which usually four to six glossy white eggs are laid.

May is the month when the Downy and Hairy generally nest; but
April, June, or even July sometimes finds an early or late pair rearing their
young. In the North, only one brood is raised during a season; but it is not
uncommon in the South for one brood to be raised in May and a second in
August.

Both parents take turns incubating the eggs. Just how they find their way
about the dark, smoothly polished nest-hole, to feed the naked young in proper
order and to keep them clean, must be guessed at. It is known that they
pump pre-digested food into the little ones' stomachs by the process of regur-
gitation. As the nestlings grow old enough to leave the nest, they climb up to
the edge of the hole, whence first one and then another greedy bill pops out
to greet the returning parent.

Scientific investigation, shows that 74 per cent of the Downy's
Food food and 68 per cent of the Hairy's is made up of insects. Chief

among these are the highly injurious wood-borers, gipsy-moth
pupae, and many kinds of hairy caterpillars. While the Downy relishes the
destructive codling-moth and pine weevil, the Hairy is a foe to the huge
Cecropia moth. Both Woodpeckers eat bark beetles, ants and plant-lice, but
the Hairy relishes the beetles most, while the Downy eats a larger number of
the dangerous ants and aphides. In localities where grasshoppers become a
pest, both the Downy and Hairy will devour the eggs and adults. An excep-
tionally beneficial practice is their habit of ridding a tree thoroughly of insect
pests before leaving it.

The vegetable matter preferred by these Woodpeckers comes mostly from
swampy thickets and uncultivated shrubs. A few wild berries and seeds,
occasionally beechnuts, a gall, or in the spring a few flower buds or petals,
make up this part of their diet. A frozen apple in winter, or a wormy one in

130 Bird -Lore

the fall, may furnish the Downy with a toothsome bit; but it is the worm
and not the ripe apple which he is after.

When food is scarce in the winter, both the Hairy and Downy are glad of a
piece of suet, and the Hairy will not disdain a few ears of corn. These indus-
trious guardians of the trees are sometimes called the Big and Little Sap-
sucker, but they do not deserve the name. The amount of sap they take is so
small as to be hardly worth mentioning. It is true that in eating the seeds of
the poison ivy and poison sumac, they, in common with many other birds,
distribute these objectionable plants. They may also get a trifle of the inner
bark of the tree, when drilling for borers. The experts now engaged in study-
ing the spread of the dreaded chestnut disease fungus have a suspicion that
birds which find their food on the bark of trees may unwittingly spread this
contagion by means of the adhesion of the fungus to their bills and feet. If
this should prove to be so, it would furnish a striking instance of the
unfortunate results of man's interference with nature. By introducing foreign
species of the chestnut, which in this country, rapidly succumb to and spread
the noxious fungus with which they may be infected, man has upset the balance
of nature to such an extent that even the most beneficial birds may work some
harm by spreading the contagion, at the same time that they are ridding the
trees of deadly insect pests.

It is difficult to see how many species of trees could thrive, or even survive,
without the unremitting care of the Woodpeckers. Alexander Wilson spoke
of the entire genus of Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers as "birds which Prov-
idence seems to have formed for the protection of our fruit and forest trees."
He had the good judgment to see that the bounty laws enacted in his time
for the destruction of these beneficial birds were the result of wholly misguided
public sentiment. His admonition, "Examine better into the operations of
nature, and many of our mistaken opinions and groundless prejudices will be
abandoned for more just, enlarged, and humane modes of thinking," sounds
like a prophecy which in this day and generation is being fulfilled.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary

Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions, to
the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City

William Dutcher, President
Theodore S. Palmer, Firsl Vice-President T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary
F. A. Lucas, Second Vice-President Jonathan D wight, Jr., Treasurer

Any person, club, school or company in sympathy with the objects of this Association may be-
come a member, and all are welcome.

Classes of Membership in the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection o
Wild Birds and Animals:

$5.00 annually pays for a Sustaining Membership
Sioo.oo paid at one time constitutes a Life Membership
$1,000.00 constitutes a person a Patron
$5,000.00 constitutes a person a Founder
$25,000.00 constitutes a person a Benefactor

Robin Protection

The Robin is now on the list of pro-
tected birds in the state of Virginia. On
March i, 191 2, Governor William Hodges
Mann signed a bill which had just passed
the Legislature, making it a misdemeanor,
punishable by a fine of $5, to kill a Robin
under any circumstances in the state of
Virginia. Heretofore, this bird has been
one of those species which it has been
legal to shoot for game.

This recent action was brought about
as a result of a campaign which this
Association has waged in the state over a
period of nearly two years, in which it
has had the assistance and co-operation
of the State .\udubon Society under the
leadership of ]\Irs. E. H. Harris, President.

The enactment of this measure has been
a very live subject in Virginia during the
past winter, and no less than 10,000
school children responded to our appeal
for petitions to the Legislature, asking
that body to enact the law. In fact, this
petition was presented to the Virginia
Senate by a battalion of children from
the schools of Richmond.

That the agitation of the subject by
the Audubon workers has been exceed-
ingly effective was evidenced by the fact
that the bill passed both branches of the
Legislature by a very large majority, and it
is to be hoped that this law w'ill never be re-
pealed or receive any harmful amendments.

Much credit is due to Miss Katharine

H. Stuart, of Alexandria, who, as field
agent of this Association and school sec-
retary of the Virginia State Audubon
Society, has labored with untiring energy
to secure the desired result. — T. G. P.

Birds and the Recent Snowstorm

The past winter has been an unusually
severe one on the wild bird life of the
northern United States, because of the
protracted period of snow and sleet which,
to a large extent, covered their natural food.

The public press has contained many
accounts of the suffering of birds in vari-
ous parts of the country.

Near Penn Yan, New York, where the
ice on the lake long remained frozen,
large numbers of Canvasback Ducks
became so weak that they either starved
or in a weakened condition were attacked
and eaten alive by Crows and Gulls. At
Fairport, large flocks of Pheasants came
to the barnyards and fed with the do-
mestic fowls.

In Virginia, Meadowlarks and Bob-
whites are reported to have- sustained
much loss, whole covies of the latter
having been frozen, in many communities.

In Pennsylvania, Dr. Joseph Kalbfus,
Secretary of the State Game Commission,
reports the death, by weather, of thou-
sands of Wild Ducks and other water-
fowl on the lower reaches of the Delaware.

Bob-whites and Prairie Chickens suf-
fered so severelv in Iowa that the Waterloo

(.30

132

Bird - Lore

(Iowa) Courier calls aloud for a law to
prohibit all killing of these birds for a
period of years, in order to perpetuate
the species. Another paper declares that
seventy-five per cent of these birds have
been killed by the severe weather.

A Wisconsin paper, dated January 31,
1912, said: "There is plenty of evidence
that thousands of Partridges, Grouse
and Prairie Chickens froze to death, or
fell an easy prey to wildcats, weasels and
mink." A New Jersey writer for the New
York Evening World of February 6,
191 2, reports: "Rabbits, Pheasants,
Grouse, Quail and Hungarian Partridges
are dying from hunger in Northern New
Jersey, because of a coating of ice under-
neath the snow, through which they can-

not dig holes for food. Since the fall of
snow, Saturday night and Sunday morn-
ing, the hungry birds have become tame.
In Morris county, yesterday, more than
one farmer fed game along with his barn-
yard fowl. Wilbur CoUud, of Pine Brook,
went to his barn at milking-time, yes-
terday, and found twenty Quail half-
frozen under a cedar bush. They were so
weak from lack of food that they could
not fly, and Collud captured all. Half-
starved rabbits, many almost as tame as
house cats, are hiding under barns and
houses. Their burrows are frozen up. All
the coves and marshes along Great South
Bay are frozen, and Wild Ducks, which
gather there in great numbers at this
season, are starving. Gunners, yesterday,

CHARITY TO THE OUTDOOR POOR
From New York Evening Mail, January 17, 1912

The Audubon Societies

133

went out on a schooner loaded with bird
food. This was scattered about and was
greedily consumed by the birds. The
strange relief expedition found many
Ducks that had perished."

From Massachusetts came many alarm-
ing reports. .\ dispatch from Martha's
Vineyard said: "Whole flocks of game-
birds are dying of starvation about the
island. The cold wave, the coldest experi-
enced here in years, by freezing over the
feeding-grounds of the birds for such an
extended period, has deprived them of
food. The harbor of Edgartown is covered
with three feet of solid ice, and hundreds
of birds are dying there every day. It is
possible to walk in among a flock of Wild
Black Ducks on the ice without disturbing
them in the least, an almost unheard of
proceeding."

A message from Kansas states: "Far-
mers say that Quail will be scarce this
year. They report that thousands of
Quail froze during the recent storm, and
that hundreds of dead birds may be found
scattered over fields. They died from
starvation, being unable to reach food
covered by the snow. Traveling men who
have made trips into the Wichita territory
since the storm say that a farmer throwing
grain to Quail on his farm, as well as to his
poultry, was not an uncommon sight."

In the Charleston (S. C.) News and
Courier for January 19, appeared the
following news item from Florence, South
Carolina: "As a result of the big snow-
storm and freeze, the birds had a tough
time. Doves that were not frozen to
death outright were slaughtered by pot-
hunters, for they were to be found huddled
around corn-shocks, fodder-stacks, and
unused buildings in the fields, endeavoring
to keep from freezing, and hunting food."

When, on the afternoon of January 12,
it became apparent that there must e.xist
much suffering among the birds because
of the lack of food, telegrams were sent
from this office to many Audubon workers
throughout the territory, from Virginia
on the south to Illinois on the west, asking
them to call upon the public to feed the
birds. An article bearing on the subject

was also mailed to one hundred and twenty
daily newspapers throughout the danger
zone.

The response by the general public was
instant, and in many cases most effective,
and the Audubon workers took hold of
the matter with zeal. As a single example,
we may mention that Mr. M. D. Hart,
Treasurer of the Virginia State Audubon
Society, secured permission from the
authorities of the railroads running into
Richmond to haul grain, free of charge,
and to have their section hands distribute
it along the railroad tracks. Within
forty-eight hours, over two hundred
bushels of food was distributed in this
way from Richmond. The Game Com-
missioners of several states instructed the
Wardens to systematically feed the birds.

January 17, the New York Evening
Mail published a cartoon, which we here
reproduce, entitled "Charity to Outdoor
Poor." Other newspapers printed cartoons
of a similar character, and the editors
have told us that these were inspired by
the call issuer by the .\udubon Societies.
— T. G. P.

Bird Famine Relief Work

In connection with the present wide-
spread interest in the feeding of wild birds,
the following letter from Mr. H. W. Hen-
shaw, Chief of the Bureau of Biological
Survey, United States Department of
Agriculture, will, we feel sure, be of interest
to the readers of Bird-Lore:

"Every few years we have a winter, with
longer or shorter periods of unusually
severe weather, like that of the first six
weeks of 191 2, when birds perish in large
numbers unless succor be given them. At
such times sporadic attempts are made to
counteract the disastrous climatic con-
dition by furnishing food to the starving
birds, — starving because snow and ice
have covered their natural food-supply.
These efforts are mainly directed toward
the preservation of Quail, though many
dwellers in suburban or rural precincts
scatter seeds of various kinds, chopped
nuts, fruits, and table scraps, and fasten

134

Bird - Lore

pieces of suet or bacon or meat bones to
the branches of trees, to satisfy the needs
of the smaller birds of the neighborhood.
It is probable that the individuals con-
cerned in feeding non-game birds out-
number those actively distributing food
for Quail, but Quail feeding is conducted
on a larger scale and by more systematic
methods. Thus, during the prevalence
of the arctic weather of the present winter,
in addition to the many farmers who
scattered grain in various places about
their farms, game associations, game
wardens, rural free-delivery carriers, and
other officials, more or less systematically
placed Quail food in suitable places. In
the District of Columbia, the mounted
police, under the order and at the expense
of the police department, maintained
regular feeding-stations for Quail and
other birds. The state game commissioner
of Missouri instructed his deputies to
feed the Quail while the severe weather
lasted, and the expense was charged
against the game-protection fund. In
Michigan, here and there, rural-delivery
carriers scattered grain along their mail-
routes. In a few other states similar
methods were practised, but, in most, the
work was left to the individual unorgan-
ized action of farmers and sportsmen.

"Although more or less feeding of Quail
was done in every state where conditions
called for it, and although the middle
states were particularly active in the
matter, yet, without doubt, millions of
Quail, to say nothing of other birds, per-
ished. So extensive was the territory in-
vaded by the Ice King that the localities
where birds were fed constituted but a
few pin-points in a vast territory, in the
rest of which our feathered friends were
left to shift for themselves. It is thus
apparent that more perfectly organized
efforts to save our birds are needed, and
I heartily concur in the suggestion con-
tained in a recent letter to me from Mr.
T. Gilbert Pearson that a central com-
mittee, to provide for the winter feeding
of birds, should be organized to coordinate
the very scattered and disconnected
activities that now prevail. I believe,

further, in the wisdom of a suggestion
made by the American Field that a part
of the game-protection funds raised by
the states through receipts from hunting
licenses and penalties might well be applied
to the preservation of birds during severe
weather, instead of being devoted as now
solely to enforcing laws and restocking
covers. It is a wiser, as well as a more
humane policy to prevent the extermi-
nation of our birds, rather than to re-
stock the covers depleted by starvation.

"Besides the obvious advantages of a
more thorough covering of the famine
territory, which would result from super-
vision by a central committee, such a
committee would enable the work to be
undertaken at an earlier date, and would
thus save thousands of birds whose
deaths are in too many instances the first
cause of directing attention to the need
of succor. The New Jersey wardens fed
four or five thousand Quail immediately
after a heavy fall of snow on December 5,
191 1, but in nearly all states no measures
of the kind were taken until January,
1912.

"It appears to me that the work could
be more eiTectively done by the formation
of two committees, — one by the Audubon
Societies for the feeding of non-game
birds, and the other by the Sportsmen's
Associations and state game-warden de-
partments for the feeding of game birds.
I may add, in conclusion, that the Bi-
ological Survey of the Department of
Agriculture will be glad to cooperate
with such committees so far as lies in its
power."— T. G. P.

Feeding Birds

On the grounds of the Washington
Biologists' Field Club, near Washington,
D. C, Dr. A. K. Fisher has long made a
point of feeding wild birds which frequent
the premises in winter. The accompany-
ing photograph shows a Downy Wood-
pecker eating the meat from a cocoanut.
This unique plan of furnishing a supply of
excellent bird food might well be copied
by others.

The Audubon Societies

135

In writing us of his experiences, Dr.
Fisher says:

"Quail, Ducks, Tree Sparrows, Son^
Sparrows and Cardinals are fed on cracked
wheat, rolled oats, and finely chopped suet.
The Crested Titmice, Chickadees, Juncocs,
and Downy Woodpeckers, feed regularly
on suet placed in the cocoanut shells. I
also feed the birds on the ground with a

DOWNY WOODPECKER FEEDING ON A

COCOANUT

Photographed by H. S. Barker

mixture of chopped suet, hemp seed and
rolled oats.

"I first got the idea of feeding birds dur-
ing winter about forty years ago from one
of my old friends at Lake George, who used
up at least twenty-five pounds of fat pork
and suet each winter in feeding the Chick-
adees, Nuthatches and Woodpeckers.
These birds became so tame as to alight
on the heads and shoulders of the chil-
dren standing near the feeding-stations.
If the habit of putting out animal food
for birds should become universal, I

believe tliat the Woodpeckers would
materially increase in number, as these
specialized birds must have difficulty in
securing an adequate amount of insect
food."— T. G. P.

White Egret Protection

An unpaid agent of this Association
has been camping in South Florida, and
writes us, under date of February 27, 191 2,
that he has found a large colony of Amer-
ican Egrets, which he estimates at 600
birds, which are roosting with several
thousand Ibises. The spot they occupy
is near the place which a little later will
be their breeding-grounds. In fact, he
states, the White Ibis are already begin-
ning to make their nests.

The following is a quotation from his
letter:

"I spent two days and nights camped
here, and made three counts of the Egrets
as they came in to roost or left in the
morning. The first time I saw 522, the
next 534, and the last evening counted 541.

"This is the scene where we shortly
found that the plumers were shooting
them, and the last night, as I was count-
ing, shooting commenced on the other
side of the Cypress, at least a mile from
camp, and we counted 123 shots. Evi-
dently four men with shotguns were
shooting them at their roost, which is
two miles from where they will nest.

"It is getting too dark to cross the Big
Cypress at night, so, early in the morning
the guide and I crossed. I carried my
camera, for I wanted to get some pictures,
to show you just what is going on.

"The alligators and wildcats had eaten
most of the bodies, but I counted 41, and
there must have been twice that number
killed. I found three with the plumes still
on, that evidently were lost in the dark-
ness, and one was lodged in a tree, as
shown in the picture.

"We waded over a mile, waist deep, to
find the camp of the hunters, and found
it just deserted, the fire still burning, and
showing that four men had just departed
on horseback.

136

Bird - Lore

"l trust you can prevail on some of the
patrons and humane people to put a stop
to this. It can be done easily with a
little money, and, as there must be 600
birds that will begin nesting in two weeks,
if unprotected there will not be a single
bird left.

"I can get a man to watch it — a good
man who lives in the woods and knows all
the plume-hunters, and who will put a
stop to it if you can raise enough money
to engage him. We can get him deputized
here also, and he will then tell all the
hunters he is a warden to guard the Big
Cypress until the birds leave. He will
also guard the Rookery and

the Rookery [names purposely

omitted. — Ed.].

"He would require a team to have his
supplies sent in, and would be under pretty
heavy expenses; but this could be covered
by a cost of $100 a month, and he will
take the job for four months; one-half of
this amount would go for his expenses."

The last two Rookeries mentioned above
contain in the neighborhood of 200 Egrets.
These are some of the largest colonies of
which we have been able to get positive
information of late, and it appears that
it is practical to undertake to guard them.
We know of a few colonies in South Florida
which we do not deem it advisable to

AMERICAN EGRET KILLED
FEBRUARY, igi

BY PLUME HUN'TERS IX SOUTH FLORIDA LATE IN
, AND OYERLOOKED IN THE DARKNESS

Photographed just as it was found hanging in a tree where it had lodged in falling

The Audubon Societies

137

undertake lo try to protecl, lor llu- reason
that tliey are in such isolated, unhealthy
situations that it is impossible to get men,
for any ordinary sum, to risk their health
•or lives by taking up a station in those
desolate regions.

We are exceedingly anxious at once to
send agents into other regions, to locate
new colonies of these fast-disappearing
birds. The very splendid success which
attended our efforts in this direction last
year, has encouraged our Hoard of Direc-
tors to call upon the public to assist in
this most humane undertaking.

We need a fund of not less than $5,000
annually, for the next few years, to use
in seeking out and guarding colonies of
these birds, and also in pushing legislative
activity looking to the restriction of the
selling of the feathers of these birds in
those states which still permit this traffic.
We earnestly urge every reader of
this article who feels that it is a cause
worthy of support to make some con-
tribution to the work; and, to be effec-
tive, our work of guarding colonies must
begin at once.

Contributions of any amount will be
gratefully accepted, and acknowledgement
of the same will be made in Bird-Lore.

Subscriptions to the Egret Protection
Work for 1912

Reported in last issue $40 00

Mrs. Herbert Beech 8 00

Miss Helen Willard 2 00

Dr. A. Helena Goodwin 5 00

Mr. J. W. Johnston 10 00

Miss Heloise Meyer 50 00

Mr. Samuel Thorne 25 00

Mr. Donald R. Dickey 5 00

Miss Edith L. Stafford $ °°

Mr. Earle F. Stafford 5 00

Mr. Robert T. Moore 50 00

Mr. Henry D. Moore 100 00

"Atlanta" 12 76

Mr. P. B. Philipp 25 00

Total $342 76

New Members

January i to March i, 19 12.

Patron.

Miss Heloise Meyer

Li/c Members.

Mr. Charles H Roger?
Mr. Rcinhold Haehnle
Mrs. W. H. Bliss
Mrs. Amanda M. Spalding

Sustaining Af embers.

Ackley, Miss Adeline E.
Ackerlcy, Mr. O. B.
Anderson, Mr. J. C.
Audubon Society of Vermont
Ault, Mr. L. A.
Ayer, Mrs. Edward
Barbour, Mrs. E. T.
Barbour, Miss I. T.
Bass, Mrs. Perkins
Bayne, Mr. S. G.
Bemish, Mrs. William H.
Benjamin, Mrs. A. Bedell
Biglow, Mrs. L. H.
Birdlovcrs' Club of Brooklyn
Blakiston, Miss Emma
Bliss, Miss Kate G.
Brooks, Mr. Walter D.
Brown, Mr. Davenport
Brown, Mrs. Frances F.
Burke, Mr. John G.
Burt, Miss. M. T.
Burton, Mr. Robert M.
Cady, Mr. William H.
Carhartt, Mr. Hamilton
Case, Mrs. Brinston
Chapman, Mrs. J. J.
Cheney, Mrs. B. P.
Cheney, Mrs. C. G.
Clark, Mr. George H.
Clark, Mrs. Le Vert
Coe, Miss Ella S.
Colby, Mrs. F. C.
Comstock, Miss B. L.
Congdon, Mrs. H. L.
Codies, Mrs. C. A.
Covell, Mr. H. H.
Cram, Miss Lily C.
Crane, Miss Ellen J.
Crans, Miss Laura C.
Crosby, Mr. G. N.
Crouse, Mr. J. Robert
Day, Miss Sarah J.
Dawes, Miss Emily M.
Dimock, Mr. Ira
Ellis, Mrs. A. V. H.
Erbsloh, Mr. M.
Fearhake, Mrs. E. R.
Flagg, Mrs. S. G., Jr.
Ford, Miss S. D.
Foulke, Mr. W. B.
Garitt, Miss E. W.
George, Mr. Edwin S.
Gibson, Mrs. J. H.
Goddard, Mr. G. A.
Goff, Mrs. F. H.
Goler, Mrs. Frank H.
Goodrich, Mrs. J. S.

138

Bird- Lore

Sustaining Members, continued
Griesheimer, Mr. L.
Griffith, Mrs. B.
Griffith, Miss Margarette
Haass, Mrs. L. H.
Harmer, Mr. Thomas H.
Hart, Miss Marv T.
Henkel, Mr. and Mrs. A. P.
Higgins, Mr. James L.
Hill, Mrs. G. C.
Hillard, Mr. H. R.
Hoadley, Mr. Frank E.
Hopedale Grammar School
Hopedale Park Commission
Isham, Mr. C. B.
Jacobs, J. Warren
Jewett, Mr. E. H.
Jewett, Mr. H. M.
Kelly, Mr. William
Kemeys, Mr. Walter S.
King, Mr. W. H.

King's Daughters, Resolute Circle
Knowlton, Mrs. M. D.
Lawrence, Mrs. Samuel
Leeds, ISIr. John G.
Leland, Mr. Wilfred C.
Lewis, Mrs. J. Frederick,
Loring, Mr. J. A.
Lounsbury, Mr. Charles H.
Mallory, Mrs. Jane M.
Manvel, Mrs. H. R.
Martin, Mrs. Emma H.
Mather, Miss K. L.
Matz, Mrs. Rudolph
Mathews, Mrs. J. R.
Miller, Mr. Carl
Miller, Miss Pauline
Miller, Mr. and Mrs. C. T.
Mulford, Mr. 0. J.
Mulligan, Mrs. E. W.
Murphy, Mr. William H.
Newman, Mr. G. H.
Norton, Miss M. F.
Page, Mrs. H. W.
Parker, Mrs. W. R.
Parmelee, Mr. R. M.
Patterson, Mr. T. H. H.
Peet, Mrs. W. C.
Perin, Mrs. Frank L.
Perkins, Mrs. Gilman H.
Pope, Mr. Willard
Potts, Mrs. F. M.
Post, Mr. Sylvester
Pratt, Mr. J. M.
Pyne, Mrs. Moses T.
Robbins, Mrs. Herbert D.
Rosengarten, Mrs. F. H.
Rosenthal, Mr. J. W.
Russell, Mrs. E. L.
Russell, Mrs. G. W.
Russell, Mr. James T., Jr.
Scheller, Miss M.
Scott, Mr. Donald

Sustaining Members, continued
Scully, Mr. Henry R.
Seward, Mr. W. R.
Shoemaker, Mrs. H. P.
Sill, Miss Annie M.
Slade, Miss. E. A.
Smythe, Mrs. Hugh
Sommerville, Mr. Robert
Stearns, Mr. George H.
Strong, Mr. Theron G.
Swope, Dr. Eugene
Tallmadge, Mr. Spencer
Thomas, Mrs. George C.
Thomas, Miss Georgine H.
Thomas, Miss Grace I.
Trowbridge, Mr. William B.
Van Antwerp, Rev. Francis
Vanderbilt, Mrs. John
Van Dyke, Mr. Henry
Van Huyck, Mr. F. M.
Virginia Audubon Society
Walker, Miss Lydia M.
Walser, Mr. C.
Weaver, Mr. Walter B.
Warner, Mrs. Lucien C.
Waterhouse, Mrs. A. W.
Wetherill, Mr. W. H.
Wheelock, Mr. William E.
White, Miss Caroline E.
Willis, Mrs. Sarah L.
Wiman, Mr. W. Dwight
Woman's Club, Seymour, Conn.
Wooster, Mrs. E. C.

New Contributors

"A Friend"
Anonymous
Barber, Mr. W. V.
Bostwick, Mrs. George W.
Brown, Mrs. Fanny G.
Burke, Mrs. Adelaide
Calkins, Mrs. Wolcott
Clark, Mrs. R. M.
Drexel, Mrs. Lucy W.
Gregory, Mrs. A. K.
Grace Church School
• Hamlin, Mrs. T. O.
Loomis, Miss M. E.
Matteson, Mrs. A. R. B.
Melcher, Miss Mary E.
Morgan, Mrs. Junius
Noeth, Mr. G. E.
Perkins, Miss Mary R.
Phillips, Mrs. and Mr. M. B.
Piatt, Mrs. O. H.
Smith, Mrs. Charlotte C.
Stafford, Miss Edith L.
Stafford, Mr. Earle F.
Sweetser, Mrs. F. E.
Talbot, Miss Mary
Tracy, Mr. C.
Wood, Mrs. Willis D.

The Audubon Societies

39

A Tribute to the Late Mrs. Henry T. Grant

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island
has recently suffered a severe loss in the
■death of Mrs. Henry T. Grant, who
organized the society in October, 1897,
and for nine years was its cflicient and
•devoted Secretary. Possessedof good judg-
ment, great patience and unbounded
enthusiasm, together with a quick-seeing
eye and a musical ear, she came well
equipped to the study of birds.

Nominally she held but the one ofHce, but
those who worked with her from the be-
ginning knew she was always the guiding,
compelling force that helped to override
all difficulties and to carry the Society
over many discouragements by sheer force
of her enthusiasm.

She saw clearly from the beginning the
need of good laws and the wisdom and
advisability of a campaign for education
to awaken public sentiment and insure
their enforcement.

After failing health and strength com-
pelled her to resign from the secretary-
ship, her interest never flagged and her
counsel was always sought on matters of
importance to the Society. — Mrs. J. N.

BOWNE.

Miscellaneous Notes

As the domestic cat is one of the most
destructive agencies to our wild-bird life,
it is encouraging to know that the Amer-
ican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals is constantly on the lookout
to destroy vicious and worthless cats.

In reply to our request of President
Wagstaff for a statement as to the number
destroyed during the past two years, we
learned that in 19 10 the Society put to
death 257,403, and during the year 191 1
303,949-

Dr. Eugexe Swope of Cincinnati, a
recently appointed field agent of this Asso-
ciation, has arranged a long series of lec-
tures in Ohio schools for the spring. During
February, his school audiences numbered
200 adults and about 1,500 children.

He is also engaged in organizing Junior

Audubon Classes in llic schools, and we may
expect to hear good rcjxjrts of his efforts.
Miss Katharine H. Stuart, field agent
for Virginia, while in Richmond in the
interests of the two Audubon bills pending
in the legislature, found time to give bird
talks to 9,713 children assembled in the
various schools.

A BILL for the establishment of a State
Game Commission, supported by resident
and non-resident hunters' license fees, was
introduced some weeks ago in the Virginia
legislature by the request of the State
Audubon Society. Mr. J. C. Wise and
Mr. M. D. Hart of the Audubon Legis-
lative Committee have been devoting
much time and energy to the passage of
the measure.

As we go to press we learn that the bill
has been favorably reported, and that it
will probably shortly come to a vote in
the lower house.

It would be difficult to overestimate the
benefit which would accrue by the passage
of this bill.

The subject of placing the protection
of migratory birds under federal control
is again a live issue. Several bills looking
to this end have been introduced during
the present session of Congress.

On March 6, a large delegation of men
interested in bird and game protection
from all over the country, assembled in
Washington and was given a hearing on
the McLean Bill before the Senate
Committee on Forest Reserves and
Protection of Game.

The same day the Committee on Agri-
culture gave a hearing on a similar blil
introduced by Congressman Weeks. It
was a striking fact that every one present
favored the proposition under consider-
ation, for it has been rare in our experience
to attend a legislative hearing where no
opposition developed.

At this writing, the Committees have
not yet taken action, but if they do not
report the bills favorably it will probably
be because of the question existing in the
minds of some of the members as to

I40

Bird- Lore

whether such
tutional.

bill would be consti-

On March 2, the National Association
received a check from $284.50 from the
legacy of Ephraim B. Repp, deceased.

Mr. Repp was a carpenter, and had
lived in Washington, D. C, for the past
thirty-five years. He had always been
greatly interested in bird protection, and
encouraged many people to become
members of the Audubon Society. That
he desired to see the good work carried
forward is shown by his making provision
that a portion of his estate should go toward
the support of the Audubon movement.

The first arrest for violation of the new
Audubon Law in New Jersey, which pro-
hibits the sale of aigrettes, was made on
March i, when Game Warden H. M. Love-
less arrested Isaac Goldberg, head of the
firm which operates the Goldberg de-
partment store in Trenton, and the same
day he arrested a woman who operates
a millinery store in Trenton.

Both defendants were charged with
selling and offering for sale Heron ai-
grettes. The woman pleaded guilty on six
counts, and paid a fine of $160. Goldberg
paid a fine of $300, under protest, and
the case will be carried to the higher courts.

This should be a warning to other mil-
liners in New Jersey, for Mr. Ernest Napier,
the State Game Commissioner, does not
intend to permit this law to be violated
with impunity.

Five additional National Bird Reser-
vations have recently been created by
executive order. Mr. Frank Bond, of
Washington, one of the members of our
Advisory Board, who prepared and sub-
mitted the necessary papers for President
Taft's signature, reports that these new
reservations will add much to the territory
already set aside by the Government for
the protection, at all times, of wild birds,
their nests, and eggs.

Three of these were created on January
II. Two of them, Forrester Island and
Harvey Islands Reservations, are situated

on the coast of Alaska; the third, Niobrara'.
Reservation, containing about twenty-
three square miles of land, is located in.
Northern Nebraska. On February 21,
Green Bay Reservation, regularly known as-
Hogg Island and situated in Lake Michigan
off the coast of Wisconsin, was established.

During the heavy fall of snow in Jan-
uary, the Robins came in great numbers-
to the town of Pittsboro, N. C., and fed
on the berries of the cedar trees.

In order that the birds might be killed'
without restriction, the Board of Aldermen
suspended the Ordinance against the firing,
of guns in the town, and permitted the
inhabitants to kill the Robins.

Hon. Bennet Nooe, the Mayor, not
approving of this action, resigned. In a.
letter to us he says:

"I was out of town for a few days, during;
which we had some unusually bad, snowy
weather, and the birds, not being able to-
get food on the ground, had to go to the
cedar and other berry trees for food and,
as it happened, there were a lot of trees
in the town which they fed from. About
all of the male population promptly got
guns and went for them.

"Hearing of this, on my return, I went
to the Aldermen, all of whom were guilty,
and told them that they and all others who-
were guilty would have to be fined; three
out of five submitted and paid up, but they
Insisted that the ordinance be changed to-
read exactly as it is written here, with the
exception that all could shoot Robins in
the town until the first of March; where-
upon I resigned, as was stated.

"It is estimated that about four thou-
sand Robins were killed during the few
days that the birds were here. This of
course, does not include the county, but
just in and around the town."

In the report of a trip to the coast of
Virginia by Mr. H. H. Cleaves, published'
in the November-December Bird-Lore,
the dates given should have been June in-
stead of July. The pictures which accom-
panied the article were taken on Wrack
Island.

1. Black-headed Grosbeak, Adult male

2. Black-headed Grosbeak, Adult female

3. Black-headed Grosbeak, Young male

4. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Young male

5. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Adult male

6. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Adult male, winter

7. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Female

IBirti-lore

A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE
DKVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS

Vol. XIV May— June, 1912 No. 3

An Eighteen- Year Retrospect*

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

A REVIEW of the progress which has been made in the study of North
American birds during the eighteen years since the first edition of
the 'Handbook' was published, must impress one with the fact that
it is our knowledge of living rather than of dead birds which has increased.

A more exact discrimination, larger and better collections, and gradually
changed standards as to the degree of differentiation which deserves recog-
nition by name, have added many forms to our 'Check-List,' and rendered
more definite our knowledge of the relationships of others. Particularly is
this true of the birds of the Pacific coast region. This systematic work has
appeared in various special papers and monographs, the most thorough of
which, not only for the ])eriod under consideration, but for any preceding
period in the history of North American ornithology, is Ridgway's 'Birds of
North and Middle America,' of which five volumes have thus far been issued.

Thanks to the American Ornithologists' Union, our nomenclature has
been revised with the utmost care and, while the numerous resulting changes
in names may be annoying to present-day students, those who follow us will
enjoy, in greater measure, that stability which is the ideal of the biologist.
The third (1910) edition of the Union's 'Check-List' contains this modern
nomenclature; but it is worthy of note that the classification employed in
this work is the same as that used in the first (1886)- edition of the 'Check-
List.' So little advance has been made in this branch of ornithology that no
system of classification proposed since 1886 was considered sufficiently satis-
factory to warrant adoption by the Committee of the Union having in charge
the preparation of the iqio edition.

The studies of Dwight and others have made far more definite our knowl-
edge of the molt of birds, the times and manner of feather-loss and renewal
having been determined for many species, with an exactness made possible
only by the collecting of specimens for this special purpose. At the same

♦Forming the Historical Introduction to the revised edition of the Handbook of Birds of Eastern
North America. Published by permission of D. Appleton & Co.

142 Bird - Lore

time, Beebe, by experiments on capti^•e birds, has attacked the problem of
the causes of molt, while Strong's histological work on the feather has increased
our understanding of its growth and development.

In laboratory experiments on living birds, Beebe has shown certain effects
of humidity upon the colors of feathers; Davenport has used Canaries and
domestic fowls in working on the laws of heredity ; Porter and others have con-
ducted psychological investigations upon certain species; and Watson has
pursued similar studies upon the Noddy and the Sooty Tern in nature. The
highly original researches of Thayer have greatly stimulated interest in the
study of the colors of birds in relation to their environment.

Dealing still with the more technical branches of ornithology, the investi-
gations of Fisher, Beal, and other members of the Biological Survey of the
United States Department of Agriculture, of Forbush in Massachusetts, and
of other state ornithologists, have supplied by far the larger part of our -exact
knowledge of the food-habits of our birds and determined for the first time
the economic status of many species. This work constitutes one of the most
pronounced and important phases of research during the period under con-
sideration. While based, primarily, on field work in observing as well as in
collecting, special training in laboratory methods is required to make the analy-
ses of stomach contents, from which, in the main, the nature of a bird's food
is ascertained.

Field, as well as laboratory work, has also been required to produce the
faunal papers and books which, in volume, form the greatest addition to the
ornithological literature of the past decade and a half. From the pioneer
explorations of Merriam, Fisher, Nelson, Bailey, Preble, Osgood, and other
members of the Biological Survey, in new or but little-known regions, to the
almost final reports of Brewster and others on the bird-life of localities which
have been studied for years by many observers, these publications have added
enormously to our knowledge of the distribution of North American birds.
This is particularly true of western North America, especially of the Pacific
coast region, where Grinnell, W. K. Fisher, Swarth, and other members of
the Cooper Ornithological Club, have placed on record a vast amount of data
concerning the birds of this area.

Besides furnishing material for the more philosophic phases of faunal
work, these monographs and local lists often treat also of the migration of
the birds with which they deal. Most important contributions to this subject
have been made by the large and widely distributed corps of observers acting
under the direction of the Biological Survey, which, under the authorship
of Cooke, has published several important bulletins on migration. Here also
should be mentioned the significant experiments of Watson upon the homing
instincts of Terns, which are referred to beyond.

Possibly, in no other branch of definitely directed ornithological research
has greater advance been made than in the study of the nesting habits of

An Eighteen-Year Retrospect 143

birds. For the first time in the history of ornithology, trained biologists have
devoted an entire nesting season to the continuous study of certain species,
and the results obtained by Watson, Herrick, Finley, and others have, in a high
degree, both scientific value and popular interest.

No small part of the educational value of work of this kind is due to the
photographic illustrations by which it is usually accompanied, and bird study
with a camera may be said to be the most novel and, in many respects, the
most important development in ornithological field work during the past fif-
teen years. Not only has the fascination of camera hunting itself stimulated
the bird photographer, but the results he has obtained have at times had a
commercial value, which has enabled him to pursue his labors in before-un-
e.xplored fields. In consequence, in the books of Job, Finley, Dugmore, and
others, and in numerous magazine articles, we now have thousands of graphic
records, not one of which existed fifteen years ago, depicting the home life of
some of our rarest as well as commonest birds, and possessed of a power for
conveying and diffusing information with which the written word cannot
compare.

Here, too, should be mentioned the work of the ornithological artists
who, led by Fuertes, have given us an unsurpassed series of faithful and
beautiful portraits of our birds, to the educational value of which, in no
small measure, is to be attributed the existing widespread interest in bird
study.

It is the growth of this interest which has chiefly distinguished the past
two decades; for, much as they have been marked by activity in various
branches of ornithology, it is less as an exponent of natural laws than as a
most attractive form of wild life that the bird has made its appeal. In the his-
tory of North American ornithology, therefore, this period may well stand as
the Epoch of Popular Bird Study. Where, in 1895, there was one person who
could claim acquaintance with our commoner birds, today there are hundreds;
and the plea for the development of our inherent love of birds, which was
made in the first edition of the 'Handbook,' has been answered with an effect-
iveness few would have predicted.

Opportunity alone was needed to bring to its fulfilment this inborn interest
in creatures which have such manifold claims to our attention, and with which
we may become so intimately associated. This opportunity has come in pop-
ular manuals of bird study, which, in the aggregate, have been sold by hundreds
of thousands; in the introduction of nature study in the schools, in the for-
mation of bird clubs and classes, through the. far-reaching and important
work of the National and State Audubon Societies, through popular lectures,
through magazines devoted to bird study, and the greater attention of the
press in general to bird studies — particularly such as are illustrated by photo-
graphs—through increased museum facilities, and through the closer relation
everywhere existing between the y)rofessional or advanced student and the

144 Bird -Lore

amateur, a relation which must be attributed primarily to the influence exerted
by the American Ornithologists' Union.

It is the diffusion of this widespread knowledge of the economic, as well
as the esthetic importance of birds, which has made it possible to secure the
passage and enforcement of effective laws for their protection; and it is in
this continued and increasing interest in birds, not alone as our efficient co-
workers in garden, field, orchard and forest, but as the most eloquent expres-
sion of nature's beauty, joy and freedom, that we shall doubtless find a true
measure of their greatest value to man.

The Wood Thrush

By JANE S. DAVIS

'Midst the fern a call I hear,
Flute-like wood notes, pure and clear:
"Come to me."

Opening notes from nature's throng
Fill the early day with song:
"Come to me."

Then in benediction calm,
When the tired soul needs balm:
"Come to me."

Sweet and restful, pure and clear,
Hymn of praise, O bird, I hear:
"Come to me."

The Golden-Winged Warbler at Rhinebeck, N. Y.

By MAUNSELL S. CROSBY

Although twenty-nine members of the Warbler family \isit Rhine-
/-% beck, only eleven species are summer residents. These are the Chest-
nut-sided, Worm-eating, Golden-winged, Pine, Black and White, and
Yellow Warblers, Maryland Yellow-throat, Redstart, Yellow-breasted Chat,
Louisiana Water-Thrush, and Ovenbird. With the exception of the last-
named and possibly the Yellow-throat, the Golden-winged Warbler is the
commonest and most noticeable of the family on my farm. From six to eight
pairs nest here regularly; but only twice have I had the good luck to
find a nest. I usually wait until the migration is over before beginning nest-
hunting, and I now know this to be the reason for my many failures.

On June ii, 1902, 1 found the first nest. It contained two young Warblers,
a young Cowbird, and an addled Cowbird's egg. Although it was much larger
than the W'arblers, the Cowbird was evidently younger, pointing to a rather
unusual mistake in calculation on the part of its parent; for this is the only
instance that I have recorded of a Cowbird's allowing its nest-mates to mature
with it. I endeavored to remove the interloper, but he clutched a young
Warbler by the leg, and in a instant they had fluttered out and disappeared
into the underbrush. I was unable to find them again, and went home sadder
but wiser.

Last year the Golden-wing arrived on May 10. On May 14, while migrant
members of the species were everywhere to be found, I saw a female tugging
at a piece of grape-vine bark, and a moment later she flew straight down to
a little cup of dead oak leaves set about three inches from the ground in plain
view on the border of a narrow strip of woodland. The grass and leaves had
barely begun to grow, hence the extraordinary lack of concealment. Two
days later the nest was still empty, but, as the old bird was near-by, I kept up
hope. On the i8th I found two eggs in the nest, and on the 20th the
bird was sitting, so deep down that I had to stand almost directly over the
nest in order to see her. She never stirred, so I put up my blind about eight
feet from the nest and returned home, to await the arrival of some fresh
plates.

Two days later the plates came, and so, early on the 23d, I hurried down
to set up my camera. .\11 the time I was moving it about and snipping off
protruding twigs and leaves, the bird never moved. If it had not been for two
or three large leaves sticking up from the side of the nest itself, I could have
photographed her without frightening her off. No wonder I had never before
flushed one while hunting for her nest! After photographing the eggs (there
were now five), which was very difficult, owing to the depth of the nest, I
set the shutter and left for about ten minutes, without troubUng to use the
blind. On my return, I found the Golden-wing back on her nest, and proceeded

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146

Bird - Lore

to photograph her to my heart's content, the only trouble being that hardly
anything but the end of her bill was visible.

By the 26th I was fairly certain that she would not desert, so I took the
liberty of tipping the nest toward the camera, and in this manner obtained
a much better view of her, as she sat motionlessly watching me snap the
shutter and change plate-holders less than five feet from her, the front leg
of the tripod being planted directly under the nest.

On June i the eggs hatched, and both parents took part in the feeding
of the young. The male had hitherto been very little in evidence near the nest,
but he now worked vigorously, being so busy that he had to cut his swee-zee-

FEMALE GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER ON NEST
Photographed by Maunsell S. Crosby, May 26, igii

zee-zee song down to a curt swee-zee, not, however, long drawn out, like the
Blue-winged Warbler's note. I may here state that in 1910, when a pair of
Golden-wings nested not far from this same spot, I noticed that the male's
only song was the real Blue- wing's song, a prolonged "swee-zee," the first
part apparently inhaled and the last exhaled. This seems odd, as I have never
recorded a Blue-winged Warbler in this county, and the only Brewster's
Warbler I ever saw (May 8 and 9, 1909) sang the usual Golden-winged War-
bler's song.

Continuous bad weather interfered with my photographing the old birds
feeding their young, and only on June 9, the day before they left the nest,
waslableto spendan hour with them; and then the results were unsatisfactory.

One Little Hummer and I

By WINIFRED HULWAY PALMER, Machias. Maine

L\'YK one suiiinur ni()rniii<i when the weather had suddenly become
damp and chilly, 1 heard the see/), seep, many times repeated, of one of
a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds which had been hatched near
our home. Out-of-doors I ran, but there was no Hummer to be seen. Still the
cries continued, and, following them slowly, at last they led me to a window-
box full of nasturtiums, radiant with many colors. Now the cries w^ere close
at my feet, and there lay the little creature with eyes closed, and tiny claws
close-clasped about a spear of grass!

In the house I warmed a soft cloth and folded art)und il and placed it in
a small pasteboard box. Its little cries had ceased, and I felt sure that the
warmth would soon revive it. Again I heard, fainter and farther away than
before, "seep, seep," over and over, sharp and protesting. 'There is the other!"
I exclaimed, and started in the direction whence the sound came. Past the
sweet peas, past the climbing nasturtiums and the clematis the crying led me,
until I reached the enclosed garden, at the w'est end of the house. In this
garden, under the hardy hydrangea, clinging to a spear of grass with tiny,
thread-like claws, I found it. Another soft cloth was warmed and wrapped
about the tiny body, and it was placed beside the first one in the box. It was not
long before the warmth had revived them, and I uncovered them, so that we
might see them. For a time, both sat quietly in the box, looking at us with
their bright little eyes, but showing no fear. We left them so, sitting side by
side in the box, only looking at them very often to see that all was well, as
as well as to delight our eyes with their beauty.

Suddenly, whizl one flew to the vase of flowers and hummed about them.
Then around and around the room over our heads it went, alighting at last
on a wire stretched across a corner, to support an ivy vine. Here it sat look-
ing about, and presently flew again, alighting, in a short time, in the same
place as before. This performance it repeated again and again. Meanwhile
the day had brightened somewhat and become quite warm and pleasant.
It has always seemed to me that the place for little wild things is out of doors
where Nature put them. I decided that, as the little bird was able to fly so
long in the house, it could certainly take care of itself in its native element,
so I opened the door, and whiz! it was gone. It grieves me to have to tell
that next morning I found its little dead body in the grass, and I resolved to
keep the other until the weather became warmer. The one which remained
made no attempt to fly that day. It showed no fear of me, and would make
no effort to resist when I took it in my hand. It inserted its bill in the nas-
turtiums which I placed beside it, and rested content in its pasteboard nest.
I cut small holes in the box and in the cover, and at night took it to my room
and placed it on the stand by my bedside. In the morning, when I removed

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148

Bird -Lore

the cover, the tiny thing opened its eyes and ruffled its feathers exactly as
if it had just awakened from a good night's rest, as I think it had.

That day it began flying about. I took it with me from room to room and
let it fly at will. In each room it had a certain place for alighting to rest from
its flights. In the dining-room, its perch was always the piece of wire cord
upon which the other had alighted, and always, it seemed, in the exact spot
where it had first rested. In the sitting-room, it always perched upon the frame
of a picture over the mantel, and always in the same place on the frame. In
my chamber, the mirror frame, always the left-hand corner, was its perch. From

these resting-places it would
make its humming excursions,
pausing to investigate any flow-
ers which might be in the room,
or flying about in circles until
tired, when it would return to
the perch to rest. But, best of
all, it loved to have me hold it
and talk to it, and it would sit
on my palm and look at me
exactly as if it understood me.
I talked to it so much that it
came to know my voice, and
would cry loudly if I remained
too long silent, ceasing its cry-
ing at once when I spoke. If I
left the room, leaving the bird behind, it would cry until I returned, when
it would ruffle its feathers and eye me in silence. It was not long before,
if I placed my hand beside it on the table, palm upward, it would put its
breast against the side of my hand, and, lifting itself and seeming to push
with its short tail, would get into my palm and there nestle cosily, looking
at my face with its bright little eyes. The problem of feeding the tiny
creature had puzzled me for a time. It seemed to me that it could not
possibly obtain enough nourishment from the few flowers which it visited,
so I made a syrup of sugar and water. Of course, I knew it would not be likely
to feed from a saucer, so I hit upon the idea of using a medicine dropper, one
of the rubber-bulb sort. Into this I drew some of the syrup and, making a
little chirping sound, I held it up. Instantly the Hummer flew to me, and pois-
ing, inserted its bill in the dropper and began to eat the sweet fluid, its tiny
tongue moving swiftly, projected half an inch beyond the end of its bill, as
could plainly be seen through the glass sides of the dropper. I raised my
thumb toward the tiny body, when down came the little feet and rested securely
upon it. After that, I had only to hold up the dropper, when it would come
instantly and perch upon my thunib. In this position I photographed it,

HUMMINGBIRD FEEDING FROM A
MEDICINE DROPPER

One Little Hummer and I 149

holding my hand against the door, to steady it, while setting otT the camera
with the other. 1 also photographed it on my hand, once in its favorite nest-
ling place (my palm), and once on the upturned side of my hand.

The damp, chilly days of late summer and early autumn passed, "and then
followed that beautiful season called by the pious Acadian peasants 'the
summer of All Saints,' " "I must let my pet go," I said, "so it may rejoin
its friends and migrate with them." I took it out into the sunshine and put
it on the flowers. It sat, looking at me, looking at the flowers, for some time,
then whiz! it was gone toward the orchard. Sadly I returned to the house.
That afternoon, returning from an absence of a few hours, I was told, "Your
Hummer has been on the wire fence a long time. I think it is there now."
I went out and easily took in it my hand. After that, every morning, I put
it out among the flowers. As long as I stayed beside it, it was content, and
flew about trying the different blossoms; but as soon as I attempted to leave
it, its little seep, seep, called me back. Each day it grew more and more help-
less and weak, its flights grew shorter, and soon the inevitable end came.
But who shall say that this little life was lived in vain ?

The Hermit Thrush

By HENRY LEAR

A disembodied \-oice in flight,

A clear-toned bell, a haunting knell.

What art thou? Merely bird, or sprite?
Deep coolness of a crystal well.
Dweller in shaded dell.

Is it desire? or passion's fire?

Or sweet content, by Heaven sent,
That sounds from thy elusive lyre ?

Of longing infinite, unpent.

Is thy song redolent.

From dark recess of dusky wood,

At eve, thy mystic note is heard.

Responsive to man's changing mood.
His joy, his grief, his hope deferred,
Sung by an unseen bird.

Notes on Cliff Swallows

By KATE P. and E. W. VIETOR

OUR summer of 191 1 (from May 10 to August 19) was spent at Orford,
X. H., a town well up in the Connecticut River valley.

A large barn facing east, with very deep eaves on the north and
south sides, yielded some points of interest relating to Cliff Swallows.

The first pair of birds appeared on May 12, and the number increased
until the 25th, when thirty-one nests on the north side and ten on the south
side had been begun.

By the 19th, two nests were completed. Nest-building continued until
June 13, when seventeen nests were finished on the north side and eight on
the south side of the barn; sixteen were abandoned unfinished. Many birds
left the colony during the first week in June.

The history of the ten nests begun on the south side of the barn is short,
as by June 15 seven had fallen off, and a group of three had been destroyed
by one pair of English Sparrows, the first seen about the farm. Appropriating
one of the group, they stuffed it to overflowing with straw which, together
with their clumsy motions, soon wrecked the three nests.

When building a nest, as soon as it could be occupied, one or both birds
usually stayed in it, excepting at such times as the whole colony were away
feeding. One object of this close occupancy was probably to retain ownership,
as we frequently saw a Cliff Swallow driven away from a nest it was trying
to enter. We feel sure, however, that the nest was not merely a nursery, but
a home for the birds. Both birds slept in the nest before incubation took place,
and later the whole family were often in it at once. Abandoned unfinished
nests were often used by a bird at night, while the mate was brooding, we
supposed. We think brooding was shared by both birds.

From our observations, the nests do not last from year to year, as only
the outlines of last year's nests were on the barn when we arrived, and, at
the close of the nesting season, but seven nests remained, and only one of
these was in perfect condition. During the time of nesting, several nests
were broken, and, when not beyond hope, were repaired with fresh mud.
Certain of these repaired nests were left with the openings larger than the
original openings, thus affording a fairly good view of the interiors. While
gathering mud for the nests, the Swallows raised their wings high over their
backs and fluttered them rapidly.

In building the nests, both birds worked together. They began by putting
pellets of mud on the barn where the base of the nest was to be. Then they
built the base to resemble a very shallow half-cup; they molded this by put-
ting the mud on that already dry, and held it in position with their breasts,
clinging to the barn and bracing themselves with their tails. They would
remain in this position until the mud had dried sufficiently to adhere. Some-

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Notes on Cliff Swallows

151

times one of the l)irds would remain in the nest during the process, to help
in molding. From this base a side would be built to the roof, and then the
remaining space was filled in to leave an opening at the top. None of the nests
in this colony had "necks." The great majority of the openings were on a
line with the middle of the nests. The nests were thinly lined with dry grass.

Building was done irregularly, and, to us, without rhyme or reason as to
hour of day or amount of work done — sometimes at 5 a.m., at other times in
the afternoon and evening; on June i, all day. One pair completed the upper
half of their nest on this day, l)ut this was evidently too (|uick work, as the
nest soon fell off.

Usually, after a few hours of work there would be a long time of feeding
or play.

The colony contained one group of four nests and three groups of three,
all the others were single.

Birds were not raised in all the nests finished on the north side; some fell
off, and the English Sparrows alluded to above destroyed another group of
three on this side. Broken Sparrow eggs were found in the debris of both
groups destroyed by them. After their second failure they left the vicinity.

Mating took place toward the end of May, usually while the birds were
gathering mud. The first young birds were hatched about June 12, the last
on July 3. The young birds were fed by both parents, and very frequently.
At first the birds entered the nests with the food, but after about a week the
bills of the little birds were pushed out to receive the food, the old bird cling-
ing to the outside of the nest and bracing itself with its tail. A few days later,
the whole head appeared at feeding. After the young birds had left the nest,
we sometimes saw the feeding take place on the wing.

While the birds were small, the parent dropped the excrement from the
edge of the nest; but, later on, the young bird voided it from the nest.

152 Bird -Lore

The young remained in the nest from twenty-one to twenty-four days;
nor did they leave the nest altogether for some days after. The first flight lasted
not over an hour, and for from two to five nights afterward they slept in the
nest with one of the parent birds. While the young were away on these trial
flights, the nest was guarded by a parent bird. The last young bird left its
nest on July 25, and the last of the colony left the neighborhood on July 27.

Clifif Swallows have a habit of hanging half-way out of the nests, at times,
before flying, and this position was assumed by the young birds two or three
days before they made their first launch into the air. They also were seen to
try their wings in the nests.

We are certain that not more than twenty-six birds were raised in this
colony where forty-one nests were begun. The number in a nest varied from
one to three. We are certain that two nests had three birds, three nests had
two birds, and three nests had but one bird each.

The markings of the young birds are indistinct; they are chiefly different
shades of a smoky gray, and the forehead is a very dull, ashy white.

We regret that our data are not more precise, but we were unwilling to
destroy nests in order to count eggs. The nests were almost inaccessible,
being thirty feet from the ground. Most of our observations w^ere made from
a building at right angles wdth the barn, with a window on a level with the
lower edge of the north eave. But few nests could be seen from this point.
One nest near the window (finished June 7) had been selected for special obser-
vation, but it feU June 19; we were unable to find anything of its contents
in the tall grass below. The exceptionally hot and dry season may account
for the early falling of so many nests.

Making an Acquaintance: the White-Eyed Vireo

By ALFRED C. REDFIELD, Wayne. Pa.

'O nu', t
on mv
catch a
eyes in response t

TO me, the White-eyed X'ireo has always l)een a stranj^er. Sonietinies
on my walks 1 hear his scolding song from the swampy thickets, and
' '- 'imi>se of him as he peers out curiously with his uncanny white
my luring squeak. Once I found his nest, but it was soon
deserted. Thus I ha\e ne\er come to ha\e that feeling of friendship toward
him that one has for such birds as the Chippie, the Red-eye, or the Wood
Thrush.

When, in mid-May, I heard his song — an explosive, inquiring te who, whcc-
a-ivit — in the thicket, I looked forward to the possibility of a better acquaint-
ance. My hopes were not in vain, for on May 27 I came upon the pair, the
female diligently building her nest, the male cheering her on with his song,
and occasionally rendering material assistance. The nest was a neat cup,

somewhat deeper than the
Red-eye's, hung in the
crotch of a low branch of
spice bush, just where the
brambles of the field meet
the bushes of the woodland.
The next day the familiar
song w'as not to be heard.
For several days the birds
disappeared from the
thicket, and I began to
fear that my intrusion had
frightened them from their
nest. Imagine my delight,
therefore, w^hen on June 2,
six days after the discovery,
I flushed the Vireo from
three eggs. Later a fourth
egg was laid, just when I
do not know, for I was
afraid to visit the nest
again for some time.

By June 11 the eggs
had been incubated for nine
days. I decided it was
now time to attempt to
])hotograph them. When
I approached the nest, the

154 Bird -Lore

little mother sat closely, not flying away until I was within four feet of her.
Then, as I was carefully focusing my camera, the image of the Vireo appeared
for a moment on the ground glass; she had come to see if her eggs were safe,
in the very face of the camera. This was an unexpected advance, and so,
having secured my pictures, I set up a rude dummy camera within a few feet
of the nest, and withdrew.

The following day I returned, and the accompanying picture was made.

Ezekiel

By MAUD JAMISON SELBY. Dixon, 111.

NOT the prophet priest of sacred history, but a dear little prophet of
joy and song, is the Ezekiel of my story.
One lovely Sabbath afternoon, while sitting on the bank of a
certain river in a beautiful park, I noticed a young fledgUng near-by on the
back of a seat. Being always unable to resist getting as near as possible to
any member of the feathered family, I quietly approached, expecting at each
step to see him flutter away; also to be soundly scolded by his watchful parents.
To my surprise, on my coming near, he only opened wide his beak and began
begging lustily to be fed, even permitting me to stroke him with my finger,
which he soon accepted as a perch. All the time I was expecting the old
people to attack me, and soon became quite disgusted at such apparent
neghgence.

While I was trying to decide whether he were Robin or Jay, a lady came
from a cottage near-by in search of her cat. She at once disagreed with my
poor opinion of the little fellow's family, and said that he had been kidnapped
by thoughtless children, who fed him for a time, then, something proving
more interesting, they had forsaken him. She was ready to back her opinion
by testifying to having seen some children poking cornmeal and water down the
throats of what they called "young Robins."

After waiting about an hour, we decided that the little bird was truly
alone in the world, and, while able to fly a few feet at a time, he with-
out doubt had not the slightest idea of any other use for his beak than
to open it full size, with perfect confidence that it would be properly filled,
if he only chirped loud enough and begged hard enough with his pretty
little wings.

Dear little fluff of feathers! He seemed to know from the first that he
could coax me into anything. We soon found that the choice must be made
between leaving him there, as a meal for kitty, and bringing him home to
feed him. This question was no sooner presented than decided, and he was
soon adopted and named Ezekiel.

Very soon Zeke, as w^e more often called him, was the chief attraction in

Ezekiel iSS

the honu', and his welfare and ha|)pincss l)CcanH' of primary im[)i)rtance lo
one and all.

At first \vc could not decide to what particular bird family he belonged,
not being well versed in bird-lore. His predominating color, at that time,
of brown shading to buff, with black and white markings, told us little, Even
the quail-like white streaks over his eyes were unfamiliar. He was too large
for a Sparrow and too small for a Robin; different in some way from all the
birds more common to us. But the rose-pink under his wings, and the one
pink feather which soon appeared on his breast, enabled us to place him with
the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, among the most delightful of our American
song-birds.

It is doubtful if he would ever have decided that he could pick up his own
food, and it took us a full month to find that we must make the decision for
him. Indeed, he was fully fledged and singing before he assumed this responsi-
bility. Doubtless we were largely to blame for this tardiness, for it certainly
was a pleasure to pet him. In fact, he never outgrew his liking to be given
a drink of water, drop by drop, from the finger-tip.

Like all children, he was easily spoiled. When about three months old,
we were away from home almost constantly during the afternoon and eve-
ning for about two weeks, which, of course, meant that Zeke must stay in
the cage during our absence. He evidently thought it but fair that we put
in the night entertaining his birdship, and soon found that by beating his wings
against the cage he would be taken out. I would keep still just as long as
I could, then go to him, each time feeling sure he must have caught wing or
foot in the wires, or at least worn off bunches of feathers, only to find him
unruffled and coaxing in his irresistible way. Eventually I would present a
finger, which was at once accepted; then, not having the heart to force him
oflf, I would lie down to sleep holding him perched on my hand. With a fluff
of his feathers, which certainly spoke contentment, he would tuck his head
under his wing and fall sound asleep; but needless to say I did not.

I soon found, however, that he must be left alone, at the risk of break-
ing his neck. After spending a couple of nights listening to his flutter and
call, worrying first because he was noisy, then imagining he was dead because
he was quiet, and tiptoeing at intervals into the room, only to wake him from
sleep, I at last taught him to be quiet all night. It took a still longer time to
induce him to go to sleep at dusk, instead of at the family bedtime.

Twilight was his only restless time; then he was always uneasy and lone-
some. We were much afraid, at first, it was because he was pining for the
outdoor life, but found later, by watching the wild Grosbeaks, that it seemed
a characteristic, as they always are the same at this time. He liked, at eve-
ning, to have someone sit close to the cage. Then he would cuddle down as
near the wires as he could, and, with the usual fluff of contentment, fall sound
asleep — not so sound, however, but that he was awake instantly if left alone.

156 Bird -Lore

At times, when extremely restless, he was content only to sit cuddled close
to my neck or nestled in my hair. This kind of petting was rare, however,
for we always avoided, as much as possible, actually touching him, letting
him have his way and perch where he chose. He hated to be caught in the
hand, and was rarely so insulted, but was good about accepting a finger,
even when he knew it was to take him home against his wish. When he
wanted to come out of the cage, he would pound on the door with his beak,
then fly back on the perch and await the result. If no move were made to
take him out, he would repeat it more impatiently. It was a busy day,
indeed, if he had to knock many times.

There are those who seem to believe that a bird has no memory, but
Zeke proved his memory good in many ways which would have satisfied the
most skeptical. At one time, when about two months old, a little friend of
ours who called to see him wore a string of coral beads. He was very much
like an Indian in his tastes, being extravagant in his admiration of beads,
especially red ones; so Marjorie's beads proved more interesting to him than
he to her. Almost instantly flitting to her, he began running his beak along
the string in search of the fastening, which I knew from my own experience
he could very likely open. She took off the beads and hid them, much to
his disappointment. About a week later, when Marjorie came in dressed
differently and without the beads, Zeke at once recognized her and flew to
look for them. He was very unwilling to give up, but searched diligently
around the neck of her dress and under her curls.

He always noticed when we wore anything new, and showed very plainly
his likes and dislikes. One particular tie which my Aunt wore we called "Zeke's
tie," because he was not content a minute while she wore it unless he could
be touching it. He would run his beak gently along the edge of the silk, which
was one of his ways of caressing, and plainly show his admiration.

He seemed to think he belonged especially to me, and though he loved all
the family, was more content to have me near, and on my return from a few
weeks' absence would be wild with delight.

Zeke loved to bathe, but the breaking of his bathing-dish, at one time,
caused us much trouble, as he positively declined to accept another. To make
matters worse, someone attempted to bathe him forcibly, and he seemed then
to vow "never again." Finally, by much coaxing and splashing of the water,
he was tempted in; but, dear me! this led to more trouble, for he found it
great fun to splash the water on his unwilling assistant. The minute said
victim dared withdraw the hand from the dish he was out and onto her
shoulder, to begin the drying process by shaking off the water, much or
little, from his feathers.

We often wondered if he would be happier to have his liberty, but it did
not seem safe to give it, since he was unused to the wild life; for he was more
afraid of his own kind than anything else, cats included. He was even fearless

Ezekiel

157

enough to alight on the back of our little dog, and imjnidently ])eck him on
the nose, much to the disgust of the dog.

We tried taking him outdoors a few times; but he would leave his perch
on finger or shoulder only long enough to get a bug and fly back to share it.
The risk was seldom taken, for fear of some lurking cat.

Not one of us would have kept him a day had we been convinced that he
could be happier outside, but we felt sure he would never live to learn wild
ways. Surely no one ever saw a more happy, joyous little creature than he
was with us. Interested in everything, and singing more beautifully than
any who have not been privileged to hear a Rose-breasted Grosbeak sing can
imagine, he was the embodiment of joy.

For more than three years he brightened our lives and home. No one who
knew him but has loved all nature more and been kinder to all living things.
More than one woman who saw him has ceased to admire the dead birds on
hats. Surely his mission in life was well fulfilled.

Photugruphed by J. M. Schrcck

The Migration of North American Sparrows

SIXTEENTH PAPER

Compiled by Professor W. W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey

With Drawings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes

(See frontispiece)

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK

The Black-headed Grosbeak breeds from southern Mexico to southern
British Columbia and from the Pacific east to Nebraska. It winters in the
southern quarter of its breeding range, so that the southernmost breeding
birds are almost non-migratory, while the British Columbia birds travel back
and forth about two thousand miles.

SPRING MIGRATION

PLACE

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
spring arrival

Earliest date of
spring arrival

Los Angeles, Cal. (near)

Berkeley, Cal. (near)

Huachuca Mountains, Ariz

Carlisle, N. M

Denver, Colo

Beulah, Colo

Colorado Springs, Colo

Yuma, Colo

Salt Lake City, Utah

9

2
2

3
7

7
5

4

2

5

April 5
April 1 6
April 24
May 6
May 6
May 9
May 13
May 13

May 23
May 26

May 5

March 23, 1907
April 10, 1889
April 20, 1902
May 4, 1890
May 2, 1897
May 2, 1908
May 4, 1906
May 2, 1904
May 12, 1909
May 19, 1889
May 16, 1887
May 14, 1885
May 20, 1 89 1
May 25, 1895
May I, 1886
April 28, 1889

Grangeville, Idaho

Fort Custer, Mont

Great Falls Mont

Columbia Falls, Mont

Red Bluff, Cal

Portland, Ore

Chillivvack, B. C

3

May 14

May 9, 1889

TALL MIGRATION

PLACE

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
the last one seen

Latest date of the
last one seen

Yuma, Colo

Beulah, Colo

Los Angeles, Cal

Huachuca Mountains \x\z

3
6
4

August 29
September 4
September 17

September 20, 1906
September 11, 19 10
September 22, 1896
October 16, 1902
November 13, 1883

Silver City, N. M....

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

The Rose-breasted Grosebeak winters in Central and South America, and
breeds from Kansas, Missouri, Ohio and New Jersey northward, while in the

(158)

The Migration of North American Sparrows

159

mountains it t)rfc(ls soutli to northern (icur^ia. It is the hitler fact which
exi)hiins the mif];ration (hitcs in Xorth Carohna. The species arrives near
Asheville in the mountains, where it breeds, nine clays earlier than at Raleigh
in the lower land, where it does not breed. Other birds, that breed at both
places, always arrive earlier at Raleigh.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is also a good example of what is almost a
general rule, that birds migrate earlier in the Mississippi Valley than at corre-
sponding latitudes on the Atlantic slope; it arrives at Beaver, Pa., four days
earlier than at Washington, I). C, more than a hundred miles further south.

Another striking peculiarity in the migration of this bird is that there are
no dates of arrival on the Gulf coast of Louisiana and Mississippi to corresj)ond
in earliness with those of Missouri and Illinois. The facts seem to be that the
early migrants — fully adult and strong-winged birds — fly across the Gulf of
Mexico and far inland, over Louisiana and Mississippi, before they alight;
and it is only the later, younger, and weaker birds, or occasionally stronger
birds buffeted by a tempest, that are noted near the coast.

SPRING MIGRATION

Bermuda

Northern Florida

Atlanta, Ga. (near)

Asheville, N. C. (near)

Raleigh, N. C

French Creek, W. Va

White Sulphur Springs, W. \

Washington, D. C

Beaver, Pa

Renovo, Pa

Germantown, Pa

\\'illiamsport, Pa

Morristown, N. J

Englewood, N.J

New Providence, N. J

Ithaca, N. Y ,

Flatbush, N. Y

Ballston Spa, N. Y

Portland, Conn

Hartford, Conn

Jewett Citv, Conn

Providence, R.I

Boston, Mass
Beverly, Mass

Randolph, Vt

St. Johnsbury. \'t

Charlestown, X. H

Phillips, Maine

Pittsfield, Maine

Montreal, Canada

Quebec Citv, Canada

Scotch Lake. N. B

St. John, X. B

Number

of years'

rccoid

Average dat
spring arriv

2

April 12

7

.April 2t

7

.'\pril 20

8

April 2Q

4

May I

4

May 5

18

May 5

II

May I

14

Mays

3

May 5

6

May 7

II

Maya

12

May 6

II

May 8

6

May 6

8

May 7

14

May 10

6

May 5

17

May;

10

May 7

12

May 9

6

May 9

11

May 12

7

May 12

12

May 10

Mav 12

5

May 13

4

May 17

4

May 17

7

May 23

2

May 25

Earliest date of
spring arrival

April 15, 1850
March 25, 1901
April 18, 1902
April 15, 1893
April 23, 1909
April 28, 1890
April 30, 1897
May I, 1907
April 24, 1889
April 27, 1908
May 4, 1884
April 29, 1897
May I, 1907
May I, 1886
May 4, 1892
April 30, 1900
May 5, 1890
May 4, 1906
May I, 1891
May 4, 1909
May 4, 1905
May 3, 1905
Maj' 6, 1906
May 10, 1904
May 8, 1887
May 6, 1906
May 9, 1904
May 9, 1905
May 15, 1896
May 14, 1890
May 14, 1903
May 19, 1908
May 24, 1 89 1

i6o

Bird - Lore

SPRING MIGRATION, Continued

Helena, Ark

Athens, Tenn

Lexington, Ky

St. Louis, Mo

Quincy, 111

Carlinville, 111

Rockford, 111

Chicago, 111

Bloomington, Ind

Fort Wayne, Ind

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

Wauseon, Ohio

Youngstown, Ohio

Oberlin, Ohio

Sandusky, Ohio

Ann Arbor, Mich

Petersburg, Mich

Battle Creek, Mich

Bay City, Mich

Palmer, Mich

Houghton, Mich

St. Thomas, Ontario

Strathroy, Ontario

Kearney, Ontario (near)

Ottawa, Ontario

Hillsboro, Iowa

Keokuk, Iowa

Davenport, Iowa (near)

Sabula, Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa (near)

Fairfield, Iowa

North Freedom, Wis

Madison, Wis

Ripon, Wis

Lanesboro, Minn

Minneapolis, Minn

Elk River, Minn

White Earth, Minn

San Antonio, Tex

Onaga, Kan

Southeastern Nebraska

Northeastern North Dakota.

Aweme, Manitoba

Shell River, Manitoba

Indian Head, Sask

Osier, Sask

Edmonton, Alberta

Fort McMurray, Alberta. . . .
Slave River, Mackenzie

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
spring arrival

Earliest date of
spring arrival

-\pril 27, 1904

7

Aj.ril 24

-Vpril 20. 1909

4

.April 27

-Vpril 24, 1904

8

April 24

April 20, 1885

3

April 23

April 19, 1887

4

April 27

April 20, 1 89 1

9

May I

April 28, 1888

21

May 3

April 25, 1901

6

April 30

April 23, 1886

6

April 30

April 23, 1908

II

May 2

April 28, 1896

13

April 30

April 24, 1886

6

Mav I

April 27, 1908

II

Mav 2

April 27, 1896

12

May 3

April 27, 1902

i6

May I

.A.pril 2^, 1889

12

May I

April 27, 1888

lO

Mav 2

April 24, 1889

3

May 5

May 2, 1896
Mav 8, 1895

3

Mav 20

May 17, 1908

5

Mav 8

May 7, 1885

II

May 8

May 3, 1890

8

Mav 12

Mav 8, 1901

20

May 13

May 8, 1886

5

April 26

April 22, 1896

15

.\pril 20

April 24, 1896

iQ

-April 2q

April 24, 1896

lO

-April 2g

April 24, 1897

12

April 30

April 26, 1889

lO

Mav I

April 28, 1899

4

April 2Q

April 27, 1904

^5

May 4

April 23, 1898

Mav 10

April 28, 1897

9

May 4

April 27, 1888

9

May 5

May 2, 1905

8

May 7

May 3, 1887

4

May 16

May 12, 1880
April 24, 1890

14

May 2

April 26, 1891

13

Mav I

April 20, 1894

May 16

May II, 1908

i6

May 16

May 12, 1904
Mav 16, 1885

S

May 22

May 12, 19C6
May 17, 1893

4

May 19

May IS, 1897
May 29, 1903
June 8, 1 90 1

The Migration of North American Sparrows

i6i

Sl'RIxNc; MIGKAilON

Pedregora, Venezuela .
Valparaiso, Columbia..

Whilliuld. Florida

L\nchburg. \'a

Washington, I). C

New Orleans, La. (near)
Rodney, Miss. (near)...

Helena, .\rk

.\thens, Tenn

Bolivar Point, Te.\

Number

of years'

record

Average date

of

Latest date of the

the last one seen

last one seen

April 8, 1903

March 29, 1899

May 15, 1903

Mav lo

Mav II, 1908

May 1 6

May 30, 1907

May 2

May 6, 1897

May I

May 8, 1890
May 10, 1904

May 12

May 17, 1903
May 7. 1902

F.ALL MIGRATION

PLACE

Number

of years'

record

\

4
2

Average date of
fall arrival

Earliest date of
fall arrival

Palm Springs, Cal

.Athens, Tenn

Washington, D. C

Kirk wood, Ga

Tallahassee, Fla

Kev West Fla (near)

July 10
August 30
October's

October 6

September 10, 1897
July I, 1906
August 29, 1887
September 26, 1899
September 6, 1896
October 4, 1887
October 9, 1849
October 13, 1844
October 20, i8gr
October 22,, 1889

Bermuda. . . .

Havana, Cuba. .

Watlings Island, Bahamas

San Jose, Costa Rica

.\weme, Manitoba. . .
Lanesboro, Minn. . . .

Ripon. Wis

Keokuk, Iowa

Ottawa, Ontario

Detroit, Mich

Wauseon, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Waterloo, Ind. (near)
Fort Wayne, Ind. . . .

Chicago, 111

St. Louis, Mo

.Vthens, Tenn

Southern Mississippi.
Scotch Lake, N. B . . .
Montreal, Canada. . .

Phillips, Maine

Randolph. Vt

Providence, R. I

Hartford, Conn

Morristown, X. J. . . .

Renovo, Pa

Beaver, Pa

(icrmantown. Pa. . . .
Washington, D. C. . .
Weaverville, N. C. . .
Kirk wood, Ga

Number

of years'

record

Average date of
the last one seen

September 5
September 19

6 September 19

3 I September 15

September 23

?>

September 23

?<

September 27

0

September 24

6

October 9

->

October 17

.^

.August 28

S

September 20

5

September 5

,^

September 21

6

September 20

4

October 6

8

September 24

4

September 28

4

October i

6

September 23

3

October 17

October iq

Latest date of the
last one seen

September
October 27
September
September
October i,
October 5,
October 4,
October 7,
October 8,
October i,
October 27
October 18
November
November
September
September
September
September
September
October 6,
October 10
October 8.
September
October 6,
October 6,
October 25,
October 20,

19, 1909
, 1886

25, 1906

29, 1901
1908
1905
1897
1885
1887
1906

1906
1906

26, 1905
5. 1882
7. 1904

23. 191 1
9. 1904

14. 1887

24, 1904
1S9.S

1906
1908

30, 1907
1888
1907

1894
190.S

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows

FIFTEENTH PAPER
By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

(See frontispiece)

Black-headed Grosbeak {Zamclodia melanocephala. Figs. 1-3). The
plumages of this species are not so interesting as those of the Rose-breasted
Grosbeak. Both sexes have the under wing-coverts the same color, the yellow
being just as bright in the female as in the male. The juvenal plumage of the
male closely resembles its first winter plumage (Fig. 3), which, as in the Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, is gained by molt of the body feathers and wing coverts,
the tail and wing-quills being retained. The spring molt, also, appears to
agree in extent with that of the Rose-breast ; only the primaries, their coverts,
the secondaries and some of the tail-feathers of the first winter plumage
(Fig. 3) being retained. With the exception of these feathers, the bird, now
in first nuptial plumage, resembles the fully adult male (Fig. i), but is paler
below and has the belly with more white.

At the postnuptial or fall molt, this plumage is followed by the second win-
ter plumage, which doubtless resembles that of the adult. This differs from
the adult summer plumage only in being widely margined, with rusty above
and with buffy below.

Rose-breasted Oxosheak {Zamelodia liidoviciana. Figs. 4-7). This species
undergoes a most interesting series of plumage changes which are well repre-
sented in our plate. The male juvenal plumage resembles that of the first
winter (Fig. 4), but is whiter below and shows no pink on the breast. The
wings and tail of this plumage are retained at the postjuvenal molt, but the
body feathers and the wing-coverts are molted, and the bird thus passes into
first winter plumage (Fig. 4). This, as will be seen, closely resembles that of
the female, but the under wing-coverts are rose-pink, not saffron, as in the
female, and there is usually at least a trace of pink on the breast. (The speci-
men figured shows rather an exceptionally strong pink tinge.)

The following spring, all of this plumage, except the primaries and second-
aries and the primary coverts, is lost by molt, and the bird appears in a plu-
mage essentially like that of the adult (Fig. 5), but for the brown primaries and
secondaries; and there are usually black spots on the rosy breast, while the
throat is less soUdly black. This plumage is therefore not unlike that of the
adult male in winter (Fig. 6), but the throat is blacker. It is, however, sub-
ject to much variation. At the postnuptial molt, this first nuptial plumage is,
as usual, completely molted, and is followed by that of the adult in winter
(Fig. 6). The full, mature breeding plumage is not therefore acquired until
the second spring, when, by partial molt and some wear, the bird shown in
Fig. 6 acquires the plumage represented by Fig. 5.

The plumage of the female is deeper, more bufTy, in winter than in summer,
but in its main features is alike at all seasons and all ages.

(162)

jBtote^ from JTtelti anlj ^tuDp

Pine Siskin in Trenton, N. J.

On Sunday, March 31, while exploring
an old field near the edge of the water-
power, which runs through a section of
the city, the writer w-as agreeably sur-
prised to obser\e six Pine Siskins making
a repast on the seeds of weeds. On several
previous visits to this same field, flocks
of the American Goldfinch were seen, and
it was in quest of this bird that my visit
on the morning of the 31st was made.

With a feeling of pleasure more vivid
than might be aroused by many a songster
in Ma}% I made a note of this irregular
individual in my tield-bcxA. It has been
some time since this little bird of the
North has paid us a passing call. —
WiLLi.'iXf M. Palmer, Trenton, .Y. J.

Where Are the Bluebirds ?

I have observed no Bluebirds since late
February, and I am receiving reports from
other observers to the same effect. Thej-
were in evidence last fall and well into De-
cember, and at different times during
the winter I observed the birds in this
locality, the northern margin of their
winter habitat.

There are no Bluebirds at the numer
ous houses in and about this town, in
which they have reared broods in previous
years, and indications point to the de-
struction of the birds throughout eastern
United States during the past winter. The
winter was one of great severity every-
where, with conditions similar to those
of 1895, when the Bluebirds were almost
exterminated. — J. Warren Jacobs,
Waynesbitrg, Pa.

A Woodcock's Nest

On April 2, 191 1, an old colored wood-
cutter informed me that he had found "a
Whippoorwill's nest." Thinking this
rather an early date for this bird to be
nesting, as it was only al)()ul time for its

(i

spring arrival, I was eager to find out
what sort of a nest it was. He led me to
it, and we found the bird sitting quietly
on it; but I had to look close to see her, as
her colors harmonized so perfectly with the
surrounding pine straw and leaves. I
readily recognized the bird as a Woodcock.

The nest had been placed near the
base of a i)ine tree, about twenty-five
yards from a stream of water, bordered
by a reed-grown marsh. There were scat-
tering pines and cedars about the nest,
also a small amount of broom-sedge and
weeds.

The bird allowed us almost to touch
her, before taking wing suddenly and fly-
ing out of sight. In the nest were four
rather large eggs for the size of the bird.
They were brownish buff in color, rather
thickly spotted with yellowish brown and
lilac, making them quite inconspicuous.

Before the nest was discovered, the old
man had cut down the pine tree which
stood about eight feet from it, along with
a number of other trees. He said that
the bird did not fly off the nest until the
tree fell, but allowed him to chop the tree
down almost over her. The tree was then
cut into firewood, but the bird returned,
appearing not to be disturbed.

About 9 A.M., on April 9, I visited the
the nest, and found the bird on it as before,
with her long bill resting on the pine straw
and her big, bright eyes staring at me
in wild excitement. This time she flew
off over the ground, feigning to be lame.
The eggs had evidently just hatched, for
two of the chicks were not yet thoroughly
dry. I concealed myself in a brush-blind
which I had constructed, and waited two
hours, but the old bird did not return.

I visited the nest again about four
o'clock that afternoon, and found it empty.
I had searched for some time, in hope of
finding the birds, when I heard a weak,
high-keyed peep. I walked around the
spot whence the sound seemed to come,
searching the ground carefully. Suddenly
the old bird flew u|) almost under my

63)

1 64

Bird - Lore

feet. There were ihe four downy chicks
about twent}' feet from the nest. In color
they were black, marked with soiled white.
They were weak and seemed hardly able
to hold up their large bills.

I examined the old nest. It was in a
slight depression in the ground, about
four inches in diameter and an inch
deep, and it was composed almost of
pine needles. The whole mass was prob-
ably a foot in diameter, hollowed out in
the middle, to form a nest about four
inches in diameter and an inch deep inside.
— Merriam G. Lewis, Lawrenceville, Va.

Pine Grosbeaks in August

Confirming the report of B. Franklin
Pepper, in the November-December num-
ber of Bird-Lore, the writer observed
the Pine Grosbeak in considerable num-
bers on Long Island, and at Casco Bay,
Maine, during the month of August, 191 1.
They frequented the tops of the taller tir
trees, and sang merrily during long periods
in the afternoon. On one occasion, one
of them sang for a long time in the early
morning near my hotel window. — H. H.
Curtis, Montreal, Canada.

Florida Notes

We own a home on Ridgwood Avenue,
in the very heart of the city of Daytona,
Florida. The lot has about one hundred
and fifty feet frontage and four hundred
feet depth, and contains a number
of large live oaks, covered with Spanish
moss, and palmetto, mulberry, and large
magnolia trees, and about one hundred
orange and grapefruit trees, with three
deep wells with running water, — thus
making it an ideal home for many dif-
ferent kinds of birds.

The Hermit Thrush, Catbird and Robin
were, continually about our doorstep, and
the different kinds of trees and shrubs
attracted many varieties of birds.

One day a friend brought a small Florida
Screech Owl to me alive. After examining
it for awhile, we let it go, and it flew into
a near-by mulberr\' tree. At once there

was a commotion in the bird colon_\- on
the place, and we counted at least fifty
birds attacking or talking very loud to the
Owl. There were thirteen species, viz:
Blue Jay, Brown Thrasher, Catbird,
Hermit Thrush, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher,
Carolina Wren^ Bewick's Wren, House
Wren, Florida Grackle, Robin, Flicker,
Red-bellied Woodpecker and Mockingbird.

The gray squirrels were numerous, and
it was an amusement to throw them
peanuts, and have a Blue Jay or a Grackle
swoop down to the ground and get the
nut before the squirrel could reach it. We
tamed these squirrels and Blue Jays so that
the}' would take the nuts from our hands,
and it was interesting to watch their
steady approach in short stages to our
hands, to reach the coveted nut.

Daytona was favored, in February, by
a visit from Professor Henry Oldys, who
was sent there by the U. S. government,
to inspect the government bird reserva-
tion at Mosquito Inlet, and we had the
pleasure of listening to one of his interest-
ing bird talks.

Among other things, he said that
of the fifty-six United States govern-
ment bird preserves he knew of none that
had more possibilities before it than the
Mosquito Inlet preserve. i\s this pre-
serve comes up to the city lines, and as
the city ordinance does not permit any
gun-firing within the city limits, this bird
reservation practically extends almost to
Ormond. As a result, you can stand on
the main business street of the city oppo-
site the post-ofiSce, facing the Halifax
river, and feed the Bonaparte Gulls, Royal
Terns, Herring Gulls, and Scaup Ducks
that will come up close to you. It is strange
how soon these birds know they are in a
protected zone. Until the establishment
of this government preserve, such a thing
as a wild bird in the river, within shooting
distance, was a rarity, and now Pelicans
and many varieties of Gulls, Terns, and
Ducks can be seen both in the river and
along the ocean shore with large flocks of
Snipe and Herons of different kinds. I
counted about seventy different species of
birds during my stay in February.

Notes from Field and Study

165

\\v found Uk' Rcd-lK'llic.l W .uxlpcc krr
\ir\ (It-slruclive to our oranges, boring
holes in both green and ripe fruit; but the
most remari<able thing of all was the
tameness of what to us had hitherto i)een
the shyest of ail birds, viz, the Hermit
Thrush. Here he was so tame that he
would hardly get from under our feet,
while we had hitherto known him only in
his Adirondack home, where he could
seldom be heard and more rarely seen. —
Wm. M. Stii.lmax. /'Idiiitirld, \. J.

Wrens in Our Garden

Several years ago, we hung a gourd in
our syringa bush. The door was just the
the size of a silver dollar, to let in Wrens and
keep out English Sparrows.

The first spring it was left empty. The
second, when blackened by winter and
coal soot, a pair of Bewick's Wrens took
possession, and raised two broods that
summer.

The man of the house says that Be-
wick's Wren has the spring-iest song he
knows.

While feeding their young, the old birds
seemed very tame, and went back and
forth to the nest when we were sitting
onh- three or four feet away. They rarely
flew directh- to the nest, but lit on a tall
branch above, and then climbed down as
if going down a ladder. There were seven
in the second brood.

We were so pleased with this success
that, in the fall, three more gourds were
hung. But alas for our hopes! When
spring came again, Mrs. Wren came back
to her old apartments, threw out the old
nest, played around for a few days, then
left for parts unknown.

Some House Wrens moved in and stayed
a few days, but they too left; so we thought
we should have no Wrens this year.

Two of the gourds were hung in vines
on the house. July 5, a pair of House
Wrens moved into one of these, and for a
day or tw-o seemed about to build a nest.
After that we could not be sure whether
Mrs. Wren was there or not. The nest
was too high, but we heard singing

ed

I'"inall\-. early one morning, the old ones
were seen feeding the l)ro()(l. After that
they kei)t things lively in the garden. It
was amusing to see the old birds come to
the nest. They never flew straight to it,
but usually hopped along the garden walk
to the fence jiost, and climbed up the post,
flying from the top to a perch abo\e it,
then to the edge of the nest. They nc\er
once missed lighting on the edge of the
hole until the little ones got big enough to
l)oke their heads out in the way; then a
perch was put up for them to rest on
while feeding. Both birds were in sight
when the perch was put up, but they did
not seem to mind, and flew right upon it as
if it had always been there.

In ten days the little brood was gone,
and we e.\pected to see no more of the
Wrens. During the hot weather we had
our supper in the garden. One evening,
as we sat at supper, a House Wren came
over the fence, scolding noisily. To our
great surprise, he flew right into a gourd
in the syringa bush, one never used for a
nest. Since then we have frequently seen
him go to roost there, between si.\ o'clock
and half-past, and do not doubt that he
goes every night. Once he brought another
Wren; hopped into the gourd, hopped out
again, all the time chirping in a soft per-
suasive note new to us. But no, she woidd
not go in, and he flew off with her.

Once he went in without any noise, but
usually he chirps loudly, as if he said:
"Look at me! I'm going to bed!"

Now we are wondering how many gourds
will have nests this spring, — Lizzie .\.
Lyle, Lrxiiiiilon, Ky.

Winter Robins in Wisconsin

January, in Wisconsin, broke all records
for cold, and the winter as a whole has been
equaled or exceeded by only five winters
in the forty-two j'ears that the weather
records have been kept, .\gainst this
chilly background it is interesting to
place the RoI)in record of the winter.
Robins were reported from over thirty

1 66

Bird -Lore

localities in the state, and by several per-
sons in most of these places. In most of
the places the Robins were reported as
appearing to be well and happy. In Mil-
waukee, about the middle of January,
three Robins were found dead with no
no signs of violence. They were believed
to have died of cold or starvation, or both.
One of these was received by the writer
January 17. It was in good feather, but
the body was emaciated. A Robin was
received from Baraboo, January 28, that
had been shot by a farmer near that city.
It was one of a small fiock that was seen
feeding on frozen apples. It was shot to
settle a dispute as to whether it was a
Robin or a Pine Grosbeak 1

Robins were reported from the follow-
ing places: Appleton, Baraboo, Barron,
Beloit, Cedarburg, Cottage Grove, Eau
Claire, Elkhorn, Gay's Mills, Golden Lake
Green Lake, Hartland, Hillsboro, Ken-
dall, La Crosse, Lake Geneva, Lodi, Madi-
son, Manitowoc, Maribel, Mayville, Mil-
waukee, Muscoda, Prairie du Sac, Reeds-
burg, Richland Center, Town of Richmond,
Wauwatosa, Westfield, Whitewater, Wil-
liams Bay, and Winneconne. Eighty-one
per cent of the reports were made during
the very severe weather of January and
February. As there was an abundance of
fruit, such as wild grapes, hawthorns, wild
crabs, woodbine, viburnum, mountain ash,
bittersweet, sumac, and the like, and a
good crop of seed fruits, the inference is
that the abundance of food enabled the
Robins to stay in spite of the weather. —
I. N. Mitchell, M!lu'aukce,Wis.

Records from London, Ont.

On the morning of May 22, 191 1, while
looking for birds in a small tract of woods
about four miles west of London, our
attention was drawn to a series of strange
notes. We quickly pushed our wa}' through
the bushes, and were very much surprised,
as well as delighted, to find that their
author was a Yellow-breasted Chat. He
sat in plain view on the top of a small
bush, and we observed him through our
glasses at short range for some time. We

were not able satisfactorily to settle the
question of whether he had a mate or not,
but at least one bird was seen on several
different occasions during the summer. I
believe this is the first record of the Chat
for our vicinity.

The bird lovers of London were
favored with visits from three rather rare
species in the year 191 1. A Cardinal spent
the winter with us, taking up his quarters
right in the center of the citj'. A fJock
of some seventy-five Evening Grosbeaks
were here for a week or two in March, the
Chat above mentioned making the third.

We hope we may see them all again dur-
ing 191 2, but perhaps that is expecting
too much. — C. G. Watson and Melville
Dale.

Notes on the Pine Warbler and
House Wren

The Pine Warbler, while common in
migration, is a rare and local summer
resident in central New Hampshire. With
the Myrtle Warbler it shares the honor of
being the first Warbler to arrive in spring.
The earliest date was April 18, at which
time the snow was yet deep in the woods.
Although the Pine Warbler usually finds
its food among the thick branches of the
pines, on one occasion I saw one fly out
and take an insect on the wing. Two or
three pairs breed every summer about
Tilton. Until this year, I had heard only
one song from the bird. On June 19, in a
grove of red pines, I found a Pine Warbler
singing as it moved in its sluggish manner
through the branches in search of food. At
first it gave only the sweet, unbroken trill
so characteristic of the bird. Soon, how-
ever, it changed to another song. This
closely resembled the chi p py-chi ppy-chip py
of the Chipping Sparrow, but was clearer
and sweeter, just as the trill was clearer
and sweeter than the Chippy's trill. I
remained in the grove for some time, but
while I was there the bird did not return
to the more common song.

About Tilton, the House Wren is also
a rare and local summer resident. Up to
1904, a few pairs were found about the

Notes from Field and Study

167

village every sumnu-r. Siiui.- lliat year,
however, the bird appears to have l)eeii
al)scnt. When I arrived in Tilton, this
summer, I was surprised to find a pair of
Wrens nesting in an apple orchard in the
village. The male was in full song at all
hours of the day, even during the hot wave
of the first week of July. As the summer
passed, he seemed to lose his Joyous spirits,
and the song was given less freely. The
date on which the song was heard was the
morning of August 13, when only a few
notes were given. What brought back
the Wrens after so long an absence I do
not know, and I shall wait with interest to
see if they will appear again next year. —
Edward H. Perkins, Tilton, N. H.

Blue -Gray Gnatcatcher near New
Rochelle, N. Y.

We wish to report the occurrence of
a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, in New York
State, about two miles from this village.
We saw this bird at seven o'clock on the
morning of May 3. We were first attracted
by its call, and soon saw it near the top
of a large tree. We quickly identified
it — its small size, slender build, blue-gray
upperparts, and grayish white under-
parts, its black tail with white outer
feathers, its note, and its habits, all con-
tributing to make our identification posi-
tive. The bird was very active, flitting
about among the upper branches, and
now and then darting out into the air
after passing insects. Though there were
several Warblers — Blue-winged, Chest-
nut-sided, Black and White and Redstarts
— in the neighboring trees, it seemed to
be alone, rather than in company with
these birds. — Richard L. Burdsall,
Samuel N. Comly, James C. Maples,
W. Bolton Cook, Port Chester, N. Y.

1911 Bird Notes from Long Beach, L. I,

In company with various bird students
of New York City, I continued my obser-
vations at this very favorable station,
and trust that the following may be of
some interest to readers of Bird-Lore.

During the [)asl year, I made thirteen
visits, and observed 87 species of birds.
The biggest list for one day was on May
17, when Mr. George E. Hix and I
obser\'ed 41 species. The most interesting
fact which has developed as a result of
my work afield at this locality during
the last four years is the increasing abund-
ance of Ducks and shore-birds, due,
doubtless, to the abolition of spring shoot-
ing. It is also worthy of note that during
the last two years the spring has yielded
much better results than the fall; both
orders being represented by more species,
as well as in greater numbers. Thus
twelve kinds of Ducks were observed in
March, as against eight in November;
and, although the number of species of
Shore-birds seen in August was only two
less than that observed in May, yet the
number of individuals was much smaller.
.Although absent in Europe during August,
I have this last information from Mr.
C. H. Rogers, who visited Long Beach
with me in May. In concluding these
remarks, I may say that every species
noted below was identified with power-
ful binoculars, and seen by more than
one observer, and every attempt was made
to be accurate.

January 8. — Fox Sparrow, i; Robin, i.

March 12. — Redhead, 2; Prairie Horned
Lark, i.

March 26. — Mallard, i; Lesser Scaup
Duck, 2; Snowflake, 3 — a very late date.

April 23. — Piping Plover, 4.

May 17. — Laughing Gull, i — a fine
adult bird at close range; Hudsonian
Curlew, 13 — (oddly enough, a flock of
twelve was twice observed in May, 1910,
in exactly the same place)*; Short-eared
Owl, I — a late date.

Maj' 28. — White-rumped Sandpiper, i
(a broken wing permitted a very near
approach); Black-bellied Plover, 150;
Turnstone, 130. The last two species I
give, not for their rarity, but for the very
unusual numbers. There was a flock of
104 Turnstones, by actual count, on Point
Lookout — a very fine sight.

May 30. — American Scaup Duck, i.
*Vide Bird-Lore Nov. -Dec, 1910. p. 247.

1 68

Bird -Lore

Octcber 2q. — Sanderling, 62, — a large-
number for this date. Almost every bird
was maimed or wounded in some way,
the majority with a broken wing, and
a few minus a leg. Ipswich Sparrow, i, —
my earliest date of arrival.

November 7. — Pectoral Sandpiper, i;
Piping Plover, 2. This is by far the latest
record for Long Island, the average date
of departure being early September. Dr.
W. H. Wiegmann, Messrs. C. H. Rogers
and S. \'. La Dow, and I obtained excel-
lent views of these little birds, which
with their characteristic tameness, per-
mitted a very close approach. They were
not disabled in any way. — Ludlow
Griscom, Xcu' York City.

The Birds of Little Elk Canon

In the southwest corner of South
Dakota lies the beautiful Black Hills
country — beautiful, even now, though
stripped of its forests and robbed of its
gold; strangel}' wild and beautiful in the
old days when clothed with the forest
primeval — a garment which softened its
startling outlines and tempered its crystal-
line daylight.

In the early "8o's. my father located
in a wild canon known as Little Elk, a
tract of timber, and, erecting a rough
house there, removed his family thither.

It is a rare experience to a nature lover
to be the "first who ever burst" into, or
at least inhabited, a new country. To
give the wild creatures their first impres-
sion of humanity is a privilege and a respon-
sibility. That they make perfectly logical
and intelligent response to this impres-
sion is unquestionable.

The forest was pine — open, parklike,
with no undergrowth, the climate very
dry. Birds, at first, were comparatively
few, though, in a few years the favorites
of civilization followed settlement. During
our first summer, occasional flights, twit-
terings in the tops of trees, the melting
notes of the Water Ouzel at sunset, the
Mourning Dove from the hollows of the
hills, the Meadow Lark, and the Poor-will,
with a few others, kept bird thoughts

alive in our minds. It was with the first
snowfall that birds came down and dwelt
among us. The dry Arctic snow lay
heaped upon every feature of the land-
scape. The world was buried.

Touched by the petitions of a chilly
Junco or two at the kitchen door, we
swept clean the broad front porch and
scattered there a few seeds and crumbs.
Lo! we had inaugurated a custom that
was to endure for fifteen years. During
all those fifteen winters, our porch was
alive with the flutterings of birds — the
woods about vocal with their twittering
conversation.

Juncos, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Rocky
^Mountain Jays — these were our perma-
nent boarders. Crossbills, Cedar Wax-
wings, dark blue Jays and Magpies, all
these in flocks were transients on the
place, but never frequented the porch.
.\11 of our porch boarders wore grays, or
black and white — true little winter birds.
From the dining-room window we watched
them — the family kitty among us, most
interested of all. Little by little we
learned and catered to their tastes.

The Rocky Mountain Jays, aggressive,
noisy, omnivorous, beautiful creatures,
were our chickens, and obligingly devoured
anything and everything set before them
as long as the big mouthfuls lasted. The
little birds hung back before the onslaught
of the Jays, but came in for their innings
later, when only crumbs and seeds re-
mained.

The Juncos dined daintily on seeds
from the Canaries' cages, and millet, which
was one of the crops of the country. The
Nuthatches, funny little mouselike creep-
ers, loved crumbs and meat, and toiled
ceaselessly all day up and down the bark-
covered piazza, tucking away their trea-
sures.

The Chickadees were meat-eaters pri-
marily. All winter, meat-bones hung for
their edification ornamentally along the
eaves. On these they swung and picked,
and between them and the trees made their
quick, darting rushes punctuated with
bright, sharp queries and observations.
Marrow-bones were the best of all. In

Notes from Field and Study

i6q

and out of these they chased one another
endlessly dining as they went, and, in
return, on every blue winter day that
held a hint of coming spring, they soared
to the toi)s of the slender pines and
dropjH'd us tlie languishing Phoebe notes
thai we alwa\s i)aused to catch.

Often into the busy concourse on the
porch dropped Bunny, the red squirrel
whose home was in the roof — dropped,
and held autocratic sway until his hunger
was appeased.

.\nd, once in a great while, came a
Hawk like a bolt from the sky, and
seized a living morsel that made neither
outcry nor defense.

On the winter nights, the Owls sung ora-
torios through the frozen forest. Bass
and tenor, soprano and all, came in at
their own sweet will, and the little day
birds listened and cowered.

Just what is the use of feeding the birds?
Why not let Nature take its course? It
is hard to say, yet happy the child who
has had the experience with the little
tender, cheery, spirit-things. He is a
better child I'm sure. — Alice Day Pratt,
New York City.

A Day's Water-fowl Migration in
South Dakota

The northward flight of water-fowl
always attracts attention. It is in the
northern Mississippi basin that such
flights are most notable. Perhaps fifty
3'ears ago, Illinois and Iowa excelled, but
it seems that now eastern Dakota is the
the region most favored in this regard.
The water-birds follow up the Missouri
Valley, and the Dakota (James) valley,
which extends north into middle Xorth
Dakota almost to Devil's Lake. This
region, though flat in its general features,
has thousands of small, shallow, glacial
lakes and ponds which afi'ord much-used
stopping-places. Corresponding depres-
sions in the more populous states are
either drained, or so extensively hunted as
to be comparatively unavailable for large
numbers of game-birds.

It was my good fortune to spend a few

days, early in .April, 1912, at the family
home, which is situated on a bluff between,
and overlooking, the Dakota valley and a
pair of fair-sized glacial lakes, .\pril 4 was
such a notable day that I am tempted to
endeavor to describe it.

The winter had been long and severe.
Birds did not lome in abundance until
March 30. Uy April 4 ice had almost dis-
apj)eared; a little green grass could be seen;
the earliest prairie flowers (Peucednum
and pasque flower) were just appearing;
wheat-seeding had commenced; a warm
south wind prevailed.

Throughout the day, from sunrise to
well into the night, flocks of Ducks, Geese
and Cranes passed. Only for short inter-
vals would an examination of the sky not
reveal one or more northward-flying bands.

The Sandhill Crane is one of the most
conspicuous birds of the prairie region,
and every farmer's boy knows its unsur-
passed call of rich, bugle-like notes. Flocks
ordinarily of about twenty individuals,
were seen soaring at great heights and
drifting northward, or flying lower in a
more or less direct line. During the day
more than a dozen flocks were seen, and
in the evening many were heard to pass
in rapid succession, indicating that in the
darkness soaring is replaced by direct
flight.

Four flocks of scores, or hundreds, of
silent, silvery Snow Geese were seen.
Three were of the Lesser, and one of the
Greater. In two of the flocks, two or
three dark, immature birds contrasted
sharply with the white adults. A half-
dozen flocks of honking Canadas were
seen, and one flock of small Hutchins',
as well as a flock of Geese intermediate in
size, the White-fronted Geese, passed.

Many flights of Ducks were seen, but
from the usual distance not all could be
recognized. However, Mallards, Pintail,
Teal and Scaups were made out. Late in
the afternoon I went to a near-by lake
with my binoculars, and identified there
the following species: Hooded Merganser,
Mallard. Gadwall, Baldpate, Green-
winged Teal, Shoveler, Pintail, Redhead,
Canvasback, Lesser Scaup Duck, Ring-

170

Bird - Lore

necked Duck, Golden-eye, and Buffle-
head.

Among the land-birds enjo}'ed on that
spring day may be mentioned: Chestnut-
collared Longspurs, migrated throughout
the day, singing as they went; a pair of
American Pipits; Swainson's Western Red-
tail, and Marsh Hawks and Prairie Fal-
cons and Redwings galore. Western
Meadowlarks were singing on every side.
Early in the morning the drumming of
the Prairie Chicken resounded from afar.

I hope that the thousands of bird-
lovers who would appreciate it may some-
time have the pleasure of spending such
a day as I have tried to describe, in
Dakota. — Stephen Sargent Visher,
Vermilion, S. D.

sometimes to miss their hold on its bottle-
neck, or to find the nest already occupied
by a quarrelsome neighbor.

Before long the birds had all gone in-
doors again; but there was an eye at every
window, watching me as I prowled around
below.

From the litter on the rocks and ground
these nests must have been occupied ever
since these birds came down from their
northern summer home, which is about
the middle of November.

During the day, the Leucosticte spends
its time in the hills among the sage brush,
in search of seeds. But, when the evening
sun throws long, slender shadows across
the valleys, they return to the cliff for
the night. — Sandford Mills, Hailey, Wyo

Leucostictes Making Cliff Swallows'
Nests Their Night Abode

Late one cold January evening, while
passing below a high, rocky cliff, I noticed
a flock of small birds flying about near some
Cliff Swallows' nests. They were greatly dis-
turbed by a Golden Eagle which was
soaring near the cliff, and would dart out
after him every time he passed.

The following morning I climbed up the
steep talus under some of the lower nests,
but no birds were to be seen. But that
evening, when I again climbed up to the
nests, the birds were there, as on the pre-
vious evening. They all flew out of the
nests as I approached, and, to my great
surprise, I found them to be the Gray-
crowned Leucosticte {Leucosticte tephro-
colis), a ground bird, making the home of
a cliff-dweller its night abode. It did not
seem possible, but it was true; for, while
I stood beneath the towering rock, these
little birds hovered overhead, scolding
me, and at times some would come quite
near. But they quieted down, upon find-
ing I was not going to harm them, and
soon they were entering the nests again,
scolding and quarreling over the owner-
ship of the various nests. They had not
the certainty of entering the nests that
the Swallows have, but hovered for some
time at the door, then made a dive at it;

Wilson's Snipe and Its Nest

It was in a willow swamp on the east
side of the Bridger Mountains, Mont.,
that I first made an intimate acquaintance
with the Wilson's Snipe. The swamp was
the home of many kinds of birds. A
colony of Brewer's Blackbirds built their
nests in the willows, and with them were
one or two nests of the Thick-billed Red-
wing. In an open, grassy spot. Western
Savannah Sparrows and Bobolinks were
common; and, each time I ventured in a
certain direction, a pair of Wilson's Phal-
aropes circled about my head, uttering
soft, plaintive notes. Near a small pool
of water, several Killdeer and a pair of
Carolina Rails were usually feeding. In
a corner where the willows grew tall and
thick, I found the bulky arched-over, mud-
and-stick nest of a pair of Magpies. In
addition to these birds, the early morn-
ing chorus proclaimed that Goldfinches,
White-crowned and Song Sparrows, Yel-
low Warblers, Yellow-throats, Catbirds,
Chickadees and Robins inhabited the wil-
low thicket.

During May and early June, the most
noticeable bird of all was the Wilson's
Snipe; though, as far as I knew, but a
single pair inhabited the swamp. From
earl}' in the evening, throughout the night,
and often until nine or ten o'clock in the

Notes from Field and Study

171

morning, the male Snipe was almost con-
stantly circling over the swamp, high in
the air, and, at intervals of perhaps five or
ten seconds, making a series of loud,
whirring wing-notes. Heard in a dark
night, the weird sound seems to be only
a few feet over one's head; but, in reality,
the bird is high up, often so high that it
is difficult to find him, even in daylight.
The bird begins his flight by a long,
noiseless slant, at an angle of perhaps
fifteen degrees to the horizontal. He soon
reaches a culminating point, turns and
shoots downward at about the same angle,
producing the curious sounds, which grow
louder and higher in pitch as the bird
descends. This ascending and descending
flight is continued around and around in
a wide circle two hundred yards or more
in diameter.

Once, when watching this performance,
I noticed that the bird began this down-
ward flight when directly opposite the
peak of a distant mountain. I counted
the number of upward and downward
flights as it went around the circle,
and at the end of five complete
flights found it again opposite the moun-
tain peak. I watched it several times as
it circled round, and found just five
flights in each circle. From where I stood,
the circle divided into ten equal parts by
the high and low points of flight, and each
of these points was always opposite a cer-
tain point in the horizon.

Several times I searched about the
swamp, in an attempt to find the Snipe's
nest, but was unsuccessful. Occasion-
ally I flushed a Snipe, and'often heard its
long, Rail-like call. On June 7, however,
when returning to the vicinity after an
absence of several days, a friend who
lived in a cabin near the edge of the swamp
told me that he had found the nest. In
a small grassy opening among the willows,
he pointed out the mother Snipe seated
on it. I approached within a few inches
of her back before she finally left the
nest. She dropped into the grass a few
feet away, and, for a time feigned lame-
ness, in an attempt to lead us away. The
nest was merely a hollow lined with a few

coarse grasses. The four dark brown,
heavily spotted eggs were placed with the
points together and the large ends up and
out. .

On June 12 I found that the young
were just coming out. One young bird,
still wet, lay beside its broken shell. A
second egg was cracked clear across, and
a third egg pipped. Soon the second egg
had fallen apart, and the j'oung bird, with
one foot in the air, was struggling to free
its head from the shell. During all this
time, the mother Snipe remained a few
feet away in the grass, watching us and
occasionally calling excitedly. The male
was circling through the sky, as usual,
and appeared to take no interest what-
ever in the nest or the young.

The next morning I was out early to
see what had occurred during the night.
The sky was clouded and a light rain was
falling. I flushed the female near the nest,
but found only broken shells and the
fourth egg, which had not hatched, in the
nest itself. After a long search through
the grass surrounding the nest, I found a
young bird only a few inches from its
edge. It appeared nearly twice as large,
and fully three times as interesting, as
the little wet chicks of the night before.
In spite of a rainy night, it was fluffed out
into a little round ball of brown, cream-
spotted down. After a little more search,
I discovered the other two young hiding
in the grass close to the nest. — Aretas A.
Saunders, Anaconda, Mont.

Notes From Prospect Park
Brooklyn, N. Y.

On May 14, 191 2, we observed Brew-
ster's Warbler and the Mourning Warbler
in Prospect Park.— K. P. and E. W.
ViETOR, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Unusual Abundance of Goldfinches
Bird-Lore will be glad to receive any
notes on the exceptional abundance of
Goldfinches during the past spring. At
Englewood, N. J., they have been ob-
served, since April 15, in flocks contain-
ing several hundred individuals. — Frank
M. Chapman, Englewood, N. J.

iSoofe J^etofi^ ana l^etotetofi^

Handbook of Birds of Eastern North
America. With Introductory Chapters
on the Study of Birds in Nature. By
Frank M. Chapman. With full-page
plates in colors and black and white by
Louis Agassiz Fuertes, and text-cuts bj'
Tappan Adney and Ernest Thompson
Seton. Revised Edition. New Yorlv
and London: D. Appleton & Co., 191 2;
XXX + 530pp.; i2mo, 24 plates, i map,
I color chart, 136 text-cuts.

Nearly a score of j'ears ago, the needs
of the amateur bird student were recog-
nized and met b}' the publication of the
first edition of the 'Handbook.' It set a
standard that is not only maintained in
the new edition before us, but one that
is now raised to an even higher plane, the
best of the old features being retained
and many new ones added, without
materially increasing the size of so handy
a volume. It is thoroughly up to date,
being virtually rewritten and improved
with new subject matter and new plates,
and is, in fact, a veritable granary of
ornithological information, concisely ar-
ranged by an author who, from personal
experience, is thoroughly familiar with
his subject, and possessed of remarkable
skill in separating the superfluous dross
from the fine gold. The beginner is
pleasantly led from subject to subject,
the advanced student will find much to
occupy his close attention, and even the
haughty expert, on turning the pages,
may learn a great deal that he did not
know before.

Viewed at close range, the 'Handbook'
is made up of two component parts: (i)
an 'Introduction' which of itself would
constitute a book of essays, and (2) 'The
Birds of North America east of the Nine-
teenth Meridian,' a part of which contains
concise descriptions of plumages, nests
and eggs, measurements and ranges,
migration and nesting dates, and brief
bits of life histories.

The brevity of Part II is made possible
by the comprehensiveness of Part I, which
presents "at least a suggestive biograjihA-

(

of the bird," or rather, so deals with
topics germane to every bird that, so far
as the individual species are concerned,
much may be taken for granted.

Comparing the new edition with the
old, we like the old style of type better
than the new, but, aside from this minor
consideration, the new surpasses the old
in every way. There is an increase of
pages from 421 to 530, of plates from 20
to 24, of illustrations from 115 to 136,
and a large expansion of the introductory
matter. Among the well-chosen plates
are some of Mr. L. A. Fuertes's best and,
as a splendid study of owls in black and
white, Plate XVIII is certainly unsurpassed.
The Biological Survey's colored zone map
of North America is a most useful addition,
and even the rule marked with both
inches and millimeters is an improvement
on the first edition. Many bibliographic
references to species have been grouped
at the ends of the chapters of the intro-
ductory part, or under the species or
group to which they refer, and the volume
concludes with a convenient bibliography
in which the titles of Standard 'local lists'
are arranged under states.

The 'Introduction,' prefaced by a
'Historical Review' and 'Plan of the Work'
deserves the thoughtful consideration of
every reader. It is divided into the follow-
ing chapters and sections:

Chapter I. — Why we should study birds.
Chapter II.tA word to the beginner.

Finding and naming birds.

The equipment of the field-student.

Collecting birds, their nests and eggs.

American ornithological societies.

Current ornithological magazines.
Chapter III. — The study of birds in
nature.

The distribution of birds.

The migration of birds.

The voice of birds.

The nesting season.

The plumage of birds.

The food of birds.

deneral activities of the adult bird.

72)

Book News and Reviews

173"

The above sections are again Mibdi-
vided and have convenient subtitles to
catch the eye, while a feature new in this
edition is the closing,' of eaih new section
with a bibliography of tiie more impor-
tant articles bearing upon that particular
subject of which it treats, and with a sort
of an examination paper for the benefit of
the student. The bibliographies, or
'References,' will prove a boon to those
who wish to dip deeper into any of the
subjects, and are the cream of llie lit-
erature. We may not (hvell deeply upon
the merits of each of the chaplers, l)ut
we are under the impression that llie
section on 'The Migration of Birds' is
perhaps the best essay that has yet been
written on this fascinating subject of
mystery and contention. The author's
wide field experiences enable him to cull
the conflicting facts and figures of others,
and weave them into harmony with his
own ideas, which incline toward setting
"instinctive functional activity" as the
mainspring of migration. Nor is his
statement that "existing phenomena are
not therefore to be explained solely by
observable causes," for the reason that
"birds have been migratory for an incal-
culable period," likely to be challenged.
This essay, illustrated by several instruc-
tive maps, is only one of the many gems
hidden among the pages of the 'Hand-
book,' which is not only a monument to
the knowledge and ability of its author,
but a boon to every bird student. — J. D., Jr

A History of the Birds of Colorado.
By William Lutley Sclater. With-
erby & Co., 326 High Holborn, London,
1912. 8 vo, xxiv, + 576 pp., 17 plates,
I map. Price, $5.

This excellent work is i)ublished as a
memorial to the late (Jencral William
J. Palmer, so well known as a public-
spirited citizen of Colorado, but it is also
a memorial to the all-too-brief stay of its
author in this country as director of the
Colorado College Museum. It is, in fact,
a manual of Colorado birds, with keys
to orders, families, genera and species,
descriptions of plumages, notes on general
and local distribution, with a concord-

ance of |)re\ious records of occurrence,
and a short account of genera! and nest-
ing habits.

The illustrations arc from photographs,
tliere is a contour map of Colorado, a
bibliography and a gazetteer of localities
mentioned; in short, the work is well
planned and well executed, and we can
only regret that it could not have been
issued in a large enough edition and at a
low enough i)rice to be accessible to all
students of Colorado bird-life for many
years to come. — F. M. C.

WdODi.AND Idyls. By W. S. Blatchley.
Indianapolis. Nature Publishing Co.,
igi2. i6mo, 242 pp., 3 half-tone plates.

Here is the record of close, intimate
communings with Nature, as she revealed
herself to the author during various
camping trips in western Indiana. Mr.
Blatchley's text is "Be ye satisfied with
little things," and the pleasure and profit
he derives from a study or contemplation
of everyday nature round about us is a
sermon of reproach to him who thinks
more wonderful worlds exist than those
we find at our threshold.

It is not so much what we see, but
how we see it, is the lesson this little
volume teaches, and we commend . it
particularly to those whose field of out-
door opportunities is geographically lim-
ited, but, as this book will show, poten-
tially without bounds. — F. M. C.

The Ornithological Magazines

The Auk.— The April number of 'The
Auk' under the guiding hand of the new
editor, Mr. Witmer Stone, is quite up
to the standard so long maintained by
Dr. J. .\. Allen, and contains a large
number of interesting articles. A par-
ticularly pleasing study of the home life
of a bird is Mr. R. T. Moore's 'The
Least Sandpiper During the Nesting Sea-
son in the Magdalen Islands,' illustrated
with several half-tones; and another bit
of careful bird study by the late Mr.
Frank Bolles, entitled 'Notes on Whip-
poorwills and Owls,' has been gleaned

174

Bird -Lore

from his notes by Mr. Brewster. Such
accurate and precise observations are to
be commended as models for the younger
generation of bird lovers to follow.

We are taken afield in South America
by Mr. S. N. Rhoads, in his 'Birds of the
Paramo of Central Ecuador,' and we read,
too, 'A last Word on the Passenger
Pigeon,' by Prof. C. F. Hodge. A some-
what speculative paper by Dr. S. F.
Trotter on 'The Relation of Genera to
Faunal Areas' claims attention. One by
Dr. C. W. Townsend on 'The Validity
of the Red-legged Subspecies of Black
Duck' tells of some Ducks in captivity.
The distressing conditions that prevail in
foreign countries, where all sorts of small
!birds are sold for food in the markets,
.are set forth by Dr. L. B. Bishop, under
title of 'Birds in Markets of Southern
Europe.' Song birds are sold like vegetables,
■strung together in bunches.

A fine illustration of what a bog priority
is for the professional ornithologist is
afforded in Mr. S. N. Rhoads' 'Additions
to the Known Ornithological Publications
of C. S. Rafinesque.' A couple of num-
bers of an old magazine, 'The Cosmonist,'
have been unearthed, one containing an
earlier name for the Cliff Swallow, and
the other an earlier name for the genus
HydrochelidoH, and misspelled at that!
There are said to be eighteen other miss-
ing numbers suspended like the sword of
Damocles above the heads of the nomen-
claturists. There is also professional food
for reflection in Mr. Witmer Stone's com-
ments on 'Vroeg's Catalogue.'

Prof. H. L. Clark's 'Notes on the Lay-
san Finch' are chiefly pterjdogical and
anatomical. Mr. W. L. McAtee discusses
'Certain Phases of the Theory of Recog-
nition Marks,' pointing out how easily
birds of supposedly keen eyesight are
decoyed by the crudest devices. Dr. D. E.
Wheeler offers 'Notes on the Spring Mi-
gration at Timber Line, north of Great
Slave Lake,' a region little known save
to trappers and Indians; hence the sketch
map accompanying the paper is of value.
Mr. C. H. Kennedy has 'Further Notes
on the Fruit-eating Habits of the Sage

Thrasher in the Yakima Valley, Wash-
ington,' and Mr. John E. Thayer gives
the history of some of the 'Great Auk
Eggs in the Thayer Museum,' together
with a half-tone of one of them.

'xA.n Apparently Unrecognized Race of
the Red-shouldered Hawk' is described
by Dr. L. B. Bishop, and named Buleo
lineatus texanus.

The Notes and Reviews are particu-
larly full, and we are glad to see an effort
made to index the contents of the ornith-
ological journals of all countries. Those
who bind their Auks should take notice
that the annual list of officers and mem-
bers appears in this number. — J. D., Jr.

The Condor. — The March number
of 'The Condor' contains only three
general articles. The first and most
e.\tended is entitled 'A Week Afield in
Southern Arizona,' by F. C. Willard. This
paper, which is illustrated with seven text
figures of nests and nesting-sites, gives the
experiences of an egg-collecting trip in the
region between Tombstone and Tucson
during the latter part of May, igii.

Mailliard's article on 'Passerella stephensi
in Marin County,' which contains the re-
sults of a critical examination of a series
of specimens, shows that Stephens' Fox
Sparrow, instead of being confined to South-
ern California, breeds in the Sierras as far
north as Tulare County, and occasionally
wanders north in winter to Marin County,
opposite the upper end of San Francisco
Bay. Ray's account of the 'Nesting of the
Canada Goose, at Lake Tahoe,' is a
welcome contribution to knowledge.

At the meeting of the Northern Division
of the Cooper Club, held in January, a
'Committee on the Conservation of Wild
Life' was appointed as one of the perma-
nent committees of the club, and a state-
ment outlining its work has been prepared
by its chairman, W. P. Taylor. Created
for the purpose of cooperating with other
organizations and stimulating public in-
terest in the protection of wild life, this
committee has a wide and important
field before it, and is in a position to take
up some of the broader problems of game
conservation on the Pacific coast. — -T. S. P

Editorial

175

iStrti itore

A Bi-monthly Magazine
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE Al'DUHON SOCIETIES

Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Contributing Editor, MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

Published by D. APPLETON & CO.

Vol. XIV Published June 1. 1912 No. 3

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

COPTRIGHl'BD, 1912, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Bird-Lore's Motto:
A Bird in the Bush Is Worth Two in the Band

The bill to protect migratory game
and insectivorous birds (No. 6497), which
was introduced into the United States
Senate by Senator JNIcLean, on April 24,
was reported on favorabh' by the Com-
mittee on Forest Reservations and Pro-
tection of Game, two days later. Game
commissioners and other officials rep-
resenting forty-three states appeared
before the Committee, and its report
states that "their testimony based upon
years of experience and practical obser-
vation, was conclusive to the fact that
state control of migratory birds, must, from
the very nature of the surrounding temp-
tations and conditions, end in failure."

Under the provisions of the bill in
question, the Unites States Department
of Agriculture would decide at what
season migratory game birds could be
properl}' hunted. That is, the often
widely varying laws now existing would
give way to one law based, not on selfish
or local considerations, but with a full
understanding of all the facts involved,
and with an eye to the rights of the public
at large rather than to the short-sighted
interests of the few. Everyone desirous
of due protection for our migratory birds
will realize how incalculably the cause of
bird conservation would be advanced by
the passage of this measure, and it is hoped
that it will become a law.

This measure, we should add, embodies,
in effect, the provisions of the original
Shiras bill.

In addition to the usual articles ac-
companying the colored plates appearing
in this issue of Hird-Lore, we print also
studies of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak
and Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which
could have been made only through that
close, intimate, personal association which
we establish with an\- creature which
depends upon us for its existence.

Whether the lives of the 'Little Hum-
mer' and 'Ezekiel' were prolonged or
shortened by human care, or whether even
in sympathetic captivity, they missed that
freedom which was their rightful heritage,
we may not know; but it is significant
that each recorder of the history of these
short lives expresses, independently, her
belief that they were not lived in vain.

Among current items of popular news-
paper natural history designed to rejoice
the discriminating, is a somewhat preten-
tious article in a New York evening paper,
which prides itself on accuracy of state-
ment, in which a fluent if not wise reporter
writing on John Burroughs' seventy-
fifth birthday, tells us how greatly Mr.
Burroughs' has missed hearing the song
of the wake-robin this spring! No one,
we may add, to whom we have related
this delightful observation, has enjoyed
it more than Mr. Burroughs.

We should also share with Bird-Lore's
readers our pleasure in an advertisement
which appears in a late issue of a millinery
trade journal, offering for sale, in addition
to "gorgeous and dazzling Paradise,
Goura, Pigeon and Numidie," the "ex-
ceedingly rare and rakish quills of the
Great Auk." If this be a joke, it appears
to be on the advertiser, since the Great
Auk, as a member of the family Alcidae,
is protected by the laws of the state in
which its "quills" are offered for sale.

The next issue of Bird-Lore will con-
tain an important and valuable article by
Mr. Frederic H. Kennard on planting for
birds, with a practically complete list of
the shrubs and trees of temperate eastern
North America, which bear fruit on which
birds mav feed.

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Edited by ALICE HALL WALTER
Address all communications relative to the work of this depart-
ment to the Editor, at 53 Arlington Avenue, Providence, R. I.

A TIMELY SUGGESTION

In the Summer School of Science that is held during July, at Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia, there are fifty-eight scholarships offered for competition, which
shows, to quote 'The Educational Review,' that "a practical and very whole-
some interest is being taken in the school by its friends."

It is quite common, nowadays, for the lay public to interest itself in edu-
cational matters, either individually or through clubs and other organizations.
There is no end to the scholarships that have been established in colleges and
universities, but very few have, as yet, been placed in summer schools.

Now that our common schools stand in so great need of practically trained
teachers of nature-study, what better way could there be to meet this need, and
what more desirable task could Audubon Societies undertake than to found
some scholarships in summer schools, where nature is studied in the open,
for teachers who would like the opportunity for study in such schools, but who
cannot meet the entire expense of tuition, board and carfare?

In answer to inquiries regarding summer schools, the following list is given,
with addresses, in most cases, to which may be sent applications for circulars:
Cornell Summer School. Cornell University. Ithaca, N. Y.

Woods Hole Biological Station. Prof. F. R. Lillie, University of Chicago, Chicago, 111.
Storrs Summer School. Pres. C. L. Beach, The Connecticut .Vgricultural College,

Storrs, Conn.
The Biological Laboratory of The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Dr. C. B.

Davenport, Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, N. Y.
Summer School of Science, Yarmouth, N. S. J. D. Seaman, Sec, 63 Bayfield St.,

Charlottetown, P. E. I.
The Summer Station of The Leland Stanford Jr. University. Pacific Grove, Cal.
La Jolla Summer Station. Prof. C. A. Kofoid, University of California, Berkeley, Cal.
The Mountain Laboratory. Dr. Francis Ramaley, University of Colorado, Boulder, Col.
Summer Station of the University of Michigan, in 191 2, near Mackinac Island. Prof.

D. E. Rankin, Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Ohio State Lake Laboratory. Prof. Herbert Osborn, Ohio State University,

Columbus, Ohio.
The Puget Sound Station. Prof. Trevor Kincaid, University of Washington, Seattle,

Wash.
Summer School of the South. Knoxville, Tenn.
South Carolina Summer School. Rock Hill, S. C.
Virginia State Summer School. Charlottesville, Va.

For other Summer Schools of the Middle West, inquire of the Editor of The Nature-
Study Review, School of Education, University of Chicago, Chicago, 111. — .\. H. W.

(176)

FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS

Exercise III. Summer Neighbors

Correlated Studies : Geography, Arithmetic and Drawing

In the preceding exercise, a brief description was given of the great number
of spring travelers which may be regularly found at this season of the year,
all about us. To describe, even very concisely, the destinations and summer
activities of each of these travelers would fill many pages. Among birds alone,
there are hundreds of migrating species. In order to gain any clear idea of
their movements, it will be necessary to select only a few of the commonest,
and follow them to their summer homes.

This may seem an easy thing to do, but it is really a difficult task to
determine just which species are the commonest throughout the length and
breadth of our great continent. The birds which are best known in the East
may be rare, or entirely absent, in the West, while those which nest in the
same regions of the North, may travel various routes thither from the South.

In the table, given below, thirty species have been selected, representing
nearly all orders of North American birds, and the majority of families into
which the largest order is subdivided. Some of these birds may be quite unfa-
miliar to many, but by learning a few facts about each, in a systematic way,
it will soon become easy to remember a great deal about a large munber of
birds that are nearly related to each other, in the various orders and families
noted.

The systematic study of any group of related objects, living or dead, is
known as classification. Although it is sometimes considered hard and unin-
teresting, it is after all the only convenient and sure way to learn about the
vast numbers of birds and other forms that make up nature. Let us think
of classification as a large case, which shows, when the door is opened, a number
of graduated pigeon-holes one within another, like an eastern juggler's set of
boxes.

We may begin with the largest pigeon-hole, marked class, and put into it
all the birds in the world, but upon comparing different birds, it will be found
that some are more nearly alike than others. In North America, we can pick
out seventeen such groups, which are called orders, when thus divided. The
pigeon-hole marked class, therefore, must be large enough to contain not only
seventeen smaller pigeon-holes, but also several others for orders of birds
found elsewhere in the world. Sorting out our birds into their respective orders,
we may next go through each order separately, and again find smaller groups,
still more closely related, which are known as families. Re-sorting once more,
we may go on, subdividing each family into genera, the singular of which is
genus. Just as we might expect, the pigeon-holes for genera are smaller in
size and frequently more numerous than those for families and orders.

(177)

178 Bird -Lore

But, after all this work, we shall keep finding birds mixed together that
are quite unlike each other. By sorting over the different genera in each
family, we shall at last get single kinds of birds, or species, as they are called.
However, as we shall see later, even one kind of bird may vary much in differ-
ent climates and localities,— so much, indeed, that it has been thought best
to give still another name to each one of the varieties of a species. Accord-
ingly, we find the smallest pigeon-hole of all marked subspecies.

Now to illustrate all this, take the common Song Sparrow, which is found
quite generally throughout North America. It is a species which varies so
greatly in different places and in different climates that at least twenty
subspecies of it are known, each looking like a Song Sparrow, but no two
of which are exactly alike.

Along with the Song Sparrow are two other species, Lincoln's and the
Swamp Sparrows, quite similar in general appearance. For convenience, these
three species are placed together in one genus. But there are hundreds of
species of Sparrows, to say nothing of Finches, Grosbeaks, Crossbills, Long-
spurs, and other seed-eating birds, all so much alike in habit and structure
that the various genera to which they belong seem to come naturally into a
great family group. This family, like a large number of other families, is made
up of birds which have feet enabling them to perch on a support. Taken all
together, they are easily recognized as perching-birds, belonging to the same
order.

Now when all the different orders of birds in the world are put together,
we have just birds in a class by themselves, as distinguished from all other
animals and plants which are each classified in a similar manner.

One cannot learn a table of classification in the same way as a table of
weights or measures. It would be extremely handy if one could commit to
memory such a table, say, as this:

20 Subspecies make a species.
10 Species make a genus.

5 Genera make a family.
3 Families make an order.

21 Orders make a class.

No, this will not do, for nearly every order has a different number of families,
and nearly every family, a different number of genera, and so on through the
entire list. These relationships can better be learned out-of-doors than by
rule of book, provided the observations made are pigeon-holed in a practical
way. By making a simple table of classification to "carry in the head," it
becomes easy to recognize birds by their form, habits, food, flight, voice and
general appearance, rather than by plumage alone. When the student learns
to observe in this way, classification becomes an alphabet by means of which
natural objects reveal their relations to each other.

Coming now to the table of thirty representative species, that we hope

The Audubon Societies

179'

will bring us into touch with all our feathered spring travelers and summer
neighbors, we find that the list includes all kinds of birds, living on land or
water, or in the air above us.

An Outline of North American Birds

Name of Species

No. of
Fami-
lies

No. of
Genera

No. of
Species

No. of
Sub-
species

Loon

Herring Gull

Wilson's Petrel

White Pelican

Canada Goose

[Flamingo, tropical]

Great Blue Heron

Coot

Spotted Sandi)iper

(Bob-White, etc., resid't).

Mourning Do\'e

Bald Eagle

[Carolina Paroquet]

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Chimney Swift

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

Diving Birds

Long-winged Swimmers.
Tube-nosed Swimmers. .
Totipalmate Swimmers..
Ducks, Geese and Swans
"Long-legged Ducks" . .

Wading Birds

Running Birds

Shore Birds

Gallinaceous Birds

Pigeons and Doves

Birds of Prey

Parrots, Macaws, etc....
Cuckoos, Trogons, etc...

Woodpeckers

Goatsuckers, Swifts, etc.
Perching Birds

6

lO

19
138

24

28

352

34

4

437

Note :— Fifty species and seventy-two subspecies are extralimital. A. O. U. Check-List, 1910.

Order XVII — Perching Birds

Name of Spec
Tropical

[Cotinga]

Kingbird

Horned Lark

Crow

Starling

Cowbird

Song Sparrow

Scarlet Tanager

Barn Swallow

Cedar Wax wing

Northern Shrike

Red-eyed Vireo

[Bahama Honey Creeper, sub-
tropical]

Redstart

(Pipit)

(Dipper)

Brown Thrasher

House Wren

Brown Creeper

(White-breasted Nuthatch, resi-
dent)

(Chickadee, resident)

(Wren-Tit)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Robin

Suborder

Family

Clamatores,

or

r I

Cotingas.

Songless Bii

ds

( 2.

FIj'catchers.

r ''■

Larks.

4-

Crows, Jays, Ravens, etc.

5-

Starlings.

6.

Blackbirds, Orioles, Crackles
etc.

7-

Grosbeaks, Finches, Spar
rows, etc.

8.

Tanagers.

Q.

Swallows.

10.

II.

Waxwings.
Shrikes.

Oscines

12.

Vireos.

or

True Singing

Birds

13-

Honey Creepers.

Note : — Brackets signify southern species sparingly represen
dent species or those not commonly known.

14. Wood Warblers.

15. Wagtails.

16. Dippers.

17. Thrashers, Mockingbirds, etc,

18. Wrens.

19. Creepers.

20. Nuthatches.

21. Chickadees.

22. Wren-Tits.

23. Kinglets, Gnatcatchers, etc.

24. Thrushes, Robins, Bluebirds,

etc.
ted in North America; parentheses, resi-

->i8o Bird -Lore

Studying the birds in this table carefully and in the order given, let us see
liow many we have ever heard of before. Probably the Perching Birds are
most familiar, and who can guess for what reason? Arithmetic may help
us to answer this question. Suppose we look up the different families and
-species under each order and discover which order contains the most families
■3,nd which the most species? Also, which contains the fewest? We might
figure out, too, how many species there are in all the orders taken together.

It is estimated that there are over 12,000 species of birds in the world,
possibly as many as 14,000. Do you think North America has its share of
Thirds? Sometime we may learn how all these different kinds of birds are dis-
tributed throughout the world, but now we must turn to the thirty species
"we have selected and find out something of their summer homes, and how
they may happen to be our neighbors for a few months of each year.

The Loon belongs to an order of birds that is made up of three quite dis-
tinct families: the Grebes, which look like small, tailless ducks; the big Loons;
■and a large group of strange, northern birds. Auks, Puffins, Guillemots, Murres,
and the little Dovekie, few of which come down to temperate North America.
The Loon is as remarkable a diver as any of these water-birds, and is known
quite generally throughout the length and breadth of our continent. In win-
ter, you may find it from the region of the Great Lakes, southern British
-Columbia and southern New England down to Florida, the Gulf Coast and
Lower California. With the coming of spring it starts north and for those
who know its conspicuously marked black-and-white plumage it is a migrant
•eagerly awaited. Draw a line on your map from northern California eastward
to the northern part of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, New
Hampshire, and so on, to Nova Scotia. South of this line the Loon rarely,
if ever, breeds, but north of it you may follow the nesting of this spring
traveler up to Kotzebue Sound, Banks Land, Barrow Strait and northern
Greenland.

Quite different from the Diving Birds are the Long-winged Swimmers of
Order II. Skuas, Jaegers, Gulls, Terns, the Noddy and the Black Skimmer
are found here, all of them birds of much grace on the wing, especially the
beautiful Gulls and Terns, or "Sea-swallows," as the latter are commonly
called. Probably no species in this order is better known than the large Herring
Gull. Its winter home extends from the northern edge of the United States
to Lower California, western Mexico, the Bahamas, Cuba, Yucatan, and the
coast of Texas; while, in Europe, it is found as far south as the Caspian and
Mediterranean Seas. Springtime finds this gull moving northward to nest.
How far north it goes you may see on the map, by looking up central Alaska,
Melville Island, southern Ellesmere Land and Cumberland Sound. In this
order of birds, as in the first order, we find stories of great destruction. Take
time to read about the former breeding-resorts of the Gulls and Terns and
compare them with those now in use. You will learn many surprising facts.

The Audubon Societies i8i

It is quite true that we cannot atlord to lose these feathered scavengers about
our harbors, coasts, and larger inland waters.

It is more than likely that many of you have never seen or heard of the
Tube-nosed Swimmers, unless, possibly, you have read of the Albatross, or
the Petrels which go by the name of "Mother Carey's Chickens." The birds
•of this order wander far out to sea, being seen only occasionally off land.

Fulmars, Shearwaters, Petrels and the powerful Albatrosses, famed in
song, that find their way over the southern Pacific even to the coast of China
and Japan, are all birds of the ocean, wanderers of the high seas from the
largest to the smallest. Transatlantic voyagers often see the Uttle Wilson's
Petrel, beating back and forth by the ship, at home anywhere on the vast
expanse of water. From May to September, it roams the Atlantic as far north
as the British Isles and Labrador, very rarely straying to inland waters. Feb-
ruary finds this hardy visitor breeding in rocky crevices along the little-
Jcnown islands of the Antarctic Ocean. Can you reckon the distance from
Labrador to Kerguelen Island, and find out how long a journey this tiny
Petrel, which is scarcely larger than a Sparrow, makes?

In order IV we find birds which have all four toes webbed. Their young
.are born naked, instead of feathered like those of other water-birds, and there-
fore their nests are fashioned with more care. A strange group of birds is
this, from the long-tailed Tropic-Birds, the curious Anhinga, or Water-Turkey,
sometimes also called "Snake-bird," and the Man-o'-war-bird or "Frigate-
bird" which is noted for its wonderful power of flight, to the Booby and Gannet,
the odd-looking Cormorants, and still odder Pelicans. The great White
Pelican, which is fast becoming rare, as its breeding-haunts are claimed by
man, is one of the notable travelers of the interior, while the Gannet and
Cormorants are better known along our coasts. The White Pelican goes as
far north as latitude 6i.° In the winter it leaves the United States, except
along the borders of the Gulf of Mexico and Southern California, keeping on
to Central America.

Order V brings us to birds which we know and see rather commonly. Of
all spring travelers, the Canada or "Wild" Goose is perhaps the most welcome,
for, when the "honking" of Wild Geese is heard, we feel sure that snow and
ice w'ill melt soon. From Texas, Florida, southern California, and now and
then from Jamaica and the Bermudas, this large Goose comes on powerful
wings, to nest in bleak Labrador to the East, and from the north of those
states fed by the upper Mississippi, west to Oregon, and so far on, up to the
tree-limit in the lower Yukon valley, northwestern Mackenzie and central
Keewatin. One must have sharp eyes to spy out the swiftly flying birds
of this order, whose whistling wings cut the air with the speed of an express
train, as they fly by in orderly companies.

Quite as striking a bird, either on the wing or on foot, as the Canada Goose,
is the Great Blue Heron, the largest of the wading-birds which commonly

i82 Bird -Lore

visit us. Indeed, no order contains a more interesting or remarkable group
of birds than Order VII, for here belong the Roseate Spoonbill, the Ibises
with long, curved bills, the Storks, the exquisite Egrets, the Herons of darker
plumage, and the stealthy Bitterns. Largely gregarious by habit, it has been
easy for man to nearly exterminate several of these species. It is, perhaps,
well that so few of them come north to spend the summer with us. The Great
Blue Heron is a traveler of no mean extent, since it comes from the Weit Indies,.
Panama and Venezuela to Prince Edward Island, northern Ontario, central
Alberta, Manitoba, and southeastern British Columbia.

Order VIII is a little-known group, so far as the ordinary bird-student is
concerned, and small wonder, when we think of the secretive, swift-footed
birds which belong to it. Who has tried to watch a Rail or a Gallinule or the
southern Limpkin, or who has had an opportunity to see the great Cranes
which have become so rare in our day? The Coot, of all these short-tailed
runners, takes to the water with the ease of a Duck. During migration, its
white bill, ringed about with brownish spots, makes it a conspicuous object,
in spite of its dull slate-colored plumage. Some Coots remain in southern
Mexico, Guatemala and the West Indies, to breed; while others, coming up
from Colombia and Central America, spread out widely over the northern
half of the United States and southern British America.

And now we come to birds of somewhat smaller build, and of even greater
variety, the Shore Birds, among whom is our most famous long-distance
traveler, the Golden Plover. No mean tourist is the Spotted Sandpiper, so
common along inland waters, as well as on the coast. Take the map and find
southern Brazil and central Peru; then go north to the tree-limit in Alaska
and on to Mackenzie, Keewatin, Ungava and Newfoundland, taking a jump
across the ocean to Great Britain and Helgoland, for even to these distant
parts has this Sandpiper been known to stray.

The Shore Birds are hard to recognize until one becomes used to their
motions, flight and call-notes, but, once learned, they are seldom forgotten.
The names of the different birds in this order suggest the wonderful variety
of feathered travelers along our shores and waterways. Phalarope, Avocet,
Stilt, Woodcock, Snipe, Dowitcher, Sandpiper, Knot, Stint, Dunlin, Sander-
ling, Godwit, Green-shank, Yellow-legs, Willet, Tatler, Ruff, Curlew, Lap-
wing, Dotterel, Plover, Surf Bird, Turnstone, Oyster-catcher and Jacana are
words to whet the imagination and arouse the curiosity.

Order X we must skip here, since it contains only resident birds, the Grouse,
Bob-white, Ptarmigans, Partridges, Prairie Hens, Wild Turkeys, Curassows
and Guans. Like Orders VI and XIII, it is interesting to study.

Order XI is not as large as some of the other groups, but it will always be
famous on account of the Passenger Pigeon, "most beautiful of its kind," which
it is feared, is now completely exterminated. The Mourning, or Carolina,
Dove, which is far more common west of the Alleghanies than in the Atlantic

The Audubon Societies 183

States, is smaller and less richly tinted than the Passenger Pigeon. From
Panama to the great Saskatchewan plains, British Columbia, Manitoba,
Ontario and southern Nova Scotia, this well-known Dove is found. Harmless
and gentle, it is a species to protect. The destruction of the Passenger Pigeon
within the memory of people now living is a warning which should put every-
one on guard to save the Mourning Dove from a similar fate.

The Birds of Prey, sometimes spoken of as raptorial birds, are many in
number, far-ranging in space, and of great economic value to man. We are
used to Hawks, Owls and Eagles, but less familiar, perhaps, with Vultures,
Kites, Gyrfalcons, the Osprey, and the curious tropical Caracara. The Bald
Eagle, unlike some other members of this order that migrate regularly, is
resident with us. From northern Mexico throughout the United States, this
noble bird is sparingly found, while a subspecies, the Northern Bald Eagle,
extends this range to the tree-limit in the Arctic regions. Like the Duck
Hawk and Fish Osprey, the Bald Eagle has a fondness for water. It is always
conspicuous on account of its white head, neck and tail.

Along our water-courses, the common Kingfisher seems a part of the
scenery throughout its extensive breeding range. In summer, we may find
it anywhere between the southern coast states and the Arctic regions. It is
associated in Order XIV with the Trogons of the tropics and the Cuckoos,
which migrate to the north temperate zone.

Of all the Woodpecker tribe, none is so familiar as the Downy. Known
by different subspecies in different parts of the coimtry, this species ranges
quite generally through temperate North America. The Woodpeckers are
less migratory by habit than many of the orders we have been studying
and the Downy Woodpecker is called a permanent resident. Highly useful,
like the majority of the Birds of Prey, our Woodpeckers should be well
protected.

Order XVI brings us to a strange assortment of birds, the Night Haw^ks,
Whippoorwills, Swifts and Hummingbirds, each of which has an enter-
taining history. Many years ago, it was thought that the Chimney Swift
simply dropped into the mud to spend the winter, and, even now its exact
route of migration is not known completely. It is an eastern species, breeding
just north of the United States down to the Gulf Coast. It is known to visit
Vera Cruz and Cozumel Island in winter, and will probably also be found in
Central America. Before man put up chimneys, the Swift used hollow trees
as a site for its colony of curious nests. Can you find out how it has been able
to construct its nest against the sheer side of brick chimneys?

Brief as is this hasty survey of the sixteen orders outside of the Perching
Birds, it is far too long to warrant us in taking up Order XVII now. We may,
however, make as many observations as possible during May and June, on
the great host of migrants belonging to this order. This will add much to the
interest of a systematic study of them later.

[84 Bird -Lore

SUGGESTIONS

Visit a museum, if possible, and look up the birds of the different orders, noting size,
shape of bills, wings and feet, and general coloration of plumage. Look also for the
nest and eggs, observing size, shape, color and number of latter.

INIount and hang up in the schoolroom colored pictures of the birds mentioned irk
the table, and as many more as may be practicable.

Draw the bills and feet of the different types represented in the orders given, using
Chapman and Reed's "Color Key to North American Birds" as a guide.

For the story of the Great Auk, see "Lost and Vanishing Birds," by Charles Dixon;
the Flamingo, Pelicans, etc., "Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist," F. M. Chapman;
the Passenger Pigeon, Downy Woodpecker, etc., "American Ornithology," Wilson
and Bonaparte; Gulls and Terns, Reports of the Committee on the Protection of North
American Birds, also those of The National Association of Audubon Societies, in 'The
Auk' and Bird-Loee. — A. H. W.

FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS

An Albinic Burrowing Owl

On November 28, while I was walking alone about three miles from home,
near a series of rock ledges, I heard a very unfamiliar song, which seemed to
come out of the rock. Walking up cautiously, I tapped the rock lightly.
There silently flew from under it an Owl, which lit fearlessly on the ground,
comparatively near. Being afraid of frightening the bird by nearer approach,
I drew the accompanying picture from my situation. The note was about the
same as that of other Burrowing Owls, although the body was more violently
moved, as the Ki-ca-rak was uttered. Some boys, afterward going by, also
frightened the bird out, shot it and gave it to me. It was nearly white (very
light cream), with only five noticeable brown spots. No other difference in
its plumage was perceptible. Several balls were found near its abode, which
consisted entirely of hard portions of large beetles. — George Sutton (age
13), Fort Worth, Texas.

[The pencil-sketch made by the observer, represents the Owl standing upright by
a rock, full face to the front. It is seldom that any bird remains quiet long enough
to have its picture drawn, even hastily, but it is worth while to try sketching living
birds, in order to remember their characteristic attitudes more clearly. The Owl above
described is a subspecies of a type species which is confined to South America. Highly
beneficial in its food-habits, this interesting creature selects the disused burrow of some
small mammal, a ground squirrel, prairie dog, woodchuck, fox, wolf, or the like, or of
a land tortoise or large lizard, as a retreat and nesting-abode. For this reason, strange
stories have been told about the remarkable relationship that is said to exist between
the Burrowing Owl, the prairie dog and the rattlesnake. The truth is, that the rattle-
snake eats the eggs and young of the Owl, the Owl in return, may eat the young snakes,
and fiercely attack adults of various large species besides devouring with relish the
young of the prairie dog, while the latter may also destroy the eggs of the Owl. Thus
this strangely assorted trio, enemies each to the other by nature, are drawn together only
by their peculiar habits. For a detailed description of the Burrowing Owl, see "Hawks

The Audubon Societies 185.

and Owls of the United SliUes,' Ijv l)r. A. K. Fisher, United States Department of
AKricullure, Hulk-tin No. 3, Division of Ornit hology and Mammalogy, 1893. — A. H. W.]j|

An Acknowledgment

[Early in the spring, it was my pleasant task to send one of the traveling bird-boxes
of the Rhode Island Audubon Society to the Slater Avenue School in Providence. Soon
after, a small and radiant messenger brought me a large envelope, containing personal
letters from each pupil in grades 3 and 4 B. These letters were written, first to express
thanks for the use of the box, and then to relate individual experiences in feeding and.
observing birds during the winter. It would be a pleasure to print the entire list, if
space would permit. The following extracts will show the spirit in which bird-study
is undertaken by these iliildren, whose ages are between 8 and 10 years. — A. H. W.]

. . . Monday, I put crumbs out for the birds. A little Sparrow came and
stood by it. He seemed a little frightened at first, but a little later came-
and took a crumb. I put out some more this morning, but the wind blew
them away. I am going to put some out every day now. . . . — Harriette.
Sumner (aged 8) .

... I am very much interested in birds. I love to feed the birds too. We
ha\e the bird-box on the shelf in front to the room, so we can see it whenever-
we come into the schoolroom. For Christmas I wanted a bird book, but I
did not get it. Every Christmas we put out our Christmas tree. After it is
put outdoors, I make the birds a Christmas too. I get crumbs and straw
and things they like. . . . — Margery Armington (aged 9).

. . . Sometimes when I am playing in the woods, I see lots of birds. One
morning, when I got out of bed, I went to the window and saw six Blue Jays
in the cherry tree in the next yard. I threw some bread crumbs out before
breakfast, and when I came out to go to school they were all gone. . . . —
Allen Williams (aged 8).

... I have seen the Blue Jay, the Sparrows, the Brown [Black?] and White ■
Creeper, Chickadee and Woodpecker. I have not seen tiie Nuthatch this win-
ter, but I am looking for it. I like birds very much and have fed them. I
gave them some bread crumbs and water. I feed the Sparrows because not
any other kinds have come to me yet. . . . — Marjorie Bedell (aged 9).

... I have seen a lot of Sparrows on our barberry bushes. They like bar-
berries to eat. Once a Sparrow started to build a nest over my window. . . .
— William B. Jacobs (aged 9).

. . . Every morning I put out crumbs for the birds. They come every
morning to get the crumbs to eat. I have seen the Chickadee, Nuthatch,
Woodpecker and the Blue Jay. I like birds very much. We have a little

kitty, and every morning he goes to the, window, to get the Sparrows

— Shirley S. Elsbree (aged 8).

THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

By MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

%^t JBattonal Si00otiation ot Audubon ^ocittitQ

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 56

When the cherry blossoms have fallen and the buds in the tumbled-down
■old apple orchard are showing pink tips, when the gold-and-black Baltimore
Oriole is calling plaintively to his belated lady-love, and the rich song of the
unseen Rose-breast falls from the tree-tops, — with a whirr and a flash, a jewel
■set in a bit of iridescent metal- work slants across the garden, and we say with
bated breath, "The Hummingbird has come."

In this case, the has a very definite meaning ; for in the length and breadth
■ of the country that lies between the Mississippi and the Atlantic, and from
Florida to Labrador, there is but one species of Hummingbird, that of the
Ruby-throat. (The twilight flying creature so often mistaken for a Humming-
bird is, in truth, a hawk moth.) Though there may sometimes be several pairs
in a comparatively small area, the Hummingbird, like the Eagle, prefers to
.live alone, and never at any time of the year follows the flocking habit of other
birds.

When a pair of Hummers first make up their minds to share your garden,
you will have many chances to watch them before nest-building makes them
more elusive. The Hummingbird has the reputation of being constantly on
the wing; but, in reality, it is only so while it is collecting food, either the honey
from flowers or the small aphis with which it feeds its young, and it spends
• quite as much time in perching as any other bird. Dead twigs of hemlock or
Norway spruce make favorite perches here in my garden, and it often seems
.as if the dainty little thing chose the twigs with conscious regard to the color-
protection of his surroundings, when, lol he is off again, and this times perches
in the open on a taut wire, where the light plays on every ruby feather of his
gorget, making him conspicuous out of all proportion to his size.

While he rests thus, preening first one wing and then the other, it is a
-fine chance to study the bird in detail — the upperparts feathered in glistening
green, with metallic tints of purple and blue upon wings and tail, and the won-
derful ruby throat, separated from the dull gray-green breast by a line of light.
From the end of his needle-like bill to the tail-tip he measures a trifle under
three and one-fourth inches, while the wings that make the resonant hum,
suggesting the motive power of a machine rather than of a bird, measure
-only about one and a-half inches on either side of the body. Truly this is our
"least" bird, the competitor for this honor being the pert little cinnamon
iDrown Winter Wren, that measures a trifle over four inches, and the con-
jfiding Golden-crowned Kinglet of the yellow-bordered orange crown, olivace-

(i86)

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
Order-MACROCHi RES Family-TROCH i Li dm

Genus-ARCHiLocHUS Spe=ies-CoLUBRis

National Association of Audubon Societies
Educational Leaflet No. 56

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird 187

ous ui)pcr plumage, and dull while undcrparts, a bird that we see frequently
in orchards during the migrations. Though this Kinglet is only about one point
longer than the Wren, and about one-fourth of an inch longer than the Ruby-
throat, it appears to be much larger on account of its fluffy breast feathers.

So slim and compact is the Humm'ngbird that, seen at the usual distance,
its plumage has more the appearance of metal work than the shaft and down
of feathers. It's voice also has the sharp squeak of metallic contact, and is
utterly unlike the usual bird note. I have heard precisely the same tone from a
mouse. But, at close range, all these qualities are transformed. This is a case
when a bird in the hand gave me a different idea of that same bird in the
bush, forevermore.

Let it be distinctly understood, however, that the coming within range of
my touch was by way of succor, and not by way of capture. Many times as
the same thing has happened, the first is the best remembered, like many
other first times, from the combination of surprise and novelty.

It was at the beginning of rose time. The long-tubed honeysuckles on the
back porch brought the Hummingbirds in close range with the dining-room
window, and, apparently fearless, they came to and fro during all the daylight
hours, sometimes conversing in amicable squeaks, and then again waging a
warfare of evidently angry words and beak thrusts, even though the pair were
mates, one with the ruby-throat and the female without, after the family
custom.

The lower part of the large window was screened by wire netting, the upper
sash, with its diamond panes backed by the partly darkened room, made a
series of mirrors, in which the male bird presently spied his own reflection.
Could a high-spirited cavalier allow a rival not only to be in the same garden
but to be hovering above the very honeysuckle with Mrs. Ruby! Forward and
back went Sir Ruby, fencing with the reflection first in one pane and then
another, squeaking shrUly, and gradually coming so close that he struck the
pane recklessly. Then came a slip and a desperate thrust, when flying too low,
the bird was caught by the beak in the firm meshes of the wire screen, where,
after a single effort, he hung quite stunned by the shock.

Going outside, after hesitating a moment, — so frail and intangible a thing
it seemed to touch, — I gently released the bill and laid the little body, now
inert, with limp neck, in my palm. The tiny claws were closed like clenched
fists; had its neck been broken, — was it dead? No, for the eyes were open
bright, though they did not see, and one of the things that I learned years
ago from that unfailing observer. Dr. Elliott Coues, was that, contrary to other
forms of animal life, the eyes of a bird always shut in death.

As I closed my hand a little, with the natural instinct to brood and comfort
the one hurt, I suddenly felt the thump of that mite of a heart, and the head
raised a bit and then fell back again, beak parted. Water and a grass blade
to carry the water to the beak drop by drop was the next step. The bill

i88 Bird -Lore

closed and the water was swallowed until five drops were consumed, — quite
a draught, all things considered. Another minute and the head was raised.
I tried to make a perch of my finger, but it was too large by far. Securing a
dry twig from the honeysuckle, I wedged it as well as I could with one hand
across a berry basket that was on the porch table, and placed Sir Ruby upon
it, setting the basket well into the shade of the vine.

The claws held firmly to the twig, and the bird settled down sleepily, his
only motion being to rub his head (eyes now closed) under one half-raised
wing. Then I moved back a few feet and waited. Perhaps two minutes passed
when, without warning, Sir Ruby, with a single motion, darted from the
vine without even touching the basket's edge, and angled across the garden,
as good as new. What he thought I cannot know, but I shall never forget the
wonderful revelation of the bird world, and reverence for the creative plan
complete in so small a frame, that thrilled through me at the beating of that
little heart against my palm.

As housebuilders, these Hummingbirds are as unique as in their appear-
ance. Whether the site chosen for a nest be high up almost out of sight, or on
a slanting branch close at hand, the nest is usually set astride the limb like a
saddle on a horse, instead of being supported by a hand-like series of crotches.
An unused nest that I have now before me shows very perfectly the materials
from, which it was made. Next to the maple branch, less than half an inch
thick, is a layer of the soft scales that fall on the opening of spruce buds; the
body of the nest is of fern wool, mixed with the down of some composite
smaller than the ordinary dandelion. The outside is shingled with cedar-tree
moss, as well as a few of the dark scales of spruce bark.

In this nest, the edge is quite loose and fluffy, and the structure itself is
rather small, being not over an inch above its foundation. In this case, the
home was, for some unknown reason, abandoned immediately after the eggs
were laid ; had the birds been hatched, the nest would have given them but
poor protection. The condition of this nest is apparently explained by two
cases that I have watched in the garden, when, after the young were hatched,
the mother bird built up the nest about them as they grew! For this reason, the
nests found in autumn, or at least after they they have cradled the pair of
birds that come from the white, bean-like twin eggs, often bear on the out-
side a distinctly two-storied appearance, the lichens of the top part being of
a slightly different color from the base. I say the mother bird builds up the
nest about her young, for there is no proof that the male Ruby-throat takes,
any part in the home life after the first nest-building; that is, he has never
been seen either to assist in the brooding or the feeding of the young, by an
accredited observer.

Why this is no one really knows. It cannot be on account of his colored
throat and the law of color protection, or from the danger of betraying the
nest, for Tanagers, Rose-breasts, and Baltimore Orioles assist in the feeding of

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird 189

their young. J'frhaps it miiy ha\"c to do willi the very (juick tc'nii)ers of the
pair; incubatin<f may prove very trying to Mrs. Ruby, and so her spouse
thinks discretion the better part of valor!

After the nesting season is over, the males are seen again about the flow-
ers, though greatly outnumbered by Hummers lacking the ruby throat. This,
however, is easily accounted for by the fact that the young of the year, ];olh
males and females, are plumed like the mother.

One spectacle concerning the home life of the Ruby-throat is rather awfuli
until you fully understand the cause, and know that the mother is not trying:
to choke her children to death. She feeds them by regurgitation; that is, she
pumps the food, first softened in her own crop, down the little throats by means
of her own beak, which she thrusts into their gaping mouths. Early bird
students saw this process the other way about, saying that Hummers, Pigeons^
etc., pushed their beak into their parents' crops for food, — hence the terrrb
"sucking doves."

In the Hummingbird, we have a species that makes its ap{)eal through
beauty of form and grace of flight, rather than through any economic consid-
eration. Beauty as an excuse for being has, however, long since been accepted
as a fact. And yet it was through beauty that, at one time, this elusive
little bird was almost doomed to extinction, for it is not so many years ago
when a wreath of Hummingbirds upon a festal hat was not a rare sight. Pul>
lie opinion, in the United States at least, will no longer stand for such sense-
less waste and barbarity. Of no use for food, a difficult prey for either cat or
snake, the Ruby-throat should escape most of the ills that befall our native
birds, and continue with us when larger birds grow rare. Of course, there are
always the difficulties of migration to be considered, with the modern danger
of electric lights added to the old one of the light-houses, to the lure of which
so many feathered creatures yield their lives. For when we consider that this
little bird not only nests from Florida up to Labrador, but winters in Central
and South America, it is necessary that many must fall by the way.

Unlike many species of unique plumage or tropical colors, the Humming-
bird family belongs entirely to the New World, being most numerous in the
mountains of South America. Of the five hundred or more known species,
only eighteen reach the United States and but few of these pass far north of
our Mexican boundary.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary

Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions, to
the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City

William Dutcher, President
Theodore S. Palmer, First Vice-President T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary
F. A. Lucas, Second Vice-President Jonathan D wight, Jr., Treasurer

Any person, club, school or company in sympathy with the objects of this Association may be •
come a member, and all are welcome.

Classes of Membership in the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of
Wild Birds and Animals:

$5.00 annually pays for a Sustaining Membership
$100. 00 paid at one time constitutes a Life Membership
$1,000.00 constitutes a person a Patron
$5,000.00 constitutes a person a Founder
$25,000.00 constitutes a person a Benefactor

Massachusetts Legislation

After one of the most strenuous cam-
paigns ever waged in Massachusetts for
game protection, a law has just been
enacted which prohibits the sale of native
wild game in that state. Provision is also
made for encouraging the propagation of
game by permitting the sale of certain
species if reared in captivity. Foreign
game of certain forms not likely to be
confused with native species is also
permitted to be sold. Abuses of these
privileges are guarded against by a system
of tagging, which appears to be working
J 3 well in New York at the present time.
A bag-limit bill was also passed, which
regulates the amount of game that a man
maj' take in any one day.

These features were most furiously
opposed, especially by the market gunners
of Massachusetts and certain of the dealers
who have been profiting by selling game
fn the past. Opposed to these men who
are working for self interest were the va-
rious State and National organizations
which are interested in the preservation
of wild life in Massachusetts.

Mr. E. H. Forbush, the New England
Field Agent of this Association, conducted
a campaign of publicity with an amount
of labor which can hardly be realized by
one never engaged in such an enterprise.

The Association was also ably repre-
sented by a Boston attorney employed

(

for the purpose. Not only were we engaged
in helping to secure this constructive legis-
lation, but we were forced to put forth
heroic efTorts to prevent the repeal of the
anti-spring-shooting law. Five bills were
introduced in quick succession at the
instance of the commercial Duck shooters,
with the hope of again opening up spring
shooting.

The expenses of the Massachusetts
campaign have drawn heavily on the
resources of the Association, but we feel
amply repaid by the splendid results.

The time has come in our civilization
when, if our wild game birds are to be
saved (and they shall be saved), we must
stop commercializing them. As long as
an open market can be found for Ducks,
shore-birds. Grouse and Quail, just so
long will there be found hundreds and
thousands of men who will make a business
of taking advantage of the laxity of the
laws by slaughtering these birds for sale.
In their utter disregard of the final results,
many of these men take every possible
advantage of the wild creatures, and often
secure them at seasons, and by methods,
and at times in direct violation of the
statute. When the good day comes on
which it shall be illegal to sell native wild
game in any market in the United States,
we may feel that we are then well on the
road to repopulating the depleted covers
with a bird population similar to that
found here by our fathers. — T. G. P.
90)

The Audubon Societies

igt

Oregon

Our Northwestern Field Agent, Mr.
William L. Finley, State Game Warden
of Oregon, has just succcssfullj' trans-
planted a herd of fifteen elk from Jackson
Hole, Wyoming, to the Chesnimnimus
Forest, in Wallowa county, Oregon.

This is the first time that so large a
herd has been transferred so great a dis-
tance under such difficulties and over
roads so bad. The elk were crated and
hauled on sleds for ninety miles over the
almost impassable Teton Pass, at an
elevation of more than eight thousand feet,
and with the snow from ten to forty feet
deep. They were then transferred to a
box car at St. Anthony, Idaho, and, after
four days on the railroad, were delivered
at Joseph. From this point they had
twelve days of travel on wagons through
more than thirty miles of mud, and by
sled through ten miles of snow so deep that
the roads had to be broken out as the
teams went along.

During the first stage of the journey
from Jackson Hole, a snow storm of such
severity was encountered that it required
four days to traverse twenty-eight miles.
The strain of the travel was so severe on
the elk that, when they reached St.
Anthony, they were released and allowed
a day's rest in a corral.

Readers of Bird-Lore are already aware
of the starved condition of the elk in
Jackson Hole, during the winter, which
has existed until recently, and will, there-
fore, rejoice to know that a nucleus from
this congested point has been provided
for the establishing of a herd in Oregon,
under more satisfactory conditions.

In regard to Mr. Finley 's general work
of late in the interest of wild-life protec-
tion, he writes under date of May 6, 191 2:

"I am just completing arrangements
for a state reserve on private property
adjoining the Malheur reserve, which will
be of importance to us because the only
colony of White Herons in that part of
the country are nesting on this land. I
have also completed arrangements for
some 30,000 acres in the southeastern

section of the state, in the Catlo Valley,
to be used as a reserve for the protection
of antelope.

"We have been pushing the matter of
getting lands in difTerent sections of the
state set aside as wild-bird refuges, and
up to date we have some very important
reserves in addition to our Government
reserves."

Mr. Finley has given twenty pul)lic
addresses in the state during the past
few weeks, and reports that much interest
is being shown in bird work by the school
children, and in many places much atten-
tion is being given to the construction of
boxes to be used as nesting-places for
birds.— T. G. P.

The writer recently returned from an
exceedingly interesting trip to Florida,
where he went in the interest of the gen-
eral Audubon work, and with special
reference to Egret protection.

Mosquito Inlet Reservation was visited,
where Warden Captain B. J. Pacetti was
found faithfully patrolling the twenty
miles of territory in which thousands of
birds of many species find a safe retreat.
Twenty-one Snowy Egrets were counted
here, although they do not have a nesting-
place on the reservation.

On Pelican Island, in Indian River,
several hundred Pelicans were seen sitting
on eggs which were just beginning to
hatch, a cold wave a few months pre-
viously having destroyed the young of
the first laying. They are carefully pro-
tected by warden Paul Kroegel, who visits
the island constantly in the Association's
patrol boat "Audubon."

At Key West, the wife of Warden Guy
Bradle}', who was killed by plume-hunters
some years ago, was visited. With her
family, she is living in the home purchased
for her by the members of this Association
shortly after the tragic death of her
lamented husband.

Several places on the Gulf Coast were
inspected, as well as a number of points
inland. At St. Petersburg the protected

!ROWN PELICANS AT ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, PROTECTED

BY THE AUDUBON LAW

Photographed by T. H. Jackson

SMALL SECTION OF BIRD ISLAND, ORANGE LAKE, FLORIDA. ABOUT NINE ACRES

ARE THUS DENSELV POPULATED BY THE PROTECTED BREEDING BIRDS

Photographed by Warden O. E. Baynard

(192)

The Audubon Societies

193

Pelicans were especially tame. Near
Archer, in Alachua county, two days
were spent in the saddle, visiting the lakes,
prairies and jionds where in boyhood the
writer had found Kgrets and other Herons
by thousands. The result of these rides
was most depressing. Over the many
miles of territory covered, the only Herons
seen were a Little Blue Heron and one
Black-crowned Night Heron.

The utter disappearance of the many
Herons which do not produce the aigrette
of the trade was universally explained
locally by the statement that the birds
had been destroyed by Northern tourists,
who, ha\ing little to do during the period
of their several months' sojourn in the
state, wandered about shooting at
pleasure any strange bird which they
chanced to meet; the killing evidently
having been done for the mere joy of
holding in the hand for a few moments a
bird of striking and unusual appearance.

At Orange Lake, however, something
of the old-time abundance of bird life was
encountered. Here, on Bird Island, pur-
chased last year by the Association with
the interest from the Mary Dutcher
Memorial Fund, exists one of the largest
and most interesting colonies of water-
birds found today in Eastern United
States. An extensive report regarding
this wonderful nesting-place accompanied
the last Annual Report of the Association.
Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue Herons,
Louisiana Herons, Black-crowned Night
Herons and Green Herons were all found
nesting here. Six specimens of the rare
Glossy Ibis were seen at one time. It is
conservative to say that fully four thous-
and pairs of White Ibises are now breed-
ing on Bird Island. Their nests seem to
cover almost every available limb of the
low trees and bushes which grow on the
island. Some of the nests, with their beau-
tifully spotted treasures, were within fifteen
inches of the ground; others were at an
elevation of fully eighteen feet.

Warden O. E. Baynard guards the
colony, and, as he lives not more than
one mile away and is almost constantly
about the island or on the near-by shore,

it would be a difficult matter to raid the
colony without his knowledge. About
four o'clock in the afternoon, long ranks
of White Ibises were seen coming across
the lake toward the island, from their
feeding-grounds on the prairies and lake
shores to the northwest. As the sun sank
lower, these flocks increased in number
until twilight, when an almost continuous
stream of white birds could be seen winging
homeward to the one spot in all that
part of Florida where their lives are safe
from the depredations of the gunner. —
T. G. P.

New Members
March i to May i, 1912.

Life Member:

Mrs. George E. .\dams

New Contributor:
Mr. Luther Kuntze

Sustaining Members:

Mr. Alexander McPhearson

Mrs. Alexander McPhearson

Mrs. E. S. Hamlin

Mrs. L. C. Kimball

Lewisohn Importing & TradingCo.

Mrs. C. A. Kent

Mrs. Charles H. Collins

Mr. W. G. Henry

Mr. Gilbert H. Groosvenor

Mr. J. L. Judson

Mr. Eversley Childs

Mrs. C. S. Chase

Mr. W. L. Chamberlain

Miss Laura Vanderbilt

Mrs. J. N. Camden

Mrs. Frederick T. Mason

Mrs. A. T. Cabot

Mr. Herbert C. Merril"

Miss Louie Andrews

Mrs. C. H. Ditson

Mrs. H. J. Lewis

Evansville Audubon Society

Miss Elizabeth F. Wells

Mrs. Charles S. Fairchild

Mrs. W. D. Russell

Mr. James M. Motley

Miss Ella Brown

Miss Carrie G. Davis

Mr. A. F. Holdcn

Mr. Irwin Krohn

Miss Elizabeth L. Smith

Miss Harriet P. Abbe

Mr. J. R. Van Brunt

Mrs. T. M. Dillingham

Mrs. A. R. McClymonds

194

Bird -Lore

Sustaining Members, continued.
Mr. A. H. Childs
Mr. William H. Burr
Mr. Edwin R. A. Seligman
Mrs. George P. Putman

Fund for White Egret Protection

Gratifying indeed have been the re-
sponses to the recent appeal made by
the Directors of this Association for funds
with which to push a vigorous campaign
this year for the further protection of the
White Egrets, whose extermination in the
United States is so sorely threatened.

As has been before pointed out, a fund
of $5,000 should be available at the earliest
possible moment, in order to locate and
guard the comparatively few places where
these birds still gather in summer to rear
their young, and also to carry forward a
campaign of publicity, so necessary to
successful legislative efforts which we
shall immediately push in Pennsylvania
and elsewhere, with a view of stopping
absolutely the nefarious traffic in the
plumage of these exquisite creatures.

Since the last issue of Bird-Lore, the
following contributions have been added
to the Egret Protection Fund and we very
much hope that before the next two
months elapse the entire fund of $5,000
will have been subscribed.

Two additional colonies of Egrets have
recently been located in the southern
swamps, and wardens have been employed
to guard them. At this writing, the
Association has four agents in the field,
searching for other nesting groups of these
rare birds.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS

Previously reported $342 76

Miss Annie B. Chapman 2 00

Mrs. E. P. Hammond 3 00

IMrs. Alice Wilstead i 00

Mr. Wm. B. Evans 2 00

Mr. Robert P. Doremus 25 00

Mr. Charles E. Bell i 00

Dr. Herbert R. Mills 200

Mr. M. S. Crosby 5 00

Mr. James P. Garrick i 00

Mr. John L. Cox 10 00

Mr. Wm. S. Essick i 00

Mr. John A. Stoughton 5 00

Carried forward $400 76

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, continued

Brought forward $400 76

Mr. Lucius L. Hubbard 5 00

Mr. E. Blackwelder 2 00

Detroit Bird Protecting Club 5 00

Miss Helen P. Haskell 2 00

Dr. William H. Bergtold .... 5 00

Mr. Julian Tinkham 10 00

Mr. Edwin Gould 50 00

Miss Annie Stevenson 5 00

Miss Emily Belle .A.dams. ... i 00

Mr. Arthur Goadby 14 24

Miss Anne M. Cummins 5 00

Miss Elizabeth L. Cummins. 5 00

Mr. Thomas H. Jackson 5 00

Mrs. C. R. Miller 5 00

Miss Louise deF. Haynes ... 5 00

Mr. Edward L. Parker 50 00

Mr. William P. Shannon 10 00

Miss Amelia Goodwin 2 00

Dr. F. P. Sprague 10 00

Mrs. R. J. Cross 25 00

Mrs. E. H. Godeffroy 5 00

Mr. Henry W. Shoemaker. . . 500 00

Mrs. C. L. Best 2 00

Miss E. E. Timmerman i 5°

Mrs. M. F. Cox 5 00

Mrs. Julia S. Winterhoff 5 00

Miss Fannie G. Dudley i 00

Miss Mary L. Bond i 00

Mr. J. G. Baldwin i 00

Mr. K. N. BoUes i 00

Miss Charlotte Butler i 00

Miss Mary P. Allen 30 00

Mrs. C. C. Auchincloss i 00

Mr. E. H. Kidder i 00

Mr. C. C. Curtis 5 00

Mr. K. L. Camman 25 00

Miss Anna W. Hubbard 5 00

Mr. Elbert H. Gary 10 00

Mr. Daniel S. Hage i 00

Mr David W. Harness i 00

Mr. Frederick S. Lee 5 00

Mrs. Buckley i 00

Mrs. H. P. Hodson 2 00

Mr. Jacob Bertschman 2 00

Mr. Theodore L. Bailev 5 00

Mr. W. T. Peoples....'. i 00

Mrs. R. W. DeForest 5 00

Mr. V. H. Jackson 5 00

Mrs. H. L. G. Walters 3 00

Mrs. P. H. Barhydt 5 00

Mr. Arthur D. Gabay 3 00

Mrs. R. P. Huntington 10 00

Mrs. L. F. Beckwith 2 00

Mr. S. Prescott Fay 5 00

Mr. Frederick M. Pederson . i 00

Mr. Dudley Olcott i 00

Mr. Max E. Butler i 00

Mrs. William H. Bliss 25 00

Mrs. M. L. Morgenthal i 00

Mrs. J. P. Mori^'an, Jr 5 00

Mr. S. H. Olin i 00

Carried forward $1,313 50

The Audubon Societies

195

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, COlUinUcd

Brought forward $1,313 50

Mrs. V. E. Macv 10 00

Mr. Geo. W. Crossman 10 00

Mr. John I. 1). Bristol 5 00

Mr. James D. Footc 2 00

Mrs. George D. Mason 10 00

Mr. C. P. Farrell 3 00

Mr. John O. Fenders 3 00

Miss Frances Phelps 2 00

Mr. George W. Collord 5 00

Miss Anna K. Barry 2 00

H. S. Benjamin 5 00

Mr. E. Phillips Burgess 2 00

Miss IMarietta Bryan i 00

Mr. Fred. Sauter 2 00

Mrs. Temple Bowdoin 25 00

Miss Frances M. Ward 10 00

Mr. E. E. Knapp i 00

Mr. Edwin R. Seligman i 00

Mr. H. C. Bullard 2 00

Mr. C. K. Carpenter 2 00

Mr. Jesse E. Hj-de 2 00

"A Friend" i 00

Dr. L. Weber i 00

"F. F. S." I 00

Mr. K. G. Falk i 00

Mr. Geo. A. La Vie 5 00

Mr. Horace White 5 00

"Periplery" 5 00

Mr. W^ H. Lappy 5 00

E. Tyro Fell 3 00

Rev. E. Peabody 5 00

Mr. Charles Raht 5 00

Mr. C. Seitz i 00

Mrs. John J. Chapman 2 00

Mr. Coleman Randolph 5 00

Miss Fanny Randolph 5 00

Mr. Francis J. Cogswell i 00

Mr. Bernard ]M. Baruch i 00

"W. M. B." I 00

Mrs. M. E. D wight 2 00

Miss Anna R. Spring 5 00

Mr. Wm. H. Thompson i 00

Mr. C. S. Shepard 10 00

Mrs. M. S. Holt 10 00

Mr. Richard M. Hoe 50 00

Mr. E. C. Canfield 2 00

Mr. Gustav Ramsperger i 00

Mrs. John S. Kennedy 5 00

Mr. Edwin S. Casey 2 00

Mr. Rowland G. Hazard 5 00

Mrs. John V. Farwell, Jr. . . . 2 00

Mrs. Charles T. Olmsted i 00

Mrs. E. A. S. Clarke i 50

"E. B. F." 5 00

Mr. A. P. Smith i 00

Mrs. H. M. Schieffelin 5 00

P. J. Oettinger i 00

Mrs. Michael Piel 5 00

Dr. Herbert I. Wheeler 2 00

"A Friend" C. G. A 2 00

Mrs. Morris K. Jesup 5 00

Carried forward $i.595 00

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, continued

Brought forward $i,595 00

Rev. W. T. Crocker 2 00

Mr. Charles R. Saul 2 00

Mr. Thomas H. O'Connor... 5 00

Mrs. C. G. Williams 5 00

Mrs. Lowell Lincoln i 00

Mr. Fred. T. Busk 5 00

Mrs. Emerson Opdyckc 2 00

Miss Augusta D. Hopkins. . . 2 00

Mrs. F. N. Doubleday 5 00

Mr. Fritz Achelis 5 00

Mr. Charles S. Davidson. ... 3 00

Mr. R. L. Cutter 10 00

Mr. W. R. Kip 10 00

Mrs. J. R. Gladding 10 00

Mr. Walther Liittgen 5 00

Mr. A. M. Guinzburg 10 00

Mr. Charles H. Raymond... 25 00

Mrs. S. B. Chittenden i 00

Mr. William T. Hunter, Jr... i 00

Mrs. H. E. Cobb i 00

Mr. W. E. Baker 1 00

Mr. M. F. Waltoner i 00

Mrs. G. H. Vaillant 2 00

Mrs. R. M. Hoe 50 00

Mr. R. M. Baldwin 2 00

Mr. E. W. Sturgis 2 00

Miss Laura B. Garrett i 00

Mr. William Allen Butler.. . . i 00

Mrs. N. E. Baylis i 00

Mr. Edwin H. Pink i 00

Mrs. E. McPeters i 00

Mr. James M. Motley 5 00

Mr. John B. Simpson i 00

Hackettstown Bird Lovers . . 97 50

Mr. A. R. Bailey 2 00

Mr. H. C. de Rham 10 00

Mrs. Edward Holbrook 5 00

Miss Effie Bynill i 00

Mrs. John H. Hammond. ... 5 00

Mrs. Anna \'on Zedlitz i 00

Mr. Jonathan Thorne 10 00

Mrs. Henry Draper 5 00

Mr. M. E. Holden i 00

Mr. R. M. Barnes 5 00

Miss Marianne Schurtz 5 00

Mr. Alonzo B. See 25 00

Mr. James M. Duane 5 00

Mr. E. G. Smith i 00

Mr. J. H. Foote 2 00

Miss Virginia H. Butler 2 00

Mr. Edwin H. Brown i 00

Mrs. Edward Cohen 5 00

Mr. C. E. Ehinger i 00

Mr. Charles S. Schultz i 00

Mrs. L. L. Abbott i 00

Mr. William B. Royce 5 00

Mrs. A. R. McClymonds. ... 45 00

Mr. Theodore R. Hovt ; 5 00

Mr. William D. Ellis'. To 00

Mrs. J. W. Chapman i 00

Miss M. A. Tappan i 00

Carried forward 82,032 50

196

Bird- Lore

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, Continued

Brought forward $2,032 50

Mr. H. E. Ferry i 00

Mr. Wm. R. Peters 2 00

Mr. Robert M. Gallaway 25 00

Miss Rosalie L. Davis 2 00

Miss Carola Warburg i 00

T. Hassal Brown 5 00

Miss Helen Scofield 5 00

Mr. A. H. B. Jordon 5 00

Mrs. James Talcott i 00

Mrs. Charles MacVeagh 2 00

Mrs. Augustus Thorndike ... 5 00

Mr. Wm. J. Hoe i 00

Mrs. H. H. Rogers 10 00

Miss Lina C. Manning i 00

Miss Lillian Cleveland i 00

Mr. Leonard J. Manning. ... i 00

Mrs. E. S. Pegran 5 00

Mrs. George B. Chase 2 00

Mr. Johnson i 00

Miss Juliet T. Goodrich 5 00

Mr. W. C. Gannet i 00

Miss M. F. Gannet i 00

Mr. C. K. Gannet i 00

"A Friend" i 00

Mr. Herman Behr i 00

Rev. D. S. Dodge s 00

Mrs. Lidian E. Bridge 5 00

Mr. A. P. Ehrich 5 00

Mr. Bayard H. Christy 10 00

Anonymous Contributions . . 43 00

Total amount to date $2,186 50

Notes on Junior Audubon Classes

The plan of organizing Junior Audubon
Classes for simple bird-study, as has

heretofore been outlined to our readers,
is meeting with a most hearty reception
in the schools both in the northern and
southern states. Many of the classes are
doing much practical work aside from
the study of the subject.

Miss Mary E. Herron, of Memphis,
Tenn., has sent the accompanying photo-
graph of the members of her class display-
ing the bird-boxes which they have made.

Hundreds of letters have been received
from teachers expressing their hearty
approval of this new undertaking, which
the National Association has been able
to ofifer because of the generous contribu-
tions of Mrs. Russell Sage and an anony-
mous friend.

Mrs. M. R. Salter, a teacher in Ocean
City, N. J., adding four members to a
class which she had previously organized,
writes: "The exceptionally attractive
leaflets and pictures, to say nothing of
the pretty buttons, have awakened much
interest in children as yet outside of the
Society. But, behind the novelty, I have
been interested to see that the idea of
bird-study and bird-protection really
appeals to the children."

Miss Adelaid C. Fitch, teacher of a
Junior Audubon Class in the Spruce Cot-
tage School, at Vineland, N. J., writes: "My
entire class are enjoying the work verj'

L^

hSMiesa

^--..^IlL

^

~>i^

w ^

RIVERSIDE JUNIOR AUDUBON CLASS, ORGANIZED BY MISS MARY E. HERRON,
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

The Audubon Societies

197

much. Last week we went for a walk in
the woods and secured a number of last
year's nests for our collection. We are
also studying the ways of the R()l)in, iilue
Jay, Song Sparrow and Wren."

Mr. Roderick B. Thaw writes from New
Germantown, N. J.: "My pupils are very
much interested in the work, and the
mov'ement meets with the approval and
hearty cooperation of the parents."

Mrs. L. S. Gillentine, Murfreesboro,
Tenn., says: "Our Junor Class is growing
in numbers, is very much interested,
and is doing beautiful work. I ha\e never
seen more enthusiasm displayed in my
teaching experience of sixteen years."

Prof. C. E. Bender, principal of the
high school of Oakland, Md., has written:
"Ycsterda}- we organized with a member-
ship of fortj^-nine students. Herewith I
enclose check for $4.90 for membership
fees, in exchange for literature and buttons.
I think the Audubon Society is a great
Association."

Miss Laura L. Faucett, of Lenoir, N. C,
reports: "The members of the class are
delighted with their leaflets and buttons.
They are going to give a bird-day program
before the school tomorrow, which will,
I am sure, increase the interest in bird-
study."

Miss Sallie 0. Ewing, who conducts an
Audubon Class in the Roanoke, Va.,
schools, says: "The birds are all coming
back from the South, and the children
have been busy getting ready for them
by nailing up chalk-boxes and other recep-
tacles for nesting-places. Their little
faces beam with delight as they tell me
each day of new arrivals, sweet songs, etc.,
and they are eager to care for the birds
and protect them. I am sending a list
of teachers who are interested in birds,
and who will be glad to receive sample
leaflets and learn of your plan of organi-
zation."

The officers of a number of the State
Audubon Societies are cooperating with
the National Association in pushing this
highly important phase of our work and
we hope eventually to extend it through-
out the country. — T. G. P.

New York Bird and Ganne Law

On April 15, Governor Dix signed the
New York Conservation Law, which
carried with it a re-codification of the
state's game laws. This re-codification is
calculated to clear away the confusion
and chaotic condition resulting from an
accumulation of laws which had been
added from year to year and many of
which were more or less conflicting.

One of the provisions of the new law is
that any citizen may complain of insuf-
ficient protection to fish or game, and be
accorded a hearing on such complaint
within twenty days.

Another provision permits the Commis-
sion to grant relief to the owner of any
property on which protected species be-
come destructive; birds or quadrupeds
in question being disposed of by a State
Protector under the direction of the Com-
mission. The Commission believes that
fewer laws and an ever-increasing vigilance
in their enforcement will result in more
game.

The new measure provides for the in-
crease of game protectors from ninety-
five to one hundred and twenty-five. The
state is declared to be the owner of all
wild fish and game for the purpose of
controlling the capture or killing of same.
Prohibition of sale of fish, birds or quad-
rupeds is an important part of the present
law.

The laws have now been made more
uniform, and will doubtless tend to be
more generally popular because more lib-
eral, while tending at the same time to
afl[ord greater protection to birds and
game.

In the portion of the statute that deals
with birds, there are several distinct
gains. Geese, Brant and Ducks still have
the same open season, i. c., September 15
to January 10, but there is a permanent
close season established for Swans and
Wood Ducks. The total bag limit for
all species combined is twenty-five to
each hunter, and forty for two or more
persons in the same boat, battery or blind
in one day. Rails, Coots and ISIud Hens

198

Bird -Lore

may be taken from September 15 to
December 31. The bag limit is fifteen to
one person, and twenty-five when two
or more hunters shoot from the same
blind or boat.

A proposition to establish a permanent
close season on the Bob-white failed, and
an open season from October i, to Novem-
ber 15, with a bag limit of six birds in a
day and thirty-six in a season, was estab-
lished. The open season on Grouse, or
partridge is from October i, to November
30, the bag limit being four a day or
twenty a season.

The open season for Pheasants has been
again reduced to Thursdays in the month
of October, and three cock birds are all
that may be taken in a season by one man.
Lovers of native birds will be interested
in the claim that the extensive shooting
of Pheasants has tended to reduce the
destruction of our native Ruffed Grouse.

The open season on Woodcock is from
October i to November 15, the bag limit
four a day and twenty a season.

For Snipe, Plover and other shore birds,
the open season is September 16 to Novem-
ber 30 — bag not to exceed fifteen; total
of all species in one day, and not over
twenty-five to be killed from the same
boat or blind.

The Starling has been included in the
list of birds exempted from protection.

An attempt to include the Bittern in
in this list was fortunately not suc-
cessful.

The law prohibits hunting on public
highways, except in forest-preserve coun-
ties, and upon municipal water-works
property. — T. G. P.

Notes from the Field

Mrs. Florence L. Small, President of
the Iowa Audubon Society, whose home
is at Waterloo, has been very active of
late in the matter of arousing sentiment
for bird-protection in Iowa. With a life
so full of other duties that many would
be discouraged from attempting outside
work, she has found time to give public
talks frequently before women's clubs, the

schools of her home city, and conserva-
tion conventions.

Some time ago she was appointed a
member of the Conservation Committee of
the State Federation of Women's Clubs.
She realizes the opportunit}' this appoint-
ment gives her to bring the subject of
bird-study and bird-protection before the
large audiences which bi-annually gather
at the State Conservation Conferences.

By a very slender majority, the Audu-
bon bill to establish a State Game Commis-
sion in Virginia was defeated during the
closing days of the legislature. Far from be-
ing discouraged by this fact, the Legislative
Committee, headed by Mr. J. C. Wise,
at once undertook an extensive campaign
of education, and there is every reason to
believe that sufficient enthusiasm will be
aroused in the state to result in the enact-
ment of a measure of this character at the
next meeting of the State Legislature.

Letters are being distributed widely
throughout the state, calling upon sports-
men and others interested in the conserva-
tion of wild birds and animals to extend
financial support to the Committee, and
farmers are being called upon to send in
letters stating their views on the desira-
bility of the state extending such pro-
tection to the wild bird life as an efficient
warden force would insure. Encour-
aging answers are being received daily,
and Mr. M. D. Hart, writes that $200 have
already been pledged for the purposes of
the Committee.

Pleasing additions to the Egret Pro-
tection Fund are those sent in by Miss
Mary P. Allen, of Hackettstown, New
Jersey. Under date of .\pril 16, she for-
warded a personal contribution of $30
and wrote that she and some friends were
holding a sale of home-made cake, bread,
candy, etc., the returns from which would
be added to the fund within a few days.
On April 23 the sum of S33 was received
from this source.

On May 2, an entertainment was held
under Miss Allen's direction, for the pur-
pose of still further increasing the Hack-

The Audubon Societies

199

ettstown contributions to liie Kgrcl Pro-
tection Fund, and the amount thus col-
lected was $64.50. The last two contribu-
tions, Miss Allen asked to have credited
in the name of the "Hackettstown Bird
Lovers." Here is a suggestion for those
in other localities who desire to do some-
thing effective toward preventing the
■extermination of some of the most beau-
tiful birds of this country.

The epidemic of poisoning l)inls in tlic
South has again broken out, this time
in Texas, where planters are complaining
"of the depredations of Blackbirds on their
growing crops.

Capt. M. B. Davis, the field agent of
the National Association, has had his hands
full in combating this evil, and his letters
and newspaper articles on the subject
have been distributed to all parts of the
state. Capt. Davis, who has contended
that the Blackbirds may be driven out of
a given neighborhood by a lusty fusillade
of blank cartridges, recently conducted a
demonstration in Hill county. A night
attack in this way was made on a large
Blackbird roost, with the result that the
birds left the region.

Not only have Blackbirds been destroyed
in numbers by the poison put out by
farmers, but manj- other birds have suf-
fered a like fate. Our agent reports that
about the fields where this poisoning pro-
cess is in operation, he has frequently
found many dead birds of other species
"In one place," he says, "we found dead
Plover, Red Birds, Mockingbirds, and a
Flicker," all of which had partaken of
poisoned food intended for the Blackbirds.

It is an exceedingly unwise plan to
distribute poison about fields for the pur-
pose of destroj'ing any species of bird life,
regardless of how detrimental it may be
locally considered, as many harmless and
useful species are sure to suffer death as
a result.

Tin: following "notice," printed in
large type and extending over a Space
double column in width, has recently
appeared in the |)ublic press of Memphis,
Tennessee:

"Our city and county authorities are
cooperating with the Unites States
Government and the National Associa-
tion of Audubon Societies for the protec-
tion of the song and insect-eating birds.
They are doing this not merely from hu-
manitarian motives, but because of the
incalculable value of these birds to the
farmer in protecting his crops from the
ravages of insects.

"Notwithstanding the growth of public
sentiment in favor of bird-protection, and
the dissemination of knowledge on this
subject through the public schools, men
and boys are continually shooting these
birds in and around the city and our
parks.

"The City of Memphis and the authori-
ties of Shelby County have appointed a
committee to guard the interests of the
birds in Memphis and Shelby County.
This committee is composed of Dr. R. B.
Maury, Lem Banks and Bolton Smith.
Citizens are requested to report to this
committee any injury that may be done
by thoughtless persons to the birds of
their neighborhood. Information thus
received will be at once brought to the
Department of Police, and laws for the
protection of these birds will be en-
forced."

This is signed for the City of Memphis
by R. A. Utley, Acting Mayor, and for
the County of Shelby by W. A. Taylor,
Chairman, Board of County Commis-
sioners. This unusual method of co-
operation by municipal and county au-
thorities for the welfare of the wild birds
is but another evidence of the tireless
activities of Dr. R. B. Maury, Presi-
dent of the West Tennessee Audubon
Societv.

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HOW TO ATTRACT AND PROTECT WILD BIRDS

By Martin Hiesemann, translated by Emma S. Buchheim

The results of the Baron von Berlepsch's experiments with natural nesting-places and
feeding arrangements. Price 40 cts.

1. Canon Towhee. Summer 3. California Towhee

2. Canon Towhee, Winter 4. Abert's Towhee

(One- half natural size)

i6irli = ilore

A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE

DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS

Official Oroan of The Audubon SooirriKa

Vol. XIV July— August, 1912 No. 4

A List of Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Herbaceous Plants

Native to New England, Bearing Fruit or Seeds

Attractive to Birds

By FREDERIC H. KENNARD, Newton Center, Mass.

IT WAS my privilege, last autumn, 191 1, to be asked to design a planting
plan for the development of the Bird Sanctuary of the Meriden Bird
Club, at Meriden, New Hampshire. A large part of the property is
already well wooded, and the principal problem was with regard to the plant-
ing and thickening of the present growth with trees, shrubs, vines, and per-
ennials, that should be most attractive to the birds in that vicinity, and at
the same time disturb as little as possible the natural aspect of the reservation.

In order to make such a plan intelligently, it was necessary to compile a
provisional list of plants attractive to birds, from which to choose; and while
this list is in no way complete, as it may be of interest to readers of Bird-Lore,
I have ventured to submit it below.

Those plants that are particularly attractive to birds are shown with three
asterisks, while those with more than ordinary attractiveness, are shown by
two or one asterisks, in the order of their attractiveness, and those species
whose fruits seem to be eaten so seldom as to make their planting hardly
worth while are marked with a cross.

^Corylus americana, American Hazel.

DECIDUOUS TREES **CraicBgus coccima, White Thorn.

*Acer negiindo, Ash-leaved Maple, Box ** " crus-gaUi, Cockspur Thorn

Elder. And others of this genus.

**Acer sacchariim, Sugar Maple. ^Fagus americana, American Beech

.\nd doubtless other maples. *Fra.xinus americana, American White

Betula populifolia, American Gray Ash.

Birch. And probably other species.

Betula lutea, Yellow Birch. ]Hicoria sp., Several kinds of Hickory.

And probably other birches. Ilex opaca, American Holly.

Celtis occidcnlalis, Hackbcrry. ]Liquidamhar styracijlua. Sweet Gum.

Cercis canadensis, Red-bud. \Liriodendron luUpiJcra, Tulip Tree.

***Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood. ***Morus rubra. Native Red Mulberry.

Bird -Lore

DECIDUOUS TREES, Continued

**Nyssa sylvatica, Tupelo.
Ostrya virginiana. Hornbeam.
fPlantanus occidentalis. Sycamore.
■fPopulus sp. Various species of Poplars
are sometimes fed upon.
***Prunus pennsylvanica, Bird Cherry.
*"** " pumila, Sand Cherry.
"** " serotina, Black Cherry.
*"** " virginiana, Choke Cherry.
**FyrHs americana, Mountain Ash.
\Quercus sp. Several species of oaks.
Sassafras officinalis, Sassafras.
Ulmus americana, American Elm.
And other species.

EVERGREEN TREES

**Juniperus virginiana. Red Cedar.
** " cowwz<«z5, Prostrate Juniper.
**Picea alba. White Spruce
** " rubra. Red Spruce.
And undoubtedly other species.

*Pinus rigida. Pitch Pine.

* " strobus, White Pine

*Tsuga canadensis, Hemlock.

** Amelanchier canadensis. Shad Bush.
**Benzoin odoriferum, Spice Bush
*Berberis vulgaris. Barberry.
Comptonia asplenifolia. Sweet Fern.
Corema conradii, Broom Crowberry.
***Cornus alternifolia, Blue Cornel.
*** " candidissima, Gray Cornel.
*** " sericea, Silky Cornel.
*** " stolonifera. Red Osier Cornel.
**Gaylussacia frondosa, Dangleberry.
** " resinosa, Huckleberry.

**Ilex glabra, Inkberry.
** " verticillata. Black Alder.

And probably Ilex laevigata , Winter-
berry Black Ilex.
Ligustrum vulgare. Privet.
**Myrica cerifera. Bay berry.
Prunus maritima. Beach Plum.
*Pyrus arbutifolia, Chokeberry.
Rhamnus catharticus. Buckthorn.
***Rhus copallina. Shining Sumach.
*** " glabra, Smooth Sumach.
*** " toxicodendron, Poison Ivy.
*** " typhina, Staghorn Sumach.

***Rhus venenata. Poison Sumach.
**Ribes floridum, Large-flowering Cur-
rant.
**Ribes lacustre, Swamp Gooseberry.

And other species.
**Rosa, sp. It is probable that the fruits
of all the native wild roses are eaten
largely by birds.
***Rubus occidentalis, Thimbleberry.
*** " strigosus. Red Raspberry.
*** " canadensis. Low Blackberry.
*** " villosus, High Blackberry.
***Sambucus canadensis, Common Elder.
*** " pubens, Panicled Elder.
Shepherdia canadensis, Shepherdia.
**Symphoricarpos racemosus, Snowberry.
***Vacciniiim ccespitosum. Dwarf Bil-
berry.
***Vaccinium corymbosum. High -bush

Blueberry.
***Vaccinium pennsylvanicum, Low-bush
Blueberry.
(And doubtless other species includ-
ing Vaccinium vitis-idcea. Cow-
berry).
**Viburnum alnifolium, Hobble Bush.
** " dentatum. Arrow-wood.

** " lentago, Sheepberry.

** " nudum, Withe-rod.

** " opulus. High -bush Cran-

berry.
** Viburnum prunifolium, Black Haw.
And doubtless V. acerifolium, V. cas-
sinoides, and other species.

''*Ampelopsis quinquefoUa, Virginia
Creeper.

Arclostaphylos uva-ursi, Bearberry.

Celastrus scandens, False Bittersweet.

Menispermum candense, Moonseed.

Mitchella repens, Partridge-berry.

Vaccinium macrocarpon. Cranberry.
" oxycoccus, Dwarf Cranberry.
*Smilax rotundifolia. Bull Briar.
''*Vitis cordifolia. Frost Grape.
"* " labrusca. Fox Grape.
''* " vulpina. Frost Grape.

HERBACEOUS PLANTS

**Aralia nudicaulis, Sarsaparilla.
Fagopyrum esculentum, Buckwheat.

Trees, Shrubs, Vines Attractive to Birds

203

HERBACEOUS PLANTS, Continued **Phytolacca dccandra, Pokeberry.

**Fragaria virginiana, Strawberry. Smilacina raccmosa, False Spikc-

Gaulthcria procumbens, Checkerberry. nard.

Hclianlhiis annmis, Sunflower. Solaiiuin nigrum, Nightshade.

I have included in the above Hst the common barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
and the common privet (Li gu strum vulgar e), because, although they were
introduced species, they have now so spread over the country as to be classed
as natives.

I should have liked to include the hackmatack {Larix americana) in this
list, as well as the Norway pine {Pimis resinosa), but was forced to leave them
out through lack of sufl5cient evidence of the birds feeding upon them. It is
a matter of common knowledge that the buds and cones of the European
larch are, in this country, very attractive to certain members of the Finch
family; but I have been unable to get hold of proper data regarding the Ameri-
can larch, and the same is true of the Norway pine. I should [have liked also
to be able to include various of the honeysuckles (Lonicera parviflora,
ciliala and carulea); but was forced to leave them out for lack of proper
data. I should have liked to be able to include the silver berry {Elaagnus
argentea), the burning bush (Eunoymus atropurpureus), and the Indian
currant {Symphoricarpos vulgaris), as all three of them are attractive to
birds; but was forced to leave them out because, although they are planted
frequently throughout New England, and originally came from areas just
without its boundaries, I do not know that they are as yet growing wild here.

For help in compihng this list I am indebted to Mr. Walter Deane, of
Cambridge, Mass., and to other members of the Nuttall Ornithological Club
of that city, as well as to the following books on the subject:

Nature Study and Life, by Clifton F. Hodge.

Birds in Their Relation to Man, by Clarence M. Weed and Ned Dearborn,

Useful Birds and Their Protection, by Edward H. Forbush,

Methods of Attracting Birds, by Gilbert H. Trafton,

Birds of the Village and Field, by Florence A. Merriam.

Numerous reports of the Biological Survey, including

Food Habits of the Grosbeaks, by W. L. McAtee,

Food of the Woodpeckers of the United States, by F. E. L. Beal, and
particularly to

Plants Useful to Attract Birds and Protect Fruit, by W. L. McAtee.

Observations in a Laughing Gull Colony

By FRANCIS HARPER. Colleee Point. N. Y.

With photographs by the author

THE backbone, or dry portion, of Cobb's Island is shaped much hke a
fishhook with a long shank. At the south end, the narrow strip of
sandy beach, piled high with windrow upon windrow of tossed-up
oyster shells, curves westward, away from the sea, and then northward for a
short distance, forming the point of the hook. Here the sand merges into the
salt marsh that fringes the beach on its inner side, completely filling the hollow
of the curve, and stretching on to the north, in a narrowing line of green, as
far as the eye can follow. A number of little tide channels meander through the
marsh, and here and there lies a shallow lagoon.

Beside one of the lagoons we found, on June 25, 191 1, a breeding colony
of about ten pairs of Laughing Gulls. As we approached, striding knee-deep
through the rank marsh grass, the Gulls arose in the air, and flew toward us
as if to protest against the intrusion. It was a matter of ease to locate their
nests, built as they were in the open, and not overhung with bending grass-
tops, as was a nearby Clapper Rail's home. Each of the nests was composed
of a mass of the coarse dead stalks of Spartina, the common salt marsh grass ;
they were built up to a height of ten or twelve inches above the ground, and
averaged perhaps two feet in diameter. Some of the birds had taken advan-
tage of previous accumulations of drift, to which they added their nesting
material. A shallow depression on the top contained the grayish, chocolate-
spotted eggs.

Though the normal complement of eggs is three to five, and though the
season was now far advanced, the nests contained only from one to three eggs
apiece. For apparently every colony of Laughing Gulls, Skimmers, Terns,
and Clapper Rails in that region must reckon with repeated visits of egging
parties, which for years have been the bane of the breeding birds of the Vir-
ginia coast. And the Laughing Gulls, owing to the conspicuousness of their
nests and the esteem in which their large eggs are held, pay especially heavy
toll to the eggers. The hatching of a brood must mean, in most cases, a very
marked degree of patience and faithfulness on the part of the parent birds.

Late in the afternoon of that day, an exceptionally high new-moon tide,
accompanied by a rainstorm of tropical violence, with thunder, lightning,
and a magnificently impressive cloud display, threatened havoc among the
nests of all the marsh birds. From the shelter of the club-house porch, at the
tip of the sandy hook, we looked out over the flooded marsh, and could discern
numbers of Clapper Rails, driven from their usual retreats, skulking about
on top of the floating drift. We were more concerned, however, for the less
common Laughing Gulls, some of which were then flying above their nests in the
fast-gathering darkness and calling in alarm, as it seemed, at the rising flood.

(204)

Observations in a Laughing Gull Colony

20S

Five days later, when we had an opportunity to visit the colony again,
we were pleasantly surprised to find that the nests had suffered no apparent
harm from the storm and tide. The first one to which I came was at the very
edge of the lagoon, whose rippled waters, together with the long, glittering
shell-heap on the beach beyond, would make, I thought, a very pleasing setting
for a portrait of the Laughing Gull at home. Accordingly, I set up my umbrella
tent at a distance of about twenty-five feet from the nest, and prepared to
await the bird's return with some measure of the patient fortitude that the
bird photographer, by reason of long practice, almost inevitably acquires.
These periods of waiting, however, seldom prove really irksome ; at such times
alone, perhaps, during an active day in the field, is one enabled to give a
neglected note-book the attention it demands. Furthermore, when one is

THE UMBRELLA BLIND IN THE LAUGHING GULL COLONY

provided with a comfortable seat in the shape of a drift-gathered box and
may watch, unseen, numbers of unfamiliar and interesting birds about him,^
for I was favored at this time in both respects, — hour after hour may pass
pleasantly enough.

During the first few minutes, the birds of the entire colony kept circling
back and forth overhead, concerned, no doubt, for the safety of their nests,
but not showing so much excitability as a pair or two of Forster's Terns that
came from a distance to scream hoarsely at the new feature in the landscape.
Only now and then did the Laughing Gulls utter their high-keyed notes; and
these varied to a marked degree at different times or with various individuals.
The following are some of the variations that I attempted to jot down in my
note-book: ka-ah; ke-hah; ha; ha-ha; ha-ha-ha; ke-a-hah. Several times,
too, their strange laughter, not unlike the ordinary call-note, but much pro-
longed, sounded over the marsh.

2o6

Bird -Lore

Presently some of the Gulls began to hover about the more distant nests,
generally making a false start or two before venturing to alight. Then one
by one they dropped upon the edges of the nests, twitched their wings for a
couple of moments as if to fix them smoothly in position, and remained for
a time erect and alert; at last, becoming sufficiently reassured, they settled
down upon their eggs, so that little more than their black heads and snowy
necks appeared above the grass-tops. Meanwhile, some of the others, singly
or in pairs, swam on the pool with the peculiar feathery lightness that so often
arouses our admiration in a Gull, whether awing or afloat.

Two birds, at length, commenced to fly closer and closer to the nest in
front of the blind, and, at the end of three-quarters of an hour or thereabouts,

XEST AND EGGS OF LAUGHING GULL

one of them (probably the female) alighted. Though frightened away more
than once, either by the movements of my companion at the other end of the
colony or by the noisy release of my focal-plane shutter, she returned without
undue delay and began to incubate. I now had opportunity not only to expose
plate after plate, but to observe at leisure the Laughing Gull's graceful sym-
metry and its rare beauty of plumage. Its dark reddish bill, black head and
white-bordered eye, snow-white neck and breast, and pearl-gray, black-
tipped wings, show to particular advantage in -an autochrome exposed for
four seconds on the motionless bird.

At a loud outcry from the sitting Gull, I peeped through a slit in the tent
in time to catch a momentary glimpse of a skulking Clapper Rail, whose

Observations in a Laughing Gull Colony

207

comical impudence in stepping directly past the nest, at scarcely a yard's
distance, had thus aroused the very justifiable resentment of the owner. She
yelled likewise at the male when the latter dropped down beside the nest;
and her vociferations seemed shortly to have the desired effect, for he arose in
the air and did not offer to return. I was reminded of a remarkable similar
demonstration, which had come to my notice at Gardiner's Island a few weeks
previously, on the part of a female Osprey, who by loud screechings had pre-
vented her mate from alighting beside her on a boulder-nest while the umbrella
tent was in dangerously close proximity.

At the end of a couple of hours, in hopes of obtaining a still more intimate
view of the faithful sitter, I
ventured to advance the tent
to within fifteen feet of the
nest. But, after another hour
had elapsed, I had come to
the conclusion that the move
was unfortunate, for the bird
now seemed to balk entirely
at the green object looming
so uncomfortably near ; more-
over, it led eventually, though
perhaps indirectly, to the
enactment before me of an
avian tragedy of a positiveh'
startling nature.

At 5:40 P.M. a Laughing
Gull lit on the edge of the
nest, and, scarcely pausing for
an instant's survey of the
surroundings, plunged its bill
into the nest with a vicious
stroke, accompanied by the
audible crash of a breaking
eggshell! The act was so sud-
den and astonishing, if not
entirely unheard of, as to defy explanation for a time, at least. Could this
possibly be the owner, who, feeling compelled to desert her home, was there-
fore devastating it in a spirit of blind rage? Could it be her mate, so totally
devoid of parental instinct as to destroy his own unhatched offspring? Or
was it some other member of the colony, a robber or degenerate, taking
advantage of the owner's absence to feast with a cannibal's gluttony upon
the eggs of its own species?

Before these questions could be answered, the Gull took sudden alarm and

THE ROBBER HOVERIXG OVER THE XEST

208

Bird- Lore

flew off, only to come again and continue its dastardly work. I was now struck
with a certain difference in general appearance between the incubating female
and this bird. In the latter I also noticed particularly a V-shaped tuft of white
feathers that extended far below the nape and overlapped the bend of the wing
— a pecularity which shows clearly, as I had hoped, in some of the photographs.
As further evidence that this was not the owner, I saw presently that mere
destruction was not its aim; it was devouring the eggs with the plainest relish,

even lifting the eggs entirely
out of the nest in its eager-
ness to gulp down the oozing
contents. And with what a
wild, sneaking, diabolical
look the handsome robber
glanced from side to side, as
if momentarily apprehensive
of the owner's return! Once
more he departed in alarm
or fear, this time alighting
on the pool to wash off his
reeking bill. With appetite
still unsatiated, however, he
llew boldly back, and con-
tinued his disgusting meal
within fifteen feet of the
tent, from which I watched
his every movement. When
he left finally, two of the
three eggs had been de-
stroyed.

With such a pirate in
their midst (and who knows
how many more there were
in the colony?) it seemed that each pair of Laughing Gulls must maintain
the strictest guard over their nest and incubate by turns, or pay the penalty
in the distressing way that I had witnessed, — and for which I could not but
feel largely responsible.

Several of the best local observers of that part of the Virginia coast, whom
I questioned, had never noticed the rifling of a Laughing Gull's nest by the
same species, and were unable to shed any light upon the subject. Further-
more, ornithological literature contains no reference*, so far as I am aware,
to this remarkable penchant, or habit, of the Laughing Gull. Certain other

*Since the above was written, Mr. Alfred B. Howell has mentioned in 'The Auk' (Vol. XXVIII,
iQii, p. 453) a Laughing Gull's attempt at Cobb's Island to steal eggs, but does not name the species
■whose nest was in danger of being robbed.

THE ROBBER EATING THE EGGS

Observations in a Laughing Gull Colony

209

members of the genus, especially the Western Gull of our Paciiic Coast and
the Lesser Black-backed Gull of Europe, are notorious nest-robbers, but as
each of these is believed to invariably respect the eggs of its own species, the
act of the Cobb's Island l)ird appears by comjnirison the more strange and
incomprehensible.

This avian tragedy reached its climax half an hour after the robber's
departure. At 6:20 p. m. a bird, apparently the returning owner, came wing-
ing across the pool from the direction of the beach, and circled high above
the nest; then for the first time catching sight of the ruin, she broke forth into
loud and prolonged cries of almost unmistakable anguish.

A GREAT BLUE HERON WHICH CAME ABOARD THE S. S. 'ALMIRAXTE'
ABOUT .^oo MILES OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Photographed by Edward Harold Pound, November, igio

One of Our Neighbors

By LILLIAN LAMBERT, Cedar Falls, Iowa

THE theory of evolution — that each form of life has developed through
hundreds and thousands of years from a lower form — puts our ideas
in regard to life upon a different basis, and establishes more than ever
before a kinship among all forms of animals. We, as human beings, have
dominion over the lower forms of animals simply because of the superiority
of our intellect, but this superiority, instead of making us arrogant, should
give us a broader sympathy for our feathered and four-footed brothers, and
a keener insight into their world, which is by no means a small one.

Birds, as a class, are far more intelligent than the average person thinks,
and this is especially true of the Crow. Most of us have inherited from our
ancestors the epithet "thieving Crow," and a prejudice against him which
he little deserves. To say that a Crow steals, gives to him the moral insight
into right and wrong which the genus Homo alone possesses. The Crow does,
without doubt, annoy the farmer by taking his sprouting corn, and by de-
stroying other things of value; but a certain scientist, after examining the
stomachs of hundreds of Crows, stated that the injurious insects which they
destroyed more than compensated for the annoyance they caused the farmer
by their so-called theft and mischief.

But what is man, I wonder, judged from the Crow's standpoint — that
giant monster with a deadly weapon that kills, which he uses with mahcious
intent without any provocation whatever? And so, to outwit him, the Crows,
before descending on a cornfield, place a sentinel on the top of the tallest
tree. He sounds a note of warning at any supposed danger, and the entire
flock beat a hasty retreat. But, granting that all the accusations brought
against him are true, let us be fair enough to our dusky neighbor to glance a
moment at the other side of his character.

Crows, when young, are easily tamed, and in this state of domestication
make pets as affectionate and loyal as the dog. I have in mind a certain tame
crow named Bill. He was very fond of his friends, but was averse to all other
human beings, especially barefoot boys. Whenever any of these little intruders
came into the yard, he would fly at once at their feet, having decided on the
most vulnerable point at a glance. The boys generally fled in dismay, fright-
ened, but unhurt. His affection for the family, however, knew no bounds.
His most cordial greeting was given to the earliest riser, and the members of
the family vied with each other in getting up early in order to be the recipients
of Bill's special favor. He would ruffle his feathers, roll his eyes, flap his
wings gently, and then finally say, "Hello! hello!" in the exact tone of voice
that had been used when he was taught the word. He knew one member of
the family after he had been separated from her for eight months, and went
through this same demonstrative greeting on seeing her. He was very fond

(210)

One of Our Neighbors 2n

of human companionship, always sitting on the arm of our chair, or on the
bough of the tree under which we sat. Once we heard a voice above us say,
"Oh! oh!" and, on looking up, we saw Bill flapping his wings for welcome; then
he said, "Hello! hello!" The Crows, too, are fond of the companionship of
each other, the nests of the entire flock always being in one locality. They
believe in the communistic form of living.

Bill had his entire freedom and, though he stayed at home most of the time,
he occasionally visited the wild Crows. One day he was present when the
peas were picked for dinner, and was much interested in the process, especially
in the fact that three or four sweet, tender peas were within each pod. The
ne.xt day he flew away to the wild Crows. Suddenly a great cawing was heard,
caws loud and excited. We looked out to see a flock of Bill's black brothers in
the yard. That ended our peas for that summer, for in a few moments not one
was to be found. The Crows dined that morning on spring peas. His favorite
food, however, was cheese. He always soaked it before eating it, and so, of the
large portion we gave him, there was finally nothing left but a clean piece
of cheesecloth.

He was also much interested in the washing, especially in the placing of
the clothespins. A tablecloth was once put upon the grass to bleach. Bill
cawed excitedly when he saw it, then he flew away and returned immediately
with a clothespin which he placed on one of the corners of the tablecloth.
On another occasion, the maid was hanging the clothes on the line, but was
obliged to stop, not being able to find the pins. Bill assisted in the search and
soon returned with one in his mouth. He had found the basket of pins some
distance back in the garden under a tree.

The Crow is noted for its fondness for bright colors, and in this respect
Bill was no exception. His admiration for beautiful jewelry was equal to
that of any society belle. He would often light on the arm of the chair, when
one was sewing, and beg for the thimble, picking at it and making a peculiar
little sound something like the half-crying tone of a child. The thimble was
generally given to him, and he would fly away to hide it under the leaves. He
was very indignant if we picked it up again, and we generally waited till he
was gone to deprive him of his hidden treasures— pins, buttons, tacks, or
anything that was bright enough to attract his admiration.

We never returned home, after a little visit in the neighborhood, without
being welcomed by Bill's happy "Caw! cawF'' And now, whenever I hear a
caw and see one or more of these dusky birds flying through the air, I remember
not that these feathered friends of ours take our corn and cherries, but that
no animal excels them in intelligence and affection.

Some Nesting Habits of the Oregon Junco

By MAY R. THAYER, Everett, Wash.

THE Oregon Juncos are permanent residents of the Puget Sound region,
and have habitually nested about our home. It was not until the sum-
mer of 1908, however, that I had an opportunity of observing them
closely during a part of the nesting-season. In the spring of the same year, I
had tried to discover the nesting-place of the pair that frequented our lunch-
counter, but with no success. For their second nest, they very accommodatingly
selected a site within a stone's-throwof our door. Our first intimation that they
were building in our immediate vicinity came to us on June 8, when I noticed
the female picking up hairs that Donald, the collie, had scattered on the walk.
This told the tale of a nearly completed nest, and to discover its whereabouts
I kept my eye on the bird. She alighted on a low branch of a cedar tree in a
wide, sunny ravine, the slope of which began about a dozen feet from the house.
From the tree she dropped to the ground, out of sight below the brow of the
hill. I watched until she reappeared without her burden ; then I knew that a
longed-for opportunity was at hand; that her nest was on the slope between the
tree and the house, and that it was only a matter of time when I should find it.
For two or three days, they busied themselves with the completion of the
nest. The actual construction of the nest seemed to fall to the share of the
female, while the male watched over her, encouraging her by his presence and
his music. They always came together for the dog hairs. Often he would perch
on a tall stump beside the walk, and watch her while she worked, singing with
the greatest energy. At other times, he would alight, still singing, on the walk
beside her, and would follow her about, with his tail spread wide to show its
white feathers. When she went to the nest, he always escorted her to the
cedar tree, where he waited for her. After each visit to the nest, the two
invariably took a little excursion through the evergreens in the ravine, she in
the lead from tree to tree, and he after her, stopping frequently to sing a few
strains. It seemed as if she purposely delayed her work to tease him, and his
joy, when she returned to her labors, was pretty to see. He would hover over
her with tail spread fan-like, and sing as if he would burst his little throat.
This love song is a succession of high notes in a monotonous trill or rattle,
not unlike the song of the Chipping Sparrow, but much fuller and sweeter, and
the strain is shorter. It is very different from the low warble of the early
mating season.

The female has a dainty way of collecting the hairs, taking each one by the
middle, until she has a little brush protruding from each side of her bill. Only
once I saw the male make an attempt to help her. He picked up a piece of
dr>' grass, flew with it to the telephone wire, held it for a few seconds, then
dropped it, and went to singing as if glad to show there was one thing in which
he could excel.

(212)

Some Nesting Habits of the Oregon Junco

213

Once during tlie period of nest-building, I saw the whole family — father,
mother and two youngsters of the first brood — at the lunch-counter. Here
the father showed his devotion to his family by taking all the care of the child-
ren. They followed him about, and he patiently droi)ped grain, first into one
gaping mouth and then into the other. While the mother ate her meal uncon-
cernedly, and then flew off in the direction of her new nest. Soon there came a
time when the female was seen only when she made hurried visits to the lunch-
counter for food and water. The male spent much of his time singing in the
cedar-tree, or on a nearby telephone pole. He and the two young ones were
often seen at the lunch-counter, and in the trees near the nest. A dense yew

OREGOX JUNCO

tree, about fifteen feet distant, was a favorite with them, and here they were
so often seen at dusk as to warrant the conclusion that they roosted there.
On July 6, we first saw the parents wdth food in their bills, and knew that
the second brood was hatched. I took a position under a small cherry tree on
the slope, and waited. The female soon arrived with food and alighted in the
yew tree. She 'ticked' several times, then flew down and disappeared in the
weeds about twenty feet below me on the slope. She reappeared almost
instantly, perched in the yew tree again, wiped her bill daintily, and lingered a
short time before departing. In five minutes she returned, accompanied by
the male, both with food for the young. She flew down at once, reappeared
without the food, and departed. The male was disturbed by my presence.
It was fifteen minutes before he was reassured suflficiently to visit the nest, and
leave the two fat worms that dangled from his bill. Even with the location
thus plainly marked, I had difficulty in finding the nest, so completely was it

214 Bird - Lore

concealed. The hillside was covered by a matted growth of tall grass, brakes,
red clover, everlasting, and other weeds, and much caution had to be exercised to
avoid the danger of stepping on the nest. Parting a clump of fireweed,! at last
discovered a tunnel-like opening under a bunch of low Christmas ferns. A
few inches back from the mouth of the opening was the nest. Its roof of dried
fern fronds and grass, with its location on a north slope, protected it from the
sun, as well as from rain. I looked in vain for yawning bills, or other sign of
life. In the dim light, the nest seemed empty; but my fingers came in contact
■with a soft, downy mass, the only motion of which was a slight rise and fall
from the breathing. Not wishing to be seen by the parents at the nest, I did
not investigate further.

The parents seemed to share equally the responsibility of providing for the
young, though the mother was somewhat the more zealous. She visited the
nest without hesitation as long as I remained on the up-hill side of the nest,
near the house, where she was accustomed to seeing people pass, but would
not approach the nest if I appeared anywhere near it on the lower side.
The male was much more suspicious. He was always uneasy if any one appeared
in the neighborhood of the nest, and would approach it only after much delay,
and by a circuitous route among the weeds. Often, on finding a spectator,
he would, after waiting and scolding for some time, himself devour the food
he had brought, instead of taking it to the nest. Twice, on their arrival, the
old birds found me at the nest, and their behavior on these occasions was
remarkable. Instead of showing the frenzy of fear or anger that might have
been expected, they seemed quite unconcerned, and watched calmly from the
vines in an indifferent way, as if to say: "Do not hurry yourself on our account.
We can wait as long as you please." Was it the courage born of despair, or
a ruse to make me think that I was 'cold'?

Two other Juncos, that came to the yew tree, were promptly driven away
by nesting pairs, both of whom happened to be at home, though no attention
was paid to the other birds of other species that frequented the tree. The
necessity of providing food for the young developed unsuspected fly-catching
powers in the Juncos. It was very amusing to watch the process. They were
not expert enough to 'strike' their prey, but clumsily chased it instead and,
often missing it, had to turn and try again. Sometimes the moth would drop
on being attacked, and the bird would drop after it, wheeling and jabbing and
turning somersaults in vain attempts to capture it. The male, on spying a
large winged ant below him, dropped for it, caught it and gave it a jerk to the
ground ; caught it again, and repeated the performance several times. When he
finally carried his prey to the nest, the wings were left behind.

I allowed myself but one brief visit to the nest each day, and, with one
exception, always found the tree nestlings as motionless as graven images.
They lay close in the nest, facing the opening, with bills tightly closed. On
the fifth day, two of them had their eyes open for the first time. On the seventh

Some Nesting Habits of the Oregon Junco

2IS

day, the feathering was well along, and a tiny little tail, about three-quarters
of an inch long, stuck up against the back of the nest. As they caught sight
of me, they gave a little start, settled more closely into the nest, and 'froze' as
usual. This was the only motion I ever saw them make. On the eighth day,
a heavy rain fell; but the nest and its occupants remained perfectly dry; so
well had the site been chosen. On the morning of the ninth day, when all
nature was drenched and shivering, I found an empty nest. But, as the old
birds were seen to drop with food into the tangled grass of the hillside, I
knew that the young birds were safe so far. It seemed a pity, however, that
they should have to begin their struggle for existence in such inclement weather.
Later in the day, the parents were carrying grain to a brush-pile more than 200
feet from the nest, so one at least of the babies reached shelter in safety. This
was the first time they were seen to feed anything but animal food. For two
or three days the old birds carried grain from the lunch-counter, and then
were seen no more.

Red-headed Woodpecker at Camden, N. J.

By JULIAN K. POTTER

^^;

1

1'

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER

Photographed March, 1912, by G. A.

Bailey, at Genesee, N. Y.

PREVIOUS to 1 910, I had seen the
Red-headed Woodpecker in this locality
as a migrant only; but in June of that
year a pair nested, and successfully raised a
brood in a patch of woods directly on the
Delaware River. In November, 1910, 1 located
another pair which were wintering in a grove
about two miles back from the river, within
the city limits, and for the past nine months
have seldom failed to see these birds when
passing through the locality they frequented.
As early as February 26, 1911,1 saw one of
the Woodpeckers fighting with two StarUngs
over the possession of a hole in a dead maple
tree, w^hich the Woodpecker, I think, used as a
roosting-place. Whether this site would have
been used for a nesting-place or not, I cannot say, for, unfortunately, the tree
was cut down a short time after. This was the only time I observed the Star-
lings interfering with the Redheads, although there were a number of pairs
in the vicinity, and four pairs had nests within twenty-five yards of the Wood-
peckers' nest, which I first located on May 21, in the dead top of a maple tree,
about thirty feet from the ground. On this date the old birds were feeding their
young, and from this time on I kept as close watch of the birds as circumstances
would permit, and made a number of interesting notes. The young birds left
the nest about June 25. On that day I saw them out in the open, quite able
to take care of themselves, although the parents fed them occasionally. I
thought this would be the only brood raised, since the pair I observed in 1910
raised but a single brood ; so I was quite surprised, when passing the old nest-
ing-tree on July 23, to see a parent bird enter the hole with something in its
bill. I came to the conclusion that another brood was being raised, and found
that I had surmised correctly when, on July 30, I heard the unmistakable
squeaking of the young birds. Meanw-hile the young of the first brood were
being very much misused by their parents, and were driven away whenever
they came in sight; in fact they were persecuted to such an extent that they
must have been driven from the locality, for I was unable to find them after
July 30. By August 6, the young of the second brood were able to climb to
the entrance of their home and survey the outside world. It was at this time
I discovered that one of the young had a triangular blotch of red back of each
eye, otherwise the coloration was the same as usual. On August 16, when I
visited the nest, I saw the long, sleek head of a Starling extending from the

(216)

Red-headed Woodpecker at Camden, N. J.

217

hole, and decided that the young Woodpeckers had left. On investigation,
I found two of them in company with one of the parents, a short distance
from the nesting-tree.

The old birds fed the young at varying intervals, sometimes going to the
nest once in every three or four minutes for a half hour, then not appearing

again for fifteen or twenty min-
utes. Quite in contrast, was the
methodical feeding of their neigh-
bors, the Starlings, who averaged
once in four or five minutes any
time of the day I happened to be
in the neighl)orhood.

On one occasion, when I
watched the Woodpeckers until
dark, I found that one went to
roost in the nesting -hole about
dusk, and the other, probably the
male, shortly after went into an
old hole in the same dead tree,
• higher up.

The Sparrows bothered the
Woodpeckers somewhat. At times,
when a sparrow became too in-
quisitive, the Woodpecker would
dive at him and bear him clear
down to the ground; there the
matter would end, the Sparrow
rapidly flying away, and the
Woodpecker flying back to the
nest, where possibly another for-
eigner would be on deck, to be
dealt with in the same way. By
the time the second brood was
well under way, the Sparrows, as
well as all other birds in the
vicinity, seemed to have learned
the lesson of "no trespass" and the Red -heads had everything their
own way.

To my regret, I was unable to determine the number of young in each
brood, on account of the character of the tree in which the nest was located.
However, I am pretty certain that the second brood consisted of two birds
only, as this was all I ever saw at one time.

REU-HEAI>ED WOODPECKER
Photographed by the author

The Migration of North American Sparrows

SEVENTEENTH PAPER

Compiled by Professor W. W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey

With Drawings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes

(See frontispiece)

CANON TOWHEE

This non-migratory species has its center of abundance in Arizona and
New Mexico, from which a few range north as far as Boulder, Colorado, east
into western Texas, and south for a short distance into Mexico.

CALIFORNIA TOWHEE

This is one of the most abundant and characteristic birds of California.
It is a permanent resident from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to the coast;
a few ranging north to southwestern Oregon. The form occurring in south-
western California and northern Lower California has been separated as a
subspecies, Pihilo cr is sails senlcula, Anthony's Towhee.

ABERT'S TOWHEE

Abert's Towhee is an abundant permanent resident of southern Arizona
and of the deserts of southeastern California and northeastern Lower Cali-
fornia. A few range north in the Colorado Valley to southeastern Nevada
and southwestern Utah, and the species is also found in southwestern New
Mexico.

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows

SIXTEENTH PAPER
By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

(See frontispiece)

Cahon Towhee (Plpllo fuscus mesoleucus, Figs, i and 2). — The Canon
Towhee is a near relative of the California Towhee, from which it differs in
being somewhat smaller, and generally paler, the throat and under tail-coverts
being buff rather than cinnamon, the belly being whiter, while most specimens
have a blackish blotch on the lower breast not present in the California Towhee.
Both species appear to agree in regard to their molts, and their seasonal changes
in plumage are almost equally limited, though summer specimens of the
Canon Towhee have the reddish brown crown-cap more pronounced and
better defined.

As with the other brown Towhees, the male and female of this species
are alike in color, the young differs from them but slightly and there are no

(218)

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows 219

marked seasonal variations in plumage. The juvenal plumage is essentially
like that of the adult but the brown cap is not evident, the buffy throat not
so pronounced, and the underparts are streaked with dusky. The post-juvenal
molt appears to resemble that of the other brown Towhees, that is, the body
plumage, tail, inner wing-quills, and all but the primary wing-coverts, are
replaced by the feathers of the first winter plumage, which resembles the
winter plumage of the adult.

There is apparently no spring molt, and the differences between summer
and winter plumage are due to wear and fading, which do not materially
alter the color of the plumage.

The San Lucas Towhee {Pipilo fuscus albigula) is a smaller, darker race
with a white throat, which inhabits the Cape Region of Lower California
north to latitude 29°.

California Towhee {Pipilo crissalis crissalis, Fig. 3).— This species
differs from the Canon Towhee in its deeper, richer coloration, which is par-
ticularly pronounced on the throat and under tail-coverts. The sexes are
alike, and the young bird in juvenal plumage resembles in general coloration
the adult, but lacks the brown cap, the throat is not so deeply colored, and
the underparts are streaked with dusky. There are practically no seasonal
changes in color, and the plumage-changes appear to resemble those of the
Canon Towhee.

Anthony's Towhee {Pipilo crissalis senicula), a smaller form, with darker
upperparts and less ochraceous on the underparts, ranges, according to the
A. 0. U. 'Check-List,' from "Southern California south of the San Bernardino
Mountains, and on the Pacific side of Lower California south at least to lati-
tude 29°."

Abert's Towhee {Pipilo abcrii, Fig. 4). — In this species the sexes are
alike, and there are but slight variations in plumage due to age or season. The
juvenal plumage, while showing the usual difference in texture from that of
subsequent plumages, is of the same general tone as that worn by the adult,
but the underparts are paler and are faintly streaked with dusky.

The postjuvenal molt appears to include all the body feathers, the tail
and the inner wing-feathers, and in the resulting first-winter plumage the
bird resembles the adult, with pink-tinged breast and blackish about the
face. There appears to be no spring molt, and breeding specimens wear a
very ragged plumage, which, aside from being slightly paler, does not differ in
color from that of winter.

The Massachusetts Audubon Society's Bird-Lists

THE success attending the Massachusett's Audubon's Society's plan
of inducing its members to record the birds observed by them in Mass-
achusetts, during the year, on blanks suppUed for this purpose, con-
tinues to be attested by the number and character of the lists sent in. The
ten best lists received by the Secretary of the Society for the year ending
December 31, 191 1, were made by the following members: Joseph A. Hagar,
Newtonville, 210 species; H. D. Mitchell, Newtonville, 208 species; W. Charles-
worth Levey, Brookline, 189 species; F. A. Scott, 158 species; Mrs. Mary
Moore Kaan, Brookline, 74 species; Horace McFarlin, Bridgewater, 73 species;
Helen W. Kaan, Brookline, 70 species; Marie Warton Kaan, Brookline, 58
species; Mary F. Atkinson, Brookline, 44 species; Edwin H. Merrill, Winchen-
don, 16 species. The two lists first mentioned are published herewith.

Name of Species

Holboell's Grebe

Horned Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

Loon

Red-throated Loon

Black Guillemot

Pomarine Jaeger

Parasitic Jaeger

Great Black-backed Gull. . .

Herring Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Laughing Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

Common Tern

Arctic Tern

Roseate Tern

Least Tern

Wilson's Petrel

Gannet

Double-crested Cormorant..

American Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser. . .

Hooded Merganser

Mallard

Black Duck

Red-legged Black Duck. . . .

Green-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Pintail

Wood Duck

Redhead

Scaup Duck

Lesser Scaup Duck

List of Birds observed by
Joseph A. Hagar, in Mass.,
from January 1, 1911, to
December 31, 1911.

Marshfield
Marshfield.
Canton.. . .
Marshfield.
Marshfield.

Marshfield.

Chestnut Hill.
Marshfield

Marshfield. . . .

Ipswich

New Bedford
Woods Hole .
Woods Hole. .
Nantucket. . .

Apr. 8
Oct. 28
Sept. 16
Feb. 24
Apr. 4

Aug. 30

Mar. 19
Feb. 24

Plum Island. . . .

Marshfield

Cambridge

Marshfield

Middlesex Fells,
Chestnut Hill. .

Marshfield

Brookline

Ipswich

Ipswich

Marshfield

Canton

Cambridge. . . .

Duxbury

Jamaica Pond...

July 29
Aug. 20
June 30
June 30
June 30
July I

Sept. 30
Sept. ID
Mar. 25
Apr. 4
Nov. 4
Mar. 19
Feb. 24
Mar. 19
Sept. 30
Aug. 20
Oct. 28
Sept. 16
Nov. 24
Dec. 2
Nov. 4

List of Birds observed by H.
D. Mitchell, in Mass., from
January 1, 1911, to Decem-
ber 31, 191 I.

Locality

Nahant

Marshfield. . . .

Canton

Nahant

Marshfield. . .

Nahant

Provincetown.
Plum Island.
Cambridge. . .
Cambridge. . .
Plum Island. .
Marshfield —
Marshfield. . .
Marshfield.. .
Marshfield —

Nahant

Provincetown.
Cohasset

Salem

Cambridge

Marshfield

Middlesex Fells

Cambridge

Marshfield

Cambridge

Ipswich

Plum Island. . .

Canton

Cambridge . .. .

Nahant

Jamaica Plain.

Jan. 28
Dec. 2
Sept. 13
Jan. 2S
Apr. 4
Dec. 27
Aug. 15
Sept. 23
Jan. 25
Jan. 25
Sept. 23
July 29
July 29
July 29
July 29
Aug. 6
Aug. 15
Aug. 15

Sept. 21
Jan. 25
Apr. 4
Oct. 31
Jan. 25
Apr. 4
Jan. 25

Aug. 20
Sept. 23
Sept. 13
Nov. 22
Jan. 28
Nov. 3

(220)

Massachusetts Audubon Society's Bird-Lists

Name of Species

American Golden-eye

Bufflehead

Old-squaw

American Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Surf Scoter

Ruddy Duck

Canada Goose

Brant

American Bittern

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Virginia Rail

Sora

American Coot

American Woodcock

Wilson's Snipe

Dowitcher

Knot

Pectoral Sandpiper

White-rumpcd Sandpiper.. .

Least Sandpiper

Red-backed Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper. . .

Sanderling

Greater Yellow-legs

Yellow-legs

Solitary Sandpiper

Bartramian Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Hudsonian Curlew

Black-bellied Plover

Am. Golden Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Piping Plover

Ruddj- Turnstone

Bob- white

Ruffed Grouse

Mourning Dove

Marsh Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Broad- winged Hawk

Am. Rough-legged Hawk.. .
Bald Eagle

List of Birds observed by
Joseph A. Hagar, in Mass.,
from January 1, 1911, to
December 31, 1911.

Locality

Marshfield.. . .
Marsh field... .
Marshfield —
Marshfield.. .
Marshfield.. . .

Ipswich

Marshfield —
Marshfield —

Duxbury

Marshfield

Marshfield —

Newton

Brookline

Cambridge. . .
Cambridge. . .
Jamaica Pond.

Newton

Cambridge. . .

Ipswich

Marshfield

Marshfield —

Marshfield

Marshfield

Marshfield

Marshfield —
Marshfield.. . .

Marshfield

Marshfield

Marshfield

Ipswich

Cambridge. . .
Marshfield.. . .
Marshfield.. . .
Marshfield.. . .
Marshfield.. . .
Marshfield —
Marshfield.. . .
Arboretum. . .
Marshfield . . .

Sudbury

Marshfield

Newton

Marshfield. . . .

Ipswich

Marshfield

Marshfield.. . .

Sparrow Hawk

Osprey

Short-eared Owl

Barred Owl

Screech Owl

Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Martha's

Vineyard. .
Chestnut'Hill. .

Marshfield

Ipswich

Boston

Marshfield

Newton

Feb. 24
Feb. 24
Mar. II
Feb. 24
Feb. 24
Sept. 30
Oct. 28
Apr. 6
Dec. 2
May 171
Apr. 18
May 12
Mar. 19
June 10
May 2
Apr. 16
Feb. 26
May 2
Aug. 20
Aug. 7
July 30
May 21
May 17
May 21
May 21
May 21
Apr. 4
July 18
May 16
.-^ug. 20
May 2
July 24
May 21
.A.ug. 29
May 21
July 24
May 21
May 7
July 21
May 30
Apr. 18
Apr. 13
Apr. 18
Aug. 20
Apr. 4
Aug. 28

List of Birds observed by H.
D. Mitchell, in Mass., from
January I, 191 I, to Decem-
ber 31, 1911.

Locality

Cambridge. . .

Nahant

Nahant

Plum Island. .

Nahant

Plum Island. .
Cambridge. . .

Du.xbury

Duxbury

Scituate

Stoneham. . . .
Cambridge. . .

Brookline

Cambridge. . .
Cambridge. . .
Jamaica Pond.

Date

Jan. 25
Jan. 28
Jan. 28
Oct. 12
Jan. 28
Sept. 23
Nov. 22
Dec. 2
Dec. 2
Aug. 29
Apr. 22
May 4
Feb. II
May 4
June 10
Apr. 10

Ipswich. . .
Nahant. . .
Marshfield.
Marshfield.
Marshfield.
Marshfield.
Marshfield.
Marshfield.
Marshfield.

Cambridge ...

Ipswich

Newton

Nahant

Ipswich

Marshfield

Marshfield

Nahant

Nahant

Jamaica Plain
W. Boylston..

Sudbury . .

Ipswich

Waltham

Holdcn

Ipswich

Newton

Aug. 22
Sept. 3
July 30
July 29
July 29
Aug. 29
July 29
July 29
Apr. 4

July 23
Aug. 20
May 6
Sept. 3
Sept. 23
.\ug. 29
July 29
Aug. 18
Aug. 6
Feb. II
July 2
May 30
Aug. 20
Mar. 19
June 3
.\ug. 20
Mar. 1 1

Middlesex Fells

Brookline. . . .

Ipswich

Plum^Island.

Boston

Newton

Dec. 25

Feb. II
.\ug. 20
Oct. 12
Dec. 26
Sept.

Newton j May 13

222

Bird- Lore

Name of Species

Black-billed Cuckoo

Belted Kingfisher

Hairy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucktr. .
Red-headed Woodpecker. .

Northern Flicker

Whip-poor-will

Nighthawk

Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hum'gbird.

Kingbird

Crested Flycatcher

Phoebe

Wood Pewee

Alder Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Horned Lark

Prairie Horned Lark

Blue Jay

American Crow

Bobolink

Cowbird

Red-winged Blackbird. . .

Meadowlark

Baltimore Oriole

Rusty Blackbird

Bronzed Graekle

Purple Finch

American Crossbill

Redpoll

American Goldfinch

Pine Siskin

Snowflake

Vesper Sparrow

Ipswich Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Henslow's Sparrow

Sharp-tailed Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow. . .
White-throated Sparrow...

Tree Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Slate-colored Junco

Song Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Towhee

Rose-breasted Grosbeak...

Indigo Bunting

Scarlet Tanager

Purple Martin

List of Birds observed by
Joseph A. Hagar, in Mass.,
from January 1, 1911, to
December 31, 1911.

Locality

Newton

Marshfield. . . ,
Marshfield. . . .

Newton

Middlesex Fel

Newton. . . .
Marshfield..
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .

Sudbury

Newton. . . .
Marshfield..
Marshfield. .
Newton. . . .
Sudbury.. . .
Newton . . . .
Marshfield..
Ipswich . . . .
Newton . . . .
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .
Cambridge.
Cambridge.
Newton . . . .
Cambridge.
Brookline..
Marshfield. .
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .
Newton . . . .
Marshfield. ,
Marshfield. .
Marshfield.,
Marshfield.,
Marshfield. ,
Wayland . . .
Norwood . . .
Marshfield.,
Marshfield.,
Newton. . . .
ALirsh field.
Marshfield.
Marshfield.
Newton . . . .
Newton... .

Newton

Cambridge.
Cambridge.
Newton. . . .
Newton . . . .
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .
Marshfield.

May 27
Apr. 10
Apr. 30
Jan. 5
Apr. 22

Jan. 2
Apr. 29
May 16
May 7
May 30
May 12
May 16
Apr. I
May 16
May 30
May II
Feb. 24
Aug. 20
Jan. I
Jan. I
May 6
Mar. 26
Mar. 25
Mar. 25
May 8
Apr. 22
Mar. 19
Apr. I
May 5
Feb. 7
Feb. II
Dec. 3
Feb. 24
Apr. 9
Oct. 28
Apr. 18
May 30
May 29
July 18
May 17
Apr. 28
Feb. 24
Apr. 18
Apr. 7
Jan. 2
Jan. 4
Sept. 14
Apr. 22
Mar. 25
Apr. 28
May. 10
May 14
May II

.\UE. 28

List of Birds observed by H.
D. Mitchell, in Mass., from
January 1, 1911, to Decem-
ber 31, 1911.

Locality

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Middlesex Fells.

Newton

Arlington

W. Boylston. . . .

Newton

Cambridge

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Sudbury

Newton

Nahant

Ipswich

Weston

Weston

Newton

Newton

Newton

Cambridge ....

Newton

Cambridge. . . .

Newton

Jamaica Plain .

Newton

Newton

Weston

Nahant

Duxbury

Belmont

Duxbury

Middlesex Fells

Wayland

Norwood

Marshfield

Newton

Brookline

Jamaica Plain .

Newton

Newton

Waltham

Cambridge. . . .

Date

May 18
Apr. 12
Jan. 23
Jan. 23
Apr. 22
Sept. II
Jan. 25
July 2
May 16
May 4
May 14
May 7
May 23
Mar. 26
May 16
May 30
May II
Jan. 28
Sept. 23
Jan. 7
Jan. 7
May 6
Mar. 26
Mar. 25
Feb. 10
May II
Apr. 14
Mar. 19
Feb. II
May 13
Jan. 8
Jan. 7
Nov. 1 2
Dec. 2
Apr. 8
Dec. 2
Apr. 22
May 30
June 9
Julv 29
Oct. 6
Feb. 25
Feb. II
Apr. 16
Apr. 12
Jan. 23
Jan. 25

Cambridge .
Brookline..
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .
Newton. . . .

Apr. 14
Mar. 24
Apr. 30
May 9
May 14
May II

Massachusetts Audubon Society s Bird-Lists

223

Name of Species

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Tree Swallow

Hank Swallow

Cedar Waxwing

Northern Shrike

Red-eyed Virco

Warbling \'ireo

Yellow-throated Vireo

Blue-headed \'ireo

White-ejed \'ireo

Black and White Warbler. . .

(jolden- winged Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Northern Parula Warbler... .

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Myrtle Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Chestnut-sided W^arbler

Bav-breasted Warbler

Black-poll Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-thr't'd Gr'n Warbler..

Pine Warbler

Palm Warbler

Yellow Palm Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Ovenbird

Water-Thrush

Connecticut Warbler

Mourning Warbler

Northern Yellow-throat

\'cllo\v-breasted Chat

Wilson's Warbler

Canadian Warbler

American Redstart

.\merican Pipit

Catbird

Brown Thrasher

House Wren

Winter Wren

Short-billed i\Iarsh Wren.. . .
Long-billed Marsh Wren. . . .

Brown Creeper

White-breasted Nuthatch. . .

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Chickadee

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Wood Thrush

Wilson's Thrush

(iray-cheeked Thrush

Bicknell's Thrush

List of Birds observed by
Joseph A. Hagar, In Mass.,
from January 1, 1911, to
December 31, 1911.

Sudbury

Middlese.x Fells

Marshfield

Marshfield

Chestnut Hill.. .

Cambridge

Marshfield

Newton

Newton

Marshfield •

Newton

Newton

Newton ,

Newton |

Newton '

Newton

Newton

Newton

Marshfield

Newton

Newton

Marshfield

Newton

Mt. Graylock.. .

.\rboretum

Marshfield

Marshfield

Marshfield

Newton

Newton

Newton

Marshfield

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Ipswich

Newton

Marshfield

W. Roxbury ....

Waverly

Norwood

Cambridge

Newton

Newton

Marshfield

Newton

Newton

-Arboretum

Newton

Arboretum

Newton

Mt. Graylock. . .

May 30
Apr. 22
Apr. 4
Apr. 30
Apr. 16
Mar. 25
May 16
May 13
May 8
Apr. 30
Sept. 12
Apr. 28
May 6
May II
May 19
May 14
May 6
May 14
Feb. 24
May II
May 6
Sept. 23
May 6
June 25
May 7
Apr. 4
Oct. 27
Apr. 19
May II
May 6
May 12
Sept. 7
May 27
May 1 1
Sept. 12
May 26
May 13
May 13
Sept. 30
May 6
Apr. 29
May 23
Oct. 14
May 29
May 27
Jan. 2
Jan. I
Apr. 4
Jan. I
Jan. 2
Apr. 16
May 8
May 7
May 27
June 25

.ist of Birds observed by H.
D. Mitchell, in Mass., from
January 1, 1911, to Decem-
ber 31. 1911.

Locality

Date

Cambridge !

Middlesex Fells.

Marshfield

Beverly

Newton

Belmont

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Public Garden.. .

Newton

Newton

Newton

Public Garden. .

Newton

Newton

Newton

Marshfield

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Newton

Marshfield

.Arboretum

Arboretum

Newton

Newton

Newton

W. Roxbury. . . .

Newton

Newton

Braintree

Public Garden

Newton

Newton

Ipswich

Brookline

W' eston

W. Roxbury. .

Waverh'

Norwood

Cambridge. . .

Newton

Newton

Belmont

Newton

Newton

Arboretum. . .

Newton

Newton

Newton

May 4
Apr. 22
Apr. 4
June 2
Mar. II
Feb. 22
May II
May II
May 7
Apr. 25
May 22
Apr. 30
May 6
May II
May 18
May 14
May 2
May 14
Apr. 4
May 14
May 6
Sept. 12
May 6
May 18
May 1 1
Apr. 4
Dec. 24
Apr. 20
May II
May 6
May 13
Sept. 4
Mav 27
May 1 1
June 4
May 18
May 13
May 13
Sept. 23
May 5
Apr. 29
May 23
Oct. I
June 9
Mav 27
Jan. 8
Jan. 8
Feb. 22
Jan. 8
Feb. 17
Apr. 16
May II
May 16
May 27

224

Bird - Lore

Name of Species

List of Birds observed by
Joseph A. Hagar, in Mass.,
from January 1, 1911, to
December 31, 191 1.

Olive-backed Thrush

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

Bluebird

Black Tern

Baldpate i

Shoveller

Egret I

Northern Phalarope i

Stilt Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper i

Ring-necked Pheasant |

Migrant Shrike

Purple Crackle j

Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow!

Lark Sparrow

Cape May Warbler

Mockingbird

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Caspian Tern

Foster's Tern

Greater Shearwater i

King Eider i

Boston

Marshfield

Newton

Newton

Marshfield

Brookline

Marshfield

Marshfield

Ipswich

Ipswich

Ipswich

Middlesex Fells

Scituate

Nantucket

Plum Island. . .

Scituate

Marshfield

Brookline

Marshfield

May 23
Apr. 8
Jan. I
Mar. 15
Aug. 29
Mar. 19
Apr. 18
July 30
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Apr. 22
Aug. 29 :
July I
Oct. 12
Aug. 8
Sept. 7
Mar. 19
Apr. 30 i

List of Birds observed by H.
D. Milchell, in Mass., from
January 1, 1911, to Decem-
ber 31, 191 1.

Locality

Date

Public Garden..

Arboretum

Arboretum

Newton

Marshfield

Brookline

Cambridge

Marshfield

Ipswich

Ipswich

Ipswich

Cambridge

Scituate

May 18
Apr. 16
Feb. II
Mar. 12
Aug. 29
Feb. II
Nov. 22
July 30
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Aug. 20
Jan. 25
Aug. 29

Plum Island. . . .

Sept. 23

Jamaica Plain . .
Brookline

Mar. 3

Hull

Aug. 15
Sept. 3 1
Aug. IS
Nov. 5

Nahant

Provincetown . . .
Nahant

INDIGO BU.NTI.NG NE.\R XEST CONT.AIXIXG THREE

RECENTLY HATCHED YOUNG

Photographed by Dr. William Pepper, at Chestnut Hill, Pa., .\ugust 17, igii

J^otee from JFiclD anD ^tuDp

From the Maine Coast

The coniferous woods of Mount Deserl
Island, and the smaller islands that lie
thickly about it, are alive with the flashing
wings and lisping songs of Warblers at
this time of year. The Black-throated
Green Warblers are especially common.
On sunny days they delight to perch in
the tops of spruce trees among the
thickly clustered cones, and sing with
-obvious enjoyment a quaint song of
five notes which is phrased not unlike
part of the White-throated Sparrow's
song: Sweet, sweet, Canada. The first
two notes are in a drawling, reedy tone;
the last three clear and very rapid.

I was walking today (June 19) along
the shingle beach in the seaward side of
one of the small islands off Seal Harbor.
A strip of grass land ended in a sandbank
above me, and fifty yards inland was a
thick spruce thicket. A stiff breeze blew
from the sea, lifting the whitecaps, and I
was watching the Herring Gulls wing
their steady flight out to their nesting
islands. Suddenly my attention was
caught by a small bird fluttering over the
seaweed that was pushed a little further
inward by each wave of the incoming tide.
A closer look showed it to be a female
Myrtle Warbler. She exhibited the most
extraordinary feats, in order to capture
the numerous flies that haunted the
seaweed, keep her balance against the
strong wind, and avoid wetting her
dainty person in the foam. After several
minutes of such effort, she flew into the
woods, but reappeared again after five
minutes' interval. She made this trip
three times before returning to the woods
for good. Even with my glass, I could see
no insects in her bill before she flew into
the woods, and a search of the thicket
(brief, it must be admitted) failed to
reveal the bird herself or a nest. Perhaps
she flew into the woods to rest from her
violent exertions by the waves.

(225)

It was a strange sight to see this dainty
bird (even though the Myrtle Warbler
is one of the hardiest members of the
family) fluttering over the wave-beaten
seaweed in the teeth of a strong wind
from the open sea. I should have expected
it of a Sandpiper. But perhaps the Myrtle
Warbler sought a change of scene and a
taste of sea-food. — Tertius v.\n Dyke,
Seal Harbor, Maine.

Bird Notes from Collins, N. Y.

Prairie Horned Larks were numerous
all winter — at least 150 or 200 in a flock^
and many are here still. This is a 500-
acre farm, next door to woods and the
extensive Seneca Indian reservation, which
is an ideal place for bird-study. The
secretary of the Audubon Society of
Buffalo was very enthusiastic over it
during a recent visit. The neglected
pastures, thickets, tangles, and scrubby
undergrowth attract numerous birds—
notably Chestnut-sided Warblers, Indigo
Buntings, Chats, Catbirds, Thrashers,
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Tanagers,
Towhees, etc. Killdeer are numerous.
Holboell's Grebe is seen at every spring
migration.

This year was an exceptional one for
Warblers, which were a week earlier than
usual. The Blackburnian was very abun-
dant, also the Black-throated Blue,
Wilson's, and Magnolia. The following
Warblers are nesting here in abundance:
Black-throated Green, Parula, Hooded,
Redstart, Ovenbird, Black and White,
Maryland Yellow-throat, Yellow, and
Chestnut-sided. There is an occasional
Black-throated Blue and Chat and, ever
since June i, a male Mourning Warbler
has sung daily in the same tree at the
edge of a tangled undergrowth on a hill-
side. The Indian who lives near says he
was there last year also. He sings for
half an hour at a time in the top of a
hemlock, and I have had abundant

226

Bird- Lore

opportunity to study him closely, and
hear his ise tse ise truey iruey. I do not
see the female, but believe there must be
one nesting near.

Goldfinches are always abundant here,
but never more so than this year; liter-
ally hundreds of them came in May.

Bluebirds seem all but extinct. Pos-
sibly this may be due to the extraordinarily
severe winter. — Anne E. Perkins, M.D.,
Collins, N.y.

Unusual Visitors in Massachusetts

The South Shore of Massachusetts is
such a famous summer resort that even
the birds seem to be aware of its advan-
tages. To paraphrase the society papers,
"among the notable visitors from a dis-
tance" I wish to report a Cardinal and
a Carolina Wren, observed in Duxbury
last summer, and a Lark Bunting noted
at Marshfield in June, 1907.

None of these are shot-gun identifi-
cations, but I believe them to be positive,
nevertheless. The Carolina Wren I heard
singing on several week-end visits, but
it was not until September that I was
able to observe and fully identify the
bird, although it haunted my apple trees.

The Cardinal I report for the observer,
Mr. Paul C. Peterson, of Duxbury, who
wrote me June 10, 191 1, as follows: "I
was out in my garden and saw this beau-
tiful red bird. I was within twenty-five
feet of him and had a very good view. The
female was with him, but not much for
looks." A visit to the Boston Natural
History Museum brought instant recog-
nition. The birds were also observed
about June first by a summer resident.

My own most notable record was made
June 9, 1907, while driving at Green
Harbor, Marshfield. A black bird with
white wing patches was feeding with some
English sparrows in the roadside chaff.
The bird being absolutely strange to me,
I observed it very carefully, and, as it
proved quite fearless, I was able to get
close enough to note even the shape of its
bill and feet, and to identify it as one of
the Fringillida — all black except the

wing coverts and a few lesser white mark-
ings. It seemed very fond of the half-ripe
achenes of the wayside dandelions, which
it obtained by jumping from the ground
and biting through the base of the flower-
heads, each time alighting with a mouth-
ful of the white pappus. At home, Chap-
man's 'Handbook' gave me no assistance
whatever, and neither did my other books
on New England birds until in Reed's
little Pocket Guide I found a portrait and
a brief description of the Lark Bunting,
Cola}7iospiza melanocorys, — " Range, —
Western U.S., from Kansas to Colorado
and north to Assiniboia." Chamberlain's
Nuttall says it "has been seen in Massa-
chusetts and Long Island, — the only
instances of its occurrence east of the
Great Plains." A female was shot in
Maine a year or two ago, and is in the
Boston collection. — John B. May, M.D.,
Waban, Mass.

A Long Island Brown Pelican

On Sunday, May 26, Mr. L. Griscom
and I made a trip to Oak Island Beach,
L. I., and vicinity, to study shore and
marsh birds. At the extreme western
end of Oak Island Beach, on the bay side,
we saw a Brown Pelican, Pelicanus fuscus.
The bird was seen first standing in shallow
water a few rods from the shore. We
watched it from 1:45 p.m. until 3:30 P.M.,
when we left to take a boat to the main
land. During that time it swam about,
preened itself, caught food, and rested
quietly in the water. Mr. Griscom used
a 9-power Bausch binocular, and I had a
Lemaire field-glass of about 5-power. We
got within 100 to 125 yards from the bird
and studied it at our leisure. Glasses,
however, were not needed to identify it.
As this is, probably, the second record for
New York state, we shall be glad to have
it published in Bird- Lore.— -Julius M.
Johnson, New York City.

How the Gulls Won the Vote

About three years ago, the Beverly
flats became suddenly and mysteriously

Notes from Field and Study

227

covered with dead and dying herring.
Outgoing tides and hot suns soon did their
work. The stench was intolerable. City
carts and laborers were pressed into ser-
vice, to carry away the foul carcasses.
Property owners abutting the coasts set
their servants to clearing the beaches.

In vain; no sooner was the coast fairly
well cleared of the deposit than the ne.xt
tide would roll in masses of the little
creatures, till their gleaming forms lay
again as in "windrows" along the hot
sands. People along the waterways fell
ill, and even the inhabitants of the hills
to the northward dared not open their
windows.

Suddenly, out of the north (did they
smell our flats in Labrador?), and from
the islands along shore, came back our
Gulls, with many of our Common Terns.
These seized upon and devoured the her-
ring by hundreds. The carts had still
to be kept going, but the decrease caused
by the birds was so apparent that thought-
ful people everywhere in town exclaimed:
"Oh that we had more Gulls!"

The next year, when Massachusetts
legislators were being tormented with
appeals for the privilege of shooting Gulls,
we had only to remind the careless ones
of the herring incident, and the good work
of our Gulls and Terns in that and similar
instances, to call forth enthusiastic and
hearty support of the birds' protection.
Beverly stood firmly in their favor.

The Gulls and Terns are the natural
scavengers of the coast, who while sail-
ing hither and thither on wings so swift,
graceful, and powerful, challenging our
almost breathless admiration, and en-
hancing to so surprising a degree the
charm of coast scenery, are bent on errands
of merc}^ for all mankind.

Yet we see even now, at intervals, a
pair of Gull's or Tern's wings with a breast
of the same in ghastly array on some
lady's (?) hat.

Were the victims killed on our shores
because of the limited number of our
deputies and the lack of watchful care of
private individuals? Were they worn
because of the lack of moral courage of

some of us to "speak up" in behalf of
creatures so beautiful? They have no
language with which to ai)peal to crude
and coarse cumberers of the earth. —
Annie Chask, Beverly, Mass.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper as a
Marsh Bird

The two smallest of our shore-birds.
The Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers,
although really not closely related, so
resemble one another in color, appearance
and habits, that they are not easily dis-
tinguished in life.

During the spring and fall just passed,
the writer lias seen many of both species

V9 r^y^- m-'i^S"..

on salt and fresh meadows, in the vicinity
of New York, and has been surprised to
iind the Semipalmated Sandpiper as
abundant as the Least on the meadows,
having previously had the impression
that it was more a beach than a meadow
bird. In the late summer of igii, both
species were seen on the meadows and
mud-flats along the south shore of Long
Island. Great difficulty was experienced
in telling them apart. The more slender
bill and paler legs of the Least Sandpiper
were difiicult to make out in the living
bird, and there was great variation in the
color of the Semipalmated Sandpiper,
some of the specimens, perhaps the young,
being as dark as the other species. In

228

Bird- Lore

May, 191 2. this same dilViculty was not
experienced; tiic Semipalmatcd Sand-
pipers were uniformly pale, with breasts
much more lightly marked than in the
other species. Two or three were seen
with moderate numbers of the Least
Sandpiper, at Englewood, New Jersey, on
fresh water meadows, and even in a wet
field, and, on May 31, about 150 were
feeding in some brown marsh stubble, at
Mastic, Long Island. Running actively
about, and in plain sight on the gray-
brown marsh, their colors harmonized
so admirably with it as to render tliem
well nigh invisible. Many Swallows were
beating close over the ground, among them
Tree Swallows and one or two big black
Marlins. A Bank Swallow, which alighted
motionless on the ground, was quite con-
spicuous; whereas three or four Sandpipers
running about near it, could hardly be
seen. A flock of them took wing and began
to dart about in the air. It swung out over
the bay, close-packed, and at high speed,
and with wonderful precision wheeled
and came back to the marsh again.

The next day, June i, there were only
about twenty-five Sandpipers left. They
were very restless and drifting away south-
ward toward the ocean in small companies
of five of so. as though bound north by sea.
The first of June is a day later than the
writer knows of their previously being
recorded from Long Island. The Tree
Swallows were now no longer on the
meadows.

The Least Sandpiper, of wliich a i)lu)lo-
graph is published, had yellow legs. The
legs of those observed in the fall migration
were more greenish. — John Trkadwell
Nichols, Engleivood, X. J.

huge bird, with its talons dug deep into
the clothing of his child, about to lift
its prey from the ground." etc.

So runs a thrilling story that has
tra\eled far through the daily press — a.
story distorted, exaggerated, and most
of it born in the brain of the newspaper
reporter.

Vet there was an Eagle so near that
the parent believed, and still believes,
that it meant to attack his child, and the
bird, an immature Kald Eagle, was shot
b>- the child's father.

The facts appear to be that the little
tlaxon-haired cliild was playing in tlie sand
in tlio lorniT of a grape arbor and an
arborvit;e hedge, about forty feet from the
back door, when, attracted bj- the child's
screams, the father rushed out to see the
Eagle perched upon the grape arbor about
eight feet above his child's head.

TIic I'lagle Hew otT, as tlie frightened
parent grabbed his child and carried it
into the house to its mother, and, taking
his gun, he ran out and toward the Eagle,
which was now perched in a tree at some
distance from the house.

.\s he advanced he claims llial the
Eagle swooped toward liim, and lie sliot
twice. Noticing that tlu- bird was settling,
he followed, and found thai it was dead.

There seems no doubt of the truth of
this; and the explanation would appear
to be that the Eagle, soaring high in air,
saw the child's head above the grass
over the top of the arbor, and mistook
it for other food, and stopped on the arbor
on finding his mistake.

Four pieces of undigested fish showed,
the nature of the Eagle's last repast. —
WiLiuR F. Smith, So. Noncalk, Conn.

An Eagle Story

"Westport, Conn., June 14. — Scream-
ing with all the power lliat her little lungs
could develop, her strange cries reaching
her father's cars, was all that saved little
Emma, two-year-old daughter of Randolf
Kreiwald, from being carried olT by a huge
American Eagle. The piercing cries reached
the father, who, running out, saw the

A Screech Owl Incident

February 10, 10 u. — W
long a country roail, I ;

ill' on a ramble-
iw, on a fence-
wire across a meadow creek, a bunch of
reddish feathers, which upon investigation
proved to be a Screech Owl. It had in
some manner, during the previous night,
llown against and caught its wing on a
i>arb. There it was when [ found it,.

Notes from Field and Study

229

perched upright, one daw over ils entangled
wing, and ils eyes closed. After a little
diiriculty, I managed to release it, and,
upon examination, found that none of
the tendons of the wing were injured, but
that the wing feathers were badly twisted
and broken. It must have put up a pretty
hard tussle before giving up, as it offered
no resistance when I was releasing it,
outside of a few clicks witii its bill.

I carried it to a bunch of e\(T};reens
near-by, and there released it. A couple
of times it uttered a note very similar to
the mew of a kitten — the same note that
this Owl SI) oflcn utters durin.u tlie eve-
ning.

This is the first time that I have found
a bird entangled, alive; but many times
I ha\e seen the dead bodies of Coots,
Blue-winged Teal, Blackbirds, and others,
dangling from the barb-wires. — Adri.vn
Larsen, Sioux Falls, S. D.

Note on the White-throated Sparrow

In the March-April minilKT of Bird-
Lore, I notice that I'mf. \\ . \V. Cooke
records the White-lliroated Si)arrow as
"Rare, winter," in IMiiladeiphia. I liave
studied bird-life in I'hiladeijjhia for the
past ten years and ha\e always found
the White-throated Sparrow to Ijc a
common winter resident, arriving about
September 20, and leaving in May.
During this time the bird is often in song,
especially on moderate days, just before
sunset and early in the morning. In fact,
the White-throat is one of the roninion-
est winter birds in Fairmount I'ark and
Germantown, Philadelphia. -.\. F. IIac.ar,
Princeton, N. J .

A Vireo Courtship

For sheer persistence in singing, the
Red-eyed Vireo finds few rivals on his
breeding-ground. The heat of summer
does not silence him; the molting period
depresses him surprisingly little. He
spends thirteen weeks with us of uninter-
rupted cheerfulness and energy expressed
in song. All day, until the sun sets, he

sings, just pausing long enough between
his clear-cut, rapid phrases to snatch up
and swallow his food, until sunset, then he
is silent.

In the morning twilight, when it is too
dark to see clearly, half an hour before
day, he sings without pause. Now, the
phrases follow each other very rapidly
and evenly with pulse-like regularity;
in sixtj' seconds he gives eighty.

I once met this voluble, energetic bird
in a quiet mood, and at the time I made
this note of its actions (it was in Lexing-
ton, Mass., on May 30, 1909):

"This afternoon about six o'clock, I
saw a pair of Red-eyed Vireos acting in a
manner new to me. They were in a small
gray birch tree, twelve feet from the
ground, and almost over my head. The
two birds were very near each other; so
near that their bills might have touched,
althougli lh<\ (lid not. The male, or at
least the bird who played the active role,
faced the side of the other bird, so that
Ihrir bodies were at right angles. The
bird who. from her {)assive actions, I
assumed, but jierhaps wrongly, to be the
female, sat crouched low on her perch,
with the feathers slightly puffed out. But,
although in the attitude of a sick bird,
she apjuared in good health, I thought,
and I am certain, that she gave close
attention to the strange actions of her
comi)anion. The bird I have called the
male, and I think it is safe to so consider
him, was constantly in motion. He rocked
his body, especially his head, from side to
to side, his bill sweeping over the up])er
l)arls of the other bird, never touching
her, nor, indeed, coming very near it, for
his head was above and a little to one
side of her back. In swinging from side
to side, he moved slowly, but with a tense-
ness suggesting strong emotion. In con-
trast to the fluffy female, the feathers of
the male were drawn closelj' about him,
so that he looked slim and sleek. The
neck seemed constricted, giving him a
strangled appearance.

"Neither bird opened its beak, but one
of them continually uttered, with no sug-
gestion of \'ireo jyhrasing, some faint notes

230

Bird - Lore

in a thin, almost squeakj- tone, nearly as
high-pitched as a Kingbird's voice. I
thought when I first heard the notes and
stepped aside to identify the bird, that
a Goldfinch was singing very softly under
his breath. There were the same little
trills, and, in between, the same sustained
notes, the whole suggestive of the Gold-
finch, but very quietly and gently given.
It was as if a Goldfinch who had lost much
of his power and all of his energy were
whispering his song into the ear of his
lady-love."

The following note shows that this
strange deportment is not confined to
the courting season.

"Aug. i8, 1909. — The Vireos have been
about the place much of the day. A young
bird sat on a bare branch and gave its
theet, theet call. An adult (with full-length
tail, but body feathers molting) alighted
near. The young bird reached toward it
with open bill. The old bird drew itself
up so that it was tall and thin, its feathers
tight about its body, then rocked back
and forth, pointing its bill first to one
side and then to the other of the young
bird, as they sat facing each other. It
was as if the parent were casting a spell
over its young." — WixsoR M. Tyler,
M.D., Lexington, Mass.

Hooded Warbler at Hartford, Conn.

On May 2, 191 2, in Keney Park. Hart-
ford, Conn., I had the pleasure of seeing
a Hooded Warbler, it being the first and
only one seen in this vicinity so far as I
can ascertain.

My father and I were at the park just
at daybreak, hoping to see the earl}-
migrants, but there were not many about.
Finally we saw a Warbler flitting about
in the underbrush and birches, but it
moved so quickly that we were at first
unable to indentify it, and we followed it
for quite a distance before we discovered
that it was a Hooded Warbler, a bird we
had long hoped to see.

At last it perched on a small limb of a
young oak tree, and began to preen itself,
when we had an opportunity to study it.

Its hood of black coming to a rounded
point on its breast, and the black eye
nearly in the center of the yellow on its
head, gave it a peculiar effect, but a
rather pretty one. The yellow on the head
and breast seemed very bright in contrast
with the black hood.

It did not sing while we were watching
it.

Two of our friends came along just in
time to see it; so there were four of us who
had the pleasure of seeing this rare bird.

We looked about in the hope of dis-
covering more of them, but this one seemed
to be alone. He did not stay long in that
vicinity, but went north rapidly and was
soon lost to sight. Warblers have been
very plentiful here this spring, and a great
many varieties were seen. — Everett D.
Dow, Member of Hartford Bird Study
Club.

Notes on the Bluebird and Robin

We were interested in the item in the
May-June Bird-Lore, asking "Where
are the Bluebirds?" In 1909, and 1910
we had in our box a pair that raised two
broods each year. They returned in 191 1,
and the eggs were laid only to be thrown
out by English Sparrows. Too late we
learned that it was because the vine had
grown near the opening of the box, thus
affording the perch necessary to the
English Sparrows, but not to the Bluebirds.
After the vine was removed, the Sparrows
never entered the nest. The Bluebirds
left, and raised a brood in a hole in a
neighbor's apple tree. This year we put
up more nesting-boxes, but no Bluebirds
claimed them. In 191 1, they had notice-
ably increased, hereabouts, but this year
we have seen very few, and have won-
dered why. Since our experience with
English Sparrows we have taken down
several of their nests from neighbors'
houses, and have shot a few in our own
yard, but we are not yet free from them.
The neighbor who sheltered our Bluebirds
also takes down Sparrow nests and shoots
the birds.

A white-marked Robin, with a mate of

Notes from Field and Study

231

the ordinary appearance, raised two
broods in our trees in 191 1. Several of
his long wing-feathers were white, and
the upper half of the tail-feathers (except
the middle ones) was white. This year,
on April 18, a Robin came to us with
broad, white wing-bars, and several white
feathers in each wing. The tail had only
a rather large white spot on each corner,
and the rump was whitish. He and a plain
Robin had a nest high up in the branching
of a maple, less than twenty feet from the
house. On the morning of May 25, a very
young nestling was found on the ground
below the nest. A Crow had been seen
two mornings before, in a neighboring tree,
and we wondered if he had done the mis-
chief. Early on the morning of May 27,
the Robins were hopping anxiously about
in their tree, making low alarm notes.
They occasionally went and looked into
their nest, and once the mother settled
down upon it for a short time. At about
5 A.M., there was an outcry, and I looked
out in time to see a great Crow approach-
ing the nest, followed by both Robins.
He quickly reached it, and I rushed to the
door to frighten him away. He went at
once, but probably took the last young
Robin with him, for though the parents
stayed in the tree a short time, hopping
nervously about and making low notes of
alarm, they never went to the nest again.
On May 30, they began a new nest in the
elm that was used for a home tree by
the white-marked Robin of last year, and
at present writing (June 10) all is well.

This year, in the pine tree of a near
neighbor, is the nest of a Robin that has a
long wing-feather that is white. We won-
der if it is the child of our last year's
albino. — Eliza F. Miller, Bethel, Vt.

January Bluebirds

On the afternoon of January first, with
the ground snow-covered and the tem-
perature below freezing, I saw two Blue-
birds, both males, in the park at Auburn-
dale, Mass. In eighteen years I have never
before had the fortune to see Bluebirds in
January. — \Vm. ¥\ji.i.^-R,Auburndale,Mass.

Killdeer in New Hampshire

It is interesting to know that a i)air of
Killdeer Plovers are nesting near here.
These birds have become so nearly
extinct in this part of New England
that one lone individual, seen on the
salt meadows in March, 1901, is the
only note that I have made of them
hereabouts.

The pair that are nesting here I saw
for the first time about two weeks ago.
They were in an open pasture, five or six
miles from the sea. At first sight, I mis-
took them for Sparrow Hawks, which
they resemble in their manner of flying.
They had young ones hidden somewhere
near, for they kept flying about me at
no great distance, then coming to the
ground and running along with trailing
wings. I shall be very glad to learn that
these most interesting birds are returning
to their old haunts, for they are said to
have been very common all along the New
England coast in earlier days.

I believe that if the close season on all
beach and marsh birds were fi.xed in all
states from the first of January to the
first of September, these, as well as the
Upland Plovers, would soon be fairly
abundant again. — W. E. Cram, Hamp-
ton Falls, N. H., June 13, 191 1.

Note on the Screech Owl

May I add one word more, relative to
a query raised by Mr. Clarke in the July-
.\ugust, 191 1, number of Bird-Lore,
p. 192? It is there stated that a wounded
Barred Owl was found which had appar-
ently refused to leave a tree that was
being cut down. In taking the roof off
a bird-box the whole box was violently
shaken, but in it I discovered a full-
grown Screech Owl crouching defiantly.
If all this rough treatment failed to
drive the bird out into the unwelcome
daylight, it is not hard to believe that
the Barred Owl may have refused to
leave a tree at which the choppers
were working. — \V. G. Cady Middlelown,
Conn.

Jloofe i^ctDS ant) 3l^e\)teto0

Studies in Bird Migration. By Wil-
liam Eagle Clarke, Keeper of the
Natural History Department, the Royal
Scottish Museum. With Maps, Weather
Charts, and other Illustrations. London,
Gurney and Jackson: Edinburgh, Oliver
and Boyd. 1912. 2 vols. 8 vo. xiv-l-323,
viii+346 pp, XXV, plates.

One cannot read this important work
without being impressed by the enthusi-
asm which, year after year, has induced
its author to pursue his field studies often
under conditions which only one inspired
and stimulated by genuine love of his
subject could have successfuly encoun-
tered.

Few men have had wider personal
experience in the study in nature of bird
migration, and, fortunately for the science
of ornithology-, in publishing the results
of his prolonged observations, the author
has not presented absurd hypotheses as
facts, but has marshaled his vast amount
of data in a manner which makes his
work an authoritative source of infor-
mation.

Americans particularly should be grate-
ful for the labor which has placed within
their reach an exhaustive survey of
migration phenomena in Great Britain,
and the publication of these volumes
removes further excuse for our ignorance
in this direction. When will some Amer-
ican ornithologist make ignorance of the
facts connected with migration in Amer-
ica equally inexcusable in Great Britain?

After an introductory summary of
ancient and modern views concerning the
migration of birds, Mr. Clarke, in
approaching his own special field, writes:
"It may be asserted, without fear of
contradiction, that no country in the
world is more favorably situated than
our own for witnessing the movements
of migratory birds; that there is none
in which the many phases of the phe-
nomena are of a more varied nature.
. . ." Nevertheless, but not without fear
of contradiction, we venture to claim that

our own country affords the local student
of migration even greater opportunities
for observation than are to be found in
Great Britain, while in any broad, general
survey of the subject and its underlying
causes, the student in America has inesti-
mable advantages. A much larger list
of migratory birds, more pronounced
seasonal changes, and more highly diver-
sified topography, including river valleys
and mountain chains (the latter permitting
a study of altitudinal migration), and,
above all, a breadth of territory in which,
happily, a chain of cooperating observers,
all reporting to a government bureau,
can follow some species throughout their
entire migrational movements, and others
from the Gulf of Mexico to the ,\rctic
circle, are to be numbered among the
special advantages of the student of
migration in America, as every one famil-
iar with Professor Cooke's papers will
readily admit. On certain points in the
Great Lakes, and on headlands and
islands along our coasts, we also enjoy
those opportunities for the study of the
seasonal journeys of birds under those
conditions which Mr. Clarke so admirably
describes.

Excess of ornithological patriotism,
however, must not lead us from a further
consideration of Mr. Clarke's valuable
work which, after a detailed seasonal
analysis of British bird-life, discusses it
from a geographical aspect with partic-
ular reference to places of arrival and
departure and routes of migration, and
in this chapter and a succeeding one on
"Weather Influences" are recorded many
facts of wide general interest.

Mr. Clarke then selects for treatment
in detail several abundant and highly
migratory species, the remainder of Vol-
ume I being devoted to a report of his
observations at the Eddystone light-
house.

The second volume is wholly given to
records of the author's observations on

(232)

Book News and Reviews

233

the Kentish Knock Lightship, Fair Isle
(where an assistant was employed to
conduct observations throughout the
year), St. Kilda, the Flanncn Isles, Sule
Sserry, west of Orkney, and the Isle
of Ushant, all localities selected with
special reference to the opportunities they
afford the student of migration, and
well selected, as the truly remarkable
results obtained clearly show.

Mr. Clarke's personal experience is
so extended that the book which he
modestly calls 'Studies in Bird Migration'
is in truth a general treatise on the
subject of bird migration in Great
Britain; and, while acknowledging the
debt under which he has placed foreign
ornithologists particularly, we trust that
we do not seem ungrateful in expressing
a regret at the absence of a bibliography.
— F. M. C.

First Report of the Meriden Bird
Club, iqii. 8 vo. 68 pages, 18 ills.
For sale by the Secretary of the Club,
at Meriden, N. H. Price, $1.00
The spirit in which it is written, the
suggestions it contains, and the achieve-
ments it records make this report one of
the most valuable contributions to bird
conservation, and what we may term
civic ornithology, with which we are
familiar.

From it one may obtain practical hints
on winter feeding, the control of cats,
red squirrels, and English Sparrows, on
nesting habits, bird-baths, and other
methods designed to increase the number
of birds about our homes; and, more
important still, from this report one may
learn how an entire village was awakened
to a realization of the worth and beauty of
its bird citizens, and of its duty toward
them.

Given the right kind of a "General
Manager" to organize, inspire, and tact-
fully pull or push, as occasion requires,
and we do not see why bird clubs with
similar objects cannot be formed through-
out the land. Should this day ever
come, we shall have gone a long way
toward establishing ideal relations with
our feathered neighbors. — F. M. C.

The Bird Classes of the Auuubo.n*
Society of the District of Colum-
bia; 1898-1912. Published by the
Society and to be obtained on applica-
tion to its Secretary, Miss Helen P.
Childs, Chevy Chase, Md. 8vo. 8
pages, I plate.

The history of the Audubon Society of
the District of Columbia, summarized
in this pamphlet, is a record of definite
achievements. With its membership
focussed in a small area and with an ex-
ceptional number of professional ornitholo-
gists to call on, this Society has success-
fully met a situation in which most
Audubon Societies fail by giving its mem-
bers something lo do.

We have long looked forward to the
day when membership in an Audubon
Society would have other than merely
negative qualities, and the District of
Columbia Society in its talks, lectures,
laboratory exercises, and field meetings
has demonstrated what may be accom-
plished in making an Audubon Society
not merely a factor in the preservation
of birds, but an efficient organization for
the study of bird-life. — F. M. C.

The Flight of Birds. By F. W. Head-
ley. With sixteen plates and many
text-figures. Witherby & Co., 326 High
Holborn, London. 191 2. i2mo. 163
pages. Price, 5s, net.

Readers of Mr. Headley's 'Structure
and Life of Birds' will recall the large
share of attention given to the flight of
birds in that volume. The subject evi-
dently has special interest for him and he
writes as an ornithologist and physicist
well posted in regard to the recent great
advances in aeronautics. His volume
appeals, therefore, both to bird-men and
air-men. While the illustrations have
been selected to demonstrate certain
points, they are far from doing justice
to the camera's important contributions
to the ways of a bird in the air. — F. M. C.

Cassinia; Proc. Delaware Valley Orn.
Club XV, 1911. Philadelphia, Pa.
8vo. 80 pages, 3 plates.

Cassinia opens with a readable and
informing biographical sketch, by Samuel

Book News and Reviews

23S

on Crawfish, other crustaceans, and
insects. Terns, also, have been held
responsible for the serious reduction of
food- fishes in some localities, but a careful
stud}' of their food habits demonstrates
that only a small proportion of their diet
consists of such fishes."

Among the species treated arc the
Prairie Chicken, California Quail, Ruffed
Grouse, introduced Pheasants (Phasianus),
Upland Plover, Killdeer, Franklin's Gull,
Common and Black Terns, Cooper's,
Rough-legged, and Sparrow Hawks,
Long-cared and Screech Owls. — F. M. C.

The Birds of the Jefferson Region in
THE White Mountains, New Hamp-
shire. By Horace W. Wright, Proc.
of the Manchester Inst., V, part i, igii.
8vo. 126 pages.

The author states that "the region
covered in this paper includes primarily
the town of Jefferson, also that of the
adjoining towns of Lancaster, Whitefield,
Carroll, and Randolph, and the northern
and western slopes of the Presidential
Range to the Crawford House plateau."
In this area he has "carried on active and
systematic observation for twelve success-
ive seasons, beginning with 1899. The
period of my observation, year by year,
has extended from late May or the first
days of June to the early days or the middle
of October."

For observations on winter birds, Mr.
Wright is fortunate in having had the
cooperation of F. B. Spalding, long known
as an authority on the birds of Lancaster.
It is evident, therefore, that he is in a
position to speak with authority on the
bird-life of the region in question, and to
discuss the various faunal changes which
have occurred within the period covered
by his studies.

The list proper treats of 188 species
and subspecies of birds, the annotations
relating mainly to the manner, place,
and time of occurence, and to their song
periods; and the information here pre-
sented makes this paper the starting point
for all further bird work in the Jefferson
Region. — F. M. C.

The Ornithological Magazines

The Condor. — The Ma\' number of 'The
Condor' contains only two general articles,
'Some North-central Colorado Bird Notes,'
by E. R. Warren, and 'An Afternoon's
Field Notes,' by Joseph Grinnell. Warren's
paper, accompanied by a map and repro-
ductions of twelve photographs, is an
account of an extended wagon trip made
in 1911. Leaving Colorado Springs, May
18, he traversed the plains northeastward
almost to the northern boundary of the
state, then traveled westward to Steam-
boat Springs, and thence back to Denver
which was reached August 8. Although
105 species of birds were observed on the
trip, there was a remarkable scarcity of
V'ireos and Warblers. No Vireos were
seen; Macgillivray's Warbler and the
Pileolated Warbler were each seen once,
and the Yellow Warbler was found at
half a dozen places.

Grinnell's paper is an excerpt from a
field note-book presented as an illustration
of rather full notes in narrative style, as
they were written on the spot. It is a
record of two hours' observation of birds,
at Glendora, Cal., during an afternoon
in May, 1907. With the author's conten-
tion that a card system for field notes is
absolutely impracticable we can not
agree. Some collectors find it very service-
able within certain limits, and the notes
here given could easily be recorded on
cards if the observer were so inclined.

Among the short notes, Chambers calls
attention to an inexcusable slaughter of
Band-tailed Pigeons which occurred during
the past winter near Los Olivos in Santa
Barbara Countj\ He estimates that
about 3,000 were killed in one day. For
some reason the Band-tailed Pigeon
has never had adequate protection in
California, and it should be removed at
once from the game list, if it is not soon
to suffer the same fate as the Passenger
Pigeon.

Hersey records "Two New Birds of
Colorado" — the Lapland Longspur taken
December 28, about 18 miles northeast
of Denver, and the Sierra Thrush, of

236

Bird - Lore

which four specimens were obtained near
Golden, May 2, Holly, May 16, and
Granby, October 7; but in no case is the
year given, and the records aie conse-
quently incomplete.

In the minutes of the Cooper Club
meetings appears a report made by a
committee to the Southern Division, on
March 28, on certain proposed amendments
to the game laws for southern California.
The report includes open seasons and bag
limits for the various game birds, and
recommends a two-year close season for
Ibis, Avocets, Stilts, Godwits, Yellow-legs,
Willets, Curlew, Mountain and Black-
bellied Plover, and indefinite protection
for Phalaropes, Dowitchers, Snowy Plover
and certain other Warblers. If orni-
thologists elsewhere would make similar
recommendations in a way to reach the
great body of sportsmen, the question
of 'seasons' in our game laws might be
placed on a more logical and satisfactory
basis.— T. S. P.

Book News

'Birds and Nature Study, a Pamphlet
for the Use of Teachers,' by Gilbert H.
Trafton, is a mine of practical information
from which teachers cannot fail to draw
valuable suggestions. It can be obtained
from John C. Coulter, Bloomington, III.,
at ten cents per copy.

The Alabama Bird Day Book, pre-
pared by J. H. Wallace, Jr., State Game
and Fish Commissioner, and issued by
the Departments of Fish and Game at
Montgomery, is a model publication
which reflects credit alike on its compiler
and the State under the auspices of which
it appears. It contains 64 pages of well-
selected material and eight colored plates,
and should exercise a most potent influence
in arousing an interest in birds and bird
study in Alabama.

The Arbor and Bird Day Annual of
Wisconsin is, as usual, an elaborate and
well-conceived publication in which,

among other things of interest and value
to bird students, Mr. and Mrs. I. N.
Mitchell present the sixth in their series
of biographies of Wisconsin birds. The
yearly appearance of this admirable
manual is, no doubt, in a large measure
responsible for the widespread interest in
birds which exists in Wisconsin.

An effective address, by Dr. William
Fremont Blackman, president of the
Florida Audubon Society on 'The Econo-
mic Value of Birds to Farmers and Fruit
Growers,' and delivered by him before the
Florida State Agricultural Society, has been
printed in pamphlet form by the Audubon
Society, from which it may be obtained
at Maitland, Florida.

In No. 8 of Vol. 7 of the 'Museum News'
of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and
Sciences, Mr. R. C. Murphy presents
a nominal list, mainly on the authority
of Dr. E. W. Victor, of the 147 species of
birds which have been observed in Pros-
pect Park, Brooklyn.

A PAMPHLET by Alexander Walker
and Eugene C. Ford, describing the
habits of 32 of the common birds Of
Douglas County, South Dakota, seems
well-adapted to achieve the authors'
purpose of arousing an interest in birds
in the school children of the region in
question. It may be obtained from the
authors, apparently at Armour, S. D.

Animal Sanctuaries in Labrador' is an
eloquent, informing and convincing address
presented by Lt. Colonel William Wood
before the second annual meeting ot the
Canadian Commission of Conservation,
at Quebec, in January, 191 1. Copies
of it may be obtained Irom Colonel Wood,
at 59 Grande Allee, Quebec.

Some Notes on the Summer Birds of
Southwestern Nebraska,' by M. H. Swenk
and J. T. Zimmer, treats of 53 species
and appears in pages 39-49 of Part 4 of
Volume 5 ot the Proclamation of the
Nebraska Ornithologists' Union.

Editorial

237

iltrti ilore

A Bi-monthly Magazine
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

OFFICIAL ORC.AN OF THE Al'DUUON SOCIETIES

Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Contributing Editor, MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

Published by D. APPLETON & CO.

Vol. XIV Published August 1. 1912 No.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Price in the United States. Cinada and Mexico, twenty 1

a Dumbe:

COPTRIGH1 HD

FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Bird Lore's Motto:
A Bird in the Bush Is Worth Two in the Hand

We trust that Mr. Frederic H. Kennard's
'List of Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Her-
baceous Plants Native to New England,
Bearing Fruit or Seeds Attractive to Birds,'
which appears in this issue of Bird-Lore,
will itself bear fruit by inducing hundreds
of Bird-Lore readers to make practical
use of the information it contains. Many
of the plants listed can be secured from
nurserymen, or specimens which might
never mature in nature may be trans-
planted from the woods or fields to our
lawns and parks. But few of them are
without beauty of their own, and when
they are both beautiful and useful they
have a double claim to our interest.

The fact that Mr. Kennard's paper
originated in the plan of the Meriden
Bird Club, to make a piece of land which
it had acquired additionally attractive to
birds, is only one of numerous reasons
why we particularly call the attention of
all bird students to the first report of
this club, which is briefly noticed on a
preceding page. How the birds of Meri-
den have been accorded their true stand-
ing as citizens of the village is therein
recorded in a manner which must con-
vince one that in organizing this club
many of the problems of bird conservation
have been successfully answered.

The Editor continues to receive an
increasingly large number of records of
the occurrence of birds far beyond the
limits of their known ranges. Usually

onl_\- a single individual is observed, but
not infrequently several are rei)orted, and
in one instance, in an Atlantic Coast state,
an abundant eastern species was said to
have been largely replaced by a Pacific
Coast bird! In some cases, the attending
circumstances make the observation obvi-
ously authentic and worthy of record;
in others, they quite as obviously betray
the observer's failure to realize the require-
ments on which accurate field identifi-
cation must rest. Some descriptions are
ludicrously inaccurate, even when recog-
nizable; while others give details of color,
size, and form such as belong to no known
bird, and in comparing them with the
descriptions of skilled observers, one
realizes how greatly true bird study tends
to develop accuracy in observation.

We have, however, known professionals
to mistake a male Cowbird for a Blue
Grosbeak, a male English Sparrow for a
Black-throated Bunting, and even a
Myrtle Warbler for a Nonpareil or Paint-
ing Bunting, a presumably impossible
error; while a "Glaucous Gull" identified
at a range of "ten feet" proved to be a
Herring Gull which had lost the black
tips to its primaries by trimming!

The trained ear detects the presence
of species the eye may not discover, but
even with the commonest birds one cannot
use too great caution here. We recall how
one of the keenest of American field
ornithologists identified a Catbird, by
its voice, as a White-eyed Vireo, and we
even know of a case in which a Whip-
poor-will proved to be — a lady!

An instructive indication of the grow-
ing popularity of birds with the com-
munity at large is supplied by the proprie-
tors of a certain brand of chewing-gum
whose advertisement assures purchasers
of their wares that they will find a colored
picture-card of an American bird in every
package, while fifty such pictures may
be redeemed for a book on birds containing
colored figures of fifty different birds!
Verily the ornithological millenium is
approaching when we absorb bird-lore
with chewing-gum!

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Edited by ALICE HALL WALTER
Address all communications relative to the work of this depart-
ment to the Editor, at 53 Arlington Avenue, Providence, R. I.

THE VACATION SPIRIT

PRESIDENT Harper, one of the most active and advanced men of his
generation, is said to have been opposed to the vacation idea from the
point of view of simply idling away twelve weeks each summer, with
no definite purpose or employment. Like certain other highly successful
educators, he advocated a training which should enable one to find recreation
in a variety of interests and occupations, without sacrificing a quarter of each
year aimlessly. To some teachers who are already overworked and over-
tired, and to many pupils who hail the long summer vacation as their only
time of real freedom, this suggestion may seem unw^elcome, but to the
true nature-lover it will come as an echo of his daily experience.

In the minds of most people, the vacation idea and nature are inseparably
woven together. A vacation, it must be admitted, will never help some people
to enjoy Ufe in the true vacation spirit; but such a spirit, once developed, will
bring everyone into that vital, inspired relation to daily life which is the end
and essence of what is meant by "a real vacation."

The substance of nature-study sums up into exactly this to put people
into the vacation spirit under all circumstances, at all seasons, and in all
places. What nature has to teach "under the open sky" is the secret of the
vacation spirit. City or country, school or vacation-time make little differ-
ence. What everyone wants and needs is the vacation spirit all the time, which
is only a different way of expressing the underlying principle of the concept
that the greatest accomplishment is made by the person who does not sharply
separate work and play.

If our Audubon Societies have one special mission above all others, it is
to teach people how to cultivate this spirit. It is set down in print that Audu-
bon Societies have been formed for the better protection of birds; but those
who once learn to live with and in nature will never molest the birds, nor
destroy trees, nor become nature-vandals of any kind.

There is no more practical work to take up than to further every means
for bringing people into touch with nature. School gardens, back-yard and
front-yard gardens, public playgrounds, the reclamation of waste or worse
than waste land — the noxious dumping-heaps of both city and country — the
discovery, conservation and utilization of nature to the smallest fraction,
all come within the scope of this undertaking, and are practical means to the
desired end.

(238)

The Audubon Societies

239

Whatever the means and wherever the o])i)ortunity, teach the children
how to work as they play, and j»rown-ups to play as they work, and let Nature
come to the rescue of our strenuous lives with the elixir of the true vacation
spirit.— A. H. W.

FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS

Exercise IV. Summer Neighbors, continued

Correlated Studies : Geography and Arithmetic

Taking up the Order of Perching Birds, which far exceeds any other order
in the number of species which it contains, we find that to it belong the majority
of all land-birds. By following the numerical scheme outlined in Exercise III,
we may see at a glance the relative size of the families that make up this
large group.

Order XVII. — Perching Birds.

[As represented in North America, A. O. U. Check-List, 1910.]

Number of species

Name of family

Suborder I — Clamatorcs or
Songless Birds

[Cotinga]
Kingbird.

1. Cotingas. . . .

2. Flycatchers.

Suborder II — Oscines or Sing-
ing Birds

Horned Lark

Crow

Starling.
Cowbird .

Song Si)arro\v 7.

Scarlet Tanager , 8,

Barn Swallow 9.

Cedar W'axwing 10.

[Phainopcpla] 11,

Northern Shrike 12,

Red-eyed Vireo 13.

[Bahama Honey-Creeper] . 14.

Redstart 15,

(Pipit) 16,

(Dipper) 17,

Brown Thrasher 18.

House Wren 19.

Brown Creeper 20,

(White-breastedNut-halch) 21.

(Chickadee) 22.

(Wren-Tit) 23,

Ruby-crowned Kinglet ... 24.

Robin 25.

Larks

Crows, Jays, Ravens and Mag-
pies

Starlings

Blackbirds, Orioles, Crackles,
etc

Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows,
etc

Tanagers

Swallows

Wax wings

Silky Flycatchers

Shrikes

Vireos

Honey-Creepers

Wood Warblers

Wagtails

Dippers

Thrashers, Mockingbirds, etc.

Wrens

Creepers

Nuthatches

Chickadee

Wren-Tits

Kinglets, Gnatcatchers, etc . . .

Thrushes, Robins, Bluebirds,
etc

No. of I No. of
genera I species

37

I

9

13

12

16

5.^

II

14

15

8

IS

No. of
sub-

NOTE. — Of the number of species and subspecies noted, the following are extraliraital reckoned in the
order of the families given, i, 6, o, 6, o, 3, 9, o, 3, o, o, o, 2, o, 2, 3, 1, i, 2, i, o, 2, o, o, 2.

240 Bird - Lore

The Cotingas, or "Chatterers," and the Honey-Creepers are subtropical,
and therefore we may pass over them as families very sparingly represented
in the extreme southern portion of the United States. The Cotingas are found
from Southern Mexico to Argentina, but, of the hundred or more species in
this family, only one enters our borders in Arizona, along the edge of Mexico.
The Honey-Eaters, or "Quit-quits," as they are commonly called from their
weak call-note, range from the Bahamas to the southeastern part of Brazil,
the Andes in Bolivia, and the Antilles, as well as the Galapagos Islands. Only
the Bahama Honey - Creeper has been once recorded from Indian Key,
Florida.

The Flycatcher family numbers over three hundred and fifty species, all
of which belong to the Western hemisphere, as do also the Tanagers, Vireos,
Wood Warblers, Thrashers, Mockingbirds, Gnatcatchers, and the large
Blackbird family. A comparatively small number of Flycatchers visit North
America, although thirty species and twenty-two subspecies seem a goodly
number. The Kingbird has an unusually extensive range throughout North
and South America, breeding, as it does, from a line drawn through the south-
ern part of British Columbia, Mackenzie, Keewatin, along northern Ontario,
central Quebec and Newfoundland, down to central Oregon, northern New
Mexico, central Texas and central Florida. This species occasionally strays
as far north as Greenland, and, in migration, as far east as Cuba. Being
insectivorous, like all the Flycatchers, it is a migratory species, and in winter,
we may look for it from southern Mexico as far south as Bolivia, Peru, British
Guiana and Colombia. What is probably its usual route in migration, judging
from the foregoing statements?

The Larks may be called an Old World family, for we have only one species
with its numerous subspecies in America. It is true that the Skylark has
been introduced into the United States and Hawaii, but it has not increased
much, if any, nor has it spread over the country as the English Sparrow has
done, and as the Starling bids fair to do. The Horned or Shore Lark ranges
over North America, Europe and Asia as far as the northern parts of South
America and Africa. The various subspecies found on our continent are
scattered in their distribution, forming a series of Larks, all of one species,
but differing somewhat in coloration, and restricted to particular ranges.
The Horned Lark proper is found in eastern North America, the PaUid Horned
Lark in northwestern North America; the Prairie Horned Lark, once a bird
of the prairies of the West, has made its way to the northeastern United
States and Canada; the Desert Horned Lark inhabits the Great Plains and
Great Basin of the interior, the Texan form, a part of the coast of Texas and
Tamaulipas, and so on, through the California, Ruddy, Streaked, Scorched,
Dusky, Sonora, Hoyt's, Montezuma, and Island Horned Larks. The Larks
are ground-birds, and are noticeable for the fact, that, unlike most passerine
birds, they run instead of hop. In winter, they make their way to the southern

The Audubon Societies 24.1

or eastern parts of their res[)ective ranges, or, in certain instances, remain
resident throughout the year.

Of the Crow family, which numbers some two hundred species, only 23
species and 30 subspecies are found in North America. It is difficult to choose
between the Jays and Crows, both are so well known; but, since there are 25
species and subspecies of Jays and only 5 of Crows, the common Crow, wel-
comed by many for his cheery caw caw, distrusted by others when he visits
the freshly sown fields in spring, will best serve our pur{)ose. The Crow belongs
to eastern North America, but there are also the Western Crow, the North-
western Crow, the Florida Crow, and along the Atlantic coast and eastern
waterways, the Fish Crow. Wintering from the northern United States
southward, the Crow breeds as far north as southern Mackenzie, central
Keewatin, Quebec, and along the Atlantic coast to Newfoundland, and as
far south as southern Texas and the Gulf coast, with the exception of
Florida.

The Starlings are properly inhabitants of the Old World, where they are
quite generally distributed. Some of this numerous family are semi-arboreal
in habit, and are known as Tree Starlings; while others are mostly terrestrial,
running and walking easily. To this latter group belongs the common Starling,
which, in 1890, was first introduced into America. Before this date, it had been
known as an accidental wanderer to Greenland. At present, its range in the
New World is restricted to a small but constantly widening area around New
York, Long Island, southern New England, and the eastern edge of Pennsyl-
vania. The Starling is by habit migratory, but it may be called a short-
distance migrant, since its range does not extend far south, and individuals
may be resident. In this country, its seasonal movements have not been
accurately determined. It will be interesting to see how far it will go from its
breeding range, or whether it will remain practically resident. In its nati\-e
habitat, this species is found throughout western and central Europe, winter-
ing south to Africa.

Closely related to the Starlings is the large and rather mixed family of
Blackbirds, Crackles, Meadowlarks, Orioles, and the Bobolink. The Orioles
are sometimes called the "American Starlings," but should never be confused
with the Old World Starlings, since they are among our most attractive and
beneficial birds. Quite different in habit from any other perching bird, the
Cowbird has the distinction of being our only feathered parasite. In Europe
the common Cuckoo follows this despicable habit of laying its eggs in the nests
of other birds. The Cowbird is economically useful so far as its food habits are
concerned, but it prevents the young of those birds upon whom it foists its
eggs, from being reared in many instances. It usually selects species smaller
than itself for foster-parents to its offspring. The Cowbird is quite generally
distributed throughout North America, the Gulf Coast and central Mexico
marking its southern limit in winter, and southern British Columbia, Keewatin,

242 Bird -Lore

Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick its northern limit during the breeding
season.

Family 7 is by far the largest in this Order, and it might be well to learn
its scientific name, Fringillidce, since the adjective fringilline is frequently
applied to the species of this group. A study of the bills of the fringilline
birds is most instructive, but remember that, however much the bill of one
species may differ from that of another, the fringiUine bill is always a seed-
cracking bill, for the Fringillidae is made up of seed-eating birds. Grosbeaks,
Finches, Crossbills, Redpolls, Snow Buntings, Longspurs, Sparrows of many
kinds, Juncos, Towhees, the Cardinals and Pyrrhuloxias, Buntings, Seedeaters,
Grassquits and the Dickcissel represent this extremely valuable family in
America. No single species of the six hundred or more which are included in
the Fringillidm is more familiar in this country than the Song Sparrow. Sea-
coast and mountain, desert and marsh, open clearings, fields, and even road-
sides, claim some form of this widely distributed Sparrow as a breeding or
resident species.

No fewer than twenty subspecies are known, differing considerably in
size, degree of coloration and song. From Alaska, Prince William Sound,
southern Mackenzie around Great Slave Lake, central Keewatin, northern
Ontario, central Quebec and Cape Breton Island, down through mountains,
coasts and prairies to the Gulf of Mexico, this sprightly bird is found. In
winter the eastern form is found from about the latitude of the Middle States
to the Gulf Coast.

Of the three hundred and fifty species of Tanagers which belong exclusively
to the western hemisphere, only four species and two subspecies visit North
America. The brilUant Scarlet Tanager, or "Firebird," as it is sometimes
called, ranges throughout eastern North America, from a line drawn through
southeastern Saskatchewan, southern Quebec to Nova Scotia, as far as north-
ern South America. This species regularly migrates through Cuba, Jamaica
and Yucatan, although it sometimes strays to the Bahamas and Lesser Antilles
on the east, or to Wyoming and Colorado on the west. Much remains to be
learned about this large and little-known family, which for the most part
is confined to the tropics. If all Tanagers are as useful, attractive and attentive
to their young as the Scarlet Tanager, we may well wish that more representa-
tives of this group visited temperate latitudes. The Scarlet Tanager is an
excellent example of the changes in color which appear during the period of
molting.

The Barn Swallow belongs to a family which is distributed throughout
the world. Upon first sight, a Swallow, particularly the fork-tailed Barn
Swallow, seems quite unlike other perching birds. The long, pointed wings,
large mouth, small, weak bill and feet, suggest at once marked adaptation to
life in the air. It is not strange that Swifts are often confused with Swallows
because of their similarity in habit and appearance. Careful observation,

The Audubon Societies 243

however, soon teaches the marked ditTerences between these aerial birds.
Throughout North America, the famihar Barn Swallow is found breeding
quite generally, from northwestern Alaska and the Great Bear Lake region
to southern California, and west of 97° in southern Texas, also to northern
Arkansas and North Carolina down the Atlantic coast, and even in Mexico as
far as Jalisco and Tepic. It migrates along the Bahamas and West Indies, win-
tering from southern Mexico to Brazil, northern Argentina, and central Chile.
This Swallow wanders by accident to Greenland, the Bermudas, and the
Galapagos Islands.

One of the smallest of the passerine families, the Waxwings, nevertheless,
have a wide distribution in the northern hemisphere. Noted for their beauty,
but possessed of small vocal ability, these charming birds wander about in
small flocks, feeding upon wild fruits and insects, and nesting late in the breed-
ing-season. The Cedar Waxwing is found in nearly all parts of North America,
its northern breeding limit extending from British Columbia to Cape Breton
Island, and its most southerly winter quarters from Cuba to Panama and
Mexico. It may be called resident throughout most of the United States,
except in the southern part.

In the southwestern portion of the United States and in the Valley of
Mexico, there is found a small, crested, shining black bird called the Phaino-
pepla, which is closely related to the Waxwings. It is the only representative
of the "Silky Flycatchers" in our country.

The Shrikes, or "Butcher-birds," are largely Old World birds, only two
of the two hundred or more species being found in America. Five subspecies
of the Loggerhead Shrike are known, but the larger Northern Shrike has only
one form, and this belongs to the northern part of our continent as its name
shows. During the breeding season, this Shrike is found from the southern
part of Quebec and Ontario, central Saskatchewan, and the base of the great
Alaskan peninsula northward. In winter, it goes only as far south as central
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Kentucky and Virginia. The North-
ern Shrike is carnivorous by habit, feeding chiefly on mice and killing young
birds, which it leaves impaled upon sharp twigs of trees. Insects form a part
of its diet, so that, like other Shrikes, it is known as a beneficial bird.

There are some fifty species of Vireos, only twelve of which visit North
America. Beautiful in plumage, notable for their full, voluble songs and
shapely nests, as well as for their beneficial food habits, it is strange
that this family is not better known to the ordinary observer. The Red-eyed
Vireo, singing persistently as it feeds, is one of our commonest summer neigh-
bors. It has a very extensive range, breeding from British Columbia and
southern Mackenzie across the continent to Cape Breton Island, down through
the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, even into Mexico. It win-
ters in South America and in migration has been known to stray to Nevada,
Greenland, and across the ocean to England.

244 Bird - Lore

Of all of our bird families, none is more distinctively North American
than that of the Wood Warblers. There are one hundred or more species of
this exquisite group, with a large number of which we may become familiar,
if we set to work to study their habits, plumage, nesting-sites and songs
systematically. The Yellow Warbler or "Summer Yellow-bird'' is probably
as generally known as the Redstart, and even more widely distributed, but
who that has ever watched the tiny flaming, "flycatching" Redstart can mis-
take its movements or plumage, unless, indeed, the female bewilders the eye
and befogs the mind by her different but hardly less conspicuous colors and
rapid actions! British Columbia, central Mackenzie, southern Keewatin and
Quebec, with Newfoundland on the extreme east, mark the northern limits
of the Redstart. It rarely breeds below the latitude of 35° in southeastern
United States, while, in the west, a line drawn from Arkansas, central Okla-
homa, Colorado, northern Utah and Washington would mark roughly its
southern limits. Insectivorous, like all of this family, the Redstart migrates in
winter to the West Indies, and from the latitude of Puebla, Mexico, to Ecuador
and British Guiana.

The Pipit and Dipper are excluded from our Ust of thirty representative
species, together with the Wren-tits, because they are either very restricted
in distribution or not commonly known. The Pipit, or "Titlark," is mostly a
migrant in the United States, but winters in some parts of temperate latitudes,
as well as in Mexico and Central America. It breeds in subarctic regions and
high up in the Rocky Mountains.

The Dipper, or "Water Ouzel," is a resident species in the mountains of
the W^est, a rarely attractive acquaintance to make, for those who are so
fortunate as to discover its haunts.

The Wren-tit is a Pacific-coast species, its four subspecies extending
from Oregon to the northern part of Lower California, and east only so far
as the interior of California proper.

Until recently, the Thrashers, Catbirds and Mockingbirds were placed
in the same family with the Wrens, but, though closely related, they clearly
belong to a separate family. The songs, habits and distribution of this group
are all interesting. Although the Mockingbird is the most famous species of
the family, the Brown Thrasher and its kind are more widely known. This
long-tailed, long-billed "Brown Thrush" inhabits all of America east of the
Rocky Mountains, from Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and southern Alberta
in the west to southern Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and northern Maine in
the east. In winter, it shifts down to the Gulf Coast, occasionally straying
to Arizona and Europe.

Of the one hundred and fifty species of Wrens, scarcely a dozen are known
outside of America. The Wrens are small, mouselike creatures of dull plumage,
exceptionally pleasing by reason of their rapid, bubbling songs, and
difficult to watch as they play at hide and seek around stumps, old fences.

The Audubon Societies 245

crevices and brush tangles. The House Wren of eastern North America, who
has a counterpart, the Western House W^ren, breeds from not far north of the
United States south to Kentucky and Virginia, wintering in eastern Texas,
TamauHpas, and about the South Atlantic and Gulf States.

There are only twelve species of Creepers known, and of these the Brown
Creeper with its six subspecies is the only one of this family that occurs in
America. Breeding from the northern United States up through southern
Quebec to Newfoundland, the Brown Creeper is a familiar migrant through
our latitude. It does not go further south than northern Florida and central
Texas. It is not a song bird with us, uttering only a low, lisping note, as it
searches unremittingly on the trunks of trees for hidden larvaj and eggs of
injurious insects. Study the Brown Creeper, the Nuthatches, Downy Wood-
pecker and Black and White Creeper, learning to distinguish each by note,
movements and shape.

The Nuthatches and Chickadees have been grouped in the same family
until very recently, but it is perhaps better to separate them, since they are
quite dilTerent in many respects. Both are resident species, for the most
part. The White-breasted Nuthatch occurs east of the Great Plains, and the
Chickadee belongs also to eastern North America.

Next to the tiny Hummingbirds in size, the Kinglets, along with the Gnat-
catchers and Kennicott's Willow Warbler, an Old World species which crosses
into Alaska from Asia, are often confused with our Wood Warblers. The
Ruby-crowned Kinglet comes up from the tableland of Mexico and Guatemala
as a spring migrant, to breed north of the United States or along mountain
ranges while the Golden-crowned Kinglet visits us in winter, coming down
from its boreal breeding-area. Fine and exquisite in every particular, the
Kinglets are delightful bird-neighbors to have. The Ruby-crown has a remark-
ably beautiful song, and easily shares the honors in this respect with the
Winter WVen.

Last, but far from least, in this very large order of birds, is the family
of Solitaires, Thrushes, Robins, Wheateaters, Bluethroats and Bluebirds.
Of all of our feathered friends, the familiar Robin is doubtless the best known
and best loved. We have a Western Robin, a Southern Robin, and a San
Lucas Robin, besides the common Robin. Draw a line from the tree-limit
in northwestern Alaska, northern Mackenzie, central Keewatin, northern
Ungava and Newfoundland, and a second one from Cook Inlet, central
Alberta, southeastern Wyoming and Kansas, through the Middle States
to New Jersey, and down the Alleghanies to North Carolina. Between these
two lines the Robin breeds. In winter, a few Robins remain in northern
United States, but, for the most part, this species moves down toward the
Gulf Coast, and as far as Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It is considered a "stray"
in Cuba and Bermuda.

From this hasty survey of the twenty-five families of passerine birds

246 Bird - Lore

belonging to North America, you may possibly gain a clearer idea of the
relationship and distribution of this great order. Do not forget that in the
Old World there are many other kinds of perching birds which are not included
in this list.— A. H. W.

Suggestion: Add up the number of families, genera, species and subspecies in this
order, that are found in North America.

References: Chapman: Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America.
Bailey: Handbooic of Birds of Western North America.
The A. O. U. Check-List of North American Birds, 3d ed.
Chapman: The Warblers.
Correction: In the outline presented in the preceding issue of Bird-Lore, page
179, substitute 25 for 24 in the column giving the number of families of perching birds.

FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS

Notes on the Purple Martin

In the spring of 191 1, we had planned to build a bird-box for the accom-
modation of the Purple Martin, and to have it up before any Martin prospectors
had returned, but the weather was so bad during the first half of April that
one could not work out-of-doors, and it was April 25 before the box was ready
to be put in position.

The first Martin was seen on April 10, an adult male, and, in spite of the
unfavorable weather, quite a number of Martins had returned to the other
bird-houses in town by the i8th.

The house built by us was erected on April 25. It contained twenty rooms.
While it was being put in position, a male Martin came and inspected several
rooms, but did not remain long.

It was fully a week later before other prospectors came, and we had already
begun to think that they had found suitable nesting-places elsewhere. This
was not the case, however, as they began to come to our house regularly and
on May 6 several of them were carrying nest material. From this date until
July I, nest-building was carried on at different times. At the time these
operations stopped, the box held fifteen nests.

At noon on May 19, I saw my first immature bird, a male. On the 22d
others were seen on and about the box.

Although I feel sure that eggs were deposited in most of the nests, our
Martins did not all bring out broods successfully. On inspecting the nest
rooms after the young had left the house, nine dead young were found.

The first young left the box on July 14, and the last on August 13. After
the young had left the box, the birds returned to it only occasionally.

On August 22, the first signs of preparation for the fall migration were
witnessed, when several hundred Martins collected upon the roof of an elevator.

The Audubon Societies 247

On the evening of Seplcniber 11, between 6. ,30 and 7. .50, hundreds of
Martins passed overhead, northward bound. They came in very irregular
numbers, sometimes only a few appearing, and again great numbers rushed
by on all sides. Some flew very low and others high, but they were all going
in the same direction. They were probal)ly headed for some roost, where

A MARTIN COLONY

they congregated before their departure. I made no count as to their numbers,
but feel safe to say that there were at least several thousand of them.

The last Martins of the year were seen on September 21. This is an unu-
sually late date for their departure from this locality. In the fall of 1910
they were last seen on September 12.

Question. — Can you tell me why the Martins remain with us so much
later in the fall than they do at points farther south? — Harry B. Logan, Jr.
(age, 16), Royalton, Minn.

[It is encouraging to learn that Martins are so numerous in certain localities, when
the}' are so rare or entirely absent in many places. Undoubtedly, the erection of more
Martin-houses would aid in preventing the decrease of this friendh' and valuable species.

By April 29, 191 2, the house represented in the accompanying illustration contained
eight pairs of Martins, a good beginning for the present season.

Just why this colony of Martins, with those of the adjoining neighborhood and
from points presumably farther north, should remain later in the fall than colonies to
the south, it is impossible to say without a closer studj' of local conditions, and a list
of dates of the first and last arrivals of this species along the Mississippi Valley route
of migration during both spring and fall. It is probable that, as in the case of some other
species, individuals or colonies overtake or outspeed others in making the annual jour-

248

Bird - Lore

ney north and south. Favorable local weather and food conditions might easily delay
departure from any given point, while those individuals which nest farthest south may
make fewer halts, and be delayed less by the flocking of colonies coming down from the
north, than the Martins about Royalton, Minnesota, which doubtless receive large
accessions to their numbers from colonies breeding much farther north in British
America. The breeding-range of this species is very extensive, covering much of the
territory from the Gulf Coast to west central Alberta, eastward to Nova Scotia. Its
winter home is in Brazil, and, since its range does not include the Pacific coast, the
Mississippi valley is its main highway along the interior. — A. H. W.]

FROM ADULT OBSERVERS

"Pete"

The Robin I speak of seemed deserted by his parents, and would soon
have fallen a prey to cats. For several nights, I put him in a canary-cage in
the cellar, and in the daytime, under a coop of wire-netting in the yard.

With the help of various interested people, I procured enough angleworms
for him for a time; but, as
the weather was very dry,
it was difficult, and later I
gave him much fruit. He
became very tame and,
when let out, would light
on one's head or lap.

One night before dark,
he decided that he pre-
ferred a twig on a tree to
a perch in a canary-cage,
and remained out all night.
After that, I usually left
him outdoors at night, but
had to get around very
early each morning for fear
a cat would get him. Dur-
ing the day, I kept him in
his outdoor coop most of
the time, unless someone
had time to watch him.

Nearly every morning
he would come to my
window-sill for food, but
before many days I found
he was awake ahead of me a little friend feedixg "pete^

The Audubon Societies

249

and feeding on the ground. One afternoon, when several of us were seated
on the porch, I let my bird out, and he exhibited his capacity for flies. He
ate dozens and dozens, one after another, as I killed or maimed them
for him.

After he began to fly to the ground mornings, before coming to my win-
dow, I grew much alarmed for his safety, and decided he must be put out of
the reach of cats until he learned the wild ways of his fellows. So, one
morning, I put him in the canary-cage and drove several miles to a mountain
stream. Here elderberries grew thickly and the air was full of insects. I
watched my little friend, of whom I had grown very fond. He soon became
oblivious of me and began to feast on the berries. Had I left him about the
yard, he would probably have shared the pitiful fate of the little Grosbeak. —
Mary Pierson Allen, Hackeltstown, N. J .

[The Grosbeak referred to is the one described in Bird-Lore, Vol. XIII, No. 6, p. 318,
under the title of 'Some Experiences with a Bird Nursery.' The happier fate of 'Pete'
suggests the wisdom of training birds reared by hand for life in the open. However,
there are many enemies besides cats, as well as many dangers which threaten the life
of any bird, whether captive or free. To study more closely into all the conditions
which make for the health and safety of birds, and particularly of immature birds, is
the problem of the human foster-parent. — A. H. W.j

THE YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD

By THOMAS S. ROBERTS

^^t /Rational Si&0omtion ot Siutuhon ^ocUtite

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 57

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is preeminently a native of
Range the Great Plains, and, although in some parts of its range it

invades regions not strictly prairie, it belongs by right to the
vast treeless plains of the interior and the sparsely wooded areas immediately
adjoining on the east and west. Over all this region it ranges, breeding from
the extreme northern part of Mexico in the south to southern British Columbia,
the Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the north. East and west it occurs reg-
ularly as a summer resident, from Wisconsin, Illinois, northwestern Indiana
and western Louisiana to the valleys of the Pacific Coast States. It winters
throughout the extreme southern portion of its United States range and on
the plateaus of Central Mexico. Farther east in the United States it is but a
rare wanderer.

There is one invariable condition necessary to induce it
Haunts to establish a summer residence, and that is an abundant and

permanent water-supply, and associated with this must be just
the kind of vegetation that is suited to its rather particular tastes. Preference
is given usually to a swamp or slough that is very wet and having more or
less open water; never meadows or marshes that are simply damp and subject
to drying out.

The tule beds of the valleys of the Rockies, the quill-reed brakes of the
North, and the flag swamps of the South are alike acceptable. Wherever
the Yellow-head breeds it congregates in colonies, and these assemblages are
often of vast proportions. It is very loyal to its home-site and returns year
after year, even though the surroundings undergo great and uncongenial
changes, deserting it only with the drying up of the marsh. The Yellow-head
is very closely restricted to its special nesting haunts, and as the members of
each colony go in the spring directly to their particular rendezvous, and wander
but a little way into the surrounding country until after the completion of
the breeding period, they are easily overlooked if their nesting sloughs are
not numerous or their homes be not actually invaded.

In the northward spring movement, the vanguard of the
Migration Yellow-heads that are to breed in Canada reach the Inter-

national Boundary about May i, the males preceding the
females by a few days. In Minnesota, where the writer's entire experience
with this bird has been gained, stragglers enter the southern part of the state

(250)

f- 4.

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD

Order— Passeres Family— Icterid^e

Genus— Xanthoceph ALUS Species— Xanthocephalus

National Association of Audubon Societies

Educational Leaflet No. 57

The Yellow-Headed Blackbird 251

about Ihe middle of Ai)ril, but it is not until the very last of that month or
early in May that they become numerous.

In this region they breed almost exclusively in the dense
Nesting growth of quill-reeds {Phragmites) that fills or encircles many

of the sloughs and shallow lakes of the prairie and semi-prairie
portions of the state. Occasionally spring freshets or other disturbances may
drive them to place their nests among bulrushes {Scirpus) in upland sloughs
or more rarely still, in willows and bushes adjacent to open water. Nest-
building is usually begun in central Minnesota about the middle of May and
continues until well into June. The writer has found young birds near Min-
neapolis hatched as early as May 28, and has watched the building of nests at
Heron Lake in southwestern Minnesota as late as June 20, when many young
were already awing. It seems probable, however, that only one brood is raised
in a season, this great variation in the nesting-time being explainable by the
depredations of various small animals which devour the eggs and young, and
by severe elemental disturbances.

The examination of many hundreds of nests over a long period of time
and a detailed study of a single colony* throughout the entire breeding season
furnish the data for the following summary of the chief features of the
nesting of the Yellow-head :

The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs without any assistance
from the male.

The male assists in the care of the young, but only to a limited extent and
chiefly after they leave the nest.

The body of the nest is constructed of wet material collected from the
water nearby. This is woven about the stems of the reeds, two or three feet
above the water, and its drying and contracting fixes the nest securely in
position.

Thelining consists of pieces of broad, dry reed-leaves, the rim of the nest
being often finished of^ with the fine branches of the plume-like fruiting tops
of the reeds, forming a sort of canopy over the somewhat constricted entrance.

The typical finished nest is a firm, inverted, cone-shaped basket-like affair,
suspended among the rigid stems of last year's reeds, only exceptionally among
new growth. The height is usually eight to ten inches, rarely only four or
as much as twelve inches.

A skillful, industrious bird will build one of these large, beautifully woven
and lined nests all complete in two to four days. When it is considered that a
single bird has not only to collect but skillfully to manipulate all this large
mass of material, it is a surprising matter to see these bulky nests spring up
almost over night.

The eggs in a set are three to five, usually four. They are laid one each
day, the first egg one to five days after the completion of the nest, depending

*For fuller details, see 'Auk.'^XXV'I, 1909, pp. 371-389, 10 plates, 24 photographs.

252 Bird -Lore

apparently upon the time it takes the nest to dry out. All the eggs of a set
are alike in coloration and shape, but there is considerable variation in differ-
ent sets. The outline varies from almost elliptical to a pronounced ovate. The
measurements vary from 1.12 inches to .94 inches in length by .76 to .64 of
an inch in breadth. The shell is smooth and glossy. The ground color of the
eggs varies from a soiled grayish white in some sets to a pale olive-white in
others, and in rare instances is of a faint pink-lilac hue. When these tints
correspond, as is usually the case, to similar shades in the markings, there
result eggs of a general dull gray, olive or pink-lilac hue. The markings vary
from a fine close speckling, almost uniform over the entire egg, to large blotches
scattered at the smaller end and becoming confluent at the larger end. Most
of the eggs present very fine and inconspicuous irregular tracings and spots
of black or dark brown about the larger end, suggesting the more pronounced
zigzags on the eggs of other Blackbirds and Orioles.

The usual period of incubation is ten days.

The young remain in the nest about twelve days, when they begin a pre-
carious life in the swaying reed tops, where they are cared for for some days
by both parents. The curiously variegated, generally buffy-toned plumage of
the young birds blends well with their surroundings at this time and, as they
are indisposed to move, quite effectively conceals them.

The nesting season over, old and young leave the sloughs and marshes
and, congregating in straggling flocks, sometimes accompanied by Redwings
and Crackles, wander over the upland for a short time before departing for
the South. They rarely assemble in the North in the large compact flocks so
characteristic of the Redwing and the Rusty. Their southward movement
begins early, and they have largely left the northern part of their range by
the first of September. Stragglers, however, may occasionally be found even
until snowfall. Throughout their winter range in the southern United States
they roam about in flocks, feeding familiarly about cattle ranches, farms and
the outskirts of towns and villages, leading a sort of Cowbird existence.

The song of the male Yellow-head, if song it may be called,
Voice is a most remarkable, unmusical and unbirdlike effort. At a

time of the year when most other birds are singing finished
nuptial songs, however humble, this fine fellow, perched aloft on a cluster of
swaying reed-stems, is straining every nerve in an attempt that results, after
a few harsh preliminary, but fairly promising notes, in a seeming painful
choking spell, that terminates in a long-drawn rasping squeal that is nothing
short of harrowing. It has always seemed as though some day a Yellow-head
would be found who could sing the song that they are all trying so hard to
render, but thus far not a single note of the dreadful discord has been improved
upon, and it always ends in the same disappointing failure. The rasping,
scraping sounds are accompanied by a most intense bodily effort, as is evidenced
by the widely spread tail, swollen throat, upturned head and twisted neck.

The Yellow-Headed Blackbird 253

Even the ordinary call-note is a hoarse rattling croak that suggests a chronic
sore throat. The voice of the female is less harsh, and I have never heard it
utter the long squeal of the male.

As an economic factor, the Yellow-headed Blackbird plays
Food about the same role as the Redwing; but the fact that it is in

the aggregate much less numerous and much more restricted
in its general range renders it of less importance than the latter enormously
abundant and widely distributed species. The whole Blackbird tribe is more
or less under a ban, viewed from the agriculturist's standpoint, and the Yellow-
head gets his share of criticism. He is a large, sturdy, and voracious fellow,
and locally his cohorts are often legion, so that the food-levies he makes upon
the land in which he dwells are by no means trifling.

While wintering in the southern part of its range, the Yellow-head wanders
over the country in quest of scattered and wild grain, weed seeds, various
insects, grubs and worms, and at this time does little or no harm to anyone.

But with the coming of spring and the reoccupancy of the northern portions
of their range, they congregate at their nesting-haunts and for a time supple-
ment their insect and waste-seed diet by extensive stealings from the various
grains being planted by the neighboring farmers. Wheat, oats, flax, corn,
and, in fact, everything receives a share of their attention at this time. Sprout-
ing corn is pulled up by the roots in order to get at the grain below, and in fields
near the sloughs it is only by replanting the despoiled hills and covering with
manure that a crop can be started at all.* It is at this season that the Yellow-
head and its associates— the Redwing and Crackle— come in for their first
bitter denunciation by the plundered farmer. After the crops are well started,
the Yellow-head once more returns to a diet that is more beneficial than
injurious. During the 'breaking' season they, in company with a troop made
up of FrankUn's Rosy-gulls, Black Terns, Crackles and Cowbirds,may be found
following every plow and greedily devouring the many angleworms and insects
turned out. I have known them to consume large numbers of the white grub
of the cockchafer in this way. Crasshoppers they eat at this time as well as
all through the season, and this insect forms a large part of the food of the
young. When the small grains begin to head and the corn is in the milk, then
the Yellow-head again takes tribute from the farmer.

The published work of the U. S. Biological Survey on the food of the
Yellow-headed Blackbirdf is still incomplete, but so far as it has gone it would
seem to indicate that, taking the whole year together, the good done by the
Yellow-head rather overbalances the harm.

♦Bailey, Annual Report of Department of Agriculture, 1887, pp. 428, 42g.

tBeal. Food of the Bobolink, Blackbird, and Crackles. Bull. No. 13, U. S. Dept. Agriculture,
1900, pp. 30-33.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary

Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions, to
the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City

William Dutcher, President
Theodore S. Palmer, First Vice-President T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary
F. A. Lucas, Second Vice-President Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Treasurer

Any person, club, school or company in sympathy with the objects of this Association may be-
come a member, and all are welcome.

Classes of Membership in the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of
Wild Birds and Animals:

S5.00 annually pays for a Sustaining Membership
$100.00 paid at one time constitutes a Life Membership
$1,000.00 constitutes a person a Patron
$5,000.00 constitutes a person a Founder
825,000.00 constitutes a person a Benefactor

Audubon Work in Alaska

It is with great pleasure that we
announce the inauguration of Audubon
work in Alaska. A public-spirited mem-
ber of the Association has recently sub-
scribed $5,000 for this purpose.

In its work there, the Association will
have the active cooperation of the United
States Biological Survey in the matter of
extending protection to the breeding
colonies of water-birds on the Govern-
ment Reservations, and elsewhere on the
Coast. In the schools, toward which the
major part of our attention will be directed,
we shall have the hearty support of the
United States Bureau of Education. It
is planned, during the coming year, to
placp in the hands of every pupil in the
schools of Alaska literature in reference
to the birds of that territory. An artist
is now engaged in making drawings with
which to illustrate the leaflets to be used.

Mr. G. Willett, of Los Angeles, recently
sailed for Sitka, as the representative of
this association. During the present
summer he will serve as warden at the
Saint Lazaria Bird Reservation and
gather information regarding the bird life
of that region. He will also make a
report on various phases of the needs
found existing in Alaska in reference to
bird and game protection.

When one considers the rapidity with
which many form of aquatic bird life

(2

are disappearing from our country, the
importance of bird protection in Alaska
becomes quite apparent. Here is the sum-
mer home of innumerable birds which
are mercilessly shot on their southern
migrations. As this work unfolds, we
shall expect to have some exceedingly
interesting developments to report. —
T. G. P.

The Late Captain Davis

Captain M. B. Davis, field agent for
this Association in Texas, died at his
home in Waco, on June 18, 191 2. He
had been exceedingly active ever since
his appointment, in 1904, and by his
death Texas loses a most valuable citizen,
and the Audubon movement one of its
most earnest and effective workers. Our
readers may recall an extended account
of his very remarkable career which was
published in Bird-Lore volume XII,
igio, p. 212. Captain Davis was sixty-
six years of age on the 14th of last Oc-
tober, and had been active in bird- and
game-protective matters many years
before he became connected with the
Association. President William Dutcher
wrote him, a few years ago, that the
President of the National Association
of Audubon Societies must doff his hat
to the grand old bird protectionist of
Texas, as the one who had been longest
in the field fighting the enemies of bird
destruction. The following beautiful

54)

The Audubon Societies

255

and appropriate tribute to Captain Davis
has been received from Hon. E. E. Kone,
Agricultural Commissioner of the State
of Texas.

"Some time prior to iiis death, Captain
M. B. Davis was engaged in writing for
the State Department of .Agriculture a
bulletin on 'The Birds of Texas,' which
has been eagerly awaited by farmers,
orchardists and others having an econo-
mic, and some of them a scientific and
scholarly interest in the subject, who
knew the author's special fitness for the
task, and who expected the production
to be a most serviceable and notable one.

"While I received no information to
that effect from Captain Davis, I am of
the opinion that he either completed it
or had constructed it to the point that it
can be finished on the plan he formulated.
Three months ago, having gathered all
of the necessary data, he paid me a visit
at Austin, and we discussed engravings
to be used in illustrating the work, and
decided on including a few colored plates
(one as a frontispiece). This disposed
of, our conversation naturally drifted
to other topics — reminiscences of bygone
days and bygone friends — friends still
fighting bravely in the ranks in the battle
of life for Texas and all high aspirations
and ends, and in fact almost everything
except politics, he enlivening his remarks
with many apt allusions and bits of rare
humor, kindly sarcasm, and, where they
were deserved, words of praise. I was
never more impressed with the length
and breadth and depth of his learning,
his elevated and unselfish character, and
that in him this state had one of its
noblest and most useful master-builders
of its rising and expanding fortunes.

"He served Texas well. He thought
little of self, and much of the welfare of
others. Money-making occupied but
small space in his mind — scarcely, if any,
more than enough to make a living —
but, living and dead, I regard him as one
of the richest men I ever knew — opulent
in good thoughts and good deeds, some
of the harvests of which he lived to see
garnered into the barns of manv, and

which through coming years will yield
t\ cT more bounteous harvests, long after
he, who scratched them as seed in the
world-field shall have been forgotten.

"I and others shall sadly miss our
dear old friend, and, with them, I feel
the deepest s\mi)athy for his bereaved
family, whose loss is, indeed irreparable.
The memory of him will linger long as
a light on the paths of men."

]\Ianj' editorials have api)eared in
Texas papers regarding the death of

CAPTAIN M. B. DAVIS

Captain Davis. A lengthy article of
appreciation by the editor of the San
.\ntonio Express, published June 22,
closes with the statement: "He will be
remembered as a friend to humanity and
as an earnest worker for the uplift of the
world, and his death will be deeply
regretted by all who had an opportunity
to know the service he did for humanity."
Captain Davis was a man of striking
appearance, pronounced and agreeable
personality, and was exceedingly effect-
ive in his public and private utterances.
The writer has seldom known a man who

256

Bird - Lore

hated all forms of vice as did Captain
Davis, or who fought them with more
skill and perseverance. A great and
powerful friend of America's wild life
has fallen asleep. — T. G. P.

Junior Audubon Work in the South

The work of organizing Junior Audu-
bon classes in the southern schools the
past year has again proven a marked
success. In Virginia, we were much aided
in bringing the matter before the attention
of the teachers by the active cooperation
of the State Audubon Society. Aside
from this, all the correspondence and the
distribution of literature was carried on
from the home office with the exception
of the service performed by the field
agents, Capt. M. B. Davis, of Texas,
Miss Katherine H. Stuart, of Virginia,
and Mr. James Henry Rice, Jr., of South
Carolina. From the large number of
enthusaistic letters received from teachers
in all parts of the country, there is no
indication of a lack of continued interest,
and the campaign in the southern schools
will be pushed the coming season with
renewed vigor — thanks to the generous
contributions of Mrs. Russell Sage. The
following statement shows the states in
which Audubon classes were organized
during the past school year, also the
number of classes in each state and the
number of pupils enrolled. Each child
paid a fee of ten cents and received in
return ten of the Association's Educational
Leaflets, outline drawings, and colored
plates; also an Audubon button. To
each teacher forming a class was sent a
number of leaflets containing suggestions
in regard to teaching about birds. Teach-
ers also received a free subscription to
Bird-Lore.

No. of No. of

State Classes Members

Alabama 32 632

Arkansas 3 45

Florida 5 100

Georgia 26 417

Kentucky 1 23 2,086

Louisiana 19 280

Carried forward 208 3i56o

No. of No. of

State Classes Members

Brought forward 208 3,'56o

Maryland._ 33 477

Mississippi 6 84

North Carolina 37 820

South Carolina 26 502

Oklahoma 4 46

Tennessee 60 i,44S

Texas 6 131

Virginia 131 2,560

West Virginia 21 379

Totals 532 10,004

Junior Audubon Classes in the
Northern Schools

Impressed with the work done in the
southern schools in the matter of forming
Junior Audubon classes last year, a friend
of the Association contributed $5,000 for
inaugurating a similar movement in the
schools of the Northern States. We were
not in position to begin activites until
after January i, 191 2. The State Audubon
Societies of Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio,
cooperated with the National Association
in this undertaking. The plan which
had proved so successful in the South was
adopted for our work in the North. The
success which attended this movement
is best shown by the tabulated statement
given below. We are glad to announce
to the readers of Bird-Lore that our
benefactor, upon receiving recently the
report of results accomplished, immedi-
ately contributed $5,000 to carry forward
the work for the school year 1912-1913,
and has promised to do the same the
succeeding year. A circular setting forth
the details for organizing Audubon classes
under this plan will be mailed upon
request to any teacher, or other interested
person, who is not already familiar with

it.

No. of No. of

State Classes Members

Colorado i 18

Connecticut 3 52

Delaware 2 36

Illinois 17 388

Indiana 11 256

Iowa 4 74

Maine 29 539

Carried forward 67 1,363

The Audubon Societies

257

No. 1)1 Ni). of

State Classes Members

Brought forward 67 1,363

Massachusetts 91 1,617

Michigan 15 372

Minnesota 4 89

Missouri i 10

New Hampshire 87 1,629

New Jersey 41 1 8,910

Ohio 130 2,092

Pennsylvania 113 2,349

Rhode Island 36 842

Vermont i 12

Wisconsin 4 80

Totals q6o 19,365

The Florida Audubon Society

Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Dommerich, the
founders of the Florida Audubon Society,
were both ardent lovers of nature. In
their tour through the state, in 1900, pre-
vious to selecting Maitland as their
winter home, they were forcibly struck
with the alarming decrease of bird life,
especially of the picturesque birds in
their native haunts. They noticed the
tourist gun doing its deadly work unmo-
lested from the decks of every steamer
that plied the winding waters of the
beautiful St. Johns River, robbing it of
much of its charm. The seriousness of
this matter was felt by them, and they
deemed it their duty in some way to arrest
the wanton destruction that sooner or
later must result in serious trouble to
those whose living depended on crops of
fruit, grain, or vegetables. Acting on
this thought, in March, 1900, a little
gathering of friends and those interested
in preserving to the state its native birds,
was asked to meet at their home in Mait-
land, to organize what should be known
as "The Florida Audubon Society," and
whose object it should be to disseminate
information respecting the economic value
of birds to agriculture, to discourage the
use of feather-wearing, except Ostrich,
to establish bird-day exercises in the
schools of the state, and to encourage the
introduction of bird study in the schools.

The cause as stated met with the hearty
approval of those present, and the society
at once began its work. Its first presi-
dent was Bishop Whipple of Minnesota,

and its secrelary and treasurer Mrs.
L. F. Dommerich. The first year the
society met with a severe blow in the
death of its founder, Mrs. L. F. Dommer-
ich, whose untiring efforts had done so
much, not only in organizing, but in
introducing the society to the people of
Florida; discouragements had been confi-
dently expected, rebuiTs were continually
met. At the first annual meeting, it was
found diiiicult to secure anyone to fdl the
office left vacant by the death of Mrs.
Dommerich. It was therefore deemed
wisest to separate the office; Mrs. L. P.
Bronson accepted the position of trea-
surer, and Mrs. I. Vanderpool that of
secretary, which offices they still hold.
The third year, death again visited the
society, and the choosing of a president
to succeed Bishop Whipple became neces-
sary. Mr. L. F. Dommerich, whose efforts
for the welfare of the society had been
unceasing, was unanimously chosen as
president, which office he held till March,
191 2, when he felt obliged by failing
health and long enforced absence from
the state to resign. His resignation was
accepted with the utmost reluctance, and
Dr. William Fremont Blackman, presi-
dent of Rollins College, Winter Park,
who had been acting president for the
past year, was elected as president. The
name and versatile talent of this promi-
nent educator are so well known that it
is needless to say more. The society has
every cause for congratulation that Dr.
Blackman, with the many calls upon his
time from college^, schools, and clubs
could accept the presidency. Entering
into the work with the energy that is one
of his distinguishing characteristics, we
feel sure our society will make marked
progress and continue with greater
interest in the lines laid down by our
former president. We have now a large
membership. Enrolled on our books are
the names of the best people of our state.
We now confidently hope we have suc-
ceeded in overcoming many of the pre-
judices that met us in the first year of our
struggle. We annually send to schools,
libraries and individuals thousands of

While this article was
New York, on July 22.

MR. L. F. DOMMERICH
inder of the Florida State Audubon Society
iress. we received word of the death of Mr. Dommerich,

/hich occurred

(258)

The Audubon Societies

259

leaflets whose pages are filled with accurate
descriptions of birds; we supply teachers
and schools applying for them with charts
on which are correct representations,
beautifully colored, of many familiar
birds; and we endeavor to kec]) in touch
with the children seeking to obtain this
help by getting them to become pledge
members, by which they promise or
pledge themselves not to molest or harm
birds, or their nests or eggs. We supply
sherilYs and game wardens with cloth
warnings, (,r with lealkts of the game-
law, and in neat card form llie laws have
been condensed for posting in hotels,
stations and post-otVices. .\ ny of these may
be had by addressing the secretary of the
Florida Audubon Society, at Maitland.
We have this year added to our list per-
haps our most valuable leaflet, The
Economic Value of Birds to the Farmer
and Fruit Grower. Its author is our
President, William Fremont Hlackman,
Ph.D., LL. D. This should be read by
every farmer and fruit grower in the state.
The following are the present officers
of the society: William F. Blackman,
President; Mrs. I. Vanderpool, Maitland,
Secretary; Mrs. L. P. Bronson, Maitland,
Treasurer; L. F. Dommerich, Maitland,
Honorary President for life. Vice-Presi-
dents: Miss Maria R. Audubon, Salem,
New York; Pres. Lincoln HuUey, DeLand;
Mrs. H. B. Whipple, Maitland; George
N. Chamberlin, Daytona; Frank M.
Chapman, New York; Wm. C. Comstock
Winter Park; Rt. Rev. Wm. C. Gray,
D.D., Orlando; C. H. Morse, Winter
Park; E. O. Painter, Jacksonville, Dr. T. S.
Palmer, Washington, D. C.

Executive Committee: Mrs. Kingsmill
Marrs, Maitland, chairman; Mrs. W. F.
Blackman, Winter Park; George N.
Chamberlain, Daytona; Mrs. E. E. Coul-
son, Bradentown; Mrs. George D. Dyer,
Winter Park; Mrs. Algernon Haden,
Orlando; Mrs. Marian A. McAdow, Punta
Gorda; S. M. Mclntyre, Altamonte
Springs; Mrs. E. M. Massey, Maitland;
Mrs. C. H. Morse, Winter Park; Dr. H. R.
Mills, State Board of Health, Jackson-
ville; ^Irs. Kirk ^Vlunroe, Cocoanut Grove;

Prof. Henry Nehrling, Gotha; W. R.
O'Neal, Orlando; W. C. Temple, Winter
Park; Mrs. Katherine Tippets, St. Peters-
l)urg; Judge T. Picton Warlow, Orlando.
— Mrs. Isaac Vanderpool, Secretary.

Indiana Audubon Society

'I'he fifteenth annual meeting of tlie
Indiana .\uclul)on Society was held at
Madison, Indiana, May g, 10, 11, 191 2.
Dr. D. W. Dennis of Earlham College,
the President, opened the first session,
Thursday, in the High School. Music
was furnished by Llie school children of
grammar grades.

Friday morning, a bird tramp was
taken, led by Dr. Dennis. At nine o'clock,
talks on birds were given in the schools
by William Watson Woollen, Miss Florence
H. Howe, Mrs. Etta Wilson, and Miss
Elizabeth Downhour.

.\t eleven o'clock, the society held a
business meeting in the parlors of the
Jefferson Hotel. A telegram of greetings
was read from the National Association
of Audubon Societies, also a letter from
our former president, Mr. Amos W. Butler,
who has spent the winter at New Smyrna,
Florida. This was the first annual meet-
ing of the society from which Mr. Butler
has been absent, and his support and
helpful suggestions were keenly missed.
The society sent a letter of greetings to
Mr. Butler, and a telegram of good will
to the National Association.

Mrs. Etta Wilson, extension secretary,
has done good work for the birds over the
state, talking to women's clubs and chil-
dren of public schools.

A motion was made and carried to
provide a circulating library of a few
bird books to be sent to the towns or
cities having Junior Audubon Societies.
These books may be kept two months.
The women's clubs have been asked to
give one day of their program to the
study of birds this year.

Officers elected for the coming year:
President, Dr. D. W. Dennis, Earlham
College, Ind; First Vice-President, Hon.
Joseph M. Cravens, Madison, Ind.;

26o

Bird -Lore

Second Vice-President, Prof. Donaldson
Bodine, Crawfordsville, Ind.; Secretary.
Miss Elizabeth Downhour, Indianapolis,
Ind.; Extension Secretary, Mrs. Etta
Wilson, Indianapolis, Ind.; Treasurer,
William Watson Woollen, Indianapolis,
Ind.

E.xecutive Committee: Miss Florence
H. Howe, Indianapolis, Chairman; Mr.
Alden Hadley, Monrovia, Ind.; Miss
Elizabeth M. Garber, Madison, Ind.;
Mr. Edward Barrett, Indianapolis, Ind.;
Mr. Amos W. Butler, Indianapolis,
Associate member of National Audubon
Societies.

The evening meeting was held in an
old church at Hanover. Talks were made
by Dr. Millis, President of Hanover,
Dr. Dennis, and Rev. R. F. Souter.
Music was furnished by a glee club.

Resolutions of thanks to the people of
Madison and Hanover were read by
Mr. Barrett and seconded by Mr. Woollen.
The meeting then adjourned, to meet
at one of the lakes in Northern Indiana
next spring, where a good opportunity
will be afforded to study the water birds.
— Elizabeth Downhour, Secretary.

Mr. Jefferson Butler's Field Work

Many of the readers of Bird-Lore
probably do not have a clear idea as to
the character of the detail work in which
the field agents of this Association are
engaged. The following, taken from the
report of Mr. Jefferson Butler, field agent
for the Association in Michigan, shows
something of his activities during the
three months ending July i, and may be
of interest to our members and others.

"On April 2, I attended the meeting
of the Michigan Association of Sportsmen
at Saginaw; April 3, I spoke before the
College Club of Detroit; April 4, before
a Forestry Conference; April 5, spoke at
Lansing; April 6, took teachers for outing;
April 10, had a conference at Grosse
Pointe; April 12, went to Washington,
D. C, where I spoke at the Cosmos Club
on the Ford Bird Farm. While there, I
conferred with a number of Congressmen

in regard to the bill protecting migratory-
birds. April 23, spoke at Conference
regarding prizes for bird work in schools;
April 24, addressed Church Club of boys
at the Dearborn Conference regarding
bird work; April 26, addressed Detroit
Institute of Science on Audubon work;
.\pril 27, headed party on Bird-study
outing; and April 30, attended a confer-
ence on bird protection, at Oakwood,
Michigan. During April, I contributed to
the New Thought Magazine on Audubon
work, and to one of the Detroit newspapers.

In May, I took charge of a number of
outings; May 3, Arbor and Bird Day,
spoke at two schools in Detroit; May 4,
spoke at Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and
took charge of an outing; May 6 and 7,
took teachers and students on outings;
May 10, spoke at Normal School to
graduating class; May 11-12, took trip
along Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River,
to study water-birds, and addressed the
North Channel Club on the preservation
of game-birds and waders; May 15, con-
ducted another teachers' outing, to study
birds, and did the same again on May 18;
May 19, went for an outing with Detroit
Institute of Science along Detroit River,
in study of conditions of water-birds;
May 21, spoke before the Southern Society
of Detroit on Audubon work; May 23
and 25, headed outing; May 29, spoke
at outdoor conference; May 30, conducted
outing from McGregor Institute. During
May I published two articles on Audubon
work.

"June 5, spoke in suburban school;
June 6-7, went to Windiateand Clarkston,
to investigate condition of water-birds
in inland lakes, and to investigate destruc-
tion of Great Blue Heron colony; June
10, spoke at Delray school; June 11,
addressed Alger school; June 12, spoke
at Conservation Congress, Lansing, Mich-
igan; June 13, spoke at Irving school;
June 15, at Masonic Temple on bird
protection; June 17, went to Bloomfield
Hills to investigate killing of song-birds;
June 18, presented prizes for best bird
study at Nichols school, Detroit; June
21, went to Tecumsch, Canada, to investi-

The Audubon Societies

261

gate killing of water-birds (Terns;; June
22, headed boys' outing at Ford Karm;
June 23, spoke at Presbyterian Church,
Birmingham.

"Request for literature and lectures are
so heavy as to make it impossible to keep
up with them. I have promised twenty-
seven persons or organizations to give
talks in the future."— T. G. P.

Activity of the New Jersey Fish and
Game Commission

One of the most earnest bird protection-
ists in the United States is Hon. Ernest
Napier, President of the Board of Fish
and Game Commissioners in the State
of New Jersey. Ever since he came into
office, less than two years ago, he has
been prosecuting the work of enforcing
the game laws of his state with an earnest-
ness, impartiality, and good judgement
which deserves the highest commendation.
It has been especially gratifying to note
the energy which the wardens of the
state, working under the direction of the
Commission, have displayed in enforcing
the new Audubon Plumage Law. In
reference to the results achieved, Mr.
Napier writes us under date of July i,
1912:

"Replying to 3'our favor of June 24,
in which you ask for a statement of the
cases which our Commission has handled
in the matter of enforcing the law against
the sale of aigrettes in New Jersey, I
beg to state that since the act was adopted
by the Legislature of our state, April 15,
191 1, five arrests have been made, in all
of which judgment was given for the
Board, and in only one case has an appeal
been taken. As to the appeal case, the
Board is confident that even if it is pros-
ecuted, the result can only be the same as
in the Justice's Court.

"The statement of our cases follow:

"March 2, 191 2, Warden Harry M.
Loveless vs. Mrs A. J. Coflield, Milliner,
Trenton, N. J. — Defendant paid a penalty
of $160.

"March 2, 1912, Warden Harry M.
Loveless vs. Isaac Goldberg, Department

Store, Trenton, N. J. — Defendant i)aid a
penalty of $300.

"April 29, 191 2, Warden Harry M.
Loveless and Charles Morton vs. Mrs.
Margaret Emlin, Milliner, Burlington,
N. J. — Defendant paid a penalty of $20.

"May 14, 191 2, Warden John C. Rein-
bold vs. M. Himles, Milliner, Atlantic
City, N. J. — Judgment obtained for
$200; case appealed.

"May IS, 191 2, Warden John C. Rein-
bold vs. A. Halphin, Milliner, Atlantic
City — Defendant paid a penalty of $40.

"In all the above cases the Board con-
fiscated the aigrettes on hand, with the
exception of the Himles case, where a
clerk prevented the warden from securing
the aigrettes at the time of the arrest.

"I would further add that it is the
intention of this Commission, and we
stand as a unit in this matter, to follow up
and prosecute to a finish every offender
against this new plumage law. We have
already sent and shall send from time to
time detectives, both men and women,
to visit department and millinery stores
in diliferent cities all over the state, and,
where any violators are found, you can
rest assured they will be severely punished.

"Assuring you of our most hearty
cooperation in the noble efforts your
society is making along this line, I remain.
Very truly yours, (Signed) Ernest
Napier, President."

New Members

May I, to July i, 191 2.

Life Members:

Mrs. James C. Greenway,

Mr. William G. Rockefeller,
New Contributor:

Irondequoit Fish and Game Associ-
ation.
Sustaining Members:

Appold, Miss Bertha V.

Baldwin, Miss Sarah R.

Barnes, Miss Mary C.

Barton, Mrs. T. O.

Bigelow, Miss Elizabeth

Cary, Miss Kate

Chandler, Miss Ethel

Cleaves, Mr. Howard H.

Cochran, Mrs. G. F.

Crablrce, iMiss Lotta M.

262

Bird -Lore

Sustaining Members, continued
Drew, Mrs. Maryette B.
Garrett, Mrs. T. Harrison
Goodwillie, Mrs. Mary B.
Greene, Master Barry
Greenway, Mr. G. Lauder
Greenway, Jr., Mr. James C.
Herman, F. J.
Hessenbruch, Mrs. H.
Hood, Mrs. J. N.
Jackson, Mrs. E. E.
Jackson, Mrs. T. G.
Jenkins, Mrs. Joseph W.
Jenkins, Miss L.
Jenks, William
McCulloch, Miss M. G. B.
McGaw, Mr. and Mrs. George K.
McQuesten, Mr. George E.
Maund, Miss Margaret E.
Miller, Mrs. G. MaccuUoch,
Putnam, Mr. George P.
Riggs, Mr. Austin Fox
Roe, Miss Alice S.
Reanev, Miss Rachel
Russell, Mr. B. R.
Spilman, Miss Anne C.
Upson, Dr. H. S.
von Riesen, Miss Susan
Williams, Miss C. D.
Wright, Jr., Mrs. S.

White Egret Protection

The nesting season of the White Egrets,
which closed about July i, was this year
a very successful one in the colonies
guarded by this Association.

There was some destruction of young
birds and eggs bj^ storms, but the fatalities
were not great. So far as we are aware,
only one attempt was made by plume-
hunters to raid of any our colonies. In
this case, the plunderers were promptly
driven away by the warden in charge.

While a full report in regard to warden
work will be made later on, it may not
be amiss to call attention here to the
recently located colony in Lee County,
Florida, guarded by Warden B. Rhett
Green, of Ft. Myers. This, the remnant
of one of the splendid old-time rookeries,
contained a population the past season
of about 600 large Egrets, 1,000 Wood
Ibises, 25 Roseate Spoonbills, 100 Ward's
Herons, and about 20 pairs of the fast-
disappearing Limpkin.

EGRET IX PROTECTED COLONY. ORANGE LAKE. FLORIDA
Photographed by Warden O. E. Baynard

The Audubon Societies

263

Probably our most intcrcsling colony
is the one heretofore mentioned, at Orange
Lake, in Alachua County, Florida. Mr.
(). K. Haynard, the warden, reports
having counted here 254 occupied nests
of the Snowy Kgret, and 197 nests of the
large Egret.

There have been some exceedingly
interesting developments in the matter
of Egret rookeries in South Carolina and
Georgia, to which reference will be made
in a later report.

The call issued by the Board of Direc-
tors for a sum of $5,000, with which to
prosecute the general work of Egret-pro-
tection in this country during 191 2, con-
tinues to meet with liberal support. It
will be noted, from the list given below,
that about $1,000 is yet needed to com-
plete this amount most urgently needed.

Subscriptions to Egret Protection Fund

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS

Amount previously reported . . $2,186 50

Abbott, Miss Marie M 5 00

Agar, Mrs. John G 2 00

Alien, Miss Marion B 2 00

Albright, Mr. J. J S 00

Almy, Mr. William, i 00

Ames, Mr. H. S 3 00

Ames, Mrs. J. B 5 00

Andersen, Mr. J. M 5 00

Anonymous, 42 00

Asten, Mrs. Thomas R 5 00

Auchincloss, Mrs. H. D 5 00

Ayer, C. F 10 00

Babcock, Mr. F. L 2 00

Babson, Caroline W i 00

Bacon, Miss E. S 10 00

Bain, Mrs. J. H 5 00

Baker, Jr., Mr. L. D i 00

Barhydt, Mrs. P. Hackley, . . 10 00

Barron, Mr. George D i 00

Barstow, Mr. J. M i 00

Bartlett, Mary F 5 00

Bartol, Mr. E. F 5 00

Baruch, Mr. Bernard M 10 00

Baugh, Margaret L 100 00

Baxter, Miss Lucy W s 00

Baylies, Mrs. N. E 2 00

Beal, Betsey S 2 00

Beale, Mr. Phelan, i 00

Beals, Miss Ella M i 00

Beckwith, Mrs. L. F 3 00

Beaufort, W. H. de 5 00

Beebe, Mrs. William H. H.. . 2 00

Carried forward $2,446 50

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, Continued

Brought forward $2,446 50

Beech, Mrs. Herbert 10 00

Bell, Mrs. 1). M 2 00

Bickmore, Prof. Albert S. . . . 5 00

Bigelow, Mrs. Joseph L 5 00

Bishop, Mr. William I) 3 00

Blanchard, Miss Sarah H.. . . 10 00

Blashfield, Evangeline W.. . . 5 00

Bliss, Miss Catherine A 25 00

Bogert, Walter L i 00

Boggs, Miss M. A 2 00

Bole, Mr. Ben P 5 00

Boiling, Mrs. Raynal C 5 00

Bosworth, Miss E. N 2 00

Bradley, Abby A i 00

Braman, Mr. & Mrs. Dwight 2 00

Brackett, Mrs. I. Lewis 5 00

Bremer, Mr. Theodore G. . . . i 00

Brent, Mrs. Duncan Kenner. 2 00

Brewer, Mr. E. M 10 00

Bridge, Mr. & Mrs. Edmund 10 00

Brookes, Miss Julia E 2 00

Brooks, Mrs. Peter C 200 00

Brown, Mrs. C. S 2 00

Brown, Miss Ethel C i 00

Brown, Mr. Harry P i 00

Bryant, Mrs. E. B 20 00

Bullard, Mr. H. C 2 00

"C. V. V. P." I 00

Cameron, Mr. E. S i 00

Canfield, Mr. R.A 10 00

Channing, E i 00

Chase, Miss Alice P s 00

Casey, Mr. Edward Pearce. . 5 00

Chase, Mrs. Alice B 10 00

Chandler & Co., 5 00

Chase, R. Stuart 2 00

Chapin, Mr. Chester W 10 00

Chase, Annie S i 00

Chapman, Mrs. John Jay. . . 2 00

Cheever, Miss Helen i 00

Cimmins, Mrs. Thomas 2 00

Clarke, Mrs. E. A. S i 50

Clarke, Miss Ella Mabel .... 10 00

Cleveland, Mrs. Clement, ... i 00

Clark, Mrs. George C s 00

Clerk, A. G i 00

Cleveland, Dr. & Mrs i 00

Codman, Miss Catherine A.. i 00

Codman, Mrs. James M i 00

Coffin, Mr. H. R i 00

Colgate, Mr. R. R 10 00

Collins, Miss Ellen, 10 00

Collins, Miss Gertrude, 5 00

Colon, Mr. George Edward.. 2 00

Conant, Mr. Earnest L i 00

Converse, Mrs. C. C 10 00

Coolidge, Archibald Gary ... 5 00

Cooper, Mr. Newton 5 00

Crams, Mr. M. W i 00

Currier, Mr. B. H 5 00

Carried forward $2,917 5°

264

Bird - Lore

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, Continued

Brought forward $2,917 50

Crehore, Mr. Frederic M. . . . 5 00

Gushing, Miss Margaret W. . i 00

Crews, Miss L i 00

Currier, R. M 2 00

Crocker, Rev. W. T i 00

Curtis, Mrs. Louis 2 00

Cross, Mr. A. R i 00

Cutter, Dr. George W i 00

Davis, Mr. Richard Harding. 5 00

Davis, Mr. William T 5 00

Davis, Lucy B 2 00

Dawes, Elizabeth B 10 00

Delaiield, Mrs. John Ross. . . 5 00

Deland, Margaret 2 00

de Rham, Mr. H. C 10 00

Davis, Miss E. F 2 00

Dexter, Mr. S. W 5 00

Day, Mrs. F. A i 00

Dix, Mrs. John M i 00

Douglass, Elizabeth P. and

Adeline 5 00

Dryden, Mrs. John F 25 00

Dunbar, Harriet W i 00

Dunham, Mr. Carroll 10 00

"E. D. S." 5 00

Eastman, Miss Mary i 00

Edes, Dr. Robert H 2 00

Edmands, Mrs. John S 5 00

Emerson, Mr. D. R 2 00

Emerson, Elliot S i 00

Emerson, Miss Susan G i 00

Emery, Miss Georgina 5 00

Estabrook, Mr. Arthur F i 00

Emery, Miss Louisa J 5 00

Evarts, Miss Mary 5 00

"F. E. F." S 00

Fillebrown, Mr. C. B i 00

Ferguson, Frances 5 0°

Fohr, Mr. Franz i 00

French, Mr. Daniel C 2 00

Friedman, Mrs. M 2 00

"Friend" i 00

Friers, Miss Emilie i 00

Frothingham, Mrs. S i 00

Gault, Mr. B. T 2 00

Gibbs, Mr. H. E. A 50 00

Gladding, Mr. John R 10 00

Glazier, Mr. Henry S 10 00

Goddard, Julia 2 00

Gould, Mr. Edwin, 5° 0°

Green, Caroline S i 00

Greene, Mrs. E. F i 00

Greenwold, Mr. J. William... 2 00

Grinell, Frank W i 00

Gwalther, Mr. Henry L 2 00

Hackney, Mr. Walter S 10 00

Hager, George W 2 00

Hale, Jr., Mr. Thomas i 00

Harkness, Mr. David W . . . . i 00

Harris, Miss Frances K 3 00

Harvey, Miss Ruth S 3 00

Carried forward $3,223 50

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought forward $3,223 50

Heath, Mr. J. A 2 00

Hodenpyl, Mr. Anton G . . . . 10 00

Holt, Mrs. M. S 10 00

Howe, Miss Fanny H. Q. . . . i 00

Hovey & Co., H. A i 00

Hoyt, Miss G. L 5 00

Hubbard, Mr. & Mrs. T. H . 10 00

Hussey, Mr. William H 5 00

Hyde, Mr. Herman A i 00

Ives, Mr. William Jay 2 00

J. A. B I 00

Jackson, Jr., Mr. P i 00

Jacobus, Mr. John S 3 00

James, Mrs. Arthur C 10 00

James, Mrs. D. Willis 25 00

Jenckes, Mr. John 5 00

Jesup, Mrs. Morris K 5 00

Johnston, J. W 100 00

Jones, Mrs. Cadwalder 5 00

Jones, Laura Graham 10 00

Jones, Mr. Charles H 5 00

Jones, Josephine G 10 00

Judson, Mr. H. I i 00

Juilliard, Mrs. August D.. . . 25 00

Keeler, Mrs. Charles Bradley 5 00

Keim, Mr. Thomas D i 00

Kempster, Mr. James 25 00

Kennedy, Mrs. John S 25 00

Kimball, Mrs. D. P 25 00

Kuser, Mr. John Dryden. ... 2 00

Landerdale, Mr. J. V i 00

Langeloth, Mr. Jacob 3 00

Langmann, Dr. G 10 00

Lasell, Louisa W i 00

Lawrence, Mr. John Burling. 5 00

Lawrence, Mrs. Samuel 10 00

Lewis, Edwin J i 00

Linnaean Society 50 00

Lippett, Mrs. C 2 00

Livingston, Miss A. P 5 00

Little, Mr. Walter S i 00

Lombard, Mr. A. S 2 00

Long, Mr. Harry V 2 00

Lusk, Miss Anna H i 00

Mackay, Mrs 10 00

Mackay, Mr. Oscar T 5 00

Mahl. Mr. William 5 °'^

Marloe, Mr. Henry S 5 00

Mellen, Mr. George M i 00

Meyer, Miss Heloise 5° 0°

Mott, Miss Marian i 00

Miller, Mr. R 50°

Murray, Mr. J. Irwin, Jr., . . i 00

McAlpin, Jr., Mr. D. H i 00

Neustadt, Mr. A 5 00

Olcott, Mr. Dudley 10 00

Oppenheim, Mr. Myron H . . i 00

Osborn, Mr. Carl H 2 00

Osterholt, Mr. E 5 0°

Penfield, A. S i 00

Perkins, Mis. George W 10 00

Carried forward $3.77i 5°

The Audubon Societies

265

LIST OF coNTRiiunoKS, continued

Brought forward $3.77i So

Phinney, CO i 00

Prall, Mr. J. II i 00

Parla^hv, Princc«s LuofT i 00

Pulilzcr, Mr. Ralph 10 00

Qiiimljy, Eunice W i 00

Randolph, IMi. Coleman 5 00

Randolph, Miss Fanny F.... 5 00

Reeves, Mr. C. H i 00

Roberts, Miss Mary A 2 50

Rogers, Mrs. Hubert E 2 00

Sawyer, Mrs. C. R i 00

Searles, J. M i 00

Sheffield, Mr. G. St. J 5 00

Scofield, Marion 10 00

Slade, Mr. Francis Louis i 00

Slingluffs, Mrs. K i 00

Smillie, Mr. James C i 00

Smith, Mr. Albert J i 00

Smith, H. A i 00

Snow, Mr. Elbridge G 5 00

Sturgis, F. K 5 00

Spafford, Miss Cecilia H 2 00

Spring, Miss Anna Rikcr. ... 5 00

Stern, Mr. Benjamin, 10 00

Steers, Mr. James R 5 00

Stetson, Mr. Francis Lynde . 10 00

Stone, Miss E. B 25 00

Stratton, Miss Katherine W. i 00

Strj'ker, Mr. Thomas H i 00

Tappan, Miss Mary A i 00

Taylor, Mrs. Samuel L i 04

Thorne, Mr. G. Wisner 5 00

Titus, Jr., Mr. E 2 00

Trumbull, Clara F i 00

Troescher, Mr. A. F 10 00

Tyzzer, Prof. E. E 3 00

Ulman, Mrs. Carl J 2 00

Vanderpoel, Mr. George B . . 25 00

Vreeland, Mr. Frederick K... 2 00

"W. F. B." I 00

Wadsworth, Mr. Clarence S . i 00

Weil, Mr. Richard i 00

Wilcox, Prof. ]\I. A 10 00

Willard, Miss Helen 3 00

Wilson, Jr., Mr. Orme 5 00

Wilson, Mrs. M. Orme 25 00

Wood, Mrs. Charles 25 00

Wyman, Helen R 5 00

Zabriskie, Mr. Andrew C. . . . 2 00

Total to July 2 $4,022 54

Letters from Teachers

Below are [irinted a few of the many
dozens of letters which have been received
from teachers who conducted Junior
Audubon Classes the past year, under the
plan provided by the Association. They
are reproduced for the twofold purpose
of acquainting our readers with the

iliaracter of work which the teachers are
doing in these classes, and, second, because
it is believed that they contain suggestions
which may be of assistance to other
teachers just undertaking similar en-
deavors.

"I want to write you about the little
Junior Audubon Society we had at school
this year. We all enjoyed it exceedingly,
and I am sure it did good in the hearts
and lives of the little people who were
members, and in the bird world too.

".\ year ago, I invited the children of
some of the other grades to join our Audu-
bon class, and we had over forty members.
We had our meetings on Friday after-
noons after school. The class was quite
successful, and we saw some direct results
of its success. Several nest-robbing boys
gave up that "sport" altogether. One
boy was instrumental in bringing about
the arrest of some men who had been
shooting song-birds.

"This year, I had the class only in my
own grade — the second. Almost every
child in the room joined, making twenty
members. I had daily periods for nature
study and language, and every other
Friday we used these two periods for
the Audubon class. The children were
always anxious for the Audubon Fridays
to come. They used often to ask, 'Is
tomorrow Bird Day, Miss Beth?' and if
I answered in the affirmative I heard 'Oh
goody! and I won't forget to wear my
button, and I wonder what bird it will be,'
from every side. Rarely did we have an
absent mark on Bird Day.

"After we had used all of the ten leaflets
you had sent us, we had lessons on some
of the other birds, or, instead of a regular
lesson, we went for a bird walk. I divided
the class for these walks, taking ten
children at a time. How excited they
would get over the birds they saw! Nearly
always they could identify the birds
themselves. Sometimes I helped them,
sometimes my bird-book helped me, and
sometimes we had to write in the note-
books, 'unknown.'

"I will not try to tell you all about the
good results of our Audubon class that I

==

\

The Audubon Societies

267

have noticed. The most important thinj;,
I think, is that a few more children have
a keen interest in, and a true love for,
their little brothers of the air.

"Last year, a favorite pastime of a
neighbor was shooting birds for his cat,
and I think he was no more particular
than the cat as to the kind of bird. His
little daughter was a member of the Audu-
bon class, and this spring I noticed that
our neighbor's cat has to catch its own
birds. Perhaps, if the little girl can be
an Audubon member another year, there
will be no more cat.

"A mother of another little member of
the class used to delight in birds' plumes,
breasts or feathers of some kind on her
hat. Her spring hat this year was trimmed
with ribbon.

"I have heard several bird-lovers say
that they have noticed more of our common
wild birds about this place than there
were last year, and they believe the
Junior Audubon Societies in the schools
have been the cause.

"When school closed, many of the
mothers came to me and said that they
wished to thank me for what I had done
for their children along the line of nature
study, especially of birds. They said that
they thought the Junior Audubon Class
was a splendid thing for their children.
I pass the thanks on to you, where it
rightfully belongs. — Beth Merritt, Sun-
shine, Tenn."

"The Junior Audubon Society of the
Tenafly, N. J., Public School has a mem-
bership of two hundred and seventy-nine.

"Every month, a half-hour's nature talk
is given by me in each grade. Although
we study insects, trees and flowers, we
devote a part of each lesson to the study
of birds. I find this the most pleasing
topic to them. The pupils are now
familiar with our most common birds.

"The boj's and girls showed great
interest, last winter, by putting out food
for the birds during the severe weather.

"This spring, bird-houses were made
in the manual training department by
the pupils of the fifth and seventh grades.

"I think the outlook is bright for the
l)rotection of our feathered friends in
this vicinity. — Ina C. DeWitt, Super-
visor of Nature Study, Tenafly, New
Jersey."

"It gives me pleasure to say that,
although we were late in the school term
in beginning these classes, yet I think we
accomplished some good for the birds.
We succeeded in interesting many more
children than the 51 I reported as mem-
bers, and many of these have been feeding
and watching the birds about their homes,
and have put up bird-boxes, which were
promptly occupied, to the great delight
of the owners. One boy who had been
notably cruel to the birds has become a
most interested member, and a lady of
the town tells me that this one 'convert'
was worth all the efforts of the class, even
if nothing else has been done.

"Our bird day, to which we invited the
public, was a great success, and was
repeated at the request of the superin-
tendent of the school. I would suggest
to teachers of Junior Audubon classes
that they having a similar day — giving
a bird program, showing the value of the
birds to the farmers, etc. I think the
plan of having these Junior Classes is a
most excellent and practical one, and can
be used in any kind of a school with the
most gratifying results.

Bird Lore is read with interest by our
pupils, and I have encouraged them to
take it home, so that their parents may
become interested. — Laura L. Faucette,
Lenoir, N. C.

"I believe I was quite successful with
my Junior Audubon class, for the chil-
dren seem to take an interest in observing
the birds, and in telling me all they could
about them. They had some very inter-
esting things to tell sometimes.

"Ever}' Thursday morning we would
have a program arranged for which we
allowed twenty minutes of our first period.
It consisted of a short composition on
the bird we had selected to study that
week, a poem on birds, which was recited

268

Bird -Lore

by a member of the class, then the presi-
dent would call on two or three members
of the class to tell what they had found out
about the bird during that week. Then we
would arrange the program for the next
week and take up our regular lessons. —
Minnie Childs, Annapolis, Maryland.

"My pupils have very much enjoyed
the work of the Pitcher Junior Audubon
class. Scarcely a day passes that some
one doesn't bring in a new observation to
report.

"They feed and protect the birds, and
every child shows a new tenderness and
thought for the little wild things of life.
The idea grew out of the fact that so many
dead birds were found in the recess yard,
due to the very severe winter. Every

morning the children brought crumbs,
and soon found the birds waiting for them
at feeding-time. They have taken great
interest in reading the literature sent
out by the National Audubon Society,
and have learned much by comparing the
birds they see with the pictures sent with
the leaflets.

"The boys have made bird-houses, and
I am sending you photos taken of the
entire school, also of a group of boys with
their bird-houses, which we have taken
at your request.

"I thank you in behalf of the children
and for myself for your helpful interest,
and wish the Society may grow and pros-
per and give as much profit nd pleasure
to other children as you have given to us.
— Ada M. Rouse, Detroit, Michigan."

SECTION OF AN AUDUBON CLASS AT DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ORGANIZED BV
MISS ADA M. ROUSE, TEACHER

1. TowHEE. Male

2. TowHEE. Female

3. Arctic Towhee. Female

4. Arctic Towhee, Male
(One-half natural size)

A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE

DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OV BIRDS

Official Organ of The Audubon Societies

Vol. XIV

September— October, 1912

No. 5

Phoebe vs. Catbird

A STUDY IN ADAPTABILITY

By A. A. ALLEN, Ithaca. N. Y.

With photographs by the author

w

HEN the white man first
set foot upon this conti-
nent, he discovered a race
of men whom he called savages.
Poorly clad to his notion, and armed
with most primitive weapons, they
made war upon one another or
roamed the forest in pursuit of game.
Little of nature's control did they
assume, but adapted their lives to
her laws and her forces. Then came
the white man, changing all. Forests
were cut down and grainfields sprang
up ; deer and bear made way for
horses and cattle. Unable to accustom
himself to these great changes, the
red man moved away from the coast
to a place where he could still live as
had his fathers before him. But the
white man carried his civilization
farther and farther inland. No longer
was there the limitless forest filled
with deer and bear and otter ; no
longer the vast plain dotted with
herds of bison. They passed and with them the Indian.

When the white man first set foot upon this continent, he found con-
ditions entirely new to him. There were no factories to make his clothes, no
markets to supply his food. There were only the great forest, the streams and

PHCEBE'S NEST OVER THE FRONT
DOOR OF A DWELLING, SHOWING ADAP-
TABILITY.

270

Bird- Lore

a power within which said "I can." But the forests became settlements, the
streams became power, and, in due time, there were factories to make his clothes
and markets to supply his food. In this way, marching inland, he first adapted
himself to nature and nature, in turn, yielded to him. The redskin disappeared
for the white had come to stay.

When the Indian roamed the paths of his forest he came upon signs of deer
and bear, and beheld vast flocks of pigeons. When the white man roams

^^.^^-,

&

PHCEBE AT ITS NEST ON THE CLIFF

the streets of his city, he comes upon signs of horses and automobiles, and
beholds vast flocks of English Sparrows. As the red man gave way before the
white, so did his game and birds. Even now as the metropolis absorbs the
country, the birds of the open give way to those of the city; streets replace
roads and Sparrows replace Larks; parks replace woods and Robins replace
Veerys.

But during these great changes, a few birds have been able to adapt them-
selves. As forests of chimneys arose in place of the forests of hollow trees.

Phoebe vs. Catbird

271

the Swifts (litl not yield, but jilastcrcd their nests to sooty l^ricks instead of
to crumbHng wood; Night-hawks found level gravel beds on the roofs of tall
buildings, and the Martins, Wrens and Bluebirds found nesting-holes in eaves
and gutters. Thus one might multiply examples until he recognized two
groups of birds: the one w^hich is able to adapt itself to changing conditions,
the other which succumbs to them.

The Catbird is a bird of the thickets. Lurking in the densest vines and
brambles, it comes out only to scold at an intruder or to sing. So long as
the hawthorns, grape-vines or
berry bushes survive, so long
will the Catbirds ; but when
these disappear, the Catbird
goes with them.

The Phoebe is a bird of
the cliffs and gorges. Its nest
of mud and moss was found
originally only where the
shelving rocks of an exposed
ledge protected it from above
and below. In such places it
is still the most abundant
bird; but with the appearance
of culverts and bridges, the
Phoebe found these places suit-
able for its nest. In fact, it
goes even a step further and
builds its nest about houses
and barns wherever it can find
one ledge to support and
another above to protect it.

There is a road w^hich
skirts the border of a certain
marsh. On one side is a
dense, almost impenetrable, thicket where the Catbirds nest and are almost
as abundant as the Sparrows in the town hall. On the other side rises a rather
low but perpendicular cKff where the Phoebes build. While photographing
one of the Phoebe's nests, it occurred to me that some object placed upon the
nest might prevent the bird from returning until after inspecting from the
adjacent branch. Here the light was stronger and would permit of a more
fully timed exposure. Accordingly a strip of yellow cloth about eighteen
inches long was placed over the nest with one end lightly tucked into a crevice
to prevent its blowing away. The Phoebe returned to its chosen perch on a log
and was about to fly to the nest when it espied the rag. Here was something

■HCEBE IXSPECTIXG FROM THE END OF A
XEAR-BY LOG

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CA'iBlKD IXCLBATIXG

rATBIRD INSPECTING THE RAG
(272)

Phoebe vs. Catbird

273

which it probably never had encountered. Eagerly the issue was awaited and
great was the surprise when it behaved in the most sensible way. After inspect-
ing the cloth for several minutes, it flew directly to the nest and fed its young.
Then hovering, it grasped one end of the cloth in its bill and flying backwards
sufficiently to dislodge it, turned and flew about twenty-five feet before drop-
ping it. The experiment was repeated several times and each time with the
same result. The yellow cloth was exchanged for a red one but the color
seemed to make no difference, and it
was treated in the same way. Such is
the record of fact. Not being versed
in psychology, I can not analyze the
sensations that must have arisen in
the bird when it was confronted by
this totally new experience, nor can I
follow the reactions which permitted
it to perceive that the brilliant rag
was harmless and informed it how it
could be dislodged, but I do know
that all birds would not have behaved
in the same way. This was discovered
the next day when the experiment was
repeated with a Catbird.

Two or three days were employed in
accustoming this bird to the removal of
leaves from before the nest and to the
placing of the camera until it incu-
bated apparently undisturbed. If fright-
ened away by too close an approach,
it soon returned. The same yellow
cloth was placed over the nest. The fol-
lowing is a record of what happened
as transcribed from my journal of that
date. "During the first ten minutes
that the cloth was in place upon the nest,
the female bird inspected ten times at fairly regular intervals, usually peering
from the rear or the side. The first and eighth times however, she walked
around the edge of the nest. After the tenth inspection, an interval of four
minutes ensued before she returned. She then passed around the nest, but
inspected its edges more than the rag. The feathers of the nape were usually
raised during inspection. After an interval of one minute, she approached the
nest from the side, crouching and ruffling the feathers as if about to incubate.
She then left for four minutes. Appearing again, she started to incubate on
the thick mat of twigs and leaves at one side of the nest, remaining in this

PHCEBE FLYIXG BACKWARD TO
DISLODGE THE RAG

274

Bird- Lore

position with the feathers ruffled for thirty seconds. The next time she stayed
away nine minutes and returned only to inspect from the rear. Intervals of
six and seven minutes followed, the bird apparently taking less and less interest
in the nest. Realizing this, I became anxious for the safety of the eggs and
removed the cloth. In three minutes more she was back in the bush but did
not inspect the nest. Ten minutes later, however, she returned apparently to
stay, inspected the eggs and began at once to incubate."

This was very different behavior from that of the Phoebe, which with little
more than a glance grasped the situation and acted accordingly. The Cat-
bird, on the contrary, was unable to comprehend and did nothing to alleviate.
What light this throws on the natures of the two birds. The one, with changing
conditions, has been able to adapt itself, the other has remained ever the same.
Surely this foreshadows the future, x^t present both are among our common
birds. The Phoebe will become more and more so as he copes with new condi-
tions, the Catbird rarer and rarer as time goes on. Today we see the white
man's house on every hill; the red man's, we find only on the reservation.

FLORIDA BOB-WHITES
Photographed at Ormond, Florida, by George Shiras, 3d.

The Story of Peter, a Purple Martin

By FANNY HARDY ECKSTORM

PllTKR came to me in an
automobile, his own physi-
cian attending him.
"I found him fluttering in
the ditch," said the doctor, "and
took him along. He seems to
^-'— — __ s. ha.ve flown against something,

^^L ~^0k l)ut I cannot find any broken

m^ bones; so I think he is more your

Vsort of a patient than mine."
Thereupon I took Peter in.
This was August 24, 1906, and
he lived with me just two weeks.

■ His name at first was not

■ • Peter. He was just a young

Purple Martin without any in-
\ dividuality, and a very sore and

^ sick bird, too. All the great

muscles of his breast were green
from a bruise, caused probably
by flying against a wire, and his left wing was crippled from the lameness of
his breast. He was suffering greatly from the pain and shock, and for the
first day sat stupidly upon a little perch which I made for him on the kitchen
ironing-table. He did not care for food, he would not drink, he refused a bath,
he was so alarmed at a cage that I dared not try to confine him. His dislike
for water was so marked that I named him Simon Peter. It was later on, when
I began to respect him for his courage, that I shortened it to Peter.

The only thing of which I ever saw him show any fear was captivity.
Though he trusted me implicitly and would let me handle him as I pleased,
he never would let me clasp him about the wings with my fingers. Nor was
it because I hurt his lame breast, for I was careful not to do that. Peter
insisted with so much spirit upon enjoying his freedom that I underwent
considerable annoyance rather than cage him.

After the first forty-eight hours, Peter began to improve rapidly. His
eyes brightened, his appetite came back, and in spite of the soreness of his
breast he began to be alert and inquisitive. He had to learn the art of being
fed by hand, but he was so quick in acquiring knowledge that one lesson was
enough. I think I never saw a creature with a better brain. His power of
association was remarkable, and his memory was very strong. Like most
wild creatures he was quick in the mastery of new problems. Individuals,

(275)

276 Bird -Lore

even from the same brood or litter, I have found vary much in intelligence,
but I am far from seeing in the wild creature the automaton that some recent
investigators declare animals to be.

Peter's appetite proved to be a very good one when it came back to him.
I find it recorded on August 26 that he ate ninety-four house-flies, "the first
good meal since he came." This seems to show that he ate them at a sitting.
I never saw his appetite for flies sated. On September 3 I have it noted down
that I fed him a hundred and fifty house-flies by count "and certainly as many
more which I did not count, and quite a little raw meat." Indeed, I found
fly-catching such hard work that I was obliged to find a substitute for flies.
I resorted to fresh beef ground very fine in a meat chopper. Peter relished this
and from the first ate it eagerly, but it was too hearty for him and the effect
upon his digestion was not good. He would eat a teaspoonful at a time if I
would give it to him, but I fed it sparingly and only when I could not get a
sufficient number of flies. I found I was not very well supplied with that
necessary article of diet and unless I got them when they clustered upon the
screen door of the kitchen to enjoy the warmth, or when the morning sun
shone into the kitchen porch and they gathered there to warm up after the
cool night, Peter and I were not lucky in our hunting.

Peter was ready at all times to work for his dinner. He enjoyed his fly-
catching exercises, and was never happier than when I struck my fly-kfller
down in front of him inviting him to hop upon it and be carried out-of-doors.
He at once jumped upon the velvet-covered edge of it and balanced there
while I took him where I wanted him to go. In this way, or perched upon my
finger, I sometimes carried him far down the street to visit. He never made
an attempt to flutter off his perch, wherever I took him. The fly-killing game he
learned directly, and the moment he saw the implement of destruction he would
almost beg me to take him out-of-doors. He showed all the eagerness of a
hunting-dog who sees a gun.

The first thing to do was to make sure that no cats were about. They had
learned all about Peter and were on the lookout for him. If the coast was
clear I would lower his perch and Peter would hop upon the floor of the porch.
Immediately he became all eager attention. He quivered with excitement.
When a fly fell he would run and pick it up, his wings set out like outriggers.
For a short-legged bird he ran remarkably well. His eyes were always upon
his game, while mine had to be chiefly upon him because he dashed about so
rai)idly that there was danger of stepping upon him. Peter never flinched from
the strokes of the fly-killer, though I often brought it down close beside him
with a smart whack. He watched the fly and when it fell he darted to pick
it up. I have seen him try to catch his own flies, springing up a short distance
to pick them off the wall. More than once I saw him mistake a nail-
head for a fly and rise to that. It was pretty to see him trotting back and
forth, so busy and happy. When I tired of our game — Peter never tired of

The Story of Peter, a Purple Martin 277

it — I would strike down [he lly-killcr beside liiin, he would hop upon it and we
would go indoors. I do not remember how he told the difference between this
close of the performance and our previous fly-killing, but I have the impression
that he learned some difference in my actions.

In his diet Peter was inclined to be eclectic. He had an inquisitive spirit
and tried a variety of substances, some of which were better suited to him
than others. I do not recollect experimenting upon him myself except to try
him once with blueberries. Had he been very hungry I think he would have
eaten a small quantity willingly. But if anything looked good to him, Peter
was willing to taste of it. One day, on coming into the house after an absence,
I found that Peter had made an error of judgment. He had tried to eat a
whole hearth rug. It had long fringes and Peter had begun to swallow one of
the fringes with the result that I found him anchored with his head very close
to the floor. The only safe way to release him was to draw the yarn out of his
crop. I pulled out about three inches, a process which he did not much enjoy
but was none the worse for afterward.

Peter was the tamest bird I ever saw, yet he was perfectly untamable.
He was wholly dependable, but very high-spirited. He had no ner\'es and
seemed not to know what fear was. Yet he was high-strung and excitable.
Through my acquaintance with Peter I came to understand that the Swallow
tribe must be birds of fine breeding; Peter had the marks of "pedigree." It
seems to be this which explains the fighting propensities of a bird which,
wholly unarmed as to either beak or claws, is a born fighter. The Purple
Martins are as belligerent as any bird we have. They will have pitched battles
with the English Sparrows, and I have known such a battle to go on for three
days, some of each side being killed in the encounters. The Martin, the Hum-
mingbird and the Kingbird I have always accounted our most warlike birds
until this year when I have made the acquaintance of a Migrant Shrike which
has reduced a Kingbird nesting in the same orchard almost to tears, as one
might say. The Kingbird has not dared call his soul his own. But though war-
like abroad, in his domestic character the Martin is singularly gentle. I always
found Peter's disposition serene and affectionate. He enjoyed being stroked
and fondled, provided I made no attempt to clasp him about the body. Perched
upon my head or on my shoulder, he would ride all about the house. How-
ev^er, if anybody said "fight," Peter asked no second invitation.

Peter and my little cocker spaniel Judy might be characterized as friendly
foes. They bickered rather than fought. If Peter was brave, Judy was just
the reverse; the only thing she ever dared attack was cabbage butterflies,
which she had learned were probably not "laying for her." Even flies sometimes
turned into bees; for Judy was no naturalist. Peter she regarded as an intruder,
and, though small, so l:old a bird might be dangerous. She would bark at him
furiously but she dared not attack. Sometimes when I came into the house
after dark it was Judy's barking, as she entered before me, which warned me

278 Bird -Lore

not to tread on Peter. I usually found him not a foot from her nose, on the
defensive, while she pranced and yelped at him. For, after he got well enough to
leave his perch on the table, Peter got in the habit of wandering around by
himself; an open door was his opportunity. I generally discovered him
either perched upon one of the rounds of a dining-room chair, or snugly
tucked away in a Uttle tunnel under the sofa pillows on the couch. Here
he was always found facing outward. Perhaps an instinct of the immemorial
nesting of his tribe in holes made him feel at home in this little hole under
the pillows.

Judy was an enemy to be despised, but Peter had a foe of a different nature.
One of my neighbors owned a coal-black coon-cat, with great yellow eyes like
two full moons. "Coony" was an inveterate bird-catcher, a fierce and subtle
beast. He was interested in Peter and would steal up to my kitchen door and
gaze into the room, calculating his chances of a good meal. Often I found
him there. Peter also enjoyed going to the screen door and looking out. He
would cling to it and climb nearly to the top, but usually he stayed in the lower
panel. I have heard Peter chattering defiantly in the kitchen, and, on going
to him, have found him clinging to one side of the screen door while "Coony"
on the other was clawing it and trying to get him. Was Peter afraid? Not
Peter! Peter was enjoying it. His heart did not flutter except with valiant
rage. There was no symptom of fear about him. Crippled as he was, he was
perfectly ready to stand up and fight the cat. I fear Peter was a poor judge of
character, for seldom have I seen a cat with which a bird would have had
such an unequal contest.

Daily I exercised Peter, trying to get his wing in condition. In ten days it
improved very much. His first feeble flutterings were Httle downward flights;
then he was able to sustain himself on a level for a short distance; and finally
he undertook to rise. He got so that he could fly from my hand to the ell
of the house. The trouble was to induce him to return. He seemed to think
my time of as little value as his. And on account of cats I had to watch not
only him but the whole neighborhood. Once he gave me a sad fright by flying
from the ridgepole down the other side of the house. I expected to find him
devoured by some lurking cat over there, but on hurrying around I found him
sitting in the grass, ready to be taken up.

Meantime I was anxiously watching the migration of the Martins. It was
now well into September, and the nights were cool and the supply of flies
growing perceptibly less. Peter was getting in condition to travel, but would he
have any traveling companions? Day by day I watched the flights of Martins
wheeling about the church spire and saw their ranks get thinner and thinner.
It was the last end of the migration and although he was well and fat, Peter
was hardly in condition for the strain of the long journey south. But there
came a day when I decided to wait no longer. I gave Peter to my brother
to take care of, and I never saw him afterward.

"Report of an Expedition to Laysan Islands in 1911"*

ON February 3, 1909, President Roosevelt signed an executive order
creating the largest, and, in many respects, most important Bird
Reservation of the fifty odd now existing. It is known as the Hawaiian
Islands Reservation and consists "of a dozen or more islands, reefs, and shoals
that stretch westward from the Hawaiian Islands proper for a distance of
upwards of 1,500 miles toward Japan."

Laysan, ornithologically the principal island of the group, is known to Amer-
ican readers through the admirable work done on it by Walter K. Fisher, who,
while on the S. S. 'Albatross,' visited the island in the summer of 1902 and sub-
sequently published the results of his studies, together with the exceptionally
interesting and successful photographs which he obtained. f

The present paper adds a chapter to the history of the island, and the facts
it presents regarding the destruction of bird-life for millinery purposes so
forcibly illustrate the need for bird protection even in the most remote parts of
the globe, that by permission, we quote from it at length.

In his letter of transmittal, Mr. Henry W. Henshaw, Chief of the Biological
Survey, writes:

"The Hawaiian Islands Reservation was established by Executive order
in 1909 to serve as a refuge and breeding-place for the million of sea birds and
waders that from time immemorial have resorted there yearly to raise their
young or to rest while migrating. In 1909 a party of feather-hunters landed on
Laysan, one of the twelve islands comprising the reservation, and killed more
than 200,000 birds, notably Albatrosses, for millinery purposes. Through the
prompt cooperation of the Secretary of the Treasury, the revenue cutter
Thetis, under the command of Capt. W. V. E. Jacobs, was dispatched to the
island and returned to Honolulu in January, 1910, with 23 poachers and their
booty, consisting of the plumage of more than a quarter of a million birds.
In the spring of 191 1, a cooperative arrangement was effected with the Univer-
sity of Iowa, represented by Prof. C. C. Nutting, head of the zoological depart-
ment, whereby an expedition was sent to Laysan, the largest and most impor-
tant island of the group; to ascertain the present condition of the bird rookeries
and to collect a series of birds for a museum exhibit."

This expedition, headed by Prof. Homer R. Dill, reached Laysan,
April 24, 191 1, and remained until June 5. Professor Dill writes:

"Our first impression of Laysan was that the poachers had stripped the

♦Report of an Expedition to Laysan Islands in 1911, under the joint auspices of the United States
Department of Agriculture and the University of Iowa. By Homer R. Dill, Assistant Professor of
Zoology in the State University of Iowa, and Wm. Alanson Bryan, Professor of Zoology in the College
of Hawaii. Bull. No. 42, Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of .\griculture, Washington, 1912, pp. 1-30;
pUs. IX.

tSee U. S. I-ish Com. Bull, for 1903. pp. 1-39; The .\uk, XX, 1903. PP- 384-397; XXI, 1904, pp.
8-20.

(279)

Report of an Expedition to Laysan Islands in 1911 281

place of bird lift'. An area of ()\tr ihrcc hundred acres on each side of the
buildings was apparently abandoned. Only the Shearwaters moaning in their
burrows, the little wingless Rail skulking from one grass tussock to another,
and the saucy Finch remained. It is an excellent example of what Professor
Nutting calls the survival of the inconspicuous.

"Here, on every side, are bones bleaching in the sun, showing where the
poachers have piled the bodies of the birds as they stripped them of wings and
feathers. In the old open guano shed (p. 283) were seen the remains of hundreds
and possibly thousands of wings which were placed there but never cured for
shipping, as the marauders were interrupted in their work.

"An old cistern back of one of the buildings tells a story of cruelty that
surpasses anything else done by these heartless, sanguinary pirates, not except-
ing the practice of cutting the wings from living birds and leaving them to
die of hemorrhage. In this dry cistern the living birds were kept by hundreds
to slowly starve to death. In this way the fatty tissue lying next to the skin
was used up, and the skin was left quite free from grease, so that it required
little or no cleaning during preparation.

"Many other revolting sights, such as the remains of young birds that had
been left to starve and birds with broken legs and deformed beaks, were to be
seen. Killing clubs, nets, and other implements used by these marauders
were lying all about. Hundreds of boxes to be used in shipping the bird-skins
were packed in an old building. It was very evident they intended to carry on
their slaughter as long as the birds lasted.

"Not only did they kill and skin the larger species but they caught and
caged the Finch, Honey-eater, and Miller Bird. Cages and material for making
them were found."

Prof. William A. Bryan, the representative of the National Association
of Audubon Societies in Hawaii, through whom the depredations of the feather-
hunters were brought to the attention of the Government, joined the expedition
as a representative of the Biological Survey, Professor Bryan had visited
Laysan in 1903 and was thus able to compare existing with past conditions.
He writes:

"This wholesale killing has had an appalling effect on the colony. No one
can estimate the thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of birds that
have been wilfully sacrificed on Laysan to the whim of fashion and the lust
for gain. It is conservative to say that fully one-half the number of birds
of both species of Albatross that were so abundant everywhere in 1903 have
been killed. The colonies that remain are in a sadly decimated condition.
Often a colony of a dozen or more birds will not have a single young. Over a
large part of the island, in some sections a hundred acres in a place, that ten
years ago was thickly inhabited by Albatrosses, not a single bird remains,
while heaps of the slain lie as mute testimony of the awful slaughter of these
beautiful, harmless, and, without doubt, beneficial inhabitants of the high seas.

Report of an Expedition to Laysan Islands in 1911

283

"While the main activity of the plume-hunters was directed against the
Albatrosses, they were by no means averse to killing anything in the bird line
that came their way. As a consequence large numbers of all the different
species of birds that occur on this island were killed. Among the species
slaughtered may be mentioned Black-footed Albatross, Laysan Albatross, Sooty
Tern, Gray-backed Tern, Noddy Tern, Hawaiian Tern, White Tern, Bonin
Island Petrel, Wedge- tailed Shearwater, Christmas Island Shearwater, Red-
tailed Tropic Bird, Blue-faced Booby, Red-footed Booby, Man-o'-war Bird,

^^^^^^^^ySS^^I?^^^^

*«i-.

ALBATROSSES WINGS PILED IN AN OLD SHED BY MILLINERY COLLECTORS ON

LAYSAN ISLAND

By permission of the Biological Survey

Bristle-thighed Curlew, and without doubt many of the few species of the
smaller birds peculiar to Laysan as well as those that visit it as migrants.

"Fortunately, serious as were the depredations of the poachers, their
operations were interrupted before any of the species had been completely
exterminated. So far as the birds that secure their food from the sea are con-
cerned, it is reasonable to suppose that they will increase in number, and that
nature will in time restore this island to its former poj)ulous condition if no
further slaughter is permitted."

Professor Bryan concludes his report with "Recommendations for the
Future Protection of the Reservation" which it is hoped will be made effective.

Two Problems in Identification

WE reproduce, by permission, two of the many identification problems
which are submitted to us for solution. The first illustrates how,
even after seeing a bird repeatedly and having one's observations
confirmed by others, a person more than ordinarily informed may see colors
and patterns of coloration which do not exist. Fortunately, and what is much
rarer, it also illustrates how opportunity for continued observation may finally
convince one of the possibility of error and thereby make one more cautious
in the future; and it is this frank confession of faulty observation which
makes the experience of this bird student an especially valuable object lesson.

The second problem we reproduce exactly as we received it, as a model
in exact observation and method of presentation. It required merely a glance
at Mr. Williams' pencil sketch, with its accompanying notes, to see that his
bird was the Troupial (Icterus icterus) of northern South America. This large,
fine Oriole is a favorite cage-bird and numbers are imported to this country.
Doubtless, therefore, Mr. Williams' bird, as well as one recorded by Audubon
from Charleston, S. C, over seventy years ago, had escaped from captivity.

Mr. Williams' sketch illustrates so admirably the definite and satisfactory
results to be obtained by the method he employed that we may be permitted
to repeat here a plea already made for its general adoption :

"Even better than a description is a figure colored with crayons or water-
colors. It may be the crudest outline and in ridiculous pose, but at least it is
definite. There is no possibility of error through the wrong use of terms; the
observer draws or charts what he sees. Neither art nor skill is required. Any-
one can learn to make the outline of the normal bird figure as readily as he
can learn to make the letters of the alphabet, and a little practice will enable
one to give the shape of bill, wings and tail, and even a hint of characteristic
form and position. Typical, passerine outline figures may be made in advance
in one's field note-book, and the shape of the bill and color may be added
while the bird is under observation. A collection of diagrams or sketches of
this kind will be found to possess far greater individuality and value than mere
written descriptions. If the sketch cannot be completed, if essential details
are lacking, it is obvious that the subject has not been seen with that definite-
ness upon which satisfactory field identification should rest." — F. M. C.

PROBLEM NO. 1

Walters Park, Pa., July 9, 1912.
Editor of Bird-Lore.

Dear Sir: Can you give me some information about a Black Hummingbird?
All the bird books state that only one species, the Ruby-throat, is to be found

(284)

Two Problems in Identification 285

in this section of the country, but on June 4, this season, I was watching a
Baltimore Oriole on the top of a small dead dogwood tree, when suddenly
a black Hummingbird, with a brilliant orange collar, came out of nowhere and
perched on the tip top of a slender stem of the same tree. Since that date I
have seen it more than fifty times and taken many acquaintances with me to
see the exquisite little beauty, for it very rarely fails to appear within a few
moments after I reach my post of observation, always perching on the same
spot where I first discovered it, though several times its curiosity has led it
to dart for a moment to a telephone ware and look me over at a distance
of only a few feet. Sometimes it has darted up into a tulip tree and sipped
among the blossoms there; once or twice I have seen it poising among honey-
suckle blossoms. Yesterday two black Hummingbirds, one with orange collar
not noticeable, supposedly the mate, were seen among the blossoms of a trum-
pet vine.

The bird is as tiny as the ordinary Hummingbird. The collar is narrow
and does not meet in front. The breast seems a dark gray or slate color. Its
bill is very black, long and slender. Altogether the little creature is a fasci-
nating puzzle to me. Its friendliness, its look of elfish intelligence when perch-
ing, its willingness to be "called out" to its perch many times a day to be ad-
mired as it poses and prinks and preens, its unusual habit of frequent perching,
its long sojourn, are all mystifying to me. I have so far failed to find the nest,
which I supposed at first must account for the perching as if on sentinel duty,
but it has been here now a month and five days and I don't know how much
longer before I found it.

Any information about this mysterious little guest from the tropics would
be greatly appreciated by me.

T, Ti T .Walters Park, Pa., July 16, 1912.

Editor of Bird-Lore. ^ ^ j j ■> ^

Dear Sir: Your letter in regard to my "black Hummingbird"' just received.
My observation of the Hummers has been for the most part "on the wing,"
and I did not know their tendency to haunt favorite perches for such long
periods. Thank you for this information.

A day or two after I wrote you, the little Hummer in question finally
revealed his true identity, a Ruby-throat, as you surmised. Though knowing
as I do the tendency of a bird's coloring to vary in different lights, "my pet
Hummingbird" deceived me completely. Black he certainly appears when
perching, and black a score or more of my acquaintances have also pronounced
him while lesiurely observing him at only a few feet distance.

But one day he poised before a near-by trumpet flower at just the right
angle for the sunlight to fall directly upon his back, and suddenly he became
a brilliant green. As he turned to fly away the unmistakable ruby gleamed
from his throat. A moment later he was again perching quite near me, again
transformed into an elfish little black creature, — but his secret was mine at last.

h

/uUi/

i/^a-^^i.

:X,

4-

~/^U.<.^/t-te.*^^ -^ /m -y^/:^*->v -^■^^^'

E-fi-s, yW.-_

^AcK, blti.crK.

/i.t3.Vft

A SOUTH AMERICAN" ORIOLE FROM OHIO

My dear Mr. Chapman: You may be interested in the enclosed sketch.
It was made under such circumstances as to be quite accurate. We have kept
a sharp lookout for the possible return of the bird but he has not appeared.

If you have any suggestion as to the bird's indentity I should be greatly
interested to hear it. Sincerely yours, ^ g^ Williams Jr.

The Migration of North American Sparrows

EIGHTEENTH PAPER
Compiled by Professor W. W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey

With drawings Iiv Louis Agassiz Fuertes
(See Frontispiece)

TOWHEE

The Towhees of eastern North America have been separated into two
forms differing in the color of the eyes; the southern form, the White-eyed
Towhee, is resident in the southeastern United States from South CaroUna to
Florida. The breeding range of the other form, the Red-eyed Towhee, extends
from near the northern boundary of the white-eyed form north to Canada.
The two forms are together during the winter, the red-eyed race arriving in
its southward migration at Raleigh, N. C, on the average, October 13, earliest,
October 4, 1889; Atlanta, Ga., (near) average, October 12, earliest, October
5, 1903; northern Florida, average, October 15, earliest, October 11, 1903. It
departs on the average from northern Florida, April 18, latest. May 2, 1909;
Atlanta, Ga., (near) average, April 21, latest, April 27, 1902; Raleigh, N. C,
average. May 7, latest. May 15, 1886. Near Gainesville, Texas, it arrives
on the average, October 27, earliest, October 5, 1888; and leaves on the average,
April 20, latest, May 12, 1885.

There could scarcely be found a better example of migration occurring
earlier west of the Alleghenies than at corresponding latitudes to the eastward.
The Towhees arrive in northern Ohio more than a month earlier than at the
same latitude on the Atlantic coast. At the date of their arrival in Washing-
ton, D. C, they have already been present for a week at Beaver, Pa., a hundred
and fifty miles farther north.

SPRING MIGRATION

Newmarket, Va

White Sulphur Springs, W. Vi

Washington, D. C

Philadelphia, Pa. (near)

Berwyn, Pa

Beaver, Pa

Renovo, Pa

Morristown, N. J

Englewood, N. J

New Providence, N. J

Flatbush, N. Y

Alfred, N. Y

Hadlyme, Conn

Jewett City, Conn

Hartford, Conn

Number

Average date of

Earliest date of

record

spring arrival

spring arrival

14

April 19

March 31, 1889

6

April 14

March 29, 1897

19

April 5

Rare, winter.

14

April 22

March 31, 1895

13

April 22

March 29, 1904

10

March 29

March 13, 1908

17

April 23

April 5, 1905

10

April 22

April 15, 1905

14

April 23

April 9, 1905

10

April 24

April 17, 1893

8

April 23

April 17, 1893

13

April 26

April 19, 1909

9

April 24

April 20, 1896

April 24

.\pril 13, 1886

13

April 26

April 19, 1909

(287)

288

Bird - Lore

SPRING MIGRATION, continued

Providence, R. I

Taunton, Mass

Springfield, Mass

Beverly, Mass

Hydeville, Vt

Monadnock, N. H

Manchester, N. H

Durham, N. H

Portland, Maine

Phillips, Maine

Quebec, Canada

Helena, Ark

Lexington, Ky

Independence, Mo

St. Louis, Mo

Chicago, 111

Silverwood, Ind

Frankford, Ind

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

Wauseon, Ohio

Oberlin, Ohio

Petersburg, Mich

Plymouth, Mich

Plover Mills, Ontario

Gait, Ontario

Ottawa, Ontario

Hillsboro, Iowa

Indianola, Iowa

Grinnell, Iowa

Milwaukee, Wis

Madison, Wis

Green Bay, Wis

La Crosse, Wis

Lanesboro, Minn

Elk River, Minn

White Earth, Minn

Southeastern Kansas

Onaga, Kan

Southeastern Nebraska

Badger, Neb

Southeastern South Dakota
Grand Forks, N. D. (near) .

Aweme, Manitoba

Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan.

Number

Earliest date of

record

spring arrival

spring arrival

13

.\pril 30

April 17, 1909

6

April 26

April 24, 1889

3 ,

April 27

April 25, 1897

12

May 4

April 25, 1908
Mav 6, 1887

3

May 2

May I, 1902

7

May 7

April 23, 1889

4

May 12

May 8, 1901

3

May 8

May 6, 1908
May 14, 190S
May 25, 1880

4

March 26

March 7, 1898

4

March i

February 25, 1906

s

March 12

February 28, 1898

s

March 13

February 13, 1909

13

March 21

March 7, 1908.

4

March 9

Januarv 10, 1903

8

March 11

March i, 1900

17

March 20

March i, 1894

8

March 19

March 10, 1898

17

March 20

March 6, 1899

8

March 21

March 17, 1889

7

March 24

March 14, 1894

7

April 7

April 4, 1892

12

April 13

March 28, 1899
May 9, 1909

5

March 16

March 10, 1899

5

March 17

March 10, 1902

4

March 20

March 18, 1888

7

April 9

April I, 1892

10

April 14

April 2, 1910

2

April 26

April 25, 1885

4

April 22

April I, 1905

9

April 16

April II, 1889

5

April 23

April 14, 1887

2

Mays

May 7, 1881

7

March 7

March 3, 1906

15

March 16

March 3, 1892

13

March 19

March 4, 1902

4

April 18

April 13, 1903

6

Mays

April 26, 1889

8

May 7

May 2, 1889

II

May 18

April 30, 1904

5

May 19

May 8, 1903

FALL MIGRATION

Aweme, Manitoba.

Lincoln, Neb

Onaga, Kan

Elk River, Minn. .
Lanesboro, Minn..

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
the last one seen

September
October 21
October 14

Latest date of the
last one seen

September 25, 1904
December 8, 1900
November 23, 1896
October 12, 1886
November 8, 1885

The Migration of North American Sparrows

289

FALL MIGRATION, Continued

Sabula, Iowa

Hillsboro, Iowa

Chicago, III

Southwestern Ontario

Vicksburg, Mich

Oberlin, Ohio

Wauseon, Ohio

Fort Wayne, Ind

Waterloo, Ind. (near)

St. Louis, Mo

Portland, Maine

Southern New Hampshire. . . .

Providence, R. I

Hartford, Conn

New York Citj', N. Y. (near) .

Englewood, N. J

Morristown, N. J

Renovo, Pa

Beaver, Pa

Berwyn, Pa

Philadelphia, Pa. (near)

Washington, D. C

Number
of years'
record

Average date of

Latest date of the

the last one seen

last one seen

10

October 18

October 23, 1893

4

October 25

October 31, 1898

8

October 24

November 26, 1906

8

October 11

November 3, 1889

4

October 27

November 5, 1904

s

October 22

November 8, 1902

7

October 21

November 12, 1884

s

October 19

November 29, 1906

6

October 22

November 16, 1905
December 30, 1882
October 12, 1906

3

October 9

October 24, 1897

12

October 12

October 23, 1904

-

October 11

October 25, 1909

12

October 17

November 4, 1891

6

October 23

November 15, 1885

8

October 26

December 19, 1908

15

October 15

November 12, 1904

7

October 21

October 26, 1909

13

October 14

November 3, 1888

12

October 23

November 9, 1886

'

October 21

Rare, winter

SPOTTED TOWHEE

The Spotted Towhees of western North America {Pipilo maculatus) have
been divided into seven forms; one is confined to Mexico, one to southern
Lower California, and one to the islands off the coast of southern California.
A fourth form, the San Diego Towhee, is nearly, if not quite, non-migratory
over a large part of California, while a fifth form, the Oregon Towhee, occurs
on the coast from British Columbia to southern California, and is migratory
at the two extremes of its range, but no definite statement can be made of
its dates of migration. The other two forms, the Arctic and the Spurred Tow-
hees, occupy the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada south to Mexico
and the western part of the plains. They are both strictly migratory, but it
is not possible to separate the migration records of the two forms.

SPRING MIGRATION

PLACE

Valentine, Neb. (near) . . .

Beulah, Colo

Yuma, Colo

Boulder, Colo, (near) .

Cheyenne, Wyo

Terry, Mont

Great Falls, Mont, (near)

Flagstaff, Alberta

Carson City, Ncv

Rathdrum, Idaho

Okanagan Landing, B. C.

^fT.^r^ Average date of
tlorT sP-g arrival

"Earliest date of
spring arrival

April 27

April 10

April 18

April 18

May 10
May II
May 20

March 20
.\l)ril iS

April 20, 1900
March 31, 1907
April 7, 1908
March 26, 1900
April 28, 1889
May 2, 1894
May 6, 1904
May II, 1908
March 15, 1900
March 9, 1899
March ig, 1910

290 Bird - Lore

The last Towhees were seen in northern Montana on the average, Septem-
ber 24, latest, October g, 1905 ; Yuma, Colo., average, October 6, latest, October
10, 1908; Beulah, Colo., average, October 14, latest, October 27, 1910. The
Towhees that spend the winter at Kerrville, Tex., have left there on the aver-
age, May 3, latest. May 8, 1907; and near Manhattan, Kan., average, May 3,
latest. May 12, 1884.

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows

SEVENTEENTH PAPER
By FRANK M, CHAPMAN

(See frontispiece)

Towhee {Pipilo e. erythrophthalmus, Figs, i, 2). The nestling Towhee is a
sparrow-like looking bird with both upper and underparts streaked with
blackish. When the tail-feathers are sufficiently grown, their black or brown
color and broad white tips show that the bird is not a true Sparrow, and its
characters are quickly revealed when the postjuvenal molt begins. At this
molt all the body feathers, all but the primary wing-coverts, the tertials, and,
according to Dwight, even the tail, are lost, and the bird passes directly into
a plumage which differs from that of fully adult specimens only in having the
primary coverts slightly browner. Molting birds are thus at times most cu-
riously mottled, males particularly showing black patches of the incoming first
winter plumage surrounded by the brown, streaked juvenal plumage.

The sexes can be distinguished as soon as the tail is long enough to see
whether it is composed of the black feathers of the male or brown ones of the
female.

There is no spring molt, and summer birds differ from winter ones only
in having more worn plumage.

Arctic Towhee {Pipilo maculatus arcticus, Figs. 4, 5). Our six western
races of Pipilo maculatus differ from the eastern Towhee chiefly in the greater
amount of white in the wing-coverts and scapulars and in the darker color of
the female.

The juvenal plumage is darker and more heavily streaked, this being
particularly true of the dark race (P. m. oregonus) inhabiting the humid Pacific
Coast region from northern California to British Columbia, showing that
the characters of the adult are inherited.

So far as plumage changes are concerned the western bird appears to agree
with the eastern one, the adult plumage being acquired at the postjuvenal
molt, in which all the feathers except the secondaries and the primaries and
their coverts are shed.

^ottsi from JTielD and ^tuDp

Long Island Notes

In this section of Long Island, where
the native trees arc almost entirely pine,
and running water is absolutely lacking,
most of the smaller birds — Thrushes,
Warblers, Vireos, Flycatchers, etc. — do
not remain to nest, though a few species
seem just suited and stay by the hundred.
But the migrations of Maj', 191 2, brought
for a few days at least, such a plenty of
birds as must have delighted any student.

The first week of the month was very
wet and stormy, probably seriously
delaj-ing the migrants, but between May
9 and II there came a flight quite worthy
of note. Especially in the village were
the birds plentiful, where many maples
and other deciduous trees have been
cultivated for years, and among the
earliest to attract notice were a number
of Scarlet Tanagers — full colored males^ —
who rambled about on at least two days
in couples, trios, and even, on one occasion,
in a quartet, a beautiful sight. On another
day I saw three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
(males), a Baltimore Oriole, a Catbird, a
Hummingbird, several Red-eyed Vireos,
and Warblers—! The Pine, Black-
throated Green, and Yellow-rumped War-
blers were already here, and these three
days added in quantity the Parula,
Black-and-white and Black-throated Blue,
and in fewer numbers the Redstart,
Maryland Yellowthroat, Magnolia, Chest-
nut-sided, Yellow, Blackpoll, Louisiana
Water-Thrush and Oven-bird. No doubt
I missed many others, for it was often
impossible to recognize one before a new
song or flick of color on a near-by branch
made it difficult to keep my attention on
the first.

One little corner was almost ideal:
about a quarter of an acre not far from
the main street, but so surrounded by
hedges and tall pines that it was quite
shut off from people and houses. It
seemed to have been an old-time lawn

from the bright-colored shrubs along
one side, then a few small fruit trees and
on the north side of the lot, against a
perfect background of pines, a big cherry
tree in full blossom. That cherry tree was
the Warblers' harbor, and I had only to
wait quietly under a near-by pear tree
and look and listen as they approached
from every side.

That certainly was the great migration
of the season. By May 12 it was mostly
over, and by May 17 few except those
intending to nest here were to be found.
By the latter date the Prairie Warbler
had become noticeable, and now these
are plentiful, particularly in a tract that
once was thick with second-growth pine,
but in May, 191 1, was severely burned.
The big brakes and quick-growing under-
brush have already covered the ground,
but the stark, ragged trees above, some
still showing green along the higher
branches, others dead to the very tops,
all still black with the smut of burning,
offer a sad apology for the grace and
beauty of thirteen months ago.

The Yellowthroats also have remained
in numbers, generally choosing quarters
where the masses of low scrub-oak and
the woods are trying to overcome each
other. Beyond these two I know of no
other Warblers now here.

The Pine Warbler was an early arrival,
my first date being April 21, the last
May 17. During most of that time they
were present in considerable numbers,
and their song was so e.xactly like that of
the Chippy that by song alone I never
felt certain which bird I heard.

Since May 15, a Great-crested Fly-
catcher has been in the neighborhood;
later still a few Pewees arrived, and toward
the middle of June a Kingbird showed
himself occasionally.

By the middle of May also, and since.
Brown Thrashers have been nearly as
abundant as the Chewinks, and from late
April till late in May, Goldfinches were

(291)

292

Bird • Lore

beyond number. Now the last are more
scattered for nesting and more quiet. A
few Red-Eyes are likely to be found later
in the summer, but at the present date I
seldom hear one.

Thrushes of all sorts are ver>- few, even
during migrations; but I have seen a Veery
on two occasions, and last summer two
Wood Thrushes used to sing regularly
from a dense grove of pines in the center
of the \-illage. This year I believe a pair
is nesting near by.

The Baltimore Orioles are still singing
along the principal streets, and as their
favorite elms are very scarce, they seem
to prefer maples and the tall white locusts
for nest-trees. In some localities. Purple
Martins have nested for years in boxes
put up for them, but I have had no per-
sonal experience with them and reports
indicate that they are growing a little
scarce. House Wrens also are quite
ready to use suitable boxes.

But the Blue Jays and Flickers here are
no more the wild birds of the woods that
I had formerly supposed them, than are
Song Sparrows I Flickers do not winter
here to my knowledge, but appeared
early in April, and two weeks later they
were to be heard and seen in ever>- direc-
rion — on the ground, in trees, fl>nng over
the fields, drumming, calling every note
they could remember (and that's quite a
variety!) and before long they began to
investigate old holes and start new ones.
Suitable wood seemed to be the only
necessity, for the hole might be freshly
drilled in some old dead favorite in the
woods with several black holes of past
years within a few feet, in the hollow of an
old apple tree, in the top of a telephone
pole beside the road, or — the best I have
yet seen — in an old stump only thirty-
five feet from the corner of a piazza. The
last, to be sure, is on the property of a
true bird-lover, far enough from the
village to be free of English Sparrows,
where the many trees contain boxes for
the Wrens and Martins and where, above
all, a water-pan is kept filled. Here the
Flickers come as well as others, not only
to drink but often to bathe, and delight

their hostess by spattering the water to
the very edge of the porch. Yet the
Flickers had troubles, for once the stump
was cut down and had to be nailed back
in place, and a strip of tin fastened around
to discourage cats, for the hole is just
at a convenient height to look in. Yet
this is the fourth season they have used it.

Blue Jays are plentiful all the year and
are ready to nest in the pines or big
arbor^-itae hedges on one's lawn, or in the
woods, as the case may be. But now, of
course, they are far less noisy than earlier
in the spring.

Chimney Swifts are plentiful, a number
of Barn Swallows and Whip-poor-wills are
in evidence, while on several occasions
I- thought a Night Hawk called, but
never could find the bird. A few Doves
are about also, and almost any fine morn-
ing, soon after sunrise, their soft cooing
may be heard. All the spring Bluebirds
have been decidedly scarce, making me
wonder if the fast-increasing Starlings
are partly the cause.

I have not mentioned the innumerable
Piuple Crackles and Meadow Larks, nor
the Sparrows. Of the last, those nesting
are Chippy, Song. Field and Vesper, the
last less common now than in May; and
I saw a few Fox and White-throated
during migrations. Red Crossbills, which
were about at odd times during the winter,
surprised me on May 17 — a flock of eight!

As the honeysuckle opens I hope each
daj- for the appearance of a pair of Hum-
mers, for last summer they nested on a
maple branch beside one of the main auto
streets, using dandelion puffs and the
usual covering of small pieces of lichen.
— Is.ABEL McC. Lemmon, Brentuood, L. I.

A Talented Song Sparrow

Our little circle of bird-lovers were
enjo\ing the beauty of a June morning,
lounging under a maple, far enough
removed from the house to escape the
after-breakfast noises from the kitchen.
Indeed any noises would have seemed an
intrusion upon the mute speech of flower
and leaf, and meadow and scented air.

Notes from Field and Study

293

that perfect morning. It must have been
a sense of this that kept our talk within
few words, uttered softly, as though loud
speech would have broken an enthralling
charm. But we were to be shown that
not all sounds are at variance with June's
best showing. From somewhere among
the leaves overhead came the notes of a
Song Sparrow. The melody was repeated
over and over, as something too good to
be given only once. No intrusion upon
June's perfect harmony. Xo discord.
Rather it was a fit musical setting for the
beauty around us. After the singer
stopped there was a pause long enough to
make us believe he had flown away, when
the song was renewed. But how different!
The arrangement of the notes was entirely
new. At first we thought the bird must
have gone and another Sparrow taken
his place, though the song seemed to
come from the same position in the tree.
We arose and walked about, peering
up through the branches. There he sat
at the top of a dead bough, with head
pointing upward as though offering the
best that was in him to the skies. A song
of sunrise, a song that goes with moods of
serene joy and hope. Let evening take
the Wood Thrush, the Veery and the
Hermit Thrush. Our little brown bird
is the melodist of the day new-born.

Again he stopped. We watched to see
whether he might fly away. It began to
dawn upon us that the period of silence
meant more than a mere cessation of the
music. We were on the alert for the
renewed song; and this time there would
be no doubt of the identity of the singer.
Presently the head pointed skyward
again and the notes floated down to us.
An entirely different song again — differ-
ent from either of the others in the arrange-
ment and succession of the notes.

It is not because he is tired then that
the Song Sparrow pauses in his song, but
in order that he may compose another
melody. Other singers have great variety
of notes; as the Mockingbird, the Brown
Thrush and the Catbird; but what other
bird sings a set song many times over,
then, after a pause, another one entirely

(iiilefL-ni. and so un through changes so
numerous that they seem limitless?

The modest little singer had revealed
himself as something more than an uncon-
scious voicing of nature's melodies. He
seemed a composer who sings his song
many times, then ceases and invents
another which he voices, and another,
and as many as he chooses. Since that
day we have regarded him as in a class
by himself — the creative artist of the
winged choir. — George A. Dennison,
256 -gtk St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Bluebirds vs. Wrens

Hoping to entice some birds to build
near our new little cottage, we fastened
a gourd on the post of our porch. Sure
enough, early in the spring, came the tiny
Wren, bringing his busy little wife, who
hopped onto the rose bush, and then in
and out several times, while he sat on
the porch support and sang his little song.
After only a few moments' investigation
they both went to work, and to us who
were watching, seemed quite contented.

On the third morning while we stood
watching the little builders, who should
come fl>'ing right against the Wren and
knock him off his perch, but a Bluebird,
who, to the little Wren, I am sure,
looked enormous.

So. all morning, every time the Wrens
came with grass or other material for
their nest the Bluebird would fly against
them and drive them away. Finally the
Bluebird must have grown very angry, for
he flew into the gourd and we could see him
scratching and tearing up the work of the
Wrens, and one stick too long to come out
of the door, he took in his bill and flew
with such force, that, to our surprise, he
tumbled out head first, but the twig came
also, and he flew away. This old bachelor
bird (for he was alone» kept watch over
the gourd and succeeded in dispossessing
the Wrens. In time he found a mate and
they built their nest and raised their
little family of three.

It was a great pleasure to watch the
parent birds feeding the young, and how

294

Bird -Lore

hard they had to work! Every time we
dug in the garden they flew almost at
our feet, snatched a grub and flew to the
nest.

The male bird brought his contribution,
put it into one little open mouth, then
would fly away; while the mother bird
always waited and carried away the
white droppings, and thus kept their
home clean.

The day the little ones left the nest was
almost as e.xciting to the watchers as to the
birds themselves. Instead of the usual meal,
brought between four and five o'clock, the
parent birds kept away, and from time
to time would give a call from a near-by
post or branch. At each call the little
birds would stick their heads out, first
one, then two, and once, all three.

Finally, after nearly half an hour of
this calling, with a great flutter of wings,
out they came. One flew aimlessly away
over the fields, and one big bird followed.
The other two did not go far and were
joined by the mother bird, who led them
by easy stages from tree to tree.

The others hopped all around the yard,
perched on fence and hedge, but they
did not return to the home although we
watched till dark.

The gourd had been vacant about two
weeks when one day two Wrens came and
took possession. The watchers felt sure
it was the same pair, and we again took
up our position of watching.

They did not use the Bluebirds' nest,
except as a support, but built a very small
one on the side. Almost before it was
finished, back came Mr. Bluebird, and
drove them away.

He would sit on a fence-post or a branch
and, just as in the early spring, seemed to
watch until the little Wrens came, then
up he would come and drive them away.

The watchers tried to help the little
birds by clapping their hands or "shooing"
him away. The Wren would utter his
shrill cry of alarm and when either of us
would go to see what was the trouble,
the Bluebird was sure to be there, some-
times standing in the door.

At our approach the Bluebird flew

away, but the Wrens never did; they
seemed to know we wanted to help them.

But it was of no use; one day Mr.
Bluebird flew into the nest and whether
he broke the eggs or tore up the nest,
we never knew, but the Wrens never
came back.

This was a revelation to us, for we had
never known the Bluebird was so pug-
nacious. But after all he was human-like,
and wanted what he wanted and guarded
what he thought was his home. — Mrs.
M. M. Waring, Knoxville, Tenn.

A Tragedy Narrowly Averted

We have a small orchard on our resi-
dence lot in a county-seat town in south-
eastern Iowa. The orchard occupies the
rear half of the lot. At the farther end
of the orchard stands a fine box-elder tree
which has been kept carefully trimmed
to certain outward dimensions for years.
The fact that this tree is not permitted to
gratify its ambitions to grow tall and
likewise spread out over all the surround-
ing orchard, causes it to form an exceed-
ingly dense top with thousands of small
intermingling branches and twigs. The
foliage of this tree is so dense that the
rays of the sun scarcely ever find their
way through it to the earth beneath.

Now, although all the members of a
family of five pass under this tree nu-
merous times daily, yet the Catbirds have
made it their home for many summers.
They have cheered us with their song
morning, noon and night. One of the
favorite stations for the bird to occupy
while singing or scanning the surrounding
trees for food has often been upon the
pump-handle, the pump being situated
about twenty feet from the kitchen win-
dow. Besides the music which they have
furnished us free and unsolicited, they
have destroyed thousands of green worms,
caterpillars, slugs, and insects of every
variety. Of all the native song birds which
visit this part of the country, I believe
there is only one, the Brown Thrush,
that has a more varied and pleasing song
than has the Catbird.

Notes from Field and Study

295

An incident which occurred a year aRO
and might readily have developed into a
tragedy, had it not been for some of my
own nocturnal habits, was announced by
a sudden, loud fluttering and screeching
noise, the like of which I had not heard
before, coming from our box-elder tree
at about eleven o'clock p.m.

I suspected the trouble, and hurriedly
arming myself with a stout club I made
my way as fast as my legs could carry me
to the scene of the disturbance. There,
in the faint moonlight, I could see the
outline of the birds' greatest enemy, the
stray cat! and its fiery yellow eyes were
staring at me in the darkness under the
tree! It had crawled up the tree and
through the branches until it was about
two feet from the birds' nest when the
alarm was given. Well, the reader may-
rest assured that if I had had a shot-gun
instead of my Bushman's weapon, the
town ordinance against shooting within the
corporation would have been broken into
small bits right then and there. As it
was, I could only let my club go with all
my might in the direction of the thief,
and, contrary to my usual luck and
expectation, I hit the feline square. Cat
and club came to the ground with a thud,
but before I could make any further
hostile demonstrations the cat had dis-
appeared into the darkness, and not to
return, so far as I know, for the birds
continued to sing and feed their young
till they were fledged, and took their
journey on stout and tireless wings to
the sunny Southland.

But the incident which I wanted
especially to relate in this paper is one
of more recent occurrence. This spring
of 191 2, as usual, these birds made their
appearance about May i, but did not
make active preparations for house-
keeping till some weeks later, and, by
the last of May, their new nest in the
box-elder was nearing completion. On
June I, while strolling in the orchard, my
attention was called to the box-elder by a
lot of vigorous fluttering and scolding
near the Catbirds' nest. One bird was
visible from my position and seemed to

be watching those near-by, who, as I
thought, were having an argument as to
which one of the two should occupy the
nearly completed nest. They were hidden
from my view, however, by the foliage.
The trouble seemed to me to last an
unusually long time and I began to
wonder at the apparent pugnacity of
these attractive little songsters. My
curiosity led me to approach a little
closer and closer, and still the racket went
on. When I came directly under the nest
the one bird which had been visible to
me all the time and had been sitting
perfectly still, not giving me any atten-
tion before, noticed me and flew away,
and, to my astonishment, I saw that the
other two birds were not fighting, as I
had supposed, but were tangled up in
some ordinary white pack-cord, such as
dry-goods merchants use in tying up
their wares. The children had been play-
ing with this cord about the yard, and
evidently these birds had picked it up
and carried it to the tree, and, in their
struggles to get some ten or twelve feet
of it through the branches to the nest,
got so tangled up in it that had I not
discovered them, and, with the assistance
of a handy step-ladder, set them free,
they would no doubt both have perished
in a few hours. I found that one of the
birds had the cord looped about its neck
several times and was literally "hung up
by the neck;" the other bird had the cord
about one wing and one leg, also one coil
around its body. When I approached
them closely the^' made such frantic
efforts to get away that one of them
broke the cord and flew away taking the
coils about its neck along, but the other
was tied up so securely that I had to
loosen the cord before it could get
away. I took the cord out of the tree
and on measurement found there were
between ten and twelve feet of it in one
piece.

I supposed that the injuries the birds
might have received, together with their
fright, would keep them away for this
season, but, as I am writing (this is six
days since that, the birds' eventful day).

296

Bird - Lore

they have finished the nest and seem to
be incubating.

Several questions naturally arise in
one's mind in connection with this
remarkable affair. Are the birds now
occupying the nest the same individuals
who were caught in the tangle? Where
did the third bird come from so suddenly,
that it could stand by and sympatheti-
cally watch their struggles for freedom?
Was it possible for one of these birds to
gather up twelve feet of this cord and
carry it the length of the lot to the box-
elder, or did both the birds tackle the
job in concerted action? If one bird
carried the cord alone, how or when did
the other bird "get into the game?" It
certainly would have been an interesting
thing to have been able to watch these
birds from the time they found the cord
till I found them in their helpless predica-
ment.— E. D. Nauman, Sigourncy, Iowa.

A Yellow Warbler's Nest

Early in May a member of my house-
hold was sitting on a side-porch sewing.
Unnoticed, a few small bits of the cloth
and edging on which she was at work
were blown into the grass a foot or two
away.

Her attention was called to them by
seeing a Yellow Warbler, who came closer
and closer to these bits of cloth and
edging, and while watching her, took
them, one at a time, into a hedge of lilac
and syringa bushes, a few feet distant.

This suggested that he was building
and wanted material for his nest, and to
meet this need still further, bits of cotton
were put on a fence-post that was under
the lilac bush.

Although the bird was not in sight
when this was done, as soon as one was a
foot or more away, he would come to the
post, look at her and go off with the
cotton.

This was repeated several times a day
for three or four days, and when he ceased
to take it, we knew no more was needed.

Weeks went on and the little family
were reared and the nest abandoned, but

it was most interesting to see with what
skill it had been made.

Woven in with the dried grasses, hair
and roots, were the cotton, the white
cambric and the Hamburg edging.

The birds remained near us, enjoying
the raspberries and the bird-bath, and
we hope to welcome them another year,
having had ample evidence that the
Yellow Warbler is grateful for help and
glad to be friendly. — E. J. Luther, Milton,
Mass.

Nesting of the Carolina Wren

Readers of Bird-Lore may be inter-
ested in knowing that this summer we
had two Carolina Wren's nests built on
the concrete piers under our porch.
• Between the piers are heavy wire screens.
Several tiny crevices where the frames do
not come quite to the ground served as
the way for the birds to get in and out.
The Wrens became as tame as the House
Wren, and were a great pleasure. The
nests were built of grass, moss and leaves,
and were both arched over with the open-
ing on the side While we have delighted
in their songs the three j'ears we have
lived here, they have been so shy, that,
although singing constantly in trees close
to the house, we were never able to get
a good view of them before. They started
singing this year while the snow was still
on the ground. During July they were
especially musical. From four o'clock in
the morning until sunset hardly a half
hour would pass that we were not treated
to one of their many different songs. We
are hoping for a whole colony of Carolinas
under our porch next year. A barberry
hedge that has been planted on the three
sides of the house will make it a still more
secluded and desirable place. — Mary
Giles Blunt, Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Bluebirds in Minnesota

Noticing the communication in Bird-
Lore regarding the scarcity of Bluebirds in
certain parts of the country I thought it
might be of interest to bird-lovers to

Notes from Field and Study

297

know thai these Ijirds have been (|uite
plentiful here since early spring. I
believe them to be as common as the}'
were during the spring and summer
months of 191 1. The liluehird is one of
the first birds to appear in spring, usually-
arriving about April i. The weather was
rather bad about that time this year, and
none of them were seen until April (•>.
Since that date I have seen them regularly
and have found several nests. A rural
mail-carrier who makes a thirty-mile
drive daily informed me that he also had
seen them many times. — Harry B.
Logan, Jr., Royalloii. M'tini.

White Pelicans in Ohio

l<)l)s or dotted the lawns. It was noticed
by all who are interested in birds that
there were an unusually large number of
them this year. This summer, however,
llie number has been normal.

It was interesting to find in the last
number of Bird-Lore that the Bluebirds
were very scarce in several places, for the
scarcity of the Bluebirds has been regret-
fully noticed here. The first one noticed
was verj' late, being seen on March 19.
Only one or two were found after that at
rare intervals, there seeming to be no
regular migratory flocks. I have noticed
only two pairs nesting in this vicinity this
year. — \V. J. Cartwrioiit, Williamsto'd'n,
Mass.

On the morning of August :!i, 1912.
my attention was called to two strange
birds which had stopped on our lake, and
upon investigating I found them to be a
pair of White Pelicans. This is rather
unusual as there is no case on record of
Pelicans being seen in this vicinity, and
their appearance anywhere in the state
is of rare occurrence.

They were first seen on the evening of
August 20, and evidently remained on
the lake during the night. The ne.xt
morning they took flight and after cir-
cling about for some time came back to
the water again. This was repeated several
times, after which they left and have not
been seen since. — W. H. Wisman, New
Paris, Ohio.

Goldfinches and Bluebirds in
Massachusetts

The American Goldfinches were very
numerous in Williamstown, Mass., during
the height of the spring migration. The
first arrivals were seen by the writer on
March 21, about a half-dozen being
noticed at that time. These were still
in their winter plumage. A few were seen
occasionally up to May 6, then large
numbers of them were seen for two weeks,
these being in full summer plumage. The
air was literally filled with their merry
little notes while they swung in the tree-

Northern Pileated Woodpecker at
Corvallis, Oregon

On May 19, 191 2, I observed a pair of
Northern Pileated Woodpeckers in the
second growth timber on Hind's Hill at an
elevation of about 1,000 feet. The birds
appeared shy and flew deeper into the
timber as soon as they saw me. This is
the first record I have of this bird. It is
reported as formerly common here but
is now rarely seen. — A. J. Stover.
Corvallis, Ore.

Prairie Horned Lark in Maine

In June, 191 1, I saw a pair of Prairie
Horned Larks fly out of the road just
ahead of me. I have never observed them
before at Auburn, Maine. I did not see
them again until August, when I saw five
near the same place on a piece of newly
plowed ground, one of them being pure
white. Here I observed them every day
for several days in succession.

The Horned Lark is common here in
the months of February and March.
Prof. J. Y. Stanton, of Bates College, tells
me that the only difference between the
Prairie Horned Lark and Horned Lark
is that the Prairie Horned Lark is slightly
smaller with a tinge of yellow instead of
white on the throat. — W. H. Waterman,
Auburn, Maine.

iloDfe jBtetD^ anti 3^tWtxy&

Michigan Bird Life; A List of all the
Bird Species known to occur in the State
together with an outline of their Classi-
fication and an account of the Life His-
tory of Each Species, with special refer-
ence to its Relation to Agriculture. With
seventy Full-page Plates and one hundred
and fifty-two Text Figures. By Walter
Bradford Barrows, S. B., Professor
of Zoology and Physiology and Curator
of the General Museum. Special Bul-
letin of the Department of Zoology and
Physiology of the Michigan Agricul-
tural College. Published by the Michi-
gan Agricultural College, 1912. 8vo.,
xiv -f- 822 pages. Price, paper, 45
cents; cloth, 60 cents; transportation,
35 cents. Applications should be sent
to Secretary A. M. Brown, East Lan-
sing, Mich.

As the title indicates, this is a complete
work on the birds of the area it covers,
and, so far as text is concerned, it at
once takes its place among the notable
books on the birds of a state.

An introduction of thirty-one pages
treats of 'Topography,' 'Climate,' 'Dis-
tribution of Plant Life,' 'Distribution of
Animal Life,' 'Bird Life in Michigan,'
'Recent Changes in the Bird Life of the
State,' 'How to Study Birds,' and 'Migra-
tion,' while Appendices contain a 'Hypo-
thetical List,' 'Bibliography,' 'Glossary,'
'Outline of Classification,' and 'List of
Contributors,' the last, including some 214
names, shows the many sources on which
Professor Barrows has drawn for informa-
tion, and is an index of the thoroughness
of his work.

The body of the book (pp. 33-729) is
devoted to the biographies of the 325
species and subspecies (plus one in
Appendix I) which are accorded rank as
Michigan birds. Here we have keys to
orders, families and species, descriptions
of plumage, and outline of general range,
a ^detailed, historical statement of the
bird's status and manner of occurrence in
Michigan, with data on food, voice, nest-
ing habits, etc.; all of which, it is obvious,
make the book of value everywhere and
indispensable in Michigan.

Professor Barrows evidently has small
use for the students of birds through an
opera-glass but believes "that the student
who searches the woods carefully for a
bird which he has never seen, who follows
up each unknown call or song, watches
with care each doubtful and illusive
form which suggests the bird desired, and
finally, perhaps after hundreds of dis-
appointments, kills a specimen of the
much-coveted species and measures, pre-
serves and labels it for his collection, has
gained a knowledge of the appearance,
habits, notes, size and structure of this
species which could be obtained in no
other possible way" (p. 13). That a
better knowledge of "size" and "struc-
ture" may be gained by killing a bird
than by permitting it to live is true
enough, but the very fact that it has been
killed makes it also equally true that all
opportunity for that intimate study of
"appearance," "habits," and "notes"
which (as Professor Barrow's book itself
shows) we so greatly need, ends with the
bird's life.

No bird student armed with a gun stops
to study the notes, habits, or appearance
of some rare or strange bird. The desire
for acquisition is too strong. Professor
Barrows quotes Dr. Coues on the needless
slaughter of bird-life, but he will remem-
ber that it was Coues who wrote "I fear
I must tell you to shoot an unknown
bird on sight." There was more excuse
for saying this thirty years ago than
there is today, but are we never to pass
the stage where students who prefer to
study living birds rather than dead ones
may do so without killing them?

Professor Barrows endorses the require-
ment that the "record" of any species for
a given locality should rest upon an
actual specimen taken in that locality,
but surely ornithology consists of some-
thing more than making records. It has
been the making of "records" of such
rare birds as Brewster's and Lawrence's
Warblers, for example, which has so

(298:

Book News and Reviews

299

oTtfii rolihcd us of (i|)p(irtuiiities to solve
llu' mystery of llu'ir ri'lalioiisliips, and
what littk' \vc do know alxiut thcni.
Professor Barrows must admit, wc owe
largely to those bird students who luive
been armed with opera-glass and camera,
rather than with a gun. And it is to the
observations of these same students that
we must turn for the largest and most
important contributions to our knowledge
of the life-histories of our birds which
have been made in the past fifteen years.
This is as it should be, and the fact serves
to mark an advance in our methods of
study resulting from the increased advan-
tages which the l)ir(l student of toda>'
possesses.

Time was in eastern North America
when collecting was necessary, but unless
the student has some deiinite use for
specimens as specimens, he may proceed
with his study without killing its object.
Keys for identification and elaborate
faunal treatises now solve his problems
of identification and give him detailed
information in regard to times of occur-
rence, and among works of this kind
none, we are sure, will prove to be more
useful than this admirable work b\'
I'rt)fessor Barrows. — F. AI. C.

Distribution and Origin of Life in
.\merica. By Robert Francis
ScHARFF, Ph.B., B. So. New York.
The Macmillan Company, 191 2, 8vo.,
xvi -|- 497 pages, 21 maps. Price $3.

Dr. Scharfl has placed in this volume
an immense amount of information in
regard to the distribution of animals, and
while we doubt if his interpretation of the
facts presented will find wide acceptance
by zoogeographers, his most aggressive
critic cannot but be thankful for the data
which he has made so easily available
for reference.

Dr. Scharff is a continent builder; he
takes the most surprising liberties with
the earth's surface, throwing out bridges
connecting hemisphere with hemisphere
in defiance of geologic probabilities, and
where the negative evidence outweighs
the positive many times over.

Negative evidence, however, he is

inclined to ignore nor does he make due
allowance for the often obvious incom-
pleteness of recorded information, while
an examination of specimens rather than
records would readily convince Dr.
.ScharfT that he has given undue weight
to ditTerences between closely allied forms.

To read, for e.\amplc, his remarks on
Bermuda birds would lead one to believe
that most of the barely recognizable
forms inhabiting those islands were
strikingly different from their continental
relatives, while his comments on the
Bluebirds inhabiting Bermuda seem so
irrelevant that one almost questions their
seriousness.

These islands, by the way, which have
been hitherto regarded as of purely
oceanic origin. Dr. Scharff believes "to
have formed part of a wide belt of land,
which extended northward from the West
Indies, joining the mainland of North
America somewhere near Massachusetts,
at a time when most of the existing coast
line of the Atlantic States south of Massa-
chusetts was submerged." The fact,
however, that Bermuda land-birds find
their continental representatives in the
South Atlantic States is not mentioned.

The inlluence of past climatic changes,
particularly those occasioned by glacial
periods, Dr. Scharff considers of small
importance, nor does he give much weight
to winds, currents, and other agencies
which are usually considered to play a
part in forming the life of islands.

No doubt there is adequate ground for
some of Dr. Scharff's theories, but many of
them rest on so slight a basis, and he
argues for such profound changes in the
earth's surface on such relatively unim-
portant and insufficient grounds, that we
fear his methods will tend to bring the
science of zoogeography into disrepute
among more conservative students.

Nevertheless, Dr. Scharff has made a
contribution to this subject of the highest
importance, and one which must be con-
sidered by all future workers in this field;
but in our opinion it is a volume for the
discriminating naturalist and not for
the general reader. — F. M. C.

300

Bird - Lore

The Ornithological Magazines

The Condor. — The Jul}^ number of
'The Condor' may fairly be termed a
Rocky Mountain number since three of
the five general articles and the only review
are devoted to the birds of this region.
In the opening article Mrs. Bailey gives,
in her usual graceful style, an account of
the characteristic 'Birds of the Cotton-
wood Groves' near Glorieta and the
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, and in the
Conejos River bottoms in Colorado.
Another instalment of the interesting
series of papers on the bird life of the
Barr Lake region, near Denver, is con-
tained in 'Notes on the Wading Birds,'
made by R. B. Rockwell and L. J. Hersey,
and illustrated by thirteen photographs.
Nine species are treated briefly and nine
at length. One of the most interesting
records is that of the nesting of Wilson's
Snipe on June 20, 1908, at Barr, a point
within the Upper Sonoran Zone.

The bird life of Colorado as a whole is
discussed by Prof. W. W. Cooke in a
formal review of W. L. Sclater's recent
'History of the Birds of Colorado,' which
is characterized as "among the very best
of the State bird lists," and in a special
article on 'The Present Status of the
Colorado Check-List of Birds.' The
lists of Cooke, 1909, and Sclater, 191 2,
are compared and the discrepancies
explained in detail. In conclusion, Cooke
maintains that Sclater's list of 395 species
should be reduced by the subtraction of
7 doubtful species and increased by the
addition of 15 others. "This makes a
Colorado list of 403 species about which
there cannot be much question."

The only papers on California birds are
Ray's account of the species noted in
1910 during a 'Journey to the Star Lake
Country,' in the Lake Tahoe region, and
Bryant's 'Present and Future Status of
the California Valley Quail.' The latter
article is a careful study of the various
factors affecting the present abundance
of the species, considered under six heads:
food, cover, enemies, disease, weather and
hunters. A map based on reports from

deputy game wardens shows the relative
abundance of Quail at various points
in the state in January, 191 2. This paper
merits careful reading by all who are
interested in the subject from the stand-
point of geographic distribution or game
protection. The author concludes that
food-supply is the most important of the
factors mentioned, that natural enemies
are of little consequence, and that there
is little immediate danger from disease.
The hunter has in recent years become a
very important factor and his destruc-
tiveness should be curbed by reasonable
bag limits and by an open season limited
to the months of November and Decem-
ber.—T. S. P.

Book News

We learn from 'The Ibis' for July that,
with the issue of the October, 191 2, num-
ber, concluding the ninth series and fifty-
fourth year of that journal. Dr. Philip
Lutley Sclater will resign the editorial
duties, which either alone, or in associa-
tion with Salvin, Saunders, or Evans, he
has borne for forty-two years, and will be
succeeded by his son William Lutley
Sclater, well known to American ornitholo-
gists as the author of the 'Birds of Colo-
rado.'

The Biological Survey issues, as Far-
mers' Bulletin No. 510, its annual sum-
mary of the game laws and of the pro-
visions relating to seasons, shipments,
sale of game, licenses, etc. As an official
document of wide general interest the
press throughout the country gives much
space to abstracts of this publication and
the information it contains is thus brought
prominently to the attention of the public.

Bird students who visit the island of
Jamaica will be glad to know of an excel-
lent list of the birds of the island by Dr.
P. L. Sclater, which was published in the
'Handbook of Jamaica for 1910.' It lists
194 species, of which 99 are permanent
residents, 52 winter visitants, and 43
occasional visitors.

Editorial

301

ilirti Sore

A Bi-monthly Magazine
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

OFFICIAL ORGAN OK THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES

Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Contributing Editor, MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

Published by D. APPLETON & CO.

Vol. XIV Published October 1. 1912 No. 5

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

COPTRIGMTBD, (912. BY PRANK M. CHAPMAN

Bird-Lore's Motto:
A Bird in the Bush Is Worth Two in the Hand

The thirtieth annual congress of the
American Ornithologists' Union will be
held at the Museum of Comparative
Zoology in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
November 12-14, 191 2. No one who has
ever attended an A. O. U. Congress there-
after misses one if he can help it! Con-
sequently no one who is eligible for election
to membership in the A. O. U. should
neglect the opportunity to associate himself
with others of kindred tastes. If he cannot
attend the annual congresses of the
Union he can at least read of them, and of
many other things orjiithological, in the
pages of 'The Auk.' All information will
be supplied by Dr. J. Dwight, Jr., Treas.,
134 West 71st St., New York City.

Mr. Joseph Grinnell, of the Museum
of Vertebrate Zoology of the University
of California, has recently published as
Pacific Coast Avifauna No. 8, of the
Cooper Ornithological Club, an authorita-
tive check-list of California birds which
prompts us to make certain remarks on
check-lists and local lists in general.

Such lists are designed primarily to tell
us how many and what kinds of birds are
found in the region they cover, and the
information thus conveyed may be used
in a great variety of ways, but, as with a
dictionary, the prime requisite of a check-
list is ease of reference.

It is therefore a matter of regret when
the compiler of a list of this nature pre-
sents it in such a form that its reference

value is largely destroyed. This, in our
opinion, Mr. Grinnell has done by failing
to adopt in the publication mentioned
above, a classification which for nearly
thirty years has been the standard in
North America and which is familiar to
all students of North .'\merican birds, —
that is, the classification of the 'Check-
List' of the American Ornithologists'
Union. That this classification is anti-
quated and does not represent currently
accepted views regarding the relation-
ships of our birds is beyond question, but
we maintain that a check-list, and particu-
larly a list containing only a fraction of
the birds of the world, is not the place in
which to adopt a classification differing
radically from the one in common use
and recognized as a standard in the
country where the list is produced.

The American Ornithologists' Union
very wisely took this ground in dealing
with the birds of a very much wider area
than Mr. Grinnell's list covers, and con-
sidering ease of reference of more impor-
tance than the adoption of an admittedly
tentative (even if the latest) scheme of
classification, employed in the 1910
edition of its 'Check-List of North
American Birds' the classification used
in preceding editions. The object for
which the book was issued was thereby
served and its reference value maintained.

The whole subject of classification is a
most difficult and, in many respects,
unsatisfactory one. The entire existing
avifauna of the earth represents probably
but the fragmentary remains of avian
forms which have existed in preceding
geological ages, and the attempt to
arrange the some 13,000 species of living
birds in accordance with what is believed
to be their natural relationships will oc-
cupy the systematists for many generations
and doubtless never be wholly successful.

In the meantime if the authors of
check-lists and local lists will but follow
the standard prevailing in the region to
which they relate they will win the grati-
tude of everyone who has occasion to
refer to the published results of their
labors.

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Edited by ALICE HALL WALTER

Address all communications relative to the work of this depart-
ment to the Editor, at S3 Arlington Avenue, Providence, R. I.

HOW AUDUBON SOCIETIES MAY BECOME MORE
EFFICIENT

IN these times of reorganization, better organization and higher standards of
service, it may not be out of place to inquire whether our x'Vudubon Socie-
ties are doing the most effective kinds of work in the most efficient manner.

The Audubon Society of the District of Columbia is reported to be meeting
"a situation in which most Audubon Societies fail, by giving its members some-
thing to do." At first thought, it would seem that the essential requisite for
membership in any society ought to be fitness and willingness to do something.
This is not the case, however, for numberless members of all sorts of societies
consider their duty done when they have paid the annual membership fee.
The payment of such a fee, it should be gratefully granted, is a great help,
still, dollars and cents can never represent the total efficiency or influence of
an organization. In the long run, it is the personal output of effort and interest
that counts most in building up public sentiment and establishing higher
standards of living.

A small society, with an active membership, generally accomplishes more
in a community than a large one, whose membership is represented only by a
list of names with an accompanying list of yearly dues, receipts and a faithful
Secretary and Treasurer to record the same.

The important question for our Audubon Societies, after all, is not what
shall be done with the money contributed in annual fees— there are always
ways to use this to advantage — but what shall members be asked to do individ-
ually to help the work of bird-protection and of educating pubUc sentiment.

Above everything, let something practical be taken up that is within the
power of our members to do. It is the right time of year to begin work on
bird refuges in city or country. No more practical object-lesson could be
offered the public than to have in each community a protected plot where
food-houses, lunch-counters, drinking-fountains and nesting-boxes are kept
in actual operation for the purpose of attracting and increasing the bird-popu-
lation. This is a kind of work in which Audubon Societies and schools can
act together most advantageously, for while the former organize the project
and take the initial responsibility, teachers and scholars can find in it the
opportunity for outdoor bird-study so often denied to both by reason of
limited time and strength.

(302)

The Audubon Societies 303

A bird rcfuj^c nuisl ha\c a trust}- warden or guardian ul some sort, but if a
hired warden is engaged, and everything in connection with the refuge is paid
for in money, then it becomes merely an outdoor attraction with the personal
element omitted. Such an undertaking is most happily carried on when the
children have some jiart in it under the leadershi]) of efficient Audubon
members.

Another practical thing which bird-students can do, and in our Audubon
Societies there are many such ones, is to personally assist teachers in active
field-work with the scholars. The success of this plan has already been dem-
onstrated in the District of Columbia. Many teachers feel discouraged,
naturally, when confronted with the task of conducting large classes into the
field. With the assistance of a sympathetic bird-lover, fifteen or even twenty
pupils might be taken out without difficulty. Smaller groups are desirable
for bird-study but large classes can make observations profitably along other
lines of nature-study. Let cooperation and enthusiasm be our watchwords
for the coming yearl — A. H. W.

FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS

Exercise V. The Birds' Map of America

Correlated Studies: Spelling, Geography and Grammar

If you have followed out carefully the summer and winter homes of the
birds which have been briefly described in Exercises III and IV, you will hardly
have failed to notice that quite different kinds of birds find congenial feeding
and nesting areas in about the same places. This fact is more striking when
one discovers that species belonging to the same family frequently differ more
with respect to their distribution than species belonging to widely separated
families. Of the Flycatchers that visit North America, for instance, the
Acadian or Green-crested Flycatcher is seldom found north of Long Island,
southern Ontario, Michigan and central Iowa, and no further west than eastern
Nebraska and Texas; while the Olive-sided Flycatcher ranges as far as Cape
Breton Island, central Quebec, southern Keewatin and Mackenzie, even into
central Alaska, as well as from Michigan eastward, and also, in the west, to
southern California, Arizona and western Te.xas.

The Kingbird, which you will remember belongs to the Flycatcher family,
occupies in summer much more nearly the same area as the Red-eyed Vireo
and Cowbird than as the Acadian Flycatcher. Or, to take other examples,
the Blackpoll and Yellow-throated Warblers seek summer homes quite remote
from each other as compared with those of the Blackpoll Warbler and Barn
Swallow, or of the Yellow-throated Warbler and Summer Tanager.

The distribution of birds, as well as of all animals and plants, is a great
puzzle at best; still, by looking about us, we may learn some things that will

304 Bird - Lore

make this matter a little clearer. In our study, so far, we have traveled north
and south with the birds to learn the routes which they follow to their
summer and winter homes. Let us now take the map of the western hemis-
phere and look at it from east to west, or west to east. See what a remarkable
outline North America has, compared with that of the Eurasian continent of
the eastern hemisphere! In the first place, its greatest breadth is in the far
north, where the land is covered with snow and ice most of the year, while
down near the line of the tropics, where the temperature never reaches the
freezing-point, there is very little land. In fact, North America is nearly all
water instead of land imtil one reaches the United States, for the Gulf of
Mexico and Caribbean Sea, to say nothing of the great oceans, cut so deeply
into its surface.

Notice, in the next place, that most of the lofty mountain ranges and
practically all of the dry, treeless places are in the western part of this great
continent, whereas the east has most of the large inland bodies of water. You
can easily find on the map and name these mountain-ranges, plains and
plateaus, and gulfs, lakes and bays. It will be well to spend a few moments
in looking up the courses of the great rivers, too, because they play an impor-
tant part in the birds' map of America. It is a curious fact that many birds
never go far west of the Mississippi River, while many others do not come so
far east as its borders. Moreover, some of those which frequent the eastern
United States stop in their northward journey not far above the Ohio River;
others follow up the Hudson and Connecticut River valleys a considerable
distance, leaving most of their kind further south; while a variety of birds
find a congenial summer home all the way north from Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Canada, Ontario and Lake Superior northwestward to Alaska.
Just why there is such diversity in the distribution of our summer neighbors
and spring travelers, it is hard to say, but climate, food-supply and favored
nesting-haunts may account for it in part.

Far north, it makes little difference whether one is in Greenland, the
Hudson Bay region or northern Alaska, there is almost no vegetation, and
always snow, ice and a cold, chilling temperature. On the birds' map this
inhospitable expanse is called the Arctic Zone. By circling the North Pole,
one would find no change in these conditions, and consequently little differ-
ence in the vegetation and animals which seek a home there. The bleakest
part of this zone, which is in Greenland, about Hudson, Bay and along the
eastern edge of Labrador and Newfoundland, is known as the Barren Ground
fauna; that in northern Alaska, as the Alaskan- Alpine fauna.

Perhaps you should know what is meant by the word fauna, because it is
a word used so frequently in the geography of animals, just as the word flora
is, in the geography of plants. Fauna means the whole number of animals
found in an area where the climate and conditions in general are much the
same. Flora means all the kinds of vegetation in a like area. The ancients

The Audubon Societies 305

believed in gods and goddesses, or nature-deities we might call them, who
watched over their gardens, pastures and flocks. The goddess Flora was sup-
posed to protect the plants, while the god Faunus protected the shepherds'
flocks, and all the simple forms of agriculture of those early times. In these
days we no longer believe in gods and goddesses, but we still use the beautiful
names of the ancients in our nature-study. Fauna and flora are not dry,
scientific terms at all, but words with a history which tell us a story and at
the same time stand for a definite idea.

Such plants as the arctic poppy, dwarf willow and some of the saxifrages
and gentians belong to the Arctic-Alpine flora. Its fauna may be traced by
the presence of the Snowy Owl, the Ptarmigan, polar bear, musk-ox, Arctic
fox, lemmings, walruses and some of the seals, and, out in the barren ground,
the caribou and reindeer.

Far south of this polar zone, above the timber-line on the loftiest moun-
tain peaks in the United States and ^Mexico, there may be found similar con-
ditions of cold and scanty life. We may think of these places as arctic islets
high up in the air, overhanging a land of warmth and plenty. Where snow and
ice and cold give way to trees, the timber-line is said to begin and sub-arctic
conditions take the place of polar frigidity. Between latitude 45° and 57°
south and east of Hudson Bay and between 50° and 68° west of that great
body of water, roughly speaking, extends a timber-zone, sub-arctic to cold-
temperate in climate, from which long arms follow south along the great
mountain-ranges of the United States as far as Georgia on the Atlantic coast,
and Mexico and southern California in the west. Most of Alaska, British
Columbia, the territory from Great Bear Lake down through the Great Slave
Lake region and Athabasca as far south as the Saskatchewan Plains, and
eastward, almost all of the land between the 60th parallel and the Great Lakes
region with the exception of southern Ontario and southern Canada, together
with the western parts of Labrador and Newfoundland, most of inland New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and the northern edges of Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Michigan belong to this vast, transcontinental belt. Heavily forested
for the most part, the northern part of this zone is covered with spruce and fir,
and here, in the so-called Hudsonian fauna, live the woodland caribou, moose,
wolverme, and the Rough-legged Hawk, Pine Grosbeak, Northern Shrike,
the Great Gray Owl, White-winged Crossbill, and two of our most attractive
spring travelers, the White-crowned and Fox Sparrow^s.

Just as bits of the Arctic-Alpine zone dot the summits of lofty mountains
in the United States and Mexico, so the Hudsonian Zone is also found
below these frigid islets, w^here the timber-line begins. In this part of our
high mountain-slopes, the hunter looks for the mountain sheep and mountain
goat, the coney or pika and Alpine flying-squirrel, as well as the beautiful
Evening Grosbeak, Clark's Nutcracker, which is a kind of Crow, and a near
but rare relative of the Thrushes, Robins and Bluebirds, Townsend's Solitaire.

3o6 Bird - Lore

The southern part of the vast, boreal zone we are describmg contains the
Canadian fauna with two others of small extent, one, the Aleutian, the other,
the Sitkan, which you can easily locate along the northwestern part of the
Pacific coast.

It would take too much space to mention all of the plants and animals
which find their most favored habitat in this zone. The lynx, marten and
porcupine are famiUar species, if not in the field at least in story and menagerie,
as well as the Canada Jay, White-throated Sparrow and Myrtle Warblers.
Wild berries grow here, such as huckleberries, blackberries and cranberries,
for this is the first zone, coming south from the north pole, in which agri-
culture may be engaged in successfully. The southern part of the Canadian
zone, it is needless to say, is by far the most favorable for such crops as white
potatoes, beets, hardy apples and cereals.

Right here we may learn two facts, which you ha\'e doubtless already
guessed, first, that the farther one goes from the poles toward the equator,
the greater is the number of kinds of vegetation and animals found; and
second, that although in North America the land-areas become smaller and
smaller in extent tow^ards the tropics, there is far more diversity in the physio-
graphy of the United States, Mexico, the West Indies and Central America than
farther north in the zones we have been studying. Our next lesson will tell
something of the character of the birds' map from northern United States
southward.

REFERENCES

1871. Allen, J. A.. A Sketch of the Bird Faunce of Eastern North America, Bull.
Mus. Comp. ZooL, II, pp. 375-425. — 1892. Allen. J. A., The Geographical Distribu-
tion of North American Mammals, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., IV, pp. 199-244; maps.
— 1892. Merrl\m, C. H., The Geographic Distribution of Life in North America with
Special Reference to .the Mammalia, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., VII, pp. 1-64, one map.
— 1893. Allen, J. A., The Geographical Origin and Distribution of North American
Birds Considered in Relation to the Faunal Areas of North America, The Auk, X, pp.
97-150, two maps. — 1894. Merriam, C. H., Laws of Temperature Control of the Geo-
graphical Distribution of Terrestrial Animals and Plants, Nat. Geog. Mag., VI, pp.
2 29-238, three maps. — 1895. Merriam, C. H.,The Geographic Distribution of Animals
and Plants in North America, Year-book V. S. Dep't of Agriculture, for 1894, pp.
203-214. — 1898. Merriam, C. H., Life Zones and Crop Zones of the United States,
Bull. No. 10, Biological Survey, pp. 1-79, one map. — 1904. Russell, I. C, North
America, Chap, III, Climate, pp. 1S4-203 (Appleton).

SPELLING EXERCISE

It is suggested thai after learning to spell the lists of words gi\'en below,
the derivation of each word be looked up, plural forms, wherever they occur,
be noted and that each pupil be assigned a word to investigate, to the end that
at least one interesting fact be reported in the classroom with reference to
the word in question, as well as its grammatical significance.

The Audubon Societies

307

Geographical

Scientific

species
continent
temperature
arid

General

Birds and
Plants

Connecticut

vegetation
traveled
inhospitable
agriculture

tanager
saxfrage
gentian
ptarmigan

Eurasian

lemming
caribou

Athabasca

fauna

flora

latitude

boreal

physiography

tropic

habitat

territory

transcontinental

parallel

distribution

congenial

similar

separate

*Saskatche\van

reindeer

Nova Scotia

wolverine

Mendocino

coney

Sitkan

♦Saskatchewan is sometimes spelled Saskatchawan. Which form is correct-

Name your authoritv
A. H. \V. ■

FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS
Bird Notes from the Minnesota State Training School for Boys

Last May, while watching some Tennessee Warblers that were picking
worms from under the curled up leaves of a snowball bush across the drive-
way, we were startled by a bird dashing against the window-pane and then
either dropping to the ground or flying away. We wondered what could ha^•l•
been the cause of his reckless flight, but were more interested just then in
the Tennessee Warblers than in the bird that had met with disaster.

On turning again to the bush to watch the Warblers, we noticed a female
Baltimore Oriole which was calling in a low, sweet voice from the snowball
bush, a sort of a crooning call, never heard from an Oriole until now, and at
first we did not realize that it was the Oriole calling. Remembering the bird
that struck the window-pane, we stepped out-of-doors, and there, beneath
the window, was the male Oriole, dead.

One beautiful day in June, we noticed a Uttle performance which proved
that the Kingbird is either a tyrant as his name (Tyrannus tyranniis) implies,
or else he is mischievous and likes to tease.

We were seated on one of the steps leading down to a stretch of sand along
the banks of the Mississippi River. Just at the foot of the flight of stairs is an
old scrub oak, and close beside this a basswood tree.

At the end of one of the branches of the scrub oak was a clump of foliage
and a network of small branches that made an ideal spot for a nest. A Cedar
Waxwing had evidently seen the advantages of the location for ends of twine
were hanging from the branches, and, as we looked, a Waxwing appeared in
sight and seized one end of the string. Just then a Kingbird swooped down
from some elevation back of us, and the Waxwing, in a dignified manner,
retreated to the dense foliage lower down the tree, and remained there. The

3o8 Bird -Lore

Kingbird seemed to have a great deal of curiosity in regard to this nest-build-
ing, for he flew under the clump of foliage, then alighted beside it, and finally-
settled down into the cup-shaped place where the Waxwing had begun the
nest. Having fully satisfied his curiosity, he departed, and was no sooner gone
than the Waxwing reappeared and again took up the thread. Mr. Tyrannus,
however, was not far away, and had evidently been keeping his eye on the
spot, for down he swooped, as before, and put a stop to the proceedings.

The difference between the two birds was very noticeable, the Kingbird
so aggressive and impetuous, the Waxwing so retiring and gentle, yet both
so insistent. The little by-play was kept up for several successive rounds,
the Kingbird swooping down from his perch above, the Waxwing coming up
in a quiet mouselike manner from the branches below.

As soon as one left the other appeared. Finally the Kingbird decided to
perch right on the spot, deeming, no doubt, that "possession was nine points
of the law." He sat bolt upright beside the nest for fully fifteen minutes, and
then flew away. By this time the Waxwing had undoubtedly decided that
life was too short to waste any more time wrangling over a building-site when
the neighborhood was full of others just as good.

We remained for some time watching the spot but neither bird returned.

From the same observation point we witnessed a scene in which the actors
were a pair of Maryland Yellow-throats and a turtle.

We first noticed the turtle crawling up from the stretch of sand. As it
neared the shrubbery it would stretch out its neck, and lift its head as if lis-
tening. At the base of the basswood tree was a tangle of new shoots, and as
the turtle pushed his way through them, a dry twig snapped, and immediately
there appeared overhead in the branches of the basswood, a Maryland Yellow-
throat, the female. She seemed very much worried about the advancing
turtle and gave a little call, which brought the male to her side at once. Both
birds hopped from branch to branch over the place where the turtle had
stopped, but they did not utter a sound. Whether the turtle saw me, or for
some other reason changed his mind, I do not know, but he turned and slowly
crawled back to the river. When certain that the danger was over, the Yellow-
throats dropped to the ground and disappeared for awhile. They take such a
roundabout way of getting to their nests that it is difficult to follow them. We
remained perfectly still and soon heard the chack, quit, quit of the male as he
hopped in and out among the weeds and low bushes. The female flew from
a low bush to some weeds nearer the river, and we watched very closely the
neighborhood of the bush until she returned. She alighted, first on the bush
about two yards from the nest, then flew to the ground, and winding back and
forth, came nearer and nearer to where I thought the nest was located. She
was perfectly quiet, uttering no sound, but the male was keeping up his Uttle
quit, quit. As the bushes were somewhat scattered and the weeds not so very

The Audubon Societies 309

thick, \vc could keep track of the mother bird and caught gUmpses of her now
and then until she reached the nest. When she again left the nest we went
over and gently parted the high weeds, and there, about an inch from the
ground, in a little cluster of woody weeds, was the nest, sure enough, with three
young birdies, in the stage where they appear to be all mouth.

[These entertaining and carefully reported observations were sent from Red Wing,
Minn., by the Principal of the Slate Training School for Boys, with the thought that they
"might be of interest to the readers of Bird-lore." He writes: "Our school is situated
on the banks of the Mississippi River about fifty miles below St. Paul. We have such a
number of birds in our \icinity and we get the migrating birds of the Mississippi \'alley
in the spring and fall."

Anyone who has had the good fortune to study nature in this region knows the
wealth of its bird-life as compared with many other sections of the United States. The
incident of the turtle calls to mind the experience of a duck-breeder who finds that not
only snakes but also frogs and green turtles molest his ducklings. Other observers have
had more discouraging experiences in searching for the nest of the Maryland Yellow-
throat, than the one described above. This bird is one of the slyest and most elusive
creatures to follow. The writer, with a trained associate, spent a fruitless half-hour
during July, trying to locate the destination of a male Yellow-throat which was on its
way to the nest, with food in its mouth. ^ We shall hope to hear from this school again. —
A. H. W.]

A Little Story About the Mockingbird

A pair of Mockingbirds built a nest in some roses on my friend's veranda.
When the nest was completed, one egg was laid each day, but with two eggs
in the nest, the female began sitting. I am certain that no one took any eggs,
for on the third day after the nest was completed it was under the close
observation of my friend. — M.^urice B. Emmich (Aged 11 years), Vicksburg,
Miss.

A Sparrow and a Dragon-fly

While walking in New York, I saw an English Sparrow with a dead dragon-
fly. The dragon-fly was a very large one. It was fully as large as the Sparrow.
I do not know if he killed it himself or found it dead. — Pendleton Marshall,
New York City.

[Brief as the above notes are, they show that both of these young observers saw a
few points clearly and reported them truthfully. This is the way to get at the secrets
of nature. Older observers have been severely criticized for making too much out of
what they imagined they had seen in the field. Imagination is a fine gift, but let all of
us beware of confusing what we actually see and hear in nature with what we would
like to see and hear. — A. H. W.j

NOTE

Read Wheatear for Whcaleater in the July-.\ugust issue of Bird-Lore, page 245.

FROM ADULT OBSERVERS

The First Record of the Mockingbird Nesting in Rhode Island

On April 7, 1911, a single bird was seen, but not close enough for identi-
fication. On April 19 it was seen more closely and for three days following,
and on account of its song it was identified as a male Mockingbird. On April
24 two birds were seen, and from that date until the last of June they were
observed almost daily. Their nest was located, about the middle of May, in
a spruce tree, some fifty feet from a private residence surrounded by rather
spacious grounds, a quarter of a mile from Hampden Meadows Station. The
nest was large and untidily built, and contained four eggs. Only three young
birds were known to hatch out. The birds stayed near the place of nesting,
and seemed inclined to quarrel with other birds. In the spring the song of the
male was rather unsatisfactory and unpleasant, but in the fall it was of a far
finer quality. Early in September the adults and three young were seen every
day. September 20 was the last date when more than one individual was seen.
The male stayed until October 21. A few days after, the male and female
reappeared, and were seen daily about the grounds and in the privet hedge.
They made very little noise, and seemed to be contented to come out about
the hen-yard and about the bushes that had withered berries on them. Feb-
ruary 8 they were still in the vicinity. The family owning the grounds near
which they nested fed them all winter, and they were very friendly. January
30, one of them flew out of the swamp, about a quarter of a mile from where
the nest was, toward the house.— Bertha B. Sunu, Barrington, R. I.

[This interesting and unusual record is published through the kindness of the teacher
whose observations are given above. The movements of this family of Mockingbirds
have been followed eagerly by bird-lovers, and it was hoped that the parent birds
would remain to nest this season. Only one has been seen in Barrington since late
in the winter, but, very early in April, one bird, judged to be a male by its song, appeared
in the grounds of Mr. John R. Freeman, well within the limits of the city of Providence.
Here it was heard or seen daily until April 26, when it disappeared. If unmolested
by cats or other enemies, it is hoped that the whereabouts of these Mockingbirds may
be reported by interested observers. So far as known, the above nesting-record is the
first for this species in Rhode Island.

Under date of May 29, 191 2, Miss Smith writes further: "The Mockingbird (male)
is still in Barrington, but we have been unable to discover any other individuals this
spring. Of the three that were hatched last spring, only one was with the parent birds
in the fall. All three were seen late in November, and then for a few weeks they dis-
appeared. The male returned and stayed all winter. This spring I have made careful
search and inquiries, but find only one bird. He does not seem to be very busy nor
very lonely, and has made friends with the people in whose grounds he is located. —
A. H. W.I

(310)

The Nuthatch Brothers

By GARRETT NEWKIRK

Mr. W. B. i White breasted I

Head up or head down,
Like a jolly old clown;

In and out,

Quick about,
With many a prank,
And a laughing "Quank-Quank.

Then hunting for food
In the bark or the moss;
And who do you think

Clipped his tail,

With the shears,

Straight across?

With a cut-away coat
And a broad white vest,

And a high standing collar,
He is always well dressed.

Mr. R B. Red-breasted

And his brother, R. B.
Sometimes you may see,
Though he often stays North
Where he loves a pine tree.
Whether upper or under
Along a big limb,
With head up or down.
Any way pleases him.

If he'll keep still a second,

No doubt you may s])y
A long whitish line.

Just over his eye.
And both of these

Brothers
Are friends of the trees.

With catching of slugs
Where they bore in the dark.

And thousands of bugs.
Just under the bark.

If trees could use words.
No doubt they would say,

"How we love the dear birds.
Protect them, we pray."

(3")

THE CALIFORNIA QUAIL

By JOSEPH MAILLIARD

Tlf^t /Rational Sl00ociation ot Sintuhon &otktit0

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 58

The California Quail — using this name for the two subspecies we have in
the state — is one of the most interesting, and also most commonly met with,
of the birds of California.

Along the more rainy and damper coast-belt, the Quail is of a darker hue
and larger form; while, in the dryer interior and in the deserts, where the sun
shines nearly every day in the year, and often shines intensely, it is somewhat
smaller and paler. The darker bird is called the California Quail, and the
paler one the Valley Quail.

The range of one or the other of these 'races' or 'subspecies' extends from
north to south, from east to west, except at the higher elevations, almost
throughout the state. From the lesser mountains of northern Cali-
Range fornia to the waste areas of the southern deserts, from the wave-

washed cliffs of the western seacoast to the foothills of the snow-
capped Sierras, it varies in abundance, it is true; but it is to be seen and heard
amid the rocks and cactus of the Colorado desert, where it thrives in friendly
contest with its cousin, Gambel's Quail, among the vast sagebrush areas of
central and southern California, on the plains in the great valleys where green
stretches of alfalfa are a striking contrast to the fields of golden grain waving
in the summer breeze, in the live oak and chaparral-covered hills nearer the
coast, or among the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, up to a height
of three or four thousand feet. In fact, wherever there is a little water to drink,
a sheltered place to roost at night, and grain or grass seeds for food, one is
apt to come across this species. And it is a bird worth meeting!

Always sleek and well-groomed, except when molting, with an air of sedate
but active respectability, quick as a flash when danger threatens, the male,
with his richer coloring and gracefully curved head-plumes, seems ever proud
as he marches about, or runs swiftly along in search of food, while his consort
follows meekly in her more quiet garb.

The Quail has several very distinct and differently used notes and calls.
The most commonly noticed call is really more like a rooster's crow than a
song, and is easily imitated by a child, a woman, or even by a
Notes man, if he has a good falsetto, and sounds something like ka-ka-kao,

which is interpreted by various human beings to suit their fancy.
Some claim that Mr. Quail says, "Put that down!" others that he
distinctly means, "Cut it out!" while the hunters know that he says, "You
go 'way!" But this call is given only when he feels happy. There is a varia-

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CALIFORNIA PARTKIDGE

Order— Galling Family— Odontophorid/E

Genus— LoPHORTYX Species— Californica

National Association of Audubon Societies

Educational Leaflet No. 58

The California Quail 313

tion to it, given with the same notes, but with a very different accent, that
sounds like "ku-ku-ku!'' with the accent strongly on the second note, and the
last note faint. This means some sort of warning to the flock. It is not the
real danger signal, but is a sort of notice from the lookouts to be on guard, and,
after a flock has been scattered, is used as well for a call signal to collect again,
separated birds calling to each other from quite a distance.

The real danger signal is very different, and sounds like dst-dst-dst, (drawing
/;z the air or breath). Both male and female repeat this very rapidly several
times with a falling inflection, and when this danger call is sounded ex-
citedly, the whole flock runs to cover. There is also a sort of twittering
that the Quail make, either after a flock has been scattered and is collecting
again, or in the early mornings when the birds come down from the night's
roost, and are getting together and deciding where they will have their
breakfast. This is a subdued but very pleasant sound, and seems to be in the
way of friendly greeting.

In the nesting season the male also utters a single call, which is like the last
note of the crowing call, first mentioned. In early spring the Quail are to be
found mostly in pairs. Later, when the nesting season commences, the male
takes his stand upon bush, rock, stump, post, or any good vantage point,
and gives voice to this single call, repeated at frequent intervals and loud
enough to be heard quite a distance. Whether this note is one of encourage-
ment to his sitting spouse, or whether given to show how good it feels to be
alive in the springtime, we cannot know; but in our California spring it is a
most characteristic sound.

A Quail's nest, if it may be so called, is a most interesting sight. Usually

it is but a mere hollow in the ground, perhaps with a little dried grass, or a

very few feathers, as an excuse for a lining, with advantage taken

Nest of a stone, shrub, or tuft of grass to help conceal it. It is seldom

found, except when the startled mother flies up from almost

under one's feet when one nearly steps on her.

The number of eggs varies greatly, and sometimes there are so many that
the little hollow is almost overflowing with them. As high as thirty-one have
been found in a nest by the writer, but the usual number is from
Eggs fifteen to twenty. It seems as if there must be more than one

bird laying, in the case of the very large sets, and it is often easy
to separate a set into two or three distinct types of marking and shades, indi-
cating that different females were responsible for the different types of eggs.

The groundwork of the eggs is of a creamy white, while the markings are
irregular spots and blotches of a color from old gold to brown. Some eggs are
heavily marked, while others are nearly white. It is a very singular thing
that if the eggs are disturbed by a person — even if only touched by one finger —
the nest is almost always deserted. One may step within a few inches of a nest
and frighten the bird away, not only once but several times, and still the bird

314 Bird -Lore

will come back. But disturb the eggs ever so slightly — pick up an egg and put
it back as near as possible just as it was before — and the next time you go to
look at the nest the eggs are cold, the nest deserted, and possibly robbed by
some jay, snake, or four-footed creature. This is unfortunate, because Quail
often select places for their nests near houses or on cultivated lands. The
writer remembers one nest made imder the edge of a one-horse treadmill
that was used every day to churn butter. The poor Quail was frightened
away several times each day, and of course stayed away when the horse was
doing the churning, but she laid something like eight eggs before becoming
sufficiently discouraged to leave.

Very rarely one will find a Quail's nest in which the eggs are just hatching,
and the young have such an instinct for hiding at the least alarm that on such
an occasion they will actually run to cover with half of the egg-
Young shell still clinging to their backs! The tiny youngsters give a
little weak-voiced peep or two, and then all is quiet. They would
be stepped on and crushed before they would make their hiding-place known!
They run about in a most lively way by the time they are two or three days
old, and are often to be seen along the less-frequented roads in summer time.

Like chickens, the Quail love to scratch in the dust, and a dusty road, with-
out too many passers-by, is a strong attraction for them. It is a pretty sight
to see the old ones leading the broods in such places, stopping to pick up seeds
here and there, with their head-plumes bobbing each time they give a peck
at a seed, wallowing in the dust now and again, but ever with a watchful eye
for danger; while the youngsters run hither and thither, now scattering a
little, then closing up again, at a warning from the old ones, covering the
dust with the tracks of their little feet, and gradually working their way along
the road for often a hundred yards or so before sufficiently disturbed to take
to cover.

Each flock of Quail has its own special domain, and never wanders far
away; and in the summertime, before the birds are made wild by the opening
of the shooting-season, any one passing often over a road early
Haunts in the morning, or late in the afternoon, may see the same flock

again and again, and watch the youngsters grow. While the Quail
scatter out in pairs in the nesting season, and keep their broods separate for
a little time when still very young, they soon commence to band together;
and where they are plentiful the bands become larger and larger as fall
approaches, until, in places, they number hundreds in a flock. But in the
more thickly settled country, where every man's and boy's hand is against
them, they are sadly diminishing, and one may find only a small band of ten
or twelve living near a spring where he used to see a hundred.

While the California Quail is very wary in some ways, it often takes up
its abode in the vicinity of houses, and even in cities where there are gardens
with shrubbery. Unlike the eastern Quail — the Bobwhite, that is — which

The California Quail 31=5

si)encis the night on the ground the California Quail invarably roosts in bushes
or trees, and, where there is a dense hedge in a garden, they sometimes take
possession of the premises, and u\en walk around the porches of houses where
protected from marauders. But let anyone try to get near them, and off they
go, with their peculiar whirring of the wings. This bird can be mcjre or less
domesticated by keeping it in an enclosed ])lace, and sometimes it nests in
confinement, but it seldom gets really tame.

In some parts of the state, especially in the southern interior, the Quail
will run long distances, instead of flying, when disturbed by the hunter — as
far as half a mile, often, and a flock of perhaps a hundred or so will in this
way apparently disappear from the face of the earth. In the more wooded
parts they fly into trees, where they manage to hide themselves in such a
manner that it is almost impossible to see them; while, if you do happen to
get }-our eye on one, he seems to know it on the instant, and is olif like a
shot. Their power of concealment is remarkable under any circumstances.
E\-en on the barest sort of ground, where perhaps a dry season has allowed of
but little growth of grass, and that little has been gnawed ofif by the hungry
cattle until only a few shreds of line straw lie on the ground, the Quail will
take advantage of a little hollow no bigger than the palm of one's hand, or a
stick, bit of stone, anything at all, and become invisible. The practised eye
of the most experienced hunter can but seldom pick one out unless he has
seen the bird actually settling down into place or making some slight move,
.so well does the protective coloration blend with the surrounding objects.

The California Quail does not eat many harmful insects, but is of much
benefit as a destroyer of weed seeds. It is fond of grain, and at times may
scratch up and eat a Uttle in a sown grainfield, before and after
Food the grain has sprouted; but even then it is eating a lot of weed

seeds as well, and, while it does some damage in certain places and
at certain times, it does much good in other places and at other times of year.
When present in large numbers, it will eat a lot of grain that has fallen on the
ground after harvest, and which would be picked up by hogs or sheep in the
usual method of farming, but it does very little damage to the standing grain.

The principal complaint against the Quail is from the vineyard men. The
bird seems to delight in vineyards, and often large flocks will take up their
abode therein, possibly as much for the cover and protection from hawks
as for the fruit itself. Whichever it is, the result is that many grapes are
pecked as they ripen, when the "yellow-jackets" (a kind of wasp) begin work
at the opening made by the Quail, and soon leave nothing but the empty
skin. There may be only a few pecked on a bunch, but it injures the value
and weight of it. It seems as if the Quail do more injury in the way of this
pecking at the grapes than by eating them whole, though they do both. How-
ever, it is more than likely that other birds do a good deal of the damage that
the poor Quail is blamed for.

THE WHITE-BREASTED AND RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES

By FRANCIS H. ALLEN

'^^e i^attonal Si&Qociation of j^Lutiubon ^ocittits

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 59

The Nuthatches are called, I believe, in some places, or by
Habits some persons, "Devil Downheads." There is, indeed, something

eerie about these little birds with their quaint form and queer
ways, but I should much prefer to call them elves rather than devils. That
quaint form is closely correlated with the queer ways. If a bird wants to hop
down a tree-trunk as well as up it, he must dispense with the use of his tail
as a support and must depend entirely upon his two feet, and to balance him-
self properly not only must the feet be strong, the hind toe long, and the
claws sharp and hooked, but the whole bird must be made as short and com-
pact as Nature can make it. Now the Nuthatch needs a fairly long bill to
poke into the crevices of the bark for his insect food and a fairly stout one to
pry off the chips and dig it out, so that the economy in length must be in his
neck and his tail. And here we have our bird, as Nature has made him and as
Mr. Brasher has drawn him, — a short, squat figure, with almost no neck and
with a tail only long enough to balance his bill and steady him in flight, but
with capable feet and a serviceable bill.

But why should a bird wish to travel downwards on a tree-trunk? To get
his daily bread in the way that seems most natural and easy to him. Evidently
the Nuthatch is filling a gap in nature. He would not have adopted so unusual
a method of feeding if it had not stood him in good stead. I suspect that by
approaching his prey from above he detects insects and insect-eggs in the
crevices of the bark which would be hidden from another point of view. The
Woodpeckers and the Creepers can take care of the rest. Of course these
other birds get something of a downward view as they bend their heads for-
ward, but the Nuthatch has the advantage of seeing some insects before he
gets to them which even the Creeper's gentle approach would scare into
closer hiding.

To most of us in the northeastern states the Nuthatch is the
Notes White-breasted Nuthatch, and we know him best as a

welcome pensioner on our winter bounty and an industrious
gleaner of insect food from the trunks and branches of the leafless trees in
autumn, winter, and early spring. We love his familiar unmusical notes,
which seem so friendly to us, perhaps because they really express an unusual
appreciation of the companionship of his kind. The most striking of these is
the one commonly interpreted as quank. To my ear, however, though nasal,

(316)

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

Upper Figures. Male and Female
Lower Figures. Male and Female

Order— Passeres
Genus— Sitta

Family— SiTTiDyE

Species— Carolinensis and Canadensis

National Association of Audubon Societies
Educational Leaflet No. 59.

The White-Breasted and Red-Breasted Nuthatches 317

it has nothing of the nk in it, while it has a distinct r-hke quaver. It may be
rendered as pr-r-ddp, sounded through the nose. Another note, reserved for
closer companionship, or soliloquy, is like the syllable tiit, pronounced as in
German, very short and slight, and repeated irregularly and indefmitely.

The home life of the White-breasted Nuthatch is not so well known to
most of us as his winter ways, because he is rather retiring during the nesting-
season, preferring the woods with a growth of large oaks or other hardwood
trees to the neighborhood of human habitations. The spring song, however,
begins before the bird leaves his winter haunts. It resembles the familiar
laugh of the Flicker but is not nearly so loud and is rather more pleasing in
tone. It consists of eight or ten repetitions of a single syllable, — what-what-
what-what-what-what-what-'what, or ha-ha-ha-ha, etc., — less nasal and more
liquid in c|uality than the call-note.

The nest, which is placed in a hole in a tree or some similar
Nest situation, is prepared in March or April according to locality.

The hole is usually a natural one in a decayed part of a living
tree or in a dead tree or stub. It is enlarged and shaped by the birds, both
sexes working together. The lining is made of such materials as feathers,
hair, fur, bark-strips, and leaves, loosely thrown together. From six to nine
eggs are laid. These are white or cream-white, thickly and uniformly spotted
with reddish brown and lavender.

The male White-breasted Nuthatch is a particularly devoted husband.
He carries food to his sitting mate, calling her to the mouth of the nesting-hole
to receive it. At other times of the year, too, the pair keep together faithfully,
hunting their food in close proximity to each other and keeping up a contin-
uous conversation of pr-r-ddps and tiit-tiiis.

The Nuthatch has a stout bill and a strong gizzard, and
Food when he finds his insect food scarce he ekes out his subsistence

with seeds and nuts. The habit of hatching, or hacking, chest-
nuts, beechnuts, acorns, and similar soft-shelled nuts, has given his kind its
name of Nuthatch. The nut is wedged into a crevice to hold it while the bird
hammers it open. Another interesting habit of this and the related species is
that of hiding nuts in cracks and crevices in the bark of trees and such situa-
tions, presumably for the purpose of keeping them safe for future use. This
vegetable food, however, seems to form a comparatively small part of the White-
breasted Nuthatch's diet. Mr. E. H. Forbush, one of the latest authorities
to write on the economic status of this bird, regards it as a valuable species
from that point of view. It feeds largely on beetles, including the boring
beetles, on scale insects, and on many hibernating larvae and pupae as well as
insect eggs. Ants and spiders are also eaten, and canker-worms, forest cater-
pillars, and plant-lice. One pair in Brookline, Mass., was seen to search beneath
the burlap bands for the caterpillars of the gypsy moth, which they fed to
their young in large numbers.

3i8 Bird -Lore

I have this mmute been watching a pair of these Nuthatches feeding in
my apple and pear trees. They traveled restlessly up and down and around
the trunk and branches, never proceeding very far in a straight line and stop-
ping at every few hops to dig out a grub, hammering like a Woodpecker and
making the chips of bark fly. When in a precarious position on the under
side of a limb the bird held himself by keeping his legs stretched far apart and
his claws firmly anchored to the rough bark, the large hooked hind claw appar-
ently doing most of the work. The birds kept up a lively conversation as
they worked. Now and then they looked off while clinging head downwards,
assuming that quaint posture so characteristic of their kind. Finally they
flew away, one after the other, with a whir of the wings and an undulating
flight, and I have returned to my desk by the window.

Though the breeding-range of the White-breasted Nuthatch is practically
coincident with its entire range, it seems to be largely migratory in its habits,
and probably breeds most numerously in the northern part and does not
■svinter in any numbers much farther north than Massachusetts. In most
parts of New England it appears to be most common as a migrant.

To those who know it, in its breeding-haunts or elsewhere.
Notes the Red-breasted Nuthatch is dear out of all proportion to

its size and its musical attainments. It is livelier than its big
cousin and prettier in its markings, and there is something particularly fetch-
ing about its quaint little form. It is'even less of a songster than the white-
breasted species, for prolongations and repetitions of its call-note seem to be
all it has that can pass for a song. This call-note can be rendered as aap. It is
nasal like that of the White-breasted Nuthatch but usually identified,
being much higher pitched and more drawling and lacking the r. It has
been happily likened to the sound of a tiny trumpet or tin horn.

The habits of the Red-breasted Nuthatch are so like those
Habits of the White-breasted that much that I have said about that

species is applicable to this. The most striking difference is in
the fa^•orite haunts of the two birds, the Red-breasted preferring the conifer-
ous woods, or mixed w^oods that contain a large proportion of conifers. In
those winters when they are found in southern New England they come freely
to the neighborhood of man's dwellings and feed familiarly on the supplies
provided for the winter birds, but even here they show their partiality for
coniferous trees. They are particularly fond of the seeds of pines and spruces,
which form a large proportion of their diet, so that they are much more vege-
tarian in their habits than their white-breasted cousins. They have the same
habit of hiding their food in cracks and crevices.

This Nuthatch does eat insect food, however, and may
Food often be seen hopping up and down the trunks and over the

branches of trees. It feeds among the small branches and twigs
more than its cousin, and according to W. B. Barrows, in his 'Michigan Bird

The White-Breasted and Red-Breasted Nuthatches 319

Life," is often seen invesligaling tul'ls of dead leaves in deciduous trees. If
this latter habit is a well-developed one, the bird should be useful in destroy-
ing nests of the brown-tail moth. Mr. Forhush records it as an enemy of the
gypsy moth.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch excavates its nesting-hole
Nest usually in dead or partly decayed trees. Mr. O. W. Knight, in

'Birds of Maine,' says that a balsam fir stub is the favorite
tree for the purpose, one with punky wood but bark still clinging. In other
cases poplar trees and birches are chosen, but the locaHty is usually in conifer-
ous woods, or at least in woods where conifers abound. Both se.xes work at
the excavation. The hole is usually lined with finely shredded bark or wood
fibers and perhaps soft grasses or feathers. The eggs are from four to six in
number, white or cream-white and speckled with reddish brown and lavender.
The most remarkable and characteristic thing about the nest is that the
entrance-hole is invariably surrounded by a ring of pitch brought from a
neighboring spruce, pine or balsam fir. It has been suggested that this may be
a protection against ants or mice. Whatever its purpose, the habit is an inter-
esting one and unique so far as our native birds are concerned.

Unlike the White-breasted Nuthatch, which is represented
Range by another race in the West, the red-breasted species is the

same bird the whole country over. It breeds in the Canadian
fauna and winters from southern Canada to Lower California, New Mexico,
Arizona, and the Gulf Coast. Its migrations are irregular and largely depend-
ent on the cone crop in the forests where it breeds. If the cones are abundant
in the White Mountains, for instance, the Red-breasted Nuthatches of that
region remain there for the winter. If, however, the crop is a failure, as.not
infrequently happens, the birds go south in late summer and early autumn.
When they migrate south they are rather apt to go beyond southern New
England, so that in such years they are much more abundant in Massachu-
setts in the early fall than later. The woods of central and southern New
Hampshire are sometimes fairly swarming with these birds in early autumn.
One interesting habit that this bird has in connection with its migration
is the curious one of dropping down on ships at sea. Birds of many kinds
occasionally alight on ships far away from land, but no other, I think, so
habitually as the Red-breasted Nuthatch. It may be seen on such occasions
traveling in its characteristic fashion up and down the masts and shrouds and
even alighting on the hats and clothing of persons on deck. Red-breasted
Nuthatches are also not infrequently found climbing over the rocks on the
seashore or on islands off-shore. I suspect that these Httle birds, not accus-
tomed to long flights, on finding themselves far from land, are glad to drop down
anywhere, on anything that promises to give them a foothold and a prospect of
rest and food. They show their adaptability by making the best of things
wherever they find themselves, and on sea, as on land, they win the hearts of men.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary-
Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions, to
the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City

William Dutcher, President
Theodore S. Palmer, First Vice-President T. Gilbert Pearson. Secretary
F. A. Lucas, Second Vice-President Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Treasurer

Any person, club, school or company in sympathy with the objects of this Association may be-
come a member, and all are welcome.

Classes of Membership in the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of
Wild Birds and Animals:

Ss.oo annually pays for a Sustaining Membership

Si 00.00 paid at one time constitutes a Life Membership

$1,000.00 constitutes a person a Patron

$5,000.00 constitutes a person a Founder

$25,000.00 constitutes a person a Benefactor

President Dutcher

James Buckland

Mr. Butcher's condition remains un-
changed. On October 19, 191 2, two years
will have passed since he was visited by
the illness which left him speechless and
practically helpless. With marvelous
fortitude he has patiently born an afflic-
tion to which most men would have suc-
cumbed, and at no time has he lost interest
in the progress of the work which he
inaugurated, and its continued develop-
ment has been one of his main sources of
pleasure.

Notice to Members

The regular annual meeting of the
National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties will be held on Tuesdaj', October 29,
191 2, in the Museum of Natural History,
West 77th Street, New York CitJ^ The
notices called for by the by-laws will be
mailed to all members of the Association
within the statutory time limit.

The past year having been one of the
most active that the Association has ever
experienced, it is believed that the reports
presented at the meeting will be of pecu-
liar interest.

We hope that all members will bear in
mind the date of the meeting and make
every effort to be present.

T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary.

Mr. James Buckland, of the Royal
Colonial Institute of London, the indomi-
table English bird protectionist, has won
his first real victory in the struggle to
obtain the passage of the Plumage Bill
now pending in Parliament; it has passed
its first reading by a majority of 328 to 48.

For man}- years Mr. Buckland has
been devoting a large part of his time to
arousing public sentiment in Great Britain
to the necessity of suppressing the traffic
in the feathers of wild birds, especially
those which have been shipped illegally
and otherwise from the various British
dependencies. He has prepared and dis-
tributed numerous addresses to the people,
and has lectured with great frequency on
the evils of the plumage trade.

In a recent "appeal to the public to
support the Plumage Bill," Mr. Buckland
gives the following reasons why, to his
mind, this measure should be enacted:

"i. Because Nature has been at work
millions of years creating these marvelous
pieces of mechanism and beauty which
today are being destrojed utterly because
woman is unable to make their beaut}' a
subject of thought but as it has to do with
the bedecking of herself.

"2. Because plumage, to be of value to
the trade, must be obtained during the
breeding season. The onlj- way by which

(320)

The Audubon Societies

321

it can be obtained is to kill the bird. The
parent bird being killed, the young perish
miserably of starvation.

"3. Because this means that those wild
birds whose plumage is used in millinery
are being killed faster than they breed.

' 4. Because every sensible person knows
that to kill a species faster than it breeds
means extermination.

"5. Because the very thought of the
fiendish cruelties which must characterize
a trade that depends for its profits on
killing the parent bird when carrying food
to its young is repugnant to all but brutal
minds.

"6. Because economic, if not sentimental,
reasons should lead all truly patriotic and
far-seeing Englishmen to do everything
within their power to check the wanton
destruction of the wild bird life of the
Colonies.

"7. Because it can be clearly demonstra-
ted that the appalling human mortality
in Uganda, and the havoc which is being
wrought among the live stock, are due in
great part to the destruction of native
birds for their plumage. There is no longer
in Uganda a sufficient number of the
natural enemies of the venomous tsetse
fly, and of parasitic insects, to keep these
plagues in check.

"8. Because the destruction of wading
birds for their plumage in South Australia
is causing a decline in the fish resources of
that State. As these birds grow fewer
in numbers, so do the crustaceans, on
which they feed, and which, in their turn,
feed on the fish spawn, increase in hosts.

"9. Because the Bombay Chamber of
Commerce, when approached by a Sec-
tion of the London Chamber of Com-
merce with the request that the Act
which prohibited the e.xport of plumage
from British India should be repealed,
pointed out in their replj- that it was a
recognized fact that crops of all kinds
were subjected to incalculable damage by
insect pests; that the combating of this
evil was one of the greatest difiiculties
of the Indian agriculturist; that the princi-
pal natural enemies of these pests were
the insectivorous birds; and that these

were the very species that were being
relentlessly slaughtered for their plumage.

"10. Because the Melbourne Chamber
of Commerce, in replying to the same
Section of the London Chamber of Com-
merce, which had submitted to the con-
sideration of the Melbourne Chamber a
book which sought to justify the trafljc
in plumage, said that the work performed
annually by the "wild birds in keeping in
check the ravages of myriads of noxious
insects was worth many millions of pounds
sterling to the Commonwealth. Were
the birds destroyed, Nature would become
unbalanced, and successful agriculture
become impossible.

"11. Because the self-governing Domin-
ions, alarmed at the continued and ruthless
slaughter for their plumage of their
insectivorous and rodent-eating birds, last
year petitioned the Home Government
to close the ports of Great Britain to
plumage illicitly e.xported from the
Dominions.

12. Because no real notice has been
taken of this petition or of these warnings.

"13. Because it is not only a crime, but
an insensate blunder, for the British
Government to allow the profits of a few
London feather dealers to be obtained at a
loss to the agricultural interests of the
Colonies. Whatever is detrimental to
the agricultural interests of the Colonies
must tend in the long run to injure Great
Britain,

"14. Because labor — even if this argu-
ment could be raised as an excuse for
dealing in the property of others — derives
no benefit from the traffic in contraband
feathers. These feathers are for the most
part used in their natural state, little or
no manipulation being required to adapt
them to millinery purposes. If these
illicit feathers were excluded from our
markets, manj' people would find employ-
ment in the manufacture of substitutes
from the more common fca'.hers.

"15, Because the armoury of the British
Government is destitute of all weapons
by which the illegal trafl&c in the plumage
of the birds of the Colonies can be de-
fended. It has never even attempted to

MR. JAMES BUCKLAXD, THE ENGLISH BIRD PROTECTIONIST
Photof;ra|)h by J. Russell and Son, London

(322)

The Audubon Societies

323

show llu- ni'i'd lor trading in snui^'fik'd
goods; llu- moral juslitu alion of il; or llu'
benofil lo llu- laboring classes of ihis
country which llows from it.

''16. liccausc, if a Plumage Bill wen-
passed in this country, it woidd make it
easy for those who arc doinj,' a \()]unlar\-
work of inestimable value to llu- l',ni])irc
to procure the passage of similar Hills in
other lluropean Parliaments. .\s il is,
the vicious exam])le set by (Ireat Britain
paralyzes every effort in that direction."

Surel\- no one can read the above
ar<,'umenls for the passage of this measure
wiilu)ul being impressed with the worth-
iness of the Hill and ihc necessity for its
cnactnu-nl. 'Phere are among the readers
of Bird-Lore many people who have
influence in England, and we earnestly
urge, if this article comes to their atten-
tion, that they will at once seek to bring
pressure to bear on the Members of
Parliament and urge its final passage.

Besides his work for the protection of
the birds of Kngland and the English
Colonies. Mr. Buckland's labors have
e.xtended to many other countries.
Largely as a result of his personal visits
to (lermany and his constant communi-
cations with bird students there, that
country today has one of the most wide-
awake national bird-protective organiza-
tions to be found in the Eastern Hemis-
phere. His work is well known in France
and at the present time he is assisting in
carrying forward a verj- important bird-
protective movement in Holland. He is
equally interested in the protection of
American bird life, and the information
that he has gathered and made public
relative to the destruction of birds in
South America has been of great assist-
ance to bird protectionists in that country
and elsewhere.

Mr. William Butcher, President of this
Association, has long regarded Mr.
Buckland as one of the very strongest
men connected with the wild life protec-
tion of the world. For many years they
were in constant and close correspondence,
and since the beginning of Mr. Butcher's
unfortunate illness, the writer has had

llu- i)leasure of eoTilinuing this corres-
pondence, and has thus been kept in close
touch with the wonderful results w'hich
.Mr. Buckland's cfTorts have secured
ihrouglujut the world. It was by the
combined elTorls of Mr. Dulcher and Mr.
Hurkland that llu- International Com-
millec- for Hird Protection was called into
existence upon the occasion of the meeting
of the International Ornithological Con-
gress, held in Berlin in the summer of igio.

When we recall the marvelous amount
of work done by this remarkable man, the
results seem tremendously impressive,
especially in view of the fact that he is
not an official, nor connected with any
organization for bird protection — that he
does not even have a secretary and thai
all his correspondence is written with his
own hand.

Mr. Buckland come of Devonshire
stock and on the seventh of this October
will be fifty-eight years of age. — T.
Gilbert Pe.a.rson.

Ganne Commissioners' Meeting

The National Association of Game
Commissioners met in Denver, Colo..
Aug. 31-Sept. I, 1912. This Association
was organized in the Yellowstone Park
in the summer of 1902 and has had bi-an-
nual meetings ever since.

This was in many respects the most
interesting gathering of game officials
which has yet taken place. One very
striking feature was the amount of stress
laid on the importance of propagating
the wild birds and animals, both by
natural and artificial means. In fact,
discussion of various phases of this sub-
ject occupied far more time in the session
than the subject of enforcing the bird
and game laws, which at the meetings
heretofore have been the dominating topic.

.A mong other matters which prominently
came before the Association was the
question of the desirability of having the
game laws in the various states uniform
with each other. Without a dissenting
vote, however, the Association voted this
plan as impracticable.

324

Bird -Lore

On the matter of having the various
states uniformly adopt the New York
Plumage Law, however, there was only
one opinion, namely that such a course
would be exceedingly wise and desirable.

In reference to the propagation of wild
life, three illustrated addresses were
given. These were presented by Mr.
Kelly Evans, of Chicago, who spoke from
his extended experience in raising birds
on his game farm; Dr. George W. Field,
of Boston, who discussed the very highly
successful experiments in the propagation
of game conducted under his supervision
in Massachusetts, and the writer, who
spoke on the Federal and Audubon Bird
Reservations. Hon. James A. Shinn,
State Game Warden of Colorado, invited
the members of the Association and also
the American Fisheries Society, which
met about the same time, to an elaborate
banquet in the Albany Hotel. — T. G. P.

Enforcing the Aigrette Law

At the conclusion of the meeting of the
National Association of Game Commis-
sioners in Denver, Dr. T. S. Palmer, of
Washington, the Vice-President of the
National Association 6f Audubon Socie-
ties, visited a number of the large milli-
nery stores of the city and called their
attention to the provisions of the Audubon
Law, enacted some time ago, to the effect
that it was illegal to sell the feathers of
Egrets. He gave the merchants until
our o'clock in the afternoon to remove
their stock from exhibition and sale.
Judging from the accounts in the Denver
papers, it is easy to see that there was
great activity in the plumage trade that
afternoon, as it was said that some of the
milliners immediately sent word to their
patrons that aigrette plumes could be had
at a great reduction, if purchased before
the fatal hour of four. A bargain counter
rush resulted.

New Members
July I, to September i, 191 2.

Life Member:

Miss Lillian M. Crabtree.

New Coiilribiilor:
Mr. C. R. Lanman.

Sustaining Members:
Appleton, Mr. Wm. T.
Bates, Miss Katherine L.
Birch, Mr. Hugh T.
Brooks, Mr. Allan C.
Cole, Mr. R. C.
Cook, Mr. Edward
Colton, Miss Caroline W.
Clark, Mr. George B.
Davidson, Mrs. F. S.
Gildersleeve, Mr. Ferdinand
Haywood, Mrs. George A.
Lay, Mr. Herbert
Lewis, Mr. Edwin J.
Means, Mr. Chas. J.
Oakley, Mr. Thorlon
Oakley, Mrs. Thorton
Roberts, James O.
Shoemaker, Mrs. Edward
Spurlock, Mr. Frank
Van Wagenen, Mr. H. S.

The Egret Protection Fund

The responses which the friends of bird
protection have been making to the ap-
peal issued a few months ago by the
Directors of this Association for funds
with which to fight the trafi&c in aigrettes
have been most pleasing and encourag-
ing. Below we are glad to give public
acknowledgment to those who have con-
tributed since the last issue of Bird-Lore:

Amount previously reported.. . .$4 022 54

Abbott, Mr. Holker i 00

Adams, Mr. C. Q 2 00

Adams, IMr. William C i 00

Aldrich, Mr. Fred D i 00

Allen, Mr. Charles A 5 00

Allison, Mrs. Mary D i 00

Anderson, Mr. F. A i 00

Anderson, Mr. George J... . 5 00

Anonymous 70 75

Anthony, Mrs. S. Reed. ... S 00

Applegate, Mr. E. M 2 00

Arrison, Mrs. J. M 2 00

Averill, Miss F. M i 00

Babcock, Mr. Courtlandt.. i 00

Bacon, Miss M. P i 00

Baker, Miss Charlotte S.... 5 00

Baker, Mr. L. D., Jr 2 00

Baldwin, Mr. John D 2 00

Baldwin, Mr. William H. . . i 00

Banks, Miss Martha Burr.. 5 00

Bartol, Mrs. J. W 25 00

Battles, Mr. Frank i 00

Baxter, Miss Elizabeth K... i 00

Amount carried forward $4,164 29

The Audubon Societies

325

Amount brou^'lu forward $4>i64 29

Ik>;iL Mrs. James II 5 00

Bccbc, Mr. C. K 1 00

Bemis, Miss Ida M 1 00

Berlin, Mrs. 1). B i 00

Biddle, Klizabetli, Caroline

and Clement B 5 00

Birch, Mr. Hugh T 2 00

Bissell, Mrs. P. St. G i 00

Bhiney, Mr. J. J i 00

Bliss, Miss Lucy B 10 00

Bowan, Mrs. Mary C i 00

Bowdoin, Miss Edith G 10 00

Bowdoin, Mrs. Geo. S 5 00

Box 13, Jewctt City, Conn. i 00

Bradley," Miss L. N 10 00

Brazier, Mrs. J. H i 00

Brewer, Miss Lucy S 10 00

Brewer, Mr. E. M 10 00

Brown, Mrs. E. V 2 00

Bridge, Mr. F. W 5 00

Bruen, Mr. Frank i 00

Buck, Mr. Henry R 5 00

Bucklin, Miss Annie E 25

Bullard, Mrs. W. S s 00

Burns. Mr. John, Jr i 00

Burr, Mr. I. Tucker s 00

Burroughs, Mr. George.. . . 2 00

Burt, Miss Edith 2 00

Cady, Mr. Walter G i 00

Carroll, Mr. Elbert M 10 00

Carson, INIr. H. A i 00

Case, Mrs. James B 10 00

Case, Miss L. W iS 00

Chambers, Miss Kathcrine. 10 00

Chapman, Miss M 2 00

Chase, Mr. Percy i 00

Chase, Mrs. Theo S 00

Cheney, Col. Louis R 10 00

Chetwood, Mrs. G. J i 00

Chubbuck, Mr. Isaac Y.... 5 00

Clapp, Miss INIarguerite S.. 5 00

Clark, Miss Emily 1 2 00

Clark, Miss Susan E 2 00

Clarke, Mrs. Charles 1).. . . i 00

Clarke, ^liss Lillian F 10 00

Clementson, Mrs. Sidney... 10 00

Cobb, Miss Annie \V i 00

Cole, Miss L. D i 00

Cole, Mr. Wm. R., Jr i 00

Colton, Miss Caroline West. 2 00

Conn. Fish & Game Ass'n.. 10 00

Conner, Miss M. A 2 00

Coolidge, Mr. Philip T 2 00

Coolidge, Mr. J. Randolph. 10 00

Coney, ^liss Kate E i 00

Cope, Mrs. Francis R 2 00

Corning, Miss Mary 1 25 00

Coursen, Mr. W. A 5 00

Craft, ]\Iiss Laura F 2 00

Crafts, IMr. John W i 00

Crittendon, Miss \'iola E... i 00

Crocker, Mr. and Mrs 10 00

Amount carried forward $4,444 54

Amount bnuiglu forward sS4,444 54

Cummings, Mrs. H. K i 00

CAirtis, Miss .\ 25 00

Custer, Miss Anna and

Chrifttophe, Mrs. L. C... 10 00

Cutler, Mrs. Roland H 2 00

Cuyler, Miss Eleanor 5 00

Dabney, Mr. Herbert 5 00

Dace, Mrs. Annie I i 00

Dame, Mr. Alfred M i 00

Dame, Miss May i 00

Dana, Mr. Charles E 5 00

Dana, Mrs. E. C 2 00

Davidson, Miss F. S 2 00

Davis, Mrs. W. W i 00

Davis, Miss Susan L 3 00

Day, Miss Carrie !•] 2 00

Day, Mr. Stephen S 2 50

Dean, Mr. Charles A 25 00

Delano, Miss Julia 10 00

Delano, Mrs. H. L i 00

Dennis, Miss M. H 2 00

Dexter, Mr. W. Endicott... 5 00

Dodd, Miss Jean M 2 00

Dodge, Mrs. Paul A i 00

Dorman, Mrs. F. W 2 00

Dow, Miss Edna F i 00

Draper, Mr. J. S 10 00

Dudley, Miss Sarah H i 00

Dunham, Miss Mary 5 00

Dunn, Mrs. Houston 5 0°

Durand, Mrs. Wallace i 00

Duryee, Miss Anna B 2 00

Dyke, Mr. Arthur C i 00

Early, Mr. Charles H 2 00

Eastman, Mrs. L. R., Jr i 00

Eddy, Miss B. M 2 00

Eddy, Miss Sarah J 10 00

Edwards, Miss L. M 2 00

Edwards, Miss. Laura J 2 00

Ellis, Mr. S. R. G i 00

Ellsworth, Mrs. J. L i co

Emerson, D. R. & Co 5 00

Emery, Miss (icorgia Hill.. 25 00

Emmett, Miss Lydia E 5 00

Emmons, Miss Helen B.. . . 10 00

Ensign, Mr. Charles S i 00

Estabrook, Mr. Arthur F... 6 00

Evans, Mrs. R. D 5° 0°

Farnam, Mr. Henry W 10 00

Faulkner, Miss Fannie

M 25 00

Fay, Mr. D. B 5 00

Fellows, Miss Mary E i 00

Ferry, Mr. F. C i 00

Ferry, Mr. H. C i 00

Ferry, Miss Mary B 5 00

Fields, Mr. A 5 00

Field, Mr. E. B 3 00

Flagg, Dr. Elisha 5 00

Ford, Mr. Henry 50 00

Foster, Mrs. Cora D i 00

Fowler, Mr. Rufus B 2 00

Amount carried forward $4,824 04

326

Bird -Lore

Amounl Ijroughl forward S4.824 04

Frazce, ISIrs. W. "\" 3 00

Freeman, Miss H. E 3 00

Freeman, Dr. Walter J i 00

Frelinghuysen, Mr. F 2 00

French, Miss C. A 5 00

Garst, Mr. Julius 2 00

Gedder, Miss Susan J ,S 00

George, Mr. Edwin S 2 00

(iibson, Mr. John T 2 00

Gilbert. Mrs. Fred'k M.. . 5 00

Gillett, Miss Lucy 1) 5 00

Gilman, Miss C. & Fricr.ds. 4 00

(jodefroy. Miss Robcrlc... . i 00

Goodrich, Mr. C. C 5 00

Goodwin, Rev. Geo. P 3 00

Goodwin, Mrs. Marj- B.. . . i 00

Goss, Mrs. A. V '. i 00

Gould, Mr. B. C i 00

Graham, Mrs. Benj i 00

Grant, Mr. H. T 2 00

Graves, Mrs. Frances M.... 2 00

Gra}', Miss Isa E 10 00

(jreer, Miss Jane N 10 00

Grew, Mrs. E. W i 00

Grout, Mr. A. J i 00

Guernsey, Dr. Jos. C i 00

Haeselen, Mrs. L. L 50

Hallctt, Mr. William R s 00

Hallowell, Mrs. R. P 2 00

Hallowell, Miss C i 00

Halsey, Mrs. Edmund D... 2 00

Hamilton, Mrs. J. S i 00

Harkness, Mr. David W... . i 00

Harral, Mrs. E. W 5 00

Hatch, Mr. L. N i 00

Hathaway, Mr. Harry S.. .. 2 00

Hay, Mrs. John 10 00

Hays, Miss Emily H i 00

Hazard, Mr. Roland Gibson 2 00

Hedden, Mr. F. 0 2 00

Hedden, Mrs. F. S i 00

Hemenway, Mr. Augustus.. 25 00

Henderson, Mr. Ale.xander. 3 00

Hendrick, Mr. J. H i 00

Herpers, Mr. Henry 10 00

Higbee, Mr. Harry (j i 00

Hills, Mrs. James M s 00

Hills, Mr. E. A 5 00

Hittinger, Mr. Jacob 10 00

Holden, Mr. E. F 2 00

Ilollenback, Miss .Amelia B. 5 00

Hooker, Miss Sarah H 2 00

Hooper, Miss Mary C i 00

Horton, Miss 2 00

Horr, Mrs. ¥.. E i 00

Houghton, Mr. Clement S.. 10 00

Howe, ]\Ir. E. W i 00

Hungerford, Mr. R. S 10 00

Hunter, Mrs. W. H i 00

Hurd, Miss Elizabeth 3 00

Hutchins, Mrs. I'^dward W. 3 00

Hutchinson, Mrs. Charles.. 5 00

.•\mount carried forward $5,045 54

Amount brought forward $5,045 54.

Hutchinson, Miss M i 00

Hutchinson, Miss Marg. . . . 5 00

Ireland, Miss Catherine L.. 5 00

Jackson, Miss Marian C 25 00

Jarver, Miss Flora 5 00

Jenks, Miss Caroline E 3 00

Johnson, Miss Marv 5 00

Jolliffe, Mrs. T. H.: 2 00

Jones, ]\Ir. B. B i 00

Jopson, Dr. & Mrs. J. H.. . i 00

Joslin, Miss Ada L 2 00

Keep, Mrs. Albert i 00

Kellogg, Mr. Frederick R... 5 00

Kempton, Miss May M.. . . i 00

Kennedy, Mrs. Augusta M. i 00

Kennedy, Mrs. John S 20 00

Kettle, Mrs. L. N 100 00

Kimball, Miss Helen F 10 00

King, Mr. Henry A i 00

Kuhn, Mrs. Frederick i 00

Kyle, Mr. William S i 00

Lane, Mrs. Sarah D 10 00

Laughlin, Mrs. H. M 2 00

Law-rence, Mr. Roswell B... 2 00

Leverett, Mr. George V... 10 00

Lewis, Mrs. Herman ¥. 5 00

Lewis, Mr. J. B i 00

Livingston, Miss Alida 10 00

Long, Mr. F. W 3 00

Loring, Mrs. C. G 3 00

Loring, Miss Susan M 5 00

Loring, The Misses 22 00

Loring, Miss Helen 10 00

Lowell, Miss Georgina i 00

Lowell, Mr. James A 5 00

Lundy, Miss E. L 5 00

Lunt, Miss Flora E i 00

Lyman, Miss Family R i 00

Lyman, Mr. Arthur T 10 00

Mager, Mr. Gus i 00

Mann, Miss J. A i 00

Mann, Mr. J. R i 00

Manning, Mr. Leonard C... 3 00

Mansfield, Miss Helen i 00

Markoe, Mrs. John 10 00

Marsh, Mr. Spencer S i 00

Marshall, Mrs. E. 0 5 00

Mason, Miss E. F 5 00

Massachusetts, S. P. C. A.. 5 00

Maury, Mr. J. F 5 00

May, Miss Alice i 00

Mav, Miss Adelina 2 00

Mav, Miss E. C 2 00

Melbyc. Mr. H. T i 00

Merrill, Miss Fanny E 20 00

Merriman, Miss Helen 5 00

Merriman, Mrs. Daniel. ... 5 00

Merritt, Miss Edna i 00

Metcalf, Mr. Williard 5 00

Meyer, Miss Heloise 10 00

Miles, Mrs. Henrv .\ i 00

Milford, Mrs. V. S 5 00

.\mounl carried forward.

•$5,443 54

The Audubon Societies

327

Amounl Ijrouj^lu forward ?:

Miller, ,Mr. K. I

Milieu, Mrs. J. H

Milins, Mr. J. T

Minot, Mr. William

Mitchell, Mr. James T

Monlell, Mrs. & Mr. F. M.
Montgomerv. Miss Mar\' .\.

Moore, Mrs'. K. C '. .

Morrill, Miss .V. \V

Morris, Miss .\.nna

Morris, Mr. Robert O

Morse, Mr. Frank F

Moselv, Miss Fllen F

Mundy, Mrs. Floyd W

Munro, Miss Martha IF

McBurneA', Mrs. C"

McCullough, Dr. P. B

McCormick, Mrs. R. Hall..

McKay, Rev. C. A

MacGregor, Miss ¥..\T

Nesmith, i\Iiss Marv

Nice, Mrs. L. B....".

Nicholson, Mr. J. C

Noyes, Mr. Raymond

Oliver, Dr. Henrv K

Olmsted, J\Ir. F. L., Jr

O. F. S

Osborne, Mr. Arthur A

Paine, Mr. Nathaniel

Parsons, Mr. John E

Peck, Dr. Elizabeth L

Peckham, Mrs. W. H

Pepper, Dr. William

Pepper, Mrs. William

Pettv, Mr. E. R

Philburt, Mr. F. H

Phillips, Mr. John C

Phillips, Mrs. Chas. E. H...
Pickman, Mrs. Dudley L...
Pierce, Mr. George Willis. .

Pilgrim, Mr. A. S

Pilsbury, Mr. Frank O

Porter, Miss Elizabeth B....

Porter, Miss Juliet

Post, Mr. William S

Potts, Mrs. F. M

Powell, Mrs. S. A

Power, Mrs. W. H

Powers, Mrs. .\rthur G

Pratt, Mr. (Jeorge Dwight

Pratt, :Mr. Joseph M

Pratt, Dr. Frederick H

■'Primrose Hill"

Puffer, Mr. L. W

Putnam, Mr. George E

Putnam, :\Irs. S. (i

Putnam, Dr. James J

Randolph, Miss Fanny F. .

Rcdfield. Miss Julia W

Reed, Mrs. Wm. Howell.. .

Rhoads, Mrs. S. N

Richardson, Mr. H. H

I 00
10 00

3 00
5 00
S 00

Amount carried forward S5.(5q3 04

mount l)r()ughl forward $s.''M.^ 04

Richardson, Mr. John W... 1 00

Ricketson, Anna and Wilson 5 00

Robbins, Mr. Roval 10 00

Robbins, Mr. R. F 10 00

Robbins, Mr. Samuel 1).. 1 00

R()bi)ins, Miss .\. I>. H 2 00

Robertson. Mr. J. A 1 00

Robinson, Mr. William .\... 1 00

Rogers, Miss Frances S 5 00

Rogers, Mrs. J. F 3 00

Rogers, Mr. W. S 5 00

Roseley, Madam .\lice i 00

Ross, Dr. Lucretius H 2 00

Rowley, Dr. Francis H 2 50

Sabine, Dr. George K 1 00

Sage, Mr. John H 5 00

Sampson, Aliss Lucy S i 00

Saunders, Mr. Charles O.. . i 00

Saville, Mrs. A. H i 00

Sears, Mr. Horace S 10 00

Sears, Mr. William R 5 00

Sedgwick, Miss Mabel 2 00

Severance, Mrs. P. C i 00

Sewall, Mr. Jotham B 5 00

Shaw, Mrs. Geo. R 2 00

Shaw, Air. Louis Agassiz.. . 25 00

Shepard, Miss Emily B 5 00

Shepard, Mrs. Emily E 5 00

Sherman, Miss Althea R.. . 3 00

Sherman, I\Ir. John P. R., . 25 00

Shoemaker, Dr. Harvey.... i 00

Shove, Miss Ellen M 5 00

Simmons, Aliss Margarette

B I 00

Simpkins, Airs. M. W 5 00

Sitgreaves, Miss M. J 5 00

Slade, Miss Elizabeth A.. .

Small, Miss Cora

Smith, Dr. C. B

Smith, Mrs. J. N

Smith, Mrs. Mary P. W...

Snyder, Air. Warren

Spachman, Miss Emily S..

Spaulding, Mr. Edward.. . . i 00

Spong, Mrs. J. J. R 10 00

Sprague, ]\Irs. Isaac 20 00

Sprague, Dr. Francis P 15 00

Squires, Mrs. Grace B 2 00

Stanley. Mrs. Mary A i 00

Stanton, ]Mrs i 00

Starr, Miss Florence 1 00

Steese, Mrs. Edward 2 00

Stevens, Mr. F. E 1 00

Stevenson, Mrs. Robert H.. lo 00

Stewart, Aliss Kale C i 00

Stick, Mr. H. Louis 3 00

Stimson, Mr. William H.... i 00

Strond, Mr. H. M i 00

Swain, Air. George F 2 00

Swan, Mr. Charles W 1 00

Swasey, Mr. E. R 50 00

Swords. Mrs. .Albert S 1 00

.\mounl carried forward S5.904 54

3 00

2 00
I 00

328

Bird - Lore

Amount brought forward $5,994 54

Tapkn', Miss Alice P 1500

Tapley, Mrs. Amos P 15 00

Tapley, Mr. Henry F 3 00

Tenney, Mr. Albert B i 00

Thomas, Mrs. Samuel H. . . 2 00

Thorndike, Mrs. Augustus. 2 00

Thwaites, Mrs. R. G i 00

Topliff, Miss Anna E i 00

Tower, Miss Ellen M 5 00

Tower, Mrs. Kate D i 00

Towne, Miss Elizabeth (Ed.) i 00

Townsend, Mr. W. S i 00

Trier, Miss Minnie i 00

Troup, Mr. Chas. A. S i 00

Tucker, Mr. William F 2 00

Tuckcrman, Mr. Frederick. 2 00

Tuffts, Miss Mary I i 00

Tweedy, Mr. Edgar 5 00

Tyler, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. 2 00

T3-son, Dr. James i 00

Underwood, Mrs. C.J 2 00

Van Arnin, Miss Albertina. ■ 5 00

Van Bauk, Plon. H. Fe. . . . 2 00

Van Dj'ke, Mr. Tertius. ... 10 00

Van Huyck, Mr. J. M 2 00

Van Name, Mr. Willard G. 10 00

Van Vleck, Mr. M. D 5 00

Van Wagenen, Mr. and Mrs.

H. W ID 00

Varick, Dr. and Mrs. W. R. 5 00

Varick, Miss Marguerite M. i 00

Vicker}', Mrs. A 2 00

Victor, Dr. and Mrs. E. W. 5 00

Wadsworth, Mr. Clarence S. 10 00

Walker, Miss Mary A i 00

Ware, Mrs. Moses W 3 00

Warren, Mrs. S. D 5 00

Washburn, Miss Annie M.. i 00

Waj'ne, Mr. Frederick C... i 00

Webster, Mr. F. G 5 00

Weeks, Mr. Andrew Carey. 5 00

Weeks, Mr. W. B. P 10 00

Welch, Mr. C. W i 00

Weld, Rev. George F 3 00

Wentworth, Miss Ellen L... 2 00

Wetherill, Mr. W. H i 00

Wheeler, Mr. Frank P i 00

Wheeler, Mr. Wilfrid i 00

Wheelright, Miss Mary C. . 5 00

White, Miss Grace C 2 00

White, Miss K. H i 00

Whitney, Miss Anne 10 00

Whitney, Miss Ellen F i 00

Whitney, Mr. INIilton B... . 5 00

Wickliam, Mr. D. 0 5 00

Wier, Mrs. Frederic N i 00

Wilbour, Miss Theodora.. . 100 00

Wilcox, Miss Effie M 2 00

Wilcox, Mrs. Wm. W i 00

Wilkins, Miss Laura i 00

Willard, Miss 5 00

AVilliams, Mr. Robert \\.. . i 00

Amount carried forward $6,306 54

Amount brought forward $6,306 54

Williams, Dr. Edward R. . . 2 00

Williams, Mrs. Francis H... 5 00

Williams, Mr. George F 2 00

Williams, Mr. John D 10 00

Williams, Mrs. Sydney M.. i 00

Wilson, Miss Annie E 3 00

Winchester Rptg. Arms Co.. 100 00

Winkley, Mr. Henry W.. . . i 00

Winslow, Aliss Alice V i 00

Winsor, Miss Linda K 2 00

Witherbee, Miss E. W i 00

The Woman's Study Club

of Wimbledon, N. D 3 00

Wood, Mrs. D. H i 00

Worcester, Mrs. Alfred. ... 5 00

Woodward, Dr. S. B 5 00

Wright, Mr. J. Arnold i 00

Wright, Miss Mary A i 00

Young, Mr. W. H 2 00

Total $6,452 54

Alabama

An extensive scheme in conservation,
including the establishment of game
refuges and forest preserves of large areas,
has been brought forward by Hon. John
H. Wallace, Jr., State Game and Fish
Commissioner. The Commissioner will
ask the Legislature, at the coming session,
to pass a bill declaring all lands owned by
the state, whether held in fee or in trust,
State game refuges and forest preserves,
to be patrolled and protected against
hunters or timber vandals.

.\labania holds in trust, swamp and
overflowed lands, the sixteenth section
school lands and tax redemption lands,
the aggregate amounting to several hun-
dred thousand acres.

Under Mr. Wallace's plan, these State
forest preserves, if established as game
refuges, would be patrolled by wardens
who would see that the State's property
was not vandalized, and that it was undis-
turbed from the onslaughts of the hunter.

The proposition has been submitted to
Governor O'Neal, Superintendent of Edu-
cation Willingham, State Land Agent
Martin and Colonel Samuel Will John, of
the Trustees of the Brice Insane Hospital,
and has their most cordial endorsement.

It is to be earnestly hoped that this
wise and far-sighted plan advanced by Mr.
Wallace will be consummated. — T. G. P.

^^^ .,^^!f'^ ^f^fii/2 %e>''^ss

1. Pine Grosbeak, Adult Male 2. Pine Grosbeak, Female

3. Pine Grosbeak, Immature Male

(One-half Natural Size)

J6irti-ilare

a bi-monthly magazink
devotp;d to the study and protection of birds

Official Organ of The Audubon Societies

Vol. XIV

November— December, 1912

No. 6

The Magpies of Culebra Creek

By EDWARD R. WARREN
VVilh photographs by the outhor

I

HAVE seen many Magpies during my more
than thirty years residence in Colorado,
but nowhere have I seen so many within a
limited space as I saw this last summer (1912)
along about three miles of Culebra Creek, near
San Acacio, Costilla County, Colorado. There
may have been as many above the portion I
explored, and very likely were, as the conditions
were equally favorable, but below, the trees
were practically absent, and therefore the
birds. The conditions which were so favorable
to the abundance of these birds were plenty
of willow and Cottonwood trees for nesting-
sites; while there was an entire absence of them
on the surrounding country, a level prairie,
part of the San Luis Valley. Another thing
which I think may have contributed to this
plenty is the fact that the region is an old
Mexican grant, and the land has all been under
private ownership, and not public land open
to settlement ; hence there have been but few people about to molest the
birds, and they have bred and multiplied in peace.

However that may be, they were there in hundreds, if not in thousands.
As one walked among the trees, he could see the bulky nests on every hand,
sometimes as many as five in a single tree. Of course, not all had been occupied
this season, many were old and abandoned; but, if only a third had been in
use, that means that many young were hatched; and there certainly were, for
every little way a family would be seen near a nest. I happened to be there
just when the youngsters were beginning to come out of the nests and climbing
about in the home trees, hardly able to use their wings, and, if the Editor will

A SQUAWKER

330

Bird - Lore

refrain from using his blue pencil on a bull, not very handy with their feet
as yet, for they often found difficulty in getting foothold on the branches.
This was the last week in June. According to observations I once had the
opportunity of making, they come out at between three and four weeks of age.
When about five weeks old the bird can fly a little, but is still very awkward
in alighting and attaining a footing.

The families I saw varied in number from three to six, but Silloway has
recorded thirteen eggs in a nest. When the young Magpies first appear to the
outer world, their tails are very short, but grow rapidly, though they probably
do not attain full length until early fall. The adult Magpie is a decidedly

cautious bird, not exactly shy, for he is
pretty much in evidence wherever he
lives, but has pronounced scruples
against allowing human beings to
approach too close, especially if they
have guns, and is rather suspicious of
a camera. Even the youngsters are very
restless, and keep on the move among
the branches when one is near, so that
it is difficult to secure good pictures,
even with a reflecting camera. The
subject gets out of focus before one can
operate the shutter, and the bird itself
is difficult to focus on when in a hurry,
the plain black-and-white coloration
affording no sharp marks to use for
focusing points.

The young keep up a continual
squawking when about the trees; there is
no other word for it, it is just plain
rt'ith one another, or calling for food, I
cannot say; but, as they are sociable birds and will really learn to talk a
little, we will give them the benefit of the doubt, and say they are conversing.
When a person is close, the noise is louder, and the parents often join in,
but take good care to keep at a safe distance. It becomes decidedly
tiresome at times.

The amount of fear shown varied, as usual in young birds, with their age;
and the older ones could hardly be approached at all closely, but kept moving
around restlessly in the trees, and even flying to others.

A Magpie's nest is an exceedingly noticeable structure, and there is no
attempt at concealment about it, for one can hardly avoid seeing it, though
occasionally one is found in a thickly branched willow which is difficult to
see; but this is due rather to the accident of location than to any intent on

YOUNG MAGPIE

squawk. Whether they are talking

A MAGPIE NEST IN A COTTONWOOD, SHOWING SIDE ENTRANCE
Photographed by H. W. Nash, at Pueblo, Colorado, May i, iSg?

(331)

332

Bird - Lore

the part of the birds. The edifice begins with a foundation of twigs, in the
upper part of which is a cavity from six to ten inches deep, with a mud base
and outer wall, something like a Robin's nest, and usually lined with fine roots.
Over this is a roof of twigs, with the entrance hole in one side just above the
top of the cavity. This roof varies much in different nests; sometimes it is a
good thick affair, and again it does not amount to much, almost wanting.
As the same nest may be occupied for several successive years, it is possible
the owners may add something to it annually. Often they are very bulky,
four feet or more in height and three in diameter.

As for situation. Magpies will build in almost any sort of tree which is at
hand; but the great majority of the nests I have seen were in cottonwoods

or willows, and I do
not think they care for
evergreen trees, for in
localities where such
were at hand, along
with the other sorts,
they were seldom used.
The height from the
ground varies. The
entrance to one nest
which I photographed
was not more than
three feet above
ground, but this was
exceptional; usually
they vary from ten to
fifty feet above ground.
As for the location in
the tree, that is also
variable. On Culebra
Creek almost every
conceivable variation

AN ADULT MAGPIE , , . ,

was found, and 1 tried
series of pictures of the most characteristic, some of which show
he nest may be in the crotch where the trunk makes its
first division, or out on a branch; often it is built at the side of the
trunk, where a short bushy branch affords a foundation for starting the
structure. In willows, which here are clumps of small stems growing closely
together, and not trees with a single large trunk, the nests are placed among
the thick branches, and while they sway in every bre:ze they will stand
for years.

As might be expected from the size and manner of construction. Magpie

for i
that

Our Winter Guests 333

nests are often used by other birds. The following birds have been found using
them for their own nests, but usually, if not always, nesting on the top, having
either torn off the roof, or else it has been broken down by age or the weight
of winter snows: Great Horned Owl, Long-eared Owl, Screech Owl, Sharp-
shinned Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Bronzed Crackle, Mourning Dove, English
Sparrow, and I once found one which I thought had been used by a Red-tailed
Hawk, but could not be sure, because the nest was not in use at the time I
found it. There was circumstantial evidence that the nest had been used by
either Hawks or Owls, and the Redtails were about. Rockwell says that
Sparrow Hawks prefer a nest that is roofed over. The most peculiar "bird"
I have heard of as occupying a Magpie's nest was mentioned to me by Mr. C. E.
Aiken. He told me that a man hunting near Colorado Springs was passing an
old nest, looked up and saw a pair of ears and a nose, shot at them, and out
tumbled a Cray Fox!

Like all the Crow and Jay tribe, Magpies are omnivorous, and also more
or less mischievous. They will rob other birds' nests of eggs and young, steal
eggs from the poultry-yard, and are said to have a bad habit of picking at
raw sores on horses and cattle, on the range or in a pasture. They feed on car-
rion when it is to be had, and thus do good as scavengers, and no doubt eat
many harmful insects.

Our Winter Guests

By ELIZA F. MILLER, Bethel. Vermont

FOR several years it has been our habit to feed the winter birds, but until
the winter of 1911-12 we have failed to attract others than Chickadees
and White-breasted Nuthatches as regular boarders. We have a shelf
arranged against the kitchen window that opens upon a covered piazza, so
that it is always protected from storms, and here our birds feed without
fear of us.

In 1906, we learned that Chickadees could be tamed to eat from our hands,
and, every year since then, we have had from two to six or seven that would
do this; and some of them easily learn little tricks that are amusing and
show much intelligence. I once held a piece of butternut meat (their favorite
food) in my teeth, and invited one to come. Chickadee saw and heard and
came, but could see no place to stand. He went to the top of my head to
consider, but could not think it out, and soon left. I held my finger hori-
zontally before my mouth, and he came at once, alighted on it and took the
nut from my teeth. After that, they learned to take food from my lips while
hovering, or sometimes they grasped my chin with their scratchy little
nails.

They believe in "suggestions," these birds. I have sometimes let down

334 Bird - Lore

the window at the top and held food in my hand above it, and they readily
came and took it. They soon learned to flutter near the top of that window,
and were usually promptly rewarded for their brightness. In the spring, when
the migrants take our attention, the Chickadees plainly show a "me too"
disposition. One day I was looking at a Junco, and one of the Chickadees,
disliking to be ignored, flew across in front of me several times ; but
I was intent on the Junco, and took no notice. Then he hovered near
me, and finally alighted on my arm. As that did no good, he fluttered
close to my face, coaxing for nuts from my Ups. I had not asked that
trick of him for weeks, but he had not forgotten, and he meant to gain
my attention if possible. He succeeded. These little fellows are so enter-
taining and full of friendly ways that we should find the winters lonesome
without them.

Just once, during the severe winter of 1907-8, a tiny Red-breasted Nut-
hatch came to my hand. He was very hungry, and, when he found the abvm-
dance of suet-crumbs on the shelf, he took them away and hid them as fast as
he could. He was perfectly fearless, and would keep on working when I was
close to the shelf. After he had carried away all of the suet, I held out some
in my hand, and he came, after fluttering like a moth before it, alighted on
my hand and took the suet. He very evidently did not regard me as a personal
friend, as do the Chickadees, but simply as an uncommon animal that had
food for him.

Last winter we had bunches of millet stalks tied to trees and bushes near
the house, hoping to attract Redpolls. In February, large flocks of Snow
Buntings and Redpolls were at times in the lot next to ours, eating weed-seeds,
and, on February 27, one Redpoll found our millet. Apparently he told his
friends, as the number increased daily until forty was no unusual number.
They easily learned to find millet seed that we scattered under various covered
places, or upon the snow. They learned too easily, for they came to the
Chickadees' window-shelf in a mob and forced our little friends away, squab-
bling shamefully among themselves over the suet, crumbs, and nuts. We
were obliged repeatedly to drive them away, lest we lose our Chickadees.
Fortunately they did not know how to eat sunflower seeds, or the Chickadees
would have lost all of their food. When the ground was snow-covered, we
had to keep plenty of millet seed out in the yard for them, or they would have
monopolized the shelf. These Redpolls are beautiful little creatures, but they
fully illustrate the "survival of the fittest" idea in their conduct. However,
every time the hillsides became bare, they would be away for the most of the
day, and that gave our little favorites a time of peace.

For several days, a male Purple Finch ate at the table with the Redpolls.
One Red-breasted Nuthatch frequented our piazza many days in March,
and two White-breasted Nuthatches were here daily after the middle of Jan-
uary. Three Downy Woodpeckers and a Brown Creeper were often in our trees

Our Winter Guests 335

where we tied suet, and twice our sumac tree furnished lunch for the splendid
Pine Grosbeaks. A dozen Chickadees were with us after the middle of January,
and we never before had so many that were willing to come to our hands, and
often just for friendship, when we held no food.

Our neighbors saw them do this, and even received the little fellows on
their own hands, when calling upon us. The custom of keeping bird-tables
has spread through the village, and several families have Chickadees that are
friendly, besides the other birds that are glad of a sure supply of food. Red-
polls follow the Chickadees to the new stations, and one mill-owner,
after mixing various seeds for them, has decided that Hungarian millet
pleases them most.

On March 12, as I stood on the piazza, a tiny Pine Siskin came to the step
below, perfectly fearless, and unconscious of me, and stayed many minutes
while I examined it, finding the olive-green on the long wing-feathers very
pretty. Later, two more came, one having large, bright marks of clear sulphur
on wings and tail. These three were very loving among themselves, and friendly
with the Redpolls. All were fearless of us. The sulphur-trimmed bird stayed
only one day, but one or both of the others were here nine days. They soon
found the window-shelf, and, like all of the other birds, preferred butternuts
above all else. They were very quiet, and were not afiflicted with "nerves,"
as are the Redpolls.

One day I found that I could touch one of these Siskins, so I placed my
fingers, holding a cracked nut, over the nut she was eating, and she very
willingly ate from the one that I held. Another nut was in my other hand,
and the Chickadees took turns in eating that, or clinging to my arm, while
one ran across my shoulders, all being anxious for my attention because I was
busy with a new pet.

The Siskin ate from my hand on the shelf several times that day, and the
next day, seeing a Chickadee fly to my hand, she followed, and he hastily
gave up his place to her. Twice she did that, and afterward did not hesitate
to come alone. The other Siskin tamed as readily, so that by the third day
we could at any time hold out both hands with nuts, and a Siskin would come
to each hand, and remain to eat indefinitely. We much regret that we
neglected to get photographs of these perfect sitters. They were much less
active than Chickadees.

I wonder why it is that most birds, if fed, become irritable toward one
another. These Siskins, though loving at first, fought fiercely later, and were
so savage with Chickadees that they dared not come to our hands if the Siskins
were near. They even drove off the White-breasted Nuthatches, so much
larger than themselves. The Redpolls, too, seemed happy together before we
fed them. Late in March, when Song Sparrows and Juncos came, they ate
peacefully with the Redpolls, until one day we found that one Song Sparrow
had "cornered" the millet, and had driven away all Redpolls, Juncos, and

336

Bird - Lore

Sparrows, and this he persistently did, though the Redpolls returned many
times.

In the last weeks in March, the Redpolls sang a low, continuous warble,
interspersed with a short note that at a distance sounded like "buzz," but
when near it was a liquid rattle, shorter and less vigorous than the whizz of
the Siskin.

BODIES OF WILD DUCK

Near Tampico; Mexico, there are many huge oil wells throughout a big stretch of
country. The uncontrolled portion of the oil is caught in big reser\-oirs. The oil is
black and tar-like. Thousands of Wild Ducks land in the oil, thinking it water, and
are soon reduced to a pitiful ball of asphalt. The bodies line the shores of every reser-
voir. This picture, taken in January, 191 2, at Oil Wells, on the Panuco River, is an
average example of this phenomenon.

• — Thos. M. Galey, 316 North Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa.

A Rustic Food-House

By KRRDKRIC H. KENNARD

I

N Bird-Lore for January- February, 191 2, in
an article entitled "My Experience with Von
Berlepsch Nest Boxes," there were shown
)hotographs, on pages 3 and 8, of an adaptation of
the German food-houses, designed by Baron Von
Berlepsch, that has proved successful on my place,
and which was later adopted by Ernest Harold
Baynes, and used very successfully by him and the
Meriden Bird Club, in and about Meriden, New
Hampshire. The many inquiries with regard to
these food-houses that have been received from bird-
loving friends lead me to infer that there may be
some of the readers of Bird-Lore who would like
to build them, and for their benefit I submit the
following description and sketch.

The food-houses should be set up in some suit-
able place, preferably in or near shrubbery, which,
while offering protection to the birds, will not
hinder close observation of their doings while they
are visiting the food-trays.

The house should be supported, preferably by a fairly stout red cedar post,
with the bark left on that part above the ground, and the branches cut about
six inches long, so as to serve as perches for prospective visitors. The post
should be 5^ to 6 feet above the ground, and set at least 3 feet in the ground,
and that portion below the surface should be stripped of bark, and given a
thick coating of coal-tar for its proper preservation. If the house be in a posi-
tion exposed to the winds, the post may be set in concrete.

The house itself consists of a square hip-roof, 2 feet 10 inches over all, and
supporting beneath it four glazed sashes, 2 feet long by 10^ inches high, and
securely joined at the corners. It is attached to the supporting post by
means of a wooden block 2 inches thick, fastened beneath the apex of the
roof, with a hole in its center into which the top of the post is driven and
nailed.

The roof should be made of three-fourths inch matched sheathing, prefer-
ably of cj^ress, running up and down, with battens over the four hips, the
better to keep out the weather. The sashes may be made at home, though
I have personally found it better to procure them from some near-by sash
manufacturer.

There should be two food-trays fastened about the supporting post. The
upper, 12 inches in diameter, should be on a level with the bottom of the

(337)

338

Bird -Lore

sash, easy of access to the hungry birds, and easy of observation to inquisitive
humans; while the other, about 8 inches in diameter, should be about 8 or
ID inches lower, and useful as a preliminary lure to the shyer visitors.

On my own place, which has a great many evergreen trees, I have painted
the roof and sash of the food-house a dark green, to match the green of the
surrounding pines. Mr. Baynes has used other colors; but I doubt if it makes
very much difference to the birds what the color is, provided it is inconspicuous.
The question of color may be eliminated, and a very pleasing effect achieved,
by making the food-house entirely rustic; shelter as well as post, covering
the roof with bark, and making the battens and sashes of strips of white
cedar or spruce with the bark on.

Gull Pensioners

By E. L. MOSELEY

With photographs by E. Niebergall

DURING March, 191 2, several hundred Herring Gulls could be seen
at one time resting upon the ice of Sandusky Bay. Some always
remain in this vicinity through the winter. When the ice becomes
thick enough for men to fish through it, the Gulls are given the small fish and
the water-dogs (salamanders). Some of the fishermen bring back to the ice

W^

I SKY BAY, OHIO

with them the heads of fish they have dressed at home and other scraps for
the Gulls. But the last week of February, this year, Mr. Louis Beverick,
foreman of the Booth Fish Company, began thawing fish from their freezers
and feeding them to the Gulls. The first day, only twenty or twenty-five
birds came to the dock, but each day the niunber increased, so that by the

^
•^^

-V

'f^'^f.

.^T^,

THE GATHERING OF THE GULLS

HURRYING TO THE FEAST

(339)

340

Bird - Lore

middle of March a thousand or more Gulls were being fed. The Post Fish
Company and Lea Bros, also fed the Gvlh.

Later, the Humane Society enlisted the sympathies of the children, and
on March 29 baskets of food brought to the different school buildings were
taken to the Gulls. However, they had been so well supplied with fish that
they would not eat dry bread, as a hungry Gull will. After the bread on the

AT BREAKFAST TIME

ice became wet, th'ey took it, but rejected com, oats, and peanuts. About
April 2 the ice broke up.

It was commonly believed that the severe winter prevented the birds from
finding open water, and that they would have starved if food had not been
given them. Perhaps the number of Gulls on Lake Erie was increased by
the closing of lakes farther north. The western portion of Lake Erie was
frozen, so that teams and automobiles crossed from Canada to Ohio, some-
thing which is possible only in unusually severe winters. The first half of
the winter there was open water much of the time within a few miles of
Sandusky, but by March 12 the various weather-bureau stations reported
that ice covered the lake beyond the range of vision, and the Gulls were
therefore deprived of this usual source of food.

When Mr. Beverick began feeding the Gulls, they were shy, but in time
became so tame as to take fish from the basket he held in his hand. The flap-
ping of hundreds of white wings was a pretty sight, and many people were
attracted to the docks. One photographer, Mr. Niebergall, took one hundred
and twenty five different views of the birds.

Mr. Beverick saw a Gull swallow three herrings, which together probably
weighed about two and one-half poimds. It tried unsuccessfully to swallow a

Gull Pensioners

341

fourth one. After becoming so gorged, it was unable to fly far. Its weight was
perhaps doubled by the meal.

From one fish-house some salted fish were thrown out, but were not relished
by the Gulls that took them. They did not swallow them until they were
approached by other Gulls. Fresh fish, however, were devoured even more
greedily than those which had been frozen and thawed. After swallowing a
frozen fish weighing about a pound, a Gull would remain in a humped position
until the fish was thawed enough so it could be bent.

About March 20, a white Gull much larger than the others, probably the
Burgomaster, remained with the Herring Gulls about three days, taking more
than its share of the fish.

A STUDY IN BIRD FLIGHT
Copyright by E. Niebergall

Tame Wild Turkeys

By WILLIAM T. DAVIS

With photographs by the author

DOWN on the Florida coast, among the Ten Thousand Islands, in the
Gulf of Mexico, there is a small hamlet known as Everglade. A
narrow river ebbs and flows with the tide before the few houses on
its banks, and the place has the appearance of being on the mainland. As a
matter of fact, however, it is on an island; for the "river" has a back entrance,
so to speak, and there is another lead out to the Gulf. Our mission to Ever-
glade, in April, 191 2, was the collecting of insects, and so daily we rambled
about the garden or in the near-by salt meadows.

Also, strolling about this open area and among the orange trees were three
tame Wild Turkeys — two gobblers and a hen. They, too, were entomologists,
and interested in grasshoppers. With the hen we had Httle to do, for she

generally kept at a respectable distance; but the young gobblers had no thought
of running away, and all that was necessary was to wave the insect net at
them, or make some demonstration by way of a challenge, when with a few
short chucks the Turkeys closed in, and the net handle was then useful as a
weapon of defence. It was one of our amusements to get the Turkeys much
excited, and then run along a path at top speed, with the long-legged gobblers
very mad and in hot pursuit. Then we would pop into one of the out-build-

(342)

Tame Wild Turkeys

343

ings, slam the door, aiul listen to the coniinents of the ireful Turkeys outside.
After a while they \\\)ul(l dejjart, or we would come out and charge them with
the insect net. They, however, would go only just far enough away to be safe.
It gave us a new conception of the usually timid Wild Turkeys, to see them
thus about the |)lace, and more than tame. It was Turkey Gobl)lers, and
not "gobble-uns,"" that would catch us if we didn't watch out.

Mr. George W. Storter had had the birds some time upon our arrival, and
he considered that the reason the Turkeys were content to stay about his place
w^as that the most suitable ground for them was near the house, the mangrove
swamps not containing the grasshoppers, etc., of which they were in quest.
At night they would roost on the roof of some of the buildings, often on the
shingled top of one of the cement cisterns, where they were not welcome, and
it was one of the duties of Kirby Storter to dislodge them and make them roost
elsewhere. The first illustration shows Kirby gibing the Turkeys, and about
to run away with the gobblers in pursuit.

Mr. Storter suggested to us that we visit an inland orange grove situated
on a hummock lying on the border of the Big Cypress Swamp. So, one day,
we went in a power-boat, two miles up Allen's River, and then walked ten or
twelve miles, first through salt meadow and then across most beautiful prairie
country, w'here there were a multitude of flowers and many insects. Our chief
regret was that we could not linger long by the way. In due time we reached
the grove, and were surprised to learn that the Wild Turkeys were protected

344 Bird - Lore

there, and that we might expect to meet with them in our walks afield. We
had not long to wait, for the very next day we saw several Turkeys walking
in the grove, and they were in no particular hurry to get out of our way. They
would run, it is true, upon our approach, and were not more than tame, as
were the Turkeys at Everglade; but, nevertheless, through the wise policy of
the managers of the grove, they were not very much afraid of man.

Our food was cooked on an open log fire under a shed, and we dined in a
little building near the cook-house. One morning, one of the tamest of the
gobblers came near this house to get the crumbs that had been thrown out,
and I was able to get two snapshots with the camera from the open door.

One hears a great deal, and it is true, about bird life having a hard time
of it in the South, where almost everything is shot at, often for the mere
sport of shooting a living thing. It is encouraging, therefore, to find a place
where the Florida Turkeys are protected, and where these ornamental birds
add so much to the interest and beauty of an orange grove.

Bird-Lore's Thirteenth Christmas Bird Census

BIRD-LORE'S annual bird census will be taken as usual on Christmas
Day, or as near that date as circumstances will permit. Without wish-
ing to appear ungrateful to those contributors who have assisted in
making the census so remarkably successful, lack of space compels us to ask
each census-taker to send only one census. Much as we should like to print
all the records sent, we find it impossible to use two from the same person.
Reference to the February, igoi-1912 numbers of Bird-Lore will acquaint
one with the nature of the report of the day's hunt which we desire; but to
those to whom none of these issues is available, we may explain that such
reports should be headed by a brief statement of the character of the weather,
whether clear, cloudy, rainy, etc. ; whether the ground is bare or snow-covered,
the direction and force of the wind, the temperature at the time of starting,
the hour of starting and of returning. Then should be given, in the order
of the A. 0. U. 'Check-List' a Ust of the species seen, with exactly, or approx-
imately, the number of individuals of each species recorded. A record should
read, therefore, somewhat as follows:

Yonkers, N. Y. 8 a.m. to 12 m. Clear, ground bare; wind west, light; temp., 38°.
Herring Gull, 75. Total, — species, — individuals. — James Gates.

These records will be published in the February issue of Bird-Lore, and
it is particularly requested that they be sent the editor (at the American
Museum of Natural History, New York City) not later than December 28.
It will save the editor much clerical labor if the model here given and the order
of the A. 0. U. 'Check-List' be closely followed.

The Migration of North American Sparrows

NINETEENTH PAPER

Compiled by Professor W. W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey

With drawings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes

(See Frontispiece)

PINE GROSBEAK

The northern parts of both hemispheres are inhabited by the Pine Grosbeak.
The American birds have been subdivided into five forms, four of which inhabit
respectively the Rocky Mountains, the California Mountains, the mountains
from Alaska to Washington, and the coast district of Alaska. The other
form nests locally in much of Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, south to
Maine and the higher mountains of New Hampshire. This form, Pinicola
enucleator Iciicura, is the only one that performs long migrations, and the data
in the following tables refer exclusively to individuals of this sub-species.
During the winter season the Pine Grosbeak irregularly invades the northern
United States, and has been recorded as far south as Iowa, Kentucky, and the
District of Columbia.

FALL MIGRATION

PLACE

Number

of years'

record

Average date of
fall arrival

Earliest date of
fall arrival

Flagstaff, Alberta

Aweme, Manitoba

Lincoln, Neb

3
2

4

November 6
October 28

November 7
December 3

November 11

November 11
November 4

November 18
November 21

December 2

October 26, 1908
October 12, 1902
November 7, 19 10
November 12, 1906
November 5, 1904
December i, 1903
November 17, 1906
November 4, 1906
November i, 1883
October 31,
October 26, 1895
October 9, 1901
November 6, 1905
October 22, 1910
October 30, 1903
November 28, 1980
October 25, 1903
November 29, 1906

Lake Forest, 111

Southern Michigan

Ottawa, Ontario

Montreal, Canada

New Haven, Conn

Northern New York

Englewood, N. J..

Warren, Pa

SPRING MIGRATION

PLACE

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
the last one seen

Latest date of the
last one seen

Washington D. C.

3

January 20

January 23, 1888
Januarv 28, 1884
April 8, 1896

Philadelphia, Pa. (near)

Wyoming County, Pa

(345)

346

Bird -Lore

SPRING MIGRATION, Continued

Number
of years'
record

Average date of
the last one seen

Latest date of the
last one seen

Northern New Jersey
Northern New York .

Connecticut.

Providence, R. I

Massachusetts

Vermont

Durham, N. H

Southern Maine

Hickman, K^-

Lake Forest, 111

Southern Michigan. . .

Ottawa, Ontario

Southern Ontario. . . .

Madison, Wis

Southern ^Manitoba. .

March 14
March 13
March 28

March 21
March 31

April II

March 29
March 23
March 18

March 30

April 21, 1-905
Maj' 5, 1904
April 7, 1907
April 3,
April 25,
April 18,
April 22,
Ma}- 12,
March 19, 1888
March 14, 1896
April 4, 1883
April 21, 1883
April 23, 19 II
April 19, 1907
April 10, 1884

[897
1903
1888
1900
[909

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows

SEVENTEENTH PAPER

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

(See Frontispiece)

Pine Grosbeak {Pinicola enucleator). In nestling plumage the Pine
Grosbeak, of both sexes, resembles the adult female, but is less strongly tinged
wdth yellowish. At the postjuvenal molt, the wing-coverts and feathers of the
body are shed, only the wing and tail-feathers being retained, and the bird
passes into first winter plumage. The female is now indistinguishable from
adults of the same sex, but the young male assumes a distinctive dress, well
shown by figure 3 of the frontispiece. This, it will be obsen^ed, resembles that
of the female, but the head and nmip have a reddish tone, suggesting an
approach to the plumage of the adult male.

There appears to be no spring molt, and the nuptial, or breeding, plumage
is acquired by wear which, as D wight has shown, has the effect of brightening
the general color of feathers through the loss of the barbules on the terminal
barbs.

At the postnuptial molt, the young male acquires the reddish or pink
plumage of the adult ; but the presence of an occasional yellowish feather among
the upper tail-coverts gives e\-idence of comparative youth, and it is probable
that very highly colored males are at least several years old.

The western races of this bird are the Rocky Mountain Pine Grosbeak
{Pinicola enucleator montana), the California Pine Grosbeak (P. e. calif arnica),
the Alaska Pine Grosbeak (P. e. alascensis), and the Kadiak Pine Grosbeak
(P. e. flammula).

jBtote^ from Jftelti anD ^tutip

Relative Number of Birds in 1912

When the birds return in the spring
after an exceptionally cold winter, such
as the last one, our first concern is to see
if their numbers have been greatly deci-
mated by the severity of the winter. No
attempt will be made here to consider
others than the thirty-seven species that
nest within sight and sound of my door-
step, and to a study of whose home life
the summer months are devoted.

The species that returned with full
ranks, as nearly as could be estimated,
were the Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Screech
Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Xorthern
Flicker, Chimney Swift, Kingbird, Phcsbe,
Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Meadow-
lark, Western Meadowlark, Baltimore
Oriole, Vesper, Song, and Chipping Spar-
rows, Warbling Vireo, White-rumped
Shrike, Maryland Yellowthroat and Cat-
bird. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds,
which are summer boarders, but not
breeders in the door-yard, were as numer-
ous as usual. The Chimney Swifts, with-
out being more plentiful than in the previ-
ous spring, have more than held their own
of late years, due evidently to the absence
in nesting-time for three seasons of those
heavy, beating rains that dislodge the
nests.

Sparrow Hawks for the first time
nested on our place, and the species is
now increased by four young ones, at the
cost of the lives of numberless small
birds. Bronzed Crackles, the Ishmaelites
among birds, have increased alarmingly
of late. Not a nest of theirs was to be
found in the neighborhood ten years ago,
whereas this year every evergreen tree
seemed to harbor a pair of them. Brown
Thrashers have appeared more numerous
than usual. From two nests on this place
four and five young ones respectively
went forth in June; and the second nests
of these pairs now (July 12) hold three
eggs each. House Wrens hav^e gained in

numbers in recent years, until they sug-
gest the possibility of too many of them
soon. Beyond doubt, they often are
villainous little rascals in their relations
with other birds. A pair of Chickadees
that fed here all winter seemed anxious
to nest here. Two more boxes were added
to the six already in place, but the Chick-
adees were not able to find lodgment in
any of them. Four singing Wrens at
present monopolize the nesting-places.
The nests now in progress, taken with two
others in the nearest yards, bid fair to
maintain the supply of House Wrens.

Apparently two-thirds of our bird
species are as plentiful as usual, or are
increasing in numbers. Of the others,
the dryness of the sloughs this j-ear
excludes the Sora and the Short-billed
Marsh Wren. The Bob-whites, nearly
exterminated by the drifting snowstorms
of two and three years ago, are on the
increase once more, and in two or three
places near-by the cheerful whistle of the
cocks may be heard. The numbers of
the Prairie Horned Larks have steadily
decreased in recent years; no cause can
be assigned for this loss except the usual
accidents to which the species is subject.
Quite otherwise seems to be the case of
the Blue Jay, which has decreased so
greatly that its scarcity at present has
been remarked by people but slightly
interested in birds. From circumstances
known to me, I venture the opinion that
some contagious disease carried them off.
The only pair nesting in this neighborhood
this year did not winter here. That the
Bobolinks are no more than one-fourth so
numerous as they were last year is the
estimate. The absence of their voices
from the bird chorus is a distinctly appre-
ciable and grievous loss. Almost equally
great has been the difference in the num-
bers of the Dickcissels last year and this.
Although not a very common species in
most 3-ears, their abundance in 191 1 may
be judged by the fact that after they

^347)

348

Bird -Lore

were located for nesting the singing of
seven males could be heard from our
dooryard. This j'ear Dickcissels can be
rated no more than tolerably common.
Their spring arrival is later than that of
any other of our breeding birds, and their
nesting is no more than well begun when
the work of destructive mowers is com-
menced in their haunts. The number of
nests destroj-ed last year was large. The
Grasshopper Sparrow, usually found in
small numbers everj- summer, has not
been observed this 3'ear, excepting one
individual in migration time. The Gold-
finch, a common bird usually, is scarce
this year; so, too, are the Cliff and the
Barn Swallow.

That the extreme cold of the past winter
had some share in the reduction of some
of the species is but a natural conclusion.
The Goldfinch and the Robin both win-
tered in unprecedented numbers far north
of their usual winter range in this region,
which lies in the northward extension of
the Austral Zone on both sides of the
Mississippi River, as marked on the map
prepared by the Biological Survey. Here,
within the first six weeks of the year, there
were twenty-six mornings of zero weather,
or from zero to 30 and 36 degrees below
that mark; j-et, despite this cold, Robins
survived, a flock of about thirty being
seen in the latter days of February. The
Robins as summer residents are not so
numerous as usual, although the decrease
in the numbers is not so noticeable as it
is in other species. The Bluebird seems to
have fared worse. In answer to investi-
gations made in March, Mr. Merton Fox,
who for eight years has been mail-car-
rier on Route No. 2 out of McGregor,
Iowa, gave as his opinion that he was see-
ing more Bluebirds than usual. My obser-
vations have been of but four individuals;
two were migrants, and two were summer
residents several miles apart. — Althe.\
R. Sherm.^n, National, loica.

last winter, as our house is quite near the
business section of the town, and I did
not think that many birds would come to
feed. Last winter, however, I put out
sunflower seeds and suet, and one pair
each of Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Tit-
mice, Cardinals, and Downy Woodpeckers
came daily. Another pair of Chickadees
and a Carolina Wren also paid me an
occasional visit.

I considered myself well repaid for my
trouble by the excellent opportunities
given for study and observation at close
range, but I soon found that I was also to
receive other compensation.

A plum and an apple tree stood close
to where I had placed my counter, and I
frequently saw the birds in these, appar-
ently searching for food. The Downy
Woodpecker was especiallj- active, and
was seen repeatedly climbing up and down
the plum tree. We have usually had fair
crops from the apple, but there have not
been many plums for several years. I
wondered at the time what effect the birds
would have on the fruit.

The trees blossomed about the same as
usual, but we soon noticed that the fruit
did not fall so much as in former years.
During spring and summer other birds
came to feed in the trees, particularlj^ the
Yellow Warbler.

As a result of the good work of the
birds, we had better crops on both trees
than we have had for several years, even
better than last year when the trees were
sprayed.

This incident has convinced me that
the winter-feeding of birds is worth while,
even when viewed merely from the eco-
nomic standpoint, without any consider-
ation of the pleasure derived from watch-
ing the birds, or of the fact that this
feeding is frequently the only thing that
saves many birds from starvation during
winter. — George W. Tavenxer, Jr.,
Parkersburg, W. Va.

Value of Winter Birds

Although I have been interested in
birds for some time, I never fed them before

A Field Mark for the Least Sandpiper

Mr. John T. Nichols' remarks in the
July-.\ugust number of Bird -Lore on

Notes from Field and Study

349

the dilliculty of distinj^uishing the Least
and the Semipalmated Sandpipers in the
field remind me that I have long since
been intending to publish a note on this
subject. To me the bills furnish the
easiest method of distinguishing these
two species in the field, for that of the
Least Sandpiper is slighll}^ dccurved,
while that of the Semipalmated is straight.
I have never seen this distinction men-
tioned in the books, and it seems to have
escaped the attention of some excellent
observers — as of the artist who drew these
two birds for a recent leaflet of the
National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties; but it held true in a considerable
series of specimens of the two species
which I examined some time ago, and I
have found it very useful in the field.
Sometimes a single abnormal bird may
puzzle one; but, if a number are together,
the characteristic shape of the bill is sure
to be very evident. It shows clearly in
the photograph of the Least Sandpiper
published with Mr. Nichols' note, espe-
cially in the image of the bird reflected in
the water. — Francis H. Allen, Wesi
Roxbury, Mass.

Notes on the Bald Eagle, Starling, and
Song Sparrow, at Bernardsville, N. J.

Bald Eagle. — On June 23, 191 2, while
traveling in a motor on a wooded road
near here, I came upon a flock of Crows.
I stopped, as the Crows were cawing and
flying about very excitedly. Upon looking
more closely, I saw on the top of a dead
tree, about twenty yards from me, a
beautiful specimen of an adult Bald
Eagle. I could then easily account for
the excited actions of the Crows. This is
the closest that I have ever approached a
Bald Eagle.

The following is the number of times I
have seen Bald Eagles at Bernardsville
in the last few years: 1908, once; 1909,
three times; 1910, none personally, once
reported; 191 1, none; 1912, twice per-
sonally, once reported.

On August 26, a friend of mine. Miss
Marie Louise Blair, saw a Bald Eagle.

This makes the second summer record of
which I know, all the others having been
seen in the spring or fall. My other
record for this season was on May 31.

Starling.— The first time that I re-
member seeing the Starling in Bernards-
ville was in 1909, in which year, as in
the three following, a pair nested on the
roof of our house.

They are now common in this locality.
Lately I have seen flocks of about 500.
This spring I saw twelve to fifteen walking
and flying around a herd of cows, after
the manner of Cowbirds. I am interested
to know whether anybody has observed
this before, or whether it is a newly
acquired habit of this bird.

Following are the data which I gathered
from observations made at the nest of a
Starling. The nest was situated in a hole
in a dead chestnut tree. The hole, which
was near the top of a forty-foot tree, was
about six inches deep.

May 20.

2.47 P.M., one old bird fed young.

2.55, one old bird fed young.

2.56, both old birds fed young.
3.01, one old bird fed young.
3.03, one old bird fed young.
3.08, one old bird fed young.
3.12, one old bird fed young.

3.15, one old bird fed young three in-
sects, probably a worm, a beetle, and
a locust, and then cleaned the nest.

May 23.

2.41 P.M., one bird fed young.

2.42, one bird fed young.

2.48, both birds fed young; one had

worm cut in three parts.
2.58, one bird fed young with insect,
probably a locust.

May 19.

2.37 P.M., one bird fed j'oung.

2.39, one bird fed young.

2.42, both birds came; one had a worm,
the other an insect, probably a Grass-
hopper; however, they both flew away
again, but at

2.44 the one with the worm returned.
It stayed in the hole ten seconds.

2.47, one bird came with a worm two
inches long, but would not enter the
hole, probably because of mj' presence.

There were two calls given by the old
birds; one a low, nasal, complaining note,

350

Bird -Lore

the other was a grating click. The call of
the young was a teasing note, uttered
whenever the old birds came near the hole.

Once I waited five minutes, but the
bird refused to enter the hole; however,
when I concealed mj^self behind a rock,
it did so immediately.

When flying low, the birds came straight
to the nest; but when flying high, they
circled a few times before alighting.

Every time the food was identified (and
this was probably three-fourths of the
time) it consisted of insects. After
alighting on the tree the bird would hop
two or three inches at a time, sometimes
fly a foot or two, until it reached a distance
of two feet from the nest; whereupon, it
flew straight into the hole. When making
exit, it flew straight away from the hole.

Song Sparrow. — A Song Sparrow's
nest, of which I made a study, was situ-
ated about twenty feet from a house, in a
four- foot Retinispora sqiiarrosa. The nest
was composed of coarse grass, lined exten-
sively with horsehair. The dates of hatch-
ing and leaving nest were: May i8, 4 eggs;
May 23, 3 eggs, i young; May 24, 2 eggs,
2 young; June 2, 2 eggs, 2 young; June 3,
2 eggs, 2 young out of nest.

The young, soon after hatching, have
a rufous-brown skin sparsely covered by
thin gray down. When one day old, the
skin becomes lighter than when hatched;

and on auriculars and around eyes, is
slate. The body is more thickly covered
with down than when hatched. The bill
is creamy buff, and the inside of the mouth
ochroceous-buff.

During the time of incubation, and the
period when the young were in the nest,
only one adult was seen; but after the
young left the nest both birds were seen
near. The call notes of the adults, when
I approached the young, were a low click,
like the Chipping Sparrow's and also the
Song Sparrow's usual call-note.

For two weeks after leaving the nest, the
young could be found in a clump of bushes,
not twenty feet away. On the day of
departure from the nest, I found the young
in the nesting tree. As I approached, one
fluttered to the ground.

Though the adults became excited
when I got too near the young, yet, when
I retreated about twenty feet, they would
fly up to the top of a tree and sing. — John
Dryden Kuser, BernardsviUe, N. J.

An Unusual Nest-Site

On June 15, 1912, some small boys
reported that they had found the nest of
a strange bird along the tracks of the
Chicago and Alton Railroad, south of the
village, and guided me to the place. I
found it to be the nest of a Killdecr, and

A KILLDEER'S NEST BETWEEN RAILROAD TRACKS

Notes from Field and Study

351

the male and female circled about ulterins
their usual notes of alarm. The nest had
been found by a boy who had stooped to
pick up a stone for his sling-shoi, and at
that lime it contained tiirce
eggs, one of which he broke
while handling it. The nest
was one-fourth mile south
of McLean, and on the rock
ballast of the right of way
of the railroad, and be-
tween the double tracks. It
was three and one-half feet
from the inner rail of the
south-bound track. The
nest seemed to be slightly
hollowed out, and looked
as if small flat splinters of
stones had been placed in
position by the bird build-
ing it. There were no pro-
tecting weeds or grass, and
it was completely exposed.
To find out if the bird
would stay on the nest while
the trains passed, I observed
the nest for several days.
Before incubation began,
the birds would stay near
the nest; and, after incuba-
tion began, the bird on the
nest would remain there
until an approaching train
was about ten feet distant,
and would then rise, and
often had hard work to
fly out of the draft of
wind created by the train. I did not see
it stay on the nest while a train passed,
and I doubt if it did at night, as the suc-
tion from the swiftly moving train must
have been too strong, and trains often
passed at the rate of fifty miles an hour.
The bird would return to the nest as soon
as the train had passed. A day or two
before my last observations, I saw only
one bird, and fear that the other had
been killed by the train. On about the
day when I expected the eggs to hatch I
found no eggs or signs of them, and no
young or old bird. What became of them
I do not know.

The location for the nest was probably
chosen on account of the rocks used by
the railroad for ballast. These were
mostly smooth limestone rocks, mixed

KILLDE

The

ERS NEST BETWEEN R.^ILROAO TRACKS
eggs were laid to the right of the hat. See
accompanying picture

with some cinders and pieces of coal.
There was a pond a quarter of a mile
away, where the birds were often found.
The pictures were taken soon after the
nest was discovered. — F. W. Aldrich,
McLean, III.

The Shrike in Action

Mr. Berners B. Kelly, in a paper of
exceptional interest, published in the
November-December, 1911, issue of Bird-
Lore, describes the Northern Shrike's
method of dealing instantaneous death to
the House Sparrow.

352

Bird -Lore

In the author's extensive experience, the
Shrike has invariably attacked a House
Sparrow, and in every case, once the
Shrike has struck his blow, death has
been instantaneous.

As the following notes, taken from my
journal, describe apparently unusual
occurrences, I submit them as a supple-
ment to Mr. Kelly's observations:

"Jan. 27, 1910. This afternoon (2 p.m.)
I watched for five or ten minutes a Shrike
attempting to capture a Chickadee. My
attention was atracted by the Chickadee's
notes, si-si-si-si, dee, dee, dee, and I found
the bird hiding in an isolated red cedar
tree, while the Shrike was doing his best
to find him. The Chickadee made no
attempt to leave the tree, but kept moving
about, chiefly among the inner branches.
The Shrike followed his prey as best he
could through the network of fine twigs,
but often lost sight of it, evidently, and,
coming to an outside branch, sat quiet,
listening.

"When hard pressed, the Chickadee
flew out and circled about the tree before
diving in among the branches again.
After these flights, sometimes he entered
the tree low down, and then mounted to
the very top by a series of short, rapid
hops; sometimes, after flying to the apex
of the tree, he passed downward to the
lowest branches before flying again.
Several times the Shrike hovered in the
air, and holding his body motionless and
upright, peered into the tree. Finally,
although not frightened away, the Shrike
gave up the chase."

"Jan. 13, 1910. About noon today, I
came upon a Shrike in the act of killing
a House Sparrow. I was not near enough
to see clearly the details of the struggle,
but I made out with certainty that the
Shrike used his claws to hold the Sparrow
down on the snow, while with his beak he
struck or bit his prey on the head, and,
that when he flew, he carried the Sparrow,
still alive and shrieking, gripped in his
claws. As the two birds floundered on
the snow, the Shrike several times drew
his head upward and backward before
bringing it down on the Sparrow. This

was perhaps to gain force, perhaps to look
about for danger. Although the Sparrow
was still alive, the Shrike carried him
easily to the branch of a tree. The struggle
was described to me as continued on the
ground until the Shrike was attacked by
two cats, when he flew off, carrying the
Sparrow with him."

The cedar tree in which the Chickadee
eluded the Shrike's attack was not far
from the town center of Lexington, Mass.,
the winter headquarters of the Sparrow.
My note, therefore, indicates that the
Shrike does not confine himself to the
extermination of the Sparrow pest even
in winter, when mice are not available,
and even where the Sparrow is the com-
monest bird. The struggle in the snow
instances a case in which the Shrike did
not have the usual easy mastery over the
Sparrow. Perhaps the blow, which Mr.
Kelly well terms a "buff," was not de-
livered; if it was delivered, it was not a
fatal one. In either case, the Shrike was
able to fight at close quarters, and this is a
method to which evidently he seldom has
to resort. — Winsor M. Tyler, Lexington,
Mass.

The Northern Shrike

On a cold, cloudy morning in February,
1907, while a flock of small birds, mostly
Juncos and Tree Sparrows, were break-
fasting on the feeding-ground near the
living-room window, a black-and-white
bird lit on the garden fence, about a
hundred yards away, and paused, waving
his tail in the manner peculiar to the
Shrike; then, swift as an arrow, he darted
into the midst of the small birds, seized
a Tree Sparrow and flew to the post of an
arbor, quite close to the window. He
carried the little bird in his beak by the
neck, its head dangling loose as though
its neck were dislocated; it was quite dead.
Then he flew to the flat top of a gate-post,
a little way off, and devoured it, appar-
ently feathers and all, as we could find
only a few wing- and tail-feathers on the
snow after he was gone. How he held it
we could not see, as some twigs intervened.
Twice I have found his butcher shop in

Notes from Field and Study

353

out-of-the-way fence-rows. Once, impaled
on the thorns of a blackthorn, I found a
Junco and a Tree Sparrow. Both birds'
necks were dislocated. I returned there
three successive days hoping to see the
Shrike, but was unsuccessful. Again, in
April, I came upon a shrew and a large
beetle impaled on the barbs of a wire
fence. I lingered near for a long lime, but
the Shrike did not appear. Whether he
saw me and would not come near, or had
passed on in his migration, I do not
know. — Elizabeth C. Cox, Buckingham,
Pa.

A Robin Winter Colony

The winter of 1904-05 was delightfully
open. There was a long, mild fall. The
hills were clad with autumn tints almost
the winter through. Twenty miles south
of Saint Louis, in Jefferson County, Mis-
souri, are still some hills clothed with the
forests that were there when De Soto made
his first voyage of discovery down the
Father of Waters. These are the usual
native trees, oak, elm, ash, hickory — a
half dozen varieties, — -and fringes of
cedars. There is here an all-the-year-round
resort locally famous as 'The Cedars,'
named from its environing trees. This is
some three miles back from the river, and
near a stream called Glaize Creek. Along
Glaize Creek are broad bottoms, with
broken hills for border. Farther south
the hills rise to a very considerable height.
One of the large farms here, with both the
bottoms and the upland, is that which
has been owned for many years by
Joseph G. Marriott. East from the farm-
house there was a mile of cedar-covered
hill, and it was there that a pretty sight
took place that lasted for months, and
interested 'The Cedars' resorters as well
as local people.

As usual, the birds gathered that fall
for their long flight south. Day after
day the great flights went overhead, until
it grew late. One day we noticed many
Robins about. They were fine, big, fat,
saucy fellows, and, in place of passing on,
they seemed to increase in numbers from
week to week till there were thousands.

W'c iiegan to wonder when they would
move on, as the other birds, but they did
not go. Gradually their daily routine
took on a certain regularity which ad-
mitted of study and daily observation.

Their day seemed to be about as follows:
When the first rays of sunlight gilded the
tops of the trees in which they roosted,
they rose as if with the sound of a signal
gun, and poured from the tops of the trees
literally as though they were a swarm of
bees. The air was black with them.

They hovered like a dense, black cloud
for a moment, then mounted high in the
air, and flew straight west. In ten minutes
there was not a Robin to be .seen. Evi-
dently they had some feeding-place far to
the west. No matter what the weather, —
and I watched them from November till
the following April, — they went through
the same maneuver. Doubtless a natu-
ralist would have known the average flight
the Robin makes for his food-supply, and
could have estimated where they spent
their days. Certainly, however, they
scattered as they flew away, so that there
were not many in a place where they
alighted, or there would have been some
mention made of them in our Saint Louis
papers. As the days grew shorter, they
timed their exodus to suit the hour. If
it were cloudy, they left at broad day.

The only time any of them stayed about
was during one or two very heavy wind-
and snow-storms which marred an other-
wise perfect winter. At four o'clock in
the afternoon, not one Robin was to be
seen. At ten minutes past four, the first
big, fat, red-breasted fellows catapulted
overhead. Until sunset, they passed
steadily and surely, and just as the last
rays of the sun gilded the tree-tops, the
last few hundred flew chattering over, and
disappeared in the black cedar tops.

During the entire winter, I saw but one
crippled Robin, and he appeared to be
fat, and able to pick a living from along
the fence rows. A careful study of their
sleeping quarters showed no evidence that
they were ever disturbed at night. There
were no signs of any kind of woodland
tragedy under the trees. No one ever

354

Bird -Lore

shot at them, for the whole neighborhood
was too much interested in observing
them. The oldest settler of the community
did not remember any such Robin winter
colony, and man}- were the theories ad-
vanced to account for the unusual phe-
nomenon. As the winter wore away, they
seemed to grow fatter, and their coats
took on a brighter color.

They stayed here till spring. April 20,
we had a deep spring snow-storm, which
did not hurt any of the tender green
already spread over woods and hills.
After that they scattered rapidly, their
primal instinct beginning to assert itself.
Gradually fewer and fewer came home to
the cedars at night, until, at the time
when birds usually mate, none remained.
The Robins which finally built their nests
in those woods were from an entirely
dififerent colony.

Of the many theories advanced to
account for the location of the colony,
the following was the most plausible:
The Robins came from the extreme
northern limits where they summer and
nest. In their southern flight they found
this place, and some stopped for a few
days. The shelter of the cedars proved
to be so good that they were joined by
more and more birds, till the colony took
on the proportion it had attained at the
time when we first observed it. In their
excursions westward for food, the birds
found such an abundance that there
seemed to be no scarcity from day to
day. It may have been possible that some
subtle instinct told them this would be
an open winter, or it may have been that
they simply drifted along and stayed from
one day to the next, because shelter, food,
and water were adequate. — Edith C. M.
BR.A.XDEIS, San Diego, Cat.

Robins on an Ocean Beach

The unbroken sweep of the Atlantic
Ocean upon the beach at Watch Hill,
R. I., causes it to be a favorite resting-
place, in migrating time, of Turnstone,
Plover, Semipalmated and Least Sand-
pipers, and various sea birds, which find

considerable food among the sea plants
washed up by the surf. On August 20,
igi2, a number of unusually large, dark-
colored birds could be seen running along
the beach, which, upon closer inspection,
proved to be Robins. They did not
mingle with the little shore birds, but
followed the retreating waves in much the
same manner as these, and evidentl}^ ate
the same food.

The Robins looked very much out of
place on the wet sand, but seemed abso-
lutely at home there. Owing to the
number that could be seen at one time,
it was evident that they came from a
migrating flock. — J. W. Lippincott,
Bethayres, Pa.

Kingbirds Eating Sassafras Berries

Is it commonh' known that the King-
birds are fond of the fruit of the sassafras?
There is a sassafras tree near the entrance
gate at m}' country-place at Stamford,
Connecticut, which bears a heavy crop
of fruit every year, and about the last of
August the Kingbirds gather in numbers,
spending the entire day in the tree, and
strip it entirely of its fruit. This seems
an unusual taste for a bird so highly
insectivorous as the Kingbird, and the
sassafras fruit is not delectable from our
standpoint. At the time when they are
gorging themselves with sassafras berries,
they seem to devote little time to catching
insects, and when flying out of the tree
on our approach they immediately return.
For several years I have noted that the
Kingbirds were stripping this tree com-
pletely of its fruit, although I have allowed
it to remain partly for decorative pur-
poses when it is brilliant with berries. I
have not observed any other birds in the
tree; in fact, I believe that the Kingbirds
would not allow other birds to visit it.
— Robert T. Morris, New York City.

Goldfinches in Massachusetts

In the May-June number of Bird-Lore
I saw a request for information regarding
the increase of Goldfinches. The past

Notes from Field and Study

355

summer, they have outnumbered all
previous years since I came here to live
in 1876. — (Mrs.) Mary R. Stanley,
North Attlcboro, Mass.

Goldfinches in the Ozarks

In answer to an inquiry in the May-
June issue of Bird-Lore, it may be
interesting to the eastern ornithologists
to know that in 191 1 there was a great
abundance .of Goldfinches in the Ozarks
of southern Missouri, to the extent that
it was commented upon by those usually
not interested in birds at all. During the
spring of 191 2, however, there have been
a scattering few, or none, in this locality.
— Amy R. Haight, Braiidsvillc, Mo.

Chat Nesting in Vermont

On the afternoon of June 19, 191 2, while
walking through a bushy tract amidst
some meadows in Bennington, Vt., I was
startled by the notes of a bird unfamiliar
to me. After chasing about for a few min-
utes, I found the author of the song to be
a Yellow-breasted Chat. This observation
was reported to Dr. L. H. Ross, who
visited the place the next morning and
verified the report, seeing both the male
and the female birds. A little later the
same morning, the writer was rewarded
by the discovery, in some bushes, of the
nest, which contained three young and an
egg. In the afternoon, when the nest was
visited, the egg was found to be hatched.
Daily visits were made to the nest until
June 26. By the 30th, all the young birds
had flown from the nest into the surround-
ing bushes.

According to the State Ornithologist,
this is the first authentic nesting record
of the Yellow-breasted Chat in Vermont.
The nest is now at the University of Ver-
mont Museum. — Charles S. Hitch-
cock, Bennington, Vt.

Intelligence of Crackles

An interesting thing was noticed
repeatedly during the summer. Crackles

were noticed taking a large piece of dry
bread or toast from the feeding-tray.
They would carry it to a large crock con-
taining water, and then dip it into the
water before eating it. One was seen to
dip the bread six times before eating it.
They did this repeatedly; it was observed
on at least ten different days. — Frank
W. Aldrich, Bloomington, III.

Thirtieth Annual Congress of the
American Ornithologists' Union

The Thirtieth Annual Congress of
the American Ornithologists' Union was
held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, No-
vember 11-14, 191 2. At the business
meeting of Fellows, held at the Brewster
Museum on the evening of the eleventh,
the following officers were re-elected:
President, Frank M. Chapman; Vice-
Presidents, A. K. Fisher, H. W. Henshaw;
Secretary, John H. Sage; Treasurer,
J. D wight, Jr.; Counselors, Walter Deane,
William Dutcher, F. A. Lucas, W. H.
Osgood, C. W. Richmond, T. S. Roberts,
Witmer Stone.

The following were elected Fellows:
C. William Beebe, Edward Howe Forbush,
Louis Agassiz Fuertes. The Members
elected were Frederic H. Kennard, John
C. Phillips, Miss Althea R. Sherman,
Alexander O. Wetmore, Norman A. Wood.
There were also elected 184 Associate
Members.

The open sessions of the Congress were
held November 12-14 in the University
Museum, and were attended by 115
members of the Union, and a large number
of others interested in the study of
birds.

The members of the Union were enter-
tained at luncheon daily by the Nuttall
Ornithological Club, and at receptions
tendered by Mr. William Brewster and
Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Batchelder, while
on the fifteenth they were the guests of
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Thayer, at Lancaster,
where they were given an opportunity to
see the admirable museum which Mr,
Thayer has established there.

35^

Bird - Lore

This institution is ideal and unique. In
it one may study a series of Great Auks'
skeletons or a group of Chipping Sparrows.
In other words, it is equipped both for the
specialist and the opera-glass students,
and through the generosity of its founder,
who is also its Curator, both are given
abundant opportunity to examine its
treasures.

There are many museums in this coun-
try to a greater or less extent dependent
on the support of patrons of the arts and
sciences; but, so far as we are aware, the
Thayer Museum stands alone as an insti-
tution open to the public, in which but
one individual has supplied the funds for
the building and its collections and, at
the same time, is its responsible and active
scientific director.

PROGRAM

Notes from Northern Labrador, by
A. C. Bent, Taunton, Mass. Some Lab-
rador Notes, by Charles W. Townsend,
Boston, Mass. Notes on the Migrations
and Habits of some Long Island Shore
Birds (illustrated by lantern-slides), by
Francis Harper, College Point, N. Y., and
John Treadwell Nichols, New York City.
On the Present Status of the Bobolink, or
Rice-bird, in the South (illustrated by
lantern-slides), by Edward Howe Forbush,
Westboro, Mass. Queer Nesting-sites of
the House Wren (illustrated by lantern-
slides), by Wilbur F. Smith, South Nor-
walk, Conn. A New Sub-species of Crossbill
from Newfoundland (illustrated with
specimens), by A. C. Bent, Taunton,
Mass. The Nest Life of the Sparrow
Hawk, by Althea R. Sherman, National,
Iowa.

Informal Notes on the Work of the Field
Museum in South America, by W. H.
Osgood. Further Observations on Colom-
bian Bird Life (illustrated by lantern-
slides), by Frank M. Chapman, New
York City. Propagation and Restoration
of American Wild-fowl (illustrated by
lantern-slides), by Herbert K. Job, East
Haven, Conn. Notes on the Present
Breeding of White Egrets in the United

States (illustrated by lantern-slides), by
T. Gilbert Pearson, New York City.

Passenger Pigeon: Report of the Year's
Work, by C. F. Hodge, Worcester, Mass.
Problem of Domesticating the Ruby-
throated Hummingbird, by Katherine E.
Dolbear, Worcester, Mass. Notes on the
Panama Thrush- Warbler, by Hubert
Lyman Clark, Cambridge, Mass. Report
of Progress on the 'Life Histories of North
American Birds,' by A. C. Bent, Taunton,
Mass. The Value of Bird-Study in a
Limited Area, by Alice Hall Walter,
Providence, R. I. Some Notes from
Sheepshead Bay and Manhattan Beach,
New York City, by George E. Hix, New
York City. Concealing Action of the
Bittern, by Walter B. Barrows, East
Lansing, Mich.

What the American Bird -Banding
Association Has Accomplished the Past
Year (illustrated by lantern-slides), by
Howard H. Cleaves, New Brighton, N. Y.
A Biological Reconnaisance of the Oke-
fenoke Swamp: The Birds (illustrated by
lantern-slides), by Albert H. Wright,
Ithaca, N. Y., and Francis Harper,
College Point, N. Y. The Red-winged
Blackbird: A Study in the Ecology of a
Cattail Marsh (illustrated by lantern-
slides), by Arthur A. Allen, Ithaca, N. Y.

The Flight of Birds, by Alexander
Forbes, Milton, Mass. The A. O. U.
Check-List (third edition), by Louis B.
Bishop, New Haven, Conn. A Glimpse
at the Home-Life of Larus marinus (illus-
trated by lantern-slides), by Howard H.
Cleaves, New Brighton, N. Y. The Present
Status of the Heath Hen (illustrated by
lantern-slides and specimens), by George
W. Field, Boston, Mass. Two Flycatchers
of the Genus Empidonax New to the
Fauna of South Carolina, by Arthur T.
Wayne, Mt. Pleasant, S. C. Eighteen
Species of Birds New to the Pribilof
Islands, Including Four New to North
America, by Barton W. Evermann, Wash-
ington, D. C. A Study of the House
Finch, by W. H. Bergtold, Denver, Col.
The Status of the Extinct Meleagrida, by
R. W. Shufeldt, Washington, D. C.

iloofe i^eto0 anti 9^ebietDfi?

Our Native Birds of Song and Beauty.
Being a Complete History of all the
Song Birds: Flycatchers, Humming-
birds. Swifts, Goatsuckers, Woodpeckers,
Kingfishers, Trogons, Cuckoos, and
Parrots, of North .Vmerica. By Henry
Nehrling. . . . With thirty-six col-
ored plates, after water-color paintings
b)' Robert Ridgway, A. Goering and
Gustav Muetzel, Milwaukee. George
Brumdcr. 4to. Vol. I, 1893, L -f 372 pp.
18 plls. Vol. II, 1896, 452 pp., 18 pits.
[Popular p:dition.] Germania Publishing
Company, Milwaukee, Wis. $4.50.

The publication of a popular edition of
Nehrling's 'Native Birds of Song and
Beauty,' at a price which places it within
the reach of everyone, is an event calling
for more than passing notice.

The scope of this work is indicated by
its title; and, while we may question its
presenting "a complete history" of the
species treated, it does present in its 870
odd pages a vast amount of information
concerning them.

The present appears to differ from the
original edition only in the character of
the binding. In scientific nomenclature it
is somewhat out-of-date; but fortunately
the common names of our birds are less
subject to change than their technical
ones, and, being much the same today that
they were twenty years ago, the book may
be used without a table of synonyms;
while the biographical matter which dis-
tinguishes the work is as valuable now as
it was when published.

The thirty-one colored plates, figuring
some thirty-six species, vary in excellence.
Those by Ridgway are faithful portraits
based on life studies; those by Muetzel
show great talent as a bird portrait-painter,
and much skill and artistic ability in
grouping several species in one plate. The
plates are produced by some lithographic
process giving more pleasing and more
accurate results than we are accustomed
to see in this country. They are issued by
the publishers in a paper-bound volume,
apart from the text they were designed
to accompany. — F. M. C.

Birds of the Pacific Slope of Sottth-
ERN California. By George Wil-
lett. Pacific Coast .\vifauna No. 7.
Cooper Orn. Club, Hollywood, Calif.
Roy. 8vo., pp. 1-122.

The area covered by this paper includes
"all of Santa Barbara and Ventura Coun-
ties, Los Angeles County south and west
from the Liebre Mountains, Sierra
Pelona and Sierra San Gabriel, San
Bernardino County, south and west from
the Sierra Madre and San Bernardino
Ranges, all of Orange County, Riverside
County west from the San Jacinto Range,
and San Diego County west from the
Volcan and Cuyamaca Ranges; also the
eight islands of the Santa Barbara group.

From this widely diversified region,
Mr. Willett records 377 species and sub-
species of birds, a greater number than
has been reported from any Atlantic
Coast state except New York. The sub-
jects of local distribution, time and man-
ner of occurrence, comparative numbers,
and nesting season are dealt with in the
thoroughh' workmanlike manner which
proclaim an authoritative publication. —
F. M. C.

The Experimental Method of Test-
ing the Efficiency of Warning and
Cryptic Coloration in Protecting
Animals from Their Enemies. By
W. L. McAtee. Proc. .\cad. Nat.
Sci. Philadelphia, 1912, pp. 281-364.

Thbries in explanation of the coloration
of animals have concerned insects more
frequently than any other class of ani-
mals. These small, helpless creatures have
been commonlj- believed to escape from
their enemies by the possession of certain
color characteristics which may, for
example, render edible species inconspicu-
ous (protective coloration), and inedible
or ill-tasting species conspicuous (warning
coloration). To test such theories, various
experiments have been made from time
to time by olTering insects to captive
birds, amphibia, or reptiles, and Mr.

(357)

358

Bird - Lore

McAtee's paper is, in the main, a critical
review of these experiments.

He concludes that (i) "they are
very inconsistent;" that (2) "they have
been misinterpreted," and that (3) "they
are not trustworthy guides to behavior
under natural conditions." The last-
named objection he dwells upon at length,
supporting it with numerous observations
made by himself and others, and he con-
cludes that "since the feeding habits of
an animal in captivity may vary widely
from its known habits in the natural
state, there is no avoiding the conclusion
that the results obtained under experi-
mental conditions do not indicate the
part the animal might play in natural
selection."

The paper is accompanied by a full
bibliography, and is an important con-
tribution to a subject in which theorj',
based on insufficient evidence and ex-
pressed in terms of human experience, has
long molded current opinion. — F. M. C.

National Reservations for the Pro-
tection OF Wild Life. By T. S.
Palmer. Circular No. 87: Biological
Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.
32 pp; 5 text maps.

The Biological Survey renders the cause
of the conservation of our wild life a ser-
vice of the highest value in issuing, from
time to time, small bulletins which so
summarize the subject of which they
treat that the public is kept informed of
the various factors which are potent in
this field. Ignorance in regard to the
game-laws and of organizations designed
to enforce them, for example, has been
largely decreased through the widespread
circulation and republication of the bulle-
tins of the Survey.

The present Circular lists ninety-five
reservations on which wild life is pre-
served. Of this number no less than fifty-
six are bird-reservations, all of which,
beginning with Pelican Island in 1903,
have been formed in the past ten years.
A feature of this pamphlet of especial
value to naturalists is a faunal bibliog-
raphy which tells us just what has been

published about the life of the reserva-
tions in question. — F. M. C.

Annotated List of the Birds of
Oneida County, N. Y., and of the
West Canada Creek Valley. By
Egbert Bagg. Trans. Oneida Hist.
Soc. XII, 191 2; pages 16-85.

Since its appearance in 1886, Ralph and
Baggs' 'Birds of Oneida County' has been
the standard faunal paper of the birds of
that part of New York state. The junior
and surviving author now brings the list
up to date, adding 2i5 species to the 224
contained in the original publication, and
much additional information in regard to
distribution and habits.

The species included are grouped
in the introductory chapter as follows:
Residents, 27; summer residents, 118;
transients, 27; winter visitants, 12; acci-
dental visitants, 28.

Dr. Bagg's intimate knowledge for over
a quarter of a century of the bird-life of
the region of which he writes, places him
in a position to compare with authority
present and past conditions, but we do not
find such a comparison in his excellent
paper.— F. M. C.

The Birds of God. Parallels of Man in
the Feathered Creation. A Portfolio
of Anecdotes. By Theron Brown.
Boston. Am. Humane Society. 191 2.
i6mo. 318 pp. 5 col. pits.

This is a collection of short stories or
incidents designed to illustrate the effect
of birds on the mind of man in the forma-
tion of myths and legends, in establishing
certain emblems, in pointing a moral or
adorning a tale. The book contains
much that is of interest and should appeal
particularly to those whose sympathy
with birds leads tJiem to see much that is
human in bird-life. — F. j\I. C.

The Ornithological Magazines

The Auk. — The contents of the July
'Auk' are unusually varied. In 'Bird
Genealogy,' by Dr. C. W. Townsend,
some evidences of their ancestry are

Book News and Reviews

359

deduced from the habits of birds. The
climbing about of young Herons and the
swimming of passerine species suggest
"the primitive reptilian scramble," accord-
ing to our author, who also ventures some
other hypotheses, among them the prob-
able evolution of a new species of Myrtle
Warbler through "chinnishness."

There is much to commend in the care
with which 'A Reconsideration of the
American Black Ducks,' etc., is handled
by J. C. Phillips, who finds the Florida
Duck {fidvigtila) and the Mottled race
(maculosa) indistinguishable, as are also
Abert's Duck (aberti) of Mexico and the
Hawaiian species (wn'/Z/Za^a). It is
illustrated with a half-tone plate.

It is to be hoped that H. G. Wright's
'Morning Awakening and Even-Song'
will stimulate further observations along
similar lines, for his pioneer work merely
touches a large field. We wish he had
tabulated, for convenience, some of his
results; but congratulate him, the early
bird, and the worm, on being willing to
keep such unreasonable hours.

'October Birds of the Headwaters of the
Gila River, New Mexico,' by Dr. W. H.
Bergtold, is a local list; and 'Notes on the
Birds .... of Western North Caro-
lina,' by S. C. Bruner and A. L. Field, is
another of the usual type.

In 'The Hawaiian Linnet' {Carpodacus
mutans Grinnell), J. C. Phillips questions
the appropriateness of the name, and in
'The Introduction and Acclimatization of
the Yellow Canary on Midway Island,'
W. A. Bryan states that it has proved a
complete success.

A review of the 'Early Records of the
Carolina Paroquet,' beginning with 1587,
by A. H. Wright, quotes many authors;
a bit of life history of Palmer's Thrasher
is told by E. F. Stafford; and O. Bangs
describes 'A New Subspecies of the
Ruffed Grouse' (thayeri) from Nova
Scotia.

On page 380 are listed the additions to
the A. O. U. 'Check-List,' proposed since
the 1910 (not "iQoo") edition. The spe-
cies added are 4, subspecies 11, while
rejected claimants number 22. 'General

Notes' contains, among other things, the
discovery by S. W. Brooks of an over-
looked specimen of the Labrador Duck in
a storage case of the Boston Society of
Natural History. There are also correc-
tions of a number of faulty records of
several other species, which have not
even the excuse of being opera-glass obser-
vations. The reviews are numerous, and
the excellent feature of gathering together
titles from ornithological and other jour-
nals is continued in this number. Every-
body would do well to read the editor's
remarks on nomenclature, on p. 431.

A number of half-tones enrich the
October 'Auk,' which now completes the
twenty-ninth consecutive year of publica-
tion, as flourishing as ever under the
guidance of its new editor. The first two
articles emphasize some of the unusual
dangers that menace migrating water-
fowl. A. R. Cahn writes on 'The Freezing
of Cayuga Lake in its Relation to Bird
Life,' and J. H. Fleming on 'The Niagara
Swan Trap.' Nearly a dozen species of
Ducks, and Grebes and numbers of each
were victims, when the lake froze over
completely, in February, 191 2, and Mr.
Cahn shows some good half-tones illus-
trating the conditions. The "Swan Trap"
is nothing more nor less than Niagara
Falls itself, where the huge birds settle
in the quiet river above, and are swept
into the rapids and over the falls in con-
siderable numbers; and this happens
every year.

'Methods of Estimating the Contents
of Bird Stomachs,' by W. L. McAtee, is a
careful weighing of the pros and cons of
several methods that have been employed.
R. C. Harlow contributes a local list of
birds from Center County, Pa; and
there is one of the birds of Montgomery
County, Va. by E. A. Smyth, Jr., which
shows evidence of unusual care in its prep-
aration. Photographs of a freshly killed
Black-capped Petrel lend special interest
to the latter list. R. M. Strong's article
on the Red-breasted Merganser is a record
of careful observation, illustrated by sev-
eral half-tones.

Mr. F. H. Allen enters the controversial

36o

Bird -Lore

arena with 'Remarks on the Case of
Roosevelt vs. Thayer, with a Few Inde-
pendent Suggestions on the Concealing
Coloration Question.' We notice, too,
a letter from J. Grinnell, complaining
brusquely about the A. O. U. Check-List,
to which W. Stone makes a quiet and
dignified reply.

The death of the distinguished German
ornithologist, Wilhelm Blasius, and that
of the engraver, J. G. Keulemans, whose
fine colored plates of birds are known the
world over, are recorded among 'Notes
and News.'

To errata might be added a good many
other slips of the proof-reader, but we
will now call attention only to p. 388,
line 16, where "Dennett" should read
Sennett.— J. D., Jr.

The Condor. — The September num-
ber of 'The Condor,' although an unusually
large one, contains only three general
articles. The first of these, Ray's 'Dis-
covery of the Nest and Eggs of the Cali-
fornia Pine Grosbeak,' is one of the most
valuable contributions to the life history
of the West Coast birds which has been
made in recent years, and is comparable
with Finley's notable account of the life
history of the California Condor, which
appeared in 1906 and 1908. Thirty pages,
illustrated by seventeen half-tones, are
devoted to the Grosbeak, a review of its
history, and an account of the finding of
the nest, all admirably presented with a
wealth of detail. In the introduction is
given a table showing only sixteen re-
corded occurrences of the bird since the
first specimen was collected by Dr. J.
G. Cooper, in Johnson Pass, California,
Sept. 22, 1863. As the year 1910 has been
made memorable in the annals of Cali-
fornia ornithology by Ray's discovery of
the eggs of the Gray-crowned Rosy
Finch, on Pyramid Peak, so 191 1 will be
notable for the even more interesting find
of the eggs of the Pine Grosbeak. On
June 19, while the ground was still covered
with snow, two sets, each containing three
eggs, were collected not far from Pyramid
Peak, at an altitude of 8,000 feet. The

first nest was made of rootlets, and was
built in a fir sixteen feet from the ground;
the second was placed in a hemlock,
thirty-five feet from the ground, and was
composed of fine, light-colored grasses,
resting on a platform of small dead hem-
lock twigs and a few stems. The eggs
are described as Nile-blue, marked with
black or deep brown spots and blotches,
roughly arranged in the form of a wreath,
chiefly around the larger end, and vary-
ing in size from .98 x .71 to 1.06 x .68 in.

Howell's 'Notes from Todos Santos
Islands,' opposite Ensenada Bay, Lower
California, include observations on 32
species made during a five -days visit,
from April 15 to 20, 1910. The only
water-birds breeding on the two islands
were the Western Gull, Farallon and
Brandt's Cormorants, and the California
Brown Pelican.

Jewett's paper on 'Some Birds of the
Saw Tooth Mountains, Idaho,' contains
notes on 35 species observed in the vicinity
of Ketchum and Rook Creek, between
October 24 and December 20, 1910. With
the exception of the Western Robin^ these
were all winter residents.

The number closes with the annual
'Directory of the Cooper Ornithological
Club,' containing the names and addresses
of 6 honorary and 410 active members. —
T. S. P.

Book News

'Air Craft' (New York) for September
has an article (pp. 212-215) by Will
Simmons on 'The Gull versus the Wind.'
It is illustrated by original diagrams and
sketches, and is distinctly an important
contribution to the study of a subject
which still presents much that is but
little understood.

The program of the Hartford Bird
Study Club for 191 2-13 presents a definite
program for each of the thirty-five stated
meetings of the Club from September 17,
1912, to June 21, 1913. The Club is to be
congratulated on possessing a board of
managers which can plan so attractive
a series of papers and field meetings.

Editorial

361

A Bi-Monlhly Mauiwiiie
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUHON SOCIETIES

Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Contributine; Editor, MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT

Published by D. APPLETON & CO.

Vol, XIV Published December 1. 1912 No. 6

SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Price in the United States. Cinada aiui Mexico, twenty cents
I number, one dollar a year, postage paid.

OOrr RIGHTED, t9 13, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Bird-Lore's Motto:
A Bird in the Bush Is Worth Two in the Band

Although the report of the Treasurer
of the National Association of Audubon
Societies shows a slight deficit, it is,
nevertheless, the most encouraging docu-
ment which the occupant of that office
has presented. It appears that the income
of the Association for the year ending in
October, 191 2, reached nearly $60,000,
or over 50 per cent more than that of the
preceding year, and these figures fairly
express the increased activities of the
Society during the period in question.

The legislative and warden work have
been zealously carried forward, but it is
in the field of education that the greatest
advance has been made. Here two liberal
donations have enabled the Association
to place sets of colored plates, outlines
for coloring, and educational leaflets in
the hands of 28,000 children, each of whom
had expressed a desire for them by the
payment of ten cents, while the 1,600
teachers in whose classes these children
were enrolled were supplied with leaflets
and with Bird-Lore. By thus cooperating
with an established school system, a
maximum result is obtained at a minimum
cost — less than fifty cents per pupil.

Even if this phase of Audubon work be
not extended, the fact that every year
nearly 30,000 children are given elemen-
tary instruction in the value and beauty
of bird-life is in itself an achievement
which eventually must exert a widespread
influence in our attitude toward birds;
and once this fact is realized, we believe

that the fund available for this purpose
will be so increased that the Society can
extend its work to every part of the
country.

One far-seeing patron of the Associa-
tion has contributed a fund for use in
Alaska, wisely realizing that the time to
arouse an interest in one's feathered
neighbors is while we still have them with
us. It is through the generosity of this
donor that, during the coming Near,
BiKD-LoRE will be enabled to [)resent its
readers with a series of colored plates by
Allan Brooks, the first of which, illus: ra-
ting the Willow Ptarmigan, appears in
this issue. The text forming the educa-
tional leaflet accompanying these plates
will be prepared by ornithologists who by
actual field experience are qualified to
write of the bird illustrated, and the
leaflets therefore may be considered
authentic biographies of real ornithological
value. Joseph Grinnell, for example,
writes of the Ptarmigan; while E. W.
Nelson will treat the Emperor Goose, and
Dr. C. W. Townsend the Crested Auklet.

Meanwhile, the regular series of educa-
tional leaflets, with plates by Horsfall,
will be continued, the RufTed Grouse, Green
Heron, Brown Thrasher, and Catbird
being among the species which will be
treated during the year. Here, also, it is
proposed to have the text equal the plates
in value, and we shall thus in time have
issued a series of adequately illustrated
biographies of our common birds.

The current issue of Bird-Lore adds
two chapters to the growing volume which
records successful attempts to overcome
the shyness of birds by winning their con-
fidence. That Gulls, particularly hungry
Gulls, should quickly learn to trust the
hand which feeds them is doubtless to be
expected, and many instances of their
establishing more or less friendly relation-
ships with their human hosts are on
record; but that a bird so shy and sus-
picious as the Wild Turkey should in a
short tirpe become semi-domesticated
about a home, in a region where the natural
food suppl\' is so abundant that it is in no

362

Bird -Lore

way dependent on man's bounty, is
surely a striking illustration of how quickly
a truly wild creature may lose its fear of
man, once it realizes that no ground for
fear exists.

In the death of Bradford Torrey, which
occurred at Santa Barbara, California, on
October 7, 191 2, the group of American
literary naturalists loses one of its most
distinguished figures. Torrey's work was
marked by its high literary excellence as
well as by its scientific accuracy. His out-
look on nature was sane and normal and
his studies presented her everyday moods.
With no attempt to compel attention
through the exceptional or unusual, or
through the humanization of his sub-
jects, Torrey holds one's interest because
of his power of observation, his sincerity,
his gift for expression, and because, with
no hint of egotism, his writings, neverthe-
less, clearly reveal the quaint and attrac-
tive personality of their author.

Going to California several years ago
for a season's visit, Torrey yielded to the
charm which this state has for the nature-
lover and prolonged his stay to the time
of his death. In our regret that he was
not spared to do for California what he
has done for New England, it is at least
some consolation to know that the results
of his observations during the period of
his residence on the Pacific Coast were
left in form for publication.

Of great ornithological interest is
Bird-Lore's discovery of a score of
negatives recording the appearance in
many poses, including even that of in-
cubation, of the Passenger Pigeon. The
birds, it is true, were photographed in
captivity; but, they were in such excellent
health and plumage that, so far as appear-
ance and actions go, they might well
have been wild birds.

To BE impressed with the value of the
facts which the bird photographer is
filing for reference by future ornithologists,
one has only to think with what eagerness
bird-students of today would examine

photographs of Passenger Pigeon roosts
or nestings or, particularly, of a migration
flight of these birds, when the passing
myriads are said to have partially ob-
scured the sky for hours.

Not only have we no such records, but,
so far as we are aware, few if any adequate
photographs of even captive Passenger
Pigeons have been published. Bird
artists of this generation, therefore, look
in vain for authoritative material on which
to base drawings of this lost species, and
there is consequently cause for congratu-
lation in the existence of these camera
portraits, most of which will be published
in Bird-Lore during the coming year.

For the use of students there have been
deposited in the Howard Memorial
Library of New Orleans 'Bird Migration
Records' from 1903 to the present.

These were principally made by Mr.
H. H. Kopman and Messrs. A. and W. B.
Allison, and others.

So little has been written on the birds
of Louisiana that these form an important
contribution on the natural history of the
state.

A Portland, Maine, paper reports the
slaughter by two local gunners of twenty
'Jack Curlew,' which it states are worth
two hundred dollars, and 'warmly con-
gratulates' the hunters, Clinton T. Swett
and George Darton, on their good for-
tune. Later it was discovered that the
birds were not the "rarer Eskimo Curlew;"
but it was evidently not the fault of the
'sportsmen' that they did not do their
best to bring a fast-vanishing bird near
to the verge of extinction, while the atti-
tude of the paper in question toward the
subject of bird-protection is well ex-
pressed by the following paragraph:

"A few Jack Curlews have been shot
every year by gunners along the New
England coast, but it is believed that
they will soon follow the Eskimo bird to
extinction or near extinction, and it is
doubtful if ever another bag such as that
brought in by Messrs. Darton and Swett
will be brought into this city"

Clje ^uDubon ^otittite

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Kdited by ALICE HALL WALTER

Address all communications relative to the work of this depart-
ment to the editor, at S3 Arlington Avenue, Providence, R. I.

THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY

Note. — At the request of the Assistant Superintendent of Schools of New York
City, whose able and comprehensive address on 'Nature-Study in the Schools' formed
the basis of the discussion of this important subject at the afternoon session of the annual
meeting of the National Association of Audubon Societies, October 29, and, with the
approv-al of those present, the following excerpt from a paper presented on this occasion
by the writer is offered for the consideration of all State and affiliated Audubon Socie-
ties. It is hoped that frank and detailed replies to the subjoined questions will be
received from all who are interested in furthering bird- and nature-study, either through
the Audubon Society or by other means.

1. Does your State Audubon Society know how much and what kind of nature-
study is being introduced into the schools of your state?

2. Is there a supervisor of nature-study in your state, or in any single town or citj'?

3. Do teachers welcome assistance in this kind of work, and, if so, have j'ou found
out in just what ways it is possible and practicable to offer them assistance?

4. Do you know what teachers' conventions are held each year in your state, and
elsewhere, at large, and are you doing anything to further the interests of nature-study
in connection with such educational gatherings?

5. Have you ever tried to arrange what you consider an ideal traveling-collection
of nature-study material, or have you ever held a nature-study exhibit, with demon-
strations of the material exhibited?

6. Have you investigated the libraries of your state, to see what is available there
in the way of nature-study literature and picture collections, and loans of the same?

7. Is your State Societj- keeping up with the work done by other State Societies?

8. Does it exchange leaflets, charts, programs of meetings, and ideas with any
society or with anyone?

9. Does it send a representative to the annual meeting of the National Association
of Audubon Societies, in order to keep in touch with the work of that organization and
to get new ideas, or, to the annual meeting of the American Ornithological Union?

10. Have you yet investigated the possibilities for successful nature-study field-
trips in different sections of your state, or in particular localities? Can you offer teachers
a list of limited areas suitable for special observations, or show them how to work up
the natural history of any single limited area?

11. Have you tried starting bird-reservations on a small scale, and, if so, are they a
success? What are the difficulties in establishing and managing them?

12. Is your Society getting out a helpful leaflet, chart, calendar or bulletin, at least
once a year, for its members and for exchange with other Societies?

13. Is it working for new members simply to get membership fees to replenish its
treasury, or is it really trying to get people to studj- birds and nature in the spirit of
Gilbert White and Thoreau, for the love and joy of it?

14. What seems to you the most important work for Audubon Societies to do in

~ . (363)

364 Bird -Lore

furthering nature-study, and the most effective methods of accomplishing it? Where
and how can j^ou get money to carry on this work?

15. Is there any larger opportunity than this offered by nature-study, both in and
out of our schools, that the Audubon Society should meet? — A. H. W.

FOR TEACHERS AND PUPILS

Exercise VI: The Birds' Map of America, continued

Correlated Studies: Spelling, Geography and Elementary Agriculture

Turning back for a moment to the last exercise, let us note again that in
the Arctic realm both the climate and physiographic features are everywhere
much the same; although an Arctic-Alpine fauna may be distinguished to the
west, and a barren-ground fauna to the east, showing that certain animals,
unlike some that are peculiar to this bleak expanse, are restricted in their
range.

At the most southerly limits of the Arctic realm it is never warmer than
32° Fahr.; indeed, one may roughly trace the di\iding line between the Arctic
and the North Temperate realms by following the course of the annual iso-
therm of 32° Fahr., and similarly, between the North Temperate and the
American tropical realms, by the annual isotherm of 70° Fahr.

There is one interesting fact about the Arctic realm which we should not
overlook, and that is the cir cum polar distribution of certain birds, animals
and plants found there. In no other part of the North American continent
are the same species foimd around the world, except by accident.

Here, near the North Pole, neither cUmate, oceans nor plains of ice form
barriers to prevent them from being distributed completely around the Pole.
The reason for this is a story by itself, which we shall take up in some future
exercise.

The North Temperate realm comprises the larger part of North America,
and is synonymous with the North American region, since it is made up
of a single, continuous land -area, unlike the American tropical realm, for
instance, which contains two distinct regions, widely separated by water:
namely, the Antillean and the Central American regions.

The North American region, which extends from the annual isotherm
of 32° Fahr. to that of 70° Fahr., is divided into the cold and the warm tem-
perate subregions. We have already studied the former, and learned some-
thing of the vast transcontinental belt of coniferous forests which distin-
guishes it. This subregion, we remember, contains two large faunal areas,
running parallel with each other from ocean to ocean; the Hudsonian, where
the timber-line begins and arctic conditions disappear, and the Canadian,
where agriculture is generally possible and profitable.

In this subregion there are also two small faunal areas lying well up on the

The Audubon Societies 365

northwestern Pacific coast, the Sitkan and the Aleutian, the names of which
suggest their location. These relatively small areas differ from the larger
ones chiefly in minor conditions. The matter of humidity in the Sitkan area,
due to frequent storms and dense fogs along the coast, renders the climate
heavy, moist and sunless much of the time, exactly the reverse of what we
shall find farther south m arid places. By reason of this abnormal amoiuit of
moisture, the plumage of the birds found there is much darker than in adjoin-
ing faunal areas, where it is drier and the sun shines more.

Roughly speaking, the warm temperate subregion includes the Mexi-
can tableland and all of the United States, except first, the cold temperate
heights of the great mountain-ranges, and second, the tip of Florida, a narrow
strip of coast-Hne along southern Texas, an even narrower strip along the
eastern coast of the Gulf of California and the extreme end of Lower Cali-
fornia, which belong to the American tropical realm.

The first thing which strikes the eye, in looking at a faunal map of North
America, is the diversity of this warm temperate belt. Along the one hun-
dredth meridian, a little to the west of the Mississippi River, may be placed
an imaginary line, to indicate that at about this point there is a decided dif-
ference in the amount of the annual rainfall, from east to west. East of this
line we speak of humid conditions; and, west of it, of arid conditions. By
measuring the number of inches of rain falling in any locaUty during a year,
one may get an idea of the degree of its humidity or aridity. It i's easy to see
why certain crops cannot be successfully grown in the East, which flourish in
the West, and why arid lands must be irrigated before anything but desert
vegetation will thrive on them.

Here, in our own country, we have one of the most interesting and impor-
tant problems of modern civilization to work out, learning what cereals, fruits
and crops may be grown in different places. Not only are all kinds of plants
affected by cUmatic changes, but also, to a less degree, birds and other animals.
We must, therefore, distinguish between the East and the West, the gulf and
ocean coasts, the great plains, plateaus, and desert and wooded areas of this
highly diversified warm temperate subregion.

Just south of the Canadian fauna occurs a transition zone, which is broader
and more connected in the eastern than in the western United States. It is
called the Alleghanian faima, and extends from inland Nova Scotia, over
most of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and along the Appalachian
mountain system as far south as Georgia and Alabama, on westward through
southern Ontario and Michigan, all of Wisconsin, central and southern Min-
nesota, over the northern two-thirds of the Dakotas, northern and eastern
Montana, Wyoming, and part of Nebraska, up into Assiniboia, Manitoba
and the edge of Alberta, taking in the Saskatchewan plains district, and
farther west appearing in broken islands throughout the great mountain
ranges as far south as Mexico. The eastern part of this transition belt is

366

Bird -Lore

humid, while the less-connected western part is partly arid and partly humid
It is an important area to keep in mind, because it marks the transition from
cold to warm temperate conditions.

Here many northern plants and animals find their most southern extension
of range, and many southern plants and animals their most northern exten-
sion. There are not so many forms which are peculiar to this great belt as in
the other areas we are studying; still there are three faunal divisions of it,
which may be kept in mind, that will help us to understand better the con-
ditions of its climate and physiography. These divisions are: (i) the eastern
Alleghanian; (2) the western arid; (3) the Pacific coast humid.

Agriculture flourishes in the Alleghanian zone, but it varies in character
somewhat throughout these three faunal subdivisions.

Let us follow out a table of the cereals, fruits and crops which characterize
these areas, and by comparing them learn something about the difference
in the fertility of the soil, due to varying climate and other conditions. The
following table, although subject to change and probably not complete, indi-
cates more clearly than a lengthy description the marked limitations or great
possibilities of each area :

Table of Alleghanian Faunal Areas

Wheat

Oats

Corn

Barley

Rye

Buckwheat

Apples

Crab-apples. . . .

Cherries

Cranberries . . . .

Currants

Black Currants.
Gooseberries . . .

Grapes

Peaches

Pears

Plums

Quinces

Strawberries. . .

Flax

Hops

Maple-sugar . . .

Sorghum

Sugar-beet ....
Sweet Corn . . .
White Potatoes
Alfalfa.......

Alleghanian
No. or Kinds

Western Arid
No. or Kinds

Pacific Coast Humid
No. or Kinds

5

7

4

5

6
Barley
Rye
Buckwheat

5
3

Buckwheat

90
16

49

2b

31

3

Cranberries

6

4

Gooseberries

17

2

3

37
41

18

2

9
11, including Prunes

Quinces

Flax

Hops

Maple-sugar

Sorghum

Sugar-beet

Sweet Corn

White Potatoes

3
Flax

Sugar-beet
White Potatoes

10
Hops

Sugar-beet
Sweet Corn
White Potatoes
Alfalfa

All of these products show considerable variation in their distribution
through the transition belt, some growing only in the hottest parts, and others

The Audubon Societies

367

only in the most northern or southern parts of this zone; while others are
entirely absent from large tracts, or may be successfully transplanted from
one tract to another. Alfalfa, for example, is not native to New England, but
it may be grown there, although not so many crops of it a season can be raised
as in warmer climates.

The animals and wild plants of these faunal areas differ quite as widely,
as the cereals, fruits and crops, as shown below:

Alleghuuiun

Chestnut

Butternut

Walnut

Oak

Hickory

Beech

Birch

Hemlock

Sugar Maple

Southern Mole

Cotton-tail Rabbit

Northern Star-nosed Mole

Brewer's Mole

Varying Hare

Bob-white

Baltimore Oriole

Bobolink

Towhee

Solitary Vireo

Catbird

Brown Thrasher

Wood Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Wilson's Thrush

Bluebird

Western Arid

Sage Brush

Yellow Pine

Creeping Barberry

Rcdroot

Scarlet Gilia

Sage Hen

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Green-tailed Towhee

White-tailed Jack Rabbit

Pallid Voles

Lewis Ground Squirrel

Clark Ground Squirrel

Richardson's Spermophilc

Pacific Coast Humid

Douglas Fir
Pacific Cedar
Western Hemlock
Sitka Spruce
Broad-leaved Maples
Tree Alders
Madronas
Western Dogwoods
Salal

Thimble-berry
Salmon-berry
Dark Great Horned Owl
Dark Spotted Owl
Dark Screech Owl
Dark Pygmy Owl
Sooty Grouse
Oregon Ruffed Grouse
Steller Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Winter Wren
Columbia Black-tail Deer
Western Raccoon
Oregon Spotted Skunk
Douglas Red Squirrel
Townsend's Chipmunk
Tailless Sewellel
Peculiar Species of Pocket
Gophers and Voles

In the northwestern part of the Alleghanian or transition zone, the annual
rainfall is 100 inches, and this condition of great humidity makes many species
of birds much darker colored in plumage than in areas which are less wet.
Farther south, the annual rainfall is not more than fifty to sixty inches,
while in Oregon it drops to less than thirty inches.

The climate is very equable, extremes of heat and cold do not occur, and
consequently, with the long summers and mild winters, many northern and
southern forms thrive here, unlike the eastern Alleghanian area, where severe
frosts in spring and fall, short summers and long, hard winters make the rais-
ing of certain crops impossible or unprofitable.

Study carefully the differences in the forms of life tabulated above, and
compare them with those which will be given in the next exercise.

The Chickadee is a characteristic resident of the Alleghanian and
Canadian faunas, while the Willow Ptarmigan belongs to cold tem-
perate and arctic faunas, breeding in the far north and coming south in

368

Bird -Lore

winter to the northern edge of the transition zone of the warm temperate
sub region.

These two species might possibly meet during the winter in the Canadian
faunal area, but, since the Chickadee retreats southward at that season mto
the Alleghanian area, their distribution does not overlap much. In prepara-
tion for the next exercise, let us learn what and where the Mexican tableland is.

Spklling Exercise

Geographical

Scientific

General

Birds, Plants, and
Animals

Alleghanian

range

bleak

alfalfa

Appalachian

circumpolar

peculiar

currant

Hudsonian

region

coniferous

sorghum

Canadian

subregion

accident

hickory

Florida

zone

barrier

cedar

California

temperate

cereal

madronas

Mexico

plain

disappear

salal

Pennsylvania

desert

diversity

chickadee

Michigan

humidity

relatively

towhee

Minnesota

aridity

plumage

bobolink

Assiniboia

isotherm

synonymous

sewellel

Manitoba

meridian

imaginary

raccoon

Correction: Read saxifrage for sax/rage on p. 307 of the preceding issue of Bird-
Lore.— A. H. W.

FROM ADULT OBSERVERS

Bird Notes from the Cornfield Bird Society — New Hampshire

Inspired by Mr. Baynes' work with the birds in Meriden, the city colony
organized a Bird Club last fall, the principal aim of which is the stimulation
and interest in bird life, especially among the children.

Every effort was made to get mto close touch with the children, and the
teachers of the various schools of Cornish and Plainfield were very helpful
in cooperating with the officers of the Club. The children took hold of the
work with the greatest enthusiasm and interest, which has been sustained
all through the winter.

Before the snow came, the children, under the direction of the Club officers,
went through the village and tacked wire-netting pockets on various trees,
in which they placed suet. The local butcher supplied the children with suet
every week, so they had an unfailing stock to draw from. They also insti-
tuted food-stations in their own yards, and made feeding-boxes in the Car-
pentry Class. Many and various were the devices to attract the birds, but
no one ever imagined, in beginning this work, how delightful and wonderful
the results would be. The joy of having these little "feathered friends" so
near, feeling their dependence on you when the wild winter storms swept

The Audubon Societies

369

over hill and valley, was an endless pleasure. Not only have the birds been
the gainers by this work, but the children themselves have been given a
new interest in this wonderful world of ours; the moral part of their nature has
been apj)ealed to, developing kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity, — surely
a strong, fundamental groundwork for good citizens.

Observation Charts are given to the children every month, to fill in vari-
ous items about the birds, and in this way systematic work is accomplished.

The picture (as illustrated) of Rachel and Leddy Daniels, speaks for itself
as the result of the work. The children "tamed" the Chickadees, so that
they would alight on their heads and feed from their hands many times a day.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY

Many nesting-boxes have been made during the winter, which have been
hung up in the trees; and now all are eagerly looking forward to the birds
which may build in them.

This work has not been conlined to the children alone. Many "grown-
ups," who in the beginning were amused at the idea of a Bird Club, ha^•e
become interested in spite of themselves.

One of the Junior Members nailed boards, with suet and salt pork tied
on, m the windows which had a southern and western exposure. Of course,
one was put on Grandmother's window — Grandmother who never went out
all winter long. "Grandmother's Bird Campus" was a perfect joy to the

370 Bird -Lore

dear old lady, who, as she lay in bed in the morning, loved to hear the tap,
tap of the Chickadees, Nuthatches and Woodpeckers, having an early break-
fast. A little brush was kept for the purpose of dusting off the snow from the
campus, after every snowstorm. So the birds may give pleasure to the "shut-
ins," and we can all help in the great work, — great work when we consider
how valuable the birds are in their relation to agriculture and forest life. —
K. C. S., Secretary of the Cornfield Bird Club.

[The suggestions contained in this communication embody the best and most enjoy-
able waj's of taking up cooperative bird-study in a community. When young and old
are alike interested in attracting and protecting birds, there will be small need of laws
and legislators to secure the rights of our feathered population.

Are there not other clubs which can report equally successful results? — A. H. W.]

FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS

In the Orchard

If you had gone past the orchard gate over at Richard's, one morning
about half-past sLx, you would have seen a girl of twelve scrambling under
the gate. What would this girl find to do in that lonely orchard, you ask ?
Well, she certainly found enough and saw enough to do when she got safely
under the gate.

The first thing she saw was the skeleton of a dead cat, which made the
place seem rather ghostly and scar}^ It would have made cold chills run
down some people's backs, but they didn't run down hers.

The next thing she spied was a beautifully woven Oriole's nest. Nearby
she heard the sounds, pete, petah, petah, petah. Then, looking aroimd, on
the next apple tree she saw the beautiful Oriole itself.

Where did that sound, quay, quay, quay, come from? Why, it came
from a bird about a foot long, with a bluish black top-knot and a bluish gray
breast and back. Of course, this was a Blue Jay. The tones in which the Blue
Jay spoke to her were not in the least angr}'. And why should the Blue Jay's
tones be angry? Wait and see.

But what was that Uttle bunch of gray fluff over in the grove in that low
bush? At first you would have thought it was a nest; but how could a nest
hop about as this was doing? When the fence that separated the orchard
from the grove was reached, this little bunch of gray fluff was discovered to
be a baby-bird that couldn't fly. Was the Blue Jay crazy? She no longer
spoke in a sweet, calm way, but in a gruff, angry way. She flew from the tree
she was in to the tree opposite, in a zig-zag line. As the Blue Jay flew down,
she acted as if she was going to peck the girl's head off. She did this several
times, all the time making a loud noise. The Blue Jay chased the girl clear
to the other side of the orchard, and then left her in peace. Did you know that

The Audubon Societies

371

this baby-bird was the Blue Jay's httle one? Do you not think the Blue Jay
was a brave mother?

Soon after, a bunny came in sight. He wasn't dressed as elegantly as the
bunny in "Alice in Wonderland." Although he did stop, he didn't take a
watch out of his pocket, to see what time it was, either, but just stared and
stared at the little girl, who was a little way from him. It was not long till he
said, "Good-by," and scampered out of sight, leaving her to scramble under
the gate again. — Carolyn Woodruff (aged 12), 252 Goshen Ave., Salem,
Ohio.

[It is a pleasure to know that girls and buys are seeing so many things out-of-doors
to tell us about. .\ great naturalist once said that something new might be found every
day within the limits of an acre of land. Here, in the orchard, there are very many
dififerent things to see. Who will make a list of all the plants, birds, insects, animals
and rocks that can be found within a single acre? — A. H. W.]

THE CHICKADEE

By EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH

%\it /Rational 3i&0otiation ot aunubon f^otittit0

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET No. 60

Autumn has come — the waning of the year. The rising wind sighs among
the lofty pines, shaking ont old and yellowing needles from each tufted twig;
and lightly they rain down, renewing the soft and springy carpet of the forest
floor. The somber sky, with leaden, hurrying clouds, portends the coming
storm; Jays cry mournfully; Crows fuss and caw; but here comes Chickadee,
flitting from twig to twig, as blithe and unconcerned as if 'twere always summer.
When cold winter winds rage in the forest and snow thickens the air.
Chickadee, merry and unafraid, hustles about amidst the storm, fills his
Uttle stomach with insects, and, as the dreary night shuts down, hies him to
some snug, sheltered refuge where, warm and dry, he sleeps away the long
winter night. Nothing daunts him but the ice-storm, which crusts the trees,
and covers his food with a heavy crystal sheath. Then, indeed, he creeps to
shelter, wherever it may be found, and there he stays until the storm is spent.
Many children will recall the nursery rhyme about "Little Tommy Tittle-
mouse," who "Uves in a Httle house." The Chickadee belongs to the Tit-
mouse family, is a near relative of the Tomtit, and, like him.
Family lives in a very Httle house. The Titmouse family consists of a

large number of species, which are disseminated widely over
the northern hemisphere and are highly valued by mankind.

Members of the Titmouse family range over North America, from the
northernmost limits at which trees grow to the Gulf states and Mexico.
Throughout most of the forests 5f this country, some form of
Range the Chickadee may be found at some or all seasons of the year;

but the subject of this sketch inhabits mainly the Canadian
and Transition zones of eastern North America, and, in the United States,
is confined chiefly to the North, breeding south to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and along the Appalachian Mountain chain
to North Carolina, wandering somewhat farther south in winter.

In most of the northern United States, the Chickadee is the prevailing
woodland bird, particularly in winter.

A hole in a decayed birch stump, two or three feet from the ground, a

knot-hole in an old apple tree, in a fence-post, or in an elm, forty or fifty feet

from the ground, the deserted home of some Woodpecker, a

Nest small milk-can nailed up in a tree, or a nesting-box at some

farmhouse window, may be selected by the Chickadee for its

home. Commonly it digs out a nest-hole in the decaying stump of a birch or

(372)

CHICKADEE

Order— Passeres Family— Parid^b

Geniis— Penthestes Species— Atricapillus

National Association of Audubon Societies

Educational Leaflet No. 61

The Chickadee 373

pine. It is unable to penetrate sound wood, as I have seen it repeatedly try
to enlarge a small hole in a white pine nesting-box, but it could not start a
chip. Often the Chickadee gains an entrance through the hard outer coating of
a post or stump into the decaying interior by choosing, as a vantage point, a
hole made by some Woodpecker in search of a grub. The Chickadee works
industriously to deepen and enlarge this cavity, sometimes making a hole
nine or more inches deep; and the little bird is wise enough to carry the tell-
tale chips away and scatter them far and wide — something the Woodpeckers
are less careful about.

Sometimes the hole is excavated in the broken top of a leaning stump
or tree, and once I found one in the top of an erect white pine stump with no
shelter from the storm. I have found Chickadees' nests in small decaying
pitch-pine trees, where the hard knots formed by the stumps of little limbs
projected, like pegs, into the ca\dty from each side, extending nearly to the
center. The birds, on entering the nest some nine inches below the opening,
must have used these pegs as a ladder. No doubt they w^ould have removed
them had they been able.

The nest is placed at the bottom of the hole, and made of such warm materi-
als as cottony vegetable fibers, hairs, wool, mosses, feathers and insect cocoons.
Every furry denizen of the woods, and some domestic animals, may sometimes
contribute hair or fur to the Chickadee's nest. One nest was made entirely
of cotton, which had been placed in a nesting-box for the use of the birds.

The eggs vary somewhat in color, but are commonly white, spotted with

reddish brown or finely marked with a paler shade. Both birds take turns in

sitting, and the eggs hatch in about eleven days, the last one

Eggs laid requiring sometimes twelve or thirteen days. The young

leave the nest in about two weeks from the date of hatching.

Sometimes tw^o broods are reared in a season.

The Chickadee has named himself. He repeats the name often with several
additional dee- dees or chee-dees. Toward spring, he sometimes attempts to
"pour out his soul in song," but a few jingUng notes represent
Notes his finest efforts. The long, pensive, musical phcebe, which

he utters most at that season, given with the first note accented
and the last falling, is regarded by many writers, as his song, but it is uttered
by both sexes. The young in the nest give a faint and wheezing imitation of
the chicadee, and, when they cry all together, their combined voices suggest
the hissing of some huge snake.

It's impossible to do more than touch upon the habits of this delightful
bird in a mere leaflet like this. Much has been written of its habits, but

the half has never been told. An adequate history of its bright
Habits and , . . ,. , , • , ,

Characteristics ^ cunnmg ways, its many expedients and devaces, would

fill a book. Its chief apparent characteristics, from a human
point of view, are courage, optimism, industry, activity, helpfulness and joy

374 Bird -Lore

in life. Emerson calls the Chickadee "a scrap of valor." One gifted writer
says of its activity:

"Chickadee refuses to look down for long upon the world; or indeed to look
at any one thing from any direction for more than two consecutive twelfths
of a second. 'Any old side up without care,' is the label he bears; and so with
anything he meets, be it a pine-cone, an alder catkin, or a bug-bearing branch-
let; topside, bottomside, inside, outside, all is right side to the nimble Chicka-
dee Blind-man's buff, hide-and-seek and tag are merry games

enough when played out on one plane; but \vhen staged in three dimensions,
with a labyrinth of interlacing branches for hazard, only the blithe bird whose
praises we sing could promptly master their intricacies."*

Although he is no fly-catcher, the Chickadee takes insects on the wdng
with ease, and often catches in the air those which fall from the trees or from
his own clutch.

I have seen a Chickadee reach backward after a flying insect, spring after
it, back downward, catch it in the air, and, turning a somersault alight on a
branch below. Another swung completely around a branch, like a gymnast
doing the "giant swing." Every pose possible to a bird in a tree is taken by
our httle acrobat. His head turns quickly from side to side, his wings and tail
flirt this way and that, as he turns, twists, pecks and peers in pursuit of the
insects which form the greater part of his food. Often his prying habits
lead him to the hiding-place of a dozing Owl, and then, no matter how
large and powerful the enemy. Chickadee raises the alarm and sounds the
attack, stirring and leading the feathered mob which gathers, to execrate
the common foe.

Notwithstanding his small size, this diminutive, black-capped bird is a
leader. After the breeding-season, he is almost always the central figure and
foremost spirit of a little band of Warblers, Nuthatches, Creepers, ^nd King-
lets, and is frequently followed by a Woodpecker or two. In Autumn, Chicka-
dees gather into bands of one or more families and scour the woods, searching
out the most favorable localities for their food. Migrating Warblers follow
their call, knowing that it always leads them to food. Chickadee knows
the ground; he has spied out the land, and invites all to join in his good
cheer.

Follow the Chickadee, and you will see sooner or later most of the wood-
land birds. But he is not, by any means, confined to the woods. He visits
the orchard and shade trees, picks up crumbs about the farmhouse door,
enters the woodshed, picks out borers from the firewood, and helps himself
to the bacon which the farmer uses to grease his bucksaw. He confides in
man to a remarkable degree. He hangs about the camp of the woodchopper,
looks for the "full dinner-pail," and sometimes comes and feeds from the
hand. Many times in the woods his curiosity has led him to fly close about

♦Birds of Oregon, Dawson and Bowles, p. 276.

The Chickadee 375

my head and peer with beadUke eyes into my face, and in numberless instances
he has jilaced absolute confidence in those who have fed him in winter.

Chickadee is a very attentive little husband, often visits his mate while
she is sitting on her eggs, and, besides relieving her of a part of this labor,
frequently feeds her on the nest.

Probably there is no bird that is more beneficial to mankind than is this
little Titmouse. He lives very largely on insects which are destructive to trees.
Even in winter, much more than half his real food consists of
Food insects or their eggs. Myriads of the eggs of plant-lice, bugs,

canker-worms, moths and bark-lice are eaten. No insect
appears to l)e too large for him, and none apparently too small to escape his
sharp eyes and his little pointed bill. If a caterpillar is too big for him to
swallow, he holds it under foot and pecks out its vitals, discarding the rest.
If the larva is too large and powerful to be held in this way, the bird draws it
over a twig and, seizing both ends in his feet, swings back downward under-
neath the twig, pecking away until he has reduced the struggling captive to
submission.

Many larvae, including those of the apple moth and the gypsy moth,
destructive bark-beetles, some weevils and scale insects, are killed in myriads
by the Chickadee. Mr. C. E. Bailey found 1,028 eggs of the fall canker-worm
moth in the stomachs of four Chickadees, and 105 canker-worm moths in the
stomachs and gullets of four others. He computed that one Chickadee would
destroy 138,750 eggs of the canker-worm moth in 25 days. Professor
Sanderson estimates that 8,000,000,000 insects are destroyed by Chickadees
each year in Michigan. My own experience, for ten years, has shown that
trees may be absolutely protected from leaf-eating insects by attracting Chick-
adees throughout the year.

Our little Titmouse does not depend entirely on animal food, and there-
fore can exist when the trees are incased in ice and snow. He takes some
weed seeds, picks up a Httle waste grain, eats the seeds of pine, hemlock,
alder, and some other trees, and a few winter berries, particularly those of the
wax myrtle, or bayberry. Sunflower seeds, meat, suet and nuts are relished
when he can get them, but he is not known to have any harmful habits.

The best lesson we may learn from the life of the Chickadee is that of
courage, cheerfulness, and industry. Among the Chickadees that came to
my window to feed one winter, one had been fatally injured in some way and
was slowly dying. Still, day by day, he made the accustomed rounds, busy
and cheerful, but growing less active, until one morning he appeared hardly
able to feed, but was brave and cheery to the last. He never came again.

Emerson says of the Chickadees:

"There is no sorrow in their song.
No winter in their year."

THE WILLOW PTARMIGAN

By JOSEPH GRINNELL*

^^t il^ational Sifisomtion ot Audubon ^ocittitfi

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 61

The word Ptarmigan is applied to several species and races of grouse-like
birds comprising the genus Lagopus. The name was chosen appropriately, for
"Lagopus" signifies "rabbit-foot," and refers to the chief character by which
Ptarmigan are distinguished from other members of the Grouse family, namely,
the heavy clothing of hair-like feathers which envelop the feet. In all but one
of the species there are remarkable changes of plumage twice a year, through
which there is acquired for the winter season a snow-white dress. This, and
the fact that Ptarmigan Hve in the far north or on the tops of high moim-
tains, where the climate is severe, probably gave basis for the other name,
Snow Grouse, used commonly for the birds in some parts of their range, as in
Alaska.

In America there are three distinct species of Ptarmigan. One of them, the
White-tailed, lives upon the snowy summits of the Rocky Mountains south as
far as northern New Mexico. The Rock Ptarmigan inhabits the mountainous
country farther north, and, as represented by various subspecies, is found
from Greenland, across the continent and on nearly every one of the long chain
of Aleutian Islands. The third American species, the Willow Ptarmigan,
with which the present essay is concerned, is most abundant on that level or
rolling arctic prairie-land known as tundra. This tundra extends almost
unbrokenly clear across North America from Labrador to western Alaska,
and may be said, in a general way, to occupy the interval between the tree
limit and the Arctic Ocean. In western and northern Alaska, these tundras
are covered with a deep layer of moss and lichens. Here or there in 'draws' or
shallow valleys, there are tracts of dwarf willow and alder. In summer the
tundras are boggy, and the numerous ponds and connecting channels make
traveling difficult. In winter they are frozen solidly, and the wind-driven snow
packs into the depressions so that the surface is nearly smooth.

Save for black tail-feathers, almost completely concealed when the bird is
at rest, and the black of bill and eyes, the Willow Ptarmigan in the winter
season is pure white. When the white feathers first appear, in the fall, they
possess a perceptible, though faint, tinge of pink; but this soon fades out.

The pure white winter dress is believed to make the birds so inconspicuous
against the white of the landscape that they many times escape discovery by
their enemies, the arctic fox and gyrfalcon, as they certainly do by the human
hunter. On a day when the sky is overcast with dense haze, obscuring the
direct rays of the sim, and dispersing an intense, even Ught, the Ptarmigan

*Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California.
(376)

The Willow Ptarmigan 377

are extremely hard to discern against the blank whiteness of their surround-
ings. Even when fresh foot-prints in the snow and occasional calls told of their
near vicinity, I have often found myself to be within but a few yards of the
birds before they would take flight with startling whirr of wings and hoarse
notes of alarm. Then, as a bird would alight at some distance, it would seem-
ingly vanish from the sight, not infrequently defying rediscovery altogether.

On the occasional cloudless day, when the sun shines unobstructedly, even
white objects are brought out in sharp relief by their long, dark shadows cast
upon the snow. If approached at right angles to the rays from the sun, the
Ptarmigan may then be discerned at several hundred yards distance. But
they are then shy, for they have a marvelous way of appearing to know
whether or not the hunter is actually aware of their exact whereabouts.

During the eight-months winter season, the Willow Ptarmigan feed upon
the buds and tender terminal twigs of the dwarf alder and willow; this, and
practically nothing else, save that quartz gravel is regularly gathered from the
river-bars where the wind bares the ground of snow.

The Willow Ptarmigan are by nature gregarious. Especially is this trait
e.xhibited in the autumn months, when in the most northern localities a partial
migration is undertaken a few hundred miles to the south, or into great val-
leys where more food and better cover are afforded. For the birds do show a
predilection for the vicinity of brush-patches, or even tracts of stunted spruce
trees in regions where these exist. Not infrequently they escape from the dash
of the Falcon by taking refuge in a bush, among whose stems the snow r^sts
lightly, and into which the frightened bird is able to plunge quite out of sight.

In the early spring, long before the thaw commences in earnest, the male
Ptarmigan begin to change to a rich chestnut-brown color on the head and
chest, and a bright red comb develops above each eye. For a time, in April
and early May, the males, with their deep brown mantles and white bodies,
are very conspicuous. They are then more noisy than at any other season,
uttering, at frequent intervals until late dusk, a low, harsh 'cackle,' roughly
imitated in the Eskimo name for the Willow Ptarmigan, A-kaze-rh-gak.

The male Ptarmigan wear this special courting plumage until June, when
another change, involving the whole body plumage, leads to a brown-black-
and-buff plumage, which is worn until autumn. The females, meanwhile,
change rapidly in early May, about the time the snow begins to disappear, to
a mottled and barred, black-and-brown coloration. In this "summer pro-
tective" plumage the birds of both sexes are as difficult to see against the green,
brown and gray of the open tundra as they were in winter plumage, against
the white landscape.

All these remarkable changes in appearance are the result of molls, by which
feathers of one color fall out and new ones of a different color grow in. In the
autumn, exactly the same process leads from the brown and mottled colora-
tion of both old birds and young-of-the-year to the pure white of winter dress.

378 Bird -Lore

But while in the spring molt the feathers of the head, neck, and back are the
first to be replaced, in the fall these are the last tracts affected; so that by the
middle of October birds are to be seen with dark feathers still predominating
in the head and back. This, of course, gives much the same effect as at an
early stage of the spring molt.

The female Ptarmigan selects the site for her nest during the third week of
May, and by the second week of June full sets of eggs are the rule. The nest
is a slight depression in the moss on the open ground; usually the summit of
a hummock is selected, as being a drier situation during the period of early
summer rains. There is a scanty hning of dry grasses, to keep the eggs from
actual contact with the saturated moss of the foundation.

The full set of eggs numbers from eleven to thirteen. They are very deeply
and closely spotted and blotched with chestnut-brown, the effect being to
render them difficult to distinguish from their surroundings, even when lying
in plain view but a few feet from the observer. The female bird does all of
the sitting, and when approached on the nest does not take fhght until almost
trodden upon. She then exhibits the greatest soHcitude, tumbling about within
a few yards of the intruder in the most distressing manner. The male bird
sometimes puts in an appearance, but keeps discreetly at a much greater
distance.

After the eggs are hatched, the precocious youngsters are accompanied
by both parents. They then have the faculty, so like that of young Quail and
Grouse, of concealing themselves at a moment's notice, while the parents
attempt to call the intruder's attention elsewhere. The young are at first
clothed with down, of yellow and brown shades; but before they are half-
grown this is entirely replaced by loose-textured feathers, and even before
haff-grown they are able to fly as readily as the adults.

In summer, the Willow Ptarmigan's bill of fare includes many sorts of
insects, as well as green herbs. In the fall, the 'abundant crops of blueberries,
heathberries, cranberries, and roseapples are freely resorted to, and these
fruits become again available the following spring, when the retreating snow
leaves them exposed.

The reader will have already marv^eled at the special and useful modifica-
tions in the habits and structure of the Ptarmigan, which enable it to carry on
a successful existence under such an extreme and winter cHmate. Perhaps the
most wonderful thing about the bird is its alternating adaptations to the
opposite conditions of the short summer period. Not only is the svunmer
plumage of a totally different general color, as already described, but it is
much less dense than the winter plumage. The molts, however, do not affect
the feathers of every part of the body. The wmg and tail feathers are changed
only at the time of the fall molt which, in fact, is the only complete molt.
The feathers of the feet and legs are not replaced in the spring; but, as sum-
mer advances, the old feathers become brittle and wear off, until midsummer

The Willow Ptarmigan 379

finds the birds with almost nuked feet, — a hea\y feathering at that season
probably being not only needless but a hindrance, as it would be especially
when wet.

The toe-nails in winter are so long as to project considerably beyond the
generous feathering of the feet and toes. They probably serve as "ice-creep-
ers," of great use in walking or wallowing in crusty snow. But the extraordi-
nary thing is that in summer the old toe-nails drop off, or molt, new ones grow-
ing from the quick!

In winter plumage, one set of feathers fails to conform to the general
whiteness — the tail-feathers. When the bird is at rest, the very long upper
and under tail-coverts almost completely conceal these black tail-feathers,
which are then closed together in narrow ranks. But, when the bird takes
flight, the tail is widely spread, and a black "directive" marking flashes forth
against the white background. In summer, the wing-feathers, left over un-
molted from the winter dress, are unnoticed in the bird at rest; but, as the
wings are spread in flight, they furnish again a conspicuous "directive" pat-
tern against the dark landscape, the black tail-feathers being then inelTective.

With all its marvelous fitness, the Ptarmigan has much to contend with — •
just as much as have our southern Quail and more than our Grouse — for the
birth-rate provides a sure index of the death-rate. If each pair of Ptarmigan
produces an average of ten young each season, then ten out of every twelve exist-
ing at the close of the incubatory period are doomed to die within the next
twelvemonth. Before the invasion of the white man to upset the natural
balance, the Ptarmigan had many regular enemies — the arctic fox, the weasel,
the Rough-legged Hawk, and the Gyrfalcon.

Looked at from the utilitarian standpoint, the Ptarmigan, on the far
northern frontier, affords an even more important game resource than did the
native birds in the early days of the settlement of the States. The weight of a
Willow Ptarmigan is one and one-half pounds, so that each bird affords as
much food as four or five Bob-whites.

In most of the vast northern region, conditions yet remain practically
primitive so far as wild game is concerned. But, around the mining settlements
of Alaska and Yukon Territory, the larger animals have been much reduced
in numbers, or entirely used up. It is fairly certain that many natural enemies
of the birds have been reduced to small numbers, to the great advantage of
the Ptarmigan. This has doubtless served to offset the effect of the firearm,
so that only in the near neighborhood of settlements has there been a notable
decrease in the supply of birds.

With proper study of the situation and suitable legislation based thereon,
to apply to the most thickly settled districts, the Willow Ptarmigan should
constitute a valuable and permanent game resource in a country where the
food-value of game-birds far exceeds that here in the states where sport is the
chief element to invite pursuit.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON. Secretary

Address all correspondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions, to
the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City

William Dutcher, President
Theodore S. Palmer, First Vice-President T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary
Y. A. Lucas, Second Vice-President Jonathan Dwight, Jr., Treasurer

Any person, club, school or company in sympathy with the objects of this Association may be-
come a member, and all are welcome.

Classes of Membership in the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of
Wild Birds and Animals :

$5.00 annually pays for a Sustaining Membership
$100.00 paid at one time constitutes a Life Membership
$1,000.00 constitutes a person a Patron
$5,000.00 constitutes a person a Founder
$25,000.00 constitutes a person a Benefactor

DIRECTORY OF THE STATE AUDUBON SOCIETIES

With names and addresses of their Secretaries

Arizona Mrs. Harriet B. Thornber, Tucson

California Mrs. Harriet Williams Myers, 306 Ave. 66, Los Angeles

Connecticut Mrs. William Brown Glover, Fa,irfield

Delaware Mrs. William S. Hilles, 904 Market St., Wilmington

District of Columbia Miss Helen P. Childs, Chevy Chase, Md.

Florida Mrs. I. V'anderpool, Maitland

Illinois Miss Mary A. Hardman, Academy of Sciences. Lincoln Park

Indiana Miss Elizabeth Downhour, 2,507 Talbott Ave.. Indianapolis

Iowa Mrs. William F. Parrott, .502 Franklin St., Waterloo

Kansas Frank E. McMullen, Wichita

Kentucky Victor K. Dodge, Lexington

Louisiana Mrs. Percival Wraight, 460 Pine St., New Orleans

Maine President Arthur H. Norton, 22 Elm St., Portland

Maryland Miss Minna D. Starr, 2400 North Charles St., Baltimore

Massachusetts Miss Jessie E. Kimball, Boston Society of Natural History, Boston

Michigan Mrs. Anna Walter, Marcellus

Minnesota President D. Lange, 2308 Commonwealth Ave., St. Paul

Mississippi H. C. McGowan, Columbus

Missouri President H. R. Walmsley, 318 Keith & Perry Bldj;., Kansas City

Nebraska Miss Joy Higgins, 544 South Thirtieth St., Omaha

New Hampshire ." President E. J. Burnham, 269 Walnut St., Manchester

New Jersey Beecher S. Bowdish, Demarest

New York .... Miss Emma H. Lockwood, 243 West 75th St., New York

North Carolina P. T>. Gold, Jr., Greensboro

North Dakota Mrs. George H. Hollister, 621 9th St., South Fargo

Ohio Miss Katherine Ratterman, 510 York St., Cincinnati

Oklahoma Miss Alma Carson, Guthrie

Oregon. . Dr. Emma J. Welty, 321 Montgomery St.. Portland

Pennsylvania Miss Elizabeth Wilson Fisher, 2222 Spruce St., Philadelphia

Rhode Island H. L. Madison, Park Museum, Providence

South Carolina Albert R. Heyward, Columbia

Tennessee (East) Miss M. M. Woodward, KnoxviUe

Tri -state Audubon Society of Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi

Prof. Wharton S. Jones, 729 Vance .Ave., Memphis

Texas Assistant Secretary Mrs. M. B. Davis, Waco

Vermont Prof. \. E. Lambert, Middlebury

Virginia. Miss Donna Sheahan, Brookland Park Boulevard, Richmond

Washington Miss Adelaide Pollock, Care of Queen Anne High School, Seattle

West Virginia Miss Hattie M. Alleman, 2403 Dudley Road, Parkersburg

Wisconsin ..•■ .Roland E. Kremers, 1720 Yilas Street, Madison

Eighth Annual Meeting ^r. Henry Fairfield Osborne President
of the American Museum of Natural

The eighth annual meeting of the History, and also President of the New

National Association of Audubon Societies York State Audubon Society, welcomed

convened in the American Museum of the members of the Association to the

Natural History, New York City, at Museum, and called attention to the

10 o'clock A.M., Tuesday, October 29, 191 2. importance of the several phases of the

(380)

The Audubon Societies

381

work of this Association and of the good
which he beh'eved it has been doing for
many years.

Messrs. Frank M. Chapman and
Charles Sheldon were reelected members
of the Board of Directors. The Association
then proceeded to elect the following
members of the Advisory Board of
Directors for the ensuing year:

Ralph Hoffman, Missouri.

David Starr Jordan, California.

Robert W. Williams, Florida.

Arthur H. Norton, Maine.

W. Scott Way, Maryland.

Mrs. Kingsmill Marrs, Florida.

John E. Thayer, Massachusetts.

Prof. H. P. Attwater, Texas.

Ruthven Deane, Illinois.

Abbott H. Thayer, New Hampshire.

Carleton E. Howe, Vermont.

Witmer Stone, Pennsylvania.

Amos W. Butler, Indiana.

Wm. P. Wharton, Massachusetts.

Alice W. Wilcox, Rhode Island.

C. W. Ward, Louisiana.

Howard Eaton, Wyoming.

Dr. T. S. Roberts, Minnesota.

Col. J. H. Acklen, Tennessee.

Gifford Pinchot, District of Columbia.

Frank Bond, District of Columbia.

C. G. Abbott, New York.

C. F. Hodge, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Anna B. Comstock, New York.

Mrs. Alice H. Walter, Rhode Island.

H. H. Brimley, North Carolina.

H. Tullscn, Tennessee.

Mrs. B. H. Johnson, Connecticut.

John H. Sage, Connecticut.

The report of the Secretary was pre-
sented, after which Dr. Jonathan Dwight,
Jr., read his report as Treasurer of the
Association. This showed a healthy
condition of the finances, the total income
of the Association for the year being
nearly $60,000, an increase of $15,000
over last year. Both of these reports
are printed in full elsewhere in this issue
of Bird-Lore in connection with the

reports of the Field Agents and those
submitted by the various State Audubon
Societies.

E. H. Forbush, Field Agent for Massa-
chusetts^ spoke on the results of the
legislative efforts conducted by the
Association in Massachusetts during the
past year, and also outlined a recent
trip which he had undertaken to South
Carolina in the interests of the protection
of non-game birds, with special reference
to the Bobolink.

Dr. Eugene Swope, Field Agent for
Ohio, spoke most acceptably on the
subject of his work in that state. Other
reports fend discussions filled the time until
noon hour. Many of the members and vis-
iting delegates then repaired to the Mctla
Cafe, in the basement of the museum
building, where luncheon was served.

The second session began at two
o'clock, P.M. Mrs. Alice Hall Walters
presented a paper entitled 'The Oppor-
tunity of the Audubon Societies,' which
provoked much discussion of a helpful
character. This was followed by an
address by Hon. Gustav Straubenmiller,
Assistant Superintendent of New York
City Schools, on 'Nature Study in the
Schools.' The speaker was asked many
questions, which brought out much
interesting information in regard to his
experiences in teaching bird-study to
children.

The Association then adjourned to a
neighboring room in the building, where
a lesson in nature-study was being given
to a class of blind children, after which
the company proceeded to a large lecture-
hall where, for over an hour, they were
entertained by an intensely interesting
address by Dr. Homer R. Dill, of the
University of Iowa. His subject was,
'The Birds of Laysan Island, Hawaii.'

YOUNG AMERICAN EGRET, ORANGE LAKE, FLORIDA, ROOKERY
Photographed by Warden 0, E. Baynard

Annual Report of the National Association of
Audubon Societies for 1912

CONTENTS

KKI'OKT OK rill", SKCKKTARV.

Introuuction.

The Offuk.

Field Force.

Warden Force.

Egret Protection.

Legislation.

Mrs. Russell Sage Fund.

Junior Work in Northern Schools.

Miscellaneous and Financial.

REPORT OF FIELD AGENTS.

Edward Howe Forbush, New England.
Miss Katherine H. Stuart, Virginia.
James Henry Rice, Jr., South Carolina.
Francis Harper, Okefenoke Swamp, Georgia.
Dr. Eugene Swope, Ohio.
Jefferson Butler, Michigan.
William Lovell Finley, Pacific Coast States.
G. Willett, St. Lazaria Reservation, Alaska.

REPORT OF STATE AUDUBON SOCIETIES.

California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Mary-
land, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, East
Tennessee, West Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wis-
consin.

LIST OF MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS.

REPORT OF TREASURER.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

INTRODUCTION

The eighth year of the Ufe of the National Association of Audubon Socie-
ties has been attended with a strong continuance of that rapid growth which
has ever marked its history. As the general public becomes more aroused to
the importance of the preservation of wild bird and animal life, the oppor-
tunities for services which come to us seem to be almost without limit. So
urgent in fact have been the demands for aid in many directions that often
the Board of Directors has been sorely tempted to take up new lines of endeavor
which would quickly lead us quite beyond our means. Disquieting as it is to
see many golden opportunities go by unfulfilled, we yet have the satisfaction

(383)

384 Bird -Lore

of knowing that through the splendid support now being given the Association,
we are each year able to increase the scope of our work and give more extensive
cultivation to those fields already entered. On behalf of the Board of Direc-
tors, I herewith present to the members a summary of the activities of the
Association during the past year.

OFFICE WORK

To handle the volume of the business in the office, the Secretary now
requires the constant aid of eight office assistants. During the year it has been
necessary again to secure additional office space. Let us take this opportunity
to invite our members, and others who are interested in wild-fife protection,
to visit the offices at 1974 Broadway, where a hearty welcome awaits them.

FIELD FORCE

The nimiber of field agents and lecturers has been nearly doubled during
the past year, eight being employed for a part or the whole of their time.
These were: — E. H. Forbush, in New England; Capt. M. B. Davis, in Texas;
Wm. L. Finley, in the Northern Pacific States; Miss Katherine H. Stuart, in
Virginia; James Henry Rice, Jr., in South Carolina; Dr. Eugene W. Swope,
in Ohio; and E. V. Visart, in Arkansas. Too much credit cannot be given to
these unselfish workers who have so splendidly represented the Association
in their various fields and who are so largely responsible for the good results
achieved in bird-protection in their respective states. Without exception, their
work has been largely a labor of love, for in no instance has their financial
remuneration been commensurate with the amount of energy given to their
duties.

It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of our noble
Texas representative, Capt. M. B. Davis, who died at his home in Waco,
Texas, June 18, 191 2. Captain Davis has been one of our most worthy repre-
sentatives since his connection with the Association, which began in 1904. We
fear it will be long before his place can be filled with a worker so energetic,
so persistent, and withal, so effective.

WARDEN FORCE

Perhaps in no way was the wisdom of President William Dutcher, the
founder of the Association, more strikingly displayed than by his earnest
insistence during the early days of our organization that we adopt a policy of
establishing a strong warden force to guard from feather-hunters and eggers
those colonies of water-birds threatened with extinction. This is, today, a most
important feature of our work. Forty-one of these guards have been employed

Report of Secretary

38s

during; the past season; they are distributed as follows: Connecticut, i;
Florida, 8; Georgia, i; Louisiana, 2; Maine, 14; Massachusetts, i; Michigan,
3; North Carolina, i; New Jersey, 2; New York, 3; South Carolina, 2; Texas,
I ; Virginia, 2.

The birds in most of the colonies have had a prosperous year despite the
starvation of young on some of the Maine islands, due to the failure of food-
supply, and the loss of eggs and young in some of the southern Heron colonies,
caused by storm-winds. The birds which are i)rimarily receiving the benefit

WARDEN O. E. BAYNARD OF ORANGK I.AKK FLORIDA, ROOKERY
Photographed by Dr. H. R. Mills

386

Bird - Lore

of the wardens' watchfulness are: White and Brown Pelicans; Herring, West-
ern and Laughing Gulls; Common, Arctic, Caspian, Royal, Cabot's and Least
Terns; Pufi&ns; Comorants; Guillemots; Egrets and other Herons; Grebes;
Gallinules; Rails; Geese, and various forms of Ducks.

It is impossible to make anything like an accurate estimate of the number
of many of these species, but it is probably conservative to say that from one
to two million birds inhabited the protected areas during the past year.

EGRET PROTECTION

Members and other friends of the Association, to the number of 950,
united the past year and contributed $6,427.54 for the further protection of

SNOWY EGRETS, ORANGE LAKE. FLORIDA. ROOKERY
Photographed by Dr. H. R. Mills

the pitiful remnant of the great flocks of White Egrets once found in this
country. The names of these contributors have been published from time to
time in Bird-Lore. With this sum we have not only conducted an extensive
campaign of publicity on the horrors of the aigrette trade, but four agents were
sent into the southern swamps during the spring and summer to locate such
colonies of nesting birds as were yet to be found. Twenty-six breeding rook-

Report of Secretary

387

eries were located, nineteen of which were protected by our agents and hired
wardens. While, for obvious reasons, it is deemed inadvisable to give publicity
to the exact location of these colonies, it would probably not be localizing
them too much to say that the most of them are in Florida, Georgia and South
Carolina, and one each in the states of North Carolina, Texas and Oregon.

YOUNG CAR.\CARA IN NEST, BIRD PROTECTED IX FLORIDA AUDUBON ROOKERY
Photographed by O. E. Baynard

These colonies, by careful count; contained about 1,400 of the small Snowy
Egrets and 2,100 of the large Egrets. None of the colonies were raided by
plume-hunters, the one attempt in this direction being frustrated by the
warden in charge. The birds, therefore, enjoyed the peaceful occupation of
their rookeries to an extent unknown in recent years. Many thousands of
other birds, including some of the rarest species in America, also reared their
young in safety in the protected areas.

In order to get a fair idea of the extent of some of these colonies, we may
mention that in one Audubon Society reserve, in Florida, the agent in charge
states that the past summer there nested there in security, the following
(each number given refers to a nesting pair of birds): Wood Duck, i; Glossy
Ibis, 9; Least Bittern, 38; Ward's Heron, i; Egret, 197; Snowy Egret, 254;
Black-crowned Night Heron, 136; King Rail, 7; Purple Gallinule, 90; Florida
Gallinule, 66; Black Vulture, 2; Green Heron, 270; Red-winged Blackbird,
300; Water-Turkey, 368. The above facts were gathered by actual count.

^88 Bird -Lore

The following are estimates. Your Secretary, who visited the colony in
the height of the season, regards them as conservative: Boat-tailed Grackle,
600 pairs; Louisiana Heron, 1,950 pairs; Little Blue Heron, 3,500 pairs, and
White Ibis, 9,000 pairs. This makes a total of about 33,000 birds occupying
this one protected area, and, I may add, they were guarded by the Association
at a cost of $350, or, at the rate of about one cent per bird.

In another Florida swamp, discovered by one of our agents early in the
year and guarded successfully by wardens through the nesting season, the
bird population was found to be as follows: Between five and six hundred
Egrets; about 1,000 Wood Ibis; 25 Roseate Spoonbills; 40 Limpkins; 100
Ward's Herons, a nimiber of pairs of Swallow-tailed Kites and Wood Ducks,
as well as several thousand of the small Herons.

We have experienced a most successful and prosperous year in our endeavors
to protect White Egrets. But for the efforts of the Association of recent
years, these birds doubtless would today be on the very verge of extermina-
tion. If the sale of their feathers can be prohibited and the colonies guarded
for a period of years, there appears to be no reason why they should not again
become numerous, even as the Gulls and Terns have prospered under similar
conditions.

LEGISLATION

The year 191 2 saw comparatively few state legislatures in session. Our
most active efforts were put forth in Massachusetts and Virginia. Something
of the Titanic struggles between the friends and foes of wild life in these
states will be found in the report of the field agents. The two big points, how-
ever, which shone out clear and distinct after the dust of battle had blown
away, were these:

The sale of native wild game is no longer permitted by law in Massachu-
setts, and Virginia has inscribed on its statute books the statement that no
longer may Robins be legally slaughtered within the boundaries of her
commonwealth.

The subject of legislation looking to the federal protection of migratory
birds was again before Congress the past year. Several representatives of
the Association visited Washington in the interest of the three bills being
considered, and your Secretary addressed the committees of the House and
Senate having these bills in charge. At this time these measures are still
pending.

MRS. RUSSELL SAGE FUND

The work in the southern states has for the second year had the support
of a fund of $5,000 given by Mrs. Russell Sage for the special object of arous-
ing public interest in the future protection of Robins, which have long been
regarded as game-birds in that territory. It was by means of this fund that

Report of Secretary 389

the legislative campaign was waged in Virginia, which resulted in the passage
of the Robin Protection Bill. Other legislative efforts were also aided from
this source.

The organization of Junior Audubon Classes in the schools, whereby each
child paying a fee of ten cents receives an Audubon button, together with
leaflets and pictures which cost us twenty cents to manufacture, was carried
on in a manner which had given good results the previous year. In all, 10,004

SECTION OF RIVERSIDE, TENNESSEE, JUNIOR AUDUBON CLASS

children were enrolled in these classes during the school year. These are
distributed through the fifteen southern states. Virginia, where we had the
cooperation of the State Audubon Society, and the active field efforts of our
agent, Miss Stuart, showed the best results, with a record of 131 classes and
a membership of 2,560.

JUNIOR WORK IN THE NORTHERN SCHOOLS

At the last annual meeting, attention was called to the need for funds with
which to push this important branch of our work among the children of the
schools in the northern states. One of our deeply interested members who
was present, shortly afterward secured the support of one of his friends for
this work and sent a check for $5,000 with which to put the plan in operation.

We were unable to get the necessary literature prepared before January,
but from then until the close of the schools on July i, the work was pushed.
In our efforts we had the active assistance of the State Audubon Societies of
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Our report to that friend of the birds and the children who made these

$go Bird - Lore

efforts possible showed that success had attended our efforts in the North
even better than we had secured in the South.

Nine hundred and sixty classes were formed with a total paid membership
of 19,365. These were distributed through nineteen states, New Jersey lead-
ing with 411 classes and 8,912 members.

It is a great pleasure to report that so well pleased was our benefactor with
the final results that he immediately forwarded a remittance for $5,000 with
which to continue the work this season, and at the same time stated that we
might expect a like contribution next year.

Endorsement of Junior Audubon "Work by Commissioner Hon. P. P. Claxton

Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C.
I consider the work of the Junior Audubon Classes very important for both
educational and economic results, and I congratulate you upon the opportunity of
extending it. The bird clause in the Mosaic Law ends with the words: "That it may
be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days." The principle still holds.
I hope that through your efforts the American people may soon be better informed in
regard to our wild birds and their value.

Yours very truly,

P. P. Claxton, Commissioner.
Washington, September 19, 191 2.

WORK IN ALASKA

The rapidity with which the breeding-range of the wild Ducks and Geese
in the Northwest is being destroyed by the draining of sloughs, ponds and
lakes for agricultural purposes, is annually driving the wHd fowl farther north-
ward in summer. Ultimately, Alaska will be the last stand for many of these
birds, which it is highly desirable should be spared for the pleasure and profit
of mankind.

There is reason to believe, today, that a more or less wholesale business
of taking eggs in Alaska for commercial purposes still exists. Indians in many
parts of the territory kill numbers of birds for their feathers. As on the out-
skirts of civilization everywhere, there are to be found in Alaska large niunbers
of the white race who through thoughtlessness, or a lack of those finer sen-
sibilities which more strongly characterize the older settled sections of our
country, wantonly destroy many birds and their nests. These are some of
the reasons why it has become tremendously important that the work of bird-
study and bird-protection should be seriously inaugurated in Alaska.

In response to this demand, one of our liberal and far-seeing members,
whose name I regret to say we have been requested to withhold for the pres-
ent, has agreed to contribute $5,000 during the coming year; $1,000 of this
amount has already been remitted.

During the past summer, Mr. G. Willett, an able ornithologist of Los

Report of Secretary 391

Angeles, California, went, as our representative, to serve as warden on the
St. Lazaria GoNcrnment Bird Reservation in southern Alaska. His report on
his experiences there and his observations of the general situation in that
section is so full of interest that we expect to publish a portion of it in connec-
tion with the general annual report.

One of the chief lines which we expect to inaugurate in this territory is a
systematic plan of bird-study in the schools. In this we will have the hearty
cooperation of the Board of Education of the United States Department of
Interior. Four colored plates of Alaskan birds have already been prepared,
and these, together with others, all of which will be accompanied by leaflets,
will before many months be ready to place in the hands of every pupil in the
schools of Alaska.

We have some other plans in contemplation in reference to this important
field, announcement of which we are not yet in a position to make.

MISCELLANEOUS AND FINANCIAL

During the year, in addition to one circular issued for special legislative
purposes, the Association has published the following seven Educational Leaf-
lets, accompanied wdth colored plates and outline drawings: No. 53, The
Horned Lark; No. 54, The White Egrets; No. 55, The Hairy and Downy
Woodpecker; No. 56, The Ruby-throated Hummingbird; No. 57, The Yel-
low-headed Blackbird; No. 58, The California Quail; No. 59, The White-
breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches.

We have issued 943,600 Educational Leaflets; 694,300 colored pictures of
birds, and 557,800 outline drawings of these pictures. This is an increase of
about 100 per cent over the quantity of our publications last year.

All our members, subscribers and Junior secretaries have been supplied
with Bird-Lore in order that they may be kept fully posted concerning the
activities of this Association, and, at the same time, possess the ornithological
information and teaching material which that magazine contains.

The financial support of the Association has been encouraging. Twenty-
six Life JVIembers have been received, which now gives us a total of 136 Life
Members who have paid $100 each to the Endowment Fund of the Association.

The Sustaining Membership during the past twelve months has grown
from 1,351 to 1,625.

The Contributors to the General Fund have increased in number from
73 to 168.

The income of the Association for the year 191 1, from all sources, amounted
to $44,607.99. During the past year the total income has been $59,757.71;
thus showing an increase of $15,149.72.

While the increase of the resources of the Association is gratifying, let no
one be deceived for a moment in thinking that our means is in any sense ade-

392

Bird -Lore

quate to the worthy demands made upon us for assistance from all parts of
the country.

Before closing, the Board would take this opportunity of callmg to the
attention of our members and friends the desirability of greatly extending
the Endowment Fund of the Association. We trust this will come to the
attention of many who when making their wills may feel that the great work
of this Association merits the strong continued support which only a large
endowment can provide.

T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary.

Reports of Field Agents 393

REPORTS OF FIELD AGENTS

REPORT OF EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH, FIELD AGENT
FOR NEW ENGLAND

Since the last annual meeting of this Association, your Field Agent for
New England has had more than the usual demand for lectures, and has been
obliged to refuse many opportunities because of other pressing work. Twenty
lectures have been given, however, to about 4,000 people, mainly in Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire.

The series of newspaper articles published in New England newspapers,
which was interrupted for a time last year because of lack of means for their
■publication, has been continued intermittently during the present year. Some
educational work has been done in the schools in cooperation with the State
Societies.

Two legislatures in New England held sessions in 191 2, — Massachusetts
and Rhode Island, — and the fall session of the Vermont Legislature has just
begun as this report is being written. The Audubon Society of Rhode Island
did not initiate any new legislation, and apparently no attempt was made
to improve the bird laws of that state. On the other hand, no bad legislation
was enacted, and the session was rather uneventful so far as bird- and game-
legislation was concerned. In Massachusetts, however, a fight was waged
from the beginning of the session almost to its close. Early in the year two
bills were passed opening the shooting season on October 12, instead of on
the 15th as formerly. These bills passed in spite of strenuous and persistent
opposition. As October 12 (Columbus Day) is now a legal holiday in Massa-
chusetts, and as the season now opens on that day, it is easy to see what a
slaughter takes place when every shop-worker and clerk who carries a gim is
let loose the first day of the season to hunt birds which have become tame by
reason of protection through the long close season.

These bills gave the "poor man" an opportunity to hunt on the holiday.
No consideration was shown for the poor birds.

The passage of these bills warned the friends of the birds as to what they
might expect of the legislature, and when a strong attempt was made to repeal
the present law prohibiting spring-shooting, we were ready to meet it. Five
bills were introduced to change the open season on certain wild fowl in order
that the gunners along the shore might enjoy a longer season for shooting in
the winter or spring. Two of these were very strongly advocated and might
have passed had they not been strenuously opposed by this Association and
the Massachusetts Audubon Society. One was finally killed in the House,
another in the Senate, and the others were defeated in Committee.

The greatest fight made by the Association during the session was waged

394 Bird -Lore

for the passage of a bill to stop the sale of native wild game. This bill was
passed, although its enemies tried to defeat it by every possible means. The
fight was so long and severe that it taxed all the resources of the Association;
but, in the end, it brought many friends to our assistance, among whom was
Dr. Wm. T. Hornaday of New York, who had led a similar battle in that state
in 191 1. Mr. Wm. P. Wharton, one of our own members, made this cause his
own and supported it in every legitimate way. The committee on the pro-
tection of birds appointed by the Massachusetts Grange Patrons of Husbandry
worked without ceasing for the bill. Practically all the fish- and game-pro-
tective associations of the state were with us. The strongest opposition came
from certain market interests and from the representatives of market-hunters,
particularly those from the South. The law, as now on the statute books,
goes into effect January i, 19 13, and an attempt to repeal it may be expected
at the next session of the Legislature.

Late in the session, Governor Foss recommended an appropriation of
$50,000 for the protection and propagation of birds, believing that, on account
of the destructiveness of insect pests and the milHons of dollars that have
been expended to check them, an attempt should be made to foster and encour-
age insect-eating birds. The Governor's message was reported on favorably by
the Committee on Agriculture, but the bill was killed without a hearing by the
Committee on Ways and Means.

A bill which was introduced to prohibit the use or sale of automatic or
pump-guns was forestalled and defeated by the passage of bills to limit the
number of birds and squirrels to be taken in a day by each hunter. It was
argued that the kind of a gun used was immaterial provided that only a few
birds could be killed legally in a day. A bill allowing cities or towns to petition
the Fish and Game Commission for the appointment of a game-warden was
passed. Many bills of minor importance were defeated, and, on the whole,
the season's work represents a distinct advance in protective legislation.

In July, your agent, through the kindness of Mr. William P. Wharton,
was enabled to visit many of the protected bird colonies off the coast of Maine,
which were found to be in a flourishing condition.

Encouraging reports have been received from the bird colonies on the Mas-
sachusetts coast. The Least Terns of Martha's Vineyard, which have been
near extinction, appear to have more than doubled their number within the
past two years. The Heath Hens, on the same island, which have been pro-
tected for several years by a warden appointed by the commissioners on fish-
eries and game, were very near extinction a few years ago, and last year they
were not making encouraging progress; but this year they have increased con-
siderably and may yet be re-introduced to their former range.

During the summer your agent cooperated with the efforts being made by
the central office of the National Association to raise a fund for the further
protection of Egrets.

Reports of Field Agents 395

In September a trip to South Carolina was undertaken for two purposes:
First, to examine and investi^^ate the killing of small birds there for food;
and second, to see what could be done there for the better i)rotection of birds
and game. It had been generally understood that the Bobolinks, or Rice-
birds as they are called in South Carolina, did great harm to the rice crop and
were killed to save the crop. A thorough investigation gave incontestable
proof that the damage these birds do to the rice crop now is negligible, as the
rice industry in the South Atlantic States is almost a thing of the past, and
that the birds are not killed to protect the crop, but for the profit resulting
from their sale. Planters assured me that comparatively few birds were ever
shot to protect the crop, as powder was the chief ammunition used for that
purpose and very little shot; the birds are killed for the j)rotit obtained by
hunters and marketmen, and this has always been the chief incentive for the
slaughter of many hundreds of thousands of birds annually. Today most
of the negroes have guns, and shoot anything they can sell or eat. Even small
colored boys are armed with air-guns which they use for killing small birds
of all kinds. There is no resident hunters' license law, no appropriation for
the enforcement of the game laws, and therefore little enforcement of such
bird and game laws as South Carolina has, and Mr. James Henry Rice, Jr.,
who is the chief warden and the State Agent of the National Association of
Audubon Societies, has no income for the work, other than the Hmited amount
which the Association is able to provide.

Returning to New England, your agent has since applied himself to the
task of raising money to assist in carrying on the work of education and law
enforcement to protect insect-eating birds from the incessant persecution which
they now undergo. While it is discouraging that people of large means will
not give largely in support of this work, there is great encouragement in the
fact that many in moderate circumstances are far more generous in propor-
tion to their means. If we continue and enlarge our educational work, the time
will come when great popular subscriptions will ensure success.

REPORT OF KATHERINE H. STUART,
FIELD AGENT FOR VIRGINIA

The second year of the educational work of the Audubon Society in Vir-
ginia, made possible by the assistance of Mrs. Russell Sage, has been marked
by steady growth of interest in the better protection of our wild life.

The month of September, 191 1, was given by your agent to preparation
for the various departments of work to be carried out in the schools and by
the Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs. In October, we conducted most
successful Audubon exhibits at the county fairs in Fredericksburg and
Bedford City. Attractive booths, decorated with autumn leaves, grain,
pumpkins, apples, mounted specimens of useful birds, with their nests

396 Bird - Lore

and eggs; a bird's Christmas tree, hung with suet, nuts and cracked bones,
fruit, etc.; a sample feeding-table; a fine collection of insects injurious to
agriculture, with bird charts, and the beautiful National Leaflets, all tended to
give great popularity to the exhibit.

Mrs. William Yancey, Chairman of Bird Department, Bedford County,
for Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs, had charge of the exhibit at Bedford
City. Her charm of manner and earnest work has accomplished much good
in that section. Through her efforts many prizes were offered and awarded
to the children of the schools for the best essay on our native birds, for the
most attractive bird-box, and for the best drawing of a bird from life. Mrs.
Yancey also obtained one hundred signatures from the farmers of Bedford
County for our proposed Robin Bill.

I had charge of the exhibit in Fredericksburg, where Capt. Dan. M.
Lee, brother of our national hero. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, gave me one of the best
positions in the Agriculture Building, and detailed his own servant to secure
me all trees, leaves, etc., needed for decoration. Hundreds of people visited
the booth from the lower counties, and seemed much interested in our work.
One of our visitors, to whose earnest work in the legislature we owe much,
was the Hon. R. C. L. Moncure, and it was here he pledged us his aid for
our forthcoming legislative bills. Capt. E. P. Rowe, a prominent citizen of
Fredericksburg, and a veteran of two wars, gave our cause great assistance
by presenting many farmers to me, who thus heard our plea for the conserva-
tion of our beautiful insectivorous birds and also our splendid game-birds.
Captain Rowe secured the signatures of hundreds of voters in Stafford County
for our proposed Robin Bill, and thus was launched at these Audubon exhibits
our bill to save the Robin from destruction.

Later on, my time was fully occupied visiting the schools and teachers'
conferences where I spoke to hundreds of children and several thousand
teachers, superintendents and principals on Junior Audubon Classes, the non-
enforcement of our game laws, and the importance of a State Game Commis-
sioner. I formulated a petition for the protection of the Robin and had it
approved. The work of printing and getting all in readiness was soon accom-
plished, and the petitions reached my office from New York the week before
Christmas. The bill was framed for us by Judge J. J. M. Norton, President of
the Alexandria Audubon Society, and carried with it a fine of from five to
fifty dollars and a forfeiture of the gun to the state for violation of the law. I
sent the Children's Robin Petition and a copy of the bill to each of our senators
and representatives in Congress, to every superintendent and principal of
our public schools, to the presidents of our colleges; not one was omitted. The
teachers had charge of this work and took the greatest pride in securing the
signatures of the children of the various classes. The labor of sending out
these petitions was very great and occupied my time for two weeks, for, as
our Assembly opened January 12, it was important to get the bill on the cal-

Reports of Field Agents 397

endar at once and passed, if possible, by January iq. General Lee's birthday,
as a tribute to him and to his love and tenderness to the lower orders of life,
as exemplified in his devotion to his world-famous war horse, 'Traveller.'

I had written to the Hon. A. j\I. Bowman, asking him to be the patron of
the bill, and he accepted at once and did faithful work to the end. Our
bill and petition were carried to Richmond by the Hon. C. C. Carlin, of Alex-
andria, Representative in Congress of the 8th District, and put in the hands of
the Hon. R. C. L. jMoncure and Hon. A. M. Bowman. It was soon on the
House Calendar, and it passed that body, in its original form, with a splendid
vote; but it was most difficult to get it before the Senate, where the real fight
was to occur. Just here we owe much to the influence of the Hon. C. C. Carlin,
Judge L. C. Barley, and Judge J. K. M. Norton, framer of the bill, whose
presence in Richmond and influence saved the day. On February 29 the bill
passed and was soon signed by our Governor. During the session of the Assem-
bly I spent some weeks in the city of Richmond, working in the interest of
our bill for a State Game Commissioner and the Children's Robin Bill. We
deeply regret the failure of the bill for a State Game Commissioner, but we
hope for a better result in 19 14.

When not occupied with legislative work, I visited the twenty-four schools
of Richmond, with fourteen thousand pupils, speaking all day in the interest
of Junior Audubon Classes and getting the Robin petition signed by the chil-
dren. I secured about ten thousand signatures, and we gained about thirty
Junior Classes through the sLx weeks of hard work.

I also \isited the schools at Ginter Park, Sw^ansboro and other places near
Richmond, several of the large private schools in Richmond, and gave a talk
before the Humane Association.

Notwithstanding the time given to legislati\'e work, its difficulties and
many trials, we rejoice to learn from the National Secretary's Report that
Virginia stands first among the southern states in Junior Audubon Classes
and also in junior membership.

There is much to report of work done if we had the space, — of hundreds of
letters written and received from all parts of the state, some from outside
states, others from foreign countries (Turkey, Italy and England), asking
questions and displaying interest in the Virginia Audubon work; of letters to
and talks with the game- wardens of the state; many lantern-slide lectures;
talks during summer normal school sessions to about four thousand teachers
and educators from thirty-four states and three foreign countries; of local
work in and about the city of Alexandria, etc.

Our Junior Classes have steadily increased in number and varied activi-
ties, such as establishing feeding-grounds, and caring for the birds during the
last terrible winter. Hundreds of boxes have been made and put up by the
boys and girls, and by many prominent gentlemen of our state. Bird's Christ-
mas trees have been quite numerous, and many of the children took the Christ-

398 Bird -Lore

mas census. A most interesting bird-box contest took place in Danville,
under Mr. Perkinson, who offered prizes of from one to five dollars to the boys
and girls of the public schools for the most attractive bird-box. T'ifty pupils
took part in the contest. Mr. Perkinson is one of the most influential men
in the city of Danville. We regret that we have not a picture of this interest-
ing sight. The whole city was invited to witness it at a pubUc hall, and the
evening closed with a stereopticon lecture. The gold medal offered by the
Virginia Audubon Society for the best composition on our Virginia birds was
won by Jesse L. Chrisman, of Staunton, Virginia, and has given great impetus
and interest to the Junior Audubon work in the state. The children of the
Junior Classes have written many letters on birds, and received prizes offered
by the Times-Dispatch of Richmond. The Robin Petition has done more to
arouse interest in bird-protection than any other force yet tried. The fact
that it was a state-wide issue gave the Virginia Audubon Society great promi-
nence and more strength for its future work.

The Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs has worked earnestly in every
direction, especially in getting the passage of the Robin Bill, and letters and
talks to their respective senators and representatives, urging a State Game
Commissioner. Their cooperation and enthusiasm in this work has been a
tower of strength to me as their chairman, which position I have held for six
years, and to which I have been unanimously called by this splendid body
for the coming year.

REPORT OF JAMES HENRY RICE, JR., FIELD AGENT
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

The work of the year, or such part of it as included active operations,
has been devoted almost exclusively to exploration and protection. What
intervals there were have been spent in lecturing, particularly during January,
February and March.

Throughout the year, a series of short articles on the life histories of birds
of the region, with especial reference to their economy, have been pubUshed
in the leading daily and weekly papers of South Carolina, and many in Georgia.
At present a somewhat more comprehensive series has been begun in 'Uncle
Remus' Home Magazine,' pubUshed at Atlanta, Ga., and widely circulated
from Maryland to western Texas. Another series is appearing in 'Southern
Farming,' an agricultural journal with a large circulation among southern
farmers.

The territory embraced in my ex-ploration for rookeries of Egrets extends
from the southern North Carolina line to Jacksonville, Florida. The attempt
to penetrate and ex-plore Okefenoke Swamp failed for the reason that the
guides refused to remain inside, owing to heat and attacks of insects. I was
forced to give it up, comforted somewhat by the reflection that if a half breed

Reports of Field Agents 399

Indian, a while Cracker, and a negro could not endure the swamp, neither
could plume-hunters.

Georgetown, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, are respectively
headquarters for financing plume-hunters. A notorious illicit whiskey-dealer,
or 'blind tiger,' named Palmer, in Georgetown, sends out the plumers. I have
not been able to get anything definite as to Savannah dealers, beyond rumors,
but these are singularly persistent.

Early this year, Arthur Lambert, formerly fined three times for shooting
up a rookery on the preserve of' the Santee Gun Club, near McClellanville,
was indicted before the United States District Court at Spartanburg, charged
with trespass and violating a court order. He was convicted and sentenced
to eight months in jail. This kept him out of mischief until the plume season
was over.

Jim Mitchum, who has figured in a half-dozen encounters with wardens,
together with two confederates, Jake Jordan and a negro, were in jail, await-
ing trial on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. Late in spring
they secured bond, but not until the Herons had left the rookeries. They have
not yet been tried, owing to the work of a shrewd lawyer.

In Savannah, Georgia, the leading plume-hunter was Ward Allen, who had
been indicted in the Georgia courts and heavily fined, most of the fine being
suspended during good behavior. So Allen could not stir, and in fact was con-
spicuously present in Savannah during the entire spring and summer. There
are several charges against him in South Carolina, and he is apparently afraid
to cross the Savannah River.

These men represent the principal destroyers of Herons between North
Carolina and Florida.

This being the situation, I concluded that the Association could save the
hire of wardens for certain colonies located late in the season; and the result
has justified my belief. Watch was kept on each one of them; and conditional
arrangements were made at a number of rookeries. With the exception of
one bird, a Snowy Egret, killed on James Island, there were no birds shot at
the various rookeries, all of which were visited repeatedly by citizens well
known to me, who lived near-by, and also by myself.

The only Herons known to have been killed, aside from the one mentioned,
were shot by roving negroes for food. Two of these men were caught and fined
in Colleton County, and recently, two in Charleston County.

Annual meetings of the various agricultural societies, held along the South
Carolina and Georgia coasts, w^ere attended by your agent and talks made to
planters, who are, to a man, enlisted in the cause of saving Herons. Boatmen
and fishermen are, as a rule, likewise enlisted in the same cause and render aid
by furnishing information as to rookeries and violations of law^

Several years ago, through the efforts of the National Association of Audu-
bon Societies, the light-keepers along the coast were made game-wardens

400 Bird -Lore

by special executive order, and these men are a tower of strength to the
cause.

It was surprising, as well as gratifying, to find so many Snowy Egrets in
unexpected places. This matter was covered in a special letter to Secretary
T. Gilbert Pearson, who considers it advisable not to make the details public
at this time, as it would be unwise to advertise the exact location of our breed-
ing colonies.

Fom Charleston to McClellanville on the north, and from Charleston to
Savannah, Ga., on the south, there are networks of island and bewildering
mazes of marsh, skirted by forests inland, through which rivers and creeks
penetrate in their seaward course. Again, from Savannah to St. Mary's on the
Florida line, a somewhat similar condition exists.

To traverse this region during the breeding season of the Herons requires
nerve and endurance, for in most of it accommodation of any kind is not to
be had within a reasonable distance of the day's work. My intimate knowl-
edge of the shore line of both states has aided me, and acquaintance of long
standing with the country people has helped me more.

Under the most favorable conditions there is far too much territory to be
covered within the time assigned. Work ought to begin by ^larch i, at the
latest, and should be actively prosecuted until August, in order that anything
approaching thoroughness may be done to locate the rookeries.

Two points stand out clearly:

First, That Snowy Egrets and American Egrets are increasing rapidly,
and are establishing their rookeries farther inland. Sno\\'y Egrets were found in
Barnwell County, a hundred miles from the sea. American Egrets were found
on the Wateree River, about one hundred and thirty miles from the sea.

Second, That their protection requires two things, namely, active warden
service during the breeding season, and continued educational work among
the citizens of the regions they inhabit.

The ground gained will be lost another year unless there is determined
work from the outset. The South Carolina plume-hunters will be free another
season, and these men have unusual facilities for learning the location of
rookeries, many of which are already known to them. By beginning work in
the neighborhood of the Okefenoke Swamp early in April, the worst of the
insect season may be avoided. The action of Georgia in voting a hunter's
license and creating a warden system has been salutary, and is of immense
help. All the Georgia wardens with whom I have come in contact are enthusi-
astic, reliable and determined.

Political conditions in South Carolina have been, and still are, regrettable;
but there has been no attempt to take away protection from non-game birds,
and the sentiment of the people is overwhelmingly in favor of more rigid pro-
tection.

There has been a great wave of insect life over both Georgia and South

Reports of Field Agents 401

Carolina. Many of the weekly papers have contained articles from farmers,
demanding better protection to insect-eating birds. This has been called forth
by a crop-destruction without parallel in the two states. The hay crop and
the late corn crop are both total failures, due to an invasion of Laphygma
frugiperda. A mite known locally as "the red spider" has devastated thou-
sands of acres of cotton. The pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) has
destroyed the greater part of the pines west of Columbia and is still at work.

These, among other things, have thoroughly aroused the farmers of South
Carolina; and Georgia is attacked by all these pests, with also an invasion or
outbreak of the mole cricket {Gryllotalpa borealis), which has proved disas-
trous to grain and to early corn.

In a normal condition of the public mind, action would be instant. Even
as it is, the governor of South Carolina, bitterly hostile during the past winter
(he vetoed the appropriation for the chief game-warden on the ground that
the work was "interference with the God-given rights of the people") has
announced several times on the stump that he favored the protection
of birds.

Much has been said and written; much is still being said and written on
the subject of staving off the evil to come by prompt and drastic bird-protec-
tion; but what had been done has been the saving so far of the Egret rookeries,
insomuch that the birds have multiplied, and along with that work had been
the constant spreading abroad of knowledge of birds.

I have been severely handicapped by the governor's veto last winter,
but this never led to even a moment's consideration of letting uj). The assist-
ance extended by the National Association of Audubon Societies kept the
work alive in South Carolina.

The South is white for harvest. My experience is that people are more than
willing to hear the gospel of bird-protection preached. Ignorance is wide-
spread still, however. The chancellor of one of the leading southern universi-
ties (not in South Carolina) asked me last year if the Association took its name
from Audubon because he {Audubon) had left money to it! He expressed himself
willing to know something of Audubon.

With constant educational w^ork, done consistently throughout the year,
the South would liberally contribute to the work of the Association. But the
work must be done thoroughly and patiently.

I trust these observations may not be considered irrelevant. They are
given with utmost seriousness on a grave case. A fight will be carried right
up to the South Carolina General Assembly and thiough it. Letters and
newspaper articles are going out every day now. Many lectures will be given,
and, if possible, I shall address the coming General Assembly — a newly elected
one.

A bill providing a resident hunters' license passed the Senate last session
by a vote of 28 to 8, and this bill comes up for consideration in the lower House

402 Bird - Lore

at the next session. Its chances of passage are good, and it does not appear
that the governor would refuse to sign it.

But the program is fight; if whipped, fight again; and keep on fighting
until the end is gained.

REPORT OF EXPEDITION INTO OKEFENOKE
SWAMP, GEORGIA

By FRANCIS HARPER

Okefenoke Swamp, in southeastern Georgia, lies about forty miles from
the coast, and extends sUghtly over the state boundary into Florida. It is
approximately forty miles in length by thirty in width, and occupies an area
of some seven hundred square miles. This large and wonderfully interesting
territory has been described recently as "one of the least-known areas of its
size in the eastern United States." It has always been hedged about with
more or less of superstition and mystery, and, until within the last few years,
was virtually a terra incognita to the scientific world. Many an ornithologist,
while en route to some more southerly Mecca, has doubtless passed almost
within sight of its borders without turning aside to explore the enchanting
Okefenoke wilderness. Only the scantiest reference to the swamp exists in the
hterature of ornithology, and exceedingly little definite information concern-
ing its bird-life has been available.

For the purpose of making an ornithological reconnaissance of the swamp,
and, if possible, to locate breeding colonies of Egrets for the National Associa-
tion of Audubon Societies, I entered the Okefenoke on May 6, 1912, remaining
for two and a half weeks, till the 23d. During that time I was enabled to
see much of the islands, 'bays,' prairies, and waterways in the heart of the
swamp.

The larger islands — such as Billy's, which is perhaps ten square miles in
area — are covered chiefly with a fine growth of long-leaf and slash pines, saw-
palmettos and huckleberries, and form a congenial habitat for such species as
the Sandhill Crane, Bob-white, Red-cockaded, PUeated, and Red-bellied
Woodpeckers, Southern Meadowlark, Pine-woods Sparrow, White-eyed
Towhee, Pine Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Bluebird. Some of
the smaller islands support a luxuriant 'hammock' growth of spruce pine,
hve oak, several kinds of bays, sweet gum, gallberry, cane, etc.

A large proportion of the swamp consists of dense cypress 'bays,' where
some of the finest cypress timber in the world grows in several feet of water.
In such places there is a tangled undergrowth of bushes, shrubs, and ferns,
well-nigh impassable, except by a few narrow water- trails or 'runs,' where
the traveler pushes his tiny boat in a tortuous and wearisome course between
cypress knees, over floating or submerged logs, and under fallen trees. Here,
beneath the shady canopy of moss-garlanded cypresses, abound such birds

404 Bird - Lore

as the Florida Red-shouldered Hawk, Florida Barred Owl, Yellow-billed
Cuckoo, Pileated Woodpecker, Crested Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher,
Cardinal, White-eyed Vireo, Prothonotary Warbler, Swainson's Warbler,
Parula Warbler, and CaroUna Wren.

It was on the prairies, however, that I entertained hopes of finding some of
the rarest and most interesting of the wading birds. These prairies vary greatly
in extent, — from ten or fifteen square miles to only an acre or two, — and are
scattered throughout the swamp. Among the largest are Chase Prairie and
Floyd's Island Prairie, both of which I carefully reconnoitered. Heavy spring
rains in 191 2 had caused an extraordinary depth of water in all parts of the
Okefenoke, and in May the prairies were practically lakes, the deeper parts
grown with such plants as the white and yellow water-HUes, and the shal-
lower places with maiden cane, saw-grass, and pickerel weed. I w^as informed
by inhabitants of the swamp, some of whom possess a surprising knowledge of
its bird, animal, and plant life, and also by surveyors and lumbermen, that
considerable numbers of wading birds, including Egrets and Ibises, were
foimd there regularly, and nested in the small clumps of cypresses, known
locally as 'heads' or 'houses,' that dot the prairies. And there is every reason
for believing that in ordinary dry seasons these remote and seldom-visited
prairies, with their vast numbers of frogs and fishes, should form a splendid
feeding-ground for nesting Herons. At the time of my visit, however, the
exceptionally high water had apparently driven most of the waders to nesting-
places outside of the Okefenoke. For instance, on the whole wide expanse of
Chase Prairie, I found, of wading birds, only Ward's Heron, the Green Heron,
and the Sandhill Crane — and not a dozen of these all told.

Among the important waterways are the following, all connected with
each other by more or less navigable 'runs:' the 'Big Water' and Minne's
Lake, comparatively deep and open parts of the same long, narrow stream in
the northern part of the swamp; Billy's Lake, some three miles long and fifty
yards wide, through which most of the water of the swamp flows into the far-
famed Suwannee River on the southwest; and the logging-canal, dredged for
eleven or twelve miles through the eastern part of the swamp in the '90's, but
now abandoned. The St. Mary's River also flows out on the southeast.

Of water-birds I observed the ten following species in the swamp: Water-
Turkey, Wood Duck, White Ibis, Wood Ibis, Ward's Heron, Little Blue
Heron, Green Heron, SandhiU Crane, Limpkin, and Spotted Sandpiper.

The Water-Turkeys, of which I saw twenty-five or thirty individuals,
are congregated chiefly along the 'Big Water.' Several nests were located in
a cypress 'head' on Floyd's Island Prairie.

The Wood Ducks are also most numerous on the 'Big Water,' though num-
bers of them may be found on aU the other waterways.

Eight or nine White Ibises were observed in the northern part of the swamp.
This is one of the species which were reported as common in other years.

Reports of Field Agents 405

A single Wood Ibis was seen Hying over liilly's Island. The Tlinthead'
is well known to the swamp inhabitants, who jirize it as a game bird. It is
said to frequent the numerous small cyjiress ponds that are contained within
the larger islands.

Small numbers of Ward's Herons are distributed generally throughout
the swamp.

A few Little Blue Herons were seen in the northern part of the swamjj.
Just as I was departing, I learned of a colony, consisting i)robably of several
hundred birds, that nested annually in Cowhouse Bay.

A small number of Green Herons were observed in suitable localities.

I saw ten Sandhill Cranes in the Okefenoke and heard several others. In
May most of them were observed in the pine woods on the islands, where they
were probably feeding on the vast beds of huckleberries. Unfortunately, this
splendid bird also is eagerly sought for eating purposes at all seasons.

One or two Limpkins were noted on Honey Island Prairie, and half a
dozen Spotted Sandpipers at Billy's Lake.

Another bird deserving particular mention is the Ivory-billed Wood-
pecker. I received definite information from those who are unquestionably
familiar with this magnificent bird, concerning three different nesting-sites
on a certain group of small islands. I made a special effort to reach the place,
but the dimness of the trail and the thickness of the swamp proved too much
for the guide and myself on the only day that we could devote to the purpose.
There is no doubt that the Ivory-bill still exists, though in very small num-
bers, in the Okefenoke. The scarcely less gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker
abounds in most gratifying numbers.

Though I found no Egrets within the Okefenoke, I learned of a populous
heronry a few miles outside of the swamp, near the Suwannee River, where
Egrets had formerly bred and were likely to be still found. I therefore engaged
a man to investigate the colony. From his report it appears that on May 20,
the colony contained between four hundred and five hundred nests with eggs
or young; of these the great majority evidently belonged to Little Blue Herons,
but about eleven American Egrets were observed among the adult birds
flying overhead, and three or four nests that seemed to belong to the latter
species were located. Several Ward's Herons were also observed in the
colony. There was no evidence that the birds were being disturbed in
any way.

I am indebted to Dr. A. H. Wright, of the Cornell University party which
was investigating biological conditions in the swamp from May 28 to July 15,
for still more definite information concerning this heronry. Doctor Wright
visited the colony on June 18, when there were still a few eggs and young in the
nests, and between eight hundred and one thousand young Little Blue Herons
on the wing. He also observed there three or four American Egrets, and several
Water Turkeys, Wood Ibises, and Ward's Herons. There was no trace of

4o6 Bird -Lore

any enemy of the birds — not even a Fish Crow, that scourge of southern
heronries.

In early July, other members of the Cornell party saw four American
Egrets at Billy's Island, and several Yellow-crowned Night Herons at Billy's
Lake.

I learned from various sources that plume-hunting was formerly carried
on in Okefenoke Swamp and thereabouts, but during the past few years,
since the enactment of the state law protecting the Egrets, it had become so
difficult to dispose of the feathers that the birds were very little molested.
I was told that occasionally a hunter evaded the law by shipping a few
aigrettes to market in the double bottom of a barrel of alligator skins. A rumor
was also being spread at the time of my visit, to the effect that the feather-
dealers were now offering $1.50 for the plumes of small Blue Herons (proba-
bly Florida ccBrulea). This rumor excited some interest among the alligator
hunters, who seemed to be under the erroneous impression that the law left
Herons, other than Egrets, without protection. Furthermore, it is a lamen-
table, though not surprising, fact that here, as in most other remote regions,
game laws are accorded the scantiest sort of respect.

Okefenoke, as one of the great natural features of the eastern United
States, with no exact counterpart anywhere in the world, and as a refuge
for rare and interesting forms of animal life, should be saved for the admira-
tion and enjoyment of posterity. Its exquisitely beautiful cypress bays,
vast bonnet-strewn prairies, luxuriant hammocks, and magnificent pine lands
— all in their pristine glory — are infinitely more valuable to lovers of nature
than are many miUions of feet of lumber. Moreover, from a scientific, as well
as from an esthetic point of view, the swamp is surpassingly rich. Here, over
a vast area, are primeval conditions such as delight the heart of the ecologist,
and such as are vanishing in our country at a most alarming rate. The loss
to science, therefore, in the destruction of Okefenoke would be incalculable
and irreparable.

During the past several years an ever- widening gash has been cut in the
stand of cypress on the northwestern side of the swamp, to feed one of the
largest lumber-mills in the South. The cypress is not expected to replace
itself to any extent, and at the contemplated rate of destruction the next
generation will never look upon the real Okefenoke. Another source of danger
lies in the present craze for draining and 'reclaiming' swamp lands that
never can be made suitable for agricultural purposes except at altogether
prohibitive expense.

The establishment of a state or national preserve would be the ideal means
for saving Okefenoke. It has also been demonstrated in South Carolina and
elsewhere that a well-conducted gun club is one of the best agencies — para-
doxical as it may seem — for conserving the fauna of a given region; for not
only are the game-birds and animals carefully guarded from decrease, but

Reports of Field Agents 407

the non-game species are likely to be entirely protected from human molesta-
tion. And one of the most striking features of the swamp is the remarkable
abundance and variety of its game — lish of many kinds, alligators, Ducks,
Woodcock, Snipe, Bob-whites, Wild Turkeys, opossums, rabbits, squirrels,
deer, raccoons, bears, otters, wildcats, and an occasional panther. Surely
some means should be found for preserving the splendid fauna and flora of
Okefenoke Swamp.

REPORT OF DR. EUGENE SWOPE.
FIELD AGENT FOR OHIO

The educational side of the Audubon work in Ohio has greater need of
attention than any of the other features. For that reason I have, as directed,
devoted myself the past year almost wholly to the Junior Audubon Class
work.

The laws of Ohio for the protection of wild life are probably as compre-
hensive as those of niost of the other states, but the need for more wardens
who will enforce them is apparent. There were, however, more prosecutions
and fines paid for unlawful killing of birds last spring and summer than in
former years, partly because of renewed interest of the Game Commission;
also, because new Junior Audubon members reported many violations that
otherwise never would have been known.

My experience thus far in introducing bird-study in the Ohio schools has
been interesting, and, I believe, unique. In the first place, it must be remem-
bered that Ohio is a new field, and I inexperienced at this work; and in the
second place, I was unable to get the assistance I naturally expected. 'Bird
Men' at diff'erent points of the state did not cooperate in this feature of the
Audubon work. They were "too busy this year," but it must be said to the
credit of several that they often lectured and wrote in behalf of bird-protec-
tion and bird-study, and thereby helped increase public interest in birds.

In inaugurating the Junior Audubon work in Ohio, my first step was to
send an announcement leaflet, a Robin leaflet, and a personal letter to each
superintendent of schools in the state. The same w.^re also sent to a few teach-
ers whose names I happened to have. Not one superintendent repHed ; three
teachers did, however, and classes were started. A second personal letter to
all the superintendents with specimen leaflets, caused two to ask for more
information. My next experiment was to send a full set of ten leaflets to half
the superintendents in Hamilton County. With each set went a personal
letter, and an envelope addressed and stamped for the return of the leaflets
"if they had no interest in the work" as stated in the letter. One set of the
leaflets was returned, none of the others were heard from. By this time I
well knew that if Junior Audubon Classes were to be formed in Ohio schools
that it meant an aggressive personal presentation of the matter; so I sent out

4o8 Bird -Lore

a few letters asking for appointments with superintendents. No replies came.
My next move was to appear before a superintendent unannounced and pre-
sent the matter with as much earnestness as if I had been a commercial trav-
eler selling goods. Of the first ten superintendents I called upon, four could
see nothing to be gained in bird-study by the children, and frankly told me
so. One became enthusiastic and invited me to talk before his teachers, and
later to the children. The other five referred me to their "nature-study"
teachers, with the consent that these teachers might try a class if they saw fit
to do so. They did, and it didn't take either one a minute to decide and say so.
Each regarded the Audubon leaflets as an especially good opportunity for the
children, and classes were formed forthwith.

This gave me the key to open the way for bird-study in Ohio schools.
These nature-study teachers, usually young women, had made a specialty
of biology in their preparation for teaching, and were therefore capable of
understanding the great advantage of bird-study for the children, and espe-
cially by the use of these splendid Audubon leaflets. Whenever one of these
nature-study teachers formed a Junior Audubon Class in a school, and dis-
tributed the leaflets and badges, bird-study became highly contagious.

Personal letters and a few specimen leaflets were sent to the nature-study
teachers at different points of the state, which started the work nicely, and
Junior Classes began to be formed in gratifying numbers, and there were more
requests that I come and talk before schools, clubs, classes and churches,
than I could possibly think of undertaking.

One superintendent to whom I presented the plan of bird-study for the
chfldren dramatically threw up his hands and exclaimed "Well! What next?
We are expected to teach the children everything from manners to sex hygiene,
everything from how to stand on their heads in the gymnasium to how to
brush their teeth at home, and now here is a scheme for forming bird classes.
Pray, when will we teach school?" It is best to omit my reply. He said what
other superintendents thought and would have said, if they could have said
it as well on the spur of the moment.

Requests for information for forming Junior Classes were daily coming
into the office, however, and classes were being formed in ever-increasing
numbers, when thoughts of vacation and the work of closing school put on the
the brakes and brought the work to a standstill,

A new opportunity now arose for getting our work widely presented. Our
State Commissioner of Schools, Mr. Frank W. Miller, who had been friendly
toward the work from the first, invited me to meet with the Supervisors of
Agriculture at the Teachers' Annual Convention held at Cedar Point, the last
of June. I gladly made use of the opportunity and met the Commissioner
and supervisors. These up-to-date men were quick to see the advantage of
bird-study in combination with elementary agriculture, and were heartily
in sympathy with the use of the Audubon leaflets. In a short time it was

Reports of Field Agents 409

arranged that the Commissioner and the supervisors, one of whom would be
present at each county teachers' institute, would advise bird-study at every
institute held in the state. The value of this can be readily seen.

Considerable correspondence was necessary, with secretaries of county
teachers' institutes, in order to insure attention and safe delivery of packages
of announcement leaflets and other sample leaflets that I sent in their care
to the supervisors at the various points for distribution. This called for over
one hundred packages and a heavy toll upon my supplies, but was not, as I
have since been informed, one-fourth as much material as the supervisors
could have used to advantage. Whatever future course may be followed,
and whatever progress may be made in bird-study in Ohio Schools, much
credit is due Commissioner Miller and the present Supervisors of Agricul-
ture. At the close of the county institutes, one of the supervisors who wrote
me said, in part: "We worked hard, and boosted for the birds. Depend
upon us for cooperation in any other plans you may have to introduce
bird-study."

As proof of efficiency of the work done in July and August, I have to offer
the fact that Junior Audubon Classes were formed and orders sent in for
leaflets during the opening week of school in September, and since then the
orders have been steadily coming in, and there has been an extensive call for
information and sample leaflets. This is putting bird-study into town, village
and country schools at a gratifying rate. Our cities, however, are slow to
accept the work. City superintendents, I gather, regard bird-study as a kind
of popular fad, instead of present and vital knowledge that all children now
need. Several senior educators have said to me in substance: "Bird-study is
all very well for country children, perhaps, but nothing more than an amusing
distraction for the children of our city schools."

During the nine months that I have served as your Field Agent, there have
been 1,130 personal letters written; goo small packages of announcement
and sample leaflets mailed out; 156 Junior Audubon Classes formed, with a
total membership of 3,495; 50,000 leaflets have been folded, assembled and
made into sets for convenient handling. I have given thirty "bird talks"
before approximately 7,000 hearers. These talks were from tw^enty-five to
forty-five minutes in length, and illustrated with from forty to ninety lan-
tern-slides. The talks were always arranged for by appointment and con-
sidered more than mere entertainment, with the result that from one to twelve
Junior Classes were formed wherever I gave a talk. There were numbers of
other instances when I talked "birds" for five or ten minutes in school-rooms,
before clubs and classes; of these I kept no record.

I have been able to get a few newspaper notices and short articles pub-
lished in the interest of bird-study, and to have attention, through the news-
papers, called to the necessity of feeding the wild birds during the trying times
of winter. I also contributed twenty pages of bird-study material to the Ohio

4IO Bird -Lore

Arbor Day Manual, and have published considerable material in the interest
of birds in my magazine, "Nature and Culture."

Besides the httle attention that is annually given to birds on Arbor Day in
Ohio, many teachers who are not yet converted to the use of the Audubon
leaflets give their classes some sort of instruction about birds two or three
times a month. These teachers hesitate to use the leaflets because they still
hold the idea that such a plan would be equal to an extra study. Gradually
this mistake will be corrected, for every teacher who uses the leaflets converts
some one or more of her co-workers, in time, to their use.

Whenever a superintendent or principal becomes truly interested, it
results in an introduction of bird-study in the entire school ; and such teachers
as are indifferent or opposed to the work soon become interested.

The work in Ohio is now nicely started, and is not confined to any one
locaHty, for societies are formed at points all over the state. The work can
now go on without much wasted effort on the part of your Field Agent. With
some special work in addition to influences now active, bird-study could be
introduced in fifty per cent of the schools of the state within the next eighteen
months.

REPORT OF JEFFERSON BUTLER, FIELD AGENT
FOR MICHIGAN

The first work of your Field Agent was to investigate reports that came
in last winter, as they had in former winters, that wild Ducks were shot at
the air-holes in the ice in Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and the
St. Clair River, and disposed of to hotels and road-houses along the Detroit
River. These road-houses make a specialty of providing game out of season.
Our game-wardens evidently have been unable to cope with the situation.
A number of these road-houses are along the Canadian shore, and it has not
been possible to get the Canadian officials to interfere, because they claim
that such game sold in Canada out of season comes from the American side,
so the Canadian law is not broken.

After studying the situation, I decided to organize those who would give
effective aid. Some of these men who engage in pot-hunting are well-to-do,
with good reputations, who own their own homes in Detroit. On this account
I found it impossible to get those interested in acting with me to permit of
any publicity in the matter because these pot-hunters are their old-time
friends. A plan is being framed whereby we expect to be able, with the cooper-
ation of the Canadian authorities, to abolish this shooting.

During the winter, five schools in Detroit and seventeen in other parts
of the state were aided in feeding the winter birds and making shelters. During
the year, I have given sixty-seven lectures to schools, churches, clubs, fraternal
societies and sportsmen's organizations. I occupied the pulpit in churches

Reports of Field Agents 411

of nine denominations, and spoke on Audubon and humane work at both
morning and evening services. To magazines and newspapers I contributed
twenty-two articles on birds, animals, forestry and other forms of wild life.
I was interviewed by thirty-four newspaper writers, all of whom published
such interviews.

During the latter part of ^\'inter, reports came of the loss of great numbers

VIEW ON FORD BIRD FARM NEAR DETROIT. MICHIGAN
Under supervision of Mr. Jefferson Butler

412 Bird -Lore

of the Bob-white, due to the intense cold and lack of food. Letters were sent
to representative men and women in all parts of the state, requesting their
aid in seeing that these birds had food and shelter provided. We feel that much
useful work was done through the active cooperation of some of these men and
women in pubhshing articles in the press, in securing the help of the rural
mail-carriers, and in braving the snow and storms themselves to provide
shelter and food. The state Game- Warden, Mr. William B. Gates, aided in
every way possible in this matter, as well as in protecting the wild Ducks,
:Mergansers, Grebe and other water-birds that had been driven from the Great
Lakes into the towns, owing to the freezing over of Lakes Superior, Huron
and Michigan.

Information came that many hundreds of water-birds appeared along shore,
searching for food, and were slaughtered at the springs and air-holes. The
game-warden got some convictions in those cases. I sent notices out to the
town authorities requesting that the inhabitants be instructed to feed any
of these birds that would eat grain. This was done in many instances, and
I was informed that the American Golden-eye, Canvas-back, Mallard and
Black Duck ate the food, but that the Old Squaw and the Mergansers, as well
as the arrivals from the far north, which the inhabitants were not famiHar
with, refused grain, but ate fish caught for them through the air-holes. Numbers
perished at some points, especially at places where no attention was given.
Special credit is due to Mrs. A. S. Putnam, of Manistique, for calling attention
to the situation in the North. She has been a supporter of the Audubon work
for a number of years.

The thanks of the Society are due Mr. J. C. Richardson, Postmaster of
Jackson, who instructed the eight rural mail-carriers of his district to carry
food and place it in convenient places for the Bob-white, Robins and other
land-birds. One carrier reported twenty-four Robins on his route. The grain
was supplied by a merchant of Jackson. Mr. Norman A. Wood, of the Uni-
versity of Michigan Museum, reported that a thousand Robins were wintering
in a swamp near Ypsilanti. I had an investigation made during February and
found these birds were well supplied with wild fruit and weathering the winter
cheerfully with the thermometer going as low as sixteen below zero. A larger
number of wild birds than usual were reported last winter, due, no doubt, to
the fact that the autumn was mild and that there was a greater abundance
of wild fruit than usual.

As spring-shooting prevails in this state, the usual gunning before and
after the opening of the season was experienced during the past year. However
we had watchers covering Grosse Pointe, one of the most bothersome places
in the past, with good results and a lessening of destruction.

Co-ntests for prizes were carried on vigorously during the late winter and
spring. Books costing sixty dollars were distributed, and twelve bird nesting-
boxes were given for merit. Through the efforts of Mrs. Anna Walter, Sec-

Reports of Field Agents 413

retary of the Michigan Audubon Society, and your Field Agent, with the
state officials, Arbor and Bird Day were more generally observed, especially
through the southern portion of the state. A large number of women's clubs
in the state were induced to observe a Bird Day, and many of these clubs
have passed resolutions agreeing to co6i)erate with the State Audubon Society.
Mrs. Edith C. Munger, Vice-president of the Michigan Audubon Society,
is Chairman of the Audubon Committee of the State Federation of Women's
Clubs, and is doing a splendid work in getting the women not only to give
up wearing feathers of our wild birds, but to take an active interest in bird-
protection. She has cooperated actively with the writer. Miss Jennie E. Buell,
editor of the State Grange publication, printed a program on bird-study for
the farmers. A certain meeting in each Grange was set aside as a bird meeting.
I mailed a large amount of literature to farmers in all parts of the state in
reply to inquiries.

Cooperating with friends of the federal bill providing for national control
of migratory birds, I visited Washington and went over the situation with
numerous congressmen.

During the summer, I visited points on Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, Lake
Huron and Lake Michigan, where wild Ducks congregate in large numbers
during migration. Some of the best of the marsh is now in the hands of men
who give protection to the Ducks, but, unfortunately, much of it is in the
hands of small owners who are draining and clearing the land, which will
certainly work to decrease the Ducks in time. The slaughter of wild fowl during
the open season at some of these points is beyond all reason, the shooters
paying no attention to the bag limit. We shall renew our labors before the
legislature to secure a hunters' license in order to raise sufficient revenue
for wardens to cover such important points, at least during the spring and
fall migrations, and to have spring shooting abolished.

There were large numbers of Common Terns in the vicinity of the Lake
Erie marshes, and a few Black Terns and an occasional Herring Gull. The
Common Terns nest along the points jutting out into the various bays and
the cuts made for drainage. The Black Terns nested in the marshes, but not
in great numbers.

While visiting the shore of Lake Huron, I went through the Inland Route
from Cheboygan through the Cheboygan River, Mullet Lake, Indian River,
Burt Lake, Crooked River and Crooked Lake. There were Wood Ducks,
Mallard, Black Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes along the way, many of which
were driven in by the cold weather experienced on the Great Lakes. There
were a number of young Ducks which I learned were being shot ofif by the
summer resorters. I took the matter up with an assistant game warden and
an Audubonist, who agreed to handle the situation.

On Sand Island, in Lake St. Clair, containing about twenty-six acres,
June 28, I found a number of half-grown Common Terns. I estimated 1,500

414 Bird -Lore

of the parent birds. There were 200 Herring Gulls. I did not find any evidence
of the Gulls nesting. The Spotted Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers
had young on all parts of the island.

The state deeded this island to the United States Government. I found
that hunters used the island to shoot from during the Duck season. I took
up the question with Dr. T. S. Palmer of having this island set aside as a
national bird preserve. It is the only point the Common Terns have for nesting
in Lake St. Clair, as the islands without marsh have all been taken for resi-
dences. August 24 we estimated the number of birds at 3,000. The number
of Gulls had more than doubled, and the Common Tern had increased to
2,000. We also found Solitary, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers.

We wish to have a large sign erected on the island and to exclude all hunters
from using it. The officials of the United States Engineers' office at Detroit
say that the lighthouse keeper at the Canal could look after that matter
if so instructed.

I spoke at a meeting of the conservation forces of the state at Lansing,
in the spring, on birds. While there I took up the question of getting the
Forestry Commission to provide sanctuaries for birds in the new forests
being set out near Oscoda and Au Sable, as well as providing for small lakes
for use of water- and shore-birds.

J. H. McGillivray, Field Supervisor of the Michigan Forest Scouts, joined
forces with us. He has more than two thousand boys and youths enrolled.
Thomas B. Wyman, President of the Northern Forest Protection Association,
became a member of the Michigan Audubon Society, and we have formed
an alliance to aid each other in the forestry and bird work.

Hon. Wm. B. Mershon, of Saginaw, author of the 'Passenger Pigeon,'
agreed to give fifty medals to the schools of the state for prizes for the best
work done for, and the best articles written on, bird-study and -protection.
I have written to fifty newspapers in the state calling attention to the matter.
Mr. Ben. O. Bush, of Kalamazoo, and Mr. J. H. McGillivray are acting
with me on the prize committee. During the year, I have had charge of nine
contests for prizes by essays on birds. Mr. Henry Ford furnished the prizes,
and with money given by him we have secured a traveling library.

On his farm, Mr. Ford keeps a man constantly employed making bird-
boxes and winter shelters. This man carries food daily during the winter,
and places it in feeding-boxes, covering about a mile and a half of territory.
I have taken fifty-eight persons and clubs over the farm during the past year.
Some of the visitors came from the Pacific Coast and many from the Atlantic
and the South. New experiments are constantly being tried. Tepid water
is provided during the coldest weather by an electric heater, and the birds
use the water not only for drinking but occasionally for bathing. Thirty-two
bird outings were given during the year, mainly for teachers' and boys' clubs.

The demand for literature, lectures, etc., is too great for our financial

Reports of Field Agents 415

resources, but we anticipate adequate assistance ere long. There has been a
demand for bird-boxes and numerous requests for information. I have taken
the matter up with Mr. Charles E. Chadsey, Superintendent of Detroit schools,
and Mrs. Herman Tryborn, in charge of the manual-training work, and they
are willing to have the children aid in every way possible in the making of
such boxes. I am now collecting documents on bird-nesting bo.xes and shelters.

My report would not be complete if I did not mention Miss Clara Bates,
of Traverse City, who is doing such a splendid work in publishing a page
monthly on humane and Audubon work in one of the city papers. Mrs. Grace
Greenwood Brown, of Harbor Beach, is also helping out in this way. On
account of the cooperation given the humane societies of the state, I have
been commissioned a State Humane Marshal by Governor Osborn.

I have requests to deliver forty-eight addresses during the autumn and
winter. I have collected 150 slides, which include both land- and water-birds,
which is probably the finest set in the state. I have induced a number of the
local humane societies to name Audubon committees. I will endeavor to
have all the humane societies in the state do so.

Next summer I hope to be able to find some way to have one of the small
islands in Lake Erie set aside as a bird-reserve, and later to take up the question
in regard to Lake Huron. I am making a census of the water-birds of the
Great Lakes, and already have a fair start in this work.

Mr. John Watkins, who gave the Michigan Audubon Society eighty
acres of land near Chassel, Michigan, received an opinion from the Attorney
General saying that such land is not taxable. Mr. Watkins reports a good
growth of young timber which will be valuable in a few years. We are working
for the future, as well as the present. Our motto is "Striving is winning."

REPORT OF WILLIAM L. FINLEY, FIELD AGENT
FOR THE PACIFIC COAST STATES

After a search covering several years, I am positive that but one colony
of White Herons remains in the state of Oregon, where thousands of these
birds formerly lived. A careful survey of the state has been made during the
past year.

On July 15, 191 2, I visited this colony of American Egrets (Ardea egretta)
in the southeastern part of Oregon. This colony was first discovered in 191 1.
It is situated on an island perhaps one hundred acres in extent. On one end
of the island is a small bunch of willows. In addition to the White Herons,
Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night Herons are nesting in this
colony. Mr. L. Alva Lewis, who visited the colony earlier in the season, counted
eleven nests of American Egrets and twenty-three mature birds. He estimated
seventy Night Herons and forty Great Blue Herons in the colony. It con-
tained about the same number of birds last year.

4i6

Bird - Lore

At the time of my visit, July 15, quite a number of the White Herons
were grown and were able to leave the nests. At one time I counted twenty-
eight birds in one flock standing out in the shallow water of the lake. In one
of the nests I saw three young birds not more than a week and a half old. An
effort is being made to secure complete protection for this small flock of White
Herons by having this area set aside as a reserve.

In order to restock with elk some of the forest areas in Oregon where
they were formerly abundant, a herd of these animals was transported

ELK BEING TRANSPORTED TO OREGON FOR RESTOCKING
Photographed by William L. Finley

during the past year from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to the Wallowa Forest
Reserve in Oregon.

This work was done in conjunction with the Biological Survey of the
Department of Agriculture. The elk came down from the mountains in
large numbers, seeking food during the winter. They were caught in corrals.
From four to six of the animals were put into a big crate the size of a wagon-
bed, and loaded onto sleds and hauled ninety miles over the Teton Pass to
St. Anthony, Idaho. On account of heavy snowstorms, the mountains were
almost impassable. It took four days for the men to make the summit of
the pass, traveling twenty-eight miles during that time.

Reports of Field Agents

417

Even under these difficulties, the herd reached St. Anthony in fairly
good condition. After two days' rest, two bulls, six cows and seven year-
lings were loaded into a bo.x-car and hauled to the town of Joseph, Oregon.
At this point it was again necessary to load the elk into the crates and haul
them forty-six miles north to the place known as Billy Meadows Pasture.
Again on account of heavy snows in the mountains, it required four days
to reach the pasture.

Several years ago the United States Forest Service built a five-foot wire
fence around 2,500 acres of fine pasture land and forest, enclosing this place
known as Billy JMeadows Pasture. This was done for the purpose of carry-

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YOUNG EGRET IN OREGON COLONY
Photographed by William L. Finley

ing on experiments in sheep-grazing. This pasture is now the home of this
band of elk. Two strands of wire were added to the top of the fence, making
it a seven-foot fence. The experiment was successful, and it is likely that
during the coming winter a few more young elk will be added to the herd.

During the past year I made several tours of inspection, visiting our wild-
bird reservations in this state. A brief report of these is as follows :

On April 6, 191 2, I made a trip to Klamath Lake Reservation. One
of the isolated islands in the northwestern part of the lake we found to be
occupied by Farallone Cormorants. The most of the nests contained eggs.
The White Pelicans were just beginning to nest. I saw very few Gulls and
no Terns. Visiting one of the colonies of Great Blue Herons, I found upon
investigation that most of the birds were sitting on four or five eggs. In four
nests I was very much surprised to find young birds not more than a day or

4i8 Bird -Lore

two old. In other nests the eggs were just hatching. This shows that the
Herons are unusually early, as they must have begun laying before the snow
disappeared. There were about one hundred pairs Uving in this colony.

On July 5, 6, and 7, I visited Lower Klamath Lake Reservation again,
and found that the Cormorants were fully grown and were swimming about
in the lake. Upon visiting some of the large colonies of Gulls and Pelicans,
we found that these birds had had a very successful season and reared large
numbers of young. Mr. J. J. Furber is the warden in charge of Klamath
Lake Reservation.

On June 25 and 26, I visited Three Arch Rocks Reservation, off the Oregon
coast, and found that the season there was very successful, as far as the birds
were concerned. Mr. Geo. Leach has acted as warden in charge during the
past season.

On July 18, 191 2, I visited Malheur Lake Reservation, and found that
the birds had had a very successful season, with the exception of the colonies
of Eared Grebe. These birds nest unusually late. We found one colony
containing 165 nests. The largest colony, out in the center of the lake, Mr.
Lewis had visited about two weeks previous and found it contained 2,465
nests. Between these two visits, July 13, 191 2, however, a heavy storm had
swept over the lake and caused considerable damage. Many of the Grebes'
nests had been destroyed, and the eggs were floating about in the water. I
estimated that one-third of the number, or about eight hundred nests, had
been destroyed. The Grebe at this time were sitting on from four to five
eggs, and I did not see a young bird.

During the past year, more assistance has been secured from the Biological
Survey of the Department of Agriculture in protecting the wild birds on our
reservations. On the Klamath Lake Reservation, the Government has
installed a power-boat at the cost of over a thousand dollars. This has been
a great help to our warden, Mr. Furber, in patrolling.

It was thought that our patrol-boat, "The Grebe," would be of no further
use; but recently the Southern Pacific Railroad, under the authority of the
United States Reclamation Ser\ace, has closed the Klamath River by putting
a dike at Ady where their track crosses. This necessitates our keeping two
patrol-boats on the Klamath Lake Reservation, one to ply between Klamath
Falls and the dike, and the other to be used on the waters of Klamath Lake.

Mr. L. Alva Lewis, who was formerly warden in charge of Klamath Lake
Reservation, has been transferred to Portland and given the position of warden
in charge of the different wild-bird reservations in the state of Oregon. Mr.
Lewis, and the wardens under him, are working in thorough cooperation with
the state.

Reports of Field Agents 419

REPORT OF G. WILLETT, AGENT AND WARDEN
STATIONED ON ST. LAZARIA BIRD-
RESERVATION, ALASKA

I respectfully submit the following report on condition of birds on St.
Lazaria Bird-Reservation, Alaska Territory, during July and August, 191 2:

The island of St. Lazaria is situated about one mile from the island of
Kruzoff, immediately north of the entrance to Sitka Sound. The island is
about a mile long and averages about two hundred yards in width. At its
highest point it attains an elevation of a little over two hundred feet above
sea-level. The shores are rocky, and in most places abrupt, forming cliffs
from twenty to one hundred and fifty feet in height. The top of the island
is covered with a considerable layer of soil which extends down on the steep
hillsides for a greater or less distance. The higher hilltops are fairly well
timbered with spruce and hemlock, around the bases of which are thickets
of salmon-berry bushes, which in some places are almost impenetrable. Along
the tops of the bluffs, and on the steep hillsides, is a luxurious growth of tall,
rank grass. There are two small streams of fairly good water on the island,
besides a seepage from the cliffs in many places.

I was on the island the greater part of the time from late July until the
latter part of August. Owing to rainy weather, which prevailed during
practically my entire stay, I met with very poor success in obtaining
photographs.

I found that the birds had not been disturbed by mankind during the
present nesting season. There were, however, three different agencies that
had been detrimental, to a considerable extent, to the welfare of the nesting
colonies. These are the Sitka brown bear, the Northern Bald Eagle and the
Northwestern Crow.

The bear is not a resident of St. Lazaria, but is plentiful on Kruzoff Island,
and, being a strong s\\immer, is easily able to cross the intervening mile between
the latter island and the bird-reservation. About the middle of June, some
time previous to my arri\^al in Sitka, a party of Indians returning from a
fishing-trip reported that a bear was on St. Lazaria Island destroying the
nesting birds. I found upon investigation that the report was true and searched
the island thoroughly in hope of finding the marauder at work. There were,
however, no bears on the island at the time of my first \isit, nor did any put
in an appearance during my stay. The freshest sign noted appeared to be
several w^eeks old. I found no evidence that the bear, or bears, had disturbed
any of the birds, with the exception of the Petrels. All over the top of the
island, particularly on the higher part at the west end, were the excavations
of the bear among the Petrel nests. I estimated that at least five hundred
nests had been dug up, and the incubating birds eaten, feathers and all. In
some cases the primary feathers were not eatsn but were left lying among

420

Bird - Lore

the ruins. The offal of the bear was composed entirely of the bones and feath-
ers of Petrels.

The only way to prevent a repetition of this is to have a warden constantly
on the ground from June until the birds are through nesting. Of course,
owing to the great abundance of the Petrels on St. Lazaria, the destruction
of approximately five hundred incubating birds and their eggs would not
seriously afifect the numbers of the species, but if the numbers of the visiting
bears were to be materially increased the effect would be much more serious.

REMAINS OF TUFTED PUFFINS AND YOUNG GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS IN NEST OF

NORTHERN BALD EAGLE. ST. L.\ZARIA BIRD-RESERVATION, ALASKA

Photographed by Special Agent G. Willett

As to the Crows that inhabit the island, I can find but little to say m their
favor. They are always on hand to steal the eggs and young of the luckless
Cormorants, and I have even seen them go into the caves and raid the Murre
colony. Practically none of the Cormorants' nests contained complete sets
of eggs or young, and the ground under the favorite roostmg-places of the
Crow was covered with shells of Cormorant eggs. It would seem that the exter-
mination of these pests each year at the beginning of the nesting-season, and
a continual campaign against others that might put in an appearance while
the birds were nesting, would be the only feasible way to put an end to their
thievery.

Reports of Field Agents

42t

There appear to be only two pairs of Bald Eagles nesting on the island.
At the time of my visit the young were nearly full grown, and, judging from
the remains of birds in the one nest to which I was able to climb, they must
have been blessed with very healthy appetites. It appears also that they are
particular as to their diet, for the remains of at least forty birds e.xamined in

■

- ' ^^K

- :^ir- ^.- * •*-• ««-

V?. >>ev^ ■ Tic'- ••

WOODPECKER TOTEM POLE, SITKA, ALASKA
Photographed by Special Agent G. Willett

and around the nest were invariably either Tufted Puffins or the young of
the Glaucous- winged Gull.

With the exception of the above, the bird-reservation is free from molesta-
tion. The Indians understand thoroughly that it is unlawful to trespass on
the island, and, so far as I was able to ascertain, no trespass is being com-
mitted by them nor by white people. I am also glad to be able to report that
the Indians of this locality seem to have practically discontinued the use of

422 Bird -Lore

plumage of wild birds for personal adornment. At one time many of their
fancy costumes were decorated with bills of the Puffin, tail-feathers of the
Flicker, wing-feathers of the Gull, and breasts of the Swan. E. W. Merrill,
of Sitka, showed me several Indian garments thus decorated. He informs
me that of late years very few birds are killed for their plumage by the Indians.
He states, however, that they still kill Swans whenever they have the oppor-
tunity, as they consider the flesh of this bird a great delicacy. The Raven,
the Woodpecker and the Kingfisher are regarded as sacred by the Indians
of southeastern Alaska, and may frequently be seen carved on their totem
poles.

St. Lazaria is the only island in the immediate vicinity that is used to
any great extent by the water-fowl as a breeding-grounds. On some of the
small rocks off Biorka Island, twelve miles to the southward, there are small
colonies of Gulls, Cormorants, Guillemots and Puffins, but they are very small
and unimportant as compared to the numbers of birds nesting on the reserva-
tion.

The following is a detailed account of the birds found on the reservation:

BREEDING WATER-BIRDS

Lunda cirrhata. Tufted Puffin.

Breeding abundantly all around the island on the edges of the bluffs.
The burrows are dug into the soil among the grass roots to an average depth
of five feet. Nest cavity is thinly lined with dry grass. Most of the nests
examined contained downy young by July 31. Estimated number of pairs
nesting on island, 2,000.
Fratercula corniculata. Horned Puffin.

Probably a dozen pairs nesting in crevices of overhanging cliffs. On August
15, three pairs of these birds were observed carrying small fish into crevices
in a cliff on the northeast side of the island. They were undoubtedly feeding
young, as both birds were engaged in carrying fish. I succeeded in climbing
to within a few feet of the entrances to the nest crevices, but was unable to
see far enough in to ascertain their contents.
Cerorhinca monocerata. Rhinoceros Auklet.

This bird has not been previously recorded as breeding on the reservation.
I found, however, unmistakable evidence that a colony of from fifty to a
hundred pairs had nested and raised their young previous to the time of my
arrival on the island. This colony was situated on the north slope about
one hundred and fifty feet above the water. The burrows were in the ground
among the roots and stumps of trees. They measured less in diameter than
those of the Puffin and averaged seven to eight feet in length. There was
apparently no attempt at nest-building. Most of the burrows examined were
empty, the young having apparently taken to the water some Uttle time

Reports of Field Agents 423

previous to August 2, the date I discovered the colony. In one cavity was a
dead female in breeding plumage. She had evidently been crushed to death
by a bear who in walking had caved in the burrow. In the nest-cavity, back
of the dead female, was a single dead young bird nearly full grown. From the
condition of the bodies, I should judge that the birds had been dead for at
least two weeks. It is probable that the eggs are laid in late May and early
June. The birds were plentiful on Sitka Bay during my entire stay.
Cepphus columba. Pigeon Guillemot.

Very common, feeding in the kelp beds near the shore. Frequently seen
to enter and leave crevices in the clitTs and roofs of caves. Estimated number
of pairs nesting on the island, 150.
Uria troille californica. California Murre.

About three hundred pairs were nesting on the floor of a large cave on the
southwest side of the island, from twenty to eighty feet above the water.
A few pairs were also nesting on a nearby cliff. On August i, I succeeded
in climbing up into the cave where the large colony was located and found
the rocky floor to be covered with downy young and eggs in different stages
of incubation. In many instances the eggs and young were lying in puddles
of mud and slime. Murres were plentiful all over Sitka Bay, following schools
of small fish.
Larus glaucescens. Glaucous-winged Gull.

Nesting commonly in crevices in the rocks and among the grass on the
brows of the cliffs and on top of the smaller hills. Most of the nests contained
large young by August 2. During all the time I was on the island, I did not
see the Gulls robbing the nests of the other birds. It seems that this species
does not possess the thieving propensities of his southern relative, occidentalis.
I was considerably interested in observing the swimming-lessons given the
nearly grown young by the adult birds. In some cases where the young seemed
afraid to take to the water, they were shoved from the rocks by the old birds.
The old bird would then swim beside the young one, occasionally poking it
with her bill. I was unable to satisfy myself whether this was meant as a
caress or as punishment or poor swimming. Estimated number of pairs
nesting on the island, 300.
Oceanodroma furcata. Forked-tailed Petrel.

This species, although much less plentiful than the next, was nesting in
some numbers. The burrows were dug on steep, grassy slopes, generally to a
depth of about three feet. They were exceedingly crooked, and in some instan-
ces the nest-cavity would be very close to the entrance. The nest itself was
rather a shallow affair, composed of rootlets and grass. One or two eggs on
the point of hatching were noted, but most of the nests contained young birds,
some of which were nearly full grown. The newly hatched young are covered
with thick gray down, except the throat and face, which are nearly naked.
On the back of the head is a tuft of down somewhat darker than that of the

424 Bird -Lore

body. The first feathers to appear are those of the wings and tail, closely
followed by those on the back of the head and throat. Then comes the beauti-
ful gray covering of the back and upper tail coverts, and shortly afterward
the mature feathers replace the down on the chest. The last down to disappear
is that on the lower abdomen. When this leaves, the young is very similar
in plumage to the adult bird. The tail, however, is not so deeply forked,
the white patch on the throat is streaked with gray, the forehead is dark
gray instead of brownish, and the general coloration of the back, wings and
tail is darker than in the adult. Estimated number of pairs breeding on the
island, 2,000.
Oceanodroma heali. Beal Petrel.*

As the white-rumped Petrel on St. Lazaria Island appears to be uniformly
smaller than 0. leucorhoa of the Atlantic coast, thus bearing out the characters
ascribed by Emerson to the form beali, I have referred it to this form. It is
by far the most abundant breeding bird on the reservation. Everywhere on
the island where the soil is deep enough are found the burrows of this bird.
The burrows and nests are similar to those of the last species but are found in
thousands on the flat top of the island among the timber and brush, where
furcata does not seem to occur. Also they evidently nest considerably later
than furcata, as no very large young were seen and a few fresh eggs were noted
as late as August 15. The down on the back of the newly hatched young is
dark brown, on the breast and abdomen it is considerably lighter. The throat,
lores and thighs are nearly naked. The young of both this and the last species
become very fat when a few days old. Upon being picked up they invariably
vomit a considerable quantity of musky oil, a characteristic of the Petrels,
both young and old. One of the adult birds may be found on the nest during
the entire period of incubation and until the young bird is three or four days
old.' After this time the young is alone during the entire day, both old birds
going to sea at daylight and returning at dusk. Estimated number of pairs
breeding on the island, 20,000.
Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus. Pelagic Cormorant.

Although the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List refers the Cor-
morant occurring in the Sitkan district to P. pelagicus robustus Ridgway,
specimens taken by me do not seem to substantiate the validity of this form.
Therefore I refer the Cormorant breeding on St. Lazaria to P. pelagicus pela-
gicus.

The Pelagic Cormorant nests rather plentifully on ledges of clifTs all around
the island as well as in some of the caves. The nests are built of sticks and
seaweed, lined with grass and sea-moss. Nearly full-grown young were noted
July 31, and eggs were seen in some nests late in August. Owing to the depre-
dations of the Crows, very few of these birds succeed in raising an entire brood,
and I believe there are many who are unable to raise a single young. When

♦Emerson, Condor VIII, 1906, p. S4.

Reports of Field Agents 425

frightened from the nest, they very foohshly fly a considerable distance to sea
and often remain for several minutes at a time. This opjiortunity is quickly
seized by the Crows, and in an almost incredibly short time the Cormorants'
nest is empty. Many of the breeding birds have little or no white on the flanks,
and, in many cases, the nuptial plumes on the neck are not present, or are
very poorly developed. The immatures, that is, the birds raised the previous
year, are abundant all over the bay, following the schools of small fish. The
breeding birds are not seen at any great distance from the nesting colony.
Estimated number of pairs nesting on the reservation, 150.
IIcBmatopus bachmani. Black Oyster-catcher.

At least four pairs of these birds breed on rocky points of the island. At
the time of my visit, the young were full grown.

Summary of Breeding Water-birds.

Pairs

Tufted Puffin 2,000

Horned Puffin 12

Rhinoceros A.uklet 75

Pigeon Guillemot 150

California Murre 300

Glaucous-winged Gull 300

Forked-tailed Petrel 2,000

Eeal Patrel 20,000

Pelagic Cormorant 150

Black Oyster-catcher 4

Total 24,991

The following is a list of land-birds breeding on the island, with estimated
number of pairs:

Pairs

Northern Bald Eagle 2

Northwestern Crow 25

Sooty Song Sparro\v 400

Townsend Fox Sparrow 100

Western Winter Wren 10

Chestnut-backed Chickadee 25

Dwarf Hermit Thrush 40

Varied Thrush 20

Total 622

The following migrants were noted on the island or on the ocean within a
mile of the island :

Gavia immer, Loon; Synthiliboramphus antiquus, Ancient Murrelet; Bra-
chyramphus marmoratus, Marbled Murrelet; Rissa tridactyla pollicaris, Pacific
Kittiwake; Larus Philadelphia, Bonaparte Gull; Puffinns griseus, Sooty
Shearwater; Harclda hyemalis, Old Squaw; Histrionicus histrionicus, Harlequin

424

Bird -Lore

body. The first feathers to appear are those of the wings and tail, closely
followed by those on the back of the head and throat. Then comes the beauti-
ful gray covering of the back and upper tail coverts, and shortly afterward
the mature feathers replace the down on the chest. The last down to disappear
is that on the lower abdomen. When this leaves, the young is very similar
in plumage to the adult bird. The tail, however, is not so deeply forked,
the white patch on the throat is streaked with gray, the forehead is dark
gray instead of brownish, and the general coloration of the back, wings and
tail is darker than in the adult. Estimated number of pairs breeding on the
island, 2,000.
Oceanodroma beali. Beal Petrel.*

As the white-rumped Petrel on St. Lazaria Island appears to be uniformly
smaller than 0. leucorhoa of the Atlantic coast, thus bearing out the characters
ascribed by Emerson to the form beali, I have referred it to this form. It is
by far the most abundant breeding bird on the reservation. Everywhere on
the island where the soil is deep enough are found the burrows of this bird.
The burrows and nests are similar to those of the last species but are found in
thousands on the fiat top of the island among the timber and brush, where
furcata does not seem to occur. Also they evidently nest considerably later
than furcata, as no very large young were seen and a few fresh eggs were noted
as late as August 15. The down on the back of the newly hatched young is
dark brown, on the breast and abdomen it is considerably lighter. The throat,
lores and thighs are nearly naked. The young of both this and the last species
become very fat when a few days old. Upon being picked up they invariably
vomit a considerable quantity of musky oil, a characteristic of the Petrels,
both young and old. One of the adult birds may be found on the nest during
the entire period of incubation and until the young bird is three or four days
old. ■ After this time the young is alone during the entire day, both old birds
going to sea at daylight and returning at dusk. Estimated number of pairs
breeding on the island, 20,000.
Phalacrocorax pelagicus pelagicus. Pelagic Cormorant.

Although the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List refers the Cor-
morant occurring in the Sitkan district to P. pelagicus rohustus Ridgway,
specimens taken by me do not seem to substantiate the validity of this form.
Therefore I refer the Cormorant breeding on St. Lazaria to P. pelagicus pela-
gicus.

The Pelagic Cormorant nests rather plentifully on ledges of cliffs all around
the island as well as in some of the caves. The nests are built of sticks and
seaweed, lined with grass and sea-moss. Nearly full-grown young were noted
July 31, and eggs were seen in some nests late in August. Owing to the depre-
dations of the Crows, very few of these birds succeed in raising an entire brood,
and I believe there are many who are unable to raise a single young. When

* Emerson, Condor VIII, 1906, p. 54.

II

State Audubon Reports

427

REPORTS OF STATE SOCIETIES

California. — We are delighted to report a most prosperous year in the
work of the Audubon Society of California. There have come to us, from widely
separated portions of the state, more calls than usual for leaflets and infor-
mation in regard to the work, showing that gradually our educational campaign
is reaching into the most distant parts of this great commonwealth. In response
to these, we issued an excellent leaflet on the economic value of birds, a digest
of the state game laws, and a list of publications helpful in bird-study. We
also had printed large pasteboard cards warning the public against bird-
killing.

Miss Gretchen L. Libby, who started her work as School Secretary for
this Society, has been doing splendid work as Educational Assistant to the

CALIFORNIA AUDUBON SOCIETY AT OUT-OF-DOOR MEETING
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

State Fish and Game Commission. She is the author of an excellent bulletin,
'Bird-Study in the Schools,' which the Commission is distributing among the
teachers of the state. Miss Libby visited 30 counties, 87 towns, 154 schools,
giving 400 talks in which she reached 25,000 people, including adults and
children. Besides these lectures given by Miss Libby, several have been given
in the southern part of the state by other Audubon workers. During last
August our National Secretary, T. Gilbert Pearson, visited the state, and gave
three splendid illustrated lectures in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Riverside.
These were well attended and much good to the cause is resulting from them.

428 Bird -Lore

For the greater part of the year we edited an Audubon Page in the 'Feder-
ation Courier,' which is the ofificial organ of the Federated Women's Clubs
of California, Utah, and Nevada. In this way the work of the Society reached
thousands of women who otherwise would know nothing of it.

The past year has seen in Los Angeles the completion of a splendid public
museum building. Though not as yet formally opened to the public, Mr.
Charles Daggett, a prominent member of the Cooper Ornithological Club,
has been elected curator, and is rapidly installing habitat groups of birds,
skins, nests, eggs, photographs and paintings. Upon request of the artist,
Mr. Bruce Horsfall, the McClurg Publishing Company, of Chicago, has loaned
to this Society, for exhibition in this museum, the seven original paintings
which were to illustrate Mrs. Irene Grosvenor Wheelock's 'Birds of California.'

During the year, the Cooper Ornithological Club appointed a Committee
on the Conservation of Wild Life in California. Through this committee
an effort is being made to band together all organizations in the state that are
interested in the preservation of the wild life, and we will work together for
better laws along this line. Many game-birds of the state are disappearing,
and an effort will be made at the coming session of the legislature to secure
needed restrictions in the hunting laws.

With public sentiment greatly in favor of our work, with the newspapers
of the state endorsing our efforts, we look back upon a year of good work and
press forward to greater activities. — Harriet Williams Myers, Secretary.

District of Columbia. — Since our last report we have had four pubHc lect-
ures,— the first a delightful illustrated one by Mr. William L. Finley, his
subject being 'Wild Bird Reservations.' At our annual meeting, in January,
we were fortunate in having with us Mr. C. WiUiam Beebe, who gave us
an intensely interesting and beautifully illustrated lecture entitled, 'A Natural-
ist in Ceylon and the Himalayas.' Our old officers were reelected upon this
occasion, and our treasurer reported a goodly balance on hand.

The third entertainment, 'Our Wild Song Birds,' was by Mr. Edward
Avis, and was most enjoyable. This was repeated the next afternoon for
the benefit of our Junior Members, and to interest the school children. It
was given in the lecture hall of one of our large school-buildings, and long
before the time for beginning, the hall was packed, and they were obliged to
close the doors and turn many children away. Our last lecture was by Mr.
Jefiferson Butler on 'The Henry Ford Bird Preserve.'

On the evening of March 6, our Society gave a reception to its members
and their friends at the charming home of Mrs. John Dewhurst Patten, our
former Secretary and the founder of our Society. Owing to the inclemency
of the day, the attendance was smaller than we had hoped for, but all present
seemed to enjoy themselves, and we had a most delightful surprise in the
unexpected pleasure of having Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, of New York, our

State Audubon Reports 429

National Secretary, and Dr. George W. Fields, of Boston, with us for a part
of the evening, both of whom gave us charmingly informal talks.

We have had our usual bird-study classes under the efficient leadership
of Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey, followed by five field meetings, all of
which were well attended.

During the year we published a history of our bird-study classes from their
first formation in 1898 to the present time. — H. P. Childs, Secretary.

Florida. — Owing to ill health, Mr. Dommerich resigned in February
the office of President of the Florida Audubon Society, and at the annual
meeting held in March, at Maitland, Dr. William Fremont Blackman, Presi-
dent of Rollins College, Winter Park, was chosen to fill his place, Mr. Dom-
merich being made President Emeritus. At the same time, the Executive
Committee was reorganized so as to extend the interest more widely. It was
with deep regret that news was received of the death of Mr. Dommerich on
July 23, in New York. We would here publicly acknowledge our apprecia-
tion of ]Mr. Dommerich's devotion to the interests of the Society since its
foundation.

The general outlook in the state is favorable. Literature has been widely
distributed among schools, clubs, and societies wherever possible. Printed
cards showing a summary of the Florida state laws have been conspicuously
posted, but even these are unheeded, as the game 'bag' of some gunners on
the St. Johns River was found to contain, among other birds, eleven Laughing
Gulls and a Blue Heron. Complete ignorance as to laws for illegal shooting was
expressed by these men, and also by the Jacksonville city officials to whose
attention the matter was brought.

'Robin hunting' was a favorite diversion during the past year, when not
only Robins, but numberless small birds (insectivorous and weed-seed-eating)
were slaughtered. Another 'bag' reported to us contained "six dozen Robins,
six Turtle Doves, sLx Ground Doves, besides Meadowlarks and White-throated
Sparrows." It is the urgent wish of this Society that Robins shall be put on
the list of protected birds, and that game-wardens shall be fined who do not
arrest persons shooting them.

Mrs. Kirk Monroe is now on the Executive Committee. She is also Chair-
man of the Bird Protection Committee of the Federation of Women's Clubs,
but still continues her interest at Cocoanut Grove, where the Library Club
has offered a prize of ten dollars to the boy or girl writing the best bird
story. Bird Day has been observed by nearly all the clubs of the Federation,
and many meetings have been held.

The prize of ten dollars ofTered by Doctor Blackman for the best essay
on 'Bird Protection.' to any boy or girl in the high schools of the state, was
won by Henry T. Dunn, of Jacksonville, Class of 1913.

At St. Petersburg, Mrs. Tippetts reports many meetings and an exhibition

430 Bird - Lore

of crayon drawings of birds by pupils of the grammar schools. Prizes were
given for 'Bird lists.'

Mrs. Bradt is ever-faithful in pleading for birds through the Sunshine
Society. Mrs. Haden, at Orlando, Miss Crosby, at San Mateo, Mrs. Roe, of
Orange City, and Mrs. Coulson, of Bradentown, were busy all winter with
meetings and working for the better enforcement of laws. Encouraging words
come from Inspector-Warden Pacetti of the conditions about Mosquito Inlet.
On various unprotected rookeries we feel more men are required, for there has
been much shooting of Egrets, showing that all money sent to the Egret Fund
is needed for their protection.

We have now in Florida ten Federal Reservations. People in general
may not realize the great difficulty, the discomfort, often danger, connected
with \dsiting the swamps and isolated' spots where the birds have their rook-
eries. During the winter some most interesting talks on 'Bird Notes' were
given by Dr. Henry Oldys, of Washington, D. C.

Swifter, surer and more wonderful in flight than any aeroplane is that
winged troop that surges back and forth over the North American continent
twice every year! The mystery of mysteries is this migration of birds, doubt-
less planned for the ultimate benefit of man; therefore, let man see to it that
laws are made and enforced to prevent the reckless slaughter of these light-
ning-express voyagers of the air. — Mrs. Kingsmill Marrs, Chairman of
Executive Committee.

Illinois. — The Fifteenth Annual Meeting of the Illinois Audubon Society
was held May i8, 191 2. The Society was fortunate in securing the services
of Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, of New York City, who gave a most interesting
lecture on the 'Conservation of Bird Life.' The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: Mr. Ruthven Deane, President; Miss Mary Alma
Hardman, Secretary; Miss Amalie Hannig, Treasurer.

The Society feels a great loss in the resignation of Miss Mary Drummond
from the secretaryship. Miss Drummond, in her fifteen years of service, has
largely made the Society what it is today. Her intimate acquaintance with
the work and her keen interest in the teachers and children of the state, as
well as in the protection of the birds, have won for the Society many friends.
Her interests are still with the Society, although at present she can give
Httle time to the work. She has accepted a position on the Board of Directors,
and in this capacity we shall still have the benefit of her counsel and guidance.

The Society has made some noteworthy progress during the past year, as
is shown in the following extracts from the Secretary's annual report:

"Our routine work has gone on showing growth in many ways. The
libraries and sets of pictures have done far better work than last year, while the
lectures have been used nearly three times as often. Leaflets to the number
of 16,376 have been distributed as against 9,819 last year. Our editions of

State Audubon Reports 431

the list of bird books and periodicals prepared by our President, and the sketch
of Audubon's Hfe by Mr. E. B. Clark, have been exhausted. New editions
have been prepared, and we have in preparation by Mr. DeVine a list of the
birds of both northern and southern Illinois. In response to a telegram from
the office of the National Association in the season of the bitter cold and
scarcity of food, articles were printed in some of our newspapers, and hun-
dreds of cards, calling attention to the need of food and shelter for birds, were
circulated throughout the state. In this matter we were greatly aided by that
good friend of the birds, Mr. McKeene, State Secretary of our Farmers'
Institute.

"For years it has been our ambition to keep in stock all of the valuable
educational leaflets issued by the National Association. This year that ambi-
tion has been reaHzed, as we were able to invest $100.00 for this purpose,
and we were also aided by the generous gift of $25.00 worth of leaflets from
the National Association, for which gift we owe many thanks. We hope to
be able, in many cases, to sell sets of these leaflets to those able to buy them,

"In 1909, we placed four bound volumes of leaflets in places like Hull
House, Academy of Sciences, Anti-Cruelty Society office, etc. Last year we
placed twelve such volumes, largely in public libraries of the state as well as
in our own city hbraries. We have now ready another set of these volumes.

"Our membership shows an increase of 37 new adult and 784 Junior mem-
bers. A number of our Associate and Regular members have promoted them-
selves to the Active list."

It is the hope of the Society to place a traveling secretary in the field,
whose duty it shall be to present the work of the Society to the farmers at
their associations, to teachers at their institutes, and to people at any public
gathering where they may be interested in the protection of the wild life
about them. Illinois should not be behind any other state in the protection
of her birds and animals. The sale of wild-bird plumage should be prohibited.
To secure this for the state, we need an endowment large enough to keep an
energetic young man in the field for at least two years. We cannot hope to
gain our ends without educating the people to the value of the birds and
animals, and we cannot educate them without going to them. We hope by
next year to be able to report the work of such a traveling secretary. — Mary
Aljl\ Hardman, Secretary.

Indiana.— The report of our state meeting at Madison, in May, I sent
you some time ago, and it was printed in Bird-Lore, Last week a Junior
Audubon Class was formed at Hammond, Indiana, Miss Herndon, of the
Irving School, wrote me for the particulars in relation to the forming of such
a society, Mrs. Wilson, our Extension Secretary, attends to this work, and
I am sure that by this time Indiana has another local society. I am more
than proud that it is a Junior Society,

432 Bird - Lore

I talked with Mr. Amos W. Butler today. He has many good suggestions
on bird-protection, so a meeting of the Indiana Audubon Society is called for
Monday, October 28, 191 2, in Mr. Butler's office, Room 93 State House,
at 3.30 P.M.

The place of next spring's meeting will be discussed, lending a helping
hand toward the Arbor and Bird Day Annual to be issued this year, and
better bird-protection in Indiana — all these, and more important questions,
will be discussed.

Of course, you know the Indiana Nature Study Club belongs to the Audu-
bon Society. This club has tramps every two weeks, beginning in late spring,
and continuing all summer up to October. In winter we have lectures every
two weeks by such men as Dr. C. F. Hodge, Professor Mills, of Colorado,
and Mr. Alden Hadley, who has spent much time in Florida, and has told
us of our summer residents down there in winter. In this club there are over
a hundred members, with a small percentage of young people.

Mr. William Watson Woollen is President of the Nature Study Club.
Some of the members who came into the Nature Study Club have also joined
the Audubon Society. All of this thought for the wild birds, together with
the excellent work of Miss McClellan, who is at the head of nature work in the
city schools, has spread, until it seems the fashion to have some song-bird's
nest in one's yard.

I am sending Mr. Stockbridge's report from the Allen County Audubon
Society of Indiana. — Elizabeth Downhour, Secretary.

Maine. — Lectures before local branches have been given in some parts of
the state. Local secretaries, in several instances, have given talks before
schools and Sunday-schools, illustrated by lantern-slides. — ^Arthur H. Norton,
Secretary.

Maryland. — An effort was made by the Maryland Audubon Society to
have passed at the last session of the Maryland Legislature an anti-plumage
bill, which would have prevented the importing of any insectivorous birds for
millinerj' purposes. In its effort, the Society had the support of the entire
press. This was one of many reform bills presented to the Maryland Legis-
lature. But Maryland, with the other states of our country, will have to learn
that she must elect the right kind of law-makers before she can hope for model
laws.

The consideration of the bill was skilfully postponed until in the rush
of the last few days there was no time to deal with it.

However, there resulted a closer union throughout the state of those
interested in bird-protection, an increase to the Audubon Society of some
valuable workers, and consequently a brighter prospect of winning our fight
in the future.

State Audubon Reports 433

About fifteen measures, strengthening game-protection in various counties,
were enacted. — Minna D. Starr, Secretary.

Massachusetts. — Since the last report our Society has gained 3,174
members. Our total membership is now 11,655, which includes 6,254 Junior
members.

As usual, we have sent out many educational and other leaflets, warning
notices in English and Italian, and copies of the laws. Our three traveling
lectures and four traveUng Ubraries have been in demand, while our bird-
charts and plates have continued to meet with a good sale. Through the
courtesy of Prof. Albert T. Morse, our charts, calendar-plates and leaflets
were exhibited at the Essex Institute.

Our Society always takes a strong interest in legislation and this year
has not been an exception. Fewer cases of violations of law have been reported
than usual.

Cards urging women not to wear aigrettes, and some giving the address
of the Society and inviting people to join it were placed in the street-cars
for two months.

Letters were sent to the women's clubs in the hope of enlisting their interest
and gaining members.

Early in the year we learned that one of our members had proved her
interest in our work by giving us a legacy.

In March we received an invitation from the National Association to
join in their movement to start Junior Classes in the schools, which we accepted
with pleasure. It has proved to be one of the most successful plans we have
ever tried. We were able to report ninety-two classes to Secretary Pearson
before school closed in June, adding 1,772 Junior Members to our Society.
During the summer we got a good deal of material ready to send out this
fall, and already have received thirteen classes, containing 303 members,
since school opened. A number of school superintendents and teachers have
expressed much interest and enthusiasm for the work, and we appreciate the
kindness and help given by the National Association and the friend whose
generosity has made it possible.

In addition to the usual monthly meetings of the Directors, we have had
a course of four lectures by Mr, Herbert W. Gleason, Mrs. Kate Tyron, Mr.
Clinton G. Abbot and Mr. Louis Agassiz Fuertes, and a meeting to which
the public was invited, at which one of our Directors, Mr. Francis H. Allen,
presided and gave a brief report of our work, followed by short addresses from
Dr. George W. Field and Mr. Edward Howe Forbush, and an illustrated talk
by Mr. William Lyman Underwood. After this meeting a tea was given to
the local secretaries and the teachers who had started Junior Classes by one
of the Directors at her home in Cambridge.

This year we are bringing out a beautiful new calendar; also a new bird-

434 Bird - Lore

chart from a drawing by Mr. Fuertes, which is being published for us by
the Milton Bradley Company, of Springfield.

In September the services of Mr. Winthrop Packard were secured as Field
Secretary of the Society. Mr. Packard is widely known as a writer on nature
topics and the author of many successful books. He has begun an energetic
campaign for increased membership in the society, instructing and encouraging
local secretaries, and teachers of Junior Classes. — Jessie E. Kimball, Sec-
retary.

Michigan. — By the earnest efforts of Jefferson Butler, President of the
Michigan Audubon Society, great good is being brought about directly and
indirectly. In the past year he has given sixty-seven lectures before various
organizations, including colleges, schools, women's clubs, sportsmen's clubs,
church societies, fraternal organizations. He has directed several outings
for boys as well as for adults, organized twenty Junior Societies, decided seven
contests for prizes in schools and wrote twenty-two articles for magazines
and newspapers. Mr. Butler's earnestness took him to Washington, where
he addressed a number of congressmen on the bill giving the federal govern-
ment control over migratory birds. During the year he deemed it advisable
to prosecute nine cases and posted fifty signs on public highways and in inter-
urban cars; also gave warning notices on twenty-two complaints of infraction
of game law.

Governor Osborn has appointed Mr. Butler State Humane Marshal, and
he is now in a position to further his good work more directly. He is taking
up legislative matters, and proposes a bill prohibiting the selling of aigrettes,
providing for a Game Commissioner and a hunters' license bill and the abolish-
ing of spring-shooting. He is also negotiating with the national government
to have one of the islands in Lake St. Clair set aside as a national preserve
and nesting-place for Terns and Gulls.

Credit is due Clara Bates, of Traverse City, for the splendid efforts for
bird-study and bird-protection by interesting her readers of the Sunshine
Department in the Traverse City paper which she edits. Grace Greenwood
Browne has aided in the good work with articles in the Harbor Beach Times,
especially interesting to the boys and girls as well as adults.

The Michigan Federation of Women's Clubs have an Audubon Committee
of which Mrs. Edith Munger, of Hart, is Chairman, and through this committee
many women's clubs are reached as well as schools. The Secretary has
delivered several addresses before women's clubs, schools and other gather-
ings— she has also distributed hundreds of pages of Hterature, including
books on birds and their habits; written articles for the press; had built and
distributed bird-houses among the children to place about their homes, in
parks and cemeteries.

Mr. Wm. B. Mershon, of Saginaw, will again this year give medals to the

State Audubon Reports 435

schools of Michigan for the best essays submitted on birds, as follows: (i)
Medal for best essay on 'Esthetic and Educational Value of Song and Insec-
tivorous Birds.' (2) Medal for best essay on 'Economic Value of Birds.'
(3) Medal for essay showing greatest knowledge from personal observation
of life and habits of our common birds. (4) Medal to school or person making
most successful effort in feeding Quail or other birds during the winter of
191 2-13. (5) Medal for school or person doing most efficient work in pro-
tecting birds during summer of 191 2. (6) Medal for school or person building
and protecting most successfully used bird-house. (7) Medal for the two best
photographs, taken in any part of the state, of a wild bird or birds.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction caused pamphlets on 'Common
Birds of Michigan' to be distributed in the schools, the Secretary of the Audu-
bon Society distributing 6,000 in rural districts; also distributing among
the farmers hundreds of pamphlets and bulletins secured from the United
States Government.

Men, women and children throughout Michigan are joining the army of
energetic workers out for bird-protection. — Mrs. Anna Walter, Secretary.

Minnesota. — A number of public lectures were given in the schools of
both St. Paul and Minneapolis on game- and bird-protection and bird-study.
Articles on birds and bird-study were contributed to the papers of the state,
and the study of birds was encouraged in the boy scout organization.

During the coming winter the legislature of the state will meet, and an
effort will be made to have all hunting and shooting prohibited around White
Bear Lake and Lake Minnetonka, which are the summer resorts of St. Paul
and Mmneapolis people. — Dietrich Lange, President.

New Jersey. — The Society has made very good progress along the Hues
of its various activities during the second year of its existence. Notwith-
standing the inevitable loss from removals, resignations and deaths, the
membership has been increased by 4 new Patrons; 5 Life Members; 91 Mem-
bers; 14 Sustaining Members; 22 Associate Members, and 8,920 Junior Mem-
bers, making a total membership of 10,485 on October 3, 191 2, as against
1,076 for October 3, 191 1.

Legislative work during the year was confined to advocating the passage
of certain beneficial measures introduced by the Fish and Game Commission,
and opposing some undesirable bills. The most important legislation which
this Society had to consider was Assembly Bill No. 50, providing for a bounty
on the scalps of Hawks, Owls, weasels and foxes, which was earnestly com-
bated and fortunately failed of passage.

The enforcement of the Audubon Plumage Law by the Fish and Game
Commission has been so wise, and yet energetic, that our Society has not
been obliged to devote any attention to the matter. Several prosecutions

436 Bird - Lore

have been had for violation of this law, as has been previously recorded in
Bird-Lore, and fines in two cases in Trenton netted $460.

Twelve illustrated lectures were given at farmers' institutes on the economic
value of birds, a public lecture at Woodbury, and one at the Y. M. C. A.
Boys' Camp, Lake Wawayanda.

One of the principal fields of activity on the part of the Society during
the past year has been the stimulatmg of bird-study in the schools. By a
plan of cooperation with the National Association of Audubon Societies a
scheme for such study was offered to the teachers of the state. Every teacher
forming a Jimior Audubon Class of ten or more members and sending in the
names with dues of ten cents each, received the magazine Bird-Lore for one
year free. She also received a number of special leaflets on bird-study and
-protection for herself, and a set of ten Educational Bird Leaflets with colored
plates and outlines for coloring for each member of her class. Each member
of such class received a Goldfinch Audubon button and became a Junior
Member of the Society.

By this means there were formed in the state of New Jersey 411 Junior
Audubon Classes, with a total membership of 8,910 prior to the close of the
class season, June 15. This was nearly half of the total result of such work in
eighteen states operatmg imder this plan, showing how readily the teachers
and school children of New Jersey appreciated the importance as well as
pleasure of such study.

The largest Junior Audubon Class organized (in New Jersey or elsewhere)
was that formed by Miss Ina C. DeWitt, of Tenafly, comprising 279 mem-
bers. The second largest class was organized by Miss Florence Cook, of
Passaic, with eighty members.

The first class, twenty-five members, was sent in by Miss Hilda E. Pierson,
of Lawrenceville, on February 26, and the last, eleven members, by Miss
Vera Stearns, of East Orange, June 3.

The 411 classes were scattered through 138 towns and every county in
the State. Newark led with 54 classes; Bayonne was next with 19; Perth
Amboy had 17; Montclair, 16; Vineland, 12 and Woodbury, 11. Other towns
ranged from i to 8. Bergen County furnished the greatest number of towns
in which classes were organized — 18. The enthusiasm of both teachers and
pupils was abundantly attested by many letters received from teachers.

The annual Montclair epidemic of Blackbirds and Starlings, with the
attendant newspaper discussions, appeared on time. The Fish and Game
Commission handled the matter with excellent judgment and, while the
Society kept careful watch on the situation, it was not necessary for us to
take any action. Wardens of the Commission used various methods to frighten
the birds from the shade trees, and the tempest in the teapot was abated.

The Society maintained an exhibit at the Mount Holly Fair, October 8
to II inclusive, consisting of mounted groups of birds, sho\ving ecomomic

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value of feeding habits, exhibited at the Inter-State Fair, Trenton, last year;
bird books; enlarged photographs of various birds from life; display of aigrette
plumes, illegally offered for sale and seized by the Fish and Game Commission;
colored bird charts and the sign cards of the Society.

The measure of success attained by the Society during its brief existence
and the importance of the work that demands its attention suggest the
earnest hope that some of the many wealthy and philanthropic people of
New Jersey may see fit by gift or bequest to provide an endowment fund
which shall insure permanency of financial resources.

The annual meeting was held at the Washington, Newark, on October 15.
The business session of the Society convened at 4 p.m. The Board of Trustees
serving during the past year were unanimously reelected.

The report of the Treasurer showed receipts of $2,131.57, expenditures
of $1,345.83, and a balance in the treasury of $785.74.

The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees immediately followed that
of the Society. The officers serving during the past year were unanimously
reelected as follows: President, Mr. George Batten, Montclair; Vice-President,
Mr. W. DeW. Miller, Plainfield; Treasurer, Mr. John T. Nichols, Englewood;
Secretary, Mr. Beecher S. Bowdish, Demarest.

The Board appointed an Executive Committee, to consist of the officers
and Mr. W. W. Grant, Englewood, and Col. Anthony R. Kuser, Ber-
nardsvUle.

The public session convened at 8 p.m. and illustrated stereopticon addresses
were given by Mr. Frank M. Chapman on 'A Search for a Flamingo City,'
and Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson on 'Audubon Work.' — Beecher S. Bowdish,
Secretary.

New York. — It is a pleasure to report the progress being made in bird-
protection in this state. The interest is manifested in many ways by both
old and young. The distribution of Audubon literature is constantly increas-
ing, owing to requests for larger supplies to meet existing needs, as well as for
the opening of new fields for the work. The teachers are, as they have ever
been, our loyal fellow-workers, and in the schools a continual advance has
been made.

The fidelity and earnestness of purpose of many of our local secretaries
also cannot be too highly commended.

The present total membership is 13,683.

The Hst of books for bird-students has been revised and a larger edition
has been issued.

We are soon to place twenty or more traveling libraries in the hands of
the Educational Extension Department of the State Library at Albany for
circulation. The Audubon leaflets will also be supplied for the children's
rooms and tables in various libraries throughout the state.

State Audubon Reports 439

The idea which was formed last year of extending the work in a systematic
manner throughout each county of the state is meeting with marked success
in the schools. Through the teachers' institutes, and by securing the coopera-
tion of the county superintendents of schools, every teacher in a county
may be reached. This method is particularly desirable with so extensive a
ground to cover as is the state of New York, and in several counties is achieving
excellent results. In one instance a recently appointed local secretary, an
enthusiast in bird- and animal-protection is district superintendent with
seventy-two schools under her charge.

The Buffalo Society is now fully organized, with a very able governing
board, the members of which are working upon various standing committees
and are pushing the cause of bird-protection vigorously in western New York.
All of the members of the Buffalo Society have recently joined the State
Society.

With the reopening of the schools, the requests from teachers for supplies
of Audubon material are very numerous and there is every indication of a
very active campaign for the coming year. — Emma H. Lockwood, Secretary.

North Dakota. — The Audubon work in North Dakota was reorganized
early in May, 191 2. At that time new officers were elected, including a new
Board of Directors, and the place of business was transferred from Grand
Forks to Fargo. We have been proceeding steadily with the work of reorgan-
izing the Association and securing a substantial membership. The work has
progressed somewhat slowly because we began the reorganization just as the
summer season was approaching and many of our people have been out of
the city. Likewise the school men of the state have been on their vacations,
and it was not possible to make progress through the schools. A substantial
beginning, however, has been made. The plans for future work are pretty
well outlined so that we feel from now on we ought to make good progress.
There appears to be a very good spirit among the members; in fact, we are
looking only for live members who are interested in the work of the Society.

The membership is not large as yet, being about thirty paid-up members.
That, however, is a larger membership than the total previous enrollment
of members. Most of these are new members and therefore represent prac-
tically new work done. Thus far we have not attempted to form local organiza-
tions but have confined ourselves to building up the state membership. We
expect, however, to begin organizing local societies before long. There are
two or three local societies already formed, but they are not to my knowledge
in active working condition. The society at Devils Lake is in the best con-
dition, due to the interest and activity of Mrs. William Folger of that place.

Our plan of offering Bird-Lore or Reed's 'Guide to Water-Birds' or Reed's
'Guide to the Land-Birds' as premiums given with each membership seems
to be working nicely. It makes an attractive feature in securing memberships,

440 Bird - Lore

and I am sure will prove effective in keeping up the interest and stimulating
the activity of our membership. I believe the plan is worth adopting by
other societies that want live members. A considerable correspondence has
been carried on since last spring in getting in touch with the people who are,
or who should be, interested in the work. — W. B. Bell, President.

Ohio. — Without doubt the most important matter to report is the appoint-
ment in January, 1912, of Dr. Eugene Swope, as Field Agent for Ohio. The
desirability of having such an agent in this section of the country had long
been felt, and the ability of Doctor Swope, coupled with his willingness to act
in that capacity, made his appointment a source of gratification to the Society.
The work he has accomplished in his educational campaign in Ohio has far
exceeded our expectations, and the Society sees the ideal almost realized:
that is, the perpetuation, through a definite office, of the work which has been
attempted so far, by volunteer workers. In Cincinnati, the work of the Society
in connection with the schools and libraries has become a great factor in the
educational work of the city. But until the appointment of Doctor Swope, no
efforts to carry the work beyond, into the rural districts of Ohio where it
was so badly needed, had been very successful.

To reduce it to figures, it can be estimated that in six months' time 3,500
children in Ohio have become members of the Society, who had never before
been interested, and through these members several thousands of parents,
relatives and friends will hear something of the value and the beauty of
birds. The benefits should not be underestimated, since its effect is three-
fold— first it protects the birds; second, it helps the farmer; and third, but
by no means least, it creates a new standard of life and appreciation of the
beautiful in nature to these same individuals.

The lectures in the libraries in the suburbs of Cincinnati are still as popular
as ever, and very well attended; there have been some fifty or more talks
and lectures to organizatibns, schools, churches, hospitals, etc., and the increase
in enthusiasm and a growing respect for the work of the Society is due to the
splendid type of men and women who have so vaUantly and with so many
sacrifices of time, gone forth as champions for their httle feathered friends.

A very satisfactory agreement was reached between the milliners of Ohio
and the game-wardens by which the former agreed to abandon the further
sale of aigrettes until the law shall be tested in the higher courts. This was
especially gratifying to the Society, as it believes in the most peaceful methods
of enforcing the law that are, at the same time, practical.

There is a noticeable awakening to a proper appreciation of bird-life in
Ohio, and the number is steadily increasing of those who preach the gospel of
"Hast thou learned to know the birds without a gun?
Hast thou loved the wild flower on the stem, and let it live?"

Katherine Rattermann, Secretary.

State Audubon Reports 441

Oregon. — The Oregon Audubon Society has continued its educational
work, during the year by distribution of Audubon leaflets and talks on bird
subjects.

Mr. L. R. Alderman, State Superintendent of Public Schools, has con-
tinued his interest in placing our literature in the hands of the teachers in
the state; there were twelve Junior Audubon Societies formed during the
>'ear. These Societies have very intelligent teachers who are interested in
this subject and are doing fine work with their pupils.

At the county fairs there were prizes given children for various exhibits
furnished by themselves, which exhibits included prizes for bird nesting-
boxes, the models and directions for making the boxes being furnished by
this Society. These boxes always make a pleasing display and are the cause
of much comment and educational explanation as to their uses, and the reasons
for preserving song-birds, etc.

During the year, the Oregon Audubon Society gave three notable lectures.
Mr. Dallas Lore Sharp, Professor of EngUsh in Boston University, gave a
reading from his books. Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary of the National
Association of Audubon Societies, gave a stereopticon lecture, 'Preservation
of Wild Birds and Animals' and Mr. W. L. Finley, President of this Society
and the State Game-Warden, gave a stereopticon lecture on 'Bird Life in
the Arizona Desert.' These lectures were exceptionally fine and called forth
much favorable comment regarding the work this Society has in hand.

The Byron Z. Holmes bequest — $1,200 — came into our possession the
first of the year. This has been invested in a mortgage, the interest of which
is used for bird-protection.

The Audubon patrol-boat, the "Grebe," which has been used on the Lower
Klamath Lake Reservation, was transferred to Upper Klamath Lake and
used by the state in protecting birds in that part of the country during the
summer. Since the Biological Survey recently placed a new boat at Klamath
Lake for patrolling Klamath Lake Reservation, it was thought the "Grebe"
could be used for other work, but the building of a dike across Klamath Ri\-er,
di\dding the Klamath Reservation into two parts, makes it necessary to
transfer the "Grebe" back to the Lower Klamath Lake where it will be used
in conjunction with the new government patrol-boat.

This Society wishes to introduce the Cardinal Grosbeak into the
state. We are convinced they will thrive well here, the climate being mild
and conditions good. We have the necessary consent of the game-wardens,
and trust by spring to have a number of pairs to liberate in the state, and
w^e hope they will multiply and replenish themselves abundantly.

Oregon is not slow to recognize the value of non-game bird-protection
from the viewpoint of economy as well as the claim of beauty and pleasure;
our bird laws are good, and our lively game- warden sleeps with one ear open
ready for the first case. — Emma J. Welty, Corresponding Secretary.

442 Bird -Lore

Pennsylvania. — For the past year the regular work of the State Society
has been carried on much as usual. The traveling libraries have been sent
to the various schools and organizations desiring them, and the leaflets, etc.,
have been distributed through various channels.

The Society at its annual meeting was fortunate enough to have Mr.
Henry Oldys, of Washington, D. C, in his wonderful rendering of 'Bird-
Notes.' This was given, not as a fancy sketch with 'piano accompaniment,'
but as taken down, note by note, while listening to the birds, and whistled
from these notes most accurately and pleasingly.

The work of the Society, however, has been principally in the new field
of starting Junior Audubon Classes in the public schools of the state under the
direction of the National Association of Audubon Societies. During the year,
113 classes were formed with a total paid membership of 2,349 pupils.

If the unknown donor of the fund which makes this work possible could
know the delight with which this plan is received by teachers in small towns
and outlying country districts, and receive some of the letters the children
write about their enjoyment of the pictures and bird-study, he would certainly
feel his gift was not only a help to the bird-protection cause, but a wonderful
opening up of the delights of nature-study to the children.

The teachers, on whom so much of the awakening of a child's love of wild
birds depends, can, with the help of Bird-Lore, continue their nature-study
work systematically through the different seasons of the year, and by writing
to the State Secretary can receive Uterature and assistance on special points
in bird-study they wish to take up with their classes, while the State Secretary,
at practically small expense, can get in touch with work and persons interested
all over the state.

The permanent success of the plan, however, must depend upon the manner
in which the State Societies follow up the work so ably begun by the National
Society, and having once sent literature to the teachers and shown interest
in the work of the children, must keep in touch with the classes formed and
in every way possible assist those teachers who are endeavoring to develop
the child's love of nature.

The following extracts from two letters show the interested and intelligent
work the teachers are doing in these classes:

"The extra leaflets and copies of Pennsylvania Bird Laws came and were
very much appreciated. The latter were read and discussed in class, and
the children distributed all the extra copies where they thought they would
do good."

Another teacher writes:

"I have painted a Snowy Heron, life size, for my talks which are apparently
popular, and I now want five more sets of leaflets for new members, making
my club thirty-four in number." — E. W. Fisher, Secretary.

State Audubon Reports 443

Rhode Island. — The Audubon Society of Rhode Island has been working
the past year with one object in view, namely, larger membership. This is
undoubtedly the i)roblem of many State Societies. At present the member-
shi]) is not large enough to materially influence legislation, hunting or the
millinery trade. Neither is it sufficient to provide necessary funds for the
educational work which needs to be done in the state.

In April the center of activity of the Society was transferred to the Park
Museum in Providence, which is in close touch with the schools of the state
and city. Through the aid and courtesy of the National Association, 1,004
Junior members have been secured since April 17, 191 2, thereby taking the
Audubon work into many homes where it was not before known. The Society's
loan collection and library of over five hundred volumes was also placed at
the museum where the system of loaning to schools and small libraries through-
out the state has been continued. In addition a catalogue of the books has
been issued, and any member of the Society, as well as any teacher, may
borrow one or more books as in any public library. By the middle of May the
library was in working order and now has 137 borrowers. Four hundred of
the books have been used during this short period, and one boy read thirty-
five different books during the summer. The majority of the users are Junior
members, although a number of teachers now have books charged to their
names.

With this limited introduction into the homes by way of the children,
we are now sending a college student into the field to make a direct appeal
for active members. A short experiment of this plan during the summer
leads us to believe that it will be successful.

In general there is a great deal of interest in birds among teachers, children
and parents, and just so far as funds will permit we are endeavoring to main-
tain this interest and to awaken others to the importance of bird-study and
bird-protection. — Harold L. Madison, Secretary.

Tennessee (East). — The members of this Society feel that they are to be
congratulated on the work of their organization during the past year. Much
has been accomplished in educating the people as to the value of birds. This
was done largely through newspaper articles, as our daily papers have been
(juite generous in giving us space. Only a few days ago the afternoon paper
offered us the woman's page for one issue. As a result of the publicity given
our work by the press, the Audubon Society is one of the best-known organ-
izations in Tennessee.

The Secretary has talked on birds before various schools and other gather-
ings, and, as she is no longer teaching, hopes to continue this work in the
schools when permitted, and in other gatherings when invited. Mr. O. C.
Woodward, under authorization of the Audubon Society, has printed and
sent out over four hundred circulars to persons who showed an interest in

444 Bird -Lore

bird-protection by registering at our booth during the Appalachian Exposition.
These circulars convey a hearty invitation to join us. We do not know what
the harvest will be, but hope for great results. This feature of our work will
be continued until the entire field is covered.

Several arrests have been made by the game-wardens of persons guilty
of violation of the non-game law, and other persons who had ignorantly trans-
gressed were warned.

Much interest was aroused among the school children, and it was found
that they were always willing to aid in bringing to justice such persons as
were guilty of killing birds.

The first year of the Society's activity was almost wholly given to the
work of bird-protection, but the past year has been devoted to bird-study
also, thus putting the organization on a foundation that will not easily crumble.
The work of urging farmers and other land-owners to form game-preserves
has been continued.

We enjoyed a lecture by Mr. James Henry Rice, Field Agent of the National
Association of Audubon Societies, which aroused much interest. Those who
attended the Summer School of the South were entertained and instructed
by Mr. Henry Oldys, of Silver Spring, Maryland, who appeared before that
body four times.

We suffered a serious loss when Mr. H. TuUsen, our President and organ-
izer of our Society, moved to Taylor, Texas. He and his estimable wife con-
tinue their membership with us. — Miss Magnolia Woodward, Secretary.

Tennessee (West).— On February 13, 191 2, the West Tennessee Audubon
Society held a meeting at Memphis and decided to disband and to reorganize
under the name of the Tri-State Audubon Society of Eastern Arkansas, North
Mississippi, and West Tennessee.

This action was taken in order to broaden its field of usefulness and by
cooperation with a work conducted by the Agricultural Bureau at Washington,
and known as the Boys' Corn Club movement, to carry instruction to the
farmers throughout the section around Memphis, in regard to the great eco-
nomic value of the birds.

The new organization was completed by the election of Dr. R. B. Maury
as President, Messrs. Bolten Smith, Leon Banks and Dr. T. M. Lowry, Vice-
Presidents, Mrs. Percy Finley, Corresponding Secretary, and Wm. John
Luther, Treasurer. During the past year a growing interest in the birds, in
their esthetic as well as economic value, has been manifested in the city of
Memphis and the surrounding country, and bird-protection is now regarded
as part of the course of instruction in the public schools. The membership
of the Society has greatly increased, and several lectures with stereopticon
illustrations have been provided by the liberality of the Goodwyn Institute
for the coming year.— R. B. Maury, President,

State Audubon Reports 445

Texas. — It is with a sad heart and feohngs of utter inabihty to do justice
to the sul)ject, that this report of the work in Texas is submitted for the annual
pubhcation of the history of bird-protection in our state.

Most of the readers of this bulletin have doubtless heard of the removal
by death of the recognized genius of Audubon work in Texas, Capt. M. B.
Davis, of Waco.

Captain Davis worked untiringly for years for the saving of our feathered
friends generally, and whenever opportunity came or occasion required he
trained his guns on the enemies of bird and wil-d life with such force and indis-
putable argument through lectures and the press that people sat up and took
notice. He made war on the gunner and the gun manufacturers until some of
his good friends thought he would defeat his own objects with his zeal for the
preservation of useful birds. His lectures throughout the state were continued
up to within a few weeks of his demise, and just ten days before he passed
away, on June 18, he dictated a letter to the National Secretary calling attention
to his work for Heron and Egret life in special localities in this state which
he said would probably place our organization on a high plane as to that line
of survey.

He continued, saying: "There have been many embarrassments, chief
of which is health on my part, but I forced my way through them all, and
unless I have a collapse I will turn over to you some very important matter
on this subject in the near future.

"If I should merely submit a story of the region bounded by the
Trinity and Sabine Rivers, I could give a locality which is so vastly wealthy
in those forms of avian life that I do believe something wholly new should
be entered upon from the lists of American Herons and Egrets and other
birds of those tribes compassed within the area I have been searching,
which is a broad strip of that class of forests in Texas which are vestured
in Spanish moss, and wherever trees stand close enough together the soil
is protected for many miles around, producing in abundance the proper food
for these birds. The group of Herons discovered by me and my surveyor
in Jasper County have become absolutely safe, and will remain safe, we hope,
until once more their strangely beautiful white plumage becomes indescribable
ui)on the heavens to which they surely belong.

"Those people who appear to possess knowledge of heronries described
the bird as ascending to infinite heights, then returning to us rebaptised in
translucent sheen, which gave them a supernatural appearance."

In closing, Captain Davis said: "I submit all that I do as coming from my
heart, which burns with eagerness to accomplish an end in Ornithology which
shall go ringing down the ages and will eventually give me a place with you,
Mr. Dutcher, Doctor Palmer and those other gentlemen with whom I have
consorted all these years."

Within a few days after the dictation of the foregoing message, all that

446 Bird - Lore

was mortal of one of the most faithful friends the birds ever had was laid away
in beautiful Oakwood Cemetery, followed by the deepest regrets of friends
from far and near who had known him and his life work.

If the above letter had been intended for a part of his annual report, it
could not have been more to the purpose.

The organization of Junior Audubon Clubs in the schools of the state was
a part of a year's work. It will be taken up again together with talks and
demonstration with charts for the education of the yoiing, now that the schools
are in session for the year.

Having studied different methods of bird-protection, laying due stress,
always, upon wise legislation and favor with the law-makers, we have come
to the conclusion that educating the children from the kindergarten age up
through all the grades to graduation is the surest way of encouraging the
preservation of birds and wild Hfe; for, after all, the heart to love helpless
creatures will prevail over the disposition to destroy, and when the boy becomes
a man he will protect the birds through principle instead of through fear of
the law. We believe that teaching mercy and kindness should be as much a part
of the curriculum of our schools as a knowledge of spelling or arithmetic.

The campaign of bird-protection will be carried up to our next legislature,
and strong hands will uphold what has already been done in our state, endeavor-
ing to make better and stronger the laws now upon our statute books.

The State Federation of Women's Clubs, a section of which held a meeting
in Waco last April, pledged their support of any legislation the Audubon
Society might see fit to promote in the future; so, also, did the truck growers',
orchardists' and the farmers' associations generally offer the bird-protectionists
their cordial assistance and cooperation.

We have received hundreds of letters from school-teachers and others
asking for information and leaflets on the work, and also from agriculturalists
throughout the state. In every instance the leaflets and Audubon buttons
have been forwarded with directions for the formation of Junior Audubon
Classes. There seems to be a general awakening to the fact that a birdless
world may be the legacy inherited by our children's children if the dreadful
destruction of birds goes on many years longer unchecked.

One of the last pieces of work which the late Captain Davis did was to
prepare manuscript for a work on 'Birds and Their Relation to Agriculture,'
which will soon be issued by the State Commission of Agriculture, at Austin.

His plea for the Robin last winter was published in all the daily papers
of the state, the circulation of which reaches up into the hundreds of thousands.
It was read in many lands, and we have the satisfaction of receiving personal
letters commending his efforts to remove that charming visitor from the
frozen North, the Robin, from the game-bird list of Texas. His work for the
shore-birds and the Doves has had wide publication, as well as his efforts to
protect the horned toad and the Pelican.

State Audubon Reports 447

His story of the Christmas toy gun last winter was a plea for the boy as
well as the bird, and was widely read both in Texas and other states.

This report has necessarily taken a more personal form than is the custom
in annual proceedings, but we hope under the circumstances to meet with
the indulgence and pardon of all our readers. — Mrs. M. B. Davis, Assistant
Secretary.

Virginia. — The Audubon Society of Virginia found its first practical
worl<. of the winter in feeding the birds throughout the state.

We had an unprecedentedly long cold season with very deep snows, and
as the birds in this climate are not accustomed to such conditions, they are
unable to cope with them and perish by the tliousands when such weather
comes.

We had several hundred bushels of grain sent out from Richmond
alone.

The active cooperation of the railroads in the quick distribution of this
food was of inestimable value.

In addition to this, the appeal for help was made through all the principal
newspapers of the state, and ever>' section responded to it.

We opened and maintained Audubon rooms, where our Secretary spent
three hours every afternoon to receive visitors, answer questions, lend books
and distribute literature to those interested.

From there, also, we sent out the school leaflets to the many Junior Audubon
Societies throughout the state.

It was our legislative year, and we succeeded in getting the law framed
prohibiting the killing of Robins at aU seasons. This bill met with serious
opposition, as there are many counties where Robins have long been killed
and sold by hundreds for food.

Our Audubon Legislative Game Department did splendid work before
our legislature toward getting a state game law framed, providing for a
State Game Commissioner, and paid game-wardens, with resident and non-
resident hunters' Hcense provided for.

We came within a few votes of passing this law, and the educational work
done was of such a character that we feel reasonably certain of a victory
next time.

This department of the Society is now raising a fund to be used at the
opportune time for distributing educational matter throughout the state
which will bring our legislature together already instructed for the support
of such a bill.

We have answered many letters of inquiry about laws and how to proceed
to have them enforced. We feel that the general interest is growdng and hope
for increasing good work. — Mrs. W. E. Harris, President

448 Bird -Lore

West Virginia. — The West Virginia Audubon Society closes its first twelve
months of existence with a membership of fifty-one, which is an increase of
twenty-six since the date of organization, October, 191 1. Of this number
eleven are out-of-town members. Our growth has not been rapid, but the
interest and enthusiastic cooperation of our membership, as evidenced during
the year, presages a Society in West Virginia that means to "do things."

Our monthly meetings have been of interest and well attended. At these
meetings we have studied and discussed the following birds: Cardinal, Quail,
Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bluebird, Catbird and
Wood Thrush. At different times our program has also included such topics
as 'Life of Audubon,' 'How to Study Birds,' 'Economic Value of Birds,' etc.
In July and August, outdoor meetings were held, the time being given almost
entirely to field work.

In March the Society gave a lecture free to the public with the Rev. Earl A.
Brooks as speaker, on the subject of 'Spring Migration.' In May we secured
Mr. Henry Oldys to deliver his lecture on 'Bird-Notes.' On the day following
the lecture, Mr. Oldys conducted three field-trips, one at four o'clock a.m.,
one at nine a.m., and the third at six p.m., all of which were well attended
and of much profit. These lectures and outings gave quite an impetus to
our work.

Through the eft'orts of our publicity committee and press agent, space
has been secured in the Sunday edition of the morning city paper and in the
Saturday issue of a local evening paper, which space is devoted to articles
in interest of the birds under the head of 'Audubon Bird Notes.' Our press
agent has also prepared several articles for the agricultural and school journals
of the state and the Arbor and Bird Day Manual.

Three Junior Societies were formed last winter in the Parkersburg Public
Schools by teachers who are members of this Society, and all are reported
as gratifying successes. According to the last report these Junior Societies
throughout the state number sixteen.

Through the generosity of a member, the Society was enabled to offer
prizes for the first and second best and longest list of birds seen in this locality
between April i and October i, this year, to which contest any boy or girl of
Parkersburg and vicinity, under the age of sixteen, was eligible. Several showed
their interest by submitting the required monthly reports. The contest has
just closed with the first prize, pocket edition of Reed's 'Land Birds' going to
Carl Bibbee, who submitted a list of seventy birds, and the second prize, a
year's subscription to Bird-Lore, awarded to Herman Deem with a list of
twenty-one birds.

Special attention and effort during the coming year will be given to the
organization of Junior Audubon Societies and the upbuilding of membership
in the State Society.

The newly elected officers are: Miss Ida M. Peters, President; Mrs. W. W.

State Audubon Reports 449

George, Vice-President; Miss Hattie M. Alleman, Secretary; Mr. Geo. Tavenner,
Treasurer.— Hattik M. Alleman, Secretary.

Wisconsin. —We arc \i\m\ io rci)()rt that the Wisconsin Aiuhibon Society
has had a successful year. We are just beginning our new fiscal year with
strong hopes of continued good work. Our monthly i:)ublication has been
issued regularly. This year we are going to make it better than last year,
largely by planning more carefully in advance.

There are two undertakings which we attempted with some success last
year which we wish to call to the attention of our sister societies. A year ago
this fall, we endeavored to interest municipalities in the feeding of the birds
that winter in our public parks. This met with some response; Milwaukee
made a very active beginning and gave much needed help to hundreds of
Gulls that stayed in the ice-bound harbor. Madison also responded. The other
undertaking was worked out in Madison alone. Last spring we solicited from
citizens not members of the Wisconsin Audubon Society one dollar each
for a fund to erect in a public park a Martin house, and at the same time
obtained the promise of the Park and Pleasure Drive Association to care for
it if erected. With comparative ease we succeeded in erecting a colony house
in time for the birds to occupy it. But what is most important to us is that
we feel certain that in these ways we have made many people true friends of
the birds and that we have inaugurated agencies which will continue to work
of their own accord. — Roland E. Kremers, Secretary.

4-^*-<?-'

4 so

Bird -Lore

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES

^\lbert Wilcox.

BENEFACTOR

1906

FOUNDER
Mrs. Russell Sage 1910

PATRONS

William P. Wharton 1909

Miss Heloise Meyer 191 2

LIFE MEMBERS

Abbott, Clinton G 1910

Adams, Mrs. George E 19 12

Babcock, Mrs. Perry 191 2

Bancroft, William P 1906

Barnes, Miss Cora F 1908

Bates, Isaac C 1910

Batten, George 1910

Beebe, Mrs. J. Arthur 1907

Bigelow, William Sturgis 191 2

Bingham, Miss Harriet 1907

Bliss, Miss Catherine A 191 1

Bliss, Mrs. W. H 191 2

Boiling, Mrs. Raynal C 1909

Bowdoin, Miss Edith 191 1

Bowdoin, Mrs. Temple 191 1

Bowman, Miss Sarah R 1905

Brewster, William 1905

Bridge, Mrs. Lidian E 1907

Brooks, A. L 1906

Brooks, Mrs. Everett W 1907

Brooks, Gorham 191 1

Brooks, Peter C 191 1

Brooks, S 1907

Brooks, Mrs. Shepard 1906

Browning, J. Hull 1905

Campbell, Helen Gordon 1909

Carr, Gen. Julian S 1907

Chapin, Chester W 1910

Chapman, Clarence E 1908

Childs, John Lewis 1905

Clarke, Mrs. W. N 1912

Clyde, W. P 1905

Coolidge, Oliver H 1912

Coolidge, T. Jefferson 1907

Crabtree, Miss L. M 191 2

Crocker, Mrs. Emmons 191 2

Crosby, Maunsell S 1905

Crozer, Mrs. J. Lewis 1908

Cudworth, Mrs. F. B 191 1

Dane, Edward 191 2

Dane, Ernest 1912

Davis, David D 191 1

Davis, William T 1910

Earle, Carlos Y. Poitevent 1905

Earle, Miss Eleanor P 1905

Eastman, George 1906

Edgar, Daniel 1908

Elliot, Mrs. J. W 191 2

Emmons, Mrs. R. W 1908

Endicott, H. B 1908

Farwell, Mrs. John V., Jr 1909

Fay, Mrs. Flora Ward 1905

Foote, James D 1907

Forbush, Edward Howe 1910

French, Miss Caroline L. W 191 1

*Frothingham, Howard P 1905

Gallatin, F., Jr 1908

Gazzam, Mrs. Antoinette E 1908

Gifford, Mrs. Robert L 1908

Grant, W. W 1910

Greenway, Mrs. J. C 191 2

Haehnle, Rheinhold 191 2

Havemeyer, Mrs. H. O., Jr 1907

Hearst, Mrs. P. A 1909

Hemenway, Mrs. Augustus 1905

Hoffman, Samuel V 1907

Hopewell, Frank 191 1

Hostetter, D. Herbert 1909

Hunnewell, H. S 1905

Huntington, Archer M 1905

Jackson, Mrs. James 1908

Kidder, Nathaniel T 1905

Kilmer, Willis S 1909

Kuser, John Dryden 191 1

Lane, Benj. C iQOQ

Lawrence, Samuel C 1905

McConnell, Mrs. S. D 1908

McGraw, Mrs. Thos. S 1908

Mackey, Clarence H 1908

Marshall, Louise 1906

Mason, Miss F. P 191 2

Meloy, Andrew D 1910

Meyer, Miss Heloise 1910

Moore, Clarence B 1909

List of Members

451

Morton, Miss Mary • i

Murphy, Franklin i

North Carolina Audubon Society. . . . x

Osborne, Mrs. Eliza W i

Palmer, Mrs. William H i

*Palmer, William J i

Parker, A. H i

Parker, Edward L i

Pearson, T. Gilbert i

Peck, Mrs. Walter L i

Phillips, Eleanor H i

Phillips, Mrs, J. C i

Phillips, John C i

Pickman, Mrs. Dudley L i

IMerrepont, Anna J i

Pierrepont, John J i

Pinchot, Mrs. J. W i

Poland, James P i

Potts, Thomas i

Pratt, George D i

Prime, Miss Cornelia i

Reed, Mrs. William Howell i

Reynolds, R. J i

Rockefeller, Wm. G i

Rogers, Charles H i

Sage, Mrs. Russell i

Saltonstall, John L i

qo6 Satterlce, Mrs. Herbert L 1906

909 Schroedcr, Miss Lizzie JI 191 1

905 Seaman, L. W 1912

906 Shattuck, Mrs. F. C 1906

912 Sherman, Miss Althea R 1909

906 *Smith, Miss Alice Weston 191 1

908 Spalding, Mrs. A. M 1912

909 Stickney, Charles D 1910

905 *Stokes, Miss Caroline P 1908

909 Taft, Elihu B 1911

908 Taylor, Chas. H., Jr 1908

90s Thayer, Mrs. Ezra R 1909

90s Thayer, John E 1909

907 Thompson, Mrs. Frederick F 1908

90s Tufts, Leonard 1907

90s Van Name, Willard G 1905

906 Vaux, George, Jr 1905

909 Wadsworth, C. S 1911

90s Ward, Marcus L 1908

911 Watson, Mrs. James S 1911

909 Webster, F. G 190s

905 Weeks, Henry de Forest 1909

908 Wells, Mrs. Frederick L 191 1

912 White, Mrs. Charles T iQOQ

912 Williams, John D 1909

90s Woodward, Mrs. George 1908

908

♦Deceased

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS TO THE
GENERAL FUND FOR 1912

Abbe, Harriet C

.\bbott, Mrs. E. H..
.\braham. Miss E. R.

Achelis, Fritz

Achilles, Mrs. G. S .

Ackerly, O. B

Acklen, Col. Jos. H.
Ackley, Miss A. E. .
Acton, Miss A. A.. .

Adams, E. B

.A.dams, Mrs. B

Adams, H. W

Adams, James S.. . .

A Friend

A Friend

Agassiz, R. L

Aiken, John A

Aldrich, F. W

Aldrich, Spencer. . . .
Allen, Miss M. C...

.\llen, Miss K

Allen, Mrs. N. T....

Allen, Mary P

Allen, Charles A....

Allen, C. L

.\lmon, Mrs

Alms, Eleanora C...
Althouse, H. W....
Ames, Miss Mary S.
Ames, Miss H. S . . .

$5 00
S 00
5 00
S 00
5 00
S 00
5 00
5 00
S 00
5 00
S 00
5 00

1 00
200 00

2 00
S 00
5 00
S 00
5 00
S 00
S 00
S 00
S 00
S 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
S 00
S 00
5 00

Carried forw'd . .S338 00

Brought forw'd. .$338 00
Ames, Mrs. W. H . . 5 00
Anderson, Mrs. J. C. s °°

Anderson, J. C 5 00

Andrews, Mrs. H. E. s 00
Andrews, Miss Louie 5 00

Andrews, Roy C 5 00

Andrews, Mrs. E. B. 5 00
Angier, Robert E. . . 5 00

Anonymous 2 00

Appleton,MissM. E. 5 00

Appleton, W. T 5 00

Appold, Bertha V . . 5 00
Archbold, John D . . s 00
Arnin, Albertina von 5 00

Arnold, Benj. W

Aspinwall, John

Atkins, Mrs. E. F . .

Attwater, C. B

Auchincloss, J. W . .
Audubon Society of

Evansville, Ind. . .
Audubon Society of

Vermont

Ault, L. A

Austen, Mrs. Valle. .
Austin, Francis B. . .

Avery, Samuel P

Ayer, C. F

Aycr, INIrs. Edward.

5 00
S 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

5 00

[5 GO

5 00
S 00
S 00
5 00
5 00
S 00

Carried forw'd . . $480 00

Brought forw'd. .$480 00

Ayres, Harry M

5 00

Ayres, Miss Mary A

S 00

Bacon, Mrs. E. S...

5 00

Bacon, Mrs. F. E. . .

10 00

Bacon, Miss M. P...

5 00

Badger, Arthur C. ..

S 00

Bailey, George, Jr. .

5 00

Bailey, Henry T. . . .

5 00

Bailey, S.I

I 00

Baird, Miss Lucy H.

5 00

Baird, Spencer (in

memoriam)

10 GO

Baker, Mrs. CM...

S 00

Baker, George L

S 00

Baker, L. D., Jr . . .

5 GO

Baker, Miss Mary K.

S 00

Baldwin, George J. .

5 GO

Baldwin, Sarah R . .

5 00

Ball, Miss H. A . . . .

5 00

Balph, Mrs. J. M...

5 00

Bancroft, Mrs. W. P.

25 00

Bangs, Dr. L. Bolton

5 00

Bangs, F. R

S 00

Banning, Mrs. W. C.

S 00

Banks, Miss M. B..

S 00

Barber, W. V

I 00

Barbey, Henry G.. .

S 00

Barbour, Mrs. E. T.

5 00

Barbour, Miss I. T .

S 00

Carried forw'd . .$642 00

452

Bird - Lore

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought forw'd . .$642 00

Barlett, Mrs. C. T. . 5 00

Barlett, j\Iiss F. L. . 5 00

Barlow, Mrs. F. C. . 5 00

Barnard, Hon. Job.. 5 00

Barnard, Rev. M. B. i 00

Barnes, Mrs. H. S... 5 00

Barnes, Herbert S . . 5 00

Barnes, J. S., Jr. . . . 5 00

Barnes, Mary C 5 00

Barnum, \V. M 5 00

Barnum, Mrs. W. M. 500

Barron, George D . . 5 00

Barrows, Mrs. M . . . 5 00

Barrows, Mrs. F. K. 5 00

Barry, Miss Anna K. 5 00

Barry, Charles T... . 500

Bartol, Miss E. H . . 10 00

Barton, Mrs. F. O. . 5 00

Bass, Mrs. Perkins.. 5 00

Bates, Katherine L.. 5 00

Bayne, S. G 5 00

Beach,^Mrs. H. H. A. 5 00

Beadlekon, A. H. . . 5 00

Beal, Mrs. Jas. H. . . 5 00

Beebe, Miss E. E. . . 5 00

Beer, Mrs. George. . 5 00

Behr, Edward H . . . 5 00

Bell, Mrs. Gordon... 5 00

Bellard, Miss K 5 00

Bement, Mrs. G. F.. 5 00

Bemis, Albert F. . . . i 00

Bemish, Mrs. W. H. 5 00

Benedict, Theo. H.. 5 00

Benet, Miss Lilian. . 30 00

Benjamin, Mrs. A. B. 5 00

Benkard, J. Phillip . 5 00

Bennett, Miss M — 5 00

Benson, Mrs. L. F. . 2 00

Bent, Arthur C 5 00

Berger, Mrs. W. H . 5 00

Bertschmann, Jacob 5 00

Beveridge, Mrs. A. J. 5 00

Bevin, L. A 5 00

Bigelow, Albert F . . 5 00

Bigelow, Elizabeth.. 5 00

Bigelow, Jos. H . . . . S 00

Bigelow, Dr. W. S. . 5 00

Biglow, Mrs. L. H.. 5 00

Bill, Nathan D 5 00

Billings, Elizabeth. . 5 00

Binney, Edwin 5 00

Birch, Mr. Hugh T.. s 00

Bird, Mr. Chas. S . . 5 00

Bird-Lover 2 00

Birdlovers' Club 5 00

Black, Robert C s 00

Blair, Mrs. D. C . . . 5 0°

Blair, Ledyard C 5 00

Blakiston, Miss E . . 5 00

Bliss, Miss Kate G . 5 00

Carried forw'd. .$958 00

Brought forw'd . .S958 00

Bliss, Mrs. Walter P. 5 00

Bloomfield,Mrs.C.C. 5 00

Blossom, K. E 5 00

Blue, Mrs. C. E. . . . 5 00

Blunt, Miss Eliza S. 5 00

Boardman, Miss E.. 5 00

Boardman, Miss S.. 5 00

Boardman, Mrs. W. 5 00

Bogert, Prof. M. T . 5 00

Boiling, Stanhope.. . 5 00

Boiling. R. C 10 00

Bond-Foote, Miss M.

E S 00

Bond, Mr. Henry... 5 00

Borden, Mrs. E. L.. 5 00

Borden, Emma L. . . 5 00

Borg, Mrs. S. C 10 00

Borland, W. G 5 00

Bostwick, Mrs. G.W. i 00

Bowdish, B. S 5 00

Bo wditch, Edward. . 5 00

Bowditch, James H. 5 00

Bowdoin, Mrs. G. S. 5 00

Bowles, R. P 5 00

Bowles, Mrs. W. G.. 5 00

Bowen, Miss Jane... 5 00

Boyle, Edward J . . . 5 00

Bradford, Mrs. G. C. 5 00

Bradley, Miss A. A.. 5 00

Bradley, A. C 5 00

Bradley, Miss Leslie 5 00

Bradley, Peter B . . . 5 00

Bradley, Robert S... 10 00

Bragdon, J. W 5 00

Brandegee, Miss F.. 5 00

Brandegee, Miss K. 5 00

Brandreth, Courtney 5 00

Brasher, R. I s 00

Bray, Airs. Maria H. i 00

Brazier, Mrs. J. H. . 5 00

Breck, Chas. A i 00

Brennecke, George . 5 00

Brewer, A. R 5 00

Brewster, Mrs. L. D. 5 00

Brewster, Wm. T. .. 5 ®o

Bridge, Mrs. L. E . . 10 go

Bridges, Miss F 10 00

Bristol, John I. D . . 5 00

Brock, Mrs. R. C. H. 5 00

Brooks, Allan 10 00

Brooks, F. M 5 00

Brooks, Miss M. W. 5 00

Brooks, Miss M. H.. 5 00

Brooks, Mrs. P. C. 5 00

Brooks, S 20 00

Brooks, Mrs. S 20 00

Brooks, W. D 5 00

Brower, Miss L. S.. . 5 00

Brown, A. M 5 00

Brown, Charles E . . 5 00

Carried forw'd. $1,301 00

Brought forw'd,$i,30i 00

Brown, Davenport. . 5 00

Brown, David S 5 00

Brown, Edwin H... . 10 00

Brown, Ella 5 00

Brown, Elisha R . . . S 00

Brown, Hon. E. R. . 5 00

Brown, Mrs. H. T. . i 00

Brown, Dr. Laurason 5 00

Brown, P. G 5 00

Brown, Mrs. F. G . . 3 00

Brown, Mrs. F. F . . 5 00

Brown, Frank A 5 00

Brown, Nathan C . . 5 00

Brown, T. Hassall... 5 00

Brown, Mrs. W. H . 5 00

Brown, Mrs. E.G.. 5 00

Brown, Harry W.. . . 5 00

Brown, Ronald K. . . 5 00

Brownell, C. R S 00

Browning, W. H 5 00

Bruen, Frank 5 00

Bruen, Fred H 5 00

Budd Lake Nature

Study Club 5 00

Buffington, Mrs. E.. 7 00

Bulklev, Mrs. E. M. 5 00

Bullard, Mrs. W. S.. 5 00

Bumpus, Dr. H. C. . 5 00

Bunn, C. W 5 00

Burdett, E. W s 00

Burgess, John K 5 00

Burke, Mrs. A 2 00

Burke, John C S 00

Burleigh, Geo. W... 5 00

Burney, T. L i 00

Burnham, Mrs. G.jjr. 5 00

Burnham, Mrs. J. A. 5 00

Burnham, J. G 5 00

Burnham, Mrs. L. T. 5 00

Burnham, Mrs. J.W. S 00

Burnham, Wm S 00

Burr, Mrs. I. T 5 00

Burr, Wm. H s 00

Burroughs, George. . 5 00

Burt, Miss M. T .. . 5 00

Burton, Robert M.. 5 00

Bush, Mrs. F. D . . . 5 00

Bush, H. D s 00

Butler, Miss E. O . . 5 00

Butler, Mrs. Paul.. . 10 00
Butler, Miss Virginia 15 00

Butler, Miss H. A . . 5 00

Buttrick, H. B 5 00

Bye, Christine F . . . 5 00

Bj-ington, Mrs. L. J. 3 00

Byrne, James 5 0°

Cabanis, Winship. . . 5 00

Cabot, G. E s 00

Cabot, Henry B 5 00

Cabot, Mrs. H. B . . 5 00

Carried forw'd. §1,603 00

List of Members

453

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought forw'd,$i,6o3 oo

Cabot, Louis S oo

Cabot, Mrs. A. T... 5 oo

Cabot, Mrs. W. C... 5 00

Cabot, Powell M... . 5 00

Caduc, E. E 5 00

Cady, William H. . . 5 00

Calkins, Mrs. Flora. 5 00

Calkins, Mrs. W.. . . i 00

Callaway, W. T 5 00

Camden, Mrs. J. N. 5 00

Cameron, E. S 5 00

Cameron, Sara M . . 1 00
Campbell, Donald... 5 00
Carew, Mrs. L. B.. . 5 00
Carey, Arthur A. . . . 5 00
Carhartt, Hamilton. 5 00
Carnegie, Morris T.. 5 00
Carola and Her Bro-
thers 25 00

Carpenter, C. L 5 00

Carr, R. H 5 00

Carson, Robert D . . 5 00

Carter, John E 5 00

Carter, Richard B... 5 00

Carter, Samuel T. . . 5 00

Carty, Mrs. John. . . 5 00

Cary, Kate 5 00

Gary, William A\ery 5 00

Case, Mrs. Brinston 5 00

Case, Mrs. Ermine.. 5 00

Case, Mrs. George B. 5 00

Case, Louise W S 00

Case, Miss AL R . . . S 00

Cass, Marion 25

Chad wick, E. J 5 00

Chafee, Mrs. Z 10 00

Chamberlain, C. W. 5 00
Chamberlain, Mrs.

E. F. P 5 00

Chamberlain, W. L. . 5 00

Chamberlain, G. N.. 5 00

Chambers, Frank R. 5 00

Chandler, Miss E... 5 00

Channing, Airs. W.. 5 00

Chapin, Horace I). . 10 00

Chapman, Frank M. 5 00

Chapman, Mrs. E. . 5 00

Chapman, Mrs. J. J. 5 00

Charles, John B . . . . 5 00

Chase, Sidney 5 00

Chase, Frederick S.. 2 00

Chase, Mrs. C. S... . 5 00

Chase, Mrs. Alice B. 5 00

Chase, Miss F. A. . . i 00

Chase, Mrs. M. M.. 5 00

Cheever, Dr. D. W.. 5 00

Cheney, Airs. A 5 00

Cheney, Airs. B. P. . 5 00

Cheney, Airs. C. G . 5 00

Cheney, Mrs. Geo. L. 5 00

Carried forw'd. Si, 903 25

Brought forw'd,$i,903 25

Cheney, Louis R . . . 5 00

Child, Rev. D. R... 5 00

Child, John H ^00

Childs, A. H 5 00

Childs, Air. P^vcrsley 5 00

Choate, Alable 5 00

Christian, Aliss E. .. 5 00

Christian, Susan 5 00

Christy, Nayard H . 5 00

Chubbuck, Isaac Y.. 5 00

Church, Fred C, Jr. 5 00

Church, Airs. George 5 00

Churchill, W. W. . . . 5 00

Churchill, Aliss A. P. 2 00

Churchill, J. R 5 00

Clapp, Airs. C. R... 5 00

Clapp, Aliss Helen.. 5 00

Clark, Aliss Anna B. 5 00

Clark, Airs. C. E... . 5 00

Clark, Emily L 5 00

Clark, Air. Geo. B . . 5 00

Clark, George H 5 00

Clark, Aliss H. R... i 00

Clark, J. H 5 00

Clark, Mrs. John T., 5 00

Clark, Airs. Le Vert 5 00

Clark, Airs. R. AI . . 3 00

Clark, Aliss Susan E. 5 00

Clarke, Aliss Ella AI. 5 00

Clarke, Aliss H. E. . 5 00

Clarke, Deaconess P. 5 00

Clarke, Aliss R. A... 5 00

Clarke, Thos. S 5 00

Clarke, William C... 5 00

Clyde, W. P 50 00

Clarkson, David A. . 5 00
Cleaves, Howard H. 5 00
Clinch, Howard T... 5 00
Clemson, Geo. N.... 5 00
Cleveland, W. H . . . i 00
Coates, Sarah H. . . . 5 00
Clinch, Judge E. S.. 5 00
Cochran, Airs. G. F. 5 00
Codman, Aliss Cath-
erine A 5 00

Codman, J. S 5 00

Codman, Julian .... 5 00

Codman, Miss AI. C. 5 00

Codman, Alartha C. 50 00

Coe, Aliss Ella S . . . 5 00

Coffin, Wm. Edward 5 00

Cogswell, Edward R. 5 00

Colby, Airs. F. C. . . S 00

Cole,' Airs. A. A 5 00

Cole, Robert C 5 00

Colgate, R. R 10 00

Collamore, Aliss H.. 5 00

Coolidge, A. Cary . . 5 00

Collier, Robert J . . . . s 00

Collins, Mrs. C. Hy. 5 00

Carried forw'd. $2,280 25

Brought forw'd, $2,

280 25

Collins, Ellen

30 00

Collins, Aliss G

10 00

Colton, Aliss C. W..

S 00

Comfort, Annie

5 00

Comfort, Airs. Anne
E

Comstock, Aliss B.L.

5 00

Conant, Aliss C. H .

5 00

Concord School

5 00

Conn. Audubon Soc.

25 00

Cone, Caesar

5 00

Cone, Julius W

5 00

Coney, Edith A . . . .

5 00

Congdon, Airs. H. L.

5 00

Converse, Airs. C. C.

5 00

Converse, Air. C. C.

5 00

Cook, Dr. Edward..

5 00

Cook, Charles S. . . .

S 00

Cook, Aliss L. G . . .

S 00

Coolidge, J. R

ID 00

Coolidge, John T. . .

5 00

Cooper, Howard AI .

5 00

Cope, F. R., Jr

5 00

Cope, Airs. Walter..

5 00

Corlies, Airs. C. A..

5 00

Corning, Alary I. C.

50 00

Cornwall, E. L

5 00

Cotton, E. A

ID 00

Cotting, Charles E..

5 00

Courtney, Rt. Rev. F.

5 00

Covell, H. H

10 00

Co.x, John L

5 00

Cox, Airs. Alary F..

S 00

Crable, M. G

5 00

Crafts, John W

5 00

Craig, Airs. W. R. . .

5 00

Grain, Airs. R. D...

I 00

Gram, Aliss Lilv

5 00

Cramer, Airs. .\. ...

5 00

Crane, Miss Clara L.

20 00

Crane, Ellen J

5 00

Crane, I. Seymour. .

5 00

Grans, Aliss L. G. . .

5 00

Granz, F

5 00

Crapo, Airs. J. T....

5 00

Crawford, G. E

5 00

Grehore, Elizabeth T.

5 00

Grehore, P'rederic AI.

5 00

Creighton, Aliss E. S.

5 00

Crenshaw, Alrs.W.G.

Jr

5 00
10 00

Grew, Mrs. H. S....

Crocker, Miss D

5 00

Crocker, W

10 00

Crocker, W.T

5 00

Cromie, Airs. G. H .

5 00

Grompton, Cora E..

5 00

Crompton, George. .

5 00

Grompton, Alary... .

5 00

Grompton, Stella L..

5 00

Carried forw'd. $2, 701

454

Bird -Lore

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought forw'd,$2,7oi 25
Crosby, Mrs. Ernest 5 00

Crosby, G. N S 00

Crosby, Mrs. S. V. R. 5 00
Crossett, Mrs. L. A. 5 00
Crouse, J. Robert. . . 5 00
Crowell, Mrs. J. S... 5 00
Cudworth, Frederic. 5 00
Culbertson, Mrs. E.. 5 00
Cummings, Mrs. C.

A., Jr 5 00

Cummins, Miss A. .. 5 00
Cummins, Miss E. . 10 00
Currier, Benj. H.. . . 5 00
Currier, Chas. R . . . 5 00

Currier, Geo. 0 5 00

Currier, Robert H... 5 00
Curtis, The Misses.. 25 00

Curtis, Sophia 5 00

Curtis, Mrs. G. S . . . 2 00
Curtis, Mrs. Louis.. 5 00
Cutler, W. Waldo . . i 00
Cutting, A. Wayland 5 00
Cutting, Robert F. . 5 00
Currier, Robert M . . 5 00
Curtis, iVIrs. Chas. B. 5 00

Gushing, M. W 2 00

Daland, Mrs. T 5 00

Dale, Mrs. Eben ... 5 00
Dalney, Mr. Herbert i 00
Dalton, Mrs. James. 5 00
Dana, Miss Ada. ... 5 00
Dana, Miss E. A . . . 5 00
Dana, Miss M. T... 5 00
Dane, Mrs. E. B . . . 5 00
Dane, Mrs. Francis. 5 00
Danforth, ]\Irs. H. G. 5 00
Darlington, Mrs. H.S. 5 00
Davenport, Mrs. E.B. 5 00
Davidson, Mrs. F. S. 5 00
Davidson, Mrs. H.. . 5 00
Davies, Edward H.P.

(in memoriam) . . .
Davis, Miss C. G. . .

Davis, C. H

Davis, Mrs. G. P.. .

Davis, Dr. G. P

Davis, Mrs. W. R . .

Davis, Walter R

Davol, Florence W .
Dawes, Miss E. M..
Daws, Miss E. A... .
Day, Mrs. Albert. . .
Day, Mrs. Frank A.
Day, Miss M. F....

Day, Miss K. S

Day, Miss Sarah J. .

Dean, Charles A

Dearborn, Miss S...
de Beaufort, W. H. .
De Coppet, E. J. . . .

5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
S 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

5 00
5 00
5 00
S 00
5 00
5 00

Carried forw'd.$3,oo2 25

Brought forw'd.Ss,

De Forest, H. W....

Degener, I. F

Denny, E. Inez

Detroit Bird Protect-
ing Club

Devlin, Mrs. John E.

Dewev, Dr. Chas. A.

Dibble, Mrs. R. W..

Dickey, Donald R. .

Dickson, Mrs. J. B..

Dickson, J. B

Dietz, Mrs. C. N. . .

Dillingham, Mrs. T.

Dimock, George E..

Dimock, Ira

Ditson, Mrs. C. H. .

Dod, Miss H. M . . .

Dodge, Cleveland H.

Dodge, Grenville M.

Dodge, Rev. D. S...

Dodge, Miss G. H. .

Dodge, Mrs. J. K. . .

Dominick, Mrs. M.
W

Dommerick, L. F. . .

Doremus, Robert P.

Doughty, Mrs. A. . .

Dows, Tracy

Dows, Mrs. Tracy. .

Drake, Edward E . .

Draper, E. S

Draper, Geo. A

Draper, Mrs. Henry

Draper, Wallace S . .

Drew, Miss E. E . . .

Drew, H. J. W

Drew, Mrs. M. B...

Drexel, Mrs. L. W..

Driver, Mrs. H. M..

Drude, Miss L. F...

Drummond, Miss E.

Drummond, Mary..

Dryden, Mrs. C. F. .

Duane, James May.

Du Bois, Mrs. J

Du Bois, Dr. M. B..

Duer, Mrs. Denning

Dumaine, F. C

Dumbell, H. M

Duncan, A. Butler..

Dunham, A. L

Dunham, Horace C.

Duryee, Miss A. B..

Duryee, G. V. W. . .

Dwight, Dr. J., Jr...

Dyer, E. T

Dyer, Mrs. G. R....

Dyer, Mrs. Ruth C.

Eastman, George . . .

Eaton, Chas. Edwin.

Carried forw'd. $3,473

,002 25

5 00

10 00

5 00

5 00

• 5 00

10 00

5 00

5 00

10 00

S 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

50 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

25 00

10 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

S 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

50 00

5 00

5 00

10 00

10 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

S 00

5 00

5 00

I 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

S 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

50 00

5 00

473 25

Brought forw'd,$3,473 25

Eaton, Chas. E 5 00

Eaton, Miss E. L... 5 00

Eaton, Howard 5 00

Eaton, Mary S 15 00

Eaton, Mary L 5 00

Eddy, Miss B. M... 5 00
Eddy, E. Pauline. . . i 00
Eddy, Miss Sarah J.
Elliot, Mary L. (Mrs.

J. W.)

Ellis, Mrs. A. V. H..

Ellsworth, J. M

Embury, Miss E. C.
Emerson, Mrs. E. W.
Emerson, Julia T. . .
Emery, Mrs. F. L. . . .

Emery, Miss G 30 00

Emery, Mrs. L. J.. . 25 00

Enders, John 0 5 00

Endicott, William . . 5 00
Eno, Henry C 5 00

5 00

5 GO

5 oc<

5 00
5 00

Erbsloh, M

5 00

Ernst, Mrs. H. C...

5 00

Estabrook, A. F

5 00

Ettore, E

I 00

Eustis, Frederick A.

5 00

Eustis, The Misses..

5 00

Evans, Mrs. G

5 00

Evans, Mrs. R. D . .

10 00

Everett, J. E

5 00

Ewart, W. I

5 00

Ewell, Mrs. J. N....

5 00

Ewing, Mrs. Feli.x G.

5 00

Fackler, David Parks

5 00

Fairbanks, Mrs. E.C.

3 00

Fairchild, Benj. T . .

5 GO

Fairchild,Mrs.C.S..

S 00

Farlow, Mrs. L. H. .

5 OG

Farnam, Henry W . .

5 00

Farnham, Wallace S.

5 00

Farnsworth, F. B...

5 GO

Farwell, Mrs. J. V.,

Jr

Farrar, Miss E. W.

S 00

Faulkner, MissF. M.

IG 00

Fay, D. B 5 00

Fay, Mrs. H. H ig gg

Fay, Miss Sarah B..2G0 go

Fay, S. Prescott. ... 5 gg
Fearhake, Mrs. Emily

Rice 5 GG

Ferguson, Alfred L. . 5 00

Ferre, Miss Ida H. . i go

Ferry, Miss Mary B. 5 go
Fessenden, Judge F.

G 5 GG

Field, Charles H 5 og

Field, E.B 5 gg

Field, Mrs. S. A. . . . 5 go

Finch, E. R 5 go

Carried forw'd. $4, 009 25

List of Members

455

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought for\v'd,$4,oo9 25

Finegan, Mrs. T. E. 5 00

I-'inlcv, William L . . 5 00

Fish, 'A. R 5 00

Fish, Mrs. F. P 5 00

Fisher, Miss E. W. . 5 00

Fiske, E. W 5 00

Fiske, Mrs. H. G. . . 5 00

Fiske, Mrs. M. D... 5 00

Fitton, Mrs. S. U.. . 5 00

Fitz, Mrs. W. Scott. 20 00

Fitzhugh, John D.. . 5 00

Fitzpatrick, Thos B. 5 00

Flagg, Dr. Elisha. . . 5 00

Flagg, Mrs. S. G., Jr. 5 00

Fletcher, Miss J. L. 5 00

Fletcher, Mrs. W. E. 5 00
Flint, Kate S. (Mrs.

Chas.) 5 00

Fogg, Miss G. M. . . 5 00

Folsom, Mrs. G. W. 5 00

Forbes, Alexander . . 10 00

Follett, R. E 5 00

Forbes, E. W 5 00

Forbes, Mrs. J. M . . 5 00

Forbes, Mrs. M. J. . 5 00

Forbes, Waldo E 50 00

Ford, Miss S. D 25 00

Foss, Mrs. E. N. . . . 5 00

Foster, Henry H.... 5 00

Ford, Miss Lesta... . 5 00

Foster, Macomb G. s 00

Foulke, Willing B . . 5 00

Fox, Henry 5 00

Franklin, Miss L. I.

P 5 00

Freedley, Mrs. A. S. 5 00

Freeman, Mrs. J. G. 5 00

Freeman, James G. . 5 00

Freer, Charles L 5 00

French, Allan 3 00

French, Miss C. A. . 5 00

French, Miss E. .\. . 5 00

Fricks, Dr. L. D 5 00

Frissell, A. S 5 00

Frothingham,Mrs.E. 5 00

Frothingham,Mrs. S. 2 00

Furness, Caroline E. 3 00

Gage, Miss Mabel C. 5 00

Gaillard, Mrs. W. D. 5 00

Galium, Mrs. A. F.. 5 00
Game Protectionist. .154 80

Gannett, Lewis Stiles 5 00

Gardner, Mrs. A. P. 5 00

Gardner, Mrs. A. S. i 00

Garret, Mrs. T. H. . 5 00

Garitt, Miss E. W. . . 500

Garrett, Mrs. E. W. 5 00

Gaston, Miss S. H. . 5 00

Gatter, Miss E. A.. . 10 00

Gavitt, William S.. 5 00

Carried for\v'd.S4,528 05

Brought forw'd,$4,528 05

Gay, Mrs. F'. L 5 00

Greer, Mrs. Walter.. 10 00

Gellatly, Mrs. J. . . . 5 00

Gelpicice, Miss A. C. 10 00

George, Edwin S. . . . s 00

George, Mrs. W. N.. 5 00

Gerdtzen, G. A 5 00

(jibson, Mrs. J. H.. . 5 00

Gifford, Dr. H 5 00

GitTord, O. P 5 00

(iilbcrt, Alice H. . . . i 00

(jilbert, Edward H. 25 00

Gildersleeve, Ferd.. . 5 00

Gillett, Lucy D 5 00

Gillingham, Mrs. T.

.E 5 00

Gimson, L. K 10 00

Glessner, Mrs. J. J.. 5 00

Goadby, Arthur. ... 5 00

Goddard, George A. 5 00
Godeffroy, Mrs. E.

H 5 00

Goff, Mrs. F"". H 5 00

Goler, Mrs. F. H. . . 5 00

Goodell, Mrs. James 5 00

Goodrich, C. C 5 00

Goodrich, Mrs. J. S. 5 00

Goodwin, Dr. A. H. . 5 00

Goodrich, Miss J. T. 5 00
Goodwillie, Mrs. M.

B ._ 5 00

Goodwin, Amelia. . . 5 00

Goodwin,Mrs. H. M. 5 00

Goss, Dr. Arthur V. 5 00

Gotthold, Arthur F. 5 00

Grace Church School 2 00

Graham, Mary D.. . 5 00

Gray, Miss Emily . . 5 00

Gray, Mrs. Horace . 5 00

Gray, Miss Isa E. . . 5 00

Gray, Mrs. Morris.. 5 00

Gray, Roland 5 00

Greene, Miss M. A.. 7 00

Greene, Margaret. . . 5 00
Greenfield Audubon

Society 5 00

Greenway, J. C, Jr. . 5 00

Greenway, G. L. . . . 5 00

Gregory, Mrs. A. K. i 00

Gregory, Mrs. R. B. 5 00

Greene, Master B... 5 00

Grew, Mrs. E. W... 5 00

Grew, Mrs. H. S . . . 10 00

Griesheimer, L 5 00

Griffin, Mrs. S. B... 5 00

Griffith, Mrs. B 5 00

Griffith, Miss M 25 00

Griswold, Emily K.. i 00

Groosvenor, G. H. . . 5 00

Gutterson, Jennie C. i 00

Carried forw'd. 64,85 1 05

Brought forw'd,$4,85i 05

Haass, Mrs. L. H. . . 5 00

Hadley, Mrs. \. P.. 5 00

Hagar, Eugene B. . . 5 00

Hahnle, R 50 00

Haines, Reuben .... 5 00

Haldane, E. P 5 00

Hall, Mrs. Bolton . . 5 00

Hall, Edward H.... 5 00

Hall, E. K 5 00

Hallett, Wm. Russell 5 00

Hamill, Eleanor C . 5 00

Hamilton, Miss E. S. 5 00

Hamilton, Mrs.W. P. 500

Hamlin, Mrs. E 5 00

Hamlin, Mrs. Eva . . 5 00

Hamlin, T. 0 i 00

Hammond,Mrs. J. H. 5 00

Hansen, Miss E. L. . 5 00

Harding, Emor H . . 5 00

Hardy, Mrs. Richard 5 00

Harmer, Thomas H. 5 00

Harper, Francis .... 5 00

Harral, Mrs. E. B. 5 00
Harrington, Mrs. F.

B 5 00

Harrison, Mrs. Perry 5 00

Harroun, Mrs. A. K. 5 00

Hart, Miss Mary T. 5 00

Harroun, Elliot K. . 5 00

Hartness, Mrs. Jas. . 5 00

Hartwell, Mrs. C. S . $ °°

Hastings, Alice 5 00

Hatch, Edward, Jr.. 5 00

Hatch, Lyle Payson. 5 00

Hathaway, H. B . . . 5 00

Hathaway, ]\Irs. H . S 00

Havemeyer, John C. 10 00

Hawkins, E. D 5 00

Hayward, Mrs. M. S. 5 00

Hayward, Miss P. L. 2 00

Hazard, Mrs. J. N.. 5 00

Hearst, Mrs. P. A . . 100 00

Heaton, Mrs. R. C . 5 00

Hecker, Frank J. . . . 25 00

Heller, Mrs David.. 5 00

Helm, Louis 5 00

Henbach, Mrs. G. . . 5 00

Henderson, J. B., Jr. 5 00

Hendrickson, J. H.. 5 00

Hendrickson, W. F . 5 00
Henkel, Mr. & Mrs.

A. P s 00

Henry, W. G 5 00

Hensel, Charles A . . i 00

Henshaw, Henry W. 5 00

Flentz, Henry 5 00

Hentz, Leonard L . . 5 00

Herman, F. J 5 00

Herrick, Harold 10 00

Hessenbruch,]Mrs. H. 5 00

Carried forw'd. 85,300 05

456

Bird -Lore

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought {orw'd,$5,3oo 05

Heywood, Mrs. G. A. 5 00

Higgins, J. L 5 00

Hill, Mrs. Oilman C. 5 00

Hill, Henry B 7 00

Hill, Mrs.'L. C 2 00

Hill, Wm. H s 00

Hillard, H. R 5 00

Hills, Mrs. E. A. . . . 5 00

Hittinger, Jacob. ... 5 00

Hoadley, Frank E... 5 00

Hoague, Theodore. . 5 00

Hodenpyl, Mrs. A. G. 5 00

Hodgman, Mrs.W. L. 5 00

Hodge, C. F 5 00

Hodge, D. W 5 00

Hoe, Richard M. .. . 5 00

Hoffman, Conrad A. 5 00

Hoge, Miss Florence 5 00

Hoguet, Henri A. L. . 5 00

Holden, A. F 5 00

Holden, E. F 5 00

Holden, Mrs. E. R.. 5 00

Holdren, M. E 5 00

HoUister, Mrs. G. A. 5 00

Holt, Mrs. Henry. . . 5 00

Holt, Mrs. R. S 5 00

Hood, Mrs. J. N . . . 5 00

Hookway, W. E. . . . 10 00

Hoover, M. H 5 00

Hopedale Grammar

School 10 00

Hopedale Park Com-
mission S 00

Hopewell, John S 00

Hopkins, H. Lind-

^ say_ 5 00

Hopkins, Josephine.. 5 00

Hoppin, Mrs. C. W. 5 00

Hornblower, Henry. 5 00
Hornbrooke,iMrs. F.

B 5 00

Horsfall, R. Bruce. . 10 00

Horsky, L. 0 5 00

Hosmer, Mrs 5 00

Houghton, C. S 5 00

Houghton, Mrs. F.O. 5 00

Hovey, Miss J. F. . . 5 00

Howard, A. O i 00

Howard, Julia L. . . . 2 00

Howe, Edith 5 00

Howe, Mrs. J. S. . . . 5 00

Howe, Miss Louise . 5 00

Howe, Mrs. Lucien . 5 00

Howells, Mrs. F. S. . 5 00

Howland, Emily 10 00

Howland, Isabel. ... 10 00

Hoyt, George S 5 00

Hoyt, Mrs. E. C . . . 5 00

Hoyt, Mrs. John S. . 5 00

Hoyt, Walter S 5 00

Carried forw'd. $5, 597 05

Brought forw'd, $5,597 05

Hubbard, Mrs. J. M. 5 00

Hubbard, Walter C. 5 00

Hudson, Mr. J. L. . . 5 00

Hudson, John E. . . . 5 00

Hudson, P. K 5 00

Hughes, Miss Ada F. 5 00

Hughes, Mrs. D. M. 2 00

Hull, Miss Beatrice. 10 00

Hull, Mrs. G. W . . . 5 00

Hunneman, W. C. . . 5 00

Hunnewell, Mrs. A. 10 00

Hunnewell, Walter.. 20 00

Hunt, Dr. E. W.... 5 00

Hunt, Dr. Emilj^ G . 5 00
Huntington, Mrs. R.

P 5 00

Huntington, Samuel 5 00

Hupfel, Adolph 5 00

Husey, The Misses . 5 00

Hussey, Wm. H. . . . 5 00

Hutchins, Mrs. E. W. 5 00

Hyde, Mrs. E.F 5 00

Hyde, Mrs. Thos W. 5 00
Indiana Audubon

Society 5 00

Ingraham, E. D. . . . 10 00
Irondequoit Fish and

Game Com 50 00

Irwin, Agnes i 00

Iselin, Mrs. C. Oliver 5 00

Iselin, Mrs. Wm. E. 5 00

Isham, C. B 5 00

Issenhuth, E. C . . . . 5 00
Jackson, Miss Anna

P 10 00

Jackson, Mrs. Chas. 5 00

Jackson, Ernest 10 00

Jackson, Mrs. E. E.. 5 00

Jackson, F. De M.. 5 00

Jackson, Miss M. C. 5 00

Jackson, Mrs. T. G. 5 00

Jacobs, Samuel K . . 5 00

Jacobs, J. Warren . . 5 00

James, Mrs. A. C... 10 00

James, Geo. Abbot . 5 00

James, Henry, Jr. . . 5 00

Jamison, Charles A.. 5 00

Jamison, M. A 5 00

Janney, J. B 5 00

Jansen, Mrs. H. W . 5 00

Jaynes, C. P 5 00

Jenckes, John 5 00

Jenkins, George W. . 5 00

Jenkins, Miss L . . . . 5 00

Jenkins, Mrs. J. W.. 10 00

Jenks, William 5 00

Jenks, ]\Irs. Wm. F. 5 00

Jenks, Mrs. Wm. H. 5 00

Jennings, Dr. G. H.. 2 00

Jenney, Bernard 5 00

Carried forw'd. $5, 962 05

Brought forw'd,$5,962 05

Jesup, Mrs. M. K.. . 25 00

Jcsup, Richard M . . 5 00

Jcwett, E. H 5 00

Jewel, L. L 5 00

Jewett, H. M 5 00

Job, Herbert K 5 00

Johnson, Mrs. A. S.. 5 00

Johnson, Mrs. F. S.. 5 00

Johnson, Edward C. 5 00

Johnson, L. J 5 00

Johnson, Miss M. W. 5 00

Jones, .\lfred 5 00

Jones, x\rthur G. . . . 5 00

Jones, B. B 5 00

Jones, Charles H. . . 5 00

Jones, Mrs. C. W. . . 5 00

Jones, Charles H. . . . 5 00

Jones, Mrs. C. H. . . 5 00

Jones, Esther 5 00

Jones, Frank S i 00

Jones, Mrs. G. E. .. 5 00

Jones, Miss Grace A. 5 00

Jordon, Mrs. Don . . 5 00

Justice, Henry 5 00

Kahn, Otto H 5 00

Kanouse, Miss M. F. 5 00

Kean, Mrs. H. F . . . 5 00

Keeler, Mrs. C. B... 5 00

Keen, Miss Florence 5 00

Keep, Mrs. Albert. . 5 00

Keith, Adeline S 5 00

Kellogg, F.J 5 00

Kelly, William 5 00

Kelley, Keiran P . . . 10 00

Kemeys, Walter S... 5 00

Kempster, James. . . 5 00

Kendall, Miss G 5 00

Kennard, Fred'k H.. 5 00

Kennedy, Mrs. J. S.. 15 00

Kent, Mrs. C. A 5 00

Kent, Edward G 5 00

Kerr, Mrs. John C. . 10 00

Kerr, Miss Lois .... 5 00

Kimball, Benj 5 00

Kimball, L. S 5 00

Kimball, Mrs. CO.. 5 00

Kimball, Mrs. L. C. 5 00

Kimball, Walter H . 5 00

King, Henry B 5 00

King, Miss C. W 5 00

King, Henry P 5 00

King, M. K 5 00

King, W. H 5 00

King's Daughters.... 5 00

King, Elizabeth .... 5 00

Kinney, Florence E. 5 00

Kittredge, S. D 5 00

Kling, Mrs. C. P.. . . 25 00

Kneeland, Frances. . 5 00

Knight, Mrs. A. S... 5 00

Carried forw'd. $6,3 1 8 05

List of Members

457

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought for\v'd,$(),,^
Kolbe, Lawrence A..
Kno\vlton,Mrs.M.l).
Krohn, Irwin M. . . .

Kuchn, Otto L

Kunhardt, W. B....
Kuntze, Luther ....
Kuser, Anthony R. .
Kuser, Mrs. A. R. . .
Kuser, Cynthia G...
Kuser, John Dryden

Kyle, Wm. S

Laccy, Milton S. . . .
La Forge, Mrs. C. G.
Lagowitz, Miss H. L.
La Montagnc, Mrs.

M

Lancashire, Mrs. J.H.
Lane, Miss M. L . . .

Langdon, W. G

Lane, Benj. C

Langeloth, Jacob... .
Langmann, Dr. G . .

Lanman, C. R

Law, Mrs. B. M....
Lawrence, John S. . .
Lawrence, Robert B.
Lawrence, Mrs. S. . .
Lawrence, Townsend

Lay, Herbert

Learned, Mrs. B. P.

Lee, Joseph

Lee, J. S

Lee, Mrs. J. S

Leeds, Mrs. John G.

Leeds, John G

Leigh, B. Watkins. .
Leland, Wilfred C . .
Leman, J. Howard .
Lemmon, I. McC. . .
Leonard. Edw-in ....
Lester, Mrs. J. W.. .
Letchworth, Josiah.
Ltverett, Geo. V . . .

Levey, W. C

Levey, Mrs. William

M

Lewis, Edwin J

Lewis, Mrs. H. J . . .
Lewis, JNIrs. J. F. . . .
Lewishon Importing

and Trading Co. .

Lincoln, Alex

Livingston, J. H

Lodge, H. Ellerton..
Logan, INIrs. H. A . .
Logue, Mrs. Ida L. .
Loines, ]\Irs. ]SI. H..
Loma Town & Land

Co

Lombard!, C

S oo
5 oo
5 oo
5 oo

1 oo
5 oo
5 oo

2 50
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

10 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

1 00
5 00
5 00

10 00

2 00

Carried forw'd. $6,597

Brought forw'd,$6,S97 55

Long, Harry V 15 00

Longfellow, Miss A.

M 5 00

Loomis, Miss M. E.. 2 00

Lord, Miss Couper. . 5 00

Lord, J. Anderson . . 3 00

Loring, Mrs. A 5 00

Loring, Miss Helen.. 5 00

Loring, J. Allen .... 5 00

Loring, The Misses.. 10 00

Loring, Mrs. W. C... 5 00

Lounsbury, C. H.... 5 00

Lovell, J. Barton... . 5 00
Lovell, Mrs. F. H.,

Jr 5 00

Lovell, Mary E i 00

Low, Hon. Seth .... 5 00

Lowell, Carlotta R. . 5 00

Lowell, Mrs. G. G. . 7 00

Lowell, James A 5 00

Lowell, Lucy 5 00

Lowell, Sidney V... . 3 00

Loyd, Miss S. A. C. 5 00

Luce, Matthew 5 00

Lundy, Miss E. W... 5 00

Lyle, John S 5 00

Lyman, Mrs. F. W.. 10 00

Lyman, Arthur 5 00

Lyman, Miss Mabel 5 00

Lyman, Theodore . . 5 00

Lyon, George L . . . . 5 00
Macdonald, Mrs. P.

B 5 00

Mackay, Mrs 5 00

Mackay, Ellin 5 00

Mackay, Katherine. 5 00

MacLean, Mrs 5 00

MacRae, T. M. D. . 5 00

Macy, Mrs. V. E. . . 5 00

Maddock, Miss E . . 5 00

Maghee, John H.. . . 5 00

Maitland, Robert L. 5 00

Malcom, Mrs. A. . . . 5 00

Mallory, Mrs. J. M . 5 00

Mallory, Mrs. J. M . 5 00

Mann, F. P 5 00

Mann, F. W i 00

Manvel, Mrs. H. R.. 5 00

Markham,Mrs.G. D. 5 00

Marling, Alfred E . . 5 00

Markoe, Mrs. John.. 5 00

Marrs, Mrs. K 5 00

Marsh, Ruth 5 00

Marshall, Chas. C. . s 00
Marshall, Mrs. E. O. 5 00

Martin, Mrs. E 10 00

Martin, Mrs. E. H.. 5 00

Marvin, Chas. D... . 5 00
Maryland Br. Nat'I

Ass'n 5 00

Brought forw'd,$6,889 55

Mason, Miss E. F .. 5 00

Mason, Miss F. P . . 5 00

Mason, Mrs. F. T . . 5 00

Mason, Geo. Grant.. 5 oo

Mass. Civic League. 5 00

Mastick, Mrs. S. C 5 00

Mather, Miss K. L . 5 00

Matheson, Wm. J . . 5 00

Mathews, Mrs. J. R. 5 00

Mattcson, Mrs. A . . 2 00

Malz, Mrs. Rudolph 5 00

Maund, Miss M. E.. 5 00

Mauran, Mrs. J. L. . 5 00

McKim, Le Roy 5 00

Mayo, Amy L 6 00

McGregor, T. W . . . 5 00

Means, Charles J. . . 5 00

McGowan, Mrs. J. E. 20 00

Meech, H. P 5 00

Meier, W. H. D . . . . : 00

Meigs, Mrs. T. B. . . 5 00

Melcher, Miss M. E. i 00

Merriam, F 5 00

Merrilces, H. C 5 00

Merrill, Edwin C. . . 5 00

Merrill, Miss F. E. . 15 00

Merriman, Miss H... 5 00

Merritt, Mrs. D. F . 5 00
Mershon, Hon. W.

B 5 00

Metcalf, Manton B. 5 00

Metcalf, Stephen O. 5 00

Meyer, Heloise 25 00

Miles, Mrs. H. A. . . 5 00

Miles, Mrs. H. E. . . 5 00

Miller, Carl 5 00

Miller, Mrs. C. R. . . 500
Miller, Mr. and Mrs.

C. T 5 00

Miller, Mrs. G. M. . 5 00

Miller, Paulina E... 5 00

Miller, Mrs. R. F... 5 00

Miller, Rosewell. ... 5 00

Mills, Herbert R . . . 5 00
Milwaukee Downer

School 5 00

Minot, Mrs. R. S.. . 5 00

Mitchell, Mrs. E. E. 5 00

Mixter, Madeline C. 5 00

Morgan, E. D 5 00

Mitchell, Mary 5 00

Mitchell, Mrs. M. B. 5 00

Montague, R. L. . . . 5 00

Moon, E. B 5 00

Moore, Mrs. R. W... 5 00

Moore, Mrs. W. H. . 10 00

Moos, Mrs. J. B 5 00

Morgan, Mrs. J . . . . i 00

Morison, George B . 5 00

Morrell, Edward ... 5 00

Carried forw'd. $6,889

Carried forw'd. $7, 210 5-

458

Bird -Lore

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought forw'd,$7,2

Morris, C. W

Morris, Mrs. D. H...
Morris, Mrs. J. B.. .
Morris, Lewis R. . . .
Morris, Robert O. . .
Morris, Dr. R. T... .
Morrison, Mrs. J. H.
Morse, Miss F. R. . .
Morse, Mr. H. L . . .
Morse, Mrs. J. T., Jr.
Moschowitz, Mrs. A.

V

Moseley, Miss E. F.

Moseley, F. S

Motley, James M.. .
Mott, Jordan L . . . .

Muhlfield, F. J

Mulford, O. J

Mulligan, Mrs. E. W.
Mumford, Mrs. T. J.
Murphy, Wm. H... .
Myers, Mrs. H. \V...
McAlpin, D. H., Jr..
Mc.\lpin,Mrs.D.H.,

Jr

McCampbell, T

McClymonds, Mrs.

A. R

McConnel, Mrs. S.D.
McCormick, Mrs. S.
McCulloch, Miss M.

G. B

MacDougall, G. R..
McDougall, Mrs. W.
McGaw, Mr. & Mrs.

Geo. K

McGraw, Mrs. T. S.
McHatton, Dr. H . .
Mcllheny, E. A . . . .
Mclntire, Mrs.H. B.
McKee, Mrs. J. R. .
McKittrick, Mrs. T.

H

McPherson, Mrs. A.
McPherson, Alex... .
McQuesteno, G. E..
New Century Club

of Utica

Newberry, W. F. . . .

Newell, R. C

Newman, Mrs. R. A.
Nichols, Arthur M..

Nichols, J. T

Nichols, J. W. T . . .
Nichols,Mrs.J.W.T.
Nicholson, Rebecca

and Sarah

NicoU, Mrs. Benj. . .
Noeth, George E . , .
Norbeck, Miss N. . .

5

CO

lO

GO

5

OO

.S

GO

lO

GG

S

GO

a

OG

lO

GO

.s

OG

5

GO

5

GG

5

GG

5

GG

3

GG

s

GG

20

GG

5

GO

S

GO

.S

GG

5

GO

-S

GG

."5

GG

5

GG

.■5

GG

.S

GG

5

GG

•S

GG

5

GO

5

GG

5

GG

5 OO

2G GG

GO

GG

GG

GO

GG

GO

GG

IG

GG

.=;

GG

5

GG

Brought forw'd, $7,509 55

Norcross, G. H 5 00

Norrie, Mrs. E. L.

B s 00

Norristown Audubon

Club s 00

Norton, Miss Grace. 5 00
Norton, Miss M. F.. 5 oo
Noyes, Mrs. A. M . . 5 00
Noyes, Mrs. H. A . . 5 00
Oakley, Thornton . . 5 go

Oakley, Mrs. T 5 go

Olcott, Mason 2 00

Oldberg, Mrs. O. . . . 5 go
Olin, Stephen H. . . . 5 go

Opdycke, L. E 5 go

Osborn, Mrs. H. F... 5 00

Osborn, H. F 5 go

Osborn, Miss M. B . 5 00
Osborn, Mrs. W. C . lo gg
Osborn, Wm. R . . . .
Ostrom, Mrs. H. I..
0\-ington, Elizabeth
Owen, Mrs. M. L...
Pack, Mrs. Chas. L.
Paddock, Royce. . . .
Page, Airs. H. W. . .
Paine, Airs. A. G. . .
Paine, Miss Ethel L
Paine, Mrs. F. W. . .

Paine, Geo. M 5 go

Painter, K. V 5 00

Parke, Louis H 5 oo

Parker, E. L 14 34

Paine, R. T., 2d ... .
Paine, Mrs. R.T., 2d.
Paladin, Arthur ....
Palfrey, Miss S. H..
Palmer, Miss C. H..
Palmer, Miss L. S. . .
Palmer, Dr. T. S.. . .
Parker, Edward L...
Parker, Mrs. W. R .

Parmelee, R. M

Parsons, Mrs. A. J...
Parson, Edward H...
Parsons, Miss K. . . .
Parsons, Robert L. .

Partridge, N. L 5 gg

Patten, Airs. W. S. . 5 oo
Patterson, Aliss A. C. i go
Patterson, Miss An-

r"3 C I GO

Patterson, T. H. H..
Patterson, W. F. . . .
Paul, Aliss Jenny S..
Peabody, Geo. A . . .
Peake, Elmore E . . .
Peck, Mrs. Edw. P .
Peck, Airs. AI. P . . .
Peet, Airs. W. C. . . .

s

GO

s

GG

.s

GG

s

GO

s

GG

5

GO

•S

GG

2GG

OG

.s

GO

5

GO

-S

GG

.s

GO

5

GG

00

5 00

5 GO

5 00
S 00
5 00
5 00

5 00

I GO

5 CD

25 CD

50 00

5 00

5 00

15 GO

5 00

5 00

Brought forw'd, $8,030 8g

Perin, Airs. F. L.. . .

Perkins, Miss E. G .

Perkins, Airs. G. H.

Perkins, Aliss Al. R.

Perkins, Russell

Peters, Wm. R

Peters, Francis A. . .

Pfarre, Airs. A. E.. .

Phillips, Anna G . . .

Phillips, Dr. C. E. H

Phillips, John C...

Phillips, Airs. J. C.

Phillips, Hon. J. AL. 5 oo

Philipp, Air. and

Airs. Aloritz B.. . . 50 oo

Philipp, P. B 25 GO

Phipps, Henry 5 go

Pickman, Airs. D. L

Pierce, George W. . .

Pierce, Henry Clay.

Pierrepont, Anna J

Pillsbury, Asa N. J

Pilsbury, Frank 0...

Planten, John R...

Piatt, Airs. D. T . . . 5 oo
Piatt, Aliss Harriet . 5 oo

Piatt, Laura N 5 oo

Piatt, Airs. 0. H . . . i 00
Poe, Alargaretta. . . . 5 go
Pollock, Geo. E . . . . 5 00
Pomeroy, Airs. N... 5 oo

Poole, Ralph H 5 00

Pope, .Alexander. ... 5 go

Pope, Willard s 00

Porter, Alex 5 oo

Post, Abner 5 00

Post, Airs. C. J., Jr. 5 oo

Post, Sylvester 5 oo

Post, Wm. S 5 GO

Potter, Aliss C 5 oo

Potter, Julian K. . . . 5 go
Potts, Airs. F. Al. . . 5 00

Potts, Jesse W 5 oo

Potts, Aliss Sarah B. 5 00

Potts, Thomas 25 oo

Powell, P. H 5 OG

Powers, Sarah H . . . i oc

Pratt, Joseph Al 5 go

Pratt, Geo. D 50 oo

Pratt, Leban 5 oo

Pratt, Aliss Sarah E.

5 00

Preston, Airs. W

5 00

Price, Airs. Geo

5 GO

Price, J. S., Jr

5 OG

Prince, F. Al

5 OG

Proctor, Henrv H . .

5 00

Proctor, Alary B . . .

I GO

Prouty, C. N., Jr. . .

5 00

Provost, Mrs. C. \\\

3 OG

Pruyn, R. C

.> 00

Carried forw'd. $7, 509 55 i Carried forw'd. $8,030 89 [ Carried forw'd. $8,53^ 89

List of Members

459

ANNUAL MKMBF:RS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought for\v'(l,$cS,5

'rycr, Chas

•iitnam, Mrs. .\. S..

'ulnam, Geo. P. . . .

'ulnam, Mrs. G. P.

'utnam, J. H

'ulnam, F. W

'ulnam, Mrs. S. G..

'vne, Mrs. M. T. . .

Quincy, H. P

Rackett, Miss M. S.
Ralph, Mrs. G. F...
Randolph, Fannv F.
Rankine, Mrs. W. B.
Ransford, Mrs. F. . .
Ralhborne, R. C . . .
Rawlinson, Miss E..
Ray, Miss Marie V..
Reaney, Miss R. . . .
Reed, Mrs. Wm. H..
Redwood, Mrs. F. J.

Renwick, E. B

Renwick, Edw. S. . .
Renwick, Ilka H . . .
Renwick, Mrs. W. C.

Reynal, N. C

Rcynal, Master E. S.
Reynolds, Dorrance.

Rhein, John, Jr

Rhoades, Mrs. B. M.
Rhoads, J. Snowdon
Rhoads, Miss L. W.
Rhoades, Mrs. S.W.

Rice, Mrs. E. F

Rice, J. H., Jr

Richards, Miss A.. A.
Richards, Geo. L... .
Richards, Miss H. E.
Richardson, H. H . .
Richardson, Mrs. G.

F

Richie, Miss Sarah..
Richmond, Walter. .
Ricketson, Walton..
Ricketts, Miss Jean.
Riggs, .\usten Fox. .

Riggs, Geo. C

Ripley, E. L

Riplev, Ebed L

Rives, Dr. Wm. C. .
Robbins, Miss A. B.
Robbins, Geo. .\. . . .
Robbins, Mrs. H. D.
Robbins, The Misses
Robbins, James M. . .

Robbins, N. E

Robbins, R. C

Robbins, R. C

Roberts, Mrs. Chas.

Robert, Samuel

Roberts, Miss C. M.

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

lo oo

2 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

I oo

5 oo

5 oo

I oo

5 oo

lo oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

lo oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

5 oo

lo oo

Brought forw'd,$8,829 8q

Roberts, E. C

Roberts, Miss F. .V..
Roberts, James O. . .
Roberts, Thomas S..
Robertson, Miss J...
Robinson, Miss .\nne

H

Robinson, C. \

Robolham, Cheslar..
Rochester, Emily N.
Rockefeller, Mrs. J.

IX, Jr

Rockefeller, John U.

Jr

Rockwood, C. G. . . .
Rockwood, Mrs. G. I.
Rodman, Miss E.. . .
Roe, Miss Alice S.

5 oo
5 oo
5 oo
S oo
[o oo

5 oo
5 oo
S oo
5 oo

S oo

5 oo
5 oo
to oo
5 oo
5 oo

Rogers, Geo. J 5 oo

Rogers, John M . . . . 5 oo

Rogers, Mrs. L. S . . 4 00

Rogers, Misses 5 00

Rolands, Miss .\. N. 2 00

Roof, Mrs. CM... 5 00

Roosevelt School ... 5 00
Rosengarten, Mrs.

Frank H 5 00

Rosenthal, J. W. . . . 5 00

Roth, J. E 5 00

Rothermel, John J.

Rothwell, J. E

Rountree, Mrs. H.

H

Rowley, John

Royce, Frederick P..
Rumsey, Mrs. C. C.

Rusch, H. A

Russell, B. R

5 00
5 00

5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
S 00

Russell, Mrs. E. L.
Russell, Mrs. G. W,
Russell, J. T., Jr...
Russell, Mrs. W. D
Ryan, John Barry..

Ryman, J. J 5 00

Sabin, Geo. K 5 00

Sage, Mrs. Dean ... 5 00

Sage, John H .'5 00

St. John, Edw. P. . . 5 00
Saltonstall, Robert..
Sanborn, Mrs. C. F..
Sanderson, Miss M..
Sands, Mrs. P. J . . .
Sargent, Mrs. F. W.
Satterlee, Mrs. H. L,
Saunders, Miss M.. .

Saunders, W. E 5 00

Sauter, Fred 5 00

Sauter, Jos. V 5 00

Sacife, Wm. B 5 00

Sawyer, Miss E

5 00
S 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

S 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

Carried forw'd. $8,829

Carried forw'd. $9, 116

Brought forw'd, $9,
Scarborough, J. V. B.
Schwab, Gustav H..
Scheller, Marguirite.
Schlesinger, Airs. M.
Schroeder, .Vrthur. . .

Schurz, Miss M

Scott, Donald

Scoville, Grace

Scranton, M. E

Scrymser,Mrs.Jas. A.
Scrymser, Jas. A . . .

Scully, Henry R

Seabrook, Mrs. H.

H

Seamans, C. W

Sears, F. B

Sears, (jeo. O

Sears, Horace S . . . .

Sears, Mary P

Sears, Mrs. S. C. . . .
Seccomb, Mrs. E. A.

Seaver, Benj. F

Sedgewick, Mrs. E..
Seeler, Mrs. E. V...
Seelye, L. Clark ....
Seligman, E. R. A...
Seligman, Mrs. G. W.
Seligman, Geo. W . .
Seligman, Isaac N...
Seligman, Mrs. I. N.
Seligman, Jefferson .

Seton, Ernest T

Sexton, Mrs. Ed. B.
Sewall, Helen D. . . .

Seward, W. R

Seymour, Julius H. .
Shannon, Thos., Jr. .
Shannon, Wm. P... .
Sharpe, Miss E. D. .
Sharpe, Master M.

P

Shattuck, A. R

Shattuck, G. C

Shattuck, Miss G. A.
Shaw, Mrs. G. H. . .

Shaw, Louis A

Shaw, Mrs. R. G....
Shaw, Quincy A., Jr.
Sheffield, G. St. J...
Sheldon, Mrs. Ed. B.
Sheldon, Mrs. H. K.
Shepard, Emily B.. .
Shepard, Mrs. E. E.
Shepard, Mrs. W. D.
Sherman, Miss A. R.
Sherman, Mrs. J. P.

R

Sherman, J. P. R. . .
Shiras, Hon. Geo. ,3d.
Shoemaker, Mrs. Ed.

1 1 0 89

.S 00

5 00

5 00

S 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

5 00

S 00

S 00
S 00
S 00
5 00

10 00
5 00
S 00
5 00
5 00
3 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

15 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 oo
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
100 00

5 00
5 00
5 00
50 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00
2 00

5 00
5 00
5 00
5 00

Carried forw'd. $9, 55 1 89

460

Bird -Lore

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Tirought forw'd.Sg,;
Shoemaker, H. \\'.. .
Shoemaker, ^Irs. H.

P

Shortall.Mrs. J. L...
Shumwav, Elene M.
Siblev, Mrs. E. A...

Sill, Annie M

Silsbee, Thomas. . . .
Sinclair. John E. . . .
Skeel. Mrs. R.. Jr . .

Skidmore, S. T

Skinner, Francis. . . .

Slade, E. A

Slade, Francis L. . . .
Slingluffs, Mrs. K . .
Sloane, ]Mrs. \Vm. . .
Slocum, Wm. H. . . .

Smilev, Daniel

Smith, Mrs. A. J. . . .

Smith, Bvron L

Smith, Mrs. C. G...

Smith, C. E

Smith, Edward C. . .
Smith, Miss C. L. . .
Smith, Eunice Cole..

Smith. H. A. H

Smith, Henrv P

Smith, Mrs. Jos. X..

Smith, Laura I

Smith, Mrs. M

Smith, Mrs. R. D . .
Smith. Prof. R. L. . . .

Smith, Theo. H

Smith, W. Hinchle..
Smith, :Mrs. W. ^l...
Smith, Wilbur F....
Smyth, Ellison A. . .
Smythe, ]\Irs. Hugh.

Snyder, Geo. B

Snyder, Watson

Sommerville. R

Spear, Mrs. Jas

Speare, Mrs. L. R . .
Sperry, Mrs. Lewis .
Sperry, Hon. Lewis..
Speyer, Mrs. Jas . . .
Spilman, Miss A. C.
Spofford. Paul X . . .
Spooner, Ellen O . . .
Spooner, Miss ^l. L.
Sprague, Dr. F. P.. .
Sprague, Mrs. Isaac.
Spring, Edward ....

Sprunt, Jas

Spurlock. Frank. . . .
Spurrell, John A. . . .

Stearns, Geo. H

Stetson, F. L

Stevenson, Annie B.
Stevenson, x\nna P..

51 Sg
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Brought forw'd.Sg

Stewart, A. M

Stick, H. Louis

Stillman, W. O

Stillwell, Maria C. . .
Stillwell, Mrs. L. B..
Stokes, Mrs. I. X. P.

Stone, Chas. A

Stone, Ellen J

Stone, Herbert F... .

Storey, R. C

Stout, Andrew V . . .
Stout, Mrs. C. H...
Stratton, Chas. E.. .
Strong, Richard A. .

Strong, S. B

Strong, T. G

Sturgis, E. M

Sturdevant, Mrs. ]\L

P

Sugden, Arthur W. .
Sullivan, Florence . .
Sussex Co. Xature

Club

Swan, Mrs. R. T. . . .

Swasey, E. R

Sweetser, Mrs. F. E.
Swezey, Mrs. I. T . .
Swope, Dr. Eugene..

Taber, Sidnev R

Taber, Mrs. S. R. . .

Talbot, jMary

Taintor, Chas. W. . .

Talcott, Jas

Tallmedye, Spencer.

Tapley, Alice P

Tananbaum, Leon...
Tapley, :Mrs. A. P. .
Tappan, Marv .\... .
Tarbell. Arthur P. . .

Tavlor, B. F

Taylor, Mrs. Wm. R.

Temple, J. S

Thayer, Mrs. E. R. .
Thayer, Ezra R . . . .
Thayer, Mrs. Jas. B.
Thaver, John E . . . .
Thaver, Mrs. G. A.,

Jr

Thayer, Herbert E..
Thayer, Mrs. J. E...
Thaver, IMrs. M. B..

Thaver, Mrs. X

ThaVer, Mrs. S. R. .
Thomas, :\Iiss B. H.
Thomas, Mrs. G. C.

Thomas, G. H

Thomas, Gracie L . .
Thomas, Mrs. L. . . .
Thomas, Mrs. Theo.
Thomson, Ernest A.

,852 89

5 00

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Thorndike, Albert . .

Thorne, Samuel

Thornton, ]\Iarv C
Tiffany, Mrs. C'L.. .

Tilt, Allen

Tingley, S. H.

Tinkham, Julian R .

Titus, E., jr

Tod, Thomas

Torrey, Mrs. E

Tower, Mrs. K. D. .

Towne, Wm. E

Tracy, C

Trainer, Chas. W. . .
Trowbridge, Wm. B.
Trube, ^Lathilde, F.
Tuckerman, Alfred .
Tuckerman, ^Irs. L.
Tuckerman, L. C. . .

Tulsen, H

Turle, ^Irs. Walter .
Turner, Mrs. Wm. J.
Tuveson, Xels A . . .

Tweedy, Edgar

Twombly, John F . .
Tyson, iliss E. R . .
Tvson, ^Irs. Geo . . .

Underbill, W. P

Upson, Dr. H. S. . . .
Utler, Mrs. Samuel..
Van Antwerp, Rev. .

Francis

Van Brunt, J. R

Vanderbilt, Laura . .
Vanderbilt, Mrs. J. .
Vandergrift. S. H. . .
\'anderlip,Mrs. F. A.
Van Dyke, Henry . .
Van Huyck, J. M...
Van Ingen, ]Mrs. E..

H

Van Xorden

Van Wagenen, H. W.

Velie, Chas. D

\'ezin, Chas

Vibert, C. W

Victor, Edw. W . . . .
Virginia Audubon

Society

\'on Riesen, Susan..

Wade. H. L

Wadsworth, Mrs. W.

Austin

Wakely, Dr. W. A. .
Wakeman, Miss F. .
Wakeman, Marv F..

Walcott. F. C

Waldo, Chas. S

Wales, Edw. H

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List of Members

461

ANNUAL MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS, continued

Brought forw'd,$io,

S14

89

Brought forw'(l,$ii.

o68 89

Walker, Alice M . . . .

5

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Wetherill, W. II....

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Walker, Lvdia M . . .

5

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Wetmore, Edmund .

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Walker, Olive

5

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Wharton, Wm. F. . .

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Walker, R. L

5

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Wheeler, Emily 0 . .

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Walker, Wm. B . . . .

10

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Wallace, Mrs. A. H.

5

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Wallace, Jas. S

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Walley, H. B

5

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Wheeler, Wilfred. ..

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Walser, C

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Wheelock, Wm. E...

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5

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White, Chas. E

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5

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White, Miss H. H . .

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White, Dr. Jas. C . .

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Warren, Mrs. E. W.

5

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White, Leonard D . .

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Warren, Walter P. . .

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White, Miss M. A...

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Waterhouse, Mrs. A.

White, Mrs. Wm. M.

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Watkins, John

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Watson, Jane S

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Whitney, Miss Anne

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Whitney, Milton B..

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Weaver, Mrs. B. P .

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Whittaker, Wm ....

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Weaver, Walter B...

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Widmann, Otto . . . .

5 00

Webb, Gerald B....

5

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Wiechers, Adolph. . .

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Webber, Mrs. W. G.

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Wigglesworth, Geo. .

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Webster, Edwin S . .

5

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Webster, F. G

10

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5 00

Webster, L. F

5

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Weeks, Andrew G . .

5

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Wilcox, Albert M....

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Weeks, W. B. P....

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Wilcox, Miss Marie.

5 OG

Wehrhane, Chas....

5

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Wilcox, T. F

25 00

Welch, Mrs. P. N . .

5

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WiUenbrock, Mrs. F.

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Weld, Rev. Geo. F..

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Williams, Blair S.. . .

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Weld, Gen. S. M . . .

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Williams, Miss C. D.

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Welds, E. F

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Williams, E. A

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Wells, Oliver J

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Williams, E. F

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5

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Williams, Mrs. I. T.

5 00

West, Chas. C

5

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Williams, John D...

10 00

Carried forw'd. $11,068

Carried forw'd.$i2,i2i

Brought forw'd, $12,1
Williams, Martha T.
Williams, Moses, Jr .
Williams, Moses. . . .
Williams, Mrs. T. S.
Willis, Mrs. Adeline.
Willis, Mrs. S. L....

Willis, Chas. T

Willson, Mrs. C. H..
Wilson, Miss A. E. .
Wilson, Miss A. M .
Wilstead, Mrs. A. . .
Wiman, W. Dwight.
Winchendon Women's

Club

Winston, G. Owen. .

Wing, Asa S

Winsor, Mrs. Alfred

Winthrop, H. R

Wister, Mrs. Owen .
Witcover, H. W....
Wolfe, Mrs. John...
Wolff, Mrs. L. S....

W. C. T. U

Women's Club

Wood, Arnold

Wood, Mrs. W. D.. .

Wood, Walter

Woodbury, Wm. L .
Woodcock, John. . . .
Woodward, L. F. . . .
Woodward, Mrs. G..
Woodman, Edw. W.
Woolman, Walter. . .
Wooster, Mrs. E. C.
Worcester, Mrs. A. .

Wright, Glen

Wright, Horace W..
Wright, Miss H. H .
Wright, Mrs. M. O..

Wright, M. T

Wright, Mrs. S., Jr..
Wright, Mrs. T. F..

Wyatt, W. S

Yarrow, Miss M. C.
Young, Benj. L . . . .

Young, Wm. H

Zabriskie, Mrs. A. C.
Zollikoffer,Mrs. O.F.

00

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Total.

.$12,365

462 Bird - Lore

The Report of the Treasurer of the National Association of
Audubon Societies, Ending October 19, 1912

INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT
Exhibit "B"

Income —

Members' Dues $8,041 00

Contributions 4,324 89

Interest from Investments 17,523 61

Rent Willow Island 42 10

Educational Leaflets Sales i,i7S 25

Von Berlepsch, Book Sales 132 79

Sale of Slides 259 46

Bird-Lore Sales 107 75

Sundry Sales 90 78

Commission 17 50

Total $31,715 13

Expenses —

Warden Service and Reservations —

Salaries $1,091 00

Expenses 276 48

Reservation Expenses 40 00

Launch Hire 1 24 00

$1,531 48

Legislation —

Massachusetts Campaign $1,026 63

Expenses 450 00

1,476 63

Educational Effort —

T. Gilbert Pearson, salary and expenses $5,920 67

E. H. Forbush, salary and expenses 1,885 74

M. B. Davis, salary and expenses 200 00

W. L. Finley, salary and expenses 725 11

Press Information 60 00

Bird-Lore Extra Pages 945 58

Printing 151 00

Lecture 8 85

Traveling 6 00

Electros and Half-tones 387 89

Drawings and Slides 922 65

Library 148 41

Educational Leaflets 2,782 94

Bird-Lore to Members 1,952 10

Grant's Book 102 70

Von Berlepsch Books 143 26

Prints, Charts, etc 68 82

16,411 72

Carried forward $19,419 83 $31,715 13

Report of Treasurer 46:-

INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT. ENDING, OCTOBER 19. 1912. continued

Income, bruughl forward 331,715 13

Expenses, brought forward $19,419 83

General Expenses —

Salary Chief Clerk $1,300 00

Salary Cashier and Bookkeeper 934 00

Salary Stenographers 1,416 01

Junior Clerks 558 35

Postage 614 25

Telegraph and Telephone 187 86

Office and Store-room Rent 1,080 00

Legal Services 280 00

Envelopes and Supplies 390 39

New Members' Expense 2,470 37

Miscellaneous Expense 591 44

Stenographic Work 22 10

Cartage and Expressage 109 84

Insurance 139 45

Western Office 1 2 00

Depreciation on Boats 219 66

Depreciation on Office Furniture 9271

10,418 43

Special Contributions —

North Dakota State Society $18 00

Sage Fund 1,611 39

1,629 39

Total Expenses 31,467 65

Balance — Surplus for the year $247 48

Refunded account expenses of preceding year. 30 00

$277 48

464 Bird - Lore

INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT. ENDING OCTOBER 19. 1912. continued

SAGE FUND — Income and Expense Account
Exhibit "C"

Income —

Balance unexpended October 20, 191 1 $1,362 67

Mrs. Russell Sage $S,ooo 00

National Association of Audubon Societies.. . . 1,611 39

Junior Secretaries 984 37

7,595 76

■ $8,958 43

Expenses —

Postage $775 83

Salaries (OflSce) 580 80

Cartage 201 37

Field Agents 1,562 39

State Societies 280 30

Traveling and Miscellaneous 69 14

Wardens 124 15

Educational Leaflets 654 66

Stationery 122 36

Rent of Office 150 00

Buttons 233 68

Bird-Lore 389 40

Plates and Outlines 2,548 85

Printing 88 50

Legal Fees 100 00

Sundries 34 14

7,915 57

Balance unexpended October 19, 1912 $1,042 86

EGRET PROTECTION FUND— Income and Expense Account
Exhibit "D"
Income —

Contributions $6,610 54

Expenses—

Cartage $19 83

Wardens' Salaries and Expenses i,597 90

Postage 685 50

Stenographic Work 452 95

Envelopes 90 84

Letter-heads 228 25

Printing ■, 16 50

Educational Leaflets 1,247 30

Bird-Lore 598 50

Egret Legislation ... 75 00

Miscellaneous Expense 2 71

5,015 28

Balance unexpended October 19, 1912 $i,595 26

Report of Treasurer 465

INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT. ENDING OCTOBER 19. 1912, continued

ALASKAN F UND — Income and Expense Account
Exhibit "E"
Income —

Contribution $i,ooo oo

Expense —

Traveling Expense $29 88

Drawings 125 00

Warden Service 250 00

404 88

Balance unexpended October 19, 1912 $595 12

CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FUND— Income and Expense Account
Exhibit "F"

Income —

Contributions $10,000 00

Junior Secretaries ". 528 17

$10,528 17

Expenses —

Traveling Expenses $97 59

Educational Leaflets 1,371 32

Outlines 208 00

Plates 3,380 60

Clerical and Salaries 713 85

Envelopes 196 20

Postage 380 00

Express and Cartage 168 75

Contributions 300 00

Telephone and Telegrams 8 96

Circulars 170 00

Bird-Lore 63 1 20

Office Supplies 17 26

Rent 150 00

Buttons 160 83

Printing 62 80

Miscellaneous 28 65

8,046 01

Balance unexpended October 19, 191 2 $2,482 16

PRICE-LIST o/LITERATURE

PUBLISHED BY THE

National Association 6>/Audubon Societies

1974 Broadway, New York City

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLETS

I

Nighthawk

8. Marsh Hawk

13. Ostrich

3

Meadowlark

Q. Red-shouldered Hawk

14. Barn Owl

4

Robin

10. American Sparrow Hawk

15. Tree Sparrow

5

Flicker

II. Screech Owl

16. Yellow-billed Cuckoo

7

Snowy Heron

12. Short-eared Owl
SPECIAL LEAFLETS

29. Herring Gull

2

Purple Martin

1 1 . August and the Flocking

17. Bob- white, the Farm-

3

Bird Clubs in Schools

Time

ers' Friend

5

The Aigrette Loses Caste

12. October and Prepa-

20. How Our Birds Spend

February

rations for Winter.

the Winter

8

April — NatuO Study

13. For December — Six

21. The Horrors of the

Organizations

Reminders

Plume Trade

9

In June

15. February Hints

The above leaflets published with uncolored illustrations.
One cent each, ten cents per dozen.

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLETS

2.

Mourning Dove

34-

Rubj'-crowned Kinglet

47-

Bob-white

6.

Passenger Pigeon

and Golden-crowned

48.

Cedar Waxwing

17-

American Goldfinch

Kinglet

49.

Chimney Swift

18.

Cardinal

35-

American Crossbill and

SO.

Carolina Wren

19.

Belted Kingfisher

White-winged Crossbill

51-

Spotted Sandpiper

20.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

36.

The Mallard

52.

Least and Semi-palm-

21.

Scarlet Tanager

37-

Sharp-skinned Hawk

ated Sandpiper

22.

Blue Jay

38.

Bobolink

S3-

Horned Lark

23-

Kildeer

39-

House Wren

ss-

Downy and Hairy

24.

Bluebird

40.

Bush-Tit

Woodpecker

25-

Red -winged Blackbird

41.

Mockingbird

56.

Hummingbird

26.

Baltimore Oriole

42.

Orchard Oriole

S7-

Yellow - headed Black-

27.

Indigo Bunting

43-

Red -headed Wood-

bird

28.

Purple Finch

pecker

58.

California Quail

3°-

Snowflake

44.

Franklin's Gull

59-

White - breasted and

31-

Song Sparrow

45-

Black-headed Grosbeak

Red - breasted Nut-

32.

Barn Swallow

46.

Robin

hatch

33-

Tree Swallow

SPECIAL LEAFLETS

6. Bartramian San

dpip

;r

0. Wood Duck

The above leaflets published with colored illustrations and outlines.
Two cents each, twenty cents per dozen.

Educational 54— The White Egrets

Special 14— The Cost of a Feather ....
16-Winter Feeding of Wild Birds
18 Putting Up Bird-boxes . . .

3c. each. 36c. per dozen.
2c. each, 20c. per dozen.
2c. each, 20c. per dozen.
2c. each, 20c. per dozen.

Separate plates Ic. each, outlines 2 for Ic. leaflets only, Ic. each. Prices for larger quantities
of any of our literature furnished upon application.

NOTE— Be sure and designate, when ordering, whether Educational Leaflets or
Special Leaflets.

TWELFTH CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS

JANUARY FEBRUARY, 1912

20c. a Copy
$1 a Year

Edited by
FRANK M. CHAPMAN

PtTBLISHBD POH THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES

2D. :appleton & Companp

COPYRIGHT. 1912, BV FRANK M. CHAPMAN

JBirti tore

March - April, 1912

CONTENTS

GENERAL ARTICLES page

Frontispiece — White-throated, White-crowned and Black-chinned Sparrows

Louis A gassiz Fuertes . .

The Duck Hawk on the Palisades. Illustrated William Cogswell Clarke . . 8i

The Barred Owl at Rhinebecx. Illustrated by the author. .Maunsell S. Crosby. . 87

A Bluebird Study L. Claude . . 91

An Early Migrant. Illustrated Guy A . Bailey . . 95

The Orizaba Group in the American Museum of Natural History. Illustrated . . 97
The Migration of North American Sparrows. Fifteenth Paper. Illustrated

by Louis Agassiz Fuertes ^V . W. Cooke. . 98

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows. Fourteenth Paper

Frank M. Chapman. . 105

Bird-Lore's Advisory Council 107

NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY . . 109

Prothonotary Warbler in Connecticut in November, l\- tlbur F. Smith; A
Winter Oriole, Lottie Alvord Lacey; A Second Winter Oriole, G. Henry
Mengel; A Winter Towhee. Fra«;^ E. Woodward; A November Black-throated
Blue Warbler, Isabel D. Martin; Winter Robins, M. L. Hulse, R. F.
Haulenbeek, W. H.Wisman, V.A.Debes; The Starling in New Jersey, Waller
Fox Allen; Starlings in Princeton, N. J., A.F. Hagar; The Starling in
Illinois, Frank W. Aldrich; The Starling in Philadelhhia, Chas. Alison
Scully; The Starling in New Hampshire, Rest E . MetcalJ; Bird-Notes from
South Norwalk, Conn., Wilbur F. Smith; Bird-Banding, Howard H. Cleaves,
Secy.-Treas.

BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS • • ,• "S

Cooke's "The Migratory Movements of Birds in Relation to the Weather;
\ Michigan Biological Survey: Todd and Worthington on Bahaman Bird-
Life; Jacobs' American Bird-House Journ.al; The Ornithological Maga-
zines.

EDITORIAL "7

AUDUBON SOCIETIES— SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ,. 118

Arbor and Bird Day in the Home: For Teachers and Pupils; Exercise.
II. Spring Travelers; Correlated Studies; Geography, Map-making and
Clay-modeling; From Young Observers; Wintering of the Robin in the
Northern United St.ates; Our Winter Visitors; The Competitors in a
Bird-box Contest (illustrated); Our Winter Friends; A Winter Record from
Minnesota; Can the Starling Resist Cold as Well as the Robin?
EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET, NO. 55. The Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers. With

colored plate bv E. J. Sawyer Alice Hall Walter. . 126

THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES— EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 131

Robin Protection; Birds and the Recent Snowstorm (illustrated); Bird Famine
Relief Work; Feeding Birds (illustrated); White Egret Protection (illus-
trated); Subscribers to the Egret Protection Work; New Members;
Miscellaneous Notes.
:^*i^Manuscripts intended for publication, books, etc., for review and exchanges, should be
sent to the Editor, at the American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and 8th Avenue,
New York City, N. Y.

Notices of changes of addresses, renewals and subscriptions should be sent to
BIRD-LORE, HARRISBURG. PA.

Special Notice

Subscribers whose subscriptions have expired will find a
renewal blank placed in their copy of this issue of BiRD-LORE.

Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office at Harrisburg, Pa

VOL. XIV
No. 3

MAY -JUNE, 1912

20c. a Copy
SI a Year

PXTBLISHBD FOH THK A(70(7BOir SOCIETIES

©. :appleton Si Companp

HARRISBURG, PA

COPTSIOHT. IB12, B^

IBirti I^ore

May -June, 1912

CONTENTS

GENERAL ARTICLES page

Frontispiece in Color — Black-headed and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

Louis Agassiz Fuertes. .

An Eighteen-year Retrospect Frank M. Chapman. 141

The Wood Thrush. Verse Jane S. Davis . . 144

The Golden-winged Warbler. Illustrated by the Author. .Maunsell S. Crosby. . 145
One Little Hummer and I. Illustrated by the Author. . Winifred Holway Palmer. . 147

The Hermit Thrush. Verse Henry Lear. . 149

Notes on Cliff Swallows. Illustrated by the Authors . . Kale P. and E. W. Vietor . . 150
Making the Acquaintance of a White- eyed Vireo. Illustrated by the Author. .

Alfred C. Redfield. . 153

Ezekiel Maud Jamison Selby . . 154

\'eery on Nest. Illustration J. M. Schreck. . 157

The Migration of North American Sparrows. Sixteenth Paper. Illustrated

by Louis Agassiz Fuerles W. W. Cooke. . 158

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows. Fifteenth Paper

Frank M. Chapman. . 162

NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY 163

Pine Siskin in Trenton, N. J., William M. Palmer; Where Are the Blue-
birds? J. Warren Jacobs: A Woodcock's nest, Merriam G. Lewis; Pine
Grosbeaks in August, H. H. Curtis; Florida Notes, Wm. M. Stillman;
Wrens in Our Garden, Lizzie A.Lyle: Winter Robins in Wisconsin, I. N.
Mitchell; Records from London, Ont., C. G. Watson and Melville Dale; Notes
ON the Pine Warbler and House Wren, Edward H. Perkins: Blue-Gray
Gnatcatcher Near New Rochelle, N. Y., Richard L. Burdsall and Others;
1911 Bird Notes from Long Beach, L. L, Ludlow Gr is coin; The Birds of
Little Elk Canon, Alice Dav Pratt; A Day's Waterfowl Migration in
South Dakota, Stephen Sargent Visher; Leucostictes Making Cliff
Swallows' Nests Their Night Abode. Sanford Mills; Wilson's Snipe and
list^-EST.Aretas A.Saimders; Birds in Prospect Park, K. P. andE. W. Vietor;
Abundance of Goldfinches, F. M. Chapman.

BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS 172

The Revised Edition of Chapman's 'Handbook;' Sclater's 'Birds of Colo-
rado;' Blatchley's 'Woodland Idyls;' The Ornithological Magazines.

EDITORIAL 17s

AUDUBON SOCIETIES— SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 176

A Time Suggestion: For Teachers and Pupils; Exercise III, Summer Neigh-
bors; From Young Observers.
EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET, NO. 56. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird. With col-
ored plate bv R. L Brasher Mabel Osgood Wright. . 186

THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES— EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 190

Massachusetts Legislation; Oregon; Florida. (Ills.) ; New Members; Fund
for Egret Protection; Notes on Junior Audubon Classes; New York
Bird and Game Laws; Notes from the Field.
if*if Manuscripts intended for publication, books, etc., for review and exchanges, should be
sent to the Editor, at the American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and 8th Avenue,
New York City, N. Y.

Notices of changes of addresses, renewals and subscriptions should be sent to
BIRD-LORE. HARRISBURG, PA.

Special Notice

Subscribers whose subscriptions have expired will find a
renewal blank placed in their copy of this issue of BiRD-LORE.

Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office at Harrisburg,

Books by Frank M. Chapman

"No writer on American birds is more thoroughly at home in his subject than
Mr. Chapman."— r/zr Dial.

Camps and Cruises
of an Ornithologist

The rcconl of Mr. Chapman's experiences durinji the eight years in
which he was {^atherinj^ material for the now-famous " habitat groups"
of birds at the American Museum of Natural History. With 250 pho-
tographs from nature by the author.

" It is hardly possible to exaggerate the attraction which this volume of adventure
and travel, by an ornithologist superbly ecjuipped for his work, must have for the
bird-\over ." — Philade! phia Press.

Svo. Cloth, gilt top, uncut edges. In a box, $^.00 net.

Bird -Life

A guide to the study of our common birds. With 75 full-page
colored plates and numerous text-drawings by Ernest Thompson-
Seton. Containing an Appendix, especially designed for teachers.

The opening chapters of this book briefly define the bird, its place in nature, and
its relation to man, and outline the leading facts in its lifc-history. The concluding
chapters present portraits, names and addresses of upward of one hundred familiar
eastern North American birds.

"No more valuable or beautiful book upon birds can be desired." — Phila. Ledger.

I2mo. Cloth, $2.00 net

Bird Studies with a Camera

A fascinating account of the habits of some of our common birds,
with descriptions of the largest bird colonies existing in eastern North
America. The author's phenomenal success in photographing birds
in Nature not only lends to the illustrations the charm of realism, but
makes the book a record of surpassing achievements with the camera.

l2mo. Cloth, $1.75

The Warblers of North America

Full biographies of our "most beautiful, most abundant, and least-
known birds." In describing these "dainty, fascinating sprites of the
tree-tops" Mr. Chapman has here drawn on his own great wealth of
material and has had the cooperation of many other ornithologists.
Illustrated with colored plates of every species, by Fuertes and
Horsfall, and by photographs of nests and eggs.

"Bids fair to remain an authority for a long time." — The Nation.

Imperial Svo. Cloth, $3.00 net

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
29-35 W. 32d St., New York City

New, Revised Edition of the

Handbook of Birds

of Eastern North America

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Curator of Birds, American Museum of Natural History

With Plates in Colors and Black and White, by LOUIS
AGASSIZ FUERTES, and Text Illustrations by
TAPPAN ADNEY and ERNEST THOMPSON SETON

The text of the preceding edition has been thoroughly
revised and much of it rewritten. The nomenclature and
ranges of the latest edition of the "Check-List" of the
American Ornithologists' Union have been adopted.
Migration records from Oberlin, Ohio, Glen Ellyn, 111.,
and Southeastern Minnesota, numerous nesting dates for
every species, and many biographical references have
been added ; the descriptions of plumage emended to
represent the great increase in our knowledge of this
branch of ornithology; and, in short, the work has been
enlarged to the limit imposed by true handbook size and
brought fully up-to-date.

In addition to possessing all the features which made
the old "Handbook" at once popular and authoritative,
the new "Handbook" contains an Introduction of over
lOO pages on "How to Study the Birds in Nature,"
which will be of the utmost value to all students of liv-
ing birds.

The subjects of distribution, migration, song, nesting,
color, food, structure and habit, intelligence, and allied
problems are here treated in a manner designed to arouse
interest and stimulate and direct original observation.

A Biographical Appendix, giving the titles to all the
leading works and papers (including faunal lists) on the
Birds of Eastern North America, shows just what has
been published on the birds of a given region, a matter
of the first importance to the local student.

fdi Pages. Cloth, $^.30 net. Flexible Morocco, $4.00 net

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, Publishers

29^5 West 32d Street, New York

Books by Frank M, Chapman

"No writer on American birds is more thoroughly at home in his subject than
Mr. Chapman, "—r/ie Dial.

Camps and Cruises
of an Ornithologist

The record of Mr. Chapman's exiicriences durinji the eif^ht years in
which he was fjatherin^ material for the now-famous " habitat groups"
of birds at the American Museum of Natural History. With 250 pho-
tographs from nature by the author.

" It is hardly possible to exaggerate the attraction whitli this volume of adventure
and travel, by an ornithologist superbly e(|ui()|)e(i for his work, must have for the
b i n! - lover . ' ' — Philadelphia Press.

Svo. Cloth, gilt top, uncut edges. In a box, $},.00 net.

Bird -Life

A guide to the study of our common birds. With 75 full-page
colored plates and numerous text-drawings by Ernest Thompson-
Seton. Containing an Appendix, especially designed for teachers.

The opening chapters of this book briefly define the bird, its place in nature, and
its relation to man, and outline the leading facts in its life-history. The concluding
chapters present portraits, names and addresses of upward of one-hundred familiar
eastern North American birds.

"No more valuable or beautiful book upon birds can be desired." — Phila. Ledger.

1 2 mo. Cloth, $2.00 net

Bird Studies with a Camera

A fascinating account of the habits of some of our common birds,
with descriptions of the largest bird colonies existing in eastern North
America. The author's phenomenal success in photographing birds
in Nature not only lends to the illustrations the charm of realism, but
makes the book a record of surpassing achievements with the camera.

l2rno. Cloth, $1.75

The Warblers of North America

Full biographies of our "most beautiful, most abundant, and least-
known birds." In describing these "dainty, fascinating sprites of the
tree-tops" Mr. Chapman has here drawn on his own great wealth of
material and has had the cooperation of many other ornithologists.
Illustrated with colored plates of every species, by Fuertes and
Horsfall, and by photographs of nests and eggs.

"Bids fair to remain an authority for a long time." — The Nation.

Imperial Svo. Cloth, $J.OO net

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
29-35 W. 32d St., New York City

" No one can read this book without feeh'ng a closer touch of
friendship with the forms of bird-h'fe about him."— AVac York Times

Camps and Cruises

OF AN

Ornithologist

The record of Mr. Chapman's experiences during the
eight years in which he was gathering material for the now-
famous "habitat groups" of birds at the American Museum
of Natural History.

"Exceptionally inter-
esting and in many re-
spects remarkable."

—The Auk

"A notable contri-
bution to bird -lore."
— The Dial

"It is hardly possible to exaggerate the attraction which this
volume of adventure and travel, by an ornithologist superbly equipped
for his work, must have for the bird-\over." — Philfidelphia Press.

By Frank M. Chapman

Curator of Ornithology of the American
Museum of Natural History

ff^ith 2^0 Photographs from Nature hy the Author.
8vo. cloth, gilt top, uncut edges. In a box, $j.oo net.

Published by

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 29 W. 32nd St., New York

FRANK M. CHAPMAN
Published fob thk Auddbon Societies

SD. :appleton & Companp

HARRISBURG, PA

M. CHAPMAN

iBirti tore

July - August. 1912

CONTENTS

GENERAL ARTICLES page

Frontispiece in Color — Canon, California, and Abert's Towhees

Louis Agassis Fucrtes . .
A List of Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Herbaceous Plants Native to New

England, Bearing Fruit or Seeds Attractive to Birds

Frederic H. Kennard . . 201

Observations in a Laughing Gull Colony. Illustrated by the author

Francis Harper. . 204

A Great Blue Heron at Sea. Illustration Edward Harold Pounds. . 209

One of Our Neighbors Lillian Lambert . . 210

Some Nesting Habits of the Oregon Junco. Illustrated by the author

May R. Thayer. . 212
Red-headed Woodpecker at C.a,mden, N. J. Illustrated by G. A. Bailey and the

author 216

The Migration of North American Sparrows. Seventeenth Paper. Illustrated

by Louis Agassiz Fuertes W . W . Cooke . . 218

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows. Sixteenth Paper

Frank M. Chapman . . 218
The Massachusetts Audubon Society's Bird-Lists 220

NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY 225

From the Maine Coast, Tertius van Dyke; Birb Notes from Collins, N. Y.,
Anne E. Perkins, M.D.; Unusual Visitors in Massachusetts, John B. May,
M.D.; A Long Island Brown Pelican, Julius M. Johnson; How the Gulls
Won the Vote, Annie Chase; The Semipalmated Sandpiper as a Marsh
Bird, (illustrated), John Treadwell Nichols; An Eagle Story, Wilbur F. Smith;
A Screech Owl Incident, Adrian Larsen; Note on the White-throated
Sparrow, A. F. Ha^ar; A Vireo Courtship, Winsor M. Tyler, M.D.; Hooded
Warbler at Hartford, Conn., Everett D. Dow; Notes on the Bluebird
AND RoniN, Eliza F. Miller; Janltary Bluebirds, Wm. Fuller; Kildeer in
New Hampshire, ir. E. Cram; Note on the Screech Owl, IF. F. Cady.

BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS 232

Clarke's 'Studies in Bird Migration'; First Report of the Meriden Bird
Club; Bird Classes of the .\udubon Society of the District of Colitmbia;
Headley's 'The Flight of Birds', 'Cassinia'; Mills' 'Spell of the Rock-
ies'; Kuser's 'Birds of Somerset Hills'; McAtee and Beal on 'Common
Game, Aquatic, and Rapacious Birds'; Wright's 'Birds of the Jefferson
Region'; The Ornithological Magazines; Book News.

EDITORIAL 2i7

AUDUBON SOCIETIES— SCHOOL DEPARTMENT 238

The Vacation Spirit; For Teachers and Pupils. Exercise IV, Summer Neigh-
bors (continued).; From Young Obserners (illustrated).

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET, NO. 57. The Yellow-headed Blackbird. With colored

plate by Allan Brooks Thomas S. Roberts . . 250

THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES— EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 254

Audubon Work in Alaska; The Late Capt. Da\is (illustrated), Junior Audubon
Work (illustrated); The Florida .\udubon Society (illustrated); Indiana
Audubon Society; Jefferson Butler's Field Work; New Jersey Fish and
Game Commission; New Members; White Egret Protection, (illustrated);
Letters from Teachers (illustrated).

i^*ifManuscripls intended for publication, books, etc., for review and exchanges, should be
sent to the Editor, at the American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and 8th Atenue,
New York City, N. Y.

Entered as second-class mail matter in the Post Office at Harrisburg, P.i

SEPTEMBER— OCTOBER, 1912

ZOe. a Copy
SI a Year

COPYa:QHT. 191i. B\

Mxt} Hoxt

September - October, 1912

CONTENTS

GENERAL ARTICLES page

Frontispiece in color — Towhee, Arctic Towhee . . Louis Agassiz Fuertes

Phcebe vs. Catbird; A Study in Adaptability. Illustrated by the author

A. A. Allen . . 269

Florida Bob-whites. Illustration George Shiras, id. . 274

The Story of Peter. Illustrated by G. A. Bailey Fanny Hardy Eckslorm . . 275

"Report of an Expedition to Laysan Island in igi i." Illustrated 279

Two Problems in Identification. Illustrated 284

The Migration of North American Sparrows. Eighteenth Paper. Illustrated

by Louis Agassiz Fuertes W. W. Cooke . . 287

Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows. Seventeenth Paper

Frank M. Chapman. . 290

NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY 291

Long Island Notes, Isabel McC. Lemmon; A Talented Song Sparrow, George
A. Dennison; Bluebirds vs. Wrens, Mrs. M. M. Waring; A Tragedy Nar-
rowly Averted, £. D. Nauman; A Yellow Warbler's Nest, E. J. Luther;
Nesting of the Carolina Wren, Mary Giles Blunt; Bluebirds in Minne-
sota, Harry B. Logan; Jr.; White Pelicans in Ohio, W. H. Wisman; Gold-
finches and Bluebirds in Massachusetts, W. J. Cartwright; Northern
Pileated Woodpecker in Corvallis, Oregon, A. J . Stover; Prairie Horned
Larks in Maine, W . H. Waterman.

BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS 298

Barrows' 'Michigan Bird Life;' Scharff's 'Distribution and Origin of Life
in America;' The Ornithological Magazines; Book News.

EDITORIAL

AUDUBON SOCIETIES— SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ,502

How Audubon Societies May Become More Efficient; For Teachers and
Pupils; From Young Observers; From Adult Observers.

EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET, NO. 58. The California Quail. With Colored Plate

by Allan Brooks Joseph Mailliard.. . 312

No sg. The White-Breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches. With Colored

i'hUf hy R. T. Brashc-r Francis //. Allen.. . 316

THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES— EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 320

President Dutcher; Notice to Members; James Buckland; Game Commis-
sioners' Meeting; Enforcing the Aigrette Law; New Members; The
Egret Protection Fund; Alabama.

^,*^: Manuscripts intended for puhlicalion. hooks, clc. for revieiv and exchange, should he
sent to the Editor, at the American Museum of Xatural History, Tjlh Street and Sth Avenu(.
New York City, N. Y.

Notices of changes of addresses, renewals and subscriptions should be sent to
BIRD-LORE. HARRISBURG. PA.

Entered .is second chiss mail mritter in the Post OiFice aI HarrisburK, Pa

COPYHIOHT. 1912. at FRANK M. CHAPMA^

New, Revised Edition of the

Handbook of Birds

of Eastern North America

By FRANK M. CHAPMAN

Curator of Birds, American Museum of Natural History

With Plates in Colors and Black and White, by LOUIS
AGASSIZ FUERTES, and Text Illustrations by
TAPPAN ADNEY and ERNEST THOMPSON SETON

The text of the preceding edition has been thoroughly
revised and much of it rewritten. The nomenclature and
ranges of the latest edition of the "Check-List" of the
American Ornithologists' Union have been adopted.
Migration records from Oberlin, Ohio, Glen Ellyn, 111.,
and Southeastern Minnesota, numerous nesting dates for
every species, and many biographical references have
been added ; the descriptions of plumage emended to
represent the great increase in our knowledge of this
branch of ornithology; and, in short, the work has been
enlarged to the limit imposed by true handbook size and
brought fully up-to-date.

In addition to possessing all the features which made
the old "Handbook" at once popular and authoritative,
the new "Handbook" contains an Introduction of over
lOO pages on "How to Study the Birds in Nature,"
which will be of the utmost value to all students of liv-
ing birds.

The subjects of distribution, migration, song, nesting,
color, food, structure and habit, intelligence, and allied
problems are here treated in a manner designed to arouse
interest and stimulate and direct original observation.

A Biographical Appendix, giving the titles to all the
leading works and papers (including faunal lists) on the
Birds of Eastern North America, shows just what has
been published on the birds of a given region, a matter
of the first importance to the local student.

jdi Pages. Cloth, $3.50 net. Tlexible Morocco. $4.00 net

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, Publishers

29-35 West 32d Street, New York

AMNH LIBRARY

100102099

^

/