Ernst Mayr Library, MCZ f Cffiu l mmm HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OF THE MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY I3TI4 A_(X/W JUL 12 1926 The Wilson Bulletin Official Organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club An Illustrated Quarterly Magazine Devoted to the Study of Birds in the Field Edited by Lynds Jones Nineteen Hunderd and Twenty-four . wwt New Series, Volume XXXI Old Series, Volume XXXV I Published by the Club at Oberlin, Ohio The Wilson Ornithological Club and The Nebraska Ornithologists Union *--- — - - - — ■ — — — March, 1924 JUL 12 1S26 Vol. XXXVI. No. 1 X t I a i i I i i i a i i i ■ a i i i i i i i i i i x i Trim LUE ”nIN iV i k OFFICIAL ORGAN OF The Wilson Ornithological Club and The Nebraska Ornithologists Union £ -r i i i s I 6 a i s s a 6 I i 8 8 G 8 I riri^ -joifi at the Post Office at Entered as ^^^^Tder Act at’ March 3. 1879. CONTENTS Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas By A. C. Bent 1-19 Impressions of Fiji and New Zealand By Dayton Stoner 20-23 Nesting Birds or Lake County, Oregon By Dr. A. G. Prill 21-25 General Notes 26-33 Notes — Here and There By the Secretary 34-36 Bird Banding Department 37-53 Editorial 54 Proceedings 54-61 Correspondence 62-63 Publications Reviewed 64 THE WILSON BULLETIN Published quarterly, March, June, September and December, as the official organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Orni- thologists’ Union, and edited by Dr. Lynds Jones, assisted by a board of five members. All articles and communications intended for publication and all books and publications for notice, should be sent to Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio. The subscription price is $1.50 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single numbers, 50 cents. Free to all members not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions should be addressed to the Treasurer, and applications for membership to the Secretary. Officers for the Year 1924 President — Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tenn. Vice-President — William I. Lyon, Waukegan, 111. Secretary— Prof. Gordon Wilson, 1434 Chestnut St., Bowling Green, Ivy. Treasurer — Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio. EDITORIAL BOARD Lynds Jones, Editor-in-Chief Oberlin, Ohio Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tenn.; William I. Lyon, Waukegan, 111.; Gordon Wilson, Bowling Green, Ky.; Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio; H. L. Stoddard, Milwaukee, Wis.; W. M. Rosen, Ogden, Iowa Published Quarterly at Oberlin, Ohio JUL 12 1926 THE: WILSON BULLETIN A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY VOL. XXXVI MARCH, 1924 NO. 1 OLI) SERIES VOL. XXXVI. NEW SERIES VOL. XXXI. BIRDS OBSERVED IN SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS IN MAY, 1923 BY A. C. BENT At the suggestion of Mr. George Finlay Simmons, then Chief Deputy of the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission of Texas, as the guest of the Commission and with the help of Mr. Simmons and all of his Wardens and Deputies along the coast, I was given an unusual opportunity to make a thorough, hut brief, survey of the bird life of the coast region between Galveston and Brownsville, together with some of the more inland counties. Mr. Simmons met me at Galveston on May I and we spent three days exploring various islands in East Bay, after which he left me and I started down the coast on the Jim Duke, the commodious 50-foot power boat, belonging to the Commission and commanded by Captain Frank E. Bauer. Our course led us through numerous bays, intercoastal canals and other inland water ways as far as Corpus Christi, which we reached on May 18. We landed on numerous islands in the various bays, where we recorded large numbers of migrating land birds, as many as 37 species on one small island, and found many breeding col- onies of gulls, terns, skimmers, pelicans, herons and egrets. Most of the islands were small, low, flat sand and shell reefs, with a scanty growth of grass or low herbage; but some were densely covered with tall weeds, sun-flowers and low shrubbery; and some supported thickets of huisache, willows or prickly-pear cactus. The intercoastal canal between Galveston Vest Bay ami Matagorda Bay led us for a long distance through the coastal plain, a broad flat expanse of prairie or marsh land dotted with many small lakes or muddy ponds and with occasional molles or clumps of small live oaks. Herds of cattle were grazing on the prairies; the open marshy places \\eu lull of initial iniV, shore-birds, chiefly yellow-legs, long-billed curlews and black- bellied plover; willets and black-necked stilts were breeding on 2 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 the grassy islands; and in the live-oaks mottos 01 scatteied clumps of hashes were many breeding colonies of Waid lieions. From Corpus Christi, with Messrs. A. C. Thompson and R. E. Farley as guides, we made a three-day trip by automobile up into Refugio and Victoria Counties. On the extensi\e piaiiies of Refugio County we were shown the haunts of the At tv a ter prairie chicken and a large breeding colony of the white-faced flossy ibis in a tale lake. In the alluvial bottom lands ot \ ictoiia County we saw some of the finest hardwood forests I have e\er seen, made up of live oak, Texas white oak, burr oak, American elm, pecan, sycamore, white and green ashes, shag bark hickory, cotton-wood, hornbeam, hackberry, red cedar, etc. These forests were the homes of hawks, owls and woodpeckers, not seen else- where. In the swampy lowlands and bayous, along the banks of the Guadalupe River, we found an entirely different type of heavy forests, containing cypress, swamp tupelo, sweet and black gums, water oak, magnolia and various willows. Here we found such birds as water-turkevs, wood ibises, yellow-crowned night herons, prothonotary warblers and parula warblers. On our return to Corpus Christi, we started on May 22, in Mr. Simmons’s car, for Brownsville, arriving there the next day. In our hurried trip through Nueces and Kleberg Counties we caught only a fleeting glimpse of the great cattle ranch country of the coastal plains, where wild turkeys abound and where whooping cranes are regularly seen. And in Hidalgo and Cam- eron Counties we passed some fine citrus fruit plantations and much good agricultural country. At Brownsville, Captain R. I>. Camp acted as our host and showed us some of the surrounding country, which was quite different from anything we had seen. The charparral of the Rio Grande plains is a pigmy forest of mesquite mixed with various thorny bushes, evergreen Texas ebony, retama or horse bean, fragrant cat’s claw, round flowered devil’s claw, granjena, Mexican persimmon, madrona, gum elas- tic or shit fim wood, etc.; mixed in with it are numerous speci- mens of Spanish dagger, much pricklv-pear cactus of large size and that thorniest of all thorny bushes the Corona christi. The most characteristic birds of the chaparral were Couch Kingbird, Texas sparrow, gray-tailed cardinal, small white-eyed vireo curve-billed thrasher and verdin. There was much open prairie around Brownsville, consider- Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 3 able cultivated land, tree claims, ponds and swamps, all of which attracted different birds; but perhaps the most interesting of all were the dense forests along the resacas or stagnant water courses, the old beds of rivers; these often contained large trees, mesquite, liuisache, ebony, palms, etc., with a thick undergrowth of many shrubs and small trees such as granjena, persimmons, coffee bean, bush morning glory, etc. It was in the timber belts along these resacas that we could count on finding the char- acteristic birds of the lower Rio Grande vallev, such as the chachalaca, red-billed pigeon, derby flycatcher, green jay and Audubon oriole. White-winged and western mourning doves fairly swarmed in these thickets and here we saw several other species not seen elsewhere. The chachalaca is one of the shiest and hardest of birds to see, but thanks to the expert guidance of Mr. E. W. Farmer, we did get a few glimpses of it and heard some of its interesting morning and evening concerts. We left Brownsville by train on May 28, returned to Corpus Christi and visited Bird Island in Laguna Madre the next day, where we saw the wonderful colonies, to be found there, of gulls, terns, skimmers, pelicans, herons and egrets. Captain Camp had come to see this island and to visit the big rookery in Victoria County with Messrs. Thompson and Farley. On our previous visit to this region we had failed to find, though we had approximately located, what promised to be a big breeding colony of white ibises in the valley of the Guadalupe River. My last day in the field, May 30, proved to be a fitting climax of an eventful trip, for this large breeding colony of white ibises, roseate spoonbills, American egrets and other water birds fai exceeded our expectations and was one of the most interesting colonies I have ever seen. Following is an annotated list of the birds observed, which is the longest list I have ever made on any of the numerous in- teresting trips that I have taken. On such a hurried trip as this it was impossible to do much collecfing. 1 Iiam thtiefoie relied on Mr. Simmons to outline the distribution of the different sub-species, based on his previous knowledge of the subject. 1. Mexican Grebe— Colymbus dominions brachypterus. Fairly common locally near Brownsville, nesting in certain . < rainy luhh p-rowth of water huisache and ponds partially overgrown with opei g ith i c o'c nicn itt soiiiG small i GSctCcis ^ itti small scattered clumps of flags, also in similar growth. 4 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 Typical grebe’s nests, large for the size of the bird, 14 ' diam. and 5" thick, usually in plain sight in open situations, floating in water three to four feet deep, generally anchored to huisache, or flags, but sometimes drifting. Eggs usually covered. Birds very shy; saw only one and one downy young, able to dive and swim under water for about three or four feet. Took two sets of eggs on May 23. 2. Pied-billed Grebe — Podilym'bus podiceps. Fairly common around Brownsville, nesting in ponds and resacas with Mexican Grebe. One set of eggs taken on May 23. Saw two grebes on Matagorda Bay, near Port La Yaca, on May 12, that were probably this species. 3. Herring Gull — Larus argentatus. A few, mostly immature birds, were seen in the bays all along the coast. 4. Laughing Gull — Larus atricilla. Abundant all along the coast, nesting in enormous colonies on some of the islands in Espiritu Santo, San Antonio, and Red Fish Bays, on Big Bird Island in Laguna Madre and at Bahia Grande near Browns- ville. Between May 15 and 20 most of the nests contained incomplete sets; more full sets were found later, but no young. A number of immature birds, one year old were seen. 5. Franklin Gull — Larus franklini. Two seen on the bay near Port La Yaca on May 13. 6. Gull-billed Tern — Gelochelidon nilotica. Common along the coast, occasionally seen inland, feeding on the inland marshes. Found nesting, with fresh eggs, on sandy or shell beaches on islands in Cedar Lakes in Intercoastal Canal, in Mata- gorda Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay, San Antonio Bay and Red Fish Bay. Also breeds abundantly at Bahia Grande. Nests usually mere hollows in sand or shells, sometimes with a few straws. No young seen. Eggs found May 7, 8, 15 and 18, in sets of two or three. 7. Caspian Tern — Sterna caspia. Common all along the coast, nesting on islands in mixed colonies with Laughing Gulls and other terns. Nests usually hollows on open shell or sand beaches, rarely among low and scanty vegetation, usually unlined, but sometimes with a few straws. Eggs usually two, sometimes one. Eggs found May 15 on islands in San Antonio Bay and eggs and first young on May 29 on Bird Island, Laguna Madre. Breeds also at Bahia Grande. 8. Royal Tern — Sterna maxima. Common all along the coast from Galveston Bay to the Rio Grande Breeds in small numbers on islands in San Antonio Bay and abun- dantly, in enormous dense colonies, on Bird Island and at Bahia Grande. Nesting habits same as Caspian’s. Probably lays later- no young seen up to May 29. This and the Caspian look much alike but the Caspian has a heavier, redder bill and much more black in Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 5 the primaries as seen from below; the Royal has a more orange colored bill and very little black in the wings. 9. Cabot Tern— Sterna sandivichensis acuflavicla. Breeding abundantly on Bird Island and at Bahia Grande, in dense colonies with the Royal Terns; nesting habits similar. Eggs and a few young found on Bird Island on May 29. 10. Forster Tern — Sterna forsteri. A few seen along the coast and on inland marshes and a number of immature birds seen near Port La Vaca. No breeding colonies seen, but said to breed at Bahia Grande. 11. Common Tern — Sterna hirundo. Three small colonies found breeding, 31 nests in one colony, on islands in Cedar Lakes, typical well built nests with two or three eggs each, on May 7. 12. Least Tern — Sterna antillarum. A small colony, 30 pairs, found breeding, with eggs, at Cotton Bayou, Matagorda Bay, on May 8. Breeds also on Green Island and at Bahia Grande. 11. Black Tern — Cliliclonias nigra surinamensis. Very common all along the coast and in inland marshes from Gal- veston to Brownsville, often in flocks, all in full plumage, but said not to breed in Texas, locally called “sea pigeons.” Seen up to time of leaving, May 30. 15. Black Skimmer — Rynclioys nigra. Seen occasionally in the Galveston Bays. Numerous colonies, pre- paring to breed or breeding, were seen from the intercoastal canal southwestward. 15. 17. 18. 19. Water-Turkey — Anliinga anhinga. Seen only in the lowlands along the Guadalupe River in \ictoiia County, where we found it breeding in the big rookery of White Ibises and Roseate Spoonbills. Florida Cormorant — Phalacrocorax auritus floridanus. Cormorants were common all along the upper coast, often in laige flocks and sometimes associated with flocks of Roseate Spoonbills, a striking contrast. I assume that most of those seen on the coast were this species. No breeding colonies seen. Not seen south of San Antonio Bay. 'xican Cormorant — Phalacrocorax vigua mexicanus. rst seen on May 17 on Puerta Tank, near Aransas Pass. A few irs found breeding in a large colony of White Ibises and Roseate iconbills in Victoria County, near Bloomington. Nests in large ;es not examined for lack of time. Formerly bred around Browns- le and probably does still, but we did not locate them. a White Pelican— Pelecanus erytlirorhynchos. few seen scattered along the coast front Galveston to Corpus trlsti, but no breeding colonies were seen. A. C. Thompson and 6 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 R. E. Farley found them with nests and eggs on Bird Island earlier in the season, but they had ail gone when we visited it on May 29. 20. Brown Pelican — Pelecanus occidentalis. Common all along the coast, especially in Laguna Madre, where I saw a large flock fishing, circling and plunging like Gannets, a spectacular performance. A colony of some 20 oi o0 paiis had attempted to nest on Pelican Island, a low flat sand bar in Pass Cavallo, but high tides had washed away most of the nests; only 7 remained with eggs. Breeding in large numbers on Bird Island, nests among and near the prickly pear cacti, with Ward Heions and Reddish Egrets. Young were seen of all ages up to fully grown, also many eggs, on May 29. 21. Man-o’-war Bird — Fregata aquila. A few birds seen at various points along the coast. Not known to breed here. 22. Mallard — Anas boschas. Seen on the Intercoastal Canal on May 7. F. E. Bauer, an old duck hunter who knows the ducks well, saw a female with a brood of young near Aransas Pass on May 17. 23. Mottled Duck — Anas fulvigula maculosa. Fairly common from the intercoastal canal to Corpus Christi Bay. We found four nests with eggs on Dressing Point Island, in Mata- gorda Bay, on May 8, and one nest with eleven eggs in Chocolate Bay, near Port La Yaca, on May 12. The birds flushed from the nests in each case, which were all well hidden in long grass on dry land; the nests were made of dry grass mixed with a little down. Three of the nests contained several or many rotten eggs. 24. Gadwf.ll — Chaulclasmus strcperus. Seen on May 17 near Aransas Pass. 25. Bald date — Mareca americana. Seen on May 7 and 8 in the Canal. 26. Blue-winc.ed Teal — Qucrquedula discors. Seen on the Canal May 7, near Aransas Pass on May 17, and near Brownsville on the 24th. 27. Shoveller — Spatula clypcata. Seen on the Canal on the 7th and near Aransas Pass on the 17th. 28. Pintail — Dafila acuta tzitzihoa. Seen near Aransas Pass on the 17th. 29. Redhead — Nyroca ferina americana. A few cripples seen, the remnants of the large flocks seen here in winter, where it is the most abundant duck. 30. Canvasrack — Aristonetta valisincria. Seen on the Canal on the 7th and common around Port La Yaca and Karankawa Bay from the 9th to the 13th. Caught a crippled bird that could not fly. Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 7 31. Lesser Scaup Duck — Nyroca marila affinis. Blue bills, probably this species, were seen on the canal, in the bays and on inland lakes, from the 9th to the 17th. 32. American Goldeneye — Glaucionetta clangula, amcricana. A dead bird, being eaten by a Herring Gull, was seen on an island in Galveston Bay. A mounted bird, said to have been shot nearby, was seen in a store in Corpus Christi. 33. Fulvous Tree Duck — Dendrocygna bicolor. Captain Camp showed us a resaca where he had seen this species this season, but we did not see it. He says that this has nearly, and the B.ack-bellied has entirely, disappeared from the Brownsville region. 34. American Flamingo — Phoenicopterus ruber. Captain Camp says he saw one each on October 15, 1912, and in September, 1915, at Bahia Grande, after a very severe Gulf storm. 35. Roseate Spoonbill — Ajaia ajaia. Locally called “tillimingo.” We saw a large flock with a flock of cormorants on a sand spit in Karankawa Bay on the 9th. A large flock frequented, and could not be driven away from, the chain of islands between Mesquite and San Antonio Bays on the 15th and 16th; they are said to breed here in June, after most of the herons have left, building their nests on the ground among the sun- flowers. They are also said to nest under similar circumstances in East Bay, Galveston. We found a breeding colony of perhaps 100 pairs in a large breeding colony of White Ibises in Victoria County near Bloomington. The large well made nests of coarse sticks, lined with dry and green leaves, were built in groups in the low trees. On May 30 many nests contained small young, but most of them had three and some four eggs. 36. White Ibis — Guard alba. The colony referred to above was the only breeding colony found and all the birds seen were within a few miles of it; it was by tracing their fly lines, from their feeding grounds in surrounding marshes, that we finally located the rookery, after three or four days work. It was located in the center of some extensive marshes near the Guadalupe River; in the dryer portions were groves of large live oaks and in the wetter portions were dense thickets of willows, button willows and other trees, growing where the water was often waist deep or more and where large alligators lived, fortu- nately we saw only their tracks in the mud and an occasional head above the water. Breeding here with the spoonbills and ibses were quite a number of American Egrets and Little Blue Heions and a few Ward Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, Anhingas and Mexican Cormorants. We also saw perhaps twenty Wood Ibises flying over the rookery, but did not locate their nests. The W liite Ibises nests were thickly grouped from 5 to 12 feet up in the willows and button willows, often 12 or 15 nests in a tree. Young were seen, of all ages up to the flight stage, standing in dense 8 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 groups or scrambling through the brush. But some nests still contained three or four eggs. 37. Scarlet Ibis — Guara rubra. Captain Camp says he saw one of these birds also, on each of the dates when he saw the Flamingos, at Bahia Grande, probably blown in by the same storms. 38. White-faced Glossy Ibis— Plegadis guarauna. On May 19 we visited a large breeding colony, 2,000 pairs or more, of this species, previously located by A. C. Thompson and R. E. Farley, in a tule lake on the prairies of Refugio County. They had traced the birds to it from their feeding places in the surrounding country. The muddy water was breast deep and the tules were far above our heads. The nests were made of dead tules just above the water in the more open places. Most of them contained lively young almost up to the flight stage, but we found plenty with three or four eggs. 39. Wood Ibis — Mycteria americana. The birds seen in the White Ibis rookery, referred to above, proba- bly bred in some part of it, which we could not locate in the short time available. 40. American Bitter n — Bctaurus lengtiginosus. One seen on the Intercoastal Canal on May 7. 41. Least Bittern — Ixobrychus exilis. One seen on May 12 on a marsh in Chocolate Bay, near Port La Yaca. Common around Brownsville; several nests found there in the pond where the Mexican Grebes bred on May 23; some of these nests were made partly or wholly of fine twigs, others of flags, as usual. 42. Ward Heron — Ardea hcrodias icardi. Very common everywhere along the coast and on inland lakes, marshes and prairies. Numerous breeding colonies found, but no very large ones. South of Galveston Bay practically every heron colony contained at least a few nests of this species. On a small island in the Canal, on May 7, was a colony of 13 nests, containing everything from fresh eggs to nearly full grown young, built on the ground among grass and rank herbage. In other island colonies the nests were on the ground, in low bushes or trees or in the prickly pear cacti; the nests of this species generally occupied the commanding positions on the tops of the highest trees or bushes. In the White Ibis rookery near Bloomington the nests were 40 or 50 feet up in the big live oaks. Eggs, apparently fresh and young of all ages, up to the flight stage, were found as late as May 29 on Bird Island. 43. American Egret — Casmerodius egretta. First seen on the Canal on May 7. On the chain of islands be- tween Mesquite and San Antonio Bays we found a small breeding colony of 5 or 6 pairs, nesting in a clump of willows in the centre of a colony of the smaller herons. The nests contained young, Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 9 some just hatching, some half grown and some nearly ready to fly. A small colony seen in a button willow swamp on Weed Prairie, in Victoria County, had a few nests with eggs on May 12, but most of the birds had evidently finished breeding and gone. A colony of 25 pairs or more was breeding in the White Ibis rookery referred to above; on May 30 the nests contained young of various ages and were placed from 10 to 20 feet up in the willows. 44. Snowy Egret — Bgretta candidissima candidissima. The best colony was found on Vingt-une Island in East Galveston Bay on May 5. Besides about 400 of this species it contained some 800 Louisiana Herons and 150 Black-crowned Night Herons. The nests were in prickly pears and huisache trees from two to eight feet up and all we examined contained eggs, three, four or five. Nesting more or less abundantly in practically all of the colonies of small herons except on Bird Island and in the White Ibis rookery, where we saw none. First young seen on the chain of islands on May 16. 45. Reddish Egret — Dichromanassa rufescens. Breeding more or less abundantly from Karankawa Bay, at the lower end of Matagorda Bay, southward, in practically all of the coastal colonies, but not inland at all. Associated with Ward and Louisiana Herons most closely. The largest colony of all is on Green Island, near the lower end of Laguna Madre; it contains several thousands. But the colonies on the chain of islands, between Mesquite and San Antonio Bays, are large and densely populated; here we found our first young on May 16. On Bird Island, on May 29, we saw plenty of young, also some eggs. Their favorite nesting sites seem to be in the prickly pears, but they also nest on the ground, in the grass or low herbage, as well as on low bushes and small trees. We saw very few in the white phase, not over half a dozen in all, but Captain Camp says they are commoner on Green Island, where he has collected some interesting data on the subject. 46. Louisiana Heron — Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. The most abundant and most widely distributed of all the herons, breeding abundantly in all of the colonies along the coast from Galveston Bay to Brownsville. The largest colonies, containing several thousands were on Wolf Point in Karankawa Bay and on Rose’s Point in La Vaca Bay, where they were associated with Ward and Snowy and a few Black-crowned Night Herons, as well as countless Great-tailed Grackles. Nests were placed in iank herbage, on prickly pears and in canes, but usually on low tiees and bushes. Eggs ran from three to seven. The first young veie seen on the chain of islands on May 16. 47. Little Blue Heron — Florida carula. Less common than the other herons. First seen on Caney Creek, Brazoria County, on May 8. Found breeding only in Victoria County, on Weed Prairie on May 20 and in the White Ibis rookery on May 30, only a few pairs at each place. No nests examined. 10 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 48. Green Heron —Butorides virescens virescens. Common along the canal on May 7. Found breeding neai Biowns ville and seen at nearly all inland creeks and lakes. 49. Black-crowned Night Heron — Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Fairly common all along the coast and breeding sparingly in nearly all of the rookeries visited. At Vingt-une Island in East Bay, Gal- veston, they were nesting in tall canes, with eggs and young on May 5. On Dressing Point Island, in Matagorda Bay they nested on the ground among tufts of long grass. In other places they were nesting in situations similar to those used by the other herons. 50. Yellow-crowned Night Heron — Nyctanassa violacca. Apparently common along the Guadalupe River in Victoria County, but no breeding colony was located. 51. Louisiana Clapper Rail- — Rallus crepitans saturatus. Seen on coastal marshes from Galveston Bay to Aransas Pass. It is common enough in suitable places, long grass salt marshes, but we had very little time to devote to it and found no nests. 52. Sora Rail — Porzana Carolina. Saw one on a marsh near Galveston on May 6. 53. Purple Galunule— Ionornis martinicus. Saw one at Puerta Tank, near Aransas Pass. It flew into a patch of tules, where I hunted in vain for its nest. It is said to breed in the marshes about here, where the “lotus” grows. 54. Florida Gallinule — Gallinula chloropus cachinnans. We saw it only in the marshy ponds and resacas near Brownsville, where it is common. We found two nests with eggs, in small clumps of flags, on May 23. 55. American Coot — Fulica americana. Common on many of the ponds and lakes, particularly on Puerta Tank, May 17, and on Bellow Lake, May 20. 56. Wilson Phalarope — Steganopus tricolor. Saw a few and shot one at Puerta Tank, May 17, and saw five at Cox Point, near Port La Vaca, May 13. 57. Black-necked Stilt — Himantopus mcxicanus. First seen at the lower end of Galveston Bay; common along the Intercoastal Canal; found a breeding colony in a muddy slough on the prairie near Brownsville on May 24. Seen occasionally at other places. 58 — Long-billed Dowitcher — Limnodromus griseus scolopaceus. A few seen, probably this subspecies, on the Intercoastal Canal, May 7. 59. Pectoral Sandpiper — Pisobia maculata. A few seen in Galveston Bay, May 7, and at Puerta Tank, Aransas Pass, May 17. 60. White-rumped Sandpiper — Pisobia fuscicollis. A few seen at Puerta Tank on May 17. Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 11 61. Least Sandpiper- — Pisobia minutilla. Small numbers seen along the coast from Galveston Bay, May 4, to Brownsville, May 24. 62. Red-backed Sandpiper — Pelidna alpina sakhalina. Common on the Canal, May 17, and at Puerta Tank, May 17; also seen at Flour Bluff, May 29. 63. Semipalmated Sandpiper — Ereunetes pusillus. Seen, in small numbers only, from Galveston Bay, May 7, to Aransas Pass, May 17. Some of these may have been Western Sandpipers. 64. Sanderling — Crocethia alba. A few seen from Galveston Bay, May 6, to Aransas Pass, May 15. 65. Hudsonian Godwit — Limosa haemastica. Three seen, two shot, at Puerta Tank, on May 17. 66. Greater Yellowlegs — Totanus melanoleucus. Only one seen at Cotton Bayou, Matagorda Bay, on May 8. 67. Lesser Yellowlegs — Totanus davipes. Abundant all along the coast from Galveston Bay, May 4, to Aransas Bay, May 17, and at Puerta Tank. 68. Solitary Sandpiper — Wring a solitarius. One seen in Galveston Bay on May 4. 69. Eastern Willet — Catoptrophorus semipalmatus semipalmatus. Abundant all along the coast from Galveston Bay, May 5, to Browns- ville, May 24. Two nests found on Dressing Point Island, Mata- gorda Bay, on May 8. Only bird taken, at La Vaca Bay, is inter- mediate between semipalmata and inornatus , but nearer the former. 70. Spotted Sandpiper — Actitis macularia. Fairly common along the coast and on inland streams, from Gal- veston, May 4, to Brownsville, May 27. 71. Long-billed Curlew — Numenius americanus. Very common, conspicuous and noisy, along the coastal meadows and marshes from the lower end of Galveston Bay, May 7, to Browns- ville, May 24. Particularly abundant in flocks along the Canal on May 7. Last seen at Flour Bluff on May 29. 72. Black-bellied Plover — Squatarola squatarola cynosurae. Abundant in flocks of full plumaged birds all along the coast, from Galveston Bay, May 5, to Aransas Bay, May 18. 73. American Golden Plover — Pluviatis dominions dominions. Migrating flocks seen along the Intercoastal Canal on May i. 74. Killdeer — Oxyechus vociferus. Seen near Galveston and at Puerta Tank. A pair found breeding at Port La Vaca on May 11. 75. Semipalmated Plover — Charadrius semipalmata. A migrating flock seen in Galveston Bay on Ma> 5. Snowy Plover — Charadrius nivosa. One seen near Aransas Pass, May 18. 76. 12 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 77. Wilson Plover— PagoUa wilsonia toil sonia. One or two birds seen at Cotton Bayou, Matagorda Bay, at Karan- kawa Bay and at Aransas Pass. Common all along the coast from Galveston Bay, May 6, to Aransas Pass, May 18. At the latter place a pair, apparently mated, -\\eie very tame. 79. American Oystercatcher — Haematopus palliatus. Seen only in Galveston Bay, May 5, and at Cotton Bayou, Mata- gorda Bay, on May 8. Apparently not breeding. 80. Texas Bobwhite — Colinus virginianus texanus. Very common inland from Refugio and \ ictoria Counties to Cam- eron County. 81. Ckachalaca — Ortalis vetula mccalli. Common in the dense brush near resacas or streams around Browns- ville. Very shy, more often heard than seen. Very noisy in late evening and early morning. Two nests, each with three heavily incubated eggs, found on May 27. The small, frail nests of sticks, lined with dry and green leaves, were from 8 to 18 feet up in the thick top foliage of small trees; they were located by hearing, not seeing, the birds fly off. 82. Red-bellied Pigeon — Columba flavirostris. Fairly common in the same localities as frequented by the Chac- halaca. Found two nests, one with a fresh egg and one with a young bird, on May 27. The nests were frail platforms of twigs about ten feet up in the tops of saplings or in tangles of vines. 83. Western Mourning Dove — Zenaidura macroura marginella. Abundant everywhere on the mainland. Numerous nests found in usual situations, with eggs or young, all through May. Young able to fly seen as early as May 9 and fresh eggs found as late as May 27. One nest found on the ground and one was completely hidden among some thick clumps of tall grass on a treeless island. Birds seen near Galveston were probably the eastern form. 84. White-fronted Dove — Leptotila fulvivcntris brachyptera. Common in the thick brush about Brownsville. Nests with eggs and with small young found on May 27. The nests were frail struc- tures of twigs and straws, 9 or 10 feet up on the branches of trees in the thick brush. 85. White-winged Dove — Melopelia asiatica. Very abundant in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. Said to be the most abundant bird, next to the Great-tailed Grackle, about Browns- ville. Nests with eggs and with small young were found on May 25 and 27. One nest was on top of a dead palm leaf, 30 feet from the ground. Other nests were in usual situations in thick brush. The monotonous cooing or hooting notes were constantly heard in the brush, especially in the early morning and towards night. Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 13 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. Mexican Ground Dove — Chaemepelia passerina pallescens. Common from Victoria County to Cameron County. Nest and eggs found near Brownsville, on May 25, six feet up in a bush in thick brush. Inca Dove — Scarclafella inca. Common around Brownsville, nesting in trees near houses. No nests examined. Turkey Vulture — Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Fairly common on the mainland, but not so common as the Black Vulture. Seen at various places from Galveston to Brownsville. No nests found. Black Vulture — Coragyps urubu. Much commoner than the preceding and evenly distributed all along the coast, and inland, from Galveston to Brownsville. Nests with eggs and nests with young found on May 7 and 8. Harris Hawk — Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi. Apparently the commonest hawk and universally distributed through- out the coastal counties. A nest, with dead young under it, found in a large prickly pear in the chaparral near Brownsville on May 24, probably destroyed by some animal. Red-tailed Hawk — Buteo borealis subs.? One seen on Caney Creek, Brazoria County, on May 8, and one in Refugio County on May 19. J. J. Carroll (Auk, vol. 17, p. 342) says that kricleri is the dominant form in Refugio County. Florida Red-shouldered Hawk — Buteo lineatus alleni. Heard in the heavily wooded river bottoms of Victoria County. Bald Eagle — Halicectus leucocephalus leucocephalus. A nest seen, said to be this species, near the Guadalupe River in Victoria County. Birds not seen. Duck Hawk — Falco peregrinus anatum. A pair of adults in full plumage seen at close range on a small isand in Matagorda Bay, May 8. Audubon Car a car a — Polyborus cheriway . Fairly common inland from Refugio County to Cameron County. A nest seen in a Spanish dagger near Brownsville. Texas Barred Owl — -Strix varia helveola. Heard hooting in the heavily wooded river bottoms of Victoria County. exas Screech Owl — Otus asio mccalli. young bird taken from a nest was brought in to Captain Camp’s bop. western Horned Owl —Bubo vircjinianus pallescens. nest with one large young bird was found near Brownsville, on [ay 24, in a Spanish dagger. roove-mlled ton—Crotovlw* mtcirostris. single bird seen in some dense brush near Brownsvd.e on May 25. \ 14 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 100. Roadrunner — Geococcyx calif ornianus. Seen occasionally in the chaparral from Refugio County southward. 101. Yellow-billed Cuckoo — Coccygus americanus americanus. Common in all the coastal counties from Galveston to Brownsville. Nests with eggs found near Brownsville on May 25 and 27. 102. Black-billed Cuckoo — Coccygus erythrophthatmus. Seen on Caney Creek on May 8 and at Port La A aca on May 11. 103. Belted Kingfisher — Ceryle alcyon. One seen on Caney Creek on May 8 and one near Brownsville on May 25. 104. Texas Kingfisher — Chloroceryle americana septentrionalis. Two or three seen on the resacas near Brownsville, May 25 and 2t. 105. Texas Woodpecker — Dryobatcs scalaris symplectus. Fairly common in Cameron County; probably only overlooked elsewhere. 106. Red-bellied Woodpecker — Centurus carolinus. Noted only in Victoria County. A nest with three eggs found in a fence post near a house, on May 21. 107. Golden-fronted Woodpecker — Centurus aurifrons. Common, noisy and conspicuaus from Nueces County to Cameron County. Two nests with fresh eggs found near Brownsville on May 24. 108. Florida Nkihtuawk— Chordeilcs virginianus chapmani. Nighthawks wrere common all along the coast. This is the form which is found in the northeastern counties as far as West Gal- veston Bay. Two nests with eggs were found on an island in Galveston Bay on May 4. 109. Asere Nigiithawk- — Chordeilcs virginianus aserriensis. This is the form found from eastern Matagorda Bay southwest- ward. A nest with eggs was found on an island in Redfish Bay, below Aransas Pass, on May 18. 110. Texas Night hawk — Chordeilcs acutipennis texensis. Noted occasionally between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. No nests found. 111. Chimney Swift — Chaetura pclagica. Seen on Galveston Bay on May 4. 112. Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Archilochus colubris. Seen at Caney Creek on May 8. 113. Buff-bellied Hummingbird — Amazilia chalconota. Said to be very rare in Cameron County, but we saw two or three and I positively identified one, perched at close range, near Browns- ville on May 25. 114. Sc i s so r-t ailed Flycatcher — Muscivora forficata. A common and familiar bird, usually seen about the ranch houses and along the suburban roads, sitting on telegraph wires or flitting about the shade trees. Universally distributed but not abundant. Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 15 A pair was seen building a nest on the wings of a windmill, which was upset every time the mill was put in motion. 115. Kingbird — Tyrannus tyrannus. Seen on islands in Galveston Bay, May 4, 7, and 8, at Port La Vaca, May 11, and at Brownsville, May 23. 116. Coucii Kingbird — Tyrannus melancholicus couchi. Common in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. Young, out of the nest, seen at Brownsville on May 23. 117. Arkansas Kingbird — Tyrannus verticalis. Seen on an island in Galveston Bay, May 5, at Puerta Tank, May 17, and at Flour Bluff, May 29. 118. Derby Flycatcher — Pitangus sulphuratus derbianus. Fairly common in the dense thickets of tall trees along the resacas or where large trees grow about the ranches, in Cameron County. A large conspicuous bird with striking and characteristic notes. It builds a very large nest. One that I brought home measures 14 inches in height and 10 inches in diameter. 119. Crested Flycatcher — Myiarchus crinitus. Fairly common in the river bottoms of Victoria County. 120. Mexican Crested Flycatcher — Myiarchus magister nelsoni. Common in Cameron County. An empty nest found in a hole in a fence post near Brownsville. 121. Ash-throated Flycatcher — Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens. Fairly common and evidently breeding in the timber belts along the resacas near Brownsville. 122. Phcebe — Sayornis phoebe. A few migrants seen on the island in Galveston Bay on May 4 and 5. 123. Wood Pewee — Myiochanes virens. Seen near Galveston on May 4 and in Victoria County on May 20. 124. Traill Flycatcher — Empidonax trailli trailli. Birds, apparently this species, were seen on islands in Galveston Bay, May 4, and on Caney Creek, May 8. 125. Least Flycatcher — Empidonax minimus. Common on the islands in Galveston Bay on May 4. 126. Texas Horned Lark — Otocoy'is alpestris giraudi. Fairly common on the prairies from Refugio County to Cameron County. 127. Florida Blue Jay — Cyanocitta cristata cristata. Seen, but not very common, in the river bottom ioiests along the Guadalupe River. This is the form that formerly was called florincoTa. 128. Green Jay — Xantlioura luxuosa glaucescens. This beautiful bird was fairly common in the timber along the resacas near Brownsville. In spite of its brilliant colors, it was surprisingly inconspicuous among the lights and shades of the thick foliage, where it was usually rather inactive. No occupied 16 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 nests were found, as the young were on the wing and mostly fully grown at that season. 199 White-necked Raven — Corvus crypt oleucus. A few seen in western Kennedy and Cameron Counties, May 22 to 24. 130. Southern Crow — Corvus brachyrliynchos paulus. Two or three seen near Port La \ aca on Mav lo. 131. Cowbird — Molothrus ater atcr. Cow birds seen migrating near Galveston on May 5 were this form. 132. Dwarf Cowbird — Molothrus atcr obscurus. This was the breeding form all along the coast where it was only fairly common. 133. Red-eyed Cowbird — Tangavius aeneus involucratus. A few seen and one shot near Brownsville, where it breeds. 134. Florida Redwing — Agelaius plueniceus floridanus. Breeding abundantly in the coast region about Galveston. 135. Rio Grande Redwing — Agelaius phceniceus megapotamus. This is the form which breeds along the coast below Matagorda. It was breeding very abundantly about Brownsville, where we saw numerous nests with eggs on May 23. 136. Rio Grande Meadowlark — Sturnella magna hoopcsi. This form replaces the Southern Meadowlark from Refugio County to Brownsville. 137. Southern Meadowlark — Sturnella magna argutula. Fairly common from Galveston to Matagorda Bay. 138. Audubon Oriole — Icterus mclanoceplialus auduboni. Said to be common about Brownsville, but we saw very few and found no nests. 139. Sen nett Oriole — Icterus cucullatus sennetti. Very common around Brownsville, nesting in the palm trees in the woods and about the ranches and towns. The nests are neatly woven of palm fibres and sewed to the under sides of the broad fan-like leaves. Nests with fresh eggs and with young found on May 24. 140. Orchard Oriole — Icterus spurius. Common around Port La Vaca where I saw young males in full song. Not recorded elsewhere, but probably overlooked. 141. Baltimore Oriole — Icterus galbula. An adult male was seen near Galveston on May 4, evidently a migrant. 142. Bullock Oriole — Icterus bullocki. An adult male seen near Corpus Christi on May 22, and a nest with five fiesh eggs was taken on the outskirts of Brownsville on May 24 143. Bronzed Grackle— Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Common about Galveston. Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 17 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. Boat-tailed Grackle — Meyaquiscalus major major. Very abundant from Galveston to the head of Matagorda Bay. Great-tailed Grackle — Meyaquiscalus major macrourus. Astonishingly abundant from Matagorda Bay to the Rio Grande. This is unquestionably the most abundant species of bird all along the coast of Texas, as well as the noisiest and most conspicuous, a' most a nuisance at times. It nests in enormous numbers in practically all of the heron colonies, especially where there are trees or shrubs, which are often filled with the nests, a score or more of nests in a tree. The nests are often built in the lower parts of the nests of the Ward Herons, in prickly pear cactus, Spanish daggers or even in long grass. Their dense colonies seem over crowded. Both eggs and young were found all through May. Savanna Sparrow — Passerculus sandioichensis savanna. This is the winter resident form on the prairies, where it was still common during the first half of May. Western Grasshopper Sparrow — Ammodramus savannaruvi bima- culatus. Mr. Simmons said that the small sparrows, seen in the prairie regions of Refugio and Victoria Counties, were mostly of this species. Texas Seaside Sparrow — Passerherbulus maritimus sennetti. Common in the coastal marshes from Galveston to Corpus Christi. Western Lark Sparrow — Chondestes grammacus strigatus. Common in the prairie regions from Refugio County to Cameron County. Harris Sparrow — Zonotrichm querula. Noted as a migrant on an island in Galveston Bay, May 5. Black-throated Sparrow — Ampliispiza bilineata bilincata. A few seen on the dry plains of Cameron County. Texas Sparrow — Arremonops rufivirgatus. Common in the chaparral and in the thickets around Brownsville, where its characteristic song is often heard and where it moves about quietly on or close to the ground and is usually sociable and unsuspicious, often quite inquisitive. Gray-tailed Cardinal— Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudus. Fairly common in all suitable localities, generally in dense brush or chaparral, from Port La Vaca to Brownsville. A nest, with two incubated eggs, was found near Brownsville, on May 25. Rose-breasted Grosbeak -Hedymeles ludovicaina. A female, apparently this species, was seen on Caney May 8. WESTERN blue Grosbeak— Guiraca cwrulea lazula. A few seen around Brownsville. Creek, on Indigo Bunting — Passes ina Migrants were seen near Creek on May 8. cyanea. Galveston on May 4 and on Caney 18 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 157. Varied Bunting — Passerina versicolor versicolor. A few seen around Brownsville. 158. Painted Bunting — Passerina ciris. Seen in Refugio County on May 19. 159. Sharpe Seedeater — Sporophila morelleti sharpei. We saw a bird near Brownsville, which we took to be this species, on May 25. 160. Dickcissel — Spiza americana. Common on the prairies of Victoria County. 161. Lark Bunting — Calamospiza melanocorys. Specimens seen in Captain Camp’s collection, taken as migrants in changing plumage, near Brownsville. 162. English Sparrow — Passer domesticus. Common in all the towns and cities and about the ranches. 163. Summer Tanager — Piranga rubra rubra. Common in the river bottom forests of Victoria County. 164. Purple Martin — Progne subis subis. Summer resident about the towns. 165. Cliff Swallow — Petrochelidon lunifrons. Seen around Galveston Bay, May 4, and on Caney Creek, May 8. 166. Barn Swallow — Hirundo erythrogastra. Seen along the coast from Galveston, May 4, to Corpus Christi, May 29. 167. Tree Swallow — Iridoprocne bicolor. Seen only near Galveston on May 5, probably migrating. 168. Bank Swallow — Riparia riparia. Seen near Galveston, May 4, and on Caney Creek, May 8. 169. White-eyed Video — Yireo griseus griseus. Heard singing near Galveston, May 5, and observed in Victoria County, May 20. 170. Small White-eyed Vireo — Yireo griseus micrus. Specimens collected near Brownsville, where it is common. A new nest, about five feet up on a lower branch of an ebony tree, was found on May 24, and another with four heavily incubated eggs, in a thicket, on the next day. 171. Black and White Warbler — Mniotilta varia. Migrants seen on an island in Galveston Bay on May 4. 172. Prothonotary Warbler — Prothonotaria citrea. Heard singing in the cypress swamps on the Guadalupe River in Victoria County, on May 30. 173. Parula Warbler — Compsothlypis americana americana. Heard in the same localities as the preceding species. 174. Sen nett Warbler — Compsothlypis pitiayumi nigrilora. Fairly common around Brownsville, on the edges of the resacas where the trees are covered with xisnea moss. Specimens collected on May 27. Birds Observed in Southeastern Texas 19 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. 189. 190. Yellow Warbler. Migrants common on an island in Galveston Bay on May 4. Myrtle Warbler — Denclroica coronata coronata. A few seen on Caney Creek, on May 8, must have been late migrants. Magnolia Warbler — Denclroica magnolia. On a small island in Galveston Bay, on which only grass and low shrubbery was growing, we recorded 37 species of birds, mostly small land birds on migration, on May 4. A strong wind was blowing and the little birds were seeking shelter in the shrubbery or long grass, in little gullies and hollows, or behind sand dunes or drift logs. This pretty little warbler was one of the most numerous. Chestnut-sided Warbler — Denclroica pensylvanica. A few seen on the island referred to above, on May 4. Bay-breasted Warbler — Denclroica castanea. One seen with the above. Blackburnian Warbler — Denclroica fusca. One seen on the same island. Black-throated Green Warbler — Denclroica virens. Common on the same island. Ovenbird — Seiurus aurocapiTlus. One seen on the same island. Water Thrush — Seiurus novel)oracensis noveboracensis. A few seen on the same island. Mourning Warbler — Oporonis Philadelphia. A few seen on the island referred to above and one seen on an island in San Antonio Bay, on May 15. Maryland Yellowthroat — Geothlypis trichas trichas. Migrants seen on islands near Galveston, May 4, and one heaid near Brownsville on May 25. ellow-breasted Chat — Icteria virens virens. ligrants seen on the island in Galveston Bay on May 4. A nest nd three eggs found in a thicket near Brownsville on May 25; ne shot here proved to be the eastern bird. American Redstart — Setophaga ruticilla. 'ommon on the island in Galveston Bay on May 4. Mockingbird — Mimus polyglottos polyglottos. ',he birds seen near Galveston early in May were of the eastern orm, which is common as far southwest as Brazoria C ounty. Vestern Mockingbird — Mimus polyglottos leucoptcrus. rery common in all suitable localities in all the other coastal ounties. Nests with eggs were found at Port La Vaca on May 11 nd near Brownsville on May 24. j atbird — Dumetella carolinensis. ligrants seen on the island in Galveston Bay on May 4. 20 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 191. Sen-nett Thrasher — Toxostoma longirostre sennetti. Abundant in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. Several nests with eggs and young found near Brownsville from May 25 to 27. 192. Curve-billed Thrasher — Toxostoma curvirostre curvirostre. Common in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, but no occupied nests found. 193. Carolina Wren— Tliryothorus ludovicianus ludovicianus. The resident form of the more eastern and northern counties. Seen near Port La Vaca on May 13 and heard in Victoria County on May 20. 194. Lomita Wren — Tliryothorus ludovicianus lomitensis. The resident form of Hildago and Cameron Counties. Heard and seen near Brownsville on May 25 and 27. 195. Texas Wren — Thryomanes hcwicki cryptus. Common around Brownsville. A nest with young found there on May 24; it was behind a blind on a deserted house. 196. Black-crested Titmouse — Bacolophus atricristatus atricristatus. Common around Brownsville. 197. Verdin — Auriparus flaviceps flaviceps. Common around Brownsville in the dry chaparral. Two nests with eggs found on May 24. 198. Rio Grande Bluebird — Sialis sialis episcopus. A nest with broken egg shells, taken near Brownsville, was seen in R. D. Camp’s collection. ORNITHOLOGICAL IMPRESSIONS OF FIJI AND NEW ZEALAND BY DAYTON STONER THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA On the occasion of the visit of (lie scientific expedition from the Lniversity of Iowa to Fiji and New Zealand during the summer of L!)L,L,, it was my good fortune to be associated with the enterprise as ornithologist and entomologist. Very natur- ally, a trip involving about 18,000 miles of travel on both land and water afforded some opportunity for certain ornithological observations. While a limited amount of collecting was ac- complished on both Yiti Leva and Makaluva of the Fiji group and on North Island, New Zealand, the short stay in these places, four weeks in the former (dune 5 to July 8) and five weeks in the latter (July 7 to August 15), precluded any in- tensive study of the birds inhabiting them. Therefore, it is mv wish at this time, to point out only a few general impressions Impressions of Fiji and New Zealand 21 concerning the avifauna of these two regions which have come to me largely as a result of these observations and experiences. The Fiji Islands, of which there are more than two hundred with a total of about 7,500 square miles and a population of 165,000, lie between 15° and 22° south latitude and 177° west longitude and 175° east longitude. Some of the islands are merely small coral points a few square yards in area; Yiti Levu, the largest of the group, measures approximately ninety-six miles from east to west and sixty-three from north to south ; it is volcanic in origin. The average annual rainfall is about 130 inches and the average summer temperature about 83° Falir. Although the northwest side of the island is comparatively dry, the general amount of precipitation combined with a fairly high temperature, result in a humid but healthful climate. In the vicinity of Suva, on the southeast and “wet” side of the island where most of my field work was done, the vegetation is very luxuriant, and here, too, birds are most plentiful. Since the topography is so rough and the population, in general, so sparse a considerable proportion of the land is not under cultivation. Nevertheless, there are many banana and cocoanut plantations owned and managed largely by Europeans ; rice farming is done by the East Indians of which race there are more than 65,000 in the Fiji group; and of late, truck farming has been taken up with a considerable degree of success by a good many Chinese. Having been accustomed, for many generations, to depend upon Mother Nature for most of their subsistence, the native Fijians do not readily adopt farming as a means of liveli- hood. Contrary to the popular belief, cannibals are no longer in evidence on Yiti Levu although some of the oldest natives living there have tasted human flesh. Briefly stated, the avian fauna of Yiti Levu and the near-by islands partakes of the following characteristics: 1. •) O •J. 4. There is a total of about 75 forms on the islands and in the surrounding seas. Not any species of native bird is markedly abundant. A surprisingly small number of “water-birds is present. The small number of nocturnal and crepuscular birds is apparent. This lack is recognized by the Colonial Cov- ernment and while in Fiji l was invited to participate in a conference in which the possibility and ad\ isabilih 22 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 of importing certain nocturnal insectivorous forms from Australia was discussed. 5. Only three species of raptorial birds occur on the islands. 0. Woodpeckers are entirely wanting. 7. A goodly number of introduced species is present and all seem to thrive. Native predaceous mammals and snakes are lacking; preda- tory birds are few ; the mongoose, wild pig and rat have been introduced by man and cause some reduction in the bird popu- lation. Education, a favorable public sentiment toward protective measures, and more stringent laws have yet to be developed in Fiji. New Zealand, another British colony consisting of the three islands. North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island, lies between 34° and 48° south latitude and 1GG° and 17fi° east longitude. It has a total area of about 105,000 square miles which supports a population of one and a half million thrifty people. M v work was confined entirely to North Island which I was able to traverse for almost its entire length of approximately 550 miles. This island, sometimes spoken of as the “Japan of the South Pacific,” has an area of 44,468 square miles. Its topography is rough and volcanic and a considerable portion of the land can be used only for grazing purposes. An annual rainfall of 51 inches and a mean annual temperature of 55° in- sure a pleasant and healthful climate. There is much rough and rocky coast-line which offers favor- able nesting sites for many kinds of sea birds. The native forests, largely totari, remu and matai are always green ; fern trees and beeches abound in the “rain-forest.” In some parts of the island large areas of dense bush remain and these afford shelter and seclusion for a considerable number of land birds. A famous naturalist once said “New Zealand is the most in- teresting ornithological province in the world.” In some re- spects at least, the statement is true for this, one of the oldest if not the oldest country on the face of the globe, contains the only living representatives of an extinct race of peculiar and wonderful birds. Within comparatively recent times this British insular de- Impressions of Fiji and New Zealand 23 3. 4. 5. 6. pendency was inhabited by great numbers of large, short-winged or wingless birds almost or altogether twice as large as a full grown ostrich. These monsters of the avian class, known col- lectively as moas and belonging to several genera and species, have now disappeared but their more diminutive representatives, the various species of apteryx, still exist in some parts of the Dominion. Additional characteristics of the New Zealand avifauna may be condensed under the following headings: 1. A large proportion of the genera represented are pe- culiar to New Zealand. 2. The large number of marine birds is at once apparent. The small number of raptorial birds is just as obvious. Woodpeckers are absent; one misses them in the bush. The number of migratory species is very limited. The number of introduced forms is considerable and most are very successful ; among these is numbered the European house sparrow. 7. A total of about 220 forms is found on the island and adjacent seas. There are no native carnivorous animals, though weasels and stoats have been introduced. Snakes and the mongoose are ab- sent but wild pigs cause some loss among the bird population. Just now a wave of conservation is sweeping the Dominion and the scientists in the Government laboratories are accomplishing a good work in arousing a proper public sentiment toward bird protection. Stringent legislative and protective measures have been enacted and are rigidly enforced. Government and local game refuges, parks and reserves have been set aside. As a result, it is probable that at least a part of this most interesting bird fauna will be preserved to future generations. The writer will set forth a more detailed account of the ornithology of the regions visited in Professor C. C. Nutting’s forthcoming “Narrative” of the Expedition. 24 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 NESTING BIRDS OF LAKE COUNTY, OREGON BY DR. A. G. DRILL, SCIO, OREGON Additions, and corrections, of the on important breeding conditions. 1J)22 list, with field notes Another season spent in the Warner Lake regions, County, Oregon, has added materially to the number found there and also has verified the corrections to list, here given. of Lake of birds the 1922 ADDITIONS Horned Grebe — Colymbus auritus. Several pairs seen in the various lakes on June 1. American Egret — Herodias egretta. Four pair nesting on an island, ten miles north of Adel. On account of water and no boats could not be reached. Black-necked Stilt — Himantopus mexicanus. Two pair seen in the valley on June 1. Mated, and probably get- ting ready to nest. American Osprey — Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. Again noted in the valley, but not common, in fact, rare. Long-eared Owl — Asio wilsonianus. Quite common, and nests and eggs in willow bushes on May 15. Barred Owl — Btrix varia varia. One pair seen at the head of Crump Lake on June 1. Traill's F’ycatcher — Empidonax trailli trailli. One of the common flycatchers of the valley. Blue-fronted Jay — Cyanocitta cristata cristata. Quite common on Deep Creek and Warner Rim. Audubon’s Warbler — Dcndroica auduboni. Several pairs on Deep Creek and Twenty-mile Creek, arriving May 25. White-rumped Shrike — Lanins ludovicinnus excubitorides. Very common over the entire valley, arriving May 10. Sage Thrasher — Oreoscoptes montana. Several pairs seen on Hart Mountain at an elevation of 6200 feet. corrections Should be Treganzas Blue Heron ( Ardea herodias treganzi). Should be Pacific Horned Owl (B. v. pacificus) . Should be Batchelfler’s Woodpecker (D. p. liomorus) . Becomes Dusky Horned Lark (0. a. merrili) . Becomes Fischer’s Song Sparrow. Becomes Willow Thrush ( Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola). Since my visit to this region in 1922, some remarkable changes in the bird life of the valley had taken place, and a few of the more import- ant ones will be mentioned in these field notes. A very early spring, of warm weather, followed in May by much Nesting Birds of Lake County, Oregon 25 cold weather, high winds, rain, and snow, together with the water con- ditions in the valley, probably account for the changes in bird life. In 1922 the entire valley was well covered with water, from its most southern to its northern point, but during 1923, fully 50% of this area was dry and bare. Many small ponds and large areas of marshes were entirely devoid of water. Gadwalls were the most abundant duck found, while the mallard, which in 1922 was equally as abundant, was almost entirely absent. Cinnamon teal were very rare and only six pairs were noted. Shov- elers and pintails were much more common than in 1922. Sandhill cranes were present in increasing numbers and not less than 36 pairs. The American white pelican had increased from a few hundred birds to more than a thousand, which were counted in one flock on Crump Lake; western grebes and horned grebes had increased 200%; western mourning doves showed a marked decrease in numbers; Cas- pian terns were not common, and showed a decrease in numbers, as also did Forsters terns. Avocets, which were very common, were very rare in the valley, although much better nesting sites seemed available. Black-crowned night herons were present in large increasing num- bers and one colony contained 200 nests. Black terns were found by the thousands, which were not seen In 1922. Canada geese were nesting in increasing numbers and many had eggs on May 25. The ring-bill gull, Farallone cormorant, and Treganzas heron colonies seemed to hat'e increased at least 100%. The sage grouse, or hen, showed to me to be decreasing very rapidly and hard to find. THE TENNESSEE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY The recent affiliation of this organization with The Wilson Club makes a short historical sketch of its activities appear to be in order. On October 7, 1915, Messrs. A. F. Ganier and Dixon Merritt, of Nash- ville, called together a meeting of the half dozen local men known to be interested in bird study and as a result an organization was decided upon. At the subsequent bi-weekly meetings a constitution was written and adopted, notes compared and a survey made of the ornithological literature applicable to the central south. It was decided that the first work to be undertaken should be an authoritative list of the birds of the state and that field work should be begun by the members, toward that end. Two years later the list, in preliminary form, was published in the shape of a 32 page pamph’et as a bulletin of the State Depart- ment of Fish and Game. Since then field work has been carried on n the members and trips to various parts of the state have led to the accumulation of a great deal of data which will be available foi the formulation of a revised edition of the list and later for a comprehen- 26 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 sive work on the birds of the state. The use of 3x5 inch printed bird record cards, in recording field lists, has assisted materially in standardi- zing the work of members. These cards were described in the Decem- ber 1917 Wilson Bulletin. A number of local lists and papers, on Tennessee birds, have been published by members, chiefly in the above publication. Since The Society’s organization, it has met regularly every fourth week during the winter and every second week during the fall and spring. No meetings are held during the summer months. An annual meeting is held during October and a Spring Field Day each May. The Annual Meeting is held afield, at some attractive spot within motoring distance of Nashville, and the morning is spent in making a joint field list. A picnic dinner is followed by the meeting proper, which includes talks by members and the annual election of officers. At the meeting of October 28, 1923, the attendance was 34 and the birds listed numbered 51 species. Each spring The Society puts on at Nashville a public exhibition, chiefly of birds though other forms of natural history are included. Specimens of all common local birds, with their nests and eggs, are represented, as well as such uncommon ones as are distinguished by some interesting feature or mark of interest. Color charts and pictures, photos, books and periodicals are included. Through an extensive label- ing and poster system the exhibit is made to serve the twofold purpose of being educational as well as an aid to conservation. Public lectures on various phases of bird and nature study, illustrated with slides, sup- plement the exhibition. Some progress has also been made toward the creation of a state museum of natural history where such exhibits would be permanent. Difficulty has been experienced in sustaining the interest of mem- bers scattered about the state at points where there are no others having the same or kindred interests. Affiliation with The Wilson Club, under terms which will enable The Society to interpret The Wilson Bulletin as its official organ, is expected to remedy this difficulty to a con- siderable extent. A well developed interest in bird study and its conservation has for some time been maintained at Knoxville, Tenn., and during January, 1924, a Knoxville Chapter of The T. O. S. was organ- ized there with H. P. Ijams, President and Paul J. Adams, Secretary. The officers for the state association, for 1924, are as follows: Albert F. Ganier, (Nashville) President; Prof. J. A. Robins, (McKenzie) Vice-president for West Tennessee; Dr. Harry S. Vaughn, (Nashville) Vice-president for Middle Tennessee; H. P. Ijams, (Knoxville) Vice- president for East Tennessee; Harry A. Monk, (Nashville) Secretary- Treasurer; Edgar McNish, (Madison) Curator. Harry A. Monk, Sec’y. Nashville, Tenn., March 1, 1924. General Notes 27 GENERAL NOTES NOTES FROM LAKE COUNTY Purple Sandpiper In the 1917 volume of Wilson Bulletin, page 130, I reported an individual of this species as making a considerable stay on a stone breakwater at Lake Erie, i.e., October 22 to November 12, 1916. It has been my good fortune to have seen a single bird at the same place on two occasions since then. First on October 25, 1922, and second, on November 11, 1923; thus making three records of this rare species in eight years. As was the case with my first record the birds were exceed- ingly unafraid and gave me full opportunity to note the orange yellow legs, the yellow at base of bill, white area back of eye, dark slaty plum- age, and other items. Parasitic Jaeger — I reported a dead bird of this species in Wilson Bulletin for 1919, page 128, that came under my notice September 20, 1914. I again found a dead bird on the beach the past year, October 7, 1923, and am herewith sending its bill to the editor. E. A. Doolittle. Painesville, Ohio. THE BARN OWL AS A MIGRANT On July 28, 1923, I freed two young Barn Owls ( Strix pr at incola) , which had been raised by hand, and on December 27, 1923, one of them was reported to the U. S. Biological Survey as having been shot at Opp, in southern Alabama. This point lies 75 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and 350 miles south of Knoxville, Tenn., where the bird was raised and freed. Dr. Fisher in his “ Hawks and Owls of the U. S.,” states that “ it migrates more or less in the northern part of its range, and there is an appreciable increase in the number of individuals to the southward dur- ing the fall months.” The above record would indicate a southward migratory movement of southern as well as northern individuals. The nest from which the young Barn Owls were taken was a large cavity in a live sycamore tree, in the bottoms of and a few hundred yards from the Tennessee River. On May 27th it contained three young about one week old, one of which, the middle sized one, was taken, to be reared by hand. A week later the nest was examined again and the smaller one of the two remaining owls had disappeared. The larger was taken and it was found that the hand fed “middle sized one” had caught up with it in size. They thrived and developed rapidly and as pets were a source of much interest. On July 28th they appeared to have reached maturity, so were banded and released. Nothing was heard or seen of them afterward until the above mentioned report of one of them having been killed. During the past winter the hollow sycamore has been the headquarters of a Barred Owl. H. P. I JAMS. Knoxville, Tenn., Feb. 1924. 28 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 AN OBSERVATION ON THE DRUMMING OF A RUFFED GROUSE Long years ago, when I was a child in Virginia and went out for chinkapins in the fall, I heard occasionally the drumming of a part- ridge. All recollection of the sound had faded, so that, when early last spring, as I snuggled down into my sleeping-bag for another nap before beginning my tent housekeeping, I heard it again, I wondered what farmer was starting his gas engine so early in the morning and why the engine ran for only a few seconds. Why it never occurred to me that it might be a Ruffed Grouse I know not, for grouse had nested at the Wilderness the year before and had been flushed often during various visits. For shelter and comfort during both winter and summer, we have at the Wilderness a 12x16 wall tent. In warm weather both ends are open and curtained with bobbinet to keep out the flies. During the noon hour on September 19, 1923, the sound of the “gas engine” came from the woods, and looking through the open doorway a movement caught my eye, a Ruffed Grouse in the act of drumming. The log upon which he stood was about seventy feet from and in plain sight of the tent, offer- ing an unusual opportunity for observation. Eight power binoculars were used for details and an ordinary watch for timing intervals be- tween the drummings and the duration of the act. After the first complete act which I saw, the Grouse was not quite satisfied with his footing and moved over a little, placing his feet very carefully on the front curve of the log, seeming particular as to the way they fitted on the bark. He stood up straight, head up, neck and legs straight, tail dropped at a slight angle over the crest of the log. Just before drumming, he crouched slightly and bent forward as if about to take flight. As the beat began he seemed to sit hard upon the log, tail horizontal and flattened over the log but not widely spread, body erect, neck ruff somewhat open, head drawn down between the shoulders with bill out, wings hanging easily from the shoulders, but bent practically at right angles at the elbow joint and the primaries spread. Feathers on the breast and belly were raised to a horizontal position. The move- ment began slowly, one beat of the forewings toward the breast without striking the feathers of the breast, then a long pause, followed by five deliberate beats, a short pause, a sixth beat, slight pause, then increase in speed of beats from the seventh to the nineteenth, when they became too rapid for counting. At the finish of the drumming the feathers of the breast flattened, the Grouse stretched himself to the usual standing position, elevated his tail and lowered it. The feathers of the breast were at no time ruffled except close by the elbow, showing that there was no actual contact with the beating wings. The drummings timed lasted from ten to twelve seconds each, and the intervals between the drum- mings from two to seven minutes when the bird was undisturbed. After watching the bird for about an hour and a half I walked out of the tent and around to the other side without disturbing him other than to delay the next drumming. He flushed, however, when I went out on his side of the tent some fifteen minutes later. The entire observation lasted from ten minutes before one to thirty- General Notes 29 five minutes after two, with a total of twenty-seven drummings. “Mich- igan Bird Life” gives as possible causes for the sound the striking of the wings over the back, striking of wings against sides, and a hollow log. In this instance the wings did not touch above the back nor did they strike the sides of the breast. The log, which was twenty inches in diameter, had a hollow center possibly two to three inches in diameter. My conclusion is that the opening of the feathers permitted the formation of an air cusion which acted as a sounding board for the vibrations caused by the heating of the wings. L. R. Gleason. ACTIONS OF COOTS DURING FREEZE-UP Squaw Lake, Minnesota, where these observations were made, is in the north-central part of Minnesota, 32 miles by road, north of Deer River, and 120 miles north-west of Duluth. The lake is about 8 miles long, a series of bays completely covered with wild rice. This offers food for thousands of ducks and coot. On the morning of October 28, 1923, a very cold north-west wind began to freeze the lake. The ducks, mainly lesser scaup and canvass- backs left the country, but the coots remained. They stayed in the open patches of water, as long as there were any, and then flew to places on the ice where it was strong enough to hold them. By 10 A. M. there were at least 2,000 birds on the ice in one of the bays. They were scattered about over a half square mile area in little groups of anywhere from 3 to 10. They did not seem to want to fly. Individ- uals would run about for a few minutes and then join a group. It was noticeable that coots strayed from smaller to the larger gatherings. By 2 P. M. the general sprinkling of birds was no longer in evidence. In- stead, there were three large compact masses of Coots containing ap- proximately 600 individuals each. They had gathered, evidently, to keep warm, and to protect themselves from the wind. The groups were about 15 ft. wide and 40 to 50 ft. long, running in a north-west-south-west line. The wind was from the north-west, so that the formation of the birds offered them maximum wind protection. Two rafts of the coots stayed all night, and were on the lake most of the next day. Some 300 birds stayed out the second night, and were still in a compact flock on the ice the following morning. They spread out over the ice during the warm part of the day, but returned to their mass formation toward dusk. At the end of five days there were still about a dozen flying birds, and as many cripples in the flock. The rest had left. While the coots remained on the lake, they could have had little or no food, for the rice had been eaten off very thoroughly by the Indians, and upon examination of the ricebeds, when the ice was thick enough to hold a man, we could find no kernels about anywhere. Only one coot did I notice; that was frozen into the ice alive. For two days it tried to free itself by flapping its wings and struggling. It could not release its feet, nor break them off. The morning ot the sec- ond day, two herring gulls that had been circling over Squaw Lake, set- tled on the ice near the imprisoned bird. I watched the gulls caiefully. 30 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 They did not touch the coot while it was alive. Their actions plainly showed that they were waiting for dead meat, for they never went more than thirty yards from the coot. The morning of the third day I found two gulls dragging the entrails of the dead bird about. When the ice was thick enough to walk on I examined the remains and found nothing but the head, wings and feet, held together by a few shreds of skin. 553 Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. Clarence S. Jung. CROSSBILL IN KENTUCKY The Crossbill, recorded for this part of Kentucky only once before, by Professor Gordon Wilson, January 19, 1920 (Auk, April, 1922), was seen by me at close range on the road from Tompkinsville to Gamaliel, Kentucky, on February 2, 1924. J. L. Crawford, Gamaliel, Kentucky. ********** Extracts from a letter from John A. Gillespie, Glenolden, Pennsyl- vania, to the Secretary: “Most of my spare time is taken up with my bird banding, but at the same time I have tried to keep in touch with my friends in the field. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania we have experienced one of the mildest winters for some time. Only twice has the thermometer reached 10°. Only one snowfall of any consequence has occurred, and that was gone in a day or two. Boreal species have been either very scarce or entirely absent. I have seen no Shrikes, Crossbills, Siskins, etc. and my fellow workers of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club say the same thing. White-throated Sparrows were very abundant in November, but only a dozen or so are in evidence now. Purple Finches are common. I imagine they wander about a good deal, for at times they are plentiful, and a day later are absent. Golden- crowned Kinglets have been absent since November 22. Every one else reports them as being plentiful, but in Glenolden we seldom see them in the dead of winter, no doubt on account of the scarcity of their natural food. Here the woods are made up mostly of beech, oak, tupelo, tulip poplar, and hickory. I imagine the Golden-crowned Kinglet prefers coniferous tracts. “I rather expected more Fox Sparrows would winter than those present. On Christmas Day I saw but one. He wore a band and no doubt was one of “my birds”. “Nuthatches and Titmice have been common all winter; in fact, more so than usual. Woodpeckers of all kinds have been less common than usual. Brown Creepers are more plentiful than I have seen in five years. I have often heard of their tameness, but had it brought home to me rather forcibly the other day: I was leaning against a tree trunk watching one in a tree near by. Suddenly he flew to one of my young peach trees. This surprised me, for generally one sees a Creeper mounting the trunk of a mature tree, while in this case he was stationary. (Later I discovered he had been feeding on an old piece of suet, black with age, forgotten by me, but evidently not forgotten by him.) The next moment he was flying toward me and dropped to the foot of a telephone pole some twelve feet distant. Not finding much there to his liking, he flew to the foot of the tree against which I leaned, General Notes 31 landing on the opposite side of the trunk from me. He crawled around the trunk in plain view and stopped when only a foot from my head. For about five seconds he gazed at me (and I at him). He evidently did not like my looks, for he flew into the upper branches of the same tree, renewing his diligent search as unconcerned as before. “A Brown Thrasher has wintered with us. This is rather unusual — in fact, my first winter record. I was looking through Bird-Lore’s census to see if any Thrashers had been observed in our latitude and was surprised to find only one (Monticello, Illinois). I was amazed not to find any in the southern states until Georgia was reached, where two observers each saw one. In Alabama two observers saw four, and in Florida one observer saw one. Now the Brown Thrasher is one of our commonest birds. Where do they winter? Probably in the dense underbrush in unfrequented districts. Or do they leave the United States? My Thrasher friend now wears a band. He was captured in less than an hour after the trap was set, on December 1, 1923. By the way, Thrashers and also Fox Sparrows are fond of soda crackers. Cat- birds also relish them. I generally take a cracker with me in the morning on my way to the train and crumble it for Mr. Thrasher at a certain spot. He may be nowhere in sight at the time, but before I know it he comes hopping through the underbrush and feeds while I stand in full view, a dozen feet away. It is amusing to watch him ham- mer a large piece into smaller bits, as a Nuthatch or Titmouse pecks away at a tempting morsel placed in a crevice in a tree trunk.” February 6, 1924 STARLINGS ABUNDANT AT NASHVILLE, TENN. The western and southward spread of the Starling ( sturnus vul- garis) has been watched with interest and the following note, from the frontier of its invasion, should be of interest. In one of our large cemeteries, in Nashville, there are several acres of magnolia trees and coniferous evergreens to which each winter immense numbers of the blackbird family congregate at nightfall for roosting purposes. It had been several years since I had closely observed these roosting birds when, last December, it occurred to me that a trip would probably show some Starlings present. On the evening of December 8th I stationed myself in the grove and began to observe the incoming birds. It was almost immediately apparent that the looked for birds were present in considerable numbers among the great throng ot Grackles and Cow- birds. As I became accustomed to the physical structure and (light of the Starlings I was in a few minutes able to pick them out tiom the others at a glance even though at that hour colors were not perceptible. After a number of piecemeal counts, based on past expei ience, I estimated the population of the roost that night as 300,000 Grackles, 150,000 Robins, 100,000 Cowbirds and 60,000 Starlings. The Robins, for the most part, used evergreens on the outskirts of the main roost, many of them using low bushy conifers, 5 to 10 feet high. The flight ot the Starling, about the roosts, is strikingly like that of the Purple Martin, 32 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 while, at rest, its short tail, long bill and, if the light is sufficient, its silvery plumage, make it easy to single out. Wishing specimens foi my collection I secured a permit and, in company with Dr. Geo. R. Mayfield, returned a few evenings later. My first four shots brought down four Starlings after which I secured half a dozen Grackles to determine if any were the Purple variety. As expected, they all proved to be Bronzed Grackles ( Q . q. aeneus) . The birds remained in large numbers until the middle of January, when, fearing damage to the trees, the cemetery superintendent had them “shot out” for several evenings whereupon they left and have not returned. The Robins were not bombarded but took the hint and left also. Starlings were first recorded at Nashville on December 9, 1921, by Mr. Harry Monk who, observing another Grackle roost, identified the species and estimated 300 present. On December 17th he estimated 500 and on December 23rd 1000. The following day one of the birds was found dead under the roost and was presented to A. C. Webb who in turn gave it to me. A year later Mr. Monk observed Starlings at this roost all through January, the last seen was February 18th when two were noted. The only published record I have found for Tennessee appears in Bird Lore, Vol. 24, p. 94, in which Mr. Bruce P. Tyler records it on December 12th, 1921, near Bluff City, in the eastern part of the state. The Starling has been reported several times from Montgomery, Ala., and as far south as Baton Rouge, La. It is likely that a more than casual inspection of the various black- bird roosts throughout the south, will show them a regular and common winter resident throughout this area. Albert F. Ganier. Nashville, Tenn., March 1, 1924. MEADOWLARKS ( Sturnella magna) With Observations on Several Other Species On the morning of October 18, 1923, not having had an opportunity for several days, to make observations, I took a walk of several miles along the tracks of the C. R. I. & P. Ry. to see what progress had been made in the fall migration. The Railway Company had neglected to mow their right of way. This is an advantage to our winter birds as it affords them more food in the form of seeds and more cover in which to hide. There are also a number of insects that hibernate among these weeds and others which deposit their eggs here to await the coming of spring, when the warm sun hatches them out. All these furnish most welcome tid-hits for the birds. As I walked along I observed the Slate Colored Junco in consider- able numbers; also some Tree Sparrows. The latter had just come from the north and were not yet present in full force. I also observed a few Song Sparrows and a fairly good number of the sprightly and very busy little Black Capped Chick-a-dees. A number of Downy Woodpeckers General Notes 33 attracted my attention in partcular. They were rattling their bills vig- orously against the dry stems of some tall wild horse hemp and the wild artichoke. A careful examination of some of these stems showed that it was not simply the music they were getting out of this per- formance that the birds were after, but a small white grub concealed in the center of these stems. The birds were simply working for their daily bread and incidentally ridding the vicinity of some perhaps very injurious insects. After walking on about two miles, I came to a place where there was meadow land on both sides of the right of way, but there was a continuation of the tall weeds and grass upon the right of way. On one side outside the right of way and in the meadow stands a large boxelder tree. On approaching this tree, I could see at some distance a. considerable number of birds among its branches. As I came closer I could see that they were the Eastern Meadow Larks, and I could hear most exquisite music. They were singing in chorus, not the Meadow- lark’s usual “Spring Song’’, but a kind of phantom dream of the same. It was perfectly enchanting, much sweeter than the plaintive whistle which we all know as the Lark’s song. Occasionally one would whistle their regular song, then they would all revert to the low, sweet, dreamy autumn song again. There were perhaps twenty larks in the tree and a number more on the ground. I had stood perfectly still for some time entranced by their music when suddenly everything was hushed, not a sound was to be heard. The silence was painful and the larks began to drop from the tree into the grass and weeds below. I looked about me to see what could be the cause of this most abrupt conclusion of the concert, when I saw a Cooper’s Hawk silently winging its way past the tree, evidently having had a craving for lark for dinner that day, but seeing me so near the objects of its quest, he became alarmed and flew on without making an attack on the larks. I walked on several miles further and saw more of the species above mentioned; also a flock of perhaps 30 American Goldfinches. These were busily engaged getting their dinner in the form of seeds from the various weeds upon the right of way, but seemed to be giving paiticulai attention to the thistles. They are always cheerful little sprites and even with their olive drab winter dress, their black tail and w ing primaries and yellowish wing bars, they are objects of beauty and cei- tain to cheer up and delight the heart of most any obseivei. Theii little twitter, “Per-chick-o-ree’’ is always the same, so they can be identified readily as far away as their voice can be heard. Turning back I hoped that by the time 1 should reach the Boxelder tree in the meadow again my chorus of larks might be re-assembled so I could hear the next number of that exquisite concert, but not so. There was not a lark in sight. They had evidently been so thoroughly frightened by the hawk that they would not again appear on that day. And I walked home silently meditating on the wonders of the Universe and the intricacies of Nature. E- D* Nai man. Sigourney, Iowa. 34 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 NOTES=HERE AND THERE Conducted by the Secretary At the meeting at Cincinnati during the holidays President T. L. Hankinson exhibited some remarkable photographs of bird life made by one of our newest members, Mr. Walter E. Hastings of South L\on, Michigan. The pictures were particularly clear and showed to great effect characteristic poses of some of our common and even less common birds, together with backgrounds which suggested typical habitats. Mr. I. H. Johnston, State Ornithologist of West Virginia, presented each member present at the annual meeting a copy of his splendid handbook recently reviewed in this column, “Birds of West \ irginia. A bulletin entitled, “Mammals, Reptiles, and Birds of Kentucky’ is now in press. The author is Professor W. D. Funkhouser of the Department of Zoology of the University of Kentucky. Dr. Funkhouser has been collecting materials for this book for several years and has received the cordial assistance of all the leading observers of Kentucky. The Stratford Company of Boston has recently issued a handsome volume from the pen of one of our members, William Butts Mershon, of Saginaw, Michigan. It bears the attractive title of “Recollections of My Fifty Years Hunting and Fishing”. It is profusely illustrated and highly readable, being accounts of a number of his great hunting ex- peditions: with Emerson Hough, with the Wells-Stone party, with the Nichols and Shepard deer-hunting party, and others. It is regarded as one of the finest contributions of its kind to the literature of sportsman- ship and the outdoor life. Mr. Amos W. Butler, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is preparing a new edition of his well-known “The Birds of Indiana”. It will be issued by the Indiana State Conservation Commission. The Reverend Angus McDonald, for many years a member of our club, and one of the Vice-presidents of the active Tennessee Ornith- ological Society, died October 17, 1923. At the time of his death he lived at Knoxville, Tennessee. Houghton Mifflin Company published in November, 1923, Volume II of “A Natural History of the Ducks,” by John C. Phillips, Associate Curator of Birds at Harvard University. The first volume was published more than a year ago and has already become famous and authoritative. Mr. C. H. Morris of McConnelsville, Ohio, in a letter to the Secre- tary, reviews in a very interesting fashion the pioneering work in ornithology he did 35 years ago, recalling some delightful experiences with our Editor, Dr. Lynds Jones, and our good friend W. Leon Daw- son of Los Angeles. Mr. Morris is not a very active ornithologist now, he says. Mr. R. H. Dean of Anniston, Alabama, is especially interested in the Notes — Here and There 35 Pine Siskin and is at present conducting some experiments in connection with his banding operations. He hopes all bird men north of him will keep a sharp lookout for the Siskins. In Nature Study Review for January there is a very delightful article by Lucile W. Wilkerson entitled “James Maurice Thompson, Nature-Poet.” It emphasizes especially his bird poems and his classic little book of outdoor essays, “Byways and Bird-notes.” One of the Vice-presidents of The American Nature Study Society is one of our new members, Miss Theodosia Hadley of Kalamazoo, Mich- igan. Miss Hadley is also one of the associate editors for 1924 of the society’s publication, “The Nature Study Review.” Herbert Friedmann of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, con- tributes to the November-December Bird-Lore an illustrated article on “Evening Grosbeaks at Ithaca.” William G. Fargo, whose trip to James Bay last summer was men- tioned in this column, has an article in the same issue of Bird-Lore on “Birds Seen in Florida in February, 1923.” Dorrance and Company of Philadelphia have recently published, “ Birds: Their Photographs and Home Life,” by Dr. A. H. Cordier of Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Cordier has the unique distinction among ornithologists of having never shot a bird except with the camera and his new book is designed to show some of the delights of studying birds in this way. Dr. T. S. Palmer of the United States Biological Survey makes a splendid suggestion, that there ought to be at least one complete set of the AUK and the WILSON BULLETIN in each state. Just recently the Secretary received a letter from Dr. Casey A. Wood of Chicago, who said that the Emma Shearer Wood Library of McGill l niveisity, Mon- treal, Canada, has a complete set of the Bulletin since its first issue and that he intends to see that the set is not broken. The Secretary is now making his annual drive for members. Since we took in 66 last year, I see no reason why we should not hope for 100 this year. That is the goal set and all efforts will be bent in that direction. If every reader of this magazine, whether a member or just a subscriber, would send in the name of a prospect, the Secretary would gladly try to secure even more than the proposed goal. The problem of membership is for the whole society, though the Secretary has better opportunities to find out prospects than most of the other members. Do not forget! It’s 100 for the year 1924! Though some of the newly elected officers are well-known to the readers, it might not be out of place to tell briefly who they are. Our new President, Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tennessee, is head diaughts- man of the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway and l ie resi- dent of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, recently affiliated with the Wilson Club. For five years he served faithfully as Secretary, re- 36 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 signing a year ago in favor of the present incumbent. Our Vice-President, William I. Lyon, Waukegan, Illinois, is a real estate dealer, Secretary of the Inland Bird-Banding Association, and for 1923 was Treasurer of the Wilson Club. Our Treasurer, Ben. J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio, is a florist. He formerly lived at Bardstown, Kentucky, and has contributed some excellent articles to the ornithological magazines on birds in that section. Of the Councillors, W. M. Rosen, Ogden, Iowa, is president of the Ogden State Bank and also President of The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union, which adopted articles of affiliation with the Wilson Ornitho- logical Cub when its annual meeting was held at Ames, Iowa, on March 8, 1924. H. L. Stoddard is assistant curator in the Milwaukee Public Museum; T. L. Hankinson, Ypsilanti, Michigan, is the head of the Zoology department of the State Normal College at Ypsilanti and served in 1922 and 1923 as the President of the W. O. C., besides a long, active service in other capacities in the Club. Since the Editor and the Secretary are “hold-overs”, it will not be necessary to remind the readers that they are college professors in their respective institutions. As “old-timers” the two “hold-over” members extend their best wishes to the new offi- cers and bespeak for them a happy year with the Club and its interests. We regret to learn of the death of Mrs. H. P. Knapp of Painesville, Ohio, on September 26, 1923. Mrs. Knapp has for a number of years been a vigorous supporter and member of the Wilson Ornithological Club. Mr. C. F. Jenney of Boston, Massachusetts, another of our members, died on November 29, 1923. Mr. E. R. Davis of Leominster, Massachusetts, has been very active recently teaching the economic value of birds, appearing before bird clubs and schools. He writes the Secretary under date of February 16: “It is very cold weather now, but soon I shall be going about conducting bird walks and doing what I can to induce both children and adults to take a deeper interest in the protection of birds. As I sit writing this, there are more than a dozen different birds within a few feet of me, on the hard-frozen snow and ice by my window, eagerly partaking of the food I keep constantly on hand for them. “At present I am feeding daily five Chickadees, two Hairy Wood- peckers, two Downy Woodpeckers, two White-breasted Nuthatches, one Red-breasted Nuthatch, one Junco, one Golden-crowned Kinglet, three Blue Jays, five Evening Grosbeaks, and twenty-four Tree Sparrows. They have become very tame and confiding, and watch for me to place the food for them and then immediately appropriate it. Although I live in the heart of the city, I have the birds with me at all seasons.” The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union is making big preparations for its annual meeting, which is to be held at Ames, with the Iowa Conserva- tion Association, on March 8. A good program has been arranged, in- cluding papers by such well-known people as Dr. T. C. Stephens, Miss Althea Sherman, C. J. Spiker, and Professor J. E. Guthrie. Though a young state organization, the I. O. U. already has a large membership and promises to become a power in its state and neighboring ones. Bird Banding Department 37 BIRD BANDING DEPARTMENT Under the Direction of Wm. I. Lyon, Waukegan, III. GULL AND TERN BANDING CAMPAIGN The Inland Bird Banding Association is promoting a wholesale, co- operative banding scheme to work on the colony birds in their breeding districts. The main efforts will be directed towards the nesting colonies of the Great Lakes, but it is the desire of the Association to include any others that are reported. Efforts have been made to compile a list of such breeding sites as have been reported up to date, and we hope if any of our readers know of other sites, that they will notify us at once, so we will have a very complete list before we begin operations. Many volunteers will be needed to do the banding, and those willing to help should write at once to W. I. Lyon, Sec. Inland Bird Banding Association, Waukegan, Illinois, stating any preference that they may have for locations in which to work. We hope to allot the breeding sites so there can be no duplication of efforts or loss of time. We will need plenty of time to arrange, where necessary, for the proper permits to be issued to the volunteers. There are some groups of islands that have been worked in the past year and we expect these persons will take charge of the banding in the same districts during this year and guide the work of other volunteers. Look the printed list over very carefully and see if you can suggest any site that has been overlooked. The following is a list of breeding points that have been occupied by Gulls or Terns. Lake Michigan Beaver Island Group — Squall Island, Gull Island, Hat Island, Mire Island, Whiskey Island, Trout Island. Green Bay — Hat Island, Strawberry Island, Sister Islands, Gravel Island, Gull Island. Traverse Bay (near mouth of Crooked River) — Fisherman’s Island, Gravel Island, Garden Island. Black Terns nest in marshes and inland lakes in numerous places around the shores of Lake Michigan. Soo River Numerous small colonies along the Soo River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Lake of the Woods, Canada Lake Superior Gull Island, Huron Island, Caribou Islands, Grand Portland Island, Grand Island, Isle Royal, Two Islands, Gull Rock, Washington Island. Lake Huron Georgian Bay — Three Islands in Pike Bay, Cabot Shoals, Limestone Islands, Colonies along the DeTour Passage, Squaw Islands, East Twin Islands, Munosknong Islands. Islands in Thunder Bay, Islands in Saginaw Bay. Lake Erie Middle, Starve, Chicken group, North Harbor, Rattlesnake and others. 38 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 Note. — We are unable to give exact locations because much of the information has not been received up to date. If anyone knows of any site that was formerly used, we will appreciate it if they will send in definite information as soon as possible. BANDING GULLS IN LAKE MICHIGAN The migration of the various members of the group Longipaincs , or Gulls and Terns, presents one of the most interesting phases of a fascinating subject. Strength is given this assertion by recalling that the only banded birds that have thus far been known to cross the Atlantic Ocean have been members of this group. The two black-headed gulls, Larus ridilundus, banded at the German station of Rositten on the Baltic Sea, and recovered from the island of Barbados and the Bay of Campeche, near Vera Cruz, Mexico,1 and the common tern, Sterna hirundo . banded on the coast of Maine and four years later found float- ing in the delta of the Niger River, British West Africa,'1 afford data indicative of the great value of banding in elucidating the remarkable journeyings of these birds. The breeding colonies of American gulls and terns should accordingly be given intensive treatment by bird banding advocates. In July, 1922, Mr. W. S. McCrea of Chicago, Illinois, banded 80 herring gulls at colonies in the northern part of Lake Michigan. Three returns from these birds have already been received. Number 202237 was captured at Ennis, Texas, on November 30, 1922; number 202248 was caught in an injured condition at Brunswick, Georgia, on January 12, 1923, and number 202213 was found dead on January 18, 1923, one mile northwest of Wickliffe, Kentucky. All were banded as juveniles on July 16, 1922. These data become doubly interesting when it is remem- bered that herring gulls remain in winter as far north as the latitude where these birds were hatched, while at the same time, the species occurs over most of the northern hemisphere ranging south in Europe and America to the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The unique character of these returns, scattered as they are to points that are wide apart prompted the belief that by systematically working the colonies in that region, a much larger total of banded birds might be secured with a proportionate increase in the number of returns. Accordingly, through the generous cooperation of Mr. McCrea the writer had the privilege of visiting this group of islands known collectively as “the Beavers”, and of banding the young gulls and Caspian terns at the colonies in that vicinity. I arrived at St. James, Michigan, on Beaver Island (the largest of the group) on July 20, 1923, covering the thirty-three miles of lake be- tween St. James and the beautiful town of Charlevoix on the steamer “Bruce,” a 75-foot steamboat that makes daily runs to the island. The town of St. James, which was my headquarters for the next ten days, is now a combination of “fish town” and summer resort, although a few 1 Lucanus, Friedrich von. Die Ratzel des Vogelzuges, 1922, p. 31. - Lincoln, Frederick C., American Common Tern Recovered in West Africa, The Auk, vol. 38, 1921, pp. 453-454. Bird Banding Department 39 years ago, the scene of important lumbering operations. At distances of from two or three to twenty miles to the east, north and west are other islands varying in extent from an acre or less to a mile or more in diameter. These are the sites of the gull and tern colonies, some being particularly favored whilst others are singularly neglected. Mr. McCrea had made all preparations for a series of cruises; and we began activities on the morning of the 22nd when we left St. James harbor in the motor boat “Anna F”, piloted by Mr. Joseph Floyd, for Hat Island, 12 miles distant. The character of this island is similar to most of the others — a wide but steep beach of sand, gravel and lime- stone boulders, with a central crown of trees and underbrush. Shrubs, mostly a dogwood, Cornus asperifolia, dot the beach affording shelter for the young gulls. A colony of about 500 pairs was found at this point with the young well grown. In fact, there were few that were less than one-half fledged, the majority being almost as large as the adults, which at our approach circled overhead, screaming incessantly, while the bulk of the youngsters took fearlessly to the lake. Despite the ability of the adult birds to rest easily on the waves, their plumage resisting a drenching, the feathers of the young birds apparently do not possess this quality as they soon became water logged and many returned to the shore, thoroughly soaked. Such of these as were collected, together with those found hiding in the underbrush, were banded, giving a day’s total of 169. Our departure was somewhat hurried as it was evident that while we were present the adult birds would keep the young out in the lake as much as possible, and it was equally evident that it was highly desirable that they be allowed to return and dry out. The youngsters found hiding never made any attempt to escape when dis- covered, although biting savagely when handled, the sharp edges of their mandibles being capable of inflicting severe cuts. Nearby, on Little Hat Island, was a colony of Caspian Terns, that we decided to leave until another day. The next island visited was Ant Island or Mire Island, an islet not over an acre in extent with a correspondingly small colony of gulls. Not over 100 pairs had nested here, but they evidently started earlier, as most of the young were already on the wing, and only 20 were se- cured to band. After leaving this island a stop was made at a long low-lying bank of gravel and boulders, locally known as Stony Reef where we were surprised to find a colony of about 150 pairs of common terns, Sterna hivundo. The eggs wrere just hatching, but a few small chicks were found. As I did not have bands small enough foi such birds, it was arranged that Mr. McCrea should make a later tiip to this point for the purpose of marking the chicks.1 1 On August 7, 1923, Mr. McCrea again visited this reef and banded 100 young birds, assisted by his brother, Mr. S. Harkness Mctiea, ot Darien, Conn. , , , , In this connection mention should also be made ol the recent wTork of Walter E. Hastings, who visited a large colony ol common terns in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, and marked 500 young in a single day. Alt Hastings had planned to be with me at St. James, but was detened by personal affairs. 40 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 On the 25th an early start was made for Gull Island, 20 miles to the west where is located the largest colony of herring gulls in the neighborhood. Our party numbered seven, Mrs. McCrea and two other members of the family volunteering to assist, while Mr. Floyd secured the services of Mr. John Cross to help with the boat. Gull Island is heavily timbered at the southern end but the northern half contains a long valley or pocket, covered only with shrubs and ground vegetation and it was here that the birds had nested. We estimated the colony to total 1,000 pairs but other estimates ran con- siderably higher. Work at this point was practically continuous during the time that we were present. I established a headquarters, with racks of bands, pliers and camera, while the others began to round up and bring in the birds. At times this progressed so rapidly that I was un- able to keep up, and would be obliged to retain a few of my assistants as guards to prevent the collected youngsters from making sudden dash- es for liberty. The ground vegetation in the area occupied by this colony consisted very largely of poison ivy that attained an average height of 12 to 15 inches. This provided excellent cover that the youngsters seemed to appreciate fully, and it was necessary literally to comb the ground in order to locate the hiding birds. After being banded and released the birds would take to their heels with such an air of injured dignity that we were many times convulsed with laughter. The net result of the day’s activities was 259 birds banded, which is, I be- lieve, a record for a single operator with the adjustable lock bands, al- though 1 had most able assistance and was kept well supplied with birds. Little Hat Island was visited on the 26th and we had the pleasure of working in a colony of Caspian terns that numbered 1,000 to 1,200 individuals. As the islet was little more than a long, narrow bar, it was difficult to keep the young terns rounded up, and we had to resort to the small boat and a dip net. However, we were surprised to find that the young terns did not get wet as quickly as the young gu’ls, and they seemed to have no difficulty in swimming long distances. Two hundred were banded with number six bands. Leaving this colony we stopped at Hat Island to ascertain how thoroughly our work was done on the 22nd. Only 8 or 10 unbanded young were found, while we picked up half a dozen dead banded young- sters that had evidently been killed by a small colony of crows, residing on the island. This so incensed Mr. McCrea that he later employed a professional crow hunter to exterminate them on that island. Recent reports indicate that this has been done in a thorough manner. While at Hat Island on this date a southwester came up the lake and the trip back to the harbor at St. James was replete with thrills. The storm continued for two days, but the work was practically done so it caused us only slight inconvenience. On the 29th we left early, in order to visit other islands where gulls had been reported, but not known to breed. The waves were still running high and suitable anchorages difficult to find, but by skillful work of Mr. Floyd, we were enabled to make a reconaissance of Whiskey and Trout Islands. At the Bird Banding Department 41 former a small colony of gulls had evidently nested, but practically all of the young were on the wing and a careful search yielded only one bird for banding. Since writing the above account of the expedition, many returns have been received, from both the herring gulls and the Caspian terns. These indicate an entirely different dispersal from that shown by the returns in 1922. This material will form the subject of another paper now in course of preparation. The most noteworthy return is that of Caspian tern number 224117, banded on July 26, 1923, and killed on November 25, 1923 in the vicinity of Bocas de Ceniza, mouth of the Mag- dalena River, Republic of Columbia. Frederick C. Lincoln. Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. FIVE HUNDRED COMMON TERNS BANDED Lying about half way up Saginaw Bay and about six miles off the east Shore, is little Lone Tree Island. One of the largest and most remarkable colonies of Common Terns that inhabit any of the islands of the Great Lakes, nest here each season. This island has been used for a great many years by the Terns, and it is not an unusual thing to count as many as two thousand nests at the height of the breeding season. On August 4, 1923, with a party of friends, I visited this island for the purpose of banding some of the young Terns. We met with fine success and banded five hundred young birds in about three hours. Nothing but birds that were nearly ready to fly were banded, as we were afraid of injuring the smaller ones. We could easily have used twice as many bands had we had them with us. This species of birds is being accused of doing a great deal of damage to the commercial fishing and some of the fisherman do not hesitate to make this known. I honestly believe that this is mostly imaginary and that the damage does not amount to much. At one time I watched hundreds of these birds feeding, and found that they were taking fish of no food value whatsoever, and also taking a great quantity of insects; and at another time, I saw a great many Terns feeding on cadis flies, with which the water was covered. I am afraid that the commercial fisherman are too willing to lay the blame for the decrease in fish at the feet of some one or something else, and not willing to shoulder the blame for which they, themselves, are responsible. Bird Banding is certainly very interesting and instructive and 1 heartily recommend it. I am planning to do a great deal of it the coming season, and will try and cover the islands of Lake Huron and see that a great many of the Gulls and Terns are banded. Walter E. Hastings. South Lyon, Mich. 42 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 AN OPPORTUNITY TO BAND FRANKLIN GULLS Prof. Wm, Rowan, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Can- ada, reports: “ I have rented the ground on which I hope soon to do some Banding work. It will thus be available for extensive operations. It includes a colony of Franklin Gulls numbering twenty thousand breeding birds, a colony of Eared Grebes running to some five thousand individuals, with ten or fifteen other species breeding on the same ground. On it we recorded 31 species of waders in ten days on a mile of mudflat, constituting an American record as far as I can gather, and possibly even a world’s record. This was on the spring migration. We are not quite so well favoured in the fall. Methods of trapping and ringing waders have always appealed to me, as they strike me as being the richest field for returns of a useful sort.” REPORTS OF CO-OPERATORS FOR PERIOD OF 1923 R. H. Dean, Anniston, Alabama, reports total banded 2, as follows: One Carolina Wren, and 1 Bluebird. Mrs. Benjamin Bachrach, Decatur, Illinois, reports total banded 2, as follows: One Junco, and 1 Oven-bird. Mrs. Lotta A. Cleveland, Downer’s Grove, Illinois, reports total banded 14, as follows: One Screech Owl, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Red- headed Woodpecker, 4 Blue Jays, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, and 1 Robin. She also destroyed 15 English Sparrows. Dr. H. H. Hayes, Hubbard Woods, Illinois, reports total banded 53, as follows: Two Cowbirds, 24 White-throated Sparrows, 5 Juncos, 9 Song Sparrows, 6 Towhees, 1 Catbird, and 6 Robins. Robert L. Jackson, Ohio, Illinois, reports total banded 88, as follows: One Black-crowned Night Heron, 3 Screech Owls, 4 Mourning Doves, 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 3 Northern Flickers, 1 Blue Jay, 8 American Crows, 33 Bronzed Grackles, 1 Boat-tailed Grackle, 1 Vesper Sparrow, 1 Chimney Swift, 13 Purple Martins, 7 House Wrens, 5 Robins, and 5 Blue- birds. Wm. I. Lyon, Waukegan, Illinois, reports total banded 1602, as fol- lows: One Herring Gull, 5 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Killdeer, 4 Mourning- Doves, 2 Marsh Hawks, 1 Black-billed Cuckoo, 9 Downy Woodpeckers, 9 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 2 Flickers, 20 Blue Jays, 1 Crow, 40 Cow- birds, 7 Red-winged Blackbirds, 31 Bronzed Grackles, 57 Purple Finches, 1 Cross-bill, 1 Goldfinch, 15 White-crowned Sparrows, 346 White-throated Sparrows, 164 Tree Sparrows, 4 Field Sparrows, 245 Juncos, 84 Song Sparrows, 19 Lincoln Sparrows, 4 Swamp Sparrows, 44 Fox Sparrows, 13 Towhees, 1 Cardinal, 6 Indigo Buntings, 12 Barn Swallows, 200 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Northern Shrike, 3 Black and White Warblers, 1 Tennes- see Warbler, 13 Myrtle Warblers, 4 Pine Warblers, 11 Oven-birds, 3 Water-Thrushes, 1 Mourning Warbler, 1 Redstart, 25 Catbirds, 14 Brown Thrashers, 40 House Wrens, 92 Brown Creepers, 2 White-breasted Nut- hatches, 2 Tufted Titmice, 2 Chickadees, 4 Gray-clieeked Thrush, 3 Olive- Bird Banding Department 43 backed Thrush, 19 Hermit Thrush, 43 Robins, and 7 Bluebirds. He also destroyed 193 English Sparrows. Ruth H. Martin, Canton, Illinois, reports total banded 32. as fol- lows: One Mourning Dove, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 1 White-throated Spar- row, 4 Tree Sparrows, 10 Juncos, 3 Song Sparrows, 1 Fox Sparrow, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 3 Catbirds, 1 Brown Thrasher, and 5 House Wrens. George Roberts, Lake Forest, Illinois, reports total banded 128, as follows: Two Mourning Doves, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 17 Blue Jays, 3 Cowbirds, 9 Bronzed Crackles, 17 Purple Finches, 23 White-throated Sparrows, 13 Juncos, 1 Song Sparrow, 3 Car- dinals, 23 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 5 Catbirds, 2 House Wrens, 1 White- breasted Nuthatch, 1 Wood Thrush, 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush, and 3 Robins. Mary B. Schumacher, Chicago, Illinois, reports total banded 2, as fol- llows: One Fox Sparrow, and 1 Robin. Dr. J. P. Sprague, Evanston, Illinois, reports total banded 12, as fol- lows: Five Barn Swallows, 3 Red-eyed Vireos, 1 Pine Warbler, and 3 Robins. W. B. Taber, Kansas, Illinois, reports total banded 107, as follows: Five Quail, 52 Mourning Doves, 1 Sparrow Hawk, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 5 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 4 Blue Jays, 3 Baltimore Orioles, 2 White-throated Sparrows, 1 Junco, 1 Song Sparrow, 4 Brown Thrashers, 16 House Wrens, 1 Carolina Chickadee, and 6 Robins. Dr. F. C. Test, Chicago, Illinois, reports total banded 25, as follows: Three White-throated Sparrows, 4 Slate-colored Juncos, 1 Lincoln Spar- row, 3 Catbirds, 1 Brown Thrasher, 1 Wilson Thrush, 3 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, 2 Hermit Thrushes, and 7 Robins. D. H. Boyd, Hobart, Indiana, reports total banded 33, as follows: Five Kingfiishers, 8 Red-winged Blackbirds, 5 White-crowned Spai i ows, 5 Yellow Warblers, 1 Wood Thrush, and 9 Robins. Mrs. R. H. Gardner, Columbus, Indiana, reports total banded 2, as follows: One Bewick’s Wren, and 1 Song Sparrow. She also destioyed 68 English Sparrows. James C. Garner, Russiaville, Indiana, reports total banded 15, as follows: One Screech Owl, 9 Juncos, 1 Cardinal, 2 White-breasted Nut- hatches, and 2 Tufted Titmice. Margaret R. Knox, Indianapolis, Indiana, reports total banded 27, as follows: One Mourning Dove, 2 Flickers, 4 Phcebes, 1 Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Grackle, 6 Cardinals, 6 Barn Swallows, and 6 Brown Thrashers. Samuel E Perkins III, Indianapolis, Indiana, reports total banded 195, as follows: Three Green Heron, 4 Killdeer, 25 Mourning Doves 1 Barn Owl, 1 Red-headed Woodpecker, 15 Phoebe, 4 Red-winged Blackbirds 1 Orchard Oriole, 13 Grackles, 3 Grasshopper Sparrows, 3 White-thi oated Sparrows, 5 Chipping Sparrows, 4 Field Sparrows, 4 Juncos 3 bong par- rows, 4 Towhees, 3 Cardinals, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 11 Cliff Swal- 44 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 low, 7 Barn Swallows, 11 Rough-winged Swallows, 1 Oven-bird, 9 Cat- birds, 11 Brown Thrashers, 1 Water-Thrush, 1 Wood Thrush, 5 Olive- backed Thrushes, and 34 Robins. Mrs. Georgia B. Thomas, Indianapolis, Indiana, reports total banded 14, as follows: Two Blue Jays, 4 Grackles, 6 House Wrens, and 2 Robins. W. D. Baker, Nevinville, Iowa, reports total banded 14, as follows: One Mourning Dove, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2 Juncos, 1 Catbird, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Tufted Titmice, and 3 Black-capped Chickadees. Mrs. F. L. Battell, Ames, Iowa, reports total banded 32, as follows: One Florida Gallinule, 2 Screech Owls, 1 Meadowlark, 2 Grackles, 1 Har- ris Sparrow, 1 Junco, 5 Lincoln Sparrows, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 2 Loggerhead Shrikes, 4 Brown Thrashers, 10 House Wrens, and 2 Robins. Jos. N. Beck, Remsen, Iowa, reports total banded 92, as follows: One Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 Northern Flicker, 5 Blue Jays, 3 Grackles, 1 Harris Sparrow, 11 White-throated Sparrows, 23 Juncos, 4 Barn Swal- lows, 1 Yellow Warbler, 7 Catbirds, 11 Brown Thrashers, 5 House Wrens, 4 White-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Chickadees, 5 Olive-backed Thrushes, and 8 Robins. Burr W. Butler, Whitten, Iowa, reports total banded 15, as follows: One Downy Woodpecker, 1 Flicker, 11 Blue Jays, 1 Bronzed Grackle, and 1 Robin. Allen A. Green, Oakville, Iowa, reports a total of 77 Mallard Ducks banded. Kathleen M. Hempel, Elkader, Iowa, reports total banded 156, as fol- lows: Four Hairy Woodpeckers, 8 Downy Woodpeckers, 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 3 Flickers, 2 Nighthawks, 32 Blue Jays, 1 Red-winged Blackbird, 6 Baltimore Orioles, 19 Bronzed Grackles, 1 Cardinal, 1 Rose- breasted Grosbeak, 3 Purple Martins, 1 Maryland Yellow-throat, 10 Cat- birds, 4 Brown Thrashers, 12 House Wrens, 9 White-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 13 Chickadees, and 23 Robins. W. W. Hollister, Clear Lake, Iowa, reports total banded 33, as fol- lows: Two Mourning Doves, 1 Flicker, 8 Bronzed Grackles, 2 Rose- breasted Grosbeaks, 2 Catbirds, 7 House Wrens, and 11 Robins. Prof. H. E. Jaques, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, reports total banded 73, as follows: Five Mourning Doves, 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 2 Flickers, 3 Kingbirds, 1 Meadowlark, 1 Bronzed Grackle, 1 Rose-breasted Gros- beak, 7 Purple Martins, 3 Brown Thrashers, 26 House Wrens, 4 Blue- gray Gnatcatchers, and 18 Robins. Prof. Dayton Stoner, Iowa City, Iowa, reports total banded 283, as follows: One American Merganser, 4 Mourning Doves, 1 Belted King- fisher, 4 Hairy Woodpeckers, 4 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 11 Northern Flickers, 11 Kingbirds, 3 Arkansas Kingbirds, 4 Phoebe, 5 Blue Jays, 6 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Rusty Blackbird, 16 Bronzed Grackles, 76 Bank Swallows, 17 Yellow Warblers, 23 Catbirds, 33 Brown Thrashers, 43 House Wrens, 19 Robins, and 8 Bluebirds. Lem W. Laird, Harper, Kansas, reports total banded 24, as follows: Bird Banding Department 45 One Mourning Dove, 3 Rough-legged Hawks, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks, 1 Burrowing Owl, 2 Brewer Blackbirds, 1 Screech Owl, 6 Flickers, 2 Kingbirds, 1 Blue Jay, 1 Orchard Oriole, and 4 Pheasants. N. J. Williams, Arnolds Park, Iowa, reports having handed one Mourning Warbler. W. F. Vaniman, McPherson, Kansas, reports total banded 49. While at Palmer Lake, Colorado, he banded 29, as follows: One Spotted Sand- piper, 5 Say’s Phoebe, 2 Magpies, 1 Cowbird, 4 Chipping Sparrows, 2 Warbling Vireos, 1 MacGillivray’s Warbler, 1 Maryland Yellow-throat, 3 Dippers, 6 Robins, and 3 Mountain Bluebirds. While at McPherson, Kansas, he banded 20, as follows: One Mourning Dove, 1 Red-headed Woodpecker, 3 Flickers, 2 Blue Jays, 1 Orchard Oriole, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 3 Cardinals, 5 Catbirds, 2 Brown Thrashers, and 1 Robin. Dr. K. Christofferson, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, reports total banded 19, as follows: Three Common Terns, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Killdeer, 1 Saw-whet Owl, 3 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Junco, 1 Song Sparrow, 1 Myrtle Warbler, 1 Winter Wren, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, and 2 Robins. Mrs. Clark H. Gleason, Grand Rapids, Michigan, reports total banded 11, as follows: Ten White-throated Sparrows, and 1 White-breasted Nut- hatch. Frederick Herman, Laurium, Michigan, reports total banded 55, as follows: One Harris Sparrow, 3 White-throated Sparrows, 5 Chipping Sparrows, 5 Juncos, 37 Song Sparrows, 2 Swamp Sparrows, 1 Fox Spar- row, and 1 House Wren. Geo. W. Luther, DeTour, Michigan, reports total banded 21, as fol- lows: Six Herring Gulls and 15 Common Terns. M. J. Magee, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, reports total banded 1297, as follows: One Black Tern, 2 Black Duck, 59 Evening Grosbeaks, 1092 Purple Finches, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Savannah Sparrows, 9 White-crowned Sparrows, 38 White-throated Sparrows, 7 Chipping Sparrows, 11 Juncos, 27 Song Sparrows, 2 Lincoln’s Sparrows, 1 Fox Sparrow, 1 Scarlet Tana- ger, 1 Tennessee Warbler, 1 Yellow Warbler, 6 Myrtle Warblers, o Cat- birds, 4 House Wrens, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, and 27 Robins. He also destroyed 588 English Sparrows. Michigan Agricultural College, East Lansing, Michigan, lepoits total banded 42. Report by J. W. Stack, Assistant Professor of Zoology, as follows: Fifteen Quails, 1 Blue Jay, 1 White-throated Spaiiow, 1 Field Sparrow, 23 Juncos, and 1 Song Sparrow. J. Van Tyne, Cambridge, Massachusetts, formerly of Ann Arbor, Michigan, reports total banded 40, as follows: One Upland Plover, 1 Killdeer, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 4 Kingbirds, 4 Phoebes, 1 Blue Ja>, 1 Cowbird, 8 Red-winged Blackbirds, 5 Bronzed Grackles, 2 House V reus, 5 White-breasted Nuthatches, 6 Robins, and 1 Bluebird. Neil C. Gier.e, Northfield, Minnesota, reports total banded 35, as follows: One Baltimore Oriole, 5 Blue Jays, 14 Grackles, 1 Catbird, and 14 Robins. 46 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 May Rice, Canton, Minnesota, reports total banded 12, as follows: One Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 Oowbird, 2 White-throated Spanows, o Catbirds, and 5 Robins. Prof. Thomas S. Roberts, Zoological Museum, University of Minne- sota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, reports having banded one Chimney Swift. Lawrence Zeleny, Minneapolis, Minnesota, reports total banded 8, as follows: Two Baltimore Orioles, 1 Junco, 1 Song Sparrow, 2 Catbirds, and 2 Brown Thrashers. Frank L. Bischof, Rockport, Missouri, reports total banded 21, as follows: Three Flickers, 6 Blue Jays, 6 Catbirds, 1 Tufted Titmouse, and 5 Chickadees. Johnson A. Neff, Marionville, Missouri, reports total banded 360, as follows: One Sora Rail, 4 Bob-whites, 5 Screech Owls, 51 Mourning Doves, 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoos, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 10 Crested Flycatchers, 6 Least Flycatchers, 11 Blue Jays, 2 Cowbirds, 10 Meadowlarks, 1 Orchard Oriole, 17 Goldfinches, 2 Lark Sparrows, 4 White-throated Sparrows, 9 Chipping Sparrows, 18 Field Sparrows, 8 Lincoln Sparrows, 6 Towhees, 4 Cardinals, 4 Blue Grosbeaks, 3 Dickcissels, 12 Migrant Shrikes, 8 Mockingbirds, 17 Catbirds, 53 Brown Thrashers, 22 Bewick’s Wrens, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Tufted Titmice, 27 Robins, and 35 Bluebirds. Rev. John A. Brady, Lakewood, Ohio, reports total banded 4, as follows: 1 Blue Jay, 1 Veery, 2 Brown Creepers. H. H. Hippie, Delaware, Ohio, reports total banded 4, as follows: One Mourning Dove, 1 Flicker, 1 Blue Jay, and 1 Robin. S. Chas. Kendeigh, Oberlin, Ohio, reports total banded 4, as follows: 2 Downy Woodpeckers, and 2 White-breasted Nuthatches. He also destroyed 77 English Sparrows. Mrs. E. F. Chilcott, Woodward, Oklahoma, reports total banded 34, as follows: Twenty-eight Mockingbirds, 3 Lark Sparrows, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 2 Brown Thrasher. She also destroyed 115 English Sparrows. Edwin C. Anderson, Dell Rapids, South Dakota, reports total banded 87, as follows: Two Mourning Doves, 6 Northern Flickers, 3 Kingbirds, 4 Arkansas Kingbirds, 1 Bronzed Grackle, 22 Barn Swallows, 3 Yellow Warblers, 15 Catbirds, 2 Brown Thrashers, 9 House Wrens, 7 Chickadees, and 13 Robins. Dr. H. M. Halverson, Yankton, South Dakota, reports total banded 65, as follows: One Mourning Dove, 1 Black-billed Cuckoo, 4 Kingbirds, 2 Arkansas Kingbirds, 4 Phoebes, 1 Orchard Oriole, 1 Bronzed Grackle, 20 Barn Swallows, 9 Bank Swallows, 3 Yellow Warblers, 3 Brown Thrash- ers, 12 House Wrens, and 4 Robins. W. B. Mallory, Lennox, South Dakota, reports total banded 86, as follows: One Mallard, 10 Flickers, 1 Crow, 1 Cowbird, 3 Western Meadow- larks, 12 Harris Sparrows, 1 White-crowned Sparrow, 19 White-throated Sparrows, 5 Juncos, 2 Song Sparrows, 4 Lincoln Sparrows, 1 Cedar Wax- wing, 1 Black Poll, 1 Catbird, 6 Brown Thrashers, 12 House Wrens, and 6 Robins. Bird Banding Department 47 Wyman 1^. Green, Chattanooga, Tennessee, reports total banded 8, as follows: Four Blue Jays, and 4 Brown Thrashers. R. D. Camp, Brownsville, Texas, reports total banded 643, as follows: Five Laughing Gulls, 14 Gull-billed Terns, 30 Caspian Terns, 17 Royal Terns, 12 Cabot’s Terns, 14 Forester’s Terns, 3 Least Terns, 1 Water Turkey, 125 Mexican Cormorants, 16 Brown Pelicans, 4 White Ibis, 25 Great White Heron, 86 Ward’s Herons, 5 Egrets, 88 Reddish Egrets, 140 Louisiana Herons, 21 Black-crowned Night Herons, 5 Mourning-Doves, 2 Mexican Ground Doves, 3 Dwarf Cowbirds, 22 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Great-tai'.ed Grackles, 3 Curved-billed Thrashers. Dr. Leon J. Cole, Washington, D. C., formerly Madison, Wisconsin, reports total banded 7, as follows: One Chimney Swift, and 6 Flickers. Mrs. Fred L. Hook, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reports total band- ed 11, as follows: Six Blue Jays, and five Bronzed Grackles. George F. Fisher, State Line, Wisconsin, reports total banded 744, as follows: One Loon, 1 Merganser, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Downy Wood- pecker, 1 Phoebe, 1 Canada Jay, 3 Red-winged Blackbirds, 8 Grackles, 575 Red and Common Crossbills, 14 White-winged Crossbills, 4 Gold- finches, 105 Pine Siskins, 1 Song Sparrow, and 4 Chickadees. Frederick C. Meyer, Racine, Wisconsin, reports total banded 2, as follows: Two Robins. Irving J. Perkins, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, reports total banded 67, as follows: Three Least Bittern, 4 Green Heron, 2 Mourning Doves, 1 Cowbird, 2 Red-winged Blackbirds, 4 Swamp Sparrows, 4 Barn Swal- ows, 40 Bank Swallows, 2 Catbirds, 3 Robins, and 2 Bluebirds. Fred Ramsland, River Falls, Wisconsin, reports total banded 4, as follows: One Junco, 1 Swallow, and 2 Robins. A. W. Schorger, Madison, Wisconsin, reports total banded 3, as fol- lows. Three young Catbirds. Rev. O. W. Smith, Evansville, Wisconsin, reports total banded 19, as follows: Four Flickers, 2 Juncos, 3 Song Sparrows, 4 Yellow Warb- lers, and 6 Brown Thrashers. Clyde B. Terrill, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, reports having banded a Shoveller Duck. Mrs. Ethel M. Towns, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reports total banded 101, as follows: Three Red-headed Woodpeckers, 1 Flicker, 6 Phoebe, 1 Blue Jay, 5 Grackles, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 18 White-throated Spar- rows, 1 Oven-bird, 5 Catbirds, 1 Brown Thrasher, 20 House Wrens, 4 Chickadees, afid 15 Robins. Harold C. Wilson, Ephraim, Wisconsin, reports total banded 22, as follows: One Killdeer, 1 Mourning Dove, 3 Chimney Swifts, 2 Chipping Sparrows, 2 Song Sparrows, 1 Cliff Swallow, 1 Red-eyed \iieo, 2 House Wrens, and 9 Robins. K. Grant McDougal, East Kildonan, Manitoba, Canada, reports total banded 129, as follows: Two Purple Finches, 3 Savannah Sparrows, 13 Harris Sparrows, 40 White-throated Sparrows, 2 Tree Sparrows, 48 48 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 Juncos, 5 Song Sparrows, 1 Lincoln Sparrow, 4 Fox Sparrows, 1 Myrtle Warbler, 7 Catbirds, 1 Brown Thrasher, and 2 Olive-backed Thrushes. The following cooperators reported their totals to August 1st, only: A. L. Hainner, Auburn, Alabama, reports total banded 59, as follows: Two White-throated Sparrows, 53 Chipping Sparrows, 1 Field Sparrow, 1 Song Sparrow, 2 Brown Thrashers. W. S. McCrea, Chicago, Illinois, has a summer home on Beaver Island, in the northern part of Lake Michigan. He was joined by F. C. Lincoln and together they banded 454 Herring Gulls and 200 Caspian Terns. On a subsequent trip with his brother, S. H. McCrea, a Darien, Connecticut Bird Bander, they banded 99 Common Terns and 1 Least Sandpiper, making a total of 753 birds banded. Dr. Earl Brooks, Noblesville, Indiana, reports total banded 113, as follows: Two Mdurning Doves, 2 Phcebes, 2 Blue Jays, 16 Bronzed Crackles, 5 Baltimore Orioles, 2 Chipping Sparrows, 6 White-crowned Sparrows, 19 White-throated Sparrows, 3 Song Sparrows, 19 Cardinals, 5 Purple Martins, 3 Maryland Yellow-throats, 13 Catbirds, 6 House Wrens, 10 Robins. Mr. Elliot R. Tibbets, Indianapolis, Indiana, used his vacation to promote Bird Banding at Burt Lake, Michigan, just south of the Straits of Mackinac, by giving a talk on Bird Banding in a local church. He banded a total of 37 from January 1 to August 1. The list follows: Five Kingbirds, 9 Phcebes, 1 Chipping Sparrow, 3 House Wrens, 5 Hermit Thrushes, 5 Robins. While in Indiana he banded 2 Phoebes, 4 Chipping Sparrows, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 1 Bank Swallow. W. B. Van Gorder, Albion, Indiana, reports total banded 48 as fol- lows: One Downy Woodpecker, 3 Blue Jays, 9 Crackles, 2 Baltimore Orioles, 26 House Wrens, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush, 4 Robins. Mrs. R. C. Flannigan, Norway, Michigan, reports total banded 33, as follows: Eight Bronzed Grackles, 2 Chimney Swifts, 8 Phcebes, 3 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 House Wren, 11 Robins. Bert S. Gregg, Belding, Mich., reports total banded 10, as follows: One Oriole, 4 Martins, 3 House Wrens, 1 Bluebird. A Brown Thrasher was also banded. Arthur D. Moore, South Haven, Mich., reports total banded 166, as follows: Four Mourning Doves, 2 Hairy Woodpeckers, 3 Downy Wood- peckers, 4 Flickers, 5 Blue Jays, 54 Bronzed Grackles, 23 White-throated Sparrows, 14 State-colored Juncos, 5 Song Sparrows, 2 Cardinals, 28 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Carolina Wren, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 13 Hermit Thrushes, 6 Robins. F. W. Rapp, Vicksburg, Michigan, reports total banded 67, as fol- lows: One Downy Woodpecker, 1 W'hite-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Screech Owl, 1 Chipping Sparrow, 8 American Robins, 1 American Bittern, 54 Purple Martins. Bird Banding Department 49 A. S. Warthin, Jr., Boyne Falls, Michigan, reports total banded 66, as follows: Six Killdeer, 11 Blue Jays, 3 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Grackle, 7 Tree Swallows, 10 Oven-birds, 5 House Wrens, 9 Meadow- larks, 4 White-throated Sparrows, 8 Chickadees, 2 Robins. Lester R. Badger, Minneapolis, Minnesota, reports total banded 25, as follows: Two Mourning Doves, 1 Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 Balti- more Oriole, 2 Chipping Sparrows, 3 Cardinals, 1 Bank Swallow, 2 Yel- low Warblers, 13 Catbirds. Frank W. Commons, Minneapolis, Minnesota, reports total banded 266, as follows: One Mourning Dove, 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 2 Phcebes, 1 Blue Jay, 6 Cowbirds, 17 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 12 Evening Grosbeaks, 1 Harris Sparrow, 19 White-throated Sparrows, 9 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 5 Bank Swallows, 15 Yellow Warblers, 1 Oven- bird, 69 Catbirds, 46 House Wrens, 22 Robins. Herman Fels, Jr., Monticello, Minnesota, reports total banded 3, as follows: Two Mourning Doves, and 1 Mallard. Carolyn Jensen, Northome, Minnesota, reports total banded 136, as follows: One Red-headed Woodpecker, 1 Mourning Dove, 1 Phoebe, 2 Least Flycatchers, 56 Red-winged Blackbirds, 1 Grackle, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 2 White-throated Sparrows, 1 Chipping Sparrow, 17 Song Spar- rows, 5 Barn Swallows, 2 Yellow Warblers, 17 Catbirds, 3 House Wrens, 19 Robins, 7 Bluebirds. Mary B. Salmon, Tarkio, Mo., reports banding 4 Robins. Roy H. Smith, Kent, Ohio, reports total banded 70, as follows: Two Red-headed Woodpeckers, 2 Blue Jays, 25 Grackles, 8 Chipping Sparrows, 3 Song Sparrows, 1 Purple Martin, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 2 Cat- birds, 1 House Wren, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 22 Robins. Adrian H. Tebbs, Harrison, Ohio, received his banding permit in July and has banded 2 Robins, 2 Grackles, and 4 Purple Martins. He has had a second glimpse of one of his Martins, which he saw sitting on a wire one day. Walter G. Gerth, Wolsey, South Dakota, reports total banded 13, as follows: One Sora, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 House Wren, 10 Lapland Long- spurs. J. F. McGee of Mercer, Tennessee, reports total banded 19, as fol- lows: Two Herring Gulls, 1 Royal Tern, 1 Cabot Tern, 2 Laughing Gulls, 1 White Pelican, 1 Quail, 2 Mourning Doves, 3 Flickers, 2 Blue Jays, 1 Cardinal, 2 Wood Thrushes, 1 Robin. Mrs. E. J. Carley, Stevens Point, Wis., reports total banded 23, as follows: Two Blue Jays, 2 Baltimore Orioles, 14 Grackles, 5 Robins. S. Paul Jones, Waukesha, Wisconsin, reports total banded 17, as follows: One Killdeer, 1 Red-headed Woodpecker, 6 Phcebes, 4 Cowbirds, 5 Long-billed Marsh Wrens. Clarence S. Jung, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reports total banded 103, as follows: Four Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Prairie Chicken, 9 Mourning Doves, 3 Kingbirds, 2 Crows, 4 Cowbirds, 6 Red-winged Blackbirds, 6 50 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 Grackles, 1 White-throated Sparrow, 48 Bank Swallows, 7 Catbirds, 8 Brown Thrashers, 4 Long-billed Marsh Wrens. Mrs. Harry McLeod Lewis, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reports total banded 2, as follows: One Bronzed Grackle, and 1 Hermit Thrush. Mrs. H. C. Miller and son, Clark C. Miller, Racine, Wisconsin, re- port total banded 124, as follows: One Florida Gallinnle, 1 Chimney Swift, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 9 Grackles, 8 Juncos, 5 Lincoln Sparrows, 2 Swamp Sparrows, 12 White-throated Sparrows, 1 Purple Finch, 34 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 3 Oven-birds, 1 Mourning Warbler, 10 House Wrens, 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush, 1 Olive- backed Thrush, 4 Hermit Thrushes, 1 Brown Thrasher, 4 Catbirds, 22 Robins. J. A. Laughlin, Marshall, Missouri, reports total banded 66: One Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 3 Red headed Woodpeckers, 1 Flicker, 1 Chimney Swift, 17 Blue Jays, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 18 Grackles, 2 Juncos, 10 Card- inals, 2 Myrtle Warblers, 4 Catbirds, 5 Brown Thrashers, and 1 Robin. Adolf L. Holm, Lundar, Manitoba, reports total banded 112, as follows: Seven Canvas-backed Ducks, 1 Sora Rail, 1 Killdeer, 2 Ruffed Grouse, 2 Marsh Hawks, 5 Flickers, 4 Kingbirds, 3 Red-winged Black- birds, 10 Crows, 1 Cowbird, 2 White-throated Sparrows, 3 Juncos, 9 Barn Swallows, 13 Tree Swallows, 33 House Wrens, 6 Chickadees, and 4 Robins. Arthur D. Moore, So. Haven Michigan, reports total banded 61, as- follows: Four Mourning Doves, 38 Grackles, 11 White-throated Spar- rows, 4 Cardinals, 3 Chickadees, and 1 Robin. Herbert L. Stoddard, Milwaukee, Wis., reports total banded 314, as follows: One Bonaparte Gull, 1 Black Tern, 18 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 1 Sanderling, 3 Solitary Sandpipers, 31 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Killdeer, 2 Semipalmated Plover, 12 Kingfishers, 4 Marsh Hawks, 10 Flickers, 1 Kingbird, 7 Cowbirds, 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds, 19 Red-winged Black- birds, 4 Goldfinches, 8 Barn Swallows, 4 Tree Swallows, 88 Bank Swal- lows, 2 Chipping Sparrows, 3 Song Sparrows, 1 Pipit, 3 Catbirds, 11 Long-billed Marsh Wrens, 73 Robins, and 3 Bluebirds. INTERESTING EVENTS Mrs. E. J. Carley, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, reports that she was successful in banding a partial Albino Robin, also that a Robin of very similar markings had been in their city for the two previous years. Mrs. Lotta A. Cleveland, Downer’s Grove, Illinois reports the follow- ing: “The first Red-breasted Nuthatch slipped out of my hand and flew against the window. When I picked it up I found it had lost all of its tail feathers except two. This happened on November 12, 1923. This bird repeated a number of times; on November 20, its new tail feathers were just barely visible. November 26, they measured about a quarter of an inch. December 16, they were just as long as the two feathers that had not been pulled out.” Mrs. Lotta A. Cleveland deserves much credit for ingenuity in con- structing traps, having converted an old wire rat trap, gold fish aquar- Bird Banding Department 51 ium, and a corn popper into successful traps that actually caught birds. Mr. W. B. Mallory, Lennox, South Dakota, reports the following: “The only special experience 1 had was with one Harris Sparrow which got in the trap four times in six days and 1 think was in once more in that time as one evening three escaped which had bands on before I looked at the numbers of the bands.” Dr. A. R. Shearer, Mont Belvieu, Texas, who is a prospective Bird Bander, reports the following: “Just four days ago I wrote you that I had never found a bird with a band. Yesterday evening a boy brought a male Mallard he had shot in the rice fields near here to show me a band on its leg. I removed the band, No. 205,195, and forwarded it to the Biological Survey.” George Roberts, Lake Forest, Illinois, has had some very interest- ing returns. They are as follows: “Rose breasted Grosbeak No. 49510 banded May 25, 1919, retaken May 2, 1923, also retaken May 4, 1923. Cowbird No. 13360 banded April 30, 1922, retaken April 18 and 21, 1923. Robin No. 16468 banded May 5, 1922, retaken April 15, 1923. Blue Jay No. 104567 banded July 17, 1922, retaken, (picked up, dead) August 1, 1923 about one half mile from my yard.” F. Dale Pontius, Columbus, Ohio, reports the following amusing incident: “The time of my first capture of a bird, I went over to the traps at dark. As I started to return, a policeman came up to me and wanted to know what I was doing over there at that time of night look- ing around with a flashlight. I was about scared to death at that ex- perience for he slipped up on me unawares. I nearly had heart failure. He made me take him to my house to show him my permit. He thought that the explanation of my presence there was ‘fishy,’ I imagine. I have not since had any such experience as that.” Johnson A. Neff, Columbia, Missouri, writes: “I want to report the banding of a Red-breasted Nuthatch at Neff Orchards, Marionville, Mo., on January 3, 1924, banded in one of my feed tray traps by my Mother. It is the first one of the species that has ever so visited us for over ten years of tray feeding of winter birds. It is stlli feeding there, and is very tame, according to her last letter. Also, while waiting for the Nuthatch she caught Downy Woodpecker No. 35,396, which was banded on April 27, 1923. I forgot to say that the Nuthatch was banded No. 116,316. Both were caught on January 3, 1924. Having caught the stranger, she left the lid of the trap up, as she does not do any work unless some stranger appears; at present there are four Purple Finches there, but she has not banded them. I expect to have a mighty busy winter of banding there next winter.” Mr. and Mrs. George F. Fisher, State Line, Wisconsin, report the following: “When we returned from Chicago, we found the lake frozen quite solid. We had been home three or four days when Mrs. Fisher announced that she had heard a Loon over across the lake, and nothing would do but we should investigate. Sure enough we found it m a small hole about twenty-five feet across, which due to its activities, had no frozen. The ice was perfectly solid and clear as crystal, and as we approached, the Loon dove and stayed under for quite a while. At last 52 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 he came up again and immediately dove and stayed under as long as he could, coming up every few moments, until later he got less afiaid. It was apparent that it could not get up to fly in such a small space of water. It was very interesting to watch it swim under the water and at such a great speed. It held its wings in a crouched position and onh used them like the wings of an airplane, to balance with. It circled the hole many times directly beneath us and we could see every movement clearly. We captured it by drawing a minnow seine across the open water. “There were no Cross-bills here at all this winter (600 banded during last winter) and we have been very busy building our new home, but will be ready for the work in the coming year.” Mr. Frederick Herman, Laurium, Michigan, caught and banded a Harris Sparrow, which, according to Barrow’s Michigan Bird Life, is a very rare bird in Michigan. Dr. Frederick C. Test, Chicago, Illinois has the distinction of having banded the only Wilson Thrush so far recorded. Mr. Allen Green, Oakville, Iowa, reports an interesting return, a Mallard Duck banded January 30, 1923, at Oakville, Iowa, was shot November 2, 1923, at Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada. Dr. K. Christofferson, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., reports the follow- ing: “To explain about the Winter Wren, it is necessary to tell about my unique bird trap. On the lock walls of the SOO Locks there are about 22 small buildings for the purpose of sheltering the machinery and men for operating the gates. These buildings have large plate glass windows on all four sides and are also well lighted at night. The birds do not seem to see any obstruction ahead and therefore many are killed outright, while others are stunned, and if the doors are open, some get inside and are caught. It was in this manner the Winter Wren flew in on October 6, 1923, at 10 P. M. The Lockmen usually notify me, so I went over and banded it with No. 74404. Ten P. M. would almost indicate that it is one of our night migrants. September 12, at 4 P. M., a Red-breasted Nuthatch was caught and banded 74403, also September 26, a Slate Colored Junco, minus eight tail feathers. No. 76605 Wren caught in the same place and manner as the Winter Wren. “Woodpeckers, Savannah Sparrows, Golden Crowned Kinglets, Rob- ins and others have been killed outright. “Tomorrow Mr. M. J. Magee and 1 hit for the tall timbers to see what we can find in the Winter bird line. We expct to use skis the next four days in getting around.” HONOR FOR INLAND TREASURER Word has just been received that Herbert L. Stoddard, Treasurer of the Inland Bird Banding Association, has been selected by the Biological Survey to take charge of the Quail Study in Georgia. This is to be an extensive study of their entire life histories, and will cover a period of at least three years. We know he will make good, and he leaves with the best wishes of a host of friends in the Chicago and Milwaukee district. Bird Banding Department 53 NOTES T. E. Musselman, Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois, is making a study of Fear Conditions and Diseased Feet as he found them at Thomasville, Georgia. He would appreciate it if anybody who has made observations along these lines, would answer the following ques- tions for him: Do you capture many Chipping Sparrows, if so, how many? Have you ever found any scaly or warty looking diseased portion on the feet of these or any other birds? The condition I refer to fills as a bloody sack, cracks, bleeds two or three days, then becomes a black scab. If you have discovered such trouble among any of your captives, how generally would you say the disease prevails among the birds you capture? Have you noticed any birds that you have taken in your traps with the absence of toe nails, toes, or parts of the foot? If so, in what spe- cies? Is this a general condition with you? While banding birds have you noticed that they remain motionless in the hand and have you captured any variety which does not seem to be afflicted with this cataleptic condition? Have you found any variety of bird that you have captured that constantly chirps while it is being banded? Have you noticed any other peculiar actions which show a fear condition not mentioned above? INLAND DISTRICT ORIGINATES BANDING Another incident has just been discovered to show that the Inland Bird Banding district is the pioneer in the banding work. In the Bird Banding Notes Number Nine of the Biological Survey, they show that the first attempt at Bird Banding in the United States where a bird carried a recorded inscription, also the same bird was the first known return in the work, came about through an unusual record that has been reported by P. P. Thrasher, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who writes that in the year of 1880, a “Buzzard (probably a turkey vulture), wear- ing a small collar with a bell attached, was killed in Pike County, Ala- bama.” An inscription on the bell indicated that it had been attached to the bird’s neck in the State of Ohio about fifteen years pieviouslv. The second known return, we believe occurred from the woi k staited by P. A. Tavernor while at Detroit, Michigan through some biid bands issued by him to Chas. D. Kirkpatrick, of ICeota, Iowa, who banded among other birds in 1905, a family of young Flickers, and one ot the young birds was taken at Prairie du Chien, Louisiana, the following winter. Although we are calling it the second real return here, we believe it was the first of the returns through an active co-operative Bird Banding scheme in the United States. 54 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 THE WILSON BULLETIN Published at Oberlin, Ohio, by the Wilson Ornithological Club. Official Organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Ornithological Union (jn affiliation. ) Price in the United States, Canada and Mexico, $1 50 a year, 50c a number, post paid. Price in all countries in the International Union, $2.00 a year, 60c a number. Subscriptions should be Bent to Wm. I. Lyon, 124 Washington Street, Waukegan, 111. EDITORIAL The Editor regrets the delay of this issue, and must ask the indul- gence of members and readers for the delay, which has been due to ill- ness. He trusts that the June issue will appear on time, if not a little early. The clamor for space in this issue has necessitated the postpone- ment of several things that it was planned to present on this page. The March issue is the one in which the reports of officers naturally appear, thus making necessary the postponement of the membership roll as well as other matters. PROCEEDINGS OF THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB, CINCINNATI, OHIO December 31, 1923, and January 1, 1924 December 31, 1923, 10:00 a. m. Joint Meeting of The Wilson Ornithological Club and The Ecolog- ical Society of America. 1. Birds and Their Environments — Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Labora- tory, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. Dr. Jones has made nine Ecology trips to the Pacific coast from Oberlin, Ohio. He has been particularly interested in comparing his knowledge of birds in the Grasslands gained in his youth with the knowledge gained on these trips. He has found that birds which were originally to be found only in the Deciduous Forest area have gradually adapted themselves to the Grasslands or, in the case particularly of the larger birds, have succumbed to civilization. However, the great irriga- tion projects have served to increase bird life of two types, water birds and those that nest in the vegetation which has sprung up around the great dams and lakes. In fact, the territory which surrounds these places has become a bird-paradise. Fortunately, the birds which have decreased are not of very great economic importance, while insectivorous birds have greatly increased in number. 2. Food Habits of the American Eagle — Professor Francis H. Her- rick, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. The American Eagle, though very unpopular and considered fair game by every sportsman at all seasons of the year, has continued to survive, even in Alaska, where bounties offered for heads of eagles because of its supposed destruction of valuable fishes and game anima's Proceedings 55 have so far failed to exterminate it. During the seasons of 1922 and 1923 Professor Herrick and one of his assistants have watched the last three weeks of nest-life in an eyrie at Vermilon, Ohio, just a mile from Lake Erie. This nest, in a shell bark hickory, 81 feet from the ground, has been occupied continuously since 1890, and, with a few brief inter- vals, since 1840. Professor Herrick built an observatory 82 feet high, later raised to 100 feet, in a tall e’.m only 85 feet from the nest, and studied with the eye, high-power binoculars, and a Graflex camera the activities of the nest. In 1923 the adult eagles in the period of three weeks made 109 visits to the nest, 102 of these visits with food. Fish were brought 87 times, usually small fish thrown up on the shores of Lake Erie by storms or else left by fisherman as undesirable for the market. Chickens, always partially plucked, were brought 13 times. In spite of the fact that the tree was in plain view of highways, farm- houses, and cultivated fields, the eagles came and went as if unconscious of the danger. The young were fed by the parents, bill to bill, until the very last day in the nest, a habit rather different from that of other birds of prey, says Professor Herrick. (See The American Eagle, Later Nest-Phases, below) 3. The Ecology of Lake St. Mary’s, Ohio — Charles Dury, Cincinnati Society of Natural History, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Dury concerned himself largely with the abundance of wild life at Lake St. Mary’s fifty years ago, before ruthless slaughter had reduced the numbers of birds nesting or visiting this immense body of water. This lake, completed in 1854, was a reservoir for one of the canals formerly so prominent in Ohio, and occupied a commanding ele- vation, said to be nearly 1550 feet above sea level. Not only were water- fowl abundant, beyond the dreams of one to-day, but fishes were equally numerous and drew hordes of fishermen. Among the rare breeding birds found there by Dr. Dury was the Hooded Merganser, a female with eight freshly-hatched young. Dr. Dury, now a very old man, put the memories and experiences of a lifetime into the paper, which describes a phase of wild life forever gone. 4. The Appearance of 22 Evening Grosbeaks in Ohio — Charles Dury. A brief account of the appearance of the Grosbeaks and an exhibi- tion of two specimens taken in Ohio, together with a bottle of some unknown seeds upon which they were feeding. 5. The Present Status of the European Starling in Ohio— Charles Dury. Though reported as occurring twenty years ago, the Starling was found breeding in Ohio for the first time this year. A Starling taken in Ohio was exhibited. This brief paper called forth a long discussion of the status of the Starling elsewhere. Mr. A. F. Ganier of Nashville, Tennessee, reported a roost of 60,000 Starlings in one of the laige old cemeteries of his city. 6. Notes on the Fauna of the Lake-Bog Habitat Series— Professor T. L. Hankinson, State Normal College, Ypsilanti, Michigan. Professor Hankinson has spent many years in Michigan stud> ing the lakes, bogs, ponds, and marshes of the moraine country. I or the 56 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 past few years he has spent his summers in working for the State De- partment of Conservation, which has led him into this attractive field. He classifies the fauna in ten well-marked belts, not all found in every lake but several represented in each, owing to the size of the lake, its depth, and the elevation of the country immediately surrounding: (1) the deep-water area, with little vegetation, with muck bottom and a good many fishes,; (2) the intermediate zone, with the water about five feet deep, the greatest fish area and the feeding grounds for the Ducks; (3) the water lily zone, with water three to five feet deep, teeming with invertebrate life and with bullfrogs and bass. (4) the marginal shallows, the greatest area for birds because of the rushes and grasses; (5) the leather-leaf area, moist but not wet; (6) the fern area, where shore birds abound; (7) the thicket, home of hosts of bush birds; (8) the conifer area, grown up in tamarack and spruces; (9) the meadow area, uncultivated, full of Snipe and Killdeer; and (10) the wooded border on higher ground. Many of these areas are practically untouched by man and offer a splendid opportunity for study, even with large classes. December 31, 2:00 p. m. 1. Some Ornithological Impressions of Fiji and New Zealand — Professor Dayton Stoner, Iowa University, Iowa City, Iowa. (This paper is published in this issue.) 2. Birds of Naknek Lake, Alaska — James S. Hine, Ohio State Uni- versity, Columbus, Ohio. Professor Hine, as a member of the National Geographic Society’s Mount Katmai Expeditions in 1917 and 1919, studied the birds and their habitats along the Alaska shore, going north by the Island Passage; and, later, along the shores of Naknek Lake, a large fresh-water lake, three or four miles wide at the widest part, and sixty miles long, reaching halfway across the Alaska Peninsula. On account of the abundance of foxes, the water birds have learned to build their nests on inaccessible ledges on the shore or on low-lying islands in the part of the lake named by the members of the expedition the Bay of Islands. Professor Hine’s slides included pictures showing the abundance of seabirds and the inaccessible nesting cliffs of the Cormorants and other birds. 3. Breeding Birds of Reelfoot Lake — Albert F. Ganier, President of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Nashville, Tennessee. Reelfoot Lake is a large, irregularly shaped body of water, twenty miles long and varying in width from a few feet to five miles. The lake, formerly the site of a swamp, sank in a terrific earthquake in 1812, the trees of the old forest being still seen, rising from the water or marsh. The shallow areas have grown up in cypresses and water plants. The whole lake country forms one of the greatest of the hunters’ paradises in North America. Mr. Ganier has made ten or twelve trips to the lake within the last dozen years, staying from a day to two weeks. He has found very few of the bordering areas suitable for breeding-places and records only those birds which nest in marsh grasses, on stumps in the swamp, or in tall trees around the lake, since there is an absence of beaches. Three of the regular ducks breed in numbers: the Wood Duck, now rapidly becoming extinct elsewhere; the Hooded Merganser; and Proceedings 57 the Mallard. Coots are exceptionally plentiful. The lake is at present owned by the state of Tennessee, so far as the water and the immediate shore is concerned. A movement is on foot for the state to purchase, with fees from hunting-licenses, the marsh areas and the surrounding uninhabited country and to establish a great state biological station. One thing Mr. Ganier brought out was that many species found breeding on the Mississippi River, only a few miles away, are never found on the lake. Readers of the National Geographic Magazine will welcome an extended article on Reelfoot Lake by the State Geologist of Tennessee, the natural history part of the article having been contributed by Mr. Ganier. 4. The American Eagle — Later Nest-Phases, Francis H. Herrick, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. The American Eagle, in common with many other species of birds, builds its new nest on top of the preceding one. The nest spoken of by the author in his preceding paper, was eight and a half feet in diameter and 12 feet deep. The photographs shown revealed the eaglets in every characteristic attitude: dozing, exercising their wings and talons, watch- ing the arrival or departure of their parents, feeding, and making their first attempts at flight. The observatory was made in an elm tree 85 feet from the nesting tree and was built very strongly, to withstand the Lake Erie gales. After the 1922 season a few obstructing branches were re- moved by the observers, in order to see better and photograph the nest activities. The observation period was the last three weeks of the nest- life. Next year Professor Herrick intends to study the earlier phases of the life in the same nest, provided no accident occurs to the adult eagles or the eyrie. 5. The Prairie Horned Lark as a Breeding Bird in Kentucky — Ben. J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio. The frequency of the Prairie Horned Lark in summer led Mr. Blin- coe to collect all data gathered by Kentucky ornithologists on this species. Dr. L. O. Pindar of Versailles, many of whose records were destroyed by fire, has seen the species nearly every spring month in several central Kentucky counties. Gordon Wilson of Bowling Green reports the bird seen every month except June and expresses the belief that its nesting ground is only a little distance from his territory. Mr. Linebaugh of Guthrie records the bird as nesting, without giving dates, and says he has found the nests. Mr. Embody recoided it at Russell- ville about twenty years ago as an all-year resident. Mr. Blincoe has on several occasions heard the flight song of the Prairie Horned Laik, usually thought to be given only in the nesting season. Several Ken- tucky ornithologists have decided to investigate further the probable breeding places of the bird and to establish its status as a Kentucky breeder. January 1, 1924, 10:00 a. m. 1. Banding the Great Lakes Colony Birds-Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. The Bird-banding Associations are eager to enlist the cooperation of all people who spend their summer vacations on the Great Lakes 58 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 in banding the common water birds. Dr. Jones has collected lists of breeding-places which have been discovered by him and other ornithol- ogists and hopes that many of these places can be visited and the birds banded during the coming nesting season. Many of the islands and reefs used for nesting-places are in Canadian territory but the Canadian officials are favorable to bird-banding. Dr. Jones has been rather dis- couraged by the fatality discovered among the young birds banded, re- porting as high as fifty per cent, as dying in two weeks after the band- ing was done. Though he does not think that any of the fatalities were due to the banding process, he doubts the wisdom of banding nestlings and favors the trapping and banding of adults. 2. The United States Biological Survey on Bird-banding — E. A. Goldman, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. It has been demonstrated that it is rather dangerous to band nest- lings on account of their fraility. Besides, hosts of nestlings die within a few days after leaving the nest and, consequently, furnish little infor- mation about migration routes. The number of birds taken by collectors in the whole country in 1922, — 15,000, — is very small as compared with the natural fatalities. The Biological Survey furnishes bands and per- mits to those interested in this phase of study. The growth in banding has been very rapid, on account of the good work of the New England Bird-Banding Association and the Inland Bird-Banding Association. The great difficulty has been in trapping birds which do not come to the ground to feed, Warblers, for instance. Traps are being devised to catch all types of birds, even Humming-birds. Up to the present the Biological Survey has especially pushed the banding of waterfowl, Ducks in particular. By this means there are being rapidly accumulated data on migration routes, particularly of the Mallard. There is to be published shortly a preliminary bulletin on the migration routes of the Mallard. There is before Congress at this time a measure to set aside public shooting-places, designed to conserve wild places and wild life, except for the open hunting season. These reserves are really to be a species of government parks or playgrounds for the people. These places, in the very nature of things, will furnish great opportunities for banding. 3. Developing Districts for Bird-banding— A. F. Ganier, President of The Wilson Ornithological Club, Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Ganier is in charge of the Southern Bird-Banding District, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Few returns have come in as yet from this district. Fre- quently New England birds are known to migrate diagonally across to the South. Already there are four trapping-places in Tennessee and one or more in each of the other states in this district. Mr. Ganier is trying to enlist bird-banders in all parts of the South. At his own traps he has taken a large number of ground birds. He has discovered that the House Sparrow has learned to get out of the traps but the native birds have not. 4. Ten Years of Bird-Banding — William I. Lyon, Secretary of The Inland Bird-Banding Association, Waukegan, Illinois. Proceedings 59 Mr. Lyon was a pioneer in banding, beginning twelve years ago, using bands devised for baby chicks. He was unable to receive a supply of official bands until 1915. At first the Biological Survey insisted on the banding being only of the young, but later it relented and allowed and encouraged the banding of the adult. Dr. E. W. Nelson, chief of the Biological Survey, has greatly encouraged Mr. Lyon and has furnished him with an abundance of bands. On account of the inability of Mr. Lyon to secure traps suited to his needs, he has devised several traps: the ground trap, the tilting trap for perching birds, and traps to catch Creepers, Woodpeckers, and similar birds. In one season he caught and banded 100 Brown Creepers, 22 in one day. He' has also devised a trap- door to close Woodpecker, Bluebird, and Chickadee holes. Many valuable bits of information have been discovered by Mr. Lyon, particularly about bird diseases and albinistic variations. He made some experiments by removing the tail feathers of an albinistic Bronzed Grackle several times, until it came in perfectly black. During the past five years Mr. Lyon has made a set of nearly a hundred valuable slides, many of them colored, illustrating every phase of banding: traps, birds caught in the traps, bait, bands, position of birds in banding, diseased birds caught, etc. His contribution to the study of ornithology has been one of the most unique of the last seventy-five years. 5. Banding in Alabama — J. M. Robinson, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Alabama. Professor Robinson has had a wide experience in getting people interested in banding and other phases of bird-study. Though his work is yet in its infancy, 18 species of birds have been banded and nearly 700 individuals. The goal for next year in the state is 1000. Many of the birds taken were trapped on the campus of his school, where he is creating a very unusual interest among all the school people in the joys of bird study. Attendance at the Meetings The following are some of the names of people who attended one or more of the meetings (quite a few left before the Secretary could get their names and addresses) : Professor C. C. Adams, State College of Forestry, Syracuse, New York; Professor G. A. Bowden, University School, Cincinnati, Ohio; Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio; Dr. Blen R. Bales, CircleviPe, Ohio; Susan H. Ballon, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Paul W. Bowden, Cincinnati, Ohio; William G. Cramer, President of The Ohio Audubon Society, Cincinnati, Ohio, Charles Dury, President of The Cincinnati Society of Natural History, Cincinnati, Ohio; Professor W. D. Funkhouser, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; Albert F. Ganier, President ot The Tennessee Ornithological Society, Nashville, Tennessee; Eloise Gerry, U. S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin; E. A. Goldman, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C.; Professor James S. Hine, Ohio State Univer- sity, Columbus, Ohio; Professor Francis H. Herrick, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Professor T. L. Hankinson, State Normal College, Ypsilanti, Michigan; Lena B. Henderson, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke, Virginia; Constance E. Hart, Passaic, New Jersey; 60 THE WILSON BULLETIN — March, 1924 Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio; I. H. Johnston, State Ornithologist, Charleston, West Virginia; Mar\ Belle Johnston, Bird Haven, Charleston, West Virginia; William I. Lyon, Secretary of The Inland Bird-Banding Association, Waukegan, Illinois; A. F. Miller, member of The Mt. Katmai Expeditions, Wooster, Ohio, Julia G. Parker, Cincinnati, Ohio; W. C. Purdy, Cincinnati, Ohio; Pro- fessor Leigh H. Pennington, State College of Forestry, Syracuse, New York; Professor J. M. Robinson, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Alabama; Mrs. A. F. Satterthwait, Webster Groves, Missouri; Mary M. Steagall, Carbondale, Illinois; Mrs. Frank H. Shaffer, Cincinnati, Ohio; Professor Dayton Stoner, Iowa University, Iowa City, Iowa; E. S. Smith, T. J. Smith, S. E. Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio; A. J. Wildman, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio; Professor A. O. Weese, James Millikan University, Decatur, Illinois; Gordon Wilson, Teachers’ College, Bowling Green, Kentucky. Business Meeting At the Business Meeting, December 31, 1923, the following members were appointed as the Nominating Committee: Professor Dayton Stoner, Professor T. L. Hankinson, and Mr. E. Lawrence Palmer. They recom- mended the following for the officers for the year 1924: President, Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tennessee Vice-President, William I. Lyon, Waukegan, Illinois. Secretary, Gordon Wilson, Bowling Green, Kentucky Treasurer, Ben. J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio Additional Members of the Council: H. L. Stoddard, Milwaukee, Wisconsin T. L. Hankinson, Ypsilanti, Michigan W. M. Rosen, Ogden, Iowa The Council met and named Dr. Lynds Jones, Oberlin, Ohio, as Editor. The Treasurer’s report was made, approved by an auditing committee composed of Ben J. Blincoe, Gordon Wilson, and Lynds Jones, and adopted by the Club. It follows. Treasurer’s Report for 1923 Waukegan, Illinois, January 1, 1924 Receipts Dec. 31, 1922 Cash received from former Treas. $ 88 04 Associate Members Active Members . . . Sustaining Members Subscribers 316.50 414.00 130.00 34.53 20.50 64.00 Back Numbers Nebraska O. U. $1067.57 Money deposited but not accounted for 12.85 $1080.42 Proceedings 61 Disbursements Mar. 31, 1923 News Printing Co Apr. 11, 1923 Gulbenk Photo Eng. Co. . May 14, 1923 News Printing Co Sept. 10, 1923 News Printing Co Dec. 19, 1923 W. I. Lyon, Treas., Expenses May 28, 1923 Check returned unpaid . . . $ 23.50 7.78 700.00 200.00 18.05 1.50 Jan. 1, 1924 Cash on hand $ 950.83 129.59 It was moved by A. F. Ganier that the list of new applicants’ names be acted on each month by the Council, subject to the approval of the entire Club in annual session. This motion, duly seconded, was carried. On the motion of Gordon Wilson the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union and the Kentucky Ornithological Society were admitted to affiliation on the same terms as those used by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union. On the motion of A. F. Ganier the Tennessee Ornithological Society was admitted on the same basis. I. H. Johnston and James S. Hine were appointed to serve with the Secretary as a Program Committee. 66 new members were elected, one being a sustaining member, 15 active members, the remainder being associates. It was decided by the members to refer the place of the 1924 meet- ing to the Council. The Resolutions Committee reported as follows: Whereas, The Wilson Ornithological Club has completed one of the most successful years in its history, and, at Cincinnati, Ohio, one of the best meetings it has yet had; therefore, be it resolved: First: That we extend our thanks to the University of Cincinnati and to the local committee of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science for their assistance and hospitality in providing quar- ters and otherwise helping to make our meeting a success. Second: That we hereby express our appreciation for the work done during the past year by President T. L. Hankinson, Vice-President Day- ton Stoner, Treasurer William I. Lyon, and Secretary Gordon Wilson and make recognition of the personal sacrifice they have made in de- voting so much of their time and energies to forwarding the work of the Club. Third: That we recognize with thanks the work of our veteran Editor. Lynds Jones, in piloting our official organ, The Wilson Bulletin, through another successful year. A. F. Ganier, B. R. Bales, Committee. 62 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 CORRESPONDENCE LITTLE GULL AT LAKE COUNTY, OHIO [The following letter is published not as a record of this species for Ohio, because it does not conform to the reasonable rule that a record of so unusual a species must be accompanied by a specimen, but because it illustrates the way held observations ought to be made. Ed.] Although this constitutes only a sight record of an extremely rare bird for any part of North America, the very fact makes me feel it a duty to report the same and to go into full detail as to the facts, especially since the bird in question could hardly be confused with any other small Gull occurring in the Western hemisphere. Full oppor- tunity was given to study the bird at close range and all main character- istics were fully noted and carefully compared with Bonaparte Gulls before looking up descriptions in various bird publications to determine what my find could be. December 29th, 1923, found me seated at the end of a stone break- water trying to identify with my glass a small bunch of ducks a long distance out on the lake. In the near foreground some two hundred Bonaparte Gulls were flitting about above the waves, individuals of which repeatedly crossed the vision afforded by my glass. Suddenly I thought I saw one with the entire under surface of wings a velvety black. In astonishment I lowered my glass to more easily pick it out from among the many others with the naked eye. And, sure enough, coming straight toward me, making me think of a big butterfly, was a little gull whose entire under wing surface looked a full black in com- parison with the white body. Later, for I watched this bird fully an hour, I had determined the color to be really slate, though in comparison with the whites and gull blues of the large ever-changing flock of birds it looked as black as a crow. This color of under wing surface was fact No. 1 and the most easily noticed of all. The next item secured was that of size. At first I thought it had a shorter tail than the Bonapartes but upon direct comparison again and again with companion birds I determined the entire bird to be shorter by at least two inches. This was especially noticeable when I compared body length only and left the beating wings out of the question. This constitutes fact No. 2. Later, on looking up measurements, I find the Little Gull to be about three inches shorter than the Bonaparte. The bird at times would get lost among the others but could im- mediately be picked out again as soon as it flew towards me thus giving a view of the under surface of wings. At times it came within a rod or two, and it was during these near flights that I determined fact No. 3; — the top of head and upper neck were darker (smoky I called it) as though a suggestion of a summer hood remained. This was noticeable as the bird flew low over the water and away from the observer. I caught one glimpse of the feet, which were red, but whether of the same shade as the Bonaparte I could not say. The bill was appar- ently black (which is correct for Little Gull in adult winter plumage, Correspondence 63 though the base is dull red in nuptial attire; or so sayeth the books I read upon my return home.) Leaving the place I had the above descriptions, and might have also seen a slight difference in the upper wings, but had about convinced myself I had only been observing a small Bonaparte with a strange melanistic phase of the under wing surface, for my mind had been busy as well as my eyes and I could recall no small gull that coincided with this one. However a plate in Butler’s British Birds first started an enthusiastic reading bee, and one can imagine the sensation when I read the description of plumage and found all points agreed. Several other works on European birds were consultde before turning to Bent’s Life Histories of American Gulls and Terns to learn its status quo in this country. I found everything to agree with my observations and nothing to disagree, even to the mention of its butterfly like flight. Painesville, Ohio E. A. Doolittle. EXPLANATIONS AND CORRECTIONS Since the appearance of the June (23) Bulletin containing my note on the “ Bald Eagle in Franklin County, Ky.,” I have received several letters of inquiry about my “list of birds of Franklin County” referred to in the note asking when and where it was published, etc. The list has not yet been published and exists only in manuscript. These notes and those in the September Bulletin (part of them at least) were hurri- edly written at odd times and were portions of personal letters to my good friend aud our efficient Secretary, Prof. Wilson, who very kindly abstracted them and arranged them for the Bulletin. Written to him so hastily, as above stated, I overlooked the fact that statements clear to him in the light of previous converstions and correspondence would not be so to the general reader. Hence the necessity of this and the following corrections. September Bulletin, page 161, line 1. Sentence should read, “If we assume that there were two young doves in the first nest and four nestlings in each of the other three nests,” etc. Page 162, line 10. The point I was trying to make was this: along the road at this stretch were trees and some undergrowth and apparent- ly the Whip-poor-will preferred the comparative shelter they afforded to the open road or open fields on either side, and therefore continued to fly alongside the road ahead of us for the distance mentioned. But if it sought concealment, why did it fly? Page 163, line 17. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is not in my “List of Birds of Fulton County, Ky.” published in the AUK in 1889 but is listed as quoted in a later supplemental list still in manuscript. The quotation Swainson’s Warbler is correct. The 1890-92-93 notes are from the supplemental list. Dr. L. Otley Pindar. Versailles, Ky., Feb. 15, 1924. 64 THE WILSON BULLETIN— March, 1924 PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED Yearbook of the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee. 1922. (Pub- lished Aug. 1923.) This volume contains four papers which will be of interest to bird students. “A collecting expedition to Bonaventure Island, Quebec,” by George Shrosbree. This is an interesting narrative of a trip taken by Mr. and Mrs. Shrosbree and H. L. Stoddard to the famous Gannet rookery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The party was later joined by Dr. W. D. Richardson. The excellent photographs accompanying the article give a very clear conception of the island and the bird colonies. Nine thousand feet of motion picture film were exposed during the party’s stay of more than a month. As a result of this trip the Mil- waukee Museum will have a fine habitat group of this well-known, but rather inaccessible, bird colony. The author gives no estimate of the bird population at the time of his visit. Following this article is one by Mr. H. L. Stoddard, “Notes on a ‘side trip’ to the Gaspe cormorant colonies.” This paper is an account of experiences in collecting Double-crested Cormorants and gives in- formation of value to anyone contemplating a trip to this region. Mr. Stoddard estimated that the colony contained at least two hundred and fifty cormorant nests. In another article Mr. Stoddard records the capture of two male starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris) in Wisconsin. T. C. Stephens. PROCEEDINGS OF THE OKLAHOMA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Each of the three volumes thus far issued has contained one or more ornithological papers which may be mentioned as follows. Volume I, (1910-1920), 1921. “A flight of hawks,” by Chas. N. Gould. This note records a flock of over a hundred Marsh Hawks. “Some Experiences with Mourning Doves in Captivity,” by Margaret M. Nice. An interesting paper on the food and behavior of this species. Volume II, 1922. “A note on the economic status of the Bald Eagle in Alaska,” by Ed. D. Crabb. In the summer of 1921 Mr. Crabb went up along the Alaskan coast and returned through the interior, ascending the Yukon valley to Dawson and across country to Skaguay. On the coastal trip he saw “scores of eagles,” but in the interior they were practically absent. Along the coast eagle stomachs contained fish bones, and one contained the feet of a ptarmigan. One nest contained the remains of seven Dolly Varden trout. The author believes it a mistake to place a bounty on eagles in the interior, and seems to doubt the necessity of it even along the coast. Volume II. “ Some birds of the Oklahoma Panhandle,” by C. R. Tate. One hundred and twenty-four species are listed, and all but six are substantiated by specimens. The list is the result of fourteen years of observation. “Nesting records from 1920 to 1922 from Norman, Okla- homa,” by Margaret M. Nice. A report is made on the nesting of 37 dif- ferent species. Among the nests whose history was watched to comple- tion 118 were reported as “successes,” while 150 were “failures”; thus indicating a mortality of considerably over fifty per cent. Publications of the Wilson Ornithological Club The complete series consists of the following publications: The Ornithologists and Oologists Semi-Annual, three volumes, 5 numbers. The Wilson Quarterly, one volume, two numbers. The Journal, two numbers. The Wilson Bulletin, three numbers in the first volume, two in the second, six numbers in each of the next four volumes, and four num- bers in all succeeding volumes including the current volume-34. Out of print numbers of this entire series are as follows : Semi-Annual, Vol. 1, No. 1; Vol. 2, both num- bers. The Wilson Quarterly, both numbers. The Wilson Bulletin, Yol. 10, No. 5; Vol. 16, No. 1. The available numbers, to Vol. 32, will be sold at the rate of one dollar a volume. — address — THE WILSON BULLETIN , SPEAR LABORATORY, OBERLIN, OHIO The “Blue Bird” Is now published monthly, the year 'round, with new end In- teresting departments, features and contests, and AT NO ADDI- TIONAL COST TO SUBSCRIBERS. Official organ of The Cleveland Bird Lovers' Association. SEND 20c FOR SAMPLE COPY Annual Subscripton $2.00 Agents Wanted Everywhere THE BLUE BIRD 1010 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio Tl^e Oologist Birds - Eggs - Nests - Taxidermy The Oologist is the only magazine published in America de- voted to the Interests of those making collections of Birds, their Nests and Eggs. For thirty-seven years it has been the recognized medium for the exchange of Ideas along these lines and its columns teem with advertisements of this character, solely for exchange. It is the second oldest bird journal in America and lndispenasble to those engaged in either the amateur or scientific study of birds. Subscription, fifty cents per year, with a free exchange notice. Sample copy free. Address The Oologist, Lacon, 111. Bird Banding Traps made in accordance with design adopted by New England Bird Banding Association Send for Circular and Price List DANIEL CUSHING & CO. LOWELL, MASS. Vol. XXXVI. No. 2 June, 1924 OFFICIAL ORGAN OF The Wilson Ornithological Club and The Nebraska Ornithologists Union , , „ Tut v 1*? 1916, at the Post Office at Entered as Second-class Matter, Jn y *» h3 2379, Oherlin, Ohio, under Act of Marcn rs, CONTENTS Tiie New Brown Pelican Rookery on the Florida Fast Coast By R, J. Longstreet 65 Migration Notes from State College, Center County, Pa. By Tliomas D. Burleigh 68 Tiie Philosophy of Birds’ Nests Observations at a Gunning Camp By A. H. Wood, Jr. 88 Screech Owl By E. D. Nauman 90 Editorial 93 Notes Here and There By the Secretary 94 General Notes 97 Bird Banding Department 99 The Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union 105 Kentucky Ornithological Society 109 Iowa Ornithologists’ Union 111 Publications Reviewed 112 THE WILSON BULLETIN Published quarterly, March, June, September and December, as the official organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Orni- thologists’ Union, and edited by Dr. Lynds Jones, assisted by a board of five members. All articles and communications intended for publication and all books and publications for notice, should be sent to Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio. . The subscription price is $1.50 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single numbers, 50 cents. Free to all members not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions should be addressed to the Treasurer, and applications for membership to the Secretary. Officers for tiie Year 1924 President — Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tenn. Vice-President — William I. Lyon, Waukegan, 111. Secretary — Prof. Gordon Wilson, 1434 Chestnut St., Bowling Green, Ky. Treasurer — Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio. EDITORIAL BOARD Lynds Jones, Editor-in-Chief Oberlin, Ohio Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tenn.; William I. Lyon, Waukegan, 111.; Gordon Wilson, Bowling Green, Ky.; Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio; H. L. Stoddard, Milwaukee, Wis.; W. M. Rosen, Ogden, Iowa Published Quarterly at Oberlin, Ohio JUL 12 1926 THE: WILSON BULLETIN A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY VOL. XXXVI JUNE, 1924 NO. 2 OLD SERIES VOL. XXXVI. NEW SERIli :s VOL. XXXI. THE NEW BROWN PELICAN ROOKERY ON THE FLORIDA EAST COAST R. .T. LONGSTREET SECRETARY^ HALIFAX RIVER BIRD CLUB DAYTONA BEACH; FLORIDA For more than a century, the Brown Pelican rookery on Pelican Island in the Indian River, near Sebastian, has been the Mecca of ornithologists and bird lovers. The island was made a federal reservation some years ago and placed under the protection of a warden. This breeding place was one of the sights of Florida and one of the best known rookeries in North America. The Brown Pelican has incurred the hatred of the fishermen, who falsely charge him with eating food fish and thereby harm- ing the fishing industry. During the World War, a determined effort was made to remove protection from this bird and subject him again to the persecution of hunters and others who find sport in killing defenseless creatures. The prompt and ener- getic action of the Florida Audubon Society was able to check this attempt, so that the Pelican yet enjoys what protection the law may give him. The prejudice of the fishermen was not abated, however, and two or three years ago the island was raided at night and a large number of birds were killed. Whether or not this w as the reason, the fact remains that last fall the east coast Brown Pelicans, as a body, deserted their ancestral breeding place and moved north to the south end of Mosquito Lagoon, about lift} miles south of Daytona. Here they selected a mangrove island which had been the site of a considerable colony of Ward’s Herons (the Florida Great Blue), and as is their habit, began to breed in December. The site of the new rookery is an island about half a mile in length, shaped like a crescent, not over live hundred feet wide 66 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 at its center. It is about two miles west of the Atlantic Ocean, among the other mangrove islands that dot the southern ex- panse of the lagoon. The outer shore is wooded with mangrove, the inner shore is sandy or marshy. In addition to the man- grove, the island hears not a little Spanish Bayonet (Yucca) and some palmetto scrub. This part of the lagoon is a favorite ground for the fishermen of neighboring regions, and thus the new rookery was soon dis- covered. The Pelicans had left a federal reservation to found a new home in an out-of-the-way place where there was no warden nor any protection for them. The consequence was that when the young birds were about half grown and wholly unable to fly, certain unknown parties, probably ignorant fishermen, de- scended upon the colony with clubs and shot-guns and slaughtered them without let or hindrance. About three weeks after this outrage, a party from the Halifax Kiver Bird Club made a trip to the rookery for purposes of investigation. It was found that the rookery was on the western half of the island. The nearest approach is from the east. The waters are verv shallow, so that it was necessary to make the last two or three hundred yards in a flat-bottomed skiff. Passing through the mangrove and marsh-grass, down to the center of the island, we first saw signs of the slaughter. Here and there lay a dead and half-decayed Pelican. To the left, in the water, half-enclosed by the points of the crescent-shaped island, was a flock of two or three hundred adult birds, and a few more were descried resting on the shore at the west end. The western half of the island was a charnel house. The bodies of young Pelicans, together with not a few of the adult birds, lay thickly scattered over all that, part of the island where the birds had nested. An effort to count the bodies was made, and the consensus of opinion was that between 1,500 and 2,000 birds had been killed. The young birds remaining alive would not exceed 400 in number. Many eggs were scattered about on the ground, and dismembered nests were lying here and there. The entire scene was one of rapine and slaughter, liepressing in the extreme. It passess comprehension that human beings would wreak such merciless destruction upon helpless and harmless birds. The condition of the bodies was such that it was impossible to determine in what manner the birds had been killed, but The New Brown Pelican Rookery 67 local fishermen told us that most of the work was done with clubs. I picked up several shot-gun shells, of the Winchester repeater variety, which would indicate that some, probably the adult birds, had been dispatched by gun-fire. The young birds that had escaped were wandering about in disconsolate groups, and kept at a respectful distance. A few would permit of close approach, but snapped their huge bills viciously to express their disapproval of the intruders. If pressed too closely, they would make their way out into the shallow water, where they flopped and swam to a safe distance. Not a few young birds were found with broken wings and legs and otherwise injured. The Pelican nests for the most part were in the mangrove bushes, but some were placed on the ground, and, most interest- ing of all, several were situated in clumps of Spanish bayonet. Some young birds were seen scrambling about among the sharp- pointed leaves of the yucca, and undoubtedly some have been wounded and perhaps killed in that strange and inhospitable environment. An interesting discovery was that of a Ward’s Heron’s nest, superimposed upon an abandoned Pelican nest, placed in a yucca clump. There were two fledglings and one addled egg in this adopted home. This is the first instance that has come to my attention of a Ward’s Heron choosing an old Pelican nest in which to rear its young. The other birds seen on the island were Black and Turkey A ul- tures, feeding upon the bodies of dead Pelicans, several Red- winged Blackbirds, a small flock of Boat-tailed Graekles, ami several Florida Yellow-throats and Myrtle Warblers. Florida Cormorants were common out in the lagoon, together villi some Herring Gulls, Royal Terns, a fjew Horned and Pied-billed Grebes, and thousands of Lesser Scaup Ducks. The raiding of this new rookery lias been reported to the federal warden and the Biological Survey, and to the National Association of Audubon Societies. It is hoped that the United States government will take over the island, or, better still, the southern portion of the lagoon, as a bird reservation. It is too late to save the young Pelicans of 1024, but if the old birds return to their home next fall, a federal warden on the spot, armed with Springfield rifles and considerable courage, could prevent the recurrence of what has taken place this year. 68 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 The charge that Brown Pelicans eat food fish is utterly with- out foundation. Dr. E. W. Nelson, Chief of the Biological Survey, states that after carefully inspecting the breeding grounds of both east and west Florida and examining hundreds of fish dropped by the Pelicans, he found that almost without exception the fish caught to be menhaden and grass minnows, species that are useless for human food, and that not one fish so examined was of any commercial value. Dr. Frank M. Chap- man points out that the case is not proved against the Pelican, because fish were more numerous on the east coast when Pelicans were more abundant than they are today. Pelicans feed chiefly on inedible fish or fish that are too small to be marketed. MIGRATION NOTES FROM STATE COLLEGE CENTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA THOS. D. BURLEIGH The following notes were taken during three and a half years spent at the Pennsylvania State College, and cover the spring and fall migrations from September, 1914, through June, 1917, and the spring migration of 1919. No attempt will be made to describe in any detail the topography or geographical situation of this locality for this lias already been ably done by Mr. Richard C. Harlow in papers that he has published concern- ing the breeding birds of Center County. Avoiding any useless repetition it is necessary to state merely that as its name indi- cates Center County lies in the geographic center of the State, and is a rough mountainous county lying will within the range of the Alleghenies that divide the State at this point. This range of mountains runs approximately north and south and has un- questionably a distinct bearing on the movement of the birds to and from their summer homes. That many of them follow these ridges in their long journeys is borne out by the early dates at which certain species appear in the spring, and by the late ap- pearance of many of them in the fall, dates both earlier and later than recorded for these same species both farther north and farther south. River valleys undoubtedly influence migrations but my limited experience would indicate that mountain ranges are of far more importance in guiding birds at this time. Little T believe has been published concerning migration data for this part of the State. Migration Notes from State College 69 As a matter of convenience the birds have been divided into four groups, and the data so arranged as to fall within these groups. I. Resident Species 1. Ruffed Grouse — Bonasa umbellus umbellus. 2. Wild Turkey — Meleagris gallopavo silvestris. 3. Cooper's Hawk — Accipiter cooperi. 4. Sparrow Hawk — Falco sparverius sparverius. 5. Screech Owl — Otus asio asio. 6. Great Horned Owl. — Bubo virginianus virginianus. 7. Hairy Woodpecker — Dryobates villosus villosus. 8. Downy Woodpecker — Dryobates pubescens medianus. 9. Northern Pileated Woodpecker — Phlce.otomus inleatus abieticola. 10. Red-headed Woodpecker — Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 11. Prairie Horned Lark — Octocoris alpestris praticola. 12. Blue: Lay — Cyanocitta cristata cristata. 13. Northern Raven — Corvus corax principalis. 14. Croav — Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos. 15. Starling — Siurnus vulgaris. 16. Goldfinch — Astragalinus tristis tristis. 17. English Sparrow — Passer domesticus. 18. Cardinal — Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. 19. Cedar WaxwiIg — Bombycillci cedrorum. 20. White-breasted Nuthatch — Sitta carolinensis carolinensis. 21. Tufted Titmouse — Bccolophus bicolor. 22. Chickadee — Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus. These species occur in Center County throughout the year, and are equally common during the winter and during the summer months. There is possibly a general shifting south, but indi- vidually there is little variation at any time. The Ruffed Grouse breeds well back in the mountains but has a tendency to wander into the open valleys late in the fall and evidently retains to a slight extent the desire to migrate. The Red-headed Woodpecker winters regularly and there are certain stretches of woods where it can always be found during the winter months, but it is the one exception to the other species listed in that at least half of them disappear late in the tall and it is early April before they are abundant again. Each fall there is a distinct migration of Blue Jays. On October 1), 1915, and again on September 28, 191(5, these birds •^01*0 much in evidence the entire day, small flocks of vailing siz( being: seen, flying by overhead or silently feeding in ihe seal find short stretches of woods. The first Starlings were seen in Center County February 29, 70 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 11)1(5, four being found feeding- in a stretch of underbrush border- ing an open held. None were then recorded until that fall when three were seen November 7 in the top of a tree at the edge of a field. They gradually increased in numbers during the winter and by early March, 1!)17, were quite plentiful. They nested here for the first time that spring, and are now abundant in this part of the State throughout the year. II. Breeding Birds 1. Pied-ri i. led Grebe — Podilymbus podiceps. Earliest, April 17, 1917; latest, Nov. 18, 1916. 2. Great Blue Heron — Ardea Jierodias herodias. Earliest, March 30, 1916; latest, Oct. 10, 1914. Status as a breeding bird uncertain. 3. Green Heron — Butorides virescens virescens. Earliest, April 24, 1917; average elate, April 26; latest, Oct. 3, 1916. 4. Virginia Rail — Rallus virginianus. Earliest, April 19, 1916; in 1917 the first bird seen April 21; latest, Sept. 21, 1916. 5. Sora Rail — Porzana Carolina. April 26, 1916, May 1, 1917; latest, Oct. 25, 1916. 6. Woodcock — Philohela minor. First seen March 25, 1917, March 22, 1919. 7. Upland Plover — Bartramia longicauda. First seen April 24, 1915, April 27, 1916, April 21, 1917, April 11, 1919. 8. Spotted Sandpiper — Actitis macularia. Earliest, April 15, 1916; average date, April 20. 9. Killdeer — Oxyechus vociferus. Earliest, March 2, 1917; average, March 9; birds plentiful by the latter part of the month; latest record, Nov. 24, 1914; average, Nov. 18; each year two birds winter about a small pond that is fed by a warm spring and never freezes over. 10. Mourning Dove — Zenaxdura mac r our a carolinensis. Earliest, March 12, 1917; average, March 20; latest, Oct. 22, 1916; three records for occurrence in the winter, single birds seen Dec. 3, 1914, Feb. 13, 1916, and Jan. 25, 1917. 11. Turkey Vulture — Cathartcs aura scptentrionalis. Earliest, March 4, 1919; average, March 22; latest, Nov. 2, 1916. 12. Marsh Hawk — Circus hudsonius. Uncommon, and irregular in its arrival and departure; earliest, Feb. 12, 1916; latest, Dec. 5, 1916. 13. Broad-winged Hawk — Buteo plalypterus. Earliest, April 18, 1919; a distinct diurnal migration of these birds was observed April 20, 1917, when for several minutes early in the afternoon they soared by high overhead in a loose, straggling line; at times but one or two would be in sight, while again a fairly com- pact group of seven or eight would appear; in all, forty-five were counted. Migration Notes from State Coll 71 ege 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Yellow-billed Cuckoo — Coccyzus amcricanus am eric anus. Earliest, May 6, 1919; latest, Sept. 23, 1915; birds usually plentiful by the latter part of May. Belted Kingfisher — Ceryle alcyon alcyon. Earliest, March 28, 1916; average, April 3, latest, Nov. 13, 1915; one winter record, two birds seen Jan. 20, 1917. Northern Flickeu — Colaptes auratus luteus. Earliest, March 13, 1915; average, March 26; latest, Nov. 19, 1914; two winter records, two birds Feb. 1, 1916, and one bird, Jan. 14, 1917. W hip-poor-will — Antrostomus vociferus vociferus. Earliest, April 26, 1915; average, April 29; latest, Oct. 10, 1915. N ighthawk — Chordeiles virginianus virginianus. Earliest, May 8, 1915; latest, Oct. 4, 1915; scarce as a breeding bird. Chimney Swift — Cluetura pelagica. Earliest, April 14, 1916; average, April 19; latest, Oct. 2, 1915; average date for departure, Sept. 25. Rubx-th ro a ted Hummingbird — A rchilochus colubris. Earliest, May 13, 1915; latest, Oct. 2, 1915. Kingbird — Tyrannus tyr annus. Earliest, April 22, 1917; average, April 30; no records for departure in the fall, the birds invariably being gone by the time I reached State College the middle of September. Crested Flycatcher — Myiarchus crinitus. Earliest, May 2, 1915; average, May 4; latest, Sept. 17, 1914. Phcebe — Sayornis phae-be. Earliest, March 22, 1917; average, March 25; latest, Oct. 21, 1916. Wood Pewee — Myiochanes virens. Earliest, May 8, 1916; average, May 11; latest, Oct. 3, 1916. Least Flycatcher — Empidonax minimus. Earliest, April 30, 1916; average, May 4; latest, Sept. 22, 1916. Bobolink — Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Earliest, May 4, 1916; average, May 7. Cowbird — Molothrus ater ater. Earliest, March 30, 1916; average, April 3; latest, Nov. 2, 1916; average date for departure, Oct. 26. Red-winged Blackbird— Agelaius idiccniceus phoeniceus. Earliest, Feb. 26, 1917; average, March 4; latest, Nov. 14, 1916; average date for departure, Oct. 31. Meadowlark — Sturnella magna magna. Earliest, Feb. 13, 1916, a flock of eight birds being seen that day; average, Fell. 27; latest, Nov. 13, 1915; winter lecoids, Jan. _o, 1915, Dec. 5, 1916, Jan. 20, 1917; a few birds seemingly winter each year. Orchard Oriole — Icterus spurius. Earliest, May 6, 1916, May 6, 1919. Baltimore Oriole — Icterus galibula. Earliest, April 29, 1915; average, May 2; Earliest, Feb. 28, 1917; average, March latest, Sept. 16, 1915. 4; latest, Nov. 21, 1915; 31. 72 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 average date for departure, Nov. 14; one winter record, a single bird, 1919. 32. Purple Grackle — Quiscalus guiscula quiscula. 33. Vesper Sparrow — Pooeeetcs gramineus gram incus. Earliest, March 24, 1917; average, March 28; latest, Nov. 17, 1914; average date for departure, Oct. 31. 34. Savanna h Sparrow — Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Records for arrival in the spring: March 25, 1916, March 27, 1917, March 26, 1919; latest record for the year, Oct. 16, 1915. 35. Grasshopper Sparrow — Ammondramus savannarum australis. Earliest, April 8, 1919; average, April 13, latest, Oct. 23, 1916; always plentiful by the middle of April. 36. Henslow's Sparrow — Passerherbulus liensloxci henslowi. Dates for arrival in the spring: April 28, 1917, and May 4, 1919; known to breed in one locality only. 37. Chipping Sparrow — Spizella passerina passerina. Earliest, April 1, 1916; average, April 7; usually plentiful by the 12th; latest, Nov. 4, 1916; average date for departure, Oct. 31. 38. Field Sparrow — Spizella pusilla pusilla. Earliest, March 26, 1917; average, April 3; plentiful by the 5th or Cth; latest, Oct. 30, 1914; average date for departure, Oct. 26. 39. Song Sparrow — Melospiza mclodia melodia. Earliest, Feb. 14, 1915; average, Feb. 28; usually plentiful by the 16th of March; latest record for the fall migration Nov. 11, 1915; a few winter each year, single birds being seen at intervals of two or three weeks. 40. Town ee — Pipilo eryili rophthalmus erythrophthalmus. Earliest, April 11, 1919; average, April 24; latest, Nov. 14, 1915; average date for departure Nov. 11. 41. Indigo Bunting — Passerina cyanea. Dates for arrival: May 8, 1913, May 6, 1916, and May 5, 1919; birds plentiful by the 12th; latest, Oct. 3, 1915. 42. Scarlet Tanagicr — Piranga crytkrornelas. Earliest, May 3, 1919; average, May 6; one record for departure in the fall — Sept. 14, 1914. 43. Cliff Swallow- — Petrochclidon lunifrons lunifrons. Earliest, April 17, 1916; average, May 1; latest, Oct. 3, 1916. 44. Barn Swallow — Hirundo erythrogastra. Earliest. April 6, 1916; two days later, on the 8tli, there was a heavy snow storm and it seemed unnatural that day to see two of these birds feeding over an open pond during this driving snow, and with several inches of snow already on the ground; one nat- urally comes to associate these birds with warm weather, and not with blizzards; average, April 10; latest, Oct. 1, 1916; average date for departure, Sept. 26. 45. Tree Swallow — Iridoprocnc bicolor. Earliest, April 9, 1919; average, April 17; latest, Oct. 22, 1916. Rough-winged Swallow — Stclgidopteryx serripennis. 46. Migration Notes from State College 73 Earliest, April 17, 1915; birds plentiful by the latter part of the month. 47. Red-eyed Vireo- — Vireosylva olivacea. Earliest, May 7, 1915; latest, Sept. 27, 1914. 48. Warbling Vireo — Vireosylva gilva gilva. Earliest, April 28, 1915; average, May 3; latest, Sept. 25, 1915. 49. Yellow-throated Vireo — Lanivirco flavifrons. Earliest, May 1, 1917; average, May 8; latest, Sept. 14, 1915. 50. Blue-headed Vireo — Lanivireo solitarius solitarius. Earliest, April 11, 1915; average, April 20; latest, Oct. 19, 1916; this bird a very scare breeder here. 51. Black and White Warbler — Mniotilta varia. Earliest, April 21, 1917; average, April 26; latest, Sept. 29, 1916. 52. Worm-eating Warbler — Helmithcros vermivorus. Earliest, May 4, 1919; average, May 8. 53. Golden-winged Warblei: — V ermivora chrysotera. Earliest, May 4, 1919. 54. Northern Parula Warbler — Compsothlypis americana usnece. Earliest, April 28, 1915; average, May 4. 55. Yellow Warbler — Dendroidca (estiva c estiva . Earliest, April 24, 1915; average, April 27. 56. Black-throated Blue Warbler— Dendroica ccerulescens cceralescens. Earliest, April 30, 1916; average, May 6; latest, Oct. 20, 1914; aver- age date for departure, Oct 16. 57. Chestnut-sided Warbler — Dendroica pennsylvanica. Dates of arrival, May 2, 1915, May 3, 1916, May 3, 1917, May 4, 1919. 58. Blackburnian Warbler — Dendroica fusca. Earliest, April 26, 1916; latest, Oct. 11, 1914. 59. Black-throated Green Warbler — Dendroica virens. Earliest, April 21, 1917; average, April 27; latest, Oct. 18, 1914; average date of departure, Oct. 15. 60. Pine Warbler — Dendroica vigorsi. Earliest, April 18, 1917. 61. Oven-bird — Seiurus aurocapillus. Earliest, April 28, 1915; average, April 30; latest, Oct. 18, 1914; average date of departure, Oct. 15. 62. Louisiana Water-Thrush — Seiurus motacilla. Earliest, April 13, 1919; average, April 18. 63. Maryland Yellow-throat — Geothlypis trichas trichas. Earliest, May 2, 1916; average, May 5; latest, Oct. 10, 1915; aver- age date of departure, Oct. 8. 64. Yellow-breasted Chat — Icteria virens virens. Earliest, May 4, 1919; average, May 8. 65. Hooded Warbler — Wilsonia citrina. Earliest, May 1, 1915; average, May 4; latest, Sept. 19, 1915. 66. Canada Warbler — Wilsonia canadensis. Earliest, May 5, 1919; average, May 10; latest, Sept. 19, 1915. R edstart — Setopliaga rutici lla. Earliest, April 30, 1916; latest, Oct. 4, 1916; average, Sept. 18; birds breed very sparingly 67. 74 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 68. Catbird — Dumetella carolinensis. Earliest, April 30, 1916; average, May 2; latest, Oct. 16, 1915; aver- age date of departure, Oct. 7. 69. Brown Thrasher — Toxostoma rujum. Earliest, April 18, 1917; average, April 20; latest, Oct. 17, 1915; average date of departure, Sept. 29. 70. Bewick's Wren — Thryomanes bewicki bewicki. Earliest, April 1, 1917; average, April 10. 71. House When — Troglodytes aedon aedon. Earliest, April 19, 1917; average, April 26; plentiful by the latter part of the month; latest, Oct. 11, 1914; average date of departure, Oct. 10. 72. Wood Thrush — H yloeiehla musteMna. Earliest, May 4, 1919; the birds breed only in the mountains some distance from the town, never in the open valley, and as a result my migration records are meager. 73. Rodin — Planesticus migratorius migratorius. Earliest, Feb. 22; 1915; average, Feb. 25; usually not plentiful be- fore the middle of March; latest, Nov. 23, 1915; average date for departure, Nov. 19; probable winter records, single birds seen Dec. 10, 1914, Feb. 13, 1916, and Feb. 4, 1917. 74. Bluebird — Sialis sialis sialis. Earliest, Feb. 21, 1915; average, Feb. 26; usually plentiful by the middle of March, latest. Nov. 14, 1915; average date for departure, Nov. 9; two winter records, single birds seen Jan. 27, 1915, and Jan. 30, 1916. The fact that each year I was absent from State College from the middle of dime until the middle of September made me miss the opportunity of checking up on those birds which disappear in August. Such species as the King bird. Orchard Oriole, Bob- olink, Rough-winged Swallow, and many of the warblers are in- variably gone by the first of September. III. Migrants 1. Horned Grebe — Colymbus auritus. A spring migrant only, but fairly plentiful then for possibly a month; earliest, April 2, 1917; latest, May 14, 1917; average date for arrival April 15; for departure, May 1. 2. Loon — Gavia immer. One record only, a single bird seen Oct. 8, 1916. 3. Herring Gull — Lams argentatus. One record only, a single bird seen April 28, 1919, on the pond at Scotia. 4. Ring-billed Gull — Lams delawarensis. One record only, two birds seen May 7, 1916, on the mill pond at Oak Hall. 5. Bonaparte's Gull — Larus Philadelphia. A single bird seen May 7, 1916, at Oak Hall; fairly plentiful during Migration Notes from State College 75 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. the spi ing migi ation of 1917 and seen at frequent intervals on the pond at Scotia from April 20, through May 7. On the latter date seventeen were found there, resting quietly on the water. Black Tern — Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Two records, both for the spring migration; May 17, 1915, two birds were seen at Oak Hall, and May 7, 1917, two were found on the pond at Scotia. Hooded Merganser — Lophodytes cucullatus. Scarce but of regular occurrence each spring; earliest, April 2, 1917; latest, May 9, 1915; one record for the fall migration, Nov. 11, 1916. Mallard — Anas platyrJiynch os. Recorded only during the fall migration of 1916, but unexpectedly plentiful then, small flocks being seen at frequent intervals on the pond at Scotia from Oct. 26 through Nov. 14. Buck Duck — Anas rnbripes. Scarce but of regular occurrence each spring and fall; earliest, March 18, 1917; latest, April 20, 1917; earliest record for the fall migration, Sept. 25, 1915; latest, Nov. 2, 1916. Blue-winged Teal — Quer.gueclula cliscors. An uncommon migrant; in 1916 a single bird lingered from Sept. 19 through the 24th on a small pond and on October 21 one bird was seen at Oak Hill; in 1917, two birds, male and female, were seen April 21 feeding at the edge of a creek. Pintail — Dafila acuta. Recorded only during the spring migration of 1917, but fairly plen- tiful then, small flocks being seen at frequent intervals from Feb. 4 through April 19. Redhead — Manila amcricana. One record only, two birds, both males, seen March 30, 1916, at Oak Plall. Scaup Duck — Manila marila. A common spring migrant; earliest record April 14, 1916; latest, May 7, 1917; no records for the fall migration. Golden-eye — Clang ula clangula amcricana, A scarce migrant; three records, all for the spring migration; March 14, 1916, one bird, April 2, 1917, three birds, all males, April 19, 1917, two birds, both males. B uffle- head — Cha ri tonetta alb cola. Fairly common during the spring migration, scarce in the fall, earliest record in the spring, April 14, 1916; latest, May 14, 1917, one record for the fall, two birds, Nov. 4, 1916. C ld-squaw — Harelda by emails. One record only, one bird seen April 16, 1917. Iuddy Duck — Erismaiura jamaicensis. 1 scarce migrant; two records for the spring migration, single iirds, April 21, 1917, and May 14, 1917; one for the fall migration, . single bird Oct. 28, 1916. } re a ter Snow Goose — Cli cn hyperborens nivalis. 18. 76 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1S24 One record only, a flock of fully seventy birds seen Nov. 16, 1916, toward the middle of the afternoon, flying noisily by overhead. 19. Canada Goose — Branta canadensis canadensis. A regular hut scare migrant; earliest, Feb. 26, 1917; latest, April 2, 1916; earliest for the fall migration, Oct. 16, 1915; latest, Oct. 21, 1916; usually seen in flocks varying from thirty to sixty birds, which announced their presence long before they were seen. 20. Bittern — Bot aunts lengitmosus. Scarce, and of irregular occurrence during the spring migration; earliest, April 3, 1917; latest, May 12, 1917. 21. Florida Gallinule — Gallinula galeata. One record only, a single bird seen May 6, 1916, on the mill pond at Oak Hall. 22. Coot — Fulica americana. Two records for the spring migration, a single bird seen each time, April 30, 1916, and May 14, 1917; fairly common in the fall; earliest, Sept. 24, 1916; latest, Nov. 5, 1916. 23. Wilson's Snipe — Gallinago delicata. A common migrant; earliest, March 25, 1916; latest, May 7, 1916; usually plentiful by the first week in April; earliest for the fall migration, Sept. 26, 1916; nine birds remained about a pond dur- ing the entire winter of 1916-17, and were seen there almost daily during the latter part of December, and January and February; when the weather permitted they at times scattered out about the swamps and creeks close by, but deep snows invariably brought them back; a single bird wintered about this same pond during the winter of 1918-19. 24. Pectoral Sandpiper — Pisobia maculata. Recorded only during the spring migration of 1917, but single birds or small flocks seen at frequent intervals then from April 12 through May 4; possibly overlooked other years. 25. Least Sandpiper — Pisobia minutilla. A common spring migrant; earliest, May 2, 1917; average, between the 9th and the 13th; latest, May 26, 1916. 26. Greater Yellow-legs — Totanus melanoleucus. Common during the spring migration of 1917, but rather scarce other years; earliest, April 3, 1917; latest, four birds seen May 14, 1917; ordinarily one or two birds were seen each spring between the 6th and the 12th of May; two records for the fall migration, Oct. 21, 1916, and Nov. 14, 1916. 27. Yellow-legs — Totanus flavipes. A common spring migrant, occurring in flocks of as many 10 or 4 2 birds, and frequently seen with the preceding species; earliest, April 3, 1917; latest, May 17, 1916; unusually abundant during the spring of 1917; four records for the fall migration, single birds seen Sept. 18, 1915, Sept. 19, 4 915, Oct. 28, 1916, and Aug. 1, 1920. 28. Solitary Sandpiper — Helodromas solitarius solitaries. A common migrant; earliest, April 14, 1916; plentiful by the first week in May; latest, May 22, 1916; latest for the fall migration, Sept. 30, 1915. to Migration Notes from State College 77 9. Semipalmated Plover — Mgialitis semipalmata. A scarce spring migrant; three records; one bird May 17, 1916, one bird May 30, 1916, and a flock of six birds May 7, 1917. 30. Goshawk — As'.ur atricapillus atricapillus. Scarce, and of irregular occurrence during the winter; four records, Nov. 17, 1915, Nov. 26, 1916, March 15, 1917, and March 12, 1919. 31. Red-tailed Hawk — Butco borealis borealis. A regular but scarce migrant, one or two being seen during each spring and fall migration; earliest, March 22, 1917; latest depart- ure, April 28, 1919; records for the fall migration, Nov. 10, 1914, and Nov. 11, 1916. 32. Red-shouldered Hawk — Buteo lineatus lineatus. One record, a single bird, seen Jan. 31, 1916. 33. Osprey — Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. One record, one bird lingering for six days, from April 17, 1917, through the 22nd, about a creek near the town. 34. Short-eared Owl — Asio flammeus. One record, one bird seen Nov. 5, 1916, flushed in a large open field. 35. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — Sphyrajncus varius varius. A common migrant; earliest, March 26, 1917; average, March 30; plentiful by the end of the first week in April; latest record for the spring migration, May 14, 1916; earliest record for the fall migra- tion, Sept. 18, 1915; average, Sept. 26; latest, Nov. 14, 1914; average date of departure, Oct. 14. 36. Olive-sided Flycatcher — Nuttallornis borealis. One record, one bird seen May 11, 1919, in the top of a tree at the side of a road uttering its characteristic note of alarm. 37. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher — Empidonax flaviventris. Two records, Oct. 16, 1915, and May 19, 1916. 38. Alim: r Flycatcher — Empidonax trailli alnorum. Three records, May 12, 1917, May 13, 1917, and May 17, 1919. 39. Horned Lark — Otocoris alpestris alpestris. A common spring migrant, appearing in large flocks of from two to three hundred birds; abundant in 1916 and 1917, but scarce in 1919; earliest, Feb. 26, 1916; average, March 22; latest record for departure, April 9, 1916; average, March 31. 40. Rusty Blackbird — Euphagus carolinus. A common migrant; earliest, March 4, 1919; latest, May 7, 1916; earliest record for the fall migration, Oct. 3, 1916; latest, Nov. 20, 1914; one winter record, a single bird seen Jan. 6, 1917, feeding with a flock of English Sparrows. 41. Purple Finch — Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. A common migrant, and a scarce but regular winter resident, eail- iest record for the fall migration, Sept. 19, 1916; common by the first of October; latest record for the spring migration, May 17, 1915; average, May 14. | Continued in September Wilson Bulletin | 78 THE WILSON BULLETIN — June, 1924 THE PHILOSOPHY OF BIRDS’ NESTS AND COMPARA- TIVE CALIOLOGY IN CONSIDERATION OF SOME LOCAL NIDICOLOUS BIRDS The old Spanish proverb as pharaphrased by Longfellow, “There are no birds in last year’s nest,” is in many instances more poetic than true, and the bird-lover is blase indeed if the discovery of even an einptv nest does not sometimes awaken a lively curiosity and a thrill of admiration for the builder. Caliology is a most delightful and instructive department of Ornithology and should appeal to the ultrahumane, especially since the study does not necessitate the destruction of life and the collection of its bewildering variety of specimens ranging from the most crude to the most curious and artistic types, is just as practical as skins or eggs. The site, position, composition, architecture and workman- ship of the nest may reveal something of the builders’ habits, haunts, structure and position in the Avian scale. The subject is indeed full of possibilities, for the nest repre- sents the sole constructive work of the owner, the tangible asset of a more or less mechanical energy set in motion by certain physiciological conditions or stimuli; the revelation of a most interesting phase of that mysterious innate propensity called instinct, which we are told, has the appearance of reason and knowledge, exceeding as it does the intelligence ami experience of the builder; to which is added traditional habits, adaptability and perhaps a modicum of originality, should we follow the older school in the belief that birds have much the same sense facilities for acquiring knowledge that ourselves possess and though much inferior, are like us in mind and emotions. Au- thorities differ in their conception of the origin of instinct. In general, that of natural selection through the elimination of the unfit, seems the most plausible, and that of the effects of habit thiough successive generations, a contributing factor. Though the truly instinctive nature of nest-building has never been fully established, Wallace in his rejection of the hypothesis based his contention on erroneous premises and his main conclusion that nest-building is essentially imitative, lacked proof. It has been argued that a nestling knows less of its nest than of its general surroundings and that if birds were imitative there would be no reason why a species should not sometimes pattern after allied The Philosophy of Birds’ Nests 79 species instead of each species constructing a standardized nest after its own kind. In colonial species ii might he possible for the miniatures to pattern after the adults, and there would he nothing revolutionary in this thought for it is easily proven that birds are mimetic in song and frequently in the wild state imitate the notes of other species. The writer has identified the song notes of some 18 species uttered by a single, ta lanted Catbird in the hedge and as many call notes given by a Starling nesting in the cornice. After the vital continuous instinct of self-preservation (that of snbsistance and avoidance of harm) hardly less powerful is the periodic or seasonable breeding instinct, which for brief and critical periods takes precedance of the first, and it may be necessary for the perpetuation of the species that it should, since many species would be individually safer without a fixed abode. The breeding cycle is one of orderly sequence full of domi- nating influences and associations naturally leading from one to another. No doubt the first phase is that of the awakening of sexual and homing instincts portending the vernal migration to the place of birth, followed bv the fight for exclusive rights to sufficient territory, commonly within the province of the male; then comes the period of courtship, selection of exact site for nest, in which the female commonly appears to have the last word; nest-building, deposition of eggs, incubation and care of young naturally follow, when the song period may suffer an eclipse or the more virile species of comparatively short breed- ing cvcle mav inaugurate a second or even a third cycle of sim- ilar sequence of minor actions beginning with courtship. Many species of diverse feeding habits may occupy the same ground apparently without coming into actual competition in the mat- ter of food. Since most of the individuals have more or less v restricted and distinctive haunts during the breeding season and employ the building materials close at hand, ii may be assumed that the inward impulse to build is quickened by the presence of the requisite and traditional materials aboul its feeding station. However, instinct does not enable ii In select the proper matter unerringly, for the female ol many species often rejects at the last moment materials brought to the site by herself or more frequently by the male, who seems to lack dis- crimination most often. In nest-building the female commonly takes the most pronu- 80 THE WILSON BULLETIN — June, 1924 lien t part and is, in fact, the architect and builder. It is there- fore of physiciolog'ical origin, for this action is quite similar to that of a mammal seeking the seclusion of a bed or den remote from disturbances to give birth to its young. Although sufficiently complete studies of the home life of most of our birds are yet a desiderata, it appears that both sexes of many species of the groups including the Puffins, Anklets, Shearwaters, Petrels, Herons, Raptores, Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers and Swifts, commonly assist in nest-building; while the Hummingbirds are the only group below the rank of the Passeres in which the males are known to bear no part of the burden. In the Passerine group there appears a bewildering amount of variability even in species closely allied. Many in which the males are highly colored render little or no assistance: Bobolink, Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds, Baltimore Oriole, Evening (Jrosbeak, House Finch, Crossbill, Redpoll, Goldfinch, Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Diekcissel, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Redbird and many of the Warblers. It apparently also in- cludes tin* Wood Pewee, Crested and Alder Flycatchers, White- throated, Fox, Song, and Swamp Sparrows, Brown Thrasher, and Robin. The male Phoebe, Cedar Waxwing, some of the Yireos, Purple Martin, Mockingbird, and Bluebird assist some- times. Species in which the sexes are similar or alike, often both sexes assist: Least Flycatcher, Crow, Savannah and Chipping Sparrows, Swallows, Plainopepla, Shrikes, Ovenbirds, Wrens, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Gnatcatcher, Bush-Tit, and Catbird. Doubtless there are both individual and geographical exceptions to the above list. khe most potent factor governing the selection of the site of a bird’s nest is impossible to determine. Habit is strong but an- cestral habit yields to changed conditions; the social instinct in colonial species is especially strong; the protective instinct is also powerful, since severe persecution will drive many of the %/ terrestrial n esters to cliffs or trees; the condition of young at birth is considered by some writers as by far the most important cause. The lower aquatic families from the Grebes to the Frigate- bird are almost exclusively insular, colonial, terrestrial, and primitive in nesting habits, and, further, with the exception of The Philosophy of Birds’ Nests 81 the Grebes, Loons, Mnrrelets, Murres, and Auks, all of their young are born helpless and remain a long time in the nest. ()l those in which the chick leaves the nest almost immed- iately, the Grebes, which are not insular, and the Loons, which art1 neither insular nor colonial, form rude nests not inferior to that of the average nidicolous bird of the lower orders, and the less typical nidifugous Mnrrelets, Murres, and Auks habitu- ally deposit their eggs upon the bare rock, comparable to the lack of nesting material of many of the nidicolous species of the lower orders. The Puffin, Anklet, Guillemot, Povekie, Shearwater, Petrel and Tropic-bird doubtless originally deposited their eggs on the open ground (as individuals of some of these species occasionally do yet) until persecution forced them to seek shelter in the crannies of rocks, or in the absence of sufficient quarters of this nature, to excavate burrows, where the lack of sunlight con- tributed materially to retard the development of the young, if not to acquire the typical nidicolous condition. It is true that some species of the lower orders are arboreal : the Common and Red-faced Boobies, Anhinga, Florida and Mexican Cormorants, California Brown Pelican and Man-o-War Bird, nest in low trees or bushes, situations less isolated than burrows or precipices but affording something of the security sought. It is therefore evident that it could hardly have been the condition at birth that determined the nesting site and materials of the lower groups, but conversely, self-protection, and possibly led to the nidicolous condition. Perhaps the best index to the site of a bird’s nest can be found in its food habits. Professor Rennie, in his little volume entitled “Bird Archi- tecture,” written almost a century ago, took his cue from Aristo- phanes, an ancient Greek dramatist, and introduced (he birds as artisians according to the form or nature ol their nests, miners, masons, carpenters, basket-makers, weavers, tailors, comen tors, felt-makers and parasites ; also ground, platform and dome- builders j suggesting a somewhat similar method <>i giouping for this paper. (1) Doubtless the most primitive form is that in which the egg is dropped upon the bare earth or rock without prepara- tion beyond perhaps a slight hollow. Naturally this form is rou- tined to the lowest Nidicohe— the Albatross, Rodger’s Fulmar, pintado l’etral, Tropic-Bird, Blue-faced, Blue-footed and Brew- 82 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 ster's Boobies, and should also include the Paroquet and Crested Anklets, Black, Mandt’s and Pigeon Guillemots, Dovekie, Bul- wer’s and Ashy Petrels, though these species deposit their eggs upon pebbles or rock spalls. The Laysan Albatross exhibits an incipient tendency for nest-building when the sitting bird reaches out to pick up sand to build around the nest a ridge several inches high. (2) The earth borrowers also represent the lower forms and with some notable exceptions, almost the most primitive types of the diving birds, including the Puffin, Anklet (two species), Guillemot (one species), Shearwater and Petrel, also the Burrowing Owl, Kingfisher, Bank and Bough-winged Swal- lows. The burrows of the various species of Puffins are often curved and generally extend three or four feet, seldom far below the surface. Bent says that the work of digging falls chiefly upon the male and that lie is at times so intent upon this work as to suffer himself to be taken by hand. The inner toe is well adapted for this work as it is strong, curved and sharp and the other toe nails are but little inferior. Apparently the male Rhinoceros and Cassin’s Anklets share with the female in the labor and Dawson states that the Pigeon Guillemot uses both beak and claws and is forced at the outset to maintain herself in midair. Montgomery says of the Slender- billed Shearwater, that the process, with intervals, requires six weeks. Fisher in describing the excavations of the Wedge-tailed Shearwater on Laysan Island, remarks that it shoves the loose earth under its body and kicks it in little jets far behind as it lies first on one side and works a foot and then shifts to the other. Turner relates that he found the Horned Puffin nesting on the higher cliffs on the Aleutian islands where foxes were found and on islands where foxes were absent, generally at the base of cliffs, and Jones found some nests of the Tufted Puffin beneath the thickly matted salal bushes without a semblance of an earth burrow, on Bird Reservation off the coast of Washington. Many of the Anklets, Guillemots, Dovekie, Fulmars, Pintado Petrel and some of the Shearwaters and Petrels, nest under boulders or in fissures of the rocks; doubtless all are borrowers in the future should occasion arise and may offer a hint of the probable origin of the tunnel-nesting habit. THE Philosophy of Birds’ Nests 83 An enlarged cavity in the earth at the end of the hole forms the nest and the slight concavity may be bare of nesting material but is often scantily lined with materials close at hand, a little dead grass, plant stems, leaves or twigs. The Borrowing Owl appropriates the burrow of the ground squirrel and enlarges the hole. An inhabitant of treeless plains would naturally seek a nesting site similar to its kind, if not a tree-cavity then a cavity in the ground. Bendire states that the loosened dirt is thrown backward with vigorous kicks of the feet, the bird backing gradually toward the entrance and shoving the debris outward as it advances. The original lining was probably grasses and rootlets, now mostly dried cow or horse manure. The Florida form constructs its own burrow. The Belted Kingfisher bores a nearly circular tunnel some- times perfectly straight, again diverging at different angles near the surface in sand or clay banks. The nest chamber is on a slightly higher level than the shaft and may have a scanty lining of fish bones or coarse grass blades. The Kingfishers are solitary in contradistinction to all the rest of the borrowers, and some forest-haunting species are said to nest in tree cavaties. The labor of perforation is accomplished by the Bank Swallow with closed bill according to the observations of Bennie; be- ginning at the centre and working outward, the bird consequently assumes various positions tending to throw the gallery out of line and sometimes quite tortuous. The time consumed, includ- ing the lining of grasses and feathers, is said to be from four to fourteen days. This cosmopolitan is better known in England by the name of Sand Martin, where it has been found in exceptional instances, nesting in crevices in mason rtf or old ruins, in tree cavities and it has even been known to burrow in decayed wood. I have found burrows of the Bough-winged Swallow near Howellville quarries, less than ten feet up the bank along a public road. It burrows in a similar fashion to tlial ol flic preceding species, though it is perhaps more apt 1o use ifs feel in scratching out the dirt. In the Chester and Schuylkill \ a 1 le\ s the Bough-wing usually nests in the crevices or pockels ) The more or less concave platform is a primitive type of the open nest, especially adapted to the ground or cliff nesting habit and bv the enforced transition to an arboreal site, less adapted to the situation than to the bird of aquatic or terrestrial feeding habits. This type includes the Common and Red-faced Boobies, Anhinga, Cormorants, Pelicans, Man-o-War-bird, Noddy. Roseate Spoonbill, Ibises, Bitterns, Herons, Pigeons, Hawks, Owls and Cuckoos, probably nearly all of which were at no remote period ground or cliff nesters, as some are yet. Many are especially adapted for terrestrial nesting and at some dis- advantage as arboreal nesters, in fact the only compensation ap- pears to be the protective features of an elevated nest. The Hawks, Eagles, Kites and probably the Owls may have evolved from an arboreal or at least a cliff-dwelling ancestor and their nests are often much more substantial. Generali v the cliff or tree builder utilizes sticks or twins * cT> 7 while the ground n ester frequently uses lighter materials in the main equivalent to a lining. The Marsh Hawk, for instance, uses sticks only when necessary to raise the nest above a wet The Philosophy of Birds’ Nests 85 ground. In the first trials the stick base of (lie cliff and tree breeders was obviously not a matter of knowledge or expediency, but the logical conclusion of an indiscriminate collection of ma- terials by the inexpert builder, only to have the lighter materials blown away and the heavier remain. The floor of the fertile Chester valley occasionally rises 100 feet or more to form a series of knolls parallel with the high hills on either side, the first land to emerge in a chain of islets when in the ancient days the waters broke through the hills and slowly drained into the sea. On these knolls in detached deciduous groves, the Black-crowned. Night Herons have existed perhaps since time immemorial. It may be more than a coincidence that all of these heronries have been placed in the western side of the groves, facing up the valley toward the first drained area and that the birds enter and emerge from this side though some have the disadvantage of contiguous roads. It is not necessary to go beyond 1872 when the heronry sit- xJ O xJ uated near the cantonment of Wayne’s Continentals at Valley Forge were shot up and the survivors settled near Port Kennedy, two or three miles further down the valley. When the timber of this grove was cut a few years later, the birds simply moved one field east to a similar situation, where a nucleus has existed with a few years interruption down to the present time, and from here the increase flowed back to the former site as soon as the timber became large enough to bear nests, comprising the twin colonies reported in 1891 to be the largest extant in this part of the country. The westernmost colony much depleted, maintained an ave- rage of about 100 adults from 1900 to 1905 when the timber was again cut the following winter and the Valley Forge colony re- established in 1906, after an abandonment of 31 years, in a de- tached grove quite close to the old site. This heronry of 43 nests increased to 150 nests in 1907 by the accretion, I since learned, of the easternmost Port Kennedy colony with which i( was so closely affiliated. The return of so interesting a species, en masse, to its ancestral nesting ground after a period doubtless several times longer than (he life of any individual ot the colon\ may be due to the habit of the adults ot this communal gioup revisiting the site during migrations until it became a iamiliar resting place and naturally would be resettled whenever the birds were dispossessed, though it was the most ineligible from the 86 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 standpoint of timber growth and privacy, of the several groves in the neighborhood. The annoyance began in 1008 and though the maximum of newly built nests was attained on May 9, 1909, continuous persecution drove all but four pairs with small young, to seek refuge in the easternmost grove at Port Kennedy and at Red Hill about a mile further down, and definitely abandon it the next year. 1 am reliably informed that the Red Hill heronry was estab- lished in 188G, however 1 did not visit it until 1911, when 90 nests continued to show evidence of occupation although re- cently “shot up.’’ It was further reduced the next year to 60 lusts, the same time that the Yallege Forge colony was once more reestablished with 50 nests and apparently had a prosper- ous year on the former site, since in 1916 there were 127 nests, but the gentlemen farmers in the vicinity accused the Herons of a well developed taste for young Mallards, and on April 15, 1917, I observed only about 15 birds engaged in nest-building and 33 others in nearby timber apparently undecided; however they soon after departed to swell the lower colonies. Though largely nocturnal this species is at a great disad- vantage in beginning to nest before the leaves are formed when the birds and nests mav be seen at a distance. 1 have observed * the entire Valley Forge colony of adults perched upon Ihe tall saplings in the rear of their heronry, looking, I fancied, like gigantic exotic blossoms on long slender stems; as they awaited the departure from under their nests of a party of idlers. The Red Hill heronry continued the brutal sporting ground of some inconsiderate persons and on duly 20, 1920, there were prob- able 45 nests inhabited bv voung belated more than a month. * *1/0 The following year the wood was removed and a powder magazine erected, resulting in a marked increase in the easternmost Port Kennedy colony, now the sole remaining heronry in the valley. This heronrv met with a setback in 1922 when so manv voiing perished during a storm, but was in force in excess of .”>00 adults the season following and due to the humane farmer had a most prosperous year. The nests of this picturesque species are placed in the highest available crotches and topmost branches of slender young ash, oak, chestnut, cherry and poplar, 25 - 75 feet above the ground. The nest is a very good example of the platform type, although sometimes a mere bundle of sticks in the least suitable branches — THE Philosophy of Birds’ Nests 87 probably the work of the immature. The nests are grouped as close as possible and the bill only is used to gather sticks from the ground or twist twigs from the tree, at which both sexes ap- pear to work from a few days to a week to rear a compact structure, well tramped down and finished slightly concave. This type of unlined nest, 1 have reason to believe, was peculiar to this part of the country in Wilson’s time. While the excreta whitewashes the nest, tree and ground for a radius of several feet, it does not kill the tree but on the contrary it accelerates its growth, while a most luxuriant vege- tation covers the ground except immediately under the nest. The Mourning Dove, like most of its family, is social and gregarious, but not essentially colonial. It is an adaptive species nesting from the ground to upwards of 50, though usually 5 to 15, feet, mostly in evergreens or thickset deciduous trees. I have found it on top of bare stubs and once upon the broad railing of a rose-embowered balcony, and it has been found in various localities on ledges, bowlders, roofs, wood piles and in cavities. The nest has a base of a few twigs, a scant layer of grass and weed stalks and lined with grass rootlets. I have noticed the male make numberless trips of 10 feet to gather material in bill for the female to arrange and complete in two days. Dice re- marked that while many other species building nests of greater bulk, gather all the material possible on a single trip, this species carries a single straw at a time and when this is accidently dropped, the bird continues to the nest before making another trip. The Hawks are natural cliff and tree nesters, usually build- ing a compact structure capable of withstanding the storms of several seasons. The Cooper’s Hawk compares favorably with the best as a builder. Like the Broad-wing, both sexes carry ma- terial in talons or beak, much of it broken from the live tree; also bark scale lining. The more slovenly Broad-wing is adverse to the construction of an entirely new nest, builds at a lower level, is most tenaceous to locality and has a perfect mania, shared in a lesser degree by all the Buteos, and occasionally by some of the Cormorants, Hawks, and Cuckoos, for plucking green sprigs, blossoms or leaves from nearby trees to serve as an additional lining albi the deposition of the eggs, to be renewed constantly after incu- bation has advanced or while the young are helpless. To the 88 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 writer this simply signifies recurrence of the earlier stages of the nesting cycle coincident with a renewal of sexual activity after a short period of inactivity. Since the early nesting species are accustomed to gather more or less light twigs broken directly from trees, it is natural that in the repetition of the building phase the same thing should reoccur, even though the terminal twig should bear bud, leaf or blossom, according to the advance of vegetation. t To be Continued in Next Issue ] FOUR DAYS’ OBSERVATIONS AT A GUNNING CAMP ON MARTHAS VINEYARD A. H. WOOD, JR. April 18, 11)24 Down to camp on Friday. A fine sunny day but very windy. There are usually myriads of Gulls and Terns at the Woods Hole wharf, but there were very few in evidence this trip. Pretty early in the season. We saw great banks of Scoters, apparently all Ocdemia dcgUindi, feeding in the sound on the way over to the Vineyard. On the beaches between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown the Gulls were fairly numerous. Three species of the Gulls were in evi- dence— Herring, Great Black-backed, and Laughing. They were all standing huddled up on the shore looking as though they hadn’t a friend in the world. Flying overhead were a few Terns, mostly Common Terns, but we also noticed a few Roseate Terns and several Least Terns. The ponds en route all contained small flocks of Lesser Scaup and a few American Golden-eyes. We arrived at camp about 2:30 p. m., but as it began to storm we contented ourselves with cleaning up and airing out the camp for occupancy. April 10 Rain and wind greeted us at 6 a. m. and lots of it. The in- clement weather didn’t prevent Fred and myself from starting out at 7 to see what birds were out in the storm as well as ourselves. We found a pair of our mated Geese nesting on the shore of the lagoon on the point. Observations at a Gunning Camp 39 W 0 went over to the west blind and rowed the boat over to the South Beach. The waves were running- very high, and the trip over to the beach was anything but dry. The avi-fauna on the beach was very scanty. In another month the Limicolac will be much more in evidence than they are now. We noticed one Piping Plover running along the shore of the inner beach as we landed, and later we saw a Sanderling on the outer beach. There were two dead White-winged Scoters and a Gannet lying on the beach, evidently killed by the discharged fuel oil of passing ships as their feathers, breast and wing, were heavily matted with the viscous stuff. The rain let up about 2 p. m. so Fred and I painted the sail boat and the front porch. While painting the boat we saw several pairs of ducks fly over but they were too far off for positive identification. They were probably local Black Pucks which are very common in this vicinity. There are very few land birds around camp yet. About all we saw were Marsh and Red-tailed Hawks, Crows, Song Spar- rows, Towhees, Robins, and Tree Swallows. April 20 Easter Sunday and a mighty poor one! Driving rain and more high winds out of the south-east. Charley, Fred, and the Skipper went over on the mail boat for the afternoon train. Joe and I stayed in camp. April 21 Allan called for me about 8 a. m. in the Ford and we started up-island to Squibnocket Pond to visit a Night Heron colony. While driving past Oyster Pond we saw several large flocks of Canada Geese swimming around in the pond, feeding along the shore, and otherwise enjoying themselves. Later in I he morning, we saw several other wedges high in the air, headed noitli. These wedges were so high that the individual birds looked to be the size of a sparrow, yet the wind brought the sound of their honking down to us with astounding clarity. In one of the small outlying Lagoons bordering on Squib- nocket, we saw about twenty “Blue Peters” (American Coot) sitting idly in the sun, completely satisfied with the world m general. They were very tame and allowed us to approach to within twenty yards of them, close enough to see their peculiar 90 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 banded white bill. In times past they have bred in this vicinity, and it looks as though they might breed there again this spring. We arrived at the Heronry about 10 a. m. This particular colony is situated off the main Gay Head-Edgartown road, about one-third of the wav between the road and the north-western end c- of Squibn octet. A small marshy pond, oval in shape, about one hundred yards long and half as wide, bordered by a wide fringe of tall bushes and dead trees, comprises the Night Heron colony. The birds were sitting on every bush and tree in sight- — about three hundred of them, and every bird a Black-crowned Night Heron. At our approach the Herons nearest ns rose in clouds and settled on the other side of the pond. They were all very wild and would not allow any sort of an approach for observa- tion. It was necessary for ns to make use of a pair of high- power glasses to see any detail at all. The birds were all in their splending breeding plumage and made a beautiful picture perched on the dead tree tops with the sun shining directly on them. We watched them for about an hour and enjoyed every minute of that hour. We drove back through the Heath-Hen Reservation, passing a covey of about twenty or thirty Quail on the way, but it was too late in the day to see any Heath-Hen. •Toe and I took the afternoon boat and arrived back in town that night. We are planning to go down to camp again the last of May and visit the breeding grounds of the Herring and Laughing Gulls, Piping Plover, Terns, and Parula Warblers. Boston, Massachusetts. SCREECH OWL (Otw s* asio a sin) E. 1). Nat; max (Observations on some of its food habits). When my brother and I were boys our home was on a farm near where the town of Keota, Iowa, now stands. The farm buildings were located near the margin of an extended forest. We boys became interested in the domestic pigeon business. We built and put up nest boxes to the number of about a dozen and usually had about that many pairs of adult pigeons about the place. When undisturbed they produced many a pair of Screech Owl 91 luscious squabs and besides furnishing the family a rare dish occasionally, they also produced some revenue for us. 1 lie thiid summer we had I lie pigeons, however, something interfered with them so they did not prosper. The adult pigeons, besides being unusually wild, gradually disappeared and they produced few or no squabs. Several times we dis- covered dead and half devoured young pigeons in the nest boxes. Once I found the remains of an adult pigeon that had been partly devoured. We could not account for this state of affairs; but it was certain that our pigeon business was “on the blink.” W e tried to account for our misfortune by assuming that rats, or minks, or weasels were doing the mischief. This did not, how- ever, quite bit the bill, for some of the nest boxes were so located that it was hard to see how any of these Carnivora could reach them. For a long time, we were completely at sea without anchor or compass in regard to this mysterious matter. But finally the time came when all was made plain. One day I suddenly raised the lid off a nest box where there still had lived a pair of pigeons, and I was startled and dumfounded to see an Owl dodge out through the opening and make his get-away in great haste. And there was a half devoured pigeon left in the box. The owl had got out of the box in such a liurrv that I could not be sure at the instant as to what species it belonged to but by subsequent observations we made certain that the mis- chief was being done by Screech Owls. We made war on them of course, as under the circumstances I think we were justified in doing. We shot a number of them and cut down several of the trees in the immediate vicinity, where they were known to live, and almost immediately our pigeon business began to im- prove and in due time to prosper again. In recent years there was located an outhouse or storage room near a residence two blocks from my present home in Sigourney, Iowa. The one side of this outhouse was covered with a thick mat of Virginia Creeper. This tangle of vines was a favorite hiding and roosting place for great swaims of small birds, mostly English sparrows. Directly in front of this tangle of vines and about 15 feet distant stood a clothes line post seven feet high. Many tunes as I passed there in the evening l could see a Screech Owl sta- tioned on this post with his yellow eyes fixed on that tangle of 92 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 vines. One evening as I was passing, the owl made a sudden dash into the vines and flew away carrying a wriggling and screeching sparrow in its talons. The gentleman who lived at that place told me that he had seen the owls catch a great many birds at this tangle of vines. I suppose we are justified in assuming that these owls do not indulge in any hair splitting arguments over sub-species, so doubtlessly many a luckless Junco, Tree Sparrow, or other small bird is obliged to con- tribute to their bill of fare. For many years a pair of these little owls have made their home in a hollow limb of one of our shade trees within 12 feet of our residence. Last summer a pair of Crested Flycatchers ap- propriated another hollow limb of the same tree and made their nest therein. The opening to the Flycatchers’ home was only about eight feet from the owl’s front doorway. For about three weeks everything passed along amicably so far as I could see. I saw the Flycatchers every day many times and heard them oftener. They had already begun to carry food to their young when suddenly something happened. Every- thing was not peace and tranquility about the Flycatchers’ home. 1 could see only one bird and he was shy and not carry- ing any food, and in a few days he also disappeared. The loca- tion of their nest in the tree was somewhat inaccessible, so I did not attempt to climb up and make a more careful exami- nation. I cannot, therefore, make any positive statement in regard to this case, but it looks mighty suspicious for the owls. It seems they must have had a “swell” dinner at about this time, consisting of a brood of young Flycatchers and one adult ditto. These are simply a few discordant notes in the grand sym- phony of Xat.ure. A perfectly good little owl should of course catch nothing but mice, rats, rodents, grasshoppers, etc. But they do not. Government reports show however that not over one-sixth of this owl’s food consists of other birds. The balance or five-sixths consists of mice and other rodents and insects, thus indicating that the Screech Owl is mainly a beneficial bird and should be protected, excepting possibly in a few in- dividual cases. Sigourney, Iowa. THE WILSON BULLETIN Published at. Oberlin, Ohio, by the Wilson Ornithological Club Official Organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Ornitho- logical Union (in affiliation). Price in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, $1.50 a year, 50 cents a num- ber, postpaid. Price in all countries in the International 'Union, $2.00 a year, 00 cents a number. Subscriptions should be sent to Ben J. Blincoe. R. I<\ ]).’ Dayton, Ohio. EDITORIAL The Editor will begin his annual automobile trip to the Pacific coast on the morning of June 18. He will return to Oberlin about August 20. Mail should be addressed to him at 143 West College Street, Oberlin, O. The points of especial interest that will be touched are Black Hills, Yellowstone, Glacier and Rainier parks, and the Pacific Ocean at Mora, Washington. The Bird Banding work, under the able direction of Messrs. Baldwin and Lyon, seems to be much the most active work that is being done at present. We may confidently look for some valuable results from the season’s activities. There are many interesting problems that can be worked out single-handed, as Mr. Baldwin has demonstrated, but there are at least as many more that require the cooperation of many workers. Lend your aid. Time was when a mere enumeration of the birds that were to be found in some political division could be looked upon as a contribution to our knowledge of the science of Ornithology. For a large part of North America that is no longer true. In the case of a very lage proportion of our native birds the general outlines of distribution are well enough known already. What is wanted is specific information about the spe- cies— just where in the political division it is to be found, just what its natural environment is, not only during the breeding season, which is by far the most important activity of every species, but also at other times, if there is any difference. It is not possible, at this time, to go into this matter at length. That will be done at a later date. Mean- while your Editor wishes to say to any contributors who are contem- plating the preparation of local lists of birds that he does not believe that mere enumerations of the species warrants the cost of publication. 94 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 NOTES- HERE AND THERE Conducted by the Secretary On March 7th the Secretary, at the invitation of the Outdoor Art League of Louisville, Kentucky, gave four lectures on Ornithology in that city. In the forenoon he spoke before the Louisville Normal School on “The Educative Value of Bird Study”; before the Male High School on “The Miracle of Migration”; and before the Kentucky Home School for Girls on “The Wonder of the Commonplace”. At noon he was the guest of the Outdoor Art League at a luncheon at the Henry Watterson Hotel, where he spoke on “Modern Methods of Bird Study”, emphasizing especially bird-gardening, bird-banding, and bird-reservations. It is a matter of gratification to us of the W. O. C. that one of our good members, George M. Sutton of the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh, is making quite a reputation as a bird-artist. There is no field that offers such opportunities for service as that of painting wild life in its native habitat. Much of the older work was too stiff, and reminded one at best only of well-mounted specimens in a museum. Mr. Sutton is continuing his work on his admirable study “The Birds of Florida”. We will welcome the publication of this great study. The Park City Daily News (Bowling Green, Kentucky) had the following as a news item on March 5, 1924: “Erwin, 7, son of Wester- field Dorsey, a farmer living three miles south of Smith’s Grove, on the Smith’s Grove and Glasgow Road, had a narrow escape when attacked by a large Golden Eagle last evening in the front yard of his father’s home. The child was playing in the yard when the eagle flew at him twice. The second time the eagle flew against a wire fence and was crippled. The boy screamed for help and his father came to his assistance. The eagle was captured by Dorsey and is now caged. The eagle measures 52 inches from tip to tip and is a young bird. It is attracting a great deal of attention, being the largest eagle that has ever been captured in the Smith’s Grove vicinity”. Franklin P. Metcalf, now teaching in Fukien Christian University, Foochow, China, writes the Treasurer: “The bird situation out here is very unusual, as we have such a large variety that live in or pass through this province. In fact, there are 462 birds reported from this region near Foochow, and I do not suppose that the list could be called complete. A great opportunity for some museum to build up its collec- tion would be found in this region”. Here is a note about one of our members who is now far away: “St. Mary’s Ohio, April 12, 1924 — A ‘whistling monkey’ was shot by Professor Walter F. Henninger, former Auglaize County church pastor, now at the head of a school in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. The monkey treed itself on the comb of Henninger’s house, his letter states. After unsuccessful attempts to catch the nimble-footed vagrant, Hen- ninger brought it down by means of firearms. Then his wife declined to cook the carcass for him. Monkey meat is a decided delicacy, Notes Here and There 95 Henninger insists. During a January summer outing at his station in the southern hemisphere Henninger says he and his wife captured 1500 perfect specimens of butterflies and other insects. His students on summer vacation (at Christmas time) caught 2000 bugs, which they donated to the enterprising professor. His collection now exceeds 11,000. A photograph shows Henninger and a woman school teacher holding a six-foot live snake stretched between them. A twelve-foot crocodile is a prize Henninger hopes to capture and bring with him when he returns to the States.” In the second annual bird census made by three members of the San Diego Society of Natural History on January 30 a total of 107 species of birds were counted between the hours of 7 a. m. and 5 p. m„ all within a radius of 15 miles of San Diego. This exceeded by 14 the highest previous record, says a dispatch from that city. Miss Lena B. Henderson, head of the Biology Department of Ran- dolph-Macon College, Lynchburg, Virginia, one of our new members, writes to the Secretary: ‘‘We have a very interesting Robin on our campus. Its throat is pure white, there are broken white lines over the eyes, and the under tail coverts are white. Its bill is lighter than normal. There is a great deal of interest manifested by our students in Biology, and I should like to follow it up. I hope it will nest here. I have never done any bird-banding, but it seems that we should keep some record of this interesting bird.” Thomas M. Earl, Columbus, Ohio, tfye famous taxidermist, has issued on the back of his advertisement a clever series of jingles called “Bird Orders in Rhyme”. Here is a sample: “An-ser-es is Order Five, In one family they thrive; Ducks and honking geese and swans, Wild, likewise domestic ones; Notice the peculiar bill With its inner tooth-like frill.” On March 4, 1924, our good friend, Professor Dayton Stoner of the University of Iowa, gave from the university broadcasting station, WHAA, a lecture on “Spring Birds”, which has since been printed as a regular issue of the University of Iowa Service Bulletin. Dr. Stoner is always interesting and does himself peculiar credit here in his ac- count of the problems of migration, the different kinds of birds, (permanent residents, summer, winter, and migrants), and the dates of the great migration waves. Mr. Belden Saur of Norwood, Ohio, writes to the Secretary: “On Friday, April 19, I took several boy friends of mine and set out tor a little walk in a small strip of woodland near Newtown, Ohio (about two miles from Cincinnati). We had no particular aims in view, just collect- ing a few wild flowers, or studying a casual bird that might fly by. After walking a while, out attention was attracted by a group of Black Vultures which were excitedly plunging about over heads in a \ ei > un- Vulture-like manner. There are several Owl roosts in this woods; so 96 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 I naturally supposed that the Vultures had found an Owl. I suggested that we sit down and watch to see what would turn up. As we sat there, a large group of Crows suddenly appeared from nowhere, followed by two Red-tailed Hawks. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Well, danger, I suppose, also makes strange bedfellows, for the Vultures, the Crows, and the Hawks all flew peacefully about one another for a bit. Then I was given a treat, which I believe was one of the greatest that I have known in my study of birds. A gigantic bird, judged by the size of the Vultures and the Hawks, floated across the sky. It had a smaller bird in its claws which I could not recognize. It alighted in a near-by tree; I instantly recognized it as a Bald Eagle, almost a bird of my city dreams, right before me. He remained but for a minute, as the allies, the hawks, the vultures, and the crows, pounced upon him. That min- ute was enough, though, for I plainly saw the white head, the yellow beak, and the peculiar roosting position of the Eagle.” Douglas Ayres, Junior, St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, commenting on his Christmas census in Bird-Lore, says to the Secre- tary: “I think fifteen species is the highest number ever seen in one day while taking the bird census, but it gives me more pleasure than any other winter trip. Up here in the St. Lawrence country bird life is very scant. On December 8, 1923, I saw a flock of 70 Evening Gros- beaks feeding on sumach cones, the canary yellow of the males contrast- ing vividly with the maroon of the sumach berries. On January 26 I saw an Artie Three-toed Woodpecker. I rapped on the dead pine on which it was hammering and it flew right down and lit on a log near me and then hitched along the log towards me. It was a female. I saw a male a year ago up here. A pair of Great Horned Owls are resi- dents in a near-by swamp. Some time next month (The letter was dated February 18, 1924) we will see a flock of Red Wings swaying in the tree- tops and the Canada Geese will honk overhead, and then we will know that spring is here. With the thermometer at 14 below zero continu- ously, winter grows monotonous.” Miss Emilie Yunker of Louisville, Kentucky, a prominent member of the Kentucky Ornithological Society, is Director of School Gardens for that city. One of her activities is a series of directed hikes with school children to the parks of the city. Captain Fulkerson, the keeper at Cherokee Park, is a great friend of the birds and helps Miss Yunker in her studies with the school children. On April 18, 1923, the pupils of the I. N. Bloom School, who have taken these hikes every Saturday morning this year, gave a dramatization of Longfellow’s ‘‘Birds of Killingworth” and in addition a number of their observations in the regular hikes. The April, 1924, “Gull”, published at San Francisco, contains a stinging protest from the editor, A. S. Kibbe, against the illegal prac- tices of the Du Pont Powder Company in inciting the people to destroy numbers of species of birds against which there is a general prejudice. The Secretary feels that the point is well taken and believes that ornithologists and sportsmen alike should protest in like manner against this prominent ammunition company. General Notes 97 The Louisville, Kentucky, Times for April 24 contained an editorial which quoted the protest of The American Field against this very pro- paganda by ammunition companies, and says, in conclusion, “The purpose behind the crow-killing contests (such as the one in Tilden, Nebraska, which resulted in the destruction of 17,000 crows) which the Federal Department of Agriculture has not indorsed, and which many ornithologists and many mere human beings deplore as a foolish and savage onslaught upon a species probably more useful than injurious, is ammunition selling.” The Hesston, Kansas, Audubon Society has given this year for the benefit of its members a series of lectures on “Birds and Bird Life.” There are always good ways to keep people informed and interested in birds. Our good friend, I. H. Johnston, State Ornithologist of West Virginia, has adopted the method of speaking to the thousands of people in his state through the columns of the Weekly Market Bulletin. “Questions and Answers about Birds”, “Request for a Bird Census”, “Birds of West Virginia”, “Pileated Woodpecker’” and “Red-bellied Woodpecker” are successive articles in the Bulletins. John B. Lewis, Lawrenceville, Virginia, recently became a member of the W. O. C'. For years he was official observer for the Biological Survey at Eubank, Kentucky, his records there being used extensively by the Survey in determining migration routes. GENERAL NOTES THE GOLDEN PLOVER AT COLUMBUS, OHIO The Golden Plover was seen this spring in large numbers for a short period of time in the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio. In Ohio, it is a very, very rare migrant. It confines its migration to the Mississippi Valley and the Atlantic coast, as a rule. Thus, we seldom have it in Ohio, which is several hundred miles from either place. In Dawsons Biids of Ohio,” Mr. Dawson comments upon the fact that it was once seen several years before his writing of that book. lo my knowledge, it has not been seen in Ohio since that time until this spring. Although we have several distinguished bird observers who have been in the field observing birds for the last fifteen or twenty years, it has never been seen here before. So we must consider this record as a very rare accident It was first seen on April 18 by Mr. C. F. Walker and Mr. R. M. Geist at the junction of a small road with a well-traveled highway, about two miles southwest of Columbus and about one-half mile west of the Scioto River. There was a flock of twelve Golden Clovers there and no other birds. The majority of the flock were in winter plumage, but a few were changing to summer plumage, while several were in full summer plumage. They seemed to have come in loi the ^ht 01 • „ ,i q lit tip nond which was haidly 111010 than they were running around a little ponu ten feet in length and about half as wide. 98 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 The next morning, at sun-rise, Mr. Milton Trautman went down to this little pond and again found them. This time there were eighteen in the flock. He crept up to them and observed them with a 8X glass at a distance of about thirty feet. He saw them bathe and sun them- selves right in front of him. They fed quite a bit, but he is under the impression that their prime object of being there was to bathe in the pool of water and to prepare themselves for the day. The afternoon of that same day Mr. E. S. Thomas and a party found a large flock of Golden Plover about twelve miles southeast of Columbus. There were about 500 of them and about the same number of Pectoral Sandpipers together in a field. This number of Plovers was merely a low estimate of the flock of Plovers as the exact number could not be determined. Upon Mr. Thomas’ inquiry of the owner of this field, who lived near by, he found out they had been seen there for the last three or four days. The last time that they were seen was on the afternoon of Easter Sunday (April 20) when Mr. Trautman and I went down for the express purpose of seeing them. We were greatly disappointed for we saw no trace of them. We went on down the road for several miles in order to see other birds. While there, we saw a long string of about fifty birds fly over us. They flew so high, so swift, and so different from any other birds of this general class that we believed them to be Golden Plovers, but this record is dobutful. On our way home we stopped at the pond where they had been seen before, and there were twenty of the Golden Plovers! They stayed there just about five minutes after our arrival, when they flew away for good. We got a fine view of them during that short time, for I used a 33X telescope on them at a distance of about 75 yards. There were not more than three males in summer plumage which were in that flock. Again it seemed that they had stopped at that place merely for a rest or to spend the night. It is unfortunate that one of the observers could not have collected one of these birds, but the only possessor of a collecting permit among our bird student friends was unable to get out in order to collect one. However, as we are so certain of their identity, we consider ourselves fortunate in having seen them at all, for we shall probably never see them again at Columbus. [A flock of 25 was seen near Huron, Ohio, on May 5, and one on the 18th, and another on the 23d at Bay Point, Ohio. — L. J.] in this connection. F. Dale Pontius. May 2, 1924. Bird Banding Department 99 BIRD BANDING DEPARTMENT Under the Direction of Wm. 1. Lyon, Waukegan, 111. TRAPPING THE; TREE CLIMBING BIRDS There is a way to trap everything- if you can only solve the prob- lem. The tree climbers were a real puzzle, as the moment they met an obstruction in going up a tree they would fly, but the way to success is perseverance, so a crude trap was constructed, then we carefully watched the effect and studied the cause. It was discovered that if the obstruc- tion was placed slanting the birds would climb up but keep a little dis- tance away from the collar or guiding piece of wire netting on the Dee. The illustration gives you the impression that the collar is nearly hori- zontal, but that is because the photo was taken from above the trap. The later traps are built with a greater slant to the collar, on a tree that is eighteen inches in diameter. The starting point on the opposite side of the tree is about three feet lower than the upper end ot the tunnel. As the bird comes into the apex of the funnel, there is an apron tiat covers the outer side so the only way they can fly, is downwaid. len they are in the upper compartment, they usually go to the top, and on one side there is an opening into the receiving box, shown in the second illustration, and the only obstruction is a clear glass which looks like a 100 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 chance for escape and they fly against the glass and slide down the shute into the lower compartment of the receiving box. Some are wise enough to get up the shute, but by*opening or closing the bottom of the shute, according to the size of the bird, you can regulate their chances. The bottom of the receiving box has a round piece of wood for a grip so the box can be handled with one hand. Notice the upper part has hooks, so all one has to do is to raise up the box till the hooks are clear and it is ready to come to the ground so it is convenient to get your bird. The higher you can place the trap on the trunk of the tree the more space you will have for the climbers to get below the trap, but you have to provide some means for climbing; we found some old telegraph pole steps very convenient. Our first traps were built solid on the tree and took much odd time to construct, but a request to purchase some caused much figuring and rebuilding, and we have a man at present who will make them at $12.00. We have no desire to start a trap factory and we are glad to have you copy our traps for Bird Banding, but for those who do not have the convenience, we have arranged to have local people construct them. Another trap that has been successful is the “Top Entrance Trap” that works on a balance principle, so when the bird hops on the floor of a small entrance it tilts downward and the only escape is into the lower compartment. As soon as the bird leaves the balance the weight rights the entrance and is ready for the next bird. We have used this trap successfully in bushes up off the ground. The making of the guard wires at the funnel entrance seems to be the most tedious and annoying to many. We have found a gutter strainer, that can be obtained at a hardware store, can be cut and made to help out in the work; then by taking half or three-quarter inch hardware cloth that is galvanized after made, you can put it over a flame, blow torch or gas stove, and melt it off four or five strands and leave the ends free. A Bird Banding Department 101 stiip treated in tjiis way around the funnel entrance gives very desirable guard wires. Just try it. — W. I. L. We need more information and volunteers in our Gull and Tern Banding Campaign. Have you contributed your share of information? Or can you suggest some that can? Have you tried to find a volunteer Bird Bander in your district? BIRD BANDING — ARE BIRDS FRIGHTENED OR INJURED? IiY S. PRENTISS BALDWIN Writing to my friends I may be pardoned if I introduce a few lines of autobiography, as it may match that of many others who enjoy birds. My father, when I was about six years old, taught me an interest in birds and wild flowers. He would take me walking in the fields and Avoods, then in the evening, at home, he would put down on the floor, for me to play with, that fine old book of Birds, published by New York State in 1845, with its many accurate figures of birds, all beautifully hand colored. Every day of my life I have felt gratitude to that father who was wise enough to put the love of nature into me. Later I collected birds, learned taxidermy, and made skins of them, but more and more my heart grew tender toward them until I could no longer collect, because I could not bring myself to kill them. Perhaps that alone is answer to the question whether birds are hurt by trapping and banding, when I add that I have now for ten years or more been actively trapping and banding birds every year, and have handled, I know not how many, but at least some thirty or fortv thousand birds from my traps. But to continue the Autobiography: after years in business in the city I bought a farm, and wife and I lived on the farm each summer; and how we did enjoy the outdoor life. One feature of the life on the farm disturbed our comfort; just as we were most enjoying the peace and beauty of nature, a bird would cry out in pain, caught by some bird enemy; today perhaps the House Sparrows break up the home life of our Bluebirds; tomorrow it is the home of our Robins destroyed by the red squirrels; constantly tragedy comes to our birds, until this sort of thing worked on my nerves, and I determined to end it. This was ten years ago, and the change came in the lite of the birds on my farm, because I became a bird bander and, finding it so interesting, I have systematically trapped and banded biuls on the farm ever since then. Within the last two years seveial well known ornithologists have visited my farm, and each one has remaiked what an extraordinary number and variety of birds I have on the place, and how tame they are. Two of these ornitho.ogists, men ot exceptional Gain 102 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 ing on the subject of bird census, have said they have never seen so many birds per acre, and so many varieties per acre. There are so many birds on the five acres about my house, and I am kept so busy trapping and banding and observing them during the nesting season from May to August, when I am chiefly doing research work with them, that I have no time to observe the birds on the rest of the farm, which contains in all one hundred acres. Bird Enemies: Cats: I allow no cats on the place; I have no grudge against the cat, but I am raising birds not cats. A friend of mine assures me she has a “perfectly good’’ cat that does not catch birds, but I would not have such a cat, it is not a healthy, normal cat; when a cat has so lost its spirit that is no longer enjoys the sport of catching live game, and is content to eat out of a dish it is no longer much of a cat. Red Squirrels: l do not allow them on the place. I believe them to be very destructive of eggs and young birds. Certainly the poorest nest- ing season in recent years on my place was a season when the place became suddenly over-run with red squirrels before I realized it; and that has not occurred since. English Sparrow, or House Sparroiv: It was trapping them that started me into operating traps and banding the native birds; and it is most evident that the very great increase of native birds on the p'ace has been since the English Sparrow has been eliminated. But be very sure that the person who operates your traps knows thoroughly how to distinguish the English Sparrows from the several varieties of native sparrows, for the natives are most agreeable little neighbors. A quiet watchfulness will soon show which are the serious enemies of birds in any garden or locality; the above three have been most serious on my place. Hawks: The Cooper and Sharp-shinned Hawks are destructive where they occur; the large hawks sailing high overhead are not de- structive varieties; hut these two smaller varieties come sailing so quickly through the trees, they may do considerable damage before you realize what is going on. Blue Jays, Crows, Blackbirds : In some places these are said to de- stroy nests and eggs of other birds, but they have not been sufficiently numerous to do harm for me. I confess that in trying to protect my bird neighbors I am not much inclined to wage relentless slaughter upon every possible enemy; I mostly like to leave it to nature to work out her own ways. Screech Owls: Usually represented by one pair on the place; and the Robins do scold at them toward dusk every night, especially when the young owls come out of the nest and scatter all over the place; but I am not yet convinced that the owls should be destroyed. Cowbird : I do not destroy the birds, but I do remove the egg from Bfrd Banding Department 103 the nests of othei biids as I find them, tor after all I love the other birds best. Shrikes: In the bird notes just out from the Biological Survey is a special order of the Department permitting bird banders to destroy shrikes. At my Thomasville, Georgia, trapping station shrikes are so numerous that it is absolute’y necessary to destroy them about the traps, or they put the bird bander out of business, but near Cleveland shrikes are not abundant and seldom come near the traps. Snakes: I do not destroy snakes; I believe them to he useful and valuable; but occasionally a snake will be found disturbing the birds, or their eggs, or young in the nest. One day when a pair of my Wrens were scolding in great, excitement, I searched all about for a cat or squirrel or other cause of disturbance, but could find nothing. They continued to scold and I searched again, and after a long time dis- covered a tiny snake not ten inches long, coiled up in the vine, ten feet from the ground and within a foot of the wren box. Children: The old days are gone, we hope, when children, especially boys, made it a general sport in the spring to go on campaigns to de- stroy nests and eggs. Most children are now taught in school to take some degree of interest in birds as useful and interesting neighbors. But in bird banding there is the danger that children become in- terested in seeing and handling birds so closely, and with the best in- tentions they may undertake to help by removing birds from the traps, with hands not yet trained to know how to combine firmness with gentleness in handling. It is not your neighbor’s little rascal, it is your own dear child that may “try to help papa’’ and is likely to handle birds in the traps, when you are not watching. The bird bander, or anyone else who hopes to have many birds about, will learn to hear the warning calls and distress calls of the birds, and go at once to investigate when these calls are heard. On the question of injuries to birds in trapping and banding, I have gone into this matter of enemies, because very few birds indeed are injured in trapping except by access of these enemies to the traps; and that access need seldom occur if a careful watch is kept for the enemies. Ten years ago little was known in this country about trapping wild birds; but we h'ave learned more and more how to use the right traps for birds of different habit; and learned to make the traps to better protect the birds from possible injury. An injured bird is a loss, and a failure, on the part of the bird bander; the very success ol the spoi t depends upon the liberating each bird, with a band, uninjuied, and in normal, healthy condition to continue undisturbed his natuial life, and to come back to the traps over and over again. In my ten years’ experience I remember, I believe, eveiy incident when I have fatally injured a bird by my carelessness. I have not injured one to each five thousand birds handled, not so many as one 1o each year of trapping. Add those that have been killed in or about the traps by natuiai enemies, or from any cause whatsoever, often not attributable to the 104 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 trapping in any way, and even then I save from death a hundred birds, for every one that may be lost during trapping. Birds frightened cncay hy trapping? Need one ask, when it is the experience of every bird bander, that in continuous operation of the traps, most of the birds taken from the traps are “repeats” as we call them, birds that have been in before. And my records are full of cases of birds that form the trap habit, and are in the traps three, or four or five times a day; all the time in fact. In the coming July “Auk” Doctor May will tell of “Old Peg Leg,” a Thrasher, who this winter has been in the habit of going to sleep in the trap while waiting to be let out. On this question of fright let us compare our point of view with the experience and point of view of the birds: probably few of us ex- perience a real fright, that is a fear of immediate death or terrible injury, more than two or three times in a life time. It is a tremendous event in life; we never forget it. But every wild bird lives a life of daily fright, and daily danger to life; a cat passes near, a hawk sails overhead, a dog comes quickly around the corner, under any bush may be a rat or snake; if a bird took it seriously whenever he escapes only by a sudden dash out of danger his nerves would not last him a month. So, as you approach the trap, a bird in the trap flutters desperately to escape; and in your hand struggles, attempting to escape; release him and likely he flies only to a bush ten feet away, and calmly adjusts his rumpled feathers, or picks at a bug, all fear dismissed at once. All spring I visit each nesting bird on the place every day, and mark or count the eggs, or perhaps remove and photograph the young each day, the parents becoming so tame that I can almost touch them, and they do not even scold me. It is the joy of bird banding that no matter how many you handle, each bird becomes in your hand an individual, one who has a personal record with you, a personal friend. He goes out from you to far parts of the world; not all will live to come back, but some will return to your hand another year, yes, and perhaps year after year. Is it any wonder that the officers of Audubon Societies in many states have themselves taken up Bird Banding, and give it hearty sup- port, and urge it to others; they see in it an agency which is so inter- esting that it turns the casual bird lover into a rabid enthusiast; and each trapping station becomes a haven of refuge, where birds find safety and food and water and know they can live happily. Why, even since I started to write, only yesterday, the local club of ornithologists visited me, and wandered over my place, exclaiming, "How very many birds you have!” “Have you ever tried to count up all your nests?” “How tame they are!” And this after I have been trapping for ten years past. 105 The Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union MINUTES OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION The Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union celebrated the completion of a quarter century of activity at its twenty-fifth annual meeting, which took place at Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, 1924. The sessions opened with a public program on Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock in Room 201, Bessey Hall, University of Ne- braska. Dr. R. H. Wolcott,' President of the N. 0. U., was in the chair. Mrs. G. A. Loveland of Lincoln recounted instances of how membership in the N. 0. U. had been of value to her in meeting other bird students when traveling outside of the state. Rev. J. M. Bates of Red Cloud gave a very interesting recapitulation of the results of his twenty-one years of bird study at that place. Mrs. G. A. Loveland then told the story of the successful breeding of the scissor-tailed flycatcher near Lincoln in the summer of 1923. Mr. F. C. Collins of the University of Nebraska Mu- seum staff then spoke on the plans of the Museum for furthering the study of Nebraska birds, and invited those present to accompany him in a tour of the bird exhibits at the Museum following the afternoon pro- gram. Mrs. C. W. McCaskill of Hastings, who had recently returned from a trip to Egypt, was called upon to give an account of her bird observations on the trip, and in response gave a very entertaining dis- cussion of some of the English and Egyptian birds observed by her. At this point President Wolcott suspended the program for a time in order to hold a business session. On motion, the reading of the minutes of the twenty-fourth annual meeting was dispensed with, they having been published in full in the June, 1923, number of the Wilson Bulletin. The President then appointed an auditing committee, con- sisting of Mr. C. K. Hart, Mrs. Addison E. Sheldon, and Rev. J. M. Bates, to examine and report upon the financial statement of the Secretary- Treasurer, and a nominating committee consisting of Mrs. Lily R. But- ton, Mr. Leonard Worley, and Mrs. H. F. Hole. These committees were asked to report before the end of the session. In reporting for his office, President R. H. Wolcott urged that as soon as possible the N. O. U. place greater emphasis on its plans for encouraging high school work in bird study in the state and in spon- soring plans of bird protection and game conservation. He called on the members for volunteers to assume leadership along these lines within the organization. The Vice-President, Rev. J. M. Bates, stated that he had no formal report to make. The report of the Secretary - Treasurer was then presented, consisting of an analysis ol the financial condition of the N. 0. U., a statement concerning the present membership of the organization, and an extended report on the progress that had been made looking toward the publication of the first part ot the pi o- posed “ Birds of Nebraska,” which the Secretary had been authorized to start at the twenty-fourth annual meeting last year. The discussion which followed seemed to indicate that the members preferred a pub- lication dealing rather exhausively with the subject rather than any- abridged treatment, and also preferred to have the publication lllus- 106 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 trated, if possible, by colored plates. No motion, however, was made in this connection. Election of new members being in order, the Secretary-Treasurer presented the names of nine persons who had applied for membership in the N. O. U., as follows: Mrs. A. Arnold of Inavale, Mr. F. C. Collins of Lincoln, Mr. Thomas D. Griffin and Mrs. Rosalind M. Griffin of Hardy, Mrs. A. H. Jones of Hastings, Mrs. W. H. McCoy and Mrs. Charles Rich- ardson of Fairbury, Miss Mae Stumer of Beatrice, and Miss Louisa E. Wilson of Lincoln. On motion of Mrs. Addison E. Sheldon all of these persons were unanimously elected to membership in the society. The Secretary-Treasurer then reported that the Executive Commit- tee had submitted for action by the members of the N. O. U. the names of four persons proposed for honorary membership in the society, under the amendment to the Constitution which was adopted at the twenty- fourth annual meeting last year. The names that had been proposed were those of Professor Lawrence Bruner, the first President of the N. O. U. and active in the society until his removal to California and resignation in 1919; Dr. H. C. Oberholser of the Biological Survey, Washington, D. C., who has repeatedly been of service to the so- ciety in its scientific study of Nebraska birds; Mr. Louis Sessions, a charter member and past President of the N. O. U., active until his re- moval to California and resignation in 1920; and Mr. John T. Zimmer, a member of the N. O. U. and a past President, now on the staff of the Field Museum of Natural History at Chicago. The Secretary-Treasurer reported that the approval of more than the necessary three-fourths of the members voting had been given to each of these names, and then gave the exact figures of the vote. On motion, the ballot as recorded by the Secretary-Treasurer was accepted, and the four persons nomi- nated by the Executive Committee were declared elected to honorary membership in the N. O. U. New business being in order, Mrs. H. C. Johnston of Superior, ex- tended the invitation of the Nature Department of the Women’s Club of Superior to the N. O. U. that the next meeting of the society, in May, 1925, be held at that place. After a brief discussion, a motion by Mrs. Addison E. Sheldon, seconded by Mrs. H. F. Hole, that the N. 0. U. accept the invitation of the Nature Department of the Superior Women’s Club as expressed by Mrs. Johnston was unanimously carried. The approaching publication of the first part of the proposed “ Birds of Nebraska ” brought up the matter of adjusting the income of the N. O. U. from its annual dues so that it might more largely serve in the support of this project. Discussion revealed differences of opinion among the members present as to what would be the best policy. It was moved that the members think over the question for a time, and that within the next few weeks the Secretary-Treasurer send out a mail bal- lot covering this point to all members of the N. O. U., and that the fu- ture policy of the society be in conformity with this referendum vote. The motion was seconded and carried. A communication from Mr. L. O. Horsky of Omaha, proposing action by the N. O. U. endorsing the proposal to make a wild fowl sanct- 107 The Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union uai y of Cai tei Lake, near Omaha, was read, by the Secretary-Treasurer and discussed by some of the members. The discussion brought out that on general principles the lpembers of the N. 0. U. favored movements creating bird sanctuaries, but that because of the peculiar location of Carter Lake and the apparent necessity of securing state funds to enable the success of the project, more information was desirable before definite action was taken by the N. 0. U. No motion was made on this matter. The auditing committee then reported that the financial report of the Secretary-Treasurer had been examined and found to be correct. On motion the report was accepted. The nominating committee then re- ported, suggesting that Dr. R. H. Wolcott and Professor M. H. Swenk be continued in their offices of President and Secretary-Treasurer, re- spectively, for the coming year, and that Mrs. C. W. McCaskill be elected to fill the office of Vice-President. On motion it was voted that the Sec- retary cast the unanimous ballot of the society for these officers. The officers for 1924 were then declared as follows: President — Dr. R. H. Wolcott, Lincoln. Vice-President — Mrs. C. W. McCaskill, Hastings. Secretary-Treasurer — Prof. M. H. Swenk, Lincoln. Sixteen members were present at this business session of the N. 0. U., as follows: Mesdames Lily R. Button, Margaret M. Corey, E. A. Hol- brook, H. P. Hole, H. C. Johnston, G. A. Loveland, L. H. McKillip, Mary St. Martin, Addison E. Sheldon and Fred W. Tyler, and Messrs. J. M. Bates, Charles K. Hart, M. H. Swenk, Leighton Williams, Leonard Wor- ley and R. H. Wolcott. Later in the sessions Mesdames E. H. Polley and T. H. Wake, and Messrs. L. 0. Horsky, Wilson Tout and L. H. Watson were present, making a total representation of twenty-one members at the meeting. Adjournment of the business session at 5:05 p. m. Following the business session the members, accepting the invita- tion of Mr. F. C. Collins, visited the University of Nebraska Museum and examined the bird exhibits there, under the leadership of Mr. Col- lins. Following this the members again reassembled at 6:30 p. m. at the Grand Hotel, 12th and Q Streets, for the quarter-centennial anniver- sary dinner. Fifty-nine persons, including members of the N. 0. U. and of the Bruner Bird Club of Lincoln, and their guests, sat down to this dinner. Appropriate menu cards and the program of the evening had been printed and were distributed at each plate. Following the dinner, at 7:45 p. m., a symposium was held on the subject, “Sounds and Songs of Nebraska Birds.” Dr. R. H. Wolcott ex- plained the structure of the vocal organs and other sound-pi oducing oi- gans of birds; Prof. M. II. Swenk explained the emotional meaning of bird utterances and the theories of the origin and development of binl songs; and Mrs. Lily R. Button explained the value of musical notation in recording bird songs, giving a number of illustrations. The sympo- sium was concluded at 9:40 p. m. Dr. R. H. Wolcott then concluded the program with his President’s address on the subject, Ornithology in Nebraska,” in which he gave a review of the twenty-five years of activity of the society, explaining its organization and the various crises and phases of development it had gone through. At the conclusion of the President’s address announcement of the plans for the field day on bat- 108 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 urday, May 10, were made, and an invitation from the Nebraska Audu- bon Society for the members of the N. O. U. and Bruner Bird Club to join with them in their annual field day on Saturday, May 17, was aslo read. Final adjournment at 10:15 p. m. On Saturday, May 10, the twenty-second annual field day of the N. O. U. was held. One party started for Capital Beach at 6:00 a. m., and another party followed at 8:00 a. m. Other parties visited the marshes near Arbor, the woods along Salt Creek and Wyuka cemetery. The field day was a decided success in spite of the cool and threatening weather that prevailed during the greater part of the day, for by the end of the day 121 kinds of birds had been identified by members of the various parties, thus forming the largest list of birds as yet secured on a field day of the N. O. U. About forty persons participated in the vari- ous field parties. The comoposite list of the day follows: Bluebird, Robin, Olive-backed Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Wood Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Long-tailed Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Long-billed Marsh Wren, Western House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Catbird, Redstart, Maryland Yel'ow-throat, Oven-bird, Black-poll Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Bell Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Migrant Shrike, Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Furple Martin, Scarlet Tanager, Dickcissel, Lazuli Bunting, Rose- breasted Grosbeak, Cardinal, Arctic Towhee, Towhee, Lincoln Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Western Field Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel Sparrow, Harris Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, LeConte Sparrow, Western Grass- hopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Pine Siskin, Goldfinch, Bronzed Graekle, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Cowbird, Bobolink, Crow, Blue Jay, Saskatchewan Horned Lark, Traill Flycatcher, Phoebe, Crested Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Kingbird, Chimney Swift, Nighthawk, Northern Flicker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Sparrow Hawk, Red- tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Mourning Dove, Turnstone, Piping Plover, Semi-palmated Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Western Willet, Solitary Sandpiper, Yellow-legs, Hudsonian Godwit, Sanderling, Sem:- palmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Baird Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wilson Snipe, Avocet, Wilson Phalarope, Northern Phalarope, Coot, Sora, Virginia Rail, Black-crowned Night Heron, Bittern, Hutchins Goose, Blue Goose, Lesser Snow Goose, Ruddy Duck, Lesser Bluebill, Redhead, Pintail, Shoveller, Blue-winged Teal, Widgeon, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, White Pelican, Black Tern, Forster Tern, Franklin Gull, Pied-billed Grebe, and Eared Grebe. At noon on Saturday the field parties assembled for lunch in Room 26 of the Home Economics Building of the University of Nebraska, at the College of Agriculture campus. The lunch was served cafeteria style, and just before starting out for the afteroon in the field the com- posite list stood at 96 species. Kentucky Ornithological Society 109 Report op the Treasurer, 1923-24 Receipts Cash on hand, May 1, 1923 Annual dues for 1923 Annual dues for 1924 Interest on investment Sale of publications $ 40.89 60.00 36.00 21.25 3.13 $161.27 Expenditures Wilson Bulletin (1 active at $2.50 and 41 associates at $1.50) $ 64.00 Postage, Office of Secretary 5.70 Balance on hand, May 1, 1924 91.57 $161.27 HISTORY OF THE KENTUCKY ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY 1923 Several bird-students from various parts of Kentucky met at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, on the afternoon of April 19, 1923, to discuss the plans for organizing a Kentucky Ornithological So- ciety. The Society was organized and the following officers were elected: President: Dr. L. O. Pindar, Versailles. Vice-President: Mr. Brache C. Bacon, Madisonville. Secretary and Treasurer: Gordon Wilson, Bowling Green. Plans were adopted to seek affiliation with the Wilson Ornithologi- cal Club. A membership campaign was planned. It was agreed that the next meeting would be held in Louisville during the Spring meeting of the Kentucky Educational Association. 1924. The first annual meeting of the Kentucky Ornithological Society was held in Leather Room of Seelbach at Louisville, Kentucky, at 9:30 a. m., April 25, 1924. The present officers were re-elected. Members of Executive Committees were elected as follows: Pro- fessor Frank L. Rainey, Centre College, Danville; Miss Emilie Yunker, Director of School Gardens, Louisville; Mr. J. B. Cox, Murray State Normal School, Murray; Mrs. Merit O’Neal, Louisville, Historian of K. O. S. A fine program was rendered, those taking part being: Mr. (ail D. Herdman, Bowling Green; Mr. Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio, Miss Yunker, Louisville; Professor Gordon Wilson, Bowling Green; Mrs. Merit O’Neal, Louisville; Dr. Pindar, Versailles. The Constitution was read and adopted. The Society voted to affiliate with the Wilson Ornithological ( lub under a specified agreement, the articles of this affiliation being per- fectly agreeable to both parties. 110 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 The Society went on record as being opposed to the wanton de- struction of crows and other birds, the wholesale slaughter of which had been reported by a member. The ammunition companies were held responsible for this deplor- able destruction. A committee was appointed to devise plans for the celebration of Bird Day in the Schools of Kentucky, to be held in connection with Arbor Day. Mrs. Merit O’Neal, Historian of Kentucky Ornithological Society. PROCEEDINGS OF THE KENTUCKY ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY The first annual meeting of the Kentucky Ornithological Society was held at Louisville Friday, April 25, 1914, in the Leather Room of the Seelbach Hotel. Carl D. Herdman of Bowling Green gave a very unusual lecture on “Human Characteristics of Birds, or Birds as I Know Them.” Mr. Herdman has spent several years making his subur- ban home a bird-paradise and knows birds as real personalities, Ben. J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio, Treasurer of the W. O. C., read an exhaustive study of “Birds of Nelson County”, giving the records of his long period of years as a resident there. Mrs. Merit O’Neal of Louisville spoke on “Bird Study in the Public Schools” and advocated a Bird Day in the Schools. The society voted to petition the Governor of Kentucky to set such a day, to be celebrated in connection with Arbor Day. Miss Emilie Yunker, Director of School Gardens of Louisville, in speaking on “How School Children Make Friends with the Birds”, told of the very successful hikes she has been conducting this year to Cherokee Park. Dr. L. Otley Pindar of Versailles gave an elaborate paper on “Bibliography of Kentucky Birds”, reviewing especially the work of Alexander Wilson, Audubon, Pindar, Gordon Wilson, Bacon, Blincoe, and Beckham. Professor Gordon Wilson of Bowling Green told of his experiences in banding and showed several ways of keeping accurate and scientific records. At the business session it was decided to hold the fall meeting at Bowling Green, on October 9 and 10. The evening of the ninth being given over to lectures and addresses, October tenth to be devoted to an early morning hike and outdoor breakfast, with two day-sessions. The society went on record as being opposed to the ammunition propa- ganda of the Du Pont Powder Company. The present officers were re- elected: President, Dr. L. Otley Pindar, Versailles; Vice-President, B. C. Bacon, Madisonville; Secretary-Treasurer, Professor Gordon Wilson, Bowling Green. Additional members of the Executive Committee are: Miss Emilie Yunker, Louisville; Professor Frank L. Rainey, Danville; and Mr. J. B. Cox, Murray. Mrs. Merit O’Neal, Louisville, was chosen Historian. In the first year of its existence the society has enrolled 12 affiliate members, 35 local members. The K. 0. S. voted unanimously to affiliate with the W. 0. C. Iowa Ornithologists’ Union 111 IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION First Annual Meeting— Held at Ames, Iowa, March 8, 1924 Our state organization, which is just one year old, held its first annual meeting at Agricultural Hall in Ames on March 8. The meeting was well attended and the very excellent program was carried out just exactly as it was announced. The forenoon session consisted of reports by the various officers and the following papers: 1. Birds of Southwest Iowa, C. E. Butler, Atlantic. 2. What I See from my Back Window, Mrs. J. L. Adams, Ottumwa. 3. Bird Feeding and Nesting as Studied by the Boy Scouts, E, G. Stowell, Scout Executive of Ames. The afternoon program started with a paper by Miss Althea Sher- man of National, entitled “ Down with the Wren Boxes.” C. J. Spiker, New Hampton, followed Miss Sherman with a paper on “ Recent Winter Bird Records for Northern Iowa.” The five-minute open discussion on “ My Most Interesting Bird Record in 1923 ” brought out several good observations, the one by Dr. Weeks of Emmetsburg, being especially notable. The paper of Carl Fritz Henning of Boone, on “ The Ledges, the Ozarks of Iowa,” was read by Dr. Weeks and was very good. This was followed by a paper by Miss Olivia McCabe of Des Moines, on “ Birds of a City Marsh.” The exciting number of the afternoon was the lecture by Professor Guthrie of Ames, on “ Birds in Their Relation to Snakes.” His lecture was illustrated very forcibly by a number of large live snakes, which he brought before us and handled with about the same ease that he would handle a kitten or any other pet. This was an entirely new angle of bird study rarely touched upon and was especially delightful after some of the audience had changed seats and had moved out of range of Professor Guthrie’s pets. The executive session which followed resulted in the election of the following officers for the ensuing year: President — W. M. Rosen, Ogden. Vice-President — Dr. T. C. Stephens, Sioux City. Secretary — Mrs. H. M. Bailey, Sioux City. Treasurer — Thomas H. Whitney, Atlantic. Executive Council — Dr. Homer R. Dill, Iowa City; Dr. L. T. Weeks, Emmetsburg; A. J. Palas, Des Moines. A number of business matters were then disposed of, the principal one being the unanimous vote of the members present to affiliate with the Wilson Ornithological Club and that as many members as possible of the I. O. U. become members of the W. O. C., since the Wilson Bulletin would keep us in closer touch. Professor Charles R. Keyes of Mt. Vernon, then gave his let tine on “ Some Iowa Great Horned Owls,” which closed the afternoon session. This lecture was illustrated with lantern slides from photographs taken by Dr. Keyes. The evening session was given over entirely to Dr. T. C. Stephens and Walter W. Bennett, both of Sioux City. Dr. Stephens first gave his lecture entitled “Two Bird Students on a Vacation Trip in Minnesota. Some very excellent slides were shown. The closing number was by 112 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1924 Mr. Bennett and was entitled “A Few Birds of the Itasca Lake Region.” This was also illustrated by colored slides taken by Mr. Bennett last summer and showed many of the Warblers and other migratory birds on their nests in the northern pine woods. Some of the slides were of the natural color process. Iowa can certainly feel proud that we have such men as Bennett, Stephens, Keyes, and Weeks as platform men and lecturers in Ornithology, as they are entertainers worth going far to hear. The membership during 1923, which was our year of organization, was over 100, and with the enthusiasm shown, I am sure that we will have a much larger membership before the next annual meeting. Iowa has a large number of bird lovers and we hope to build a strong organ- ization and one which will be a credit to our state. Members, let’s all boost for the I. 0 U. and the W. 0. C. W. M. Rosen, President. PUBLICATIONS REVIEWED ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE VALLEY Grinnell, J. and Storer, T. I., Animal Life in the Yosemite, xviii plus 752 pages, 60 plates (12 in color), 2 maps (color), 65 figures in text. University of California Press, Berkeley, California, 1924. Buckram $7.50. Carriage extra. Weight, 5 lbs. 9 oz. This is a book that combines in admirable fashion scientific descrip- tion of characters and occurrence with accurate but pleasing descrip- tion of habits. There is unmistakable evidence that the authors have made a thorough study of the region that is treated, and have been dis- criminating in their selection of the facts presented. The difficulties of identification of some of the forms here treated may be attested by the fact that no less than eight subspecies of fox sparrows are found in the region, and yet the work has been well done. The colored plates are done in Allan Brooks’ careful and accurate manner, and the clearness of the impressions attest the care that was taken in the mechanics of printing. The same excellence extends throughout the treatment of the Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians. We would like to see the same sort of intensive work done in other regions. l. j. Publications of the Wilson Ornithological Club The complete series consists of the following publications: The Ornithologists and Oologists Semi-Annual, three volumes, 5 numbers. The Wilson Quarterly, one volume, two numbers. The Journal, two numbers. The Wilson Bulletin, three numbers in the first volume, two in the second, six numbers in each of the next four volumes, and four num- bers in all succeeding volumes including the current volume-34. Out of print numbers of this entire series are as follows : Semi-Annual, Vol. 1, No. 1; Vol. 2, both num- bers. The Wilson Quarterly, both numbers. The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 10, No. 5; Vol. 16, No. 1. The available numbers, to Vol. 32, will be sold at the rate of one dollar a volume. — address • THE WILSON BULLETIN SPEAR LABORATORY, OBERLIN, OIIIO The “Blue Bird” Is now published monthly, the year 'round, with new and in- teresting departments, features and contests, and AT NO ADDI- TIONAL COST TO SUBSCRIBERS. Official organ of The Cleveland Bird Lovers’ Association. SEND 20c FOR SAMPLE COPY Annual Subscrlpton 52.00 Agents Wanted Everywhsra THE BLUE BIRD 1010 Euclid Avc., Cleveland, Ohia Tfye Oologist Birds - Eggs - Nests - Taxidermy The Oologist is the only magazine published in America de- voted to the interests of those making collections of Birds, their Nests and Eggs. For thirty-seven years it has been the recognized medium for the exchange of ideas along these lines and its columns teem with advertisements of this character, solely for exchange. It is the second oldest bird Journal In America and indlspenasble to those engaged In either the amateur or scientific study of birds. Subscription, fifty cents per year, with a free exchange notice. Sample copy free. Address The Oologist, Lacon, 111. Bird anding Traps made in accordance with design adopted by New England Bird Banding Association Send for Circular and Price List DANIEL CUSHING & CO. LOWELL, MASS. Vol. XXXVI. No. 3 September, 1924 X •X TGO nn LEW .# i \< .■ » • / . ' . *i ' • •• • i • •; • • • • % . . • * % * . * • :• .• 4*.* # •».. • ;:// * # ; * J./.Vf! .1 . . /v. . .V ivi * OFFICIAL ORGAN OF The Wilson Ornithological Club and The Nebraska Ornithologists Union ini v 11 1916, at the Post Office at -r Entered as %“^^hl^fder Act of’ March 3, 1879. CONTENTS A “Territory” Note on the Belted Kingfisher By Frederick C. Lincoln 113 Boosting Habits of Gulls By William I. Lyon 115 A Haunt of tjie Great Horned Owl By F. N. Shankland 117 The Bhilosouhy of Birds' Nests By Frank L. Burns 121 Migration Notes from State College By Thomas D. Burleigh 128 Water Birds Breeding on Pierce Pond By Allen II. Wood, Jr. 132 Editorial 135 Field Notes Notes Here and There Bird Banding Department Publications Reviewed 130 139 141 144 Membership Boll 145 THE WILSON BULLETIN Published quarterly, March, June, September and December, as the official organ of the Wilson Ornithological Club and the Nebraska Orni- thologists’ Union, and edited by Dr. Lynds Jones, assisted by a board of five members. All articles and communications intended for publication and all books and publications for notice, should be sent to Dr. Lynds Jones, Spear Laboratory, Oberlin, Ohio. The subscription price is $1.50 a year, including postage, strictly in advance. Single numbers, 50 cents. Free tp all members not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions should be addressed to the Treasurer, and applications for membership to the Secretary. « Officers for the Year 1924 President— Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tenn. Vice-President— William I. Lyon, Waukegan, HI. Secretary — Prof. Gordon Wilson, 1434 Chestnut St., Bowling Green, Ky. Treasurer — Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio. EDITORIAL BOARD Lynds Jones, Editor-in-Chief Oberlin, Ohio Albert F. Ganier, Nashville, Tenn.; William I. Lyon, Waukegan, 111.; Gordon Wilson, Bowling Green, Ky.; Ben J. Blincoe, Dayton, Ohio; H. L. Stoddard, Milwaukee, Wis.; W. M. Rosen, Ogden, Iowa Published Quarterly at Oberlin, Ohio JUL 12 1926 THE WILSON BULLETIN A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY YOL. XXXVI SEPTEMBER, 1924 NO. 3 OLD SERIES VOL. XXXVI. NEW SERIES VOL. XXXI. A “TERRITORY” NOTE ON THE BELTED KINGFISHER BY FREDERICK C. LINCOLN The importance of “territory” in the life of the individual bird and its probable influence on the successful existence of the different species has not received from American students the attention that is due.* It is to be hoped that this condition will be remedied by systematic studies along this line, and the following note, while undoubtedly elementary, is offered as a possible contribution to our knowledge of the Belted King- fisher, Streptoceryle a. alcyon. A flock of kingfishers would most surely be considered as an avian anomaly and yet it so happens that I have never in print seen any reference to the close adherence to a definitely cir- cumscribed area that appears to be a character of the indi- viduals of this species. That such conditions exist during the reproductive season is no matter for surprise but it is not so easily explained at other seasons. In the fall of 1022 (September 27 -December 15) I was en- gaged in field work in the marshes of the Illinois River, near the junction of the Sangamon River with the larger stream. These marshes are composed of an intricate network of sloughs or channels, most of which have little or no current but which are deep enough to permit the passage of power-boats of average draught. In the prosecution of my work it was necessary to make daily trips up and down these channels and I was early impressed with the large number of kingfishers that were present. That the birds were in migration I have no doubt for the point of greatest abundance was reached about October 5, after which there was a steady but gradual diminution in their numbers to the 21st, when only two or three were seen. After that