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Vteee ye ‘ “=> ery ir natn * , 2 st Lo tie ey : we pe Mgt : in ee Phe et ris ee a et re Se 54 - ee rf 5 Sop ag ee , e-P2 e ye - Le ere ty oe 7 5 Paci Dear | ee a “PP GR tpt e ze 3 2 a : om 2 ; btu Se ae] ee we : : ¥ pn ; - ae i , nae br! erie diag A : ‘ “ Loa “ a Ps " tt ne : “¢ DEES Ee eee x Tere VORP wae & fre eg Far © ewig A PtP ee Pe *. 2 og. = t4 “< very ‘ 2 4 J s 2 te BP: Bako ve 5 ik P42 Pom PEP ed + Pim o~ Ss, Sah ae r T tabe — wz eee a eae P ; d ONT 8 eee a YU Pee eee f Be Rel et GR re a) Ser ie ye : J SN Se ge Ath, SS ee ae rs raat TRANSACTIONS OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE OF 3S). LOUIS. VOL. XVII. JANUARY 1907 TO DECEMBER 1907. PUBLISHED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL. ST. LOUIS Nn NIXON-JONES PRINTING CO. () 4 CONTENTS. PAGE. TAHEM OF CONTENTS. 630. oh 6 Ca eae ree oe ea inne ili List or MeMBERS. Revised to December 31, 1907......... Vv 1. PaTRONs. 2. HonorRARY MEMBERS. 3. ACTIVE MEMBERS. CONBTETUTION ) foo 6 Cee a as Gree Se a De ate xiii BY-LAW sO a ae ee ae Cea ary Xvi ABSTHACT OF FHETORW io as aa Oa Xxl Recorp. January 1 to December 31, 1907................ XXV Papers PUBLISHED. January 1 to December 31, 1907 1. Orro Wipmann.—A Preliminary Catalogue of the Birds of Missouri—Issued November 16, 1907.... 1 2. TirLe-Pages, prefatory matter and index of Vol. XVII. Record January 1 to December 31, 1907.—Issued May 4; 1908. LAST OF AUTHORS or a a eta 289 CONRAD INDBE oor ae da an hp 290 MEMBERS. 1. PaTRONS. TE: POE WN 8 soe shaliletai eit 4446 Westminster pl. tHarrison, Edwin...) 66s 02 Gok McMillan, Mrs. Eliza.......... 25 Portland pl. MeMillan, William Northrop... .Century bldg. 2. Honorary MEMBERS. Arrhenius, Prof. Svante........ University of Stockholm, Sweden. Bahlsen, Prof. Dr. Leopold... .. Berlin, Germany‘ Boltzmann, Prof. Ludwig. .... *Chavero, Sefior Alfredo....... Escherich, Prof. Theodore...... University of Vienna, Austria. Kitasato, Prof. Shibasaburo. ...University of Tokio, Japan. Lewald, Geh. Oberreg. Rath PHOGUOT it oe deh ootlagans Berlin, Germany. Limburg, Stirum, Graf......... Berlin, Germany. tMoissan, Prof. Henri......... Orth, Geh. Rath Dr. Johann....University of Berlin, Germany. Oswald, Prof. Wilhelm......... University of Leipzig, Germany. Ramsay, Sir William.......... Royal Institute, London, England. Rutherford, Prof. Ernest....... McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Sander, Dr. EnnG 4G ee St. Louis, Mo. Van’t Hoff, Prof..3. W..... 0... University of Berlin, Germany. Waldeyer, Geh. Rath Prof. Dr. WUT OU o's ool at ae University of Berlin, Germany. Wassermann, Prof. Dr. A...... University of Berlin, Germany. Wittmack, Geh. Reg. Rath WOR Oy Laces 2 hd a University of Berlin, Germany. 3. ACTIVE MEMBERS. Abbott, James F.............. Washington University. PAKS, JAMIOR Os 54 Park and Vandeventer avs. Alleman, Gellert*............. Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa. * Non-resident. + Deceased. vi Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. Allen Tey We cee 5061 Lindell boul. Alt: Ado. 33300. OCR 316 Metropolitan bldg. Altheimer, Benjamin.......... 4349 Westminster pl. Ammerman, Charles........... McKinley High School. Andrews, Launcelot W......... 3731 Westminster pl. Armbruster, Wm. J... 0.0. .: 3622 Shenandoah av. Bary, Pate kes New Haven, Mo. Baker) Frank C.*.. 005 Chicago Academy of Sciences, Chicago, Ill. Ball, Othe fk ee 3737 Westminster pl. Berek, CAM bs ee ee te Humboldt bldg. Bartlett, George M.*.......... R. F. D. No. 2, Gardner, Mass. Baskett, James Newton*....... Mexico, Mo. Baumgarten, Gustav.......... 4171 Washington boul. Bernnys, Walter. .30. 3050. 28 3623 Laclede av. Bixby, William Keeney........ Kingshighway and Lindell bouls. . Boeckeler, William L.......... 4441 Laclede av. Borgmeyer, Charles J.......... St. Louis University. Boyle; Wibur Fo. ceo oc: National Bank of Commerce bldg. Brandenburger, Louis F........ 2900 Eads av. Brandenburger, W. A.......... 1001 Liggett bldg. Brannon, Melvin A.*.......... University, N. Dak. Brennan, MartinS............ 1414 O’Fallon st. Brimmer, George G..:......... 6900 Michigan av. Brookings, Robert S........... 5125 Lindell boul. Brown, ArthurA.. 275508 4023 West Pine boul. Brown; Daniel 8.66 ase! 2212 DeKalb st. Brown, John Young........... 5089 McPherson av. Brown, Will 620 ea 5351 Waterman av. Browne, Clarence I............ 4630a Delmar boul. Burg, Willem eg 1756 Missouri av. Bumett, LOC. ee ea University Club. Buseh, Adolphus... 4000.48. Busch pl. Busch, Aug) Avice. Busch pl. Bush, Benjamin Franklin®. .... Courtney, Mo. Bushnell, Dili 4254 Olive st. Butler, William D......5°° 0.4.4 6706 Virginia av. Butler, William M..).. 00..54, Yeatman High School. Carpenter, George O........... 12 Portland pl. Carter, Howard’®, 035260046 605 Webster Groves, Mo. Members. vii Carver, George Washington*....Tuskegee, Ala. Chappell: Wii Ges co we veeve ke 3810 Westminster pl. Chouteau, Pierre): cai eons 5 912 Security bldg. Comstock, T. Griswold.........3401 Washington av. Cook, Franew Becta. ee 4362 Morgan st. Coulter, Samuel M............. Washington University. CERIN, POKES. CU ec Sale ea wee Missouri Botanical Garden. Cramer, Gustav ooo ical °/,G.Cramer Dry Plate Co. Crandall, George C............ 4287 Olive st. Cippies, Pamuel. os oe ee 3673 Pine st. Curtis, Chester Bee a2 Central High School. Curtis; Wiliam: Si Lee St. Louis Law School. Dameron, Edward Caswell*. . . .Clarksville, Mo. DOV ROC neue oad au 56 Vandeventer pl. PIOWIS, OU Dio ea oe 421 Olive st. De Menil, Alexander N......... De Menil bldg., 7th and Pine sts. Diehm, Ferdinand............. 1834 Kennett pl. | Dodd, Samuel Myo se Sa oe 415 Locust st. Dorset We us Si ea eat Linmar bldg. Douglas, Archer W............ 5079 McPherson av. Douglass, Stephen A........... Central High School. Drake, George 8. ois esa: 64 Vandeventer pl. Dronten, Wa Wee eas 2011 Park av. Drvahel, Fo Ae ieee Teachers’ College. Kimbeck, August F.*.......... New Haven, Mo. Bhot, Edward Co ooo cc cee es 5468 Maple av. Engler, Edmund Arthur*...... 11 Boynton st., Worcester, Mass. Ericson, Eric John. ........... 5957 Bartmer av. Erker, Adolph Pui. canes 3) 604 Olive st. | Espenschied, Charles.......... 3500 Washington av. Euston, Alexander. ........... 3730 Lindell boul. Hivers, Edward. ceo 1861 North Market st. Bowine, Arthur eos. Leen 5956 West Cabanne pl. Hycleshymer, A. E............ 5649 Cabanne pl. Favor, Ernest Howard*........ Box 842, Columbia, Mo. Fischel, Washington E......... 4140 Washington boul. Forbes, Stephen A.*........... Urbana, Ill. POA VCe: JOM Be os 2223 Louisiana st., Little Rock, Ark. viii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Francis, David Fo.) ccs 04 4421 Maryland av. French, George Hazen*........ Carbondale, Ill. Frerichs, Frederick W......... 3828 Westminster pl. Frick, John Henry*®.:......... Warrenton, Mo. Prutn, O60 dike ie 3066 Hawthorne boul. Pry, PRANK Bhs oe 4609 McPherson av. Funkhouser, Robert Monroe... .4354 Olive st. Gazzam, James Breading....... 514 Security bldg. Geeks, Frank i eo ee 3453 Magnolia av. Geta Hoke oe ea 3126 Washington av. Goring 45 fo cas 5172 Vernon av. Glaswow, Prank Bel oo cs eek 3894 Washington boul. Glatietion, NoMel ee a 4720 North Twentieth. st. Goldstein, Max Au a 3858 Westminster pl. Goodman, CharlesH.......... 4500 Olive st. CitOE Ae Wo ek eee cee ae 1325 South Seventh st. Graves, William W............ Metropolitan bldg. Cre6h, FOUR co ee wes 2670 Washington av. Greger, Darling Kennett*...... Westminster College, Fulton, Mo. CRVOOE i Oi ee eG 2750 Park av. Grindon, Joseph. 300 fees once 3894 Washington boul. Gundelach, Chas. H........... 4523 Washington boul. Gundetacn, Wieden wees 4477 Washington boul. Haarstick, Henry C........... St. Louis Union Trust bldg. Hambach, Gustav. ...¢ 60600) 5: 1319 Lami st. Hardaway, Wi A: : ccseshuuis 4500 Olive st. . Harris, James Arthur*......... Station for Experimental Evolu- tion, Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, N. Y. Hartmann, Rudolph........... 2020 Victor st. Held, George Aves sce: International Bank. Higdon, W. Dias eas McKinley High School. ( Hirschberg, Francis D......... 3818 Lindell boul. Homan, George. .).'6 i.e es 323 Odd Fellows’ bldg. Hough, Warwick... 0.50005 00% 5884 Cates Av. _ Hughes, Charles Hamilton..... 3872 Washington boul. Hunicke, Henry August........ 3532 Victor st. Purter, J uliise sis ee ek 2346 South Tenth st. Bus; Henri Th, Ai is ea Mo. Botanical Garden. + Elected a life-member, January 3, 1882. Members. 1x He THGOe Sou isa lawede vent sans 3129 South Grand av. Ingerson, Garhi isis eae ae Central High School. Irish, Henty-Cr su ore i Mo. Botanical Garden. Ives, Halsey Cooley........... Museum of Fine Arts. Tamils Gu ee ee oa Washington University. Keiser, Bdward Bee )i) 25.4 Washington University. MORMON Ou oko y vie eee 224 South Vandeventer av. Kinealy, John Hoo oy oak 619 Granite bldg. Kine, Goodman) 3). eo. oor 78 Vandeventer pl. Kirchner, Walter C.G......... 1127 North Grand av. Midi Mare doe ee: 3133 Nebraska av. Koch, Waldemar H. A.*....... State University, Columbia, Mo. Lackland; Rutua Jo). 60) ee 1623 Locust st. Lang, George, Jr. 3656 Cleveland av. Langsdorf, Alexander 8........ Washington University. Berkin, Hohe a 109 St. George st. Leavitt, Sherman*........... U. 8. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Lefevre, George*.............. State University, Columbia, Mo. Leighton, George Bridge....... Security bldg. Letterman, George W.*........ Allenton, Mo. Lichter, Jenn wise eed 1740 Simpson pl. Lioyd, Hiram ore Odd Fellows’ bldg. Loeb, Hanau Wolf............ Humboldt bldg. Lumelius, J. George........... 1225 St. Ange av. Mack, Charles Jacob........... 113 North Broadway. Mallinckrodt, Edward......... 26 Vandeventer pl. Mallinckrodt, Edward, Jr....... 26 Vanderventer pl. MEAPOOTI OW Ce es 3634 Shenandoah av. Markham, George Dickson..... 4961 Berlin av. Meson, Biles C5) eee eek Berea, Ky. Matthews, Leonard............ 300 North Fourth st. MeBride,. Wi JF) ee Haskell & Barker Car Co., Michi- gan City, Ind. BOCourh, Mi Bor a Washington University. Meier, Theodore G...........; 5220 Washington boul. Orrell; AlbOtGl ce Boece eee ae 3814 Washington boul. Monell, Joseph T.............. 3454 Halliday.av. x Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Moore; Ropert. sek wick een 61 Vandeventer pl. Morrison, Gilbert B........... McKinley High School. Mudd, Harvey Gio. .63 ia Humboldt bldg. Mueller, Ambrose*............ Webster Groves, Mo. Navel, Charles. 3 ie 3726 Washington boul. GMNe AGRO es Oa 2323 Lafayette av. Nelson; Aven™, o0008.05. sue Laramie, Wyom. Nelstns Noe Ts Se a Central High School. Nicolaus, Henry. :.: )ui0 6.2.5 2149 South Grand av. Niphbor, Prancis i: lee Washington University. Oglevee, Christopher Stoner*. . . Lincoln, Il. Olshausen, Ernest P........... 1115 Rutger st. O’Reilly, Andrew J............ 2207 South Grand av. O'Reilly, Robert Jicic3 3.6 43 3411 Pine st. Outten, Wo Bo Nee 3515 Pine st. Overstolz, Herman............ 106 North Broadway. Palmer, Ernest Jesse*......... 321 8. Allen st., Webb ity, Mo. Pammel, Louis Hermann*...... Ames, Iowa. Pantaleoni, Guido...) 50:00. 4426 Lindell boul. Parker, George Ward*......... 45 Broadway, New York City. Pauls, Gustavus. ores 5408 South Broadway. Fettus, Chagas Poo. ok 33 Westmoreland pl. Pevwun, Wo Eee nas 4373 Westminster pl. Fike, Sherman B.* 3 iso ue Seattle, Wash. Piteman, Jus 3) io Ves 1900 South Compton av. Poats, Thomas Grayson*....... Clemson College, 8. C. Post, Martin Hayward......... 5371 Waterman av. Prynne, Charles Martyn........Century bldg. Pyle, Lindley: 3, 0.) ee 5575 Vernon av. Randall, John Bok ee Cleveland Lamp Factory, Cleve- land, Ohio. Raphael, Abraham............ 5555 Clemens av. Rathmann, Charles G.......... 3886 Hartford st. Rau, Philip. sow a 5139 Shaw av. avoid, Amana ii oe ie 5248 Vernon av. feedhich, CoMic ee. .. National Bank of Commerce bldg. Hice, Chas) Miiucce geek 3733 West Pine boul. Richter, Phil. George..........: 2424 South Eighteenth st. Members. x1 Robert, Edward Scott......... 4140 Lindell boul. Roever, William Henry*....... 44 Martin st., Cambridge, Mass. Rolfs: Peter Ti ay Gainesville, Fla. Rosenwald, Lucian*........... 412 Delaware st., Kansas City, Mo. Bu Eran Ao vr eee 5863 Cabanne pl. Ryan, Frank K........ '.......8936 Lindell boul. Sargent, Charles Sprague*......Jamaica Plains, Mass. AOE Wi ee re ea ie ya aie Humboldt bldg. BOROIET TE Wie deo INA 3228 South Ninth st. pchisier, awit, to ee 2.a ee 2027 South Jefferson av. SRNITIIE RMN Gone Sirians en Franklin Bank. TSS TT Te Ee | SRO eign aie Se aah gui ae Sixth and St. Charles sts. Von Schrenk, Hermann........ Mo. Botanical Garden: DCUPOOPS POUT. 5.6 6s ace tt cies is 1730 Missouri av. Schrowang, Otto... . 25.26: .%.. Panama bldg. pchwars, Urankk 3.3). ob 9345) 1813 Lafayette av. PCN Ware, HONEY ie wel aN 440 North Newstead av. solwettser, Paul® ooo eo ks Columbia, Mo. See, Thomas Jefferson Jackson*. Naval Observatory, Mare Island, Cal. Selby, Augustine Dawson*..... Wooster, Ohio. Nenseney, dM ieee 2829 Washington av. Shahan, William E............ 5956 Cabanne pl. Shepley, John Bie eek 3630 Delmar boul. Shoemaker, William Alfred... .. 4386 Westminster pl. neg ee ast City Hospital. Sunmons, Bi Sati aie Ninth and Spruce sts. Simmons, Wallace D.......... Ninth and Spruce sts. Sluder, Greenfield............. 3542 Washington av. Smith, Arthur George*........ 422 N. Dubuque st., Iowa City, Ia. Simin; D8. Bs eee ae 3646 Washington boul. Smith, Irwin Zoosk ce 83 Vandeventer pl. Smith, Jared Gooey ee: Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands. Soldan, F: Louis... ese ety 3634 Flad av. Spiegelhalter, Joseph.......... 2166 Lafayette av. Starkion, HoMe eo. ie or: 3623 Cleveland av. Starr, John BF ys eat e 258 Broadway, New York City. Pvaucinger, Be ee eG, 3556 Lindell boul. Stedman, John Moore*........ State University, Columbia, Mo. Stevens, Charles D............ 1749 South Grand av. Stevens, Wyandotte James..... 4043 Juniata st. xii Stocker, George J Sultan, Fred W Summa, Hugo Suppan, Leo O.. #1 eres C02 @ een e etke 09 0) 65618 OF Ob) © 0) "a8 Oe eevee eee ee © eB ew ee “ee ee © © © © © © © © © Taussig, William Terry, Robert James Thacher, Arthur Thomas, John R Thurman, John S Timmerman, Arthur H Tittmann, Harold H Trelease, William Tyler, Eliza Edward* Tyrrell, Warren Ayers ee we © © © ee ef © © © © ee we we we ee OO) eee OF om oir ee ete lie eee e ee @ we © we © Oe al aw ats eae eos eee ees eee ee te i we bee) ee ae fee © © © we eo ew Vallé, Jules F Van Ornum, John Lane Vickroy, Wilhelm Rees © © @# © © @ UN OM Ys taro ae ky el tee any tk iad ies Watts, Millard F Weller: Stuart™ eee rWheslier, FA c 3 ee Whelpley, Henry Milton Whitaker, Edwards........... Whitten, John Charles* Widmann, CHtO) ae Wilson, Edward Allen....'..... Winkelmeyer, Christopher.... . . Wislizenus, Frederick A....... Witt, Thomas Dio ea, Wolff, Herbert: W.oiovco vn, Woodward, Calvin Milton Wright, Geo. M oe ee © @© @ & Zahorsky, John Zellweger, John ec © © © ee ee ee we ew orf © © we oe we we ee ew Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 2833 South Kingshighway boul. 112 North Second st. 2249 St. Louis av. 2648 Russell av. 3447 Lafayette av. 1806 Locust st. 5185 Lindell boul. 4128 Washington boul. 4436 Olive st. 5374 Vernon av. 5024 Westminster pl. Mo. Botanical Garden. State University, Columbia, Mo. 620 Chestnut st. 4955 Maryland av. Washington University. 2901 Rauschenbach av. 5740 Cabanne pl. University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. 3439 Lucas av. 2342 Albion pl. 300 North Fourth st. Columbia, Mo. 5105 Morgan st. 3745 West Pine boul. 3815 West Pine boul. .St. Louis Law School. 4374 Laclede av. 5470 Delmar boul. — Washington University. 4457 Westminster pl. 1460 South Grand av. 1900 Adelaide av. CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I. NAME. Section 1. This Association shall be called ‘“‘The AcapEMy OF SCIENCE OF St. Louts.”’ ARTICLE II. OBJECT. Section 1. It shall have for its object the promotion of science. Src. 2. As means to this end the Academy shall hold meet- ings for the consideration and discussion of scientific subjects; shall take measures to procure original papers upon such sub- jects; and shall, as often as may be practicable, publish its transactions. It shall also establish and maintain a cabinet of objects illustrative of the several departments of science, and a library of works relating to the same. It shall also place itself in communication with other scientific institutions. ARTICLE III. MEMBERS. Section 1. The Academy shall consist of Active Members, Corresponding Members, Honorary Members and Patrons. Src. 2. Active Members shall be persons interested in science, and they alone shall conduct the affairs of the Academy. Sec. 3. Persons not living in the City or County of St. Louis who may be disposed to further the object of the Academy by original researches, contributions of specimens, or otherwise, may be elected Corresponding Members. Sec. 4. Persons not living in the City or County of St. Louis may be elected Honorary Members by virtue of their attain- ments in science. Sec. 5. Any person conveying to the Academy the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or its equivalent, may be elected a Patron. Sec. 6. Persons may be admitted to any of the preceding classes of membership or dismissed therefrom in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the By-Laws. Xiv Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS. ‘Section 1. The officers of the Academy shall be chosen from the active members, and they shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, Three Curators, Two Directors. Said officers shall be elected at the time and in the manner prescribed by the By-Laws, and shall hold their offices for one year, or until their successors are elected. Sec. 2. The duties of these officers shall be such as are customary and as prescribed by the By-Laws. ARTICLE V. COUNCIL. Section 1. The officers shall constitute the Council of the Academy and at its meetings five shall constitute a quorum. Sec. 2. The duties of the Council shall be to consider all plans conducive to the welfare of the Academy; to audit all bills and order payment of such as they may approve; to con- sider all applications for membership; and to administer the business of the Academy, subject to the Constitution and By-Laws and to such instructions as may be given by the Academy. ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS. Section 1. The meetings of the Academy shall be held at such times and places as the By-Laws may direct. ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS. SECTION 1. Amendments to this Constitution shall be sub- mitted in writing at a regular meeting. They shall be open to discussion until at least the second meeting thereafter. They may then be adopted by a two-thirds vote of a letter-ballot, conducted in the manner prescribed by the Council. Constitution. XV ARTICLE VIII. SECTIONS. Section 1. To encourage and promote special investiga- tions in any branch of science, members of the Academy may form Sections, which shall be constituted as herein provided. Sec. 2. For the formation of a Section, written application shall be made to the Academy, at a regular meeting, by not less than six active members. On the approval of this application by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present at the next regular meet- ing, the Section shall be established and the names of the peti- tioners shall be recorded on its minutes as its founders. Src. 3. Sections may increase the number of their members by election, but only members of the Academy shall be elected members of any of the Sections. Sec. 4. The officers of each Section shall be a Chairman and a Secretary, who shall be elected by its members at the first meeting of the Section, and subsequently at the first meeting in January of each year. Sec. 5. The collections and books of each Section are the common property of the Academy. Donations of books and specimens made to or for any Section shall be received as dona- tions to the Academy for the use of the Section. Sec. 6. A report of the proceedings of each Section shall be submitted to the Academy at least once every month. Papers read before any Section with a view to publication by the Academy shall take the same course as papers read before the Academy. Sec. 7. On all points not herein provided for, each Section shall be governed by the Constitution, By-Laws and instruc- tions of the Academy. BY-LAWS. I. REGULAR MEETINGS. The regular meetings of the Academy shall be held on the first and third Monday evenings of every month, unless other- wise ordered by the Council. Il, SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings may be called by the President at his dis- cretion, and shall be called by him on the written request of three or more members. III. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. The Recording Secretary shall send a notice of each meeting to every active member at least two days before such meeting. IV. QUORUM. Seven members shall constitute a quorum, but four members shall constitute a legal meeting for reading of papers. V. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The order of proceeding, at the regular meetings of the Acad- emy, shall be as follows:— 1. Minutes of last meeting. 2. Report of the Council. 3. Reports of Committees. 4. Report of the Corresponding Secretary. 5. Donations to the Museum and Library. 6. Written Communications. 7. Oral Communications. 8. Deferred Business. 9. New Business. 10. Elections. 11. Proposals for Membership. 12. Adjournment. VI, CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. It shall be the; uty of the Corresponding Secretary to conduct the correspor ence and report to the Academy. By-Laws. Xvli Vil. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due the Academy; be custodian of all its funds, and pay such bills against the Academy as the Council shall approve. The Treasurer shall deposit the moneys and invest the funds of the Academy in its name and by and with the advice of the Council. Besides his annual re- port to the Academy, the Treasurer shall make such further reports and statements concerning the financial affairs of the Academy as the Council may from time to time Tequire. Before entering upon his duties, the Treasurer shall give bond in ‘such sum as may be required by the Council. VIII. LIBRARIAN. The Librarian shall take charge of all books belonging to or deposited with the Academy, and shall be responsible for the same; he shall keep a catalogue thereof, in which the names of contributors shall be inscribed; he shall superintend the dis- tribution of all the publications of the Academy. 1X. COUNCIL. The Council shall act as a publication committee; shall pre- pare a program for each meeting, and make rules and regulations for their own guidance, not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws. X. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. A nominating committee of three active members who are not officers of the Academy shall be elected at the first regular meeting in December. This committee shall nominate candi- dates for all the offices for the ensuing year, and report the nominations at the following meeting, when other nominations may be made by any active member. The Recording Secretary shall mail to every active member a list of the nominees for office, at least ten days preceding the annual meeting. The polls shall be closed at 6 p. m. on the day of the annual meeting, after which the nominating committee shall count the ballots and announce the results to the Academy. . -~tlurality of the votes cast shall suffice to elect. ' ba XViil Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. XI. VACANCIES. All vacancies shall be filled by the Council in a regular or called meeting, notice whereof having been given at least two days previously. 3 XII. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. A candidate for admission to the Academy shall be proposed by not less than two members at any regular meeting. The proposal must then be referred to the Council, and if upon examination they shall find the candidate to be eligible and worthy of membership, they shall order the question as to his admission to be submitted to the Academy for ballot. If there be five votes in the negative, the candidate shall be rejected, and shall not be again voted upon for twelve months after such rejection. But if the number of negative votes be less than five, the candidate shall be elected, but shall not be considered a member until he shall have paid the initiation fee and the annual dues for the current year. Any failure to pay the initiation fee and annual dues within thirty days after the candi- date has been notified of his election, shall work a forfeiture of all rights under said election, if the Council shall so determine. No entry shall be made on the record of the rejection of any candidate. XIII. RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS. Any member whose dues have been fully paid may withdraw from the Academy by a written resignation. Non-payment of dues for one year or longer may be treated as equivalent to resignation; but before any member is dropped from the rolls for delinquency, he shall be entitled to not less than four weeks’ notice. XIV. EXPULSION OF MEMBERS. Upon the written request of five members, that, for cause stated, any member be expelled, the Council shall consider the matter, and if they deem it best, shall advise the member that his resignation will be accepted. He shall, however, have the right to demand and shall be given a copy of the charges against him, and shall have a reasonable time to present a written defense. The Council may then pass finally upon the matter, and if resignation has not been tendered, or a satisfactory de- fense made, may by an affirmative vote of four of their number By-Laws. xix expel the member, in which case they shall notify him and the Academy of their action, and his name shall be at once dropped from the list of members. . XV. INITIATION FEES AND DUES. Resident active members shall pay an initiation fee of five dollars, and annual dues of six dollars, payable at the beginning of each year. Non-resident active members shall pay an initia- tion fee of five dollars and annual dues of one-half the dues for resident active members, payable at the beginning of each year. XVI. HONORARY MEMBERS AND PATRONS. Honorary members and Patrons shall be recommended by the Council, and elected by the unanimous vote of the members present at any regular meeting. XVII. PUBLICATIONS. Patrons and all active members not in arrears shall be entitled to one copy of all the publications of the Academy issued sub- sequent to their election. Authors of papers shall be entitled to twenty extra copies of their individual papers. XVIII. SALE OF REAL ESTATE. The property conveyed to The Academy of Science of St. Louis on the eighteenth day of March, 1903, by Edgar R. Hoadley and Lavinia L. Hoadley, as a gift from Mrs. Eliza McMillan and William N. McMillan, shall not be mortgaged or voluntarily encumbered by the Academy of Science; and the said property shall not be sold, except with the consent of two-thirds of the members of the Academy of Science, obtained by letter-ballot, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Council; and, when sold, the proceeds of the sale or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be used to provide a suitable location and build- ing for the use of The Academy of Science of St. Louis. XIX. AUTHORITY. On all points of order and procedure, not provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws, Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the authority. xx Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lowis. XX. AMENDMENTS. “ These?By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of all the members present at any regular meeting, provided notice of the proposed amendment shall have been mailed to every member at least one week before the vote thereon is taken. ABSTRACT OF HISTORY. ORGANIZATION. The Academy of Science of St. Louis was organized on the 10th of March, 1856, in the hall of the Board of Public Schools. Dr. George Engelmann was the first President. CHARTER. On the 17th of January following, a charter incorporating the Academy was signed and approved, and this was accepted by a vote of the Academy on the 9th of February, 1857. OBJECTS. The act of incorporation declares the object of the Academy to be the advancement of science and the establishment in St. Louis of a museum and library for the illustration and study of its various branches, and provides that the members shall acquire no individual property in the real estate, cabinets, library, or other of its effects, their interest being usufruct- uary merely. The constitution as adopted at the organization meeting and amended at various times subsequently, provides for holding meetings for the consideration and discussion of scientific sub- jects; taking measures to procure original papers upon such subjects; the publication of transactions; the establishment and maintenance of a cabinet of objects illustrative of the several departments of science and a library of works relating to the same; and the establishment of relations with other scientific institutions. To encourage and promote special investigation in any branch of science, the formation of special sections under the charter is provided for. MEMBERSHIP. Members are classified as active raembers, corresponding mem- bers, honorary members and patrons. Active membership;is limited to persons interested in science, though they need not of necessity be engaged in scientific work, and they alone con- duct the affairs of the Academy, under its constitution. Per- Xxil Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. sons not living in the city or county of St. Louis who are disposed to further the objects of the Academy, by original researches, contributions of specimens, or otherwise, are eligible as corre- sponding members. Persons not living in the city or county of St. Louis are eligible as honorary members by virtue of their attainments in science. Any person conveying to the Academy the sum of one thousand dollars or its equivalent becomes eligible as a patron. Under the By-Laws, resident active members pay an initia- tion fee of five dollars and annual dues of six dollars. Non- resident active members pay the same initiation fee, but annual dues of three dollars only. Patrons and honorary and corre- sponding members are exempt from the payment of dues. Hach patron and active member not in arrears is entitled to one copy of each publication of the Academy issued after his election. Since the organization of the Academy, 1,026 persons have been elected to active membership, of whom, at the present time, 269 are carried on the list. Four patrons, Mr. Edwin Harrison, Mrs. Eliza McMillan, Mr. William Northrop McMillan and Mr. Henry W. Eliot, have been elected. The list of corre- sponding members (Vol. X, p. xii) includes 226 names, among which are the names of 104 persons known to be deceased. The presence of a number of eminent scientists from all parts of the world at the International Congress, during the World’s Fair of 1904, was considered a suitable occasion for electing the following gentlemen as honorary members of the Academy, in recognition of their valuable services to science: Prof. Svante Arrhenius (Stockholm), Prof. Dr. Leopold Bahlsen (Berlin), Prof. Dr. Ludwig Boltzmann (Vienna), Sefior Alfredo Chavero (Mexico), Prof. Theodor Escherich (Vienna), Prof. Shibasaburo Kitasato (Tokio), Geh. Ober Reg. R. Theodor Lewald (Berlin), Count Limburg-Stirum (Berlin), Prof. Henri Moissan (Paris), Geh. Rath Dr. Johann Orth (Berlin), Prof. Wilhelm Oswald (Leipzig), Sir William Ramsay (London), Prof. Ernest Ruther- ford (Montreal), Prof. J. W. Van’t Hoff (Berlin), Geh. Rath Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Waldeyer (Berlin), Prof. Dr. A. Wassermann (Berlin), Geh. Rath Prof. Dr. L. Wittmack (Berlin), from all of which courteous letters of acceptance were received. At the meeting of the Academy, held October 21, 1907, Dr. | ' Enno Sander, Treasurer of the Academy for forty-six years, was made an honorary member as a mark of appreciation for his long, faithful and efficient service. Abstract of History, Xxlil OFFICERS AND MANAGEMENT. The officers, who are chosen from the active members, consist of a President, two Vice-Presidents, Recording and Correspond- ing Secretaries, Treasurer, Librarian, three Curators and two Directors. The general business management of the Academy is vested in a Council composed of the officers. - The office of President has been filled by the following well- known citizens of St. Louis, nearly all of whom have been emi- nent in some line of scientific work: George Engelmann, Benja- min F. Shumard, Adolphus Wislizenus, Hiram A. Prout, John B. Johnson, James B. Eads, William T. Harris, Charles V. Riley, ° Francis E. Nipher, Henry 8. Pritchett, John Green, Melvin L. Gray, Edmund A. Engler, Robert Moore, Henry W. Eliot, Edwin Harrison, Adolf Alt and Calvin M. Woodward. MEETINGS. The regular meetings of the Academy are held at its building, 3817 Olive Street, at 8 o’clock, on the first and third Monday evenings of each month, a recess being taken between the meet- ing on the first Monday in June and the meeting on the third Monday in October. These meetings, to which interested per-— sons are always welcome, are devoted in part to the reading of technical papers designed. for publication in the Academy’s Trans- actions, and in part to the presentation of more popular abstracts of recent investigation or progress. From time to time public lectures, calculated to interest a larger audience, are provided for in some suitable hall. The following dates for regular meeting for the year 1908 have been fixed by the Council :— Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April.| May. | June. | Oct. | Nov. | Dee. 2000 EP ba 1200) 18 PAG SGU ge XX1V Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. LIBRARY. After its organization, the Academy met in Pope’s Medical College, where a creditable beginning had been made toward the formation of a museum and library, until May, 1869, when the building and museum were destroyed by fire, the library being saved. The library now contains 17,070 books and 15,- 664 pamphlets, and is open during certain hours of the day for consultation by members and persons engaged in scientific work. PUBLICATIONS AND EXCHANGES. Seventeen thick octavo volumes of Transactions have been published since the organization of the Academy, and widely distributed. ‘Two quarto publications have also been issued: one from the Archaeological Section, being a contribution to the archaeology of Missouri, and the other a report of the ob- servations made by the Washington University Eclipse Party of 1889. The Academy now stands in exchange relations with 585 institutions or organizations of aims similar to its own. MUSEUM. After the loss of its first museum, in 1869, the Academy lacked adequate room for the arrangement of a public museum, and, although small museum accessions were received and cared for, its main effort of necessity was concentrated on the holding of meetings, the formation of a library, the publication of worthy scientific matter, and the maintenance of relations with other scientific bodies. But now in possession of a suitable home, full attention can again be devoted to the museum, and the same is gradually growing. RECORD. From JANuARY 1, 1907, To DECEMBER 31,'1907. MEETING OF JANUARY 7, 1907. The Academy of Science of St. Louis met in the Academy - Building at 8:00 p. m., January 7, 1907; President A. Alt in the chair; attendance, sixteen. The President read his annual report for the year 1906.* The Treasurer presented the financial report and statement with vouchers, which were referred to an auditing committee, consisting of Messrs. C. D. Stevens, A. S. Langsdorf andOtto Widmann.t The annual report of the Librarian was submitted.tf The report of the Curators was read.§ The Nominating Committee reported the results of the Annual Election as follows :— PYCGOENE OOO YO ar aa is Calvin M. Woodward. First Vice-President............. Arthur Thacher. Second Vice-President........... Joseph Spiegelhalter. Recording Secretary............. Jas. A. Harris. Corresponding Secretary......... H. August Hunicke. TPCABULOT) Ua cca eae ca aw an Enno Sander. SADPATIOIN S055 ie) eae ye a dd es G. Hambach. PXIPOOTR ey) si iw ease i biota G. Hambach. | Frank Schwarz. Julius Hurter. RIITOCUONE (2s vias Sea IF. E. Nipher. John H. Kinealy. Prof. F. E. Nipher, on behalf of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, presented a copy of “The Bicentennial Celebration, 1906,” of the birth of Benjamin Franklin. * Transactions, Vol. XVI., Page exxiv. + Transactions, Vol. XVI., Page exxv. tt Transactions, Vol. XVI., Page exxvi. § Transactions, Vol. XVI., Page exxviii. xxvi Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. The death of Dr. Jacob Schneck of Mt. Carmel, Ill., was announced. Dr. Wm. Trelease exhibited a copy of the interesting first edition of Oviedo’s ‘‘ Historia General de las Indias.”’ JANUARY 21, 1907. President C. M. Woodward in the chair; attendance, twenty- three. Dr. O. H. Brown addressed the Academy on ‘The Problems of Tuberculosis.”’ FEeBRuARY 4, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, twenty-two. Prof. James F. Abbott and Dr. Louis siulassuataanbit were elected to membership. Prof. F. E. Nipher spoke on the question, ‘‘ What is an Electric Current?”’ In this paper the difference between the flow of the electric current and the flow of heat in a conductor was pointed out. The flow of heat in a positive direction and the flow of cold in the opposite direction are identical. This is not necessarily true of a flow of positive electricity and of negative electricity in opposite directions. Positive and negative currents will pro- duce the same external electro-magnetic effects if they flow in opposite directions, but the internal action is perhaps different. A positively charged body moved in a straight line produces the effect of a positive current. A negatively charged body moved in an opposite direction will produce the same electro- magnetic effects. But we have here involved the motion of masses of matter in opposite directions. The question to be solved is, does this state of things exist in a conductor carrying a current of electricity? | Professor Nipher stated that he is planning a repetition of Wheatstone’s famous experiment with the rotating mirvor. The new conditions, which he has devised, may result in separat- ing positive and negative currents, so that either may be sent through a long wire having spark-gaps. An overhead line of half a mile, with pole supports, will be required. The circuit will be grounded on two flaming and insulated gas torches in mid-air. The rotating mirror must be driven at a speed of 500 revolutions per second and must be made with great care. The three sparks in the circuit are to be photographed, as shown in Record. XXVii the rotating mirror. Whatever the result may be, it can hardly fail to teach something of interest. Dr. Hermann von Schrenk presented a paper entitled, “On the Effects of Water on Wood Fiber.” Frespruary 18, 1907. Vice-President Spiegelhalter in the chair; attendance, thirteen. Professor A. S. Langsdorf presented a paper on “‘ Hysteresis of the Electric Current.” Dr. J. Arthur Harris discussed the question of ‘Fertility in Plants.” Marcu 4, 1907. Vice-President Thacher in the chair; attendance, twelve. Dr. N. M. Glatfelter discussed a number of geological speci- mens, which he presented to the museum. Dr. I. P. Lyon presented a paper on “The Enzymes of Ferti- lized and Unfertilized Eggs.” Dr. Lyon stated that the results of preliminary experiments with sea urchin eggs show that the amount of enzyme present in the unfertilized egg is actually greater than in the fertilized egg. It has been suggested by many that the essential process of fertilization is the carrying into the egg of an enzyme by the spermatozoon. In discussing Dr. Lyon’s paper, Dr. Abbott described results which he had obtained by subjecting chick embryos of different stages of development to the yoke of eggs in other stages of de- velopment. The yolk from one stage seemed in some cases to have a toxic influence upon the embryo of another stage. Marcu 18, 1907. Mr. J. H. Kinealy in the chair; attendance, twenty-four. The announcement of the death of Professor Henri Moissan, an honorary member of the Academy, was referred to Dr. Launce- lot W. Andrews, for the: preparation of proper resolutions. Mr. C. H. Thompson presented a review of the literature re- ferring to the thirteen- and seventeen-year cicada. SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY LECTURE. Marcu 26, 1907. At the suggestion of Mr. Frank Schwarz the Academy decided that it would hold a public meeting with a popular lecture as XXviii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. near the date of the foundation of the Academy as possible. The date fixed for the meeting was Tuesday, March 26. Invi- tations, accompanied by tickets of admission, were sent to the members of the following societies and faculties :— Academy of Science of St. Louis. Biological Society. Engelmann Botanical Club. Engineers’ Club of St. Louis. Entomological Club. Missouri Historical Society. Naturalists’ Club. Round Table. St. Louis Chemical Society. St. Louis Medical Society. St. Louis University. Verein Deutscher Aerzte. Washington University. Washington University Association. Memorial Hall had been secured for the occasion and was well - filled. President C. M. Woodward spoke briefly of the history, pur- poses and needs of the Academy before introducing the lecturer of the evening, Dr. Charles Truax, of Chicago, who delivered an interesting address on the Yellowstone National Park, illustrated with magnificently colored views. Aprit 1, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, sixteen. The report of Dr. Launcelot W. Andrews, as a committee of one to prepare resolutions on the death of Professor Henri Moissan, was presented as follows:— Henri Mo!Issan. The death of Henri Moissan has deprived the St. Louis Acad- emy of Science of one of its honorary members, and the world of a man whose achievements have added new luster to the scien- tific history of his time and country. In conformity with the spirit of the epoch, his work was “from Record. XxXix first to last eminently experimental, rather than theoretical or philosophical. He was accordingly alike exempt from the dis- tractions and denied the stimulus of scientific controversy. To the quiet study of Nature’s phenomena he devoted his powers wholly; singularly unbiased by hypotheses and, in the main, indifferent to them. For him, the greater the difficulties of an experimental re- search might be, the greater the charm. The isolation by him for the first time of pure chromium and of free fluorine, the production of diamonds by a new method, the discovery of calcium carbide and of a host of other metallic carbides, the reduction in the electric furnace of the oxides of tungsten, molybdenum, venadium, titanium, the preparation of metallic tantalum; all these things are but milestones in a sci- entific career of which the entire way is marked with records of worthy endeavor, full of suggestion and incentive to every student of pure science, rich in promise and fruition of applica- tions of the highest utilitarian value. We share the general deep grief that labors so triumphant and so beneficent should cease before the end of the longest span granted to human life, but we also feel that the world has sub- stantial grounds of gratitude for the measure already vouchsafed. It was voted tospread this report upon the records of the Acad- emy, to notify the Institut de France of the action of the Acad- emy, and to publish it in the next volume of the Proceedings. Dr. B. E. Livingston delivered an illustrated lecture on “‘The Desert Botanical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution.” Apri 15, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, twelve. Mr. Julius Hurter presented, for Mr. T. von Hynig, specimens of Pyrites from Glenwood Mine, Des Moines, Iowa. Upon mo- tion this donation was accepted for the Academy and the Corresponding Secretary instructed to express the thanks of the Academy to Mr. von Hynig for his gift. Dr. J. F. Abbott presented a paper on ‘‘Galvanotropism in Bacteria,’’ embodying the preliminary results of experiments carried on during the last three years. It being ordinarily understood that bacteria do not respond to the influence of a galvanic stream too weak to kill them, it seemed important to determine whether this be really so; and XXX Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. also, if a tropic response be obtained, in how far this might be altered by change in environmental conditions. Results of extended work on B. termo and B. subtilis demon- strated without any question that pure cultures of these bacteria gather under the influence of very weak currents at the cathode ~ and follow the reversal of poles. Pure cultures grown in acid-modified and alkali-modified pep- tone gelatin appeared to respond in most cases, though not in all, in opposite manner, alkali cultures gathering at the cathode and acid cultures at the anode. These results seem to be in harmony with those of Greeley on paramecium, and give color to the conception that the galvano- tropic response is due to, or directed by, the physico-chemical constitution of protoplasm. May 6, 1907. Mr. J. H. Kinealy in the chair; attendance, twenty. The Corresponding Secretary presented an invitation from the New York Academy of Sciences to be represented by a delegate and by a written memoir on the work of Linnaeus at their meet- ing commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus. Upon motion of Professor Trelease the Corre- sponding Secretary, in consultation with the President, was in- structed to send appropriate communications to the New York Academy on this occasion. Dr. Perley Spaulding presented an illustrated paper on “The Botanists of St. Louis.” He spoke of the life and work of the following botanists :— 1803-1804—Lewis and Clark Expedition. 1810-1811—John Bradbury and Nuttall. 1819 —William Baldwin with Long Expedition. 1820° —Edwin James with Long Expedition. 1820-1822—Dr. Lewis C. Beck. 18351 —Thomas Drummond. 1832 —Prince Maximilian. 1834 —Thomas Nuttall. ~ 1835-1884—Dr. George Engelmann. 1838 —Nicholas Riehl. 1839-1855—Dr. Theodore Hilgard. 1845-1864—August Fendler. Record. XXXi 1846-1847—Adolph Wislizenus. 1869 —George W. Letterman. 1868-1877—Chas. V. Riley. 1873-1874—S. M. Tracy. _ 1874-1904—Henry Eggert. Henry Shaw. Dr. H. M. Whelpley discussed ‘‘The Celts of the North Ameri- can Indians.’’ He described and illustrated the different types and gave their relative frequencies in his collection from the neighborhood of St. Louis. May 20, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, forty-nine. The program of the evening was composed of four papers on the life and work of Linnaeus. Before introducing the regular speakers of the evening, the President spoke briefly of the pro- priety of the celebration of the anniversaries of distinguished pioneers in science and of ie breadth of the work which Lin- naeus did. The first paper was NE by Mr. Frederick A. Wislizenus, of the St. Louis Law School, whose subject was ‘ Linnaeus, His Life and Personality.’’ Professor Wislizenus confined himself strictly to the personal interest side of his theme, presenting only such biological data as would make clearer the habits of life and work which characterized Linnaeus. Mr. W. L. Eikenberry spoke on “Linnaeus as a Botanist.”’ In this paper the speaker first considered the phases of botanical science with the development of which Linnaeus had personally little or nothing to do, such as anatomy, physiology, ecology and the conception of evolution. He then turned to the three elements of greatness in the work of Linnaeus as a botanist. Linnaeus was great as a teacher, great as a systematizer of the materials which were being constantly accumulated through the active explorations of the times, and great in inspiring in others the ambition to go forward with the work which he had begun. The zodlogical paper of the evening was presented by Dr. J. F. Abbott, of Washington University, who spoke on ‘‘ Linnaeus as a Zodlogist.” He first pointed out the vast progress in taxonomic zodlogy which has been made since the time of the publication of the Systema Natura, and gave instances of the XXXil Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. close agreement and of the wide divergence of the Linnaean and the modern conceptions in classification. lLinnaeus’s concep- tions of animal ecology were in some respects strikingly similar to those of the present day, but his firmly established teleo- logical point of view prevented his going very far towards the modern conception of evolution. The final paper of the evening was given by Professor A. O. Lovejoy, of Washington University, on ‘‘ Linnaeus and the Evo- lution. of the Sciences.” Professor Lovejoy stated that the position of Linnaeus in the history of science is a peculiar one. His fame outshines that of most of his contemporary naturalists; yet, living in an age of important discoveries and pregnant hypotheses, he was the author of no important generalization and no-epoch-making theory. Even in botany the truly pio- neer work had been done before his time. These facts do not negate his eminence, but they define the nature of it. He was the one man of science of first rank whose distinction lies almost wholly within the field of descriptive and classificatory science. He was an unsurpassed organizer, both of scientific materials and of scientific research, at a time when organization and systematization was a primary need in natural history. This was his special service in the progress of science. When he went beyond this field and attempted generalization and the statement of explanatory laws, he usually showed a most un- sound conception of scientific method, a disposition to lapse into theological explanations, and a touch of theological obscuran- tism. In botany, however, he should be credited with having contributed to the formulation of one or two theories that, even if not entirely true, were destined to fruitful development; in particular, his Prolepsis Plantarum seems to have led to Goethe’s theory of metamorphoses and other attempts to reduce the con- ception of the phenomena of plant growth to unity. Dr. William Trelease was called upon and gave a brief appre- ciation of the service which Linnaeus did for science by making it possible to use the materials of research with ease and without danger of confusion. A medal, commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin, was received from the American Philosophical Society. Upon motion by Dr. Trelease, the thanks of the Academy were extended to the American Philo- sophical Society for this gift. Mr. Philip Rau was elected a member of the Academy. Record. XXxXlil JUNE 3, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, forty-one. Professor Giovanni Capellini, president of the Committee of Arrangements for the Aldrovandi Tercentennial Celebration, was requested to represent the Academy at the celebration. Professor R. H. Fernald presented an illustrated paper on “The Conservation of Our Fuel Resources Made Possible by the Introduction of Producer-Gas.”’ _ Professor C. M. Woodward presented some notes on the mechanical problems of aerial navigation. JEAN Louis RopOLPHE AGASSIZ. May 28, 1807—DrcremMsBer 14, 1873. The President called the attention of the Academy to the fact that the centennial of the birth of the great naturalist, Louis Agassiz, had fallen on May 28, 1907. He referred to the privi- lege which he had enjoyed, as a Harvard student, of hearing Professor Agassiz in courses open to undergraduates, and called on Dr. John Green, who had known him more intimately, to give some account of the man and his work. Dr. Green said that his personal acquaintance with Agassiz dated from 1855, when he began post-graduate work in the anatomical laboratory of Professor Jeffries Wyman where Agassiz was a frequent visitor. Totally unlike in temperament, the two great naturalists were the closest of friends, each in per- fect sympathy with the work of the other, each giving of _ his best in mutual confidence and appreciation. Wyman, single- minded, painstaking seeker after truth, careful and deliberate in his deductions; Agassiz, keen and indefatigable in research, ever ready with an apposite comparison or suggestion of some broad generalization; each estimated at its just value the un- questioned authority of the other as a student and interpreter of nature. Impressions of Agassiz were deepened by contact with him at the meetings of the Boston Society of Natural History, under the presidency of Wyman. There he contributed largely of his newest observations and his conceptions of their probable or possible significance. The lifeand methods of the deep student of nature were disclosed, revealing the man more admirable even XXXIV Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. than his work, inspiring the beginner in nature-study through his revelation of himself, stimulating and encouraging him by the example of his own generous and contagious enthusiasm. — In his courses of lectures, whether to senior undergraduates or in the Lawrence Scientific School, Agassiz displayed extraor- dinary power of lucid and forceful exposition; his wealth of knowledge seemed inexhaustible, his power of generalization all-embracing. He dwelt insistently on the broad facts of adaptation of living forms to their surroundings, of their distri- bution in definite geographical groups, of their orderly sequence in geological time, of the consecutive phases of their embryonic and post-natal development, and, especially, of their intimate structural relations within the type to which each be- longs. Unity of plan, discernible through infinite diversity of form, was cited as proof of a supreme intelligence operating in accordance with a pre-existent creative thought which it was the high prerogative of the naturalist to unfold. Endowed with the keenest perception and sustained by a physique of exceptional vigor and endurance, Agassiz achieved extraordinary results as an observer. . Indefatigable in minutest research, yet regarding facts as barren until they have been correlated with other facts, he had little sympathy with natural- ists who, however prolific in their way, rest content with describ- ing and naming species. ‘‘It is descriptive and not compara- tive,’ was his passing comment on a new book, conceived in a spirit so different from his own. He was also righteously in- tolerant of assertion not based on proof deducible from facts. With him, observation and comparison went hand in hand. He did more, perhaps, than all his contemporaries in collecting and coordinating the material which biologists now discuss in terms of evolution. It has been said often of Agassiz that he was a born teacher. He delighted in giving freely of his stores to any receptive listener, as well to the humblest seeker after knowledge as to the ripe scholar, to the fisherman who brought in the strange specimens taken in his nets as to a colleague trained in scientific research. The unfolding minds of young children attracted him strongly; he loved to guide them in observing natural objects and thinking about them—teaching them to see things with their own eyes, and encouraging them to exercise their own reasoning powers in discovering the natural relations of the things they saw. In his earlier official teaching at Neuchatel, he lectured to the older Record. XXXV pupils of the Lycée,* in whom he awakened a living interest in science by bringing them into immediate touch with the facts and phenomena of nature. From 1855 to 1863 he took a lead- ing part in the school for young ladies conducted, at Cambridge, by Mrs. Agassiz and his son and elder daughter; giving extended courses of illustrated daily lectures in which, in consecutive years, he reviewed important chapters of his life work. With his special students, in the Lawrence Scientific School and at the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, he insisted, first and last, on the cultivation of the habit of direct, accurate, and exhaustive observation. A new pupil was given a specimen, and was told to find out for himself all that he could about it. From time to time the master would look in upon him to ask what he had seen, and would perhaps direct his attention to the fact that he had overlooked an important feature which he had possibly regarded as too obvious to be noted. This con- templation of the specimen was prolonged, day after day, until the student, brought face to face with the proof of his ineptness, learned to apprehend something of the meaning and scope of scientific observation. After a time a second specimen was given, to be studied in conjunction with the first, and this was followed in turn by others, with the result that the protracted lesson developed gradually into a practical exercise on the rela- tions of the original specimen to specimens representative of other species, genera, families, orders, classes, and types. Ayassiz was a great popular lecturer. Throughout the four- teen years of his life at Neuchatel he delivered course after course of public lectures, awakening and maintaining general interest in his work by telling of his own observations and explaining their wider significance. The last of these courses, ‘‘On the Plan of Creation,’’ was given in the spring of 1845; his first course in English, before the Lowell Institute in Boston, December, 1846, * It was only in 1838 that the Académie de Neuchatel was founded, by royal decree; the formal inauguration took place November 18, 1841. For incidents of Agassiz’s boyhood, and references to his life down to the time of his coming to America, the writer of this sketch is indebted mainly to the admirable memoir entitled ‘Louis Agassiz, his Life and Corres- pondence,” by Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, Boston, 1885. A few extracts in Agassiz’s own words are indicated by quotation marks. To the writer of these lines this memoir, the tribute of his second wife, the devoted com- panion of the last twenty-three years of his life, appeals as one of the truest as well as most charming of extant biographies. XXXVi Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. was on the same general subject. He lectured wholly without notes, from fullness of perfectly assimilated knowledge presented with an impressive earnestness attesting his own supreme con- viction of the truth and importance of his message. The pres- ence of an audience, large or small, was an unfailing stimulus to the exercise of his best powers, but the full current of thought and speech was controlled and regulated by his native and assiduously cultivated faculty of concentration. He awakened in this country a general interest in nature-study such as had never before and has not since been inspired by a public teacher. The income from his lectures went far to supply the means neces- sary for the prosecution of his scientific work in America, but not without heavy cost of time and strength. A passion for collecting natural objects possessed Agassiz as a boy. In his native Swiss village of Motier, on the little Lake ‘of Morat a few miles east of the north-eastern end of Lake Neuchatel, with a younger brother, Auguste, as his inseparable companion, the two lads passed many pleasant hours with the fishermen, learning the mysteries of their craft and supplementing them by new devices of their own. They learned the habits of the fishes in their native haunts, and watched them in captivity in a large stone basin fed by running water, which served them for a vivarium. At school at Bienne (Biel), they “hunted the woods and meadows for birds, insects, and land and fresh-water shells,” “reared butterflies from caterpillars,” and added to their collections. At the age of fourteen the desire to become a great naturalist had taken form, as is shown by a list of desid- erata drawn up at Bienne, in which he projected an extended course of study forecasting, in the main, the programme to which he held through the years of preparation for his life work. At the Académie of Lausanne, at the medical school in Ziirich, at the Universities of Heidelberg and Munich, and in Paris, at the Museum of Natural History, he pressed unswervingly toward the goal of his ambition, improving the varied opportunities for culture offered in collateral fields, but holding all subservient to his main purpose. In deference to parental wishes and con- trolling family opinion, he studied medicine, and graduated (M.D., Munich, 1830) with distinction; but of the medical courses those on anatomy and physiology engrossed his chief attention. He was deeply interested in the philosophical courses of Schelling, in whose lectures he recognized a far saner interpretation of nature than in the brilliant and fascinating Record. XXXVii speculations of Oken. To Ignatius Déllinger, professor of anat- omy and physiology, “a careful, minute, persevering observer, as well as a deep thinker,” he was indebted for instruction in the use of the microscope and in “his own methods of embryo- logical investigation.” From Dollinger, as he tells us, he “learned to value accuracy of observation.” The last and greatest of the great teachers from whom he received direct in- spiration was Cuvier, in whose laboratory and under whose ap- proving eye he worked for several months. ‘The close personal relation with Cuvier was cut short by his death (May 13, 1832), but in the course of this brief intimacy the master recognized in the young naturalist a successor worthy to take up a great work which he had himself begun, but which he could not hope to complete. Agassiz’s productive career as a naturalist opened auspi- ciously with the publication, 1828-29, of a recension and descrip- tion of the fishes collected by the Martius-Spix expedition (1817-1820), in Brazil. This sumptuously illustrated volume in Latin, published at the expense of Martius, the surviv- ing leader of the expedition, was prepared by Agassiz while he was still a student at Munich; its prospective issue was the occasion of his taking the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Er- langen, 1829). The work was dedicated to Cuvier, who com- mended it highly, in an extant letter, for “‘the importance and rarity of the species described,” for “‘the beauty of the figures,’ and, especially, for “the accuracy of the descriptions.” The work on the Brazilian fishes was but the prelude to studies in ichthyology which were destined to place Agassiz in the front rank of the naturalists of his time. An illustrated work on the fresh-water fishes of Switzerland, and another on fossil fishes, of which there were many specimens in the museum at Munich, were forthwith taken in hand. The latter project, expanded to wholly unforeseen proportions, took form in the epoch-making “‘Recherches sur les Poissons fossiles,’”’ 5 vols., 4to, with 400 folio plates, 1833-1843, which, supplemented by a ‘Monographie comprenant Vhistoire des Poissons du vieux grés rouge (Old Red Sandstone ow systéme dévonien),’”’ 1 vol., 4to, with 43 folio plates, remains the enduring monument of genius, indomitable courage, and untiring industry. In the fall of 1832 Agassiz entered upon the duties of a pro- fessorship of natural history created for him in connection with the Lycée at Neuchatel. In the small Swiss city, the seat of the XXXViii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. cantonal government administered under the regime of Prussia, he found conditions both congenial and favorable for his work. His official position, enhanced later by the establishment of the Académie de Neuchatel, was of modest rank, except as he raised it to importance through his individual reputation. In the spring of 1846, aided by an appropriation of money from the royal purse, he left Neuchatel for Boston, visiting Paris on the way. The journey was projected as one of exploration and col- lecting; it proved to be a translation to a new home. In the first years at Neuchatel Agassiz accomplished an enor- mous amount of scientific work covering a very wide range of research. Simultaneously with his engrossing work on the ‘Fossil Fishes,’ he kept up his studies of living fishes, and con- ducted investigations of the highest importance in other depart- ments of zodlogy and palaeontology and in geology. Of the importance and extent of his published work down to 1837, one of his later biographers* has written, from competent knowl- edge :—‘There is no other example of such a rapid rise to great scientific reputation as Agassiz enjoyed in his thirtieth year. At the age of twenty-one, when he was still a student, he laid the foundation by his publication, in 1828, of Spix’s Brazilian fishes; and the first numbers or ‘livraisons’ of his ‘ Fossil Fishes’ [issue begun in 1833] attracted the attention of naturalists the world over. Everything he published . . . is remarkable, show- ing a rare power of description and classification, and facility in handling the most difficult problem in natural history... . His power of classifying fossils and his success in reducing to order thousands of specimens of fishes, a great many of which were perfect puzzles to everyone, were simply marvellous; and he worked at his herculean task as no man but a man of genius could have done.’ In a later chaptert the same biographer writes:—“The result of his fourteen years’ residence at Neu- chatel was the publication of more than twenty volumes, with two thousand folio or octavo plates, and many separate papers; all were well written, beautifully printed, and profusely illustrated with most exact drawings—a record so creditable that it gave a just celebrity, not only to Agassiz, but also to Neuchatel, a small town of less than six thousand inhabitants. The “ Neuchatelois’’ * Jules Marcou: ‘Life, Letters, and Works of Louis Agassiz.”” New York, 1896. vol. i, p. 113. Tt Ibid. vol. i, p. 245. Record. XXxXI1x may well be proud of such a performance; their great liberality towards science, and their appreciation of the rare value of Agassiz, made it possible for him to prosecute with unimpaired vigor his remarkable scientific researches famed the world over.”’ In the summer of 1836 Agassiz made his first field studies of glacial action in the formation and distribution of the drift and in the transportation of bowlders, as exemplified in the great valley of the Rhone. Under the able guidance of Ignace Venetz, Ingénieur des Ponts et Chaussées in the Valais, and Jean de Charpentier, Directeur des mines du Canton de Vaud, the summer vacation, which he passed with his wife and child at Bex, was spent largely in exploring the lateral and more distant valleys. Opposed at first to the views of Venetz and de Charpentier, he was quick to accept the proofs, and became an enthusiastic con- vert. Returning to Neuchdtel, he hastened to study anew the polished surfaces of the rocks and the worn pebbles and erratic bowlders on the slopes of the Jura. From these supplementary observations his vivid scientific imagination evolved the original and grand conception of a glacial epoch, in which present polar conditions prevailed for an extended period over great conti- nental areas which had previously teemed with life similar to that which is now found only under the tropics. This vast con- ception, true in essentials although not yet discussed entirely apart from past and present conditions in the Alps, was pre- sented in his presidential address delivered at the opening session of the meeting of the Helvetic Society at Neuch4tel, July 24, 1837. Received at first with incredulity by leading geologists who had sought to explain the phenomena of the drift by the action of water and floating ice, both the glacial theory of Venetz and de Charpentier and his own conception of an age of ice at the close of the tertiary rapidly gained recognition, a rec- ognition to which Agassiz contributed largely by his demonstra- tion of past glacial action in Great Britain and Ireland, and later by his field observations in the northern, central, and western United States, on the northern shore of Lake Superior, and in Brazil. On the “ Hassler” expedition (1872), in the Straits of Magellan and in Smythe’s Channel, he had the rare satis- faction of studying both active glaciers and the vestiges of an age of ice in the southern hemisphere. After 1837 Agassiz began to avail himself of the collaboration — of assistants in his work, thereby notably increasing the volume of his publications. Critics have attempted, with more or less of xl Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. success, to draw a distinction between earlier work which, ex- cept for the illustrative plates, was all his own, and later publi- cations in which others had a share. Toa student, collaboration in the work of a master is in itself a high privilege as a prepara- tion for independent research, but minute and conscientious work done under the direction of a master mind does not always imply initiative ability. Itis undoubtedly true that without col- laboration Agassiz could not have produced some of his most important later work; on the other hand, it is none the less true that the individuality and dominating genius of the master are everywhere unmistakably manifest, both in the plan and in the manner of execution. Certainly to many, who were privi- leged to take part with him in his work, the association brought its due meed of recognition, even in cases in which it was not followed by conspicuous independent achievement. Agassiz was an indefatigable collector. In his student days he had already brought together extensive botanical and zodlogi- eal collections which, acquired later by purchase for the Museum of Natural History of the City of Neuchatel, grew yearly in im- portance under his care. One of his very early aspirations, whose full realization was long deferred, was to be the director of a great museum. To him, however, an ideal museum meant much more than a well-ordered array of specimens; it must be also a great storehouse of material, including many spec- imens of a kind, accessible for exhaustive study as well as for exchange. In America he collected on a generous scale and, for a time, sent large consignments to Neuchatel, Berlin, and Paris. In 1848 a revolution in the Canton of Neuchatel virtually ended the Prussian regime and, at the same time, interrupted the work of the Académie. Released from obliga- tions to the fatherland, he accepted the chair of zodlogy and geology created for him in the organization of the Lawrence Scientific School, and brought his own accumulated material to Cambridge. Always collecting, and always embarrassed by lack of room in which even to store his treasures, to say nothing of arranging them, the need of an adequate museum establishment soon became urgent. Private munificence and a large appropri- ation granted by the Massachusetts legislature provided the means for a beginning, in 1859, of the noble Musewm of Com- parative Zodlogy at Harvard, which largely engrossed his activity during the remaining fourteen years of his life and which filial devotion has since enormously developed in sym- Record. xli pathetic realization of the intentions of its founder. The inscription on the wall of the entrance hall of the Museum — LUDOVICI AGASSIZ PATRI FILIUS ALEXANDER MDCCCLXXX —fittingly links the names of the two men whose genius and unselfish dedication of life and means have created and established it. Son of a Swiss Protestant pastor, under whose immediate tuition enriched by the daily example of a mother of rare in- telligence and deep religious convictions he passed the first ten years of his life, Agassiz’s early training, like that of Cuvier, was distinctively Calvinistic; to the fundamental tenet, of an all- powerful and all-wise Creator, he held fast, as a vital conviction, to the end of his life. In a letter to Humboldt (July, 1832) he announced his own pregnant discovery “‘that the genetic suc-— cession of the fishes [in their geological sequence] corresponds perfectly with their zodlogical classification.”’ Karl Ernst v. Baer had already (1828) shown that the embryos of higher ani- mals pass through successive phases of development parallel to those observed in lower animals of the same type. Having demonstrated a like ‘parallelism between the embryological development of the Cycloids and Ctenoids and the genetic or palaeontological development of the whole class [of fishes],”’ he saw in it a proof “that the same thought, the same plan, which presides to-day over the formation of the embryo, is also manifested in the successive development of the numerous creatures which have formerly peopled the earth. . . . Phenom- ena closely allied in the order of their succession, and yet without sufficient cause in themselves for their appearance; an infinite diversity of species without any common material bond, so grouping themselves as to present the most admirable progressive development to which our own species is linked,—are these not incontestable proofs of the existence of a superior intelligence whose power alone could have established such an order of things? . . . More than fifteen hundred species of fossil fishes, which I have learned to know, tell me that species do not pass insensibly one into another, but that they appear unex- pectedly, without direct relations to their precursors; ... All these species have a fixed epoch of appearance and disappear- ance; their existence is even limited to an appointed time. And yet they present, as a whole, numerous affinities more or less close, a definite codrdination in a given system of organization which has intimate relations with the mode of existence of each xlii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. type, and even of each species. An invisible thread unwinds itself throughout all time across this immense diversity, and presents to us, as a definite result, a continual progress in the de- velopment of which man is the term, of which the four classes of vertebrates are intermediate forms, and the totality of in- vertebrate animals the constant accessory accompaniment.” These sentences,* written by Agassiz in 1848, show how deeply he was impressed by the overwhelming evidence of order in the succession of living forms, and also that he had thought- fully considered the arguments which had been adduced by advocates of the theory of transmutation of species. At Ziirich (1824-1826) he had been a diligent student of Lamarck’s Anim- aux sans vertebres, of which, as he could not afford to buy them, he copied two volumes with his own hand. Lamarck’s theory of a gradual transformation of species, originating in needs (besoins) growing out of particular conditions of environment and cumulating in the course of successive generations, had, moreover, been violently opposed and unsparingly ridiculed by ‘Cuvier in all his later years, including the months (December, 1831, to May, 1832) spent by Agassiz in his laboratory and in attendance on his lectures. That Agassiz was acquainted with Lamarck’s theory, even before he went to Heidelberg, that he held it in mind through the period of his philosophical studies at Munich, that he was cognizant of Cuvier’s hostile attitude towards it, and that in his definite rejection of the hypo- thesis (1843) he wrote from profound conviction, can admit of no serious question. In a letter to Professor Adam Sedgwick (June, 1845) he wrote:—‘‘The idea of a procreation of new species from preceding ones is a gratuitous supposition opposed to all sound physiological notions, and yet it is true that, taken as a whole, there is a gradation in the organized beings of successive geological formations, and that the end and aim of this development is the development of man. But this serial connection of all successive creatures is not material; taken singly these groups of species show no relation through inter- mediate forms genetically derived one from another. The con- nection between them becomes evident only when they are considered as a whole emanating from a creative power, the author of them all.” * Quoted, in English, from the memoir by Elizabeth Cary Agassiz; they are taken from Recherches sur les Poissons fossiles—Essai sur la Classification des Poissons—18me et derniére livraison, Neuchatel, 1843. Record. xliil The artificial production and perpetuation of varieties in plants and domesticated animalsthrough selection and cross-fertilization, and the tendency of such varieties to revert to the primitive type when abandoned to the operation of natural causes, have long been familiar to naturalists, as to horticulturists and breeders; but, notwithstanding recognized difficulties in classification growing out of cross-pollination in certain genera of plants, belief in the general fixity of species was held by most botanists until well after the middle of the last century. To Agassiz the fact that species remain constant throughout geological periods of in- determinate duration appealed conclusively as a proof of their essential immutability. It is not surprising, then, that for him the ‘‘Origin of Species” was virtually the re-statement of a dis- credited thesis, and “natural selection,” “struggle for existence,” “survival of the fittest,’ but specious phrases coined to give new vogue to an erroneous and discarded speculation. For Agassiz ‘evolution’ meant even more than “a gratuitous supposition opposed to all sound physiological notions’’; he read in it an attempt to dethrone the God whose directing power and wisdom he saw everywhere manifested in the pheno- mena of life. As a working hypothesis evolution has sup- planted the doctrine of final causes; nevertheless, it is difficult to see that its acceptance by Agassiz could have added to the sum or to the permanent value of his immense achievement whether in the observation of facts or in the discovery of their natural relations. On his arrival in America, Agassiz found an inexhaustible field for research in the marine fauna of the Atlantic seaboard; and a marine laboratory, equipped for the study of live animals as well as the rich material gathered fresh from sea and land, became an essential part of his working outfit. The results of fifteen years of comparative research in anatomy, embryology, and zodlogy, conducted largely at East Boston, at Sullivan’s Island, 8. C., and-at Nahant, Mass., were published, in part, in his “Contributions to the Natural History of the United States of America”’ (1857-1862); a superbly illustrated work, in large quarto form, announced to appear in ten volumes, but cut short, with the issue of the fourth volume, in the second year of the Civil War. In addition to his great “Essay on Classification,” the subjects treated. are “North American Testudinata,”’ “Embryology of the Turtles,’ ““Acalephs in general,” ‘“Cteno- phorae,”’ ‘“‘Discophorae,” “ Hydroids,’’ and the ‘Homologies xliv Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. of the Radiata.’’ Of the 425 titles listed in the bibliography appended to Marcou’s biography, 274, including seven posthu- mous publications, represent work done in America. From his student days, Agassiz was deeply impressed with the importance, to the naturalist, of the opportunities afforded by well-equipped scientific expeditions. Disappointed in an early ambition to accompany Humboldt on his tour of exploration in Asiatic Russia (1829), and again in the hope awakened by Cuvier (1832) of receiving aid from funds at the disposal of the Museum of Natural History, his field work in Europe was limited to excursions in the Alps and within a restricted area in Switzer- land and Germany, and to the study of the evidences of glacial action in the British Isles. In America, through the courtesy of Superintendents Alexander D. Bache and Benjamin Peirce, he was enabled to make frequent trips on the vessels of the United States Coast Survey along the Atlantic coast, including a scientific survey of the Florida reefs and dredging on the Bahama Banks. The voyage of the new surveying steamer “ Hassler’? (December 4, 1871, to August 24, 1872), from Boston to San Francisco, was utilized as a distinctively scientific expedition, under his direction. In 1865-66 he conducted extended explorations in Brazil. He had planned to spend several months, in much needed rest from work, at Rio de Janeiro. His friend, Mr. Nathaniel Thayer, learning of his purpose, offered to defray the expenses of six assistants; the Pacific Mail Steamship Company tendered a free passage to Rio, for the entire party; the Secretary of the Navy instructed the officers of its vessels stationed along the coast “to give aid and support”; the Brazilian Steamship Company placed a special steamer at his disposal for the ascent of the Amazon from Para to its confluence with the Rio Negro; and the Emperor, Dom Pedro II, besides proffering “every possible attention and mark of good-will,” detailed a small war steamer for the navigation of the great tributary rivers. The expedition occupied sixteen months, of which ten months were spent on the Amazon, as far as the borders of Peru. Agassiz’s field explorations in the United States extended from Maine to Wyoming. His lecturing trips and longer journeys afforded large opportunities for observing and collecting, which he utilized to the utmost. His practised vision detected the tracks of ancient glaciers and vestiges of a great post-tertiary ice sheet in regions where their existence had previously been unsuspected. Rivers and lakes, and the markets of the towns Record. xlv which he visited, yielded rich material for the study, both of individual species and of their areas of distribution. At Niagara he enjoyed a keen delight in seeing a living lepidosteus (gar pike) move its head without bending its vertebral axis. In 1848 he conducted a scientific expedition along the then unexplored northern shore of Lake Superior. In 1853, he made a trip from Charleston to Mobile and along the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans and up the Mississippi River. In 1864, he made im- portant geological field observations in Maine. In 1868; he accompanied a party of members of Congress and others over the eastern branch of the Pacific (now Kansas Pacific) Railroad, crossing by ambulance to the Union Pacific Railroad, and following it westward to its then terminus at Green River, near the western boundary of Wyoming. The last year of Agassiz’s life was marked by the realization of a plan for a summer school of natural history for training teachers in laboratory methods. The unsolicited gift of Penikese island, near the entrance to Buzzard’s Bay, together with a donation of $50,000 in money, by Mr. John Anderson, of New York, made it possible to erect a special building for dormitories and work-rooms, in which the school was opened, July 8, 1878, and kept up during the summer. Agassiz was the life and soul of the school, meeting the students generally twice a day, in the main lecture-room. ‘In the morning session he would prepare his class for the work of the day; in the afternoon he would draw out their own observations by questions, and lead them, by comparison and combination of the facts they had observed, to understand the significance of their results. Every lecture . was a lesson in teaching, as well as in natural history.’’* As a great object-lesson in methods of teaching natural history the school was a signal success. ‘‘Summer schools for advanced students, and especially for teachers, have taken their place in the general system of education; and, though the Penikese school may be said to have died with its master, it lives anew in many a seaside laboratory organized on the same plan, in summer schools of Botany, and field classes of Geology. The impetus it gave was not, and cannot be, lost, since it refreshed and vitalized methods of teaching.’’+ Agassiz declined many calls to official positions of high, and even of the highest, rank. Within a month after entering on his * Memoir, by Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, pp. 774-75. { Ibid. p. 772. xlvi Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. work at Neuchatel, he was invited by Professor Tiedemann to allow his name to be presented for the professorship of zodlogy at Heidelberg, then about to be vacated by his former teacher, Professor Leuckart. In a letter to Humboldt (December, 1832) he gives his reasons for declining :—“ First, as my lectures do not claim a great part of my time I shall have the more to bestow on other work; add to this the position of Neuchatel, so favorable for observations such as I propose making on the history of development in several classes of animals; then the hope of free- ing myself from the burden of my collections; and next, the quiet of my life here with reference to my somewhat overstrained health. Besides my wish to remain, these favorable circum- stances furnish a powerful motive, and then I am satisfied that people here would assist me with the greatest readiness should my publications not succeed otherwise.”’. The event abundantly justified his decision. In 1838 he received urgent and tempting calls to Geneva, and to Lausanne; but strong ties to Neuchatel prevented his acceptance. In 1854 he declined a call to the newly established University of Ziirich. The crowning honor came to him in 1857, when he received a formal invitation, in the name of the emperor, to accept the chair of Palaeontology at the Museum of Natural History in Paris. Two volumes of the “Contributions to the Natural History of the United States” ’ had just been issued, and a third was in preparation; the ‘“‘Museum of Comparative Zodlogy” was approaching the stage of definite realization; the field of work in America held him by a bond too firm to be broken. In a published notice of Agassiz (1845), the distinguished naturalist of Geneva—Professor Jules Pictet de la Rive— enumerates, as qualities pre-eminently characteristic of him :— “ce mélange d’imagination et de jugement qui caractérise les créations brillantes et durables, une grande persévérance dans Pétude des faits, une éloquence chaleureuse et entrainante, . son caractére aimable et attachant, son ardeur dans tout ce qu’il entreprend, sa vivacité dans la discussion unie A la poli- tesse du coeur et en un mot toutes les qualités qui lui ont créé partout des amis et qui l’ont fait Ame de réunions des natural- istes suisses qu’il vivific par sa présence.’’* Toa personal charm all his own he joined a simplicity and sincerity of manner which inspired unreserved confidence, and a generous sympathy which * Album de la Suisse Romane, vol. v; quoted by J. Marcou, op. cit., vol. i, pp. 255-56. Record. xlvil won the love of all who enjoyed the rare privilege of knowing him. His enthusiastic devotion to science appealed irresistibly to men of large wealth, and awakened in them the desire to codperate in his work through generous donations of money. His impressive earnestness, and the persuasive eloquence with which he presented the claims of science to public recognition, pro- cured liberal appropriations from the Massachusetts legislature for the Museum at Cambridge. The advancement of scientific research and teaching engrossed all his powers. He had a sub- lime faith in his great mission, and through his own great faith he engendered faith in others. Agassiz’s last paper,* corrected by him just before his final illness, contains a pregnant sentence formulating the fundamental conviction which dominated his life-work :-—‘“‘ A physical fact is as sacred as a moral principle. Our own nature demands from us this double allegiance.’’ Supremely loyal to facts, he was im- patient of theories which he regarded as in contravention of facts; he resented most of all the assumption, by persons dis- qualified by ignorance of facts, of authority to prejudicate great problems in nature. In questions of interpretation of facts, he was tolerant of differences of opinion; but anti-theistic con- ceptions and “‘the exaggeration of religious fanaticism [assuming] to prescribe to scientific men what they are allowed to see or to find in nature,” were alike repugnant to him. As professor, in the Académie de Neuchatel, he stood as the champion of liberty of scientific thought and teaching, as against clerical dictation. The word of God, written in his creation, was an immediate and supreme revelation to man; but he respected in others the same unrestricted freedom of thought which he demanded for himself. Espousal of opinions antagonistic to his own opposed no barrier to friendship, so long as discussion was kept free from disingenuousness or injurious personalities. Insistence on what he regarded as error did not lessen his appreciation of the work of an opponent. With Darwin he kept up a close friendship through all the stress growing out of his uncompromising opposi- tion to the doctrine of transmutation of species. At Heidelberg Agassiz formed a close friendship with two young botanists—Alexander Braun and Karl Schimper. Braun, life- long friend of our own Dr. George Engelmann, like him, united sane philosophical opinions to large and varied attainments and * “Evolution and Permanency of Type.’ Atlantic Monthly, January, 1874. t Letter to Professor Adam Sedgwick, June, 1855. xl viii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. mastery in description and classification. Schimper was by temperament an enthusiast, brilliantly imaginative, and ad- dicted to bold speculation. The three lived and worked together in closest intimacy for five years, at Heidelberg and at Munich; each sharing with the other the results of his own work, in mutual encouragement and emulation. Intimacy with the Braun family, at Carlsruhe, ripened into a tenderer relation with Braun’s younger sister, Cecile, whose artistic skill found frequent and congenial employment in making admirable colored draw- ings of specimens on which he was working. In the earlier years following their marriage (October, 1833) she continued to take part in his work, as artist and amanuensis. When Agassiz left for America his wife and their three children remained in Europe. She died at the home of her brother, Alexander, at Freiburg-im- Breisgau, July, 1848. Inthespring of 1850 Agassiz married Eliza- beth Cabot Cary, daughter of Thomas Graves Cary, of Boston, and within the year the children were re-united in a new home. Of all the naturalists from whom Agassiz derived inspiration, he ascribed to Georges Cuvier unqualified and unique pre- eminence. Like Cuvier, Agassiz was a naturalist in the widest sense. Anatomist, embryologist, palaeontologist, geologist, botanist, above all zodlogist, his work, in many fields, was har- -monized by his broad conception of “nature as one great world.” Of the one as of the other of the two past-masters in natural science, whose consecutive contributions illuminated the path of scientific investigation for nearly four-score years, passing each in retrospect as he revealed himself in sterling traits of character and in great and enduring work, we may well ask :— “< . . . where was he, That could stand up his parallel?” No juster or more discriminating tribute can be paid to either than in the felicitously chosen words stamped on the reverse of the noble medal struck at Geneva in commemoration of Agassiz: VIRO INGENIO LABORE SCIENTIA PRAESTANTISSIMO. [The name Agassiz, appears twice in the list of corresponding members of our Academy—Louis, elected in 1856, and Alex- ander, elected in 1865. Dr. George Engelmann, renowned botanist, founder and for many years president of the Academy, was a fellow student with Agassiz at Heidelberg and a valued friend in America. Our late president. and patron, Edwin Harrison (S. B., 1856), studied under Agassiz at Cambridge. In 1853 and 1864, Agassiz delivered courses of lectures in St. Louis.] Record. xlix OcToBER 21, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, fourteen. The Librarian reported that during the summer efforts were made to complete the various sets of publications in the library by requesting the societies exchanging with the Academy to fill in the parts wanting. Some 393 volumes and 603 numbers were received, completing 40 sets and many volumes. Miss Mary J. Klem presented to the museum a large and finely preserved specimen of Sigillaria from the Lower Coal Measures at Veedersburg, Indiana. The specimen is interesting because of its large size, branched condition and excellent state of preservation. Miss Klem also stated that she had secured photographs of some of the early members of the Academy, among them pictures of Professor G. C. Broadhead, August Fendler, Dr. Theodore C. Hilgard, Professor A. Litton, Professor J. G. Norwood, Dr. C. C. Parry, Dr. Gustav Seyffarth and Professor G. C. Swallow. The President called the attention of the Academy to the fact that the recommendation of the Council that Dr. Enno Sander be made an honorary member of the Academy, as a mark of appreciation for his long, faithful and efficient service as Treas- urer, could be acted upon at the present meeting. Mr. Kinealy moved that the Academy proceed at once to ballot. The mo- tion was seconded by Dr. C. D. Stevens, and unanimously car- ried. Mr. Kinealy was appointed teller and reported twelve ballots cast, all in the affirmative. The President then declared Dr. Sander elected to honorary membership. Dr. J. Arthur Harris presented a brief report of the Interna- tional Zodlogical Congress held in Boston during the summer. Professor Woodward presented further notes on the me- chanics of aerial navigation. Mr. D. I. Bushnell was unanimously elected to membership. NOVEMBER 4, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, twenty-eight. Dr. William Trelease delivered an illustrated lecture on ‘“Variegation in the Century Plant and Other Agavis.” Varie- gated individuals are quite common among the agaves, but little is actually known of their origin. Dr. Trelease exhibited young plants of various agaves, showing variegation. — ] Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Dr. Launcelot W. Andrews discussed the problem of con- tainers to be used in chemical processes and exhibited vessels of fused quartz and of pure silicon upon which he had been making critical tests. Mr. John Zellweger, Mr. F. W. Sultan and Dr. H. A. Geitz were elected to membership. NOVEMBER 18, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, twenty-seven. Professor C. M. Woodward delivered an address entitled ‘“‘The Mechanical Problems of the Air Ship.” He discussed the me- chanical principles involved in the lifting of the load by a pro- peller, dwelling especially on the efficiency of propellers of different sizes. DECEMBER 2, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, one hundred and thirty-five. Professor F. EK. Nipher gave an illustrated address on ‘The Telegraphone.”’ The following were elected to serve as a Nominating Coduinitess for the coming annual election of officers :-— Dr. Charles D. Stevens (Chairman). Dr. D. 8. H. Smith. Professor A. 8. Langsdorf. DECEMBER 16, 1907. President Woodward in the chair; attendance, thirty. The Nominating Committee presented the following report :— St. Louis, Mo., oie 16, 1907. To the Academy of Science of St. Louis: The Nominating Committee elected December 2, 1907, make the following nominations for officers for 1908: President 3 on ee ae coh bla Calvin M. Woodward. First, Viee-President 6 ig a eed wae Arthur Thacher. Second Vice-President.) Gb ts ee ak Launcelot W. Andrews. Recording Secretary) we ae i Ba Samuel M. Coulter. Corresponding Secretary.............-....205- H. August Hunicke. "Preasuret 3p Cay eae ae Ue ie a cg haa Enno Sander. Record. hi PALPAPIAE Sl ee as Ha ON id hall ale wares Mary J. Klem. Criratora sis iiss cae iin wei SOR ta ahha Frank Schwarz. Julius Hurter. Mary J. Klem. Dipeetit 5d ee aN yo Pe ae alos wa en em Francis E. Nipher. Otto Widmann. Respectfully submitted, (Signed) Cuas. D. StEvENS (Chairman). Upon motions, seconded and carried, the nominations for President, Vice-Presidents and Secretaries were closed. When the nominations for Treasurer were in order, Dr. Sander asked that, in view of his long service in that office, he be allowed to decline the nomination. He stated that he did this with regret, since he had hoped that he might complete a half-century in the service of the Academy, but that the condition of his health did not allow him to be sure that he could be present at the meetings. He placed in nomination Dr. Charles D. Stevens. Dr. Stevens asked that his name be not considered, but his ob- jection was overruled, and upon motion by Dr. Sander, seconded by Professor Nipher, it was voted to place the name of Dr. Stevens on the official ballot. Upon motions the nominations for the other offices were successively closed, and the report of the committee accepted. Dr. Enno Sander presented a volume entitled ‘‘The Hoot of the Owl,” by Dr. H. H. Behr, a former member of the Academy. Upon motion, the Academy extended a vote of thanks to Dr. Sander for this gift. Professor E. H. Keiser presented a paper entitled ‘“‘On the Determination of Ozone, Nitrogen Peroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide in Gas Mixtures.” Professor A. S. Langsdorf discussed the “‘ Use of Arrow Heads in Vector Diagrams.” Professor Moses Craig was elected to membership. REPORTS OF OFFICERS. PRESIDENT’S REPORT. The work and record of the Academy for the year 1907, while in no way very remarkable, has fully justified its exist- ence and maintained the high standard set by half a century of lii Trans. Acad. Scr. of St. Louis. devotion to scientific zeal and scientific study. One has but to read the record of our meetings to see how wide and deep is the active interest in modern science, and how useful is the Academy in focusing that interest and in giving it an opportunity for ex- pression. Pure science, such as the Academy cherishes, is directly unremunerative, and without external aid it rarely finds public expression. Hence the Academy and its resources are absolutely essential to any considerable life and growth of science in this community. Without the annual dues of our reasonably: large membership, the Academy could not do its work. It is therefore to be remembered that every subscriber to our funds and every paying member is a veritable friend and promoter of science, though he may but rarely attend our meet- ings and never join in our discussions. A large membership is necessary to our life and usefulness. The Council has now several valuable papers in its hands which it cannot publish for - want of funds. Last fall we made a concerted effort to secure new members, and some forty names were added to our list. Such effort should be continued, and I earnestly urge every member who reads this report to see to it that no friend or de- votee of science fails of an invitation to join our ranks. Next to our special exercises in celebration of our fifty-first anniversary, the most interesting personal event of the year was the retirement of Dr. Enno Sander from the position of Treasurer, which he has held for forty-six years; the announce- ment of his intention to resign was followed by his election to an honorary membership by the unanimous vote of the Council and Academy. Such long-continued and steady devotion to the Academy is not likely to be soon paralleled. May he long enjoy - participation in our public meetings. The following statement compares our membership with that of 1906:— 1907. 1906. Patron. 5) 5 Pee eeu Ces be eae ae 3 3 Honorary Members iio isco k ice eet 11 11 Corresponding members.................+-- 122 122 Life Members: fe ee aos fae 1 1 Active Members— HemdenG oe eae oa er ee 191 192 Non-temidentg. 6 ea ee ho se 46 47 Record. liii Duly recommended by the Council to be elected in 1908, 30. Honorary. Resident. Non-resident. pe TEP aia 1 Wie en ArT 10 GOR Sey pray peep 1* 9 , Die eee liane ele ee es 1} 3t PRE ees Cain walk hace Vein el a 5 2 ESM ETON 6 6 oh weed cal at sla es ye 1* ATTENDANCE. Large audiences at our meetings are rare. Technical papers and discussions of the highest value are often unsuited to popular audiences, and a score of intelligent hearers is often more than one should expect. However, the assembly room is furnished with lantern, screen and blackboards, and occasionally the hall has been well filled. The following figures are of interest :-— Total AtRONGANGE! the Missouri River westward to Boonville, there turning south- westward through Clinton, Appleton City, and Nevada to La- mar, leaving the state where the Spring River crosses the line. The Ozark region has its highest elevation in a plateau, a broad, comparatively even, stretch of high land, which reaches from Perry, Ste. Genevieve, and Jefferson Counties southwestward to the southwest corner of the state. It attains a height of 1100 in St. Francois Co., 1600’ in Iron and Reynolds Cos., 1400’ in Dent, 1700’ in Wright and 1550’ in Stone, Barry and Taney Counties. This upland is not a contiguous stretch, but is inter- rupted by shallow, rather wide troughs and by broad areas where the water disappears and runs in underground channels; but all the drainage of the Ozarks goes from this divide either north to the Missouri and Meramec Rivers or south to the White and Arkansas Rivers, a very small area only being drained eastwardly direct into the Mississippi River. In the region immediately adjoining the plateau the streams have cut deep valleys and narrow gorges with innumerable ra- vines. This is the most rugged part of the whole region, the valleys reaching their maximum depth about midway between the plateau and the border subregion with bluffs and cliffs 300 feet high in places. The Ozark border subregion is the hilly belt inclosing the Ozarks, being less rugged, less stony, but broken up more or less, and sloping gradually down to the prairie region or terminating | on the east ‘and north in the bluffs of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The prairie region has never been a true, treeless prairie; its name is applied simply because its topog- raphy is of the same type as that of all the prairie regions of the Mississippi Valley; it is in fact the eastern border of the 12 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. vast sloping plain which stretches from the foot of the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. It is lowest along the border line of the Ozarks and along its eastern edge which fronts the Mississippi River, rising from 800° along this belt to 1100’ south of Kansas City and to 1200’ near the northwestern corner of the state. It is a gently undulating plain of rich soil, largely brought there by glacial action and thus differing greatly from that. of southern Missouri, which is the result of decomposed native rocks. The valleys in the prairie region are true flood plains with flat floors, cut into soft shale, generally broad with gently sloping sides and extremely tortuous channels. All the valleys were originally heavily wooded, and remnants of the primeval forests are still found in the Mississippi and Missouri River bottoms and on their bluffs, but most of the timber of the prairie region has been removed, leaving only thin strips of woods along the streams with occasional artificial groves. Tree growth of vari- able size and quality once covered the entire Ozark region, heavy and of valuable kind in the valleys and along hillsides, low and of little value on the dry ridges and flats west of the Pine and White Oak region. The best parts of all the valleys have long been cleared and are devoted to agricultural pursuits; everywhere, high and low, the best timber is being rapidly cut out and removed; whole stretches have been transformed into orchards, and farms are springing up everywhere, even on the remotest hilltops. But there is still a vast amount of tree growth, so much so that, looking over the country from some eminence in the Ozarks, the eye meets hardly anything but vast stretches of woodland for miles and miles in all directions. The character of these woods is rather disappointing, for upon close inspection it is found to be of little commercial value, consisting in large part of medium-sized and small Blackjack and Post Oaks. Formerly Pine trees (Pinus echinata) grew in large quantities on silicious ground along the divide and southern slope of the Ozarks from St. Francois Co. to Taney Co., but they are mostly gone or disappearing at a rapid rate, being replaced only by scrub-oaks with no prospect for a continuation of pine woods in any part of the region, as the growth of Pinus echinata is too slow to make planting profitable and the annual burning over of the forest floor has prevented natural reproduction. The flood-plains of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and the bluffs bordering them play such an important part in the dis- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 13 tribution of vegetable and animal life that they deserve a de- tailed description. Where the Missouri River enters the state at the northwest corner it meanders for sixty miles through a flood plain of from six to ten miles in width with low, gently sloping bluffs hardly 100 feet high anywhere. The alluvial land on the Missouri side extends over a large area, covering one-third of the counties of Atchison and Holt, and smaller areas of Andrew, Buchanan and © Pealt Counties. All these bottoms were originally thickly tim- bered with Walnut, Maple, Sycamore, Cottonwood, Elm, Hickory, Oak, Hackberry, Willow, Locust, Boxelder, etc. Below the Nebraska-Kansas line the river encounters harder rock and the floodplain narrows to three or four miles, while the bluffs rise to almost three times their height for a hundred miles, down to near Lexington in Lafayette Co. From there to Glasgow, run- ning through soft shale, the river has carved outa flood plain from six to ten miles in width between low bluffs hardly 100 feet high. Rich alluvial bottoms, in some parts of a marshy nature, and ranging from one to three miles in width, extend for one hundred miles along the great bend of the river in Saline Co. and com- prise one-third of the area of Carroll Co. From Glasgow to St. Charles the Missouri River flows without many windings through hard limestone in a floodplain less than three miles, in some places only two miles wide between steep bluffs 300 and more feet in height. The floodplain of the Mississippi River is generally broader than that of the Missouri River, but less than one-half of it is on the Missouri side, the current of the river being mostly near the bluffs of its western shore. The width of the floodplain where the river reaches the state in the northeast, is about eight miles, with bluffs of 250 feet above low water. Bottomland up to three miles wide, some protected by levees, some subject to overflow, extends through three counties, Clark, Lewis, and Marion. At Hannibal hard limestone causes the floodplain to contract, reaching its minimum width of three to four miles at Louisiana with bluffs over 400 feet high, closely followed by the stream through most of Ralls and Pike counties. In Lincoln Co. the alluvial bottom widens again on our side with land partly pro- tected by levees, partly subject to overflow, and reaches its maximum width in St. Charles Co., where all land east of St. Charles, St. Peters and St. Paul is alluvial, much of it marshy and dotted with ponds and lakes connected by sloughs. 14 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. From the mouth of the Illinois River to Alton, a stretch of sixteen miles, the shore on the Illinois side is a wall of cliffs from 100 to 150 feet in height, formerly, and in less degree still the home of interesting birds with feeding grounds mostly on our side of the river. There is some bottom land in the northern portion of St. Louis Co., but from the City of St. Louis to the city of Cape Girardeau very little lowland is found on our side, as the river washes the foot of the bluffs nearly all along—bluffs which in many places attain the dignity of cliffs similar to those above Alton on the Illinois side. At Cape Girardeau the Missis- sippi enters the great alluvial plain, of which the seven counties in the southeastern corner of Missouri form a part, and through which the mighty river, together with the waters of the Ohio winds in a wide belt with frequent changes of its channel and the formation of cut-offs, islands and lakes. The most pronounced physiographic area of Missouri is the swampy region of the southeast. There, remnants of the most magnificent forests are still in existence, though continually encroached upon, and, since the region is now traversed by several railroads, it can be only a question of a few years when but a shadow of its sublime beauty will be left. It is the home of the Bald Cypress, the Water Tupelo, the Sweet Gum and Planer- tree; a paradise for the ornithologist as well as the botanist who finds there representatives of the Floridian and Texan floras; a bonanza for the herpetologist and entomologist. _ Ka Terminated northward by abrupt bluffs along a north-east south-west line from Cape Girardeau to where the Current River crosses the state line in Ripley Co., the alluvial plain covers about seven counties with an elevation of less than 400 feet above sea level and from ten to twenty feet above the Mississippi River at low-water. A number of rivers and bayous, connected in the eastern portion with the Mississippi, in the western with the St. Francis River, divide into ridges and islands and yearly inundate a large portion of the area when high water overflows their shal- low beds for weeks and months at a time. Thus, Little River, which in very dry summers has hardly enough water to carry a canoe, reaches often a width of from six to seven"miles; this is also the width of the St. Francis River with its parallel-running sloughs or arms. Pee oe © Peninsula of Missouri is called that part of the southeast which extends from latitude 36° 30° south to 36°. With the exception of a narrow strip of sandy ridge between Little and St. Francis Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 15 Rivers the whole region is low and a large part of it under water except in late summer and early fall, or in unusually dry seasons. Originally nine-tenths of the whole area was overgrown with a dense forest, the sandy ridge called Grand Prairie being the only part not fully covered with tree growth. Trees of magnificent size grew here by the millions; Cottonwoods and Cypresses attained gigantic dimensions; Sweet or Red Gums had taken possession of high levels, called islands; while the Bald Cypress occupied the region of the regular yearly overflow, and the Tu- pelos took to the sloughs and rivers themselves. Together with the Sweet Gums holding the higher levels were different kinds of Oak (White, Cow, Red, Shingle, Overcup and Willow Oaks), Red Maples, Elm, White Ash, Sycamore, Pecan, Mockernut, Shagbark Hickory, Hackberry, Sassafras, Black Gum, Tulip, Mulberry, Boxelder, Catalpa, Holly, and others. Dogwoods,. ~Redbud, Papaw, Hazel, Spicebush, and Hercules Club were plentiful among the lower tree growth intertwined with a large variety of climbers, among them Crossvine, Wistaria, Muscadine, Berchemia, Smilax and Cocculus. In the sloughs were Itea, Leitneria, Planera, Micania and many others assisting the broad belts of Polygonum densiflorum and Zizania miliacea to occupy the sides, while Nelumbo, Nymphea and Nuphar covered the deeper portions, filling the whole expanse of the water with plant growth. Excepting the presence of cane-brakes (Arundinaria) in its southern portion, the Peninsula does not differ essentially from the rest of the alluvial southeast in any of its physical features, but, having escaped the so-called civilization longest, retained the primeval conditions longest, and only since the railroads began to penetrate the region ten years ago is it slowly but surely changing its former peculiarly wild and interesting character into one of devastation and desolation. Not only that the best timber is being removed, but hundreds of thousands of giant trees are girdled in the expectation of making the sandy soil agri- culturally available. Levee-building and ditching is going on along the Mississippi River; lakes have been drained and much land has been protected from highwater in the Mississippi; the whole region is in a state of transformation; lumbering and the saw mills have attracted a population whose chief diversion is found in fishing and hunting, in devastating and destroying; surely the Peninsula will soon cease to be the paradise of the nat- uralist and hunter. Ducks, of which 150,000 were killed in a 16 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. single winter (1893-94) on the Big Lake and shipped from Horners-. ville, still visit the region in large numbers in their migrations and many remain in mild winters, but the resident game birds such as the Turkey, and summer residents like the Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser are decreasing rapidly and will, like the Ivorybill, the Snakebird, the Canada Goose, several kinds of ducks and herons, the Bald Eagle and Osprey, in fact like most birds of larger size, disappear and become, as far as their beeding in that part of Missouri is concerned, exterminated. VII. DECREASE OF BIRDS. There is no doubt that the gun is the main factor in the rapid disappearance of all the larger birds. No amount of instruction and law-making will prevent the killing of hawks and owls by farmers and hunters, especially the latter, who sees in every large bird an enemy of his game, a competitor in the chase or fishery. The reduction in the number of the smaller birds is the result of quite different causes—causes which cannot be removed because they are the unavoidable consequences of the transformation of a wild, thinly inhabited land into a highly cultivated, thickly . settled one. With the felling of the trees, tree-inhabiting wild creatures necessarily disappear; with the draining of the low- lands, marsh birds cannot be expected ary more; the drying-up of the lakes diverts their animal life to other regions, the re- moval of certain plants from a place makes the presence of certain - kinds of animal life impossible. When we consider how much one organism is dependent on others, we do not wonder that an annihilation of many forms of animal life, high and low, is in- separably bound up with such a change as deforestation and subsequent cultivation. While we see a few birds which for- merly lived exclusively in the forest accommodate themselves to the changed conditions and. put up. with substitutes, such as orchards and artificial groves, many of the true forest-loving birds invariably disappear with the forest and become exterminated as far as that particular locality is concerned. Not counting the scrub-oak barrens of the Ozarks as forest, because very few wood- land birds find a home in them, we can'say that only 25 per cent. of the former forest area is left as such at present, and that there- fore 75 per cent. cf most of the woodland birds of Missouri have gone since the white man began to settle in the state. But de- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 17 forestation is still going on, on even a larger scale than ever be- fore. There may come a time when forestry steps in and takes care of the remaining woodland, and men may even begin to plant new forests as they do in other countries, but such arti- ficial groves compare with the primeval forests as docs a corn- field with a marsh or prairie. Many birds now at home in the forest would feel themselves perfect strangers in such a highly cultivated tract of tree growth. There will be no great variety of trees, no twiners and vines of any kinds, no underbrush and thickets of brambles and briars, no decaying tree-tops and no prostrate monarchs of the forest crumbling into dust. The floor of the tract will offer no shelter and no hiding places for the nests of ground-builders; no thickets will harbor the many different songsters, which cannot exist without them; no canopy of low trees overgrown with climbers will conceal, as it now so effectively does, the cradles of cur summer guests, and wood-peckers will find no insect-infested trees to yield them food and homes. There will be a desolation and stillness throughout these woods that even the few birds present will hardly have the courage to break. Next to the vanishing of the woodland bird comes that of the marsh bird, whose doom is sealed by the draining of the lowland along our rivers and the transformation of lakes and swampy tracts into cornfields. These are no substitute for sedges, reeds, and flags and the manifold vegetation associated with them; nor will the pond and lake dwellers return after their watery haunts have yielded to the plow and harrow. Where do they go? We do not know; some of the smaller birds may be- take themselves to meadows, but the great majority disappear forever from the locality and the extermination of some of these species as breeders in our state is rapidly approaching. Those species of birds which frequent the thickets along the edge of woods and the vegetation which fringes the watercourses have a better chance to endure for a while, but these too will constantly be reduced in numbers by the adoption of the ideal clean culture, which does away with all plant growth from fences and roads, and removes even the last remnants along the creeks and small wet-weather branches. The universally deplored decrease of insectivorous and song- birds, generally laid at the door of the egg-collector and the boy with the gun, is therefore easily explained as the direct and in- evitable result of the progress of civilization, which not only changes the physical features of the land, but also introduces 18 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. and propagates enemies of the existing fauna not known before. The cat and the dog are responsible for the killing of many of our choicest pets, which like the Bluebirds confidingly seek our protection to be sadly disappointed by loosing their young ones to the cat as soon as they leave the nest. Some dogs are as bad as cats in destroying the broods of birds nesting on the ground. Besides the cat and the dog the hog does the greatest harm to birds which habitually make their nests on or near the ground. In parts of our state where the only woodpatch left standing is given to pasturing swine, no ground nester can long survive, and we find these species now entirely wanting in localities where they usedtobecommon. Cattle, horses and sheep involuntarily inflict losses on birds frequenting their pastures by trampling on their nests or disturbing them in the act of incubating. There are still other ways of destruction unavoidably connected with the tilling or burning over of land at a time when some birds have already nested on the ground and those which escape the fire and the plow may be demolished by the scythe or mower later on. It is easy to see why birds must become scarcer and scarcer, and that it will require all the protection man is able to give to keep them from a lamentable state of rarity. - VIII, BIRD PROTECTION. It would be wrong to understand by bird protection simply the restraint from killing them. We have to actively assist them in the battle against adversities. It is not yet too late to save remnants of original forests from destruction; men of means, corporations, or associations of men, should establish such bird reserves in all parts of the state wherever forests remain. All that is required is a strong fence and a guard to keep out the dog and the hog, the cattle and the cat, the axe and the fire, and all other bird enemies, and allow only those persons to enter who appreciate the rare privilege. Land owners and their tenants should be more sparing with axe and fire than they are now; before removing trees, stumps, vines, thickets and hedges they should consider whether it would not be possible to leave them for the birds, especially trees which have already served them for a home. Some birds, and among them the most useful ones, habitually nest in holes in trees; such birds can be helped by setting up bird boxes in trees or on poles in suitable places about the garden, park or orchard. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 19 Birds which nest in thickets can be assisted by planting shrubs and bushes and allowing them to grow thick enough for a bird to hide its nest there. Such birds once attracted will return, like those which build in holes, to the same place every year. Another way of attracting birds to one’s premises is by planting wild fruit trees, especially Wild Cherry and Red Mulberry trees wherever shade and ornamental trees are wanted. It is not only a boon for our little feathered friends, but it keeps them away from our cultivated fruit, for birds need fruit of some kind for their diet, and, being deprived by man of their former wild fruit, they seek a substitute in our orchards, gardens and vine- yards. ! Our new game, bird and fish protection law of 1905 is as good as can be desired at present, but the enforcement of such a law depends so much on public sentiment that it remains to be seen how much good it will do. A great mistake has been made in framing Section 8 in which the word Chickenhawk is used among birds excluded from protection. Ornithologists do not recognize any particular species under that name, while hunters and others call every large hawk a chickenhawk. By thus inserting the word chickenhawk among birds to be killed, our legislators have doomed the fate of our most useful mice-destroyers, namely the Marsh Hawk, the Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Broad-winged, and Rough-legged Hawks. All these are commonly known as chickenhawks, though they hardly ever catch chickens, while the Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, which really do the damage, are but seldom seen, because they hide in the woods and appear and disappear on their foraging expeditions with such lightning rapidity that they fall seldom to the gun of the hunter who takes pride in killing the slow mouse-hunting species which frequent the fields and perch on fence-posts. The proper thing to do would be to except from protection only the individual caught in the act of stealing, because it cannot be expected that anyone not a trained ornithologist can at first sight distinguish the harmful from the useful species. Section 8 excepts from protection also the Goshawk and the Great Horned Owl, but the first is a very rare transient visitant, and the latter would never catch a chicken in a cold winter night, if our farmers would properly care for their fowls and keep them in hen-houses during the winter nights. Crows and English Sparrows should, I think, only be destroyed where they do actual damage, but not on general principle. In most parts of our 20 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lows. state Crows do more good than harm, and if farmers were not prejudiced against them—partly on account of their black garb —and would investigate before passing judgment, they would often find that the damage with which they charge the crow is really done by other animals unseen because nocturnal. The English sparrow does not need much protection. Nature has endowed it with so much sagacity and other useful qualities for self-preservation that its future is safe; and many persons are found who like the bird in spite of everything said against it. It is not true that they drive away our native birds. Until lately every plea for bird protection had to be based on their economic value. The aim of the investigator was to express in dollars and cents the benefit which a species bestows on husbandry by des- troying its enemies, animal and vegetable. On the other hand he had to find out exactly what injury a bird does to man by appropriating things belonging to him, or which he claims as his own because of his superiority in the world of creation. Now the time is coming when one can plead for birds on esthetic grounds without asking, does the actual benefit really outweigh the damage? Or, is the number of insects killed really sufficiently large to pay for the fruit it eats? Or, still worse, what is the percentage of beneficial insects in the insect diet of each par- ticular species? Should a species not be classed among the nox- ious animals, because it was found to destroy 60 per cent. of beneficial insects against only 40 per cent. of injurious ones? There may have been a time when the American farmer could ill afford to lose a bushel of corn, a peck of cherries or something of equally small value with which to pay for the pleasure of being surrounded by bird life all the year round. May be he lacked the esthetic sense which brings the greatest happiness in the enjoy- ment of the beautiful. At present there are many willing and even eager to make sacrifices in order to secure the opportunity for the purest of enjoyments, the admiration of the wonderful works of creation, and certainly not the least among them is the bird! : Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 21 Order PYGOPODES. Diving Birds. Suborder Podicipedes. Family Popicir ak. Grebes. [1. AECHMOPHORUS OCCIDENTALIS (Lawr.)—Western Grebe.] Podiceps occidentalis. Geog. Dist.—Western North America from central Mexico to western Manitoba, Assiniboia, Alberta and British Columbia; eastward casually to Ontario, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas. Breeds from North Dakota northward, chiefly in Assiniboia and Alberta. Winters mainly along the Pacific coast from British Columbia southward. It has been taken near Omaha, Nebraska, less than fifty miles north of our state line, also at Lawrence, Kan., about the same distance from the western boundary (November 3, 1887), and probably occurs as an irregular visitant on the Missouri River along our western border. 2. COLYMBUS HOLBOELLII (Reinh.). Holboell’s Grebe. Podiceps rubricollis. Podiceps griseigena holboelli. Podiceps holboellii. Podiceps cristatus. American Red-necked Grebe. Geog. Dist.—Northern North America, Greenland and eastern Asia. Breeds from lat. 46° in Minnesota (Elbow Lake and Leech Lake) and from northern North Dakota to the Arctic Ocean, and winters in the United States to South Carolina and southern California. Was taken in western Missouri by Dr. P. R. Hoy in the spring of 1854 and may still visit our state, but is said to have become rare everywhere. 3. CoLymBus AurRITUS Linn. Horned Grebe. Podiceps cornutus. Dytes auritus. Geog. Dist.—Northern Hemisphere. Breeds from northern Wisconsin and northern Nebraska northward, and winters along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and in California, migrating through the United States at large. Not recorded from western Missouri, but in the eastern part of the state formerly a fairly common transient visitant in April, 22 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. October and November. Two males in Mr. Hurter’s collection were taken April 13 and November 27, 1877, near St. Louis. 4, COLYMBUS NIGRICOLLIS CALIFORNICUS (Heerm.). American Eared Grebe. Colymbus auritus. Podiceps auritus (in Nuttall and Audubon). Podiceps auritus californicus (in Coues’ Key, 1872). Colymbus californicus (Grin- nell). California Grebe. Horned Grebe. Geog. Dist—Western North America from the Mississippi to the Pacific and from Central America to Great Slave Lake. Breeds in colonies in suitable localities throughout its range, but has suffered greatly from persecution by plume hunters. In Missouri formerly a common transient ‘visitant from April 9 to May 3, and from September 22 to November 2, but much scarcer now; more common west than east. *6. PopILYMBUS PODICEPS (Linn.). Pied-billed Grebe. Colymbus podiceps. Podiceps carolinensis. Carolina Grebe. Thick-billed Grebe. Hell-diver. Dabchick. Dipper. Water-witch. Geog. Dist——North and South America except extreme northern and southern parts. Breeds throughout its range. Winters in southern states and southward. In Missouri by far the commonest of the family. May be found in its migrations in spring and fall on all waters, on rapidly flowing rivers, and even on small ponds. The first arrive in southeast Missouri early in March, at St. Louis the last of March, and in northern Missouri early in April. The bulk is present in April, but migration lasts till early in May. Fall migration takes place from the middle of September until the end of November, chiefly in October. Formerly a common breeder in all reedy lakes throughout the state, but with drainage and persecution it is becoming rarer every year. Suborder Cepphi. | Loons and Auks. Family Gavimar. Loons. 7. GAVIA IMBER (Gunn.). Loon. Urinator immer. Colymbus torquatus. Colymbus glacialis. Great Northern Diver. Walloon. Geog. Dist—Northern part of northern hemisphere. Breeds from northern United States northward to Greenland and Alaska, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 23 and winters along the Gulf of Mexico and in Lower Cali- fornia; also along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts south- ward. During their migrations Loons are sometimes found on our larger lakes and rivers in every part of the state from the first week of April to the first of May, and from October 20 to Novem- ber 20, but this being the height of the duck-hunting season, they cannot stay long anywhere and pass on rapidly. 9. [Gavia arctica (Linn.). Black-throated Loon.] Urinator arcticus. Colymbus arcticus. Arctic Loon. Arctic Diver. Geog. Dist.—Northern part of northern hemisphere. Breeds in arctic regions and migrates south in winter to northern United States east of the Rocky Mountains, but apparently extremely rare everywhere on this continent. Students should carefully examine all loons in winter dress, in which they resemble each other extremely. Size is too variable in this family to be a dis- tinguishing feature. Red-throated Loons may easily be separ- ated by the tarsus being longer than the middle toe with claw, but the Common and Black-throated Loons, so different in their beautiful summer dress, can only be told apart by exact mea- surement of the distance from the base of the culmen to the anterior point of the loral feathers, which is greater than the distance from the latter point to the anterior border of the nos- trils in the Common Loon, and not greater in the Black-throated Loon. 11. GAVIA LUMME (Gunn.). Red-throated Loon. Urinator lumme. Colymbus septentrionalis. Geog. Dist—Northern part of northern hemisphere. Breeds from New Brunswick and New Foundland to Greenland and through the arctic regions to Alaska. In winter south to United States, coastwise to Florida and southern California and in the interior chiefly on the Great Lakes and larger rivers. Two specimens in winter dress taken November 3, 1902, near New Haven, Mo., are in the collection of Mr. Chas. Eimbeck. It has been taken twice on the Missouri near Omaha in spring and fall (April 6, 1897 and September 28, 1894) and Mr. W. E. Praeger writes me that there is a mounted specimen in Keokuk said to have been shot on the Des Moines River near Ottumwa, Ia. 24 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Order LONGIPENNES. Long-winged Swimmers. Family STeRcoRARIIDAE. Skuas and Jaegers. 37. SrERCORARIUS PARASITICUS (Linn.). Parasitic Jaeger. Lestris Richardsonii. Richardson’s Jaeger (dark phase). Geog. Dist.—Northern part of northern hemisphere. Breeds from Greenland along the Arctic sea-coast to the Behring Sea and the Aleutian Islands. In winter from New York, Illinois and California southward to Brazil and in the Old World to South Africa. In migration it has repeatedly been taken in Colorado, in Kan- sas (young male near Lawrence, October 10, 1898, in Nebraska, September 13, 1898, near Lincoln), and Mr. W. E. Praeger has in his collection an immature male shot on the Des Moines rapids October 6, 1896. Mr. J. D. Kastendieck of Billings, Christian Co., Mo., has in his collection of finely mounted birds a specimen taken on a mill-pond near Billings in August 1905. It was alive when he secured it and he kept it several days, feeding it on fresh meat and large insects, which it took eagerly from his hand. Family Larmar. Gulls and Terns. Subfamily Larinae. Gulls. 40. Rissa TRIDACTYLA (Linn.). Kittiwake. Larus tridactylus. Geog. Dist.—Circumpolar regions in summer. In America in winter south to the Middle States and Great Lakes (Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Wyoming and Colorado). As a rare straggler this species is placed in our list by Mr. John A. Bryant, who took a specimen near Kansas City in 1897. 51. Larus ARGENTATUS Briinn. Herring Gull. Larus argentatus smithsonianus. American Herring Gull. Sea Gull. Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere, including the whole of North America. Breeds from Maine, the Great Lakes, Minne- sota and British Columbia to the Arctic Sea. In winter along the whole coast of California, the Atlantic coast, the Great Lakes and the larger rivers south to the Gulf Coast, Cuba and Mexico. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 25 In Missouri the Herring Gull is a transient and winter visitant, most common in early spring and in fall from October 20 to November 20: On the Mississippi and lower Missouri Rivers it may be seen from September 20 to May 5 in varying numbers, leaving us entirely only when the rivers are frozen and returning with the breaking up of the ice. It frequents the lower Missouri River, but is rare in the western part of the state. 54. LARUS DELAWARENSIS Ord. Ring-billed Gull. Larus zonorhynchus Richards. Common American Gull. Geog. Dist—North America at large, but chiefly in the in- terior. Breeds from the northern United States northward and winters coastwise from British Columbia and Long Island south- ward, also on the Lower Mississippi and in the Gulf States. In Missouri the Ring-billed Gull is a common transient visitant in March and April, October and November. It is much more common in western Missouri than the Herring Gull. 59. LARUS FRANKLINII Sw. & Rich. Franklin’s Gull. Chroicocephalus franklini. Franklin’s Rosy Gull. Geog. Dist.—Interior of North America, migrating chiefly west of the Mississippi River, and breeding from northern United States northward, mostly in the prairie region of Manitoba and Assiniboia. Winters from the mouth of the Mississippi south- ward through Mexico and Central America to Peru. In Missouri formerly a regular transient visitant throughout April and in October and November; now rarely seen in the eastern part of the state. 60. Larus PHILADELPHIA (Ord). Bonaparte’s Gull. Larus bonapartei. Chroicocephalus philadelphia. Geog. Dist—Whole of North America, breeding north of the United States, mostly in the wooded region from Hudson Bay to the Yukon marshes and British Columbia. In winter from our southern states to western Mexico. In eastern Missouri a regular transient visitant, formerly com- mon, the latter part of March and early in April, and through October. 62. XEMA SABINII (Sab.). Sabine’s Gull. Larus sabinii. Fork-tailed Gull. Geog. Dist.—Arctic regions, In North America south in 26 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. winter to New York, the Great Lakes, Great Salt Lake and Cali- fornia; casual to Montana, Colorado, Nebraska (September) ; Iowa, October 15, 1891, and October 12, 1894; Kansas, Bahama and coast of Peru. It finds a place in our list on the strength of three specimens taken by Mr. Chas. K. Worthen of Warsaw, Ill., in September 1900, on the Mississippi River, bounding Clark Co., Mo., in the northeast corner of the state. Subfamily Sterninae. Terns. 64. SreERNA CASPIA Pallas. Caspian Tern. Sterna tschegrava. Geog. Dist.—Nearly cosmopolitan. In North America breed- ing locally from Newfoundland to Virginia, and in colonies on small islands in Lake Michigan, in Texas, Louisiana and Nevada. In migration widely scattered, having been taken in Wyoming, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, etc. Mr. Chas. K. Worthen of Warsaw, Ill., writes me that he took Caspian Terns a number of times during the latter part of May and fore part of June, usually while flying over a big sandbar in the Mississippi River not far from the Missouri shore. Mr. W. EK. Praeger saw Caspian Terns frequently at Keokuk in the fall of 1887 and ’88 from September 9 to October 15. Mr. John D. Kastendiek has a fine specimen in his collection of mounted birds. It was shot on the mill pond at Billings, Christian Co., about April or May, 1895. ) 69. STERNA FORSTERI Nuttall. Forster’s Tern. Sterna havelli. Havell’s Tern. Geog. Dist.—North America generally. Breeds locally in the | United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but chiefly in the interior north to latitude 57°. In winter southward to Brazil. In Missouri, both east and west, formerly a fairly common, now rather rare, transient visitant in April and May, and again in September and October. 70. STERNA HIRUNDO Linn. Common Tern. Sterna wilsonii. Sterna fluviatilis. Common Sea Swallow. Wilson’s Tern. Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere. In America chiefly along the Atlantic coast north to the Arctic coast and west on large Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 27 lakes to Alberta. Breeds from Arizona, Texas and Florida northward. Winters from Virginia southward and along the Gulf coast to western Mexico. In Missouri now a rare transient visitant in the second half of May. In the eastern part of the state it was formerly much more common than in the western, but it has also been taken at St. Joseph by Mr. Sidney 8. Wilson (May 28, 1895). *74, STERNA ANTILLARUM (Less.). Least Tern. Sterna minuta. Sterna argentea. Sterna superciliaris. Sterna frenata. Geog. Dist. —Northern South America, northward to southern California, Dakota and New England, breeding throughout its range, and wintering south of the United States. The Least Tern was formerly a not uncommon summer resi- dent on sandbars in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers from May 1 to September 15, but none have been seen the last few years, though they may still breed in small numbers within the state. *77. HYDROCHELIDON NIGRA SURINAMENSIS (GMEL.). Black Tern. Hydrochelidon larijormis. Sterna nigra. Hydrochelidon fissipes. Sterna fissipes. Hydrochelidon plumbea. Short-tailed Tern. Geog. Dist—Temperate and tropical America from Alaska to Chile and Brazil. Breeds from the middle United States west of the Alleghanies northward, the marshy districts of Manitoba and Assiniboia being its chief breeding grounds at present. In Missouri the Black Tern was formerly a fairly common breeder in marshy regions, but it is now rare except in migra- tion, when fairly common from the end of April to the last of May and in August and September, sometimes to October 21. Order STEGANOPODES. Totipalmate Swimmers. Family ANHINGIDAE. Darters. *118. ANHINGA ANHINGA (Linn.). Anhinga. Plotus anhinga. Plotus melanogaster. Darter. Snakebird. Water Turkey. Geog. Dist.—Tropical and subtropical America, north in United States to South Carolina on the Atlantic coast and south- ern Missouri in the Mississippi Valley. 28 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. With drainage, deforestation and settlement of swampy regions this species is fast receding southward. ‘Twenty years ago Mr. E. W. Nelson observed the Anhinga in the vicinity of Cairo, where Hennicott had reported it as of common occurrence in 1865. In 1896 it was still a fairly common summer resident. in the watery region of Dunklin and Pemiskot Counties, but. since the railroads penetrated the Peninsula in all directions and made it easily accessible to the lumberman and hunter, there is. little hope for a continuance of its abode in Missouri, though a few pairs may still be found in secluded spots. | Family PHALACROCORACIDAE. Cormorants. 120. PHALACROCORAX DILOPHUS (Swain.). Double-crested Cor- morant. Pelecanus (Carbo) dilophus. Graculus dilophus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Great Slave Lake, east to Utah and Wyoming. Breeds chiefly north of United States and winters from the Gulf States southward. In Missouri Cormorants are still common in migration from the middle of March till the end of May and in fall from September 25 to November 15, chiefly in April and October. They are rarer in the western part of the state. *120a. PHALACROCORAX DILOPHUS FLORIDANUS (Aud.). Florida. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax floridanus. Southern Double-crested Cormorant. Geog. Dist.—South Atlantic and Gulf States and lower Miss- issippi Valley to the mouth of the Ohio. In the Peninsula of Missouri Cormorants are still breeding in considerable numbers. When feeding young in their nests in the high timber along the Mississippi, troops of them are continually flying to and from the distant feeding grounds in the bayous: or lakes and sloughs in the Little River and St. Francis basin. [121. PHALACROCORAX MEXICANUS (Brandt). Mexican Cormo- rant]. Carbo mexicanus. Geog. Dist.—Mexico, Western Gulf States and lower Missis- sippi Valley to mouth of the Ohio. It was taken near Cairo in the Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 29 spring of 1879 and twice in Kansas. (April 2, 1872, at Lawrence, and in Mitchell Co.) | Being a very common summer resident in several sections of Louisiana it seems probable that roving individuals, following the example of several other species of birds, may straggle up the Mississippi Valley into our state. Students should be on the lookout for them when visiting the Peninsula in summer or early autumn. Family PELECANIDAE. Pelicans. 125. PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCHOS Gmel. American White Pelican. P. americanus. P.trachyrhynchus. P. onocrotalus. Geog. Dist.—North America; rare in northeastern states, common in the interior; north to Mackenzie River, lat. 619. Breeds from Minnesota, Great Salt Lake, Utah and Eagle Lake, Cal., northward. Winters south of United States to Central America. In Missouri the White Pelican is a regular and still common transient visitant in April, September and October, occurring in large flocks on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, where it finds a safe retreat on the immense sandbars in the middle of these rivers. For feeding purposes it visits also smaller bodies of water, but retires to the large rivers for rest androost. Small parties are sometimes seen in summer (May, June, July and August)—individuals which either did not get to breeding, or have been disturbed and driven from their nesting grounds. In his Preliminary Report on the Animals of the Mississippi Bottom near Quincy, Mr. H. Garman mentions the presence of a flock of forty Pelicans in August 1888; also troops of Cormorants. This tends to show that these species may wander about before their regular time for migration has come. From the notes of early explorers it is evident that Pelicans were formerly abundant along the lower Missouri River. Under date of April 28, 1833, Max, Prince zu Wied writes: ‘‘One hundred or more Pelicans go north in wedge or crescent shape.’”’ and the next day, April 29, 1833, he saw a still larger flock. Audubon often speaks of flocks of Pelicans when he went up the Missouri in April, 1843, and saw some as late as May 9 near the corner of the state. Also on his way back in October, 1843, he mentions great flocks of geese 30 | Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. and pelicans on the 10th near Leavenworth and an abundance of geese and pelicans on the 13th near Brunswick. Mr. Jasper Blines of Alexandria, Mo., writes in Forest and Stream, vol. 39, p. 294: “On September 25, 1892, immense flocks of pelicans appeared along the Mississippi (Clark Co.) pursuing their annual migration southward. One flock I observed was a quarter of a mile in length and contained hundreds of these great birds. The pelicans are the only wild fowl which seem to maintain their average numbers.” Order ANSERES. Lamellirostral Swimmers. - Family AnatipAr. Ducks, Geese and Swans. Subfamily Merginae. Mergansers. 129. MERGANSER AMERICANUS (Cass.). American Merganser. Mergus americanus. Mergus merganser. American Sheldrake. Fish Duck. Goosander. Buff-breasted Sheldrake. | Geog. Dist.—North America generally. Breeds now chiefly from Newfoundland, Labrador and British Columbia northward, locally also in northern United States, and sparingly in the mountainous regions of the West. Winters through the southern United States to the Gulf coast. — ‘ In Missouri the Merganser is a common transient visitant and one of the earliest migrants in spring, coming as soon as the ice breaks up; some remain in mild winters. 130. MERGANSER SERRATOR (Linn.). Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Sheldrake. Fishduck. Geog. Dist.—Northern portion of northern hemisphere. Breeds from Newfoundland and Greenland through the wooded region to the Aleutian Islands; south sparingly to the northern United States. Winters in the United States, mostly coastwise, rare in the interior. A specimen, of this, in Missouri apparently rare species, was taken near Kansas City, April 20; 1902, by Mr. John A. Bryant. . Mr. W. E. Praeger took two feiales near Keokuk, February 14, 1890,and Mr. Edmonde 8. Currier of Keokuk gives the following dates: February 21 and 23, 1892, March 28, 1899, May 4, 1902, October 19, 1902, November 12, 1896. _ Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 31 *131. LopHopyTEs cucuLLATUS (Linn.). Hooded Merganser. Mergus cucullatus. Sawbill. Hooded Sheldrake. Fishduck. Geog. Dist—Whole North America; breeding through most of its range; south in winter to Cuba and Mexico; a few remain in the southern states. In Missouri the Hooded Merganser is, in favorable localities, a fairly common summer resident from early in March till No- vember. The heavily wooded bottoms of the larger rivers and the swampy southeastern counties are the breeding grounds of this species, often mistaken for Wood Ducks, especially the females and young ones, sometimes even the males, the dress of which is much plainer in summer than in early spring. More common and generally distributed are the transient visitants in spring and fall. Some stay in mild winters, but as a rule the last leave the state in December and return in March. Subfamily Anatinae. River Ducks. *132. ANAS BOSHAS Linn. Mallard. Anas domestica. Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere. Breeds chiefly north of United States from Greenland to Alaska. Formerly a breeder in most of the United States west of the Alleghanies and north of the Ohio Valley, it is now rare in the Eastern, but still common in some of the Western States. Winters through the Southern States to central Mexico and Lower California, rarely to Central America and Cuba. In Missouri the Mallard is a very common transient visitant; in spring from the breaking up of the ice in January or February to about April 25, most numerous in the second and third week of © March; in fall from early in September to the middle of Decem- ber. The bulk generally does not come before October 10 to northern Missouri, and not before October 20 to the southeast, and leaves the former about November 20 and the latter nearly a month later. Many remain in open winters, and even in severe winters a few are known to have wintered in northern Missouri, taking refuge in air holes caused by warm springs in rivers and visiting cornfields in the daytime. A few pairs still find safe breeding grounds in the large tracts of spartina grass in the marshes of north Missouri, but, as the open season for duck 32 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. shooting is now extended to the first of May, there is no hope for an increase in their numbers. 3 133. Anas opscurRA Gmel. Black Duck. Black Mallard. Dusky Duck. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding formerly in the northern United States east of the Mississippi River, now chiefly from Newfoundland and the Maritime Provinces to Hudson Bay and west to the Red River. In migration it has been found as far west as eastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas. Its chief winter home is on the Atlantic coast from Long Island to northern Florida, though quite a number winter in Louisiana. In Missouri the Black Duck is sometimes, though rather rarely, taken with Mallards in their migrations to and from their winter habitat. Dates of their capture run from March 10 to April 10 and from October 13 to December 1. 133a. ANAS. OBSCURA RUBRIPES Brewster. Red-legged Black Duck. Geog. Dist.—The breeding range of this lately separated sub- species includes northern Labrador and the Hudson Bay region. The southern limit has not yet been determined. It winters somewhat farther north than the Black Duck, as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as South Carolina. In migration it has been taken as far west as Nebraska, and as far south as Mississippi Co., Arkansas (Nov. 5, 1887), but nothing is known of its winter home in the interior. _ A specimen in the possession of Mr. Emmett Cole of Malta Bend was taken in Saline Co. and, if students will pay more attention to the separation of the different subspecies, this more northern form of Black Duck will probably be found to be a regular transient visitant in our state. 135. CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS Linn. Gadwall. Anas strepera. Gray Duck. Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere. The breeding range in America extended formerly from the upper Mississippi Valley to the Pacific, now chiefly through the prairie region of Canada, north to lat. 68°, and from the Rocky Mountains west to British Columbia, south to Colorado and nearly throughout California. It is rare, even as a mere straggler, in Ontario and Quebec and Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 33 the northern Atlantic States. It winters from North Carolina to Florida, but chiefly in the lower Mississippi Valley and thence westward to Central Mexico and Lower California. In Missouri the Gadwall is a fairly common transient visitant from the last of February to the end of April, when they are generally found in pairs. They used to be summer residents in northern Missouri, and only a few years ago were considered rare breeders in Clark Co., Mo., by Mr. Ed. 8. Currier of Keokuk, Ia. In the southward migration they appear about the middle of October and remain in the southeast well into December. 136. MARECA PENELOPE Linn. Widgeon. Anas penelope. Geog. Dist. —Northern part of Old World and Aleutian Islands. In America a frequent straggler, chiefly along the Atlantic coast from Greenland and Newfoundland to Florida. In the interior it has been reported from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wiscon- sin, and Nebraska. On the Pacific coast it has occurred several times in California, British Columbia and Alaska. A remarkable fact is, that, while the Atlantic coast records are nearly all made in winter (October 20to February 5) and none later than March 25, those of the interior are all made in spring (March 23 to April 18). Mr. Frank Schwarz of St. Louis mounted a male which was killed by a hunter in the vicinity of St. Louis, April 10, 1905. 137. MARECA AMERICANA Gmel. Baldpate. Anas americana. American Widgeon. Geog. Dist —Whole of North America with the exception of its northeastern part, being only a straggler north of the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay. Breeds sparingly on the plains of Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota, more commonly in Colo- rado, Utah and Nevada (formerly east to Indiana and Wisconsin), now chiefly from Minnesota, North Dakota, Manitoba and Assini- boia northwestward to the Arctic circle. In Alaska to Kotzebue Sound. South to Oregon. It winters in California, and in the East from Virginia and the Ohio River to Cuba, Mexico and Guatemala. In Missouri the Baldpate is a common transient visitant. It is present in spring from the last of February in the southeast, and from the middle of March in the north, to the middle of 34 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. April, occasionally to the end of the month (April 28, 1904, Kansas City, Bryant). Those seen in April are generally in pairs. In fall migration they reach us early in October, are common from October 10 to November 20; some linger on the southeastern waters well into winter. Some writers use the term ‘‘ wintering ’’ when a species is seen in every month of winter, but this is misleading. Many birds stay with us until the first part of January when the severest period of winter begins, are gone for over a month, but return to us before the end of February, at which time the strength of win- ter is broken and the ice of the rivers has moved out. 139. NETTION CAROLINENSIS (Gmel.). Green-winged Teal. Anas crecca. Anas carolinensis. Querquedula carolinensis. Geog. Dist.—Whole of North America. Breeds from New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador west to British Colum- bia, northwest to Kotzebue Sound and throughout the Aleutian Islands, north to Mackenzie River. Also in the mountains of the western United States, and formerly in many localities of the Eastern States from northern Illinois and Nebraska northward. At present the main breeding grounds extend from Manitoba northwestward to Lake Athabaska. It winters along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Jalisco and through the southern Atlantic and Gulf States to southern Mexico, rarely to Cuba and Honduras. In Missouri the Green-winged Teal is a very common transient visitant. It returns to the southeast soon after the middle of February, to the marshes of north Missouri and the western part of the state about the first of March. The bulk is present from March 10 to 25, but the last has not left the state before a month later. In autumn the first begin to reappear between September 15 and 22 and from the end of the month to the middle of No- vember they may be found in many parts of the state. They are mostly all gone by the middle of December, but in mild winters a few may be found in January. 140. QUERQUEDULA Discors (Linn.). Blue-winged Teal. Anas discors. Geog. Dist.—North America, chiefly east of Rocky Mountains and west of Great Lakes. Breeds locally from northern Ohio, southern Indiana, Missouri, Texas and New Mexico, but mainly Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 35 from northern United States northward to Saskatchewan; rarely east to New England and Newfoundland and Labrador, or west to Nevada, central Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. It winters from the South Atlantic and Gulf States south through the West Indies and Mexico to Central and northern South America as far as Brazil and Chile. In Missouri it is a very common transient visitant. The first reach the southeast early in March, sometimes even in February. On the marshes near St. Louis the first are usually taken between the 10th and 17th of March and in northern Missouri about a week later. The bulk is present from March 15 to April 15 and the last transients are found about April 25. Pairs seen in the latter part of April or in May intend to remain and would breed if let alone; but, as they are hunted wherever seen, they probably succeed but seldom in rearing a brood. The last instance of eggs being found in the state is given by Mr. E. 8. Currier, who states that on May 23, 1889, a nest was found by boys in Clark Co., and an egg was brought to Mr. F. M. Crawford at Wayland. A pair of Bluewings was seen by me June 17, 1906, near Malta Bend, Saline Co., and others in the same month near Peruque, St. Charles Co. The first flocks of southbound Bluewings have been — seen in northern Missouri on the first of September, but the bulk is with us from September 15 to October 25, and some linger for another month (November 22, 1905, St. Charles Co.). 141. QUERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA (Vieillot). Cinnamon Teal. Anas cyanoptera. Red-breasted Teal. Geog. Dist.—Western America from Mexico to British Co- lumbia and from Peru to the Straits of Magellan and the Falkland Islands. Breeds east to Wyoming and southern Texas, straggling in migration into the Mississippi Valley, and wintering south of the United States, chiefly in Mexico. An occasional straggler in Missouri it has been taken as far east as the vicinity of St. Louis, as several mounted specimens in private collections attest. It is said to occur with flocks of Blue- winged Teals. 142. SpaTULA CLYPEATA (Linn.). Shoveller. Anas clypeata. Spoon-bill. Spoon-billed Duck. Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere; in America, rare on the Atlantic coast north of the Potomac, common from Indiana 36 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. westward to California. Breeding formerly in most of its range, it is now restricted in the United States to western plains and mountain parks. In Canada it breeds from Manitoba west to central British Columbia and northwest to Kotzebue Sound, being most abundant between 51° and 54° lat. It winters from Virginia to Georgia and through the Gulf states to Mexico and Guatemala, rarely to Florida and the West Indies or South America. In Missouri the Shoveller is a fairly common transient visitant from March 10 to April 25 and from October 1 to November 20. In mild weather earlier and later dates have been obtained in central Missouri (February 20, 1903, New Haven, Dr. Eimbeck, ~ and December 4, 1902, St. Charles Co.), and in southeastern Missouri some have been taken in January. The Shoveller is known to have bred in the state (Clark Co., E. 8. Currier), and even now pairs are seen late in April or even in May (May 16, 1905, Warrensburg), which would probably breed, if conditions were favorable. 143. Daria acuta (Linn.). Pintail. Anas acuta. Anas caudacuta. Sprig. Sprigtail. Geog. Dist—Northern hemisphere; breeding sparingly in western United States, but chiefly from Manitoba, Assiniboia and British Columbia northward to the Arctic coast, rarely eastward from Hudson Bay to New Brunswick. It is the commonest duck in Alaska. It winters from Virginia and Louisiana southward to Cuba and through Mexico to Costa Rica, rarely to Panama. Also along the Pacific coast from British Columbia south through California. In Missouri the Sprig, as it is commonly called, is a very com- mon transient visitant in spring and fall, lingering long with us in spring, but passing through rapidly in fall. Flocks of Sprigs may be found in one part of the state or another from the end of January to April 20, and from October 1 to December 15, more commonly from March 1 to 25, and from October 10 to November 25. With Mallards the Sprigs are the first ducks to return to us as soon as the snow disappears from the ground and before the ice has broken up in the lakes or left the rivers. They appeared near St. Louis February 24, 1905, three days before the ice broke up in the Mississippi and only four days after the first thaw followed one of our severest winters, in which the ground was covered for four weeks with a solid sheet of icy snow. The Widmann—aA Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 37 first appear even at our northern state line seldom later than the end of February. *144,. Arx sponsa (Linn.). Wood Duck. Anas sponsa. Dendronessa sponsa. Summer Duck. Geog. Dist.—North America from latitude 54° southward to Cuba and southern California. Breeds through most of its range and winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf States and in Cali- fornia, returning early to the breeding grounds. . As a transient visitant it is still fairly common from March 15 to April 20, and from October 20 to November 25. It is also a fairly common summer resident in all heavily wooded river bottoms, especially in those of the Peninsula, and many succeed in rearing broods in spite of continuous persecution.’ In August and September gatherings of from 75 to 100 birds may yet be found in favorite secluded spots in our river bottoms, to which they repair daily for weeks, if not disturbed too much. They are early breeders, and young out of nest may be met with in the second week of May. Subfamily Fuligulinae. River Ducks. 146. AYTHYA AMERICANA (Hyt.). Redhead. Anas ferina. Fuligula ferina. Fuligula americana. Pochard. Geog. Dist.—North America to about latitude 549, rare on the North Atlantic coast. Breeds from southern California sparingly to British Columbia and locally from Nebraska northward, most numerously in the reedy marshes of Manitoba, Assiniboia, — Alberta and Saskatchewan. It winters from the coast of British Columbia and from the Potomac through the southern states southward to southern Mexico. In Missouri the Redhead is a fairly common transient visitant from March 1 to April 10, exceptionally earlier in February and even in January, or later (April 19, 1894, Currier) and in fall from October 15 to December 1. While abundant in large flocks in spring, it is less often met with in the fall. 147. AYTHYA VALLISNERIA (Wils.). Canvas-back. Anas vallisneria. Fuligula valisneria. White-back. Geog. Dist —Whole of North America; rare on north Atlantic coast, more plentiful from Quebec and Ontario westward to 38 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Alberta, where most abundant; northwestward to Sitka. Breeds locally from Minnesota, North Dakota, Colorado and Nevada northward. Winters from Fraser River to Mazatlan and from Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River southward through the southern states to central Mexico. Though not rare the Canvas-back is a less regular transient visitant in Missouri than the Redhead and in smaller troops. It occurs sometimes in February, but mostly between March 1 and April 15, and in fall from October 25 to December 10, oftenest from the middle to the end of November. 148. AYTHYA MARILA (Linn.). Scaup Duck. Aythya marila nearctica. Anas marila. Fuligula marila. Fulix marila Big Black-head. Big Blue-bill. Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere; in America breeding from Minnesota and British Columbia throughout northwestern Canada to Kotzebue Sound and the Aleutian Islands, more commonly northward. Winters from the Aleutian Islands along the Pa- cific coast almost to Mexico, in the lower Mississippi Valley and abundantly from Long Island to Chesapeake Bay, less commonly along the South Atlantic and Gulf coast to southern Texas. Like the Canvas-back, and even more so, the Big Blue-bill is irregular in its appearance in Missouri, and-never occurs in large flocks like its smaller cousin. Available dates of its capture on the marshes of northeastern Missouri range from February 28 to April 1 (One taken May 18 was probably a cripple). In fall from November 10 to December 5. 149. AYTHYA AFFINIS (Eyt.). Lesser Scaup Duck. Fuligula affinis. Fulix afinis. Fuligula mariloides. Fuligula minor. Fuligula marila in Audubon’s works. Little Blue-bill. Little Black- head. Geog. Dist.—North America, breeding from -the northern border of the United States northward through the prairie region to the Arctic Circle, and from Hudson Strait to the Yukon River; rarely in northern United States and on the Pacific coast. It winters in the South Atlantic States and southward to the Greater Antilles; it is especially common along the Gulf coast to Guatemala; less common in California. In Missouri the Blue-bill is a very common transient visitant, occurring in large flocks from the last of February to the middle of April, and from October 1 to December 5. Earliest for St. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 39 Charles Co., February 16, 1904; latest December 4, 1902. Lar- liest for Clark Co. (Currier), February 21, 1892; latest in spring, April 25, 1897; in fall, December 5, 1899. Pairs are occasionally seen in summer (June 18, 1901, Clark Co., Currier, and June 17, 1906, in Saline Co.), but whether they breed has not been ascer- tained. 150. AyTHYA COLLARIS (Donov.). Ring-necked Duck. Anas collaris. Fulix collaris. Fuligula collaris. Anas fuligula. Anas (Fuligula) rufitorques. Ring-neck. Ring-bill. Blackjack. Geog. Dist.—North America, rare on North Atlantic Coast. Breeding from southern Minnesota and North Dakota northward to Lake Athabasca; sparingly west of the Rocky Mountains. In winter chiefly along the Gulf Coast to Central America and Cuba; north to the Carolinas and the Ohio River. The Blackjack is a very common transient visitant in Missouri. The first arrive from the south about a week after the first Mal- lards and Sprigs have come. In short winters the species may be absent a few weeks only. In the vicinity of St. Louis the first have been noted February 18, 1898; in some years-they were not seen before the middle of March, but usually varying numbers _ are frequenting the marshes of northeastern Missouri from March 10 to April 10, sometimes to the end of the month (April 28, 1893, Clark Co., Currier). Their presence in fall is also governed largely by the weather conditions. In 1903 they were plentiful in St. Charles Co. from October 3 till December 4; in other years they came as late as October 20 and were gone a month later. 151. CLANGULA CLANGULA AMERICANA (Bonap.). American Golden-eye. | - Glaucionetta clangula americana. Fuligula clangula. Bucephala amer- icana. Anas clangula (in Wilson). Clangula glaucium. Clangula vul- _ garis. Bucephala clangula. Whistler. Great Head. Garrot. Whistle- wing. Geog. Dist—North America; breeding from Newfoundland, New England, northern Michigan, North Dakota, Montana and British Columbia northward in wooded regions to the Mackenzie River and Alaska. It winters abundantly on the Atlantic coast from the British Provinces to South Carolina, along the Pacific coast, and less commonly on the Gulf coast. In Missouri the Whistle-wing is a frequent transient or winter 40 . Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. visitant on the larger rivers. At Keokuk, which is situated on the Mississippi River at the foot of the rapids, Mr. E. S. Currier had the opportunity to observe it every winter for eleven years and found it in flocks of from 30 to 100, sometimes much more numerous, as on January 17, 1903, and March 5, 1895, when a thousand were present. His dates of those first seen vary from | November 9, 1895, to December 4, 1892, and those for last seen from January 17,1903, to April 7,1899. A female in the Hurter collection was taken near St. Louis, January 1, 1875. 152. CLANGULA ISLANDICA (Gmel.). Barrow’s Golden-eye. Glaucionetta islandica. Anas islandica. Rocky Mountain Garrot. Geog. Dist.—Northern North America; breeding from moun- tains of western United States and from Bay of Fundy to Green- land and Alaska. It winters around the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in the northern United States, the Rocky Mountains and on the Pacific coast south to central California. Mr. E.S. Currier gives the species as rare, but occurring amongst the immense number of Golden-eyes which winter on the Des Moines rapids. Mr. W. E. Praeger obtained a female shot March 27, 1888, on Lima Lake, Ill., a few miles east of the state line. In a letter sent to Mr. R. Ridgway and published in Forest and Stream, vol. 36, p. 485, Mr. Frank W. Sparks of St. Louis writes under date of February 10, 1891: ‘This fall, while shooting at the same place (New Albany, southeast Missouri) I killed a specimen of Barrow’s Golden-eye. Unfortunately this duck, or more properly drake, was half picked by one of the boys in camp when I discovered it. He is rare so far east, is he not?” To this Mr. R. Ridgway replied: ‘Regarding your capture of Barrow’s Golden-eye in Missouri, this is not so remarkable, as specimens have previously been taken in the vicinity of St. Louis, in Kansas and southern Illinois. These localities represent, however, about the southern limit of the winter range of the species, which is a northern and not a western bird, as you seem to regard it.”” 158. CHARITONETTA ALBEOLA (Linn.). Buffle-head. Anas albeola. Fuligula albeola. Clangula albeola. Bucephala albeola. Butterball. Dipper. Geog. Dist.—North America; breeds from Maine, Ontario, Wisconsin, Wyoming and British Columbia northward in all the forest country to the upper Yukon. In winter along all coasts Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 41 of the United States, and less regularly on the Great Lakes and larger rivers of the interior; south to Mexico and Lower California. In Missouri the Butterball is a fairly common transient visitant in early spring and late fall. It is sometimes taken in February, even in the western and northern part of the state (February 5, 1904, Kansas City, Bryant; February 22, 1885, Keokuk, Prae- ger), but small troops are met with most frequently between March 1 and April 10, exceptionally later (May 4, 1892, Keokuk, Currier). In fall the earliest record is October 10, 1904, (Kansas City, Bryant) and the latest December 4, 1892 (Keokuk, Currier). The largest number of dates were obtained between October 10 and November 20. 154. HarELDA HYEMALIS (Linn.). Old-squaw. Anas hyemalis. Clangula hyemalis. Harelda glacialis. Anas glacialis. Anas longicauda. Long-tailed Duck. South-southerly. Old-wife. Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere; breeding along the Arctic coast, and wintering from the Aleutian chain down the whole Pacific coast to California, and on the Atlantic coast from St. Lawrence to North Carolina; less regularly on the Great Lakes and larger rivers of the interior south to the Ohio River, excep- tionally even to Louisiana (February 28, 1885, and February 13, 1899). | In Missouri an irregular winter visitant between November 20 and April 1. Old birds are always rare, but young birds are some- times common. 155. HisTrioNIcus HISTRIONICUS (Linn.). Harlequin Duck. Anas histrionica. Fuligula histrionica. Histrionicus torquatus. Histrion- icus minitus. Anas minuta. Geog. Dist.—Northern North America, Iceland and Eastern Asia. Breeds in America from Newfoundland, Labrador and the east coast of Greenland, south of the Arctic Circle, on rapid streams of the interior west to Alaska and British Columbia, and in the mountains of the western United States south to lat. 38°. In winter irregularly to the northern United States from the coast of Maine to California, but everywhere rare and apparently on the decrease. In Missouri a rare winter visitant. One was taken March 21, 1897, in Montgomery Co. by Mr. E. M. Parker, and another, taken near St. Louis, October 29, is in the Hurter collection. 42 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lowis. Near Omaha, Neb., it has been taken as early as September 16, 1893, and September 19, 1895 (Osprey vol. 3, p. 131). [162. SoMATERIA SPECTABILIS (Linn.). King Eider]. Fuligula spectabilis. Geog. Dist.—Northern part of northern hemisphere. Breeds in Arctic region from the Atlantic to Pacific; in America in winter south to New Jersey and the Great Lakes, rarely south to ait and California. Mr. Wm. E. Praeger has in his collection a young male swhigh was shot on the Mississippi River near Keokuk, November 10, 1894 (Auk, vol. 12, p. 86). 163. OIDEMIA AMERICANA Swains. American Scoter. Anas nigra. Fuligula americana. Black Scoter. Sea Coot. Scoter Duck. Geog. Dist.—Northern North America and eastern Asia. In summer in the Hudson Bay country, but breeding most abun- dantly on the Pacific coast from the Aleutian Islands to Kotzebue ~ Sound and northeastern Asia. In winter to the coasts, lakes and larger rivers of the United States, chiefly north and eastward, rarely to lower Mississippi Valley and on the Pacific coast to California. Also in Japan. Black Scoters in immature plumage are probably not as rare in Missouri as appears from captured specimens. They have repeatedly been taken in southeastern Nebraska, and Mr. W. E. Praeger obtained one at the Des Moines rapids near Keokuk, October 31, 1895. An immature specimen killed near St. Louis, November 24, 1875, is in the Hurter collection, and there is a report, though somewhat questionable, of a flock of fifty being seen May 2, 1883, on a millet field near Anna, Union Co., in southern Illinois, feeding on the newly sown seed. 165. OIDEMIA DEGLANDI Bonap. White-winged Scoter. Anas fusca. Fuligula fusca. Oidemia fusca. Oidemia bimaculata. Oidemia velvetina. Melanetta velvetina. Oidemia fusca velvetina. Velvet Scoter. White-winged Coot. Black Surf Duck. Velvet Duck. Geog. Dist.—Northern North America; breeding from Gulf of St. Lawrence to 59° lat. in Labrador, and from North Dakota and Alberta to Hudson Bay and mouth of the Mackenzie River; less commonly from British Columbia to Kotzebue Sound and the coast of northeastern Siberia. In winter to the coast of the Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 48 Pacific from British Columbia to Lower California, and on the Atlantic from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, also on the Great Lakes and irregularly throughout the United States south to the Gulf Coast. In Missouri a rather rare winter visitant on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. A male in the Hurter collection was taken near St. Louis, October 18,.1883, and two in immature plumage, November 24, 1877. A female taken near Kansas City is in the Public Museum of that city. Mr. W. E. Praeger has one in his collection taken October 26, 1895, onthe Des Moines River near Keokuk. In southeastern Nebraska specimens were secured October 14, 1899, and December 8, 1900. 166. OIDEMIA PERSPICILLATA (Linn.). Surf Scoter. Anas perspiciliata. Fuligula wperspiciilata. Pelionetta perspicillata. Pelionetta trowbridgii. Surf Duck. Sea Coot. Surf Coot. Gray, Coots (young and females). Spectacled Coot. Skunkhead. Geog. Dist—North America; breeding from Newfoundland and Labrador (Greenland?) along the Arctic coast to Alaska. In winter along the Pacific Coast from the Aleutians to Lower California; on the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida, chiefly from Massachusetts to North Carolina; in the interior throughout the United States irregularly as far south as Louisiana. In Missouri a rare winter visitant. An immature specimen taken near St. Louis, May 3, 1876, is in the Hurter collection. Mr. Wm. E. Praeger has specimens taken near Keokuk, October 19, 1895, and October 22, 1896. A young male was secured October 29, 1887, at Lawrence, Kan., and one, also a male, at Lincoln, Neb., October 7, 1896. 167, ERISMATURA JAMAICENSIS (Gmel.). Ruddy Duck. Anas rubidus. Erismatura rubida. Fuligula rubida. Anas jamaicensis. Spine-tailed Duck. Bristle-tail. Fool Duck. Geog. Dist—From northern South America through the Greater Antilles and Central America to the Great Slave Lake. Breeds locally throughout its range, but mainly in the reedy lakes of Manitoba, Assiniboia and Alberta. In winter to California, South Atlantic and Gulf States and southward. In Missouri the Ruddy Duck is a fairly common, but generally distributed, transient visitant. In spring it is with us from the latter part of February (February 26, 1884, St. Louis) to the end of April (April 25, 1881, a fine male in the Hurter collection) 44 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louss. and in fall from October 10 to November 20. According to Mr. Hy. Nehrling the Ruddy Duck was formerly a rare breeder in southwestern Missouri. Subfamily Anserinae. Geese. 169. CHEN HYPERBOREA (Pall.). Lesser Snow Goose. Anser hyperboreus. Anser albatus. Chen hyperboreus albatus. Snow Goose. White Brant. Geog. Dist.—Northeastern Asia and western North, America to the Mississippi Valley. Breeds within the Arctic circle from Liverpool Bay to Alaska. In winter from British Columbia through the interior valleys to southern California, Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. In Missouri the Snow Goose, often called Brant, is a fairly common, generally distributed transient visitant from the end of February (February 25, 1884, St. Louis) to the middle of April (April 16, 1902, New Haven; April 17, 1894, Vernon Co.), chiefly in March, and in fall from October 10 to November 20. 169a. CHEN HYPERBOREA NIVALIS (Forst.). Greater Snow Goose. Anas hyperboreus. Chen hyperboreus nivalis. Geog. Dist.—Hastern North America, east of the Mississippi River except the region north of Virginia, migrating in spring through Manitoba and eastern Assiniboia, in fall through western Assiniboia and Alberta. Breeds in Arctic regions and winters along Atlantic coast, the Gulf States, and irregularly in the Greater Antilles. In Missouri a transient visitant of probably regular occurrence, together with intermediate forms, among troops of the former subspecies. ‘Typical specimens have been secured by Mr. Chas. K. Worthen of Warsaw, IIl., several times on Lima Lake, and Mr. EK. W. Nelson stated that he found the two subspecies in about equal numbers in Illinois, sometimes in separate flocks, or mixed with the other subspecies, and also with the Blue Goose. Dr Rud. M. Anderson writes in his Birds of Iowa on page 183: “On the basis of these measurements (78 skins collected in Iowa) only ten or twelve per cent. of the specimens from Iowa can defi- nitely be considered as Greater Snow Geese, the remainder being the Lesser variety, with every grade of intermediates between. In the face of such perfect intergradation, the attempt to differ- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 45 entiate between the varieties seems to be almost a useless refine- ment.”’ . 169.1. CHEN CAERULESCENS (Linn.). Blue Goose. Anas caerulescens. Anser caerulescens. Blue-winged Goose. Young of Snow Goose. Geog. Dist.—Interior of North America. Breeding ground unknown but thought to be on eastern shores of Hudson Bay. In winter through Mississippi Valley to Gulf coast, chiefly west of the Mississippi River. In Missouri the Blue Goose is a fairly common transient visi- tant in spring in flocks by themselves or mixed with Snow Geese. Available dates run from March 17 to April 2; no fall record is at present at hand. Formerly considered to be the young or a colored phase of the Snow Goose, this species did not receive that measure of observers’ attention which it deserves. More- over the young of the two species resemble each other perfectly in form and size, and enough in color to make identification at a distance difficult. Both, old and young, were formerly not rare in the St. Louis market. Two fine specimens of adult birds are in the Eimbeck, one in the Hurter collection and some in several other private collections in St. Louis. 17la. ANSER ALBIFRONS GAMBELI (Hartl.). American White- fronted Goose. Anser gambeli. Anser albijrons. Anser frontalis. Speckle-belly. Laugh- ing Goose. Geog. Dist.—North America generally, rare on the Atlantic - coast, common in migration in the Mississippi Valley and in the Pacific States. Breeds in Greenland and on the mainland along the Arctic coast to the Yukon River. Winters from British Columbia to Cape St. Lucas and Jalisco, and from lower Missis- sippi Valley and southern Texas to northern Mexico; also in Cuba. In Missouri the Speckle-belly, also called Brant by hunters, though less abundant than formerly, is still a fairly common transient visitant from early in March to the latter part of April, — and in October and the first half of November. 172. BRANTA CANADENSIS (Linn.). Canada Goose. Anas canadensis. Bernicla canadensis. Wild Goose. Geog. Dist—North America; breeding from Tennessee, Ar- kansas, northern Colorado, southern Oregon, northward to and 46 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. through the British Provinces from Newfoundland to British Columbia and northward to the Mackenzie River basin and the interior of Alaska. In winter to California and from Long Island, Ohio Valley and lower Missouri Valley southward through the south Atlantic and Gulf States. As the settlers of the country moved west and northward the breeding grounds of the goose were encroached upon. Its southern limits at present extend through the northern tier of states, but the bird will soon be driven from there as well as from the southern provinces of Can- ada. In Missouri the Wild Goose is a common|transient visitant and a not very rare winter resident, being present in larger or smaller numbers from early in October to the latter part of April, leaving the state entirely only for a short time during the severest winter weather when the ground is covered with snow and the rivers are frozen. When the first white men flocked into the state, they found the geese nesting all along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. In his ‘‘ Reise durch Nord America” Prinz zu Wied tells us that he found on April] 25, 1833, a nest in a tree at the mouth of Nodaway River, and that the next day he met with a group of goslings guarded by their parents. During the last decade of the past century the Peninsula of Missouri still harbored a small number of breeding pairs, usually nesting on cypress stumps in the overflow, 6 or 8 feet above the water. The natives hunted their eggs and young, and bevies of semi-domesticated Wild Geese were acommon sight in Pemiscot and Dunklin Counties. Pairs thus reared were allowed to make their own nests in the fields of the farmer and incubated their eggs themselves, the gander keeping guard and _ boldly attacking all intruders. As there has been a great influx of settlers into that country during the last few years, it is probable that the days of the Wild Goose breeding in Missouri are past, but some may still at least try to remain. Non-breeders are sometimes seen in northern Missouri long after the transients are all gone (May 3, 1887, St. Louis; May 18, 1902, New Haven; June 7, 1886, Mt. Carmel). : 172a. BRANTA CANADENSIS HUTCHINSII (Rich.). Hutchin’s Goose. Anser hutchinsii. Bernicla hutchinsii. Little Wild Goose. Lesser Canada Goose. Geog. Dist——Western North America; in the north-east to Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missouri. 47 Hudson Bay region, rarely to the Atlantic coast. Breeds from Yukon Delta northward along the Arctic coast and islands and migrates through the western states and the Mississippi Valley to winter in California and the southern United States. In Missouri a fairly common transient and winter visitant, generally in company with its larger cousin, from which it is readily distinguished by its much smaller size. The first Hutch- in’s Geese Audubon ever saw, he killed October 14, 1843, near Brunswick, Mo. [172c. BRANTA CANADENSIS MINIMA Ridgw. Cackling Goose.] Branta minima. Geog. Dist.—Coast of Alaska, chiefly about Norton Sound and Lower Yukon, migrating southward into western United States, east to Wisconsin. A fine example of this very small tie killed in the vicinity of Quincy, Ill., and now in the bird ‘collection of the Public Library, extends its range as a casual visitant to the eastern border of Missouri. 178. DENDROCYGNA FULVA (Gmel.). Fulvous Tree-duck. Anas fulva. Penelope mexicana. Geog. Dist.—Southern border of United States; east to eastern Louisiana (Rigolets Pass), north to central California (Marys- ville) and Nevada (Washoe Lake); south into Mexico. Occurs also in South America, southern Asia, Africa and Madagascar. Accidental in Washington (October 3, 1905, Grays Harbor); North Carolina (Swan Island, July, 1886). Of its occurrence in Missouri we find the following record in Forest and Stream: vol. 36. p. 485: “St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 10, 1891. Dr. T. H. Bean. Dear Sir: While duck shooting last fall at New Albany, southeastern Missouri, I killed what was then to me a new duck, but which I have since identified as Dendro- cygna fulva, a South American bird, if I have placed it right. Is not this a rare bird so far north? I have mounted the skin and would present it to the Smithsonian, if it will be of any use to that institution. Yours very truly, Frank W. Sparks.” To this the following reply was added: ‘‘Smithsonian Institution, Washington, June 12, 1891. Mr. Frank W. Sparks, 2516 No. Broadway, St. Louis. Dear Sir: I write to thank you on behalf of the National Museum for the very fine specimen of the Fulvous 48 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Tree-duck, Dendrocygna julva, which you had the kindness to present through Dr. Bean. Besides being a very acceptable specimen on account of its good preparation, it is particularly so from the very exceptional locality which it represents, being, so far as the Eastern United States are concerned, much the most northern example on record—Currituck Sound, N. C. (a single accidental specimen), Louisiana and Texas being the most northern localities for the species known to me, except in California where it is not uncommon as far north as Stockton. It has also been taken near Carson, Nev. Yours truly, R. Ridgway, Curator Dep’t of Birds.” Subfamily Cygninae. Swans. 180. OLoR COLUMBIANUS (Ord). Whistling Swan. Anas columbianus. Olor americanus. Cygnus americanus. Cygnus bewickii. Cygnus ferus. Cygnus musicus. American Swan. Geog. Dist—North America; breeding along the coast of the Arctic Sea from Baffinland and Nottingham Island to Alaska, where it has been found as far south as 58° (Becharof Lake). Winters on Pacific coast from British Columbia to southern California; on the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to Florida; rare in the interior and Gulf States. In Missouri a rare transient visitant in early spring (March 26, 1898, St. Joseph, Wilson; March 27, 1894, Keokuk, Currier; March 24, 1885, St. Louis; March 16, Hurter collection). Seldom met with in fall (October 8 and 9, Keokuk, Praeger). It may not be out of place to remind students, as Dr. Coues does in his Birds of the North-west, page 546, “that the yellow spot on the bill is not constant, in young birds especially, often no trace can be observed. In such cases the species would be distinguish- able from O. buccinator by the smaller size, fewer tail feathers, and shorter, differently shaped bill.” 181. OLor BUCCINATOR (Rich.). Trumpeter Swan. Cygnus buccinator. Geog. Dist.—Interior of North America, breeding formerly from Iowa and Nebraska through the North-west Territories, now from about 60° to the Arctic Ocean. Winters from British Columbia to southern California and migrates through the Mis- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 49 sissippi Valley to the Gulf of Mexico. Rare or casual on the Atlantic coast. In Missouri the Trumpeter Swan is a regular, formerly fairly common, now rather rare, transient visitant from the middle of February to the middle of April, chiefly in March. The innum- erable large and small lakes in the flood plains of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers offer temporary resting places for the passing swans, which wander in small troops and, where not molested, remain sometimes for weeks on favorite feeding grounds. Ona small lake on a St. Charles Co. game preserve a party of eight remained in 1895 from March 15 to April 9; and they are known to return to the same lake every spring. In autumn these lakes are usually too shallow and small to suit swans, though they attract geese and ducks, as well as other water birds and waders. As this species is known to have bred in Iowa and Nebraska the swans, which Audubon saw May 4, 1843, on the Missouri River between Leavenworth and St. Joseph may have been on or near their nesting grounds. That swans bred formerly also in north- eastern Missouri is well known to old hunters. Mr. Jasper Blines of Alexandria wrote October 31, 1888, in Forest and Stream vol. 31, p. 343: “What has become of the swan? This noble fowl was tolerably plentiful here in former times and even hatched its brood along the densely covered shores of our low- land lakes. But they have bidden us good-bye and have sought climes more genial, and their musical voice is no more heard in our land.” Order HERODIONES. Herons, Storks, Ibises, ete. Suborder Ibides, Spoonbills and Ibises. Family Iprpipag. _Ibises. [184. Guara ALBA (Linn.). White Ibis.] Scolopax alba. Tantalus albus. Ibis alba. Eudocinus albus. Geog. Dist.—South Atlantic and Gulf States to West Indies and northern South America; north to North Carolina, southern Illinois, Great Salt Lake and Lower California, casually to Long Island, Connecticut and South Dakota. There are two White Ibises in immature plumage in collections at Quincy, Illinois, one in the Seaman collection in the High 50 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. School, the other in the Public Library. Upon inquiry it was ~ found that both were killed at the same time out of a flock of four by Mr. Slingerland of Quincy in the neighborhood of that city. This extends the range of the species in the Mississippi Valley northward to the region of northern Missouri. » [186. PLmeGADIS AUTUMNALIS (Hasselq.). Glossy Ibis.] Tantalus jalcinellus. Ibis and Plegadis falcinellus. Ibis Ordii. Ibis jalci- nellus var. ordii. Green Ibis (young). Bay Ibis. Geog. Dist.—Warmer parts of Old World and West Indies, irregularly to southeastern United States, wandering north along Atlantic coast to New England and in the Mississippi Valley to Nebraska (three specimens taken in eastern Nebraska near Omaha), and Wisconsin. One in immature plumage was killed February 27, 1880, within a few miles of St. Louis in the Illinois bottom, and is now in the Hurter collection of Washington University of St. Louis. 187. PLEGADIS GUARAUNA (Linn.). White-faced Glossy Ibis. Scolopax guarauna. Ibis and Tantalus guarauna. Ibis thalassinus (young). Geog. Dist.—Northern South America through West Indies and Mexico to Texas, southwestern Louisiana, California, strag- gling northward to British Columbia, Oregon, Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska. Also found breeding (June 26, 1894, and June 22, 1895), at Heron Lake, Minn. The Kansas records are one in fall, 1879, near Lawrence; one - near Wichita, October 17, 1890; and one near McPherson, April — 29, 1891. Of the three specimens taken in Nebraska, two were killed near Omaha, August 19, 1893, and April 6, 1897. There is also a record from Calhoun Co., Ia., where one was killed out of a flock of thirteen in April 1891. In a case of mounted birds presented to the Cuivre Hunting Club by one of its former members, Mr. John T. Davis, is a fine specimen of a White-faced Glossy Ibis in adult plumage. All birds in the case were taken on the club grounds in St. Charles Co., but unfortunately dates of capture have not been preserved. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 51 Suborder Ciconiae. Storks, etc. Family CiconupaE. Storks and Wood Ibises. Subfamily Tantalinae. Wood Tbises. 188. TANTALUS LOCULATOR Linn. Wood Ibis. Water Turkey. Colorado Turkey. Gcurdhead. Geog. Dist.—From southern South America to southeastern California, Arizona, and the Gulf coast, wandering in summer northward through the lower Mississippi Valley to Missouri, irregularly to Utah, Colorado, Indiana and Wisconsin, casually to Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The Gourdhead, as it is called by the natives, is a regular sum- mer visitant in the Peninsula of Missouri from July to September, occurring in troops of from ten to thirty. Some years these troops follow the Mississippi River into northern Missouri, visiting the lakes of the bottom land, rarely ascending the lower Missouri River. Dr. A. F. Eimbeck observed them but once in thirty-five years, a flock of seven at New Haven, August 11 to September 11, 1902. Suborder Herodii. Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, etc. Family ArpEIDAE. Herons, Bitterns, etc. Subfamily Botaurinae. Bitterns. *190. BoTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS (Montag.). American Bittern. Ardea stellaris canadensis. Botaurus minor. Ardea minor. B. mugitans. Stake Driver. Thunder Pump. Indian Pullet. Look-up. Geog. Dist.—From Guatemala northward throughout the United States and in Canada to Hudson Bay and Mackenzie River, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Breeds in suitable localities in most parts of the United States, chiefly northward. In Missouri the Bittern can still be regarded a fairly common summer resident and breeder in all marshes from about the first of April to the end of October. In migration it may be met with in unexpected places, on small pools in the woodland, on the prairie, as well as on the broad marshes of the great flood plains, 52 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. especially numerous in the St. Francis basin. In the more southern part of the state the first appear in March, but April and October are the months when the transient visitants are most common and generally distributed. A few linger through November. November 19, 1906, one was caught in the heart of St. Louis in a sleet storm unable to continue its flight, because covered with sleet and frozen rain. In the very backward spring of 1907 a transient individual was met with in Calvary Cemetery at St. Louis as late as May 9. Numerous examples are known, proving that such birds as Bitterns do not follow certain migra- tion routes, but travel broadcast over the country. Mr. E. Sey- mour Woodruff found a Bittern on April 8, 1907, beside a small pool of rainwater in a shallow depression on top of the plateau in the woods of Shannon Co. *191. ARDETTA EXILIS (Gmel.). Least Bittern. Ardea exilis. Little Bittern. Geog. Dist.—Northern South America and West Indies to southern British Provinces. Breeds throughout the United States from Maine to southern Oregon, except in the mountainous regions of the West. Winters from the Gulf coast southward. In Missouri the Least Bittern is a locally common summer resident from the middle of April in the south, and nearly a month later in the north, to September. It is a denizen of the reedy ~ lakes and sloughs in the flood plains of the Mississippi and Mis- sourl Rivers. Even where plentiful, they are seldom seen in the daytime, but become active toward evening, when they move about by clasping the reed stalks just above the water and flying from one part of the lake to another low over the plant growth. In the love season their peculiar chat-like note may often be heard coming from the dense reeds. Specimens taken near Springfield (Dr. D. T. Kizer) and at Billings (J..D. Kastendieck) show that the Least ‘Bitterns do not follow the large rivers in their migrations, but cross the Ozarks. Subfamily Ardeinae. Herons and Egrets. *194. ARDEA HERODIAS Linn. Great Blue Heron. Blue Crane. Fish Heron. Geog. Dist.—From northern South America to Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia, rarely to the Northwest Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 53 Territories and Alaska. Breeds locally throughout its range and winters from the Gulf and South Atlantic States and California southward. The Blue Crane, as this bird is generally called, is a fairly com- mon summer resident in Missouri from the middle of March, ’ oceasionally earlier, to November. It is surprising that a bird so large and subjected to such universal persecution still survives in the numbers in which we find it to-day. During the breeding season there is probably no county in the state where some indi- viduals cannot be seen flying from the distant nest to some fav- orite feeding grounds. Perhaps the largest numbers may be seen in the flood plains of the great rivers, where whole colonies nest on the highest trees along the shores or on the islands; but they are also found in the remotest counties of the Ozarks, where they build their nests in the high trees of the valleys in one county and have their feeding grounds ten or more miles away in another county. *196. HERODIAS EGRETTA (Gmel.). American Egret. Ardea egretta. Herodias alba egretta. White Crane. White Heron. Geog. Dist.—Originally whole of South America, Central America, West Indies, and in North America throughout the United States, excepting the mountainous regions of the West, to southern Canada. Now greatly reduced in numbers and rare where formerly common. Breeds now locally from Virginia and Missouri southward and wanders after the breeding season northward. Winters from the Gulf States southward. Until the early nineties, when the plume craze reached our country and every trapper became a plume hunter, the swamps of the southeast harbored large colonies with hundreds of breeding Egrets. After a very few years of slaughter the birds had grown so scarce that the good men had to give up hunting cranes as an unprofitable occupation. As late as 1900, small numbers were still breeding in colonies together with Great Blue Herons on islands in the Mississippi as far north as St. Charles and Lincoln Counties, making the shallow lakes in the marshes their feeding grounds, but none have been seen there the last few years. Twenty years ago hundreds congregated around these lakes in August and early September and many ascended the lower Mis- sour Valley on these roving expeditions at least as far as New Haven (Dr. Eimbeck). 54 . Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 197. Earetra CANDIDISsiMA (Gmel.). Snowy Heron. Ardea candidissima. Garzetta candidissima. Little White Egret. Geog. Dist.—Formerly from Argentina to the northern United States, casually to Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia, breeding from Virginia and southern Illinois southward. Now nearly exterminated in the United States. Like other herons the Snowy used to wander northward in the Mississippi River flood plain after the breeding season and was a common bird on the marshes of St. Charles Co. in August and September, but none have been seen there for the past ten years. A few may have survived the slaughter and destruction of their colonies in southeastern Missouri and with proper protection may again become an ornament of our late summer landscape. Mr. J. D. Kastendieck shot some on the mill pond at Billings in August and September 1895, and Mr. W. E. Praeger reports them as having occurred near Keokuk, but Snowy Herons seem never to have visited the more northern and the western part of the state in large numbers. [198. DicHROMANASSA RUFESCENS (Gmel.). Reddish Egret. Ardea rufescens. Demiegretta rufa. Dichromanassa rufa. Ardea ruja. Ardea rujescens. Ardea pealei. Demiegretta pealei. Peale’s Egret (white phase.) Geog. Dist.—Gulf States, Mexico (both coasts), Central Amer- ica and West Indies, north to the Ohio in the Mississippi Valley. Observed and found quite common during the last week of August 1875 in the vicinity of Cairo, Ill., by Mr. E. W. Nelson. 199. HypRANASSA TRICOLOR RUFICOLLIS (Gosse). Louisiana Heron. Ardea ludoviciana. Demiegretta ludoviciana. Hydranassa tricolor ludovici- ana. Ardea leucogastra v. leucophrymna. Ardea tricolor ruficollis. Geog. Dist.—Gulf States, Mexico, Central America and West Indies; ‘casually northward to New Jersey and Indiana. Mr. E. S. Currier killed one near Sand Ridge, Clark Co., Mo.., April 13, 1890, as it rose from a small prairie pond. 200. FLoRIDA CAERULEA (Linn.). Little Blue Heron. Ardea caerulea. Little White Heron (young). Geog. Dist.—From northern South America through the West Indies and Central America to eastern United States; breeding Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 55 in the southern states, formerly to southwestern Indiana and Missouri and wandering after the breeding season northward to the more northern states, accidentally to Wisconsin, Maine and Nova Scotia. It winters south of the United States, returning to Louisiana about the middle of March and to Missouri more than a month later (April 30, 1880, Hurter collection). Not known to breed in Missouri at present, but appears in the Peninsula in large troops, composed entirely of birds of the year, late in July or early in August, remaining till September. Some of them wander up the Mississippi to the region of the mouth of the Illinois River, irregularly, farther north (Warsaw, IIL., Worthen) or along the Missouri River north to southern Nebraska. It has been taken in Platte Co., Mo., opposite Leavenworth, Kan., by Mr. A. Lange, and a specimen in the Kansas City Public Museum was taken near that city. *201. BuTORIDES VIRESCENS (Linn.). Green Heron. Ardea virescens. Shytepoke. Fly-up-the-creek. Geog. Dist—From northern South America, through the West Indies and Central America to southern Ontario, through- out the United States east of the Great Plains and in Cal- ifornia and Oregon. Breeds throughout its range and winters south of the United States. In Missouri the Green Heron is a common summer visitant of general distribution not confined to low or swampy regions like’ other herons, but frequenting wooded streams and ponds, nesting sometimes far away from water on cultivated land, frequently in orchards in small colonies of from six to ten nests on one aere. It arrives in southern Missouri about the 10th of April, in central and northern parts from one to two weeks later (Shannon Co., April 10, 1904; Vernon Co., April 15, 1894; St. Louis Co., April 17, 1886; Kansas City, April 18, 1904; Keokuk, average date, April 25). It leaves the breeding grounds in family groups during September and very few are seen after the first of October. (Latest record October 13, 1896, Keokuk, Currier.) *202. NycTICORAX NYCTICORAX NAEVIUS (Bodd.). Black-crowned - Night Heron. Ardea naevia. Nyctiardea grisea naevia. Nyctiardea gardeni. Night- Raven. Qua-bird. Squawk. Quawk. Geog. Dist.—Nearly the whole of South America, parts of West Indies, and through the United States to New Brunswick, 56 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Ontario and Manitoba. Breeds throughout its range and winters from California and the Gulf Coast southward. _ In Missouri formerly a locally numerous, now a greatly re- duced, summer resident in the fiood plains of the larger rivers, chiefly the Mississippi, from April 10 to October 10. More generally distributed in migration, especially in early fall, when. young birds may be met with at ponds and pools far away from their usual haunts. When on wing in the twilight going from nesting to distant feeding grounds they resemble ravens, which, with some similarity in their croak, has given rise to the popular name, Night Raven. : *203. NYcCTANASSA VIOLACEA (Linn.). Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Nycticorax violacea. Nyctiardea violacea. Nycterodius violaceus. Geog. Dist—From Brazil to the South Atlantic and Gulf States; in the Mississippi Valley to the mouth of the Ohio; on the Pacific coast to Lower California; casually north to Massa- chusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska and Colorado. Breeds in all parts of its regular summer range, which formerly extended to Indiana, Illinois and Kansas. Winters south of the United States to which it returns in March. Thirty-three years ago the breeding range of the Yellow- crowned Night Heron extended up the Illinois bottom to the mouth of the Illinois River. A young of the year in the Hurter collection was captured opposite St. Louis, July 12, 1873, and an adult, April 10. Ten years ago they were still fairly common summer residents in the Peninsula, but of late they have become few and their total extermination as breeders in the state | is fast approaching. Order PALUDICOLAE. Cranes, Rails, ete. Suborder Grues. Cranes. Family Gruimpar. Cranes. 204. GRUS AMERICANA (Linn.). Whooping Crane. Ardea americana. Grus hoyanus (young). Hooping Crane. Geog. Dist.—Interior of North America from Mexico, Texas and Florida to Saskatchewan and Athabasca, migrating chiefly Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 57 through the Mississippi Valley and breeding formerly in the north- ern United States and Canada from the Red River to the Rocky Mountains, now driven to the northernmost portions of its range _ by the irresistible encroachment of civilization. Available records of its occurrence in Missouri are few. The first for the state is that of Dr. P. R. Hoy in his “Journal of an Exploration of western Missouri’? under date of April 18, 1854. One in the Hurter collection of birds taken in the vicinity of St. Louis is dated March 17, 1884. Mrs. Musik reported five cranes seen at Mount Carmel, Audrain Co., March 25, 1885. Mr. Hy. Nehrling saw 26 Whooping Cranes at Freistatt, Law- rence Co., March 27, 1886. I had the pleasure of seeing twelve pure white, beautiful cranes flying low over St. Louis on the after- noon of March 25, 1888. Mr. P. L. Ong reported the occurrence of two cranes (G. americana) at Laclede, Linn Co., March 20 and 27, 1889. The last record at hand is March 9, 10 and 15, 1894, from Stotesbury, Vernon Co., made by Mr. T. Surber in his — migration report to the Dep’t of Agriculture. There is no fall record for Missouri, but T. M. Trippe saw “quite a number” in the fall of 1872 in Decatur Co., Iowa, just across the line of north- central Missouri. One winged on the Grand Prairie in Dunklin Co. in 1864 was kept alive by Dr. Cook of Cottonplant and after his death by his widow for over thirty years. 205. GRUS CANADENSIS (Linn.). Little Brown Crane. Grus fraterculus. Northern Sandhill Crane. Geog. Dist.—Arctic and subarctic America. Breeds in the high north along the Arctic coast, and migrates south through western United States to Texas and New Mexico. A female was shot in Clark Co., Mo., April 10, 1896, and brought to Mr. W. E. Praeger, who has the skin in his collection. It has repeatedly been taken in eastern Nebraska (and Wisconsin), and is regarded as a common migrant in Kansas. 206. GRUS MEXICANA (Miill.). Sandhill Crane. Grus canadensis (part.). Brown Crane. Grus americana (By Audubon supposed to be young of Whooping Crane). Geog. Dist.—From central Mexico and Florida to southern Canada. Rare east of the Alleghanies north of Georgia. West to California. Breeds locally throughout its range from Arizona 58 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. to southeastern British Columbia, and formerly east to Florida and Ohio. Winters in the Gulf States and Mexico. In Missouri formerly a fairly common transient visitant, mainly from the middle to the end of March, sometimes earlier (March 4 and 5, 1882, St. Louis) or later (April 10, 1894, Keokuk). W.E. D. Scott mentions the Sandhill Crane as being a common migrant at Warrensburg, arriving early in April 1874. Prince of Wied on his way up the Missouri River in 1833 makes the following entry in his diary: ‘April 18, 1833. Below Lexington. A large number of Sandhill Cranes filled the air with their voices; they went in flocks northeastward.” Fall records are less fre- quent; they come from the center of the state, Saline and How- ard Counties, October 14 to 25, 1885 and 1890. Audubon saw many Sandhill Cranes October 13, 1843, near the mouth of the Grand River. There is no doubt that only a small percentage of their former numbers survive. Very few notes of the last ten years are to be had, while as late as 1872 J. M. Trippe writes from our northern boundary (Decatur Co., Iowa): ‘‘ Vast numbers pass over in spring and fall; they bred formerly.” On his jour- ney up the Missouri River in 1843 Audubon saw five Sandhill Cranes near the mouth of Nodaway River as late as May 7; and Dr. Hoy met with a pair on the prairie between Utica and Lexington May 18, 1854. He writes: “My brother waved his hat and shouted two or three times, when the male bird com- menced, by bowing and hopping in a ludicrous manner,—a series of amusing antics, interluded with brief samples of vocal powers that made ample compensation in strength for any lack of melody.” Suborder Ralli. Rails, Gallinules, Coots, etc. Family Rauuipan. Rails, Gallinules, Coots. Subfamily Rallinae. Rails. *208. RALLUS ELEGANS (Aud.). King Rail. Great Red-breasted Rail. Marsh Hen. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States; north to Connecticut, southern Ontario, Minnesota; west to eastern Nebraska and Kansas. Breeds in fresh-water marshes throughout its range. Winters in the southern states. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in the marshes Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missouri. 59 along the large rivers; arrives from the last of March to the end of April and remains to the latter part of October. Specimens in the collections of Dr. D. T. Kizer of Springfield and Mr. J. D. Kastendieck of Billings were taken in Greene and Christian counties in the Ozark border region and Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr. of Eureka Springs reports this species as a rare breeder in the White River valley along our southern boundary (1906). Young were seen as early as June 1, 1905, at Mudlake, St. Charles Co. *212. RALLUS VIRGINIANUS Linn. Virginia Rail. Little Red-breasted Rail. Geog. Dist.—From Central America and Cuba to New Bruns- wick, Ontario and Manitoba; on the Pacific coast to British Columbia. Breeds throughout its range in the United States, but chiefly northward. Winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, Mexico and California. In Missouri the Virginia Rail is a fairly common transient visi- tant in spring, occurring not only in the marshes of the larger rivers, but in wet places of the Prairie and Ozark border regions. It may be found all through April and early May (earliest date March 31, 1887, St. Louis; latest May 19, Warrensburg). It has been found breeding in Clark Co. by Mr. E. S. Currier. There is no record of its occurrence in fall. *214. PoRZANA CAROLINA (Linn.). Sora. Rallus carolinus. Ortygometra carolina. Common Rail. Ortolan. Car- olina Crake. Geog. Dist.—From northern South America and the West Indies to British Provinces (rarely to Greenland); in the West to lat. 55°; in the Mackenzie River region. Breeds chiefly north of lat. 38°, and winters from the South Atlantic and Gulf States southward. In Missouri a common transient visitant in all parts of the state, the Ozarks not excepted. Some may be found as early as April 1, but they are most plentiful and generally distributed during the second half of April, and in the north to the middle of May. Fall migration begins early in September and lasts through October (latest November 19, 1893). It has been observed in summer in St. Charles and Howard Co., and nests have been found near Kansas City (ten eggs, Mr. O. C. Sheley, Independence) and in Clark Co. (Mr. E. 8. Currier). 60 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 215. PorzANA NOVEBORACENSIS (Gmel.). Yellow Rail. Rallus noveboracensis. Ortygometra noveboracensis. Geog. Dist—North America to Hudson Bay, chiefly eastern; in the West to Utah, Nevada and California. Nowhere common. No extralimital records except Cuba and Bermuda. Breeds from Connecticut, northern Indiana and Wisconsin northward, and winters in the southern States, often met with on rice fields in Louisiana. In Missouri an apparently rare or irregular trandiend Visitant chiefly in April. Earliest date of capture, March 27, 1876, Hurter collection. Records are chiefly from the Mississippi bottom north of St. Louis, but there is a specimen in Mr. Chas. W. Tindall’s collection taken near his home, Independence, and one in the collection of Dr. G. C. Rinker at Unionville. Mr. E. S. Currier regards them as irregular transients at Keokuk, where Mr. W. E. Praeger found them common April 22, 1888, and April 21, 1889, at Sand Ridge, Clark Co., Mo. In the late and cold spring of 1897 Mr. O. Poling found it numerous in May near Quincy. Mr. Chas. K. Worthen thinks that they sometimes breed near Warsaw, Ill., as he has found it occasionally during the breeding season. ‘There is no record for fall migration, but this is not surprising when we consider how difficult it is to flush them or make them fly any distance since they always prefer to escape by running and skulking. 216. PoRZANA JAMAICENSIS (Gmel.). Black Rail. Rallus jamaicensis. Little Black Rail. Geog. Dist.—From the West Indies and Chile to New England and Oregon. Seems to breed locally throughout its range, but easily overlooked on account of its small size and secretive habits. Nowhere common. Winters in Central America. Taken only once in Missouri (St. Charles Co.), but probably of frequent occurrence in spring and fall, possibly a summer resident, since nests have been found in Illinois and Kansas (nest with 8 eggs near Manhattan, June 1880; nest with 10 eggs, June 19, 1875, Calumet River, Illinois). The earliest date for the vicinity of our state is March 18, 1886, Neosho Falls, Kan., and the latest in fall, October 11, 1885, Iowa City, Ia. Since the above was written I am informed by Dr. G. C. Rinker of Hamilton, Kan., that he took a Black Rail at Unionville, Putnam Co, Mo.,and has | it in his collection. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 61 Subfamily Gallinulinae. Gallinules. 218. IoNORNIS MARTINICA (Linn.). Purple Gallinule. Fulica martinica. Gallinula porphyrio. Porphyrio martinica. Geog. Dist.—From northern South America, West Indies, Mex- ico to South Atlantic and Gulf States, irregularly north to Middle, and casually to Northern States and Canada. Winters chiefly south of United States. In Missouri probably only an accidental visitant, having been taken but twice in the vicinity of St. Louis; April 18, 1877, Hurter collection; and April 22, 1877, near St. Charles in the Blanke collection. (A record from Manhattan, Kan., is dated April 14, 1893, and one from northern Illinois, [April 24, 1900.) *219. GALLINULA GALEATA (Licht.). Florida Gallinule. _ Crex galeata. Gallinula chloropus. Mudhen. Moorhen. Waterhen. Geog. Dist.—From Brazil and Chile to southern Canada and central California. Breeds throughout its range and winters chiefly south of the United States. | Twenty years ago Florida Gallinules used to be numerous breeders on the lakes and sloughs in the neighborhood of St. Louis. Gradually they became fewer and fewer until now we must class them among the rare birds. There is no record of their breeding in the southeast, and the only one from the west comes from Independence (Tindall, June 1, 1904). Inthe bottom- land from St. Louis northward there are still a few secluded spots, where they can raise a brood, but with the generally established drainage of their favorite waters the only places left to them will be game preserves where neither drainage nor summer shooting is allowed. Fortunately Gallinules have learned to come late, after the first of May, when the hunting season is over and when there is enough plant growth to afford hiding places. Transients are seldom noticed; those breeding north of central Missouri seem to pass over or by us without stopping. The only record for a fall transient is October 3, 1905, St. Louis, a young of the year found alive with broken legs in the street near one of the St. Louis water towers against which it had probably flown in the night. Early in October, 1906, another one, now in the bird cage in Forest Park, was caught in the streets of St. Louis. 62 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Lous. Subfamily Fulicinae. Coots. *991. FULICA AMERICANA Gmel. American Coot. Fulica atra. Coot. Mud hen. Geog. Dist.—From northern South America through West Indies and whole of North America to Canada, rarely to Alaska and Greenland. Breeds from Texas and Louisiana northward and winters from the Southern States southward. In Missouri the Coot is a very generally distributed and com- mon transient visitant from the middle of March to April 20 and from October 10 to November 25. Also a not very rare summer resident and breeder in suitable localities, not only in the flood plains of the larger rivers, but in the prairie and Ozark regions and reported as breeding at Montgomery City (Parker), War- rensburg (Smithson), Independence (Tindall), Pierce City (Nehr- ling), White River (Philo Smith Jr., Eureka Springs), Fayette (Kilpatrick). Order LIMICOLAE. Shore Birds. Family PHALAROPIDAE. Phalaropes. 222. CRYMOPHILUS FULICARIUS (Linn.). Red Phalarope. Tringa fulicaria. Phalaropus fulicarius. Gray Phalarope. Geog. Dist.—Northern parts of northern hemisphere, breeding within the Arctic regions and coming south in winter chiefly coastwise to the Carolinas on the Atlantic and Cape St. Lucas on the Pacific; rare in the interior as far south as the Ohio Valley. Has been taken two or three times in the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois by Mr. Chas. K. Worthen of War- saw, Ill. Also recorded from Lawrence, Kan., about 40 miles from our state line, where a young female was taken November 5, 1905. Other records are from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Wyoming (September 14, 1897). 223. PHALAROPUS LOBATUS (Linn.). Northern Phalarope. Tringa lobata. Lobipes lobatus. Tringa hyperborea. Phalaropus hyper- boreus. Lobipes hyperboreus. Red-necked Phalarope. Gray Phalarope (winter). Geog. Dist.—Northern hemisphere, breeding in America from Labrador and Greenland both in wooded country and on Barren Widmann—aA Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 63 Grounds to Alaska. In winter to the tropics, migrating chiefly along the Pacific, less commonly in the interior and along the Atlantic coast. A specimen in the Hurter collection was taken October 9, 1878, near St. Louis. One in Mr. J. D. Kastendieck’s collection was killed near Billings, and another in Mr. A. Lange’s possession was captured by him in Platte Co., Mo., opposite Leavenworth, Kan. Specimens were obtained at Lincoln, Neb., August 23 and September 18, 1904, and May 14, 1905; taken also in Kan- sas, May 25, 1883. 224. STEGANOPUS TRICOLOR (Vieill.). Wilson’s Phalarope. Phalaropus tricolor. Phalaropus lobatus. Phalaropus or Steganopus Wilsont. Geog. Dist —From southern South America to Saskatchewan, chiefly in the interior. Breeds from Wisconsin and northern Nebraska, the mountains of Colorado and the Death Valley northward; formerly in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Winters south of the United States. In Missouri this beautiful and graceful bird, formerly common, must now be classed with the rarer transient visitants. It should — be looked for in the latter part of April and first of May and in August and September. Earliest date in spring, April 22, 1880, St. Louis, Hurter collection, and in fall, August 5, 1878, St. Louis, Hurter collection. Mr. Currier found it near Keokuk, May 6, 1898. Mr. Tindall at Independence, May 1, 1900. There is a fine specimen in Mr. Kastendieck’s collection. Mr. H. Nehrling found it with young in July, 1884, in Lawrence Co., and it may still be a local breeder in some parts of the state. In Hayden’s Report on the Natural History of the Upper Missouri in 1855, ’56 and ’57, we read: ‘Quite abundant during spring months along marshy bottoms and lakes of the lower Missouri River.’ Family RecurvirostripaEz. Avocets and Stilts. 225. RECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA Gmel. American Avocet. Geog. Dist.—From Guatemala and West Indies to lat. 549, rarely as far north as Great Slave Lake; common from Kansas and Nebraska westward; now rare in the eastern United States and accidental on the Atlantic coast. Breeds locally in most of the western states, but now chiefly in Alberta, Assiniboia and 64 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Saskatchewan. Winters in southern California, but ny south of the United States. In eastern Missouri the Avocet has always been regarded as a rare transient visitant. A female in the Hurter collection taken near St. Louis is dated October 28, 1878. Mr. Praeger saw a mounted specimen which was killed on the bars in the Missis- sippi near Keokuk previous to 1885. In western Missouri it seems to be less rare. Mr. Thad Surber met with a flock of one hundred, April 8, 1894, near Stotesbury in Vernon Co., and Mr. A. Lange of Leavenworth, Kan., took some Avocets in Platte Co., Mo. [226. HIMANTOPUS MEXICANUS (Mill.). Black-necked Stilt.] Charadrius mexicanus. Himantopus nigricollis. Recurvirostra himan- topus. Stilt. White Snipe (Utah). Lawyer. Long-Shanks. Geog. Dist.—From northern Brazil and Peru to northern United States, now rare in eastern United States except Florida. Breeding area in United States now restricted to the West from Mexico, southwestern Texas and Colorado to Oregon. Winters from Florida and Louisiana southward through West Indies, Mexico and Central America to Brazil and Peru. As there are five records of its capture near Omaha, Neb., April 20, 1895, May 6, 1894, May 10, 1893, and October 3 and 9, 1894, it is very probable that stragglers can be found in western Missouri, if students will look out for them on flooded lands after heavy rains in spring and fall. Family ScoLopactpaE. Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. *298. PHILOHELA MINOR (Gmel.). American Woodcock. Scolopax minor. Rusticola minor. Microptera americana. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Manitoba; west to the Plains; breeding throughout its range and wintering in the southern states. : In spite of all persecution the Woodcock is still a fairly common summer resident in eastern Missouri; some winter in the Penin- sula, but the bulk returns to it in February, to southern Missouri generally early in March and to northern Missouri in the latter part of that, month, where they remain till the middle of Novem- ber. Young birds well on the wing were seen June 2, 1905, in Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 65 St. Charles Co. Though Mr. Nehrling found the Woodcock com- mon in autumn 1884 in Lawrence Co. and mounted specimens are in the collections of Mr. LeBlanc at Springfield and Mr. Kastendieck at Billings, the species does not seem to be of fre- quent occurrence in the western part of the state. 230. GALLINAGO DELICATA. (Ord). Wilson’s Snipe. Scolopax delicata. Scolopax gallinago. Scolopax Wilsoni. Gallinago Wilsonit. Scolopax Drummondi. Scolopax Douglasii. Am. Snipe, Long-bill. Jack Snipe. Geog. Dist —From northern South America through Central America and West Indies north to the Arctic circle. Breeds from northern United States northward and winters from Florida and southern Texas southward. In Missouri the Snipe is a common transient visitant of general ‘distribution, both east and west, spring and fall, though varying much both in time of presence and in numbers. In some seasons the first Snipes are taken in the neighborhood of St. Louis in the second half of February (February 17, 1897; February 20, 1898; February 24, 1886; February 28, 1904; in others in the first part of March, in some years not before the midlde of March (March 15, 1888; March 15, 1902; March 13, 1903). The bulk of the species is present from the 15th to the 20th of March till from the 20th to 25th of April; the last are all gone before the end of the month. In the more northern parts of the state the first appear seldom before the middle of March (March 13, 1900, Keokuk), usually between the 20th and the 25th and remain to the close of April, sometimes into May (May 9, 1896, St. Joseph; May 7, 1894; May 7, 1897; May 12, 1895, Keokuk). In their southward migration in fall they are even more uncertain in time and numbers than in spring. Exceptionally early dates are August 17, 1897, and September 3, 1893, Keokuk, and August 31, 1886, St. Louis. After the middle of September their appearance may be expected along our northern boundary (September 19, 1902; September 20, 1899, Keokuk). In central Missouri the first are taken in the second week of October, but Snipes are seldom plentiful in Missouri before the middle of October and cease to be so after the first week of November, though some linger into the latter part of the month (November 21, 1897 and 1899; November 24, 1896 and 1900, Keokuk) and exceptionally longer (December 14, 1904, St. Charles Co.) even in northern Missouri. In the most southern part of the state a few may remain in mild 66 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lous. winters, as they are known to do in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The new game protection law of Missouri gives no protection to this species, the open season extending over the whole period of its presence in the state, namely from September 15 to April 30. [231. MAcRoRHAMPHUS GRISEUS (Gmel.). Dowitcher.] Scolopax grisea. Scolopax noveboracensis. Red-breasted Snipe. Brown Back. Gray Snipe. Gray-back (winter). Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding far north; south in winter to Brazil. Irregularly to Alaska, Oregon,. Idaho, Nebraska and formerly common in Wisconsin. As the two species of this genus were formerly regarded as varieties and were said to be indistinguishable in the winter and immature plumage, not enough attention was paid to them to enable us to say in what proportion they visited the state while Dowitchers were yet plentiful; but since it is known, that the eastern form or species occurs in the Mississippi Valley along with the western, the claim for a place in our list may yet be established. 232. MACRORHAMPHUS SCOLOPACEUS (Say). Long-billed Do- witcher. Limosa scolopacea. Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus. Red-bellied Snipe. Red-bellied Dowitcher. Greater Long-beak. Geog. Dist.—Western North America; breeding in Alaska to the Arctic coast; migrating through western United States and Mississippi Valley, rarely through Eastern States, to Mexico. Twenty years ago Dowitchers were fairly, though irregularly, common transient visitants in all suitable localities of Missouri. They migrated in flocks, and large numbers were sometimes found in the St. Louis market, chiefly in April. In fall they were still more irregular in their appearance and have been known to ~oecur from August to the end of October (October 28, 1873, Hurter collection). At present they must be classed among the rare birds and, if spring shooting is not abolished, they may be brought to the point of extermination. 233. MicROPALAMA HIMANTOPUS (Bonap.). Stilt Sandpiper. Tringa himantopus. Tringa Douglasti. Tringa Auduboni. Geog. Dist—Eastern North America; west to the foot of the Rocky Mountains; north to the Arctic coast. Breeds north of Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 67 the United States and winters in the West Indies, Central and South America. In Missouri the Stilt Sandpiper, which is said to move rapidly through the United States spring and fall (Audubon), is a rare transient visitant in August and September and very irregularly in spring. (April 30, 1902, Kansas City; September 28, 1878, Hurter collection). 234. TRinGA cANuTUS Linn. Knot. Tringa cinerea. Tringa islandica. Tringa rufa. Robin Snipe. Red- breasted Sandpiper. -May Bird. Grayback (young). Blue Plover (young). Geog. Dist.—Chiefly on the sea coasts; in northern hemisphere in summer; in southern hemisphere in winter. Breeds far north; migrates mainly along the Atlantic coast. The Knot is probably only an accidental visitant in Missouri. It has been taken in Platte Co., opposite Leavenworth, Kan... by Mr. A. Lange of that city and another was taken October, 1874, at Brownville, Neb., which is on the Missouri River opposite the northwest corner of our state; three others were reported from southeastern Nebraska, May 16, 1896, August 27, 1896, and September 30, 1893. Two specimens were shot in the spring at Neosho Falls, Kan., within fifty miles of our western state line. According to Prof. Snow the species was formerly common in Kansas (Birds of Kansas, 1873) and seems to have been met with oftener in the interior generally, especially in the region of the Great Lakes. 235. ARQUATELLA MARITIMA (Briinn.). Purple Sandpiper. Tringa maritima. Winter Snipe. Rock Snipe. Geog. Dist.—Northern portions of northern hemisphere. In America chiefly the northeastern portions, breeding in the high north and wintering from Greenland southward along the coast to the Carolinas, casually to the Great Lakes and larger streams in the Mississippi Valley. The Purple Sandpiper is admitted on the strength of its being mentioned in Dr. P. R. Hoy’s list of birds taken in western Mis- souri in the spring of 1854. 239. ACTODROMAS MACULATA (Vieill.). Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculata. Tringa pectoralis. Jack Snipe. Grass Snipe. Geog. Dist.—Whole of North America, rare in California, 68 : Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louvs. Breeds in the Arctic regions, chiefly Alaska; migrates through United States and West Indies to South America as far south as southern Brazil and Chile. In Missouri a common transient visitant from March 15 to June 6 and through August, September and October to the middle of November (November 5, 1901, November 14, 1896, November 24, 1900, Keokuk, Currier). Mr. Praeger gives it as abundant at Keokuk from March 28 to April 23, and from August 11 to October 21. Mr. Nehrling reported it as very common during the first half of April in Lawrence Co. The species is said to be common at Independence (Tindall) and at Fayette (Kilpatrick) from March 15 to April 10. Records show that some linger through May and even into June; (May 11, 1882, St. Louis; May 14, 1895, May 16, 1898, May 27, 1901, and June 6, 1893, Keokuk). 240. ACTODROMAS FUSCICOLLIS (Vieill.). White-rumped Sand- piper. Tringa fuscicollis. Tringa schinzii. Tringa bonapartei. Bonaparte’s Sandpiper. Geog. Dist.—Breeding in Arctic regions, chiefly from Hudson Bay to Mackenzie River; it migrates through United States, mainly east of the Rocky Mountains, West Indies and Central America to South America as far south as Falkland Islands. In Missouri formerly a fairly common, now a rather rare, transient visitant late in May and early in June, and again early in autumn. Twenty years ago Mr. Nehrling regarded it a common transient visitant in Lawrence Co., and Mr. Kastendieck collected specimens in 1882 at his mill-pond in Christian Co. Mr. E. 8. Currier met with a flock of ten at Sand Ridge, Clark Co., May 16, 1898, and again, June 2, 1901, a flock of eight near the mouth of Des Moines River on a sand-bar. His latest date is June 5, 1894, when the first was seen near Keokuk, May 22. Mr. E. S. Woodruff found a flock of about twelve at Jacks Fork of Current River in Shannon Co., May 15, 1907. - 241. AcTODROMAS BAIRDII Coues. Baird’s Sandpiper. Tringa bairdii. Bull-peep.. Geog. Dist.—Breeds from Hudson Bay along Arctic coast to Point Barrow and migrates through the interior of North Amer- ica, rarely along the Atlantic coast, south to Chile and Patagonia. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri.%69 | In Missouri a fairly common migrant from March till the close of May, and in fall from August till the middle of October, often in company with its nearest relatives, the Pectoral Sand- piper (October 13, 1893, Independence, Tindall; October 14, 1888, Keokuk, Praeger). 242. ACTODROMAS MINUTILLA (Vieill.). Least Sandpiper. ae minutilla. Tringa wilsonii. Tringa pusilla. Peep. Mud-peep. int. _ Geog. Dist.—The whole western hemisphere; breeding from Magdalen Islands and Anticosti to the interior of Alaska; win- tering from South Carolina and southern California southward. In Missouri the Least Sandpiper is a fairly common transient visitant from the middle of April through May to the first of June, and from the middle of August to November, frequenting with other sandpipers and plovers the extensive mud flats of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. 243a. PELIDNA ALPINA SAKHALINA (Vieill.). Red-backed Sand- piper. Tringa alpina pacifica. Tringa cinclus. Pelidna pacifica. Red-breast or Red-back (in spring). Lead-back (in fall). Biack-bellied Sandpiper. Dunlin. Ox Bird. Geog. Dist.—North America and Eastern Asia, chiefly coast- wise, rare or irregular in the interior. Breeds from Hudson Bay along Arctic coast to northern Alaska. Winters in California, the South Atlantic and Gulf coast and southward. In Missouri the Red-backed Sandpiper is a rare transient visitant, spring and fall. It was first taken in the state by Dr. J. A. Allen opposite Leavenworth, May 1871 (Bull. M. C. Z., vol. 3, 1872). A female in the Hurter collection was taken near St. Louis, October 7, 1880, and Mr. Praeger took one near Keokuk, October 4, 1885. Dates of specimens taken near Lincoln, Neb., are May 22, August 23, September 4 and 11, 1904, and May 14, 1905; May 16 and 30, 1896; May 22, 1899; Novem- ber 7, 1896; and near Omaha, May 12, 1895. 246. EREUNETES PUSILLUS (Linn.). Semipalmated Sandpiper. Mena pusilla. Tringa semipalmata. LEreunetes petrificatus. Sand-peep. eep. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, west to Utah, breeding from Labrador to Point Barrow and migrating through the 70 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. United States south to the West Indies and northern South America. | In Missouri a common transient visitant in late April and May and again in August and through September to October 17. Earliest in fall, August 6, 1887, St. Louis; latest, October 17, 1880, Hurter collection. 247. EREUNETES OCCIDENTALIS Lawr. Western Sandpiper. Ereunetes pusillus. Ereunetes petrificatus (of western localities). Geog. Dist.—Western North America, breeding chiefly in Alaska and migrating through western United States, mostly along Pacific coast, to Central and South America. Casually eastward through the interior to the Atlantic coast in company with the Semipalmated Sandpiper. Has been taken a few times in spring on sandbars in the Mis- sissipp1 River by Mr. Chas. K. Worthen of Warsaw, Ill. In the spring plumage the Western is easily distinguished from the Semipalmated Sandpiper by its bright chestnut on head, back and rump. 248. CALIDRIS ARENARIA (Linn.). Sanderling. Tringa arenaria. Calidris calidris. Calidris rubidus. Beach Bird. Geog. Dist.—Almost cosmopolitan; breeding in arctic and subarctic regions and in America, migrating through United States, both coastwise and through interior; wintering from California and southern Texas to Chile and Patagonia. In Missouri the Sanderlings were formerly fairly common transient visitants from the latter part of August to October. They were found in small flocks on the extensive sand bars in the Mississippi River, frequenting the same place for weeks, together with other sandpipers and plovers. In spring they appeared to be more in a hurry, never remaining long in one place. Like all waders their numbers have greatly decreased during the last twenty years and the species seems never to have been as common westward as in the eastern part of the state. 249. Limosa FEDOA (Linn.). Marbled Godwit. Scolopax fedoa. Limosa foeda. Marlin. Dough Bird. Geog. Dist.—North America to southern Canada; rare on the Atlantic coast. Breeding formerly from Iowa, Wisconsin and eastern North Dakota northward, now restricted mainly Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missouri. 71 to Alberta, Assiniboia and Manitoba, becoming scarce every- where. In winter to the Gulf coast, California, Mexico and parts of Central America and the West Indies. In Missouri Marbled Godwits could formerly be called fairly common transient visitants in April and September; they are now rare. 251. Limosa HAEMASTICA (Linn.). Hudsonian Godwit. Scolopax haemastica. Limosa hudsonica. Black-tailed or Ring-tailed Godwit or Marlin. Geog. Dist.—From southern South America to Arctic regions, breeding in the high north and wandering through the east- ern United States to South America. Rare on the Atlantic coast. In Missouri a rather rare transient visitant in April and Oc- tober. A male in the Hurter collection was taken in St. Louis Co., April 19, 1872, and two in the collection of the Cuivre Club were killed on their grounds in St. Charles Co. 254. ToTANUS MELANOLEUCUS (Gmel.). Greater Yellow-legs. Scolopax melanoleuca. Gambetta melanoleuca. Scolopax vociferus. Totanus vociferus. Tell-tale. Stone Snipe. Greater Yellowshanks. Geog. Dist.—Nearly the whole of America; breeding formerly from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin northward, at present from northern Nebraska north to the Mackenzie River and Sitka. In winter from southern California and the Gulf States south to Argentina and Chile. In Missouri Greater Yellow-legs are still fairly common and generally distributed transient visitants, especially in spring, less so in fall. The first appear from the south during the last week of March, seldom earlier (March 9, 1903, Kansas City, Bryant). They become more general during the second week of April and are most plentiful in the second half of that month. In ordinary seasons they disappear in the first half of May, but in cool Mays some have been known to stay toward the end of May and even into June (June 5, 1894, Keokuk, Currier). In fall migration their appearance is more irregular. Near Keokuk they have been found as early as August 28, 1899, and as late as November 9, 1895, also at Independence (Tindall) November 7, 1892, but they are most likely to be present about the middle of October. 72 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. 255. ToraANus FLAVIPES (Gmel.). Yellow-legs. Scolopax flavipes. Gambetta flavipes. Lesser Tell-tale or Yellowshanks. Geog. Dist.—Nearly the whole of America; breeding from northern United States to Arctic ocean, chiefly in the interior; migrating south in winter to southern South America. Much rarer west of the Rocky Mountains. In Missouri the Yellow-legs 1 is a common transient visitant oc- curring sometimes in very large flocks from the middle of March to the middle of May, and in smaller numbers from August 2 to the middle of October. 256. HELODROMAS SOLITARIUS (Wils.). Solitary Sandpiper. Tringa solitaria. Totanus solitarius. iihavapinne solitarius. Totanus chloropygius. Wood Tattler. Tip-up. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, west to Utah, Wyoming, British Columbia and Alaska. Breeds locally within the north- ern and western United States, but chiefly northward through the Northwest Provinces to latitude 64°. Winters in South America. In Missouri a common transient. visitant, never in flocks, but scattered along water-courses and even small pools throughout the state from April 15 to May 25, and from August 1 to October 10, chiefly from August 20 to September 25. Latest in spring, May 27, 1894, Keokuk; and in fall, October 9, 1902, Jasper Co. 258. SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA (Gmel.). Willet. Scolopax semipalmata. Totanus semipalmatus. Semipalmated Tattler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to British Prov- inces, west to the Mississippi. Breeds from Florida to New Jersey, rarely northward. South in winter to West Indies and South America. Formerly not separated from the western Willet from which it differs very little. Records for Willets do not show which of the two subspecies is meant, but both may occur in Missouri, the one in the eastern, the other in the western part. 258a. SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA INORNATA Brewster. Western Willet. Geog. Dist.—Western North America, east to the Mississippi Valley, north to latitude 56°. Breeds from Texas and Louisiana northward and winters in Mexico. ~ Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 73 While in the breeding plumage it may be comparatively easy to tell the two subspecies apart, in the plain gray and white dress which they wear in migration, they are said to be distinguishable only by size, but even this difference is said to be not absolutely reliable. All Willets taken in Missouri should therefore be sub- jected to a close scrutiny to establish their identity as subspecies. In Missouri Willets were formerly fairly common transient visitants in late April and early May, and again in September. That they occurred even in large flocks is proved by Audubon, who writes in his Journal that he met with a large flock of Willets near St. Joseph, Mo., May 5, 1843. At present they are con- sidered rare throughout the state. An exceptionally late date is given by Mr. Currier of Keokuk, namely October 27, 1896. *261. BARTRAMIA LONGICAUDA (Bechst.). Bartramian Sand- piper. Tringa longicauda. Tringa bartramia. Totanus bartramius. Actiturus bartramius. Bartram’s Tattler. Field Plover. Upland Plover. Grass Plover. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, west to Utah and Oregon, north to Nova Scotia and Alaska. Breeds throughout most of North American range, but chiefly in the prairie and plains region with its breeding center in western Manitoba and eastern Assiniboia. Winters in South America, as far south as Brazil and Peru. In Missouri Field Plovers used to be fairly common summer residents in the Ozark border and Prairie regions; in some local- ities a few may still be found nesting (Appleton City, Prior, 1906), but with an open season till the first of May there is little hope for them. In migration, too, their numbers have been greatly reduced, not one-tenth of the transient visitants of twenty years ago being left. In the southern part of the state the first Field Plovers make their appearance in the latter part of March, in northern Missouri seldom before the middle of April. Tran- sients are mostly gone by the first of May, but begin to reappear in family groups the middle of July and continue to be present through August and nearly to the end of September. 262. TRYNGITES SUBRUFICOLLIS (Vieill.). Buff-breasted Sand- piper. Tringa rufescens. Tryngites rujescens. Tringa subruficollis. 5 Geog. Dist.—Common on their breeding-grounds along the Arctic coast and on the Barren Grounds from Anderson River 74 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. to Point Barrow, and breeding scatteringly in other parts of the north from Ontario, Minnesota and British Columbia; it is strangely scarce in the United States in migration, except perhaps on the coast prairie of western Louisiana and Texas, where it is found in dense flocks in spring. It is not found in California and very rarely on the Atlantic coast. In winter it goes to South America as far as Uruguay and Peru; frequently found in Europe and Cuba. On September 15, 1901, Mr. Chas. W. Tindall killed nine Buff-breasted Sandpipers on a sandbar in the Missouri River near Independence. Mr. Chas. K. Worthen of Warsaw, IIl., once took a small flock of this species on a sandbar in the Missis- sippi River. There are quite a number of fall records from the neighborhood of Chicago, and from southeastern Nebraska, among them two of recent date, September 11, and 18, 1904, Lincoln, Neb.; but spring records are few, through G. 8. Agers- borg states (Auk vol. 2, p. 286), that he found the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in southeastern South Dakota in abundance in spring, “when it arrives in large flocks. Only very few are seen on the return passage.”’ *263. ACTITIS MACULARIA (Linn.). Spotted Sandpiper. Tringa macularia. Totanus macularius. Tringoides macularius. Peet- weet. Sand-lark. Tip-up. Teeter-tail. Common Sandpiper. Geog. Dist.—Whole of North, Middle and South America, except Greenland. Breeds. throughout the United States and almost to the Arctic coast. Winters south of the United States, going as far south as southern Brazil. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident along the large rivers from April 15 to October 20, and a common transient visitant in spring on all streams, ponds and lakes, and in July, August and September numerous on the sandbars of the larger rivers. 264. NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS Wils. Long-billed Curlew. Sickle-bill. Geog. Dist.—Formerly an inhabitant of the whole United States, breeding from Texas northward as well as in the South Atlantic States and locally in the Mississippi Valley north to Wisconsin and Minnesota; now their breeding range is restricted to the western and northwestern states, east to western Kansas Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 75 and western Nebraska, north through Assiniboia and Alberta into British Columbia. In winter to California, the Gulf coast and south to some parts of the West Indies and Central America. In Missouri formerly a fairly common transient visitant early in April and from August to October (latest record, October . 15, 1905, Jasper Co. , Philo. W. Smith, Jr.), now rare like other waders of large size. (265. NumMENIus Hupsonicus Lath. Hudsonian Curlew.] Scolopax borealis. Numenius borealis. Numenius intermedius. Jack Curlew. Short-billed Curlew. Geog. Dist.—Whole western hemisphere; breeding in the far North, the exact localities not well known, and migrating through United States, chiefly coastwise; wintering from the Gulf states to Patagonia. In Missouri probably a rare transient visitant about the middle of April and early in October. Apt to be confounded with the Eskimo Curlew, and the large females with the Long- billed Curlew. It is recorded from different points in eastern Nebraska, and according to Agersborg (Auk vol. 2, p. 287) used to be a common migrant in southeastern South Dakota. 266. NUMENIUS BOREALIS (Forst.). Eskimo Curlew. Scolopax borealis. Dough-bird. Esquimaux Curlew. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; breeding on the Barren Grounds to the southward of Fort Anderson and along the coasts of Behring Sea and Kotzebue Sound. Spring migra- tion chiefly through the interior, generally with Golden Plovers, formerly very common on the plains, now said to go by way of thinly settled parts of western Nebraska and western Kansas. In autumn migration formerly common in New England, now flying from Nova Scotia south over the ocean. In winter south throughout South America. In Missouri a now rare transient visitant in spring, formerly very common in western Missouri late in March and throughout April. Mr. Thad. Surber reports seeing a flock of one hundred in Vernon Co., April 16, 1894. Mr. W. G. Savage met with a flock of ten in Jasper Co., May 1, 1902. 76 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. Family CHARADRIIDAE. Plovers. 270. SQUATAROLA SQUATAROLA (Linn.). Black-bellied Plover. Tringa squatarola. Squatarola helvetica. Charadrius helveticus. Chara- drius apricarius. Beetle-head. Bull-head. Ox-eye. Geog. Dist.—Nearly cosmopolitan, but chiefly in the northern hemisphere. In America breeding from Hudson Bay along Arctic coast to Alaska and migrating through United States both coastwise and in the interior, to the West Indies, Columbia and Brazil. In Missouri a rather rare, formerly irregularly common, transient visitant from the middle of April to the middle of May, and in fall to the end of October. Latest record, November 5, 1889, when Mr. Chas. W. Tindall killed one at Independence. 272. CHARADRIUS pDomINIcUS Mill. American Golden Plover. Charadrius pluvialis. Charadrius virginicus. Charadrius fulvus var. virginicus. Charadrius marmoratus. Green Plover. Field Plover. Bull-head. Geog. Dist.—Western hemisphere except coast of Behring Sea. Breeds in Arctic regions from Parry Islands to Norton Sound. Migrates through United States, chiefly the interior, in spring, and along the Atlantic coast in fall; very rare in Cali- fornia. In winter to South America as far south as Patagonia. In Missouri a common transient visitant from latter part of March to nearly the end of April, and rarely in fall. Formerly in very large flocks about the middle of April on the marshes and fields of northern Missouri, where it still occurs, but in much smaller numbers. The new law of 1905, which forbids spring shooting of plovers in Missouri, will probably be instrumental in increasing plovers of all kinds. Earliest date in spring, March 23, 1872, St. Louis (Hurter collection); latest April 30, 1892, Keokuk (Currier). Fall records are from Keokuk (Currier) October 19, 1902, October 29, 1893 and November 9, 1895; from Independence, November 8, 1892, when Mr. Chas. W. Tindall killed one on a sand bar in the Missouri River. *273. OXYECHUS VOCIFERUS (Linn.). Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus. Aegialites vociferus. Aegialitis vocifera. Killdee Plover. Geog. Dist.—United States, Mexico and southern Canada, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 77 breeding throughout its range, wintering from California and the Gulf States southward to northern South America. In Missouri it may still be called a common transient visitant spring and fall, though it is by no means as abundant as formerly, when it was also well known as a summer resident, not only in the prairie region of the north and west, but also in the Ozark border region and even in the valleys of the Ozarks themselves. A few may still breed in the state, as it is reported to do so at Apple- ton City by Mr. C. W. Prier, 1906. Killdeers are among the first migrants to return to us in earliest spring. The first reach Missouri during the latter part of February (February 17, 1898, St. Louis; February 18, 1902, Jasper Co.; February 26, 1904, St. Charles Co.; February 28, 1904, Independence; February 28, 1893, Keokuk). The bulk of transients is with us from the middle of March to the middle of April, and in fall from September 1 to the middle of November. Exceptionally late dates are November 17, 1896, Keokuk; November 26, 1905, Jasper Co. (Philo. Smith); and December 18, 1887, St. Louis. 274. AEGIALITIS SEMIPALMATA Bonap. Semipalmated Plover. Tringa hiaticula Wils. Charadrius hiaticula Ord. Charadrius semipalmatus. Semipalmated Ring Plover. Ring Plover. Ring-neck. Geog. Dist.—Arctic and subarctic America from Ungava Bay to Norton Sound, rarely south to Ontario and Manitoba. Migrates through United States and winters from Louisiana and Texas to Brazil, Peru and Galapagos Islands. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant from April 20 to May 20, and in fall from August 20 to September 25 in scat- tered flocks on the mud-flats of our larger rivers together with other plovers and sandpipers. 277a. ABGIALITIS MELODA CIRCUMCINCTA Ridgw. Belted Piping Plover. Lately and apparently unnecessarily separated from Aegialitis meloda, the Piping Plover of the Atlantic States, Charadrius hiaticula var. Wils., Charadrius melodus of Ord., Aud. ete. Geog. Dist.—Mississippi Valley, Manitoba and Assiniboia, west to Wyoming. Breeding formerly from Illinois, Indiana and southern Wisconsin northward, now from northern Nebraska. Also found on the Magdalen and Sable Islands. Midiasa's from the Gulf coast southward. 78 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. In Missouri now a rather rare transient visitant about May 1, and more commonly in August and September with other waders on the mud-flats and sand bars of the larger rivers. Subfamily Arenariinae. Turnstones. 283. ARENARIA MORINELLA (Linn.). Ruddy Turnstone. Tringa interpres. Strepsiles interpres. Calico-back. Geog. Dist.—Breeding in arctic America from Mackenzie River eastward; in migration southward through the United States, coastwise and by way of Great Lakes and larger rivers to South America as far south as Patagonia and Falkland Islands. In Missouri a transient visitant on the sand bars of the Missis- sippi River from the middle of August to the middle of September. Occurs probably also in spring, as it has been taken on the Missouri River near Omaha in May and on the Mississippi at Burlington, May 21, 1892. A male was taken on the Kansas River near Topeka, Kan., August 16, 1898, and a single specimen in winter plumage was observed on a sandbar near Cairo, III., by Mr. E. W. Nelson, August 30, 1875. OrpER GALLINAE. Gallinaceous Birds. Suborder Phasiani. Pheasants, Grouse, Partridges, Quails, etc. Family TETRAONIDAE. Grouse, Partridges. Subfamily Perdicinae. Partridges. *289. COLINUS VIRGINIANUS (Linn.). Bob-white. Tetrao virginianus. Perdix virginiana. Ortyx virginianus. Quail (in neve England). Partridge (Middle and Southern States). Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to southern Maine, southern Ontario and Minnesota, west to South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and eastern Texas. Lately introduced into New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, California, Oregon and Washington. Breeds throughout its range and is non-migratory, able to withstand the rigors of the northern states, where with sufficient protection in winter it would become half-domesti- cated and very plentiful. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 79 According to our new game law of 1905 November and De- cember are the only months in which Bob-whites may lawfully be killed in Missouri, and it is to be hoped that this lovely bird may regain its former abundance. Feeding the whole year round on insects, weedseeds, and waste grain it is one of the most beneficial birds on the farm and should, therefore, receive all the protection the farmer can give. Though generally considered non-migratory, local migrations from exposed to more sheltered places have often been noticed, and according to Dr. A. F. Eimbeck of New Haven, Franklin Co., a regular north and south migration is a fact well known to people living along the shores of the Missouri River, where Quails are seen toward evening flying across the river, southward in September, northward in April. The river being over half a mile wide some of the birds become exhausted and fall into the water where they are hn up by the people along the shore. Subfamily Tetraoninae. Grouse. *300. BoONASA UMBELLUS (Linn.). Ruffed Grouse. Tetrao umbellus. Pheasant. Partridge (in northern states). Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada, south along the Alleghanies to Georgia and eastern Tennessee; sparingly through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois to Missouri (nor- thern Arkansas); west to eastern Nebraska and Minnesota. Non-migratory. Until twenty years ago the Ruffed Grouse, here called Pheas- ant, was numerous in most wooded parts of Missouri. Early travelers mention it. Audubon killed a pair at the mouth of Grand River, April 30, 1843, and Dr. Hoy has it in his list of birds found above Boonville in early summer, 1854. In 1872 Trippe found it an abundant breeder in Decatur Co., Ia., just across our northern state boundary, and Mr. Nehrling saw a specimen killed in 1883 near Pierce City in the Ozark border region of southwest Missouri. Dr. Eimbeck and his brother, who has a very fine mounted male in his collection, say it was common near New Haven until about 1886. About that time Mr. Hurter received a set of eggs from Pevely, Jefferson Co. Mr. W. F. Rasmus born in 1838 near Marthasville, Warren Co., writes that in his youth pheasants were plentiful near his home as well as near Herman and Wash- 80 Trans. Acad. Scr. of St. Louis. ington, where he lived later for a while. In 1888 Professor Kilpatrick reported from Fayette, Howard Co., ‘formerly plenty, now scarce.” Mr. F. C. Pellet of Salem stated recently that pheasants were once found in Dent Co., but are not found there now. Mr. W. G. Savage writes me that fifteen years ago pheasants were considered common in Shannon Co. and that some still occur there, though rarely. One was shot near Mon- teer in the winter of 1905-06. Mr. B. T. Gault met with Ruffed Grouse in two places near. Edgehill in Reynolds Co. in June 1894. Mr. E. 8. Currier found a nest with eggs on hilly ground in Lee Co., Ia., just across the Des Moines River from Clark Co., Mo., about ten years ago. Although Ruffed Grouse must at present be regarded as rare in Missouri, there are some very recent records which prove that they are not entirely exterminated. Dr. Williams of Flat River knows where to find pheasants along the Big River in St. Francois Co. and Dr. W. Mills and Mr. Jul. Volkman of Web- ster Groves have lately located small colonies along the Meramec River in St. Louis Co. and on the bluffs of the Missouri River in Franklin Co. Mr. Philo Smith found pheasants only a few years ago in the hills back of Herman in Gasconade Co. The new game law (section 10) prohibits their capture or killing until December 1, 1910, when it is expected they will again be plentiful enough to permit an open season of one month in late fall or early winter. While they formerly inhabited not only the hilly part of the state, but also the slopes along the then wooded river bottoms of northern Missouri, they are now re- stricted to the bluff regions of the larger rivers and, to a less extent, to ravines and hillsides along some of the smaller streams, but are never found on the wide ridges of the Ozarks themselves, where conditions do not seem to suit them. Some think the reason why Ruffed Grouse are not more plentiful in the Ozarks and why they have entirely disappeared from localities where they were not much molested by man, is to be found in the ter- rible increase and spread of the chigger (Trombidium), which is said to kill the young grouse. That the chigger, carried from place to place by pasturing animals, is steadily increasing and alarmingly spreading to regions not infested before, is a well- known fact nearly throughout Missouri and, since enemies may determine the breeding range of an animal as well as food and other conditions, I give it as a not impossible theory. Another explanation of their disappearance from the forests of the Ozarks Widmann—aA Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 81 may be found in the annual burning over of the floor of these forests in the erroneous opinion the grazing-ground is thereby improved. As this custom has been followed for fifty years, it has succeeded in extirpating a large number of plants, some of which may formerly have been helpful or needed in making the region a desirable abode for the Ruffed Grouse. *305. TYMPANUCHUS AMERICANUS (Reich.). Prairie Hen. Tetrao cupido. Cupidonia cupido. Pinnated Grouse. Prairie Chicken. Geog. Dist.—Prairies of the Mississippi Valley from Louisiana and Texas to Manitoba, now rare east of the Mississippi River west through eastern parts of the Dakotas, Nebraska and Kan- sas with a tendency to spread with deforestation and the settle- ment of the country, but disappearing. when the population becomes dense. That the Prairie Hen was once a common resident in the prairie region of Missouri, there is ample proof, but as long ago as 1888 reports came from observers in the state with that la- mentable annotation so often met with in recent bird list “Once common, now rare.’’ With the increase of population and prosperity the number of hunters increased wonderfully during the last decade, and when the new game law of 1905 was framed, the. danger of total extinction of the Prairie Hen seemed imminent, but instead of following the example of other states prohibiting all killing for a number of years, the legis- lature made an open season from November 15 to December 15. In a state which issues over 65,000 hunters licenses one month’s open season undoubtedly suffices to prevent any considerable increase of the small remnants left. But even with the best protection laws the Prairie Chicken, such an easy mark for every boy hunter—and every Missouri boy in city or on farm is a hunter now-a-days—,has no prospect of ever becoming numerous again except on well-guarded preserves, where they may easily become semi-domesticated. ‘Though as a rule non-migratory the Prairie Hen of northern Iowa and Minnesota has been known to migrate (some say the females only) southward into and through western Missouri in November and December, returning northward in March. Large flocks of such transients or winter visitants were noticed formerly, but their numbers seem to be too much reduced everywhere to notice such a movement at the present time. 82 Trans. Acad. Scr. of St. Louis. 307. TYMPANUCHUS PALLIDICINCTUS Ridgw. Lesser Prairie Hen. Geog. Dist.—Eastern edge of the plains from Kansas south to western Texas. A specimen of this smaller, paler-colored species in the Hurter collection is said to come from southwestern Missouri. 3 In the Nuttall Bulletin, vol. 2, p. 52, Geo. N. Lawrence writes: “In the latter part of January 1877 I found in Fulton Market (New York) about thirty specimens of this form. * * * I ascertained that they came from Pierce City, southwestern Missouri. * * * I lately learned from a large dealer that they had been quite abundant in market, all coming from Southern Missouri.”’ | Family PHASIANIDAE. Pheasants and Turkeys. PHASIANUS COLCHICUS Linn. English Pheasant. Geog. Dist.—Eurasia from Black Sea to Mongolia; south to Persia. Naturalized in Britain and other countries of western and central Europe. PHASIANUS TORQUATUS Gmel. Ring-necked Pheasant. Geog. Dist.—Southern Siberia, Corea and northeastern China. Several apparently unsuccessful attempts to introduce Pheas- ants into Missouri have been made. Major Geo. H. McCann of Springfield, Mo., president of the St. Louis Park and Agri- cultural Co., and the best informed man on all endeavors of stocking our state with game, was kind enough to write to me. under date of June 12, 1907, the following interesting account: “The St. Louis Park and Agricultural Co. has liberated some- thing over 400 birds about equally divided of English and Ring-necked Mongolian Pheasants. They were liberated in Taney Co. on our preserve. We also raised some 32 birds by the Game-keeper’s wife and several covies were raised on and about the preserve, but they leave after the first frost in fall when leaves begin to drop. They go—where I know not. I don’t believe we have a pair of birds on the preserve. I have inquired for miles around the preserve, they have seen them, but they left. I have labored with them for the past ten years to try and help stock our state, but feel I have made com- plete failure. I can breed and raise, but when turned loose after a few days they are gone. Springfield, Greene Co., organ- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 83 ized a club of some ninety members a few years ago, leased several thousand acres, raised and liberated some 600 birds. For a year we felt success, but as with the St. L. P. & Agr. Co., it proved failure and I am unable to locate a bird in Greene Co. Some five or six thousand dollars has been spent on those birds. I sent several pairs to north Missouri with like results.” *310. MELEAGRIS GALLOPAVO SILVESTRIS (Vieill.). Wild Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo. Meleagris gallopavo fera. Geog. Dist.—Formerly entire eastern United States from - Florida to Maine, Ontario and Minnesota; west to Kansas and Nebraska; but at present extinct or at the point of extinction in most states except in the southern Alleghanies, the Ozarks and heavily timbered bottoms of southern rivers. Non-mi- gratory. In Missouri Wild Turkeys occurred formerly in all parts of the state, along the densely wooded river bottoms of the prairie region, in the flood plains of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, in the swamps of the southeast and throughout the Ozarks. All the early travelers speak of the abundance of the Wild Turkeys. Audubon met with them along the Missouri River to the north- west corner of the state (May 6, 1843), and on his way back he speaks of their abundance, October 14, 1843, between Brunswick and Glasgow. When visiting the Grand River valley near Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Dr. Hoy makes the following note: “Skinned a fine old gobbler shot by a friend; wild turkeys are plenty in this vicinity.” Across the boundary of north central Missouri, Trippe writes from Decatur Co., Ia., in 1872: “ Not uncommon, but shy and vigilant.” But as early as 1888 Mr. Lientz reports from Fayette, Howard Co., ‘ Formerly plenty, now scarce.’’ At present (1906) Wild Turkeys are all gone from northern Missouri, but are still found in small numbers in most parts of the Ozarks and in the swamps of the southeast. According to Dr. W. Mills of Webster Groves a few still breed in St. Louis and Franklin Co’s. and the species may hold its own for a while yet, though with two months of open season (No- vember and December), which the new (1905) law allows, this will be a difficult matter. 84 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Order COLUMBAE. Pigeons. Family CoLUMBIDAE. Pigeons. 315. EcToPIstEsS MIGRATORIUS (Linn.). Passenger Pigeon. Columba migratoria. Ectropistes macrura. Wild Pigeon. Geog. Dist.—Formerly eastern North America to Hudson Bay, west to Great Plains and straggling to Wyoming, Nevada and Washington, breeding from latitude 32° in Mississippi to latitude 65° in Mackenize. In later years so extremely rare that their occurrence anywhere may be regarded as casual, un- less it be some unsettled parts along the northern border of the United States or in Canada. Our new game law does not protect the Wild Pigeon at all, considering it extinct in the state of Missouri, though once in a while we find the capture of a few of them reported in the newspapers. That they were formerly abundant in Missouri is attested by the early travelers and explorers and is well known. to all the old inhabitants. Available records are the following: — 1838, April 21. Prince of Wied killed some above the mouth of the Kaw River. 1843, May 6. Audubon killed one or two north of the present site of St. Joseph. : 1855, 756 and 757. F. V. Hayden says in his report: ‘Quite abundant on the lower Missouri River.’’ 1872. Large flocks were observed by Dr. A. F. Eimbeck at New Haven, and his brother, Charles L. Eimbeck, who has two fine specimens in his collection of mounted birds. 1874, April6. W.E. D. Scott saw a flock of seven at Warrens- burg. . 1878. Last seen at Fayette by Prof. Kilpatrick (Reported in 1885). | | 1880, September 29. Mr. J. D. Kastendieck took his last Wild Pigeon at Billings, but saw some several years afterward. 1882, February 5 and 6. Several large flocks were seen going north by the writer at St. Louis. 1883. Last year common (in the fall) at Keokuk (Currier). 1884, September 9 and 21. Seen at. Mt. Carmel, by Mrs. Musick. Widmann—aA: Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 85 i 1885, April 18, September 27 (twenty), September 28 (fifty) and the last on September 30 at Mt. Carmel. 1885, September 19. Last seen at St. Louis by the writer. 1888, October 31. Mr. Jasper Blines of Alexandria, Clark Co., Mo., writes in Forest and Stream, vol. 31, p. 343: “ During the whole year I have seen but few passenger pigeons. They were in former years very numerous here and could be seen in flocks composed of millions of birds every spring and fall.”’ 1893. Last shipment of Wild Pigeons received at St. Louis by N. W. Judy & Co., the game dealers, who handled more dead and live pigeons than any other firm in the country, and who had their netters employed all the year around, tracing the pigeons to Michigan and Wisconsin in spring and to the Indian Territory and the south in winter. Silvan Springs, Ark., from where the last shipment was received according to Judy’s letter to Mr. R. Deane (Auk, vol. 12, p. 298), is only twenty-five miles south of the southwest corner of the state. 1894, April 15. Mr. E. 8. Currier sees ten pigeons at Keokuk, his first since 1888. 1896, May 19. The same sees one among doves, and again one October 18 of the same year. 1896, September 17. Mr. W. Praeger shoots a male near Keokuk. 1896, December 17. Out of a flock of fifty near Attic, Oregon Co., Mo., Mr. Chas. U. Holden, Jr., kills a pair and sends them in the flesh to Mr. R. Deane of Chicago (Auk vol. 14, p. 317). 1897, August 17. zoological gardens he visited (in Hamburg); he considers the species nearly extinct. That the lower Missouri River from Omaha to its mouth was once a favorite resort of large numbers of these beautiful and 116 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louts. lovely birds, there is no doubt, and we can easily understand why they liked the region, when we learn that they were fond of cockle-burs, hackberries and giant sycamores. Some of the islands and stretches along the Missouri River are covered with cockle-burr to this day and the river bottom is the home of the hackberry tree and the giant sycamore, in the spacious holes of which they liked to roost and nest. Mr. B. T. Gault wrote in 1888: ‘At one time Paroquets were very plentiful at Paroquet Bluff between Newport and Batesville on the White River, but none have been seen there for at least eight years.” Dr. C. H. Merriam reported in the Auk, Vol. IX, 301, that in the fall of 1891 Mr. Thurman 8. Powell saw two Paroquets in the old Linchpin camping grounds in Stone Co. Lately Mr. Thurman S. Powell informed me that on July 18, 1905, a Paroquet was seen and watched for some time at the gate in front of the post- office at Notch, Stone Co., by the postmaster, Mr. Levi Merrill, who knew Paroquets from Indian Territory. The latest report comes from Atchison, Kan., on the Missouri River between Leavenworth and St. Joseph. Mr. Geo. J. Remsburg of Oak Mills, Kan., to whom I am indebted for this interesting report, writes that in August, 1904, his brother, Mr. Wirt Remsburg, killed a Paroquet on the Remsburg fruit farm near Potter, Kan., a few miles south of Atchison, opposite Platte Co., Mo. The bird was alone and was observed several days before it was killed. It made a loud chattering noise as it flew about the country and attracted much attention. Mr. Remsburg posi- tively identified it as a Paroquet, but says it was too badly mangled to be preserved. Order COCCYGES. Cuckoos, ete. Suborder Cuculi. Cuckoos, ete. Family Cucutipar. Cuckoos, Anis, ete. Subfamily Coccyzinae. Cuckoos. *387. CoccyZUS AMERICANUS (Linn.). Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Coccygus americanus. Cuculus carolinensis. Raincrow. Geog. Dist.—The eastern subspecies of the Yellow-billed Cuc- koo breeds from Florida, Louisiana and eastern Texas north to New Brunswick, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, central Wisconsin and southern Minnesota; west to South Dakota, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missouri. 117 central Nebraska, Kansas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma. In winter to Costa Rica and the West Indies. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is one of the best distributed sum- mer residents in Missouri. It is not partial to any one region, though most numerous in the southeast, where it arrives as early as April 25. For the rest of the state the first week in May is the usual time, though in some years a few have appeared, even in the northern part of the state, during the last days of April, while in backward seasons none have been seen until the second week in May. By the middle of May they become more con- spicuous, mating begins and transient visitants swell their num- bers for a few days. As they do not call much during daytime the first few days after arrival, the very first are easily overlooked, but betray their presence by calls before dawn of day. Cuckoos are very retiring during the breeding season until the young are fully fledged, when they lay off their reserve and become familiar visitors to our shade trees, even in frequented streets and gardens. About the middle of September the species is for a few days more prominent than usual, their numbers being reinforced by guests from farther north, but not many are left after September 25, though the first week in October is usually the time when the very last ones are noted south of the Missouri River. June 4, 1881, the writer found within the city limits of St. Louis an egg of this species in the nest of a Catbird and another egg near by in the nest of a Black-billed Cuckoo. There are some, but not many, instances known of the American Cuckoo laying in the nests of other birds, as, unlike the Euro- pean Cuckoo, our Cuckoo makes its own nest, hatches its own eggs and rears its own young. But the nest of our Cuckoo is such a frail structure that a strong wind storm will blow it from its support unless the bird be setting. This may happen before the last of the eggs are laid, and the bird being pressed may be forced to take recourse in other birds’ nests. Though cuckoos’ eggs have repeatedly been found in the nests of Robins and Catbirds, also in those of the Thrasher, Woodthrush, Cedarbird, Redbird and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, there is no record of any of those birds having been seen caring for young Cuckoos. *388. CoccyzUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS (Wils.). Black-billed Cuc- koo. Coccygus erythrophthalmus. Cuculus erythrophthalmus. Raincrow: Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding from the mountainous part of Georgia north to Newfoundland and south- 118 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. ern Laborador, and in the west from eastern Texas and Arkansas to western Assiniboia, but more commonly northward, increas- ing in proportion as the Yellow-billed decreases. In winter, south to the West Indies and northern South America. In Missouri this species is much less common as a summer resident than its cousin, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, but has been found breeding in small numbers throughout the state except in the low southeast. In the Ozarks it is reported as a breeder as far south as Heburn, Cleburne Co., Ark., by Mr. B. T. Gault in 1888, and at Eureka Springs by Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr., in 1906. Both species frequent the same localities and instances of the eggs of one species found in the nest of the other are not very rare, for like the Yellow-billed, it is sometimes compelled to deposit its eggs in other birds’ nests, and such eggs have been found in the nests of the Catbird, Wood Pewee and Yellow- Warbler. It comes to us in spring about the same time as the other species, but is apt to loiter a few days longer in the fall, sometimes to the middle of October (October 15, 1899, Keo- kuk; October 16, 1885, St. Louis). Suborder Aleyones. Kingfishers. Family AtceprnipAkz. Kingfishers. *390. CERYLE ALCYON (Linn.). Belted Kingfisher. Alcedo alcyon. Geog. Dist.—From Panama and the West Indies to the Arctic Ocean. Breeds from southern border of United States north- ward and winters from the southern United States southward. The distribution of the Kingfisher as a summer resident in Missouri is as universal as it possibly can be, and the species _ may even be called common, because its large size, loud rattle and general habits make it so easily observed and recognized that nobody who has an eye for birds can overlook it. But, if a census of all birds were taken, we would find that the King- fisher is not more numerous than some retiring species ordinarily styled rare. Fortunately the circumstance that it raises a pretty large family prevents a more rapid decline of its numbers, which otherwise would be the inevitable consequence of the treatment it receives from everyone who carries a gun. In the eyes of the fisherman and hunter, anything that catches a fish, be it ever so small and worthless, is guilty of a crime that calls Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 119 for capital punishment; and the Kingfisher is such a tempting mark for the tiro who longs to become an expert wing-shot. On the rapidly flowing Ozark streams, especially those flowing southward, the Kingfisher is almost entitled to the rank of permanent resident; farther north a few linger through fore- winter until real cold weather sets in; others return with the first thaw, as February 25, 1884, St. Louis; February 26, 1905, Warrensburg; but real spring movement does not begin before from March 10 to 15, and in cold springs a week or two later. Full numbers are not present before the middle of April. Their departure in the fall is equally irregular; some desert their haunts early in October, while others do not think of leaving be- fore the first cold snap comes in the latter part of November. Order PICI. Woodpeckers, etc. Family Pictpar. Woodpeckers. 392. CAMPEPHILUS PRINCIPALS (Linn.). Ivory-billed Wood- pecker. Picus principalis. White-billed Woodpecker. Geog. Dist.—Formerly South Atlantic and Gulf States north to North Carolina and Maryland; west to Eastern Texas, and in the Mississippi Valley to southern Indiana, Illinois and Mis- souri. Florida and Louisiana are the only states in which the species has been found within the last ten years. The last record of its capture in Missouri is November, 1895, when Captain Gillespie of the St. Louis police force brought one home from Stoddard Co., and had it mounted by Mr. Frank Schwarz. It was a male and was killed near the Little River on November 8 by a local hunter, named Spradlin, eight miles southwest of Morley, Scott Co. *393. DRYOBATES VILLOSUS (Linn.). Hairy Woodpecker. Picus villosus. Geog. Dist.—Of the seven subspecies inhabiting North Amer- ica, this is the one which claims the northern and middle portion of the eastern United States as its domain and is found from the Atlantic coast to the Plains, from North Carolina to Nova Scotia and west to Kansas and Nebraska. Non-migratory, ex- cept partly in its most northern home. 120 Trans. Acad. Scr. of St. Lours. In Missouri the Hairy Woodpecker is a fairly common resi- dent, generally distributed, though nowhere numerous. On the breeding grounds it is most conspicuous during the mating or wooing season in early spring, but becomes very secretive and silent when incubation begins and appears then scarcer than it really is. After the young are fully grown and can take care of themselves, the species takes to roaming and visits all kinds of trees and places, even in thickly settled neighborhoods. In winter we sometimes see individuals which strike us as being decidedly larger and whiter than those we are used to seeing; they may be visitors from more northern regions with a ten- dency to an approach toward the subspecies leucomelas, which inhabits British North America. *393b. DRYOBATES VILLOSUS AUDUBONII (Swains.). Southern Hairy Woodpecker. Picus audubonit. Geog. Dist.—South Atlantic and Gulf States, north to North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, west to southeastern Texas. Non-migratory and much more common than the other form, said to be nearly as common in the south as the Downy Wood- pecker is in the North. : In Missouri this small edition of Hairy Woodpeckers, or at least a near approach to it, inhabits the overflow region of the St. Francis and Little Rivers in Dunklin and Pemiskot Counties. To one who is accustomed to the common Hairy of the middle and northern states, the difference in size and color is striking. Mr. B. T. Gault, who took a specimen in Dunklin Co., in March, 1894, writes: ‘‘It compares favorably with the Texas and Florida birds, both in size and markings, with the exception of the bill, which is of the same length as that of the more northern bird © (villosus), though not as broad and heavy. With that one ex- ception they might easily be pronounced as very good specimens of the Southern Hairy W.” *394c. DRYOBATES PUBESCENS MEDIANUS (Swains.). Downy Woodpecker. Picus pubescens. Geog. Dist.—Of the six subspecies of Downy Woodpeckers, this is the one which inhabits the Middle and Northern States, as well as the southern provinces of Canada from Newfoundland Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missourz. 121 to Alberta. Non-migratory, except farthest north, where partly migratory. In Missouri it is a common resident in all parts of the state; one of the few species deserving the designation of permanent resident, meaning that the same individuals are found the whole year round at or near the same place, provided that place fur- nishes food of the right kind and in sufficient quantity in all seasons. In winter it makes regular rounds through its domain, often in company with Tufted Tits, Chickadees and Nuthatches, forming little troops which are sometimes joined by Creepers, Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Its resemblance to the Yellow-bellied Woodpecker in juvenile dress has earned for it, as well as for its cousin, the Hairy, the inappropriate name, Sapsucker, and at the same time the hate of ignorant and in- tolerant people. This is another and impressive proof of the unreliability of observation on the part of the general public. Superficial resemblance in color and size are sufficient to con- found two entirely different birds and to blame an innocent crea- ture for the imagined wrong-doings of another. *395. DRYOBATES BOREALIS (Vieill.). Red-cockated Wood- pecker. Picus borealis. Picus querulus. Geog. Dist.—South Atlantic and Gulf States to eastern Texas; north to North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Indian Terri- tory. Non-migratory. Not found in Missouri as yet, but, being an inhabitant of pine woods, it may occur on the southern slope of the Ozarks in the region of the Short-leafed Yellow Pine (Pinus mitis or echinata), which originally extended from Perry Co. southwestward to Taney Co. At Heber, Cleburne Co., Ark., Mr. B. T. Gault ob- served it daily in the summer of 1888 in piney woods. Since the above was written, Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff found the Red- cockated Woodpecker in Shannon Co., three examples on March 15, 1907, and two on March 30, 1907. On May 5, 1907, he writes that the species is not so uncommon as he at first thought. He says: “‘I see and hear them constantly, and a female secured on April 19 was in breeding condition.’”’ He again met with several Red-cockated Woodpeckers in Carter Co., near the line of Reynolds Co., May 29, 1907, but says: “‘I guess the cutting off of the pine will drive them out of the region. I have seen none near Grandin.” 122 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louts. *402. SPHYRAPICUS VARIUS (Linn.). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Picus varius. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding regularly from Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Manitoba, northward in wooded regions to lat. 61°; south in the Alleghanies to North Carolina and irregularly to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mis- souri. Winters from about lat. 40° southward to the West Indies, Mexico and Costa Rica. The Sapsucker is best known in Missouri as a spring migrant. During a few favorable nights in early April a whole army, northbound, invades the state and takes possession of it for a few days; every clump of trees, even shade trees and telephone posts in towns, are infested with them, but if nothing unseason- able happens in the execution of the weather program, the mass disappears as mysteriously as it came. As a winter resident the species is scattered singly or in small troops throughout southern Missouri from the Missouri River bottom southward, but more plentifully in the primeval forests of the southeast. They are mostly birds in juvenile dress and not much is seen of them at this season, even when in our own gardens, drilling holes in pines and sugar maples, because they know how to keep on the other side of the tree and rather try to evade us by remaining quietly where they know they are not seen than by flight. When detected they. seek safety by flying to a distant tree, be- hind which they again hide. Besides pine and maple, there are quite a variety of trees which they like to tap for their sap in early spring, among them apple, hickory, linden, poplar, birch, etc., and though it spoils the appearance of some trees, especially the pine by resin running down their sides, it does not weaken the tree visibly, nor does it detract from its productiveness. In very cold weather they look rather disconsolate and apparently suffer privation; if it lasts long, they disappear, probably go farther south or die. During the latter part of February there is usually a decided relaxation of the rigor of winter and, though no signs of spring may be visible for a whole month, some birds feel an impulse to move in the direction of their summer home, among them some Sapsuckers, appearing in March in localities where they had not wintered. Real migration sets in only during the last week of that month, and, if the weather is not favorable, postponements are in order till early April. After a few days of preliminary action by the vanguard, the bulk, as mentioned above, appears. This general advancement ‘is in Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 123 turn followed by a rearguard of loiterers. As the weather con- ditions in early spring do not follow any prescribed rules, but on the contrary are subject to great irregularities, considerable variations in the time and length of passage occur; in some years the last Sapsucker has passed through by the middle of April, in others the bulk does not come before that time and the ‘“Jasts’’ remain to the end of the month and sometimes even into May. Their transit through Missouri in the fall is less conspicu- ous. The “firsts”? are dropping in during the latter part of September, but we are more likely to meet with them early in October, when for a week or two they may be met with most anywhere. Few linger to the end of the month and after the first week in November winter numbers only are with us. From St. Louis northward in the bottoms of the Mississippi flood plain a few breed; Mr. Julius Hurter found a nest with young near St. Louis, and Mr. E. T. Currier in Clark Co. A suspiciously late date is contributed from Shannon Co. by Mr. E. 8. Wood- ruff, May 9, 1907, a whole fortnight after the last transient had gone, the transit of the species taking place from March 21 to April 24. Another late record for southern Missouri is one made by the writer at Branson, Taney Co., May 10, 1906. *405. CEOPHLOEUS PILEATUS (Linn.). Southern Pileated Wood- pecker. 405a. CEOPHLOEUS PILEATUS ABIETICOLA Bangs. Northern | Pileated Woodpecker. Picus pileatus. Hylotomus pileatus. Cock-of-the-Woods. Log-cock. Black Woodcock. Geog. Dist—The former range of the Pileated Woodpecker included all of North America south of the 63° lat. except the southern Rocky Mountains; at present restricted to the less settled and more heavily wooded districts, and therefore rare in the Eastern States. Because the average size of the birds from more northern regions is a trifle larger, with the white markings more extended and the black less sooty, more brownish or grayish brown, a new subspecies has been made, habitating from the southern Alleghanies northward. Since Missouri is apparently in the region where the two subspecies merge, a closer study seems 124 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. necessary to tell to which of the two each individual belongs. Fortunately, Pileated Woodpeckers are still found in different parts of the state, more especially in the heavy timber of the southeast. The species is non-migratory, wintering where it occurs. Because generally described as shy and without adapt- ability to changed conditions of environment, an exceptional case deserves mention, in which a pair accepts the hospitality and protection of a suburban place, that of Dr. A. F. Eimbeck . of New Haven, Mo., and continues to raise an interesting family. *406. MELANERPES ERYTHROCEPHALUS (Linn.). Red-headed Woodpecker. Picus erythrocephalus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North Amercia, from Gulf of Mexico to southern Ontario and eastern Manitoba, slowly spreading to adjacent districts. West to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains (eastern Wyoming and Colorado), straggling west- ward to Salt Lake Valley and Arizona. Formerly common in Connecticut and Massachusetts, now rare east of Hudson River. Winters chiefly south of latitude 37°, where it remains from the end of September to the end of April, appearing at its most northern habitat late in May and leaving there in August or early September. Quite a number winter in the region between 37° and 40°, single individuals even farther north in southern Wisconsin, lowa and Nebraska. In Missouri the Red-head is one of the best known, most familiar, summer residents in all parts of the state. It is un- doubtedly the most numerous member of the family in summer. In traveling through the state we see no bird as often along rail- road lines or highways as this strikingly beautiful and confiding friend of man. It likes the deep woods in winter, but in summer it wants to be on open, preferably cultivated, land. When most of the states were covered with tree growth the Redhead’s home was on the towering giants with which the woods were richly sprinkled. With the partial clearing of the land it did not disappear from sight, as most woodland birds are bound to do, but on the contrary became for a time more numerous, appar- ently at least, especially where deadenings existed or trees and stumps were left standing in the field or as bulwarks against the encroachments of the creeks. It seems to be thankful for the Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 125 acts of civilization and not averse to benevolent assimilation. Where its last trees and stumps are removed it takes to tele- graph and telephone poles, sometimes much to its undoing, as ignorance accuses it of weakening the poles and cruel man with no regard for the sanctity of home, plays havoc inan atrocious manner by closing up the hole. When not molested the hand- some bird becomes an inmate of our suburban homes, of parks and cemeteries, of every clump of trees about the farms, and even of shade trees in the streets of towns. There are few birds that come with more precision than our Redheads in the spring. As with other summer residents which are in some measure winter residents, the real spring movement of this species is somewhat obscured by individuals which have only tempor- arily retreated to near-by sheltered bottoms and return with milder weather, more or less in advance of the masses that have gone farther away and patiently wait till their regular time has come. ‘This is for the whole state between April 20 and 29, when after a few favorable nights their old haunts are resounding with their peculiar calls. They are particularly numerous and noisy during the first half of May, after which they settle down to domestic duties. In July, when the young ones are grown, the species becomes again conspicuous and remains so until the middle of September. Strangely enough they leave us while the land is still flowing with milk and honey for such pretensions as Woodpeckers are supposed to have, but they know a land where beechnuts grow, and there they go. Their departure is as wonderful as their arrival in spring; all at once they are gone. They seem to go in a body, sometimes even in daytime. Within one hour, 10-11 a. m., September 15, 1884, I counted 284 flying across the Mississippi River in the southern part of St. Louis, all going the same way, eastward. This exodus takes place in the third week of September, leaving only those behind which intend to winter. Most of their usual summer haunts are deserted, but exceptions are not rare where solitary birds or a few together are found even in small oak groves all winter in suburbs or villages. Quite different conditions prevail in the heavy timber of the sheltered bottom- lands, principally in the southeast. There the Redheads know no season; all winter whole troops of them hammer away on dark and dreary days or frolic when the sun shines. There is no bird more playful than the Redhead. 126 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Lous. *409. CENTURUS CAROLINUS (Linn.). Red-bellied Woodpecker. Picus carolinus. Melanerpes carolinus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States from Gulf of Mexico to Ches- apeake Bay, rarely northward in the Atlantic States to Massa- chusetts; west of the Alleghanies north to southwestern On- tario, southern Michigan, southern Wisconsin and southeastern South Dakota; west to eastern Nebraska, central Kansas, Indian Territory and Texas; occasionally to Colorado. With the exception of the most northern part of this range chiefly non-migratory, but seldom leaving the woods in winter. In Missouri a fairly common resident in all parts of the state, though more common south and eastward, especially in the river bottoms and the alluvial counties of the southeast. *412. COLAPTES AURATUS LUTEUS Bangs. Northern Flicker. Cuculus auratus. Colaptes auratus. Picus auratus. Yellow-shafted, Yel- low-winged or Golden-winged Woodpecker. Pigeon Woodpecker. High-holder. Yellow-hammer. Geog. Dist.—Like the Pileated Woodpecker the Flicker has been spilt into two subspecies, a northern and a southern, the latter belonging fortunately to the South Atlantic and Gulf States, therefore not concerning us in Missouri. The range of the northern subspecies includes all the rest of eastern and nor- thern North America, west to the foothills of the Rocky Moun- tains in Colorado and Wyoming. North of the United States it ranges from the Atlantic to the Pacific and along the Yukon almost to the Bering Strait. South in winter to the Southern States and on the Pacific coast occasionally to southern Cali- fornia. Though a migratory bird many winter in the Middle States and some even in the Northern States and western Ontario. In Missouri the Flicker is one of the best known, most common and universally distributed summer residents. It has adapted itself to the new conditions of the country to such a degree that it is now found breeding comparatively seldom far away from the scenes of human activity. It is one of our most amus- ing pets in suburban and country places, pleasing with its varied repertory of calls and ludicrous gestures, attitudes and manoeu- vres during the time of wooing, which is apparently much pro- tracted for the sake of its own and others’ amusement. As a winter resident the Flicker may be called fairly common to rare Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 127 as we go from the Missouri River northward, and from fairly common to common as we go southward. Like the Redhead it winters even in places which afford little food and shelter but extends its daily forage to distant feeding grounds. A Flicker which roosted all winter in one of our bird boxes, left it early in the morning, flying straight south as far as the eye could follow. It was never seen during the day but came back to its box every evening before dark. The month of March is the time set for the return of the Flicker to Missouri, but since the inconstancy of March weather is proverbial, it is not surpris- ing to find that this event may take place just as well in the first as in the second, third or fourth week of the month, the records of a long series of years being thus evenly distributed. Large troops of transient visitants, often in company with Robins, pass through between the middle of March and latter part of April, sometimes spending a week or more at the same place awaiting the desired change in the weather. Extended wandering is done at night but local movements are sometimes noticed in daytime. March 23, 1895, I counted one hundred Flickers in as many minutes all following the same route along the bluffs at Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co., in a northeasterly direction. Being very sociable, congenial fellows, they gather in flocks very early in autumn. On favorite grounds troops may be met with in August, largely increased by transients in September, but toward the end of the month a sudden decrease is noticeable and by the first of October many of their haunts are deserted and their occurrence slowly approaches the state which we see in winter, though the advent of real winter may yet induce many of the less brave to depart for a milder clime at the last moment. 413. CoLAPTES CAFER COLLARIS (Vigors). Red-shafted Flicker. Colaptes mexicanus. Colaptes collaris. Picus mexicanus. Colaptes ayresii (Aud.). Colaptes cafer. Colaptes hybridus. Geog. Dist.—Western North America from British Columbia south to Mexico; east to eastern Nebraska and central Kansas; west to the coast ranges of Oregon and Washington and to the Pacific coast from northern California to Lower California. Hybrid forms are found wherever the two species meet from Alberta and Assiniboia southward over the Plains and i in mi- gration as far eastward as western Missouri. Mr. B. F. Bush of Courtney, Mo., writes: ‘I shot several 128 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. birds on December 29, 1889, of Red-shafted Flicker, a fine male of which I skinned and preserved. Saw several others on April 17, 1895, and have frequently seen the birds since then, but made no more notes or dates.” Order MACROCHIRES. Goatsuckers, Swifts, ete. Suborder Caprimulgi. Goatsuckers. Family CAPRIMULGIDAE. Goatsuckers. ~ *416. ANTROSTOMUS CAROLINENSIS (Gmel.). Chuck-will’s-widow. Caprimulgus carolinensis. Geog. Dist.—Breeds in Southern United States north to south- ern Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, southwestern Indiana, southern Illinois, southern Missouri, rarely to Kansas; west to southwestern Texas. In winter to the West Indies and through eastern Mexico to South America. | In Missouri a fairly common summer resident from Perry Co. : southwestward along the southern slope of the Ozark Mountains from the latter part of April to the end of September. *417. ANTROSTOMUS vocIFERUS (Wils.). Whip-poor-will. Caprimulgus vociferus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America from the Atlantic to the Plains, north to the southern provinces of Canada, west to Mani- toba, Dakotas, central Nebraska, rarely to Kansas. Breeds from northwestern Louisiana and Florida northward and winters from Florida southward to Guatemala. | In Missouri the Whip-poor-will is a well-known summer resi- dent in most parts of the state. It is most numerous on the northern slope of the Ozarks inhabiting the densely scrub-oak covered hillsides, its ideal home site. Nextto this most favored territory it chooses the rocky parts of the Ozark border region and the wooded river bluffs of central and northern Missouri. On the southern slope of the Ozarks it is generally replaced by the Chuck-will’s-widow, but in many localities both species occur together, coming into towns together to perform their noisy serenades alternately or ensemble. These performances become shorter and less and less regular in June and cease entirely in July but are sometimes heard again in late August or September. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 129 Their general departure is taken in September, but occasionally we meet one in early October, up to the 10th of that month. In migration queer places are sometimes resorted to for a day’s rest, as for instance a brushy sinkhole by the side of a frequented street in a suburb of St. Louis, April 8, 1899. In the southern half of the state the first Whip-poor-wills are heard in the first half of April, in the northern between the tenth and last of the month. ‘Eggs have been foundin St. Louis county, April 24, but cool weather retards laying until May. From many suitable patch- es of woodland the species has disappeared, or visits them in mi- eration only, because driven away by pasturing animals, too many of which are kept on a small area, devastating the under- brush and tramping everything under feet. Where hogs are kept no ground-builder can long survive as they destroy both eggs and unfledged young and are in this respect as bad as, or worse than, cats or dogs. In the low southeastern counties, where that part of the area not subject to yearly inundation is now given up to agriculture, the Whip-poor-will is only an occasional transient visitant as it is in most of the woodland in the flood-plains of the large rivers. *418. PHALAENOPTILUS NUTTALLI (Aud.). Poor-will. _ Caprimulgus nuttallii. Antrostomus nuttallii. Nuttall’s Whip-poor-will. Geog. Dist.—Western United States, east to southeastern Dakota, eastern Nebaska and eastern Kansas; north to central Idaho and Montana, also to interior of British Columbia, west to Cascades and Sierra Nevada. In winter south from southern border of United States to Guatemala. In Missouri found by Mr. H. Nehrling in Lawrence Co. in 1885 and probably a rare summer resident in western Missouri, as he heard its call regularly in May and June. Mr. B. F. Bush also heard the bird in McDonald and Barry Counties and thinks it must breed there. Eggs were taken June 1, 1886, at Richmond, Kansas., within 35 miles of the state line. [418a. PHALAENOPTILUS NUTTALLII NITIDUS Brewst. Frosted Poor-will.] Geog. Dist—Texas to Arizona; north to Kansas; south to Mexico. A female shot by Col. N.S. Goss September 23, 1881, at Neosho Falls, Kan., 35 miles west of Missouri has been identified as be- 130 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. longing to this subspecies. Since the geographic distribution of the Poor-wills does not seem to be definitely established, it will be well to examine carefully every specimen taken in Missouri. *420. CHORDEILES VIRGINIANUS (Gmel.). Nighthawk. Caprimulgus virginianus. Caprimulgus popetue. Chordeiles popetue. Bull- bat. Mosquito Hawk. Geog. Dist.—Breeds in the eastern United States from Gulf coast northward, chiefly north of lat. 35°; west to the Plains. North of the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, north to Hudson Bay and Mackenzie River, and in wooded dis- tricts of the western United States south to northern California. Winters from the Bahamas and Central America to the Argentine Republic. In Missouri a common transient visitant in all parts of the state, but not at all common as a summer resident except in towns and cities where it lays its eggs and rears its young un- disturbed on gravel roofs of the highest buildings. It also breeds on cliffs and bluffs along the large rivers and on ridges of the Ozarks, but seems to have been driven from the prairie region. Quiet during breeding time it becomes noisy early in July when, joined by its still more vociferous offspring, it attracts general attention to its wonderful aerial evolutions and gives the city people opportunity for admiration until migration begins in August. The spirit of unrest seems to seize it early in August when it deserts its breeding haunts in the city to go hunting over lakes and rivers, fields and meadows, along the edge of woods and in the clearings, and it soon becomes evident that migration from the north has commenced. ‘The bulk of the transient visi- tants passes through Missouri between August 25 and September 25 when considerable numbers may be seen in large loose troops anywhere in the state, but no such imposing sights have been enjoyed during the last ten years as formerly, when in the face of on-coming thunderstorms hundreds, yes thousands, of these swift and graceful flyers were speeding southward in dense flocks. Recommended in newspapers by the sporting editor as delicious game the Bull-bats have been the target of our hunting fraternity for years, but the new game law of 1905 does not consider Bull- bats as legitimate game, and it is to be hoped the destruction of this useful bird will cease. In spite of their rapid and unsteady flight large numbers are maimed or killed, because, unmindful Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 131 of the continual reports of guns, they persist in beating up and down the same path of a rich hunting field, on a lake or on the shores of ariver. Asa mosquito and gnat catcher it has no equal, devouring them in enormous quantities. Though getting scarce during the last days of September, loiteres are always met with in the first week of October, sometimes to the end of the second week. In spring the Nighthawk does not play such a prominent part as in autumn migration. The species never becomes com- mon before early May, though the first may chance to be noted any day after the 22d of April in the southern and the 27th in the more northern parts of the state. The transit of north- bound Nighthawks is distributed over the whole month of May and has on special occasions been observed taking place in very large flocks, as on May 25, 26 and 27, 1882, at St. Louis. Usually the passage escapes notice, because performed in fine weather at great height. Following once with my field glass a hawk, soaring high above, my field of vision was crossed by Nighthawks, which proved to be a part of an extended flight utterly invisible to the naked eye. [420a. CHORDEILES VIRGINIANUS HENRYI (Cass.). Western Nighthawk. Chordeiles henryt. Geog. Dist——Western North America north to southern British Columbia, Alberta and throughout Assiniboia, breeding in the United States from western Kansas and western Nebraska and southeastern Dakota to the desert region of southeastern California; winters in northern South America. In migration casual to Wisconsin and Illinois. Captain Bendire writes: “The eastern limits of its range extend well into Minnesota, Iowa, northern and central Illinois, where it is the prevailing form found throughout the prairie regions of these states.’”’ Mr. Chas. K. Worthen of Warsaw, IIl., opposite the northeast corner of Missouri, writes, that he has taken it repeatedly some seasons, and he regards it as a not very un- common transient visitant. [420c. CHORDEILES VIRGINIANUS SENNETTI (Coues). Sennett’s Nighthawk.] Geog. Dist.—Treeless region from the Saskatchewan to Texas. Has been taken near Boone in central, and at Sioux City and 132 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. in Monona Co., western Iowa, and is therefore likely to occur in the prairie part of Missouri. Mrs. V. Bailey writes: “Though lighter than virginianus, henryi is much darker than sennetti, which is light brown, buffy, and on wing coverts mainly whitish.” Also: “top of head brownish instead of blackish, wing coverts largely whitish, under parts with dark bars brown instead of black, spaced with white instead of buffy.” Suborder Cypseli. Swifts. Family Mycropopipar. Swifts. Subfamily Chaeturinae. Spine-tailed Swifts. *423. CHAETURA PELAGICA (Linn.). Chimney Swift. Hirundo pelasgia. Cypselus pelasgia. Chaetura pelasgia. vasearceie Swal- low. Geog. Dist.—Breeds in Eastern North America from Florida to Labrador and Manitoba; west to eastern Nebraska and Kan- sas, extending its range with settlements westward. In winter to Gulf of Campeachy. In Missouri the Chimney Swift is a very common summer resident wherever there are chimneys for it to use; it is most abundant in towns and villages, especially old settlementa along rivers, but deserts the densely built-up parts of the largest cities. There is no doubt that the Swifts of Missouri outnumber by far all the species of swallows taken together, because their distribution is not local but universal: Where no chimney but access to the attic or an outbuilding can be had, they find such places to their liking and stick their nests to rough boards, sometimes several in close proximity, but never one below an- other. In the region of the Water Tupelo, the trunks of which are sometimes hollow from top to bottom with large opening on top, the Swifts still observe the custom of former ages, using them for roosts and nests; but such cases will become rarer now as did the use of the hollow Sycamores in the river bottoms a genera- tion ago. The Swift has profited more than any other species of birds by the change which civilization has brought about, and it was, indeed, a fortunate and momentous event when its ancestors for the first time dared to enter and nest in the chimneys of the early settlers. Though places more or less suitable for nests may not have been very rare before the advent of the white Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missourt. 133 man, no hollow trees can have afforded the security which an unused chimney of a dwelling gives, inaccessible as it is to nearly all the former enemies in the woods. It is this abundance of safe nesting sites which accounts for the enormous increase of Swifts since they became Chimney Swifts, and which allows of a steadily growing extension of their breeding range into formerly uninhabited regions. With his rare gift of daring, which enables the Swift to penetrate deep into the chimneys of occupied houses, he couples a great amount of sagacious caution as shown when placing his nest into chimneys which he has reason to believe will be used occasionally. I have repeatedly found nests placed a short distance below the mouth of the stove pipe, though - eight and more feet from the mouth of the chimney, an expedient of great. advantage in case of a short period of unseasonable fires in the stove. The first Swifts of the season reach Missouri in the southeast in the last days of March (March 28, Butler Co.) and St. Louis a week later (April 2, 1888, April 3, 1887, earliest record March 31, 1885), but these forerunners are so few that the best, perhaps the only, way to find them is to watch in the evening one of their chimneys used for common roost. We have records of their arrival during the first week of April not only from St. Louis, but repeatedly from Fayette and once even from Keokuk (April 7, 1897), but the Swifts are not generally seen before the second week and become common only after the middle of the month, usually during the third week. From April 20 to May 20 the common roost is not only used by the Swifts of the neigh- borhood, but also by varying numbers of transient visitants exceeding many times that of the summer residents. By May 20 the rush of north-bound guests suddenly subsides, but strag- glers continue to the end of the month. May and early June, the time of mating and wooing and noisy excitement, and of the presence of troops of transients, is the time when they are most conspicuous contributors to the animation of our landscape. When incubation begins the Swifts, seen before always flying noisily in twos or threes or’ little troops, all at once fly singly and in silence. This period lasts until the end of July or into August, when the young are on the wing and noise and bustle begin anew, kept up chiefly by the youngsters, which are at this time of the year easily distinguished from their parents by the perfect, unbroken outline of their pointed, long, strongly curved wings, while the parents show decided signs of wear and moult, having shed certain of the primaries. As the 134 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lows. young can not catch sufficient food and still need the help of the parents for several days after being on the wing, they return to the paternal home sometimes during the day and surely in the evening. After they have become entirely independent, the whole family usually quits the nest chimney and betakes itself to the common roost. There the attendance increases steadily during August and, since it is also used by transients, reaches its maximum in September, when great variations occur, showing the coming and going of the guests. These have also been seen using the chimney for resting in daytime, entering at six in the morning and reappearing at three in the afternoon, thus ex- plaining a remarkable scarcity of the species at certain times of the day. The species remains with us in goodly numbers through the first week of October, usually one of much sunshine and an abundance of winged insects, but becomes very rare during the second week, except sometimes at the common roost in the evening. Dates of “last seen’ vary during ten years observa- tion by Mr. Currier at Keokuk from October 2 to 18, mostly between 10 and 18, and at St. Louis from October 12 to 24, mostly between 14 and 19. Suborder Trochili. Hummingbirds. Family TRocHinipan. Hummingbirds. *428. TROCHILUS COLUBRIS Linn. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Mellisuga colubris. Geog. Dist.—Breeding from the Gulf coast to Labrador, west to Alberta, North Dakota, eastern Nebraska, and Kansas. Winters from southern Florida to Cuba, Mexico and Central America. In Missouri a common summer resident in all parts, but most numerous in the Ozarks and in the bluff region of the large rivers. In Pemiscot Co. the first male Hummer of the season was seen as early as April 11, 1893, the early-flowering Red Shrub Buckeye being the main attraction in the southeast. In the neighborhood of St. Louis the first Hummer should be looked for about the early blossoms of the Tree Buckeye between April 22 and 28, though in cool springs sometimes not before from May 1 to 5. The first week of May is the time when the van of the species can be expected in most parts of the state. At St. Louis males do Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 135 not become common before the 5th, females not before the 12th of May, when mating begins at once and the peculiar pendulum movement of the courting male may be observed. ‘Transient visitants are sometimes found in small flocks, less often in spring than in autumn, when a dozen or more are seen scattered over a garden where flowers abound. In such places they are conspic- uous frequenters from August to early October or until frost kills their favorite Scarlet Sage, often in the second week of the month, but loiterers have been reported much later, as October 20, St. Louis; October 23, 1903, Keokuk; October 18, 1903 and November 2, 1902, New Haven (Dr. Eimbeck). Order PASSERES. Perching Birds. Suborder Clamatores. Songless Perching Birds. Family TyRANNIDAE. Tyrant Flycatchers. [443. Musctvora FoRFICATA (Gmel.). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.] Muscicapa forficata. Tyrannus forficatus. Milvulus forficatus. Swallow- tailed Flycatcher. Bird of Paradise (Texas). Geog. Dist.—Breeds in southern Kansas, Indian Territory, Oklahoma and Texas. Migrates through eastern Mexico to Costa Rica. Accidental in southern Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New England, Nebraska, Manitoba and Hudson Bay region. Books mention southwest Missouri among the breeding localities of this species, but there seems to be no authentic record of its occurrence in the state, though it is very probable that the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was once a rare breeder in Missouri. There is a record of its breeding within 60 miles of the western state line, May 18, 1875, at Neodesha, Kan. *444, TYRANNUS TYRANNUS (Linn.). Kingbird. Lanius tyrannus. Muscicapa tyrannus. Tyrannus carolinensis. Bee Martin. Geog. Dist.—Breeds throughout the Eastern United States to the foothills of Colorado; west through Utah, Wyoming and Montana to Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington. In British America from Newfoundland to British Columbia, north through the southern provinces to lat. 57° in Athabasca 136 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louss. and the interior of British Columbia. Winters in Central and South America. In Missouri the Kingbird is one of the most common and best known summer residents on cultivated land throughout the prairie and Ozark border region, but much less common in the Ozarks, where chiefly near towns or farmhouses. ‘The first arrive in the more southern part of the state in the second week of April, excep- tionally even in the central part (Festus, Jefferson Co, April 7 and 10; St. Louis, April 10 and 14), where they are generally not seen before the third week. In northern Missouri the first come pretty regularly during the fourth week of the month or a few days later, seldom earlier. The bulk of the species does not come before the last days of April in the southern, and the first week of May in the northern part. Transients are present until after the middle of May, sometimes in troops of from 20 to 30, resemb- ling Robins somewhat when on wing, or sitting dismally on fences along the roads, when kept back by unseasonable weather. After getting through with their household duties they withdraw from the breeding grounds, much like the Martins, and, like them, flock in the evening to common roosts, preferably willow thickets along water courses. Many of their haunts are deserted in July, others in August, when the distribution becomes local and changeable, which means that migration has begun and our own King birds are joined by others, themselves departing and being replaced by others, until in tle third week of September the last are leaving the state. The last date in eight years at Keokuk, according to observations of Mr. E. §. Currier, is September 10, 1893; at St. Louis, September 12, 1905; at Mt. Carmel, Sep- tember 17, 1885; at Monteer, Shannon Co., September 20, 1903, and at New Haven, October 1, 1902, and October 4, 1903; these latter. dates exceptionally late. 447. TYRANNUS VERTICALIS Pay, Arkansas Kingbird. Muscicapa verticalis. Geog. Dist.—Western North America; breeding from 100th meridian westward to the Pacific; north to Assiniboia, Alberta and British Columbia; south through Lower California and western Mexico to Guatemala in winter. In migration to southeastern South Dakota and eastern Nebraska. As a strag- gler it has occurred in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, ete. | Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 137 The only available records of its occurrence in Missouri are supplied by Mr. Thaddeus Surber, who took one specimen at Stotesbury, Vernon Co., April 15, 1894, and by Mr. H. Nehrling, who met with the species at Freistatt, Lawrence Co., in the early eighties and considered it fairly common. | *452. MYIARCHUS CRINITUS (Linn.). Crested Flycatcher. Muscicapa crinita. Tyrannus crinitus. Great Crested Flycatcher. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to New Brunswick, southern Quebec, Ontario and eastern Manitoba; west to Minne- sota, eastern Nebraska, Kansas, Indian Territory and south- western Texas. Migrates through eastern Mexico to Costa Rica, Panama and Columbia. In Missouri a common summer resident in all parts of the state. Originally a denizen of the forest it is changing its habits to con- form with the state of civilization and is taking up its abode in parks, cemeteries, groves, wood patches, orchards and even in the shade trees of villages and suburbs. Where suitable bird boxes are put up, it accepts them for nesting sites, and when the indispensable snake skin is wanting it uses paraffine or tissue paper to cover its eggs during a temporary absence. The return from winter quarters takes place with great regularity during the fourth week of April, seldom delayed to the first week in May, when the species is usually in full numbers and very noisy. It departs in fall during the first half of September, the last being noticed about September 20 (September 21, 1885 and 1887, St. Louis). *456. SAYORNIS PHOEBE (Linn.). Phoebe. Muscicapa phoebe. Muscicapa fusca. Tyrannus fuscus. Muscicapa atra. Tyrannula or Muscicapa nunciola. Sayornis fuscus. Bridge-pewee. Phoebe-bird. Geog. Dist.—From eastern Mexico and Cuba north through Eastern United States to Newfoundland and the southern prov- inces of Canada, in the interior to 56° 30’ lat.; west to Alberta ° and in the United States to eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, rarely to Wyoming and Colorado. Breeds from South Carolina and Arkansas northward and winters from the South Atlantic and Gulf States southward. | In Missouri a fairly common summer resident, breeding in all parts of the state, as far south as the southern border, but more 138 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. common northward. In the more southern part of the state the first Phoebes are heard in the last week of February, not only in the southeast, but also in the Ozarks (February 28, 1903, Salem, Dent Co., Mr. F. C. Pellet) (February 29, 1904, Monteer, Shannon Co., Mr. W. G. Savage). In the neighborhood of St. Louis the earliest males arrive on their accustomed stands during the first week of March, but often bad weather makes them very miserable and they have to wait from three to six and more days for their mates to join them, so that it is usually not far from the middle of March before the species becomes readily observable in its old haunts. In exceptionally inclement March weather as in 1906 the Phoebe can not be expected before April, when, in ordi- nary seasons, it is laying eggs (first egg March 31, 1903, Mont- gomery City; April 1, 1904, St. Louis). North of latitude 39° the absence of uniformity in our March weather is clearly reflected in the great diversity in the dates of first arrivals, varying at Keokuk between March 6, 1894, and April 2, 1895, in a series of observations during thirteen years (1892 to 1904 incl.) by Mr. i. 8. Currier. Mostly silent and retiring in autumn, their departure is not so easily noticed as their arrival in spring, which they announce loudly and with much constancy for hours at a time. ‘Temporary conspicuousness is observable on fine October days, which probably means the presence of transient visitant resting only for a day or two. The last are noted during the second half of October, even in the more southern part of the state. Latest for Keokuk, October 16, 1900; for St. Louis, October 27, 1885. 457. SAYORNIS SAYA (Bonap.). Say’s Phoebe. Muscicapa saya. Sayornis sayus. Geog. Dist—Western United States from the Pacific to the Plains, and from southern Mexico to the Arctic circle. Common in western Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Said to extend its range eastward. | Was reported once from Butler, Bates Co., by Mr. Harvey Clark in 1886, and has occurred in southeastern Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois as an accidental visitor. 459. NUTTALLORNIS BOREALIS (Swains.). Olive-sided Flycatcher. Tyrannus borealis. Contopus borealis. Geog. Dist.—Breeds from the mountains and northern parts of the United States north to Athabaska and southern Keewatin, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 139 and from Nova Scotia to the Pacific. In winter to Central and northern South America as far as Peru. | In Missouri an irregularly, or fairly, common transient visitant from the second week of May to the first of June (June 2, 1907, St. Louis) and in fall from August 20 to the middle of September. Most of the notes on this species have been made on the bluffs and in the bottoms along the Mississippi River, but it has also been met with in the southeast on the St. Francis River, in the Ozarks at Galena, Stone Co., and has been reported from the western border, Jasper Co., by Mr. Savage. ‘To one who is familiar with its habit of perching on the highest tree tops, or who is acquainted with its peculiar, far-reaching whist'e, its presence cannot easily escape notice especially in spring when, retained by cold nights or strong northerly winds, it remains at the same place several days. Its stopsin autumn seem to be shorter and less observable, because so early in the season, when the trees are yet covered with foliage and insects most plentiful. *461 ‘CONTOPUS VIRENS (Linn.). Wood Pewee. Muscicapa virens. Muscicapa rapax. Muscicapa querula. Tyrannula virens. Geog. Dist —Eastern North America; breeds from the Gulf coast to Newfoundland and southern Canada; west to Manitoba, eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, and Texas south to the moun- tains of Orizaba. In winter through eastern Mexico and Hon- duras to Columbia and Ecuador. In Missouri one of the common and most generally distributed birds in all kinds of woods, high and low, dry and wet, and, where these are wanting, resorting to orchards, parks, cemeteries and the larger gardens in towns and suburbs. The first Wood Pewees arrive in southeast Missouri as early as April 20, in central Missouri April 28, and in the northern tier of counties between the 4th and the 12th of May. ‘They leave the state in the latter part of September, but stragglers linger into October and the last depart between October 8 and 15. ‘Transient visitants, indicated by the presence of unusually large numbers, have been noticed about the middle of May and in the fourth week of September. Though the forerunners reach St. Louis at the end of April, the species does not become common and generally distributed before the fifth of May and in the more northern part of the state before the middle of the month. 140 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 463. EMPIDONAX FLAVIVENTRIS Baird. Yellow-bellied Fly- catcher. Tyrannula flaviventris. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; breeds from Massachu-. setts northward to Newfoundland and southern Labrador, and west through densely forested regions to Manitoba. In winter through eastern Mexico to Panama. In eastern Missouri a fairly common transient visitant from May 5 to June 1 (exceptionally later, as in 1907 to June 4) and from August 25 to September 20. There is only one record from western Missouri, that of W. E. D. Scott, who took a specimen at Warrensburg, May 18, 1874. All other observations on the species were made along the eastern edge of the state from Keokuk to the southern state line and in the southeast west to Carter Co., where Mr. E.S. Woodruff took a specimen at Grandin, May 16, 1907. The fact that it has not been reported from other localities i is no proof that it does not occur, but the species easily eludes detection, being late in transit when vegetation is already luxuriant ahd confining itself to dense shrubbery. It - is most commonly found in low situations, willow thickets in the flood plains and shrubbery along creeks of the bluff region, but in the height of migration it is often found in parks and gardens, orchards and hedge-rows. Although usually silent, its peculiar call-note, different from those of the other eastern members of the genus, is sometimes heard toward the end of its stay. *465. EMPIDONAX VIRESCENS (Vieill.). ~ Green-crested Fly- catcher. Empidonax acadicus. Muscicapa querula. Tyrannus acadicus. Acadian Flycatcher. Geog. Dist.— Eastern United States, north to southern New York and southern Michigan; west to Nebraska, eastern Kansas and Texas. Winters in Central America, Cuba and Yucatan. In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resident from April 28 to September 25. Of the four species of this genus occurring in Missouri this is by far the most com- mon, because found in all parts of the state wherever the axe has spared enough trees to leave at least a semblance of a forest. Unlike its relatives, the Wood Pewee and Great Crested, the Acadian has not yet learned to feel at home anywhere else but in the forest itself and, if it does not yield soon, general defor- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 141 estation will be the death-blow to this and a number of other woodland species equally obdurate and inaccessible to civiliza- tion. » *466. EMPIDONAX TRAILLII Aud.. Traill’s Flycatcher. Muscicapa traillii. Empidonax pusillus traillii. Empidonax pusillus. Little Flycatcher. Geog. Dist.—Western North America from Ohio, Illinois and Michigan to the Pacific, and from Sitka and the Mackenzie River south into Mexico. Winters south of the United States. As a fairly common summer resident the Traill’s Flycatcher has a peculiar distribution in Missouri. It inhabits the entire prairie region of northern and western Missouri, enters the Ozark border subregion in Newton, Lawrence and Greene counties, and follows the Mississippi River flood plain south at least as far as Ste. Genevieve Co. It is not found in the Ozarks nor in the lowland of the southeast. In the vicinity of St. Louis it arrives with great regularity on the fourth or fifth day of May, seldom earlier (April 29, 1884). At Keokuk, May 11, 1902 (Currier). It is still numerous in the second week of September, probably joined by transients, but disappears about September 25, rarely later (October 4, 1905, St. Louis). Its original haunts are the trees bordering rivers, creeks and lakes, or clumps of willows in swampy places, but being a quick and wide-awake bird it was not slow in accommodating itself to human surroundings and is now at home in city parks and cemeteries, in orchards and the fringe of trees and shrubs along frequented country roads. One would expect to find a species with such a happy, adaptive faculty spreading rapidly with deforestation and cultivation, but this has not been the case during the past twenty-five years and there is no visible increase in their numbers. The only explanation for this is the careless manner in which they place their nests in exposed positions with no thought of concealment, and the late- ness of their nesting, which does not allow a second attempt when the first has been unsuccessful. 466a. EMPIDONAX TRAILLIIALNORUM Brewst. Alder Flycatcher. Empidonax pusillus traillii. Empidonaz traillii. Tyrannus trailli. Geog. Dist.— Eastern North America from New England and Newfoundland to Alaska, and in the United States found as far west as western Nebraska. Winters in Central America. 142 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. There is little doubt that this subspecies occurs in our state — . in its passage from summer to winter quarters and vice versa, but it remains to be shown to what extent, since the two sub- species cannot be distinguished with certainty without the use of compasses. Since the above was written Mr. E. 8. Woodruff captured a female Flycatcher at Grandin, Carter Co., which Dr. J. A. Allen ‘and Dr. Jno. Dwight identified as belonging to this subspecies. 467. EMPIDONAX MINIMUts Baird. Least Flycatcher. Tyrannula minima. Chebeck. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, west to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Alberta; north to Newfoundland, Oxford Lake, Keewatin and Fort Simpson, Mackenzie. Breeds from North Carolina, northern Ohio and Indiana, Nebraska and Wyoming northward. Winters in Central America and Panama. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant from April 28 to the third, seldom to the fourth, week of May (June 3, 1907, St. Louis). A few days earlier in the south (Shannon Co., April 24, 1904, W. G. Savage); a few days later in the north (April 28 to May 5, Keokuk, E. S. Currier). In fall migration from August 24 to the middle of October (October 14, 1885, St. Louis; October 20, 1902, Jasper Co., Savage). As Mr. Chas. K. Worthen has taken this species during the breeding season at Warsaw, Ill., it may be found to be a rare breeder in the most northern part of Missouri. Mr. T. M. Trippe mentions it as breeding in large numbers in Mahasca Co., Iowa, in 1872. Suborder Oseines. Song Birds. Family ALaupDIDAE. Larks. 474. OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS (Linn.). Horned Lark. - Alauda alpestris. Eremophila alpestris. Alauda cornuta. Eremophila cornuta. Shore Lark. Snow Lark. Geog. Dist.—Northeastern North America, Greenland and Old World. In winter south in United States to the Carolinas, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska. The status of the different kinds of Horned Larks found in Missouri in winter needs further investigation and corroboration of the statement that this-subspecies is a winter visitant in the Widman —A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 1438 state. Flocks of Horned Larks seen in winter on the sand bars of the Mississippi opposite St. Louis were apparently of this larger and darker form. Mr. E. 8. Currier says that it appears in December at Keokuk and is seen off and on until early February and that the Prairie Horned Lark seems to be absent or scarce during that period. Mr. Sidney 8. Wilson gives me the following dates for this subspecies at St. Joseph: February 22, 1896, twenty; February 15, again seen; February 21, bulk present; April 4, last; adding that there were a few Prairie Horned Larks with them. *474b. OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS PRATICOLA Hensh. Prairie Horned Lark. Eremophila alpestris praticola. Prairie Lark. Horned Lark. Geog. Dist—Breeds from eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska and Manitoba eastward to New England and eastern Quebec. In winter withdrawing from northern regions, and extending its range to Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, etc. In Missouri a fairly common resident in all parts on cultivated ground, high and low, not only in the prairie and Ozark border region, but in the cleared tracts of the Ozarks themselves and in the marshes of the flood plains of the large rivers. Small troops, sometimes in company with Lapland Longspurs, wander about in search of food, resorting to the bare wind-swept hillsides when the ground elsewhere is covered with snow. When the snow becomes too deep, or when sleet and ice crusts bury every- thing, hunger drives them to the farms and highways which they follow into villages, towns and cities. They are most conspicuous late in February and March, their time of mating and nest- building, when their queer song is in the air for many minutes at a time, and again when the youngsters are brought to the country roads and are taught the advantages of the dust bath. [474.k. Orocoris ALPESTRIS HOYTI Bishop. Hoyt’s Horned Lark. | Geog. Dist——Breeds from Hudson Bay to the Mackenzie River and south to Lake Athabasca. Migrates to Nevada, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, casually to Ohio and New York. As this lately separated large pale subspecies has been taken at different places in eastern Nebraska, it may be presumed that 144 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. i it also visits our state in winter and should be looked for especially in the northwesern part. Family Corvipar. Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc. Subfamily Garrulinae. Magpies and Jays. 475. Pica PICA HUDSONICA (Sab.). American Magpie. Corvus pica. Picahudsonica. Pica melanoleuca. Pica caudata hudsonica. Geog. Dist—Western and northern North America; east to Lake Winnipeg, western Nebraska and eastern Colorado; west to the Cascade Mountains; in the north through western Assin- iboa, Alberta and British Columbia to Alaska; south to western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Non-migratory, except in the far North. Formerly in winter to Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario, but range and numbers. are greatly reduced through constant persecution by hunters and ranchmen who consider them a nuisance. There is a record by L. W. Corder of Waverly, Mo., one of the observers of bird migration, in his report to the Department of Agriculture, stating that he saw four Magpies November 1, 1890, in Saline Co., Mo. Indications are not wanting that Mag- pies formerly extended their wanderings, at least in some winters, as far south as Missouri. Mr. Heiser of Keokuk has a mounted specimen which he shot many years ago in winter near the Des Moines River not far from the state line. Audubon men- tions in his journal two caged Magpies at Fort Croghan, near the present site of Omaha, May 10, 1843, said to have been caught in nooses by the legs. In 1885, Mr. G. 8. Agersborg of Alda, southeastern South Dakota, writes (Auk vol. 2, p. 282): “This bird, which was formerly very common here in winter, frequent- ing trappers’ camps and farmyards, has within the last four years entirely disappeared.” It is said to have been taken in Shawnee Co., eastern Kansas, in October (Snow, 1873). *477. CYANOCITTA CRISTATA (Linn.). Blue Jay. Corvus cristatus. Garrulus cristatus. Cyanurus cristatus. Jay Bird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America to western Nebraska and western Manitoba, and from the Gulf to Newfoundland and Hudson Bay; northwestward to Athabasca River and Al- berta. Winters from the Northwest Territories and Cape Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 145 Breton Island southward to the Gulf coast, but most of them withdraw from our northern states and even from Missouri. A common summer resident in all parts of Missouri, more abundant in villages and towns than in the forest. Also a fairly common winter resident, and a very numerous transient visitant in spring and fall. The regular passage through our state of large numbers of Blue Jays from summer to winter quarters and vice versa is of special interest, because performed in daytime, showing us how land birds wander. Contrary to some theories these Blue Jays do not follow certain highways, as for instance the flood plain of the Mississippi River, but many minor routes amounting almost to a broad front. It is true that many flocks follow each other over the very same ground, resting on the same trees and crossing the Missouri River atthe very same point, but there are such routes in every county of the state. The route along the Mississippi River bluffs and bottom may be one of the most frequented, but routes do not necessarily follow any river and lead straight across the hills of the Ozarks. The migration of northbound Blue Jays begins in some years as early as April 11, but usually after the 20th and becomes brisk toward the end of the month, continuing through the first week of May, but ceases after the 10th or 12th of the month. At this time even the last of our own birds, those of the second year, are paired and building. In fall south bound flocks pass from the beginning of the fourth week in September to the middle of October. Flocks are of variable size, from 20 to 60 birds, and are on wing chiefly in the forenoon between eight and eleven, in spring between six and ten, less often in the afternoon between three and five. They are perfectly silent when flying, but when alighting are greeted by our resident Blue Jays, and a great noise results. Though only a small percentage of our summer residents are true permanent residents, those that have spent the winter away from home have all returned before the last northerners pass through. Blue Jays cannot stand much zero and below zero weather; they freeze the toes badly in severe winters, learning thereby a lesson which they bear well in mind the following fall, leaving early. The more exposed woods are largely deserted when the trees are bare early in November and do not become populated again before the winter is over. This is indeed a very unstable time, oscillating between the middle of February and the middle of April. After an unusually cold late winter, as that of 146 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 1906, when we had the coldest March in history with an average temperature of 33°, i. e., ten degrees below the lowest average in thirty years, Blue Jays did not become common at their breeding stands before the middle of April. In exceptionally mild winters old pairs have announced their return in the middle of February. _ In ordinary seasons the first nests are finished early in April and when the northern transients and birds of the second year appear on the scene, our birds, occupied with domestic duties. — and therefore quiet and retiring, contrast sharply with the bustling, restless troops. In June and early July we sometimes see them feed grown young and build again at the same time, which means that they intend to breed a second time. By the middle of July the birds of the first brood are fully grown and have begun to play a conspicuous part as noise makers in the otherwise quiet woods. Throughout August and September to the middle of October there is no species of birds more promi- nent, oftener seen or heard, than the Blue Jay. After September 21, they are more restless than before and it becomes evident that some change is going on; some days they are quiet and few, then again noisy and numerous. After the first of November we have to go to the sheltered river bottoms and to the heavily wooded southeast, if we want to see them|]in larger numbers or noisy troops; those that stay near their breeding grounds are then quiet and circumspect, though for reasons of security and provender frequenting the environs of human habitations and therefore appearing more numerous than they really are. Subfamily Corvidae. Crows. *486. CORVUS CORAX SINUATUS (Wagl.). American Raven. Corvus sinuatus. Corvus cacalotl. Corvus corax. Corvus carnivorus. Mexican Raven. Geog. Dist.—Western United States, Mexico, Guatemala, northern Honduras; east to southern Indiana, southern Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming and Colorado. Now rare or extinct in all settled parts east of the Rocky Mountains. In Missouri formerly a permanent resident nesting on the cliffs along the rivers. Audubon mentions seeing several Ravens, May 7, 1843, near the northeast corner of the state. Prince of Wied met with them near the same place, May 1, 1833. Dr. Hoy has the Raven in his list, made in 1854 in western Missouri, and Dr. J. A. Allen found it “apparently common”’ in. 1872. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of M issouri. 147 From the cliffs in the vicinity of New Haven they disappeared in 1881 according to Dr. A. F. Eimbeck. The last record of their breeding in Missouri comes from Hahatonka, Camden Co., where Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr. secured five eggs, slightly incu- bated, April 5, 1901. He writes: “The nest was about one mile from Hahatonka on a shelf of rock, a mere platform of sticks, with strips of bark, corn husks, a little hair, etc. There were as near as I could judge about six pairs of birds. I think this is the same colony of Ravens that nested a few years before near Vienna on the Gasconade and which I made two unsuccessful trips to locate.” | [486a. CoRVUS CORAX PRINCIPALIS Ridgw. Northern Raven.| Corvus corax. Corvus corax var. carnivorus. Corvus carnivorus. Ameri- can Raven. Geog. Dist.—Arctic and Boreal provinces of North America; south to western and northern Washington, Great Lakes, New England and higher Alleghanies. According to Mr. R. Ridgway the status of the Ravens breeding east of the Great Plains and south of the Great Lakes has, for lack of material, not been fully determined. It is possible that they form the connecting link and may therefore be placed in either of the two subspecies. Mr. M. P. Lientz of Fayette, Howard Co., reported to the Department of Agriculture in the early eighties that the Raven was once numerous but then rare. Mr. W. E. Praeger writes, that there is a specimen in the collection of Mr. Heiser, druggist at Keokuk, which was shot many years ago near Hamilton, Ills., opposite Keokuk. On October 23, 1892, Mr. F. M. Woodruff of the Chicago Academy of Science took a typical example of this subspecies at Meredosia, IIl., less than fifty miles from our state line. *488. CoRVUS BRACHYRHYNCHOS C. L. Brehm. American Crow. | Corvus americanus. Corvus corone. Corvus frugivorus. Crow. Geog. Dist.—North America to southern border of United States (except Florida in summer); north to Newfoundland and Magdalen Islands, Nelson River and lower Anderson River. In Missouri a common resident on all cultivated land, but shunning deep forests and therefore rare in the Ozarks and the southeast. Constant warfare with gun and poison has greatly 148 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. thinned its ranks during the last twenty years. We still call it a common summer resident, only because its size, color and mode of living in the open make it possible that not a single individual escapes notice. A like number of a small, plain colored, secretive species would constitute one of our rarest breeders. Lately their killing for millinery purposes has been openly recommended by newspapers as a source of revenue, and whenever the pleasure of killing can be made remunerative devotees are not lacking. As a winter resident the Crow is still numerous, but not nearly as much asformerly. There are many winter roosts, large and small, scattered over the state. Formerly when St. Louis dumped all its refuse and garbage into the Mississippi, the roost on Arsenal Island opposite the southern part of the city was one of the most frequented in the whole country. Hundreds of thousands assem- bled there in some winters, chiefly in November and December, until the closing of the river drove most of them farther south below the mouth of the Ohio where the Mississippi never closes. As long as the river was open the Crows were not in want of provisions even when the ground was buried under snow, and it was a spectacle never to be forgotten to see hundreds of crows dotting the icy shore or drifting down on huge cakes of ice, all eagerly looking out for floating morsels which they picked up cleverly and carried to the shore. Those that had drifted down far enough came flying back low above the water, to take another floating position higher up. All together they made a most ani- mated picture. When little or no snow was on the ground, a state of affairs which may be called the rule in our region, Crows had no difficuty in finding enough to eat, but they had to go many miles for it and visit fields and woods and pastures and sundry places in search of mice and carrion, waste grain and insects, dead or alive, and seeds of all kinds, acorns and whatever is scat- tered about. Crows are omnivorus and most beneficial scay- engers in their winter haunts. They began to come to the island roost early in September, and real migration set in early in October with steadily increasing numbers until the middle of November, when about the maximum frequency was reached and maintained until either ice and snow shut off their food supply or mild and open weather awakened the desire to return to their summer home. Allthrough fall and in moderately cold weather in winter, the Crows spent the nights perched ten to fifteen feet above the ground in the willow thicket of the island, but when the cold became intense they deserted the willows entirely and spent the Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 149 nights on the snow-covered sand bank in front of the willow thicket and exposed to the fierce northwest and north wind. When they had gone in the early morning, every bird had left the imprint of its body in the form of a light de- pression in the snow with a hole in front made by the bill and a few heaps of excreta on the opposite side, showing the bird had spent all night in that position, always with the head turned toward the wind, letting the wind sweep over its back, but keeping the feet from freezing. The exodus from the roost in the early morning and the influx in the afternoon was always a source of great delight to the lover of animated Nature as it is one of the most imposing sights imaginable. The Crow with all its real and alleged faults would be sadly missed by all who have the gift of looking above dollars and centsin the search of happiness and find it in the admiration of animated Nature, nota small part of whichwe owe to this graceful, interesting ornament of any and every sort of landscape. 491. NUCIFRAGA COLUMBIANA (Wils.). Clarke’s Nutcracker. Corvus columbianus. Picicorvus columbianus. Clarke’s Crow. Geog. Dist.—Coniferous forests of western North America from New Mexico, Arizona and northern Lower California to northwestern Alaska. Accidental in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. In vol. 12 of the Auk Mr. John A. Bryant of Kansas City, Mo., reports the capture of a fine adult bird killed about October 28, 1894, four miles east of Kansas City. The Arkansas record is from Earl, Crittendon Co., less than twenty miles from the Mississippi River and eighty miles south of our state line; the bird was taken April 1, 1891. The Kansas record is from Mar- shall Co., in the northeastern part of the state, August 13, 1888. There is also a record from Omaha, Neb., and another from Alda in southeastern South Dakota, October, 1883, but all should be considered purely accidental visitants. Family Icreripan. Blackbirds, Orioles, ete. *494, DoLICHONYX ORYzIvOoRUS (Linn.). Bobolink. Fringilla oryzivora. Emberiza oryzivora. Reedbird. Ricebird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; west to Utah, northeast- ern Nevada, Idaho and southeastern British Columbia; Fnorth 150 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. to 40° lat. on the Atlantic coast and to 52° lat. in the interior. Breeds from Pennsylvania, northwestern West Virginia, central - Ohio, central Indiana, northern Illinois, northern Missouri, Nebraska and Utah northward. Migrates through West Indies, Yukatan, Central America to South America as far as Paraguay, southern Brazil, Bolivia, etc., also Galapagos and Bermudas. In Missouri the Bobolink is a fairly common transient visitant throughout the state, except the heavily wooded parts, though not an entire stranger even in the narrow valleys of the Ozarks. In fact the numbers which pass through Missouri are much larger than it would appear to those not initiated, because they are not scattered broadcast over the territory, but migrate in small flocks and visit only certain favorite meadows in which they are easily overlooked when feeding silently on the ground. The forerunners, usually males, appearing in the last week of April, are sometimes kept back by adverse weather several days, but the bulk of the species passes through when the weather is not as changeable as earlier in the season, thus permitting a rapid advance without long stop-overs. The largest flocks are met with the second and third weeks of May; at first mostly males are seen, then mixed flocks, and at last flocks in which the females predominate. In some years all are gone soon after the middle of May, in others not before the last of the month. The noticing of their passage in autumn is still more a matter of initiation than that of their spring migration. In spring there are always moments when the whole or part of the flock fly up from their breeding grounds, alight in a tree and give expres- sion to their feelings by an outburst of music; or musically inclined individuals pass by, going north, singing as they go. In autumn music is heard only very exceptionally and just as rarely do we see a male partly clothed in its summer dress; the fashion at this time is the conventional traveling dress, in which it easily passes for something else. It is the peculiar “nink, pink” that betrays its presence when, high in air, it is passing south, or changing from its feeding grounds in the fields beyond the bluffs to the common roost in the grasses of the marsh, where it spends the nights in company with different kinds of Swallows and marsh loving members of the Blackbird family. August 20 is about the time when the marshes of northern Missouri see the Bobolinks flock in at night to roost, and it takes the species a whole month to leave that part of the country, the last date for St. Charles Co. being September 24. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 151 Records of its breeding are few and we must for the present consider the species a rare summer resident in northern Missouri only. Mr. Currier knows of its nesting in Clark Co. in 1897, and Mr. Parker says it breeds in Montgomery Co. Professor I. W. Kilpatrick reported the Bobolink as a rare summer resident in 1885 at Fayette, Howard Co. In Mr. Lynds Jones’ list of birds seen June 29, 1900, on his way through northern Missouri from La Plata, Macon Co., to Kansas City, i. e., south of 40° lat., the Bobolink has found a place. Trippe in his list of birds of Decatur Co., Iowa, just across the state line, says of it: “Breeds locally.”’ *495, MoLOTHRUS ATER (Bodd.). Cowbird. Emberiza pecoris. Icterus pecoris. Molothrus pecoris. Fringilla ambigua uv.) Geog. Dist—North America, except portions of Pacific coast; north to about lat. 49° in the East, and to 55° in the interior; west to British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and southeastern California. Breeds from Georgia, Louisiana and Texas (San Antonio and Houston) northward and winters from the Southern States southward to Yucatan. In Missouri a common summer resident on all cultivated land throughout the state, even in the valleys of the Ozarks, but avoiding deep woods and therefore rather rare in some of the southern counties and in the southeast. A few winter in the state, not only from St. Louis southward, but in mild winters also in the northern part, as reported by Mrs. Musick from Mt. Carmel, Audrain Co., December 25-28, 1884, and January 21 and 24, 1886, and by Mr.M. P. Lientz from Linwood, January 30, 1889 and January 8,1890. The very first Cowbirds come in the company of Redwings about the first of March, but are easily overlooked as they do not appear in their old haunts, staying with the host of Redwings in the marshes. As is the case with all other March arrivals, the dates of first Cowbirds vary greatly with the weather from the second week of March to the first week of April. The bulk of the species generally does not come before the first or second week of April and in the more northern part before the second or third week. It is usually not far from April 1 when the first male Cowbird announces from a treetop that he is back again at his old stand and ready for mischief, but it is a week or more before he gets a chance to court. After the 152 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lous. females have arrived in force by the middle of April the species becomes for nearly two months one of the most conspicuous, especially in the morning hours, when its call note is in the air everywhere, its song is coming from the treetops, and restless troops of excited males and females follow or chase each other, the males usually in the majority. The Cowbird is one of the most social birds and even during the period of mating and oviposition troops of from 20 to 30 are seen in the evening going to the common roost in the river bottom. . These troops are joined by the young ones as soon as they can dispense with the care of their foster-parents. Together they visit pastures and stubble fields, roaming more and more as the season advances, until, in September, migration begins and many of their summer haunts are deserted. The willow thickets covering the shores and islands of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers offer safe retreats to migrants of all kinds and thither large flocks of wandering Cowbirds repair in the evening to spend the night in company with Grackles, Martins and others. In October they join the different kinds of blackbirds in the marshes, where the thickly tangled weeds and grasses offer warmer quarters than the willows along the rivers. Not many Cowbirds are with us after the first of November, but as in early spring, a few stay with the Redwings until real winter drives them farther south. Much has been written about the damage done by the Cowbird’s parasitic habit, but no hypothesis has ever been offered as to the origin of this peculiar habit. Ten years ago the author published the following conjecture in ‘Science,’ new series, vol. 5, no. 109, on the “Origin of Parasitism in the Cowbird.” ‘“‘Repro- ductive parasitism, as we find it in the Cowbird, is such a rare exception to the rule among higher animals, where parental affection is highly developed, that it never ceases to be an object of speculation as to its origin. There are two peculiarities for which our Cowbird is renowned: the one which gives him his scientific name Molothrus, a parasite; the other which causes him to be called Cowbird, his strong attachment to grazing animals especially horses and cattle. Now, should there not be a connection between these two traits? Nobody would think that the habit of following horses and cattle has been formed since the introduction of these animals by the white man. Its Indian name Buffalo-bird was certainly no misnomer and it can hardly be questioned that for ages the buffalo, or American bison, was the animal which, in the economy of our Cowbird, » Widmann—A. Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missourv. 153 played the part now taken by the domestic animals. The dis- tribution of the one coincides in the main with that of the other, except that in recent years the Cowbird has. extended its range to follow domesticated cattle. A few years ago the bison roamed over the greater part of eastern North America from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, in suitable places, and it was not until the last century that it became exterminated in the territory . east of the Mississippi River. But the habits of the Cowbird were probably formed before the bison and the Red Man were on the scene, since some species in southern South America have similar traits. The Cowbird, like all other Icteridae, have their origin in South America, and of the twelve species and sub- species known, only three enter the United States. Not all the species are parasitic; of some we do not know the mode of re- production, but Molothrus badius of Argentine, Paraguay and Bolivia builds its nest and rears its young like other birds, and there was undoubtedly a time when Molothrus ater did the same. “We know that fossil remains of horses, not much unlike ours, are found abundantly in the deposits of the most recent geo- logical age in many parts of America from Alaska to Patagonia. It was probably at that period that the Cowbird acquired the habit of accompanying the grazing herds, which were wandering continually in search of good pasture, water and shelter, in their seasonal migrations and movements to escape their enemies. As the pastoral habit of the bird became stronger, it gave rise to the parasitic habit, simply because, in following the roving animals, the bird often strayed from home too far to reach its nest in time for the deposition of the egg, and, being hard, pressed had to look about for another bird’s nest where-in to lay the egg. “After the acquisition of the roving habit it is not difficult to imagine that such cases occurred quite often, especially when with the change of climate both, birds and mammals, spread more and more into the temperate regions, where the spring move- ments of the grazing animals fell together with the bird’s breeding time. By a combination of favorable circumstances this new way of reproduction proved successful, and the parasitic off- spring became more and more numerous. In the course of time the art of building nests was lost, the desire to incubate entirely gone, paternal and conjugal affection deadened, and parasitism had become a fixed habit.’’ 154 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. *497. XANTHOCEPHALUS XANTHOCEPHALUS (Bonap.). Yellow- headed Blackbird. Icterus axanthocephalus. Agelaius xanthocephalus. Icterus icterocephalus. Xanthocephalus icterocephalus. Geog. Dist—Western North America, east to western Missouri, northeastern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, northwestern Indiana, northern Minnesota, Manitoba and Keewatin; north to Atha- basca and southern British Columbia. Breeds from northern Mexico northward locally throughout its range and winters from Louisiana and Texas southward through most of Mexico. Accidental stragglers in Eastern United States, Cuba and Greenland. In Missouri the Yellow-headed Blackbird has been found breed- . ing west of a line drawn from the northeast to the southwest corner of the state. Mr. Ed. 8. Currier took three sets of eggs in Clark Co., May 28, 1895. I found several pairs, June 19, 1906, at Renick’s Lake, Saline Co.; W. HE. D. Scott gives the species as breeding in Johnson Co. in 1874 and Mr. H. Nehrling found it _ breeding in the eighties at Sarcoxie in Jasper Co. Its breeding range was formerly more extended eastward, as Dr. A. F. Eimbeck knows of its breeding in the vicinity of New Haven, where he says it arrived in March and remained until November (November 3, 1903; November 6, 1902.) As a transient visitant it is well known in western Missouri and seems to have been quite common formerly. Prince of Wied mentions it on three days between Leavenworth and the northwest corner of Missouri, April 22 and 27, 1833, when he speaks of flocks of it, and again on his return, May 18, 1834. Audubon and Harris met it near the northwest corner, May 9, 1843, and Dr. E. Coues found it at Fort Leaven- worth. Mr. Prier gives it as a fairly common transient visitant at Appleton City, St. Claire Co., in 1906, and there are several migration reports from Jasper, Vernon and Jackson Counties with dates varying from the last of March to the tenth of May. From St. Louis southward it must be regarded as a rare straggler, but was observed at Old Orchard. In St. Charles Co. it has repeatedly been found singly or a few together with troops of Redwings. It is also reported from Audrain Co., May 15, 1885, by Mrs. Musick, and has occurred at Warsaw and Keokuk as an irregular visitor. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 155 *498. AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS (Linn.). Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaeus phoeniceus. Icterus phoeniceus. Sturnus predatorius. Swamp Blackbird. Geog. Dist —Eastern United States and more southern British Provinces, except Gulf coast and Florida; west to eastern base of Rocky Mountains. Breeds throughout its range and winters from southeastern Nebraska, central Illinois, Indiana, southern New Jersey, southward. | In Missouri a common summer resident in all open districts, on wet meadows in the valleys of the Ozarks, on the open swamps of the southeast, in the marshes of the floodplains as well as throughout the prairie region north and west, but always near water. The floodplain of the Mississippi is certainly the great thoroughfare for countless millions of different kinds of black- birds, by far the most numerous of which is the Redwing. The thickly matted marsh grasses offer excellent shelter at night and the corn shocks on adjacent farms keep them from starv- ing when nothing better can be had. As far north as St. Charles Co. Redwings are loath to leave in winter and small troops either of this species or of the lately separated north- — ern subspecies may be seen in the coldest months. Unusual rigor may drive them farther south for a few weeks, but they are back again with the first warm spell. Soon after the middle of February migration begins in earnest, the vanguard spreading over southern and central, sometimes . even over northern, Missouri before.the first of March. After this first advance there is often a lull until the middle of March when the great host reaches the state in immense flocks of north- bound transients. At the same time the first old males take up their favorite perches and announce that they intend to occupy them again the coming season. With the wonted vicissitudes of the season migration drags through April and nearly to the middle of May, troops of females forming the rear guard after the main > army has departed and probably reached the northern home. In the meantime the ranks of our summer residents have filled up, the females have at last joined their long-suffering mates, courting is going on with much show and ado until toward the end of May domestic considerations bid them be reserved and cautious. When the young are grown they join the parents in roving over the country in search of favorite dishes and secure roosting places, flying daily many miles to the willow thickets in the river bottoms or the Spartina stretches in the marshes, 156 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. Early in October migration from the north begins to get brisk, reaching its maximum about the middle of the month, when on some days enormous masses congregate in the marshes, pouring in from different directions in perfect streams for an hour before sunset. An equally grand spectacle greets the beholder in the early morning, when they leave the marsh in compact columns diverging in different directions. While after the first of Novem- ber the main body of the invading army has departed, enough are left to the end of the month to fill with marvel and surprise the tyro in the marsh. 498d. AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS FoRTIS Ridgw. Thick-billed Red- wing. Northern Red-wing. Geog. Dist.—Breeding range: Athabasca, Mackenzie and other interior districts of British America. During migration the Great Plains from eastern base of Rocky Mountains to Manitoba, Minnesota, Nebraska, Indian Territory, western Illinois, Ken- tucky and southward to Arizona and western Texas. According to the geographic range a part of the incalculable numbers of Redwings which pass through Missouri in spring and fall must belong to this subspecies, which is decidedly larger with a shorter and thicker bill. Specimens were taken at Burlington, Ia., October 12 and 138, 1895; Monana Co., Ia., October 14, 1884; Blue Lake, Ia., October 22, 1884; in Henderson Co., Ill., March 12, 1893, and in Kentucky, December 15, 1894. *501. STURNELLA MAGNA (Linn.). Meadowlark. Alauda magna. Sturnus ludovicianus. Sturnella ludoviciana. Geog. Dist Eastern North America, north to Ontario, rarely to Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, and Minnesota: west to western Iowa, eastern Kansas, Indian Territory. Winters occa- sionally in the northern states, but generally from Kentucky and Virginia southward to the Gulf. In Missouri a common summer resident in all open districts, therefore most plentiful in the prairie and Ozark border regions, scarce in the Ozarks and the southeast, and apparently entirely replaced by the Western Meadowlark in the northwest corner of the state. Some remain with us in winter and many more would probably do so if permitted, but Meadowlarks are con- sidered game birds and few succeed in living through winter. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 157 The new game law of 1905 protects the species, and it is our hope that this will have a beneficial effect, as the number of summer residents and transients has been greatly reduced. The first Meadowlarks return to Missouri with great regularity during the first week of March, exceptionally in February or in the second week of March; the bulk comes between the 10th and the 18th, exceptionally later, as March 31, 1906. Troops of transients are with us until the last week in April and again from the last week of September to the last week of October. After quail shooting begins November 1, Meadowlarks get scarce, and by the end of the month only winter numbers, i. e., very few, are left. *501b. STURNELLA MAGNA NEGLECTA (Aud.). Western Meadow- lark. Sturnella neglecta. Sturnella ludoviciana. Geog. Dist.—Western United States, southwestern British Provinces and northwestern Mexico; east to Manitoba, Minne- sota, Wisconsin, Iowa, northern Missouri, Indian Territory and Texas. The prairie region of Missouri is undoubtedly one of the best fields for the study of the relationship of the two forms of Sturnella, magna and magna neglecta. The true Eastern Meadowlark occurs throughout southern Missouri to the exclusion of the true Western except in migration, when typical neglecta are regular transient visitants along our western border. Typical Eastern Meadowlarks occur as summer residents throughout northern Missouri except the northwest corner, where, in the region of Langdon, Atchison Co., only tpyical Western were ob- served in June 1906. Together with the true Eastern, true West- ern breed in Nodaway Co., the next county east of Atchison Co. Mr. B. M. Stigall of Kansas City, who became acquainted with the Western in Colorado, writes that during June and July 1906, which he spent at Maryville, Nodaway Co., Mo., he heard both, magna and neglecta, singing in the same field. How far eastward the true Western is found breeding has not been determined, but, together with the true Eastern Meadowlark, forms occur which cannot properly be placed with either one of the subspecies because intermediate. They are found as far east as the counties bordering the Mississippi and as far south as Montgomery and St. Charles counties. The typical Western rarely straggles as far east as St. Louis Co. where it was only 158 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. once met with at Old Orchard, in the spring 1896, remaining a few days singing gloriously. The question whether the two forms, St. magna and neglecta, are true species or subspecies still awaits solution, requiring extensive field work, but offering an excellent opportunity for profitable study. Mr. J. A. Allen was the first to observe in 1867 “that the Meadowlarks of northern Illinois differed in song quite markedly from their relations in the eastern United States, the departure being in the direction of that of var. mneglecta.’’ (See Mem. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. vol. 1, pt. 4, 1868, pp. 496, 497). Dr. Elliott Coues in his Birds of the North-west, 1877, writes: ‘At the edge of the western prairies St. magna begins to shade into var. neglecta, which reaches its maximum departure on the dry central plains.”’ and again: ‘‘The case of Sturnella magna neglecta is settled and explained; magna shades directly into neglecta. The change is imperceptibly effected.” In vol. 5 of the Nuttall Bull., 1880, Mr. W. J. McGee of Farley, Ia., writes: ‘‘I saw several individuals (notably one near Rudd, Floyd Co.), which I was totally unable to satisfactorily identify with either S. magna or S. neglecta, either by markings, habits, attitude or voice. They seemed to hold an intermediate position, in all characters, between the best marked extremes.”’ The well-known author of ‘“‘The Story of the Birds,” Mr. James New- ton Baskett, of Mexico; Mo., who was the first to call the attention of ornithologists to the hybrid song of Meadowlarks in northern Missouri (Auk, vol. 18, p. 258, 1896) writes me: ‘‘There can be no doubt about the inter-grading of the two kinds. I have had several correspondents to confirm this—especially from Iowa and Minnesota.”’ In his “Study of the Genus Sturnella,” Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. vol. 138, 1900, Mr. Frank M. Chapman makes the following instructive remarks in regard to the seasonal change in color and pattern: ‘‘The fact that Meadowlarks have only a post-nuptial molt and that when the breeding season arrives, wear and fading have deprived their plumage of its most characteristic colors and markings, greatly complicates the study of their relation- ships. The fall molt is concluded in September and from that month until January there is not sufficient change in plumage to interfere with the proper identification of specimens. After January, however, fading and wear often so alter a bird’s appear- ance that its identity cannot be determined with certainty. It follows, therefore, that the different characters of these birds Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 159 are best exhibited in the fall and are least apparent in the breeding season, an unfortunate condition of affairs as every systematist will readily recognize.”’ Of a specimen in the col- lection of the Biology Survey, a male taken July 13 at Golden City, Mo., he writes: ‘S. magna apparently approaching neglecta, but in too worn plumage to be satisfactorily determined.” And of a young bird taken at the same place on the same day: ‘‘Apparently intermediate, the central tail-feathers abnormally marked with white.” What Mr. Chapman says of the song is highly interesting: ‘‘Some advocates of the specific distinctness of the eastern and western Meadowlarks have attached much importance to the marked and well-known differences in the songs of these birds, and while these differences are doubtless of value in making field identifications, they should not, I think, be given importance by the systematist. Song is largely if not wholly an uninherited character and is subject to great individual and geographical variation. In both magna and neglecta this statement is usually well illustrated by the wide range of variation occurring in their respective songs. Dozens of strikingly different songs of neglecta have been recorded, its vocal powers have been described as being a ‘husky whistle’ and as excelling those of the Nightingale; and while this differ- ence is no doubt partially in the ear of the hearer, it nevertheless attests a wide range of variability. Similar differences are to be observed in the eastern Meadowlarks.’”’ Speaking of a series of specimens from southern Texas, Mr. Chapman says: ‘There can be no doubt that they prove the complete intergradation of magna and neglecta. Whether this intergradation is geograph- ical, that is, correlated with climatic conditions, or whether it is due to the interbreeding of typical examples of magna with typical examples of neglecta, can only be determined by farther field work.” Mr. Chapman’s paper concludes with the following very ac- ceptable theory: ‘‘Assuming that Meadowlarks originated in the humid tropics, we have, as the ancestral form, a dark bird, which, spreading northward along the coast and over the Mexican tablelands, retained its dark colors in humid regions and ac- quired a paler color in arid regions. If the assumption of the origin of both birds from a common ancestor be accepted and if their geographical intergradation at the southern limits of the range of neglecta be established, we are then in a position to explain their apparent association as species in the more northern 160 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. part of their range, on the ground that while their ranges origi- nally diverged like forks of a Y, the ends have finally come together, not as geographical intergrades, but as two forms, both of which have occupied the region where they are found associated at so recent a date that neither shows the effect of the climatic conditions under which it lives, but exhibits the characters earlier acquired. “In the Mississippi Valley, therefore, we have the apparent anomoly of two geographical races or subspecies of the same - species breeding at the same place, and, occasionally associated with them, are certain intermediate specimens showing in vary- ing degrees the characters of both extremes. Since it is out of question to suppose that the same environment could produce three phases of the same species at the same place, that is, neglecta, magna, and intermediates between the two, we can only suppose that such connecting specimens are not geograph- ical intergrades but the results of a union between neglecta and magna. In fact, loosely speaking, these connecting specimens would be termed hybrids, but, accepting as a definition of this word ‘‘the offspring of animals of different species,” it is evident that in a strict sense it cannot be applied to these intermediates, which are in the progeny of parents not specifically distinct.’’ [501c. STURNELLA MAGNA ARGATULA Bangs. Southern Mea- dowlark.] Geog. Dist.—Southern United States from Florida to Louis- iana, north to southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana within the limits of the Austroriparian or Lower Austral life- zone. This smaller and darker subspecies should be looked for in our southeastern counties. *506. Icrerus spuRIus (Linn.). Orchard Oriole. Oriolus spurius. Oriolus mutatus Wils. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, breeding from southern Texas and northern Florida north to Connecticut, southern New York, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, southern Wis- consin, central Minnesota and South Dakota: west to 100° meridian. In winter to Mexico, Central America and northern Colombia, Cuba. In Missouri one of our most common and generally distributed Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 161 summer residents, originally inhabiting the timber along water courses, but now taking to orchards, gardens and even the shade trees around houses.and the streets of towns and cities. Itis one of the commonest species in the Ozarks, wherever there is a settlement, on the ridges as well as in the valleys. The first come to southern Missouri soon after the middle of April, to central Missouri in the fourth week, and to the more northern part of the state the last days of the month or the first few days of May, when the bulk of the species has generally spread all over the rest of the state. The first to arrive are the old males followed after a few days by the first females and the first males of the second year. It is from one to two weeks after the first males have come before their full strength is reached and their song heard everywhere. After the young are grown the species roams in July and August in troops through the country living mostly on wild cherries, wild grapes and other wild fruit, sometimes visiting orchards. After August 20 the species is seen only occasionally, though we may come upon a few later in the month or in early September, exceptionally later (September 17, 1903, New Haven; September 21, 1903, Kansas City). *507. IcrERUS GALBULA (Linn.) Baltimore Oriole. Oriolus baltimore. Icterus baltimore. Yphantes baltimore. Hangnest. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding from southern United States, except along Gulf coast, north to Maritime Provinces, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba; west to eastern Assiniboia, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado east of the Rocky Mountains. Winters through eastern Mexico and Central America to Colombia and Venezuela. In Missouri a common summer resident except in the Ozarks where it is found in the larger valleys only. Originally the Baltimore inhabited the trees overhanging streams and it still follows this fashion in the southeast, where its loud wild notes fit well to the weird scenery of those desolate waters. With the settlement of the prairie region it was not slow to see the advantages of a closer contact with modern conditions and now hangs its nest in the shade trees next to human habitation, but fortunately so far out of reach of enemies that the species can not only hold its own, but is enabled to spread to sections not inhabited before. The first male Baltimore arrives in southeast Missouri at the end of the first or beginning of the second week 162 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. of April; at St. Louis sometimes at the end of the third, more commonly at the beginning of the fourth week and in the northern part of the state during the fourth week or the last days of the month. The females and first young males of the second year come a few days later and full numbers are not present before the first week of May. Transient visitants swell their numbers during the first half of May and are sometimes met with in small troops in unusual places in the woods and in regions where they are not breeders, as on the dry hills of the Ozarks.. When the young, which soon outgrow their nest and, sitting around in trees, ‘play for a while a conspicuous part by their loud clamoring, are fully grown, the family leaves the breeding haunts and roams in search of favorite diet, chiefly caterpillars and fruit. At this period it is seldom heard, the species displaying a tendency to secrecy, which accounts for its temporary rarity in late July and early August. But before its departure after migration from the north has set in, the Baltimore becomes fora few days prominent again, calls loudly and visits its old haunts, as if to bid good-bye. Ours may be said to be gone by September first, but stragglers are encountered frequently until the middle of the month, even in the northern part of Missouri. 509. EvpHAGUS CAROLINUS (Miill.). Rusty Blackbird. Scolecophagus carolinus. Scolecophagus ferrugineus. Gracula jferruginea. Quiscalus ferrugineus. Turdus carolinus. Rusty Grackle. Thrush Blackbird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern and Northern North America; breeding from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, northern Maine, White Mountains, Vermont and northern New York, northern Michigan, north to Ungava and northwestwardly to the Arctic coast and Alaskan shores of Bering Sea. South in winter to Southern United States; west in migration to central Nebraska, Kansas and Texas, wintering from Lower Missouri and Ohio Valleys southward. In all parts of Missouri a common transient visitant and in the more southern part not a very rare winter resident, frequenting barn yards when other food supplies are cutoff. Migration begins in latter part of February, but no great progress is made until about the second or third week of March, when the species be- comes for a week or two common in most parts of the state. In some years the bulk of the species has passed northward at Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 163 the end of the first week of April, but, as is the case with other early migrants, cold weather may retard progress for weeks and the first half of April be the time for the chief passage of Rusty Blackbirds through Missouri. The “lasts” have been recorded all the way from the first of April (1905, Shannon Co.) to April 23 (1874, Johnson Co.). The earliest date in fall mi- gration is September 28, 1896, at the northeastern corner of the state (Currier), but usually the first do not reach Missouri before the second week of October. They mingle and: roost with the Robins or with the Redwings in the reeds of the bottomlands. After this there is a steady decline until toward the end of November winter numbers only are left. 510. EUPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS (Wagl.). Brewer’s Blackbird. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. Quiscalus breweri. Blue-headed Grackle. Geog. Dist.—Western North America; breeding from southern Texas and Mexico north to British Columbia, Alberta, Sas- katchewan and Manitoba; east to Minnesota, Nebraska, western Kansas. During migrations straggling east to Wisconsin, Iowa, Illniois, South Carolina and Louisiana. In winter over the whole of Mexico into Guatemala. Has been reported from Freistatt, Lawrence Co., by Mr. H. Nehrling, who met with a party of five, March 1, 1885, and a troop of twenty, November 7, 1886. It is probably more common than we know and should be looked for along our western border, since Professor Snow states that it is ‘quite common even in eastern Kansas.”’ Dr. Allen says that “from its size, color and habits it may readily be mistaken for the Purple Grackle of the East.’’ The male is lustrous greenish-black, changing abruptly to purplish and violet on the head. The female and young are distinguished from those of H. carolinus with some difficulty, but they average larger, with the bill heavier at the base, and are probably never so decidedly rusty-brown (Coues, Birds of the North-west). *511b. QUISCALUS QUISCULA AENEUS (Ridgw.). Bronzed Grackle. Quiscalus versicolor. Quiscalus purpureus. Quiscalus aeneus. Quiscalus purpureus aeneus. Grackle. Crow Blackbird. Common Blackbird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America except Atlantic coast district from shores of Long Island Sound southward and the Gulf coast from Florida to Louisiana; northward through Mari- 164 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. time Provinces to southern Newfoundland, southern Labrador, Great Slave Lake and Prince Albert; west to base of Rocky Mountains in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. Winters chiefly in the Lower Mississippi Valley south of lat. 35°, occasionally farther north. In Missouri the Bronzed Grackle is one of the common and generally distributed summer residents on open land, nesting in small colonies, preferably near human habitation. In south- eastern Missouri they still nest in tree holes in deadenings; else- where they choose evergreens and other heavily foliaged shade trees for nesting sites. In the Ozarks, which were formerly densely wooded, the species is still rare as a breeder, even in places which have long been cleared and cultivated. As a winter visitant the Bronzed Grackle is rare except along the Mississippi River from St. Louis southward. Opposite St. Charles along the bank of the Missouri River there is a large swampy tract of willows used as a winter roost for innumerable Redwings, and with them hundreds of Bronzed Grackles have been seen going even in the middle of January, in mild weather, but as their numbers change constantly, there are hardly two days alike, showing that they also use other roosts farther south, to which they fly when the weather is not inviting northward. Should weather conditions remain unfavorable the roost may remain deserted or nearly so for weeks at a time, until a change sets in when they appear again. Away from the roost they are seldom met with, because they go far to favorite feeding grounds and scatter over a large territory. Real migration begins in the latter part of February and in early March in the southeast; it reaches the central, and along the Mississippi River even the northern, counties in the second, less often in the third week of the month, very rarely later, as in 1906, when winter reigned to the end of March. The first-comers are probably mostly tran- sients, bound for the far north, keep in dense flocks and roost in the river bottoms. It is-only after the bulk of the species has invaded the state during the latter half of March, that the first of our summer residents make their appearance on the breeding grounds and announce that they intend to occupy them again as soon as their mates have arrived. They return in the evening to the common roost and, should the weather turn bad, are not seen at their old stands again for days, but as soon as warm weather sets in they return, are joined by the first females, and mating begins with much chasing and noise making. The -Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 165 transit of tremendous flocks of migrants continues through the first two weeks of April, during which time the ranks of summer residents fill up, and nest-building begins. During all this time of mating and nest-building, and until incubation begins, the whole colony leave the breeding ground in the evening and go to the common roost, preferably willows in the bottoms, to which they come from all sides for miles to spend the night together. As soon as the young are able to fly so far, about the first of July, they also follow the parents to the common roost. While not very popular with some agriculturists, they are well liked by others, who appreciate their services when following the plow or doing other useful jobs in cleaning the fields of vermin. With their glossy plumage, elegant shape and graceful walk they are quite an ornament in parks and on the lawns of the suburbanites and, though not protected by law, and subjected to much perse- cution, they still hold their own, thanks to a great deal of fore- sight which permits them to increase their numbers two or three fold before the end of July. They are very cautious in locating their nests, which are not easily detected though bulky. As incubation advances they become very quiet and when feeding young are little seen in the immediate vicinity of the nest, but approach it stealthily and bring the food from great distances. The young grow very fast and the nest becomes too small a week or more beforethey are able to fly, but having strong legs they crawl out and perch on branches of the surrounding trees. At this time the whole family becomes a nuisance. The ever hungry youngsters keep up an incessant discordant clamor, and the parents raise their not melodious voices as soon as somebody approaches one of the trees in which their objects of solicitation are hidden. Only one brood is raised, but if the eggs or newly hatched young should be destroyed, as they sometimes are by severe windstorms blowing down the bulky nests, another at- tempt is made, which accounts for unusually late broods. If all goes well, the Bronzed Grackles of St. Louis Co. leave the breeding grounds entirely early in July not to return until the next spring. Troops of them roam over the country, forming large flocks which retire in the evening to common roosts used by many flocks. Southward migration begins early in October, when large flocks pass over, but the movement does not reach its maximum before the middle of the month, when immense numbers go to roost in the marshes with the Redwings. The numbers vary daily but grow less toward the end of the month 166 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. and during the first half of November, reaching winter conditions before the first of December. Family Frineriuipar. Finches, Sparrows. 514. HespERIPHONA VESPERTINA (Coop.). Evening Grosbeak. Fringilla vespertina. Coccothraustes vespertinus. Coccoborus vespertinus. Geog. Dist.—Interior districts of North America east of Rocky Mountains; breeding range unknown. In winter from Sas- katchewan River south to northern United States and east through Ontario and New York to New England; everywhere irregular and occasionally south as far as Kansas, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In Missouri a very rare winter visitant. Mr. J. N. Baskett took a male and female at Mexico, Mo., and saw small flocks on two other occasions. A party of three paid a visit to Dr. A. F. EKimbeck at New Haven, Mo., from September 21 to October 4, 1903. Mr. W. E. Praeger says that a flock was seen and some of them shot, December 14, 1887, in Clark Co.,Mo. Two were taken at Belleville, Ill.; by Mr. Fuchs and others by Mr. Chas. K. Worthen at Warsaw, Ill., where several were shot out of a flock, five miles below the city on the river bluff. In the Auk, vol. 4, 1887, Mr. L.O. Pindar reports the occurrence at Hickman, Ky., on the Mississippi River between Cairo and New Madrid; one female was found dead March 18, 1887, another was shot March 22, a fine male March 238, anda flock of seven seen in town March 25. [515. PIntcoLA ENUCLEATOR LEUCURA (Miller). Pine Grosbeak. ] Loxia enucleator. Pyrrhula enucleator. Corythus enucleator. Pinicola enu- cleator. Pinicola canadensis. Pinicola enucleator canadensis. Canadian Pine Grosbeak. Geog. Dist.—Northeastern North America, breeding from the White Mountains, Maine and New Brunswick north to the limits of coniferous forests; south in winter to New England, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, lowa and Nebraska; coceisionnlly farther south to eastern Kansas, western Kentucky, District of Columbia. As this species is said to be fond of the fruit of the Red Cedar, it should be looked for in the extensive cedar brakes of southern Missouri; its presence may be expected any time between October and April. It has been captured at our state lines Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 167 both in the east and west. In the Auk, vol. 5, 1888, Mr. L. O. Pindar reports the occurrence of a flock of 8 or 10 Pine Groskeaks at Hickman, Ky., February 7, 1888. On the 8th, 11th, and 13th they were again seen, and on the 24th one male and three females were secured. On the 25th another female was shot and 3 or 4 females were seen March 19th. The Kansas record is taken from Snow, ‘‘Birds of Kansas,” 3rd ed., 1875, where it is said that according to Dr. Brewer this species was taken once in winter at Leavenworth by Sidney Smith. | 517. CARPODACUS PURPUREUS (Gmel.). Purple Finch. Fringilla purpurea. LErythrospiza purpurea. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; breeding from Penn- sylvania (in mountains), northern New Jersey, Connecticut, southern Ontario, Minnesota and North Dakota to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Hudson Bay, Saskatehewan and Alberta. In winter from eastern Nebraska, Indiana and New Jersey south- ward to Florida and eastern Texas. In Missouri a common transient visitant and not a rare, but irregular, winter resident, much more common in eastern than in western Missouri. Their presence in winter is not so much dependent on temperature as on abundance of favorite food, which they find chiefly in the river bottoms, as Ash and Syca- more seeds, buds and seeds of Elm and Maple, Ambrosia seeds, etc. Migratory movements begin with the first warm weather in February, when the hardiest sparrows, Bluebirds, Robins, Redwings, Ducks, Geese, etc., advance northward. About March 10 migration becomes brisk and during the rest of the month and until April 20 large flocks of singing birds are present. The last birds, chiefly females and young males, are usually noted during the last week of April, sometimes in the first week of May, or in very backward springs as that of 1907 until May 19 (St. Louis). The first appear in fall migration about Sep- tember 20, become common in the first week of October and re- main so to the end of the month, roaming about in small flocks and singing often. After the first week of November winter numbers only are left. 521. LoxIA CURVIROSTRA MINOR (Brehm). American Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra. Loxia americana. Lozia curvirostra americana. Geog. Dist.—Northern and Eastern North America; breeding in coniferous forests from southern Alleghanies in northern 168 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Georgia and from Michigan and Wisconsin northward to Nova Scotia and westward through Athabasca and Saskatchewan to western Alaska and southward through Pacific coast districts to western Oregon. In winter irregularly southward as far south as Louisiana, South Carolina, casually to the Bermudas. In Missouri a sometimes common but irregular transient and winter visitant, appearing in November and disappearing in May, oftenest met with from February 22 to April 1 and about the middle of November. Once seen in summer at Old Orchard. They move in small flocks and are attracted to our parks and gardens by the ornamental pines, chiefly Pinus austriaca, the seeds of which they like very much. They also eat apples left on trees, feed on buds of Elms, seeds of Ambrosia trifida, etc. Their occurrence is reported from all parts of the state. Four males and one female were taken at St. Joseph, December 26, 1894, by Mr. 8. S. Wilson. Mr. Chas. Tindall says they are sometimes common at Independence. Dr. A. F. Eimbeck observed them on different occasions at New Haven, October 5 to 16, 1903. Five were shot from a flock of fifteen February 17, 1889, near Keokuk; Mr. Chas. K. Worthen took this and the White-winged Crossbill at Warsaw, Ill. Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff saw Crossbills in Shannon Co., April 3, 1907, and heard them again April 4. On May 5 he writes: ‘Small numbers are seen or heard every few days. Last seen May Ist. Their organs show no signs of any possibility of breeding for some time to come.’ 522. Loxia LEUCOPTERA Gmel. White-winged Crossbill. Curvirostra leucoptera. Geog. Dist.—Coniferous forests of northern North America, south to Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire (White Mountains), New York (Adirondacks), Mackinac Island; in winter irregularly as far south as Washing- ton, D. C., Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Ind., southern Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Nevada, British Columbia etc., also to Greenland and western Europe. There is little doubt that careful search will bring to light its presence in Missouri during its extensive wandering in winter. Mr. Chas. K. Worthen took several out of a small flock on the Mississippi bluffs near Warsaw opposite the northeastern corner of Missouri and an adult male was taken November 4, 1899, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 169 near Lawrence, Kan., within fifty miles of our western state line. Since the above was written Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff secured a female from among American Crossbills in Shannon Co., April 18, 1907. 528. ACANTHIS LINARIA (Linn.). Redpoll. Fringilla linaria. Aegiothus linaria. Linaria minor. Aegiothus fusces- cens. Geog. Dist.—More northern portions of northern hemisphere; breeding from the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward. In winter to northern United States, irregularly to Virginia, northern Alabama, southern Ohio and Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, southeastern Oregon and coast of Washington. In Missouri an irregular, sometimes fairly common, winter visitant. Earliest dates, November 4 and 5, 1885, Mt. Carmel; November 18, 1903, New Haven. Latest dates April 1, 1885, April 8, 1886, Mt. Carmel and April 12, 1903, Montgomery City. The species is also reported from Kansas City, February 21, to 24, 1882, and repeatedly from Keokuk where it is sometimes abundant. It has on several occasions been met with in the city of St. Louis, visiting gardens, feeding on the seeds of com- positae, chiefly in January and February. There are at present no records from southern Missouri. *529. ASTRAGALINUS TRISTIS (Linn.). American Goldfinch. Fringilla tristis. Spinus tristis. Carduelis tristis. Chrysomitris tristis. Carduelis americana. Wild Canary. Thistle-bird. Salad-bird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding from Virginia, Kentucky and Kansas northward to Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba; west to Alberta, Wyoming and Colorado; south in winter to southern United States, some remaining even in the northern states and Ontario. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in open districts, rare in the more densely wooded portions of the state. For nesting it prefers the neighborhood of human habitation from the middle of May to the end of August but likes to rove in troops the remainder of the year. It is also not a rare, but irregular, winter visitant in small troops, associated with other fringil- lidae such as Tree Sparrows, Purple Finches, Juncos, in migra- tion, also with Yellow-rumped Warblers, Pine Piskins and others. It feeds preferably on seeds of composites, but also on 170 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Sycamore, Ash, Boxelder, etc.,and needing much water is oftener | seen drinking than any other sparrow. It is most common and generally distributed as a transient visitant. Those seen before April 20 are mostly individuals which have passed the winter with us and are becoming more conspicuous, assuming slowly their summer dress and beginning to sing. Real migration reaches us with great regularity about April 20 and lasts three weeks to May 10, exceptionally later as in the cold spring of 1907, May 20. During this time Goldfinches are with us in flocks of from 30 to 60, mostly in high dress and very musical, assembling in treetops and concerting like Bobolinks or Blackbirds, all be- ginning or breaking off at the same moment. After the middle of May transients are gone and summer residents are seen in pairs, but it takes them some time to locate and settle down. When the young are grown the family begins to roam and gather. into small flocks about the middle of September. October 1 migration from the north reaches us and lasts throughout the month, sometimes in big flocks, frequenting the same localities for resting as in spring. Soon after November 1 winter numbers only are left, wandering in search of food over most of the state, but oftenest found in the flood plains of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and in the southeast. 533. SPINUS PINUS (Wils.). Pine Siskin. Fringilla pinus. Carduelis pinus. Chrysomitris pinus. Linaria pinus. Geog. Dist.—North America generally, breeding in the north- ern coniferous forests south to parts of New England, Hudson Valley, on mountains south to North Carolina, to Minnesota, and on the western ranges to the southern boundary of the United States. In winter chiefly in the southern United States, California and into Mexico. In Missouri a rather irregular transient visitant, sometimes seen in winter, but most records are about the first of November and in the latter part of April. Latest date May 15, 1897, when Mr. Currier saw a flock of ten near Keokuk. They gener- ally move in small flocks by themselves and associate on the feeding grounds with Goldfinches, Purple Finches, Myrtle Warblers, etc.. Small troops of them have been reported from St. Joseph by Mr. 8. S. Wilson, April 4 and 7, 1896, and from Fayette by Prof. Kilpatrick in January and February 1885. Since the above was written the extraordinary cold spring of Widmann—aA Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 171 1907 revolutionized migration dates generally and those of the Siskin in particular. On May 18 the first Siskins were noticed at St. Louis among the large number of Goldfinches present at their old stands which they regularly visit every year and which they frequented this year ten days longer than usual, namely to May 20. From May 16 to 23 inclusive, flocks of from 30 to 50 Siskins were found associated with the Goldfinches at three of those stands, and even after the bulk of the Goldfinches had gone the Siskins remained and their song could then be heard often. They were exceedingly tame, did much of their feeding on the ground and came to the water as frequently as the Gold- finches. In the pine region of Shannon Co. Mr. E. 8. Woodruff did not find Siskins before April 28, 29 and 30, 1907, and a flock of from 8 to 12, on May 18. At Grandin he found small flocks still present on May 16 and 17 and saw one fly a June 4, 1907, ten miles north of Grandin. CARDUELIS CARDUELIS (Linn.). Goldfinch. Fringilla carduelis. Carduelis elegans. Geog. Dist.—Europe in general except extreme northern por- tions; south, in winter, to Palestine and Egypt. Introduced into northeastern United States and naturalized in Cuba, in New York City and vicinity, and Cincinnati, Ohio; accidental(?) at New Haven, Conn., near Boston, Worcester, etc., Mass., Toronto, Ont., ete. Early in the spring of 1870 a few pairs of Goldfinches were introduced into Missouri with other European songsters and liberated in Lafayette Park at St. Louis in April after the weather had become warm. Like most of the other birds liberated at the same time the Goldfinches left the Park almost immediately and the writer never heard of the occurrence of any Kuropean Goldfinches in Missouri until the following article appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: ‘‘Liberty, Mo., June 2, 1906. A pair of goldfinches made their appearance in the courthouse yard here and the ‘prophets’ are unanimous in the opinion that they are the forerunners of an extra hot and dry summer. It is the first time intwenty years that this species has been seen here. The birds got their name from a large patch of yellow on their wings. The front of the head and throat are bright red, the nape, with part of the wings and tail, black.”’ 172 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. PassER DOMESTICUS (Linn.). House Sparrow. Fringilla domestica. English House Sparrow. Geog. Dist.—Europe except Italy. Introduced into United States, where thoroughly and ineradicably naturalized in all settled districts; also Bahamas, Cuba, Nova Scotia, Bermuda and southern Greenland. A resident wherever it occurs. In Missouri wherever there are houses occupied by human beings. PASSER MONTANUS (Linn.). European Tree Sparrow. Fringilla montana. Pyrgita montana. Geog. Dist.—Europe and Asia to China and Japan. In America only in the neighborhood of St. Louis where it was introduced in .1870. It has left the thickly settled parts St. Louis but is found scatteringly throughout the outskirts and suburbs, spreading to neighboring cities, Alton, Grafton, and Belleville, Ill., to Creve Coeur Lake, St. Charles, and westward as far as Washington,*54 miles from St. Louis (September 1906). 534. PASSERINA NIVALIS (Linn.). Snowflake. Emberiza nivalis. Plectrophanes nivalis. Plectrophenax nivalis. Snow- bird. Geog. Dist.—Northern parts of northern hemisphere, breeding in arctic and subarctic regions. In America breeding in the barren ground or tundra region from Ungava to Alaska and islands to lat. 82°; in winter south to northern United States, irregularly to District of Columbia, Georgia, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, Kansas, Colorado, eastern Oregon. In Missouri an apparently rare winter visitant as far south as the Missouri River. First reported from Audrain Co. by Mrs. Musick of Mt. Carmel, December 22, 1884; four days later the species became common; the last were seen, March 24, 1885. Mr. E. S. Currier met with a flock of fifty in one of the roads leading out of Keokuk, Ia., January 17, 1887. Mr. E. M. Parker of Montgomery City found the Snowflakes December 17, 1901, and again in January on 7, 11, 25 and 31, 1902. Mr. Chas. Tindall of Independence saw one on a sandbar in the Missouri River November 8, 1892. Mr. Trippe in his Birds of Decatur Co., Ia., just north of central Missouri state line, says in 1872: “A few every winter; abundant in severe seasons.” Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 173 536. CaALCARIUS LAPPONICUS (Linn.). Lapland Longspur. Fringilla lapponica. Emberiza lapponica. Plectrophanes lapponica. Cen- trophanes lapponicus. Geog. Dist.—Northern parts of northern hemisphere; breeding in arctic and subarctic regions. In North America chiefly in northeast, including Greenland, Melville peninsula and Cumber- land Sound, Ungava etc. In winter south to Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Indian Territory and Texas; west to Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, where it comes together with the western subspecies, C. 1. alascensis. In Missouri a fairly common and pretty regular winter visitant, appearing from the north in November and remaining until March. Earliest, November 2, 1885, Mt. Carmel; latest, March 31, 1889, Fayette. They move in flocks of different size, sometimes very large, or in company with Horned Larks, and frequent the wind-swept hillsides of the Ozark border as well as the low marshes of the river bottoms or fields and meadows of the prairie region. Mr. John D. Kastendieck, who took some in Christian Co., considers them rare in his vicinity. Mr. Chas. T. Eimbeck, who has a number of mounted specimens in his collection, finds them common in some winters, rare in others at New Haven, Mo. Mr. Tindall reports a flock of a dozen at Inde- pendence, November 10, 1901. Flocks of this species along our western border should be carefully examined, as they may con- tain McCown’s or Chestnut-collared Longspurs and Missouri Skylarks. 537. CALCARIUS PICTUS (Swains.). Smith’s Longspur. Emberiza picta. Plectrophanes pictus. Centrophanes pictus. Emberiza smithit. Geog. Dist.—Interior plains of North America east of Rocky Mountains; breeding in the Mackenzie River valley from the Arctic coast south to the Great Slave Lake and west to the upper Yukon; south in winter as far as Texas; east to north- western Indiana and Illinois. In Missouri observed only in the Mississippi bottom of northern Missouri, where probably of regular occurrence, but should be looked for also on higher ground in all parts of the state, as it was taken at Fayetteville in the Ozark region of northern Ar- kansas, February 28, 1885, and at Lincoln, southeastern Nebraska April 20, 1891. It is given as a common winter resident in Kan- 174 Trans. Acad. Sev. of St. Louis. sas. Audubon, Harris and Bell found it very abundant on the low prairie near a lake a few miles from Kdwardsville, Ill., in April 1843. Mr. E. 8. Currier regards it as a regular spring migrant and sometimes in fall at Keokuk. Mr. W. E. Praeger has three records of its occurrence in Clark Co., Mo., in the second and third week of April. The writer met with it April 12, 1894, in Lincoln Co. (Auk, vol. 12, p. 7). April and October seem to be the months, when we can expect it in Missouri. Mr. W. W. Cooke found it wintering at Caddo, Ind. Ter., 34° 11’ lat., from the middle of November to the end of February. Mr. Otho C. Poling of Quincy, IIl., calls it (Auk, vol. 7, p. 240) a regular spring and fall migrant, seemingly more plentiful in the fall than in the spring, sojourning from early October until the middle of November, frequenting stubble fields of oats and wheat with short grass and weeds. He also found large flocks on the low- land about Lima Lake, lying closely in the short grass. 538. CALCARIUS ORNATUS (Towns.). Chestnut-collared Long- spur. Plectrophanes ornatus. Centrophanes ornatus. Emberiza ornata. Plectro- phanes melanomus. Geog. Dist.—Great Plains of North America, breeding from Kansas and Colorado north to the Saskatchewan. In winter to Arizona and Mexico. The only record of its occurrence in Missouri is that of W. E. D. Scott, who found it rather common during April, 1874, on the prairies west of Warrensburg, Johnson Co. Dr. E. Coues writes that it associates intimately with P. pictus, Smith’s Longspur, and has much the same habits and general appearance. [539. RHYNCHOPHANES McCcOowNII (Lawr.). McCown’s Long- spur.] Plectrophanes mccownit. Geog. Dist.—Great Plains district-of North America, breeding from eastern Colorado and northwestern Kansas northward to plains of the Saskatchewan; south in winter to northern Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas; casual to Illinois. The Illinois record comes from Champaign where in January, 1877, three specimens were taken with Lapland Longspurs. This species may be expected to occur as a migrant or winter visitant any time between September first and May first and Widmann—A. Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missouri. 175 should be looked for in western Missouri, as it has been secured several times in eastern Nebraska. Dr. EK. Coues says that it has been observed usually in company with P. ornatus, and Dr. J. A. Allen writes: ‘‘In habits, notes and general appearance, it is scarcely distinguishable, at a little distance, from the Chest- nut-collared Bunting.’ *540. POOECETES GRAMINEUS (Gmel.). Vesper Sparrow. Fringilla graminea. Emberiza graminea. Zonotrichia graminea. Poocetes gramineus. Bay-winged Bunting. Grassfinch. Ground Sparrow. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and more southern British provinces; breeding from Virginia and northern Missouri north- ward. Winters in Southern States to eastern Texas. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant and a scarce or only locally common summer resident according to some ob- servers in the prairie region north and west. Mr. 8. 8. Wilson took eggs of this species June 15, 1895, at St. Joseph; Mr. Prier says it is a very common breeder at Appleton City; Mr. E. M. Parker reports it breeding in Montgomery Co. In his list of Warrensburg birds, made in 1874, W. E. D. Scott gives this species as breeding, but Mr. Aubrey F. Smithson’s list of War- rensburg breeders, 1906, does not corroborate that statement, neither did Mr. Chas. W. Tindall find it breeding near Independ- ence. On the cottonfields of the southeast the first transients appear early in March; in central Missouri about March 15, in the most northern counties seldom before April. They are never very common, but may be met with in small troops along the edges of woods or timbered creeks nearly throughout April, most commonly between the 10th and 20th. In fall the bulk of transients passes through Missouri in the second half of October, though loiterers have been noted late in November (November 20, 1902, Jasper Co., November 20, 1894, Keokuk). In Shannon Co., where Mr. E. 8. Woodruff found the first, March 19; none were seen after April 7. | *542a. PASSERCULUS SANDWICHENSIS SAVANNA (Wils.). Savanna Sparrow. Fringilla savanna. Passerculus savanna. Emberiza savanna. Ammo- dramus sandwichensis savanna. - Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding from Con- necticut, Pennsylvania, Ontario, northwestern Indiana northward 176 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. to Ungava, west side of Hudson Bay, etc. Winters in the Southern States, Bahamas, Cuba. Replaced westwardly by subspecies alaudinus (Bonaparte). In Missouri a common transient visitant from the middle of March to the first week of May and again from early inSeptember to late in November, but chiefly in April and October. It was found breeding May 27, 1874, by W. E. D. Scott, near Warrens- burg, where it was rather common in the spring of 1874. Mr. Nehrling found it breeding at Pierce City, Mo. (W. W. Cooke), and Mr. R. Ridgway at Mount Carmel in southern Illinois, the nests being in damp meadows; he also took some there in the middle of winter. That Mr. E. 8S. Woodruff found not only the Vesper Sparrow, but also the Savanna Sparrow common on meadows at Eudy, Shannon Co., in the midst of the heavily wooded Ozark hills is interesting as it shows that even such birds usually associated with open country do not follow river valleys or certain prescribed migration routes, but fly broadcast across the land, whether high or low, wooded or open. He found the first March 19, and they became common April 28, remaining - so for a whole week. 542b. PASSERCULUS SANDWICHENSIS ALAUDINUS (Bonap.). Wes- tern Savanna Sparrow. Passerculus alaudinus. Passerculus savanna alaudinus. Ammodramus sandwichensis alaudinus. Geog. Dist.—Western North America; breeding from north- western Alaska to southern portion of Mexican tableland and from the Plains to the Pacific. In migration east to eastern Nebraska. Winters from the valleys of the western United States and Mexico to Guatemala. While collecting in Shannon Co. in spring 1907, Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff met with Savanna Sparrows, March 19 and 22, taking specimens which proved to be this subspecies.. On May 5 he wrote that he found the species again on April 25 and considered it common on and after April 28 in meadows at Eudy, Shannon Co. 545. COTURNICULUS BAIRDII (Aud.). Baird’s Sparrow. Emberiza bairdii. Ammodramus bairdii. Centronyx bairdi. Passerculus bairdi. Centronyx ochrocephalus. Geog. Dist.—Great Plains of North America ; breeding from western Minnesota, North Dakota, eastern Montana north to Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 177 Assiniboia and Manitoba; south during migration to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, northern Mexico; west to eastern Wash- ington; east to lowa and Missouri. Was met with in St. Charles Co., October 18, 1894 (Auk, vol. 12, p. 219), and in St. Louis Co., near Old Orchard, March 17, 1895. Was also taken by Mr. S. 8. Wilson at St. Joseph, March 24 and May 25, 1895, and March 21, 1896. It is a regular spring and fall migrant at Grinnell in central Iowa (April 25, 1885, and March 24 to April 20, 1886; October 4 to 16, 1886) and is prob- ably not a very rare transient visitant in Missouri, but easily overlooked when in company with other sparrows, such as Spizella monticola along the edge of woods in March, or Savanna Sparrows, etc. along the lakes and sloughs of the marsh land in the river bottoms. *546. COTURNICULUS SAVANNARUM PASSERINUS (Wils.). Grass- hopper Sparrow. Fringilla savannarum. Fringilla passerina. Emberiza passerina. Cotur- niculus passerinus. Ammodramus passerinus. Ammodramus savan- narum. Cricket Bird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and more southern British provinces; west to edge of Plains; north to Maine, New Hampshire, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin etc. Winters south of United States in Cuba, Yucatan and Gulf coast of Mexico. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in the prairie and Ozark border region. The first arrive in southern Missouri about the middle of April (earliest April 10, 1902, Jasper Co.), in northern Missouri usually after April 20 and become common during the last week of April or, in some years, only in the first week of May, when they are sometimes numerous enough to suggest the presence of transient visitants. While their singing betrays them easily in spring their silence in autumn causes them to be observed with difficulty and the dates of ‘last seen” vary from the latter part of August through September to October 31; there is even a record of November 15, 1902, from Jasper, but this, as well as one of March 21, 1896, from St. Joseph, must be regarded as quite exceptional. Mr. E. 8. Woodruff found them common in meadows at Eudy, Shannon Co., April 25, 1907, and, finding them still present May 13, and at Grandin, Carter Co., June 3, 1907, considers them breeders in that region. 178 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 546a. CoruRNICULUS SAVANNARUM BIMACULATUS (Swains.). Western Grasshopper Sparrow. Ammodramus bimaculatus. Coturniculus passerinus perpallidus. Ammo- dramus savannarum perpallidus. Geog. Dist.—Western United States and Mexican tableland. East to Minnesota, Iowa and eastern Kansas. South to Guate- mala and Costa Rica. After comparing the Grasshopper Sparrows, which Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff captured in southern Missouri in March and April 1907, he comes to the conclusion that they are rather intermediates, but nearer to bimaculatus, “having smaller bills, more chestnut and less black on their backs than the eastern bird.”’ *547. AMMODRAMUS HENSLOWII (Aud.). Henslow’s Sparrow. Emberiza henslowii. Fringilla henslowit. Coturniculus henslowii. Hens- low’s Bunting. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States north to New Hampshire, New York, Ontario, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc., breeding south to lat 38°, west to eastern Kansas. Winters in the southern states from Florida to Texas. In Missouri a locally common summer resident in marshes and wet meadows, probably of general distribution throughout the prairie and Ozark border regions, but easily overlooked. It has been found nesting in damp fields in St. Louis Co. and in the marshes of St. Charles Co. It is reported as a breeder in the Mississippi river bottom along the state line from Quincy, War- saw and Keokuk. Audubon met with it May 9, 1848, near the northwest corner of Missouri and Mr. W. E. D. Scott found it common and breeding June 1 to 10, 1874, at Warrensburg. Mr. Chas. Tindall also found it common at Independence. It reaches the breeding grounds in Missouri during the latter half of April and remains with us until late in October. The earliest date in spring migration is contributed by Mr. -E. 8. Woodruff, who took one in Shannon Co., March 19, 1907. To detect it in early spring and summer one has only to be in its haunts before sunrise, when sitting on weed stalks it utters its peculiar ‘‘se- wick”’ incessantly until the sun is well up in the sky. It is also heard before nightfall, but during the day its song is given only at long intervals, especially on warm days and when feeding the young in the nest. Like its cousins, the Henslow’s Sparrow lies very close and flies quite a distance before alighting in the _ tangled grass, in which it escapes by running and hiding. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 179 *548. AMMODRAMUS LECONTEII (Aud.). Leconte’s Sparrow. Emberiza leconteti. Fringilla caudacuta. Coturniculus leconieii. Geog. Dist.—Prairie marshes of Mississippi Valley and Cen- tral British Provinces; breeding from Minnesota and South Da- kota to Manitoba and Assiniboia. Winters in the Gulf States, Florida to Texas; coast of South Carolina, occasionally North Carolina, Indiana, Missouri, etc. In Missouri a regular and locally common transient visitant spring and fall. It is plentiful in the marshes of the Mississippi bottom in the latter part of September, some being still there at the end of December (December 29, 1896, Osprey), but October is the month when it is most numerous. It is again with us from the middle of March (March 14, 1889, male taken by Mr. O. C. Poling at Quincy) to April 20. Possibly also a rare summer resident as it was found July 26, 1887, by Mr. Brown, and in immature plumage in August by Mr. Poling. Mr. Chas. K. Worthen also noted its occurrence in summer near Warsaw. Though most of the records of occurrence are from the Mississippi bottom, the species seems to frequent also the Missouri bottoms, as Mr. Tindall reports it common in migration at Independence. It has been repeatedly met with on stubble fields on hilly ground in St. Louis Co., which belongs to the Ozark border subregion, and is probably not entirely absent in suitable localities of the Ozark region, having been found at Fayetteville, Ark., February 28, 1885, impaled by a Shrike. [549.1. AMMODRAMUS NELSONI (Allen). Nelson’s Sparrow. ] Ammodramus caudacutus nelsoni. Ammodramus caudacutus. Geog. Dist.—Prairie marshes of Mississippi Valley and central British Provinces; breeding from northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota north to Manitoba. South in winter to Gulf coast; west to Texas, and to coast of South Carolina. It is strange that this species has never been noticed within the borders of Missouri, although quite within its geographical range. Its occurrence in migration seems certain. Its capture at Warsaw, May 8, 1879, by Mr. Worthen and at Quincy, April 26, 1889, by Mr. Poling is recorded; also that of an adult male, Octo- ber 12, 1894, in central lowa (Auk, vol. 16, p. 277); and that of a pair on May 27, 1904, in Johnson Co., Ia., by R. M. Anderson, and a young male in company with Leconte’s and Grasshopper Sparrow in eastern Nebraska, October 8, 1904. October 17, 180 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 1881, two birds were killed by Col. N.S. Goss in the bottomland of the Neosho River near Neosho Falls, Kan., fifty miles west of our state line. *552. CHONDESTES GRAMMACUS (Say). Lark Sparrow. Fringilla grammaca. Chondestes grammica. Emberiza grammaca. Geog. Dist.—Mississippi Valley, east of the Plains; north to eastern Minnesota, Wisconsin, southern Michigan; east to Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee; casually to the Atlantic States and Florida. Breeds from eastern Texas northward and winters south of United States. Replaced westward to the Pacific by subspecies strigatus (Swainson). In Missouri nowhere common, but one of our most generally distributed summer residents, not only in the prairie region but, on cultivated land everywhere, even in the narrow valleys of the Ozarks. There are a few unusually early dates as April 6, 1884, Fayette; April 10, 1898, Independence and April 10, 1892, Keokuk, but as a rule the Lark Sparrows arrive in most parts of Missouri with great regularity during the third week of April only in the most northern counties a few days later. They are prominent songsters and conspicuous birds, often seen on wagon roads taking dust baths. After the young are grown a few fam- ilies gather in a troop, and begin to roam, disappearing from their breeding stands as early as July or August. Small flocks are met with until late in September, and some observers report the ‘last seen” as late as October 4, 1903, New Haven and © October 17, 1883, and 1885, Mt. Carmel—exceptional cases. 553. ZONOTRICHIA QUERULA (Nuttall). Harris’s Sparrow. Fringilla querula. Fringilla harrisii. Fringilla comata. Hooded Sparrow. Geog. Dist.—Interior plains of North America, from eastern base of Rocky Mountains to Western Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Manitoba, occasionally to Illinois and Wisconsin. Breeds north of United States (Assiniboia) and winters in Texas. Western Missouri with eastern Kansas and eastern Nebraska, is the main thoroughfare of this species from its summer home in Assiniboia to its winter home in the Indian Territory and northern Texas. All early explorers met with it; in 1832 Prince of Wied, who described it later under the name of F. comata; Nuttall and Townsend, who discovered it near Kansas City (In- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 181 dependence and Westport) in 1833, were the first to describe it under the name of F’. querula in 1840. When Audubon ascended the Missouri River in 1848 in company with Bell, Harris and Squires, he thought he found a new finch near Fort Leaven- worth, May 4, 1843, and called it Fringilla harris, not knowing at the time of Nuttall’s discovery and description. He met with it again on May 6, 7 and 8, when near the corner of the state. It was with Zono. leucophrys and albicollis, Melospiza lincolni, Siurus noveboracensis, Dendr. coronata and Helm. rubri- capilla. Dr. Hoy met with it at Lexington, May 7, 1854, and a troop of from 15 to 20 at Chillicothe, May 13, 1854. Dr. J. A. Allen found it exceedingly abundant at Leavenworth in May, 1872, and Trippe listed it as abundant in fall and spring in Decatur, Ia., 1872. It was also taken by the Warren’s Expedi- tion at Fort Leavenworth, and Aughey gives it as common in eastern Nebraska along the Missouri River. In his Birds of Western Missouri (Nuttall Bull., Vol. 4, p. 144), W. E. D. Scott writes: ‘(On my arrival at Warrensburg, March 27, 1874, I found the birds quite common. ‘They were all moulting, and ‘had much the same habits as the White-crowned Sparrows, being in small parties of three or four, and frequenting similar localities. They were still common April 27, and had assumed the breeding plumage. I took some as late as May 5.” The first week of March seems to be the time when the first- make their appearance in southwestern Missouri. Earliest date, March 2, 1902, Jasper, Savage; at Independence the first date is March 8, 1900, Tindall. They become common in southern Missouri during the latter part of March, and in northern Missouri in the first half of April and remain common to the end of the month or first week in May. The last are gone by the middle of May, not to be seen again until October. At St. Joseph the species was present from October 10 to November 16, 1894, according to Mr. 8. 8. Wilson, who took a male in spring dress, November 1. Mr. Nehrling found the species common at Freistatt, Lawrence Co., as early as October 11, 1886, but usually the bulk does not reach Missouri before the middle of October and remains to the latter part of November. A few linger well into winter, and there is a record of January 2, 1884, when the last was seen by Mr. Nehrling at Pierce City. In eastern Missouri the species is known only as a rare straggler and was met with by the writer in Lincoln Co., in the spring of 1896, and in Audrain Co., by Mrs. M. Musick of Mt. Carmel, April 3, 1884, and again April 28 to 182 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. May 3, 1885.°;It has been obtained in the Mississippi bot- tom by Mr. O. C. Poling at Quincy, by Mr. Chas. K. Worthen at Warsaw, and by Mr. E. 8S. Currier May 3, 1898, near Keokuk. 554. ZONOTRICHIA LEUCOPHRYS (Forst.). White-crowned Spar- row. Emberiza leucophrys. Fringilla leucophrys. Geog. Dist.—United States and eastern British Provinces; breeding from Vermont, Quebec and northeastern Minnesota northward to west side of Hudson Bay and over peninsula of Laborador to southern Greenland. Also throughout the high mountains of western United States southward to New Mexico and Arizona, north to northern California. Winters from Missouri, Illinois and southern Indiana southward to south central Mexico and throughout the peninsula of Lower California. In Missouri a common transient visitant in all parts of the state, throughout the Ozarks as well as in the swamps of the southeast. Some few winter even north of the Missouri River in osage orange hedges in St. Charles Co., but more commonly in the southern part of the state, never in large numbers, but a few individuals with Tree Sparrows and Juncos, or White- throated and Fox Sparrows. The first stir among the hardy Fringillidae about the middle of March brings also some White- crowns to places where we had not noticed them before, but real migration shows itself only after the middle of April, and even then it drags on until one fine morning all Missouri is resounding with their peculiar song. This occurs with great regularity be- tween the fourth and eighth of May; very exceptionally earlier, as April 29 and 30, 1884: They frequent open ground, fences, hedges, etc., also the edge of woods, but seldom the woods them- selves, and remain common and conspicuous for a few days — only, but their song is heard and the birds seen till May 15 to 18, even in the southern part of the state (latest for St. Louis, May 20 and 22, 1907). The first fall migrants reach northern Missouri soon after the first of October, and southern Missouri in the second week of the month. The bulk is present in the third and fourth weeks, and the last transients leave us in the first half of November. Widmann—aA Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 183 558. ZONOTRICHIA ALBICOLLIS (Gmel.). White-throated Spar- TOW. Fringillaalbicollis. Fringilla pensylvanica. Zonotrichia pensylvanica. Pea- body Bird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; breeding from Massa- chusetts, northern New York, Ontario, northern Michigan, Wis- consin, northern Minnesota, eastern Wyoming, eastern Mon- tana, etc., northward to Great Bear Lake, west shore of Hudson Bay, Laborador and Newfoundland. In winter from Massa- chusetts and southern New York, along the Atlantic coast to Florida and in the Mississippi Valley from the mouth of the Missouri River to Louisiana and southern Texas. In Missouri a very common transient visitant; one of the most numerous and universally distributed of migrants in spring and fall, and in southeastern Missouri one of the most numerous winter residents. In sheltered places, chiefly river bottoms, small numbers winter regularly in the vicinity of St. Louis, but keep very quiet until migration begins early in March. Between the tenth and twentieth the first White-throats appear in many places in central Missouri where they have not wintered. From this time to the middle of April there is not much change visible, the species being only fairly common, though comparatively prominent, because often in song. ‘The great army of transient White-throats appears in the southern part of the state April 15, in the central April 20, and in the most northern, April 25. They are in large flocks with many individuals in high dress and full of song. Their presence in such numbers lasts about eight days, after which a change is noticeable; most of the high dressed adult birds are gone, and the flocks contain principally birds of the second year, plain dressed and not so musical. Large troops, mostly females, remain through the first week of-May; small parties are also found during the second week, but after the middle of May they are always rare if present at all. The “‘last seen’’ in the state are dated between May 15 and 20, exceptionally later, as May 24, 1883, at St. Louis. Southward migration of White-throats reaches Missouri some years in the last days of September, but usually not before the first week of October in the north, and the second week in the south of the state. Earli- est date for St. Louis, September 24, 1887; for Keokuk, Sep- tember 28, 1902. Between October 8 and 12 they arrive at St. Louis in large flocks, many adults in fine dress and song among 184 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. them. They remain numerous to the end of the month, but after the twentieth the flocks contain a majority of young birds in very plain dress. After the first of November they grow scarce generally, but small parties linger even in the most northern part sometimes into the latter half of the month, exceptionally into December (Keokuk, November 18, 1902; November 19, 1893; November 20, 1892 and 1900; December 8, 1896). 559. SPIZELLA MONTICOLA (Gmel.). Tree Sparrow. | Fringilla canadensis. Emberiza canadensis. Spizella montana. Fringilla arborea. Canada Tree Sparrow. Winter Chippy. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, west to the Plaims where replaced by the western subspecies ochracea; breeding in New- foundland, Labrador and the Hudson Bay region. In winter from the northern United States southward to South Carolina, Tennessee, Indian Territory. In Missouri a common winter resident arriving irregularly, sometimes in north Missouri as early as the second week of October (October 9, 1892 and 1894, and October 10, 1901, Keo- kuk; October 10, 1894, St. Joseph), in other years not before November. At St. Louis the first are seen between the 4th and 14th of November, and are common before the month is over, moving in small flocks in search of weed seeds and coming to the farm yards when the snow is deep. Their departure is influ- enced much by the weather we have in March. Even warm weather in the latter part of February induces them to become excited and musical, deserting some of their winter haunts and flocking to the bottom-land preparatory to departing. In some years they are nearly all gone by March 20th, in others flocks are with us-to the middle of April (April 12, 1894, large flocks in Lincoln Co.). The “lasts” vary from March 20 to April 28 (1893, Keokuk), but fall mostly into the early part of April. (April 3, 1898, Independence; April 10, 1902, Jasper; April 10, 1874, Warrensburg; April 12, 1886, Mt. Carmel). *560. SPIzELLA SOCIALIS (Wils.). Chipping Sparrow. Fringilla socialis. Emberiza socialis. Spizella domestica. Chippy. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, west to the Great Plains; north to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario; northwest through wooded districts to Saskatchewan. Breeds Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of M issourt. 185 from the pine woods of the Gulf States northward, and winters in the southern United States from Florida to eastern Texas. Replaced in the West by the subspecies S. soc. arizonae. In Missouri a common and universally distributed summer resi- dent, mostly near human habitations, but also on the dry hill tops of the Ozarks, as well as in the Bald Cypress swamps of the southeast. March 14 to 17 is the time when the first Chippies reach their breeding stands south of the Missouri; there are very few records of earlier arrivals, as March 2, 1902, Jasper; March 10, 1886, Freistatt; March 10, 1887, St. Louis. At the north- east corner of the state the species makes its first appearance a> fortnight later, the dates varying from March 30 to April 15, ‘mostly April 4 to 6. While the forerunners reach St. Louis usually about the middle of March, Chippies are seldom numer- ous before the first week in April, the males appearing first, fol- lowed after four days by the females, when the species becomes conspicuous everywhere. Transient visitants increase their numbers during the second and third week of April, at the end of which ours begin nesting. Flocking in September, they dis- appear from many of their summer haunts and the species seems scarce until migration begins in early October, when sometimes large flocks are met with during the second and third week of the month. All disappear before the month is over and Chippies are great rarities in November, when their cousins, the Tree Sparrows, appear from the north. 561. SPIZELLA PALLIDA (Swains.). Clay-colored Sparrow. Emberiza pallida. Emberiza shattuckit. Geog. Dist.—Great Plains of North America from eastern base of Rocky Mountains to prairie districts of the upper Mississippi Valley ; breeding from Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois northward to the Saskatchewan; in winter from southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Cape St. Lucas and Oaxaca. Nothing is known of the occurrence of this species in Missouri except in the territory along the eastern and western boundary. The earliest record is that of Audubon, who met with it near the corner of the state, May 9, 1848. Mr. 8.8. Wilson regards the Clay-colored Sparrows common transient visitants at St. Joseph from the middle of April to early June, and gives me the follow- ing dates: April 28, May 7 and 10 and June 17, 1894; May 1 186 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. and 3 and June 2, 1895; April 11, April 25 and May 15, 1896. At St. Louis it is a rare transient visitant and has only been taken a few times: September 24, 1876; April 28 and May 7, 1886, and May 10, 1904. Mr.0O.C. Poling found it quite common in pastures and stubble fields near Quincy, Ill., early in May, 1887, and Mr. W. Praeger met with it near Keokuk. Trippe mentions the species as common in spring, 1874, in Decatur Co., Ia., and it is said to be an abundant migrant in Nebraska, ar- riving in the first week in May, remaining till June and reap- pearing in early September and remaining through October. There can therefore be no doubt that its apparent scarcity is only due to oversight, though it is distinguishable from other Spizellae by the conspicuous ashy collar and ashy median stripe on the crown, bordered by dark brown streaks, a dark line on the side of the chin and, besides a white line over the eye, pale brown yellowish upper parts and small size. *563. SPIZELLA PUSILLA (Wils.). Field Sparrow. Fringilla pusilla. Fringillajuncorum. Emberiza pusilla. Spizella agrestis. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and Southern Canada, west to eastern Kansas, Nebraska, Red River Valley, Lake Winnipeg and Qu’Apelle; north to southern Ontario, rarely to Quebec and Nova Scotia. Breeds from upper Georgia and South Carolina, northwestern Florida, central Alabama and Mississippi, central Texas northward and winters from southern New Jersey, Virginia, Kentucky and southern Missouri south- ward to Florida and Texas, occasionally further north. In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resi- dent. From St. Louis southward the first singing males are heard at their breeding stands in ordinary seasons in the first or second week of March; north of the Missouri River in the third, and in the region of Keokuk in the fourth week of March. In unusually backward seasons their arrival may be retarded from one to two weeks. ‘The bulk of the species is due from the mid- dle of March in the south to the first week of April in the north. Transients in small troops are present the last of March and in early April. They sing all summer, sometimes till September, and fresh eggs were found in September. From the last week of September to the middle of October they are found in small flocks, probably transients, while some of ours remain, associated with other sparrows, till the middle of November. Single indi- Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 187 viduals are met with in winter in the vicinity of St. Louis in company of other sparrows, and small troops winter regularly in the sheltering forests of southern Missouri. 563a. SPIZELLA PUSILLA ARENACEA Chadb. Western Field Sparrow. Spizella arenacea. Geog. Dist.—Breeds from Nebraska and South Dakota to eastern Montana; winters in southern Texas, Louisiana and northern Mexico. Of the four specimens which Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff col- lected in Shannon Co. in March, 1907, he found ‘‘two to be undoubted arenacea, the other two intermediate between pusilla and arenacea but nearer the latter, because of their longer wings — and tail and general paleness.”’ 567. JUNCO HYEMALIS (Linn.). Slate-colored Junco. Fringilla hyemalis. Struthus hyemalis. Nipheahyemalis. Junco hiemalis. Fringilla nivalis. Junco. Snowbird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America and through the interior to the Arctic coast and Alaska; breeding from the mountains of Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts, from Ontario, central Michigan, northern Wisconsin, northern Minnesota northward to Labrador, western shores of Hudson Bay, to the Arctic coast and the valleys of the Yukon and Kowak. Winters from Connecticut, southern Michigan, Wisconsin and eastern Nebraska southward to the Gulf coast, Arizona and Cali- fornia. In Missouri a very common winter resident and transient visitant, present fully one-half of the year. The first, exception- ally early arrivals, have been noted at Keokuk, September 11, 1894, and September 25, 1899; at St. Louis, September 20 and 26, but usually the van does not reach Missouri before the first week of October and St. Louis in some years not before the end of the second week. ‘The main body of the invading army comes to our northern border in the second week of October, to St. Louis about October 20th and to the southeastern corner of the state about the last of the month. ‘Transients throng the state untilthe middle of November, after which winter numbers remain. As the northern limit of their range varies in different seasons, so 188 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. does the number of wintering individuals. In hard winters when the snow is deep and hard they are driven to the farmyards for food and shelter; but for this protection many would perish by cold or starvation, especially in regions where their former ref- uge, the forests, no longer exist. Spring migration from the south begins often as early as the last week of February, cer- tainly by the tenth of March, and is at its height from the middle to the last of the month, when most old birds are gone and mainly young ones are present mostly in silent flocks. These, too, pass on during the first half of April and stragglers only are left in the latter part of the month. In some years, when spring was exceptionally late or cold, individuals have been seen at St. Louis in May and as late as May 24 and May 29, 1882, but as a rule the dates of “‘Juncos last seen” range from April 10 to 30 all over the state. An exceptionally late date is reported by Mr. E.8. Woodruff, who took a Junco at Grandin, Carter Co., May 21; 1907, saying: “But this can be explained by the fact that he was a diseased bird infested by parasitic worms. His stomach was distended to twice the normal size and was just one solid mass of trans- parent worms, 3 inches or more long, filling up every bit of space around the organs and intestines.”’ Last Junco in 1907 at St. Louis was seen May 4. 567b. JUNCO HYEMALIS CONNECTENS Coues. Shufeldt’s Junco. Junco hyemalis shufeldti. Geog. Dist.—Rocky Mountain region, west in the mountains of the Great Basin to eastern California; in winter to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico. Accidental in Ne- braska, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Massachusetts and Mary- land, but with difficulty distinguished from Montana Junco, . Junco montanus, which in winter also straggles eastward from its breeding grounds in Montana, Idaho and northward to Alberta. This subspecies is entered in our list as of probable occurrence on the strength of a specimen taken by Mr. Wm. E. Praeger near Keokuk, Ia., December 16, 1892, from a flock of common -Juncos. It may be not an uncommon, perhaps regular, winter visitant to some parts of Missouri, particularly the western, and collectors should pay special attention to the identifi- cation of Juncos. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 189 567.1. JUNcO MONTANUS Ridgway. Montana Junco. Geog. Dist.—Breeds from northwestern Montana and northern Idaho to Northwest Territory and Alberta. In winter to Arizona and northern Mexico, western and middle Texas, etc. In mi- gration east to Mississippi Valley; casually to Massachusetts, Maryland etc. The Juncos collected by Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff in Carter and Shannon Counties in March and April 1907, Dr. Dwight divided into three races: hyemalis hyemalis, hyemalis connectens, and montanus. The typical hyemalis he also found to differ somewhat from eastern birds, resembling those which breed in the western part of their range, i. e., Alaska. *575a. PEUCEA AESTIVALIS BACHMANTI (Aud.). Bachman’s Sparrow. ! Fringilla bachmanii. Peucea bachmanii. Peucea aestivalis. Peucea illi- noensis. Peucea aestivalis illinoiensis. Aimophila aestivalis bachmanii. Oakwood Sparrow. Geog. Dist.—From South Carolina and northern Georgia and the Gulf coast west of Florida north to southern Virginia, Mary- land, southern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and southeastern Iowa; west to western Missouri and middle Texas. In winter to Florida. In Missouri a rare summer resident, reported first by Mr. H. Nehrling from Pierce City, Lawrence Co., in 1884, as not common, and by Mr. O. C. Poling from the Mississippi bottom in Marion Co., Mo., where from about May 1 to 5, 1889, he observed two in a clearing among scrub oak and brush. Early in May 1887 the same gentleman collected three specimens in an old apple orchard at Quincy, Ill. Mr. W. G. Savage reported their occur- rence at Monteer, Shannon Co., in 1906, and Mr. E. 8. Woodruff verified this report by taking specimens at Ink, Shannon Co. on March 19, March 31 and April 5, and writes, May 5, 1907: “These are very common birds here and breeding.’”’” On May 17, 1907, he saw one and heard the song of two others near the Current River in Carter Co.. Perfect proof of its breeding in the state was furnished by Mr. E. 8. Woodruff when he found a nest in Carter Co. near the line of Reynolds Co., May 27, 1907. He wrote me under date of June 2, 1907: ‘‘The nest was on the ground in a clump of grass and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus 190 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lows. americ.) in oak and pine woods from which the pine had very recently been cut. It contained two eggs of Bachman’s Sparrow and three of Cowbird—incubation far advanced. The nest was near (10 feet) the top of a recently cut pine. I mention this, for I invariably find Bachman’s Sparrows about the dead tops of fallen trees.” *581. MELOSPIZA CINEREA MELODIA (Wilson). Song Sparrow. Fringilla fasciata. Melospiza jasciata. Melospiza melodia. Fringilla melodia. Emberiza melodia. Melospiza meloda. Geog. Dist—Eastern United States to the Plains; north to the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatche- wan and Alberta. Breeds from Virginia, southern Indiana, northern Kentucky, central Mississippi, southern Missouri and Kansas northward, and winters from Nova Scotia, the Great Lakes, and Nebraska southward, but chiefly south of the Ohio River. In Missouri a common and generally distributed transient visitant; a fairly common winter resident and a rather rare, only locally common, summer resident in the alluvial bottoms and prairie region from Ste. Genevieve and Jasper Co. northward, increasing in numbers and spreading to new territory. The Song Sparrow is one of the very first to stir from Its winter quar- ters as soon as the backbone of our Missouri winter is broken, commonly near the end of February. It is then seen at places not frequented before, but these movements are only preliminary to the great general advance which begins about March 10 and gathers full strength at the middle of the month, when the great mass occupies the state from one end to the other and holds pos- session of it for three weeks, until the second week in April, being more numerous southward in March and northward in April. The last transients leave southern Missouri about the middle, northern toward the end of April; and birds heard singing in May should be marked probable summer residents. Fall migrants begin to arrive the middle of September, but do not become numerous before October, sometimes early in the month, sometimes not before the latter part; remaining common into November, but seldom into the second week, after which winter numbers only are left. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 191 583. MELOSPIZA LINCOLNII (Aud.). Lincoln’s Sparrow. Fringilla lincolnii. Peucea lincolnii. Zonotrichia lincolni. Geog. Dist.—Central and North America from Panama to the northeastern coast of Labrador and Fort Yukon in Alaska. Breeds from northern Illinois and northern New York northward, and in the higher mountains of the United States south to Mt. Whitney in the Sierra. Winters from our southern states southward to Panama. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant in all parts of the state; never in flocks, but associated with other sparrows, chiefly Melospzae and Zonotrichiae. Due to its southwest- northeast migration it appears first in the southwestern part of the state from where it is reported in March (March 7, 1904, Iberia, March 13, 1886, Freistatt); the first individuals seem to reach northern Missouri and southern Nebraska earlier than the region of St. Louis, being reported from Mt. Carmel and Keokuk, April 5, and in Nebraska in the second week of April. At St. Louis the Lincoln’s Sparrow arrives pretty regularly between the 20th and 25th of April, rarely a few days later. It is most common all over the state from the second to the twelfth of May, and the last are seen soon afterward, varying in different years between the tenth and sixteenth, except in unusually cold springs, when the last remained to May 23, 1904, and May 28, 1897. The first reappear in fall early in October (earliest October 5, 1889, Independence); at St. Louis about October 7, followed by the bulk a few days later, present generally from the 10th to 15th, and the last are noted near the end of the month, seldom remaining into November (November 4, 1900, Keokuk, Currier). *584. MELOSPIZA GEORGIANA (Lath.). Swamp Sparrow. Fringilla georgiana. Fringilla palustris. Zonotrichia palustris. Ammo- dramus palustris. Melospiza palustris. Geog. Dist.—Hastern North America, north to Newfoundland, Labrador and Athabaska; west to about 100 meridian in Ne- braska. Breeds from southern New England, northern Indiana, northern Missouri and eastern Nebraska northward. Winters from southern New England, southern Illinois, Missouri and Kansas southward to the Gulf. In Missouri a common transient visitant, found in varying numbers in all parts, high and low, but most abundantly 192 Trans. Acad. Scr. of St. Louis. in the flood plain of the Mississippi River. A few remain in winter north of the Missouri River, more in southern Missouri, especially the southeast. According to some observers the species is also a rare breeder north of the Missouri River. Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr., reports that he found a nest with young, June 2, 1905, near Maple Lake in St. Charles Co., and Mr. E. M. Parker has found it nesting near Montgomery City. Mr. E. S. Currier thinks a few nested at Sand Ridge near Wayland, Clark Co., Mo. W.H. D. Scott also says it possibly breeds at Warrensburg where he took some as late as May 25, 1874. ‘Trippe writes: ‘Breeds in small numbers in Decatur Co., Ia.,”’ (the border county north of central Missouri). As is the case with several other species of sparrows wintering in the southern states, migration commences in an undecided way, some advancing in short steps toward the breeding grounds in the north as soon as absence of snow and ice allows. In some years this is possible at the end of February, in others nearly a month later, but the middle of March may be taken as the average time for the first arrival of small troops of transient Swamp Sparrows in the vicinity of St. Louis and a week later in the marshes of Clark Co. in the northeast corner of the state. The bulk of the species leaves southeast Missouri about the middle of April, is present in the central part from April 10 to 20, and at the northern border from April 16 to 26. The last ones are sometimes noted in the last week of April, but just as often in the first week of May, less commonly later (May 11, 1882 and 1886, St. Louis; May 13, 1907, Shannon Co, Woodruff; May 23, 1899, and May 27, 1901, Keokuk). September 27 is the first day when transients were observed in central Missouri and October 1, 1886, in Law- rence Co., southwest Missouri. The earliest date at Keokuk, reported by-Mr. Currier, is September 11, 1894, the next earliest September 26, 1899. The bulk enters the state about October 10, has spread over central and western Missouri by the middle of the month and remains to the end or to the first week of No- vember. After the middle of November winter numbers only are left. 585. PASSERELLA ILIACA (Merr.). Fox Sparrow. Fringilla iliaca. Fringilla ferruginea. Zonotrichia iliaca. Fringilla rufa. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, Anticosti, southern Labrador, northwestward to Alaska. Breeds Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 193 from northern Maine, northern Manitoba and Alberta northward. - Winters from Potomac, Ohio and Missouri Rivers southward to the Gulf coast and westward to middle Texas. In Missouri a common transient visitant in all parts of the state, and a fairly common winter resident from St. Louis southward, particularly numerous in the heavy forests of the swampy southeast. They are among the first sparrows to leave their winter quarters in the southern states, but make slow prog- ress at first. Entering the state at the southern boundary late in February or early in March the first reach central Missouri in the second, the northern border in the third week of the month. The bulk is present southwardly from the middle to the end of March, northwardly from the 20th to April 5, some years to the 10th. The last birds are observed in the first and second week of April, rarely later. Latest records April 17, 1894, Keokuk; April 18, 1903, and 19, 1888, St. Louis. In withdraw- ing from the northern breeding grounds Fox Sparrows are among the latest migrants to put in their appearance in Missouri, where they are seldom seen before the second, some years not before the third, week of October. Earlier, exceptional, dates are reported from Keokuk, September 29, 1896, October 1, 1895, October 2, 1894. They are most common in all parts of the state between October 25 and November 10, but retire south- ward by the middle of the month; latest dates November 20, 1894, Keokuk; November 25, 1902, Jasper; December 10, 1901, Jasper. *587. PIpILO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS (Linn.). ‘Towhee. Fringilla erythrophthalma. Emberiza erythrophthalma. Chewink. Joree. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America north to Ontario and eastern Manitoba; west to eastern Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Indian Territory. Breeds from Georgia and Louisiana north- ward and winters from Pennsylvania, Indiana, Missouri and eastern Kansas southward to southern Florida, the Gulf coast and southwestern Texas. In Missouri a common summer resident in the prairie and Ozark border region, but only locally common in the Ozarks, and rare in the swampy southeast, where it is a fairly common winter resident. As a transient visitant it is generally distrib- uted and common from the middle of March to the middle of April, and from September 25 to October 20. As a winter resi- 194 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lows. dent it is rare in northern Missouri, but becomes more numerous as we approach the southern boundary, chiefly southeast. The first Towhees return to their breeding stands in the southern part before the middle of March, to the northern part chiefly after the middle of March. In the vicinity of St. Louis March 17 is often the day when their song is heard for the first time at most of their stands, meaning that the bulk of males has come and is taking possession of their former haunts, awaiting the arrival of the females. This takes place generally within one week and the species is conspicuous, noisy and mating, before the end of the month. Their ranks continue to fill up, and many transients in small troops are present, during the first half of April, while some of the first comers have already begun nest building, and eggs may be found by the first of May. In the latter part of September the Towhees begin to flock and are heard to sing again. Migration from the north sets in soon after the first of October and lasts till about the 20th, being most brisk about the middle of the month, or a few days before. After the 20th the species rapidly approaches winter numbers. *593. CARDINALIS CARDINALIS. (Linn.). Cardinal. Loxia cardinalis. Fringilla cardinalis. Pitylus cardinalis. Guiraca cardi- nalis. Cardinalis virginianus.. Redbird. Kentucky Cardinal. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to southeastern New York, the Great Lakes, southern Iowa, southeastern _ South Dakota; west to eastern Nebraska, Kansas, Texas. Breeds from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, etc. northward, being replaced farther south by the Florida and Louisiana sub- species. Mainly non-migratory, but said to extend its range from year to year. A common resident in all parts of Missouri, very common in | most of southern Missouri, the Ozark region as well as the prairie and swamp lands. One of the few species of which many indi- viduals are truly permanent residents, remaining on the same ground summer and winter. They are mainly old pairs which risk wintering in places where few other birds find food and shelter, having for neighbors sometimes only the Carolina Wren and Tufted Tit, the ground being too bleak even for Blue Jays and Woodpeckers. But not all Redbirds are thus attached to their summer haunts; the majority retire to sheltered woods in the bottomland, or to nooks and corners on warm hillsides, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missourr. 195 where cornfields with corn on the stalk or in shocks are not far away, and where they are found when nothing else is accessible. The Redbird begins singing the middle of February, if it has not - done so earlier, and keeps it up until molt begins in the latter part of August, when only the first attempts of young birds are heard in September. At this period, and until the molt is over in the middle of October, the species is unusually shy and seclusive, but on fine days in the latter part of October, and in fact some- times even in winter, its song is as lively as in spring. *595. ZAMELODIA LUDOVICIANA (Linn.). Rose-breasted Gros- beak. Loxia ludoviciana. Guiraca ludoviciana. Fringilla ludoviciana. Cocco- borus ludovicianus. Hedymeles ludovicianus. Goniaphea ludoviciana. Habia ludoviciana. Loxia rosea. Coccothraustes ludovicianus. Rose- breast. Redbreast. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada; breeds from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, northern Ohio and In- diana, central Illinois, Missouri and eastern Kansas northward to Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Assiniboia and Alberta. In winter south of the United States to Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, Central America, Ecuador and Colombia. In Missouri a common summer resident in the prairie and Ozark border region, chiefly north of lat. 38° and occurring only sparingly in the valleys of the northern slope of the Ozarks, from Ste. Genevieve and Iron Counties to Lawrence and Jasper Counties. On the southern slope of the Ozarks and in western Missouri south of lat. 37° it is entirely replaced in the breeding — season by the Blue Grosbeak. In the alluvial counties of the southeast it is rare, but has been found once in summer on an island near the southern boundary of Dunklin Co. The most southern record of nesting in southwest Missouri has been fur- nished by Mr. Nehrling, who observed a young bird with its parents July 6, 1885, near Freistatt in Lawrence Co. In un- usually favorable seasons the first Rosebreasts have made their appearance at St. Louis as early as April 18 and 20, but the ma- jority of dates range between April 22 and 29, for first males, followed a few days later by the females. Birds of the second year come with the bulk of transient visitants, which pass through Missouri during the first week in May, when they are found in regions where they do not breed (Shannon Co., May 2, 1907, 196 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. Woodruff). At the end of summer the Rosebreasts are met with in small troops, but in the river bottoms where they roost in the willows, gatherings of from 30 to 50 may be found about the middle of September, probably transients in passage. At the end of September these flocks have departed, but small family groups do not think of leaving certain favorite stands, where food is plentiful and where they are not molested; frequent visits to these places reveal their presence into the second week of October, and the last on record in the city of St. Louis is October 18, 1906. *597. GUIRACA CAERULEA (Linn.). Blue Grosbeak. Loxia caerulea. Fringilla caerulea. Goniaphea caerulea. Coccoborus caeru- leus. Geog. Dist.—Southern part of eastern United States, north to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, being replaced farther west by the western subspecies lazula. In winter to Cuba and Yucatan. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident on the southern slope and western border of the Ozarks, chiefly from lat. 37° southward, but also reported as fairly common at Jasper, Jasper Co., by Walter Giles Savage, and possibly occurring even farther north to lat. 38° 30’ in Cass Co., as it was found breeding in 1901 at Osawatomie, Miami Co., Kan., only a few miles west of the state line. The Blue Grosbeaks arrive in Missouri the latter part of April (April 24, 1904, Shannon Co., Mr. W. G. Savage) and remain till October (October 2, 1902, Jasper; October 5, 1904, Shannon Co.). *598. CYANOSPIZA CYANEA (Linn.). Indigo Bunting. Tanagra cyanea. Passerina cyanea. F'ringilla cyanea. Spiza cyanea. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada, north to Maine, Minnesota; west to eastern Kansas, and in Nebraska to the 98th meridian. Breeds fromthe Gulf northward and migrates through eastern Mexico and Central America to Veragua. } In Missouri one of the commonest and most universally dis- tributed summer residents. The first arrive at the southern boundary the middle of April; at St. Louis the earliest dates are April 18 and 21, migrants in the Mississippi bottom. At its breeding stands it does not appear before from the 24th to the Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 197 29th in most parts of southern Missouri, and the last of the month, or more commonly in the first week in May, in northern Missouri. The females are always a few days behind the males, and full numbers, including birds of the second year in not yet fully matured dress, are not present before the middle of May. Transients, particularly small troops of singing males, swell their numbers in May, when the species is one of the most conspicuous among songsters. Exceptionally, a pair has been seen feeding young unable to fly as late as September 12, 1905, but as a rule the species has left the breeding grounds at the end of August and retired to out-of-the-way places to molt, at which period the males present a curiously spotted appearance. Tran- sients in flocks, all in brown, are with us in the bottoms early in September, and birds in different stages of molt are numerous to the end of the month, but are gone soon after the first of Octo- ber, though occasionally found in large numbers to the second week of that month. In especially favored localities some have — been known to linger even longer. Latest for St. Louis, October 17, 1885. 599. CYANOSPIZA AMOENA (Say). Lazuli Bunting. Emberiza amoena. Fringilla amoena. Spiza amoena. Passerina amoena, Geog. Dist.—Western United States and British Columbia; north to Idaho, Montana; east to South Dakota, western Ne- braska, western Kansas; in winter to Mexico. This species must be regarded as an accidental visitor to Missouri, though mentioned by G. S. Agersborg as occurring in summer and probably breeding in eastern South Dakota (Auk vol. 2, p. 281), and has been taken twice in eastern Nebraska east of the 97 meridian. It enters the list of Missouri birds on the strength of two specimens, a male and a female, taken at St. Joseph out of a flock of young birds, September 13, 1894, by Mr. Sidney S. Wilson. (601. Cyanospiza crris (Linn.). Painted Bunting.] Emberiza ciris. Passerina ciris. Fringilla ciris. Spiza ciris. Nonpareil, Painted Finch. Pope. Geog. Dist.—South Atlantic and Gulf States to western Texas; north to North Carolina, southern Illinois, southern Kansas. In winter to Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico, Central America to Ver- agua; west in transit to Arizona. No record at present of its occurrence in Missouri, but search 198 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. along our southern border will probably reveal its presence as a rare summer resident in the valleys leading up from the south. The species has been observed by Mrs. L. McG. Stephenson at Helena, Ark., and by Mr. Philo W. Smith Jr., at Eureka Springs, Ark. *604. SpizA AMERICANA (Gmel.). Dickcissel. Emberiza americana. Fringilla americana. Euspiza americana. Black- throated Bunting. Geog. Dist.—United States east of Rocky Mountains, north to Massachusetts, southern Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota; now extinct east of Alleghany Mountains; breeds from Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, northward and winters south of United States, migrating through New Mexico, Arizona, Mexico (both coasts) and Central America to Columbia and Trinidad. In Missouri a common summer resident in the prairie and Ozark border regions; rare in the Ozarks where only in open, long settled localities; sparingly on the cultivated ridges of the southeast. The first arrive nearly throughout the state during the fourth week of April, at least the forerunners do, impatient males which want to reach their old haunts before rivals arrive. Females do not appear before the first week in May, and the great mass of the species, including the young of last year, comes only during the second week of the month. Transients may be seen flying over in the early morning from the last days of April to May 20, some following the prairie region going east, others, coming from the south, cross the heavily wooded part of Missouri in a northerly direction. The first brood is able to take care of itself by July 1, but we sometimes see parents feeding young after the middle of August. When the breeding season closes, families gather into small flocks and are seen flying south in the early hours of the day from August 20 to September 10. To the general observer the species is rare after the middle of Sep- tember, but for one who knows the roosts the last has not gone before the first of October. 605. CALAMOSPIZA MELANOCORYS Stejn. Lark Bunting. Fringilla bicolor. Calamospiza bicolor. Corydalina bicolor. Dolichonyx bicolor. Geog. Dist.—Great Plains between Missouri River and Rocky Mountains; breeding from middle and western Kansas, eastern Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 199 Colorado, western Minnesota to Manitoba and Assiniboia; migrating south and southwest through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to plateau of Mexico, Lower California and coast of southern California. In his Journal of an Exploration of western Missouri in 1854, Dr. P. R. Hoy lists the Lark Bunting, Dolichonyz bicolor, among his 153 species of birds observed between April 16 and June 15. Under date of May 30, 1854, he writes: ‘On the way I saw the only prairie reed bird (Dolichonyx bicolor) I ever met. I followed it in full chase, under a hot sun, at least two miles before I shot it. Although greatly fatigued I was well satisfied at my final success in obtaining the much coveted bird.” This was near the state line, while driving north from Sugar River on the old military trail (Linn Co., Kan., and Bates Co., Mo.). Audubon found it in Harrison Co., Ia., where Bell shot two males May 18, 1843. It has also been taken in Nebraska within fifty miles of Missouri at Beatrice and Lincoln, and is mentioned as a common summer resident in the southeastern corner of South Dakota by G.S. Agersborg (Auk vol. 2, p. 281). Family TANAGRIDAE. ‘Tanagers. *608. PIRANGA ERYTHROMELAS Vieillot. Scarlet Tanager. Pyranga erythromelas. Tanagra rubra. Pyranga rubra. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America north to the Maritime Provinces, northern Ontario, Manitoba, eastern Assiniboia; west to eastern Kansas, Nebraska, rarely to Wyoming and Colo- rado. Breeds from Virginia, Kentucky, southern Missouri northward; in winter to the West Indies and through Mexico, Central America and northern South America to Bolivia and central Peru. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in the woods of the prairie and Ozark border region; frequent in the valleys | of the Ozarks into northern Arkansas, but rare in the southeast (Mr. B. T. Gault found it breeding in Heburn, Ark., in 1888 and Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr., writes that, it was fairly common in the vicinity of Eureka Springs in the summer of 1906, where he found the Summer Tanager strangely absent). The first reach southeastern Missouri in the third week of April, central Missouri in the fourth, and the northern border in the last days of the month or early in May. Females come a few days after the 200 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. males and it is generally May 3, when the song of the Scarlet Tanagers becomes common in the neighborhood of St. Louis. When their song ceases in July the bird becomes retiring and their presence is often only indicated by their peculiar call note. About the middle of September they become prominent once more in their traveling dress migrating with troops of northern warblers leisurely through Missouri. They are thus met with occasionally to the end of the month, but loiterers are seen not rarely in October, as October 6, 1905 and October 14, 1906 (St. Louis). *610. PIRANGA RUBRA (Linn.). Summer Tanager. Tanagra aestiva. Pyranga aestiva. Pyranga mississippensis. Summer Redbird. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, central Indiana, central Illinois, southern Iowa, southeastern Nebraska; casual northward. In winter to Bahamas, Cuba, eastern Mexico, Central America, northern South America to Peru. In Missouri 2 common summer resident in the Ozark and Ozark border region; fairly common in the prairie region, becoming scarcer as the northern border is approached. Mr. EK. S. Currier considers it a very rare summer visitor at Keokuk and never found it breeding. Mr. 8. 8. Wilson took a male at St. Joseph, May 4, 1895, and saw one June 12, 1896. Audubon saw it at Fort Leavenworth, May 4, 1843. The first arrive in their haunts on the sunny hillsides of the Ozarks in the third week of April; in the Ozark border region of St. Louis Co. in the fourth week or, if the weather should be unfavorable, only at the end of the month or early in May, when they usually become common. Both species of Tanagers often occur together in the same woods, but as a rule the Summer Tanager prefers the hills, while the Scarlet Tanager takes to the timber in the river bottoms. This species is also much more likely to become reconciled with modern conditions and makes its nest in the trees of villages and suburbs and partakes of our hospitality in the orchard and vineyard. They remain with us to the latter part of September and not a few linger into October (October 5, 1904, Shannon Co.; October 5, 1906, St. Louis). Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 201 Family HrrRuNDINIDAE. Swallows. *611. PRoa@NE suBis (Linn.). Purple Martin. Hirundo subis. Hirundo purpurea. Progne purpurea. Martin. Geog. Dist.—United States (except Pacific coast) and southern Canada, north to Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Vancouver, B.C. Breeds from southern Florida and southern Texas, and plateau of Mexico northward, and winters from southern Florida and Mexico to Venezuela and Brazil. In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resident in cities and towns and on many farms wherever boxes or nesting sites are found; most abundant in old towns along rivers. The first Martins arrive in southern Missouri in the second week of March, at St. Louis in the third, and in northern Missouri in the fourth week of the month. Increase is slow and the bulk of the species has not come before a month later, while birds of the second year are not in full numbers before the middle of May. As soon as the young are able to fly the distance, the whole family goes to the common roost and Martins become scarce at their breeding places about the middle of July, when all the young are on wing. On their favorite hunting grounds and especially at the roosts in the willows on the banks of the Mississippi, Martins are present and numerous until the middle of September, after which only stragglers are left. Last date at St. Louis September 24. Migration from the north sets in about the middle of August and from August 24 to September 10 extraordinary numbers go to the common roosts in the willows (See Forest and Stream, vol. 23, no. 10). Though English Spar- rows are sald to drive the Martins away, no decrease is noticeable in Missouri, and with a little help from us English Sparrows can easily be kept out of Martins’ houses. For an account of ‘How Young Martins are fed” see Forest and Stream, vol. 22, no. 25, reprinted in vol. 1, p. 6 of the Audubon Magazine, July 1887, *612. PETROCHELIDON LUNIFRONS (Say). Cliff Swallow. Hirundo lunifrons. Hirundo republicana. Hirundo fulva. Eave Swallow. Geog. Dist.—North America north to Cape Breton, Anticosti, Godbout; in the interior to Mackenzie and Yukon Valley, and on the Pacific coast to British Columbia; breeding nearly 202 | Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. over the whole United States (except Rio Grande Valley and northwestern Mexico). In winter through Mexico and Central America to Honduras, possibly to Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, etc. Rare south of Potomac and Ohio Rivers; no record from Florida and the West Indies. In Missouri the Cliff Swallow is a summer resident of only local occurrence and not as numerous as it formerly was. At breeding stands where traces of thousands of former nests are _ to be seen, as for instance on the ledges above Elk River near Noel in McDonald Co., none are left. In localities where twenty years ago hundreds of nests were seen on barns, none are seen. Prejudice and cruel delight in destroying the nests at the time of incubation or when feeding young have done it. The arrival in spring takes place in the second half of April and early May, when they begin at once to build their mud-nests. The only time when the species is present in great numbers is from the middle of August to the middle of September. At this period of southward migration thousands and thousands gather at night at the common roosts in the Spartina marshes of north Missouri. All are gone before the end of September (In the Spartina with the Swallows, by O. Widmann. Bird-Lore, vol. 1, p. 4, Aug. 1899). *613. HiRUNDO ERYTHROGASTER Bodd. Barn Swallow. Chelidon erythrogastra. Hirundo rufa. Hirundo horreorum. Hirundo americana. Hirundo rustica. Geog. Dist.—North America, north to Newfoundland, Lab- rador, Ungava, the Northwest Territories and Alaska; breeding over whole of United States (except Florida) and through central and western Mexico; in winter from southern Florida and southern Mexico through Central and South America to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, West. Indies. In Missouri a summer resident of general distribution, but no- where common. It is found in the state from early in April to the middle of October (earliest April 3, 1903, Currier, Keokuk; latest, October 14, 1905, Horse Shoe Lake, St. Charles Co.). The ranks of breeders fill up slowly and troops of transients have been noticed as late as the middle of May. The species is most numerous in fall migration, when large flocks gather in the marshes and roost in the reeds of lakes. As a breeder the Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 203 Barn Swallow is more common northward than southward, in the prairie region oftener than in the Ozarks and rare in the. southeast. *614. IRIDOPROCNE BICOLOR (Vieill.). Tree Swallow. Hirundo bicolor. Tachycineta bicolor. Hirundo viridis. Wood Swallow. White-bellied Swallow. White-belly. Geog. Dist.—North America, north to Newfoundland, Lab- rador, Ungava, Mackenzie and Alaska; breeding from Vir- ginia, Mississippi and Kansas, Colorado, Utah and California northward and wintering from the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts southward to Bahamas, Cuba and over Mexico to Guatemala. In Missouri a scarce summer resident in the bottoms of large rivers as far south as the southern border of Dunklin Co., but more commonly northward. The first arrive the middle of March and the last are with us till the end of October. Tran- sients are with us in small troops in spring from March 15 to May 15, and in large flocks of many thousands in the Missis- sippi bottom from the middle of September to the middle of October, after nearly all the other swallows are gone (October 28, 1885, Fayette, Howard Co.; October 31. 1899, Keokuk, Currier). *616. RIPARIA RIPARIA (Linn.). Bank Swallow. Hirundo riparia. Cotyle and Cotile riparia. Clivicola riparia. Sand Martin. Geog. Dist.—Northern Hemisphere; in America breeding from Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and northern Mexico north to the arctic region. In winter through Mexico, Central and South America to eastern Peru and Brazil, also West Indies. In Missouri chiefly along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, breeding in smaller or larger colonies, either directly over the water on the banks or over quarries, in railroad cuts, etc., on the bluffs sometimes a mile or more from the river. They are among the latest swallows to arrive at their breeding stands, seldom before the fourth week of April (earliest April 21, 1883 and 1887, St. Louis) and are generally not building in large num- bers before the fifth of May. Young and old collect in immense flocks in the river bottoms as early as July 1, scattering while 204 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louss. feeding and gathering at the roosts in the evening, some with the Cliff Swallows in the marsh, others with the Martins in the Willows. Migration seems to be well under way by the first of August, keeps up during the whole month and in early September, but the last are gone by the middle of the month, departing with their roost-fellows, the Martins and Cliff Swallows. *617. STELGIDOPTERIX SERRIPENNIS (Aud.). Rough-winged Swallow. Hirundo serripennis. Cotyle serripennis. Geog. Dist.—From Costa Rica to Connecticut, central Massa- chusetts, southeastern New York, Ontario, northern Indiana, southern Wisconsin, southern Minnesota, North Dakota, Mon- tana, British Columbia; breeds from Georgia, Louisiana, Texas and Vera Cruz northward and winters south of United States. In Missouri a fairly common, generaiiy distributed summer resident, never in large colonies like the Bank Swallows, but often in their colonies, or in single pairs or a few pairs near each other, scattered along creeks and rivers in all parts of the state, perhaps most. numerous in the Ozark and Ozark border region and the bluffs of the larger rivers. They are among the earliest of this family to arrive at their breeding stands, where the . first are seen in southern Missouri in the second week of March (March 10, 1902, Festus, Jefferson Co.), at St. Louis soon after the middle, and at the northern border before the end of the month. Like other swallows their ranks fill up slowly, and it is fully a month before all have returned to their wonted haunts about bridges, railroad cuts, ravines, old quarries, out buildings, etc., always, if possible, not far from water. Flocks are found in August from sixty toa hundred or more, adults and young, mostly the latter, resting together for hours on dead trees or brush on the banks of lakes or rivers, feeding together, keeping and moving together until the time for departure has come. From most of their haunts they are gone by the middle of Sep- tember, but not so from the Mississippi bottom in St. Charles Co. where they remain into October, even into the second week of the month, the last, a troop of one hundred, being still present October 13, 1905, at one of their places of rendezvous at Horse Shoe Lake, an old bed of the Cuivre River. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 205 Family AMPELIDAE. Waxwings etc. Subfamily Ampelinae. Waxwings. 618. AMPELIS GARRULUS Linn. Bohemian Waxwings. Bombycilla garrula. Bohemian Chatterer. Geog. Dist.—Northern parts of Northern Hemisphere, breed- ing in coniferous forests of the Boreal Life Zone; in winter irregularly southward; in America to Connecticut, Pennsyl- vania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, northern California; breeding from Fort Churchill in Kewatin and from Athabasca and western Alberta to Alaska. In Missouri a very rare winter visitant as far as known at present. One killed near New Haven, Franklin Co., in November, 1858, is in the collection of Dr. A. F. Eimbeck. Another was killed in Platte Co, by Mr. John A. Bryant of Kansas City. Mr. W. E. Praeger writes that two were shot out of a flock near Keokuk, December 27, 1896. Mr. Chas. K. Worthen writes that at Warsaw, IIl., specimens were taken and small flocks seen a number of times. The occurrence of the species is reported from a point near the mouth of the Ohio, Villa Ridge, Pulaski Co., Ill., where, December 18, 1879, Prof. 8. A. Forbes took a fine specimen; this is the most southern record in the Mississippi Valley. In Nebraska it has repeatedly been taken in different parts of the state between November 15 and March 1; also in Kansas and LIllinois, where a large flock was once found feeding on Juniper berries, March 16, 1876. *6§619. AMPELIS CEDRORUM (Vieill.). Cedar Waxwing. Ampelis americana. Bombycilla americana. Bombycilla carolinensis. Ce- darbird. Cherrybird. Geog. Dist.—North America, north to Prince Edward Island, Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia; breeding from Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona northward and wintering in whole of United States, south to Bahamas and through Mexico to Costa Rica. As a summer resident in the sense of breeder, its usual meaning, the Cedarbird is apparently rare in Missouri, although common during a large part of our long summers. The species is with us 206 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. in force when our early cherries are ripening until the middle of June, and as early as the middle of August, when the wild cherries and grapes are getting ripe, we meet them again in flocks, but this time with fully grown young, known by their streaked underparts. It is probable that all the young ones which we see in August are bred in the state, but there is no bird more secre- tive than the Cedarbird in breeding time. We never hear it, because it has nothing to say, being always alone, and, when we happen to see one, which is seldom, it seems in great haste to go to a place far away. It may nest in our own garden or orchard and we will not be the wiser until perchance one of the youngsters comes to our door, or, what has actually happened to the writer, into the house itself, before it can fly. That it used to nest in the city of St. Louis is attested by Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr., who found nests in Tower Grove Park in 1900 and in North St. Louis in 1891. Mr. C. W. Prier found a nest, July 16, 1903, in an orchard in Appleton City, and the species is given as a breeder in Lawrence Co., by Mr. H. Nehrling; in Warrensburg by Mr. A. F. Smithson; in Keokuk by Mr. Ki. 8. Currier. Orchards, cemeteries, city parks, and the shade trees in the immediate surroundings of houses in the country, seem to be the places where we have to look for their nests from the middle of June to the end of July. Though we may meet with flocks of Cedarbirds in any month of the year, there are certain times when we can count on seeing them with us regularly and in numbers. This is the time of the mulberries and first cherries in May, and of the abundance of wild fruit of many kinds, wild cherries, grapes, hackberries, smilax, etc., from the latter part of August to the middle of October. During the day they roam in search of food in troops of thirty or more and in the evening assemble in large numbers at a common roost, prefer- able the willows in the river bottoms. They are great wan- derers and, although withdrawing from the state during the coldest spells of winter, the first flocks are back again as soon as the weather moderates, be this in January, February or March, | Family LANIIDAE. Shrikes. 621. LANIUS BOREALIS Vieill. Northern Shrike. Lanius excubitor. Collyrio borealis. Collurio borealis. Butcherbird. Geog. Dist.—Northern North America, breeding from Labra- dor and Saskatchewan north to Alaska. In winter south Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 207 from the Maritime Provinces and Ontario to Virginia, Ken- tucky, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona and central Cali- fornia. In Missouri a rather common winter resident from the latter part of October to early March. Earliest dates at Keokuk, October 25, 1900; October 27, 1896 and 1901; October 31, 1897; latest, March 7, 1896 and 1897, March 9, 1902, and March 17, 1901; April 9, 1899. Earliest at St. Louis, November 2, 1906; latest from St. Joseph, April 7, 1896. Mr. Chas. L. Kimbeck has three fine specimens in his collection taken near New Haven, Mo., but there are at present no records available from the state south of St. Louis and Franklin Counties. *6§22e. LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS MIGRANS W. Palmer. Migrant Shrike. Collyrio excubitoroides. Collurio ludovicianus var. excubitoroides. Lanius ludovicianus. Northern Loggerhead Shrike. Geog. Dist.—Greater part of the United States east of the Great Plains, but very local in more eastern districts; breeding north to New Brunswick, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, northern New York, Quebec, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and southward to midland Virginia and western North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and eastern Kansas; in winter from Missouri, etc., southward to Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas. This new subspecies has lately been separated from typical ludovicianus, which occurs only in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, while the range of the western subspecies, excubitorides, the White-rumped Shrike, does not reach our state, terminating in central Kansas and eastern Nebraska. In Missouri, a fairly common summer resident on cultivated land, chiefly in the prairie and Ozark border region, scarce in the Ozarks and the southeast. In mild winters some remain at their breeding stands from the Missouri River southward, but the majority leave the state in October and do not return till the third week of March, when the first Shrikes are back at their stations in all parts of the state. Full numbers are present before the end of the month, when the old pairs have already begun building their nests, the species being among the earliest breeders, having fully fledged young in the fourth week of May. They make very amusing pets, being remarkably bright and the males somewhat musical. 208 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Family VIREONIDAE. Vireos. *6§24. VIREO OLIVACEUS (Linn.). Red-eyed Vireo. Muscicapa olivacea. Vireosylvia or Vireosylva olivacea. ‘‘The Preacher.”’ Geog. Dist.—North America, chiefly eastern, west to Utah, Washington and British Columbia; north to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Kewatin, Saskatchewan and southern Mackenzie; breeds from southern Florida and western Texas northward throughout all wooded regions. In winter through Mexico, Central and South America to Brazil, Bolivia and east- ern Peru. In Missouri the most evenly distributed woodland summer resident from April till October. It is equally at home in the overflowed region of the southeast as on the driest hilltops of the Ozarks and in the small wood-patch left on northern and western farm lands. It begins to sing soon after its arrival, which is in the southeast as early as April 10; at St. Louis and central Missouri generally between April 21 and 26, some- times even earlier as April 16, 1896, April 17, 1885; and along the northern border about the first of May. Its song is heard all spring and summer, even during the hottest hours, when most other birds are silent. After a silence of five or six weeks the song is taken up again before its departure and is heard as late as September 21, 1895, and September 24, 1887. The bulk of transients passes through early in May, and again about the middle of September. The species is scarce after September 25, but October records are not rare, October 1, 1895, being the last for Keokuk and October 10, 1885, for St. Louis. 626. VIREO PHILADELPHICUS (Cass.). Philadelphia Vireo. Vireosylva or Vireosylvia philadelphica. Brotherlylove Vireo. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Maine, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Athabasca; breeds along the northern border of the United States, but chiefly north of it, and migrates over the whole of the United States east of the © Plains (more sparingly east of Alleghanies) to Central America (no Mexican or West Indian records). With the exception of one, May 8, 1898, from Independence by Mr. Chas. Tindall, there are no records of the occurrence of this species in western Missouri. In eastern Missouri it is a Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 209 rather rare, but regular, transient visitant, especially frequent in the swampy southeast and along the shores of the Missis- sippi River from May 5 to 22. They seem sometimes to be quite at home here and give their song freely. The return move- ment in fall extends over a period of from three to four weeks, from the second week of September to the first of October. Earliest, September 9, 1887; latest, October 4, 1895, in Dunklin Co. Mr. E. S. Woodruff’s capture of a Philadelphia Vireo May 9, 1907, in Shannon Co., the heart of the Ozarks, proves that its transit through Missouri is not confined to the low land, where it has generally been observed, but takes place, as is the case with most other northern warblers, in a broad front, cov- ering most, if not all, of the state. Two were taken by Mr. Woodruff, May 17, and one male, May 24, 1907, at Grandin, Carter Co. *6§27. Vireo GiLvus (Vieill.). Warbling Vireo. Vireosylva or Vireosylvia gilva. Muscicapa gilva. Muscicapa melodia. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia, northern Ontario, Manitoba, west to North Dakota, southeast- ern Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas; breeding from Florida and Texas northward and wintering south of the United States, probably in Mexico. The typical species is replaced westward by the lately separated subspecies, V. gilvus swainsonti (Baird), which winters in Mexico. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident of general dis- tribution. Originally inhabiting the trees along rivers and lakes, it has now accommodated itself to the new conditions and likes to live in orchards, gardens and parks, even in the shade trees of big cities, where its song may be heard with a short pause in August during its entire stay from the middle of April till Sep- tember 20. It is one of the earliest species of the genus Vireo to arrive in spring, the earliest being April 6, 1893, and April 8, 1890. This is the usual time for its appearance in the southeast; at St. Louis the majority of records are between April 16 and 20; in cool springs a few days later. By the end of April the bulk is present all over the state, also transients, and the species is one of the most musical in the great bird concert of that lovely sea- son. Fall migration takes place in September, September 15, 1895, being the last date at Keokuk, and September 27, 1891, for St. Louis. 210 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. *628, VIREO FLAVIFRONS Vieill. Yellow-throated Vireo. Muscicapa sylvicola. Lanivireo flavifrons. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada, north to Maine, Vermont, northern New York, southern Ontario and Manitoba; west to the edge of the Plains; breeds from northern Florida and southern Texas northward and winters from southern Florida and Cuba south through eastern Mexico and Central America to Colombia. In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resi- dent in all wooded districts. It is the first of the Vireos to ar- rive in the state, having been heard as early as March 30, 1896, in the southeast. In the region of St. Louis it may be looked for between April 15 and 20 with much certainty; earliest date, April 13, 1887; latest, April 27. The return movement from more northern breeding grounds takes place in September, when it is for a while more conspicuous than ordinarily. Its song has been heard every day from September 1 to 9, and at intervals throughout the month—September 28, 1895, September 29, 1905, October 1, 1887, October 2, 1906. Last individuals are noted as late as October 11, 1887, and October 12, 1895, at St. Louis, and October 17, 1903, at Monteer, Shannon Co., by Mr. Savage, but the bulk of the species leaves us from about Sep- tember 22 to 25. 629. Vireo souirarius (Wils.). Blue-headed Vireo. Muscicapa solitaria. Lanivireo solitarius. Solitary Vireo. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; north to Prince Ed- ward Island, Keewatin, Athabasca, southern Mackenzie; west to border of Plains; breeds from southern New England, Penn- sylvania, Wisconsin and northern Dakota northward, and win- ters from the Gulf coast (Florida to Texas) southward to Cuba, eastern Mexico and Guatemala. In Missouri a regular and fairly common transient visitant, passing through rather late in both seasons. Earliest date at St. Louis is April 21, 1896, and April 22, 1879, but the majority of dates of ‘‘firsts”’ are between April 29 and May 5. Their stay with us lasts about two weeks, May 10 to May 16 being the dates for birds last seen (May 17, 1907, St. Louis). These dates seem to hold good also for the western part of the state (May 15, 1899, Independence, Tindall; May 7, 1874, Warrensburg, Scott). In fall their presence extends over a period of at least four Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 211 weeks from the middle of September to the middle of October. Earliest date for the state is September 4, 1902, Jasper, Savage; for St. Louis, September 16, 1887; latest, October 20, 1893. Their song is heard both in spring and fall, oftener in the latter, and mostly in October; earliest song, September 24, 1896; latest, October 20, 1893. *631. VIREO NOVEBORACENSIS (Gmel.). White-eyed Vireo. Muscicapa noveboracensis. Muscicapa cantatriz. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States; north to Massachusetts, New York (occasionally further north), to the Great Lakes, southern Wisconsin, southern Minnesota; west to eastern Ne- braska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas (except Rio Grande Val- ley); breeding from northern Florida and Texas northward, and wintering from the South Atlantic and Gulf States southward through eastern Mexico to Guatemala. In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resi- dent, rarer westward and most abundant in bottom land and along water courses throughout the different regions. In the southeast the first White-eyes return to their breeding grounds in the first week of April (April 2, 1896). In the vicinity of St, Louis the earliest date is April 11, 1896, but commonly the dates of “firsts” fall between April 14 and 18, exceptionally as late as April 24, and the bulk is always back in the last days of April in the western as well as the eastern part of central Missouri. (Independence, April 29, 1900; April 30, 1899, Tindall). At the northern border Mr. Currier’s dates at Keokuk vary between May 5, 1896, and May 12, 1898. The return movement south- ward takes place in the middle of September, when a decrease is noticeable after the species has been quite conspicuous as a songster during the first half of September. A few keep up sing- ing and are occasionally heard till the end of the month (Sep- tember 28, 1895, September 29, 1887). The last were noticed as late as October 14, 1885, but they are always scarce after September 26 to September 29, even in southern Missouri. *6§633,. VirEO BELLII Aud. Bell’s Vireo. Vireo belli. Geog. Dist.—Prairie districts of the Mississippi Valley, breed- ing from Tamaulipas through eastern Texas northward through 212 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Missouri and Kansas to northwestern Indiana, northern Illinois, southern Minnesota and South Dakota. Winters in Mexico. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in all prairie districts and the Ozark border east to St. Louis and northward, abundant at Keokuk (E. S. Currier). This is the last of the Vireos to arrive in spring. At St. Louis, and in central Missouri generally, the first may be expected between April 27 and 29, sometimes a day or two earlier, as April 26, 1882, and April 25, 1883. At Independence it was noted by Mr. Tindall April 27, 1900, and April 30, 1899. At Warrensburg May 5, 1874, by W. E. D. Scott. Audubon met with Bell’s Vireo May 6, 1848, in the region of St. Joseph. Its arrival is reported May 4, 1902, at Jasper by Mr. Savage, and May 5, 1885 and 1886, at Mt. Car- mel by Mrs. Musick. Mr. Currier’s dates vary between April 30, 1895, and May 9, 1899, at Keokuk. The bulk of the species does not come to St. Louis before the first week of May and a week later to Keokuk. It sings almost as long as it is with us, even through August. Last day of its song and presence at St. Louis is September 22, 1905, and this seems to be the time of departure from its breeding grounds generally. Last at St. Joseph, September 19, 1894, S. S. Wilson; at Jasper, September 16, 1901, and September 20, 1902; at Monteer, Shannon Co., September 5, 1903, W. G. Savage. Family Mnioriutipar. Wood Warblers. *6§36. MNIOTILTA VARIA (Linn.). Black and White Warbler. Certhia varia. Sylvia varia. Certhia maculata. Sylvicola varia. Mnio- tilta borealis. Mniotilta varia borealis. Black and White Creeping Warb- ler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to the upper Mac- kenzie Valley, Hudson Bay, Anticosti and Newfoundland; west to Alberta, central Nebraska, eastern Texas. Breeds from Vir- ginia, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas northward, and winters from the Gulf States southward throughout the West Indies, Mexico, Central America to Colombia and Venezuela. In Missouri a common transient visitant and a fairly common summer resident in all wooded regions, both in low and high - localities, on the islands in the swamps of the southeast, as well as throughout the valleys of the Ozarks and in the timber of the Ozark border and prairie region. This is one of the first Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 213 warblers to enter Missouri in the southeast. Its wiry notes were heard in Dunklin Co. as early as March 10, 1894. On March 24, 1896, they were common songsters in Butler Co., but the neigh- borhood of St. Louis is not reached before the second or third week of April, earliest April 7, 1882 (Harliest for Vernon Co., April 9, 1894; for Keokuk, April 26, 1902; for Shannon Co., April 10, 1904; for Mt. Carmel, April 18, 1885; for Warrensburg, April 13, 1874). During the latter part of April and first half of May, transients are present in all parts of the state.. Audubon met with the species at Fort Leavenworth May 4, 1848, and Dr. J. A. Allen at the same place about the same time in 1871. It is reported from St. Joseph May 4, 1895, by Mr. S. 8. Wilson. Fall migration takes place all through September, and the species is most common between the 10th and 20th; the last seen at St. Louis September 29, 1887 and 1905, but in Dunklin Co. some were present during the first week of October, 1895. *637. PROTONOTARIA CITREA (Bodd.). Prothonotary Warbler. Motacilla citrea. Sylvia protonotarius. Vermivora protonotarius. Helinaia protonotarius. Dacnis protonotaria. Sylvicola auricollis. Golden Swamp Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to Virginia, south- ern Ohio, Indiana, southern Michigan, northeastern Illinois, © southern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, eastern Nebraska. Breeds from northern Florida and the Gulf coast to eastern Texas northward, and winters in Cuba, and through eastern Mexico and Central America to Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad. In Missouri a common summer resident in the large river val- leys, chiefly that of the Mississippi, most abundant in the swamps of the southeast, less common in the valleys of the Ozarks, but occurring in every one, as well as in the western and northern prairie region (Reported common at Warrensburg, Independ- ence, and Vernon Co.). It is one of the first warblers to arrive in spring, its entrance into the peninsula being welcomed as early as the last day of March (1896). A few days later the fe- males join them and pairs are seen entering holes in the second week of April. To the central part of the state they do not come before the third or fourth week of April, and to the northern border about the first of May. The species withdraws from Mis- souri pretty early in fall. The last date for St. Louis is Septem- 214 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. ber 9, but there is a record from New Haven, September 24, 1903. At the end of the month none were found in the peninsula. *6§38. HELINAIA SWAINSONII Aud. Swainson’s Warbler. Sylvia swainsonii. Helonaea swainsoni. Helmitherus swainsoni. Geog. Dist.—Southeastern United States, north to Virginia, southwestern Indiana, southwestern Missouri and west to Texas. In winter to Cuba, Jamaica and Central America to Panama. In Missouri thus far only found as a summer resident on the so-called islands in the St. Francis basin in Dunklin Co., but re- search will probably reveal its occurrence as a not rare summer resident throughout the swampy portions of the southeast, par- ticularly in the section east of Little River, where large cane- brakes occur along our southern state line. Vol 12 of the Auk for 1895 contains an announcement of its discovery in the state under the title: ‘‘Swainson’s Warbler an Inhabitant of the Swampy Woods of Southeastern Missouri,’ by O. Widmann (pages 112-117). *639. HELMITHERUS VERMIVORUS (Gmel.). Worm-eating Warb- ler. Sylvia vermivora. \Dacnis vermivora. Helinaia vermivora. Helmintherus vermivorus. Helminthotherus vermivorus. Vermivora pennsylvanica. Worm-eating Swamp Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to southern Con- necticut, southeastern New York, Pennsylvania, southern Wis- consin, southeastern Nebraska; breeds throughout its United States range and winters in the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Mex- ico, Yucatan, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama. In Missouri a fairly common, and, with the exception of the swampy southeast, a generally distributed summer resident, rarer north and westward, most common in the bluff regions of the southern part of the state, being partial to wooded hilly ground near running water. Mr. Nehrling considered it a rare breeder in Lawrence Co.; Mr. Scott found it rare at Warrensburg in 1874; Mr. Currier also calls it rare at Keokuk. Mr. Parker found it breeding in Montgomery Co., and we have reports of its occurrence at Boonville by Dr. Hoy, April 22, 1854; at Mt. Carmel by Mrs. Musick, May 20, 1885; at Iberia, Miller Co., April 28, 1902. Mr. B. T. Gault found it to be a common Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 215 breeder in Reynolds Co, in 1892, and Mr. E. 8. Woodruff found it common in Shannon Co., and met with it in Carter Co., May 30, 1907. It begins to arrive on its breeding ground April 20, . and full numbers are present the first of May. It leaves us early in September, the latest record for St. Louis, September 20, 1890. *6§640. HeLMINTHOPHILA BACHMANIT Aud. Bachman’s Warbler. Sylvia bachmani. Helinaia bachmanii. Helminthophaga bachmant. Geog. Dist.—Southern United States; on the Atlantic coast to Virginia; in the Mississippi Valley to southeastern Missouri, Kentucky, northeastern Arkansas; formerly to southern Indiana. To Bahamas in migration. Winters in Cuba. In Missouri found to be a fairly common summer resident on the islands in the St. Francis basin, where nests with eggs were found on Culp Island, May 17, 1897, and May 14, 1898. The occurrence of the species in Missouri was discovered May 7, 1896, and reported in Auk, vol. 18, p. 264. The discovery of the first nest ever found was described in an article titled: “The Summer Home of the Bachman’s Warbler no longer un- known,” by O. Widmann, Auk, vol. 14, 1897, pages 305-310. Nest and eggs (3) were presented to the Bendire Collection of Eggs in the National Museum at Washington, The finding of a second nest with three eggs on the same island was announced in Osprey, vol. 3, page 13; it is in the Parker Norris collection at Philadelphia. The species arrives on its breeding grounds about the middle of April; males in full song were present April 17, 1898, in Dunklin Co. The range in Missouri has been ex- tended since the above was written by Mr. E. Seymour Wood- ruff’s capture of a male on May 2, 1907, near Ink, Shannon Co., in some low bushes in the dry bed (its normal state) of Spring Valley and again by his finding a Bachman’s Warbler near Grandin, Carter Co., May 23, 1907. Of this he kindly wrote me the following: ‘‘This time it was in what I consider a more suitable location—a dense tangle near the bank of a stream. I heard a song which I recognized at once as a Bachman’s though I only had heard it that once up in Shannon Co, It took me some little time before I could lay my eyes on him, for he was fearfully shy and moved about rapidly. I did not attempt to secure him to confirm identification until I had spent over two hours there in hopes that I might find the nest, but 216 | Trans. Acad. Sei. of St. Louis. finally shot him for fear I might not find him on a second visit. I am positive I heard another male at the same time.”’ *641. HeELMINTHOPHILA PINUS (Linn.). Blue-winged Warbler. Certhia pinus. Helminthophaga pinus. Sylvia solitaria. Vermivora soli- taria. Helinaia solitaria. Blue-winged Yellow Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to southern Con- necticut, southeastern New York, Pennsylvania, northern Ohio, northern Indiana and Illinois, southern Wisconsin, eastern Nebraska. In winter through eastern Mexico to Guatemala, Nicaragua and Colombia. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident of general distribution, but like other ground-builders disappearing from districts where the only remaining woodland is used as pasture for hogs, which either drive the birds from their breeding grounds or destroy the eggs or young in the nest. Audubon met with the species at Fort Leavenworth, May 4, 1843, and Dr. J. A. Allen at the same locality in May, 1874; Dr. Hoy found it at Boonville, April 22, 1854, and common at Chillicothe, May 16, 1854. It is an inhabitant of the valleys of the Ozarks and of the drier parts of the southeast, but the bluff region of the rivers and the Ozark border region seem to be territory most fre- quented. The species is the earliest of the genus to come to us in spring, appearing at our southern boundary, April 3, 1896; | at St. Louis and central Missouri generally, April 20; earliest at St. Louis, April 17, 1883; at our northern border, April 30 to May 5, when the bulk has reached the rest of the state. It leaves us early in fall; the last seen at St. Louis is September 6 to sa acne 10, (1901). 641.1. HeLMINTHOPHILA LEUCOBRONCHIALIS (Brewster). Brew- ster’s Warbler. : Helminthophaga leucobronchialis. Geog. Dist.—Southern New England, New York, New Jersey, | Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Louisiana, Michigan. For the introduction of this interesting bird into our list I am indebted to Mr. Edward Seymour Woodruff, who has fur- nished among the many valuable notes made during his two months sojourn in Shannon Co., in the spring of 1907, the Brewster’s Warbler, a record new to the state. In a letter dated May 18, 1907, he writes: ‘It is an absolutely typical specimen, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 217 for there is not even a suggestion of a yellow tinge on the breast —pure white from bill to tail, and wingbands broadly yellow. I secured him on May 12; was attracted to it by its song, which, though similar in character to that of the Blue-wing, was weaker and varied—most noticeably different.” 642. HELMINTHOPHILA CHRYSOPTERA (Linn.). Golden-winged Warbler. Motacilla chrysoptera. Sylvia chrysoptera. Vermivora chrysoptera. Heli- naia chrysoptera. Helminthophaga chrysoptera. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to Massachusetts, southwestern Ontario, northern Michigan, :central Wisconsin, southern Minnesota; breeding from South Carolina in the mountains, and from northern New Jersey, northern Indiana, Illinois, eastern Nebraska northward and wintering in the mountains of Central and South America from Nicaragua to Colombia. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant in the vicinity of St. Louis, the bluffs of the Mississippi being the only locality where the species has been found of regular occurrence in the state. Mr. E. S. Currier considers the Golden-winged War- bler a common transient at Keokuk and there is a record of its occurrence in Shannon Co., April 25, 1905, by Mr. W. G. Savage. The only record from western Missouri is by Mr. H. Nehrling, who met with it in Lawrence Co., April 25, 1884. Mrs. Musick reported the species as a summer resident at Mt. Carmel, Audrain Co., in 1884, and it is very likely that it breeds sparingly in northeastern Missouri. Mr. Currier took a set of eggs in Lee Co., Ia., just across the state line, and Mr. O. C. Poling of Quincy found it nesting in the Mississippi bottom. In eastern Illinois it was once found breeding in the latitude of St. Louis, 38° 38’, in Richland Co. Singing males have been noted at St. Louis as early as April 26, 27 and 28, but the bulk passes through during the first half of May; last seen, May 22. At Keokuk they were observed once as early as April 22, 1894. They begin to withdraw from the breeding grounds early in August and pass through Missouri in the latter part of August and early in September, but do not stop over long and are therefore easily overlooked. Latest date at St. Louis, September 15, 1905; males in full plumage. 218 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 645. HELMINTHOPHILA RUBRICAPILLA (Wils.). Nashville War- bler, Sylvia ruficapilla. Helminthophaga ruficapilla. Helminthophila rufica- pilla. Sylvia rubricapilla. Vermivora rubricapilla. Helinaia rubrica- pila. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba; breeds from southern New England, northern Michigan, northern Illinois, eastern Nebraska, northward. Winters in eastern Mexico; south to Guatemala. In eastern Missouri one of our most regular and common transient visitants, spring and fall; also common in the north- western part of the state, but rare in southwest Missouri. The species is rare in Kansas, but common in the Missouri River region of eastern Nebraska. Dr. J. A. Allen found it common at Fort Leavenworth, where it had also been observed by Audubon, May 4, 1843. It is reported from St. Joseph, where Mr. 8. S. Wilson took a female September 28, 1895, and from Independence, October 5, 1889, by Mr. Chas. Tindall. Scott gives it as rare May 7, 1874, at Warrensburg, where Mr. Smithson found a young bird dead in the street in the middle of August, 1906. There is a possibility of its breeding in the northwest corner of Missouri as it has been found breeding along the eastern edge of Nebraska. East of Missouri its nesting in the latitude of our northern border is reported from Fulton Co., Ill., by Mr. Philo W. Smith Jr. of St. Louis. The first transients appear in eastern Missouri between April 23 and 29, exceptionally ear- lier or later (April 20, 1885, May 2, 1883). They are most abun- dant during the first decade of May, the last being seen between May 15 and 22. On their return in the fall the first have been seen as early as September 5, 1897, but usually not before September 14 or 15; they are quite common from September 20 to October 5, and the last do not leave us before October 12, exceptionally as late as October 20, 1893. 646. HELMINTHOPHILA CELATA (Say), Orange-crowned Warbler. Sylvia celata. Vermivoracelata. Helinaiacelata. Helminthophaga celata. Geog, Dist.—Eastern North America, north to the Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers; west in Canada to the interior of British Columbia and southward in the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico; breeding in the Rocky Mountains and from Manitoba Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 219 northward; migrating over Mississippi Valley and Gulf States to South Carolina, Georgia and Florida; rare east of Alleghanies north of Virginia. Winters in southern United States, but chiefly in northeastern Mexico. In western Missouri a regular and common transient visitant. It is reported so by Dr. Allen, who met with it in May, 1871, at Fort Leavenworth; by W. E. D. Scott who found it next to H. pinus, the most common of the genus, April 27 to May 15, 1874, at Warrensburg. Mr. Chas. W. Tindall reports it as common at Independence, April 29, 1898, and April 30, 1899. Mr. H. Nehrling’s record of April 19, 1884, is the earliest date for spring arrival in Missouri. The occurrence of the species in eastern Missouri is less regular both in time and numbers. Quite common in some seasons as early as April 20 and 22, in others it is not seen before the 28 or 29. May 10 is the latest at St. Louis; in most years not seen after May 5. Its presence in fall extends over a period of seven weeks from September 9 to October 26, but it is never numerous at any time. Neither Mr. Currier nor Mr. Praeger met with the species at Keokuk, but Mr. Chas. K. Worthen mentions it in his list of the birds of Warsaw, III. 647. HELMINTHOPHILA PEREGRINA (Wils.). Tennessee Warbler, Sylvia peregrina. Vermivora peregrina. Helinaia peregrina. Helmintho- phaga peregrina. Sylvicola missouriensis. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Hudson Bay, Slave Lake and Alaska; breeds from northern New York, northern New England, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, eastern Colorado northward and migrates chiefly through Mississippi Valley and Atlantic side of Mexico and Central America to northern South America. In Missouri by far the commonest species of its genus and the most regular in migration; it outnumbers all other Helmin- thophilae put together and occurs in the west as well as in the east; in the southeast and the Ozarks as often as in the flood plains and the prairie region. At St. Louis it makes its first appearance between April 25 and 28, rarely a day earlier or later. It is in greatest abundance between April 30 and May 11, when it may be heard or seen most anywhere. After the middle of May it is scarce except in cold Mays, when it remains longer, as late as May 22 and 24, once even to May 29 and in 220 Trans. Acad, Sci. of St. Louis. the remarkable late spring of 1907 to June 3. Its fall migration reaches us the middle of September, becomes brisk about Octo- ber 1 and continues to the middle of the month, latest date being October 20. 648.a. COMPSOTHLYPIS AMERICANA USNEAE Brewster. North- ern Parula Warbler. Sylvia americana. Sylvicola americana. Parula americana. Blue Yellow- back. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and British Provinces; breeding from the interior districts of Virginia and Maryland northward to Maine, Anticosti, New Brunswick and northern Ontario. *648.b. COMPSOTHLYPIS AMERICANA RAMALINAE Ridew. Western Parula Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Mississippi Valley, north to southern Michigan, across Wisconsin to Minnesota; west to eastern Nebraska and through Kansas, Indian Territory and Texas. These sub- species have lately been separated from the typical americana, which breeds locally in the Gulf States from Alabama to Florida and along the Atlantic slope to District of Columbia, probably to New Jersey and New York. Since the differences in the winter plumage are so slight that nobody can tell the three subspecies apart with certainty, their winter home can only be given for all of them together. They have a wide range throughout the West Indies, and through eastern Mexico to Nicaragua. Our Missouri bird, which was until 1897 simply americana and then. segregated as usneae, must now be referred to the new subspecies ramalinae, but it is possible that the northern subspecies usneae visits the state in transit from and to Mexico. Observers should be on the look-out for it during migration time. The Parula or Blue Yellow-back is one of the first war- blers to appear at its breeding stations; it is a fairly common and generally distributed summer resident in the overflow of the peninsula as well as in the valleys of the Ozarks and along the water-courses everywhere, though less and less common as we go northwestward in the prairie region. It reaches Mis- souri in the southeast in the last week of March (Poplar Bluff, March 28, 1896). Earliest date for St. Louis is April 10, 1887, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 221 and April 11, 1896, but ordinarily it has not been noticed before April 13 to 17. About April 20 it is generally pretty numerous and the height of the season for transients is the first week of May. During its southward flight in September the species . is again often seen and sometimes heard to sing, especially in the second and third week of the month. The last ones are seen in the vicinity of St. Louis, September 24 to 26, excep- tionally later, October 2, 1906, and in Dunklin Co., October 4. Though a fairly common breeder in Missouri it is still much of a mystery where it places its nest. The only one found by the writer (June 8, 1885) was built inside of a bunch of rubbish which during a freshet in the Mera- mee River had kept sticking to a long hanging twig of a birch. This nest is described in Auk, vol. 2, p. 377; but such a place can only be an exceptional nesting-site, and it still remains to be shown where it usually builds its nest, as we have no hanging lichens used for this purpose in other parts of the country. 650. DENDROICA TIGRINA (Gmel.). Cape May Warbler. Motacilla tigrina. Dendroeca tigrina. Perisoglossa tigrina.: Sylvia mari- tima. Sylvicola maritima. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to the Maritime _ Provinces, southern shores of Hudson Bay, Manitoba and As- siniboia. Breeds from northern New England, northern Minne- sota and Michigan northward and winters in the West Indies and Yucatan. : In Missouri a rather rare transient visitant in the vicinity of St. Louis, where its presence in small numbers can be expected early in May, oftenest May 2 or 3, latest May 10, 1887, and May 12, 1885 (May 16 and 17 to May 28, 1907) either among other warblers or in little troops by itself. In fall migration dates of occurrence are more scattered, beginning with August 24, 1887, and ending September 26, 1897. The only record for the state outside of St. Louis Co. is from Pierce City, Lawrence Co., where Mr. H. Nehrling found the species April 27, 1884. Since the above was written another record has been added through Mr. E. S. Woodruff’s excellent work in Shannon Co., where he took examples of this species, May 10 and 15, 1907. 222 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. *6§52. DENDROICA AESTIVA (Gmel.). Yellow Warbler. Motacilla aestiva. Sylvia aestiva. Sylvicola aesitva. Sylvia citrinella. Sylvia childrenii. Sylvia rathbonia. Sylvia trochilus. Wild Canary, Yellowbird. Blue-eyed Warbler. Geog. Dist.—North America in general (except Alaska and northern Pacific coast where subspecies, rubiginosa, and south- western United States where subspecies, sonorana). Breeds nearly throughout its range except Florida and southern Georgia. Winters in Central and South America going as far south as 7° 8. in western Peru. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in all settled districts, but not in the forest or far away from water; other- wise of general distribution in all regions. The third week of April is the time for the arrival of the first Yellow Warblers in the vicinity of St. Louis; in more southern parts a few days earlier (April 18, 1893, at Hornersville), in the northern from five to ten days later, but on the whole there is a great regularity in their appearance. As with most other birds the first comers are old males in full song, followed a few days later by their mates. Numerous transients are present during the last days of April and the first half of May when the species is one of the most conspicuous songsters about our country homes. Its song is heard until the middle of July, when the species disap- pears from the breeding ground, apparently retiring southward, but at the border of lakes and rivers we sometimes meet a few transients during August, very rarely in September. Latest record, September 17, 1885, Mt. Carmel, Mrs. Musick. 654. DENDROICA CAERULESCENS (Gmel.). Black-throated Blue Warbler. Sylvia canadensis. Sylvicola canadensis. Dendroeca canadensis. Sylvia caerulescens. Sylvia pusilla. Sylvia leucoptera. Vireo sphagnosa. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, breeding from north- eastern Connecticut, mountains of Pennsylvania, northern On- tario, southern Michigan, and Minnesota northward to New- foundland, Labrador and shores of Hudson Bay. During mi- gration westward to base of Rocky Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico. Winters in the West Indies and northern South America. In Missouri a rare transient visitant, less so in the east than in the west, where records are very few. Dr. Hoy mentions it in Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 223 his list of birds of western Missouri and Mr. H. Nehrling found it at Pierce City, May 2, 1884. There is a single record from Iberia, Miller Co., but no other observer in Missouri reported it to the Department of Agriculture, and neither Mr. Currier nor Mr. Praeger met with it near Keokuk, nor has it ever been observed in the southeast. The only location where it has been found oftener is the immediate vicinity of St. Louis, and there, too, its occurrence is irregular. The earliest date for the state is April 27, 1904, Iberia, and for St. Louis, April 30, 1885; the last in spring, May 9, 1887. The earliest in fall, September 1, 1887, an adult male, and the last, September 24, 1879, also an adult male. 655. DENDROICA CORONATA (Linn.). Myrtle Warbler. . Sylvia coronata. Sylvicola coronata. Yellow-rumped Warbler. Yellow- rump. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to limit of tree- growth from Newfoundland and southern Labrador to western Alaska. Breeds from western Massachusetts and northern New York, northern peninsula of Michigan, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta northward. Winters from southern New England, Ohio and lower Missouri Valleys southward to West Indies and through Mexico and Central America to Panama. In Missouri a very common transient visitant in all parts of the state, and a fairly common winter visitant in the heavily wooded southeast, less regularly northward to the Missouri River. Their presence in winter depends largely on the abun- dance of drupes of Poison Ivy, of which they are very fond and in search of which they roam about. If there is enough of this berry-like fruit, Yellow-rumps may be found in considerable numbers in St. Louis Co. throughout December, but their ranks are always thinned very much in January when our coldest weather comes, though a few sometimes brave the rigor of our hard winters successfully. They also like to eat the berries of the Red Cedar, and Dr. Eimbeck tells me that the Cedars in his place at New Haven, Franklin Co., are a great attraction for wintering Yellow-rumps. Being the hardiest of all Warblers and the earliest to push northward, small numbers appear in places where they have not wintered, even north of the Missouri River, as early as the second or third week in March, but real migration does not set in before the first of April and in back- ward springs as late as the 9th and 12th of that month. At yt ae Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. our northern border where the first arrive about the 12th or 14th of April the species has in some years not been noted before the 25th (1897, 1901, at Keokuk). The bulk, the great army, spreads over most of the state during the second and third week of April and remains to the end of the fourth week. The dura- tion of their stay with us varies greatly; in some years they pass through rapidly, in others they remain conspicuously abundant for a longer time. In 1878 the last Yellow-rump was noted at St. Louis, April 29; in 1886, May 18; in 1907, May 21; but usually between May 6 and 12. The wave of south- bound Yellow-rumps reaches the northern border of Missouri in the latter part of September, the earliest at Keokuk being September 11, 1894, and September 12, 1899, the bulk about October 1. St. Louis is seldom reached before October first, and then only by small numbers. Earliest at St. Louis, Sep- tember 17, 1897, and September 23, 1896. The first cross the southern border line about October 10. The bulk is somewhat irregular in its transit through the state, some years, following the first within a few days, early in October, in others not before the second and third week of the month. In northern Missouri migration is over from the middle to the last of October (October 14, 1896; October 26, 1897); in central Missouri it continues to the first, sometimes the second week in November (Mt. Carmel, November 3, 1884; November 11, 1885). In the neighborhood of St. Louis where they may be regarded as irregular winter visitants, all are gone in some years before the middle of No- vember (November 7, 1882; November 11, 1885). The ex- ceptional occurrence of a singing male Yellow-rump in summer (June 21, 1897) in St. Louis Co. is reported by the writer in ‘The Osprey,” vol. 2, No. 3, page 40. 657. DENDROICA MACULOSA (Gmel.). Magnolia Warbler. Motacilla maculosa. Sylvia maculosa. Sylvicola maculosa. Sylvia mag- nolia. Black and Yellow Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, Anticosti, Magdalen Islands, southern shores of Hudson Bay Great Slave Lake and Mackenzie River; west to British Columbia and eastern base of Rocky Mountains. Breeds from Massa- chusetts, mountains of Pennsylvania, northern part of lower Michigan, northern Minnesota and northern Manitoba and Assiniboia northward. Winters from eastern Mexico to Panama. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 225 In Missouri one of the most common and the most regular of transient Warblers in the eastern part of the state, but be- coming scarcer and scarcer as we go westward. Dr. Hoy mentions it in his list of birds of western Missouri. W. E. D. Scott met with it once, May 18, 1874, at Warrensburg, and Mr. H. Nehrling, May 2, 1884, at Pierce City. These are all the records we have from western Missouri. Its appearance at St. Louis may be looked for with confidence between May 3 and May 5, very seldom earlier (May 1, 1904) and delays of a few days are equally rare. The bulk is present during the second week of May. After the 16th the species becomes scarce and disappears entirely if the weather is hot. In cool Mays it has been known to linger a week (May 22, 1885) and even two weeks longer (May 29, June 3, 1907). It is one of the most abundant migrants in the southeast, where it remains as late as in the cen- tral and northern parts. On its return in fall the first reaches St. Louis early in September (September 5, 1887, September 5, 1897), but the bulk is present between September 17 and 27, and the last leave us soon afterward, deserting even the heavily wooded southeast by October 10 (Last for St. Louis, October 5, 1906). #658. DENDROICA CERULEA Wilson. Cerulean Warbler. Sylvia cerulea. Sylvicola coerulea or caerulea. Dendroeca caerulea or coerulea. Sylvia rara. Dendroica rara. Sylvia azurea. Blue Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Ontario; rare east of Allgehanies. Breeds from the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee, northern Alabama and Louisiana north to southern Michigan and Minnesota, west to eastern Nebraska, Kansas and the Indian Territory. Winters from Panama to Peru. In Missouri a common summer resident in high trees of bottom land along water-courses in all parts of the state, but disappear- ing with the trees, not accepting the conditions imposed by civilization. It may be found in orchards and like places during migration, but for its nests it wants high trees near water, build- ing far out on horizontal or drooping branches, much to the disgust of the egg collector. The species is especially numerous in the southeast, where it arrives as early as April 10, 1893. The magnificent forests in the flood plains of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers afford homes for a large number of these diligent songsters. Audubon met with them at the mouth of Grand River, April 30, 1843, and again at Leavenworth, May 4, 226 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. 1843. At the latter place the species was found common by Dr. J. A. Allen in May 1871, and Dr. Hoy includes it in his list of western Missouri birds. At St. Louis it is seldom found before the middle of April (April 12, 1887), but generally in the third week, i. e., between the 15th and the 22nd. The bulk, including the females, has come before the end of the month. After the breeding season is over Blue Warblers become scarce, apparently leaving their breeding grounds, but in Dunklin Co. individuals have been found through September (September 28, 1897), and an exceptionally late date is reported from New Haven, September 25, 1903, by Dr. Eimbeck. *659. DENDROICA PENSYLVANICA (Linn.). Chestnut-sided War- i; bler. if Sylvia pensylvanica. Sylvia icterocephala. Sylvicola icterocephala. Yellow- crowned Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada, ‘north to Nova Scotia, northern Ontario and Manitoba; west to eastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas. Breeds from the Alle- ghany Mountains in South Carolina, from New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania, Ohio, central Illinois, southern Missouri and eastern Kansas northward and winters from Guatemala to Panama. — In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant, less common westward, where it was taken by Audubon, May 4, 1843, and by Dr. J. A. Allen, May 1871, near Fort Leavenworth. Dr. Hoy has it in his list, also Mr. Chas. W. Tindall of Independence. Mr. S. S. Wilson gives it as rare at St. Joseph, where he took a male, August 28, 1894. W.E. D. Scott has it as rare at Warrens- burg, where he first noted it May 7, 1874. Though usually fairly common in eastern Missouri it is somewhat irregular in arriving; in some years the first are seen in the last week of April (earliest April 23, 1885, and April 25, 1886, at Mt. Carmel; April 26, 27 and 29, St. Louis); in other years not before the second week in May (May 11, 1886), but most of the dates col- lected at St. Louis as well as in the state generally are in the first week of May. In favorable weather transients pass rapidly through and disappear soon after the middle of May, but in cool weather they have lingered through the third into the fourth week (May 28, 1882; May 24, 1883; June 3, 1907). In fall the species is one of the first migrants to return from farther north, having been met with as early as August 24, 1896, and Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missouri. 227 August 28, 1901, but the early part of September is the regular time for its reappearance, the bulk passing through between the 15th and 26th. None have been observed after the first of October. Beside being a transient the Chestnut-sided War- bler has repeatedly been found breeding in eastern Missouri in places grown with hazel, blackberry andscrub-oak. Nests with eggs have been found by the writer and by Mr. Philo W. Smith, Jr., in the outskirts of St. Louis City and in St. Louis Co. Mr. B. T. Gault saw a pair June 19, 1892, near Munger in Iron Co. undoubtedly on their breeding grounds. Mrs. M. Musick reported the species as a common summer resident at Mt. Carmel in Audrain Co., and Mr. E. S. Currier found it breeding near Keokuk. 660. DENDROICA CASTANEA (Wils.). Bay-breasted Warbler. Sylvia castanea. Sylvicola castanea. Sylvia autumnalis. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, Hudson Bay and Manitoba. Breeds from northern New Eng- land, New York, southern Ontario, northern Michigan north- ward. Winters in Panama and Colombia. In eastern Missouri a not common but regular transient visitant in spring and fall, chiefly in the flood plain and the bluff region of the Mississippi River, but also in the southeast and in the Ozarks as far west as Shannon Co. (Monteer, May 3, 1904, Savage) and Carter Co. (Grandin, May 16, and 17, 1907, Woodruff). The only record from western Missouri is that of Dr. P. R. Hoy in May 1854. Its presence in spring occurs be- tween May 3 and 23, chiefly between May 5 and 15 in the region of St. Louis (May 16 to June 2, 1907). Being mostly silent and keeping in the densely-leafed trees it is easily overlooked, a fact which, together with its rapid passage, makes the species appear rarer than it really is. In fall its occurrence has been noted from September 4 to October 5 (1905 and 1906). Even its song has been heard as late as September 26, 1897. They are generally in company with other warblers, but sometimes in family groups by themselves, the adults in full spring dress. 661. Denproica striata (Forst.). Black-poll Warbler. Sylvia striata. Sylvicola striata. Geog. Dist.—Eastern and northern North America, north to Newfoundland, to the limit of tree growth in Labrador, the 228 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Hudson Bay region and northwest to Alaska. Breeds from northern New England and New York, northern Michigan and Manitoba northward, also near Manitou, Colo., and in Montana and probably Wyoming. Winters in northern South America, east to French Guiana and Para, west to Ecuador; south as far as Rio Negro in Brazil. Migrates by way of Bahamas and West Indies; no record from Mexico and Central America. In Missouri one of the most regular and most numerous tran- sient warblers in spring, less common in fall, when easily over- looked, because silent, plainly garbed and slow in its movements. St. Louis can expect to greet the first Black-poll April 29, and judging from reports from Kansas City (April 28, 1904) and from Independence (April 27, 1900), the army of north-going Black- polls begins to invade the southern part of the state generally the last days of April. ‘They become more numerous after the first of May and the bulk is present during the second, in northern Missouri, during the third week in May. They are much oftener heard than seen, uttering a peculiarly grating song, while creep- ing along branches in the highest trees. Their song is heard during the first half of May almost everywhere, wherever there are trees. By the middle of May the singing males have usually passed on and silent females only are met with. In cool weather the departure is delayed and Black-polls have been noted at St. Louis as late as May 29, 1882, and at Keokuk, June 2, 1901, but they are always rare after May 20, except in the cold spring of 1907, when unusually abundant at St. Louis from May 10 to June 6. In fall their passage through Missouri takes place in September, chiefly the latter part, and during the first week of October, when on some days they occur in regular flocks. 662. DENDROICA BLACKBURNIAE (Gmel.). Blackburnian War- bler. Sylvia blackburniae. Sylvicola blackburniae. Sylvia parus. Sylvicola parus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Maine, Nova Scotia, southern shores of Hudson Bay, northern Ontario, Mani- toba, west to edge of Great Plains. Breeds from southern Alleghanies, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and northern Minnesota northward. Winters chiefly in South America from Colombia to Peru. In Missouri generally a rather rare transient visitant, but found in all parts of the state, though more frequently eastward. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog oj the Birds of Missouri. 229 It is reported from western Missouri by Dr. Hoy in 1854 and by Dr. J. A. Allen, who found it at Leavenworth, May 4, 1871; Mr. H. Nehrling observed it at Pierce City in 1884 and 1885 and there is a record from Kansas City. The first reach the southern part of Missouri in the last week of April (April 28, 1905, Mon- teer, Shannon Co.); southwestern and central Missouri, early in May (May 2, 1884, Pierce City: May 4, St. Louis). The second week of May is the time when it is most numerous in the neigh- borhood of St. Louis, where the last is seen about May 17, but there is one exceptionally late record of its presence in the state from Kansas City, May 30, 1904. In fall migration it is, like others of its tribe, oftenest found in the river bottoms and does not seem to be in such haste as in spring, the same individuals being observed at the same place several days in succession. The first appear as early as September 1 (1897) and the last was noted as late as October 2, 1896, and October 5, 1905, but they -are to be found most certainly between September 8th and 26th. Mr. E. 8. Woodruff found one in Shannon Co., May 13, and several in Carter Co., May 16 and 17, 1907. Migration of Warblers being abnormally late in conformity with the extra- ordinary lateness of spring in 1907, the first Blackburnian was seen at St. Louis, May 14 and the last, May 22. *663a. DENDROICA DOMINICA ALBILORA Ridg. Sycamore Warbler. Sylvia pensilis. Sylvicola pensilis. Dendroica superciliosa. D. dominica. Geog. Dist.—Mississippi Valley, north to northeastern Nebras- ka, southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan, Ohio, West Vir- ginia; southward to Louisiana and eastern Texas. Breeding throughout this range, bounded on the east by the Alleghanies, comprising an area about 800 miles long by 600 miles wide, having its centre of distribution in the lower Ohio Valley. In winter to southern Mexico and Central America. Nowhere really common, the Sycamore Warbler is fairly well distributed through a large portion of southern Missouri from St. Charles and Montgomery Counties southwestward to Newton and McDonald Counties in the southwest corner of the state. It inhabits the high trees of river banks from the Mississippi River westward throughout the Ozark and Ozark border region; is most common in the cypress swamps of the southeast, but apparently absent from the prairie region. On the southern slope of the Ozarks it has been found inhabiting the pines on 230 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. the hilltops as well as the sycamores in the bottoms. In the southeast its nests are built in cypress trees (T’axodiuwm). Near the southern boundary its arrival has been noted as early as March 21, 1894, when males were already in full song near Hor- nersville. In Shannon Co., Mr. Woodruff heard it for the first time March 28, 1907. In the vicinity of St. Louis the appear- ance of the first singing males varies according to the weather from April 4 to 13, but by the 25th they are always in full numbers and conspicuous songsters. About the first of September they begin to wander about and old and young are met with in places not usually visited. Dates of “lasts” vary greatly from September 2, 1887, to October 11, 1885, the latest for St. Louis. 667. DENDROICA VIRENS (Gmel.). Black-throated Green War- bler. Sylvia virens. Sylvicola virens. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, islands of Gulf of St. Lawrence, southern shores of Hudson Bay, southwestern Athabasca and northern Alberta; west to the Plains. Breeds from the higher mountains in South Carolina, southern New England, northern New York, Michigan, Wis- consin, Minnesota northward. Winters from Mexico to Panama. In Missouri one of our commonest and most generally distrib- uted transient visitants in spring and fall, less common in the north-western portion of the state and the prairie region gener- ally. Dr. Hoy listed it among his birds of western Missouri and W. E. D. Scott found it May 7, 1874, at Warrensburg. Mr. H. Nehrling reports it from Pierce City, May 2, 1884, and Mr. W. Savage from Jasper, May 1, 1903. In the southeastern corner of Missouri the writer found it as early as April 16, 1898, but at St. Louis the firsts are noted between April 26 and May 1. In Shannon Co. where Mr. Savage found it to be tolerably common, the first was seen at Monteer, April 24, 1904; at Keo- kuk, April 80, 1895, is the earliest date reported by Mr. Currier. At St. Louis the bulk is present from between May 5 to 13 and the last has left before May 20 (May 22, 1907). The last at Monteer is May 10, 1904, in Carter Co., May 17, 1907, and at Keokuk, May 24, 1895. W.E. D. Scott found it as late as the middle of June, 1874, suggesting the possibility of breeding. Fall migration begins in the latter part of August and lasts through September to the second week of October at St. Louis Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missourt. 231 and the end of the third week in the southeast; the majority pass through between September 8 and October 6. 670. DENDROICA KIRTLANDI Baird. Kirtland’s Warbler. Sylvicola kirtlandi. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and Ontario from Florida north to Michigan and Minnesota; west to Missouri. Breeds ‘in Michigan. Winters in Bahamas. A male taken by the writer May 8, 1885, near the city limits of St. Louis is the only record of the occurrence of this rare bird in Missouri. It is now in the collection of mounted birds in Washington University of St. Louis. Its capture is reported in ‘The Auk,” vol. 2, page 382. *6§71. DENDROICA vicorsII (Aud.). Pine Warbler. Dendroica pinus. Sylvia pinus. Sylvia vigorsii. Sylvicola pinus. Pine- creeping Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Breeds in pine woods, both north and south, and is found in hard wood forests only in migration. Winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf States. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant in the eastern part of the state, but apparently unknown in western Missouri north of the Ozarks. In the pine region the species is a rare summer resident. On its breeding grounds it had already arrived when Mr. E. 8. Woodruff reached Grandin, March 8, 1907, and Ink, Shannon Co., March 10, 1907. April 25 he se- cured a young unable to fly, but fed by its parents on the ground. North-bound transients pass through from the middle to the end of April. Earliest at St. Louis, April 11, 1896; latest at St. Louis and Keokuk, May 3, 1903. Though never very common it is most numerous from April 21 to 23, when its peculiarly whirring song is often heard. This same song is also given in fall, when it spends two to three months in transit through the state. At St. Louis a singing male has been met with as early as August 20, 1905; others August 26, 1896,and August 29, 1897. The species remains through September into October, even to the latter part of the month (October 24, 1879), but is oftenest noted from about October 3 to 5. 232 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 672. DENDROICA PALMARUM (Gmel.). Palm Warbler. Sylvia palmarum. Sylvicola palmarum. Sylvicola petechia. Yellow Redpoll. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, rare in Atlantic States where replaced by the subspecies, hypochrysea, the Yellow Palm Warbler. Breeds north of Manitoba and west of Hudson Bay. to Great Slave Lake. Winters in southern Florida, Bahamas and the West Indies. Migrates southeast-northwest, chiefly through the Mississippi Valley, from Alleghanies to eastern Nebraska, rarely to Kansas. In Missouri a common transient visitant eastward, less com- mon westward, where reported by Dr. Hoy, Mr. Tindall of Inde- pendence and Mr. Savage of Jasper (May 15-18, 1902). It is one of the earlier of north-bound warblers and in exception- ally early springs has found its way to St. Louis as early as April 5, 1882. Ordinarily it reaches the same locality between April 13 and 18; the bulk is present during the latter part of April and the last disappear between May 5 and 15. It reappears at St. Louis about the first of October, remaining nearly through- out the month (October 26, 1885). At Keokuk Mr. Currier found it as early as September 11, 1893; Mr. Savage at Mon- teer, Shannon Co., not before October 17, 1903. *673. DENDROICA DISCOLOR (Vieill.). Prairie Warbler. Sylvia discolor. Sylvicola discolor. Sylvia minuta. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to Massachusetts, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, southern Wisconsin; west to eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas. Breeds from north- ern Bahamas and Florida and the Gulf States generally northward. Winters from central Florida and Bahamas nearly throughout the West Indies to near the coast of Yucatan. In Missouri a common summer resident throughout the Ozarks and Ozark border region from St. Louis Co. west and southward to the southwest corner of the state (Neosho in Newton Co. and Noel in McDonald Co.). In spite of its name it is not known to occur in the prairie region nor does it breed in the swampy southeastern portion of the state. A more appropriate name would be the Hillside Warbler. Its home is not in the forest, not among high trees, but in those stretches of scrub-oak which are found wherever the ax or fire have removed the original forest-trees. It is a neighbor of the Cardinal, Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo-bird and Field Sparrow. It arrives on its breeding grounds about the middle of April and becomes generally dis- tributed during the fourth week of the month. It remains with Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 233 us until the latter part of September. Latest record at St. Louis, September 23, 1890. | *6§74. SEIURUS AUROCAPILLUS (Linn.). Oven-bird. Turdus aurocapilla. Siurus aurocapillus. Golden-crowned Thrush. Teacher. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfound- land, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Hudson Bay, Alaska; west to Colo- rado, Montana and British Columbia. Breeds from Virginia, southern Missouri and Kansas northward. Winters from the Gulf coast and the Bahamas through the West Indies and Mexico to Central America. In Missouri a common summer resident, more abundant during migration. It is found oftener in the rich woods of the Ozark border and the bluff region along rivers than on the dry hills of the Ozarks and is rare in the southeast. Like the Towhee, Blue-winged and Worm-eating Warblers, Black and White Creeper, and other ground builders, the Oven-bird has entirely disappeared from wood-patches used for pasturing hogs, and is therefore rare in large districts where it was common formerly. Its arrival in spring takes place about April 10 in southern Missouri, about April 14 in east-central, and a week later in © western Missouri. April 12, 1887; 12, 1904; 18, 1888, are the first dates for St. Louis, where during the last week of April the woods are fairly ringing with its song. At this period the number of Oven-birds is increased by hosts of north-going indi- viduals, and during the last few.days of April or first of May, the first have reached our northern border (Keokuk, April 27 to May 2; Fort Leavenworth, May 4, 1848, Audubon). The return of transients is noticeable in September, making the species conspicuous for a considerable time, but particularly from the 14 to the 24, when it becomes scarcer and disappears entirely during the first week of October. After being silent for about six weeks its song is again heard in the last week of August and first of September when it ceases. 675. SEIURUS NOVEBORACENSIS (Gmel.). Water Thrush. 675a. SEIURUS NOVEBORACENSIS NOTABILIS (Ridgw.). Grin- nell’s Water Thrush. Siurus naevius. Seiurus naevius. Turdus noveboracensis. Turdus aquati- cus. Small-billed Waterthrush. Geog. Dist. of noveboracensis.—Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, coast of Labrador and Hudson Bay; breed- 234 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. ing from mountains of West Virginia, northern New England, Michigan, Wisconsin northward. The subspecies, notabilis, ranges throughout western North America from Indiana and Illinois (more rarely eastward) to the Pacific, north into British Columbia and along the Rocky Mountains to Alaska and East Cape in Siberia. It breeds from Minnesota, western Nebraska and the more northern Rocky Mountains of the United States northward. In winter both subspecies go to the West Indies (chiefly the eastern form), Mexico, Central America, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and British Guiana (both forms together). Waterthrushes which winter in southern Florida are said to be- long tothe western subspecies, but there is so much difficulty in separating the two forms, that it has not yet been possible to trace their migration routes from summer to winter homes. Eastern Missouri seems to be the region where these migration routes overlap, as we see birds both with white and decidedly yellow underparts. It will therefore be well for collectors to pay special attention to distinguish between the two forms in order to find out in what proportion they occur; it is generally accepted that the Water Thrushes of Missouri belong to the western form, notabilis. Water Thrushes are common and regu- lar transient visitants in all parts of Missouri, but most common eastward, less so westward, where Audubon found them May 4, 1848, at Leavenworth and May 7, 18438, at St. Joseph. It is also reported by Mr. Tindall from Independence, May 15, 1899, and by W. E. D. Scott from Warrensburg, where it was quite common and first noted during the first week in May, 1874. In Taney Co. the writer found it common and in song along White River, May 7 to 10, 1906. Mr. E. 8. Woodruff found it common in Shannon Co., May 9, 1907. In the vicinity of St. Louis the “firsts” appear with great regularity between April 24 and 28, exceptionally a few days earlier (April 21, 1883). The bulk is present from May 5 to 12 and the last are seen in the third week of May from the 15 to the 22, exceptionally later (May 31, 1897). There is very little difference between St. Louis dates and those collected by Mr. Currier at Keokuk, where it is an abundant migrant, arriving between April 20, 1896, and May 6, 1892, but mostly about April 30, with the last dates, May 11, 1897, and May 12, 1898. Its frequent song greatly facilitates identification, since it is entirely different from that of the Louisiana Water Thrush, in the haunts of which it often dwells while with us in spring migration, and with which it Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 235 shares a characteristic alarm-note. It is the first warbler to return to us in fall, having been observed as early as August 12, 1887, on the sandy islands in the Mississippi River opposite St. Louis, but it is more common and generally distributed from the end of August to the fourth week in September, when most are gone, but, exceptionally, stragglers have been noted as late as October 17, 1885. In the abnormally cold spring of 1907 the species was not noticed at St. Louis before May 9, but it was unusually abundant and full of song from May 16 to 22. *676. SEIURUS MOTACILLA (Vieill.). Louisiana Water-Thrush. Turdus ludovicianus. Siurus motacilla. Seiurus ludovicianus. Large- billed Waterthrush. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Ontario, north to southern New England, southern Michigan, southern Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota; west to eastern Ne- braska, eastern Kansas, Texas. Breeds from the Gulf States northward and winters from the Bahamas through the West Indies to western Mexico and south through Central America to Colombia. | In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resident, more common south of the Missouri River than north of it except along the river bottoms. Near the state line in the southeast, where it is very common, it appears at its breed- ing stands about the middle of March (March 12, 1894), but near St. Louis seldom before April (earliest March 29, 1884), usually between April 4 and 12. Other early dates are Jasper, April 1, 1902; Warrensburg, April 1, 1905. Earliest at Keokuk, April 13, 1893. In Shannon Co. Mr. E. S. Woodruff noticed it first March 21, 1907. In fall it retires from its more northern stations in the latter part of September (last at Keokuk, Sep- tember 14, 1893; St. Charles Co., September 27, 1905; St. Louis, September 29, 1885, and October 5, 1906). In Dunklin Co. it was still common and in song early in October, 1896. *677. GEOTHLYPIS FORMOSA (Wils.). Kentucky Warbler. Sylvia formosa. Sylvicola formosa. Myiodioctes formosus. Trichas for- mosa. Sylvania formosa. Oporornis formosus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to southeastern New York (rarely to Connecticut and Long Island), New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Ohio, southern Michigan, Wisconsin 236 | Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Lows. and Minnesota; west to eastern Nebraska and eastern Texas. Breeds from North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas northward and winters from southern Mexico through Central America to Panama, rarely to Colombia. In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resident in all wooded districts, especially in river bottoms, in the southeast as well as in the Ozarks and prairie region. Audu- bon found it in the region of Leavenworth and St. Joseph, May 4 and 6, 1843. Dr. Hoy writes that it was abundant in the Grand River bottom near Chillicothe, May 16, 1854. Dr. J. A. Allen noted it at Leavenworth in May 1871, and W. E. D. Scott calls it a common, but shy breeder at Warrensburg in 1874. In the peninsula, where summer sojourners arrive much earlier than in the rest of the state, its presence has been noted as early as April 9, but in the vicinity of St. Louis the ‘‘firsts’’? are recorded between April 21 and 25, and in western and northern Missouri in the last days of the month (St. Louis April 21, 1885, April 21, 1886; Independence April 29, 1900, April 30, 1899; Stotesbury, Vernon Co., April 30, 1898; Keokuk, April 26, 1898, April 30, 1895). Full numbers have seldom been present at St. Louis before the first week of May. The bulk of the species leaves us in August and the last bird was seen at St. Louis September 8, 1897. 678. GEOTHLYPIS AGILIS (Wils.). Connecticut Warbler. Sylvia agilis. Sylvicola agilis. Trichas agilis. Oporornis agilis. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to New England, Ontario, Michigan and Manitoba. Breeds in Manitoba, Minne- sota, Wisconsin and northern Michigan. Winters somewhere in South America, migrating by way of Bahama, but never recorded from October 22 to April 9. In Missouri a rather rare but regular spring transient visitant along the eastern border from St. Louis northward (Quincy, Warsaw, Keokuk). Only one record in fall, October 5, 1897, Keokuk, Mr. E. 8. Currier. The 14th, 15th and 16th of May are the days when it is first noted at St. Louis and it is always with us on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, and likely to remain to the end of the month, if the weather is cool. May 29, 1882, May 31, 1897; and at Keokuk, June 1, 1897. It frequents dark, shady forests and is usually seen along the banks of creeks and sloughs. Very shy, it would easily escape detection, if its very Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 237 peculiar song would not betray it. This song is oftenest given in the forenoon after most other songsters have already quieted down and, although it varies considerably in different indi- viduals, it can always be rendered by a three-syllabled word with the accent on the first syllable, repeated three times, and followed by a one-syllabled ‘‘ hee” in a higher key. 679. GEOTHLYPIS PHILADELPHIA (Wils.). Mourning Warbler. Sylvia philadelphia. Trichas philadelphica. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, central Ontario and Manitoba and eastern Assiniboia. Breeds from the mountains of West Virginia, from New England, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and North Dakota northward. Migrates by way of Louisiana and Texas to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Co- lombia and Ecuador. No records in the South Atlantic and Gulf States from North Carolina to Mississippi. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant in all parts of the state, rarer westward, where found by Audubon near St. Joseph, May 6, 1848. Writing his diary at Chillicothe, May 16, 1854, Dr. P. R. Hoy says: ‘‘Here we found the home of Trichas philadelphia, a locality where this bird is common; they frequent localities covered with dense underbrush overrun with climbing roses and honeysuckles. I listened to the song of T. philadelphia, T. marylandica and T. formosa at the same time.’ In his list of birds made at Warrensburg, Johnson Co., W. E. D. Scott says of this species: ‘‘Not very rare; took two during the spring; the first May 12, the second May 18, 1874.” Though the first may be found in the second week of May (May 10, 1886, St. Louis) we are most sure to find it during the third week or from 14th to 21st and in cool weather even later, the last at St. Louis being May 26, 1882 and 1886. At Keokuk, where they are usually found in the fourth week of May, they linger into June, and Mr. E. 8. Currier reported one as late as June 25, 1893, possibly a summer resident. In fall the species passes through in September (September 10, 1901), but is easily overlooked, because very shy and silent. Mr. E. 8. Woodruff took one at Kudy in Shannon Co., May 13, 1907. At St. Louis the first was seen May 18, 1907, and the last, a pair with the the male in full song, remained at the same place from May 30 to June 3. 238 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. *681d. GEOTHLYPIS TRICHAS BRACHIDACTYLA (Swains.). Nor- thern Yellow-throat. Sylvia trichas. Trichas marylandica. Trichas personatus. Maryland Yel- low-throat. Geog. Dist.—Northeastern United States and southeastern British Provinces, from Newfoundland, southern Labrador, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, New England, New York and northern New Jersey westward to northern Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, eastern Dakota, Athabasca and Alberta; southward through the Mississippi Valley to up- land of Gulf States and eastern central Texas. In winter to Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Swan Island and through eastern Mexico to Costa Rica; during migration whole United States east of the Great Plains. Yellow-throats which winter in south- ern Louisiana and Texas are said to belong to the subspecies ignota and trichas. The Yellow-throats of eastern North America are at present (1907) split into three subspecies, of which the northern has the largest range; zgnota is the south- eastern form, from Virginia along the edge of the coastal plain to southern Georgia and Florida, thence westward to Louisiana. The typical trichas trichas has the smallest range between the two others on the Atlantic coast from Georgia to Maryland and southern New Jersey. The Yellow-throat is one of the commonest, probably the most common, of summer resident warblers in Missouri; it inhabits forest and swamp as well as cultivated land and is found in the Ozarks and prairie region, in the bottoms as well as on the bluffs of our rivers throughout the state. Like many other summer sojourners it begins to return to its breeding grounds in the peninsula of the southeast much earlier than to the rest of the state and was found in Pemiscot Co. as early as April 8, 1893. The earliest at St. Louis is April 14, 1887, but as the weather at that time is often adverse to bird migration, the majority of records of first arrivals is between April 17 and 21, in some years even a few days later. April 27 is the day © when it is numerous and noisy, indicating the arrival of the bulk, including females; and large numbers of transients remain with us during the first week of May, when the species is met with everywhere, even in gardens, orchards and places where it does not nest. In northern and western Missouri it is usually a few. days later than at St. Louis, being noted first during the fourth week of April and at the northern border at Keokuk Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 239 often only in the last two days of the month or in May. Fall migration begins early in September, when its song is again heard; adults and young are abundant during the second and third week at St. Louis and their song is heard as late as Sep- tember 19, but the species grows rapidly scarce after the 20th and only plain-colored, shy loiterers are met with at the end of the month or in early October. Last records at St. Louis are October 2, 1887, October 4, 1895, and October 1, 1896; latest for the state is October 14, 1903, New Haven, Dr. Eimbeck. *683. IcTERIA VIRENS (Linn.). Yellow-breasted Chat. Icteria viridis. Pipra polyglotia. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Ontario; north to New England, southern Michigan, southern Wisconsin and southern Minnesota; west to eastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, Kansas, eastern Texas and southward to the Rio Grande where meeting the western form longicauda. Breeds from Rio Grande and upper portions of Gulf States northward, and winters southward through eastern Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica. It does not visit Florida, Bahamas and West Indies. In Missouri the Chat is a common summer resident in all parts of the state, but particularly abundant in the Ozark and Ozark border regions. In its return to the breeding grounds it is pretty regular, appearing at St. Louis and in most parts of southern Missouri between April 23 and 28. Exceptionally early dates have been recorded, as St. Louis, April 18, and Kan- sas City, April 20, 1903; Keokuk, April 19, 1896. This latter. date is extremely early as the “firsts” of eight other years vary between April 29 and May 6 (E. 8. Currier). The bulk of the species arrives at St. Louis the last of April or first days of May, when its peculiar, loud song is heard from morning till night and not seldom in moonlit nights. After the song period is over about the middle of July the species is not seen often and its departure is easily unnoticed, but there is little doubt that the majority depart in August and early September (Sep- tember 1, 1902, and September 2, 1901, Jasper, Mr. W. G. Savage, and September 5, 1903, Shannon Co., by the same observer). That some individuals remain longer has been noticed at St. Louis, where one was met with as late as September 25 at Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis Co. 240 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. *684, WILSONIA MITRATA (Gmel.). Hooded Warbler. Sylvia mitrata. Setophaga mitrata. Sylvania mitrata. M yiodioctes mitratus. Muscicapa cucullata. Muscicapa selbii (female). Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Ontario’ north to Connecticut, central Michigan, southeastern Wisconsin, southeastern Nebraska; west to eastern Kansas. Breeds from Louisiana east and northward. Winters from eastern Mexico to Panama. In Missouri a common summer resident in the southeast, fairly common in the Ozarks, Ozark border and in the bluff as well as bottom lands of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, at least as far up as East Leavenworth, Platte Co., where ob- served by Audubon, May 4, 1848, and by the writer in June 1906. Rare in the prairie region north and west, where suitable localities are getting scarcer and scarcer with the removal of all tree growth from creek and river bottoms. That the species, a, denizen of the forest, seems unable to change its habits to con- form to the present state of civilization is deplorable, as the bird would be a most desirable ornament to our parks and gardens, being not only one of the most beautiful birds, but also a fine songster. In the southeast its arrival in spring is much earlier than farther north and has been noticed in Dunklin Co., April 2, 1897, when singing males were already present. At St. Louis the first songs are heard between April 17 and 25, oftenest April 24, and the females arrive from April 28 to 30. At our northern boundary it arrives in the first week in May. Its cheer- ful song is heard nearly throughout its sojourn, even to its de- parture in the latter part of September Sejoontaryatr 20, 1897, St. Charles Co., September 28, 1895, Dunklin Co.). 3) 93558 as dik 685. WiILsontA PuUSILLA (Wils.). Wilson’s Warbler. Muscicapa pusilla. Sylvania pusilla. Myiodioctes pusillus. Sylvia wil- soniit. Setophaga wilsonii. Myiodioctes wilsonii. Sylvia wilsonii. Wil- son’s Blackcap. Black-capped Warbler. . Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newrssndbeid, Labrador, Hudson Bay and Athabasca; west to eastern edge of Great Plains. Breeds from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Maine, northern Minnesota and Manitoba northward and winters on the Atlantic slope of Central America from Guatemala to Costa Rica; no record from South Atlantic and Gulf coast between South Carolina and Texas. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 241 In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant in all parts of the state, spring and fall. It is one of the later migrants, most numerous in the second week of May, but the first arrivals reach St. Louis May 4 or 5, exceptionally earlier, as April 29, 1885, May 1, 1884, May 2, 1887. It is quite unsuspicious and its song is often heard during the whole of its stay with us. It generally disappears during the third week of May, mostly 17 to 22, but sometimes a loiterer is found later, as May 25, 1882, St. Louis. In 1907 both sexes were unusually numerous from May 11 to 24 incl. On their return journey the first reach us in the latter part of August (August 23, 1897; August 24, 1898; August 25, 1901) and some are met with nearly to the end of September (September 25, 1897; September 27, 1895; September 29, 1887). 685a. WILSONIA PUSILLA PILEOLATA (Pall.). Pileolated Warbler. Myiodioctes pusillus var. pileolatus. Sylvania pusilla pileolata. Geog. Dist.—Western North America, north to Alaska. Breeds in higher mountains from Texas north, and throughout the interior west to eastern Oregon and British Columbia. During migration eastward across the Great Plains to Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, western Missouri. In winter from Yucatan to Costa Rica. Has been taken at Independence (Ridgway vol. 2, p. 712) and must be regarded as a casual transient visitant along our western border. 686. WILSONIA CANADENSIS (Linn.). Canadian Warbler. Muscicapa canadensis. Setophaga canadensis. Myjiodioctes canadensis, Sylvania canadensis. Sylvia pardalina. Muscicapa bonapartei (young in autumn). Myiodioctes bonapartei. Sylvania bonapartei. Canada Fly- catching Warbler. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; north to Newfound- land, southern Labrador, Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, Atha- basca and Alberta. Breeds from the mountains of North Caro- lina, the higher parts of New York and New England, southern Ontario, central Michigan, central Wisconsin and central Minne- sota northward. Migrates through the wooded districts of the eastern United States, southern Texas, and eastern Mexico and Central America to winter in Ecuador and Peru, 6000 miles from their most northern breeding grounds. 242 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. In Missouri a regular and fairly common transient visitant during spring and fall along the eastern border of the state, the southeast and the counties along the Mississippi River being apparently one of its main thoroughfares. With its spright- ly ways and frequent singing it is one of the transient war- blers which cannot easily escape observers, and its absence from their lists is proof that it must be of rare occurrence in the rest of the state. In the southeast (New Madrid Co.) it was once seen as early as April 10, 1893, but the first record for St. Louis is April 28, 1888, unusually early. May 5 to 25is the regular time of its presence, most numerous in the middle of the month, and latest dates, May 29, 1897, West Quincy; May 28, 1893, Keokuk. In fall the species is with us for fully six weeks from August 15 to September 26, oftenest in the first half of September; latest at St. Louis, October 5, 1905. In the abnormal spring of 1907 both sexes were unusually common at St. Louis from May 13 to June 3.. *687. SETOPHAGA RUTICILLA (Linn.). American Redstart. Muscicapa ruticilla. Geog. Dist.—North America except Pacific coast district and western portions of Rocky Mountains district; north to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hudson Bay, and in the interior to Mackenzie; on the Pacific coast to southern Alaska; west to Utah, Idaho, eastern Washington and British Columbia. Breeds from North Carolina, west-central Alabama, Arkansas and Indian Territory northward. Winters from the West Indies and Mexico to Ecuador. In Missouri a common and generaly distributed summer resi- dent in all parts of the state, chiefly in the timber of river and creek bottoms. Also a very common transient in spring and fall in all kinds of locations, even in city parks, orchards, ceme- teries etc. In the southeast, where it is only fairly common as a breeder, but abundant in migration from the middle of April to the middle of May, it was first noticed April 11, 1893. In the vicinity of St. Louis and most parts of southern Missouri its arrival varies from April 16 to 25, the males always preceding the females and young a few days, the bulk of the spccies, including transients being present from the end of April to the middle of May. At our northern border (Keokuk) the first are usually seen April 30, some years as late as May 6, 1892, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 248 but very exceptionally as early as April 20, 1896, when even the bulk arrived April 25 (E. 8. Currier). Along our western border we have the following dates: Vernon Co., April 24, 1898; Independence, April 27, 1900, and April 30, 1899; Leaven- worth, Audubon, May 4, 1848. Fall migration takes place from the middle of August to the end of September, but. song is seldom heard after August 25, and young birds predominate in September, though the very last bird seen may be an old male. Last date at St. Louis, October 5, 1906 (a family, adults and young together); Shannon Co., October 10, 1904; Keokuk, October 20, 1900. Family Moracitiipark. Wagtails. 697. ANTHUS PENSILVANICUS (Lath.). American Pipit. Anthus ludovicianus. Alauda rufa. Anthus spinoletta. Anthus aquaticus. Anthus pipiens. ‘Titlark. Geog. Dist.—North America, north to Greenland, Alaska and northeastern Siberia. Breeds from Newfoundland, Quebec, high mountains of Colorado and the Sierra Nevada northward and winters from the Gulf States through Mexico to Guatemala. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant in April and October, moving in flocks of from thirty to one hundred or more, frequenting plowed fields and burnt-over marshes, and re- maining sometimes several weeks in the same locality. It is not known to winter anywhere in the state, but lingers some years much longer than in others as for instance in 1892, when | Mr. Currier met with some as late as December 11, near Keokuk, Ia. That the southward movement of the Titlarks was excep- tionally much protracted in 1892 is also shown by Mr. R. Deane, who found hundreds of them in the marshes at English Lake in northwestern Indiana, November 16, and by a late report from Michigan, October 20, near Detroit. 700. ANTHUS SPRAGUEII (Aud.). Sprague’s Pipit. Alauda spragueii. Neocorys spragueit.. Missouri Skylark. Geog. Dist.—In summer from eastern Montana and northern North Dakota northward, chiefly on the virgin prairies of Assin- iboia; east rarely to Red River Valley and Manitoba. In winter to southern Louisiana and Texas, south through eastern Mexico to Vera Cruz and Puebla. Occasional to South Carolina. In 244 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. migration through Kansas and Nebraska, rarely west to Wyom- ing. This species finds a place in our list on the strength of a single record, it being reported by Mr. Geo. E. Stillwell from Kansas City, Mo., March 20, 1882 (Bird migration in the Mississippi Valley, Forest and Stream, 1882, p. 283). Since it has repeatedly been taken in southeastern Nebraska it stands to reason that its rarity as a transient visitant in Missouri is only apparent and research along our western border will probably be re- warded by discoveries which may enable us to remove it from the rank of great rarities and place it with Baird’s Sparrow, McCown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs among the regular transients. 3 Family Mimipar. ‘Thrashers, etc. *703. Mimus PpoLtyeLotrus (Linn.). Mockingbird. Turdus polyglottus. Mocker. Geog. Dist.—United States and Mexico; north to Maryland (irregularly to Massachusetts), southern Ohio, Indiana, southern Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and eastern Colorado; rarely to northern Illinois, Iowa and southern Wisconsin. Breeds throughout its United States range and winters wherever it breeds, but chiefly in the southern states and southward. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in the southern half of the state, rarer northward, but reaching the northern border at Keokuk where Mr. Currier found it to be a rare breeder in 1895, 96, 97, ’98 and ’99. At St. Joseph its occurrence, May 26, 1896, is regarded as accidental by Mr. S. 8. Wilson, though it is listed as a common breeder in southern Nebraska. South of the Missouri River the species is partly a permanent resident, rarely north of it, as at Fayette, Howard Co., Feb- ruary 2, 1893. Unfortunately the tendency to winter at its breeding places is a great drawback in the extension of its summer range as many succumb to the severity of our winters. Those that leave us in fall return very irregularly, some in the latter half of March, most of them in April, the last not before early May. Its withdrawal takes place in October. The Mocking- bird seeks the friendship of man and where protected becomes half-domesticated. Writing from Alexandria, Clark Co., Mr. Jasper Blines says in Forest and Stream, vol. 31, p. 343: ‘November 22, 1888. A few southern Mockingbirds reach this Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 245 latitude, appearing in May and going south the latter part of July.” *704. GALEOSCOPTES CAROLINENSIS (Linn.). Catbird. Mimus carolinensis. Orpheus carolinensis. Muscicapa carolinensis. Mimus jelivox. Turdus lividis. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Sas- katchewan, and through British Columbia to the Pacific; west to and including the Rocky Mountains. Breeds from the Gulf States northward. Winters in the Southern States, Cuba, Central America to Panama. In Missouri a very common summer resident in all parts of the state except the southeast where it is a rare breeder, but occasionally winters (Dunklin Co., January 15, 1896). The earliest arrivals are reported from the southwest, April 8, 1894, Vernon Co., April 10, 1903, Jasper Co. At Festus, Jefferson Co., it was seen as early as April 15, 1903; at St. Louis, the earliest are April 16 and April 18, but the majority of dates of a long series of years fall in the fourth week of the month, at which time the first Catbirds are usually reported from several stations in central Missouri and during the last days of April also from the northern border. The last days of April and first few days of May is the time when the bulk, the great army, of Catbirds, invade the whole state and become common and conspicuous songsters where before only silent and solitary birds have been seen. Numbers of transient individuals are present, sometimes in small flocks, during the first half of May, when our own Catbirds already have nests and eggs, often be- ginning to build immediately after the arrival of the female at the close of April. Like its cousin, the Mockingbird, the Catbird is availing itself more and more of the protection which close proximity to human habitation affords, and though its original haunts are the edge of the forests and the fringe along watercourses, it is now found nesting mostly about farmhouses and in gardens and park-like places even in the midst of towns and cities. The return movement of birds from the north sets in about the first of September, when for several weeks Catbirds are again plentiful, but after the middle of the month their numbers vary, some days few are seen, then again many, until the end of the month, when the species becomes rare. At St. Louis the last are noted during the first week of October, rarely 246 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. later when detained by an unusually large crop of wild grapes. Late dates for the state are October 10, 1904, Kansas City; Oc- tober 20, 1885, Fayette; October 13, 1903, and October 21, 1902, New Haven, Mo. *705. ToxoSTOMA RUFUM (Linn.). Brown Thrasher. Turdus rufus. Orpheus rufus. Harporhynchus rujus. Brown Thrush. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to southern Maine, southern Quebec, southern Ontario, Manitoba, Assiniboia and southern Alberta; west to eastern Colorado and eastern Texas. Breeds from the Gulf States northward. Winters in the South- ern States. | In Missouri a common summer resident in all well-settled parts; most numerous in the Ozark border and prairie regions, rare in the southeast where all ground-feeding landbirds are rare, and rather scarce in the Ozarks except in localities which have long been settled, where they are fairly common. A few winter in the southeast (January 1896, Dunklin Co.) and some impatient old males return to their breeding stands in southern Missouri quite early (March 1, 1905, and March 10, 1902, Festus, Jefferson Co.; March 9, 1902, New Haven, Franklin Co.). The earliest at St. Louis is March 18, 1882, and March 14, 1880, but from March 20 to 25 is the time when its song is usually heard for the first time at St. Louis and in most parts of southern and east-central Missouri. In the northern and western prairie region Thrashers are seldom heard before April and, since the weather of the first week of April is often cold and unfavorable, usually not before the second week. In some years the northern border has not been reached before the third week (April 20, 1902; April 22, 1890; April 22, 1900, Keokuk). The bulk of the species reaches St. Louis nearly always between the tenth and the fifteenth of April and Keokuk between the seventeenth andtwenty-ninth. Transients in small troops pass through mostly in the second week of April, when the Thrasher is one of the most conspicuous and common songsters in St. Louis. Though not so confiding as the Catbird and Mocker, the Thrasher also comes to nest in our parks and orchards, especially where protected from his many enemies. Its splendid song continues through April and most of May, after which it is only occasionally heard until molt begins in the middle of July. We hear its song again in fall, but only occasionally, as the species remains very quiet Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missourv. 247 as a rule all through late summer and fall, withdrawing to local- ities where it finds wild grapes and different kinds of berries, of which it is very fond. In September large gatherings may be found at such favorite resorts, but after the first of October Thrashers become scarce, though some are present until the 20th, when ordinarily the last is going. Exceptionally an indi- vidual may linger into winter, even in north Missouri, where Mr. Parker saw one at Montgomery City as late as December 17, 1904. Family TRoGLopYTIDAE. Wrens. *718. THRYOTHORUS LUDOVICIANUS (Lath.). Carolina Wren. Certhia caroliniana. Troglodytes ludovicianus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States except Florida and Lower Rio Grande; north to southern New England, southern Michigan, southern Iowa, southeastern Nebraska (where very rare); west to Kansas, Oklahoma and western Texas. Breeds from the Gulf coast northward. Non-migratory. In Missouri a common resident from the Missouri River southward, fairly common to rare from the counties bordering on the Missouri northward to the state line. At East Leaven- worth the writer found it common in June 1906, but Mr. Wilson considers it an accidental visitor at St. Joseph, where he captured one April 4, 1896. In the vicinity of Keokuk Mr. Currier found it to be of very irregular occurrence, generally very rare, in 1902 more frequent, therefore thought to be increasing by ex- tending its breeding range. Being a ground-builder the Carolina Wren has been driven from many former haunts by cats, dogs and hogs and may thereby be forced to spread to near regions, but in districts where it is most numerous, as in the southeast and in valleys of the Ozarks, it has learned to place its nests like the House and Bewick’s Wrens on porches and about build- ings out of reach of cats, dogs and hogs. Excepting an inter- mission of six weeks during August and September, its cheering song may be heard almost every day of the year, even in mid- winter on sunny days. The severity of our winters does not seem to hurt it where, among fallen trees and brush, it is able to secure insect food in any kind of weather. From localities less suited for this purpose it withdraws during the worst part of the season. Being among the earliest breeders finished nests have been found by the middle of March and fully fledged young early in May. 248 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. *719. THRYOMANES BEWICKII (Aud.). Bewick’s Wren. Troglodytes bewickii. Thryothorus bewickit. Long-tailed House Wren. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to New Jersey and Minnesota; rare east of Alleghanies; west to southeastern Nebraska and eastern Texas. Breeds irregularly throughout its range, having its center of distribution in summer in southern Missouri, southern Illinois and southern Indiana and is said to extend its range eastward through Ohio. It winters in the southern United States from southern Missouri southward. All through the Ozark region and Ozark border the Bewick is the common House Wren, and there is hardly a farm house without its Bewick Wren, while in thetowns thereis one or more in every square. There it takes the place entirely of the House Wren, which occurs in southeastern Missouri only in counties bordering the Mississippi River. It is not known to occur in western Missouri outside of the Ozark border region (rare at Jasper, not known at Appleton City, Warrensburg, Indepen- dence, etc.). In northern Missouri the species has not been observed west of Howard Co. (Fayette, March 12, 1903), but is reported from Montgomery City and reaches irregularly our northern state line, following the bluff region along the Missis- sippi to Warsaw, Ill., and Keokuk, Ia., where it was noted April 20, 1896, April 10, 1898, April 9, 1901, and April 19, 1903, with an apparent increase in numbers, according to Mr. Currier. Some winter in southern Missouri even as far north as St. Louis Co. (Old Orchard 1896-1897) and Miller Co. (Iberia, February 3, 1905), but the bulk retires to more southern regions, returning in March and leaving in October. Being a much better singer and not so meddlesome the Bewick is greatly preferred as a House Wren, but is often dislodged from its nesting site by aédon, where the two species occur together. [721. TRoGLODYTES AEDON Vieill. House Wren.] 721b. TROGLODYTES AEDON AZTECUS Baird. Western House Wren. | Sylvia domestica. Troglodytes domesticus. Troglodytes americanus. Trog- lodytes fulvus. Geog. Dist.—The species has lately been split. into three subspecies, supposed to intergrade, as otherwise they would have Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missourr. 249 to be considered true species; they are the eastern, western and pacific (parkmaniz) subspecies. The range of aztecus is said to include Missouri, reaching east as far as the prairie region of Illinois and northwestern Indiana, north to Manitoba and south into Mexico. In winter to Southern States and Mex- ico. The eastern form occurs in parts of Illinois and southern Wisconsin, but the range limits of the two forms are not fully determined and both may occur in Missouri, the one in the river bottoms, the other in the western and northern prairie region. ‘There is also a possibility of meeting with intermediate forms and the species deserves the special attention of collectors both in migration and breeding time. Excepting the southeast and Ozark region, where it occurs only in migration, the House Wren is a common summer resident in most parts of Missouri from Ste. Genevieve Co. in the east and Jasper Co. in the west, northward. It breeds together with Bewick’s Wren in the Ozark border region and in parts of east- ern north Missouri, but is the only House Wren of the prairie region west and northwest. The arrival of the first singing males at their breeding stand occurs with much regularity at St. Louis about April 17, at Independence, April 20, and at Keokuk, April 24. The bulk is a week behind the first, and the last days of April in central, and the first week of May in northern Missouri is the height of the season for singing and mating, as well as for transient, House Wrens. At this time we find House Wrens in company with northern Warblers in localities where they never breed. When between Fort Leav- enworth and the northeast corner of Missouri, May 5 to May 9, 1843, Audubon wrote in his journal: “‘The woods were filled with House Wrens.” Dr. J. A. Allen, too, found them abun- dant in that region in May 1871. Although the majority build their nests now in proximity to human habitations, we still find them occasionally far away from buildings in tree holes, old woodpecker holes, fence posts, etc. They are very med- dlesome with other birds’ nests and need watching, especially when near a colony of Martins, whose very existence is endan- gered by the innocent looking Jenny Wren, which destroys the eggs in the absence of the owners. They are industrious song- sters, keeping it up all summer, beginning again after a short pause before their departure in September. Single individuals are seen long after the bulk of the species is gone (September 25); the last being reported from Keokuk, October 10, 1893; 250 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. from Jasper, October 10, 1901; from Kansas City, October 8, 1902; from New Haven, October 6, 1902; Mt. Carmel, Oc- tober 6, 1885; Independence, October 6, 1901; St. Louis, Octo- ber 6, 1905, and October 14, 1906. 722. OLBIORCHILUS HIEMALIS (Vieill.). Winter Wren. Sylvia troglodytes. | Anorthura troglodytes. Troglodytes hiemalis. Trog- lodytes europeus. Anorthura hyemalis. Anorthura troglodytes hyemalis. Troglodytes parvulus hyemalis. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America; north to Prince Ed- ward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. Breeds from Massachusetts, New York, northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin northward, wintering from the northern states to the Gulf, chiefly south of the Ohio River. Has been found nesting in the Alleghanies south to North Carolina, though rarely. In Missouri a fairly common transient visitant eastward, rarer westward. (October 7, 1906, Mr. B. M. Stigall of Kansas City found it common in Clay Co. and Mr. Chas. W. Tindall reports it common at Independence. It is also recorded from Warrensburg, January 8, 1905, by Mr. A. F. Smithson, and by W. E. D. Scott, who took two in early April, 1874. As a winter resident it occurs chiefly south of the Missouri River and is par- ticularly numerous in the swampy woods of the southeast. In north Missouri it has been found wintering at Mt. Carmel, Audrain Co, December 14, 1884, and at the northern border near Keokuk, February 17, 1899. In the city and county of St. Louis its wintering has repeatedly been observed, even in severe winters, where it comes to the wood pile on the farm and even to the yards in the city. It begins to leave its southern winter home in the latter part of March, and migration through the state lasts till the middle of April in the southern, and to the end of the month and first week of May in the northern part of the state. In fall migration the first appear at Keokuk some- times as early as the middle of September (September 16, 1900, September 17, 1893); but at St. Louis not before the first of October. Transients are oftenest met with between October 5 and 20, after which winter numbers only remain. At Shannon Co. in southern Missouri the species was first noted October 15, 1904, by Mr. W. B. Savage of Monteer and by Mr. E. 8. Wood- ruff as late as April 3, 1907, near Ink. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 251 *724. CISTOTHORUS STELLARIS (Licht.). Short-billed Marsh Wren. Troglodytes brevirostris. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada, north to southern New Hampshire, southern Ontario, southern Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Assiniboia; west to eastern Nebraska, Dakotas, Kansas, Utah. Winters in South Atlantic and Gulf States. In Missouri a fairly common summer resident in the marshes of the Mississippi and Missouri flood plains and locally in the prairie region north and west, nestingin marsh grass on nearly dry ground and easily overlooked when not in song which may be mistaken for that of the Dickcissel. In the “Spartina’’ marshes of St. Charles Co. the globular nests are placed in a bunch of that grass near the ground, are made entirely ofthe blades of that grass and are hidden by drawing together the still standing blades of last year’s growth. It reaches its breed- ing grounds in the last week of April and first of May and re- mains till November (October 29, 1893, Keokuk). In migra- tion individuals may be met with in places where it is not known to breed and in unexpected locations, as inshrubbery by the way- side in the outskirts of St. Louis. A rather remarkable occur- rence is the one reported by Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff, May 14, 1907, from Shannon Co., a mountainous region originally covered by an unbroken forest. *725d. TELMATODYTES PALUSTRIS ILIACUS Ridgw. Prairie Marsh Wren. Troglodytes palustris. Cistothorus palustris. Telmatodytes palustris (part). Geog. Dist.—Mississippi Valley and northward to Manitoba; east to western Indiana. In winter from western Florida to Vera Cruz along Gulf Coast. This subspecies has only lately been separated from an eastern and a western form, not to mention three more subspecies of the coast regions of South Carolina, Georgia and western Florida, and the Tulé Wren of the Pacific coast. The Prairie Marsh Wren, generally known by the old name Long-billed Marsh Wren, is a locally common summer resident in lakes and sloughs in which the Cat-tail family, Typha and Sparganium, grows in abundance. Its globular nests are placed in these reeds above water and are made of the dead leave s 252 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. of these plants, differing greatly from the neat structures of the Short-billed cousin, made of narrower grass blades. It begins to show on its breeding grounds about the middle of April (April 11, 1903, Kansas City; April 19, 1903; Montgomery City), but, waiting for the growth of its favorite reeds, its numbers increase slowly and reach full force only a month later (May 11, 1897, May 16, 1898 and 1899, Keokuk). When over- taken by storms at night in migration, it may be encountered in places far from water, its only true home. Fall migration begins in the middle of September and lasts through October into November, the last ones being noted as late as November 12, 1893, November 16, 1897, and November 21, 1899, in Clark Co. by Mr. Currier. Like that of the Short-billed Marsh Wren the capture of three specimens of this species, May 9, 1907, in Shannon Co. by Mr. E. 8. Woodruff deserves particular mention as hardly expected in that high and wooded region. Family CERTHIIDAE. Creepers. *726. CERTHIA FAMILIARIS AMERICANA (Bonap.). Brown Creeper. Certhia familiaris. Certhia americana. Certhia familiaris rufa. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba; west to Dakotas, eastern Nebraska, Indian Territory and Texas. Breeds from Massachusetts, New York, northern Indiana, northern Wisconsin, eastern Nebraska, southeastern South Dakota northward; also along higher Alleghanies from North Carolina northward and in the Cypress swamps of the lower Mississippi Valley. Winters from the northern United States southward, but chiefly south of the Ohio River to northern Flor- ida and central Texas. In Missouri the Creeper is a common transient visitant in all parts of the state for a short time in spring and fall; also a com- mon winter resident in the heavily wooded southeast, but of less regular occurrence in winter in other parts of the state, especially in the northern, where it is rather rare except in the timber of river bottoms. In migration it occurs everywhere, even in cities, but does not stay long in one place seeming to be in haste to proceed toward its destination. In spring the first stir northward is noticeable about March 10, but little progress Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 253 is made until the last week of the month or early in April, when migration on a large scale takes place in central Missouri, reach- ing the northern border about the middle of April. Its progress depends much on the weather; if favorable, the last has passed the region of St. Louis by the 10th, but if windy and cold, a not unfrequent occurrence in early April, it may still be present at the beginning of the third week, exceptionally even later, as April 26, 1885. At Keokuk most of “lasts” reported are from April 16 to 25. In the abnormally cold spring of 1907 a Creeper was seen and heard to sing by Mr. Roger N. Baldwin and the writer at St. Louis as late as May 19. In fall migration the first Creepers reach Missouri from the north in the fourth week of September (September 21, 1884, Mt. Carmel; September 24, 1887, St. Louis); but they do not become common until October, when generally in the second week of that month the bulk passes through the state. After the middle of November winter numbers only are left, remaining not only in mild but also in severe winters as that of 1904-1905 (January 23, 1905, St. Louis; January 1, 1905, Warrensburg). That the Brown Creep- er is a breeder in the Bald Cypress (T’axodiwm) swamps of the south was unknown until a nest with eggs was found by the writer at Cotton Plant, Dunklin Co., June 2, 1894, in the overflow of the Little River (Auk vol. 12, 1895, p. 350). Subsequent visits to the southeast showed that the species is a regular inhabitant of the region, wherever old Cypress trees are found, under the loose bark of which the nests are placed (May 16, 1898, three nests were found in Seneca slough, DunklinCo.). Onits breeding ground in the swamp the Creeper is one of the most difficult birds todetect, as it frequents the higher branches of trees and remains so well hidden that it is almost impossible to see it, even while it gives its shrill song repeatedly. This resembles at a distance some notes of the Carolina Chickadee, for which it may be mistaken by one who does not suspect the presence of the Creeper. Family Srrripar. Nuthatches. *727. SITTA CAROLINENSIS Lath. White-breasted Nuthatch. White-bellied or Carolina Nuthatch. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, Anticosti and Keewatin; west to eastern edge of the Great Plains, replaced westward by the subspecies nelsoni, the Rocky Mountain 254 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Nuthatch. Breeds from Georgia and the Gulf States (except coast belt) northward. Non-migratory except in the more northern portions of its range. In Missouri a common resident inhabiting the woods in the breeding season and visiting orchards, gardens, cornfields and farms in winter often in company with Chickadees, Tufted Tits, Downies and others. It is generally distributed all over the state, but appears scarce during nesting time (which begins in the latter part of March in the southern and the middle of April in the northern portion) on account of retiring habits in sharp contrast to its conspicuousness at the time of mating. 728. SITTA CANADENSIS Linn. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta varia. Red-bellied or Canada Nuthatch. Geog. Dist.—North America at large, breeding in the higher Alleghanies, the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and from New England, New York, Pennsylvania, northern Indiana, northern Illinois, central Iowa, northward to Prince Edward Island, Keewatin and the Yukon district. In winter south to the Gulf states, New Mexico and Arizona, probably northern Mexico. In Missouri an irregularly common transient visitant, especially irregular in fall when it has been recorded at St. Louis all the way from September 4 to January 15. More regular in spring, when it is more or less common from April 25 to May 15 (1904). Some may spend the whole winter in the pine region of the Ozarks, but at St. Louis the species has never been seen between January 15 and April 15, nor is there any other record from the state at hand. Since the above was written Mr. E. Seymour Woodruff found the species March 11, 14, 24, 30,1907, inthe pine region of Shannon Co., Mo., and occasionally up to April 27, when the last was seen, except one each day, May 1,9 and 12.. Here may also be added another unusually late record May 21, 1907, at St. Louis, but the extraordinary cold spring shifted all dates out of recognition. *729. Sirra PuSILLA Lath. Brown-headed Nuthatch. Geog. Dist.—Pine region of southern United States from Mary- land to eastern Texas. Casually northward to St. Louis, Ohio, Michigan, New York and the Bahamas. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 255 This species was at first regarded as a rare straggler after being found by the writer May 6, 1878, in a private park in thesouthern | part of St. Louis and reported in Nutt. Bull. vol. 5, p. 191. It was always suspected to be a regular resident in the pine region of southern Missouri, but proof was wanting until Mr. E. Sey- — mour Woodruff took a pair March 19, 1907, near Ink, Shannon Co., Mo. Family Paripar. Titmice. *731. BAEOLOPHUS BICOLOR (Linn.). Tufted Titmouse. Parus bicolor. Lophophanes bicolor. Tufted Tit. Crested Tit. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States, north to New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, northern Illinois, southern Iowa and_ north- eastern Nebraska: irregularly farther north to Minnesota etce.; west tothe Great Plains (Nebraska to Texas). South to Gulf coast from central Florida to central Texas. Non- migratory, but wandering about during fall and winter in search of food, thus appearing in places not inhabited in breeding time. 3 In Missouri a common and generally distributed resident, much more numerous southeast than northwest, most abundant in the high trees of the river bottoms, but inhabiting also the dry hills of the Ozarks and the wood patches in the prairie region. Removal of old and decaying trees has driven it from many lo- calities by depriving it of its accustomed nesting sites, natural Cavities in trees or deserted woodpecker holes. Orchards and parks should be provided with bird boxes fit for its use in order to attract and retain this useful bird, one of the most efficient insect-destroyers, killing millions of noxious insects in the egg state all the year round. *735. PARUS ATRICAPILLUS Linn. Chickadee. Parus palustris. Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus. Black-capped Chick- adee. Geog. Dist.—Northeastern United States and southeastern British Provinces; north to Newfoundland, southern Labrador, Quebec, Ontario and southern Keewatin; south to lat. 40° in the Eastern States and through the prairie region of northern and western Missouri to eastern Kansas; also in Alleghanies to North Carolina. Partly migratory, wandering to localities far from breeding ground insearch of food, southward in fall, return- 256 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. ing in early spring, thus appearing in the role of a migrant inthe region immediately south of its breeding range. The Black-capped Chickadee is a common resident north and west of the Ozark border region, being replaced south and east- ward by the Carolina Chickadee, and blending into the long- tailed subspecies, or a form which connects the two subspecies, in the western and northwestern counties. In St. Louis Co., where the Carolina Chickadee is the prevalent form or species, the Black-capped appears regularly and numerously in family troops. in October and again in March, some remaining with us, but the majority spending the winter farther south. In the northern part of St. Louis Co., in the flood plain of the Missouri River about Creve Coeur Lake, the Black-cap and the Carolina Chickadee have both been found breeding, but at St. Louis and southward the Carolina only is seen in summer. *735a. PARUS ATRICAPILLUS SEPTENTRIONALIS (Harris). Long- tailed Chickadee. Parus septentrionalis. Parus atricapillus (in part). Penthestes atricapillus septentrionalis. Geog. Dist.—Great Plains and Rocky Mountain districts of central North America from New Mexico and Kansas to Alaska; and Mackenzie; east to eastern Kansas, Iowa, eastern South Dakota, western Minnesota, Manitoba and southwestern Kee- watin; west to Salt Lake. Dr. Hoy mentions the Long-tailed Chickadee among the birds observed by him in western Missouri in 1854, and W. E. D. Scott (Nutt. Bull., vol. 4, p. 140), who took a large series of Chickadees in Johnson Co. in 1874, found that many approached the subspecies, septentrionalis. in having the secondaries and lateral tail feathers conspicuously edged with white. Mr. B. F. Bush of Courtney, Jackson Co., writes me: ‘‘The Long- tailed Ch. occurs here much of the time and undoubtedly breeds.”’ Mr. H. Nehrling also reports this form as occurring, though rarely, together with atricap. and carolinensis at Pierce City, Lawrence Co. In Atchison Co. (Langdon, Rockport etc.) this was the only form found by the writer in June, 1906. *736. PARUS CAROLINENSIS Aud. Carolina Chickadee. Parus atricapillus carolinensis. Penthestes carolinensis. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States north to southern New Jersey, southern Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 257 central Illinois, central Missouri. South to northern and western Florida and along Gulf coast to Louisiana, replaced westward by the subspecies agilis. Non-migratory. In Missouri a common resident of the Ozark and Ozark border region and the southeast, apparently running in the extreme southwest (McDonald Co.) into the subspecies agilis, which is slightly larger with clearer gray on upper parts. (736a. PARUS CAROLINENSIS AGILIS Senn. Plumbeous Chick- adee. | Geog. Dist.—Eastern and central Texas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma. This subspecies was noticed, though not collected, by the writer at Noel, McDonald Co., June 1905, and collectors should try to verify the observation when collecting in that region. Family Sytvimar. Kinglets, Gnatcatchers. 748. REGULUS SATRAPA Licht. Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus cristatus. Sylvia regulus. Regulus tricolor. Regulus reguloides. Geog. Dist.—North America east of Rocky Mountains; north to Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island, Labrador, Keewatin and westward to Rocky Mountains; replaced in western North America by the subspecies olivaceus. Breeds - from Massachusetts, central New York, northern Michigan north- ward; also along Alleghany Mountains to North Carolina. Winters from the northern states southward to northern Florida and along Gulf coast to south central Texas, but chiefly south of the Ohio River. In southern Missouri a fairly common winter resident, rather rare in winter in the northern and western part of the state (Warrensburg, January 17, 1905, A. F. Smithson). As a tran- sient visitant common for a short time in the whole state, es- pecially eastward. Migration begins in favorable weather by the middle of March (March 12, 1887, St. Louis) and the first reach the northern border sometimes in March (March 20, 1894, March 26, 1893, Keokuk) but usually in the second week of April, when the bulk of the species is present at St. Louis. The weather permitting, the species passes rapidly on and in most years none are seen in the state after the middle of April, but 258 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louts. exceptionally some remain to near the end of the month (April 29, 1904, and April 22, 1888, St. Louis). In fall migration fore- runners appear sometimes in September (September 24, 1901, Keokuk; September 29, St. Louis), but usually not before early in October, sometimes even in the second week of that month. At St. Louis the bulk is present between the tenth and twentieth of October, when troops of 12 or more are not very rare. The last transients are seen near the end of the month, seldom lingering into the first week of November (November 4 and 6, 1894, Keokuk). 749. REGULUS CALENDULA (Linn.). Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Sylvia calendula. Regulus calendulus. Geog. Dist.—North America, north to the limits of tree growth, to Prince Edward Island, Labrador, Keewatin, Mackenzie, Yukon and Alaska. Breeds from Quebec, Mackinac Island and high mountains of New Mexico and Arizona and from north- ern California northward and winters entirely across United States and over whole of Mexico to Guatemala, chiefly from the Ohio River and southeastern Missouri southward and throughout California. In Missouri a common and generally distributed transient visitant, and a winter resident southward. Occasionally one is seen in midwinter in the vicinity of St. Louis, but its real winter range begins in the heavy forests of the southeast, where the species is quite common throughout winter. The first Ruby-crowns arrive from the south soon after the middle of March (March 19, 1907, Shannon Co., Woodruff; March 20, 1886, St. Louis; March 20, 1898, Independence; March 23, 1889, Laclede, Linn Co.; March 24, 1893, Keokuk) and the bulk is present between April 4 and 20. The “‘lasts” are usually seen, in all parts of the state, early in May, but loiterers are some- times met with in the second week of that month (May 9, 1882, and May 13, 1907, St. Louis; May 10, 1905, Shannon Co., Savage; May 14, 1905, LaGrange, Johnson; May 15, 1898, Keokuk, Currier). In fall the first come to the state from the north about the middle of September (September 14, 1901, Jasper Co.; September 16, 1887, St. Louis), but it is always rare until the last week of the month, when it appears more regularly. In some years it has not been seen at St. Louis before October 5, when the bulk is generally present in all parts of Missouri, Widmann—A. Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 259 remaining until October 15, after which date the species becomes scarce, and the last disappear between October 20 and 25 (October 26, 1889, Independence; October 25, 1894, Keokuk). *751. POLIOPTILA CAERULEA (Linn.). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Muscicapa caerulea. Culicivora caerulea. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Ontario, north to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, southern Michigan, southern Wisconsin, and eastern Nebraska. Breeds from Florida and southern Texas northward and winters from the Gulf States, Bahamas, Cuba and eastern Mexico to Yucatan and Guate- mala. In Missouri a summer resident, less common in the prairie region, but common throughout the Ozarks and Ozark border region as well as in the swamps of the southeast and in the bluffs and bottoms along rivers. It begins to arrive in the southeast, sometimes also in central Missouri, in the latter part of March (March 18, 1904, Iberia, Miller Co.; March 25, 1907, St. Louis). On account of the very uncertain weather in early April the first appearance at its breeding stands varies considerably and its ranks fill up slowly. In some years it has not been seen at St. Louis before the end of the second week in April, when, as a rule the bulk is due in central Missouri. The earliest date at our northern border is April 12, 1903, and the latest of “firsts” April 29,1894; and the same variations occur at every record- station (Mt. Carmel, April 5, 1885, and April 24, 1886). In fall the species withdraws from breeding haunts comparatively early, as it is quite rare after the first week of September, though occa- sionally loiterers have been noted much later, as September 25, 1885, at St. Louis; September 30, 1903, at New Haven; October 1, 1904, at Monteer, Shannon Co. Family Turpipar. Thrushes, Bluebirds, etc. Subfamily Turdinae. Thrushes. *755. HyLOCICHLA MUSTELINA (Gmel.). Wood Thrush. Turdus mustelinus. Turdus melodus. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and Ontario; north to Massachusetts, southern Michigan, central Wisconsin and Minne- sota; west to eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas and Texas. 260 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. Breeds from Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and Indian Territory northward. Winters in Cuba and Guatemala. In Missouri a common and generally distributed summer resident in all parts of the state high and low, north and south, east and west. Formerly a true woodland species it has accus- tomed itself to the new conditions and feels at home wherever there are trees, even in cities, often building its nest within a few yards of occupied dwellings. At the southern border, in Dunklin Co., the first Wood-Thrush was heard to sing as early as April 3. At St. Louis and in central Missouri generally, also in the higher parts of southern Missouri, the first are heard to sing between April 18 and 24, at the northern border between April 25 and 30. Exceptions are rare, and the bulk is usually present in the last days of April southward and the first week in May northward, when transient individuals swell their numbers and the song of the Wood-Thrush is heard everywhere. Migrants from the north are with us during the first half of September, but the bulk of the species leaves central Missouri about the middle of the month and nearly all are gone before the end of the month, except in the southern part of the state, where some linger through the first decade of October (St. Louis, October 7,1905; New Haven, October 9, 1903; Jasper, October 10, 1902; Monteer, October 10, 1904). 756. HyLocicHLA FUSCESCENS (Steph.). Wilson’s Thrush. Turdus fuscescens. Turdus wilsonii. Veery. ‘Tawny Thrush. 756a. HyLocICHLA FUSCESCENS SALICICOLA Ridgw. Willo Thrush. | : Turdus fuscescens salicicolus. Geog. Dist.—The breeding range of the two subspecies has not yet been clearly defined. While the Wilson’s breeds in eastern North America from southern Alleghenies and about 40° lat. northward to Nova Scotia and Ontario, the Willow Thrush’s summer home is not only in the Rocky Mountains from New Mexico and Arizona north to British Columbia, but reaches eastward through Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, where they are slightly intermediate, to Newfoundland. This peculiar overlapping of the breeding areas must produce a crossing of migration routes, which makes it at present diffi- cult. to say to which of the two forms the majority of tran- sients belong that regularly pass through our state in spring Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 261 and fall. That both forms occur is certain, as there is one speci- men of salicicola taken at Charleston, Mo., May 9, 1879, in the Bryant collection at Cambridge, Mass., and others have been taken in eastern as well as western Iowa and in northern IIl- inois. Without having the bird in hand it is difficult, though not impossible, to tell the subspecies, and it is for this reason that it will be the work of future collectors in our state to de- fine their status. Mr. Chas. K. Worthen says salicicola is the commoner one at Warsaw, II. | In Missouri a regular, but nowhere numerous, transient visitant, scattered over the entire state and through a whole month in spring and in fall, from April 20 to May 24, and from September 4 to October 10, but most common from May 10 to 17 and from about September 9 to 12 (Karliest April 20,. 1902, Jasper; latest October 10, 1904, Monteer; both reported by W. G. Savage). 757. HyLocIcHLA ALICIAE (Baird). Gray-cheeked Thrush. Turdus aliciae. Turdus swainsoni aliciae. Turdus ustulatus aliciae. Alice’s Thrush. ! Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America to the Aretic coast, Alaska and eastern Siberia. Breeds far north and migrates through eastern United States, chiefly the Mississippi Valley, to Costa Rica. In Missouri one of our common and most regular transient visitants spring and fall, less common westward. The van- guard arrives in southern Missouri in the last week of April; at St. Louis about the first of May, and the bulk is present during the second and third week of May; “lasts” are generally recorded in the fourth week, but individuals have been found lingering into June, even in the southeastern corner of the state, where the ripening of the Mulberries, of which they are very fond, accounts for the delay. They are generally in company with Olive-backed Thrushes and with them visit in spring all kinds of places, coming even into gardens in towns and on the lawns in cities. They are often heard to sing at half voice, are very confiding and remain at the same place several days, in cool weather a week or more. In fall they frequent other localities, chiefly the timber in the bottomlands, where they find different kinds of berries and thick shelter for roosts. They are sometimes found quite early in September, but the bulk is present in the 262 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. third and fourth weeks of the month, and the last do not leave our most southern woods before the middle of October. While they are musical in spring, they are silent in fall and therefore easily overlooked, but may be found wherever there are plenty of wild grapes, hackberry, sour gum, and other wild fruit. (757a. HYLOCICHLA ALICIAE BICKNELLI Ridgw. Bicknell’s Thrush. | Turdus aliciae bicknelli. Geog. Dist.—Breeds in mountainous parts of northeastern states and Nova Scotia. Has been taken. several times at Warsaw, Ill., by Mr. Chas. K. Worthen; the first time, May 24, 1884, and identification verified by Mr. R. Ridgway himself (Natural History Survey of Illinois, vol. 1, page 59). Mr. Worthen thinks that it will undoubtedly be found in company with Gray-cheeked Thrushes on wooded islands in the Mississippi while migrating in April and May. 758a. HYLOcICHLA USTULATA SWAINSONII (Cab.). Olive-backed Thrush. Turdus swainsoniit. Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. Swainson’s Thrush. Geog. Dist.—Not considering the lately differentiated sub- species oedica and almae the Swainson’s Thrush ranges over Eastern North America and westward to the upper Columbia River, straggling to the Pacific coast into the domain of the other subspecies ustulata. Breeds from the mountainous parts of the eastern states and from Mackinac Island north to Newfound- land, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Hudson Bay and through the Sas- katchewan region to Mackenzie and westward to British Colum- bia, rarely to Alaska. In winter to Cuba, and through Central America to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In Missouri a common and most regular transient visitant — spring and fall, west as well as east. In some springs the first are seen in southern Missouri soon after the middle of April, but the cold and windy weather which we often have about this time keeps them from advancing farther until the last days of the month, when they usually appear in the vicinity of St. Louis (April 26, 1883, 1884). The bulk is always present between May 3 and 15, after which their numbers decrease more or less rapidly according to the weather, the last being noted in the Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 263 fourth week of the month, latest May 29, 1882, June 3, 1907, St. Louis. In Shannon Co., where Mr. Savage found them extremely abundant, they occurred from April 22 to May 16, 1904, and from April 30 to May 10, 1905. At Keokuk Mr. Cur- _ rier found them commonly about the middle of May (May 6, 1892 to May 17, 1893). At Grandin, Carter Co., Mr. E. 8. Woodruff found it as late as May 25, 1907. Fall migration ex- tends from September 5 to October 3, the bulk being present about September 20. 759b. HyLocIcHLA GUTTATA PALLASII (Cab.). Hermit Thrush. Turdus solitarius. Turdus minor. Turdus pallasiit. Turdus aonalaschkae pallasti. Hylocichla unalascae pallasii. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America, north to Newfound- land, Anticosti and the north shore of the St. Lawrence, southern Ungava and west of Hudson Bay to Mackenzie and Yukon; west to British Columbia. Breeds from the mountainous parts of the castern United States and from northern Michigan and northern Minnesota northward. Win- ters from southern New Jersey and the Ohio River southward to the Gulf coast. In Missouri a fairly common, and generally distributed tran- sient visitant, and a winter resident in the heavily wooded southeast. In its migration it reaches St. Louis sometimes in March (March 25, 1907; March 30, 1887; March 31, 1905), but more commonly early in April, and the bulk is usually present in the second and third week of the month. ‘‘ Lasts” are noted in the fourth week, latest April 27, 1887,and May 1, 1907. Mr. E. S. Woodruff found the Hermit Thrush in Shannon Co. March 26 to April 27, 1907. Mr. Currier’s earliest date at Keo- kuk is April 10, 1898; his last April 28, 1893. In fall it reaches Missouri early in October (October 5, 1885, St. Louis; October 5, 1904, Shannon Co., Savage); the bulk is present in the second and third week, and the last at St Louis, October 25. It comes back to the same resting places year after year, remains a few days, sometimes a whole week, and goes on. It is seldom heard to sing in transit, but may be heard in its winter home, where it frequents the same swampy ground as the Winter Wren adjoining the drier haunts of the Fox, White-throated and other sparrows. (The Peninsula of Missouri as a Winter Home for Birds, by Q. Widmann, Auk, 1896, vol. 13, p. 216). 264 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. *761. MERULA MIGRATORIA (Linn.). American Robin. Turdus migratorius. Robin. Robin Redbreast. Geog. Dist.—Eastern North America from eastern Mexico to Alaska; west to the Rocky Mountains where it runs into the western subspecies propinqua. Breeds from Virginia and Arkansas northward to the Arctic coast; winters from southern New England, southern Indiana, southern [Illinois, central Missouri and southeastern Nebraska southward to the Gulf; in mild winters some have wintered as far north as South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and southern Ontario. In Missouri the Robin is an abundant migrant and a very common summer resident in all parts of the state, south as well as north, wherever there are farms, towns and cities, which it — now prefers to the wilds during nesting time, but retreating to them in fall and winter. Some spend the whole winter, even severe winters, in the lower Missouri River valley and along the Mississippi River from the Illinois River southward, but the | largest number is found in the swamps of the southeast, where many more would remain if they were not constantly disturbed by the host of duck hunters who repair to those regions. When the weather shows the first signs of awakening spring, sometimes at the end of January, oftener about the middle of February, the first troops of north-bound Robins appear in central, anda week or two later, in northern Missouri. Early in March the first males begin to sing in their old haunts, are soon joined by their mates, and bravely endure weeks of cold weather with ice, sleet and snow or chilling rains and high winds. Large flocks of transient Robins are also with us during the entire month of March and to the latter part of April, when in some years the young of our own birds are almost able to leave the nest (First egg, April 5, 1903, Montgomery City, Parker; young leave nest May 1, 1886, Fayette, Kilpatrick). When the last broods are able to fly well, about the first of August, Robins form small family troops, several of which join to spend the nights together in a common roost. When migration time comes in October larger roosts are formed, in which many thousands spend the nights together like Blackbirds in the high grasses of the marshes (A Winter Robin Roost in Missouri, by O. Widmann, Auk, vol. 12, 1895, page 1). By the first of November the bulk of transient Robins has left north and central Missouri, but many linger in the bottoms of our large rivers to the middle and often to the end of the month, even in northern portions of the state. Widmann—A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 265 The immense stretches of wild rice in the swamps of the south- east offer a safe place for roosts at this time of the year and flocks of many thousands have been seen to assemble there. They are great rovers, leave the roosts at daybreak and do not return before evening, spreading during the day over a large territory in search of food. *766. SIALIA SIALIS (Linn.). Bluebird. Sylvia sialis. Ampelis sialis. Sialia wilsonii. Geog. Dist.—Eastern United States and southern Canada, north to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba; west to base of Rocky Mountains. Breeds throughout its range and winters chiefly in the Southern States, though in small numbers from southern New England, Indiana and central Missouri southward. In Missouri a common summer resident in all parts of the state from March till October and a fairly common winter resident in the southeast, where it occurs in small troops, which seek the woods for shelter and the fields and clearings for food. Small parties also winter from St. Louis southward, retiring to the bottoms, where they spend the nights in woodpecker holes, often several together in one hole, visiting their summer haunts only in warm weather for a short time on spring-like mornings, but may thus be seen and heard even at Christmas and New Year’s time. In mild winters a few have been found wintering in New Haven, Fayette, Glasgow, Warrensburg and even at Laclede in Linn Co. (January 19, 1889, Ong). Migration begins usually between February 15 and 25 and the first reach even the most northern counties in the last days of February or in the first week of March. The transit of parties of north-bound Blue- birds continues until the latter part of March. Our own Blue- birds have by this time taken up their old quarters, finished nests being found as early as March 20, where, if not disturbed, they remain until the last brood is ready to go, about the first of August, when all retire to favorite feeding grounds. Three broods are sometimes made, the first leaving the nest about May 12, the second June 24, the third August 1. Migration from the north reaches us about the first of October and in the second and third week of the month Bluebirds are present in flocks of different size, sometimes as many as three hundred together apparently ready to depart for more southern climes. The bulk 266 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. of the species is gone by November 1, but some linger through November even in northern Missouri. After December 1 winter numbers only are left. We sometimes read that no bird has suffered so much from persecution by the English Sparrow as the Bluebird. While this may be true in some parts of the country, the Missouri. Bluebird has not much to fear from the Sparrows; it can cope with them successfully. After a pair has once taken possession of a bird-box no English Sparrow is al- lowed to come within ten feet of it. The greatest enemy of the Bluebird is the house cat, which gets most of the young birds the very first day they leave the nest, being careless enough to fly to the ground, but not strong enough to fly up readily when the lurking pet of the household approaches. Index. 267 INDEX. Acanthis linaria 169 Accipiter atricapillus 93 cooperii 92 fringilloides 91 fuscus 91 mexicanus 92 pensylvanicus 91 velox 91 Actitis macularius 74 Actiturus bartramius 73 Actodromas bairdii 68 fuscicollis 68 maculata 67 minutilla 69 Aechmophorus occidentalis 21 Aegialites vociferus 76 Aegialitis meloda cireumcincta 77 semipalmata 77 vocifera 76 Aegiothus fuscescens 169 linaria 169 Agelaeus phoeniceus 155 Agelaius phoeniceus 155 fortis 156 xanthocephalus 154 Aimophila aestiva bachmani 189 Aix sponsa 37 Alauda alpestris 142 cornuta 142 magna 156 rufa 243 spraguei 243 Alcedo aleyon 118 Ammodramus bairdii 176 bimaculatus 178 caudacutus 179 nelsoni 179 henslowii 178 leconteii 179 nelsoni 179 palustris 191 passerinus 177 sandwich. alaudinus 176 savanna 175 savannarum 177 perpallidus 178 Ampelis americana 205 cedrorum 205 garrulus 205 sialis 265 Anas acuta 36 albeola 40 americana 33 boschas 31 caerulescens 45 canadensis 45 carolinensis 34 caudacuta 36 clangula 39 clypeata 35 collaris 39 columbianus 48 erecca 34 cyanoptera 35 discors 34 domestica 31 ferina 37 fuligula 39 fulva 47 fusea 42 glacialis 41 histrionica 41 hyemalis 41 hyperboreus 44 islandica 40 jamaicensis 43 longicauda 41 marila 38 minuta 41 nigra 42 obscura 32 rubripes 32 penelope 33 perspicillata 43 rubidus 43 rufitorques 39 sponsa 37 strepera 32 vallisneria 37 Anhinga anhinga 27 Anorthura hyemalis 250 troglodytes 250 hyemalis 250 268 Anser albatus 44 albifrons 45 gambeli 45 caerulescens 45 frontalis 45 gambeli 45 hutchinsii 46 hyperboreus 44 Antrostomus carolinensis 128 nuttallii 129 vociferus 128 Anthus aquaticus 243 - ludovicianus 243 pensilvanicus 242 pipiens 243 spinoletta 243 spragueii 243 Aquila canadensis 100 chrysaétos 100 fulva 100 leucocephala 100 Archibuteo ferrugineus 99 lagopus 99 sancti-johannis 99 Ardea americana 56 caerulea 54 candidissima 54 egretta 53 exilis 52 herodias 52 leucogastra v. leucophrymna 54 ludoviciana 54 minor 51 naevia 55 pealei 54 rufa 54 rufescens 54 stellaris canadensis 51 tricolor ruficollis 54 virescens 55 Ardetta exilis 52 Arenaria morinella 78 Arquatella maritima 67 Asio accipitrinus 106 wilsonianus 105 Astragalinus tristis 169 Astur atricapillus 93 cooperii 92 hyemalis 97 palumbarius 93 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. Astur pennsylvanicus 91, 98 velox 91 Avocet, American 63 Aythya affinis 38 americana 37 collaris 39 marila 38 nearctica 38 vallisneria 37 Baeolophus bicolor 255 Baldpate 33 Bartramia longicauda 73 Beach Bird 70 Bee Martin 135 Beetle-head 76 Bernicla canadensis 45 hutchinsii 46 Bird of Paradise 135 Washington 100 Bittern, American 51 Least 52 Little 52 Blackbird, Brewer’s 163 Common 163 Crow 163 Red-winged 155 Rusty 162 Swamp 155 Thrush 162 Yellow-headed 154 Blackcap, Wilson’s 240 Black-head, Big 38 Little 38 Black-jack 39 Bluebill, Big 38 Little 38 Bluebird 265 Blue Jay 144 Bobolink 149° Bob-white 78 Bombycilla americana 205 carolinensis 205 garrulus 205 Bonasa umbellus 79 Botaurus lentiginosus 51 minor 51 mugitans 51 Brachyotus palustris 106 Brant, White 44 Branta canadensis 45 hutchinsi 46 minima 47 Bridge-pewee 137 Bristle-tail 43 Brown Back 66 Bubo virginianus 110 pallescens 112 subarctica 112 Bucephala albeola 40 americana 39 clangula 39 Buffle-head 40 : Bull-bat 130 Bull-head 76 Bull-peep 68 Bunting, Bay-winged 175 Black-throated 198 Henslow’s 178 Indigo 196 Lark 198 Lazuli 197 Painted 197 Butcherbird 206 Buteo aquilinus 94 bairdii 97 borealis 94 calurus 96 harlani 96 kriderii 95 calurus 96 harlani 96 hyemalis 97 lagopus 99 latissimus 98 lineatus 97 montanus 96, 97 niger 99 pennsylvanicus 98 platypterus 98 swainsoni 97 vulgaris 97 Butorides virescens 55 Butterball 40 Buzzard, Red-shouldered 97 Red-tailed 94 Rough-legged 99 Turkey 86 Calamospiza bicolor 198 Index. 269 Calamospiza melanocorys 198 Calearius lapponicus 173 ornatus 174 pictus 173 Calico-back 78 Calidris arenaria 70 calidris 70 rubidus 70 Campephilus principalis 119 Canary, Wild 169, 222 Canvasback 37 Caprimulgus carolinensis 128 nuttallii 129 popetue 130 virginianus 130 vociferus 128 Carbo mexicanus 28 Cardinal 194 Kentucky 194 Cardinalis cardinalis 194 virginianus 194 Carduelis americanus 169 carduelis 171 elegans 171 pinus 170 tristis 169 Carpodacus purpureus 167 Catbird 245 Catharista atrata 87 urubu 87 Cathartes atratus 87 aura 86 Cedarbird 205 Centronyx bairdii 176 ochrocephalus 176 Centrophanes lapponicus 173 ornatus 174 pictus 173 Centurus carolinus 126 Ceophloeus pileatus 123 albieticola 123 Certhia americana 252 caroliniana 247 familiaris 252 americana 252 rufa 252 maculata 212 pinus 216 varia 212 Ceryle alcyon 118 210. Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Chaetura pelagica 132 pelasgia 132 Charadrius apricarius 76 dominicus 76 fulvus v. virginicus 76 helveticus 76 hiaticula 77 marmoratus 76 melodus 77 mexicanus 64 pluvialis 76 semipalmatus 77 virginicus 76 vociferus 76 Charitonetta albeola 40 Chat, Yellow-breasted 239 Chatterer, Bohemian 205 Chaulelasmus streperus 32 Chebeck 142 Chelidon erythrogastra 202 Chen caerulescens 45 hyperborea 44 hyperboreus albatus 44 nivalis 44 Cherrybird 205 Chewink 193 Chickadee 255 Black-capped 255 Carolina 256 Long-tailed 256 Plumbeous 257 Chippy 184 Winter 184 Chondestes grammacus 180 grammica 180 Chordeiles henryi 131 popetue 130 virginianus 130 henryi 131 sennetti 131 Chroicocephalus franklini 25 philadelphia 25 Chrysomitris pinus 170 tristis 169 Chuck-will’s widow 128 Circus cyaneus 90 hudsonius 90 hudsonicus 90 hyemalis 97 Cistothorus palustris 251 Cistothorus stellaris 251 Clangula albeola 40 clangula americana 39 glaucion 39 hyemalis 41 islandica 40 vulgaris 39 Clivicola riparia 203 Coccoborus caeruleus 196 ludovicianus 195 vespertinus 166 Coccothraustes ludovicianus 195 vespertinus 166 Coccygus americanus 116 erythrophthalmus 117 Coccyzus americanus 116 erythrophthalmus 117 Cock-of-the-Woods 123 Colaptes auratus 126 luteus 126 ayresii 127 cafer 127 collaris 127 collaris 127 hybridus 127 , mexicanus 127 Colinus virginianus 78 Columba carolinensis 85 macroura 85 migratoria 84 Collurio borealis 206 ludovicianus excubitoroides 207 Collyrio borealis 206 excubitoroides 207 Colymbus arcticus 23 auritus 21, 22 californicus 22 glacialis 22 holboellii 21 nigricollis californicus 22 podiceps 22 septentrionalis 23 torquatus 22 Compsothlypis americana ramalinae 220 usneae 220 Contopus borealis 138 virens 139 Conurus carolinensis 113 ~ Coot, American 62 Index. Coot, Gray 43 Sea 43 Spectacled 43 Surf 43 White-winged 42 Cormorant, Double-crested 28 Southern 28 Florida 28 Mexican 28 Corporal, Little 103 Corvus americanus 147 brachyrhynchus 147 cacalotl 146 carnivorus 146, 147 columbianus 149 corax 146, 147 carnivorus 147 principalis 147 sinuatus 146 corone 147 cristatus 144 frugivorus 147 pica 144 sinuatus 146 Corydalina bicolor 198 Corythus enucleator 166 Cotile riparia 203 Coturniculus bairdii 176 henslowii 178 leconteii 179 passerinus 177 perpallidus 178 savannarum bimaculatus 178 passerinus 177 Cotyle riparia 203 serripennis 204 Cowbird 151 Crake, Carolina 59 Crane, Blue 52 Brown 57 Hooping 56 Little Brown 57 Sandhill 57 Northern 57 White 53 Whooping 56, 57 Creeper, Brown 252 Crex galeata 61 271 Cricket Bird 177 Crossbill, American 167 White-winged 168 Crow, American 147 Carrion 87 Clarke’s 149 Crymophilus fulicarius 62 Cryptoglaux acadica 108 tengmalmi richardsonii 108 Cuckoo, Black-billed 117 Yellow-billed 116 Cuculus auratus 126 carolinensis 116 erythrophthalmus 117 Culicivora caerulea 259 Cupidonia cupido 81 Curlew, Eskimo 75 Esquimaux 75 Hudsonian 75 Jack 75 Long-billed 74 Short-billed 75 Curvirostra americana 167 leucoptera 168 Cyanocitta cristata 144 Cyanospiza amoena 197 ciris 197 cyanea 196 Cyanurus cristatus 144 Cygnus americanus 48 bewickii 48 buccinator 48 ferus 48 Cygnus musicus 48 Cypselus pelasgia 132 Dabchick 22 Dacnis protonotaria 213 vermivora 214 Dafila acuta 36 Darter 27 Demiegretta ludoviciana 54 pealii 54 rufa 54 Dendrocygna fulva 47 Dendroica aestiva 222 blackburniae 228 caerulescens 222 canadensis 222 272 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Dendroica castanea 227 cerulea 225 coronata 223 discolor 232 dominica 229 albilora 229 kirtlandi 231 maculosa 224 palmarum 232 pensylvanica 226 pinus 231 rara 225 striata 227 superciliosa 229 tigrina 221 vigorsli 231 virens 230 Dendronessa sponsa 37 Dichromanassa rufa 54 rufescens 54 Dickcissel 198 Dipper 22, 40 Diver, Arctic 23 Great Northern 22 Dolichonyx bicolor 198 oryzivorus 149 Dough Bird 70, 75 Dove, Carolina 85 Mourning 85 Dowitcher 66 Long-billed 66 Red-bellied 66 _ Dryobates borealis 121 pubescens medianus 120 villosus 119 audubonii 120 Duck, Black 32 Red-legged 32 Dusky 32 Fish 30, 31 Fool 43 Gray 32 Harlequin 41 Long-tailed 41 Ring-necked 39 Ruddy 43 Scaup 38 Lesser 38 Scoter 42 Spine-tailed 43 Duck, Spoon-billed 35 Summer 37 Surf 43 Black 42 Tree, Fulvous 47 Velvet 42 Wood 37 Dunlin 69 Dytes auritus 21 Eagle, American 100 Bald 100 Black 100 Golden 100 Gray 100 Ring-tailed 100 White-headed 100 Kcetopistes macrura 84 migratoria 84 Egret, American 53 Peale’s 54 Reddish 54 White, Little 54 Egretta candidissima 54 Elanoides forficatus 88 Elanus dispar 89 furcatus 88 glaucus 89 leucurus 89 Emberiza americana 198 amoena 197 bairdii 176 canadensis 184 ciris 197 erythrophthalma 193 graminea 175 grammaca 180 henslowii 178 lapponica 173 leconteii 179 leucophrys 182 melodia 190 nivalis 172 ornata 174 orycivora 149 pallida 185 passerina 177 pecoris 151 picta 173 pusilla 186 savannarum 175 Emberiza shattuckii 185 smithii 173 socialis 184 Empidonax acadicus 140 flaviventris 140 minimus 142 pusillus 141 traillii 141 traillii 141 alnornum 141 virescens 140 Ephialtes asio 109 Eremophila alpestris 142 praticola 143 cornuta 142 Ereunetes occidentalis 70 petrificatus 69, 70 pusillus 69, 70 Erismatura jamaicensis 43 rubida 43 Erythrospiza purpurea 167 Eudocinus albus 49 Euphagus carolinus 162 cyanocephalus 163 Euspiza americana 198 Falco anatum 102 atricapillus 93 borealis 94 buteo 97 buteoides 97 chrysaétos 100 columbarius 103 communis anatum 102 cooperii 92 eyanus 90 dispar 89 ferrugineus 99 forficatus 88 furcatus 88 fuscus 91 harlani 96 hudsonius 90 hyemalis 97 lagopus 99 lanarius mexicanus 101 polyagrus 101 leucocephalus 100 leverianus 94 lineatus 97 Index. Falco lithofaleo columbarius 103 mexicanus 101 mississippiensis 90 niger 99 ossifragus 100 palumbarius 93 peregrinus anatum 102 plumbeus 90 polyagrus 101 richardsonii 103 sancti-johannis 99 sparverius 103 stanleyi 92 temerarius 103 uliginosus 90 velox 91 washingtonii 100 Falcon, Peregrine 102 Prairie 101 Finch, Purple 167, 197 Fish Duck 30, 31 Fish-hawk 104 Flicker, Northern 126 Red-shafted 127 Florida caerulea 54 Flycatcher, Acadian 140 Alder 141 Crested 137 Great Crested 137 Green Crested 140 Least 142 Little 141 Olive-sided 138 Scissor-tailed 135 Swallow-tailed 135 Traill’s 141 Yellow-bellied 140 Fly-up-the-creek 55 Fringilla albicollis 183 ambigua 151 americana 198 amoena 197 arborea 184 bachmani 189 bicolor 198 caerulea 196 canadensis 184 cardinalis 194 earduelis 171 caudacuta 179 274 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Fringilla ciris 197 comata 180 cyanea 196 domestica 172 erythrophthalma 193 fasciata 190 ferruginea 192 georgiana 191 graminea 175 grammaca 180 harrisii 180 henslowii 178 hyemalis 187 iliaca 192 juncorum 186 lapponica 173 leucophrys 182 linaria 169 lincolni 191 ludoviciana 195 melodia 190 montana 172 nivalis 187 oryzivora 149 palustris 191 passerina 177 pensylvanica 183 pinus 170 purpurea 167 pusilla 186 querula 180 rufa 192 savanna 175 savannarum 177 socialis 184 tristis 169 vespertina 166 Fulica americana 62 atra 62 martinica 61 Fuligula affinis 38 albeola 40 americana 37, 42 clangula 39 collaris 39 ferina 37 fusca 42 histrionica 41 marila 38 mariloides 38 Fuligula minor 38 perspicillata 43 rubida 43 spectabilis 42 vallisneria 37 Fulix affinis 38 collaris 39 marila 38 Gadwall 32 Galeoscoptes carolinensis 245 Gallinago delicata 65 wilsoni 65 Gallinula chloropus 61 galeata 61 porphyrio 61 Gallinule, Florida 61 Purple 61 Gambetta flavipes 72 melanoleuca 71 Garrot 39 Rocky Mountain 40 Garrulus cristatus 144 Garzetta candidissima 54 Gavia arctica 23 imber 22 lumme 23 Geothlypis agilis 236 formosa 235 philadelphia 237 trichas brachidactyla 238 Glaucionetta clangula americana 39 islandica 40 Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray 259 Godwit, Black-tailed 71 Hudsonian 71 Marbled 70 Ring-tailed 71 Golden-eye, American 39 Barrow’s 40 Goldfinch, American 169 European 171 Goniaphea caerulea 196 ludoviciana 195 Goosander 30 Goose, Blue 45 Blue-winged 45 Cackling 47 Canada 45 Lesser 46 Goose, Hutchin’s 46 Laughing 45 Snow 44, 45 Greater 44 Lesser 44 White-fronted, American 45 Wild 45 Little 46 Goshawk, American 93 © Gourdhead 51 Grackle 163 Blue-headed 163 Bronzed 163 Rusty 162 Gracula ferruginea 162 Graculus dilophus 28 Grassfinch 175 - Grayback 66, 67 Great Head 39 Grebe, California 22 Carolina 22 Eared, American 22 Holboell’s 21 Horned 21, 22 Pied-billed 22 Red-necked, American 21 Thick-billed 22 Western 21 Grosbeak, Blue 196 Evening 166 Pine 166 Canadian 166 Rose-breasted 195 Grouse, Pinnated 81 Ruffled 79 Grus americanus 56, 57 canadensis 57 fraterculus 57 hoyanus 56 mexicana 57 Guara alba 49 Guiraca caerulea 196 cardinalis 194 ludoviciana 195 Gull, Bonaparte’s 25 Common, American 25 Fork-tailed 25 Franklin’s 25 Herring 24 American 24 Index. Gull, Ring-billed 25 Rosy, Franklin’s 25 Sabine’s 25 Sea 24 Habia ludoviciana 195 Haliaétus washingtonii 100 Haliaeetus leucocephalus 100 Hangnest 161 Harelda glacialis 41 hyemalis 41 Harlequin Duck 41 Harporhynchus rufus 246 Harrier, American 90 Hawk, Black 99 Black-shouldered 89 Blue 92 Broad-winged 98 Cooper’s 92 Duck 102 Fish 104 Harlan’s 96 Krider’s 95 Marsh 90 Mouse 90 Pigeon 103 Red-shouldered 97 Red-tailed 94 275 Rough-legged, American 99 Sharp-shinned 91 Sparrow, American 103 Squirrel, California 99 Swainson’s 97 Swallow-tailed 88 Hedymeles ludovicianus 195 Helinaia bachmanii 215 celata 218 chrysoptera 217 peregrina 219 protonotarius 213 rubricapilla 218 solitaria 216 swainsonii 214 vermivora 214 Helldiver 22 Helmintherus vermivorus 214 Helminthophaga bachmani 215 celata 218 chrysoptera 217 leucobronchialis 216 276 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Helminthophaga peregrina 219 pinus 216 ruficapilla 218 Helminthophila bachmanii 215 celata 218 chrysoptera 217 leucobronchialis 216 peregrina 219 pinus 216 rubricapilla 218 ruficapilla 218 Helminthotherus vermivorus 214 Helmitherus swainsoni 214 vermivorus 214 Helodromas solitarius 72 Helonaea swainsonii 214 Herodias alba egretta 53 egretta 53 Heron, Fish 52 Great Blue 52 Green 55 Little Blue 54 Little White 54 Louisiana 54 Night, Black-crowned 55 Yellow-crowned 56 Snowy 54 White 53 Hesperiphona vespertina 166 High-holder 126 Himantopus mexicanus 64 nigricollis 64 Hirundo americana 202 bicolor 203 erythrogaster 202 fulva 201 horreorum 202 lunifrons 201 pelasgia 132 purpurea 201 republicana 201 riparia 203 rufa 202 rustica 202 serripennis 204 subis 201 viridis 203 Histrionicus histrionicus 41 minutus 41 torquatus 41 Hummingbird, Ruby-throated 134 Hydranassa tricolor ludoviciana 54 ruficollis 54 Hydrochelidon fissipes 27 lariformis 27 nigra surinamensis 27 plumbea 27 Hylocichla aliciae 261 bicknelli 262 fuscescens 260 salicicola 260 guttata pallasii 263 mustelina 259 unalascae pallasii 263 ustulata swainsonii 262 Hylotomus pileatus 123 Ibis alba 49 Bay 50 Glossy 50 Green 50 guarauna 50 falcinellus 50 v. Ordii 50 Ordii 50 thalassinus 50 White 49 White-faced Glossy 50 Wood 51 Icteria virens 239 viridis 239 Icterus baltimore 161 galbula 161 icterocephalus 154 pecoris 151 phoeniceus 155 spurius 160 xanthocephalus 154 Ictinia mississippiensis 90 plumbea 90 subcaerulea 90 Indian Pullet 51 Ionornis martinica 61 Iridoprocne bicolor 203 Jaeger, Parasitic 24 Richardson’s 24 Jay Bird 144 Joree 193 Junco 187 Junco hiemalis 187 hyemalis 187 connectens 188 shufeldti 188 montanus 189 Shufeldt’s 188 Slate-colored 187 Kestrel, American 103 Killdeer 76 Kingbird 135 Arkansas 136 King Eider 42 Kingfisher, Belted 118 Kinglet, Golden-crowned 257 Ruby-crowned 258 Kite, Fork-tailed 88 Mississippi 90 Swallow-tailed 88 White-tailed 89 Kittiwake 24 Knot 67 Lanius borealis 206 excubitor 206 ludovicianus 207 migrans 207 tyrannus 135 Lanivireo flavifrons 210 solitarius 210 Lanner 101 Lark, Horned 142, 143 Hoyt’s 143 Prairie 143 Prairie 143 Shore 142 Snow 142 Larus argentatus 24 smithsonianus 24 bonapartei 25 delawarensis 25 franklinii 25 philadelphia 25 sabinii 25 tridactylus 24 zonorhynchus 25 Lawyer 64 Lead-back 69 Lestris richardsonii 24 Limosa fedoa 70 Index. 277 Limosa foeda 70 haemastica 71 hudsonica 71 scolopacea 66 Linaria minor 169 pinus 170 Lobipes hyperboreus 62 lobatus 62 Log-cock 123 Long-beak, Greater 66 Long-bill 65 Long-shanks 64 : Longspur, Chestnut-collared 174 Lapland 173 McCown’s 174 Smith’s 173 Look-up 51 Loon 22 Arctic 23 Black-throated 23 Red-throated 23 Lophodytes cucullatus 31 Lophophanes bicolor 255 Loxia americana 167 caerulea 196 cardinalis 194 curvirostra 167 americana 167 minor 167 enucleator 166 leucoptera 168 ludoviciana 195 rosea 195 Macrorhamphus griseus 66 scolopaceus 66 scolopaceus 66 Magpie, American 144 Mallard 31 Black 32 Mareca americana 33 penelope 33 Marlin 70 Black-tailed 71 Ring-tailed 71 Marsh Hen 58 Martin 201 Purple 201 Sand 203 Maybird 67 278 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lows. Meadowlark 156 Southern 160 Western 157 Megascops asio 109 Melanerpes carolinus 126 erythrocephalus 124 Melanetta velvetina 42 Meleagris gallopavo 83 fera 83 silvestris 83 Mellisuga colubris 134 Melospiza cinerea melodia 190 fasciata 190 georgiana 191 lincolnii 191 meloda 190 ~ melodia 190 palustris 191 Merganser americanus 30 serrator 30 Merganser, American 30 Hooded 31 Red-breasted 30 Mergus americanus 30 cucullatus 31 merganser 30 serrator 30 Merlin, American 103 Richardson’s 103 Merula migratoria 264 Micropalama himantopus 66 Microptera americana 64 Milvulus forficatus 135 Milvus furcatus 88 leucurus 89 Mimus carolinensis 245 felivox 245 polyglottus 244 Mniotilta borealis 212 varia 212 borealis 212 Mocker 244 Mockingbird 244 Molothrus ater 151 pecoris 151 Moorhen 61 Mosquito hawk 130 Motacilla aestiva 222 chrysoptera 217 citrea 213 Motacilla maculosa 224 — tigrina 221 Mudhen 61, 62 Mud-peep 69 Muscicapa atra 137 bonapartei 241 caerulea 259 canadensis 241 cantatrix 211 carolinensis 245 crinita 137 cucullata 240 forficata 135 fusca 137 gilva 209 melodia 209 noveboracensis 211 nunciola 137 olivacea 208 phoebe 137 - pusilla 240 querula 139, 140 rapax 139 ruticilla 242 saya 138 selbii 240 solitaria 210 sylvicola 210 traillii 141 tyrannus 135 verticalis 136 virens 139 Muscivora forficata 135 Myiarchus crinitus 137 Myiodioctes bonapartei 241 canadensis 241 formosus 235 mitratus 240 pusillus 240 pileolatus 241 wilsonii 240 Nauclerus forficatus 88 furcatus 88 Neocorys spraguei 243 Nettion carolinensis 34 Nighthawk 130 Sennetti 131 Western 131 Night Raven 55 Niphea hyemalis 187 Nisus fuscus 91 pensylvanicus 91 Nonpareil 197 Nucifraga columbiana 149 Numenius borealis 57 hudsonicus 75 intermedius 75 longirostris 74 Nutcracker, Clarke’s 149 Nuthatch, Brown-headed 254 Canada 254 Carolina 253 Red-bellied 254 Red-breasted 254 White-bellied 253 White-breasted 253 Nuttallornis borealis 138 Nyctale acadica 108 albifrons 108 frontalis 108 kirtlandi 108 richardsoni 108 tengmalmi richardsoni 108 Nyctanassa violacea 56 Nyctea nivea 112 nyctea 112 scandiaca v. arctica 112 Nycterodius violaceus 56 Nyctiardea gardeni 55 grisea naevia 55 violacea 56 Nycticorax nycticorax naevius 55 violaceus 56 Oidemia americana 42 bimaculata 42 deglandi 42 fusca 42 velvetina 42 perspicillata 43 velvetina 42 Olbiorchilus hiemalis 250 Old-squaw 41 Old-wife 41 Olor americanus 48 buccinator 48 columbianus 48 Oporornis agilis 236 formosus 235 Index. 979 Oriole, Baltimore 161 Orchard 160 Oriolus baltimore 161 mutatus 160 spurius 160 Orpheus carolinensis 245 rufus 246 Ortolan 59 Ortygometra carolina 59 noveboracensis 60 Ortyx virginianus 78 Osprey, American 104 Otocoris alpestris 142 hoyti 143 praticola 143 Otus americanus 105 brachyotus 106 vulgaris v. wilsonianus 105 wilsonianus 105 Ovenbird 233 Owl, Acadian 108 Barn, American 105 Barred 107 Cat 106 Great Gray 107 Hawk, American 113 Hoot 107 Horned, Great 110 Western 112 Kirtland’s 108 Long-eared, American 105 Marsh 106 Monkey-faced 105 Mottled 109 Prairie 106 Richardson’s 108 Saw-whet 108 Screech 109 Short-eared 106 Snowy 112 Sparrow, American 108 Ox-bird 69 Ox-eye 76 Oxyechus vociferus 76 Pandion carolinensis 104 haliaetus 104 haliaétus carolinensis 104 Parakeet 113 Paroquet, Carolina 113 280 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Parrot, Orange-headed 113 Partridge 78, 79 Parula americana 220 Parus atricapillus 255, 256 carolinensis 256 septentrionalis 256 bicolor 255 carolinensis 256 agilis 257 palustris 255 septentrionalis 256 Passer domesticus 172 montanus 172 Passerculus alaudinus 176 bairdi 176 sandwich. alaudinus 176 savanna 175 savanna 175 alaudinus 176 Passerella iliaca 192 Passerina amoena 197 ciris 197 cyanea 196 nivalis 172 Peabody bird 183 Peep 69 Peet-weet 74 Pelecanus americanus 29 dilophus 28 erythrorhynchus 29 onocrotalus 29 trachyrhynchus 29 Pelican, White, American 29 Pelidna alpina sakhalina 69 pacifica 69 Pelionetta perspicillata 43 trowbridgii 43 Penelope mexicana 47 Penthestes atricapillus 255 septentrionalis 256 carolinensis 256 Perdix virginiana 78 Perisoglossa tigrina 221 Petrochelidon lunifrons 201 Peucea aestivalis 189 bachmanii 189 illinoiensis 189 — bachmanii 189 illinoiensis 189 Peucea lincolnii 191 Phalacrocorax dilophus 28 floridanus 28 floridanus 28 mexicanus 28 Phalaenoptilus nuttallii 129 nitidus 129 Phalarope, Gray 62 Northern 62 Red 62 Red-necked 62 Wilson’s 63 Phalaropus fulicarius 62 hyperboreus 62 lobatus, 62, 63 tricolor 63 wilsoni 63 Phasianus colchicus 82 torquatus 82 Pheasant 79 English 82 Ring-necked 82 Philohela minor 64 Phoebe 137 Say’s 138 Pica caudata hudsonica 144 hudsonica 144 melanoleuca 144 pica hudsonica 144 Picicorvus columbianus 149 Picus audubonii 120 auratus 126 borealis 121 carolinus 126 erythrocephalus 124 mexicanus 127 pileatus 123 principalis 119 pubescens 120 querulus 121 varius 122 villosus 119 Pigeon, Passenger 84 Wild 84 Pinicola canadensis 166 enucleator 166 canadensis 166 leucura 166 Pintail 36 Pipilo erythrophthalmus 193 Pipit, American 243 Sprague’s 243 Pipra polyglotta 239 Piranga erythromelas 199 rubra 200 Pitylus cardinalis 194 Plectrophanes lapponicus 173 mecownii 174 melanomus 174 nivalis 172 ornatus 174 pictus 173 Plectrophenax nivalis 172 Plegadis autumnalis 50 falcinellus 50 guarauna 50 Plotus anhinga 27 melanogaster 27 Plover, Black bellied 76 Blue 67 Field 73, 76 Golden, American 76 Grass 73 Green 76 Killdeer 76 Piping, Belted 77 Ring 77 Semipalmated 77 Ring 77 Upland 73 Pochard 37 Podiceps auritus 22 californicus 22 carolinensis 22 cornutus 21 cristatus 21 griseigena holboelli 21 holboellii 21 occidentalis 21 rubricollis 21 Podilymbus podiceps 22 Polioptila caerulea 259 Poocetes gramineus 175 Pooecetes gramineus 175 Poor-will 129 frosted 129 Pope 197 Porphyrio martinica 61 Porzana carolina 59 jamaicensis 60 Index. Porzana noveboracensis 60 Prairie Chicken 81 Hen 81 Lesser 82 Preacher 208 Progne purpurea 201 subis 201 Protonotaria citrea 213 Psittacus carolinensis 113 Pyranga aestiva 200 erythromelas 199 mississippiensis 200 rubra 199 Pyrgita montana 172 Pyrrhula enucleator 166 Qua-bird 55 Quail 78 Quawk 55 Querquedula carolinensis 34 cyanoptera 35 discors 34 Quiscalus aeneus 163 breweri 163 ferrugineus 162 purpureus 163 aeneus 163 quiscula aeneus 163 versicolor 163 Rail, Black 60 : Little 60 Common 59 King 58 Red-breasted, Great 58 Little 59 Virginia 59 Yellow 60 Raincrow 116, 117 | Rallus carolinus 59 elegans 58 jamaicensis 60 noveboracensis 60 virginianus 59 Raven, American 146, 147 Mexican 146 Northern 147 Recurvirostra americana 63 ; himantopus 64 Red-bark 69 281 282. Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Redbird 194 3 Summer 200 Red-breast 69, 195 Robin 264 Redhead 37 Redpoll 169 Yellow 232 Redstart, American 242 Red-tail, Black 96 Western 96 White-bellied 95 Red-wing, Northern 156 Thick-billed 156 Reedbird 149 Regulus calendula 258 cristatus 257 reguloides 257 satrapa 257 tricolor 257 Rhinogryphus aura 86 Rhyacophilus solitarius 72 Rhynchophanes mecownii 174 Ricebird 149 Ring-bill 39 Ring-neck 39, 77 Riparia riparia 203 Rissa tridactyla 24 Robin, American 264 Rosebreast 195 Rough-leg, Ferruginous 99 Rusticola minor 64 Salad-bird 169 Sand-lark 74 Sand-peep 69 Sanderling 70 Sandpiper, Baird’s 68 Bartramian 73 Black-bellied 69 Bonaparte’s 68 Buff-breasted 73 Common 74 Least 69 Pectoral 67 Purple 67 Red-backed 69 Red-breasted 67 Semipalmated 69 Solitary 72 Spotted 74 Sandpiper, Stilt 66 Western 70 White-rumped 68 Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied 122 Sawbill 31 Sayornis fuscus 137 phoebe 137 saya 138 Scolecophagus carolinus 162 cyanocephalus 163 ferrugineus 162 Scolopax alba 49 borealis 75 delicata 65 douglasii 65 fedoa 70 flavipes 72 gallinago 65 grisea 66 guarauna 50 haemastica 71 melanoleuca 71 minor 64 noveboracensis 66 semipalmata 72 vociferus 71 Scops asio 109 Seoter, American 42 Black 42 Surf 43 Velvet 42 White-winged 42 Scotiaptex cinereum 107 nebulosa 107 Sea Coot 42 Sea Swallow, Common 26 Seiurus aurocapillus 233 ludovicianus 235 motacilla 235 naevius 233 noveboracensis 233 notabilis 233 Setophaga canadensis 241 mitrata 240 ruticilla 242 wilsonii 65, 240 Sheldrake, American 30 Buff-breasted 30 Hooded 31 Red-breasted 30 Shoveller 35 Shrike, Loggerhead, Northern 207 Migrant 207 Northern 206 Shytepoke 55 Sialia sialis 265 wilsonii 265 Sickle-bill 74 Siskin, Pine 170 Sitta canadensis 254 carolinensis 253 pusilla 254 varia 254 Siurus aurocapillus 233 motacilla 235 naevius 233 Skunkhead 43 Skylark, Missouri 243 Snakebird 27 Snipe, American 65 Grass 67 Gray 66 Jack 65, 67 Red-bellied 66 Red-brested 66 Robin 67 Rock 67 Stone 71 White 64 Wilson’s 65 Winter 67 Snowbird 172, 187 Snowflake 172 Somateria spectabilis 42 Sora 59 South-southerly 41 Sparrow, Bachman’s 189 Baird’s 176 Chipping 184 Clay-colored 185 Field 186 Western 187 Fox 192 Grasshopper 177 ) Western 178 Ground 175 Harris’s 180 Henslow’s 178 Hooded 180 House, English 172 Index. Sparrow, Lark 180 Leconte’s 179 Lincoln’s 191 Nelson’s 179 Oakwood 189 Savanna 175 Western 176 Song 190 Swamp 191 Tree, Canada 184 European 172 Vesper 175 White-crowned 182 White-throated 183 Spatula clypeata 35 Speckle-belly 45 Sphyrapicus varius 122 Spinus pinus 170 tristis 169 Spiza americana 198 amoena 197 ciris 197 cyanea 196 Spizella agrestis 186 arenacea 187 domestica 184 montana 184 monticola 184 pallida 185 pusilla 186 arenacea 187 socialis 184 Spoonbill 35 Sprig 36 Sprigtail 36 Squatarola helvetica 76 squatarola 76 Squawk 55 Stake Driver 51 Steganopus tricolor 63 wilsoni 63 Stelgidopterix serripennis 204 Stercorarius parasiticus 24 Sterna antillarum 27 argentea 27 caspia 26 fissipes 27 fluviatilis 26 forsteri 26 frenata 27 284 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. Sterna havellii 26 hirundo 26 minuta 27 nigra 27 superciliaris 27 tschegrava 26 wilsonii 26 Stilt 64 Black-necked 64 Stint 69 Strepsilas interpres 78 Strix acadica 108 accipitrinus 106 americana 105 asio 109 brachyotus 106 cinerea 107 flammea 105 americana 105 pratincola 105 funerea 113 hudsonica 113 naevia 109 nebulosa 107 nyctea 112 otus 105 passerina 108 pratincola 105 tengmalmi 108 virginiana 110 Struthus hyemalis 187 Sturnella ludoviciana 156, 157 magna 156 argatula 160 neglecta 157 neglecta 157 Sturnus ludovicianus 156 predatorius 155 Surnia hudsonica 113 naevia 109 nyctea 112 ulula caparoch 113 hudsonica 113 Swallow, Bank 203 Barn 202 Chimney 132 Chiff 201 Eave 201 Rough-winged 204 Tree 203 Swallow, White-bellied 203 Wood 203 Swan, American 48 Trumpeter 48 Whistling 48 Swift, Chimney 132 Sylvania bonapartei 241 canadensis 241 formosa 235 mitrata 240 pusilla 240 pileolata 241 Sylvia aestiva 222 agilis 236 americana 220 autumnalis 227 azurea 225 bachmani 215 blackburniae 228 caerulescens 222 ealendula 258 canadensis 222 castanea 227 celata 218 cerulea 225 childrenii 222 chrysoptera 217 citrinella 222 coronata 223 discolor 232 domestica 248 formosa 235 icterocephala 226 leucoptera 222 maculosa 224 magnolia 224 maritima 221 minuta 232 mitrata 240 palmarum 232 pardalina 241 parus 228 pensilis 229 pensylvanica 226 peregrina 219 philadelphia 237 pinus 231 protonotarius 213 pusilla 222 rara 225 Sylvia rathbonia 222 regulus 257 rubricapilla 218 ruficapilla 218 sialis 265 solitaria 216 striata 227 swainsonili 214 tigrina 221 trichas 238 trochilus 222 troglodytes 250 varia 212 vermivora 214 vigorsii 231 virens 230 wilsonii 240 Sylvicola aestiva 222 agilis 236 americana 220 auricollis 213 blackburniae 228 caerulea 225 canadensis 222 castanea 227 coerulea 225 coronata 223 discolor 232 formosa 235 icterocephala 226 kirtlandi 231 maculosa 224 maritima 221 missouriensis 219 palmarum 232 parus 228 pensilis 229 petechia 232 pinus 231 striata 227 varia 212 virens 230 Symphemia semipalmata 72 inornata 72 Syrnium cinereum 107 lapponicum v. cinereum 107 nebulosum 107 varium 107 Tachycineta bicolor 203 Index. 285 Tanager, Scarlet 199 Summer 200 Tanagra aestiva 200 cyanea 196 rubra 199 Tantalus albus 49 falcinellus 50 guarauna 50 loculator 51 Tattler, Bartram’s 73 Semipalmated 72 Wood 72 Teacher 233 Teal, Blue-winged 34 Cinnamon 35 Green-winged 34 Red-breasted 35 Teeter-tail 74 Tell-tale 71 Lesser 72 Telmatodytes palustris 251 iliacus 251 Tern, Black 27 Caspian 26 Common 26 Forster’s 26 Havell’s 26 Least 27 Short-tailed 27 Wilson’s 26 Tetrao cupido 81 umbellus 79 virginianus 78 Thistle-bird 169 Thrasher, Brown 246 Thrush, Alice’s 261 Bicknell’s 262 Brown 246 Golden-crowned 233 Gray-cheeked 261 Hermit 263 Olive-backed 262. Swainson’s 262 Tawny 260 Water 233 Willow 260 Wilson’s 260 Wood 259 Thryomanes bewickii 248 Thryothorus bewickii 248 286 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Thryothorus ludovicianus 247 . Thunder Pump 51 Tinnunculus sparverius 103 Tip-up 72, 74 Tit, Crested 255 Tufted 255 Titlark 243 Titmouse, Tufted 255 Totanus bartramius 73 chloropygius 72 flavipes 72 macularius 74 melanoleucus 71 semipalmatus 72 solitarius 72 vociferus 71 Towhee 193 Toxostoma rufum 246 Trichas agilis 236 formosa 235 marylandica 238 personatus 238 philadelphica;237 Tringa alpina pacifica’ 69 arenaria 70 auduboni 66 bairdii 68 bartramia 73 bonapartei 68 canutus 67 cinclus 69 cinerea 67 douglasii 66 fulicaria 62 fuscicollis 68 hiaticula 77 himantopus 66 hyperborea 62 interpres 78 islandica 67 lobata 62 longicauda 73 macularia 74 maculata 67 maritima 67 minutilla 69 pectoralis 67 pusilla 69 rufa 67 rufescens 73 Tringa semipalmata 69 shinzii 68 solitaria 72 squatarola 76 subruficollis 73 wilsonii 69 Tringoides macularius 74 Trochilus colubris 134 Troglodytes aédon 248 aztecus 248 americanus 248 bewickii 248 brevirostris 251 domesticus 248 europeus 250 fulvus 248 hiemalis 250 ludovicianus 247 palustris 251 parvulus hyemalis 250 Tryngites rufescens 73 subruficollis 73 Turdus aliciae 261 bicknelli 262 aonalaschkae pallasii 263 aquaticus 233 aurocapillus 233 carolinus 162 fuscescens 260 salicicolus 260 lividus 245 ludovicianus 235 melodus 259 migratorius 264 minor 263 mustelinus 259 noveboracensis 233 pallasii 263 polyglottus 244 rufus 246 © solitarius 263 swainsonii 262 aliciae 261 ustulatus aliciae 261 swainsonii 262 wilsonii 260 Turkey, Colorado 51 Wild 83 Turnstone, Ruddy 78 Tympanuchus americanus 81 -Tympanuchus pallidicinctus 82 Tyrannula flaviventris 140 minima 142 nunciola 137 virens 139 Tyrannus acadicus 140 : borealis 138 carolinensis 135 ~ erinitus 137 forficatus 135 fuscus 137 trailli 141 tyrannus 135 verticalis 136 Ulula acadica 108 brachyotus 106 flammea 105 nebulosa 107 otus 105 virginiana 110 Urinator arcticus 23 immer 22 lumme 23 Veery 260 Vermivora celata 218 chrysoptera 217 pennsylvanica 214 peregrina 219 protonotarius 213 rubricapilla 218 solitaria 216 Vireo bellii 211 Bell’s 211 Blue-headed 210 Brotherlylove 208 ' flavifrons 210 gilvus 209 noveboracensis 211 olivaceus 208 Philadelphia 208 philadelphicus 208 Red-eyed 208 solitarirus 210 Solitary 210 sphagnosa 222 Warbling 209 White-eyed 211 Yellow-throated 210 Index. Vireosylva gilva 209 olivacea 208 philadelphica 208 Vireosylvia gilva 209 olivacea 208 philadelphica 208 Vultur atratus 87 aura 86 iota 87 Vulture, Black 87 Red-headed 86 Turkey 86 Walloon 22 Warbler, Bachman’s 215 ' Bay-breasted 227 Black and White 212 Black and Yellow 224 Blackburnian 228 Black-capped 240 Black-poll 227 Black-throated Blue 222 Green 230 Blue 225 Blue-eyed 222 . Blue-winged 216 Brewster’s 216 Canada 241 Fly-catching 241 Cape May 221 Cerulean 225 Chestnut-sided 226 Connecticut 236 _ Creeping, Black and White 212 Golden-winged 217 Hooded 240 Kentucky 235 Kirtland’s 231 Magnolia 224 Mourning 237 Myrtle 223 Nashville 218 Orange-crowned 218 Palm 232 Parula 220 Northern 220 Western 220 Pileolated 241 Pine 231 Pine-creeping 231 287 288 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Warbler, Prairie 232 Prothonotary 213 Swainson’s 214 Swamp, Golden 213 Worm-eating 214 Sycamore 229 Tennessee 219 Wilson’s 240 Worm-eating 214 Yellow 222 Blue-winged 216 Yellow-crowned 226 Yellow-rumped 223 Warrior, Black 96 Waterhen 61 Water Thrush 233 Grinnell’s 233 Large-billed 235 Louisiana 235 Small-billed 233 Water Turkey 27, 51 Water-witch 22 Wax-wing, Bohemian 205 Cedar 205 Whip-poor-will 128 Nuttall’s 129 Whistler 39 Whistle-wing 39 White-back 37 White-belly 203 Widgeon 33 American 33 Willet 72 Western 72 Wilsonia canadensis 241 mitrata 240 pusilla 240 ’ pileolata 241 Woodcock, American 64 ~ Black 123 Woodpecker, Downy 120 Golden-winged 126 Hairy 119 Southern 120 Ivory-billed 119 Pigeon 126 Issued November 16, 1907. Woodpecker, Pileated, Northern 123 Southern 123 Red-bellied 126 Red-cockated 121 Red-headed 124 White-billed 119 Yellow-bellied 122 Yellow-shafted 126 Yellow-winged 126 Wood Pewee 139 Wren, Bewick’s 248 Carolina 247 House 248 Long-tailed 248 Western 248 Marsh, Prairie 251 . Short-billed 251 Winter 250 Xanthocephalus icterocephalus 154 xanthocephalus 154 Xema sabinii 25 Yellow-back, Blue 220 Yellowbird 222 Yellow-hammer 126 Yellow-legs 72 Greater 71 Yellow-rump 223 Yellowshanks, Greater 71 Lesser 72 Yellow-throat, Maryland 238 Northern 238 Yphantes baltimore 161 Zamelodia ludoviciana 195 Zenaidura carolinensis 85 macroura 85 Zonotrichia albicollis 183 graminea 175 iliaca 192 leucophrys 182 lincolni 191 palustris 191 pensylvanica 183 querula 180 List of Authors. LIST OF AUTHORS. Abbott, J. F., xxvii, xxix, xxxi Andrews, Launcelot W., xxviii, | Brown, O. H., xxvi Eikenkerry, W. L., xxxi Fernald, R. H., xxxiii Glatfelter, N. M., xxvii Green, John, xxxiii Harris, J. Arthur, xxvii Keiser, Edward H.., li Langsdorf, A. S., xxvii, li Livingston, B. E., xxix Lovejoy, A. O., xxxii Lyon, E. P., xxvii Nipher, F. E., xxvi, | Schrenk, H. von, xxvii Spaulding, Perley, xxx Thompson, C. H., xxvii Trelease, William, xlix Truax, Charles, xxviii Whelpley, H. M., xxxi Widmann, Otto, | Wislizenus, F. A., xxxi Woodward, C. M., xxxiii, xlix, |, li 289 290 Trans. Acad. Sct. of St. Louis. GENERAL INDEX. Active members v, xiii Address of President li Aerial navigation xxxiii Agassiz, Centennial of birth of Louis XXXili Agaves, Variegation in xlix Air ships xxxiii, xlix, | Amendments xiv, xx Arrow heads in vector diagrams li Authority xix Bacteria, Galvanotropism in xxix Birds of Missouri | Botanists of St. Louis xxx By-Laws xvi Celts of North American Indians xxxi Century plant, Variegation in xlix Charter xxi Chick embryos xxvii Cicada, Thirteen and Seventeen Year XXvii Constitution xiii Corresponding members xiii secretary Xvi Council xiv, xvii Curators report of lix Desert Botanical Laboratory xxix Donations, Library lvii Museum lix Dues xix Eggs, Fertilized and unfertilized xxvii Elections xvii, xviii Electric current xxvi, XXvii Enzymes of fertilized and unfertilized eggs XXVli Exchanges xxiv Expulsions xviii Fertility in plants xxvii Fertilized and unfertilized eggs xxvii Fuel resources Xxxili Galvanotropism in bacteria xxix Gas mixtures li History xxi Honorary members v, xiii, xix Hydrogen peroxide li Hysteresis of electric current xxvii Initiation xix Librarian xvii report of lvi Library xxiv Linnaeus, Bi-Centennial of the birth of xxxi Management xxiii Meetings xiv, Xvi, xxiii Members v, xiii, xviii, xxi Missouri birds | Moissan, Death of Prof. Henri xxvii, XXviii Museum xxiv Nitrogen peroxide li Nominating committee xvii Officers xiv, xvii, xxiii Order of business xvi Organization xxi Ozone li Patrons v, Xili, xix Plant fertility xxvii President, Address of li Producer-Gas xxxiii Publications xix, xxiv Pyrites xxix Quorum xvi Real estate xix Report of Curators lix Librarian lvi General Index. 291 Report Telegraphone | President fi Thirteen year Cicada xxvii Treasurer liv Treasurer xvii Resignation xviii report of liv Resolutions on the death of Prof. Tuberculosis xxvi Henri Moissan xxviii Unfertilized eggs xxvii Sander, Election as honorary member of Dr. Enno xlix Vacancies xviii Saint Louis Botanists xxx Variegation in Agaves xlix Secretary xvi Vector diagrams li Sections xv Seventeen year Cicada xxvii Wood fiber, Effect of water on xxvii 292 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. INDEX TO GENERA. Acanthis 169 Accipiter 91-93 Actitis 74 Actiturus 73 Actodromas 67-69 Aechmorphorus 21 Aegialites 76 Aegialitis 76, 77 Aegiothus 169 Agave Agelaeus 155 Agelaius 154-156 Aimophila 189 Aix 37 Alauda 142, 156, 243 Alcedo 118 Ammodramus 176-179, 191 Ampelis 205, 265 Anas 31-45, 47, 48 Anhinga 27 Anorthura 250 Anser 44-46 Antrostomus 128, 129 Anthus 243 Aquila 100 Archibuteo 99 Ardea 51-56 Ardetta 52 Arenaria 78 Arquatella 67 Asio 105, 106 Astragalinus 169 Astur 91-93, 97, 98 Aythya 37-39 Bacteria xxix Baeolophus 255 Bartramia 73 Bernicla 45, 46 Bombyecilla 205 Bonasa 79 Botaurus 51 Brachyotus 106 Branta 45-47 Bubo 110, 112 Bucephala 39, 40 Buteo 94-99 Butorides 55 Calamospiza 198 Calearius 173, 174 Calidris 70 Campephilus 119 Caprimulgus 128-130 Carbo 28 Cardinalis 194 Carduelis 169-171 Carpodacus 167 Catharista 87 Cathartes 86, 87 Centronyx 176 Centrophanes 173, 174 Centurus 126 Ceophlceus 123 Certhia 212, 216, 247, 252 Ceryle 118 Chaetura 132 Charadrius 64, 76, 77 Charitonetta 40 Chaulelasmus 32 Chelidon 202 Chen 44, 45 Chondestes 180 Chordeiles 130, 131 Chroicocephalus 26 ° Chrysomitris 169, 170 Circus 90, 97 Cistothorus 251 Clangula 39-41 Clivicola 203 Coccoborus 166, 195, 196 Coccothraustes 166, 195 Coccygus 116, 117 Coecyzus 116, 117 Colaptes 126, 127 Colinus 78 Index to Genera. Columba 84, 85 Collurio 206, 207 Collyrio 206, 207 Colymbus 21-23 Compsothlypis 220 Contopus 138, 139 Conurus 113 Corvus 144, 146, 147, 149 Corydalina 198 Corythus 166 Cotile 203 Coturniculus 176-179 Cotyle 203, 204 Crex 61 Crymophilus 62 Cryptoglaux 108 Cuculus 116, 117, 126 Culicivora 259 Cupidonia 81 Curvirostra 167, 168 Cyanocitta 144 Cyanospiza 196, 197 Cyanurus 144 Cygnus 48 Cypselus 132 Daenis 213, 214 Dafila 36 Demiegretta 54 Dendrocygna 47 Dendroica 221-232 Dendronessa 37 Dichromanassa 54 Dolichonyx 149, 198 Dryobates 119-121 Dytes 21 Ectopistes 84 Egretta 54 .Elanoides 88 Elanus 88, 89 Emberiza 149, 151, 172-180, 182, 184- 186, 190, 193, 197, 198 Empidonax 140-142 Ephialtes 109 Eremophila 142, 143 Ereunetes 69, 70 Erismatura 43 Erythrospiza 167 Eudocinus 49 293 Euphagus 162, 163 Euspiza 198 Faleo 88-94, 96, 97, 99-103 Florida 54 Fringilla 149, 151, 166, 167, 169-172, 173, 175, 177-180, 182-184, 186, 187, 189-198 Fulica 61, 62 Fuligula 37-43 Fulix 38, 39 Galeoscoptes 245 Gallinago 65 Gallinula 61 Gambetta 71, 72 Garrulus 144 Garzetta 54 Gavia 22, 23 Geothlypis 235-238 Glaucionetta 39, 40 Goniaphea 195, 196 Gracula 162 Graculus 28 Grus 56, 57 Guara 49 Guiraca 194-196 Habia 195 Haliaétus 100 Haliaeetus 100 Harelda 41 Harporhynchus 246 Hedymeles 195 Helinaia 213-219 Helmintherus 214 Helminthophaga 215-219 Helminthophila 215-219 Helminthotherus 214 Helmitherus 214 Helodromas 72 Helonaea 214 Herodias 53 Hesperiphona 166 Himantopus 64 Hirundo 132, 201-204 Histrionicus 41 Hydranassa 54 Hydrochelidon 27 294 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. Hylocichla 259-263 Nettion 34 Hylotomus 123 Niphea 187 Nisus 91 Ibis 49, 50 _ Nucifraga 149 Iecteria 239 Numenius 57, 74, 75 Icterus 151, 154, 155, 160, 161 Nuttallornis 138 Ictinia 90 Nyctale 108 Tonornis 61 Nyctanassa 56 Tridoprocne 203 Nyctea 112. Nycterodius 56 Junco 187-189 Nyctiardea 55, 56 Nycticorax 55, 56 Lanius 135, 206, 207 Lanivireo 210 Oidemia 42, 43 Larus 24, 25 Olbiorchilus 250 Lestris 24 Olor 48 Limosa 66, 70, 71 Oporornis 235, 236 Linaria 169, 170 Oriolus 160,-161 Lobipes 62 Orpheus 245, 246 Lophodytes 31 Ortygometra 59, 60 Lophophanes 255 Ortyx 78 Loxia 166-168, 194-196 Otocoris 142, 143 Otus 105, 106 Macrorhamphus 66 Oxyechus 76 Mareca 33 Megascops 109 Pandion 104 Melanerpes 124, 126 Parula 220 Melanetta 42 Parus 255-257 Meleagris 83 Passer 172 Mellisuga 134 Passerculus 175, 176 Melospiza 190, 191 Passerella 192 Merganser 30 Passerina 172, 196, 197 Mergus 30, 31 Pelecanus 28, 29 Merula 264 Pelidna 69 Micropalama 66 Pelionetta 43 Microptera 64 Penelope 47 Milvulus 1385 Penthestes 255, 256 Milvus 88, 89 Perdix 78 Mimus 244, 245 Perisoglossa 221 Mniotilta 212 Petrochelidon 201 Molothrus 151 Peucea 189, 191 Motacilla 213, 217, 221, 222, 224 Phalacrocorax 28 Muscicapa 135-141, 208-211, 240-242, Phalaenoptilus 129 245, 259 Phalaropus 62, 63 Muscivora 135 Phasianus 82 Myiarchus 137 Philohela 64 Myiodioctes 235, 240, 241 Pica 144 | Picicorvus 149 Nauclerus 88 Picus 119-121, 123, 124, 126, 127 Neocorys 243 : Pinicola 166 & ay Index to Genera. 295 Pipilo 193 Pipra 239 Piranga 199, 200 Pitylus 194 Plectrophanes 172-174 Plectrophenax 172 Plegadis 50 Plotus 27 Podiceps 21, 22 Podilymbus 22 Polioptila 259 Poocetes 175 Pooecetes 175 Porphyrio 61 Porzana 59, 60 Progne 201 Protonotaria 213 Psittacus 113 Pyranga 199, 200 Pyrgita 172 Pyrrhula 166 Querquedula 34, 35 Quiscalus 162, 163 Rallus 58-60 Recurvirostra 63, 64 ‘ Regulus 257, 258 Rhinogryphus 86 Rhyacophilus 72 Rhynchophanes 174 Riparia 203 Rissa 24 Rusticola 64 Sayornis 137, 138 Scolecophagus 162, 163 Scolopax 49, 50, 64-66, 70-72, 75 Scops 109 Scotiaptex 107 Seiurus 233, 235 Setophaga 65, 240-242 Sialia 265 Sigillaria xlix Sitta 253, 254 Siurus 233, 235 Somateria 42 Spatula 35 Sphyrapicus 122 Spinus 169, 170 Spiza 196-198 Spizella 184-187 Squatarola 76 Steganopus 63 Stelgidopterix 204 Stercorarius 24 ‘Sterna 26, 27 Strepsilas 78 Strix 105-110, 112, 113 Struthus 187 Sturnella 156, 157, 160 Sturnus 155, 156 Surnia 109, 112, 113 Sylvania 235, 240, 241 Sylvia 212-232, 235-237, 240, 241, 248, 250, 257, 258 . Sylvicola 212, 213, 219-232, 235, 236 Symphemia 72 Syrnium 107 . Tachycineta 203 Tanagra 196, 199,-200 Tantalus 49-51 Telmatodytes 251 Tetrao 78, 79, 81 Thryomanes 248 Thryothorus 247, 248 Tinnunculus 103 Totanus 71-74 Toxostoma 246 Trichas 235-238 ' Tringa 62, 66-70, 72-74; 76-78 Tringoides 74 Trochilus 134 Troglodytes 247, 248, 250, 251 Tryngites 73 Turdus 162, 233, 235, 244-246, 259- 264 Tympanuchus 81, 82 Tyrannula 137, 139, 140, 142 Tyrannus 135-138, 140, 141 Ulula 105-108, 110 Urniator 22, 23 Vermivora 213, 214, 216-219 Vireo 208-211, 222 Vireosylva 208, 209 Vireosylvia 208, 209 Vultur 86, 87 296 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louts. Wilsonia 240, 241 Xanthocephalus 154 Xema 25 Yphantes 161 Issued, May 4th, 1908. Zamelodia 195 Zenaidura 85 Zonotrichia 175, 180, 182, 1838, 191, 192 % Q Academy of Science of St. Louis BAS Transactions A3 Waly Physical & Applied Sei. 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