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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

Biology  Library 

BEQUEST  OF 

Theodore   S.   Palmer 


J%f*u<^s*Jt 

/?>          c-»  *?        / 

f~«/-or  c^  %  ^5;    <\Sast 

4. 


THE  CHICAGO  ACADEMY  OF  SCIENCES 


The  Birds  of  the  Chicago  Area 


BY 


FRANK  MORLEY  WOODRUFF 


BULLETIN  No.  VI 


OF 


THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY 


ISSUED  APRIL  15,  1907 


"^\ 


ERRATA. 

Page  9,  20th  line,  for  Hamnig  read  Hannig. 

Page  9,  22d  line,  for  Widman  read  Widmann. 

Page  19,  3rd  line  from  bottom,  for  Fregato  read  Fregata. 

Page  28,  13th  line,  for  Pomaine  read  Pomarine. 

Page  34,  19th  line,  for  Phalacrocorocidae  read  Phalacrocoracidae. 

Page  38,  16th  line,  for  McKay  read  MacKay. 

Page  38,  34th  line,  for  ameriacana  read  americana. 

Page  38,  3rd  foot-note,  for  XIII,  1896,  read  XII,  1895. 

Page  63,  28th  line,  for  Steganoyus  read  Steganopus. 

Page  72,  4th  line  from  bottom,  for  Viellot  read  Vieillot. 

Page  109,  32d  line,  for  abundantly  read  sparingly. 

Page  130,  21st  line,  for  Acantsis  read  Acanthis. 

Page  138,  10th  line,  take  out  the  word  breeding. 

Page  147,  8th  line,  for  Viellot  read  Vieillot. 

Page  147,  4th    line   from    bottom    should    read,   The   Summer 

Tanager  breeds  throughout  its  United  States. 
Page  152,  3rd  line,  for  Vieilot  read  Vieillot. 
Page  155,  30th  line,  for  Veils  read  Bell's. 
Page  171,  26th  line,  for  Sciurus  read  Seiurus. 
Page  172,  take  out  two  bottom  lines. 
Page  202,  under  HOUGH,  E.,  "Chicago  and  the  West"  should 

be  credited  as  a  department  in  uForest  and  Stream." 


543 


'^ 
U 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 

CHICAGO,  ILL.,  October  i,  1906. 
DEAR  SIR: 

By  direction  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  The  Natural  His- 
tory Survey  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences,  I  herewith 
submit  to  you  for  publication  a  report,  to  be  issued,  under  the 
rules  of  the  Academy  governing  such  matters,  as  Bulletin  No. 
VI,  on  The  Birds  of  the  Chicago  Area,  prepared  by  Frank  Morley 
Woodruff  of  the  Academy  staff. 

Respectfully, 

WILLIAM  K.  HIGLEY, 

Chairman. 
To  THOMAS  C.  CHAMBERLIN, 

President  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences. 


543 


The  Board  of  Managers  of  The  Natural  History  Survey  of 
The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences: 

WILLIAM  K.  HIGLEY,  Chairman. 
CHARLES  S.  RADDIN,  Secretary. 
THOMAS  C.   CHAMBERLIN. 
GAYTON   A.   DOUGLASS. 
STUART  WELLER. 


THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY. 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  The  Natural  History  Survey  takes 
pleasure  in  presenting  the  sixth  of  its  publications.  It  is  the 
second  relating  to  the  fauna  of  the  area  and  is  devoted  to  the 
Birds  of  Chicago  and  vicinity. 

The  Chicago  Area  includes  all  of  Cook  and  Du  Page  Counties, 
the  nine  north  townships  of  Will  County  and  a  portion  of  Lake 
County,  Indiana.  This  territory  is  about  fifty  miles  square  and 
is  •  very  varied  in  character,  consisting  of  numerous  swamps, 
lakes,  creeks  and  rivers,  besides  a  considerable  forest-covered 
area. 

It  is  a  notable  avifaunal  locality,  since  it  lies  on  the  border 
between  the  eastern  and  western  ranges  of  many  species,  where 
much  intergradation  occurs.  It  is  also  notable  as  being  in  the 
path  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  migration,  which  accounts  in  a 
large  measure  for  the  number  of  species  recorded  and  also  for 
their  individual  abundance. 

This  report  has  been  prepared  by  Mr.  Frank  Morley  Woodruff, 
Assistant  to  the  Curator  of  the  Academy,  who  has  devoted  many 
years  to  the  study  of  the  avian  life  of  the  vicinity  of  Chicago. 
Mr.  Woodruff  has  enlisted  the  aid  of  all  local  ornithologists, 
besides  some  residing  at  a  greater  distance,  and  the  Board  wishes 
to  express  its  appreciation  of  their  valuable  assistance,  acknowl- 
edgement of  which  has  been  made  by  Mr.  Woodruff  in  the  text. 

Finally,  it  is  again  a  pleasure  to  make  mention  of  the  patrons 
of  The  Natural  History  Survey,  whose  generosity  has  tended  so 
much  to  its  success  and  enables  the  Survey  to  make  another 
contribution  to  the  advancement  of  Science. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Introduction *. 9 

Territory 10 

Climatic  Influences n 

Localities  of  Interest 15 

Some  Existing  Conditions  Opposed  to  the  Birds 17 

Extralimital  Birds •. 19 

Migration  of  the  Birds 23 

Classification 24 

Catalogue  of  Species 25 

Order  Pygopodes;  Diving  Birds 25 

Order  Longipennes;  Long- winged  Swimmers 28 

Order  Steganopodes;  Totipalmate  Swimmers 34 

Order  Anseres;  Lamellirostral  Swimmers 35 

Order  Herodiones;  Herons,  Storks,  etc 53 

Order  Paludicolas;  Cranes,  Rails,  etc 56 

Order  Limicolae;  Shore  Birds 62 

Order  Gallinav,  Gallinaceous  Birds 82 

Order  Columbae;  Pigeons,  Doves 86 

Order  Raptores;  Birds  of  Prey 90 

Order  Psittaci;  Parrots  and  Paroquets 108 

Order  Coccyges;  Cuckoos,  Kingfishers 108 

Order  Pici;  Woodpeckers 109 

Order  Macrochires;  Goatsuckers,  Swifts,  etc 113 

Order  Passeres;  Perching  Birds 115 

Bibliography 196 

Index  to  Scientific  Names 207 

Index  to  Popular  Names 214 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  accordance  with  the  request  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
of  The  Natural  History  Survey  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of 
Sciences,  I  have  prepared  the  following  annotated  catalogue 
of  the  birds  which  have  been  taken  or  are  positively  known  to 
occur  within  the  limits  of  our  region.  I  am  especially  under 
obligation  for  assistance  to  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  of  Chicago, 
who  has  been  my  almost  constant  companion  in  the  work  of 
the  field.  Mr.  Parker  has  the  most  exhaustive  notes  and  the 
most  extensive  collection  of  birds  from  our  area  that  I  know  of. 
I  am  also  indebted  to  the  following  persons,  who  have  furnished 
many  valuable  notes  and  suggestions:  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault,  of 
Glen  Ellyn,  a  very  careful  observer  who  furnished  many  valu- 
able notes  from  the  northern  section  of  Illinois ;  Mr.  Robert 
Ridgway,  Curator  of  Birds  at  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  Wash- 
ington; Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  New  York;  Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder,  of  the  State  Uni- 
versity, Madison,  Wisconsin;  Dr.  Claude  Tollman,  Mr.  Ruthven 
Deane,  Mrs.  Agnes  Chase,  Mr.  John  F.  Ferry,  Mr.  O.  M. 
Schantz,  Mr.  F.  S.  Dayton,  Mr.  Herbert  E.  Walter,  Miss  Amalie 
Hamnig  and  Mr.  Edward  B.  Clark,  of  Chicago ;  Professor  S.  A. 
Forbes,  State  University,  Champaign,  Illinois ;  Mr.  A.  W.  Butler, 
Indianapolis,  Indiana;  Mr.  Otto  Widman,  Old  Orchard,  Mis- 
souri, and  Mr.  Frank  C.  Baker,  Curator  of  The  Chicago  Acad- 
emy of  Sciences.  My  thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  Alexander  C. 
Patterson  for  the  use  of  a  number  of  photographs  of  the  Chicago 
Area. 

I  am  especially  indebted  to  Professor  William  K.  Higley, 
Secretary  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences,  who  has  very 
kindly  edited  the  manuscript,  and  has  also  rendered  very  valuable 
assistance  in  compiling  the  bibliography.  Through  the  kindness 
of  Mr.  George  H.  Laflin  my  own  collection  of  birds,  made  dur- 
ing several  years  of  work  in  the  fields  of  our  area,  is  now  in 
the  Museum  of  the  Academy. 

The  popular  synonyms,  which  are  of  considerable  importance, 
while  obtained  from  many  sources,  have  been  largely  taken  from 
Dr.  Ridgway's  valuable  report  on  the  birds  of  Illinois,  published 
by  the  State  under  the  title  "The  Ornithology  of  Illinois." 


IO  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

In  1876  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  published  his  observations  of  the 
birds  of  our  area.  These  notes  appeared  in  the  Bulletin  of  the 
Essex  Institute,  Volume  VIII,  1876,  under  the  title  "Birds  of 
Northeastern  Illinois."  Unless  otherwise  stated  all  references  to 
the  observations  of  Mr.  Nelson  are  quoted  from  this  report. 

Another  valuable  work,  which  covers  a  part  of  our  area,  is 
"The  Birds  of  Indiana,"  by  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler,  and  published 
by  the  state  of  Indiana  as  the  Twenty-second  Annual  Report  of 
"The  Department  of  Geology  and  Natural  Resources." 

TERRITORY. 

The  territory  covered  by  the  Survey  includes  all  of  Cook  and 
Du  Page  Counties,  the  nine  north  townships  of  Will  County  and 
the  northern  portion  of  Lake  County,  Indiana.  In  the  south- 
eastern portion  of  this  area  there  are  numerous  lakes  and  streams 
which  drain  into  Lake  Michigan  and  form  what  is  known  as  the 
Calumet  Region.  In  this  region  lying  between  the  Little  Calumet 
River  and  Lake  Michigan,  chiefly  in  Indiana,  are  the  sand-hills 
or  dunes,  some  of  which,  northeast  of  Millers,  Lake  County, 
Indiana,  reach  a  height  of  nearly  150  feet  above  the  Lake.  Some 
of  these  dunes  and  sand  ridges  are  bare,  but  others,  especially 
those  further  back  from  the  Lake,  are  more  or  less  covered 
with  a  scanty  growth  of  black  oak,  northern  scrub  pine  (Pinus 
banksiana),  white  pine  of  a  stunted  growth,  and  various  shrubs 
and  herbs  which  can  live  in  a  sandy  soil.  Interspersed  among 
these  sand  hills  are  quite  a  number  of  small  marshes  which  in 
years  past  formed  the  favorite  breeding  places  of  such  water- 
fowl as  the  Blue-winged  Teal  (Querquedula  discors),  the  Wood 
Duck  (Aix  sponsa),  and  the  Hooded  Merganser  (Lophodytes 
cucullatus).  On  the  hills  above  several  species  of  hawks  and 
the  Bald  Eagles  are  known  to  nest.  During  the  year  1897  two 
pairs  of  Bald  Eagles  raised  their  young  near  Millers,  Indiana, 
almost  in  sight  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  Owing  to  the  draining 
of  the  Calumet  Region  nearly  all  of  the  smaller  lakes  have  dis- 
appeared. Towns  have  sprung  up  around  all  of  the  larger  lakes 
of  the  region,  such  as  Calumet,  George  and  Wolf  lakes,  and  the 
study  of  such  birds  as  the  American  Egret,  Canvas-back  Duck, 
and  birds  of  similar  habits  in  this  region  is  already  a  thing  of  the 
past.  The  drainage  in  the  western  portion  of  the  area,  which 
this  report  covers,  is  toward  the  Mississippi  River,  which  the 
water  finally  reaches  by  passage  through  the  Desplaines  and 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  II 

Illinois  rivers.  This  region  of  our  area  is  much  higher  and  its 
influence  is  shown  very  plainly  among  certain  varieties  of  bird 
life.  The  Great  Blue  Heron  nests  in  great  numbers  in  the  tall 
timber  along  the  more  secluded  portions  of  the  Desplaines  River, 
while  only  a  very  few  are  to  be  found  in  the  Calumet  Region. 
Most  of  our  records  of  Short-billed  Marsh  Wrens,  Cerulean 
Warblers,  Yellow-throated  Vireos,  Lark  Sparrows,  hawks,  owls 
and  other  birds  show  that  a  very  large  number  of  species  prefer 
the  former  region,  along  the  Desplaines  River.  In  this  region  the 
land  is  more  heavily  timbered  and  there  are  also  tracts  of  rich 
prairies  and  pastures.  The  altitude  of  Du  Page  County  is  much 
higher,  as  a  whole,  than  that  of  the  Calumet  Region  and  a  large 
portion  is  quite  heavily  timbered.  This  is  just  such  an  area  as 
is  enjoyed  by  many  birds.  Directly  east  of  this  region,  along 
Lake  Michigan,  we  find  deep  ravines  which  afford  shelter  to 
many  of  our  birds  during  migration.  The  city  of  Chicago,  and 
Calumet,  Hyde,  Wolf  and  George  lakes  lie  in  the  center  of  this 
great  basin  formed  by  the  areas  just  described.  This  tract  is  but 
slightly  above  the  level  of  Lake  Michigan. 

CLIMATIC  INFLUENCES. 

The  fact  that  Chicago  has  a  greater  per  centum  of  lake  winds 
than  any  other  station  on  the  Great  Lakes,  as  may  be  seen  by 
consulting  the  charts  of  the  United  States  Signal  Service,  may 
account  for  the  large  number  of  northern  and  maritime  species 
of  birds  in  which,  during  the  migration  periods,  this  region  is 
particularly  rich.  I  will  quote  from  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson's  excel- 
lent report  on  the  climate  of  this  area.  He  says :  "Not  only  is 
the  influence  of  the  Lake  upon  the  fauna  shown  by  the  occurrence 
of  numerous  species  of  birds,  attracted  by  the  presence  of  a  large 
body  of  water  with  its  congenial  surroundings,  but  the  influence 
of  the  Lake  upon  the  climate  and  the  vegetation  in  its  immediate 
vicinity,  has  a  marked  influence  upon  the  list  of  summer  residents. 
"As  is  well  known,  the  country  bordering  upon  the  Great 
Lakes  has  an  average  lower  temperature  during  the  summer, 
and  a  higher  temperature  during  the  winter,  than  the  surrounding 
districts.  This  has  a  decided  effect  upon  the  movements  and 
distribution  of  the  birds  in  the  vicinity  of  these  large  bodies 
of  water.  This  influence  is  shown  in  a  retardation,  often  of  a 
week  or  more,  in  the  spring  migration,  and  in  the  scarcity  of 


12  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

small  woodland  species  during  the  breeding  season.  Although 
birds  are  exceedingly  numerous  here  during  the  migrations,  and 
the  number  of  species  found  during  summer  compares  favorably 
with  the  number  found  at  the  same  season  in  other  localities  hav- 
ing the  same  latitude,  they  are  represented  by  decidedly  few 
individuals.  This  fact  is  especially  noticeable  after  one  has 
passed  a  day  in  the  marshes  of  the  vicinity,  where  the  abundance 
of  numerous  marsh  and  water  birds,  both  in  species  and  indi- 
viduals, would  lead  one  to  suppose  the  woods  were  equally 
favored." 

In  connection  with  the  study  of  the  birds  of  this  area,  the 
statement  of  Professor  Henry  J.  Cox,  Weather  Forecaster  of 
this  district  is  very  interesting  and  useful.  He  says:  "The 
climate  of  Chicago  is  quite  variable,  as  is  characteristic  of  places 
situated  in  the  temperate  zone,  especially  in  the  interior  of  the 
United  States.  The  extreme  range  of  temperature  during  the 
past  thirty-three  years  has  been  129  degrees,  from  a  maximum 
of  103  degrees  to  a  minimum  of  26  degrees  below  zero.  This 
variation,  however,  is  not  as  great  as  what  usually  takes  place 
in  other  sections  of  the  Northern  States.  Located  as  it  is  at  the 
southern  end  of  Lake  Michigan,  the  extreme  heat  of  summer  and 
cold  of  winter  are  tempered  by  the  waters  bordering  the  city.  *  *  * 
In  winter  the  influence  of  the  Lake  on  the  temperature  is  also 
very  great  in  producing  equable  conditions.  The  extreme  rec- 
ords in  the  interior  are  not  approached  along  its  shores." 

Professor  Cox  also  says  that  this  "area  is  not  in  the  course  of 
any  regular  storm  track,  generally  merely  being  on  the  edges 
of  the  storms  that  pass  to  the  north  over  Lake  Superior  or  to 
the  storms  that  pass  to  the  south  over  the  Ohio  valley.  The 
prevailing  direction  of  the  wind  is  southwest,  for  the  year  as  a 
whole.  During  the  spring  and  early  summer  the  wind  is  mostly 
northeast."  There  are,  however,  at  times  brisk  and  sometimes 
strong  winds  which  are  more  beneficial  than  objectionable. 
These  conditions  of  weather  are  far  from  objectionable  to  the 
birds,  at  least  during  their  migrations.  The  area  is  also  one  that 
is  seldom  visited  by  droughts  or  by  protracted  rain  periods. 
Especially  pleasant  weather  in  the  autumn  is  one  of  the  strong 
points  of  this  region,  and  is  especially  favorable  to  the  fall  migra- 
tion of  the  birds.  "It  is  the  time  of  the  year  when  rain  is  least 
needed  and  when  but  little  falls.  It  is  the  time  of  protracted 
sunshine  and  delightful  weather."  It  is  not  at  all  strange  that  so 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  13 

many  species  of  birds  select  this  area  as  a  route  for  their  migra- 
tions, when  every  condition  is  so  favorable  to  their  needs. 

Occasionally,  however,  our  area  has  had  changes  of  tempera- 
ture or  other  weather  conditions  which  have  been  very  severe  for 
bird  life  at  times.  The  destruction  of  the  more  delicate  of  our 
smaller  birds  during  the  spring  migration  period  by  a  sudden 
dropping  of  the  temperature,  high  northeasterly  winds  and  cold 
rain  storms,  sometimes  occurs.  This  may  account  for  the  scar- 
city of  certain  species  some  years  when  during  the  previous  year 
they  may  have  been  common.  This  destruction  from  natural 
causes  is  well  explained  by  the  observations  of  Dr.  Joseph  L. 
Hancock.*  He  says:  "Usually  at  this  time  of  year  (May  20) 
the  small  land  birds  have  passed  us  on  their  northward  migration, 
but  this  spring  (1888)  the  weather  has  been  so  unfavorable  that 
they  have  been  much  delayed,  the  Warblers,  especially,  and  have 
suffered  great  loss  of  life. 

"While  it  is  usual  to  see  many  of  these  birds  passing  from 
tree  to  tree  in  the  city,  this  spring  on  May  12  they  were  observed 
in  great  numbers  scattered  over  the  ground  in  open  lots,  and  on 
the  larger  prairies  within  the  city.  Many  were  likewise  noticed 
in  the  thronged  thoroughfares  in  the  business  part  of  the  town 
where  some  were  run  down  by  passing  vehicles,  and  others  met 
their  death  under  the  feet  of  pedestrians.  They  would  permit 
a  close  approach,  but  when  almost  stepped  upon  would  make  a 
spasmodic  effort  to  mount  into  the  air,  only  to  find  themselves 
dropping  back  to  the  ground  again,  helpless,  weak,  and  benumbed 
by  the  cold.  This  strange  effect  of  the  weather  on  the  birds 
extended  over  many  miles  of  country  and  across  Lake  Michigan 
to  the  east.  The  shores  between  Lake  Forest,  Evanston,  and  Chi- 
cago were  bestrewn  with  lifeless  birds  which  had  been  washed 
up  by  the  waves."  Dr.  Hancock  found  that  many  species  of 
birds  were  profoundly  affected  by  the  weather,  allowing  approach 
which  would  be  next  to  impossible  under  ordinary  conditions. 
He  says  the  warblers  could  easily  have  been  taken  in  a  small 
hand  net. 

The  destruction  of  bird  life  through  the  changes  of  tempera- 
ture is  very  great,  and  often  accounts  for  the  scarcity  of  certain 
birds  or  the  change  of  their  route  of  migration  during  some  years. 
The  effect  of  severe  weather  which  destroyed  countless  hundreds 
of  bluebirds  in  1895  'IS  splendidly  described  by  Mr.  Otto  Widman, 

*Auk.   Vol.   V,    1888,   432-433. 


14  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

of  Old  Orchard,  Missouri,  in  a  letter  to  me,  dated  July  4,  1895. 
He  says:  "The  greatest  enemy  of  bird  life  in  winter  is  neither 
cold  nor  snow,  but  rain.  That  is,  rain  which  falls  at  a  momentary 
rise  of  temperature  preceded  and  followed  by  low  temperature. 
Such  a  misty,  drizzling  rain  coming  in  contact  with  a  cold  surface 
congeals  immediately  and  incases  every  object  from  the  smallest 
blades  of  grass  to  the  top  of  the  highest  trees. 

"Fortunately  these  rains  do  not  occur  every  winter,  and  when 
they  do,  they  are  usually  soon  followed  by  warm  or  moderately 
cold  weather.  I  suppose  that  every  bird  can  fast  a  few  days, 
if  in  good  condition,  and  if  the  temperature  is  not  unusually  low. 
Such  a  rain  occured  on  Friday,  January  25,  1895.  The  tempera- 
ture on  the  twenty-fourth  was  as  low  as  six  degrees  with  a  raw 
northeast  wind.  During  the  night  the  temperature  rose  to  twen- 
ty-six degrees  when  it  began  to  rain.  In  the  afternoon  the  rain 
turned  into  snow  and  at  five  o'clock  a  high  wind  of  forty-eight 
miles  an  hour  set  in  with  rapidly  falling  temperature.  This  storm 
inaugurated  an  era  of  three  weeks  of  unrelenting  severity.  For 
eight  days  everything  remained  buried  under  ice  and  snow,  and 
the  air  was  so  cold  that  the  sun's  strongest  rays  could  not  melt 
the  ice  from  the  most  exposed  surfaces.  It  might  be  supposed 
that  birds  like  bluebirds  and  robins  would  start  and  go  south  at 
the  very  outset  of  such  a  glaciation.  This  is  not  the  case.  They 
brave  the  adversity;  they  know  they  have  successfully  gone 
through  severe  trials  of  a  similar  nature.  They  wait.  Not  hav- 
ing visited  their  haunts  during  the  cold  spell,  I  have  not  seen 
any  bluebirds  after. the  twenty- third  of  January,  but  robins  visit- 
ing the  orchards  in  my  neighborhood  were  seen  nearly  every 
day,  even  on  the  very  coldest,  the  eighth  of  February,  when  the 
temperature  at  our  place  was  as  low  as  twenty  degrees  below 
zero.  But  even  if  they  had  gone  further  south  a  similar  state 
of  affairs  would  have  confronted  them  everywhere.  The  whole 
of  the  southern  states  were  one  vast  sheet  of  ice  and  snow  for 
many  days,  and  even  when  provided  with  food  birds  may  suc- 
cumb to  the  effect  of  low  temperature  at  times  of  rain  or  deep 
snow.  I  am  feeding  the  birds  around  my  house  every  winter 
with  broken  hickory  and  walnut  meats,  grain  and  pork,  still 
nearly  every  winter  some  of  my  boarders  lose  their  lives  through 
freezing.  Even  the  imported  sparrows  freeze  in  their  warm 
nests.  A  Carolina  Chickadee  was  picked  up  early  one  morning  as 
it  fell  from  a  tree,  dead.  A  Tufted  Titmouse  and  a  nuthatch  were 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  15 

also  found  after  a  cold  spell.  The  only  sapsucker  which  stayed 
with  me  last  winter  and  tapped  the  sugar  maples  successfully  as 
early  as  New  Year's  day,  succumbed  to  the  cold  on  the  tenth 
of  February.  Of  the  vast  number  of  birds  that  perished  in  the 
woods  and  fields  we  shall  never  hear,  because  in  such  hard  fimes 
the  hungry  eyes  of  beasts  and  birds  of  prey,  of  crows  and  shrikes, 
jays  and  others  have  found  them  long  before  man  would  get  a 
chance.  Still  in  the  southern  states,  where  bluebirds  had  already 
taken  up  their  holes,  the  instances  where  dead  bluebirds  have  been 
found  by  man  are  on  record.  Mrs.  Stephenson  of  Helena,  Ar- 
kansas, wrote  me  of  several  cases  which  came  to  her  knowledge. 

"Besides  the  Bluebirds  and  Robins  several  species  seemed  to 
have  suffered  great  losses.  In  the  first  place  the  Myrtle  Warbler. 
The  yield  of  favorite  berries,  wild  grapes  and  poison  ivy  being 
great,  numbers  of  the  birds  remained  in  our  woods.  Hundreds 
were  seen  in  our  tract  as  late  as  the  twentieth  of  January.  When 
spring  migrants  came  very  few  passed  through  here." 

I  quote  from  Mr.  Widman's  letter  fully  for  it  well  illustrates 
the  reason  why  in  the  spring  of  some  years  the  migration  of  cer- 
tain species  seems  far  too  small  in  the  more  northern  states. 

LOCALITIES  OF  INTEREST. 

An  unusually  rich  field  for  the  study  of  maritime  species  and 
occasional  visitors  from  the  far  north  is  in  the  vicinity  of  Millers, 
Indiana,  about  thirty  miles  southeast  of  Chicago,  and  within  the 
limits  of  our  area.  (See  plate  I  and  frontispiece).  This  locality 
is  near  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Michigan.  Here  may  be  seen, 
particularly  during  the  fall  migration,  such  species  as  the  Glau- 
cous Gull  (Larus  glances),  the  Kittiwake  (Rissa  tridactyla},  the 
Caspian  Tern  (Sterna  caspia),  the  Dowitcher  (Macrorhampus 
griseits),  the  Knot  (Tringa  canutus),  the  Purple  Sandpiper  (Ar- 
quatella  maritima),  the  Baird's  Sandpiper  (Actodromas  bairdii), 
the  Sanderling  (Calidris  arenaria),  the  Willet  (Symphemia  semi- 
palmata),  the  Black-bellied  Plover  (Squatarola  squatarola) ,  the 
Semipalmated  Plover  (^gialitis  semipalmata) ,  and  the  Turn- 
stone (Arenaria  inter  pres). 

On  the  rich  meadows  in  the  western  portion  of  Cook  County, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Worth  Township,  may  be  found  resident  such 
species  as  Henslow's  Sparrow  (Ammodramus  henslowii),  Grass- 
hopper Sparrow  (Coturniculus  savannarum  passerinus},  Lark 
Sparrow  (Chondestes  grammacus),  and  during  migrations  Le- 


l6  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

conte's  Sparrow  (Ammodramus  leconteii),  Smith's  Longspur 
(Calcarius  pictus),  Lapland  Longspur  (Calcarius  lapponicus), 
and  others. 

An  especially  good  field  for  studying  the  warblers  during  their 
migrations  is  in  the  higher  timbered  region  of  DuPage  County,  in 
the  northern  portion  of  our  area.  Here  we  also  have  as  summer 
residents  the  Warbling  Vireo  ( Vireo  gilvus) ,  the  Yellow-throated 
Vireo  (Vireo  flavifrons),  and  the  Black-throated  Blue  Warbler 
(Dendroica  carulescens).  While  about  the  region  of  Chicago 
with  its  chains  of  lakes  divided  by  long  ridges  of  timber  may  be 
found  all  of  our  more  common  forms  of  bird  life  in  abundance. 
The  fine  city  parks  of  Chicago  are  the  most  favorable  localities 
in  which  the  birds  may  be  studied  with  a  field  glass.  The  wooded 
island  in  Jackson  Park  is  an  excellent  place  for  the  study  of  the 
water  loving  passeres,  such  as  the  Prothonotary  Warbler,  Water 
Thrushes  and  Swamp  Sparrows.  Lincoln  Park  (see  plate  II) 
one  and  one-half  miles  long,  bordering  on  Lake  Michigan,  with 
its  lagoons  and  lakes,  numerous  wooded  knolls  and  hills,  is  a 
wonderfully  attractive  locality  for  the  study  of  birds.  On  Septem- 
ber 18,  1894,  in  one  small  patch  of  bushes  near  the  greenhouse, 
I  found  twelve  specimens  of  the  Connecticut  Warbler. 

To  show  what  an  excellent  locality  Lincoln  Park  is  for  the 
study  of  birds  I  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  work  of  Professor 
Herbert  Eugene  Walter,  of  the  Robert  A.  Waller  High  School, 
in  Chicago,  who  published  a  little  book,  "Wild  Birds  in  City 
Parks."  This  valuable  little  work  consists  of  hints  on  the  identi- 
fying of  145  birds,  which  he  has  observed  and  studied  during  the 
spring  migrations  in  Lincoln  Park.  The  object  of  this  book  is 
to  furnish  those  who  may  be  interested  in  making  the  acquain- 
tance of  wild  birds  with  a  simple  letter  of  introduction  to  these 
birds,  the  majority  of  which  are  commonly  seen  during  the  spring 
migration. 

It  would  be  a  difficult  matter  to  find  a  more  interesting  and 
fertile  field  for  the  study  of  birds  than  our  area.  The  great  wooded 
region  north  of  us;  Lake  Michigan  on  the  east;  the  desolate 
sandy  southern  portion,  somewhat  resembling  the  western  plains 
and  upon  which  there  are  found  growing  quite  a  number  of 
western  plants  and  the  prickly  pear  cactus  (Opuntia  rafinesquii), 
the  whole  area  forming  an  attraction  for  birds  which  favor  such 
localities.  What  greater  inducements  could  be  offered  birds  to 
visit  our  area  during  their  migrations,  for  south  and  west  of  us 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  IJ 

there  are  rich  broad  fields  with  ridges  of  timber,  and  several  large 
rivers,  the  Illinois,  the  Ohio,  and  the  Mississippi,  which  tend  to 
lead  the  birds  to  us.  Combining  as  we  do,  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent,  the  characteristics  of  the  western  plains,  the  southern 
swamps,  and  the  eastern  characteristics  as  well  as  boreal  effects, 
many  Arctic  and  maritime  species  are  found  at  times  within  our 
limits. 

Then  again  a  large  portion  of  our  area,  lying  in  a  great  basin 
formed  by  the  old  lake  beaches  and  the  wooded  hills  of  Lake 
and  DuPage  Counties,  the  temperature  influenced  by  that  of  Lake 
Michigan,  forms  what  might  be  called  a  wind  harbor  causing 
at  times  a  perfect  deluge  of  migrating  birds.  Several  times  in 
the  past  twelve  or  more  years  such  birds  as  the  Painted  Long- 
spurs  and  Snowflakes,  birds  which  only  casually  visit  us,  have 
appeared  in  countless  numbers  and  have  stayed  with  us  often 
as  late  as  the  seventh  of  May.  I  obtained  specimens  of  Smith's 
Longspur  (Calcarius  pictus)  in  almost  full  breeding  plumage 
on  the  fifth  of  May,  1896. 

During  especially  severe  winters  a  number  of  northern  spe- 
cies, such  as  Crossbills,  Bohemian  Waxwings,  and  Evening  Gros- 
beaks, arrive  in  large  numbers  to  spend  several  weeks  in  our  cli- 
mate, which  seems  to  be  an  attraction  for  them.  Much  more 
time  is  spent  by  these  birds  with  us,  apparently,  than  in  the 
regions  lying  outside  of  our  area.  I  believe  that  the  reason  for 
this  is  the  temperate  basin,  which  I  have  spoken  of  as  a  wind 
harbor,  and  the  influences  of  Lake  Michigan. 

SOME  EXISTING  CONDITIONS  OPPOSED  TO  THE 

BIRDS. 

As  our  territory  becomes  more  thickly  populated  each  year, 
the  struggle  for  existence  among  our  wild  birds  to  remain  and 
breed  in  their  old  haunts  is  really  pitiful.  The  most  secluded  spots 
on  our  smaller  streams  and  marshes  are  often  fairly  crowded 
with  the  nests  of  the  poor  birds  which  in  years  past  were 
spread  over  a  large  territory.  If  the  unscrupulous  Collectors  are 
not  restrained  the  species  which  I  mention  below  will  disappear 
entirely  from  our  area.  In  1891,  hundreds  of  Black  Terns  (Hy- 
drochelidon  nigra  Surinam ensis)  nested  along  the  shores  of  Calu- 
met Lake,  Hyde  Lake,  and  the  feeders  of  the  Desplaines  River. 
Today  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  one  of  these  birds  nesting 


l8  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

within  our  area.  The  Wilson's  Phalarope  (Steganopus  tricolor), 
the  most  interesting  and  curious  of  our  Limicolae,  have  been 
shot  and  practically  driven  from  our  area  through  the  persecution 
of  Chicago  sportsmen  and  egg-hunters.  The  same  condition  ex- 
ists with  the  Woodcock  (Philohela  minor),  the  birds  being  driven 
into  several  small  areas  and  the  nests  robbed.  In  1890,  I  hunted 
in  vain  for  the  Pied-billed  Grebes  (Podilymbus  podiceps)  which  I 
expected  to  find  nesting  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes  of  our  area, 
and  finally  I  was  surprised,  while  roving  along  the  shore  of  a 
small  creek  which  flows  into  the  Desplaines  River,  to  find  a 
large  colony  of  these  grebes  nesting  in  a  small,  reedy  patch  of 
meadow.  This  was  a  very  unusual  occurrence  in  the  nesting  hab- 
its of  these  birds  within  our  area,  but  was  easily  explained,  for 
they  had  been  driven  from  all  other  suitable  localities.  I  counted 
seven  nests  within  a  space  fifty  feet  square.  I  found  the  same 
condition  of  affairs  existing  in  the  habits  of  the  Florida  Galli- 
nules  and  the  King  Rails.  I  mention  these  facts  hoping  that 
these  conditions  will  influence  every  student  of  bird  life  to  use 
his  efforts  to  stop  all  unnecessary  destruction  of  our  native 
birds.  On  August  I,  1897,  I  found  two  pairs  of  Belted  Piping 
Plover  (JEgialitis  meloda  circumcincta)  nesting  on  the  lake 
shore.  One  family  of  five  was  destroyed  by  collectors,  as  this 
species  had  not  been  reported  for  years  and  was  supposed  to 
have  been  of  accidental  occurrence  until  the  young  of  this  pair 
were  found.  By  asking  the  assistance  of  the  fishermen  on  the 
beach  in  an  attempt  to  protect  the  balance  of  the  birds,  the  re- 
maining pair  successfully  raised  their  young.  At  the  present 
date,  there  are  probably  twenty  pairs  or  so  nesting,  during  the 
breeding  season,  within  our  area,  but  as  their  eggs  command  a 
high  price  and  the  majority  of  the  collectors  are  indifferent,  we 
may  soon  expect  to  have  this  fine  bird  disappear  from  our  region. 
Our  bird  fauna  has  differed  surprisingly  little  during  the 
past. twenty  years.  The  most  marked  variation,  perhaps,  has 
been  among  the  Arctic  species  of  gulls  and  ducks.  In  1876  the 
Eider  Ducks,  the  Scoters,  the  Glaucous  Gulls,  the  Franklin's 
Gulls  and  other  birds  of  a  similar  nature,  were  of  common  occur- 
rence. They  are,  however,  much  less  common  at  the  present 
time.  I  can  only  account  for  this  condition  by  the  fact  of  the 
largely  increased  number  of  hunters.  Many  of  the  sportsmen  of 
our  city,  who  seemingly  cannot  wait  for  the  regular  hunting 
season,  shoot  great  numbers  of  the  Old  Squaw  Ducks,  Scoters, 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.         .  19 

and  Red-breasted  Mergansers  or  Sheldrakes,  all  of  which  are 
totally  unfit  for  food.  As  this  is  probably  done  along  the  shores 
of  the  entire  group  of  lakes  in  the  northern  United  States,  it  is 
evident  that  most  of  our  rare  winter  visitants  are  shot  before 
they  can  reach  us,  or  are  possibly  forced  to  seek  other  localities 
which  seem  safer  to  them.  I  know  of  one  gentleman,  an  enthu- 
siastic sportsman,  who  shot  sixty-four  Old  Squaw  Ducks  from 
the  government  pier  in  Chicago,  thinking  they  were  Pintails  or 
some  other  edible  ducks.  He  cheerfully  presented  some  of  them 
to  friends,  who  of  course  had  to  throw  them  away.  As  these 
ducks  are  useful  scavengers,  and  of  as  great  value  to  us  as  the 
Turkey  Vulture  and  the  sea  gulls,  they  should  not  be  shot  in 
this  manner.  It  is  because  of  this  needless  slaughter  of  birds 
that  the  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker,  the  Carolina  Paroquet,  the 
Eskimo  Curlew,  the  Passenger  Pigeon,  and  the  Wild  Turkey 
have  disappeared  forever  from  the  localities  which  they  formerly 
frequented. 

EXTRALIMITAL  BIRDS. 

In  a  locality  situated  as  our  area  is  on  the  shore  of  a  large 
body  of  water,  it  is  very  important  that  we  should  always  have 
in  mind  the  possibility  of  birds  appearing  within  our  limits  which 
are  truly  extralimital.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  has  well  expressed 
the  peculiar  situation  of  this  area,  and  his  words  so  well  show 
its  nature  that  I  will  quote  them :  "The  region  about  the  south- 
ern end  of  Lake  Michigan,  in  Illinois,  presents  an  unusually  fer- 
tile field  for  the  ornithologist.  Situated,  as  it  is,  midway  between 
the  wooded  region  of  the  East  and  the  treeless  plains  of  the  West, 
with  the  warm  river  bottoms  of  the  South,  rich  in  southern  species, 
extending  within  a  comparatively  short  distance,  and  the  Great 
Lakes  upon  the  north,  Northeastern  Illinois  forms  a  kind  of 
'four  corners'  where  the  avian-faunae  of  four  regions  intergrade. 
To  the  proximity  of  Lake  Michigan  we  are  indebted  for  a  number 
of  more  or  less  strictly  maritime  species."  From  the  action  of 
fierce  storms  raging  inland  from  the  sea  coast,  and  the  occurrence 
of  many  maritime  species,  which  have  been  seen  and  taken  just 
out  of  the  boundaries  of  our  area,  such  as  Brunnich's  Murre 
(Uria  lomvia),  Burgomaster  Gull  (Larus  glaucus),  Man-o'-War 
Bird  (Fregato  aquila),  we  are  liable  i  ntime  to  find  a  number  of 
our  sea  coast  birds,  along  the  chain  of  Great  Lakes.  As  a 
special  illustration  of  this  fact,  I  will  speak  of  the  occurrence  of 


2O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

the  Man-o'-War  Bird  not  far  from  our  area.  I  quote  from  Mr. 
A.  W.  Butler's  "Birds  of  Indiana"  where  he  says:  "In  the  fall 
of  1896  I  saw,  in  the  office  of  Mr.  J.  E.  Beasley,  the  well  known 
taxidermist,  at  Lebanon,  Indiana,  a  nicely  mounted  specimen  of 
a  young  male  of  this  species.  I  learned  it  was  killed  near  Shel- 
byville,  Indiana,  July  14,  1896,  by  Mr.  W.  S.  Patterson,  and  came 
into  Mr.  Beasley's  hands  for  preservation  the  next  day."  A  rec- 
ord of  the  finding  of  this  species  north  of  us  is  that  of  a  specimen 
in  the  Milwaukee  Public  Museum,  which  was  killed  in  the  vicinity 
of  Humbolt,  Wisconsin,  a  few  miles  north  of  Milwaukee,  in  Au- 
gust, 1880.  I  believe  that  especial  interest  should  be  taken  in  our 
extralimital  species,  as  I  find  that  the  efforts  of  nearly  all  of  our 
careful  observers  along  this  line  have  been  successful,  and  have 
added  during  late  years  such  birds  as  the  Kittiwake  Gull  (Rissa 
tridactyla),  Glaucous  Gull  (Larus  glaucus),  and  the  Caspian 
Tern  (Sterna  caspia),  to  our  list  of  accidental  visitants. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  in  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois/' 
names  the  following  birds,  which  are  extralimital  to  the  region 
covered  by  this  report,  but  have  been  observed  or  captured  not 
far  from  our  limits.  A  single  specimen  of  Townsend's  Soli- 
taire (Myadestes  townsendii)  was  obtained  December  16,  1875, 
by  Mr.  Charles  Douglas,  at  Waukegan.  This  bird  was  found  in 
a  sheltered  ravine  near  the  lake  shore.  Dr.  Hoy  observed  a 
small  flock  of  the  Hudsonian  Chickadee  (Parus  hudsonicus)  near 
Racine,  Wisconsin,  in  January,  1852.  The  Worm-eating  War- 
bler (Helmitherus  vcrniivorns}  Mr.  Nelson  speaks  of  as  a  very 
rare  visitant  and  says  a  single  specimen  was  observed  May  21, 
1876,  at  Waukegan.  The  Sycamore  Warbler  (Dcndroica  domin- 
ica  albilora)  Mr.  Nelson  gives  as  a  very  rare  summer  visitant 
from  the  south.  The  species  was  then  known  to  be  a  common 
summer  resident  in  the  vicinity  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  The 
Intermediate  Sparrow,  a  variety  of  the  White-crowned  Sparrow, 
(Zonotrichia  Icucophrys  intermedia)  was  found  by  Dr.  Hoy 
near  Racine.  This  far  western  bird  was  taken  by  him  in  April, 
1871.  The  Golden-crowned  Sparrow  (Zonotrichia  coronata),  is 
another  western  bird  taken  by  Dr.  Hoy  in  his  garden  it  Racine 
in  April,  1858.  The  Canada  Jay  (Perisorcus  canadensis)  was 
taken  by  Dr.  Hoy  near  Racine  in  the  winter  of  1859,  and  Mr. 
Nelson  thinks  this  species  may  have  been  a  regular  winter  visi- 
tant in  the  northern  portion  of  Illinois  before  the  pine  forests 
along  the  lake  shore  were  destroyed.  The  Wood  Ibis  (Tantalus 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  21 

loculator)  Mr.  Nelson  speaks  of  as  "an  exceedingly  rare  summer 
visitant  from  southern  Illinois."  He  also  says  that  Dr.  Hoy  has 
a  specimen  obtained  at  Racine,  September  10,  1869.  The  Glossy 
Ibis  (Plegadis  antumnalis)  Mr.  Nelson  speaks  of  as  "a  very  rare 
visitant"  and  says  that  he  knows  of  two  or  three  instances  of  its 
occurrence  in  our  vicinity.  The  Trumpeter  Swan  (Olor  buccina- 
tor) Mr.  Nelson  thought  occurred  during  its  migration  periods, 
and  there  is  really  no  reason  why  it  may  not.  The  Greater  Scaup 
Duck  (Aythya  marila)  Mr.  Nelson  considered  "a  rare  migrant." 
The  Harlequin  Duck  (Histrionicus  histrionicus)  Mr.  Nelson  re- 
ports as  a  "rather  rare  winter  resident  upon  Lake  Michigan,"  and 
says  that  Dr.  Hoy  secured  several  specimens  at  Racine.  The  King 
Eider  (Somateria  spectabilis)  Mr.  Nelson  speaks  of  as  a  "rare 
winter  visitant — perhaps  winter  resident — to  Lake  Michigan  and 
other  parts  of  the  State."  It  is  known  that  its  range  includes 
Illinois.  The  Florida  Cormorant  (Phalacrocorax  dilophus  flori- 
damts),  which  is  known  to  be  a  summer  resident  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Nelson  states  was  observed  at  Waukegan 
in  May,  1876.  The  White-winged  or  Iceland  Gull  (Larus  leu- 
copterus),  and  the  Great  Black-backed  or  Saddle-back  Gull 
(Larus  marinus)  Mr.  Nelson  states  are  not  uncommon  winter 
residents  on  Lake  Michigan.  He  also  records  Franklin's  Gull 
(Larus  franklinii)  as  a  rare  visitant  to  Lake  Michigan,  and  that 
a  specimen  was  obtained  at  Milwaukee  in  1850.  The  Gull-billed 
Tern  (Gelochelidon  nilotica)  Mr.  Nelson  records  as  "an  exceed- 
ingly rare  visitant  during  summer,"  and  he  also  speaks  of  the 
Royal  Tern  (Sterna  maxima)  as  being  an  exceedingly  rare  sum- 
mer visitant  to  Lake  Michigan.  The  Black-throated  Loon  ( Uri- 
nator  arcticus)  Mr.  Nelson  records  as  "a  very  rare  winter  visitant 
upon  Lake  Michigan,"  and  speaks  of  specimens  as  taken  at  Ra- 
cine and  Milwaukee.  As  this  species  is  known  to  casually  occur 
both  in  autumn  and  winter  in  the  northern  United  States  it  is 
liable  to  be  found  within  our  region. 

While  Mr.  Nelson's  report  covers  a  somewhat  larger  area  than 
is  included  in  this  report,  the  limits  of  his  area  are  only  a  very 
few  miles  beyond  those  of  ours.  The  city  of  Racine,  which  he 
so  frequently  mentions,  is  about  sixty-two  miles  north  of  Chica- 
go, in  Wisconsin  very  near  the  southern  boundary  of  that 
state  and  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  Waukegan,  also  fre- 
quently mentioned  by  Mr.  Nelson,  is  located  in  Illinois  and  is 
thirty-six  miles  north  of  Chicago. 


22  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

All  persons  who  are  interested  in  the  study  of  birds  within 

the  limits  of  our  region,  should  be  watching  for  the  following 

species  which  are  liable  to  visit  the  area : 

The  Pomarine  Jaeger    (Stercorarius    pomarinus)    which    is 

known  to  visit  the  Great  Lakes  in  the  winter. 

The    Parasitic    Jaeger     (Stercorarius    parasiticus)    which    is 

known  to  have  visited  Lake  Michigan  in  our  vicinity  during  the 

winter. 

The  Cackling  Goose   (Branta  canadensis  minima),  a  small 

western  species,  has  been  observed  in  Wisconsin,   Illinois  and 

Michigan.     These  geese  are  Pacific  coast  birds,  breeding  in  the 

far  north  and  migrating  southward  in  winter  to  California  and 

sometimes  eastward  at  least  to  the  Mississippi  Valley.     I  have 

taken  five  of  these  birds  at  Meredosia,  Illinois. 

The  following  species  may  also  very  rarely  visit  our  area,  as 

specimens  have  been  taken  near  us  or  have  been  known  to  visit 

the  Great  Lakes : 

Hudsonian  Chickadee  (Parus  hudsonicus). 

Water-thrush  (Seiurus  noveboracensis) .  This  species  was  re- 
ported by  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott,  in  his  "Catalogue  of  Animals 
Observed  in  Cook  County,  Illinois."  This  was  published 
during  the  year  1855,  and  since  that  time  some  of  the  birds 
then  included  under-  this  specific  name  have  been  placed 
in  a  variety  known  as  Grinnell's  Water-thrush  under  the 
varietal  name  notabilis.  As  the  variety  has  been  known  to 
frequent  our  area,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  birds  ob- 
served by  Mr.  Kennicott  and  others  belong  to  this  variety 
which  was  given  its  name  in  1880,  several  years  after  the  time 
of  his  investigations. 

Canada  Jay  (Perisoreus  canadensis),  specimens  of  which  were 
observed  by  Dr.  Hoy  in  southern  Wisconsin. 

Iceland  Gull  (Larus  leucopterus) .  This  species  is  known  to 
frequent  the  Great  Lakes  during  the  winter,  and  is  also  known 
to  pass  even  further  south. 

King  Eider  (Somateria  spectabilis}  is  known  to  occasionally 
visit  the  Great  Lakes.  It  has  also  been  reported  from  Iowa 
and  northern  Ohio. 

The  Ruff  (Pavoncella  pugnax)  has  been  recorded  from  English 
Lake,  Indiana,  by  Mr.  Ruthven  Deane  (Auk,  XXII,  October, 
1905,  p.  410)  and  should  be  looked  for  among  the  shore 
birds  which  visit  our  lakes. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  23 

MIGRATION  OF  THE  BIRDS. 

Of  the  migration  of  the  birds  of  our  region,  depending  as 
it  does  almost  entirely  upon  the  weather  conditions,  little  more 
can  be  said  beyond  the  individual  reports  of  arrival  and  de- 
parture. This  is  especially  true  of  the  insect-feeding  birds 
which  are  very  sensitive  and  deeply  feel  all  sudden  changes  of 
temperature.  They  are  "perfect  barometers  in  that  respect." 
Some  years  the  migration  of  the  birds  is  greatly  impeded  by 
severe  or  variable  weather,  and  in  these  years  quite  large  numbers 
of  migrant  birds  have  been  destroyed  by  sudden  changes  to  cold 
and  stormy  weather  from  a  fair  and  warmer  atmosphere,  which 
has  attracted  the  birds.  The  interesting  Bluebirds  appear  usually 
about  the  middle  of  March,  but  it  was  my  pleasure  to  observe 
one  as  early  as  February  22,  and  Mr.  Benjamin  T.  Gault  heard 
one  calling  at  Glen  Ellyn,  not  far  west  of  Chicago,  on  February 
28,  1896. 

The  height  of  migration  of  the  Passeres  in  our  area  seems 
to  be  from  the  first  to  the  tenth  of  May  in  the  spring,  and  about 
the  middle  of  September  in  the  fall.  It  will  be  of  interest  to 
note  the  height  of  migration  during  eight  years,  from  1893  to 
1900,  as  recorded  by  Mr.  Gault  at  Glen  Ellyn,  Illinois.  His 
record  is  as  follows,  and  is  the  result  of  his  observations  of  the 
vireos,  the  warblers,  and  the  smaller  thrushes  used  as  an  index 
or  basis  to  mark  the  height  of  the  spring  migration  season: 

1893 May  12  to  14  inclusive 

1894 May  14  to  16  inclusive 

1895 May  19  to  23  inclusive 

1896 May  6  to  12  inclusive 

1897 May  8  to  15  inclusive 

1898 .May  13  to  20  inclusive 

1899 May  ii  to  19  inclusive 

1900 May  15  to  19  inclusive 

The  maritime  birds  straggle  through  our  area  in  the  spring 
from  April  to  June.  It  is  a  rather  strange  fact  that  late  in  May 
and  in  June  there  may  sometimes  be  seen  large  flocks  of  Red- 
backed  Sandpipers  (Pelidna  alpina  sakhalina),  Black-bellied 
Plovers  (Squatarola  squatarola') ,  the  Knot  or  Robin  Snipe 
(Tringa  canutus).  the  Least  Sandpiper  (Actodromas  minutilla), 
and  the  Semipalmated  Sandpiper  (Ereunetes  pusillus)  along  the 
shores  of  our  smaller  lakes.  Whether  these  birds  are  simply 


24  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

late  migrants,  or  those  which  do  not  intend  to  nest  in  the  north 
it  seems  difficult  to  state. 

CLASSIFICATION. 

The  classification  adopted  for  this  catalogue  is  that  of  the 
American  Ornithologists'  Union  Check-list,  with  such  additions 
and  corrections  as  have  been  published  from  time  to  time  in  the 
"Auk."  My  thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Allen,  Curator  of  the 
Department  of  Mammalogy  and  Ornithology  of  the  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  New  York  City,  for  assistance  in 
correcting  the  classification  of  certain  species. 

Mr.  Robert  Ridgway's  magnificent  work  on  the  Birds  of 
North  and  Middle  America  has  not  been  available  as  a  basis  for 
classification  as  its  publication  is  unfinished;  and  also  for  the 
reason  that  the  sweeping  changes  in  nomenclature  in  that  monu- 
mental work  might  lessen  the  value  of  a  purely  local  catalogue. 
A  number  of  changes  in  specific  and  generic  names,  however, 
have  been  adopted  from  Mr.  Ridgway's  work. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 


CATALOGUE  OF  SPECIES. 

ORDER  PYGOPODES:    DIVING  BIRDS. 

FAMILY  PODICIPIDJE :     GREBES. 
Genus  COLYMBUS  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Colymbus  holbcellii  (Reinh.).    HolbceU's  Grebe. 

Podiceps  rubricollis  NUTTALL,  Manual,  II,  1834,  253. 

Podiccps  holbcellii  REIXII..  Vid.  Meddel,  1853,  7G. 

Podiceps  griseigena  var.   holbolli  NELSON,   Bull.   Essex  Institute,  Vol. 

VIII,  1876,  150. 

Podiceps  griseigena  var.  Jioibdllii  COUES,  Key,  1872,  337. 
Colymbus  holboellii  RIDGWAY,  Water  B.  X.  Amer.,  II,  1884,  428. 
Popular  synonyms:     AMEBICAN  RED-NECKED  GEEBE.    COOPER'S  GBEBE. 

The  only  record  that  I  have  found  of  the  occurrence  of  Hol- 
bcell's  Grebe  within  our  limits  is  that  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who 
says*:  "Rather  uncommon  winter  resident  upon  Lake  Michi- 
gan." Mr.  Ridgway  saysf  that  it  is  a  winter  visitant  to  Illinois. 
This  being  the  case  it  would  naturally  appear  upon  the  lake 
border  of  our  district. 

The  range  of  this  grebe  is  North  America  in  general,  in- 
cluding Greenland.  It  breeds  from  Minnesota  and  Maine  north- 
ward and  migrates,  in  winter,  southward  quite  through  the 
United  States.  It  is  also  a  native  of  eastern  Siberia,  southward 
to  Japan. 

Colymbus  auritus  Linnaeus.    Horned  Grebe. 

Colymbns  auritns  LINN.EUS.  S.  X..  ed.  10.  I,  1758,  135. 
Podiceps  cornutus  LATHAM.  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  783. 
Popular  synonyms  :     DUSKY  GREBE.     HELL- DIVER. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Xelson  in  his  report  on  the  Birds  of  Northeastern 
Illinois,  states  that  in  1876  this  species  occurred  casually  from  the 
first  of  October  to  the  tenth  of  November  and  during  April. 
He  also  states  that  it  bred  sparingly  on  the  small  lakes  of  this 
region.  Mr.  George  L.  Toppan  has  a  specimen  in  the  downy 
plumage,  taken  May  24,  18/8,  at  Sheffield,  Indiana.  Mr.  J.  G. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  150. 
tBirds  of  Illinois,  Vol.  II,  1895,  260 


# 
26  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Parker,  Jr.,  obtained  one  specimen  on  April  i,  1890,  from  a  flock 
of  six  at  Grand  Crossing.  My  own  observations  are  as  follows : 
Took  one  specimen  of  two,  observed  on  Lake  Calumet  May  28, 
1889,  and  one  at  Worth,  Illinois,  on  September  18,  1889. 

The  above  observations  would  appear  to  indicate  that  the 
Horned  Grebe,  which  is  exceedingly  tame  during  its  migrations, 
is  very  shy  and  retiring  during  the  nesting  period,  as  no  breeding 
notes  have  been  obtained  since  1878  for  this  area.  I  also  find 
that  this  species  has  been  reported  a  great  many  times.  Its  range 
covers  the  northern  hemisphere,  and  in  North  America  it  breeds 
in  the  northern  United  States  and  northward. 

Colymbus  nigricollis  calif ornicns  (Heerm.).    American  Eared  Grebe. 

Podiceps  auritus  NUTTALL,  Manual.  II.  1834,  256. 

Podiceps  californicus  HEERM.,  Proc.,  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,1854, 

179. 
Podiceps  auritus  var.  californicus  NELSON,  Bull.  Essex  Institute,  Vol. 

VIII,  1876,  151. 
Colymlus   nigricollis   californicus    RIDGWAY,    Proc.    U.    S.    Nat.    Mus., 

VIII,  1885,  356. 
Popular  synonym:    CALIFORNIA  GEEBE. 

While  the  American  Eared  Grebe  has  been  reported  several 
times  as  occurring  within  our  limits,  I  have  not  been  able  to 
find  a  single  record  of  an  authentic  specimen  of  this  species 
having  been  taken.  The  only  published  record  is  that  of  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says*:  "Not  uncommon  in  winter  upon 
Lake  Michigan.  Several  species  of  grebes  and  a  number  of 
ducks  are  occasionally  taken  during  the  winter  upon  the  hooks, 
set  several  miles  off  shore  by  the  fishermen." 

The  range  of  this  grebe  includes  northern  and  western  North 
America  from  the  Mississippi  Valley  westward. 

Genus  PODILYMBUS  Lesson,  1831. 

Podilymbus  podiceps  (Linnaeus).    Pied-billed  Grebe. 

Colymlus  podiceps  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  136. 
Podilymbus  podiceps  LAWB.,  in  BAIKD,  B.  N.  Anier.,  1858,  898. 
Popular  synonyms:     HELL-DIVEB.    DI-DAPPEB.     WATEB  WITCH.    DAB- 
CHICK.     CAROLINA  GBEBE. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last  of  March  and 
leaving  in  November.  It  nests  abundantly  with  us  on  most  of 
our  small  lakes.  It  is  a  bird  of  wide  distribution,  its  range  ex- 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  151. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  2/ 

tending  from  the  British  Provinces  southward  to  Brazil,  the 
Argentine  Republic  and  Chili,  and  is  also  found  in  the  West 
Indies  and  Bermuda.  It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  range. 

FAMILY  GAVnXE:     LOONS. 
Genus  GAVIA  Forster,  1788. 

Gavia  imber   (Gunnerus).    Loon. 

Colymbus  imber  GUNNEBUS,  Trondh.  Selsk.  Skr.,  I,  1761,  pi.  iii. 
Coli'mbus  toquatus  BBUNN.,  Orn.  Bor.,  1764,  41. 
L'rinator  imber  STEJNEGEB,  Orn.  Bxpl.  Kamtsch.,  1885,  313. 
Gavia  imber  ALLEN,  Auk,  XIV,  July,  1897,  312. 
Popular  synonyms:     GREAT  NOBTHEBN  DIVEB.     WALLOON.     GUINEA 
DUCK.    HELL  DIVEB. 

This  species  is  resident  and  not  uncommon.  It  is  the  largest 
and  most  active  of  our  diving  birds,  and  may  be  looked  for  at 
all  times  of  the  year.  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says,  in  his  Birds 
of  Illinois,  that  the  Loon  winters  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
state.  At  times,  this  bird  is  caught  in  the  gill  nets  of  the  lake 
fishermen.  In  diving,  the  Loon  becomes  entangled  in  the 
meshes  of  the  net  and  is  killed. 

The  Loon's  range  covers  the  northern  part  of  the  northern 
hemisphere,  and  in  North  America  it  breeds  from  the  northern 
portion  of  the  United  States  northward,  and  winters  as  far 
south  as  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Lower  California. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  mention  a  set  of  eggs  which  I  collected 
at  Deer  Lake,  three  miles  from  Hickory,  Illinois,  in  May,  1892. 
The  nest  was  on  the  end  of  a  long  piece  of  bog  land  which  ex- 
tended about  seventy-five  yards  into  the  lake.  The  nest  was  a 
circular  mass  of  decayed  rushes,  scraped  together  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  eggs  from  rolling  into  the  water. 

Gavia  lumme  (Gunnerus).    Red-throated  Loon. 

Colymbus  Inmme  GUNNERUS,  Trondh.  Selsk.  Skr.,  I.  1761,  pi.  ii,  fig.  2. 
Colymbus  septentrionalis  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1766,  220  (adult). 
Urinator  lumme  STEJNEGEB,  Pr.  U.  S.  National  Museum,  V,  1882,  43. 
Popular  synonym:  RED-THBOATED  DIVEB. 

The  Red-throated  Loon  seemingly  can  be  admitted  to  the 
bird  fauna  of  the  Chicago  Area  only  as  a  rare  winter  visitant. 
The  only  records  that  I  can  find  of  the  taking  of  this  species 
within  our  limits  are  those  of  three  specimens,  the  dead  bodies 
of  which  were  found  on  the  lake  shore  at  Evanston,  February  15, 
1870.  These  specimens  are  now  in  the  museum  of  the  North- 


28  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

western  University  at  Evanston.     Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  also  reports 
the  taking  of  a  specimen  at  Chicago,  February  23^  1885. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  has  reported  the  Red-throated  Loon  a 
common  winter  resident  upon  Lake  Michigan  in  1876.  It  has 
an  extensive  range  which  includes  the  northern  part  of  the  north- 
ern hemisphere.  It  migrates  southward  in  winter  nearly  across 
the  United  States. 

ORDER  LONGIPENNES  :    LONG-WINGED 
SWIMMERS. 

FAMILY  STERCORARIIDJE:    THE  SKUAS 
AND  JAEGERS. 

Genus  STERCORARIUS  Brisson,  1760. 

Stercorarius  pomarinus  (Temm.).    Pomaine  Jaeger. 
La-rus  pomarinus  TEMM.,  Man.  d'Orn.,  1815,  514. 
Stercorarius  pomarinus  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.,  XXXII,  1819,  158. 
Popular  synonyms:    GULL-CHASEB.    GULL-HUN  TEE. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  records  the  only  occurences  of  this 
bird  within  our  limits,  says  (Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornitholog- 
ical Club,  July,  1876,  p.  41) :  "From  the  description  of  a  bird 
seen  with  a  flock  of  gulls  near  Evanston,  Illinois,  by  F.  L.  Rice 
of  that  place,  and  the  account  of  a  strange  gull  occasionally  seen 
by  a  sportsman  who  does  considerable  shooting  on  Lake  Michi- 
gan, I  am  certain  this  species  is  a  rare  visitant  during  severe 
winters."  Mr.  Nelson  also  reports  seeing  one  of  these  birds  on 
October  9,  1876,  at  Chicago.  It  was  "a  fine  adult  specimen 
flying  along  the  Lake  shore,  and  so  near  that  there  could  be  no 
possibility  of  mistake."* 

It  does  not  seem  strange  that  this  Jaeger  might  appear  as 
a  rare  winter  visitant  on  the  waters  of  Lake  Michigan,  for  its 
range  includes  the  seas  and  inland  waters  of  the  northern  por- 
tion of  the  northern  hemisphere.  In  the  winter,  it  migrates 
southward  to  Africa,  Australia  and  from  North  America  to  South 
America. 

Genus  RISSA  Stephens,  1825. 

Rissa  tridactyla  (Linnaeus).    Kittiwake. 

Larus  tridactylus  Lirra^us,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  136. 
Rissa  tridactyla  BONAPARTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  62. 
Popular  synonyms:     WINTEE  GULL.    KITTIWAKE  GULL. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  145. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  2Q 

The  Kittiwake  is  a  very  rare  winter  visitant.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  observed  it  at  Chicago,  and  he  with  Dr.  P.  R.  Hoy  report 
seeing  it  at  Waukegan,  Illinois.  However,  I  can  find  no  record 
of  its  capture  prior  to  that  of  the  specimen  now  in  the  museum 
of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences.  This  specimen  is  a  young 
bird  which  has  the  black  patch  on  the  lower  part  of  the  neck 
and  the  band  on  the  tail  well  defined.  The  tail  has  a  slightly 
forked  appearance.  It  was  shot  by  Mr.  Chris.  Wagner,  and  pur- 
chased for  the  Academy. 

A  gull  supposed  to  be  the  Kittiwake  has  been  observed  on  the 
lagoons  of  Jackson  Park,  Chicago,  in  the  month  of  April,  1904. 

While  the  visits  of  the  Kittiwake  are  rare,  it  is  quite  apt  to 
appear  in  our  vicinity  during  especially  severe  winters.  Its 
range  includes  the  Arctic  regions  but  in  winter  it  passes  south- 
ward to  the  Great  Lakes. 

Genus  LARUS  Linnaeus,  1758, 

Lams  glaucus  Briinn.     Glaucus  Gull. 

Larus  glaucus  BBUNN.,  Orn.  Bor.,  1764,  44. 

Popular  synonyms:     BURGOMASTER.    WHITE  GULL.     HUTCHIN'S  GULL. 

Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says  that  the  Glaucous  Gull  is  an  Arctic 
bird  which  occasionally  visits  Lake  Michigan  in  the  winter. 
In  the  writer's  collection  there  is  a  specimen  in  the  pure  white 
plumage  of  the  second  year  which  was  captured  at  Millers,  In- 
diana, August  8,  1897.  When  shot,  the  bird  was  alone  and 
flying  along  the  beach  of  Lake  Michigan.  Three  specimens 
were  also  taken  by  Dr.  P.  R.  Hoy  several  years  ago  at  Racine, 
Wisconsin. 

The  Glaucous  Gull  is  a  bird  of  the  Arctic  regions  which  passes 
southward  in  winter  to  the  Great  Lakes  and  Long  Island. 

Larus  argentatus  Briinn.    Herring  Gull. 

Larus  argentatus  BRUNN.,  Orn.  Bor.,  1764,  44. 

Larus  smithsonianus  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1862, 

296. 
Larus    argentatus   var.    smithsonianus    COUES,    Check    List,    1873,    no. 

547a. 
Larus  argentatus  argentatus  COUES,  B.  of  N.  W.,  1874,  625. 

Popular  synonyms:     SEA  GULL.    GRAY  GULL. 

A  common  winter  resident,  arriving  in  November  and  remain- 
ing until  May.  They  may  be  seen  in  company  with  the  Ring- 
billed  Gulls  (Larus  delazvarensis)  when  the  lake  is  quite  frozen 


3O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

over,  searching  for  airholes  where  they  may  find  a  few  dead 
fish  upon  which  to  feed. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  in  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois" 
gives  the  following  note  under  the  name  Larus  argentatus,  or  the 
European  Herring  Gull:  "A  single  specimen,  an  adult  female, 
was  obtained  in  the  Chicago  harbor  March  27,  1876."  This  note 
is  of  considerable  interest,  for  at  that  time  the  American  Herring 
Gull  was  considered  a  variety  (Larus  argentatus  smiths onianus) 
of  the  European  species  which  was  known  in  this  country  only  as 
a  very  casual  visitor  to  the  Atlantic  seacoast.  Mr.  Nelson  also 
states  that  this  specimen  was  examined  by  Dr.  Coues  and  Mr. 
Ridgway,  who  pronounced  it  identical  with  the  European  bird. 
He  says  of  the  specimen:  "The  most  striking  peculiarity  is  its 
small  size  and  the  white  terminal  space  over  two  inches  long, 
upon  the  outer  primary.  Iris  hazel."  In  the  "Birds  of  Illinois" 
Mr.  Ridgway  says:  "According  to  Mr.  Nelson,  the  iris  of  this 
specimen  was  'hazel/  If  this  was  really  the  case  (which  there 
is  no  reason  for  doubting),  the  specimen  can  hardly  have  been  L. 
argentatus  in  either  of  its  forms,  which,  when  adult  (the  bird 
in  question  was  an  adult  female),  always  has  the  iris  yellow.  L. 
calif ornicus  has  a  dark  brown  or  hazel  iris,  and  it  may  possibly 
be  that  species ;  at  any  rate  the  case  is  one  of  considerable  impor- 
tance-and  the  specimen  should,  if  it  can  be  traced,  be  carefully  re- 
examined." 

It  is  interesting  to  watch  the  flocks  of  gulls  hovering  near 
the  outlets  of  the  sewers  along  the  lake-front  in  the  city  of 
Chicago.  As  the  birds  are  never  molested  they  are  fearless  and 
one  can  approach  within  a  few  yards  of  them,  thus  obtaining  a 
splendid  opportunity  for  determining  the  various  species  which 
form  the  flocks.  In  these  flocks,  I  have  only  succeeded  in  find- 
ing three  species.  These  were  the  Herring  Gull,  the  Ring-billed 
Gull  and  the  Bonaparte's  Gull.  In  the  spring,  the  Herring  Gulls 
may  be  seen  on  many  of  our  rivers  and  quite  a  distance  inland, 
where  they  frequent  the  overflowed  meadows,  looking  for  fish 
which  may  have  frozen  during  the  winter  and  which  lie  dead 
upon  the  surface. 

The  geographical  range  of  the  Herring  Gull  quite  covers  the 
northern  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  In  North  America, 
its  breeding  range  extends  from  the  northern  portion  of  the 
United  States  northward,  and  it  winters  as  far  south  as  Cuba 
and  Lower  California. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  3! 

Lams  delawarensis  Ord.    Ring-billed  Gull. 

Larus  delawarensis  OBD,  Guthrie's  Geog.,  2d  Amer.  ed.,  1815,  319. 

A  common  winter  resident,  staying  in  our  vicinity  from  about 
the  last  of  September  until  about  April  29.  This  species  is  often 
confounded  with  the  Herring  Gull  unless  the  two  are  seen  to- 
gether, when  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  Ring-billed  Gull  is  much 
the  smaller  of  the  two,  and  that  the  light  greenish  bill  is  crossed 
by  a  dark  band  near  the  tip. 

This  is  a  characteristic  gull  of  North  America ;  and  in  winter 
it  may  be  seen  as  far  south  as  Cuba  and  Mexico. 

Lams  Philadelphia  (Ord).    Bonaparte's  Gull. 

Sterna  Philadelphia  OBD,  Guthrie's    Geog.,  2d  Amer.  ed.,  II,  1815,  319. 
Larus  Bonapartii  NUTTALL,  Manual,  II,  1834.  294. 
Larus  Philadelphia  GBAY,  List  Brit.  B.,  18G3,  235. 
Popular  synonyms:    MOLLY  GULL.    SEA  PIGEON. 

A  transient  visitor  in  Cook  County,  arriving  in  April,  when 
it  stays  but  a  short  time.  It  returns  again  in  September  and 
remains  with  us  until  the  middle  of  November.  This  beautiful 
and  friendly  little  gull  may  be  found  on  all  of  our  large  lakes, 
and  at  times  the  lagoons  in  Jackson  and  Lincoln  parks  will 
seem  to  be  covered  with  them.  The  water  at  this  time  will  be 
alive  with  immense  schools  of  minnows,  and  the  gulls  while  feed- 
ing dive  after  them,  tern-like. 

The  range  of  Bonaparte's  Gull  extends  over  the  whole  of 
North  America,  though  it  seldom  breeds  south  of  the  British 
Possessions. 

Genus  XEMA  Leach,  1819. 

Xema  sabinii  (Sabine).    Sabine's  Gull. 

Larus  sabinii  J.  SAB.,  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.,  XII,  1818,  520,  pi.  29. 
Xema  sabini  LEACH,  App.  Ross's  Voy.  Baffin's  Bay  4to.  ed.,  1819,  Ivii. 
Xema  sabinii  LAWB.  in  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  857. 
Xema  sabinei  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1862,  311. 
Popular  synonym:  FOBK-TAILED  GULL. 

The  only  record  that  I  can  find  regarding  the  taking  of  this 
bird  within  the  limits  of  our  area  is  that  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson, 
who  says :  "While  collecting  on  the  Lake  shore  near  Chicago,  the 
first  of  April,  1873,  I  saw  a  specimen  of  this  bird  in  a  small  pool 
of  water  on  the  beach.  At  first  I  supposed  it  was  a  Bonaparte's 
Gull,  and  was  about  passing  it,  when  it  arose,  and  as  it  passed 
toward  the  lake  I  saw  it  was  something  new  to  me,  and  fired.  It 


32  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

flew  a  few  rods  and  fell  into  the  Lake  about  thirty  rods  from 
shore.  It  was  in  perfect  breeding  dress,  as  was  shown  by  the 
black  markings  on  the  head,  each  time  it  was  raised  while  strug- 
gling in  the  water.  A  gale  from  off  shore  soon  drifted  it  from 
sight."* 

While  this  gull  is  an  Arctic  species,  it  is  known  to  visit 
the  regions  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  may  again  be  observed  in 
our  vicinity. 

Genus  STERNA  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Sterna  caspia  Pallas.    Caspian  Tern. 

Sterna  tschegrava  LEPECHIN,  Nov.  Comm.  Petrop.,  XIV,  1770,  500,  pi. 

13,  fig.  2. 
Sterna  ca»pia  PALLAS,  Nov.  Comm.  Petrop.,  XIV,  1770,  582,  pi.  XXII, 

fig.  2. 
Popular  synonym :     BIG  MACKEREL  GULL. 

A  not  uncommon  fall  visitant  in  this  vicinity.  A  few  are 
seen  and  captured  each  fall  at  Millers,  Indiana.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  reports  seeing  a  "fine  specimen  fishing  along  the  Lake 
shore  at  Waukegan,"  on  the  ninth  of  June,  1876. 

The  Caspian  Tern  is  a  nearly  cosmopolitan  species,  and  in 
North  America  it  breeds  southward  to  "Virginia,  Lake  Michigan, 
Texas,  Nevada  and  California." 

Sterna  forsteri  Nuttall.    Forster's  Tern. 

Sterna  forsteri  NUTTALL,  Manual,  II,  1834,  274   (Footnote). 

Sterna  havelli  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  V,  1839,  122,  pi.  409,  fig.  1  (young 

in   winter). 
Popular  synonyms  :     HAVELL'S  TERN.     STRIKER. 

'Of  late  years  this  bird  is  a  rather  uncommon  spring  and  fall 
visitant.  It  is  said  to  have  bred  in  Illinois  many  years  ago, 
when  it  occurred  in  numbers  with  the  Wilson's  or  Common  Tern 
(Sterna  hirundo).  It  arrives  early  in  April  but  remains  only  a 
short  time.  It  returns  from  the  last  of  July  to  the  middle  of 
August,  when  it  remains  for  a  variable  period.  A  few  dates  on 
which  specimens  of  this  species  have  been  taken  may  be  of  in- 
terest. I  obtained  one  at  South  Chicago,  May  6,  1893,  and  Mr. 
J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  captured  one  at  Millers,  Indiana,  on  Au- 
gust 13,  1896. 

Forster's  Tern  is  quite  generally  distributed  over  North 
America,  and  in  winter  it  is  found  as  far  south  as  Brazil. 


*Bulletin  Ess«x  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,   1876,    147.     Bulletin  Nuttall  Ornithological 
Club,   Vol.    I,    1876,   p.    41. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  33 

Sterna  himndo  Linnaeus.     Common  Tern. 

Sterna  hirundo  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  137. 

Popular   synonyms:     WILSON'S   TEBN.     MACKEEEL  GULL.     STRIKES. 
SEA  SWALLOW.    SEA  PIGEON.    SUMMER  GULL.    MOLLY  GULL. 

A  spring  and  fall  visitant,  arriving  in  May,  and  at  times  re- 
maining as  late  as  the  tenth  of  June.  While  migrating,  thousands 
of  individuals  may  be  seen  flying  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Mich- 
igan. The  fall  migration  begins  about  the  last  of  August,  the 
birds  remaining  in  our  vicinity  until  October. 

The  range  of  the  Common  Tern  extends  over  the  greater 
part  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  but  in  North  America  these 
birds  are  much  more  common  east  of  the  Plains.  Its  breeding 
range  is  quite  wide  but  irregular  and  extends  from  the  Arctic 
coast  southward  to  Florida,  Texas  and  Arizona. 

Sterna  antillarnm  (Less.).    Least  Tern. 

Sternula  antillarum  LESS.,  Descr.  Mam.  et  Ois.,  1847,  256. 

Sterna  antillaruum  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.   Sci.   Philadelphia,   1862, 

552. 

Sterna  superciliaris  NELSON,  Bull.  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  149. 
•Popular  synonyms:     LITTLE  STRIKER.     SANDPETER. 

The  only  record  we  have  of  the  occurrence  of  this  rare  and 
beautiful  little  tern  within  our  limits,  is  that  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nel- 
son, who  says:  "A  fine  male  specimen  is  in  the  collection  of 
The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences,  obtained  June  n,  1876,  upon 
the  Calumet  Marshes."* 

While  the  Least  Tern  is  not  known  to  nest  within  the  borders 
of  the  state  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says  that  it  doubtless 
does  do  so,  for  it  is  a  summer  resident  nearly  throughout  the 
Mississippi  Valley.  Its  geographical  and  breeding  ranges  are 
nearly  coincident  and  extend  from  northern  South  America  north- 
ward to  California,  Minnesota  and  New  England. 

Genus  HYDROCHELIDON  Boie,  1822. 
Hydrochelidon  nigra  snrinamensis  (Gmelin).    Black  Tern. 

Sterna  snrinamensis  GMELIN,  S.  N..  I,  pt.  ii,  1788,  604. 
Sterna  plumbea  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VII,  1813,  83,  pi.  83  (young). 
Sterna  nigra  NUTTALL,  Manual,   II,  1834,  282. 

Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinarnensis   STEJNEGEB,  Proc.  U.   S.   Nat.  Mus., 
Vol.  V,  1882,  40. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,' Vol.  VIII,  1876,  149. 


34  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Hydrochelidon   lariformis    (part)    COUES,   B.   N.   W.,   1874,   704    (neo 

Rallus  lariformis  LINNAEUS). 
Popular  synomyms:     SHORT-TAILED  TEEN.    BLACK  SWALLOW. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  Cook  County,  breeding  in 
colonies  on  all  of  our  marshy  lakes,  and  at  times  on  the  wet 
meadows  near  a  body  of  water.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  writes  me  that 
this  species  is  rare  in  Du  Page  County,  he  having  but  one  record 
of  its  occurrence.  It  arrives  about  the  middle  of  May  and 
departs  the  last  of  August. 

The  nest  of  this  tern  is  a  small  cup  of  dead  vegetation  and 
is  placed  upon  an  old  muskrat  house  or  a  dry  spot  on  the  boggy 
ground.  It  is  quite  difficult  to  locate  the  nest  except  by  watching 
the  birds,  for  the  eggs  closely  resemble  the  ground  in  color. 

The  Black  Tern  is  a  bird  of  temperate  and  tropical  America, 
ranging  from  Alaska  to  Brazil,  and  breeding  f  om  the  middle 
United  States  northward. 

ORDER  STEGANOPODES:    TOTIPAL- 
MATE    SWIMMERS. 

FAMILY  PHALACROCOROCID^: :     CORMORANTS. 
Genus  PHALACROCORAX  Brisson,  1760. 

Phalacrocorax  dilophus  (Swains.).    Double-crested  Cormorant. 

Pelecanus    (Carlo)    dilophus   SWAINS.,   in   Sw.  &  Rich.  F.   B.  A.,   II, 

1831,  473. 

Phalacrocorax  dilophus  NUTTALL,  Manual,  II,  1834,  483. 
Graculus  dilophus  GRAY,  Gen.  B.,  Ill,  1849. 
Graculus  dilophus  a.  dilophus  COUES,  B.  N.  W.,  1874,  587. 
Popular  synonyms:     CBOW  DUCK.     BLACK  LOON.     NIGGEB  GOOSE. 

A  rather  rare  fall  visitant  in  our  district.  I  have  seen  them 
frequently  on  Lake  Calumet.  One  was  shot  on  the  Little  Calu- 
met River  at  Liverpool,  Indiana,  on  October  16,  1896.  A  young 
bird  was  shot  from  the  government  pier  at  Chicago,  September 
28,  1897,  by  Mr.  George  H.  Sheridan  and  presented  to  the 
museum  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nel- 
son says:  "A  regular  but  rather  uncommon  migrant  and  some- 
times a  winter  resident." 

Its  breeding  range  extends  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  the  Great 
Lakes,  Minnesota  and  Dakota  northward,  and  the  birds  winter 
in  the  southern  states. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  35 

FAMILY  PELECANUXE:     PELICANS. 
Genus  PELECANUS  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos  Gmelin.    American  White  Pelican. 
Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos  GMELIN,  S.  N.  I.,  pt.  ii,  1788,  571. 
Pelecanus  trachyrhynchus  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II.  1790,  884. 
Pelecanus  onocrotalus  NUTTALL,  Manual,  II,  1834,  471. 
Popular  synonym  :     ROUGH-BILLED  PELICAN. 

This  bird  may  be  looked  for  during  the  period  between  the 
first  of  April  and  November.  It  is  included  in  our  list,  because 
of  a  specimen  which  was  shot  from  the  government  pier  at 
Chicago  in  April,  1903.  In  September,  1892,  I  obtained  several 
specimens  from  a  flock  of  between  700  and  1,000  of  these  birds 
at  Meredosia,  Illinois.  Mr.  Bowers,  of  the  United  States  Fish 
Commission,  and  myself  approached  within  150  yards  of  the 
flock  and  it  was  comparatively  easy  to  count  them.  In  June, 
1895,  Mr.  Black  welder  and  myself  obtained  a  fine  pair  from  a 
flock  of  fourteen  at  Meredosia.  Mr.  Nelson  says:  "At  present 
(1876)  an  exceedingly  rare  visitant  during  the  migrations.  For- 
merly they  were  regular  and  rather  common  migrants." 

The  White  Pelican  frequents  temperate  North  America,  being 
quite  abundant  in  the  interior  and  along  the  Gulf  coast.  While 
its  known  nesting  localities  are  at  least  as  far  north  as  the  state 
of  Minnesota,  there  are  indications  that  it  also  breeds  along  the 
Gulf  coast  from  Florida  to  Texas. 

ORDER  ANSERES:    LAMELLIROSTRAL 
SWIMMERS. 

FAMILY  ANATID^E:     DUCKS,  GEESE,  AND  SWANS. 
Genus  MERGANSER  Brisson,  1760. 

Merganser  americanus  (Cassin).    American  Merganser. 

^fergu8  merganser  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VIII,  1814,  68,  pi.  68    (nee. 

LlNNJEUS). 

Mergus   americanus   CASSIN,   Proc.   Acad.    Nat.    Sci.    Philadelphia,   VI, 

1853,  187. 
Mergus  merganser  americanus  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.   S.   Nat.   Mus.,   Ill, 

1880,  205. 

Merganser  americanus  STEJNEGEB,  Orn.  Expl.  Kamtsch.,  1885,  177. 
Popular    synonyms :      MERGANSER.      SHELDRAKE.      SAW-BILL.      FISH 

DUCK.     BUFF-BREASTED  MERGANSER  OR  SHELDRAKE. 

The  American  Merganser  is  a  migrant  and  winter  resident 
within  our  limits,  and  may  be  seen  flying  near  the  shore  of  Lake 


36  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Michigan  from  October  to  April,  or  until  the  lake  is  covered  with 
ice,  when  its  food  of  fish  cannot  be  obtained. 

Its  range  covers  the  whole  of  North  America  and  it  breeds 
from  the  northern  United  States  northward. 

Merganser  serrator  (Linnaeus).    Red-breasted  Merganser. 
Merg-us  serrator  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  129. 
Merganser  serrator  SCHAFFER,  Mus.  Orn.,  1789,  66. 
Popular     synonyms:       RED-BREASTED     GOOSANDER     OR     SHELDRAKE. 
GAR-BILL. 

A  quite  common  winter  resident  on  Lake  Michigan,  sometimes 
staying  in  our  vicinity  as  late  as  the  twentieth  of  May.  Its  name 
Red-breasted  is  far  from  appropriate,  for  its  breast  is  not  at  all 
red  in  color. 

It  breeds  in  the  northern  portion  of  North  America,  migrating 
southward  in  winter  through  the  United  States.  Mr.  Robert 
Ridgway  states  that  it  breeds  in  northern  Illinois.* 

Genus  LOPHODYTES  Reichenbach,  1852. 

Lophodytes  cucullatus   (Linnaeus).    Hooded  Merganser. 

Mergus  cucullatus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  129. 

Lophodytes  cucullatus  REICHENBACH,  Syst.  Av.,  1852,  p.  IX. 

Popular  synonyms :  HOODED  SHELDRAKE.  WOOD  SHELDRAKE.  WOOD 
DUCK.  SNOWL.  MOSS-HEAD.  SAW-BILL.  CROW  DUCK.  HAIRY- 
HEAD.  POND  SHELDRAKE.  COCK  ROBIN  DUCK.  FAN-CREST.  PICK- 
AXE. SHELDRAKE. 

A  rare  summer  resident,  although  common  during  its  migra- 
tions. It  is  at  times  a  winter  resident.  It  breeds  abundantly 
along  the  Kankakee  River,  a  few  miles  south  of  our  limits.  A 
female  of  this  species  flew  into  the  lagoon  in  Lincoln  Park  the 
last  of  July,  1896,  and  remained  in  the  company  of  the  tame 
ducks  until  December  7,  1896. 

The  range  of  the  Hooded  Merganser  includes  the  whole  of 
North  America,  and  it  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  range,  nesting 
in  knot-holes  and  other  cavities  in  the  trees  of  dense  forests 
along  streams. 

Genus  ANAS  Linnasus,  1758. 

Anas  boschas  Linnaeus.    Mallard. 

Anas  boschas  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10  I,  1758,  127. 

Popular  synonyms :     GREEN-HEAD.     GRAY  DUCK.     GRAY  MALLARD. 

Rare  as  a  resident  though  common  during  the  periods  of 
migration.  Occasionally  during  severe  winters,  the  Mallards  will 


*Birds  of  Illinois,   Vol.  II,  p.    190. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  37 

all  go  south.  I  have  found  it  nesting  at  a  point  about  thirty-five 
miles  south  of  Chicago.  Some  years  ago  the  Mallard  was  said 
to  be  a  common  summer  resident. 

The  range  of  this,  the  best  known  of  all  our  ducks,  not  only 
includes  the  whole  of  North  America  but  also  the  whole  of  the 
northern  hemisphere.  In  North  America,  it  breeds  nearly 
throughout  its  range. 

Anas  obscura  Gmelin.     Black  Duck. 

Anas  obscura  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  541. 

Popular  synonyms:     BLACK  MALLABD.     DUSKY  DUCK. 

A  rather  common  migrant,  arriving  in  the  fall  with  the  first 
of  the  Mallards,  and  remaining  in  our  vicinity  for  a  short  time. 
Dr.  Robert  Ridgway  says  this  region  is  nearly  the  western  limit 
of  its  range.  In  the  spring,  the  Black  Duck  arrives  about  the 
first  of  April  and  in  the  fall  its  first  appearance  is  about  the  last 
of  September. 

The  range  of  this  duck  covers  eastern  North  America,  and 
it  breeds  from  the  northern  portion  of  the  United  States  north- 
ward. 

Genus  CHAULELASMUS  Bonaparte,  1838. 

Chanlelasmns  streperus   (Linnaeus).    Gadwall. 

Anas  strepera  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  125. 
Chaulelasmus  streperus  BONAPABTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,   1838,   56. 
Popular  synonyms:     GBAY  DUCK.     WIDGEON.     SPECKLE-BELLY.    CBEEK 
DUCK. 

I  can  find  very  few  records  of  the  Gadwall  having  been  seen 
within  our  limits,  although  a  number  are  shot  each  year  on  the 
Kankakee  and  Illinois  rivers.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  in  his  report 
on  the  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,"  says:  "This  beautiful 
species  is  very  common  during  the  migration,  from  the  middle 
of  October  to  the  last  of  November,  and  from  the  first  to  the 
last  of  April.  A  very  rare  summer  resident.  I  have  seen  but 
two  or  three  pairs  here  in  the  breeding  season."  A  specimen  in 
the  museum  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences  was  taken  at 
Liverpool,  Indiana,  October  18,  1896. 

A  nearly  cosmopolitan  species,  in  North  America  breeding 
chiefly  within  the  United  States. 

Genus  MARECA  Stephens,  1824. 

Mareca  penelope  (LinnsBus).    Widgeon. 

Anas  penelope  LINNJEUS.  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  126. 
Mareca  penelope  SELBY,  Br.  Orn.,  II,  1833,  324. 


3  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

The  Widgeon  is  an  occasional  visitor  within  our  limits.  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson  in  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois"  says  that 
Mr.  C.  N.  Holden,  Jr.,  of  Chicago,  informed  him  that  a  fine 
adult  male  was  shot  on  the  Calumet  Marsh,  April  13,  1876,  and 
that  it  was  preserved  in  a  collection  in  Chicago.  Other  records 
are  of  interest,  though  most  of  the  birds  were  taken  on  English 
Lake,  Indiana,  a  short  distance  south  of  our  area.  These  records 
were  furnished  by  Mr.  Ruthven  Deane,  of  Chicago,  and  pub- 
lished in  the  "Auk."  The  last  specimen  recorded  from  Indiana  is 
in  the  collection  of  Dr.  Nicholas  Rowe,  of  the  "American  Field" 
and  was  taken  in  1881  or  1882  at  English  Lake.*  Mr.  Landon 
Hoyt  took  a  specimen  at  the  same  place  on  April  13,  1893^ 
A  young  male  taken  by  Mr.  J.  F.  Barrell  at  English  Lake  is  in 
Mr.  Deane's  private  collection.^  An  adult  male  was  killed  by 
Mr.  John  E.  Earle,  of  Hinsdale,  Illinois,  March  23,  1896,  at 
English  Lake.§  On  March  27,  1903,  Mr.  James  M.  McKay 
obtained  a  specimen  at  English  Lake.  March  28,  1898,  Mr. 
Harry  Ehlers  obtained  a  female  at  Thayer,  Indiana.  Mr.  Peter 
Willem  captured  a  male  at  English  Lake  on  March  31,  1902.  In 
a  recent  report, ||  Mr.  Deane  says,  "I  have  recently  examined  a 
fine  adult  male  of  this  species,  which  was  shot  on  an  overflowed 
meadow  near  Nippersink  Lake,  Lake  County,  Illinois,  on  April 
I,  1904,  by  Mr.  Charles  Muehrcke,  and  is  now  in  his  possession. 
The  bird  was  in  company  with  six  of  his  American  cousins,  all 
of  whom  were  shot.  The  specimen  is  mounted  to  represent  dead 
game.  This  record  makes  the  eighteenth  for  the  interior." 

The  range  of  the  Widgeon  covers  the  northern  portions  of 
the  Old  World.  While  it  has  been  quite  frequent  in  the  eastern 
United  States,  it  is  only  known  to  breed  in  the  Aleutian  Islands 
in  North  America.  It  has  been  reported  as  having  been  taken 
in  California. 

Mareca  americana  (Gmelin).    Baldpate. 

Anas  americana  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  pt.  2,  1788,  526. 
Mareca  ameriacana  STEPHENS,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  pt.  ii,  1824,  135. 
Popular    synonyms:      AMERICAN    WIDGEON.      GREEN-HEAD.      WHITE- 
BELLIED  POACHES.    WHEAT  DUCK.     BALD-HEAD.     BALD-CROWN. 

A  common  species  during  the  migrations,  arriving  in  the 
spring  with  last'  of  the  Mallards  and  the  Pintails.  They  return 

*Auk,   XII,    1895,    292. 

tAuk,   XII,    1895,    179. 
*Auk,   XIII,    1896,   292. 
§Auk,   XIII,   1896,   255. 
IIAuk,  XXII,   1905,  76. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  39 

in  the  fall  about  the  last  days  of  September.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says,  in  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois"  (1876):  "Not  a 
very  rare  summer  resident."  His  report  would  also  indicate 
that  these  ducks  nested  in  this  region  at  that  time,  for  he  says : 
"It  nests  about  the  borders  of  marshes  and  prairie  sloughs." 

The  range  of  this  species-  includes  North  America  from  the 
Arctic  Ocean  south  to  Guatemala,  and  it  breeds  nearly  throughout 
its  range. 

Genus  NETTION  Kaup,  1829. 
Nettion  carolinensis  (Gmelin).    Green-winged  TeaL 

Anas  crecca  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VIII,  1814,  101,  pi.  60,  fig.  1  (not  of 

Linnaeus). 
Querquedula  carolinensis   STEPHENS,   Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  pt.   ii, 

1824,  128. 

Nettion  carolinensis  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  777. 
Anas  carolinensis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  pt.  ii,  1788,  533. 
Popular  synonyms :  GBEEN-WINQ.  RED-HEADED  TIAL.  WINTEB  TEAL. 

MUD  TEAL. 

A  common  migrant,  and  is  said  to  winter  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  state.  Our  records  show  the  earliest  spring  arrival  to 
be  early  in  March  and  the  first  fall  arrival  to  be  September  26. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  that  it  "breeds  sparingly.  I  have  known 
of  a  few  instances  of  its  nest  being  found,  and  have  myself  ob- 
served several  pairs  of  the  birds  in  this  vicinity  during  the  breed- 
ing season."  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says  :*  "Although  stated  by 
Kennicott  to  breed  in  the  northern  part,  (of  Illinois)  there  appears 
to  be  no  recent  record  of  its  doing  so."  As  Mr.  Kennicott  died 
May  13,  1866,  his  notes  regarding  this  species  must  have  been 
made  previous  to  that  time.  Mr.  Ridgway  also  records  in  his 
"Catalogue  of  the  Birds  Ascertained  to  Occur  in  Illinois, "f  the 
following  note :  "Resident,  but  most  abundant  during  migra- 
tions :  breeds  only  in  the  prairie  districts,  and  winters  chiefly  in 
the  lagoons  of  the  heavily  timbered  bottoms." 

The  Green-winged  Teal  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United 
States,  but  its  geographical  range  includes  the  whole  of  North 
America. 

Genus  QUERQUEDULA  Stephens,  1824. 
Querquedula  discors  (Linnaeus) .    Blue-winged  Teal. 

Anas  discors  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  XII,  I,  1766,  205. 

Querquedula  discors  STEPHENS,   Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  pt.  ii,  1824, 

149. 
Popular  synonyms:    BLUE-WING.    WHITE-FACE.    SUMMEB  TEAL. 

*Birds  of  Illinois,  Vol.  II.   1895,   136. 

tAnnals  of  the  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.,  New  York,  Vol.  X,  1874,  389. 


4O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

A  common  summer  resident  and  the  last  of  our  ducks  to 
arrive  in  the  spring.  It  nests  the  last  of  May  on  or  near  most  of 
the  small  lakes  of  our  area.  On  one  occasion,  I  found  a  pair 
nesting  on  the  prairies  a  long  distance  from  water.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says:  "The  middle  of  May,  1875,  I  obtained  a  nest  of 
this  species  containing  fourteen  freshly  laid  eggs.  It  was  situated 
near  a  branch  of  the  Calumet  Marsh  and  close  to  the  railroad 
track,  being  about  midway  between  the  track  and  fence  in  a 
dense  bunch  of  grass." 

While  the  range  of  the  Blue-winged  Teal  covers  North 
America  in  general,  it  departs  from  our  region  early  in  October. 

Genus  SPATULA  Boie,  1822. 

Spatula  clypeata  (Linnaeus).     Shoveller. 

Anas  clypeata  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  124. 
Spatula  clypeata  BOIE,   Isis,   1822,  564. 

Popular     synonyms :       SPOON-BILL.       SHOVEL-BILL.       MUD-SHOVELLKB. 
BUTTER  DUCK.     BKOADY. 

A  common  migrant,  and  is  said  to  have  been  a  common  sum- 
mer resident  in  earlier  days  (Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  1876).  At  this 
time,  however,  it  is  only  on  rare  occasions  that  one  of  these  ducks 
is  seen  within  our  limits  in  the  summer.  The  earliest  spring  ar- 
rival in  my  records  is  March  30,  and  the  first  fall  arrival  Sep- 
tember 12.  It  departs  late  in  October. 

The  range  of  the  Shoveller  covers  the  northern  hemisphere 
and  in  North  America  it  breeds  from  Alaska  to  Texas. 

Genus  DAFILA  Stephens,  1824. 

Dafila  acuta  (Linnaeus).    Pintail. 

Anas  acuta  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  126. 
Dafila  acuta  BONAPARTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  56. 

Popular    synonyms:     SPIKE-TAIL.     LONG-NECK.     SPRIG-TAIL.     PICKET- 
TAIL.    PHEASANT  DUCK.     WATER  PHEASANT. 

This  species  is  by  far  the  most  common  of  our  ducks  during 
the  spring  migration,  the  earliest  record  of  arrival  being  February 
6.  The  only  record  of  its  nesting  within  our  limits  is  that  of 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says  :*  "Each  year  a  few  pairs  breed  upon 
the  marshes  in  this  vicinity,  but  whether  they  breed  in  the  state 
away  from  the  Lake  region  I  have  no  means  of  knowing.  In 
the  spring  of  1875  several  pairs  of  these  birds  nested  in  the 
prairie  sloughs  near  the  Calumet  River,  and  on  the  twenty-ninth 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  139. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  4! 

of  May  I  found  a  nest  containing  three  freshly  laid  eggs.  The 
female  was  flushed  from  the  nest  when  scarcely  more  than  a  rod 
away,  and  was  at  once  joined  by  the  male  from  a  small  slough 
a  few  rods  distant.  The  nest  was  in  the  center  of  a  tall,  thick 
bunch  of  grass  on  a  small  ridge  between  two  sloughs,  and  was 
a  slight  hollow  thickly  lined  with  grass  stems ;  no  down  had  been 
added.  The  parent  birds  circled  about  overhead,  often  coming 
within  gunshot,  during  the  whole  time  I  was  in  the  vicinity." 
The  earliest  date  of  its  appearance  on  its  fall  migration  is  Sep- 
tember 18.  In  the  museum  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences 
there  is  a  specimen  of  the  male  hybrid  pintail  and  mallard. 

Its  geographical  range  covers  the  northern  hemisphere  and 
includes  the  whole  of  North  America,  where  it  breeds  from  the 
northern  parts  of  the  United  States  northward. 

Genus  AIX  Boie,  1828. 

Aix  sponsa  (Linnaeus).    Wood  Duck. 

Anas  sponsa  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  128. 
Aix  sponsa  BONAPARTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  57. 

Popular    synonyms:      SUMMEB    DUCK.      WOOD    WIDGEON.      BBIDAL 
DUCK 

The  Wood  Duck  is  common  during  its  migrations.  Mr.  E. 
W.  Nelson  says  (1876)  that  it  was  a  rather  common  summer 
resident  in  secluded  localities.  A  pair  is  occasionally  found  breed- 
ing at  Calumet  Heights,  Indiana,  and  at  Long  Lake  near  Millers, 
Indiana.  It  may  also  be  found  breeding  abundantly  at  Kouts? 
Indiana,  about  forty-eight  miles  south  of  Chicago.  A  young 
female  of  this  species  alighted  in  the  duck  pond  in  Lincoln  Park, 
Chicago,  in  September,  1896,  and  associating  with  the  domestic 
ducks  in  the  pond,  became  so  tame  that  it  could  almost  be  taken 
in  the  hand.  It  arrives  in  April  and  departs  about  the  last  of 
October. 

The  Wood  Duck  breeds  throughout  its  range  which  covers 
the  whole  of  temperate  North  America. 

Genus  AYTHYA  Boie,  1822. 
Aythya  americana  (Eyton).    Bedhead. 

Fuligula  americana  EYTON,  Monogr.  Anat,  1838,  155. 
Fuligula  ferina  BONAPABTE,  Synop.,  1828,  392. 
Fuligula  ferina  var.   americana  COUES,   Key,   1872,  289. 
Aythija'  americana  BAIBD,     B.  N.  Amer.,  1858.  793. 
Popular  synonyms:     RED-HEAD.     CANVAS-BACK  (erroneously).     AMER- 
ICAN POCHABD.    RED-HEADED  BBOAD-BILL. 


42  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

A  common  migrant.  In  years  past  this  was  one  of  our  most 
common  ducks  but  as  they  decoy  very  readily,  they  are  becoming 
rather  scarce.  Formerly  Wolf  and  George  lakes  in  Indiana  were 
the  favorite  feeding  grounds  of  this  and  the  following  species. 
However,  because  of  the  draining  of  this  region,  the  beds  of 
water-celery  and  wild  rice  have  been  destroyed,  thus  removing 
the  food  supply  of  these  ducks  and  causing  them  to  seek  new 
feeding  grounds.  They  arrive  from  the  south'  early  in  March, 
and  return  from  the  north  during  the  latter  part  of  October. 

The  Redhead  breeds  from  the  northern  part  of  the  United 
States  northward,  and  winters  as  far  south  as  Central  America. 

Aythya  vallisneria  (Wilson).    Canvas-back. 

Anas  vallisneria  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VIII,  1814,  103. 
Fuligula  vallisneria  STEPHENS,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  pt.  ii,  1824, 196. 
Aythya  vallisneria  BOIE,  Isis,  1826,  980. 

Popular  synonyms:  WHITE-BACK.  RED-HEADED  BULL-NECK.  BULL- 
NECK. 

A  rather  uncommon  migrant,  but  abundant  in  former  years. 
In  the  spring  the  Canvas-back  arrives  usually  during  March  and 
stays  in  this  vicinity  for  a  short  time.  During  the  migration 
periods  of  the  seventies,  the  water-celery  beds  in  Calumet  and 
Wolf  lakes  fairly  swarmed  with  the  ducks  of  this  species,  sports- 
men journeying  from  the  east  and  even  from  Europe  to  bag  them. 
The  earliest  recorded  arrival  in  the  spring  is  that  of  Mr.  J. 
Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  who  observed  a  Canvas-back  on  February 
second.  It  returns  rather  late  in  the  fall  and  remains  until  the 
ponds  and  smaller  lakes  are  frozen  over. 

The  range  of  the  Canvas-back  includes  nearly  the  whole  of 
North  America,  and  it  breeds  from  the  northwestern  states  north- 
ward to  Alaska. 

Aythya  affinis  (Eyton).    Lesser  Scaup  Duck. 

Fuligula  marila  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  Ill,  1835,  226. 

Fuligula  affinis  EYTON,  Mongr.  Anat,  1838,  157. 

Fuligula  marila  var.  affinis  FORSTEB,  in  Cat.  of  the  Birds  ascertained 
to  occur  in  111.,  Ann.  Lye.  of  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  Vol.  X,  389,  1874. 

Aythya  affinis  STEJNEGER,  Or.  Expl.  Kamtsch.,  1885,  161. 

Popular  synonyms:  LITTLE  BLACK-HEAD.  LITTLE  BLUE-BILL.  RIVEB 
DUCK.  BROAD-BILL.  RIVER  SCAUP.  CANNON  BALL.  MUD 
BLUE-BILL.  MARCH  BLUE-BILL.  RIVER  SHUFFLES. 

This  is  an  abundant  migrant  and  the  most  common  of  our 
lake  ducks.  It  is  a  very  hardy  bird,  arriving  early  in  March  on 
its  northward  journey  and  returning  late  in  the  fall  to  remain 
with  us  until  the  lakes  are  frozen  over.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker, 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  43 

Jr.,  informs  me  that  he  observed  a  flock  of  thirteen  of  these  ducks 
in  the  Chicago  harbor  on  May  25,  1895.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says:*  "This  is  not  an  uncommon  species  upon  the  larger 
marshes  and  inland  lakes  during  the  breeding  season.  *  *  *  About 
the  time  they  leave  for  more  northern  breeding  grounds  they 
congregate  in  very  large  flocks  on  rivers  or  small  lakes,  and  soon 
all  have  disappeared  from  these  haunts  and  none,  except  the  com- 
paratively few  which  remain  to  breed,  are  found  there  again  until 
they  return  in  the  autumn."  This  is  the  only  record  that  I  can 
find  of  the  breeding  of  the  Lesser  Scaup  within  our  limits. 

The  Lesser  Scaup  Duck  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United 
States,  but  its  geographical  range  includes  the  whole  of  North 
America. 

Aythya  collaris  (Donovan).    Ring-necked  Duck. 

Anas  collaris  DONOVAN,  Br.  Birds,  VI,  1809,  pi.  147. 

Fuligula  collaris  BONAPAETE,  List  B.  Europe.   1842,  73. 

Aythya  collaris  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII.  1885,  356. 

Popular  synonyms:  RING-BILL.  BLACK-HEAD.  FALL  DUCK.  BLACK 
JACK.  MOON-BILL.  BLUE-BILL.  RING-BILLED  SHUFFLER. 

An  abundant  migrant,  arriving  from  the  south  in  March,  and 
returning  from  the  north  in  September.  This  Duck  frequents 
the  marshes  of  our  area  in  large  numbers,  during  its  migrations, 
and  is  often  mistaken  for  the  Lesser  Scaup  Duck.  The  only  record 
which  I  have  found  of  its  breeding  within  our  borders,  is  that 
of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says:*  "This  species  also  breeds 
about  the  marshes  in  northeastern  Illinois,  but  in  smaller  num- 
bers than  the  preceding." 

The  range  of  the  Ring-necked  Duck  includes  the  whole  of 
North  America,  and  it  breeds  from  Iowa,  southern  Wisconsin 
and  Maine  northward. 

Genus  CLANGULA  Leach,  1819. 

Clangula  clangula  americana  (Bonaparte).    American  Golden-eye. 

Anas  clangula  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VIII,  1814,  62,  pi.  67,  fig.  5  (neo 
Linnaeus). 

Fuligula  clangula  BONAPARTE,  Synopsis,  1838,  393. 

Clangula  americana  BONAPARTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  58. 

Buccphala  clangula  COUES.  Key.  1872,  290. 

Bucephala  clangula  var.  americana  RIDGWAY,  Orn.  40th  Par.,  1877,  626. 

Glaucionetta  clangula  amcrfcana  STEJNEGER,  Proc.  U.  S.  National  Mus., 
VIII,  1885,  409. 

Clangula  clangula  americana  FAXON,  Auk,  XIII,  1896,  215. 

Popular  synonyms :  WHISTLER.  WHISTLE-WING.  GREAT-HEAD.  BRASS- 
EYE.  MERRY-WING.  COOT.  IRON-HEAD.  COB-HEAD. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  141. 


44  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

When  the  surface  of  Lake  Michigan  is  quite  frozen  over, 
large  flocks  of  these  ducks  may  be  seen  about  the  airholes,  or 
they  may  be  seen  among  the  ice  floes,  in  company  with  Old-squaw 
Ducks  (Harelda  hyemalis),  and  White-winged  Scoters  (Oidcinia 
deglandi).  A  common  winter  resident. 

The  range  of  the  Golden-eye  covers  nearly  the  whole  of  North 
America  and  it  breeds  from  the  northern  border  of  the  United 
States  northward. 

Clangula  islandica  (Gmelin),    Barrow's  Golden-eye. 
Anas  islandica  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  541. 
B-ucephala  islandica  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  796. 
Clangula  islandica  BONAPARTE,  Cat.  Met.  Ucc.  Eur.,  1842,  74. 
Glaucionetta  islandica   STEJNEGEB,   Proc.   U.   S.   National   Mus.,   VIII, 

1885,  409. 
Popular  synonym :     ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  GOLDEN-EYE. 

A  rare  winter  visitant.  I  have  a  specimen  of  this  duck  which 
I  shot  on  Lake  Michigan,  near  the  Daily  News  Sanitarium, 
December  n,  1896.  The  bird  was  flying  in  company  with  an- 
other, probably  of  the  same  species. 

This  Golden-eye  is  a  bird  of  the  far  north  passing  southward 
in  winter  only  as  far  as  New  York,  Illinois  and  Utah.  It  breeds 
north  of. the  United  States  and  also  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  as 
far  south  as  Colorado. 

Genus  CHARITONETTA  Stejneger,  1885. 

Charitonetta  albeola  (Linnaeus).    Buffle-head. 

Anas  albeola  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  124. 
Fuligula  albeola  BONAPARTE,    Synopsis,   1828,   394. 
Clangula  albeola  STEPHENS,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  ii,  1824,  184. 
Bucephala  albeola  BAIRD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  797. 
Charitonetta  albeola  STEJNEGER,  Orn.  Expl.  Kamtsch.,  1885,  166. 
Popular  synonyms :     BUTTER-BALL.     SPIRIT  DUCK.     DIPPER.     SCOTCH 
TEAL.     CANNON  BALL.     DUMMY  DUCK,  etc. 

Formerly  the  Duffle-heads  were  common,  but  now  they  are 
rather  uncommon.  At  the  time  of  their  fall  migration,  they 
arrive  in  October  and  remain  until  the  last  of  April.  While  they 
are  often  seen  on  Lake  Michigan,  they  are  much  more  common 
on  the  smaller  inland  lakes.  Very  often  they  will  exhibit  a 
peculiar  habit  of  flying  directly  toward  the  gunner  after  being 
shot  at,  thus  affording  a  second  chance  for  a  shot. 

The  Buffle-heads  breed  north  of  the  United  States,  and  in 
winter  pass  as  far  southward  as  Cuba  and  Mexico. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  45 

Genus  HAEELDA  Stephens,  1824. 

Harelda  hyemalis  (Linn sens).    Old-squaw. 

Anas  hyemalis  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  126. 

Anas  glacialis  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  202. 

Harelda  glacialis  "LEACH,"  STEPHENS,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  pt  ii, 

1824,  175,  pi.  58. 

Clangula  hiemalis  BREHM,  Handb.  Vog.  Deutschl.,  1831,  933. 
Harelda  hiemalis  BBEHM,  Vogelsang,  1855,  386. 
Popular  synonyms:     OLD  WIFE.     LONG-TAILED  DUCK.     OLD  MOLLY. 

SCOLDEB.     OLD  INJUN,  etc. 

A  very  common  winter  resident.  Large  numbers  of  these 
ducks  are  shot  each  season  from  the  breakwater  and  piers  along 
the  lake  front  at  Chicago.  This  is  wanton  destruction,  as  they 
are  not  fit  for  food.  They  arrive  about  the  middle  of  November 
and  remain  with  us  until  the  last  of  March.  I  have  found  a 
few  as  late  as  May,  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  they  were 
crippled  birds.  Just  before  they  migrate  in  the  spring,  they 
gather  in  flocks  of  considerable  size  and  are  quite  noisy. 

The  Old-squaw  Ducks  breed  in  the  far  north  but  their  fall 
migrations  take  them  almost  to  the  southern  border  of  the 
United  States. 

Genus  SOMATERIA  Leach,  1819. 
Somateria  dresseri  (Sharpe).    American  Eider. 

Anas  mollissima  WILSON,  Amer.   Orn.,   VIII,   1814,   122,  pi.   71    (nee 

Linnseus). 

Somateria  mollissima  BONAPARTE,   Comp.   List,   1838,  57    (part). 
Somateria  dresseri  SHABPE,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist,  July  1871,  51,  figs. 

1,  2. 
Popular  synonyms:     SQUAW  DUCK.    Bio  SEA  DUCK. 

A  very  rare  winter  resident.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  reported 
in  1876  that  in  his  collection  he  had  an  immature  specimen  ob- 
tained near  Chicago  in  December,  1874,  and  also  stated  that  they 
had  been  noted  several  times  by  Dr.  H.  B.  Bannister  at  Evanston. 
I  am  inclined  to  think  that  some  of  the  birds  seen  in  this  vicinity 
and  reported  as  individuals  of  this  species  are  in  reality  immature 
scoters. 

The  range  of  the  American  Eider  is  a  very  limited  one  during 
the  breeding  season,  reaching  only  from  Maine  to  Labrador.  In 
winter  it  passes  as  far  south  as  the  Delaware  River  and  westward 
to  the  Great  Lakes,  where  it  has  been  reported  on  the  Ohio, 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin  shores. 


46  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Genus  OIDEMIA  Fleming,  1822. 

Oidemia  americana  (Swains).    American  Scoter. 

Anas  nigra  WILSON,   Amer.   Orn.,   VIII,    1814,    135,  pi.   72    (not  of 

Linnaeus). 

Oidemia  americana  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  450. 
(Edemia  americana  COUES,  Key,  1872,  293. 
CEdemia  nigra  var.  americana  RIDGWAY,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y., 

Vol.  X,  1874,  390. 
Popular  synonyms:     AMERICAN  BLACK  SCOTEB.     BUTTEB-BILL.     BUT- 

TEB-BILLED   COOT.     HOLLOW-BILLED   COOT.     SCOTEB   DUCK.     YELLOW- 
BILL.     SMUTTY,  etc. 

I  have  no  records  of  the  occurence  of  this  species  within  our 
limits  except  the  following  two:  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says: 
"Rather  common  upon  the  Lake.  Winter  resident.  Arrives  the 
first  of  November  and  departs  by  the  first  of  April."  Mr.  Robert 
Ridgway  gives  the  following  record  :*  "Winter  visitant  to  Lake 
Michigan,  Dr.  J.  W.  Velie." 

While  the  American  Scoter  breeds  in  Labrador  and  the  north- 
ern interior  and  is  a  sea  bird,  its  occurrence  within  our  limits 
is  not  strange,  for  it  winters  on  the  Great  Lakes  to  some  extent 
and  has  been  noted  as  far  south  as  the  Ohio  River. 

Oidemia  deglandi  (Bonaparte).    White-winged  Scoter. 

Anas   fusca   WILSON,   Amer.    Orn.,   VIII,    1814,    137,    pi.   72    (not   of 

Linnaeus). 
Melanetta  velvetina  RIDGWAY,  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.   Hist.   N.   Y.,  Vol.  X, 

1874,  390. 
(Edemia  fusca  NELSON,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876, 

143. 

CEdemia  fusca  CQUES,  Check  List,  2d  ed.,  1882,  No.  738. 
Oidemia   deglandi   BONAPARTE,   Rev.   Grit,   de   TOrn.   Europe  de   Dr. 

Degl.,  1850,  108. 
Popular    synonyms:      AMERICAN    VELVET    SCOTEB.      VELVET    DUCK. 

WHITE-WINGED  COOT.    BULL  COOT. 

A  not  uncommon  winter  resident,  though  I  have  the  record 
of  only  one  in  the  adult  plumage  that  has  been  taken  within 
our  limits.  This  specimen,  a  very  fine  male  bird,  is  in  my 
collection.  I  have  observed  quite  a  number  of  this  species  which 
have  been  found  dead  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  They 
were  in  immature  plumage,  and  their  death  was  probably  caused 
by  the  birds  failing  to  obtain  their  accustomed  food,  or  by  the 
elements.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  in  1876  made  the  following  state- 
ment regarding  this  species:  "Like  the  preceding  (Oidemia 


*Cat.  of  the  Birds  Ascertained  to  Occur  in  111.  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  VoL 
X,    1874,   390. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  47 

americana)  a  rather  common  winter  resident  upon  the  Lake,  and 
occurs  throughout  the  state,  specimens  being  sent  to  the  Chicago 
market  from  the  Illinois  River  and  various  other  streams  in 
Central  Illinois."  Dr.  J.  W.  Velie  also  records  this  Scoter  as 
a  winter  visitant  to  Lake  Michigan.* 

The  White-winged  Scoter  breeds  north  of  the  United  States, 
and  winters  as  far  south  as  the  Great  Lakes,  southern  Illinois 
and  Lower  California.  On  the  Atlantic  coast  it  winters  as  far 
south  as  Chesapeake  Bay. 

Oidemia  perspicillata  (Linnaeus).    Surf  Scoter. 

Anas  perspicillata  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  125. 
Oidemia  perspicillata  STEPHENS,  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  pt.  ii,  1824,  219. 
CEdemia  perspicillata  COUES,  Key,  1872,  294. 

Popular  synonyms:     SURF  DUCK.     SEA   DUCK.     HOBSE-HEAD  COOT. 
SUBF  COOT.    GOOGLE-NOSE.    GBAY  COOT,  etc. 

Mr.  E.  'W.  Nelson  says  in  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illi- 
nois": "A  common  winter  resident  upon  Lake  Michigan  and 
occurs  throughout  the  state  at  this  season.  Quite  a  number  of 
specimens  were  taken  upon  the  Calumet  Marshes  during  the  fall 
of  1875,  and  many  others  were  seen.  Arrives  the  last  of  October 
and  departs  the  last  of  March."  I  can  find  no  records  of  its 
occurrence  within  our  limits  since  the  date  in  Mr.  Nelson's  note. 
Two  specimens  in  immature  plumage  were  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Graf- 
ton  Parker  at  Meredosia,  Illinois,  on  November  9,  1896. 

The  range  of  this  species  would  indicate  a  probability  of  its 
occurrence  in  our  region.  "Coasts  and  larger  inland  waters  of 
northern  North  America;  in  winter  south  to  Florida,  the  Ohio 
River,  and  San  Quentin  Bay,  Lower  California." 

Genus  ERISMATUBA  Bonaparte,  1832. 

Erismatura  jamaicensis  (Gmelin).    Buddy  Duck. 

Anas  jamaicensis  GMELIN,  Syst.  Nat.,  I,  ii,  1788,  519. 
Anas  ruUda  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VIII.  1814, 128, 131,  pi.  71,  figs.  5,  6. 
Erismatura  rulida  BONAPARTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  59. 
Erismatura  jamaicensis  SALVAD.,  Cat.  Bds.  Br.  Mus.,  XXVII,  1896,  445. 
Popular  synonyms:     DUMMY  DUCK.     SPINE-TAILED   DUCK.     HEAVY- 
TAILED  COOT.    STIFF-TAIL.    BRISTLE-TAIL.    ROOK.     SLEEPY  DUCK. 
SLEEPY  COOT.    FOOL  DUCK.    DEAF  DUCK.    BOOBY  COOT,  etc. 

A  not  uncommon  migrant.  It  may  be  found  on  most  of  the 
lakes  of  our  region  in  April  and  in  October  in  company  with 
the  Redhead  (Ay  thy  a  americana}  and  the  Lesser  Scaup  (Ay  thy  a 

*Cat.  of  the  Birds  Ascertained  to  Occur  in  Illinois.  Ann.  Lye.  Nat.  Hist    N.  Y.. 
Vol.   X.   1874,   390. 


48  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES. 

affinis).  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  informs  me  that  he  has 
seen  and  taken  the  Ruddy  Duck  on  Wolf  Lake,  Indiana,  as  late 
as  the  thirthieth  of  May.  It  may  breed  at  the  present  time  within 
our  limits.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "The  middle  of  Septem- 
ber, 1875,  my  friend  Mr.  T.  H.  Douglas,  of  Waukegan,  found 
a  pair  with  eight  or  ten  full  grown  young  in  a  small  lake 
near  that  place,  and  obtained  several  specimens.  As  the  fall 
migration  of  this  species  does  not  commence  until  some  weeks 
later  than  this,  I  think  it  very  probable  these  birds  were  hatched 
in  the  vicinity.  This  supposition  is  rendered  still  more  reason- 
able by  the  following  observations.  The  I2th  of  June,  1875, 
while  walking  through  the  dense  grass  close  to  the  shore  of 
Calumet  Lake,  looking  for  sharp-tailed  finches,  a  female  ruddy 
duck  started  from  the  grass  a  few  yards  in  advance  and  flew 
heavily  away  and  alighted  in  the  reeds  a  short  distance  out  from 
shore.  Being  well  acquainted  with  the  species,  I  at  once  recog- 
nized the  bird  by  unmistakable  peculiarities  of  form  and  flight, 
as  well  as  coloration,  so  I  did  not  shoot  it  as  I  could  easily  have 
done,  but  instead,  made  a  thorough  search  for  the  nest,  which 
I  was  certain  must  be  near.  The  dense  grass,  about  three  feet 
high,  proved  an  effectual  shield,  however,  and  I  was  compelled 
to  depart  without  the  coveted  eggs." 

The  breeding  range  .of  the  Ruddy  Duck  is  nearly  coincident 
with  its  geographical  range,  which  includes  the  whole  of  North 
America  south  to  Guatemala,  and  it  is  also  found  in  Cuba  and 
other  West  India  islands. 

Genus  CHEN  Boie,  1822. 

Chen  hyperborea  (Pall.).    Lesser  Snow  Goose. 

Anas  hyperlorea  PALL.,  Spicil.  Zool.,  VI,  1769,  25. 
Chen  hyperlorea  BOIE,  Isis,  1822,  563. 
Anser  hyperbore-us  var.  albatus  CASS.,  of  some  authors. 
Popular  synonyms :    WHITE  BEANT.    SNOW  GOOSE. 

A  common  migrant.  Though  rarely  taken  within  our  limits, 
many  are  seen  passing  over.  They  usually  arrive  on  their  north- 
ward passage  from  the  last  of  January  to  April,  and  return  from 
the  north  in  October. 

The  Lesser  Snow  Goose  breeds  in  Alaska  and  during  its  fall 
migrations  passes  as  far  south  as  southern  Illinois  and  southern 
California. 


'Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.    Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  143. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  49 

Chen  hyperborea  nivalis  (Forster).    Greater  Snow  Goose. 
Anas  nivalis  FOBSTEE,  Philos.  Trans.,  LXII,  1772,  413. 
Chen  hyperborea  nivalis  RIDGWAY,   Proc.   Biol.   Soc.   Washington,   II, 

1884,  107. 

Anser  hyperboreus  var.  hyperboreus  PALL.,  of  some  authors. 
Popular  synonyms:     MEXICAN  GOOSE.     RED  GOOSE.     WHITE  BRANT. 

TEXAS  GOOSE.    COMMON  WAVEY. 

While  I  have  obtained  no  record  of  the  capture  of  this  bird 
within  our  limits,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  says,  in  his  report*  on  the 
birds  of  this  region,  that  he  thinks  it  occurs  in  equal  numbers 
with  the  preceding  species.  I  have  seen  specimens  of  both  forms 
of  this  species  which  were  taken  at  Liverpool,  Indiana. 

While  the  Lesser  Snow  Goose  is  a  Pacific  coast  form,  the 
Greater  Snow  Goose  may  be  considered  its  Atlantic  coast  repre- 
sentative. Its  breeding  grounds  are  probably  confined  to  the 
eastern  portion  of  British  America,  and  in  its  fall  migrations  it 
passes  southward  through  the  eastern  United  States,  including 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  to  the  Gulf  coast. 

Chen  caerulescens  (Linnaeus).    Bine  Goose. 

Anas  ccerulescens  LINN^US,  S.  N..  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  124. 

Anser  caerulescens  VIEILL.,  Enc.  Meth.,  I,  1823,  115. 

Chen  ccerulescens  GUNDL.,  in  Poey's  Report,  Fis.-nat.  Isla  Cuba,  I, 
1865-1866,  387. 

Popular  synonyms:  BLUE-WINGED  GOOSE.  BLUE  BRANT.  WHITE- 
HEADED  BRANT  or  GOOSE,  WHITE-HEAD.  BALD  BRANT. 

A  common  migrant.  In  former  years  large  numbers  of  this 
species  were  taken  on  the  Calumet  marshes,  but  now  few  are 
seen  nearer  than  the  Kankakee  River  region.  I  have  observed 
them  at  Hyde  Lake,  Indiana,  and  at  Grand  Crossing. 

The  range  of  the  Blue  Goose  includes  the  interior  of  North 
America.  It  breeds  on  the  eastern  shores  of  Hudson  Bay  and 
in  Labrador.  In  the  winter  it  migrates  southward  through  the 
Mississippi  Valley  to  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Genus  ANSER,  Brisson,  1760. 

Anser  albifrons  gambeli  (Hartlaub).    American  White-fronted  Goose. 

Anser  albifrons  BONAPARTE,   Synop.,  1828,  376. 
Anser  gambeli  HARTLAUB,  Rev.  et  Mag.  Zool.,  1852,  7. 
Anser  albifrons  var.  gambeli  COUES,  Key,  1872,  282. 
Popular    synonyms:      BRANT.      SPECKLE-BELLY.      LAUGHING    GOOSE. 
PIED  BRANT.    GRAY  BRANT.    PRAIRIE  BRANT  or  GOOSE.    YELLOW- 
LEGGED  BRANT  or  GOOSE.     HARLEQUIN  BRANT. 


kBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  137. 


5O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

A  common  migrant.  It  arrives  from  the  north  in  October 
and  returns  again  in  March,  when  small  flocks  may  be  observed 
on  the  prairies  or  in  stubble  fields.  Mr.  Nelson  says:*  "The 
individual  variation  in  this  species  is  very  great.  A  large  major- 
ity have  the  ordinary  white  frontal  band  and  the  under  parts 
plentifully  mottled  with  black.  In  others  the  black  gradually 
decreases  until  some  specimens  do  not  show  the  least  trace  of 
dark  on  the  abdomen ;  in  such  instances  the  frontal  white  band 
is  usually  present.  The  young  exhibit  a  dark  brown  frontal 
band  in  place  of  white,  but  with  more  or  less  dark  spots  on  the 
abdomen.  In  very  high  plumage  the  abdomen  becomes  almost 
entirely  black,  only  a  few  rusty  colored  feathers  being  inter- 
spersed through  the  black.  The  white  nail  on  the  bill  is  gen- 
erally crossed  by  one  or  more  longitudinal  stripes  of  dark  horn- 
color.  In  spring,  as  the  breeding  season  approaches,  the  bill 
becomes  a  clear  waxy  yellow.  There  is  also  much  variation  in 
size  among  adults  of  this  species.  I  have  examined  a  number 
of  specimens  which  by  correct  comparison  were  at  least  one- 
fourth  smaller  than  the  average." 

This  goose  breeds  in  the  far  north,  and  its  range  includes 
the  whole  of  North  America. 

Genus  BRANTA  Scopoli,  1769. 

Branta  canadensis  (Linnaeus).    Canada  Goose. 

Anas  canadensis  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  123. 

Anser  canadensis  VIEILLOT,  Enc.  Meth.,   1823,  114. 

Bernicla  canadensis  BOIE,   Isis,   1826,   921. 

Branta   canadensis   BANNISTER,    Proc.    Acad.    Nat.    Sci.    Philadelphia, 

1870,  131. 
Branta  canadensis  var.  canadensis  "LiNN/EUS,"  in  NELSON'S  Birds  of 

Northeastern    Illinois.    Bull,    of    the    Essex    Institute,    Vol.    VIII, 

1876,  138. 
Popular  synonyms:     COMMON   WILD   GOOSE.     BAY   GOOSE.     CBAVAT 

GOOSE.    HONKER.    BIG  WILD  GOOSE. 

The  Canada  Goose  is  the  largest  and  best  known  of  our 
wild  geese.  At  one  time  it  was  a  resident  within  our  limits,  but 
now  it  probably  appears  here  only  as  a  migrant  which  is  quite 
common.  The  Calumet  marshes  formed  the  old  breeding  site 
of  these  birds  in  this  region.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault,  of  Glen  Ellyn, 
Illinois,  says  that  on  June  23,  1877,  he  observed  a  pair  of  these 
birds  with  young  on  Calumet  Lake.  There  were  from  four  to 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  136. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  5! 

seven  of  these  goslings  which  appeared  to  be  at  least  two  or 
three  weeks  old.  The  majority  of  these  birds  arrive  early  in 
March,  and  on  their  southward  journey,  in  the  fall,  appear  in 
October.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  that  the  Canada  Goose  "for- 
merly bred  commonly  in  the  marshes  throughout  the  state,  and 
still  breeds  sparingly  in  the  more  secluded  situations."* 

The  Canada  Goose  breeds  in  the  northern  United  States  and 
the  British  Possessions.  It  winters  as  far  south  as  Mexico. 

Branta  canadensis  hutchinsii  (Rich.).    Hutchins's  Goose. 

Anser  hutchinsii  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  470. 
Bernicla  hutchinsii  WOODH.,  Sitgr.  Exp.,  1853,  102. 
Branta   hutchinsii    BANNISTEB,    Proc.    Acad.    Nat.    Sci.    Philadelphia, 
1870,  131. 

Branta  canadensis  var.  hutchinsii  COUES,  Key,  1872,  284. 
Popular  synonyms:     LESSEB  CANADA  GOOSE.     GBAY  GOOSE.     LITTLE 
WILD  GOOSE.     ESKIMO  GOOSE.    PRAIEIE  GOOSE.     BAY  GOOSE. 

Both  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson*  and  Mr.  Robert  Ridgwayf  record 
this  little  goose  as  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Illinois.  Mr. 
Ridgway  says  that  it  is  abundant,  while  Mr.  Nelson  speaks  of  it 
as  common.  Within  our  limits  it  seems  to  be  far  from  common. 
Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  informs  me  that  he  has  observed  one 
individual  near  Calumet  Lake.  I  have  noticed  a  small  form  of 
this  genus  passing  overhead  which  must  belong  either  to 
hutchinsii  or  to  minima.  While  I  have  no  record  of  the  taking 
of  this  species  in  our  territory,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  these 
geese  at  least  pass  over  the  Calumet  region  during  their  journeys. 
Though  the  range  of  this  species  includes  North  America  in 
general,  it  breeds  only  in  the  Arctic  regions  and  passes  south  in 
winter  chiefly  through  the  western  United  States  and  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley. 

Branta  bernicla  (Linnaeus).    Brant. 

Anas  bernicla  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  124. 

Anser  bernicla  ILLIG.,  Prodr.,  1811,  277. 

Branta  bernicla  SCOPOLI,  Ann.  I.  Hist.  Nat.,  1769,  67. 

Popular  synonyms:     BRANT  GOOSE.    BBENT  GOOSE.    COMMON  BRANT. 

The  only  record  that  I  have  found  regarding  the  occurrence 
of  the  Brant  within  our  limits  is  that  of  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott, 
who  gives  it  in  his  list  of  Cook  County  BirdsJ  without  comment. 
In  his  introduction  to  this  list,  he  says,  "Nearly  all  the  species 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876   138 

t  Birds   of   Illinois,    Vol.    II,    pt.    1,    1895,    122. 

jTrans.  of  the  Illinois  State  Agri.  Soc.,  Vol.  I,   1853-1854,   588. 


52  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

named  I  have  observed  myself."  He  also  states  that  "for  several 
of  the  birds  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Hoy,  of  Racine."  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says  :f  "The  only  instance  known  to  me  of  its  capture  in 
this  portion  of  the  country  is  a  specimen  taken  by  Dr.  Hoy,  from 
a  flock  of  three,  upon  the  Lake  shore  near  Racine,"  a  few  miles 
north  of  our  limits. 

While  the  range  of  this  species  includes  the  northern  parts 
of  the  whole  northern  hemisphere,  in  North  America-  it  is  found 
chiefly  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  is  rarely  seen  away  from  salt 
water.  Professor  Cooke  says:J  "During  'the  winter  of  1883- 
1884  tm"s  species  was  represented  from  Illinois  southward  by  a 
few  rare  visitants.  In  the  spring  it  was  rare  south  of  Minnesota, 
but  by  the  time  it  reached  that  State  its  numbers  had  been  in- 
creased by  recruits  from  the  southeast,  and  it  became  almost 
common."  Professor  Cooke  also  calls  attention  to  the  "uncer- 
tainty in  using  the  records  concerning  this  species  because  it  is 
commonly  confounded  with  the  Snow  Goose,  which  is  locally 
known  as  Brant  all  through  the  West." 

Genus  OLOR  Wagler,  1832. 

Olor  columbianus  (Ord).    Whistling  Swan. 

Cygnus  bewicki  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  465  (neo 

Yarr.). 
Cygn-us  americanus  SHARPLESS,  Doughty's  Cab.  N.  H.,  I,  1830,  185, 

pi.  16. 

Anas  columbianus  ORD,  in  Guthrie's  Geog..  2d  Amer.  ed.,  1815,  319. 
Olor  columbianus  STEJNEGER,  Proc.  U.  S.  National  Mus.,  V,  1882,  210. 
Popular  synonym:    AMEEICAN  SWAN. 

Formerly  a  very  common  migrant,  arriving  in  the  spring 
about  the  middle  of  March  and  returning  sometime  in  September. 
At  the  present  time  it  is  much  rarer,  only  a  few  being  seen  each 
year.  I  have  seen  several  specimens  of  this  species  which  were 
taken  by  club  members  at  Liverpool,  Indiana.  Recently,  I  saw 
and  shot  at  one  near  Hyde  Lake,  .Indiana.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says:*  "In  the  spring  of  1876  they  were  more  numerous  than 
usual ;  quite  a  large  number  of  specimens  were  in  market  and 
many  were  seen  on  the  small  lakes  and  large  prairie  sloughs 
in  this  vicinity." 

The  Whistling  Swan  breeds  in  the  far  north,  but  its  geo- 
graphical range  covers  the  whole  of  North  America. 


tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.     Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,   138. 

$Bird    Migration    in    the    Mississippi    Valley,    p.    78. 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute.  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  136. 


THE'  NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  53 

ORDER  HERODIONES:  HERONS, 
STORKS,  IBISES. 

FAMILY  ARDELD^G :    HERONS,  BITTERNS,  ETC. 
Genus  BOTAURUS  Hermann,  1783. 

Botanrus  lentiginosus  (Montague).    American  Bittern. 
Ardea   lentiginosa  MONTAGUE,   Orn.   Diet.   Suppl.,   1813. 
Botaurus  lentiginosus  STEPHENS,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  ii,  1819,592. 
Botaurus  minor  BOIE,  Isis,  1826,  979. 
Popular  synonyms:    STAKE-DBIVEB.    THUNDEB-PUMP.    BOG-BULL.    POST- 

DBIVEB.       MlBE-DBUM.      LOOK-UP.       INDIAN     HEN,    etc. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  April  and  nest- 
ing where  the  growth  of  rushes  is  very  heavy,  or  in  small  reedy 
ponds  in  the  timber.  It  departs  for  its  winter  home  further 
south  about  the  latter  part  of  October  or  early  in  November. 

Its  geographical  range  covers  temperate  North  America  and 
it  winters  as  far  south  as  Cuba  and  Guatemala. 

Genus  ARDETTA  Gray,  1842. 
Ardetta  exilis  (Gmelin).    Least  Bittern. 

Ardea  exilis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788.  645,  No.  83. 

Ardetta  exilis  GUNDL.,  J.  f.  O.,  1856.  345. 

Botaurus  exilis  REICHEN.,  J.  f.  O.,  1877,  244. 

Popular    synonyms:      TOBTOISE-SHELL    BITTEBN.      AMEBICAN    LEAST 

BITTEBN.    LITTLE  YELLOW  BITTEBN.    LITTLE  BITTEBN.    MINUTE 

BITTEBN. 

A  common  summer  resident  and  may  be  found  nesting  in  the 
heavy  cane  of  the  marshes  and  sloughs  in  the  vicinity  of  Hyde, 
Wolf  and  Calumet  lakes,  Indiana,  Its  nest  is  a  frail  platform 
placed  in  the  upright  canes  at  a  height  of  about  three  feet  above 
the  water.  The  Least  Bitterns  arrive  early  in  April  and  depart 
for  their  winter  home  about  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  North  America 
from  the  British  Possessions  southward,  and  in  South  America 
into  Brazil. 

Genus  ARDEA  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Ardea  herodias  Linnaeus.     Great  Blue  Heron. 

Ardea  herodias  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I.  1758,  143. 
Popular  synonyms :    BLUE  CBANE.    BIG  FLY-UP-THE-CBEEK.    SANDHILL 
CBANE. 

A  not  uncommon  summer  resident.  Large  colonies  nest  in 
the  Kankakee  region,  just  south  of  our  limits,  the  birds  pre- 


54  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

ferring  deep  woods  and  the  tallest  trees.  They  often  place  as 
many  as  ten  nests  in  one  tree.  A  few  pairs  nest  between  Long 
Lake  and  Lake  Michigan  in  Indiana.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  found  a 
colony  of  these  birds  nesting  at  Wheeling  on  the  Desplaines 
River,  April  29,  1889.  (See  plate  VI.)  The  herons  arrive  in 
March  and  are  quite  shy  until  after  the  breeding  season,  when  a 
few  pairs,  or  a  single  bird,  may  be  seen  about  the  small  lakes 
and  rivers  of  our  area.  The  majority  of  the  herons  depart  on 
their  southward  journey  about  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  the  Great  Blue  Heron  covers  the  whole  of 
North  America  from  Hudson  Bay  and  the  Fur  Countries  south 
through  Central  America  into  northern  South  America. 

Genus  HERODIAS  Boie,  1822. 

Herodias  egretta  (Gmelin).  American  Egret. 
Ardea  egretta  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  620. 
Herodias  egretta  GRAY,  Gen.  B.,  Ill,  1849. 

Herodias  alia  var.  egretta  RIDGWAY,  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.,  1874,  386. 
Popular  synonyms:     GREAT  WHITE  HERON.     WHITE  CRANE.     SNOWY 
HERON.    GHOST  BIRD.     GREAT  EGRET. 

The  American  Egret  is  either  a  visitant  or  a  summer  resident 
in  nearly  every  portion  of  Illinois.  Within  our  limits  it  is  a 
casual  fall  visitant.  It  may  have  bred  here  years  ago  before 
the  region  became  so  largely  settled.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr., 
informs  me  that  he  shot  a  pair  of  this  species  July  27,  1885,  in 
Woodlawn,  Chicago,  on  the  site  of  the  newer  portion  of  Jackson 
Park.  In  1889  I  saw  some  of  these  birds  at  Grand  Crossing, 
Chicago,  and  I  have  taken  them  at  Liverpool,  Indiana.  In  May, 
1895,  Mr.  Charles  Eldredge  collected  the  American  Egret  and 
its  eggs  iri  the  heronies  at  Kouts,  Indiana.  He  found  the  birds 
nesting  in  the  same  trees  with  the  Great  Blue  Heron  (Ardea 
herodias).  It  is  said  to  be  abundant  all  through  the  summer  on 
the  Illinois  River  below  Peoria. 

The  range  of  the  American  Egret  is  extensive,  covering  the 
whole  of  temperate  and  tropical  America  from  Nova  Scotia, 
Ontario,  Minnesota  and  Oregon  to  Patagonia.  It  is  also  found  in 
the  West  Indies. 

Genus  EGRETTA  Forster,  1817. 

Egretta  candidissima  (Gmelin).    Snowy  Heron. 

Ardea  candidissima  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  pt.  ii,  1788.  633,  No.  45. 
Egretta  candidissima   GOSSE,   Birds  Jamaica,   1847,   336. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  55 

Garzetta  candidissima  BONAPARTE,  Consp.  II,  1855,  119. 
Popular  sj-nonyms :     LITTLE  WHITE  EGBET.     LITTLE   SNOWY  HEKON. 
LITTLE  EGRET. 

I  include  this  species  simply  on  the  authority  of  the  following 
reports  of  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  and  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson.  Mr. 
Kennicott  includes  it  in  his  "Catalogue  of  the  Animals  Observed 
in  Cook  County,  Illinois,"*  with  the  comment  "common."  He 
also  marks  it  with  an  asterisk  which,  as  I  understand  his  use  of 
the  mark,  indicates  that  it  is  "known  to  nest  in  Cook  County.'' 
His  note  is  under  the  name  "Egretta  candidissima,  Gmel.  White 
Heron."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  that  the  Little  White  Egret 
is  "much  less  common  than  the  preceding  (Hcrodias  cgrctta). 
Occurs  at  the  same  time."  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says:f  "This 
beautiful  Egret  occurs  during  summer  in  various  parts  of  the 
State,  but  probably  not  abundantly  except  in  the  more  southern 
portions." 

Its  range  includes  the  whole  of  temperate  and  tropical  America 
from  the  British  Possessions  on  the  north  to  Chili  and  the 
Argentine  Republic  on  the  south. 

Genus  BUTORIDES  Blyth,  1849. 

Butorides  virescens  (Linnaeus).     Green  Heron. 

Ardea  virescens  LIXNJEUS.  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I.  1758,  144. 
Butorides   virescens  BONAPARTE.    Consp..    II,   1855,   128. 
Popular   synonyms :      SCHYTEPOKE.      SQUAWK.      BOOBY.      FLY-TJP-THE- 
CREEK.     CRAB-CATCHER. 

Formerly  a  common  but  now  a  rare  summer  resident,  arriv- 
ing early  in  April.  A  favorite  nesting  site  of  this  species  is  in 
the  heavy  bushes  bordering  the  rivers.  It  departs  for  the  winter 
early  in  September. 

Its  range  includes  the  whole  of  temperate  North  America 
from  Ontario  and  Oregon  on  the  north  to  Central  America  and 
the  West  Indies  on  the  south. 

Genus  NYCTICORAX  Stephens,  1819. 

Nycticorax  nycticorax  naevius  (Bodd.).    Black-crowned  Night  Heron. 
Ardea  noevia  BODD.,  Tabl.  PI.  Enl.,  1783,  56. 
Nyctiardea    grisea    var.    noevia.   ALLEN.    Bull.    Mus.    Comp.    Zool.,    Ill, 

1872,  182. 
Nycticorax  ni/cticorax  nccrius  ZELEDON,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII, 

1885,  113. 


*Trans.  of  the  Illinois  State  Agri.   Soc.,   Vol.   1,   1853-1851,   587. 
fBirds  of   Illinois,   Vol.   II,   pt.    i,    1895,    12G. 


56  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Popular  synonyms :   AMERICAN  BLACK-CEOWNED  NIGHT  HEEON.   QUAK. 

QUA-BIRD.       QUAWK. 

Although  abundant  throughout  the  summer  and  fall,  I  have 
never  found  it  breeding  within  our  limits.  It  may  usually  be 
seen,  during  the  day  time,  roosting  in  the  tops  of  the  trees  of  the 
woods  bordering  our  numerous  small  lakes  and  swamps.  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson  says  :*  "The  first  of  July,  1874, 1  saw  a  few  young 
of  the  year  in  the  Calumet  marshes."  He  also  found  it  nesting, 
and  counted  fifty  nests  within  an  area  of  two  acres,  at  Grass 
Lake,  Lake  County,  Illinois,  a  few  miles  north  of  our  limits. 
These  nests  were  built  in  dense  bunches  of  rice,  and  were  placed 
upon  the  stiff  stalks  of  rice  and  cane  of  the  year  before.  These 
birds  leave  our  neighborhood  early  in  October. 

The  range  of  this  Heron  includes  the  whole  of  temperate 
and  tropical  America  from  the  British  Possessions  south  to  Chili. 

ORDER  PALUDICOL^E:  CRANES,  RAILS, 

ETC. 

FAMILY  GRUIim    CRANES. 

Genus  GEUS  Pallas,  1766. 
Grns  americana  (Linnseus).    Whooping  Crane. 

Ardea  americana  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  142. 

Orus  americana  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XIII,  1817,  557. 

Grus  hoyanus  DUDLEY,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  VII,  1854, 

64   (Young). 
Popular  synonyms ;    GBEAT  WHITE  CBANE.    WHITE  SANDHILL  CRANE. 

A  few  are  heard,  while  passing  overhead  during  their  migra- 
tions, uttering  their  discordant  cries.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs 
me  that  his  observations  show  that  they  arrive  early  in  the 
spring  and  that  the  latest  record  of  their  return  in  the  fall  is 
August  6.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  that  it  was  "once  an  abundant 
migrant,  but  is  now  of  rare  occurrence  in  this  vicinity."  Mr. 
Robert  Kennicott  states  that,  "Though  at  present  exceedingly 
rare,  this  bird  was  once  not  uncommon  in  this  region. "||  The 
only  record  I  have  found  of  the  actual  taking  of  a  specimen 
within  our  limits  is  that  of  Spencer  F.  Baird  who  mentionsf 
a  specimen  of  this  species  which  was  collected  by  Mr.  Thomas  E. 
Blackney  who  took  it  at  Chicago  in  June,  1858.  This  specimen 
is  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  131. 
li  Trans,   of  the  Illinois   State   Agri.   Soc.,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    587. 
tPacific  B.  B.  Beports  Vol.  IX,   1858,   655. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  57 

The  Whooping  Crane  has  a  rather  narrow  range  in  the  in- 
terior of  North  America.  It  lies  between  Colorado  and  Ohio, 
and  extends  from  the  Fur  Countries  southward  to  Florida,  Texas 
and  Mexico. 

Grus  mexicana  (Mull.).    Sandhill  Crane. 

Ardea  (grus)   mexicana  MULL.,   S.  N.,   Suppl.,  1776,  110. 

Grus  mexicana  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XIII,  1817,  561. 

Grus  canadensis  NUTTALL  Man.,  II,  1834,  38   (nee  Ardea  canadensi* 

Linnaeus). 
Popular  synonym  :     BBOWN  CBANE. 

A  rare  migrant.  According  to  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  they 
formerly  nested  abundantly  in  the  larger  marshes  of  our  region. 
Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs  me  that  in  the  seventies  he  saw  single 
birds  and  occasionally  two  or  three  together,  flying  high  above 
the  city  in  a  northerly  direction.  However,  he  never  saw  them 
in  the  fall.  In  the  museum  of  Northwestern  University  there  is 
a  fine  specimen  of  this  species,  taken  in  the  seventies  by  Mr. 
Charles  S.  Raddin,  who  shot  the  bird  at  Evanston  while  walking 
along  the  beach  of  Lake  Michigan. 

The  range  of  the  Sandhill  Crane  covers  the  southern  half 
of  North  America,  though  it  is  said  to  be  rare  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  north  of  Georgia.  It  breeds  in  Florida  and  Cuba  and  in  the 
states  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

FAMILY  RALLID^:     RAILS,  GALLINULES  AND  COOTS. 
Genus  RALLUS  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Rallus  elegans  Audubon.     King  Rail. 

Rallus  elegans  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  Ill,  1835,  27,  pi.  203. 
Popular  synonyms:     RED-BBEASTED  RAIL.     MABSH  HEN.     MUD  HEN. 
SEDGE  HEN. 

A  common  summer  resident,  nesting  in  the  thick  rushes  bor- 
dering our  lakes  and  in  clumps  of  grass  in  meadow  marshes.  It 
is  the  largest  of  our  rails,  and  is  very  shy,  rarely  taking  wing 
and  depending  upon  its  long  legs  as  means  of  escaping  an  in- 
truder. The  King  Rails  arrive  within  our  limits  when  the  grass 
is  quite  short  and  affords  but  poor  shelter  for  them.  In  conse- 
quence large  numbers  are  annually  shot.  They  begin  to  depart 
for  their  winter  home  the  latter  part  of  September. 

The  range  of  the  King  Rail  is  almost  confined  to  the  Middle 
States  and  it  is  a  bird  of  the  fresh-water  marshes.  In  the  salt 
marshes  of  the  Atlantic  coast  and  that  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
it  is  replaced  by  the  Clapper  Rail  (Rallus  crepitans). 


58  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Rallus  virginianus  Linnaeus.    Virginia  Rail. 

Rallus  virginianus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  263. 
Popular  synonyms:     REED-BIKD.     RED  RAIL. 

A  common  summer  resident,  nesting  about  the  last  of  May 
in  the  long  grass  on  the  borders  of  our  prairie  sloughs  and  lakes. 
This  Rail  arrives  within  our  limits  about  the  last  of  April  and 
departs  early  in  September.  Regarding  its  habits,  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says:*  "I  have  obtained  nests  with  eggs  from  the  sixth 
of  May  until  the  middle  of  June.  This  species  is  found  in  almost 
any  place  where  it  can  find  suitable  food.  I  have  often  flushed 
it  in  thickets  when  looking  for  woodcock,  as  well  as  from  the 
midst  of  large  marshes.  The  nest  can  rarely  be  distinguished 
from  that  of  the  Carolina  rail  in  form  or  structure,  and  is  gener- 
ally placed  In  a  similar  location,  with  the  exception  that  the 
present  species  shows  a  greater  preference  for  dense  tufts  of 
grass.  I  have  never  seen  more  than  nine  eggs  in  a  nest  of  this 
species." 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  temperate 
North  America  from  the  British  Possessions  south  to  Guatemala 
and  Cuba.  It  winters  quite  throughout  its  range. 

Genus  PORZANA  Vieillot,  1816. 

Porzana  Carolina  (Linnseus).    Sora. 

Rallus  carolinus  LINN^TJS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  153. 

Rallus  (Crex)  carolinus  BONAPARTE,  Obs.  Wils.,  1825,  No.  230. 

Ortygometra  Carolina  BONAPARTE,  List,  1838,  53. 

Porzana  Carolina  BAIRD,  Lit.  Rec.  &  Jour.  Linn.  Assoc.  Penn.  Coll.,         / 

Oct.  1845,  255. 

Popular  synonyms:   CAEOUNA  RAIL.  COMMON  RAIL.  OBTOLAN.   SOBA 
RAIL. 

A  common  summer  resident,  breeding  abundantly  in  all  of 
our  marshes,  and  on  the  borders  of  prairie  sloughs,  especially  in 
the  southern  portion  of  our  area.  Their  nests  are  usually  built 
in  soft  dense  grass  which  grows  near  the  borders  of  the  sloughs. 
Occasionally  the  nests  are  built  on  clumps  of  grass  which  grow 
where  they  are  entirely  surrounded  by  water.  The  Sora,  as  well 
as  the  other  smaller  rails,  after  being  flushed  once  from  the  nest 
is  very  loth  to  take  wing  again  and  may  often  be  picked  up  alive 
by  the  collector.  A  great  many  of  these  rails  are  killed  during 
their  migrations  by  flying  against  the  screens  which  protect  the 
lights  of  the  light-houses  on  the  coasts  of  the  larger  bodies  of 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute.  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  133. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  59 

water.  They  also  frequently  kill  themselves  by  flying  against 
chimneys  and  the  lighted  windows  of  houses.  The  Sora  arrives 
within  our  limits  about  the  middle  of  April  and  the  larger  num- 
ber leave  early  in  October. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  gives  an  interesting  account*  of  the  habits 
of  the  Sora  in  our  vicinity:  "In  the  spring  of  1875,  the  sudden 
rise  of  the  water  in  the  sloughs  in  this  vicinity  flooded  a  great 
many  water  birds'  nests,  and  among  them  Carolina  Rail's  nests. 
Visiting  the  marshes  soon  after,  I  found  that  in  every  rail's  nest 
that  had  been  flooded  the  eggs  had  been  broken  by  the  rail 
piercing  the  side  with  her  beak.  In  one  instance  the  bird 
was  found  beside  the  nest,  and  when  I  looked  at  the  eggs 
I  found  a  portion  of  them  broken  and  the  contents  still 
oozing  out.  I  found  that  the  coots  (Fulica  americana)  and  the 
gallinules  had  the  same  habit  when  their  nests  were  destroyed 
by  the  water,  although  it  was  less  common  with  them  than  with 
the  rail.  In  autumn  great  numbers  of  these  birds  frequent  the 
floating  weeds  along  the  borders  of  rivers  where  they  are  some- 
times found  in  such  numbers  that  several  may  be  killed  at  a 
single  discharge." 

The  range  of  the  Sora  covers  the  whole  of  temperate  North 
America,  breeding  chiefly  in  the  northern  portion  of  its  range. 

Porzana  noveboracensis  (Gmelin).    Yellow  Rail. 

Fulica  novcboraccnsis  GMELIN,  S.  N..  I.  ii,  1788,  701. 

Rallus  noveloracensis  BONAPAETE,  1827. 

Porzana  noveboracensis  BAIBD,  Lit.  Rec.  &  Jour.  Linn.  Assoc.  Penn. 

Coll.,  Oct.  1845,  255. 
Popular  synonyms:    LITTLE  RAIL,    LITTLE  YELLOW  RAIL. 

A  quite  common  summer  resident  although  rarely  seen  on 
account  of  its  skulking  habits.  It  may  be  readily  recognized  by 
its  white  wing  patches,  the  white  barring  of  its  back,  and  its 
extremely  small  size.  In  April,  1889,  while  collecting  with  Mr. 
Charles  Robey  at  South  Chicago,  two  perfect  specimens  of  this 
species  were  caught  by  his  dog  and  brought  to  us  alive  and  un- 
hurt. It  arrives  within  our  limits  early  in  April  and  departs  in 
September. 

The  range  of  the  Yellow  Rail  includes  eastern  North  America, 
and  it  is  found,  though  less  commonly,  west  to  Utah  and  Nevada. 

Porzana  jamaicensis  (Gmelin).    Black  Rail. 

Ralhis  jamaicensis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  718. 


'Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  134. 


6O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Porzana  jamaicensis   BATED,   Lit.   Rec.   &   Jour.   Linn.   Assoc.   Penn. 

Coll.,  1845,  257. 
Popular  synonym:     LITTLE  BLACK  RAIL. 

A  very  rare  summer  resident.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  re- 
garding the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  our  region  :*  "During 
the  spring  of  1875  I  saw  three  specimens  in  the  Calumet  Marshes. 
The  first  was  observed  early  in  May.  On  the  nineteenth  of  June, 
the  same  season,  while  collecting  with  me  near  the  Calumet 
River,  Mr.  Frank  DeWitt,  of  Chicago,  was  fortunate  enough  to 
discover  a  nest  of  this  species  containing  ten  freshly  laid  eggs. 
The  nest  was  placed  in  a  deep  cup-shaped  depression  in  a  per- 
fectly open-  situation  on  the  border  of  a  marshy  spot,  and  its 
only  concealment  was  such  as  a  few  straggling  carices  afforded. 
It  is  composed  of  soft  grass  blades  loosely  interwoven  in  a  cir- 
cular manner.  The  nest,  in  shape  and  construction,  looks  much 
like  that  of  the  meadow  lark.  The  eggs  are  a  creamy-white 
instead  of  clear  white,  as  I  stated  in  a  recent  article  (Bull.  Nutt. 
Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  p.  43),  and  average  i.oo  by  .81  inches.  They 
are  nearly  perfectly  oval,  and  are  thinly  sprinkled  with  fine  red- 
dish-brown dots,  which  become  larger  and  more  numerous  at 
one  end.  Minute  shell  markings  in  the  form  of  dots  are  also 
visible.  Owing  to  the  small  diameter  of  the  nest  the  eggs  were 
in  two  layers." 

The  range  of  the  Black  Rail  covers  North  America  from 
Massachusetts,  northern  Illinois,  Nevada  and  California,  south- 
ward through  Central  America  and  western  South  America  to 
Chili.  It  is  also  found  in  the  West  Indies. 

Genus  IONORNIS  Reichenbach,  1852. 

lonornis  martinica  (Linnasus).    Purple  Gallinule. 

Fulica  martinica,  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  259. 

Gallinula  martinica  LATH.  1790. 

Porphyrio  martinica  GOSSE,  Birds  Jam.,  1874,  377. 

Jonornis  martinica  REICHENBACH,  Av.   Syst.,   1852,  p.   XXI. 

Popular  synonyms:     BLUE  COOT.    BLUE  PETEB.    BLUE  MUD-HEN. 

The  Purple  Gallinule  is  essentially  a  southern  species,  and  the 
only  record  I  have  found  of  its  occurrence  within  our  limits  is 
that  of  a  male  specimen  taken  by  Mr.  C.  N.  Holden,  at  Lake  View, 
Chicago,  in  May,  1886.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  that  Dr.  Hoy 
informed  him  of  its  capture  at  Racine,  Wisconsin. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  134. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  6l 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  tropical  and 
warm-temperate  America  as  far  south  as  Brazil.  It  is  occa- 
sionally reported  as  far  north  as  Maine,  New  York  and  Wis- 
consin. 

Genus  GALUNULA  Brisson,  1760. 

Gallinula  galeata  (Licht.).    Florida  Gallinule. 

Crex  galeata  T,ICHT.?  Yerz.  Doubl.,  1823,  80,  No.  826. 
Gallinula  galeata  BONAPARTE,  Amer.  Orn.,  IV,  1832,   128. 
Gallinula  chloropus  ( LINNAEUS),  var.  galeata  LIGHT.,  of  some  authors. 
Popular  synonyms:     AMERICAN   GALLINULE.     MUD-HEN.     RED-BILLED 
MUD-HEN. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  all  of  our  marshes,  arriving  in 
April  and  nesting  the  middle  of  May.  It  builds  a  cup-shaped 
nest  similar  to  that  of  the  King  Rail,  generally  placing  it  among 
the  heavy  growth  of  rushes.  The  Gallinules  usually  depart  in 
the  fall  early  in  September.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  gives  the  follow- 
ing interesting  account  of  their  habits  within  our  district  :* 

"Generally  has  a  full  set  of  eggs,  numbering  from  seven  to 
twelve,  the  first  week  in  June.  Its  nests  are  placed  wherever 
fancy  dictates ;  on  low  ridges  a  rod  or  more  from  the  water ;  in 
perfectly  bare  situations  on  the  borders  of  marshes,  or  in  the 
midst  of  the  bulrushes  or  wild  rice  growing  in  several  feet  of 
water.  The  material  used  varies  with  the  situation,  from  fine 
grasses  to  the  coarsest  rushes  and  fragments  of  wild  rice  stalks. 
In  the  latter  case  the  nest  often  floats  in  the  water  and  is  held 
in  place  by  the  surrounding  reeds.  The  young  possess  the  usual 
black  down  and  disproportionate  feet  of  members  of  this  family 
at  an  early  age,  but  the  basal  two-thirds  of  the  bill  is  bright  red, 
the  tip  only,  being  yellow.  I  have  placed  eggs  under  a  hen, 
but  the  young,  unless  removed  as  soon  as  hatched,  would  scram- 
ble out  and  manage  to  get  away.  At  this  a*ge  they  have  a  clear 
metallic  peep,  quite  unlike  that  of  a  chicken." 

The  range  of  the  Florida  Gallinule  includes  the  whole  of 
tropical  and  temperate  America,  extending  from  Canada  to 
Brazil  and  Chili. 

Genus  FULICA  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Fulica  americana  Gmelin.    American  Coot. 

Fulica  americana  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii.  1788,  704. 

Fulica  wilsoni  STEPHENS,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII,  1824,  236. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  135. 


62  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Fulica  atra  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  IX,  1825,  pi.  73,  fig.  1,  (nee  Linnaeus). 
Popular  synonyms:     MUD   HEN.     WHITE-BILLED   MUD   HEN.     CBOW 
DUCK. 

The  American  Coots  are  common  summer  residents,  arriving 
early  in  April.  They  build  their  nests  in  reed  patches  in  May. 
The  nests  are  usually  placed  in  quite  exposed  situations  unlike 
those  of  the  other  species  of  this  family.  They  are  often  placed 
in  reeds  that  stand  in  two  to  four  feet  of  water,  and  are  built 
at  about  the  same  time  as  are  those  of  the  Florida  gallinule. 
Where  the  Coots  are  plentiful,  they  gather  in  quite  large  numbers 
as  cold  weather  approaches,  and,  frequenting  the  rivers  and  lakes, 
remain  with  us  until  these  waters  are  frozen  over.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says  regarding  the  appearance  of  the  Coot  within  our 
limits,*  "This  bird  has  a  curious  habit  when  approached  by  a 
boat  in  a  stream,  rising  .often  before  the  boat  is  within  gunshot, 
and  flying  directly  by  the  boatman,  generally  so  near  that  it 
may  be  easily  brought  down.  The  abundance  of  ducks  and  other 
game  birds  has  caused  the  birds  of  this  family  to  be  but  little 
molested,  until  within  a  few  years,  when  the  amateur  sportsmen 
from  Chicago,  finding  the  ducks  difficult  to  obtain,  and  'mud- 
hens/  as  coots  and  gallinules  are  called,  conveniently  tame,  have 
turned  their  batteries  upon  them  and  have  caused  a  diminution 
in  their  numbers  about  the  Calumet  Marshes.  But  in  more  re- 
tired marshes  they  still  breed  in  undiminished  numbers." 

The  range  of  the  American  Coot  covers  the  whole  of  North 
America,  including  the  West  Indies. 

ORDER  LIMICOL^E:  SHORE  BIRDS. 

FAMILY  PHALAROPODIDJE:    PHALAEOPES. 
Genus  CRYMOPHILUS  Vieillot,  1816. 

Crymophilus  fulicarius  (Linnaeus).    Bed  Phalarope. 

Tringa  fulicaria  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  148. 

Phalaropus  fulicarius  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  407. 

Crymophilus  fulicarius  STEJNEGEB,  Auk,  II,  1885,  183. 

I  have  found  no  record  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species 
within  our  limits  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity  except  that  of 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  who  says:*  "Exceedingly  rare.  Occurs 
only  during  the  migrations  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  pre- 
ceeding  (Northern  Phalarope)  " 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  136. 


THE  NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  63 

This  Phalarope  breeds  in  very  high  latitudes,  and  its  range 
covers  the  northern  portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  It  is 
chiefly  maritime  and  has  been  reported  from  as  far  south  as 

Ohio,  Illinois  and  Cape  St.  Lucas. 

* 

Genus  PHALAROPTJS  Brisson,  1760. 

Phalaropus  lobatns  (Linnaeus).    Northern  Phalarope. 

Tringa  lolata  LINNJEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  148  ;  ed,  12,  I,  1766,  249. 
Lolipes  lobatus  B.  B.  &  R.,  Water  Birds  N.  Amer.,  I,  1884,  330. 
Phalaropus  lobatus  SALVAD.,  Ucc.  d'ltalia,  II,  1872,  210  (nee  Latham 
qui  Crymophilus  fulicarius,  nee  Wilson  qui  Phalaropus  tricolor). 
Lobipes  hyperboreus  CUVDEE,  Reg.  Anim.,  I,  ed.  1829,  532. 

A  rare  spring  and  fall  visitant.  In  1901,  a  male  in  perfect 
fall  plumage  was  shot  on  the  grounds  of  the  Calumet  Heights 
Gun  Club,  by  Mr.  R.  Turtle.  I  identified  this  specimen  shortly 
after  it  was  taken.  Specimens  of  immature  males  were  also 
taken  by  Mr.  Gerard  A.  Abbott  at  Calumet  Lake,  September 
27,  1903.  Mr.  E.  W.*  Nelson  says:*  "Rather  rare  migrant 
the  first  of  May,  and  the  last  of  September  and  first  of  October. 
Frequents  slow  streams  or  marshy  pools,  where,  swimming  grace- 
fully from  one  patch  of  floating  weeds  to  another,  it  obtains 
its  food.  It  is  quite  gentle  and  unsuspicious,  and  I  have  ap- 
proached in  a  boat  within  five  yards  of  one  without  its  showing 
the  least  concern." 

The  range  of  the  Northern  Phalarope  includes  the  northern 
portions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  breeding  only  in  the  far 
north.  It  winters  in  the  tropics.  It  is  chiefly  a  maritime  species. 


Genus  STEGANOPUS  Vieillot, 

Steganoyus  tricolor  Vieillot.    Wilson's  Phalarope. 

Phalaropus  lobat-us  WILSON,  Amer.  On.,  IX,  1825,  72,  pi.  73,  fig.  3 

(nee  Tringa   lobata  Linnaeus). 

Phalaropus  wilsoni  SABINE,  App.  Frankl.  Journ.,  1823,  691. 
Lobipes  wilsoni  AUDUBOX,  Synop.,  1839,  341. 
Steganopus  icUsoni  COUES,  Ibis,  April  1865,  158. 
Steganopus  tricolor  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat,  XXXII,  1819, 

136. 
Phalaropus  tricolor  STEJNEGEB,  Auk,  II,  1885,  183. 

A  very  common  summer  resident  in  the  Calumet  region, 
appearing  about  the  twelfth  of  May  and  nesting  almost  immedi- 
ately after  arriving.  The  sites  usually  selected  for  the  nests  are 
the  prairies  surrounding  the  small  lakes.  The  birds  depart  for 


*Birds   of   Northeastern   Illinois.   Bull.   Essex   Tnst.,   Vol.   VIII,    1876,    125. 


64  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

their  winter  home  further  south  early  in  August.  The  female  of 
this  species  possesses  the  finest  and  most  brilliant  breeding  plu- 
mage of  the  two  sexes.  The  male  performs  nearly  or  quite  all 
of  the  work  of  building  the  nest  and  of  incubation.  It  is  also 
Smaller  than  the  female.  The  nest  is  a  very  simple  affair,  and  is 
built  with  grass  in  a  shallow  depression  in  the  ground  in  open 
situations  where  it  is  but  slightly  protected  by  the  grass. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  interior 
of  temperate  North  America.  They  breed  from  Illinois  and  Utah 
northward  to  the  Saskatchewan  region,  and  migrate  southward 
in  winter  as  far  as  Brazil  and  Patagonia. 

FAMILY  RECURVIROSTRIDJE:    AVOCETS  AND  STILTS. 
Genus  RECURVIROSTRA  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Recurvirostra  americana  Gmelin.    American  Avocet. 

Recurvirostra  americana  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  ed.  13,  I,  1788,  693. 

The  only  record  that  I  have  found  concerning  the  occurrence 
of  this  species  within  our  limits  or  the  immediate  vicinity,  is  that 
of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  who  says:*  "A  rare  migrant.  Generally 
occurs  in  small  parties  the  last  of  April  and  the  first  of  May,  and 
during  September  and  the  first  of  October.  Frequents  the  bor- 
ders of  marshy  pools." 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  temperate  North  America 
and  it  is  much  less  common  in  the  eastern  than  in  the  western 
United  States. 

Genus  HIMANTOPUS  Brisson,  1760. 

Himantopus  mexicanus  (Miiller).    Black-necked  Stilt. 

Charadrius  mexicanus  MULLEB,  S.  N.,  Suppl.,  1776,  117. 
Himantopus  mexicanus  OBD,  Wilson's  Orn.,  VII,  1824,  52. 
Himantopus  nigricollis  VIEILLOT,  1817. 
Popular  synonyms :  LONG-SHANKS.  PINK-STOCKINGS.  LAWYEB.   STILT. 

Mr.  Nelson  speaks  of  this  species  as  being  "An  exceedingly 
rare  visitant."  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says:f  "While  on  record 
only  as  a  summer  visitant  to  Illinois,  the  Stilt  undoubtedly  breeds 
in  some  portions  of  the  State." 

There  is  really  no  reason  why  this  species  might  not  be,  at 
least  occasionally,  found  within  our  limits,  for  its  range  in- 
cludes the  whole  of  temperate  North  America  from  the  northern 


tThe  Ornithology  of  Illinois,   Vol.  II,   1895,   76. 

*Birdg  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull.   Essex  Inst.,   Vol.  VIII,   1876,   124. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  65 

portion  of  the  United  States  southward  to  the  West  Indies  and 
the  northern  portion  of  South  America. 

FAMILY  SCOLOPACID^:    SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,  ETC. 

Genus  PHILOHELA  Gray,  1841. 
Philofcela  minor  (Gmelin).    American  Woodcock. 

Scolopax  minor  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  661. 
Philohela  minor  GRAY,  Genera  of  Birds,  1841,  90. 
Popular  synonyms:  BOG-SUCKEB.  MUD-SNIPE.  BUND  SNIPE. 

Formerly  a  common  summer  resident.  It  is  chiefly  nocturnal, 
spending  the  daytime  in  the  low,  damp  thickets  or  heavy  growths 
of  willows.  In  the  spring  it  arrives  from  about  the  last  of 
March  to  the  middle  of  April,  and  departs  in  September.  It 
nests  the  last  of  April,  and  its  eggs  are  remarkably  large  for  the 
size  of  the  bird.  Though  nests  and  eggs  of  the  Woodcock  are 
still  occasionally  found  within  our  limits,  the  settling  of  the 
country  with  homes  and  factories,  and  above  all  the  selfish  zeal 
of  collectors  and  hunters  are  rapidly  driving  this  interesting  bird 
from  our  vicinity. 

Its  range  covers  eastern  North  America  as  far  west  as 
Dakota,  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  and  north  to  the  British  Posses- 
sions. Its  breeding  range  is  coincident  with  its  geographical 
range. 

Genus  GALUNAGO  Leach,  1816. 

Gallinago  delicata  (Ord),    Wilson's  Snipe. 

Scolopax  gallinago  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VI,  1812,  18,  pi.  47,  fig.  1 

(nee  Linnaeus). 

Scolopax  wilsoni  TEMM.,  PI.  Col.,  V,  1824,  livr.  LXVIII    (in  text). 
Gallinago  wilsoni  BONAPABTE,  1838. 

Scolopax  delicata  OBD,  Wilson's  Orn.,  IX,  1825,  p.  ccxviii. 
Gallinago  delicata  RIDGWAY,  in  A.  O.  U.  Check  List,  1886,  148,  No. 

230. 

Gallinago  gallinaria  (Gmelin)  var.  wilsoni  TEMM.,  of  some  authors. 
Popular  synonyms :     AMERICAN    SNIPE.     COMMON   SNIPE.     ENGLISH 
SNIPE.    GUTTEB  SNIPE.    JACK  SNIPE. 

A  common  spring  and  fall  migrant.  There  are  no  recent 
records  of  this  species  having  nested  within  our  limits.  It  is 
known  to  have  nested  not  far  from  our  area,  and  according  to 
both  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson*  and  Mr.  Robert  Kennicottf  it  was 
formerly  a  summer  resident  within  our  borders.  Mr.  M. 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  326. 
tTrans.   Illinois  State  Agri.  Soc.,   Vol.  I,    1853-1854,   587. 


66  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Savage  found  a  nest  at  Grass  Lake,  Illinois,  in  May,  1901,  which 
contained  four  eggs  of  this  species.  Mr.  Nelson  says:*  "Mr. 
T.  H.  Douglas  has  obtained  its  eggs  near  Waukegan,  and  while 
there  in  the  spring  of  1876,  I  found  several  pairs  during  the 
breeding  season,  in  various  portions  of  the  marsh  near  that 
place."  The  Snipes  arrive  within  our  limits  about  the  last  of 
March,  the  larger  number  leaving  early  in  May.  In  the  fall 
they  arrive  in  September  and  remain  until  the  ground  is  frozen 
over. 

The  range  of  Wilson's  Snipe  includes  the  whole  of  North 
America,  the  West  Indies  and  the  northern  part  of  South  Amer- 
ica. It  breeds  north  of  the  United  States. 

•  Genus  MACROREAMPHUS  Leach,  1816. 

Macrorhamplms  griseus  (Gmelin).    Dowitcher. 
Scolopax  griseus  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  658. 

M-acrorhamphus  griseus  LEACH,  Syst.  Cat.  Brit.  Mam.  &  Birds,  1816,  31. 
Popular  synonyms:     GRAY   SNIPE.     GEAY-BACK.     DOWITCH.     ROBIN 
SNIPE.    RED-BBEASTED  JACK.    RED-BBEASTED  SNIPE. 

A  very  rare  migrant.  May  the  sixth  is  the  earliest  recorded 
spring  arrival  and  September  is  the  latest  fall  record.  A  few 
stragglers  may  be  seen  during  July  and  August,  principally  on 
the  sandy  shores  of  our  lakes  and  small  ponds.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says:*  "Rather  common  migrant.  Passes  north,  often 
in  large  flocks,  in  May  and  returns  the  first  of  August,  and 
lingers  in  small  numbers  about  muddy  pools  until  well  into 
October.  Quite  unsuspicious  while  feeding  and  will  allow  a 
near  approach."  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says  :f  "It  is  apparently 
more  abundant  along  the  Atlantic  coast  than  in  the  interior,  but 
its  presence  in  Illinois  is  attested  by  specimens  in  the  National 
Museum  collection,  received  from  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale,  and  collected 
by  him  near  Chicago."  I  have  the  following  records  of  the 
capture  of  this  rare  bird: 

Frank  M.  Woodruff,  at  Liverpool,  Indiana,  September  2, 
1892. 

Frank  M.  Woodruff,  at  South  Chicago,  May  6,  1893. 

J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  at  Grand  Crossing,  July  19,  1893. 

The  range  of  the  Dowitcher  covers  eastern  North  America, 
breeding  in  the  far  north.  South  in  winter  to  the  West  Indies 
and  Brazil. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  126. 
tBirds  of  Illinois,  Vol.  II,  pt.  i,    1895,   39. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  67 

Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus  (Say).    Long-billed  Dowitcher. 
Limosa  scolopacea  SAY,  Long's  Exp.,  II,  1823,  170. 
Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus  LAWB.,  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.,  V,  1852,  4,  pi.  1. 
Popular  synonyms :     GREATER  LONG-BEAK.     ROBIN  SNIPE. 

A  very  rare  migrant.     The  only  record  which  I  have  of  the 

occurrence    of   this    species    within    our   limits,    is   that   of   two 

females   in   full   breeding  plumage.        These    I   took   at   South 

Chicago,   May  6,    1893,   and  they   are   in  the  museum   of  The 

'  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences. 

While  the  range  of  the  species  includes  North  America  in 
general,  it  is  chiefly  confined  to  that  portion  of  the  continent 
west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  It  breeds  in  the  far  north  and 
migrates  south  in  the  winter  to  South  America  and  the  West 
Indies. 

Genus  MICROPALAMA  Baird,  1858. 

i 

Micropalama  himantopus  (Bonaparte).    Stilt  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  himantopus  BONAPARTE,  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.,  II,  1826,  157. 
Micropalama  himantopus  BAIRD,  Birds  N.  Amer.,   1858,  726. 
Tringa  douglasii  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  379,  pi.  66. 
Popular  synonyms :     LONG-LEGGED  SANDPIPER.     FROST  SNIPE. 

A  rare  spring  migrant  and  often  a  common  fall  visitant.  Not 
infrequently  this  species  is  not  detected,  as  the  young  in  fall  plum- 
age closely  resemble  the  young  of  the  yellow-legs  (Tot anus 
flai'ipes).  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  has  in  his  collection  an 
adult  female  taken  from  a  flock  of  four  at  Grand  Crossing,  Chi- 
cago, on  July  25,  1893.  I  also  have -the  following  records  for  the 
capture  of  this  bird  within  our  limits : 

Frank  M.  Woodruff  at  South  Chicago  on  June  6,  1890. 

J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  at  Grand  Crossing  on  August  7,  1893. 

Frank  M.  Woodruff  at  Grand  Crossing  on  September  23,  1893. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "Of  rare  occurrence.  The  eighth 
of  August,  1873,  I  saw  a  single  specimen  near  the  Lake  shore  in 
Chicago,  and  the  tenth  of  September  the  same  year,  Mr.  R.  P. 
Clarke  obtained  a  specimen  at  the  same  place." 

The  range  of  the  Stilt  Sandpiper  includes  the  eastern  portion 
of  North  America,  breeding  north  of  the  United  States,  and  mi- 
grating in  winter  south  through  Central  America  and  quite  far 
south  in  South  America. 


*Birds   of  Northeastern   Illinois.   Bull.    Essex   Inst.,   Vol.   VIII,    1876,    126. 


68  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Genus  TRINCrA  Linnaeus,  1758. 
Tringa  canutus  Linnaeus.    Knot. 

Tringa  canutus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  149. 
Tringa  cinerea  BRUNN.,  Orn.  Bor.,   1764,   53. 

Popular  synonyms:    ROBIN  SNIPE.    RED-BREAST.    GRAY-BACK.    KNOT 
SANDPIPER. 

A  rare  fall  visitant.  The  only  records  I  have  of  the  taking  of 
this  species  within  our  limits,  are  as  follows:  •  One  specimen 
taken  August  24,  1896  and  four  taken  August  21,  1897,  at  Mil- 
lers, Indiana ;  and  eight  taken  by  Mr.  Charles  Brandler  at  Wolf 
Lake,  Indiana,  in  August,  1897.  For  some  time,  I  have  seen, 
them  each  year  throughout  the  month  of  August  at  Millers, 
Indiana.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "It  is  not  a  common  but  a 
regular  migrant,  passing  north  during  May.  It  returns  early  in 
September  and  remains  until  October.  I  have  never  observed  it 
away  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Lake  shore,  where  it  is  generally 
found  in  company  with  one  or  two  others  of  the  same  family." 

The  range  of  the  Knot  covers  the  northern  hemispheres, 
though  it  occasionally  visits  the  southern  hemisphere  during  its 
migrations. 

Genus  AEQUATELLA  Baird,  1858. 
Arqnatella  maritima  (Briinn.).    Purple  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  maritima  BRUNN.,  Orn.  Bor.,  1764,  54. 

Arquatella  maritima  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1861, 
183. 

Popular  synonym :    ROCK  SNIPE. 

A  very  rare  migrant.  In  its  migrations,  it  probably  will  ap- 
pear in  our  vicinity  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  Knot.  The  only 
record  I  have  of  the  appearance  of  this  bird  within  our  limits,  is 
that  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  ,who  says  if  "A  fine  adult  male  ob- 
tained on  the  Lake  shore,  near  Chicago,  November  7th,  1871,  is 
in  the  collection  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Velie.  When  first  seen  it  was  in 
company  with  a  flock  of  sanderlings.  This  is  the  only  instance 
of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  of  which  I  have  learned." 

Its  range  includes  the  northeastern  portions  of  North  Amer- 
ica, breeding  very  far  north  and  migrating  in  winter  to  the  mid- 
dle states,  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  larger  rivers  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley. 

Genus  ACTODEOMAS  Kaup,  1829. 

Actodromas  maculata  (Vieillot).    Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  maculata  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XXXIV,   1819, 
465. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.   Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  126. 
tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.    Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  128. 


THE   NATURAL. HISTORY   SURVEY.  69 

Actodromas  maculata  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1861, 

197,  230. 

Tringa  pectoralis  SAY,  Long's  Exp.  I,  1823.  171. 
Popular    synonyms :      JACK    SNIPE.      GRASS    SNIPE.      MABSH   PLOVEB. 

MEADOW  SNIPE.     MAY  PLOVEB.     SAND  SNIPE.     CBEAKEB. 

An  abundant  migrant.  During  its  season  with  us,  it  may  be 
found  on  all  of  our  lakes  and  sloughs  and  on  plowed  fields.  Its 
season  in  our  vicinity  is  from  the  first  of  April  to  the  middle  of 
May,  and  from  the  last  of  July  until  late  in  October. 

This  Sandpiper  has  an  extensive  range  covering  the  whole 
of  North  America  and  the  greater  part  of  South  America.  It 
breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions. 

Actodromas  fuscicollis    (Vieillot).    White-rumped   Sandpiper. 

Tringa  fuscicollis  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XXXIV,   1819, 

461. 

Tringa  scliinzii  BONAPABTE.  Synop.,  1828,  249. 
Tringa  lonapartei  SCHLEG.,  Rev.  Crit.  Ois.  Europe,  1844,  89. 
Actodromas  fuscicollis  BONAPABTE,  Comptes  Rendus,  XLIII,  1856,  596. 
Popular  synonyms :     WHITE- TAILED  STILT.     BONAPABTE'S   SANDPIPEB. 

A  very  rare  migrant.  There  seem  to  be  no  records  of  the  oc- 
currence of  this  species  within  our  limits  excepting  that  of  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says:*  "Dr.  Hoy  writes  'that  it  was  formerly 
abundant  during  the  migrations  but  is  now  rare'  (at  Racine). 
June  Qth,  1876,  I  obtained  one  specimen  and  saw  quite  a  number 
of  others  upon  the  Lake  shore  near  Waukegan.  Mr.  R.  P.  Clarke 
informs  me  that  he  has  taken  it  late  in  autumn  upon  the  Lake- 
shore  near  Chicago."  These  records  and  the  fact  that  I  have 
taken  it  at  Meredosia,  Illinois,  would  indicate  beyond  a  doubt  the 
possibility  of  its  passing  through  our  area  during  its  migrations. 

This  species  breeds  in  the  -far  north,  and  its  geographical 
range  includes  eastern  North  America,  south  in  winter  to  the 
West  Indies,  Central  and  South  America. 

Actodromas  bairdii  Cones.    Baird's  Sandpiper. 

Actodromas   lairdii  COUES,   Proc.   Acad.   Nat.   Sci.   Philadelphia,   1861, 

194. 
Tringa  lairdii  SCL.,  P.  Z.  S.  1867,  332. 

A  rare  migrant,  visiting  us  in  August  or  September  in  com- 
pany with  other  maritime  species.  In  1876,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
published  the  following  report:*  "A  rather  uncommon  migrant 
during  the  middle  of  May,  and  the  last  of  August  and  first  of 
September.  It  is  generally  found  in  small  parties  or  singly,  with 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  127. 


7O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

other  species  of  sandpipers,  but  it  sometimes  occurs  in  large 
flocks."  I  have  the  following  records  for  the  taking  of  this  spe- 
cies within  our  limits: 

Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  at  Grand  Crossing,  on  August  22, 
1893. 

Frank  M.  Woodruff,  at  Millers,  Indiana,  on  August  24,  1896. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  nearly  the  whole  of  both 
North  and  South  America,  but  chiefly  the  interior  of  North  and 
the  western  portion  of  South  America  as  far  south  as  Chili 
and  Patagonia.  It  breeds  in  the  far  north. 

Actodromas  minutilla  (Vieillot).    Least  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  minutilla  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.   Diet.   d'Hist.  Nat.,   XXXIV,   1819, 

466. 
Actodromas  minutilla  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1861, 

191. 
Tringa   pusilla   WILSON,   Amer.    Orn.,   V,    1813,   32,   pi.   37,    f.   4    (nee 

Linnaeus). 

Tringa  wilsonii  NUTTALL,  Man.,  II,  1834,  121. 
Popular    synonyms :       SAND    SNIPE.      PEEP.      WILSON'S    SANDPIPER. 

BUMBLEBEE. 

An  abundant  migrant,  arriving  early  in  April  and  returning 
again  in  the  fall  in  August  or  September.  I  have  no  records  of 
the  Least  Sandpipers  having  nests  within  our  limits  excepting 
that  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says:*  "The  fifth  of  June,  1875, 
I  found  one  of  these  birds  building  its  nest  near  the  Calumet 
River.  When  first  observed  it  was  busily  at  work  in  the  midst  of 
a  small  bunch  of  grass,  but  upon  my  approach  it  ran  a  few  feet 
to  one  side  and  watched  my  movements.  The  nest  was  nearly 
finished,  and  was  a  shallow  depression  in  the  center  of  a  tuft  of 
grass,  formed  by  the  bird,  which  had  just  commenced  lining  it 
with  small  straws.  Unfortunately  work  was  not  resumed  upon 
the  nest  after  my  visit,  but  the  birds  were  noticed  several  times  in 
the  vicinity,  and  they  probably  had  a  nest  in  some  safer  spot. 
Several  Least  Sandpipers  were  observed  near  Waukegan  the  first 
of  July,  1875,  by  Mr.  Rice,  who  is  certain  they  had  nested  in  the 
vicinity.." 

The  range  of  the  Least  Sandpiper  includes  the  whole  of  North 
and  South  America,  and  it  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United 
States. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  127. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  71 

Genus  PELTDNA  Cuvier,  1817. 

Pelidna  alpina  sakhalina  (Vieillot).    Bed-backed  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  alpina  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VII,  1813,  25,  pi.  56,  fig.  2  (nee 

Linnaeus). 
Scolopax  sakhalina  VIEILLOT.  Xouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  Ill,  1816,  359, 

(cf.   Buturlin,  Auk,  XXI,   1904,   53). 
Tringa  alpina  var.  americana  CASS.,  in  Baird's  Birds  N.  Amer.,  1858, 

719. 

Pelidna  alpina  americana  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  1881,  200. 
Pelidna  pacifica  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1861,  189. 
Pelidna  alpina  pacifica  STEJNEGEE,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885, 

120. 

Pelidna  alpina  pacifica  RIDGWAY,  in  A.  O.  U.  Check  List,  1886,  No.  143a. 
Popular  synonyms:  RED-BACKED  SNIPE.  DUNLIN. 

A  common  spring  and  fall  migrant.  It  is  usually  seen  along 
the  sandy  shores  of  the  small  lakes  and  pools  of  our  area.  The 
earliest  spring  arrival,  in  my  records,  is  the  seventeenth  of  May, 
and  the  latest  fall  record  the  twentieth  of  October. 

Its  range  covers  North  America  in  general,  breeding  far 
north. 

Genus  EREUNETES  Illiger,  1811. 

Ereunetes  pusillus  (Linnaeus).     Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 
Tringa  pusilla  LIXN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  252. 
Tringa  semipalmata  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VII,  1813,  131,  pi.  63,  fig.  3. 
Ereunetes   pusillus   CASS.,   Proc.   Acad.    Nat.    Sci.   Philadelphia,    XIII, 

3860,   195. 
Popular  synonyms :     PEEP.     SAND  SNIPE.     OX-EYE. 

A  common  migrant,  occurring  in  about  equal  numbers  with. 
'Actodromas  minntilla.  Its  spring  and  fall  occurrence  within  our 
limits  is  at  about  the  same  time  as  that  of  the  Red-backed  Sand- 
piper. Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  gives  the  following  note:*  "Very 
abundant  migrant  and  may  remain  through  the  summer.  From 
repeated  dissections  I  am  confident  these  are  barren  birds  and, 
as  Mr.  Maynard  suggests,  probably  young  of  the  preceding  year." 

This  species  breeds  in  the  far  north  and  its  range  covers  at 
least  the  whole  of  eastern  North  America,  migrating  southward 
in  winter  to  the  West  Indies,  Central  America  and  South  America. 

Genus  CAUDRIS  Cuvier,  1799-1800. 

Calidris  arenaria  (Linnaeus).     Sanderling. 

Tringa  arenaria  LINN.EUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  251. 

Calidris  arenaria  LEACH,  Syst.  Cat.  Brit.  Mam.  &  Birds,  1816,  28. 

Popular  synonym:     WHITE  SNIPE. 


*BulI.   Essex  Inst.,   Vol.  Till,   p.   126,   1876. 


72  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

This  is  a  rather  common  species  with  us  through  the  months 
of  August,  September  and  October,  when  it  may  be  seen  along 
the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  About  one-third  of  the  specimens 
which  I  have  taken  at  Millers,  Indiana,  were  in  their  breeding 
plumage.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "Arrives  in  full  breeding 
plumage — which  varies  greatly  with  individuals — about  the  twen- 
tieth of  May,  and  is  found  in  flocks,  numbering  from  five  to 
seventy-five,  along  the  shore,  until  June  tenth.  Returns  the  first 
of  August,  still  wearing  its  breeding  dress,  which  is  changed  the 
last  of  the  month  for  the  duller  garb  of  winter." 

This  species  is  nearly  cosmopolitan  in  its  range,  breeding 
only  in  the  Arctic  and  Subarctic  districts.  In  America,  it  mi- 
grates southward  to  Chili  and  Patagonia. 

Genus  LIMOSA  Brisson,  1760. 

Limosa  hamastica  (LinnaBus).    Hudsonian  Godwit. 

Scolopax  hcemastica  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  147. 
Limosa  hcemastica  COUES,  Birds  Northwest,  1874,  760. 
Scolopax  hudsonica  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  720. 
Limosa  hudsonica  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  396. 

A  rare  migrant.  I  have  observed  this  bird  but  once  in  Cook 
County.  I  took  a  fine  pair  in  June,  1892,  at  Grass  Lake, 
Illinois.  This  species,  as  well  as  others  of  our  large  waders, 
has  become  very  scarce  within  our  limits.  On  September  15, 
1898,  a  fine  male  adult  was  taken  at  Wolf  Lake,  Indiana,  by 
Mr.  Charles  Brandler.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says,  regarding  the 
frequency  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  our  vicinity  during 
earlier  years :  "Not  very  rare  during  migrations.  April  fifteenth 
to  May  tenth,  and  September  to  the  first  of  October.  More 
common  along  the  water  courses  in  the  western  part  of  the 
state." 

This  Godwit  breeds  in  the  far  north,  and  its  range  covers 
eastern  North  America  and  the  whole  of  Central  and  South 
America. 

Genus  TOTANUS  Beehstein,  1803. 

Tetanus  melanoleucns  (Gmelin).    Greater  Yellow-legs. 

Scolopax  melanoleuca  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  659. 
Totanus  melanoleucus  VIELLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  VI,  1816,  398. 
Popular  synonyms.    STONE  SNIPE.    TELL-TALE.    YELPER.    BIG  YELLOW- 
LEGS.    ENGLISH  SNIPE. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  128. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  73 

A  common  migrant.  I  have  observed  stragglers  early  in  May, 
and  some  years  as  late  as  the  last  of  July  but  I  have  never 
seen  them  throughout  the  months  of  May  and  June,  neither  have 
I  been  able  to  find  any  observer  who  has  done  so  within  recent 
years.  I  should  consider  the  nesting  of  this  species  in  our  re- 
gion of  equally  rare  occurrence  with  that  of  Wilson's  Snipe 
(Gallinago  delicata).  Mr.  E.  W-.  Nelson  says  :*  "Arrives  about 
the  middle  of  April,  the  larger  portion  passing  north  early  in 
May.  Returns  September  first  and  remains  until  the  last  of 
October.  In  June,  1875,  I  found  several  pairs  of  these  birds 
about  the  Calumet  Marshes,  where,  from  their  actions,  I  was 
certain  they  were  breeding,  but  was  not  fortunate  enough  to  find 
their  nests.  The  tenth  of  June,  1876,  Mr.  Rice  observed  a  pair 
about  a  prairie  slough  near  Eyanston.  A  few  days  later  a  set 
of  four  eggs  were  brought  him  from  a  similar  situation  a  few 
miles  northwest  of  that  place,  and  from  the  description  of  the 
parent  bird — driven  from  the  nest — he  decided  thev  must  belong 
to  this  species.  I  perfectly  agree  with  Mr.  Rice's  decision,  for 
the  prominent  characteristics  noticed  by  the  collector  are  ob- 
viously applicable  to  this  bird." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  America  in  general,  breeding 
only  in  the  cold-temperate  and  subarctic  regions  of  the  northern 
continent.  It  is  known  to  have  nested  as  far  south  as  northern 
Iowa  and  Illinois.  It  winters  as  far  south  as  Chili  and  the 
Argentine  Republic. 

Tetanus  flavipes    (Gmelin).    Yellow-legs. 

Scolopax  flavipes  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  659. 
Totanus  flavipes  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  VI,  1816,  410. 
Popular  synonyms:     LESSER  or  LITTLE  YELLOW-LEGS.     LESSEE  TELL- 
TALE. 

A  common  migrant.  This  species  is  essentially  a  miniature 
of  the  Greater  Yellow-legs,  but  it  occurs  in  greater  numbers 
within  our  limits,  and  it  is  also  more  gregarious,  frequently  being 
found  in  quite  large  flocks.  This  species  passes  through  our 
region  on  the  way  to  its  breeding  grounds  about  the  first  of 
April,  and  returning  in  July  it  remains  with  us  until  the  latter 
part  of  September.  I  have  no  records  of  its  breeding  within 
our  limits.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  saysrf  "A  few  breed.  I  ob- 
tained the  young,  barely  able  to  fly,  near  a  prairie  slough  the 
first  of  July,  1874,  a  few  miles  from  Chicago,  and  have  since 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  128. 
tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  129. 


74  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

observed   several   pairs   during   the   breeding   season   about   the 
Calumet  Marshes." 

While  the  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of 
America,  it  is  much  more  common  in  eastern  than  in  western 
North  America.  It  breeds  in  the  cold  temperate  and  subarctic 
regions  of  the  northern  continent,  and  winters  as  far  south  as 
the  southern  portion  of  South  America. 

Genus  HELODROMAS  Kaup,  1829. 

Helodromas  solitarius  (Wilson).     Solitary  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  solitaria  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VII,  1813,  53,  pi.  Iviii,  fig.  3. 
Totanus  solitarius  BONAPARTE,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  V, 

1825,  86. 

Totanus  chloropygius  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  VI,  1816,  40. 
Rhyacophikis  solitarius  CASS.,   in  Baird's  Birds  N.  Amer.,  1858,  733. 
Helodromas  solitarius  SHABPE,  Cat.  Bds.  B.  M.,  XXIV,  1896,  444. 
Popular  synonyms:      PEET-WEET.     WOOD    SNIPE.     TIP-UP.     TATTLES. 
POND  TILTUP.     TEETER.     SOLITARY  TATTLER. 

A  common  migrant.  I  feel  quite  certain  that  a  number  may 
nest  within  our  limits  for  I  have  observed  adults  in  Cook  County 
throughout  the  summer.  I  can  find  no  records  which  show 
that  the  eggs  of  this  species  have  ever  been  taken  within  our 
area.  The  Solitary  Sandpipers  arrive  early  in  April,  the  ma- 
jority soon  passing  farther  north.  In  the  fall,  they  leave  our 
vicinity  in  September.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "I  have 
several  times  taken  young  of  this  species  just  able  to  fly,  and 
have  observed  the  adults  throughout  the  breeding  season.  I  do 
not  think  there  is  the  slightest  doubt  of  its  breeding  in  this 
vicinity." 

The  range  of  the  Solitary  Sandpiper  covers  the  whole  of 
North  and  Central  America  and  a  large  portion  of  South  Amer- 
ica; it  at  least  migrates  as  far  south  as  the  Argentine  Republic. 
It  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Gtenus  SYMPHEMIA  Rafinesque,  1819. 

Symphemia  semipalmata  i'nornata  Brewster.    Western  Willet. 

Symphemia  semipalmata  inornata  BREWSTER,  Auk,  IV,  April,  1887,  145. 
Totanus  semipalmatus  TEMM.   (in  part)   of  some  authors. 
Symphemia  semipalmata  GMELIN    (in  part)    of  some  authors. 

A  quite  common  migrant  along  the  lake  shore  from  the  first 
of  August  to  the  fifteenth  of  September.  Occasionally  this 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  129. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  75 

species  is  also  seen  late  in  April  or  early  in  May,  but  at  that  time 
they  are  very  shy.  The  fall  birds  being  the  young  of  the  year 
are  usually  quite  tame.  Nearly  all  the  records  of  the  occurrence 
of  this  species  in  our  vicinity  have  been  published  under  the 
specific  name  Semipalmata.  It  is  probable  that  all  of  these 
records  referred  to  the  subspecies  inornata. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  western  North  America, 
eastward  to  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  Gulf  States.  It 
winters  in  the  southern  states  and  Mexico. 

Genus  BARTRAMIA  Lesson,  1831. 

Bartramia  longicauda  (Bechstein).    Bartramian  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  longicauda  BECHSTEIN,  Uebers.  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1812,  453. 
Tringa  bartramia  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VII,  1813,  63,  pi.  59,  fig.  2. 
Totanus   lartramius  TEMM.   1S20. 
Actiturus  bartramius  BONAPARTE,   1831. 

Bartramius  longicaudus  BONAPABTE,  Rev.  et.  Mag.  Zool.,  XX,  1857,  59. 
Bartramia  longicauda  COUES,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  April,  1880,  100. 
Popular   synonyms :     FIELD  OB  PBAIBIE  PLOVEB.     BABTBAMIAN   TAT- 
TLES.    UPLAND  PLOVEB. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  April  and 
nesting  from  the  last  of  April  to  the  middle  of  May.  It  leaves 
our  vicinity  about  the  last  of  October.  It  frequents  the  borders 
of  sloughs,  marshes  and  prairies.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  has  pub- 
lished the  following  note  :*  "Quite  difficult  to  approach  when  it 
first  arrives,  but  during  the  breeding  season  becomes  perfectly 
reckless,  and  hovers  over  head  or  follows  through  the  grass 
within  a  few  yards  until  it  has  escorted  the  intruder  well  off  its 
domain.  The  presence  of  a  dog  in  the  vicinity  of  its  nesting 
place  is  the  signal  for  a  general  onslaught  by  all  the  birds  of  the 
vicinity,  which  hover  over  the  dog,  and  with  loud  cries  endeavor 
to  drive  it  away.  Being  but  little  appreciated  as  game  it  is 
seldom  hunted  in  this  vicinity." 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  North  America  but  chiefly 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its 
North  American  range  and  winters  as  far  southward  as  Brazil 
and  Peru. 

Genus  TRYNGITES  Cabanis,  1856. 
Tryngites  snbruficollis  (Vieillot).    Buff-breasted  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  subruficollis  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XXXIV,  1819, 
465. 


•Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876.  12ft 


76  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Tringa  rufescens  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XXXIV,  1819,  470. 

Tryngites  rufescens  CABANIS,  J.  f.  O.,  1856,  418. 

Tryngites  sulruficollis  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885,  356. 

A  very  rare  migrant.  I  have  been  able  to  find  but  three 
records  of  its  occurrence  within  our  limits.  Mr.  Henry  K.  Coale 
captured  a  specimen  in  September,  1873,  at  Chicago.  In  April, 
1890,  I  obtained  an  adult  in  breeding  plumage  which  was  flying 
with  a  large  flock  of  Golden  Plover  (Charadrius  dominicus)  at 
Worth,  Illinois.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :*  "Very  rare  migrant. 
A  specimen  is  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  R.  P.  Clarke,  obtained 
upon  the  Lake  shore,  at  Chicago,  September  4th,  1873."  There 
is  an  interesting  notation  regarding  the  frequency  of  this  species 
in  Dr.  P.  R.  Hoy's  "Notes  on  the  Ornithology  of  Wisconsin."! 
With  a  few  exceptions,  these  notes  were  based  on  personal  ob- 
servations made  by  Dr.  Hoy  within  fifteen  miles  of  Racine,  Wis- 
consin. Racine  is  but  a  few  miles  north  of  the  northern  bound- 
ary of  our  limits.  He  speaks  of  the  Buff-breasted  Sandpiper  as 
"Quite  common  from  September  I5th  to  October  loth.  Never 
met  in  the  spring."  I  am  sure  that  there  must  be  some  mistake 
in  Dr.  Hoy's  record.  Even  in  1876,  not  many  years  after  Dr. 
Hoy's  observations  were  made,  Mr.  Nelson  was  unable  to  con- 
firm the  report  and  stated  that  he  thought  an  error  had  been 
made  in  the  record. 

The  range  of  this  Sandpiper  covers  North  America  though 
it  is  more  common  in  the  interior.  It  breeds  chiefly  in  the  in- 
terior of  British  America  and  in  the  Yukon  district.  In  winter 
it  passes  through  South  America  as  far  as  Uruguay  and  Peru. 

Genus  ACTITIS  Illiger,  1811. 

Actitis  macularia  (Linnaeus).    Spotted  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  macularia  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  249. 
Totanus  macularius  TEMM.  1815. 

Actitis  macularia  NAUMANN,  Vog.  Deutschl.,  VIII,  1836,  34. 
Tringoides  macularius  GRAY,  1849. 

Popular  synonyms :     SAND  SNIPE.     RIVER  SNIPE.     PEET-WEET.     TIP- 
UP.    SAND  LARK. 

A  very  common  summer  resident  and  most  abundant  along 
the  lake  shore,  where  it  nests  on  the  drift  or  under  small  bushes 
growing  on  the  sand  dunes.  This  species  also  nests  in  thin 
tufts  of  grass,  and  not  infrequently  the  eggs  are  so  exposed  that 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  130. 
tTrans.   Wise.   State  Agri.   Soc.,   Vol.   II,    1852,   360. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  77 

they  may  be  seen  at  a  distance  of  several  feet.  These  Sand- 
pipers arrive  late  in  April  and  after  nesting  depart  for  their 
winter  home  about  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  the  Spotted  Sandpiper  is  extensive,  covering 
the  whole  of  North  America  and  South  America  as  far  as  the 
northern  portion  of  Brazil.  It  breeds  throughout  temperate 
North  America. 

Genus  NUMENIUS  Brisson,  1760. 

Numenius  longirostris  Wilson.    Long-billed  Curlew. 

Numenius    longirostris   WILSON,    Ainer.   Orn.,   VIII,   1814,   24,    pi.   64, 

fig.  4. 

Popular  synonyms:     SICKLE-BILL.     BIG  CURLEW.     SICKLE-BILL  SNIPE 
or  CURLEW. 

A  very  rare  migrant.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  informs 
me  that  he  once  observed  a  pair  of  these  Curlews  on  the  beach  of 
Lake  Michigan  near  Woodlawn  Park,  Chicago.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says:*  "Formerly  very  abundant  during  the  migra- 
tions, and  a  common  summer  resident.  Now  (1876)  rather  un- 
common in  the  migrations  and  a  very  rare  summer  resident. 
A  pair  nested  on  the  Calumet  Marshes  the  spring  of  1873.  More 
numerous  on  the  large  marshes  in  Central  Illinois.  Arrives  the 
last  of  April  and  departs  in  October."  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway 
saysif  "Transient  in  most  localities.  Formerly  bred  through- 
out the  state,  in  suitable  localities,  and  still  does  so  in  the  central 
and  northern  districts.  Occasionally  winters  in  the  extreme 
southern  counties." 

The  range  of  the  Long-billed  Curlew  includes  temperate 
North  America  in  winter  south  to  Guatemala  and  Cuba.  It 
breeds  quite  throughout  its  North  America  range,  but  chiefly 
in  the  south  Atlantic  states. 

Numenius  hudsonicus  Lath.    Hudsonian  Curlew. 

\umcnius  hudsonicus  LATH.,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  712. 
Xumenius  intcnncdius  XUTTALL,  Man.,  II,  1834,  100. 
Popular  synonyms:  SHORT-BILLED  CURLEW.  JACK  CURLEW. 

A  very  rare  or  occasional  migrant.  A  fine  specimen  of  this 
species  was  sent  to  me  for  identification  by  Mr.  R.  A.  Turtle, 
who  shot  the  bird  at  Calumet  Heights,  Indiana,  on  August  3, 
1902.  I  have  seen  this  species  in  great  numbers  on  Galveston 
Island  in  the  spring  and  fall.  In  1876,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  re- 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VTII,  1876,  130. 
tBevised  Cat.  of  the  Birds  Ascertained  to   Occur  in  Illinois,   1881,   196. 


78  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

ported  the  Hudsonian  Curlew  to  be  a  "very  rare  migrant,"  and 
appearing  with  the  Long-billed  Curlew.*  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway 
reports  this  species  as  much  rarer  in  Illinois  than  the  long-billed 
species,  and  says,  it  "never  remains  -  within  the  State  during  the 
breeding  season."f 

Its  range  includes  the  whole  of  both  North  and  South 
America  and  the  West  Indies.  It  breeds  very  far  north  and 
winters  chiefly  south  of  the  United  States. 

Numenius  borealis  Forster.    Eskimo  Curlew. 

Scolopax  borealis  FORSTER,  Phil.  Trans.,  LXII,  1772,  411,  431. 
Numenius  borealis  LATH.,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  712. 
Popular  synonyms:     LITTLE  CURLEW.    DOUGH-BIRD. 

As  shown  by  records,  this  species  was  formerly  a  common 
migrant,  but  at  the  present  time  it  is  certainly  a  very  rare  migrant. 
Mr.  Robert  Kennicott,  in  his  "Catalogue  of  Animals  observed  in 
Cook  County,  Illinois,"  ||  reports  the  Eskimo  Curlew  simply  with 
the  notation  "common."  This  note,  however,  becomes  of  little 
value,  for  Mr.  Kennicott  lists  the  bird  under  the  common  name 
"Esquimaux  Curlew"  and  gives  the  scientific  name  "Numenius 
Hudsonicus"  I  am  not  aware  that  hudsonicus  has  ever  been 
called  Eskimo  (or  Esquimaux)  Curlew,  though  the  two  species 
have  been  somewhat  mixed  by  earlier  writers. 

Its  range  extends  over  the  whole  of  eastern  North  America, 
breeding  in  the  Arctic  regions  and  in  its  migrations  reaching 
the  southern  extremity  of  South  America. 

FAMILY  CHARADRIIDJE:    PLOVERS. 
Genus  SQUATAROLA  Cuvier,  1817. 

Squatarola  squatarola  (Linnaeus).    Black-bellied  Plover. 

Tringa  squatarola  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  149. 
Tringa  helvetica  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  250. 
Squatarola  squatarola  CUVIER,  R&gne  Anim.,  I,  1817,  467. 
Charadrius  squatarola  NAUM.,  Vog.  Deutschl.,  VII,  1834,  250. 
Charadrius  helveticus  LIGHT. — NUTTALL,  Man.,  II,  1834,  26. 
Squatarola  helvetica  "CuviER,"  of  several  authors. 
Popular  synonyms:     BEETLE-HEAD.     BULL-HEAD.     OX-EYE.     BOTTLE- 
HEAD.    BLACK-BREAST,  etc. 

This  fine  bird  is  now  a  quite  rare  migrant.  I  have  always 
found  it  in  company  with  other  maritime  species.  I  have 
taken  an  adult  specimen  in  full  breeding  plumage  in  August, 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  130. 
tBirds  of  Illinois,  Vol.   II,  pt.   1,   1895.    72. 
HTrans.  Illinois  State  Agri.  Soc.,  Vol.  1, 1853-1854,  588. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  79 

which  is  a  rather  unusual  occurrence.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :* 
"Not  uncommon  during  the  migrations.  Arrives  in  full  breeding 
plumage  the  last  of  May  and  after  lingering  a  few  days  the 
majority  pass  north.  A  few  remain  during  the  summer  and  un- 
doubtedly breed.  Returning  early  in  September  in  fall  plumage, 
they  remain  until  well  into  October.  While  with  us  in  the  mi- 
grations this  species  is  generally  solitary,  sometimes  a  half  dozen 
individuals  joining  company,  or  a  single  specimen  will  be  found 
leading  a  miscellaneous  company  of  sandpipers  and  small 
plovers." 

While  the  Black-bellied  Plover  is  nearly  cosmopolitan  in  its 
distribution,  it  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  northern  hemisphere 
and  breeds  in  the  far  north.  In  winter,  in  America,  it  migrates 
as  far  southward  as  the  West  Indies,  Brazil  and  Colombia. 

Genus  CHARADRIUS  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Charadrius  dominicus  Muller.    American  Golden  Plover. 

Charadrius  dominicus  MULLEB,  Syst.  Nat.  Suppl.,  1776,  116. 
Charadrius  pluvialis  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VII,  1813,  71  (nee  Linnseus). 
Charadrius  mannoratus  WAGL.,  Syst.  Av.,  1827,  No.  42. 
Charadrius  fulvus  var.   virginicus   COUES,   Key,   1872,  243. 
Popular  synonyms:    GREEN  PLOVEB.    BULL-HEAD.    PBAIBIE  PIGEON. 

A  common  migrant.  The  Golden  Plovers  are  rarely  seen 
in  their  full  breeding  plumage  unless  taken  in  May.  They  arrive 
within  our  limits  about  the  middle  of  April  and  remain,  frequent- 
ing the  wet  prairies,  during  the  remainder  of  the  month,  when  the 
majority  pass  on  to  their  northern  breeding  grounds,  a  few  stay- 
ing with  us  during  the  first  week  in  May.  They  return  to  us  the 
last  of  August  and  remain  until  some  time  in  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  both  North  and  South 
America;  breeding  in  Arctic  regions  it  migrates  southward  to 
Patagonia. 

Genus  OXYECHUS  Keichenbach,  1853. 

Oxyechns  vociferus  (Linnsus).    Killdeer. 

Charadrius  vociferus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  150. 
jEgialitis  vociferus  BONAPARTE.  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  45. 
Oxyechus  vociferus  REICHENBACH,  Syst.  Av.,  1853,  XVIII. 
sEgialitis  vocifcra  Amer.  Orn.  Union  Check  List,  1895,  No.  273. 
Popular  synonyms:     KILL-DEE.     KILLDEEB  PLOVEB.     TELL-TALE. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  from  the  last  of  March 
to  the  last  of  April  and  remaining  with  us  until  the  cold  weather 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  122. 


8O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

sets  in.     Occasional  stragglers  may  be  seen  during  a  period  of 
warm  days  in  the  winter. 

Its  range  includes  the  whole  of  temperate  North  America, 
south  in  winter  to  Central  America  and  northern  South  America. 

Genus  ^GIALITIS  Boie,   1822. 

^Egialitis  semipalmata  (Bonaparte).     Semipalmated  Plover. 

Charadrius  semipalmatus  BONAPABTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila- 
delphia, V,  1825,  98. 

JEgialltes  semipalmatus  BONAPABTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  45. 

Popular  synonyms :  AMERICAN  RING  PLOVER.  RING-NECK.  BEACH 
BIRD. 

A  common  migrant.  On  their  northward  migration,  these 
Plovers  pass  our  vicinity  early  in  May,  though  a  few  may  straggle 
along  until  the  end  of  the  month.  They  return  to  us  again  the 
latter  part  of  July  and  remain  until  the  latter  part  of  October. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :*  "The  second  of  July,  1873,  I  obtained 
several  specimens  of  this  species  near  Chicago.  From  the  condi- 
tion of  the  abdomen  and  ovaries  of  one  specimen,  and  the  pres- 
ence of  several  recently  fledged  young,  I  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  they  had  nested  in  the  vicinity.  It  is  barely  possible,  how- 
ever, that  these  birds  were  unusually  early  arrivals  from  more 
northern  breeding  grounds,  although  the  arrivals  from  the  north 
generally  begin  about  the  last  of  the  month.  My  suspicions  that 
the  species  either  breeds  in  this  state,  or  at  no  far  distant  point, 
were  strengthened  the  following  season  when  several  females  ex- 
amined the  last  day  of  May  contained  eggs  which  would  have 
been  deposited  within  a  short  time."  The  following  record  is  of 
some  value  as  indicative  of  the  possibility  of  this  species  nesting 
not  very  far  from  our  area.  Mr.  Frank  C.  Baker,  Curator  of  the 
Academy,  and  myself  observed  a  flock  of  eight  adults  at  Worth, 
Illinois,  June  20,  1894. 

The  range  of  this  species  may  be  given  as  North  America 
in  general,  breeding  in  Arctic  and  subarctic  regions  and  migra- 
ting in  winter  through  the  tropical  countries  to  Brazil  and  Peru. 

^Jgialitis  meloda  (Ord).    Piping  Plover. 

Charadrius  melodus  ORD,  ed.  Wils.,  VII,  1824,  p.  71. 
JEgialites  melodus  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  p.  45. 
JEgialitis  melodus  var.  circumcinctus  RIDGWAY,  Amer.  Nat.,  VIII,  Feb. 

1874,   109. 
Popular    synonyms:      RINGED    PIPING    PLOVER.      WHITE    RING-NECK. 

WESTERN  PIPING  PLOVER.    BELTED  PIPING  PLOVER. 


'Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  123. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  8l 

This  species  was  formerly  a  common  but  is  now  a  rare  sum- 
mer resident.  On  the  first  of  August,  1897,  while  collecting 
along  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  at  Millers,  Indiana,  I  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  obtain  adults  and  young  in  down  of  this  bird. 
On  the  thirteenth  of  June,  1902,  I  obtained  a  set  of  four  eggs 
and  the  parent  birds  at  Millers,  Indiana.  (See  plate  VII.) 
These  are  now  on  exhibition  as  a  group  in  the  Museum  of  The 
Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences.  At  the  time  of  writing,  June 
10,  1904,  I  know  of  two  pairs  of  these  Plovers  which  are  breed- 
ing within  our  limits,  having  located  their  nests  and  eggs.  I  do 
not  doubt  that  there  are  other  pairs  nesting  in  the  same  vicinity, 
and  I  sincerely  hope  that  the  nests  and  eggs  of  these  rare  resi- 
dents of  our  area  may  never  be  found  by  unscrupulous  collec- 
tors. That  this  Plover  was  much  more  common  some  years 
ago  is  well  shown  by  the  following  statement  of  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson.*  "Very  common  summer  residents  along  the  Lake  Shore, 
breeding  on  the  flat,  pebbly  beach  between  the  sand  dunes  and 
shore.  Arrives  the  middle  of  April  and  proceeds  at  once  to 
breeding."  At  Waukegan,  a  few  miles  north  of  our  limits,  he 
found  evidences  of  their  breeding  as  early  as  the  twenty-fourth 
of  April.  He  also  adds:  "Some  thirty  pairs  were  breeding 
along  the  beach  at  this  place,  within  a  space  of  two  miles,  and  I 
afterwards  found  the  birds  as  numerous  at  several  points  along 
the  shore.  Every  effort  was  made  to  discover  their  nests  with- 
out success,  although  the  birds  were  continually  circling  about 
or  standing  at  a  short  distance  uttering  an  occasional  note  o£ 
alarm.  The  first  of  July,  the  year  previous,  Dr.  Velie  obtained 
young  but  a  very  few  days  old,  at  this  same  locality,  showing 
that  there  is  considerable  variation  in  the  time  of  breeding.  This 
was  also  shown  by  specimens  obtained  the  last  of  May, — and 
which  1  think  were  later  arrivals  than  those  found  breeding  in 
April, — having  the  ova  just  approaching  maturity." 

This  species  ranges  over  eastern  North  America  west  to  the 
Mississippi  Valley  and  the  adjacent  portions  of  the  interior  of 
North  America.  It  breeds  from  Illinois  and  Virginia  north- 
ward to  Lake  Winnipeg  and  Newfoundland.  It  winters  in  the 
West  Indies.  According  to  Mr.  Allen,  the  race  circumcincta 
(Belted  Piping  Plover)  is  not  now  recognized. 


fcBlrds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  123. 


82  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

FAMILY  APHRIZIDJE:    SURF  BIRDS  AND  TURNSTONES. 
Genus  ARENABJA  Brisson,  1760. 

Arenaria  interpres  (Linnaeus).    Turnstone. 

Tringa  interpres  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  148. 

Strepsilas  interpres  ILLIGEB,  Prodr-.,  1811,  263. 

Arenaria  interpres  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist..  Nat.,  XXIV,  1819,  345. 

Popular  synonyms:     CALICO-BACK.     BRANT  BIBD. 

A  rare  migrant  which  may  be  looked  for  from  June  to  about 
the  middle  of  September.  It  is  almost  invariably  found  in  com- 
pany with  other  maritime  species  along  the  sandy  shores  of 
Lake  Michigan  and  of  our  smaller  lakes.  I  have  on  several 
occasions  seen  adult  birds  in  full  breeding  plumage.  One  taken 
at  Millers,  Indiana,  on  the  eighth  of  August,  1897,  was  in  ex- 
ceptionably  rich  plumage.  Regarding  this  species,  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  wrote*  in  1876  that  it  was  a  "common  migrant  along 
Lake  Michigan.  Arrives  May  I5th  in  full  breeding  plumage 
and  is  found  until  the  first  week  in  June.  Returns  early  in 
August,  still  in  breeding  plumage,  which  is  exchanged  for  that 
of  winter  during  the  last  of  the  month.  Departs  about  the 
twentieth  of  September." 

ORDER  GALLING:  GALLINACEOUS 
BIRDS. 

FAMILY  TETRAONIM]:  GROUSE,  PARTRIDGES,  ETC. 
Genus  COLINUS  Goldfuss,  1820. 

Colinus  virginianus  (LinnsBus).    Bob-white. 

Tetrao  virginianus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  161. 
Perdix  virginiana  LATH.,   Ind.   Orn.,   II,   1790,  650. 
Ortyx  virginianus  JABD.,  Nat.  Lib.  Birds,  IV,  101,  pi.  10. 
Colinus  viginianus  STEJNEGEB,  Auk,  II,  Jan.  1885,  45. 
Popular   synonyms:     QUAIL.     PAETEIDGE.     AMEBICAN   QUAIL.     VEB- 
GINIA  QUAIL. 

Formerly  the  Bob-white  was  an  abundant  resident  within 
our  limits,  but  it  is  now  rare  in  this  vicinity  excepting  possibly 
the  northern  portion  of  Lake  County,  Illinois.  It  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  this  valuable  bird,  which  devours  innumerable  insect 
pests  and  is  so  easily  fostered,  should  have  been  driven  from 
this  locality,  chiefly  by  unscrupulous  hunters  but  also  by  severe 
winters  in  earlier  years. 

The  range  of  the  Bob-white  covers  eastern  North  America 
from  Ontario  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  westward  to  the  Great 


"Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,.  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  123. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  83 

Plains.  Of  late  years  the  range  has  been  gradually  extended 
westward  along  the  lines  of  railroads,  and  it  has  been  introduced 
into  many  of  the  western  states,  including  California,  Oregon 
and  Washington. 

Genus  BONASA  Stephens,  1819. 

Bonasa  umbellus  (Linnaeus).    Buffed  Grouse. 

Tetrao  umbellus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  275. 
Bonasa  umbellus  STEPHENS,  Gen.  Zool.,  XI,  1819,  300. 
Popular    synonyms:       PABTBIDGE.       RUFFLED     GROUSE.       PHEASANT. 
DRUMMING  GBOUSE. 

In  1876,  when  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  prepared  his  report*  on 
the  Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  and  for  many  years  thereafter, 
this  species  was  a  common  resident,  frequenting  the  timbered 
sections  of  our  area.  They  are  still  occasionally  met  with  in 
Lake  County,  Indiana.  Major  Bendire  quotes  the  following 
observations  of  Mr.  Manly  Hardy,  of  Brewer,  Maine,  as  a 
reliable  description  of  the  method  of  drumming  of  the  Ruffed 
Grouse:  "The  cock  Grouse  usually  selects  a  mossy  log,  near 
some  open  hedge,  clearing  or  wood-road,  and,  partly  screened 
by  bushes,  where  he  can  see  and  not  be  seen.  When  about  to 
drum,  he  erects  his  neck  feathers,  spreads  his  tail,  and,  with 
drooping  wings,  steps  with  a  jerking  motion  along  the  log  some 
distance  each  way  from  his  drumming  place,  walking  back  and 
forth  several  times,  and  looking  sharply  in  every  direction ;  then, 
standing  crosswise,  he  stretches  himself  to  his  fullest  height, 
and  delivers  the  blows  with  his  wings  fully  upon  his  sides,  his 
wings  being  several  inches  clear  from  the  log.  After  drumming, 
he  settles  quietly  down  into  a  sitting  posture  and  remains,  silently 
listening  for  five  or  ten  minutes,  when,  if  no  cause  of  alarm  is 
discovered,  he  repeats  the  process." 

In  1886,  while  collecting  on  the  summit  of  the  Alleghanies 
near  Eagle  rock,  five  miles  from  Deer  Park,  Maryland,  I  flushed 
a  whip-poor-will  at  the  base  of  a  large  fallen  log  which  was 
almost  entirely  hidden  from  sight  among  the  rhododendron 
bushes.  As  I  was  examining  the  nest  of  the  whip-poor-will,  it 
was  my  good  fortune  to  hear  the  soft  call  of  a  hen  Ruffed 
Grouse  and  then  a  note  which  I  did  not  recognize  as  the  drum- 
ming of  the  male,  as  it  was  softer  and  seemed  quite  unlike  the 
sound  of  the  drumming  when  heard  at  a  distance.  I  remained 

*Bull.    of   the   Essex   Institute,   Vol.   VIII,    1876,    121. 


84  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

perfectly  quiet  and  the  bird  soon  appeared  with  a  slow  measured 
step,  with  its  tail  spread,  and  with  its  wings  lowered  to  within 
two  or  three  inches  of  the  log  but  never  allowed  to  touch  it. 
Its  head  was  not  depressed  nor  was  its  tail  held  as  far  forward 
as  is  the  case  in  the  strutting  of  the  turkey  cock.  As  he  turned 
he  slightly  lowered  his  feathers  and  tail,  and  retraced  his  steps 
to  the  other  end  of  the  log  strutting  as  before.  The  drumming 
seemed  to  be  produced  by  one  long  beat  and  two  short  spasmodic 
ones. 

The  range  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse  includes  the  eastern  United 
States  from  Georgia  and  Arkansas  northward  into  southern 
Canada,  and  westward  to  the  Great  Plains. 

Genus  LAGOPUS  Brisson,  1760. 

Lagopus  lagopus  (Linnaeus).    Willow  Ptarmigan. 

Tetrao  lagopus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  159. 

Tetrao  saliceti  TEMM.,  Man.,  II,  1820,  474. 

Lagopus  albus  AUDUBON,  Synop.,  1839,  207. 

Lagopus  lagopus  STEJNEGER,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885,  20. 

Popular  synonyms:     WHITE  PTARMIGAN.     WILLOW  GROUSE. 

It  is  very  doubtful  if  this  species  should  be  included  in  the 
fauna  of  our  area.  It  is  done  because  of  the  following  published 
notes.  In  his  "Catalogue  of  Animals  observed  in  Cook  County, 
Illinois,"*  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  records  this  species  with  the 
comment  "Sometimes  found  in  the  timber  along  Lake  Michigan." 
Regarding  Mr.  Kennicott's  note,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :f  "This 
note  was  based  I  think,  upon  the  capture  of  two  specimens, 
December,  1846,  near  Racine  (Wisconsin),  as  noted  by  Dr. 
Hoy  (Wis.  Agr.  Rep.,  1852)." 

The  A.  O.  U.  Check-list  gives  the  following  as  the  geograph- 
ical range  of  this  Ptarmigan:  "Arctic  regions;  in  America 
south  to  Sitka  and  the  British  Provinces.  Accidental  in  New 
England  (Bangor,  Maine,  and  Essex  County,  Massachusetts)." 

Genus  TYMPANUCHUS  Gloger,  1842. 

Tympamichus  americanus  (Reichenbach).    Prairie  Hen. 

Tetrao    cupido    WILSON,    Amer.    Orn.,    Ill,    1811,    104,    pi.    27    (nee 

Linnaeus). 

Cupidonia  cupido  BAIRD,  Birds  N.  Amer.,  1838,  628. 
Cupidonia  americanus  REICHENBACH,  Syst.  Av.,  1852,  p.  xxix. 
Tympanuchus  americanus  RIDGWAY,  Auk,  Jan.,  Ill,  1886,  133. 
Popular  synonyms :     PRAIRIE  CHICKEN.     PINNATED  GROUSE. 


*Trans.   Illinois   State  Apri.   Society,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    580. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  122. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  85 

Formerly  an  abundant  resident,  but  now  fast  disappearing. 
They  are  still  occasionally  found  in  the  western  portion  of  Cook 
County,  Illinois,  and  in  Lake  County,  Indiana.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nel- 
son wrote  in  1876 :f  ^Once  excessively  abundant;  now  rather 
scarce  within  thirty  miles  of  Chicago.  Still  exists  in  large  num- 
bers on  the  larger  prairies,  but  is  becoming  much  less  numerous 
in  all  the  more  settled  districts.  In  many  places  the  farmers 
are  in  the  habit  of  collecting  their  eggs  by  the  pailful  to  use  for 
culinary  purposes.  Such  a  drain  as  this,  with  the  annual 
slaughter  by  sportsmen,  and  the  restriction  of  their  breeding 
grounds  by  cultivation,  is  rapidly  lessening  their  numbers  except 
in  the  remote  prairie  districts." 

The  range  of  the  Prairie  Hen  may  be  said  to  include  the 
"prairies  and  open  cultivated  districts  of  the  Mississippi  Valley." 
Also,  while  its  range  is  being  gradually  contracted  eastward  it 
is  being  extended  westward. 

Genus  PEDICECETES  Baird,  1858. 

Pedioecetes  phasianellus  campestris  (Ridgway).    Sharp-tailed  Grouse. 

Tetrao  phasianellus  (nee  Linnaeus)  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  IV,  1838, 
569,  pi.  382. 

Pedioccetcs  phasianellus  BAIED,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  626   (part). 

Pedioc&tes  phasianellus  var.  columbianus  NELSON,  Bull.  Essex  Insti- 
tute, Vol.  VIII,  121. 

Pedioccetes  columlianus  ELLIOT,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia, 
1862,  403.  v 

Pedioccetes  phasianellus  campestris  RnXJWAY,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash- 
ington, II,  April  10,  1884,  93. 

Popular  synonyms:  SPIKE-TAIL.  SPBIG-TAIL.  PRAIBIE  CHICKEN. 
PIN-TAIL. 

This  species  is  included  in  the  bird  fauna  of  our  area  on  the 
strength  of  the  note  given  by  Air.  Robert  Kennicott  in  his  "Cata- 
logue of  Animals  Observed  in  Cook  County,  Illinois."*  He  says : 
"Not  uncommon,  formerly."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:f  "If 
this  species  now  occurs  it  is  extremely  rare.  At  present  it  is 
restricted  to  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  state.  The  last 
record  of  its  occurrence  in  this  vicinity  is  furnished  by  my  friend 
Mr.  T.  H.  Douglas,  who  informs  me  that  in  the  fall  of  1863  or 
1864,  while  two  gentlemen  were  shooting  prairie  chickens  near 
Waukegan,  they  found  and  secured  a  covey  of  these  birds, 
numbering  fourteen  individuals.  These  had,  in  all  probability, 
been  raised  in  the  immediate  vicinity." 


tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  121. 
*Trans.   Illinois   State   Agri.   Society,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    586. 


86  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

The  range  of  this  Grouse  includes  the  plains  and  prairies 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  eastward  to  Wisconsin  and  Illinois, 
and  from  Manitoba  southward  to  New  Mexico. 

FAMILY  PHASIANID^E:    PHEASANTS  AND  WILD  TURKEYS. 
Genus  MELEAGrEJS  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Meleagris  gallopavo  sylvestris  (Vieillot).    Wild  Turkey. 

Meleagris  silvestris  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  IX,  1817,  447. 
Meleagris  gallopavo  sylvestris  ALLEN,  Auk,  XIX,   1902,  420. 
Meleagris  gallopavo  LINNAEUS,  of  previous  writers  on  the  birds  of  this 

region. 
Meleagris  gallopavo  var.  americana   (BART.)    COUES,  of  some  authors. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  states*  that  this  species  was  formerly  plen- 
tiful within  our  limits..  As  early  as  1853-1854^  Mr.  Robert  Ken- 
nicott  made  a  similar  statement.  It  is  now  fairly  common  in  the 
densely  wooded  districts  of  the  southern  portion  of  Illinois. 

Once  this  species  was  found  in  the  northeastern  United  States 
but  now  in  those  regions  it  is  rare.  Otherwise  its  range  may  be 
given  as  the  eastern  United  States. 

ORDER  COLUMB^E:   PIGEONS. 

FAMILY  COLUMBIDJE:    PIGEONS. 
Genus  ECTOPISTES  Swainson,  1827. 

Ectopistes  migratorius  (Linn.).    Passenger  Pigeon. 

Columba  migratoria  LINNJEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  285. 
Ectopistes  migratoria  SWAINSON,  Zool.   Journ.,   Ill,   1827,  362. 
Popular  synonyms:     WILD  PIGEON.     WOOD  PIGEON. 

This  species  was  many  years  ago  an  abundant  resident  within 
our  limits,  but  now  it  is  exceedingly  rare  if  it  occurs  at  all.  I 
have  a  fine  male  of  this  species  which  was  shot  by  Mr.  Charles 
S.  Raddin  at  Rogers  Park  in  July,  1882.  December  10,  1890,  I 
received  four  of  these  pigeons,  in  the  flesh,  from  Waukegan,  Illi- 
nois, at  which  locality  it  was  claimed  they  were  shot.  Three  of 
these  specimens  were  males  and  one  a  female.  A  pair  of  these  is 
now  in  the  collection  of  the  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences.  In 
the  fall  of  1891  I  shot  a  pair  at  Lake  Forest,  Illinois.  These  birds 
were  mounted  and  are  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Chicago  Nor- 
mal School. 


•Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  121. 
tTrans.    Illinois   State   Agri.    Society,   Vol.    I,    1853-1854,    586. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  87 

The  following  notes  regarding  the  presence  of  the  Passenger 
Pigeon  within  our  limits,  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  are  of  con- 
siderable interest.  In  1853  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  listed*  this 
bird  as  a  resident  of  Cook  County  with  the  comment  "Very  abun- 
dant." In  1876,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  wrote,f  "Very  abundant 
migrant;  I5th  of  March  to  middle  of  April,  and  in  October  and 
November.  Sometimes  arrives  in  February.  A  few  isolated 
pairs  still  breed  in  unfrequented  woods."  In  the  Auk,  July,  1895, 
Vol.  XII,  298,  Mr.  Ruthven  Deane,  of  Chicago,  published  notes 
which  he  had  collated  from  authentic  sources.  These  notes  have 
a  distinct  bearing  on  the  Chicago  Area  and  its  vicinity.  Mr. 
Deane  writes :  "The  occurrence  of  the  Wild  Pigeon  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country,  and  in  fact  throughout  the  west  generally,  is 
becoming  rarer  every  year  and  such  observations  and  data  as 
come  to  our  notice  should  be  of  sufficient  interest  to  record. 

"I  have,  in  the  past  few  months,  made  inquiry  of  a  great  many 
sportsmen  who  are  constantly  in  the  field  and  in  widely  distributed 
localities,  regarding  any  observations  on  the  Wild  Pigeon,  and 
but  few  of.  them  have  seen  a  specimen  in  the  past  eight  or  ten 
years. 

"I  have  made  frequent  inquiry  among  the  principal  game  deal- 
ers in  Chicago  and  cannot  learn  of  a  single  specimen  that  has  been 
received  in  our  markets  in  several  years.  *  *  * 

"A  fine  male  Pigeon  was  killed  by  my  brother,  Mr.  Charles 
E.  Deane,  April  18,  1877,  while  shooting  snipe  on  the  meadows 
near  English  Lake,  Indiana.  The  bird  was  alone  and  flew  di- 
rectly over  him.  I  have  the  specimen  now  in  my  collection. 

"In  September,  1888,  while  Teal  shooting  on  Yellow  River, 
Stark  County,  Indiana,  I  saw  a  Pigeon  fly  up  the  river  and  alight 
a  short  distance  off.  I  secured  the  bird  which  proved  to  be  a 
young  female. 

"On  September  17,  1887,  Mr.  John  F.  Hazen  and  his  daugh- 
ter Grace,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  while  boating  on  the  Kankakee 
River,  near  English  Lake,  Indiana,  observed  a  small  flock  of 
Pigeons  feeding  in  a  little  oak  grove  bordering  the  river.  They 
reported  the  birds  as  quite  tame  and  succeeded  in  shooting  eight 
specimens. 

"In  the  spring  of  1893,  Mr.  C.  B.  Brown,  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, collected  a  nest  of  the  Wild  Pigeon  containing  two  eggs  at 
English  Lake,  Indiana,  and  secured  both  parent  birds.  *  *  * 

*Trans.   Illinois   State  Agri.   Society,   Vol.   I,   1853-1854,   586. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  120. 


88  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

"Mr.  John  Ferry  informs  me  that  three  Pigeons  were  seen 
near  the  Desplaines  River  in  Lake  County,  Illinois,  in  September, 
1893.  One  of  these  was  shot  by  Mr.  F.  C.  Farwell. 

"In  an  article  which  appeared  in  the  Chicago  Tribune,  No- 
vember 25,  1894,  entitled  'Last  of  his  Race/  Mr.  E.  B.  Clark  gives 
his  experience  in  observing  a  fine  male  Wild  Pigeon  in  Lincoln 
Park,  Chicago,  Illinois,  in  April,  1893.  I  quote  from  the  article: 
'He  was  perched  on  the  limb  of  a  soft  maple  and  was  facing  the 
rising  sun.  I  have  never  seen  in  any  cabinet  a  more  perfect 
specimen.  The  tree  upon  which  he  was  resting  was  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  park.  There  were  no  trees  between  him  and 
the  lake  to  break  from  his  breast  the  fullness  of  the  glory  of  the 
rising  sun.  The  Pigeon  allowed  me  to  approach  within  twenty 
yards  of  his  resting  place  and  I  watched  him  through  a  powerful 
glass  that  permitted  as  minute  an  examination  as  if  he  were  in 
my  hand.  I  was  more  than  astonished  to  find  here  close  to  the 
pavements  of  a  great  city  the  representative  of  a  race  which  al- 
ways loved  the  wild  woods  and  which  I  thought  had  passed  from 
Illinois  forever!' 

"Mr.  R.  W.  Stafford  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  who  has  shot  hun- 
dreds of  Pigeons  in  former  years  within  the  present  city  limits 
of  Chicago,  informs  me  that  in  the  latter  part  of  September,  1894, 
while  shooting  at  Marengo,  Illinois,  he  saw  a  flock  of  six  flying 
swiftly  over  and  apparently  alight  in  a  small  grove  some  distance 
off." 

Mr.  Deane  adds:  "The  above  records  will  show  that  while 
in  this  section  of  country  large  flocks  of  Passenger  Pigeons  are 
a  thing  of  the  past,  yet  they  are  still  occasionally  observed  in 
small  detachments  of  single  birds." 

In  the  Auk,  January,  1895,  Vol.  XII,  80,  Mr.  Benjamin  T. 
Gault  published  the  following  record:  "During  late  years  the 
Passenger  Pigeon  has  become  extremely  rare  in  northeastern 
Illinois,  at  least  so  far  as  the  neighborhood  of  Chicago  is  con- 
cerned. My  latest  record  was  made  at  Glen  Ellyn  on  Sunday, 
September  4,  1892.  It  was  a  young  of  the  year,  very  tame  and 
unsuspicious.  It  was  discovered  in  the  company  of  some  jays 
and  feeding  about  the  piles  of  dirt  recently  made  in  excavating 
for  the  foundation  of  a  house,  well  within  the  limits  of  the  town, 
and  was  also  observed  to  be  picking  the  grain  from  some  horse- 
droppings,  in  which  occupation  it  was  harassed  somewhat  by  the 
jays." 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  89 

In  the  Auk,  October,  1895,  Vol.  XII,  389,  Mr.  James  O.  Dunn, 
of  Chicago,  published  the  following  records:  "While  collecting 
with  Mr.  Wallace  Craig,  September  3,  1891,  I  shot  a  male  Wild 
Pigeon  in  an  oak  grove  in  Chicago,  near  75th  Street,  between 
Stony  Island  Avenue  and  Lake  Michigan.  It  was  feeding  and 
flew  up  at  our  approach,  alighting  perhaps  ten  feet  from  the 
ground,  where  I  shot  it.  It  was  not  at  all  wild,  and  was  a  bird  of 
the  year.  We  saw  two  others  in  the  same  grove,  but  did  not 
secure  them. 

"April  8,  1894,  Mr.  Edward  J.  Gekler  saw  a  flock  of  about 
fifteen  Wild  Pigeons  flying  while  in  a  woods  near  Liverpool, 
Indiana. 

"Mr.  Kaempfer,  a  taxidermist  of  this  city,  had  a  fine  male 
Passenger  Pigeon  mounted  on  one  of  his  shelves  which  was 
brought  in  on  March  14,  1894.  The  gentleman  who  brought  it 
said  he  shot  it  near  Liverpool,  Indiana,  and  saw  quite  a  number 
of  them  at  the  time." 

In  the  Auk,  January,  1896,  Vol.  XIII,  81,  Mr.  Ruthven  Deane 
published  the  following  record:  "Mr.  John  F.  Ferry  of  Lake 
Forest,  Illinois,  has  kindly  notified  me  of  the  capture  of  a  young 
female  which  was  killed  in  that  town  on  August  7,  1895.  The 
bird  was  brought  to  him  by  a  boy  who  had  shot  it  with  a  rifle 
ball,  and  although  in  a  mutilated  condition  he  preserved  it  for  his 
collection." 

Mr.  Henry  K.  Coaie  reports  the  following  records  for  our 
vicinity:  "In  June,  1879,  I  found  Wild  Pigeons  breeding  in 
the  woods  along  the  Desplaines  River  west  of  Lake  Forest ;  ex- 
amined two  nests,  one  with  two  and  the  other  with  one  egg. 
On  September  13,  1879,  I  saw  a  flock  of  these  birds  in  the  same 
woods  and  took  several  specimens.  On  May  2,  1887,  I  saw  Wild 
Pigeons  at  Grand  Crossing,  Chicago." 

Mr.  George  Clingman  took  a  male  Passenger  Pigeon  at  Bryn 
Mawr  on  September  30,  1891.  This  locality  is  a  suburb  of  the 
city  of  Chicago. 

In  the  second  edition  of  the  A.  O.  U.  Check-list  of  North 
American  Birds,  published  in  1895,  the  following  is  given  as 
the  range  of  the  Passenger  Pigeon:  "Eastern  North  America, 
from  Hudson  Bay  southward,  and  west  to  the  Great  Plains, 
straggling  thence  to  Nevada  and  Washington.  Breeding  range 
now  mainly  restricted  to  portions  of  the  Canadas  and  the  north- 


90  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

ern  border  of  the  United  States,  as  far  west  as  Manitoba  and 
the  Dakotas." 

Genus  ZENAIDURA  Bonaparte,  1854. 

Zenaidura  macroura  (Linnaeus).    Mourning  Dove. 

Columba  macroura  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  164  (par). 
Columba  carolincnsis  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  286. 
Zenaidura  carolincnsis  BONAPAETE,  Consp.  II,  1854,  84. 
Zenaidura  macroura  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885,  355. 
Popular  synonyms:     TURTLE  DOVE.    AMERICAN  TURTLE  DOVE.    CARO- 
LINA DOVE.    COMMON  DOVE. 

A  common  summer  resident.  The  favorite  nesting  sites  of 
this  species  are  in  the  hedges  of  osage  orange  (Madura  auran- 
tiaca),  or  on  the  ground.  Of  late  years,  I  have  found  it  nesting 
quite  frequently  on  the  ground  in  the  higher  fields  of  our  area. 
It  arrives  early  in  March  and  departs  the  last  of  October.  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "Straggling  parties  are  occasionally  ob- 
served during  the  winter.  In  many  places  this  species  becomes 
semi-domesticated,  breeding  in  the  trees  in  the  yard  and  showing 
but  little  fear  when  approached." 

The  range  of  the  Mourning  Dove  covers  the  whole  of  tem- 
perate North  America,  from  the  southern  part  of  the  British  Pos- 
sessions southward  to  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and  the  West 
Indies.  Its  breeding  range  is  coincident  with  its  North  American 
Range. 

ORDER  RAPTORES:    BIRDS  OF  PREY. 

FAMILY  CATHARTID^E:     AMERICAN  VULTURES. 

Genus  CATHARTES  Illiger,  1811. 

Cathartes  aura  (Linnaeus).    Turkey  Vulture. 

Vultur  aura  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  86. 

Cathartes  aura  ILLIGER,   Prodromus,   1811,  236. 

Rhlnogryphus  aura  RIDGWAY,  in  Hist.  N.  Amer.  B.,  Ill,  1874,  344. 

Popular  synonyms:     BUZZARD.     TURKEY  BUZZARD.     CARION  CROW. 

While  the  Turkey  Vulture  is  a  common  summer  resident  in 
the  southern  portion  of  Illinois,  it  is  but  a  rare  visitant  within 
our  area.  Some  years  ago,  Mr.  Harry  Phillips  shot  one  of  these 
birds  on  his  farm  at  Worth,  Illinois,  about  fourteen  miles  from 
Chicago.  This  individual  was  sitting  on  the  top  of  a  tree  in  a 
pasture,  and  Mr.  Phillips,  observing  that  it  was  a  species  un- 
known to  him,  shot  it  and  presented  the  skin  to  The  Chicago 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  121. 


THE   NATURAL  HISTORY   SURVEY.  9 1 

Academy  of  Sciences.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs  me  that  on  April 
I,  1896,  he  saw  three  Turkey  Vultures  flying  near  the  tracks  of 
the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad  near  Sacramento  Ave- 
nue, Chicago.  The  birds  were  so  near  that  the  naked  red  of 
their  heads  was  plainly  discernible.  Even  at  the  time  that  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson  wrote  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,"  in 
1876,  these  Vultures  were  fully  as  rare  \vithin  our  limits  as  they 
are  now.  Mr.  Nelson  states  that  they  were  then  a  common  sum- 
mer resident  sixty  miles  south  of  Chicago. 

The  range  of  the  Turkey  Vulture  is  an  extensive  one,  covering 
the  whole  of  temperate  and  tropical  America  from  the  southern 
portion  of  the  British  Possessions  southward  to  Patagonia  and 
the  Falkland  Islands. 

FAMILY  FALCONHLE:    KITES,  HAWKS,  EAGLES,  ETC. 

Genus  ELANOIDES  Viefflot,  1818. 
Elanoides  forficatus  (Linnaeus).    Swallow-tailed  Kite. 
Falco  forficatus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  1,  1758,  89. 
Falco  furcatus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  129. 
Nau-cleriis  furcatus  VIG.,  Zool.  Journ.,  II,  1825,  387. 
Elanoides  forficatus  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1875, 

345. 

Popular   synonyms:    SWALLOW-TAILED   HAWK.     WHITE-HEADED   SWAL- 
LOW KITE.     FISH-TALL  HAWK.     SNAKE  HAWK. 

While  this  species  may  have  been  quite  common  many  years 
ago,  it  is  certainly  a  very  rare  visitant  to  our  area  at  the  present 
time.  I  have  but  one  record  of  the  taking  of  this  species  within 
our  vicinity :  Mr.  J.  Graf  ton  Parker,  Jr.,  shot  one  at  Lake  Villa, 
a  few  miles  north  of  Chicago,  on  June  5,  1895.  ^r-  Henry  K. 
Coale  reports  the  taking  of  three  adult  specimens  at  Highland 
Park  in  April,  1905.  In  his  "Catalogue  of  Animals  observed  in 
Cook  County,  Illinois,"*  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  lists  the  Swallow- 
tailed  Kite  with  the  following  comment:  "Though  once  com- 
mon, this  fine  bird  is  now  rare.  It  is  still  found  in  the  middle 
of  the  state."  Mr.  Kennicott  also  states  that  it  was  known  to 
nest  in  Cook  County.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:f  "I  can  testify 
to  its  scarcity  at  present  (1876),  only  two  or  three  instances  of 
its  occurrence  in  this  vicinity  within  the  last  twenty  years  having 
been  ascertained.'' 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  United  States  east  of 
the  Great  Plains  and  from  Canada  southward  into  South  Amer- 


*Trans.   Illinois   State   Agri.    Society,    Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    581. 

fBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VTII,  1876,  118. 


92  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

ica.  It  is  much  more  common  in  the  interior  of  the  United  States 
and  is  only  a  casual  visitant  east  of  the  Alleghanies.  Its  breed- 
ing range  is  quite  coincident  with  its  geographical  distributions 
in  the  United  States. 

Genus  CIRCUS  Lacepede,  1801. 

Circus  hudsonius  (Linnaeus).    Marsh  Hawk. 

Falco  hudsonius  LINNJEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  128. 
Circus  hudsonius  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I,  1807,  pi.  9. 
Circus  cyane-us  var.  hudsonius  COUES,  Key,  1872,  210. 
Circus  cyaneus  of  some  authors. 

Popular  synonyms:     HARRIER.     MARSH  HARRIER.     RIG-TAILED  HAR- 
RIER.    AMERICAN  HARRIER. 

The  Marsh  Hawk  is  a  resident  species  but  is  much  more 
common  during  its  migrations  than  in  other  seasons.  About  two- 
thirds  of  the  birds  observed  within  our  limits  are  in  the  young 
or  reddish  phase  of  plumage.  As  its  name  would  indicate,  it  is 
usually  seen  on  marshes  and  on  prairies.  Its  migrations  usually 
take  place  during  the  latter  half  of  March  and  first  half  of  April, 
and  in  October  and  November. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  North  Amer- 
ica, south  in  winter  to  Panama  and  Cuba.  Its  breeding  range  is 
practically  coincident  with  its  geographical  distribution,  though 
it  nests  quite  sparingly  in  the  eastern  United  States  south  of  the 
parallel  of  40°. 

Genus  ACCIPITER  Brisson,  1760. 

Accipiter  velox  (Wilson).    Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

Falco  fuscus  GMELIN,  S.  NM  I,  1788,  280   (nee  Fabricius,  1780). 
Accipiter  fuscus  BONAPARTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  5. 
Astur  fuscus  AUDUBON,  Syn.  1839,  18. 
Nisus  fuscus  KAUP.,  Mon.  Falc.  Cont.  Orn.,  1850,  64. 
Falco  velox  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  V,  1812,  116,  pi.  45,  fig.  1. 
Accipiter  velox  VIGORS,  Zool.  Journ.,  I,  1824,  338. 
Popular  synonyms:     LITTLE  SWIFT  HAWK.     PIGEON  HAWK.     BULLET 
HAWK.     SLATE-COLORED  HAWK. 

This  species  is  a  variable  and  at  times  an  abundant  migrant. 
Although  these  hawks  are  occasionally  seen  within  our  limits 
throughout  the  summer,  I  have  no  records  of  their  having  nested 
here.  They  arrive  early  in  March  and  depart  late  in  October. 
Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs  me  that  on  two  occasions  a  Sharp-shinned 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  93 

Hawk  has  darted  viciously  at  his  head  as  he  was  walking  through 
woods  at  Glen  Ellyn.  This  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  bird 
was  nesting  near  the  locality.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  records*  the 
nesting  of  this  Hawk  within  our  area.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :f 
"Abundant  during  migrations;  September  I5th  to  October  3Oth, 
and  April  I5th  to  May  loth.  A  few  remain  to  breed." 

The  range  of  the  Sharp-shinned  Hawk  includes  the  whole  of 
North  America  from  Panama  northward.  It  breeds  quite 
throughout  the  United  States  and  northward. 

Accipiter  cooperii  (Bonaparte).    Cooper's  Hawk. 

Falco  cooperii  BONAPARTE,  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.,  II,  1826,  433. 
A  star  cooperi  BONAPABTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  5. 
Accipiter  cooperi  GRAY,  List  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  Accipitres,  1844,  38. 
Visits  cooperi  SCHLEG.,  Rev.  Ace.,  1873,  73. 

Popular  synonyms :  CHICKEN  HAWK.    BLUB  CHICKEN  HAWK.     SWIFT 
OB  BLUE  HAWK  OR  DARTER.    QUAIL  OR  BLUE  QUAIL  HAWK. 

A  quite  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  March 
and  departing  late  in  October.  This  species  is  very  destructive 
to  young  poultry,  although,  like  other  species  of  the  Raptores, 
it  repays  the  farmer  to  some  extent  by  destroying  large  numbers 
of  mice  and  other  vermin. 

Cooper's  Hawk  breeds  throughout  its  range  which  extends 
from  the  southern  portion  of  the  British  Possessions  south  to 
Central  America. 

Accipiter  atricapillus  (Wilson),    American  Goshawk. 

Falco  atricapillus  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VI,  1812,  80,  pi.  52,  fig.  3. 

Astur  atricapillus  JARD.  &  SELBY,  Illust.,  1825,  pi.  121. 

Astur  palumbarius  var.  atricapillus  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.,  XVI, 

1874,  57. 

Accipiter  atricapillus  SEEBOHM,  Brit.  Birds,  I,  1883,  iv. 
Popular  synonym  :     CHICKEN  HAWK. 

This  Hawk  may  be  considered  an  exceedingly  rare  winter 
resident.  March  30,  1889,  I  captured  an  adult  male  at  Beverly 
Hills.  This  is  the  only  recent  record  I  know  of  regarding  the 
appearance  of  this  species  within  our  limits.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says  :f  "Formerly  a  common  winter  resident ;  now  very  rare. 
Dr.  A.  L.  Marcy  of  Evanston,  found  them  quite  plentiful  during 
the  winter  of  1870-1871,  and  obtained  specimens.  The  only  time 
I  ever  saw  the  birds  alive,  was  the  3rd  of  May,  1876,  at  Wauke- 
gan,  when  a  fine  adult  specimen  passed  slowly  overhead  and  dis- 


*Trans.    Illinois   State   Agri.    Society,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    581. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  118. 


94  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

appeared  toward  the  north."     This  species  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  daring  of  our  hawks. 

Breeding  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States,  passing  south- 
ward in  winter  through  the  larger  portion  of  the  United  States. 

Genus  BUTEO  Cuvier,  1800. 

Buteo  borealis  (Gmelin).    Red-tailed  Hawk. 

Falco  borealis  GMELIN,  S.   N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  266. 

Buteo  borealis  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  IV,  1816,  478. 

Buteo   borealis  var.   borealis  B.   B.  &  R.,  Hist.   N.  Amer.   Birds,   III, 

1874,  282. 
Popular  synonyms:       CHICKEN  HAWK.       HEN  HAWK.       RED-TAILED 

BUZZARD.     WHITE-BBEASTED  CHICKEN  OB  HEN  HAWK.     EASTEBN 

RED-TAILED  HAWK. 

This  species  is  a  common  resident,  and  is  the  most  common 
of  the  larger  hawks.  It  is,  however,  much  more  abundant  dur- 
ing its  migrations  than  at  other  times.  In  our  vicinity  it  nests 
as  early  as  the  last  of  February.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs  me 
that  the  striped  gopher  (Spermophilus  tridecemlineatus)  seems 
to  constitute  a  favorite  article  of  the  diet  of  this  Hawk,  and  that 
he  found  a  freshly  killed  specimen  of  that  rodent  on  the  edge  of 
a  nest  which  he  examined  May  10,  1895. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  eastern  portion  of 
North  America  from  the  fur  countries  south  to  Guatemala  and 
westward  to  the  Great  Plains. 

Buteo  borealis  kriderii  Hoopes.    Krider's  Hawk. 

Buteo  borealis  HOOPES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1873,  238, 

pi.  5. 
Popular  synonyms :     WHITE  RED-TAILED  HAWK.     WHITE  HEN  HAWK. 

CHICKEN  HAWK. 

This  species  is  included  in  the  fauna  of  our  area  on  the 
streflgth  of  a  specimen  presented  to  the  United  States  National 
Museum  by  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale.  It  was  captured  in  the  vicinity 
of  our  area  July  25,  1876.  Regarding  this  specimen,  Mr.  Coale 
says  (Auk,  Vol.  II,  January  1885)  :  "Referring  to  my  notes,  I 
find  that  this  was  one  of  the  large  hawks  brought  into  camp  by 
one  of  our  party  while  on  a  collecting  trip  along  the  Des  Plaines 
River  thirty  miles  from  Chicago  northwest.  It  is  an  adult  female 
and  was  captured  while  perched  on  a  stake  in  a  field  not  far  from 
the  big  woods  at  Half  Day,  Illinois." 

The  A.  O.  U.  Check-list  gives  the  following  as  the  range  of 
Krider's  Hawk:  "Plains  of  the  United  States,  from  Wyoming 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  Q5 

and  the  Dakotas  to  Minnesota,  and  south  to  Texas ;  casual  in  Iowa 
and  Illinois." 

Buteo  borealis  calurus  (Cass.).    Western  Bed-tailed  Hawk. 

Buteo  calurus  CASS.,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.   Sci.   Philadelphia,  VII,  1855, 

281. 

Buteo  borealis  var.  calurus  RIDGWAY,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  V,  1873,  186. 
Popular  synonym  :     BLACK  RED-TAIL. 

The  Western  Red-tail  is  included  in  the  fauna  of  our  area 
because  of  the  following  record,  published  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  :* 
"In  my  collection  is  a  fine  adult  specimen  of  this  variety  obtained 
near  Chicago  in  April,  1873,  ^7  mv  friend  Mr.  C.  H.  Smith." 

The  A.  O.  U.  Check-list  gives  the  following  range  for  the 
Western  Red-tailed  Hawk:  "Western  North  America,  from  the 
Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Pacific,  south  into  Mexico;  casual  east 
to  Illinois." 

Buteo  borealis  harlani  (Audubon).    Harlan's  Hawk. 
Falco  harlani  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  1830,  441,  pi.  '86. 
Buteo  lorealis  harlani  RIDGWAY,  Auk.  VII,  April,  1890,  205. 
Popular  synonym  :     HARLAN'S  BUZZARD. 

The  only  record  I  have  of  the  occurrence  of  Harlan's  Hawk 
within  our  limits  is  that  of  a  specimen  which  I  purchased  from 
a  hunter  who  had  just  shot  it  near  Calumet  Lake.  This  specimen 
was  captured  October  I,  1895.  I*  was  a  female  and  was  ex- 
amined by  Mr.  George  K.  Cherrie,  who  pronounced  it  a  juvenile 
bird  in  the  dark  phase  of  plumage. 

The  range  of  this  Hawk,  as  given  in  the  A.  O.  U.  Check-list, 
includes  the  "Gulf  states  and  lower  Mississippi  Valley,  north 
casually  to  Pennsylvania,  Iowa,  and  Kansas;  south  to  Central 
America." 

Buteo  lineatus  (Gmelin).    Red-shouldered  Hawk. 

Falco  lineatus  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  268. 

.     Buteo  lineatus  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  IV,  1816,  478. 
Falco  luteoides  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  100. 

Popular  synonyms:     HEN   HAWK.     CHICKEN   HAWK.    WINTEB  BUZ- 
ZARD. 

This  species  is  one  of  our  resident  hawks,  and  is  quite  com- 
mon during  its  migrations.  It  arrives  about  March  2Oth  and 
nests  in  April.  It  frequents  the  heavily  timbered  woods,  prin- 
cipally in  the  northern  portion  of  both  Cook  and  Dupage  coun- 
ties. It  is  the  most  common  of  the  larger  hawks,  especially  in 


"Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  119. 


96  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

our  timbered  regions.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  includes  this  species 
in  his  list  of  Cook  County  birds,*  with  the  following  interesting 
note:  "In  October,  1854,  a  flight  of  apparently  several  thousand 
of  this  Hawk  passed  over  Chicago  from  the  Lakes,  moving  to- 
wards the  southwest."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:f  "The  main 
fall  migration  of  hawks  in  this  vicinity  takes  place  the  last  of 
September  or  the  first  of  October  and  a  statement  of  the  num- 
bers which  pass  in  a  single  day,  to  one  who  has  not  observed  them, 
would  be  received  with  incredulity.  Choosing  a  day  when  there 
is  a  strong  south  or  southwest  wind,  the  hawks  commence  moving 
south  early  in  the  morning  and  continue  flying  the  entire  day, 
and  so  numerously  that,  taking  a  stand  at  a  good  point,  one 
would  have  from  one  to  fifty  hawks  in  view,  with  but  very  few 
intermissions,  throughout  the  day.  Among  these  occur  all  the 
migrants,  but  by  far  the  greater  number  consist  of  the  smaller 
species."  At  the  present  time  the  Red-shouldered  Hawk  is  not 
as  abundant  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Mr.  Kennicott,  nor  are  the 
large  flocks  of  hawks,  of  which  Mr.  Nelson  speaks,  to  be  seen 
during  their  migrations,  excepting  on  rare  occasions. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  eastern  North  America  from 
the  southern  portions  of  the  British  Possessions  southward  to  the 
Gulf  States  and  eastern  Mexico;  westward  to  the  Great  Plains. 

Buteo  swainsoni  Bonaparte.     Swainson's  Hawk. 

Buteo  awainsoni  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  3. 

Popular  synonyms :    BBOWN  HAWK.    BLACK  HAWK.    CHICKEN  HAWK. 

Swainson's  Hawk  is  included  in  the  fauna  of  our  region  be- 
cause of  a  record  published  by  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,f  who  says. 
"Of  rather  rare  occurrence  in  this  vicinity.  Have  only  noted  it 
during  the  migrations.  I  obtained  an  immature  specimen  May 
30,  1875,  at  Riverdale,  Illinois,  and  have  seen  others  since.  As 
this  species  breeds  in  southern  Illinois  it  probably  also  breeds  in 
the  northern  portions  of  the  state." 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  western  North  America 
from  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Arkansas  and  Texas  to  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  from  the  Arctic  regions  on  the  north,  south  through 
Central  America  and  South  America  to  the  Argentine  Republic. 

Buteo  platypterus  (Vieillot).    Broad-winged  Hawk. 

Falco  latissimus  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VI,  1812,  92,  pi.  54,  fig.  1. 
Buteo  latissimus  SHABPE,  Cat.  B.  Brit.  Mus.,  I,  1874,  193. 


*Trans.   111.    State   Agri.    Soc.,    581,    1855. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  119. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  97 

Sparvius  platyptcrus  VIEILLOT,  Encyl.  Method.,  Orn.,  Ill,  1823,  127. 
Buteo  platypterus  FAXON,  Auk.  XVIII,  April,  1901,  218. 

This  Hawk  is  a  not  uncommon  summer  resident,  and  during 
some  seasons  it  is  quite  common  during  its  migrations.  Mr.  B. 
T.  Gault  reports  taking  a  set  of  fresh  eggs  of  this  species  on 
April  15,  1889,  at  Jefferson,  in  Cook  County.  These  birds  arrive 
early  in  March  and  depart  late  in  October. 

The  range  of  the  Broad-winged  Hawk  extends  through  east- 
ern North  America,  from  Hudson  Bay  southward  to  the  latitude 
of  the  upper  Amazon  River  in  South  America.  It  breeds  through- 
out its  range  within  the  United  States. 

Genus  ARCHIBUTEO  Brehm,  1828. 

Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-jonannis    (Gmelin).       American  Rough- 
legged  Hawk. 

Falco  sancti-johannis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  273. 
Buteo  sancti-johannis  NTJTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  98. 
Archibuteo  lagopus  var.  sancti-johannis  COUES,  Key,  1872,  218. 
Popular  synonym  :     BLACK  HAWK. 

A  not  uncommon  winter  resident.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  has  at 
times  found  them  plentiful  during  October  and  November.  In 
Du  Page  County  he  has  also  observed  them  late  in  February.  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson  says*  that  this  hawk  "arrives  in  large  numbers 
the  first  of  October,  and  after  remaining  for  a  few  weeks  the 
majority  pass  further  south  for  the  winter.  The  last  of  Feb- 
ruary and  the  first  of  March  they  depart  for  the  north."  Mr. 
J.  G.  Parker  has  observed  them  between  January  first  and  April 
seventh. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  North  America 
north  of  Mexico,  breeding  in  Arctic  and  subarctic  regions,  ex- 
cepting in  Alaska. 

Genus  AQUILA  Brisson,  1760. 

Aquila  chrysaetos  (Sprungli).    Golden  Eagle. 

Falco  chrysaetos  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  88. 

Aquila    chrysaetos    SPRUNGLI,    in    Andrae's    Briefe    aus    der    Schweiz, 

1776,  196. 

Aquila  chrysaetos  DUMONT,  Diet.  Sci.  Nat.,  I,  1816,  339. 
Aquila  fulva  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  62. 
Aquila  chri/sactos  var.  canadensis  RIDGWAY,  1873. 
Popular  synonyms:     BLACK  EAGLE.    RLNG-TAILED  EAGLE. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  119. 


98  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

The  Golden  Eagle  is  a  very  rare  winter  visitant  within  our 
limits.  At  Liverpool,  Indiana,  I  saw  a  bird  which  I  thought  was 
Aquila  chrysactos  though  it  may  have  been  a  bald  eagle  .in  im- 
mature plumage.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  records  it  as  rare 
in  his  list  of  Cook  County  birds.*  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  gives  an 
interesting  note  regarding  the  Golden  Eagle  :f  "Not  very  un- 
common during  winter.  Arrives  in  November  and  departs  early 
in  spring.  Formerly  nested  throughout  the  state.  In  December, 
1874,  while  hunting  Prairie  Chickens  in  a  field  a  few  miles  south 
of  Chicago,  my  friend,  Mr.  T.  Morris,  was  suddenly  attacked 
with  great  fury  by  a  pair  of  these  birds,  they  darting  so  close 
that  had  he  been  prepared  he  could  easily  have  touched  the  first 
one  with  his  gun.  As  it  arose  to  renew  the  attack  he  fired  a  small 
charge  of  number  six  shot,  and  brought  it  down,  dead.  The 
second  then  darted  at  him,  and  so  rapidly  that  he  did  not  fire 
until  it  had  turned  and  was  soaring  up,  but  so  near  that  the 
charge  passed  through  the  primaries  in  a  body,  disabling  but  not 
injuring  the  bird,  which  was  then  captured  alive.  The  cause  of 
the  attack  was  explained  by  the  proximity  of  a  carcass  upon 
which  these  birds  had  been  feeding.  The  craw  of  the  dead 
eagle  contained  a  large  quantity  of  carrion,  as  I  learned  upon 
skinning  it." 

The  Golden  Eagle  frequents  the  whole  of  North  America, 
north  of  Mexico.  It  breeds  chiefly  in  the  unfrequented  moun- 
tainous regions  of  its  range.  It  also  frequents  the  northern  por- 
tions of  the  Old  World. 

Genus  EALL51ETUS  Savigny,  1809. 

Haliseetus  leucocephalus  (Linnaeus).    Bald  Eagle. 

Falco  leucocephalus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  17C6,  124. 
Haliceetus  leucocephalus  BOIE,  Isis,  1822,  548. 
Falco  washingtonianus  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  67. 
Popular  synonyms:    OLD  ABE.    WHITE-HEADED  EAGLE.    GRAY  EAGLE. 
AMERICAN   SEA  EAGLE.    BIBD  OF  WASHINGTON. 

The  Bald  Eagle  may  be  considered  a  rare  resident.  It  is, 
however,  rather  frequent  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan during  the  fall  and  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1897  a  pair 
nested  near  Millers,  Indiana  and  Mr.  Edward  Carr  obtained  the 
young  birds.  On  August  8,  1897,  I  saw  five  individuals  of  this 
species  at  Millers  and  obtained  one  of  them.  While  Mr.  J. 


*Trans.   Illinois  State  Agri.    Society,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    580. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  119. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  99 

Grafton  Parker  and  myself  have  been  hunting  together  at  Liver- 
pool, Indiana,  we  have,  on  a  number  of  occasions,  seen  Bald 
Eagles,  both  in  the  spring  and  in  the  fall.  On  the  Kankakee 
marshes  near  Kouts,  Indiana,  there  were  two  nests  of  this  species, 
both  of  which  were  occupied  during  the  spring  of  1896.  One 
of  the  nests  was  in  a  dead  oak  tree  and  not  over  fifty  feet  above 
the  ground  and  within  twenty  feet  of  a  haystack.  The  female 
would  allow  us  to  approach  within  seventy-five  yards  of  the 
nest  before  she  would  leave  it. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  North  Amer- 
ica, north  of  Mexico ;  northwest  through  the  Aleutian  Islands  to 
Bering  Island,  Kamchatka.  It  breeds  locally  throughout  its 
range. 

Genus  FALCO  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (Bonaparte).    Duck  Hawk. 

Falco  peregrinus  AATILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  IX,  1814,  120,  pi.  76. 

Falco  anatum  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  4. 

Falco  peregrinus  B.  anatum  BLASIUS,  List.  B.  Eur.,  1862,  3. 

Falco  communis  var.  anatum  RIDGWAY,  in  B.  B.  &  R.,  Hist.  N.  Amer. 
B.,  Ill,  1874,  128,  132. 

Popular  synonyms:  AMEBICAN  PEEEGEINE.  BULLET  HAWK.  GREAT- 
FOOTED  FALCON. 

The  Duck  Hawk  is  a  very  rare  visitant  within  our  limits. 
Mr.  George  Clingman  has  a  male  specimen  which  was  shot  at 
Bryn  Mawr  on  September  29,  1899.  There  are  two  specimens 
of  this  noble  Hawk  in  the  museum  of  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity in  Evanston,  which  were  captured  in  the  spring  of  1881 
by  Mr.  W.  H.  Ballou  near  the  University.  In  the  collection  of 
Mr.  Ruthven  Deane  there  is  a  large  adult  specimen  of  this 
species  which  was  taken  in  October,  1895,  on  Calumet  Lake, 
while  it  was  attempting  to  seize  a  duck  which  had  just  been 
shot  by  a  local  hunter  and  was  lying  among  the  decoys.  Mr. 
E.  W.  Nelson  says  the  Duck  Hawk  was  "not  uncommon  during 
the  migrations,"  at  the  time  he  wrote  in  1876.  He  also  says 
that  it  was  "formerly  a  rare  summer  resident.'* 

The  range  of  the  Duck  Hawk  includes  the  whole  of  North 
America  and  the  larger  portion  of  South  America.  It  breeds 
locally  throughout  most  of  its  United  States  range. 

Falco  colmnbarius  Linnaeus.     Pigeon  Hawk. 

Falco  columbarius  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  90. 


IOO  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Falco  (JEsalon)   lithofalco  var  columbarius  B.  B.  &  R.  Hist.  N.  Amer. 

B.,   Ill,   1874,   143,  144. 
Popular  synojiyms  :     AMERICAN  MERLIN.     BULLET  HAWK. 

This  little  Hawk  is  a  rare  resident  but  not  uncommon  during 
its  migrations.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  records*  it  as  an  ''abundant 
migrant,  from  March  2Oth  to  May  1st,  and  from  September  I5th 
to  October  5th."  He  also  considered  it  a  rare  summer  resident. 
I  have  found  this  species  very  bold  and  unsuspicious,  and  have 
an  adult  bird  in  my  collection,  which  I  captured  at  South  Chicago, 
March  18,  1890,  while  it  was  attempting  to  catch  an  English 
sparrow  among  the  cars  in  the  freight  yard  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad. 

Its  range  includes  the  northern  portion  of  South  America, 
the  West  Indies,  and  the  whole  of  North  America.  It  breeds 
chiefly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Falco  sparverius  Linnaeus.    American  Sparrow  Hawk. 

Falco  sparverius  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  90. 
Popular    synonyms :     AMERICAN    KESTRIL.      MOUSE    HAWK.      LITTLE 
BLUE  HAWK. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  a  portion  of  our  area,  arriv- 
ing early  in  the  spring  and  departing  when  severely  cold  weather 
sets  in.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs  me  that  the  Sparrow  Hawks 
are  not  common  in  DuPage  County,  and  that  they  are  not  known 
to  breed  there.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says*  that  this  species  is  an 
"abundant  migrant  and  rather  common  summer  resident." 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  North  America  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  from  the  Great  Slave  Lake  south  to  the  north- 
ern portion  of  South  America. 

Genus  PANDION  Savigny,  1809. 

Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis  (Gmelin).    American  Osprey. 
Falco  carolinensis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  i,  1788,  263. 
Pandion  carolinensis  AUDUBON,  B.  Amer.,  1831,  pi.  81. 
Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila- 
delphia,  1870,   143. 
Popular  synonyms:     FISH  EAGLE.     FISH  HAWK. 

A  rare  migrant,  seen  principally  along  the  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  or  on  our  larger  inland  lakes.  I  have  observed  them 
on  both  Berry  and  Calumet  lakes.  An  adult  specimen  now  in 
the  collection  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences,  was  taken 
on  the  Fox  River,  near  Lake  County,  Illinois,  September  28, 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII.  1876,  118. 


THE  NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  IOI 

1896.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  reports  seeing  a  specimen  of  this  species 
in  DuPage  County  on  May  15,  1894.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  gives 
the  following  record:*  "Not  uncommon  during  March  and 
April  in  spring,  and  during  September  and  October  in  fall.  Some 
seasons  this  species  is  quite  numerous,  especially  along  the  Lake 
shore." 

The  range  of  the  Osprey  includes  the  whole  of  North  America, 
from  Alaska  and  Hudson  Bay  south  to  northern  South  America 
and  the  West  Indies. 

FAMILY  STRIGID^J:    BARN  OWLS. 
Genus  STRIX  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Strix  pratincola  Bonaparte.    American  Barn  Owl 

Strix  flammed  "LINNAEUS."     WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VI,  1812,  57,  pi. 

50,  fig.  2. 

Strix  pratincola  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  7. 
Strix  flammea  var.  dmericand  COUES,  Key.  1872,  201. 
Strix  flammed  var.  pratincold  B.   B.  &  R.,   Hist.   N.   A/ner.   B.,   Ill, 

1874,   13. 
Popular  synonym:    MONKEY  OWL. 

A  very  rare  visitant.  An  adult  male  of  this  species  is  in  the 
collection  of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum,  which  was  shot  just 
outside  the  main  entrance  of  the  museum  building  in  Jackson 
Park,  Chicago,  on  August  15,  1896.  Mr.  C.  A.  Tallman  shot 
a  female  near  the  "sag"  at  Worth,  Illinois,  on  August  31,  1895. 
Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  reports  the  taking  of  a  specimen  at 
Calumet  Heights,  Illinois,  on  November  30,  1899,  by  Mr.  Gold. 
It  is  quite  possible  that  the  Barn  Owls  may  breed  within  our 
limits,  though  very  rarely.  Mr.  Fred  Hilgard  while  collecting 
at  Kouts,  Indiana,  May  30,  1896,  in  company  with  Mr.  Parker 
and  myself,  shot  an  adult  female.  From  the  condition  of  its 
abdomen,  it  was  evident  that  the  bird  had  nested  in  or  very  near 
that  locality.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  gives  the  following  record  :f 
"Very  rare  visitant.  A  pair  were  caught  in  a  trap  near  Chicago 
some  years  since  by  Mr.  C.  H.  Smith." 

Its  range  covers  the  United  States,  though  much  less  common 
in  the  northern  portion  and  only  occasionally  seen  in  Canada, 
and  Mexico.  It  is  wanting  in  unwooded  districts.  It  breeds 
northward  to  about  latitude  41°. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  118. 
tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  116. 


IO2  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

FAMILY  BUBONIDJE.    HORNED  OWLS,  SCREECH  OWLS,  ETC. 
Genus  ASIO  Brisson,  1760. 

Asio  wilsonianus  (Less.)-    American  Long-eared  Owl. 

Strix  otus  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VII,   1812,  73,  pi.  51,  fig.  3    (nee 

Linnaeus). 

Otus  wilsonianus  LESS.,  Traits  Orn.,  I,  1831,  110. 
Otus  vulgaris  var.  wilsonianus  ALLEN,  Bull.  M.  C.  Z.,  Ill,  1872,  180, 
Otus  vulgaris  of  some  authors. 

Asio  wilsonianus  COUES,  Check  List,  ed.  2,  1882,  81,  No.  472. 
Popular  synonym :     LESSER  HOBNED  OWL. 

Quite  abundant  in  past  years,  the  Long-eared  Owl  is  now  a 
rather  uncommon  resident.  It  is  principally  found  in  the  timber 
which  skirts  some  of  the  swamp  lands  of  our  area.  Mr.  B.  T. 
Gault  informs  me  that  this  species  occurs  regularly  in  DuPage 
County  during  the  early  spring  and  late  fall.  Removing  the 
timber  from  our  vicinity  for  the  purpose  of  settlement  will  prob- 
ably eventually  drive  this  Owl  entirely  from  our  limits.  Its 
strictly  nocturnal  habits  and  its  attachment  for  certain  localities 
have  made  it  less  well  known  than  are  some  of  the  other  species. 
"Its  favorite  haunts  are  dense  willow  thickets,  where  it  may  be 
surprised  taking  its  daytime  nap,  standing  bolt  upright,  with 
feathers  closely  pressed  to  its  body,  and  long  ear-tufts  erect,  thus 
presenting  a  very  comical  figure."  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  in- 
cludes this  species  in  his  list  of  Cook  County  birds*  with  the 
notation  "common,"  and  also  states  that  it  is  "known  to  nest  in 
Cook  County." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  North  America  in  general, 
from  the  limit  of  forests  on  the  north,  south  to  the  Mexican 
tablelands.  Its  breeding  range  is  coincident  with  its  geographical 
distribution. 

Asio  accipitrinus  (Pall.).    Short-eared  Owl. 

Strix  accipitrina  PALL.,  Reise  Russ.  Reichs.,  I,  1771,  455. 

Strix  Irachyotus  FORST.,  Phil.  Trans.,  LXII,  1772,  284. 

Otus  Irachyotus  BOIE,  Isis,  1822,  549. 

Brachyotus  palustris  BONAPARTE,  1838. 

Asio  accipitrinus  NEWT.,  Yarrell's  Brit.  B.,  Ed.  4,  I,  1872,  163. 

Popular  synonyms :     MARSH  OWL.     PRAIRIE  OWL.     SWAMP  OWL. 

The  Short-eared  Owl  is  a  summer  resident  within  our  limits. 
It  probably  nests  with  us  also,  for  I  have  found  them  nesting  a 
few  miles  south  of  Chicago,  at  Lowell,  Indiana,  and  have  observed 
them  throughout  the  summer  in  Cook  County.  Mr.  Robert  Ken- 
nicott records  it  as  having  nested  in  Cook  County,*  and  says: 


'Trans.  Illinois  State  Agri.  Society,  Vol.  I,  1853-1854,  581. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  103 

"Abundant  on  the  prairies.  It  flies  much  by  day.  It  has  been 
said  to  nest  in  bushes ;  but  I  have  always  found  it  nesting  on 
the  ground."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:  "The  most  abundant 
species  of  the  family.  Arrives  from  the  north  in  large  numbers 
the  first  of  November  and  disperses  through  the  state.  They  are 
common  everywhere,  on  prairies  and  marshes,  during  the  winter. 
Remain  concealed  in  a  bunch  of  grass  or  reeds  until  about  two 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  they  commence  flying  low  over  the  ground 
in  search  of  their  prey." 

Its  range  covers  the  whole  of  North  America,  and  it  is  nearly 
cosmopolitan.  It  breeds  from  about  latitude  39°  norduvard. 

Genus  SYRNIUM  Savigny,  1809. 

Syrnium  varium  (Barton).    Barred  Owl. 

Strix  nebulosa  FORSTEB,*  of  authors,  not  of  Forster. 
Strix  -varius  BARTON,  Fragm.  N.  H.  Penn.,  1790,  11. 
Syrnium  rarium  PREBLE,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  22,  1902,  109. 
Popular  synonym :     HOOT  OWL. 

The  Barred  Owl  has  become  an  uncommon  resident.  From 
the  year  1887  to  the  year  1892  this  species  was  fairly  common 
on  the  timbered  ridge  at  Beverly  Hills,  and  also  in  the  woods 
west  of  Evanston  and  Lake  Forest.  In  the  fatter  woods  Mr. 
Ned  Pratt  obtained  several  sets  of  eggs.  Since  the  building  of 
the  small  suburban  towns  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago,  the  Barred 
Owls  have  gone  to  the  heavier  wooded  portions  of  the  state, 
very  few  having  been  seen  within  our  limits  since  the  year  1892. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  found  this  Owl  rare  in  this  vicinity,  "owing  to 
the  lack  of  heavy  timber."  He  only  knew  of  two  instances  of 
its  capture. 

Its  range  covers  North  America,  east  of  the  Great  Plains 
from  Hudson  Bay  southward  to  Georgia  and  Texas.  It  breeds 
throughout  its  range. 

Genus  SCOTIAPTEX  Swainson,  1837. 

Scotiaptex  nebulosa  (Forster).    Great  Gray  Owl. 

Strix  nebulosa  FORSTER,  Philos,  Trans.,  LXII,  1772,  424. 

Strix  cincrca  GMELIN.  S.  N..  I.  i.  1788,  291. 

Scotia ptcx  cincrca  SWAIXSON,  Classification  B.,  II,  1837,  217. 

Syrnium  cincrcum  BONAPARTE,  List,  1838,  6. 

Scotiaptex  nebulosum  PREBLE,  N.  Amer.  Fauna,  No.  22,  1902,  109. 

Popular  synonyms :     GREAT  CINEREOUS  OWL.     SPECTRAL  OWL. 


*' 'Strix  nebulosa  Forster  plainly  having  been  based  on  the  great  gray  owl,  the 
name  Strix  varius  Barton  seems  to  be  the  next  name  available  for  the  Barred  Owl." 
Preble,  N.  Amer.  Fauna.  No.  22,  1902,  109. 


IO4  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

I  have  been  unable  to  find  more  than  two  records  of  this  Owl 
having  been  taken  or  observed  within  our  limits.  Mr.  Robert 
Kennicott  includes  it  in  his  list*  of  Cook  County  birds,  with  the 
comment  "rare."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says :  "A  very  rare  winter 
visitant." 

Its  range  covers  Arctic  America,  southward  in  winter  to  the 
northern  United  States.  Breeds  entirely  north  of  the  United 
States. 

Genus  CRYPTOGLAUX||  Richmond,  191. 

Cryptoglaux  tengmalmi  richardsoni  (Bonaparte).    Richardson's  Owl. 
Strix  tengmalmi  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  94,  pi.  82 

(nee  Gmelin). 

Nyctale  richardsoni  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  7. 
Nyctale  tengmalmi  var.  richardsoni  RIDGWAY,  Amer.  Nat.,  VI,   May 

1872,  285. 
Popular  synonym :    SPAEBOW  OWL. 

The  only  records  I  have  of  the  occurrence  of  this  rare  Arctic 
Owl  within  our  limits  are  the  following  notes  of  Mr.  Ruthven 
Deane,  published  in  the  Auk.  The  first  note  also  includes  the 
first  recorded  capture  of  Richardson's  Owl  in  the  state  of  Illinois. 
Mr.  Deane  says:f  "The  only  previous  capture  of  this  Owl  in 
the  State  was  recorded  in  the  'Ornithologist  and  Oologist*  (Vol. 
X,  March,  1885),  one  having  been  taken  October  15,  1884,  at 
Rockford.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Robert  H.  Van  Schaack  for 
the  following  information:  'The  Richardson's  Owl  was  shot  by 
my  son,  Louis  F.  Van  Schaack,  December  26,  1902,  in  Kenil- 
worth,  Illinois.  He  found  the  bird  along  a  small  ditch  that 
drains  from  the  Skokie  Swamp;  he  shot  the  Owl  with  a  toy 
air  gun!  I  examined  the  specimen  while  in  the  possession  of  the 
taxidermist  who  mounted  it,  who  informed  me  that  he  had 
mounted  another  specimen  of  this  species  about  the  same  time, 
which  was  said  to  have  been  shot  not  far  from  Chicago,  but  I 
have  been  unable  to  get  ,any  definite  locality  or  date."  In  Oc- 
tober of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Deane  published  the  following  note  :$ 
"In  recording  the  second  capture  of  this  Owl  for  the  State,  I 
mentioned  that  another  specimen  had  been  reported,  but  that 
I  was  unable  to  get  any  definite  information  as  to  locality  and 
date.  Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Frederick  C.  Pierce  of 
Chicago  I  am  now  enabled  to  record  a  third  specimen  which  was 


*Trans.  Illinois  State  Agri.  Society,  Vol.  I,  1853-1854,  581. 

||  Auk,  Vol.  XVIII,  April,  1901,  193,  Nyctala  Brehm  1828  preoccupied  by  Nycta- 
lus  Bowdish,   1825,  for  a  genus  of  Mammals. 
fAuk,   Vol.   XX,   July   1903,    305. 
JAuk,  Vol.  XX,   October  1903,   433. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  IQ5 

taken  in  Cicero,  in  December,  1902,  and  is  now  in  his  possession." 
The  following  range  of  this  Owl  is  given  in  the  A.  O.  U. 
Check-list:  "Arctic  America,  south  in  winter  into  the  northern 
United  States.  Breeds  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and 
Manitoba  northward." 

Cryptoglaux  acadica  (Gmelin).    Saw-whet  OwL 

Strix  acadica  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  296. 

"Nyctale  acadica  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  7. 

Popular  synonyms:     WIHTE-FRONTED  OWL.    ACADIAN  OWL. 

Although  this  species  has  not  been  found  nesting  within  our 
limits,  adult  specimens  have  been  taken  throughout  the  year.  Mr. 
B.  T.  Gault  and  myself  have  observed  this  species  during  May 
and  June  in  the  pine  region  of  Lake  County,  Indiana.  Mr.  Gault 
saw  one  individual  perched  upon  the  iron  rafters  of  the  Illinois 
Central  Railway  station  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Street,  Chicago,  in 
September.  A  specimen  in  my  collection  was  taken  at  Colhour, 
Indiana,  on  March  13,  1890.  Nearly  all  the  records  I  have, 
however,  are  of  specimens  captured  during  the  winter  months. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  gives  a  very  interesting  note.*  He  says: 
"Not  an  uncommon  species.  Is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Chi- 
cago, where,  upon  some  of  the  most  frequented  streets  in  the 
resident  portion  of  the  town,  over  a  dozen  specimens  have  been 
taken  within  two  years.  Whether  resident  or  not  I  have  been 
unable  to  determine." 

The  range  of  the  Saw-whet  Owl  practically  includes  the  whole 
of  North  America.  It  breeds  from  the  middle  States  northward ; 
also  throughout  the  western  mountain  regions  as  far  south  as 
the  northern  portion  of  Mexico.  . 

Genus  MEGASCOPS  Kaup,  1848. 

Megascops  asio  (Linnaeus).    Screech  OwL 

Strix  asio  LINNJETJS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  92. 
Scops  asio  BONAPARTE,  Comp.  List,  1838,  6. 
Megascops  asio   STEJNEGER,  Auk,   II,  April,  1885,  184. 
Popular  synonyms:     MOTTLED  OWL.     LITTLE  MOTTLED  OWL.     LITTLE 
RED  OWL.    LITTLE  GBAY  OWL. 

In  past  years  the  Screech  Owl  was  an  abundant  but  now  it 
is  a  rather  uncommon  resident.  A  few  still  nest  in  the  timber 
along  Wolf  and  Hyde  lakes,  Indiana.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott 
includes  it  in  his  list  of  Cook  County  birdsf  with  the  comment 
"Abundant."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:  "Rather  common. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  117. 
tTrans.    111.    State  Agri.    Soc.,    Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    581. 


IO6  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Resident.       Often  strays  into  Chicago  and  becomes   confused, 
when  they  may  be  captured  alive." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  temperate  North  America 
east  of  the  Great  Plains. 

Genus  BUBO  Dumeril,  1806. 

Bubo  virginianus  (Gmelin).     Great  Horned  Owl. 
Strix  virginiana  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  pt.  i,  1788,  287. 
Bubo  virginianus  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  6. 
Popular  synonyms :     HOOT  OWL.     CAT  OWL.     BOOBY  OWL. 

The  Great  Horned  Owl  was  a  common  resident  many  years 
ago,  but  it  is  now  very  rare.  Even  as  early  as  1876,  Mr.  Nelson 
records  it  as  formerly  common  but  at  that  time  a  not  common 
resident.  In  1890,  Mr.  Ned  Pratt  collected  several  sets  of  the 
eggs  of  this  Owl  near  Lake  Forest,  a  short  distance  north  of 
Chicago. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  from  Labrador  south 
through  eastern  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica  and  east  of  the  Great 
Plains. 

Bubo  virginianus  arcticus   (Swains.).    Arctic  Horned  Owl. 

Strix  (Bubo)  arctica  SWAINS.,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II, 

1831,  86,  pi.  30. 
Bubo  virginianus  var.  arcticus  CASS.,  Illust.  B.  Cat.,  etc.,  1854,  178. 

This  variety  of  the  Great  Horned  Owl  is  included  in  this  list 
on  the  strength  of  the  following  published  record  of  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  :*  "A  rare  winter  visitant.  Have  a  fine  specimen  in  my 
collection,  taken  the  last  of  December,  1874." 

This  variety  of  virginianus  winters  as  far  south  as  Idaho, 
Wyoming  and  South  Dakota. 

Genus  NYCTEA  Stephens,  1826. 

Nyctea  nyctea  (Linnaeus).     Snowy  Owl. 

Strix  nyctea  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  93. 

Surnia  nyctea  SELBY,  111.  Br.  Orn.,  I,  1833,  95,  pi.  23. 

Nyctea  nyctea  LIGHT.,  Nomen.  Mus.  Berol.,  1854,  7. 

Nyctea  scandiaca  NEWT.,  4th  ed.  Yarrell's  Hist.  Brit.  B.,  iii,  1872,  187. 

Nyctea  scandiaca  var.  arctica  RIDGWAY,  B.  B.  &  R.,  Hist.  N.  Amer.  B., 

Ill,  1874,  61,  70. 
Popular  synonyms :     GREAT  WHITE  OWL.     SNOW  OWL.     ERMINE  OWL. 

WHITE  OWL. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr., 
informs  me  that  on  November  3,  1885,  he  observed  two  Snowy 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  117. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  ID/ 

Owls  perched  on  the  chimney  tops  of  a  residence  on  Grand 
Boulevard,  near  Thirty-fifth  Street  in  Chicago.  I  saw  three  of 
these  birds  in  a  small  grove  near  Park  Manor,  on  March  16, 
1890.  Two  days  later  a  large  female,  probably  one  of  the  birds 
which  I  had  observed,  was  brought  to  me  having  been  shot  while 
it  was  perched  on  the  roof  of  a  house  in  Park  Manor.  Records 
of  years  ago  show  that  the  Snowy  Owl  was  then  much  more  com- 
mon within  our  limits.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott,  in  his  list  of  Cook 
County  birds,*  says :  "Common  in  winter.  Last  winter,  during 
the  very  cold  and  stormy  weather,  I  frequently  saw  them  capture 
prairie  hens."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :f  "Regular  winter  resi- 
dent..  More  numerous  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Lake.  Arrives  in 
November  and  a  few  remain  as  late  as  the  first  of  May." 

The  range  of  the  Snowy  Owl  includes  the  northern  portion 
of  the  northern  hemisphere.  In  North  America  it  breeds  only, 
north  of  the  United  States,  and  in  winter  migrates  southward 
to  the  middle  United  States,  or  even  further  south  in  very  cold 
and  stormy  seasons. 

Genus   SURNIA  Dumeril,  1806. 

Surma  ulula  caparoch  (Miiller).    American  Hawk  Owl. 
Strix  caparoch  MULLEB,  S.  N.,  suppl.,  1776,  69. 
Strix  hudsonia  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  pt.  i,  1788,  295. 
Surnia  funerea  BONAPARTE,  List.  1838,  6. 
Surnia  ulula  var.  hudsonia  COUES,  Key,  1872,  305. 
Surnia  ulula  caparoch  STEJNEGEB,  Auk,  I,  October,  1884,  363. 
Popular  synonyms:     HUDSONIAN  HAWK  OWL  OB  DAY  OWL. 

This  Owl  is  included  in  our  list  on  the  strength  of  the  follow- 
ing records.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  includes  it  in  his  list  of  Cook 
County  birds*  without  comment.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:f 
"Rare  winter  resident.  Dr.  J.  W.  Velie  tells  me  that  he  obtained 
a  specimen  in  Kane  County,  Illinois,  the  first  of  September,  1869." 

The  American  Hawk  Owl  is  a  bird  of  the  Arctic  regions  of 
America,  breeding  from  Newfoundland  northward.  In  winter, 
it  migrates  to  the  northern  border  of  the  United  States.  Its 
occurrence  elsewhere  would  be  as  a  casual  visitant. 


"Trans.   Illinois   State  Agri.    Society,    Vol.    I,    1853-1854,    581. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  117. 


IO8  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

ORDER  PSITTACI:     PARROTS  AND 
PAROQUETS. 

FAMILY  PSITTACIDJE:    PARROTS  AND  PAROQUETS. 
Genus  CONUKUS  Kuhl,  1820. 

Conurus  carolinensis  (Linnaeus).    Carolina  Paroquet. 

Psittacus  carolinensis  LINN^SUS,  S.  N.  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  97. 

Conurus  carolinensis  LESS.,  Traite,   1831,  211. 

Popular  synonyms:    ILLINOIS  PAROQUET.    CAROLINA  PABBAKEET. 

Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says:*  "The  avian-fatma  of  Illinois 
has  lost  no  finer  or  more  interesting  member  than  the  present 
species,  which  is  probably  now  everywhere  extinct  within  our 
borders,  though  fifty  years  ago  it  was  of  more  or  less  common 
occurrence  throughout  the  state."  The  only  record  that  I  have 
of  the  occurrence  of  this  Paroquet  within  our  limits,  is  that  of 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says  :f  "Formerly  occurred.  Specimens 
were  taken  in  this  vicinity  by  R.  Kennicott  many  years  ago,  and 
Dr.  H.  M.  Bannister  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  it  in  this  vicin- 
ity." 

While  this  species  formerly  had  quite  an  extended  range,  it 
is  now  found  only  in  limited  portions  of  Florida  and  the  states 
bordering  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  portions  of  the  lower  Missis- 
sippi Valley  as  far  north  as  Arkansas  and  the  Indian  Territory. 

ORDER  COCCYGES  :  CUCKOOS,  AND 
KINGFISHERS. 

FAMILY  CUCULID^E:    CUCKOOS,  ETC. 
Genus  COCCYZUS  Viefflot,  1816. 

Coccyzus  americanus  (Linnaeus).    Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 

Cuculus  americanus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  111. 

Coccyzus  american-us  BONAPABTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia, 

III,  ii,  1824,  367. 
Popular  synonyms:     RAIN  CBOW.     WOOD  PIGEON.     Cow-cow. 

This  species  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early 
in  May  and  departing  in  October. 

The  range  of  this  Cuckoo  includes  North  America  east  of 
the  Great  Plains,  and  it  breeds  from  Florida  north  to  New  Bruns- 
wick.    It  winters  south  through  Mexico  and  Central  America  as 
far  as  Costa  Rica. 
Coccyzns  erythrophthalmus  (Wilson).    Black-billed  Cuckoo. 

Cuculus  erythropthalmus  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  IV,  1811,  16  pi.  28. 


*The  Ornithology  of  Illinois,  Vol.  I,   1889,   397. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  187G,  11 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  KX) 

Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus  BONAPAETE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila- 
delphia, III,  ii,  1824,  367. 
Popular  synonym:     RAIN  CROW. 

This  Cuckoo  is  a  summer  resident,  but  it  is  not  as  plentiful 
as  the  yellow-billed  species  and  is  often  confounded  with  it.  It 
also  arrives  and  departs  at  about  the  same  time  as  the  latter 
species. 

Its  range  includes  eastern  North  America,  west  to  the  Rocky 
mountains  and  it  breeds  northward  as  far  as  Labrador  and  Mani- 
toba. In  winter  it  migrates  southward  as  far  as  the  valley  of 
the  Amazon  River. 

FAMILY  ALCEDINnXE:    KINGFISHERS. 
Genus  CERYLE  Boie,  1828. 

Ceryle  alcyon  (Linneaeus).    Belted  Kingfisher. 

Alcedo  alcyon  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  115. 
Ceryle  alcyon  BOIE,  Isis,  1828,  316. 

The  Belted  Kingfisher,  commonly  called  Kingfisher,  is  a 
common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  April  and  departing 
in  October. 

Its  range  includes  the  whole  of  North  America  from  the 
Arctic  Ocean  south  to  Panama  and  the  West  Indies.  It  breeds 
throughout  the  United  States  and  northward. 

ORDER  PICI:     WOODPECKERS. 

FAMILY  PICID^J:    WOODPECKERS. 
Genus  DRYOBATES  Boie,  1826. 

Dryobates  villosus  (Linnaeus).    Hairy  Woodpecker. 
Picus  villosus  LINN.EUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  175. 
Dryobates  villosus  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hem.,  IV,  ii,  June  15,  1863,  66. 
Popular  synonym :     BIG  SAPSUCKEB. 

This  species  is  a  common  resident  in  the  northern  portion  of 
our  area,  but  is  rather  rare  in  the  southern  portion.  It  nests 
abundantly  in  the  vicinity  of  Glen  Ellyn,  Illinois. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  northern  and  middle 
portions  of  the  United  States  and  the  more  southern  portions  of 
the  British  Possessions  from  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  Great 
Plains. 

Dryobates  pubescens  medianus  (Swainson),    Downy  Woodpecker. 
Picus  pubescens  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  175   (in  part). 


I1O  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY   OF   SCIENCES. 

Picus  (Dendrocopus)  medianus  SWAISON,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor. 

Amer.,  II,  1831,  308. 

Picus  medianus  NUTTALL,  Man«  II,  1834,  601. 
Dryobates  pubescens  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  IV,  ii,  June  lo,  1863,  62 

(in  part). 

Dryobates  pubescens  mediamis  BBEWSTEB,  Auk,  Jan.,  1897,  82. 
Popular  synonym :     LITTLE  SAPSUCKEB. 

A  rare  resident,  although  common  during  its  migrations. 
Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  reported  it  to  be  "common'  within  our 
limits  as  well  as  throughout  the  state,  and  states  that  it  nests  in 
Cook  County.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says :  "Resident.  Much  more 
numerous  at  all  seasons  than  the  hairy  woodpecker." 

The  range  of  the  Downy  Woodpecker  includes  eastern  and 
northern  North  America,  west  to  British  Columbia  and  to  the 
Great  Plains  and  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Dr.  Ridgway 
states  that  its  range  also  includes  nearly  the  whole  of  Alaska. 

Genus  PIOOIDES  Lacepede,  1801. 
Picoides  arcticus  (Swainson).    Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker. 

Picus    (Apternus)    arcticus   SWAINSON,   in   Sw.   &   Rich.,   Fauna   Bor. 

Amer.,  II,  1831,  313. 

Picoides  arcticus  GRAY,  Gen.  B.,  I,  1845,  434. 
Popular  synonym:    BLACK-BACKED  THBEE-TOED  WOODPECKEB. 

This  Woodpecker  is  included  in  our  list  on  the  strength  of 
the  following  records.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :*  "Rare  winter 
resident.  A  specimen  was  shot  from  a  telegraph  pole,  in  Chi- 
cago, a  few  year  since,  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Velie.  It  is  a  common 
species  in  Northern  Wisconsin,  and  before  the  pines  along  the 
Lake  were  destroyed  was  probably  a  regular  winter  visitant  to 
this  state."  Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder  reports  the  occurrence  of  an 
individual  of  this  species  at  Morgan  Park,  Illinois,  December  29, 
1894. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  northern  North  America, 
from  the  Arctic  regions  south  to  the  northern  United  States. 

Genus  SPHYRAPICUS  Baird,  1858. 

Sphyrapicus  varius  (Linnaeus).    Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker. 
Picus  varius  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  176. 
Sphyrapicus  varius  BAIBD,  Birds  N.  Amer.,  1858,  103. 
Popular  synonym:    RED-THBOATED  SAPSUCKEB. 

This  is  the  most  common  of  our  migratory  woodpeckers. 
They  seem  to  enjoy  the  scantily  wooded  portions  of  our  city 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull.,  Vol.  VIII,   1876,   115. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  Ill 

parks,  the  noise  of  the  cable  lines  and  traffic  teams  apparently  not 
disturbing  them  in  the  least.  They  arrive  early  in  April  from 
the  south  and  remain  with  us  until  the  middle  of  May.  During 
their  fall  migration  they  appear  in  September  and  depart  in 
October.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  that  "the  males  in  spring 
often  have  the  white  nuchal  band  tipped  with  red  much  as  in  var. 
nuchal  is.  In  the  collection  of  Mr.  C.  X.  Holden  is  a  fine  specimen 
obtained  at  Chicago,  which  has  the  red  extending  over  the  head 
and  neck  much  like  the  distribution  of  color  in  Sphyrapicus  ruber, 
but  of  a  much  lighter  shade." 

The  breeding  range  of  this  species  is  from  the  northern 
United  States  northward  and  in  winter  they  migrate  southward 
to  the  West  Indies  and  through  Mexico  to  Costa  Rica. 

Genus  CEOPHLCEUS  Cabanis,  1862. 

Ceophlceus  pileatus  abieticola  Bangs.    Northern  Pileated  Woodpecker. 
Pious  pileatus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  113  (in  part). 
Hylatomus  pileatus  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  107   (in  part). 
Ceophlceus  pileatus  CABANIS,  Jour,  fur  Orn.,  1862,  176  (in  part). 
Ceophlceus  pileatus  abieticola  BANGS,  Auk,  XV,  April,  1898,  176. 
Popular    synonyms:      WOODCOCK.      LOGCOCK.      BLACK    WOODCOCK   OB 
LOGCOCK. 

The  only  records  I  have  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  with- 
in our  limits  are  the  following.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  places  it 
in  his  list  of  Cook  County  birds  with  the  following  notation: 
"Rare.  Not  uncommon  formerly.  Numerous  in  southern  Illinois." 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:  "A  rare  winter  visitant.  Two  speci- 
mens were  taken  near  Chicago  during  the  winter  of  1873."  Mr. 
George  Clingman  reports  the  taking  of  a  specimen  at  Half  Day, 
Illinois,  on  December  30,  1893.  Mr.  J.  Graf  ton  Parker  and  my- 
self observed  this  species  at  Kouts,  Indiana,  during  the  months 
of  June  and  December,  1896. 

The  range  of  this  Woodpecker  includes  the  heavily  wooded 
districts  from  the  southern  Alleghanies  northward. 

Genus  MELANERPES  Swainson,  1831. 

Melanerpes  erythrocephalus  (Linna3us).    Red-headed  Woodpecker. 

Picus  erythrocephalus  LINN.EUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  113. 
llelanerpes   erythrocephalus   SWAINSON,   in   Sw.   &  Rich.,   Fauna  Bor. 
Amer.,  II,  1831,  316. 


112  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

A  common  summer  resident,  a  few  remaining  within  our 
limits  during  the  winter.  The  majority  of  these  Woodpeckers 
arrive  the  last  of  April,  and  remain  with  us  until  about  the  first 
of  October,  when  they  move  southward. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  eastern  United  States 
and  British  Possessions,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Strag- 
glers are  occasionally  seen  as  far  west  as  Utah  and  Arizona,  and 
they  are  rare  in  the  New  England  states.  Its  breeding  range  is 
coincident  with  its  distribution. 

Genus  CENTURUS  Swainso-n,  1837. 

Centurus  carolinus   (Linnseus).    Red-bellied  Woodpecker. 
Picus  carolinus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  113. 
Cent-urus  carolinus  BONAPARTE  Geog.  and  Camp.  List,   1838,  40. 
Melanerpes  carolinus  RIDGWAY,  Ann,  Lye.   N.  Y.,  X,  January,  1874, 

378. 
Popular  synonyms:     CAROLINA  WOODPECKER.    ZEBRA  WOODPECKER. 

The  Red-bellied  Woodpecker  was  formerly  a  common  but 
now  it  is  a  rare  migrant.  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  reports  the  taking  of 
a  male  specimen  in  Chicago  on  October  29,  1876.  A  specimen 
in  my  collection  was  taken  by  Mr.  Graham  Davis  in  Hyde  Park, 
Chicago,  May  3,  1887.  This  species  breeds  abundantly  at  Kouts, 
Indiana.  In  his  report,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says :  "A  rare  sum- 
mer resident.  Not  very  uncommon  during  the  migrations.  De- 
parts the  last  of  October."  In  the  Ornithology  of  Illinois,  Mr. 
Robert  Ridgway  says :  "Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  informs  me  that  he 
saw  a  pair  in  Lincoln  Park,  Chicago,  in  July,  and  that  they  were 
evidently  breeding  there,  as  he  saw  one  of  them  come  out  of  a 
hole  in  the  dead  top  of  an  oak  tree." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  eastern  and  southern 
United  States.  It  is  rare  in  the  northern  portions,  but  it  does 
occur  casually  as  far  north  as  Massachusetts  and  Michigan. 

Genus    COLAPTES  Swainson,  1827. 

Colaptes  auratus  luteus  Bangs.    Northern  Flicker. 

Cuculus  auratus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  112   (in  part). 

Picus  auratus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  174  (in  part). 

Colaptes  auratus  VIGORS,  Zool.  Journ.,  Ill,  1827,  444   (in  part). 

Colaptes  auratus  luteus  BANGS,  Auk,  XV,  April,  1898,  177. 

Popular  synonyms:  YELLOW-HAMMER.  HIGH-HOLDER.  HIGH-HOLE, 
GOLDEN-WINGED  WOODPECKER.  YELLOW-SHAFTED  FLICKER.  WAKE- 
UP. 


THE    NATURAL    HISTORY    SURVEY.  113 

A  very  common  resident,  though  a  large  number  are  some- 
what migratory,  arriving  early  in  April  and  departing  in  October, 

Its  range  covers  eastern  and  northern  North  America,  south 
to  North  Carolina,  west  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Oc- 
casional on  the  Pacific  slope,  from  California  northward. 

ORDER  MACROCHIRES:     GOATSUCKERS, 

SWIFTS. 

FAMILY  CAPRIMULGID^:     GOATSUCKERS,  ETC. 
Genus  ANTROSTOMUS  Gould,  1838. 

Antrostomus  vociferus   (Wilson).    Whip-poor-will. 

Cayrimnlgus  vociferus  WILSON,  Amer.  On.,  V,  1812,  71,  pi.  41,  figs. 

1-3. 
Antrostomus  vociferus  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  8. 

Formerly  this  species  was  a  common  summer  resident,  but  now 
it  is  quite  rare.  It  arrives  the  last  of  April  and  departs  in 
September.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  includes  this  species  in  his 
list*  of  Cook  County  birds  with  the  annotation  "Abundant. 
Found  throughout  the  state."  He  also  states  that  it  nests  in 
Cook  County.  In  1876,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  reportedf  that  it  was 
a  "common  summer  resident." 

Its  range  includes  that  portion  of  North  America  east  of  the 
Great  Plains,  and  from  about  latitude  50°  in  the  interior  south 
through  eastern  Mexico  to  Guatemala. 

Genus  CHORD EILES  Swainson,  1831. 

Chordeiles  virginianus  (Gmelin).    Nighthawk. 

Caprimitlgus  rirf/inianiis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  1028. 

Chordeiles  virginianus  SWAINSON,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer., 

II,    1831,   496. 

Chordeiles  popetite  BAIRD,  B.  N.  Amer..  1858.  1.~>1. 
Popular  synonyms :     BULL  BAT.     WHIP-POOB-WILL. 

The  Nighthawk  is  a  summer  resident  but  it  is  more  common 
during  its  migrations,  especially  that  of  the  fall.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  makes  the  following  statement  :f  "A  common  summer 
resident.  Arrives  the  loth  of  May  and  departs  in  immense 
flights,  often  lasting  several  hours,  the  first  of  September."  Mr. 
Nelson  also  records  the  finding  of  variety  henryi  at  Waukegan, 
a  few  miles  north  of  our  limits,  by  Mr.  Rice  in  July,  1875.  He 
says  that  this  specimen  was  the  first  one  taken  in  this  vicinity, 


*Trans.   Illinois    State   Agri.    Society,    Vol.    I,    1853-1-854,    581. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  114. 


114  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

and  adds:  "The  spring  of  1876,  I  found  these  birds  breeding, 
with  var.  popetue  in  considerable  numbers  among  the  sand  hills 
on  the  Lake  shore,  near  Waukegan.  I  should  judge  that  the  two 
forms  existed  in  about  equal  numbers  at  that  place.  They  are, 
however,  less  common  in  other  localities  I  have  visited.  Among 
the  specimens  examined  were  individuals  that  exhibited  a  perfect 
intergradation  of  the  two  forms.  Some  specimens  would  have 
the  white  patch  on  the  wings  like  those  in  typical  henryi,  while 
the  tail  was  marked  as  in  popetue,  and  vice  versa.  Other  speci- 
mens showed  a  varying  degree  of  white,  on  the  wings  and  tail, 
between  the  two  varieties.  In  none  is  the  lightness  of  the  back 
quite  so  prominent  as  in  specimens  from  the  western  plains." 

The  range  of  the  Nighthawk  includes  eastern  North  America, 
west  to  the  Great  Plains  and  central  British  Columbia,  and  from 
Labrador  south  through  tropical  America  to  the  Argentine  Re- 
public. 

FAMILY  MICROPODID^E:     SWIFTS. 
Genus  CENTURA  Stephens,  1825. 

Chaetura  pelagica  (LinnaBus).    Chimney  Swift. 

Hirundo  pelagica  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  192. 
Cypselus  pelasgius  BONAPARTE,  Syn.  1828,  63. 
ChcBtura  pelasgia  STEPH.,  Gen.  Zool.,  XIll,  pt.  ii,  1825,  76. 
Popular  synonyms:     CHIMNEY  SWALLOW.    CHIMNEY  SWEEP. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  late  in  April  and  depart- 
ing about  the  middle  of  September. 

Its  range  covers  eastern  North  America  east  of  the  Plains,  and 
from  Labrador  and  the  Fur  Countries  southward.  It  winters 
south  of  the  United  States  so  far  as  known. 

FAMILY  TROCHILIIXaE:    HUMMINGBIRDS. 
Genus  TROCHILUS  Linnaeus,  1758, 

Trochilus  colubris  Linnaeus.    Ruby-throated  Hummingbird. 
Trochilus  colulris  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  120. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last  of  April  and 
departing  in  September.  Mr.  A.  W.  Carter  found  two  nests  of 
this  species  in  May,  1905.  One  of  these,  which  he  found  near 
Wolf  Lake,  Indiana,  about  the  first  of  the  month,  contained  fresh 
eggs.  The  other,  which  he  saw  about  May  10,  contained  young 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  115 

birds.     Both  of  the  nests  were  over  thirty  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  were  situated  near  the  end  of  the  branches  of  a  large  tree. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  North  America,  east  of  the 
Plains  and  from  the  Fur  countries  south,  in  winter,  to  Cuba  and 
the  adjacent  islands,  and  through  Mexico  to  Central  America.  It 
breeds  from  Florida  to  Labrador. 

ORDER  PASSERES:    PERCHING  BIRDS. 

FAMILY  TYRANNID^E :    TYRANT  FLYCATCHERS. 
Genus  TYEANNUS  Cuvier,  1799. 

Tyrannus  tyrannus  (Linnaeus).    Kingbird. 

Lanius  tyrannus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1^58,  94. 

Muscicapa  tyrannus  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1808,  66,  pi.  13,  fig.  1. 

Tyrannus  intrepidus  VIEILLOT,  Gal.  Ois..  I,  1824.  214,  pi.  133. 

Tyrannus  carolinensis  TEMM.,  Tabl.  Meth.,  183G,  24. 

Tyrannus  tyrannus  JORDAN,  Man.  Vert.,  ed.  4,  1884,  96. 

Popular  synonyms:     BEE  BIED.    BEE  MARTIN. 

The  Kingbird  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving  late  in 
April,  and  departing  late  in  September.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :* 
"In  the  summer  of  1875,  Mr.  Rice  saw  one  of  these  birds  plunge 
repeatedly  into  a  stream  in  the  manner  of  a  Kingfisher.  Shoot- 
ing the  specimen  he  found  its  stomach  contained  aquatic  insects." 

The  range  of  the  Kingbird  is  extensive,  including  North 
America  from  the  British  Provinces  southward,  though  it  is  less 
common  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  winter,  it  passes 
southward  through  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Peru  and 
Bolivia. 

Genus  MYIAECHUS  Cabanis,  1844. 

Myiarchus  crinitus  (Linnaeus).    Crested  Flycatcher. 

Musicapa  crinita  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1TG6,  325. 
Tyrannus   crinitus   Sw.,   Quart.   Journ,,    XX,   1S2G,   271. 
Myiarchns  crinitus   LICIIT.,    Nomencl.   Mus.   Berol.,   1854.   16. 
Popular   synonyms:      GREAT-CRESTED   FLYCATCHER.     GREAT   YELLOW- 
BELLIED  FLYCATCHER. 

This  species  is  a  rare  summer  resident  but  is  more  common 
during  its  migrations.  It  arrives  early  in  May  and  departs  about 
the  middle  of  September.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  lists  it  as  a 
common  summer  resident. f  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  reports  it  as  a 
"rather  common  summer  resident." 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  113. 
tTrans.    Illinois   State   Agri.    Society,    Vol.    I,    1853-1854.    582. 


Il6  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  eastern  United  States 
and  British  Possessions,  west  to  Manitoba  and  the  Great  Plains. 
In  winter,  south  to  Panama  and  Colombia.  It  breeds  from 
Florida  northward. 

Genus  SAYORNIS  Bonaparte,  1854. 

Sayornis  phoebe  (Latham).    Phcebe. 

Muscicapa  fusca  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  93  (nee  Bodd.,  1783). 

Muscicapa  phoebe  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  489. 

Tyrannus  fusous  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  .1840,  312. 

Sayornis  fuscus  BAIRD.  P>.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  184. 

Sayornis  phoebe  STEJNEGEB,  Auk,  II,  Jan.  1885,  51. 

Popular  synonyms:     PEWEE,    BARN  PHGEBE.    PEWIT  FLYCATCHER. 

The  Phoebe  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving  late  in 
March  and  departing  from  the  last  of  September  to  the  middle 
of  October.  The  Phoebe  is  noted  for  the  persistency  with  which 
it  will  nest  in  a  spot  particularly  suitable  to  its  desires.  It  has 
been  known  to  nest  for  several  years  in  the  same  spot,  though 
the  nest  has  been  repeatedly  destroyed. 

Its  range  includes  the  eastern  United  States  and  British  Pos- 
sessions, west  to  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Great  Plains,  and  from 
New  Brunswick  and  the  Mackenzie  River  southward.  It  winters 
from  the  south  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states  southward,  and  breeds 
from  South  Carolina,  Louisiana  and  western  Texas  northward. 

Genus  NUTTALLORNIS  Rid-way,  1887. 

Nuttallornis  borealis  (Swainson).    Olive-sided  Flycatcher. 

Tyrannus  borealis  SWAINSON,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II, 

1831,  141,  pi.  35. 

Muscicapa  cooperi  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  I,  1832,  282. 
Tyrannus  cooperi  BONAPARTE,  1838,  in  Nuttall's  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840, 

298. 

"Nuttallornis  lorealis  OBERHOLZER,  Auk,  XVI,  Oct.,  1899,  331. 
Contopus  borealis  BAIRD,  B.   N.  Amer.,   1858,   188. 

This  flycatcher  is  a  very  rare  migrant.  I  have  a  specimen 
taken  by  Mr.  Graham  Davis  at  Forty-seventh  Street  and  Grand 
Boulevard,  Chicago,  May  26,  1887.  A  pair  were  seen  near  the 
north  pond  in  Lincoln  Park,  Chicago,  on  May  20,  1904,  by  Mr. 
Ruthven  Deane  and  Mr.  Herbert  E.  Walter.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says  :*  "Not  an  uncommon  migrant,  from  May  I5th  to  25th,  and 
the  last  of  September  and  first  of  October.  I  have  taken  one 
specimen  as  late  as  June  2nd.  It  may  breed." 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  113. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  117 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  whole  of  temperate 
North  America,  breeding  from  the  northern  border  of  the  United 
States  northward  to  British  Columbia  and  the  Saskatchewan 
River. 

Genus  CONTOPUS  Cabanis,  1855. 

Contopus  virens  (Linnaeus).    Wood  Pewee. 

Muscicatpa  virens  LINNAEUS,  S.  X.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  327. 
Tyrannus  virens  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  316. 
Contopus  virens  CABANIS,  J.  f.  O.,  III.  1855,  479. 

The  Wood  Pewee  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
early  in  May,  and  departing  from  the  first  to  the  last  of  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  eastern  North  America,  west 
to  the  Great  Plains,  and  from  southern  Canada  southward.  It 
breeds  nearly  throughout  its  range  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada.  In  winter,  it  migrates  southward  through  eastern 
Mexico  to  Guatemala. 

Genus  EMPIDONAX  Cabanis,  1855. 

Empidonax  flaviventris  Baird.    Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher. 

Tyrannula  flaviventris  BAIRD  (W.  M.  &  S.  F.),  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 

Philadelphia,  I,  1843,  283. 
Empidonax  flaviventris  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  198. 

A  rather  common  migrant,  arriving  early  in  April  and  return- 
ing in  September.  There  are  some  indications  that  it  may  have 
nested  within  our  limits.  Dr.  Hoy  found  it  to  be  a  summer 
resident  in  the  vicinity  of  Racine,  Wisconsin,  a  few  miles  north 
of  our  area.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "A  common  migrant. 
The  first  of  July,  1873,  I  found  them  quite  common  in  a  dense 
swampy  thicket  in  Northern  Indiana,  where  they  had  probably 
nested." 

Its  range  covers  eastern  North  America,  and  it  breeds  from 
the  northern  United  States  northward.  In  winter  it  migrates 
southward  through  eastern  Mexico  to  Colombia. 

Empidonax  virescens  (Vieillot).    Green-crested  Flycatcher. 
Muscicapa  acadica  GMELIN,  S.  X..  I,  1788.  047. 
Platyrhyncnos   virescens   VIEILLOT,   Xouv.   Diet.   d'Hist.   Nat,   XXVII, 

1818,  22. 

Empidonax  acadicus  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  197. 
Empidonax  rirescens  BBEWSTER,  Auk,  XII.  April.  1805.  157. 
Tyrannula  acadica  Sw.,  in  Bonaparte's  Comp.  and  Geog.  List,  1838,  24. 
Popular  synonym:     ACADIAN  FLYCATCHER. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute.  Vol.  VIII,  1876.  114. 


Il8  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

A  not  uncommon  summer  resident,  breeding  locally  in  the 
rather  heavy  timber  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  our  area.  It 
arrives  early  in  May  and  departs  about  the  twenty-fifth  of  Sep- 
tember. Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  includes  this  species  in  his  list 
of  Cook  County  birds*  with  the  annotation,  "Abundant,"  and 
says  that  it  is  known  to  nest  in  Cook  County.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says  :f  that  it  is  "A  rare  summer  resident."  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway 
says  :J  "This  is  probably  the  most  numerous  and  generally  dis- 
tributed species  of  the  genus  in  the  State." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  eastern  United  States, 
excepting  that  it  is  rare  or  casual  in  the  New  England  states. 
It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  range,  and  migrates  southward  to 
Cuba  and  Yucatan. 

Empidonax  traillii  (Audubon).    Traill 's  Flycatcher. 
Muscicapa  traillii  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  1832,  236. 
Tyrannus  traillii  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  323. 
Empidonax  traillii  BAIRD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  193. 

Empidonax  pusillus  var.   traillii  B.  B.  &  R.,   Hist.   N.  Amer.  B.,   II, 
1874,  369,  pi.  44,  fig.  8. 

A  not  uncommon  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May  and 
departing  in  September.  It  is  more  common  during  its  migra- 
tions. Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  and  the  writer  observed  a  brood  of  young 
birds,  of  this  species,  near  Calumet  Lake,  July  10,  1896. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  Mississippi  Valley,  from 
Ohio,  Illinois  and  Michigan  westward  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and 
from  the  Fur  Countries  southward  into  Mexico. 

Empidonax  minimus  Baird.    Least  Flycatcher. 

Musicapa    acadica    "GMELIN,"    NUTTALL,    Man.,    I,    1832,    288     (nee 

Gmelin). 
Tyrannula  minima  BAIBD    (W.  M.  &  S.  F.),  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 

Philadelphia,  July,  1843,  284. 
Empidonax  minimus  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  195. 

A  rather  uncommon  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May 
and  departing  early  in  September. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  North  America  east  of  the 
Great  Plains.  It  breeds  from  the  northern  United  States  north- 
ward, and  winters  southward  at  least  into  Central  America. 
Westward  it  is  a  casual  visitor  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 


*Trans.  Illinois  State  Agri.   Society,  Vol.   I,   1853-1854.   582. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VTTI,  1876,  114. 

^Ornithology  of  Illinois,   Vol.  I,    1889,   357. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 

FAMILY  ALAUDID.E:    LARKS. 
Genus  OTOCORIS  Bonaparte,  1838. 

Otocoris  alpestris  (Linnaeus).    Homed  Lark. 

Alauda  alpestris  LIXK.EUS,  S.  X.,  ed.  10,  1758,  166. 

Eremophila  alpestris  BOIE,  Isis,  1828,  322. 

Otocoris  alpestris  BONAPABTE,  Nouvi  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  Bologna,  II,  1838, 
407. 

Popular  synonyms:  SHORE  LARK.  SNOW  LARK.  SKYLARK.  AMERI- 
CAN SKYLARK.  PRAIRIE  LARK.  SNOWBIRD. 

The  Horned  Lark  is  a  rare  winter  resident  within  our  limits. 
No  doubt  its  presence  has  been  overlooked  by  many  of  our  Illi- 
nois observers,  for  it  differs  from  Otocoris  alpestris  praticola  only 
in  size,  being  larger  and  a  trifle  darker  in  color.* 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  northeastern  North  America, 
Greenland  and  the  northern  parts  of  the  Old  World.  In  winter 
it  passes  south  in  the  eastern  United  States  to  the  Carolinas, 
Illinois,  etc. 

Otocoris  alpestris  praticola  Henshaw.    Prairie  Horned  Lark. 

Otocoris  alpestris  praticola  HENSHAW,  Auk,  I,  July,  1884,  264. 
Popular  synonyms:     The  same  as  Otocoris  alpestris. 

A  common  resident,  breeding  within  our  limits  from  the  last 
of  February  to  June. 


*In  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois"  (Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol. 
VIII,  1876,  110),  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:  "Two  current  and  readily  distinguish- 
able varieties  (of  alpestris)  are  found  during  the  winter,  one  of  which  is  also 
found  in  summer.  Aware  of  their  identity,  yet  wishing  confirmation,  I  sent  Mr. 
Bidgway  specimens  of  the  two.  The  winter  resident  he  pronounced  typical  var. 
alpestris,  and  the  permanently  resident  form  var.  leucolaema  Cs." 

On  the  strength  of  this  knowledge,  Mr.  Nelson  includes  the  variety  leucolaema 
Coues,  which  is  a  species  inhabiting  the  "interior  of  British  America,  and  Alaska, 
south  in  winter  into  western  United  States,"  in  his  list.  He  gives  the  following 
note:  "It  is  a  permanent  resident,  found  in  equal  numbers  throughout  the  year. 
Sometimes  the  last  of  February  and  regularly  during  March  and  April  the  first 
set  of  eggs  are  deposited,  and  early  in  May  the  fully  fledged  young  commence  to 
appear.  After  a  short  rest  the  female  hands  the  guidance  of  the  young  over  to 
the  male  and  resumes  her  work  on  a  second  set  of  eggs.  When  the  second  brood 
are  able  to  follow,  the  party  wander  wherever  inclination  leads  through  the  fall 
and  winter,  until  the  breeding  season  again  approaches,  when  they  disband. 

"A  remarkable  characteristic  of  the  young  of  leucolaema  from  Illinois  is  that 
they  are  exactly  like  the  young  of  alpestris,  although  the  young  of  the  two  varie- 
ties are,  usually,  even  more  distinct  than  the  adults.  So  closely  like  the  young 
of  alpestris  are  they,  that  Mr.  Ridgway  had  labelled  young  specimens  from  this 
vicinity,  and  from  southern  Illinois,  'alpestris,'  and  supposed  this  to  be  the  resi- 
dent variety  until  he  received  the  adults  above  mentioned." 

Regarding  the  identification  of  the  specimens  sent  to  him  by  Mr.  Nelson,  Mr. 
Ridgway  says  in  his  "Revised  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Illinois,"  1881,  p.  183, 
"Mr.  Nelson  includes  the  pale  form  distinguished  by  the  name  of  leucolaema 
Coues,  in  his  list.  This,  however,  is  an  error,  so  far  as  the  specimens  upon 
which  the  statement  was  based  are  concerned,  but  one  for  which  I  r.m  chiefly  re- 
sponsible. A  series  of  specimens  was  submitted  to  me  for  examination,  and' cer- 
tain examples,  in  very  pale  plumage,  I  pronounced  to  be  the  'var.  leucolaema.' 
In  this  I  was  mistaken,  the  individuals  in  question  proving  to  be  the  true  alpes- 
tris, in  much  faded  summer  plumage.  Although  it  is  frequently  not  easy  to  dis- 
tinguish the  adults  of  the  two  forms,  there  is  never  any  difficulty  with  the  young, 
that  of  leucolaema  being  many  shades  lighter  in  color,  the  difference  being,  more- 
over, absolutely  constant.  I  was  only  made  aware  of  my  mistake  by  the  subse- 
quent inspection  of  young  birds  said  to  be  the  same  form  which  I  had  previously 
identified  as  leucolaema;  and,  neglecting  to  explain  the  case  in  time,  am  thus 
responsible  in  great  measure  for  the  statement  made  by  Mr.  Nelson  In  regard 
to  these  birds,  as  cited  above." 


I2O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley 
and  from  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes  eastward  to  New  Eng- 
land, breeding  practically  throughout  this  range.  It  winters 
south  to  South  Carolina  and  Texas. 

FAMILY  CORVID^E:    CROWS,  JAYS  AND  MAGPIES. 
Genus  PICA  Brisson,  1760. 

Pica  pica  hudsonia  (Sabine).    American  Magpie. 

Corvus  pica  WILSON,   Amer.   Orn.,   IV,    1811,   75,   pi.  35,   fig.  2    (neo 

Linnaeus). 

Corvus  hudsonicus  SABINE,  App.  Franklin's  Journ.,  1823,  25,  671. 
Pica  melanoleuca  AUDUBON,  Synop.,  1839,  157. 
Picus   caudata  vaf.   hudsonica  ALLEN,   Bull.    Mus.    Comp.   Zool.,    Ill, 

1872,  178. 

Pica  pica  hudsonica  JORDAN,  Man.  Vert.,  ed.  4,  1884,  94. 
Popular  synonym :   BLACK-BILLED  MAGPIE. 

This  species  is  included  in  this  list  on  the  strength  of  Mr. 
Robert  Kennicott's  statement  that  is  was  "not  uncommon  in 
winter"  at  the  time  his  list  of  Cook  County  birds  was  published.* 

This  is  a  species  which  ranges  from  the  Plains  westward  to 
the  Cascade  Mountains  and  north  to  Alaska.  It  is  casual  visitor 
east  and  south  to  Michigan. 

Genus  CYANOCITTA   Strickland,  1845. 

Cyanocitta  cristata  (Linnasus).    Blue  Jay. 

Corvus  cristatus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I.  1758,  100. 
Cyanurus  cristatus  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  495. 
Cyanocorax  cristatus  BONAPARTE,  List,  1838,  27. 
Cyanocitta  cristata  STRICKLAND,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  XV,  1845,  261. 
Cyanura  cristata' "Sw."  in  Nelson's  List,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.  Vol.  VIII, 
1876,  112. 

The  Blue  Jay  is  an  abundant  resident. 

Its  range  is  extensive,  covering  the  whole  of  North  America, 
east  of  the  Great  Plains  and  from  the  Fur  Countries  on  the  north 
southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  breeds  throughout  its 
range. 

Genus  CORVUS  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Corvus  corax  principalis  Ridgrway.    Northern  Raven. 

Corvus  corax  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  IX,  1825,  130,  pi.  75,  fig.  3   (nee 
Linnaeus). 


*Trans.   Illinois   State  Agri.   Society,   Vol.  I,    1853-1854,   585. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  121 

Corvus  corax  var.  carnivorus  BAIBD,  BBEWEB  &  RIDGWAY,   Hist.  N. 

Amer.   Birds,   II,   1874,   233    (in   part).       NELSON,   Birds   N.   E". 

Ilinois,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  VIII,  1876,  112. 

Corvus  corax  sinuatus  RIDGWAY,  Ora.  Illinois,  I,  1889,  331  (in  part). 
Corvus  corax  principalis  RIDGWAY,  Man.  N.  Amer.  Birds,  1187,  361. 

The  raven  may  be  considered  an  occasional  winter  and  early 
spring  visitant  to  our  area.  I  have  known  of  but  two  specimens 
being  taken  within  our  limits  during  the  past  ten  years.  Both 
of  .these  were  shot  at  Calumet  Heights,  Illinois;  one  by  Mr. 
George  Knowles,  and  the  other  by  Mr.  Richard  Turtle.  At  dif- 
ferent times,  observers  have  reported  the  presence  of  the  Raven 
within  our  limits.  Many  years  ago,  this  species  seems  to  have 
been  much  more  common.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  records*  it  as 
"common  throughout  the  state,"  and  says  that  the  Raven  was 
known  to  nest  in  Cook  County.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  (1876)  : 
"Formerly  a  not  uncommon  resident;  now  occurs  only  in  winter 
and  is  rare.  Frequents  the  sand  hills  along  the  Lake  shore  from 
the  last  of  October  until  spring."  Mr.  Nelson  places  this  note 
under  the  name  "C.  corax  var.  carnivorus,"  which,  in  part  at 
least,  is  a  synonym  of  Corvus  corax  principalis. 

Though  nearly  all  the  observers  who  have  published  reports 
on  the  birds  of  northern  Illinois,  have  considered  the  Ravens  of 
our  region  to  be  the  subspecies  sinuatus,  I  am  convinced  from  the 
study  of  specimens  which  have  come  into  my  hands  that  all  are 
the  Northern  Raven,  or  the  larger  form  principalis.  This  opinion 
is  also  supported  by  the  general  range  of  the  two  forms,  as  given 
ia  the  Check-list  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union  and  by 
Dr.  Ridgway  in  the  "Birds  of  North  and  Middle  America."t 
Sinuatus  is  a  smaller  form  whose  range  barely  reaches  as  far 
north,  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  as  southern  Illinois  and  southern 
Indiana.  A  specimen  which  I  took  at  Meredosia,  Illinois,  some 
years  ago  was  pronounced  by  Dr.  Ridgway  to  be  principalis,  and 
in  a  recent  letter,  he  says :  "It  would  seem  likely  that  the  Raven 
of  northern  Illinois,  at  least,  should  be  principalis." 

This  question  needs  further  investigation  and  all  specimens 
of  the  Raven  which  are  taken  within  our  limits  should  be  care- 
fully examined,  measured  and  studied. 

Corvus  brachyrhynclios  C.  Lu  Brehm.    American  Crow. 

Corvus  corone  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  IV,  1814,  79,  pi.  25,  fig.  3   (nee 

Linnaeus). 


*Trans.   Illinois   State  Agri.   Society,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,   585. 
tBull.   U.   S.   Nat.   Museum.  No.    50,   Part   III.   259.   262. 


122  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Corvus   brachyrhynchos   C.    L.    BBEIIM,    Beitriige   zur   Vogelkunde,    II, 

1822,    p.   56. 

Corvus  americanus  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  1834,  317. 
Corvus    brachyrhynchos    RICHAEDSON,    Proc.    Biol.    Soc.    Wash.,    XVI, 

1903,  125. 
Popular  synonym  :     COMMON  CROW. 

The  American  Crow  is  an  abundant  resident.  In  his  list  of 
Cook  County  bird's,  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  says  that  the  Crow 
was  at  that  time  (1853-1854)  "Common  throughout  the  state." 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  on  the  other  hand,  while  listing  the  Crow  as 
resident,  says:  "This  is  far  from  an  abundant  species  in  North- 
ern Illinois,  at  any  season  or  locality.  A  small  number  breed 
in  the  low  pines  on  the  sand  hills  along  the  Lake  shore,  and  in 
winter  unite  in  small  flocks  and  move  from  place  to  place." 

The  range  of  the  Crow  includes  the  whole  of  North  America 
from  the  Fur  Countries  on  the  north  southward  to  the  southern 
border  of  the  United  States.  It  is  rare  or  local  in  the  interior 
western  districts. 

FAMILY  ICTERIME:     BLACKBIRDS,  ORIOLES,  ETC. 
Genus  DOLICHONYX  Swainson,  1827. 

Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  (Linnaeus).    Bobolink. 

Fringilla  oryzivora  LINN.EUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  179. 
Icterus  agripennis  BONAPARTE,  Obs.  Wilson,  1824,  No.  87. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus  SWAINSON,  Zool.  Journ.,  Ill,  1827,  351. 
Popular  synonyms :     BOB  LINCOLN.     REED  BIRD.     RICE  BIRD.     SKUNK 

BLACKBIRD. 

• 

The  Bobolink  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last 
of  April  and  departing  about  the  middle  of  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  eastern  North  America,  west- 
ward to  Nevada,  Utah  and  Idaho,  and  from  Ontario  and  Mani- 
toba southward  in  winter  to  the  southern  portions  of  South 
America.  It  breeds  from  the  middle  states  northward. 

Genus  MOLOTHRUS    Swainson,   1831. 

Molothms  ater   (Boddaert).     Cowbird. 

Oriolus  ater  BODDAERT,  Tabl.  PI.  Enlum.,   1783,  37. 
Icterus  pecoris  BONAPARTE,  Obs.  Wilson,  1824,  No.  88. 
Fringilla  ambigua  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  484   (=  young)i 
Molothrus  pecoris  SWAINSON,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  277. 
Molothrus  ater  GRAY,  Hand-List,  II,  1870,  36,  No.  6507   (after  Bodd., 

PI.  Enlum.   606,   fig.   1). 
Popular  synonyms :       Cow  BLACKBIRD.       Cow  BUNTING.       COWPEN 

BUNTING.     CLODHOPPER. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  123 

An  abundant  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  April  and  de- 
parting in  October. 

The  range  of  the  Cowbird  covers  North  America  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  from  the  southern  portion  of  the 
British  Possessions  southward,  in  winter,  into  Mexico. 

Genus  XANTHOCEPHALUS  Bonaparte,  1850. 

Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus  (Bonap.)    Yellow-headed  Blackbird. 
Icterus  xanthocephalus  BONAPARTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia, 

V,   1826,  223. 
Agclaius  xanthocephalus   Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,   1831, 

281. 

Icterus  ictcrocephalus  BONAPARTE,  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1835,  27,  pi.  3. 
Xanthocephalus  icterocephalus  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  531. 
Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus  JORDAN,  Man.  Vert,  ed.  4,  1884,  92. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last  of  April  and 
departing  in  September.  This  Blackbird  once  nested  in  vast 
numbers  in  the  Calumet  region  but  is  becoming  scarcer  each 
year,  for  the  smaller  marshes  and  lakes  are  being  rapidly  drained 
for  commercial  and  agricultural  purposes.  Unlike  the  Red- 
winged  Blackbird,  the  male  of  this  species  is  very  shy  during  the 
bleeding  season. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  western  North  America  from 
Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Kansas  and  Texas  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and 
from  the  Sakatchewan  River  southward  into  Mexico.  It  is  also 
a  casual  visitor  to  some  of  the  eastern  states,  Florida  and  Cuba. 

Genus  AGELAITJS  Vieillot,  1816. 

Agelaius  phoenicens  (Linnasus.)     Red- winged  Blackbird. 
Oriolus  phceniceus  LINN.EUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  161. 
Agelaius    phoeniceus    VIEILLOT,    Nouv.    Diet.    d'Hist.    Nat,    XXXIV, 

1819,  539. 

Icterus  phoeniceus  DAUD.,  Licht.,  Verz.,  1823,  No.  128. 
Popular  synonyms :   RED-WINGED  STARLING.   SWAMP  BLACKBIED.    RED- 

SHOULDEEED    BLACKBIRD. 

The  Red-winged  Blackbird  is  an  abundant  summer  resident, 
arriving  early  in  March  and  departing  when  the  severely  cold 
weather  sets  in. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  temperate  North  America, 
from  the  Fur  Countries  southward,  in  winter,  as  far  as  Costa 
Rica.  It  breeds  in  suitable  places  from  Texas  northward  nearly 
throughout  its  range. 


124  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

Genus   STURNELLA  Vieillot,  1816. 

Sturnella  magna  (Linnaeus).    Meadowlark. 

Alauda  magna  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  167. 
Sturnus  ludovicianus  LINNJEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  17G6,  290. 
Sturnella  magna  SWAINSON.  Phil.  Mag.,  I,  1827,  436. 
Popular  synonym :     FIELDLARK. 

The  Meadowlark  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving  in 
March  and  departing  when  severely  cold  weather  sets  in.  In 
1876  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  recorded  it  as  "an  abundant  summer  resi- 
dent," and  also  states  that  "in  mild  winters  a  few  are  resident." 

The  range  of  the  Meadowlark  covers  the  eastern  United 
States  and  British  Possessions  west  to  the  Great  Plains.  It  breeds 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  northward. 

Sturnella  neglecta  Audubon.    Western  Meadowlark. 

Sturnella  neglecta  AUDUBON,  B.  Amer.,  VII,  1843,  339,  pi.  487. 
Sturnella  magna  var.  neglecta  ALLEN,  Bull.  M.  C.  Z.,  Ill,  No.  2,  July, 

1872,  178. 
Popular  synonym :     WESTERN  FIELDLABK. 

The  only  record  that  I  have  found  of  the  taking  of  the 
Western  Meadowlark  within  the  limits  of  our  area,  is  that  of 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says  :*  "A  regular  but  rather  rare  sum- 
mer resident  upon  prairies.  A  more  frequent  visitant  during 
migrations.  A  fine  specimen  is  in  the  collection  of  my  friend 
Mr.  A.  W.  Bray  ton,  taken  near  Chicago  the  last  of  May,  1876. 
This  form  is  probably  a  common  summer  resident  upon  the  prai- 
ries in  the  western  portion  of  the  state." 

The  range  of  this  Meadowlark  covers  the  western  United 
States,  east  to  the  prairie  districts  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  Illi- 
nois, Wisconsin,  and  from  British  Columbia  and  Manitoba,  south 
through  central  and  western  Mexico. 

Genus  ICTERUS  Brisson,  1760. 

Icterus  spurius  (Linnaeus).     Orchard  Oriole. 

Oriolus  spurius  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12.  I,  1766,  ]62. 

Icterus  spurius  BONAPARTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,   III, 

1823,   363. 
Popular  synonyms  :    BROWN  ORIOLE.    CHESTNUT-COLORED  ORIOLE. 

While  the  Orchard  Oriole  was  formerly  common,  it  is  now 
a  rather  uncommon  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May  and 
departing  in  August.  I  am  informed  by  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker, 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  111. 


THE  NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  125 

Jr.,  that  in  June,  1880,  he  found  the  Orchard  Oriole  breeding 
abundantly  in  apple  orchards  near  Evanston,  Illinois. 

The  range  of  this  Oriole  includes  the  United  States  east  of 
the  Plains,  and  from  near  the  northern  border  south,  in  winter, 
as  far  as  Colombia.  It  breeds  throughout  its  United  States 
range. 

Icterus  galbula  (Linnaeus).    Baltimore  Oriole. 

Coracias  galbula  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  -1758,  108. 
Oriolus  Baltimore  LINN.EUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  162. 
Icterus  Baltimore  DAUD..  Tr.  Orn.,  II,  348. 

Icterus  galbula  COUES,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  V,  April,  1880,  98.    ' 
Popular    synonyms:      GOLDEN    ORIOLE.     GOLDEN    ROBIN.     HANGING 
BIBD.    FIRE  BIRD.    PEA  BIRD. 

The  Baltimore  Oriole  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
the  last  of  April  and  departing  in  September. 

Its  range  extends  throughout  eastern  temperate  North  Amer- 
ica, west  quite  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  south, 
in  winter,  through  Mexico  to  Colombia.  It  breeds  chiefly  north 
of  latitude  35°. 

Genus  EUPHAGUS  Cassin,  1866. 

Euphagns  carolinns  (Miiller).    Rusty  Blackbird. 

Turdus  carolinus  MULLER,  Syst.  Nat.,  Snppl.,  1776,  140. 
Quiscalus  ferrugineus  BONAPARTE,  Obs.  Wils.,  1824,  No.  46. 
Scolecophagus    ferrugineus    SWAINSON,    in    Sw.   &    Rich..    Fauna   Bor. 

Amer.,  II,  1831,  286. 
Scolecophagus  carolinus  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885, 

356. 
Euphagus  carolinus  RICHMOND,  Proc.  Biol.   Soc.   Washington,   XVI, 

1903,  128. 
Popular  synonym  :     RUSTY  CRACKLE, 

This  species  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving  early  in  March 
and  remaining  until  the  last  of  April.  In  the  fall  it  returns  about 
the  first  of  October  and  departs  for  its  winter  home  when  the 
severely  cold  weather  sets  in. 

Its  range  includes  eastern  North  America,  \vest  to  Alaska 
and  the  Great  Plains.  It  breeds  from  northern  New  England 
and  Michigan  northward  and  in  Alaska. 

Enphagus  cyanocephalus  (Wagler).    Brewer 's  Blackbird. 

Psarocolius  cyanocephalus  WAGLER,  Isis,  1829,  758. 

Scotecophagus  cyanocephalus  CABANIS.  Mus.  Hein.,   I.   1851,  193. 

Euphagus  cyanocephalus  RICHMOND.  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Washington, 
XVI,  1903.  128. 

Popular  synonyms:  VIOLET-HEADED  BLACKBIRD.  BLUE-HEADED  BLACK- 
BIRD. 


126  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

This  species  is  included  in  this  list  on  the  strength  of  the 
following  statement  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says:  "A  very 
rare  visitant  in  company  with  the  preceding  (Rusty  Blackbird)." 
It  is  also  very  rarely  seen  in  other  portions  of  Illinois.  Mr. 
Robert  Ridgway  says*  that  he  had  observed  but  a  single  speci- 
men, "a  female  shot  at  Mount  Carmel  in  December,  1866,  and 
now  in  the  collection  of  the  National  Museum  at  Washington." 

The  range  of  Brewer's  Blackbird  extends  from  Minnesota, 
Nebraska,  Kansas,  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas  westward  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  from  the  Saskatchewan  region  southward  to 
Mexico.  During  its  migrations  it  has  been  observed 'in  Wiscon- 
sin, Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri  and  Louisiana. 

Genus  QUISCALUS  Vieillot,  1816. 

Quiscalus  quiscula  seneus  (Ridgway).    Bronzed  Grackle. 

Quiscalus  ceneus  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  June, 

1869,  134. 

Quiscalus  quiscula  ceneus  &TEJNEGER,  Auk,  II,  Jan.,  1885,  43,  Foot-note. 
Quiscalus  purpureus  ccneus  RIDGWAY,  Nom.  N.  Amer.  B.,  1881,   No. 

278b. 
Popular  synonyms:     WESTERN  CEOW  BLACKBIRD.     CROW  BLACKBIRD. 

The  Bronzed  Grackle  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
early  in  March,  and  departing  when  the  cold  weather  sets  in. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  from  the  Alleghanies  and 
southern  New  England  north  to  Newfoundland  and  the  Great 
Slave  Lake,  west  to  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  south  to  Louisiana  and  Texas. 

FAMILY  FRINGILLIDJE:     GROSBEAKS,  FINCHES, 
SPARROWS,  ETC. 

Genus  HESPERIPHONA  Bonaparte,  1850. 

Hesperiphona  vespertina  (W,  Cooper).    Evening  Grosbeak. 
Fringilla  vespertina  COOPER,  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.  I.,  ii,  1825,  220. 
Coccothraustes  vespertina  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831, 

269,  pi.  6§. 
Hesperiphona  vespertina  BONAPARTE,  Consp.  Avium,  I,  1850,  505. 

The  Evening  Grosbeak  is  a  very  irregular  winter  visitant  to 
our  area.  I  took  a  specimen  at  River  Forest  on  January  13, 
1887,  and  another  at  Englewood  in  March,  1888.  Mr.  B.  T. 
Gault  informs  me  that  on  December  25,  1886,  he  observed  five 


^Ornithology  of  Illinois,  Vol.   I,    1889.   324. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  127 

in  Garfield  Park,  Chicago,  where  they  were  feeding  upon  the 
keys  of  the  box  elder.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :*  "The  winter 
of  1871  they  were  quite  common  throughout  the  northern  por- 
tion of  the  state.  The  following  winter  they  were  much  rarer, 
and  since  then  but  very  few  have  been  seen.  I  am  told  that  for- 
merly, it  was  of  much  more  regular  occurrence."  The  following 
records  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  within  our  limits  I  take 
form  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler's  report  on  "The  Birds  of  Indiana"  :f 
"Five  specimens  were  shot  by  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  at  Whiting,  In- 
diana, on  December  20,  1883.  Two  females  were  taken  near 
Lake  George,  Indiana,  December  5,  1886,  which  are  now  in  the 
collection  of  Mr.  G.  Fream  Morccm,  San  Diego,  California.  In 
Mr.  Morcom's  collection  I  (Mr.  Butler)  saw  six  males  and  two 
females,  marked  Berry  Lake,  Indiana,  April  3,  1887;  also  four 
females  from  the  same  locality,  April  18,  1887,  and  a  male  and 
female,  dated  May  10,  1887.  Mr.  R.  Turtle,  a  taxidermist  of 
Chicago,  showed  me  (Mr.  Butler)  a  number  of  these  birds,  of 
which  he  said  he  killed  ten,  May  8,  1887,  at  Berry  Lake,  Indiana, 
and  thirteen  May  10,  at  Whiting.  The  latest  record  I  have  of 
its  occurrence  in  spring  is  May  13,  1887,  when  it  was  found  in 
Lake  County,  Indiana.  Mr.  L.  T.  Meyer  reported  them  from 
Whiting,  Lake  County,  Indiana,  in  January  and  February,  1890." 
Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  has  furnished  me  with  the  following  interesting 
record:  "On  February  n,  1887,  Mr.  E.  A.  Colby  shot  twelve 
Evening  Grosbeaks  in  Chicago  which  he  presented  to  me  in  the 
flesh.  He  also  saw  several  flocks  during  the  winter  feeding  on 
the  buds  of  trees." 

The  above  records  indicate  that  during  the  years  1886  and 
1887  there  was  a  rather  phenomenal  appearance  of  the  Gros- 
beaks within  the  limits  of  our  area.  During  recent  years  while 
this  species  has  been  a  constant  it  could  hardly  be  considered  a 
common  winter  visitant,  though  the  number  of  individuals  ob- 
served has  been  quite  large  during  some  seasons. 

The  home  of  the  Evening  Grosbeaks  is  in  the  coniferous  for- 
ests of  the  northwest.  Their  range  includes  the  western  British 
Provinces,  east  to  Lake  Superior :  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  south 
into  the  L'nited  States  and  eastward  irregularly  in  winter  to 
Michigan  and  Indiana  and,  casually,  to  the  Atlantic  coast. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  104. 
+  Twenty-second    Annual    Report    Dept.    of    Geol.    and    Nat.    Resources,    Indiana, 
1897,    912,    913. 


128  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Genus  PINICOLA  Vieillot,  1807. 

Pinicola  enucleator  canadensis  (Cabanis).     Canadian  Pine  Grosbeak. 

Loxia   enucleator   LINNAEUS,    S.    N.,    ed.    12,    I,    1766,   299,    part    (nee 

1858). 

Pyrrhula  enucleator  BONAPARTE,  Syn.  1828,  119. 
Pinicola  canadensis  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  I,  Aug.,  1851,  167. 
Pinicola  enucleator  COUES,  Key  N.  Amer.  Birds,  1872,  127,   (part). 
Pinicola   enucleator  B.    canadensis   RIDGWAY,   Bull.   Nutt.   Orn.   Club, 

April,  1878,  66. 

The  Canadian  Pine  Grosbeak  is  a  very  rare  and  irregular 
winter  visitant.  The  only  records  that  I  have  for  its  occurrence 
during  recent  years  within  our  limits  are  the  following.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1887,  I  took  a  specimen  at  River  Forest.  In  December, 
1885,  Mr.  John  F.  Ferry  took  a  number  of  specimens  from  a 
flock  at  Lake  Forest.  It  seems  to  have  been  more  common 
.many  years  ago.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says :  "Formerly  common  ; 
now  a  rare  winter  visitant."  In  his  "Birds  of  Indiana"  Mr. 
Amos  W.  Butler  states  that  Mr.  George  L.  Toppan  "once  noted 
it  in  Lake  County,  Indiana,  and  thinks  it  was  in  the  winter  of 
1884-1885." 

Its  range  includes  the  coniferous  forests  of  the  northern  por- 
tions of  North  America  and  the  breeding  range  extends  from 
northern  New  England  and  Minnesota,  and  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains in  Colorado  northward  nearly  to  the  limit  of  trees.  In  the 
winter  it  migrates  southward  into  the  United  States  especially 
in  the  northeastern  portion. 

Genus  CARPODACUS  Kaup,  1829. 

Carpodacus  purpureus  (Gmelin).    Purple  Finch. 

Fringilla  purpurea  GMELIN,   S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  923. 
Carpodacus  purpureus  GRAY,  Gen.  B.,  II,  1844,  384. 
Popular    synonyms:      PURPLE    LINNET.      PURPLE    GROSBEAK.      ROSY 
LINNET.     ROSEATE  GROSBEAK  OR  FINCH.     STRAWBERRY  BIRD. 

The  Purple  Finch  is  an  irregular  migrant  and  a  not  uncom- 
mon winter  resident.  It  arrives  in  the  fall  in  September  and 
remains  until  May.  I  have  no  records  of  its  breeding  within 
our  limits.  That  it  has  nested  in  northern  Illinois,  however,  is 
shown  by  the  following  records.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:* 
"Common  winter  resident;  a  few  breed."  Professor  W.  W. 
Cooke  statesf  that  its  eggs  have  been  taken  at  Polo,  Ogle  County, 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  105. 
tBird  Migration  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  p.   179. 


•THE  NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  129 

Illinois.     And  according  to  Mr.  NehrlingJ  this  Finch  has  been 
taken  at  Waukegan,  Illinois,  during  the  breeding  season. 

The  range  of  the  Purple  Finch  covers  the  whole  of  eastern 
North  America,  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  northward  to  Labrador 
and  the  Saskatchewan  River,  and  from  the  Atlantic  coast  west- 
ward to  the  Plains.  It  breeds  from  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania 
northward  though  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States. 

Genus  LOXIA  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Loxia  curvirostra  minor  (Brehm).    American  Crossbill. 

Loxia  curvirostra  FORSTEB,  Phil.  Trans.,  LXII,  1772,  402  (nee  Lin- 
naeus) . 

Crucirostra  minor  BBEHM,  Naumannia,  1853,  193. 

Loxia  curvirostra  var.  americana  COUES,  Key,  1872,  351. 

Loxia  curvirostra  minor  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885, 
354. 

Popular  synonyms:    RED  CBOSSBILL.    AMERICAN  RED  CBOSSBILL. 

This  Crossbill  is  an  irregular  and  very  erratic  winter  visitant. 
In  May,  1899,  I  obtained  three  specimens  from  a  large  flock  in 
the  woods  bordering  Wolf  Lake,  Indiana.  Nearly  every  winter 
it  may  be  seen  in  the  woods  near  Lake  Forest,  Illinois,  about 
twenty-four  miles  north  of  Chicago.  According  to  Mr.  Amos 
W.  Butler,*  Mr.  C.  E.  Aiken  observed  them  in  Lake  County, 
Indiana,  and  in  Cook  County,  Illinois,  during  the  years  1869  and 
1870.  They  were  again  observed  in  Lake  County,  Indiana,  in 
May,  1887.  Mr.  Aiken  also  informed  Mr.  Butler  that  "they 
became  very  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago,  including  Lake 
County,  Indiana,  in  July  and  August,  1869,  and  remained  until 
late  in  the  fall.  They  fed  greedily  on  sunflower  seeds,  and  were 
so  sluggish  that  one  could  approach  within  a  few  feet  of  them, 
so  that  they  fell  an  easy  prey  to  boys  with  catapults."  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says  :f  "Formerly  a  common  winter  resident ;  now  rare." 

The  range  of  the  American  Crossbill  covers  temperate  North 
America,  and  it  breeds  from  the  northern  portions  of  the  United 
States  northward  to  certain  portions  of  Alaska.  It  also  breeds 
sparingly  in  the  higher  portions  of  the  eastern  United  States, 
and  in  the  Alleghanies.  In  many  localities  of  the  more  southern 
portion  of  its  range  it  is  irregularly  abundant  in  winter. 

Loxia  leucoptera  Gmelin.    White-winged  Crossbill. 
Loxia  leucoptera  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  540. 


*Birds    of    Indiana.    Twenty-second    Annual    Report,    Dept.    Geol.    and    Nat.    Re- 
sources,  Indiana,    1897,    919. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  105. 
JNorth  American  Birds,   Pt.   IX,    31. 


130  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Curvirostra    leucoptera    WILSON,    Ainer.    On.,    IV,    1811,    48,    pi.    31, 
fig.  3. 

The  White-winged  Crossbill  is  a  very  rare  winter  visitant. 
The  first  record  I  have  of  the  capture  of  this  species  is  that  of  a 
specimen  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  which  was  taken 
near  Chicago  in  the  seventies.  In  the  year  1894,  from  the  ninth 
to  the  twentieth  of  November,  enormous  flocks  of  these  Crossbills 
passed  along  the  lake  shore  and  many  were  shot  with  sling- 
shots by  boys.  I  have  several  fine  specimens  which  were  taken 
by  Mr.  Claude  Tallman  at  Morgan  Park,  Illinois,  on  November  9, 
1894.  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler  states, J  that  during  the  summer  of 
1869,  Mr.  C.  E.  Aiken  found  this  species  in  the  vicinity  of  Chi- 
cago, and  in  Lake  County,  Indiana,  in  company  with  the  American 
Crossbill,  and  that  they  remained  throughout  the  winter  succeed- 
ing. Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "A  winter  resident  of  rare  oc- 
currence at  present." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  northern  North  America, 
breeding  from  northern  New  England  and  the  northern  Rocky 
Mountain  districts  in  the  United  States  northward. 

Genus  ACANTHIS  Bechstein,  1803. 

Acantsis  hornemannii  exilipes  (Coues),    Hoary  Redpoll. 

^giothus  exilipes  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1861,  385. 
Acanthis  hornemannii  exilipes  STEJNEGEB,  Auk,  I,  April.  1884,  152. 
sEgiothus  canescens  CABANIS,  of  some  authors. 

Popular  synonyms:       MEALY  REDPOLL.       HOARY  LINNET.       WHITE- 
BUMPED  REDPOLL. 

Regarding  the  occurrence  of  this  species  within  our  limits, 
Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says:f  "I  have  seen  specimens  in  the  col- 
lection of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  that  were  collected  in  the  vicinity 
of  Chicago,  but  I  am  unable  to  give  dates  of  their  capture." 
Mr.  Nelson  himself  says :  "Rare'  winter  visitant  with  the  pre- 
ceding (Acanthis  lindria)." 

This  species  ranges  through  Arctic  America  and  northeastern 
Asia,  migrating  southward  at  times  to  the  northern  United 
States. 

Acanthis  linaria  (Linnaeus).    Redpoll. 

Fringilla  linaria  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  182. 
Acanthis  linaria  BONAPARTE,  &  SCHLEG.,  Mon.  Lox.,  1850,  48. 
Linaria  minor  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  267. 


$  Birds    of    Indiana.    Twenty-second    Annual    Report,    Dept.    Geol.    and    Nat.    Re- 
•ources,   Indiana,    1897,   921. 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  105. 
fOrnithology  of   Illinois,   Vol.   I,    1889,   2'33. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  13! 

/Egiothus  linari-us  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  1851,  161. 
Popular    synonyms:    LESSER    REDPOLL.    COMMON    REDPOLL.    DUSKY 
REDPOLL.     SNOWBIED.    REDPOLL  LINNET. 

The  Redpoll  is  a  common  winter  resident,  arriving  in  flocks 
about  the  last  of  October  and  remaining  until  the  first  of  April. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  northern  portion  of  the 
northern  hemisphere,  breeding  north  of  the  United  States  and 
passing  southward  in  winter  at  times  as  far  as  Virginia  and 
Kansas  and  quite  regularly  to  the  middle  United  States. 

Acanthis  linaria  holboellii  (Brehm).    Holboll's  Redpoll. 

Linaria  holbcellii  BBEHM,  Handb.  Vog.  Deutschl.,  1831,  280. 
Acanthis   linaria  B.  Holboellii  DUBOIS,  Consp.   Av.   Europe,   1871,   18. 

The  only  record  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  within  our 
limits  that  I  have  been  able  to  find  is  that  of  a  female  taken 
in  Chicago  by  Mr.  George  F.  Clingman  on  November  2,  1878, 
and  recorded  by  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall 
Ornithological  Club,  Volume  VIII,  page  239. 

This  Redpoll  ranges  through  the  northern  portions  of  the 
northern  hemisphere  and  near  the  seacoast.  In  North  America 
it  passes  southward  in  winter  to  northern  New  York  and  Mas- 
sachusetts. 

Acanthis  linaria  rostrata  (Coues).    Greater  Redpoll. 

JEgiothus  rostratus  COUES,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  1861, 

378. 
Acanthis  linaria  rostrata  STEJNEGEB,  Auk,  I,  April,  1884,  153. 

The  Greater  Redpoll  is  a  rare  winter  visitant.  There  is  a 
specimen  in  the  collection  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences 
taken  in  the  seventies  by  Mr.  C.  N.  Holden,  which  is  in  the 
plumage  of  the  young  male.  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  also  reports  this 
species  as  being  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago.  It  probably 
occurs  with  Acanthis  linaria. 

Its  range  includes  northeastern  North  America  and  Green- 
land. It  is  a  somewhat  irregular  winter  visitant  to  New  England, 
New  York  and  Illinois. 

Genus  ASTRAGAUNUS  Cabanis,  1851. 

Astragalinus  tristis  (Linnseus).    American  Goldfinch. 
Fringilla  tristis  LINN.EUS,  S.  X.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  181. 
Chrysotnitris  tristis  BONAPARTE,  List.  1838,  33. 
AstragaUnvs  tristis  CABANIS.  Mus.  Hein.,  I,  July,  1851,  159. 
Spinus  tristis  STEJNEGER,  Auk,   I,  October,  1884.  302. 


132  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Popular  synonyms :     SUMMER  YELLOW-BIRD.    LETTUCE-BIRD.     THISTLE- 
BIRD.    BLACK-WINGED  AND  BLACK-CAPPED  YELLOW-BIRD. 

The  American  Goldfinch  is  a  very  common  resident  of  our 
area.  In  the  winter  the  plumage  of  the  male  is  changed  to  more 
somber  colors,  resembling  those  of  the  female.  "The  yellow  is 
replaced  by  a  yellowish  brown ;  the  black  of  the  crown  wanting, 
that  of  the  wings  and  tail  browner.  The  throat  is  generally 
yellowish ;  the  under  parts  ashy  brown  passing  behind  into  white." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  whole  of  temperate  North 
America,  and  it  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  geographical  range. 

Genus  SPINUS  Koch,  1816. 

Spinus  pinus  (Wilson).    Pine  Siskin. 

Fringilla  pinus  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  133,  pi.  17,  fig.  1. 
Chrysomitris  pinus  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  33. 
Spinus  pinus  STEJNEGER,  Auk,  I,  1884,  362. 
Popular  synonyms:     PINE  FINCH.     PINE  LINNET.     PINE  GOLDFINCH. 

The  Pine  Siskin  is  a  winter  migrant  and  an  irregular  winter 
resident  within  our  limits.  It  often  associates  with  Astragalinus 
tristis.  It  arrives  early  in  October  and  departs  late  in  May. 
It  may  rarely  frequent  this  region  during  the  summer,  for  Dr. 
Jordan  has  taken  a  specimen  near  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  in  mid- 
summer, and,  according  to  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler,  "one  was  ob- 
served at  Wabash,  Indiana,  with  goldfinches,  several  times  be- 
tween June  10  and  20,  1892."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "A 
common  winter  resident  associating  with  the  preceding." 

The  range  of  the  Pine  Siskin  covers  North  America  in  gen- 
eral, breeding  in  British  America,  in  the  high  mountain  regions 
of  the  western  United  States  and  Mexico  and  also,  though  spar- 
ingly, in  the  higher  regions  of  the  northeastern  United  States. 
It  winters  irregularly  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the 
United  States. 

Genus  PASSERINA  Vieillot,  1816. 

Passerina  nivalis  (Linnaeus).    Snowflake. 

Emberiza  nivalis  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  176. 
Passerina  nivalis  VIEILLOT,  Fauna  Franc.,   1820,  86. 
Plectrophenax  nivalis  STEJNEGER,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  V,  1882,  33. 
Popular  synonyms:     WHITE  SNOWBIRD.     SNOW  BUNTING. 

The  Snowflake  is  an  irregular  winter  visitant,  and  may  be 
looked  for  from  early  in  November  until  the  middle  of  the  fol- 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  105. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  133 

lowing  March.  In  November,  1891,  Mr.  J.  Graf  ton  Parker,  Jr. 
and  myself  observed  the  shores  of  Wolf  and  Hyde  lakes,  In- 
diana, almost  covered  with  these  birds  and  they  were  so  tame  that 
we  tried  to  catch  them  with  our  hands.  Mr.  Parker  also  found 
them  very  abundant  on  the  beach  at  Miller's,  Indiana,  on  Decem- 
ber 17,  1895.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "An  abundant  winter 
resident.  The  fifth  of  March,  1875,  I  saw  a  flock  of  these  birds 
in  a  tree  in  Chicago.  The  males  were  chanting  a  very  low  and 
somewhat  broken,  but  very  pleasant  song,  bearing  considerable 
resemblance  to  that  of  Spisella  monticola!' 

The  range  of  the  Snowflake  is  quite  extensive,  covering  the 
northern  portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  southward  in  win- 
ter into  the  northern  United  States,  occasionally  being  observed 
as  far  south  as  Georgia,  Kentucky  and  Kansas. 

Genus  CALCARIUS  Bechstein,  1803. 

Calcarins  lapponicus  (Linnaeus).    Lapland  Longspur. 

Fringilla  lapponica  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  180. 
Plectrophanes   lapponica   SELBY,   Trans.    Linn.    Soc.,    XV,    1827,   156, 

pi.  1. 
Calcarius  lapponicus   STEJXEGEB,  Proc.   U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  V,  June  5, 

1882,  33. 
Popular  synonym :    BEOWN  SNOWBIBD. 

This  Longspur  is  a  common  winter  resident,  and  is  abundant 
during  the  fall  and  spring  migrations.  It  may  often  be  seen  in 
very  large  flocks  on  the  prairies  of  our  area.  It  arrives  in  Sep- 
tember and  remains  with  us  until  spring,  nearly  all  departing 
by  the  last  of  April  and  after  they  have  obtained  their  spring 
plumage.  A  few  tarry  and  I  have  taken  them  as  late  as  the  third 
of  May.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  took  an  adult  female  in  full  summer 
plumage  at  Sheffield,  Indiana,  on  June  14,  1889.  He  saysif 
"The  bird  was  alone  and  seemed  to  be  thoroughly  at  home  with 
her  surroundings,  being  shot  near  the  sand  hills  close  to  the  lake 
shore.  She  was  quite  fat  and  appeared  to  be  in  excellent  condi- 
tion, but  the  ovaries  showed  no  approach  of  the  breeding  season." 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  speaks  of  an  unusually  large  flight  of  Long- 
spurs  which  took  place  on  the  twentieth  of  March,  1873.  He 
says:t  "A  continuous  series  of  large  flocks  occupied  over  two 
hours  in  passing." 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876.  105. 

tAuk,  Vol.  VI,  July,  1889,  278. 

t  Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII.  1876.  106. 


134  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  northern  part  of  the 
northern  hemisphere,  and  in  winter  it  migrates  southward  to 
Kansas,  Colorado  and  Kentucky,  in  fact  during  the  winter  it  is 
abundant  in  the  interior  of  the  United  States.  It  has  also  been 
observed  in  South  Carolina  and  as  far  south  as  Texas. 

Calcarius  pictus  (Swains.).    Smith's  Longspur. 

Emleriza  (Plectrophanes)  picta  SWAINSON,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna 
Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  250,  pi.  49. 

Plectrophanes  pictus  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  37. 

Calcarius  pictus  STEJNEGER,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  V,  June  5, 
1882,  33. 

Popular  synonyms :  PAINTED  LONGSPUB  OB  BUNTING.  SMITH'S  BUNT- 
ING. PAINTED  LABK  BUNTING. 

Smith's  Longspur  is  an  irregular  migrant  in  our  vicinity. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  records  this  species  as  a  common  migrant, 
and  says  :*  "March  30,  1875,  near  Lake  Calumet,  I  found  a  flock 
containing  about  -seventy-five  individuals. "  I  have  been  un- 
able to  find  any  records  of  its  appearance,  within  our  limits,  since 
the  date  of  Mr.  Nelson's  observation  until  May  5,  1893,  when 
this  species  appeared  in  greater  numbers  than  Calcarius  lap- 
ponicus,  and  seemed  to  prefer  the  elevated  portions  of  the  ground 
in  the  vicinity  of  Worth  Township.  In  their  spring  migrations, 
these  Longspurs  arrive  the  last  of  March  and  remain  until  May ; 
in  the  fall,  they  return  about  the  first  of  October.  In  the  collec- 
tion of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum  there  are  four  specimens 
which  were  taken  at  Worth,  May  3,  1894.  In  the  year  1896 
Smith's  Longspurs  seemed  to  be  quite  abundant.  As  recorded 
by  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler,  in  his  Birds  of  Indiana, f  in  the  spring 
of  1896,  "They  were  first  seen  near  Chicago,  April  16,  where 
Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder  saw  about  a  hundred,  two  days  later. 
Mr.  C.  A.  Tallman  reported  seeing  a  hundred  and  fifty.  Each 
of  these  gentlemen  saw  them  repeatedly  that  spring,  as  did  also 
Mr.  Parker."  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Butler  says  that 
a  flock  of  fifty  were  seen  in  Cook  County  by  Mr.  C.  A,  Tallman 
on  the  third  of  October  and  that  others  were  seen  on  the  eleventh 
of  the  same  month. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  from  the  Arctic  coast  south- 
ward through  the  interior  of  North  America  to  Texas.  It 
breeds  in  the  far  north. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  106. 
t  Twenty-second  Annual  Report,   Dept.   Geol.   and  Nat.  Resources,   Indiana,   1897, 
932. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  135 

Genus  POCECETES  Baird,  1858. 

Pooecetes  gramineus  (Gmelin).    Vesper  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  graminea   GMELIN.   S.   X.,   I,  ii,  1788,  992. 

Embcriza  graminea  WILSON,  Amer.   Orn.,   IV,   1811,  51,  pi.  31,   fig.  5. 

Pooecetes  gramineus  BAIRD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  447. 

Popular  synonyms:     GRASS  FINCH.     BAY-WINGED  BUNTING. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  in  April  and  departing 
the  last  of  September. 

Its  range  covers  North  America  east  of  the  Plains,  and  from 
Nova  Scotia  and  Ontario  southward.  It  breeds  chiefly  north  of 
Virginia,  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  and  winters  chiefly  south  of 
that  latitude. 

Genus  PASSERCULUS  Bonaparte,  1838. 

Passerculus  sandwichensis  savanna  (Wilson).    Savanna  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  savanna   WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,   Ill,  1811,  55,  pi.  22,  fig.  2. 
Emberiza  savanna  AUDUBON,  Syn.,  1839,  103. 

Passerculus  savanna  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  33. 
Passerculus  sandicichensis  savanna  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

Ill,   1880,  178. 
Ammodramus  sandwichensis  savanna  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

VIII,  1885,  354. 
Popular    synonyms:      GRASS    BIRD.      GROUND    BIRD.      GRASSHOPPER 

SPARROW. 

The  Savanna  Sparrow  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
the  last  of  March  and  departing  in  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  eastern  North  America, 
breeding  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States  and  wintering  chiefly 
south  of  latitude  40°. 

Genus  COTURNICULUS  Bonaparte,  1838. 

Coturniculus  savannarum  passerinus  (Wilson).  Grasshopper  Sparrow. 
Fringilla  passerina  WILSON.  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1S11,  76,  pi.  26,  fig.  5. 
Fringilla  savannarum  NUTTALL'S  Man..  I,  1832,  404. 
Coturniculus  passerinus  BOXAPARTE.   Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  32. 
Ammodromus  passerinus  GRAY,  Gen.  of  B.,  II,  1844,  373. 
Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus. 

VIII,  September  2,  1885,  355. 
Coturniculus  savannarum  passerinus  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 

VIII,  October,  1885,  568. 
Popular  synonyms  :        YELLOW-WINGED  SPARROW.    GRASSHOPPER  BIRD. 

GRASSBIRD.     GROUND  BIRD. 

The  Grasshopper  Sparrow  is  a  common  summer  resident,  ar- 
riving early  in  April  and  departing  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember. 


136  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  eastern  United  States 
from  southern  Canada  southward,  in  winter  to  the  southern 
states,  eastern  Mexico,  and  south  to  Costa  Rica.  It  breeds 
throughout  its  range  excepting  in  the  more  southern  portions. 

Genus  AMMODRAMUS   Swainson.  1827. 

Ammodramus  henslowii  (Audubon).    Henslow's  Sparrow. 

Emberiza  henslowii  AUDUBON,  On.  Biog.,  I,  1831,  360,  pi.  77. 
Coturniculus  henslowi  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Oomp.  List,  1838,  32. 
Ammodromus  henslowi  GRAY,  Gen.  B.,  II,  June,  1849,  374. 
Popular  synonym :     HENSLOW'S  BUNTING.  » 

Henslow's  Sparrow  is  a  not  uncommon  summer  resident, 
arriving  about  the  middle  of  April  and  departing  by  the  last  of 
September. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  eastern  United  States, 
west  to  the  Plains,  breeding  as  far  north  as  Massachusetts  and 
northern  Illinois  and  wintering  in  the  southern  states. 

Ammodramus  leconteii  (Audubon).    Leconte's  Sparrow. 

Emleriza  leconteii  AUDUBON,  B.  Amer.,  VII,  1843,  338,  pi.  488. 
Coturniculus  lecontii  BONAPARTE,  Consp.  Av.,  I,  1850,  481. 
Ammodromus  leconteii  GRAY,  Gen.  B.,  II,  .June,  1849,  374. 
Popular  synonym  :     LECONTE'S  BUNTING. 

Leconte's  Sparrow  is  a  rare  migrant  within  our  limits.  It 
arrives  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  returns  in  the  fall  in 
September.  Regarding  this  species,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:* 
"I  obtained  a  fine  specimen  May  13,  1875,  at  Riverdale,  Illinois, 
and  by  my  notes  I  see  that  a  second  specimen  was  observed  the 
2ist  of  the  same  month  near  where  the  first  was  obtained.  The 
specimen  in  my  possession  was  flushed  from  a  small  depression 
in  the  prairie  near  the  Calumet  River,  where  the  moisture  had 
caused  an  early  growth  of  coarse  grass,  about  three  inches  in 
height.  After  darting  off  in  an  erratic  course  a  few  rods,  it 
suddenly  turned,  and  alighting  ran  rapidly  through  the  grass, 
from  which  it  was  with  difficulty  started  again  and  secured." 
In  a  similar  habitat  and  on  the  Desplaines  River  at  Worth,  Mr. 
Eliot  Blackwelder  and  myself  have  observed  a  number  of  these 
Sparrows  each  spring.  Mr.  Blackwelder  also  saw  them  at  the 
same  place  on  September  16,  1896.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  saw  this 
Sparrow  in  Du  Page  County  on  September  n,  1894.  A  male 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  107. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  137 

was  taken  by  Mr.  Harry  Swarth  at  Worth  in  our  area,  on  Oc- 
tober 12,  1905. 

The  range  of  Leconte's  Sparrow  extends  from  Manitoba 
southward  (in  winter)  to  Texas,  and  from  the  eastern  portion 
of  the  Plains  eastward  through  the  prairie  districts  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley,  wintering  in  South  Carolina,  Alabama  and 
Florida. 

Ammodramus  nelsoni  Allen.    Nelson's  Sparrow. 

Ammodramus  caudacutus  var.  nelsoni  ALLEN,  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 

Hist.,  XVII,  March,  1875,  293. 
Ammodramus    nelsoni   NORTON,    Proc.    Portland    Soc.    Nat.    Hist.,    II, 

March  15,  1897,  102. 
Popular  synonym:    NELSON'S  SHABP-TAILED  FINCH. 

Nelson's  Sparrow  is  of  peculiar  interest  to  the  ornithologists 
of  our  vicinity,  for  the  type  specimens  upon  which  Mr.  Allen 
based  his  opinion  that  it  should  be  made  a  variety  of  the  sharp- 
tailed  sparrow  Ammodramus  caudacutus,  of  the  salt  marshes 
of  the  Atlantic,  came  from  within  our  limits.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nel- 
son, writing  to  Mr.  Allen  regarding  the  finding  of  this  species, 
says*  "While  collecting  birds  on  the  Calumet  Marshes  at  Ains- 
worth,  Illinois,  September  17,  1874,  I  noticed  a  number  of  small 
sparrows  in  the  tall  grass  along  the  Calumet  River.  At  first  I 
thought  they  were  Swamp  Sparrows;  observing  a  difference  I 
shot  one  and  at  once  recognizing  it,  I  went  in  search  of  more. 
Within  an  hour  I  had  killed  eight  fine  specimens.  They  were  very 
abundant,  as  I  must  have  seen  over  one  hundred  in  walking 
about  a  mile  and  a  half.  They  were  very  difficult  to  kill,  owing 
to  their  habit  of  rising  suddenly,  darting  off  in  an  irregular 
manner  for  a  few  rods,  and  then  dropping  into  the  grass  and 
lying  so  close  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  put  them  up 
again  *  *  *  Dr.  Velie,  while  collecting  near  Ainsworth,  October 
7,  also  shot  several  specimens  of  the  Sharp-tailed  Finch,  about 
the  sloughs  which  are  found  abundantly  in  this  locality."  Mr. 
Nelson  also  saysrf  "The  I2th  of  June,  1875,  I  saw  several  of 
these  birds  in  the  dense  grass  bordering  Lake  Calumet,  where 
they  were  undoubtedly  breeding.  The  first  of  October,  1875, 
I  again  found  them  abundant  on  the  Calumet  Marsh,  and  also 
found  them  numerous  in  the  wild  rice  bordering  Grass  Lake, 
Lake  County,  Illinois,  the  loth  of  November  the  same  year." 

*Proc.   Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  XVII,   March,   1875,   293. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  107. 


138  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

I  have  taken  the  nest  and  eggs  of  this  species  from  near 
Calumet  Lake,  and  have  also  observed  the  birds  at  Liverpool, 
Indiana.  I  do  not  know  at  what  date  they  arrive  in  the  spring, 
but  the  fall  records  would  seem  to  show  that  they  pass  through 
our  vicinity  during  September  and  October.  Nelson's  Sparrow 
has  also  been  taken  by  Mr.  S.  F.  Dayton,  who  found  it  at  Hyde 
Lake  on  October  6,  1898;  by  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  who 
found  it  on  the  wet  prairies  along  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Calumet 
on  September  19,  1893 ;  and  by  Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder,  who  found 
it  breeding,  though  uncommon,  in  the  vicinity  of  Morgan  Park, 
on  September  28,  1895.  A  male  specimen  was  taken  by  Mr. 
Harry  Swarth  at  Worth,  situated  within  our  limits,  on  October 
12,  1905.  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler  states  that  he  has  a  specimen 
from  Hyde  Park,  Illinois,  taken  September  21,  1878,  and  says, 
in  his  Birds  of  Indiana  :*  "Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  informs  me  that  he 
saw  about  a  dozen  Sharp-tailed  Finches  in  the  grass  along  Berry 
Lake,  Lake  County,  Indiana,  September  25,  1875.  Dr.  A.  W. 
Brayton  informed  me  he  had  taken  this  species  in  Lake  County, 
Indiana." 

This  Sparrow  frequents  the  fresh  water  marshes  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  United  States  and  southern  Canada,  breeding  from 
northern  Illinois  north  to  Dakota  and  Manitoba.  It  winters  as 
far  south  as  Texas,  and  visits  the  Atlantic  coast  in  its  migrations. 

Genus  CHONDESTES  Swainson,  1827. 

Chondestes  grammacus   (Say).    Lark  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  grammaca  SAY,  Long's  Eip.,  II,  1823,  139. 

Chondestes  grammaca  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  32, 

Popular  synonyms:    LARK  FINCH.    POTATO  BIRD. 

When  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  wrote  his  Birds  of  Northeastern 
Illinois  in  1876  he  reported  the  Lark  Sparrow  as  a  common  sum- 
mer resident.  It  is  now,  however,  a  rare  summer  resident,  arriv- 
ing about  the  middle  of  April,  and  departing  in  September.  Mr. 
J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  informs  me  that  he  obtained  a  nest  of 
this  species  which  contained  four  eggs,  in  a  pasture  near  Evans- 
ton,  in  June,  1880. 

The  range  of  the  Lark  Sparrow  includes  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley region  north  to  Manitoba,  and  from  Michigan,  Ohio  and  On- 
tario westward  to  the  Plains.  It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its 
range  and  winters  as  far  south  as  eastern  Texas. 

*Twenty-second  Annual  Report,  Dept.  Geol.  and  Nat.  Resources,  Indiana,   1897, 
948. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  139 

Genus  ZONOTRICHIA   Swainson.   1831. 

Zonotrichia  qnerula  (Nuttall).    Harris'  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  querula  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  ed.  2,  1840,  555. 

Zonotrichia  querula  GAMBEL,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  eer. 

2,   I,  1847,  51. 
Popular  synonyms:     HABBIS'S  FINCH.    MOUBNING  FINCH. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  reported  (1876)  Harris's  Sparrow  to  be 
a  very  rare  visitant  to  our  vicinity.  Mr.  James  O.  Dunn  says* 
that  he  took  a  specimen  east  of  Riverdale,  Illinois,  which  he  ob- 
served in  a  growth  of  small  willows.  Mr.  Ruthven  Deane  in- 
forms me  that  on  May  n,  1904,  he  observed  a  male  of  this  species 
feeding  with  a  flock  of  sparrows  in  the  south  end  of  Lincoln 
Park. 

The  range  of  this  Sparrow  extends  from  the  eastern  border 
of  the  Great  Plains  eastward  to  Wisconsin,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
and  from  Manitoba  southward  to  Texas  in  the  winter.  It  is 
quite  irregular  in  its  appearance  on  the  eastern  border  of  its 
range. 

Zonotrichia  lencophrys  (Forster).    White-crowned  Sparrow. 
Emberiza  leucophrys  FOBSTEB,  Philos.  Trans.,  LXII,  1772,  426. 
Fringilla  leucophrys  BONAPABTE,  List,  1828,  32. 

Zonotrichia  leucophrys  SWAINSON,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer., 
II,  1831,  493. 

The  White-crowned  Sparrow  is  a  common  migrant,  the  larger 
number  passing  northward  in  April  and  returning,  on  their  fall 
migration,  the  latter  part  of  September  and  the  early  part  of 
October. 

The  range  of  this  Sparrow  includes  nearly  all  of  North  Amer- 
ica, and  it  breeds  in  the  mountain  ranges  of  the  west  and  from 
Wisconsin  and  Vermont  northward. 

Zonotrichia  albicollis  (Gmelin).    White-throated  Sparrow. 
Fringilla  albicollis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  92G. 
Zonotrichia  albicollis  SWAINSON.  Classif.  B.,  II,  1837,  288. 
Popular  synonyms:     PEABODY  BIBD.     YELLOW-BBOWED  SPABBOW. 

The  White-throated  Sparrow  is  an  abundant  migrant,  and 
"a  rare  summer  resident"  (Nelson),  passing  northward  in  April 
and  returning,  on  the  fall  migration,  the  latter  part  of  September 
and  in  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  chiefly  east  of  the  Great  Plains. 
It  breeds  from  the  northern  portion  of  the  United  States  north- 


*Auk,    Vol.    XII,    1895,    395. 


I4O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

ward,  and  it  winters  from  Massachusetts  southward  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  and  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  from  Missouri  and 
Illinois  southward. 

Genus  SPIZELLA  Bonaparte,  1832. 

Spizella  monticola  (Gmelin).     Tree  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  monticola  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  912. 
Fringilla  canadensis  LATH.,  Ind.  Orn.,  I,  1790,  434. 
Spizella  monticola  BAIBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  472. 
Zonotrichia  canadensis  "LATH."  of  some  authors. 

Popular  synonyms:     WINTER  CHIPPY.    CANADIAN  SPARROW.     WINTER 
SPARROW. 

The  Tree  Sparrow  is  a  common  winter  resident,  arriving 
about  the  middle  of  October  and  departing  near  the  middle  of 
April. 

The  range  of  the  Tree  Sparrow  includes  North  America 
east  of  the  Plains,  and  from  South  Carolina,  Kentucky  and  the 
Indian  Territory  north  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  It  breeds  north  of 
the  United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  winters  from 
the  northern  border  of  the  United  States  southward. 

Spizella  socialis   (Wilson).    Chipping  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  socialis  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  127,  pi.  16,  fig.  5. 
Spizella  socialis  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  33. 
Zonotrichia  socialis  GRAY,  Hand-list,  II.  1870,  94,  7397. 
Popular  synonyms:     CHIPPY.     CHIP-BIRD.     HAIR-BIRD. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  toward  the  middle  of 
April  and  departing  from  the  last  of  September  to  the  middle 
of  October. 

The  range  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow  covers  North  America 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  from  Newfoundland  and  the 
Great  Slave  Lake  southward  to  eastern  Mexico.  It  breeds  in 
Mexico  and  the  Gulf  States  northward,  and  it  winters  in  the 
southern  portion  of  its  range. 

Spizella  pallida  (Swainson).     Clay-colored  Sparrow. 

Emberiza  pallida  SWAINSON,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II, 

1831,  251. 
Spizella  pallida  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  33. 

The  only  record  that  I  have  found  of  the  occurrence  of  this 
species  within  our  limits  is  that  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says:* 
"A  rare  summer  resident  about  the  borders  of  prairies.  Speci- 
mens are  in  Mr.  Holden's  collection  taken  near  Chicago." 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  108. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  14! 

The  A.  O.  U.  Check-list  gives  its  range  as  follows :  "Interior 
of  North  America,  from  Illinois  and  Iowa  west  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  Arizona,  and  Cape  St.  Lucas,  and  from  Guanajuato 
and  Oaxaca  north  to  the  Saskatchewan  Plains.  Breeds  from 
Iowa  and  Nebraska  northward." 

Spizella  pusilla  (Wilson).    Field  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  pusilla  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  121,  pi.  16,  fig.  2. 
Fringilla  juncor-um  XUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  499. 
Spisella  pusilla  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  33. 
Popular  synonyms:     FIELD  CHIPPY.     FIELD  CHIP-BIBD.     RED-BILLED 
CHIPPY. 

The  Field  Sparrow  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
early  in  April,  and  departing  early  in  October. 

Its  range  includes  southern  Canada  and  the  United  States 
east  of  the  Plains  and  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Texas. 
It  breeds  from  South  Carolina,  Kentucky  and  Kansas  northward. 

Genus  JUNCO  Wagler,  1831. 

Junco  hyemalis  (Linnaeus).    Slate-colored  Junco. 

Fringilla  hyemalis  LINN.EUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  183. 
Fringilla  nivalis  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1810,  129,  pi.  16,  fig.  6. 
Junco  hyemalis  SCL.,  P.  Z.  S.,  1857,  7. 

Popular  synonyms:     SNOWBIBD.     COMMON  SNOWBIBD.     SLATE-COLOBED 
SNOWBIRD.    BLACK  OB  GBAY  SNOWBIBD. 

The  Slate-colored  Junco  is  an  abundant  migrant.  It  arrives 
the  last  of  February  and  remains  in  our  vicinity  until  May.  In 
its  fall  migrations  it  arrives  about  the  middle  of  September  and 
departs  on  the  appearance  of  severely  cold  weather.  It  is  also 
claimed  that  a  few  of  these  Juncos  remain  within  our  limits 
during  the  more  open  winters. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  North  America,  chiefly  east 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  it  breeds  in  the  mountain  regions 
of  the  northeastern  portions  of  the  United  States  northward  and 
to  Alaska.  It  winters  in  the  more  temperate  portion  of  the 
eastern  United  States  as  far  south  as  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Junco  montanus  Ridgrway.     Montana  Junco. 

Junco  oregonus  COALE,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club.,  ii,  p.  82,  1877. 
Junco  montanus  RIDGWAY,  Auk,  XV,  p.  321,  Oct.,  1898. 

A.  O.  U.  Committed,  Auk,  XVI,  p.  119,  1899   (No.  567.1). 

A  well-defined  specimen  of  this  species  is  in  the  collection  of 
The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences,  which  was  taken  by  Mr.  F. 
S.  Dayton,  of  Chicago.  On  October  2ist,  1898,  he  saw,  in  the 


142  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF.  SCIENCES. 

woods  west  of  North  Evanston,  a  large  flock  of  Juncos,  in  which 
there  was  an  Arctic  Towhee.  He  shot  five  of  the  birds,  one  of 
which  proved  to  be  Junco  montanus,  an  identification  which  was 
later  confirmed  by  Mr.  Ridgway.  Mr.  Dayton  says : 

"The  birds  were  feeding  on  the  seeds  of  ragweed  and  I  would 
have  passed  them  by  but  for  the  fact  that  the  darkest  one  flew 
to  the  dead  limb  of  a  sapling  and  was  so  strikingly  different  from 
our  common  Juncos  that  I  shot  the  bird  and  also  four  others 
which  showed  a  very  dark  plumage." 

This  species  was  recorded  some  thirty  years  ago  by  Mr.  H. 
K.  Coale  (as  Junco  oregonus),  who  says:*  "October  14,  1875,  I 
saw  a  flock  of  some  dozen  birds  in  a  willow  tree  and  killed  one 
of  them  with  a  sling;  the  rest  flew  off  and  were  not  seen  again. 
The  specimen  was  sent  to  Mr.  Nelson,  who  identified  it  as  Junco 
oreganus,  the  first  one  of  this  species  captured  in  the  state  (Illi- 
nois), its  extreme  eastern  range  heretofore  known  being  Kan- 
sas." Mr.  Coale  informs  me  that  this  specimen  was  taken  in  a 
yard  in  Chicago.  Junco  montanus  would  seem  to  be  a  rare  win- 
ter visitant. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  as  follows :  Breeding  from  north- 
western Montana  and  northern  Idaho  north  to  Northwest  Terri- 
tory and  Alberta ;  in  winter  south  to  Arizona,  northern  Chihua- 
hua, western  and  middle  Texas,  etc.  East  more  or  less  casually 
to  eastern  Kansas,  Illinois,  Michigan,  northern  Indiana,  Massa- 
chusetts, Maryland,  etc. 

Junco  oreganus  shufeldti  (Coale).    Shufeldt's  Junco. 

Junco  hyemalis  shufeldti  COALE,  Auk,  IV,  p.  330,  Oct.,  1887. 

Junco  hyemalis  shufeldti  COALE,  A.  O.  U.  Check  List,  p.  235,  1895. 

There  is  a  specimen  of  this  bird  in  the  Field  Museum  of 
Natural  History,  which  was  taken  at  Waukegan,  Illinois,  Feb- 
ruary 26th,  1897.  It  is  an  adult  male  and  very  typical  of  shufeldti. 
The  skin  was  purchased  from  Mr.  Henry  K.  Coale,  who  de- 
scribed the  variety. 

The  range  of  shufeldti  is  as  follows :  Breeding  from  the  in- 
terior of  northern  British  Columbia,  east  to  the  Rocky  Mountains 
in  Alberta,  south  to  Vancouver  Island,  Washington  and  northern 
Oregon,  probably  to  northwestern  Montana  and  western  Idaho; 
south  in  winter  over  entire  Rocky  Mountain  plateau  of  the  United 
States  to  Arizona,  New  Mexico  and  western  Texas  and  even  to 
northern  Mexico ;  occasional  in  winter  in  northern  (and  eastern?) 


'Bull.   Nuttall   Ornith.   Club,  Vol.   22,   July,    1877. 


THE   NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY.  143 

California,  straggling  eastward  to  Illinois.  This  is  the  most 
eastern  authentic  range  yet  recorded.  It  is  quite  probable  that 
both  this  variety  and  also  Junco  montanus  may  be  found  in  some 
collections  labeled  hyemalis  or  oreganus.  A  lookout  should  be 
kept  by  local  ornithologists  for  eastern  stragglers  of  these  two 
Juncos. 

Genus  MELOSPIZA  Baird,  1858. 

Mclospiza  cinerea  melodia  (Wilson).    Song  Sparrow. 
Fringilla  fasciata  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  pt.  ii,  1788,  922. 
Fringilla  melodia  WILSOX,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  125,  pi.  16,  fig.  4. 
Melospiza  melodia  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  477,  part. 
Melospiza  fasciata  SCOTT,  Amer.  Nat.  X,  1876,  18. 
Melospiza  cinerea  melodia  RIDGWAY,   Bull.  U.   S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  50, 
pt.  1,  1901,  354. 

The  Song  Sparrow  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
early  in  March,  and  departing  in  October. 

The  range  of  the  Song  Sparrow  includes  the  eastern  United 
States  from  the  Atlantic  coast  westward  quite  through  the  Great 
Plains,  breeding  along  the  Atlantic  sea-board  and  the  northern 
United  States  northward  to  the  Fur  Countries  and  wintering 
from  the  latitude  of  about  50°  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Melospiza  lincolnii  (Audubon).    Lincoln's  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  lincolnii  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  1834,  539,  pi.  193. 
Melospiza  lincolnii  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv..  IX,  1858,  482. 
Popular  synonyms:     LINCOLN'S  FINCH.     LINCOLN'S  SONG  SPARROW. 

A  rare  summer  resident  and  a  not  uncommon  spring  and  fall 
migrant.  Mr.  George  K.  Cherrie  obtained  a  young  bird,  just  out 
of  the  nest,  at  Worth,  Illinois,  on  June  30,  1896,  and  on  July  16, 
1896,  Mr.  Cherrie  and  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  obtained  an 
adult  and  a  nestling  near  Lake  Calumet.  These  Sparrows  arrive 
in  May  and  depart  from  the  last  of  September  to  the  middle  of 
October. 

While  the  range  of  this  species  covers  practically  the  whole 
of  North  America  it  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States  and 
winters  in  the  southern  states,  Mexico  and  south  to  Panama. 

Melospiza  georgiana  (Latham).     Swamp  Sparrow. 
Fringilla  georgiana  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  I,  1790,  460. 
Fringilla  palustris  WILSON,   Amer.   Orn.,   Ill,   1811,  49,  pi.   22.  fig.   1. 
Melospiza  palustris  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX.  1858,  483. 
Melospiza  georgiana  RIDGTVAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885,  355. 
Popular*synonym  :     SWAMP  SONG  SPARROW. 


144  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  late  in  March,  and  de- 
parting late  in  October. 

The  range  of  this  Sparrow  covers  the  eastern  United  States 
and  British  Possessions,  west  to  the  Great  Plains,  casually  to 
Utah,  and  breeds  from  the  United  States  northward.  It  winters 
southward  chiefly  below  latitude  38°. 

Genus  PASSERELLA  Swainson,  1837. 

Passerella  iliaca  (Merrem).    Fox  Sparrow. 

Fringilla  iliaca  MERREM,  Beitr.  Gesch.  Vog.,  II,  1786-1787,  49,  pi.  10. 

Passerella  iliaca  SWAINSON,  Classif.  B.,  II,  1837,  288. 

Popular  synonyms :     FOX-COLORED   SPARROW.     RUFOUS    SPARROW. 

The  Fox  Sparrow  is  a  common  migrant,  passing  through 
our  area  in  spring  migrations  chiefly  in  March  and  April ;  re- 
turning in  the  fall  it  may  remain  with  us  until  about  the  middle 
of  November. 

The  range  of  the  Fox  Sparrow  covers  eastern  North  America 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  northward  to  Alaska  and  the  Arctic 
coast,  and  it  breeds  north  of  the  United  States  and  winters  chiefly 
south  of  latitude  40°. 

Genus   PIPILO   Vieillot,   1816. 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (Linnaeus).    Towhee. 

Fringilla  erythrophthalma  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  180. 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  VIEILLOT,  Gal.  Ois.,  I,  1824,  109,  pi.  80. 
Popular  synonyms:     JAREE.     CHEWINK.     TOWINK.     GROUND  ROBIN. 

The  Towhee  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving  from  the 
middle  of  March  to  the  middle  of  April,  and  departing  about  the 
last  of  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  eastern  United  States 
and  the  southern  portion  of  the  British  Possessions,  west  to  the 
Plains.  It  breeds  from  Georgia  and  the  lower  Mississippi  Valley 
northward ;  winters  from  Pennsylvania  and  Indiana  southward. 

Pipilo  maculatus  arcticus  (Swainson).    Arctic  Towhee. 

Pyrgita  (Pipilo)  arctica  SWAINSON,  in  Sw.  &  Rich.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer., 

II,  1831,  260,  pis.  51,  52. 
Pipilo  maculatus  var.  arcticus  COUES,  Key,  1872,  152. 

The  only  record  that  I  have  found  of  the  taking  of  the  Arctic 
Towhee  within  our  limits  is  that  of  Mr.  F.  S.  Dayton  who  shot 
one  of  these  birds  in  the  woods  west  of  North  Evanston,  Illinois, 
on  October  24,  1898,  near  the  same  locality  where  he  obtained 


THE    NATURAL   HISTORY    SURVEY.  145 

specimens  of  Junco  montanus  three  days  before.  The  specimen 
is  in  the  collection  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences  having 
been  donated  by  Mr.  Dayton.  It  is  the  skin  of  a  typical  adult 
male. 

Its  range  is  given  as  follows  in  the  A.  O.  U.  Check-list: 
"Plains  of  the  Platte,  upper  Missouri,  Yellowstone  and  Sas- 
katchewan Rivers,  west  to  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, south  in  winter  to  Kansas,  Colorado  and  Texas." 

Genus  CARDINALIS  Bonaparte,  1837. 

Cardinalis  cardinalis  (Linnasus).    Cardinal. 

Loxia  cardinalis  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  1758,  172. 

Cardinalis  virginianus  BONAPARTE,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  London,  1837,  III, 
part. 

Pitylus  cardinalis  AUDUBON,   Synop.,   1839,   131. 

Cardinalis  cardinalis  LICHTENSTEIN,  Nomencl.  Mus.  Berol.,  1854,  44. 

Popular  synonyms:  CARDINAL  GROSBEAK.  REDBIBD.  CARDINAL  RED- 
BIRD.  VIRGINIAN  REDBIRD.  VIRGINIA  NIGHTINGALE.  CRESTED 
REDBIRD.  CORN-CRAKER. 

In  1876,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson*  reported  the  Cardinal  to  be  "a 
rare  and  irregular  summer  resident,"  and  says  that  "occasionally 
specimens  remain  until  late  in  Autumn."  I  have  heard  of  the 
Cardinal  being  taken  in  our  public  parks,  and  have  myself  secured 
one  specimen  which  showed,  however,  unmistakable  signs  of 
having  been  an  escaped  cage  bird.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr., 
has  a  specimen  of  this  species  which  was  taken,  at  Kouts,  In- 
diana, on  December  n,  1893.  Some  years  ago  I  found  a  nest 
of  the  Cardinal  at  River  Forest,  Illinois.  Mr.  O.  M.  Schantz 
informs  me  that  in  the  year  1904  there  were  two  pairs  nesting 
at  Riverside,  Illinois,  and  that  they  arrived  in  that  locality  on 
the  seventeenth  of  April. 

The  range  of  the  Cardinal  covers  the  United  States  east  of 
the  Great  Plains,  and  from  Iowa,  the  Great  Lakes  and  southern 
New  York  southward.  Casually  it  is  found  further  north  in 
Ontario  and  the  New  England  states. 

Genus  ZAMELODIA  Cones,  1880. 

Zamelodia  ludoviciana  (Linnaeus).    Rose-breasted  Grosbeak. 
Loxia  ludoviciana  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766.  306. 
Fringilla    ludoviciana   BONAPARTE,    Amer.    Orn.,    II.    1828,   79,   pi.    15, 

fig.  2. 
Coccolorus  ludovicianus  AUDUBON,  Syn.,  1839.  133. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute.  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  110 


146  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Hedymeles  ludoviciana  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  I,  June,  1851,  152. 
Goniaphca  ludoviciana  GUNDLACH,   Report   Fisco-Nat.   Cuba,   I,   1866, 

286. 

Zamelodia  ludoviciana  COUES,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  V,  1880,  98. 
Habia  ludoviciana  STEJNEGER,  Auk,  1,  Oct.  1884,  367. 
Popular  synonyms :     RED-BREASTED  GROSBEAK.     POTATO-BUG  BIRD. 
The  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  is  a  common  summer  resident, 
arriving  the  last  of  April,  and  departing  early  in  October. 

The  range  of  the  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak  extends  east  of 
Manitoba  and  the  Great  Plains,  southward  in  winter  to  Cuba 
and  the  northern  portion  of  South  America.  It  breeds  from 
about  the  latitude  of  Kansas  and  South  Carolina  northward. 

Genus  CYANOSPIZA  Baird,  1858. 

Cyanospiza  cyanea  (LinnaBus).    Indigo  Bunting  . 

Tanagra  cyanea  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  315. 
Fringilla  cyanea  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1810,  100,  pi.  6,  fig.  5. 
Passerina  cyanea  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XXV,   1817,  7. 
Spiza  cyanea  JARDINE,  ed.  Wilson's  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1832,  446. 
Cyanospiza  cyanea  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  505. 
Popular  synonyms :     INDIGO  BIRD.     BLUE  LINNET.     GREEN  BIRD  OB 
LINNET. 

The  Indigo  Bunting  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
the  last  of  April,  and  departing  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  eastern  United  States, 
from  Canada  southward,  in  winter  to  Central  America  and  Cuba, 
westward  to  the  eastern  edge  of  the  Great  Plains. 

Genus  SPIZA  Bonaparte,  1824. 

Spiza  americana  (Gmelin).    Dickcissel. 

Emberiza  americana  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  872. 

Eu&piza  americana'  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  32. 

Spiza  americana  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Ns»t.  Mus.,  Ill,  March  27, 
1880,  3. 

Popular  synonyms:  BLACK-THROATED  BUNTING.  LITTLE  MEADOW- 
LARK. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May  and  de- 
parting about  the  latter  part  of  August. 

The  range  of  the  Dickcissel  includes  the  United  States  east 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  from  Massachusetts,  Ontario  and  North 
Dakota  south  to  Texas.  It  winters  in  Central  America  and 
northern  South  America  and  is  rare  east  of  the  Alleghanies. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  147 

FAMILY  TANAGRID^:    THE  TANAGERS. 
Genus  PIRANGA  Vieillot,  1807. 

Piranga  erythromelas  Vieillot.    Scarlet  Tanager. 

Tanagra  rubra   (not  Fringilla  rubra  Linnaeus,  1758)  LINN^US,  S.  N., 

ed.  12,  I,  1766,  314. 
Pyranga  rubra  SWAINSON  AND  RICHABDSON,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II, 

1831,  273. 
Pyranga   erythromelas    VIELLOT,    Nouv,    Diet.    d'Hist.    Nat,    XXVIII, 

1819,  293. 
Popular  synonym :     BLACK-WINGED  REDBIRD. 

The  Scarlet  Tanager  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
the  last  of  April  and  departing  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  this  species  lies  east  of  the  Great  Plains,  and 
from  Manitoba  and  southern  Ontario  southward,  in  winter  to 
the  eastern  portion  of  Mexico,  Central  America,  northern  South 
America  and  the  West  Indies.  It  breeds  chiefly  in  the  more 
northern  portion  of  its  range. 

Piranga  rubra  (Linnaeus).    Summer  Tanager. 

Fringilla  rubra  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  181. 

Tanagra  aestiva  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  889. 

Pyranga  aestiva  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  ed.  2,  XXVIII, 

1819,  291. 

Piranga  rubra  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  I,  1807,  p.  iv. 
Popular  synonyms:     SUMMEB  REDBIBD.     VEBMILION  TANAGEB.     RED 

TANAGEB.    RED  BEE-BIED. 

The  summer  Tanager  is,  at  the  present  time  at  least,  a  very 
rare  summer  visitant.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  says  that  it  was 
not  rare  at  the  time  he  wrote  his  list  of  Cook  County  birds.* 
He  also  states  that  the  species  was  known  to  nest  in  Cook  County. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:f  "A  rare  summer  visitant.  I  know 
of  but  few  instances  of  its  occurrence."  Mr.  O.  M.  Schantz  of 
Morton  Park,  Illinois,  informs  me  that  a  Summer  Tanager  has 
made  an  extended  visit  to  his  grounds,  and  that  it  has  been  seen 
by  a  number  of  persons  who  were  familiar  with  the  bird,  so  that 
there  seems  to  be  no  question  of  its  occurrence  occasionally  with- 
in our  limits.  Mr.  Schantz  saw  this  Tanager  in  April,  1904. 

The  Summer  Tanager  is,  at  the  present  time  at  least,  a  very 
range  which  extends  throughout  the  eastern  United  States  west 
to  the  Plains,  and  from  southern  New  Jersey  and  southern  Illi- 
nois southward,  wintering  in  eastern  Mexico  and  southward  to 


*Trans.  Illinois  State  Agri,  Society.  Vol.  1. 1853-1854.  585. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  104. 


148  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Peru.     It  is  casually  found  northward  to  southern  Canada  and 
Nova  Scotia. 

FAMILY  HIRUNDINnxaS:     SWALLOWS. 
Genus  PROGNE  Boie,  1826. 

Progne  subis  (Linnaeus).    Purple  Martin. 

Hirundo  subis  LINNJEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  192. 
Hirundo  purpurea  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  344. 
Progne  purpurea  BOIE,  Isis,  1826,  971. 
Progne  subis  BAIRD,  Rev.  Amer.  B.,  I,  May,  1865,  274. 
Popular  synonyms :     MARTIN.     HOUSE  MARTIN.     PURPLE   SWALLOW. 
AMERICAN  MARTIN.     VIOLET  SWALLOW. 

The  Purple  Martin  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
from  the  last  of  March  to  the  middle  of  April  and  departing  in 
September. 

The  rarige  of  the  Purple  Martin  extends  over  the  whole  of 
temperate  North  America  and  it  winters  in  South  America. 

Genus  PETROCHELIDON  Cabanis,  1850. 

Petrochelidon  lunifrons  (Say).    Cliff  Swallow. 

Hirundo  lunifrons  SAY,  Long's  Exp.,  II,  1823,  47. 

Hirundo  fulva  BONAPARTE,  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1825,  63,  pi.  7,  fig.  1. 

Petrochelidon  lunifrons  CASSIN,  Cat.  Hiruu.  Mus.  Philadelphia  Acad. 
Nat.  Sci.,  1853,  4. 

Popular  synonyms :  EAVE  SWALLOW.  REPUBLICAN  SWALLOW.  SQUARE- 
TAILED  SWALLOW.  WHITE-FRONTED  SWALLOW.  CRESCENT  SWAL- 
LOW. 

The  Cliff  Swallow  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
early  in  April  and  departing  in  September. 

The  range  of  this  Swallow  covers  the  whole  of  temperate 
North  America  from  Nova  Scotia  and  Alaska  southward,  breed- 
ing south  as  far  as  southern  California,  southern  Texas  and  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  though  it  is  seemingly  not  found  in  Florida.  It 
winters  in  Central  and  South  America. 

Genus  HIRUNDO  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Hirundo  erythrogastra  Boddaert.     American  Barn  Swallow. 
Hirundo  erythrogastra  BODDAERT,  Tabl.  P.  E.,  1783,  45. 
Hirundo  horreorum  BARTON,  Frag.  Nat.  Hist.  Penn.,  1799,  17. 
Hirundo  americana  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  V,  1812,  34,  pi.  38.  figs.  1,  2. 
Chelidon  erythrogastra  STEJNEGER,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  V,  June  5, 

1882,  31. 
Popular  synonyms  :     RUFOUS-BELLIED  SWALLOW.    FORKED-TAILED  BARN 

SWALLOW. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  149 

The  American  Barn  Swallow  is  a  common  summer  resident, 
arriving  the  last  of  April  and  the  first  of  May  and  departing 
early  in  September. 

The  range  of  the  American  Barn  Swallow  covers  North 
America  in  general,  and  it  breeds  from  the  Fur  Countries  south- 
ward to  Mexico.  It  winters  in  the  southern  states  and  tropical 
America  as  far  south  as  southern  Brazil. 

Genus  IRIDOPROCNE  Coues,  1878. 

Iridoprocne  Tricolor  (Vieillot).    Tree  Swallow. 

Hirnndo  bicolor  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  I,  1807,  61,  pi.  31. 
Tachycineta  bicolor  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  I,  1850,  48. 
Iridoprocne  bicolor  COUES,  Birds  Colorado  Valley,  1878,  412. 
Popular  synonyms :     WHITE-BELLIED  SWALLOW.     BLACK  AND  WHITE 
SWALLOW.     GBEEN-BLUE  SWALLOW. 

Many  years  ago  the  Tree  Swallow  was  reported  to  be  an 
abundant  resident,  but  now  it  is  certainly  a  rather  rare  resident 
but  a  common  migrant,  arriving  from  the  last  of  March  to  the 
middle  of  April  apd  departing  in  September. 

The  range  of  the  Tree  Swallow  covers  the  whole  of  temperate 
North  America  and  it  breeds  from  the  table-lands  of  Mexico 
northward  to  the  Fur  Countries.  It  winters. in  the  West  Indies, 
the  southern  United  States  and  southward  through  Mexico  and 
Guatemala. 

Genus  TACHYCINETA  Cabanis,  1850. 

Tachycineta  thalassina  lepida  (Mearns).    Violet-green  Swallow. 

Hirundo  thalassinus  of  authors,  not  of  SWAINS.,  Phil.  Mag..   I.  1827, 

366. 

Tachycineta  thalassina  COUES,  Birds,   N.  W.,  1874,  p.  86   (part). 
Tachi/cincta  lepida   MEARNS,  Proc.   Biol.    Soc.   Wash.,   XV,   March  5, 

1892,  p.  31. 
Tachycincta  thalassina  lepida,  A.  O.  U.  Com.,  Auk.  XIX,  July,  1002. 

p.  325. 

This  bird  is  a  distinctly  western  species,  ranging  from  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  westward  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and  from  British  Columbia  southward,  wintering  as  far 
south  as  Costa  Rica.  A  fine  male  specimen  of  this  Swallow  was 
taken,  by  Mr.  George  Clingman,  within  our  limits  at  South  Ken- 
wood, on  May  4,  1897. 

Genus  RIP  ARIA  Forster,  1817. 

Riparia  riparia  (Linnaeus).    Bank  Swallow. 

Hirundo  riparia  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  192. 


I5O  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Cotyle  riparia  BOIE,  Isis,  1826,  971. 

Clivicola  riparia  STEJNEGER  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  V,  1882,  32. 
Riparia  riparia  SHARPS  &  WYATT,  Monogr.  Hirundinidae,  1894,  XLIV, 
Popular  synonyms :     SAND  MAETIN.     SAND  SWALLOW. 

A  common  summer  resident,  arriving  early  in  May  and  de- 
parting in  September.  This  Swallow  nests  in  the  sand  hills  and 
clay  bluffs  along  the  lake  shore. 

The  range  of  this  Swallow  includes  the  northern  hemisphere 
in  general  and  in  the  Americas  south  to  the  northern  portion  of 
South  America.  It  winters  chiefly  south  of  the  United  States 
and  breeds  from  the  middle  districts  of  the  United  States  north- 
ward. 

Genus  STELGIDOPTERYX  Baird,  1858. 
Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  (Audubon).    Bough- winged  Swallow. 

Hirundo  serripennis  AUDUBON,  On.  Biog.,  IV,  1838,  593. 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858, 
312. 

Popular  synonyms :  ROUGH-WINGED  BANK  SWALLOW  OB  SAND  MAR- 
TIN. BBIDGE  SWALLOW. 

A  rare  spring  migrant.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  1879, 
Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  shot  four  specimens  at  Dolton,  Illinois.  On  the 
fifteenth  of  May,  1895,  I  obtained  three  adults  of  this  species  at 
Worth,  Illinois.  They  were  flying  in  company  with  Barn  and 
Bank  Swallows  over  the  marshes.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:* 
"A  rare  summer  visitant,  perhaps  breeds." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  whole  of  the  United 
States,  excepting  possibly  the  extreme  northern  portion.  It  is 
also  found  in  southern  Ontario  but  not  in  the  eastern  portion 
of  New  England.  It  breeds  throughout  its  range  in  the  United 
States  and  into  Mexico.  It  winters  in  the  southern  United 
States,  Mexico  and  southward  through  Central  America. 

FAMILY  AMPELID^E:    WAXWINGS,  ETC. 
Genus  AMPELIS  Linnaeus,  1766. 

Ampelis  garrulus  Linnaeus.    Bohemian  Waxwing. 

Lanius  garrulus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  95. 
Ampelis  garrulus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  297. 
Bomlycilla  garrula  BONAPARTE,  Zool.  Journ.,  Ill,  1828,  pi.  16,  fig.  2. 
VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XVI.  1817,  523,  pi.  10,  fig.  3. 
Popular  synonyms:     NORTHERN   WAXWING.     BLACK-THKOATED  WAX- 
WING.    WAXEN  CHATTERER. 


'Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  102. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  15! 

The  Bohemian  Waxwing  is  an  irregular  winter  visitant.  I 
have  not  taken  this  species  within  our  area.  On  January  i, 
1896,  I  obtained  a  fine  pair  at  Lake  Forest,  Illinois,  and  saw 
about  twenty  more.  A  few  days  later,  Mr.  John  F.  Ferry  ob- 
tained a  fine  male  at  the  same  place.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :* 
"An  irregular  but  occasionally  abundant  winter  resident,  espe- 
cially along  the  lake.  In  a  letter  dated  March  16,  1876,  Mr. 
Charles  Douglas,  of  Waukegan,  describes  an  'immense'  flock  of 
these  birds  which  he  observed  the  day  previous,  upon  the  lake 
shore  near  that  town."  In  his  Birds  of  Indiana,f  Mr.  Amos  W. 
Butler  says:  "Dr.  J.  L.  Hancock  informs  me  that  March  I, 
1880,  he  shot  two  from  a  flock  of  eight  that  were  feeding  on 
mountain  ash  berries  in  Chicago.  March  30,  1880,  over  one 
hundred  of  these  birds  were  killed  at  Whiting,  Lake  County, 
Indiana,  and  taken  to  a  Chicago  taxidermist.  They  were  seen 
by  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale.  Specimens  from  that  lot  are  in  the  collec- 
tion of  Mr.  Coale,  Mr.  George  L.  Toppan  and  my  own."  Mr. 
H.  K.  Coale  informs  me  that  on  December  4,  1880,  Mr.  R.  A. 
Turtle  shot  thirty  of  forty  specimens,  out  of  a  large  flock,  at 
Whiting,  Indiana. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  northern  parts  of  the 
northern  hemisphere;  in  America,  south  in  winter  irregularly  to 
Pennsylvania,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kansas,  Colorado,  Arizona  and 
California.  It  breeds  north  of  the  United  States. 

Ampelis  cedrorum  (Vieillot).    Cedar  Waxwing. 

BombyciUa  cedrorum  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  I,  1807,  88,  pi.  57. 
Ampelis  cedrorum  GRAY,  Gen.  B.,  I,  1846,  278. 

Popular  synonyms :    CEDAB  BIBD.    CEDAB-LABK.    CHEERY  BIBD.    CABO- 
LINA  WAXWIXG. 

The  Cedar  Waxwing  is  a  common  summer  resident  which  oc- 
casionally stays  within  our  limits  during  the  winter.  The  ma- 
jority of  them  arrive  the  last  of  March  and  depart  the  last  of 
September. 

The  range  of  the  Cedar  Waxwing  includes  the  whole  of  tem- 
perate North  America  southward,  breeding  as  far  south  as  the 
southern  states.  It  winters  from  the  northern  border  of  the 
United  States  southward  as  far  as  the  West  Indies  and  Costa 
Rica. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  103. 
tTwenty-second  Annual  Report,   Dept.   Geol.   and   Xat.    Resources,   Indiana,    1897, 
1002. 


152  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

FAMILY  LANIIDJE:     SHRIKES. 
Genus  LANIUS  Linnaeus.  1758. 

Lanius  borealis  Vieilot.    Northern  Shrike. 

Lanius  borealis  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  I,  1807,  80,  pi.  50. 
Collurio  borealis  BAIBD,  Review  Amer.  Birds,  June,  1866,  440. 
Popular   synonyms :      GREAT   AMERICAN    SHRIKE.      GREAT    NORTHERN 
SHRIKE.     GREAT  NORTHERN  BUTCHER  BIRD. 

The  Northern  Shrike  is  a  common  winter  resident,  arriving 
the  last  of  October  and  departing  late  in  March.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  suggests  that  "sometimes  they  remain  late  in  the  season 
and  may  breed."*  Probably  the  most  advantageous  places  to 
observe  these  birds  are  in  the  city  parks,  where  they  fare 
sumptuously  on  the  English  sparrows.  I  have  repeatedly  seen 
them  drive  the  sparrows  from  under  the  eaves  of  the  buffalo 
pens  in  Lincoln  Park,  Chicago,  in  order  to  capture  them. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  northern  North  America, 
in  winter  south  to  about'  latitude  35°,  and  on  the  Pacific  coast 
to  northern  California.  It  breeds  north  of  the  United  States. 

Lanius  ludovicianus  Linnaeus.    Loggerhead  Shrike. 

Lanius  ludovicianus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  134. 
Lanius  ludovicianus  var.  ludovicianus  LINNAEUS,  of  some  authors. 
Popular  synonyms :    COMMON  AMERICAN  SHRIKE.    LOUISIANA  SHRIKE. 
SOUTHERN  BUTCHER  BIRD. 

The  Loggerhead  Shrike  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriv- 
ing early  in  March  and  departing  the  first  of  November. 

The  range  of  the  Loggerhead  Shrike  covers  the  United 
States  east  of  the  Great  Plains,  and  it  breeds  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  northward  excepting  on  the  Atlantic  coast  where  it  breeds 
north  to  Virginia  and  casually  to  the  southern  portion  of  New 
Jersey.  It  also  breeds  through  western  Pennsylvania  and  New 
York  to  the  New  England  states. 

FAMILY  VIRIONIDJE:     THE  VIREOS. 

Genus  VIREOS YLVA  Bonaparte,  1838. 

Vireosylva  olivacea  (Linnaeus).    Red-eyed  Vireo. 

Muscicapa  olivacea  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  327. 
Vireo  olivaceus  BONAPARTE,  Ann.  Lye.  N.  Y.,  II,  1826,  71. 
Popular  synonym  :  RED-EYED  GREENLET. 

The  Red-eyed  Vireo  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
early  in  May  and  departing  early  in  October. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  104. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  153 

The  range  of  the  Red-eyed  Yireo  lies  chiefly  east  of  Colorado 
and  British  Columbia,  and  from  the  Arctic  regions  southward 
It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  North  American  range  and  win- 
ters south  to  Florida. 

Vireosylva  philadelphica  Cassin.    Philadelphia  Vireo. 

Vireosylvia  philadelphica  CASSIN,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia, 

V,  Feb.  1851,  153,  pi.  10,  fig.  2. 

Vireo  philadelphicus  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  335. 
Popular    synonyms:       PHILADELPHIA    GBEENLET.       BEOTHEELY-LOVE 

VIBEO. 

This  Vireo  is  a  rare  migrant,  arriving  in  the  spring  about  the 
middle  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from  the  last  of  August 
to  the  last  of  September.  In  1876,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson*  con- 
sidered it  to  be  a  common  migrant,  and  says:  "They  were  so 
numerous  near  Waukegan  about  the  twentieth  of  May  1876, 
that  a  dozen  specimens  might  have  been  obtained  in  an  hour." 

The  range  of  this  species  lies  in  the  eastern  United  States, 
chiefly  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  and  from  the  Fur  Countries 
southward  to  Costa  Rica  and  Panama  though  it  has  not  been 
recorded  from  Mexico  or  the  West  Indies.  It  breeds  chiefly 
north  of  the  United  States.  There  are  indications  that  is  may 
breed  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says :  "The 
first  of  July,  1874,  I  found  two  pairs  of  these  birds  in  a  dense 
willow  thicket  bordering  Mazon  Creek,  about  sixty  miles  south 
of  Chicago.  Upon  my  approach  the  birds  showed  great  anxiety, 
uttering  a  short  complaining  cry,  and  coming  within  a  few  feet 
of  me.  That  they  had  young  in  the  vicinity  I  was  sure,  but  owing 
to  the  character  of  the  covert  they  were  not  found."  There  is 
evidence  that  it  also  breeds  in  Indiana,  for  it  is  known  to  be  a 
rare  summer  resident  in  that  state,  specimens  having  been  taken 
during  the  months  of  June  and  July.  Professor  B.  W.  Evermann 
says  that  it  is  a  rare  summer  resident  in  both  Carroll  and  Mon- 
roe Counties,  Indiana. 

Vireosylva  gilva  (Vieillot.).    Warbling  Vireo. 

Muscicapa  gilva  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept..  I,  1807,  65,  pi.  34. 

Vireo    gilvus    BONAPARTE,    Journ.    Acad.    Nat.    Sci.    Philadelphia,    IV, 

1824.   176. 
Popular  synonym  :    WABBLING  GBEENLET. 

The  Warbling  Vireo  was  formerly  a  common,  but  it  is  now 
a  rare  summer  resident,  and  is  more  common  during  its  migra- 
tions. It  arrives  early  in  May  and  departs  about  the  middle  of 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  102. 


154  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

September.  On  June  9,  1885,  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  found  a  nest 
of  this  species,  which  contained  four  eggs,  in  Lake  County,  Illi- 
nois, a  few  miles  north  of  our  area. 

The  range  of  the  Warbling  Vireo  covers  North  America  in 
general,  from  the  Fur  Countries  southward  into  Mexico  and  it 
breeds  quite  throughout  its  range. 

Genus  LANIVIREO  Baird,  1858. 

Lanivireo  flavifrons  (Vieillot).    Yellow-throated  Vireo. 

Vireo  flavifrons  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  I,  1807,  85,  pi.  54. 
Popular  synonym:    YELLOW-THROATED  GREENLET. 

This  Vireo  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant,  and  is  probably  a 
rare  summer  resident.  In  the  spring  it  arrives  about  the  last 
of  April,  and  in  the  fall  it  arrives  in  September  and  departs  from 
the  last  of  that  month  to  the  middle  of  October.  On  the  eighth 
of  June,  1885,  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  obtained  a  nest  and  the  eggs  of 
this  species  in  Lake  County,  Illinois,  a  few  miles  north  of  our 
area. 

The  range  of  this  Vireo  covers  the  United  States  east  of  the 
Great  Plains,  and  from  Canada  southward.  It  breeds  from  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  northward,  and  it  winters  in  Florida  and  south- 
ward through  Mexico  to  Colombia. 

Lanivireo  soltarius  (Wilson).    Blue-headed  Vireo. 

Muscicapa  solitaria  WILSON,  Amer.  On.,  II,  1810,  43,  pi.  17,  fig.  6. 
Vireo  solitarius   VIEILLOT,    Nouv.    Diet.   d'Hist.    Nat.,   XXXVI,    1819, 

103. 

Popular   synonyms:      SOLITARY   GREENLET  OR   VIREO.     BLUE-HEADED 
GREENLET. 

The  Blue-headed  Vireo  was  formerly  a  common  but  now  it 
is  a  rather  rare  migrant.  In  the  spring  it  arrives  from  the  first  to 
the  last  of  May,  and  it  returns  in  the  fall  from  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember to  the  first  week  in  October.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs  me 
that  it  is  silent  while  passing  through  our  area  during  its  migra- 
tions, and  that  it  occurs  more  plentifully  during  its  fall  migra- 
tions. 

Its  range  covers  North  America  east  of  the  Plains  and  from 
the  Fur  Countries  southward.  It  breeds  from  the  northern  bor- 
der of  the  United  States  northward,  and  it  winters  in  the  West 
Indies  and  eastern  Mexico  south  to  Guatemala. 

Genus  VIREO  Vieillot,  1807. 

Vireo  noveboracensis  (Gmelin).    White-eyed  Vireo. 

Muscicapa  noveboracensis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  947. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  155 

Vireo  noveboracensis  BONAPARTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia, 

IV,   1824,   176. 
Popular  synonyms:     WHITE-EYED  GBEENLET.     LITTLE  GBEEN   HANG- 

ING-BIBD.    CHICKTY-BEAVEB. 

The  White-eyed  Vireo  is  a  rare  visitant  from  other  portions 
of  Illinois.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  informs  me  of  a  specimen  which  was 
taken  at  Glen  Ellyn  on  May  24,  1898.  This  species  is  an  abun- 
dant summer  resident  in  the  southern  portions  of  Illinois,  and  is 
also  not  uncommon  in  other  suitable  localities  within  the  state. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  recorded  it*  as  a  "summer  resident.  Rather 
rare.  Arrives  the  middle  of  May  and  departs  the  first  of  Oc- 
tober." 

The  range  of  the  White-eyed  Vireo  covers  the  United  States, 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  from  Minnesota  and  the  south- 
ern portion  of  New  England.  It  breeds  from  the  Gulf  states 
northward,  and  winters  in  the  Gulf  states  and  south  to  Guatemala 
and  Honduras. 

Vireo  bellii  Audubon.    Bell's  Vireo. 

Vireo  bellii  AUDUBON,  B.  Amer.,  VII,  1844,  333,  pi.  485. 
Popular  synonym  :     BELL'S  GBEENLET. 

The  only  records  I  have  been  able  to  find  of  the  occurrence 
of  Bell's  Vireo  within  our  limits  are  the  following:  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says:*  "A  single  specimen,  obtained  near  Chicago,  June 
23,  1875,  is  tne  only  instance  I  have  recorded  of  its  occurrence  in 
this  vicinity.  It  is  a  common  summer  resident  on  the  more 
southern  prairies  of  the  state."  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  informs  me 
that  a  specimen  was  brought  to  him  which  had  been  shot  by  a 
boy  in  Chicago  in  the  spring  of  1875.  The  identification  was  af- 
terwards confirmed  by  Dr.  Ridgway.  Mr.  Harry  Swarth  re- 
ports the  finding  of  Veil's  Vireo,  nesting  in  a  thick  patch  of 
shrubbery  at  Joliet,  Illinois.  Subsequently  several  more  nests 
were  found.  These  are  the  first  authentic  nesting  records  for 
this  region. 

FAMILY  MNIOTILTID^B:    WOOD  WARBLERS. 
Genus  MNIOTILTA  Vieillot,  1816. 

Mniotilta  varia  (Linnaeus).     Black  and  White  Warbler. 
Motacilla  varia  LINN.-EUS,  S.  X.,  ed.  12.  I,  1766,  333. 
Mniotilta  varia  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XXI,  1818,  230. 
Popular  synonyms :     BLACK  AND  WHITE  CBEEPEB.    BLACK  AND  WHITE 
CREEPING  WABBLEB.     STRIPED  CREEPER. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  103. 


156  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

This  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant,  arriving  from  early  in 
April  to  the  middle  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from  about 
the  middle  of  August  to  the  first  of  October.  In  1876,  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  reported  this  creeping  Warbler  to  be  a  not  uncommon 
summer  resident,  but  I  can  find  no  other  records  of  its  occur- 
rence within  our  limits  during  the  summer  months. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  over  eastern  North  Amer- 
ica, east  of  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  from 
the  Fur  Countries  southward,  in  winter,  through  the  West  Indies 
and  Central  America  to  Colombia.  It  breeds  from  the  southern 
states  northward. 

Genus  PROTONOTARIA  Baird,  1858. 

Protonotaria  citrea  (Boddaert).    Prothonotary  Warbler. 
Motacilla  citrea  BODDAERT,  Tabl.  P.  E.,  1783,  44. 
Motacilla  protonotarius  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  972. 
Sylvia  protonotaria  VIEILLOT,  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  XI,  1817,  211. 
Motacilla  auricollis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  984. 
Sylvicola  auricollis  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  431. 
Protonotaria  citrea  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  1858,  239. 
Popular  synonyms :    WILLOW  WARBLER.    GOLDEN  SWAMP  WARBLER. 

The  Prothonotary  Warbler  is  a  rare  summer  visitant.  It 
breeds  abundantly  along  the  Kankakee  River  which  seems  to  be 
the  northern  limit  of  its  breeding  range  in  Illinois.  Occasionally 
these  Warblers  are  seen  within  our  limits.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
says:  "Two  specimens  were  taken  during  the  summer  of  1875, 
and  I  have  heard  of  several  other  instances  of  its  occurrence. 
All  specimens  taken  in  this  vicinity  have  remarkably  dull  colored 
plumage."  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  reports  it  as  having  been  seen  or 
taken  in  Cook  County  in  May,  1883.  Miss  Amalie  Hamnig,  who 
is  familiar  with  this  species,  writes  me  that  she  observed  a 
brightly  colored  male  at  Riverside,  Illinois,  on  June  2,  1897.  Mr. 
B.  T.  Gault  noticed  one  at  Glen  Ellyn,  Illinois,  on  May  13,  1893. 
Mr.  O.  M.  Schantz  informs  me  that  he  saw  a  pair  of  these  War- 
blers at  Morton  Park  on  May  15,  1904.  During  the  year  1904 
the  Prothonotary  Warbler  was  also  seen  in  Lincoln  Park,  Chi- 
cago. It  is  my  belief  that  this  beautiful  bird  if  encouraged  and 
protected  may  eventually  become  more  common  within  our  limits 
and  may  possibly  nest  here 

While  this  species  is  more  abundant  in  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley, where  it  breeds  abundantly,  its  range  extends  from  Cuba  and 
South  America,  in  winter,  northward  to  Pennsylvania,  Michigan, 
Illinois,  Iowa  and  Nebraska.  Casually  it  is  found  further  north 
in  New  England,  Ontario  and  Minnesota. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  157 

Genus  HELMINTHOPHILA  Ridgway,  1882. 

Helminthophila  pinus  (Linnaeus).    Blue-winged  Warbler. 

Certhia  pinus  LINN^US,  S.  N.f  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  187. 
Helminthophaga  pinus  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  254. 
Helminthophila  pinus  RIDGWAY,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VII  1882,  53. 
Popular  synonyms :     BLUE-WINGED  YELLOW  WABBLEB.    BLUE-WINGED 
SWAMP  WABBLEB. 

The  Blue-winged  Warbler  is  a  rare  migrant.  There  are  but 
few  known  instances  of  its  occurrence  within  our  limits.  These 
are  all  recent  and  are  as  follows:  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  observed  it 
in  DuPage  County,  Illinois,  on  August  18,  1894;  on  September 
I,  1894,  and  on  June  6,  1895.  The  last  observation  was  that  of  a 
male  in  song  and  the  bird  seemed  to  have  settled  for  the  season 
in  the  Addison  woods.  However,  Mr.  Gault  again  visited  the 
Addison  woods  on  June  22,  but  it  was  evidently  too  late  for  he 
did  not  find  the  bird.  On  May  30,  1900,  while  at  Palos  Park, 
on  the  Wabash  railway,  he  heard  the  notes  of  this  Warbler  in  a 
bushy  field,  in  a  somewhat  elevated  situation,  but  did  not  see  the 
bird.  Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder  observed  it  in  Morgan  Park  on 
May  24,  1895.  This  species  was  observed  in  June,  1906,  by  Mr. 
John  F.  Ferry,  but  the  nest  could  not  be  located.  As  this  species 
is  known  to  breed  in  the  southern  part  of  Illinois,  and  as  a  juve- 
nile bird  has  been  taken  by  Mr.  Gault  in  DuPage  County,  it  does 
not  seem  impossible  that  a  very  few  individuals  may  remain  and 
breed  within  our  limits. 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  covers  the  United  States,  east  of 
the  Great  Plains  and  from  Massachusetts,  southern  Michigan 
and  southern  Minnesota  southward.  It  breeds  quite  throughout 
its  United  States  range  and  winters  from  Mexico  southward  to 
Guatemala  and  Nicaragua. 

Helminthophila  chrysoptera  (Linnaeus).    Golden-winged  Warbler. 

Motacilla  chrysoptera  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  333. 
Sylvia  chrysoptera  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  541. 
Helminthophaga   chrysoptera   CABANIS,   Mus.    Hem.,   I,   1850,   20. 
Helminthophila    chrysoptera    RIDGWAY,    Bull.    Nutt.    Orn.    Club,    VII, 

January,  1882,  53. 
Popular  synonyms :    BLUE  GOLDEN-WINGED  WABBLEB.    GOLDEN-WINGED 

SWAMP  WABBLEB. 

This  Warbler  is  not  an  uncommon  migrant  which  may  be 
looked  for  from  the  first  to  the  last  of  May,  and  from  the  last 
of  August  to  the  last  of  September.  Regarding  the  occurrence 


158  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

of  this  species  within  our  limits,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says  :*  ''Com- 
paratively rare.     It  breeds  rarely." 

The  range  of  the  Golden-winged  Warbler  lies  chiefly  in  the 
eastern  United  States  during  the  summer  months,  breeding 
from  northern  New  Jersey  and  northern  Indiana  to  southern 
Ontario,  and  also  in  the  Alleghanies  southward  to  South  Caro- 
lina. It  winters  southward  through  Central  America  to  the 
northern  portion  of  South  America. 

Helminthophila  rubricapilla  (Wilson).    Nashville  Warbler. 

Sylvia  ruficapilla    (not  of  Latham,   1790)    WILSON,   Amer.   On.,   Ill, 

1811,  120,  pi.  27,  fig.  3. 

Sylvia  rubricapilla  WILSON,  Amer.  On.,  VI,  1812,  15. 
Helminthophaga    ruficapilla    BAIBD,    Rep.    Pacific    R.    R.    Surv.,    IX, 

1858,  256. 
Helminthophila  rubricwpilla  FAXON,  Auk,  XIII,  July,  1896,  264. 

The  Nashville  Warbler  is  a  rare  migrant  at  the  present  time. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  reported  it  in  1876  to  be  a  rare  summer 
resident  and  very  common  during  its  migrations.f  In  its  spring 
migrations  it  arrives  within  our  limits  from  the  first  to  the  fif- 
teenth of  May,  and  it  returns  in  the  fall  during  the  month  of 
September.  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  states  in  his  list  of  Cook 
County  birdsj  that  the  Nashville  Warbler  is  "common  during 
the  latter  part  of  April  and  throughout  the  month  of  May."  In 
his  Ornithology  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  says  that  it 
"breeds  in  the  extreme  northern  counties  of  the  state." 

The  range  of  the  Nashville  Warbler  covers  North  America 
east  of  the  Great  Plains  and  from  the  Fur  Countries  southward, 
in  winter,  to  Mexico  and  Central  America.  It  breeds  from  north- 
ern Illinois  and  Connecticut  northward. 

Helminthophila  celata  (Say).    Orange-crowned  Warbler. 
Sylvia  celata  SAY,  Long's  Exp.,  I,  1823,  169. 
Vermivora  celata  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  1840,  463. 
Helminthophaga   celata  BAIBD,   Rep.   Pacific   R.    R.    Surv.,    IX,    1858, 

257,   part. 
Helminthophila    celata    RIDGWAY,    Bull.    Nutt.    On.    Club,    VII,    Jan. 

1882,  54. 

Formerly  the  Orange-crowned  Warbler  was  a  common,  but 
at  the  present  time  it  is  a  rare  migrant  within  our  limits.  In  the 
spring  it  arrives  from  the  last  of  April  to  the  last  of  May ;  in  the 
fall  it  returns  during  the  month  of  September.  In  1876  Mr.  E. 


tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  98. 
*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  98. 
tTrans.  Illinois  State  Agri.  Society,  Vol.  I,  1853-1854,  583. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  159 

W.  Nelson  recorded  it  as  a  common  migrant.*  I  have  the  fol- 
lowing recent  records  of  the  taking  of  this  species :  On  May  29, 
1885,  I  obtained  a  specimen  in  Hyde  Park,  Chicago;  September 
10,  1888,  and  August  28,  1895,  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  obtained  speci- 
mens in  Chicago;  May  I,  1896,  and  ori  October  i,  1896,  Mr. 
Gault  also  obtained  specimens  in  Du  Page  County,  Illinois ;  on 
April  29,  1893,  Mr.  F.  S.  Dayton  obtained  a  specimen  at  Bow- 
manville,  Illinois.  In  his  Birds  of  Indiana,f  Mr.  Amos  W.  But- 
ler has  published  the  following  records  for  our  area:  "In  1871, 
Mr.  C.  E.  Aiken  informs  me,  it  was  not  rare  in  Lake  County, 
Indiana.  In  that  county,  also,  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  obtained  a  speci- 
men, May  1 6,  1877,  and  two  days  later  one  in  Cook  County,  Illi- 
nois, not  far  away.  The  next  record  I  have  from  Cook  County 
is  of  a  specimen  taken  by  Mr.  C.  A.  Tallman,  May  15,  1897." 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  through  eastern  North 
America  from  Mexico  northward.  It  breeds  as  far  north  as  the 
Yukon  and  Mackenzie  River  districts  and  southward  through 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  is  rare  north  of  Virginia  and  east  of 
the  Alleghany  Mountains.  It  migrates  southward,  in  winter, 
chiefly  through  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  westward  to  the  Great 
Basin,  and  winters  in  the  southern  states  and  Mexico. 

Helminthophila  peregrina  (Wilson).    Tennessee  Warbler. 

Sylvia  peregrina  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1811,  83,  pi.  25,  fig.  2. 
Vermivora  peregrina  NUTTAIX,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  469. 
Helminthophaga  peregrina  CABANIS,  Mus.   Hein.,  I,   1850,  20. 
Helminthophila  peregrina  RIDGWAY,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  VII,  Jan. 
1882,  54. 

The  Tennessee  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant,  the  majority 
arriving  within  our  limits  in  the  month  of  May,  and  returning  in 
the  fall  from  the  middle  of  August  to  the  middle  of  October. 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  extends  through  the  United 
States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  it  breeds  from  the  north- 
ern border  of  the  United  States  northward  to  the  Arctic  regions. 
It  winters  southward  through  eastern  Mexico  to  the  northern 
part  of  South  America. 

Genus  COMPSOTHLYPIS  Cabanis.  1850. 

Compsothlypis  americana  ramalinae  (Ridg.).  Western  Panda  Warbler. 

Sylvia  americana  AUDTJBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  i.  1882,  78,  part. 
Parula  americana  COUES,  Key  N.  Amer.  Birds,  1872,  93,  part. 
Parula  americana  NELSON,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  VIII,  1876.  98. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the   Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  98. 
fTwenty-second  Annual   Report,   Dept.   Geol.   and  Nat.   Resources,    1897,    1035. 


l6o  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Compsothlypis  americana  RIDGWAY,  Orn.  111.,  I,  1889,  131. 
Compsothlypis  americana  ramalince  RIDGWAY,   Bull.  U.   S.   Nat.  Mus., 

No.  50,  part  ii,   1902,  486. 
Popular  synonym :     BLUE  YELLOW-BACKED  WABBLEB. 

The  Western  Parula  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant,  arriving 
within  our  limits  in  the  spring  from  about  the  fifth  to  the  last  of 
May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from  the  last  of  August  to  the 
last  of  September. 

The  range  of  the  Western  Parula  Warbler  covers  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  and  district  of  the  Upper  Great  Lakes ;  breeding 
from  Louisiana  and  Texas  to  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Minne- 
sota; occasional  west  to  eastern  Colorado;  in  winter  southward 
through  eastern  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Nicaragua. 

Genus  DENDROICA  Gray.   1842. 
Dendroica  tigrina  (Gmelin).     Cape  May  Warbler. 

Motacilla  tigrina  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  985. 
Sylvia  maritima  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  VI,  1812,  99,  pi.  54,  fig.  3. 
Sylvicola  maritima  JABDINE,  ed.  Wilson's  Amer.   Orn.,  II,  1832,  291. 
Dendroica  tigrina  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  286. 
Perissoglossa  tigrina  BAIBD,  Review,  Amer.  Birds,  April,  1865,  181. 

The  Cape  May  Warbler  is  a  rather  common  migrant,  but  it 
so  closely  resembles  Dendroica  maculosa  that  it  is  frequently  mis- 
taken for  that  warbler.  It  arrives  in  the  spring  from  the  first 
to  the  twenty-fifth  of  May,  and  returns  in  the  fall  from  the  last 
of  August  to  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  North  America  east  of  the 
Great  Plains  and  from  the  Hudson  Bay  region  and  Lake  Winni- 
peg southward.  It  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States, 
and  winters  in  the  West  Indies. 

Dendroica  sestiva  (Gemlin).    Yellow  Warbler. 

Sylvia  cestiva  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  551. 

Motacilla  &stiva  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  996. 

Sylvicola  (Estiva  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  211. 

Dendroica  cestiva  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  282. 

Popular  synonyms  :     SUMMEB  YELLOW-BIBD.     WILD  CANAEY. 

The  Yellow  Warbler  is  a  very  common  summer  resident,  ar- 
riving the  last  of  April,  and  departing  about  the  first  week  in 
September. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  nearly  the  whole  of  North 
America.  It  breeds  quite  throughout  its  range  in  North  America, 
and  winters  southward  to  Central  and  South  America. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  l6l 

Dendroica  caerulescens  (Gmelin).    Black-throated  Blue  Warbler. 

Motacilla  caerulescens  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  960. 
Sylvia  canadensis  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  115,  pi.  15,  fig.  7. 
Sylvicola  canadensis  RICHARDSON,  Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  for  1836,  172. 
Dendroica  ccerulescens  BAIED,  Review  Amer.  Birds,  April,  1865,  186. 
Popular  synonyms:     CANADIAN  WABLEB.     PINE  SWAMP  WAEBLEB. 

This  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant,  arriving  in  the  spring 
during  the  month  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from  the 
last  of  August  to  the  earlier  days  of  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  North  America,  east  of  the 
Great  Plains.  It  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States,  but 
also  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains  south  to  northern  Georgia.  It 
winters  southward  to  the  West  Indies  and  Guatemala. 

Dendroica  coronata  (Linnaeus).    Myrtle  Warbler. 

Motacilla  coronata  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  333. 

Sylvia  coronata  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,   II,  1790,  538. 

Sylvicola  coronata  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  216. 

Dendroica  coronata  GRAY,  List  Gen.  B.,  App.,  1842,  8. 

Popular  synonyms :     MYBTLE  BIRD.    YELLOW-BUMPED  WABBLEB.    YEL- 

LOW-CBOWNED    WOOD    WABBLEB. 

The  Myrtle  Warbler  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving  in  the 
spring  from  the  first  of  April  to  the  last  of  May,  and  returning 
in  the  fall  from  early  in  September  to  the  last  of  October. 

The  range  of  the  Myrtle  Warbler  lies  chiefly  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  though  it  straggles  more  or  less  commonly 
westward  to  the  Pacific  coast.  It  breeds  from  the  northern 
United  States  northward  and  winters  from  southern  New  Eng- 
land and  southern  Illinois  southward  to  the  West  Indies  and 
through  Mexico  to  Panama. 

Dendroica  maculosa  (Gmelin).    Magnolia  Warbler. 

Motacilla  maculosa  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I.,  ii,  1788,  984. 

Sylvia  maculosa  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  536. 

Sylvicola  maculosa   Sw.  &  RICH.,   Fauna   Bor.   Amer.,   II,   1831,  213, 

pi.  40. 

Dendroica  maculosa  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  284. 
Popular  synonym :     BLACK  AND  YELLOW  WABBLEB. 

The  Magnolia  Warbler  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving  in 
the  spring  during  the  month  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall 
from  the  last  of  August  to  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  the  Magnolia  Wrarbler  extends  through  North 
America,  east  of  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  from 
Hudson  Bay  southward  to  Panama  and  the  West  Indies.  It 


l62  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

breeds  from  the  northern  United  States  northward  and  south- 
ward in  the  Alleghanies  to  Pennsylvania,  and  it  winters  from 
the  Bahamas  and  Mexico  south  to  the  West  Indies  and  Panama. 

Dendroica  rara  (Wilson).    Cerulean  Warbler. 

Sylvia  ccerulea  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  141,  pi.  17,  fig.  5. 
Sylvia  rara  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1811,  119,  pi.  27,  fig.  2. 
Dendroica  c&rulea  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  280. 
Dendroica,  rara  RIDGWAY,  Auk,  XIV,  1897,  97. 

Popular   synonyms:      BLUE    WABBLEB.     AZUBE    WABBLEB.      WHITE- 
THROATED  WABBLES. 

The  Cerulean  Warbler  is  a  rare  summer  resident  in  the  heavy 
timber  of  DuPage  County,  Illinois,  and  a  few  probably  breed 
in  the  woods  bordering  the  Desplaines  River  at  River  Forest. 
Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  has  observed  this  species  during  the  summer 
months  in  DuPage  County  and  at  Lake  Forest,  Illinois.  It  ar- 
rives from  about  the  tenth  to  the  twentieth  of  May,  and  departs 
early  in  Sepember.  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  informs  me  that  he  shot 
a  male  Cerulean  Warbler  at  Winnetka,  Illinois,  on  May  12,  1879, 
and  that  he  also  found  them  breeding  in  woods  seven  miles  west 
of  Lake  Forest,  Illinois,  in  1876. 

The  range  of  the  Cerulean  Warbler  covers  the  eastern  United 
States,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  chiefly  west  of  the 
Alleghanies,  and  from  southern  Canada  southward,  in  winter, 
to  Central  America  and  northern  South  America.  It  breeds  from 
about  the  latitude  of  35°  northward,  especially  in  the  heavily 
wooded  districts  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

Dendroica  pensylvanica  (Linnaeus).    Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 

Motacilla  pensylvanica  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  333. 
Sylvia  icterocephala  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  538. 
Sylvicola  icterocephala  JABDINE,  ed.  Wilson's  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1832,  248. 
Dendroica  pensylvanica  BAIBD,   Rep.   Pacific  R.   R.    Surv.,   IX,    1858, 
279. 

At  the  present  time  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  is  an  abun- 
dant migrant,  arriving  in  the  spring  during  the  month  of  May, 
and  returning  in  the  fall  from  about  the  ninth  of  September  to 
the  third  of  October.  In  his  list  of  the  birds  of  Cook  County,  Illi- 
nois,* Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  includes  this  species  with  the  no- 
tation "Abundant,"  and  also  states  that,  at  that  time,  it  was 
known  to  breed  in  the  county.  In  his  Birds  of  Northeastern  Illi- 

*Trans.   Illinois  State   Agri.   Society,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,   583. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  163 

nois,f  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  speaks  of  it  as  an  "Abundant  migrant. 
Breeds  sparingly  away  from  the  Lake." 

The  range  of  the  Chestnut-sided  Warbler  covers  the  United 
States,  east  of  the  Plains.  It  breeds  from  about  the  latitude  of 
central  Illinois  northward  to1  the  southern  portion  of  the  British 
Possessions  and  as  far  west  as  Manitoba,  and  in  the  Alleghanies 
as  far  south  as  Georgia.  It  winters  from  the  Bahamas  and 
eastern  Mexico  southward  at  least  to  Panama. 

Dendroica  castanea  (Wilson).    Bay-breasted  Warbler. 

Sylvia  castanea  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  97,  pi.  14,  fig.  4. 
Sylvia  autumnalis  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1811,  65,  pi.  23,  fig.  3. 
Dendroica  castanea  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.   Surv.,   IX.  1858,  276. 
Popular  synonym  :    AUTUMNAL  WARBLER. 

As  a  rule,  the  Bay-breasted  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant, 
although  some  seasons  it  is  rather  uncommon  in  its  passage 
through  our  area.  In  the  spring  it  arrives  from  the  last  of  April 
to  the  last  of  May,  and  returns  in  the  fall  from  the  last  of  August 
to  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  covers  the  United  States  east  of 
the  Great  Plains,  breeding  from  northern  New  England  and 
northern  Michigan  northward.  It  winters  southward  through 
eastern  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  northern  South  America. 

Dendroica  striata  (Forster).    Black-poll  Warbler. 

Mitscicapa  striata  FORSTER,  Philos.  Trans.,LXII,  1772,  406,  428. 
Sylvia  striata  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  527. 
Sylvicola  striata  Sw.  &  RICH.,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer.,  II,  1831,  218. 
Dendroica  striata  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  280. 
Popular    synonyms:      BLACK    CAP    WARBLER.      BLACK    AND    WHITE 
WARBLER. 

The  Black-poll  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant,  arriving  in  the 
spring  during  the  month  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from 
about  the  tenth  of  September  to  the  fourth  of  October. 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  extends  over  North  America  east 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  it  breeds  from  the  Catskill  Moun- 
tains and  northern  New  England  northward  to  Alaska  and  Green- 
land. In  the  winter  it  migrates  southward  through  the  West 
Indies  to  South  America  where  it  is  found  as  far  south  as  Brazil 
and  Chili.  It  has  not  been  recorded  from  either  Mexico  or  Cen- 
tral America,  though  during  its  migrations  it  has  been  observed 
in  New  Mexico. 


fBull.    of   the   Essex    Institute,    Vol.    VIII,    1876, 


164  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Dendroica  blackburnise  (Gmelin).    Blackburnian  Warbler. 
Motacilla  blackburnice  GMELIN,   S.   N.,   I.,   ii,   1788,  977. 
Sylvia  blackburnice  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  527. 
Sylvicola  blackburnice  SWAINSON,  Philos.  Mag.,  n.  s.,  I,  1827,  434. 
Dendroica  blackburnice  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  274. 
Popular   synonyms :      ORANGE-THROATED   WARBLEE.      HEMLOCK   WAR- 
BLER. 

The  Blackburnian  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant,  which  in 
the  spring  may  appear  within  our  limits  from  the  last  of  April 
to  the  first  of  May,  and  again  in  the  fall  from  the  middle  of 
August  to  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  covers  North  America  chiefly  east 
of  Manitoba  and  the  Plains,  casually  west  to  Utah,  New  Mexico 
and  western  Texas.  It  breeds  from  the  northern  United  States 
northward  to  the  southern  shores  of  Hudson  Bay,  the  Alleghany 
mountains  south  to  western  North  Carolina,  and  in  the  higher 
altitudes  of  South  Carolina  (Pickens  County)  and  eastern  Ten- 
nessee (Roan  Mountains).  It  winters  southward  through  eastern 
Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Peru  in  South  America,  and  to 
the  Bahama  Islands. 

Dendroica  dominica  albilora  Ridgway.     Sycamore  Warbler. 

Dendroica  dominica  var.  albilora  BAIRD,  MS.,   RIDGWAY,  Amer.   Nat., 

VII,  Oct.  1873,  606. 
Dendroica    dominica   var.    albilora   NELSON,    Bull.    Essex    Inst.,    VIII, 

1876,  99. 
Dendroica  dominica  albilora  RIDGWAY,  A.  O.  U.  Check  List,  1895,  278. 

In  1876,  Mr.  Nelson  reported  this  species  as  follows:*  "A 
very  rare  summer  visitant  from  the  south."  Mr.  T.  H.  Douglas 
recently  showed  me  a  fine  adult  male  taken  at  Waukegan  in 
the  spring  of  1876.  Mr.  A.  W.  Butlerf  reports  it  as  a  common 
summer  resident  in  southern  Indiana,  and  as  a  rare  visitant  in 
the  vicinity  of  Brookville  and  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  The  Syca- 
more Warbler  has  been  reported  from  Monroe  County  and  from 
Detroit,  Michigan.  There  is  no  apparent  reason  why  this 
Warbler  should  not  be  found  in  our  area,  particularly  in  the 
swampy  portions  of  Cook  County  and  Lake  County.  Indiana. 

The  range  is  given  as  follows  in  the  A.  O.  U.  Check-list: 
"Mississippi  Valley,  west  to  the  Plains,  north  to  Lake  Erie  and 
southern  Michigan,  and  east  to  western  North  Carolina;  in 
winter  south  to  southern  Mexico,  Honduras,  Guatemala  and 
Nicaragua." 


*Birds  of   Northeastern  Illinois,   p.   99. 
fBirds  of  Indiana,  p.    1065. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  165 

Dendroica  virens  (Gmelin).    Black-throated  Green  Warbler. 
Motacilla  virens  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I.,  ii,  1788,  985. 
Sylvia  virens  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  537. 
Sylvicola  virens  JAEDINE,  ed.  Wilson's  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1832,  279. 
Dendroica  wrens  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  267. 

The  Black-throated  Green  Warbler  is  a  common  migrant,  ar- 
riving in  the  spring  from  the  last  of  April  to  the  last  of  May, 
and  returning  in  the  fall  from  the  fourth  of  September  to  the 
middle  of  October.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "A  few  remain 
to  breed." 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  covers  North  America  east  of  the 
Plains,  and  from  the  Hudson  Bay  region  southward.  It  breeds 
from  the  northern  United  States  northward  and  southward  along 
the  higher  Alleghanies  to  eastern  Tennessee,  western  North  Caro- 
lina and  northwestern  South  Carolina.  It  winters  southward  to 
the  West  Indies  and  through  eastern  Mexico  and  Central  Amer- 
ica to  Panama. 

Dendroica  kirtlandii  Baird.     Kirtland's  Warbler. 

Dendrioca  kirtlandii  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  286. 

pi.  6. 
Dendroica  kirtlandii  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  286. 

There  are  but  two  records  of  the  taking  of  the  very  rare 
Kirtland's  Warbler  within  our  limits.  A  fine  specimen  was  cap- 
tured in  DuPage  County,  Illinois,  on  the  seventh  of  May,  1894, 
by  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault,  and  a  fine  male  was  taken  at  Morgan  Park, 
Illinois,  on  May  22,  1899,  by  Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder.  It  was  not 
unitl  the  year  1903  that  anything  was  known  regarding  either  the 
breeding  range  or  the  nesting  habits  of  this  shy  Warbler.  Early 
in  June  of  that  year  Mr.  E.  H.  Frothingham,  of  the  museum  staff 
of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  Mr.  T.  G.  Gale 
were  in  Oscoda  County,  Michigan,  fishing  in  the  Au  Sable  River. 
Mr.  Frothingham,  who  is  an  experienced  field  ornithologist,  heard 
the  song  of  a  strange  bird,  which  was  shot,  and  on  their  return 
to  Ann  Arbor  was  found  to  be  the  skin  of  a  Kirtland's  Warbler. 
Mr.  Charles  C.  Adams,  Curator  of  the  Museum,  appreciating  the 
value  of  the  discovery  of  this  species  in  that  locality  during  the 
summer  months,  and  believing  that  it  nested  in  that  vicinity  com- 
missioned Mr.  Norman  A.  Wood  to  make  a  thorough  survey  in 
the  vicinity  of  Oscoda  County,  hoping  that  nests  might  be  located. 
Reaching  his  field  of  labor  in  Oscoda  County,  Mr.  Wood  was 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  100. 


l66  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

eminently  successful.  I  quote  from  his  report:*  "On  July  2d, 
at  six  A.  M.,  I  started  out ;  crossing  the  river  bottom  (near  Butler 
bridge,  Oscoda  County,  thirty-five  miles  northeast  of  Roscommon, 
Michigan)  I  came  to  a  steep  terrace  which  forms  the  edge  of  the 
Norway  plains.  This  is  very  wet,  and  in  places  fine  springs 
seep  out.  Here  also  is  a  dense  growth  of  cedar  with  tamarack 
near  the  foot  of  the  terrace.  Fir,  balm  of  Gilead  and  birch  make 
up  the  timber.  Climbing  this  slope  I  found  a  rather  level  plain 
with  scattering  Norway  and  jack  pines.  In  places  these  have 
been  cut  off,  and  in  their  stead  there  has  sprung  up  a  more  or 
less  thick  growth  of  small  jack  pines,  yellow  oak  and  poplar. 
The  ground  is  covered  with  a  mat  of  wintergreen,  sweetfern  and 
trailing  arbutus.  I  was  walking  slowly  through  this,  watching 
the  junco,  song  sparrow,  chipping  sparrow  and  the  vesper  spar- 
row— the  most  common  bird  of  these  plains — when  suddenly  I 
heard  a  new  song,  loud,  clear,  joyous  and  full  of  sweet  melody. 
This  song  may  be  described  as  follows:  weche  chee-chee-chee- 
r-r-r.  The  r  sound  is  quite  prolonged  and  loud.  The  first  two 
notes  are  low,  then  the  notes  gradually  increase  in  volume  to  the 
end.  I  thought  it  a  Kirtland,  although  I  had  never  before  heard 
its  song.  I  heard  this  song  repeated  at  intervals  of  about  thirty 
seconds,  and  from  different  directions.  I  tried  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  the  singer,  but  for  a  long  time  failed  to  do  so,  as  he  kept  among 
the  thick  jack  pines  and  scrub  oaks.  I  repeatedly  tried  to  go 
where  he  sang  last,  and  finally  saw  him  flit  from  a  bush  to  a  yellow 
oak  scrub  and  light  about  three  feet  above  the  ground.  As  I 
watched  him  he  sat  quite  erect,  threw  forward  his  head  and  the 
wonderful  song  rang  out.  This  song  was  remarkable  because  of 
its  volume  and  rich  melody.  I  was  sure  this  was  the  bird  for 
which  I  was  in  search ;  but  in  order  to  make  certain  the  identity 
I  shot  it.  A  moment  later  I  held  in  my  hand  a  fine  adult  male 
of  Kirtland's  Warbler."  Though  Mr.  Wood  saw  other  specimens 
of  this  Warbler,  both  male  and  female,  it  was  not  until  the  eighth 
of  July  that  he  was  successful  in  his  hunt  for  a  nest.  He  says : 
"We  had  nearly  reached  the  line  of  Crawford  County  when  I 
heard  a  song  and  on  stopping,  soon  saw  a  male  Kirtlandii  singing 
from  his  favorite  tree.  I  slipped  from  the  wagon  and  secured 
this  male.  Driving  on  one  half  mile  I  saw  a  male  fly  to  a  dead 
tree  near  the  road.  This  bird  had  a  worm  in  its  mouth,  so  I 
concluded  that  its  nest  was  near  by,  and  that  it  would  go  to  it 


'Bull.  Michigan  Orn.   Club,   Vol.  V,  March,   1904,   5. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  167 

with  the  worm.  I  went  to  the  side  of  a  large  stub,  and  while  I 
was  watching,  saw  this  male  assume  the  erect  singing  position, 
throw  forward  his  head  and  try  to  sing,  still  holding  the  worm 
in  his  mouth.  This  song  may  be  written  thus :  ch-ch-che-che-che-a 
(the  a  long  drawn  out).  He  sang  a  number  of  times  at  intervals 
of  about  sixty  seconds — but  still  held  the  worm.  He  soon  spied 
me  and  seemed  rather  uneasy,  wagging  his  tail  after  the  fashion 
of  Dendroica  palmarum.  Now  the  song  seemed  to  take  an  anxious 
or  scolding  tone  and  sounded  like  cha,  che-chee  wicha-a-a. 
After  watching  me  a  few  minutes  he  dropped  from  the  tree  (on 
a  long  glide)  to  the  east  about  three  rods.  I  suspected  he  was 
going  to  the  nest,  so  I  hurried  to  the  spot,  but  when  I  reached 
it  he  was  not  there ;  so  I  stood  still  and  waited.  In  a  few  min- 
utes he  was  at  his  place  on  the  old  tree  with  another  worm. 
Again  he  sang  and  wagged  his  tail  and  then  dove  down,  but  this 
time  two  rods  to  the  west  of  the  tree.  I  started  to  go  there, 
when  just  south  of  the  tree  I  flushed  the  female  from  the  ground 
and  after  a  close  look,  saw  the  nest.  It  may  be  imagined  with 
what  delight  I  beheld  the  first  nest  of  this  rare  bird  ever  seen, 
and  with  what  eagerness  I  dropped  to  my  knees  beside  it  to  make 
a  closer  examination  of  its  contents.  There  were  two  young 
birds,  perhaps  ten  days  old,  and  a  perfect  egg;  this  proved  to  be 
the  only  egg  found. 

"This  egg  was  a  delicate  pinkish- white  (since  the  contents 
were  removed  it  has  faded  to  a  dull  white)  thinly  sprinkled  with 
several  shades  of  brown  spots  forming  a  sort  of  wreath  at  the 
larger  end.  This  egg  is  .^2x.^6  inches  or  18  by  14  mm.,  and 
contained  no  embryo.  The  nest  was  built  in  a  depression  in  the 
ground,  at  the  foot  of  a  jack  pine  about  five  feet  tall,  and  was 
only  five  feet  from  the  road.  It  was  partly  covered  with  low 
blueberries  and  sweetfern  plants.  The  nest  is  two  inches  inside 
diameter  and  the  same  in  depth,  very  neat  and  compact,  and  is 
composed  of  strips  of  soft  bark  and  some  vegetable  fiber,  thickly 
lined  with  fine  dead  grass  and  pine  needles.  A  few  hairs  from 
horses'  mane  or  tail  complete  the  lining. 

"As  I  sat  near  the  nest  the  female  came  and  alighted  on  the 
branch  of  the  jack  pine  just  back  of  the  nest.  She  was  not  at 
all  shy.  Once  she  came  with  a  worm  in  her  mouth,  but  would 
not  feed  the  young  while  I  was  near.  The  male  also  came,  but 
not  so  close.  Both  birds  were  very  restless  and  uneasy— only 
a  few  seconds  in  a  place — which  made  it  very  difficult  to  take 
photographs  of  them." 


l68  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

During  his  stay  in  this  summer  home  of  the  Kirtland  Warblers 
in  Crawford  and  Oscoda  Counties,  Mr.  Wood  saw  and  heard 
sixteen  birds,  and  in  ten  days  he  secured  two  pairs  of  Warblers 
with  their  nests,  seven  young  and  one  egg ;  also  four  adult  males, 
making  fifteen  birds  in  all.  Mr.  Wood  also  says  that  he  is  in- 
clined to  think  "the  Au  Sable  River  is  the  southern  boundary  of 
their  breeding  area  and  that  this  area  extends  over  the  greater 
part  of  the  Canadian  zone  of  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  perhaps 
Minnesota.  They  will  probably  be  found  breeding  in  favorable 
localities  in  the  Upper  Peninsula  of  Michigan,  but  I  should  not 
expect  them  north  of  Lake  Superior."  In  spite  of  Mr.  Wood's 
success  Kirtland's  Warbler  must  still  be  considered  a  very  rare 
bird,  and  it  probably  breeds  only  in  small  colonies,  and  then  only 
among  the  jack  pines  in  favorable  localities. 

Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  gives  the  following  as  the  geographical 
range  of  Kirtland's  Warbler :  "Eastern  United  States  and  more 
southern  British  Provinces,  chiefly  west  of  the  Alleghanies; 
very  irregularly  distributed  and  breeding  range  unknown;  has 
been  found  in  the  following  states:  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Mis- 
souri, Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Virginia,  South  Carolina ; 
also  in  Ontario.  Winters  in  the  Bahamas." 

Dendroica  vigorsii  (Audubon).    Pine  Warbler. 

Sylvia  pinus  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1811,  25,  pi.  19,  fig.  4. 

Sylvia  vigorsii  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  1832,  153,  pi.  30. 

Sylvicola  pinus  JABDINE,  ed.  Wilson's  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1832,  316,  pi. 

19,  fig.  4. 

Dendroica  pinus  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  277. 
Dendroica  vigorsii  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  September 

2,  1885,  356. 
Popular  synonym :    PINE  CHEEPING  WABBLEB. 

The  Pine  Warbler  is  a  rather  rare  migrant,  arriving  in  the 
spring  from  the  middle  of  April  to  the  last  of  May,  and  returning 
in  the  fall  from  the  twentieth  of  September  to  the  twelfth  of 
October.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  considers  it  a  common  migrant 
and  says:  "The  first  of  July,  1874,  I  found  a  large  number  of 
these  birds  with  young  just  old  enough  to  follow  their  parents, 
in  the  'Pinery/  and  presume  they  nest  there  regularly."  Dr. 
A.  W.  Brayton  says:*  "Nelson  found  both  young  and  old  in 
the  pine  barrens,  Lake  County,  where  they  undoubtedly  breed 
regularly." 

The  range  of  the  Pine  Warbler  covers  North  America  east 
of  the  Great  Plains ;  and  from  New  Brunswick,  Ontario  and 


*Proc.  Indiana  Hort.  Society,  1879,  108. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  169 

Manitoba  southward  to  the  Bahamas  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  range  and  winters  chiefly  south 
of  latitude  40°. 

Dendroica  palmarum  (Gmelin).    Palm  Warbler. 

Motacilla  palmarum  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I.,  ii,  1788,  951. 
Dendroica  palmarum  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  1858,  288. 
Popular  synonyms  :    YELLOW  RED-POLL  WAEBLEB.    WAGTAIL  WABBLEB. 
TITLABK  WAEBLEE.    TIP-UP  WAEBLEB.    RED-POLL  WAEBLEB. 

The  Palm  Warbler  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving  in  the 
spring  from  the  twenty-first  of  April  to  the  twenty- fourth  of 
May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from  the  tenth  of  September  to 
the  middle  of  October.  It  is  more  common  in  the  spring  than 
in  the  fall. 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  extends  over  the  interior  of  North 
America,  from  the  Great  Slave  Lake  southward,  in  winter,  to 
the  south  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states,  the  West  Indies  and  Mexico. 
It  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States- 

Dendroica  discolor  (Vieillot).    Prairie  Warbler. 

Sylvia  discolor  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  I,  1807,  37,  pi.  98. 
Dendroica  discolor  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  290. 
Popular  synonym :    CHESTNUT-BACKED  YELLOW  WABBLEB. 

The  following  are  the  only  records  that  I  have  found  regard- 
ing the  occurrence  of  the  Prairie  Warbler  within  our  limits. 
Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "A  very  rare  spring  and  summer 
visitant,  perhaps  breeding.  But  very  few  specimens  have  been 
taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago.  Dr.  Hoy  writes  that  he  knows 
of  but  one  instance  of  its  capture  in  Wisconsin."  Mr.  George 
Clingman  informs  me  that  he  took  a  pair  at  Bryn  Mawr,  Chicago, 
during  the  second  week  of  June,  1878.  He  also  took  a  nest  and 
eggs  of  this  species  at  Forty-eighth  Street  and  Vincennes  Avenue, 
Chicago,  on  May  22,  1892. 

The  range  of  the  Prairie  Warbler  covers  the  United  States 
east  of  the  Great  Plains,  and  from  southern  Wisconsin,  Michigan 
and  southern  New  England  southward.  It  breeds  nearly  through- 
out its  range  in  suitable  localities,  and  winters  in  southern 
Florida  and  the  West  Indies. 

Genus  SEIURUS  Swainson,  1827. 

Seiuros  aurocapillus    (Linnaeus).    Oven-bird. 

Motacilla  aurocapilla  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  334. 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  100. 


I7O  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

Seiurus  aurocapillus  SWAINSON,  Zool.  Journ.,  Ill,  1827,  171. 
Turdus  aurocapillus  LATHAM,  Ind.  On.,  II,  1790,  328. 
Popular  synonyms:     GOLDEN-CEOWNED  WAGTAIL  OB  THRUSH.     WOOD 
WAGTAIL. 

The  Ovenbird  is  a  common  migrant  and  a  rare  summer  resi- 
dent. It  arrives  in  April,  and  departs  late  in  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  eastern  North  America,  from 
Alaska  and  the  region  of  Hudson  Bay  southward,  in  winter,  to 
Florida,  the  West  Indies,  and  from  Mexico  south  to  Panama. 
It  breeds  from  Kansas,  the  Ohio  Valley  and  the  mountain  regions 
of  South  Carolina  northward. 

Seiurus  noveboracensis   (Gmelin).    Water-thrush. 

Motacilla  noveboracensis  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  958. 
Turdus  (Seiurus)  noveboracensis  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  353. 
Seiurus  noveboracensis  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  &  Comp.  List,  1838,  21. 
Popular  synonyms:     WATER  WAGTAIL.     NEW  YORK  WATER-THRUSH. 
WATER  KICK-UP.    SMALL-BILLED  WATER-THRUSH. 

In  his  "Catalogue  of  Animals  Observed  in  Cook  County, 
Illinois/'*  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  lists  the  Water-thrush  and  states 
that  it  was  known  to  nest  within  the  County.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson, 
in  his  "Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois"  records  this  species  and 
says:  "An  abundant  migrant;  April  1st  to  May  loth,  and  Au- 
gust 25th  to  October  25th.  Found  everywhere  in  damp  woods 
or  along  the  banks  of  streams  during  the  migrations.  A  very 
few  remain  to  breed  in  secluded  woods." 

Previous  to  the  year  1880  varietal  forms  of  this  species  had 
been  given  no  subspecific  names.  In  that  year,  Mr.  Robert  Ridg- 
way  recognizedf  Mr.  G.  B.  Grinnell's  separation  of  the  western 
form  of  this  Water-thrush  under  the  name  Seiurus  n&vius  nota- 
bilis  which  later  became  Seiurus  noveboracensis  notabilis  Ridg- 
way.  It  will  be  noticed  that  all  the  forms  of  this  species  were 
included  under  the  name  noveboracensis  at  the  time  Mr.  Kenni- 
cott and  Mr.  Nelson  made  their  observations.  Since  the  time  of 
Mr.  Nelson's  list  (1876),  I  have  been  unable  to  find  more  than 
one  authentic  record  of  the  taking,  within  our  limits,  of  a  typical 
specimen  of  noveboracensis.  In  the  bird  collection  of  the  Field 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  Jackson  Park,  Chicago,  there  is  a 
specimen  of  the  noveboracensis,  which  is  a  typical  male  of  the 
species,  collected  by  Mr.  Henry  K.  Coale  at  Grand  Crossing, 
Chicago,  on  May  21,  1887.  This  would  indicate  the  possibility 
of  an  occasional  finding  of  birds  of  this  species  within  our  limits. 


*Trans.  Illinois  State  Agri.   Society,  Vol.   I,   1853-1854,    582. 
tProc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  Ill,  March  27,  1880,   12. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  17! 

It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  it  is  highly  probable  that  nearly 
all,  if  not  all  of  the  birds  of  this  species  observed  before  the 
year  1880  would  now  be  classed  under  the  subspecies  notabilis. 

It  is  not  impossible  that  more  typical  specimens  of  this  more 
eastern  form  of  the  Water-thrush  may  yet  be  taken  within  our 
limits.  I  have  examined  a  series  of  specimens,  taken  in  this 
vicinity,  which  showed  characteristics  varying  from  typical  nota- 
bilis to  very  nearly  typical  noveboracensis.  It  is  well  understood 
that  there  are  intermediate  forms  between  the  variety  and  the 
type  of  the  species.  It  is  important,  therefore,  that  all  Water- 
thrushes,  belonging  to  this  species,  which  are  taken  in  north- 
eastern Illinois,  should  be  carefully  studied. 

Mr.  Ridgway  gives  the  following  as  the  range  of  this  species  :* 
"Eastern  North  America;  north  to  Davis  Inlet,  Newfoundland, 
and  shores  of  Hudson  Bay ;  breeding  southward  to  northern  New 
England,  mountains  of  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia,  southern 
Michigan  (?),  northeastern  Illinois  (?),  etc.;  in  winter  south- 
ward throughout  West  Indies  and  along  eastern  coast  districts 
of  Central  America  to  Colombia,  Venezuela,  British  Guiana, 
Brazil  (?),  Trinidad,  and  Tobago,  and  to  Swan  Island  and  Old 
Providence  Island,  Caribbean  Sea." 

Seiuros  noveboracensis  notabilis   (Ridg.).     GrinnelTs  Water-thrush. 
Seiurus  noveboracensis  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX.  1858?  261. 

part ;    and   of  many   other   early   writers   on   Illinois   and   western 

birds. 
Sciurus  nasvius  notabilis  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  Ill,  March 

27,  1880,  12. 
Seiur-us    noveboracensis    notabilis    RIDGWAY,    Proc.    U.    S.    Nat.    Mus., 

VIII.  Sept.  2,  1885,  354;  564. 
Popular  synonym  :    WYOMING  WATEB-THBUSII. 

The  Grinnell's  Water-thrush  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving 
in  the  spring  about  the  first  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall 
near  the  last  of  September.  This  Water-thrush,  which  without 
question  is  the  most  abundant  of  the  water-thrushes  frequenting 
our  area,  so  closely  resembles  Seiurus  noveboracensis  that  it 
seems  best  for  me  to  include  a  description  of  this  variety.  This 
I  quote  from  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway's  Birds  of  North  and  Middle 
America.f  "Similar  to  5,  n.  noveboracensis,  but  larger,  espe- 
cially the  bill ;  coloration  of  the  upper  parts  less  olive  (more 
grayish  sooty),  that  of  under  parts  less  yellowish,  usually  white, 
with  little  if  any  yellow  tinge.  Young  much  darker  above  than 


*Bull.   U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  No.  50,   Pt.  ii,   1902,  642. 
fBull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  50,  pt  ii,  1902,  645. 


172  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

that  of  S.  n.  noveboracensis,  the  feathers  entirely  dusky  (except 
the  buffy  tip),  instead  of  olive  with  a  subterminal  bar  of  dusky." 
He  also  says  that  he  is  not  sure  that  the  differences  between  the 
young  of  the  two  forms,  as  stated  above,  are  constant  as  he  had 
but  one  specimen  of  each  form  to  examine.  Mr.  Ridgway  also 
states  that  the  "Mississippi  Valley  specimens  average  smaller  than 
those  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  westward,  and  are  really 
intermediate  in  size  between  S.  n.  notabilis  and  S\  n.  novebora- 
censis." 

The  range  of  this  Water-thrush  may  be  given  as  western 
North  America,  and  passing  more  or  less  commonly  during  its 
migrations  through  the  Mississippi  Valley  as  far  eastward  as  In- 
diana, and  much  more  rarely  through  the  states  of  the  Atlantic 
coast  to  the  Bahamas,  Cuba,  and  through  Mexico  and  Central 
America  to  northern  South  America. 
Seiurus  motacilla  (Vieillot).  Louisiana  Water-thrush. 

Turdus  motacilla  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  II,  1807,  9,  pi.  65. 

Seiurus  ludovicianus  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  21. 

Seiurus  motacilla  BONAPARTE,  Consp.  Av.,  I,  1850,  306. 

Siurus  motacilla  COUES,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  II,  1877,  33. 

Popular  synonyms:    LARGE-BILLED  WATER-THRUSH.    WATER  WAGTAIL. 
WAGTAIL. 

The  Louisiana  Water-thrush  is  a  rare  summer  resident,  arriv- 
ing about  the  last  of  April,  and  departing  about  the  first  of  Sep- 
tember. In  1876  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  recorded  it  as  a  "not  uncom- 
mon summer  resident." 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  United  States,  east  of 
the  Great  Plains  and  from  southern  New  England  and  southern 
Michigan  southward  in  winter  to  the  West  Indies  and  through 
Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Panama.  It  is  a  casual  visitor 
further  north  than  the  above  range.  It  breeds  quite  throughout 
its  range  within  the  United  States. 

Genus  OPORORNIS  Baird,  1858. 

Oporornis  formosa  (Wilson).    Kentucky  Warbler. 

Sylvia  formosa  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1811,  85,  pi.  25,  fig.  3. 
•  Oporornis  formosus  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  247. 
Geothlypis  formosa  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885,  354. 

At  the  present  time  the  Kentucky  Warbler  is  certainly 
a  very  rare  summer  visitant  from  southern  Illinois."  In 
his  report  published  in  1876,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says* :  "A  very 
rare  summer  visitant  from  southern  Illinois."  The  only  other 
records  of  its  appearance  in  our  vicinity  are  the  following.  Dr. 
flocks  along  the  Lake  shore  and  on  bare  prairies  during  the  migra- 


kBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  101. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  173 

records  of  its  appearance  in  our  vicinity  are  the  following.  Dr. 
Joseph  L.  Hancock  says  :f  "I  secured  a  female  of  Oporornis 
(Geothlypis)  formosa  one-half  mile  southeast  of  Grand  Crossing, 
among  the  undergrowth  in  a  small  isolated  patch  of  woods.  The 
finding 'of  this  species  in  that  locality  is  an  event  of  unusual  in- 
terest. A  specimen  has  been  reported  to  me  by  my  friend  Mr. 
H.  K.  Coale,  of  Chicago,  as  found  by  Mr.  R.  B.  Trouslot  at 
Piano,  Illinois,  a  few  years  ago."  Mr.  George  Clingman  took  a 
specimen  at  Bryn  Mawr,  Chicago,  during  the  first  week  in  May, 
1892. 

As  the  Kentucky  Warbler  is  an  abundant  species  in  southern 
Illinois,  it  is  quite  possible  that  it  may  appear  at  times  as  a  strag- 
gling summer  visitant  within  our  limits  and  the  field  students  of 
ornithology  should  watch  for  it  in  the  woodlands  of  our  area. 

The  range  of  the  Kentucky  Warbler  extends  through  the 
United  States,  east  of  the  Great  Plains  and  from  southern  New 
England,  southern  Michigan,  southern  Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  east- 
ern Nebraska  southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and,  in  winter, 
through  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Colombia.  It  is  also 
a  casual  winter  visitor  to  Cuba  and  other  islands  of  the  West  In- 
dies. It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  United  States  range. 

Oporornis  agilis  (Wilson).    Connecticut  Warbler. 

Sylvia  agilis  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  V,  1812,  64,  pi.  39,  fig.  4. 

Trichas  agilis  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  463. 

Trichas  teplirocotis  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  462. 

Oporornis  agilis  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  246. 

Geothlypis  agilis  GBEGG,  Proc.  Elmira  Acad.  Sci.,  1870,  (reprint,  p.  7). 

Popular  synonym  :     GEAY-HEADED  WABBLEB. 

The  Connecticut  Warbler  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant,  arriv- 
ing in  the  spring  from  the  middle  of  May  to  the  first  week  in 
June,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from  about  the  middle  of  August 
to  the  last  of  September.  This  species,  like  the  Mourning  War- 
bler, is  not  generally  thought  to  be  even  a  frequent  visitor  to  our 
vicinity,  for  it  is  a  shy  bird  and  is  seldom  found  away  from  bushy 
swamps  and  heavy  underbrush  and  is,  therefore,  easily  over- 
looked. 

The  range  of  the  Connecticut  Warbler  extends  through  east- 
ern North  America,  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the  United  States 
and  west  of  Ontario.  In  the  spring,  it  migrates  chiefly  through 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  but  in  the  fall  probably  the  larger  number 


tAuk,  Vol.  V,  April,  1888,  210. 


1/4  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

return  southward  through  the  states  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  It 
winters,  so  far  as  is  known,  in  the  Bahamas  and  in  northern 
South  America. 

Oporornis  Philadelphia  (Wilson).    Mourning  Warbler. 

Sylvia  Philadelphia  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  II,  1810,  101,  pi.  14,  fig.  6. 
Trichas  Philadelphia  JARDINE,  ed.  Wilson's  Amer.  Orn.,, I,  1832,  249. 
Geothlypis  Philadelphia  BAIBD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.  Surv.,  IX,  1858,  243. 
Oporornis  Philadelphia  RIDGWAY,  B.  of  N.  &  Mid.  Amer.,  Bull.  U.  S. 

Nat.  Mus.,  No.  50,  pt.  ii,  1902,  628. 
Popular  synonym :     BLACK-THROATED  GROUND  WARBLER. 

The  Mourning  Warbler  is  a  rather  rare  migrant,  arriving 
about  the  same  time,  and  may  be  found  in  about  the  same  local- 
ities as  the  Connecticut  Warbler.  At  the  present  time  this  species 
is  becoming  more  abundant  than  it  has  been,  particularly  in  the 
city  parks  of  Chicago. 

The  range  of  the  Mourning  Warbler  covers  North  America, 
east  of  the  Great  Plains.  It  breeds  from  the  northern  portion 
of  the  United  States,  especially  in  the  higher  altitudes,  northward. 
It  winters  in  southern  Mexico,  Central  America  and  northern 
South  America. 

Oporornis  tolmiei  (J.  K.  Townsend).    Macgillivray's  Warbler. 
Sylvia  tolmiei  J.  K.  TOWNSEND,  Narrative,  April,  1839,  343. 
Geothlypis  macgillivrayi  BAIRD,  Rep.  Pacific  R.  R.   Surv.,   IX,   1858, 

244. 

Geothlypis  tolmiei  STONE,  Auk,  XVI,  Jan.,  1899,  82. 
Oporornis  tolmiei  RIDGWAY,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  50,  ii,  1902. 

631. 

In  the  Catalogue  of  Birds  in  the  British  Museum,  Professor 
R.  Boulder  Sharpe  records  a  specimen  of  the  Macgillivray's 
Warbler  from  our  region,  collected  by  Mr.  H.  K.  Coale. 

Mr.  Coale  informs  me  that  the  specimen  was  taken  by  himself 
at  Wolf  Lake,  Indiana,  on  June  i,  1879. 

In  his  "Birds  of  North  and  Middle  America,"*  Mr.  Ridgway 
gives  the  following  as  the  range  of  this  Warbler:  "Western 
United  States  and  British  Columbia ;  breeding  in  mountains  from 
Pacific  coast  ranges  to  Rocky  Mountains,  north  to  British  Colum- 
bia (including  Vancouver  Island),  south  at  least  to  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  and  western  Texas;  during  migrations  east  to  western 
Nebraska,  central  Texas,  etc. ;  south  in  winter  to  Cape  St.  Lucas 
and  over  whole  of  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Colombia." 


*Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  No.  50,  pt.   ii,   1902,  632. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  1/5 

Genus  GEOTHLYPIS  Cabanis,  1827. 

Geothlypis  trichas  brachidactyla  (Swains.).    Northern  Yellow-throat. 

Xylvia  trichas  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  401,  part. 

Geothlypis  trichas  CABANIS,  in  Nelson's  Birds  X.  E.  Illinois,  Bull. 
Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  101. 

Geothlypis  trichas  A.  O.  U.  Check-list,  1895,  No.  681,  part. 

Geothlypis  trichas  occidental**  A.  O.  U.  Check-list,  1895,  No.  681  a, 
part. 

Geothlypis  trichas  Irachidactyla  PALMEB  (W),  Auk,  XVII,  July,  1900, 
221  (crit.). 

Trichas  brachidactyla  SWAINSON,  Anim.  in  Menag.,  1838,  295  ("North- 
ern Provinces  of  United  States"). 

This  Yellow-throat  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
the  last  of  April,  and  departing  early  in  October. 

The  form  of  this  perplexing  species  which  occurs  within  our 
limits  has  been  placed  by  writers  under  both  trichas  and  trichas 
occidentalis.  While  typical  trichas  is  a  distinctly  eastern  form 
not  being  found  west  of  southern  Pennsylvania,  excepting  a  single 
accidental  specimen  taken  in  Knox  County,  Indiana,  on  May  5, 
1885  (Ridgway*),  typical  trichas  occidentalis,  on  the  other  hand, 
is  a  distinctly  western  form  and  not  found  east  of  the  western 
portion  of  the  Great  Plains.  I  have  examined  quite  a  series  of 
specimens  taken  by  various  collectors  within  our  limits.  These 
show  considerable  variation,  some  approaching  the  eastern 
trichas,  and  others  the  western  trichas  occidentalis.  However, 
the  measurements  and  colors  of  all  the  specimens  are  such  as  to 
place  them  under  trichas  brachidactyla,  a  varietal  name  recog- 
nized by  both  Palmerf  and  RidgwayJ  for  the  northern  form  of 
the  Yellow-throat. 

Mr.  Ridgway  gives  the  following  as  the  range  of  the  North- 
ern Yellow-throat  :J-  "Northeastern  United  States  and  south- 
eastern British  Provinces,  from  Newfoundland,  southern  Labra- 
dor, Quebec,  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  the  New  England 
States,  Long  Island,  New  York,  and  northern  New  Jersey,  west- 
ward to  northern  Ontario,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  and 
eastern  North  Dakota,  and  southward  through  Mississippi  Valley 
to  upland  districts  of  the  Gulf  States  (  ?),  and  east-central  Texas ; 
in  winter,  Bahamas,  Cuba,  Jamaica,  Porto  Rico  (?),  Swan 
Island,  and  through  eastern  Mexico,  and  Yucatan,  to  Guatemala, 
Nicaragua,  and  Costa  Rica;  whole  United  States  east  of  the 
Great  Plains  during  migration." 


*Bull.   U.   S.  Nat.   Mus.,  No.    50,  pt.  ii,    1902,    662. 
tAuk,    Vol.    XVII,    July,    1900,    221. 
jBull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  50,  pt.  ii,  1902,  665. 


1^6  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

.    Genus  ICTERIA  Vieillot,   1807. 

Icteria  virens  (Linnaeus).    Yellow-breasted  Chat. 

Turdus  virens  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  171. 

Icteria  viridis   BONAPARTE,   Journ.   Acad.   Nat.    Sci.   Philadelphia,   IV, 

1825,  252. 

Icteria  virens  BAIRD,  Review  Amer.  Birds,  April,  1865,  228. 
Popular  synonym.     YELLOW  MOCKINGBIRD. 

The  Yellow-breasted  Chat  is  a  not  uncommon  summer  resi- 
dent, breeding  in  the  heavy  shrubbery  in  parts  of  our  area.  It 
arrives  early  in  May,  and  departs  about  the  last  of  August.  In 
certain  portions  of  Cook  County,  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker  and  my- 
self have  found  this  species  breeding  quite  plentifully. 

The  range  of  this  Warbler  is  the  United  States  east  of  the 
Great  Plains.  It  breeds  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  northward  to 
Ontario  and  southern  New  England,  and  it  winters  through  east- 
ern Mexico,  and  Central  America  to  Costa  Rica. 

Genus  WILSONIA  Bonaparte,  1838. 

Wilsonia  mitrata  (Gmelin).    Hooded  Warbler. 

Motacilla  mitrata  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I.,  pt.  ii,  1788,  977. 

Sylvia  mitrata  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  528. 

Myiodioctcs   mitrata   AUDUBON,    Birds    Amer.,    Oct.,    ed.    ii,    1841,    12, 

pi.  71. 

Muscicapa  selbyii  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  1831,  46,  pi.  9. 
Sylvania  mitrata  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  333. 
Wilsonia  mitrata  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  23. 
Popular  synonyms:     HOODED  FLYCATCHING  WARBLER.     SELBY'S  WAB- 

BLER.     BLACK-HEADED  WARBLER.     MITRED  WARBLER.     BLACK-CAP 

WARBLER. 

The  Hooded  Warbler  is  a  rare  migrant  at  the  present  time, 
and  the  only  records  of  its  occurrence  within  our  limits  are  the 
following :  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says :  "A  rare  summer  resident ; 
arriving  May  loth  to  2Oth,  and  leaving  early  in  autumn."  On 
May  ii,  1881,  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  took  a  specimen  at  River  Forest, 
Illinois.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  has  the  skin  of  a  fine  male 
bird  which  was  taken  in  Hyde  Park,  Chicago,  on  April  28,  1884, 
by  a  boy  who  shot  it  with  a  sling-shot.  In  an  article  on  the  migra- 
tions of  the  Hooded  Warbler,*  Mr.  W.  W.  Cooke  reports  this 
species  as  having  been  taken  at  Chicago  on  March  28,  1884,  and 
on  May  3,  1895. 

The  range  of  the  Hooded  Warbler  covers  the  United  States 
from  Massachusetts,  southern  Ontario,  southern  Michigan  and 


^Bird  Lore,  Vol.  VI,  No.  1,  January-February,   1904. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  177 

southern  Wisconsin  southward.  It  breeds  from  Texas  and  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  northward,  and  winters  in  the  West  Indies,  east- 
ern Mexico  and  through  Central  America  to  Panama. 

Wilsonia  pusilla  (Wilson).    Wilson's  Warbler. 

Mmcicapa  pusilla  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  Ill,  1811,  103,  pi.  26,  fig.  4. 
Sylvia  wilsonil  BONAPARTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  IV, 

1824,  179. 

Wilsonia  pusilla  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  23. 
Sylvania  pusilla  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  335,  part. 
Myiodioctes  pusillus  BAIBD,  Lit.  Rec.  and  Journ.  Linn.  Assoc.  Penn. 

Coll.,  I,  Oct.,  1845,  252. 
Popular   synonyms:      WILSON'S    BLACK-CAP.      GREEN    BLACK-CAPPED 

WARBLER.    BLACK-CAPPED  YELLOW  WARBLER. 

Wilson's  Warbler  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant,  arriving  in  the 
spring  during  the  month  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from 
about  the  middle  of  August  to  the  latter  part  of  September. 

The  range  of  the  Wilson's  Warbler  extends  over  the  eastern 
portion  of  North  America,  east  of  the  Great  Plains  and  from 
Newfoundland,  Labrador,  the  shores  of  Hudson  Bay  and  Mani- 
toba southward.  It  breeds  north  of  the  United  States  and  mi- 
grates in  winter  through  eastern  Mexico  into  Central  America. 

Wilsonia  canadensis  (Linnaeus).    Canadian  Warbler. 

Muscicapa  canadensis  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  327. 

Sylvia  pardalina  BONAPARTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  IV, 

1824,  179. 

Myiodioctes  canadensis  AUDUBON,   Synop.,   1839,  49. 
Sylvania  bonapartii  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed.  2,  I,  1840,  332. 
Wihonia  canadensis  COUES,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  V,  April  1880,  95. 
Sylvania  canadensis  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Mus.,  VIII,  1885,  354. 
Popular  synonyms :     CANADA  FLYCATCHER  or  WARBLER.     BONAPARTE'S 

WARBLER.       CANADIAN     FLYCATCHING     WARBLER.       NECKLACED 

WARBLER. 

The  Canadian  Warbler  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant,  arriving 
from  the  first  to  the  last  of  May,  and  returning  in  the  fall  from 
the  middle  of  August  to  the  middle  of  September.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  records*  it  as  a  "rare  summer  resident." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  North  America,  east  of  the 
Great  Plains  and  from  Newfoundland  and  southern  Labrador  and 
Manitoba  southward.  It  breeds  from  Massachusetts,  central 
New  York,  northern  Michigan  and  Minnesota  northward,  and 
southward  in  the  Alleghany  Mountains  to  North  Carolina.  It 
winters  southward  through  eastern  Mexico  and  Central  America 
to  northern  South  America. 


''Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  101. 


1/8  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Genus  SETOPHAGA  Swainson,  1827. 

Setophaga  ruticilla  (Linnaeus).    American  Redstart. 

Motacilla  ruticilla  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  186. 
Muscicapa  ruticilla  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  326. 
Setophaga  ruticilla  SWAINSON,  Phil.  Mag.,  I,  May,  1827,  368. 
Popular  synonyms:     BLACK-AND-RED  WARBLER.     YELLOW-TAILED  WAR- 
BLER or  FLYCATCHER.     FAN-TAILED  WARBLER  or  FLYCATCHER. 

The  American  Redstart  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriv- 
ing early  in  May,  departing  about  the  last  of  September. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  temperate  North  America 
in  general,  though  it  is  rare  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  within 
the  borders  of  the  United  States.  It  breeds  through  its  United 
States  range  and  northward  to  Nova  Scotia,  Mackenzie,  and  on 
the  Pacific  coast  to  southern  Alaska.  It  winters  in  the  West 
Indies,  Mexico,  and  southward  through  Central  America,  to  the 
northern  portions  of  South  America. 

FAMILY  MOTACILLIME:     WAGTAILS   AND   PIPITS. 
Genus  ANTHUS  Bechstein,  1807. 

Anthus  pensilvanicus  (Latham).    American  Pipit. 

Alauda  pensilvanica  LATHAM,  Synop.  Birds,  Suppl.,  I,  1787,  287. 
Anthus  ludovicianus  LICHTENSTEIN,  Verz.  Doubl.,  1823,  37. 
.   Anthus  pensilvanicus  THIENEMANN,  Rhea,  II,   1849,   171. 
Popular  synonyms:     TITLARK.     AMERICAN  TITLARK.     PENNSYLVANIA 
PIPIT.     LOUISIANA  PIPIT. 

The  American  Pipit  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant.  The  ma- 
jority of  these  birds  arrive  early  in  April  and  stay  in  our  vicinity 
until  about  the  middle  of  May.  In  the  fall  they  return  about 
the  tenth  of  September  and  remain  until  late  in  October.  The 
earliest  of  their  arrival  in  the  spring,  of  which  I  have  any  account, 
is  that  of  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  who  took  one  at  Grand 
Crossing,  Chicago,  on  March  14,  1885.  The  latest  fall  record 
for  this  vicinity  is  a  specimen  which  I  took  at  Liverpool,  Indiana, 
on  October  27,  1896.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:*  "Common  in 
iiocks  along  the  Lake  shore  and  on  prairies  during  the  migra- 
tions. Arrives  about  the  fifteenth  of  May.  It  is  then  just  as- 
suming the  breeding  dress,  and  remains  until  about  the  thirtieth, 
when,  its  moult  being  completed,  it  moves  north." 

The  range  of  the  American  Pipit  covers  the  whole  of  North 
America,  but  it  breeds  only  in  subarctic  regions  and  in  the  higher 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,   of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  97. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  179 

altitudes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  from  Colorado  northward 
where  it  is  said  to  nest  on  the  ground  above  timber  line.  It 
winters  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  United  States  and  south- 
ward through  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Guatemala. 

FAMILY  MIMIIX^:    THRASHERS,  ETC. 
Genus  MIMUS  Boie,  1826. 

Mimus  polyglottos  (Linnasus).    Mockingbird. 

Turdus  polyglottos  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  169. 
Turdus  polyglottus  GMELIN,  S.  N.,  I,  1788,  812. 
Mimus  polyglottus  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  17. 
Popular  synonym  :     SOUTHESN  MOCKINGBIRD. 

The  Mockingbird  is  certainly  a  very  rare  visitant  to  our 
area.  The  history  of  its  occurrence  within  our  limits  is  shown, 
so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  the  information,  by  the  follow- 
ing records :  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott  reports  it  as  rare,  and  states 
that  it  is  known  to  nest  in  Cook  County.*  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson 
saysrf  "A  very  rare  summer  resident.  I  know  of  but  few  in- 
stances of  its  occurrence  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago.  Dr.  Hoy  has 
recorded  six  nests  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Racine,  Wisconsin." 
In  his  report  on  the  birds  of  Illinois,^  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  gives 
the  following  information:  "Mr.  H.  K.  Coale  informs  me  that 
he  saw  a  Mockingbird  in  Starke  County,  Indiana,  sixty  miles 
southeast  of  Chicago,  January  I,  1884;  that  Mr.  Green  Smith  had 
met  with  it  at  Kensington  Station,  Illinois,  and  that  several 
have  been  observed  in  the  parks  and  dooryards  of  Chicago."  Mr. 
H.  K.  Coale  has  sent  me  the  following  note:  "On  August  30, 
1876,  I  fcfund  a  dead  full  grown  Mockingbird  under  a  tree  in 
Chicago,  a  heavy  rain  during  the  night  before  having  probably 
killed  it.  It  was  evidently  not  a  cage  bird."  A  valuable  record 
which  I  have  is  that  of  Dr.  Joseph  L.  Hancock,  of  Chicago,  who 
has  kindly  sent  me  the  following  interesting  notes:  "On  April 
29,  1902,  in  the  south  end  of  South  Park,  Chicago,  I  noticed  a 
Mockingbird  on  the  ground  in  the  mowed  grass.  When  ap- 
proaching near  the  spot  where  the  bird  was  foraging,  it  became 
frightened  and  flew  across  the  driveway  finally  alighting  in  a  tree. 
The  bird  was  in  beautiful  fresh  plumage,  it  probably  being  a  male, 
because  of  the  bright  coloring  and  the  large  white  patches  on 


*Trans.   Illinois    State   Agri.    Society,   Vol.    I,    1853-1854,    582. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,   of  the   Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876.  94. 

tOrnithology  of  Illinois,   Vol.  I,    1889,    105. 


ISO  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

the   wings   which    were    conspicuously   displayed    during   flight 
especially  just  before  alighting. 

"The  warm  wind  coming  from  the  south,  accompanied  with 
a  high  velocity  and  elevated  temperature,  doubtless  accounted 
for  the  presence  of  this  bird  here,  along  with  the  great  number 
of  the  migrants  which  came  at  the  same  time.  The  temperature 
of  that  day,  which  is  herewith  appended,  offers  confirmation  of 
the  fact  that  this  rare  southern  visitor  into  our  northern  latitude 
was  not  a  cage  bird. 

"The  hourly  temperature  readings  from  midnight  to  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  is  as  follows : 

Midnight, 64      Eight  A.  M., 64 

One  A.  M.,  63      Nine  A.  M.,   69 

Two  A.  M., 62      Ten  A.  M., 72 

Three  A.  M., 61      Eleven  A.  M., 74 

Four  A.  M.,   60     Twelve  A.  M., 75 

Five  A.  M., 60      One  P.  M., 77 

Six  A.  M., 61      Two  P.  M., 78 

Seven  A.  M., 62     Three  P.  M., 78 

"I  saw  the  Mockingbird  first  at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when  the  temperature  was  74  degrees  Fahrenheit.  The  next  day 
the  temperature  dropped  rapidly  so  that  at  one  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  it  fell  to  36  degrees,  causing,  as  might  be  expected, 
considerable  suffering  among  the  more  delicately  constituted 
migrants."  At  Millers,  Indiana,  on  the  eighth  of  May,  1905, 
Mr.  Frank  C.  Baker  and  myself  observed  a  pair  of  Mocking- 
birds in  the  long  line  of  thickets  just  east  of  the  first  ridge  of 
dunes.  We  did  not  disturb  the  birds,  hoping  that  they  might 
nest  and  breed  in  that  locality. 

The  range  of  the  Mockingbird  includes  the  southern  United 
States  from  Mexico  north  to  southern  Maryland,  southern  Ohio, 
southern  Indiana,  southern  Illinois,  Colorado,  and  southern  Cali- 
fornia. North  of  this  area  it  is  rare  or  of  very  irregular  appear- 
ance as  far  north  as  Maine,  Ontario,  northern  Illinois,  and 
Wyoming. 

Genus  GALEOSCOPTES  Cabanis,  1850. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis  (Linnaeus).    Catbird. 

Muscicapa  carolinensis  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  328. 
Galeoscoptes  carolinensis  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  I.  1850,  82. 
Mimus  carolinensis  "GRAY,"  SCL.,  P.  Z.  S.,  1856,  294. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  l8l 

Mimus  felivox  BONAPAETE,  of  some  early  writers. 
Popular  synonym  :     ENGLISH  MOCKINGBIRD. 

The  Catbird  is  an  abundant  summer  resident,  arriving  the  last 
of  April  and  departing  early  in  October. 

The  Catbird  has  an  extended  range  covering  the  United  States 
east  of  and  including  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from  the  Sas- 
katchewan Valley  southward.  It  is  rare  on  the  Pacific  coast 
from  central  California  north  to  British  Columbia.  It  breeds 
nearly  throughout  its  range  north  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
winters  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  United  States  and  south- 
ward to  Panama. 

Genus  TOXOSTOMA  Wagler,  1831. 

Toxostoma  rufum  (Linnaeus).    Brown  Thrasher. 

Turdus  rufus  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  169. 

Toxostoma  rufum  CABANIS,  Archf.  Naturg.,  1847,  I,  207. 

Harporhynchus  rufus  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  I,  1850,  82. 

Mimus  rufus  LINNAEUS,  of  some  early  writers. 

Popular  synonyms :  THRASHER.  FOX-COLORED  or  SANDY  MOCKINGBIRD. 
FERRUGINOUS  MOCKINGBIRD.  FRENCH  MOCKINGBIRD.  MOCKING- 
BIRD. 

The  Brown  Thrasher  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving 
about  the  middle  of  April,  and  departing  early  in  October. 

The  range  of  the  Brown  Thrasher  covers  the  United  States 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from  Maine,  Ontario  and  Mani- 
toba southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Mexico.  It  breeds 
throughout  its  range,  and  winters  from  Illinois  and  Virginia 
southward. 

FAMILY  TROGLODYTID^B:    WRENS. 
Genus  THRYOTHORUS  Vieillot,  1816. 

Thryothorus  ludovicianus  (Latham).    Carolina  Wren. 
Sylvia  ludoviciana  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  II,  1790,  548. 
Troglodytes  ludovicianus  LICHT.,  Verz.  Doubl.,  1823,  35. 
Thryothorus  ludoricianns  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  11. 
Popular  synonyms :   GREAT  CAROLINA  WREN.   MOCKING  WREN.  LARGE 
WOOD  WREN. 

This  interesting  songster  is  gradually  adapting  itself  to  our 
northern  Illinois  climate,  and  if  protected  from  indiscriminate 
collectors  may  become  one  of  our  familiar  summer  residents. 
In  his  list  of  the  birds  of  Cook  County,*  Mr.  Robert  Kennicott 
reports  it  as  rare,  and  says  "I  have  seen  but  two  specimens  of 

*Trans.   Illinois   State   Agri.    Society,   Vol.   I,    1853-1854,    583. 


l82  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

this  pretty  songster."  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  reported  it,f  "A  rare 
summer  visitant."  Thanks  to  the  protection  afforded  this  bird 
by  Mr.  John  V.  Farwell,  Jr.,  at  Lake  Forest,  Illinois,  the  species 
has  succeeded  in  raising  several  broods  in  that  vicinity.  Mr. 
Spencer  F.  Dayton  writes  as  follows:  "As  I  was  hunting 
through  the  Bowmanville  woods,  I  heard  the  loud  ringing  song 
of  this  Wren  coming  from  a  distance.  As  it  struck  my  ear  as 
unfamiliar,  I  traced  it  to  the  northern  edge  of  the  woods  and 
found  that  it  came  from  a  Carolina  Wren  concealed  in  a  brush 
pile.  Every  few  minutes  the  bird  would  mount  to  the  top  of 
a  stick  and,  with  head  up  and  tail  down  would  utter  its  clear  ring- 
ing notes  which  sounded  like  the  syllables  che-ho-vy;  rich  and 
mellow  were  the  notes  and  they  were  repeated  every  half  minute 
or  so  for  a  time  and  then  he  would  drop  down  into  the  bush 
only  to  reappear  after  a  time  to  sing  again.  It  did  not  scold  or 
chatter  as  do  other  wrens,  and  its  notes,  heard  at  a  distance,  had 
the  quality  of  those  of  the  robin." 

Mrs.  John  V.  Farwell,  Jr.,  informs  me  that  she  had  studied 
the  Carolina  Wren  in  Virginia  but  hardly  expected  to  ever  see 
or  hear  it  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Forest,  Illinois.  She  writes  as 
follows:  "On  the  morning  of  August  13,  1900,  I  was  awakened 
by  its  loud  clear  whistle  just  outside  of  my  window.  It  is  a 
curious  fact  that  the  songs  of  our  familiar  birds  do  not  awaken 
me,  but  when  I  hear  an  unusual  song  I  am  easily  aroused.  I  have 
since  had  a  good  look  at  him.  His  song  is  a  loud,  clear,  rapid 
whistle  that  could  be  heard  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  syllables 
can  be  rendered  cher-o-kee;  the  notes  musically  speaking  are  in 
A  flat  or  D.  Besides  this  song  the  only  sound  I  heard  him  utter 
was  a  scolding  warning;  out  of  note,  like  a  policeman's  rattle. 
The  whistling  note  was  usually  repeated  three  times.  This  bird 
has  been  identified  by  Mr.  John  F.  Ferry  and  several  others." 

The  range  of  the  Carolina  Wren  extends  over  the  United 
States,  east  of  the  Great  Plains  and  from  southern  New  England, 
southernNew  York,  southern  Ontario,  and  southern  Michigan 
southward.  It  is  resident  nearly  throughout  its  range. 

Genus  THRYOMANES  Sclater,  1861. 

Thryomanes  bewickii  (Audubon).    Bewick's  Wren. 

Troglodytes  lewicJcii  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  I,  1831,  96,   pi.  18. 
Thryothorus  lewickii  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,  1838,  11. 

tBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,   of   the   Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  96. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY.  183 

Thryomanes  lewickii  RIDGWAY,  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  II,  July,  1877, 

60. 
Popular  synonyms :    LONG-TAILED  HOUSE  WBEN.    LONG-TAILED  WEEN. 

Bewick's  Wren  must  be  included  in  the  avifauna  of  our 
region  because  of  the  record  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  who  says: 
"Rare  summer  resident.  A  pair  of  these  birds  appeared  in  a 
vacant  lot  in  Chicago  the  first  of  June,  1876,  and  taking  posses- 
sion of  a  convenient  corner  in  the  roof  of  an  arbor  proceeded  to 
raise  their  young.  At  intervals  through  the  day,  the  male  would 
mount  to  the  top  of  some  house,  or  to  the  topmost  twig  of  a  tree 
in  the  vicinity,  and  sing  for  an  hour  or  more.  The  family  sud- 
denly left  about  the  middle  of  July." 

While  I  have  no  other  records  of  the  appearance  of  this 
Wren  within  our  limits,  I  can  see  no  reason  why  it  should  not, 
at  least  occasionally,  frequent  the  vicinity  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Ridg- 
way  says:*  "In  most  parts  of  southern  Illinois,  this  is  the 
House  Wren,  par  excellence;  and  even  in  localities  where  the 
true  House  Wren  (Troglodytes  aedon)  occurs  Bewick's  Wren 
is  far  the  more  numerous  of  the  two."  Because  of  the  above 
records,  it  is  very  important  that  all  observers  should  constantly 
have  Bewick's  Wren  in  mind  as  a  possible  visitor  to  our  vicinity. 
It  is  quite  erratic  in  its  habits  and  is  unknown  in  many  localities 
within  its  general  range. 

The  range  of  this  Wren  includes  the  United  States,  east  of 
the  Great  Plains  and  eastern  Texas,  and  chiefly  west  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains  and  south  of  southern  Pennsylvania.  In 
the  Mississippi  Valley  it  is  found  as  far  north  as  central  Minne- 
sota. It  is  a  migrant  only  in  the  more  northern  part  of  its  range. 
It  has  been  observed  in  southern  Michigan,  northern  Indiana  and 
northern  Illinois. 

Genus  TROGLODYTES  Vieillot,  1807. 

Troglodytes  aedon  Vieillot.     House  Wren. 

Troglodytes  aedon  VIEILLOT,  Ois.  Amer.  Sept.,  II,  1807,  52,  pi.  107. 
Popular  synonyms:     WOOD  WBEN.     SHORT-TAILED  HOUSE  WBEN. 

At  the  present  time  the  House  Wren  is  certainly  a  very  rare 
visitant  to  our  area.  The  only  specimen  of  this  species  that  I 
have  seen  from  our  vicinity  is  one  taken  by  Mr.  Graham  Davis 
in  Hyde  Park,  Chicago,  on  May  16,  1886.  This  specimen  is  in 
the  collection  of  The  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences.  Mr.  Amos 


'Ornithology  of  Illinois,   Vol.  I,    1889,   92. 


184  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

W.  Butler,  in  his  Birds  of  Indiana>  reports  it  as  having  been  found 
at  Chicago  on  April  27,  1896.  In  1853-1854,  Mr.  Robert  Kenni- 
cott  recorded  this  species  in  his  list  of  Cook  County  birds,*  as 
"abundant"  and  also  states  that  it  was  known  to  nest  in  the  county 
at  that  time.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson,  in  his  Birds  of  Northeastern 
Illinoisf  says:  "Rather  common  summer  resident  away  from 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Lake.  Arrives  the  first  of  May  and 
departs  the  last  of  September." 

I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  birds  found  during  the  time  of 
Mr.  Kennicott  and  Mr.  Nelson  would  now  be  referred  to  Trog- 
lodytes aedon  parktnanii. 

The  range  of  the  House  Wren  covers  the  eastern  United 
States,  west  to  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Texas,  and  from 
Maine  and  southern  Ontario  southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
It  breeds  in  the  northern  half  of  its  range  and  winters  in  the 
southern  half.  It  is  also  said  to  breed  in  Florida. 

Troglodytes  aedon  parkmanii  (Audubon).    Western  House  Wren. 
Troglodytes  aedon  NELSON,  Bull.  Essex.  Inst.,  VIII,  1876,  97,  152. 
Troglodytes  aedon  KENNICOTT,  Trans.  111.  Agric.  Soc.,  I,  1855,  603. 
Troglodytes  parkmanii  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  V,  1839,  310. 
Troglodytes  cedon  var.  aztecus  BAIBD,  Review,  Sept.,  1864,  139. 

The  Western  House  Wren  is  a  not  uncommon  summer  resi- 
dent, arriving  about  the  last  of  April,  and  departing  in  October. 
This  is  unquestionably  the  common  form  of  aedon  found  in  north- 
eastern Illinois.  Some  years  ago  a  number  of  specimens  of  the 
house  wren  from  our  area  were  sent  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  for  ex- 
amination. He  reported  that  they  agreed  with  the  variety 
aztecus,  even  when  compared  with  typical  specimens  from  Ari- 
zona and  other  parts  of  the  West.  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  has  also 
noted  this  form  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago. 

The  range  of  this  House  Wren  extends  through  the  western 
United  States,  from  Mexico  northward  to  Manitoba  and  the 
Great  Slave  Lake.  The  eastern  limit  of  its  range  seems  to  be 
Wisconsin  and  Indiana,  and  it  winters  from  Texas  south. 

Genus  OLBIORCHILUS  Oberholser,  1902. 

Olbiorchilus  hiemalis  (Vieillot).     Winter  Wren. 

Troglodytes    hiemalis    VIEILLOT,    Nouv.    Diet.    d'Hist.    Nat.,    XXXIV, 

1819,  514. 
Anorthura  troglodytes  var.  hyemalis  COUES,  Key,  1872,  351. 


*Trans.    Illinois   State   Agri.    Society,    Vol.    I,    1853-1854,    583. 
tBull.   of  the  Essex   Institute,   Vol.    VIII,    1876,    97. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  185 

Troglodytes  parvulus  var.  hyemalis  B.  B.  &  R.,  Hist.  N.  Amer.  B.,  I, 

1874,  155,  pi.  9,  fig.  9. 

Olbiorchilus  hiemalis  OBERHOLSEB,  Auk,  XIX,  April,  1902,  178. 
Popular  synonyms :     BUNTY  WEEN.     LITTLE  LOG  WEEN. 

The  Winter  Wren  is  a  common  migrant,  arriving,  in  the 
spring,  from  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  to  the  tenth  of  May,  and 
returning,  in  the  fall,  from  early  in  September  to  the  last  of 
October. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  quite  generally  over  North 
America,  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  breeds  from  the 
northern  portions  of  the  United  States  northward  and  in  the 
Alleghany  Mountains  southward  to  North  Carolina.  It  winters 
from  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois  southward  at  least  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico. 

Genus  CISTOTHORUS  Cabanis,  1850. 

Cistothorus  stellaris   (Lichtenstein).    Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

Troglodytes  stellaris  LICHTENSTEIN,  in  Naumann's  Vog.  Deutschl.,  Ill, 

1823,  724. 

Troglodytes  brevirostris  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  426. 
Cistothorus  stellaris  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hem.,  I,  1850,  77. 

The  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren  is  a  not  uncommon  summer 
resident  in  suitable  localities  within  our  limits.  It  is,  however, 
rarely  seen  on  account  of  its  shyness.  On  June  3,  1889,  Mr.  B. 
T.  Gault  found  this  species  breeding  near  Sheffield,  Indiana,  and 
collected  two  males.  At  the  same  place,  on  June  28,  he  obtained 
a  young  bird  which  was  about  two  days  old.  I  have  found  the 
long  grass  of  the  region  around  Lake  Calumet,  Illinois,  and  some 
distance  from  the  water,  to  be  an  excellent  place  for  the  study  of 
this  Wren. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  United  gtates,  east  of 
the  Great  Plains,  and  from  southern  New  Hampshire,  southern 
Ontario,  and  southern  Manitoba  southward.  It  breeds  locally 
throughout  its  range,  and  winters  in  the  Southern  States. 

Genus  TELMATODYTES  Cabanis,  1850. 

Telmatodytes  palustris  iliacus  Ridgr^ay.    Long-billed  Marsh  Wren. 
Troglodytes  palustris  SWAINSON  and  RICHARDSON,  Fauna  Bor.  Amer., 

II,   1831,   319. 
Cistothorus  palustris  BAIRD,  Cat.  X.  Amer.  Birds,  1859,  No.  208,  part ; 

American  Ornithologists'  Union.  Check  List,  1895,  No.  725,  part; 

NELSON,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  VIII,  1876,  97. 


l86  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Telmatodytes  palustris  COUES,   Key  N.  Amer.  Birds,   1872,  87,  part; 

RIDGWAY,  Amer.  Nat.,  VII,  1873,  200. 
Telmatodytes  palustris  iliaeus  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  Biql.  Soc.,  Washington, 

XVI,  Sept.  30,  1903,  110. 
Popular  synonyms :     GRASS  WREN.     PRAIRIE  MARSH  WREN.     STINK- 

BIBD. 

The  Long-billed  Marsh  Wren  is  an  abundant  summer  resident 
in  all  of  the  marshes  of  our  area,  arriving  near  the  last  of  April 
and  departing  about  the  last  of  October. 

I  have  had  the  privilege  of  studying  an  excellent  series  of 
specimens  of  this  Wren,  taken  within  our  borders,  and  of  com- 
paring them  with  as  good  series  of  both  the  eastern  and  the 
western  forms.  The  characteristics  of  the  specimens  from  the 
Chicago  Area  were  very  constant  and  the  differences  between 
them  and  both  the  eastern  and  western  forms  was  so  marked  that 
I  believe  Mr.  Ridgway's  diagnosis  of  the  species  (see  Bull.  U.  S. 
Nat.  Mus.  no.  50,  pt.  Ill,  489-499)  is  more  satisfactory  than  any 
other  arrangements  of  the  various  forms.  I  have,  therefore, 
used  his  subspecific  name  iliaeus. 

Mr.  Ridgway  recognizes  seven  distinct  forms  of  this  species, 
of  which  the  eastern  form  (Telmatodytes  palustris  palustris) 
ranges  westward  to  western  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  and 
south,  in  winter,  to  North  and  South  Carolina.  The  western 
form  (Telmatodytes  palustris  plesius)  frequents  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain plateau  district  of  the  United  States  and  British  Columbia 
west  to  the  middle  of  Washington  and  Oregon ;  south  during  itb 
migration  into  Lower  California  and  central  Texas.  Three  other 
forms  frequent  only  the  coast  districts  of  the  southern  United 
States,  and  one  only  the  Pacific  coast  districts. 

Mr.  Ridgway  gives  the  following  range  for  the  form  which 
frequents  our  region :  "Great  Plains  and  prairie  districts  of  Cen- 
tral United  States  and  south-central  British  Provinces ;  north 
to  Alberta  and,  probably,  to  Manitoba ;  east  to  Illinois  and  western 
Indiana ;  southward  in  winter  over  the  greater  part  of  Mexico 
(except  northwestern  portion)  as  far  as  Vera  Cruz,  Zacatecas, 
and  eastern  Jalisco,  and  along  Gulf  coast  of  United  States  to 
western  Florida,  casually  to  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia. 

FAMILY  CERTHIIDJE:    CREEPERS. 
Genus  CERTHIA  Linnaeus,  1758. 

Certhia  familiaris  americana   (Bonaparte).    Brown  Creeper. 

Certhia  familiaris  WILSON,  Amer.  Orn.,  I,  1808,  122,  pi.  7,  fig.  1. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  l8j 

Certhia  americana  BONAPARTE,  Geog.  and  Comp.  List,   1838,   11. 
Certhia  familiaris  var.  americana  RIDGWAY,  Bull.  Essex  Inst.,  V,  1873, 

180. 
Popular  synonym:     AMERICAN  TBEE  CREEPER. 

The  Brown  Creeper  is  a  common  migrant,  and  an  occasional 
winter  resident  within  our  limits  at  Millers,  Indiana,  where  it 
finds  shelter  in  the  heavy  growth  of  pines  among  the  sand  hills. 
The  majority  of  these  birds  arrive,  in  the  spring,  early  in  April 
and  remain  until  about  the  middle  of  May.  They  return,  in  the 
fall,  the  latter  part  of  September  and  the  first  half  of  October. 
Regarding  the  Brown  Creeper,  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  said  (1876)  : 
"Common  winter  resident,  arriving  October  1st  and  remaining 
until  May  loth.  Particularly  abundant  the  first  two  weeks  of 
October  and  of  April,  when  they  frequent  the  streets  of  Chicago 
in  large  numbers,  industriously  searching  the  rough  brick  walls 
for  the  small  spiders  which  they  find  in  abundance  in  the  numer- 
ous crevices." 

The  range  of  the  Brown  Creeper  covers  eastern  North  Amer- 
ica, from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  northward.  It  breeds  from  the 
northern  and  more  elevated  portions  of  the  United  States  north- 
ward, and  casually  further  south.  It  winters  in  the  southern 
portion  of  its  range. 

FAMILY   SITTID2E:     NUTHATCHES. 
Genus   SITTA   Linnaeus,   1758. 

Sitta  carolinensis  Latham.     White-breasted  Nuthatch 
Sitta  carolinensis  LATHAM,  Ind.  Orn.,  I,  1790,  262. 
Popular  synonyms :    WHITE-BELLIED  NUTHATCH.    TOMTIT.    BLUE  SAP- 
SUCKER. 

The  White-breasted  Nuthatch  is  a  not  uncommon  resident  in 
the  northern  portion  of  our  area.  It  is,  however,  more  abundant 
during  its  migrations.  The  majority  of  these  Nuthatches  arrive, 
in  the  spring,  early  in  April,  and  depart,  in  the  fall,  during  the 
month  of  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  United  States,  east  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from  the  British  Possessions  (New 
Brunswick  and  Ontario)  southward  to  the  Gulf  States  and  Texas. 
It  is  a  resident  species  nearly  throughout  its  range. 

Sitta  canadensis  Linnaeus.    Red-breasted  Nuthatch. 

Sitta  canadensis  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  177. 
Popular   synonyms:     RED-BELLIED  NUTHATCH.     CANADA   NUTHATCH. 
SAPSUCKER. 


l88  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF   SCIENCES. 

At  the  present  time  we  only  know  this  Nuthatch  as  a  common 
migrant,  arriving  in  the  spring,  from  early  in  April  to  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  and  returning,  in  the  fall,  from  the  latter  part  of 
August  to  early  in  September;  it  may  remain  in  our  vicinity 
until  the  latter  part  of  October.  It  is  probable  that  this  species 
is  also  an  occasional  winter  resident,  for  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker, 
Jr.,  took  a  specimen  at  Lake  Forest,  Illinois,  on  December  15, 
1894;  and  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler  says  in  his  "Birds  of  Indiana" 
that  Mr.  Aiken  reported  these  birds  to  be  very  abundant  in  Cook 
County,  Illinois,  during  the  winter  of  1866-1867.  The  only 
record  of  its  nesting  within  our  limits  is  that  of  Mr.  E.  W.  Nel- 
son, who  says  :*  "A  rare  summer  resident.  I  found  a  pair 
near  Chicago  with  full  grown  young  the  first  of  July,  and  Mr. 
Rice  observed  a  pair  feeding  unfledged  young  the  last  of  April, 
1874,  at  Evanston,  Illinois.  The  excavation  containing  this  nest 
was  in  a  tree,  standing  on  one  of  the  principal  streets  of  the  town. 
It  was  about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  young  were 
thrusting  their  heads  out  of  the  hole  and  clamoring  for  food, 
thus  attracting  his  attention  when  they  would  otherwise  have  been 
unnoticed." 

The  range  of  the  Red-breasted  Nuthatch  covers  North  Amer- 
ica in  general,  northward  to  the  limit  of  timber  and  southward,  in 
winter,  to  the  southern  border  of  the  United  States.  It  breeds 
from  the  northern  portions  of  the  United  States  northward,  and 
southward  in  the  Alleghany,  Rocky,  and  Sierra  Nevada  Moun- 
tains. 

FAMILY  PARIDJE:     TITMICE  AND  CHICKADEES. 
Genus  B-EOLOPHUS  Cabanis,  1850. 

Baeolophus  bicolor  (LinnsBus).    Tufted  Titmouse. 

Parus  licolor  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  340. 
Baeolophus  bicolor  CABANIS,  Mus.  Hein.,  I,  1850,  91. 
Lophophanes  bicolor  BONAPARTE,  Consp.  Av.,  I,  1850,  228. 
Popular  synonym  :     BLACK-FRONTED  TITMOUSE. 

While  the  Tufted  Titmouse  is  common  in  the  southern  part 
of  Illinois,  it  is  certainly  no  more  than  a  very  casual  visitant  to 
our  area.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  observed  one  of  these  birds 
at  South  Chicago  on  October  15,  1897,  and  it  is  not  uncommon 
during  the  fall  and  winter  months  at  Kouts,  Indiana,  sixty  miles 
southeast  of  Chicago.  Mr.  O.  M.  Schantz  informs  me  that  early 

*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  96 


THE  NATURAL  HISTORY   SURVEY.  189 

in  the  spring  of  1900,  before  the  trees  were  in  leaf,  he  saw  a 
large  flock  of  Tufted  Titmice  in  the  woods  west  of  Riverside, 
Illinois.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says*  that  it  "occurs  only  during 
fall  and  winter,  when  straggling  parties  occasionally  visit  us  from 
southern  Illinois,  where  it  is  one  of  the  characteristic  species." 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  United  States  east  of 
the  Great  Plains,  and  from  the  Connecticut  Valley  and  southern 
Michigan  southward.  It  is  usually  resident  and  breeds  through- 
out its  range. 

Genus  PENTHESTES  Reichenbach,  1850. 

Penthestes  atricapillus  (Linnaeus).    Chickadee. 

Parus  atricapillus  LINN^US,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  341. 
Popular  synonyms:     BLACK-CAPPED  TITMOUSE  or  CHICKADEE.     EAST- 
ERN   Or   NOBTHEBN    CHICKADEE. 

The  Chickadee  is  a  common  resident,  but  is  more  common 
during  its  migrations  and  in  winter. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  over  Northeastern  North 
America,  east  of  the  Great  Plains,  and  from  the  mountains  of 
North  Carolina,  the  Ohio  Valley  and  Missouri  northward.  It 
breeds  quite  throughout  its  range. 

Penthestes  carolinensis  (Audubon).    Carolina  Chickadee. 

Pants  carolinensis  AUDUBON,  Orn.  Biog.,  II,  1834,  341,  pi.  160. 
Popular  synonyms:     CAROLINA  TITMOUSE.     SOUTHERN  CHICKADEE. 

The  only  records  I  have  of  the  occurrence  of  this  pretty  and 
active  bird  within  our  limits  are  the  following:  Mr.  E.  W. 
Nelson  says*  that  it  is  "a  rare  summer  visitant  to  the  'Pinery,' 
at  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Michigan."  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker, 
Jr.,  obtained  a  specimen  of  this  diminutive  Chickadee  at  Lake 
Forest,  Illinois,  in  December,  1890. 

The  range  of  this  species  includes  the  Southeastern  United 
States,  north  to  New  Jersey  and  Illinois,  and  west  to  eastern 
Texas,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Missouri. 

Penthestes  hudsonicus  (Forster).    Hudsonian  Chickadee. 

Parus  hudsonicus  FORSTER,  Phil.  Trans..  LXII.  1772,  383,  430. 
Parus  hudsonicus  NELSON.  Bull,  Essex  Inst,  VIII,  1876,  95. 
Parus  hudsonicus  RIDGWAY,  Birds  of  Illinois,  I,  1889,  82. 

The  Hudsonian  Chickadee  may  be  regarded  as  a  very  rare 
winter  visitant.  There  are  but  four  records  of  its  occurrence  in 


*Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  95. 


I9O  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

Illinois,  two  of  these  being  based  on  specimens  actually  secured. 
Mr.  Nelson  says :  "A  very  rare  winter  visitant.  Dr.  Hoy  ob- 
served a  small  flock  near  Racine  in  January,  1852;  and  Dr.  Velie 
has  since  observed  them  at  Rock  Island,  Illinois."  Mr.  Ridg- 
way  writes  as  follows :  "This  species  can  only  be  considered 
the  merest  straggler  to  the  extreme  northern  portion  of  the 
State."  On  November  5,  1906,  Mr.  John  F.  Ferry  obtained 
a  specimen  at  Waukegan,  Illinois,  and  on  the  eighth  of  the  same 
month  I  secured  two  females  at  the  same  locality.  These  birds 
are  the  only  specimens  actually  secured  in  the  state. 

The  Hudsonian  Chickadee  ranges  in  North  America  from 
northern  New  England,  New  York  and  northern  Illinois  north- 
ward. 

FAMILY  SYLVIIDJE:     WARBLERS,  KINGLETS.  AND 
GNATCATCHERS. 

Genus  REGULUS  Cuvier,  1799-1800. 

Regulus  satrapa  Lichtenstein.  Golden-crowned  Kinglet. 
Regulus  satrapa  LICHTENSTEIN,  Verz.  Doubl.,  1823,  35. 
Regulus  crisatus  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  420. 

Popular  synonyms:     GOLDEN-CRESTED  KINGLET  or  WREN.     AMERICAN 
GOLDEN-CREST.    GOLDEN-CROWNED  WREN. 

The  Golden-crowned  Kinglet  is  a  common  migrant,  arriving, 
in  the  spring,  from  the  last  of  March  to  the  tenth  of  May,  and 
returning,  in  the  fall,  from  the  first  of  October  to  the  middle  of 
November.  Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder  reports  having  seen  one  of 
these  birds  on  the  first  of  December,  which  is  an  unusually  late 
record. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  the  whole  of  North  America. 
It  breeds  in  the  northern  and  elevated  portions  of  the  United 
States  and  northward,  and  winters  southward  in  the  United  States 
and  through  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Guatemala. 

Regulus  calendula  (Linnaeus).    Ruby-crowned  Kinglet. 

Motacilla  calendula  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  337. 
Regulus  calendula  LICHTENSTEIN,  Verz.  Doubl.,  1823,  35. 
Popular  synonym:     RUBY-CROWNED  WREN. 

The  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving, 
in  the  spring,  from  the  fifth  of  April  to  the  middle  of  May,  and 
returning,  in  the  fall,,  from  the  last  of  September  to  the  last  of 
October. 


THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY.  IQI 

The  range  of  this  Kinglet  includes  the  whole  of  North  Amer- 
ica, from  the  Arctic  coast  southward  through  the  United  States, 
and  in  winter  south  to  Guatemala.  It  breeds  chiefly  north  of  the 
United  States  and  also  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  and  the  mountains  of  Arizona. 

Genus  POLIOPTILA  Sclater,  1855. 

Polioptila  caerulea  (Linnaeus).    Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher. 
Motacilla  ccerulea  LINN.ETJS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  337. 
Sylvania  ccerulea  NUTTALL,  Man.,  ed,  2,  I,  1840,  337. 
Polioptila  ccerulea  SCLATER,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.,  London,  1855,  11. 
Popular  synonyms:     EASTERN  GNATCATCHEB.     BLUE  WBEN.     LONG- 
TAILED  WBEN. 

The  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant,  ar- 
riving, in  the  spring,  from  the  last  of  April  to  the  last  of  May, 
and  returning,  in  the  fall,  from  the  twentieth  of  August  to  the 
middle  of  September.  It  is  also  a  rare  resident.  Mr.  B.  T.  Gault 
informs  me  that  it  has  been  found  breeding  in  the  Addison 
Woods,  DuPage  County,  Illinois.  Mr.  Amos  W.  Butler,  in  his 
Birds  of  Indiana,  states  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  C.  A.  Tallman 
and  Mr.  Eliot  Blackwelder,  that  it  breeds  in  Cook  County,  Illi- 
nois. The  lack  of  heavy  timber  within  our  limits  is  probably  the 
reason  that  this  species  does  not  breed  more  extensively  in  our 
vicinity. 

The  range  of  the  Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  covers  the  United 
States  east  of  Nebraska  and  western  Texas  and  chiefly  south  of 
Latitude  43°.  It  breeds  in  suitable  localities  quite  throughout  its 
range,  and  migrates  southward,  in  winter,  as  far  as  the  West 
Indies  and  Guatemala.  It  has  also  been  reported  as  far  north 
as  Ontario. 

FAMILY  TURDID^]:    THRUSHES,  BLUEBIRDS,  ETC. 
Genus  HYLOCICHLA  Baird,  1864. 

Hylocichla  mustelina  (Gmelin).    Wood  Thrush. 

Turdvs  mustclinus  GMELIN,   S.  N.,  I,  ii,  1788,  817. 

Hylocichla  mustelina  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  Ill,  August 

27,  1880,  166. 
Popular  synonyms :     WOOD  ROBIN.     BELL  THRUSH.     BELL  BIRD. 

This  beautiful  bird  and  sweet  songster  is  a  common  summer 
resident,  arriving,  in  the  spring,  the  last  of  April  and  departing, 
in  the  fall,  early  in  September.  Because  of  its  favorite  haunts 


192  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

which  are  in  damp  woodlands  and  shaded  dells,  the  Wood 
Thrush,  while  common,  is  not,  perhaps,  a  well  known  bird.  Its 
rich  and  melodious  song,  however,  once  heard  can  never  be  for- 
gotten, and  it  is  by  its  song  that  the  bird  is  best  known,  at  least 
in  rural  districts.  It  is  said  that  the  mockingbird  has  never  been 
able  to  imitate  the  beautiful  harmony  and  liquid  melody  of  the 
Wood  Thrush's  song. 

The  range  of  this  Thrush  covers  the  United  States,  east  of 
the  Great  Plains,  and  the  eastern  and  southern  portions  of  the 
British  Possessions.  It  breeds  from  Georgia  and  southern  Mis- 
souri northward  and  winters  from  Florida  and  Texas  southward. 

Hylocichla  fuscescens  (Steph.).    Wilson's  Thrush. 

Turdus  fuscescens  STEPH.,  Gen.  ZooL,  X,  i,  1817,  182. 

Turdus  wilsonii  BONAPARTE,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Philadelphia,  IV, 

1824,  34. 
Hylocichla  fuscescens  RIDQWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  Ill,  August 

27,  1880,  166. 
Popular  synonyms:    VEEBY.    TAWNY  THRUSH. 

Wilson's  Thrush  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant,  arriving,  in  the 
spring,  from  the  last  of  April  to  the  last  of  May  and  returning 
in  the  fall  from  the  middle  to  the  last  of  August.  Mr.  Robert 
Kennicott  records*  this  species  as  "common  throughout  the 
state,"  and  also  states  that  it  is  known  to  nest  in  Cook  County, 
Illinois.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  says:  "Rather  rare  summer  resi- 
dent. Arrives  in  small  numbers  the  second  week  of  May  and 
departs  the  first  of  September."  I  have  no  authentic  records  of 
the  eggs  of  this  species  having  been  taken  within  our  area  during 
recent  years.  Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker  thinks  that  it  may  be  a 
rare  summer  resident  here. 

The  range  of  Wilson's  Thrush  extends  through  the  United 
States  east  of  the  Great  Plains  and  from  Manitoba,  Ontario  and 
Newfoundland  southward.  It  breeds  from  New  Jersey  and 
northern  Indiana  northward  and  in  the  Allgehany  Mountains 
south  to  North  Carolina.  It  winters  to  some  extent  in  the  south- 
ern states,  but  chiefly  through  Central  America  to  Brazil. 

Hylocichla  fuscescens  salicicola  (Ridgway).    Willow  Thrush. 

Turdus  fuscescens  BAIRD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  922,  927   (Ft.  Bridger, 

Wyoming). 
Hylocichla  fuscescens  salicicola  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  IV, 

April  6,  1882,  374. 

Turdus  fuscescens  salicicola  COTJES,  Key,  ed.  2,  1884,  246. 
Popular  synonym  :  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  VEEBY. 


*Trang.   Illinois   State   Agri.    Society,    Vol.    I,    1853-1854,    582. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  193 

The  Willow  Thrush  is  a  not  uncommon  migrant  in  suitable 
localities  of  our  area.  In  the  spring,  it  arrives  from  the  last 
of  April  to  the  last  of  May,  and  returns,  in  the  fall,  from  the  last 
of  August  to  the  middle  of  September.  The  following  are  the 
records  of  the  taking  of  this  species  within  our  limits,  which  are 
known  to  me,  and  they  also  indicate  the  localities  where  these 
birds  may  be  found  more  frequently  at  the  proper  seasons : 

On  September  16,  1877,  Mr.  Henry  K.  Coale  captured  a 
specimen  near  Chicago.  This  is  the  first  record  of  its  occurrence 
in  Illinois. 

Mr.  J.  Grafton  Parker,  Jr.,  took  a  specimen  at  Grand  Cross- 
ing, Illinois,  on  April  29,  1886.  This  was  a  male  bird.  He  also 
.captured  two  birds  at  Liverpool,  Indiana,  on  May  5,  1894. 

Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  captured  a  male  of  this  species  on  the  sixth 
and  a  female  on  the  twenty-first  of  May,  1894,  at  Glen  Ellyn, 
Illinois. 

Mr.  Frank  M.  Woodruff  took  this  species  at  Evanston,  Illi- 
nois, on  April  27,  1896. 

Mr.  B.  T.  Gault  also  obtained  a  specimen  in  DuPage  County, 
Illinois,  on  September  17,  1896. 

Mr.  Henry  K.  Coale  obtained  a  specimen  at  Ravinia,  Illinois, 
on  May  17,  1890. 

While  the  records  mentioned  show  the  actual  taking  of  speci- 
mens, others  have  been  seen  in  the  same  localities.  It  is  well 
to  bear  in  mind  that  this  variety  closely  resembles  pale  specimens 
of  Hylocichla  fuscescens. 

The  range  of  the  Willow  Thrush  as  given  in  the  A.  C.  U. 
Check-list  of  North  American  Birds  (1895)  is  as  follows: 
"Rocky  Mountain  region,  north  to  British  Columbia,  east  to 
Dakota,  occasionally  to  Illinois,  casually  to  South  Carolina;  in 
winter  south  to  southern  Brazil." 

Hylocichla  aliciae  (Baird).    Gray-cheeked  Thrush. 
Turdus  alicice  BA-IBD,  B.  N.  Amer.,  1858,  217. 
Turdus  swainsoni  var.  alicice  COUES,  Key,  1872,  73. 
Hylocichla  alicice  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.   S.   Nat.   Mus.,   Ill,  August  27, 

1880,  166. 
Popular  synonym  :     ALICE'S  THRUSH. 

The  Gray-cheeked  Thrush  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving, 
in  the  spring,  from  the  first  to  the  last  of  May,  and  returning,  in 
the  fall,  from  the  last  of  August  to  about  the  second  week  in 
October. 


JQ4  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

In  its  migrations,  this  Thrush  passes  through  the  United 
States,  east  of  the  Great  Plains,  northward  to  the  Arctic  coast, 
Alask.  y-.d  eastern  Siberia ;  in  winter  it  passes  southward  through 
Ter  America  to  Colombia.  It  breeds  north  of  the  United 


Hylocichla  ustulata  swainsoni  (Cabanis).    Olive-backed  Thrush. 

Turdus  swainsoni  CABANIS,  Fauna  Per.,  1845-1846,  187. 

Turdus  ustulatus  B   swainsoni  RIDGWAY,   Field  and   Forest,   II,   May, 

1877,  195. 
Hylocichla  ustulata  swainsoni  RIDGWAY,  Proc.  U.   S.  Nat.  Mus.,   Ill, 

August  27,  1880,  166. 
Popular  synonym  :     SWAINSON'S  THRUSH. 

The  Olive-backed  Thrush  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving, 
in  the  spring,  from  the  last  of  April  to  the  last  of  May,  and  re- 
turning, in  the  fall,  from  the  first  of  September  to  the  middle 
of  October.  Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  thought  it  possib'e  that  this 
species  might  be  a  rare  summer  resident.  He  says:*  "I  ob- 
tained a  specimen  near  Chicago,  June  7,  1873,  and  July  9,  the 
same  year,  Mr.  Rice  obtained  a  second  specimen." 

The  range  of  the  Olive-backed  Thursh  covers  America  from 
Brazil  and  Peru  through  North  America,  east  of  the  Great  Basin, 
to  Labrador  and  Alaska ;  it  is  also  found  as  a  straggler  on  the 
Pacific  coast.  It  breeds  in  the  mountainous  portions  of  the  north- 
eastern United  States,  northward  from  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
southern  Sierra  Nevadas  and  northward  through  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  in  British  America. 

Hylocichla  guttata  pallasii  (Cabanis).     Hermit  Thrush. 
Turdus  pallasii  CABANIS,  Archiv.  f.  Naturg.,  1847,  I,  205. 
Turdus   aonalaschkce   pallasi   RIDGWAY,    Proc.    U.    S.    Nat.    Mus.    Ill, 

March  27,  1880,  1. 
Hylocichla  unalaskw  pallasii  RIDGWAY.   Proc.    U.    S.    Nat.   Mus.,    Ill, 

August  27.  1880,  166. 
Hylocichla  guttata   pallasii   FAXON   and   ALLEN,   Birds   Berkshire   Co., 

Massachusetts,  1900,  9. 
Popular  synonyms :   RUFUS-TAILED  THRUSH.    SWAMP  ROBIN.   SOLITARY 

THRUSH.     EASTERN  HERMIT  THRUSH. 

0 

The  Hermit  Thrush  is  an  abundant  migrant,  arriving,  in  the 
spring,  from  the  first  of  April  to  the  twentieth  of  May,  and  re- 
turning, in  the  fall,  from  the  middle  of  September  to  the  last 
of  October. 

The  range  of  this  species  covers  eastern  North  America  from 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  northward.  It  breeds  from  northern  Michi- 


rBirds  of  Northeastern  Illinois,  Bull,   of  the  Essex   Institute,  Vol.  VIII,  1876,  93. 


THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY.  1 95 

gan,  southern  New  York,  the  northern  portion  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains  and  the  mountainous  regions  of  New  England  north- 
ward. It  winters  chiefly  south  of  latitude  40°. 

Genus  MERULA  Leach,  1816. 

Merula  migratoria  (Linnaeus).    American  Robin. 

Turdus  migratorius  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  12,  I,  1766,  292. 

Merula  migratoria  SWAINSON,  Phil.  Mag.,  I,  1827,  368. 

Popular  synonyms:  ROBIN.  ROBIN  RED-BBEAST.  ROBIN  THBUSH. 
MIGRATORY  THRUSH.  RED-BREASTED  THRUSH.  AMERICAN  FIELD- 
FARE. REDBREAST. 

The  American  Robin  is  an  abundant  summer  resident,  arriv- 
ing early  in  April,  and  departing  in  October. 

The  range  of  the  Robin  covers  North  America,  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  from  Hudson  Bay  and  Alaska  southward 
to  eastern  Mexico.  It  breeds  from  Virginia  and  Kansas  north- 
ward to  the  Arctic  coast,  and  winters  from  southern  Canada  and 
the  Northern  States  (irregularly)  southward. 

Genus  SIAT.IA  Swainson,  1827. 

Sialia  sialis  (Linnaeus).    Bluebird. 

Motacilla  sialis  LINNAEUS,  S.  N.,  ed.  10,  I,  1758,  187. 
Ampelis  sialis  NUTTALL,  Man.,  I,  1832,  444. . 
Sialia  sialis  HALDEM.,  Trego's  Geog.  Penn.,  1843,  77. 
Popular  synonym:     EASTEBX  BLUEBIRD. 

The  Bluebird  is  a  common  summer  resident,  arriving  from 
the  last  of  February  to  the  first  of  May,  and  departing  usually 
during  the  latter  half  of  September  and  the  first  half  of  October. 

The  range  of  the  Bluebird  extends  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, from  Manitoba,  Ontario,  and  Nova  Scotia  southward.  It 
breeds  from  the  Middle  States  northward,  and  winters  southward 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Cuba.  It  is  also  resident  in  Bermuda. 


196  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

While  I  believe  the  following  bibliography  of  books  and 
articles  relating  to  the  birds  of  our  area  to  be  quite  complete,  I 
realize  that  there  may  be  a  number  of  articles  which  have  been 
published  in  magazines  and  in  the  newspapers  of  Chicago  that 
have  escaped  my  attention.  Those  which  are  mentioned  have 
b»en  consulted  by  the  author. 

ABBOT,  GIRAED  ALAN. 

'03.       Habits  of  the  American  Crow.     Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  XIII, 

No.  5,  p.  216.     May,  1903. 
'03A.     Nesting  of  the  Florida  Gallinule.     Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  XIV, 

No.  1,  p.  26.     June,  1903. 
'03B.     Nesting  of   the   Least   Bittern.     Birds   and   Nature,    Vol.    XIV, 

No.  2,  p.  71.     September,  1903. 
'03c.     Habits  of   the   Kildeer   Plover.     Birds   and   Nature,    Vol.   XIV, 

p.  170.     November,  1903. 

'03o.     Our  Old  Acquaintance,  the  Crow.     The  Truth-Seeker.     Novem- 
ber 14,  1903.     Page  132. 
'04.       The  Lesser  Scaup.     Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  XV,  No.  2,  p.  59. 

February,  1904. 
'04A.     Wilson's    Snipe.     Birds   and    Nature,    Vol.    XV,    No.    2,    p.   62. 

February,   1904. 
'05.       "Nesting    of    the    Woodcock."        Bulletin    Mich.    Ornithological 

Club,  p.  10.     March-June,  1905. 

ALLEN,  J.  A. 

'75.       Notes  on  the  Sharp-Tailed  Finch.     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist., 
XVII,  p.  292.     March,  1875. 

AMERICAN  ORNITHOLOGISTS'  UNION. 

'95.       Check-List  of  North  American  Birds. 

ANONYMOUS. 

'95.       Winter  Ducks  and  Gulls  in  Lincoln  Park,  Chicago.     The  Chicago 

Daily  Inter  Ocean,  February  18,  1895. 
'96.       In  a  Bird  Store.     Chicago  Tribune,  March  28. 
'96A.     Protecting  the  Birds.     Chicago  Record,  October  5.    •> 
'96B.     Tragedy  in  the  Home  of  the  Owls.     Chicago  Tribune,  November, 

10. 

'97.       Our  Ocean  Visitors.     Chicago  Evening  Post,  February  27. 
'97A.     Chicago    as    a    Winter    Resort    for    Birds.        Chicago    Tribune, 

March  7. 

'97B.     Pearls  in  Stomach  of  a  King  Rail.     Chicago  Tribune,  April  2. 
*97c.     Hatched  a  Brood  of  Ducks  on  Wooded  Island.     Chicago  Record, 

May  2. 

'97o.     Sparrows  choose  queer  Homes.     Chicago  Daily  News,  May  14. 
'97E.     Robins  make  nest  on  Tombstone  in  Graceland  Cemetery.     Chi- 
cago Daily  News,  June  6. 
'97r.     Adds  a  Flock  of  Connecting  Links.     Lincoln  Park  Palm  House 

has  a  decidedly  novel  attraction,  consisting  of  fifteen  Rails. 

Chicago  Daily  News,  June  20. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  197 

'97o.  Heron  and  Blue  Jays  Fight.  Lincoln  Park  the  scene  of  lively 
battle  among  Birds.  Chicago  Daily  News,  September  10. 

'98.       To  Plant  More  Quail.     Chicago  Daily  News,  February  16. 

'98A.  Queer  Nest  made  by  two  Sparrows,  in  stirrup  of  Grant  Monu- 
ment in  Lincoln  Park.  Chicago  Tribune,  June  19. 

'98s.  Juliet  leaves  Romeo.  Sad  falling  out  of  two  Sandhill  Cranes 
in  Lincoln  Park.  Chicago  Tribune,  September  11. 

'98c.  Bald  Eagle  shot,  then  lassoed  in  Chicago.  Chicago  Tribune, 
October  11. 

'98o.  Great  Day  for  Ducks — vast  flocks  in  Lincoln  Park.  Chicago 
Tribune,  October  15. 

'98E.  Duck  Hunters  Find  Good  Sport  about  Lakes  Calumet  and  George. 
Chicago  Tribune,  October  29. 

'98F.     Birds  Pass  Across  Moon.     Chicago  Tribune,  November  13. 

'99.       Wild  Ducks  in  Garfield  Park.     Chicago  Daily  News,  January  17. 

'99A.     Study  of  Bird  Migration.     Chicago  Tribune,  April  10. 

'99B.  Cook  County  Birds.  Chicago  Evening  Post,  May  13.  Mentions 
collection  of  Mr.  George  Clingman. 

*99c.     Birds  to  Sing  for  Prizes.     Chicago  Tribune,  August  9. 

'99D.     Bird  Congress  in  Jackson  Park.     Chicago  Daily  News,  August  20. 

'99E.  Southward  Migration  of  Warblers,  Swallow's  early  flight.  Chi- 
cago Tribune,  October  9. 

'99r.     Our  Ocean  Visitors.     Chicago  Evening  Post,  December  8. 

'00.  Kill  for  Love  of  Slaughter.  Many  White-winged  Crossbills  and 
Old  Squaws  wantonly  killed.  Chicago  Tribune,  February  3. 

'OOA.     City  Birds  in  Winter  Time.     Chicago  Tribune,  February  4. 

'OOB.     See  Wild  Geese  Fly  North.     Chicago  Tribune,  March  14. 

'OOc.     Bird  Braves  Switch  Engine.     Chicago  Tribune,  May  5. 

'OOD.     Useful  English  Sparrows.     Chicago  Daily  News,  July  7. 

'OOE.     To  Protect  the  Wild  Birds.     Chicago  Tribune,  October  17. 

'OOr.  Lincoln  Park  is  visited  by  fifty  Canada  Greese  which  mingle 
with  the  captive  birds  until  8  A.  M.,  when  they  depart. 
Chicago  Daily  News,  October  17. 

'OOo.  Rhode  Island  Audubon  Society  car  placard  to  be  tried  in  Chi- 
cago. Chicago  Tribune,  December  1. 

'01.       Chicago  abounds  in  Birds.     Chicago  Tribune,  March  24. 

'OlA.  A  flock  of  Pigeons  have  rendezvous  on  one  of  the  windows  in 
Judge  Carter's  Court  Room,  in  County  Building.  Chicago 
Daily  News.  April  16. 

'OlB.     Pelican  amuses  Park  crowd.     Chicago  Daily  News,  August  8. 

'Olc.  Lincoln  Park  Officers  to  resist  game  warden.  Atty.  Frank  Ham- 
lin  advises  the  Board  is  authorized  by  Law  to  keep  all 
kinds  of  Birds  in  Zoo.  Chicago  Tribune,  August  24. 

'Olo.  Records  of  Fast  Flying  Pigeons.  There  are  some  birds  in 
Chicago  that  can  beat  ordinary  wind.  Chicago  Daily  News, 
September  5. 

'OlE.  No  Lack  of  Game  within  City  Limits.  Chicago  Tribune,  Sep- 
tember 15. 

'OlF.     Reason  clad  in  Feathers.     Chicago  Tribune,  October  20. 

'02.       Robins  sing  Spring  is  Here.     Chicago  Tribune,  April  6. 

'02A.  Chicago  one  of  the  best  places  in  the  country  for  Bird  Study. 
Chicago  Daily  News,  May  9. 

'02B.     Return  of  the  Birds  to  Chicago.     Chicago  Tribune,  May  12. 

'02c.  Southside  haunts  of  birds  favorite  spots  on  the  Wooded  Island. 
Chicago  Tribune,  June  11. 


198  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

BAKER,  FEANK  COLLINS. 

'97.       Collecting  about  Chicago.  Sports  Afield,  Vol.  XIX,  No.  2,  p.  112. 
'97A.     Same  Title.     The  Museum,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  10,  August. 

BALLOU,  WILLIAM  HOSEA. 

'80.       Nesting  English  Sparrows.     Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  XIV,  p.  524. 
'80A.     Bird    Arrivals    at    Evanston,    Illinois.     Amer.    Nat,    Vol.    XIV, 

July,  p.  525. 
'80s.       Theory  of  Bird  Migration.    Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  ,XIV,  July,  p.  527. 

BEAL,  F.  E.  L. 

'86.  Some  Notes  on  Bird  Migration.  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol.  XX,  Sep- 
tember, p.  817;  Ibis,  Vol.  V,  January,  1887,  p.  121. 

BLACKWELDEK,  ELIOT. 

'97.  Notes  on  Occurrence  of  Smith's  Longspur.  Osprey,  January, 
p.  67. 

"W.  B." — BBEWSTEB,  WILLIAM. 

'77.  Nelson's  Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club, 
Vol.  II,  July,  1877,  pp.  68,  69.  (Synopsis  of  E.  W.  Nel- 
son's article  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Essex  Institute,  Vol. 
VIII,  1876.) 

BUTLEB,  AMOS  W. 

'90.       Report  on  the  Birds  of  Indiana.     Ind.   Hort.   Soc.,  pp.  1-135. 
'91.       Notes  on  Indiana  Birds.     Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  pp.  164-166. 
'92.       The  Range  of  the  Crossbill  in  the  Ohio  Valley,  with  Notes  on 

Their   Unusual    Occurrence   in    Summer.     Proc.    Ind.   Acad. 

Sci.,  pp.  63-72. 
'93.       Bibliography    of    Indiana    Ornithology    and    Notes    on    Indiana 

Birds.     Proc.  Ind.  Acad.  Sci.,  pp.  108-120. 
'95.       Additional    Notes    on    Indiana    Birds.     Proc.    Ind.    Acad.    Sci., 

p.  162. 
'97:       Birds  of  Indiana.     Ind.  Dep't.   Geol.  and  Nat.  Resources,  22nd 

Ann.  Rep't.,  1897,  pp.  515-1188. 
'97A.     The  Unusual   Occurrence  of   Brunnich's   Murre    (Uria   lomvia) 

far    Inland   with    Notes   on   other    Rare   Birds.     Auk,    Vol. 

XIV,  1897,  pp.  197-200. 

CHASE,  MRS.  AGNES. 

A  Chicago  Park   Horizon.     The  Wilson  Bulletin,  No.  26,   N.   S.,   Vol. 

VI,  No.  3,  p.  40. 

The  Herring  Gull  (Larus  argentatus).  The  Wilson  Bulletin,  No.  42, 
N.  S.,  Vol.  X,  No.  1,  pp.  38-39. 

CLARK,   EDWARD  BRAYTON. 

'94.  "City  Birds  in  Winter  Time."  Chicago  Tribune,  January  20, 
1894. 

'94A.  "Mr.  Shrike  is  Here."  "A  Chapter  on  the  Great  Northern 
Shrike.  A  Chicago  Winter  Visit9r."  Chicago  Tribune,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1894. 

'94s.  "The  Last  of  his  Race."  Passenger  Pigeon  takes  refuge  in 
Lincoln  Park.  Chicago  Tribune,  November  25,  1894. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  1 99 

'94c.  "Is  a  Royal  Fisher."  Story  of  a  Lincoln  Park  Kingfisher. 
Chicago  Tribune,  December  16,  1894. 

'95.  "Storm  Blown  Birds."  Afield  m  Lincoln  Park,  Ravenia,  High- 
land Park.  Chicago  Tribune,  March  24. 

'95A.  "Old  Alcyon  is  Dead."  Lincoln  Park's  favorite  Kingfisher  com- 
mits suicide.  Chicago  Tribune,  September  15. 

'96.  "Linger  in  Winter's  Lap."  An  account  of  birds  which  that 
year  delayed  their  migration.  Chicago  Tribune,  January  10, 
1897. 

'96A.  "Illinois'  Rally  to  Save  Her  Birds."  Chicago  Inter  Ocean, 
April  (?),  1897. 

'96s.  "Our  Bird  Visitors  in  City  Parks."  Chicago  Inter  Ocean 
April  (?),  1897. 

'96c.  "Snap  Shots  at  Birds."  A  study  of  the  birds  at  Worth,  Illinois. 
Chicago  Tribune,  May  (?),  1896. 

*96D.     "Linger   in   Winter's   Lap."     Chicago   Tribune,   December  5. 

'98.  "Odd  Deaths  of  Birds."  Local  stories  of  bird  tragedies.  Chi- 
cago Tribune,  April  24,  1898. 

'99.  "Birds  as  Harbingers  of  Spring."  A  chapter  on  spring  birds 
at  Highland  Park,  Illinois.  Chicago  Chronicle,  April  16,  1899. 

'99A.  Some  Wise  Birds  and  Foolish,"  Local  studies  in  -nest  building. 
Chicago  Tribune,  May  28,  1890. 

'99fi.  "Man's  Life  is  Saved  by  a  Bird."  A  study  of  the  insect  eating 
of  birds.  Chicago  Tribune,  July  30,  1899. 

'99c.  "Midsummer  in  the  Parks."  Nature  sketches  in  Chicago  parks. 
Chicago  Tribune,  August  20,  1899. 

'99o.  "Birds  in  the  Cemetery."  Notes  on  the  birds  in  Graceland 
Cemetery.  Chicago  Chronicle,  August  (?),  1899. 

'00.  Evening  Grosbeaks  in  Graceland.  Chicago  Record,  April  28, 
1900. 

'OOA.  "Birds  Deck  Fall  Hats."  A  millinery  study.  Chicago  Tribune, 
October  (?),  1900.. 

'OOe.  "Bird  Preparations  for  Winter."  Chicago  Tribune,  November 
11,  1900. 

'01.       "The  Unspeakable  Sparrow."     Outing,  January,  1901. 

'OlA.  "Birds  That  Use  Chicago  as  a  Winter  Resort."  Chicago  Trib-. 
une,  February  17,  1901. 

'OlB.  "Birds  Sing  Spring  In."  Chicago  Post,  March  23,  1901.  Spring 
bird  notes. 

'Olc.  "Song  Bird  Has  Arrived."  Spring  arrivals  along  Des  Plaines 
River.  Chicago  Post,  April  20,  1901. 

'OlD.  "Return  of  the  Birds  to  Chicago."  Chicago  Tribune,  May  5, 
1901. 

'OlE.  "Plumed  Friends  of  Man."  A  plea  for  the  birds.  Chicago 
Chonicle,  May  (?),  1901. 

'OlF.  "Billy  the  Kingfisher."  A  Lincoln  Park  bird.  Chicago  Record, 
June  15,  1901. 

'OlG.  "A  Bit  of  Bird  Life."  Local  bird  sketch.  Chicago  Post, 
October  19,  1901. 

'02.  "Feathered  Winter  Visitors  in  Chicago."  Chicago  Tribune, 
January  12,  1902. 

'02A.  "Birds  of  Mystery  at  Lake  Forest."  Notes  on  Evening  Gros- 
beak visitors.  Chicago  Tribune,  April,  1902. 

'02s.  Hawks  serve  farmer,  few  chicken  eaters.  Chicago  Record- 
Herald,  August  12,  1903. 


2OO  THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

"English  Oppressors  of  the  Bird  World."  Date  lost.  A  study  of  the 
persecution  of  native  birds  by  the  English  Sparrow.  Chicago 
Times-Herald. 

CLARK,  H.  WALTON. 

'04.  The  Screech  Owl.  Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  XVI,  p.  225,  Decem- 
ber, 1904. 

COALE,  HENRY  K. 

'77.       Junco   oregonus    in    Illinois.     Bull.    Nutt.    Orn.    Club,    Vol.    II, 

July,  1877,  p.  82. 
'83.       The    Willow    Thrush    and    Holboll's    Linnet    in    Illinois.     Bull. 

Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII,  October,  1883,  p.  239. 
'85.       Krider's    Hawk    in    Northeastern    Illinois.     The    Auk,    Vol.    II, 

1885,  p.  110. 
'94.       Willow   Thrush   in   Northeastern   Illinois.     The   Auk,   Vol.   XI, 

July,  1894,  p.  222. 

COOKE,  WELLS  W. 

'88.       Bird   Migration   of   the   Mississippi   Valley   in   the   Years   1884- 

1885.     Bull.  No.  2,  U.  S.  Dep't.  of  Agri.  Div.  of  Econom.  Orn., 

1888,  p.  314. 
'04.       On  Migration  of  the  Hooded  Warbler.     Bird  Lore,  Vol.  VI,  No. 

1,   January-February,   1904,   p.   22. 
'04A.     Migration    of    Warblers.     Bird    Lore,    Vol.    VI,    No.    2,    April, 

1904,  pp.  57-60. 
'04B.     Distribution  and  Migration  of  North  American  Warblers.     Bull. 

No.  18,  U.  S.  Dep't.  of  Agri.  Div.  Biol.  Surv.,  1904,  p.  142. 

CBAIGMELLE,  ESTHER  A. 

'04.       The  New  Year  Bird  Census.     Wilson  Bull.,  No.  46,  N.  S.,  Vol. 

XI,  No.  1,  March,  1904,  pp.  19-20. 

'04A.  A  Summer  Porch  List  at  Hinsdale,  Illinois.  Wilson  Bull., 
No.  49,  N.  S.,  Vol.  XI,  No.  4,  December,  1904,  p.  105. 

DEANE,  RUTHVEN. 

'88.  Destruction  in  Migration.  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  XXI,  p.  385, 
December,  1888. 

'95.  Additional  Notes  on  the  Passenger  Pigeon  in  Illinois  and  In- 
diana. The  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  January,  1895,  p,  98. 

'95A.  Additional  Records  of  Passenger  Pigeon  in  Illinois  and  Indiana. 
The  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  July,  1895,  p.  298. 

'95s.  Additional  Notes  on  the  Passenger  Pigeon  in  Illinois  and  In- 
diana. The  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  July,  1895,  p.  300. 

'99.  Report  of  Illinois  Audubon  Society.  Bird  Lore,  Vol.  I,  No.  2, 
p.  66,  April,  1899. 

'03.  Richardson's  Owl  in  Illinois.  The  Auk,  Vol.  XX,  July,  1903, 
p.  305. 

'03A.  Richardson's  Owl  in  Illinois.  The  Auk,  Vol.  XX,  October,  1903, 
p.  433. 

'05.  Additional  Record  of  the  European  Widgeon.  Auk,  Vol.  XXII, 
p.  76,  January,  1905. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  2OI 

DKUMMOND,  MARY. 

'00.       Report   of   Illinois  Audubon    Society.     Bird  Lore,   Vol.   II,   No. 

2,  p.  65,  April,  1900. 
'02.       Report  of  Illinois  Audubon   Society.     Bird   Lore,   Vol.   IV,   No. 

4,  p.  136,  July-August,  1902. 

DUNN,  JAMES  O. 

'95.       Notes  on  some  Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.     The  Auk,   Vol. 
XII,  October,  1895,  pp.  393-395. . 

EVEBMANN,  B.  W. 

'87.       Some    Rare    Indiana    Birds.     Amer.    Nat.,    Vol.    XXI,    p.    290, 
March,  1887. 

GAULT,  BENJAMIN  TRUE. 

'89.       Lapland  Longspur  at  Chicago  in  June.     The  Auk,  Vol.  V,  1889, 

p.  278. 
'94.       Kirtland's    Warbler    in    Northeastern    Illinois.     The    Auk,    Vol. 

XI,  1894,  p.  258. 

'95.       The  Passenger  Pigeon  in  Northeastern  Illinois.     The  Auk,  Vol. 

XII,  1895,  p.  80. 

'95A.     The  Willow  Thrush.     The  Auk,  Vol.  XII,  1895,  p.  85. 

'96.       Recent   Occurrence   of  the   Turkey   Vulture  and   Bald   Eagle   in 

Cook   County,    Illinois.     The   Wilson  Bulletin,   No.  9,   July 

30,  1896,  p.  3-4. 
'96A.     The  Pine  Siskin.     The  Wilson  Bulletin,  No.  11,  p.  8,  Nov.  30, 

1896. 
'97.       Unusual    Winter    Visitors    in    DuPage    County,    Illinois.      The 

Wilson  Bulletin,  No.  12,  p.  10   (Meadowlarks  in  January), 

January  30,  1897. 
'97B.     Short    Notes:     The   Red   Crossbill.     The    Wilson   Bulletin,    No. 

13,  N.  S..  Vol.  IV,  No.  2,  March  30.  1897,  p.  20. 
'98.       Some   Bird   Ways.      The   Wilson   Bulletin.    No.   23,    N.    S.,    Vol. 

V,  No.  6,  November  30,  1898,  p.  73-75. 

'99.       December   Horizons   at   Glen  Ellyn,   Illinois.     The  Wilson   Bul- 
letin, No.  24,  Vol.  VI,  No.  1,  January  30,  1899,  p.  5-6. 
'99A.     Summer  Horizons.      The  Wilson   Bulletin,   No.   28,   N.    S.,   Vol. 

VI,  No.  5,  September  30,  1899,  p.  65. 

'00.       A   Correction.      The  Wilson   Bulletin,   No.   3,   Vol.    VII,   N.    S., 

July  30,  1900,  p.  9. 
'OOA.     The  American  Redstart.     Birds  and  Nature.  Vol.  VIII,  No.  3, 

October,  1900. 
'OOB.     Bird  Life  at   Glen  Ellyn    (near  Chicago)    Illinois.     Bird   Lore, 

Vol.  II,  No.  6,  p.  187,  December,  1900. 
'01.       Ibid.     Bird  Lore,  Vol.  Ill,  No.  1,  p.  26,  February-March,  1901 ; 

No.  2,  p.  65,  April-May;  No.  3,  p.  102,  June- July ;  No.  4. 

p.  166,  August-September,  1901. 
'OlA.     The  Christmas  Bird  Census  at  Glen  Ellyn,  Illinois.     Bird  Lore, 

Vol.  Ill,  p.  32,  1901. 
'02.       Food  Habits  of  the  Wilson's  Snipe.     The  Wilson  Bulletin,  No. 

38,  Vol.  IX,  No.  1.  March,  1902,  p.  7. 
'02A.     Song  Sparrow.     The  Wilson  Bulletin,  No.  38,  Vol.  IX,  No.  1, 

March,  1902,  p.  15. 


2O2  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

GOODRICH,  JULIET  T. 

'05.       Fifth   Christmas   Census.      Bird   Lore,   Vol.    VII,   No.   1,   p.   30, 
January-February,  1905. 

HANCOCK,  JOSEPH  L. 

'83.       Albino  Cowbird.     Ornith.  &  Oolog.,  March,  p.  24. 

'83A     Parkman's  Wren  in  Illinois.     Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VIII, 

July,  1883,  p.  79. 
'88.       Impeded  Migration  and  Destruction  of  Birds  at  Chicago.     The 

Auk,  Vol.  V,  1888,  pp.  432-434. 

HOLLISTER,  N.  and  KUMLIEN,  L. 

'03.  The  Birds  of  Wisconsin.  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.,  N.  S., 
Ill,  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  January  to  July,  1903. 

HOUGH,  E. 

In  "Chicago  and  the  West,"  as  follows: 

'88.       Wild  Geese.     Vol.  XXXI,  p.  325,  November  15. 

'88A.     Ducks  and  Blackbirds,  1.  c.,  p.  365,  November  29. 

'88B.     Ducks,  1.  c.,  p.  408,  December  13. 

'89.       Arrival  of  Ducks,  Vol.  XXXII,  p.  44,  February  7. 

'89A.     Bluebills  and  Redheads,  1.  c.,  p.  213,  April  4. 

'89B.     Woodcock  and  Plover,  1.  c.,  p.  491,  July  4. 

'89c.     Prairie  Chickens  in  Morgan  Park,  Vol.  XXXIII,  p.  86,  August 

22. 

'89D.     Bluebills  and  Redheads  in  Chicago,  1.  c.,  p.  366,  August. 
'90.       Yellowlegs  at  Lake  Calumet,  Vol.  XXXV,  p.  69,  August  14. 
'90A.     Wild  Geese  at  Chicago,  1.  c.,  p.  432  December  18. 
'90B,     Redheads  at  Calumet  Heights,  1.  c.,  p.  456,  December  25. 
'91.       Pintails  and  Sawbills  on  Lake  Michigan,   Vol.   XXXVI,  p.  45, 

February   5. 
9lA.     Bluebills    and    Canvasbacks    in    Calumet    Lake,    1.    c.,    p.    150, 

March  12. 

'92.       Ruffed  Grouse  at  Hinsdale,  Vol.  XXXVIII,  p.  53,  January  21. 
'92A.     Bluebills  at  Harrison  Street  Bridge,  1.  c.,  p.  322,  April  7. 
'92s.     Snow  Buntings  sold  as  Reed  Birds,  1.  c.,  p.  349,  April  14. 
'92c.     Jacksnipe  at  Hammond,  Indiana,  Vol.  XXXIX,  p.  138,  August 

18. 
'92D.     Bald  Eagle  killed  at  Calumet  Heights,  1.  c.,  p.  469,  December  1. 

In  "Forest  and  Stream,"  as  follows : 

'93.       Canvasback  Ducks  in  Calumet  Lake,  Vol.  XL,  p.  253,  March  23. 

'94.       Jacksnipe  at  Calumet  Lake,  Vol.  XLIII,  p.  292,  October  6. 

'95.       Jacksnipe  on  Desplaines  River,  Vol.  XLV,  p.  317,  October  12. 

'96.       Jacksnipe  at  Blue  Island,  Vol.  XLVI,  p.  316,  April  18. 

'96A.  Duck  Shooting  at  Calumet  Heights,  Vol.  XLVII,  p.  368,  No- 
vember 7. 

'96B.     Flight  of  Ducks  at  Calumet  Heights,  1.  c.,  p.  409,  November  21. 

'96c.  Acclimating  Quail  at  Calumet  Heights,  Vol.  XLVII,  p.  467, 
December  12. 

'97.  Cook  County  Birds  at  Academy  of  Sciences,  Vol.  XLVIII,  p. 
148,  February  20. 

'97A.     Jacksnipe  at  Arlington  Heights,  1.  c.,  p.  367,  Mary  8. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY.  203 

'97B.  Raven  and  Snowy  Owl  at  Calumet  Heights,  Vol.  XLIX,  p.  401. 
November  20. 

'98.       Deep  Water  Ducks  at  Calumet  Heights,  Vol.  L,  p.  185,  March  5. 

'98A.     Jacksnipe  at  Chicago,  1.  c.,  p.  24G.  March  26. 

'98s.     Golden  Plover  at  Summit,  1.  c.,  p.  387,  May  14. 

'99.  Jacks  at  Hyde  Lake  and  Lake  Station,  Indiana,  Vol.  LIII,  p. 
247,  September  23. 

'00.       Canvasbacks    in    Lake    Michigan,    Chicago,    Vol.    LIV,    p.    167, 

'OOA.     Canada  Goose  at  Calumet  Heights,  L.  C.,  p.  249,  March  31. 

'OOB.     Great  Year  for  Ducks.     Chicago  Tribune,  April  1. 

'OOc.  Jacksnipe  at  the  Sag,  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  LIV,  p.  328, 
April  28. 

'OOo.     Art  of  Goose   Shooting.     Chicago  Tribune,  October  1. 

'OOE.     Marshes  full  of  Snipe,  1.  c.,  October  1. 

'OOr.     Start  of  Quail  Season,  1.  c.,  November  1. 

'OOo.     Habits  of  Ruffed  Grouse.     Chicago  Tribune,  November  1. 

'OOn.  Quail  and  Ruffed  Grouse  at  Calumet  Heights,  Forest  and 
Stream,  Vol.  LV,  p.  405,  November  24. 

'01.       Early  Shooting  Season.     Chicago  Tribune,  April  2. 

'OlA.  Defect  in  the  Quail  Law;  no  Protection  in  Illinois  for  Quail 
or  Woodcock.  Chicago  Tribune,  July  10. 

'OlB.  Teal  at  Tolleston,  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  LVII,  p.  285,  Octo- 
ber 12. 

'02.       Wild  Geese  at  Skokie  Marsh,  1.  c.,  Vol.  LVIII,  p.  229,  March  22. 

'02A.     Mallards  at  Tolleston,  1.  c.,  p.  250,  March  29. 

'02B.     Jacksnipe  at  Tolleston,  1.  c..  Vol.  LIX,  p.  268,  October  4. 

'03.       Jacksnipe  at  Calumet  Heights,  I  c.,  LX,  p.  269,  April  4. 

'03A.     Jacksnipe  at  Calumet   Heights,   1.   c.,   p.  307,  April   18. 

HOWEY,  JOHN  M. 

'83.  Bobolinks  in  Northern  Illinois.  Ornith.  and  Oolog.,  February, 
p.  15. 

HUNTEB,  HABBY. 

'82.  Wild  Pigeons  at  Highland  Park.  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  XVIII, 
p.  71,  February. 

JONES,  LYNDS. 

'00.  Horizons.  Wilson  Bulletin,  N.  S.,  Vol.  VII,  No.  33,  p.  36. 
October. 

KENNICOTT,  ROBEBT. 

'">.  Catalogue  of  Animals  Observed  in  Cook  County,  Illinois.  Trans. 
111.  State  Agri.  Soc..  Vol.  I.  1853-1854,  pp.  580-589. 

"KOBAX." 

'90.  Yellow  Rail  in  Chicago.  Forest  and  Stream,  Vol.  XXXV,  p. 
431,  December. 

KTTMLIEN.  L.  and  HOLLISTEB,  N. 
'03.       See  Hollister,  N. 

MABBLE,  C.  C. 

*97.       The  Loggerhead  Shrike.    Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  II,  p.  202,  June. 


2O4  THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

'00.  The  Yellow  Headed  Blackbird.  Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  VII, 
p.  12,  January. 

NELSON,  E.  W. 

'76.  Additions  to  the  Avifauna  of  Illinois  with  Notes  on  other  Spe- 
cies of  Illinois  Birds.  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  I,  No. 
2,  July,  1876,  pp.  39-44. 

'76A.  Birds  of  Northeastern  Illinois.  Bull,  of  the  Essex  Institute, 
Vol.  VIII,  December,  1876,  pp.  90-155. 

RIDGWAY,  ROBERT. 

'74.       Catalogue  of  the  Birds  Ascertained  to  Occur  in  Illinois.     Ann. 

Lye.  Nat.  Hist.  New  York,  Vol.  X,  January,  pp.  364-394. 
'81.       Revised  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  Ascertained  to  Occur  in  Illinois. 

111.  State  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  Bull.  No.  4,  pp.  163-208. 
'89-'95     The  Ornithology  of  Illinois.  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  111.,   State  Lab. 

Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  I,  1889,  pp.  120-fVIII,  pis.  XXXII;  Vol. 

II,  pp.  282,  pis.  XXXIII. 

'01.-'04.  The  Birds  of  North  and  Middle  America.  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus.,  No.  51,  part  I,  1901;  part  II,  1902;  part  III,  1904. 

Ridgway  Ornithological  Club,  Chicago.  Notices  of  Meetings  as  fol- 
lows in  the  Ibis:  Vol.  II,  July,  p. ,  1884;  Vol.  Ill, 

January,  p.  120,  1885;  Vol.  Ill,  April,  p.  237,  1885;  Vol. 

III,  July,  p.  330,  1885 ;  Vol.  V,  January,  P.  122,  1887 ;  Vol. 
V,  October,  p.  466,  1887. 

SCHANTZ,  ORPHEUS  M. 

'04.  A  Dooryard  List  from  Morton  Park,  Illinois.  Wilson  Bulletin, 
No.  47,  N.  S.,  Vol.  XI,  No.  2,  June,  p.  57. 

SCHANTZ,  O.  M.  and  MRS. 

'05.  July  Horizons  at  Morton  Park,  Illinois.  Wilson  Bulletin,  No. 
52,  N.  S.,  Vol.  XII,  No.  1,  September. 

SHARPE,  R.  BOWDLER. 

'85.  Catalogue  of  the  Passeriformes  or  Perching  Birds  in  the  Col- 
lection of  the  British  Museum,  etc.  Vol.  X,  London,  1885, 
p.  305.  (Lists  a  skin  of  Geothlypis  macgillivrayi  from  Chi- 
cago, collected  by  Henry  K.  Coale — an  adult  female  bird.) 

TOPPAN,  GEORGE. 

'87.  Spring  Migration  Notes  for  Cook  and  Lake  Counties,  Illinois 
and  Lake  County,  Indiana.  Ibis,  Vol.  V,  p.  122,  January. 
Mentions  meeting  of  Ridgway  Ornithological  Club  of  Chicago. 

THURBER,  COLLINS. 

'05.       The   Hermit  Thrush.     Birds   and   Nature,   Vol.   XVIII,   No.   2, 

p.  50,  September. 
'05A.     The  Yellow  Bellied  Sapsucker.     Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  XVIII, 

No.  3,  p.  119,  October. 

TURTLE,  RICHARD. 

'02.  Capture  of  Hudsonian  Curlew,  American  Field,  p.  221,  Sep- 
tember 1.' 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 

WALTER,  HEBBEET  EUGENE  and  ALICE  HALL  (WALTEB). 

'05  Wild  Birds  in  City  Parks.  A.  WT.  Mumford,  Chicago,  1905. 
(Hints  on  identifying  145  birds  based  on  spring  migration 
in  Lincoln  Park,  Chicago.) 

WHEELOCK,  IBENE  G. 

'02.       Rare  Birds  seen  at  Lake  Forest.       Inter  Ocean,  March. 
'05.       Regurgitative  Feeding  of  Nestlings.     Auk,  Vol.  XXII,  p.  54, 
January. 

WOODBUFF,  FBANK  MOBLEY. 

'96.  On  Birds  Reported  as  Rare  in  Cook  County,  Illinois.  The  Auk, 
Vol.  XIII,  1896,  pp.  179-181. 

'96A.     The  Raven  in  Illinois.    The  Auk,  Vol.  XIII,  1896,  pp.  83-84. 

'97.       Lake  Michigan  Notes.     The  Auk,  Vol.  XIV,  1897,  pp.  227-228. 

'97A.     The  Home  of  the  Loggerhead  Shrike.    The  Osprey,  Vol.  I,  No.  8, 

'98.       Lake  Michigan  Notes.     The  Auk,  Vol.  XV,  1898,  pp.  61-62. 
p.  109. 

'00.  The  Western  Willet.  Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  VIII,  p.  146,  No- 
vember. 

'04.       The  Loon.    Birds  and  Nature,  Vol.  XVI,  November,  pp.  191-192. 

'04A.     The  Sora  Rail.     L.  c.,  Vol.  XVI,  December,  pp.  201-202. 

'05.       The  American  Robin.     L.  c.,  Vol.  XVII,  No.  2,  p.  62,  February. 

'05A.     The  Black  Tern.     L.  c.,  No.  3,  p.  134,  March. 

'05s.     The  American  Red  Crossbill.     L.  c.,  No.  4,  p.  191,  April. 

'05c.     The  Prothonotary  Warbler.     L.  c.,  No.  5,  p.  194,  May. 

'05o.  The  Black-crowned  Night  Heron.  L.  c.,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  1,  p. 
11,  June. 

'05E.     The  Mourning  Dove.     L.  c.,  No.  2,  p.  95,  September. 

'05r.     The  Snowflake.     L.  c.,  No.  3,  p.  134,  October. 

'07.  Rare  Northern  Birds  near  Chicago.  The  Auk,  Vol.  XXIV, 
1907,  p.  107. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 

INDEX  TO  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES 


207 


Acanthis,  130. 

Acanthis  hornemannii  exilipes,  130. 
linaria,  130. 
linaria  holboellii,   131. 
linaria  rostrata,  131. 
Accipiter,  92. 
Accipiter  atricapillus,  93. 
cooperii,  93. 
velox,  92. 
Actitis,  76. 
Actitis  macularia,  76. 
Actodromas,  68. 

bairdii,  15,  69. 
fuscicollis,  69. 

maculata,  68. 

mmutilla,  23,  70,  71. 
^Egialitis,  80. 
/Egialitis  meloda,  80. 

melodus  var.  circumcinctus,  18, 
80,  81. 

semipalmata,  15,  80. 
JEgiothus  canescens,  130. 

exilipes,  130. 

rostratus,  131. 
Agelaius,  123. 
Agelaius  phceniceus,  123. 
Aix,  41. 

Aix  sponsa.  10,  41. 
Alaudidse,  119. 
Alcedinidse,  109. 
Ammodramus,  136. 
Ammodramus  caudacutus,   137. 

henslowii,  15,  136. 

leconteii,  16,  136. 

nelsoni,    137. 

sandwichensis  savanna,  135. 

savannarum  passerinus,   135. 
Ampelidas.  150. 
Ampelis,  150. 
Ampelis  cedrorum,  151. 

garrulus,  150. 
Anas,  36. 
Anas  acuta,  40. 

albeola,  44. 

americana,  38. 

bernicla,  51. 

boschas,  36. 

ca?rulescens,  49. 

canadensis.  50. 

carolinensis,  39. 

clangula,  43. 

columbianus,  52 

clypeata,  40. 

collaris.  43. 

crecca.  39. 

discors,  39. 

fusca,  46. 

glacialis,  45. 

hyemalis,  45. 

hyperborea,  48. 

islandica,  44. 

jamaicensis,  47. 

mollissima,   45. 

nigra,  46. 

nivalis,  49. 

obscura,  37. 


penelope,  37. 

perspicillata,   47. 

rubida,  47. 

sponsa,  41. 

strepera,  37. 

vallisneria,  42. 
Anatidae,  35. 
Anorthura  troglodytes  var.  hyemalis, 

184. 

Anser,  49. 
Anser  albifrons,  49. 

bernicla,  51. 

caBrulescens,  49. 

canadensis,  50. 

gambeli,  49. 

hutchinsii,  51. 

hyperboreus  var.  albatus,  48. 

hyperboreus  var.  hyperboreus,  49. 
Anseres,  35. 
Antrostomus,  113. 
Antrostomus  vociferus,  113. 
Anthus,  178. 
Anthus  ludovicianus,  178. 

pensilvanicus,  178. 
Aphrizidae,  82. 
Aquila,  97. 
Aquila  chrysaetos,  97.  98. 

chrysaetos  var.  canadensis,  97. 

fulva,  97. 
Archibuteo,  97. 
Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis, 

97. 

Ardea,  53. 
Ardea  herodias,  53. 
Ardeidae,  53. 
Ardetta,  53.   ' 
Ardetta  exilis,  53. 
Arenaria,  82. 

Arenaria   interpres,   15,  82. 
Arquatella,  68. 
Arquatella  maritima,  15,  68. 
Asio,  102. 
Asio  accipitrinus,  102. 

wilspnianus,   102. 
Astragalinus,  131. 
Astragalinus  tristis,  131,  132. 
Astur  palumbarius  var.  atricapillus, 

Ayth'ya,  41. 

Aythya  affinis,  42,  48. 

americana,  41,  47. 

collaris,  43. 

marila,  21. 

vallisneria,  42. 

Baeolophus.  188. 
Bseolophus  bicolor,  188. 
Bartramia,  75. 
Bartramia  longicauda,   75. 
Bernicla  canadensis,  50. 

hutchinsii,  51. 
Bonasa,  83. 
Bonasa  umbellus,  83. 
Botaurus.  53. 
Botaurus  exilis,  53. 

lentiginosus,  53 

minor.  53. 


208 


THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 


Brachyotus  palustris,  102. 

Branta,  50. 

Branta  bernicla,  51. 

canadensis,  50. 

canadensis  minima,  22. 

hutchinsii,  51. 

minima,  51. 
Bucephala  albeola,  44. 

clangula,  43. 

islandica,  44. 
Bubo,  106. 
Bubo  virginianus,  106. 

virginianus  arcticus,  106. 
Bubonidae,  102. 
Buteo,  94. 
Buteo  borealis,  94. 

borealis  calurus,  95. 

borealis  harlani,  95. 

borealis  kriderii,  94. 

latissimus,  96. 

lineatus,  95. 

platypterus,   96. 

swainsoni,  96. 
Butorides,  55. 
Butorides  virescens,  55. 

Calcarius,  133. 

Calcarius  lapponicus,   16,   133,   134. 

pictus,  16,  17,  134. 
Calidris,  71. 

Calidris  arenaria,  15,  71. 
Cardinalis,  145. 
Cardinalis  cardinalis,  145. 

virginianus,  145. 
Carpodacus,  128. 
Carpodacus  purpureus,  128. 
Caprimulgidse,  113. 
Cathartes,  90. 
Cathartes  aura,  90. 
Cathartidse,  90. 
Certhia,  186. 

Certhia    familiaris   americana,    186. 
Certhiidse,  186. 
Centurus,  112. 
Centurus  carolinus,  112. 
Ceophlceus,  111. 

Ceophloeus  pileatus  abieticola,  111. 
Ceryle,  109. 
Ceryle  alcyon,  109. 
Cha3tura,  114. 
Chaetura  pelagica,  114. 
Charadriidae,  78. 
Charadrius,  79. 
Charadrius  dominicus,  76,  79. 

fulvus  var.  virginicus,  79. 

marmoratus,  79. 

pluvialis,  79. 
Charitonetta,  44. 
Charitonetta  albeola,  44. 
Chaulelasmus,  37. 
Chaulelasmus  streperus,  37. 
Chen,  48. 
Chen  caerulescens,  49. 

hyperborea,  48. 

hyperborea   nivalis,  49. 
Chondestes,  138. 
Chondestes  grammacus,  15,  138. 
Chordeiles,  113. 
Chordeiles  popetue,  113,  114. 

virginianus,  113. 

virginianus  henryi,  113,  114. 


Circus,  92. 

Circus  cyaneus,  92. 

hudsonius,  92. 
Cistothorus,  185. 
Cistothorus  stellaris,  185. 
Clangula,  43. 
Clangula  albeola,  44. 

clangula  americana,  43. 

hyemalis,  45. 

islandica,  44. 
Coccyges,  108. 
Coccyzus,  108. 
Coccyzus  americanus,   108. 

erythrophthalmus,  108. 
Colaptes,  112. 

Colaptes  auratus  luteus,  112. 
Colinus,  82. 

Colinus  virginianus,  82. 
Columbse,  86. 
Columbida?,  86. 
Colymbus,  25. 
Colymbus  auritus,  25. 

nigricollis  californicus,  26. 

holbosllii,  25.  ' 

septentrionalis,  27. 

toquatus,  27. 
Compsothlypis,  159. 
Compsothlypis  americana  ramalinse, 

159 

Contopus,  117. 
Contopus  virens,  117. 
Conurus,  108. 
Conurus  carolinensis,  108. 
Corvidse,  120. 
Crovus,  120. 
Corvus  americanus,  122. 

brachyrhynchos,  121. 

corax,  120. 

corax  var.  carnivorus,  121. 

corax  principalis,  120. 

corax  sinuatus,  121. 

corone,  121. 

pica,  120. 
Coturniculus,  135. 
Coturniculus  savannarum  passerinus, 

15,  135. 

Crucirostra  minor,  129. 
Crymophilus,  62. 
Crymophilus   fulicarius,  62. 
Cryptoglaux,  104. 
Cryptoglaux  acadica,  105. 

tengmalmi  richardsoni,   104. 
Cuculidap,  108. 
Cupidonia  americana,  84. 
Cyauocitta,  120. 
Cyanocitta  cristata,  120. 
Cygnus  americanus,  52. 

bewicki,  52. 
Cyanospiza,  146. 
Cyanospiza  cyanea,  146. 

Dafila,  40. 
Dafila  acuta,  40. 
Dendroica,  160. 
Dendroica  asstiva,  160. 

blackburnise,  164. 

caerul-ea,  162. 

caarulescens,  16,  161. 

castanea,  163. 

coronata,  161. 

discolor,  169. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 


209 


dominica  albilora,  20,  164. 

kirtlandii,  165,  166. 

maculosa,  160,  161. 

palmarum,  167,  169. 

pensylvanica,   162. 

pinus,  168. 

rara,  162. 

striata,  163. 

tigrina,  160. 

vigorsii,  168. 

virens,  165. 
Dolichonyx,   122. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  122. 
Dryobates,  109. 
Dryobates  pubescens  medianus,  109. 

villosus,  109. 
Ectopistes,  86. 
Ectopistes  migratoria,   86. 
Elanoides,  91. 
Elanoides  forficatus,  91. 
Egretta,  54. 

Egretta  candid issima,  54,  55. 
Empidonax,  117. 
Empidonax  acadicus,  117,  118. 

flaviventris,  117. 

minimus,  118. 

pusillus  var.  trailii,  118. 

trailii,  118. 

virescens,  117. 
Ereunetes,  71. 
Ereunetes  pusillus,  23,  71. 
Erismatura,  47. 
Erismatura  jamaieensis,  47. 

rubida.  47. 
Euphagus,  125. 
Euphagus  carol?nus,  125. 

cyanocephalus.  125. 

Falco,  99. 

Falco  anatum,  99. 

atricapillus,  93. 

buteoides,  95. 

columbarius,  99. 

communis  var.   anatum,  99. 

forficatus,  91. 

furcatus,  91. 

fuscus.  92. 

peregrinus,  99. 

peregrinus  anatum,  99. 

sparverius,  100. 

washingtonianus,  98. 

wilsoni,  61. 
Falconida?,  91. 
Fregata  aquila,  19. 
Fringilla  ambigua,   122. 

juncorum,  141. 

nivalis,   141. 

savanna,  135. 
Frin-illidae,  126. 
Fulica,  61. 
Fulica  americana,  59,  61. 

atra,  62. 
Fuligula  americana,  41. 

albeola,  44. 

affinis,  42. 

clangula,  43. 

collaris.  43. 

ferina,  41. 

marila,  42. 

vallisneria,  42. 


Galeoscoptes,  180. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis,  180. 

Gallinae,  82. 

Gallinago,  65. 

Gallinago  delicata,  65,  73. 

gallinaria  var.  wilsoni,  65. 

wilsoni,  65. 
Gallinula,  61. 
Gallinula  galeata,  61. 

chloropus  var.  galleata,  61. 
Garzetta  candidissima,  55. 
Gavia,  27. 
Gavia  imber,  27. 
Gavidae,  27. 

Gelochelidon  nilotica,  21. 
Geothlypis,  175. 
Geothlypis  macgillivrayi,  174. 

trichas,  175. 

trichas  brachidactyla,   175. 

trichas  occidentalis,  175. 
Glaucionetta  clangula  americana,  43. 

islandica,  44. 
Graculus  dilophus,  34. 
Grus,  56. 
Grus  americana,  56. 

canadensis,  57. 

hoyanus,  56. 

mexicana,  57. 
Gruidae,  56. 

Haliseetus,  98. 

Haliaeetus  leucocephalus,  98. 

Harelda,  45. 

Harelda  glacialis,  45. 

hyemalis,  45.  ' 
Harporhynchus  rufus,  181. 
Helminthophila,  157. 
Helminthophila  celata,   158. 

chrysoptera,  157. 

peregrina,  159. 

pinus,  157. 

rubicapilla,  158. 
Helodromas,  74. 
Helodromas  solitarius,  74. 
Herodias,  54. 
Herodias  alba  var.  egretta,  54. 

egretta,  54,  55. 
Herodiones,  53. 
Hesperiphona,  120. 
Hesperiphona   vespertina.   126. 
Himantopus  mexicanus,  64. 

nigricollis,  64. 
Hirundinida^,  148. 
Hirundo,  148. 
Hirundo  americana,  148. 

erythrogastra,  148. 

fulva,  148. 

horreorum,   148. 
Histrionicus  histrionicus,  21. 
Hydrochelidon,  33. 
Hydrochelidon  lariformis,  34. 

nigra  surinamensis,  17,  33. 
Hylocichla,  191. 
Hylocichla  aliciae,  193. 

fuscescens,  192,  193. 

fuscescens  salicicola,  192. 

guttata   pallasii,    194. 

mustelina,  191. 

unalashkae  pallasii,  194. 

ustulata  swainsoni,  194. 


210 


THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 


Icteria,  176. 
Icteria  virens,  176. 

viridis,  176. 
Icteridse,  122. 
Icterus,  124. 
Icterus  agripennis,  122. 

baltimore,   125. 

galbula,  125. 

pecoris,   122. 

spurius,  124. 
lonornis,  60. 
lonornis  martinica  60. 
Iridoprocne,   149. 
Iridoprocne  bicolor,  149. 

Junco,  141. 

Junco  hyemalis,  141,  143. 

hyemalis  shufeldti,  142. 

montanus,  141,  142,  143,  145. 

oreganus,  142,  143. 

"oreganus  shufeldti,  142. 

oregonus,  141,  142. 

Lagopus,  84. 
Lagopus  albus,  84. 

lagopus,  84. 
Laniidse,  152. 
Lanius,  152. 
Lanius  borealis,  152. 

ludovicianus,   152. 
Lanivireo,  154. 
Lanivireo  flavifrons,  154. 

solitarius,   154. 
Larus,  29. 
Larus  argentatus,  29,  30. 

bonapartii,  31. 

californicus,   30. 

delawarensis,  29,  31. 

franklinii,  21. 

glaucus,  15,  19,  20,  29. 

leucopterus,  21,  22. 

marinus,  21. 

Philadelphia,  31. 

pomarinus,  28. 

smithsonianus,  29,  30. 

sabinii,  31. 

tridactylus,  28. 
Limicolae,  62. 
Limosa,  72. 
Limosa  hsemastica,  72. 

scolopacea,  67. 
Linaria  holboellii,  131. 

minor,  130. 

Lobipes  hyperboreus,  63. 
Longipennes,  28. 
Lophodytes,  36. 
Lophodytes  cucullatus,  10,  36. 
Loxia,  129. 
Loxia  curvirostra,  129. 

curvirostra  var.  americana,  129. 

curvirostra  minor,  129. 

leucoptera,  129. 

Macrorhamphus,  66. 
Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus,  67. 

griseus,  13,  66. 
Macrochires,  113. 
Mareca,  37. 
Mareca  americana,  38. 

penelope,  37. 
Mega  scops,  105. 
Megascops  asio,  105. 


Melanerpes,  111. 
Melanerpes  carolinus,  112. 

erythrocephalus,  111. 
Melanetta  velvetina,  46. 
Meleagris,  86. 
Meleagris  gallopavo,  86. 

gallopavo  sylvestris,  86. 

sylvestris,  86. 
Melospiza,  143. 
Melospiza  cinerea  melodia,  143. 

fasciata,  143. 

lincolnii,  143. 

melodia,  143. 

palustris,  143. 
Merganser,  35. 
Merganser  americanus,  35. 

serrator,  36. 
Merula,  195. 
Merula  migratoria,  195. 
Micropalama,  67. 
Micropalama  himantopus,  67. 
Micropodidse,  114. 
Mimidse,  179. 
Mimus,  179. 
Mimus  felivox,  181. 

polyglottos,  179. 
Mniotilta,  155. 
Mniotilta  varia,   155. 
Mniotiltidffi,  155. 
Molothrus,  122. 
Molothrus  ater,  122. 
Motacilla  auricollis,  156. 

protonotarius,  156. 
Motacillidse,  178. 
Myadestes  townsendii,  20. 
Myiarchus,  115. 
Myiarchus  crinitus,  115. 
Muscicapa  selbyii,  176. 

Nauclerus  furcatus,  91. 
Nettion,  39. 

Nettion  carolinensis,  39. 
Numenius,  77. 
Numenius  borealis,  78. 

hudsonicus,  77,  78. 

intermedius,  77. 

longirostris,  77. 
Nuttallornis,  116. 
Nuttallornis  borealis,  116. 
Nyctale  richardsoni,  104. 
Nyctea,  106. 
Nyctea  nyctea,  106. 

scandiaca,  106. 

scandiaca  var.  arctica,  10(">. 
Nycticorax,  55. 
Nycticorax  nycticorax  nsevius,  55. 

Oidemia,  46. 

Oidemia  americana,  46,  47. 

deglandi,  46. 

perspicillata,  47. 
Olbiorchilus,  184. 
Olbiorchilus  hiemalis,  184,  185. 
Olor,  52. 
Olor  buccinator,  21. 

columbianus,   52. 
Oporornis,  172. 
Oporornis,  agilis.  173. 

formosa,  172,  173. 

Philadelphia,  174. 

tolmiei,  174. 


THE    NATURAL    HISTORY   SURVEY. 


211 


Opuntia  rafinesquii,  16. 
Otocoris,  119. 
Otocoris  alpestris,  119. 

alpestris  leucolaema,  119. 

alpestris  praticola,  119. 
Otus  vulgaris,  102. 
Oxyechus,  79. 
Oxyechus  vociferus,  79. 

Paludicolae,  56. 

Pandion,  100. 

Pandion  carolinensis,  100. 

haliaetus  carolinensis,  100. 
Paridse,  188. 
Parula  americana,  159. 
Parus  atricapillus,  189. 

carolinensis,  189. 

hudsonicus,  22,  189. 
Passerculus,  135. 
Passerculus  sandwichensis  savanna, 

135. 

Passerella,  144. 
Passerella  iliaca,  144. 
Passeres,  115. 
Passerina,  132. 
Passerina  nivalis,  132. 
Pavoncella  pugnax,  22. 
Pedioecetes,  85. 
Pediocaetes  columbianus,  85. 

phasianellus,  85. 

phasianellus  campestris.  85. 

phasianellus  var.  columbianus,  85. 
Pelecanidae,  35. 
Pelecanus,  35. 
Pelecanus  dilophus,  34. 

erythrorhynchos,  35. 

onocrotalus,  35. 

trachyrhynchus,  35. 
Pelidna,  71. 
Pelidna  alpina  americana,  71. 

alpina  pacifica,  71. 

alpina  sakhalina,  23,  71. 

pacifica,  71. 
Penthestes,  187. 
Penthestes  atricapillus,  189. 

carolinensis,  189. 

hudsonicus,   189. 
Perisoreus  canadensis,  20,  22. 
Petrochelidon,  148. 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons,  148. 
Phalacrocoracidae,  34. 
Phalacrocorax,  34. 
Phalacrocorax  dilophus,  34. 

dilophus  floridanus,  21. 
Phalaropodidre,  62. 
Phalaropus,  63. 
Phalaropus  lobatus,  63. 

tricolor,  63. 

wilsoni,  63. 
Phasianidaa,  86. 
Philohela,  65. 
Philohela  minor,  18,  65. 
Pica,  120. 

Pica  pica  hudsonia,  120. 
Pica  melanoleuca,  120. 
Pici,  109. 
Picidae,  109. 
Picoides,  110. 
Picoides  arcticus,  110. 
Picus  caudata  var.  hudsonica,  120. 


Picus  medianus,  110. 

pileatus,  111. 

pubescens,  109. 
Pinicola,  128. 
Pinicola  canadensis,  128. 

enucleator,  128. 

enucleator  canadensis,  128. 
Pipilo,  144. 
Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  144. 

maculatus  arcticus,  144. 
Piranga,  147. 
Piranga  erythromelas,  147. 

rubra,  147. 

Plegadis  autumnalis,  21. 
Podiceps  californicus,  26. 

cornutus,  25. 

griseigena  var.  holbolli,  25. 

holbcellii,  25. 

rubricollis,  25. 
Podicipidae,  25. 
Podilymbus,  26. 
Podilymbus,  podiceps,  18    26 
Polioptila,  191. 
Polioptila  caerulea,  191. 
Pooecetes,  135. 
Pocecetes  gramineus,  135. 
Porzana,  58. 
Porzana  Carolina,  58. 

jamaicensis,  59,  60. 

noveboracensis,  59. 
Progne,  148. 
Progne  purpurea,  148. 

subis,  148. 
Protonotaria,  156. 
Protonotaria  citrea,  156. 
Psittaci,  108. 
Psittacidae,  108. 
Pygopodes,  25. 
Pyranga  aestiva,  147. 

§uerquedula,  39. 
uerquedula  carolinensis,  39. 

discors,  10,  39. 
Quiscalus.  126. 
Quiscalus  aeneus,  126. 
ferrugineus,  125. 
purpureus  aeneus,  .126. 
quiscula  aeneus,  126. 

Rallidae,  57. 

Rallus,  57. 

Rallus  crepitans,  57. 

elegans,  57. 

lariformis,  34. 

virginianus,  58. 
Raptores,  90. 
Recurvirostra,  64. 
Recurvirostra   americana,   64. 
Recurvirostridae,  64. 
Regulus,  190. 
Regulus  calendula,  190. 

cristatus,  190. 

satrapa,  190. 
Riparia,  149. 
Riparia  riparia,  149. 
Rissa,  28. 
Rissa  tridactyla,  15,  20,  28. 

Sayornis,  116. 
Sayornis  phoebe,  116. 


212 


THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 


Scolopacidse,  65. 
Scolopax  delicata,  65. 

flavipes,  73. 

hudsonica,  72. 

sakhalina,  71. 
Scotiaptex,  103. 
Scotiaptex  nebulosa,  103. 
Setophaga,  178. 
Setophaga  ruticilla,  178. 
Seiurus,  169. 
Seiurus  aurocapillus,   169. 

ludovicianus,  172. 

motacilla,  172. 

naevius  notabilis,  170,  171. 

noveboracensis,  22,  170,  171,  172. 

noveboracensis     notabilis,     170, 

171,  172. 
Sialia,  195. 
Sialia  sialis,  195. 
Sitta,  187. 
Sitta  canadensis,  187. 

carolinensis,  187. 
Sittidse,  187. 
Somateria,  45. 
Somateria  dresseri,  45. 

mollissima,  45. 

spectabilis,  21,  22. 
Sparvius  platypterus,  97. 
Spatula,  40. 
Spatula  clypeata,  40. 
Sphyrapicus,  110. 
Spyhrapicus  ruber,  111. 

varius,  110. 

varius  nuchalis,  111. 
Spinus,  132. 
Spinus  pinus,  132. 
Spiza,  146. 

Spiza  americana,  146. 
Spizella,  140. 
Spizella  monticola,  133,  140. 

pallida,  140. 

pusilla,  141. 

socialis,  140. 
Squatarola,  78. 

Squatarola  squatarola,  15,  78. 
Steganopodes,  34. 
Steganopus,  63. 
Steganopus  tricolor,  18,  63. 
Stelgidopteryx,  150. 
Stelgidopteryx  serripennis,  150. 
Stercorariidse,  28. 
Stercorarius,  28. 
Stercorarius  parasiticus,  22. 

pomarinus,  22,  28. 
Sterna,  32. 

antillarum,  33. 

caspia,  15,  20,  32. 

forsteri,  32. 

havelli,   32. 

hirundo,  32,  33. 

maxima,   21. 

nigra,  33. 

Philadelphia,    31. 

plumbea,  33. 

superciliaris,  33. 

surinamensis,  33. 

tschegrava,    32. 
Sternula   antillarum,   33. 
Strigidse,  101. 
Strix,  101. 


Strix  arctica,  106. 

brachyotus,   102. 

caparoch,  107. 

cinerea,   103. 

flammea,  101. 

flammea  var.  americana,   101. 

flammea  var.  pratincola,   101. 

hudsonica,   107. 

otus,  102. 

pratincola,  101. 

tengmalmi,   104. 
Sturnella,  124. 
Sturnella   magna,    124. 

neglecta,  124. 
Sturnus  ludovicianus,  124. 
Surnia,   107. 
Surnia  funeria,  107. 

ulula  caparoch,   107. 

ulula  var.  hudsonica,   107. 
Sylvia  autumnalis,   163. 

canadensis,   161. 

icterocephala,  162. 

maritima,    160. 

pardalina,   177. 

protonotaria,  156. 

ruficapilla,    158. 

wilsonii,  177. 
Sylvania  bonapartii,  177. 
Sylvidse,  190. 
Symphemia,   74. 
Symphemia   semipalmata,   15,   74,   75. 

semipalmata  inornata,  74,  75. 
Syrnium,  103. 
Syrnium  varium,  103. 

Tachycineta,  149. 
Tachycineta   lepida,    149. 

thalassina,  149. 

thalassina   lepida,   149. 
Tanagridse,    147. 
Tantalus  loculator,  21. 
Telmatodytes,  185. 
Telmatodytes   palustris    iliacus,    185. 

palustris  plesius,   186. 
Tetrao  phasianellus,  85. 

saliceti,   84. 
Tetraonidse,   82. 
Thryomanes,   182. 
Thryomanes  bewickii,  182. 
Thryothorus,    181. 
Thryothorus  ludovicianus,   181. 
Totanus,   72. 
Totanus  chloropygius,  74. 

flavipes,  67,  73. 

melanoleucus,  72. 
Toxostoma,    181. 
Toxostoma  rufum,  181. 
Trichas    brachydactyla,    175. 

tephrocotis,  173. 
Tringa,    68. 
Tringa  alpina,  71. 

bartramia,   75. 

bonapartei,  69. 

canutus,  15,  23,  68. 

cinerea,  68. 

douglasii,  67. 

helvetica,  78. 

pectoralis,  69. 

pusilla,  70. 

rufescens,  76. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 


2I3 


Tringa  schinzii,  69. 

semipalmata,  71. 

wilsonii,    70. 
Trochilidse,  114. 
Trochilus,   114. 
Trochilus   colubris,   114. 
Troglodytes,    183. 
Troglodytes  aedon,  183,  184. 

aedon  var.  aztecus,  184. 

aedon  parkmanii,  184. 

bewickii,   182. 

brevirostris,  185. 

hiemalis,   184. 

ludovicianus,  181. 

palustris,    185. 

parkmanii,  184. 

parvulus  var.  hyemalis,   185. 

stellaris,    185. 
Troglodytidae,    181. 
Tryngites,  75. 
Tryngites  subruficollis,  75. 
Turdidse,  191. 
Turdus  alicise,  193. 

aonalaschkse  pallasii,  194. 

fuscescens,  192. 

fuscescens  salicicola,  192. 

mustelinus,   191. 

pallasii,   194. 

swainsoni,  194. 

swainsoni  var.  aliciae.  193. 

ustulatus  swainsoni,  194. 

wilsonii,  192. 
Tympanuchus,   84. 
Tympanuchus  americanus,  84. 
Tyrannidae,    115. 
Tyrannus,  115. 
Tyrannus    carolinensis,    115. 

cooperi,   116. 

fuscus,    116. 

intrepidus,    115. 

minima,  118. 

tyrannus,   115. 


Una  lomvia,   19. 
Urinator  arcticus,  21. 

imber,   27. 

lumme,  27. 

Vireo,  154. 
Vireo  bellii,   155. 

flavifrons,  16,  154. 

gilvus,   16. 

noyeboracensis,  154,  155. 

solitarius,   154. 
Virionidae,    152. 
Vireosylva,   152. 
Vireosylva  gilva,  153. 

olivacea,  152. 

philadelphica,  153. 

Wilsonia,  176. 

Wilsonia  canadensis,  177. 

mitrata,  176. 

pusilla,   177. 
Xanthocephalus,  123. 
Xanthocephalus   icterocephalus,   123. 

xanthocephalus,  123. 
Xema,  31. 
Xema  sabina,  31. 

Zamelodia,   145. 
Zamelodia  ludoviciana,  145. 
Zenaidura,  90. 
Zenaidura  carolinensis,  90. 

macroura,  90. 
Zonotrichia,   139. 
Zonotrichia  albicollis,  139. 

canadensis,   140. 

coronata,  20. 

leucophrys,  139. 

leucophrys  intermedia,  20. 

querula,  139. 


214 


THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 


INDEX  TO  COMMON  NAMES. 


Avocet,  American,  64. 

Bee  Bird,  Red,  147. 
Bee  Martin,   115. 
Beetle-head,   78. 
Bird,  Beach,  80. 
Bee,  115. 
Bell,  191. 
Cedar,   151. 
Cherry,  151. 
Fire,    125. 
Grass,    135. 
Grasshopper,   135. 
Green,   146. 
Ground,  135. 
Hanging,    125. 
Indigo,    146. 
Myrtle,  161. 
Peabody,    139. 
Potato,   138. 
Potato-bug,  146. 
Rice,    122. 
Strawberry,    128. 
Of  Washington,  98. 
Birds    of   Prey,    90. 
Birds,   Surf,  82. 
Bittern,   American,   53. 
American   Least,   53. 
Least,  53. 
Little,    53. 
Little  Yellow,  53. 
Minute,  53. 
Tortoise-shell,  53. 
Black-breast,   78. 
Blackbird,    blue-headed,    125. 
Brewers,  125. 
Cow,    122. 
Crow,    125. 
Red-shouldered,    123. 
Red-winged,  123. 
Rusty,  125,  126. 
Skunk,  122. 
Swamp,  123. 
Violet-headed,  125. 
Western   Crow,    125. 
Yellow-headed,   123. 
Black-cap,  Wilson's,  17. 
Bluebird,  13,  14,  15,  23,  191,  10.1. 

Eastern,    195. 
Blue  Peter,  60. 
Bob  Lincoln,  122. 
Bob-white,  82. 
Bobolink,    122. 
Bog-bull,  53. 
Bog-sucker,   65. 
Booby,    55. 
Bottle-head,   78. 
Brant,  49,  51. 
Bald,  49. 
Bird,    82. 
Blue,    49. 
Common,   51. 
Goose,    51. 
Harlequin,   49. 
Gray,   49. 
Pied,  49. 


Brant  Prairie,  49. 
White,    48,    49. 
White-headed,   49. 

Yellow-legged,  49. 
Bull   Bat,  113. 
Bull-head,  78,  79. 
Bumblebee,   70. 
Bunting,  Bay-winged,   135. 

Black-throated,  146. 

Cow,    122. 

Cowpen,  122. 

Henslow's,  136. 

Indigo,   146. 

Leconte's,  136. 

Painted,   134. 

Painted  Lark,  134. 

Smith's,  134. 

Snow,   132. 
Butcher  Bird,   Great   Northern,   152 

Southern,    152. 
Buzzard,  90. 

Turkey,    90. 

Calico-back,  82. 
Canary,    Wild,    160. 
Cardinal,    145. 
Catbird,  180,  181. 
Cedar-lark,    151. 
Chat,   Yellow-breasted,   176. 
Chatterer,    Waxen,    150. 
Chewink,    144. 
Chickadee,  189. 

Black-capped,    189. 

Carolina,  14,  189. 

Eastern,  189. 

Hudsonian,  20,   21,    189,   190. 

Northern,  189. 

Southern,  189. 
Chicken,   Prairie,   84,   85. 
Chickty-beaver,    155. 
Chip-bird,    140. 

Field,    141. 
Chippy,    140. 

Field,    141. 

Red-billed,  141. 

Winter,  140. 
Clodhopper,  122. 
Coot,  American,  61,  62. 

Blue,   60. 

Booby,   47. 

Bull,   46. 

Butter-billed,  46. 

Gray,  47. 

Heavy-tailed,  47. 

Hollow-billed,  46. 

Horse-head,  47. 

Sleepy,  47. 

Surf,  47. 

White- winged,   46. 
Cormorant,   Florida,  21. 

Double-crested,    34. 
Corn-cracker,  145. 
Cowbird,   122. 
Cow-cow,  108. 
Crane,  Brown,  57. 

Great  White,  56. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 


215 


Crane,  Sandhill,  57. 

White    Sandhill,    56. 

Whooping,  56,  57. 
Creaker.   69. 
Crab-catcher,  55. 
Creeper,  American  Tree,   187 

Black   and    White,    155. 

Brown,   186,   187. 

Striped,  155. 
Crossbill.    17. 

American,   129. 

American  Red,  129. 

Red,  129. 

White-winged,   129,   130. 
Crow,  15,  120. 

American,   121. 

Carrion,  90. 

Common,    122. 

Duck,  62. 

Rain,    108,   109. 
Cuckoo,  Black-billed,  108. 

Yellow-billed,  108. 
Curlew,  Big,  77. 

Eskimo,    78. 

Hudsonian,   77,   78. 

Jack,   77. 

Little,    78. 

Long-billed,    77. 

Short-billed,  77. 

Sickle-billed,    77. 

Dab-chick,   26. 

Darter,  93. 

Dickcissel,  146. 

Di-dapper,  26. 

Diver,   Great  Northern,   27. 

Red-throated,  27,  28. 
Dough-bird,  78. 
Dowitcher,   15,  66. 
Dowitcher,  Long-billed,  67. 
Dove.  American  Turtle,  90. 

Carolina,    90. 

Common,   90. 

Mourning,  90. 

Turtle,    90. 
Duck.   American   Eider,  45. 

American  Pochard,  41. 

Bald-crown,    38. 

Bald-headed,  38. 

Baldpate,   38. 

Big  Sea,  45. 

Black,  37. 

Black-head,  43. 

Black  Jack,  43. 

Blue-bill,  43. 

Blue-wing,  39. 

Brass-eye,  43. 

Bridal,  41. 

Bristle-tail,  47. 

Broady,  40. 

Broad-bill.   42. 

Buffle-head,    44. 

Bull-neck,  42. 

Butter,   40. 

Butter-ball,  44. 

Butter-bill,   46. 

Cannon  Ball,  42,  44. 

Canvas-back,  10,  41,  42. 

Cob-head.  43. 

Cock  Robin,  36. 

Coot,   43. 


Duck,  Creek,  37. 
Crow,   34,    36. 
Deaf,  47. 
Dipper,  44. 
Dummy,  44,  47. 
Eider,  18. 
Fall,   43. 
Fan-crest,    36. 
Fish,  35. 
Fool,  47. 
Gadwall,  37. 
Gar-bill,   36. 

Golden-eye,   American,   43. 
Golden-eye,  Barrows,  44. 
Golden-eye,  Rocky  Mountain,  44. 
Goosander,   36. 
Gray,  36,  37. 
Great-head,  43. 
Greater   Scaup,   21. 
Green-head,  38. 
Green-wing,  39. 
Hairy-head,  36. 
Harlequin,  21 
Iron-head,  43. 
King  Eider,  21,  22. 
Lesser  Scaup,  42,  43,  47. 
Little  Black-head.  42. 
Little  Blue^bill,  42. 
Long-neck,  40. 
Long-tailed,   45. 
Mallard,    41. 
March  Blue-bill,  42. 
Merry-wing,   43. 
Moon-bill,  43. 
Moss-head,   36. 
Mud  Blue-bill,  42. 
Mud-shoveller,  40. 
Old  Injun,  45. 
Old  Molly,  45. 
Old  Squaw,  18,  19,  44,  45. 
Old  Wife,  45. 
Pheasant,  40. 
Pheasant,  Water,  40. 
Pick-axe,  36. 
Picket-tail,  40. 
Pintail,   19,  40.  41. 
Poacher,    White-bellied,   38. 
Red-head,  41,  47. 
Red-headed  Broad-bill,  41. 
Red-headed  Bull-neck,  4± 
Ring-bill,  43. 
Ring-billed  Shuffler,  43. 
Ring-necked,  43. 
River,  42. 
River   Scaup,  42. 
River  Shuffler,  42. 
Rook,  47. 
Ruddy,  47,  48. 
Saw-bill,  35,  46. 
Scolder,  45. 
Scoter,  46. 

Scoter,    White-winged,   44. 
Sea,  47. 
Shovel-bill,  40. 
Shoveller,  40. 
Sleepy,  47. 
Smutty,    46. 
Snowl,  36. 
Spike-tail.    40. 
Spine-tailed,  47. 


2l6 


THE    CHICAGO   ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 


Duck,  Spirit,  44. 

Spoon-bill,   40. 

Squaw,  45. 

Stiff-tail,  47. 

Summer,   41. 

Surf,  47. 

Velvet,   46. 

Wheat,    38. 

White-back,  42. 

White-face,    39. 

White-wing,  46. 

Whistler,  43. 

Whistle-wing,  43. 

Wood,  10,  36,  41. 

Yellow-bill,  46. 
Dunlin,   71. 

Eagle,  American  Sea,  98. 

Bald,   10,   98. 

Black,    97. 

Fish,   100. 

Golden,   97,   98. 

Gray,    98. 

Ring-tailed,  97. 

White-headed,  98. 
Egret,  American,  10,  54. 

Little,   55. 

Little  White,  55. 

Falcon,   Great-footed,  99. 

Field-fare,  American,  195. 
Fieldlark,    124. 

Western,    124. 
Finch,  Grass,  135. 

Harris',   139. 

Lark,   138. 

Lincoln's,   143. 

Mourning,  139. 

Nelson's  Sharp-tailed,  137. 

Pine,   132. 

Roseate,  128. 

Sharp-tailed,  48. 
Flicker,  Northern,  112. 

Yellow-shafted,  112. 
Flycatcher,  Acadian,  117. 

Canada,    177. 

Crested,  115. 

Fan-tailed,  178. 

Great-crested,   115. 

Green-crested,    117. 

Least,   118. 

Olive-sided,   116. 

Pewit,    116. 

Traill's,  118. 

Tyrant,    115. 

Yellow-bellied,    115,    117. 

Yellow-tailed,   178 
Fly-up-the-Creek,  55. 

Gallinaceous  Birds,  82. 
Gallinule,    American,   61. 

Florida,  18,  61,  62. 

Purple,  60. 
Gnatcatcher,   Blue-gray,   191. 

Eastern,  191. 
Goatsucker,    113. 
Godwit,   Hudsonian,  72. 
Golden-crest,  American,  190. 
Goldfinch,  American,  131. 

Pine,  132. 
Goose,  American  White-fronted, 


Goose,  Bay,  50,  51. 

Big  Wild,  50. 

Blue,    49. 

Blue- winged,    49.  • 

Brent,   51. 

Cackling,  22. 

Canada,    50. 

Common    Wavy,    49. 

Common    Wild,   50. 

Cravat,   50. 

Eskimo,  51. 

Gray,  51. 

Greater  Snow,  49. 

Honker,    50. 

Hutchins's,  51. 

Laughing,  49. 

Lesser  Canada,  51. 

Lesser  Snow,  48,  49. 

Little   Wild,    51. 

Mexican,    49. 

Nigger,  34.  , 

Prairie,  49,  51. 

Red,  49. 

Snow,  48. 

Speckle-belly,  49. 

Texas,  49. 

White-head,  49. 

Yellow-legged,  49. 
Goshawk,  American,  93. 
Grackle,  Bronzed,  125. 

Rusty,  125. 
Gray-back,  66. 
Grebe,  American  Eared,  26. 

American    Red-necked,   25. 

California,   26.    ' 

Carolina,  26. 

Cooper's,  25. 

Dusky,    25. 

Holbcell's,  25. 

Horned,  25,  26. 

Pied-billed,   18. 

Greenlets.     See  Vireos,  153.  154,  155. 
Grosbeak,    Canadian   Pine,    128. 

Cardinal,   145. 

Evening,  17,  126,  127. 

Purple,    128. 

Red-breasted,   146. 

Roseate,  128. 

Rose-breasted,  145. 
Grouse,  Drumming,  83. 

Pinnated,  84. 

Ruffed,  83,  84. 

Ruffled,  83. 

Sharp-tailed,  85. 

Willow,  84. 
Guinea   Duck,   27. 
Gull,  American  Herring.  30. 

Big  Mackerel,  32. 

Boneparte's,    30,   31. 

Burgomaster,  19,  21. 

European  Herring,  30. 

Fork-tailed,   31. 

Franklin's,  18,  21. 

Glaucous,   15,   18,  20. 

Gray,  29. 

Great  Black-backed,  21. 

Herring,  29,  30. 

Hutchin's,  29. 

Iceland,  21,  22. 

Kittiwake,  15,  20,  28. 

Mackerel,    33. 


THE   NATURAL   HISTORY   SURVEY. 


217 


Gul,  Molly,  31,  33. 

Ring-billed.    30,    31. 

Sabine's   31. 

Saddle-back,  21. 

Sea,  29. 

Summer,    33. 

White,   29. 

White-winged,  21. 

Winter,  28. 
Gull-chaser,  28. 
Gull-hunter,  28. 

Hair-bird,  140. 

Hanging-bird,   Little   Green,    155. 

Harrier.     See  Hawks,  92. 

Hawk.   American  Rough-legged,  97 

American    Sparrow,    100. 

Black,  97. 

Black  Red-tail,  95. 

Blue,  93. 

Blue  Chicken,  93. 

Blue  Quail,  93. 

Broad-winged,  96. 

Bullet,  92,  93. 

Chicken,  93,  94,  95. 

Coopers,  93. 

Duck,  99. 

Eastern  Red-tail,  94. 

Fish,  100. 

Fish-tail,  91. 

Harlan's,  95. 

Hen,  94,  95. 

Krider's.  94. 

Little  Blue,  100. 

Little  Swift,  92. 

Marsh,  92. 

Mouse,  100. 

Pigeon,  92,  99. 

Quail,  93. 

Red-shouldered,  95,  96. 

Sharp-shinned,    92,    93. 

Slate-colored,  92. 

Snake,   91. 

Swainson's,  96. 

Swallow-tailed,  91. 

Swift,  93. 

White-breasted  Chicken,  94. 

White   Hen,  94. 

White  Red-tailed,  94,  95. 
Hell-diver,  25,  26,  27. 
Hen,   Indian,  53. 

Marsh,  57. 

Mud,  57. 

Prairie,  84,  85. 

Sedge,  57. 

Heron,  American  Black-crowned 
Night,  56. 

Black-crowned  Night.  o5. 

Great  Blue,  11,  53,  54. 

Green,  55. 

Little   Snow,   55. 

Snowy,  54. 
High-hole.  112. 
High-holder,  112. 
Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated,  114. 

Ibis,  Glossy,  21. 
Wood,   20. 

Jack,    Red-breasted,   66. 
Jaeger,  Parasitic.  22. 
Pomarine,  22,  28. 


Jaree,  144. 
Jay,  15. 

Blue,   120. 

Canada,  20,  22. 
Junco,    Montana,    141. 

Shufeldt's,  142. 

Slate-colored,   141. 

Kestril,  American,  100. 

Kildee,  79. 

Killdeer.   79. 

Kingbird,  115. 

Kingfisher,  Belted,  108,  109. 

Kinglet,   Golden-crested,  190. 

Golden-crowned,   190. 

Ruby-crowned,    190. 
Kite,  White-headed  Swallow,  91. 

Swallow-tailed,  91. 
Kittiwake,  28,  29. 
Knot,  15,  23,  68. 

Lark,   Horned,  119. 

Prairie,   119. 

Prairie  Horned,  119. 

Sand,  76. 

Shore,   119. 

Snow,  119. 
Lawyer,   64. 
Lettuce-bird,  132. 
Linnet,   146. 
Linnet,   Hoary,   130. 

Pine,  132. 

Purple,  128. 

Redpoll,  131. 

Rosy,    128. 
Logcock,   11. 
Long-beak,  Greater,  67. 
Long-shanks,   64. 
Longspur,  Lapland.  16,  133. 

Painted,  17,  134. 

Smith's,  16,  17,  134. 
Look-up,  53. 
Loon,  27. 
Loon,  Black,  34. 

Black-throated.  21. 

Red-throaced,  27. 

Magpie,  American,  120. 

Black-billed,  120. 
Mallard,   36,   37. 

Gray,   36. 

Man-o'-war  Bird,  19,  20. 
Martin,  148. 
Martin,    American,    148. 

House,    148. 

Purple,  148. 

Rough-winged   Sand,  150. 

Sand,    150. 
Meadowlark,   Little,   146. 

Western,  124. 
Merganser,   35. 
Merganser,  American,  35. 

Buff-breasted,  35. 

Hooded,   10,   36. 

Bed-breasted,  19,  36. 
Merlin,  American,  100. 
Mire-drum,   53. 

Mockingbird,  178,   180,  181,  192. 
Mockingbird,   English,   181.     t 

Ferruginous,  181. 

Fox-colored,    181. 

French,   181. 


218 


THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 


Mockingbird,  Sandy,  181. 

Southern,  179. 

Yellow,  176. 
Mud-ben,  61,  62. 
Mud-hen,  Blue,  60. 

Red-billed,  61. 

White-billed,  62. 
Mud-snipe,   65. 
Murre,  Brunnich's,  19. 

Nighthawk,   113,   114. 
Nightingale,  Virginia,  145. 
Night  Heron,  55. 
Nuthatch,    14. 
Nuthatch,  Canada,  187. 

Red-breasted,   187. 

White-breasted,  187. 

Old  Abe,  98. 

Oriole,  Baltimore,  125. 

Brown,    124. 

Chestnut-colored,    124. 

Golden,    125. 

Orchard,  124. 
Orioles,  122. 
Orlotan,   58. 
Osprey,   American,   100. 
Oven-bird,   169,   170. 
Owl,    Acadian,    105. 

American  Barn,  101. 

American    Hawk,    107. 

American    Long-eared,    102. 

Arctic   Horned,    106. 

Barred,  103. 

Booby,    106. 

Cat,  106. 

Day,    107. 

Ermine,  106. 

Great    Cinereous,    103. 

Great  Gray,  103. 

Great  Horned,  106. 

Great  White,  106. 

Hoot,  103,  106. 

Hudsonian  Hawk,  107. 

Lesser   Horned,   102. 

Little  Gray,   105. 

Little   Mottled,    105. 

Little    Red,    105. 

Marsh,    102. 

Monkey,  101. 

Mottled,  105. 

Prairie,   102. 

Richardson's,  104. 

Saw-whet,  105. 

Screech,  105. 

Short-eared,   102. 

Snow,  106. 

Snowy,  106,  107. 

Sparrow,  104. 

Spectral,   103. 

Swamp,  102. 

White,  106. 

White-fronted,   105. 
Ox-eye,  71,  78. 

Parrots,    108. 

Paroquet,   Carolina,   19,   108. 

Illinois,   108. 
Partridge,  82,  83. 
Peep,   70,   71. 
Peet-weet,  76,  74. 


Pelican,    American    White,    35. 

Rough-billed,  35. 
Perching  Birds,   115. 
Peregrine,  American,  99. 
Pewee,  116. 
Pewee,   Wood,   117. 
Phalerope,    Northern,    62,    63. 

Red,  62. 

Wilson's,   18,   63. 
Pheasant,  83,  86. 
Phoebe,   116. 
Phoebe,  Barn,  116. 
Pigeon,  Passenger,  86,  87,  88,  89, 

Sea,  31,  33. 

Wild,  86,  88,  89. 

Wood,    86,    108. 
Pink-stockings,   64. 
Pin-tail,   85. 
Pipit,  American,   178. 

Louisiana,    178. 

Pennsylvania,   178. 
Plover,  American  Golden,  79. 

American    Ring,    80. 

Black-bellied,  15,  23,  78,  79. 

Belted  Piping,  18,  80,  81. 

Field,  75 

Golden,    76. 

Green,  79. 

Killdeer,  79. 

Marsh,  69. 

May,   69. 

Piping,  80. 

Prairie,    75. 

Ringed    Piping,    80. 

Semipalmated,    15,    80. 

Upland,    75. 

Western   Piping,   80. 
Post-driver,  53. 
Prairie  Pigeon,  79. 
Ptarmigan,   White,  84. 

Willow,  84. 

Qua-bird,   56. 

Quail,  82. 

Quail,  American,  82. 

Virginia,  82. 
Quak,  56. 

Rail,  Black,  59,  60. 

Carolina,    58. 

Clapper,   57. 

Common,  58. 

King,   18,   57,  61. 

Little,    59. 

Little  Black,  60. 

Little  Yellow,  59. 

Red,    58. 

Red-breasted,  57. 

Sora,  58. 

Virginia,   58. 

Yellow,  59. 

Raven,  Northern,  120. 
Redbreast,   195. 
Redbird,  145. 
Redbird,  Black-winged,  147. 

Cardinal,    145. 

Crested,  145. 

Summer,  147. 

Virginian,    145. 
Redpoll,    130. 
Redpoll,  Common,  131. 


THE    NATURAL    HISTORY   SURVEY. 


2I9 


Redpoll,  Dusky,  131. 

Greater,  131. 

Hoary,    130. 

Holboll's,  131. 

Lesser,  131. 

Mealy,   130. 

White-rumped,  130. 
Redstart,   American,   178. 
Reed-bird,    58,   122. 
Ring-neck,  80. 
Robin,    14,    15,    195. 
Robin,    American,    195. 

Golden,    125. 

Ground,  144. 

Swamp,  194. 

Wood,  191. 
Ruff,  22. 

Sanderling,    15,   71. 

Sandpeter,   33. 

Sandpiper,  Baird's,  15,  69. 

Bartramian,   75. 

Bonaparte's,  69. 

Buff-breasted,   75,   76, 

Knot,  68. 

Least,  23,  70. 

Long-legged,   67. 

Pectoral,  68. 

Red-backed,  23,   71. 

Purple,   15,  68. 

Semipalmated,  23,  71. 

Solitary,   74. 

Spotted.  76,  77. 

Stilt,   67. 

White-rumped,  69. 

Wilson's.  70. 
Sapsucker,  15,  187. 
Sapsucker,   Blue,  187. 

Big,   109. 

Little,    110. 

Red-throated,   110. 

Yellow-bellied,  110. 
Schytepoke,  55. 
Scoter,  18. 
Scoter,   American,  46. 

American  Black,  46. 

American  Velvet,  46. 

Surf,  47. 

White-winged,  46,  47. 
Sheldrake,  19,  35,  36. 
Sheldrake,   Hooded,  36. 

Pond,    36. 

Wood,   36. 
Shrike,  15. 
Shrike,  Common  American,  152. 

Great  American.  152. 

Loggerhead,  152. 

Louisiana,  152. 

Northern,    152. 
Sickle-bill,  77. 
Siskin,  Pine,  132. 
Skylark,    119. 
Skylark,  American,  119. 
Skiias,  28. 
Snipe,  65. 
Snipe.  American,  65. 

Blind.  65. 

Common,    65. 

English,  65,  72. 

Frost,   67. 

Grass,    69. 


Snipe,  Gray,  66. 

Gutter,    65. 

Jack,  65,  69. 

Meadow,  69. 

Red-backed,  71. 

Red-breasted,  66. 

River,  76. 

Robin,   23,  66,   67,  68. 

Rock.    68. 

Sand,  69,  70,  71,  76. 

Sickle-bill,   77. 

Stone,   72. 

White,  71. 

Wilson's,   65,   73. 

Wood,    74. 

Snowbird,   119,   131.  141. 
Snowbird.  Black,  141. 

Brown,   133. 

Common,   141. 

Gray,  141. 

Slate-colored,    141. 

White,   132. 

Snowflake,  17,  132,  133. 
Solitaire,    Townsend's,   20. 
Sora,  58,  59. 
Sparrow,  Canadian,  140. 

Chipping,  140. 

Clay-colored,  140. 

Field,    141. 

Fox,    144. 

Fox-colored,   144. 

Golden-crowned.  20. 

Grasshopper,  15,  135. 

Harris',   139. 

Henslow's,    15,    136. 

Intermediate,  20. 

Lark,   11,   15,   138. 

Leconte's,  16,  136,  137. 

Lincoln's,  143. 

Lincoln's   Song,   143. 

Nelson's,    137,    138. 

Rufous,   144. 

Savanna,  135. 

Song,    143. 

Swamp,   16,   137,  143. 

Swamp    Song,    143. 

Tree,   140. 

Vesper,   135. 

White-crowned,   20.   135. 

White-throated,    139. 

Winter,   140. 

Yellow-browed,  139. 

Yellow-winged,    135. 
Squawk,  55. 
Speckle-belly.  37. 
Spike-tail,  85. 
Sprig-tail,  85. 
Stake-driver.  53. 
Starling.  Red-winged,  123. 
Stilt,  64. 
Stilt,   Black-necked,   64. 

White-tailed,    69. 
Stink-bird,  186. 
Striker,    32,    33. 
Striker,  Little,  33. 
Swallow,   American   Barn,   148,   149. 

Bank,    149. 

Black.  34. 

Black  and  White,  149. 

Bridge,   150. 

Chimney,  114. 


220 


THE    CHICAGO    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES 


Swallow,  Cliff,  148. 

Crescent,    148. 

Eave,    148. 

Forked-tailed  Barn,  148. 

Green-blue,   149. 

Purple,    148. 

Republican,  148. 

Rough-winged,    150. 

Rough-winged    Bank,    150. 

Rufous-bellied,   148. 

Sand,  150. 

Sea,  33. 

Square-tailed,  148. 

Tree,  149. 

Violet,  148. 

Violet-green,    149. 

White-bellied,   149. 

White-fronted,    148. 
Swan,    American,    52. 

Trumpeter,  21. 
Swans,  35. 

Sweep,  Chimney,  114. 
Swimmers,  Lamellirostral,  35. 
Swimmers,  Totipalmate,  34. 
Swift,   Chimney,   114. 

Tanager,   Red,   147. 

Scarlet,   147. 

Summer,    147. 

Vermilion,  147. 
Tattler,  74. 
Tattler,  Bartramian,  75. 

Solitary,   74. 
Teal,  Blue  Winged,  10,  39,  40. 

Green-winged,  39. 

Mud,    39. 

Red-headed,    39. 

Scotch,  44. 

Summer,   39. 

Winter,  39. 
Tell-tale,   72,   79. 
Tell-tale,  Lesser,  73. 
Teeter,  74. 
Tern,  Black,  17,  33,  34. 

Caspian,  15,  20,  32. 

Common,  32,  33. 

Foster's,   32. 

Gull-billed,    21. 

Havell's,   32. 

Least,  33. 

Royal,  21. 

Short-tailed,   34. 

Wilson's,  32,  33. 
Thistle-bird,  132. 
Thrasher,    Brown,    181. 
Thrush,  Alice's,   193. 

Bell,    191, 

Eastern   Hermit,    194. 

Golden-crowned,    170. 

Gray-cheeked,   193. 

Hermit,   194. 

Migratory,  195. 

Olive-backed,   194. 

Red-breasted,    195. 

Robin,    195. 

Rufus-tailed,  194. 

Solitary,  194. 

Swainson's,   194. 

Tawny,  192. 

Willow,  192,  193. 

Wilson's,  192. 


Thrush,  Wood,  191,  192. 
Thunder-pump,  53. 
Tip-up,  74,  76. 
Tip-up,   Pond,   74. 
Titmouse,  Black-capped,  189. 
Black-fronted,    188. 
Carolina,  189. 
Tufted,  14,  188,  189. 
Titlark,  178. 
Titlark,   American,   178. 
Tomtit,   187. 
Towhee,    144. 
Towhee,  Arctic,  142,  144. 
Towink,  144. 
Turkey,  Wild,  19,  86. 
Turnstone,  15,  82. 
Veery,  Rocky  Mountain,  192. 
Vireo,  Bell's,  155. 

Brotherly  Love,  153. 

Blue-headed,   154. 

Philadelphia,    153. 

Red-eyed,    152,    153. 

Solitary,   154. 

Warbling,  16,  153,  154. 

White-eyed,  154,  155. 

Yellow-throated,  11,  16,  154. 
Vulture,  Turkey,  19,  90,  91. 
Wake-up,    112. 
Wagtail,  172. 
Wagtail,  Golden-crowned,  170. 

Water,    170,   172. 

Wood,   170. 
Walloon,  27. 
Warbler,   Autumnal,   163. 

Azure,   162. 

Bay-breasted,   163. 

Black  and  Red,  178. 

Black  and  White,   163,   155. 

Black   and   White  Creeping,   155. 

Black  and  Yellow,  161. 

Blackburnian,    164. 

Black  Cap,  163,  176. 

Black-capped  Yellow,   177. 

Black-headed,   17(5. 

Black-throated  Blue,   16,   161. 

Black-throated    Green,    165. 

Black-throated  Ground,  174. 

Black-poll,  163. 

Blue,   162. 

Blue    Golden-winged,    157. 

Blue-winged,  157. 

Blue-winged  Swamp,  157. 

Blue-winged   Yellow,   157. 

Blue  Yellow-backed,  160. 

Bonaparte's,   177. 

Canadian,    161,    177. 

Canadian   Flycatcher,  177. 

Cape  May,  160. 

Cerulean,  11,  162. 

Chestnut-backed   Yellow,    169. 

Chestnut-sided,    162. 

Connecticut,  16,  173,  174. 

Fan-tailed,  178. 

Golden   Swamp,   156. 

Golden-winged,    157,    158. 

Golden-winged  Swamp,  157. 

Gray-headed,    173. 

Green  Black-capped,  177. 

Hemlock,  164. 

Hooded,  176. 

Hooded  Flycatcher,  176. 


THE    NATURAL   HISTORY  SURVEY. 


221 


Warbler,  Kentucky,  172,  173. 

Kirtland's,  165,  166,  168. 

Macgillivray's,   174. 

Magnolia,  161. 

Mitred,    176. 

Mourning,    174. 

Myrtle,  15,  161. 

Nashville,    158. 

Necklaced,  177. 

Orange-crowned,  158. 

Orange-throated,  164. 

Palm,   169. 

Pine,  168. 

Pine  Creeping,  168. 

Pine   Swamp,   161. 

Prairie,  169. 

Prothonotary,   16,   150. 

Red-poll,   169. 

Selby's,   176. 

Sycamore,   20,    164. 

Tennessee,   159. 

Tie-up,    169. 

Titlark,   169. 

Wagtail,   169. 

Western  Parula,  159,  160. 

White-throated,    162. 

Willow,    156. 

Wilson's,   177. 

Worm-eating,   20. 

Yellow,    160. 

Yellow-crowned  Wood,  161. 

Yellow   Red-poll,   169. 

Yellow-rumped,  161. 

Yellow-tailed,    178. 
Warblers,  13,  16,  23,  190. 
Warblers,    Wood,    155. 
Water  Kick-up,  170. 
Water-thrush,  16,  22. 
Water-thrush,  Grinnell's,  171. 

Large-billed,   172. 

Louisiana,  172. 

New   York,   170. 

Small-billed,   170. 

Wyoming,  171. 
Water-witch,   26. 
Waxwing,  Black-throated,  150. 

Bohemian,   17,  150,  151. 

Carolina,   151. 

Cedar,    151. 

Northern,  150. 
Wax  wings,   150. 
Whip-poor-will,   113. 
Widgeon,  37,  38. 


Widgeon,  American,  38. 
Willet,  15. 

Willet,    Western,    74. 
Wren,  Bewick's,  182,  183. 

Blue,   191. 

Bunty,    185. 

Carolina,  181,  182. 

Golden-crested,  190. 

Golden-crowned,  190. 

Grass,   186. 

Great  Carolina,  181. 

House,    183. 

Large   Wood,   181. 

Little  Log,  185. 

Long-billed  Marsh,  185,  186. 

Long-tailed,  183,  191. 

Long-tailed   House,   183. 

Mocking,    181. 

Prairie  Marsh,  186. 

Ruby-crowned,  190. 

Short-billed  Marsh,  11,  185. 

Short-tailed  House,  183. 

Winter,    184,   185. 

Western  House,  184. 

Wood,   183. 
Wrens,  181. 
Woodcock,  18,  111. 
Woodcock,  American,  65. 

Black,  111. 
Woodpecker,  Arctic  Three-toed,  110. 

Black-backed  Three-toed,   110. 

Carolina,    112. 

Downy,  109,  110. 

Golden-winged,    112. 

Hairy,  109,  110. 

Ivory-billed,  19. 

Red-bellied,  112. 

Red-headed,  111. 

Northern   Pileated,   111. 

Zebra,  112. 

Yellow-bird,    Black-capped,    132. 

Black-winged,    132. 

Summer,  132,  160. 
Yellow-hammer,  112. 
Yellow-legs,   73. 

Big,    72. 

Greater,  72,  73. 

Lesser,    73. 

Little,    73. 

Yellow-throat,  Northern,  175. 
Yelper,  72. 


PLATE  VI. 


COLONY  OF  GREAT  BLUE  HERONS  ON  THE  DESPLAINES  RIVER,  TWENTY  MILES  NORTH  OF 
CHICAGO.    PHOTOGRAPHED  BY  MR.  F.  M.  WOODRUFF. 


PLATE  VIII. 


A  TYPICAL,  FALL  SCENE  IN  THE  WOODED  REGION  OF  THE  CHICAGO  ABBA.     PHOTOGRAPHED 

BY  MR.  FRANK  M.  WOODRUFF. 


PLATE  IX. 


A  TYPICAL  SUMMER  SCENE   IN  THE  WOODED   REGION  OF  THE  CHICAGO   AREA. 

BY  MR.  T.  H.  PURPLE. 


PHOTOGRAPHED 


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