FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY i&irti lore ^/« AN ILLUSTRATED BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS EDITED BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT ' effective; so effective in fact, that, while saving the trees, he has alarmed the bird lovers, who fear that his work will destroy the natural nesting-sites of Woodpeckers, and birds of similar habits. The most casual observer is familiar with the fact that these birds carve for themselves homes in decaying trunks, or limbs of trees. The removal of such wood, and the filling of cavities with cement, has the effect of depriving them of suitable sites for nesting-places. The woodpeckers carry in no material for nests, but simply leave some of the fine chips at the bottom of the cavity, on which to lay their eggs. The Sparrow Hawk, while not making a hole for himself, occupies the same kind of home, and usually is satisfied with one that has been abandoned by a Wood- pecker. For several years, the problem of attracting such birds to artificial houses has interested me. Naturalists of pro- minence have said that such a thing was unknown, and probably impossible. In- stances of Flickers or Red-headed Wood- peckers making holes in cornices or .^^Bif "t'h '^JSi^^PrBR^v similar places are often reported. hawks. 8o Bird - Lore On one occasion, I put up an old, weather-beaten rabbit-trap on a pole, leaving the hole through which the trigger had worked, for an entrance. This box was soon occupied by Bluebirds. They were not long left in peace, however. The bo.x also attracted the attention of a pair of Red-headed Wood- peckers. The entrance was too small to allow them to enter, but they soon enlarged it, and threw out the materials the Bluebirds had carried in. They were, seemingly, delighted with the location, and worked for days in trying to fit it for occupancy. They worked and hammered away until I decided that they were located permanently, before they gave up the attempt. This set me to thinking. It M-as very apparent that the trouble was not in the shape of the box, or the location. An editorial in one of the ornithological journals. NEST-BOX OF THE SP.ARROW HAWK not long since, expressed the idea that it would be necessary to de\'ise expen- sive machinery for boring out hollows in soUd wood, in imitation of the natural home, in order to attract Woodpeckers. The birds above mentioned seemed to be perfectly at home in the box, except for the fact that the bottom was too flat, and would allow the eggs to roll about. It then occurred to me that all that is necessary to attract these birds to artificial houses is boxes made of weather-beaten boards, shaped like their natural homes, and with chips in the bottom. With this idea in mind, I at once went to work and made some boxes on this plan. The first was placed about twenty feet from the ground, and nailed to the side of an elm tree, which had a broken top. Early in the spring of 1910 it was occupied by a pair of Flickers. They had been in pos- session about two weeks, when they were driven out by a pair of Sparrow Hawks. The Hawks still occupy the box, which is shown in the picture. A Boxes for Birds That Provide No Nesting Material 8i second box was placed in a similar position, not far away. The Flickers then took possession of that, but were dislodged by fox-squirrels before they had fairly settled in their new position. In the meantime, the Bluebirds were again nesting in the old rabbit-trap on the pole. To insure their not being disturbed, I put a piece of tin over the entrance, with a hole just large enough for Bluebird convenience. As soon as they seemed to be well settled at housekeeping, I removed the box to another location nearby. The Bluebirds did not seem to mind the house-moving in the least, and, as soon as I felt sure that they were suited with the new order of things, I placed another box, fitted especially for Woodpeckers, on top of the pole and awaited results. The Flickers, which had been dispossessed from two other boxes, now took possession of this one. I did not attempt to look into the box for some time, fear- ing that they might be frightened away. I felt confident, however, that they meant to stay, for the returning Red-heads tried very hard to get possession of the box, but were driven away. The Red -heads were not easily discouraged, and seemed to feel that they had a prior right to the location, from having discovered it the year before. As the Flickers held possession, the Red-heads con- tented themselves with a home in the top of a basswood tree near-by. On May 24, feeling secure in the thought that incubation must now be in progress, I secured a long ladder and investigated. In the box were seven eggs, which have since hatched. The photograph of the young Sparrow-Hawks shows the interior of the box, with a portion of the back board taken away. Now, as to my method of making boxes to attract birds that supply no nesting materials. In the first place, use only weatherbeaten boards. While birds like the Martin do not object to the paint, I feel sure that some time will elapse before Woodpeckers can be induced to occupy painted houses. The boxes I have made are of six- and eight-inch lumber, the shape being well shown in the pictures. Those made of four six-inch boards seem to be large enough for any of the Woodpeckers. The eight-inch boxes are better for Sparrow Hawks and Screech Owls. The boxes are about two and a half feet long, with sLx to twelve inches of cork chips in the bottom. Sawdust would likely do as well, but the cork in which grapes are packed can be bought at FLICKER AT NEST-BOX 82 Bird -Lore any fruit store, and serves the purpose admirably. The entrance hole may be made to suit the bird likely to occupy it. The first one, which is now (June i8, 1910) occupied by Sparrow Hawks, was made with an entrance hole three inches across, in the hope that it would be occupied as a winter home for Screech Owls. The other one, now occupied by Flickers, has an entrance two inches in diameter. There should be at least a foot of space below the entrance- hole, as these birds all like deep nesting-places. My boxes are placed eighteen or twenty feet above ground, as Woodpeckers, and Sparrow Hawks as well, like lofty sites. The box should be nailed to the top of a pole, or to the side of a tree, near the top, to make the situation seem as much like a natural one as possible. I should not expect such a box nailed halfway up the trunk of a tall tree to attract these birds, as it is not a natural situation. While old boards should be used, care should be taken that there are no cracks, as the birds seem to avoid a box that is not tight. After several years of experiment, I feel sure that I have solved the prob- lem of attracting Woodpeckers and Sparrow Hawks to artificial nesting- sites. While, no doubt, improvements will be suggested, I believe that these birds can be attracted to such boxes as those described, if placed in suitable situations, as easily as Bluebirds, Wrens, or Martins, to made-to-order houses. After all, the cork in the bottom of the cavity is the important thing to be considered, and it is now in order to determine whether they will not occupy almost any kind of box with a suitable bottom. An Artificial Swallow's Nest "Since town Swallows are diminishing in number in Denmark, the society Svalen has tried to attract them by artificial nests, which are made from a model in\-ented and constructed by Mr. F. W. Falck, veterinary surgeon of Kjeflinge (Sweden). These nests are made of cement and are much frequented by Swallows. The nest should be placed towards the east. Swallows prefer this position. The nest must be fixed close up under the ea\'es or in another prominent part of the house, so that no space is left between it and the nest. The nests should be placed some dis- tance apart from each other. They can be fixed with nails. The Swallows themselves make the entrance hole. "if one wants to attract the Swallows, it is a good plan to leave some clay in the yard and keep it moist with water. It is well worth while to bring back these feathered neighbors, not alone for the pleasure of companionship, but for the sake of the flies, mosquitos and other annoying insects which they will destroy. ' ' — Svalen. ARTIFICIAL SWALLOW'S NEST The Migration of North American Sparrows NINTH PAPER Compiled by Professor W. W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey With Drawings by Lonis Agassiz Fuertes (See frontispiece) DICKCISSEL One of the strangest, and, thus far, unexplained facts in ornithology is the almost complete disappearance of the Dickcissel from those parts of the United States east of the Allegheny Mountains, where, previous to i860, it had been a common summer resident. Wintering in Panama and northern South America, it passes through Central America and across the Gulf of Mexico to its present summer home in the Mississippi Valley, where it breeds from southern Mississippi and southern Texas, north to southern Ontario and North Dakota. It is one of the latest and, therefore, one of the most rapid of migrants, reaching central Iowa on the average, thirteen days after it appears at the mouth of the Mississippi, — an average speed of nearly a hundred miles a day. SPRING MIGRATION PLACE Swan Island. Honduras Ke}' West, Fla Northern Florida New Orleans, La. (near) St. Louis, Mo Quincv. Ill Odin, 'ill Indianola, Iowa Fairfield, la Des Moines, la. (near) Grinnell, la Sabula, la Siou City, la Bloomington, Ind Brookville, Ind Columbus, O Oberlin, O Chicago, 111 Hidalgo, Tex Corpus Christi, Tex San .\ntonio, Tex Gainesville, Tex Ottawa. Kan. (near.) Manhattan, Kan Onaga. Kan Dunbar, Xeb Badger, Xeb Harrison, S. D. (near) Heron Lake, Minn Meridian. Wis Portage la Prairie, Manitoba Number Average date of Earliest date of record spring arrival spring arrival March 25, 1887 April 30, 1889 2 April 25 April 22, 1 88 1 4 April 21 April 6, 1894 6 April 24 .\pril 17, 1888 3 April 25 .April 19, 1889 9 April 28 .April 22, 1894 6 April 30 .April 26. 1899 12 April 30 April 26, 1900 10 May I April 25, 1885 6 May I April 24, 1886 7 Mav 4 May I, 1892 5 Mav 5 Mav 2, 1905 7 May I .April 23, 1886 8 Mav 6 .April 19, 1887 4 Mav 8 May 2, 1889 Mav 8 Mav 6, 1896 9 ilay 8 May 3. 1895 March 27, 1877 2 .\pril 12 -April 11. 1903 12 April 18 .April 13. 1904 5 April 20 .April 15, 1884 4 April 27 .April 26, 1903 5 April 27 .April 22, 1882 15 April 30 .April 2T,, 1 89 1 10 Mav I .^pril 24, 1904 3 May 7 ]May 5, 1901 4 May 20 Mav II, 1910 3 May 16 May 14, 1886 May 19. 1897 June 14. 1897 (83) 84 Bird - Lore The latest dates south of the United States are : Suapure, Venezuela, April 9, San Jose, Costa Rica, April 20; La Palma, Costa Rica, May i, 1882; Half Moon Bay, British Honduras, May 10, 1862; Tampico, Vera Cruz, May 23, 1888. FALL MIGRATION The earliest fall migrants reached Ocuilapa, Chiapas, August 22, 1895, and by September 27, 1899, had appeared near the southern limit of the winter range, at Buritaca, Colombia. PLACE Harrison, S. D Onaga, Kan Lincoln, Neb Caddo, Okla Runge, Tex Tucson, Ariz Chicago, 111 Wauseon, O Bicknell, Ind Indianola, la Winthrop, Mass.. . . North Truro, Mass Westbrook, Me.. . . Miller Place, N. Y. Number of years' record 13 Average date of the last one seen September 9 September 7 September 5 September 17 September 13 Latest date of the last one seen September September September September September September September September September September August 16, September October 10 October 10 4, 1891 21, 1906 23, 1899 25, 1883 19, 1905 II, 1884 16, 1906 20, 1897 24, 1907 17, 1900 1905 30, 1889 , 1888 LARK SPARROW The Lark Sparrow is a bird of the middle and western United States, breeding from the southern Mississippi Valley, and northwestern Mexico, north to southern Ontario and southern British Colombia. It winters almost entirely south of the United States. SPRING MIGRATION PLACE Number of years' record Kerrville, Tex Fredericksburg, Tex Gainesville, Tex Eubank, Ky St. Louis, Mo Monteer, Mo Carlinville, 111 Chicago, 111 Bloomington, Ind.. . Terre Haute, Ind.. . Brookville, Ind Waterloo, Ind Wauseon, O Oberlin, O 5 3 5 4 4 5 3 3 5 4 4 4 ID 7 Average date of spring arrival March 14 March 15 March 26 April 19 April 15 April 17 April 15 April 29 April 21 April 24 April 28 April 28 April 26 Mav 2 Earliest date of spring arrival March i, 1904 March 10, 1895 March 23, 1886 Apri Apri Apri Apri Apri Apri Apri Apri Apri Apri Apri 15, 1891 12, 1887 ID, 1906 12, 1886 28, 1908 12, 1903 20, 1887 23, 1887 24, 1904 12, 1886 26, IQ08 The Migration of North American Sparrows SPRING MIGRATION, continued 85 PLACE Waverly, W. Va Plymouth, Mich Petersburg, Mich Southwestern Ontario. . Manhattan, Kan Onaga, Kan Hillsboro, la Keokuk, la Grinnell, la Iowa City, la Sabula, la Sioux City, la Storm Lake, la La Crosse, Wis Lanesboro, Minn Minneapolis, Minn Southeastern Nebraska Northern Nebraska. . . . Grand Forks, N. D.. . . Aweme, Ma litoba Southern Colorado Boulder, Colo. (near).. Cheyenne, Wyo Terry, Mont.' Great Falls, Mont Berkeley, Cal Chelan, Wash Chilliwack, B. C Okanagan, B. C Number of years' record 4 6 4 14 6 II 6 7 3 5 8 10 6 5 3 4 Average date of spring arrival April 27 April 30 May I May 4 April 13 April 15 April 16 April 20 April 18 April 25 April 25 April 25 May I May I April 28 April 29 April 23 May 7 May 15 April 27 May 4 May 7 May 12 March 15 Mav 22 Earliest date of spring arrival April 16, 1906 April 22, 1896 April 26, 1897 .\pril 25, 1897 .\pril I, 1882 April 2, 1895 Ai)ril s, 1898 .Vpril ID, 1892 April 10,. 1888 April 16, 1884 April 17, 1898 April 19, 1908 April 28, 1889 April 25, 1906 April 21, 1 89 1 April 21, 1907 April 19, 1900 April 28, 1894 May 4, 1903 May 14, 1905 April 24, 1894 April 27, 1892 May 7, 1889 April 27, 1900 May 8, 1889 March 11, 188; March 19, i89( May 21, 1889 ]\Iay 20, 1907 FALL MIGRATION PLACE Minneapolis, Minn Palmer, Mich Plymouth, Mich.. . Wauseon, O Grinnell, la Onaga, Kans Yuma, Colo Berkeley, Cal Mt. Carmel, 111.... Bonham, Tex Number .Average date of Latest date of the record the last one seen last one seen September 18, 1906 September 30, 1894 3 September 16 September 20, 1891 6 September 14 October 5, 1897 4 September 25 October 16, 1886 9 August 31 September 9, 1893 3 September 2^ October i, 1906 October 4, 1887 October 17, 1885 October 22 While the Lark Sparrow is regularly a western bird, not ranging east of the Mississippi Valley, it seems to be gradually working its way eastward, as the original forest has been cleared off, and it has been taken quite a num- ber of times east of the Alleghanies. There are a few spring records: Pulaski, 86 Bird - Lore Va., April 28, 1895; Framingham, Mass., April 29, 1883; and a great number of fall occurrences: Raleigh, N. C, August 19, 1889 and October 25, 1893; Cranberry, N. C, August 9, 1886; Cape Charles, Va., August 24, 1895; Wash- ington, D. C, August 25-27, 1877, and August 8, 1886. Schraalenburg, N. J., November 26, 1885; Sayville, L. I., August 20, 1879; Miller Place, L. I., November 27, 1899; Shelter Island, L. I., July 28, 1902; Newtonville, Mass., November 25, 1877; Magnolia, Mass., August 27, 1879; Barranco Hondo, Guatemala, October 22, 1873. VESPER SPARROW The Vesper Sparrow and its several forms range from the Atlantic to the Pacific, wintering from the Gulf States, Texas and California to southern Mexico, and breeding from Virginia, Texas and northern California to southern Canada. SPRING MIGRATION PLACE Washington, D. C French Creek, W. Va Waverly, W. Va Beaver, Pa Philadelphia, Pa. (near) Renovo, Pa Englewood, N. J New Providence, N. J Ithaca, N. Y Alfred, N. Y Flatbush, N. Y Branchport, N. Y Center Lisle, N. Y Ballston Spa, N. Y Bridgeport, Conn Jewett City, Conn Hartford, Conn Providence, R. I Fall River, Mass Taunton, Mass Beverly, Mass Randolph, Vt St. Johnsbury, Vt Hanover, N. H Phillips, Me Portland, Me Montreal, Canada St. John, N. B Scotch Lake, N. B Chatham, N. B Quebec, Canada Godbout, Quebec North River, Prince Edward Island.. Red Boiling Springs, Tenn Number of years' record 18 4 4 7 9 14 17 13 14 5 6 9 2 9 10 5 .\verage date of spring arrival March 25 March 23 March 24 March 29 March 30 Apr .'Vpr .\pr ISLirch 28 Apri .Apr Apr Apr Apr .\pr Apr .Apr .Apr .Apr .\pr .Apr .\pr Apr Apr .Apr Apr .Apr .Apr .Apr .Apr Apr 9 13 16 10 16 19 23 April 26 March 7 Earliest date of spring arrival Rare, winter March 17. 1889 March 15, 1903 March 24, 1905 March 22, 1907 March 27, 1898 .April I, 1 009 March 31, 1893 March 23, 1903 March 22, 1897 March 22, 1893 ALirch 27, 1898 March 17, 1898 .April I, 1892 March 14, 1902 March 20. 1889 March 31, 1888 March 28, 1904 .Apri .\pri xApri Apri .Apri .Apri .Apri .Apri .Apri .Apri .Apri .Apri .Apri .\prl Apri March 3. 1906 3. 1890 1, 1886 4, 1909 5, 1892 4, 1S97 2, 1897 5, 1910 10, 1905 9, 1909 11, 1889 9, 1910 17, 1904 21. 1896 24, 1885 1889 Migration of North American Sparrows 87 SPRING MIGRATION, Continued PLACE St. Louis, Mo Eubank, Ky Brookville, Ind Bloomington, Ind Waterloo, Ind Wauseon, O Oberlin, O Youngstown, O Plymouth, Mich Petersburg, Mich Dunnville, Ont London, Ont Plover Mills, Ont Strathroy, Ont Ottawa, Ont Kearney, Ont. (near) Davenport, la Grinnell, la Chicago, 111 Madison, Wis La Crosse, Wis Lanesboro, Minn Minneapolis, Minn White Earth, Minn Southeastern Kansas Manhattan, Kan Southeastern Nebraska. . . . Grand Forks, N. D. (near) Aweme, Manitoba Indian Head, Sask. (near). Edmonton, Alberta (near) Southern .\rizona Southern Colorado Boulder, Colo Cheyenne, Wyo Terry, ]Mont Great Falls, Mont Columbia Falls, Mont Portland, Ore. (near) Tacoma, Wash Okanagan, B. C Number of years' record 17 6 8 12 6 6 6 6 7 14 4 4 Average date of spring arrival March 15 March 20 March 22 March 22 April I March 28 March 28 March 2q March 28 March 31 ^larch 25 .\pril 3 April 5 Aprd 5 .\pril 13 April 17 April 5 April 6 April 7 April 4 April 6 April 5 April II .\pril 10 April 14 -April 9 April 2^ April 19 April 22 May 3 March 17 April 10 April 18 April 18 April 28 April 29 May I April 5 April 17 April 14 Earliest date of spring arrival March 12 February March 18 March 17 March 18 March 18 March 20 March 23 March 18 March 19 March 14 March 26 April 2, March 30 April I , April 15, March 30 April 2, March 23 March 26 March 26 April 3, April 8, April 20, April 6, March 28 April 5, April 17, April 14, April II, April 2g, March 14 April 3, April 2, April 12, April 27, April 27, April 26, April 3, April 8, April 13, 1909 23, 18, 1886 1903 1910 1894 1901 897 , 1897 1907 1897 , 1905 1885 . 1907 , 1907 , 1907 1893 1903 1881 1909 , 1890 1901 189s 1 901 1910 1903 , 1902 1908 1910 1906 1907 PLACE Gainesville, Fla.. . Northern Florida. Charleston, S. C Raleigh, N. C Washington, D. C Biloxi, ^liss Athens, Tenn Monteer, Mo Pasadena, Cal. . . . Number of years' record Average date of the last one seen April 9 April 15 April 5 April 3 .\pril 17 Latest date of the last one seen April 9, 1887 April 15, 1893 April 12, 1909 April 23, 1892 June 14, 1899 April 2, 1903 April 8, 1903 April 20, 1904 April 25, 1896 88 Bird - Lore FALL MIGRATION PLACE Raleigh, N. C Frogmore, S. C Northern Florida. . . . New Orleans, La Athens, Tenn Southern Mississippi . Pasadena, Cal Number of years' record Average date of fall arrival October i8 October 14 October 21 October 29 Earliest date of fall arrival October 11, 1893 October 14, 1886 October 5, 1Q08 August s, 1893 October 20, 1908 October 24, 1902 September 14, 1897 PI,ACE Okanagan, B. C Big Sandy, Mont Aweme, Manitoba Lanesboro, Minn Littleton, Colo Onaga, Kan Vicksburg, Mich Plymouth, Mich Ottawa, Ont London, Ont. (near) Sabula, la Delavan, Wis Chicago, 111 Waterloo, Ind Wauseon, 0 Oberlin, O Eubank, Ky North River, Prince Edward Island Yarmouth, N. S Scotch Lake, N. B Montreal, Canada Phillips, Me Pittsfield, Me Hebron, Me Randolph, Vt Ballston Spa, N. Y Eastern Massachusetts Providence, R. I Hartford, Conn New Providence, N. J Renovo, Pa Beaver, Pa Berwyn, Pa French Creek, W. Va Number Average date of Latest date of the record the last one seen last one seen 3 October 6 October 8 1908 October 30 1906 • II October 13 October 17, 1902 6 October 11 October 29 1885 October 23 1908 4 October 19 November 8, 1904 4 October 26 November 2, 1906 November 20, 1892 ID October 7 October 17, 188s 8 October 21 October 24, 1901 4 October 26 October 27, 1894 October 28, 1896 6 October 17 October 25, 1896 9 October 31 November 12, 1905 9 November 9 November 14, 1897 6 October 31 November 25, 1890 3 November i November 7, 1889 3 October 5 October 7, 1888 October 25, 1904 6 October 27 November 4, 1893 3 October 9 October 17, 1909 6 October 14 October 18, 190S 4 October 14 October 18, 1898 6 October 24 October 28, 1908 3 October 16 October 20, 1889 6 October 16 October 27, 1900 13 October 20 October 30, 1896 4 October 8 October 24, 1909 9 October 7 October 27, 1887 7 October 26 November 9, 1888 10 October 22 November 2, 1908 6 October 28 November 4, 1890 4 October 14 November [2, I9OI 3 November 5 November [3, 1890 Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows EIGHTH PAPER By FRANK M. CHAPMAN (See frontispiece) Dickcissel {Spiza americana, Figs. 1-3). In adult plumage, the Dick- cissel is a well-marked, distinct, easily identified species, but, in juvenal plumage, it so resembles an English Sparrow that one is glad to refer to its more pointed tail-feathers as an unquestionable distinguishing mark. The primaries, secondaries, and tail-feathers of this plumage are retained, and the balance molted as the bird passes into first winter plumage, when the young male closely resembles the female (Fig. 2). The adult male, after the usual postnuptial molt (Fig. 3), resembles the young male in winter, but has a small, more or less veiled black throat-patch. The spring molt is largely restricted to the anterior parts of the body, the gray crown and sides of the head, the yellow on the crown and over the eye, the white chin and black throat-patch being of new feathers, while the feathers which are retained fade into the grayer summer dress, in which young and old look alike. Lark Sparrow {Chondestes grammacus grammacus; Fig. 4). In this species the sexes are alike, and there is but little variation with age or season. The juvenal plumage has the breast distinctly streaked with black, the crown is striped like the back, and the chestnut head markings are wanting. iVccording to Dr. Dwight, the postjuvenal molt is complete, and the first winter plumage is practically indistinguishable from the winter plumage of the adult. Some birds, in first winter plumage, however, have the chestnut head marks but slightly developed. The prenuptial (spring) molt is confined largely to the head, but the rest of the plumage becomes worn and faded, making summer birds grayer than those in winter plumage. The Western Lark Sparrow (C g. strigatus), breeding from the eastern edge of the plains westward, is somewhat paler than the eastern bird, and is more narrowly streaked. Vesper Sparrow {Po(ecetes gramineus gramineus; Figs. 5,6). In this species the sexes are alike. The juvenal passes into first winter plimiage (Fig. 5) by a molt of the body feathers, and is then indistinguishable from the winter adult. There is no spring molt, and the less-brown, more sharply marked summer plumage (Fig. 6) is acquired by wear and fading. The Western Vesper Sparrow (P. g. confinis), of the western United States, except the Pacific Coast, is similar to the preceding but is paler above and has a more slender bill. The Oregon Vesper Sparrow (P. g. affinis) is similar to the preceding but is smaller %\ith an even slenderer bill and a plumage browner than that of P. g. gramineus. (89) Bird-Lore's Advisory Council WITH some slight alterations, we reprint below the names and addresses of the ornithologists forming Bird-Lore's 'Advisory 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 gratifying assurances of the happy results attending our efforts 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 incjuiry 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., Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Georgia. — Dr. Eugene Murphy, Augusta, Ga. Illinois, Northern. — B. T. Gault, Glen EUyn, 111. 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, EUisville, Miss. Missouri. — 0. 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. (90) Bird -Lore's Advisory Council 91 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. Mus. Nat. History, New York City. New Jersey, Southern. — Wilmer 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, 191 Genesee Street, Utica, N. Y. New York, Western. — E. H. Eaton, Canandaigua, N. Y. New York, Long Island. — William Dutcher, 141 Broadway, New York City. 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, Augusta, 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, Alta. 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. — E. W. Saunders, London, Ont. Quebec. — E. D. Wintle, 189 St. James Street, Montreal, Canada. MEXICO E. W. Nelson, Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. WEST INDIES C. B. Cory, Field Museum, Chicago, 111. GREAT BRITAIN Clinton G. Abbott, 153 West 73d St., New York Cit}', N Y, J^ote0 from JfielO anti ^tuOp The Evening Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak. From the painting by Bruce Horsfall, reproduced from Bird-Lore, Vol. ix, 1907. Below are printed, in full, the records of the occurrence of the Evening Grosbeak, to which brief reference was made in the preceding issue of Bird-Lore, together with a number of others since received. It is evident that unusual numbers of this fine bird have extended their winter wanderings far east of the boundaries of their regular winter range. Replying to the inquiries of several correspondents, we may state here that the Evening Grosbeak does not winter regularly east of Wiscon- sin, where, according to Kumlien and Hollister ('Birds at Wisconsin,' p. 90), it is a ''common winter visitant any time from December on." In south- eastern Minnesota, Dr. T. S. Roberts writes, "It is a common visitant appearing about October 17 and remaining as late as May 19." The frequency of the occurrence of the Evening Grosbeak to the eastward of these states decreases as the distance in- creases. (See especially, Butler, Auk, 1892, pp. 238-247.) Consequently, while irreg- ular, it is by no means rare or infrequent in Illinois and Michigan, but there are no records for the New England States prior to the winter of 1889—90, when the bird appeared there in large numbers, and was reported from every state but Rhode Island. According to Brewster ('Birds of the Cambridge Region,' p. 251), "they were noted first at South Sudbury, Mas- sachusetts, on January 15; and last at Henniker, New Hampshire, on May i;. they were present in greatest numbers during January, February and March, and most of them apparently de- parted before April, no doubt returning whence thej' came." The most southern record during this incursion was at Summit, N. J., on March 6, when eight birds were observed (Ray- mond, Orn. and Ool., XV, 1890, p. 46); but the known range of the species has now been slightly extended by Mr. Miller, who found it at Plainfield, N. J., as re- corded below. Since 1890, the Evening Grosbeak has been observed in New England on several occasions, but there has been no flight in any way comparable with that of the present winter. — Frank M. Chapm.\n. Rochester, N. Y., February 10, 1911. — Referring to your editorial in the cur- rent Bird-Lore, there can be no doubt that the evening Grosbeak has this winter visited many places in the North and East, where before he had been seen rarely, if at all. A flock of six was in this city for several days, in late December — one flock at least. On the 31st, I examined these birds at my leisure. They were feeding in a tree at a distance of only fifteen or twenty feet and I made out every detail of the plumage. No observations could have been more accurate and satis- factory. A number of other students had the same opportunity. — Dr. C. A. Dewey Rochester, N. Y., February 15, 191 1. — I give below the dates of the appearance of the Evening Grosbeak at Rochester, and am happy to say that, as the good news of their being here was passed about quickly, about twenty people had the pleas- ure of seeing them, and more than once. (92) Notes from Field and Study 93 December 20. first K\ening Grosbeak seen at Sumner Park; a male. December 23, three Evening Grosbeaks on Alexander Street; two males, one female. December 29, six Evening Grosbeaks at Sumner Park; three of each sex. After this, the six were seen each day till January 2, when the}' disappeared, and have not been seen since. They fed on the seed-vessels of the ash-leaved maple which stood in Sumner Park; and, even when they left, not all the seeds were gone, though each day the ground was strewn with the husks from their feeding. The weather at this time was bitterly cold, with high winds, but they sat for an hour or two at a time in the tree, were in splendid plumage and fine condition, and, I am glad to say, none were "taken." — N. Hudson Moore. Lyons, N. Y., February 11, 191 1. — In the Januarj'-February number of Bird- Lore, I note your reference to the obser- vations on the Evening Grosbeak in north- eastern United States. Thinking that it might also be of interest to you, I wish to state that it has been the pleasure of my friends and self to observe these birds in this locality. During the last days of January, and up to February 8, Evening Grosbeaks have been observed here. They have been seen in numbers of from two to thirtj'. Usually I have seen about a dozen toge- ther. They would disappear and not be seen for a day or two, when they would be with us again. While here, they seem very busy feeding on maple buds. — S. B. G.AVITT. Ithaca. X. Y. — On February 12. 191 1. one male and two female Evening Gros- beaks were seen at Ithaca by Mrs. Frank Morse. The birds were feeding on maple buds, and were observed under conditions which i)ermitted a wholly satisfactory identification. — Louis Ag.\ssiz Fuertes. Greenwich, N. Y., February 9. 1911. — Evening Grosbeaks, as many as eight in one flock, have been seen here, and no one' can be found to say they have ever observed them here before. I saw seven of them at one time 'budding' on an ash tree. — D. W. M.axdell. Naples, Maine, November 20, 19 10. — On November 10, I saw, in Bridgton, three birds I did not know. They very closely resembled the female in the colored plate of the Evening Grosbeak published by Bird-Lore, only that all the back seemed faintly tinged with yellow. There were only the three as long as I could spare the time to watch them. They were quite tame. I saw them distinctly, and thought them exactly alike. — Adeline Willis. Fall River, ^L\ss., February 9, 191 1. — I wish to report to you that a flock of fourteen Evening Grosbeaks were in our yard, and the immediate neighborhood, for two hours, February 9, 1911, feeding mostly on seeds of the ash-leaved maple. Most of the flock were either females or immature males, but there were two in the full plumage of 3'ellow, black and white, making any mistake as to identi- fication impossible, as I have the very excellent Bird-Lore picture. On February 3, a single, lone female was here, digging furiously through the ice with which the ground was covered, with her great bill, for seeds. This bird was very tame, apparently paying little attention to our near approach. — Ellex yi. Shore, 4.40 Highland Avenue. WooNSOCKET, R. I. — A flock of five female and two male Evening Grosbeaks appeared within the city limits of Woon- socket R. I., January 13, 14 and 15, coming daih" to feed on a tree overhanging a grocery store. The birds were observed by various people. To quote one correspondent, Mary F. Smith: "We watched them this morning (January 15), between eight and nine o'clock, and, though there was quite a party admiring them and we took no pains to be still, they continued their breakfast of maple or box-elder seeds and 94 Bird -Lore did not appear to notice us. . . . The birds are there several times a day, and feed perhaps half an hour. . . We call them very strikingly marked, particularly the males, with the bright yellow stripe between the wings and the large, square- cut, white wing-patch, edged with the narrow line of velvety black." Reports also came in of the Evening Grosbeak at Meshanticut Park, R. I. — Alice Hall Walter. Taptville, Conn., February 15, 191 1. It is a pleasure to be able to report that, on February 13, a flock of Evening Gros- beaks took up their abode in this vicinity. This is the third day that they have fre- quented our school premises, and it would seem that they have found comfortable quarters for at least a short stay with us. We have been able to count twenty-six in the flock — eight males and eighteen females. They were first discovered in an ash-leaved maple {Acer negundo), eating the seeds with great relish. They are not in the least timid, approaching the building within twenty-five feet, and allowing us to watch them as we stand about in groups on the playgrounds, immediately under the trees, and not over twenty feet from the branches upon which they are sitting. We consider it a rare treat, and we trust that other bird-lovers may be accorded a similar privilege. — F. J. Werking. Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn., Jan- uary 13, 191 1. — Bird-lovers in this village are much interested in watching a flock of Evening Grosbeaks that have recently appeared here. In your 'Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America,' you mention that there was an incursion of these birds, in 1890, in New England. Have any been seen since then? I am anxious to know if they are in other parts of New England this winter. Are they getting to feel at home in the eastern states? The flock in my yard numbers eight — three males — and they feed on dried crab- apples and maple seeds. — Sarah W. Adam. Hartford, Conn., February 12, 191 1. — Today, Mr. Arthur G. Powers, Vice- President of our Bird Study Club, and myself, saw at the foot of Talcott Moun- tain, in West Hartford, a pair of Evening Grosbeaks. We easily approached them within fifteen feet, and watched them for fifteen minutes. There was no possible doubt as to the identification. They had the great yellow bills, the black wings with the large white markings, black crowns, greenish brown cheeks, and necks with yellow reflections, and, in fact, all the characteristic markings, though both were distinctly duskier in color than the illustrations given by Reed and Blanchan. I may add that the birds were the same species, without doubt, that I saw within twenty rods of the same place on October 17, 1909 — a record which I suppose was considered doubtful because so early in the season and without confirmation. — Edward Porter St. John, President, Hartford Bird Study Club. Port Chester, N. Y., January 9, 1911. — On this day, the undersigned observed five Evening Grosbeaks. The birds were feeding on maple buds and were watched for ten minutes at a distance of twenty- five feet. — Cecil Spofford, and Samuel N. CoMLY. [Mr. Spofford subsequently visited the .\merican Museum and con- firmed his identification by an examination of specimens. — Editor.] Andover, Sltssex Co., N. J., December 13, 1910. — Today we have had the pleas- ure of seeing from our window what are claimed to be rare bird visitors to this section. We refer to the Evening Gros- beak, at least eight of which visited our banqueting tree, which stands not more than twenty feet from the house. Owing to preparations we have made for feeding birds in and near this tree, we are favored by calls from nearly all the winter birds to be seen in this locality. Other years, besides the more common birds, we have seen here the Pine Gros- beak, and the White-winged and Ameri- can Crossbills. But we were hardly pre- Notes from Field and Study 95 pared for the great favor done us today by the call of such exclusive guests as the Evening Grosbeaks. The morning was bright and clear, and the snow-covered trees made an admirable background for the beautiful yellow plumage of these handsome birds. So perfect was our view that every mark of identification was seen, even without the aid of a glass. They remained with us for nearly two hours, apparently making a fine meal upon the maple seeds still clinging to the tree. They then disap- peared as silently as they had come. — Members of Sussex County Nature Study Club, by Blanche Hill. [As this is the second record for New Jersey, as well as the second record sent Bird-Lore this season, we requested further details, which Miss Hill gives under date of December 19, as below. — Ed.] Your letter asking for additional in- formation concerning the Evening Gros- beaks is at hand. Five persons, four of whom are members of our Nature Club, and who have been studying birds for several years, saw them during their first visit to us, that is, on the 13th. Two or three specimens were not more than fifteen feet from the win- dow, while the others were seen at dis- tances ranging from twenty to forty feet. My father, who has been a nature student all his life, and I, stood under the large maple tree in which they were feeding, when one, presumably a male, because of his brilliant coloring, flew to one of the lower branches and lighted not more than ten feet above our heads, where he remained long enough for us to give him careful inspection. Since my first letter to you, they have visited us twice, — once on the 17th, and again on the i8th. Once the whole flock (ten were counted) were feeding on the ground beneath a spruce tree standing about twenty feet from the house. — Blanche Hill. Newton, Sussex Co., N. J., January 6, 1911. — Would it interest the bird-lovers to know that a flock of Evening Grosbeaks have been about here? Walking on the outskirts of the town, Saturday morning, I heard quite a chirping in a maple tree and saw twelve or fifteen of these beautiful birds. In the afternoon they were about my home, and yesterday morning favored us with another visit. They were feeding in the maples; then they perched in the Norwa\' spruces, about twelve feet from the house. They were quite tame. Each member of the family was called to see the visitors, and a few neighbors came for an introduction. We went close to the trees where they were, but the best view was from the second-story windows. — Mary F. Kanouse. Xewton, Sussex Co., N. J. — While spending Sunday, February 5, at my home in Newton, I had the pleasure of watch- ing for a long time a flock of some twenty-five or thirty Evening Grosbeaks. The birds were in a yard on the out- skirts of the town and were so little dis- turbed by my presence that I was able to observe them at a distance of not more than thirty feet. — Stephen D. Inslee. Plainfield, N. J. — A flock of thirteen Evening Grosbeaks were seen by me in the Washington Valley, near Plainfield, N. J., on January 29. On February 12 and 19, and on other days between these dates, they were again observed by the writer and by several other bird students. Somewhat larger numbers were seen than on the first occasion, there being at least twenty birds, three or four of which were adult males. They are found in a grove of red cedars, feeding on the berries of the flowering dogwood, which are plentifully interspersed among the cedars. The crop of dogwood berries last fall was remark- ably abundant and, as a result, the Robins, Hermit Thrushes and Purple Finches have wintered in unusual numbers. These species can use only the soft meat of the berries, but the Grosbeaks reject this part and crack the stone with their strong bills to get at the enclosed kernel.- — W. DeW. Miller. 96 Bird -Lore Brooklyn, N. Y. — On January 8, I saw, in Forest Hill Park, Brooklyn, a bird which was undoubtedly a Grosbeak. It was about the same size and shape as a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but the bill was even heavier and larger than theirs, and wax-yellow in color. The body was a grayish olive with a decidedly yellowish cast, almost bright yellow on the rump and lighter and yellower on the breast and sides. The outer wing feathers looked to be black their entire length, but the inner feathers, the secondaries, had a good deal of white in them, so that they had the appearance of being striped cross- ways with white. The tail was black, but also had white on it. The head was more grayish, also a grayish mark along the sides and breast. The bird had the clumsy movements of a Grosbeak — hopped along the branches. It w s in a dogwood tree, and was feeding on the buds at the ends of the twigs. It showed absolute unconcern at our presence, and kept right on eating even when we came directly under it. It gave, occasionally, a note like a thrilled chiir-r-r, very soft and low. Unfortunately, some boys saw us look- ing at it and came under the tree. I tried to interest them in the bird, and, upon leaving they promised me they wouldn't harm it. We were no sooner out of hailing distance, however, before they began to throw stones at it. It then flew into another tree not far away, and its note then was a single note, rather sharp and high, as if alarmed. Could it have been an Evening Gros- beak? I have a picture of a pair of these birds, and it was not like the picture of the male. It had no black cap and its forehead was not yellow, and the secondaries were black and white; and yet the bird was much yellower than the picture of the female. — Mary W. Peckham, Member of Bird Lovers' Club, Brooklyn. [Mrs. Peckham's bird, which very evidently was an Evening Grosbeak, is the first bird of this species to be recorded from Long Island. — Ed.] Delaware, O. — In our bird notes for the past eleven years we have our first record of the Evening Grosbeak. These strangers from the far North were first noticed on January 28 and March 2. I find them still with us. They appear to be very fond of dried wild cherries, on which we find them feeding daily. — H arry and Lilian Hipple. Winter Notes from Northern New Jersey On January 29, while I was motoring past some fields near the station at Far- Hills, N. J., which is five miles from Ber- nardsville, and twelve miles from ]Morris- town, N. J., I heard the full summer song of a Meadowlark, which I imme- diately recognized, though I did not see the bird. I never knew before that Mead- owlarks sang in winter. I have seen them several times this winter, but have not heard them until the 29th. Other birds of interest that I have seen this winter are: Northern Shrike, one, seen on December 26, 19 10; Acadian Owl, one was caught by a man who simply picked the little Owl off a fence-post, in December. We kept it about a week, when it died, and I think, as it was so easily caught, that it was hurt when captured. A flock of Redpolls stayed in a ravine about two weeks around December 15, and fed on the seeds of birch trees, of which there was a grove. For about a week, around December 20, a flock of about a dozen Bluebirds lived about our house, and ate the seeds of a vine that grows on the house. A great deal of the time they stayed with English Sparrows. — John Drydex Kuser, Ber- nardsville, N. J. Brooklyn Birds During the year 1910, 134 species of birds were seen by members of the Bird Lovers' Club of Brooklyn, within the limits of that city. Of these, 112 were observed in Prospect Park. The following are worthy of special notice: Great Black-backed Gull, Laughing Gull and Bonaparte Gull, seen in the upper bay in the spring. Notes from Field and Study 97 Wilson's Petrel, a flock of 100 + , near Fort Hamilton, on July 18, 1910. . Great Blue Heron, in Prospect Park, June i; Bald Eagle (immature), in Pros- pect Park, Maj' 28; Redpoll, in Prospect Park, December 25 to 31; Blue-headed Vireo, in Prospect Park, Nov. 20, 1910; Kentucky Warbler, Fort Hamilton, May 22, 1910; Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Pros- pect Park, April 8, 1910. The Kentucky Warbler was seen by me on May 22, 1910, on 88th Street, Brooklyn, near Shore Road. My atten- tion was attracted by a loud and unfamil- iar song. I found the singer in a low tree, and had a splendid opportunity to study him with my binoculars. It proved to be a male Kentucky Warbler, a bird which is extremely rare on Long Island. While I could not get a good view of the bird's back, I identified him by his yellow under- parts and superciliary line, and by the black line along the throat, all of which were seen in good light. The song, also, closely resembles the descriptions given in Chapman's Warbler Book. — Edward Fleischer, Secretary. Mockingbird Wintering in West Hartford, Conn. It is of interest that two Mockingbirds are spending the winter in West Hartford. They are commonly found about a mile apart, both remaining very near the places where they are regularly fed, though they have been seen together a few times at one feeding station. Their identification is positive. They are seen daily feeding upon berries, cereal foods, chopped boiled eggs mixed with boiled potato, etc. They are very tame, and every oppor- tunity for close inspection is given. One approached me so closely that I could clearly note the color of the iris. It frequently comes to the window-sill when observers are within three feet of the feeding-place. Mrs. L. A. Cressy and a neighbor, upon whose bounty one of the birds has been subsisting, believes that three of the birds have visited the food-tables, but I think that not more than two have been seen at one time. A gentleman who has kept caged Mockingbirds declares that a pair of the birds nested in a near-by cemetery last summer, but I have been unable to ascertain what is the basis for the statement. — Edw.\rd P. St. John, President Hartford Bird Study Club. A Fire Station Martin Box The enclosed photograph represents the Martin house at No. 7 fire station, at Fort Wayne, Ind. The house is mounted on a telegraph pole, and contains 48 rooms. The climbing vines are morning-glories. Capt. A. J. Baker informed me that it was occupied this season by 47 pairs of Martins and one pair of English Sparrows. All of the fire stations in our city have well - patronized Martin houses. The 98 Bird - Lore secret of their success is that the doors are not opened until after the Martins arrive in the spring. The Sparrows are perse- cuted at all times. — Chas. A. Stock- bridge, Fort Wayne, Ind. Starling Imitating Notes of the Wood Pewee With the increasing abundance of the Starling in the vicinity of New York, we have come to refer to this species almost any unfamiliar clucks, chatters, squeals or whistles. In this connection, the case of a Starling which has added the notes of a native species to its already rich legiti- mate vocabulary is of interest. In the late fall of 1910, some weeks after Wood Pewees had left for the South, the writer heard the characteristic notes of this species on several occasions near his home at Englewood, N. J., — once close at hand in some Norway spruces beside the house. The sound was not definitely located, but circumstances pointed to the Starling as responsible for this unseasonable bird note. Quite unexpectedly, on the morn- ing of January 11, 1911, while I was walking to the car near the crest of the hill between the golf course and Leonia Junction, characteristic Wood Pewee notes were heard, and their author, a Starling, promptly located on the top of a nearby telegraph pole, repeated both the pee- a-wee and pec-ah notes, interspersed with scarcely audible Starling-like chirps and twitters. The imitation was close enough to deceive one perfectly familiar with the notes, but once there was an unfamiliar quaver in the ah, and perhaps the pee- a-wee was a little higher pitched and, with practice, not quite indistinguishable from the genuine. — John Treadwell Nichols. [The Editor is familiar with the Star- ling's Peewee notes, which Mr. Nichols describes, and, in an earlier number of Bird-Lore, has recorded his surprise on hearing what was apparently a Wood Pewee, when no bird of that species should have been in the United States. Several times since, he has seen the Starling utter these notes, and Mr. Nichols' observations now confirm a growing belief that they are part of the bird's natural repertoire, and not an imitation. Can some reader of Bird-Lore in England, who is familiar with our Wood Pewee's notes, tell us whether English Starlings have a similar call?— Ed.] Song Season of the Nightingale So many Americans are disappointed not to hear the Nightingale in June (or only a very poor song) that I am venturing to write and say that the Nightingale sings at night, and at its best in the first fortnight of May. I have allowed enough margin for it to recover from migration and the cold April nights, and also for it to be heard before ceasing altogether. It does not sing in Devonshire, and I think not in Cornwall, nor in Wales or any of the northern counties. Cambridge is an excellent place, as are Surrey and Hampshire, that I know of. It is even possible to hear it in Wimble- don, which is close to London; indeed, a great many of our Warblers may be seen and heard there and in Richmond Park, notably the Redstart and Willow Warbler, which are the easiest to see and hear in those places. — Mariana Hopkinson, Cambridge, England. [In connection with the song of the Nightingale it will doubtless both surprise and disgust all true lovers of bird music to learn that it has been recorded by the phonograph, the records now being for sale in this country. It is sufficiently painful to hear a caged Nightingale voice its passion to irresponsive walls, but the limit of vio- lated sentiment would appear to have been reached when the music of the poet's own bird can be reproduced by the turn of a crank! — Ed.] Notes from Field and Study 99 The History of a Ruffed Grouse's Nest On April 17, 1910, a nest of the Ruffed Grouse was found near my home in Con- cord, Mass., by a nurse who was out walking with some children. They noti- fied me immediately, and I hastened to examine the nest myself. It was carefully concealed, being at the foot of a white oak, about twenty yards from a lumber road, and was partially roofed over by a dead branch of white pine. At this time there were three eggs in the nest. It rained continuously for three days there- after, and, as the eggs got a thorough soaking, and no more were laid, I supposed that the bird had deserted the nest. On April 20, however, I was walking past the nest when to my great surprise, the bird flushed. At this time there were four eggs in the nest. On the 24th there were six eggs in the nest, and on the 30th, ten. May 7, the bird finished her set of fourteen eggs and began to incubate. On June 5, nothing was left but fourteen neatly split egg-shells, to tell the tale of fourteen hardy little chicks following their mother among the brush. — E. P. Warner, Concord, Mass. A Rare Warbler April 27, last, remains to me a memor- able day, for I had the good fortune to see a beautiful male Cape May Warbler. He stayed a short time among some pear and oak trees in our yard near the house. He was not very shy, and frequently uttered a thin, faint chip. This bird is the first one of its species that I have seen. — Edward S. Dingle, Siimmcrton, S. C. The Notes of the Hermit Thrush In a grove of red cedars, in a sheltered valley near Plainfield, fully twelve or fifteen Hermit Thrushes spent the past winter, finding an abundance of food in the berries of the flowering dogwood. I have lately heard three distinct call- notes from these birds, one, of course, the familiar low, blackbird-like chuck. The two other notes do not seem to be com- monly known, at least to those familiar with the bird only as a migrant. The first is a simple, high-pitched whistle, rarely loud ; the second, a curious, somewhat nasal cry recalling the unmusical note of the Veery. The Hermit Thrush seldom sings while with us in the spring, and the song is so low as to be inaudible if one is more than a few yards from the singer. On March 19, I was agreeably surprised to hear four or five of these thrushes singing through most of the afternoon, though it was raining at the time. The song of only one bird, however, was of sufficient vol- ume to be heard at any distance. — W. DeW. Miller, Plainfield, N. J. ilooft jBteto0 anti 36iei)ieto0 Significance of White Markings in Birds of the Order Passeriformes. By Henry Chester Tracy. Univ. Cal. Pub. in Zool., vi, 1910. pp, 285-312. Few ornithologists, we imagine, have seen a Meadowlark or Junco, a Mocking- bird or Magpie, expose its white markings in flight without speculating over their significance. It is almost invariably the outer pair of tail-feathers which have the most white, and we believe that in no bird is the central pair white and the outer pair dark. The white is, therefore, so disposed that it is visible only when the tail is more or less spread; and in many cases it is spread or opened just enough to show the extent of these white markings. The theories advanced in explanation of the value or purpose of flight-exposed white marks at least prove that "many men have many minds," even if their wide variance tends to weaken our belief in their validity. To Thayer, such color characters are concealing or obliterative; to others, including the author of this paper, they are revealing or directive; while it was Merriam, we believe, who first sug- gested that they protected their possessor by being so strikingly evident when their wearer was in flight that their sudden and complete effacement when the bird took to cover, left the pursuer looking for a victim which had disappeared as if by magic; a theory, by the way, not referred to in the paper under review. After commenting on the importance to a bird of "seeing and being seen by its companions," Mr. Tracy asks, "How do the birds of our woods and fields actually keep track of one another?" The value of the voice and ears is admitted, but it is further claimed that "sight plays a part of corresponding importance in the econ- omy of bird-movement, — to some extent replaces sound as a means of recognition." To test the value of directive markings, Mr. Tracy presents a table of North ( American Passeriform Birds of the Open designed to show that the birds marked with white, taken as a whole, have the habit of flocking, while the reverse holds true for those not so marked; from which he concludes that white markings are of directive value in keeping the individuals of a flock together. It does not seem to us, however, that this table presents an altogether correct view of the matter. If memory is not at fault, Horned Larks, for example, show black not white on the outer tail-feathers when in flight, while the Dickcissel, various species of Blackbirds of the genera Malathrus, Agelaius, Scolecophagus, and Qniscaliis, and the Swallows, seem to us to be better placed among "Birds of the Open " than among the Warblers, Thrushes and other "Passeriform Birds of Arboreal Habit," in the table on page 299. All are preeminently flocking species, and only the Barn Swallow has white in the tail, and this is so placed as to be but slightly revealed by flight. In the second table, just referred to, Mr. Tracy places arboreal birds in two groups, according to the presence or absence of white wing or tail markings, and expresses his belief that while certain of these markings may, in conformance with Thayer's theory, have a concealing value when in repose, they are revealing, and hence directive, in flight. We observe that while the eastern Robin is here placed with birds having white tail markings, no mention is made of the fact that in the Western Robin {Planesticus migratorius propinquus) the white tail marks are wanting. The case is excep- tionally interesting, for here is a bird which, as a species, can be placed in both categories, a fact which rather weakens one's faith in the functional value of white tail markings in this particular instance. Mr. Tracy concludes his paper with a special study of the Mnioliltidoe, and a 100) Book News and Reviews lOI brief discussion of ' Sexual Selection, as Affecting White Patterns,' and ' Direc- tive Markings Outside the Order Passeri- formes.' While he cannot be said to have presented a satisfactory solution of the difiticult problem which he has attacked, he has made a very acceptable contri- bution toward this end, one which we trust will stimulate observation in the field, where alone will be found the data on which the final answer is based. — Frank M. Chapman. The Vertebrates of the Cayuga Lake Basin, N. Y. By Hugh D. Reed and Albert H. Wright. [Cornell Univer- sity.] Proc. Am. Philos. Soc, xlviii, No. 193, 1909, pp. 371-458, 4 maps; Birds, pp. 386-390; 409-453- This valuable paper "is based mainly upon the records made by members" of the Department of Neurology and Verte- brate Zoology of Cornell University, since the opening of the University, in 1868. The personal observations of the authors have extended over twelve of these, some forty years. It goes without saying, there- fore, that the writers of this brochure are thoroughly equipped, both by experience and by what may be termed inheritance, to handle their subject with authority. Their paper, therefore, forms an admirable guide to the faunal affinities and status of the species of vertebrates in the region which they cover. Of birds, 257 species are recorded, and under each are given brief but pertinent data on its manner and times of occur- rence, and nesting dates (if a breeding bird).— F. M. C. An A.nnot.\ted List of the Birds of Costa Rica, Including Cocos Island. By M. A. Carriker, Jr. Annals of the Carnegie Museum, Vol. vi, Nos. 2-4, 1910, pp. 314-915, one map. It is not our purpose to write a critical review of ^Ir. Carriker's valuable contri- bution to our knowledge of tropical American bird-life, but we should like the readers of Bird-Lore to know of the appear- ance of so adequate a work on the birds of this part of our continent. The amazing richness of Costa Rica's bird-life is brought home to us when we observe that from this small republic, not quite so large as our state of West Virginia, there have been recorded no less than 753 species and sub-species, or about three- fourths as many as are known from all America north of Mexico! Mr. Carriker has some introductory mat- ter on the geography, physiography, life- zones, etc., and his manner of treatment of the species included makes his book useful to both the systemati-st and the zoogeographer, but to the average reader his book will be of interest chiefly because of his excellent notes on the habits of many birds of which we know but little in life. He is to be congratulated on the completion of a task to which, both in the field and study, he has evidently given unsparingly of his time and effort. — F. M. C. The Ornithological Magazines The Auk. — The January number opens with a 'Description of a New Oriole (/c- teris fuertesi), from Mexico,' by Mr. F. M. Chapman; and a fine colored plate of the species, from the brush of Mr. L. A. Fuertes, makes the issue unusually attractive. A new species in an old land is a rare find nowadays; but there are new discoveries to be made right under our noses, for it turns out that the much- observed Bittern wears and displays con- spicuous white plumes during the breeding season. This Mr. Wm. Brewster writes about under title 'Concerning the Nuptial Plumes Worn by Certain Bitterns, etc' The credit of first recording the plumes seems to be due to Miss Agnes M. Learned (Bird-Lore, May-June 1908, pp. 106- 108). Several pages are devoted to an enter- taining account of the Wild Pigeon, — a translation from an old Swedish journal of 1759 of an article by Peter Kalm, the traveler. His name, however, has not been translated, and remains "Pehr." As a sad commentary on Kalm's observa- tions, ISIr. C. F. Hodge has a few words to I02 Bird- Lore say on the ill-advised 'Passenger Pigeon Investigation.' It is probably the first time on record that a species has become extinct with press agents 'hot-foot' on its trail. 'The Warblers in Wayne Co., Michigan, in 1909,' by Mr. J. C. Wood, seems to be more an array of notebook extracts, rather than the digested observations so much needed in the study of migration. Mr. Frank Smith records the 'Double- crested Cormorants Breeding in Central Illinois.' Might these birds not be the form floridanus? Space does not permit critical reviews of several local lists. Mr. A. A. Saunders includes 198 species and races in 'A Preliminary List of the Birds of Gallatin Co., Montana;' Mr. S. S. Visher, 154 species in an 'Annotated List of the Birds of Harding Co., Northwestern South Dakota;' and Mr. J. C. Phillips has a long list, the result of 'A Year's Collecting in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico,' wherein a new Owl {Strix virgata tamaulipensis), a new Wren {Heleodytes narinosiis), and a new Yellow Warbler {Dcndroica wsiiva ineditus) are described. It will be noted that the much-abused asterisk serves one purpose in Mr. Saunders' hands and another in Mr. Visher's, but of far greater importance is the fact that only Mr. Phillips has followed the new A. O. U. Check-List in the use of trinomials. It makes us wonder if 'The Auk' is going to to recognize the Check-List as a guide, or adhere to usage current before trinomials were properly understood. This is not a matter for discussion here, but the veriest tyro can grasp the idea that a binomial means two names and a trinomial three, and see the inconsistency (for example, on p. 14) of "Melospiza melodia" (meaning Melospiza melodia melodia, the Eastern race), being placed on the same footing as Melospiza georgia)ia,a. species with no races. 'The Auk' can hardly afford to ignore the Check-List method of using trinomials. Mr. John H. Sage's report of the twenty- eighth annual meeting of the A. O. U. indicates the vigor of the Union. An unusual number of notes and reviews swells the issue to 152 pages. — J. D., Jr. The Condor. — By a vote of 63 to 44, the members of the Cooper Ornithological Club have decided against the use of simplified spelling in ' The Condor.' The editor, gracefully yielding to the wishes of the majority, has brought out the opening number of the new volume greatly im- proved in appearance, not only typo- graphically, but in the number of illus- trations. All but one of the longer articles are accompanied by half-tones, which comprise two plates and fifteen text figures. Of the five main articles, Keyes' 'History of Certain Great Horned Owls,' and Brewster's 'Courtship of the American Golden-eye,' both well illustrated, deserve especial mention. The former contains an interesting account of a family of Owls observed in 1906 and 1907 near Mt. Vernon, Iowa; the latter some very care- fully recorded observations of the Golden- eye, at Back Bay Basin, Boston, in February, 1909. Shelton describes the 'Nesting of the California Cuckoo,' in Sonoma county, and Bowles contributes a brief account of the nesting habits of 'The Pallid Wren-Tit {Chamcea fasciata henshaiviy in the vicinity of Santa Barbara. Under the title ' Collecting Socorro and Black Petrels in Lower California,' Osburn gives the results of two trips to the Coronado Islands in July, 1909, and June, 1910. Among the 'Editorial Notes and News' occurs the interesting statement that "there are at present 525 species of birds definitely recorded from within the limits of the State of California. Of these 163 are water birds and 362 land birds." This is undoubtedly the largest number known from any state in the Union except Texas. Announcement is made of "the prepara- tion of a sumptuous work upon the 'Birds of California,' " by W. L. Dawson, "with the cooperation of the members of the Cooper Ornithological Club." Judging by the author's well-known works on the 'Birds of Ohio' and 'Birds of Washington,' and the fact that four or five years are to be devoted to the task, we may reasonably expect that the rich avifauna of the state will be adequately treated. — T. S. P. Editorial 103 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. XIII Published Apiil 1.1911 No. 2 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Price in th: Unileil States. Canada and Mexico twenty cents a number, one dullar a year, postage paid. COPYRIGHTED. 1911, BY PRANK M. CHAPMAN Bird-Lore's Motto : A Bird in the Bush Is IVorth Two in the Hand When this number of Bird-Lore ap- pears, the Editor hopes to be encamped with Louis Fuertes in the Andes of South- ern Colombia. A wireless telegraph will not be included in our equipment, and communication by mail will be too infre- quent and uncertain to warrant forward- ing letters. The indulgence of corres- pondents is therefore begged until such time as we return to more beaten paths. It may not be out of place to explain that this absence will be occasioned by the second of the American Museum's expeditions in search of specimens and data on which to base Habitat Groups of Tropical American Birds. Studies for the first group of this series were made in the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico, in the spring of 1910. The second group is designed to show a general view of an Andean range from a tropical or temperate level, and the Cauca Valley of Colombia has been selected as a region where representative material for a group of this nature could be found. We would urge all contributors to Bird-Lore to use consistently the com- mon names of birds contained in the third edition of the American Ornithologists Union's ' Check-List of North American Birds.' It is now published in a small pocket edition with blank pages for notes, which may be obtained from Dr. J. Dwight, Jr., Treasurer of the A. O. U., at 134 W. 71st Street New York City, for twenty-five cents. Unfortunately, in an effort to simplify the common names of our birds, the authors of this work have gone a step too far. They decided, and doubtless rightly, that it was unnecessary to continue to use the prefix 'American' for those birds which, either in fact or fancy, are the New World representatives of Old World forms. For example, it is no more necessary for us to say American Osprey or Ameri- can Crossbill than it would be for an Englishman to say English Osprey or English Crossbill. In the first instance, it is true, from a local standpoint, Osprey is quite sufficient, there being but a single species of Osprey in each country. But where several species of the same country bear the same common group name, its application to each must be in connection with some qualifying name, if it is to have exact, specific meaning. For a bird student in America to say he has seen a Crossbill, therefore, is not enough, since it would not be clear from this statement whether he referred to what in earlier editions of the Check-List was called the American Crossbill or the White-winged Crossbill. Here it might be well to return to the old name of Red Crossbill. In a similar manner, while it is obviously unnecessary for us to use the name American when speaking of our Eared Grebe, White Pelican, Avocet, Wood- cock, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl or Dipper, to cite several examples, we can- not use the names Merganser, Scaup, Golden-eye, Eider, Scoter, Egret or Bittern, for example, and make our meaning unmistakable without employing some qualifying term. Such terms, also, it seems to us, should be used as well for (7// the forms of an American species. That is, if we call Planesticus migratorius propinqiius West- ern Robin, we should call Planesticus migratorius migratorius Eastern Robin, leaving the mere name Robin, in exact writing at any rate, to be the group name of the species Planesticus migratorius. Clje 3ludubon ^ocittits 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. Conservation of Home Resources A Bird and Arbor Day Suggestion WHEN the school-tax is paid, the average citizen considers his duty done for the ensuing year so far as schools are concerned. But how much is really given to our teachers and pupils? Are up-to-date school-buildings, free text-books and other material equipment sufficient to lift school-life to the plane which we take pride in behaving our schools have reached, or ought to have reached? It is a true but singularly significant fact that, with all the money and effort now expended to educate the children of this land, very little has yet been done to bring them into vital touch with the world in which they live. Visit a few schools in your neighborhood. Talk with teachers. Talk with pupils. It may be a surprise to find boys and girls of high-school training, fitted for college, who know almost nothing about trees or plants, or any other living organisms, outside of domesticated animals. Just why reading, writing and arithmetic are so much more important than the study of nature need not be discussed here. The point to be emphasized is the immensely valuable home resources in every locality, which it is the duty not only of the taxpayer, but of the Audubon Society and reliable people generally, to help our teachers and pupils to discover and conserve. Every one is supposed to take a lively interest nowadays in the conservation of national resources. Why not shift the center of interest to the conservation of home resources? A logical and practical beginning may be made by seeing, first, that each school has a school-garden; and, second, that each school-garden is managed as a part of the nation's resources. How can a boy who grows up without any first-hand knowledge of tree-planting and horticulture be expected to conserve forests, of whose place in nature and value to man he knows little or nothing? How can any child who is unfamiliar with the animals, birds, plants, insects, rocks, soils and water-powers of its own home neighborhood, develop into a progressive citizen with respect to the proper use of these resources? The opportunity is now before us to redeem the past by giving to this day and generation the chance to work out the problem of conserving natural resources. Of all days in the school-calendar. Bird and Arbor Day is the most appropriate for beginning such a work. (104) The Audubon Societies 105 Let us go to our schools and join with teachers and pupils in getting at this matter. Let us help to celebrate Bird and Arbor Day, in school and town, as a national festival, a nature fete, rich in economic, esthetic and educational values. Agassiz' message: "Study nature, not books!" rings out with peculiar sig- nificance in this age of indoor education. — A. H. W. A QUESTION Has any village, town or city, through any of its officials, improvement societies or civic leagues, invited the school-children to contribute to the community life by assisting in planting trees and shrubs in public places, in clearing up and reclaiming waste or neglected places, or in sharing the respon- sibilities of keeping home, common, park and roadsides attractive? Who can say what the value of such an incentive to civic beauty, pride and confidence might not be in the development and education of our boys and girls!— A. H. W. FOR TEACHERS Suggestions for Bird and Arbor Day 1"^HE school calendar includes a variety of anniversary days, which call for special exercises and extra effort on the part of both teachers and pupils. In some states, it has become almost a burden to keep up to a high standard in giving expression to patriotic, memorial and thanksgiving tributes. While there is some truth in the objection that the regular work and discipline of the school are more or less interfered with at these particular periods, it should not be forgotten that a very important and reasonable reason exists for the observance of all these occasions, namely, the opportunity to lift school routine out of monotony into higher usefulness by bringing the pupils into touch with some of the fundamental incentives to national and universal welfare. Possibly, no day now set aside for celebration can be made to contrib- ute more directly to the development of the individual pupil than Bird and Arbor Day. Obviously, the problem of getting the most satisfactory results from this day must be worked out differently in rural and city schools, in warm and cold climates, and in progressive and unprogressi\'e localities. However, there may be a general agreement on a few points: 1. Make the day one of Joy, if nothing else. 2. Celebrate the day Outdoors if possible. 3. Emphasize Life, moving, growing, breathing, feeding, reproducing, — in short, every form of life-activity. 4. Do away with all the formality of ordinary- exercises possible, and let the Pupils really contribute to the occasion by summing up their nature-study work io6 Bird - Lore in some simple, practical, beautiful fashion. Much has been written of interest and worth concerning Nature. It is all good material, but don't overlook the value of the work of your own school- room, in order to recite and rehearse what has elsewhere been said and done. 5. Lastly, relate Bird and Arbor Day to the Homes and the Public in your immediate neighborhood. A few special hints are offered, with the hope that teachers may not only find them helpful but that they may also excite sufficient interest to bring to this department criticisms, suggestions and personal experiences from those who observe Bird and Arbor Day in our schools. I. RURAL SCHOOLS According to locality and climatic conditions, lay out, prepare, sow or cultivate the school-garden. If possible, plant a tree and some shrubs, paying especial attention to beautifying the grounds and attracting birds. Invite parents and friends to spend an hour or so working with you. Let each pupil plant at least one seed or help set out one shrub. Where there is room, give each pupil a small plot to cultivate and raise a crop on. Have a row of sunflow- ers somewhere, and a flower-bed of hardy, late-blooming species which may contribute to the decoration of the school-room in the fall. A few early blos- soms may be possible in mild climates; midsummer flowers are less practicable. Select a site for a birds' drinking-fountain, and assign the work of getting material and setting it in place to those pupils best fitted to do it. If no money is available for such a purpose, make a simple trough, or round receptacle, detailing different pupils to fill and keep it clean week by week, including the vacation-time. Ask farmers to let the school have some of the extra seedlings when they "thin out" vegetable beds, and try setting these out in competi- tion with the same plants grown from the seed in the school-garden. Dates of all planting, transplanting and harvesting should be kept. If the day is fair and sufficiently mild, have the so-called "exercises" outdoors, making the marching and massing of the pupils to and from and about the school-grounds as attractive as possible. Indoors, arrange an exhibit which shall show what the pupils have done in nature-study through the year; hang up pictures; make blackboard sketches or diagrams, and give lists of birds, flowers, trees, rocks, insects, animals and soils which have been identified, stating dates and localities; have window-boxes with something growing (for example, the common grasses of agriculture) with one or more of their enemies, in the form of weeds. Let the pupils do as much of this work as possible. When desirable, assemble the schools of a town in some hall or outdoor park where the public may join in more formal exercises, inviting as guests the Board of Education or School Committee, Fish and Game Commis- sioners, State Forester, State Geologist and similar officials. The State Boards The Audubon Societies 107 of Agriculture should not be neglected. The Weather-Bureau might also suggest interesting matter bearing on the successful development of a school-garden. Increase the school-room Ubrary by sending to the State and National Departments of Agriculture for bulletins and pamphlets. II. CITY SCHOOLS To the indoor arrangements given above, add any Audubon Society or museum loan-material available; if provided with a stereopticon, have a short, illustrated talk; give each pupil if possible, a nature picture which he may mount on a pasteboard back and take home to keep. If the room likes to choose its favorite bird, flower, tree or animal for the year, let the picture represent that. Spend ten minutes having each pupil say in a word what interests him most in nature. Have a map colored to represent Bird and Game and Forest Reservations in the United States. Outdoors, assuming that there is no garden and only a paved yard, use win- dow-boxes for planting seeds (to be carried indoors later). If possible, let each pupil take home a two-inch flower-pot containing a sprouting seed or seedling, to be tended and brought back for exhibit at the close of school in June. After the exhibit, prizes might be awarded and the plants given outright to the pupils for their home-yard or garden. — A. H. W. TREES, PLANTS AND SHRUBS ATTRACTIVE TO BIRDS (See 'The Protection of Birds,' E, H. Forbush) Consult also "Methods of Attracting Birds," by Gilbert H. Trafton; "How to Attract and Protect Wild Birds," Von Berlepsch Method, National Association of Audubon Societies, 141 Broadway, New York City; "School Gardens," Bulletin No. 160, Office of Experiment Stations, United States Department of Agriculture; "Nature- Study and Life," by C. F. Hodge; Cornell Study Leaflets, Bird and Arbor Day Annuals, apply to State Commissioner of Education. Wild Sarsaparilla American Holly Catbrier Mountain Ash Bittersweet Spice Bush Sumac Golden-rod Sour Gum Red Elder Millet Dogwood Sweet Elder Cranberry Tree Partridge Berry Sweet Gum Barberry Red Cedar Virginia Creeper Shad Bush Ground Juniper Red Mulberry Bayberry Sunflower Russian Mulberry Wild Rose Weed-seeds Black Alder A Bird and Arbor Day Program MUSIC Class I, lead by a herald, marching with mounted pictures of trees, birds and animals, comes to a halt, forming in line. Herald steps to the front, saying: "When ice is thawed and snow is gone. And racy sweetness floods the trees; When snow-birds from the hedge have flown, And on the hive-porch swarm the bees, — Drifting down the first warm wind That thrills the earliest days of spring, The bluebird seeks our maple groves, And charms them into tasseling." — From "The Bluebird." M.a.urice Thompson. First Speaker: ''The trees have budded and are still blossoming. Soon the green leaves will be out, for spring has come again." Second Speaker: "Bloodroot and cowslip, spring-beauty, hepatica, squirrel-corn and violets are waiting for us to find them." Third Speaker: "The animals know spring is here, for the bear has waked up from his winter sleep; the woodchuck, too, and frogs are croaking in the marshes." Fourth Speaker: "Birds are flying fast by night and day from the far South to greet spring in the North. Phoebe and Song-Sparrow, Robin and Blue- bird are already here, and many whom we w^ant to see slip by us when we do not know." Fifth Speaker: "Mosquitoes have come out from garrets and cellars and all sorts of hiding-places under bridges or in crannies, and are laying thousands of eggs wherever they find water." Sixth Speaker: "Yes, and the apple-tree tent caterpillars are hatching out now from their eggs, which have been so safely kept through the winter. Click-beetles and potato-beetles have left their winter shelters." Seventh Speaker: "Everywhere insects are coming in great numbers. Some will do good. Many will do harm." All: "We want to find them and watch them." Eighth Speaker steps forward and says: "Summer and Autumn, Winter, Spring, Each season of the varied year Doth each for us a lesson bring. If we but turn the listening ear." — From "Nature Intelligible." Jones Very. If indoors, class hangs up pictures and forms in marching order. Note. — Flowers, birds and insects to suit the locality may be substituted for those given above. (io8) The Audubon Societies 109 A Child comes forward and says: "The bee is not afraid of me, I know the butterfly; The pretty people in the woods Receive me cordially." — Emily Dickinson. MUSIC Class II marches and forms in semicircle. A CALENDAR FOR MAY IN NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES Adapted from "Nature's Calendar," by Ernest Ingersoll. A Leader comes forward and says: ''The earth is warm again, the air is filled with odors, The lanes lined with gay flowers, which nod and bend To every passing breeze." First Speaker: "The fur-bearing animals put on a new coat now." Second Speaker: "Look up in the trees for big nests of dried leaves made by the squirrels. This is the time when the young squirrels are born." Third Speaker: "Meadow-mice, too, are making nests on the ground and, if you look sharp, you may find a white-footed mouse snugly housed in an old thrush's nest, which it has roofed over with leaves." Fourth Speaker: "Wild-cats, gray foxes, the minks and the weasels, skunks, otters and woodchucks, with beavers, wolves and the bristly porcupine are raising their young in dens and burrows and holes." Fifth Speaker: "In April we find many white or pale-colored flowers; but in May there are bright yellow blossoms, — wild indigo, golden mustard, the dandelion, five-finger, the yellow violet and marsh-marigold." Sixth Speaker steps forward saying: "When wake the violets, Winter dies; When sprout the elm-buds. Spring is near; When lilacs blossom, Siunmer cries, 'Bud, little roses! Spring is here.' " — From "Spring Has Come." Oliver Wendell Holmes. Seventh Speaker: "The chestnut tree will not shake out its yellow blossoms until simimer but the red maple is already fruiting." (Shows branch of red maple keys.) "in March and April this maple was beautiful with scarlet-yellow blossoms. Its leaves have scarlet stems. In autumn it will be the glory of the northern forests." no Bird - Lore Eighth Speaker: "Soft-shelled turtles are laying their eggs in the sand. Snakes have come out from their winter hiding, and are hunting for mice in the fields, or for toads and frogs near water." Ninth Speaker: "Fishes lay eggs, too. The shad has come in from the ocean. Schools of mackerel are coming. The black bass is making its shallow nest near the sandy lakeshore." Tenth Speaker: "Along the coast, crabs and shrimps are making their way inland, and will soon be shedding their shells. In Long Island Sound, lobsters are laying their eggs now, but it may be summer before there are any young lobsters in the northern waters of Nova Scotia." Last Speaker steps to middle of semicircle and says : "Is Summer real and coming. With its waving green and its herds? For the greatest good the Winter can bring Is the hope in me of returning Spring, And the joyous song of the birds." — From "Winter." William G. Barton. Class forms and marches. MUSIC Class III. The Message of the Birds. Single Speaker, acting as leader: "The skies can't keep their secret! They tell it to the hills. The hills just tell the orchards And they the daffodils! A bird, by chance, that goes that way Soft overhead the whole. If I should bribe the little bird, Who knows but she would tell?" — Emily Dickinson. Each speaker carries a colored picture of the bird he describes. First Speaker: "While May bedecks the naked trees With tassels and embroideries. And many blue-eyed violets beam Along the edges of the stream, I hear a voice that seems to say. Now near at hand, now far away, 'Witchery — witchery — witchery!' " — From "The Maryland Yellowthroat." Henry Van Dyke. All: "The Maryland Yellowthroat!" The Audubon Societies iii Second Speaker: "High on yon poplar, clad in glossiest green; The orange, black-capped Baltimore is seen, The broad extended boughs still please him best. Beneath their bending skirts he hangs his nest." — From "The Baltimore Bird. Alexander Wilson. Shows nest, if possible, collected in the autumn. All: "The Oriole! the Baltimore Oriole!" Third Speaker: "From the first bare clod in the raw, cold spring. From the last bare clod, when the fall winds sting, The farm-boy hears his brave song ring, And work for the time is a pleasant thing." — From "The Meadowlark." Hamlin Garland. All: "This must be the Meadowlark!" Fourth Speaker: "Among the dwellings framed by birds In field or forest with nice care. Is none that with the little wren's In snugness may compare." — From "The Wren's Xest.'" Wordsworth. All: "A Wren!" Fifth Speaker: "The blackbirds make the maples ring With social cheer and jubilee; The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee^ — From "]May-day." Emerson. All: "Red-winged Blackbird!" Sixth Speaker: "In the days of spring migrations, Days when warbler hosts move northward, To the forests, to the leaf beds, Comes the tiny oven builder. Daintily the leaves he tiptoes; Underneath them builds his oven. Arched and framed with last year's oak-leaves, Roofed and walled against the raindrops." — From "The Oven-bird." Frank Bolles. All: "Have you seen a nest of the Oven-Bird?" Seventh Speaker: "The bob-o'-link again I hear, The merriest bird of all the year. As through my open window floats The gladsome music of his notes." — From "Sunrise." Thomas Hill. All: "Bob-o-linkimi! Bob-o-linkumI" 112 Bird -Lore Eighth Speaker: "He sits on a branch of yon' blossoming bush, This madcap cousin of robin and thrush, And sings without ceasing the whole morning long! Now wild, now tender, the wayward song That flows from his soft, gray, fluttering throat. But often he stops in his sweetest note. And, shaking a flower from blossoming bough. Drawls out, ''Mi-ew, mi-ou\" — From "The Catbird." Edith Thomas. All: "Saucy, mocking Catbird." — MiNOT J. Savage. Ninth Speaker: " 'I own the country hereabout,' says Bob White, 'At early morn I gaily shout, I'm Bob White, From stubble field and stake-rail fence You hear me call, without offence, I'm Bob White! Bob White!' " — From "Bob White." Charles C. Marble. Tenth Speaker: "The whistle of the meadowlark is sweet. The blackbird's rapid chant fills all the vale, And touchingly sweet the unincumbered song That the thrush warbles in the greenwood shade; Yet is the robin still our sweetest bird, And beautiful as sweet." — From "The Robin." William T. Bacon. All: "The Robin shall be our bird for the year!" Leader: "Swallows over the water. Warblers over the land. Silvery, tinkling ripples Along the pebbly strand, Afar in the upper ether The eagle floats at rest; No wind now frets the forest, 'Tis nature at her best." — Charles C. Abbott. MUSIC Class IV, carrying leaves or blossoms of the different kinds of trees in the locality. The Audubon Societies iiS Single Speaker: "When we stand with the woods around us, And the great boughs overhead; When the wind blows cool on our forehead, And the breath of the pine is shed; When the song of the thrush is ringing Wonderful, rich, apart — Between the sound and the silence Comes a sudden Hft of the heart." — Elizabeth K. Adams. Leader: "We know where the trees in our (town) (village) (city) are." Shows map colored to mark wooded areas. Each speaker steps forward in turn and shows his branch, saying: "I have brought the (name of tree) to show you. "Here is the (name of tree) to show you. "I have found the (name of tree) to show you. "This is the (name of tree) to show you. Note. — Do not omit the everereen trees It grows (state distribution in this locality)." Leader: "Once forests covered all this region, now only a few trees are left." Single Speaker: "Preser\'e your forests, in them lies your wealth; They are better than gold, for riches untold Cannot buy what they'll give you in comfort and health; Their thirsty roots will drink in the rain That might cause your rivers to overflow. And they'll store it up till the leaves breathe it forth, To temper the heat of the summer glow. "When down from the North the wind rides forth, Your friends, the trees, will break its power; In their branches, in spring, the birds will sing, They will shelter each delicate wind-blown flower. Now the secret is this, — bear it well in mind. No matter how urgent may be your case, — 'Never lay your axe to the root of a tree Till you've planted another to take its place.' " — "The Secret." Lillie Southgate. Note. — Apply to State Forester, State Board of Agriculture and State His- torian for information about early and present conditions of forests. 114 Bird - Lore MUSIC "Frohlicher Landmann" Robert Schumann. Class V, Children, marching two by two. First Pair: "Farmers are we to take care of the crops." Second Pair: "We mean to grow up and watch over the trees." Third Pair: "Gardens where flowers grow we'd rather have." Fourth Pair: "Honey we like, so we'll choose the bees." Fifth Pair: "Give us the birds, who can fly and can sing." Sixth Pair: "Rocks and mines say we, because they bring wealth." Seventh Pair: "We'll take water and all which there swims or sails." Eighth Pair: "Pure air for us, winds and clouds that give health." Ninth Pair: "The soil we shall choose and make smooth^ lasting roads." Tenth Pair: "Our choice is the heavens, with moon, stars and sun." Eleventh Pair: "Let us have the animals, tame ones and wild." Twelfth Pair: "We like fairies best. Don't you think we'll find one?" (To be spoken by the two youngest children.) All: " 'The great, wide, wonderful, beautiful world!' Every day We will sing, work and play In this beautiful, wonderful world!" All the classes now form with their respective leaders, singing as they march to plant seeds, shrubs or trees in the school-garden. MUSIC (See note.) It is suggested that special attention be given to the selection of music and also to the marching. A May-pole with colored streamers might be intro- duced with charming effect. Note. — The following may be sung to the tune of "Abschied," page 145, Buch der Lieder. Collection LitolfiF No. 846. Girls: "For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;" Boys: "For song of bird and himi of bee; For all things fair we hear or see;" (Repeat first four bars of music.) All: "Father in Heaven, we thank Thee! Father in Heaven, we thank Thee!" Girls: "For blue of stream and blue of sky; For pleasant shade of branches high;" Boys: "For fragrant air and cooling breeze; For beauty of the blooming trees;" All: "Father in Heaven, etc.—" A. H. W. CHIMNEY SWIFT (0)ic-lia/f iialural size) Order— Macrochires Family— MiCROPODiD.y, Genus— Ch.??tura Species— Pklagic a National Association of Audubon Societies Educational Leaflet, No. 49 THE CHIMNEY SWIFT By T. GILBERT PEARSON %^t il^attonal j^^^oriation ot jaudubon ^otittite EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 49 One late summer's evening, after the sun went down, there were observed flying above the tree-tops of a North Carolina village a large number of black objects. Some one said they were bats, while others pronounced them swallows, but they were neither. The swarm of dusky forms swinging rapidly about the sky was a flock of Chimney Swifts. They seemed to be more numer- ous in the neighborhood of a large college building. Presently they began circUng in one rushing, revolving, twittering mass of bird life. One side of this living wheel passed directly over the large chimney which leads downward to the furnace in the basement. Suddenly, during these last moments of twilight before the Their Bedroom darkness falls, one of the Swifts threw up its wings and dropped out of sight in the chimney. Soon another did the same, then another and another. They went in by pairs, by fours, almost by dozens. The wheel continued to revolve while a stream of birds, as if thrown off by a kind of centrifugal force, went pouring down into the gaping mouth of darkness. We stood and counted as best we could the numbers in this cataract of feathered life. Not for one moment was the scene changed until the play was at an end. "One thousand," I said. "One thousand and twenty-five," answered the gentleman wdth me, who had probably counted more correctly. Five or six birds which had hesitated to the last moment to take the plunge, and now possibly missing the moral support of the large company, gave up the idea of stopping there that night and, turning, flew away in the falling dark- ness. Night closed in upon the great chimney, with its sooty walls lined with an army of clinging, drowsy Swifts; for this was the huge bedroom of these little piccaninnies of the air. It was now seventeen minutes past seven o'clock. Less than twenty minutes had been required for the flock to enter. Since early morning, each bird had been upon the wing, roaming the endless pathways of the air in quest of insect food. It is possible that not once during the day had one paused to rest, as the Swift never trusts the weight of its body to its weak feet, except at such times as when, in the hollow breast of a great tree, or down the yawning throat of a chimney, it can cHng perpendicularly to the wall, braced from below^ with its tail, each feather of which ends in a stiff, needle-like outgrowth. In the early morning, we hastened out to see if the S\\dfts were up and (115) ii6 Bird -Lore away. Over the rim of the chimney we found them coming, singly, by twos, by threes, by fours; making long sweeps toward the earth with the first bound; then mounting high in air with innumerable twitterings, they would be off for the day's experiences. At live minutes of si.x o'clock they ceased to appear. More than eight hundred had been counted within fifteen minutes. Something unexpected now happened. Back into the chimney came rushing the Swifts. In ten minutes ii6 had reentered. What could it mean? Up from the east a dark, threatening cloud was moving. The Swifts had espied it, and all those which by this time were not far afield came hurrying back to the chimney of refuge. For many evenings we watched the birds. They always went to roost the same way, going through the same performances. For more than two weeks they continued with us. One day, near the middle of September, we saw from our window that the maple trees over on the hillside were turning yellow and red. "Autumn has come," said my friend. Perhaps the Swifts saw the sign, too, and passed the word that the summer had ended and the air would soon be free of insects. That evening, at the hour of gathering about the chimney, The Migration less than one hundred appeared. The great flock had taken up its line of flight and was now far on its course toward the land of perpetual summer. The others lingered for some time, gathering in stragglers, and also those families the young of which had been slow in getting upon the wing; and then, one day they, too, were off to join their fellows in the far South. We shall see no more of the Swifts until some day next spring, when we may hear falling to us from the air above a joyous twittering, and, looking up, may catch a view of the first arrival, a black, animated bow-and-arrow- shaped object darting about at such a height that it seems to be scratching its back against the sky. The birds usually reach us in April, and within a few weeks The Nest nest-bmlding begins. The structure consists of a bracket work of dead twigs, glued together somewhat in the form of a half- saucer. It may be found sticking to the wall on the inside of a chimney. These twigs are the ends of small dead branches broken from the trees by the birds, who grasp them with their feet or bill while on the wing. They are fastened together by a salivary substance secreted by glands in the bird's mouth. Apparently the flow of this gluing secretion is sometimes checked. This is possibly due in part to an unhealthy condition of the bird. At such times, the nest-building must proceed slowly, and its completion may even be delayed until time for the eggs to be deposited. Often nests have been examined which contained eggs, many days before the full number of twigs had been glued in place. Before the settlement of this country, the Swifts built their nests on the The Chimney Swift 117 inner vertical sides of hollow trees, but when the white man came, with his chimneys, they left their homes and came to dwell with him. A chimney is usually occupied by but one pair of birds. It is only in the autumn, when the Swifts accumulate from far and near about some favorite roosting-place, that we see so many inhabiting one chimney. Their eggs are four or five in number, and are white. Nature is not inclined to lavish her coloring material on the shells of eggs where it is not needed. With a com- paratively few exceptions, those which are deposited in dark places, as in chim- neys, or holes in trees, or in the ground, are white. Such eggs do not need NEST AND EGGS OF CHIMNEY SWIFT Photographed by B. S. Bowdish the protection of coloring matter, as do those which are laid in open nests, and are thus exposed to the eyes of many enemies. The Swift is a very valuable bird, as is shown by the following letter written February 2^,, 191 1, by Mr. W. L. McAtee, of the United States Bio- logical Survey: "My investigat'on of the food of the species is complete to date, and I hope to prepare a publication on the bird before very long. I may state, how- ever, that the bird's food consists almost wholly of insects, and that beetles, flies and ants are the principal items. It gets many beetles (Scolytidae), the most serious enemies of our forests, when they are swarming, and takes also the old-fashioned potato beetle (Lema trilineata), the tarnished plant-bug ii8 Bird - Lore {Lygus pratensis), and other injurious insects. The bird is, of course, largely beneficial to the agricultural interests of the country." In China and some of the neighboring countries, there are Swifts which build even more peculiar nests than the American species. No sticks or twigs are employed in their construction, the gummy saliva from the bird's mouth being the only material used. These nests are much sought by the people of those countries as an article of food. They are built on the faces of cliffs, or the walls of caves. In large numbers, they are gathered and sold in the markets as "edible birds' nests." To prepare them for the table, they are cooked in the form of soup. Our Swift is a representative of a large and widely distributed family. There are about eighty species found throughout the world. About thirty occur in America, but only four in North America, and the Chimney Swift (Chcetura pelagica) alone represents the family in the eastern part of the United States. Ct)e Audubon ^octettes EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Edited by WILLIAM DUTCHER 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 More than five months have passed since President WilHam Dutcher was stricken with apoplexy, and, while his condition continues to improve, the gain has been very slow. He is totally unable to walk or to speak, although otherwise he appears to be in excellent physical condition. The sorrow that his illness has occasioned among his wide circle of friends and correspondents is attested by the numerous inquiries regarding the state of his health which constantly reach this office. — T. Gilbert Peakson. Change of Office The increasing volume of work connec- ted with the administration of the aiJairs of the National Association has necessi- tated the acquiring of larger office space. After April 15, 191 1, therefore, the address of the Association will be 1974 Broadway. This is, in many ways, a very convenient location. It can be reached in one minute's walk from the 66th street station of the Columbus Avenue Elevated Railway, or the subway station at 66th street. Several lines of surface cars also converge here. We shall hope to welcome many of our members and friends of bird protection at the new location. — T. G. P. Attack on the Plumage Law A bill has been introduced in the Assem- bly of the New York Legislature, by A. J. Levy, of New York City, which will not only repeal in effect the splendid Shea- White Plumage Law enacted last year, but by the omission of the word "plumage" from Section 98 of Chapter 24 of the Forest, Fish and Game Law will, it appears, open the way for the sale of the plumage of all birds. So adroitly is the bill drawn, with such skilful manipulation of words, that many have been deceived and regard the measure as a still further safeguard to the birds of the state. In fact, press despatches sent out from Albany at the time the bill was introduced contained statements to that effect. This hill is a most vicious one and should be defeated at all hazards. It is clearly in the interests of certain large moneyed con- cerns in New York, who have shown that they care nothing for wild birds except for the money which can be made from the sale of their feathers. There is evi- dence that large sums have been raised to employ a powerful lobby at Albany to aid in the passage of this measure, and it is imperative that the friends of the birds immediately exert themselves to the utmost if the state is to take no backward steps in bird protection. WHAT YOU CAN DO Last winter, when our Plumage Bill was up for passage, one Assemblyman in a speech, stated on the floor of the Assem- bly that he had received over one hundred letters from his constituents asking him to vote for this bill which the Audubon Society advocated, and he gave that as his reason for favoring it. This illustrates the importance of having voters write their views to their representatives in the Legislature. I wish to urge with all the earnestness at my command that you get your friends to write at once to the Senator and Assem- blymen from your district and ask them to vote and use all their influence against the passage of Assembly Bill 359, intro- 19) I20 Bird - Lore duced by A. J. Lev-y, and intended to cripple and destroy the present plumage law. To be effective, this should be done at once. Two other important measures are before the Legislature of New York State. 1. Senate Bill No. 9, introduced by Senator J. L. Long (same as Assembly Bill No. 2, introduced by Frederick Sheide), is for the purpose of opening up the duck shooting on Long Island until April I. This should be killed. 2. Senate Bill No. 513, introduced by Senator Howard R. Bayne, to prohibit the sale of feathered game in New York. This measure should become a laic. It would do more for the protection of the game birds of New York State than any other game law on the statute books. — T. G. P. Cold Storage of Game One of the most beneficial game laws on the statute books of New York State is the provision which prohibits the sale of Woodcock, Grouse or Quail taken within the state, and prohibits the pos- session of such birds during the closed season except under bond to the state of New York that such bonded birds shall not be sold or taken from cold storage until the following open season. The open season on Quail is from November i to November 30, both inclusive; on Wood- cock and Grouse, from October i to Novem- ber 30, both inclusive. On the waders, Plover, Snipe, Rail, etc., the same sale provisions apply, and the open season is September 16 to December 31, both in- clusive. Following are approximate figures of game birds held under bond in cold storage in New York at the present time: Wild Ducks 98,156 Plover 48,780 Quail 14,227 Grouse 21,202 Snipe 7,825 Woodcock 967 Rail 419 Black Cock 301 Total 191,877 Many of the game birds sold in New York are imported from foreign countries, and some of the game dealers contend that they should be permitted to sell these, if they choose, during the spring and summer months. On the other hand, students of game protection write em- phatically declaring that such license would open the door for widespread abuses as many of our native birds can readily be substituted for foreign game, and further inducements would thus be held out for those who wish to kill birds illegally. At the date of going to press, there are heard many rumors that certain whole- sale game dealers will attempt to have the law repealed at this session of the New York Legislature, or at least to modify it in such a way as to be of advantage to their personal interests and a menace to the birds of the state. We urge all readers of Bird-Lore to keep a sharp lookout for the appearance of such a measure at Albany, and, if the bill is introduced, to use their influence at once with their Senators and Assemblymen to secure its defeat.— T. G. P. Elk Starving in Wyoming A few years ago, during a trip in the West, the writer became more deeply interested than ever before in the prob- lem connected with saving the remnant of big game that still inhabits the Rocky Mountains. Some of the members of the Audubon Society, with others, are working hard to accomplish results in the direction of big- game preservation. The following ex- tract from a letter written February 4, by S. N. Leek, of Jackson, Wyoming, tells a pitiful tale of the hardships to which the elk of that territor}- are now subjected: "We have a Yellowstone Park, and a Teton State Game Preserve, together containing something over 3,000,000 acres, where all hunting is prohibited; on this vast region there is a great deal of game. The region is of such an elevation that the game cannot winter there, but must The Audubon Societies 121 go to a lower altitude. The Forest Service issues permits to the sheep men to graze their flocks on every side of this region but the south or Jackson's Hole side. The elk, in leaving the Park and Game Pre- serve, are, therefore, forced to come into Jackson's Hole in greater numbers than the valley will support. In consequence, a great many of them starve. We are trying to have the state make some arrange- ment to stop so much unnecessary suffer- ing. Two years ago, 5,000 elk died of starvation in this valley right among the ranches. Again, this \\'inter, they are dying by hundreds, and within a month they will starve by the thousands. There are now 20,000 elk in this little vallej' in a starving condition; the calves go first. The poor little things follow the herd as long as they can till they get too weak to go farther, then they lie for daj's in the shelter of some friendly bush until death relieves their suffering. Right now, as I write these lines, there are hundreds of them around our barn, among the horses and cattle, picking up the few straws to be found. It takes a hard heart to see them suffer so, but, did we feed them or allow them to feed with our stock, we would run short of hay and our own stock would suffer; so we are obliged to drive them away when we feed. We just received word over the telephone that the state has appropriated %s,ooo with which to buy hay, but there is not enough hay in the valley that can be spared to feed one fourth of the elk. The only recourse is to get the settlers to drive stock out over the Teton Range of mountains into Idaho, where they might procure food for them, and let the elk have the hay here. This, however, is quite an undertaking, attended with much risk, and, besides, the only road is now blocked with snow nearly ten feet deep. If Wyoming would only prepare for this during the summer when there is plenty of cheap hay, or else reduce the numbers of elk by some legitimate means, there would be less suffering." Mr. Howard Eaton, of Wolf, Wyoming, in a letter dated February 27, suggests a wa}' of relief by urging that the govern- ment take steps to remove the extra stock of elk in Jackson's Hole to other reservations, such as the Big Horns, Medicine Bow Range, and the head of the Shoshone Encampment Country. A moderate appropriation would do this, and the elk would be given additional territory in which to increase. With great force, he points to experiments of this character in the state which have been abundantly successful. — T. G. P. New Members During the period between January i and March i, 1911, the following persons became members and contributors to the work of the Xational Association. Life Members — Brooks, Mr. Peter C, Taft, Mr. E. B., Watson, Mrs. James. B., WeUs, Mrs. F. L., Sustaining Members — Abbott, Mrs. Edwin H., Allen, Miss :Mary P., Appleton, Miss Maud E., Aver, Mr. C. F., Bacon, Mrs. F. E., Bartol, Miss C. H., Bellard, Miss Katherine, Brower, Miss L. S., Brown, Mr. X. C, Burnham, Mrs. J. C, Case, Mrs. Ermine, Case, Airs. Geo. B., Christie, Mr. Percival, Cole, Mrs. Adelina A., Converse, Mr. F. S. Courtney, Rt. Rev. F., Crane, Miss Ellen J., Crocker, Dorothea, Cummings, Airs. C. A., Jr., Davis, Mr. Geo. P., Dickson, Mrs. James B., Dickson, Mr. James B., Dryden, Mrs. Cynthia F., Dryden, Air. John F., Du Bois, Mrs. Goddard, Ewell, Airs. J. AI., Finch, Air. Edward, Forbes, Airs. AI. J. Franklin, Aliss Laura I. P., Fuertes, Louis A., Hamilton. Airs. W. P., Hammond, Airs. J. H., Henrickson, Air. John H. Hodge, Air. D. W., 122 Bird -Lore Sustaining Members, continued — Houghton, Mrs. O. F. Hunnewell, Mrs. Arthur, Hussey, Misses, Irving, Miss Helen E., Jenks, Mrs. Wm. F., Kellogg, Mr. Francis J., Knowlton, Miss Gertrude, Kuehn, Mr. Otto L., Lawrence, Mr. John S., Lawyer, Mr. Geo. A., McAlpin, Mrs. D. H. Jr., Mallock, Miss Mary S., Mills, Mr. Herbert R., Moore, Mrs. W. H., Morrell, Mr. Edward, Morris, Mrs. D. H., Morris, Mr. L. R., Morton, Miss Helen, Muhlfeld, Mr. F. J., Powell, Mr. P. H., Rothwell, Mr. J. E., Seymour, Mr. Julius H., Sloan, Mrs. William, Smile}', Mr. Daniel, Spurrell, Mr. John A., Stewart, Mr. A. M., Sullivan, Miss Florence, Tucker, Mr. R. P., Van Tassell, F. L., Wakeman, Miss Francis, Wakeman, Miss Mary F., Wharton, Mr. E. P., White, Mrs. Wm. M., Willson, Mrs. C. H., Winslow, Miss Isabella, Winslow, Miss Maria C., Wood, Mr. Arnold, Wright, Mrs. Theo. F., Contributors — - Anglers' Association of Onondaga County, Barlett, Miss Alice M., Belmont, Mr. August, Elkins, Mr. W. P., Keeland, Mr. Francis, NOTES Mrs Wright Appointed a Director At the bi-monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Association, held in New York on February 28, 191 1, Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright was appointed a director, to serve until the ne.xt annual meeting of the Association. She was cho- sen to fill the vacancy caused by the resig- nation of Dr. H. C. Bumpus, whose work in the West has necessitated his removing to Madison, Wisconsin. California Miss Gretchen L. Libby, who has served as Field Agent for this Association in California, has been devoting much time to organizing Junior Audubon Classes. As a result of her efforts and of those associated with her, 3,000 Junior Members have been enrolled, and the California Society confidently expects to double this number in the near future. It is particularly interesting to note that the State Fish and Game Commis- sion are alive to the importance of con- ducting an educational campaign, similar to that so constantly carried forward by the Audubon workers. It has recently arranged to place her in the field, to devote her entire time to speaking and culti- vating public sentiment to a better appre- ciation of the value of preserving the wild bird and animal life of the state. Florida Information gathered from various sources indicates that fully four hundred yachts annually go down the Atlantic coast to cruise in Florida waters. To these are added many other small vessels carrying pleasure parties from Florida ports. The majority of these boats have fire-arms aboard, and in the thinly settled reaches of the coast the temptations are many and subtle for the cruisers to try their aim at passing birds. The Audubon Warden, B. J. Pacetti, who guards the Government Reservation at Mosquito Inlet, has had an experience with such a party. John and Julian Dupont, of St. Augustine, were captured by him after a long and exciting chase, and later pleaded guilty in the court of shooting at Pelicans. They were fined, and it is to be hoped that the wide publicity given to the matter in the papers will cause other shooters to remember that, even in Florida, there are places where the strong arm of the law reaches out to guard and protect the wild bird life. The Audubon Societies 123 Tennessee Audubon Society work has been moving forward rapidly in Tennessee, of late. Dr. R. B. Maury, President of the West Tennessee Audubon Society, has been doing a large work among the schools of Memphis. His efforts have been rewarded by the organization of 60 Junior Audubon Classes, containing in all 1,567 members. Each child has paid a fee of ten cents, and in return has received a Mockingbird button and ten of the Association's leaf- lets, with colored plates. The teacher at the head of each class receives "Bird- Lore," and certain leaflets especially helpful to their bird work. The Legislature has recently passed a law which prohibits the sale of robins. This is a strong step toward robin pro- tection, on which the Audubon Society workers and State Game Warden Colonel Joseph H. Acklen are to be congratulated. — T. G. P. Destruction of Meadowlark in Georgia The following clipping appears in a recent issue of a Georgia paper: "kill 11,000 FIELD LARKS." "Waycross, Ga., March 15. — A total of 11,231 Larks, enemies of corn, were killed in a contest originated by farmers living about Manor, this county. The contest opened February i, and closed today. "The first prize, a purse of gold, which farmers raised among themselves, was di- vided among Dan Henderson, Tom James and W. D. James. They killed 1,586." The above strikingly illustrates the profound ignorance that still exists in many sections of our country relative to the economic status of some of our most valuable feathered assistants. It also emphasizes the possibilities opened to us through the generosity of Mrs. Sage, in contributing a special fund for educational work in the bird-protection field in the South. Georgia's illustration of ignorant destruction of valuable birds is not unique bv anv means, and it is not so manv vears ago that parallel cases were to be found in some of our northern states. The change in the public attitude of such states and the development of public appreciation of the value of birds is the direct result of a systematic campaign of education, and the results mentioned form an indication of what may be hoped for in other sec- tions of our country when the sinews of war at our command permit us to carry on a continued campaign of like character in those localities. — T. G. P. A Statement in Support of the Present Law Regarding Wild-fowl [Much valuable data has been accumu- lated by Mr. E. H. Forbush, in his efforts to prevent the opening up of spring shoot- ing in Massachusetts and elsewhere in New England. His arguments are so clear and convincing that the subject matter of one of his circular letters is reproduced here- with.] The killing of all migratory birds should stop at the end of the fall migration. Fall shooting, if not excessive, does not reduce the annual numbers of wild fowl; they increase in numbers under well- regulated fall shooting. Wild Ducks have increased within the last few years in the states and provinces where spring shoot- ing is now prohibited, and already the overflow of this increase is felt along the Atlantic seaboard. Shooting in New England and the other northern coast states after the ponds are frozen allows unscrupulous or unthinking gunners to take advantage of the fresh- water Ducks, when, in severe seasons they are half-starved and driven by hun- ger and thirst to the open spring-holes, where the gunners lie in wait for them day or night. Non-diving, surface-feed- ing Ducks, of which the Black Duck is the principal New England species, are obliged by necessity to go to these spring- holes. Wild-fowl sometimes starve and freeze to death in severe winters. In the coldest weather, most Ducks will brave death b\' shooting rather than endure thirst or starvation. 124 Bird - Lore Tales have been told of gunners shoot- ing Ducks at spring-holes until the water was red with blood, — tales of hundreds of birds shot when they were starving and unfit for food, — of birds so ntearly starved that they could hardly rise in the air. Some of these stories may be exaggerated, but there are enough authentic instances on record to prove that all shooting should be stopped in January and Feb- ruary. This closes the shooting-season on the coast when nature closes the ponds of the interior, and this is fair to all gun- ners. All authorities agree that spring shooting is a most wasteful practice. It has extirpated the Heath Hen, Wild Turkey, Passenger Pigeon and Eskimo Curlew, and decimated other Curlews, Godwits, Golden Plover, the River Ducks and the Upland Plover, and driven out birds that once bred here. Its advocates say that it is useless to protect the birds here while large numbers are killed in winter in the South. This argument is fallacious for the following reasons: (i) Many of our wild fowl remain off the coast of New England all winter, particularly in mild seasons. (2) Most of the birds killed in the South are bred in the North- west, and never come here. (3) Granting that some of our birds are killed in the South, why should we kill in spring our own birds that have escaped the southern gunners, thus "killing the goose that lays the golden egg." The southern people are awakening to the necessity of game protection. The laws in some of the southern states are already better and more efficiently en- forced than some of those in the North. In time to come, the South will protect her birds fully as well as the North. Uniform protection of all wild-fowl in winter and spring has an almost immediate and very striking effect. The owner of a little pond in Rhode Island does not allow shooting on his premises, and Black Ducks breed there every year. A Massachusetts man controls all the land around one side of a large pond, and does not allow any winter or spring shooting there. Last July. 75 Black Ducks were counted on his side of this pond, and these birds were reared there. On Fisher's Island, New York, breeding Ducks increased so rapidly, under a few years of spring pro- tection, that there was good shooting in the fall on the island, while on the oppo- site shore, in Connecticut, where spring shooting was then allowed, there were few, if any, Ducks. Wherever any state has passed and enforced a law protectiiig wild-fowl in spring, Ducks, and in some cases. Geese, which had been driven out, have come back to breed and increased rapidly in numbers. They are coming back now to Massachusetts. All this shows how even local spring protection in the North in- creases the birds. The law to be effective must be uni- form, with all shooting and sale stopped. Otherwise there is continual temptation to lawbreaking. If there is a close season and an open market here, there will be a continued demand for birds from the South for our markets, so long as they remain open. Therefore, open markets bring about the destruction of our birds and others in the South, while the law protects them from the gunner here. If the shooting of a single species is allowed during the close season, all species will be shot. .\ law which permits the shooting of Brant only, on Long Island, during the spring, has resulted in the killing and marketing of all kinds of protected Ducks in spring, and the people of New York State have now repealed that law. The present law in Massachusetts should be sustained, as it corrects all these evils. Our Massachusetts Law now prohibits the shooting and sale of Swans and Wood Ducks at all times, and the killing and sale of all species of Wild Ducks, Geese and Brant annually from December 31 to September 15. After having passed the New York Sen- ate and being favorably reported by the Fish and Game Committee of the Assem- bly, the bill extending the open season on water fowl to April i was lost in the Assembly by a vote of 68 to 73. — T. G. P. -. 1- . > ("I Cyan It 5^ ?/-T ., 1. Savannah Sparrow, Summer. 3. Belding's Sparrow, adult. 3. Savannah Sparrow, Winter. 4. Large-billed Sparrow, adult, 5. Ipswich Sparrow, adult. (One-half Natural Size.) A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS Official Organ of the Audubon Socikticb Vol. XIII May— June, 1911 No. 3 Ceremonials of Courtship Practiced by the American Merganser By WILLIAM BREWSTER THE behavior of American Golden-eyes, or Whistlers, while engaged in courtship has been rather closely studied and fully described* of late, but that of American Mergansers does not appear to have received similar attention. Although I have been familiar with the latter birds since boyhood, only one opportunity of seeing the males pay court to the females has ever been vouchsafed to me. This occurred at Fresh Pond, Cambridge, Mass., on March i6, 1909, when I WTote the following account of the expe- rience in my journal: There were thirty-one Mergansers in the pond, when, in company with Mr. H. A. Purdie, I reached it about nine o'clock this morning. Nineteen were drakes in full nuptial plumage and twelve females or immature males (not to be distinguished from the females with any certainty when living, even in spring). For the first half hour or so the birds were at a considerable distance; but. on the calm water and in the clear morning light, they could be seen very distinctly with the help of the small telescope that I carried. During this time most of the males were constantly absorbed in their atten- tions to the females. Their behavior was in some respects not unlike that of Whistler drakes when similarly employed. In numbers varying from three or four to ten or a dozen, they would collect about one or two females, or follow them from place to place in single file, never interfering with one another in any way or showing the least sexual jealousy or animosity. While thus employed, they were, how^ever, much more active and animated than Whistler drakes, swimming fast at all times and sometimes gliding over the water with really surprising swiftness, yet very evenly and smoothly. The combined movements of such a group were often so abrupt or so intricate that it was difficult to follow them closely with the eye or to interpret their precise significance. In a general way, they seemed to represent a sort of *By Dr. C. W. Townsend in The Auk, Vol. XXVII, No. 2, April, 1910, pp. 177-179: also by W. Brewster in The Condor, Vol. XIII. No. I, January, 191 1, pp. 22-30. 126 Bird -Lore dress-parade, so ordered as to give all the rival drakes an equal opportunity of displaying their respective charms of plumage and deportment to the best ''dvantage, in direct yet friendly competition with one another. Their evo- lutions appeared to be regulated largely by established system or convention, and some of them were strikingly beautiful. Thus eight or nine drakes, strung out in single file, but so close together that the bill of each almost touched the tail of the one next in front, would swim past a female at top speed, and then turn about instantly, each bird on its own axis, as if at a given signal, before starting back in reversed order — that is, with the bird which had been last now leading and the one that had been first bringing up the rear. I saw this done a dozen times or more, the distance traversed in a straight line on these occasions varying from ten to fifty yards. When a number of drakes started after a female that was swimming away from them, they commonly overhauled and passed her quickly in the manner just described, but sometimes the chase would continue for one or two hundred yards. When overtaken, she usually stopped, and seemed to watch the behavior of her numerous admirers with some interest. While parading before her, one or another of them would occasionally thrust his head and neck straight upward to their full length. This position was never maintained for more than a fraction of a second, thereby differing from the corresponding and otherwise similar one often assumed by the male Whistler. The distance was too great for me to make out whether or not the bill was opened. I noticed no other unusual movements of the head and neck, which, indeed, seemed to be carried for the most part as on ordinary occasions, although perhaps somewhat higher and more erect. But I did see, very many times, jets of water or spray fly into the air at the rear of the drakes which, at the time, were "displaying" in the presence of one or more females. These jets were similar in most respects to those which are kicked up by male Whistlers on like occasions, but they rose to a greater height and were apparently somewhat broader. That they form a more or less essential part of the ceremonials of courtship seems evident. Nor do I doubt that the Merganser, like the Whistler, throws them up by a vigorous kick of one or both of its feet although I did not actually see the feet exposed. Later in the morning the Mergansers swam in nearer to the shore, where we watched them for some time at distances within two hundred yards. They had now ceased parading and were scattered about singly, in pairs, and in small groups, many of them engaged in fishing. One pair, not over one hun- dred and fifty yards away, acted for a time in a singular manner. At first I noticed only the drake, a fine, big fellow with snowy white sides and bottle- green head, who was swimming slowly in circles about an inconspicuous object that looked very like a piece of bark or driftwood. On scrutinizing it closely, however, I soon made out that it was a female Merganser, floating perfectly motionless, and so deep in the water that only the line of her back Courtship Praticed by the American Merganser 127 showed above the surface, her head and neck being apparently, completely immersed. "That must be a dead bird," I said to my companion. During the next three or four minutes she remained thus immovable, and the drake continued to encircle her, .occasionally pecking at her very gently. At length, and of a sudden, the water was violently agitated, and a brown-crested head, followed by a grayish body, came into full view, as the female Merganser sprang almost clear of the surface by a single convulsive effort. After this she swam sedately by the side of her mate as long as we had the pair in sight. Her odd behavior at first was, I think, in the nature of a bit of studied and probably conventional coquetry, practised to stimulate the ardor of the male. Similarly, a female Mallard, when in the presence of a drake with whom she desires to mate, "may coyly lower herself in the water till only the top of her back, head, and neck is seen," this being her "last appeal" to him. So, at least, Millais aiSirms in his beautiful and valuable book entitled "The Natural History of the British Surface-feeding Ducks," where the words just quoted occur on pages 6 and 7. W lin K-i ki i\\M::ii M'ARROW Photographed by G. A. Bailey, Genesee. N. Y. Birds of My Garden III. THE NESTING-TIME By MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT Hither the busy birds shall flutter With the light timber for their nests, And, pausing from their labor, utter The morning sunshine in their breasts. EVEN though all but a scant dozen of the familiar birds begin their housekeeping in May, and a few like the Bluebird, Robin, etc., in April, June is conceded to be the universal nesting month. By the first week of June the last laggard Blackpoll, Canadian Warbler and Gray- cheeked Thrush has moved on, and the garden takes on all the attributes of a cottage colony. No matter how much time one has spent far afield in the aggressive quest of bird life in the nesting season, no matter what peeps at rare nests and genuine ornithological thrills it may have afforded, the opposite side of the picture, where conditions are reversed and the bird becomes the ^•isitor, has an entirely different and more intimate charm; while the surprises are as great, and even more dramatic, because they take place on familiar ground. Because one has lived in the same place for twenty-five years, watched the pines and spruces grow skyward until beneath their thorny branches a sturdy second generation is doing its best to keep the mysterious cycle of life intact, it is not safe to assume that we know all about it, or ever shall; so endless are the resources of nature when it comes to sheltering her very own. War has been waged relentlessly for years against that arch egg-thief, the red squirrel; and yet he is with us still — cheerful, unabashed, attractive and prolific. Rabbit-hounds share the ownership of the place equally with their master and mistress, being the captains-in-chief of the cat patrol, with well-under- stood orders to execute all prisoners captured without benelit of trial. Yet, one April morning this year, when the odors of night, with a mere nip of frost, left the scent so heavy and irresistible that the hounds, noses down and tails held gaily, picked up a trail and followed it full cry, at their own sweet will, before they were a quarter of a mile away, there appeared upon the lawn three Molly Cottontails, who breakfasted upon the tender grass in a most leisurely fashion! Evidently they have a warren under a rustic house with a strong brick foundation, and the chain of stone fences act as their highways. The lying down of the lion and the Iamb in harmony, surely, is not more strange than that the hunter and the hunted should both hve happily in one garden. The Robin is surely a conspicuous bird, for his size, song, nesting habits, (128) THE ROBINS' ROOST (129; I30 Bird- Lore and (I must say it) general stupidity; yet I have tried many times to record all the Robins' nests in the garden, only to find, after leaf-fall, that I have missed a dozen or more. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, though by no means so silent in his comings and goings as many a larger bird, yet is so fleet of wing and so erratic in flight that, though in one year there were four nests within garden limits, two remained undiscovered until after leaf-fall, though one was on the branch of an apple tree under which we sat continually from middle May. Neither can one be sure that Jennie Wren, who has preempted a particular house, time out of mind, may not suddenly desire a change, even if for the worse, like some of her human prototypes, and betake herself to a tin can half full of rusty nails on the ledge of an outbuilding. In fact, a Wren once abandoned her tree-box for an old-fashioned glue-pot that hung in the tool-house. Want- ing the glue in a hurry, the pot was taken down and was half-way to the kitchen fire before it was discovered that a superstructure and six speckled eggs covered the hardened glue. To the tune of a rousing scolding, the pot was replaced, and the broken chair was given a rest for several weeks until Madam Wren released the glue-pot. Another very sudden seizure of a home-site was made by a pair of Wrens, between 9 a. m., and 5 p. m. A housemaid's pail of zinc with an incurved rim was hung to air, bottom upwards, on a stake behind a trellis covered with honeysuckle. Something about its appearance fired the constructive ambition of the Wrens, and they set to work with the brittle twigs gleaned under the spruces, to make a chimney-like structure between the side of the pail and the stake, broad at the bottom and tapering toward the top, where there was a hollow left for the eggs, which was partly roofed, Ovenbird fashion. So rapidly did they work that by the next morning the nest was complete. Destroy so much skill for the mere use of a pail ? Of course not! We bought another, and proceeded to keep watch on the Wrens; by so doing, however, we assumed a partial responsibility for their poor judgment. A heavy rain softened the ground, and the stake, with its strange cap, listed to one side. Straightway they built an annex to the left. Then the wind caused an opposite tilt; another annex, in which we assisted with a bunch of excelsior. Every one who called asked to see the curious nest. The Wrens scolded, but did not leave, until, before the end, two other stakes and a rope had been called into play to hold the pail in place, and we gave a sigh of relief when the couple transferred themselves to an orthodox Wren-box for their second brood. Below the garden once stood a glorious old orchard. One by one, the trees fell to the ground on bent knees, after the way of apple trees, and with them disappeared the homes of a host of Flickers and Bluebirds. After putting up a number of houses made from old shingles after the old fence-post type, we watched the results most anxiously. The last of March brought back a num- ber of Bluebirds, who spent the days in the few mossy trees that were left, Birds of My Garden 131 making many trips in and around the new houses. Some of these were nailed against tree trunks, and half a dozen topped the alternate posts of a grape trellis. Which location would they prefer ? To my mind the trees were prefer- able, not so the birds. While three pairs seemed unsettled, and finally went over to a neighbor's orchard, one pair very deliberately went in and out of the post-houses for several days, finally choosing one that was slightly sheltered by an overhanging tree. Having located, they became the most friendly of garden companions, feeding close to us and splashing in the very latest im- provement in birds' baths the garden affords — the large cap-stone of a wall, in which a day's tooling has made a natural-looking hollow twelve by twenty inches. A bird's drinking- or bathing-place, to be successful, should slope gradually from the edges, and bear as few signs of artifice as possible. The larger birds frequent the pool, and in the summer, when the water-lily leaves are large, the smaller species often use them as islands, but in the nesting season nothing will be more appreciated than a nicely hollowed stone, a trifle in the shade, and yet not where cats may lie near-by in ambush. In one single morning, the birds that came to drink gave me the key to those that were nesting near-by — Phoebe, Song, Chipping and Field Sparrows, Chickadee, Goldfinch, Maryland Yellow-throat and, last of all, a dancing, joyous Redstart. In my garden, the Phcebe is one of the early nest-builders, and, in spite of the lateness of the spring, I found eggs in the nest on April 25. Food supply may have something to do with this, for, even under modern sanitary con- ditions, the place teems with insect life while yet woods and fields have nothing to ofTer the Flycatcher tribe. We have had two pairs of Phoebes and a single pair of Wood Peewees every season, ever since I can remember. If it were not for the way in which lice breed in the bulky nest of the Phoebe, I should call it one of the most welcome birds, for its lack of true song is made up by its colloquial call and, at times, frantic earnestness in telling its own name. A landscape gardener said to me, a few weeks ago, "Why do you trim your shrubs so sparingly? Is it merely on account of the labor implied, or is it a matter of theory?" "it is something more practical than theory. I do not wish to prune away the birds," I replied, "for if you wish to have Catbirds, Brown Thrushes, Yellow-throats, Song and Chipping Sparrows nest in the garden, plenty of thick (I had almost said untidy) bushes are a necessity. Shrubs such as the common purple lilac and the bridal wreath spirea have a way of throwing up root suckers, so as, in a short time, to fortify the original bush against the random attack of cats. I say, random, because, if a cat makes up its mind to reach a nest, nothing short of a barbed tangle or a tree made rat- and cat- proof with an inverted tin collar, applied after the method of protecting the supports of a granary, will be of any use. 132 Bird -Lore From being originally a keeper of cats, — I will not say a lover of them, because one cannot really love anything of such inherent treachery of temper- ament,— I have come, through a long experience, to consider them the chief menace to bird life of the day. What warden can protect game-birds, eggs or young from this velvet-pawed prowler, who blends its sinuous color-protected shape in the shadows of the two twihghts, the time of its principal hunting? Fight and kill them as I may within my own garden, each year has its tragedies. Only this morning, four little Robins have been taken from the nest that gave us a bit of comedy at breakfast. There was rain early in the night, and on the piazza the unmistakable footprints in mud of a cat led along to the hand-rail, then along the rail to the honeysuckle vine, where the nest, half pulled from its support and empty, told the rest. The cat's last victim was one of a much-treasured pair of beautiful gray squirrels. Neither is this a wild, half-starved cat, with any plausible sort of excuse or need, but belongs to a neighbor, who calmly affirms that it never hunts and seldom leaves the house. We call this animal the domestic cat. There is no such thing in nature. The cat is a hunter, pure and simple, who is at times distorted into a kind of tameness, from which it quickly relapses. Food is not necessarily the aim of the hunting, as the well-fed animal proves by stalking the prey for the pure sport of it. Reproaching myself for allowing the corner support of a roof-gutter to fall into decay, I was looking at it by the aid of a field-glass, to make sure of the extent of the necessary repairs,when from the hole, so round that I imagined a red squirrel had made a winter home inside, a sleek, black and slate head peered, then came out, and began pulling some sort of food from between the nearby shingles, where there was evidently a storehouse, and dived into the hole once more. It was a White-breasted Nuthatch, with a family snugly ensconced inside, while several weeks later, at the other end of the same space, a pair of Chickadees made their home. By the same token, how will the modern tree surgery afifect what may be called the tree-hole birds? Last season, I had some necessary trimming of dangerous dead wood done by experts, who tried to convince me that a glorious old, gnarled swamp maple and a picturesque, if derelict, willow should be deprived of the hollows natural to age, scraped, chiseled out, ce- mented, tarred and trimmed, in order to give it a few years of totally objec- tionable existence, and also evict a score of tenants who return each sum- mer; the list having, at diflferent seasons, included a Barred Owl, Screech Owls, Flicker, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Starlings and Bluebirds. It seems to me that the true spirit of forestry is to plant new trees in time to take the places of those that die a natural death, and sink back to Mother Earth wrapped in the gracious drapery of vines and to the singing of birds, — not to shave and whittle the poor old things out of every bit of identity, smooth- ing off bases lest water lodges, spoiling all natural branch articulation and leav- Birds of My Garden 133 ing no nice little tufts of "blind branches," to hold nests, until the poor trees look like some elderly persons who smile in a ghastly way to exhibit elaborately filled or monstrously new teeth. Why must we be worried by so many "up- to-date"" ideas and contraptions? It is said that the Oriole and Rosebreast will not rifle the blossoms of an apple tree that has been sprayed for the coddhng moth at the crucial moment. Oriole and Rosebreast, come to my garden and revel to your hearts' content. Imperfect apples are very good for pies, and I would not exchange the utter- most perfection for the loss of the thrill that comes to me at your bugle call. Spring Fire, or the delight to both ear and heart at the sun-warmed melody of the black-cloaked Knight of the Rosy Shield. '^^ V^^9^' * ^> A •#*: ^^F^ t^ -?'.^ ■-^M£P<\'^ y^AjT A BIRD'S BATH BENEATH THE ROSES After all, many garden problems may be solved if one is not too greedy. It is not difficult to net the strawberry bed of a home garden, only — please leave one row free, for there is nothing that imparts such a liquid tone to the throat of the Thrasher, who lives in the heap of last year's pea-brush, when he mounts to the top of the tall ash tree for matins, as a perfectly ripe straw- berry, to be followed by a raspberry, currant, cherry and Agawam blackberry! You give pennies to the organ-grinder's monkey without a thought of com- plaint, and then howl at sharing your fruit with one of the chief makers of the earth's fruitfulness. Who is responsible for a thicket of young, white- flowering dogwoods that have sprung up in the garden at exactly the right spot, to fill in some trees that are thinning? The Hermit Thrushes, in their 134 Bird - Lore autumn visit, who share the red fruit with its owner, eating the pulp and leaving the hard seeds to grow. Who has bordered the tumble-down wall between the wild and the culti- vated with currants, black cherries, raspberries, traihng briars and a score of wild vines, until it is a thing of beauty that man's hand could not replace. That .Quakeress, the Cedar Bird, the Catbird who owns the big syringa, and a row of tenant bushes, opposite the foxglove walk, as well as the wire clothes- line and all the poles, the boisterous Robins of the hemlock roost, and the Wood Thrush, with his note of "harp and zither and flageolet," Ah, well! to the victor belong the spoils in more than one sense; and what temporal gain would one not forego for the sake of having a quartet of male Wood Thrushes in the garden! For two years this has been our joy. Two sing close above the pool, one above the garden-house, and the fourth in the pines of the wild walk. Today, I am wondering how many will return. Sunday brought the Wrens back; today, Mayday, the Catbirds; tomorrow should bring the Wood Thrush, and next week the Oriole. Meanwhile, I am at present bent upon oiling my silent little rifle, lying low at twilight, — administering Old Testa- ment justice to that cat ; and may the ghosts of the four little Robins make my hand steady and my aim true. Otherwise, there will lie a shadow of re- proach upon the garden in this nesting-time — a thickly-formed shadow — with quickly unsheathed claws and breathing treachery — a specter of the great honeysuckle from which the Oriole "Twitches the fibrous bark away The cordage of his hammock-nest; Cheering his labor with a note Rich as the orange of his throat." Listen — Would-be Protectors of Birds! It is time to look yourselves and your cats seriously in the face. Ours is, in a great measure, the responsibility for the loss of life in the nesting season, at least in our gardens. In your un- reasonable defense of cats, you but show your own feline side, for then the birds have double and other duties, as Lowell said of the Oriole: Thy duty, winged flame of spring, Is but to love, and fly and sing. The Friendly House Wrens BY WILBUR F. SMITH Photographs by the author I T must have been away back in the days before the white man's advent that Sir Christo- pher and Jenny Wren left their ancestral home in the hollow of the tree, to begin their intimate acquaintance with man and to build their nests near his abode. Audubon, in his day, found that the little House Wrens had already intrenched themselves near to man, and he calls them "homey little birds," picturing them as nesting in an old, discarded hat. Though we long for the return of the Bluebird and rush to the window to see the first Robin on the lawn, neither they nor any of the birds can quite take the place of the chattering, scolding Wrens, who have returned from their winter's holiday in the Southland, to build again in the little box-house on the end of the grape-arbor or under the eaves of the wood-shed. For the next three months they will fill the garden with song, and proclaim that they are "at home" by taking an interest in the up-keep of the place, working among the currant bushes and around the grape-vine, cleaning insects and larvge from the fences, watching every nook and corner of the wood-pile and cow-shed, and cleaning spiders' nests from under the siding of "the big house" to build into their nest. Showing that they are above taking toll for their services, they refuse even to sample the strawberries and cherries. They proclaim their family rights by scolding the cat, and sometimes the dog, and sit on their front porch and sing as you hoe the beans almost under their very home. Indeed, they are as much a part of the spring life of the place as the family dog or the children's pet bantam chickens. Toward the last of April, or the first of May, they return on the wings of the night, and their jolly, chattering song floats in at the open window to greet our first awakening moment! With a little imagination we can interpret their song as, — "Hellol I'm real glad to get back home again. How are all the folks? Well, I must go and see what has to be done to the old nest." By (135) THEIR CURIOSITY CAUSED THEM TO EXAMINE MY CAMERA 136 Bird -Lore the time we dress and go into the garden, they are inspecting the old home, and soon will be carrying in new material to repair it. These useful and interesting birds would have gone on increasing and forming new friendships with man but for the advent of the English Sparrow, who fights them away and takes possession of their nesting-places, unless we have fixed for them a box or tin can with an opening so small that the TURNED THE HAT TO REVEAL THE NEST Sparrow cannot enter. An English Sparrow was seen to enter a Wren's house, pull the Wren out, and drop her exhausted to the ground, when the good woman who saw it stayed home from an afternoon's visit, that she might protect the Wrens, which was accomplished only by shooting the Sparrows. Very disastrous has been the persecution of the Wrens by the Sparrows. Mr. Ora Knight, in his "Birds of Maine," tells us that they became scarce in The Friendly House Wrens 137 1885, and entirely disappeared in 1887, in the vicinity of Bangor; and Mr. Forbush, in "Useful Birds," says that, ''while they once abounded, they are no longer a regular summer resident over the greater part of Massachusetts." They cannot always be induced to build in the boxes that we put up for them, but will sometimes select the queerest sort of places, and may even intrude with their friendliness, as witness the pair that tried to build in the fish creel of a friend, who, returning from trout-fishing, had hung his basket on the side of the house to dry. A pair insisted on building in the family pump "WOULD STOP FOR A MOMENT OX THE TOP OF THE COAT' and a sprinkling of sticks floated out with each pail of water, till the Wrens became tired of the constant tearing-down of their nest, and sought a new site, while a more fortunate pair built in a small watering-pot hung beside the kitchen door, a new sprinkling-pot being bought for the flowers. Another pair interfered with the United States mail by building in a rural-delivery mail-box, going in by the opening for letters. No complaint was ever made to the authorities at Washington, but the carrier and the family took extra steps each day, that the Wrens might complete their housekeeping. Strange indeed was the fancy of a pair which built high in an elm tree in a swaying last year's Oriole's nest. 138 Bird - Lore In an old-time garden a scarecrow was set up to keep the Blackbirds from the sprouting corn, and the Wrens, who had for years built in the water-spout, began to carry sticks up under the hat, only to have them fall to the ground every time the wind spun the hat around on the stake. I made the hat secure and built a platform of string under the brim. So nest-building was resumed on a firm foundation, and it was nearly completed when one of them found an opening in the sleeve of the scarecrow and went in to investigate. Soon it came out, flew away, and re- turned with the mate. At once both disappeared inside. When they came out, it was all settled, and building began. "ONE OF THEM FOUND W (M'I.Xi\(; IN THE SLEE\E anew. Six speckled eggs turned into six brown baby Wrens, and then there were busy times in the old garden, keeping them fed and cared for; but I noticed that the old ones managed to find time for an occasional promenade around the brim of the hat, and to sit for a moment up on top and give vent to their happiness in song. Their curi- osity caused them to examine my camera, creeping under the bellows, balancing on the rubber tube, and, from a position on the lens-rack, peer- ing over at the front construction, even working down the tripod legs to the ground. On another occasion I took an old satchel, made a small hole in it, and hung it in a pear tree in the garden. WOULD WALK DAINTILY OVER THE EDGE TO THEIR DOOR The Friendly House Wrens 139 The Wrens forthwith left their box-house on the grape-vine arbor and took possession. By climbing the tree and opening the satchel, I watched them many a time until the seven young ones flew away. When the young were half grown, I took the satchel from the tree and fastened it on a camera, near the ground. Though the Wrens complained, and, I fancy, called me some hard names, they soon accepted the new situation, and kept coming and going, in answer to the insistent clamoring from within the satchel. Sometimes they would stop for a moment at the doorway of their home, and send forth their bubbling song, or again, with a fat bug or worm, would daintily alight on the up-turned handle of the satchel and walk over its edge to their door. PARENTAL LOVE CAUSED THEM TO BRAVE ALL DANGERS Last spring, a neighbor put up a scarecrow, to keep the birds away from his strawberries. The wind began playing havoc with the dummy man and blew his hat off the first day, but the strings held it fast against the breast of the coat. It fooled the Robins and the Catbirds, and protected the berries, but it just suited a pair of Wrens, that began building in the hat the second day after it was placed there. I did not hear of this until after the young had flown, when I was taken to see the nest as a great curiosity. x\s we turned the hat around, out darted a little brown Wren. In the repaired nest was a second set of six eggs. These hatched in due time, and then, wdth the regularity of clockwork, bugs, grubs, moths, granddaddy-long-legs, and other insects, disappeared inside the hat. The regular line of travel was from the corner fence-post to the sleeve of the 140 Bird - Lore coat, where, after a moment's pause, with a dive the traveler would disappear inside the hat, though occasionally one would stop for a moment on the top of the coat. They protested when I turned the hat, to reveal the nest, but their parental love caused them to brave all dangers and to continue feeding their young. Thanks to the good people who kept watch on the family cat, this second brood also safely left the nest. The owners never had occasion to complain of these birds in their strawberry patch, and, on the contrary, they are hoping that their tenants will safely return each year. In case you have no pair of House Wrens nesting on your place, do not let another season pass without putting up one or more boxes or tin cans, to attract them, making sure that the opening is small enough to exclude the English Sparrow. If, after they become permanent residents, they leave the house provided for them and tuck their nest away in some unheard-of place, you will enjoy them all the more, and agree with a well-known writer that "very cramped and bare indeed must be the suburban place that does not offer the Wren a home." SEVEN YOUNG WRENS IN THEIR SATCHEL HOME The Story of Two House Wrens By LIDIAN E. BRIDGE FOR the pa?t five years, we have been the happy hosts of a pair of House Wrens, which have been the deUght of our summer. This year, we had such a singular experience that I thought other bird-lovers might be interested, so I took some notes. The male bird arrived on April 28, and began at once to fill with sticks the gourd in which two broods had been successfully raised each year for the last four. He sang constantly, but, owing to cold weather or some unknown cause, no mate appeared until May 9, when housekeeping began in earnest, the female lining the nest, which is all the work I had ever seen her do during four years' careful observation. As the gourd was hung from a tree, over an old stone wall, close to our piazza, we had excellent opportunities to observe. On June 4 the little Wrens were hatched, and were fed every few moments by one or other parent, never by both. Meantime, I had noticed that the male, who had built another nest in a bird-house, always spent the night and the greater part of each day in or around that house; but I suspected nothing until June 24, when I found both birds feeding young there. I do not know when those eggs were laid nor when they were hatched, but, after that date, both nests were carefully watched, and so far as I could see, at no time did the male bird feed the young in the gourd, but both birds fed the little ones in the bird-house. On June 28, five little Wrens left the gourd, but remained in the bushes for a week. On July 6, four little W^rens, which I had first noticed being fed on June 24, left the bird-house, and were fed in the bushes until July 14, chiefly by the female. On July 9, the male worked hard all day, clearing out the lining of the gourd-nest, while the female still fed the young in the bushes This continued until July 14, when the female began repairing the nest with fibers from a clematis stalk, while the male sang in the tree. Later he carried in spiders" webs for lining. On July 19, the female began to sit, and the young were hatched some time between August 5 and August 9, when, on my return from Nantucket, I found both birds busy feeding the young. The female bird disappeared after a few days, falling a victim, I fear, to a neighbor's cat, and on August 16 no male appeared, and the little birds cried all day, so that, late in the afternoon, we decided to take them in and try to feed them on meal worms and spiders. They refused to eat anything, so, hoping to save their lives, as they were well-grown and could fly about the room, we carried the five little Wrens to a safe spot in the Middlesex Fells, where there was an abundant food supply, and trusted that they could feed them- (141) 142 Bird - Lore selves. Although I visited the spot in the afternoon and several times after- ward, I never saw the young Wrens again; but I hope they are safe, and that some of the fourteen raised on our place will return next year. Question: Did not the female lay in two nests, and was not one set of eggs incubated by the male bird? Carolina Wrens in a Blacksmith Shop By CLARA CALHOUN THE most interesting nest that came under the observation of the Green Arbor Audubon Club, for the season of 19 lo, was that of a Carolina Wren. The site chosen was in a bolt-rack in a busy country blacksmith shop. If Father Wren's consent was obtained to this site, it was while the shop was deserted; as he was never seen inside during the building of the nest and incubation, but cheered his more courageous mate with beautiful songs from nearby. As the nest progressed most rapidly during the smith's absences, he be- lieved that both birds worked while he was away. The mother bird knew no fear, but flew boldly about, gathering up shavings and excelsior fairly under the smith's hands and feet, approaching the nest over a horse that was being shod, and often keeping her place upon it when the smith worked at the vise for welding tires, which the picture shows, un- daunted by the ringing blows or showers of sparks. The nest was completed and two eggs were laid, when I first visited the shop, July 7. Mrs. Wren kept her place during the shoeing of my horse, but flew off on my too close approach. On July 26, when I was again at the shop, the smith reported five eggs and the little mother sitting close; but, as we peered in at her, she showed signs of nervousness, and finally flew off, revealing five newly hatched fledg- lings. Father Wren now became brave enough to enter with food when only the smith was about, and all five nestlings grew and throve. But, when they left the nest, one was unable to steer its course for the beautiful outside world and struck the door, crushing its head. [The photograph was taken by Prof. C. P McCormick, of the Bentleyville High School, Washington County, Pa.] Photographed by Prof. C. P. McCormick and published by courtesy of Abraham Baxter, blacksmith (■43) The Migration of North American Sparrows TENTH PAPER Compiled by Prolessor W. W. Cooke, Chiefly from Data in the Biological Survey With Drawings by LoDis Agassiz Foertks (See frontispiece) IPSWICH SPARROW Sable Island is the only breeding-place known; from here the species migrates along the Atlantic coast as far as Georgia, where it was taken near Darien, January 8 and 15, 1890. About one-fifth of all the individuals remain on Sable Island throughout the winter; the remainder leave the Island in October and return in March; they have been taken in January all along the coast from Maine to Georgia, but comparatively few winter north of Massachusetts. Some dates of arrival are: Seguin Island, Me., October 11, 1900; eastern Massachusetts, average October 29, earliest October 22, 1889; Shinnecock Bay, N. Y., October 12, 1884; Mount Pleasant, S. C., November 6, 1906. The earhest spring date in Maine is March 20, 1875; the latest dates are: Far Rockaway, N. Y., April 3, 1885; North Truro, Mass., April 10, 1890; St. John, New Brunswick, April 11, 1882. SAVANNAH SPARROW The Savannah Sparrow has been separated into four forms, which, together, extend from ocean to ocean and from Guatemala to Labrador and Alaska. East of the Rocky Mountains, the species winters principally in the southern third of the United States, and breeds in the northern third and northward, the wintering and breeding ranges being thus separated by a district 100 to 300 miles wide, in which the species is known only as a migrant. West of the Rocky Mountains, the species breeds south to southern Mexico, and winters north to northern California, the wintering and breeding ranges overlapping for more than 1,500 miles. SPRING MIGRATION PLACE Washington. D. C Philadelphia, Pa Northern New Jersey.. Ithaca, N. Y Alfred, N. Y Holland Patent , Hartford, Conn Providence, K. I Taunton, Mass. (nearj Beverly, Mass Number of years' record Average date of spring arrival March 20 March 31 April ID .\pril 12 April 18 .\pril 16, April 9 April 16 April 7 April 4 Earliest date of spring arrival Rare, winter. March 25, 1907 March 13, 1909 March 23, 1905 April 3, 1910 April 12, 1890 March 31, 1888 March 31, 1905 March 22, 1890 March 26, 1898 (J44) Migration of North American Sparrows 145 SPRING MIGRATION, continued PLACE Randolph, Vt St. Johnsbury, Vt Southern New Hampshire Portland, Maine Phillips, Maine Pittslield, ]Maine Montreal, Can Grand Manan, X. B St. John, N. B Scotch Lake, N. B Chatham, N. B Halifax, N. S North River, Prince Ed. Island Quebec City, Can Godbout, Que St. Louis, Mo Bloomington, Ind St. Thomas, Ont Toronto, Ont Ottawa, Ont Chicago, 111 Keokuk, Iowa Manhattan, Kan Onaga, Kan Southeastern Nebraska Southeastern South Dakota. . . . Aweme, Manitoba Pueblo, Col Northwestern Oregon Tacoma, Wash Chilli wack, B. C. (near) Columbia Falls, Mont Flagstaff, Alberta Red Deer, Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Fort Providence, Mackenzie. . . Fort Simpson, Mackenzie Dawson, Yukon Portage Bay, Alaska Kowak River, Alaska Number of years' record 6 9 13 6 14 Average date of spring arrival .\pr Apr .\pr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr: Apr: Apr .Apr Apr May Apr Apr 1 14 1 15 1 i8 1 15 1 14 1 i6 1 17 1 13 1 17 1 25 I30 1 -M 1 28 2 1 26 1 6 March 20 April 13 .\pril 15 April 14 .\pril 15 April 3 March 28 April 8 April 15 May 6 April 29 April 3 April 10 March 18 Ma}- 2 May 9 May II May 13 Earliest date of spring arrival April 9, 1886 April 7, 1907 April 10. 1898 April 9, 1905 .\pril II, 1905 April II, 1897 April II, 1909 April 3, 1889 April 5, 1892 April 16, 19 10 April 23, 1899 April 20, 1896 April 27, 1 89 1 April 10, 1904 April 21, 1882 March 13, 1886 March 17, 1903 April 8, 1 89 1 April II, 1889 March 31, 1907 April I, 1895 March 16, 1897 March 22, 1890 March 30, 1895 March 19, 1902 May 3, 1889 April 23, 1900 April I, 1892 March 29, 1900 March 27, 1908 March 14, 1905 April 30, 1894 May 6, 1908 May 9, 1893 May 10, 1903 May 12, 1904 May 17, 1904 Mav 23, 1899 May 5, 1882 May 29. 1899 PLACE Green Cay, Bahamas Central Florida Frogmore, S. C Charleston, S. C Raleigh, S. C Washington, D. C .. Philadelphia, Pa New Orleans, La San Antonio, Tex. . . . St. Louis, Mo Number of years' record Average date of the last one seen March 2; May I April 30 May 4 May 9 Maj- 2 April 26 May 9 Latest date of the last one seen April 12, 1887 May 6, 1887 May 4, 1870 May 9, 1909 May II, 1893 May II, 1885 May 14, 1884 May 12, 1902 May 3, 1890 Maj- 13, 1909 . 1+6 Bird - Lore FALL MIGRATION PLACE Erie, Pa Washington, D. C Raleigh, N. C Charleston, S. C Northern Florida. New Orleans, La.. Caddo, Okla Number of years' record Average date of fall arrival September October 13 October 13 October 26 Earliest date of fall arrival August 30, 1893 September 21, 1903 September 16, 1887 September 28, 1909 October 6, 1904 September 23, 1895 September 24, 1883 PLACE St. Michael, Alaska Chilliwack, B. C. (near) Yuma, Col Aweme, Manitoba Onaga, Kan Lanesboro, INIinn Ottawa, Ontario Chicago, 111 Keokuk, Iowa Oberlin, Ohio North River, Prince Ed. Island Scotch Lake, N. B St. John, N. B Pittsfield, Maine Hartford, Conn Northern New Jersey Washington, D. C Number of years' record 3 4 14 5 3 3 4 9 5 [O 5 5 Average dale of the last one seen Latest date of the last one seen October 19 October 3 October 29 October 16 October 3 October 18 Novemb er 19 September 27 October 2 October 14 October 10 October 5 October 26 October 23 September 11, 1899 November 16, 1903 October 9, 1906 October 3, 1907 November 2, 1896 October 26, 1888 October 21, 1908 October 26, 1895 November 21, 1899 November 9, 1907 October 12, 1889 October 5, 1907 October 27, 1889 October 19, 1898 November 29, 1888 November 12, 1905 Rare, winter. BELDING'S SPARROW The fielding Sparrow is a non-migratory species, inhabiting the salt marshes of the Pacific coast from about Santa fiarbara, Cal., to San Quintin Bay, Lower California. LARGE-BILLED SPARROW The Large-billed Sparrow and its two sub-specific forms, the San Lucas Sparrow and the San Benito Sparrow, range along the western coast from San Pedro, Cal., to Cape San Lucas. They are partially migratory, bu:t some indi- viduals remain all winter at the northern Hmit of the range. The breeding range is very imperfectly known; the San Lucas and the San Benito Sparrows breed in lower California, while the typical form of the Large-billed Sparrow has never as yet been found breeding anywhere. Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows NINTH PAPER By FRANK M. CHAPMAN (See frontispiece) Savannah Sparrows {Passer cuius sandwichensis savanna, Figs, i, 2). The Savannah Sparrow shows no sexual difference, and but little seasonal difference in color. The juvenal plumage resembles adult plumages in general pattern, but is strongly suffused with yellowish. In August, all but the wings and tail are shed and the first winter plumage (Fig. 2) is acquired. This re- sembles that of the adult in winter, but averages slightly browner, and is without the yellow line over the eye which is sometimes present on the winter adult. The nuptial plumage (Fig. i) is less brown in tone than that of the winter plumage, the markings are more sharply defined, and there is a lemon- yellow line (unfortunately not well shown in the plate) over the eye. This plumage is acquired in part by molt, chiefly on the anterior parts of the body, and in part by wear and fading. The Aleutian Savannah Sparrow (P. 5. sandwichensis), of Unalaska and the contiguous islands, is larger than the eastern Savannah Sparrow, w^ith more yellow behind the eye. The Western Savannah Sparrow (P. 5. alaudinus) resembles the Eastern Savannah Sparrow, but has the bill more slender, the yellow over the eye paler and of less extent. Bryant's Sparrow (P. s. bryanti), of the coast of California, is smaller than the Western Savannah Sparrow, and is darker in color, with the yellow over the eye more pronounced. The seasonal plumage changes of these three subspecies are doubtless similar to those of our Eastern Savannah Sparrow. Belding's Sparrow {Passer cuius beldingi, Fig. 3). Belding's Sparrow breeds on the coast of California, from Santa Barbara southward to Lower California, and is there evidently a representative of Bryant's Sparrow, which nests on the California coast region from San Francisco northward. It is closely related to Bryant's Sparrow, but is darker above and more heavily streaked below, and in fall plumage the upper parts are more or less suffused with oliveaceous. As in the Savannah Sparrow group, specimens in first winter plumage lack the yellow line over the eye, which is present in all sum- mer specimens. Large-billed Sparrow {Passer cuius rostratus rostratus, Fig. 4). The generally paler coloration, absence of distinct streaks above, larger bill, and other characters by which this species may be known from its relatives of the Savannah Sparrow group, are well shown by the figure 4 of the plate. In summer plumage, the streaks below are more sharply defined, and the tendency to streaks on the back is more pronounced. In no plumage is there a yellow line over the eye. (147) 148 Bird - Lore The exact breeding range of this bird is as yet unknown, but it is found in the salt_ marshes of the coast of California from Santa Barbara southward. The St. Lucas Sparrow {P. r. guttatus), a smaller, darker form, breeds on Abreojos Point, Lower California, and winters about San Jose del Cabo; w^hile the San Benito Sparrow {P. r. sanctorum), a smaller and grayer form, is restricted to San Benito Island. Ipswich Sparrow (Fig. 5). The Ipswich Sparrow is apparently an island offshoot of the Savannah Sparrow, which, under the influences of environ- ments and isolation on Sable Island, N. S. (where alone it is known to nest), has become larger and paler. Its molts and seasonal variations in plumage agree with those of the Savannah Sparrow, and, as in that bird, the yellow line over the eye is not acquired until the first prenuptial (spring) molt, w'hich occurs in March. The figure of the bird in winter plumage (Fig. 5), by one of those variations from proof which evidently cannot be foreseen or prevented, is by no means gray enough. SEA-BIRDS FOLLOWING A WHALE Large flocks of Sea-birds are frequently to be found hovering over the surface when a whale is near, feeding upon the minute crustaceans brought to the top of the water by the movements of the great animal. (See Bird-Lore, December, 1908, p. 261.) Photographed by Roy C. Andrews, Japan, 1910. jBtote0 from ^itlh and ^tutip Record of Evening Grosbeak at Branchport, N. Y. January lo. A single male seen feeding on the seeds of a maple. January 17. Two males seen several times in the maples in the streets today. February 8. Two males were feeding for over an hour in the maples across the street from my house. February 9. Two males and one female were in the same trees as they were yesterday, for nearly two hours. February 10. This morning there were six males and three females, and they were on the move all the morning, going from one part of the town to the other. We had them under observation all the forenoon. About nine o'clock two more appeared, making eleven in all. February 11. This morning there were eleven of the Evening Grosbeaks in the street, and at one time a flock of Gold- finches mingled with them in a tree-top. At noon there were fifteen in the flock, and at two o'clock there were twenty of them. February 12. Today the flock numbered twenty-two and we followed them from place to place for about three hours. They were on the move a good share of the time, moving along through the maples, feeding as they went; then away across the fields to a gully, where they drank from the brook and cracked a few pods from a locust; then back to the maples again; then on down the street, flying on to the roof of a house, to pick in the snow, and on another house they found the gutter full of maple seed-pods, and such a scramble as there was then, about a dozen birds lined up along the gutter, pushing and crowding each other to get at the seeds! Here my camera missed fire, and I lost the best oppor- tunity I have ever had for a picture of them. Shortly after this, the}- went away across the fields, and we did not see them again. During the following week, several people reported to me having seen from two to five or six birds. February 19. We saw three males and one female for a little while in the morning. February 21. Two lots (reported to me as twenty or thirty) were seen by three different people. EVENING GR0SBE.\K: February 23. Saw three this morning and again in the afternoon. February 26. There were six of the Grosbeaks in Mr. Tyler's yard. They were feeding on maple seeds, found on either side of the walk where the snow was gone. March 5. There were six of them in the maples and evergreens in this same yard this morning, and we saw them go down to the walk and work at the maple seeds. I do not doubt but that these birds have been here constantly since February 8. as a number of people have reported seeing them, and I have seen them nearly every time that I went out to look for them. — Verdi Burtch, Branchport, N. Y. Nesting of the Carolina Wren Of this Wren Chapman says: 'The cozy nooks and corners about the home (149) I50 Bird -Lore of man which prove so attractive to the House Wren have no charms for this bird. His wild nature demands the freedom of the forests, and he shows no disposition to adapt himself to new conditions." Other authors say much the same thing, so I was surprised and interested, this sum- mer, to find a pair of Carolina Wrens nesting in a situation which might be more properly described as "in" rather than "about the home of man;" and one, too, which had been chosen in former years by House Wrens as a building-site. I had seen a pair of the birds twice during the spring, in the fields two or three blocks from my sister's house, which is in the outskirts of the city of Asbury Park, not far from Deal Lake. Early in June, she reported them as being about the house, and by the second week they were seen to be prospecting for a nest. The site chosen was on a beam in the corner of my sister's little summer- kitchen, next to the door. This is enclosed by latticework, but has an open doorway about five or six feet from the door of the real kitchen. There is a constant passing in and out, especially by the children. House Wrens disputed over the occupancy of this corner with the English Sparrows for a number of years, until they were given a little house of their own in the yard. By June i6, they had begun to build. On that date my sister and family went away for a short visit. When she returned, on June 23, the nest appeared to be com- pleted. There was at least one egg in the nest on June 26, for I got a ladder, and felt in it, as it was too high and too dark to see. The father bird was very assiduous in his attentions to the mother, bringing her food continually. In coming to the nest, he first perched on a tree outside and sang his joyous song. He never flew to the nest direct, however, but always chose a roundabout way, often hopping up from branch to branch of the rose bush which runs up the latticework, concealed by its leaves, then darting through, and so up to the nest. On July ID, my brother tried to take a picture of the nest. I was very anxious to get one, but did not think' he would have to disturb the birds as much as he did, and that, too, without getting the picture, as he frightened her off the nest in the attempt. He reported that the young birds had hatched out. The mother was a very close sitter, and I had not seen her, up to that time, although, of course, my sister had. On July 20, I walked over to my sister's and found that I was just half an hour too late to see the young Wrens fly from the nest. The mother was in evidence, though, very much excited, and keeping up her peculiar metallic warning cry all the morning. I thought at first she was scolding us, as we investigated the hedge, trying to find her babies, but later de- cided that she was warning them to stay perfectly still; and so well did they obey her, that it was quite a while before I discovered one of them hidden in a clump of plants by the porch next door. It was almost on top of me while I was looking for it. That was the only one I did see, too, although we knew there were three. I had counted them myself, one day, when they were being fed, and my sister had seen the three as they flew. That was the last seen of the family this summer, but we are hoping to renew the acquaintance next year. The songs of the male — loud, clear and ringing — was especially enjoyable in the early mornings. — Miss Emma van Gilluwe, Ocean Grove, N. J. Notes from Gardiner's Island It had always been my wish to visit this island Eden, to study its wonderful waterfowl life, and on March 24, 1910, in company with Mr. S. V. LaDow, it was my good fortune to get there in an open motor boat from Greenport. On Novem- ber 26, Mr. LaDow and I again visited the island, this time in company with Mr. W. DeW. Miller, of the Museum of Natural History at New York. On both occasions Notes from Field and Study isi the sights we saw would probably be im- possible now anywhere else on the Atlan- tic coast north of Chesapeake Bay, so I thought it might interest readers of • Bird-Lore to give in brief the results of the two trips, especially as few ornitholo- gists seem to have visited the island at those seasons of the year. It was with no small amount of satis- faction that, on November 26, we looked into one pond and almost at a glance saw American Megansers, Baldpates, Red- heads and Ruddy Ducks, swimming by, fifty yards off shore. The entire absence of the so-called "fresh-water" Ducks in March was compensated for by a flock of some 2,000 Brant. They were standing in the marshes of the North Shore Inlet, and, when they flew up in great masses, many thousand ducks which covered the waters of the inlet took alarm and flew up too. For fully five minutes the air was black with waterfowl, flying east, west, north and south, the Ducks quacking and the Geese honking; then they formed in one great flock and streamed out to sea. The majority were Black Ducks, Whistlers and Buffleheads, but there were probably many other species. It certainly was a wonderful and impressive sight. B3- far the most abundant Duck in March was the Whistler, and hardly five minutes passed, during the whole day, when we did not see some. They were in the bay, in the ponds and inlets, in the ocean, or sitting in hundreds along the beach, and from the highest hills in the center of the island we could hear the musical" whistling of their wings out at sea. Land-birds were comparatively scarce on both trips. Four Fish Hawks and a great Blue Heron were noted in ^Nlarch. On November 26, thirteen Great Blue Herons were seen, eleven of them in one flock. Below I give a list of the waterfowl seen on both trips, with an approximation of their numbers, which will probably seem greatly exaggerated; but every effort was used to be accurate, and it is likely that the eye, entirely untrained to such numbers, is unable to take in the real amount. Species March 24 Xov. 26 American Merganser . 25 Red-breasted Merganser . 25 100 Mallard i Black Duck .... 2,000 2,000 Baldpate 100 Redhead 6 American Scaup Duck . 200 25 Whistler 10,000 150 Bufflehead 5° -7 Old-squaw 5, 00° -5° American Scoter ... 10 3 White-winged Scoter . 500 1,000 Surf Scoter 500 150 Ruddy Duck ... . 12 Brant 2,000 — Ludlow Griscom, Xeii' York City. Some Nesting Notes The following notes are the result of two days' observations, — one day in the Puente and Coyote Hills, and the other in the willow bottoms of the San Gabriel River. On May i, 1910, I found the following nests: Two California Jay nests, one in an oak tree 4 feet from the ground, shallow-bowl-shaped, a foundation of dry oak twigs lined with dark brown plant fiber, contained three young just hatched and one egg just hatching. The other nest was six feet from the ground similar in construction and lined with the same plant fiber; it contained five young, partly feathered out. Several Red-wing Blackbird nests in the La Habra Valley, along Coyote Creek. A typical one was in a weed at the edge of the water, two feet above the water level, composed of dry grass, and contained three well-incubated eggs. In the Coyote Hills I found the follow- ing: A California Linnet's nest in a tree tobacco plant beside the road, six feet from the ground, of weed stems and twigs lined with small cottony leaves of muUen, contained four well-incubated eggs. A Thrasher's nest, species undeter- mined, in a sage-bush two and one-half feet from the ground, bowl-shaped, of coarse sticks lined with rootlets contained 152 Bird - Lore one egg. The bird was sitting, and slipped awaj- when I approached. A Roadrunner's nest, in a cactus patch, three feet from the ground, a shallow platform of sticks lined with grass, con- tained two young and two eggs. The old bird came back while I was there, but sneaked away again without making a sound. A Say's Phoebe nest in an oil-well derrick which was not in use, on two five-foot timbers, standing on end in the corner, made of fine grass, rootlets and small clods of earth, lined with wool and a little horse-hair, contained two fresh eggs; two more were laid later. An Anthony's Towhee nest, in an elder tree, seven feet from the ground, made entirely of grass, contained three eggs, marked heavily for this species. Saw several Cactus Wrens' nests, but could not reach them for the cactus. Found one in columnar cactus three feet from the ground. It was retort-shaped, with the opening at the side, with thick, compact walls of dry grass and sticks lined with feathers; contained four fresh salmon- pink eggs. A Black-tailed Gnatcatcher's nest, in a bush 2 feet from the ground, deep cup- shaped, of shreds of bark and lichens together with spider-web, and lined with rabbit fur, contained three young and an egg- On May 15, 1910, in the willows along the San Gabriel river, southwest of Artesia, I found the following nests: A Song Sparrow's nest, in a willow tree, six feet from the ground, of sticks and marsh grass lined with finer grass, con- tained four well-incubated eggs. A Western Black Phoebe nest, in a willow tree that leaned almost horizon- tally over the water, on the end of a short dead stub that grew out from the under side of the tree at an angle of about 45°, made of mud and strips of bark, lined with bark and hair, contained two young. This species usually builds on buildings or bridges here. A Thrasher's nest, same species as noted above, in a willow tree, six feet from the ground, of willow twigs lined with rootlets. The nest was empty but the female was sitting on it, and both birds made a fuss . when I approached. Found a number of Willow Goldfinch's nests; a typical one was in a willow sap- ling at the edge of the river, seven feet from the ground, cup-shaped, of soft plant fiber lined with willow and thistle- down; contained three eggs. Found three Arkansas Kingbird's nests, could not reach two, the third was in a willow tree about twenty feet from the ground, of small sticks and grass, thickly lined with white cow-hair; contained three eggs. A Hummingbird's nest, species un- determined, on a small horizontal limb of a willow tree, ten feet from the ground and three feet from the trunk of the tree. Made of white cottony plant down held together by spiders' web; contained two fresh eggs. The female was very tame, and came back to the nest while I was in the tree. A Black-headed Grosbeak's nest, in young willows and blackberry vines, five feet from the ground, a flimsy structure of sticks lined with rootlets, contained three well-incubated eggs. The male bird was sitting and remained nearby, but I did not see the female. — John McB. Robertson. . Notes from Illinois During the winter of 1909-1910, several White-crowned Sparrows took up their winter quarters in our near vicinity. They were r£corded several times during the winter, being found at different places. It was very much of a surprise to find a Lesser Scaup Duck on a small creek very near my home on June 25. It stayed there for several days. The finding of the Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds on Christmas Day was very surprising also, and it was with wonder that we saw the Red-bellied Woodpecker for the first time that day. .\ Carolina Rail, or Sora, remained in Notes from Field and Study 153 our neighborhood during the whole sea- son, from spring to fall. It was last seen on December 27, a day before a heavy rain. A White-crowned Sparrow was seen on January 20, of this year. The first Robin was seen, this year, on February 6. Early as this was, it was only ten days ahead of the migration of its fellows. I believe the migration of Robins, Bluebirds, Meadowlarks, Wild Ducks, Killdeers and Song Sparrows was the earliest ever known. They all came on the same day, the sixteenth of February. — George E. Ekblau, Rantoul, III. A Dove's Nest in Sphagnum In May, 1909, while botanizing on the Cranberry Island, of Buckeys Lake, in Licking Co., Ohio, the writer came upon a nest of the Mourning Dove which, from its unusual situation, seems worthy of notice. Instead of being built in a tree, it had been built on the ground in the sphagnum, among cranberries and cat- tails, as seen in the illustration. The nest itself was very slight, consisting of a few twigs laid on the sphagnum. It did not serve in any degree to elevate the nest- lings above the moss near it nor to keep them dry. On the contrary, it was thor- oughly soaked and, with the accumulated excrement from the young birds, which at the time of discovery were nearly grown, presented as filthy an appearance as possible. Such apparently unsanitary surroundings did not seem, however, to afifect the young birds nor to disturb them, for they were healthy and happy at the time of discovery. The selection of such a nesting-site was not due to any lack of trees and bushes suitable for nests of the sort usually built by the Mourning Dove, for there were numerous alders and maples nearby. Moreover, the writer is inclined to believe that this was not merely the idiosyncrasy of the particular bird, but a habit shared by others. At any rate, during the sum- mer of 1910 he found another nest in the same place under exactly similar condi- tions. The successful issue of a nest in such a situation is dependent on the ab- sence of enemies of the eggs and nestlings. It is interesting to note that this condition is almost perfectly met in the Buckeye Lake bog. It is surrounded on all sides by deep water, which prevents the ingress of predaceous animals. Snakes are very rare and, during the summer, mammals THE DONES are equally so, being limited to an occa- sional mouse or a straggling rabbit. It may very well be that this is the reason for the selection of this nesting-site. One can easily imagine that so slipshod an architect as the Dove would prefer, when possible, to avoid even the necessity of building a nest sufiiciently secure to keep its occupants from falling through. — Robert Griggs, The Ohio State Uni- versity. 154 Bird - Lore Photographing a Kingfisher Interior The article in the November-December number of Bird-Lore, by Mr. Dwight Franklin, concerning the photographing of Kingfishers, calls to mind an experience of mine, in a similar line, during my college work. In the spring of igoi, while at Cornell, I was assigned to write up the habits of SOME LIGHT ON THE KINGFISHER the Kingfisher, for a course in Ornithology, and, as I knew of a convenient nest, I determined to illustrate my paper, if possible. The accompanying prints are the result of that endeavor, and the modus operandi of their taking may be of interest. I want to say, however, that the real credit of the photographic work belongs to a friend of mine, Pettis by name, who was the one to actually manipulate the camera. The hole was in a sandy bank, so we dug away from in front till the nest was revealed, at a depth of about four feet. It consisted of a rough pile of sticks, feathers and rubbish, and was occupied by the full set of eggs. Judging that the mother would be sitting most of the time, we walled up the excavation, except the entrance hole, made a place to set the camera, and adjourned till next day. On our return, the female was "at home," and apparently not at all concerned by our remodel- ing of her resi- dence, so we set up the camera as per schedule. To solve the problem of let- ting light back into that four- foot hole, with- out using flash" light or other apparatus,! sug- gested the set- ting of the camera close to the mouth of the hole. I stood back of it, and with a bright, plain watch-case threw a beam of light down the tunnel, and moved it all around, illuminating each part. Although it must have taken several seconds for each exposure, the birds remained perfectly still; for our prints are fairly clear, considering the conditions, and show both nest, birds and eggs. The nest was restored and, in due time, the eggs hatched. — T. J. Moon. iloDft jBtetos; antj l^ebietPfi^ Birds and Mammals of the 1909 Alex- ander Alaska Expedition. Univ. of Calif. Pub. in Zool., VII, 1911, pp. 9- 172; pis. 6, figs. 3. Mr. Swarth, with one assistant, devoted the period between April 8 and October i, 1909, to the exploration, in a twenty-eight- foot gasolene launch, of the Sitkan dis- trict of Alaska. He visited sixteen islands and six mainland localities, and, as a result of his observations, records 137 species and sub-species of birds. His critical and biographical notes on these occupy pages 28 to 112 of this publication, and contain much of value and interest. Under 'Distributional Considerations,' some of the more interesting problems presented by the life of the region are discussed, and attention is called to the fact, already mentioned in the body of the paper, that certain species of the interior, like Geothlypis trichas occidentalis and Empidonax trailli alnorum, apparently reach the coast by following down river valleys where conditions are favorable. — F. M. C. The Linnet of the Hawaiian Islands: A Problem in Speciation. By Joseph Grinnell. Univ. of Calif. Pub. in Zool., VII, 1911, pp. 179-195. The Linnet, or House Finch(Car^o- dacus mexicanus frontalis), was introduced into the Hawaiina Islands, probably about forty years ago, from the vicinity of San Francisco, and Mr. Grinnell here calls attention to and discusses the fact that Hawaiian males of this bird have those parts which in California specimens are normally red, colored yellow or orange. It is well known that the red colors of caged male Purple, as well as House Finches, change by molt to saffron or yellow, as a result. This has commonly been supposed to be due to change of food, though, in one instance, Beebe has shown that a Purple Finch which had worn a yellow plumage for several years, when moved from a "dark cage" to one which was exposed to full sunlight, re- gained its red colors at one molt. Mr. Grinnell discusses at length the various factors which may have been patent in producing this surprisingly uniform and rapid change in the Hawaiian House Finches, and well says that they "may lie among a multitude of elements constituting the environmental complex." Temperature, humidity, change of food, and reduction of enemies, however, are not believed to have played a part. Rather it is suggested that the close-breeding incident to insularity may have resulted in physiological inability to reproduce in full the elements which enter into the composition of a red feather. The author truly concludes that "the problem is an attractive one for investigation," and he invites attention to it in a most suggestive manner. — F. M. C. Brewster's Warbler. By Walter Faxon. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard Col- lege, Vol. XL, No. 2, pp. 57-78, with one colored plate (to be supplied). Looked at from the varying points of view of the faunal, the systematic, or the evolutional ornithologist, it would be difficult to find a more fascinating prob- lem than the relationship of Brewster's and Lawrence's Warblers with the Golden- winged and Blue-winged, which they are intermediates between. We therefore welcome an article entitled Brewster's Warbler, published in January of this year, by Mr. Walter Faxon. In this article, he not only brings together the existing data and cites the various theories advanced to explain them, giving each the weight which it seems to him to merit, but gives an extremely interesting account of a series of careful personal observations on three Brewster's Warblers which spent the past summer within the narrow confines of a maple swamp at Lexington, (155) 156 Bird -Lore Mass. Two of these birds were females, both mated to Golden-wing males, and each raised a brood of young birds. One brood of these young was composed en- tirely of Brewster's Warblers. In the other brood, all but probably one, were Brewster's Warblers, and that one a Golden-wing. The third, a male, was de- feated in competition with a Golden-wing for at least one of the Brewster's Warbler females, and passed the summer unmated. Much of the zoological research of the present day may be divided roughly, into two classes. In the first, data gleaned from nature in the field is correlated and explained. In the second, artificial con- ditions are brought to bear on some par- ticular problem the investigator has in tnind, a method most frequently met with in university laboratories. Mr. Faxon, a scientist trained in the first method, baf- fled by the difi&culty of the problem he is dealing with, appeals to the second method for aid. If Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers could be crossed, and the succeeding generations bred in an aviary, we should finally have definite data to back up or disprove our theories! It may be that not until this is done shall we have the desired proof. It would in- deed have been difficult to establish and prove the laws of Mendelian inheritance (which appear to be operative in these Warblers) except by artificial animal breeding. Yet if Brewster's and Lawrence's Warblers truly are Mendelian derivatives of the Golden-wing and Blue-wing, we will get a certain light on the place of Mendelian inheritance in nature and its value in species formation from such observations as Mr. Faxon records, which no amount of artificial experiment would yield. The paper would be more complete prefaced with a clear statement of what the Brewster's and Lawrence's War- blers are, and how each differs from the Golden-winged Warbler on the one hand and the Blue-winged Warbler on the other; but, after all, a person unfamiliar with the birds can get such information from any good text-book which deals with our Warblers. The inconclusiveness of this paper but gives us hope that it will be followed by others containing the results of further obser- vation, or of experiments such as Mr. Faxon has suggested. The Ornithological Magazines The Auk. — The April number opens with an announcement, by Mr. John E. Thayer, of the discovery of the "Eggs of the Spoonbill Sandpiper {Eurynorhyn- chus pygmcBus)." A set of four was obtained near Cape Serdze, in northeast- ern Siberia, by Capt F. Kleinschmidt, who also secured breeding birds and downy young. The eggs and young are figured in color, and it is of interest to observe that the peculiar form of the bill of the adult has developed in the young by the time of hatching. It is to be regretted that the account of so rare a species should be so meager in outline. For a painstaking study of the "Nest Life of the Screech Owl," Miss A. R. Sherman's observations are to be com- mended, and such papers are valuable contributions to the life histories of birds. In lighter vein is Mrs. F. M. Bailey's sketch, "A Drop of Four Thousand Feet," which, in spite of its blood-curdling title, merely relates the incidents of a trip down the mountains of New Mexico. Under the caption "Concealing Color- ation Again," Messrs. Thomas Barbour and J. C. Phillips review at considerable length Mr. A. H. Thayer's recent book, and make mince-meat of some of the con- tentions set forth in its pages. A review of Tracey's "Significance of White Mark- ings, etc.," at p. 278 of "The Auk," should be read in this connection. A carefully prepared local list is that of Mr. H. Lacey on "The Birds of Kerrville, Texas, and Vicinity," also that of Mr. A. W. Honeywill, Jr., entitled "Notes on Some Summer and Fall Birds of the Crooked Lake Region, Minnesota," in both of which articles maps add to their value. Again, however, attention may be Book News and Reviews 157 called to the lack of consistency in the use of trinomials which the editor permits. The old method prevails in Mr. Kerr's list, the modern in Mr. Honeywill's, and the reader is left in doubt as to whether "The Auk" is up-to-date or not. Revision of the new Check-List is already in order, and we have "Notes Extending the Ranges of Certain Birds on the Pacific Slope," wherein Mr. J. H. Bowles furnishes new information con- cerning nearly forty species. Mr. J. C. Phillips records "Ten Years of Observa- tion on the Migration of Anatidae at Wenham Lake, Mass.," and believes that the diminution of wildfowl amounts to nearly twenty-five per cent. Mr. C. H. Kennedy supplies "Notes on the Fruit- eating Habits of the Sage Thrasher in the Yakima Valley," pointing out, especially, the damage done to clusters of grapes by birds that puncture the fruit in order to sip the juice. A critical revision of "The Bahaman Species of Geoihlypis" is from the pen of Mr. W. E. Clyde Todd. The group is boldly divided into three races of one species, a rational synthesis that might well be applied to other confused groups which today are little more than un- digested masses of names. The annual list of members of the A. O. U. closes the number. — J. D., Jr. The Condor. — Of the eight principal articles in the March number of 'The Condor,' the opening one, by Florence Merriam Bailey, entitled 'The Oasis of the Llano,' has a special interest in show- ing the marked effect of topography on the distribution of bird life. The wind- swept plains of western Texas afford com- paratively little variety in bird or plant life, but along the eastern edge of the Staked Plains the Llano drops off sud- denly, forming in some places a precipi- tous wall 400 to 500 feet in height. Here trees and shrubs find shelter from the winds, and the variety of vegetation attracts a number of birds, so that the Llano wall actually becomes an oasis in the otherwise arid Plains. A brief paper by Willard on 'The Blue- throated Hummingbird,' illustrated by four photographs, forms a welcome contri- bution to the life history of this compara- tively little-known species. The observa- tions on which it is based were made, during several years, in the Huachuca Mountains, in Arizona. Under the title 'Odds and Ends,' Joseph Mailliard gives notes on the Wood Duck, the two Egrets, the Little Brown Crane, and the Western Tanager in California. In speaking of the Egret {Herodias egrella), he says: "In view of the fact that this species was at one time nearly extinct in this state, it is encouraging to the advocates of bird pro- tection to note that these Egrets are increasing in numbers." Oilman's article on the 'Doves of the Pima Reservation' contains full and inter- esting notes on the four species which occur in this section of southwestern Arizona. Rockwell's 'Notes on the Nest- ing of the Forster and Black Terns in Colorado,' illustrated with 7 half-tones, are the latest contribution to the impor- tant series of papers on the birds of the Barr Lake region, published in recent volumes of 'The Condor.' The extensive irrigation projects in eastern Colorado have brought about marked changes in the local avifauna, and in this region have caused a decided increase in the abundance of certain water birds. A striking illustra- tion of this change is afforded in the case of these two Terns, which 30 or 40 years ago were rare, but are now common summer residents. In Peck's 'Summer Birds of Willow Creek Valley, Malheur county, Oregon,' will be found brief notes on 74 species in a little-known section in the eastern part of the state. An illustration of the curious places in which birds may sometimes be found is furnished by the note that, "on July 8, 1910, a Wilson Snipe was flushed from a sage bush!" Jay's paper on the 'Nesting of the Cali- fornia Cuckoo in Los Angeles count}-' and Carriger and Ray's 'April Day List of Calaveras Valley Birds' are chiefly of local interest. The latter article includes a nominal list of 50 species. — T. S. P. Wtft Audubon ^octetiejf SCHOOL DEPARTMENT Bditad by ALICE HALL W^ALTER Address all communications relative to the work of this depart- ment to the Editor, at 53 Arlington Avenue, Providence, R. I. Ways and Means FOLLOWING out the suggestion of beginning at home to conserve national resources, how may pubHc sentiment be most surely and sym- pathetically aroused to take hold of the matter in a practical way? Undoubtedly, the first step is to educate the public to recognize and ap- preciate home resources; the next, to demonstrate what may be done with such resources. A simple and opportune method of educating public sentiment is through public and traveling libraries. There are at least two valid reasons why libraries should engage in such an undertaking. In the first place, a library is doing its best work when it makes a direct appeal to all classes and all ages along some Une of vital importance. A subject of such importance is the one under consideration, because it touches the welfare and interests of the entire community. In the second place, by means of circulating the very best kinds of informa- tion, a library can quietly and effectively accomplish, at relatively small expense, what could scarcely be done with ten times the same amount of money and effort, in lectures, personal appeals and desultory experiments. If the Audubon Societies should ask the librarians in their respective states to cooperate with them in developing the educational side of home resources, a very broad and far-reaching movement would be speedily in operation. Why not begin by giving to each library, not already so equipped, a set of bulletins and pamphlets relating to forestry, agriculture, horticulture, economic ornithology and entomology, with a copy of the state game laws, a copy of Bird-Lore, a collection of National Audubon leaflets, and as much more nature-study material as may be available? To this initial gift, add the request that a special shelf or table be set aside for the purpose of displaying this material as attractively as possible. Every progressive librarian will be glad to add such a department to his library, and will see that simple, durable bindings are put upon all unbound printed matter, to offset the wear and tear of use and circulation. A special effort should be made to invite teachers and pupils, particularly those whose equipment for nature-study work is limited, to utilize this "home resources" corner in the town or village library as a factor in the school work. (158) The Audubon Societies 159 From time to time, special nature-study exhibits might be added to the attractions of the corner. School exhibits along this same line would also be of general interest to the public, and by means of them our common schools and the busy, indifferent grown-ups might pleasantly and profitably be drawn into a more intimate relationship. To successfully further such a method of educating public sentiment, the Audubon Societies should prepare, each year, a list of up-to-date publications on this very complex subject of home resources, and send a copy of the same to each library with the request that as many additions as are within its means be made to the new department. The traveling library offers as great, if not greater, advantages than the stationary library in this work of distributing information. By means of it, even the most remote hamlet in the state can be reached. Statistics show that the traveling library meets with a ready welcome, almost without ex- ception. How many traveling libraries has each state? How many distinctively nature-study libraries? How general is their circulation, not only in the homes, but also in the schools of the state? In any enterprise, cooperation is the key to success. Nature-study is a subject important to all the people, whether in school or out. Let us seek the aid of our great public library system in bringing within the reach of every one the best information possible, as a basis for the work of conserving home re- sources.— A. H. W. A Request Will readers of the School Department of Bird-Lore who live in localities frequented by the European Starling kindly send in notes of its winter and summer distribution, relation to other species, food, habits, song and increase? It is important that this introduced species should be studied and become as widely known as possible, in order that its movements and habits shall be accurately followed. FOR TEACHERS Migration Afterthoughts WITH bird-study, as with everything else, the most exciting part is supposed to be the most important, or, at least, the most interesting. Without questioning either the importance or the absorbing attraction of the migration movements of birds, especially during the spring, there is still a wealth of material left for bird-students to get hold of through- out the rest of the year. May and June bring mating, nesting and the full song-period, for most of our bird-population in the northern United States. But just how to settle i6o Bird - Lore down to a connected study of a few species, the ordinary run, as it were, of permanent and summer residents, after the thrilling chase of the multitude of spring migrants, is quite a problem, and one far more taxing upon the teacher than upon the ordinary observer. Warm, sluggish days dispose the pupils to lag in their school- work. Eyes turn longingly out-of-doors, and the one desirable goal of all normal children is vacation. Why not let all of nature possible into the school-room and into the school- books at this season, and make the pupils feel that contact with nature is essential to their daily health, joy and success? Migration naturally raises many questions, few of which can be adequately answered, it is true, but most of which lead to fruitful discussion. One teacher suggested migration as the subject for a nature composition to pupils in the lower grades. Many and unusual were the ideas brought forth, but two points were evidently impressed upon the mind of every pupU, namely, the distance and the dangers of migratory journeys. Taking these two points as a basis, suppose the teacher goes on to connect the fact of migration with the welfare of the bird, its place in nature and rela- tion to man. A scheme something as follows might aid in making these important connections clear: :. Welfare of the Bird. a. Secures safe and congenial nesting-sites for many species. b. Secures a change of food for many species. c. Probably secures a greater supply of food for nestlings. d. Enables many species to get the benefit of the locality best suited to them at all seasons of the year. '.. Bird's Place in Nature. a. Distributes birds over wide land-areas at the season when they are needed. b. Gives birds the chance to do their proper work in nature of des- troying seeds, destroying insects, distributing seeds, making soil, acting as scavengers. ;. Bird's Relation to Man. a. Brings birds into beneficial relations to man in agriculture, horticulture, forestry. b. Sometimes brings birds into non-beneficial relations to man in agriculture, horticulture. c. Brings birds into beneficial relations to man with reference to his health, with reference to his enjoyment of life. Note. — Bring out clearly the reason why birds are occasionally non-beneficial in agriculture and horticulture, by virtue of man's creating an abnormal food-supply within a limited area. Examples: Rice-fields and Bobolinks; grain-fields and Red-winged Blackbirds. Or, try making a geography lesson less humdrum, by following out the principal migration routes of the birds of North America. Migration The Audubon Societies i6i A. Route of Golden Plover and Some of the Wading Birds: Nest in Arctic Circle up to 8i° in June; Labrador in August; coast of Nova Scotia; 1, 800 miles over Atlantic ocean to eastern West Indies; 600 miles to eastern coast of South America; southern Brazil and the prairie region of Argentina, September to March; Guatemala and Texas in March; prairies of the Mississippi Valley in April; Northern United States and to the Arctic Circle in May. Route from Argentina and Brazil to Texas and Guatemala not yet known. 16,000-mile trip. Atlantic Coast Route of Fifty New England Species: Follow coast from New England to Florida; i. Florida through Bahamas or Cuba, to Hayti; Hayti to Porto Rico, Lesser Antilles and South America. 2. Florida to Cuba, Jamaica and South America. 3. "Bobolink route," Cuba direct to South America. Note. — From New England to South America, 2,000 miles; from Florida to Cuba, 150 miles; from Cuba to Jamaica, 90 miles; from Cuba direct to South America, 700 miles. C. — Atlantic Coast Route of Most Eastern Species: Atlantic Coast to Florida; northwestern Florida southwest, across Gulf of Mexico, 700 miles; Central and South America. Note. — Very few species take the easier passage along the Florida coast to Cuba, Yucatan, and, so on, to Central and South America. D. — Mississippi Valley Route: Louisiana; Gulf of Mexico at its widest point; Central and South America. Note. — Species from Middle States use this route. E. — Plains and Rocky M ountains Route to Mexico and Central America. F. — Pacific Coast Route to Mexico and Central America. Note: — Migratory routes of many ocean species unknown. Drawing teachers might easily take advantage of this opportunity to have pupils draw carefully the map of North and South America, marking in heavy or colored lines the migration routes of our birds, and distinguishing in some fashion their respective points of departure and destination. Indeed, what a very pleasant task teaching and studying would be, if all the hard, dry facts in books were made clear and vivid by presenting real^ live, activities of the great world, in which each thing and each creature has a part to play. Note. — Routes of Migration as given above are taken from data gathered by Mr. Wells Cooke: "Some New Facts about the Migration of Birds." See "Yearbook of Department of Agriculture, 1903." The Story of a Hummingbird From the middle of May until late in September, or even the first of October, the smallest bird we know visits our flowers and blossoming vines in search of nectar and insects. Measure on a piece of paper three and a fourth inches, which is the length of this tiny creature from the tip of its long tube-like bill to the very end of its short tail. With a whirr and a flash, it comes and goes, hovering and poising on its swiftly beating wings, now searching a morning-glory cup, now a nasturtium. i62 Bird - Lore Where the horse-chestnut grows, the Httle Hummingbird appears with the blossoms of this tree — at least, in Lincoln Park, Chicago, this was true. A glimpse of a Ruby-throat makes one sure of the male. The female's throat is just whitish, without bright color. Stripped of its brilliant, irides- cent, green feathers, the Hummingbird's body is no larger around than one's finger, yet so powerful are the muscles of this mite that it is stronger for its size than most other birds. With minute insects and the sweet honey of flowers for food, and wings so tireless that they seem forever in motion, what a life must this little bird lead, making the rounds of gardens and vine-covered porches from sunrise until dewfall! And yet it has come hundreds of miles over long stretches of land from Central America and Mexico, to find a place to put its tiniest of nests. If you will split a walnut or some round nut about the size of a walnut, and Courtesy of Smithsonian Institudon TONGUES OF HUMMINGBIRDS cover it with light-colored lichens, and then, with the skill of a fairy, fine the inside snugly, you will have some idea of the size of the Hummingbird's nest. There is just room for two truly wee, white eggs. When the nest is all finished, set, as it usually is, on the hmb of a tree, it looks so like a knot in the bark of the tree that the sharpest eye, having once found it, can hardly discover it a second time. Although so small, no bird shows more courage in defending its nest than the beautiful "Ruby-throat." Even the Kingbird and quarrelsome English Sparrow draw back from its fierce attacks, as it darts hke a bewitched arrow among these larger birds. I used to watch the Hummingbird, when a child, as it visited each flower along the broad beds which ran about the piazza of my home. Never seeing one alight, I believed that the little hummer never rested. Roses, lilies, scarlet runner, honeysuckle, and other blossoming plants, made the dazzUng visitor welcome; but of all the flowers then about the piazza, the morning-glories seemed most in favor. It was at this time that I used to hunt for fairies. When the dew fell at night, I was sure it had something to do with these little people. Years after, on a hot August day, I was again watching the Hummingbird The Audubon Societies 163 feed about this flower-bordered piazza. Walking to a bed of nasturtiums, I picked a large bouquet, so large indeed, that it was hard to hold all the flowers I had picked in one hand. Half kneehng by the bed, with eyes fixed on the unwieldy bouquet, I was suddenly aware of a fairy just above my hand. It was very beautiful and glittered green and many colors in the sunlight. Holding my breath and making never a move, I still felt sure the beating of my heart would frighten this lovely creature away. But no! it sipped honey from the flowers in my HUMMER BROODIXG YOUNG hand and, most wonderful of all, for a brief moment, alighted on my fore- finger. When it darted away with a flash and a whirr, I saw that it was a Humming- bird—but that really made little difference. It had seemed just like a fair>% and I have always felt sure, since then, how fairies feel and how they act. Of course, the next impulse was to see if I could not attract the Humming- bird again to my hand. So, walking very softly and slowly around a cedar hedge, I found it resting on a low branch, over a bed of blue larkspur. I cannot tell you how much I wished it would come to me a second-time. Drawing nearer step by step, I stopped at last, never taking my eyes off this elf of a bird. And now comes the best part of the story, for, just as in a real fairy-story, one's wishes come true, my wish came true then. The Httle Hummer darted 1 64 Bird - Lore from the tree, circled hither and yon about the larkspur and without warning, as if by magic, found the big bunch of nasturtiums in my hand. It was all over in an instant, and away went the fairy-bird to seek honey elsewhere. I was very, very tired when I stepped out to gather flowers that warm afternoon, but this ghmpse into another world rested me as much as sleep. If I could only tell you how wonderful a feeling it is to really he friends with the birds, so that they have no fear of one — but that is impossible! You must try for yourselves, and learn, by really attracting birds to your gardens and to your- selves, what fairyland and fairies are Uke. Note. — Look up the food of the Hummingbird, its nesting habits and methods of attracting it to the home-garden. A. H. W. FROM YOUNG OBSERVERS A Spring Migration Record. 1910 Robins arrived February 24. About 672 seen. Towhee arrived March i. [Perhaps wintered.] Wild Duck seen March 3, swimming in creek. Red-winged Blackbird, seen on March 6. Flickers arrived March 6. Blackbirds arrived March 18. [Rusty Crackle.] Chipping Sparrow, March 26. Purple Martin arrived March 31. Only one bird, a male. On April 3, his mate came. April 12, two more came. On April 15 there were fourteen birds. Kingfisher came on April 4. Coldfinch arrived April 12. Five of them were seen. [P. R. as well as T.] Blue-gray Cnatcatcher arrived April 13. Seen on willow tree. Barn Swallow arrived April 15. Came at 9:15 a. m. Two came. Cowbird arrived April 18. One bird seen. Water-Thrush [Louisiana?] arrived April 19. One bird seen. Brown Thrasher arrived April 1 2 Slate-colored Junco left .\pril 14. Black and White Warbler arrived April 29. Catbird arrived April 30. Whip-poor-will arrived May i. Indigo Bunting arrived May 4. Scarlet Tanager arrived May 5. Maryland Yellow-throat arrived May 8. American Redstart arrived May 12. Magnolia Warbler seen May 15. Bobolink arrived May 15. Blue Grosbeak arrived May 17. Yellow-breasted Chat arrived May 17. Chimney Swifts arrived May 19. [April 19?] Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrived May 19. Kingbird arrived Ma}' 23. [See table of dates below.] — Garrett Campbell, (age 13 years), Manninglon, W. Va. The Audubon Societies 165 (An unusually reliable list for so young an observer. Compare with the following data.— A. H. W.) Average and Earliest Dates of Arrival Wayne County, Ohio Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey Kingfisher March Rare in winter. Flicker Permanent Resident Mar. 25. Whip-poor-will May Apr. 22. Swift Mar. 28-.'\pr. 21. Av., Apr. 15. Apr. IS. Hummingbird May i-io. r Washington, D.C., .\pr. J 29. White Sulphur Springs, L W. Va., Apr. 24. May 12. 1 Kingbird Apr. 19. \v., May 3. J- May 6. J " Bobolink Apr. 21. Av., May 1-8. May 1-15. Cowbird Mar. i6-Apr. r. April. Red-winged Blackbird. . . . Feb. 25. Av., Mar. 7. Feb. 6 — later. Rusty Blackbird Mar. 25-May 8. Av., Apr. 15. Mar. i-.\pr. 15. Purple Crackle About Feb. 20. Bronzed Crackle Feb. 25. Av., Mar. i. Uncommon. Coldfinch Permanent resident. Alfred, N. Y., Apr. 25. [French Creek, W. Va., J Mar. 26. Waverly, W, Va., Mar. I 30. Permanent Resident l- Mar. 30. Chipping Sparrow Mar. 21. .\v., .A.pr. 1-8. J Junco Leaves late in April. Mar. i8-Apr. 6. Leaves .\pr. 15-May Towhee I. About Apr. 18. Blue Crosbeak Reported to have bred in Cumber- land and Lancas- ter Cos., Penna. Indigo Bunting Apr. 24. .^.v., May 7-14. About May 10. Scarlet Tanager May 1-7 May S-18. Purple Martin Mar. 25, Av., Apr. 1-8. Apr. 9. Av., Apr. 20. Apr. i-io. Barn Swallow Apr. 19. Black and White Warbler. May 1-15. French Creek, W. Va., Apr. 13. r Washington, D. C, Apr. 25-May 15. 1 Magnolia Warbler May 11-22. < Apr. 30. ^Beaver, Pa., May 5. r Washington, D.C., Apr. J II- French Creek, W. Va., L Apr. 3- > May 10-20. Louisiana Water-Thrush. . Apr. 21-30. I Apr. 12. r Washington, D.C., Apr. 1 Maryland Yellow-throat... Apr. 23-May 7. 21. tBeaver, Pa., May 4. >Apr. 25. Yellow-breasted Chat May 17. French Creek, W. Va., May I. f Washington, D.C., Apr. May 5. 1 Redstart Apr. 30. Av., May 7. 23. [ Beaver, Pa., Apr. 29. >Apr. 30-May 20. Catbird Apr. 26. May 5. Brown Thrasher Apr. i-few days later. Apr. 22. Blue-gray Cnatcatcher. . . . Apr. 19. Av., late in Apr. Rare summer resi- dent, southern N. Reported from southern Pa. Robin Feb. s-27, usually before Feb. 15. Berwyn, Pa., Feb. 14- Mar. 15, also a per- Mar. 7. 1 manent resident. Av. = average. The Goldfinch is more abundant during spring and fall in places marked "Permanent Resident. The above data are taken from: A Preliminary List of the Birds of Wayne Co., Ohio, Ober- holser, 1896; Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Stone, 1894; Migration of Warblers Sparrows, Flycatchers and Thrushes, Cooke, see Biru-Lore, Vols.VI-X. 1 66 Bird - Lore A Nature-Study Composition Based Upon Personal Observation. A Catbird's Revenge Once, up in the small branches of a tree, there was a cosy little family of Catbirds, including the mother, the father and the young, all as happy _as could be. Every morning, the two older ones would go out in search of worms for their babies. But one day, alas! that awful creature with long claws and sharp teeth, called the cat, that filled the young with horror and made the parents tremble, made a visit to that little nest. In a few minutes the happy little family were all destroyed, all save the two older ones. SI >£ ^v Jf^. ^ \.ml!iwk^ CATBIRD ON NEST The poor mother, reduced to despair, did not care whether she lived or died, and the prowling cat waited his chance and with one quick spring, he had her in his claws. Now that this family had been killed there was but one thing that the mate thought of and that was revenge. What this poor bird did, he would not [have] dared [to] do if he had not been so enraged. The cat would be lounging lazily on the ground, when the bird would swoop down from a near fence or tree, pluck[ing] a bill full of fur from the back of his enemy, and then fly quickly away. Try as he would, the cat could not catch the Catbird. He would not let the cat get any rest, and so made the cat's life miserable. — Ogden A. Kelley (age ii years), Chevy Chase, Md. A good observation, vivid and connected. The instincts of birds, should not be confused with human emotions. — A. H. W. CAROLINA WREN {One-half natural size) Order— Passbres Family— Troglodytid.*: Genus— Thrvothorus Speries— Llduvicianls National Association of Audubon Societies Educational Leaflet, No. 50 THE CAROLINA WREN By WITMER STONE ^^e jl^ational Si^^omtion ot Audubon ^ocittitu EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 50 There are two birds which, dissimilar as they are in color and family relationships, are always closely associated in my mind because of their simi- larity in voice and habitat — the Cardinal and the Carolina Wren. Both are characteristic of that southern land which stretches along our lower Atlantic seaboard and comes pushing northward along the Susquehanna and Delaware river valleys and up the Mississippi and its branches. In alder swamps and low, moist woodland we find them both throughout the year; for they seem to be practically resident wherever they occur. Time and again we are puzzled in early spring, when both are in full song, to distinguish between their varied melodies. In the low, flat ground bordering the tide-water creeks of southwestern New Jersey, they are particularly abundant, especially in midwinter, when it always seemed to me that most of the Cardinals and Carolina Wrens gathered in these swamps from all the country round about. Here they find food and shelter suitable to their needs, and here the winter sun seems to shine more warmly than back in the higher grounds of Pennsylvania. The Carolina Wren, however, is not entirely confined to these low grounds in winter, but ranges well up the narrow valleys and deep ravines, and often we find him along the rocky banks of some ravine where flows a narrow, tumbling stream and where the hemlocks of the North mingle with the red- bud and tuHp-tree of the South. In such retreats in midwinter, when all is white with snow and the edges of the streams are fringed with ice, we are startled by his clear, ringing whistle — "tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle," and suddenly he darts out from behind some fallen log, all action, like the typical Wren he is, bobbing up and down on his slender legs, tail cocked in the air, his sharp eye constantly fixed upon the intruder, and he is out of sight in a moment, only to reappear again some- where else in a perpetual game of hide and seek. To those who are familiar only with the House and Winter Wrens he seems too large for a Wren; indeed, he seems quite as large as a Song Sparrow, especially when his soft plumage is well fluffed up. His color is bright cinna- mon-brown above, strongly tinted with the same below, but whitish on the throat, and with a conspicuous white fine running over the eye down to the side of the neck. When we spread apart the long rump feathers, we find many of them marked near the middle with round spots of white, which are entirely concealed unless the plumage be disarranged. The Carolina Wren, like the (167) i68 Bird - Lore other members of his family, undergoes no change of plumage. Young or old, winter or summer, his dress is practically the same, differing merely in fullness of feather and depth or purity of tone. His most characteristic song has been likened by Mr. His Song Chapman to tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle, or whee-udle, whee- udle whee-udle. Wilson wrote it sweet-william, sweet-william, sweet-william, while to Audubon is seemed to say come-to me, come-to me, come-to me. There are variations recalling forms of the Cardinal's song, as well as that of the Tufted Titmouse; and the Wren, after repeating one form for some time, often changes suddenly to another, producing a rather startling effect, as if another bird had taken his place. There are also Wren-like 'chucks' of annoyance or interrogation when a stranger appears on the scene, and a peculiar fluttering 'k-r-r-r-r-uck,' which resembles the bleating call of the tree-toad more than anything else. The CaroUna Wren is often termed the Mocking Wren, on the supposition that its notes are deliberate imitations of those of other birds. Indeed, Nut- tall gives a most elaborate list of its vocal performances, likening them to various birds from the Kingfisher to the Maryland Yellow-throat, in addition to those already mentioned. It seems probable, however, that the Carolina Wren is not a mocker; that the resemblance of his notes to those of certain other birds is accidental, and that they are as truly his own as are the song of the Robin, the Hermit Thrush, or any other of our birds. That there is a striking resemblance between the notes of our Wren, the Cardinal and the Tufted Titmouse, is beyond question; and one cannot but recall the similarity of their distribution, and wonder if there is any relationship between song and environment. As spring advances, the repertoire of the CaroHna Wren seems The Nest to be enlarged, and his voice is always a characteristic one in the bird chorus of his neighborhood. Rocky banks with cave- like retreats have now more interest for him than ever, and with never- abating energy he and his mate search out each promising cavity for a suitable location for their nest. This structure is usually arched over with an opening on the side, constructed of leaves, roots, feathers, moss, etc., lined with finer material. The eggs are four to six, creamy white, with rusty brown and lavender markings often collected about the larger end. Old stumps and hollow trees, or cavities in stone walls, are often appropri- ated as nesting- sites, and occasionally the bird becomes quite as familiar as his smaller relative, the House Wren. In one instance, a brood was reared in a mortise-hole in the wall of a house, in such a position that the old bird had to fly in and out over the heads of the people sitting on the porch. Mr. Pearson has found nests in North Carolina, situated in the pocket of an old overcoat left hanging on a back veranda, in a tin wash-basin on The Carolina Wren 169 the mantel of a deserted negro cabin, in a broken gourd carelessly tossed on a grape arbor, and in a cap hanging against the lattice wall of an outhouse. In a country place near Philadelphia, a pair of Carolina Wrens entered the sitting-room through a window that was left partly open, and built their nest in the back of an upholstered sofa, entering where a hole had been torn in the back. Needless to say, they were not disturbed, and were given full possession until the young were safely reared. Not far away, a brood raised near the house came back, night after night, to roost in a roUed-up Japanese screen hanging on the porch. As a rule, however, the Carolina Wren is distinctly a bird of the wilder wooded spots, usually in the immediate vicinity of some small stream or river shore, for water seems to have a peculiar attraction for him. The food of the CaroUna Wren consists wholly of insects of various kinds — caterpillars, beetles, etc., and, like all of its tribe, it is an exceedingly beneficial bird, fully meriting the protection that is usually accorded to Wrens by all save the house cat, who is their mortal enemy. I was delighted, one day several years ago, to hear a subdued song appar- ently coming from my small city yard. I thought at first that some neighbor had a caged Cardinal, but, upon investigating, found a Carolina Wren exploring my wild-flower bed, and occasionally indulging in a subdued whisper-song. All day long I tried to protect him from the cats, which were intent upon ''stalking" him from the neighboring yards, but which were kept off to a great extent by my chicken-wire addition to the fences. I trust that he departed in safety, though I know that the cats, a few days previously, deprived a visiting House Wren of his tail, and rendered him so strikingly like the Winter Wren that I fear he may have proved the subject of an unusual record of the latter species. The Carolina Wren occurs throughout the lowland of the Distribution southern states, north to the upper limits of the Carolinian Life Zone, regularly to southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, and west of the Alleghanies to southwestern Pennsylvania, central Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and west to southern Iowa, Kansas and Texas. It occurs casually north to southern New England, Michigan, and Minnesota. While of regular occurence about Philadelphia, it is to some extent local, and not so abundant or universally distributed as along the broader valley of the Susquehanna, a little farther to the westward. That is the region par- ticularly associated in my mind with the Carolina Wren in summer, just as the low swamps of New Jersey stand out as his winter quarters: the broad river rushing along among its rocks and islands, the high wooded hills rising from either bank, cut with innumerable rocky ravines, the summer sun light- ing up the whole landscape, and floating up from every side the clear, . far- reaching notes of the Carolina Wren. . I70 Bird - Lore The Carolina Wren {Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovicianus) Classification breeds from soutiieastern Nebraska, soutiiern Iowa, Ohio, southern Pennsylvania and lower Hudson and Connecticut valleys south to central Texas (western Texas in winter). Gulf States and northern Florida; casual north to Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario, Massa- chusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. The form known as the Florida Wren {Thryothorus ludovicianus miamensis) , is the Florida representative of this species south of the Suwannee river, Gainesville and Palatka. The Lomita Wren {Thryothorus ludovicianus lomitensis) , is the form of the Caro- lina Wren represented in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas and northern Tamaulipas, Mexico. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Edited by WILLIAM DUTCHER Address all coirespondence, and send all remittances for dues and contributions to the National Association of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City President Dutcher Those closest to President William Dutcher find little for encouragement in his continued illness. The paralytic stroke, which seven months ago took him with cruel suddenness from the service of a happy and wonderfully useful life, has rendered him entirely incapable of any activities. Occasionally he is lifted to a chair, but most of the time he simply lies in bed, where, propped on pillows, he often looks out over the beautiful garden of his Plainfield home and follows with keen interest the movements of the birds which gather about the nesting-boxes he built for them. His mind seems clear, and his face shows enjoyment when occasion- ally a letter is read, or some cherished friend is allowed to see him for a few minutes. — T. Gilbert Pe.4rson. Levy Plumage Bill Apparently, Assembly Bill Xo. 359, introduced in the New York Legislature bj- Assemblyman A. J. Levy, was designed chiefly to open up the traffic in Heron aigrettes. The wording, however, was of such peculiar character that it is the general opinion of those who have studied it most closely that it would open up the way for the sale of other feathers and place in jeopardy many birds of Xew York state. Later, it was amended so as to permit without restriction the sale of the feathers of birds of prey coming from without the state. At the date of this writing (May 17), the bill is understood to be in the hands of the Rules Committee, having passed there from the Assembly Committee on Forest, Fish and Game. This is a customary disposition of all bills which are still pending when the end of the legislative session approaches. The fight which the friends of birds have waged in New York state against the passage of this measure has been a most notable one, and the National and State Audubon Societies has had the active and earnest cooperation of many other organizations. Among these may be mentioned The Camp-Fire Club of America; the New York Forest, Fish and Game League; the New York Zoological Society; the Wild Life Protective Associ- ation; the New York Association for the Protection of Game; The Hunters' Club of Onondaga, and the Conservation Committee of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. To these should be added the names of scores of local game- protective clubs, women's clubs, and other organizations. At least five of the organizations named have issued printed appeals, which have been distributed widely, calling upon the citizens of the state to request their Representatives and Senators to vote against the Levy Bill. As a consequence, thousands of letters and telegrams of protest have poured into Albany. Over a month ago, one Assemblyman wrote to a member of the Audubon Society that he had received over two hundred letters from his consti- tuents, asking him to use his influence against the Levy Bill. The public press of the state is evidently in entire accord with the contention of the Audubon Society, and the sentiment pre- vailing is well expressed in the title of an editorial appearing in the " Rochester (New York) Union" for April 29, "The Milliners vs. The People." On the other hand, certain large interests in New York City, which are more interested in exploit- ing birds commercially than in protecting them, have, by means of letters, paid articles for the newspapers, and by repre- sentatives sent to ^AJbanj^ sought to show (171 » 172 Bird - Lore that the opposition to the Levy Bill was entirely a matter of misguided sentiment, and that failure to pass it would entail a very great loss to large legitimate business interests. A hearing on the merits of the bill was given by the Forest, Fish and Game Com- mittee of the Assembly, on April 26. This Association was represented by the First Vice President, Dr. T. S. Palmer, the general counsel, Mr. Samuel T. Carter, Jr., and by the Secretary. Mrs. Ralph Waldo Trine spoke for the women of the Association. The New York Zoo- logical Society was represented by Dr. William T. Hornaday; the New York Association for the Protection of Game by Mr. Robert B. Lawrence; The Camp- Fire Club of America by Mr. A. S. Hough- ton; The American Museum of Natural History by Mr. W. DeW. Miller, and the Humane Society of Rochester by Mr. J. W. Johnston. There were also several others present in the interest of bird pro- tection, among these was Mr. C. S. Cooke, attorney for Miss Theodora Wilbour, a member of the Audubon Society. The millinery interests were represented by an attorney and several men and women connected with the millinery business. The milliners contended that the Shea Law was indefinite and difficult of inter- pretation; that its enforcement would pro- duce much suffering on the part of em- ployees of the feather trade; that they had no desire to deal in the feathers of New York birds, and wished only to be permitted to carry forward a business in imported feathers. The Levy Bill, they said, would give them the relief they sought. The Audubon Society and its friends contended that it had already been demon- strated that the Shea Plumage Law was a practical one and easy to construe; that the Levy Bill would open the way for the killing of many New York birds which the people of the state desired should be preserved; that the feather workers would still find adequate employment in making decorations for women's hats, and that it was hardly fair to repeal the Shea Law before it had time to go into effect on July first of this year. Attention was also called to the fact that this law had passed at the last session of the Legis- lature by an overwhelming majority, and in response to an almost universal demand on the part of the people of the state. The hearing was a long and spirited one. The Committee reserved its decision until a later date and, as stated above, the bill has now passed into the hands of the Rules Committee. — T. G. P. Save the White Herons It is very apparent that, unless the most immediate and energetic efforts are taken, the Snowy Heron and American Egret in the United States will soon suc- cumb to the greed of man and pass into history, to take their places beside the Labrador Duck, the Passenger Pigeon, Eskimo Curlew, and Carolina Paroquet. Their habits of nesting in colonies, the fact that they produce aigrette plumes only in the reproductive season of the year, the constantly increasing prices which are paid for their feathers, and the eagerness with which they are hunted, all combine to produce an adverse condition under which no species of animal life can long survive. This Association, and many State Audubon Societies, have been laboring for years to stem the terrific tide of fashion and love of money which is sweeping the birds with relentless force to the sea of extinction. Many positive results have been accomplished. For example: the states where these birds are found have, through the work of the Audubon Society, passed laws to protect them. In several states, including New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Missouri, Massachusetts, Ore- gon, and California, statutes have been enacted which prohibit the sale of Heron feathers, and thousands of thoughtful women have ceased to wear aigrettes and have placed the stamp of their disapproval upon the custom, — and still the slaughter- ing of the birds goes on! There are yet many large cities where business interests The Audubon Societies 173 stand with outstretched hands beckoning to the inhabitants of the southern swamps to send on the snowy product, and the man with the gun, catching the glint of gold in the eager fingers of the northern merchant, starts for the haunts of the Egret with renewed eagerness. Few of the states which the birds inhabit today have adequate warden forces and so the plume hunter goes unrestrained. Then, too, the milliners are busy in other directions. Recently they have been distributing with great energy cunningly worded articles to the effect that aigrettes are not taken from shot birds but are picked up on the ground in Venezuela beneath the Herons' nests. In support of this, they bring for- ward a statement purported to have been written by "Mayeul Grisol, Naturalist and Explorer of the Honorary Mission of the Museum of Natural History in Paris," in which the author verifies this story. So incredible does this seem "to many American naturalists that Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborne, President of the Amer- ican Museum of Natural History, New York City, sent the following cablegram on April 20, 191 1, to the Museum of Nat- ural History, in Paris: "Is Mayeul Grisol of scientific standing? Has he been an accredited explorer for your museum to South America?" The answer was re- ceived two days later: "Mayeul Grisol inconnu." (Mayeul Grisol unknown.) Reference to the European catalogues of scientific men show that there is a man by this name who is an entomologist, but who apparently has never done any work in ornithology and, therefore, can hardly be considered authority on birds and their habits. In New York City there is today a man named A. H. Meyer, who for nine years was a collector of Heron plumes and alli- gator skins in Venezuela. Here is a quotation from a sworn affi- davit given the writer of this article, April 19, 1911. Meyer's Affidavit. "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: 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 morn- ing about their breeding -places (gar- zeros), hut these are of small value and are known as 'dead feathers.' They are worth locally not over three dollars an ounce, while the feathers taken from the bird, known as live feathers, are worth fifteen dollars 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 garzeros that were guarded for the purpose of simp y gathering the feathers from the ground. No such a condition exists in Venezuela, The story is absolutely without foundation in my opinion, and has simply been put forward for commercial purposes. The natives of the country, who do virtually all of the hunting for feathers, are not provident in their nature, and their prac- tices 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 millinery trade of Paris and New York. 174 Bird- Lore "To illustrate the comparatively small number of dead feathers which are col- lected, 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 curved 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 little value." Mr. A. H. Meyer lives at Fort Wads- worth, Staten Island, New York, and can easily be seen or communicated with by any one wishing to obtain further infor- mation. The Heron Aigrettes used in the North American trade today come largely from foreign countries, where the plume hunters went in quest of them after the birds had nearly disappeared in the United States. If we can preserve the small remnant found in this country today, there is no reason why they should not once more become numerous, and be seen frequently about the shores of the ponds and rivers where they formerly occurred, even as far north as New York state and beyond. We know today of less than a dozen col- onies, although there are doubtless some others in the wilder recesses of the southern swamps. Five Thousand Dollars Needed. To save these birds, we need at once a fund of $5,000, and the same amount annually for at least two years to come. With this fund, we will be able: 1. To search out and locate the existing colonies of these birds. 2. To employ wardens to guard the birds during the time of year when they are engaged in constructing their nests and caring for their young. 3. To publish and distribute widely throughout the United States, in circular form, the real facts regarding the method of collecting Heron Aigrettes, with a view of discouraging the traffic in them. 4. To conduct a vigorous legislative campaign in those states which have not yet passed laws prohibiting the sale of the feathers. We would also be in a position to aid the local game protective authorities in enforcing the law where merchants attempt to evade its provisions. There are probably among the readers of Bird-Lore a great many who may be interested in contributing something to this cause. A subscription list has been started and during the past ten days the following contributions have been received: A Friend of the Birds $500 00 Linntean Society 200 00 Mr. John Dryden Kuser 100 00 Mr. Harry H. Benkard 84 00 Mr. Edwin Gould 50 00 Mr. Arthur Goadby 50 00 Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin 25 00 Mr. Maunsell S. Crosby 5 00 Dr. W. H. Bergtold 5 00 Misses S. E. and E. L. Clark 2 00 W^m. B. Evans 2 co Miss Emily Belle Adams i 00 Mr. Eliot Black welder i 00 Mr. Wm. S. Essick i 00 Mr. Thomas D. Keim i 00 Mr. James P. Garrick, Jr i 00 61,025 CO That action cannot be taken too quickly is well illustrated by the following quo- tation from a letter received from Warden O. E. Baynard, who is today guarding the Heron colony in Orange Lake, Florida. Under date of April 24, he writes:' "I was too late to do any good on the Oklawaha river. That rookery of long whites (American Egrets) are shot up to one pair of birds. I had a man (unpaid) start to looking after it, but he said he came home one afternoon from Melaka from selling his fish, and it sounded like four men with double-barrel guns in there, and it sounded like war. He went the ne.xt day and said it was a sad sight." And thus it is that we witness the pass- ing of the White Herons! Is it worth while to save them? — T. G. P. Maine Legislation Mr. Arthur H. Norton, President of the Maine Audubon Society, has been very active, the past winter, in legislative work The Audubon Societies 175 in that state. He sends the following summary of final results: The game-protective measures passed were : An Act prohibiting the use of motor boats in hunting Ducks in Laco Bay. An Act providing protection for Eider Ducks from February i to October i. An Act extending the close season on Plover, Snipe and Sandpipers, so that the season shall close on the first day of December, as it does in the case of Grouse and Woodcock, instead of May i as here- tofore. An Act restoring Loons, Herons and Kingfishers to the list of protected non- game birds, providing that the Commis- sioners of Portland Fisheries and Game shall have authority to destroy the same, when found in or around fish hatcheries. An Act establishing a close time on Wood Duck for four years. An Act limiting the number of Ruffed Grouse that may be taken by one person in one day to five. An Act making the purchase of pro- tected game birds illegal. And an Act providing that game seized by the Commissioners, or their official subordinates, shall not be sold, but dis- tributed to hospitals or charitable insti- tutions, and the said officials shall take a receipt from the officials of the institu- tions receiving the same. The following measures were opposed, and were not passed by the Legislature. To allow one week in April to shoot wild fowl in Merry Meeting Bay. To extend the open season on Black Ducks in Casco Bay to February i, and to allow the shooting of Whistlers the same time, or a month longer, in the same bay. Some Audubon Workers III. Frank Bond Another national bird reservation was created on April ii, 191 1, by order of President Taft. This is located in North- ern California, and is to be known as Clear Lake Reservation. It is number fifty-two in the list of places which the Government has made sacred for the homes of wildi birds. The custom of protecting birds by executive order began in 1903, when, oni March 14, President Roosevelt, by a. couple of strokes of his pen, provided that Pelican Island in the Indian River,. Florida, should be a perpetual home of the wild birds that assemble there. It required a Roosevelt to inaugurate this hitherto undreamed of method of protect- ing birds by governmental action. He did this on the recommendation of Com- missioner Richards, of the General Land Office, who acted on the recommendations of Mr. William Dutcher, Dr. T. S. Palmer,, of the Biological Survey, and others. A few months before this occurrence, aa earnest worker for the Audubon Society,. Mr. Frank Bond, came to the Land Office- to serve as Chief of the Drafting Division. He saw in the foregoing incident a great opportunity to preserve the birds over vast areas of territory yet owned by the Federal Government. From many sources- he gathered information regarding lakes, islands and swampy regions unsuited for agricultural purposes, but formed, as if nature had designed them to be the homes of innumerable water-birds. He was a. Director of the National Association of Audubon Societies, and thus kept in close touch with its workers throughout Amer- ican territory. Later Mr. Bond was made Chief Clerk of the Land Office by Secretary Garfield, which placed him in even a better position to be of influence in the estab- lishment of bird preserves. It was he who- prepared the Executive Orders and impor- tant explanatory letters of transmittal to- the President for the remaining fifty-one reservations. These refuges are distrib- uted widely: Ten are along the Florida coasts and kej's; four on Louisiana coast; two in Lake Superior, Michigan; North Dakota, two;. Oregon, three; Washington, eight; Cali- fornia, three, and California and Oregon,, one; Wyoming, three; Montana, one;. Utah, one; Idaho, two; Arizona, one;. Alaska, six; Hawaiian Islands, one; South FRANK BOND (176) The Audubon Societies 177 Dakota, one; Porto Rico, one; New Mexico two. The Louisiana and the Florida coast and keys reserves protect, chiefly, the plume birds, such as Herons, Pelicans, Gulls and Terns, Black Skimmers, etc., during the nesting-season, while several of them are the winter homes of myriads of the edible waterfowl, chiefly Ducks. The northern inland reserves, except those in Lake Superior, are breeding-resorts of the ducks and geese which winter on the Gulf coast, and they serve also as resting- stations during the spring and fall migra- tions for the countless flocks of these birds which go further north to breed. The mid- Pacific and Pacific coast reserves, south of Alaska, are breeding-grounds for countless numbers of sea-birds, the Albatrosses and Petrels in the mid-Pacific, and the Auklets Puffins, Guillemots, Gulls, Cormorants, Petrels, Murres, etc., on the coastal islands; while the Alaskan islands are breeding-grounds not only for these and similar sea-birds, but for many species of Wild Ducks, including the Eider Ducks. The large Yukon Delta reservation pro- tects the Emperor Goose, this being the only known breeding-ground of this rare and royal bird on American soil. Some of the coastal islands are also the breed- ing-resorts for sea-lions which, of course, are given the same protection afforded the birds. No man, at this earl}^ period in the bird- protection movement, can even estimate the value of these reservations to the rising generation, which is now taking up the burdens of human existence, much less foretell the blessings the increase in bird life will confer upon whose who follow in the centuries to come. Mr. Bond believes, also, that, when the available reservation territory is set aside and properly admin- istered, the question of extinction of valu- able species, whether of plume or edible birds, will have been solved in the negative, and that in the preservation of the insec- tivorous and song birds through the awakening conscience of the people, and through the terrors which the vision of an insect-eaten world creates, our descen- dants, until the end of time, will enjoy much more than we these feathered necessities of human existence. Mr. Bond has long been interested in bird-life and bird protection. During his twenty years in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as editor of a daily morning paper, he con- stantly dwelt on the subject, until he built up one of the largest Audubon Societies then existing in the United States. He was born June 30, 1857, and his youth was spent in healthful exercise on his father's farm in Iowa. His interest manifests itself in a number of ways. He is an artist of ability, and his illustrations have often been published. He is a clever imitator of the notes of many birds. I recall sitting with him one even- ing in the Palm Court of the Endicott Hotel, in New York, when he set the caged canaries wild with interest and curiosity. Evidently, they thought a new and power- ful male canary had arrived in their midst. — T. Gilbert Pearson. New Members During the period between March i and May i, 191 1, the following persons became members and contributors to the work of the National Association. Life Members — Brooks, Mr. Gorham, Hopewell, Mr. Frank, Pratt, Mr. Geo. D. Schroeder, Miss L. H. Sustaining Members — Adams, Mrs. Brooks Ames, Miss Harriet S. Andrews, Mr. R. C. Baldwin, Mr. George J. Barlett, Miss Fannie Barry, Mr. C. T. Bement, Mrs. Grace F. Benkard, Mr. J. Philip Blake, Mr. Maurice C. Blossom, Miss K. E. Brown, Miss Augusta M. Brown, Miss Eva I. Brown, Mr. Robert I. Brown, Mr. T. H. Brown, Mr. W. H. Burleigh, Mr. George W Buttrick, Miss H. B. Carty, Mrs. John Case' Miss M. R. 178 Bird- Lore Sustaining Members, continued Chase, Mrs. M. M. Church, Mrs. George Churchill, Mr. J. R. Converse, Mr. Costello C. Crehore, Miss Elizabeth T. Crompton, Miss Cora E. Crompton, Miss Mary Crompton, Miss Stella S. Crossett, Mrs. Lewis A. Crowell, Mrs. J. S. Curtis, Mrs. J. F. Daland, Mrs. T. Dane, Mrs. E. B. Davies, Mrs. Mansfield Dodge, Miss Josephine K. Ford, Mrs. Simeon Gellatly, Mrs. J. Goadby, Mr. Arthur Goodell, Mrs. James Hawkins, Mrs. Eugene D. Heller, Mrs. David Hentz, Mr. Leonard L. Hentz, Mr. Henry Hopewell, Mr. John Hoyt, Mrs. John Sherman Hupfel, Mr. Adolph Kuser, Miss Cynthia G. McAlpin, Jr., Mr. D. H. Miller. Mrs. C. R. Rawlinson, Miss Ellen Sands, Mrs. P. J. Scaife, Mr. William B. Thayer, Mrs. Mary R. Towne, Mr. William E. Underhill, Mr. W. P. Vanamee, Mrs. William Ward, Mr. Edward L. Willson, Miss Katherine E. Wilcox, Miss Marie Wood, Mrs. A.B. Contributors — Beaufort, Mr. W. H. De Chapman, Miss Annie B. Notes From the Field Kentucky. — The Audubon Society of Kentucky was organized on January 28, 191 1, with the following officers: President, James H. Gardner; Vice President, Miss Nannie Bain Didlake; Secretary-Treas- urer, Victor K. Dodge. The Society has been growing rapidly, and has been doing much splendid work. Largely through the efforts of Miss Emily Barnes, one hundred and eight Junior Audubon Classes, with a total paid mem- bership of one thousand, four hundred and sixty-nine, have been organized in the schools, under the provisions made possi- ble by the contributions of Mrs. Russell Sage. Alabam.\. — May 4, the anniversary of the birth of John James Audubon, was celebrated in practically all the public schools of Alabama by the observance of a program incorporated in the Alabama Bird-Day Book, prepared by Hon. John H. Wallace, Jr., State Game and Fish Commissioner. The program deals with the economic value of birds and game, and their beneficial relations to man, and has for its object the inculcation into the youthful mind of a desire to conserve all the valuable natural resources of Alabama. The plan includes taking the children into the woods and fields, where they may study at first hand the habits of the wild birds, and notice the visible reasons why care should be taken for their preservation. In this work, Alabama is setting a splendid example for many other states. New Jersey. — .All bird-lovers are to be congratulated on the recent legislative outcome of the New Jersey State Audubon Society's work. A bill to prohibit the sale of the plumage of any wild bird which would jeopardize the protection extended the native birds of New Jersey was, on February 21, 191 1, introduced in the Assembly by Hon. Amos H. Radcliffe. This was the Audubon Society Bill which was pushed by its members and friends until, on April 18, it was signed by Gover- nor Wilson. In its wording it follows closely the Shea- White plumage law enacted in the New York Legislature last year. Had this wise action not been taken by the New Jersey Legislature, there seems to be no reason why the wholesale. milliners of New York City should not have moved their stock across the river, and gone on with their business much as heretofore, when on July first of the present year the New York law goes into effect. Mr. J. D. Kuser deserves honorable mention for having secured the largest number of paid members for the New Jersey Society. — T. G. P. oi/iS