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LL AOI Sd avex? ¥ oe “wy v, Mu) wy : ’ i wi Pues ‘ jo tape eels cecte pragninikoins BA Wi jwivgn YON Oa Ripieertiie ay lower Gunneg Sic ecuMcttoyys yearn MnO sige re jsiyaiverys ig ees vy as Viv: vy yve vy yyy SS. ysey vi iy se vs yO i hha th a y TO MnO Os cc er CCC Ct oh 2 he Sent: ai BIRD MIGRATION MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, BY W. W. COOKE and OTTO WIDMANN. READ BEFORE THE “RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB, | pak-0 NOVEMBER §, 1883. Ppt Work. NO. 22, TO, VOL. XXI, No. 3. PART I. INTRODUCTION. (W. W. COOKE.) During the Spring of 1882 a series of observations on the migration of birds in the Mississippi Valley was conducted under my supervision. The notes collected were published in the Yorest and Stream during October and No- vember of that year. A more extended series has been successfully con- ducted the past Spring, and it is intended in these articles to give the full notes from two points in the Mississippi Valley, namely, St. Louis, Mo., the observer here being Mr. O. Widmann, 4024 Carondelet Avenue; and Jeff- erson, Wis., where I was living the past year. This is done that these notes may serve not only as guides to future observers in determining when to look for each species, but as showing how necessary it is that observations to be atall satisfactory, should be full, accurate, taken almost daily, and con- nected with a careful record of the meteorology of the place of observation, Full as these notes are, compared with the large majority of “Spring notes,” a careful study of them will show how much more valuable they would have been had they been connected with a third station mid-way be- tween, and if in connection with them could be had an exact weather report from a place one hundred and fifty or two hundred miles south of St. Louis; since, of course, it will be readily granted by all, that it is not the weather gf the place of arrival which controls the movements of our birds—except in rare cases—but rather the atmospheric conditions of the place from which the bird starts on its migratory: flight. | To make the record of these two stations as intelligible as possible, it is deemed best to describe the character of the country in full, and the con- © ditions under which the observations were made. The ground worked in St. Louis was the south end of the city, along the west bank of the Mississippi, which is here about seventy-five to a hundred feet high, and the top of which consists of along series of sink holes or shallow pits of a quarter to half an acre in extent, densely overgrown with bushes and low trees. The whole southern part of St. Louis is well supplied with shrubs and large trees, furnishing convenient stopping places for our feathered travelers, but the greater part of the notes were made in the heavy timber which skirts the banks of the River des Peres, a small stream which marks the city limits on the west and then turning toward the east enters the Mississippi a little way south of the city. In these woods the observer was alone with Nature and the birds, and, though so near the city, yet was as free from interruption and disturbance as if in the big woods of the North- west. Opposite St. Louis, on the Illinois side of the river, are extensive low- lands overgrown by willows and heavy underbrush. Occasional visits were paid to these places, but the notes there taken have always been credited to Illinois, and no notes are credited to St. Louis unless they were actually made on the Missouri side of the river. The trips for observation were 4 Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. taken almost daily, and consisted, during the busiest time of the season, of a six to eight-mile journey to the woods, starting at 4:30 A. M., and after sever- al hours’ actual work in the woods, returning at noon, or often late in the af- ternoon. To these were added many evening eacursions, and a constant watch over the movements of such birdsas could be found in the heart of the city. A good field-glass was constantly in use, and the shotgun appealed to if any doubt still remained. Having many years of previous study in the same locality to draw upon, this last method was seldom required. It might be added that the country is practically destitute of large bodies of pines, and of any prairie land, which may account for the strange absence of some birds found in abundance at places not far distant. The other station, Jefferson, Wisconsin, is in the south-eastern part of that state, midway between Milwaukee and Madison. It isasmall town of some 2,500 inhabitants, situated on both sides of the Rock River, just north of its juncture with the Crawfish River. My house was situated on the west bank of the Rock River, seventy feet above its surface and both my yard and the yards on each side were plentifully supplied with hardwood trees and several varieties of pines. A quarter of a mile’s walk westward brought me out of town into rather thinly settled country, with patches of hardwood timber scattered quite frequently around. A half-mile more brought me to the Crawfish River, there flowing southward, but soon bending to the East, and joining the Rock River a half-mile south of my place. The surface of the country for a mile and a half east and west is flat, constitut- ing what is known asthe RockRiver Valley. Thehigher ground farther west was not visited, and all the notes are of the movements of the birds in the valley. "Most of the notes were made on the banks of the Crawfish, at the south end of town, where it was flowing east and west. There, within a radius of athird of a mile, could be found hill and valley—on a small scale—heavy first-growth timber, second-growth brush, marsh, prairie, and mud flats along the river. And no matter which way the wind blew, sheltered spots could always be found. North of town, two miles, at a place called Jefferson Junction, is a large stretch of tamarac swamps, broken by higher land and occasional groves of hardwood. Here bird-life was always found in greater abundance than along the Crawfish, and the trips taken there every Satur- day furnished much material for the note-book and the colleciing-box. The work of the season consisted in almost daily visits to the woods from 6 A. M. to 8 a. M., five days in the week, with a more extended trip and longer time on Saturdays. Many tramps were also taken after school hours in the the afternoon. On many of the cold days the birds were hardly thawed out by 8 o’clock, but although science is good for recreation, bread and butter - must be earned, and the school-room demanded my time from 8:30 a. M. to 4p. M. In the following notes the plan has been to give first the weather record and the general notes from St. Louis, then the same from Jefferson, and lastly the combined notes on each species separately. The nomenclature used is the latest Smithsonian catalogue. PART, 1h GHNERAL NOTES AND WEATHER REPORT FROM ST. LOUIS, MO., BEGINNING WITH JANUARY 1, 1883. O. WIDMANN. We have had unusually cold and disagreeable weather since the first of January. Old Boreas was reigning and kept the ground white, and the tem- perature below the pleasure-point for ornithological field work. January was cold and windy. February tried to make things better by atwo days’ rain, with the mercury below 30 dgs. Of course it succeeded splendidly in making matters worse, for everything from the smallest blade of grass to the largest tree was covered with a heavy coat of glittering ice. Consequent- ly ornithology had to go on skates or stay at home. This miserable weather lasted a whole week, from the 8d to the 10th. On the 14th, however, a warm rain and a strong breeze from the south raised the mercury to 62 dgs. This first warm breeze brought the first flock of ducks, and since that time thousands and thousands have gone north. Between 4 and 5 p. m.,on the 15th, twenty-eight large flocks passed over, and at5 p.m.twenty gulls were in sight, passing slowly up in beautiful gyrations; two smalland two very large flocks of geese were alsoseen. Between 7 and 8 p. m., on the 16th, I counted over fifty flocks of ducks, aggregating over two thousand individuals, going the same way and at the same height. To-night the mercury stands at 25 dgs., and all is white and hard again. Did these ducks know about this ap- roaching great change inthe weather and did not mind it, or contrary to the theory of some ornithologists, are unable to read probabilities ? Since this first south-wind period seems to mark a new era in our bird life it will be well to close the chapter of mid-Winter notes now and report what I have seen. As the weather during the first six weeks of this year did not permit excur- sions to new fields, I contented myself with revisiting the ground gone over in December, to see what had become of my little friends enumerated in my New Year’s report. Of the three mocking birds mentioned there, two stood the weather bravely and are doing well, but the other has not been seen since the freezing rain of February 3. Bluebirds have also remained at their old places, and as a sign that they did not suffer even during the ice storm, the first mild day two males were already courting a female, with as fine a carol as ever was heard in Spring. Titmice, chicadees, wrens and nuthatches are not disturbed by any kind of winter weather, as they can find food where few other birds would think of looking for it, while tree holes afford them unexcelled shelter. Never- theless they all appreciate southerly winds, and become loquacious in their exultations over a big rise in temperature. Most, but not aii of the yellow-rumped warblers have vanished. The pur. Wiihe f,) 6 Lird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. ple finches have become very humerous, large numbers collecting during the “glacial period” in every place where the coral berry or Indian turnip grows. During those cold days, when everything, even their favorite sycamore buttons, was covered with a sheet of ice, they had to put up with this meager food. They worked hard all day to appease their hunger, and then were not satisfied. Hard, unsatisfactory work it was for them, as they do not eat the whole ber- ry, but merely the small seeds within, and even these they have to husk before swallowing. After the birds had worked there a few days, the ground was coveredwith the husks, skins and pulp. On sixacres, overgrown with patches of this plant, I found about a hundred purple finches. About ten per cent. were in crimson while the rest were in plain brown. When the weather mod- erated they left the coral berries. The American goldfinch braved the cold of January, but the freezing process of February 3 was,too much for them. They have almost wholly disappeared; a walk of nine miles in nine hours re- vealing only two birds. White-throated, white-crowned, song and tree spar- rows, and the black snowbird still remained in their winter quarters. Old Pipilo has braved the cold well, and his cail comes from the same thicket as in December, while Mrs. Pipilo is seen not a hundred yards off. The car- dinal grosbeak is a hardy feilow, still he likes warm days in Winter better than cold ones. When the sun shone brightly on the 12th inst. he was much pleased with it and gave vent to a lovely song. The crow seems to degenerate! It cannot stand so much as it used to. I found them badly starved and frozen with a terribly empty stomach, and the whole bird not more than half its usual weight. Blue jays still know how to keep themselves from starving, or else they manage to live on noise-making. The downy and hairy wood-peckers remain at their places, and are bound to make love the first warm day, no matter how deep the mud is. Mr. Red- head tried his best to stay and live on ice-cold acorns, and such like, but when I met him on cold days he did not say much, and seemed to suffer remorse for not going with his brethren. The flickers remained, and were doing well on the 12th inst., but they looked as if they were resolved not to stay with us next Winter. The following is a list of the new species I have seen since my last report: Pine Goldfinch—One bird on January 18. Golden-crowned Kinglet—Two pairs on January 6. - Brown creeper—One bird on January 6. Redpoll Linnet—One bird on February 7, and a flock of from thirty to thirty-six on the 12th. They were wholly unacquainted with such a thing as a shotgun. Lapland Longspur—On January 6 there was a flock of thousands on a field grown Over with sedge, upon the seeds of which they were feeding eagerly. It appeared as though they had made a contract with the owner of the field to clear it of every seed in the shortest possible time. And how they did work! A pretty hard work it was, too, as they had to husk the minute seeds. They were unwilling leave their task undone, and a shot had no other ef- fect than to make them go up in a cloud with a noise like thunder, circle a few minutes and then come down again near the same spot. They seemed too, to do the work systematically ; every few minutes the rear portion of the Bird Migration in the Mississipps Valley. 7 army fiew over the heads of the others in front, and all moved inthe same direction. Swamp Sparrow—One bird on January 29, in the same place I found one last Winter. Purple Grackle—Four birds on January 18, and two on the 29th. A few gulls remained here and were seen several times over the Mississip- pi at the south part of the city, where the strong current prevented the form- ing of ice. Following are the notes for the week from February 18 to 24: The weather was cool, partly clear or fair. Northerly winds, and just warm enough to keep the ground in an exceedingly muddy condition. It required more than ordinary energy to pull through in order to be aw fait to the do- ings of the progressing season. The equatorial wave which stirred the wa- ter-birds to northward advancing on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and morning of the sixteefith, and which was so abruptly met by its antagonist, the polar wave, has wrought some changes in the status of our ornds. The most noticeable change is the great increase of bluebirds, or rather, the arrival of our bluebirds, if we do not count the few birds wintering with us. Ducks were very plentiful in this neighborhood all the week, but no great move took place until yesterday forenoon, February 24, when with a light Tain and strong, warm (62 dgs.) south wind, large flocks were seen to go north at some height; also troops of Canada geese. ' This migratory movement was again abruptly stopped, when at noon the black western horizon announced the oncoming Norther, which, during the afternoon, forced the mercury down to 32 dgs. It is still Winter with us, and no changes in our ornzs are expected during the next few days. Although the weather during this week, February 25 to March 4, was fine and seemingly very favorable to the movements of birds, the fact is, that it brought no birds at all. We have had clear skies, lively drying winds, with a warm sun and four frostless nights. We have had all kinds of winds, but have not had that soft moisture-laden south wind which brings us the dark clouds from the gulf and the birds from the gulf-bordering countries. On our vegetation the clear, warm skies. and frostless nights have had great effect since February 28. Within three or four days the yellow of the wheat-field has turned into a beautiful green, and many plants, besides the grasses, put forth their young leaves. Around the opening blossoms of the red maple the bees are swarming, and animal life stirs everywhere, since the hot sun of the 28th gave the first start. This last day of February was remark- able as an instance of the great effect which a few hours of sunrays have in a clear and still air,on an early Spring day. After an extremely clear night, the temperature of the air was a little above freezing, but the ground was somewhat stiff in the early morning (from radiation, I suppose). Soon, however, the sun began to make itself felt, and at 11 a. m. the first frog com- menced.to croak. At noon a host of his brethren had joined him on all sides, and by this time the mercury had risen to 113 dgs. in the sun. The mud under the shallow water of the swamps began to move in many places, and small larve appeared with writhing motions. Minute black flies danced in the air, and inthe dry rubbish ran numbers of spiders to and fro. Craw-fishes of small and large sizes crawled up the banks of the creek, 8 Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. ‘ over the surface of which a variety of water beetles perambulated. In short, there was life everywhere, where a few hours before the death of Winter had reigned, It seemed to me to be the awakening of Spring, and the scene was per- fected when the spirited “honk” of great numbers of departing geese was heard overhead. This week, March 4 to March 11, was remarkable for its scarcity of birds. No birds have arrived, although we have had two south-wind periods, but of too short duration. On the fourth the wind shifted rapidly from southwest to west, then to northwest, north, northeast, and on the fifth with a light rain, to southeast, and during the night to southwest, the temperature going up all the time from 30 dgs. to 50 dgs., only to sink down again to 30 dgs. during the sixth, with the wind from the northwest increasing in strength. March 7, clear, cold, temperature from 19 to 31 dgs. Wind northwest, north and northeast. March 8, clear, bright, but cool wind from the southeast and south. Tem- perature from 22 to 44 dgs. March 9, after a clear, cool night (84 dgs.), we had a clear day with a good breeze from the south, with a maximum temperature of 64 dgs. until the wind changed suddenly to northwest at 5 p. m. March 10 and 11 we had high winds from the west and northwest, with a partly clear sky, and temperature near freezing. I had expected many species, which generally arrive during the first ten days of March, but after having been through field and woods all day long on the eighth and ninth, I was certain that not a single chippy nor field sparrow, towhee bunting, American goldfinch, purple grackle, etc., had come. Just now, we have even less land birds here than in January and February. The bluebirds, robins, meadow larks, and red-winged blackbirds, are the only ones which have arrived and spread, while many Winter visitants have left. The Lapland longspurs and the redpoll linnets have not been seen again; the purple finches have almost all gone. The gold finches have not yet returned. The tree sparrows have thinned out, and the snow birds are decidedly less numerous. The eleventh and twelfth brought no change, the weather was cold and windy. The thirteenth was foggy, but two light thunderstorms in the afternoon cleared the atmosphere. On the thirteenth I met the first field sparow, a male, in song, at the same place where I found the first bird last year, on the first of March (twelve days earlier). The fourteenth was expected to bring many changes, as it was the day after the first shower, followed by a warm night with southwest wind. The day opened brilliantly; a clear sky, soft, pure air, 51 dgs., and a light southwest wind. But it was the old story over again, wind and mercury went up too high, and a fierce thunderstorm ‘came up and down went the mercury again to 31 dgs. on the following day, which remained cold with a strong northwest wind. The sixteenth was a fine day, cold at first, but gradually growing milderand very pleasant, with a brisk southwest wind. Birds were active till 1 p. m. March 17. Another fine day, but no additions. Sunday (March 18) was fine, the temperature went up rapidly from 51 to 78 dgs. in the afternoon, until the wind shifted from south to north, almost un- noticed at first, as there was no thunderstorm and not a drop of rain, but the Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. 9 Norther broke upon us at about 4 p. m., with a velocity of thirty, and at 6 p. m. the mercury was down to 46 dgs., and at 10 p. m. to 29 dgs. It is the greatest change in temperature (within such a short time) that I remember. Yesterday (March 19) it was cold (19 to 32 dgs.), with a sharp northwest wind, and to-day it has been snowing all day with the mercury below 30 dgs. I pity the poor martins which were induced to go so far north last Sunday. I hope they went back a good distance, or else they must perish, as they could find no food, and the nights were too cold for them. From March 18 to April 3, there was a perfect standstill in everything. The weather being cool, gloomy, with northerly winds, and occasional snow and cold rain. Birds did not move, except Fringillide, which were found more numerous on March 30. The snowbirds were found collected in large flocks, and very excited in spite of the cool rain, and in a place where twenty wintered, I found an army of two hundred, singing, chasing, etc. Field spar- rows, song sparrows, fox sparrows, and towhee buntings, had increased; also the blackbirds, meadow-larks, and the small wintering parties of white- throats and whitecrowns had swelled to about twice their numbers. April 3 was the first fine day. The wind had changed during the night from north to southeast. No new arrivals on this day. Cowbirds were seen, but they had probably been here before in company with blackbirds. Inthe evening of this day (April 3) the first martins came back again (had been gone since March 18), and a rough-winged swallow. At9:20 p. m., I heard distinctly the voices of wandering robins flying over the city. The sky was clear, mer- cury 50 dgs., and a light southeast breeze. This night brought us numbers of birds. The first thing in the morning of the fourth was the ditty of the chippy. The van had arrived during the night. Wherever I went on the fourth there were robins and flickers, and the number of blackbirds was very great (redwings and grackles). Among the arrivals were also many golden-crowned kinglets and creepers. Also a troop of cranes passed by at6 p.m. The next night brought us still more birds, and the fifth of April was a glorious day. The day had opened with a light thunder-storm, after a calm, warm night (mercury at 60 dgs.). The day was sultry, with threatening clouds aad light variable winds, just the weather for birds and bird song. The night had brought the first thrashers, the Bewick’s wren, and the bulk of rubies, chip- pies, towhees, more robins and flickers, etc. The next three days were cooler, but the afternoon of the eighth was warm and the first swifts and cormorants came in advance of the new wave. The night of April 8 was warm, with a light south wind, clear to fair. It took off the last few fox and tree sparrows, many snowbirds and song spar- rows, robins and flickers, purple fincdes, etc. It brought us clouds of yellow- rumps, the grand army of Peabodys, more swamp sparrows, white crowns, chippies, hermits, water-thrushes; gnat-catchers, and flocks of thrashers. We _ have had very warm weather since that. The thirteenth and fourteenth were hot with high southerly winds, but few arrivals were met with; the van of a few species, such as the white-eye, the eave and barn swallow, yellow redpoll, has been seen, and others have increased, especially the swifts and gnat-catchers, the snipes and yellow-rumps, and perhaps a few others. A few have disappeared, namely, the snowbirds, ruby-crowned kinglets, creepers, 10 Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. rusty blackbirds, etc. The most conspicuous birds of the present time are the yellow-rumps, Peabodys, thrashers, towhees, chippies, cow-birds, grackles, redwings, and meadow-larks. Crows, robins, phcoebes, blue birds, shrikes, field-sparrows, and Carolina wrens have nests or are building; also redbirds and king-fishers. Even chippies and towhees have commenced. April 17.—Sunday was a cool day, with a strong west wind, but clear, and the wind subsiding in the evening. The night was clear and cool, and Mon- day opened with a light southwest wind, clear, with mercury at 48 dgs. It was a fine, perfect day, not too warm, but it brought only twa new species— the house-wren and the golden-crowned thrush. Last night was a beautiful night, almost perfectly calm, at least in the early morning, smoke going straight up, and not acloud visible. It was so calm and clear that in deep places a light hoar frost was found, although my thermometer was not below 48 dgs. It was a birds’ night, and I'‘found quite a number of old friends in the woods this morning; no migrants, but Summers sojourners, at their breeding places, on the same trees as last year; all old males in high plumage and in fine song. April 18.—Fair weather continued; night was warm, hazy, with light south wind. To-day there is a brisk southwest wind, and threatening indi- cations. April 19.—After a very dark night, and a light rain from 5 to 7 a. m., after which it was cloudy, the afternoon was clear and fine, with cool northwest wind. April 20.—A clear, cool night, and most beautiful day. Clear and cool, with a brisk southwest wind (had shifted during night). No change in ornis. Much the same birds as on the 18th and 19th, with additional individuals of the same species. April.—The twenty-first opened cloudy, with strong cool (55 dgs.) north- cast wind, turning at noon to southeast with a light rain; the afternoon being warm (70 dgs.) and in the evening, as well as twice during the night there were thunder storms, with heavy rains, but wind continues in the south- east, with prospect of more rain to-day. Birds are moving, and the next few days will reveal anumber of new species, and a large increase of such as are now represented by the advance guard only. ; April 29.—A cold period, preceded by a series of thunder storms set in dur- ing the twenty-third, and put a check to the movements of birds. In fact, the cold night of the twenty-third chilled all our birds so-much that the bright sun of the twenty-fourth could not induce them to their usual song, and everything seemed deserted. The thrasher and chippies, so noisy befqre, had nothing to say, and even the ubiquitous blackbirds were non est. The next day was better, but stillcoolin the morning, and it took several hours to warm the birds up enough to give a song from time totime. During the twenty-sixth the wind changed slowly from north to south, but the next morning found it back again to north. It is cloudy, and there is not the change in our ornis that I expected. Yesterday the wind was southwest to northwest, with dark clouds, and falling temperature. To-day is clear and bright, but cold, with strong north he Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley 11 wind. Taken altogether this week, usually one of the best of the season, was very unproductive, and it required considerable search to discover a few indi- viduals of species not before seen. It must be understood that such new arrivals are not met with the very first day after their arrival; they may be here for anumber of days before they are discovered. The record of simple first dates without further observation of the species is therefore of little or no value for the study of migration. The correctness of this opinion is confirmed by the experience of this last week. I met, for instance, the first indigo on the 21st, but I have not seen any more since that day. I have met the first Savannah sparrow and the first Lincoln’s finch on the twenty-third, but none since, in spite of the most careful lookout, and frequent visiting of nesting stations of former years. I heard the song of the first Bell’s vireo on the twenty-fifth, but none since, although I passed daily many of their old stands. I saw and heard the red-eyed vireo on the twenty-fifth, but only once again, on the twenty-sev- enth. The first Tennessee warbler was met with on the twenty-fifth, but only once again, on the twenty-seventh. In short, it requires a good deal more than first dates to get an insight into the movements of our birds. During the week sixteen new species have been seen, but all of these six- teen new arrivals did not change our ornzs in the least; it required an orni- thologist to discover them. But the real change in our orn7s comes from the increase and prominence of a few species, the van of which came during the preceding week (18th—22d), and the bulk between the twenty-fifth and twenty ninth. The rose-breasted grosbeak and the Baltimore oriole are the con- spicuous and noisy birds of to-day. Females have arrived, and old males are now back in full numbers. : May 1.—Day after. day I go out with the expectation of meeting friends whose arrival has long been due, according to my records of former years. But in vain. Two more days have gone by, and no north bound bird, no new species has arrived. The host of transient warblers, and some of our Summer sojourners have not yet made their appearance, and are getting more or less behind their dates of other years. The weather has been exceedingly fine for all purposes of homo sapiens at least, especially for homo sapiens v. rustieus, pleasant, clear mornings, clouding over toward noon, thus keeping us from getting overheated. Dry weather and cool nights. But just this dry weather and these cool nights, I think, are the cause of the retardation in the arrival of our insect-loving trav- elers; and, indeed, it is astonishing how free the air is fromall kinds of in. sects. Though it is greatly beneficial to the comfort of man, yet not swelling the reports of an observing ornithologist. Vegetation is progressing slowly but steadily, and our beautiful warblers will find abundant shelter in the thickly-foliaged maples, elms, poplars, lindens, etc., as well as the orchard trees. Even oaks and hickories have put forth half-grown leaves, and are covered with catkins. Buckeyes and paw paws are in fine bloom. We have had no hot period since the middle of April, but I think there is one approaching now. Easterly winds have.blown for several days, and if the wind should turn to the South now, we should have plenty of work. Swamp sparrows, Peabody birds, yellow rumps and yellow redpolls are still remaining with us, and are all assuming the high-colored state. When ther 12 Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. go, mark you, there will be few among them without their wedding clothes. The only change during the last few days is the great increase of the gold. — finch and the black-throated bunting. May 2.—A full bird-wave reached us last night. The night was clear and warm (66 dgs. to 55 dgs.), and the wind south. It brought us thousands of birds, and the woods are just full of them. It is impossible to observe all birds around me, especially since the capture of my first Cape May warbier (tigrina) took a part of my best time. May 3.—Wind continued south until night, when a cool north wind set in; maximum temperature, 90 dgs. Bird life at its height. Number of species and individuals, at or very near highest of the year. All the Summer sgo- journers are here (with few exceptions), and most of them in full numbers. May 4.—Weather cool, rainy, dark, with north wind. Birds and observer take a rest. May 5.—The most beautiful day of the year, genial temperature with north west wind. I found sixty different species of birds on ten acres of ground. May 10.—When I made my last report (May 5) I had no idea that the Spring migration would so soon be over, but, alas! All seem now to be gone. The high south wind of the last three days (seventh, eighth and ninth), has carried away many unwritten pages of future reports. The birds passed us without stopping. Had this cold wave which we enjoy to-day struck three days ago, we might have had a fine time. Dry, hot, high, south wind is always bad for the observer. Looking for birds in such weather is hard, unsatisfactory work. That rustle of the shaking leaves, rus- tles all enthusiasm out of my heart, and I gohome discouraged. To find only one new species from May 6 to May 10 is enough to discourage anyone. This one species was the inevitable yellow warbler, and I met with one male on the ninth, and again on the tenth. In vain did I look for the tawny thrush, orange-crowned, mourning and Connecticut warblers, clay-colored sparrow, olive-sided and yellow-bellied fly-catchers. As a whole this season was bad for this particular part of the country. We have had almost no bird-waves because the polar wave never struck at the right time. The Savannah and Lincoln’s sparrows, the pine-creeping and the bay-breasted warblers and the least fly-catcher have stopped but a moment, to be off next day. Other species seem to take other routes, being seldom or never seen here, especially the black-throatea blue, Blackburnian, black- throated green and hemlock warblers, and the clay-colored sparrow. Thanks to the unfavorable weather of the last four days even some of my Summer sojournersare still without dates, namely, cuckoos, hummers, and nighthawks. Others which are local have to be looked after, such as the prai rie and worm-eating warblers, the marsh wrens, whip-poor- wills, etc. May 19.—Strange, indeed! Ithought migration was over on the 10th. How great was my astonishment on the 14th to find a good old-fashioned bird-wave. The woods were full of transients, and this is how it came. May 11.—Cold with northwest wind. May 12.—Cold, with northwest wind. May 13.—Rain. with southeast wind andrising temperature, and a thunderstorm at mid- night! Next morning, the 14th, the wind was shifting to west and northwest, Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. 13 while on the 15th it continued northwest until the evening of the six- teenth, with cool nights. The theory is that the transients were overtaken by the rainstorm of Sun- day (13th) night, and kept back by the cool nights following. Since the 17th we have had warmer weather with southerly winds, and the transients have thinned out decidedly. The best days were the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth. There is no doubt but some birds were suddenly stopped. Water thrushes, Lincoln’s finches, yellow-bellied fly-catchers, etc.” were found in a dry pasture in the city, and the short-billed marsh wren by the way- side. May 21.—Yesterday was one of those hot days with southwind, and little could be done. Last night copious rains, to-day a sultry, threatening south- west wind. Look out for a grand move. May 29.—Cool weather continues up to this day, but two warm nights, the 23d and 24th, have taken off all transients. Migration for this Spring is at an end. ACE eo el. GENERAL NOTES ON BIRDS AND WEATHER, AT JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN, IN THE SPRING OF 1888. W. W. COOKE. January 21.—Coldest day of Winter; mercury 32 dgs. below zero. January 26.—Hail and rainin small quantities with south wind. From then on there was medium Winter weather until February 12, it began to feel Spring-like. The next day was also pleasant; mercury at 27 dgs. with. south wind. February 14.—Commenced to thaw. South wind. February 15.—Warm. At night heavy rain with thunder and lightning. February 16.—Rained all day. Strong south wind. February 22.—Slight snow, wind north, mercury at 16 dgs. Clear. February 25 to 28.—Constantly growing warmer, with mostly south, but not strong winds. March 1.—South wind at 6 a. m., mercury was 27 dgs.; at 9 a. m. 36 dgs.; at 1p.m.55dgs. Snow three-fifths gone. March 6.—Snow all gone, March 9 to 12.—Severe northwest wind, everything frozen solid. March 13 and 14.—Very warm with west wind, starting the waterbirds northward. Next day cold, with hard northwest wind. Winter once more and nota bird to be seen. March 16 and 17.—Warm southwest wind. March 18.—Cold, almost to zero. No migration whatever took place from this date until the 23d. March 23.—Night of the twenty-third clear, barely 32 dgs. with south wind. Just the night for birds, and the morning showed quite large arrivals of snowbirds, tree sparrows robins, blackbirds and bluebirds. But Spring was not yet to come and from the 25th to evening of the 31st, the nights were cold and freezing, with northeast to northwest winds, and snow on two days. No increase in any birds. The first of April, it began to change. April 2—Was a bright, beautiful Spring day, with the night before clear and still, but so cold, that no migration was perceptible. The first frogs ap- peared, and mud-turtles were very numerous along the river bank. April 3—During this day preparatory moves were made by ducks and geese, and the night of the 3rd ushered in the first real wave of Spring mi- gration. Queer weather for migration. April 3.—This day was a mixture of snow and rain, and the night was very damp and cloudy with a warm south wind, and mercury at 40 dgs. Yet this dark, cloudy night brought the bulk of the snowbirds and tree sparrows, Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. 15 many song sparrows, the first fox sparrow, ruby-crowned kinglets, Winter wrens, kingfishers, yellow-bellied woodpeckers, white-bellied swallows, phoe- bes, brown creepers and hermit thrushes, besides swelling the numbers of all kinds that were here. April 5.—A twelve hours rain to-day. April 6.—This day brings four inches of snow. It seemed strange while walking through it the next day to find two full sets of crows’ eggs. _ April 8.—Changeable. April 9.—Not Spring but Summer, with the mercury at 76 dgs. in the shade and a strong south wind with not a cloud to be seen. April 10.—Another Summer day, with a slight admixture of New England weather, raining in the afternoon with the mercury at 60 deg., then the wind slowly changed from south to west, and northwest, and during the night it froze. No wonder the birds seemed discouraged this Spring. ’ April 12.—Bright, warm and windy, and in the afternoon cloudy. Mercury at 48 dgs.at8a.m. The first day this Spring that the air has been full of song. The great change was produced principally by the bursting forth in full song of the tree sparrows, which have been gradually increasing in mel- ody since March 23. To-day they and the song sparrows were on every bush and tree, each one striving to outdo the others. April 13.—Warm, with a strong south wind and bright sky. Night of the 13th was warm and clear. It was our first Summer night. April 14—At 6 a. m. the temperature was 65 dgs., with a strong southwest wind. At9 a.m. the temperature was 76 dgs. and at noon a hard rain set in, and during the night of the 14th it cleared off cold. April 14—The first thing that struck me on reaching the woods this morn- ing was the stillness; so different from two days before. Not one-tenth of the song sparrows were left and only four tree sparrows were seen, the scat- tered black birds were gone, and even the robins were much less numerous. It seemed as if all migrants, which had halted for a few days, had taken the favorable opportunity of the south wind and left for the north. April 15.—Mercury at 42 dgs. Cold and chilly alJ day,with a strong west wind, bringing all the white-bellied swallows, which for a week had been circling over the city, into one flock; which kent all day over one place on the river near the principal bridge, where they were somewhat sheltered from the chill wind by high hills and buildings. April 16—April 24——The next eight days were a succession of cold chilly nights, twice freezing ; with rather clear, but not warm days. Very little migration took place, and the general char- acter of the birds here was unchanged. Only one new arrival was noted, the chewink, and no departure at all. April 24-April 28.—These days were a little better. The nights were still cold—the first two nights freezing—but the days were warmer, and bird life was more abundant and much more active. Almost every day showed new species, though none of the really Summer birds had arrived, and the linger- ing snowbirds, ruby-crowns and purple finches, gave a Winter aspect to our avifauna. The first wildflower—the hepatica—opened on the twenty- fourth, and the next day the iirst leaves of the earliest laurels began to show. : April 29—May 3.—The next week was a transition period from Spring to 16 Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. Summer. The 29th and 30th were cloudy, cold with nights a little above freezing, with north and northeast winds; but the days were quite warm. Mayday showed a few flowers, the caltha, wood anemone, claytonia, sangui- naria, rue-anemone and one crucifer in blossom; while only a few shrubs, as the currants, raspberries, box elders, etc., had put forth leaves, and they were not more than one-tenth grown. A walk in the evening showed no new spe- cies, and scarcely any change in the birds from what they were a week before. The night of the 1st it rained all night incessantly, but not hard, the wind changing after 10 p.m., from south to north. In the morning we had a few hours of sunlight, and again steady rain from the afternoon of the 2d until 9a.m.of the 3d. Yetthese two dark, stormy nights brought us our first Summer birds, and marked a distinct and decided change from Spring to Summer. They brought us the house wren and the chippy, large flocks of white-throated sparrows and blackbirds, and, at last, the warblers. Six spe- cles were identified before a pelting rain drove me out of the woods. May 4.—The night of the 3d was cold and foggy, mercury at 40 dgs., with north wind, and that of the 4th was not much befter. But little movement took place, and the new birds noted—small billed water thrush, blue-yellow backed warbler, warbling vireo, etc., were in small numbers and inconspic- uous. May 5.—The afternoon was enlivened by the song of the first bobolink. A warm evening, and perfectly clear, still night, with mercury at 46 dgs. May 6.—I expected to find that great movements, had been taking place, and, indeed, considerable change was apparent, but a rain set in fifteen minutes after I left home at 6 a. m. and continued until just before I returned at 8:30 a.m. I found the first kingbird of the season awaiting me, around the corner was the first rosebreasted grosbeak, as full of song as he could hold, and at last a _atbird, nearly three weeks behind his time. White throats had noted the favorable night and left. I found only one-tenth of yesterday’s numbers. In the evening there was a strong south wind, with much thunder and lightning, and a little rain; very dark. Cleared off some time in the night. May 7.—At 4 a. m. it was clear, with southwest wind and mercury at 58 dgs. Alternately cloudy and clear all day with wind suddenly changing to north at 10 a. m. Maximum temperature 70 dgs. Not much movement of any species, but some changes in nearly all. The chippy, chimney switts, grass finches, phceebes, and martins have increased somewhat, and are in about full Summer numbers. The greatest change to-day is produced by the arrival of numbers of Baltimore orioles, rosebreasted grosbeaks, and red-headed woodpeckers, all in full voice, and the scream of the latter trying vainly to drown the beautiful melodies of the other two. May 8-May 9.—The next two days brought little, but rain with variable winds from north to south. The afternoon and evening of the 9th the rain fell in torrents, flooding the whole country. Much of my best ground is changed to marsh. May 10.—The rain ceased at 3 a. m., and a walk in the woods from 5:30 to 8:30 a. m. revealed considerable movement among the birds. The most noticeable changes were the arrival of the goldfinches in flocks, and the de- cided increase in the bobolinks. The females of the grosbeaks, towhees Bird Migration in the Mississippt Valley. 17 and Baltimore orioles, had also arrived. Also quite a small army of warblers had come the rain, bringing the first redstart, magnolia, hemlock, black poll and Nashville warblers; and at the same time the first yellow-throated and blue-headed vireos were seen, also the first tanager. A great increase had taken place in the kingbirds, chimney swifts, and least fly-catchers. Strange that so much change should have taken place in the face of a north wind and a very heavy rain storm! May 11.—Night before was clear for the first time in more than two weeks; wind northwest, and moderately strong; hard frost, and frozein lowlands. I was in the woods from 6 a.m.to8 a. m. Apparently no change whatever; birds scarce owing to cold, and I could not stay out until it was warmer. Only noticeable thing seen was seventeen blue jays in one flock passing leis- urely north through the tree tops. May 12.—Night before clear, with strong north wind, mercury 40 dgs. The morning was beautiful, but chilly, was out all day and found bird life quite abundant, but still far from full Summer numbers. May 13.—Night before cloudy, with.north wind and mercury at 40 dgs. The day was half cloudy until 2 p. m. when it began to rain, and continued almost steadily until early the next morning. North wind and mercury at 43 dgs. May 14.—This morning it cleared off at 5:15, mercury at 40 dgs., with a north wind still. No change of birds was apparent. The evening turned out to be bright moonlight, with mercury at 48 dgs., and a south wind. May 16.—This day was clear with maximum temperature of 7idgs. No new arrivals were noted, and no increase perceptible in any, but decrease or total absence of some told that the night’s favorable opportunity had been utilized. A decided decrease was apparent in all Hylocichlae. May 17.—Night before was moonlight, warm and clear with south wind. Just such a night as birds most like for migrating. Yet, although some Movement was apparent, it was not great. May 18.—Night before cloudy with south wind, and from daybreak the mercury rose rapidly. The day was hot, sultry and cloudy, with a strong south wind from 9 a. m. to 2:30 p.m. The thermometer marked 82 dgs. in spite of the clouds. At 3p. m., a regular cyclone of the Iowa kind advanced straight toward us until it reached the brow of the hill a mile and a half west, when it split and the two parts passed north and south of us, and destroyed two neighboring towns. Evening and night warm and rainy, the strong south wind still continuing. I was not in the woods at all on the 18th, but either on the night of the 17th or 18th there must have been much migration, as I found great changes when reaching the woods on the 19th. May 19.—This day can be set down as the height of the season for birds at this place, but yet so many of the transients had already passed northward that, although the woods were full to overflowing with song, the most of the melody came from a few birds. The redstarts furnished a large part of the music, and the rest of the choir was composed principally of vireos and fly- catchers. With this day terminated most of the work in migration for this Spring. It was the grand swell of the migratory wave just before its final subsidence. The arrival of only six birds remained to be chronicled, and the 18 Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley. next few days were so cold, cloudy and disagreeable that the departure of the transients still remaining was slow and hardly noticeable. May 20-May 23.—These days were cloudy and rainy with wind shifting from west to north and northeast, and the mercury hanging around 40 dgs., with a fall, twice, to 32 dgs. May 24.—After a hard rain the night before, we again had Spring weather and a bright, clear day. It showed the last arrival of the season of the Sum- mer sojourners, the cuckoos, which usually bring up very near the end of the list; and it also showed the tawny and olive-backed thrushes as numerous as any time this Spring. But little remains to be chronicled of this Spring’s migration. The last transient visitors, the Connecticut and the Canadian fly-catching warblers, put in their appearance on the 26th; after a four days’ visit, left us on the 29th, taking with them nearly all the remaining transients; and when the last olive-back departed on the last day of May, migration was ended. PART |TV. NOTES ON EACH SPECIES OF BIRD OBSERVED AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN, DURING THE SPRING MIGRATION OF 1883. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). St. Louis—Summer sojourner. The first seen was on April 19, when two were found at old stands singing a few strains, when it began to rain. April 22, two were in full song. April 29 they were still quiet and scarce. May 1. They are exercising every morn- ing now, and by the 16th had become conspicuous and diligent songsters.— Jefferson—Summer sojourner. First one was seen on May 10, and by the 12th there had been a decided increase and many were heard and six or eight seen; the bulk of the birds have not yet arrived. May 17. This day marked the height of the migration, and by the 21st they had settled down to Summer numbers. Wilson’s Thrush (H. fuscescens). St. Louis—Transient. First seen on May 14, and were numerous on the 15th, 16th and 17th. On the 21st several were seen and they were the last.—Jefferson—Transient. First seen on May 7. May 12 the bulk of the birds were with us, but they’ were gone a very few days later, and only one was seen on the 21st, which I supposed was the last, but on the 24th they were as numerous as at any time this Spring. The last one seen was on May 30. Gray-cheeked Thrush (ZZ. aliciw). St. Louis—Transient. Last seen on May 22. Jefferson—transient. Only identified on May 24. Olive-backed Thrush (H. ustulata swainsoni). St. Louis—Transient. First one seen on April 26 and no more until May 2 when the bulk arrived. On the 5th was the height of the migration. Were still present on the 10th, and from the 14th to 18th quite numerous. Last one seen on May 24. Jefferson —Transient. Have lost my record of the first one, but a second was seen on May 3. On the 12th I met with the tawny thrush quite often; about the height of the migration. During the next week the bulk departed, and on the 19th only three were seen. On the 24th they were as numerous as at any time this Spring. Last seen on May 31. Hermit Thrush (H. unalasce pallasi). St. Louis—Transient. First seen on April 9, and from the 10th to the 12th was the height of the migration. Last seen on April 13. Jefferson—Transient. First one seen on April 4; another seen on the 5th, which I shot. One or more seen nearly every day until the 20th, when they began to be more common. On May 6 the bulk departed and the last one was seen on May 10. Robin (Werula migratoria). St. Louis—Summer sojourner. First seen on February 22 when there were about thirty in a flock in a wood. On March 4, several small flocks were seen at different places, but the bulk had not yet 20 Bird Migration in the Mississippi V alley. come. On the 11th they were still scarce and first song was heard on the Sth. March 14, numbers were feeding on soft ground in company with blackbirds and flickers, and on the 16th were found on the*prairie at their old stands and in two small flocks, but not numerous and noisy. April 3, at 9:20 p. m. the voices of wandering robins were distinctly heard flying over the city. Wherever I went on the 4th I found robins. Height of the tran- sient visitation April4to8. Jefferson—Summersojourner. First bird seen on March 1, and no more until the 14th, and then only two. On the 17th I saw the first flock, about thirteen. No migration of any kind from then until March 23, after which they very slowly increased. The only large flock seen this Spring was on April 6. The height of song and of numbers was on April 12, when single ones and pairs were seen everywhere: but two days later all the transients had apparently left. The first egg was found on April 27. Mocking bird (YW. polyglottus). St. Louis—Summer resident. On New | Year’s day three were seen. April 16 I heard the first song, and on the 17th two more songsters. May 1. Ranks are filling up slowly as usual.—Jeffer- son. Does not occur here except as a straggler. Catbird (G. carolinensis). St. Louis—Summer sojourner. First one seen on April 18, which was in high plumage, but silent. April 22. ___ BY H. K. COALE. In Mr. Ridgway’s Catalogue of North American Birds, 1881, page 63, is this paragraph: “ Mr. H. K. Coale, of Chicago, Ill., has lately called my at- tention to certain differences between eastern (typical) and western specimens of this species, which, upon examination of a large series, I find to be quite constant and sufficiently appreciable to warrant the recognition of a western race. Western birds being exactly like those from Mexico in those points in which they differ from eastern specimens. Swainson’s name strigalus (Chondestes striga- tus, Philos. Jour. i. 1827, 435), based upon the Mexican bird, is available for the western and southern race.” On page 289 Swainson’s Classification of Birds, 1836, we find his definition of the genus CHONDESTES Sw. Larkfinch. Fig. 263. * Bill resembling Passerel/a, but the tip slightly inflexed and notched; the commissure considerably sinuated, and lobed in the middle. Wings lengthened, rather pointed; the three first quills nearly equal. Tail much rounded: the feathers broad, and the three outer graduated. Feet moderate. Hinder toe and claw much longer than the lateral toes, which are equal.” Dr. Coues does not admit the validity of the sub-species. Nat- urally opposed to varieties he has perhaps not taken pains to inquire into the matter. With the material at hand*, I think you may soon be convinced that C. erammacus and C. grammacus strigatus are distinct. Taking the Missouri River as the dividing line we find that birds from the west are larger, brighter about the head, and lighter above and below than those from the East—Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. * Mr. Ridgway and Mr. Morcom kindly loaned me their specimens for examination. . RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 25 The following measurments are taken from five specimens of each: Chondestes grammacus Sa De RS ap Gane ae SE 6 Chicago, H. K. Coale, ; : seo. ie 2eO quer avelh 5 .50 esielair Co: Ul tt. K. Coal, 200K P25 oap 5 .50 Eadependence, Mo. |}, G. Cooper, 2 13-47, 3.00 75 .50 6 Columbus, O., H. W. Henshaw, . 250) ie 2OORa ures 44 é Sioux City, Iowa, J. ae ; Pome ey Mey SIT) ana EV a7 Average, . . 2 2.32) 12.90% mags .46 Chondestes grammacus strigatus 6 LaPaz, Cala., L. Belding, . : ah Gia, SS UR ey irs .50 6 Tucson, Ariz., E. W. Nelson, : BGO) 1a ras 56 @ Corpus Christi,,bex.,G. FP. Morcom,., 3.50 | 3.00 ~ 475 50 é Marysville, Cala, C. H. Townsend, 3.50 3.25 .75 .50 @lear Creek, Col-; H. K; Coale; Ge 2.50) «S00 en AG .56 PSVierares (57 5. : : : Ses 2M a Whe ees 52 The above measurments, which are given in inches and hun- dredths, show the wing of the western birds to be twenty one- hundredths of an inch longer than that of the eastern, and that the tail is twenty-five one-hundredths of an inch longer. The bills of the western birds are also a trifle longer than those of the eastern, while I have been unable to detect any difference in the length of the tarsi. In grammacus the top of the head, back and middle tail feath- _ ers are very dark. The back is thickly mottled with black. Strigatus is washed above with light brown, with narrow blackish-brown streaks. The markings on the head also differ. An Illinois ¢ shows a black stripe .37 of an inch long back of the eye, which is wanting in ¢ from Arizona and California, and is nearly constant in the others. Young birds from Illinois and Utah show the same variation. The genus is much more common West than East of the Mis- souri River. This may be partially accounted for by the fact that in Missouri and Southern Illinois, as well as some other localities, the farmers put paris-green on the plants to kill the potato-bugs, which, in this part of the country at least, form a large item of their food. In this way a large number of the birds are annually destroyed. . LIST OF BIRDS FOUND BREEDING WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF MT. CARMEL, ILLINOIS. $$ BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. —___<_@—___ The writer’s excuse for presenting this list is the circumstance that it pertains to a locality which has yielded to careful, though by no means protracted, exploration a decidedly large number of species of birds (about 250, including subspecies), than has been re- corded for any other equal area in North America, and the excep- tionally large number of species (85) which have been found breed- ing within the corporate limits of a moderately compact town within the area in question. Large, however, as this number may appear in comparison with records for other places, it is believed that many localities in the Mississippi Valley presenting an equal variety of attractions for birds will be found no less favored.* The town of Mount Carmel is situated upon a prominent bluff, the highest part of which is said to be 140 feet above low-water level of the Wabash River, and distant about a third, or perhaps half a mile from the river itself, here 1,000 to 1,200 feet wide. ‘The river makes a bold sweep around two sides of the town, flowing past the eastern, southeastern and southern portions, and the outline of the bluff, upon which the town is built, conforms strictly to the curve of the river. | The land between the town and the river was originally cov- ered with heavy forest, but more than half a century-having elapsed since the forest was felled, its place is now occupied by an open common, carpeted with the richest sward of blue-grass and white clover, beautifully relieved here and-there by mirror-like ponds and scattered clumps of trees, the latter mostiy a second growth of honey locust, black and sweet gum, persimmon, black walnut, syca- *Cf. ‘“*The Lower Wabash Valley, considered in its relation to the Faunal Districts of the Eastern Region of North America; witha Synopsis of its Avian Fauna,” in Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. XV1. 1874, pp. 304-332; also, several papers, by E. W. Nelson and the writer in Bull, Nutt. Orn. Cl.b; American Naturalist; Bull. Essex Tust.; etc. RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 27 more, Michaux’s oak and white elm, some of the latter being quite large and of the graceful dome-shaped type. Many of these trees, especially the smaller ones, are densely canopied by wild grape vines. This open pasture land is divided into what are locally termed the “upper” and “lower commons,” by an exceedingly crooked natural ditch known as “ the slough,” cut deeply into the earth, or down to low-water level of the river, here more than twenty feet below the general surface. A portion of this so-called slough is almost beneath one’s feet when observed from the gracefully rounded, though steep, front of the bluff, and from the same point of view may be seen the broad mouth of White River, gleaming between the solid walls of forest, which, standing flush with the bank, lines almost continuously the opposite shore; while about a mile below, the Patoka, a much smaller stream. enters the Wabash. The Illinois shore is irregularly fringed with trees, some of them good-sized elms, cottonwoods, sycamores, and silver maples, while among them stand ware-houses, saw-mills, and other belong- ings of a river town. ‘The “commons” are succeeded both above and below by cul- tivated fields, and these in turn by woods, which a comparatively few years ago were in an almost primitive condition, but which of late years have been much thinned out by the clearing of consider- able areas and the destruction for saw-logs of the best trees upon the remaining portions. On the opposite side of the town, meadows of grass or clover, and fields of wheat or corn alternate with open groves and bits of enclosed woodland, consisting (as does the sylva of the entire country) of various hard-woods; while the town itself is embowered in a wealth of foliage—orchards and shade trees, with gardens and shrubbery in profusion. Within the town limits were formerly several small, though secluded marshes, in which dwelt various water birds and other species affecting such localities, but these, with one or two excep- tions, have since been drained. The total number of species positively identified to date as found at one time or another within one mile of the center of the town is 281, some of them being, as a matter of course, rare, irreg- ular, or even accidental in their occurrence. Of this number 73 species are transient, passing through in Spring and Fall; 74 are permanent residents, or may occur at any season of the year; 86 appear only in Summer, while 48 are present only in Winter. The 28 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. \ total number ascertained to breed within the same area is about 140, of which, no less than 84 have been positively identified as breeding within the town limits, which are three square miles in extent. The - following is a complete list: 1. ARDEA VIRESCENS Linn. (Greex Heron). Nesting in one or two localities within the town limits. 2. RALLUS ELEGANS Aud. (A7zzg faz/). Breeding in at least two localities within the town, one of these places was some years since obliterated by drainage. In this place, not more than half a mile from the court house, a nest containing eleven eggs was found. 3. PORZANA CAROLINA (Linn.). (Sora fail). Observed during the breeding season and probably nests in the few suitable localities. 4. PHILOHELA MINOR (Gmel.). (American Woodcock). Rare, but found in a few suitable places. 5. Toranus soxrirarius (Wils.). (Solztary Sandpiper). Common and undoubtedly breeding. 6. AcTITIS MACULARIA (Linn.). (Spotted Sandpiper). Com- mon, but confined chiefly to the river bank. 7. AEGIALITIS VOCIFERA (Linn.). (A7zdldeer). Not uncom- mon where suitable localities occur. 8. CoLINUS VIRGINIANUS (Linn.). (06-white). Common in outlots. g. ZENAIDURA MACROURA (Linn.). (Mourning Dove). Common everywhere. 10. CoccyzuUS AMERICANUS (Linn.). (Vellow-billed Cuckoo). Rather common in orchards. 11. CoccyzUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS (Wils.). (Black-billed Cuckoo). Much less numerous than the preceding, but usually found with it. On one occasion a nest, with eggs, of each of these species was found upon adjoining trees in an orchard. 12. CERYLE ALCYON (Linn.). (elted Kingfisher). Com- mon along the river bank, and also nesting in the “dug road” along with the Bank Swallows. 13. DryoBATEs viLLosus (Linn.). (Hairy Woodpecker). Rare, but occasionally found breeding in orchards and elsewhere. 14. DRYOBATES PUBESCENS (Linn.). (Downy Woodpecker), The same remarks apply to this as to its larger cousin. 15. MELANERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS (Linn.). (fed-headed Woodpecker). Much the most numerous species of the family. In | RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB, 29 Summertime these frolicsome birds frequent the spire of a church in the center of the town, and amuse themselves by tapping on the tin globes of the weather vane. 16. MELANERPES CAROLINUS (Linn.). (fed-bellied Wood- pecker). Common, though seldom breeding far within the town. 17. COLAPTES AURATUS (Linn.). (7Zicker). Common. One nest found in an orchard not far from the court house. 18. ANTROSTOMUS CAROLINENSIS (Gmel.). (Chuck-will’s- widow). Very rare in woods just within the town limits. 19. ANTROSTOMUS VocIFERUS (Wils.). (Whip-poor-will). The same remarks apply to this as to the preceding. Both are com- mon further from the town. 20. CHORDEILES VIRGINIANUS (Gmel.). (Vighthawk). Rare within the town limits. 21. CHATURA PELAGICA (Linn.). (Chimney Swift). Per- haps the most numerous of all the birds of the neighborhood. 22. Trocnuitus coLusreis Linn. (Ruby-throated Humming- bird). Common. 23. TYRANNUS TYRANNUS (Linn.). (Azzgéird). Common in orchards, but partial to isolated cottonwood or sycamore trees. 24. MyiarcHus cRINITUS (Linn.). (Crested Flycatcher). Rather rare in the town, but several pairs nest in hollow apple trees or in Martin boxes. One pair nested for one or more seasons in a window of the jail, the nest being placed behind the iron bars of the window. 25- SAYORNIS PHEBE (Lath.). (Pewdse). Common. 26. CONTOPUS VIRENS (Linn.). (Wood Pewee). Common. Nesting occasionally in orchards, but usually in large shade trees. 24. Emprponax acapicus (Gmel.). (Acadian Flycatcher). Rather common in suitable localities (thickets or under woods along the water courses). 28. EMPIDONAX PUSILLUS TRAILLII (Aud.). (Z7razll’s Ply- catcher). More rare than the preceding, but found in much the same localities. 29. OTocoRIS ALPESTRIS PRATICOLA Hensh. (Prairie Florned Lark), Common, chiefly confined to open pasture ground. 30. CyANociITTA cRIsTATA (Linn.), (Blue Fay). Abun- dant. Nesting in shade trees along the principal street and in orchards throughout the town. 31. Mo.torurus ATER (Bodd.). (Cowdzrd). Common. 30, RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 32. AGELAIUS PH@NICEUS (Linn.). (fted-winged Blackbird). Abundant in suitable places. 33. STURNELLA MAGNA (Linn.). (J/eadowlark). Abundant. 34. IcrERus spurius (Linn.). (Orchard Oriole). More numerous than the Baltimore, but almost entirely confined, as its name indicates, to apple orchards. 35. IcrERuUs GALBULA (Linn.). (Lallimore Oriole). Com- mon. 36. QUISCALUS QUISCULA NEUS (Ridgw.). (Bronzed Grack/e). Abundant, but most of their former breeding places (large elm trees containing cavities) are now destroyed. 37. SPINUS TRISTIS (Linn.). (American Goldfinch). Breed- ing sparingly in small trees, especially along the roadside in out- skirts of the town. 38. PoocaTES GRAMINEUS (Gmel.). (Vesper Sparrow). Less rare than the following, though still by no means common. 39. AMMODRAMUS SANDWICHENSIS SAVANNA (Wils.). (Sa- vanna Sparraw). Very rare in summer. Two or three have been positively identified. Nests found in damp meadows. 40. AMMODRAMUS SAVANNARUM_ PASSERINUS (Wils.). (Grasshopper Sparrow). Abundant in dry meadows. 41. AMMODRAMUS HENSLOW1 (Aud.). (lezslow’s Sparrow). Common in damp, weedy meadows. 42. CHONDESTES GRAMMACUS (Say). (Lark Sparrow). Abundant in the outlots. 43. SPIZELLA socrALis (Wils.). (Chipping Sparrow). Abundant everywhere. 44. SPIZELLA PUSILLA (Wils.). (fzeld Sparrow). Abun- dant in bushy places in the outskirts. 45. PrEuUC#A ®STIVALIS BACHMANII (Aud.). (Bachman's Sparrow). Rather rare and confined to a few particular localities, but originally discovered and undoubtedly breeding within the town limits. 46. Pip1Lo ERYTHROPHTHALMUsS (Linn.). (Zowhee). Com- mon in bushy places in the outskirts. 47. CARDINALIS CARDINALIS (Linn.). (Cardinal). Com- mon in all suitable places. Several pairs breeding in cedar trees in the middle of the town. 48. PassERINA CYANEA (Linn.). (Judigo Bunting). Abun- dant in suitable places. 49. SPIZA AMERICANA (Gmel.). (Dickcissel). Probably the oe RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 31 most abundant of all the /rizgillide Found in all meadows, but particularly partial to clover fields. 50. PIRANGA ERYTHROMELAS Vieill. (Scarlet Tanager). Much less common than P. rwdra during the breeding season. Also more partial to damp woods in creek bottoms, etc. 51. PrrancGa rusRA (Linn.). (Swmmer Tanager). Common in oak groves. 52. PrRoGNE susis (Linn.). (PurgleMartin). Abundant. One resident of the town regarded these birds with so much favor as to provide numerous boxes for their accommodation. His hospi- tality was availed of by a colony of several dozen pairs, who, in return, undoubtedly did much service in lessening the number of insect pests about his premises. 53- PETROCHELIDON LUNIFRONS (Say). (Clif Swallow). A large colony of this species at one time built their nests under- neath the eaves of the Presbyterian Church, and, on another occa- sion, under those of an old barn in the middle of the town. Persecution resulting from the peculiar instincts of the num- erous “ small boy,” however (the writer among the number), inter- fered sadly with their domestic affairs; yet, with remarkable per- sistence, they rebuilt their nests as fast as they were demolished, and thus, under trying circumstances, succeeded in rearing a numerous progeny. Colonies have also been observed about barns in the country. 54. CHELIDON ERYTHROGASTER (Bodd.). (Barn Swallow). Single pairs nest in various old barns and unused stables. 55: LACHYCINETA BiIcoLoR (Vieill.). (Zree Swallow). Nested in holes of several dead-topped elms which formerly grew upon the banks of the “ slough” near the foot of the bluff. For- merly bred very numerously in deserted woodpeckers’ holes in dead snags and stumps near the dam. 56. CxiivicoLa RIPARIA (Linn.). (Laxk Swallow). Nest- ing in holes in the sandy banks of a graded street, known as the “dug road,” in company with the Rough-winged Swallow and Kingfisher; also in various other localities within the town limits. 57. STELGIDOPTERYX SERRIPENNIS (Aud.). (Rouwgh-winged Swallow). _Mugh more numerous than the preceding, but usually found in company with it, or in similar localities in colonies by themselves. All nests of this species which I have found at Mt. Carmel, were in holes in banks, though I have no doubt that they there sometimes deviate from this their usual custom. 32 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 58. AMPELIS CEDRORUM (Vieill.). (Cedar Waxwing). Very scarce in summer, but young not long from the nest have been shot. 59. Lanius Lupovicianus Linn. (Loggerhead Shrike). Common. Many nests found in orchards, but many more in the smaller honey locust (G/leditschia triacanthos) trees on the com- mons and along roadsides, the trunks and branches of these trees being densely armed with frightful thorns, rendering access to the nests by climbing an impossibility. 60. VIREO OLIVACEUS (Linn.). (/ed-eyed Vireo). Breed- ing sparingly in groves and other woods in the outskirts. 61. Vrreo citvus (Vieill.). (Warbling Vireo). Not rare among shade trees throughout the town. 62. VIREO NOVEBORACENSIS (Gmel.). (White-eyed Vireo). Common in the hazel thickets and brier-patches in the outskirts. 63. PROTONOTARIA CITREA (Bodd.). (Prothonotary War- bler). A few nests of this species have been found in the vicinity of ponds (the then existing woods having since been cleared) be tween the town and the river. 64. JLELMINTHOPHILA PINUS (Linn.). (Blue-winged War- bler). The first nest I ever found of this species, and the first of which there is any authentic record, was found in the bushy and partly cleared corner of a field well inside the town. 65. DENpDRoICA “sTIVA (Gmel.). (Yellow Warbler). One of the most abundant species, especially in orchards. 66. DENDROICA C#RULEA (Wils.). (Cerulean Warbler). Breeding within the town limits in low wooded places, being abun- dant in woods of bottom lands along the river. 67. DENDROICA DOMINICA ALBILORA Baird. (Sycamore Warbler). Rather common in trees along the river bank. 68. .SEIURUS AUROCAPILLUS (Linn.). (Oven-bird). Com- mon in the groves in the outskirts. 69. SEIURUS MOTACILLA ( Vieill.). ( Zoutstana Water- Thrush). Always to be found in certain suitable localities. 70. GEOTHLYPIs FoRMOSA (Wils.). (Kentucky Warbler), Common in all damp, rich woods. 71. GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS (Linn.). (Maryland Yellow- throat). Found wherever there are brier-patches or other localities suited to its habits. | 72. ICTERIA VIRENS (Linn.). ( Vellow-breasted Chat). 7 x ee ‘ ‘ RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB, 33 Found in the same localities as the Field Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Maryland Yellow-throat and White-eyed Vireo. 73. SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA (Linn.). (American Redstart). Breeding sparingly in groves and other woods in the outskirts. 74. Mimus potyciotrros (Linn.). (Mockingbird). Rare. One or two pairs breed within the town limits nearly every season. 75. GALEOSCOPTES CAROLINENSIS (Linn.). ( Catbird ). Abundant in orchards and door yards. One of the most numerous species. 76. HARPORHYNCHUS RUFUS (Linn.). (Brown Thrasher). Common in outskirts and occasional in orchards. 77. THRYOTHORUS LUDOVICIANUS (Lath.). (Carolina Wren). A few pairs breed every Summer in the town, but the principal haunts of the species are the woods, especially in bottom lands. 78. THRYOTHORUS BEWICKII (Aud.). (Bewick’s Wren). Abundant. Nesting about almost every habitation in the town. I do not remember having ever seen a specimen of this species out- side of the town, except in a few instances where a pair had taken up their abode about the stable or other out buildings of some farm house. 79. SITTA CAROLINENSIS Lath. (White-breasted Nuthatch). Rather rare during the breeding season, only one nest having been found within the corporation limits. So. ParRus BICOLOR (Linn.). (7ufted Titmouse). Common in orchards and groves. 81. PARUS CAROLINENSIS Aud. (Carolina Chickadee ) Common about the outskirts of the town but more rare in orchards within the town limits. 82. PoLiopTILA C4#RULEA (Linn.). (Alue-gray Gnat- catcher). Several nests found within the town limits, but only in the outskirts in oak trees. 83. TurpDus MUSTELINUS Gmel. (Wood Thrush). Com- mon in damp woods. 84. MERULA MIGRATORIA (Linn.). (American Robin). One or two pairs in nearly every orchard, also in shade trees and in large elms on the outskirts of the town. 85. Sravra statis (Linn.). (Bluebird). Common, nesting in hollows of apple or shade trees, about houses, etc. In this connection a comparison with a locality of nearly cor- responding latitude on the Atlantic coast—Washington, D. C.,— may be of interest. 4 34 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB, The number of species found breeding in Mt. Carmel, but not in Washington, or immediate vicinity, is fourteen, as follows: 1. THRYOTHORUS BEWICKII (Aud.). (Bewzck’s Wren). 2. PROTONOTARIA CITREA (Bodd.). (Prothonotary War- bler.) 3. DENDROICA C#RULEA (Wils.). (Cerulean Warbler). 4. DENDROICA DOMINICA ALBILORA Baird. (Sycamore Warbler). 5. Lantus tupovicianus Linn. (Loggerhead Shrike). 6. AMMODRAMUS SANDNICHENSIS SAVANNA (Wils.). (Sa- vanna Sparrow). 7. CHONDESTES GRAMMACUS (Say). (Lark Sparrow). 8. PEUCHA ASTIVALIS BACHMANII (Aud.). Bachman’s Sparrow. g. QUISCALUS QUISCULA ®NEUS (Ridgw.). (Bronzed Grackel). 10. OcTOcORIS ALPESTRIS PRACTICOLA Hensh. (Prazrie Lark). ; 11. EMPIDONAX PUSILLUS TRAILLII (Aud.). (ZvraidPs Fly- catcher). 12, ANTROSTOMUS CAROLINENSIS (Gmel.). (Chuck-will’s- widow.) 13. RALLuSs ELEGANS Aud. (Azmg Ratt). 14. PoRZANA CAROLINA (Linn.). (Sora Raz?). The species which have been ascertained to breed in the vicin- ity of Washington, D. C., but not at Mt. Carmel are only seven in number, being the following: 1. TROGLODYTES AEDON Vieill. (fouse Wren).* 2. DENDROICA DISCOLOR (Vieill.). (Prairie Warbler).* MELospPIZA FASCIATA (Gmel.). (Song Sparrow). GUIRACA C4RULEA (Linn.). (Lue Grosbeak).* QUICALUS QUISCULA (Linn.). (Parple Grackle). Corvus ossirracus Wils. (fish Crow). STRIX PRATINCOLA Bonap. (Barz Owl).* fen gr) aS By extending the boundaries of Mt. Carmel, however, so as to take in an equal area of the circumjacent country as has been done in the case of Washington, the preponderance in favor of the former locality would be still greater, since the following would require to be added to the fourteen species named above: *These will undoubtedly yet be found breeding near Mt. Carmel. RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 35 15. HELINAIA SWAINSONII Aud. (Swainson’s Warbler). 16. COMPSOTHLYPIS AMERICANA (Linn.). (Parula War-, bler). 17. SYLVANIA MITRATA (Gmel.). (Hooded Warbler). 18. CEOPHL@US PILEATUS (Linn.). (Pleated Woodpecker). 1g. F ALCO PEREGRINUS ANATUM (Bonap.). (Duck Hawk). 20. IcTINIA MISSISSIPPIENSIS (Wils.). (A@zsszsstppc Kite). 21. CATHARISTA ATRATA (Bartr.). (Black Vulture). © 22. NycTICORAX NYCTICORAX N&vius (Bodd.). (lack- crowned Night Heron). 23. NycTicorax VIOLACEUS (Linn.).(2ellow-crowned Night Fleron). 24. ARDEA HERODIAS Linn. Great Blue Heron. 25. PoRZANA NOVEBORACENSIS (Gmel.). (Yellow Razt). 26. PoRZANA JAMAICENSIS (Gmel.). (Slack Rail). 27. LopHopyTEs CUCULLATUS (Linn.). (fooded Merganser). 28. PHALACROCORAX DILOPHUS FLORIDANUS (Aud.). (Flor- tda Cormorant. 29. PopILYMBUS PODICEPS (Linn.). (Pzed-bzlled Greée). It may be added that when the vicinity of Mt. Carmel shall have been as thoroughly investigated as have the environs of Wash- ington, the number of species found breeding there will be consid- erably increased. As the enumeration stands, however, the differ- ence is as follows: Number of species breeding in the vicinity of Mt. Carmel, HE 122: Number of species breeding in the vicinity of Washington, by. €.,, 106. NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTH-WESTERN ARIZONA. bee BY G. FREAN MORCOM. ae ee The material on which the present paper is based, was obtained during a three months’ collecting trip made by Mr. F. Stephens (for the writer), in the Spring and early Summer of 1886. Mr. Stephens was instructed to make the object of the expe- dition, not so much the accumulation of specimens, as of facts regard- ing the habits of the birds observed. The results are given in his own words: It will be necessary to a thorough understanding of the follow- ing notes, for me to call your attention to the general topography | of that section of the country in which my collecting was done. My first collecting was done in the Cohuilla Valley between April ist and rgth. I was encamped at a locality known for many years as “ Agua Caliente,” but there are other springs, even in the same county (San Diego), known by the same name. This place has been lately called “ Palm City ” (a town-site having been laid out by speculators), but the name is not, nor is it likely to become, widely known. The term “ Colorado Desert” is correct enough, but the Desert includes too much country for that term to give any definite idea of my locality, which was more than one hundred miles from the Colorado River, which river may be called the eastern limit of the Desert. The south-western part, in which I was located, is inhabited by the Cohuilla Indians, hence the name of the valley. There is also a small valley of the same name in the mountains near by, but it is only known locally. What is here called the Cohuilla Valley is the narrow part of the Desert beginning at the San Gorgonio Pass and ending at the Indian village of Toros, which is about forty miles E. S. E. from San Gorgonio Pass. The valley is from five to ten miles wide and is a dry, sandy desert, barren—except for the cacti, larrea bushes, etc.,--save around the warm springs and at the mouths of the canons where a stream of water may flow for a few weeks in the spring. At the west end San Jacinto Peak rises abruptly from the plain » RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 37 to an altitude of over 9,000 feet. At the summit of this peak snow may be found all the year, while at the warm springs, less than ten miles away, snow is hardly seen once inacentury. In fact, I know of no place where stronger climatic contrasts occur. The altitude of the springs is about 100 feet, but a considerable portion of the valley is below the sea-level. From April 20th to 23d I collected near Banning, a town near the upper part of San Gorgonio Pass. It is on the eastern edge of a grain-growing country and its altitude is about 2,500 feet. To the North and South the hills are covered with a thick growth of low bushes, leaving between them a plain, or valley, some two miles wide. The road between Banning and San Bernardino passes through grain fields to the top of the Pass, (Here is the town of San Gorgonio, altitude 2,900 feet), thence through the San Mateo canon. I expected to do a month’s work near Yuma, Arizona, but, owing to a freshet in the Colorado River, which overflowed the bottom lands, I had to be content with half that time, being there from May 3d to 15th only. Yuma is on the Colorado River and is in the midst of a desert country, barring, of course, the ever present cacti. The mesquite in this country is but a scraggy tree, willows are plenty along the river, but are mostly small saplings growing very thickly. There are also a few cottonwoods. From Yuma I went to the mountains about ten miles north of the Southern Pacific R. R. station of San Gorgonio and at an alti- tude of 4,500 feet; here I stayed from May 25th to 2rst. The immediate vicinity is well timbered with sycamores and live oaks, with here and there a fir, while only a little higher up the mountain sides is the pine belt. . About a mile away and at an altitude of not more than 6,500 feet, snow was seen in a few places in the deep gulches (May 28th). From San Bernardino to Bear Valley, where I collected from June 7th to 28th, the road passes through the Cajon Pass, thence across the Mojave Desert to Rabbit Springs, while a little further along you strike into the mountains. At Cajon Pass I stopped three days (June 3rd and 4th and July ist), Bear Valley is an elevated plateau two or three miles wide by fifteen long and is at an altitude of from 7,000 to 8,000 feet. It is surrounded by mountains from 500 to 1,000 feet higher, and is well timbered with pine except through the center, which is more or 38 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. less of a grassy plain. Here also are two bodies of water, the upper, called Bear Lake, is about a square mile in extent and is’ formed by the melting of the Winter’s snowfall, which is usually very heavy. In dry years the Lake nearly disappears. The lower body of water is artificial, an irrigating company having built a fine stone dam across the outlet of the valley, form- ing what is known as the Bear Valley Reservoir, which now cov- ers some two thousand acres. This valley is separated from San Bernardino and Grayback Peaks by a lower, broken, heavily timbered region, in which are the headwaters of the Santa Ana River. It is inaccessible by wagon, and the few trails are rough and steep. The view south and south-east from the ridge south of Bear Valley is very fine; below lies a trough-like depression, some ten miles wide in front, widening and rising toward the east and nearly closed at the lower end by spurs from the mountain ranges on either side. Its lower (central) part is 4000 to 5000 feet lower, Throughout it is a massive, dark-green, coniferous forest, with here and there an extensive patch of chaparral on the southern exposure. In the south, some ten miles distant, is San Bernardino Peak, which, as seen from the San Bernardino Valley, is only a peak, but from here it is seen to be a range of mountains of nearly equal height and nearly twenty miles long, finally culminating in Gray- back Peak, which has an altitude of 11,300 feet. The whole crest of the range for a mile from the summit was an almost unbroken field of snow in June, 1856. I. COLYMBUS NIGRICOLLIS CALIFORNICUS (Heerm). (Amer- ican Eared Grebe). Not uncommon on the lakes in Bear Valley. I think there are two species of grebes here, but was unable to positively identify but this one. They breed in June. 2. Anas BoscHas Linn. (Mallard). Saw several on the lakes in Bear Valley, where they breed. 3. ANAS CYANOPTERA Vieill. (Citznamon Teal). A pair of these birds was obtained in Cohuilla Valley; they were the only ones seen here. The species should occur commonly during the migrations. At Bear Valley I found them not uncommon. They © breed along the coast. 4. AYTHYA AMERICANA (Eyt.). (Aedhead). Saw one pair on the lake in Bear Valley June 13th. 5: ERIsMATURA RUBIDA (Wils.) (Ruddy Duck). Common on the lakes in Bear Valley. They breed in June. RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB, 39 6. PLEGADIS GUARAUNA (Linn). (White-faced Glossy Ibis.) This bird is not particularly rare in this section of the country, being found near streams and ponds. One was taken in Cohuilla Valley April 12th. Iris dull, dark-red. May 3rd a flock came about the sloughs on the Gila River above Yuma. They were so wild that I could not get near them, and I at last tried a very long shot across a slough, fortunately winging one. As they were flying about I heard an occasional harsh, heron-like note. The ovaries of the one shot were greatly enlarged. 7. TANTALUS LOCULATOR Linn. (Wood Jbis). This species occurs as a straggler in the San Bernardino Valley in Summer. Only one noted, that at Yuma, May 3rd. 8. RALLUS VIRGINIANUS Linn. (Virginia Rail) This is not a common bird in this part of the country. Only one was noticed; Cohuilla Valley April 5th. g. PoRZANA CAROLINA (Linn.). (Sora). This species oc- casionally stops at the ponds in Cohuilla Valley during the migra- tions. One was taken April 3rd, another was seen in Bear Valley June 13th. 10. FULICA AMERICANA Gmel. (American Coot). They breed abundantly on the lakes in the Bear Valley. I found one nest containing twenty-two eggs, it was probably a community nest. The nests are generally built of dead rushes, etc., and are placed on tufts of grass growing in the water or on masses of drift- wood near the water’s edge. II. GALLINAGO DELICATA (Ord.). (Wéalson’s Sutpe). Rare. A @ of this species shot in Cohuilla Valley, April 2nd, is the only one noted. 12. AXGIALITIS VOCIFERA (Linn.). (Avddeer). Common everywhere. 13. OREORTYX PICTUS PLUMIFERUS (Gould). (Plumed Par- tridge). One was shot near San Gorgonio May 28th. They were not uncommon in Bear Valley, where several were taken. Young were seen on June 22nd. 14. CALLIPEPLA CALIFORNICA VALLICOLA Ridgw. ( Valley Partridge). Not common in the Cohuilla Valley. A Q taken April 17th, contained eggs ready to be laid. Their stomachs were well filled mostly with caterpillars, but also contained a few seeds. 15. CALLIPEPLA GAMBELI (Nutt.). (Gaméel’s Partridge). 40 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. This species is not uncommon in the Cohuilla Valley,and at Yuma I found them quite common. On the 11th of May, a young Indian brought about five dozen of them into Yuma, he had snared them alive, and I got a selected dozen of them for one dollar. Does not occur at San Bernardino or Bear Valley. 16. MELOPELIA LEUCOPTERA (Linn.). (White-winged Dove). Only two seen, these at Yuma May 15th. They were flying rapidly and crossed the Colorado River. Does not occur west of the Colorado Valley. 17. PSEUDOGRYPHUS CALIFORNIANUS (Shaw). (California Vulture). At Banning, on April 22nd, while engaged in skinning birds I heard the croaking of approaching Ravens, and, looking up I saw two, pestering what I thought was a Golden Eagle. Snatching my rifle, I fired as they passed at a distance of about 150 yards with no other effect than to frighten off the Ravens. As the other bird resumed its flight I saw to my astonishment, that it was a small California Vulture. I slipped in another car- tridge and fired again, but with no better success than at first: There was no white about the tail nor under the wings, but the front edge of the wing, from the shoulder to the carpus, had a nar- row edging of white. The head was very pale, almost white apparently. The extent of wings was not over seven feet I think. It was most probably a young bird not nearly grown. June 7th, while in Bear Valley, I saw another, this was also animmature bird. On June 8th, I saw another passing over; this one was flying very straight and high, presently three more ap- peared in the wake of the first, those, in turn, being followed by a train of Turkey Buzzards (Cathartes aura). Two more were seen in this locality June 15th. They passed over at an elevation of 800 or 1000 feet. I fired at them with the rifle, but ineffectually. 18 CATHARTES AURA (Linn.). (Zurkey Buzzard). Some seen in Bear Valley, June 8th. Common. 19. ACCIPITER COOPERI (Bonap.). (Cooper's Hawk). Three seen May 17th and 18th, at San Bernardino. 20. BUTEO BOREALIS CALURUS (Cass.). (Western Red-tazl). Not common anywhere. One seen at Yuma, one at Riverside and several in Bear Valley. 21. ButTrEo Swarnsonrt Bonar. (Swainson’s Hawk). It was reported to me that this bird flies over Riverside in small num- bers every evening during April and May, going from the plains RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 41 to the cottonwoods in the river bottoms. I saw but two, both in the San Bernardino Valley. Breeds. 22. ARCHIBUTEO FERRUGINEUS (Licht.). (erruginous Rough-leg). A large, light-colored hawk which, I think, is refer- able to this species, was seen in the barren, rocky hills near Yuma, May 15th. It was too wary toadmit of an approach. The species is a rare Winter visitant in Southern California. 23. FaLcospaRVeERius Linn. (American Sparrow Hawk). Common everywhere. 24. STRIX PRATINCOLA Bonap. (American Barn Owl). Not uncommon in the San Bernardino Valley. The stomachs of those shot contained fur and bones of several small animals, among which were the Harvest Mouse (Ochetodon longicauda), the Gopher (Zhomomys tolpoides bulbivorus), and also the Meadow Mouse (Arvicola riparia). 25. ASIO WILSONIANUS (Less.). (American Long-eared Owl). On April 1st, one was shot in the Cohuilla Valley. It was found in the low brush near the sink of the stream below the spring. The stomach contained the skulls and other remains of two Tuft- tailed Pocket Mice (Perognathus penicillatus). 26. SPEOTYTO CUNICULARIA HYPOG&A (Bonap.). (Burrow- ing Owl). Common in San Bernardino Valley. None were noted elsewhere. Stomachs contained Beetles, Harvest Mice (Ochetodon longicauda), and Pocket Gophers (Thomomys tolpoides bulbi- vorus),. The hind quarters of a Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys phillips?) were found at the entrance to one of their burrows. 24. GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS (Less.). (foad-runner). Rather common. 55- MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO Linn. Wald Turkey. * 56. EcropisTEs MIGRATORIUS (Linn.). Passenger Pigeon. + 57. CATHARTES AuRA (Linn.). Zurkey Vulture. * 58. ButTro BureEo (Linn.). Huropean Buzzard. * 59. Burro sporEeais (Gmel.). Red-tailed Hawk. A spec- imen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washing- ton, JPG; 60. AquiLagurysatos (Linn.). Golden Eagle. * 61. SyRNIUM NEBULOSUM (Forst.). Garred Owl. + 62. CoccyzUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS (Wils.). lack-billed Cuckoo. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Ill. 63. CERYLE ALCYON (Linn.). Belted Kingfisher. } 64. DryoBATES viLLosus (Linn.). Hairy Woodpecker. * 65. DRyYoBATES PUBESCENS (Linn.). Downy Woodpecker. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, III. 66. MELANERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS (Linn.). ed-headed Woodpecker. * 67. MELANERPES CAROLINUS (Linn.). Red-bellied Wood- pecker. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Insti- tution at Washington, D.C. 68. CoLAPTES AURATUS (Linn.). Flicker. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, IIl. 69. CH#TURA PELAGICA (Linn.). Chimney Swift. t yo. TrocuiLus coLtusris Linn. Ruby-throated Humming- bird. * *Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. V, 1880, pp. 25-30. +Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. I, 1876, pp. 20-24. t+Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. IV, 1879, pp. 27-30. RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 73 71. TROCHILUS ANNA (Less.). Axna’s Hummingbird. * 72. Mitvutus Forricatus (Gmel.). Sctssor-tatled Fly- catcher. * 73. TYRANNUS TYRANNUS (Linn.). Azzgbird. + 74. SAYORNIS NIGRICANS (Swains.). lack Phabe. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. 75. CONTOPUS VIRENS (Linn.). Wood Pewee. t 76. ALAUDA ARVENSIS Linn. Skylark. § 77. OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS PRATICOLA MHensh. Prairie florned Lark. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Ill. : 78. OTocORIS ALPESTRIS CHRYSOLZMA (Wagl.). Mexican florned Lark. A specimen is in the collection at Woodward’s Gardens, San Francisco, Cala. | 49. CYANOCITTA CRISTATA (Linn.). Blue Fay. A specimen is in the collection of G. F. Morcom, of Chicago, III. So. APHELOCOMA SIEBERII ARIZONZ Ridgw. Arizona Fay 2 S81. CoRvus corAx SInuATUS (Wagl.). American Raven.* 82. CORVUS AMERICANUS Aud. American Crow. A spec- men is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at W ashing - ton. DC. 83. Corvus ossirracus Wils. /vsk Crow. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, 19 tee 84. STURNUS VULGARIS Linn. Starling.§ $5. DoLicHoNyx oryzivorus (Linn.). Bobolink. Speci- mens are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Wash- ington, D. C. 86. Moroturus ATER (Bodd.). Cowbdird. A specimen is in the collection of Geo. L. Toppan, of Chicago, III. 87. XANTHOCEPHALUS XANTHOCEPHALUS (Bonap.). Ye/- low-headed Blackbird. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. V. 1880. pp. 25-30. Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. I. 1876. pp. 20-24. Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. IV. 1879. pp. 27. —3o. Journal fur Ornithologie, Cab. II. 1854. pp. 249-253. | From the Note-book of R. Deane. ** Allen, J. A. Auk. Vol, IV. 1887. p. 21. 9 tt + * 74 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGIGAL CLUB. 88. AGELAIUS PHC@NICEUS (Linn.). Red-winged Black bird. Several specimens are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. One of these is a beautifully marked specimen. It is a full plumaged male, in normal dress with the exception of a good sized, rather shield-shaped spot on the throat and breast; this is of a light salmon-color. 89. STURNELL A MAGNA (Linn.). JAleadow Lark, A spec- men is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washing- ton, aD: (C. go. STURNELLA MAGNA NEGLECTA (Aud.). Western Mead- ow lark. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Insti- tution at Washington, D. C. gi. SCOLECOPHAGUS CAROLINUS (Miill.). Rusty Blackbird. Specimens are in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Ill. 92. SCOLECOPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS (Wagl.). Brewer's Blackbird. Specimens are in the collection of R. Deane, of Chi- cago, Ill. 93. QUISCALUS QUISCULA (Linn.). Purple Grackle. * 94. QuiscaLus Major Vieill. Loat-tatled Grackle. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. 95. PINICOLA ENUCLEATOR (Linn.). Pzuze Grosbeak. + 96. CARPODACUS PURPUREUS (Gmel.). Purple Finch. { 97. LEUCOSTICTE TEPHROCOTIS LITTORALIS (Baird). Heg- burn’s Leucosticte. + 98. ACANTHIS HORNEMANNI (Holb.). Greenland Red- poll. + 99. ACANTHIS LINARIA (Linn.). Medfoll. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Ill. 100. SPINUS TRISTES (Linn.). American Goldfinch. { 101. Pooca&TES GRAMINEUS (Gmel.). Vesper Sparrow. + 102. AMMODRAMUS SANDWICHENSIS SAVANNA (Wils.). Sa- vanna Sparrow. t{ : 103. AMMODRAMUS CAUDACUTUS (Gmel.). Sharp-tatled Finch. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago. 104. CHONDESTES GRAMMACUS (Say). Lark Sparrow. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D.C. Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. I. 1876. pp. 27-30. Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. V. 1880. pp. 26-30. Deane, Bull, Nutt. Orn, Club. Vol. IV. 1879. pp. 27-30. +++ % 3 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 75 105. ZONOTRICHIA CORONATA (Pall.). Golden-crowned Spar- row. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. 106. ZONOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS (Gmel.). White-throated Sparrow. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian In- stitution at Washington, D. C. 107. SPIZELLA MONTICOLA (Gmel.). Zree Sparrow. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane of Chicago, Ill. 108. SPIZELLA socraLis (Wils.). Chipping Sparrow. * 109. SPIzELLA pusILLA (Wils.). Field Sparrow. A speci- men is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washing- ton, D. C. 110. JUNCO HYEMALIS (Linn.). SJate-colored Funco. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D.C. III. JUNCO HYEMALIS OREGONOUS (Towns.). Oregon funco. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D.C. 112. Metospiza rascrata (Gmel.). Song Sparrow. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, II. 113. MELosPIzA FASCIATA FALLAX (Baird). Desert Song Sparrow. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chi- cago, Ill. 1144. MELOosPiIzA GEORGIANA (Lath.). Swamp Sparrow. + 115. PASSERELLA ILIACA (Merr.). Fox Sparrow.* 116. PASSER MONTANUS. European Tree Sparrow. t 117. PassER DoMEstTicus. Huropean House Sparrow.* 118. PrIpILO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS (Linn.). Zowhee. Spec- imens are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Wash- yngton, D. C. 119. Pipr1Lo FUSCUS MESOLEUCUS (Baird). Canon Towhee.t 120. PiIpILo FUSCUS CRISSALIS (Vig.). Californian Towhee. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. 121. HapraLupoviciANna (Linn.). ose-breasted Grosbeak.t 122. PASSERINA CYANEA (Linn.). Judigo Bunting.t 123. CALAMOSPIZA MELANOCORYS Stejn. Lark Bunting.t * Deane, Bull. Nutt."Orn. Club. Vol. I. 1876, pp. 20-24. + Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. IV. 1879, pp. 27-30. t Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. V. 1880, pp. 26-30. 76 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 124. PIRANGA ERYTHROMELAS Vieill. Scarlet Tanager. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, III. 125. PRoGNE susis (Linn.). Purple Martin.*® 126. PETROCHELIDON LUNIFRONS (Say). Cliff Swallow. A specimen is in the collection of the American Museum of Nat- ural History at New York. 127. CHELIDON ERYTHROGASTER (Bodd.). arn Swallow. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Il. 128. TACHYCINETA BICOLOR (Vieill.). Zree Swallow. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Ill. 129. CLIVICOLA RIPARIA (Linn.). Bank Swallow. A spec- imen is in the collection of the American Museum of Natural His- tory at New York. 130. AMPELIS GARRULUS Linn. Bohemian Waxwing.t 131. AMPELIS CEDRORUM (Vieill.). Cedar Waxwing.* 132. COMPSOTHLYPIS AMERICANA (Linn.). Parula Warb- ler. The collection of the Smithsonian Institution contains a very handsomely marked specimen of this species. The breast and under parts, excepting the yellow of the throat, reddish collar and side marks, is pure white. Top of head snow-white; the rest of the upper parts being beautifully mottled with white. 133. DENDROICA CORONATA (Linn.). Zyrtle Warbier.* 134. DENDROICA AUDUBONI (Towns.). Audubon’s Warbler. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Ill. 135. DENDROICA CASTANEA (Wils.). LBay-breasted Warbler.* 136. DENDROICA STRIATA (Forst.). Black-poll Warbler. A specimen is in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia, Pa.t{ 137. DENDROICA VIRENS (Gmel.). Black-throated Green Warbler. A specimen is in the collection of G. A. Boardman, of Calais, Me.t 138. SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA (Linn.). American Redstart. A specimen is in the collection of R. Deane, of Chicago, Il. 139. Moraciiita ALBA Linn. White Wagtail.§ 140. BuDYTES FLAVUS LEUCOSTRIATUS (Hom.). Szberzan Yellow Wagtatl.|| * Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. I. 1876. pp. 20 24. + W. L. Walford, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. V, 1880. pp. 183 & 184. t From the Note-book of R. Deane. § Journal for Ornithologie, Cab. II. 1854. pp. 249-253. i | Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. V. 1880. pp. 26-30. RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. ~ 77 141. ANTHUS PRATENSIS (Linn.). JZeadow Prpit.* 142. Mimus potyetorros (Linn.). Zocking bird. + 143. GALEOSCOPTES CAROLINENSIS (Linn.). Catberd. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. : 144. HarPpoRHYNCHUS RUFUS (Linn.). Brown Thrasher.*, 145. SITTA CAROLINENSIS Lath. White-breasted Nuthatch.* 146. Parus Brcotor Linn. Tufted 7itmouse.* 147. PARUS ATRICAPILLUS Linn. Chickadee. + 148. TuRDUS USTULATUS SWAINSONII (Cab.). Olive-backed Thrush.* 149. TURDUS AONALASCHK£ Gmel. Dwarf Hermit Thrush. A specimen is in the collection of Geo. L. Toppan, of Chicago, Ill. 150. MerrRvuULA MIGRATORIA (Linn.). American Robin. Specimens are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D.C. A peculiarly marked specimen is in the col- lection of the Boston Society of Natural History. It is pure white mottled on the back with the normal color. The breast, which is white, is beautifully mottled with d/ack or a very dark-brown. 151. MERULA MIGRATORIA PROPINQUA RipGw. Western ftobin. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Insti- tuion at Washington, D. C. 152. HESPEROCICHLA N#&VIA (Gmel.). Varzed Thrush. A specimen is in the collection of W. D. Bryant, of Oakland, Cala.t 153. SAXICOLA GNANTHE (Linn.). Wheatear.* 154. SIALIS srALis (Linn.). Bluebird. A specimen is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C. A very handsome specimen of Adcedo tspida, of Europe, is in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History at New York. It is a perfect albino, but shows faint traces of the blue of the rump and upper tail-coverts, which looks as though seen through a silvery veil. * Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. V. i880. pp. 26-30. + Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. Vol. IV. 1879. pp. 27-30. t From the Note-book of R. Deane, DRYOBATES NUTTALLII (GAMB.). NUTTALL’S WOODPECKER. BY B. T. GAULT. This species, which bears a close resemblance to the Texan Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris), may be easily recognized from the latter by the white nasal tufts and the markings of the tail feathers. In Dryobates scalaris the nasal feathers are of a brownish-yel- low; those of Dryobates nuttallii are said to be always white. The lateral tail feathers are also marked very sparingly with black; in © some cases they are very nearly white. But in any case they are not marked so extensively as those of Dryobates scalaris. 'The white bars of the back seem to be broader, and are confined more to the dorsal region. There are other characters which serve to distinguish the species which, however, is regarded as varietal by some writers. Two specimens of this bird, a male and female, that are now before me, show traces of a pinkish tinge on the breast; more de- cided on the female than in the case of the male. Young birds are said to have the whole top of the head red, as in D. scalarzs. According to our best authorities, this bird seems to be confined chiefly to the region west of the Coast Range, in California and Oregon, and found as far south as San Diego. Dr. Gambel, who first discovered this bird near Los Angeles, Cal., describing it in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, speaks of finding it in California during all seasons. Dr. Cooper did not observe it west of the Coast Range, except at Santa Barbara; nor did he observe any round gardens or or- chards. Mr. Ridgway seems only to have met with the bird in the Sacramento Valley. Dr. Gambel describes it as having habits usual to woodpeckers. Dr. Cooper speaks of it as being a bird of very industrious habits, and not easily frightened, when hammering on the bark of trees, permitting a near approach; at other times when pursued, it become more wary and suspicious. Mr. Ridgway was struck by the peculiarity of its note, being a prolonged, querulous, rattling call, unlike that of any other bird known to him. From the fact that not much has been said regarding this spe- cies, and particularly its breeding habits, 1 have deemed it worthy / RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 79 of interest to give my observations as well as those of more com- petent observers. April zoth, 1862, Dr. Cooper discovered a nest of this bird near San Diego. It was in a rotten stump, and was only about four feet from the ground. He captured the female bird on the nest, which contained five eggs of a pure, pearly whiteness. Mr. Xantus describes a nest which he found in a hole in the body of a giant cactus (Cereus oiganteus), about fifteen feet from the ground. The excavation made by the bird was about a foot and a half deep and six inches wide. The nest contained two eggs. Mr. Ridgway did not make any observations on the breed- ing habits. Although I have been as far south as San Diego, Cal., and as far north as the Russian River, Sonoma county, stopping at inter- mediate points, I have observed this bird at but one locality. This assertion, however, may not cut any figure, for my stops were neces- sarily short in some places. The region I refer to lies at the upper end of the San Bernardino Valley, and back from the coast about fifty miles. It is near a ranche known as “ Crafton Retreat.” The topography consists of mountain, hill and plain. The plain is strewn with medium sized boulders, with here and there patches of greasewood thickets, and an occasional clump of junipers. Back of the house are higher mesa lands ascending to respectable sized hills; these are treeless excepting in the canons, where a few syca- mores, cottonwoods, and oaks are to be found. Near by the house, not fifteen rods away, runs a brook locally known as the Sankey, which is fed by the springs and snows of the San Bernardino Moun- tains. Mount Grayback stands in the distance, between fifteen and twenty miles away, though apparently but one-third that distance At the time I was there snow yet lingered on its summit. Ten miles farther away Mount San Bernardino rears his hoary head- The intervening space, or more properly speaking, the middle dis- tance, is occupied by mountains and foot-hills, while the brook wends its way towards us, skirted on either side by cottonwoods, sycamores and alders, some of which are of considerable size. The immedi- ate foreground, in the neighborhood of the ranche, is occupied by orange, fig, lemon, peach, apricot, and other cultivated trees, I re- mained two weeks in this lovely spot, spending much of my time among the birds. I had been out on the boulder plain several hours, on the morn- ing of April 23rd, 1883, collecting birds; and spying a clump of 80 RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. elder bushes in the distance, not far from the brook, the thought occurred to me that I might take a rest beneath their shade, and at the same time be ready for any strange bird that put in an appear- ance. These bushes, or more properly, trees, are a great deal larger shrub than our Eastern plant, their trunks growing from four to eight inches through. And if they are not the same species, their umbellate blossoms are strikingly similar, if not identical, to those of our common Eastern shrub (Sambucus canadensis). I had hardly seated myself on an arm of the shrub when my attention was attracted to 4 hole in the main trunk directly above my head. At almost the same instant a bird appeared at the open- ing from within, and dodged back again as soon as she saw me. The movement was executed so quickly that I was unable to tell whether it was a wren or a woodpecker, but concluded that it was the latter. Upon examination of the aperture it seemed to have been lately made. Of course I thought that there would be no trouble in dislodging her, and commenced to rap on the trunk of the shrub with the butt of my gun, but this seemed to have no ef- fect. I then walked back about fifty feet, and taking a stand, waited from ten to fifteen minutes in the hope that she would come out, affording me an opportunity to secure her and thus solve the mystery; but in this maneuver I was also baflled. I then went up to the bush and shouted with all my might, but this did not shake her nervous system in the Jeast, when I finally resorted to my jack- knife in order to enlarge the orifice, but from its being such a tedious job, gave it up in disgust. The next morning I took a hatchet along with me, for I desired very much to know what that hole contained. It did not take me very long to cut a place large enough for me to get my hand in, and I was thoroughly surprised to learn that the bird was still on her nest. I pulled her out, and she ap- peared to be stupefied; dead apparently, but soon revived. Upon further inspection I found that the nest contained eggs. The bird proved to be the female of Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and the eggs were pretty well advanced in incubation, and would have hatched in a few days. The nest, which was about five and a half feet from the ground, was very near a foot deep, and about five inches wide. The hole at the entrance to the nest was but a little larger than a sil- ver half-dollar. The eggs were six in number, their dimensions being .85x.66 inches, .87x.65 inches, .82x.64 inches, .$5x.66 inches, .85x.66 inches, and .84x.64 inches, respectively. RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 81 By the above measurements one will readily see that the eggs average very even. They are of a pearly white color, and seem to taper off, being more pointed at the small end than is usually the case among the Pizcide. The male of this pair, for these were the only ones seen in the vicinity, was shot a little while before at the brook. I afterwards observed some of these birds among the oaks in the foot-hill canons, hearing their notes for the first time. Dr. Cooper mentions taking the female from the nest and perhaps this may be characteristic with the species; indeed it may be of frequent occurrence among woodpeckers, but of the many woodpeckers’ nests that I have examined, none have been’so persistent in holding the fort as Dryobates nuttalliz. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES AND SUB-SPECIES OF THE GENUS DENDROICA. BY H. K. COALE. Dendroica estiva morcomi subsp. nov. Western Yellow Warbler. Characters: Similar to Dendroica estiva. Colors lighter. Bill more slender. H/aéztat: The Western Province of North America. Type: Adult g. (Coll. U.S. Nat'l. Mus. No. 10,975, Fort Bridger, Utah, May 30th, 1858; C. Drexler). Breast and sides marked with rather narrow streaks of cinnamon-rufus—D. estiva has the breast and sides boldly streaked with broad chestnut markings. Adult 2: Below clear pale yellow—In D. estiva the Q is usually streaked faintly with chestnut on the sides of the breast. Young in the Fall: Below dusky yellow; above darker. Wing and tail feathers edged with very pale yellowish-white—In D. estiva the fall birds of the year are pale yellow beneath, greenish- yellow above, and the primaries and rectrices are edged with pure pale yellow. Nestling: D. estiva morcomi (No. 10,986 U.S. Nat’l. Mus. Fort Bridger, Utah, July 13th, i858; C. Drexler). Above pale brownish. Below soiled white tinged with brown. Nestling: D. estiva (No. 82,891 U. S. Nat’l. Mus. Halfday, Ill., July 4th, 1879; H. K. Coale). Above slaty-gray. Below lighter, fading into white on the belly. A careful comparison of twenty adult spring males and ten fe- males from Eastern states, and an equal number from the Western province proved the above characters to be constant. In fact the race is so different that the Western form can readily be distin- guished from the Eastern at sight. The National Museum is in possession of the nests and eggs of both forms, but owing to the great variation in coloration and markings of the eggs, it is impossible to describe any distinguish- ing characteristics. It gives me pleasure to name this bird in honor of my es- teemed friend, Mr. Geo. Frean Morcom, of Chicago, Ill. ae - er RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CI.UB. 83 Dendroica dugesi sp. nov. Mexican Yellow Warbler. Type: Aduit :t (No. 105,468 U.S. Nat’l. Mus. Moro Leon, Guana- juato, Mexico. Prof. A. Duges). Description: Back, occiput, and scapulars light olive-yellow. Crown, rump, and entire under parts canary-yellow; Primaries, secondaries, and two central rectrices dull black, edged with yellow. The other rectrices are yellow, except a narrow brownish-black stripe lying on the outer edge of the shafts. Centres of upper tail- coverts dusky. Breast and sides faintly marked with a few light chestnut streaks. Bill black. Legs and feet brown. The species most resembles Dendroica estiva morcomi but is much larger. Flabitat, Mexico. Measurements: Length.* Wing. Tail. Tarsi. Bill (gape). Dendroica dugesi 5.10 2.90 2.45 Role) .60 D. estiva morcomi 4.50 2.60 2.00 75 50 D. estiva 4.50 2.60 2.00 iS .50 I name this unique specimen in honor of Prof. A. Duges from whom it was received by the National Museum. Through the courtesy of Prof. Ridgway I have recently ex- amined the extensive series of Golden Warblers in the col- lection of the National Museum, and the two new races described above are the result. My acknowledgements are also due to Mr. H. W. Henshaw for allowing me to use his specimens for com- parison. *Length taken from a dried skin. +Sex not marked, but evidently a male. LIST OF OFFICERS, STANDING COMMITTEES, AND MEMBERS OF THE RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB OF CHICAGO. OFFICERS : G. FrEAN Morcom, President. RuTHVEN DEANE, Vtce-President. H. K. Coase, Secretary and Treasurer. Gero. L. Toppan, Curator and Librarian. STANDING COMMITTEES. COMMITTEE ON FINANCES. G.’Frean Motcom 052 282 2: ov ue eee Term expires May, 1889. Geo, tos Poppati. Sisto lon. 2 ee See Term expires May, 1888. Benj FT Gault seheee so ao eee ee Term expires May, 1887. COMMITTEE ON MEMBERSHIP. Rick: @balecagie2e-32 ies .4 see ER Term experes May, 1899. Uae ariloer walt na ey ke Tae Term expires May, 1888. Vostrs eleneeeken 3 s'29 Ss es Term expires May, 1887. ACTIVE MEMBERS. Coale, H. K: Phillips, W. A. Deane, Ruthven. Reinhold, Dr. Wm. Fulton, H. L. Rice, Frank L. Gault, Benj. T. Schick, Dr. Wm. Hancock, Jos. L. Toppan, Geo. L. Kaempfer, Fred. Jr. Dyrrell, bs: Morcom, G. Frean. Velie; Drie We Parker,,J. G. Jr. White, A. J. Wentworth, Frank. HONORARY MEMBER. Robert Ride way:2..2402.)¢.5. eee Washington, D.C. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. srulben, (CoA 1 ee age) wee eee: ee Nicasio, Cala. Aten, Jens sou oe ee ee New York, N.Y. RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 85 [EN SNE SINGLE SAA 9 10] 2 Ui ee NRE a ee Cambridge, Mass. arisen.) 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