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CHAPMAN Mtticial Organ of the Audubon Societies AUDUBON DEPARTMENT EDITED BY MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT VOLUME IlI—z901r THE MACMILLAN COMPANY HARRISBURG, PA., AND NEW YORK CITY COPYRIGHT, 1901 By FRANK M. CHAPMAN INDEX TO ARTICLES IN VOLUME III BY AUTHORS , Adney, Tappan, Bird-Life in the Klondike, 195. American Ornithologists’ Union, 210. Audubon, J. J., Three Letters to His ‘ Kentucky Lads,’ 14. ; Audubon, Maria R., Introductory Note to Three Audubon Letters, 14. Congress of, Baily, Wm. L., The Brown Creeper’s Force of Habit, 73. Baldwin, Mrs. L. G., A Christmas Bird Census, 32; Mockingbird Notes, 192. Barker, Samuel H., A Christmas Bird Census, 31 ; Does the Green Heron Fish in Deep Water? I4t. Beebe, C. William, Enterprising Eagles, 35; Pho- tographs by, 159, 162; A Bird of the Season, 190. Belding, Lyman, April and May Bird-Life at Stockton, Calif., 67; Summer Birds of Stockton, Calif., 104; Birds of Stockton and Vicinity, 137. Bishop, L. B., Review by, 76. Bolles, Katherine, A Christmas Bird Census, 30. Britton, Elizabeth G., Barred Owl in Bronx Park, 110. Brooks, C. M., A Christmas Bird Census, 29. Bruen, Frank, and Ford, R. W., A Christmas Bird Census, 30. 6 Burroughs, John, A Bewildered Phcaebe, 85. Burtch, Verdi, The Birds of a Marsh, 129. Chapman, Frank M., Pelican Island Revisited, 3; Editor's Note on Elliott Coues, 9; February and March Bird-Life near New York City, 23; Sug- gestions for the Season’s Study, 27, 67; 1¢5; 138; 170; Suggestions for the Season’s Reading, 28; 69; 105; 139; 170; A Christmas Bird Census, 30; 193. Reviews by, 25, 36, 37, 75, 76, T11, 143, 176, 177; Editorials by, 38, 78; 113; 145; 179; 214; Tree Plant- ing, 59; April and May Bird-Life near New York City, 61; A Birds’ Bath, 74; Photographs by, 86, 87; Bird-Nesting with Burroughs, 88; June and July Bird-Life near New York City, 99; A June Bird Census, 106; A Nighthawk Incident. 126; August and September Bird-Life near New York City, 134; October and November Bird-Life near New York City, 164 ; A New Device for Securing Birds’ Pictures, 194; How to Name the Birds, 200. Chichester, H. D., Photographs by, 44, 47, 48, 49. Chubb, S. H., Spring Migrations of 1899 and 1900 in Central Park, New York City, 62. Coues, Elliott, Address on Audubon, 9; portrait of, 11. Cram, W. E., Food of the Downy Woodpecker, 142; An Aérial Battle, 175. Crockett, Ingram, Sec’y, Report of, 147. De Lotbiniere, E. Joly, Nesting of 210. Doolittle, W. O., Buried Treasure, 74, Drummond, Mary, Sec’y, Report of, 149. Dugmore, A. Radclyffe, Photograph by, 193. Dwight, J: D., Jr., Reviews by, 37, 111, 177, 213. Crossbills, Eckstorm, Fannie Hardy, Visible Results, 184. Elliott, Amanda, Note on the Warbling Vireo, 175. Ells, Geo. P., A Christmas Bird Census, 30. Fisher, A. K., Reviews by, 77, 144 178. Fisher, Walter K., A Christmas Bird Census, 32. Ford, R. W. See Bruen, Frank. Fowler, H. W., A Christmas Bird Census, 31. Gates, Burton N., Swallow’s Nest on Board Boat, IIo. Gault, Benjamin T., February and March Bird- Life at Glen Ellyn, Ills., 26; A Christmas Bird Census, 32; April and May Bird-Life at Glen Ellyn, Ills., 65; June and July Bird-Life at Glen Ellyn, Ills., 102; August and September Bird- Life near Glen Ellyn, Ills., 166; October and No- vember Bird-Life near Glen Ellyn, Ills., 168. Glover, Helen, Secretary, Report by, 182. Hales, Henry, Notes on the Ruby-throated Hum- mingbird, 141. Henshaw, H. W., First Impressions of Hawaiian Birds, 11g, 153. Hoffmann, Ralph, February and March Bird-Life near Boston, 22; A Christmas Bird Census, 29; April and May Bird-Life near Boston, 59; June and July Bird-Life near Boston, 98; August and September Bird-Life near Boston, 133; October and November Bird-Life near Boston, 163; A Chebec’s Second Brood, 160 Johnson, Susan M., A Christmas Bird Census, 32. Jones, E. Fannie, A Christmas Bird Census, 29. Jones, Lynds, February and March Bird-Lite near Oberlin, O., 25; A Christmas Bird Census, 31; April and May Bird-Life near Oberlin, O., 64; June and July Bird-Life near Oberlin, O., 101; Photographs by, 132; August and September Bird-Life near Oberlin, O., 136; October and November Bird-Life near Oberlin, O., 166. Jordan, Anna A., My Robin Neighbors, 108. Kidder, A. V., A Bittern at Close Range, 173. Lee, Charlotte E., A June Bird Census at Hunting- (Worn, IL), Woe 17s Lee, Faith C., Bird Rhymes, r4o. Lemmon, Isabella MeC., Two Young Humming- birds, 1c8; Swallow Manceuyers, 174. (iii) Iv Index Lewis, Elizabeth H., The A. B.C. of Bird-Lore, 70. Lockwood, Emma H., Secretary, Report of, 41. Lucas, Frederic A., Walrus Island, A Bird Me- tropolis of Bering Sea, 45. Marrs, Mrs. Kingsmill, Report of, 220. McCormick, L. M., A December Record, 33. Mead, E. M., Taming a Nuthatch, 209. Mickle, Anna A., A Christmas Bird Census, 31. Moody, Grace R., Librarian, Report of, 183. Moore, Wm. H., A Christmas Bird Census, 29. Nash, H. W., A Christmas Bird Census, 32. Nicholson, Mary Parker, The Spencer F. Baird Club, 110. Newkirk, Garrett, The Wood Thrush, 87; Song of the Whippoorwill, 107; For Our Encourage- ment, 183. Palmer, T.S., Reviews by, 76; 112; 144; 213; Some Fundamental Principles of Bird Laws, 79. Paschall, Mary R., A Christmas Bird Census, 31. Peabody, P. B., Saw-whet Homes, 55. Peckham, Elizabeth G., Sec’y, Report of, 149. Pellet, Emily B., A Talking Rose-breasted Gros- beak. 174. Prendergast, J. F., A Christmas Bird Census, 31. Richards, Harriet E., Sec’y, Reports of, 81; 219. Roberts, Thos. S., Photographs by, 50, 51, 52, 53, 199. Robins, Julia Stockton, Sec’y, Report of, 142. Rogers, Charles H., A Christmas Bird Census, 30. Rollins, William, Photograph by, 97. Seeley, James (see Wetmore, Alick). Seton- Thompson, Ernest, Recognition Marks of Birds, 187. Sinnott, Edmund W., My Bird Restaurant, 202. Slosson, Annie Trumbull, A Sudden Friendship, 94. Sprague, Lynn Tew, The Song Sparrow, 58; On Hearing a Winter Wren in Winter, 199. Stone, Witmer, February and March Bird- Life near Philadelphia, 24; A Christmas Bird Census, 31; Apriland May Bird-Life near Philadelphia, 63; June and July Bird-Life near Philadelphia, 100; August and September Bird-Life near Phila- delphia, 135; October and November Bird-Life near Philadelphia, 165. Stupp, Frederick J., A Christmas Bird Census, 30. Thayer, Mrs. Harriet C., Our Blue Jay Neighbors, 50. Thompson, C. B., and Justice H., A Christmas Bird Census, 31. Town, Juliet B. G., Sec., Report of, 220. Vanderpool, Mrs. I., Sec’y, Report of, 183. Van Name, W. G., A Connecticut Game Preserve, 115. Van Sant, F. A., An Adirondack Lunch Counter, 18; Early Larks, 54. Wetmore, Alick, A Christmas Bird Census, 32. Wetmore, Alick and Seeley, James, A June Bird Census at North Freedom, Wis., 172. Wright, H. W., A Christmas Bird Census, 29. Wright, Mabel Osgood, Editorials, 40; 79; 114 146; 180, 217. INDEX TO Abbott, C. C., 110. Advisory Council, 20. Akakani, 122. Akepelenie, 124. Akialoa, 125. Akipoloan, 125. Alala, 158. Amakihi, 123. American Ornithologists’ Union, 9, 11, 37, 39, 175, 179, 210, 214. i Astley’s ‘Birds in Freedom and Captivity,’ re- viewed, 143. Audubon Conference, 181, 217, 218. Audubon, John J., 9, 111. Audubon, J. W , 13, 14, 17. Audubon, Maria R , 9, to. Audubon, Victor, 16. Audubon Societies, Reports of (see under Secreta- ries, Authors’ Index). Auklet, Paroquet, 49. Auk, Razor-billed, figured, 152. Auk, The, reviewed, 37, 111, 177, 213. Babcock’s ‘ Bird Day,’ reviewed, 111. Babson’s ‘ Birds of Princeton,’ reviewed, 177. Baily, W. L., 42. Bermuda, 177. Bignell’s ‘Mr. Chupes and Miss Jenny,’ reviewed, 143. Bird Day, 182. Bird Census, 29, 106, 171. Bird Laws, 42, 78, 79, 113, 146, 148, 180. Bird-nesting, 88. Bird Protection, 179. Bird Rock, 175. Birds and Seasons, 22, 59, 98, 133, 163. Birds’ Bath, 74. Birds’ Eggs, 105. “Birds I Have Seen,’ reviewed, 176. Birds, Increase in, 183. Birds, Marks of, 187. Bittern, American, 173. Bluebird, figured, 194, 195. Blue Jay, 50, figured, 50, 51, 52, 53, 74- Bob-White, 82. Bumpus, H. C., 82, 218. Bunting, Indigo, 93. Burroughs, John, 84, 88, 178. California, 32, 104, 112, 138. Camera, 3, 194. Canada, 29. Cedarbird, 160. Chapman, Frank M., 81, 82, 214. Chebec, 160. Check-List, A. O. U., 39. Chickadee, Black-capped, 18, 74, 197. Choochkie, 49. CONTENTS Colorado, 32, 80. Condor, The, reviewed, 76, 112, 144, 213. Connecticut, 30, 115, 126, 181. Cooper Ornithological Club, 112. Cormorants, 48, figured, 49. Coues, Elliott, portrait of, 11. Creeper, Brown, 73. Crockett’s ‘ Year Book,’ reviewed, 76. Crossbills, 210. Crossbills, White-winged, 197. Curlew, 188. Curlew, Bristle-thighed, 120. Darwin, Charles, 78. Delaware, 78, 80, 113, 148. Denslow, H.C. 175. District of Columbia, 78, 113. Dutcher, William, 37, 42, 78, 82, 113, 149, 214. Dwight’s ‘Sequence of Molts and Plumages,’ re- viewed, 35. Eagle, Bald, figured, 34, 184. Eaton’s ‘ Birds of Western New York,’ reviewed, 75: Eckstorm's ‘ The Bird Book,’ reviewed, 75; © The Woodpeckers,’ reviewed, 11r. Elepaio, 153. English Law, 154. Enlarging, 132. Fashion, 40. Feigning Wounded, 128. Finch, Pine, figured, 33. Fisher, E. W., Ito. Flicker, 91, figured, 92. es Red-shafted, 198. Florida, 3, 94, 113, 183: Ford’s ‘ Birds of Andover,’ reviewed, 177. RMertess Wes, ai, Game Preserve, I15. Gannet, figured, 152. Goldfinch, American, 19. Goshawk, figured, 189. Grinnell’s ‘ Birds of Kotzekue Sound,’ reviewed, 76. Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, 174. Grouse, Blue, 197. Grouse, Canada, 197. Grouse, Ruffed, 82, 1098. Gull, Burgomaster, 46, figured, 48. Gull Case, 42. Gull, Franklins, 145. Gulls, Herring, 82, 184. Hallock Bill, 41. Hats, Fashion in, 4o. Hawaii, 119. vi Index Hawk, Broad-winged, figured, 189; Cooper’s, 131, figured, 189; Duck, figured, 189; Hawaiian, 125; Marsh, figured, 189; Pigeon, figured, 189; Red- Shouldered, figured, 189; Red-Tailed, figured, 189; Rough-Legged, figured, 189 ; Sharp-Shinned, 175, figured, 189; Sparrow, 175, figured, 189; Swainson’s, figured, 189. Heron, European, figured, 162; Great Blue, 129; green, I4I. Hen, Heath, 82. Herrick, Professor, 161, 179. Hine, C. D., 181. Hoffmann, Ralph, 81, 82, 179, 218. Howe and Allen’s ‘ Birds of Massachusetts,’ re- viewed, 143. Hummingbird, figured, 89, 90, 91, 108, 141, 187. Tiwi), 122. Illinois, 26, 32, 65, 80, 102, 148, 166, 175. Io, 153. Jay, Canada, 192. Jordan and Kelloge’s ‘Animal Life,’ reviewed, 35. Kansas, 80. Keartons’ ‘ Our Bird Friends,’ reviewed, 36. Kentucky, 80, 146. Key, Coues’, 37. Kittiwake, 46, figured, 152. Klondike, 195. Lacey Law, 78, 79. Lark, Prairie Horned, figured, 54. Lecture, traveling, 82. Libby, O. G., 150. Libraries, traveling, 182. Louisiana, 32, 80, 192. MacGillivray, William, 12. Maine, 78, 82, 108, 113, 184. Manitoba, 145. Marsh, birds of, 129. Massachusetts, 81, 173, 174. Michigan, 80. Migration, 120, 138, 170. Migration, questions on, 27, 67. Migration (See Birds and Seasons). Milliners, 150. Minnesota, 50, 55, 80. Missouri, 32, 183. Mockingbird, 192, figured, 193. Molt, the, 138. Morris’ ‘ Birds of Springfield,’ reviewed, 176. Murres, 46, figured, 44, 48. Murre, Common, figured, 152; Briinnicks, figured, 157. Mynah, 119. ‘Nature Study,’ 178. Nesting-habits, 105, 138. Nesting, questions on, 28. New Brunswick, 29. New Hampshire, 28, 29, 113, 142, 160, 175. New Jersey, 23, 24, 30, 31, 61; 99, 108, 113, 132, 133, 141, 174. New York, 18, 23, 30, 41, 54, 61, 78, 82, 85, 88, 990, 110, 129, 133, 164, 172. New York Zodlogical Society, 34, 159, 162, 190. Nicholson, M. P., r1o. Nighthawk, 126, figured, 126, 127, 128. Noddy, 120. North Carolina, 177. Note-book, 68. Nuthatch, White-breasted, figured, 18; 74. Ohio, 25, 31, 64, 80, Ior, 133, 165. Omao, 124. Oo, 124, Origin of Species, 78. Oriole, Orchard, 93. “Osprey, The,’ reviewed, 77, 144, 178. Osprey, 184. Ou, 123. Owl, Acadian, 55, figured, 56, 57; Barred, 110, fig- ured, 189; Hawk, figured, 189; Horned, figured, 189; Long-Eared, figured, 189; Screech, 74, fig- ured, 159, 189; Short-Eared, figured, 189. Oven-bird, figured, 13, 40. Palmer and Olds’ ‘Digest of Game Laws,’ re- viewed, 177; ‘Laws Regulating the Transporta- tion of Game,’ noticed, 37. Palmer, T.S., 78, 82, 113, 149. Pelican, Brown, figured, 2, 4, 5, 6,7, 8. Pelican, Island, 3. Pelican, White, 188. Pennsylvania, 24, 31, 63, 73, I00, 133, I41, 146, 165. : Petrel, Leach’s, figured, 152. Pewee, Wood, 33. Phoebe, 85; figured, 86, 87, 88. Photography, 161, 179, 194. Plover, 119, 120, 187. Ptarmigan, White-Tailed, figured, 186. Puffin, figured, 152. Puffin, Tufted, 48. Ralph, W. L., 105. Raven, 184, 196. Redpolls, 19, 197, 198. Reading for Season, 28, 69, 105, 139, 170. Rice Bird, 119. Robin, 108, 198. Robins, Mrs. Edward, rio. Sapsucker, Yellow-billed, figured, 199. Scott, W. E. D., 214. Selous’ ‘Bird Watching,’ reviewed, 176. Seton-Thompson, Ernest, 175, 214. Seton-Thompson and Hoffmann’s ‘Bird Portraits,’ reviewed, I1t. Skinner, Charles R., 82. Snowbuntings, 198. Song, 28, 138, 170, 214. Song-bird reservations, 114. South Carolina, 8o. Sparrow, LeConte’s, 111. Sparrow, Nelson’s, figured, 171. Sparrow, Song, 58. Index Spaid, A. R.. 149. f Ulili, 119. Sperry, E. Knight, 78, 115. Stone, Witmer, 110, 149. Vireo, Red-eyed,. r4o. Study for Season, 27, 67, 105, 138. Vireo, Warbling, 175. Subspecies, 38, 179. ; Virginia, 178, 179. Swainson, William, 12. Swallow, 110. Warbler, Black-throated blue, figured, 139. Swallow, Tree, 174. Warbler, Cape May, figured, 106. Warbler, Cerulean, 111. Tanager, Scarlet, 92; figured, 93. Warbler, Parula, 94. Tattler, Wandering, 119, 120. < Yellow-rumped,, 198. Tern, Black, 145. Waxwing, Bohemian, 798. Tern, Common, 154. Whippoorwill, 107. Texas, So. Wilson Bulletin, reviewed, 77, 144, 178. Thayer Fund, 37, 82, 113. Winter Bird-Life, 22, 27, 29. Thrush, Wood, 87, 93. Wisconsin, 32, 80, 149, 172. Titlark, figured, 69. Woodcock, 82. Torrey’s ‘ Everyday Birds,’ reviewed, 176. Woodpecker, Downy, 19; hairy, figured, 19. Tree-planting, 59. Woodpecker, Red-bellied, 74. Tropic Bird, 121. Wren, House, 93. Turkey, Wild, 190, figured, 190, 191. “Winter, 199. Turnstones, 119, 120. Wyoming, 78, 87, 113, 149. a SEG at ‘ Agi yi = ene) we Birp=- Lore A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES Vol. III JANUARY—FEBRUARY, 1901 No. 1 Pelican Island Revisited BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN With photographs from nature by the author HE results of observations on the inhabitants of Pelican Island, in the Indian River, Florida, made during four days in March, 1898, have already been recorded* in some detail, and it is proposed to add here only certain supplementary notes, secured April 24, 1900. Being armed with a far more effective battery of cameras, I obtained, on this second visit, photographs of several phases of Pelican life, notably views of the birds on the wing, which it had proved impossible to make on my pre- vious trip to the island. These pictures, it may be of interest to explain, were nen with a reflecting camera, fitted with a focal-plane shutter, similar to the camera described in BrrRD-LORE for April, 1899. While the wing-beats of the Brown Pelican are comparatively slow, former experience showed that a lens shutter was by no means rapid enough to take satisfactory pictures of the birds in flight. With the focal-plane shutter, however, suffi- ciently fast exposures were made to show the wing at every stage of the stroke and with enough definition to enable one to see clearly the sepa- ration of the outer primaries. Returning to Pelican Island one month later in the year than the date of my 1808 visit, I had expected to find few or no eggs and most of the young of the year with flight feathers appearing or fully devel- oped. There was, however, no apparent difference in the proportionate number of eggs or age of the young birds, and it required a careful census, and an analysis of it, to bring out the fact that the breeding season was somewhat more advanced in 1900, and, I regret to say, that the population of the island had decreased. ** Bird Studies with a Camera,’ Vol. II, pp. 191-214. 4 Bird- Lore BROWN PELICANS In 1898 there were 845 nests on the island, of which 251, or 42 per cent, were occupied at the time the count was made. In 1900 only 710 nests had been built, of which 179, or 34 per cent, were found to con- tain eggs or young, on April 24, as follows: 23 nests with 1 egg each 38 ce ce 2 eggs ce 26 ce ce 3 Cay ce 43 c¢ oe I young ce 42 ce Cats 2 ce ce ce ce (ars Cs Hl 3 A high rate of nest mortality is indicated by the fact that while 26 nests, or 30 per cent, contained three eggs each, only 7, or about 8 per cent, contained three young each, and a similar difference was observed in 1898. Estimating, as in 1898, that three birds would reach maturity from BROWN PELICANS BROWN PELICANS ON GROUND NESTS 6 Bird- Lore each pair of nests, we then have a total of 796 birds which had left the 531 deserted nests. Add to this number the 148 young remaining in the nest and two adults for each of the 710 nests built during the 1900 nesting season, and we have as the population of Pelican Island for that year, 2,304, or a decrease of 372 birds since 1898, when it was estimated that there were 2,736 birds on the island. Pelican Island contains about four acres of ground, of which less than BROWN PELICAN AND NEST IN YOUNG CABBAGE PALMETTO The same nest, with a bird seated on it, is shown in the picture on the opposite page. NoTeE.—The head of this bird, from the eye upward, projected beyond the edge of the plate and was not, therefore, photographed. It has here been supplied by Chas. R. Knight, from sketches from life. ? one-quarter is occupied by the birds, most of the nests being grouped in one thickly populated area, which, it was interesting to observe, was without a single nest in 1898. No change in the surrounding conditions was observed, and the reason for this desertion of one part of the island for another was not evident. There was, too, a marked variation in regard to the character of the nests built on the ground as compared with those on the island in 1898, Pelican Island Revisited 7 and I am glad of an opportunity to modify statements made in the article previously mentioned, to the effect that all ground nests were composed of grasses, while those placed in the mangroves were constructed of sticks. There was, therefore, in 1898, a constant relation between the nature of the nest and its location, showing either consistency in the selection of a site or surprising adaptability in habit. In 1890, however, a number of ground nests were found to be made of sticks, one evidently erected on another, rising to a height of nearly three feet (see photograph on page 8). i A CORNER OF PELICAN ISLAND The nest on the young cabbage palmetto in the background, with a bird upon it, is shown in detail on opposite page. To yield to the temptation to redescribe the wonders of Pelican Island would only result in a repetition of what I have already written. I may, however, state that this second visit fully confirms my opinion that Pelican Island during nesting time is by far the most fascinating place it has ever been my fortune to see in the world of birds. But this estimate of its charms only serves to increase the desire that this colony of remarkable birds may be preserved. The island is very accessible, the Florida law affords Pelicans no protection, and a party of quill-hunters might easily kill practically all the inhabitants of Pelican Island within a 8 Bird-Lore few days. The loss would be irreparable, and, it is to be especially noted, would not be confined to the vicinity, but would affect the whole east coast of Florida, there being, so far as is known, no other breeding colony of Pelicans on the Atlantic coast of the peninsula. There is doubtless no area of similar extent in the world so well adapted to the wants of certain aquatic birds as Florida; and if today it were inhabited by even one-tenth of the myriads of Herons, Egrets, Spoon- bills and other large and conspicuous birds which animated its lakes and marshes thirty years ago, the marvel of its wild life would be known the world around and prove of greater interest to tourists than any existing attraction in the state. If Floridians doubt this valuation of birds which they have been accustomed to regard as worthless, or at so much per plume, let them observe the excitement oc- casioned among the tourists on a St. John’s or Ocklawaha steamer by the now rare appearance of White Herons within a short distance of the boat. The birds have gone, and what has the state received ? Proportion- ately nothing. Here and there a poor hunter, or a curio dealer, has made a few dollars, but most of the killing has - been done by, or under the immediate inspiration of, northern dealers, and YOUNG BROWN PELICAN IN GROUND NEST iovigers toes HEY olsen uote (eel ; BUILT OF STICKS There are still scattered colonies of these birds in the less accessible — parts of Florida, and if the natives of the state ever open their eyes to — the indisputable fact that a living bird is of incalculably greater value to them than a dead one, they may perhaps take some steps to defend their rights, and by passing and enforcing proper laws, put an end to the dev- astations of the northern plume agents, who have robbed their state of one of its greatest charms. | Elliott Coues on Audubon EDITOR’S NOTE HILE the guest of the late Mrs. John Woodhouse Audubon, aie, Sallemn, INI, 30.5 im Julhy, wise IO, (Comes was anode! gyn opportunity of seeing Audubon’s manuscript: journals, letters, drawings and other material, which, with exhaustless patience and perseverance, Miss Maria R. Audubon had gathered from many sources to serve as the basis for the two volumes which form such a fitting tribute to the memory of her grandfather. Dr. Coues, it will be remembered, contributed certain zodlogical and other notes to this work, and we may magine his pleasure as, with the combined enthusiasm of the ornithologist, bibliophile and annotator, he gave himself to the fascinating task of a minute examination of Audubon’s manuscripts. Four months later, at the fifteenth Congress of the American Orni- thologists’ Union, which was held in the American Museum of Natural History in New York city, under the title “Auduboniana and Other Mat- ters) of Present Interest,” Wr. Coues spoke of the great value of these manuscripts, and exhibited, through the courtesy of Miss Audubon, the original portfolio in which the then comparatively unknown ‘American Woodsman’ had carried his drawings of birds about Great Britain and the continent, and also the manuscript of the first volume of the ‘Ornitho- logical Biographies.’ It was an unusually interesting occasion, and those who were privileged to be present are not likely to forget the keen enjoy- ment with which Dr. Coues exhibited relics so intimately associated with Audubon’s life and works. = A stenographer chancing to be present consented to record Dr. Coues’ address, of which the portion relating to Audubon is here printed. Although a verbatim report, it conveys only a faint idea of the impression created by the delivery of the address itself. “he attractiveness of the speaker’s per- sonality, which never failed to hold the tense interest of his hearers, is lost in this reproduction of his words. We believe, however, that to those who knew him, they will clearly recall the genial but commanding presence of a man whose place in ornithology will never be filled.—F. M. C. DR. COUES’ ADDRESS “Wr. President, Fellow Members, Ladies and Gentlemen : “We necessarily live in the present, but, as time passes on, the future grows more and more foreshortened and the past correspondingly length- ens out for each one of us. “Those who have reached a certain point are, however, inclined to think more of the lengthening past than the fore- shortened future. In other words, we reach a stage of the individual (9) IO Bird- Lore who, in that stage, if he can refrain from growing garrulous, may per- haps make himself presently interesting. “In the year 1826 there appeared in England an unknown man. ‘This man was already turned of fifty. We may say that he had more years than the popular date of his birth would assign him to here. He was a man of striking personal appearance; he was a man of most engaging manners; he was a man who, in the short space of five years, leaped from obscurity into imperishable renown. “How could that be? It happened in this wise: That unknown man who appeared in Great Britain and on the continent in 1826 carried abroad the efforts of a lifetime of ornithological study with him that were placed before the public with the result that the nameless John James Audubon, a person, became an illustrious personage. ‘These efforts which I have just mentioned as a lifework were hardly to be carried in any very small compass. But the fruits of his work, which were outside of his own head, he had with him on paper. “How did he present the originals of those drawings which have never ceased from that day to this to excite our wonder and our admira- ome? lale presented them in a certain portfolio. When he went upon a reconnoissance he was in the habit of taking the portfolio under his arm—lI trust that he did not long feel poor; when he became a little richer he probably hired a cab; but by whatever means the portfolio was carried in those days, some younger and weaker members of the ornitho- logical fraternity have transported by their efforts the same into the room this morning, and if the secretary will be kind enough to help me for a moment I will show you the portfolio. This (exhibiting a large brown portfolio, worn and faded) is the original portfolio which John James Audubon carried with him through the continent and Great Britain. [ Applause. | ‘There are a number of other portfolios and a greater variety of Au- duboniana in the possession of the family in Salem, New York; but upon the kind offers of Miss Maria Audubon, descendant of the great orni- thologist, I suggested this portfolio. You will observe that it has been much worn and some of the brass corners and metal bindings are lost; but portfolios are not carried empty—not even to a meeting of the Orni- thologists’ Union; let us open it. ‘“Audubon’s engaging manners and fine personal appearance won him friends everywhere among persons in high places in England and elsewhere on the continent, and while his plates of the birds of North America were being engraved by Mr. Robert Havell, of London, and others, the question of text to these great plates came up. We are all familiar with the print of the first volume; but who ever saw the manu- script in the handwriting of John James Audubon? Audubon, besides Elliott Coues on Audubon iL being great, had a certain largeness about him. He liked largeness in a physical, mechanical sense, as he strove for greatness in a moral, intel- lectual sense. He almost always used folio sheets of this character. This manuscript is almost complete, and quite in its original proportions, although sheets have been given to friends, and the family insisted upon my taking a few for myself; but, ladies and gentlemen, fellow members, (From a group photograph of the members attending the thirteenth congress of the American Ornithologists’ Union in Washington, D. C., November, 189s.) you have before you the original manuscript of Audubon’s first ornitho- logical work. [Applause. ] “Here rises an interesting question, a remarkable question: Where did Audubon obtain the technical parts of his work? We know that he was slightly unsuited for this part of his undertaking, for he was an American woodsman; he needed assistance in the technicalities of his 12 Bird- Lore work, and he had many to select from. The person he did select was probably the best man that could be found in the world, and no other than William MacGillivray—a scholar, an ornithologist, an especially good anatomist for the time, and an entertaining writer; a writer that was good and truthful about all. He secured the assistance of William Mac- Gillivray for the technical portions of his work. “T wonder how many ornithologists then and now know that his co- operation with Audubon was secured after the failure of certain nego- tiations with a different individual. What would have been the effect had Audubon’s first attempt to supply the technicalities of his subject been successful? It makes me tremble to think of it. “He first applied for such assistance to an excellent ornithologist named William Swainson. He was a good ornithologist, there hardly being a better one for the time. He was one of the most accurate ornithological artists; but he had a wheel in his head; he was a crank on one subject, and any one who has ever read his work knows that he there set this wheel to spinning. He was associated with two others, composing a trinity of cranks in England at that time. “Tf he had not succeeded with MacGillivray and had succeeded with Swainson North American ornithology would be—I do not know a word to characterize it if it had fallen into the clutches of these cranks. “How did we escape this infliction? How did it happen that Audu- bon’s ornithological biographies, in all their technicalities, were not com- piled under their system? I will show you how it happened that they were not, for I hold in my hand a copy I have made of Mr. Swainson’s letter of declination. He declined to accede to the negotiations then pending, as you will see. “The original is in possession at present of the family in Salem. The letter will be printed in the next number of ‘The Auk.’ * “This letter is dated the 20th of October, 1830. I do not know that it is necessary to read all of it, but the point of my remarks is to show you that Swainson was applied to, to do the technical part of Audubon’s work, before MacGillivray was applied to, and he declined to do so be- cause his name was not to appear upon the title page. “Among the contents of this portfolio I have a number of pictures, to which I will now call your special attention. Those of us who are familiar with the beautiful products of his pencil and those of us who are not ornithologists may look and see one of Audubon’s plates in process of construction. There is an original of Audubon’s [holding up the cut- out figure of a bird]. In examining a great quantity of the contents of the portfolio I found that it was a very frequent custom in preparing his bird figures to have one of his sons prepare the background. You can ** The Auk,’ xv, 1898, pp. 11-13. Elliott Coues on Audubon 13 see two plates, one by John Woodhouse and one by Victor, while Au- dubon was to insert into them a cut-bird figure and then send it to the engraver to be printed. John Woodhouse Audubon attained a measure of skill in the drawing of birds. [here happens to be in this portfolio two or three pictures by John Woodhouse Audubon, showing the degree of skill to which he attained. “Having spoken to you in some little length of the portfolio and its contents, I am led next to remark upon the numerous biographies of Audubon which have thus far appeared, bringing me to what might be called the subdivision of my title of which I understand I am scheduled to speak, more of matters of present interest. ‘Members of the Union and their friends who were present in Cam- bridge last year will recollect my laying before them a large quantity of manuscript of John James Audubon and a fully implied promise that the material was about to be utilized in the course of a year. I am happy to inform you the promise has been carried out. Miss Audubon has in press now a biography of her illustrious grandfather more full and, I am sure, more accurate than any other heretofore appearing, with the addi- tion of the journals of Audubon, some of which I have shown you, and the further reprinting of the series of American Life and Manners. The three volumes of the three journals that are now being reprinted in full and the proof of which I have read are the European Journal of 1826, the Labrador Journal of 1833, and the Missouri River Journal of 1843. I think the European Journal will be found most generally interesting. “From the journals I am led to speak of other Audubonian matters, prominent among which is the extraordinary growth of Audubon socie- ties throughout the country, whose humane object is the preservation of our birds. ‘They are springing up everywhere, and I consider them one of the most remarkable growths of the humanitarian side of ornithology that has ever been witnessed in the history of science.” Three Letters to Audubon’s “Kentucky Lads” two sons were born; Victor in Louisville, and John in Henderson, Ky., and in speaking of them together he often called them his “Kentucky lads.” During their boyhood days the father and sons were separated for long periods of time by the nature of Audubon’s work, which work became that of all three, as years went on, and the long months while father and Nee a century ago, in 1809 and 1812, Audubon’s sons were thus apart were bridged over by what, for those days, was a very frequent correspondence. Unfortunately most of these letters have been lost or destroyed; only a few have fallen into my hands—the three given below, written while Audubon was in. Edinburgh bringing out the first number of the ‘Birds,’ and a few others written to the “ Kentucky lads” when they too had crossed the ocean and were making what at that time was called the “grand tour,” though it really covered only a very moderate portion of Europe. The letters here given were penned when Victor, a youth of seven- teen, was in the office of an uncle by marriage, Mr. Nicholas Berthoud, in Louisville, and John, three years younger, was with his mother on a plantation in Louisiana, near Bayou Sara. ‘They are simple letters, but show the companionship that existed between Audubon and his boys, and the intense desire the former had that no talent or opportunity should be neglected by those whose welfare he had at heart, and who were so dear to him.—MAriA R. AUDUBON. IPIOR SIC ILI IGE IE TR EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, Saturday, October 28, 18206. My DEAR JOHNNY: I am writing to you from the place where I wish most you could have been educated. It is a most beautiful city, perhaps the most so I have ever seen; its situation is delightful, not far from the sea, running on two parallel hills, ornamented with highly finished monuments, and guarded by perhaps impregnable castles. The streets are all laid at right angles in that portion of it which is called the New Town—are well paved and cleaned, and lighted by gas. I have been here now three days. I came from Manchester in a public coach that carried four inside passengers and ten outside, or rather, on the top, besides a guard and a driver, and all the luggage. I sometimes stayed inside, and sometimes {14) Three Letters to Audubon’s “Kentucky Lads” 15 rode outside to have better views of the country I traveled through; now and then I saw some fine English Pheasants that you would delight in shooting, also some curious small sheep with black heads and feet, the rest white, and some of those pretty little ponies you are so fond of; I wish I could send you one. : Before I left Manchester I visited Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton, all watering places. I drove in a carriage with Mrs. Rathbone and her daughter; the latter purchased and sends you a beautiful little black box of Matlock marble, or spar, and Mrs. Rathbone sends your good mamma an inkstand of the same material. I was very much interested in all the places I saw and wished very much that you, mamma and Victor had been with me to enjoy the journey. Today I have visited the Royal Palace of Holyrood, was in the rooms of Queen Mary of Scotland, and saw her bed, chairs and tables. I looked at my face in the mirror that once was hers, and I was in the little room where the murder of Rizzio was committed. I also saw the chapel where the Queen was married to Lord Darnley. It was all very curious and very interesting. [he apartments where the present king of France resided during his exile were also shown to me, and the fine rooms where George the Fourth was, four years ago, when he visited Scotland. The women of the poorer class work very hard here, and carry heavy burdens, just as our squaws do in Louisiana, in a large basket behind, and a leather strap coming from it over their foreheads. I bought for your dear mamma eighteen views of different parts of the city that I will send when I make up another box. In a day or so I will go to Roslyn Castle, and afterwards to Melrose to see the chapel and to call on Sir Walter Scott, the great novelist, some of whose books we have enjoyed together. I hope you are good and obedient, and are improving in your draw- ing. Draw as much as you can, and study your music also, as men of talents are welcome all over the world. “Two hours daily is little enough for you to give to your violin if you intend to become proficient in the handling of that instrument, and more would be better. When you write to me tell me of all your occupations and write me a long letter. Mr. Bentley, of Manchester, will write to you for bird- skins; these you know how to prepare well, and I need not remind you to do your work carefully, and in return Mr. Bentley will send you some books. I send my love to your mamma; remember me to little Charles, Bourgeat and all, and believe me for ever your most affectionate father and friend, J. J. AUDUBON. 16 Bird- Lore SPEICIOUNED) SIE ile HoR EDINBURGH, 26 GEORGE STREET, November 16, 1826. My DEAR VICTOR: I continue to be delighted with this beautiful city; it has a modest and chaste appearance, quite agreeable to the traveller’s eye; but the country generally is a barren, poor-looking tract; the mountains are barely covered with earth, and the shepherds the most abject beings I ever saw. None but the rich here seem to enjoy life, and the climate is very rigid. I expect to travel a great deal before long; indeed I am forced to do so, to open the gates for my work, which I hope to make superior to any- thing of the kind in existence, and this can only be done by unweary- ing industry and patience. I am overcoming my bashfulness to some extent, and no longer fear to show my drawings. That all may end well, and that I may return to beloved America with some store of wealth and fame, is to be hoped. I shall spare no efforts to reach my ends, I assure you. I expected long ere this to have had another letter from you; certainly time 1s not so scarce with you. I do with four hours’ sleep, and keep up a great correspondence, copy all my letters myself, even this to you, and my journal keeps apace with all, while the descriptions of my birds are almost ready. My boy, pray read “The Discontented Pendulum,” from Dr. Franklin, or some one else (for the world is not certain about the authorship), and see how much can be done if time is not squandered. It would give me much pleasure to receive from you some token of your | still thinking about drawing and music, or your natural talent for poetry. Talents will lay dormant in man, if by exercise he does not cultivate them. I have an album that contains many beautiful morceaux from very eminent men, and, as I travel, I gather. Among people of solid under- standing outside appearances have no weight, and my looks are, even here, not sneered at. I find myself in company with persons from all parts of the globe, all attired differently, but it is not the coat, but either the mind or the heart that commends man to man. I sent a fine collection of colored chalks to Johnny. Should you feel inclined to draw—and for your own sake you ought to do so—request him to forward you an exact half. Correct measure and outline, precise tints, and a little life given, make a picture, and keep all your work for future comparison, no matter how indifferent it may be in your own eyes. During the publication of my work I hope to visit Spain, Italy, Hol- land, Germany, and of course Switzerland, where I have at Geneva a most powerful friend in the Baron de Sismondi, who introduced me to Baron Humboldt; my letters for Paris, too, are good. Pray inform me how all about you are, for, thousands of miles away, Three Letters to Audubon’s “Kentucky Lads” 7) all details are agreeable, and were you and John to write to me for one week, I would thank you both. Now may God bless you and keep you well and happy. Believe that I am and ever will be, your most affectionate father and friend, J. J. AUDUBON. IGHICRD) 1B Ti Te Ber: EpINBURGH, December 22, 18206. My DEAR JOHNNY: As I read your letter it seems to me that I never felt the want of our forests as much in my life as I do now; could I be but a moment with you, I could return to my work here much refreshed. I hope in your walks you collect acorns of all sorts, and other kinds of seeds, and send them to Mrs. Rathbone, who is pleased to have them. I think if mamma is willing, you might use my gun if you are care- ful of it, and keep it particularly clean. I am glad to know you are drawing all you can, for your own sake and mine, and I should much like to see your drawing of the Dove, which your mamma says is the best you have done. Be very careful to measure exact/y, and if there is any error, begin afresh without delay; perseverance is needed in every- thing, and in nothing more than drawing, and I hope to see great im- provement in your work on my return. Besides drawing birds, draw limbs and branches of all kinds of trees, and flowers, and keep a list of the names of all the birds you see; if you should not know the name by any chance, write a brief description. I wish you to train yourself to make regular memoranda respecting the habits, localities, etc., of birds and quadrupeds. It is most useful, and memory sometimes plays us false. By this time your mamma will have received the first impression from the beautiful seal Mrs. Rathbone gave me. ‘The seal is beautifully cut and valuable to me on that account, as well as for the sake of the donor. Would that I could hear the call of the Wild Turkey as I have so often done, but, alas! I am too far away. I began this morning a painting in oil of fourteen Pheasants on the ‘wing, attacked by a fox, that I wish to send to the Royal Academy in London next March, so will need to work hard with all else that must be done, and the days are so short now that I can only paint from about ‘nine until half-past three, and I am often interrupted, but my writing igoes on until late in the night. Now I am going to dine with Sir William Jardine at Barry’s Hotel. My love to dearest mamma, and remember me kindly to all around you. ‘Believe me ever your affectionate father and friend, Jo Jo ANGIDUOBOM. An Adirondack Lunch Counter BY F. A. VAN SANT, Jay, N. Y. With photographs from nature by the author aN the Adirondacks in March, 1900, the snow fell over four feet deep, and wild birds were driven from the deep woods to seek for food near the habitation of man. It occurred to me that a lunch counter with “meals at all hours’ might suit the convenience of some of the visitors to my orchard, so I fixed a plank out in front of the house, nailed pieces of raw and cooked meat to it, sprinkled bread crumbs and seeds around, and awaited results. The first caller was a Chickadee. He tasted the meat, seemed to enjoy it and went off for his mate. They did not seem in the least afraid when I stood on the veranda and watched them, and after a time paid but little attention to the noises in the house; but only one would eat at atime: The other one seemed to keep watch. I set my camera and secured a picture of one alone. While focusing for the meat one 1 i : SN Ses ss . a Ee WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES Chickadee came and commenced eating in front of the camera, and a second later its mate perched on my hand as I turned the focusing screw. I saw the Chickadees tear off pieces of meat and suet and hide them in the woodpile. This they did repeatedly, and later in the day would come back and eat them if the lunch counter was empty. (18) An Adirondack Lunch Counter 19 My observation in this respect is confirmed by a lumberman, who noticed that when eating his lunch back in the woods the Chickadees were very friendly and would carry off scraps of meat and hide them, coming back for more time and again. The next day another pair of Chickadees and a pair of White- breasted Nuthatches came. [he Nuthatches had a presumptuous way of taking possession, and came first one and then both together. The Chickadees flew back and forth in an impatient manner, but every time they went near the meat the Nuthatches would fly or hop to- ward them, uttering what sounded to me like a nasal, French zo, no, no, and the Chickadees would re- tire to await their turn when the Nuthatches were away. The news of the free lunch must have traveled as rapidly in the bird world as gossip in a country town usually does, for before long a beautiful male Hairy Woodpecker made his appearance, and came regularly night and morning for a number of days. Hunger made him bold, and he would allow me to walk to within a few feet of him HAIRY WOODPECKER when changing plates in the camera. It was interesting to note his posi- tion on the plank. When he was eating, his tail was braced to steady his body. He did not stand on his feet, except when I attracted his atten- tion by tapping on the window, but when eating put his feet out in front of him in a most peculiar manner. “This position enabled him to draw his head far back and gave more power to the stroke of his bill, and shows that Woodpeckers are not adapted for board-walking. Of course the smaller Downy Woodpeckers were around; they always are in the orchard toward spring. I also had a flock of Redpolls come a number of times after a little bare spot of ground began to show, but although they ate seeds I put on the ground, they would not come up on the lunch counter and did not stay very long. Beautiful Pine Gros- beaks came, too, but they preferred picking up the seeds they found under the maple trees. The American Goldfinches, in their Quaker winter dresses, called, but the seeds on some weeds in the garden just peeping above the snow pleased them better than a more elaborate lunch, and saying, “per-chic-o-ree,” they would leave. for Ceachers and Students ‘Bird-Lore’s’ Advisory Council ITH some slight alterations and additions we reprint below the \ \ names and addresses of the ornithologists forming BIRD-LORE’S ‘ Advisory Council,’ which were first published in BirD-LOoRE for February, 1900. To those of our readers who are not familiar with objects of the Council, we may state that it was formed for the purpose of placing stu- dents in direct communication with an authority on the bird-life of the region in which they live, to whom they might appeal for information and advice in the many difficulties which beset the isolated worker. The success of the plan during the year in which it has been in oper- ation fully equals our expectations, and from both students and members of the Council we have had very gratifying assurances of the happy results attending our efforts to bring the specialist in touch with those who appre- ciate the opportunity to avail themselves of his wider experience. It is requested that all letters of inquiry sent to members of the Council be accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope for use in replying. NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES AuaskA.—Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Wash- ington, D. C. Arizona, Northern.—Dr. E. A. Mearns, Fort Adams, Newport, R. I. ARIZONA, Southern.—Herbert Brown, Yuma, Ariz. CALIFORNIA.—Charles A. Keeler, Calif. Acad. Sciences, San Francisco, Calif. CoLorapo.—Prof. W. W. Cooke, State Agricultural College, Fort Collins, Col. ConnectTicuT.—J. H. Sage, Portland, Conn. DELAWARE.—Witmer Stone, Academy Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. Disrricr of CoLtuMB1A.—Dr. C. W. Richmond, U. S. Nat’! Mus., Washington, D. C. FLoRIDA.—Frank M. Chapman, American Museum Natural History, New York City. Fioriwa, Western.—R. W. Williams, Jr., Tallahassee, Fla. GeorciA.—Dr. Eugene Murphy, Augusta, Ga. Ipano.—Dr. J. C. Merrill, Army Medical Museum, Washington, D. C. Ittinois, Northern.—B. T. Gault, Glen Ellyn, Ill. ILLtNoIs, Southern.—Robert Ridgway, U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. InpIANA.—A. W. Butler, State House, Indianapolis, Ind. INDIAN TERRITORY.—Prof. W. W. Cooke, State Agricultural College, Ft. Collins, Col. Iowa.—Paul Bartsch, U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. C. Kansas.—Prof. D. E. Lantz, Chapman, Kan. LouisiaNA.—Prof. George E. Beyer, ‘Tulane University, New Orleans, La. Maine.—O. W. Knight, Bangor, Me. MaryLand.—F. C. Kirkwood, Box 364, Baltimore, Md. (20) *Bird-Lore’s’ Advisory Council 21 MassACHUSETTS.—William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass. Micuican.—Prof. W. B. Barrows, Agricultural College, Mich. Minnesora.—Dr. I. S. Roberts, 1603 Fourth avenue south, Minneapolis, Minn. Missourt.—O. Widmann, Old Orchard, Mo. Montana.—Prof. J. M. Elrod, University of Montana, Missoula, Mont. NEBRASKA.—Prof. E. H. Barbour, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. Nevapa.—Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Dep’t of Agr., Washington, D. C. New HampsuHire.—Prof. C. M. Weed, State Agricultural College, Durham, N. H. New Jersey, Northern.—Frank M. Chapman, Am. Mus. Nat. History, New York City. Nrw Jersey, Southern.—Witmer Stone, Academy Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. New Mexico.—Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Wash- ington, D. C. New York, Eastern.—Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. New York, Northern.—Egbert Bagg, 191 Genesee street, Utica, N. Y. New York, Western.—E. H. Eaton, Canandaigua, N. Y. New York, Long Island.—William Dutcher, 525 Manhattan ave., New York City. NorTH Caro.ina.—Prof. T. J. Pearson, Guilford College, N. C. Ou10.—Prof. Lynds Jones, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. OxLaHoMA.—Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Dep’t of Agr., Washington, D. C. Orecon.—Dr. A. K. Fisher, Biological Survey, Dep’t of Agr., Washington, D. C. PENNSYLVANIA, Eastern.—Witmer Stone, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. PENNSYLVANIA, Western.—W. Clyde ‘Todd, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburg, Pa. RuopE IsLtanp.—J. M. Southwick, Museum Natural History, Roger Williams Park, Providence, R. I. SouTH CaroLinA.—Dr. Eugene Murphy, Augusta, Ga. Texas, Northern.—J. J. Carroll, Waco, Tex. TEXAS, Southeastern.—H. P. Attwater, San Antonio, Tex. Texas, Western.—Dr. E. A. Mearns, Fort Adams, Newport, R. I. Utrau.—Prof. Marcus E. Jones, Salt Lake City, Utah. VeRMONT.—Dr. F. H. Knowlton, U. S. National Museum, Washington, Db), CG Vireinia.—Dr. W. C. Rives, 1723 I street, Washington, D. C. W ASHINGTON.—Samuel F. Rathbun, Seattle, Wash. West VirGINIA.—Dr. W. C. Rives, 1723 I street, Washington, D. C. Wisconsin.—H. Nehrling, Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wis. Wyominc.—Dr. Mortimer Jesurun, Douglas, Wyo. CANADA British CotumsBia.—John Fannin, Provincial Museum, Victoria, B. C. MaAniropa.—Ernest Seton- Thompson, 2 W. 36th street, New York City. New Brunswick.—Montague Chamberlin, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Nova Scotia.—Harry Piers, ‘Stanyan,’ Northwest Arm, Halifax, N. S. OnTario, Eastern.—James H. Fleming, 267 Rusholme Road, ‘Toronto, Ont. ONTARIO, Western.—T’. MclIlwraith, Hamilton, Ont. QuesBEec.—E. D. Wintle, 189 St. James street, Montreal, Can. MEXICO E. W. Nelson, Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. WEST INDIES C. B. Cory, 160 Boylston street, Boston, Mass. Birds and Seasons SECOND SERIES FEBRUARY AND MARCH BIRD-LIFE NEAR BOSTON By RALPH HOFFMANN ~“EBRUARY seems to be the longest month of the year; so impa- tient have we become for the first migrant, whose arrival marks for ornithologists the return of spring. Each year, when the February thaw sets in, and the Song Sparrow that has wintered near us in some brush heap begins his somewhat husky song, we remember that there are fortunate people who, even in eastern Mas- sachusetts, have seen Bluebirds in February. Too often, however, the mild weather is followed by heavy snows or bitter winds; it is, therefore, safer to expect no arrivals before the second week of March. Mean- while some one reports a hardy Bluebird here and another there, and at last our own birds return to the warm hillside orchard. “Then winter is over. Often the other birds return fully as early as the Bluebirds, and our first intimation of spring comes from a Bronze Grackle, creaking on his native pine tree, a silent Robin, or a distant flock of Red-wings, rising and falling as they fly. In all the ‘back country’ Song Sparrows and Flickers act as heralds of spring. To my mind, however, there is something incomplete in the entry of the vernal season unless a male Bluebird in full song is the herald, let whoever will be the pursuivants. No other performs the ceremony so satisfactorily. By the middle of the month the hylas have thawed out, and then come those sunny mornings when the Flicker’s shout hardly ceases for a moment; the air is filled with the songs of migrant Bluebirds, passing northward, with the clear whistle of the Meadowlark, and the chorus of Red-wings on the hill- sides. Migrant flocks of Song Sparrows and Snowbirds now appear; all are in high spirits and full of song. Even from the silent Creeper a sharp ear may now catch an occasional wiry, high-pitched song. Unless the season is very backward, we may now look for Rusty Grackles and Fox Sparrows, but the weather influences the arrival of the early birds very decidedly, so that in the dates given below the range between those of early and late seasons is much greater than in May. Sometimes great fields of snow lie to the north, and bitter northwest winds blow for days; again there is unusual warmth and sunshine, and flying insects abound. In such years the hardy Phoebe returns to the old shed or to the bridge, and the vigorous whistle of the Cowbird falls from some restless flock ‘flying over.’ The Robins, Red-wings and Cowbirds, which we see in March, are almost exclusively males. (22) Birds and Seasons 23 BIRDS OF THE SEASON Permanent residents and winter visitants (see Brrp-LorE, Dec., 1900, p. 183). March Migrants. — March 6-12, Bluebird; 6-15, Robin; 6-20, Redwinged Black- bird; 8-20, Bronzed Grackle; 10-20, Meadowlark; 13-31, Rusty Blackbird, Fox Sparrow; 20-30, Woodcock; 25-31, Cowbird, Pheebe. NOTE.—Cowbirds and Phcebe occasionally delay till April. Early in the month Wild Geese are heard, and Sparrow Hawks return. A few Black Ducks return to their inland breeding places. Ipswich Sparrows may be found on the coast certainly by the end of the month, ‘perhaps earlier. From the 13th to the 31st, there are evidences of a decided increase in the number of Song Sparrows, Flickers, Crows, and Juncos. My notes do not enable me to state whether there is, in March, a similar increase in the number of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers. There certainly is in April. Several other birds that arrive in March in exceptional years will be included in the April list. Winter Visitants leaving for the North.—March 31, Northern Shrike; Pine Gros- beak (1893). FEBRUARY AND MARCH BIRD-LIFE NEAR NEW YORK CITY By FRANK M. CHAPMAN The conditions prevailing in the bird world in January continue with- out change until, in the latter half of February, a warm wave gives indi- cation of returning spring, So instantly do the birds respond to the first intimation of winter’s retreat that we can readily imagine their earlier coming has been prevented only by the threatening presence of Boreas himself at the gates of their winter quarters. Generally speaking, the first birds to appear were the last to go. There is also, as might be expected, a more or less close relation be- tween the northern limit of a bird’s winter range and the time of its arrival at a given place, and our earlier migrants, therefore, are birds which have wintered a comparatively short distance to the southward. There is no more regularity in their coming, however, than there is in the weather of the season itself, and the bird student must watch the Weather Bureau’s charts if he would expect to foretell the coming of the birds in February and March. The three species of Blackbird and the Robin, the pioneers of this great northward invasion, are birds which can exist in a snow-covered and ice-bound country, and with them come additions to the ranks of Song Sparrows, Purple Finches and other winter birds. But not until the frost leaves the ground and ice the waters need we look for the Woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe, Kingfisher, Ducks, and Geese. Second in importance only to the advent of the birds themselves is the revival of the season of song. With us the Song Sparrow, not the Bluebird, is spring’s true herald, and by March 1 his ‘sweet, sweet, sweet, very merry cheer’ is heard from every favoring thicket, a heart-warming bit of bird music. Indeed, all bird songs have a special significance or 24 Bird - Lore association for us at this time. The martial choruses of Red-wings and Grackles, the fifing of the Meadowlarks, the clarion of the Wild Geese, the morning and evening Robin concerts are all thrilling to the nature lover, but first place in this band of March musicians must be accorded the Fox Sparrow, whose clear, ringing melody stands out in strong con- trast to his bleak surroundings, like a beautiful flower blossoming in the snow. BIRDS OF THE SEASON Permanent residents and winter visitants (see Birp-Lore, Dec., 1900, p. 184.) February Migrants.—February 15 to March 10, Purple Grackle, Rusty Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Robin. March Migrants.—Appearing when ice leaves the bays and rivers, Loon, Ducks and Geese; March 1-10 (see February); 10-20, Woodcock, Phoebe, Meadowlark, Cow- bird, Fox Sparrow; 20-31, Wilson’s Snipe, Kingfisher, Mourning Dove, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow. Winter Visitants leaving for the North.—Horned Lark, Redpoll, Snowflake, Pine Grosbeak, Northern Shrike. FEBRUARY AND MARCH BIRD-LIFE NEAR PHILADELPHIA By WITMER STONE February and March bring us the first migrants from the south. About the middle of the former month we almost always have one or two of those spring-like days which cause nature to stir in her winter slumber. Then we are likely to see the earliest migrant Robins, Blue- birds and, perhaps, Flickers, while little bunches of Grackles, Redwings and Rusty Blackbirds pass overhead, pushing steadily northward. The next week the country may be wrapped in snow, and long after we have recorded our pioneers from the south we may be surprised by a flock of Redpolls or other visitors from the north. This alternation of weather causes considerable irregularity in the dates of arrival of migrants during these months, but nearly all the species which occasionally winter either about Philadelphia or southern New Jersey will be observed before April 1, We also hear the Canada Geese go honking northward along the river and find Wilson’s Snipe on the meadows, while warm weather at the end of March sometimes brings us Martins and Tree Swallows. One observer must not expect to see all the early birds, however, and he who is located close to the river or on the New Jersey side will be more fortunate than his fellow observer west of the city. Winter visitants begin to leave us during March, but few of them disappear altogether before April 1, and some few Tree Sparrows re- main after that date. Many species previously silent break forth in song and some of our Winter Sparrows give us a taste of their vocal abilities just before they leave us, while the resident Song Sparrows produce such a volume of melody that many think they have just arrived. Birds and Seasons 25 BIRDS OF THE SEASON Permanent residents and winter visitants (see Birp-LoreE, Dec., 1900, p. 185.) February Migrants.—Purple Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Bluebird, Robin, Flicker. March Migrants.—March 1-20, Canada Goose, Woodcock, Snipe, Phoebe, Meadow- lark, Cowbird, Fox Sparrow; 20-31, Kingfisher, Mourning Dove, Yellow-bellied Sap- sucker,* Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow,* Martin,* Tree Swallow. FEBRUARY AND MARCH BIRD-LIFE AT OBERLIN, OHIO By LYNDS JONES The weather of February is only less variable than March. We have learned to expect our most severe weather during the first ten days of the month, when the temperature frequently drops considerably below zero. Snow is an almost invariable accompaniment of this week or more of cold, but its depth is very rarely as much as a foot. During this time the resident Hawks may be entirely absent, but they return with a change to warmer and are not again driven away. It is then that we expect to find the Snowflake and Rough-legged Hawk. So seldom that it is hardly fair to count, the rarer birds of prey and the Pine Grosbeak and White-winged Crossbill may be driven into the country. Either a little after the middle or during the closing week of the month the weather becomes so much like spring that the snow almost disappears and the first migrants arrive. “These first ones are almost always rein- forcements to the small company of permanent resident species, as the Song Sparrows, Flickers and Hawks. At this first touch of spring the Prairie Horned Larks and the two small Woodpeckers and White- breasted Nuthatch begin to mate. March is a winter-summer sandwich, bringing the first waves of the great migration. It is not until March that Crows and Meadowlarks can be depended upon for the daily horizon. ‘The last week in March is not seldom a red-letter week for the bird lover, for then the _ birds come up from the south in a great host, bringing many which should linger for at least ten days longer. I have recorded the White-throated Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Purple Martin, Barn Swallow and Brown Thrasher during this week. To be sure, one must look in the most sheltered places for these less hardy birds, but there they are, on the sunny hillside or in the sheltered nook in the woods. ‘They are but forerunners of their host and hardly count in the final summing up, except as such. Yet a meeting with a bird out of season is the electric shock which spurs the field student on to greater effort. * Occasional. 26 Bird - Lore BIRDS OF THE SEASON Permanent residents and winter visitants (see Birp-Lore, Dec., 1900, p. 186.) March Migrants.—March 1-10, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Black- bird, Meadowlark, Bronzed Grackle, Robin, Bluebird; to-—20, Canada Goose, Mourn- ing Dove, Kingfisher, Cowbird, Fox Sparrow, Towhee, Loggerhead Shrike; 20-30, Great Blue Heron, Phoebe, Vesper Sparrow, Hermit ‘Thrush. FEBRUARY AND MARCH BIRD-LIFE AT GLEN ELLYN (NEAR CHICAGO), ILLINOIS By BENJAMIN T. GAULT February is, as a rule, our coldest month, while March easily holds the distinction of being the most disagreeable period of all the year. February, therefore, brings us but few slight changes among the birds, neither detracting from or adding much to our winter list. If anything, they are less numerous then; the Jays scarcely seem as plentiful about our homes, while with the Crows a marked falling off has actually taken place. But, however changeable the weather of March may be, we are more than equally reminded, before the month is half through, that spring is joyfully on its way. Our first early arrivals, if not for Repees have been the Robins and Bluebirds, which, with us, make their appearance almost simultaneously, or, at the best, but a few days apart, though, in the case of the former, they are usually dark-colored males whose voices for the time being are silent. In our fields the Meadowlarks appear to have become a per- manent fixture. [ree Sparrows now are more given to song as the sea- son for their departure northward advances. The middle of March brings us the Song Sparrow and his bright lit- tle lay, without which our still barren fields and leafless woods would seem decidedly dreary. “The Geese, too, are now flying northward in V-shaped flocks, though others still, more battalion-like, continue to pass back and forth from the cornfields to their nightly roosts on the bosom of Lake Michigan. Red-winged Blackbirds are at their old stands, some old males at least, while, from the 20th to the 25th of the month, Ducks are flying regularly. The remainder of the month witnesses new arrivals daily, good ex- amples being the Rusty and Bronzed Grackles, Juncos, Fox Sparrows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Phaebe, Cowbird and Kildeer, each voicing its sentiments in their own peculiar way. Some of the Crows have com- pleted their nests by this time in the red oaks, and here and there an impatient Blue Jay has also commenced building operations. The month goes out very spring-like. Near sheltered woodland ponds we now listen to the croaking of frogs, and should we arise early enough it is possible for us, perhaps, to enjoy the rather novel experience of listening to the first spring “booming” notes of the male Prairie Birds and Seasons BF Hen, a sound truly suggestive of the season, impressing us at once as odd, and still further remarkable for its penetrating powers. BIRDS OF THE SEASON Permanent residents and winter visitants (see Brrp-LoreE, Dec., 1900, p. 187). A list of February and March arrivals at Glen Ellyn, Ills., observed during the past eight years. Extreme dates are given when more than one record has been made. February Migrants.—February 12 to March 20, Meadowlark ; 19, American Cross- bill; 19 to March 27, Bluebird. March Migrants.—March 2-31, White-rumped Shrike; 3-26, Rusty Blackbird; 3-27, Killdeer; 4-25, Robin; 6-19, Canada Goose; 7, Cedar Waxwing, Redpoll; 7-24, Song Sparrow; 8-28, Purple Finch; ro, Mallard; 12, Mourning Dove; 12-13, Fox Sparrow; 12-24, Red-winged Blackbird; 17-30, Bronzed Grackle; 18, Cowbird; 19, Brown Creeper; 19-22, Pintail; 19-29, Sharp-shinned Hawk; 20-26, Flicker; 21, Her- ring Gull; 21-27, Phoebe; 22-28, Ruby-crowned Kinglet; 24, Hermit Thrush; 27, Purple Martin; 28, Ring-necked Duck; 28-29, Golden-crowned Kinglet; 30, Golden Plover; 31, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SEASON’S STUDY Review of the Past Winter's Bird-Life.—Review the bird-life of the past winter as shown by your own experience and Brrp-Lore’s Christmas census. Note comparative ab- sence of snow and the consequent presence, north of their usual winter range, of certain species; also absence of certain winter birds. Compare the Christmas bird lists with the object of ascertaining the distribution of our winter birds. What species appear to be most generally distributed? Birds and Seasons.—Compare the preceding outlines of the characteristics of the bird- life of Boston, New York, etc., and lists of February and March birds, in the preceding articles. Migration.—What theories have been advanced to account for the return of the birds from warm winter quarters, where food is abundant, to often bleak surroundings, where food is comparatively scarce? Discuss this question (see Cooke, ‘ Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley’; Chapman, ‘ Bird-Life’ and references therein given). Note the re- lation between a species’ winter range and its time of arrival at a given point. What 1s the northern limit of the winter range of the first species to arrive at your locality? Is it probable that the first individuals to arrive are those representatives of the species that win- tered farthest north? Would it follow, then, that the last individuals of a species to arrive are those that wintered farthest south? Or is it possible that birds may linger on their northward journey where they find an abundance of food and thus be passed by individuals from further south? The question as to whether our first arrivals are our summer resident birds or transients en route to a more northern breeding ground, has a direct bearing here. What is your opinion in regard to this point? Try and observe closely the movements of a certain flock of birds—Robins, for instance. Does it have a regularly frequented feed- ing place where you can always find it at a certain time? A regularly frequented roost- ing place? How long after a species is first noted do you observe individuals of it in localities where it is known to breed? Robins on your lawn, or Red-winged Blackbirds in certain isolated marshes, for instance. Note the addition to the ranks of our winter birds,—Juncos, Tree Sparrows, and others. This indicates that their migration is under way. Does it follow that our winter resident individuals of these species have already gone? It is of special interest to know that at this season migration is also beginning in the 28 Bird-Lore south. Certain species that winter in southern Florida are now for the first time seen in northern Florida, and others are crossing from Cuba. Note the difference in the times of arrival of males and females of the same species. Do the males always arrive first? How long after the females arrive are the sexes found associated ? Why should the sexes migrate alone ? Note the relation existing between the weather and the appearance of migrants. Study the daily weather charts issued by the U. S. Weather Bureau at Washington and observe whether the movement of a warm wave from the south northward is followed by a corre- sponding advance of the birds. Note the close relation between the disappearance of ice and the return of Ducks and Geese. What evidences of migration during the day are noticed ? Song.—What species sing in February and March? What birds arrive in song ? What species sing before the coming of the female ? What birds sing in flocks? Is their choral song different from their individual, solo song ? Nesting. —What species nest in February and March? Among summer residents do the first birds to arrive nest first? What species are observed courting at this season ? Does the season of courtship and mating long precede the nesting season ? Compare here the time of arrival and time of nesting of the Red-winged Blackbird. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SEASON’S READING Thoreau, ‘Spring,’ in ‘Walden,’ ‘Early Spring in Massachusetts,’ ‘ Winter’; Burroughs, ‘’The Return of the Birds’ and ‘Spring at the Capital,’ in ‘Wake Robin,’ “A March Chronicle’ in ‘ Winter Sunshine,’ ‘Spring Jottings’ in ‘ Riverby’; Torrey, “A Florida Sketch Book’; Flagg, ‘February’ in ‘A Year With the Birds’; Bolles, 55) “Land of the Lingering Snow’; Davis, ‘ After the Snow’ and ‘The Benison of Spring’ in ‘ Days Afield on Statén Island’; Keeler, ‘February in Berkeley’ and ‘March in the Pine Woods’ in ‘Bird Notes Afield’; Crockett, ‘February’ and ‘March’ in ‘A Year-book of Kentucky Woods and Fields’; Parkhurst, ‘ February’ and ‘ March’ in ‘The Birds’ Calendar.’ The Christmas Bird Census HILE the exceptionally fine weather on Christmas day was a : \ sufficient inducement to take one afield, we trust that the spirit of wholesome competition aroused by BirRD-LoRkg’s bird census added materially to the pleasure of those who took part in it. The results of the census are both interesting and instructive; in- teresting, because they are definite, comparative, and, in a sense, per- sonal; instructive, because they give a very good idea of the distribution of winter birds on Christmas day, with some indication of the number of individuals which may be observed in a given time. On the one hand the almost entire absence of such northern species as the Crossbills is noticeable; on the other, the mild season and prevailing absence of snow evidently accounts for the presence of a number of species rarely observed in December. The Christmas Bird Census 29 It has not been possible to publish all the notes which have been received, and it has been necessary to omit the descriptive matter which, in some instances, was given. At another time we hope to suggest a bird census on somewhat more exact lines, through the enumeration, not of the birds observed on a given day, but of those occupying a certain area, when a description of the character of the ground, etc., will be of importance. SCOTCH LAKE, YORK COUNTY, NEW BRUNSWICK Time, 9 A. M. to 10 A. M. Clear; wind, west, light; temp., 32°. Goshawk, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay, 2; Pine Grosbeak, 1; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 20; Chickadee, 6. Total, 9 species, 36 individuals.—Wwmo. H. Moore. TORONTO, CANADA Time, 11.30 A. M. to 4.30 P. M. Clear; wind, northwest, 10 miles per hour; temipe 25.5. Crow, 15; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Chickadee, 10; Golden-Crowned Kinglet, 25. Total, 4 species, 41 individuals.—E. FANNIE JONES. KEENE, N. H, Time, 10.30 A. M. to 1.30 P. M. Clear; wind, northwest, very light; temp., 32°. Crow, 1; Northern Shrike, 1; Chickadee, 16. ‘Total, 3 species, 18 individuals.— CLARENCE Morrison BROOKS. BELMONT AND CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Time, 7.30 A. M. to 11.30 A. M. Clear; wind, northwest, very light; temp., 34°. Fresh Pond, Cambridge.— American Herring Gull, according to W. Deane, there were 250 on the pond at 9.30 A. M. Flocks kept coming in all the morning until, at 11.30, there were 1,375; Black-backed Gull, 2; Black Duck, 90; Mallard, 1; Tree Sparrow, 30; Song Sparrow, 14. Belmont.—F licker, 7; Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, 10; Crow, 17; American Crossbill, 1; Purple Finch, 2; Junco, 10; Northern Shrike, 1; White-breasted Nut- hatch, 4; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 10; Chickadee, 17. Total, 17 species, 1,593 indi- viduals.—RaALPH HOFFMANN. BOSTON, MASS. (ARNOLD ARBORETUM) December 26, 9.30 to 2.30. Clear, snow-squall, clear; wind, southwest to north- west, light; temp., 37°. Bob White, 12-15; Flicker, 6, 7; Blue Jay, 15-18; Crow, 16; American Cross- bill, 1; Goldfinch, 18; Tree Sparrow, 5, 6; Song Sparrow, 2; Junco, 20-25; Myrtle Warbler, 7; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 12-15. ‘Total, 13 species, about 125 individuals. On December 19, in these grounds, there were also Northern Shrike, 1; Golden- crowned Kinglet, 2; White-throated Sparrow, 2; Fox Sparrow, 1.— Horace W. WRIGHT. 30 Bird- Lore WINCHESTER (NEAR MYSTIC POND), MASS. Time, 10 A. M. to 1 P. M. Clear; wind, south; temp., 42°. Herring Gull, 14 or more; Flicker, 1; Blue Jay, 20; Crow, 5; American Gold- finch, 16; Tree Sparrow, 6-8; Song Sparrow, 1; Brown Creeper, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 5. Total, to species, about 70 individuals. — KATHERINE BOLLes. BRISTOL, CONN. Time, 9.30 A. M. to 12.30 P.M. Fair; wind, southwest, very light; temp., 7.30 A. M., 28°. Downy Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay, 20; Crow, 25; American Goldfinch, 9; Tree Sparrow, 6; Song Sparrow, 4; Chickadee, 3. ‘Total, 7 species, 68 individuals. December 9 and 23 five Bluebirds were seen. On December 13, Mr. B. A. Peck saw a Towhee.—FRANK BRUEN and R. W. Forp. NORWALK, CONN. Time, between 8 A.M. and 4.45 P.M. Clear; wind, west, light; temp., 1 P. M., 60°. American Herring Gull, 8; Crow, 3; Tree Sparrow, 11; White-breasted Nuthatch, 18; Chickadee, 5. ‘Total, 5 species, 45 individuals.—Geo. P. ELLs. AUBURN TO OWASCO LAKE, N. Y. Time, 8 A.M. to —. Clear, light snow at 10 A. M.; wind, south to northwest, light; temp., 40°. Horned Grebe, 5, one calls; Loon, 3, calls; Herring Gull,3; American Golden- Eye, 11; Ruffed Grouse, 2; Crow, 26; American Goldfinch, 4; White-breasted Nut- hatch, 2; Chickadee, 12. otal, 9 species, 68 individuals.—FREDERICK J. STUPP. CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK CITY Time, 10 A.M. to —. Clear; wind, southwest, light. American Herring Gull, 12; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Starling, 4 (singing); White- throated Sparrow, abundant (twice heard singing); Song Sparrow, 2; Robin, 1r.— CHARLES H. RoGeErs. ENGLEWOOD, N. J. Time, 8.30 A. M. to 12.30 Pp. M. Clear; wind, southwest, light; temp., 33°. Bob-White, 3; Mourning Dove,* 7; Red-shouldered Hawk, 1; Barred Owl, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 5; Flicker, 3; Crow, 25; Blue Jay, 8; Goldfinch, 1; Tree Sparrow, 150; Field Sparrow,* 2; Junco, 37; Song Sparrow, 3; Northern Shrike, 1 (immature); Myrtle Warbler, 55; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Chickadee, 12; Bluebird 4 (one sing- ing). ‘Total, 18 species, 320 individuals. On December 1, and again on the 2oth, a single Tufted ‘Titmouse was seen; these observations constituting the first winter records for this species. —FRANK M. CHAPMAN. MOORESTOWN, N. J. Time, between 10.30 A. M. and 4.30 P. M._ Clear in the morning; cloudy, with light showers, in the afternoon; wind, west, light; temp., 36°. Red-tailed Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 3 or 4; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Flicker, 4 or 5; Crow, several hundred; Meadowlark, 8-10; White-throated Sparrow, 3 or 4; Tree * Illustrating the late stay of certain species in open seasons. (See BIRD LORE, December, 1900, p. 183.) The Christmas Bird Census 31 Sparrow, 1 or 2; Junco, about 12; Song Sparrow, 2; Cardinal, 4; Northern Shrike, 1; Brown Creeper, 2; Tufted Titmouse, 2; Chickadee, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2 or 3; Bluebird, 3. ‘Total, 17 species. —ANNA A. MICKLE. NEWFIELD, N. J. Time, 9 A. M. to 12.30 P. M._ Cloudy, clearing at ro A. M.; wind, northwest, light; temp., 35.- Bob-White, 1; Downy Woodpecker (heard); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2; Crow, 1; Blue Jay, 2; American Goldfinch, 5; Tree Sparrow, 25; Junco, 25; Song Sparrow, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet (heard).—Mary R. PAscHALL. NESHAMINY CREEK AND UPPER DELAWARE RIVER ABOVE PHILADELPHIA Time, four hours. Sparrow Hawk, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Crow, immense flocks; Fish Crow, flocks; Tree Sparrow, 25; Song Sparrow, 3; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1; Chickadee, 1; Blue- bird, 4.—H. W. Fow er. DELAWARE RIVER MEADOWS, TINICUM TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE CO., PA. Time, one and a half hours in the morning. American Herring Gull, 2; Red-tailed Hawk, 6; Red-shouldered Hawk, 1; Crow, 100; Meadowlark, 4; American Goldfinch, 25; Junco, 6; Tree Sparrow, 50; Song Sparrow, 6; Swamp Sparrow, 1. Total, 10 species, 201 individuals.—WHITMER STONE. GERMANTOWN, PA. Sime mieZoNAe Me ton PAM. | Cleans temps SO: Downy Woodpecker, 2; Crow, 4; White-throated Sparrow, abundant; Junco, 7 or 8; Song Sparrow, abundant; Cardinal, 2; Winter Wren, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 3 or 4; Robin, 2. On December 23, a number of American Crossbills were seen. —C. B. THOMPSON and H. JUusTIce. : WYNCOTE, PA. Time, 8.20 A. M. to 11.30 A. M. Clear; wind, west, but very light; temp., 30°. Red-tailed Hawk, 3; Red-shouldered Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 4; Hairy Wood- pecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Flicker, 1; Crow, about 1,000; American Gold- finch, 3; Tree Sparrow, one flock of 25; Junco, about 100; Song Sparrow, 1; Winter Wren, rt. Total, 11 species, about 1,140 individuals.—SAMUEL H. BARKER. FAIRMOUNT PARK, PHILADELPHIA Time, one-half an hour. Flicker, 3; Crow, 12; Junco, 25; White-throated Sparrow, 6; Tree Sparrow, 25; Song Sparrow, 2; Cardinal, 6; Robin, 6. otal, 8 species, 85 individuals.—Dr. J. F. PRENDERGAST. OBERLIN, OHIO Time, 6.30 A. M. to 10 A. M. Cloudy, occasional snowflakes, increasing to con- siderable storm at noon; wind, west by south, light to brisk; temp., 28°. Red-shouldered Hawk, 1; Sparrow Hawk, 1; Hairy Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 6; Flicker, 2; Biue Jay, 6; Crow, 4; Purple Finch, 14; Junco, 3; Tree Sparrow, 40; Song Sparrow, 2; Cardinal, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 14; Chickadee, 8. ‘Total, 14 species, 103 individuals. . December 24, Bluebirds and Bronzed Grackles sang in my yard, and a Tufted Titmouse was seen just out of town.—Lynps JonEs. 32 Bird- Lore GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS Time, 10 A. M. to 12 M., 1.30 to 4 P. M. Cloudy; wind west, fresh; temp., 12 Menno hee Prairie Hen, 8 (one covey); Downy Woodpecker, 2; Blue Jay, 7; Crow, 17; Tree Sparrow, 1; White-breasted Nuthatch, 1; Chickadee, 19. Total, 7 species, 55 indi- viduals.—B. I. GauLr. NORTH FREEDOM, SAUK CO., WIS. Time, 8.50 A. M. to 11.10 A. M. Cloudy, some snow; wind, northwest, medium; temper, Lome Bob-White, 15; Hairy Woodpecker, 7; Downy Woodpecker, 1; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1; Blue Jay, 1; American Goldfinch, 31; Tree Sparrow, 30; Junco, 1; Brown Creeper, 2; White-breasted Nuthatch, 4; Chickadee, 11; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1. ‘Total, 12 species, 105 individuals. Had the day been favorable, Crows, Evening Grosbeaks, and Ruffed Grouse would have been seen in considerable numbers. —ALICK WETMORE. LA GRANGE, MO. ‘Time, 9 A. M. to 12 M. Cloudy, sun seen at times; wind, west, steady; temp., [e) Hairy Woodpecker, 5; Downy Woodpecker, 6; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 4; Flicker em Blwe jay. 14; Crows, 155 Burple) Hinchyw5.) diree: Spartows. 04) uncom ise Cardinal, 9; Northern Shrike, 1; ‘Tufted Titmouse, 18; Chickadee, 30; White- breasted Nuthatch, 7. ‘Total, 14 species, 186 individuals.—Susan M. JOHNSON. 25 BALDWIN, LA. Observed from the house during five fours. Clear; wind, west, light; temp., 9 No Wiley BD Killdeer, 2; Turkey Buzzard, 2; Blue Jay, 6; Grackle, 200; Red-winged Black - bird, 500; Carolina Wren, '1; Mockingbird, 3; Carolina Chickadee heard. Total, 8 species, 715 individuals.—Mrs. L. G. BALDWIN. PUEBLO, COLO. Time, 11 A. M. to 1.30 P. M. Clear; wind, southeast, light; temp., 34°. Ferruginous Rough-leg, 2; Red-shafted Flicker, 4; Desert Horned Lark, thousands, in many large, scattered flocks; American Magpie, 1; Woodhouse’s Jay, 3; Red-winged Blackbird, one flock of about 20; House Finch, about 50; Western Tree Sparrow, about 100; Pink-sided Junco, about 75; Arctic Towhee, 2; Canon owhee, 1; Northern Shrike, 1, carrying Horned Lark; Gray Titmouse, 2.—H. W. Nasu. PACIFIC GROVE, MONTEREY CO., CAL. (Water birds not included) Time, 10 A. M. to 12 M. Wind, north, light; temp., 60°. California Quail, small ‘flock; Band-tailed pigeon, large flock, 200; Western Red- tail, 1; Burrowing Owl, 1; California Woodpecker, 3; Lewis’ Woodpecker, 1; Red- shafted Flicker, 20; Dusky Poor-will, 1; Anna’s Hummingbird, 3 (sings); Say’s Phcebe, 1; Black Phoebe, 4; Coast Jay, 10 (sings); California Jay, many; American Crow, 1; Western Meadowlark, 1; Brewer’s Blackbird, 10; Nuttall’s Sparrow, 6; Golden-crowned An Additional December Record 33 Sparrow, 5 (sings); Point Pinos Junco, 25; Townsend’s Sparrow, 3; Spurred Towhee, 1; California Shrike, 1; Hutton’s Vireo, 8; Audubon’s Warbler, 10; Townsend’s Warbler, 6; Pipit, common; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 2; Pygmy Nuthatch, 2; Barlow’s Chickadee, 10; Intermediate Wren-tit, 2 (sings); California Bush-tit, flock of 15; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 8; Dwarf Hermit Thrush, 3; Western Robin, 110; Varied Thrush, 2; West- ern Bluebird, several. ‘Total, 36 species, about 475 individuals.—WALTER K. FISHER. An Additional December Record On December 13, 1900, I noticed a Wood Pewee trying to find a breakfast among the apple trees on Glen Island. He was alone, and although active in his search—apparently taking insect eggs from the bark like a Chickadee—he had very little to say for himself, a single short chirp being his only note. It was bitter cold outdoors and there is very little shelter for the little fellow here. How he finds enough food adapted to his mode of hunting is a puzzle.—L. M. McCormick, Glen Island, New Rochelle, N. Y. What Bird is this Field Description.—Length, 5.00 in. Upper parts streaked with black, buff and grayish; under parts white, streaked with blaek; yellow at the base of wings and tail, showing in flight. Spring Range—From Gulf States northward. Nore—Each number of Birp-Lore will contain a photograph, from specimens in the American Museum of Natural History, of some widely distributed, but, in the eastern United States, at least, little-known bird, the name of which will be withheld until the succeeding number of the magazine, it being believed that this method of arousing the student’s curiosity will result in impressing the bird’s characters on his mind far more strongly than if its name were given with its picture. The species figured in December is the Lapland Longspur. AN INCUBATING BALD EAGLE Photographed from life by C. William Beebe Notes from the New York Zoological Society I. ENTERPRISING EAGLES At the beginning of winter I placed a pair of adult Bald Eagles in the large flying cage of the New York Zoélogical Park, and they showed their appreciation of their semi- freedom by commencing housekeeping at once. ‘They collected a quantity of sticks and grass around a small hollow in the ground near the center of the cage, and after lining the cavity with moss, the nest Both birds took part in its construction, and from the con- chuckling and thor- oughly enjoyed their work. Eagles usually nest in trees, and these birds placed the nesting material around the roots of several saplings, the stems of which, protruding through the sticks and moss, look not un- like the top branches of a tall tree. Natur- ally the next thing to be thought of was eggs, but this pair of birds had original ideas, and intended, for a time at least, merely to play at housekeeping. A good- sized stone was brought from another part of the cage and placed in the nest, and the was considered finished. tinual screaming, work of hatching began. ‘The male and female Eagles sit on the nest on alternate days, and the bird not so engaged is always perched on a log near by, on guard. ‘The temperament of the birds has under- gone a complete change. When first placed in the cage they were easily caught and seldom offered resistance. Now one can- not approach to within twenty feet of the nest without being attacked by one or both Eagles. When they rush forward, one on each side, and strike with beak and uplifted feet, it is no easy matter to escape unharmed, as I found when trying to photograph them, their talons reaching the skin every time, clothing and shoes affording little or no protection. What the outcome of this nesting attempt will be I do not know, but I hope the birds will soon lose faith in the stone and deposit two or three eggs. The fact that they are from Florida doubtless accounts for this early attempt at nesting. —C. WILLIAM BEEBE, Assistant Curator of Birds. (34) Book Pews and RMeviews THE SEQUENCE OF PLUMAGES AND MOouLTs OF THE PASSERINE BirDs OF NEW YORK. By JonaTHaN DwicuT, Jr. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Vol. XIII, Part I, pp. 73-345; pll. vil. Oct. 19, 1900. Although birds are doubtless better known than the members of any other order of animals, the laws governing the loss and renewal of feathers, the bird’s unique char- acter, are in this paper adequately treated for the first time. [hat we have so long existed in comparative ignorance of the manner of molting of many of our com- monest birds is due primarily to the lack of proper material with which to study their plumage changes. Collectors desired only perfectly feathered specimens and made no efforts to secure birds during the period of molt. Nor did they attempt to ascertain, by an examination of the cra- nium, the age of the specimen preserved. Appreciating the need of proper material to enable us to clearly understand exceedingly important function in a bird’s this economy, Dr. Dwight began some twenty years ago to form a collection of New York birds on which to base the studies which are in part presented in the present paper * of over 250 pages. The work is far too extended for us to review it in detail; furthermore, we hope later that Dr. Dwight will himself favor Birp-Lore’s readers with an extended ré- sumé of his studies. We append, therefore, only a list of the eight leading heads under which the subject has been treated: 1. ‘ In- door Study of Moult.’ 2. ‘ Process of Moult.’ 3. ‘Early Plumages and Moults of Young Birds.’ 4. ‘Sequence of Plumages and Moults.’ 5. ‘ Color Facts, vs. Color Theo- ties.’ 6. ‘Outdoor Study of Moult.’ 7. ‘ Plu- *For additional papers by Dr. Dwight on the molt of birds, see the following: The © Moult of the North American Tetraonide (Quails, Partridges, Grouse) ;’ “The Auk,’ 1900, pp. 34-51, 143-166; ‘The Moult of the North American Shore Birds (Limicole), ibid., pp. 368-385; ‘The Sequence of Moults and Plumages of the Laridw (Gulls and Terns),’ ibid., 1901, pp. 49-63. mages and Moults of New York Species.’ 8. ‘ Bibliography.’ To this brief table of contents we may add our estimate that Dr. Dwight’s work is the most important contribution to Ameri- can ornithology since the publication of Dr. Coues’ ‘Key’ in 1884. It should be in the possession of every earnest student of birds. —F. M. C. ANIMAL Lire. A first book in Zodlogy. By Davip STARR JORDAN and VERNON L. Kettocc. New York. D. Appleton & Co. 12mo, page ix-+329. Numerous illustrations. This is a text-book which adequately pre- sents the most advanced and approved ideas in the teaching of zodlogy to the general student. “he matter of classification which, until recently, has been the leading if not the only theme of class-room manuals, is here accorded only four pages at the end of the volume, and the study of animal life is approached subjectively under such sugges- tive headings as ‘The Life Cycle,’ ‘ Func- tion and Structure,’ ‘Adaptations,’ ‘ Para- sitism and Degeneration,’ ‘Protective Re- semblances and Mimicry,’ ‘Instinct and Reason,’ ‘Homes and Domestic Habits,’ ‘Geographical Distribution of Animals,’ etc. Asa result of a study of these funda- mental factors in the life and the interre- lations of animals, the student is not repelled by the terminology of classification, but in- evitably must be attracted by the marvelous story of life and impressed by man’s kinship with the animals below him. It is, there- fore, not alone a book for the student, but also for the general reader. In the philosophic treatment of so wide a range of topics the authors must necessarily consider many phenomena in the explanation of which authorities still differ, and we could wish, therefore, that in place of a certain positiveness of tone they had seen fit to give more than one view of various disputed cases, if for no other reason than with an object of pointing out lines for further research. For example, the migration of birds is alluded (35) 36 Bird-Lore to as “a systematic changing of environment when conditions are unfavorable to life,” a statement assuredly at variance with the bird’s desertion of a southern winter home at a season when food is daily increasing for a comparatively barren breeding resort. Again “the effort of the Sparrow to keep warm in winter” is presented as an illustra- tion of one of the primary factors in the struggle for existence, whereas it is believed by many that, given an abundance of proper food, with birds, at least, temper- ature is of comparatively little importance. The definiteness with which the duration of life of various animals is stated is, perhaps, hardly warranted by the known facts; while theories in explanation of the significance of so-called recognition, signaling, warning, alluring, etc., colors are still too numerous to render advisable the treatment here ac- corded them. In this connection we regret to see that Mr. Abbott H. Thayer’s very beautiful demonstration (‘’The Auk,’ 1896, p. 125) of the law which underlies protec- tive coloration, a discovery revolutionizing our ideas of what constitutes protective col- oration, is not mentioned. The illustrations are numerous and in- structive, many being reproductions of photo- graphs from nature. We would, however, call the attention of the authors to two or three slips requiring correction: thus the “Arctic Black Duck” figured on page 137 with twelve young is evidently one of the Scaups (Aythya), which are not known to lay more than ten eggs; the “Canada Jays” on page 138 are clearly Blue Jays and, un- less we are mistaken, the artist is indebted to Mr. Dugmore’s clever photograph of the young of this species, in Scott’s ‘ Bird Stud- ies’ (p. 57); the intertwined horns on p. 148 are those of deer and not of “elk,” as stated, and the male Baltimore Oriole, on p. 267, is shown in the act of nest-building, though, as far as we know, the male has not been observed to assist in constructing the nest. ‘Animal Life’ is such an admirable piece of work that our desire to aid its authors in eradicating the errors which are bound to creep in a book covering so wide a field, has perhaps led us to appear unduly critical, whereas, in truth, we cannot too highly commend it as an ideal text-book, which, we trust, will speedily replace the antiquated zodlogies that have so long blocked the stu- dent’s pathway to knowledge.—F. M. C. WHO SAID MICE? (From ‘ Our Bird Friends’ ) Our Birp Frienps; A Book FoR ALL Boys AND GIRLS. By RICHARD KEARTON. With 100 original illustrations from pho- tographs by C. Kearton. Cassell & Co. Ltd. London, Paris, New York and Melbourne, 1900. 12mo0, pp. Xvi +215. With the eminently worthy object of stimulating and properly directing chil- dren’s inherent interest in birds, Mr. Kear- ton has written a book which seems ad- mirably adapted to accomplish not alone the end in view, but to appeal with equal force to grown folk as well. We have here no rehash of old material or compilation of selected stories for the young, but an original contribution to the literature of ornithology based largely on the author’s personal experiences. The book is not local, and while the birds treated are British species, the sub- jective method of presentation renders it almost as attractive to American as to Eng- lish readers. ‘Thus the chapters on ‘ Nests Book News and Eggs,’ ‘ Young: How they are Fed and Protected,’ ‘ Feathers and Flight,’ and “Calls and Song Notes,’ may be read with profit by the ornithologists of every land. Mr. Cherry Kearton’s pictures add to our appreciation of his skill and patience with the camera, and further illustrate the ad- vantages of photography over any other known method of portraying bird-life. It does not seem to us, however, that they have all been reproduced with full justice to the original, and we especially deplore the loss of accuracy in a bird’s outline which often accompanies the etching or cutting out of the backgrounds.—F. M. C. Laws REGULATING THE ‘TRANSPORTATION AND SALE OF GAME. By T. S. PALMER and H. W. O tps. © Bulletin No. 14. Division of Biological Survey; U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1900. 8vo, pp. 89, 5 maps, 4 diagrams. Further evidence of the benefits to the cause of bird protection which have followed making the Biological Survey responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Lacey bill, are shown in the publication of this pamphlet. It has been prepared with the especial object of informing shippers, transportation companies, and game dealers of the laws regulating the transportation and sale of game and, possessing the authori- tativeness of a government document, it is far more valuable for reference than an un- official publication.—F. M. C. The Ornithological Magazines Tue Aux. —‘ The Auk’ enters the new century in much the same garb it has worn during twenty-six years of the old, being modeled on the same lines that have proved so successful in the past. Nearly one quar- ter of the 131 pages of the January number are devoted to reports on bird protection by Mr. Witmer Stone and Mr. William Dutcher, and afford unusually instructive reading. Much good will result from in- telligent legislation, and Mr. Dutcher shows how effectively the persecuted Gulls and Terns have been protected the last summer on the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Vir- ginia, by securing the paid services of per- sons living on or near their breeding and Reviews Bil grounds. The molts and plumages of these birds are explained by Dr. Jonathan Dwight, Jr. “The opening pages are filled with obituary notices of Dr. Elliott Coues and Mr. George B. Sennett, from the pens of Mr. D. G. Elliot and Dr. J. A. Allen, respectively. One of the most remarkable things about Dr. Coues was the wide reach of his scientific knowledge, which made him in the truest sense of the word a great ornithologist. Some new birds from Panama are described by Mr. Ontram Bangs and others; from Mexico, by Mr. E. W. Nelson, in a couple of brief papers, and a local list, by Mr. James H. Flemming, on the birds of Parry Sound and Muskoka, Ontario, fills thirteen pages. In Mr. John H. Sage’s report of the Eighteenth Congress of the A. O. U., we learn officially of a radical that take effect at the next Congress. The species “ Associate Member” is to be split into two, but which is the subspecies I am still in doubt. Some one has facetiously dubbed one the “killers,” the other “see-ers,” and everybody ought be completely satisfied at this new experi- The reviews of new change in membership will and the now to ment in trinomialism. literature are extensive, especially one on Dwight’s molts of passerine species, and one on Grinnell’s birds of Alaska. There is also a goodly array of general notes, cov- ering captures and records too numerous to mention.—J. D., Jr. Book News We learn from Dana Estes & Co., pub- lishers of Coues’ ‘ Key,’ that the revised edition of this work, the manuscript of which Dr. Coues completed shortly before his death, will be ready sometime during the coming spring. It will be profusely illus- trated, chiefly by Louis A. Fuertes, and will be issued in two volumes, at the price of $10. The report of the A. O. U. bird protec- tion committee including Mr. Dutcher’s re- port on the expenditure of the Thayer fund, which occupies thirty-seven pages in the January ‘ Auk,’ has been issued separately and may be procured from William Dutcher, 525 Manhattan Ave., New York city, at five cents a copy, or four dollars per hundred. 38 Bird- Lore Bird- Lore A Bi-monthly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN Published by THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Vol. III Published February 1, 1901 No. 1 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Price in the United States, Canada, and Mexico twenty cents a number, one dollar a year, post- age paid. Subscriptions may be sent to the Publishers, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or 66 Fifth avenue, New | York City. Price in all countries in the International Postal Union, twenty-five cents a number, one dollar and a quarter a year, postage paid. Foreign agents, MACMILLAN AND COMPANY, Ltp., London. COPYRIGHTED, 1901, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN. Bird-Lore’s Motto: A Bird in the Bush is Worth Two in the Hand. A Question of the Day ‘There is a certain type of systematic ornithologist to whom ornithology means comparing specimens and solving nomen- clatural problems, with the sole and ultimate object of changing the existing names of birds and creating new ones. He is some- times sneeringly designated by the sufficient- unto-himself layman, a ‘closet naturalist.’ This same supercilious critic is doubtless indebted to the closet naturalist’s text-books for most, if not all, of his exact knowledge of birds’ and consequent proper classification of whatever he may have learned of the birds themselves, but with a fine combination of conceit, ignorance, and ingratitude, he loses no opportunity to hurl a figurative stone at the unconscious author of his information. names There is, however, another side to this subject; in his endeavor to make plain the relationships of birds, the systematist may go too far. Long familiarity with specimens has so sharpened his appreciation of their differences in size, form, and color, that he is led to attach undue importance to varia- tions which are barely, if at all, apparent to the untrained eye. The question is, where shall he draw the line in naming these geographical races, or subspecies, as they are termed? It is of course assumed that his investigations are conducted with no undue desire for renown through the exploitation of his own name appended to that of the birds he may describe, but that they are made in the interests of ornithology. ‘The question may be repeated then, how far may we go in this division and subdi- vision of geographical races and best serve the ends of the study of birds? In publishing a list of North American birds which should harmonize the views of various authorities, the American Orni- thologists’ Union raised as its standard the motto: “Zoédlogical nomenclature is a means, not an end, of zodlogical science.” That is, before we can study birds we must give to them certain names in order that we may properly label whatever we may learn concerning them and thus render our dis- coveries available to others. It is, or should be, therefore, the object of the systematist to so describe birds that they will be recognizable, thereby preparing the way for further investigation. When, however, he gives names to differences so slight that even experts in his own field cannot with certainty apply the right name to the right, bird, it is obvious that he is not serving, but defeating the aims of science. Doubtless the ‘splitter,’ as this type of systematist is called, would deny that his hypersensitive powers of discrimination had led him to such extremes. Let us, therefore, examine somewhat into his methods. When specimens of our birds first came into the hands of European naturalists, many of them were considered identical with certain European species; but as they increased in collections their characters be- came more definitely understood and being found to differ more or less from Old World forms they were given names of their own (e. g., Certhio familiaris Americana, Losia curvirostra Americana). hough at first these birds, following the customs of the times, were ranked as species, this was virtually the beginning in the subspecific separation of our birds. It was not the Pacific until railroad Editorials 39 surveys in 1850 brought considerable col- lections of birds from the western United States, that we learned that many birds of the more arid west were decidedly different from their representatives in the more humid east. In most instances of this kind we at first had only two forms, an eastern and a western, but subsequent exploration added to the material available for study, and it was discovered that every region possess- ing marked physiographic and climatic characters had races peculiar to itself, and for the first time the laws of geographic va- riation, or of evolution by environment, be- came evident. ‘This is one of ornithology’s most valuable contributions to philosophic natural history; an epoch-making discovery the practical application of which, in the vain attempt to definitely name the indefi- nite, has led us into our present difficulties. Thus it has happened that of the 1,068 birds included in the 1895 edition of the A. O. U. ‘Check-List,’ 300 are ranked as subspecies, or, in other words, a subspecies for every two and a half species. But the end is not yet. Since 1895, over seventy so-called ‘new’ forms have been described and with each fresh revision of a variable group the. ‘splitting’ becomes finer and we are afflicted with added names the applica- tion of which is doubtful. As a matter of fact, specimens are no longer separated from specimens, but series of specimens from series of specimens, and herein lies the evil of splitting as it is at present practiced. We have long passed the stage in our study of the climatic variations of North American birds, when we should expect to discover a subspecies so marked that its characters would be convincing in a single specimen. In fact, large series are usually necessary to make apparent the differences on which it is proposed to separate one bird from another. Placed side by side, it be- comes evident that one row of birds, as a row, is more or less unlike the other row, and the cumulative differences of perhaps thirty birds are, in describing such forms, as- cribed to one, whereas, to a degree, in re- solving the series of thirty birds into its component individuals, the value of the characters attributed to the new form are in effect divided by thirty, that is, theoreti- cally, are evenly distributed among the thirty birds of the series. The probabili- ties are, of course, against so even a divi- sion of differences, but the series will, un- doubtedly, contain birds in which the char- acters attributed to the form are almost wholly wanting. A case in point is fur- nished by an ambitious splitter, who admits that a series of thirty-six specimens “ barely ” differences, on which, however, the assistance of eleven additional specimens, he proposes to found a new subspecies! sugegestec with Now, while we cannot over- estimate the importance of determining with the utmost exactness the geographic varia- tions of birds in further elucidating the laws of evolution that the of such minute and by environment, we maintain recognition by name inconstant differences as we have indicated is a perversion of the uses of zodlogical nomenclature and a menace to the best interests of ornithology. The layman, whether or not he is in- clined to sneer at the closet naturalist, bows to his authority and accepts without ques- tion his ruling, whether it be a new name But if we do not mistake the signs the lay ornithologist has become so confused in a vain effort to keep or a new nomenclature. pace with the innovations of the profes- sional, that he is on the border of revolt against what, in the main, he esteems to be a needless juggling with names. Fortunately, there is a court to which we may appeal in this difficulty. “The Ameri- can Ornithologists’ Union, appreciating the need of revision of the work of too enthu- siastic systematists, has a standing com- mittee, whose duty it is to pass on the species and subspecies of North American birds, which have been described since its last meeting, with the laudable object of ex- cluding those which seem unworthy of rec- ognition by name. We appeal, then, to this committee to protect us from the undue development of a practice which is bringing systematic ornithology and some systematic ornithologists into disrepute and, by ren- dering accurate identification impossible, proving a needless source of discouragement to students of birds. The Audubon Docieties “You cannot with a scalpel find the poet's soul, Nor vet the wild bird’s song.” Edited by Mrs. MasEL OsGoop WriGHT (President of the Audubon Society of the State of Connecticut), Fairfield, Conn., to whom all communications relating to the work of the Audubon and other Bird Protective Societies should be addressed. Reports, etc., designed for this department should be sent at least one month prior to the date of publication. DIRECTORY OF STATE AUDUBON SOCIETIES With names and addresses of their Secretaries New ‘Hampshire)ncigs som peace ie aise eee lsis Oe cioials eae eioiee oioleraniane Mrs. F. W. BATCHELDER, Manchester. Massachusetts........-. Miss HARRIET E. RICHARDS, care Boston Society of Natural History, Boston. Rhode Island............. a intctorepeteieverefeimienietyereterste Mrs. H. T. GRANT, JR., 187 Bowen street, Providence. Conmecticut, secre seers ee Sel eT Oe oe ace Mrs. WILLIAM BROWN GLOVER, Fairfield. INGw:i YiOtks=se a poe ee Miss Emma H. Lockwoop, 243 West Seventy-fifth street, New York City. New Jersey....... PR re SN Ahn TD SERN ain Miss ANNA HAVILAND, 53 Sandford ave., Plainfield, N. J. Pennsylvaniaweeseee eee eee eae Mrs. EDWARD ROBINS, 114 South Twenty-first street, Philadelphia. DistrictiorColumbialeeeeeee eee eee eee Mrs. JOHN DEWHURST PATTEN, 3033 P street, Washington. Delaware waar eer cee eect Mrs. Wo. S. HILLEsS, Delamore place, Wilmington. iMG@ranktal,~cacconodoccosodouceose eae Miss ANNE WESTON WHITNEY, 715 St. Paul street, Baltimore. South! Carolinalse eee elon ee cele ee ile eee aiere Miss S. A. SMyTH, Legare street, Charleston. 1G it aeanea nett os GHGS nEcnatcoGoboddosneeanocorouondc od CO) ah koe mene Sto Mn mt ee MASON NU Pay AU er a rai ta eaat TY Mrs. D. Z. MCCLELLAND, 5265 Eastern ave., Cincinnati. IG etabt- bot: Cyanine Swe NL na Re enn Sart ie tea a yaa isn aster in eoeaod oe aau0 W.W. WooLEN, Indianapolis: bbe coondgsodeonoasoudcuaneuoooddeooduduoasoooboouodgoOduandnoccUnE Miss Mary DRUMMOND, Wheaton. TOW as ee eee TR ee ee EPP teeter retes tere erecaralotersetelereerere Mrs. L. E. FELT, Keokuk. Wisconsin aye acre soe onioaeis lev otevs Mrs. GEORGE W. PECKHAM, 646 Marshall street, Milwaukee. Minnesotans cess ee ear eae Mrs. J. P. E-mer, 314 West Third street, St. Paul. Lote Arar ite magpie eda aoe CoDoo boson onmoouEeccadupodcsoasocodeouDEd INGRAM CROCKETT, Henderson. ARETINESSEE Ae Eee ae ar eee ee ace eisete iecentirereinie face iereeypete Mrs. C. C. CONNER, Ripley. 2 BED ETS aS BBG SN OER OCIBE DS Se EBS One io Done Oo me aia Coos peed Ud dcodacDuemog Ae (CEM INE e co osonscosgosaudaob cucauoosbdsconageanodosocgososcoeDDOGOG0bOBON Mrs. GEorGE S. GAy, Redlands. Hats! Madame Arnold, 7 Temple Place, Bos- ton, sends her name to be added to the “Milliner’s White List.” By the way, is Massachusetts to have the milliner’s flag of truce all to herself? Will not some member of the Audubon Society, in every large town, make a point of se- curing at least one name for this list? It is in this way that the honorary vice- presidents can come to the front and be of use. Every well-dressed, well-groomed woman who buys several changes of head- gear a year can exert a positive influence upon her milliner, if she is so minded, and by appearing elegantly charming in bon- nets devoid of the forbidden feathers, do more to persuade the milliner to drop them from her stock than by the most logical war of words. A glance at the holiday hats seen re- cently at many good shops, theaters, and — in the streets of New York, was not with- out much that is encouraging. Velvet flowers of exquisite colors and workmanship, jeweled, gold, and steel or- naments, and pompons of lace and ribbon have largely taken the place of any but Ostrich feathers, with people of refined taste. To be sure, bandeaux of separated feathers offer a Chinese puzzle as to their origin, Ptarmigan wings and questionable quills appear on walking hats, and the Egret still lingers as the apex of many a diamond hair ornament, but the average is surely better. Fewer Grebe mufis and capes are seen, and whole ‘Terns seem, by common consent, to be relegated either to the wearer of the molted garments of her mistress or to the ‘real loidy,’ who, in winter, with hat cocked over one eye, pink tie, scarlet waist, sagging automobile coat, rickety Louis heels, and rings instead of (40) The Audubon Societies 41 gloves, haunts the cheaper shops, lunching on either beer or soda water, and in sum- mer rides a man’s wheel, chews gum, and expectorates with seeming relish. The headgear of a fashionable audience, gathered at the first night of a new play, ‘Those who arrived without bonnets wore in their was another encouraging sign. hair a single flower, a filet of ribbon or some flexible metal, or lace choux. recognized half a dozen Egrets them, and these were worn by women of the dubious age and complexion that may be excused from the shock of abandoning time-honored customs. I only among During the five before the rise of the curtain causes the well-bred to unhat, absolutely no feathers were dis- coverable, save a few white breasts, Ostrich, and Maribou the effect of so much softly draped, delicately tinted gauze, mingled with gold, minutes’ millinery show allowed, plumes ; and_ flowers, giving greater brilliancy to the house than had a Bird of Paradise, a Humming-bird, or a Cockatoo been perched on every head. We may ask ourselves if the change has any special significance. Is it a mere freak of fashion? Is it owed to the law or to the lady ? Let us credit it to the law and the lady, and hope that the two are standing with locked hands, as they exchange New Year’s greetings and form a twentieth century alli- ance in the cause of Bird Protection, as they have so often done in other things that elevate the race.—M. O. W. silver Reports of Societies NEW YORK SOCIETY Among the salient features of the recent work accomplished by the New York Audu- bon Society, especial mention should be made of the satisfactory results which have attended the issuing of the Bluebird button, and the establishment of the free associate membership—open to those under eighteen years of age. The triumph of the past year was the success of the Hallock Bill, signed by Governor Roosevelt on May 2, 1900. An earnest plea, signed by Mr. Chapman and Mr. Dutcher, was sent to all adult mem- bers of the society, to urge favorable action on the bill upon the assemblymen and senators at Albany. ‘The response to this appeal from all parts of the state proved the advance made by the army of bird pro- tectors, and greatly strengthened the untir- ing efforts of Mr. Hallock, Mr. Dutcher and Mr. Chapman in securing the passage - of. this law. The new law, in poster form, has been sent to over 3,500 postmasters. Large linen posters have also been circulated. At the annual meeting, held June 2 at the American Museum of Natural History, it was stated that since the former report 11,719 leaflets had been distributed. Since that date 11,405 have been put into circula- tion. The total number printed by the Society approximates 125,000. ooo have been distributed. Since the last report of the New York Society appeared in Birp-Lore, the following valuable leaf- lets have been issued: ‘The Educational Value of Bird Study,’ by Mr. Chapman; ‘ Consistency in Feather by Mrs. Wright (kindness of Connecticut Society); ‘Save the Birds,’ by Mr. Dutcher (first issued by Pennsylvania Society); “Ihe Passing of the Tern,’ by Mr. Chapman, reprinted from Birp-Lore; “Law Posters and Leaflets,’ and ‘ Letter of Appeal,’ by Messrs. Chapman and Dutcher. The present membership is 2,479. Through the courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History, the members Over 100,- Wearing,’ of the Audubon Society residing in the immediate vicinity of New York city have enjoyed the privilege of hearing the special course of lectures, given by Mr. Chapman at the Museum, on ‘ Birds in Nature.’ It would be unjust not to speak of the great help afforded by many of our local secretaries, especially in the all-important work among the children. The New York Audubon Society is con- stantly deterred in its efforts by the lack of funds. To develop the educational side of this movement will require large additional income, and how to devise means to attain this is the immediate task before us. Emma H. Lockwoop, Secretary. 42 Bird- Lore PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY The Pennsylvania Audubon Society has been actively engaged during the past year, both in furthering the general interest in bird study. and bird protection in this state, and in lending its aid to more widespread efforts in the same direction. The fact that our president, Mr. Witmer Stone, is also chairman of the A. O. U. Committee on Protection of North American Birds, has brought the society into close connection with several of the most important move- ments towards bird protection that have been undertaken during the year. Foremost among these was the Lacey Act. From the start, the Pennsylvania Society took an active part in urging the members of Con- gress from this state to support the measure, and the fact that Pennsylvania cast a larger vote for the bill than any other state and not one vote against it, speaks well for our suc- cess. [he society was also represented in the effort to protect the Gulls and Terns of the Atlantic coast during the nesting season of 1900, the New Jersey colonies being under the care of our treasurer, Mr. Wm. L. Baily, whose very successful work is described in the report in the January num- ber of “The Auk.’ Our society was also active early in the present year in arousing opposition to the killing of Blackbirds in Delaware for millinery purposes. Circulars were distributed throughout the state which attracted much attention and resulted in the abandonment of the slaughter and also in the organization of the Delaware Audubon Society. During the year our membership has in- creased to over 6,000, and seven local sec- retaries have been appointed, while several local clubs for bird study have been organ- ized. ‘This is one of the most important features of our society, and we cannot too strongly urge those interested to volunteer their services in furthering local organiza- tions of this sort. About 8,000 circulars of various kinds were issued during the year, including an abstract of the state bird laws printed on heavy cardboard suitable for hanging in post offices, reading-rooms, etc. Through the kindness of one of the directors, the society has been enabled to purchase a small library and a set of colored pictures of common birds, which have been circulated among country schools to aid the teachers in conducting Bird Day exercises. On June 1, the teachers of the vacation schools of Philadelphia were invited to meet the directors of the society at the Academy of Natural Sciences and were addressed by Mr. Witmer Stone on the subject of bird study in city schools, while the collection of Pennsylvania birds and nests in the museum was explained to them. On January 5, 1901, the annual meeting of the society was held at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The attendance was very large and the interest in the proceedings was marked. After the transaction of routine business, Mr. Stone made an address on ‘Bird Protection in During 1900’; Mr. George Spencer Morris fol- lowed with an illustrated paper on ‘ Our Winter Birds,’ and Mr. Wm. L. Baily concluded the program with .a talk on ‘Bird Study With the Camera,’ illustrated by lantern slides of birds and nests from America nature. The old board of directors was reélected for the ensuing year. JuLia SrockTon Rosins, Secretary. The Baltimore Gull Case The confiscation of 2,600 Gulls found in the possession of Dumont & Co., of Balti- more, has been followed by the indictment by the grand jury of the manager of this firm, and the case to determine whether they are liable to the fine of from one to five dollars for each bird will probably come up in February. Proposed New Bird Laws Efforts are being, or will be made to im- prove the bird laws of Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vir- ginia, North Carolina, Florida and Cali- fornia, and it is hoped that Birp-LORE readers will use their influence to make these efforts successful. Further details may be learned, as they are developed, from William Dutcher, 525 Manhattan Ave., New York city. WBird=- Lore A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES MARCH — APRIL, 1901 No. 2 Vol. IIl Walrus Island, a Bird Metropolis of Bering Sea BY FREDERIC A. LUCAS WITH PHOTOGRAPHS FROM NATURE BY H. D. CHICHESTER T was a sunny afternoon in July when the cutter Rush made a long détour around the treacherous shallows off Reef Point, St. Paul Island, and steaming by Sivutch Rock, with its colony of fur seals fanning themselves in the unwelcome sunshine, headed for Walrus Island. We knew this spot from afar off and indistinctly, for, although but six miles distant from N. E. Point, such is the average summer weather of Bering Sea that most of the time it is enshrouded in a mantle of fog. Some of its inhabitants we knew very well, for the Burgomaster Gulls (Larus glaucescens) which dwell there make daily visits to St. Paul in search of the offal of the seal killing-grounds, or to peck at the eyes of the dying and dead pups on the fur seal rookeries, or to carry home a bit of vegeta- tion for a nest. “The few walruses, whence the island derived its name, have disappeared, killed or driven away by the persecutions of man, and the last one was shot in 1891. [he spot was never a breeding ground, merely the summer haunt of a score or so of old male walruses thrust out of the company of their fellows by younger and abler beasts, or preferring a peaceful bachelorhood to the cares of married life. “he birds, however, remain undisturbed, save for a few visits in early summer from the natives, who go over to load a boat or two with eggs that form an agreeable change from salt and canned provisions. Half the distance between St. Paul and Walrus Island had been covered when a breath of cool air swept over the water, and in another minute everything had vanished and we were steaming through the fog. On we went until the patent log said that the island was not far distant, and accordingly the Rush was slowed down, while, in addition to the care- ful lookout that had been continually kept, the lead was cast in order that we might not come upon the land in more ways than one. And now the fog thinned out and rolled up into fleecy clouds, leaving everything visible for some distance ahead, but revealing no trace of Walrus Island. ‘he 46 Bird - Lore rapid and erratic tide had swept us by; instead of twelve miles we had run an unlucky thirteen, and back we turned, into the retreating fog, which, rolling up before us, left Walrus Island not only perceptible to the eye but, as we passed to leeward a quarter of a mile away, decidedly per- ceptible to our noses. Nature has considerately furnished two landing places, very excellent ones, too, provided the sea be smooth and the wind in the right direction: and we came to anchor off the most picturesque of these, a little steep- walled cove, on one side of which it was possible to climb out upon a stone quay. The cautious Burgomaster Gulls were circling high overhead with wailing cries long before we reached land, and some of the Kittiwakes and a few of the most nervous Arries deserted their nests or eggs, as the case might be, as we drew near; but the bulk of the bird population declined to budge until we had landed and were close upon them. ‘This bulk con- sisted of thousands of the Pacific Murre (Uria lomvia arra), occupying the cliffs and angular rocks of the southern and western portion of the island, where their many-colored eggs lay thickly scattered about. Mr. William Palmer notes that at the time of his visit in 1890 these birds were mostly on the western side, while on the east and south were the legions of the California Murre (Uria troile californica), but no such striking peculiarity of distribution was noticed by our party, nor were the California Murres much in evidence. It had often been a matter of wonderment how any given member of a great bird colony could find its own particular egg among the hundreds available for a choice, and the behavior of returning Arries was watched with no little interest. If one might judge by their directness of flight as they came whirring in from sea, the birds had a good bump of locality and a pretty clear idea of the whereabouts of their respective eggs. It has been suggested that these birds do not of necessity get each its own egg, but that often an egg is chosen because it seems convenient. Such, how- ever, did not seem to be the case with the Arries. On the contrary, there seemed to be a very definite selective process, for a bird would alight, cock its head on one side, waddle a step or two, cast another knowing look about, and after a few such trials apparently find an egg that seemed satis- factory and settle contentedly down upon it. May it not be that the wonderful variation in the color of the eggs, a variation that is most striking when seen in nature, enables each bird to find its own with ease? Another suggestion in regard to the eggs of Murres is that the very pale eggs (and some are absolutely devoid of markings) are the later layings of birds whose earlier eggs have been destroyed, and this suggestion seems very plausible. The Kittiwakes (Rissa brevirostris and R. tridactyla pollicaris) were mostly confined to the ledges of rock about the landing place, but the Burgomasters occupied the higher central portion of the islet where the 48 Bird-Lore rock was covered by a scanty soil, forming a colony of goodly size, although by no means crowded. In view of the numbers of old birds circling overhead, the scarcity of eggs and apparent absence of young seemed a little remarkable; but a more careful look showed them all about us, squeezed among the rocks, half concealed under the scanty tufts of grass or, with tightly closed eyes, flattening themselves into some slight depres- sion in the soil. Not one, if memory be not treacherous, was in its nest; and some of the larger birds were a long way from home, skulking along among the rocks in the endeavor to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the unwelcome intruders. A number of young Burgomasters may usually be seen about the village of St. Paul, their legs YOUNG BURGOMASTER GULLS or bills decorated with a colored bead or two, ora strip of red flannel, these being nestlings brought back by the egging parties early in the season and kept for pets, not, as Herring Gulls are in parts of Newfoundland, to be used for food later on. They are readily domesticated and become very tame, running about the village and along the shore in search of food, or, later on, taking long flights with the wild Gulls. It always seems a little singular to see a bird leave a flock and come flying to the village, or to be approached by a big, gray Gull with open mouth and an appealing squeal for food. For young Gulls are always “so hungry;” possibly, at times, they get all they wish to eat, but the few whose acquaintance I have made seemed blessed with “a perfectly lovely appetite.” A few Tufted Puffins (Lunda cirrhata) and Cormorants (Phalacrocorax Walrus Island, a Bird Metropolis of Bering Sea 49 urile) completed the population of Walrus Island, and as there is no soil in which to burrow, the Puffins had ensconced themselves here and there beneath some overhanging rock, making valiant resistance with beak and claw to any attempt to dislodge them. “The Cormorants of the Pribilof appear to be a waning race; Mr. Palmer noted that they were much less abundant than formerly, and now they are comparatively scarce on St. Paul, a few scattered birds breeding on the bluffs of Polovina. Very few nests were to be found on Walrus Island and, although the Cormorants arrive early in the season, one of these contained two perfectly fresh eggs. Near by was another nest with an egg and two small, naked chicks which, later on, we saw the parent bird busily engaged in feeding. RED-FACED CORMORANTS The Choochkie (Simorhynchus pusillus), abundant on St. Paul and swarming by millions (I refuse to remove a single cipher) on St. George, was noticeably absent, owing probably to the lack of suitable breeding places, since there are neither crevices in the rocks nor soil in which to burrow. The Paroquet Auklet (Cyclorhynchus psittaculus) was not seen, although noted by Mr. Palmer on his visit in 1890; so, as far as species go, Walrus Island may be considered poor, although this lack is compensated for by the great abundance of individuals. The afternoon drew on, and in spite of occasional puffs of drifting fog, it was one favorable for the work of the surveyors, so that before six o’clock their work was done, and when the whistle of the Rush blew ‘all aboard ’ every one was ready to depart. Fifteen minutes later the inhabitants of Walrus Island were enjoying their accustomed solitude. Our Blue Jay Neighbors BY MRS, HARRIET CARPENTER THAYER, Minneapolis, Minn. Illustrated by photographs from nature by Thos. S. Roberts ‘T is perhaps a rare privilege, in the midst of a large city, to be chosen as I neighbors by a family of Blue Jays, yet such was our good fortune. They came one May morning into the top of a young elm tree close by our bedroom window. One had atwig in his mouth which he was en- deavoring to get into position in the site selected for the nest. He pulled BLUE JAY ON NEST and tugged, now bending his body, now twitching his head, until at last he succeeded; and the news spread abroad that a pair of Blue Jays were building anest in our tree. For two days they worked, completing the outside; then they came at longer intervals for two days more, bringing choice bits of finishing for the inside. Both birds took part in the labor of house- building. During these days three small heads were often peering at them from the window near by and shrill little voices often interrupted their work. But at last, though we trembled lest we had frightened them away by our frantic efforts to keep quiet, the mother settled down on her nest and only whispers were heard at the window. (50) Our Blue Jay Neighbors 51 The many weary hours during which the eggs had to be kept warm were divided between the two birds, each relieving the other at more or less regular intervals. And the bird at play did not forget its imprisoned mate, but returned now and then with a choice bit of food, which was delivered with various little demonstrations of sympathy and affection. We watched and waited patiently, and were well rewarded; for though the birds kept an eye on us they let us enjoy their daily life and attended to their duties in full view. The nest, built so near the top of the slender tree, swayed and bent to every breeze, and as Minnesota breezes are apt to be- BLUE JAY ON GUARD AT THE NEST come high winds, often hung at a perilous angle, keeping the mother busy balancing herself and settling her eggs. Almost every day we expected to find on the ground one or more eggs that had been thrown out and broken. Blue Jays are very numerous in Minneapolis, and their loud screams are almost as familiar as the incessant chatter of the English Sparrows. They are always discussing something vigorously, and using their voices fortissimo. We were delighted therefore to hear low, sweet, little notes and measures, and what might be called talking. They reserved their best efforts evi- dently for wooing and early morning conversations, and only their intimate friends overheard. 52 Bird - Lore The nest, eighteen feet or thereabouts from the ground, was visible from our bed; and one morning on first awakening we saw with athrill the father and mother gravely bending over five wide mouths, plainly to be seen at that distance. The birds had all hatched out within twenty-four hours. Then began the process of filling up those mouths, always opening and stretching to their widest extent, as if afraid of missing something. This was impos- sible, however, as their parents forcibly and effectually stuffed each morsel down their throats, seemingly into their very stomachs. The father, it might be, would arrive with a long worm, which he and the mother then swallowed by bits, commencing at either end and working toward A BLUE JAY FAMILY the middle, where it would break, leaving each parent with half the worm. Then, after a pause during which the five mouths quivered with suspense, the softened food was given up to the babies by a sort of regurgitation, and away went the father after more. While the birds were incubating the eggs only the head and tail were visible above the rim of the nest, but after hatching they sat or stood so much higher and puffed out their feathers to such an extent that they appeared twice their former size. “Che Jays were not at all shy, but on the contrary were very valiant and determined in standing by their home. Soon after the eggs were laid, the house -painters began work opposite the nest, and many sharp pecks they received on their ears and backs. People inside the house could be endured, but people outside were a little too much, and the birds challenged each man to fight it out. Our Blue Jay Neighbors 53 The birds were very neat about their nest, both parents cleaning it daily. he excrement was not simply thrown out, as one would naturally expect, but was carefully removed to a distance. On a platform built outside the window, a camera was placed bringing the nest somewhat less than ten feet away. The birds, accustomed to children’s and painters’ voices, paid no attention, and a series of photographs were taken of the family life in the tree. One afternoon when the growing birds had come to fill their nest to overflowing, a severe storm came up, turning the tree-top and nest upside down. As we sat together inside the house our one thought was for the birds outside in the increasing storm. In the flashes of lightning we could see the mother, soaked by the rain, with head bent, her feathers spread out over her little ones, keeping her place in spite of the violent gusts of wind. Next morning one fat little bird, showing blue on his wings, was found dead on the ground, while the process of stuffing the remaining four went on above just as usual. At last the nest was discovered empty, and by the cries and excitement on the lawn we traced the young birds to their perches in the trees, solici- tously guarded by their anxious parents. “hey were coaxed and urged into trying short flights, and blundered about with an aimless and uncertain motion. For several days we could distinguish them by the yellow of their beaks; but soon we lost them from sight, and “our Blue Jays” were no longer known amid the throng, though their memory will long live in our tradi- tions and their story be well preserved in the camera studies that were so happily and harmlessly stolen. SHORE-LARK ABOUT TO FEED YOUNG. Photographed from nature by F. A. Van Sant Early Larks BY F. A. VAN SANT, Jay, N. Y. URING March, 1900, there was a heavy fall of snew in the north- ID ern part of the Adirondacks, and by the middle of April the ground was still covered with a feathery blanket, except on the _ slopes of the sand-hills facing the south, where the snows had slipped and wasted. Part way down one of these hills, on a patch of sand and dried grass surrounded by snow, I found, on the 12th of April, the nest of a Prairie Horned Lark. It was about two inches deep, was lined with dead grasses and contained four delicately speckled eggs. “Three days later something interesting transpired in that little brown nest. As though to commemo- rate the amazing mysteries of the first great Easter morning, the little prisoners of the shell, on Sunday, April 15, burst from their confinement. Only a short time elapsed ere their little notes of hope and ecstasy were added to the grand chorus of nature’s hallelujahs. The parent birds twittered the anthems of this festive day as they diligently searched for food with which to feed their tiny nestlings. The next day was cloudy and Tuesday was cold, with snow squalls all day, but Wednesday came clear and bright, and I spent the day in watch- ing the birds and taking their pictures. I used a Pony Premo Sr. camera, 6% x8, with rapid rectilinear lens and a 4x5 Hammer plate in a kit. I set the camera quite early in the morning, so that the birds would be- come accustomed to it. After the sun was high enough to make a snap shot possible, I tied a long black thread to the shutter release and, keep- ing my opera glasses ready for instant use, sat down to await results. (54) SIO a ag gg a | : q Saw-whet Homes 55 The parents at first were shy, flying in circles overhead and _ calling in their clear voices to each other. After reconnoitering, they evidently arranged a plan of action. Both disappeared entirely; then I heard a call and, looking up, saw on the brow of the hill to the left, away from the nest, which was to the right, a bird I judged to be the male. He ran toward me, called, ran still nearer, then flew away; and as I looked toward the nest I saw the mother just leaving. In this way he tried to attract my attention every time the female neared the site of their precious home. Then I watched the mother. She never few to the nest. I would first see her on the hillside some distance away running around as though she had no particular aim in life, but still she kept getting nearer and nearer to the nest. The surface of the ground was rough with stones, ridges, hollows, and drifts of snow, and taking advantage of these she would finally run quickly a short distance, stop and huddle down, then run, and in this way reach the nest. As I could only get an occasional glimpse of her when nearing her young, she time after time fed them and flew away before I could be sure she was in a position that would not cast a shadow on them. I have watched Phcebes, Robins, Wax- wings and other birds feed their young, but I never saw it done so quickly or in such a secretive manner. They grew so fast that they crowded one another out of the nest, which was on such a slant that before they were half grown they would tumble out and roll a little ways down hill, and twice I had to replace them. I intended getting a picture of the birds when they were nearly feathered, but cloudy weather followed by storms of rain and snow pre- vented. Ten days after hatching it was again clear and I went to get another negative, but found that the nest was empty. Saw-whet Homes BY P. B. PEABODY, Hibbing, Minnesota With photographs from nature by the author HE breeding habits of the Acadian Owl are little known even by oT those who are personally familiar with the little fellow. But there are haunts of his where the patient may find him thoroughly at home. Riding across a sea of flooded prairie, along the Red River of the North, April 4, 1898, on the saddest of errands, I renewed acquaintance with the Saw-whet, after an interim of many years. Brought to a halt by a washed-out bridge, I had led my mare over a twelve-foot drift to ‘shelter, and kept on along the railroad track that threaded the waste of waters. It was near midnight. Nearing Hallock, along the South Fork, narrowly, but heavily, wooded with primeval trees, I heard, delightedly, 56 Bird- Lore upon the wind that sweet fluting unheard for many years. Astounded at the bird’s persistence, I counted the notes. Seven hundred, without a break, I counted, and then gave it up. “There were about two notes per second, with occasional bursts at half the interval. (Explanation of this came later.) The few irregular intervals of silence would not exceed three seconds’ duration. By noting the source of the night-song from two directions I located the spot so nearly that when, on the morning of May 5, at dawn, I scoured the place, I readily located the elm stub in which the nest was hidden. This old tree stood beside the bank of the creek, a little remote, in the midst YOUNG SAW-WHETS of many large elms. “Iwelve feet up was the opening of the Flicker-made cavity. From this, at my very first rap, the Saw-whet’s head protruded. As I climbed, she, having disappeared within, came out again and flew fif- teen feet away to a dead branch, where she sat long in utter silence. “The hollow was sixteen inches deep. It was well filled with bark strippings, placed there by red squirrels. Well jumbled together in this mass were seven eggs, whose incubation varied from nothing to well-formed small embryos, a headless meadow-mouse and many contour feathers of the Pine Grosbeak, with flight-feathers and tail feathers of Juncos, Warblers and other small birds. Many of these feathers were stuck into bark crevices, and the habitance of the stub seemed to have covered a number of years. A few pellets lay at the base of the tree. “This pair of birds I never found again. Saw - whet Homes 57. On the wings of a howling wind, across the mile-wide flood, at Pem- bina, on April 13, | heard the fluting of another Saw-whet. I found the cavity, an open hollow, inhabited by this bird, later; but nothing more. During 1899, no signs of the Saw-whet were vouchsafed me. In 1900, some ten miles east of Hallock, while looking critically for the nest of a located pair of Hooded Mergansers, I found a kiln-dried elm stub, on a sort of island, well secluded, on the South Fork. ‘This large stub con- tained a Flicker hole, some sixteen feet up. Herefrom, at a slight rap, appeared a Saw- whet. Returning, down-stream, at dusk, about a mile above this point, I suddenly heard a Saw-whet’s song. When very near the spot whence the sound proceeded, I heard the doubled-time note ringing out, as if the bird were in motion; and then instantly saw the male bird sweep down, from a stub-top, with a long downward and upward curve; and perch near by. The sound he made was strangely like the distant fire-warning of a steam whistle. The female seemed away at the moment, but before I was within six feet of the Flicker hole that marked her home, she darted by me, and into the hole. I could not dislodge her. “he date of these two findings was May 14. Three days later, I opened the first of these two nests. “Lhe young were about three - fourths grown. They bore no down, to speak of, but many pin-feathers. “Chere were three of the young birds. The mother allowed me: to take her in hand, her only protest being the snapping of her beak. ‘There were but few pellets at the base of the nest-tree; while the nest-hollow contained no rubbish, but only the young, the putrescent body of a gravid meadow-mouse, a Loring’s red-backed mouse, and the tail of a jumping mouse. On May 29, these young were in full feather. While photographing them I could not but note the fur- tive manner of two of the young birds; this amounting, at times, almost to the appearance of the feigning of death. The parents were not seen, and the young had left the nest before June 5. On the 14th of June, I opened the second nest. The female kept the Cavity persistently, returning several times while I was yet in the tree. _ The nest-cavity was some twelve feet up, in the dead top of a still-living elm. The cavity contained squirrel-nest material, mingled with a few SAW-WHET AT NEST-HOLE 58 Bird- Lore feathers of small birds and of the fledgling Flickers. There were six eggs, neatly arranged in triangular form. These eggs all seemed dead; though one or two may have still been alive. One was infertile. Various stages marked the incubation, which, in two eggs, amounted to perhaps one-fourth. At neither of the first two nests did I ever see the male. Nor did I, at the third nest, after my first visit, find him at home, though making several visits at different times of the day. ‘These observations leave one in perplexity as to the normal nesting-date of the Acadian Owl in northern Minnesota. All the dates given above are inconclusive. One may, perhaps, be permitted to infer that this little Owl who has so warm a place in our affections is rather a nomad and erratic, though loving tenaciously his one-time nesting place; and that the nesting times are quite uncertain. This much, at least, is fairly sure: that acadica loves the wooded streams, and that a Flicker hole is his great desideratum. Open cavities are too insecure, and smaller artificial holes too small. The pretty sight of a mother Saw-whet squeezing her way into a good-sized Flicker hole gives us a fair gauge of the size of this, the smallest and most attractive of American Owls. The Song Sparrow By the road in early spring Always hopefully you sing; It may rain or it may snow, Sun may shine or wind may blow, Still your dainty strain we hear— ‘“Cheer— Cheer— Never, never fear, May will soon be here.’ Darling little prophet that you are! y) When at last the leaves are out And wild flowers all about, Songs of other birds are fraught With the spirit that you taught. Still you sing on sweet and clear— “ Hear— Hear— Happy, happy cheer, Singing all the year.’ Jocund little brother of the air. b) LYNN Tew SPRAGUE. Por Teachers and Students Tree- Planting 4 NHIS is the season for tree-planting, and we cannot too strongly urge the desirability of making our lawns, gardens, and orchards more attractive to birds by planting in them trees which will fur- nish birds with food in summer as well as in winter. If, as a result of a widespread movement in this direction, the supply of food for birds should be greatly increased, there would doubtless be a corresponding increase on the part of the birds. Practical bird-pro- tection means not only preventing the destruction of birds but creating conditions which shall make the worid more habitable for them. We hope that this matter of tree-planting for the birds will be given especial consideration on Arbor Days when, among the trees which are set out, there should be the mulberry, wild cherry, dogwood, Parkman's apple, mountain ash, and other trees bearing fruit of which birds are fond. In this connection we would refer our readers to Lange’s ‘Our Native Birds’ and to Mrs. Merriam Bailey’s ‘Birds of Village and Field’ for further information in regard to this exceedingly important subject. Birds and Seasons THIRD SERIES APRIL AND MAY BIRD-LIFE NEAR BOSTON By RALPH HOFFMANN ARDLY two observers will agree on the date of arrival of the same H species; for many factors enter into the problem. In the first place, few people can devote their days to playing the “detective of nature;” on our way to our work we too often hear voices calling us to the woods where many new arrivals wait to be recorded. In the second place, individual birds vary greatly in hardiness; a certain Phoebe or Chebec almost always comes a day or two before the rest of the species; breeding birds naturally precede the migrants, whose northern homes are not yet ready for them. Unless, therefore, an observer lives very near a bird’s home, he often misses the arrival. Thus it will always happen in the case of rare or local birds that the man who has a Martin box under his window or a White-eyed Vireo on his beat, is the best authority for the arrival of that bird. Again, some places are on much more favorable migration routes than others; where many birds pass, the chance for an early one is of course better. At the head of Lower Mystic Lake in Medford, Tree Swallows may be seen in early April in hundreds — among them is often a Barn Swallow a week or ten days ahead of his fellows. Lastly, certain (59) 60 Bird-Lore birds occur so rarely that it is impossible to say with certainty that the first one seen is the first arrival. “Che weather has a greater influence on the date of arrival in April than in May. ‘The continued warm weather in 1896 brought Black-throated Green Warblers to this vicinity on the 19th of April; two years later a cold spring kept them back till May 5, a differ- ence of over two weeks. Orioles, on the other hand, show surprisingly slight variation in a long series of years. A cold northeaster coming after many birds have started keeps them all back, so that when warm weather succeeds, birds come in a rush. The smallest gardens in large cities are then visited by almost any species. Continued cool, bright weather, on the other hand, seems to send the birds through in small bands, so that the migration makes little impression. : I have given below, as in the list for March, two dates for each bird; the bird is not to be expected before the first, and should almost always be here before or on the second. ‘The dates should in no sense be taken as showing the time when the whole number of the species arrive, but the time when keen and well-informed observers, much in the field, should see the first individual. The arrival of Blackpolls in force has been well said to sound the death-knell to migration, yet a few Black- polls almost always reach us in the first great Warbler wave, but are easily overlooked. Even when we judge the migration over, and some busy pair of Vireos bids us turn our attention to nest-building, we must still keep our ears open for the “quee-quee” of an Alder Flycatcher or the hurried warble of a Mourning Warbler. (Mr. Walter Faxon has kindly let me compare my dates of arrival with some of his.) BIRDS OF THE SEASON For permanent residents and winter visitants see Brrp-Lore, Dec., 1900, p. 183. Arrivals in April and May.— April 1-10, White-bellied Swallow, * Mourning Dove,* Marsh Hawk,* Pied-billed Grebe; * 1-15, Kingfisher;* 2-15, Pine Warbler; 3-12, Savanna Sparrow;* 4-10, Vesper Sparrow; 5-15, Myrtle Warbler, Yellow Palm Warbler,t American Pipit,t Wilson’s Snipe,t American Bittern, Great Blue Heron,f Purple Finch; 5-20, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Hermit Thrush;{ ro—20, Ruby- crowned Kinglet,t Winter Wren,} Sharp-shinned Hawk; { 1o-25, Barn Swallow, Pur- ple Martin;{ 12-20, Swamp Sparrow; 13-30, Sora; 15-20, Cooper’s Hawk,{ Osprey,f Night Heron; 18-25, White-throated Sparrow,} Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; | 20-30, Blue-headed Vireo,} Virginia Rail; 22-29, Black and White Warbler; 22-30, Towhee; 23-30, Least Flycatcher; April 25 to May 1, Brown Thrasher, Spotted Sandpiper, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow; April 26 to May 1, Black-throated Green Warbler; April 28 to May 3, Yellow Warbler, House Wren; April 28 to May 5, Whip-poor-will; May 1-8, Warbling Vireo; 1-9, Parula Warbler;*} 1-10, Long-billed Marsh Wren,* King- bird; 31-11, Redstart; 2-5, Yellow-throated Vireo; 2-9, Ovenbird; 2-10, Nashville Warbler; 3-8, Maryland Yellow-throat; 3-9, Baltimore Oriole; 3-10, Catbird, Northern } * Occasionally, or not infrequently, earlier. + Migrant. See, however, June list (in June BrrRD-LORE) for rare breeders. {Date uncertain. Birds and Seasons 61 Water-Thrush,f Green Heron; 4-11, Rose-breasted Grosbeak; 5-11, Bobolink, Chestnut- sided Warbler, Prairie Warbler; 7-10, Wilson’s Thrush; 7-12, Wood Thrush; 7-13, Hummingbird; 7-15, Blackburnian Warbler; 8-11, White-eyed Vireo; 8-15, Night Hawk, Black-billed Cuckoo; 8-16, Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Blue Warbler, t Magnolia Warbler; 9-12, Golden-winged Warbler, Orchard Oriole ;{ 9-15, Crested Fly- catcher, Lincoln’s Finch, White-crowned Sparrow,} Florida Gallinule,{ Henslow’s Spar- row,{ Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat; 9-18, Olive-backed Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo; 10-15, Wilson’s Blackcap,t Solitary Sandpiper;{ 10-17, Blackpoll Warbler ;+ 10-20, Indigo Bunting; 13-21, Wood Pewee, Canadian Warbler; + 15-20, Bay-breasted Warbler, f{ Tennessee Warbler, }{ Cape May Warbler, t{ Short-billed Marsh Wren, ¢ Sharp- tailed Finch,{ Grasshopper Sparrow;{ 15-25, Gray-cheeked and Bicknell’s Thrushes;+ May 23 to June 3, Alder Flycatcher,f Mourning Warbler,t Olive-sided Flycatcher. t{ Departures in April and May.—April 15-25, Fox Sparrow; 20-30, Tree Sparrow; 25-30, Golden-crowned Kinglet; t——— Red-poll, White-winged Crossbills, Shore Larks, Snowflakes; April 20 to May 1, Junco, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren; May 3, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, American Pipit; 5-10, Hermit Thrush, Herring Gull; 6, Wilson’s Snipe;{ 9, Rusty Blackbird; 10, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow Palm War- bler; 12, Blue-headed Vireo; 15, Pine Finch; 15-24, Myrtle Warbler, White-throated Sparrow; 20-23, Black-throated Blue Warbler; 20-25, Parula Warbler; 25-28, Mag- nolia Warbler, Wilson’s Blackcap; 28, Gray-cheeked Thrush; 30, Canadian Warbler; May 30 to June 1, Northern Water Thrush; June 1, Olive-backed Thrush; 2-3, Black- poll Warbler. Nore.— Red Crossbills often linger well into May; stragglers, in fact, may be seen at any time. * Occasionally, or not infrequently, earlier. } Migrant. See, however, June list (in June BiRD-LORE) for rare breeders. {Date uncertain. APRIL AND MAY BIRD-LIFE NEAR NEW YORK CITY By FRANK M. CHAPMAN April and May are exciting months for the field student. Throughout the winter they have been anticipated with an eagerness and enthusiasm which the events that so crowd them never fail to satisfy. Time cannot pass too rapidly until the calendar marks “April 1;” then we live in the assurance that each day may bring some old friend or new acquaintance. The feast of spring follows the famine of winter. From April 1 to about May 10, birds increase in number daily; then, as the transient visitants pass onward to more northern summer homes, they become rapidly less abundant and by June 5 we have left only the ever-present permanent residents and the birds which have come to us from the south to nest. As the days become warmer and the weather more settled, so do the birds return with greater regularity. The times of arrival of the early migrants may vary several weeks, from year to year, but the birds of May come almost on a given day. The date of a bird’s appearance depends primarily, in most instances, on the nature of its food. The length of its journey, or, in other words, its winter range, is also to be considered here; but since that is also, to a greater or less extent, determined by food, we may consider the ever-important question of food as the most potent single factor governing a bird’s time of arrival. 62 Bird- Lore The opening of ponds and bays is followed, as we have seen, by the return of the Ducks and Geese; the Woodcock comes when the thawing ground releases his fare of earthworms; the Sparrows appear when the melting snow uncovers the remains of the preceding season’s crop of seeds. It is not, therefore, until a higher temperature brings into activity myriad forms of insect life that we may expect to find Warblers and Flycatchers. The region about New York is a favored one during the migrations. The nearness of the coast, the great highways of migration formed by the Hudson River valley and Long Island Sound give to the observer exceptional opportunities. But in no place, hereabout, can the migration be studied to better advantage than in Central Park, in the heart of New York city. The park, in effect, is an island surrounded by a sea of houses, and during the migration receives a greater number of bird visitors than any area of similar size with which I am acquainted. As a matter of local interest, therefore, in place of general notes on the spring migration in this vicinity — which have already been published in the “Hand-Book of Birds’ and ‘ Bird-Life ’ —I append records of the spring migrations of 1899 and 1900, in the Park, which have been contributed by Mr. 8. H. Chubb. SPRING MIGRATIONS OF 1899 AND 1900 IN CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK CITY By S. H. CHUBB T8909 April Migrants.—April 22, Yellow Palm Warbler, Myrtle Warbler; 24, Black and White Warbler, Pine Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo; 28, Yellow Warbler ; 30, Parula Warbler, Wilson’s ‘Thrush. May Migrants.—May 1, Chimney Swift, Baltimore Oriole, Redstart, Ovenbird, War- bling Vireo, Maryland Yellow-throat, Water-Thrush, Black-throated Green Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Catbird; 2, Little Green Heron, Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Hermit Thrush ; 3, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, White-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-poll Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler; 5, Red-eyed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler; 6, Prairie Warbler; 8, Olive-backed or Gray-checked ‘Thrush; 10, Worm-eating Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler; 11, Hummingbird, Yellow-breasted Chat; 13, Wilson’s Blackcap, Canada Warbler; 14, Bay-breasted Warbler. I900 April Migrants.—April 29, Parula Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Water-Thrush. May Migrants.—May 1, Least Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Brown Thrasher; 2, Towhee, Blue-headed Vireo, Catbird; 3, Wood ‘Thrush, Prairie Warbler; 4, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Canada Warbler; 6, Kingbird, Balti- more Oriole, Purple Finch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Swamp Sparrow, Blue-winged War- bler, Magnolia Warbler, Maryland Yellow-throat, Hermit Thrush; 7, Red-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Wilson’s Thrush; 8, Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Olive-backed or Gray-checked Thrush; 9, Black-billed Cuckoo, Wood Pewee, White- eyed Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, House Wren; 10, Eave Swal- low; 14, Black-poll Warbler, Wilson’s Blackcap ; 17, Olive-sided Flycatcher ; 31, Mourning Warbler. Birds and Seasons 63. APRIL AND MAY BIRD-LIFE NEAR PHILADELPHIA By WITMER STONE April and May are preéminently the months of migration. March, with its frequent cold and stormy days, offers many a setback to the traveling birds, but once past the early days of April, the tide sweeps steadily on, reaching its highest point during the first week of May. ‘The great waves of Warblers which arrive suddenly over night and fairly swarm in the tree- tops are characteristic of the May migration. ‘The first of these waves usually reaches Philadelphia about the first of May and is followed by others, until the 20th or 25th, when the flight begins to wane, and by Decoration Day all the transients are gone save a few stragglers, mainly Black-polls and Gray-cheeked Thrushes. The great wealth of bird-life, the swarms of minute Warblers in the tree-tops and their various songs that we have not heard for a whole year, are almost disheartening to the careful observer. ‘“Uhere is not time to identify every individual of this host, and who knows but we may have passed by a Cerulean or Mourning Warbler, or other rarity! With the presence of all our summer and permanent residents as well as practically all of our transients, May naturally affords opportunies for very large daily lists. My notes show fifty-four species observed within the northern limits of Philadelphia on the morning of May 13, 1888. and again May 19, 1891, but I was not very favorably situated. Across the river, at Haddonfield, N. J., upward of eighty species have been noted on a single day at the height of the migration, by Mr. Samuel N. Rhoads. Beside the numerous arrivals from the south we have not a few of our winter visitants with us during April, and some Juncos and White-throated Sparrows stay regularly until after May 1.* Many of our summer residents begin nesting during April and May and some of the earliest breeders have young on the wing before the Ist of June. BIRDS OF THE SEASON For permanent residents and winter visitants see BrrRD-LorRE, Dec., 1900, p. 185. April Migrants.—April 1-10, Green Heron, Vesper Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow,. Chipping Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Myrtle Warbler, Hermit Thrush; 10-20, Chimney Swift, Towhee, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Yellow Palm Warbler; 20-25, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Whip-poor-will, Rough-wing Swallow; Blue-headed Vireo, Black and White Warbler, Maryland Yellow-throat, House Wren, Brown Thrasher; 25-30, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Red- eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Parula Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Redstart, Ovenbird, Catbird, Wood Thrush. May Migrants.—May 1-10, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo, Night- hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Wood Pewee, Crested Flycatcher, Green-crested *An unaccountable slip of the pen in the February BIRD-LORE implies that our winter visitants usually leave about April 1. As a matter of fact, all our regular winter visitants, except the Tree Sparrow, remain until the end of the month, at least. 64 Bird-Lore Flycatcher, Kingbird, Bobolink, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-crowned Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-throated Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Chat, Water Thrush, Wilson’s Thrush; 10-20, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Black-poll Warbler, Wilson’s Blackcap, Canadian Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Olive-backed Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush. APRIL AND MAY BIRD-LIFE NEAR OBERLIN, OHIO By LYNDS JONES April weather is a very uncertain quantity, yet the first few days are frequently pleasant and enticing to the more venturesome birds. In the last five years the first week has four times witnessed a decided wave of northward migrants which sweeps the Northern Shrike and the Rough- legged Hawk away. This mild weather is likely to be followed by a de- cidedly wintry week, with snow or at least freezing nights. It is not until the beginning of the third week that any other marked movement occurs, when such birds as Lapland Longspur, Tree Sparrow and Horned Lark leave us. During the last ten days the spring-like weather brings the greatest movement of the year, carrying northward Junco, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Horned Grebe, and, usually, Ruddy Duck. With the arrival of May the later migrants crowd in, even should the nights be frosty, as they sometimes are until the middle of the month. The May weather is rarely too inclement for the eager birds. During the first five days we lose Wilson’s Snipe, Rusty Blackbird and Pectoral Sandpiper; then there is a lull of five days when none depart; but during the third five days—r1oth to 15th—we lose Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Myrtle Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Winter Wren, and some- times Palm Warbler. From the 15th to the 20th we lose American Crossbill, White-throated Sparrow, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Solitary Sandpiper, Water Thrush, Ten- nessee Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow and American Pipit. The last ten days of the month witness the departure of practically all other mi- grants, including Nashville Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackburn- ian Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Least Flycatcher and Olive-backed Thrush, leaving us with only the summer resident species. Such ducks as Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Blue-winged Teal and Bald- pate are likely to tarry well into May. BIRDS OF THE SEASON For permanent residents and winter visitants, see Birnp Lore, Dec.-1900, p. 186. April Migrants.— April 1-10, Pied-billed Grebe, Pectoral Sandpiper, Chipping Spar- Birds and Seasons 65 tow, Field Sparrow; 10-20, Bartramian Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Chimney Swift, White-throated Sparrow, Barn Swallow, Swamp Sparrow, Myrtle Warbler, Purple Martin, Brown Thrasher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet; 20-30, Wil- son’s Snipe, Solitary Sandpiper, Kingbird, Crested Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Bobolink, Baltimore Oriole, Grasshopper Sparrow, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Scarlet Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Palm Warbler, Ovenbird, Maryland Yellow-throat, Redstart, House Wren, Catbird, Wood Thrush, Wilson’s Thrush, Olive-backed Thrush. May Migrants.—May 1-5, Orchard Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-throated Vireo, Cerulean Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Green-crested Flycatcher; 5-10, White-crowned Sparrow, Parula Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Canadian Warbler; 10-15, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Wood Pewee, Black-poll Warbler, Mourning Warbler; 15-20, Least Sandpiper, Traill’s Flycatcher. APRIL AND MAY BIRD-LIFE AT GLEN ELLYN (NEAR CHICAGO), ILLINOIS BY BENJAMIN T. GAULT With the real opening of spring, which may take place here anywhere between the 15th and 25th of April, it is clearly observable that a new order of things is apparent on every hand, though we do not feel that the season is actually upon us until the hepatica and the little spring beauty have con- tributed their matchless charms to the yet incipient plant-life of our hitherto flowerless woods. Even then it is sometimes a question more undecided than otherwise when we carefully take into account the weather. The birds, too, offer us almost a parallel illustration when we stop to consider and study their ways. ‘The largely insectivorous species, the true harbingers of spring, do not appear in anything approaching wave-like movements until about the closing days of the month, or when the rejuvenating in- fluences of milder weather have set into active motion the various forms of insect-life. Several species that have passed the winter with us, or made their appearance during the days of February and March, now make their exit for more northern breeding latitudes; and of this class we may mention the Tree Sparrow, Short-eared Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Junco and Fox Sparrow; also the Rusty Grackles, which have added so largely to the animated life of the woodlands during the earlier days of the month. At this period they are great ground-searchers for the several kinds of larve snugly hidden beneath the dead and moistened leaves, and as they pass hither and thither in restless flocks through the woods, prospecting as they go, they present indeed a most interesting sight. Our early breeders, the Hawks and Owls, Crow, Jay and White-rumped Shrike, are covering well-advanced eggs by this time. In favorable seasons we may confidently look for the arrival of the Bobo- link, Baltimore Oriole and, possibly, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, during 66 Bird- Lore the closing days of the month, but the opening days of May are surer by the rule in finding them here. May is the month of bees, bird music and wild flowers, and possibly is the gayest of all gay periods of the year. To the true nature lover it encom- passes a season of really pronounced pleasures. Who has not for ever to be associated in his memory the O-yes-/-am-a- pretty-bird-pretty-bird of the Baltimore Oriole, the apple blossoms and the Warblers? 4 The Flycatchers and Vireos, too, are upon the calendar, in addition to the smaller Thrushes and Scarlet Tanager, whose fiery tropical plumage, in the case of the latter, very strikingly offsets the more somber tints of many of our commoner birds. The bulk of our Warbler hosts and the Thrushes continue onward to their more northern summer homes, and with us, are simply transients. BIRDS OF THE SEASON For permanent residents and winter visitants, see BirD-LoRE, Dec., 1900, p. 187. April and May Migrants, showing extreme dates of arrival and departure of transient visitauts, from data collected at Glen Ellyn, Illinois, during the past eight years: April 1, Turkey Buzzard;* 1-8, Lesser Scaup Duck;* 1-22, Wilson’s Snipe;* April 2 to May 5, Loon;* April 2 to May 10, Winter Wren; April 2 to May 19, Blue-winged Teal;* April 4, Tufted Titmouse ;* April 4 to May 16, Sparrow Hawk;* April 8-27, Hooded Merganser; * April 8 to May 18, Myrtle Warbler; April 8 to May 24, Pine Siskin; April 9 to May 20, White-throated Sparrow;* April ro-19, Greater Scaup Duck; April 1o to May 25, Broad-winged Hawk;* April 11 to May 10, Pectoral Sandpiper; April 14, Green-winged Teal* and American Coot;* April 14-17, Red-throated Loon; April 14 to May 25, Water Thrush;* April 15, American Pipit; April 15-26, Great Blue Heron; *April 15 to May 5, Yellow-Legs;* April 17-24, Pine Warbler;* April 19, Buffle- head Duck; April 19 to May 21, Whip-poor-will;* April 23 to May 13, Palm Warbler; April 23 to May 30, Olive-backed Thrush;* April 24 to May 21, Red-breasted Nut- hatch;* April 24 to May 25, White-crowned Sparrow; April 24 to May 29, Wilson’s Thrush;* April 27 to May 21, Solitary Sandpiper;* April 27 to May 25, Nashville Warbler;* April 28, Bald Eagle;* April 28 to May 26, Swamp Sparrow;* April 29 to June 4, Black-throated Green Warbler;* April 30 to May 9, Cape May Warbler; April 30 to May 21, Ruddy Duck;* April 30 to May 26, Tennessee Warbler; May 1-21, Orange-crowned Warbler; 1-23, Black-and-white Warbler; * 1-28, Alice’s Thrush; 2-27, Black-throated Blue Warbler; 2-30, Black-poll Warbler; 3-28, Parula Warbler ;* 4, LeConte’s Sparrow and Least Sandpiper; 4-18, Golden-winged Warbler;* 4-25, Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers; 5-16, Bank Swallow;* 6-21, Willow Thrush; 6-26, Canadian Warbler;* 7, Kirtland’s Warbler; 7-30, Wilson’s Warbler; 8-23, Bay- breasted Warbler; 9-18, Blue-headed Vireo; 12, American Merganser; May 12 to June 8, Connecticut Warbler; May 13, Wood Duck* and Prothonotary Warbler;* 13-27, Olive- sided Flycatcher; 15, American Osprey;* 18, Philadelphia Vireo;* 18-27, Mourning Warbler;* 19, Harris’ Sparrow, Belted Piping Plover* (?) and Forster’s Tern;* 20-25, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher; 21, Yellow-headed Blackbird;* May 24 to June 5, White- eyed Vireo.* Latest dates of departure of winter residents and early spring migrants: March 17, * Summer resident in northern Illinois. Birds and Seasons 67 Northern Shrike (should have been included in the notes for February and March) ; April 7, Mallard * and Pintail Ducks;* 17, Herring Gull; 19, Fox Sparrow and Short- eared Owl;* 23, American Rough-legged Hawk; 25, Tree Sparrow; May 2, Purple Finch;* 5, Canada Goose* and Golden Plover; 7, Hermit Thrush; 8, Junco, Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets; 12, Sapsucker; 15, Sharp-shinned Hawk;* 16, Lapland Longspur; 19, Brown Creeper; 24, Ring-necked Duck.* APRIL AND MAY BIRD-LIFE AT STOCKTON, CALIFORNIAT By LYMAN BELDING BIRDS OF THE SEASON April Migrants.— April 1-10, female Bullock’s Oriole and increase of earlier arrivals, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Chipping Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Yownsend’s Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Pileolated Warbler; April 20-30, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bun- ting, Louisiana Tanager, Cassin’s Vireo, Least Vireo, Lutescent Warbler. May Migrants.—Western Wood Pewee, Western Flycatcher, Little Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Wright’s Flycatcher, Western Blue Grosbeak, Russet-backed Thrush. Most of the following are often met with during the spring migration: Northern Phal- arope, Long-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Red-backed Sandpiper, Western Sand- piper, Greater Yellow Legs, Yellow Legs (rarely), Western Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Hudsonian Curlew, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Snowy Plover. The following abundant winter visitants leave us about May 1: Intermediate Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Junco, Townsend’s Sparrow, American Pipit. Most of the northern breeding Ducks and Geese leave us prior to May. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SEASON’S STUDY Birds and Seasons.— Compare the preceding outlines of the characteristics of the bird-life of Boston, New York, ete., with their accompanying lists of April and May birds. Migration.t{—Too much time cannot be spent in the field during the migration. If possible one should go out both in the early morning and late afternoon, visiting as great a variety of ground as opportunity permits. A knowledge of what birds to expect greatly increases the probability of seeing a species on or soon after its arrival. Weather conditions should be observed as closely as the migration itself, and the charts issued by the Weather Bureau, at Washington, should be studied. The blooming of plants, shrubs and trees and the advance of vegetation in general, together with the ap- pearance of various forms of insect life, calling of hylas, etc., should all be closely noted and these phenomena recorded with as much detail as the arrival of birds. The record of each migrant should show when it was first observed, the number seen, giving, if possible, the sex, if in song on arrival, if migrating singly, in scattered com- panies or in flocks, if observed to migrate during the day. Succeeding observations of the same species should be entered with as much detail as the first one in order to ascertain its increase or decrease in numbers. *Summer resident in northern Illinois. + The notes here given refer to the country within a radius of fifteen milesof Stockton. These data being de- signed wholly for popular use, it has not been deemed necessary to employ the latest subspecific names. tSee also BIRD-LORE for February, 1gol. 68 Bird-Lore A form for record book, which has stood the test of many years’ experience, is shown in part below. (See also, Merriam, Auk, I, 71; Stone, Auk, V, 194; Jones, Auk, XII, 117, 231, 237; Pynchon, Birp-Lore, II, 21; Hand-Book of Birds, p. 21). PLAN OF PART OF THE FIRST PAGE April IgOI Ene ae er ee eh ee Date. | Start. Temperature, Wind. Return. | | Remarks. | Bluebird. Robin. | | | | | | | | | PLAN OF PART OF THE SECOND PAGE ASME | ce in eae aa If a ruled roll-call book cannot be secured, take a large blank book, measuring at least 8 by 10 inches, rule the first page as shown above, with a space at the left for the entry of birds’ names, etc. Rule the second page as shown, and cut from its right side a strip equal in width to the space allowed on page 1 for names, so that when page 2 is turned the left-hand edge of page 3 will just meet the column of birds’ names at the left- hand side of page 1, when the record may be continued without re-writing the column of birds’ names. ‘Treat page 4 in the same manner, when page 5 will meet the column of names. In this way the right-hand or free margin of each even numbered page, 6, 8, etc., may be trimmed until enough pages have been arranged to enter the records relative to “Date,” “Start,” etc., for a certain period. For example, if one’s observations cover the spring migration, from March 1 to May 31, a period of 92 days, and if one could expect to go afield twice each day during this period, 184 columns or squares would be required Birds and Seasons 69 after the first column of names, that is “ Date,” “Start,” etc. Knowing this, one may leave the needed number of pages before entering the second column of birds’ names. Such a record should begin first with a list of Permanent Residents following * Re- marks”; then should come Winter Residents, and migrants may be added as they are observed. Of course as the season advances less pages should be left. When the migra- tion is ended a new series of records should be begun, beginning with “ Date,” ‘ Start,” etc., then entering the Permanent Residents and after them the Summer Residents. These roll books are easily kept and their contents form graphic records of the rise and fall of the migration, showing when a species was first observed, when it was most numer- ous, and, if transient, when it was last seen. If possible the approximate number of birds seen should be given, and in recording other details noted above a simple system of abbreviations may be employed. For instance, a number enclosed in a circle implies that the birds seen were in a flock; S indicates sing - ing; the signs, ¢ or %, male or female respectively, while an asterisk refers to your journal of the same date wherein you may enter some observation at length. Whatever system of abbreviations is adopted, however, should be fully explained in the opening pages of your roll book. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SEASON’S READING Thoreau: ‘Spring,’ in ‘Walden,’ ‘Early Spring in Massachusetts.’ Burroughs: “The Return of the Birds’ and ‘Spring at the Capital’ in ‘Wake Robin,’ ‘ April’ in ‘Birds and Poets,’ ‘A Spring Relish’ in ‘Signs and Seasons,’ ‘Spring Jottings’ in “Riverby,’ Torrey: ‘A Bird-Lover’s April,’ ‘A Month’s Music’ in ‘Birds in the Bush,’ ‘A World of Green Hills,’ ‘Spring Notes from Tennessee.’ Flagg: ‘April’ in ‘A Year with the Birds.’ Bolles: ‘Land of the Lingering Snow.’ Keeler: ‘April in Berkeley,’ ‘ Berkeley in May’ in ‘Bird Notes Afield.’ Wright: ‘A New England May-Day’ and ‘When Orchards Bloom’ in ‘The Friendship of Nature.’ Crockett: ‘April’ and ‘May’ in ‘A Yearbook of Kentucky Woods and Fields.’ Parkhurst: ‘April’ and ‘May’ in ‘ The Birds’ Calendar.’ What bird is this? Bb. Field Description.—Length, 6.25 inches. Upper parts brownish; wings and tail darker; outer tail-feathers tipped with white; a whitish line over the eye; under parts whitish, with dark streaks. The species figured in February is the Pine Finch. For Woung Pbservers THE A B C OF BIRD -LORE BY ELIZABETH HOPPIN LEWIS is for duk, now is for Blue-jay, so handsome and bold. EXtiMetw We. ake told. is for Cat-bird, who 1- mocks everything. 7S