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THE WILSON BULLETIN

OflScial Organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club

An Illustrated Quarterly Magazine

Devoted to the Study of

Birds in the Field

Edited by Lynds Jones

MCMXIX

Old Series, Volume XXXI New Series, Volume XXVI

Published by the Club at Oberlin, Ohio

3lO*ftloST-<\a**^

M.

THE

WILSON BULLETIN

NO. 106
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

VOL. XXXI MARCH, 1919 NO. 1

OLD SERIES VOL. XXXI. NEW SERIES VOL,. XXVI.

THE FOOD-BIKDS OF THE SMITH SOUND
ESKIMOS.

BY AV. ELMER EKBLAW.

The title of the article in itself conveys a wrong im-
pression by snggesting that any of the birds that come to
Northwest Greenland, the home of the Smith Sonnd Eski-
mos, is not used for food. Because existence in that far
northern region is often precarious and the nmrgin of
safety in food supply is always narrow, every living thing
in the land may be, and in times of stress is, put into the
soaj)stone pot to boil; and if not cooked, eaten raw. Con-
sequently every bird is eaten, from the little snow-bunting
to the great northern raven.

Of course, the Eskimos have their preferences and like
some birds far better than others, but in starvation times,
when strips of sole leather are the only items on the Es-
kimo menu, even the oldest, toughest, greasiest, bird is a
delicacy. Famine does not often actually face the tribe,
but several times in its history the game has failed them
so utterly for so long a time that many of the Eskimos
have succumbed to starvation. These times of stress usually
come in the early spring wdien first the sun rises above the
horizon, before the birds have come back; old Eskimos say
that starvation would manj^ more times have overtaken
them, except for the timely arrival of the first birds.

The birds of the land most certainlv saved the tribe from

2 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 106

extinction dnring one period of its history, not vet forgot-
ten bv the ohlest of the people. After one of the famines,
acompanied by a plague in which most of the tribe died,
the survivors lost the art of making the kayak, or skin boat,
for summer hunting. Consequently, throughout the open
season, after the ice had gone out, they were unable to kill
anj^ sea-food, and since at the same time caribou formed
no part in their cuisine, they had to depend entirely upon
the millions of birds that frequented the cliffs and islands
of the coast. Before the ice went out of the Fjords all the
Eskimos repaired to the cliffs of the great bird rookeries,
where they could obtain all the birds they needed for food,
and stayed there until the ice froze again and permitted
the killing of seal and other sea game. This period of de-
pendence upon birds for sustenance for at least two months
of each year ended with the immigration of a small band
of Eskimos from Baffin Land, who revived the lost arts of
kayak-building and caribou-hunting, — a remarkably good
example of the influence that an immigrant people may
have upon the life of the people among whom they come.

Water-birds form the greater part of the bird-food of
the Eskimos; of the laud-birds only the ptarmigan plays
an important role. All the small land- and shore-birds,
the raven and the falcon are eaten, but they comprise no
essential part of the Eskimos' dietary as do the ptarmigan
and the water birds.

Even the ptarmigan (Lagopus rupcstris reinhardi) is
not so very important a food-bird, and except in the fall,
when it is migrating southward in great numbers, the Es-
kimos rarely hunt for it particularly. Generally they kill
it only when they happen to find it near the shore, as they
sledge from one place to another, when thej'^ are hunting
hare or caribou, or when they are attending their hare-
snares or fox-traps. When the ptarmigan is migrating
southward, and numerous flocks stop to feed on the heather
slopes of the high rocky shores, the Eskimos often consider
It worth their time and effort to hunt them. The ptarmi-

Food-Birds op the Smith Sound Eskimos S

gan has a sweeter, fresher flesh, freer from grease, thau
that of the water birds.

Of the water birds, the dovekie (AUe aUe) , the murre
{Uria lotnvia lomvki), the guillemot {Gepphus mandtii)^
the eiders (^omateria moUissima horealis and S. specta-
hilis), the black brant (Breuta heniicia glaiwogastra), the
snowy goose {Chen hyperhoreus nivalis), the glaucous gull
(Lams hyperhorcus), the ivory gull (Pagophila alha), the
kittiwake {Rissa tridactgla tridactyla), the fulmar (Fid-
marus glacialis glacialis), and the old squaw (Harelda
Jigeinalis) are the most used for food.

The dovekie is the most important of these at most of
the villages and in general is so considered b}' the whole
tribe. Millions of these little birds nest in the sandstone
and basalt talus-slopes on Bushman Island, on the Crim-
son Cliffs at Cape York and westward, at Parker Snow
Bay, on the south shore of Northumberland Island, and
thence northward on the shores of every bay and Fjord
from Ingletield Gulf to Foulke Fjord. The northern limit
of their nesting-sites is Cape Hatherton.

Small though they are, the dovekies are so numerous
and they are so readily caught by the Eskimo women in
the nets used for that purpose, that in a summer the Es-
kimos are able to catch, and lay away under stones, great
quantities of the little birds. When winter comes, and
other food becomes scarce, the Eskimos sledge to their
dovekie caches, which they find under the deep snow with
almost uncanny skill, dig out the tight-frozen masses of
birds, and bring them home, where they are eaten raw
and whole as we eat oysters, except that the feathers are
skinned off. Many times these caches of dovekies laid
away in the summer have warded off starvation in the win-
ter times of stress.

Next to the dovekies the murres (Uria lomvia lomvia)
are the most important food-birds. Four places of Eskimo
habitation yield the greater number of these birds — Akpat,
on Saunders Island; Igfissuk, on Parker Snow Bay; an-

4: The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

other Akpat, along the Crimson Cliffs; and Keatek on
Northumberland Island. The word ''Akpat " sig-nities in
Eskimo, " the place of the mnrres." The murres are also
caught in nets in large numbers, but many are shot in the
water or on the wing. The murres are relatively less nu-
merous and less easily caught than the dovekies, but their
larger size compensates for these disadvantages, so that
the Eskimos eagerly await their coming and catch large
nund)ers, which they lay away under rocks as they do the
dovekies. The murres instead of nesting under rocks as
do the dovekies, nest on ledges of steep high cliffs.

The eider, — the Greenland eider and in minor degree
the king eider — are perhaps of somewhat less importance
than the dovekies and the murres. To almost every islet
along the coast, hundreds, even thousands, of the eider
come every summer to lay their eggs. In the old days the
Eskimos caught nearly all the eiders that they used for
food in long lines of snares stretched between the rocks
where the birds nested, but now nearly all the hunters have
shot-guns, which they use most skillfully and with uner-
ring aim. The old snares were very successful; sometimes
a line of snares held two-score birds at a time.

The black brants are rather common along the coast, but
they are too Avary to be killed in large numbers. Only in
the nesting season do the Eskimos get many. The snow
geese are not at all common, but almost every fall, when
the birds moult before migrating south, the Eskimo get a
few. As a rule an Eskimo must be rather hungry before
he kills an old-squaw for food, but it is fairly common
along tlie whole coast.

Of the gulls, the Eskimos eat every kind. The glaucous
gulls are caught in a particular kind of snare along cracks
in the ice, and in the open pools about icebergs. Tlie old
gulls are rather tough, but tlie young birds, while in their
pale-brown barred plumage, are as tender and sweet as a
spring-chicken. The ivory gulls and the kittiwakes are
often killed and eaten, too. The kittiwakes are very good,

Food-Birds op the Smith Sound Eskimos 5

much like fat young squabs, and always rolling in golden
fat. The fulmars are eaten in great numbers in early
spring, even though they are most unpalatable, for they are
the first birds to return in large numbers. The guillemots,
too, are used a great deal for food.

The sandpipers, snipes, and other shore birds are not
often eaten because they are so rare or so hard to get. Ra-
vens are rather frequently eaten, and the Eskimos profess
to like them.

Besides the birds themselves, the eggs are a considerable
addition to the Eskimos' larder. On Lyttleton Island,
McGary's rock, and other islets north of Etah, the Eski-
mos gather thousands of eider eggs, which they store away
under rocks for winter use. Likewise in Inglefield Gulf
they get. hundreds of eider eggs, though not so many as
near Etah. The eggs freeze solid and keep fresh until the
next summer. At the great murre rookeries, the Eskimos
collect thousands of the murre eggs on the high, dangerous
cliffs ; and in the nesting-places of the dovekies, the Eskimo
women and children gather the pigeon-like eggs, which
they eat frozen in the long arctic night as the children
of the southland eat chocolates. Wherever the dovekies
nest in numbers the Eskimos gather their eggs too.

Without these birds and eggs, the Eskimos' food supply
would often fail them ; and though the abundance of birds
is but one of the conditions that make human life possible
in that far north country, it is of as great importance as
any. Small wonder it is then that the Eskimos half uncon-
sciously mark most of the natural periods of their year by
some bird activity or some bird movement ; as, for example,
the time that we call June, the Eskimos call the time of
nesting birds. And just as small wonder it is that they
rejoice when the first birds come to their country.

6 The Wilson Bulletin— Xo. 106

MIGRATION RECORDS FOR KANSAS BIRDS.

BESSIE PRICE DOUTHITT^ INSTRUCTOR IN ZOOLOGY^
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS^ LAWRENCE.

(Continued from December issue.)

Family ODONTOPHORIDAE— Bob-whites.
289. Colinus virginianus rir-ginianus — Bob-white.
Year round common resident.

Family TETRAONI DAE — Grou.se.
305. Tympanuchiis americanus amcricanus — Prairie Hen.

Locally common year round resident.
307. Tympanuchiis poUidicincius — Lesser Prairie Hen.
Rare resident in southwestern Kansas.

Family COLUMBIDAE— Pigeoxs.
316. Zenaidura macroura carolinensis — Mourning Dove.

Abundant in summer in eastern Kansas. Replaced in western
part of state by Western Mourning Dove. First seen in 1917 on
March 19. More common March 29, but not really common till
April 8. They were not plentiful after September 27, but were still
present in some numbers till October 5.

Family CATHARTIDAE — Americax- Vultures.

325. Cathartcs aura septentrionalis — Turkey Vulture.

A common summer resident, but not common about Lawrence.
Observed March 11 and October 5.

326. Catharista urudu — Black Vulture.

A common summer resident in Barber and Comanche Counties.
No data.

Family BUTEONIDAE— Hawks, Eagles, Kites, Etc.

327. Elanoidcs forficatus — Swallow-tailed Kite.
Irregular summer resident. No data.

329. Ictinia viississippicnsis — Mississippi Kite.

Common summer resident in Barber and Comanche Counties,
but irregular farther north. Fourteen were taken between May
16 and 25 (1911) in above counties. Two September 15 and 16,
Douglas County. No data as to arrival or departure.

331. Circus hudsonius — Marsh Hawk.
Common resident.

332. Accipiter velox — Sharp-shinned Hawk.
A year round resident.

333. Accipiter cooperi — Cooper's Hawk.
Common resident.

334. Astnr atricapiUus atricapillus — Goshawk.

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 7

A rare winter visitant.
337. Buteo borealis borealis — Red-tailed Hawk.

A common resident.
337a. Buteo borealis krideri — Kreider's Hawk.

A visitant. Three records at the museum show dates from Oc-
tober 1 to November 19.
337b. Buteo borealis eaJnrus — Western Red-tail.

This hawk is not uncommon in winter. Three museum records
from December 17 to February 2.
337d. Buteo borealis harlani — Harlan's Hawk.

Occasional in winter. Twelve (museum) records, November 10
to February 28 and one record October 19.
339. Buteo lineatus lineatus — Red-shouldered Hawk.

In southern part of state it is a common resident; in northern
part it is less common.

342. Biiteo swainsoni — Swainson's Hawk.
A common resident.

343. Buteo platypterus — Broad-winged Hawk.
This species is a rare resident.

347a. ArcMbuteo lagopiis sancti-johannis — Rough-legged Hawk.

A common winter resident. Ten museum records from Novem-
ber 5 to March 10.

348. ArcJiibutco ferrugineus — Ferruginous Rough-leg.

This species is a resident but is not common in eastern Kansas.

349. Aquila chrysaetos — Golden Eagle.

A rare resident, more common in winter months.
352. Haliwetus leucocephalus leucocephalus — Bald Eagle.
This eagle, too, is a rare resident.

Family FALCONI DAE— Falcons.

355. Falco mexicanus — Prairie Falcon.
A rare resident in Kansas.

356. Falco peregrinus anatum — Duck Hawk.
This hawk is rare as a resident.

357. Falco columbarius columbarius — Pigeon Hawk.

A rare migrant. Three specimens at the museum were taken
October 1 to 29.
357b. Falco columbarius rieliardsoni — Richardson's Pigeon Hawk.

A common migrant in western Kansas and rare in eastern part
of the state.
360. Falco sparverius sparverius — Sparrow Hawk.

Year round resident, but less common in winter. Migrants ob-
served last half of March and last half of September.
360a. Falco sparverius phahena — Desert Sparrow Hawk.

Common resident in western Kansas.

8 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

Family PANDIONIDAE— Osprey.

364. Pandion liaeiaetiis carolinensis — Osprey.
A rare summer resident.

Family ALUCONIDAE— Barx Owls.

365. Alcuo pratincola — Barn Owl.
This owl is a common resident.

Family STRIGID^ — Horned Owls, Etc.

366. Asio wilsonianus — Long-eared Owl.
A common resident.

367. Asio flammeus — Short-eared Owl.
This species also a common resident.

368. Strix varia varia — Barred Owl.
A common resident.

372. Cryptoglaux acadica acadica — Saw-whet Owl.
A winter visitant or sojourner, but not common.

373. Ottis asio osio — Screech Owl.
Common resident.

373g. Otus asio aikeni — Aiken's Screech Owl.
In western Kansas a common resident.

375. Bitbo virginianxis virginianus — Great Horned Owl.
Common resident.

375a. Buho virginianus palescens — Western Horned Owl.
This owl is a common resident in western Kansas.

376. Nyctca nyctca — Snowy Owl.
Classed as rare in winter.

378. Speotyto cunicularia hypogea — Burrowing Owl.

In central and western Kansas this species is a common resident.

Family CUCULIDAE— Cuckoos, A>is, Etc.
385. Gcococcyx calif ornianus — Road-runner.
In southwestern Kansas an occasional resident.

387. Coccyzus amcricanus americanus — Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Common in summer. Observed daily in 1917 after May 11, but

none before. Museum records, two May 14, 1915, one May 9, 1912.
Leave mostly in August. Less common in September. Last record
September 21.

388. Coccyzus erytliroptlialmus — Black-billed Cuckoo.

Not an uncommon summer resident. Usually arrive later in
other states, but may come earlier. Occasionally remain consid-
erably later in other states. One record May 5.

Family ALCEDINIDAE — Kingfisher.
390. Ccrylc alcyon — Belted Kingfisher.

Common in summer. Sometimes spend winter where open water
is found. Earliest record April 15, but probably came somewhat

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 9

earlier. Fvill records October 17. and in Trego County, October 28.
(Museum.)

Family PICIDAE — -Woodpeckers.
393. Dryobates villosus villosiis — Hairy Woodpecker.

A year round resident. In summer they keep mostly in deep
woods and are seldom seen.
394c. Dryohaies pitbrsccns medianus — Downy Woodpecker.

A year round resident. Seemed more numerous from April 1-15,
but possibly because of mating activities.
402. Sphyrapicus variiis variiis — Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

An occasional migrant or winter resident. Records from museum
show October 12; November 14; January 16; April 22 (2).
402a. Sphyrapiciis variiis nucJialis — ^Red-naped Sapsucker.

A rare migrant.
406. Melanerpes erytliroceplialus — Red-headed Woodpecker.

Common in summer. But where insects are plentiful this wood-
pecker will spend the winter even far north of here. Migration
erratic. In 1917 first arrived April 27. Did not become common
till May 6. They leave mostly in August. Last observed in 1916
on September 22.

408. Asyndcsmus leicisi — Lewis's Woodpecker.
Common visitant in western Kansas.

409. Ccnturus caroUnus — Red-beilied Woodpecker.
Common resident.

412a. Colaptes auratus luteus — Northern Flicker.

A common resident, but most of them leave by the middle of Oc-
tober and do not return till middle of March or later.
413. Colaptes cafer coUaris — Red-shafted Flicker.

A rare resident in eastern Kansas but common in western.

Family CAPRIMULGIDAE — Nighthawks, Goatsuckers.
The records of the goatsuckers are hard to obtain on account of
their nocturnal habits. They must all arrive late and leave early
since they feed exclusively upon flying insects.

417. Antrostomus vociferus voci ferns — Whip-poor-will.
Common all summer. Only spring museum record is April 29,

which is probably about the time of arrival. For the most part
they leave in August.

418. Phcenoptihis mittalU niittaUi — Poor-will.

A common summer resident. Museum records, May 1, Leaven-
worth County, and August 26. Douglas County.
418a. Philcenoptilus nutalli mitidus — Frosted Poor-will.

In summer, common. No records.
420. Chordeiles vlrginianus virginianus — Nighthawk.

Eastern Kansas knows this species as a common summer resi-

10 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

dent. Museum and field notes give May 16 as the date of arrival.
Although seldom seen in summer they M'ere daily observed in 1916
from September 18 to October 8, when they left.
420a. Chordeiles virginianus henry i — Western Nighthawk.

This species replaces the former in western Kansas. Occasionally
found in the eastern part. Museum gives two specimens captured
in Douglas County on May 14 and September 12.
420c. Chordeiles virginianus sennetti — Sennett's Nighthawk.

Not uncommon in summer. One record, Lawrence, September 12.
Family MICROPOIDAE— Swifts.
423. Cheetura pelagicci — Chimney Swift.

This species is very abundant in summer. In 1916 they left in a
body on October 25. They arrived the following spring in abun-
dance on April 18.

Family TROCHILIDAE— Hummingbirds.
428. Archilochus eolubris — Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Fairly common in summer. They probably arrive somewhat
earlier. Museum and field, May 20j to September 17.

Family TYRANNIDAE — Tyraxt Flycatchers.

Since the flycatchers feed upon flying insects they must come late
and leave early. Phoebe an exception. It feeds also upon other
insects.

443. Mitseivora forfieata — Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

A common summer resident in southern Kansas. Has been re-
ported as far north as Lawrence. Museum records. May 4, Thomas
County; April, no date, Ashland County; September 22, Marshall
County.

444. Tyrannus tyrannus — Kingbird.

Common in summer. April 26 the date of first arrivals. (1917)
few in numbers before May 5. Last field record (1916), Septem-
ber 6. Last museum record, September 18.
447. Tyrannus vertiealis — Arkansas Kingbird.

While classed as a common summer bird, it is not so common in
eastern Kansas. One observed in field near Lawrence, May 7, 1916.
Museum records, September 4, 1906.
452. Myiarchus crinitus — Crested Flycatcher.

Very abundant. Observed daily in considerable numbers May 1,
1917, and thereafter. Careful daily observations made in April,
but none were seen. Last noticed in 1916 on September 8j Earliest
museum record is April 30, 1912. The last record is September 12
and 14, Douglas County, and October 6, Cloud County.
456. Sayornis phcehe — Phoebe.

This is the only flycatcher to come early. It is a common sum-
mer resident. First seen on March 17, 1917. Became common

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 11

March 25. Observed daily thereafter. Last noticed on September
30, 1916. Museum has specimens taken September 27 (3), Republic
County; October 2, Lane County; October 14. Cloud County.
457. Sayor7iis sayiis — Say's Phcebe.

A common summer resident in western Kansas. No migration-
records.
459. Nuttallornis lorealis — Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Rare summer resident. Taken May 12, September 5 and 8..
(Museum.)

461. Myioclianes vircns — Wood Pewee.

Quite common in summer. Observed April 1 and 24, 1917. Sel-
dom seen until May 16. Observed daily after that date. Museum
records show April 2. Last seen. 1916. September 22. Museum
reports. September 5. 19. (three seen) 20, 30.

462. Myiochancs richardsoni ricliardsoni — Western Wood Pewee.
Rare summer resident western Kansas. No records of migration..

465. Empidonax vircsccns — Acadian Flycatcher.

Classed as not uncommon in summer in eastern Kansas. Museum
has specimens taken May 5, 8, 14, etc., and September 15.

466. Empidonax trailli trailli — Traill's Flycatcher.

In western part of state, common through summer, in easterrt
it is fairly so. One record May 3, Neosho Falls.
466a. Empidonax trailli alnorum — Alder Flycatcher.

Rare summer resident. One record May 12. ,

467. Empidonax minimus — Least Flycatcher.

A common migrant. Museum records give May 18. Comanche
County; May 21, August 30; September 14. 15, 17, Norton County.

Family ALAUDIDAE— Larks.
474b. Otocoris alpestris pratacola — Prairie Horned Lark.

This lark is a common winter resident, a few remaining over for
the summer. Still common (1917) April 22. May have remained
somewhat later. Migrants appear from north November 20 or
earlier.
474b. Otocoris alpestris praticola — Prairie Horned Lark.

Permanent resident. Replaces the preceding in the western part
of the state. Occasional in eastern Kansas.

Family CORVIDAE — Magpies. Crows, Jays, Etc.
475. Pica pica hudsonia — Magpie.

Rare winter visitant, chiefly western Kansas.
477. Cyanocitta cristata cristata — Blue Jay.

An abundant resident. Perhaps more than four-fifths of the
jays leave in the fall, but they may be seen almost any day in
winter, sometimes in flocks of considerable size. During the fall
migration of 1916, from September 5 to 27, they were very abun-

12 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. lOG

dant. They returned gradually in the spring of 1917, beginning
about March 25. In early May they were again much more abun-
dant than in the summer.

486. Corvus corax siiiuatus — Raven.

In western Kansas the raven is a rare visitant.

487. Corvus cryptoleucus — White-necked Raven.

This, too, is a rare visitant in the western part of the state.

488. Corims bracJiyrliynchos b)-(ichyrhynchos — ^Crow.
Common resident.

Family ICTERIDAE — Blackbirds, Orioles. Etc.
All migrate ordinarily, but may remain in large numbers if food
be abundant. Mr. Oscar Brownlee reports that Grackles, Redwings,
and perhaps others, spend the winter at Stafford on his father's
farm, where considerable numbers of cattle are fed.

494. Doliclionyx oryzivorus — Bobolink.

The Bobolink is rare in summer, but is a common migrant. There
are seventeen museum records from May 4 to 21. No fall records.

495. Molothrus (tier (iter — Cowbird.

Very abundant in summer. First observed in 1917 on March 18.
Last seen (1916) October 6. Last record (museum) October 10.

497. XantJwcephalus xauthocephahis — Yellow-headed Blackbird.
An abundant migrant but rare in summer. Many seen (1917)

May 11, 15. Museum has specimens taken April 19 and May 5.
in 1916 two were observed on November 9.

498. Agrlahis plKJeniccus — Red-winged Blackbird.

This blackbird remains in winter where food is abundant. The
systematist recognizes four subspecies for Kansas which cannot
be distinguished except by careful measurements. In 1917 the
Redwings arrived March 15. In 1916 they left in a body the night
of October 14. One specimen was observed February 7. The time
of arrival varies much according to season.

The subspecies are:^ —

(1) Agelams phoeniceus predatorius — Red-winged Blackbird.
Summer resident.

(2) Aoclaius pJKPnicciis fortis — Thick-billed Redwing. Migrant.
Museum records. February 26 (5), Pratt County; March 5, 12; No-
vember 7. 15, two each.

(3) Agelaius phorniccns phceniceus — Northeastern Redwing.
Migrant. Museum, February 26 (5), Pratt County; March 2. 12;
October 10 (2).

(4) Agelaius phceniceus arctolegus — Northern Redwing. Mi-
grant. Museum. Each month except December and April, from
September 28 to May 21.

501. Sturnella magna magna — Meadowlark.

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 13

A common bird in eastern Kansas during the summer. Occa-
sional in winter. Arrived (1917) February 25. Became abundant
March 11. November 9, 1916, found them still present. They
often remain into December.
501.1. Stit7-neUa neglccta — Western Meadowlark.

This species replaces the meadowlark in western part of state.
Not uncommon in eastern Kansas.

506. Icterus spurius — Orchard Oriole.

Common in summer. Earliest date of observation for 1917 is
May 10. Seen daily thereafter. The museum has specimens taken
April 17. May 4, 8, 11. They leave mostly in August. Last mu-
seum record September 15.

507. Icterus ganula — Baltimore Oriole.

Very common summer resident in eastern Kansas. This species
came in considerable numbers (1917) on April 24. Nearly all gone
by the end of August. Last field records August 29, 30 (1916).

508. icterus bullocki- — Bullock's Oriole.

Common in western Kansas and occasionally in eastern as sum-
mer resident. No migration records.

509. Eiiphogus caroliuiis — Rusty Blackbird.

This blackbird is occasional in winter and a common migrant.
Museum records March 5. 12, 29; October 31 to December 5; De-
cember 28. 30. Miami County.

510. Euphagiis cyanocephalus — Brewer's Blackbird.

A common migrant. Occasional resident. Many observed March
25. Two museum records for April 11. Museum and field, Octo-
ber 5-November 9.
511b. Qitiscalus quiscula (cneus — Bronzed Grackle.

Very abundant in summer. Occasional in winter, and if food is
plentiful they remain in great numbers. Observed (1917) March
14. Not common till March '18. Left (1916) March 12 in a body.

Famfly FRINGILLIDAE — Finches, Sparrows, Etc.
514. Hcsperiphona vespertino vespertina — Evening Grosbeak.

A rare winter visitant.
514a. Hesperiphona vespertina m onto n a— Western Evening Grosbeak.

This is a rare migrant.
517. Carpodacus purpureus purpitreus — Purple Finch.

This species is a rare winter sojourner. Museum records show
specimens taken from November 10 to February 24.
519. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis — House Finch.

Rare resident.
521. Loxia curvirostra minor and

521a. Loxia curvirostra strieklandi — Crossbill, American and Mex-
ican.

14 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

Irregular winter visitants. Observed three times in winter of
1917, but it was not possible to determine which subspecies. Last
observed April 12. Museum records for American Crossbill Octo-
ber 28 to January 30.
522. Loxia leucoptera — White-winged Crossbill.

Irregular visitant during the winter. One taken November 4.

528. Acanthis linaria linaria — Redpoll.
Rare as a winter visitant.

529. Astragalms tristis tristis — Goldfinch.

Common in summer, and occasional in winter. First observed
in 1917 on May 5 and 6. Not seen again until May 17. Were quite
plentiful in fall of 1916 as late as October 17 and possibly later.
529a. Astragalinus tristis t^oUidus — Pale Goldfinch.

Similar to the former. Three collected on March 12, and one on
April 15.

533. Sjyinus jiinits — Pine Siskin.

The siskin is a common winter resident. One to three flocks
observed nearly every day from March 14 to May 18, 1917. Not
observed previously except on March 1. Since then they were
observed in all parts of the city. It would seem that the siskin is
more common as a migrant than as a winter resident. Museum
records October 14, Trego County; October 15, Wakeeney; Octo-
ber 23, and throughout winter, Douglas County.

534. Plectroplienax niimlis Jiivalis — Snowflake.
Rare winter visitant.

536. Calcarius lapponicns lapponicus — Lapland Longspur.
Irregular winter sojourner. Abundantly represented in the mu-
seum. Specimens taken from November 24 to April 12.

536a. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis — Alaska Longspur.

Occasional in winter. Seven specimens taken from December 14
to December 22.

537. Calcarius pictus — Smith's Longspur.
A common winter sojourner. No data.

538. Calcarius ornatus — Chestnut-collared Longspur.
Resident. Breeds from central Kansas northward.

539. Rhynclioplianes mccowni — McCown's Longspur.
Common in winter in western Kansas.

540. Pocecetes gramincus gramincus — Vesper Sparrow.

This species is a common migrant. Rare in summer. Museum
and field give records from March 24 to April 24 and October 4.
also October 12. Fall records not sufficient.
540a. Pocecetes gramincus con finis — Western Vesper Sparrow.

Migratory in western Kansas.
542a. Passerculus sandwichcnsis savanna — Savanna Sparrow.

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 15

Common as a migrant. Museum and field records from March 9
to May 21. Few records for October, on the 12th and 28th.
542b. Passcrculus sandwichensls alaudinus — Western Savanna
Sparrow.

A not uncommon migrant. Five museum specimens taken from
March 19 to April 23. One on September 25 and 30 in Lane
County. Many records from October 4 to 22 in Douglas, Gove, and
Cloud Counties.

546. Ammodramns savannarum australis — Grasshopper Sparrow.
546a. Ammodramns savannarnm bimaculotiis — Western Grasshop-
per Sparrow.

Not distinguishable in the field except under favorable circum-
stances. Observed very plentiful May 2 to 15. After May 15 they
were not seen. The museum records Western Grasshopper Spar-
row May 3 to December 3.

547. Passerherbulus Jiensloivi hensloivi — Henslow's Sparrow.
Rare summer resident. Records April 6, 14, 23. and August 6

for museum specimens.

548. Passerherbulus leconici — Leconte's Sparrow.

This sparrow is a common migrant. Museum and field, Febru-
ary 19, two specimens; March 21, two; March 26; April 2, 9, 10 to
27, twelve; September 30, one, Lane County; October 6 to 19, fif-
teen in Cloud County; October 10 to 19, six; and November 7, on;\

549. 1. Passerherbulus nelsoni nelsoni — Nelson's Sparrow.
A rare summer resident.

552. Chondestes gramviacus grammacus — Lark Sparrow.
Common in summer. Field and museum show specimens for

April 17, 24, 26, 28, etc. No data as to fall migrations.

552a. Chondestes grammaeus sfrigatus — Western Lark Sparrow.

In central and western Kansas a common summer resident.
Earliest record May 16. Probably arrive earlier. No fall data.

553. Zonotriehia quernla — Harris' Sparrow.

This species is an abundant migrant and a rare winter resident.
The migrants in 1917 arrived in force February 24. Seemed to be
fewer by April 8. By May 12 they were quite distinctly fewer but
still common in places. Last observed May 18. Fall migrants
appeared October 3, no date as to leaving. Not common in winter.

554. Zonotriehia leueophrys leucophrys — White-crowned Sparrow.
Common migrant. The only spring record May 5. The museum

records give October 11, 15, 19, for Trego and Gove Counties.
554a. Zonotriehia leucophrys gambeli — Intermediate Sparrow.

Common migrant. Occasional in winter. Field and museum
records give May 3 to 11. Fall museum records are September 28
and 30. Abundant in October, a few records in November, Decem-
ber, January, and February.

IG The AVilson Bulletin — No. lOG

558. Zonotrichia albicollis — White-throated Sparrow.

This sparrow is a common migrant. The field notes show first
observation April 12; common April 24 to May 10. First museum
record is April 14. Fall museum record October 2 ta December 31.

559. Spizella monticola monticola — Tree Sparrow.

A common winter resident. First arrived in 1916 on September
29. Common till March 16, 1917. Few seen until March 27. Mu-
seum records April 14, 1913.
559a. Spizella monticola ochracea — Western Tree Sparrow.

In western Kansas this sparrow is not an uncommon winter
sojourner. Occasional in eastern Kansas. Museum records from
October 3 on; the last dates being March 13 and 26.

560. Spizella passcrina passerina — Chipping Sparrow.

Common in summer. First observed in 1917 on April 2. Seen
nearly every day thereafter. Museum records throughout Octo-
ber in western Kansas. But seldom seen in September.

561. Spizella pallida — Clay-colored Sparrow.
Not uncommon as a migrant. No records.

563. Spizella piisilla pusilla — Field Sparrow.

Common as summer resident in eastern part of state. First
observed in 1917 on March 18. Common thereafter. Last seen iii
1916 on August 29 and 30. Seldom seen in September. Museum
records give up to October 31.
563a. Spizella pusilla arenacea — Western Field Sparrow.

Rare. One record October 23.

566. Junco aikcni — White-winged Junco.

A rare winter visitant in western Kansas. Two specimens taken
at Lawrence.

567. Junco hycmalis Jiyonalis — Slate-colored Junco.

This species is abundant in winter. First seen in 1916 on Oc-
tober 4 in great numbers. Museum records October 3. Became
fewer April 8, 1917, but still quite common. Last observed
April 17.
567b. Junco hi/cmalis councctens — Shufeldt's Junco.

Winter resident, western Kansas. No data.
567f. Junco hyemalis montanus — Montana Junco.

In western Kansas a winter resident. Museum records for Oc-
tober 14, 15. and later.
581. Melospiza mrlodia melodia — Song Sparrow.

A common migrant. Not uncommon in winter. First observed
in 1917 on February 18. Became plentiful February 24. Left
very largely by March 30. but still common till May 5. Last ob-
served May 11. Fall museum records for August 10; September
28. Lane County; October 3, 6, 7, 9, 11.
581j. Melospiza melodia juddi — Dakota Song Sparrow.

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 17

Migratory, western -Kansas. No record.

583. Melospiza lincohii lincolni — Lincoln's Sparrow.
Occasional as a winter resident, but common as a migrant.

Field, 1917, show first date March 25. From then to April 5, com-
mon. Last observed April 10. Museum records give March 26,
April 26, April 30 (3), May 24, for Barber County. The field
notes for fall, September 6, October 2. Museum, October 6 to Oc-
tober 22. Also January 2 for Miami County.

584. Melospiza georgiana — Swamp Sparrow.

This is a common migrant. Rare in winter. Field and mu-
seum give following dates: March 27, April 2, 11, May 21 (2),
September 9, 10, to December 30 Miami.

585. Passerclla iliaca iliaca — Fox Sparrow.

The fox sparrow is a common migrant and not rare as a winter
resident. Field notes for 1917, March 18 to 30, common. None
seen before nor after. Museum, March 16 to 24, twelve specimens.
October 3 on through January and February.

587. Pipilo crytliroplitliahnus erythrophtlialmus — Towhee.
Abundant in summer and a few remain through the open win-
ters. First observed 1917, March 8; not common till March IS.
Not often seen in fall, but in 1916 six were observed in Septem-
ber; two, October 7; two, October 12; two, October 13.

588. Pipilo maculatus arcticus — Arctic Towhee.

A winter resident, rare in eastern Kansas. Lane County, accord-
ing to museum records, gave six specimens on September 30 and
others throughout September, also throughout October. Douglas
County has one specimen for May 1 and one for December 15.
593. Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis — Cardinal.

A very common resident. At certain times it is more often
seen along countryside, where shrubs or undergrowth give shelter.
595. Zamelodia ludoviciana — Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

This grosbeak is a common summer resident. It came in full
force (1917) April 23. Quite common till May 19, by which time
migrants had passed north. Not often seen thereafter. Last date
(museum) August 30. None seen in careful field observation in
(1916) September.

597. Zamelodia melanocephala — Black-headed Grosbeak.
Common summer resident. No migration records.

597a. Guiraca caerula lazula — Western Blue Grosbeak.

In central and westen Kansas, common in summer. No migra-
tion records.

598. Passerina cyanea — Indigo Bunting.

The indigo bunting is common throughout the summer months
in eastern Kansas. Museum records, April 27, April 30 (2), May

18 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

1, 3 (2), 5. Leave in August and September. (Museum.) Sep-
tember 19, 24.
599. Passerina amoena — Lazuli Bunting.

No records. Classed as a rare summer resident in western
Kansas.
601. Passerina ciris — Painted Bunting.

In southeastern Kansas the painted bunting is common in sum-
mer. No data.

604. Spiza americana — Dickcissel.

Very abundant in summer. Arrived (1917) on April 25. Nearly
all leave in August. Two seen till September 20. Museum rec-
ords October 12 for Lane County.

605. Calamospiza melanocorys — Lark Bunting.

Common summer resident in western Kansas. No migration
records.

Passer domesticus — English Sparrow.
Always present. One redeeming feature, he will eat canker
worms.

Family TANGARIDAE— Tanagers.

607. Piranga ludoviciana — Western Tanager.
Casual in Western Kansas. No records.

608. Piranga erytliromelas — Scarlet Tanager.

This tanager is not an uncommon summer resident. Several ob-
served in 1917 from May 7 to May 30. Museum records May 1
and 3. Observed as late as September 19.

610. Piranga rubra ruhra — Summer Tanager.

In Eastern Kansas, it is common in summer. None observer in
field by author. Museum records, Douglas County, for May 3, 7,
9, etc., to September 14, 15.

Family HIRUNDINI DAE— Swallows.

Since all members of this family feed upon flying insects they
must leave as soon as insects cease to fly and can return only when
insects are again on the wing.

611. Progne subis subis — Purple Martin.

The martin is a common summer resident. Carefully observed
two regular nesting places in 1917. First observed March 29. A
cold spell followed and the martins seemed to have returned. Not
again seen until April 19. Observed daily thereafter. Left in 1916
on September 10.

612. Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons — Cliff Swallow.

In summer common. Museum record April 18. No field spring
records. A colony at Haskell Indian School, present September 10,
gone September 14.

613. Hirundo erythrogastra — Barn Swallow.

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 19

This swallow is a common summer resident. First museum rec-
ord April 27, Lane County. Last observed in field September 30
and October 4.
614. Iridoprocne iicolor — Tree Swallow.

A common migrant and a rare summer resident. Observed abund-
antly April 19, 29, and two on May 10, two May 12. Other swallows
observed, probably tree swallows, but identification not certain, be-
cause of cloudy weather. No fall records.

616. Kiparia riparia — Bank Swallow.

A common summer resident. The museum records are incom-
plete; they, however, show May 9 and September 19. No field mi-
gration notes.

617. Stelgidopteryx scrripennis — Rough-winged Swallow.
Common in summer. Museum April 14. No fall record.

Family BOMBYCILLIDAE— Waxwings.

618. Bombycilla garrula — Bohemian Waxwing.
A rare winter visitant.

619. Bombycilla cedroruvi — Cedar Waxwing.
Year round resident.

Family LANIIDAE — Shrikes.
621. Lanius horealis — Northern Shrike.

In winter quite common. Museum records show following dates:
Lane and Trego Counties, October 5 and March 19.
622a. Lainus ludoviciaiuts excubitorides — White-rumped Shrike.

Common in summer. Field record March 24. No fall record.
622c. Lanius ludovicianius migrans— Migrsnit Shrike.

Occasional permanent resident.

Family VIREONIDAE — Vireos.

Since vireos feed upon insects found among leaves of trees, they
can be present only during foliage season.
624. Vireosylva olivacea — Red-eyed Vireo.

This species is common in summer. In 1917 it arrived April 19.
Last museum record is September 20.

627. Vireosylva, gilva gilva — Warbling Vireo.

Common as a summer resident. Museum gives April 26 and Sep-
tember 19.

628. Lanivireo flavifrons — Yellow-throated Vireo.

This vireo is not common, although a summer resident. Only
a few records. May 1, two specimens, August 11, one.

629. Lanivireo solitariiis solitarius — Blue-headed Vireo.

A rare migrant. But one museum specimen, taken September
21, in Lane County.

630. Vireo atricapillus — Black-capped Vireo.

As a summer resident in southern Kansas it is doubtful. The

20 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 106

museum has one specimen, taken on May 9 in Comanche County.
631. Vireo griseus griseus — White-eyed Vireo.

Common in summer. Museum records May 9, September 15, 16.
633. Yireo belli belli— Bell's Vireo.

This species is common throughout summer. Arrived in 1917 on
April 24. It leaves mostly in August and early September. Last
seen in 1916 on September 6.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW RED-WINGED BLACK-
BIRD FROM TEXAS.

BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER.

Investigations of the birds of Texas revealed, many years
ago, an unrecognized subspecies of Agelaius phoeniceus
from the southern part of the State. Subsequent examin-
ation of material in the United States National Museum,
including the Biological Survey Collection, also in the
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the American
Museum of Natural History, and the private collections of
Mr. John E. Thayer, Mr. J. H. Fleming, Mr. William Brew-
ster, Dr. L. B. Bishop, and Dr. Jonathan Dwight, confirms
the distinctness of this form. Owing to an indefinite delay
in the appearance of our report on the birds of Texas, it
seems desirable now to publish a description of this new
red-wing. We accordingly propose to call it

Agelaius phoeniceus megapotamus, subsp. nov,
Rio Grande Red-winged Blackbird.

Chars, suhsp. — Similar to Agelaius phoeniceus richmondi
from southern Vera Cruz and Tabasco, Mexico, but larger;
female more grayish above and less ochraceous below.

Description. — Type, adult female, No. 207912, U. S. Nat.
Museum ; Brownsville, Texas, February 17, 1911 ; A. K.
Fisher, original number 7093. General color of upper parts
dark fuscous ; broad medial crown streak pinkish bufif,
verging a little toward chamois; rest of the pileum, to-
gether with the cervix, much streaked with pale buff, dull
cinnamon, and clay color. Back and scapulars more
broadly and less numerously streaked with the same colors

New Red-winged Blackbird 21

and with white ; rump and upper tail-coverts streaked with
smoke gray and light smoke gray, the long coverts with
avellaneous; tail brownish fuscous black, anteriorly mar-
gined on both webs with very pale brownish or brownish
white; primaries fuscous; rest of the wing of the same
color as the tail, but the longest scapulars and the inner-
most greater wing-coverts broadly margined exteriorly with
cinnamon, the lesser coverts edged with dull buffy brown,
the bend of the wing dull reddish; remainder of the wing-
coverts and quills margined with dull pale buff and with
whitish ; superciliary stripe white, anteriorly with a slight
wash of buffy; postocular streak fuscous; the rest of the
sides of the head grayish white with a slight dull buflfy
tinge, and flecked with pale fuscous, the lores darker; nar-
row rictal and submalar streaks fuscous ; sides of the neck
very pale buff}^ grayish, thickly but finely streaked with
fuscous; chin, and upper throat pale ochraceoas salmon,
immaculate except for a few small spots of dusky on the
posterior portion of the latter; rest of lower parts dull
creamy white, with a buify tinge on the abdomen and cris-
sum, and broadly streaked with fuscous, most so on the
sides, flanks, and crissum, but elsewhere the white inter-
spaces broader than these dark markings ; lining of wing
smoke-gray; edge of wing cinnamon.

Measurements. — Male:^ Wing, 113-120.0 (average, 115.3)
mm.; taU, 83-92 (86.8) ; total culmen, 22-24 (22.6) ; tarsus,
26-31.5 (29) ; middle toe without claw, 20.5-22.3 (21.1).

Female:- Wing, 81-98 (average, 93) mm.; tail, 63-72.5
(68.5) ; total culmen, 18.6-22 (19.5) ; tarsus, 24.5-26.5 (25.6) ;
middle toe without claw, 17-19.5 (18.5).

Geographic distrihntion. — Central southern Texas and
northeastern Mexico. Breeds north to central Texas; west
to eastern Coahuila; south to Nuevo Leon and northern
Vera Cruz; and east to Tamaulipas and to the Brazos
River in Texas.

' Seven specimens, from Texas.

- Nine specimens, from Texas, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas.

22 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

Remarks. — This new subspecies differs from Agelaius
pJioeniceus phoetiicciis in somewhat longer wing, rather
shorter bill, and much lighter coloration of the female;
from Agelaius phoeniceus sonoriensis and Agelaius phoeni-
ceus fortis in very much smaller size; and from Agelaius
phoeniceus neutralis in greatly inferior size and paler fe-
male. Birds belonging to this geographic race have hith-
erto been referred to Agelaius phoeniceus richmondi, but
they are so different from typical representatives of the
latter that subspeciflc separation seems desirable. It is a
larger and less brownish edition of Agelaius phoeniceus
richmondi, and replaces that form in Texas, Tamaulipas,
and Nuevo Leon. It seems to be more or less permanently
resident, as no specimens have been taken outside of its
breeding range. Southward it passes into Agelaius phoeni-
ceus richmondi somewhere in the northern part of the State
of Vera Cruz; westward through central western Texas
into Agelaius phoeniceus neutralis; northward in central
northern Texas into Agelaius phoeniceus predatorius; and
along the coast of southeastern Texas be^'ond the Brazos
River into Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus of the south-
eastern United States. Birds from Del Rio and Fort Clark
in central western Texas are intermediate between the pres-
ent race and Agelaius phoeniceus neutralis, but are nearer
the former.

The type of Agelaius phoeniceus richmondi ^ came from
Tlacotalpain in southeastern Vera Cruz, and represents the
bird breeding in that region ; hence the northern race is the
one without a name.

By this separation the geographic distribution of Age-
laius phoeniceus richmondi is restricted to the southern
part of its former range, i.e., from central Vera Cruz, south
through Tabasco, Yucatan, and Cozumel Island, to British
Honduras, The average dimensions of seven adult males
from southern Vera Cruz and Tabasco are added here for
comparison Avith Agelaius phoeniceus megapotamus:

^Agelaius phoeniceus richmondi Nelson, Auk, XIV, No. 1, Jan.,
1897, p. 58.

New Red-winged Blackbird 23

Wing, 108.5 mm.; tail, 82.3; total culmen, 24.9; tarsus,
28.7; middle toe without claw, 21.1.

About 100 specimens of Agelaius phoeniceus niegapota-
mus have been examined in the present connection, from
the subjoined localities:

Texas. — Giddings (May 24, 1887) : San Antonio (Febru-
ary 22, 1887) ; Fort Clark (January 4, 1893, February 18,
1893, March 4, 1893, May 15 and 17, 1893) ; Devil's River
(January 29, 1886) ; Del Rio (May 20, 1903; June 2, 1903) ;
12 miles east of Del Rio (June 4, 1903) ; Eagle Pass (June
2, 1902) ; Rio Grande City (May 27, 1891) ; Lomita Ranch
(February 5, 15, and 27, 1880) ; Granjeiio Ranch, 10 miles
west of Hidalgo (March 8, 1894) ; Hidalgo (June 21,
1891; May 15 and 18, 1889) ; Webber's Ranch, on the Rio
Grande, 10 miles east of the western line of Cameron
County (February 28, 1894) ; El Blanco in southern Cam-
eron County (June 23, 1891); Brownsville (May 3, 1900;
Feb. 17, 1911; February 17, 1876; March 9, 1876; Dec. 22,
1909; January 7, 1912; December 8 and 9, 1909; May 8,
9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, and 27, 1913) ;
Sauz Ranch, Cameron County, (April 30, 1900) ; Corpus
Christi (June 28, 1886; March 25, 1891; May 20, 29, and
30, 1891; June 1, 1891) ; fifteen miles northwest of Corpus
Christi (March 29, 1886) ; Beeville (August 7 and 9, 1905) ;
Velasco (March 10, 1892) ; ieight miles southeast of Cuero
(March 18, 1907) ; Roma (May 27, 1891).

Coahuila. — Porfirio Diaz (June 2, 5, and 6, 1902).

Nuevo Leon. — Monterey (February 18, 1891).

Tamanlipas.—Altn Mira (April 21, 1898; May 19, 1898) ;
Camargo (January 7, 9, and 10, 1902).

Vera Cruz. — Rivera (April 26, 1904).

24 The Wilson Bulletin — 'So. 106

GENERAL NOTES

RECORDING BIRD SONGS.

The present method of recording bird songs is artificial and un-
satisfactory, and I am hoping to stir up interest in this subject,
so that by discussion we may arrive at some standard method
of describing bird songs and bird calls.

Distinction must be made between the voice of a bird and his
song, and there is a difference between musical, i.e. melodious
notes and unmusical, i.e. piercing notes. Every time a bird makes
a sound, he does not necessarily sing.

I think we are safe in saying that birds have (1) ordinary song
or songs, which they give during the entire season, and (2) a
mating song of more elaborate character, which they give during
a limited period. They also have (3) a series of musical call
notes, (4) signal notes, and often (5) alarm notes.

In discussing the songs of birds, we must bear in mind that
such songs have quality, — pitch, — rhythm, — melody, — and time, and
in noting such songs it will be necessary for us to use the ordin-
ary musical scale to which orchestral instruments are tuned in
preference to the tempered scale of the piano.

In suggesting the qiuiUty of the tone, I would make four divis-
ions: (1) like a banjo, i.e. gut strings; a zither, i.e. wire strings;
(2) a flute, i.e. head tones; a bassoon, i.e. throat tones.

In describing the pitch, it may be well to assume that birds
sing in the second, third and fourth and fifth octaves above
middle C.

In describing the scale, it might be well to use the four strings
of the violin rather than the piano notation.

Each species of birds has a rhytJim of its own, which is marked
and decided, (but erratic within limitations) and substantially the
same in each male of the species, although not identical.

In describing the tivie, we may say that it is erratic and varia-
ble and difficult to accurately classify, but using metronome mark-
ings, as a basis, the speed should be increased from four to ten
times.

In describing melodies, we may say that they are never sus-
tained, but are usually in short theme-like phrases, with an orna-
mentation of trills, or low pendant phrases interspersed between
the themes. Phrasing in each species is, in general, alike, but
varied by each individual. I have heard Song Sparrows from the
same family sing six different variants of the same general song.

As an example, I venture to suggest the following method of
description varied as occasion requires to meet the facts:

General Notes 25

Rhythm— Four long notes, two short high notes, a trill, two
drop notes.

Quality — Zitherlike in the fourth octave.

Pitch — 4/4. Metronome markings, 64 plus 10.

Melody — Four notes followed by a jumble of ornamentations
similar to colortura work, given in a low tone; two drop notes
sung with throat tone.

Variants of the song: Probably three, at least three distinct
themes of four notes each can be noted.

I submit these suggestions, hoping that they will bring out some
discussion on this subject from ornithologists who have made a
study of bird songs and their notation.

P. B. Coffin.

Chicago, 111.

AN INTERESTING HYBRID OF MARECA PENELOPE (WIDGON)
AND MARECA AMERICANA (BALDPATB).

A male hybrid of the above species taken in North Bay, Prin-
cess Anne County, Virginia, on November 28th, 1918, and sent
me by Mr. E. V. Roe, is worthy of a detailed description.

Crown, almost pure white, more so than with americana. Su-
perciliary line, partly green, partly red.

Lore, ear coverts, throat, and side of neck mottled similar to
americana, only with undergrown reddish like penelope.

The green on the wing, speculum, is less than with penelope,
but more than with americana. Balance of wing similar to
penelope.

Back similar to penelope, but with undergrown of faint reddish
tinge.

In the under tail coverts is a single white feather with a black
spot about three-eighths-inch diameter, near its extremity.

Although the bird had been under the tender care of the postal
authorities for five days previous to arrival, — when it should have
come through in one, — I managed to make a very creditable addi
to my series of American taken Mareca penelope.

Harold H. Bailey.

Newport News. Va.

January 1st, 1919.

MIMUS POLYGLOTTOS POLYGLOTTOS IN NORTH CENTRAL
NEW JERSEY.

The published records of Mimus polyglottos polyglottos for New
Jersey since 1880 are perhaps not numerous enough to render
unacceptable still another. The writer has in his collection,

26 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 106

where it has lain unnoticed for many years, an immature male
of this species taken on November 25, 1889, at Newman Springs,
a mile or so southwest of Red Bank, Monmouth County, New
Jersey.

Harry C. Oberholser.
Washington, D. C.

GAVIA STELLATA IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA.
It may be worth while to record a North Carolina specimen of
Gavia stellata which the writer had the privilege of examining
in 1906. It had been killed a year or two before, exact date un-
known, on the French Broad River, near Biltmore, North Caro-
lina. It was a perfectly typical bird in immature plumage. This
species, while not unusual along the coast of North Carolina, is
rare in the interior, and, so far as we are aware has not previ-
ously occurred in the mountain region of the state.

Harry C. Oberholser.
Washington, D. C.

HISTRIONICUS HISTRIONICUS PAOIFICUS IN NORTH
DAKOTA.
There appears to be no published record for the Harlequin Duck
in North Dakota, although it has been reported two or three
times from the state of Nebraska. The v^Titer has, however, ex-
amined an adult of this species referable to the Pacific form,
Histrionicns Justrionicus paciflcus, obtained at Mandan, North
Dakota, about September 23, 1912. by Mr. J. D. Allen, who has
kindly permitted us to place it on record. It makes thus a very
interesting addition to the list of the birds of this state.

Harry C. Oberholser.

EUROPEAN WIDGEON IN LAKE COUNTY.

How many of you have had the good luck to study at close range
an adult male European Widgeon? Probably some, but how many
have had that pleasure the second time? I found my first back in
1914. in company with one male and two female Baldpates, with
sunlight at my back as they passed by on the river so it was
hardly necessary to use my glass to distinguish all its character-
istic markings. Tliis bird was reported by me in Bird-Lore for
that year. Today (March 23, 1919) history has repeated itself, and
under still better conditions for observation.

Visiting a large swamp pond early this morning I was disap-
pointed to find its sole occupant in the duck line to be a female

General Notes 27

Golden-eye. On my way back, as I neared the bridge that crosses
the pond, a flock of twelve ducks lit in close to shore on the other
side, so I hurried for the bridge to see from there what species
they were. I had no more than distinguished that they were Bald-
pates when they were in the air again. I found another observer
on the bridge, who said he thought there was a Red-head among
them. The ducks circled about a few times and finally settled into
a shallow pond of small size that lies among the button bushes
at the edge of a swampy woods. As I had on boots, and nothing
better to do, I decided to see if I could stalk near enough to them
for close observation. So through the woods I went, in water six
inches deep, and a thin skim of ice in places. Soon I could see
them through a thin fringe of button bushes, and about the first
thing noticed was a red-head, but it wasn't the right red for a
Red-head, and then I "tumbled" as to what it might prove to be.
Right then I did the stalking of my life — six inches at a time — and
plenty oi time for every six inches, but I reached the fringe of
button bushes without alarming a bird. Every now and then a
male whistled and all were tipping up for food and having a
glorious time. I soon found the one with the red head, and sure
enough, his pate was " bald," and then, one by one, his other dis-
tinguishing marks disclosed themselves, — the black throat, the
vinaceous breast, and sides that looked gray in comparison with
the vinaceous sides of the Baldpates. He stood on his head in
the water like the others, and the white belly, surmounted by the
black under tail coverts, made an attractive picture. To cap the
climax he, with a few of the Baldpates, came to my side of the
little pond, so close that I could see that the gray sides were really
white, with little wavy lines of black that blended into a uniform
gray when mixed with distance; and there they stood for a full
half hour and fed, while I stood like a frozen statue on the other
side of the button bushes and feasted my eyes on Mareccu pcnelope.

E. A, DOOLITTLE.

Painesville, Ohio.

NOTES FROM LAKE COUNTY.
Visitation of Pine Grosbeaks: — Prom all reports these birds
seem to be the most common of all the erratic visitors from the
north for this winter — especially in the eastern states. On Decem-
ber 8 and 11, 1918, I found a small company of them feeding in
sumac, four brilliant males and four females. Visiting the vicin-
ity on December 23 I was rewarded by finding ten in female plum-
age, but no adult males. Repeated searches through January failed
to disclose any at all.

28 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

Belated Olive-Backed Thrush — On December 11, 1918, after
watching the Grosbeaks mentioned above for some time, I moved on
a ways and was greatly surprised to flush an Olive-backed Thrush,
which also flew to a sumac and began to feed. The bird was care-
fully examined to make sure it was neither a Hermit nor a Grey-
cheeked, and its unusual reluctance to leave the small cluster of
sumac gave me full opportunity for positive identification. Have
been unable to find it since that date.

E. A. Doolittle.

Painesville, Ohio.

AVAILABLE MAPS.

Not infrequently one is tempted to extend his observations and
collecting into a region with which he is unfamiliar and for the
lack of a good map he hesitates, or if he goes, is handicapped in
his work. It is not widely known that a large area of the United
States has been carefully and minutely mapped by the government
and that map sheets about twenty inches square are available at
the small cost of ten cents each. All rivers, streams, lakes,
marshes, towns, roads, trails, county lines, houses (in some cases),
are shown, and the hills and valleys are denoted by contour lines.
Most of the maps cover an area about thirty miles square, though
some are drawn up to double this scale. Key maps are sent out,
gratis, covering each state and on these key maps are shown the
areas which have been mapped to date. Communications should
be addressed to " The Director, U. S. Geological Survey, Washing-
ton. D. C."

In addition to the above, hundreds of counties have been mapped
by the Bureau of Soil Surveys and by the PostofRce Department,
but are not so complete as those made by the Geological Survey.

A. F. Gainer.

Nashville, Tenn.

ANNUAL MEETING

The announcement by the American Association for the Advance-
ment of Science that the 1919 meeting will be held at St. Louis,
Mo., during the holiday season, settles for us the place and approx-
imate time of our next meeting. We should keep this in mind and
plan to attend this meeting.

MEMBERSHIP ROLL OF THE WILSON ORNI-
THOLOGICAL CLUB

ACTIVE MEMBERS

Abbott, Gerard Alan. Birmingham, Oakland Co., Mich.
Abel, \rthur R., 1301 Newton Ave., Sioux City, Iowa.
Armstrong, Edward E., 207 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111.

Bailey, Mrs. Florence M., 1834 Kalorama Road, Washington, D. C.

Bailey, H. B., Box 112. Newport News, Va.

Bailey, H. H., Box 112, Newport News, Va.

Baird, Robert L., 1246 Ethel Ave., Lakewood, Cleveland, Ohio.

Barnes, Hon. R. M., Lacon, 111.

Barrows, Prof. W. B., Agricultural College, East Lansing, Mich.

Baxter, Maria, 44 South 18th St., Richmond, Ind.

Bennett,, Walter W., Sioux City, Iowa.

Bishop, Dr. Louis B., 356 Orange St., New Haven, Conn.

Blain, Dr. Alex. W., Jr., 1105 Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Blain, Merrill, 727 Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Bradbury, W. C, 1440 Race St.. Denver. Colo.

Bradbury, W. C, 1440 Race St., Denver, Colo.

Brandt, H. W., 2025 E. 88th St., Cleveland, Ohio.

Brewster, William, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge, Mass.

Brown, E. J., U. S. Nat. Museum, Washington, D. C.

Brown, Howard Clark, Iowa City, Pa.

Bruen, Frank, 69 Prospect St., Bristol, Conn.

Burnett, Miss Bertha, 1201 East 3d St., Mishawaka, Ind.

Burns, Frank L., Berwyn, Pa.

Burtch, Verdi, Branchport, N. Y.

Burton, E. Ray, Felicity, Ohio.

Butler, Amos W., State House, Indianapolis, Ind.

Cahn, A. R., 4720 Greenwood Ave., Chicago, 111.

Carter, Prof. Charles, Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa.

Chambers, W. Lee, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles Co., Calif.

Chapman, Frank M., Am. Mus. Nat. History, New York, N. Y.

Childs, John Lewis, Floral Park, N. Y.

Cleasby, E. A., 900 Cameron St., Eau Claire, Wis.

Craigmile, Miss Esther A., 24 S. Grant St., Hinsdale, 111.

Crosby, Maunsell S., Grasmere, Rhinebeck, N. Y.

Dawson, Rev. W. Leon, R. F. D. No. 3, Santa Barbara, Calif.

30 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

Deane, Ruthven, 1222 N. State St., Chicago, 111.
Deane, Walter, 29 Brewster St., Cambridge, Mass.
Dickey, Donald R., San Rafael Heights, Pasadena, Calif.
Dowman, R. H., Hibernia Bldg., 2525 St. Charles Ave., New Or-
leans, La.
Durfee, Owen, Box 125, Fall River, Mass.
Dwight, Dr. Jonathan, Jr., 134 W. 71st St., New York. N. Y.

Eastman, P. B., 344 Inf., Camp Grant, 111.

Eifrig, Prof. C. W. G., Concordia College, Oak Park, 111.

Ells, George R., Norwalk, Conn.

Fisher, Dr. G. Clyde, Am. Mus. Nat. History, New York, N. Y.

Flanagan, John H., 89 Power St., Providence, R. I.

Fleming, J. H., 267 Rusholme Road, Toronto, Canada.

Floyd, Joseph L., 508 New Harter Bank Bldg., Canton, Ohio.

Ford, E. R., 4741 Beacon St., Chicago, 111.

Fuertes, Louis Agassiz, Cornell Heights, Ithaca, N. Y.

Gabrielson, I. N., U. S. Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.

Gault, Benj. T., Glen Ellyn, 111.

Goelitz, W. A., 1622 Judson Ave., Ravinia, 111.

Goodrich, Mrs. Calvin, 306 Virginia Park. Detroit, Mich.

Grinnell, Dr. Joseph, Museum Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, Calif.

Guild, E. L., Conrad, Iowa.

Guion, George Seth, Napoleonville, La.

Hall, F. H., Geneva, N. Y.
Hankinson, T. L., Charleston, 111.
Harris, Harry, 901 Armour Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.
Hasslock, Miss Lillie, 1020 3d Ave. So., Nashville, Tenn.
Hathaway, Harry S., Box 1466, Providence, R. I.
Hawley, Thos. G., Bridgeport, Conn.
Hayward, W. J., 2919 Jackson St., Sioux City, Iowa.
Healy, L. E., Red Lake Falls, Minn.
Henderson, Hon. Junius, Boulder, Colo.
Henninger, Rev. W. F., New Bremen, Ohio.
Herrick, F. H., Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, Ohio.
Hill, Thomas R., Care Provident Life and Trust Co., Philadel-
phia, Pa.
Himmel, Prof. W. J., Radcliffe, Iowa.
Hine, Prof. James S., Ohio State Univ., Columbus, Ohio.
Hix, George E., 100 W. 91st St., New York, N. Y.
HoUister, Ned, Nat. Zoological Park, Washington, D. C.

Membership Eoll 31

Hopkins, A. W., M.D., 47 McGovern Ave., Ashtabula, Ohio.

Rowland, R. H., Upper Montclair, N. J.

Howser, W. D., State Game Warden, Nashville, Tenn.

Huey, Lawrence M., 3203 Clay Ave., San Diego, Calif.

Hunt, Chreswell J.,, 5847 West Superior St., Chicago, 111.

Huntington, H. G., Onawa, Iowa.

Huxley, Julian, The Museum, Oxford, Eng.

Jackson, Dr. H. H. T., Washington, D. C.

Jackson, Ralph W., Cambridge, R. D. No. 1, Maryland.

Jacobs, J. Warren, Waynesburg, Pa.

Jessee, Dr. R. L., Philo, 111.

Jewell, Miss Susan G., Tabor, Iowa.

Johns, E. W., 112 E. Bloomington St., Kingsley, Iowa.

Johns, H. A., 1904 Court St., Sioux City, Iowa.

Jones, Lvnds, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio.

Kahmann, K. W., 2513-15 Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 111.

Kempkes, Jay A., Pella, Iowa.

Kenworthy, E. M., 1202 Delaware Ave., Wilmington, Del.

Kirn, Albert J., Solomon, Kans.

Knickerbocker, C. K., 1214 McCormick Bldg., Chicago, 111.

Kretzmann, Prof. P. E., 1230 St. Anthony Ave., St. Paul, Minn.

Kuser, John Dryden, Faircourt, Bernardsville, N. J.

Larson, Adrian, Keene, N. Dak.

Laubenfels, Max de, 108 South 5th Ave., LaGrange, 111. '

Lewy, Dr. Alfred, 6016 Stony Island Ave., Chicago, 111.

McAfee, Waldo Lee, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.

McConnell, Harry B., Cadiz, Ohio.

McGregor, Richard C, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.

Mercur, J. Watts, Jr., Wallingford, Pa.

Mershon, Wm. B., Saginaw, Mich.

Metcalf, F. P., Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.

Metcalf, Prof. Zeno P., A. and M. College, Raleigh, N. C.

Miller, Richard F., 2069 East Tioga St., Philadelphia, Pa.

Mitchell, Dr. Walton I., 603 Beacon Bldg., Wichita, Kan.

Morse, Harry G., Huron, Ohio.

Morris, C. H., McConnelsville, Ohio.

Norris, Joseph Parker, Jr., 2122 Pine St., Philadelphia, Pa.

32 The Wilson Bulletin — Ko. 106

Oberholser, Harry C, 2805 18th St., N. W., Washington, D. C.

Orr, Ellison, Waukon, Iowa.

Osgood, Prof. W. H., Field Miis. Nat. Hist, Chicago, 111.

Phelps, Frank M., 212 East 4th St., Elyria, Ohio.
Praeger, W. E., 421 Douglass Ave., Kalamazoo, Mich.

Ramsden, Chas. T., Apartado 146, Guantanamo, Cuba.

Rathbun, S. F., 217 Fourteenth Ave., North Seattle, Wash.

Read, A. C, Santa Barbara, Isles of Pines, Cuba.

Richardson, Wm. D., 4215 Prairie Ave., Chicago, 111.

Riley, J. H., U. S. Nat. Museum, Washington, D. C.

Roberts, Dr. Thos. S., Animal Biol. Bldg., Univ. of Minn., Minne-
apolis, Minn.

Rogers, Chas. H., care Amer. Mus. of Nat. Hist., 77th St. and Cen-
tral Park, New York, N. Y.

Rueckert, A. G., 1745 Roscoe St., Lakeview Sta., Chicago, 111.

Rush, Mrs. Edward F., 50 Ferry Ave., East Detroit, Mich.

Sage, John H., Portland, Conn.
Sanborn, Colin C, Box 55. Chicago, 111.
Schantz, Mrs. O. M., 5215 West 24th St., Cicero, 111.
Simmons, G. Finley, Rice Institute, Houston, Texas.
Skinner, Dr. H. H., 234 Mitchell Bldg., North Yakima, Wash.
Shaver, Miss Nellie B., 314 South 6th St., Terre Haute, Ind.
Shearer, Dr. A. R., Mont Belvieu, Chambers Co., Texas.
Smith, Elbert E., Edgewood, R. F. D., Bristol, Conn.
Smith, Prof. Frank M., Univ. of 111., Urbana, 111.
Smith, Jesse Lowe. 141 S. 2d St., Highland Park, 111.
Spiker, Chas. J., Blairsburg, Iowa.

Stephens, T. C, Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa.
Stoddard, H. L-., 7141 University Ave., Chicago, 111.
Strong, Dr. R. M., 706 S. Lincoln St., Chicago, 111.
Swenk, Prof. Myron H., 1410 North 37th St., Lincoln, Neb.
Swope, Eugene, College Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Taverner, P. A., Victoria Museum, Ottawa, Canada.

Taylor, Miss Beryl, 1744 D Ave., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Taylor, Mrs. H. J., 1711 Douglas St., Sioux City, Iowa.

Terrill, Lewis Mad., 44 Stanley Ave., St. Lambert, Quebec, Canada.

Tinker, A. D., 631 South 12th St., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Todd, W. E. Clyde, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Truesdale, Fred, Shandon, Calif.

Membership Roll 33

Tyler, Dr. Winsor M., 522 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, Mass.

Wager, Prof. Ralph, DeKalb, 111:

Wallace, Chas. R., 69 Columbus Ave., Delaware, Ohio.

Wallace, James S., No. 12 Wellington St., E. Toronto, Canada.

Walter, Dr. Herbert E., Brown University, Providence, R. I.

Warren, Edward R., 1511 Wood Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo.

Weatherill, Charlotte, 255 Villa St., Elgin, 111.

Wetmore, Alex., Bureau of Biol. Survey, Washington, D. C.

Wheelock, Mrs. Irene G., 1040 Hinman Ave., Evanston, 111.

Wheeler, Rev. H. E., Clifton St., Conway, Ark.

Wilson, Burtis H., Joliet, 111.

SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Bales, Dr. B. R., Circleville, Ohio.
Bent, Arthur C, Taunton, Mass.

Coffin, Percival Brooks, 3232 Ellis Ave., Chicago, 111.

Fordyce, George L., 40 Lincoln Ave., Youngstown, Ohio.

Ganier, A. F., 1023 Villa St., Nashville, Tenn.
Gray, D. R., Rockdale, Maury Co., Tenn.

Mills, Weir R., Pierson, Iowa.
Morgan, Samuel M., Chicago, III.

Norris, Roy C, 725 North 10th St., Richmond, Ind.

Saunders, Wm. E., 352 Clarence St., London, Ontario, Canada.
Schantz, Orpheus M., 5215 West 24th St., Cicero, 111.
Sherman, Miss Althea R., Box 41, Route 2, McGregor, Iowa.
Swales, B. H., Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Thayer, Hon. John E., Box 98 Lancaster, Mass.

Whitney, Thomas H., Atlantic, Iowa.

Williams, John, St. Marks, Fla.

Woodruff, Frank M., Acad, of Sciences, Lincoln Park, Chicago, 111.

Young, John P., care Demgamon Farm, Coburg, Ontario, Canada.

34 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Adams, Mrs. John, Bay Shore, Long Island. N. Y.

Allerton, Mrs. Agnes, Lake Geneva, Wis.

Allen, Prof. A. A., Ithaca, N. Y.

Allen, A. F., 2224 Pearl St., Sioux City, Iowa.

Anderson, A. J., 1822 West Palmer Ave., Sioux City, Iowa.

Appel, W. D., Kingsport, Tenn.

Arnold, Edward, 64 Duroeher St., Montreal Canada.

Arthur, Stanley Clisby, 1109 Henry Clay Ave., New Orleans, La.

Bailey, Bernard, R. F. D. 1, Elk River, Minn.

Bailey, Mrs. Mary, 2109 Nebraska St., Sioux City, Iowa.

Bennett, Rev. George, Iowa City, Iowa.

Bergtold, Dr. W. H., 1159 Race St., Denver, Colo.

Berlin, Mrs. W., Wimbledon. N. Dak.

Bolsford, Elmer F., 62 Broad St., Plattsburg, N. Y.

Bolt, Benj., 1421 Prospect Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

Bond, Harry L., Lakefield, Minn.

Braislin, Dr. Wm. C, 425 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Ohio.
Breckenridge, Robert W., Park Ave., Brooklyn, Iowa.
Brown, W. J., 250 Olive Ave., Westmount, Quebec, Canada.
Euchner, Mrs. E. M., 3637 Fullerton Ave., Chicago, 111.
Burgess, F. E., Cushing, Iowa.

Burleigh, Thos. D., 825 North Negley Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Burton, Rev. Wm., Alliance, Ohio.

Chamberlain, C. W., 36 Lincoln St., Boston, Mass.

Coale, H. K., Highland Park, 111.

Coffin, Mrs. Lucy Baxter, 3232 Ellis Ave., Chicago. 111.

Compton, James S., Care Eureka Coll., Eureka, 111.

Cook, Orange, Chardon, Ohio.

Coulter, Stanley G., Purdue Univ., Lafayette, Ind.

Craigmile, Miss Mary Agnes, Rantoul, 111.

Crooks, Miss Minna, Rapid City, Mich.

C*urtis, Harold, Towaco,. N. J.

Daggett, Frank S., Museum, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, Calif.
Danforth, Stuart, 115 North Sixth Ave., New Brunswick, N. J.
Davis, Mrs. Frank V., 2096 luko Ave., Columbus. Ohio.
Davidson, Mrs. F. S., 1302 W., So. Grand Ave., Springfield, 111.

Membership Roll 35

Dawson, Prof. R. W., 1105 N. 33d St., Lincoln, Neb.

Denny, Milo B., 1209 Day St., Des Moines, Iowa.

Devine, J. L., 310-35 No. Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.

Dill, Prof. Homer R., Room 10 New Sci. Bldg., Iowa City, Iowa.

Dille, Fred M., Valentine, Neb.

Doolittle, E. A., Box 444, Painesville, Ohio.

Downhour, Miss Elizabeth, 2307 Talbott Ave., Indianapolis, Ind.

Dodson, Joseph H., Kankakee, 111.

Ekblaw, George E., R. F. D. No. 23, Rantoul, 111.

Ekblaw, W. Elmer, 255 Nat. Hist. Hall, University of Illinois, Ur-

bana. 111.
Evans, Wm. B., 205 E. Central Ave., Moorstown, N. J.
Evans, Vern, 501 Center St., Marshalltown, Iowa.
Ewers, Prof. A. F., 3411 Pestalozzi Ave., St. Louis, Mo.

Farquhar, Arthur, York, Pa.

Fay, Frank S., Meriden, Conn.

Fenton, Carroll Lane, 504 Clinton St., Charles City, Iowa.

Field, Irving A., Clark University, Worcester, Mass.

Fisher, Miss E. W., 2222 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa.

Foft, Samuel F., Waukee, Iowa.

Forbush, Edward H., Room 136, State House, Boston, Mass.

Ford, Rev. Eugene C, 1017 Seventh St., North Fargo, N. Dak.

Ford, F. E., Chardon, Ohio.

Friedrich, G., 3029 Belmont Ave., Chicago, 111.

Giehm, Helen, Box 356, Hartley, Iowa.

Gifford, Paul C, 73 Whittier Ave., Olneyville, R. I.

Gingerich, Mrs. L. 0., Springfield, S. Dak.

Ginther, H. J., 8303 Brookline Ave., Cleveland, Ohio.

Gormley, A. L., Box 345, Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.

Grant, W. W., 600 Castle St., Geneva, N. Y.

Griffee, Bill, Norton, Kans.

Griffith, W. R., 4014 Fourth Ave., Sioux City, Iowa.

Hadeler, E. W., Painesville, Ohio.

Hamilton, Dr. B. A., Highland Park. 111.

Hanna, Miss Margaret M., 1020 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, Ind.

Hart, C. G., Box 47, East Berlin, Conn.

Hayden, F. J., Nokomis, Manatee County, Fla.

Hennessey, Frank C, 457 Albert St., Ottawa, Canada.

Holland, H. M., Box 515, Galesburg, 111.

Honywill, A. W., Jr., 210 Farmington Ave., Hartford, Conn.

36 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 106

Hood. Miss Adah, 1002 Ninth St., Sioux City, Iowa.
Hughes, Mrs. C. B., 716 Rockhill St., Fort Wa\Tie, Ind.
Hulsberg, E. F., 340 S. Catherine Ave., LaGrange, 111.

Johnson Frank Edgar, 16 Amackassin Terrace, Yonkers, N. Y.
Jarvis, Raymond, 112 North Fourth St., Marshalltown, Iowa.
Jenney, C. F., Court House, Boston, Mass.

Kavanagh, Mrs. J. M., 212 South Kerrington Ave., LaGrange, 111.

Keehn, Miss Pearl, 900 South 7th St., Burlington, Iowa.

Keeler, S. L., Box 473, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Keezel, Mrs. Clara Cozard, Ottawa, Kansas.

Kellogg, W. H., 53 West Union St., Columbus, Ohio.

Kennard, Fred H.. Newton Centre, Mass.

Kimberly, Miss Anna Maud, care Public Library, Marshalltown, la.

Knapp, Mrs. Nell Davis. 105 Fowler Ave.. West Lafayette, Ind.

Kohler. Louis S.. 47 Wagner Place, Hawthorne, N. J.

Laughlin, Miss R., 107 Hancock St.. Madison, Wis.

Law, Eugene J., 8331/2 S. Catalina St., Los Angeles. Calif.

Lightner, D. H., City Trust and Savings Bank, Aberdeen, S. Dak.

Lincoln, Frederick C, Colorado Museum Nat. Hist. Denver, Colo.

Love, Guy, Oberlin, Kansas.

Ludcke, Geo. 0., 2803 Pierce St., Sioux City, Iowa.

Little, Luther. 519 Stimson Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif.

Lyon, W. L., 432 7th St., Moline, 111.

McBride, John F., 340 South Ritter St., Indianapolis, Ind.

McCreary, Otto, Agr. Exp. Station, Geneva, N. Y.

McConnell, Thos.. 1813 Huey St. McKeesport, Pa.

McCullough, P. J., Union House, Delaware, Ohio.

McMillen. Wheeler, Ada. Ohio.

McNair, Geo. T., 125 North 11th St., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

McNeil, Dr. Chas. A., Sedalia, Mo.

Mahood, Miss Etta, R. D. No. 1, Rapid City, Mich.

Malin, Mrs. Joda, Wyanlusing, Wis.

Mallory, W. B., Lennox, S. Dak.

Maltby, Fred, 1412 8th Ave., Seattle, Wish.

Matheny, W. A., Athens, Ohio.

Mayfield, Dr. Geo. R., care Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, Tenn.

Merrill, E. W., Sitka, Alaska.

Merritt, Miss Maude, Ottumwa, Iowa.

Miller, Mrs. Frank, 1222 East 56th St., Chicago, 111.

Mills, Leo, Jefferson, Ohio.

Membership Eoll 37

Mitchell, Catherine Adams. Riverside, 111.
Morgan. Samuel M.. Chicago. 111.
Myers. Laura B., Canal F^ilton. Ohio.

N'ewcomb, C. A.. Jr.. Xewcomb Endicoit Co., Woodward Ave., De-
troit, Mich.
Newton, Thos. D., 5624 Prairie Ave., Chicago, 111.

Palmer, T. S.. 1939 Biltmore St., Washington. D. C.

Palmer, E. L., 804 E. Seneca St., Ithaca. X. Y.

Pellett. Frank C. Hamilton, 111.

Philip. P. B., St. Paul Bldg., 220 Broadway. New York. X. Y.

Pierce, Mrs. P. S., 17 West Bloomington St.. Iowa City. Iowa.

Piepenbrok, Rev. E. A.. 113 West Pine St.. Albion, Mich.

Plath, Karl, 2S47 Giddings St.. Ravenswood Sta.. Chicago, 111.

Pope, E. F., Colmesneil, Texas.

Potter, J. K., Sixth and Bailey Sts., Camden, X. J.

Price, Ligon, R. D. 1. Box 44. Dxinmore. W. Ya.

Pullen, Henry, Victoria, B. C.

Raymond. Mrs. C. E.. 21 Third St.. Hinsdale. 111.

Redmond. F. H.. 329 Berkeley Ave.. Berwyn, 111.

Reed. Miss M. Isabelle. 34S Wilson Ave., Columbus. Ohio.

Rich., Dr. Guy C. 1820 El Cerrito Place, Hollywood. Calif.

Ridgway, Miss Joy, Plymouth, Iowa.

Roads, Miss Katie M., 463 Vine St., HiUsboro, Ohio.

Roper, Kenyon. 509 Xorth 4th St.. Steuben vllle. Ohio.

Rossignol. G. R.. 2116 Bull St.. Savannah. Ga.

Rowe. Paul, Glenwood, Iowa,

Ryder. Mrs. R. O.. 1041 Franklin Ave.. Columbus, Ohio.

Sarver, Rex A., R. F. D. 3. Sidney, Ohio.

Saunders. Aretas A., 143 East Ave.. Xorwalk, Conn.

Schantz. F. A., 43 Schneider Ave., Kitchener, Canada,

Scholte. Robt- P., Pella, Iowa.

Schwab. Dr. E. M.. 2732 Woodbum Ave., Cincinnati. Ohio.

Scott. Mrs. R. T., 603 Xorth Seventh St., Cambridge. Ohio.

Scullen, Prof. H. A.. Station "A," Ames, Iowa.

Sedgwick. James. 217 South Hamilton St., Madison. Wis.

Silliman. 0. P.. 220 Salinas St.. Salinas, Calif.

Shankland. F. X.. Willoughby, Ohio.

Sherman, John D.. Jr.. 24 Claremont Ave.. Mt. Vernon. X. Y.

Smith. Arthur F.. Little Rock. Iowa.

Smith, Xapier, 46 Cote des Xeiges Road, Apt. 21, Montreal, Can.

38 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 106

Snyder, Will Edwin, 309 DeClark St., Beaver Dam, Wis.

Sparks, Miss Marion, 1107 West Oregon St., Urbana, 111.

Spurrell, John A., R. D. No. 1, Wall Lake, Iowa.

St. John, Dr. J. Ada, 600 N. Topeka Ave., Wichita, Kans.

Stephens, E. G., 950 State Ave., Kansas City, Kans.

Stevens, Dr. J. F., Box 1546, Lincoln, Neb.

Stevenson, A. L., 2607 Ridge Ave., EVanston, 111.

Stockbridge, Chas. A., 2323 Webster St., Fort Wayne, Ind.

Stone, Clarence F., Branchport, N. Y .

Stone, Miss Lucy B., 533 Franklin Ave., Columbus, Ohio.

Stoner, Dayton, 603 Summit St., Iowa City, Iowa.

Strode, W. S., Lewiston, 111.

Stubbs, Chas. R., Conrad, Iowa.

Stuart, F. A., Marshall, Mich.

Swarth, Harry S., Mus. Vert, Zool., Berkeley, Calif.

Swift, Dr. C. H., 5632 Maryland Ave., Hyde Park, Sta., Chicago, IlL

Test, Dr. F. C, 4620 Greenwood Ave., Chicago, 111.
Thomas, W. S., 316 Frick Bldg., Pittsburg, Pa.
Townsend, C. W., 76 Marlborough St., Boston, Mass.
Townsend, Rev. Manley B., 9 Mt. Pleasant St., Nashua, N. H.
Tufts, R. W., Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Tuttle, F. May, Osage, Iowa.

Visher, S. S., 416 South Dunn St., Bloomington, Ind.

Wagner, Millard Van, R. F. D., Saltpoint, N. Y.

Walker, Mrs. R. 0., Wyalusing, Wis.

Warner, Willis H., Box 434, Youngstown, Ohio.

Watson, J. Q., 202 South Livingston Ave., LaGrange, HL

Wayne, Arthur, Mt. Pleasant, S. C.

Webb, Prof. A. C, 309 Wilburn St., Nashville, Tenn.

Wharram, S. V., Austinburg, Ohio.

White, Chas. E., Box 45, Kenilworth, 111.

White, W. F., Jr., care Michigan Limestone and Chemical Co.,

Rogers City, Mich.
Whitman, Miss Julia, 351 West Wabasha St., Winona, Minn.
Williams, Noel J., Arnolds Park, Iowa.
Wilson. R. A., Nashville, Tenn.
Wilson, J. Max, Mason City, Iowa.
Wing, DeWitt C, 5344 Dorchester Ave., Chicago, 111.
Winslow, A. M., Jackson, Mich.

Wright, Miss H. H., 1637 Gratiot Ave., Saginaw, W. S., Mich.
Wright, Horace W., 107 Pinckney St., Boston, Mass.

Membership Koll 39

HONORARY MEMBERS
Ballard, H. H., Pittsfield, Mass.

Ridgw'ay, Prof. R., U. S. Nat. Museum, Washington, D. C.
Nehrling, H., Gotlia, Fla.
Widmann, O., 5105 Enright Ave., St. Louis, Mo.

DECEASED MEMBERS
Andrews, Callsta
Bailey, B. H.
Barnes, W. E.
Beers, Henry
Bendire, Maj. Charles E.
Benners, Archie
Betts, Norman De Witt
Clark, John W.
Chipperfield, Paul C.
Cooke, Pr. Wells W.
Eddy, Newell A.
Ferry, John Farwell
Holmes, La Rue Klingle.
Holmes, Fred W.
King, Rev. J. W.
Knight, Ora Wellis
McKechnie, Frederick B
Marble, Charles C.
Newbury, F. C.
Peck, H. E.

Pennock, Charles John.
Purdie, Henry A.
Reinecke, Ottomar
Sammons, B. C.
Sand, Isabelle L.
Trowbridge, Chas.
Wilson, Sidney S.
Wood, J. Claire

MEMBERS OF NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

Mrs. W. F. Baxter, 123 S. 37th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.
Rev. J. M. Bates, Red Cloud, Nebraska.
Mrs. A. Black, Kearney, Nebraska.
Mr. A. M. Brooking, Inland, Nebraska.

40 The Wilson Bulletix— No. lOG

Mr. H. F. Bruner, Kola, Nebraska.

Prof. Lawrence Bruner, (University Farm), Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mrs. Lily Ruegg Button, 616 W. 8thi St., Fremont, Nebraska.

Mrs. A. J. Cornish, 529 South 14th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

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Miss Mary Ellsworth, No. 2 Hudson Apts., Omaha, Nebraska.

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Miss Emma Hathaway, 430 S. 17th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

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Miss Jeanette McDonald, 313 S. 27th St., Omaha, Nebraska.

Mr. Clarence E. Mickel, 3214 U St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mrs. George H. Payne, W. Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska.

Mrs. Robert E. Rice, Blue Springs, Nebraska.

Miss Elizabeth Rooney, 2802 Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska.

Mr. L. Sessions, Norfolk, Nebraska.

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Miss Anne Stewart, 1905 D St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

Miss Caroline Stringer. 2803 Poppleton Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.

Miss Anne Stuart, 1905 D St.. Lincoln. Nebraska.

Prof. M. H. Swenk, 1410 North 37th St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

Miss Edith Tobitt, Omaha Public Library, Omaha, Nebraska.

Prof. Wilson Tout, Supt. of Schools, North Platte, Nebraska.

Miss Elizabeth Van Sant, 2950 Dewey Ave., Omaha, Nebraska.

Mr. Lucius H. Watson, Post Office, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mr. Ewald Witt. Box 3, R. R. No. 1, Scribner, Nebraska.

THE

WILSON BULLETIN

NO. 107
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

VOL. XXXI JUNE, 1919 NO. 2

OLD SERIES VOL. XXXI. NEW SERIES VOL. XXVI.

THE SNOW-BUNTING, AN ARCTIC STUDY IN
BLACK AND WHITE.

BY W. ELMER EKBLAW

111 his far polar home, a thousand miles beyond the
Arctic Circle, the snow-bunting {Plectrophenax nivalis
nivalis), a pretty study in black and white, is the only
songster of all the birds that come so far North. In the
vast reaches of the lonely rock-bound islands of the Arc-
tic Archipelago and northern Greenland, the only sound
that breaks the all-enveloping silence for months at a time,
is the snow-bunting's sweet vibrant song, happy and mu-
sical as the tinkle of the mountain brook. To those of us
who know him only in winter, when he comes to us in his
brown and buff overcoat, silent except for his plaintive
call-chirp, the striking beauty of his black and white suit,
and the compelling sweetness of his voluble song would
indeed be a pleasant surprise.

No shore seems too desolate, no rock ledge too bare,
for the snow-bunting. Everywhere throughout the North,
wherever man has been in summer, the snow-bunting has
greeted him. Even the explorers who have crossed the
great ice-cap of Greenland have reported hearing his song,
or seeing him, as they have sledged along their lonely,
dreary way. The snow-bunting, and the poppy, and the
Eskimos, are all alike in their fearlessness, their cheeri-
ness, and their love of the North.

42 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

The snow-bunting comes to the Far North in late
April or early May; when the heavens are so blue that
they can't be bluer; when the stars have all been gone out
of the sky for a month ; when the midnight sun has risen
far enough above the northern horizon to peep over the
highest mountains on the rim of the world, and to bring
a suggestion of spring into the Northland; when for two
or three days the sun-warmed southern wind has blown,
and the Eskimos say they can feel the balminess of sum-
mer coming, though they still wear their heavy caribou-
skin kooletas, or fox-fur kapetahs ; then all at once, out
of the very sky, it seems, falls the joyful song of the snow-
bunting. Only a few moments later, a pair of the song-
sters, coming from how many miles southward nobody
knows, drops cheerfully upon one of the snow-bare rock
ledges near an Eskimo village.

A shout of joy greets the little travelers, for "koop-
enobk" is a favorite with the people. His coming is the
signal for them to abandon the crowded little stone-igloos
in which they have lived a semi-troglodytic life through
the winter, for the fresher, roomier skin-tupiks in which
they spend the summer. Often the snow is still deep about
the village site when they put up their tupiks and move
" out-of-doors," where they stay until the snow-bunting
leaves again. Undoubtedly the freedom from tuberculosis
and pulmonary illnesses, so characteristic of the Smith
Sound Eskimo in contrast with their disease-ridden rela-
tives farther south, is due to their custom of accepting the
snow-bunting's invitation to come out-of-doors to enjoy
the fresh air with him.

The snow-bunting and his mate do not wait long to
select their nesting-place and to build their nest. They
make themselves busy at once examining every cranny and
crevice about the rocky slopes and ledges for a place where
they can be safe from prying eyes or hungry foxes. Usu-
ally they decide upon some crack in a steep ledge, but

The Snow-Bunting 43

often they choose a niche under a rock that lies upon the
ground. Nearly always it is well concealed.

The nest is most cunning!}^ made of grasses and
sedges, usually lined with the white feathers of ptarmigan,
the white fur of the hare, or the white hairs of the polar
bear. In Ellesmereland, where the muskoxen are numer-
ous, the nest is usually lined with the long black hairs of
that animal. Apparently the birds prefer certain locali-
ties, for I have found a dozen or more nests of different
years' construction placed about one rock ledge. Whether
or not the birds return to the same nesting site I could not
determine with certainty; but the factor at Sondre Uper-
nivik, in North Greenland told me that a pair built in a
niche in the eaves of his station three years in succession.
Naturally he thought it to be the same pair.

June has barely come when the first eggs are laid.
The eggs are constantly brooded, most of the time by the
female, but sometimes by the male, until they hatch in
ten or twelve days. Then both parents are busy all the
twenty-four hours of the day catching enough crane-flies,
gnats, spiders, flies, and moths to keep their nestful of five
or six youngsters from hunger. The youngsters grow so
fast that in less than two weeks they leave the nest, and
begin fluttering about the rocks near their home. Only a
day or two passes before they begin flying about, and in
a few days they have begun to shift for themselves. Rarely
the mother bird broods a second set of eggs so far north,
though sometimes, if her first clutch of eggs be destroyed,
she makes a new nest and tries again to bring forth a
family.

I am not sure that the snow-bunting sleeps at all as
long as his youngsters demand food. Early and late he is
busy, for his food-supply is not so abundant that he can
find it easily or in very great quantity. I have come upon
him apparently cuddled away on a sunny ledge, but never
in the time when he has young ones to care for. It may

44 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

be that his mate and he have some arrangement whereby
one or the other broods the young for some time of the
day, but of that I am not sure.

In the summer of 1917 a pair of snow-buntings made
their nest in a crevice in a rock-ledge less than fifty yards
from our headquarters at North Star Bay. This pair I
carefully studied throughout their nesting period, and
until their young flew. While the young were being fed
I was for a time surprised to note that tlie male bird fed
the young about twice as often as did his mate, rather un-
usual, according to my observations on other birds. Then
I found that he had come upon a particularly good hunt-
ing-ground, where the flies gathered about our refuse heap
and our blubber-barrel near the shore. Here he could
catch a mouth full of flies in half the time his mate could
gather her bill full of the rarer and more scattered crane-
flies and moths, for which she had to search far afield.
Whether or not the youngsters derived more nourishment
or "vitamiues" from the flies, or the moths and crane-flies,
it would be hard to state.

The Arctic sledge trail would be lonely indeed with-
out the cheerful, comi^anionable snow-bunting to greet the
explorer from every sunny slope or warm rock-ledge, and
to come inquiringly about the sledge or tent to pass the
time of day. In my traverse of Grant Land, the snow-
buntings came to our camp at the head of Canon Fjord on
April twenty-eighth, and afterwards hardly a day ])assed
that we did not see them or hear their song. All the way
down the Veery River and Lake Hazen from the divide of
Grant Land the snow-bunting frequented every cliff and
slope. About the ruins of old Fort Conger a dozen pairs
were making ready to nest.

A snow-bunting's song would attract attention even in the
Southland. It is as thrillingly sweet as the song-sparrow's
as vibrant as a thrush's; and as exultant and exuberantly,
happy as the mocking bird's. Sometimes he gives voice to

Migration Kecords for Kansas Birds 45

his song while perching; but on calm sunny days he rises
from his perch to sing, singing as he rises, and then drops
back to his favorite rock still singing. Often a pair of
males appear to engage in competitive antiphonal concert,
and then the mountain-side rings with ecstatic melody.

Along in August, when the midnight sun no longer
glorifies the North, the snow-buntings don their warmer
buff and brown plumage, and begin to assemble in consid-
erable flocks on the grassier slopes for the journey south-
ward. Quiet and still, as if sad to leave their northern
home, they feed about tlie rocks, lingering even until No-
vember, when the night comes on, and the sun no longer
shines even at noonday. Then the North is silent until
they come again.

MIGRATION KECORDS FOR KANSAS BIRDS.

BESSIE PRICE DOUTHITT, INSTRUCTOR IN ZOOLOGY,

university OF KANSAS, LAWRENCE.

[Continued from March Issue.]

Family MNIOTILTI DAE— Wood Warblers.
This family lives upon foliage insects; a few, however, have
flycatcher habits. They come late and 'leave early. Field observa-
tion is rarely dependable because there are so many kinds, and
these kinds have many variations; the immature ones differinj:;',
in many cases, from the mature in plumage. Then, too, for most
part, they keep to the tree tops. The data for most species is
based on museum records. Many seen in field but positive iden-
tification not possible for above reasons.

636. Mniotilta varia — Black and White Warbler.

A fairly common summer resident. Field and museum records
give May 1, 3, 5, 9. Lane County, September 14, one specimen.

637. Prothonofaria citrca — Prothonotary Warbler.

This warbler is a common summer resident in eastern Kan-
sas wherever swamps are found. Field observation May 1. It is
quite likely that they arrive considerably earlier. They probably
return south in July and a few, if any, remain till September.
Last museum records August 6, 11, 13.
639. Helmitheros vcrynivorus — Worm-eating Warbler.

A rare migrant. One museum record May 6.

46 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

641. Verviivora pinus — Blue-winged Warbler.

An occasional migrant. Museum records May 12, August 10.

645. Yermivora ruiricapilla riibricapilla — Nashville Warbler.
Rare migrant. Museum records for October 2, and two for

October 12.

646. Vermivora celata cclata — Grange-crowned Warbler.

A common migrant. Museum has three specimens taken April
26, 27, 30. There are nine from Cloud County ranging from Octo-
ber 9 to 19.

Vermiiwra cclata orestera — Western Orange-crowned Warbler.

" Migratory in western part of the state." — Bunker. No mu-
seum specimens.

647. Vermivora peregrina — Tennessee Warbler.

Rare migrant. Specimens taken, one May 3; four on May 11;
two on May 16; and one on May 17.
648a. Compsothlypis americana usnece — Northern Parula.

Common migrant. One specimen on May 3; two May 5; one
May 8; one September 14; and two September 20.
652. Dcndroica (estiva a^stiva — Yellow Warbler.

Common summer resident. In 1917 arrived April 24. Com-
mon May 1. This species leaves mostly in July and August. The
museum has one specimen taken September 20, 1907.

654. Dcndroica cacrulcscens cacrulesccns — Black-throated Blue

Warbler.
This warbler is a rare migrant. The museum records but one
specimen. It was taken in Lane County October 16.

655. Dcndroica coronata — Myrtle Warbler.

The myrtle warbler is a common migrant. According to
Bunker it is an occasional sojourner in open winters. The first
observation date for 1917 is April 8. Not common till April 24.
Still common May 9. Not observed after May 12.

656. Dcndroica audiiboni audoboni — Audubon's Warbler.
Common migrant in western part of Kansas. Specimens at

museum show one from Gove County October 1, four October 3;
Lane County, two October 4; Trego County two, October 15 and 16.

657. Dcndroica magnolia — Magnolia Warbler.
A rare migrant. No data.

658. Dcndroica ceriilca — Cerulean Wrabler.

This species is a common migrant and a rare summer resi-
dent. One migration record May 3, 1912. (Museum.)

659. Dcndroica pcnuylvanica — Chestnut-sided Warbler.
A rare migrant. No museum records.

661. 'Dcndroica striata — Black-poll Warbler.

This warbler is a common migrant. Museum records one
specimen May 17 and three May 21.

Migration Kecords for Kansas Birds 47

662. Dendroica fiisca — Blackburnian Warbler.
A rare migrant. No museum records.

671. Dendroica vigorsi — Pine Warbler.

In eastern Kansas a rare migrant. No museum records.

672. Dendroica palmarum palmar urn — Palrn Warbler.

A rare migrant in eastern part of state. One museum record,
April 28, 1881, Douglas County.

673. Dendroica discolor — Prairie Warbler.

No museum records. It is a rare summer resident in eastern
Kansas.

674. Seiurtis aurocapillns — Oven-bird.

In eastern part of state it is a common summer resident.
Three museum records, May 16, 17, and September 4.4.
675a. Seiuriis noveboracensis notabilis — Grinnell's Water-Thrush.

A rare migrant. One specimen at museum, taken April 29,
1904.

676. Seiiiriis motaciUa — Louisiana Water-Thrush.

As a summer resident, common. Observed in 1917, on May 5.
Two seen May 8; again observed May 13 and 18. Museum has
one specimen. May 15, 1908.

677. Oporornis formosus — Kentucky Warbler.

In eastern part of state it is a common summer resident.
Three museum records May 12, July 29, August 1.
679. Oporornis Philadelphia — Mourning Warbler.

This species is a rare migrant. One museum record August 30.
681. Geothlypis trichas trichas — Maryland Yellow-throat.

A common summer resident. It arrived in 1917 on April 24.
Common May 5. Last museum records September 14, 15, 17, 19.
681d. Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla — Northern Yellow-throat.

No records of migration. Museum specimens, two in Chero-
kee County for June 21 and 30 and one in Montgomery for July 28.

683. Icteria virens virens — Yellow-breasted Chat.

Common in summer. Museum records, one May 5, two May
9, and one on May 13, 15, 16, 20, 22. Also on September 14, 15,
19, 20.
683a. Icteria. virens longicauda — Long-tailed Chat.

In western Kansas it is quite common through the summer.
No data.

684. Wilsonia critina — Hooded Warbler.

A rare summer resident in eastern part of state. No data.

685. Wilsonia pusilla pnsilla — Wilson's Warbler.

A common migrant. One record, October 9, 1912, in Gove
County.

48 The "Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

686. Wilsonia canadensis — Canada Warbler.

Rare migrant in eastern Kansas. One record for Neosho
Falls, August 29, 1881.

687. Septophaga ruticilla — Redstart.

In summer a common resident. Museum and field records,
May 1, four, May 3, 8, 9, 16, etc., September 8 and 19.

Family MOTACILLIDAE— Wagtails.
697. Anthus riibescens — Pipit.

A common migrant. Four museum specimens taken April 16;
two on April 23; one September 10; and one October 29.
700. Anthus spraguei — Sprague's Pipit.

Sprague's Pipit is a common migrant in western Kansas and
a rare migrant in eastern part of state. September 5, 13, 19, Wa-
keeney; October 5, Lane County; October 6, 7, 9, Cloud County;
six on October 10, Gove County, according to museum records.

Faaiily MIMIDAE — Thrashers, Mockingbirds, etc.

703. Mimits polyglottos polyglottos — Mockingbird.

This species is a common summer resident in eastern Kan-
sas. First observed in 1917 on April 26. Last observed in fall of
1916 on October 3.
703a. Mimus polyglottos leucopterus — Western Mockingbird.

A common summer resident in western part of the state.
The museum records two specimens in May, one on May 19, Bar-
ber County, and one the 27th from Comanche County. There are
seven specimens from Wallace County, taken in June and July.
Of these, two for June 29; four for July 3; and one for July 6.

704. DiimeteUa caroliticusis — Catbird.

The catbird is a common summer resident. Arrived in 1917
on May 1, and was seen every day, thereafter, during the summer.
In 1916 it was last observed on October 16.

705. Toxostoma rufiim — Brown Thrasher.

This species is very abundant during the summer. First ob-
served in spring of 1917 on April 5. Fairly common April 12. Ar-
rived in full numbers April 16. In the autumn of 1916, very com-
mon until September 21. It was last seen September 28. The
museum gives last record October 3 for Lane County.

Family TROGLODYTIDAE— Wrens

715. Salpinctes oisoletus obsoletus — Rock Wren.

This species is a summer resident in central and western
Kansas. Only one specimen at museum and it was taken in Lane
County September 27.
718. Thryothorus ludovicianus ludoviciantis — Carolina Wren.

A common resident.

Migration Records for Kansas Birds 49

719b. Thryomanes iewicki iairdi — Baird's Wren.

Baird's wren is a not uncommon resident in southwestern
Kansas.
719c. Thryomanes bewicki cryptus — Texas Bewick's Wren.

A common migrant in southwestern Kansas. The museum
records show sixteen specimens from Barber and Comanche
Counties, ranging from May 9 to May 29
721b. Troglodytes aedon parkniani — Western House Wren.

As summer resident, common. Plentiful in spring of 1917.
First observation on April 19. Last observed in fall of 1916 on
September 27. The museum record for Cloud County gives Oc-
tober 10.
722. Nannus liiemalis Jiiemalis — Winter Wren.

Not uncommon in winter. Museum records October 18, Trego
County; December 30, Miami County; November 11, January 2
and February 11 for Douglas County.
724. Cistothorus stellaris — Short-billed Marsh Wren.

This wren is a rare migrant. One specimen at museum is
recorded for May 30, and two others, one for August 6 and one
for August 24; another for October 2.
725d. Telvuitodytcs pahistris iliacus — Prairie Marsh Wren.

A rare summer resident. Museum records for May 3 and,
October 19 and 31.

Family CERTHI I DAE— Creepers.

726. Certhia familiaris americana — Brown Creeper.

A common winter resident. It is, however, a more common
migrant. One observed on Oct6ber 2, 1916. Museum records show
three on October 3. The creeper was observed daily in 1917 be-
tween March 25 and April 26, but seldom seen in winter. It has
been more common in other winters.

Family SITTIDAE— Nuthatche.s.

727. Sitta carolinensis carolinensis — White-breasted Nuthatch.
A common resident.

728. Sitta canadensis — Red-breasted Nuthatch.

This nuthatch is a migrant, but is not common. Sometimes
it is a winter resident. It is a bird of irregular habits, sometimes
spending the winter far north of Kansas. The migrations are
irregular. Observed in 1917 on May 24; in 1916 on October 10.
The museum records show two specimens, one for Trego County,
on October 16, and one for Lawrence, on November 19.

Family PARIDAE — Titmouse.
731. Baeolophus bicolor — Tufted Titmouse.

50 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

The Tufted Titmouse is a common resident.
735a. Pentliestcs atricaplUus septcntrionalis — Long-tailed Chickadee.
735a. Penthestcs atricapillus sextentrionalis — Long-tailed Chickadee.

These two species are not distinguishable in the field. The
chickadees are one of our most numerous winter birds. In 1917
careful records showed a gradual thinning out, beginning about
March 25, but they were still common May 6. After the 6th of
May the numbers were less. After May 15 they were seldom
seen except in deep woods. In fall of 1916 they became more
numerous and began to move out of deep woods into more open
places about September 1, but they were not common until about
September 20. Thereafter observed almost daily.

Family SYLVIIDAE — Kinglets, Gnatcatchers.

748. Regulus satrapa satrapa — Golden-crowned Kinglet.

While this species is a winter resident, he is not common.
The first museum recoi'd is November 14. The field record for
1917 shows one specimen for March 17

749. Regulus calendula calendula — Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Kansas is within the winter range of this common migrant.

In the spring of 1917 the first arrivals were observed on March 25.
From that date the kinglets were quite common till April 22.
They came, as it seemed, in a body and left in like manner. The
museum records April 27. Observed abundantly in 1916, October
12, according to same record. For Lane County, September 27, 28
to October 21.
751. Pilioptila caerulca caerulea — Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

This species is rare as a summer resident, but as a migrant
quite common. The time of migration is irregular. The museum
records show specimens taken on April 17; one on April 9; and
one on the 13th and one on the 22d of May. They return in Au-
gust and leave the same month. The fall records show two speci-
mens captured on August 27 and two on August 29.

Family TURBIDAB — Thrushes, Robins aad Bluebirds.

754. Myadestes townsendii — Townsend's Solitaire.

The Townsend Solitaire is an occasional fall and winter vis-
itant. No data.

755. Hylocichla miistelina — Wood Thrush.

This species is common during the summer. It arrived in a body
on May 1, 1917. In the fall the numbers gradually decrease. The
fall records show it as last seen on September 27. Its quiet, se-
cluded habits during fall makes necessary more careful searching.
756a. Hylocichla ftiscescens salicicola — Willow Thrush.

Migration Kecords for Kansas Birds 51

Only a rare migrant. But one record reporting it, and that
on September 10.

757. Hylocichla aliciae aliciae — Gray-cheeked Thrush.
This is a rare migrant. No record.

758a. Hylocichla ustula swainsoni — Olive-backed Thrush.

The Olive-backed Thrush is a common migrant. As observed
in the spring of 1917 it was found to be fairly common from April
28 to May 5. One specimen was daily seen till May 16. The mu-
seum records show the later date of May 19; also three for May 21.
759a. Hylocichla guttata aiiduhoni — Audubon's Hermit Thrush.

The Audubon Hermit Thrush is found along western border.
It is probably not a regular resident as this is a mountain sub-
species. Lane County reports one record on September 27, 1912.
759b. Hylochichla guttata pallasi — Hermit Thrush.

For Kansas this species is a rare migrant. But one migra
tion record, and that on ApriL 14, 1916.

761. Plantesticus migratorius migratorius — American Robin.

The robins are with us in great numbers during the summer.
They are not at all uncommon during the winter months. Quite
true, they are seldom seen at that time, because they go out to
the countryside to find shelter in woods and low shrubbery.
Among the spring arrivals this species is one of the first to come.
The first field notes for 1917 gives date of coming February 21,
although friends reported having seen them on the 19th. By
February 23, they were fairly common, and by the 25th they were
abundant. At this time, however, they kept to the country and
congregated in flocks. In town the number was comparatively
small until March 10. When autumn came they were not often
seen after September 29, 1916, but occasionally until November 9.
761a. Plantesticus migratorius propinqutis — ^Western Robin.

This species is a rare winter visitant in western Kansas. Sev-
enteen records from Trego, Gove, and Lane Counties, range from
October 3 to 23. One record shows a specimen for Douglas
County on January 9. This, however, is purely accidental.
766. Sialia sialis sialis — Bluebird.

A few of the bluebirds remain throughout the winter, but so
very few that the bird must be classed as a rare winter resident.
In the summer they are abundant in eastern and central Kansas.

They were first observed in the spring of 1917, on February 8.
By February 21 they were fairly common, and on March 3 they
seemed to be here in full numbers. Became noticeable about Oc-
tober 20, l?ut a few were still seen December 1. Occasionally,
throughout the winter, one or two were noted.

52 The Wilson Bulletin — oS^o. 107

768. Sialia currncoides — Mountain Blubird.

Reported as occasional summer visitant in western Kansas,
but no migration data are at hand for this species.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Bunker, C. D., 1913.

The Birds of Kansas. The Kansas University Science Bulle-
tin, Vil. VII, pp. 137-158.
Butler, Amos W., 1897.

The Birds of Indiana. Twenty-second Annual Report, Indiana
Department of Geology and Natural Resources, pp. 1-1197.
Eaton, Elon Howard, 1909, 1914.

The Birds of New York. New York State Museum, Memoir
12, Parts 1 and 2 Illustrated, pp. 1-501 and pp. 1-719,
Wetmore, Alex., 1909.

Fall Notes from Eastern Kansas. September-October Condor,
Vol. XI, pp. 154-164.

THE BALD EAGLE IN LOUISIANA.

BY ALFRED M. BAILEY.

The Bald Eagle is a not uncommon bird iu Louisiana
and it may be met in all parts of the state, although found
most commonly near bodies of water. These large, beau-
tiful birds of prey are striking features of the Southern
swamps and marshes, and they are often seen skimming
comparatively low as the}'- search for food, and their
strange, wild call can be heard for great distances, even
when the bird is itself invisible. They will sail so high
as to be almost indistinguishable from vultures, and yet
that piercing cry is plainl}^ audible.

The habit of the Bald Eagle to waylay the hard work-
ing Osprey is well known, but t-he eagle often fishes for
himself, although not nearly so skillfully as his smaller
relative. They work the beach systematically for dead
fish, and a pair of birds almost always is to be found where
fishermen are accustomed to seine. But a straight fish diet
doee not appeal to this old patriarch, and he will often

The Bald Eagle in Louisiana 53

drop like a bullet into a flock of unsuspecting ducks, and
ducks are not the only birds that sometimes make life
worth living either.

I have examined four nests of the eagle in Louisiana,
three on the estate of E. A. Mcllhenny, the well known
conservationist. The first nest was found February 17,
1917. There is a peninsula of cypress trees jutting into
the marshland about a mile back in the dense swamps sur-
rounding Avery Island, and the eagles had chosen the snag
of a very high tree, that would give them a range "of view.
The half rotten tree had a portion of the top broken ofP,
and leaned at quite an angle, so as to be an aid in climb-
ing. I used iron pegs, and drove in as I climbed. In this
nest was one young only, a bird almost full grown, and
weighing in fact, as much as an adult. It was one of
the characteristic uniform brown plumage of the juvenile.
The nest itself was nearly six feet across, a massive affair
of small cypress limbs two and three feet in length ; moss
and marsh grass were used for lining, and the whole in-
terior was a mass of filth. Bits of rabbit fur, feathers
from pintail and mallard ducks, and numerous bird bones,
including the leg bone of a Great Blue Heron, cluttered
up the nest.

The adults were not at all ferocious, but after a few
preliminary circles, sailed off and watched me from a dis-
tant outstretched limb. They are exceedingly wary and
usually occupy such an exposed position, where they can
see and be seen from afar.

The second nest was found within a few hundred
yards of the first, on February 2, 1919. Eagles seem to
nest in the same locality for many years, and one pair that
I know of, occupied the same general nesting site for sev-
enteen successive years. In this nest were two eggs, one
in advanced state of incubation, while the other was
spoiled. One bird only was seen, the bird on the nest, and
she flushed before we were within two hundred yards. She
made a few circles and then disappeared, not to be seen

54 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

until we left the vicinity, when she called our attention
by her strange cries.

The third nest w^as found the same day, three miles
farther in the swamp. It was in an especially high cy-
press with no side branches below the nest. Young birds
could be heard plainly from a good distance, and their
little round heads could be seen above the black rim.
Neither adult was present when we arrived, and as the
young were desired for museum specimens, the tree was
cut. One of the old birds appeared in a short time trail-
ing a long piece of moss in her talons, which gave her tail
a long pointed appearance. This bird, too, refused to ap-
proacli close to the nest. Their sharp ej'esight is uncanny,
and although we desired to collect the pair, we were never
able to get them within range. In the last nest, besides
the usual clutter of feathers and bones, w^e were surprised
to find a nest of hornets.

Eagles, as is usual with large predacious birds, do not
nest in close proximity to each other. On Pecan Island
I have been told of seven nests on one ridge, and that is the
largest number I have heard of, — and can not verify that
report. Usually there is only one to many miles of terri-
tory. It would be supposed that such a bulky nest Avould
be very conspicuous, especially as the cypress are not
leaved out during the nesting season, but the masses of
waving moss that festoon all the trees and the dense growth
of underbrush effectively conceal this aerial home from
casual observers.

Nesting material is gathered from the ground, and
some small pieces were nicely cut as though from the blow
of a hatchet. An old trapper told me of an interesting
experience with these noble birds. He was resting under
a tall cy])ress after a hard trip over the trap line, and he
was attracted by the birds sailing overhead. One of them
came to his tree, hovered above with a few strong strokes
of its powerful wings, and then dropped like a plummet
for a distance of about twenty-five feet upon a small out-

The Gray Kingbird 55

stretched limb. The limb snapped close, and quickly re-
covering itself, the bird sailed away with the branch.

March 4 I found another nest along Black Bayou in
Cameron Parish. It was in a small cypress standing al-
most isolated in the marsh, a very conspicuous nesting
site. One baby, only a few days old, and an egg pipped but
with the young dead were in the nest at this late date. This
nest was the most easil}' accessible of any found, but the
region itself was far from the ordinary path of man. Sev-
eral duck wings as. well as fish (horned pout and shad)
littered the nest, and the little fellow huddled off in one
corner was almost lost among the debris.

Eagles are not molested as a rule. The stockmen claim
the old birds kill young sheep and pigs, but the trappers
and sportsmen consider them as friends, for when flying
low over the marshlands, they keep the game moving, and
many birds are brought to bag that otherwise would have
escaped.

Louisiana State Museum. Neiv Orleans.

THE GRAY KINGBIRD IN WAKULLA COUNTY,
FLORIDA.

BY JOHN WILLIAMS.

These birds occur here along the shores of the Gulf in
all congenial situations. They seem to be extremely par-
ticular as to a locality for nesting, and as such sites are
not numerous within the limits of our county the birds
cannot be called abundant summer residents.

They are to be found, for the greater part of their stay
with us, where there are a few scattered trees — Live Oaks
usually — contiguous to or at least but a short distance
back from the open waters of the Gulf or on the shores of
an extended bay. Broad salt-water marshes usually stretch
along shore on either side of these home sites, in which
abound Florida Clapper Rails {Rallus crepitans scotti),

56 The Wilsox Bulletin — No. 107

Scotts Seaside Sparrow {PasserJierbulus maritimus jien-
insulce), and Marion's Marsh Wren [Telmatodites palus-
tris marianw) .

Along the nearby beach and on the saudtlats inter-
spersed over tlie marshes the Gray Kingbird [Tyrannus
domhiiccnsis) finds almost countless numbers of kindred
assembled when they came on weary wing from across the
broad waters after a winter's distant sojourn.

Here are Willets [Catoptrophorus semipalmatus semi-
paJmatus) already mating, 'and numerous Wilson's Plo-
ver {Ochtliodrovius jcilsonius), on nimble feet. The mass
of the great flock is made up of Red-backed Sandpipers
(Pelidiia alpina sakhaliiia), Least Sandpipers {Pisohia mi-
mitiUa), Semipalmated Sandpipers {Ercunctes pusillus),
and Dowitchers (Macrorhamphus griseus griseus), with
others in lesser numbers; Turnstone {Arenaria interpres
morinclla), Black-bellied Plover {Squatarola squatarola),
Hudsonian Curlew (Neumenius hudsonicus) , Black Skim-
mers (Rynchops nigra), Common Terns {Sterna Mrimdo),
Yellow-legs {Iliornis flavipes), and doubtless scattered
rarities.

Thither they repair on their arrival, Avhich is in early
April; the 14th of that month last past (1919) being the
earliest I have recorded, but from a lack of frequent op-
portunities for observations at that season it is probable
they come a few days earlier.

Compared with the Kingbird {Tyrannus tyrannus)
they are somewhat more tardy in reaching our shores as
the more common species arrives for the most part in late
March— 3-30, 14, 3-25, 16, 3-29, 17, 3-24, 18, and 3-28, 19,
being dates when I have first seen them here.

The feeding grounds of the Gray Kingbird extend over
the open marsh and the flats close back from the beach and
good gleaning is found about the bushes that frequently
line the shores just above ordinary high tide. Occasional
small stunted Live Oaks and scattered Pines afiford vant-

The Gray Kingbird 57

age points on which the birds monnt guard and whence
they sally forth on numerous foraj^s.

They are far less pugnacious than are their next of
kin, the Kingbirds, and seldom ever are they seen attack-
ing other species. Both these species of Tijrannidce are
usually found closely associated in the localities already
indicated, but while the Kingbird extends its summer dom-
icile widely throughout the inland sections and are one
of our most numerous breeding sj)ecies, the Gray King-
bird rarely nests out of sight of the Gulf and all excep-
tions under my notice have been on the banks of our larger
rivers or extensive bays, and then but a few miles back
from the coast.

The few nests of this species Avhich I have examined
were invariably built in small Live' Oak trees that survive
with a stunted growth in the sandy soil and buffeted by the
storms that not infrequently rage from the tropics to beat
out against our shores.

In appearance the nests of this bird are quite dissim-
ilar to those of the Kingbird and so far as noted were placed
low down in the thicker, denser portions of the tree — eight
to twelve feet up and well out towards the extremity of
the limbs. One of these structures carefully examined was
made up of twigs and small rootlets and stems and lined
with a finer assortment of the same materials. The ex-
ternal diameter was about five and one-half inches and
about two and one-half inches in external depth. The nest
cavity was large in jn'oportion to the bulk of the nest; in
general, not unlike a substantial nest of the Cardinal (0. c.
cardinalis). Three eggs almost fresh were taken May 22,
1913, and on the following day the birds were already com-
mencing the building of another nest in a nearby tree. A
nest found June 0, 1915, contained three young almost
ready to fly. When the nest is approached the old birds,
while solicitous and keeping close about, are not inclined
to be pugnacious, but either show a nervous strain by fre-
quent short flights close at hand or maintain a prolonged

58 The Wilson Bitlletin — No. 107

perch, frequently uttering a few rather low-pitched weak
notes like " Quit-eat," pronounced and repeated rapidly
and several times successively. At times their strain was
translated into " Quit eat it."

After the young are grown and awing they are in-
clined to remain with the parent birds, or at least it is
usual to find groups of four or five of these birds asso-
ciated in the late summer, and at that time they are more
inclined to wander farther from the open waters, although
with my limited opportunities I have not found them even
then removed from the immediate proximity to a river
bank or bay shore, and never beyond the limits of a tidal
marsh. As they come to us a little later in the spring than
the bolder, more strenuous Kingbird, so in the autumn
they depart a few days earlier, September 26, 1917, being
the latest date I have seen them here, on which day five
were in companj^ near our lighthouse; while the latest
noted dates for the Kingbird were September 29, 1914,
September 26, 1915, October 4, 1918.

While in general appearance and flight they resemble
T. tyrannus they may be readily distinguished from that
species at a considerable distance, even when the paler col-
oring and lack of white tail-tip are observed, by a more
sluggish flight and dash for prey and to a greater degree
by the heavier appearance of the head due to the longer,
stouter bill, which gives to the bird a rather top-heavy ap-
pearance.

St. Marks, Fla.

A Day with Lake County Birds 59

A DAY WITH LAKE COUNTY BIRDS.

BY F. N. SHANKLAND.

The morning of May 10, 1918, dawned bright aud clear,
and by six o'clock, four of us had eaten our breakfasts and
set out for an all-day bird census. Our objective was Jop-
lin's Woods, where birds of all kinds are always abun-
dant and migrating warblers especially numerous during
the month of May. Through this woods runs a small creek
which empties into , Chagrin River about a mile further
down. The creek is bordered by beautiful wooded hillsides,
with just enough swamp land, second growth and black-
berry thickets, to make it a veritable birds' paradise. This
little wilderness had been left to itself in the midst of the
neighboring farms, and if it had been designed especially
for the birds it could not have served the purpose better.

AYe had made thorough preparation for this bird cen-
sus, and had listed all the birds in that vicinity, so that
they could readily be checked off as observed. We were
fortunate in having selected an excellent day for bird study
and we were kept busy making records from six o'clock in
the morning until late in the afternoon. We had planned
to stay three or four hours in this particular woods and
then go by automobile to Mentor Marsh, located some eight
miles distant on the shores of Lake Erie. There we ex-
pected to add to our lists some water birds that could not
be found elsewhere.

During the day we succeeded in recording eighty-two
species in all, which is the best record that any of us had
made in Lake County up to that time. Most of these were
common birds, and not more than four or five of the species
recorded Avould be considered as rare or even scarce. Fur-
thermore, when we checked up our lists in the evening we
were surprised to find that we had been unable to record
a dozen or more fairly common species which we knew were
present in the vicinity.

60 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 107

Birds of prey are not very plentiful in this locality
and our list included only four species, as follows :
Sparrow Hawk Ked-tailed Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk

This list was something of a disappointment since we
were positive that Marsh Hawks and Cooper's Hawks were
resident in that woods. AVe were simply unable to get a
glimpse of them on that particular day. We did see one
bird that might have been the Bald Eagle, but it was too
far away to make identification sure. None of our four
common' species of owls were to be seen that morning, which
was quite a keen disappointment. It was not late enough
in the season to look for Turkey Vultures and the Rough-
legged Hawks had long since gone north. These are about
all- the birds of prey that are ever recorded in Lake County,
although some of the older lists contain the names of the
Snowy Owl, the Barn Owl, and the Osprey.

We had very good luck with the Conirostres, among
which are included the crows, jays, blackbirds, orioles,
sparrows, grosbeaks, and buntings. Our complete list in-
cluded the following:

English Sparrow Crow

Song Sparrow Blue Jay

Field Sparrow Cowbird

Chipping Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird

Vesper Sparrow Scarlet Tanager

Bronzed Crackle Towhee

Orchard Oriole Cardinal

Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Bobolink Indigo Bunting

Meadowlark Goldfinch

We were very fortunate indeed in our study of the
Dentirostres, among which are included the vireos, war-
blers, thrushes, fly-catchers, wax-Avings, etc. The warblers,
on account of their small size and rapid movements, made
us quite a lot of work following them through bushes and
thickets or\trying to identify them with the aid of our field
glasses as thev flitted through the tops of the trees. In

A Day with Lake County Birds 61

addition to the warblers listed, we saw three or four more
varieties which were not positively identified. The list
follows :

Eobin Yellow Warbler

Bluebird Oven-bird

Wood Thrush Hooded Warbler

Cedar Waxwing Black-throated Blue
Kingbird Warbler

Wood Pewee Blue-winged Warbler

Phoebe Tennessee Warbler

Crested Flycatcher Bay-breasted Warbler

Acadian Flycatcher Canada Warbler

Least Flycatcher Blackburnian Warbler

Traill's Flycatcher Magnolia Warbler

Yellow-throated vireo Black-poll Warbler

Warbling Vireo Maryland Yellow-throat

Ked-eyed Vireo Yellow-breasted Chat

Chestnut-sided Warbler Cape May Warbler

Of the thrushes we were disappointed in not record-
ing the Wilson's Thrush, and the Olive-backed Thrush.
The Hermit Thrushes had all gone north some time before.
Of the warblers we were a little too late for some of the
early ones, such as the Black and White Warbler, the
Palm Warbler, the Myrtle Warbler, and one or two oth-
ers, but we were disappointed in not seeing the Nashville
Warbler, the Parula Warbler, the Redstart, the Water-
Thrush, and the Black-throated Green Warbler.

Lake County boasts of six common species of wood-
peckers, of which we succeeded in recording four, as fol-
lows:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red -headed Woodpecker
Downy Woodijecker Northern Flicker

We were unable to locate the Hairy Woodpecker, al-
though we usually saw several individuals in passing
through these woods. The Red-bellied Woodpecker was
also conspicuous by its absence.

Owing to the fact that swallows of all kinds had been

62 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

very scarce all spring, we were rattier surprised in making
as good a showing with these birds as we did. The ex-
tremely^ cold winter had almost exterminated the Purple
Martins and we therefore counted ourselves fortunate in
finding several pairs of them carrying nesting material
into a Martin-house on the estate of one of the wealthy
Cleveland men who lives near Lake Erie. Our complete
list of swallows included the following:

Purple Martin Cliff (Swallow

Barn Swallow Chimney iSwift was also

Bank Swallow seen

In the deeper woods we found the Chickadee, the
Brown Thrasher, the Tufted Titmouse, the Catbird, and
the White-breasted Nuthatch. One of the most interest-
ing discoveries of the day was a Chickadee's nest contain-
ing eight eggs, in the decayed limb of a small willow tree.
Before leaving home, we had listed the House Wren and
later in the day we recorded the Long-billed Marsh Wren,
near Mentor Marsh.

When we left Joplin's Woods, we checked up our list
and found that we had seventy species recorded. As we
drove along the country road toward the Marsh, we heard
the welcome and cheery calls of the Bob-whites, from the
adjacent fields and pastures. While stopping at a dilap-
idated old barn, we found a Mourning Dove sitting upon
her nest, which had been built upon one of the heavy tim-
bers of the frame of the barn where a section of the roof
was still intact and effectually sheltered her from the
weather.

One of the most agreeable surprises of the day was
our finding of a large colony of Cliff Swallows. As we
made our last turn before reaching the Marsh we noticed
a group of several old barns and one of our number called
attention to the swallows which were flying around. One
of them flew past our car a moment later, and Ave were
delighted to find that it was a Cliff Swallow. We hastily

A Day with Lake County Birds 63

climbed the fence and upon arriving at the barnyard found
that the eaves were thickly covered with the picturesque
nests of these birds, and out of nearly every nest a Cliff
Swallow's head was visible. Such colonies have become
very rare in this section of northern Ohio and we urged
the proprietor of the farm to use every effort to protect
them, which he promised to do.

When we arrived at the Marsh, we found the Herring
Gulls circling around over the lake or resting upon its
surface. A short time later we also saw a flock of Com-
mon Terns, which appeared around a bend in the shore
and wheeled past us, calling loudly as they went. In the
open water of the Marsh we saw a Coot. As we approached
nearer, it disappeared among the cat-tails. Where the
marsh empties into the lake we found water birds abun-
dant. Tliere were Killdeers, Spotted Sandpipers, Seini-
palmated Plovers, Kingfishers, and Green Herons, and
once a flock of shore birds which we could not positively
identified, but which were probably Pectoral Sandpipers,
flew overhead. Here, also, we saw a Ruby-throated Hum-
mingbird, which increased our total to eighty-one species,
and that evening, while checking over our records, we saw
three Nighthawks circling overhead, making the total
eighty-two. No doubt other Lake County observers have
made larger records, but this list is representative and
gives a good idea of the species that one may expect to
meet with in this vicinity.

In comparing this list with that made rby Harry C.
Oberholser and associates, near Washington, D. C, it will
be seen that their lists contain many more species, due
principally to the fact that the territory which they cov-
ered is a more favorable one and is haunted by many spe-
cies never found in Lake County at all.

Our party included C. M. Shipman, R. W. Hill, E. J.
Chesbro, and the writer.

Willoughhy, Ohio.

64 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

GENERAL NOTES

DENDROICA CERULEA IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
IN SUMMER.

The cerulean warbler does not appear to be common or gen-
erally distributed in the western North Carolina mountains dur-
ing the breeding season. There is, so far as the writer is aware,
only a single previous breeding record, that of Mr. Arthur T.
Wayne, who found several individuals near Morganton, North Car-
olina, on May 28, 1909 (Auk, XXVII, January, 1910, pp. 84-85). The
writer has in his possession a specimen of this species shot by
Mr. P. M. Wilson in the " Pink Beds," Pisgah Forest, Transyl-
vania County, North Carolina, on July 17, 1906. This bird is a
Juvenal female, and since it is in first autumn plumage, probably
came from a nest somewhere in that vicinity, and therefore forms
the second breeding record for the State. This example, as will
be noted, was collected three years before Mr. Wayne's observa-
tions above noted were recorded, but for various reasons has hith-
erto failed of published record.

Harry C. Oberholser.

ANOTHER CINNAMON TEAL IN NORTH DAKOTA.

Authentic records of Qiierqucduhc cyanoptera for North Dakota
are still suflaciently few to make worth while the publication of
any additional specimens. Through the courtesy of Mr. J. D. Allen,
the writer was privileged, during a recent visit to the State, to
examine an adult example of this species then in Mr. Allen's pos-
session, which had been taken by him at Mandan, North Dakota,
October 10, 1902.

Harry C. Oberholser.

OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS HOYTI IN OHIO.
While the Hoyt Horned Lark {Octocoris alpestris Jwyti) is
known to occur in Ohio, there are aparently not over half a dozen
specimens actually recorded from the State. It may be worth
while, therefore, to place upon record an additional example which
recently came to light in the collection of the United States Na-
tional Museum, and which was originally No. 2164 in the private
collection of Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, but is now No. 235158, U. S.
Nat. Mus. It is an adult male, and was taken by Dr. Mearns at
Clrcleville, Ohio, on November 26, 1880. The length in the flesh
is given as 7.75 inches, and the extent as 14.10 inches. Other com-

General Notes 65

ment on the label is as follows: " Iris hazel. Shot on. the River
Road, from large flock." This specimen is not quite typical, but
verges slightly towards Otocoris alpes^tris alpestris in the more
ochraceous, less grayish tone of the upper parts, and is like birds
that breed on the western shore of Hudson Bay. It is, however,
undoubtedly referable to Otocoris alpestris Jioyti,

Harry C. Oberholser.
Washington, D. C.

UNUSUAL NESTING SITES OF CRESTED FLYCATCHERS
AT ST. MARKS, FLORIDA.

The species — Myiarchtis crinitus — is a rather common sum-
mer resident here, nesting generally throughout the timbered sec-
tions, except in the heavily wooded hammocks^ and they frequently
occur nesting about dwellings of the village as well as throughout
the country districts. Several out-of-the-common sites have come-
under my notice and may be of interest to record:

I. In the front piazza of an occupied dwelling in the village
of St. Marks; the entrance being through an opening at the eaves
directly under the shingles — the structure being ceiled beneath —
young birds were being fed May 25, 1913. The young left the nest
June 3. The old birds did not hesitate to enter this nest while
persons occupied the porch but a few feet distant.

II. An uncovered sill in the second-story loft of an unoccupied
dwelling in our village; entrance through displaced shingles. On
May 20, 1914, incubation was about one-third completed.

III. May 1, 1915, a pair commenced building under a
broken and raised piece of metal roofing which had been laid on
boards. After being almost completed the birds abandoned the
site. Excessive sun-heat may have warned them of serious re-
sults if continued.

IV. On May 18, 1915, a pair were seen to enter a stove-pipe
that extended out of a small one-story frame building occupied as
a restaurant by an old colored "Auntie." The pipe served as a
chimney and turned upright after emerging from the building.
The birds were noticed about the place all day, but it is not
known that they carried nesting material on that day. They were
probably the pair that had abandoned No. Ill site. "Aunt Ma-
ria " had a ftre burning for about an hour on May 19 without no-
ticing any stoppage to the draft of the stove. During May 20 the
birds worked industriously at nest-building, carrying material
down into the pipe. On May 21, about 8:00 a. m., on attempting
to build a fire, the old lady was completely smoked out and was

66 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

unable to get a "draw" until the pipe was emptied of a peck or
more of straws, feathers, twigs, hair and snake skins.

V. Five eggs were taken May 20, 1916, from an abandoned
hole formerly occupied by a Woodpecker. Hole ten feet up, in a
dead pine tree by the side of a road. Nothing unusual about this
site.

VI. A pair reared young in one of my martin boxes, a nev/
structure not occupied by P. sudis until the following year.

VII. On May 7, 1919, an apparently completed nest, without
eggs, was seen in a stovepipe projecting upright through the roof
of an unoccupied dwelling in St. Marks. The nest was bulky, of
pine needles and cow's hair mainly, with some feathers and grasses
and a small piece of snake's skin.

John Wflliams.
St. Marks, Fla.

The Nebraska Union 67

MINUTES OF THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING OP THE
NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION.

The twentieth annual meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists'
Union was held at Hastings, Nebraska, Friday and Saturday, May
9 and 10, 1919. The members arrived at Hastings on various trains
during the afternoon, and convened in the museum of Hastings
College at 4:00 o'clock to inspect the A. M. Brooking collection of
birds and mammals. This collection of excellently mounted speci-
mens is one of the most complete in the state, and President A. M.
Brooking personally conducted the party through the museum and
explained the more interesting exhibits.

After the examination of the Brooking collection the members
reassembled at 6:30 p. m. at the Clarke Hotel, which was the head-
quarters of the society. Eleven members of the N. O. U. and five
guests sat down to dinner in the grill room of the Clarke Hotel.

The business meeting of the society was called at 8:00 p. m.
in the Chamber of Commerce Building, with President A. M. Brook-
ing in the chair. The reports of the officers were received, and a
Nominating Committee consisting of Mr. C. E. Mickel, Dr. H. Hape-
man, and Mrs. G. A. Loveland, was at once appointed. An Audit-
ing Committee, consisting of Messrs. R. W. Dawson and Ewald
Witt, was also appointed to audit the financial statement of the
Secretary-Treasurer.

While these committees were preparing their report, the so-
ciety proceeded with the election of new members, and Messrs.
Frederick Haecker of Lincoln, H. Hapeman of Minden, and Mes-
dames H. C. Johnson of Superior, L. H. McKillip of Seward, and
Jennie Woodworth of Ayr, were formally elected to membership.
The Auditing Committee then reported that the accounts of
the Treasurer had been found to be correct, and upon motion this
report was accepted by the society. Following the report of the
Nominating Committee the folowing officers were elected for 1919:
President — Mr. C. A. Black, Kearney.
Vice-President — Mrs. L. H. McKillip, Seward.
Secretary-Treasurer — Mr. M. H. Swenk, Lincoln.
Eleven members were at this session of the N. O. U., as fol-
lows: Mesdames L. R. Button. H. Hapeman, and G. A. Lovelan.d,
and Messrs. J. M. Bates. C. A. Black, A. M. Brooking, R. W. Daw-
son, C. E. Mickel, M. H. Swenk, Wilson Tout, and Ewald Witt.

During the evening the matter of laying definite plans for the
printing of a new edition of the "Birds of Nebraska" was discussed.
On motion by Dr. Hapeman that a committee be appointed by the
chair to investigate the cost of printing such a book as was ten-
tatively projected during the discussion, and report at the next

68 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 107

meeting, President Brooking appointed Dr. Hapeman, chairman,
M. H. Swenk and R. W. Dawson.

The business meeting then adjourned and the program of the
evening was taken up. The retiring President, A. M. Brooking,
addressed the society and its guests on the subject, " Bird Collect-
ing West of Lincoln." Following the President's address Mrs. G.
A. Loveland presented a paper on " Recent Cat Legislation," and
Prof. R. W. Dawson discussed " Bird Migration Records." There
was a general discussion, of these papers by various members of the
society. A call by President Brooking for some remarks from
Mr. J. M. Bates and Mr. Wilson Tout was very interestingly re-
sponded to.

The plans for the field day on Saturday were then arranged,
and the meeting adjourned at 10:35 p. m.

On Saturday, May 10, the seventeenth annual field day of the
Union was held. The locality chosen for the field trip was along
the .Little Blue river, about eight miles south of Hastings, and cars
were provided to take the field party to the woods. The party sub-
divided into four sections, each section covering a different por-
tion of the territory. The field day started at 8:00 a. m., the mem-
bers reconvening at the cars at 11:30 to return to Hastings for
luncheon. In the afternoon the men of the party donned their
boots and waders and motored to the lagoon near Inland, Nebraska,,
ten miles east of Hastings, where study was made of the water
birds. The total list of the day included seventy-eight birds, as
follows:

Bluebird, Robin, Olive-backed Thrush, Wood Thrush, Long-
tailed Chickadee, Western House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Catbird,
Mockingbird, Redstart, Yellow-breasted Chat, Maryland Yellow-
throat, Ovenbird, Blackpoll Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow Warb-
ler, Bell's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Migrant Shrike,
Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Dickcissel,
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cardinal, Arctic
Towhee, Lincoln's Sparrow, Western Field Sparrow, Clay-colored
Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow,
Goldfinch, Bronzed Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, Western Meadowlark,
Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Cowbird, Crow,
Blue Jay, Desert Horned Lark, Traill's Flycatcher, Phceebe, Crested
Flycatcher, Arkansas Kingbird, Kingbird, Yellow-shafted Flicker,
Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker, Belted
Kingfisher, Burrowing Owl, Sparrow Hawk, Ferruginous Rough-
legged Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Western Mourning
Dove, Bobwhite, Killdeer. Spotted Sandpiper, Yellowlegs, Semi-
palmated Sandpiper, Lt^ast Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Coot,

The Nebraska Union 69

Sora Rail, Bittern, Lesser Bluebill, Pintail, Shoveller, Blue-winged
Teal, Gadwell, Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, and Black Tern.

Nests were found of the Marsh Hawk and Desert Horned Lark,
each containing three eggs.

Report of the Treasurer, 1918-19.
Receipts.

Cash on hand. May 10, 1918 1217.06

Annual dues collected 76.00

Excess dues collected 1.50

Interest on investment 2.98

Sale of publications 3.4.5

$300.99
Expenditures,

Wilson Bulletin $ 66.00

Postage 93

Fund invested 194.86

Refund of excess due and exchange 1.60

Balance on hand May 9, 1919 37.60

$300.99'

THE

NA/ILSON BULLETIN

NO. 108
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

VOL. XXXI SEPTEMBER, 1919 NO. 3

OLD SERIES VOL. XXXI. NEW SERIES VOL. XXVI.

PURPLE MARTINS AT ST. MARKS, FLORIDA

BY JOHN WILLIAMS

St. Marks, Florida, is situated on the St. Marks river,
about seven miles up from the open gulf. But little tim-
ber appears in the intervale, and save for the lighthouse
and two or three small buildings close about it, our vil-
lage offers the first resting place for these birds on their
return in the spring. Our river at the gulf presents a
broad opening of a mile or more in width, making an es-
pecially plain landmark for birds coming into land, after
an ocean trip. There seems to be little doubt that the
" Martins " come to us directly from Cuba, Central Amer-
ica or lower Mexico, as on their first appearance they come
up the river from the south and frequently show signs of
extreme exhaustion when they arrive.

The following notes extend over the seven seasons
from 1912 to 1918, both inclusive, but are noticeably irreg-
ular and incomplete, due in the main, I trust, to lack of
spare time from regular occupation.

During the seasons of 1912 and 1913 there was but
a single nesting box for the martins in our little village
and it was a four-compartment, scant affair that was rap-
idly passing into decay, and threatened early dissolution
but, as will appear, was evidently '' Home Sweet Home "
to certain members of the family and furnished most cher-
ished memories. In the spring of 1912 two pairs of birds
reared young in this box, and it was thought every high

72 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108

gale would surely briiig down the domicile, but the winds
were tempered; and in 1913 again two pairs of birds were
brave enough to risk the family cares within such shat-
tered, crumbling walls; and again the brood was reared
and departed notwithstanding the dropping floor, gaping
doors and leaking roof.

A civic awakening came to our town in the late win-
ter of 1913-14 and several boxes were prepared for the use
of the martins immediately following their appearance in
mid-February. The first arrival in that year was of five
birds about 5 :00 p. m. on February 4, and ten more came
by 9 :00 a. m. of the following day.

In my yard I had erected a pole carrying a six-com-
partment box, three on either side, with cross arms be-
neath which suspended four long-necked gourds, after-
wards increased to eight, which were evidently of too
small a capacity for the comfort of the birds, for while
often used for sleeping quarters, with the exception of the
season of 1917 were never used for nesting.^

These pioneer birds did not tarry with us and two oth-
ers came to my pole February 21. These were a male and
a female and came flying slowly from the south about G :00
a. m. directly to my box, the female alighting on the top
of the pole, the male on a cross-arm. Both seemed ex-
hausted and scarcely turned their heads during the period
of over a half-hour they were closely watched. The tips of
their wings were dropped below the body showing white
of underparts above the upper border of the primaries. No

^ A gourd of proper size and shape, carefully suspended, fur-
nishes one of the very best permanent nesting sites for the Purple
Martin. Some of my original gourds still hang suspended (Nov. 1,
1918) and have weathered all storms since February, 1914. A
straight necked gourd, with a body at least eight inches in diame-
ter, should be used: By piercing the upper end of the gourd an
inch or more below the end and passing a stout galvanized or cop-
per wire through, a convenient hanging device is formed that twill
last for years. Gourds have been so "used through the South for
generations.

PuRrLE Martins at St. Marks, Florida 73

alert active movements were noticed. They had departed
at 7:30 a. m.

A new box had been erected near the ohl one that had
so long served the birds of this district. On February 24
three birds came to this old box. They were seen first at
7 :00 a. m. On the 25th three birds were yet there. A fine
rain was falling, temperature about 50°, and at 11:00 a.
m. there were twelve martins at the old box; all were on
the ledges and roof, the frame of the house barely cling-
ing together. At 9:00 a. m. a steady rain began which
lasted all day. About 1 :00 p. m. six male and six female
martins came to my box, probably the same birds seen
earlier in the day at the old box. These birds remained
on the outside of my box in the continued rain until about
4:00 p. m., when they flew to the new box near the old de-
cayed one, but did not enter.

February 26, twelve martins were about all day. They
kept close to the old house for the most part but visited
the new nearby box and were at my gourds. Cold all day,
but no rain.

February 27, the old box was dismantled late j^ester-
day, but the birds continued flying about the bare pole.
Some were seen to enter the new box, which is a four-hole
freshly painted one. Eighteen birds were on the cross-
arms and roof of the house at my pole. They seemed much
exhausted, sitting almost motionless for a half-hour at a
time.

February 28, another cold rain from the northwest.
Four male and three female martins at my gourd-pole, all
facing the storm but remained outside.

March 3, but three pairs of birds seen about the vil-
lage. All of these located at the Warren box — the one sup-
planting the demolished box. A pair of English sparrows
quarrel for a share in this shelter. Cold and frost March
1. Ice on 2d, with cold wind following, and frost on 3d.
A cool reception for exhausted travelers from the tropics!

March 20. Since the 3rd of March we have had but

74 The Wilson Bi'lletix— No. 108

two warm spring-like days. Mucli cool weather, with
northeast winds and rain. Several new boxes have been
put up for the martins about the village and considerable
interest manifested in the birds. On wet and cold days the
birds are most abundant about the boxes and gourds. A
few seem to be permanently established at Warren's and
at Fraser's ; the latter a crude affair, double, with two holes
on each side, about twelve feet up on a pole set within
thirty feet of railroad track and opposite our busiest store
and the postoffice. However, as we have but a single train
daily the traffic will count for little to alarm the birds. On
clear warm days these four or five pairs are the only mar-
tins to be seen about.

During one or two fine sunny days all birds were
away during the entire day.

It is the general opinion among tlie hunters here that
numbers of these birds remain out and nest in holes in the
woods. I have never been convinced of this. All the boxes
here, seven in number, I believe, have been visited many
times b}' the birds, especially as night comes on and they
seek shelter. On March 20 over sixty birds were congre-
gated about the postoffice; on wires and bird boxes for the
most part; a few on the roof of one house. Eighteen or
twenty came to my pole and one entered a gourd.

March 21 was cloudy with rain most of the day and a
large number of the martins remained about the village,
for the most part huddled close together on the various
boxes or on wires. About sixty birds were counted.

March 22. The sun shone in the afternoon and many
of the birds were actively foraging about the open lots.

April 8-9. Cold, with damp north winds. Thirty or
more birds about the various boxes all day. On warm,
sunny days not infrequently but two or three ])airs of birds
are to be seen about the village for the entire day. Vis-
itors still come to my pole, but none permanently located
there, and building operations were commenced at other
boxes.

Purple Martins at St. Marks^ Florida 75

.Time 7. Visitors continue to come to my pole, but no
birds nesting tliere. Tavo oi' three birds seemed to resort
there for a time regularly — lasting two weeks or more —
each evening late, and as they are seen usually about sun-
rise the following day they may have used it for sleeping
quarters, possibly an overflow from Eraser's box, which is
crowded and contains young birds. These visitors are
sometimes females, or males and females.

June 13. Eight to ten birds were assembled on a tele-
phone pole about two hundred yards from nearest nesting
box. For the most i)art they were young birds and were
huddled closely. Adults were seen feeding them there. On
June 14, 15 and 16 the birds were seen at the same place.
A few \v'ere on a nearby tree on the 16th.

1915

February 9. A lone male Purple Martin flew from
the south over the river near the fishhouses about 8:00 a.
m., and between 3 and 4 p. m. three birds flew on the same
course. All males.

February 11. Saw a single male martin on top of
Warren's box.

February 12. A male martin on wire near Eraser's
box.

February 13. One near same place.

February 14 to 16. No martins seen.

February 17. A male martin flying near Warren's.
A north wind and cool.

February 18. A male and female martin flying near
Eraser's at 8:00 a. m.

February 19. No birds seen.

February 20. A single male seen. A cool north wind
continued.

February 21. Two males at my boxes for a half hour
between 8:00 and 9:00 a. m.

February 22. Two birds near Eraser's. Sex not de-
termined.

76 The Wilson Bulletin— Xo. 108

February 23. Xo martins seen. Eained last night
and during early morning; heavy southeast wind.

February 24. Three males and one female about vil-
lage at 9 :00 a. m. Wind went northwest early this a. in. ;
cloudy and dull.

February 25. Two males seen today. Wind still
northerly.

February 26. Two males about village. Wind south-
west this evening. Cloudy,

February 27. Twelve martins about Fraser's at noon,
seemingly all males, but not sure. Commenced raining
about 9 :30 a. in. Cold. Rained most of afternoon. 2 :00
p. m., 25 to 30 martins came to my box and then off towards
Fraser's. Later the same number were huddled on top and
on ledges of Fraser's boxes, 8 females and 20 males, as
nearly as could be determined.

February 28. Cloudy. AVind east. About 30 birds
around my house at 8:30 a. m. At 2:00 p. m. I counted 72
martins about the village, mostly on Fraser's and AVar-
ren's boxes, a few on top of a small tree and a few flying.
About one-third of them were females. At 5 :00 p. in, at
least 100 birds on boxes, tree and flying. Eight or more
spent the night at my boxes, some of them in one or more
gourds.

March 1. 75 to 100 martins about village all day.
Cool and windy in morning; towards night wind went
northwest. At dark several birds entered my box and
gourds and at daylight next morning tails and wings were
protruding from gourds.

March 2. Apparently all the birds have gone. Saw
none after 9 :00 a. m,

March 3, About 20 birds around and on my box be-
fore sunup and others flying about village until 9 :00 a, m.
None seen later until nearly sunset, when about the same
number appeared. They may have been off foraging.

March 5. But three or four martins about the vil-
lage during the day, A heavy blow last night, with rain

Purple Martins at St. Marks^ Florida 77

from south from 9 :00 p. m. until 2 :00 or 3 :00 a. m. Cleared
before sunup. Wind northwest and mild.

March 6. Six or eight birds about village. Clear and
bright after 10 a. m. Wind south.

March 7. Three or four birds at my boxes before 7:00
a. m., but soon left. Saw six only about village.

March i:i. For past five or six days the birds seem
to spend the night at boxes about the village and then are
absent from 8 :00 to 0 :00 a. m. until a half hour or so be-
fore sunset. Ten to twelve pairs noted. Two pairs reg-
ularly at my box.

March 2:). Today for the first time since becoming
established tlie birds have remained about the village all
day. For greater portion of day the weather was cloudy,
damp and chilly. A heavy white frost at sunup.

March 24. Clear, sharp white frost. Birds were away
for most of the day.

March 20. Warm and clear. The first clear day the
martins have remained about the village all day. Three
pairs about my box.

March 30. Since 26th the birds have been about the
village for the most part of each da3\ About 4 :00 p. m.
today a heavy shower came and 1 noted 12 birds at my
box huddled outside in the storm. In all I counted 60
birds about the village huddled in groups on boxes and
elsewhere ; 30 on roof of one house. Twenty-live at my
boxes just before dark, all trying noisily for shelter, and
as far as I could determine all were finally accommo-
dated after much stormy protest from some birds that had
earliest secured shelter. Two birds seemed to be unpop-
ular or had been blacklisted, and until quite dark these
failed to gain admission despite many attempts at en-
trance, which were as often repelled from the birds inside.

April 7. The birds continue to remain about the vil-
lage for greater part of tlie day.

April 15, Nest building has commenced. Eighteen
pairs seem to have located here. At least four pairs at

78 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 108

my boxes and they are now most indnstrionsly occupied
in carrying nesting material from about (j :00 to 0 :30 a. m.
and during the earlier part of the afternoon to a more
moderate degree.

May 9. The males evidenth' assist in incubation, as
many of the females seem to have leisure hours, sit on top
of the boxes or fly about the village or disappear in the
woods for hours at a time.

May 25. Found a 3'oung bird dead on ground under
my box. Feathers of tail just showing from sheaths ; eyes
barely opening.

May 30. I find five and sometimes six female martins
at my box, but have never counted more than four males.
All very busy feeding young now. The food seems to be
of great variety. Sijecies undetermined. Twice only have
I recognized Dragonflies, of which we have countless num-
bers of numerous species widely distributed.

July 10. I have seen no birds at my box since July 6
until this evening. Three pairs with their young departed
between June 28 and .June 30 and the other two families
left July 6.

July 11. Six birds about my box at 9 :00 a. m. lit
and chattered.

July 12. Six birds at my box at sunrise.

July 14. A single bird came to my box about 11:00
a. m., remaining but two or three minutes.

July 21. Eight martins came to ui}^ box about 6:00
a. m. Clear and warm. I had seen none at my box nor
about village since 11th. About sunset today one came
after a brisk shower.

1910

February 11, Mr. Strickland reports several martins
arrived at his home a mile up the river. None here yet.

February 20. Two males at my boxes from 9 :00 to
10:00 a. m. None others seen about the village.

February 22. One male and three females about vil-
lage at 2 p. m.

Purple Martins at St. Marks^ Florida 71)

February 29. Oue male at my boxes 7:00 a. m. and
four birds flying about at sunset.

March 2. A male and a female at my boxes this
morning.

March 16. Tumult at my boxes until after dark sim-
ilar to the occurrence of March 30, 1915. On this occasion
30 birds were present, but as I now have two houses and
more room there should have been less occasion for petty
jealousies. There seemed to be three black sheep this time
and the moon shone brightly before all was quiet in the
fold.

April 9. From eight to ten birds have been located
at my boxes for several days, but at sunup today I counted
24 birds there. Cold and windy. At 2:00 p. m. about 40
birds at my boxes and on roof of my dwelling.

April 15. Noticed first signs of nest building. Birds
flj'ing to the ground and twigs being broken from dead
pine limb.

May 18. Young birds in oue of my boxes and a pair
of birds building in the other box.

June 11. Young of one or two broods in my boxes
flew today.

June 29. Young birds are accompanying the adults
off from the boxes for the day, returning towards sunset.

July 29. Four birds about m}- boxes at 0:30 a. m.
All birds had been absent from the village for about two
weeks.

September 12. Five or six birds seen near the fish-
houses.

October 2. A lone bird flying at the river.

1917

February 3. A single male martin came flying slowly
from the south as I walked down the railroad at 8 :00 a. m.
Thermo 18°. A strong northwest wind and all ditch water
frozen over.

February 17. A male flj'ing near my house just before

80 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108

suuiip. One — probably the >same — lit on one of my boxes
an hour later. jS^one other seen since February 3.

February 19. A male at my boxes, 7 :00 a. m., and two
males at 10 :00 a. m.

February 20. Two males and two females at my boxes
at 5 p. m. The above constitute all of this species noted
thus far this year.

February 27. Still but two males and one female
martin at my boxes and none seen elsewhere.

March 2. Two males and two females at my boxes this
a. m.

March 3. Five birds at my boxes this morning.

March 5. Eleven or twelve birds at my boxes.

March 14. Twelve martins seem to be settled at my
boxes.

March 31. Twenty-five birds at my boxes at 5 p. m.,
the largest congregation of martins I have seen this year.
The strangers departed early on April 1.

April 10. One bird seen carrying sticks to box.

April 12. Seven pairs of martins now building at my
three boxes and but one other box now in the village so
far as I can ascertain.

April 17. Nest building seems to be progressing rap-
idly.

May 13. First feeding of young noted.

July 14. Three young out of nest, — unable to fly —
huddled in a close bunch on the ground at base of pole
supporting one of my boxes. Adults feeding them.

July 18. The three juveniles remained on the ground
until today, when they flew. Whenever observed they were
bunched closely. I judged one pair of birds had been dis-
turbed in earlier nesting as all other than this family had
departed from my boxes sometime before the young were
found on the ground.

September 8. A single martin flying near my house.
The first seen for three or four weeks.

September IG. Four birds on wire near fish-house.

Purple Martins at St. Marks_, Florida

81

1918

February 27. Five martins at my boxes before sunrise.

March 7. Ten birds at my boxes. The greatest num-
bers seen together this spring. There have been no arri-
vals or gatherings here in considerable numbers.

April 17. Nest building well under way.

July 4. During the past week I have seen martins but
once at my boxes. They were seen feeding over the marsh
and river but they do not return to boxes at night.

July 5. Three birds came to my boxes about noon but
remained for only a short time.

September 15. Two martins flying near my house in
companj^ of ten or more barn swallows.

October 2. Two martins flying near the river at 8:00
a. m.

When
first

About
No. first

Spring
Next Became

Mi&ra'n
Last

Year

seen

seen

seen

comm n

seen

1909

Mar. 29

1

April 4

April 8

April 17

1910

May 1

4

May 6

April 12 April 24

1911
1912

April 2
May 3

1

3

April 6
May 4

April 8 April 13
April 20

They were common at an earlier date

which I failed to record
I failed to record the missing date

J913

May 1

3

Mayi

April 8 April 22

1914

Mar. 29

3

April 24

I failed to record the missing dates

1915

April 2

4

May 7

I failed to record the missing dates

When
first

About
No. first

Next

Fall Migration
Became Last

Year

seen

seen

seen

comm'n

seen

Last one seen could not fly. as it
a broken wing

1908
1909

Sept. 23
Sept. 25

5
10

Sept. 27
Sept. 29

Oct. 4
Oct. 4

Nov. 8
Oct. 31

had

1910

Oct. 1

20

Oct, 2

Oct. 8

Nov. 4

1911

Oct.l

20

Oct. 3

Oct. 7

Failed to report last date

1912

Sept. 16

10

Oct. 12

Nov. 10

First seen by Mrs. E. B. H«yden

1913

Oct. 2

Failed to secure other dates

82

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108

ACTIVITIES OF PURPLE MARTIN AT ST. MARKS, FLORIDA

1912 1913 1914 1915 1917 1917 1918

First seen and number

Second appearance and number

When abundant

Commenced building

First feeding young

Young first flying

Vacate boxes

Becoming scarce

Last seen

Number of nesting pairs .

Ibox
only in
village

1 box

only

in village

1 10
Feb. 14

4
Feb. 9

2
Feb- 20

1
Feb. 3

10
Feb.15

Feb. 11

4
Feb. 22

1
Feb. 17

Feb.25

Feb. 27

Mar. 2

Mar. 5

Apr. 12

April 15

April 15

April 10

May 25

June 5

May 18

May 13

June 9

June 13
June 23

June 12

June 11
Jnne 29

Aug. 27

Sept' 6

Aug. 16

Sept. 8

Sept. 20

Sept. 25

Oct. 2

Sept. 26

2

2

9

18

?

7

1

Feb. 23

5
Feb. 27

Mar. 7
April 17

June 27
Sept. 15
Oct. 2
7

' In every instance first arrivals were J'.
- Juveniles, ten days or more old.
■^ Were under way.
* Probably ten pairs.

SUMMARY

First arrivals vary from February 3 to February 23.

All first arrivals are males but sometimes the females
follow within a day or two.

The birds arrive and depart in the early spring at
various times of the day.

Many birds tarry for a few days or a few hours only
in the early spring as they first arrive on the vernal mi-
gration.

Often sit exposed in a cold rain rather than seek the
shelter of a box on which they are resting.

Show a strong attachment for a former nesting box.

Exacting as to the selection of a new box for nesting
purposes.

Nest building begins from April 10 to April 17 as ex-
tremes.

Generally but one brood reared yearly.

In a Black Skimmer Colony 83

The male aids in incubation.

Earliest positive date for yonng in nest, May 13.

For at least two to three Aveeks before the commence-
ment of nest bnilding the birds spend the greater part of
clear days awny from the boxes, returning to them towards
sunset. During rainy or extra cold days they do not so
generally depart from the boxes at such times.

All the birds forsake the boxes two to three weeks
after the young first fly. Prior thereto they may be absent
during the greater part of the day but usually return to the
boxes at night.

- Latest dates when seen September 20 to October 2 for
different years.

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS IN A BLACK SKIMMER
COLONY

BY P>. R. BALES^ M.D.

A day and a night spent in the midst of a densely poj)-
ulated sea bird colony is an experience never to be forgot-
ten. Such was my experience on June 23, 1917. The col-
ony was one of the Black Skimmer {Rhynchops nigra), and
was located on a small island about fifteen miles off the
Virginia coast.

The island is composed entirely of fine sand, and is
barely above high tide, in fact, it is so slightly elevated
that high tides in 101(5 swept over the island drowning all
the young birds with the exception of a few which took
refuge on several slight elevations. A thin growth of salt
water grass covers these elevated portions, but the rest of
the island is destitute of vegetation.

The colony, a conservative estimate of whicli, would
number the breeding birds at 1000 pairs, is about one mile
long and several hundred yards wide. It is like a city,
being more thickly populated at some parts than at oth-
ers; at one place, without moving, 26 nests could be seen,
at another place 14, and at another 10. The similarity to
a great city is further carried out by the small detached

84 The Wilson Bt'lletix — Xo. 108

hamlets or villages of 25 or 30 nests located some distance
from the main colony.

As is well known, no nest worthy of the name is made;
the bird makes a depression in the sand by turning round
and round, and in the slight hollow thus forme<l, the eggs
are laid. Four eggs comprise a full set, although three
nests were found containing five eggs and quite a number
containing only three.

It is probable that the sets of three (while some of
them were highly incubated) were incomplete sets.

On windy days, if the bird stays away from the nest
for any length of time, the nest is soon filled level full of
the fine shifting sand and the eggs are completely covered.
This may account for the smaller sets.

One set was found containing a dwarf egg and three
sets containing albino or partially albinistic eggs.

Quite a difference in size was noted; the longest egg
measured 2.02 and the shortest 1.55. In the short diame-
ter, the largest measured 1.18 and the smallest 1.14. In a
series of 179 eggs measured, the average long diameter is
1.74 and the short diameter 1.28. The dwarf egg measures
1.09X.83.

Assisted by my son, I set up the blind where five nests
could be seen, each one of them in a different direction and
none of them more than ten feet from the blind. Four of
the birds did not return to their nests, but the fifth one
did; she was very nervous and during the day did not re-
main at the nest for any great length of time. As she set-
tled upon her eggs, she would utter a sort of liquid cud-
dling sound, somewhat similar to the clucking sound made
by a hen as she broods her chicks. Each time as she set-
tled upon the eggs, she pressed her sharp bill upon the edge
of the nest. This action accounts for the sharp lines in the
sand frequently seen radiating in all directions from the
nests. As the skimmer invariably faces the wind, either
while brooding or while standing upon the sand, in time
these marks point in almost every direction.

In a Black Skimmer Colony 85

The four birds that did not return to their nests used
every means in their power to lure the strange object from
their eggs. They would alight some distance from the
blind and then toddle away on wobbly legs, with wings
outspread; push themselves along by sliding upon their
breasts; stagger away with outspread wings beating upon
the sand; sit at a safe distance opening and closing their
bills, but not making any sound as though they were swear-
ing at us under their breath or they would fly j)ast the
blind in small companies screaming, ''Ow, ow, ow," as
though some one was beating them and they were crying
out with each stroke of the whip. When larger companies
charged past, the sound was almost deafening and the com-
bined ''ows" sounded like a pack of hounds baying.

There was always a large number of bir.ls not on their
nests and they would line up upon the sand at a safe dis-
tance, always facing the wind ; as their fright became less,
they would move up closer to the blind until some sudden
panic would send them all sailing away. This perform-
ance was repeated again and again. They presented a
strange sight all facing the same way and looked for fill
the world like a company of undertakers in their somber
black and white suits.

When approaching the nest, the Skimmer does not
alight directly upon it, but alights a short distance away
and toddles up on its absurdly small " Chinese lady " feet.
The bird then enters the nest, cuddles down upon the eggs,
presses the bill into the rim and after it is settled, utters
the cuddling note.

While we were in the blind, another bird some dis-
tance away, but outside our line of vision, would fequently
enter and leave its nest and we could hear it utter its cud-
dling note. Its voice was higher in pitch than the one we
were observing and photographing, and we could always
tell without looking which bird was entering its nest.

The skimmers were coming and going almost all of
the night and the cuddling note could be heard from all

86 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108

sides. This contrasted strongly with a nearby colony of
Common Terns that became qniet as soon as darkness fell.

The yonng when hatched are so near the color of the
sand that they are almost invisible and when walking
about in a colony one must exercise great care to avoid
stepping upon them. Their instinct tells them that their
safety lies in remaining motionless, and they will lie quietly
upon the sand with neck far outstretched and not move
unless disturbed, when they scuttle away with long slen-
der wings outstretched and with surprising speed.

When first hatched, both the upper and lower bills are
of the same length, but by the time they are beginning to
feather out, the lower bill begins to get longer, and by the
time the bird is flying, it is much the longer.

Some authorities maintain that the lower bill does not
become longer than the upper until the birds are able to
fly. This we found to be untrue.

As with most birds, the Black Skimmer becomes much
bolder when there are young birds, and charges upon the
intruder in immense flocks, with open mouths and deafen-
ing cries, but the flock swings to one side when close to the
object of attack, and I have never heard of any one being
struck.

The food seems to consist mainly of small minnows
and killifishes. 'None of these are obtainable nearer than
at least two miles from the island, and small parties may
be seen far from home, industriously skimming the water,
searching for food, and are often encountered flying toward
the island with small minnows carried crosswise in their
bills. They have the habit of skimming close to the sur-
face of the sand or of mud in the same manner as when
over the water.

The local names of " Cutwater " and '' Shearwater " of
course apply to their habit of skinnning, but 1 am at a loss
to account for the name of " Flood Gull."

While observing and photograpliing from a blind in
the midst of a Black Skimmer colony, .June, 11)17, 1 could

New Subspecies of Lanius Ludovicianus 87

not help noticing- the actions of the birds in a near-by col-
ony o fComnion Terns, and was snrprised at the vocabn-
lary of this Tern.

In addition to the common cry of " Te-ahr-r-r-r-r," or
as sometimes written, " Te-ah-a-a-a-a," they possess a cry
somewhat similar to the scream of the Flicker; another
that conld be likened to the " chip " of the Song Sparrow,
a harsher, grating cry somcAvhat like that of the Pnrple
Martin, as well as a twittering calling cry, heard when the
]»arent has food for the young.
Circleville, Ohio.

DESCRIPTION OF ANOTHER NEW SUBSPECIES
OF LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS.

BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER.

Specimens of a shrike representing the breeding form
of Laniiis ludovicianus in north central Lower California
seem not referable to any described snbspecies. A small
series in the United States National Musenm has been sup-
plemented by birds collected by Mr. A. AV. Anthony and
loaned by the Carnegie Museum at I'ittsburgh, through
Mr. AV. E. C. Todd. The writer is also indebted to Mr. A.
B. Howell for specimens of Lanius ludovicianus antJionyi
and Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi. Since all the forms of
Lanius ludovicianus from western North America bear the
names of ornithologists, it seems appropriate to provide a
similar designation for the present new race, and it ac-
cordingly gives me pleasure to dedicate it to Dr. Joseph
Grinnell, who has done so much to promote the cause of
ornithology on the Pacific Coast.

Lanius ludovicianus grinnelli, subsp. nov.
Grinnell Shrike.
Chars, subsp. — Similar to Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi,
from San Clemente Island, California, but bill longer; up-

88 The Wilson Bulletin— :N"o. 108

per tail-coverts averaging slightly darker, not abruptly
white, but light graj^; little or no white on scapulars;
lower parts much darker, more strongly tinged with gray,
esjDecially on the breast, sides, and flanks; upper parts
averaging darker; and the white terminal area on outer
rectrix averaging smaller.

Descri2)t ion.— Type, adult female, No. 196162, U. S.
Nat. Mus., Biological Survey Collection; San Fernando,
Lower California ; September i, 1905 ; E. W. Nelson and
E. A. Goldman; original number, 11644. Pileuni and cer-
vix, rather brownish deep neutral gray; back deep mouse
gray; rump neutral gray; the shorter middle upper tail-
coverts between palli?! mouse gray and pale smolce gray;
longest middle upper tail-coverts of similar color but
darker; the lateral upper tail-coverts paler, even whitish;
scapulars neutral gray, their tips paler; tail black, tipped
with white, the two middle feathers very slightly, the outer
pair for about 11 mm. ; wings black, the inner Avebs of the
secondaries with fuscous margins, the basal part of the
inner webs of the primaries and secondaries brownish
white; a small speculum at the base of several primaries
white ; tips of the tertials, secondaries, and inner primaries,
dull white; a narrow band across the extreme forehead,
all of the lores, and a broad postocular and subocular band,
black; sides of the neck like the cervix; cheeks and sub-
ocular region, pale smoke gray; chin, middle of the abdo-
men, and crissum, grayish white; remainder of lower parts
smoke gray, but the sides and flanks lighter, between pale
smoke gray and pale mouse gray; lining of wing of the
same color, but edged with Avhitish and paler gray; thighs
neutral gray.

Measurements. — Male:^ wing, 101 mm.; tail, 106.5; ex-
posed culmen, 16.8 ; tarsus, 27 ; middle toe without claw, 16.

Female : ^ wing, 98 mm. ; tail, 98.5 ; exposed culmen,

^ One specimen, from Lower California.
■ Three specimens, from Lower California.

New Subspecies of Laxius Ludovicianus 89

15.8 to 16 (average, 15. 9j mm.; tarsus, 2G.5 to 27 (2G.7);
middle toe without claw, 16-17 (16.3).

Geographic distribution. — North central portion of
the peninsula of Lower California, from about north lati-
tude 29° to north latitude 31°.

RemarliS. — This new form is similar to Lanius ludovi-
cianus anthonyi from Santa Cruz Island, California, but
has a longer bill, darker upper parts, and usually some-
what darker under surface, less whitish upper tail-coverts,
larger white spot at the base of the primaries, and aver-
age smaller white spots on tlie outer tail-feathers. It dif-
fers from the recently described Lanius ludovicianus nel-
soni ^ in its much darker upper and lower parts, the little
or no white on scapulars, smaller white wing speculum,
and less extensive white tail-spots. It is so different from
Lanius ludovicianus gamheli in its dark upper and lower
parts, lack of white on the scapulars, and much smaller
white tail-spots that no further comparison with that race
is necessary.

It seems to be as nearly related to Lanius ludovicianus
anthoniji as to Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi, for in the re-
spects in which it differs from one, it resembles the other,
excepting chiefly its large bill and small white tail-spots,
in which it differs from both. Only one of these two island
forms, Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi and Lanius ludovi-
cianus mearnsi, has been recognized by recent authors, but
both now prove to be readily separable.

This new subspecies is distinguishable in any plum-
age, even that of the partly grown juvenile. It seems to
have a limited geographic range in the north central part
of Lower California, a region in which many species have
races of darker coloration, for example, Colaptcs chrij-
soides brunneus, Toxostoma cinera mearnsi, Pipilo fuscus
senicula, and Dryobates scalaris eremicus. No specimens

'Lanius ludovicianus nclsoni. Oberholser, Condor, XX, No. 6,
December 12, 1918, p. 209 (Todos Santos, southern Lower Cali-
fornia.)

90

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108

of Laniiis ludovicianus grinncll} have been taken ont.side
of its breeding range, and it therefore appears to be nearly
or quite resident. It is darkest and most typical at San
Fernando, Lower California. Birds from San Qnintin,
Lower California, belong to the same race, although they
are slightly paler; and one specimen from Yubay, Lower
California, is referable also here, though it inclines a little
toward Lan'ius JudovickiMis neUorii. Some of the speci-
mens of lAinius ludovicianus griniieUl that we have exam-
ined are too much in process of molt to furnish reliable
measurements. The dimensions of all the adults of which
use can be made for this purpose are added below :

MEASUREMENTS OF SPECIMENS OF LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS

GRINNELLI.

s

1 ^

e
1

e
J

3

(0

J

i

i

X

en

>.

V

■s

Q

3

be

c

-^

X

2 -a

Carn-'gie

San Fernando,

Museum

c?

Lower < alifornia

June 3. 1894

A. W. Antiiony

101

1C6.5

16.8 27

16

17(124

U. S.N. M.

?

San Fernando,'

E. W.Nelson,

19iil6-2

Lower (alifornia

Sept. 14. 19()5

E. A. Goldman

—

98.5

16

27

17

U. S.N. M.
1961£9

$

San Sinum River,
San Quiiitin, Calif.

Aug. L>7. 19(1.5

E. W. Nelson,
E. A. Goldman

98

16

26.5

16

U.S.N. M

[91

>an Fernando,

E. W. Nelson,

98

15.8

26.5

16

196160

Lower (^ilifornia

Sept. 4, 1905

E. A. Goldman

^ Type.

Birds from a 8ick Man's Window 91

BIRDS FROM A SICK MAN'S WINDOW

BY W. ELMER EKBLAW

Always interested in birds from the viewpoint of a
scientist, and as a Nature lover glad of their beauty and
song and companionship, I had never trul}^ appreciated
how much I owed to them until I was kept in my room,
an unwilling j)risoner, to recover from a minor operation.
Though my imprisonment lasted for but ten days of the
most delightful and pleasant May weather, I chafed rest-
ively against even so brief a period of restraint and con-
finement indoors, for I had ever been accustomed to wan-
der freely as I chose.

Daring this time the birds were one of my chiefest
solaces as they came before my window, a window which
overlooked numerous war-gardens and service yards, long
lines of telepthone wires held up by three poles within view,
a garage, and a clump of witch-hazel and black cherry.
Many vacant lots overgrown by bluegrass and shrubbery,
and the University forestry, stretched away beyond the gar-
dens to the University farms. All about me were tall trees
that shade the streets and homes of the University resi-
dence section.

I mention these surroundings of mine to explain in a
measure how it came to pass that so many birds came to
see me. The environment was somewhat unusual for some
city liomes, but not wholly unlike that of many suburban
localities. In many a neighborhood even more favorable
to bird life, an invalid might easily record a longer list of
feathered visitors ; but my purpose is to give due credit to
those who did so much to sustain my patience, and help
the days pass fast and pleasantly.

When I was brought honie from the hospital I had
scarcely settled m^-self comfortably in my cot before a full-
voiced cardinal called to me from the tip-most branch of
a black cherry. It was his vibrant mating-song to which
he gave voice, every note coming in through my window.

92 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108

rich and clear like the notes of a flute. He was a faithful
songster and though I did not once see him until I was out-
of-doors again, he did not fail to greet me a single day.
There is something so cheerful, so hopeful, so full of prom-
ise, in the passionate song of the cardinal that man must
wax optimistic when he hears it.

Like the flute-toned song of the cardinal is the warb-
ling whistle of the meadowlark, in its thrilling message
of joy and encouragement. Two pairs nested in the tus-
socky grass of nearby vacant lots. Perched upon the tele-
phone poles or the black cherry treelets they responded in
antiphonal chorus to the challenging morning call of the rob-
ins or the ringing song of the cardinal. Perhaps I was
prejudiced in favor of the meadowlarks because I could
see them and delight so much in their bright golden waist-
coats and jaunty demeanor, but I believe that to a sick
man they seem the sweetest songsters of all.

The robins came, not only to entertain me with their
cheer-up songs, but to let me supervise their wooing, their
house-building materials, and their domestic felicities and
infelicities. On the yard and in the garden beneath my win-
dow many things happened too intimate to publish. They
courted and wooed assiduously; they searched about for
nesting-materials; they quarreled and scolded, or hopped
about in contented groups like staid householders. Even
while visiting me, they were too thrifty to let a June-bug or
cutworm escape, even if it might not be the best of manners
to catch it in company.

One early morning I was surprised to see an oven-bird
sneaking stealthilj^ along under the witch-hazel as if he
feared to intrude upon my privacy. He came to see me
several days in succession, but not once did he burst forth
into that catacljsmic torrent of song that so often surges
through the woods he frequents. For five j^ears I had not
seen or heard the oven-bird, and I rejoiced that he came
to greet me.

No matter how early I woke, often when the gray light

Birds from a Sick Man^s Window 93

of dawn was just coming into the east, tlie first sound 1
iieard was the distant booming of the prairie chickens on
the University farm, where they mate, and nest, and live,
unmolested. No sound more vividly suggests the free,
zestful prairie dawns than this booming of the prairie-
chicken, or recalls the purple morning hazes hing in the
west, on the far horizon where day has not yet broken.

The flicker was another early morning bird whose rol-
licking spring song sometimes woke me with a start, think-
ing that I heard friendly laughter beside my window.
Dozens of his family came to call upon me through the
long days, or greeted me hilariously as they flew up to a
telephone pole after a full meal of ants, or some juicy mor-
sel to pick to pieces and devour. The flicker is a good fel-
low to call upon an invalid, for despite his unconvention-
ality and his jocularity he is interesting and entertaining
every minute, and courteous and considerate as a true-born
gentleman. He would be a good Y. M. C. A. secretary, 1
feel sure. i

Not such a thorough gentleman because of his loud
voice and inconsiderate curiosity, the blue jay is on the
whole not such an undesirable visitor as his reputation
might lead one to expect. One came to see me twice, quite
out of the goodness of his heart, I believe, and each time I
was sorry, when, because of urgent business elsewhere, he
took his departure. I imagined that they were family
affairs that engrossed his attention, but he did not take
me into his confidence.

A score or more of grackles followed behind a plow
that was breaking up a well-sodded vacant lot a block
away, but not one came near enough to pass the time of
day with me. I rather resented their neglect, but I re-
flected philosophically that while such an abundance of
food was being provided them, they felt constrained to care
for it with true wiu-the-war thrift.

The only unpleasant incident that marred my whole
sick-window record of the birds, was an unprovoked and

94 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 108

utterly niicalled-for assault of a pair of kingbirds upon
two sedate, nnolTendiiig crows that flew by my window
nearly every day on their way to and from the forestry. I
had come to feel a great deal of respect for these crows
that went so unassumingly about their own business, and
I was quite indignant when they were insulted and as-
saulted by the vindictive kingbirds. I had heard or seen
nothing of these tyrants before, and not once afterward
did they appear ; but on this one occasion they monopolized
the attention of the whole neighborhood as they indulged
their inherent family hatred of the poor crows, who, I am
sure, would be only too glad to let the old feud die out.

The same day that this unpleasant episode of the king-
birds occurred, I was more than compensated by hearing
the song-sparrow greet me from the witch-hazel thicket
with a burst of happj^ song that quite diverted my mind
from the recent unpleasantness. He sang but this once for
me, and though I listened long for another greeting, I never
heard it. Once, too, and only once, his cousin the vesper
sparrow sang to me, but did not come to call upon me,
much to my regret.

My most faithful songsters were a brown thrasher that
frequented a young orchard not far from my window, and
a wren that had a nest under the eaves of the garage even
nearer. The brown thrasher seemed to take it upon him-
self to keep me happy and content, for his gay, sweet song
never failed me for \ev\ long a single day.

He came to visit me often, too, and strolled tranquilly
about the yard beneath the window, very much at home
on my premises, as becomes a good friend. The sociable
little wren came "jinking" about my window, intent upon
telling me all about his nest, but when he sang I felt sure
he was singing not to me at all, but to his little brown
mate on the nest under the eaves, the demure little house-
wife about whom he was ever so solicitous.

A flash of blue darting about the clump of witch-hazel
one noon-day apprised me of the coming of other callers, a

Birds from a Sick Man^s Window 95

pair of indigo buntings. I suspect that they were out for-
aging or house-hunting, rather than intending^ to call, but
when they heard that I was ill, they were kind enough to
stay for quite ten minutes to gossip with me. At any rate
they did not leave the witch-hazel until we had had quite
a visit together.

I can not neglect longer the mention of the English
Sparrow. He and I have been bad friends for a long time,
and when we meet on the streets we do not notice each
other. The dislike is reciprocal, deep-seated, and well-
founded. Between his family and mine is a long record
of enmity and persecution. But in all justice, I must ad-
mit that he and many of his relatives appeared before my
window, and though they chattered noisily and ill-man-
ueredly, as is their wont, they spent long hours entertain-
ing me; I feel now that probably some of my antipathy
toward his family may be misplaced, at any rate somewhat
unnecessary.

Likewise the cat-bird rose considerably in my estima-
tion. He and his mate came to see me often, and though I
had never had any quarrel with them, I had not fully ap-
preciated before their whole-souled optimism and friend-
liness. He sang often to me, especially in the mornings.
I was quite won by the friendly familiarity of the family,
and I have assured myself that in the future I shall more
confidently and openmindedly cultivate their acquaintance.
They are nothing if not shrewd, and neighborly.

The yellow-billed cuckoos, the mourning doves, and the
yellow-breasted chats were other daily callers. The cuckoos
came to tell me of impending rains that never came, but I
never grew tired of watching their swelling throats as they
uttered their queer notes. The mourning doves acted in
much the same manner when giving voice to their plaintive
coos so that I wondered if -they had been trained in the
same schools. I was pleased and flattered by the visits
the chats paid me, for I had never before become well ac-
quainted with them.

96 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 108

A pair of goldfinches, who inade their summer home
ill our part of towu and nested in a Lombardy poplar
across the way, came often to call. Sometimes it was Mrs.
Goldfinch who came, sometimes it was Mr. Goldfinch.
Neither of them stayed long at a time, but Mr. Goldfinch
came oftener, or at least seemed to do so. It may have
been that he made himself more evident, for his sharp call
and conspicuous garb would always attract attention.

The friends of my early boyhood, the bluebirds, came
but once to cheer me, but the gentle and sincere greeting
they gave me as a reminder of old times touched me deeply.
The bluebirds are like those old, tried, true friends in
whom our faith never wavers, and of whom a doubt or sus-
picion never enters our minds. We may not see them, or
hear from them for months or years, but when we do, we
know that they have not changed.

Hardly less welcome than the bluebirds, the red-
headed woodpeckers greeted me often. Frequently a pair
of them perched on the nearest telephone pole. I am sure
they came to call on me, but as they gossiped, they usually
grew so interested in their own affairs that they quite for-
got me. Not sensitive to their neglect — unintentional it
was, I am sure — I thoroughly enjoyed hearing them chat-
ter, just the same.

The evenings of my days were usually lonesome, but
then it was that Bob White called to me from the edge of
the forestry, and the swallows came sweeping over the va-
cant lots, and the swifts fluttering home to their own chim-
ney-corners. Now and then a flock of nighthawks came
coursing along, stooping in abrupt nose-dives like aviators
in training. Always their course lay eastw^ard ; I wished
that some of them had stopped to tell me why, for here on
the prairies their sunset flight is always into the approach-
ing dusk.

After night-fall the screech owls came to see me. The
whole family, five or six, fluttered about my window, i)erch-
ing on the clothes-poles, the ridge-pole of the garage, or

The Lure of the Godwit 97

wherever a convenient corner projected. Without uttering
a note, they frequently exchanged perches, as if they were
engaged in a strigidine " pussy wants a corner " ; they were
silent as wraiths, but their big, bright eyes saw everj^thiug.
When I was able to be about and out-of-doors again,
I soon became too deeply engrossed in my work to give to
my bird-friends the attention they deserved, but my heart
will ever be grateful to them for the entertainment they
afforded me while time passed so slowl}'.

THP] LURE OF THE GODWIT.

He approached me whenever I visited the Yellow Rail
Coulee in the Choctaw Basin, Benson County, North Da-
kota. T'was difficult to determine the direction from
which this Marbled Godwit came. Before I could see,
away in the distance, his voice of suspicion would pierce
the horizon and over the ridge he skimmed with the wing
strokes similar to a Killdeer.

I climbed through the slopes of badger brush where a
Prairie Sharp-tail Grouse had a setting of fifteen eggs, and
hunted up and down the uncultivated patches. This wary
Marlin stood in the grass close by and scrutinized my
actions.

The Western Willet surveyed conditions from " on
wing " but never pausing to alight even though he mani-
fested considerable curiosity at my presence.

In the Red River ^"alley of Minnesota there were quite
a few Godwits this spring. Heavy rains and " no shoot-
ing " contributed largely to the conditions which made the
environment attractive. Residents said the " Indian Moc-
casin State " was fast losing its virgin prairies, but I saw
thousands of acres undisturbed and without fences. After
visiting the headquarters of the Red River of the North and
the Mississippi and making an inventory of the bird life
now in evidence, I found Minnesota more promising than
North Dakota, for waders. Dakota is still par excellence

98 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 108

for Ducks but the population of Cranes, Phalaropes, Bar-
tramian I*lovers and Marbled Godwits in Northwestern
Minnesota was a revelation to me. Too late for eggs of
the Sandhill Crane but apparently Godwits and Uplands
were sitting close.

Two or three miles is a trivial distance for male God-
wits to patrol. Tliey are not so aggressive as the Curlew,
but just as watchful and suspicious. Less dove like than
the Bartramian and more bold than the Willet, a Marbled
Godwit will worry any man or dog if the intrusion is even
remote. I was certainly surprised to discover my first God-
Avit's nest with the parent croucliing beneath a little screen
of woven grass blades on four heavil}^ blotched eggs. Her
general contour and the situation and design of the nest
was suggestive of many King Kails whose nests I have
found, after noticing how the grass blades were woven to-
gether canopy like to shield the bird and her treasures.
About a mile from this nest and screened on one side by
willow sprouts sat another tame Godwit. This time the
grassy hollow held five boldly marked eggs. Incubation
was one-half completed and the date was June 8th. These
five eggs bear a general resemblance to each other and I
believe they are all the product of the same bird.

In size Marbled Godwit's eggs are larger than Willet's
but smaller than Long-bill CurleAv. The shape is rather
different from either of the ]U'eceding and can possibly be
better described when tlie outline may be said to compare
quite accurately with typical eggs of the Wilson's Snipe,
although the latter are, of course, very much smaller.

The color patterns are distinctive, an<l nmy be classed
in two types. In one the ground color is an olive green,
while others have a pale chocolate background. The mark-
ings are less inclined towards specks and spots, as coni-
l)ared with other shore birds' eggs, but are manifest in the
form of blotches or cloudings usually similar to the ground
color prevalent in the same setting, but several shades
darker. The shell is glossv.

Nesting of American Long-eared Owl 99

Godwits behave like Black Terns after the nest of the
former are actually found, but until then the male very
cleverly controls his actions in such a manner as to defy
the application of any fixed set of rules, should an effort be
made to analyze his conduct.

Gerard Alan Abbott

NESTING OF AMEKICAN LONG EAKED OWL

During- a walk in search of birds, on March 16, I and
my two brothers discovered two long-eared owls in an
evergreen tree in a deserted farm-yard.

After a period of two weeks we again visited this
locality and saw but one of the owls in the same tree. We
concluded at that time that the female must be upon her
nest some place near. We continued our journey to an old
orchard about a quarter of a mile away and while looking
for screech owls' nests, I noticed two long feathery tufts
protruding over a thick collection of sticks in a crotch in
an apple tree about fifteen feet above the ground. Upon
closer examination I noticed two bright eyes peering at me
from beneath a stick. I called my brothers and showed
them this queer specimen. I climbed a tree about twenty
feet away for further investigation and to my astonishment
a long eared owl flew out. I had my camera along but I
could secure no good pictures. My brother climbed the
tree in which the nest was located and obtained a picture
of the nest and eggs which turned out well.

About the nest small branches were very dense, thereby
offering very good protection for a secluded nest. The
nest itself was composed entirely of sticks with but a very
few leaves for a lining. The three eggs in the nest were
completely white. In another crotch in the same tree we
observed an old nest, identical in composition to the pres-
ent one. As the long-eared owl has been recorded in this
vicinity every year recently, doubtless the second nest was
last year's.

100 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 108

A second visit to obtain pictures of the owls was un-
fruitful; both birds were discovered in the tree, one on the
nest, the other near in a hedge. Photographs of the sitting
bird proved worthless and efforts to film the other were in
vain. The bird on the nest was not disturbed, which we
regretted, for when the next visit was made two weeks
later to obtain a few i)ictures of the young, the nest was
vacant. Without doubt the young had been hatched before
the second visit and had flown, as there was nothing to in-
dicate any different conclusion.

Sidney E. Ekblaw.

Obituary.

KENYON ROPER

Kenyon entered the Coast Artillery in the summer of 1917
as a Second Lieutenant. After training at Fortress Monroe, he
sailed for France in December, 1917. Shortly after his arrival
overseas he transferred to the aviation service and was promoted
to First Lieutenant in. the 91st Aero Squadron. In March, 1918,
he receivel another promotion to the rank of Captain. Spurred
by the idea of revenging the death of George, he accounted for at
least four Boche planes. But on September 14, 1918, he and his
pilot were brought down behind the German lines. For five
months he was reported missing in action, but finally the govern-
ment reported his grave near Tronville, Meuthe et Moselle, the
identification being a handkerchief with his name in indelible ink,
the handkerchief being in the possession of a young German bo.v
who lived in the vicinity where Captain Roper fell to his death
and is buried.

Book Review

Life History of North American Birds, Order Pygopodes. By A.
C. Bent.

This, Bulletin 107 of the U. S. Nat. Museum, is a continua-
tion of the late Major Bendire's monumental work. Mr. Bent is
a member of the Wilson Club, as was Major Bendire. In writing
this work Mr. Bent has been assisted by many well known orni-
thologists, who have furnished him with much valuable material.
He has also had access to all the literature needed. The result

The Annual Meeting 101

has beeu an accurate, as well as an interesting work. Under each
species the setting of its natural environment is first given, por-
traying a vivid picture of the bird in its actual haunts. Courtship,
nesting, eggs, young, plumage, food, behavior are then taken uy
and finally very accurate data concerning the distribution, such
as breeding range, winter range, spring and fall migration, casual
records and egg dates. With each species characteristic photos
are given, selected from the author's own fieldwork and that of
many others. At the end of the volume there are eleven color
plates of the eggs of the Pygopodes, which are certainly true to
nature. Colored plates of the birds themselves would have added
still more to the value of the work, which we regard as perfect
as far as the contents are concerned. Mr. Bent has certainly
earned the full gratitude of Ornithologists the world over. In re-
gard to some questions of species and subspecies, while following
the A. O. U. check-list's decision officially, he has also had the
courage to express his private opinion, e.g. in regard to Cepphus
mandtii, which he is inclined to regard as a subspecies of grylle,
an opinion in which we concur. The disputed Uria ringvia we are
personally convinced is a good species, but as Mr. Bent shows
there is much to be said on both sides of the matter, that he has
done well to leave it an open question which the future may de-
cide.

The one great criticism we have to make does not strike at
Mr. Bent, but at a government that has been shameless enough to
put such a fine piece of work out in a poor pamphlet form without
even any binding, on miserable paper and with still worse covers.
This certainly is not the place for petty economy.

W. F. H.

THE ANNUAL MEETING
Bear in mind that our next annual meeting will be held in
St. Louis, Missouri, in conjunction with > the meetings of the Amer-
ican Association for the Advancement of Science. No program of
these meetings has been issued, so that the dates of our meetings
cannot be announced at I this time. But it is probable that our
meetings will be held on December 30 and 31. Announcement of
the exact time and place of meeting will be made in ample time
by circular letter. It is hoped that you will not wait for an invi-
tation to prepare and read a paper at this meeting, but that you
will send your title as soon as possible to the secretary, A. F.
Ganier, 1023 Villa Street, Nashville, Tenn. Liberal cooperation
will ensure a most profitable and interesting meeting.

102 The Wilson Bulletin — Xo. 108

THE ART OF SUBSPECIATION

The species that were,

The species that are.

The species that are to be.

Are a source of dismay,

In the present day.

To philosophers, such as we.

To cover the need

For a definite creed,

We scientists large and small,

Have developed a scheme.

Which, on the surface, would seem.

The ultimate all-in-all.

That it happened by chance,

You may see at a glance.

For it's simple as two and two;

To arrive at the point

You just measure a joint.

And look the specimen through.

Then you note in your book,
With a wisdomful look,
(It's a matter of touch-and-go)
And you give it a name,
It may all be the same,
Buteo buteo buteo.

Then you pass it along

To the ignorant throng,

With a most magnanimous air.

Then act as the sponsor,

And stand-by to answer,

For the species that isn't there.

— Arthur Laavrence Bolton.

TH E

WILSON BULLETIN

NO. 109
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY

VOL. XXXI DECEMBER, 1919 NO. 4

OLD SERIES VOL. XXXI. NEW SERIES VOL. XXVI.

SOME CHANGES IN THE SUMMER BIRD LIFE
AT DELAVAN, WISCONSIN

BY N. HOLLISTER

A recent three weeks' visit to Delavan, Wisconsin,
from July 7 to 26, 1919, gave me the first opportunity in
many years to compare the summer bird life of today in my
home county with that of twenty to thirty years ago.
From boyhood I had closely observed the birds in this reg-
ion, and my first journal begins in 1888. From 1891 until
1902 I was especially active as a collector of birds and was
almost daily in the field. I left Wisconsin early in 1902
and except for a brief visit in the summer of 1907, with no
opportunity for the observation of birds, my occasional
trips to Delavan have been at some other time than the
breeding season.

Delavan is in southeastern Wisconsin, in a beautiful
country of varied physiography, with abundant streams
and lakes, forests, prairies, marshes, and farmland. It has
always been a most favorable region for bird life.

My first impression, on this recent visit, was that
birds were more abundant than at the time of my main
ornithological activity in Wisconsin, and the three weeks
of excursions afield convinced me that this is true. Sev-
eral species, as summer residents, are conspicuously more
abundant now, and many others have held their own in
numbers. A few, on the other hand, have almost or com-
pletely disappeared from the region.

One of the most notable cases of increase is that of the

104 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

house wren. I had never been able to obtain a breeding
bird of this species although two forms, Troglodytes aedon
aedon and T. a. parkmani (or, as we called it then, aztecus) ,
were common during migrations. House wrens were re-
ported by ornithologists as breeding now and then in other
portions of the state and some few may have been present in
my region, but as a summer resident the bird was certainly
rare in the vicinity of Delavan. Now I found it, in July,
one of the most conspicuous and generally distributed of
town birds. It rivals the martin in popularity and every-
where I went were wren houses occupied by busy, singing
wrens. Such favorites indeed are the birds that I should
hesitate to be the collector of the desired series of breeding
examples for subspeciflc determination. I suspect that
both aedon and parkmani will now be found nesting within
the state.

Purple martins have also increased in numbers. Mar-
tin houses are much more common than formerly, and no
one seems to have trouble in obtaining the desired tenants.
Sentiment in a bird's favor is the greatest help in its sur-
vival and increase in settled communities.

The crested flycatcher has certainly greatly increased
in numbers as a breeding bird. In my collecting days at
Delavan I had to go to certain unfrequented woods to find
the great-crest, but now it is much more common ; I saw it
often in places it never used to inhabit, and it has actually
become a town bird. I also saw the wood pewee feeding
young in a nest on an oak limb over our own house, near the
city street; something I should have been much surprised
to note twenty years ago. Though always abundant in
that vicinity, the pewee was never suspected of being a city
dweller. Both the red-headed woodpecker and the yellow-
billed cuckoo are much more abundant and generally dis-
tributed than formerly, although both were common sum-
mer birds in my collecting days in Wisconsin. They are
now city birds also, and the red-head seemed one of the
most conspicuous birds of the country roadside.

Summer Bird Life at Delay an 105

The efifects of spriiig protection for waterfowl are es-
pecially noticeable; more ducks breed about Delavan than
at any time since I can remember; and if they continue to
increase the numbers of young birds must soon approach
in some measure those of the still earlier days before the
ducks were forced by an army of spring shooters to desert
their old breeding grounds. In my shooting days at Dela-
van we killed almost entirely wood ducks on the opening
of the season (August 20, or later on September 1), and
individuals of other species before the first fall migration
had commenced were comparatively rare. Some years
there was a fair sprinkling of blue-winged teals, or an oc-
casional mallard, gadwall, or other river duck. Now the
mallaid and blue-winged teal are the most common breed-
ing species ; black ducks are fairly so ; and, most unexpect-
edly, I find that pintails now regularly nest. Last year
(1918) fully fifty pintails were reared in one large marshy
pond not over seven miles from Delavan, where the flocks
of young birds were seen by sportsmen friends of mine be-
fore the shooting season opened. About five hundred
ducks, mostly mallards, teals, wood ducks, and pintails
were, I was told, found in this one pond on the opening
day, September 16, 1918. Baldpates and pintails are of
late years frequently found in the bags on the first day's
shooting, and although there is no direct evidence that the
baldpate nests, it is hardly likely that any extensive migra-
tion has taken place at that early date.

The robin, wood thrush, catbird, song sparrow, and
kingbird are certainly as abundant as they were twenty-five
years ago, and I feel almost sure that they have actually in-
creased in numbers since that time. The black tern is still
a most fimiliar bird in suitable localities and seems fully
as abundant as formerly. As many as fifty terns were
seen in one flock, the adults and young congregated on the
muddy shore and a nearby fence. At each of the old ponds
and marshes that I vistied during my stay I saw numbers
of them gracefully hunting for insects low over the water

106 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

and flags. The mourning dove and prairie chicken, both
supposed to enjoy full protection, are not recuperating as
they should under favorable conditions. The prairie
chicken is no doubt kept from actual increase only by the
illegal shooting of a few poachers and would, if the laws
for its protection were rigidly enforced, become a much
more common and generally distributed bird. Of course
those now to be found are but a mere fraction of what were
here at one time, but I do not think the prairie chicken has
much decreased in numbers, locally, during the past twen-
ty years. Its plentifulness in any given year is in a great
measure dependent on the weather conditions at nesting
time.

Among the more familiar of the smaller birds that
seem to me to have been distinctly reduced in numbers are
the bluebird, brown thrasher, barn swallow, cliff swallow,
and chij^ping sparrow. The dickcissel was certainly not as
abundant as I have seen it, but this species was always sub-
ject to a considerable variation in numbers from year to
year.

There are, I think, fewer crows than at one time. The
mania for crow shooting, fostered for commercial reasons
by a great powder company, has swept this country as well
as other states and it is no uncommon thing to find several
dead crows under a single tree. It appears to me that the
pernicious practice of summer crow shooting is bound to
have a direct detrimental influence on the other breeding
birds, game birds as well as beneficial hawks and owls, the
herons and all other conspicuous bird targets. It is a very
bad policy indeed to encourage an army of boys and irre-
sponsible men to roam the country with guns throughout
the entire spring and summer. It is not human nature for
them to confine their sliooting to the crow alone; harmless
or valuable birds are killed and breeding game birds, if not
actually slaughtered, are much disturbed. Even were it
proved that the crow is a distinct menance to the game and

Summer Bird Life at Delavan 107

other birds, they will suffer vastly more from this promis-
cuous summer huutiug than from the crow itself.

All breeding hawks are distinctly reduced in numbers.
I saw, during the three weeks, only one marsh hawk and
one Cooper's hawk. The marsh hawk formerly was really
common and the red-tail was a regular breeder in consid-
erable numbers. The summer crow shooters are, I think,
largely to blame for this disgraceful extermination of
breeding hawks. The nighthawk, pied-billed grebe, and
wood duck are less in numbers than formerly; of the first
two I happened to see only a single example of each. Wood
ducks are still much commoner as nesting birds than in
most parts of the range of the species, but are not so plenti-
ful ae they were twenty or more years ago.

I saw no Forster's terns nor upland plovers whatever;
they seem to have completely disappeared from their old
breeding haunts; and saddest of all the ruffed grouse has
gone — 1 interviewed many hunters and others and could
not find a single person who has seen one in five or six
years. Some few are doubtfully reported in the extreme
northern part of the county but the woods about Delavan
where the grouse was formerly plentiful are absolutely
barren of this glorious bird. The grouse was not extermin-
ated by shooters; I think the pasturing of the wood lots
and the ever present house cat are chiefly to blame. The
Hungarian partridge, a poor substitute indeed, has been,
introduced, is locally common just north of us, and may
eventually take the place of the native bird.

Altogether, during the three weeks' visit, I saw sixty-
eight species of breeding birds, but as I made no special
effort to search out certain kinds the list is much smaller
than it might have been. The immense weed, grass, and
fern grown marsh or low-land prairie, which has been the
breeding grounds for Henslow's sparrows and short-billed
marsh wrens since long, long before my time, is being
slowly reclaimed. The cornfields and pastures are eating
into it on all sides, and will, before many years, meet in its

108 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

very center. I have never found a single example of
either of these birds in any other locality in this region
during the breeding season. What will become of them,
as well as the hordes of bobolinks, the marsh hawks, the
prairie hens, and other characteristic nesting birds, when
the last acre of virgin sod is ploughed for corn? The sand-
hill cranes, which still frequent this marsh in the spring
and fall, deserted it for the breeding season many years
ago. The last record of a crane's nest here that can be
considered authentic was in 1883. The other birds, less
alarmed by settlement but requiring these exact conditions,
must soon look elsewhere for breeding grounds. And with
the marsh and the birds, will disappear, locally, the Bland-
ing's turtle, the last massasauga, the pitcher plant, rare
orchids, and a generally peculiar native fauna and flora
not otherwise represented in this immediate region.

Extreme abundance of a certain few birds during the
nesting season will be poor compensation for the loss of
others. Personally, I prefer to see a goodly number of
species on a day's excursion rather than hundreds of rob-
ins, martins, wrens and other familiar birds. But those
species that are able to adapt themselves to changed con-
ditions are the ones that may and do increase. In southern
Wisconsin, as in some other parts of the world, they will,
I believe, grow more and more abundant; while many of
the more interesting and beautiful forms of bird life must
become rarer and more restricted, until they cease to nest
at all, as the conditions necessary to their very existence
are swept away. A number of nesting birds have been ex-
terminated in southern Wisconsin since the settlement of
the country. We can not help but wonder which species
will be the next to go. The ruffed grouse, the Forster's
tern, and the upland plover were depleted in numbers at
Delavan, but no one, twenty years ago, would have pre-
dicted their complete disappearance from this region
within so short a time.

Birds op Wakulla County^ Florida 109

NOTES ON BIRDS OF WAKULLA COUNTY, FLORIDA

JOHN WILLIAMS, ST. MARKS, FLA,

Wakulla County lies directly south of Leon County,
wherein is located our State Capital, St. Marks being
t\venty miles directly south from Tallahassee.

The county covers about five hundred square miles and
has a frontage on the Oulf (Apalachee Bay) of about
twenty-five miles.

The eastern portion of the county is traversed by the
St. Marks river, on which, eight miles up from the Gulf, our
little village is located.

In general the surface of the county is a low coastal
plain of limestone formation, the greatest elevation about
sixty feet above sea-level.

Large areas are covered with water at times of pro-
tracted rains. Sinks are numerous and in two instances
large streams appear directly from such openings. Sev-
eral sulphur springs occur. The soil is sand and sandy
loam. Cypress, Palmetto, Long-leaf and Pitch Pines,
Sweet Gum, Live Oaks and Water Oaks are the prevailing
trees in the lower sections, while in the higher hummocks
Red Oaks, White Oaks, Hickory and Dogwood are common
and on the sandy ridges Black Jack barrens occur.

Farming, while practiced somewhat, has not advanced
greatly except in a few isolated cases. Turpentine indus-
try is quite general throughout the county. Vast marshes
line the coast and tidal streams and in many places the
so-called " Open Piney Woods " are little more than sparsely
timbered marshes.

Commercial fishing is followed to a considerable ex-
tent along shore, St. Marks being the principal shipping
point, while seine yards are operated at a few places dur-
ing the months of October and November each year and
have some bearing on the abundance of certain species of
birds.

110 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

Local interest in the bird life of the county has been
found quite limited and little reliable information is to be
gleaned except at first hand. Fortunately there are a few
exceptions thereto and the writer desires to extend his
hearty appreciation for numerous valued notes from the
Messrs. W. F. and T. A. Linton of St. Marks and from their
brother, Mr. John Linton of Wakulla, who have freely given
from their almost life-long experiences in the county.

These observations, while extending over several years,
have been as a recreation and of necessity at spare time
from business. While for the most part they refer to the
section lying on and near the coast, occasional trips have
been made farther inland. As my work has been at St.
Marks, so the notes are mainly from that immediate lo-
cality.

1. Colynihus auritus — Horned Grebe.

Numerous in the lower river and along shore in the Bay. Ar-
rive in early November and remain until April. November 3, 1917,
April 21, 1919.^

2. Podilymhus podiceps — Pied-billed Grebe.

Frequent the fresher waters rather than in the Bay. Com-
mon from the last of September until early April. Some of the
fishermen report "Dodappers" in the summer and a few may oc-
casionally nest with us. September 20, 1916, April 3, 1914. One
caught in a fisherman's net June 21, 1919.

3. Gavia immer — Loon.

To be seen regularly along shore and in the larger rivers and
streams from early September until late in April. September 4,
1913, April 26, May 16, 1914. Not unusual to see five or six in
close company.

4. Larus argentatus — Herring Gull.

Arrive regularly in October and remain until early May. At
times abundant up the river to our village, gleaning from fish
refuse. September 27, 1917, May 4, 1914.

5. Larus delawarensis — Ring-billed Gull.

I have only identified this species on two or three occasions,
but believe it to be of regular winter occurrence, along the coast
and lower river areas. My records are all in December.

^ Unless otherwise indicated the dates represent the extremes
in seasonal records.

Birds op Wakulla County_, Florida 111

6. Lams atricilla — Laughing Gull.

A nesting colony of about fifteen pairs has continued on our
coast for several years. An extra high tide will sometimes de-
stroy the eggs, but the birds usually rear some young. More nu-
merous from the last of October until about April 1. June 6, 1915,
nests with eggs and one or two young just hatched.

7. Larus pliiladelpliia — Bonaparte's Gull.

Of regular winter occurrence, arriving the last of September
and remaining probably until early May. September 30, 1917,
February 26, 1917, May 3, 1919.

8. Sterna maxima — Royal Tern.

Probably occurs regularly in small numbers at the mouth of
St. Marks river and the bars off Shell Point. One identified May
3, 1919. Not known to nest here.

9. Sterna forsten — Forster's Tern.

Found usually along shore during the winter. Specimens
taken April 11, 1915.

10. Sterna liirundo — Common Tern.

Occur regularly in winter and at times rather numerous. T
have no nesting records.

11. Sterna antillariim — Least Tern.

Formerly this was a regular breeder at one or two places on
our coast. It has not been noted the past eight or ten years.

12. Sterna fuseata — Sooty Tern.

Occur occasionally if not regularly in the spring. Possibly in
the fall. April 10, 1917, May 22, 1913.

13. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis — Black Tern.

Occurs regularly but in varying abundance from mid-summer
until fall. Single and scattering birds come up the river feeding
as far as our village. In broader waters they frequently feed in
flocks of twenty or more, hovering over bunches of small fish close
along shore and dropping down after their prey. I have no spring
records. July 4, 1915, October 5, 1917. Local name, " Mother
Carey's Chicken."

14. RJiynchops nigra — Black Skimmer.

Formerly said to have nested along our shore. Apparently
occurring rather rarely for several years, until the fall of 1917,
when they were numerous. Local name, " Scissor-bill." June 8,
1917, September 29, 1917, April 22, 1919.
16. Phaethon flmrr/cfln its— Yellow-billed Tropic-bird.

"... Accidental at St. Marks, Fla." The A. 0. U. Check List
of N. Am. Birds, 1910, p. 58. Normally a strictly tropical species.
16. Phccthon americanus — Yellow-billed Tropic Bird.

One of our reliable fishermen states that on May 25, 1919, he
saw a bird flying about the bars near our light house different

112 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

from any he had ever before seen. "About the size of the smaller
black and white Gulls" (meaning the Common Tern,) "with a tall
full eighteen inches long, that went back to a long slender point."

17. Aviiinga anhinga — Water-Turkey.

My observations indicate the " snake birds " as occurring reg-
ularly throughout the year, but in small numbers. They are
usually to be found along the upper reaches of our rivers or on
lakes and ponds. At times they exhibit wonderful powers of high
flying and soaring.

18. Phalacrocorax auritus, floridanus — Florida Cormorant.

A common species along our coast and frequently inland on
rivers, lakes and larger ponds. Nest in colonies of fifty to one
hundred or more pairs in a close group. Nests of loose sticks and
twigs on tall cypress trees bordering a stream, pond or lake. Eggs
early in April. In flying to and from their roosting places they
are frequently in companies of five| or six or more, range in single
file, on slow, strong wing-beats, keeping but a few feet above the
surface of the water as they travel up and down stream or off
shore over the Bay. The mandibles are often held slightly open
while in protracted flight. Local name, " Nigger Goose."

19. Pelecanus erythrorhpncos — White Pelican

Sometimes occur in considerable numbers, fifty or more, along
shore from early fall until middle spring. Seemingly rare in mid-
winter. August 29, 1912, October 2, 1917, April 26, 1918.
20. — Pelecanus occidentalis — Brown Pelican.

Seen in varying numbers throughout the year, although I am
not aware of a nesting locality in our county. January 21, 1916,
March 15, 1916, May 21. 1913, June 24, 1913, July 15, 1916. etc.

21. Fregata aqxtila — Man-o'-war-bird.

This bird of wonderful wing is to be seen from land only when
driven in by stress of heavy wind. July 5, 1915, September 4, 1915,
December 17, 1915.

22. Mergus americanus — Merganser. Winter visitor.

Perhaps this species occurs more frequently than my few rec-
ords would indicate.

23. Mergus serrator — Red-breasted Merganser.

One of our most common aquatic winter visitors. Found
singly and in varying flocks to twenty or more. Local names,
" Sawbill " and " Hairy-head." October 10, 1918, May 8, 1917.

24. Lophodytes cucullatus — Hooded Merganser.

Decidedly less numerous than the preceding species. The
" Fuzzy-head " frequently takes to ponds back from the bay and
rivers.

25. Anas plnfyrhynehos — Mallard.

Birds of Wakulla County_, Florida 113

The " Greenhead " is with us in considerable numbers during
the late fall and winter. October 22, 1916.

26. Anas fulvigula fulvigula — Florida Duck.

A few pairs of " Black Mallards " nest yearly on the broad
marshes bordering our rivers and back from the Bay. Presumably
they should be referred to this species.

27. Anas fubripes — Black Duck.

While the influx of Black Ducks during the winter may be in
part of the preceding species our gunners believe they are largely
from the North. R. W. Williams, Esq., reports them " Fairly
abundant " at East Goose Creek, ten miles west of St. Marks, No-
vember 16-24, 1917. The Auk, January, 1919.

28. Chaulelasmus streperus — Gadwall.

Occur in irregular abundance from October until about April
1. Frequently resort to small ponds off from the rivers. Local
name, "Widgeon."

29. Mareca a.7?i,pr?canfl— Baldpate.

I have not found it an abundant visitor. Usually a few are
shot each winter.

30. Nettion carolinense — Green-winged Teal.

Both species of the common Teal are here during the winter,
but in much fewer numbers than formerly. A few remain into
April. September 26, 1917, April 11, 1915.

31. Querquediila discors — Blue-winged Teal.

The Teal are among the first ducks to arrive in the fall and
may then often be found associated with Pintail. September 2.
1914.

32. Spatula clypeata — Shoveller.

The Shoveller may occur more frequently than my notes in-
dicate. Gunners occasionally report a " Spoon-bill " Duck being
shot.

33. Daflla acuta — Pintail.

One of our most abundant winter Ducks. Early to arrive
and late in departure. September 24, 1916, early April.

34. Aix sponsa — Wood Duck.

The " Summer " Duck is with us in considerable numbers, be-
ing found in secluded ponds and less frequented parts of the
rivers throughout the year.

35. Marila americana — Redhead.

Winter transient. Not numerous. So far as I have observed
it occurs less frequently than does the Canvasback.

36. Marila valisineria — Canvas-back.

Winter transient. Quite irregular in abundance. During the
winter of 1914-15 it was unusually numerous. In 1915-16 quife
rare, 1917-18 again numerous.

114 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

37. Marila marila — Scaup Duck.

Our gunners confuse the two species of " Bullheads," both of
which occur throughout the winter.

38. Marila affinis — Lesser Scaup Duck.

Decidedly the most numerous of our Ducks. Arriving from
late September until mid-October the bulk depart in April, but a
few usually remain throughout June, seemingly strong, sound
birds. October 22, 1917. July 1, 1913, nine seen.

39. Marila collaris — Ring-neck Duck.

Winter visitor. Probably occurs regularly, but I have seen
but few during the past few years.

40. Charitonetta albecola — Buffle-head.

Probably occurs regularly, but I have seen it but rarely. Win-
ter visitor.

41. ErismaUira javwicensis — Ruddy Duck.

Winter visitor. Rarely noted along our rivers and bays.

42. Chen liypertorcnis nivalis — Greater Snow Goose.
Seemingly rare along our coast. Lintous saw seven together

October 30, 1916, and apparently the same bunch on the following
day. One from a bunch of three shot November 23, 1918.

43. Branta canadensis canadensis — Canada Goose.

Occur along shore in considerable numbers during the winter,
coming in on the flats to feed. The fishermen report them as num-
bering thousands, but in fact hundreds are to be seen at times.
October 9, 1917, March 21, 1917.

44. Branta canadensis hutchinsi — Hutchin's Goose.

One found dead March 12, 1918, is referred to this form and
identified by the Biological Survey.

45. Ajaia ajaja — Roseate Spoonbill.

The " Pink Curlew " was formerly a fairly common bird along
our coast. For at least ten years I find no positive record of its
occurrence here.

46. Guara alba — ^White Ibis.

Probably nests regularly with us. The only nesting colony
I have seen was made up of about 30 pairs of birds and was as-
sociated with a much larger colony of Little Blue Herons (F.
ca'rulea). April 4 the nests contained fresh eggs. Local name
" White Curlew."

47. Mycteria americana — Wood Ibis.

While I have seen the " Garnet " here in both spring and fall
I have no hint of their nesdng within our limits. May 29, 1917,
July 16, 1916, October 24, 1915.

48. Botaiirus lentiginosns — Bittern.

I have not found the Bittern numerous but usually see two
or three in the course of a winter or spring. September 24, 1917,

Birds of Wakulla County^ Florida 115

April 7, 1914. May 10, 1919, two flushed at a small pond.

49. Ixotrychus exitis — Least Bittern.

A regular summer dweller in our larger marshes and about
inland ponds where a heavy growth of reeds and grass abound.
At times, probably often, they nest in small colonies. May 22, 1911,
a nest was found with four young seemingly but three or four
days old. April 3, 1918, earliest arrival record.

50. Ardea herodias icardi — ^Ward's Heion.

Very generally distributed except while attending to their af-
fairs of incubation, when they generally associate in colonies of
a few or many. Singly and in small groups they wade the shoals
along shore or glean from pond or stream. Almost as wary as au
old Turkey they move off on labored wing, beat far in advance of
an approaching boat, seemingly in no haste, yet " safety first " by
virtue of a timely start. March 16, 1918, young in nest. May 16,
1916, young almost ready to fly.

51. Perodias egretta — Egret.

While greatly diminished in numbers, compared with years
gone by, this conspicuous bird is frequently to be seen in small
companies along shore or on a favored marsh. I have not seen a
nesting locality, but believe a few breed regularly with us. May
24, 1913, June 29, 1913, October 3, 1916.

52. Egretta thula thula — Snowy 'Egret.

The dainty and much persecuted " Little Egret " was form-
erly an abundant breeder in this locality. Alas! it has almost dis-
appeared and one hears with sorrow the tales of the hundreds that
were shot for their "scalps." I have no personal dates of their oc-
currence for several years, but sometimes hear of one being seen
by an old timer, who claims to distinguish them from the imma-
ture of F. ccerulea. R. W. Williams, Esq., noted two at East Goose
Creek November 24, 1917. Auk, January, 1919.

53. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis — Louisiana Heron.^

An abundant resident, nesting at times in large colonies, two
hundred to four hundred pairs. Sometimes associate at nesting
time with F. ecerulea. They are rarely molested. The nests are
usually placed in bushes near water, but on May 7, 1917, I dis-
covered a colony of four hundred or more pairs nesting on a low
island two miles off shore; the nest is a slight depression in the
drift or reeds as left by an extra high tide. May 7. 1917, eggs
fresh. June 6, 1915, a few eggs had hatched. Local name, " Sil-
ver Gray Heron."

54. Florida ccerulea — Little Blue Heron.^

^ See " Some Florida Herons " in Wilson Bulletin, June, 1918.
^ On May 7, 1916, an immature (white) specimen was shot,
showing considerable progress towards an adult plumage.

IIG The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

Numerous and generally distributed, nesting in colonies, on
bushes for the most part, in or bordering ponds. In a colony of
about one hundred fifty pairs of these birds there were also nest-
ing about the same small pond eight or ten pairs of Louisiana
Herons {H. t. ruficollis) , one pair Green Herons (B. v. virescens),
and about thirty pairs White Ibises (G. alba). April 1, 1917, egg
laying incomplete. On April 30, at same rookery, some young were
traveling over the bushes, using bills as well as toes in progres-
sion.

55. Butorides virescens virescens — Green Heron.

Quite generally distributed, but not numerous. A few seen
every year about ponds and streams. Nest with fresh eggs April
4. I have never seen it here in mid-winter. March 16, 1918, De-
cember 4, 1918.

56. Nycticorax nycUcorax na^vius — Black-crowned Nigiit Heron.
While these birds are with us throughout the entire year I

have failed to find their nesting locality. In winter they frequent
the broad open marshes in companies of twenty to forty or more.

57. Nyctanassa violacea — Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

Much less numerous than the preceding species and usually
seen singly or but two or three together. They frequent more se-
cluded ponds or may be seen fishing a tidal creek at low water
after sunset. Do not occur in winter.

58. Grus mexicana — Sandhill Crane.

In former years it was not uncommon to see these birds in
their Avanderings and a pair frequented and probably nested on
one of our river marshes about 1895. Two birds were seen flying
high overhead May 20, 1913. It is reported that two were shot
in southwestern part of our county about May 1, 1918.

59. Rallus elcgans — King Rail.

Probably a regular resident. An adult with a single half-
grown young was seen May 26, 1917. One noted November 21,
1916.

60. Rallus crejntans scotti — Florida Clapper Rail.

Our coastal and larger tidal river marshes abound with this
species. Eggs noted from April 18 throughout June. Many nests
are destroyed by storms, high tides and Fish Crows.

61. Rallus virginianus — Virginia Rail.

Usually a few may be seen every winter, but I have not ob-
served them numerous.

62. Parzana caroling — Sora.

Seemingly much more abundant than the Virginia Rail. Found
from the last of September until May. One shot May 6, 1915, and
others seen May 7 had the bright yellow — nuptial — tip to bill.
September 27, 1913. May 14, 1916.

Land Birds of Sac County_, Iowa 117

63. Cohirnicops noveboracensis — Yellow Rail.

May occur regularly. My only record is May 22, 1915.

64. Creciscus jamaicensis — Black Rail.

Doubtless they occur regularly during the fall and winter, but
from their secretive habits are unobserved. Two were taken dur-
ing very high water September 4, 1915, and two others seen on
the same date. Two were seen October 9, 1916.

65. lonornis martiniciis — Purple Gallinule.

Not noticed as abimdant and I have no records in mid-winter,
although it may occur then.

66. Gallimila galeata — Florida Gallinule.

More generally distributed than the preceling species in sum-
mer and found regularly in winter.

67. Fulica aniericana — Coot.

" Blue Petes " are numerous from early fall until March and
occasionally birds are seen during the summer, but whether or
not they are breeders I have been unable to determine with cer-
tainty.

AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE LAND BIKDS
OF SAC COUNTY, IOWA

BY J. A. SPURRELL_, OP WALL LAKE^ lA.

This paper coiitinnes a local list of the birds of my
home county, the first part of which appeared in the Wil-
son Bulletin, Vol. XXIX, Number 3, (September, 1917),
The reader of this list will find an account of the local
topography and other data on the manner of collecting
notes, etc., in the introduction of my other article.

This article is based on my own observations to a
much larger degree than the former one, as only a few of
the land birds have become extinct. I expected to find a
record among the pioneers of some one having seen the
Carolina paroquet, but I found only rumors of it, and
therefore have given quotations showing that its former
range covered this county. I was very much surprised to
find among the pioneers a knowledge of the pileat'ed wood-
pecker and the magpie, and still more surprised to find a
Clarke's nutcracker which was taken locally among the
specimens in the Smith collection at Odebolt, Iowa. Mrs.
Smith has no catalogue of this collection but I interviewed

118 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

both Mr. Smith and her before her husband's death, and
obtained a record of all specimens taken locally.

As in my former article, all data are based on careful
sight records, specimens found dead, or specimens in the
Smith collection. I do not expect subspecific sight records
to be accorded the same value that they would have had
the specimen been taken. In scientific names for sub-
species, I have followed Anderson's "Birds of Iowa."
Other names follow the A. O. U. 1910 checklist. I have
not listed some of the vireos and flycatchers which un-
doubtedly occur, owing to the difficulty of sight identifica-
tion. The migration data would be much more complete,
had I been able to devote more time to it, especiall}' in the
later years of the record. However it is a good average
for the region about Wall Lake. My complete records are
in the possession of the Biological Survey at Washington,
D. C, should further information be desired.
Annotated List

BURROWING OWLS IN SAC COUNTY, IOWA
(Addenda to Former Article)
In July, 1917. I saw two burrowing owls five and one-half
miles north of Wall Lake, and also an occupied burrow. The old
birds circled anxiously about as though their young were in the
burrow. On the same day, I saw another pair about three miles
north of this on one of the hills bordering Indian Creek.

Carolina Paroquet (Conuropsis carolinensis) .

I found no observers of this bird but give the following quo-
tation from " The Birds of Iowa " by Rudolph Martin Anderson.
Proceedings of Davenport Academy of Sciences, March, 1907. pages
269, 270, 271. " The beautiful Carolina paroquet formerly ranged
in flocks as far as the northern part of the state, but has not been
observed in the state for at least thirty years and has practicuriy
been exterminated throughout the United States.

' Paul Bartsch, in an article on ' Birds Extinct in Iowa and
those Becoming so,' states that the paroquet formerly ranged as
far north as Spirit Lake, where it would frequently remain until
the cold and snow would drive it southward. Its food in winter
consisted chiefly of the seeds of the cocklebur. Its nature was so
peculiar that when one of the number was killed or wounded, the
others would gather around It with shrill cries and in this way
the entire flock could easily be annihilated."

Land Birds of Sac County^ Iowa 119

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus aviericanus) .

This species is the common cuckoo of Sac county, according
to my observations, and I have looked at the bill of every cuckoo
I got close enough to. A pair or more are found in nearly every
grove. My* first seen dates in spring range from May 14 to June 3.
I have seldom heard its loud " kelp, kelp," until the first week In
June, which makes it appear probable that it is quiet for some
days after arrival. I have at several different times seen one with
a dragon fiy in its bill. I have known them to attack and drive
away domestic fowls which came near the tree in which their nest
was located.

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erthrophthahnus) .

This species is very rare about Wall Lake. I saw one July
28, 1913, another July 23, 1914, and my sister saw one in the spring
of 1917. Mrs. George May also reported it.

Belted Kingfisher {Ccryle alcyon alcyon) .

During the spring migration, I have noted this species at Wall
Lake and very rarely in the " Goosepond." I have seen it in sum-
mer along the Raccoon river, and in the summer of 1916 I saw one
several times along the B|oyer river west of Wall Lake. I think it
nests along both rivers.

Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus villosns).

The hairy woodpecker is a tolerably common winter visitant
about Wall Lake. I have never found a nest or seen it in summer.

Northern Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens viedianiis) .

This species is somewhat more common than the hairy wood-
pecker in winter and I have seen an occasional one in summer. I
have found them in July, apparently breeding, in the woods along
the Raccoon river at Sac City.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker {Sphyrapicus variiis varius).

I have found this bird as a rare spring migrant only. I saw
one individual May 20, 1909, and another May 23, 1913. Many
years ago, one nearly killed some Scotch pine trees in our front
yard by drilling holes in the bark.

Northern Pileated Woodpecker (Phloetovius pileatus abieticola).

According to Mr. Hugh Cory of Sac City, a very large wood-
pecker, which in the vernacular was called " woodcock," was found
in the timber along the Raccoon river in early days. Mr. Cory
said that the early settlers considered them good eating. This
resulted in their early extinction, as Mr. Cory stated that the last
one he saw was in 1865.

120 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melancrpes crthrocephahis) .

There is a specimen in the Smith collection. This species is
a common summer resid-ent, frequently using telephone poles to
nest in. My first seen dates vary from April 22 in 1913 to Mav
15 in 1910. They depart early in the fall; September 7 and 11
being two of my last seen dates. I knew of one second brood be-
ing reared in which the young did not fly until about September
15. The parent birds departed only a few days after the young
left the nest, while the latter remained in the vicinity until about
October 15. The red-heads are not peaceable neighbors with the
flickers and sometimes drive the latter away.

Northern Flicker iColaptes auratus lutcus).

The flicker is an abundant migrant, a common summer resi-
dent, and a rare winter resident in Sac county. I have known of
a single individual wintering in the years 1910, 1911, 1912. and
1914. For many years flickers nested between the walls of a
double-walled building stuffed with flax straw. I have had both
flickers and red-heads nest in bird boxes which had ground cork
in the bottom for a nesting material. Flickers can frequently be
found over a mile from any trees, apparently feeding upon ground
insects in pastures and stubble fields.

Red-shafted Flicker {Cokiptes cafer collaris).
One reported by Mrs. E. B. Hayden.

Whip-poor-will (Antrostoniiis vociferus vociferus).

I have found this species very rare at Wall Lake, having iden-
tified only one individual. May 14, 1910. Mr. C. Orville Lee re-
ported it as formerly common and nesting near Sac City.

Nighthawk (CJwrdcilcs virginanus virginianus) .

Specimen in the Smith collection. The nighthawk is a com-
mon migrant at Wall Lake, but I have never known it to nest in
this vicinity. Mr. Lee states that it is a common nesting species
in the vicinity of Sac City. I have found it common in early July
along the Raccoon river east of Lake View. My first seen dates
range from May 19 to May 30.

Seimett's Nighthawk (Chordeiles virginianus scnnetti).

My only record is that of a female which I found sitting on
a clod in a plowed field I was preparing for alfalfa seeding on Au-
gust 12, 1909. It was a very pale silvery color, so much so that
it was very conspicuous against the black dirt, in marked con-
trast to the ordinary nighthawk, which can hardly be seen in a
similar situation. Although I flushed it repeatedly, it always
perched upon the ground again. It allowed me to approach as
close as eight feet and the horses still closer.

Land Birds of Sac County_, Iowa 121

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica).

For many years, I saw no swifts in Wall Lake, noting the first
May 28, 1908. I have seen it every year since then, the dates of
the first arrivals varying from April 26 to May 19. Old residents
of the town report that the species formerly nested in the chim-
neys of houses. I have also seen it flying over the towns of Od^-
bolt, Lake View, and Sac City. In October, 1917, I found an aban-
doned chimney swift's nest in an empty silo at Belle Plaine, Iowa.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (ArcliilocJius cohibris).

This tiny bird is usually a rare migrant, but in occasional
years I have found it an abundant migrant, frequenting the apple
orchards when these are in bloom. First seen dates vary from
May 7 to May 30. It has been reported as nesting, but I have
never seen it in summer except during August, when I took U
to be a migrant.

Kingbird (Tyranniis tyranmi,s).

A common summer resident. The dates of first arrival vary
from April 30 to May 12. Nearly every grove has its pair of king-
birds and I have even fovmd a nest built on a brace in a fence cor-
ner, one-half mile from the nearest trees. They frequent wire
fences out in the fields a great deal, especially after the young
have flown. I have never seen the red crest on a living kingbird
except when displayed by a victorious male after defeating a rival.

Arkansas Kingbird {Tyranmis verticalis).

A rare, but in recent years, a fairly regular migrant. I first
identified it May 31, 1910, and since then have seen from one to
four individuals every year. My sister saw three on May 15, 1913,
and I saw one on August 20, 1913. Other first seen dates are: May
20, 1912, May 11, 1914, and June 9, 1915. In the summer of 1915
a pair stayed about our grove until late in June, but I do not
think they nested.

Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus).

A tolerably common summer resident along the Raccoon r'ver
and an occasional summer visitant at Wall Lake. I have noted it
at the latter place, June 25, 1911, and June 13, 1915.

Phcebe (Sayornis phce'be) .

A tolerably common migrant and a rare breeder in the vicinity
of Wall Lake. I found a nest under a bridge July 4, 1908. In the
years 1912 and 1913, the first arrivals in a specially favorable lo-
cality came on March 31.

Olive-sided Flycatcher (NuttoIJornis iorealis).

Mrs. George May reported seeing three in the spring of 1912.

122 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

Wood Pewee (Myiochanes virens).

A common spring migrant, and a tolerably common summer
resident and breeder.

Alder Flycatcher {Empidonax troilli alnorum) .

A tolerably common migrant. I first identified it May 23, 1915.
It was identified by my sister in the spring of 1917.

Least Flycatcher {Empidonax minimus).

Reported by Mrs. George May as abundant. I have found it
common in the spring migration.

Prairie Horned Lark (Ocfocoris alpcstris praticola).

This species occurs the year around, but is not as common in
midwinter as in spring and summer. While cultivating corn in
June I have frequently found their nests. They are placed at the
base of a corn stalk, and are made of coarse grass leaves lined
with finer grass leaves. They have contained either 2, 3, 4, or 5
eggs. I think four or five eggs is the complete set. On June 16,
1914, I found a horned lark's nest, filling it with dirt before I was
able to stop the plow. I cleaned it out, unavoidably removing some
of the lining in the process, and replaced the eggs. On. June 24,
when I again plowed the corn. I again filled the nest with dirt,
and this time accidentally cracked one of the eggs in removing
the dirt. It was alive and well advanced in incubation.

Magpie (Pica pica liudsonia).

In the early days of settlement this species was found in the
timber along the Raccoon river. Mr. Shelt Tiberghien said that
he had seen them previous to. and in the 1860's, Mr. Lee stated
that he had seen about twelve in the county, mostly in the early
days, but with the last one seen in 1904.

Bluejay (Cyanocitfa. cristata cristata).

The blue jay is only a tolerably, common breeder and a rare
winter resident at Wall Lake. It is usually common in April and
May, a local migration apparently taking place in these months.
I have seen as many as ten to fifteen in one fiock at this time and
all flying northward. The blue jay is common both winter and
summer in the timber along the Raccoon river.

Crow (Corvus hracliyrhynclios brochyrhynchos) .

Specimen in the Smith collection. The crow is a tolerably
common breeder, a pair frequently nesting in a farmer's large
grove or in an isolated clump of trees. During severe weather in
winter, the crew is often absent from the vicinity of Wall Lake
for long periods, but after the spring thaws they are much more
common. I once saw a flock of about 200 flying in great circles

Land Birds of Sac County^ Iowa 123

trending to the northward one spring day. Ordinarily ten to fif-
teen are as many as will be seen together at one time.

Clarke's Nutcracker (Nucifraga colum'biana).

It is an accidental visitant. There is only one record for the
county and fortunately this is authenticated by the specimen
which is in the Smith collection.

Bobolink {Dolichonyx oryzivoriis).

The bobolink is a common breeder on the borders of all
sloughs or in wet pastures where tall bluegrass is found. My first
seen dates vary from May 3, 1912, to May 18, 1910. Along in late
July and August the plumage of the male changes to resemble that
of the female, but is much brighter and more yellowish than is
the plumage of the female in spring. The bobolinks then leave
the pasturage or hayflelds where they nested and congregate iti
flocks among the reeds or tall grass bordering lakes or sloughs.
My last seen dates are from September 3 to October 10.

Cowbird (Molothrus ater ater).

Specimen in the Smith collection. The cowbird is a common
breeder. I have frequently found its eggs in the nests of yellow
warblers, and once each in a wood thrush's nest and a goldfinch's
nest. It has been my experience that the yellow warbler always
deserts its nest when a cowbird's egg is removed from it. After
the nesting season the cowbirds leave the vicinity of the groves,
and gathering in small flocks frequent pastures and similar places,
but not being found about cattle as much as their name would in-
dicate.

Yellow-headed Blackbird {Xanthoceplialus xanthocephalus).

This bird is an irregular migrant, being common some years
and rare in others. In the spring migration they sometimes fly in
pure flocks and at other times in mixed flocks with redwings and
grackles.

As a breeder, it is found in sloughs where very tall grasses such
as reed canary grass grow in standing water. It nests in the
" Goosepond " when this depression is full of water in summer. It
formerly nested at a small pond north of Carnavon. My first seen
dates in spring range from April 15 to May 3.

Red-winged Black-bird (Agclaius pJioenieiis) .

An abundant migrant, a common breeder, and an occasional
winter visitant. I have winter dates of January 21, 1908; January
4, 1913; January 27, 1914; February 19, 1915. It usually arrives
from March 4 to March 30. The birds continue in flocks for some
weeks, not beginning nesting until the season's growth in the
sloughs has attained considerable size. I have found its nests

124 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

built in curled dock plants of the current season's growth. The
nest is usually placed in plants over water, but is often built
among the grass on the tops of the "bogs" or hummocks in sloughs,
or even among heavy weed patches in moist places. In the fall the/
assemble in huge flocks and visit the grain and corn fields, often
damaging the tips of ears of corn when it is in the milk or roast-
ing ear stage.

Meadowlark (Sturnella magna magna).

Since I do not possess a musical ear and have never been
able to distinguish the eastern and western meadowlarks with
certainty, I include both forms under the common name. The
meadowlark is an abundant migrant and summer resident. It is
one of the earliest migrants, often braving the last snow storms
rather than go south again. First seen dates are from March 5
to March 25. It nests in pastures and hayfields and I think some-
times rears a second brood as I have found a nest under a bull
thistle in late July. I have several times found single eggs lying
upon the ground without any attempt at a nest. My father has
seen a meadowlark attack and drive away a Franklin's spermo-
phile, presumably from the vicinity of its nest.

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius).

A tolerably common migrant and breeder. First seen dates
vary from May 8 to May 30. I have an abandoned uncompleted
nest of this species made of bluegrass blades, which was started
in a Scotch pin^ tree by a pair of these orioles, the male of which
had the yellowish plumage and black throat patch of the second-
year bird. The species departs very early in the fall.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

This oriole is a very common migrant and summer resident.
It nests both in the farmer's groves and the shade trees of the
towns. My first seen dates range from April 30 to May 13. It also
departs very early in the fall.

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagiis varoUntis).

Specimen in the Smith collection. This species is a late fall
migrant, often in company with redwings and Brewer blackbirds.
I have two winter records of January 1, 1912, and January 12,
1913. In spring it usually migrates in flocks of its own kind only.
My first seen dates cover the period from March 20 to April 19.

Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanoceplialus) .

A fairly common migrant, often in mixed flocks in the fail.
At this season they follow the plow to pick up white grubs, angle-
worms and other insects, making identifications easy because they

Land Birds of Sac County^ Iowa 125

often come within a few feet of the plow. In spring, my first seen
dates are from March 15, 1914, to April 28 in 1910.

Bronzed Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula aeneus).

This species is a common migrant and breeder, and an occa-
sional rare winter resident. A small flock wintered in the years
1911 and 1913, roosting in some white pine trees just north of
the town of Wall Lake. In other years the first seen dates are
from March 11 to March 29. On my home farm this species quit
nesting in the soft maple trees of the grove when these reached
a height of from forty to fifty feet, and then nested in the trees
of the orchard from ten to twenty feet from the ground. During
August, they are often found in mixed flocks with redwings, feed-
ing from the grain shocks and corn fields.

Redpoll (AcantJiis linaria Unaria).

I have seen this species only one winter. I first identified it
December 3, 1910, when I saw a small flock. It was tolerably com-
mon all that winter.

Goldfinch (Astragalinus tristis tristis).

The goldfinch is a rare winter resident, a common migrant,
and a tolerably common breeder. I have seen it in mid-winter only
twice and the same number of times in winter plumage in early
spring. The first migrants in summer plumage were seen from
May 3 to May 20.

Pine Siskin (Spiniis phius).

I have seen this species only twice. On September 2, 1908, a
small flock of eight or ten were eating spruce tree seeds in our
front yard. On May 13, 1914, I saw one pine siskin in company
with a female goldfinch, and later in the day, about twenty siskins
in a flock by themselves among the trees in town.

Snowflake or Snow Bunting {Plectroplienax nivalis nivalis).

Specimen in the Smith collection. The snowflake is very rare
and irregular in its occurrence. On January 17, 1910, during a
very severe blizzard, a flock of about one hundred alighted for a
short time on a straw stack in our yard. On December 25, 1911, 1
saw one which acted as though it was lost. Dr. A. S. Hayden re-
ported seeing a flock one winter, also during very severe weather.

Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicics lapponicus) .

This species is a regular and common fall migrant, a rare to
tolerably common winter resident, and an abundant but very
erratic spring migrant. In the spring migration, it travels in
huge flocks, flock after flock passing northward and all going over
in one day. My first seen dates in spring are few, February 24,

126 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

1913, and February 18. 1914. On April 18, 1910, I saw a huge flock
of them in breeding plumage, the only ones I have ever seen in
that plumage. They were feeding in a hayfleld and gradually
working my way, I stood still and was soon surrounded by them.
They made a beautiful sight on the partly snow-covered ground.
I think they had passed north and been driven back by a severe
snow storm occurring the day before. March 23 is about the usual
last seen date, but I saw one lone bird on May 22, 1915.

Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornotus) .

Mrs. E. B. Hayden and Mrs. George May reported two seen iu
the fall of 1912.

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus gramincus).

A rare spring migrant. I first identified it April 22, 1911- T
have never found it breeding.

Savanna Sparrow (Passercuhis sandicichcnsis savanna).

A tolerably common migrant in the open fields. I have never
seen it near trees or bushes. My first seen dates vary from April
29 to May 9.

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodranms savannarum australis).

A common migrant and summer resident. It nests commonly
in meadows and pasture' lands, the nest being well concealed in
the grass.

Leconte Sparrow (PasserJierbulus lecoutci).

On May 22, 1915, I captured a sparrow with a broken wing in
the grass of a large pasture far from any trees. At first I could
not identify it, but by comparison with the sparrow pictures In
Bird Lore finally determined that it was a Leconte sparrow.

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grommacus grammacus).

A rare migrant and also a rare breeder. I first identified it
May 31, 1910. On July 4, 1911, along the Raccoon river, straight
east of Lake View, I found a pair with young just able to fly.

General Notes 127

General Notes

NOTES FROM LAKE COUNTY

Western Sandpiper. — Sunday, July 20, 1919, I flushed five
small "peeps" that were feeding along the beach of Lake Erie.
Peep-like, they flew a hundred yards, turned, came back and
alighted practically in the same place, which was not over a rod
from where I stood. As they lit in I put my glass on them and
said to myself, " Four Semipalmated Sandpipers and a Red-back."
But immediately the absurdity of its being a Red-back was evi-
dent, for they were not due for nearly three months, the bird was
too small, and though the bill was long and bent at the tip, it
was not near the length of a Red-back. To make my meaning clear,
and to let the reader understand why I momentarily thought it a
Red-back, will say the bill of this little peep bore the same ap-
proximate ratio to the size of the bird as does the bill of the Red-
back to the size of that bird.

I watched them a long time as they fed along the water's
edge, keeping so near that the semipalmation of the feet could be
readily seen as they lifted them. (I have often noticed the Semi-
palmated lifts its feet differently than does the Least Sandpiper, —
as though they were heavier, and when very near one could im-
agine they had mud between their toes.) I estimated, while
watching them, the length of the bills of the four Semipalmates to
be not over .75 of an inch, while that of the Western was fully
1.25 and distinctly bent at the tip. I knew the Western would
have a longer bill but was not prepared for quite such a difference
nor for such a decided bend. Upon reaching home I looked up
measurements and found the extremes to be .66 for the minimum
of the Semipalmated and 1.20 for the maximum female Western.
Therefore my field estimation was not far out of the way, and the
bird must have been a female with extreme length of bill. Half
an inch added to the bill of a bird as small as a Peep makes a
very evident change in its appearance. In the lately published
" Game Birds of California " there is a cut of the heads of Least
and Western Sandpipers which conforms very closely to my birds,
although I would say this particular specimen had a still more
evident bend at the tip.

Parasitic Jaeger. — This bird Is reported now and then along
the lakes, but I made a record of it September 20, 1914, that may
be worth while to publish on account of its early appearance.
While walking the beach I noticed a dead bird on the- sand that
at a casual glance I took to be a Crow's remains and would have

128 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109

passed it by had I not noticed thie webbed feet. Upon close ex-
amination I found it to be a Jaeger, from the hooked bill with
separate nail; and called it Parasitic mainly from size of bird,
and relative size of the bill compared to that of a Pomarine in my
possession. It was doubtless an immature for I could detect no
lengthening of the central tail feathers. The plumage was so greased
from the decayed flesh, — ^for nothing was left but bones and
feathers — that little could be said of original coloration. All
looked an oily brownish black. As the bird could not have reachea
its condition in much less than ten days' time, its death must have
occurred as early as September 10.

Henslows Sparrow. — At last a record for Lake County!
After waiting for many years with open ears, whenever in a likely
place to hear it, I was awarded on May 10 (1919), when, in a pour-
ing rain I was passing a field often frequented by Grasshopper
Sparrows, by hearing a most vehement " sc-licJc se-Uck,'' and sure
enough, there on top of some bent-over grass the little fellow sat.
I approached as close as I dared, shielding my glass with an um-
brella, and took notice of the streaked sides, the characteristic
black marks on the head, and particularly of the bill. This last
should serve as a good field mark in conjunction with the streaked
sides, for it is larger than that of the Grasshopper Sparrow, — -
seemingly out of proportion to the size of the bird. Had hopes it
would rejnain to breed, but hav-e neither seen nor heard it since.

Orange-crowned Warbler. — The spring migration, deficient in
the numbers of many species, and especially so in regard to the
Black- throated Blue (only four individuals having been seen), con-
tained, however, a generous sprinkling of this scarce and easily
overlooked nondescript Warbler. I had opportunity to study it
closely and took advantage of it. Although the first suspects were
high in the trees and the identity arrived at mainly by a chance
song, a few days later I found a few at two different locations
marooned in low growth by stress of chilly and cloudy weather.
A particularly pleasant hour was spent with one on May 17 among
a mixed company of Warblers in a thorn bush thicket. Chilly and
with a fine drizzle of rain, all the other species were diligently
and dejectedly feeding without a sound, but the little Orange-
crowned kept up a continuous movement, flitting its wings like
a Kinglet, and passing from one thorn bush to another, the busiest
bird in the lot; and I would have lost him, a number of times had
he not kept up a loud and oft repeated " chip, chip, chip," which
enabled me to locate him again at once.

Pine Warbler as a Summer Resident. — On July 16, and also
again on the 21st, 1919, I watched for some time a female of this
species. The bird was in an old gravel pit grown up to a thicket

General. Notes 129

of Yellow Locust some twenty feet high. The ground below being
almost barren of undergrowth it was not unlike the floor of a
pinery. One side of the pit is bounded by the wooded bank of a
stream, upon which were a few white pines and some hemlock.
She was hunting the branches and leaf fronds for food, and kept
very quiet, uttering only a soft low " seep, seep," when about to
fly from one tree to another.

E. A. DOOLITTLE.

Painesville, Ohio, Lake County.

WATERFOWL DIE FROM EATING SHOT

Wild ducks and other waterfowl sometimes die from lead
poisoning resulting from swallowing stray shot which they pick
out of the mud about shooting grounds. Many ducks that become
sick from lead poisoning finally recover, but it is probable that
the effect is permanently injurious not only to the individual but
to the species. It has been ascertained by experiment that lead
greatly impairs the virility of male domestic fowls. Females
mated with them lay many infertile eggs, while in many of the
eggs that are fertilized the embryo dies in the shell or the chick
emerges weak and unable to withstand the hardships of early life.
What effect lead poisoning has on female wild fowl has not been
definitely ascertained, but, as the fact is well known that lead pro-
duces abortion in female mammals, there is a possibility that it
exerts a bad effect on female waterfowl during the breeding sea-
son. Thus, the supply of waterfowl is likely to be decreased by
lead poisoning not only by the number of birds that die directly
from it but indirectly by impairment of reproduction.

These facts are set forth by the United States Department of
Agriculture in Bulletin 793, " Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl," about
to be published as a contribution from the Bureau of Biological
Survey. Reports of waterfowl apparently sick from lead poison-
ing have been coming in for several years. The Biological Survey
undertook an investigation at various shooting grounds to detei'-
mine how common the taking of shot by waterfowl is, and a series
of experiments to ascertain the effect of shot swallowed. It was
found that at places where much shooting is regularly done from
blinds, shot at the bottom of the shallow water are so numerous
that one or more was found in practically every sieveful of mud
or silt, and that they are swallowed by waterfowl whenever found
as a result of this habit of swallowing small, hard objects to sup-
ply grit for the gizzard.

The experiments have shown that shot swallowed are gradu-
ally ground away in the gizzard and pass into the intestines, pro-

130 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

ducing a poisoning that results in progressive paralysis and, usu-
ally, death. Experiments with wild waterfowl captured when
young and reared in captivity — to obviate the possibility of their
having taken lead before the beginning of the experiments — have
shown that six pellets of No. 6 shot constitute an amount of lead
that is always fatal. Two or three shot were sufficient to cause
death in several instances. In one experiment, two mallards were
given one No. 6 shot each. One of them died in nine days and the
other was able to throw off the poison.

The list of species known to have been poisoned by eating
shot consists of mallard, pintail, and canvas-back ducks, the whist-
ling swan, and the marbled godwit, but many other species, partic-
ularly of ducks and geese, are undoubtedly affected by it, accord-
ing to the bulletin.

Unfortunately, nothing can be done at this time to protect
waterfowl from lead poisoning except to call attention to the mal-
ady and to make known its cause and symptoms. The Depart-
ment, however, desires statistics on the numbers and species of
birds affected and asks that sportsmen and others report to the
Bureau of Biolgical Survey all cases that come to their attention.

THE ANNUAL MEETING

Bear in mind that our next annual meeting will be held in
St. Louis. Missouri, in conjunction with the meetings, of the Amer-
ican Association for the Advancement of Science. No program of
these meetings has been issued, so that the dates of our meetings
cannot be announced at this time. But it is probable that our meet-
ings will be held on December 30 and 31. Announcement of the
exact time and place of meeting will be made in ample time by
circular letter. It is hoped that you will not wait for an invita-
tion to prepare and read a paper at this meeting, but that you
will send your title as soon as possible to the secretary, A. F.
Ganier, 1023 Villa Street, Nashville, Tenn. Liberal cooperation
will ensure a most profitable and interesting meeting.

INDEX

Acantis linaria linaria, 14, 125.
Accipiter cooperi, 6.

velox, 6.
Agelaius phceniceus, 12, 20, 123.
arctolegus, 12.
fortis, 12, 21.
megapotamus, 20,

21, 22.
neutralis, 21.
phceniceus, 21.
predatorius, 12, 21.
richmondi, 21.
sonoriensis, 21.
Aix sponsa, 113.
Ajaja ajaja, 114.
Alle alle, 3.
Aluco pratincola, 8.
Ammodramus savannarum aus-
tralis, 15, 126.

bimaculatus, 15.
Anas fulvigula fulvigula, 113.
platyrhynchos, 112.
rubripes rubripes, 113.
Anhinga anhinga, 112.
Antrostomus vociferus vociferus,

9, 120.
Anthus rubescens, 48.

spraguei, 48.
Aquilla chrysaetos, 7.
Archilochus colubris, 10, 121.
Archibuteo lagopus sancti-jo-
hannis, 7.

ferrugineus, 7.
Ardea herodias wardi, 115.
Arenaria interprea morinella,

56.
Asio flammeus, 8.

wilsonianus, 8.
Astragalinus tristis pallidus, 14,
125.

tristis, 14.
Astur atricapillus atricapillus, 6.
Asyndesmus lewisi, 9.

Baeolophus bicolor, 49.
Baldpate, 26, 27, 105, 113.
Bittern, 69, 114.

Least, 115.
Blackbird, Brewer's, 13.

Northern Red-winged, 12.

Red-winged, 12, 20, 60, 68,
123.

Rio Grande, 20.

Rusty, 13, 124.

Thick-billed, 12.

Yellow-headed, 12, 68, 123.
Bluebird, 51, 61, 68, 96, 100.

Mountain, 52.
Bluebill, Lesser, 69.
Bob-white, 6, 62, 68, 96.
Bobolink, 12, 60, 108, 123.
Bombycilla cedrorum, 19.

garrula, 19.
Botaurus lentiginosus, 114.
Brant, Black, 3, 4.
Branta bernicla glaucogastra, 3.

canadensis canadensis, 114.
hutchinsi, 114.
Bubo virginianus pallescens, 8.

virginianus, 8.
Bufflehead, 115.
Bunting, Indigo, 17, 60, 95.

Lark, 18.

Lazuli, 18.

Painted, 18.

Snow, 41, 125.
Buteo borealis borealis, 7.
calurus, 7.
harlani, 7.
krideri, 7.

lineatus lineatus, 7.

platypterus platypterus, 7.

swainsoni, 7.
Butorides virescens virescens,
116.

Calamospiza melanocorys, 18.
Calcarius lapponicus alascen-
sis, 7.

lapponicus, 14,
125.
ornatus, 14, 125.
pictus, 14.
Canvas-back, 113, 130.
Cardinal, 17, 57, 60, 68, 91, 92.
Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis,

17, 57.
Carpodacus mexicanus fronta-
lis, 13.

purpureus purpureus. 13.
Catbird, 46, 62, 68, 95, 105.
Catharista urubu, 6.
Cathartes aura septentrion-
alis, 6.

134

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

Catotrophorus semipalmatus

semipalmatus, 56.
C'enturus carolinus, 9.
Cepphus mandtii, 3.
Certhia familiaris americana, 49.
Ceryle alcyon, 8, 119.
Chaetura pelagica, 10, 121.
Chat, Yellow-breasted, 47, 61,

68, 95.
Chaulelasmus streperus, 113.
Chen hyperboreus nivalis, 3, 114.
Chickadee, 62.

Long-tailed, 50, 68.
Chicken, Prairie, 93, 106.
Chondestes grammacus gram-
macus, 15, 126.

striatus, 15.
Chordeiles virginianus henryi,
10.

sennetti, 10, 120.
virginianus, 9,
120.
Circus hudsonius, 6.
Cistothorus stellaris, 49.
Coccyzus americanus americaT
nus, 8, 119.

erythrophthalmus, 8, 119.
Colaptes auratus luteus, 9, 120.
cafer collaris, 9, 120.
chrysoides brunneus, 89.
Colinus virginianus virginia-
nus, 4.
Colymbus auritus, 110.
Compsothlypis americana us-

naea, 46.
Conuropsis carolinensis, 118.
Coot, 63, 68, 117.
Corvus brachyrhynchos brachy-
rhynchos, 12, 122.
corax sinuatus. 12.
cryptoleucus, 12.
Coturnicops noveborencis, 117.
Cowbird, 12, 60, 68, 123.
Crane, Sandhill, 98, 108, 116.
Creciscus jamaicensis, 117.
Creeper, Brown, 49.
Crow, 12, 60, 68, 94, 106, 107,

122.
Crossbill, Mexican, 13.
Red, 13.

White-winged, 14.
Cryptoglaux acadica acadica. 8.
Curlew, Hudsonian, 56.

Long-billed, 98.
Cuckoo, Black-billed, 8.

California, 119.
Yellow-billed, 8, 95, 104,
119.
Cyanocitta cristata cristata, 11,
112.

Dafila acuta, 113.

Dendroica aestiva aestiva, 46.

auduboni auduboni, 46.

caerulescens caerulescens,
46.

cerulea, 46, 64.

coronata coronata, 46.

discolor, 47.

fusca, 47.

magnolia, 46.

palmarum palmarum, 47.

pennsylvanica, 46.

striata, 46.

vigors! vigorsi, 47.
Dickcissel, 18, 68, 106.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, 12, 123.
Dove, Mourning, 6, 62, 106.

Western Mourning, 6, 68.
Dovekie, 3, 4.
Dowitcher, 56.

Dryobates pubescens medianus,
9, 119.

scalaris eremicus, 89.

villosus villosus, 9, 119.
Duck, Black, 105, 113.

Florida, 113.

Lesser Scaup, 114.

Pintail, 105, 113.

Redhead, 113.

Ring-necked, 114.

Ruddy, 114.

Scaup, 114.

Wood, 105, 107, 113.
Dumetella carolinensis, 48.

Eagle, Bald, 7, 52, 53, 54, 60.

Golden, 7.
Egret. 115.

Snowy, 115.
Egretta thula thula, 115.
Elanoides forficatus, 6.
Empidonax minimus, 11, 122.

trailli alnorum, 11, 122.

virescens, 11.
Ereunetes pusillus, 56.
Erismatura jamaicensis, 114.
Euphagus carolinus, 13, 124.

cyanocephalus, 13, 124.

Index

135

Falco columbarius columba-
rius, 7.

richardsoni, 7.

mexicanus, 7.

peregrinus anatum, 7.

sparverius phalsena, 7.
sparverius, 7.
Falcon, Prairie, 7.
Finch, House, 13.

Purple, 13.
Flicker, Northern, 9, 61, 68, 93,
120.

Red-shafted, 9, 120.
Florida ca?rulea, 114, 115.
Flycatcher, Acadian, 11, 61.

Alder, 11, 122.

Crested, 10, 61, 65, 68, 104,
121.

Least, 11 61, 122.

Olive-sided, 11.

Scissor-tailed, 10.

Traill's, 11, 61, 68.
Fregata aquila, 112.
Fregetta grallaria, 111.
Fulica americana, 117.

Gadwall, 69, 105, 113.
Gallinula galeata, 117.
Gallinule, Florida, 117.

Purple, 117.
Gavia immer, 110.

stellata, 26.
Geococcyx californianus, 8.
Geothlypis trichas brachidac-
tyla, 47.

trichas, 47.
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray, 50.
Godwit. Marbled. 97. 98, 99, 130.
Goldfinch, 14, 60, 68, 96, 125.

Pale, 14.
Goose, Canada, 114'.

Hutchins'. 114.

Great Snow, 3, 4, 114.
Goshawk, 6.
Grackle, Bronzed, 13, 60, 68, 93,

125.
Grebe, Horned, 110.

Pied-billed, 107, 110.
Grosbeak, Black-headed, 17, 68.

Evening, 13.

Pine, 27.

"Western Blue, 17.

Western Evening, 13.

Rose-breasted, 17, 60, 68.
Grouse, Prairie Sharp-tailed, 97.

Ruffed, 107, 108.
Grus mexicana, 116.
Guara alba, 114.
Guiraca casrulea lazuli, 17.
Gull, Bonaparte's, 111.

Glaucous, 3, 4.

Herring, 63, 110.

Ivory, 3.

Kittiwake, 3, 4.

Laughing, 111.

Ring-billed, 110.

Haligeetus leucocephalus leuco-

cephalus, 7.
Harelda hyemalis, 3.
Hawk, Broad-winged, 7.
Cooper, 6, 60, 107.
Desert Sparrow, 7.
Duck, 7.
Ferruginous Rough-legged,

7, 68.
Harlan's, 7.
Kreider's, 7.

Marsh, 6, 60, 68, 107, 108.
Pigeon, j.

Red-shouldered, 7, 60.
Red-tailed, 7, 60, 107.
Richardson's Pigeon, 7.
Rough-legged, 7, 60.
Sharp-shinned, 7. 60.
Sparrow, 7, 60, 68.
Swainson's, 7, 68.
Western Red-tailed, 7.
Helmitheros vermivorus, 45.
Hen, Prairie, 6, 108.

Lesser Prairie, 6.
Heron, Black-crowned Night,
116.

Green, 63, 116.
Little Blue, 114, 115.
Louisiana, 115.
Ward's, 115.
Hesperiphona vespertina mon-
tana, 13.

vespertina, 13.
Hirundo erythrogastra, 18.
Histrionicus histrionicus pacifi-

cus, 26.
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated,

10, 63, 121.
Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis,

115.
Hydrochelidon nigra surinamen-

sis, 111.
Hylocichla aliciae aliciae, 51.

136

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

fuscescens salicicola, 50.
guttata aiiduboni. 51.

pallasi, 51.
niustelina, 50.
ustulata swainsoni, 51.

[bis, WTiite, 114.

Wood, 114.
fcteria virens virens, 47.
Icterus bullocld, 13.

galbula, 13, 124.

spurius, 13, 124.
Ictinia mississippiensis, 6.
Iliornis flavipes, 56.
lonornis martinicus, 117.
Iridoprocne bicolor, 19.
Ixobrychus exilis, 115.

Jaeger, Parasitic, 127, 128.
Jay, Blue, 11, 60, 68, 93, 122.
Junco aikeni. 16.

hyemalis connectens, 16.
hyemalis, 16.
montanus, 16.
Junco, Montana, 16.

Shufeldt's, 16.

Slate-colored, 16.

White-winged, 16.

Killdeer, 63. 68. 97.
Kingbird, 10, 56, 57, 58, 61, 68,
94, 105, 121.

Arkansas, 10, 68, 121.

Gray, 55, 56, 57.
Kinglet, Golden-crowned, 50.

Ruby-crowned, 50.
Kite, Mississippi, 6.

Swallow-tailed, 6.

Lagopus ruprestris reinhardi, 2.
Lanius borealis, 19.

ludovicianus anthonyi, 87,
89.

excubitorides, 19.
gambeli, 89.
grinnelli, 87, 89, 90.
mearnsi, 87, 89.
migrans, 19.
nelsoni, 90.
Lanivireo flavifrons, 19.

solitarius solitarius, 19.
Lark, Desert Horned, 68.
Hoyt Horned, 64.
Prairie Horned, 11, 122.
Larus argentatus, 110.

atricilla. 111.

delawarensis, 110.

hyperboreus, 3.

Philadelphia, 111.
Longspur, Alaska, 14.

Chestnut-collared, 14, 125.

Lapland, 14, 125.

McCown's, 14.

Smith's, 14.
Lophodytes cucuUatus, 112.
Loon, 110.

Loxia curvirostra minor, 13.
stricklandi, 13.

leucoptera, 14.

Microcorhamphus griseus gris-

eus, 56.
Magpie, 11, 117.

Black-billed, 122.
Mallard, 69, 105, 112, 130. •
Mareca americana, 25, 113.

penelope, 25, 27.
Marila affinis, 114.

americana, 113.

collaris, 114.

marila, 114.

valisineria, 113.
Martin, Purple, 18, 62, 71-83,

104, 108.
Meadowlark, 12, 60, 92.

Western, 13, 68, 124.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 9.
Melanerpes erythrocephalus, 9,
Melospiza georgiana, 17.

lincolni lincolni, 17.

melodia juddi, 16.
melodia, 16.
Merganser, 112.

Hooded, 69, 112.

Red-breasted, 112.
Mergus americanus. 112.

serrator, 112.
Mimus polyglottos leucopterus,
48.

polyglottos, 25, 48.
Mniotilta varia, 45.
Mockingbird, 48, 68.

Western, 48.
Molothrus ater ater, 123.
Murre, 3, 4.

Muscivora forficata, 10.
Myadestes townsendi, 50.
Mycteria americana, 114.
Myiarchus crinitus crinitus, 10,
65, 121.

Index

137

Myiochanes richardsoni rich-
ardsoni, 11.
virens, 10, 122.

Nannus hiemalis hiemalis, 49.
Nettion carolinense, 113.
Nighthawk, 9, 63, 96, 107, 120.

Sennett's, 10, 120.

Western, 10.
Nucifraga Columbiana, 123.
Numenius hudsonicus, 56.
Nutcracker, Clarke's, 117, 123.
Nuthatch, Red-breasted, 49.

White-breasted, 49, 62.
Nuttalornis borealis, 11.
Nyctanassa violacea, 116.
Nyctea nyctea, 8.
Nycticorax nycticorax naevius,
116.

Octhrodromus wilsonius, 56.
Old-squaw, 3, 4.
Oporornis formosus. 47.

Philadelphia, 47.
Oriole, Baltimore, 13, 60, 68,
124.

Bullock's, 13.

Orchard, 13, 60, 124.
Osprey, 8, 60.

Otocoris alpestris alpestris, 65.
hoyti, 64, 65.
praticola, 11, 122.
Ousel, Water, 85.
Oven-bird, 47, 68, 92.
OwL, Aiken's Screech, 8.

Barn, 8, 60.

Barred, 8.

Burrowing, 8, 68, 118.

Great Horned, 8.

Long-eared, 8, 99.

Saw-whet, 8.

Screech, 96.

Short-eared, 8.

Snowy, 8, 60.

Western Horned, 8.

Pagophyla alba, 3.

Pandion haliaetus leucocepha-

lus, 8.
Paroquet, Carolina, 117, 118.
Partridge, Hungarian, 107.
Passer domesticus, 18.
Passerculus sandwichensis

alaudinus, 15.

savanna, 14,
126.

Passerella iliaca iliaca, 17.
Passerherbulus henslowi hens-
lowi, 15.

lecontei, 15, 126.
maritimus peninsulse, 56.
nelsoni nelsoni, 15.
Passerina cyanea, 17.
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, 112.

occidentalis, 112.
Pelican, Brown, 112.

White, 112.
Pelidna alpina sakhalina, 56.
Penthestes atricapillus septen-

trionalis, 50.
Petrochelidon lunifrons Luni-

frons, 18.
Petrel, White-bellied, 111.
Pewee, Western Wood, 11.
Wood, 11, 61, 104, 122.
Phaethon americanus. 111.
Phalacrocorax auritus florida-

mus, 112.
Phalarope, Wilson's, 68.
PhlcEOtomus pileatus abieti-

cola, 119.
Phoebe, 10, 61, 68, 121.

Say's, 11.
Phoenoptilus nuttalli nitidus, 9.

nuttalli, 9.
Pica pica hudsonia, 11, 122.
Pintail, 69, 105, 130.
Pipilo erythrophthalmus ery-
throphthalmus, 17.
fuscus senicula, 89.
maculatus arcticus, 17.
Pipit, 48.

Sprague's, 48.
Piranga erythromelas, 18.
ludovicianus, 18.
rubra rubra, 18.
Pisobia minutilla minutilla, 56.
Planesticus migratorius migra-
torius, 51.

propinquus, 51.
Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis,

14, 41, 44.
Plover, Black-bellied, 56.
Semipalmated, 63.
Upland, 98, 107, 108.
Wilson's, 56.
Podilymbus podiceps podlceps,

111.
Polioptila ceerulea caerulea, 50.
Pooecetes gramineus confinis,
14.

138

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

gramineus, 14,
126.
Poorwill, 9.

Frosted, 9.
Porzana Carolina, 116.
Progne subis subis, 18, 66.
Protonotaria citrea, 45.

Querquedula cyanoptera, 64.

discors, 113.
Quiscalus quiscalus seneus, 13,
125.

Rail, Black, 117.

Florida Clapper, 55, 116.

King, 98, 116.

Sora, 69, 116.

Virginia, 116.

Yellow, 117.
Rallus crepitans scotti, 55, 116.

elegans, 116.

virginianus, 116.
Raven, 2, 12.

White-necked, 12.
Redhead, 113.
Redpoll, 125.
Redstart, 48, 68.
Regulus calendula calendula, 50.

satrapa satrapa, 50.
Riparia riparia riparia, 19.
Rissa tridactyla tridactyla, 3.
Rhynchophanes mccowni, 14.
Road-runner, 8.
Robin, 51, 61, 68, 92, 105, 108.

Western, 51.
Rynchops nigra, 56, 83, 111.

Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus,

48.
Sandpiper, Least, 56, 68, 127.

Pectoral, 63.

Red-backed, 56, 127.

Semipalmated, 56, 68.

Spotted, 63, 68.

Western, 127.
Sapsucker, Red-naped, 9.

Yellow-bellied, 9, 61, 119.
Sayornis phcebe, 10, 121.

sayus, 11.
Setophaga ruticilla, 48.
Shoveller, 69, 113.
Shrike, Loggerhead, 19.

Migrant, 68.

Northern, 19.

White-rumped, 19.

Sialia corrucoides, 52.

sialis sialis, 51.
Siskin, Pine, 14, 125.
Sitta canadensis, 49.

carolinensis carolinensis,

49.
Skimmer, Black, 56, 83-87, 111.
Snowflake, 14.
Solitaire, Townsend's, 50.
Somateria mollissima borealis,
3.

spectabilis, 3.
Sora, 68.

Sparrow, Chipping, 16, 60, 68,
106.

Clay-colored, 16, 68.

Dakota Song, 16.

English, 18, 60, 73, 95.

Field, 16, 60.

Fox, 17.

Grasshopper, 15, 128.

Harris', 15.

Henslow's, 15, 107, 128.

Intermediate, 15.

Leconte's, 15, 126.

Lark, 15, 68, 126.

Lincoln's, 17, 68.

Nelson's, 15.

Savanna, 14. 68, 126.

Scott's Seaside, 56.

Song, 16, 25, 60, 94, 105.

Swamp, 17.

Tree, 16.

Vesper, 14, 60, 126.

Western Field, 16, 68.

Western Grasshopper, 15.

Western Lark, 15.

Western Savanna, 15.
' Western Tree, 16.

Western Vesper, 16, 68.

White-crowned, 15.

White-throated, 16.
Spatula clypeatu. 113.
Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis. 9

varius, 9, 119.
Spinus pinus pinus, 14, 125.
Spiza americana, 18.
Spizella monticola monticola,
16.

ochracea, 16.

passerina passerina, 16.

pallida, 16.

pusilla pusilla, 16.
Spoonbill, Roseate, 114.
Squatarola squatarola, 56.

Index

139

Stelgidopteryx serripennis ser-

ripennis, 19.
Sterna antillarum, 111.

fuscata, 111.

forsteri, 111.

hirundo, 56, 111.

maxima, 111.
Sturnella magna magna, 12,
124.

neglecta, 13.
Swallow, Bank, 19, 62, 68, 106.

Barn, 18, "62. 68, 106.

Cliff, 18, 62, 63, 106.

Rough-winged, 19, 68.

Tree, 18.
Swan, Whistling, 130.
Swift, Chimney, 10, 62, 96, 121.

Tanager, Scarlet, 18, 60.

Summer, 18.

Western, 18.
Teal, Blue-winged, 69, 105, 113.

Cinnamon, 64.

Green-winged, 113.
Telmatodytes palustris illia-

cus, 49.
Tern, Black, 69, 99, 105, 111.

Common, 56, 63, 111, 112.

Forster's, 107, 108, 111.

Least, 111.

Royal, 111.

Sooty, 111.
Thrasher, Brown, 48, 62, 68,

94, 106.
Thrush, Audubon's Hermit, 51.

Gray-cheeked, 51.

Hermit, 51, 61.

Olive-backed, 28, 51, 61, 68.

Willow, 50.

Wilson's, 61.

Wood, 50, 61, 68, 105.
Thryomanes bewicki bairdi, 49.

cryptus, 49.
Thryothorus ludovlcianus ludo-

vicianus, 48.
Titmouse, Tufted, 49, 50, 62.
Towhee, 17, 60.

Arctic, 17, 68.
Toxostoma cinerea mearnsi, 89.

rufum rufum, 48.
Troglodytes aedon aedon, 104.
parkmani, 49,
104.
Tropic-bird, Yellow-billed, 111.
Turnstone, Ruddy, 56.

Tympanuchus americanus amer-
icanus, 6.

pallidicinctus, 6. -

Uria lomvia lomvia, 3.

Vermivora celata celata, 46.
oresta, 46.

peregrina, 46.

pinus, 46.

rubricapilla rubricapilla, 46.
Vireosylva gilva gilva, 19.

olivacea, 19.
Vireo atricapillus, 19.

belli belli, 20.

griseus griseus, 20.
Vireo, Bell's, 20, 68.

Black-capped, 19.

Blue-headed, 19.

Red-eyed, 19, 61, 68.

Warbling, 19, 61, 68.

White-eyed, 20.

Yellow-throated, 19, 61.
Vulture, Black, 6.

Turkey, 6, 60.

Warbler, Audubon's, 46.
Bay-breasted, 61.
Black-and-white, 45, 61.
Blackburnian, 47, 61.
Black-poll, 46, 61, 68.
Black-throated Blue, 46, 61.
Black-throated Green, 61.
Blue-winged, 46, 61.
Canada, 48, 61.
Cape May, 61.
Cerulean, 46.
Chestnut-sided, 46, 61.
Hooded, 47, 61.
Kentucky, 47.
Magnolia, 46, 61.
Mourning, 47.
Myrtle, 46, 61, 68.
Nashville, 46, 61.
Northern Parula, 46.
Orange-crowned, 46, 128.
Palm, 47, 61.
Parula, 61.
Pine, 47, 128.
Prairie, 47.
Prothonotary, 45.
Tennessee, 46, 61.
Wilson's, 47.

Western Orange-crowned,
46.

140

The Wilson Bulletin — No. 109

Worm-eating, 45.

Yellow, 46, 61, 68.
Water-Thrush, 61.

Grinnel's, 47.

Louisiana, 47.
Water-Turkey, 112.
Waxwing, Bohemian, 19.

Cedar, 19, 61.
Whippoorwill, 9, 120.
Widgeon, European, 26.
Willet, 56.

Western, 97.
Wilsonia canadensis, 48.

citrina, 47.

pusilla pusilla, 47.
Woodpecker, Downy, 9, 61, 68.

Hairy, 9, 61, 119.

Lewis', 9.

Northern Pileated, 119.

Pileated, 117.

Red-bellied, 9, 61.

Red-headPd, 9, 61, 68, 96.
104, 120.
Wren, Baird's, 49.

Carolina, 48.

House, 62, 104.

Long-billed Marsh, 62.
Marion's Marsh, 56.
Prairie Marsh, 49.
Rock, 48.

Short-billed Marsh, 49, 107.
Texas Bewick's, 49.
Western House, 49, 68.
Winter, 49.

Xanthocephalus xanthocepha-
lus, 123.

Yellow-legs, 56, 68.
Yellow-throat, Maryland, 47,
61, 68.

Northern, 47.

Zamelodia ludoviciana, 17.

melanocephala, 17.
Zenaidura macroura carolinen-

sis, 6.
Zonotrichia albicollia, 16.
leucophrys gambeli, 15.

leucophrys, 15.
querula, 15.

TMK NEW rOPfK^

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W" ^^^^:^^^

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VOL. XXXI

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VO' XXXI

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INBBX 133-140

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Bairds, S. F. — Distribution and Migration of North American
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Allen, J. A.— On the Mammals and Winter Birds of East
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