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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
DIVISION OF ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY AND MAMMALOGY.
Pee hb eae EN st.

ENGLISH SPARROY

(PASSER 2 eg ae

ESPECIALLY IN ITS RELATIONS TO AGRICULTURE.

Prepared under the direction of

Dr. C. HART MERRIAM, OrvirHoLoaist,

BY

ena. ARO VV ss,

ASSISTANT ORNITHOLOGIST.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,
18389.

ee See es

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL,

U. 8S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY AND MAMMALOGY,
Waskington, D. C., April 14, 1888.

Sir: The investigations in economic ornithology and mammalogy
ordered by Congress to be made under your direction consist of two
separate inquiries, namely: (1) concerning the food habits of birds and
mammals in their relation to agriculture; and (2) concerning the migra-
tion and geographical distribution of North American species.

It has been deemed best to publish the results of these investigations
in separate bulletins. In accordance with this decision [ transmit here-
with, as Bulletin 1 of the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mam-
malogy, a report upon the English Sparrow in North America, by Wal-
ter B. Barrows, assistant ornithologist.

Respectfully,
C. HART MERRIAM,
Ornithologist.
Hon. NORMAN J. COLMAN,
Commissioner of Agriculture.

ae
eae =

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page
PaLUBT En EE PEW SmI PANE iat e Sok Se el coe Ua E aes ould we cee sede cobees 3
(2 TPLGR GF DSS TESDES TNS oe UE in en aC 5
IBRHEATORY LETTER ......--.. Rectan ea pee ik So ices tng. Seater Vy. eo Ok a 9
MnO ONMe nese ect SS au lec Stakes s d's PGT Bagh A eaten, SEs Vee ea eeeeaa 11

ParRT I. SUMMARIES OF EVIDENCE—RECOMMENDATIONS—SPECIAL REPORTS.

SE MONeDIESTSSUMMNArICS OF evidence |... 2. <.- s.< ca-0nc-ces -2 see vedas 17-149
Ce) lmpottavion > “spread; inerease; checks ...2.....-..-. ..--++ -s-2--«<5¢ 17-40
PC REOUUetION-OL ENG SPALEOW | s05 02 es ne ore nen + -stose ) SOE 17
PevesioG of diliusionw of the Sparrow .-. 2222. .-22.+--s-oe -2enke 23
3. Rate of spread of the Sparrow and extent of area occupied at the
CHONG Oh he year POCO oe Skok, «ie ese eee 26
Pe atecOn Merease.OF TG GParrow lec <0 cn. cen 2 os wine es Ca UeeCee 27
5. Cheeks on the increase of the Sparrow..---.--.---..-+------ -2-- 3l
(a) Natural enemies of the Sparrow .<.......-.:-.s--4 .224- ol
(6) Relation of climate and food to the increase and spread of
GES PAREOWs oie o- eae eee ea er 32
(c) Direct influence of man in checking the increase of the
SEE OW cre Stee Neos he ss eR ase cee 30
(f); Public opimion .<-. -.- ahs ba Sa eee Regt era cee sos t See 30
Cyiheen Of ler slagOMm og. 2 oo pose os oon One eS 36
(3) Shooting, poisoning, trapping, nest-destroying ...---. 36
se of wire. oparrow for 100d : 2.325.556. .55-5e ene 38
(5) How the farmers of Great Britain regard the Sparrow. 3
Ne) pigery, to buds, blossoms, and foliase ...........--- ..-..-5..J.-esc-se 40-48
Prem enone alunos oe IO val aie oc Seam, eee 40
waeveshruepion Of buds and: blossems.....=. ..-<...-<5.4--45 Seeece 42
(C) Injury to fruits, garden seeds, and vegetables .....----..------------- 48-68
i Enpiry GO grOcs:. == 2:5... BES Ses Se oe aa yee he ct 49
(a) Injury to grapes..........-- he me RE oe LE hee 49
Ch) sinnry foo her small traits. on... 2a. tek. das SoS s5 See 56
(c) Injury to apples, pears, peaches, and other fruits.....-..- a7
vainjury, to earden verotables.. <5... 2.2 wedees wns ece Re Ree 60
(a) Greem veretables:. 222. .5-2...2--% Being ees Laie ia eae 61
CD Denar ie ttOn Oly PO asia ss Ke ards Sar gle on ele oe 61
(2)) Destruction of tardenicori:< - 22> sesh sis -Clise eine eee 62
(3) Destruction of lettuce, cabbage, and other vegetables. 63
(b), Gardém seeds... =-/2..2.. BAGS oe SNe eR, Year = Se one 64
(1) Destruction of seed of lettuce, cabbage, and turnip -.- 65
(2) Destiriction: of sunflower seeil 225)... 400.4 ses. eee Sos 65
(3) Destruction of weed seed and grass seed........-.---- 66

6 i TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page
SECTION First: Summaries of eyidence—Continued.

CD) Injury te grain 220. 52224. oe S22, ee Cee ee ee 68-738
1. Tnajary ‘to wheat... 271 .J..c2 2 eee eee 69
2. Anjury to eate. 22-2) cseel nado ble oe eee eee eee 73
3: Injury to rye and barley! ... t62.2236 3.2 Csece ae eee 74
40 Injury to eld. corn . 322. 2. Jae ee ee ee ee eee 74
Don pury bo. SOTSnWHMn oe ee ye eee eee pe Rica PNG re = = - 75
6. tojary to ricer. sc }25. ac i ie eS ee 76
(4. injury to buckwheat 2.2005. 3420 ee ee eee 7
Ss Negative evidences. 2. e225) cet ee ee 77

(2) Relation of the Sparrow to other birds.2: 2.22... .222 53 eee 78-98
1. List of native birds molested by the Sparrow..-....-.-.----------- 80
2. Relation of the Sparrow to birds which nest principally in eavi-

ties, natural or artificial, and often in boxes prepared
bY Man eee. se ee &2
(a) Sparrow versus Bluebird and Purple Martin ..---..----..- 82
(b) Nevative evidence. 2.25.04. 22 oe Se ae 86
(cy) Sparrow versus Wrens 222-2 We oe eee 87
3. Relation of the Sparrow to birds which usually nest in trees, or
at least in places not especially prepared for them by
MA. a. de. Si es ee er 88
(a) Sparrow versus Cliff Swallow and Barn Swallow..-.--..--- 88
(6) Sparrow versus Robin... 2252-50 oe oes oa ee 90
(c)) Sparrow versus Mockingbird 2.2. 0-254. 2- = ee ee 91
(d) Sparrow versus Vireos 22.0.2... oo enon - 2k ee eee 92
4, Relation of the Sparrow to other birds, under such conditions that
the question of nesting has no direct influence -.----- 92
(a) English Sparrow rersus Chipping Sparrow......---- ---- 93
(b) The Sparrow ““mobbing” other birds... 2222. 2-5. esse. 93
5. Summary of the question of Sparrow versus native birds....--.-.- 95

(F) Relation of the Sparrow to imsects...-2--2.-22-46 p22 -) po eee ~ 98-132

1-:General summary of evidence . 222 5) Jas 22 5-2 ca eee - 98
(a) Evidence derived from study of the contents of Sparrows’

siomachs 22562 2a oe ee ee eee 100
(6) Evidence derived from observation of the bird, without

subsequent examination of the stomach...--.-..------ 101

(1) List of insects said to be eaten by the Sparrow...---- 102

(c) Arcument from allavailable data.--22. 2£->5--<->-=— eee 103

(d) Seasonal variation in the insect food of the Sparrow --... 105

(e) Relation of the Sparrow to caterpillars...-....----------- 107

(1) Relation to the caterpillar of the Tussock Moth----.--- 107

(2) How the Sparrows protect the on ci. 2 ee 108

(3) Relation to Span-worms ...---.-.-- J. 14

2. Insectivorous habits of the English Sparrow, i Prof. C.V. Riley. 32i8

(a) Report of material examined in 1887. .-.--.---------. ---- 111

(1) Stomach contents: 2.25502 2245-4625 02 eee 111

(2) Habits of the insects concerned > .-2--- 2552 =- 92 eee 115

(3) Summary from the foregoing statements _---.---.---. 120

(6) Survey of work done in Europe...---.----.- eer = 123

(c) Review of work done in North America..-.....----------- 125

(G). Vables of food as shown by dissection ._- =. .22222---- «=e ee 133-146
1. Examined at the Department of Agriculture ........------------ 134
2. Examined.at West Chester, Pa.o...-2--.2. 6.22 ease eee eee 144

(i) Miscellaneous injuries .2._......0.0 002-9) L eee ee eee 146-149

TABLE OF CONTENTS. 7

Page.

SECTION SECOND: Recommendations.--....:--.---.--.----- Sn tae dg eg 150-166

(A) hecommendatrons for lewislation 22-25 (202s. Soe tee ees enceee 150
1. Suggestions as to the repeal of old laws and the enactment of

MEW ONES a 83a Canoe e aa balan tc ae eine kaa ds ce aloe 150

dae ON erect ins oA OE he aes Mes ere Sawa mwa pgeae Stee 153

(a)) Inexpediency of- bounties in general 52-2. 2 < se -n00 wake 153
(b) Estimated cost of exterminating the Sparrows in Ohio by

MOeANS/Ob DOMMES Ys le a ae soca eee Bae es eee 154
(c) Montana’s bounty law on Prairie Dogs and Ground Squir-

PSN leh lea alae apa eR oa Seat 161

(d) Michigan’s bounty law on English Sparrows...--..-.---- 162

(>) phecommendations to the people j22 2. .2 222... is. es. cede wadcce + woee 164

a eneransHeeeshONs” . es. oo caace wick oe wane bt eee Aans eee sale 164

Pe Wselof fre-arms, traps, and poison. -. 2.222.202. fol e te eee 164

3. Destruction of nests and disturbance at roosting places.......-.- 165

4. Sparrow clubs and shooting matches.-..-.......---...-....----- 166

a nonoparrow as an article of food 22. ....2. Jos. 2.2 aon. one oe oe
SECTION THIRD: Legislation affecting the English Sparrow in the Teed

Sides ree tee ke sees, See sks. So ee ee eee 167-173

SECTION FourTH: Destruction of the Sparrow by poisons, by Dr. A. K. Fisher.174-178
1. The poisons used in experiments, and the formule for their prep-

APAGLOMM IS So oy seas encase Wasa t her u ke 8 ee 174°
Pee OSh Ole nOlsOMOO OTAlin css Soe onoaat eens oa che ce eo sak eee 175
aC OMe RANGU CPE ShONG 2. 2 Lo) obo ws oR ce ous. sete tote seme 175
PPISEC CAN OM GOS por ao ede tees ea. eco a Sank hs os ele ae ak Slee 175
5. Synopsis of experiments...... RL ae ear tate ak mee tae GON oY 3 176
(q) Experiments with stryehnine..c -~ 2-.2 5.22). 222 eee 176
(b) Experiments with tincture of nux vomica..........-.---- 177
(c) Experiments with corrosive sublimate .............-..-.-- 177
(ad) Experiments with white arsenic. .-......-............--. Livi
(e) Experiments with arseniate of soda --.-.--..--.-.------- 17
(jf), Experiments with Fowler’s solution... .. 2.0.32. .2-2-.8 177
@) Experiments with London purple?_2.2s.. tsi... 2 eee i are
(yeh osperments with Paris ereen. 2. 422.5224 225. sess - sees 1738
SECTION FirTH: The trapping of Sparrows for sporting purposes, by W. uli
15 Wt ot oe OR ee reg ah ak eager eke SU ee CE ER cp Bn em PE 1738-191
ik Elistory and details of the business: ......<..-<----les222cete~ lke 178
2. English Sparrow catching. Description of apparatus and methods
employed, Lilmstrated)|:4 32... .2 te Soha i83

SECTION SIxTH: History of the House Sparrow and the European Tree Sparrow
(Passer montanus) at Saint Louis, Mo., by Otto Wid-
BMRA TI eee Sintec Te ies tea. ee a Sey ape ep 191-194

PART II. EviIpENCE.

SECTION First: Original testimony in detail (previously unpublished)...... 197-301
em ON SHUI ETON DY OLANES = oo 8a cc 8lcoe eos ace sdb tee ce cckee ds oeoe 199
(B) Rate of increase; checks, natural and artificial.................--0-- 232
ee mn MOIS AN LOLA GO oe te eo. oon al Sei coe eee ce les 240
(D) Injury to fruits, garden seeds, and vegetables ..........-.-..s2-- e+e 243
Geer Loe rain COPS... .2 2.2262 veka ot nk ou Eee ake ea een 252
Peele Lovaumer Wirdsie.. 2.02 2264 ok ee cer eS 260

(G) Relation to insects.

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TABLE OF CO. ] ; .
_ SECTION SECOND: Pablished (caiman ee Se eS oa on eee ase te = oa
(A) Outline of the history of the Sparrow question...... Magee tia eee
(B) Testimony relating mainly to the Sparrow in America ..-.....-...---
1. Krom the American Naturalists 222. ase ee Be Pee ye
SUL TOMS CLERCE yon cen a eee webiste
3. brom Morest and Stream. 22. 2 sae eee eee Sey ye a
4. rom obher periodicals: =o. eee eee ee Se NL aD he os ee
‘ DE sAVeON’ OUNET: SOUTCES 2 25 oie ce oe ee ena eh 2 oe
Rr (C) Relating mainly to the Sparrow in Europe .....-.5---..-------- Coe
a: = 1. From the evidence submitted to the select committee [of the.
ih British Parliament] on wild birds protection, 1873...
; 2. From ‘‘The House Sparrow” (relating mainly to England) .-.-..
< Part. By J. HH. Guriéy, jrtse. . 2 oe ee eee :
sPart:2:, By Col. Cs Russell: ss=assaeee sees ed ae teat
oes 3.2 rom other sources ..\/4.)'.255 24068 ae ee aa
Pai: (D) Relating mainly to the Sparrow in Australia ..-..--.=_ 2.52222 eee
ae 1. From the draft progress report of the board of investigation ap-
: oa - pointed by the governor of South Australia i in 1381... eh
ae 2. From the Adelaide Observer (South Australia).....--.. = tie
a. 3. From the Taranaki Herald (New Zealand)...-..........--------
i SECTION THIRD: List of all persons whose testimony appears in the Bulletin.3.
MIN OES eos wae hates a ia ae be de ainda Soe ee 2
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PREFATORY LETTER.

The English Sparrow question in North America has grown to be a
serious problem in economic science, particularly so far as the agricult-
ural interests of the country are concerned—and the term agriculture
must be here understood ia its broadest and most comprehensive sense
as including the grain-growing industries, truck-gardening, fruit-grow-
ing, the cultivation of flowers and ornamental shrubs and vines, and even
forestry. It was deemed proper, theretore, that this question should be
made the subject of the first bulletin of the newly established Division of
Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy.

The information necessary to a complete understanding of the sub-
ject has been collected with great care; the evidence submitted has
been honestly weighed, and the results impartially stated.

The labor of collecting and arranging for publication the matter con-
tained in Part II, together with the authorship of most of Part I, has
fallen upon my assistant, Mr. Walter B. Barrows,

Brief portions of Part I, including the tables relating to the increase
and spread of the Sparrow, were prepared by myself and are here re-
produced without quotation marks from my annual report for 1886.
Section 2 of Part I, consisting of recommendations for legislation and
recommendations to the people, has been written jointly by Mr. Barrows
and myself.

Prof. C. V. Riley, Entomologist of the Department, has kindly con-
tributed a full and valuable report on the Insectivorous Habits of the
English Sparrow, based chiefly on the examination of stomachs sub-
mitted to him by this Division.

Section 4, on the Destruction of Sparrows by Poisons, was prepared
by Dr. A. K. Fisher, assistant ornithologist, by whom the experiments
were conducted.

Section 5, on Trapping the Sparrow, was contributed by Mr. W. T.
Hill, who makes a business of trapping Sparrows in Indianapolis, Ind.
The cuts illustrating Mr. Hill’s article, together with the description of
the apparatus used, were taken from the American Field of January
14, 188%,

9

he eae
“eh

10 PREFATORY - LETTER.

Section 6, treating of both the English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and

the European Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) in Saint Louis, Missouri,

was contributed by the well-known ornithologist, Mr. Otto Widmann.
This article is particularly instructiveinasmuch as it emphasizes the con-

trast in disposition and habits of two closely related European birds

which were brought to Saint Louis at about the same time.

The present report, as a whole, is believed to be the most systematic,
comprehensive, and important treatise ever published upon the economic
relations of any bird. .

C. HART MERRIAM.

INTRODUCTION:

Questions relating to the English Sparrow were contained in the first
circular on economic ornithology issued by the Department of Agricult-
ure (in July, 1885). Subsequently these questions were amplified, and
during the year 1886 a special circular and schedule were prepared,
upwards of 5,000 copies of which have been distributed.

It has been the aim of the Department, in collecting information on
this question, to get as much direct, original, unpublished evidence as
possible, and to this end the circulars sent out asked for “facts from
personal observation.” It was desired, furthermore, to obtain date
from all parts of the country over which the Sparrow had spread, not
only in order to map accurately its distribution, but to detect if possi-
ble any differences in character or habits which might be due to varied
climatic or other conditions. In addition, therefore, to the systematic
distribution of circulars of inquiry among the agriculturists and nat-
-uralists of the country, requests for information were published in
many agricultural and scientific periodicals, as well as in newspapers
throughout the country, in the hope that many persons not otherwise
reached might become interested in the subject, and be led to detail
their own experience. The result has been, in the main, very gratify-
ing, and to date there have been received from all these sources replies
from about 3,300 persons, nearly two-thirds of whom report the Spar-
row already established in their immediate vicinity, and, with very few
exceptions, steadily increasing in numbers.

The remainder of these 3,300 reports, coming principally from post-
masters in sections which the Sparrow has not yet reached, have been
used mainly in mapping the limits of its distribution.

In addition to the material thus collected, the American Ornitholo-
gists’ Union has turned over to the Department of Agriculture the re-
Sults of its investigations, begun in 1883, on the eligibility or ineligibil-
ity of the European House Sparrow in America. This material, com-
prising full replies from about 110 persons, was collated and arranged
by Dr. F. H. Hoadley, who, from interest in the subject, kindly volun-
teered his services. |

Naturally, the discussion of this subject in America for several years
past has led to the publication, in scientific and other periodicals, of a

; 11

‘ INTRODUCTION.

vast amount of valuable information besides that which has come di-

rectly into the possession of the Department of Agriculture; and when
to this is added the voluminous and oftentimes valuable publicaaem
relating to the status of the Sparrow in other countries, it will be seen
that the material available for a satisfactory investigation of the Spar-
row problem is very full and measurably complete. The collation and
comparison of such data have involved a large amount of care and
patience, and in presenting the results of this investigation to the pub-
lic it is believed that any one so disposed can find in the present report
facts enough to set at rest all doubts as to the economic status of this
well known species. |

At the outset of the investigation ine fact was recognized that doubt-
ers on either side of the question would not be likely to-abandon their

positions on the simple presentation of any amount of mere opinion ;_

and it was therefore determined to print in detail all the evidence on
which the conclusions were based, so that each reader might see for
himself whether the facts had been fairly interpreted, and whether the
verdict was just or unjust.

In accordance with this plan, thé present Bulletin will be found to
consist of two very distinct parts, viz, evidence and deduction, the
former far exceeding the latter in cola! Under the head of evidence
will be found in its appropriate place every scrap of information rele-
vant to the inquiry, under the name of the person contributing it, and
accompanied, whenever possible, by the exact date and lecality to whieh
the information relates.*

Most of the information contributed was received in reply to ques-

tions contained in circulars of inquiry. Wherever possible these re-
plies have been printed in the same form in which they were received,
and when for any reason it has been found necessary to change the form
of a reply, either in dismembering a statement relating to several
subjects, or in condensing several statements relating to the same
subject, the utmost care has been taken to preserve the-exact meaning
of the observer; while in all cases where the meaning has been obscure,
the statements have been given verbatim. Perhapsit might have been
better in such cases to omit the statement altogether, but the fact has
been kept constantly in mind that all such omissions might be con-
strued by some as evidence of partiality or prejudice.

The deductions from this evidence, which constitute the larger por-
tion of Part I of this Bulletin, are the result of careful study and com-
parison, and have been made, it is believed, with perfect fairness to all

* The amount of testimony thus arranged proved to be so large—more than treble

the size of all the remainder of the Bulletin—that when submitted for publication it.

was found to be absolutely impossible to print it entire, and consequently it has been
reduced very greatly. The utmost care has been taken, however, to preserve the im-
partial character of the evidence as a whole, by retaining both favorable and un-
favorable testimony as nearly as possible in the sam2 proportions in which they ex-
isted in the report as originally prepared,

INTRODUCTION. 13

sides of the question. The history of the Sparrow controversy in Amer-
ica shows plainly, however, that it would be folly to expect all friends
of the Sparrow to accept our conclusions as to its character and habits.
There are some persons whose minds are so constituted that nothing is
evidence to them except what is derived from their own observation, and
as this unfortunate mental infirmity is commonly correlated with the
total inability to observe anything which interferes with their theories,
it makes little difference whether their opportunities have been good or
bad, their position is unassailable. With this class of observers we
have nothing to do. No amount of evidence will change their opinion,
and fortunately for the good of mankind it makes little difference what
that opinion may be. But the mass of American agriculturists, me-
chanics, and professional men are reasonable beings, willing to believe
the reports of other men whose opportunities for observation have been
better than their own, and it is believed that a majority of these men
will be glad to examine the large amount of evidence presented, and
settle for themselves the question of the Sparrow’s character.

For those who have not time to read the evidence in detail summaries
of the evidence on each head have been prepared, including tables show-
ing the alleged injuries to each crop, and briefer summaries showing
the numbers of favorable and unfavorable reports on each question.
No doubt these tables are often misleading, for in them a simple yes or
no from a man whose observation has been limited carries the same
weight as the mature results of haif a life-time of observation by an-
other; yet many facts are brought out strongly which might be over-
looked otherwise, and the tendency to give undue weight to numbers
alone is partly corrected by the samples of evidence submitted in con-
nection with each summary. - |

In regard to these “samples of evidence” it should be stated that it
has been the endeavor to select those which would give a fair idea of
the character of the evidence, not simply those which support any one
view of the case. Undoubtedly objection will be made on the one
hand to the selection of so few favorable reports, and ‘on the other to
the printing of any at all; but the aim has been to give each side of
the question a representation proportionate to the weight of evidence,
and when any deviation from this rule has been made it generally has
been in a direction favorable to the weaker side, that is, to the Sparrow.
The selection of many examples of the same kind from any one section
of the country has been avoided, as it seemed best in many cases to call
attention to the similarity of the reports from widely separated locali-
ties.

Sau ule ae Rear Be

SUMMARIES OF EVIDENCE; RECOMMENDATIONS; SPECIAL REPORTS,

15

i

iu put =

Ee Se 2... 2
" i i Wy 228
) i MH eS = —hlmcewmUrle

ENGLISH SPARROW, PASSER DOMESTICUS.

From Yarrell.

16

SECTION FIRST.—SUMMARIES OF EVIDENCE,

IMPORTATION; SPREAD; INCREASE; CHECKS.

INTRODUCTION OF THE SPARROW.

The English Sparrow* was first brought to this country, so far as
authentic information has reached the Department, in the fall of 1850,
when the Hon. Nicolas Pike and other directors of the Brooklyn In-
stitute imported eight pairs into Brooklyn, N. Y.

As this first importation of Sparrows is of much interest, we give in
full Mr. Pike’s account ofit.and of the following importation a year or
two later. He says:

“Tt was not till 1850 that the first eight pairs were brought from
England to the Brooklyn institute, of which I was then a director.
We built a large cage for them, and cared for them during the winter
months. Harly in the spring of 1851 they were hberated, but they did
not thrive.

“Tn 1852 a committee of members of the Institute was chosen for the
re-introduction of these birds, of which I was chairman.

“ Over $200 was subscribed for expenses. I went to England in
1852, on my way to the consul-generalship of Portugal. On my arrival
in Liverpool I gave the order fora large lot of Sparrows and song birds
to be purchased at once. They were shipped on board the steam-ship
Huropa, if am not mistaken, in charge of an officer of the ship. Fifty
Sparrows were let loose at the Narrows, according to instructions, and
the rest on arrival were placed in the tower of Greenwood Cemetery
chapel. They did not de well, so were removed to the house of Mr.
John Hooper, one of the committee, who offered to take care of them
during the winter.

‘In the spring of 1833 they were all let loose in the grounds of Green-
wood Cemetery, and a man hired to watch them. They did well and
multiplied, and I have original notes taken from time to time of their
increase and colonization over our great country.”

*The true name of this bird is the ‘‘ House Sparrow.” The name ‘ English Spar-
row” is a misnomer, as the species is not confined to Hngland, but is native to
nearly the whole of Hurope. The fact that most of the birds brought to America
came from England explains the origin of the misleading name by which it is now
so widely known that any attempt to change it would be futile.

$404— Bull. t-—2 | 17

18 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Col. William Rhodes, of Quebec, Canada, states that in 1804 he in-
troduced English Sparrows at Portland, Me. (forest and Stream, Vol.
VILLI, p. 165). Others were introduced there iz 1858 by Mr. Thomas
Amory Deblois, and about the same time Mr. Jos. Peace Hazard intro-
duced them at Peace Dale, R. I. These last birds came from Liver-
pool, England, and some escaped in Boston where they were landed.
Nothing seems to have been heard of the escaped birds, however, and
ten years later they were first regularly introduced into Boston Com-
mon. In 1860, twelve birds were turned loose in Madison Square,
New York City; in 1864, they were introduced to Central Park, and
two years later two hundred were set free in Union Park, New York
City. About the same time they were first fully established in the city
of Quebec, Canada, although one or two apparently unsuccessful at-
tempts had been made previously.

In 1867 forty pairs were imported at New Haven, Conn, and the
same year a colony was established at Galveston, Tex. In 1868 about
twenty Sparrows were liberated on Boston Common, followed by
more the next year, while at the same time twenty were released in
Charlestown, Mass., only a mile or two away. This year (1869) wit-
nessed the importation, in one lot, of a thousand Sparrows by the city
government of Philadelphia; and this probably is the largest single im-
portation of Sparrows ever made tothis country. ‘Che same year twenty
pairs were brought from Europe to Cleveland, Ohio, and sixty-six pairs
from New York to Cincinnati, Ohio. Within the next two or three
years they were introduced at San Francisco, Cal.; in 1875 a colony
was imported and liberated at Salt Lake City, Utah; and about two
years later they were introduced at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and at various
points in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. 7

In many of the cases thus far mentioned it is positively known that
the Sparrows were brought to this country from the Old World, and
mainly, if not entirely, from Great Britain and Germany. But no
sooner had they become fairly numerous at any of these points than
people began to take them thence to other places, sometimes in large
numbers, but more often only a few pairs at atime. In most cases these
few birds were carefully watched, protected, and fed, and so multiplied
rapidly, forming new colonies from which the birds spread steadily
without assistance, and more rapidly by successive transportations by
man. This important factor in the rapid increase and wide distribution
of the Sparrow in America has been too generally ignored, and it is only
within the past year that we have come to realize something of the mag-
nitude of the “ craze” which led so many people to foster and distribute
this serious pest. None of our circulars relating to the Sparrow asked
distinctly for information about its importation or introduction, bat
only for the date of its first appearance. In most cases, therefore, cor-
respondents have simply given the information asked, and only an oc-
casional observer has alluded to the manner of its coming.

DIRECT

IMPORTATIONS FROM EUROPE.

hs)

Yet from the occasional statements thus made, and from various re-
liable published records, we have been able to make a list of more than
a hundred places in the United States and Cauada to which Sparrows
have been taken, either by direct importation from the Old World or
by transportation from place to place after their arrival in Americi
From the casual manner in which these data have been obtained it may
be considered certain that they represent but a very small fraction of

the number of points at which the Sparrow has been introduced ;
the early dates of many of the importations, as well as the gre

but

sae dis-

tances separating many of the places, are very significant as affording a
partial explanation for the unparalleled rapidity with which this bird

has overspread the inhabited part of the continent.

lists explain themselves :

The following

TABLE I.—Places where English Sparrows have been introduced directly from Europe.

Place. Date. No.
mGok lym, IN. Wool occas mmm = aie amine cies - imme e cee nnn eee ee eon eblvamdel8 522222 seeeer 100
Pore! WW) Soc toossse cdocmeda sods agesiad deme e Cues Cour eCese gocSce case ad 1654 /amid 1858. neem eee
eae IDalle, JR. Uooscco etbssonsooou saocoo onsen cone sboseeogeeaoucHeosuods DS) Sies 8 cease aecoee eee ee eee
IeesiOm, WAS sondd Seco 6 sqben ssband 4 Seesso Koo eesnordo cer tadeoupbeSsoe 1858, 1868, and 1869 _.. 60
DOW? SOR: ING, NGS ESE SESS 3 Sec eRC RES Coe DS OANOeone pote coer ere se rT erat 1860, 1864, and 1866 __. 220
IROE MESO IM, Wo bseceedeons sodden uteote sensoobecd sacooDaUboonebceccee Between 1865 and 1869 | ~100
IMeur Blawem, (COtmst.5c¢0cocn0 adeno" beceseeboecd Doobp oo Cnsebs conte peeroe BS} OY oa rsa as ate eh £0
(GahyeSiOid, Este So ce B poe Geb OCO USE OO Ee Heb Co FOU COUN ES Seeo oA rHoSesbe nS} OV Ge yee PRS tress, te Racal
baat SVIDTn, LECCE a PRES Al te Ve a a i 9 BS ce SOON ots ch serene lee 2)
Cleveland, OID 3 Se cae Ee ape RO AL Go ai WSCOE seco aeeaeeee 40
Slee Fant en Co nyo ap ete Lore vee ath aya) ava cette a leveystetia ae elniontiel'm) sa ate keate mcm injc\a/alele)e wise wtele(araye EOS) Oe COMER. soseecae 1, 010
SS Up In COM Clb erm itech Mle = ope ore late te lela oye icntaie Bio sie ra erwlaralniaimaterain’a slate e\afelalaia's. lara 'avele UBT S wre Web sos sooac 2
/ANETOM; QHIO sreoctiebosdas BASES DEO OOPS ECO DE eo eee CM eI niet isereie Il cif ]fo Damen nOy artery Si 5 etre lane Cede
Fort Howard, Wis é
Sheboygan, sige RIOR Gama Mra dS cea she) hae s Aon ol 6
Lowey Ciliny, LOWE) season dodeooueeonns ssuees coenesenesecoconoee soSnoousencer 5

TABLE II.—Places, not included in Table I, where Enylish Sparrows have been introduced,

San Francisco.

New York City.

Griffin, Ga.
Do.

New York City.
Uae eoaP nat Ind,

Place. Date. Number.

Alabama:

PU cen eipheyeeeric sci clele ist = ce es SSO ras ee ree es eee AND IUS etches sole
Arkausas:

WL SHMOWIGS —sesabodoeoce BetweenlsGamdclS80)s| see aie ee elena
California:

Sahn NGaNWGlKOO beadeos sass TUS Ba On ec INS\T Ae, oa cua, PI FER UOER RS lies NSE Ua a

PSO Cb OM ate Sectals Aictare are ieiese eS Seg apern tants matics, Sees easel Srcenc raj ates eke e) aes
Colorado :

MD ONIVIOI! eters ale eiateiehiectatee LST He ctacl eile 2 Aeieee 6 pairs (subse-
quently disap-
peared).

Conneeticut:

UN Grawalcllier Hoe sss steep eters = Between lSGa aud si Os| eos weeecee sealer see

Jeu hnG le eB ee eae TSH: ok a Seeman a) oe Hyd Gecrsesemaeies
District of Columbia:

VAIS LUNG LOM es a ciara setae AS HOMOT FCAT ETM Hs ele tay leia oe aiateveccicyeratere ete ale oe
Georgia:

PARE LEV AM (C OMEN Te va Celts) eel LS Orsini. fs afotarans ice ateinulls ele = bre Se erect ee erererare

MTC OMN(COMMENVANE AT) eer | LOTS) Caceres ==) slater ioral eae eles seeielecaat

ARON Csi laes ee rea! a vein wae NSS OW SRA sete es ae eee Tey Ree Secs eee

WEST COG ner tetetatesr ste cen elliths 2 arbres ties ore seers ca Se, were UMS Sec eM shee s

Illinois:

Pe eae) See cSsecacoeres SOS r esi ale seri sreyeers 3 sa ROG ENS hea

WALI as tercmeccs ouima GiGi eacccet Saar ere enDaAlnSe: se auasoas

IVEOMMVOTD Ms. cares eiseteele oj « Between 1872 and 1874. aEne 100 birds..

QUINCY ---peeeseevvercer+| 1870. -corcvenesccneeees GUPAIES tee stalctn sims

Where obtained.

20

THE ENGLISH

SPARROW

IN AMERICA.

TABLE II.—Places, not included in Table I, where English Sparrows have been intro-

duced— Continued.
Place. Date. Number. Where obtained.

Indiena.

Hivanewiilepeeearers cosece URS Sao ae Pesan ay aie leases tet eee er nee ee

Indianapolis)2so.2 222-2 oe eT SMsamiel Shee eer Several hundred..| New York City.
Maman cbeeesscac: 6 sane. ENO Nes emodadoor ce DEPeULU Se ayn alee ela os

IgE MINOT ec cammedoocnaoe 1869 Se. Gee Soar sac on sae ence eer eee Phila lelphia, Pa.

Towa:

Cedarpkvapidstesee= scans Aout, (S74 sh e25.5 225 | see se see cee ee Massachusetts.
DayenpOnbeces see cee TRON Sat eee awe 10 pairs Se Sa sees
IDWIDWOWNG sacren ssoscou Te: NGHG: Saeco wes cesieiee oa 20 PaliSne sereeeeee
Kansas:
ILA TCO COeoodde casousoade STOOL USTs ose oe Sone ce eae
Topeka eves ea tes Soon GAS cae Sef De om ® DIRWSt ates eee New York City.
Kentucky:
IEOIUIS WU) Ce See eSocns cose ASG San CASO sees 2 Se ol gasiccnseecooe eats nee
Louisiana :
News OulcamS=- seanere cea ee Between S74 encdais7Gn tesa ome eneaeeee se
Maine:
SACOM erates qccae ces seek SOLON LTC Pay see ne oot | eter eae eis
IB EVASIGOMN coneoaccosrS enor UBT ACS Oi ay es ya eee OCs Soto ee
Massachusetts:
Brooklineas sen-ceeeeee eee TS08i. tec Oe eee ine hell etineee ae oer
Cottage Citye=-2-e> eee NYO WAS ee aaconesen About 24 birds
Somerwlleeees Se aeeeecc oc ITS ELS : arc Se lac cers aos Se oi lieaterateles ieee eee Boston (?).
Michigan:
DaAGKSOMee ce aeceroce set Between Si-san dels Gu|eaese-eewe lessees
ONVOSS OF nseis = oseemeeee ese NGOS Sasson ree rere A spind swe eseeeec

Minnesota :

SHU al nel ee hl Meneame epee eee gla (C7 (yWEL nn a tae i eS hoo aae

Mississippi:

\WiesteRolmbeescm.seseceee T8280 Fe oooass os eh eiececce 10vor 12 pairs=---=-

Missouri:

Brookedieldl= cesta. = ssenee- AT OUtE LSS Bat ere ace kss) alloc cee Serer tee ere Hannibal, Mo.
ELE TMM severe sets sole Sears STAs ee sae ee SONS ToD BITS ese creeds Sere Belleville, Ill.
MC XICOLE cesar eine hee AlbomtlS(Onticiste casss.cleestesne cece on aera

Muieen (Ona cpassoccenscs TSR BN Eee a Os |S a el eee aie eee eat. Sere New York. -
AlN, Momisseesee eee TSO Sseicn te cae eee IMOMEANE OHMS. sosooe New York City.

Nebraska: ;

INSe Dias ean Gillie state 2 | 53 Se, patete etre am ene es ei ee mage eee Philadelphia, Pa.

New Jersey:
ickenvonipeseae recesses About USTs 2S5. sseiccl Honma oe eie ee aes

New York:
Pouchkeepsie -.........- INNO AE Goa noods celloacisoo oocecsdooucess

Noith Carolina:
Goldsborough ........... LET GHORI Ieee apes Meces sebaeeaaosaece
WAS OT EEt Se weenie ances Si Groml Siieccncs asa About 50 birds

Ohio: ;
(QHM@WUTNO . scasncsogse ace TEGO) 5 Pee ee oa ee G6) Pats ieee
Coshoctonieee- ecm see =e = OTA. stae see eeercs scene IB IO Sfeaass soc ase Wasbington, D.C.
MEI riebtapemre cect: NM, WO ssoecabdsoallosnessscedeass.caoses Sew York City.
IPO USAM OU Gesconcan dose WQAS ea Siesta ore eleterers 2 AUS sonacaoedoo:
Steubenvillles 2222-22. - 8 TSS0iORASSIR SS So Ae iss enetesine see cree ier
Wrapalsonetanescecemeaccs. YAGI) ONG ISS eee ey pe eel eerie Cee ei eastagaraer :
NWiarene aces oo sooceeen cs TSG Ors Rete er rn ree Several pairs..--.- New York City.

Pennsylvania j ‘

EEG aa a ess esctic Seema Between 1871 and 1874-_| 102 birds........- Philadelphia, Pa.
Germantown ==---.------ 1873 or earlier. ......-.|---------------+---- 2 bs ctl
NIM Ond sae eee tela a ieee ae ON Norns oye een sallersccoc = ooeaeare a5 New York City.

Pennsylvania: : : ;
Shippensburgh .......... About ls6s ooo ssseee es Ayal seers ase Philadelphia, Pa.
AN CUS WAL ease as, ec cee= ne ik WoutPiSiar te. - seas 5 pairs ------------ ; ‘
Wiashimotonm see sse.c 2 ne. TST che aah meer ft biedSrs-2 2 ae Philadelphia, Pa.
Waynesburgh ........--- Ao Sileeeene = a ieee See ls = ee Do.

West Chester..........-. Auouut Sito mee seen a. G NING se cases = Do.

Rhode Island : ;

INS OCs soe SSA BBe s,m le [Retr Se een nc ree cera ee 8 binds.-c2 -aeccece Boston, Mass.

IProwidence\sassercees ee 1866 or earlier..-...--- Si bind's2see.2 Fass New York City.
‘South Carolina:

@hesternC woes oussneces MSHQVORALST Serie aes es oe eee ee eee

Colum biaige.- -ciaice aan coe ECO OTS TOL eee eee A few pairs. .-----

Tennessee: :
Kin oxcvililieeene cers aio eeice aire aeceetee speach ae Be MFENRES) so asc ac00se: New York City.
MomiphiSwensnescecres cece LSM ee ae ae eee see oe 3 pars .-----------

Vermont:

ae Saint Johnsbury..--..... Between 1874 and 1876 |.------------------.

irginia: 5 :
Galpepen 2: v.0.-5 i. <. STOIC OTE te setae ha atcn seneacic cones Washington, D. Ce
Fredericksburgh .:...... JNM, Sooo osoos .| 5 younmg.----.----- Richmond, Va.
loynchiburehie snes seen. (Mpowtil SiG sos ee. eee Oe ee eee eee: Do.
INOTIOV CS eels cine ce se wiciae Between 1871 and 1874 |....---------+------ !
RACHM ON peeeee eee eee TO eee ee cera ne ere eres a eerie tlete craters ate vee--e-| New York City.

1
,

s ee. Cee I ~~

EARLY COLONIES IN AMERICA. aA

TaBLe II.—Places, not included in Table I, where English Sparrows have been intro-
duced —Continued.

Place. Date. Number. Where obtained.

Virginia:

MOTI errs oe iercrei asin sisters Stes > NSO LOMAS TM ras ele rie ste ceey| erect eiovNaixtovs seetsbereere sra-e Richmond, Va (?)

SHUN AIO | kee eres ee oe SASS Raat ROR te Se SH A ie Senco cna Dene PR Nelo

AW aeRO Ni Sesavseosoabes Between. UOue ads T6 eet ee ee,

AACN Wit IC ER ena ae eee Si orOr USiGiet eee snk dats ses sence eerste Richmond, Va.
Wisconsin :

Hoxlakehiaiaso Sasser USS OU MISA eee smerer Ole ( WWwhAsIs) Sess ce Milwaukee, Wis.

ENED PUL OGG Peseeret nae cere corte Oi Ole = Amie An halalepegeiaicrete || eee Sie) wall see pes heer Do.

AMMIACIS OMe asin =o aciee = =) HSB Mea tee e oeretot pate at About 20 pairs....| New York City.

Miliwramikee. sae case-ce: eR) OY Oy Ot yal ev UNE es ere er ae ee eee nS Rn ap en

SOU OU OO Fairer eee Between 1876 and | DANG tae este eee

Stevens Point .....-...-. Lye) ia bras le Una es epee tues aha Gilbindisnse sccitac es Detroit, Mich.

AY UIGL Gae e MBS Oia Pratertevete atelier are caren eae taiay stoterons since -crolcraves Milwaukee, Wis.
Canada:

METER SINS) ce cctee mie sro A STORO PAST Olea eae ean ee iets ieee eae

jsleymoolltiona, Ollie poconouea. SAW OMSL STONE ae eatey yes (eee BELA ee ee

Osawa Omteeco-2-.-s ae: MD OMG BIG Sec Set Re ea ean te ante elven.

Ottawa; (Om (222 -2.5-40 54: AuoubvliS Hor s= seer see e. UO PRWESES Seoadoe ace

Strathmore OMtescacace soc | UOlekee = ao.ek ert seme ele GPUS aves voce New York City.

MonontonOmt) ace so oe POL SD eens C SECs, ||P eaRO De aRe re aee ene

Miomimealyn@ gene ase ae. FUSS CO Re ae ee a ee

Quehbecw@) weiss. aS. SGP ee eee eS ON ee oe We PS Re ek

TaBLE III.—Places where English Sparrows are said to have appeared as early as 1870,
and where they may have been introduced, although not so reported.

Place. Date. Place. Date.
‘Connecticut : New Jersey—Continued.
IMEmICHESI CIE rasa sonia -/-cia 2 = - 1869-1872. CCIUBUSS EN 5 Me cage PN 1870.
iMMeridemees-ss----. Bae arene 1870. Civaithiamiy 222-8 eec-o. 2s. ----| About 1868.
NM dMetOwaal sae scccictee beac seek 1870. Miaclwenisac@ki= esas. -e 2525 ----| About 1870.
Georgia: IMeweProyidencer. 2. 222.2425 1866 or earlier.
ALDINE S28 CeCe aC Soe tee 1867. Jee NO okPoe coood eA Sore 1870.
INCOM atte Gace eae eee wee 1865-1870. New York:
Illinois JOINS Tera res sna oneeoseese 1866.
OMallonsWepob os. s.- e-e- 1869-1870. Wredoniiar se Pae \ tosecnt cn oe 20 Avout 1870,
JO GIT sree ES Saree eee a ere, About 1870. OSNV.E OOo see Meer eee. 1870-1872.
Indiana ; Sing Sing Bare ete: Asta tea Se 1866.
UMMARCHOM! secs ane ase a2 1870 or before. | SoG (OLVIS(E alin a Nelo aes 1863-1864.
NVA HOME ge ioe eee nie)s see < a, 1870. | Wien. Beret eM ars 1861,
WLIO TOO Sea Sts SesCO Ue Se ees 1863. [2] Ohio:
New Albany........ Preece oe 1865-1870. I ANGE Ositstsceem tetas eve on tense ee 1867.
Towa: EVaim it Ome seco steele eh About 1868.
x eau me ton Petiscintee daaale dena! 1869-1870. Pennsylvania:
entucky: TANGA S BUT eatery eee ob Sioa eayoe 1870 or earlier.
Bloomitieldlas sae. ccs cess cases 1868-1869. Miracles irs onln eee ey ee 1868 a roe
HEC SOU OD erase Sere trate caine Sok ee 1868-1871. OU SLONWU te eerie’ o oes Se About 1870.
Maryland: Wire litsvilllon see ene erie AA 1867 or 1868.
Cuber end Oe Cree 1868. Virginia:
AN COC Ker eRe edie ae eereiarse' so About 1865. SGA UN OWUCG) ON aC eee ae ee 1870 or 1871.
NV sWUUMIS PORE co. isics soe esos. oe 1870, NY RESTOT 5 syste noni ses 1870 or aie
Massachusetts : West Virginia;
OK OKOR SE sabe samen anme ner me ‘| 1870 or earlier. SHeMherdstowileessen sees 1866.
MWeditiond 22 .scems teers ci = nes 1869-1872. Wisconsin:
SOLIS a caen teste ncee Se 1866. AG eV or cee Ae mee About 1870
New Jersey : DOME er ete 266-13 Soha Ee ro! Do.
IB OC ONT A Aaae Ae oor eee 1868.

——

A study of these tables shows that even before 1875 there were many

large Sparrow colonies throughout the United St: ites,

ast of the Mis-

sissippi, as well as several in Canada, one or more in eat one at Gal-

veston, Tex., and probably another in

sinall colonies also in
Dbraska.

San Irancisco, Cal. There were

eastern Towa and in Wiswiark: Kansas, and Ne-

rom this time to the present, ae marvelous rapidity of the Sparrow’s
multiplication, the surpassing swiftness of its extension, and the pro-

22, _ THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. :

digious size of the area it has overspread are without parallel in the
history of any bird. Like a noxious weed transplanted to a fertile soil,
it has taken root and become disseminated over half a continent before
the significance of its presence has come to be understood. The expla-
nation of this phenomenal invasion must be found in part in the direct
assistance given by man in carrying it from place to place intention-
ally; in part in the peculiar impetus usually given prolific species when

-carried to a new country where the conditions for existence are in every

way favorable; and in part in its exceptional adaptability to a diversity
of physical and climatic conditions. This adaptability has enabled it
not only to endure alike the tropical heat of Australia and the frigid
winter of Canada, but to thrive and become a burdensome pest in both
of these widely separated lands.

At first sight it seems difficult to understand why man should have
taken so much interest in this bird, and aided in its rapid increase and
spread; but the consideration of a few points bearing upon the matter
will render the case more intelligible.

A considerable part of our population, and especially that of the
newer parts of the country, consisted of Europeans who naturally re-
membered with pleasure many of the surroundings of their former
homes and doubtless often longed for the familiar chirp of the Sparrow.
They had no strong associations connected with our American birds,
and our treeless cities and uncultivated prairies contrasted strongly
with the thickly settled country—half garden, half city—which so many
of them had left. So, as opportunity offered, small lots of Sparrows and
other uropean birds were brought to this country; or after the Spar-
rows became abundant in our Eastern cities they were carried inland
to a large number of different places. There is little doubt that if we
could obtain the data relating to the introduction of Sparrows at all
points where they are now found in the Mississippi Valley, we should
find that by far the larger part of these introductions kad been accom-
plished by English, German, and French citizens, inspired by the ree-
ollections of the birds of their fatherland.

in addition, the prevailing ignorance of the average American citizen
with regard to our native birds, joined to the totally erroneous, or at
least grossly exaggerated, reports of the benefits conferred by the Spar-
rows in New York, Philadelphia, and other Eastern cities, tended to in-
crease the interest which naturally attached to an imported bird, until
many persons went to the expense of purchasing and shipping Spar-—
rows to considerable distances in the belief that they were insectivorous
birds and must prove beneficial wherever they could be naturalized.
In this way a veritable Sparrow “boom” was started, and the price of
Sparrows in New York went up to such a point that many people de-
sirous of obtaining the birds found it cheaper to club together and im-
port them direct from Earope; while in many cases this was doubtless —
done from the desire to obtain birds from the neighborhood of the im-

METHOD OF DIFFUSION. ry,

porter’s native place, or through distrust of the kind of Sparrow already
imported, which, unfortunately, was widely known from the first as
the English Sparrow. We can never know how many separate impor-
tations were thus made, nor how many thousands of individuals were
introduced, but it is certain that the number of places thus supplied with
birds is much greater than has been supposed, and considering this fact
and the rapid rate at which the Sparrow breeds, we ought not to won-
der that it has so completely overrun the country.

METHOD OF DIFFUSION OF THE SPARROW.

In the ninth edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica the distinguished
ornithologist, Prof. Alfred Newton, makes the following statement:

The House Sparrow is far too well known to need any description of its appearance
or habits, being found, whether in country or town, more attached to human dvwell-
ings than any other wild bird; nay, more than that, one may safely assert that it is
not known to thrive anywhere far away from the habitations or works of men, ex-
tending its range in such countries as Northern Scandinavia and many parts of the
Russian Empire as new settlements are formed and land brought under cultivation.

Thus questions arise as to whether it should not be considered a parasite through-
out the greater portion of the area it now occupies, and as to what may have been its
native country. Moreover, of late years it has been inconsiderately introduced to
several of the large towns of North America and to many of the British colonies, in
nearly all of which, as had been foreseen by ornithologists, it has multiplied to excess,
and has become an intolerable nuisance, being unrestrained by the natural checks
which partly restrict its increase in Europe and Asia.

This statement of the Sparrow’s relations to man is unquestionably
true wherever the bird is known, and hence in America we should not
expect to find it except in settled portions of the country. The manner,
however, in which it overruns a new country to which it is introduced
differs somewhat from the way in which it extends its range in
older countries as the area of cultivation is extended. In America,
the method by which the Sparrows spread without the direct aid of
man is peculiar. They first invade the larger cities, then the smaller
cities and towns, then the villages and hamlets, and finally the populous
farming districts.

As the towns and villages become filled to repletion the overflow moves off into the
country, and the Sparrow’s range is thus gradually extended. Occasionally, how-
ever, it is suddenly transported to considerable distances by going to roost in empty
box-cars and traveling hundreds of miles. When let out again it is quite as much at
home as in its native town. In this way it reached St. John, New Brunswick, in
1883, on board the railroad trains from the west. In like manner another colony ar-
rived March 1, 1884, in grain cars from Montreal. Similarly it has appeared at a
number of towns in the United States. (Hoadley MS.)

The cities and towns first invaded by the Sparrow (of course exclud- —
ing those where they are actually carried by men) are in most cases
railroad towns; and especially in the West there is no doubt that the
great railways along which vast quantities of grain are transported have
been so many great highways along which the Sparrows have traveled
Slowly from place to place. More or less scattered grain is always to

24 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

be found along these railways, and the Sparrows naturally follow
wherever food is found. To a lesser degree carriage roads have served
the same purpose, the food furnished in the latter case being mainly the
partially digested grain in horse droppings.

This gradual spread may take place at any season of the year, but
probably is most pronounced in late summer and autumn, for reasons
which will at once appear. It has been repeatedly remarked that when

_Sparrows are first introduced to a new region it is impossible, without
actual confinement, to keep them on a farm near a town or city. They
soon abandon the country for the city, and, except at harvest time, scl-
dom return to the farm where they were introduced until the city becomes
crowded. This may mean until there is no longer an ample supply ot
foed for all the Sparrows, or, more commonly, it means until there are
no longer enough convenient breeding places for all. In most cases it
is the young which are thus crowded out, and consequently in mid-
Summer and early autumn flocks of young birds may be met with far
out in the country, wherever food is abundant, and when this food fails,
or the ground becomes covered with snow, they retreat to the nearest
towns, villages, or even farm-houses, often at considerable distances
from the places where they were reared. But, in most cities, a time
arrives at last when more Sparrows collect in winter than can possibly
find nesting places in spring. Then, when all desirable places have
been occupied, the remaining birds are forced to go to other towns or
villages, or to nest in the country. | p>

In this way the country for miles avout large cities becomes fairly
crowded with Sparrows, if the food conditions are favorable, and then
the Sparrow shows his great power of adaptation by constructing nests
for himself in trees. Twenty years ago there were few places in this
country where any such Sparrow nests could be found, but to-day they
are common almost everywhere, and frequently they are used as places
of shelter and retreat in Severe winter weather, as well as for breeding
places in summer. At first,evergreen trees are preferred, and a bulky
nest, hardly more than aJarge, irregular heap of straw and rubbish, is
built; but as such trees become crowded, or as the Sparrows gain skill
in building, other trees are used, and often the nests are smaller and
more symmetrical. The nests of native birds also are often utilized as
foundations, the rightful owners being driven off first. In places where
Sparrows find abundance of food and congenial surroundings, they in-
crease to such an extent that these nests seriously disfigure the shade
trees, and by their filth even injure them. Mr. Ridgway, of the &mith-
sonian Institution, says:

The English Sparrow has been in Wheatland, Ind., since 1877, and is now very
abundant. I recently counted twenty-one of its large nests on one oak tree by the
roadside, a little distance outside of the village. (Washington, D. C., February 11,
1888.)

It may seem superfluous to many readers to introduce any evidence
showing that the Sparrow is not confined to cities, but so many persons

EXTENSION FROM CITY TO COUNTRY. 25

who ought to be well informed in such matters have made careless or
inaccurate statements in this connection, that a few words may not be
out of place here. y

It is true, as has been shown already, that Sparrows prefer towns or
cities so long as their numbers are not excessive and food is abundant
there; but it is equally true that where the conditions are favorable
they eventually spread over the country as well as the towns, not only
going out from the city to the wheat-fields in flocks, but taking up their
residence at farm-houses, many miles from any large town, and remain-
ing there throughout the year. The time which must necessarily elapse
between the first appearance of Sparrows in a town and their oceupa-
tion of the surrounding country will vary very much according to cir-
eumstances, and doubtless there are places in which, owing to certain
peculiar conditions, such a state of affairs never will be reached, but,
nevertheless, as a rule, such a result is only a matter of time.

Mr. I. W. Giles, who first introduced the Sparrows in Kansas, in 1874,
writes from Topeka, under date of October 6, 1886:

They do not go out into the country at all, but have gonc to various towns, distant
20 to 100 miles from Topeka.

And Mr. Byron J. Peckham wrote from Westerly, R. I, early in
1884:

They do not extend their visits to farms and their produce, but prefer the cities and
villages.

Doubtless these statements are the one of actual observation in the
localities named; but the observations do not cover a sufficiently long
period to Pe any general conclusions of the same kind, or even to
make it. probable that the Sparrows will continue to be so Retna in
those cities. [Ioritis a matter of every day observation, in a multitude
of localities, that the Sparrows sooner or later overflow the cities and
towns, and spread over the surrounding country. From personal obser-
vation in the neighborhood of New York, Washington, and other cities,
as wellas in the country about small towns, we are able to state that
Sparrows are abundant along the country roads for several miles beyond
the suburbs. That the same thing is true in various parts of the coun-
try appears from the following testimonials.

Mr. H. J. Gaylord, of Binghamton, N. Y., writes:

He is no longer a city resident, buy is finding his way to the small villages, and

already is at the farmer’s houses eight and nine miles in the country. Te builds not
only in crevices and holes he finds around buildings, but in evergreen trees and run-

ning vines, on trellises; and he adapts himself to whatever condition he finds.

Mr. Witmer Stone, of Germantown, Pa., writes:

The Sparrow is now found throughout the villages, and about all the farm-houses
in Chester and Lancaster Counties. It appeared in the villages of Lancaster County
some years before if was common in Chester County, but it has now been common
at the farm: houses in the central parts of the latter county for three or four years. J
find it hasalso made its appearance at all the villages and farm-houses situated along
the Susquehanna River in Laneaster and York Counties, but as yet it is not abun-
dant there. (November 9, 1886.)

.

26 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Dr. W. 5S. Strode, of Bernadotte, Fulton County, Ill, writes:

In the spring of 1885 I first noticed four or five pairs in our little town, making the
eaves of the flouring mill their headquarters, and here they brooded. By the next

~winter their number had increased to ascore or more, and they staid withus. Thenext

season they had become numerous, nesting wherever they could find a suitable place
in barns and houses, no one molesting them or paying much attentionto them. This
season by their increasing numbers they demanded attention and commenced spread-
ing out into the country to find nesting places. (September 7, 1887.)

From L. N. Bonham, Oxford, Butler County, Ohio:

Farm one mile from caine: The Sparrows are very abundant here, and are spread-
ing from farm to farm in every direction. They appeared in the village about eight
yearsago. (November 29, 1856.)

From 8. R. Ross, Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio:

The city is overrun with Sparrows, and they are also finding their way to the ae-
joining farmsand viliages. (September 2, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

From §. C. Prout, Prout, Erie County, Ohio:
They are here in large flocks on each farm, whether large or small. (January 7,
1887. Present about ten years.)

From William i. Elgar, Platteville, Grant County, Wis. :
There are as many here in the city now as ever, but it has extended into the coun-
try more. (November 23, 1886. Present about fiv e years. )

2ATE OF SPREAD OF THE SPARROW, AND EXTENT OF AREA OCCUPIED
AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1886.

In the year 1886 the English Sparrow was found to have established
itself in thirty-five States and five Territories. Of these it oceupies the
whole or large parts of the following thirty-three States and two Terri-
tories: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District
of Columbia, Georgia, Llinois, Indiana, Lowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Lou-
isiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missis-
sippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin,
and is found in afew towns in Florida, Texas, Wyoming, Idaho, and
Arizona. Small, isolated colonies may exist in a few other Territories,
but if so they have escaped the searching inquiry of the Department.
In the United States the total area oceupied at the close of the year
1886 is 885,000 square miles; in Canada it is not quite 148,000 square
miles; in all, 1,033,000 square miles. *

Some idea of the alarming rapidity with which itis at the present mo-
ment multiplying and extending its range may be had from the facet
that in the United States alone it has spread during the past fifteen
years at the average rate of 59,000 square miles per year, and in the
United States and Canada foeeeher at the rate of 69,000 square miles
per year. But this average rate manifestly is misleading, so far as both

*The data on which the computation of the Canadian area is based are insuffi-
cient, consequently the size of the area here given must be regarded as approximate
only. The United States area, however, may be looked upon as very nearly exact.

"

RATE OF INCREASE. 27%

extremes are concerned, for species increase in geometrical ratio. The
rate for some time after 1870 was comparatively slow, while during the
present decade it has progressed with astonishing rapidity, till in the
year 1886 the new territory invaded must have reached the enormous
number of 516,500 square miles, as may be seen from the following:
Table showing approximately the extension in square miles of the English Sparrow, in
periods of five years cach, from 1870 till 1885, and its extension during the year 1886.

Square miles.

Pome TO Ws onm spread /OVer. 20240852 oy Jooh 8 eoTese tO. lek ec eek 500
EiormbeoaLO Heo OM bp SpT Cade (OVER eph od 2) lia reel Sea yee ei hse Sele ew eele eo) st eee Bi 15, 640
MM COMMON CEO Nl spk adr OMER = © oocecin.< eet cya mcs otic) aa, alae cya ard Sale's Sie en oc lew os 500, 760
Se aeRO SOalii so PTeade OVER oneice G wcict Nek Soon Gosek aie ie Sale od ied ee wice,n i e 516,500

This table of necessity is largely theoretical, though the ratio of increase must ke
very nearly correct. Year by year much of the reproductive exergy of the Sparrow
is expended in filling up the smaller towns and villages of the area which, so far as
the larger towns and cities are concerned, it covered some time previously.

RATE OF INCREASE OF THE SPARROW.

In asking for information as to the number of broods and young annu-
ally reared by the Sparrow, we hoped to receive many statements of
fact, but our expectations have been hardly realized, as most of the re-
plies seem to be mere guesses, not based on actual observation.

The fact that more or less nest-building goes on during every month
of the year has led many people to suppose that the Sparrow breeds
continuously, but such is not the case, at least in temperate climates.
Enough material bearing on this point has been collected to show that
Sparrows rarely or never raise more than six broods in a year, and the
great majority probably do not raise more than four, at least in the lat-
itude of New York.

In Washington the first young out of the nests may be seen in April,
but they are not abundant before the first week in May or after the
last week in August, though doubtless a few leave the nest in Septem-
ber, or still more rarely in October.

It is possible that a few eggs may be laid even in December and
January, but it is extremely improbable that any young are reared
at that time. In the latter part of February, in some years, many
Sparrows begin laying, and occasionally a young brood may leave the
nest late in March, but such cases must be considered exceptional.

Moreover, although nesting- boxes may be steadily occupied by Spar-
rows with their young or eggs from the first of April to the first of Sep
tember, it does not follow that such boxes are tenanted all this time by
the same parent Sparrows, or that one brood follows another without
any intervai. On an average, about four weeks elapse from the laying
of the first eggs to the time when the young brood leaves the nest.
The number of eggs in a set varies from four to seven, but is usually
either five or six, and these ordinarily would be deposited in one week.
Twelve or thirteen days are required to hatch them, and the young are

28 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN- AMERICA.

fed in the nest for about a week, and then for several days (sometimes
as many as ten) after Jeaving it. More eggs may be laid in the same
nest as soon as the young leave it, and in this way if is possible for a
pair of Sparrows to rear one brood each month for five or six months,
but it seems probable that generally the broods do not follow each
other quite so rapidly. . |

It has been claimed that Sparrows which are hatched in the early
spring often pair and rear young during the ensuing summer or autumn,
but although several of our correspondents state this to be the ease,
we have not received sufficient evidence to justify us in supporting |
these views. Another theory which would account in part for the rapid
increase of Sparrows is advanced in the following communications:

Dr. W. H. Bergtold, of Buffalo, N. Y., writes:

As regards the number of broods and young reared by a pair of Sparrows in a year,
I wish to make a statement and put forth a theory that I have never seen advanced
before. I have repeatedly examined nests of this bird containing nearly full-fledged
young, two or three young in more or less advanced stages of development, and sey-
eral eggs of various degrees of incubation, some being nearly fresh, while others were
about to br.ak through. I gather from these facts that the Sparrow, at least in some
cases, lays and continues to lay 2 succession of eggs so long as the weather is not too
cold; and as the young attain a sufficient amount of strength they are expelled from
the nest. Assuming such to be the case we can easily see how much of the incuba-
tion work is taken from the parents and thrown on the young, who, by their bodily
heat and proximity, readily take up such duties (quite unintentionally, I imagine),
and also how much work can be given to the proper maintenance of a generous food
supply for both the old and young.

This constant stream of outpouring Sparrows accounts for the rapid manner in
which this species multiplies. (August 21, 1886.)

J. B. Stockton, of Toronto, Kans., writes:

The Sparrow had a nest under the eaves, and all summer there seemed to be fresh or
newly-hatched birds in the nest. There were eggs in the nest all the time, and the

warmth of the unfledged young hatched the eggs, so that there was a continuous and
uninterrupted stream of full-fledged birds coming from that same nest all the season,
and unfledged ones of various degrees at the same time remaining inthe nest. J have
never kuown or noticed anything of the Eind with any other bird. (October 6, 18e6.)

Although such cases as the foregoing may occur with more or less
frequency, they certainly are not the rule, as it is certain that in most
cases ali the eggs are laid before any are hatched, and all the young
leave the nest at about the same time.

Moreover, itisnot necessary toresort to such a theory to account foetine z
rapidity with which the Sparrow increases. It is a hardy, prolific, and
ageressive bird, possessed of much intelligence and more than ordinary
cunning. It is domestic and gregarious in habit and takes advantage
of: the protection afforded by proximity to man, thus escaping nearly
all the enemies which check the increase of our native birds. Moreover,
for many yesrs it was looked upon with faver, and both food and shelter
were provided for it.

Its fecundity is amazing, and from the testimony submitted itis evident
that it is no unusual thing for a single pair, in the latitude of New York,

RAPIDITY OF INCREASE. <2

or further south, to rear twenty or thirty young in the course of a year.
Assuming the annual product of a pair to be twenty-four young, of
which half are females and half males, and assuming further, for the
sake of computation, that all live, together with their offspring, it will
be seen that in ten years the progeny of a single pair would be 275,716,-
983,698. This will appear in detail from the following table:

Annual increase and total number of English Sparrows, the progeny of a single pair, in
successive seasons for ten years, assuming that all lived.

Mears Number of pairs | Number of pairs ; Total pumber of | Total number
; breeding. of young. pairs. of birds.
TOES ip en oe aoe e RED eee OU DSnCOmenae ] 12 13 26
S@GainG | oweibas cnecee peseoe codes 13 156 169 338
Third .......----------+--++----- 169 2, 028 2,197 4,394
Fourth....--.------+--+-+------ 2, 197 26, 364 28 561 57, 122
TERI eo noctr OCPneIS bee eke 28, O61 342, 732 371, 293 742, 586
oni J See 371, 293 4, 455, 516 4, 826, 809 9, 653, 618
Sereintlt (65 heeeh seep oe SsaScoeeee 4, 826, 809 57, 921, 708 62, 748, 517 125, 497, 034
Pirslnp esse ho ome - wb ne ome - 62, 748, 517 754, 932, 204 815, 730, 721 1, 631, 461, 442
IVT hoo eeeee One ee eee 815, 730, 721 9, 788, 768, 652 10, 604, 499, 373 | 21, 208, 998, 746
tenn Ee eae ee ee 10, 604, 499, 373 | 127, 253, 992,476 | 187, 858, 491, 849 | 275, 716, 983, 698

Of course, the actual increase of the Sparrow is but a small fraction
of the total shown in this table, which is based on assumptions, some
of which at least are not likely ever to be realized. But if we reduce
the annual number of young per pair to twelve, still assuming that half
are males and half females, and allow that all live even five years, we
shall have as the total increase of one pair in that time 33,614 birds.
In some cases it would seem as if these figures had actually been reached,
so rapid has been the increase at certain places, but it is probable that
in almost all cases the original stock in any town consists of several
pairs, and these are usually increased from time to time by accessions
from neighboring cities. It seems probable that the large colonies at
Galveston, Tex., Salt Lake City, Utah, and San Francisco, Cal., have
resulted wholly or in very large part from the few pairs originally in-
troduced at those places, but it 1s impossible to say this of most other
centers of abundance.

The following examples of evidence will serve to give a slight idea of
the rapicity with which the Sparrow increases.

From Norwood Giles, of Wilmington, N. C.:

They rear four broods here.
(November 13, 1886.)

Irom H. B. Bailey, of Hast Orange, N. J.:

It rears five or six broods yearly, with four to six young in a brood.
1884.)

From Thomas Chalmers, of Holyoke, Mass.:

They began nesting as early as January 22 this year.
(February 7,

It usually rears five broods annually, and five birds to a brood. I have known of
six broods in a season from one paircf birds. Its fecundity is astonishing; the num-
ber of eggs that can be taken from a mature female is something incredible. (March
6, 1884.)

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30 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

From William FI. Lamb, of Holyoke, Mass.:

A pair which have bred in a box near my window for seven successive years, have
reared three broods each year, averaging five young to abrood. (February 29, 1864.)

From Clarence L. Cate, of Spencer, Mass.:

I know of one pair that raised six broods in 1884, and I believe that four or five is
the number of broods regularly raised by a pair. (October, 1886.)

Frem Elisha Slade, of Somerset, Mass.:

Five broods are usually reared in a season, and the number of young in a brood
varies from five to eight; the average is six or more. A single pair become the par-
ents of thirty or more young in one scason. They often have their first brood late
in March or early in April, and nestlings are common in September and October, and
in every intervening month. Young birds hatched in Apri) frequently pair and rear
a brood in early autumn. (August 20, 1886.)

From John F. T. Edwards, of Ironton, Mo.:

The three or four birds which were here about two years ago have multiplied into
one or two hundred. (November 15, 1€86.)

From J. M. Fowlkes, of Memphis, Tenn.:

In the fall of 1871 three pairs of Sparrows were introduced here by Col. C. J. Sel-
den, and judging from the present crop they have thriven well. No other importation
of these birds has been made, but the progeny of this stock now infest the city and
the suburbs for several miles. (November 13, 1826.)

From W. T. Sledge, of Lawrenceville, Va.:

Seven were first seen here (in 1876), but since that time they have miraculously in-
creased. Two Sparrows have been known to hatch twenty-four young in one nest
during the summer. (November 12, 1886.)

From Walter B. Hull, of Milwaukee, Wis.:

Ihave killed nearly five hundred, old and young, since January. I killed ten
broods the first sitting, and more fae twenty the second, but even now they are
hatching. The 2ist of this month I killed four broods aggregating fourteen young.
(August 23, 1886.)

The following account of the introduction, increase, and spread of
the English Sparrow in the neighborhood of Strathroy, Ontario, Can-
ada, is furnished us by Mr. L. H. Smith, of that place. He writes:

In March, 1874, I sent to a New York bird dealer, and he forwarded me per ex-
press, twelve birds, six males and six females, at a cost to me of $1 each. If all the
Sparrows in our town are mine, and my neighbors all say they are, then I have at
least plenty formy money. The six pairs of Sparrows I turned out in some farm
buildings near town, where they stayed fora week or two. By and by, by ones and
twos, they moved to town, and, singular to say, one pair built a nest in the cornice
of the house of the man who wrote me in England, in 1873, to bring some out, and
another pair built in the next house to my own. They are now in thousands in our
town, and are plentiful in every town, city, and village in this part of Ontario. I
do not think they all came from the six pairs of birds which I brought here in March,
1874, because I remember in the summer of 1873 seeing them as far west as Syracuse,
and they might have been farther this way.

Strathroy is 20 miles west of London, and 40 miles east of Port Huron, Mich.

It was only a few years after 1874 I noticed them at Toronto and London and other
places east of this. It is perhaps eight years since they spread west of this. I have
no proof that all did not come from my six pairs. For several years they increased

NATURAL ENEMIES. 31

very slowly and gradually here, only one small colony the first year, two or three the
next, and so on, till in a few years almost all suitable premises had colonies of them.
There are none yet, so far as I know, in far northern and western Ontario. No spe-
cial protection was given them in our town, save that the general feeling amongst our
citizens was to protect them, and they were not molested. (October 11, 1886.)

CHECKS ON TITE INCREASE OF THE SPARROW.

The checks which have operated in the past to limit the increase and
spread of the Sparrow may be roughly classed under two heads, (a)
natural, (b) artificial; including under the latter head all those hostile
influences due solely to man, and under the former all others. Among
the natural checks may be mentioned climate, food, natural enemies
(such as cats, hawks, jays, etc.), and disease.

It is a general rule in the animal kingdom that excessive multiplica.
tion tends to disease, and nearly all animals are subject to epidemics
and parasites which tend to reduce their numbers when they become
extremely abundant. But nothing of this kind is known among Spar-
rows, and they seem to be among the hardiest and healthiest of birds.
It is true that albinism is quite common, specimens which are more or
less white being frequently seen on the streets of most large towns,
but this can hardly be considered an indication of weakness or disease
in the species, although it probably does result from living under more
or less unnatural conditions.

NATURAL ENEMIES OF THK SPARROW.

As regards natural enemies the Sparrow is remarkably favored, for,
from its constant association with man, it escapes nearly all the perils
which restrict the increase of native birds.

It is generally supposed that cats must catch many Sparrows, but in
point of fact it is rare for an adult Sparrow to fall into the clutches of
this enemy, and even the young are not often caught. The centuries of
experience which have developed this bird into a parasite upon man
have taught it how to avoid the other semi-domesticated animals sur-
rounding him, and it is safe to say that cats have far better success in
catching the wariest of our native birds than in catching the Sparrow.

A few of our native birds kill Sparrows or eat their eggs and young,
but the number of species is very limited, and, except in rare cases, the
uumber destroyed is insignificant.

Probably the most useful bird in this Pe OweOE is the northern shrike
(Lanius borealis), which visits most of our Northern cities in winter and
feeds freely on the Sparrow. At one time this shrike became so abun-
dant on the common and public gardens in Boston that it threatened to
destroy all the Sparrows, but the short-sighted authorities kept a@ man
busy in shooting the shrikes until several dozen had been killed, and
the useless Sparrows were considered safe.

In many cities and towns of the Mississippi valley the bluejay (Cyano-
citta cristata) is said to lessen the number of Sparrows somewhat by

52 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 3

eating theireggs and young, but in most of the Hastern States this bird
is rarely seen in towns and villages in summer, and so has little effeet
on the Sparrow.

The erow-biackbird or purple grackle (Quisealus quiseula) also kills
some Sparrows, Mr. Robert Ridgway states that he once saw it en-
caged in eating the young on the Smithsonian grounds; and Mr. Will
iam Brewster, of Cambridge, Mass., states that in one case he saw
a grackle follow and kill a Sparrow whick had been slightly wounded,
and it at once began to eat its victim. Mr. Brewster also states that in
Cambridge the grackles have steadily increased in numbers, while the.
Sparrows at present do not seem to be increasing atall; and he suggests
that the two facts may be correlated in some way.

The sparrow-hawk (Falco sparverius) and the sereech owl (Megascops
asio) prey upon Sparrows, and their presence in our parks and about
our houses should be encouraged so long as the Sparrows are abundant.
Both these birds eat large numbers of insects, and rarely attack native
birds. Several other predatory birds, such as the sharp-shinned and
Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter velox and coopert) and the pigeon-hawk (Paleo
columbarius), sometimes feed largely on the Sparrow; but, as they also
destroy many native birds, their protection can not be advised, except
under peculiar conditions.

THE RELATION OF -CLIMATE AND FOOD TO THE INCREASE AND SPREAD OF THE
o SPARROW.

Sparrows thrive at Montreal, Canada, and at Galveston, Tex., but it
is nevertheless true that they do not increase as rapidly or as steadily
in cold climates as in temperate ores. Scores of observers testify to
the fact that Sparrows die in large numbers during very severe win-
ters, and this mortality is usually attributed to cold. This, however,
is a mistake, for a healthy, well-fed Sparrow can resist, without serious
inconvenience, the lowest temperatures ever experienced in the United
States.

Sparrows are “winter killed” usually because their customary food
is covered by snow, or frozen hard, and they are thus starved to death
rather than frozen. ‘This is proved by the fact that small numbers of
Sparrows, which have been regularly fed, but not otherwise cared for,
have repeatedly survived the severe winters of Minnesota, while hun-
dreds of Sparrows have died in places which were much warmer, be-
cause they were not fed by man and could not get enough food by their
own. efforts. No doubt Sparrows thrive best in temperate climates,
where the ground is seldom covered by snow for any length of time;
yet, if provided with a good supply of food, they may survive long pe-
riods of deep snow and low temperature.

It will be shown later that the principal source of food supply for
city Sparrows is the droppings of grain-fed horses, and this supply is
usually as abundant and accessible in winter as in summer. It will be
sec ab once, however, that with a temperature many degrees below

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE AND FOOD. 33

zero this offal is frozen so quickly and thoroughly as to cut off almost
completely the Sparrows’ main reliance.*

Sparrows were introduced at Saint Paul, Minn., as early as the fall
of 1876; yet at the present time there are so few that they are seldom
noticed. The following statement by an observant resident of that
place, Mr. Morton Barrows, shows at least oue cause, and that undoubt-
edly the principal one, for this state of things. He says:

Our streets are not cleaned in winter, sleds being used universally. Moreover, we
have no thaws, and everything remains frozen solid until spring. At30 degrees below
zero horse droppings freeze almost instantly, and are generally covered with the loose,
fine snow of the streets as they fall, that is, it is so cold that there is always a fine,
loose surface snow, from 1 to 5 inches deep, even in the most used streets, and any-
thing falling into that is quickly buried by passing teams.

Not much grain is moved here in auy weather, especially not in winter. The
ground is generally covered deep with snow from the middle of November until April,
and I do not see what Sparrows can find to feed on. Again, we have more or less
deposit each day, even in clear weather. When it is intensely cold spicule fall in
large quantities, generally in the morning, while snow-storms are very frequent. All
manner of refuse is thus quickly covered.

The same check on the increase of the Sparrow has doubtless been
felt in many other Northern cities, and it is possible that this alone will
suffice to render the bird harmless near the northern limit of its range.
At first sight it may seem that the abundance of Sparrows in some
Canadian cities would be fatal to this theory; but we must remember
that the climate of Minnesota is much more severe than that of Ontario,
and also that Sparrows were originally introduced at many points in
Canada; that they have been there much longer than in Minnesota;
and, finally, that they have been cared for much more Saanbeic in Cana-
aan towns than in those of Minnesota.

There is abundant evidence that Sparrows are killed sometimes in
large numbers in summer as wellasin winter. Severe thunder-storms,
with or without hail, but accompanied by high wind, have proved veri-
table catastrophes to many Sparrow communities, especially where the
storms come on at night or after the Sparrows have assembled in large
numbers at their roosting places. The details of such Sparrow calam-
ities, Which occurred at Rockford, Ill., Baltimore, Md., Jersey City, N.
J., and Washington, D. C., will be found in the evidence on this sub-
ject, and we have records of similar cases at Rochester, N. Y., and
Media, Pa. In some instances thousands of Sparrows have been
killed at a single locality by a single storm, the deaths resulting ap-

*The great ‘‘ blizzard” of March, 1858, doubtless killed vast numbers of Sparrows
throughout the area in whicb it was most severe. In New York and Pennsylvania
not only were hundreds found dead as the snow melted away, but their scarcity dur-
jng the spriug months was gencrally remarked. Although this storm was accompa-
nied, or followed, by severe cold in many places, it was more remarkable for very
heavy suow-falls and high winds; moreover, it lasted two or three days, and in many
places all out-door traffic was suspended for several more. Thus, doubtless, number-
less Sparrows survived the violence of the storm only to find all ordinary sources of
food supply cut off, leaving them to die of starvation.

8404—Bull. ak 3

'
iL
:

34 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

parently from a thorough drenching, followed by chill, and in some cases
doubtless hastened by exhaustion.

Although, as already seen, climate may play an important part in aid-
ing or preventing the increase and spread of the Sparrow, it is certain
that the abundance or scarcity of food is even more important. Wher-
ever Sparrows have been introduced by man they have been fed and
housed to a certain extent, at all events at first. But soon they have
been left to shift for themselves, which is usually the case when they
spread unaided from town to town. Grain-eaters by nature and by
preference, we have seen how they follow railroads and carriage roads
from place to place, living by the way on good or refuse grain, and
always tarrying longest in places where such food is most abundant.
At harvest time they go out by day into the wheat fields near town,
often coming back at night to roost; and when the grain fields are
cleared or when snow covers them the Sparrows turn to the city streets
with the certainty that a large amount of their favorite food will be
found there. Wherever in civilized countries horses are used, more
or less grain is necessary to keep them in working order. It may be
wheat, rye, oats, barley, or corn, and they may eat much or little,
crushed or whole, yet a certain proportion always remains more or less
undigested, and much of this eventually becomes accessible to the
Sparrows.

The most casual observer can not have failed to notice the eagerness
with which the bird appropriates such food, and there is no reason to
doubt that this food, more than all other attractions combined, has
made the Sparrow what he is—primarily a bird of the street. Under
ordinary circumstances this partly digested grain from horse-droppings
doubtless forms at least 90 per cent. of the town Sparrow’s food, and
isnot only an abundant and excellent food for the adults, but by virtue
of its partial digestion is most admirably fitted for the first food of the
young.

The practical bearing of this important fact is obvious: Sparrows in-
troduced to any town at once find themselves provided with an abun-
dance of nutritious food such as they havealways preferred. The nooks
and crannies about buildings furnish all necessary shelter and the best
possible nesting places; proximity to man insures partial protection
from the ordinary bird enemies; and so for a dozen generations their in
crease is rapid and steady.

As they increase in numbers the first check is likely to come from an
insufficient number of good nesting places, and in case this want 1s met,
the supply of food may at last become inadequate. Then follows a
natural and gradual extension into the surrounding country, or along
the roads to neighboring towns and cities. If these towns belong to
grain-growing districts the increase nay continue indefinitely, or until
public apprehension is excited and measures are taken to suppress the
threatened scourge. If the grain fails, or some other food becomes su-

CHANGE OF PUBLIC OPINION, 35D

perabundant, the Sparrows readily adapt themselves to circumstances,
and, as they are always tasting of everything eatable, they frequently
acquire a strong liking for some particular fruit or vegetable previously
unnoticed. There is scarcely a vegetable product grown by farmer or
gardener which the Sparrow can not eat, and there are very many to
which it is disastrously partial. Even the most superficial examina-
tion of the evidence printed in this volume will satisfy any candid man
of the truth of the statement.

And this brings us to the consideration of those checks to the Spar-
row’s increase which are due solely to the intluence of man, and which
may be denominated artificial.

DIRECT INFLUENCE OF MAN IN CHECKING THE INCREASE OF TITE SPARROW.

Public opinion.—During the first fifteen years of the Sparrow’s col-
onization of America, say from 1855 to 1870, the hostile influence of
man was practically nothing. A few protests from intelligent natural-
ists who opposed its introduction ; a few warnings from naturalized
citizens who had spent many years fighting the bird in their native
land—this was all. On the other hand, scores of enthusiastic ‘ bene-
factors” of the country were urging its introduction in increased num-
bers, and aiding and protecting those already brought, by every possible
means, even to the enactment of city ordinances and police regulations.
During the next decade, however, more opposition was developed, and
although Sparrow enthusiasts were still providing nesting boxes by the
thousand and food by the barrel in many cities where Sparrows were
few, stiil there was no little retrenchment in some of the cities where
they had become abundant, and the disposition among practical citi-
zens to let the invaders shift for themselves steadily increased. Toward.

the latter part of this period a few laws which had especially protected

them were repealed, but in very few places were active measures appa’
looking to the limitation or suppression of their increase.
It is impossible to mark the precise date at which the tide of public

opinion turned against the Sparrow. There has beenno sudden change,

but a gradual falling away in the number of Sparrow adherents. One

after another of its loudest advocates has become silent, and afew have

nonestly admitted their change of opinion.

In most cases such change of views has not been the direct result of
any one argument, oral or written, but of the gradual accumulation of
such an amount of evidence that at last it became irresistible. A man
who has seen thousands of Sparrows at work on his own wheat-fields
is convinced that the bird is not altogether harmless, whatever may
have been his previous theories on the subject. If he subsequently
suffers from its attacks upon his fruit, his preconceived notions of
Sparrow habits are still further modified ; and when he finds that native
birds decrease as the Sparrows increase, he is constrained to believe
that possibly some of those who have testified to similar experiences

36 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

were neither fools nor knaves. This leads to a re-examination of the
facts on which he based his theories originally, and the result is that
his former conclusions are reversed.

Unfortunately, the men whose experience thus qualifies them to speak
authoritatively on the subject are not often the men who can and will
publish widely their observations and conclusions. Nevertheless, such
experiences have become so frequent in all parts of the country during
the last few years that the weight of public opinion, especially among
agriculturists, is very decidedly against the SEeEOws Since 1880 this
change of sentiment has been marked.

Hffect of legislation.—Little or no protective legisiation has been
enacted; many of the laws formerly protecting the Sparrew have been
repealed ; and in most cases such city regulations as have not been
modified have become practically dead-letters.

Moreover, bounties have been offered by some towns and counties,
and by one State (Michigan), which now pays a bounty of 1 cent per
head on English Sparrows.

The question of the expediency of bounties is discussed elsewhere,
and it is sufficient here to remark that as a rule they do not give
satisfactory results.

The repeal of protective acts, however, certainly has done much to
check the increase of the Sparrow, since it allows persons so disposed
to wage open warfare on the bird. So long as it was protected by law
little effective action could be taken toward its destruction, though
much was done to prevent its increase.

Shooting, poisoning, trapping, nest destroying.—The filthy habits of the
Sparrow about buildings every where, early led to the use of wire netting
or some other protective device about cornices, window casings, ete.,
while all openings in which it could nest were carefully closed up. Later,
these points were kept in mind when planning new buildings, and no
available cavities were left. Many people removed the boxes originally
put up for the Sparrow as soon as they became familiar with its habits
and saw the danger to be expected from its increase. For the same
reason food which was lavishly furnished at first was afterward with-
held, and the birds were compelled to shift for themselves. Where
ornamental vines were disfigured by filth and nesting rubbish the nests
were sometimes torn down or the birds driven away by disturbing them
repeatedly at night, though there is no doubt that in many cases they
remained undisturbed in such places owing to the belief that any other
course would be at the risk of prosecution by the town or city authori-
ties.

Such frequent interruption in its domestic affairs naturally did much
to prevent the most rapid increase of the Sparrow, but as such efforts
were mainly isolated, and affected only certain restricted localities, they
had little permanent effect. A Sparrow’s preferences are one thing and
its necessities another, and when persecuted in one place it has always

RESTRICTION BY TRAP AND GUN. aii

been easy to find another where, for a time at least, it could rest un-
disturbed.

In towns and cities where no direct protective legislation existed other
methods of limitation, such as trapping, shooting, and poisoning, were
possible, but in most cases these methods were limited practically by
such city ordinances as forbid the use of fire-arms within city limits, or
the use of poisons without special permission. Trapping can be success-
fully practiced only by a few persons who have the requisite knowledge
and appliances, and there is little evidence that the numbers of Sparrows
have been much lessened in this way. Much interesting information as
to the best methods of trapping Sparrows will be found in the report of
Mr. W. T. Hiil on this subject. In spite of the fact that during the two
years ending October 1, 1887, Mr. Hill trapped upwards of 40,000 Spar-
rows in Indianapolis, Ind., they are still superabundant there, though
said to be considerably less numerous than formerly, especially about
the grain elevators, warehouses, etc., his particular field of operations.
The birds thus trapped have been used for the most part in shooting
matches.

We know of instances in which a single garden or estate has been
kept fairly free from Sparrows by continual shooting and the system-
atic destruction of nests andeggs. Thus Mr. Albert H. Phelps, of West
Pawlet, Vt., wrote in 1884:

On this farm they have been destroyed by breaking up the nests and by shooting for
two successive years, and now they do not come here. They are abundant, however,
on neighboring farms where they have been undisturbed.

So long as they are destroyed only in a few places they must be fol-
loweG up every year and not allowed to regain a foothold or they will
soon become aS numerous as ever.

In September, 1886, Mr. William Kaucher, of Oregon, Mo., wrote:

They are all shot every spring, but others come in to take their places later. Sev-
enty-five or eighty were thus killed in our court-house park last spring.

About a year later (November 14, 1887) Mr. Kaucher wrote:

A war of extermination was waged by our citizens against the Sparrows, beginning
early in the spring and extending into June, when they were all killed. They are
coming in now from other places, but'the same course will be followed next year in
regard to them. Now, if communities around us could be induced to do the same
thing, they couid be kept in subjection, if not altogether destroyed.

Under date of March 2, 1888, Mr. Kaucher again wrote to the Com-
missioner of Agriculture as follows:

Our city council lately made an appropriation for the purchase of powder for the
purpose of killing sparrows. Our sportsmen availed themselves of the opportunity
thus afforded, and within the past ten days have killed nearly all that could be found.
Semething of this kind seems better than the use of poisoned grain.

Similar testimony has been received from a few other places, while

individual efforts to exterminate the birds have been quite common,

but from the nature of the case only temporarily successful. In places
where the first few pairs of Sparrows have teen shot or driven away on

35 : THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

their appearance, it seems to have been comparatively easy to keep |
others away as they came, for the Sparrow is naturally observant and
suspicious, and only grows bold and aggressive as its numbers become —
formidable or its position assured.

To judge from the reports of our correspoudents, poison has not been
used very generally, and when used it has not always given satisfac.
tory results. Still, undoubtedly it has had some effect in restricting
the pest, and oftentimes the apparent failure of an experiment has been
due to the imperfect methods of administering the poison. This sub-
ject is discussed in another place, and it need only be remarked here
that the judicious use of poison in winter, especially in Northern cities,
will probably afford one of the simplest solutions of the Sparrow prob-
lem. .

The folowing examples of testimony serve to show that Sparrows
are kept more or less in check in some places through the efforts of in-
dividuals, and mainly by the use of the gun.

From T. D. Barron, Saint Clair, Mich. :

Ihave known of almost entire flocks being killed by persistent shooting in the
winter, when they are driven to the barn-yards for food. (October 7, 1886.)

From H. I’. Barrell, New Providence, N. J.:

I shoot all I see on my premises in the spring; consequently I have very few. (Au-
gust, LESS.

Krom A. Hi. Wood, Paimted Post, Nv Ye:

Some are shot, a few poisoned by strychnine, but the increase is principally re-
stricted by destroying the nests. (August 10, 1886.) =

From Adolph Leue, Cincinnati, Obio:

I have shot a great many, but it seemed to do no good. (October 12, 1886.)

From Dr. H. D. Moore, New Lexington, Somerset County, Pa.:

The shotgun has been our only remedy forthem. By shooting a part the remain-
der become sby, and sometimes all leave for weeks at a time. (December, 1885.)

From J. F. ©. DuPre, Abbeville C. H., South Carolina:

On my own place within twelve months I have killed over five hundred Sparrows
by shooting them with shot cartridges from a32-caliber rifle. This makesasmall re-
port and does not frighten the birds, but it is expensive. (August 30, 1887.)

From Rey. Henry Fairbanks, Saint Johnsbury, Yt.: |

A few hundred were shot last summer, but only a private bounty has been paid for
their destruction. (February 5, 1884.)

From W. W. Gilman, Stoughton, Dane County, Wis.:

For two or three years past people have been allowed to shoot them inside the city
limits for a period of ten to fourteen days during the brooding season, and this sum-
mer they turned the bose on their nests and washed them out. (August 30, 1886.)

Use of the Sparrow for food.—During the last half dozen years
Sparrows have been used as an article of food in many places in this
country, as they have been in Europe for centuries, and the demand for
them for this purpose has doubtless lessened their numbers somewhat

oe we

BRITISH FARMERS ASTONISHED. 39

in and about a few cities. The following examples of testimony illus-
trate this point.

Irom J. Perey Moore, Philadelphia, Pa.:

Immense numbers are killed inthe autumn, when feeding on the seeds of reeds in
the marshes, and prepared and sold as reed-birds by the restaurants. (September 27,
1886. )

In Albany, N. Y., Sparrows were regularly quoted in the market re-
ports during the fall of 1887, bringing $1 per hundred, or 25 cents per
dozen.

The following extracts from the Albany Express show that the birds
are appreciated there:

Sparrows are still a feature of the market, and one Albany lad, Charles Lambert

by name, shot one hundred and thirty-five of the little pests Saturday, out of a single
flock of about five hundred, on the outskirts of the city. A well-known game and

. poultry dealer took in one thousand seven hundred of them last week and sold about

all. Yesterday the same man disposed of two hundred. (November 7, 1987.)
The Albany vouth are still waging war on the Sparrows, and they are all gradually
eing driven from the city. One gameand poultry dealer in town has thus far bought
and then sold to others about three thonsand eight hundred of the little pests. They
make excellent pot-pie and are regarded as excellent eating by those who have made
the trial. The flavor is said to be somewhat like that of reed-birds and much superior
to quail. (November 18, 1887.)

It will appear from the foregoing statements, and still more forcibly
from an examination of the testimony on which they are based, that
although man originally did much to aid in the increase and spread of
the Sparrow, he has done comparatively little as yet to restrain this

‘Increase and lessen or prevent the evil which his ignorance and thought-

lessness Lave caused.

How the farmers of Great Britain regard the Sparrow.—The very fact
that in Europe the good and bad characteristics of the Sparrow had
been discussed for centuries without any absolute settlement of the
question should have made us cautious in introducing it to America;
and when, later, the calamitous results of its introduction to Australia
and New Zealand became evident, steps should have been taken at
once to prevent its further spread in this country. The following state-
ment of Mr. Jabez Webster, a practical nurseryman and fruit-grower,
Serves to show how much trouble might have been prevented by a little
intelligent inguiry among the farmers of the Sparrow’s native land, be-
fore bringing the bird to our shores.

Mr. Webster writes:

After twenty-two years’ residence in the United States I visited England, Scotland,
and Wales, traveling and observing in most of the counties of England and sister
countries. I found that intelligent agriculturists and horticulturists everywhere I
wert were astonished that the American people should have introduced so destructive
and worthless a bird into their country. One gentleman in the county of Norfolk
said that in that county they had been spending money to destroy Sparrows for fifty

years, and still had to spend money. Ifound the same opinion prevailed among well-
informed persons in country and town in Bedfordshire, Huntington, Stafford, War-

40 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

wickshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, in Scotland’ and Wales, and in the great small-
fruit counties of Surrey and Kent. (Centralia, Ill., December 21, 1886.)

There can be no question that a thousand times as much energy and
money have been spent already in fighting Sparrows in America as were
expended in introducing and caring for them at first, but the results of
the efforts in the two cases are painfully disproportionate.

The magnitude of the evil and the absolute necessity of taking active
and comprehensive measures for its abatement will be better understood
after an examination of the following seven sections which precede the
recommendations which we hope may lead finally to the extermination
of the European House Sparrow in America.

INJURY TO BUDS, BLOSSOMS, AND FOLIAGE.

The direct evidence as to the alleged injury to buds, blossoms, and foli-
age by the Sparrow comes from 31 States, the District of Columbia, and
Canada, and consists of reports from 584 observers. Of these, 265 al-
lege positive damage of varying kind and degree; 12 are indeterminate;
and the remaining 307 are favorable to the Sparrow, at least negatively,
inasmuch as they report no damage of this kind observed. By far the
greater part (294) of these negative reports, however, have little weight,
being brief, often monosyllabic, negatives written in reply to the schedule
questions, without anything to indicate the extent or closeness of the
writer’s observation. Less than one-twentieth—scarcely more than a
dozen reports, in fact—indicate that, in spite of good opportunities and
careful observation, no injury to buds or foliage has been noted. Ninety
observers report injuries to foliage of vines, shrubs, and trees through
the Sparrow’s roosting or nesting in them in Jarge numbers. Onehun-
dred and twelve report injuries from the eating or wanton destruction
of buds and blossoms of fruit trees. Forty-six report injuries to buds
of other kinds; and thirty-four report injuries to trees or vines without
specifying the nature or extent of the damage.

INJURY BY FILTH.

The question of injury by filth can hardly be called a question at all,
as itis one of the points against the bird which is universally conceded,
even by its stanchest friends. Itis perfectly safe to say that in every
town or city in the Union where Sparrows are really abundant very many
ornamental trees and vines are annually injured from this cause alone;
and the statement that such damage is not known at any point may be
taken as conclusive evidence that the Sparrow is by no means abundant
there. A few scores of Sparrows may roost constantly in a large vine
or group of trees without doing material injury, but when, as is frequently
the case, several hundreds or even thousands roost together, so that the
vines or branches are actuaily crowded with them, the beauty of the
foliage is seriously marred or altogether destroyed and the life of the
trees or vines is endangered.

VEGETATION INJURED BY FILTH. Al

A few examples will suffice to illustrate this statement.

Mr. Robert Ridgway, Ornithologist of the Smithsonian Institution,
says:

It is injurious to ornamental vines, etc., by the chemical action of its excrement.
The luxuriant English ivy which once covered portions of the Smithsonian building
was thus totally destroyed.

Dr. Frank H. Braymer, of West Pawlet, Vt., under date of August
ol, 1886, writes:

All evergreen trees and hedges are injured by the birds roosting in them. The leaves
drop off and in many instances large sections of a hedge die.

Ernest D. Wintle, of Montreal, Canada, writes:

They build their nests in the vines that are trained against walls of houses here,
and the vines are killed by the large quantity of nesting material and by the excre-
ment from the birds. (September 20, 1886.)

Other reports are:

From Fred. 8. Odle, Lapeer, Mich.:

There are two large maple trees in our town which are particular haunts of the
Sparrow, and which they have nearly ruined.

From lL. M. Mottweiler, Georgetown, Ind.:

It injures trees and vines by roosting in them. I had to cut away my ornamental
trees on account of the number of Sparrows near the house. They now roost in my
grape-vines.

From Charles H. Lawton and John J. Peckham, Newport, BR. I.:

It injures hardy ivies on buildings, also pine trees. We know of parties who have
had to cut down trees on account of the Sparrows.

From William Saunders, superintendent of garden and grounds of
the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.:

They seriously disfigure ornamental vines by their nests and droppings. Ampelop-
sis Veitchii affords them one of the best nesting and roosting places, and suffers cor-
respondingly.

The damage occasioned to vines in which large numbers of Sparrows
nest is too well known to require comment, but the following statement
will give some idea of the numbers which nest in such vines when fa-
vorably situated. Eli W. Blake, 3d, of Providence, R. 1., says:

During the season of 1884, from April 22 to June 7, inclusive, I took, in com-
pany witha friend, 995 Sparrows’ eggs from the ivy covering the walls of St. Stephen’s
Church, on George street, in thiscity. Idid not count the nests, but estimate the num-
berat about fifty-five orsixty * * *

I have reason to suppose that eggs were occasionally taken during this period with-
out my knowledge; the figures given, however, I can personally vouch for. * * *
The same year (1884) that I took the eggs from St. Stephen’s, the sexton of St. John’s
Church, also in this city, took 970 eggs and two cart-loads of nests from that building,
at one time. (April 20, 1886.)

Other kinds of injury, less general and not so serious as the preced-
ing, but still not to be ignored, are specified in the following replies:

Dr. George J. Fisher, of Sing Sing, N. Y., writes:

They roost on my English ivy and injure it by picking off hundreds of fresh green
leaves. I find the leaf stalks fairly chewed by them. They also disfigure the foliage
by their excrement. (March 18, 1887.)

A? THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA:

- J. Percy Moore, of Philadelphia, Pa., writes:

A lady living in Doylestown, Pa., mentioned to me that she had seen the Spar-
row wantonly pull off the leaves of a silver maple growing in front of her house.
(August 11, 1885.)

October 11, 1&85, I saw a number of the same species pulling off the leaves of the
common locust tree. They seemed to be biting off and eating the fleshy bases of the
leaf stems. Large numbers of leaves were thus treated and let fall to the greund.

Benjamin I*. Hess, of Pheenix, N. Y., writes:

I have many times seen a flock in a shade tree biting off the leaves and letting them
fall. (August 25, 18286.)

Dr. Howard Jones, of Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio, writes:

They tear from walls by their weight the fin-leafed ivy, hundreds of them often
alighting at one time among the branches. (August 19, 1886.)

Charles M. Clapp, of Albion, Ind., writes:

Lest spring they would alight on the young grape-vine sprouts and break them off,
(October 14, 1886.)

DESTRUCTION. OF BUDS AND BLOSSOMS.

But serious as is the injury occasioned by the filthy habits of the
Sparrow, it sinks into insignificance beside the destruction of buds
and blossoms in winter and spring. *This, like the preceding charge, is
one whick many ef the Sparrow’s friends admit without argument, but
there are still a few who believe that in destroying buds the bird is only
seeking and destroying insects hidden within, while astiil smaller num-
ber deny that the Sparrow ever eats enough buds to do any harm.

The most which can be said for the Sparrow in extenuation of this
habit is that the damage done does not seem to be serious 16 all
cases; but, even if this be true, it is an extremely weak defense, for the
injury is sure to increase as the Sparrows become more numerous. The
greatest damage will result from the presence of large numbers of
Sparrows among a few fruit trees, and where these relations are re-
versed little damage is like to ensue. |

If has been claimed that the buds or blossoms taken by the Sparrow
cause no loss of fruit, since only a small proportion of blossoms could
develop fully under any circumstances. But this claim is based on the
assumption that the bird takes but a small proportion of the buds on
any tree, and that the loss is evenly distributed ; whereas, in point of
fact, there is no such equalization of the loss, but entire twigs or
branches are stripped at a single visit, and the consequent loss of fruit
is inevitable. A thousand blossoms might be picked by hand from a
peach tree without lessening the crop in the least, but if the same nuin-
ber of blossoms were destroyed by Sparrows it could not fail to affect
the yield of that tree materially.

A point more frequently made, and with far less evidence in its favor,
is the claim that Sparrows select only the buds or blossoms which are
infested with insects. There is scarcely ashadow of evidence on which

INJURY TO BUDS AND BLOSSOMS. 48

to base such a claim. So far as we are aware, not a single bird shot in
the act of bud-eating has been found to contain traces of any insect,
while perfectly sound buds and fragments of sound blossoms are found
by the score in such birds.

The Sparrow does eat insects sometimes, but it gets them from other
places than from buds and blossoms, which latter it destroys mainly for
the material of which they are composed, though at times it seems to
destroy them simply for pleasure.

The well-known fact that many insectivorous birds frequent pleecome
ing fruit trees and feast on the insects attracted by the flowers, appears
to have led some friends of the Sparrow to believe that this bird has
similar habits. Although our own investigations do not bear out this
belief, yet in deference to the opinions of those who hold other views,
we insert here a few of the strongest and most favorable statements
received, and others will be found in full in their proper places with
the systematic evidence on this question.

From Hon. Nicolas Pike, Brooklyn, N. Y

It positively does not injure trees. I know it to be beneiicial to the grape-vines.
(February 8, 1884.)

From W. J. Kenyon, Brooklyn, N. Y.:

It picked the buds off my peach trees, but I found that it only picked buds thathad
erubs in them. (September 4, 1886.)

From Dr. H. A. Hagen, Cambridge, Mass. :

I have never seen it injure trees by picking off buds, but have seen it examining
about the buds of cherry and pear trees for little insects; and then we had a better
crop of fruit. (April 13, 1884.)

From Thomas Chalmers, Holyoke, Mass. :

It benefits rather than injures the shade, fruit, and ornamental trees. The trees of
Holyoke, once so festooned with abominable crawlers, are now a pleasure to look at.
(March 6, 1884.)

From W. H. Ragan, Greencastle, Ind. :

As yet they do no serious injury to trees and vines; I can not think of an instance.
Though many serious charges are made against them, I believe them to be without
foundation. (September 28, 1886.)

_ From Joseph M. Wade, Boston, Mass. :

I have known it well for forty-four years, and never knew it to be charged seriously
with injuring shade, fruit, or ornamental trees. (January 31, 1884.)

It is surprising that this bud-eating habit of the Sparrow should be
overlooked so generally, when anyone so disposed can see the birds
cutting buds daily in the shade trees along the streets of any town or
village where Sparrows abound. The habit is not peculiar to a few
individuals, nor is it confined to buds and blossoms of any particular
tree or shrub, or limited to any one or two months. Sparrows enjoy
buds and blossoms at any time, but eat more of them in spring-time,
because they are more abundant and tender then, and perhaps in part
because other food is somewhat less abundant. |

A4 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

On the grounds of the Department of Agriculture the Sparrows have
been carefully watched for several years, and they have been seen to
eat buds and blossoms of many kinds, and at almost all seasons. The
following observations recently made by a member of the Division illus-
trate several of the points just mentioned :

On the 22d of February while crossing the grounds of the Department of Agricult-
ure, my attention was attracted by the chattering of a large flock of Sparrows, which
had gathered in a clump of shrubs, mainly the Japanese jessamine (Forsythia viridis-
sima). There were thirty or more bushes, leafless as yet, but heavy with flower buds,
which already began to show the yellow.

The day was sunny and calm, and on walking quietly up among the bushes the
Sparrows were found preening themselves and nipping off the flower buds in almost
every bush. Some of the birds were giving their entire attention to their feathers,
while others were equally devoted tothe buds. Beneath many of the bushes the groand
was thickly strewn with the green and yellow remnants of buds, and under a few
of the bushes, near the center of the group, they lay so thickly as to entirely obscure
the ground, while the branches above were completely stripped of buds, except near
the tips. The birds seemed to prefer to sit quietly near the center of each bush and nip
all the buds within reach, and no Sparrows were seen eating buds near the tips of the
branches, which were so slender as scarcely to sustain their weight.

On alarming the birds, they flew into some poplars near, where it was easy to es-
timate their numbers, and there proved to be between two hundred and fifty and
three hundred birds in the flock.

In April, when the flowers of Forsyihia were well expanded, the bushes which had
suffered most showed the effects very plainly, but as those around the edge of the
group, and particularly the outer branches, suffered least, the general effect was not
noticeably impaired. The incident, however, serves to show the Sparrow’s fondness
for flower buds and the danger to be apprehended from its work on the blossoms of
fruit trees.

During the last ten days of February and the whole of March scarcely a day passed
when Sparrows were not seen eating the buds of shade trees throughout the city.
Frequently a dozen would be seen at work in a maple or elm tree, and one could
stand below them within two or three yards and see every motion made, even catch-
ing the mutilated buds in his hand as they fell. The buds of poplars, cotton-
woods, box-elders, maples, elms, and several other species were constantly destroyed
in this way, and the Sparrows seemed to take particular pleasure in pulling to pieces
the catkins of the various species of poplar.

Since the middle of April, when the peach blossoms began to unfold, the Spar-
rows are to be seen at all hours of the day hopping or creeping about the peach trees,
and leaving little but worthless buds behind. For two or three days past I haye
been watching with a powerful field-glass a dozen or more peach trees in full blossom,
and less than a hundred yards from my windows. The glass enables me to see dis-
tinctly the stamens in the blossoms, and they are frequently seen sticking to the bills
of the Sparrows as they move deliberately about among the branches destroying
thousands of blossoms. Occasionally a flock of a dozen or more is to be seen in a sin-
gle tree, but ordinarily they forage singly or in squads of three tosix. So faras can
be seen by the unaided eye, all seem to be similarly employed, and every one thus far
watched with the glass has proved to be destroying blossoms or buds at the rate of
five to tena minute. One bird, an adult male, was seen to cut into and ruis nineteen
blossoms on one spray in less than two and one-half minutes. He began at the base of
the shoot and nipped all within reach, then climbed slowly upward, parrot fashion,
destroying every bud on the twig as he went, until the tip was nearly reached, when
his weight proved too great, and losing his balance in trying to reach the terminal
flower he fluttered off to another branch to begin again. This bird, like others ob-

a ’

INJURY TO BUDS AND BLOSSOMS. Ad

served, seemed to prefer to put his bill down into the open flower and cut out the
center, but if the blossom chanced to stand in such a position that this could not be
done readily, he bit off the entire blossom close to the stem, and apparently dropped
italltothe ground. In several instances Sparrows were seen to pinch off and drop three
buds in succession 1n as many seconds, and this seemed to be done without any cause,
unless possibly because they were in the way, or because they were so placed as not
to be easily reavhed from the right side.

On several of the trees which I examined carefully with the glass more than half
the blossoms were wilted and mutilated, and repeatedly Sparrows were seen to alight
on twigs which contained few but ruined blossoms, and after a quick glance pass on
to sprays of untouched flowers. (W. B. B.)

Abundant evidence is at hand to show that such proceedings as that
just described are not exceptional, but of regular and frequent occur-
rence, and there can be no doubt that often the crop of fruit is seriously
lessened in this way.

The injury is by no means confined to the buds and blossoms of peaches,
for cherries, grapes, plums, and pears suffer almost as much, and few,
if any, fruit trees escape attack altogether. The following list shows
the kinds of buds and blossoms which suffer most, and the number of
observers reporting injury to each kind:

Reports. Reports.
GANG a A A ae AAC DPA bee ae ee Be res pen ee eae Se eye pies
GES 3.5 Herc be ee Se ae el a ee ES Ber MLO ne See eins ee COL IOS | they Me ee 9
eG Me Aes wet a es eect se ekrok Sic ded ape bi hyn Mirra pores eters oh aa mic eee ae 7
anmmenrrirent coocs P88. loos Lod ly = Other shade tKees es Se f55. So 3. 8 Se §
<oLLUSTEEE ST 2 AS cg gen fy Eversreens ters. os oe 252 2-~ celeste 9
LDISNO ge Sg ey See eae a 16

And two or three reports each of injury to buds of the quince, apricot,
orange, fig, lilac, etc.

All these reports are well worth reading entire, but we insert only a
few here, sufficient to confirm the foregoing statements, .

William Saunders, of Washington, D. C., superintendent of garden
and grounds of the Department of Agriculture, writes:

Ihave a peach tree in my yard, the branches of which are within three feet of my bed-
room window. It is now nearly in full flower, and, as usual, the Sparrows busy them-
selves in pecking at the blossoms. I watched them closely this morning, and found
that they almost uniformly made two pecks, and two only, at each blossom. First
one or two petals were removed and discarded, then another peck was made, and so
on to other flowers. After watching them for some time, I opened the window blinds
(through which I had been watching the birds) and found that the embryo fruit was
removed from all the blossoms thus operated upon. By removing a petal or two on

one side of the flower the embryo fruit was easily secured. Unopened buds seemed

to be preferred. All the flowers thus destroyed were not removed or broken off; only
an occasional bud would fall to the ground. The fruit embryos were removed so
dexterously that the remnants of the blossom still stuck to the twigs. (April 14, 1887.)

Within the last few days the Sparrows have attacked and seriously injured the
flower buds of a blue and white Wistaria on my house. The flower clusters are still
quite small, only about three inches in length, and downy and tender. The birds are
pulling them all to pieces, and the ground in the vicinity is strewn with fragments.
Last year the vine was loaded with magnificent clusters of flowers, but this year I
Shall have very few, and those low down, where the Sparrows are afraid to come.
(April 25, 1887.)

A6 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Prof. O. T. Mason, of Washington, D. C., writes: :

Previously to 1882 lived in what is now called University Park, where 1 had a great
mauy fruit trees, including pears. I have sat in my study window many times and
watched the English Sparrows picking at the pear-tree buds just when they vegan to
swell.

It was not until I had lost one or two crops that I gave close scrutiny to their ac-
tious and found that they were picking out-the flower portion of the buds and eating
them. After that I gave orders to allow no Sparrows in the garden, and had no
trouble in securing a crop of pears. (February 9, 1886.)

Sereno Edwards Todd, of Orange, Essex County, N. J., writes:

It often ruins the pear crop by eating all the buds in cold weather. (September 6,
1886.)

W. li. Saunders, of London, Ontario, Canada, writes :

One year—1882, I think—it stripped a Flemish Beauty pear tree of blossoms so that
we bad no fruit from it. (December, 1885.)

Dr. B. H. Warren, State Ornithologist of Pennsylvania, West Chester,
Chester County. Pa., writes:

It devours the fruit buds of pear, peach, and plum trees, and also grape-vine buds.

The buds and blossoms (especially buds) of the numerous varieties of pear are de-
voured and otherwise destroyed to a very considerable extent in this section. (Jan-—
uary, 1887.)

William EF. Doertenbach, of Cleveland, Ohio, writes:

This spring (1886) the Sparrows picked the blossoms off a plum tree in my yard. [
cut a branch full of blossoms and examined them closely and there were no insects in
the blossoms. (November 8, 1886. Present about thirteen years. )

Dr. C. P. Blachly, of Manhattan, Kans., writes:

When the first three or four pairs of English Sparrows came here I observed one of
the birds very busy on the branch of a plum bush. After about a minute’s time [|
examined tke branch and found all but two or three buds had been nipped off, there
being upwards of fifty buds gone, and apparently just nipped off. (November, 1885.)

Elisha Slade, of Somerset, Bristol County, Mass., writes:

In spring it injures the swelling buds and young leaves of the apple, pear, peach,
plum, cherry, and quince trees, and currant and gooseberry bushes. Sometimes the
injury is slight, but often serious. (October 19, 1885.)

This injury is very noticeable on quinces and dwarf pears, currants, raspberry vines,
and small trees. (August 20, 185. Present about twelvyc years.)

Henry Stewart, of Hackensack, N. J., writes:

Early Jast spring it picked open many apple buds co that the ground under the
trees was covered with them. (February 5, 1884. Present about fourteen years. )

Prof. B. W. Evermann writes from Bloomington, Monroe County,
fnd-*

I have often noticed them eating, or biting off, the blossoms of apple trees. (Au-
gust 25, 1886. Present about eleven years. )

W. V. Osterhout writes from Providence, R. I.: _

[have seen it destroying the buds of the elm (our principal shade tree) and of grepe-
vines; it also destroys cherry, pear, and peach blossoms. A friend of mine was for
iwo years unable to obtain enough fruit from his two cherry trees to warrant picking,
although the trees were heaithy and in good bearing, all on account of the destruc-
tion of buds, flowers, and fruit by the Sparrow. (May 8, 1887.)

ead.

,

INJURY TO BUDS AND BLOSSOMS. 47

Otto Lugger, of Baltimore, Md., writes:
The buds and blossoms of my two small orange trees have just been entirely de-
troyed by the Sparrows. ‘The trees had been housed through the winter, but were

put out of doors in the spring, and each had from 75 to 100 buds. As long as the buds

were small the Sparrows took no notice of them, but as soon as they began to show
much white they were attacked. Strips of red flannel were tied on the trees, and
kept the birds away for a day or two, but at the end of five days only four buds were
left, and three of these were eaten as soon as they opened. (May 30, 1887.)

The postmaster at Schriever, Terre Bonne Parish, La., writes:

‘It injures peach trees and orange blossoms. (October 8, 1886. Present about one
year. )

Thomas Mellwraith, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, writes:

It eats fruit buds, and one season -it attacked my grape-vines just as the leaves
were opening, and ate the heart of the buds. Since that time I have had to scare the
birdsaway while the vinesare atthatstage. (March 10, 1884. Presentaboutten years. )

Dr. H. D. Moore writes from New Lexington, Somerset County, Pa.:

I have seen it destroy the grape blossoms and setting of young grapes, and have
heard my neighbors say that they have seen the same thing. (September 13, 1826.
Present about eleven years.)

Mrs. Wm. Pitkin, of Rochester, N. Y., writes:

I discovered that during the early morning hours flocks of Sparrows were busily
engaged in picking out the germ of fruit in blossoms, and also stripping whole bunches
of small grapes until not one would be left upon astem. The rapidity with which

ghey ate their breakfast was surprising. I endeavored from season to season to keep

them away by driving them off, but this produced only temporary effect. This last
summer IJ spread netting over and along the sides of the frames (one side is sufficient)
immediately upon the appearance of the fruit buds. The Sparrows were too wary to
frequent any part of my garden until the nets were removed, which was done be-
fore the fruit was ef full size. I have never seen a large grape attacked, either green

or ripe. The result of my experiment has been an abundant supply of grapes of

may varieties after several seasons of lossand disappointment. (September 19, 1887.)

Francis Gladwin, ef Akron, Ohio, writes:

I have a small orchard of dwarf apple trees, and during the cold weather I noticed
the Sparrows alighting on the trees every day; when I came to examine the trees in
the early spring I found almost all of the large fruit buds broken or pecked off, de-
stroying the crop of apples completely for this year. What with the bugs and hum- -
bugs (Sparrows) it.is almost useless to try toraise anything. I think we ought to be
allowed to fire at the Sparrows even if it is in the city limits. (November 1, 1887.)

Robert Williamson of Troy, Madison County, Ill., testifies:

I saw it in large numbers on my currant bushes last winter, and on examining them
foun: two-thirds of the buds caten off. (October 2, 1886. Present ten years. )

J. I’. Niesz, of Canton, Stark County, Ohio, says:

Sparrows injure fruit trees and shrubbery by stripping off the buds in winter and

_earlyspring. Lilacssnfferespecially. (September 6, 1886. Present about three years.)

Charles B. Fuller, of Portland, Me., says:

Ihave seen them ‘‘bud” elms so as to seriously injure the trees. (May 31, 1884.
Present about twenty-six years )
_ Dr. W. 8. Strode, of Bernadotte, Fulton County, Ill., writes :

In one of my country drives carly last March I saw a large number of birds, that
seemed new to me, busily flitting about in the tops of some elm trees. Thinking to

AS THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

obtain askin of something rare I fired amongst them, and brought two to the ground,
and to my disgust found them to be Passer domesticus, their bills besmeared and
their crops distended with the buds of the elm, on which they were gormandizing.
(September 7, 1887. Present two or three years.)

INJURY TO FRUITS, GARDEN SEEDS, AND VEGETABLES,

Evidence on this question was received from 788 persons, of whom
472 gave testimony against the Sparrow, 279 gave testimony more or
less favorable (but, as under the preceding question, mainly negative,
as the result of scant observation), and 37 gave testimony which was
partly favorable and partly unfavorable.

The following list shows (roughly) the number and character of the
reports furnished from each State:

; Favora- | Unfavor-| -. ,.° Favora-.| Unfavor-| nr,
State. ble anil Total. State. ‘hes Aa Total.
Miieinko anise sense: 49 3 Gaal pRennisiy Myint seer | 6 32 38
Miryclite ieee rete yataletcicinte ate 23 38 Gl || Massachusetts. ...-- 14 18 32
New York....-..-.-- 23 36 HOM MOWial cme ee cia eect 16 9 25
Oyo. BaAsoseeeo oe 20 39 59 || Connecticut .----.-- 8 16 | 24.
WMO oeera sos see 25 PH Osh anisas\eerecce-er ese 7 15 22
AMenGuC syle jase 24 29 Son |ln@alatornitameses ees 3 17 20
(CICCIE aes onbescsoore 15 26 41 || New Jersey .- ....- 2 15 17

Twenty other States and Territories sent from 1 to 12 reports each,
ageregating 135, of which 49 were favorable, 84 unfavorable, and 2 in-
definite. Canada sent 20 reports; 13 favorable, and 7 unfavorable.

The injuries specified in the unfavorable reports are distributed as
follows:

Lruits, ripe or ripening.

Reports. : Reports.
Grapes: os 22S SS c/a ee 127 | Blackberries”: 22.\. [5 235255 eee 8
Gilvemnie see as Soe) 7s) eee 58 | Peaches 00.2 2. ...4..20 2.2) 3 See a
Siravy DOnEEeS o/ 555 eo. ou. eee 39.) Figs... .edee. Boothe ee 3
VASP DENDICS cece s cee oo eee Smee dls) GoOoseberries =~. =— se eee J caren 3
250) 0) WO eres aac ap ERS 0k ene 22°| Mulberries. ..... 20). 2 22.5 2
Ciimesamesis te oe eck Soc sels come eee 21 | Wild cherries :..2::°.. --22-3ee=eeeee 2
JEOQ IES? £5 = Re eet ee ean A Neder oes 8 cL 16, |: Apricots. -.225 2.26 0. 1
Le TUD STO ania an SN | oink a ies Sie A Sart 2 14 | Fruits, kind not specified..---.--... 83
MROTMNALOCS eee ccc cae fee oes ee ee ee oes 10 | Small fruits, kind not specified ...... 10

Vegetables, green, and mostly young.

Young peas, just coming up.....---- 25) | Young beet plants or leaves....-...-- 8
ea MOMOSSOMIS 3... fj ere, ey ee eee 12 | Young turnip plants or leaves..-.... Jala
Green peas from the pod ..-......... 14 | Young radish plants or leaves....... 3
Peas, kind not specified...........-. 30 | Young corn, just coming up.-..-.-.--.- 1
Beans, kind not specified ..-.-..-.... 5 | Garden corn in the ear.- 2222.25 eessmmee,
Young lettuce plants or leaves...-.-. 27 | Young plants, kind not specified.... 20

Young cabbage plants or leaves..... 16 | Garden vegetables, kind not specified 79

Garden seeds.

NG SHC CR ae ee eS RS ee ae 14 ("Radish 22 tN Se eee .6
Cabbage a5 ook. Fale ae es 127) Plewer eee eee 4
1B Yeoh eee eee Miata Se ouetes ME Shey, Ae 4”). Suntlower 2s oe eee eee 29

ADs 6) a1) 6 Yo MAD yr Oneal 15 | Garden, kinds not specified...--....- 35

aie.

INJURY TO GRAPES. 49

A few reports also mention injury to either the seed or young plants
of mustard, spinach, hemp, flax, artichoke, salsify, cauliflower, carrot,

_ parsnip, tobacco, pepper, etc., while one report mentions serious injury

to tube-roses, another to tulips, and still another to sweet peas. It will
be seen from this summary that there is scarcely a garden fruit or veg-
etable which does not suffer, at least occasionally, from the attacks of
the Sparrow, although some garden products are much more seriously
injured than others.

INJURY TO FRUITS.

INJURY TO GRAPES.

Among fruits, grapes appear to suffer most, and, although many
grapes are raised without protection in places where Sparrows are con-
sidered fairly abundant, there is every reason to believe that sooner or
or later this bird will discover and injure them wherever its increase
is tolerated. It has been shown that grape buds are frequently de-
stroyed in the early spring, and the fact that one hundred and twenty-
seven observers, representing twenty-six States and the District of Co-
lumbia, now bear witness to injury to the ripening fruit, may. well cause
apprehension among grape-growers who have not suffered any loss as
yet.

In California, where grape culture is an industry of paramount im-
portance, the English Sparrow has taken firm root and is multiplying
and spreading with ominious rapidity ; and unless steps are taken to
wipe out the pest at the earliest possible moment the result probably
will entail a loss to the State of many thousands, if not millions, of dol-
lars.

It must not be supposed for a moment that we have overlooked the fact
that other birds than the Sparrow eat grapes, and we are even willing
to admit that occasionally some of the damage done may have been
wrongly attributed to the Sparrow. This, however, does not justify
the claim made by some friends of the latter bird, that he is always, or
even frequently, innocent of thischarge. It often happens that grapes
are destroyed by birds in places where there are no English Sparrows ;
and, on the other hand, it as frequently happens that the same fruit is
destroyed by Sparrows in places where there are no other birds. Per-
haps this absence of birds, coupled with the fact that many wasps and
bees feed on injured or over-ripe fruit, has led some people to attribute
all this injury to insects. Thus the Rev. W. M. Beauchamp, of Bald-
winsville, Onondaga County, N. Y., writes:

It seems altogether a mistake to suppose they [the Sparrows] injure grapes or
other fruits. They are scarcely ever seen in my garden, but my grapes and plums
suffer fearfully from bees. A year ago I made a special study of the destruction of
grapes for several weeks, and demonstrated that the bees alone were the aggressors,
neither birds, hornets, nor wasps coming near the fru‘t all that time. (October A5,
1885.)

8404—Bull. 1——4

50 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Careful experiments made by the Entomological Division of the De-
partment of Agriculture show conclusively that bees can only injure
fruit under very exceptional circumstances. More than twenty varie-
ties of grapes were placed within easy reach of hungry bees, which made
every effort to eat them but were unable in a single instance to break the
skin of sound grapes. (See Annual Report of Commissioner of Agri-
culture for 1885.) Bees and wasps, especially ‘‘ yellow jackets,” often
destroy ripe fruits of various kinds as soon asan opening through the
skin has been made, but it remains to be proved that they are ever the
first aggressors, and the structure of the mouth parts of boney bees seems
to preclude the possibility of their ever breaking the skin of grapes.

Of course we have received many reports (about 25 in all) to the
effect that the Sparrow has not been observed to injure grapes, and per-
haps half a dozen of these observers state positively that in their
opinion it never does injure them.

Dr. J. R. Mathers, of Buckhannon, W. Va., where the Sparrow has
been present for five years or more, writes:

I raise quantities of grapes and have never known the Sparrow to touch them, nor
have I ever heard any complaint from others on this head. (August 24, 1885.)

Mr. Frank Little, of Kalamazoo, Mich., writes:

I have an extensive garden of fruit (particularly grapes), vegetables, sweet corn,
and flowers. While the Sparrows frequent the street in front of my house, I have
never seen them doing any harminthe garden. (September 6, 1886. Present six. or
eight years. )

There is nothing whatever in these statements which is open to ques-
tion. They are statements of fact, and as such should be accepted as
evidence, but it should be remembered that this is merely negative evi-
dence, and only tends to prove that the Sparrow does not always feed
on fruit even when readily accessible. It takes nothing from the force
of the positive evidence already given, and the only point of difficulty
which it raises is the question why the bird should eat fruit only at some
times instead of at all times; a question which could be certainly and
fally answered if we had all the data naturally pertaining to the ease.
Failing this, we can only say that probably food of other kinds was
so abundant the Sparrows took but little fruit anywhere, and this
little was found more easily elsewhere, or was taken unobserved and
was never missed. Or, perhaps the very abundance of fruit and the
limited numbers of the birds prevented any noticeable damage. The
fact that the Sparrows are not actually seen doing the mischief is never
surprising to one who has watched them closely, for they are among
the most wary and cunning of birds, especially after they have been
detected once in mischief of any kind. Thereis every reason to believe,
however, that the taste for fruit is one which not ail English Sparrows
acquire, or which at least is not held to the same extent by all.

It can not be denied that some fruit-growers suffer much greater loss
from Sparrows than others, when, so far as can be determined, the condi-

INJURY TO GRAPES. 5i

tions are almost identical; and it seems probable that, as many persons
4 3 believe, if the Sparrows are shot at or thoroughly frightened on their jirst
visit to a vineyard, orchard, or garden, they are much less likely to be
' troublesome afterwards. The habit of feeding there once formed, it is
very difficult to prevent continual annoyance and loss.

One thing has been noticed repeatedly with regard to the depreda-
tions of the Sparrow, namely the abrupt and often unaccountable manner
in which it appears at or disappears from a place, or changes its atten-
tion from one crop to another. A place entirely free from Sparrows
this year may be overrun with them next year; and a crop which has
remained unmolested in past years may be attacked and seriously dam-
aged without any preliminary sampling or warning. Thus, Mr. Thomas
Mikesel], of Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio, wrote under date of April
24, 1886:

I have not known it to injure grapes or other fruit, and hear no complaints from
any one,

But within six months Mr. Mikegell wrote again, saying:

It destroys large quantities of grapes by picking holes in the berries and sucking
the juice. Ihave seen them atit. (November 15, 1886.)

At Bernadotte, Fulton County, Ill., the Sparrow has only been es-
tablished for two or three years, yet during the past season it has been
very destractive to grapes in that vicinity. ‘3
X Dr. W.8. Strode, of Bernadotte, after stating (September 7, 1887) that
he has recently found large quantities of grape pulp in the stomachs of
Sparrows which he examined, says:

Z

:
14
p
t:

i.

The variety of grape mostly destroyed is the Concord, as no other to any extent is
cultivated here. My observations have, for the most part, been in and around the
villages of Bernadotte and Smithfield, country towns with a population of about 225

; each—no city nearer than Galesburgh, 40 miles distant; Peoria, 50 miles.

Bernadotte is on Spoon River, 20 miles from its mouth at Havana, surrounded by
hill and valley farms. Smithfield is 6 miles north, and in the vineyards within a
nile of these villages the greater part of the damage has been done to the grape
crop; one citizen of Smithfield estimating that in his vineyard of 2 acres one-
half of all the grapes were devoured by the vagrants * * * By personal in-
spection of the vineyard of 600 vines belonging to Mr. Willard F. Smith, one and a
half miles south of Bernadotte, I estimated that one-third of all the grapes on the
____ bunches had been sucked out or pulled off. Estimating the crop at 10 pounds to the
5 vine and at 3 cents per pound, the loss can be easily estimated.

It must not be forgotten that the Sparrow is a typical seed-eater and
depends on seeds for its main support. It unquestionably could live
indefinitely on seed alone, and it is possible that it could not exist
for any considerable time on fruit alone. The abundance of a favorite
food, such as grain, might often prevent serious damage to fruit. But
Sparrows, like most other birds, prefer and need variety in diet, and
even amid an abundance of grain food they undouttedly relish an oc-
casional taste of fruit. Thus, where they become very numerous and
the supply of fruit is not large even this occasional taste becomes a
serious thing for the gardener, while, on the other hand, sections in

~ a, is. ©

I eT Pe ee Sl PE eT eee een
_ ae J oe cays +. k

¥
a

_

52 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

which fruit is grown almost exclusively are not aa to feel the losses
they occasion.

In this connection it may be well to give briefly the results of an ex-
amination of the relations of Sparrows to grapes, made by direction of
the Commissioner of Agriculture in September, 1887. In accordance —
with instructions, the assistant ornithologist some time among the
vineyards of western New York, in collecting facts as to the attitude
of the Sparrow toward grapes. The points visited were mainly in
the vicinity of Geneva, Watkins, Canandaigua, Penn Yan, Keuka,
Hammondsport, Bath, and Rochester; three days being spent in the
the extensive vineyards about Seneca and Keuka Lakes in Yates and
Steuben Counties. Some complaints were heard at almost every point
visited, but it must be confessed that very little evidence decidedly un-
favorable to the Sparrow was collected, except in the immediate vicinity
of towns.

Sparrows were found scattered about in several vineyards, but were
nowhere abundant, and although many bushels of ruined grapes were
seen, and some of the owners attributed most of the damage to the
Sparrows, no perfectly conclusive evidence of this could be obtained.
Nor is this to be wondered at when we consider all the facts in the
ease. Take Keuka Lake, for instance, the shores of which are almost
uniformly covered with vineyards, more than 10,000 acres of which
are already bearing. The two principal towns on this lake, Ham-
mondsport and Penn Yan, about 20 miles apart, are fairly supplied
with Sparrows. Between these two towns, along both shores of the
lake, no other crop than grapes is grown, and but for the presence of
weeds, there would be nothing else to tempt the Sparrows.

In many of the vineyards, however, the weeds are purposely allowed
to grow unchecked between the rows so that they may be used for mulch-
ing in winter. The heavy cropofseed thus grown undoubtedly is a con-
siderable protection to the grapes, as the Sparrows feed by preference on
seed, and the damage which the few now present could do among so
Inany grapes would scarcely be noticed.

In one vineyard on Keuka Lake a flock of about 100 Sparrows was
found apparently feeding on the grapes, and the superintendent of the
vineyard, Mr. A. Baker, testified most positively that they had done
much damage to the crop. Two birds were shot from this flock, but
their stomachs contained considerable numbers of weed seeds and no
traces of grapes.

About Keuka Lake, there certainly were not more than two Sparrows
to an acre of grapes, on an average, and so long as this proportion is
not greatly changed no serious injury from this source need be feared.
Moreover, as grape-culture yields far better returns than grain-growing
in this region, and as the country is not thickly settled and the winters
are long and snowy, it would not be difficult to restrict the increase of
the Sparrows so as to make them practically harmless.

a

INJURY TO GRAPES. 53

Even in the vicinity of Rochester, the Sparrow is not abundant in

: the sense in which it is abundant about more southern cities of equal
size; and yet many complaints of injury to grapes were received from
‘that city and the surrounding country. At the vineyard of Messrs.

Elwanger & Barry, about a mile south of the city, considerable dam-
age liad been done to Niagara and Dutchess grapes, but the superin-
tendent, Mr. J. Gardner, was sure this was entirely due to robins and
other native birds, and stated that although the Sparrows did consid-
erable damage to wheat in the neighborhood, they seldom visited the
vineyard after the grapes began to ripen. On the other hand, Mr.
Henry Harrison, living in the city, lost about one-half of one variety of

early grape (Israella) growing in his garden, through the depredations

of Sparrows; Mr. Jennings, living about a mile and a-half northeast of

_ the city, had suffered considerable loss of Concords and Delawares in

the same way; and at Rush, about 12 miles south of Rochester, Spar-

rows destroyed a large proportion of the grapes of Mr. W. G. Mark-

ham. :
Among those who have suffered from the Sparrow’s depredations on
grapes, there appears to be some difference of opinion as to the motive
of the bird, some believing that it eats only the seeds, others only the
juice or pulp, while still others contend that it punctures the grapes wan-
tonly and with no intention of eating any of them. From all the evi-
dence obtainable on this point, it seems probable that each of these
views is in part correct, but that ordinarily the chief attraction is in

the juice or pulp of the grape, which the birds seem really to enjoy.

Grape-seeds have been found in their stomachs very rarely, and grape
skins never, so far as we are aware.

Those who have watched closely the movements of the Sparrow when
amoug the grapes agree that he peeks many more grapes than he eats,
and his actions at such times, together with the fact that he frequently
picks off leaves and shoots, which he does not eat, lend some color to
the statements that he willfully destroys simply for the pleasure of de-
struction.

Bunt in whatever manner accomplished, the injury to grapes is cer-
tainly serious, for even if but one or two grapes on a bunch are punc-
tured, their decay soon affects the others in the cluster, and mutilated
clusters are practically worthless for market. |

The States reporting most injury to grapes are as follows:

; Reports. Reports.

Me OU ee ae wd nie o widice a's wei Cae MONE NGW J OTSOYcs al) ectetdencee ccnlmmee ee 8

1 LUNN Aa ol ee NO ol Keaiais)rwerocex ce 3 one coat oe eee Sa ee 5

0 te EC eae ee LOE lowpars oiice face oe wee ce he a eaten eee ed

ES aS oe ead ee a ae ean A AGCOnGIah scieectn as atcteca ow s(aiis eases 4

PE HIMG VV ANUA Ne. a5 alia wince uw wtecies cove COMES] Ayn kc ee ge nes Aries eM Lec a Dd 4

a OF ehodevlislands 25. Wis YSN eo ehouae 3

4 SeebtaeeCHUSCttS. 5. 6.4... coe eoe see ne 8 | District of Columbia ..... eoee recess
MIP INCCUICUD ba uisee duce ceca ccwdeus vece 8

Hae. THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

~ The following reports, selected almost at random, and coming from

widely separated parts of the country, may be taken as suggestive ex: .

amples of the work of the Sparrow on this crop. :
Irom Robert D. Camp, New Haven, Conn. : ;
I have noticed the Sparrows eating grapes more than any other fruit. A vine within

sight of my place of business is almost alive with*the birds when the fruit is ripen-
ing. (April, 1887. Present fifteen or twenty years.)

Irom F. S. Platt, seedsman and florist, New Haven, Conn.:

Last year, when I had a large crop of very fine grapes, I found that the Sparrows
were destroying nearly all of them. I watched these birds and found that they
would pick out a fine bunch of fruit and pick a hole in nearly every grape. This hole
would be so very small that at first it would not be noticeable, but very soon the place
would begin to decay, and then the grape would be ruined. I have twenty varieties
of choice grapes, which they peck and ruin

From William Holmead, Mount Pleasant, D.C. (suburb of Washing-
ton): '

The Sparrows for the last two years have destroyed my grapes to such an extent
that I have not realized the expenses of culture. (November 8, 1886. Present about
fourteen years. )

From August Gierschner, New Athens, Saint Clair County, ILL:

It eats cherries, plums, and grapes as long as it can find any. * * * I think
public sentiment will turn against him, especially on account of the havoc he makes
with cherries and grapes. (October 5,1886. Present about fourteen years. )

Irom the postmaster at Bowling Green, Warren County, Ky. :

In this city it has ruined the grape crop almost wholly where unprotected. (Octo-
ber 3, 1886. Present about eight years.)

From Thomas 8S. Kennedy, Crescent Hill, Jefferson County, Ky.:

It eats ripe strawberries, raspberries, and grapes. The last season it has been un-
usually destructive and has torn the paper bags from the bunches of grapes. It also
eats holes in apples and pears hanging on the trees. (October 5, 1886. Present five
or six years. ) ;

From H. H. Miller and other members of the County Farmers’ Club,
Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Md.: E

It injures strawberries, * * * and particularly grapes, some of the smaller

vineyards being nearly a failure on this account. (February 16, 1887. Present
about eight years.)

From KE. A. Bowen, Middleborough, Mass. :

It is especially fond of grapes, and destroys a great many inmy locality. (Septem-
ber 21, 1886. Present ten or eleven years. )

¥rom Samuel 8. Lacey, Marshall, Calhoun County, Mich.:

It steals peas and eats Delaware and winter grapes. (November 20, 1886. Present
about six years.)

From David C. Voorhees, Blawenburgh, Somerset County, N. J.:

It attacks and devours grapes greedily. My crop was damaged 10 per cent. this
year. It seems to hunt up all the largest and best clusters, and when fully ripe does
great damage by biting through the skin. (December, 1885.) It destroys grapes by
the ton and peas to a great extent. (August, 1886. Present about three years.)

INJURY TO GRAPES. 55

4
From Samuel N. Rhoads, Haddonfield, Camden County, N. J.:

i | It injures the grape andcherry most. The injury to the former is often great, and
a the more provoking because the Sparrow only tastes the finest of fine bunches.
_ (September 9, 1886. Present about twenty-eight years. )

From Dr. George J. Fisher, Sing Sing, N. Y.:

2 They eat large quantities of our best grapes. (March 18, 1837. Present about

d twenty years. ) -

- From William F. Doertenbach, Cleveland, Ohio:

| On September 14, 1886, Isaw a flock of about 150 Sparrows in a vineyard, and

the owner said they did a great deal of damage to the grapes by pecking holes in
them, making many unfit for market. (November 8, 1886. Present about thirteen
years. )

4 From W. B. Hall, Wakeman, Huron County, Ohio:

It feeds upon the grape, puncturing the skin in the same manner as the Oriole, and
_ thns giving bees a chance to work on the pulp. (December 24, 1886. Present about
five years. )

From W. N. Irwin, South Salem, Ross County, Ohio:

’ After the wheat was out of their reach they commenced work on our Seckel pears,
then on the Bartletts, and then on the grapes.

They only worked on one side of the pears, but took pulp and seed of the grapes,
leaving the skins hanging on the vine. They seemed to like the Venango or Miner’s
seedling best of all, and the Delaware next, though they even cleared up the wild
frost-grapes in the woods. (December 26, 1887.)

From W. B. K. Johnson, Allentown, Pa.:

I discovered this last fall that the English Sparrow takes ripened grapes. <A flock
of three hundred or four hundred Sparrows came into my vineyard for several days.
One day I saw one cut a grape, and upon examination I found that at least half a ton
were ruined, The Sparrows made a cut in each grape about three-eighths of an inch
long, seemingly to get a little juice, going thus from one berry to another until whole
vines were ruined, always preferring thin-skinned and sweetest varieties. (Febru-
ary 7, 1888.)

From Witmer Stone, Germantown, Pa.:

It frequently despoils whole grape vines of their fruit, and hacks and pecks the

bunches so that they have to be protected by paper bags. (November 9, 1886. Pres-
ent twenty years or more.)

From Dr. Bb. H. Warren, State Ornithologist, West Chester, Chester
County, Pa.: 3

It consumes grapes, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. * * * The
variety of grape known commonly as the Concord, in West Chester and vicinity, is
particularly subject to the ravages of the Sparrow. “Mr. Samuel Hannum, of West
Chester, a thoroughly reliable and close observer, says: ‘‘ The Sparrows destroy a
large proportion of my Concord grape crop by attacking the fruit and destroying the
seeds.” (January, 1887.)

The testimony on this subject whichcomes from Australia, and which
is printed in full in another part of the Bulletin, should be carefully read.
It is sufficient here to state that in the vicinity of Adelaide, South Aus-
tralia, where the English Sparrow has become very abundant, it is
almost impossible to raise grapes. One fruit grower says: ‘‘In the worst
parts of their haunts the grapes were literally cleared from the vines.”

56 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Another says that he has “‘a trellis of vines eighty feet in length, be-
sides other vines, and was not able to cut a bunch of grapes,” while
still another lost a ton and a half of grapes in ten days.

INJURY TO OTHER SMALL FRUITS.

As already stated, very few garden fruits escape the Sparrow’s notice,
and almost all small fruits suffer badly. Next to grapes probably
cherries are most seriously injured, but as this is a crop which suffers
much from other birds, it 1s often difficult to say what proportion of the
damage is done by the Sparrow, except in localities where there are no
other birds. Ascherry buds and blossoms are a favorite food of the
Sparrow earlier in the season, this damage to the ripening fruit is all
the more keenly felt. The following are a few of the scores of com-
_ plaints received at the Department :

From J. Percy Moore, Philadelphia, Pa. :

It destroys large quantities of ripe cherries as long as this fruit can be found.
June 17, 1886, I saw old birds feeding on them, and also carrying large numbers to
their young in the nest. (September 7, 1886. Present about twenty years.)

From F. W. Seaver, Aaron, Switzerland County, Ind.:

I have noticed droves of them in cherry and other small fruit trees, which they
would almost strip of fruit. (October 8, 1886. Present about four years.)

Frem John T. Mack, Sandusky, Ohio:

It ruins much ripening fruit here of nearly all kinds, especially cherries, plums, etc.
(September 1, 1886. Present several years. )

From H. Volkening, Lenzburgh, St. Clair County, Ill.:

This year it allowed hardly any of our cherries or grapes to get'ripe. (October 4,
1886. Present about three years.)

From W.J. N. Osterhaut, Providence, R. L:

Ina yard near my house there are two cherry trees, aid in the same yard is a large bird-
house which the landlord wil! not suffer to be removed. For several years the ten-
ants have been able to get but very few cherries because the Sparrows devour both
blossom and fruit. (April, 1886.)

Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries also suffer considerably,
as seen from the following reports:

From the postmaster at Charlestown, Clark County, Ind.:
It injures both bloom and fruit of the strawberry. (October 13, 1886. Present
about twelve years. ) <

From Charles W. Snyder, Hudson, Columbia County, N. Y.:

I have noticed in some localities that fields of strawberries and raspberries have
been injured by them to a considerable extent. (December 6, 1886. Present about
six years. )

From George H. Berry, North Livermore, Androscoggin County,
Me. :

They have settled in flocks on strawberry beds, currant bushes, and cherry trees, in
some instances completely stripping them of fruit. (August 23, 1886, Present about
three years.

INJURY TO APPLES. 57

From George B. Holmes, Fernwood, Cook County, IIL. :
Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries have suffered among my neighbors, and
cherries have also been damaged.
; From A. Ford, Bronson, Bourbon County, Kans. :
F It destroys berries and all other small fruits. It will clean out a blackberry patch

very quickly. They come into a garden by hundreds, and in a few days you have no
cherries or other fruit. (October 11, 1886. Present about two years. )

From J. Leonardson, New Haven, Macomb County, Mich.:

It eats grapes and black-caps. The latter suffer most in this locality, gardeners
losing one-third of their crop. (Autumnp, 1885.)

INJURY TO APPLES, PEARS, PEACHES, AND OTHER FRUITS, .

After once getting a taste of fruit it seems that they sometimes prefer
it even to grain, or at least add large quantities of it to their other food.

Mr. Jabez Webster, nurseryman and fruit-grower, of Centralia, Ma-
rion County, Ill., writes:

Ihave seen flocks of fifty or more stay about my raspberries, constantly flying
backwards and forwards, taking quarts of the best fruit, and coming very close to
the pickers. * * * Last year I observed that after they had feasted on my straw- —
berries, raspberries, ripe gooseberries, and cherries, they were all at once flying from a
stubble-field close by and alighting in my early apple tices. I thought I would see
what they were after, thinking it might possibly be insects, but, alas, they were peck-
ing holes in some ripe apples on the very tops of the trees. Some Cornell’s Fancy and
Red June were from one-fourth to one-third eaten, and the foliage and limbs in the
tops of the trees were white with their excrement. This they kept up for several
days, pecking holes only in the very ripest apples. (December 21, 1836. Present about
seven years. ) :

From a score of reports of injury to apples we select the following:

From A. B. Ghere, Frankfort, Clinton County, Ind.:

I have seen them in large numbers feeding on smallfruit * * * and pecking
early apples. (August 27,1886. Present about eight years. )

From Bell Irwin, Bad Axe, Huron County, Mich. :

The plums and apples in my own garden were attacked by it and somewhat in-
jured. (September 15, 1886. Present about four years.)

The following detailed account of injury to apples comes from Mr. F.
M. Webster, of La Fayette, Ind., who watched the birds carefully at
their work, and testifies only what he has actually seen. Under date
of August 25, 1886, he wrote:

The English Sparrow is destroying my apples. I have several trees in my garden,
and as soon as the fruit gets mellow they peck holes init, andit either drops to the
ground or decays on the trees. I can hardly geta single apple fit to eat; they have

destroyed nearly, if not quite, three-quarters of this variety. A neighbor across the
___—-way is troubled in the same manner.
In reply toarequest for further information, Mr. Webster wrote:

I am not able to state now whether they show any preference as to flavor, for only
one variety of my fruit is as yetripe enough to tempt them; but they almost invariably
select the largest and best apples, either because they are fastidious, or perhaps be-
cause they can better stand upon them while at work. I donot think they attack the

/

.

+

58 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

apples in order to get the seeds, as if that were the case, itseems to me they would z
confine their efforts to one or two punctures, whereas they often excavate several]
very shallow cavities, and these are often of considerable area. :

On October 7, 1886, he wrote again:

Imail to-day more samples of Sparrow-pecked apples, taken from the tree this
forenoon. They are of a different variety from those sent before, and asa rule less
of the pulpis taken than with the other variety, but the Sparrows begin work assoon
a3 the apples get mellow, and I seldom get one intact. I have in my garden one

more tree, of a still later variety, now loaded with fruit, as yet untouched, which I
shall watch with some interest.

And finally, on the 18th of October:

The recent high winds took ali the apples off the trees, except from the one of which

I wrote, and yesterday I found the work of the Sparrowsin the fruit of that treealso,
~ and send you samples. |

An apple pecked as above described and kindly sent to the Depart-
ment by Mr. Webster is figured in the accompanying cut.

APPLE PECKED BY ENGLISH SPARROWS.

(From garden of F. M. Webster, La Fayette, Ind., October 7, 1886.]

Peaches, pears, and plums are also attacked frequently, as the follow-
ing statements show:
From J. A. Dakin, Tully, Onondaga County, N. Y.:

I have myself observed it destroying grapes and pears, and a farmer told me this
morning that it had destroyed $10 worth of his Bartlett pears. (September 10, 1386.
Present about eighteen years.)

From J. M. Dresser, La Fayette, Tippecanoe County, Lindy
It pecks into apples and pears. (December 11, 1886. Present about twelve years. )
From John B. Tolman, Lynn, Mass.:

It injures fruit particularly. My choicest pears, peaches, grapes, and small fruits
are badly pecked andmangled. (February 15, 1834.) :

INJURY TO FRUITS. 59

“aa

From Adolph Leue, Cincinnati, Ohio:

a If pears are allowed to ripen on the tree it wil eat them all. (October 12, 1886,

_ Present more than twelve years.)

From L. E. Bentley, Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, La. :

It is very fond of plums, and particularly of the Mespilus, or Japan plum [Loquat],
which it devours with evident relish. (October 30, 1886. Present about five years.)
Many other fruits also are damaged to a greater or less extent, and a

few examples are inserted here:

From William B. Berthoud, Barataria, Jefferson Parish, La. :

It is very fond of grapes and figs, and destroys a considerable quantity of these
fruits. (June 27, 1887. Present about four years. )

From Dr. G. E. Manigault, Charleston, 8. C.:

j It attacks garden fruits and vegetables, eating grapes, figs, etc. (August 24, 1884.)

§ From H. Jacobson, Redwood City, San Mateo County, Cal. :

It feeds ou grapes and figs. (October 11, 1886. Present twelve years.)

From W. C. Percy, jr., Black Hawk, Concordia Parish, La.:

They destroy more tomatoes * * * than any other bird. (September 15, 1886.

Present two or three years.)
From W. H. Wherritt, Lancaster, Garrard County, Ky.:
It injures tomatoes and small fruits. (October 11, 1886. Present cight or nine

_-—«years.)

; from J. B. McKinney, Newburgh, Warrick County, Ind.:

| It destroys cherries, currants, apples, pears, and any smali fruit. (October 8, 1886.

Present about twelve years. )

From P. W. Parmelee, Burton, Geauga County, Ohio:
I have seen it at work on currants and raspberries; in fact, it will eat anything it
can get when hungry. (September 1, 1886. Present about five years.)

It is not surprising that any fruit-eating bird should attack figs, and
perhaps we ought not to wonder at the Sparrow’s eating tomatoes, ai-
though we are not aware that any other undomesticated bird touches
them, but when we find that even currants are eaten in considerable
quantities we begin to realize that the Sparrow’s palate is peculiar and
that no fruit whatever can be considered safe in its vicinity.

From the 288 more or less favorable reports relating to fruit we select
afew of the most definite.

As these are all negative reports their value depends aliogether on
the opportunities for observation which each witness has enjoyed and
on the manner in which these opportunities have been used.
| In ail except a very few cases lack of time or opportunity wiil ac-
count for the failure to note anything but favorable characteristics in
the Sparrow, yet there are enough of these exceptions to make it tolera-
bly certain that the Sparrows have not abused their hospitality in all
cases, and we are glad to give even this devil his due.

Mr. Lewis H. Hill, of Lockport, Niagara County, N. Y., writes:

: _ I have never known it to trouble any kind of fruit, and 1 have quite a variety.
(September 3, 1886.) ;

G0 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA,

Mr. R. G. Morris, of Georgetown, Quitman County, Ga., writes:

I do not think it injures garden fruits or vegetables. I have had a very good gar-
den this year, and the Sparrows stay about it neariy all the time. (September 28,
1886. Present one year.)

Mr. A. F. Hofer, of McGregor, Clayton County, lowa, writes:

It never injures fruits. Ihave seen it [at Dubuque ?] rearing its young broods on
pear trees with the nests surrounded by the finest ripe fruit, but they never touched
the pears. (October 11, 1886.)

Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, of New York City, writes:

The robin takes every cherry our few trees produce at my place [on Long Island],
but the Sparrow has never been known to steal a singie one. (August 8, 1886.)

Mr. Thomas Chaimers, of Holyoke, Hampden County, Mass., writes:

I have not known it to injure fruit or vegetables. One robin and one Baltimore
oriole will destroy more cherries and green peas in a day than the whole Sparrow
creation in an eternity. (March 6, 1884. Present about fifteen years.)

Mr. L. H. Glover, of Cassopolis, Cass County, Mich., writes:
It does not injure fruits or vegetables. It is thought by some that our immense
crop of fruit is due to its presence. (October 13,1886. Present four or five years.)
Perhaps a half dozen equally favorable reports have been received,
and they will be found scattered through the testimony on this subject.
There have also been received quite a number of reports favorable in
the main, but not so unqualified in their support of the Sparrow, and
of which the following are fair examples:
From G. W. Warwick, of Smithville, Lee County, Ga.:

No weill-sustained facts have shown it to be injurious to fruits or vegetables. I

have watched it for the past year, and have a favorable opinion of it. It is not so

bad on garden seed as the brown sparrow, and does litile or no injury to strawber-
ries. (September 25, 1886. Present about five years.)

From Henry C. Hallowell, Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Md.:

It has not injured fruit here, so far as observed. We can certainly say we have
never had a greater abundance of cherries, currants, gooseberries, pears, etc., than
since the Sparrow came, and we have not missed the fruit which he has taken,
(July 7, 1883, and August 30, 1884. Present three or four years.)

From William Rotch Wister, Germantown, Pa.:

I have not observed it to feed upon grapes or other fruit to an extent worthy of
notice. (March, 1886.) It eats a little frnit, but net a small fraction of the amount
eaten by rebins, grackles, and other birds. (November 30, 1886. Present twenty
years or more.)

From W. H. Ragan, Greencastle, Putnam County, Ind.:

They may possibly injure fruits and vegetables. They are accused of damaging
the blossoms of legumes, but having carefuily observed, I am unable to say that they
do. J have never detected them eating berries, but have in eating dry peas and other
seeds. (September 28, i886. Present about fourteen years.)

INJURY TO GARDEN VEGETABLES.

lt will be convenient to consider the injuries to vegetables under two
heads: (a) Injury to garden plants themselves, from time of sprouting
until maturity ; (b) Injury to garden seeds.

.

a ~

DESTRUCTION OF PEAS. 61

GREEN VEGETABLES,

The information collected by the Department, as well as that already
published, shows that the Sparrow does a great deal of mischief in gar-
dens aside from that done to fruit. In every stage of growth, from the
planting of the seed until another crop of seed is gathered, most vege-
tables are more or less subject to its attacks, some suffering most at
one particular stage of growth, while others are attacked continuously.
Peas, corn, lettuce, and cabbage are the vegetables which appear to
suffer most while in the green state, but the two latter also suffer very
much when ripening their seed.
4 Destruction of peas.—The following testimony shows the Sparrow’s
methods in relation to peas:

From Henry D. Emery, Chicago, Ill.:

They attack and destroy peas as they appear above ground. (December 6, 1884.)

From Thomas H. Shoemaker, Philadelphia, Pa. :

Many have found it almost impossible to raise peas, as the Sparrow eats them off
as fast as they appear above ground. (May 25, 1884.)

From P. D. Miller, Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo County, Mich.:

Village.—I know persons who had to give up their pea crop this year on account
of the Sparrow. (October 11, 1886. Present about nine years.)

From Dr. A. K. Fisher, Sing Sing, N. Y.:

People living in the village, and who have small vegetable gardens, complain bit-
terly of their inability to raise peas, on account of the depredations of the Sparrow.
The Sparrow attacks the plants as soon as they appear above ground, and again from
the time the pods are forming until they are matured. (1885. Present about nine-
teen years.)

From 8. T. Holbrook, Norwich, Conn.:

I have seen them eating the leaves of young peas and have seen them feed their

young with them. Ihave also seen them eating the leaves of young lettuce. (Au-
gust 26, 1886. Present twenty or twenty-five years.)

From E. &. Quellin, Clayton, Barbour County, Ala.:

It comes into the garden in flocks, eating the peas and other tender vegetables.
(October 20, 1886. Present about three years.)

From J. C. Swetland, Sparta, Morrow County, Ohio:

It attacks peas when in bloom, insome gardens destroying one-fourth of the crop.
(October 18, 1886. Present about three years.)

From B. L. Swetland, Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio:

I have seen them feeding their young on the blossoms of my peas. I am satisfied
that we have lost at least one-third of our crop in this way, and they destroy other
blossoms. (November 15, 1886. Present about ten years.)

From Joseph C. Ratliff, Richmond, Ind.:
I saw several kilied while picking out and eating peas in a garden, and on exam-

ination found the peasin their crops. (November 5, 1886. Present about seventeen
years).

4
a.
4
te
:
ce |
; <

te

Much additional testimony on this head will be found im its proper
place in another part of this Bulletin, and it may be remarked thatcom-

5 oll
in

62 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

plaints of injury to peas have come from every part of the work

where the Sparrow has been introduced, as well as from those countries — 4
of which it is a native. The fact that no other bird is known to pull
up young peas would prevent any possibility of mistake as to the au-

thor of the damage, even if the real culprit had not beencaught in the
act so frequently. Some few other birds dotake green peas from the
pod, but in most cases these birds are very scarce wherever Sparrows
are abundant.

Destruction of garden corn.—Turnivg now to the subject of the de-
struction of corn (maize), we find that the evidence is equally strong, and
almost asabundant. It is true that the Sparrow does not so frequently
pull up the young piant, but the injury to the grain when “in themilk”
fully makes up for all previous neglect.

W.C. Clapp, of Dorchester, Suffolk County, Mass., writes:

He is caught pulling the sprouting sweet corn, flocks of them alighting in the —

‘patch and taking almost every kernel, or the tender shoot.

Henry Stewart, of Hackensack, N. J., writes:

It attacks sweet and field corn, tearing open the husk. (February 5, 1884. Pres-
eut about fourteer years.

John H. Sage, of Portiand, Middiesex raft Conn., writes:

It is quite destructive to sweet corn in the garden, stripping the hae and eating
the kernels. (August 16, 1886. Present about seventeen years. )

Dr. A. P. Sharp, of Baltimore, Md., says:

During the corn season they are very destractive to the silk and top grains, often
ruining the whole ear. (February 16, 1887.)

R. H. George, of Simpsonville, Shelby County, Ky., says:

It will often tear the shucks from the ends of the ears of garden corn, and eat sev-
eral inches of green corn or matured grain. (October 15, 1886. Present about seven
years. )

G. W. Daugherty, of Carmichaels, Greene County, Pa., says:

As regards garden fruits and vegetables, our gardeners report them an intolerable
nuisance. They are especially destructive to early sweet-corn, tearing it open on the
stalk and eating the end, making it unfit for market and causing it to mold. (Feb-
ruary 21,1887. Present six or seven years. )

William Holmead, of Mount Pleasant, D. C., (suburb of Washington)
Says:

Sugar and field corn when green are very much damaged by them. They tear the
ends of the ears and eat the corn in the same manner as crows. (November 8, 1886,
Present about fourteen years.)

The postmaster at Blaine, Pottawatomie County, Kans., says:

Sweet-corn has been injured very much; it has been picked off while in the milk,
and the husk pulled off asif done by hand. (October@, 1886. Present seven or eight
years. )

More than a dozen similar reports have been received in regard to
garden corn, and three times that number in regard to field corn.

These later reports will be found under the head of “injury to grain
crops.”

=
>

ci

=
a
So
.
}

DESTRUCTION OF YOUNG VEGETABLES. 63

Destruction of lettuce, cabbage, and other vegetables—Scores of com-
_ plaints of injury to the sprouts, young plants, buds, and tender shoots
- of other vegetables than corn and peas have been received, but we have
_ room here for only a few.
Mrs. G. S. F. Stoddard, of South Woodstock, Windham County,
4 Conn., writes:
. It injures fruits and vegetables. I have known it to destroy a bed of early lettuce.
(January 22, 1887.)
Davison Greenawalt, of Chambersburgh, Franklin County, Pa.,
writes:
: It picks off lettuce when quite small; cabbage, cauliflower, and radish are eaten
in the seed-leaf. (September 5, 1886. Present about fourteen years.)
- Simeon Zellars, of Palmetto, Campbell County, Ga., writes:

It only eats off small plants when they first come up and are quite tender. (Octo-

ber 4, 1886. Present about four years.)

Dr. William Weber, of Evansville, Ind., writes:

They can do great injury to young vegetables, such as lettuce, peas, cabbage, etc.
They clean out bedsof young plants if the latter are not protected by twigs or branches.
(October 15, 1886. Present about thirteen years.)

HK. B. Engle, of Waynesborough, Franklin County, Pa., writes:

It eats early cabbage-plants, peas, lettuce, and other early garden plants. (August
30, 1886. Present six or eight years. )

Ruth C. Burton, of Taylorsville, Spencer County, Ky., writes:

It is very destructive to young cabbage-plants, etc. (October 30, 1886. Present
six or eight years. )

Dr. H. D. Moore, of New Lexington, Somerset County, Pa., writes:

_ They destroyed much of the cabbage crop of a neighbor by eating out the tender
heart, leaves. (September 13, 1886. Present about eleven years.)

Herman Koerner, of Birdseye, Dubois County, Ind., writes:

They ate up or ruined all that the worms left me of a large patch of cabbage. (Oc-
tober 7,1886. Present about three years.)

George M. Neese, of New Market, Shenandoah County, Va., writes:

This summer I saw it eat the leaves of young cabbages after they were set, and also

_ beets and peas. It not only eats the leaves of peas but picks off the tender shoots.

(August 27, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

J. Sparks, of Vanceburgh, Lewis County, Ky., writes:

It destroys turnips and peas, eating them off to the ground. (October 20, 1886.
Present about seven years.)

Prof. D. E. Lantz, of Manhattan, Kans., writes:

It eats tender vegetables when quite young. (September 27, 1886. Present about
Six years. )

J. T. Bodkin, of Patriot, Switzerland County, Ind., writes:

It is injurious to fruits and vegetables, especially the latter. Last year it ate up
my young peas completely, and also preyed on lettuce, beets, strawberries, eae. es
while young and tender. (May 24, 1887. Present about thine years. )

64 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

E. Odlum, of Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, writes:

They are a positive injury to gardens, both flower and vegetable. They eat almost
all kinds of seeds, even the common peas. They attack small shoots of many kinds
just coming above the ground, taking nearly every fleshy or pulpy sprout. We have
been forced to cover parts of our garden against them. They almost destroyed our
entire plat of sweet peas. (August 25, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

B. F. Maxon, of Westerly, R. I., writes:

Tt eats pea and pepper blossoms, young seed pods of turnips, cabbage, beet, and
lettuce, and young tender corn-silk. It also eats into the ends of the ears of green
corn, and eats young beet and lettuce plants. (March, 1887. Presentabout thirteen
years. )

Dr. M. C. O’Toole, of Berkeley, Cal., writes:

It has no taste for green vegetables, carrots, parsnips, etc., but will eat them when
more agreeable matter is not to be found. (February 17, 1887. Present about three
gears.) )

Thos. Hardeman, of Macon, Ga., writes:

It feeds upon sunflower seed and green herbs, and plucks to some extent the flowers
of the squash, cucumber, etc. (October 11, 1886. Present ten to fifteen years.)

- Dr. E. Sterling, of Cleveland, Ohio, writes:

Last summer I was shown by a gardener a hundred tuberose planis, the buds on
every one of which had been eaten out by the Sparrow. (February 25, 1884.)

GARDEN SEEDS.

The injury to garden seeds is hardly so severe as might be expected in
view of the fact that the Sparrow is so destructive to green vegetables,
and that his natural food is seed. Nevertheless, areferenceé to the sum-
mary of evidence on this point shows that the injuries are far from in-
significant.

Not infrequently the Sparrow scratches up seeds of various kinds, and
especially such as are sown broadcast and imperfectly covered. The
following examples serve to illustrate this point:

From Aug. Barthel, Belleville, Saint Clair County, IL:

It destroys all seeds sown in the garden, and if prevented from eating them, it eats
lettuce, spinach, ete. It also eats the vines of peas, etc. (September 2, 1886. Pres-
ent many years.)

From H. Harris, Union Springs, Bullock County, Ala. :

It will scratch up seed when first planted ; it is as bad as if you were to turn into
a newly planted garden 50 chickens. What it does not eat when it is planted is fin-
ished after it goes to seed. (September 17 and 24, 1886. Present about six years.)

From J. W. Johnson, Meriwether, Edgefield County, S. C.:

It will scratch for garden seeds as soon as they are planted. (August 24, 1886.
Present five years. )

From Edward T. Keim, Dubuque, Lowa:

In one case grass seed was planted on a lawn, and troops of Sparrows devoured
every seed. (August 19, 1886. Present about ten years.)

DESTRUCTION OF GARDEN SEEDS. 65

Many similar instances will be found under the head of injury to grain.

But the destruction of seed when ripening is an injury of still greater
importance.

Destruction of Seed of Lettuce, Cabbage, and Turnip.—A majority of
the complaints relate to the seeds of lettuce, turnip, and cabbage, and
the combined losses from injuries to the seeds and young plants of these
three vegetables are often very.serious, as will appear from a glance at
the following examples taken from the abundant evidence on this ques-
tion :

From H. Volkening, Lenzburgh, Saint Clair County, Ll. :

It ruins cabbage and other vegetables planted for seed. (October 4,1886. Present
about three years. )

From Pat. W. Floyd, Burlington, Coffey County, Kansas:

I have observed Jettucecntirely stripped of the seed; and through dissection of
specimens taken in the vicinity, have found the food to be almost entirely vegetable.
(October 12, 1886. Present three or four years. )

From Thomas Shroyer, Preston, Hamilton County, Ohio:

It is only by careful watching that the country gardener can save seeds of any veg-
etables or flowers. (September 23, 1886. Present about eleven years. )

From Elisha Slade, Somerset, Bristol County, Mass. :

The destruction of the seeds of vegetables and flowers is enormous. It is begun
before they are ripe, almost as soon as they are formed, and continues through the
season. Often i5 is impossible to save the seeds from these birds unless the plants are
covered by netting. (October 19, 1885.)

The seed of cabbage, turnip, carrot, lettuce, etc., is attacked before it is ripe
exough to be gathered. (August 20, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

From H. M. Jennings, gardener and seedsman, Rochester, N. Y.:

Some kinds of seed it is next to impossible to grow; for example, lettuce, cabbage,
andturnip. * * * The Sparrows get into our dry-houses and peck and destroy if
not kept away. (February 12, 1887. Present twelve years.)

From F.. 8S. Platt, seedsman and florist, New Haven, Conn.:

They destroy many hundreds of dollars worth of seeds each year. (1884.)
In our seed-gardens we have to keep a boy all the time during the day to keep the
Sparrows from wasting turnip, cabbage, and seeds of this class. (September 9, 1886.)

From Thomas Chalmers, Holyoke, Hampden County, Mass.:

The Sparrow eats the seeds of the turnip, cabbage, rape, flax, and hemp, as well as
the seeds of weeds and. grasses, cultivated or wild. (March 6, 1884. Present about
fifteen years. )

From W. A. Wright, Burlington, Carroll County, Ind.:

Peas, and the seed of radish, beet, and cabbage, are the principal vegetables on
which it feeds in Juue and July, and sunflower seed later on. (September 21, 1886.
Present sixteen years or more.)

From J. C. Allen, Olney, Richmond County, Iil.:
It strips the sunflower and hemp of all their seed. (September, 1886. Present about
twelve years. )
Destruction of Sunflower Seed.—The complaints of injury to sunflower.
seed outnumber those relating to any other single kind of garden seed,
8404—Bull. 1 5

66 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

and where Sparrows are abundant such seed can not profitably be

raised. Following are a few reports bearing on this subject:

Col. Randolph Harrison, of Richmond, Va., writes:

The greatest pest which our sunflower had was the English Sparrow, which de-
voured the seed as fast as it matured. (October, 1887.)

W. T. Cunningham, of Danville, Vermillion County, Il., writes:

It takes all sunflower seed that is not epee (September 4, 1886. Present
about ten years.)

S. R. Ingersoll, of Cleveland, Ghio, writes:

To growers of sunflower seed it is very troublesome, eating nearly all the seed.
(September 1, 1886. Present about fourteen years.)

Fred. Mather, of Cold Spring Harbor, Suffolk County, N. Y., writes:

The yellow-bird and the English Sparrow eat up a big share of the sunflower seed
which I raise for my fowls. (February 17, 1887.)

H. C. Hull, of Meriden, Conn., writes:

I had about one hundred sunflowers, and the Sparrows devoured the seed in about
two days. (August 31, 1826. Present sixteen years.)

Aside from purely negative statements, unsupported by evidence of
any kind, very few reports favorable to the Sparrow on this question
have been received. The usual number report “no injury to seeds
observed;” varied occasionally to “little injury noted,” or ‘‘ no damage
of any account.”

More rarely a definite and favorable reply has been received. The
five following reports may be taken as fair samples of the evidence
favorable to the Sparrow as regards vegetables and garden seeds:

From John T. M. Hairn, Lexington, Oglethorpe County, Ga.:

I have watched its habits closely and know that it does not injure fruits or veg-
etables. It picks up from ihe ground any seed, such as clover or cabbage, but does

not unearth any seed, or take it out of thehead. (September25, 1886. Present about

four years.)

From M. M. Murphy, Ripley, Brown County, Ohio:

I have never found them any detriment to my garden. (November 12, 1836. Pres-
ent about ten years.)

From Judge John C. Ferriss, Nashville, Tenn. :

It is a blessing to any community that raises vegetables. (November 12, 1886.
Present about eight years.)

From Jehn D. Hicks, Old Westbury, Queens County, Noe

It does not injure garden fruits and vegetables with us, except that it occasionally
picks out and eats the ends of some sweet corn in the garden, thus in a small way in-
juring the ear. {August 16, 1884.)

From A. V. Coffin, Le Roy, Coffey County, Kans. :

[have not observed any injury to fruits or vegetables by the Sparrow. It has
been of service by eating the seeds of the native sunflower, but it also eats the seed
of lettuce, flax, and artichoke. (October 8, 1886. Present about two years.)

Destruction of Weed Seed and Grass Seed.—This last example sug-

gests a point which has been more frequently urged in favor of the

Sparrow in the Old World than in the United States, namely, the serv-

DESTRUCTION OF WEED SEEDS. 67

“@ a

ice done by consuming the seeds of weeds. There can be no question
that the bird does eat many weed seeds, but it is very questionable
3 if this is in reality of any considerable consequence. It is impossible
to define the term weed perfectly. A weed is simply a plant out of
_ place. Almost any useful plant may become a weed if it grows in the
wrong place, and conversely almost any weed may be valued as a gar-
den plant under some circumstances. Our various grasses, native and
introduced, are valuable plants in their proper places, but become trou-
blesome weeds when they grow unbidden in our gardens. The Sparrow
eats the seeds of such grasses wherever and whenever he finds them,
and the act is good, bad, or indifferent according to circumstances. In
the field or by the roadside this habit is of little account either way
and in the garden but few grasses are allowed to ripen seed; if they
did, however, and the Sparrow destroyed it all, most grasses would still
spread by the root. Moreover, the Sparrow destroys many useful seeds
as weil.

The Sparrow is an unquestionable nuisance in eating grass seed when
sown on lawns and about houses, frequently scratching it up, or pluck-
ing and eating the tender sprouts as they come through the ground.

Mr. William Saunders, superintendent of the garden and grounds of
the Department of Agriculture, at Washington, D. C., testifies:

It is very difficult to start grass anywhere about the grounds, as the Sparrows eat
the seed as fast as sown.

Similar trouble has been experienced in the Smithsonian grounds and
elsewhere in Washington, as well as in other cities where Sparrows are
abundant. The dissection of Sparrows has established the fact that
they eat almost every kind of seed obtainable, though certain kinds are
always preferred if there is a choice. Among vegetables we have
seen already that cabbage, turnip, and lettuce are preferred, and that
sunflower seed is a Special favorite. Among grains, wheat seems to be
preferred above everything else, and oats stand next in favor. Among
grasses, those with large seeds are preferred, and the fox-tailed grasses
(Setaria), so closely allied to millet or Hungarian grass, are much sought
after.

Among weeds, the genus Polygonum, including the bind weeds (and
also the buckwheat), heads the list, and as some species of this genus are
sure to be found in almost every unoccupied city square or waste place
in the outskirts of the city, the seed forms a pretty constant factor in the

Sparrow’s food in summer and autumn.

Out of 522 stomachs of English Sparrows examined at the Depart-
ment of Agriculture during the past summer (1887), 102 contained grass
seed and 85 contained weed seed. In nearly all cases where many Spar-
rows have been dissected in summer and fall, considerable quantities
of weed seed have been found. And yet it is very probable that in
ninety-nine out of every hundred cases in which such seed had been eaten
no particular benefit had been conferred on anyone, the seed being

68 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

mainly from roadsides and waste places, so that its consumption did
beither good nor harm, except in so far as it served to divert the atten-
tion of the Sparrow and prevent it satisfying itself with other and per-
haps more valuable food.

INJURY TO GRAIN,

In reply to the question relating to injury to grain crops, 750 answers
have been received, of which number 183 are favorable to the Sparrow,
562 are unfavorable, and 5 are of mixed character.

Although the question called specifically for information as to grain
crops, it is probable that some replies refer only to the consumption of
scattered grain, and not to the grain in the field or stack; but as such
information naturally has a direct bearing on the latter question, most
of this evidence has been summarized, omitting only such parts as
refer solely to the consumption of waste grain in the streets, this latter
point having been fully discussed already in its bearings upon the in-
crease and spread of the Sparrow.

The reports submitted came from 31 States, the Territory of Utah,
the District of Columbia, and the Dominion of Canada.

The States sending the largest number of reports were:

| Favora- | Unfa- ! : Favora- Unfa-
pistes. ble. | vorable. | ca ble. | vorable.
IRAE, DIGEST au he AR Au Oh <9) 4765.) - iW Penance eannney eee ee 7 28
RO eee eh pe ijn Kapa Sian oe 8 | 62 || Greene lay. = Scr. so. eee eee 15 2L
Indiana ....: bu ae Gaeta eee ad 5 | 54 || HOWaies toes die ae Sa eeeeeee 13 10
INGWwaNtONKe eeu c anne Sayer 12 51 || Massachusetts 22202228225 6 16
<embuck yess cae sees tees 22 29 |; Newid Grseyes 22 23-27 Sse 3 17
WU See ee os ss ies 24 29 | Kansasy 4 203s eee 6 13

Canada sent 22 reports; 9 eer ane 12 unfavorable, and 1 indifferent.

The following table will give some idea of the Sparrow’s preferences
in regard to grain, but it should be remembered that asa rule Sparrows
take that which can be obtained most readily, aud the fact thatin some
sections one kind of grain is grown to the practical exclusion of all eth-
ers will account for the apparent preference of Sparrows in that re-

gion for that particular grain.

No. of ob- | No. of ob-
Grain injured. SeTvers re- | Grain injured. servers re-
| porting. | porting.
FE Be a sae ea |
DNRC AT mein oe oe 2 = 3 Pe rae ee 275 RAGE. ee ee San ees aaa sae 8
LUGS 22: sa08 35556 DSSS Re ee eecer seas 107 Baclow heat. shi) 2.22225 eee 6
INOS clo Bee SOG ee Cn eee = ee 43 Grain or grain crops, kinds not speci-
TEA alan So Su ae See tae a 18 > “Gedke ds 2S aoe Se a eee 185
MIATA CORI iene = s=- 2 <3 eee Sree 34 Small grain, kinds not specified nese 28
pepeiilcime. eft: cae OL Less. 2: 20 Cereals, kinds not specified .....---. 14
Sorghum _ 2 SUE Tee ore eG ea nae tee 7 Clover or grass seed ....-.. Pee - ae
“ Millo maize” (¥ ariety of sorghum). . 9 Seeds, kinds not specified top seee 12
Other varieties of sorghum ..---.-.--. 9

oie tee ied

INJURY TO GRAIN CROPS.. 69

INJURY TO WHEAT.

This crop suffers from the time of sowing until it is stored in the barn
or elevator, and even then the Sparrows frequently find a way to get
at and devcurit. The period during which the greatest damage is done
lasts from the time itis “in the milk” until it is threshed, but quite
frequently, as the following reports show, considerable damage is done
on newly sown fields. |

George Wyckoff, of Mears, Oceana County, Mich., writes:

I have heard several complaints from farmers of its working on new-sown wheat.
(October 7, 1886. Present about three years.)

James P. Melzer, of Milford, Hillsborough County, N. H., writes:

If very abundant it would consume the grain as planted. It pulls it up for a few
days after it comes up. (August 28, 1886. Present about ten years.)

A. HW. Mundt, of Fairbury, Livingston County, Il., writes:

It loves wheat grains and many other kinds which it scratches out and eats. (Oc-
tober 6, 1886. Present five or six years. )

Edward T. Keim, of Dubuque, Lowa, writes:

Every seed that is not well covered is at once detected and eaten. (August 19, 1886.
Present about ten years. )

Dr. A. P. Sharp, of Baltimore, Md., writes:

Being here the year round they destroy the fall sowing of wheat and other grain,
and are at work on the young grain inthespring. Ihave killed them in the fall up to
December, and have seldom failed to find their craws full of wheat, showing that they
niust destroy much of the seed wheat, for I can think of no other way of getting it.
I have often seen at least fifty on a shock of wheat, as they go in flocks when the
young are about three-fourths grown. (February 16, 1887.)

It seems almost superfluous to cite here any instances of the destruc-
tion of wheat in the field, as the reader can turn directly to the evidence
under the head of grain crops, and read page after page of the most
positive proof that the Sparrow does injure wheat most seriously. The
absurdity of the claim that Sparrows are confined to cities and large
towns is shown over and over again by this evidence, for scores of wit-
nesses testify to serious losses of grain on fields at a distance from any
large city, although it is doubtless true that the injury is generally
greatest within a radius of ten miles from a large town or city. The
following examples of testimony on this point are suggestive.

From George Sibbald, of Aberdeen, Brown County, Ohio:
My farm is so situated as to be the nearest feeding-grounds for great numbers of

Sparrows, as there is a village on one side and a city in front. The Sparrows at this
writing are coming by thousands to feed on the wheat. (June 10, 1887.)

From Jason E. Nichols, Lansing, Mich. :

It leaves the city in flocks, and eats wheat as it grows in the field, and |
stands in the stack before threshing. (August 26, 1886.)

From George P. Lowell, of San Francisco, Cal.:

In the fall of the year it migrates to grain fields in the immediate vig
city. (June, 1887, Present more than ten years. )

=m
— =)

70 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

From Dr. Daniel Berry, of Carmi, White County, IIL: q

In the town tiey organize foraging parties for excursions into the country. Ihave
seen hundreds of them busy among the wheat shocks. (October 6, 1886. Present
about ten years. ) .

From Dr. Ormsby Gray, of Shelbyville, Ky.:

As soon as the head matures it begins to visit wheat fields in large flocks and eat
the grain; in fact it almost disappears from the town for two or three days at a time
while foraging. (October 12, 1886. Present about eight years.)

Fiom Robert D. Camp, of New Haven, Conn.:

I have noticed for a number of years the diminished number of Sparrows in the
city during the harvesting, and upon inquiry among the neighboring farmers I find —
that they make their way to the country during that season. (April, 1887. Present
fifteen years or more.)

From J. L. Davison, of Lockport, Niagara County, N. Y.:

I have known it to leave the city by hundreds and feed upon a wheat field adjoin-
ing Glenwood Cemetery. The estimated damage was one-fourth of the crop. (Octo-
ber 10, 1885.)

From Joseph C. Ratliff, of Richmond, Ind.:

It is very destructive to wheat before and after it is cut. I saw its depredations
in wheat fields Jast summer, four or five miles out of the city. (November 5, 1886,

Present about seventeen years. )

From H. F. Work, New Washington, Clark County, Ind.:

It injures grain crops, especially wheat; almost wholly destroying standing crops in
the vicinity of large towns, and preying on the same in shock and stack. (April 21,
1887.)

From Dr. George L. Andrew, of La Porte, Ind.:

It has already become a pest to the grain fields in the immediate vicinity of towns.
During the last wheat harvest I rode over the country around Hamilton, Ohio, and
by carriage to Cincinnati, and all the fields observed had suffered for a rod or two
around the edges, in many cases the grain having been ‘cleaned out” entirely,
(September 9, 1886. Present about six years.)

William N. Ponton, of Belleville, Ont., Canada, writes:

When it can get grain it will not touch anything else. Wheat especially is its prey,
and on my own farm here on the shores of the Bay of Quinte, three acres of fall wheat
were absolutely eaten up by Sparrows, and by Sparrows alone. (September 27, 1884.)

The habit of working around the edges of a field seems to be char-
acteristic of the Sparrow, and is mentioned in seores of reports. Black-
birds, rice-birds, and others which damage grain are more apt to avoid
the edges of the fields and settle in the midst of the grain, where they
are less likely to be disturbed, but the Sparrow scorns to seek safety in ©
the same way, but feeds unmolested wherever he chooses.

William McBrown, of Fall River, Greenwood County, Kans., writes:

Tt will eat every grain of wheat or other small grain that time will permit. Along
hedges I have seen wheat stripped of every grain for many feet into the field.
(October 8, 1886. Present about two years.)

Jabez Webster, of Centralia, Marion County, Il., writes:

When cloyed with raspberries they would go in flocks to a wheat field close by,
and for hours fly backwards and forwards from the hedge to the field until a strip of
wheat a rod wide was cleaned out. (December 21, 1886. Present about seven years. )

INJURY TO WHEAT. — “l
_ Dr. A. K. Fisher wrote from Ann Arbor, Mich., under date of July
p92, 1887:

7 Yesterday while passing a small field (about two acres) of wheat, a flock of about
_ 500 English Sparrows flew out. I shot one and found its throat filled with the grain.
- Iwalked along by the fence, and, as nearly asI could judge, at least one-half the
grain had been removed from the heads.

The two following reports are examples of testimony as to damage
to wheat before it is ripe. Very many more will be found scattered
through the evidence further on.

From C. 8S. Plumb, Geneva, Ontario County, N. Y.:

It does great injury to wheat and oats, shelling the heads from the milk state to
harvesting. It also works at the stacks, and persistently at the fields. Farmers in
_ this portion of the Siate complain to me that the Sparrow is of late becoming very

injurious to wheat fields. (August 28, 1866.)

From H. H. Miller and other members of County Farmers’ club, Sandy
Spring, Montgomery County, Md.:

From the time the wheat is in the milk until it is thrashed, the Sparrow is in con-
stant attendance. In barns, on the outsides of the mow and to a depth of 6 or 8
inches, not a head escapes. (February 16, 1887. Present about eight years.)

While the wheat is in the milk considerable damage is done by
breaking down the stalks, in addition to the kernels actually eaten.
As the grain ripens, however, far more damage is done by shaking and

beating it out of the heads, so that probably much more is scattered

on the ground and lost than is actually eaten.

This is equally true of some other grains, as sho.yn by evidence given
a little further on.

As the grain is eut the Sparrows frequent the stubble and pick up
some scattered kernels, but they are far too knowing to waste much time
on the ground so long as the shocks of grain are leftstanding in the field.
From the abundant testimony on this score we select a few examples,
and some of these show also how the Sparrow follows the grain from
shock to stack and from stack to crib, causing loss to the farmer at
every step.

From Prof. B. W. Evermann, Bloomington, Monroe County, Ind.:

Near my house is a wheat field in which the wheat stood in shocks for several weeks
this summer. Hundreds of Sparrows resorted to this field and fed upon the grain,

so that the outside sheaves had but little left. (August 25, 1886. Present about
eleven years. )

From A. B. Ghere, Frankfort, Clinton County, Ind.:

I have seen hundreds of these birds on and around a single shock of wheat. (Au-
gust 27, 1886. Present about eight years. )

From J. G. Kingsbury, Indianapolis, Ind.:

They are destroying a great deal of wheat in this vicinity now. They bend the
heads to the ground, eat part and waste the rest. After the wheat is cut they cover
the shocks and eat all the heads exposed. (June 25, 1887. Present eight or ten
years. )

:

y

s
=

i

(2 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

From L. N. Bonham, Oxford, Butler County, Ohio:

Thave known it to clean every grain of wheat from the cap-sheaf and exposed
heads in a ten-acre field of wheatin shock. Near the village it attacks the heads be-
fore the grain is put in shock. (November 29, 1886. Present about eight years.)

From A. T. Keister, Blacksburgh, Montgomery County, Va.:

It destroyed for me alone six or eight shocks of wheat last season. (November 15,
1886. Present five years or more. )

From Davison Greenawalt, Chambersburgh, Franklin County, Pa.:

This summer I saw six acres of wheat in shock which was completely picked clean
on top and sides, as far as could be reached, by the Sparrow. (September 5, 1886.
Present about fourteen years. )

From Edward Burrough, Merchantville, N. J.:

Clouds of them gather in the wheat fields, and the grain for a distance of 25 feet

next the fence is thrashed out and the ground coated with chaff. (September 2, i886. —

Present about ten years. )
From Samuel N. Rhoades, Haddonfield, N. J.:

As the young of the first and second broods are often fully fledged by July, the
united attacks of these with the parents on standing wheat are inevitable, and near
towns, appalling. Should the mow or wheat stack be unthrashed, by midwinter not
an exposed head has a grain in it, and the birds, like mice, will fairly burrow inside
several inches for more grain. Oats in shock, and corn in crib, are also levied on
heavily. (September 9, 1886. Present twenty-five or thirty years. )

From J. A. Dakin, Tully, Onondaga County, N. Y.:

I have seen large flocks tearing down wheat in the field, and oats and barley in the
stack and field. In some instances several acres have been destroyed in this way.
(September 10, 1886. Present about eight years. )

From U. G. Gordon, Barry, Cuyahoga County, Ohio:

The Sparrows are the worst birds we have. I have seen wheat fields and oat fields
in the vicinity of Cleveland which were injured at least one-half. (September 7,
1886. )

From the postmaster at Bowling Green, Warren County, Ky.:

It has been observed to alight on shocks of grain and leave nothing but the straw.
(October 3, 1886. Present about eight years.)

From T. D. Barron, Saint Clair, Mich.:
I know fields of wheat and oats which it has almost destroyed. One small wheat

field within the limits of the city was one-third wasted by what was shelled out both
before and after it was cut. (October 7, 1886. Present eight or ten years.)

From Ransom A. Moore, Kewaunee, Wis.:

Several in this vicinity have had their crops almost ruined by its depredations
about the time the grain was ripening. (November 8, 1886. Present about two
years. ) ‘

From Charles M. Clapp, Albion, Noble County, Ind.:

IT have known of their picking out of the head all the grain in sight on top of

shocks and stacks of both wheat and oats. (October 14, 1886. Present five or six ©

years. ) :
From William Holmead, Mount Pleasant, District of Columbia
(suburb of Washington):

*4 1882 I had part of my farm in wheat. After cutting and shocking it the Spar-
rows came by thousands aud destroyed every head of grain exposed; after it was

INJURY TO OATS. ts

stacked preparatory to thrashing, they covered the whole stack. I had to shoot at
them two or three times a day to scare them away, and upon thrashing my wheat it
was estimated that fully one-teuth of the crop was destroyed. One of my neighbors
estimated that one-half of his wheat was eaten by the Sparrows last year. This
_ year I had about four acres in oats. After the oats were put in the barracks the field
was filled with thousands of Sparrows, and when they had cleaned the field they at-
tacked the oats in the barracks, and I think they got every oat that was exposed.
_ (November 8, 1886. Present about fifteen years. )

vo.) eo ao 2

=

3 When wheat or other grain is grown in small quantities, for exper-

_ imental purposes, it is liable to be severely damaged by the Sparrow,
especially if planted near towns or cities. We append two or three
complaints on this score from the many received:

Andrew Gray, of Willoughby, Lake County, Ohio, in a letter to Hon.
Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture, says:

This is to inform you that I drilled in the seed wheat you sent me in one corner of
the field that I sowed to Clawson. Isowed it on rich, swndy soil and it came through the
winter well and gave promise of a splendid crop, especially the Diehl Mediterranean,
which looked the most promising, although the Wartin amber did very well. But, alas
for human hopes! About four or five days before it was ready to cut I went to see
how it was getting along and found that the English Sparrows had harvested the
erop. Their first choice was the Martin amber; the next was the Diehl Mediterranean;
and the last the Clawson. Isaved about apeckof seed from the two kinds. [think Ican
safely say that I would have got as much as one and one-half bushels of seed from
the two quarts of seed sent, if the Sparrows had let it alone. They are a nuisance!
They used up as mucl as five bushels of wheat for me this year, and as many oats.
(October 25, 1886. )

William B. Alwood, of the Ohio State University, near Columbus,
Ohio, writes:

It never fails to attack our wheat fields in unlimited numbers about ten days before
ripening; and each year we are compelled to resort to shooting. On the plats of the
experiment station many varieties of our cereals would be utterly ruined unless
watched with care. The Sparrows attack indiscriminately wheat, oais, and barley,
but they attack the wheat with such force and persistency that many times the heads
are completely broken down over rods of space. (July 16, 1887. Present more than
ten years.) .

J. F. C. Hyde, of Newton Highlands, Middlesex Coane Mass.,
writes:

It is very injurious to grain crops, taking nearly or quite all in some cases. I had
anew variety of wheat which I was growing for seed, and they took every grain.
(February 11, 1884.)

INJURY TO OATS.

Next to wheat the Sparrow seems to prefer oats, and numerous
instances of heavy loss to this crop have been reported by our corre-
- Spondents.
The following may be taken as samples of the evidence on this
- point:
_ From Dr. M. C. O'Toole, Berkeley, Cal.:
It will eat every kind of grain, and in large quantities, but wheat is injured more
_ than oats or barley. (February 17,1887. Present about three years.)

74 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

From Frank 8S. Platt, New Haven, Conn.:

A short time ago I cradled a small piece of oats, and the Sparrows gathered on the — q

shocks in such flocks that I shot fifty-four with one barrel and thre with the
other. (September 9, 1886. Present fifteen years or more.)

From Robert W. Barrell, South Bethlehem, Northampton County,
Pas:

I once saw about an acre of oats almost entirely destroyed by the Sparrows. They — :

also do great damage to Egyptian rice; a moderate-sized flock will destroy an acre
in aseason. (September 16, 1886.)

From H. B. Bailey, East Orange, Essex County, N. J.:

It totally destroyed a field of ripe oats back of our house, so that the owner cut it
down for bedding. Others tell me they have witnessed the same thing. (February
7,1884. Present ten years or more.)

From Dr. E. Sterling, Cleveland, Ohio:

The only instance I know of in which the Sparrows threatened serious injury to
grain was on a farm where a man killed 102 of them at four shots into a small flock
that was inspecting his seed oats; and the owner tells me thatif he had not slaugh-

tered and driven them off, he would not have gathered a bushel of oats from his acre’

and a-half. (February 25, 1884.)

From H. Volkening, Lenzburgh, Saint Clair County, ILll.:

Farmers say the Sparrow destroys about five per cent. of the wheat, and especially
oats, in the field. (October 4, 1886. Present about three years.)

From Elisha Slade, Somerset, Bristol County, Mass. :

Bird for bird, or collectively, tiey are more destructive to rye, oats, barley, and
Indian corn, than crows and blackbirds. The English Sparrows are enormous eaters,
and so semi-domestic are they that it is not easy to scare them away from the grain

fields. They cling to the shock and stack with grain-loving tenacity. (August 20,
1886. Present about twelve years. )

INJURY TO RYE AND BARLEY.

Although between forty and fifty reports of injury to rye have been
received, it is evident that for some reason it is much less often attacked
than either of the grains already mentioned.

The same is true, but to a still greater extent, with regard to barley,
for many observers state that the Sparrow will not touch barley so
long as it can get anything else. Nevertheless, there are doubtless
times when these grains suffers considerably from the attacks of the
Sparrow.

Hubert L. Clark, of Amherst, Mass., writes:

Tt is here continually except about the time the rye crop is gathered; it then visits
the fields and does much damage to the rye. (October 2, 1885.)

J. T. Bodkin, of Patriot, Switzerland County, Ind., writes:

It works on wheat, rye, and oats, and on corn while young and tender. I have ex-

amined one or two dead ones and found their craws filled with wheat andrye. (May

24,1887. Present about three years. )
INJURY TO FIELD CORN.

The injury to garden corn bas already been spoken of, but it should
be noted that the Sparrow does not confine its raids to gardens, but at-

INJURY TO CORN AND SORGHUM. 15

ks and seriously injures field corn, especially while in the milk. The
following is but a small part of the testimony on this subject, and a
eareful consideration of all which has been collected shows that the
Sparrow threatens to be a dangerous enemy to this crop in the future.
- From Dr. Fred. Sumner Smith, West Hartford, Conn.: _

q I can speak from observation of their raids on corn, some ears being completely
stripped of kernels, the little pests husking and sheliing as they went along, so that
not a shock in the field escaped them. (November, 1885.)

From J. N. Bagg, West Springfield, Mass. :
. It strips down green corn in the fields, sometimes one-third or more the length of
the ear, and is doing so now. (September 7, 1886. Present five or six years. )
From G. W. Daugherty, Carmichael’s, Greene County, Pa.:
It tears open the shucks of standing corn so as to admit the rain or wet, causing it
- tomold orrot. (February 21, 1857. Present six or seven years. )
mrom Dr. &. H. Warren, West Chester, Pa.:
q They greatly damage the corn crop, tearing open the husk, devouring the tender
_ part of the ear, and exposing the remainder to the ravages of insects and to atmos-
_pheric changes. (January, 1887.)
From Thomas Shroyer, Preston, Hamilton County, Ohio:
We have seen many fields of corn bordering its resorts, where the cars were greatly
_ damaged while yet soft. (September 23, 1886. Present about eleven years.)
- From G. C. Bunsen, West Belleville, Saint Clair County, Ill.:
s I recently saw a flock in my cornfield and gave them credit for destroying grass-
_ hoppers, which they will do occasionally ; on examination, however, I found they
_ were in partnership with the latter, eating out the cory which the grasshoppers had
laid bare. (Autumn, 1885.)
From T. 8. Williams, Dupont, Jefferson County, Ind.:

_ They s-'t the husk on corn as soon as it is in the milk, and eat and destroy large
_ quantities of it. (October 6, 1886. Present about six years.)

INJURY TO SORGHUM.

The several varieties of sorghum are known in different parts of the

- country by so many different names that it is not always possible to
. just what is meant when a person complains of injury to his crop
a: . : = * fe

as gives the local name of the variety of grain attacked. In most
eases the names Egyptian rice, Russian imillet, pearl tuillet, chicken
corn, Millo maize, etc., denote varieties of sorghum, and the Sparrow
has proved very destr Noe e to seed of this kind, wherever grown.

W. H. Wherritt, of Lancaster, Garrard County, Ky., writes:
I have known it to destroy the whole crop of sorghum seed. (October 11, 1886.
Present eight or nine years. )

Ruth C. Burton, of Taylorsville, Spencer County, Ky., writes:
_ It injures wheat fields and the seed top of sorghum. (October 30, 1886. Presect
3 «Sik or eight years. )
4H. F. Barrell, of New Providence, Union County, N. J., writes:

2 A few years since I had about one-fourth of an acre of the so- Five Egyptian rice
destroyed by these pests. (1885. Present about twenty years.)

76 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Lloyd McKim Garrison, of Orange, N. J., writes:

In our neighborhood grain is very little grown ; a neighbor, however, has planted
Russian millet for fodder and the grain of this is devoured by the Sparrows with
alarming rapidity. (February 11, 1834. Present many years. )

William Saunders, superintendent of garden and grounds of the
Department of Agriculture, at Washington, D. C., says:

The seed of ornamental grasses is taken as fast as it matures, and can only be saved
by bagging the heads before they ripeu. When experimenting with sorghum the

same trouble was experienced, and some experiments failed from this cause alone.
(April 13, 1887.)

Thomas Hardeman, of Macon, Ga., writes:

Millo maize and millet are not suffered to ripen their seed. (October 11, 1886,
Present ten or fifteen years. )

Many other reports of injury to “millet” have been received, and
probably in most cases this term is used to indicate a species of
Setaria, also known as Hungarian grass.

Mr. E. L. Brown, of Eufaula, Barbour County, Ala., writes:

It eats millet seed before it fully matures. It is impossible to save such seed.
(September 17, 1886. Present about four years. )

Mary Tuttle, of West Windsor, Eaton County, Mich., writes:

Millet fields have been quite destroyed by the Sparrow. (October 14, 1886. Pres-
ent about two years.)

The late Dr. J. M. Wheaton, of Columbus, Ohio, wrote:

Ihave seen large flocks feeding on the seed of Hungarian grass in the autumn.

(April 18, 1834. Present about twelve years. ) ,
M. Abbott Frazar, Mount Auburn, Middlesex Candee Mass., writes :

July 30 I planted about 50 square yards with Hungarian grass. Two weeks of
dry weather followed and the grass did not come up. From fifty to two hundred
English Sparrows camped there during all this time and busied themselves with

scratching up seeds. When the grass did come up it was badly injured. (Autumn,
1885. ) c

INJURY TO RICE.

Wherever the Sparrow has reached the rice-growing districts he has
damaged the rice to a greater or less extent, but this crop annually suf-
fers so severely from the attacks of rice-birds and blackbirds that the
presence of a few English Sparrows is often overlooked. In the Middle
States the rice-bird or bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) feeds largely on
the so-called vild rice (Zizania aquatica), and often the Sparrow may be
found feeding in the same places. .

F. T. Cuthbert, of Plainfield, N. J., writes:

Tt feeds extensively upon wheat, grass seed, and all the smaller grains. In the

wild-rice pads it mingles with the bobolink and fattens on the rice. (February,
1887.)

Further South it has already attacked the rice-fields, although its in-
juries as yet have attracted little attention, except in the rice districts
of Louisiana,

INJURY TO RICE AND BUCKWHEAT. te

_ W. OC. Percy, jr., of Black Hawk, Concordia Parish, La., writes:
During the summer of 1886 it destroyed quantities of corn, oats, and rice. It is
worse on corn and oats than any other bird. (September 15, 1886. Present about
_ two years.)
The postmaster at Hdgard, Saint John Baptist Parish, La., writes:
It injures rice seed very much [in the spring], and annoys farmers very much when
the crop is ready to harvest. (October 7, 1886. Present two years.)
£.J. Engman, of Concession, Plaquemines Parish, La., writes:
__Tean not say when the Sparrows first appeared here, but it is only within two
years that we have noticed them on the rice-fields, where they come in flocks, and
are more destructive than the blackbird or rice-bird Being so tame, they are very
troublesome, as you can not scare them as you can the rice-bird. Last year they
. were very numerous during planting and harvesting. This spring I do not see as
many, but they are making their appearance very fast, and every one is troubled
more or less. (April 21, 1886. Present two or three years.)
_ The losses occasioned to rice-growers by the depredations of migra-
_ tory birds are so heavy already that many planters have preferred to
~ abandon the culture of rice rather than keep up the expensive warfare
a which is necessary in order to save any large proportion of the crop.
| By early planting itis sometimes possible to harvest a part of the crop
before the rice-birds arrive from the north, but should the English Spar-
row once obtain a strong foothold in the rice districts, and increase as
- rapidly as he has done elsewhere, the rice-grower will be compelled to
fight a species which is present the entire year, which multiplies more
- than twice as rapidly as any native bird, and wl-ich is so ravenous and
j at the same time so cunning that it can not be combatted successfully
with the same means employed against the native birds.

INJURY TO BUCKWHBAT.

One other crop suffers from the Sparrow’s depredations wherever it
is grown. Thisis buckwheat, of which the bird is very fond, attacking
3 it under almost all circumstances. As buckwheat is not grown exten-
_ sively, however, we have not received any large number of complaints
as yet; but the two following show that the Sparrow is true to his nat-
ure, and will not neglect his opportunities.

From A. H. Boies, Hudson, Lenawee County, Mich. :

f I have seen large flocks settle on buckwheat. (August 19, 1886. Present about
eleven years. )

_ From H. J. Gaylord, Binghamton, Broome County, N. Y.:

He destroys buckwheat while it is standing in the field. Thousands of them are
_ inmy field to-day. (September 26, 1885.)

NEGATIVE EVIDENCE.

_ There is no side of this grain question which can be fairly said to
be favorable. The question of benefit from eating weed-seed has al-
_ ready been discussed, and the few reports which claim that the Sparrow

78 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. a

does not attack grain crops under any circumstances must be entirely —
ruled out, or rather relegated to the category of purely negative evi-
dence, and labeled “claims not substantiated.” There remain,of course, —
some reports which are only mildly hostile to the Sparrow, or are even —

favorable as far as they go, but these need no comment except, perhaps,

the statement that they are evidently honest opinions, and are entitled —

to respect as such. We lisert a few samples, which explain themselves.
From A. P. Farnsley, per J. B. Nall, editor Farmers’ Home Journal,
Louisville, Ky.:

The English Sparrow is the only bird I know to be injurious to grain crops; but if —

the amount he saves were weighed against that which he eats, the former would out-
weigh the latter many times.

.
;
;

The trouble is, that the grain he eats and the amount he eats are seen by all, while ©
the amount he saves the farmer is not seen. The destruction of a few insects in the —
wheat field during the fall or spring might increase the yield one or more bushels per —

acre, yet it could not be seen; but when the Sparrow takes the wheat from the bundle
that les on top of the shock itisseen by all. (August 8, 1886.)

From John Allan Terrell, Bloomfield, Nelson County, Ky.:

It dees not injure grain more than other birds. It flocks to wheat fields, but on ex-
amination I find the crop filled with grub-worms and grasshoppers. (October 6, 1€86.
Present about seventeen years. )

From Howard Kingsbury, Burlington, Iowa:

All talks with farmers in this section failed to draw out any complaint of injury to
grain crops. (December 28, 1886. Present sixteen or seventeen years.)

From the Davenport (lowa) Academy of Natural Science, per W. H.
Pratt, curator: ;

While it eats a great deal of grain about the mills and warehouses, it does not as
yet go into the fields, and has probably injured no cropshere. (April 20, 1887. Pres-
ent about seventeen years. ) .

RELATION OF THE SPARROW TO OTHER BIRDS.

This is one of the most important branches of the Sparrow investi-

gation, and itis believed that the evidence collected and published B

herewith is ample for the final settlement of this much vexed ques-
tion. More than a thousand original contributions to our knowledge of

this subject have been received at the Department, and all the available —

published testimony has also been consulted, and selections from this
have been printed. - No pains have been spared in collecting evidence
on both sides of the question; and when it became apparent that a
large part of the testimony which was coming in was against the
Sparrow, a special effort was made to induce friends of the bird to come
forward with facts or theories to offset this damaging evidence. Asa
result, a mass of testimony has been brought together which itis believed
far exceeds in amount and value anything ever before collected, and it
is now submitted to the public with perfect confidence that no candid

EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. — 79

reader will ever again deny that the Sparrow molests our native birds,
and in many cases drives them away from our gardens and parks. No
one should be content to read simply the brief summary presented at
- this place, but should turn directly to the evidence itself, and satisfy
himself that the case is as here represented.

‘The nature of the evidence is such that it is impossible to summarize
_ it satisfactorily, but the following brief synopsis of matter contributed
_ direetly to the Department will show something of its extent.

4 Premumber of original reports submitted ....-..-.- 2-26 22202. se ce enews cane 1, 048
See ne main favorable to the Sparrow.......---.----. -+---- ---22+ se nee ene ane 1638

me the main unfavorable to the Sparrow .----..----.--------- 2-4 2122-22 - ee 837
EMINEM Terman. ote hes, La ihe ein ee ee ee 43

This would indicate that about one-fifth of the evidence submitted is
favorable to the Sparrow; butif we exclude from the evidence all those
_ reports which consist simply of the answers yes or no to the questions
_ asked on the printed circulars, the percentage of favorable replies will
_ be still further decreased.

_ ‘Two hundred and eighty-one reports were received which gave little
- or no evidence on this subject further than these monosyllabic replies,
4 while the seven hundred and sixty-seven remaining reports gave illus-
trations of the hostile or peaceful relations of the birds, or at least men-
_ tioned some species which were or were not molested.

| Of these seven hundred and sixty-seven reports only forty-two are
entirely, or even mainly, favorable to the Sparrow; seven hundred and
twenty-five of them containing evidence unquestionably against the
_ Sparrow, and most of it of the most damaging kind.
_ This estimate, therefore, which seems to us much nearer the truth
_ than the first, shows that about one-eighteenth of the reports re-
ceived are favorable to the Sparrow as regards its relation to other
birds, but it should not be inferred by any means that therefore even
+ one-eighteenth of the evidence is favorable.
, _ About one witness in eighteen has testified for the Sparrow, but each
4 juror must decide for himself as to the weight to be given to each piece
¥ of evidence. For our own part, after careful consideration of each bit
2 of testimony presented, we believe that the proportion of one hundred
to one against the Sparrow is the most favorable estimate which any

_ unprejudiced person is likely to make.

80

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

LIST OF NATIVE BIRDS MOLESTED BY THE SPARROW.

The following table gives the names of species which the Sparrow is ;:
reported to molest, and the number of such reports in each case:

neh md GStalia Sialis): sos ces coace ee eee Eee 377
Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) .......--- 1
Robin (CMerula migratoria) 22.2222 52-sdece 182

Hermit thrush (Turdus aonalaschke pallasii). 1

Wood thrush (Turdus mustel.nus) ........--- 4.
Thrushes, species not indicated ........- Beier) el
Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa) ... 8
Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) .........-..--. il
Titmouse, species not indicated .............. 4
Tomtit, species not indicated ................ 1
W hite-bellied nut-hatch (Sitta carolinensis)... 1
Nut-hatch, species not indicated .......-...--. it
House wren (Troglodytes wdon) ...--..------- 64
Parkman’s wren (Troglodytes cdon park-
MROALIVIL) aie eee eae Sekt coe ae dae eee See eae 1
Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus..--. 6
Bewick’s wren (Zhryothorus ludovicianus be-
DUCKED) ee nae oo ee ees A are ee naie ee eee 2
Wren, species not indicated ...........:..-.-- 116
Brown thrasher (Harporhynchus rufus) .----- 8
Cat-bird (Galeoscoptes carolinensis) -...---..... 33
Mocking-bird (Mimus polyglottos).......----- 50
Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla ...--.-.0..------ 1
Yellow warbler (Dendroica cestiva).......-..- 11
Myrtle warbler (Dendroica coronata) .......-- 1
Varblers, species not indicated .......--...-. 15
Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus) .......------- x
Warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus) .----..----.=--- 3
White-eyed vireo (Vireo noveboracensis)...-... it
Vireos, species not indicated .........-.-....- 9

Cedar bird, cherry bird (Ampelis cedrorum).. 4

Purple martin, black martin (Progne subis) .. 65
Martins, species not indicated -...........-.. 198
Cliff swallow, mud swallow (Petrochelidon |
WOE ROO ne 5 = 5 a SE SEN Oh Aor ne oee mes 25
Barn swallow (Chelidon erythrogaster) ..-...--. 24
White-bellied swallow, blue-backed swallow
(hachycinetn bicolor) 2-22 =.) 2a ane son eee 40
Violet-green swallow (Tachycinetathalassina). 1
Bank swallow (Clivicola riparia) ..-----.----- 2
Rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serri-
FOETHDIS). SEO L GIRS saa Oe ban Oe a> RQ O SO GAOT S5er 1
Swallows, species not indicated ..........-...- 84
Tanager, species not indicated .....-....-.--. 1
Indigo bird (Passerina cyaneda)-...----------- 5
Painted finch, nonpareil (Passerina ciris) .... 2
Grosbeaks, species not indicated ............. il
Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) ..----------- 1
Redbird, species not indicated...........----- 11
Brown towhee, species not indicated .......-. 1
Chewink (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) -..------- 1
Song sparrow (Melospiza fasciata)......------ 26
Chipping sparrow, chippy (Spizella socialis).. 72
Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) ...-.--..------ 2
Tree sparrow (Spizella monticola) ...---.----. 5

Common sparrow, species not indicated. ....
Native sparrow, species not indicated. ....-.
Ground sparrow, species not indicated ....--
Other sparrows, species not indicated. ....-.
Savanna sparrow (Ammodramus sandwichen-
S18 SAVANNA) 0ico 2a sane sass eee
Grass finch, vesper sparrow (Poocetes gram-
@NCUS) Loic oe S20) 2 el eee
Grass bird, species not indicated............
Snowbirds (Junco sp 2)
Goldfinch ) :
Yellow-bird \ (Spinus iristis)
Wild canary J
Arkansas goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)........
Red-poll (Acanthis linaria) . 2.22 222 eeeeee
Purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus)..-...-.
House finch (Carpodacus frontalis)........-.
Other finches, species not indicated.........

| Linnet, species not -indicated....--..........

Purple grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)........-
Grackles, species not indicated..............
Baltimore oriole (Icterus Baltimore) .........

| Orchard oriole (Icterus spurius).......------

Orioles, species not indicated..-..........-.-
Meadow-lark (Sturnella magna) .-----.------
Red-winged blackbird (A gelaius pheniceus).

| Blackbirds, species not indicated.........--.

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
Shore lark (Otocoris alpestris)
Blue jay, jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Crows, species not indicated
Least pewee (Hmpidonax minimus)...-..--.
Wood pewee (Uontopus virens)
Phebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Great crested fily-catcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
Kingbird
Bee martin (Tyrannus tyrannus) ....-- eat
Bee-bird J
Fly-catchers species not indicated
Insectivorous birds, species not indicated...
Song birds, species not indicated.....:..-...
Humming-bird (Lrochilus colubris)
Chimney swallow or swift (Chetura pelagica) -
Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythro-
cephalus)
Yellow-bellied woodpecker (Sphyrapicus va-
TtUs)
Sap-sucker, species not indicated
Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)...
Hairy woodpecker Dryobates villosus)....--.
Golden-winged woodpecker, flicker (Colaptes
auratus)
Woodpeckers, species not indicated..-...--.
Yellow-billed enckoo (Coceyzus americanus) .

er ec eset eee

oneness et eae

Reports. |

19

ow
aon = Fw oe eS

Sen COr WOK

In addition to the birds specifically mentioned in the foregoing list,

many other reports have been received
not mentioning the species so molested.

alleging attacks on birds, but
Thus sixty-five reports men-

NATIVE BIRDS MOLESTED. | 81

-

t tion molestation of “ native birds;” forty-eight reports speak of “ other
birds ” being driven off; seventy-eight reports state that the Sparrow
molests or drives off arly all species;” twenty-eight claim a similar
effect on ‘all small birds;” five claim the same for “ yard birds,” and
two for “domestic birds.”

g Ten observers report attacks upon domesticated doves or pigeons, and
_ one each on hens and chickens.

It will thus be seen that the reports mention specifically seventy
kinds of wild birds which are known to be molested more or less by the
4 Sparrow. A majority of these birds are species which nest about
houses and gardens, and, with the exception of the crow, jay, and pos-
sibly one or two others, all are decidedly beneficial to the farmer and
gardener.

_ Naturally the birds most affected are those whose nesting habits are
similar to those of the Sparrow; that is which nest mainly in boxes

_ provided for them; in cavities or cornices of buildings; under the
- eaves of barns or outhouses, or in the natural cavities of trees.

Thus, in a total of about 1,860 complaints, we find that more than
half relate to martins, <acieee wrens, and bluebirds, whose —— or
_ nesting places are coveted by the Sparrow.

i But in most places the Sparrows long since outgrew such accommo-
_ dations and were compelled to build nests among the branches of trees,
' like other birds; and at once such buiky nests as those of the robin,
catbird, etc., were seized upon and utilized either as building material
-oras foundations for new nests. Thus new quarrels have been con-
_ tinually originating, and the Sparrow has been steadily encroaching on
_ the territory of Bier birds. Although a large part of the trouble with
_ native birds has doubtless arisen from questions over nesting places,
- still there is abundance of testimony thatthe Sparrow molests birds
under other circumstances.

_ Nearly one-third of all the complaints of injury to other birds relate
_ to species whose nesting and food habits are very different from those
_ of the Sparrow, and whose relations with this bird might reasonably be
_ expected to be peaceful and pleasant. Among such may be mentioned
_ the mockingbird, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, goldfinch, Balti-
; more oriole, ele warbler, and vireos. Of course many of these
-- birds, as well as those previously mentioned, offer more or less resist-
ance to the advances of the Sparrow, but in most cases the resist-
ance is useless and the native birds are compelled to retire from the
field sooner or later. It maybe well, however, to postpone such general
considerations and conclusions until we have taken up the charges
_ against the Sparrow one at a time and submitted evidence on both sides
pot the question. In doing this, it will be convenient to divide the sub-
ject into three parts:

I. The relation of the Sparrow to birds which nest principally in
Bevitics, natural or artificial, and often in boxes prepared by man,
ee 8404—Bull. 1——6
sa

Reale *

es

82 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Il. The relation of the Sparrow to birds which usually nest in trees, :
or at least not in places especially prepared for them by man, but whose —
nests or nesting sites are often appropriated by the Sparrow. E

III. The relation of the Sparrow to other species than those included
under the two preceding heads, or to those species under such condi-
tions that the question of nesting has no direct influence.

RELATION OF THE SPARROW TO BIRDS WHICH NEST PRINCIPALLY
IN CAVITIES, NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL, AND OFTEN IN BOXES
PREPARED BY MAN.

The birds coming most naturally under this head are the bluebird,
the purple martin, the white-bellied swallow, and the house wren, species
which appear to suffer more severely from the encroachments of the
Sparrow than ali others combined.

Strange as it may seem, it is very evident that some observers are in
doubt as to what consitutes an attack on a bird, and many more are
uncertain as to the meaning of the word molest.

Thus one man writes:

If the Sparrow molests native birds, it has escaped my observation. Wrens and
bluebirds attempt to reclaim former nesting sites; the former always succeeding, so
far as I have observed; the latter seidom.

There can searcely be any question that a Sparrow molests another
bird when he takes possession of that bird’s nest or former nesting
place and holds it against all efforts of the rightful owner; and this is
precisely what the Sparrow does in thousands of places every spring.

John Bessmer, of Hastings, Barry County, Mich., writes:

* * * JThave had good opportunities for observation, and I believe the facts are
these: Staying over winter, as he does, the Sparrow selects good nesting places, and
then, when the Wren, Bluebird, or Martin comes in the spring, sometimes he finds his
old nesting place occupied and the fight commences. If it isa Bluebird, he will drive
half a dozen Sparrows away, unless they should have eggs or young, in which case they
can not bedriven. * * * Last spring they tried to drive a pair of Sparrows out of
a bird-house where the Bluebirds had a nest the year before, but the Sparrows were
breeding then and stood their ground well. Then the Bluebirds built their nest in the
other half of the same house, and afterwards lived in harmony, the Sparrows in the
north half and the Bluebirds in the south, with only a partition between. (October7,
1886. Present about ten years.)

SPARROW Versus BLUEBIRD AND PURPLE MARTIN.

The Bluebird undoubtedly is one of the pluckiest of our native birds,
and when it has eggs or young the Sparrow has hard work to dislodge
it, yet even then it sometimes succeeds. On the other hand, when the
Sparrow appropriates a box before the return of the Bluebird, in most
eases it holds it against all new-comers. In reply to the schedule
question as to the species which resist the encroachments of the Spar-
row, thirty-three observers report the Bluebird as uniformly successful,
and thirty report it as successful sometimes, a total of only sixty-three

/

_ The following are examples of the testimony relating to the Blue-
_ From B. T. Gault, Chicago, IIL:
St have repeatedly seen the English Sparrow drive Martins from their boxes and
Bluebirds from their nests, in both cases destroying the eggs and pulling the nests to
‘pieces. (October 29, 1885.)

_ From H. H. Miller, Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Md.:
_ I know of an instance where two pairs of Bluebirds fought for two weéks to keep
their boxes, but were beaten in the end; also of a case where the hole in a Wren’s
_ box was too small for the Sparrows to get in, and they pulled out the nest and broke
‘the eggs. (February 16, 1887. Present about eight years.)
- From John L. Huber, Tell City, Perry County, Ind.:
The Bluebird and Martin resisted the first and second year, but the Sparrow proved
_ victorious. and after the second year they did not come back. (October 8, 1886. Pres-
- ent about twelve years.)
From Walter B. Hull, Milwaukee, Wis. :
I put up about a dozen boxes this year, and native birds started to build in nearly
all. One Bluebird succeeded in raising a brood, and that because so close to the house
that I could interfere when a fight began. All the other houses were stuffed with
"straw, and young Sparrows were hatched in them, the rightful owners having fled.
4 August 23, 1886. Present about six years.)
_ From Clarence L. Cate, Spencer, Worcester County, Mass.:

- There is a bird-house on my hen-coop in which a pairof Bluebirds have nested for
three years without being molested ; but the Sparrow has at last driven them off, and
now occupies the house. I know of one case where it has driven away the Orchard
‘ ee. (October, 1886. Present about eleven years.)

_ From L. Burnewitz, Wolcott, Scott County, lowa:

_ Bluebirds and Martins attempt to reclaim former nesting-sites. I had to kill a
_ Sparrow in order to give a Bluebird back his little house ; Martins can defend them-
selves. (October 8, 1886. Present about four years.)

From Jerome Trombley, Petersburgh, Morroe County, Mich. :

_ A pair of Sparrows last spring appropriated one of my bird-boxes, occupied, the
previous year by Bluebirds. When the latter arrived they immediately declared war,
2 nd in three or four days had vanquished the foreigners. (August 23,1886. Present
5 about nine years. )

From Daniel S. Wadsworth, Hartford, Conn. :

¥ Tt does not drive away our native birds; I have seen it battle with Bluebirds, but
not successfully. A Sparrow had occupied a hole in an apple tree when the Bluebird
“came, but after several battles the latter took possession of the hole and reared its
young there. (October 11, 1886. Present about eight years.)

_ Other evidence will be found interspersed in the testimony relating
: * martins, swallows, and wrens, where the conditions are often iden-
; tical and the results practically the same.

Probably the Purple Martin resists the Sparrow more successfully
than any other box-inhabiting species, mainly owing to its size and to
| the fact that it nests in communities, and lence is able to make a more
€ equal fight; yet when we compare the soft, weak bill, short legs, and

ea ao eos wee Mig Behe 2 a aac ai eS
¥ ag ars "EFFECTS ON THE ‘BLUEBIRD, 83

84 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA,

small feet of the Martin, with these parts in the Sparrow, it is Gifficult
to understand how it can ever succeed in a combat where the numbers

on the opposing sides are nearly equal.

Owing to the fact that the White bellied Swallow ( Tachycineta bicolor) 4

is called ‘‘ Martin” in some places, it is impossible to give accurate fig-
ures on the Purple Martin, though there is little doubt that in most
eases this latter species is referred to where the term ‘ Martin” is used,
and always when “ Black Martin” is given.

Complaints of molesting the Parple Martin were received from sixty-

five observers, aud complaints regarding the “‘ Martin” from one hundred
and ninety-eight. Twenty observers state that the Purple Martin re-
sists the Sparrow with more or less success, while sixty-two give sim-
ilar testimony for ‘‘ Martins;” a total of eighty-two witnesses of com-
plete or partial victories for the Martin, against two hundred and sixty-
three witnesses of quarrels. The proportion of successful resistances
for this species would seem therefore to be nearly double that shown
for the Bluebird, or even more than double if we admit, as we must,
that some of the complaints of molestation undoubtedly refer to the
White-bellied Swallow. For the reasons already mentioned it is obvious
that the summary of the reports on the White-bellied Swallow can not
be. considered exact, but from the returns which unquestionably relate
to this species, it would seem to be fully as successful as the Purple
Martin in resisting the Sparrow. The summary shows forty com-
plaints of molestation and seven cases of more or less successful resist-
ance, a Showing searcely to be expected in view of the fact that this
species is much smaller than the Martin, and very similar in structure
and habits. The following examples of evidence show how severe the
struggle for nesting places often is between the Sparrow and Martins.
From ©. Augustus Rittenhouse, Collegeville, Montgomery County,
Sag

All birds that build in boxes and holes in old trees are driven off. I have several
boxes in which Bluebirds and Martins reared their young every season until the
Sparrows fought them out and took possession. Ihave scen them throw the young out
of the nest and fly to the ground and kill them. I could fill this paper with ex-
amples of this kind. + Boxes are being removed wherever they build. (August 18,
1886. ) .

From A. Ford, Bronson, Bourbon County, Kans.:

It pulls the Martin and Swallow from their nests and throws out the eggs. (Octo-
ber 11, 1886. Present about two years.) -

From H. Volkening, Lenzburgh, Saint Clair County, Ill:

Martins and Swallows resist, but not successfully. I have built houses for the
Martins and Wrens as have some of my neighbors, but the Sparrows fought them away
and destroyed the nests with the broodsin them. (October 4, 1856. Present about
three years. )

From W. V. Hardy, Holman Station, Seott County, Ind.:

In the spring of 1886 four pairs of Martins came tomy boxes. The Sparrows drove
away two pairs, but by shooting the Sparrows as fast as they came the others were
induced to stay. (September 6, 1886, Present about four years.)

‘ . 7
SC, eae So Pe eS

a ap EFFECTS ON THE MARTIN. 85

ar om 8. D. fence Elida, Allen County, Ohio:

have watched the battles between Sparrows and Martins, by the hour. Now
re is not a Martin to be seen in the cone (September 4, 1886. Present about
years. )

_ Frequently the Sparrow is unsuccessful in its first attempts to dis-
lodge Martins, but ultimately it succeeds. Many observers testify to
the fact that the two species live peaceably in different compart-
ments of the same box, and some of these observers have witnessed the
ruggle which doubtless always precedes such a truce. Probably in
oy such ease the contest is renewed each spring soon after the return
of the migrants; and the entering wedge having been once secured, the
Sparrows keep pushing until sooner or later the migrants find it easier

: to go elsewhere than to continue the fruitless struggle.
4 Dr. F. H. Kimball, of Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill., writes:
2 Purple Martins formerly nested in the hollow work of an iron bridge. The Spar-
_ rows in vain attempted to dislodge them,*and now live in neutrality with them.
_ (September 28, 1286. Present about eight years. )
_ Dr. Daniel Berry writes from Carmi, White County, Ill:

In 1872, 1 built a business house on thesiteof achurch. Over the door of the church
. one or two pairs of Black Martins had a home. In the new building they found su-
_ perior facilities for lodgment, of which they availed themselves, and increased
wonderfully. ‘This summer the colony must have been more than a thousand. On
. eir arrival in the spring they find their quarters in possession of the Sparrows, when
- the fight for ejectment begins. ‘The Martins have been strong enough to regain pos-
session so far, but this is not always the case. When the Sparrows in force attack a
r pair of Martins or Bluebirds nesting in boxes they invariably drive them away. (Oe-
) _ tober 6, 1886. Present about ten years.)

Herman Koerner, of Birdseye, Dubois County, Ind., writes:

r _ Thave a bird-house with twelve apartments which was A alae in 1885 by six
"pairs of Martins, but was taken possession of in the winter of 1885~86 by the Spar-
_ row. When the Martins returned there was a week’s war, then a compromise, and
= each took six rooms. (October 7, 1886. Present about three years. )

Or. Geo. H. Jennings, of Jewett City, New London County, Conn.,
3 _ writes : a

Martins and Bluebirds attempt to ‘halati former nesting sites when occupied by
the Sparrow, but as often fail as succeed. It is common to see a bird-box occupied
Bu part by Martins and in part by Sparrows. Often they thus settle down after more

than a week of quarreling. White-bellied Swallows, Wrens, Martins, and Bluebirds
_ Often resist ; the three latter sometimes effectually. (September 11, 1886. Present
_ more than eleven years. )

Robert W. Curtiss, Stratford, Fairfield County, Conn., writes:

‘The Sparrows build nests every spring in my martin- box, but when the Martins
come in full force they drive them out. (October 11, 1886. Present about fourteen
Years.)

' M.S. Lord, of Saranac, Mich., writes:
ar have had a martin-house for the be eight years, and the Martins always take

possession when they come, aithough the Sparrows occupy it before and after. (Oc-
tober 8, 1886. Present seven years.) .

86 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

}
NEGATIVE EVIDENCE.

A very few observers are still skeptical about the alleged attacks on
other birds, and occasionally a correspondent appears to be convinced
that the Sparrow is innocent of all such crimes charged to it.

Dr. H. A. Hagen, of Cambridge, Mass., writes :

I have never seen it molest other birds; indeed in the next street, in a house with
one entrance, Swallows and Sparrows brooded together, and both had young. I have

seen the Sparrow driven out of its house by Bluebirds. (April 13, 1884. Present
about eleven years.)

Ferdinand Schumacher, of Akron, Ohio, writes:

I have notobserved it to molest other birds. A bird-house in my yard, occupied
for several summers by Martins, was invaded and occupied early in the spring by the
Sparrows; but with one or two individual exceptions they were driven out by the
Martins. The remaining one or two families occupied the house jointly and peace-
ably with the Martins. (October 25, 1886. Present about eleven years.)

The late Prof. Chas. Linden, of Buffalo, N. Y., wrote in 1885:

Ido not believe that there ever will be an authenticated, true report of a battle
between Sparrows and our native birds, excepting, perhaps, with the White-bellied
and Barn Swallows. I have observed fie pilfering the angleworm gains of the
Robin, which otherwise, like the aggressive Bluebird, is well able to take care of it-
self.

Another observer is equally positive, and says:

I do not believe the Sparrow drives away any of our native birds. I speak from
careful observation, and they are just as plentiful here now as before the advent of
the Sparrow. I have never seen the Sparrows band themselves together for attack,
and am satisfied they do not doit. It is pair against pair. The sssertion that they
attack other birds in a body is sheer nonsense; no such thing is known in natural
history of any species of bird. "

As bearing on this last point, that the Sparrow does not attack other
birds in numbers, the following testimony may be of interest:

From Jesse G. Case, Peconic, Suffolk County, N. Y.:

It has driven off our Martins. They have a fight every spring, and the Sparrows
succeed by force of numbers. Sometimes a dozen Sparrows will surround one Mar-
tin. (1885.)

From the postmaster at Jamestown, Russeli County, Ky.:

The Bluebird and Black Martin attempt to reclaim former nesting sites, but are
attacked by the Sparrows in squads, and routed. (October 27, 1886. Present four
years. )

From H. Harris, Union Springs, Bullock County, Ala. :

The Sparrows will not singly attack any bird, but usually unite in an army to do
their work. I bave known them to kill out at least a dozen pairs of Martins, young
and old, at a single attack. (September 17 and 24, 1886. Present about six years.)

From John J. McDannold, Mount Sterling, Brown County, IIL:

The Martin and Bluebird always try to reclaim former nesting sites, but never
succeed, because of re-enforcements, the Sparrows flocking in great numbers to the
assistance of a distressed brother or sister. Though the Martins and Sparrows are—
bitter enemies, it is nearly always some nesting difficulty that causes trouble between
them. (September 4, 1886. Present about three years. )

EFFECTS ON THE HOUSE WREN. 87

Mr. H. T. Baker, of Berlin, Wis., has related to me that last summer he was a wit-
ness of a conflict between some Hucieh Sparrows and Purple Martins, in which the
- Sparrows were trying to get possession of breeding places which had been occupied

for several years by the Martins. The Sparrows congregated in a large flock upon a
tree standing near the building in the cornice under the eaves of which the Martins
had their nests. From this point a number of Sparrows would together attack the
_ Martins and then return to the tree, to be followed by a similar squad. This method
- of attack was followed until three Martins had been killed, some of them having had
_ their eyes picked out. It need hardly be added that the Martins were forced to
a leave. The same gentleman tells me that he saw the Sparrows kill, in the same man-

ner, a bird, the name of which he did not know, in the city of Mien, (January
31, 1887.)

SPARROW Versus WRENS.

- he House Wren is one of the birds often attacked by Sparrows, and
' it is claimed that in very many cases it has been driven away by them.
q Most reports which mention “ wrens” doubtless refer to this species,
go we shall probably not be far from correct if we state that the reports
F Bot molestation of this species number one hundred and eighty, while
_ thirty. nine observers report it as more or less successful in resisting the
inroads of the Sparrow. It would thus appear to be somewhat more
_ successful than the bluebird, but less so than the martin.

In many cases protection ee been afforded this pugnacious but in-
mons little songster by supplying it with a box the entrance to which.
is too small to admit the Sparrow; but this does not suffice in all cases.

z PThe evidence relating to this species is particularly full and interesting,
- but we have room here for only a few examples.

Wallace D. Rhines, of Constantia, Oswego County, N. Y., writes:
Ihave seen Wrens driven out of their houses and not allowed to enter until I had
S driven the Sparrows away; but not being able to help them all the time, they have
deft their house in possession of the Sparrows. (August 23,1886. Present four or five
~years.)

_ Edward Burrough, of Merchantville, Camden County, N. J., writes:
_ The Wren makes the most determined resistance, but is generally defeated. (Sep-
tember 2, 1886. Present about ten years. )
J. F. Niesz, of Canton, Stark County, Ohio, writes:
5 The Bluebirds were driven away the first year the Sparrows came, and have not
_ returned since. The Sparrows fought the Wrens all last summer in a sugar-tree near
' wy house, but the Wrens hatched a brood there. Then they went into the carriage-
a house and hatched asecond broodthere. Inthe spring they came back to their sugar-
_ tree branch, but the Sparrows tried to drive them away, reaching into the hole and
a trying to pull them out. We began shooting the Sparrows (only while fighting),
MG and shot twelve, but the Wrens were so harassed that they failed to hatch their
brood, and left my farm. I have only observed the Sparrows molesting Bluebirds,
a Wrens, and Chippies, but I nofice a scarcity of other species formerly abundant.
_ (September 6, 1886. Present about three years.)
P.L. Ong writes from Hennepin, Putnam County, Ill.:

It has not as yet driven away any of the native birds from this locality, but it was
_ Seen tothrow the young, and to commmence to throw the nest of a House Wren out of

”
fe!

BS THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

a stump here thissummer. After being driven away, however, it did not molest the =.
nestagain. The young Wrens were replaced. It tried to whip some Bluebirds, but —
we drove it away and it did not again molest them. (November, 1885.)

A. H. Mundt, of Fairbury, Livingston County, Ll., writes:

It sometimes drives Wrens and Bluebirds from their nesting places. Ihave noticed
them repeatedly trying to drive the Wrens from their boxes, but the holes were too
smallto admit them. (October 6, 1886. Present-five or six years.

Robert W. Barrell writes from South Bethlehem, Northampton Coun-
i ais tes. ©

House Wrens especially are driven out of their homes, even when the openings are
so smali that the Sparrow can not enter. Under such circumstances I have known
Sparrows to stand in front of the entrance and keep the Wrens off, and I have shot
the Sparrows while doing it. (September 16, 1286.)

M. Abbott Frazar, of Mount Auburn, Middlesex County, Mass.,writes :

Before the Sparrow made its appearance on our place I had about 10 pairs of White-
bellied Swallows, 5 pairs ef Bluebirds, and 15 pairs of Wrens, breeding in boxes put
up forthem. Now the birds are all gone. The Sparrow breeds so early that all the
boxes are occupied, and very likely have young in them when the other birds arrive
from the South; so the migrants are driven out. (Autumn, 1885.)

J. B. Stockton writes from Toronto, Kans.:

It has not been observed to drive away any of our native birds. In a contest last
spring the little House Wren actually drove the Sparrow out, and getting inside the
nest box kept the Sparrow out and finished its laying and incubation. The Bluebirds
also attacked the Sparrows, and after a contest lasting six hours drove them from a
box I had put upforthem. (October 6, 1886. Present about one year.)

William Holmead, of Mount Pleasant (in the suburbs of Washington,
D.C.) writes:

The Wren, Bluebird, Common Sparrow, and Martin were formerly very numerous
here, and nested in trees and houses, but all without exception vacated them years
ago. One casein particular which I remember is that of a Wren which built her nest
in a box I had prepared for her. The Sparrow destroyed her young and tore up her
nest, and after several attempts to rebuild itshe disappeared. (November 8, 1886.
Present about fifteen years.

RELATION OF THE SPARROW TO BIRDS WHICH USUALLY NEST IN

TREES, OR AT LEAST IN PLACES NOT ESPECIALLY PREPARED FOR
THEM BY MAN.

Under this head may be included very many of our common garden
and farm birds, such as the Robin, Mockingbird, Goldfinch, Phebe and
other flycatchers, Vireos, and certain sparrows and swallows, especially
the Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon lunifrons).

SPARROW versus CLIFF SWALLOW AND BARN SWALLOW.

The Cliff-Swallow is also known as the Mud Swallow, Eave Swallow,
Jug Swallow, and occasionally as the Barn Swallow, though the latter
hame more properly belongs to the fork-tailed swallow, which most
often nests inside of barns, placing its nest against therafters and using
a mnixture of mud and straw in its composition. The Cliff Swallow, on
the contrary, usually nests in large colonies on the outside of buildings,

ee ‘EFFECTS ON SWALLOWS 89

r non, and i avails himself of mien at every ipicraesee
_ Henry Hales, of Ridgewood, Bergen County, N. J., writes:

Pi have seen a large colony of Eave Swallows abandon their nests, that had been es-
tablished in large quantities all along a barn, rather than fight the Sparrows. (June
18, 1887. Present about fifteen years. )

_ J.C. Swetland, of Sparta, Morrow County, Ohio, writes:

_ The small barn-swallow that builds on the eaves of the barn [Cliff Swallow, Pe-
trochelidon lunifrons], attempts to reclaim former nesting sites. There are over four
hundred swallow’s nests on my barn, and last spring the Sparrows began to take
possession of the nests, and for two weeks there was a constant fight between the

‘Sparrows and swallows. Finally,the Spatrows took possession of one side of the
be rn and the swallows took the other. (October18, 1886. Present about three years.)

: 4 Dr. H. D. Moore, of New Lexington, Somerset Co ounty, Pa., writes:

| Within the last year or two the Sparrows have found their way out 2 the cities
and have taken up their abode around farm buildings all over the country. Most of
the barns are what are known as “ bank” barns, and underneath the extensions of
these, Mud Swallows (Petrochelidon lunifrons) have been building and hatching by
hundreds at each barn. I saw, this summer, where one pair of Sparrows had taken
p possession of one nest and driven the entire colony of swallows to the other end of
4 e barn. Atother barns I saw where several pairs of Sparrows had taken possession
of as many nests and driven the swallows all away. Farmers generally know the
value of swallows as insectivorous birds, and have been protecting them against cats,
ee, mice, etc., but this last enemy is the worst of all, and long and loud are the
urses poured ats the ‘‘ cuss” who imported the first Sparrows. (September 13,
1886. 5

_ 5S. C. Townsend, of Bay Ridge, Kings County, N. Y., writes:

_ As regards the peaceful relations of the English Sparrow to other birds, my experi-
ence confirms the testimony of my neighbor, Mr. J. A. Perry, with the exception
of a single case. There were certain swallows building their mud nests under our

front porch, which nests it attacked with great violence and destroyed, driving the
birds away. (March 27, 1886.)

g William J. Muldragh, of Sand Hill, Wayne County, Mich., writes:

_ Large numbers of swallows formerly nested on our barn, but they have nearly all
left since the Sparrows began building in their nests this year. (August 23, 1836.)

qi ae true Barn Swallow (Chelidon erythrogaster) is also seriously per-
secuted by the Sparrow, forty-nine complaints relating to these two
species having been received, as against seven reports of more or less
Ss Brcesafal resistance, but none of these favorable reports give any de-
tails of the contests.

bA, L. Parkhurst, of San José, Santa Clara County, Cal., writes:

Clift Swallows and Western House Finches retain their usual nesting places in spite
of the presence of these noisy neighbors. (August 27,1836. Present about five years.)

50 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

About eighty observers report molestation of swallows without giv- :
ing the specific name, while only six cases of successful resistance are —
mentioned. :

H. Morrison, of Ithaca, Gratiot County, Mich., writes:

Robins, swallows, and native sparrows make some resistance, but with no success;

they are all gone now. I have seen a swallow fight over a nest until it was nea
killed, so that it died soon after. (October 6, 1886. Present four years.)

W.G. Markham, of Rochester, N. Y., writes:

I have seen half-grown swallows atfacked by Sparrows and drawn from their nests
and destroyed. (September 19, 1887.)

The last two notes may refer to the White-bellied Swallow, already
mentioned, a species commonly nesting in holes in trees, but sometimes
also in boxes or in nooks about buildings.

SPARROW versus ROBIN.

The influence which the Sparrow exerts on the Robin during the nest-
ing season may be inferred from the following:
From H. Bradford, Sparta, Kent County, Mich.:

The Robin comes every spring and tries to build nests, but is driven away. (Octo-
ber, 1886. Present about six years.)

From Edward T. Keim, Dubuque, Iowa:

For many years a pair of Robins nested in an apple tree here, and shortly after the
introduction of the Sparrow they were attacked, but with man’s assistance the Spar-
rows were kept off for two seasons. Force of numbers, however, finally prevailed, and
the Robins have not been seen now for years. (August 19, 1886. Present about ten
years. )

~ From F. J.C. Swift, Falmouth, Barnstable County, Mass.:

Last spring I observed a female Sparrow, unassisted by the male, frequently, for
two days engage in battle with a male and female Robin for possession of the Robin’s
completed nest, and at the expiration of that time she drove them from the premises
and ocenpied their nest. (Autumn, 1885.)

From Dr. A. B. McCrea, Berwick, Columbia County, Pa.:

During the past season I knew an instance where the Sparrows attacked a pair of
Robins, broke their eggs, and literally destroyed their nest. (September 1, 1885.)

From H. A. Koch, College Hill, Hamilton County, Ohio:

I noticed one case in the spring of 1884, where a pair of Robins had a nest contain-
ing eggs in a poplar tree near a house. A pair of Sparrows drove the female away,
tipped out the eggs, and built a nest of their own on top of the Robin’s, and it soor

after contained five eggs. (August 25, 1885.)

From Dr. R. L. Walker, Mansfield, Allegheny County, Pa.:

A friend tells me he found a dead young Robin on the sidewalk, and on looking up
into the tree which stood alongside, he saw the Sparrows busy trying to throw out
the other young Robins and tear up the nest in the absence of the old birds. (July,
1887. Present about five years. )

Many similar instances have been reported and will be found in full —
in their proper place. In all one hundred and eighty-two complaintsof
molestation of the Robin have been received, against twenty-eight re-
ports of more or less successful resistance.

EFFECTS ON THE MOCKINGBIRD. Ce Sh

re ; -
We append one or two illustrations of the latter class:

From F. B. Rich, South Richland, Oswego County, N. Y.:

_ have seen the Sparrow drive off Bluebirds, but I have also known a Robin to build
nest and raise young within 4 feet of a bird-house inhabited by a lot of English
rrows. (1885.)

‘From J. W. Pearson, Newton, Middlesex County, Mass.:

Beast year two Sparrows commenced to build a nest under our porch in front of the
house, and while they were at work upon it two Robins came and drove them away,
nd took possession of the porch and built a nest for themselves, while the Sparrews
we nt to a pear tree just in front of the house and built a nest and reared five young
O1 nes. Does this look like Sparrows driving away other birds? (April, 18384. Present
seven years. )
: SPARROW Versus MOCKINGBIRD.

4 In the Southern States the Mockingbird is frequently interfered with
by the Sparrow, and in spite of its courageous resistance it is often
‘obliged to yield to superior numbers. Fifty reports of such trouble have
been received, against twelve reports of more or less successful resist-
ance. Thus in about one case in four this magnificent songster now
holds its ground against the Sparrow, but as the enemy becomes more
n humerous less favorable results may be looked for.

The following are a few samples of evidence meas
From Charles L. Dendy, Hamilton, Harris County, Ga.

The Mockingbird, like the Sparrow, prefers for its habitation the evergreen shrub-
bery around dwellings and yards. The former is the larger bird, and could more
‘than hold his own single-handed, but he finally succumbs to persistence and numbers.
ined 8, 1886. Present fie or six years. )

_ From the postmaster at Marion, Crittenden County, Ark.:

The Sparrow drives off the Wren, Mockingbird, and all smaller birds. * * * JI
am satisfied that our favorite songster, the Mockingbird, will have to go. (Septem-
b er 18, 1886. Present about four years. )

_ From J. B. Stacy, Pulaski, Giles County, Tenn. :

ag drives off all song-birds, and especially the Mockingbird. (September 1, 1886.
Present about three years. )

_ From Charles E. Nesmith, Donaldsonviile, Ascension County, La.:

_ ‘The Sparrows drive off native birds. I have seen them take from the nest and cast
on the ground the young of woodpeckers, Mockingbirds, yellow-birds, and other
8 _ birds. (1886.)

From Abel A. Wright, Griffin, Spalding County, Ga.:

- Mockingbirds will not give way to it, but retain their old haunts, where they

build and hatch every season. Ihave not observed it to molest or drive off other
birds, (October 5, 1886.)

- From the postmaster at Athens, Limestone County, Ala.:

a have seen Mockingbirds whip the Sparrow and drive it from my premises. Ido
not think tho Sparrow driver off any of our native birds. (September 18, 18380. Pres-
ent about six years.)

’ Many people have expressed doubt as to the possibility of the Spar-
°C OWS driving away birds of the size of the Robin, or eS as pugna-

ee THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

cious as the Mockingbird and Catbird, but in most eases these doubters’
lose sight of the fact that many birds are more readily driven He by

though nEnast all ale defend their young valiantiey thea are mm apt pe
to desert nests which are in process of construction if disturbed while |
at work, or before any eggs are laid. Even the Purple Grackle or Crow ~
Blackbird is not exempt from the Sparrow’s attacks, and the following s
testimony shows that it does not always resist these attacks success: —
fally:

Dr. J. F. Detweiler, of Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, writes:

The boat-tailed blackbird [Purple Grackle] has roosted and nested for many years i
in some large pines in a neighbor’s yard across the street, but last year the Sparrows
crove them away, and occupied the trees with their nests, a hundred or more in num- —
ber. (December 10, 1887. Present about thirteen years. )

SPARROW versus VIREOS.

Many of the smaller birds which use various soft materials in the con-
struction of their nests are continually robbed by the Sparrow.

Dr. B. E. Warren, of West Chester Pa., has given a graphic account
(published elsewhere) of the destruction by Sparrows of the nest and
young of a Warbling Vireo; and the following notes relating to other
vireos were received recently from George H. Berry, of North Liver-
more, Me.: .

At Holyoke, Mass., on June 5, 1884, I found a sct of eggs of the White-Eyed vireo,
and also another set begun with two eggs. On June7 this last nest was forsaken,
and 1n a box inthe tree two pairs of English Sparrows were building their nests, On
June 8 I saw a fight between a pair of birds, but could not tell what they were, so
fired and shot them. One was a female English Sparrow, the other a male White-
eyed Vireo. On June 12 I found an English Sparrow appropriating the nest of a
vireo, and carrying away to her own nest the material of which it was composed. On

the 14th of June I found two empty vireos’ nests, partially destroyed, probably by
either the English Sparrow or Kingbird.

RELATION OF THE SPARROW TO OTHER BIRDS UNDER SUCH CONDI-
TIONS THAT THE QUESTION OF NESTING HAS NO DIRECT INFLU-
ENCE.

Nearly all the species already mentioned have occasional encounters
with the Sparrow, even at times when all have good nesting places;
but it is probable that the ill feeling which prompts these quarrels was
originally engendered by conflicts over nests or nesting places. There
are many species, however, which appear to be very unfavorably affected
by the presence of the Sparrow, yet which do not seem to come in con-
flict at all as regards nesting places. In some cases the trouble may be

caused by competition for food, but in very many eases it is difficult to
account for the quarrel except on the ground that one of the combat-—
ants is naturally pugnacious and has made an unprovoked attack on
the other.

_ EFFECTS ON THE CHIPPING SPARROW. 93

ENGLISH SPARROW versus CHIPPING SPARROW.

oy ne of the birds which suffers most is the Chipping Sparrow (Spizella

socialis), which in some localities seems to have been driven completely
away by its foreign relative. ;

' Naturally confiding in its disposition, it was accustomed before the
advent of the English Sparrow to pick up the crumbs about our door-
yards and to build its little hair-lined nest in the rose and lilac bushes
under our windows. But already this is a thing of the past in most
to wns and cities, and there is no escape from the conclusion that the
English Sparrow is mainly responsible for the change.
More than seventy observers testify to the attacks on the *“¢ Chippy,”
a md but two reports have been received which mention even partial
success in resisting.
_ Dr. A. P. Sharp, of Baltimore, Md., writes:

_ Lhaye been a close observer of the English Sparrows since they first made their ap-
pearance on my place, in Kent County,Md. Iam a great admirer of the little wrens,
martins, and House Sparrows, as we call them (8S. socialis), and felt an interest in
them. Having martin boxes near the house, as well as boxes for the Wrens and Blue-
bi ds, I had a good chance to watch the new-comers, and can say without hesitation
that I think they are the greatest nuisance ever introduced in our country. Notwith-
ding I have been for years shooting them whenever I can get a chance, they have
nearly exterminated the Wrens and Sparrows, and lessened the number of Martins
and Bluebirds. The young Wrens, Sparrows, and Bluebirds are destroyed as soon as
they are hatched. While the parents are looking for food, the English Sparrows will
go fo to the boxes and pull out the young, featherless birds and kill them. With the
House [Chipping] Sparrew I have known them not only to kill the young the first day
they were hatched, but to tear up the nests in a few minutes. For years I have
couraged the little Chippy to build her nest in my honeysuckle, but last year I had
a single nest near the house. I had two in 1885, and tried every way to protect

them, but the young were destroyed as soon as hatched, and the nests were torn to
: eces. (February 16, 1887.)

4y R. Welsh, of Phiiadelphia, Pa., writes:

On the 17th instant, I noticed five English Sparrows pecking at a young Chipping
Sparrow. The latter was able to fly (as I subsequently ascertained) about twenty
yards at a time. The Chipping Sparrow would offer a feeble resistance and then fly
or three feet. The English Sparrows would follow and take turns in pecking at
They had pulled out about one-third of the feathers on its head, which was bleed-
1 ig slightly. There was also a small bare place on its back. The Chippie invariably
Taced its enemies until he had received several pecks and then flew off to one side.
Many other English Sparrows were in the trees near by, but took no notice of the
af air. As soon as I went up to the young bird the parents came fluttering round,
probably attracted by its cry. While the English Sparrows were about I did not fous
a sound from it. Another young Chippie, about fifteen yards off, had nearly all of its
head feathers and a few of its body feathers pulled out. (August 9, 1887.)

_ Itis scarcely surprising that after such treatment as this the Chipping
Sparrow is not as abundant as formerly about our houses and gardens

% THE SPARROW “ MOBBING” OTHER BIRDS.

Th e Robin is often attacked and robbed of his food by the enterprising.
Sparrow, as is shown by the testim ny of many witnesses,

94 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 8 +

Charles B. Fuller, of Portland, Me., writes:

I have repeatedly seen the Sparrow follow the Robins and rob them of such food s
they unearthed; can not say what the food was. (May 31, 1884. Present ten years
or more. ) 7

Dr. F. H. Kimball, of Rockford, Ill., writes:

T have seen the Robin more frequently molested by the Sparrow than any other bird,
chiefly in the way of being driven from its food or having itsfood stolen. (September
28, 1886. Present about eight years.)

A. C. White, of Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio, writes:

IT have observed that it follows Robins and Bluebirds and takes from them worms —
and insects which they find. (September 3, 1886. Present about seven years.) 2

Sometimes the attack is entirely unprovoked and without any appar- 3
ent object, as in the following case sent by W. J. N. Osterhaut, of Provi- |
dence, R. I.: |

March 30, 1884, heard a Robin for the first time caroling his morning song in a pine Aq
tree near the house. I went out to watch him, and had not been standing long watch-
ing him when at least a dozen Sparrows flew up into the tree and pitched into him. |
Poor Robin was driven from tree to tree and badly whipped. There were no nests of |
the Sparrows near and they evidently fought the Robin, who was peaceably enjoying |
himself, from pure haired of any intruder. ‘such instances are innumerable and are |
constantly occurring. The Robin referred to in this instance disappeared and I have
not seen him since. (April, 1886.)

Native birds are frequently driven away or “crowded out” without —
any actualattack, the Sparrows simply following them about and threat-
ening them until they become uneasy and leave.

The reader should turn to the testimony of Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller, —
of Brooklyn, N. Y.,and read her account of this method, which has been —
termed “mobbing.” Similar testimony will be found under the head of ©
Washington, D. C., and in other places among the evidence. ven the :
Kingbird is thus “ mobbed” and sometimes is actually attacked.

George B. Holmes, of Fernwood, Cook County, l., writes:

I have known Sparrows to chalienge a Kingbird, but they were always whipped.
(August 27, 1886. Present about five years.)

William F. Doertenbach, of Cleveland, Ohio, writes:

In July, 1883, a Kingbird was attacked by two English Sparrows, but he resisted |
and finally drove them off. In about one minute, however, he was attacked by a |
dozen or more Sparrows from different points. He flew straight up into the air for |
about one hundred feet aud then swiftly to the southward. ‘This happened in front —
of my house. (November 8, 1886. Present about thirteen years.) i

The list of species actually attacked, without regard to nesting con- —
troversies, is a very considerable one, but we shall only mention a few. :
Owen Durfee, of Brooklyn, N. Y., writes:
I saw a pair of Golden-crested Kinglets, November 19, 1883, and when first ceo

about two dozen English Sparrows were attacking them.

PG. Loomis, of Jackson, Mich., writes: =
My carpenter, a man of veracity and close observation, says he has seen it kill our
smallersong sparrows. (July 20,1884. Present about ciene years. ) Z

SPARROW VERSUS NATIVE BIRDS. 95
De Edgar A. Mearns, 0 of Highland Falls, Orange County, N. Y.

a It frequently attacks and drives away the native birds. It has been seen to kill
a Yellow-bellied Woodpecker in a back yard at 32 Park avenue, New York City, and
also a Robin in Washington Square, New York City. (February 27, 1884.)

J. Perey Moore, of Philadelphia, Pa., writes :

_ * * * The Sparrow iscertainly very pugnacious, and I have often seen it attack
_ and chase even such a large bird as the domestic pigeon (October 13, 1885); and in
July, 1883, two were seen to attack and put to flight a Crow. I have also seen them
attack the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (September 10, 1384) and Chipping Sparrow
- (October 7, 1885). (October 15, 1885. Present nineteen years or more.)

Henry Stewart, of Hackensack, N. J., writes:

It attacks my young chickens and drives them from their food. (February 5, 1884.
_ Present about fourteen years. )

_ SUMMARY OF THE QUESTION OF SPARROW Versus NATIVE BIRDS.

The foregoing examples of evidence have been taken exclusively from
original contributions, although numerous equally strong testimonials
will be found among the material reprinted from various publications
and from both American and foreign sources. There seems, then, to be
‘no possible escape from the conclusion that the Sparrow exercises an
" important and most harmful influence on our native birds. It is not
claimed that in all cases where native birds have become less abundant,
4 or have entirely disappeared from town or farm, the Sparrow is the
cause. On the contrary, we know positively ee there have been
- marked changes in the numbers and kinds of birds visiting certain dis-

- tricts, under such circumstances that it is impossible to attribute these
_ changes tothe influence of the Sparrow. The settlement of a country fre-

quently causes great changes in its bird life. Therapid growth of towns
: and cities, without a corresponding increase in parks and gardens, has
- done much to diminish the number of birds. Cats, small boys, feather

_ hunters, and similar agencies have aided, in the war of extermination.

- The Bobolink breeds much less abundantly in New England now than

it did twenty-five years ago, but this is well known to be due partly to
the introduction of mowing machines and the cutting of hay much ear-
r lier in the season than formerly, and partly to the wholesale destruction
_ of the species during its migrations. But the fact that all disappear-
ances of native birds from town or country can not be charged to the
_ Sparrow in no way lessens its responsibility for such changes as it un-
questionably has caused.
Qn the other hand, many of the most stalwart champions of our native
birds are not altogether free from blame for their partial disappearance.
In how many cities of the Union were native birds carefully protected
and encouraged to build their nests before the introduction of the Spar-
tow? Itis certain that in many cities hundreds or even thousands of
boxes were provided for the introduced Sparrows, where scarcely a
dozen had been given to native birds.

Bih,.i

56 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Tn many cases this superabundance of nesting places so suddenly pro
vided will account for the actual increase of native birds in spite of the
presence of the Sparrows; and such cases have naturally misled many |
candid observers, who recognized the facts without considering all the
conditions. As bearing on this point we cite a part of Dr. J. A. Allen’s
remarks before the Nuttall Ornithological Club, at a meeting held in ©
Cambridge, Mass., early in 1878. All of Dr. Allen’s remarks were of
great interest and value, aud should be read with care by every one
interested in the Sparrow question. We quote here from the report |
printed in the Boston Evening Transcript of March 19, 1878, but select —
only the parts referring to the Sparrow’s relations to native birds: 4

Mr. J. A. Allen stated that aJthough he had hitherto purposely kept out of the
Sparrow controversy, it had not been from any lack of interest in the subject. He
had believed the question to be not so one-sided as many have assumed—that the —
Sparrows are not quite such unmitigated pests as they have sometimes been represented
to be, nor, on the cther hand, quite so unalloyed a benefaction as some have claimed. —
While they have some good points, they are certainly not lacking in bad ones. Before i
taking sides on a question of so much importance, he had waited for the accumulation of —
evidence ; in other words, till the Sparrows had so increased in numbers that our |
knowledge of their proclivities would enable us to judge of the results of an ex- —
periment that at first seemed praiseworthy. The Sparrows, it is true, came tous —
with a bad name, and many a wise one on the other side of the Atlantic had warned e
us of the consequences of what they had termed an act of folly. * * * Having
had his attention called of late rather strongly to the subject, Mr. Allen had been led 3
not only to collect his own observations on this subject, but to seek information —
from localities beyond his own immediate vicinity; and on weighing the evidence ~
had been rather surprised at the preponderance of facts unfavorable to the Spar- |
OV AG Lees te :
The destruction of a few caterpillars he regarded as almost the sole good that can ~
be adduced in their favor. Their presence in small numbers, and especially in win- —
ter, is indeed cheery and pleasant; but, when in force, their harsh chatter becomes —
a positive nuisance, and even in summer renders the notes of other birds singing in —
neighboring trees almost indistinguishable. In regard to the unfavorable side of the —
score, the list of charges is a long one, and the greater part are too well attested to ©
admit of reasonable doubt. .

First in the list is their unfavorable influence upon our native birds. Ordinarily,
so far as his observations extend, he believed that they were not violently aggressive,
but readily became so whenever there was a conflict of interest and occasionally with-
out provocation. The little Chipping Sparrows commonly associate with them on 2
terms of intimacy and harmony, and rarely had he seen them pursue or attack other —
birds when meeting with them at a distance from their own domiciles. But that
they do, by their abundance and petulance, tend to crowd out and supplant our ”
native birds seems nearly unquestionable, since the latter disappear wherever the —
House Sparrows become abundant. Upon such species as have a preference for nest-
ing sites similar to their own, they do exert, however, a most positive influence. —
_ These are Bluebirds, White-bellied Swallows, Purple Martins, and Wrens—birds of
attractive ways, agreeable notes, and highly insectivorous in their diet. Whenthe ©
Sparrows were first introduced into Cambridge, probably at least a dozen bird-houses —
were put up to each pair of Sparrows. The result was that the native species just
mentioned found abundant nesting places, and at once became more numerous than ~
formerly. As the Sparrows rapidly increased, they very naturally possessed them- |
selves of the bird boxes and forced their former occupants elsewhere. He cited the

SPARROW VERSUS NATIVE BIRDS. 97

ag
4 - following instances as having fallen under his observation: Three years ago no lesa
than three pairs of Wrens and as many pairs each of Bluebirds and White-bellied
_ Swallows raised their young in boxes in sight of his windows. The following year
about one-half disappeared, and last year not one of these nine pairs of native birds
1ad a representative left within this small area. Not that all the boxes were occupied
y the Sparrows, but they claimed possession of all, and by force of numbers re-
ained it. In most cases the former occupants, finding their homes already in the
of their enemies, appeared to make no struggle to regain them, a recon-
-naissance of the field apparently satisfying them of the hopelessness of any such
attempt; ; in other cases they were not given up without long and and hard-fought
battles. On inquiry he found that similar incidents have been observed in neigh-
_ boring parts of Cambridge. Besides this, instances of uncalled-for aggression had
a come to his notice, one of which he himself had observed. Last year a colony of
_ Sparrows, not content with three times as many boxes as they had use for—to gain ~
4 possession of which they had dispossessed wrens and swallows—attacked a pair of
_ Robins that very unwisely, as it proved, had chosen a nesting site in an elm close to
this pugnacious colony, by which they were so persistently harassed that they had to
4 abandon their completed nest and its, to them, precious contents.
| j One error into which many observers who are not ornithologists have
7 fallen lies in the failure to discriminate between the abundance of birds
in towns and cities in time of migration and in the breeding season.

Thus such a visitor to the national capital during the first week in
a _ Apri, 1887, would have been struck at once with the number of Robins

‘in all the parks, and might have come to the hasty conclusion that there-
Bre the English Sparrow had no serious influence on them. ;
_ There were undoubtedly many thousands of Robins in the city of
Washington at that time. On the grass ground in front of the Smith-
Sonian Institution, on the lawns of the Capitol, and in many of the other
parks, hundreds were in sight at once, and they seldom appeared to be
molested by theSparrows. But no sooner had these migrating flocks
passed northward and the intending settlers arrived in smaller num-
bers from the South than the Sparrows began to show their natural
‘disposition, and, as a result, the Robins which remained and nested in
the beautiful parks, numbering hundreds of acres, probably did not
4 average one pair to every ten acres of suitable ground.

_ One other egregious blunder, for which there is still less excuse, is
_ the claim so often put forward that in other couutries, notably in Eng-
and and Germany, the Sparrows live in peace with all birds, whereas
if they were the terrible foes represented they would have expelled all
_ these birds long ago. In general, such statements may be set down
pat once as totally untrue as regards the facts. The Sparrow in Europe
is very much the same bird as in the United States, certainly no bet-
ter. And wherever there is any marked difference in habits such a dif-
_ ference is usually attributable to the fact that the conditions of ex-
istence are entirely unlike. On this point Dr. Elliott Coues says:

Pein Europe these birds are part and parcel of the natural fauna of the country.
a They are not, as I understand, petted, pampered, and seduously protected from their
natural enemies, as they are here. They shift for themselves, find certain sources of

oe 8404—Bull. 1—7

98 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

food supply, have a fair share of natural enemies, and are kept within due bounds of :
multiplication by nataral causes; so that the ‘‘ balance of power,” to use a political
phrase, adjusts itself. In short, they have their useful part to play, and they play it; ;
they have their natural checks, and their increase is naturally checked. (American
Naturalist, Vol. XII, p. 500, Aug., 1878.)

In many parts of Europe bounties have been paid on the Sparrow
from time to time for centuries, and to-day in many sections of England
the farmers are fighting this pest as bitterly asin any section of the New
World. If any one doubts that the Sparrow attacks other birds in
Europe, let him turn to the evidence given before the select commit-
tee of the British Parliament in 1873, and read the statements which
support the testimony of Col. Champion Russell with regard to the
relations of the Sparrow and the martin. His conclusion is, “If peo-
ple will neither protect the martins from the Sparrows nor let them
build near their doors and windows for protection, we shall lose these
beautiful and most useful birds; indeed, we are losing them fast. Un-
like most other birds, they will not make their nests far from our dwell-
ings; if not allowed to build there, they disappear.”

RELATION OF THE SPARROW TO INSECTS.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE.

The vexed question of the insect-eating habits of the Sparrow is one
of the most important ones to be decided, and on the decision many
persons would rest their arguments for or against the bird.

Tt has been shown that the Sparrow is decidedly injurious to grain,
seeds of various kinds, and fruit; that it causes a decrease in the num-

ber of native birds in gardens and on farms, as well as in cities and
towns; and that it is a serious nuisance in many ways. But, if it could
be shown that it habitually consumes large numbers of injurious in-
sects, there might still be some ground for continuing to protect it, or
at least for refraining from its wholesale destruction.

In the effort to obtain sufficient evidence to settle this question no
trouble has been spared, and every scrap of testimony submitted has
been carefully considered. :

Particular pains have been taken to obtain every possible fact favor-
able to the bird, and the utmost care has been taken to exclude no
item of this ena while in doubtful cases the Sparrow has always been
given the benefit of the doubt. Yet, unfortunately for this bird, the
result shows plainly that it is not a habitual insect-eater, that it does
not prefer insect food, and that it seldom produces any perceptible
effect on the numbers of any species of injurious insect.

We are well aware that these conciusions will be questioned by some
friends of the bird, either too busy or too prejudiced to examine the
evidence for themselves, but we believe that no candid person can ex-

= ‘
7.4 o 4

INSECT-EATING HABITS. 99

amine carefully all the evidence printed herewith and fail to be con-
- vinced of the justice of the verdict. Much favorable evidence has been
submitted, and it leaves no doubt that Sparrows generally carry some
insects to their young; that the young after leaving the nest continue
to eat insects for a time, and occasionally even when fully adult. In-
_ stances are given where the Sparrow has done good service by destroy-
; ing large numbers of the army-worm, cabbage-worm, canker-worm and

_ other span-worms, as well as grasshoppers, and some other insects; but

these are exceptional cases, readily accounted for when all the circum-

- stances are known, and showing, in most instances, not that the Spar-
_ row is habitually insectivorous, but that it follows the rule which Prof.
_ §. A. Forbes has indicated for many other seed-eaters, viz, that when
- suitable insects are extraordinarily abundant these birds substitute in.
- sect food to some extent for their more natural diet of seed and grain.

Except when feeding the young, Sparrows can scarcely be said to

have any habit in relation to insects. Certain individuals may acquire

a taste for certain insects, or even for insects in general, and many

_ Sparrows seem to delight in chasing large winged insects, such as but-

1 terflies, grasshoppers, and cicadas, and when their clumsy efforts in
_ this direction are successful they usually, though not always, eat or
_ take to their young the insects captured; but asa rule adult Sparrows

”

_ which are not feeding young do not hunt for insects, and if they catch

them at all, it is only because they chance to come in their way while

_ seeking other food.

The following facts should be borne constantly in mind while study-

4 ing this question. In the first place, there are many beneficial as well
_ as injurious insects, and the Sparrow does not appear to discriminate
_ between them.

Again, the injurious insects, such as span-worms and smooth cater-

" pillars, which the Sparrow sometimes destroys in numbers, are pre-
_ cisely such insects as are always acceptable to other birds; while there
are many other injurious insects, such as hairy caterpillars, which the

2

_ Sparrow never touches, but which some other common birds devour

_ greedily. As almost all these native birds have been lessened in num-
_ bers, or entirely driven away from places where Sparrows are abundant,

m3 ,

_ the bearing of these facts is obvious.

Finally, there is no species of injurious insect that the Sparrow has

_ been known to destroy, even in small numbers, which is not much oftener
_ devoured by native birds. Thus the Sparrow does no kind of beneficial
_ work as an insect destroyer which would not be much better done by
_ native birds; while its presence prevents other birds from accomplish-
- ing many kinds of work which the Sparrow does not undertake at all.

The reply so often made to this argument, namely, that native birds

never would stay in towns as the Sparrow does, shows the most pitiable

ignorance of facts. In most towns where there is vegetation subject to
the attacks of insects, native birds are sure to be found unless driven

a"

100 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

away by the Sparrows. If there be but one or two trees in theheartof |
a city, there is no need to depend upon birds, native or imported, to |
keep them free from insects; if there are many trees, then many native a
birds will nest there if they are properly encouraged. } Had one-tenth ~
the care been devoted to native birds in Boston, Philadelphia, and New
York that was wasted on the imported Sparrows, it is not probable that |
the span-worm would ever have stripped the trees in those cities, or that
the hairy larva of the tussock-moth, or the equally destructive web- —
worm, would have followed when the span-worm was lessened in num-
bers. =
That the steady and alarming increase of these hairy wormsis largely, _
if not mainly, due to the presence of the Sparrow and the consequent —
absence of better birds is not open to doubt. The testimony of Prof.
C. V. Riley, Entom ologist of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, of
Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist of New York; and of Dr. John
L. LeConte, of Philadelphia, is conclusive on this point. A partofthis
testimony is given a few pages further on, and the remainder will be
found in Professor Riley’s report which follows.

Before proceeding further with this discussion, it will be well, as
under previous sections of this Bulletin, to give a brief résumé of the
evidence collected, and on which the conclusions as regards the Spar-
row’s relations to insects are based. |

This evidence may be roughly divided into two classes:

I. Evidence derived mainly from study of the contents of Sparrows’
stomachs.

II. Evidence derived mainly from observation of the bird, without
subsequent examination of the stomach.

EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM STUDY OF THE CONTENTS OF SPARROWS’ STOMACHS.

Under this head is included all available published data derived from
dissection in both Europe and America, and representing in all about
two thousand five hundred stomachs.

Of this number, about eleven hundred are from European sources and
the remainder from the United States and Canada. With the excep-
tion of data relating to upward of five hundred stomachs examined at
the Department during the past year, very few of these records are as
complete as could be desired, and no attempt has been made to tabu-
late the results of all the dissections, but it may-be stated that among
two thousand four hundred and fifty-five stomachs only three hundred
and forty-five, or about 14 per cent., showed any insect remains. In the
case of five hundred and twenty-two stomachs examined at the Depart-
ment of Agriculture all necessary data were obtainable and the results
have been carefully tabulated. The insect remains contained in these
stomachs were critically examined under the direction of Prof. C. V.
Riley, who has kindly prepared a report upon the subject, and has added

ss NSECT-EATING HABITS. | 101

hly, that there is no excuse for our entering into any extended dis-
sion of the facts brought out by these dissections, and we shall merely
ch on one or two points to give emphasis to some of our remarks

EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM OBSERVATION OF THE BIRD.

That part of the testimony which is based mainly on observation,
W vith only an occasional dissection, is much less positive as a whole than
that based solely on dissection ; Bai some parts of it are extremely val-
uable nevertheless.

4 Tn reply to the schedule questions sent out, and by subsequent cor-
respondence with ail persons willing to egntnibabe information, reports
were received from five hundred and ninety-one persons. The conan
of these reports may be roughly classified as follows:

_ Of the one hundred and twenty-six reports counted of no practical
value, seventy-eight consist simply of the statement that the Sparrow
sats insects only when forced to do so by the absence of other food.

_ As a majority of all observers were naturally unable to discriminate
tween injurious and beneficial insects, all reports which credit the
Sparrow with eating insects of any kind have been considered (in this
summary) favorable to the Sparrow, though, in view of Professor Riley’s
examination of insects actually eaten, this is far from being really the
case.

= The following table shows the insects which the Sparrow is said to
ea and the number of observers reporting each insect. With the ex-
ception of single reports on six or seven species, it does not record re-
sults of dissection, but merely the observations of those who report
ving seen the Sparrow taking insects for itself or young. In this
list there are no repetitions, that is, the same insect is not entered in
two ) Separate categories. For example “‘ worms,” fifty-six reports, does
not include cut-worms, canker-worms, earth-worms, etc., which are re-
corded just as reported.

ai

,
ay
.:
tA

“4
oO
o ¢

102

List of insects said to bé eaten by the Sparrow.

/

Kind of insect.

No. of
reports.

Ants-eggs
PAU OOM ee wie stair owas eee amo eb see Seles
Apple-tree worms
ATMmy-worm
Bae-wormis. 52222 -5- Bee esc eeea ewe
Beetle:

Tiger (Cicindela)

Goldsmith

ee ee ee ey

ce}
ia’)
ise
feel
(qr)
(72)
a
B
jos)
iss
o>)
ctr
wm
oo]
fa»)
st
|=)
Oo
=

Bugs:
From elm bark
From cherry tree
Kind not specified

Butterfly (turnus)

=

ee

Yellow
TDutterflies, kind not specified
lvniirenibys Gia see eee ee eee cesar ire
Cabbage-butterfly
Cabbage-moth
Cabbage-worms
Carmiker=WOlM\. secon - case ous paeelone Soe ne see
GOEL TT SEE BEE ee ee ee i eee
Carabid larve
Caterpillar :

Hal Meee ereyen oe en at ee Hoe Se cee ree ee

ray
SH Oe RHEE O WWW HH OOD NH RHEE HOR Pe RDO HOwWnmH REE

now

MOO Net ace mane saci aes oes ate miclee
LUTE eS SaaS CSS Be Sen aa aeace:
Kind mob speciied -2.).G¢-22-ea ale oalen 5

Cherry-tree worms

OMT CH= PU Geese eyo) = i cio a atcie ae tee lm calelole =

Clear-winged flies from grape.....--.-.-.-.-

Cicada:
Seventeen-year
Cid MOLiS pected soe ees a ae emcee

Coccinellidee

Codlincaworme hen ye wegen eee cecil eee

Comlmosmoths= 5. - 25 ss-ccesee eet === eeiae

Coleoptera (larva)

rie kelStep kes a eeu cemisiets sae pise= Shakimtetas

CuLEMUOG OMIM: 22 2.)/55 Iason ece eases aces

Currant moth

CrEraAm bh WOM = 262.0 coos emcees oS ce cel ecceme

Cutworm:
Bronzy
Kind not specified

Dragon flies

Dung-insects

MALS AYVORMS =e. >. oS Senes Sale wadiscles hoes cece

be

ee

Bmall“black o.-os-.<. = Mol ook ke Beeps See
Kind not specified

Oe OM FANN NOH Pee pew

iw)

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Kind of insect.

No. of
reports,

Gnats
Grasshoppers, kind not specified...........
Grubs or larve, kind not specified..-..-..---
Harpalus vagans
Honey bees... --- =<. -<22<5 4-2 =e
Hyphantria (moth)
Hyphantria (larva)
Ichneumon flies:.s..12...55.s02ee- eee eee
Insects:
On maples
On trees
In wheat
Kind not specified
Insect eggs
JuNe-DUg. =. 25.62 sc ee
June-bug (larva).....-..-- oe oe eee
Katydid
Larve of—

ee

o1or
nw

ORR ATH NNeH oS

ee

i es

'
'
;
'
‘
'
‘
‘
a
'
'
4
’
ja
—

Moths
Leaf-rollers of plam
Leaf-rollers, kind not specified.--..--.-.---
Locust «2. 60 sade 5d ebesc ate oe eee
Maggots from dead animal
May-bug.-.-..-.. ‘teeteetast elle 5
May-bug larve
May-flies
Measuring-worms
Measuring-worm moth
Melon bugs of all kinds
Mosquito. : 2:22: ..525266ch 5. eee
Moth, luna
Moth, Cecropia
Moths or millers, kind not specified
MUSONE «. fe cnseices sn a= = Eee
Orgyta (moth)
Orgyia (arve)-.-- =. - 2-25-00 see
Orthoptera
Potato-bug
Potato-bug larva
Rose-bug

tose-SlUGS..n.0.2 325505 2 eee ee eee eee
Scale INSCCIS. - < «226252 4-412 e eee
Slugs). 2-22 -2..2 2s...2265. 320 eee
Sphing carolina
Spiders, kind not specified.......-.........
Squash-bugs..-...2.ss6es see
Tobaceo-worm. .. 2252. d=c 20 eee ee eee
Pree-lic@. <..c- ces. ose sce nee

ee er i)

a i a

ee ee

ee a

OV bt bet 9 bet et CO HD DD ee ee et

iss)

ee ae a

i i i a ae

GD tS bet et tt et

no

White-ants (Termes)

Worms on—
Fruit-trees
Elm

Maple
Pear-tree
Worms:

Pe De DDH eee

Small green... Pere hes, ie
TLC. 20-002 oes 30 he eee eee eee

A
Bb
a
@
B
i)
lor
(72)
3
®
(on)
o.
=)
a>)
a
.
‘
on
oN ee

In this list there are adozen or more items which are conspicuous

from the number of witnesses reporting them.

Thus army-worms,

canker-worms, and cabbage-worms aggregate seventy-four reports;
caterpillars alone are mentioned in sixty-four reports, and “ worms,”

ie ss NSECT DIET OF YOUNG. Prk

y of which are undoubtedly caterpillars, in eighty-eight more. Fifty
rvers speak of grubs or larve; fifty-two of grasshoppers; and then
have moths, millers, and butterflies with fifty-nine; flies, thirty-two,
beetles, twenty-seven, and spiders, twenty-six; while, lastly, one hun-
dred and eighteen reports state that the Sparrow eats “ insects,” but
fail to specify the kinds.

_ Unquestionably the information in many of these reports is of little
consequence. It is assumed to be in most cases the result of personal
0 servation, but many of the reports contain internal evidence that the
ir formation is derived from other sources, while still others appear to be
hasty inferences from entirely insufficient data. But the same might
be said for many of the reports relating to the Sparrow’s relations to na-
tive birds, with the difference, however, that the names and habits of
insects are less commonly known than those of birds, while the small
size of many insects is apt to lead a careless observer to believe that
the Sparrow, when searching on the ground and picking up anything
too small to be readily seen, is always eating insects.

ARGUMENT FROM ALL AVAILABLE DATA.

a

_ The fact that more than a hundred observers state that they have |
never seen a Sparrow touch even a single insect is certainly surprising,
‘and can only be explained by one of two hypotheses: either they are not
close observers, or their opportunities for observation have been lim- ‘
ii ed. Certainly when suitable insects are abundant, Sparrows usually
take considerable numbers to their young; yet it is equally certain that
in our large cities thousands of Sparrows are reared annually without
ever tasting insects. When bread, cooked meat, or other soft food is
obtainable the old birds are content to give the young such food, and
even when insect food is fairly abundant it is not always utilized.
Thus Colonel Russell states that in England he once examined the
‘stomachs of forty-seven nestling Sparrows taken at one time from one
‘farm yard, and found the remains of but six small insects in the entire
lot, the crops in most cases being filled with green peas and grain. On
the other hand Dr. Schleh, professor in the College of Agriculture at
‘Herford, Germany, after examining “the crops of a large number of nest-
ling Sparrows sent to him from different parts of the country,” finds
that ‘while in the nest, and for a week after leaving it, their food con-
‘sists entirely of insects, grubs, etc. Two weeks after leaving the nest
their food still consists of forty-three per cent. of animal food; a week
later of thirty-one per cent., and after that age of only nineteen per
cent. of animal ingredients.” Unfortunately we do not know the num-
ber of dissections on which these figures are based, but they are far
more favorable to the Sparrow than any others we have seen, and can
Scarcely be regarded as nearer the average than the above figures of
Colonel Russell, which perhaps indicate the other extreme.

104 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

In this connection some of the data afforded by the five hundred and —
twenty-two dissections made at Washington during the pastsummer are
of interest. Three hundred and thirty-eight were the stomachs of birds —
taken on the grounds of the Department of Agriculture, almost all of
them shot between noon and 2 o’clock p. m., and when not engaged in ~*
searching the driveways for refuse. These grounds consist of about
thirty-five acres of grass, shrubbery, trees, and gardens; and form one
section of the unbroken series of parks which extends from the Capitol
to the White House, a distance of more than a mile. Here at all times
during the summer large numbers of insects were to be had without
any particular search, and hence these three hundred and thirty-eight
stomachs ought to contain a larger percentage than usual of such
food. The remainirg one hundred and eighty-four stomachs came from
various places at a distance, and the data accompanying them are not
complete in all cases, but many were collected in places where insects
were abundant. Three hundred and seventy-six of these stomachs were
from adult birds, and fifty-four of them, or fourteen and two-tenths per
cent., contained remains of insects. One hundred and two were from
birds classified as ‘immature ”—that is, they were at most only two or
three months old, but were fully fledged, and no longer under the care
of the parents. Twenty-two of these, or about twenty-one and one-half
per cent., contained insect remains. Forty-four were either nestlings or
at least still under the care of the parents, and seventeen of these, or
thirty-eight and six-tenths per cent., contained some insect food. This
confirms in great measure the generally accepted theory that young
Sparrows eat many more insects than adults, but it should be remarked
that very few of these five hundred and twenty-two stomachs contained
any large number of insects. Certainly the average percentage cf in-
sect food would not exceed one or two per cent., while even in the forty-
four young birds not more than ten per cent. of the entire food was
insects. Moreover, in one or two cases, young Sparrows taken from the
nests contained no trace of insect food, but did contain crushed or soft-
ened grain, probably from horse droppings. Dr. B. H. Warren, at West
Chester, Pa., and Mr. C. J. Maynard, in Boston, had similar experiences,
and there can be no doubt that insects are not essential even for feed-
ing the young. Many persons suppose that when Sparrows are busy at
horse droppings in the streets they are looking for insects, but of course
they are really picking out the partially digested grain, and this grain
is perfectly adapted to the wants of young Sparrows, even when just
hatched. An occasional insect may be picked up in the same places, but
such insects are usually small dung-beetles which are useful, or at least
not harmful species. It is probably safe to say that as a rule nine-
tenths of the food of city Sparrows—so long as they remain within city |
limits—is derived from horse droppings, and most of the remainder is
house refuse. In the parks or on the outskirts of cities, in small towns,

SEASONAL VARIATION IN INSECT DIET. 105

= over considerable periods in such eee agree that the Span
tow destroys insects more or less according to their abundance.

SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE INSECT FOOD OF THE SPARROW.

a It has been claimed often that Sparrows take much the larger part
of their insect food in spring or early summer. While this may be
rue, we have not the data as yet to prove it, and it seems to be, in part
least, a hasty inference from two Prncigal facts. These are, first,
the assumption that the young are fed mainly on insects, and that ie
most young are hatched in spring and early summer; second, the sup-
_ position that as grain ripens, Sparrows naturally neglect all ster food.
5 Undoubtedly both these points have considerable weight, but there are
_ two other points that tend to offset them, and these are too frequently
' overlooked. Although doubtless more Sparrows are hatched in May
3 or June than in July or August, yet we do not know how many more.
aaG has been shown already that at least three or four broods are hatched
each year, and during the last weekin August, 1887, stump-tailed young
Ent out of the nest were not at all rare about tire grounds of the De-
partment of Agriculture. If nearly as many young are reared in An-
gust as in May, probably as many insects would be fed to them in Au-
- gust asin May, for—and here is the second point—insects are certainly
more abundant in midsummer and early autumn than in spring.
me In Kngland, according to Mr. Gurney’s tables, the Sparrow eats more
insects in August than in any other month; and Dr. William Brodie,
at Toronto, Canada, found that of 85 stomachs taken in September, 63,
_ or about 74 per cent., contained insects.
The following ile gives the results, as regards the number of stom-
_achs containing insects, of the 522 dissections made at the Department
id of Agriculture, arranged by months.* It is to be regretted that as
' many birds were not killed each month as in August, but this was im-
_ possible, although it is hoped it may be done hereafter.

_ *For information as to the manner in which these examinations were made, see
page 133.

106 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. — ee

Table showing, by months, the number and percentages of Sparrows containing insects, in@
total of 522 dissections. 4

s) | 2 |4
. . ~ i>) eal
A oe ¥ | Ee
a s Ae) A se
fo) ri
41 8°) e.g
: A) ae | oe rs
ra eH re oxo | @O BN
OQ Oo lax} oS oO
S = Ss iS) 5
E | 6 | 2 eee
January:
JORSO NG Ty NOVA Feathers yet aire ore PA pe ere me ey re ef StS sitha since seiaim moe eS 0 ee PA ee
Gontaine aan sects! -. owns see dos Sos Lede daa cle nos semis atte 0 ONS eee 0 0
February:
PET KOMANG Me 4s sc cee J EAGeS ecko See e Shs ee ee aoe eae Sena ae ae 0 17 17 Loe
CombiaimedimSects reas sc meena Seeman UR Et See Sey nee eye ANS 0 0: |eseez 0 0
Mareh:
LOSS M TaN Sys ESS SNS Se py ear ey RNS Sy, ute SPE Moe emo RR tn Shei 0 21 PA ae ieee | 5 ot
Contained insects 225. o-seecGecee ee NR ae ee ee ea ce a 0 BI Wea ose 1 4.8
April: 4 :
J DCT GON GLEXG Ream een eee en eee (ee eel ae Shs ae A 1 24 25 cckea See
ContainegiinSeCts accnass co See aa > ee eee SS ate eae 0 al es Se 1 4
May:
JOSRA TNA CEG DAES ek So ee OR PERS HN ee A Te Sater reac ya ar ar ae 11 10 PAT Mer ees oe
ContalnedsnSGClS) ss osus 72sec oe eo ce Cee ree he ee oe ie a eee ees 5 pW ee 6 | 28.6
June:
ARAVIND (LO Serna sas. Nesp aoe aces his tote are late ee ene RI eT Re Eee 43 4 49 | cee eee
Contained imsectsia-s5 fsck Sekwestanoet ees St, ANE Soe SESE 12 I cee NG Salo RG 7
July:
PEATE het eicmie oo Shas Swish ela ai ais PS Re ee ree wen eer eee 357) 24 61. sates eee :
CONnTERINEDMNSECISt =o accacwe, slate Soe are as Sse ear ee eee eee 6 3 | faeeee 9] 148
August:
J SRTEONE GIES WIGS Jee eae a an Oe ye a ee Ane Eo SNC ane Rahie SE AEN AR ett nn eA 213 20°| (2334 /eeeeae eee
ContMnNediInsects. cos c ses we ee ee ee ee ee eee 53 T coe 60 | 25.8
September:
AH RAINE COL sale See cc aes mie Se alate See eee eee aie ote eae es 29 15 44 |p sheel- eee
ComiainedoinSeCtssersc seen see eee Sao eee eee ao ee Cte 2 Obese 2 4.5
October:
JDO SAW STU EUECG by Coe ree ai aE Na SDN GR SE pS rae Nea) 9 open ere sere Eg I I 24 PAS ema face ae
Conan GMS CCES).2 tacos te Shs ae eee S Ree Bae oo ee eee pare 0 Quine 0 0
November:
EP SNATMIVOU sais ease cee sie chia ean ee ee Fg Re ee cI See cere ae Dale 17 | Seer eae
Contamed INSEGtSwsss ee cee tees see Sb aeweee se Sra ate Meee Bieta errata wee eee 0 Oulacee 0 0
December:
IH; XAMUINME 5 assoc ee sce wie SO Sa an A Eee SN a oe ee 1 8 9»). 2..4 eee
Contained tSeCts asec cece Sos Seas eee eee ate ee are See yeas See 0 Oe ee 0 0
HU Day cn I een a ee ae RAE Ri ee gee SUNS th Ae mls lla eo 522 92! 17.6

These results, unsatisfactory as they are, show cenclusively that be-
fore any general rule can be laid down respecting the insect food of the
Sparrow in its relation to season, it will be necessary to examine much
larger numbers of stomachs, and to note particularly, in addition to the
date and locality, such facts as the age of the bird, the time of day when
killed, the character of the place where killed, as well as the apparent
abundance or scarcity of food of any particular kind.

Among the five hundred and ninety-one reports which are not based
on dissection, probably there are one hundred and fifty or more which
have been carefully prepared, give the results of actual observation, —
and hence contain valuable information.

In Professor Riley’s report will be found a list of some of the most
valuable and suggestive of these contributions, which should be read in
full in order to appreciate the facts. At least two-thirds of them con-
tain facts more or less favorable to the Sparrow, but, as stated already, ©
these are readily accounted for when all the circumstances are known.

S einen on CATERPILLAR PROTECTION. 107
RELATION OF THE SPARROW TO CATERPILLARS.

_ Professor Riley, in his report, has called attention to several points of
“interest in these contributions, and has also given an interesting letter
of his, written to Dr. Coues in 1878, relating to the agency of the En-
- glish Sparrow in increasing rather fan diminishing the numbers of hairy
caterpillars, especially of “Orayia and Hyphantria, in the city of Washb-
- ington.
3 In the annual report of the Department of Agriculture for 1886, we
_ published similar conclusions as regards Orgyia, derived from the cee
_ pendent observations of Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist of New
' York. Weagain publish these extracts from Professor Lintner’s report,
_as they are of great interest and importance, especially as they mention
_ some of the native birds which undoubtedly held the Orgyia in GREGK
before the advent of the English Sparrow.
Relation to the caterpillar of the Tussock Moth.—Professor Lintner says:
_ “The extraordinary increase of the Orgyia leucostigma is owing to the
: introduction and multiplication of the English Sparrow.
_ This may seem a strange statement, in consideration of the fact that
the Sparrow was imported from Barons for the express purpose of abat-
_ ing the ‘caterpillar nuisance’ in New York and some of the New Eng-
land cities. . . . The increase of the Orgyia leucostigma commenced
and has continued to progress with that of the Sparrow.
x “A remark made to me that the caterpillars had been observed to be
_ very numerous in localities where the Sparrows also abounded induced
_ me to undertake to verify or disprove the idea that had suggested itself
to me, that the Sparrow afforded actual protection to the caterpillars
and promoted their increase.
_ “In a locality in the city of Albany, N. Y. (intersection of Broadway
_ and Spencer street), which I had traversed daily during the preceding
_ year, I had been interested in watching the habits of a large company
4 of Sparrows which had established themselves in quarters evidently in |
_ every way suited to their tastes and wants among the vines and leaves
of a large woodbine (Ampelopsis quinquefolia), which covered with a
dense matting nearly the entire side of a large dwelling. Here I had
_ observed a greater number of the Sparrows than elsewhere in the city.
_ They were still local and far from being generally distributed.
_ “Upon visiting this locality for the purpose above mentioned, I found
_ upon the other side of the building, and on an adjoining one, three other
large: woodbines not before noticed by me, making fiveinall. Onatall
pole standing between the two buildings a very large Sparrow house
_ with many compartments had been erected, and many smaller ones had
been placed among the branches of the sce ‘The woodbines seemed
_ alive with the Sparrows. Hundreds were issuing from them and drop-
ping down to their favorite stercoraceous repasts in the streets, and the
air was vocal with their chattering. It was a rare bird exhibition.

108 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Here certainly was a test case of the insectivorous nature of the Spar-
row.

“On the sidewalk in front of the two buildings two large spreading : |

elms (Ulmus Americanus), standing between some maples, showed every
-leaf eaten from them, disclosing the nesting-boxes among their branches,
and their trunks and limbs dotted thickly or clustered with the easily
recognized egg-bearing cocoons of the Orgyia. Hundreds of immature
caterpillars were traveling over the trees, fences, and the walls adjoin-
ing. No better evidence of the almost perfect immunity afforded to the
caterpillars from their enemies, whether birds or insects, by the presence
of the Sparrows, could possibly be given.
“A portion of Broadway, between Clinton avenue and the Central
Railroad crossing, was also known to abound in the Sparrows, the citi-
zens resident there having fed them most generously, not only during
the winter season, but also in the summer months. Nesting-boxes had
been placed for them in most of the trees. Here the trees presented a
pitiable sight. Many of the elms and horse-chestnuts were entirely
stripped of their foliage; the naked ribs of the leaves of the latter

seemed ghastly in their suggestion of fleshless fingers. Nowhere else —

in the city had I seen such ravages.

‘“‘ Passing thence to Pearl and State streets, the same association of
Sparrows, caterpillars, and their destructive work was seen. Clinton
Square, where the Sparrows had, in their introduction into the city, been
specially taken under the care and protection of the residents on the
east side of the park, afforded another excellent test. It was evident
that the Sparrows were in full appreciation of their privileges from the
almost incredible numbers sporting about the trees. Their protégés
were also in full force. Caterpillars and their cocoons met the eye
everywhere, while hanging from the rails and caps of the iron fence sur-
rounding the park were the dead and decomposing bodies of caterpillars.
killed by the recent heavy rains (often so fatal to insect larvee), in such
numbers that they tainted the air in their vicinity.

“Tt seems unnecessary to extend this record further than to add that
in other sections of the city observations made were in accord with the
above.

“¢ How the Sparrows protect the caterpillars.—That the Sparrows decline
to eat the Orgyia caterpillar is not a charge against them. They could
not eat them with impunity. The diet would doubtless prove fatal to
them. The charge to which they are amenable is this: By the force of
numbers, united to a notoriously pugnacious disposition, they drive
away the few birds that would feed upon them. Of these we know but
four species, viz, the Robin (Merula migratoria), the Baltimore Oriole*
(Icterus galbula), the Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccygus erythropthalmus),
and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccygus americanus).

* This bird has been seen with its head thrust into the web-nest of the tent cater- .
pillar, eagerly devouring its occupants.

EFFECT ON SPAN-WORMS. 109

i “The above species seem, in the ordering of nature, to have ee as-
‘signed to us for protection fon an undue multiplication of a large num-
_ ber of hairy caterpillars of injurious habits. * * * Oneof them, the
_ Yellow. billed Cuckoo, is known to shave off the hairs of the Orgyia
lewcostig gma caterpillar before swallowing it. The following account of
the operation is from Dr. LeBaron, former State Entomologist of [linois:
4 ‘My attention was attracted to a Gece regaling himself upon these
eaterpillars, which were infesting in considerable numbers a larch grow-
_ ing near the house. My curiosity was excited by seeing a little cloud
% of hair floating down upon the air from the place where the bird was
standing. Upon approaching a little nearer I could see that he seized
the worm by one extremity, and drawing it gradually into his mouth,
shaved off as he did so, with the sharp edge of his bill, the hairy coating
of the caterpillar and scattered it upon the wind.’” (Second Report on
the Injurious and other Insects of the State of New York, by J. A.
Lintner, Albany, 1885.)
Relation to the canker-worm and other span-worms.—As early as 1874 Dr,
- John L. LeConte, of Philadelphia, Pa., published* the following in re-
_ gard to the disappearance of the span-worm in that city and its Teplace-
ment by another species:
‘In Philadelphia, and probably in other cities, the Geometride (Hn-
nomos subsignaria), which was very injurious to the shade trees growing
q in the streets, has been exterminated by the European Sparrows, intro-
~ duced for that purpose. With the disappearance of the Geometride a
_ Noctuide, Orgyia lewcostigma, commenced to increase, and has now in
- some streets become almost as great a nuisance as the Hnnomos had
been. The larve of the Orgyia, whether protected by some disagree-
fr able odor, or more probably by the stiff hairs with which they are coy-
ered, are not eaten by the Sparrows, and therefore increase without
- molestation.”
_ Wemust demur somewhat to the above statement of Dr. LeConte
_ that the English Sparrow exterminated Ennomos in Philadelphia. That
_ the Sparrows contributed their mite to this end there is no doubt, but
_ other span-worms have disappeared in the same way from towns and
yillages where there were no Sparrows, and it is now known that sach
4 disappearances are of more or less regular occurrence, and may be due
_ to various causes, such as the multiplication of the insect parasites of
_ the worms, the prevalence of disease, or even in part to the very fact
_ of the extreme abundance of the worms themselves.
In New England the span-worm which defoliated the elms of the cities
a _ and the apple orchards of the country was the canker-worm (Paleacrita
_ vernata), and from different parts of New England unimpeachable tes-
- timony has come as to the good work done by the Sparrow in feeding
on this worm. We ourselves have seen thousands of these worms car-

*Proc, A, A.A,S., Vol, XXII, p, 44,

= a we
aia 4

110 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. er

ried off by the Sparrows every day, yet are bound to say that there ©
was no appreciable diminution in the number of worms, and earlier in —
the season, when the wingless moths were depositing the eggs for this
devastating army, the Sparrows were never detected eating the moths
at all, though the robins fed onthem constantly. Moreover, the nature
and habits of this worm make it not only possible but easy to com-
pletely prevent or control its depredations., - (See Professor Riley’s let-
ter to Dr. Coues in the report which follows.)

Farthermore, the female, being wingless, does not wander far after is-
suing from the pupa, and the worms, when very abundant, after strip-—
ping one orchard or row of trees, are too small to travel far in search
of more and yet too small to complete their transformation without more
food. Thus this state of affairs frequently brings about the extinction
of almost the whole army

It has been remarked frequently by observant persons thatthe disap-
pearance of the canker-worms and similar caterpillars 1s very sudden.
One year an orchard or park may be overrun by them, and the next
season it may be impossible to find any at all. It is a well-known fact
that excessive multiplication often weakens an entire race, and then
when attacked by the multitudes of parasites which have increased
with it, or by disease which has been slowly advancing, it is unable to
resist, and a wholesale reduction in number is the result. A few days
of heavy rain, an unusual period of drought, a few hours of excessive
heat or cold, should these conditions occur at the critical point in the
career of a species, may so reduce its abundance that it will not regain
its former numbers for a dozen years or even more; and if meanwhile
- this turn of Fortune’s wheel has given another species the ascendant in
the same district, the subsequent struggle may be prolonged indefinitely.
We do not know that any such crises were imminent in Philadelphia at
the time the Sparrows were first introduced there in numbers, but with
our present knowledge of the Sparrow’s habits we believe that the re-
sults there are far more likely to have been reached through some such
combination of circumstances than through the comparatively insignifi-
cant number of worms devoured by the Sparrows. ©

The following report by Professor Riley on the insect food of the Spar-
row is a most valuable contribution to our knowledge of the food habits
of the species, and a careful study of this report, and of the tables which
follow it, will do much to dispel the illusions of those who class the
Sparrow among beneficial birds on account of its insectivorous habits.

=
>

: IN SECTIVOROUS HABITS OF THE ENGLISH SPARROW (Passer domesticus),

By Cs. V. RILEY.
REPORT OF MATERIAL EXAMINED IN 1887.

The facts contained in this report are based upon the stomach con-

tents of the English Sparrow submitted by Dr. C. Hart Merriam for

examination and opinion, these having been separated by him from a
much larger number (522 in all) examined in the Ornithological Divis-
ion and found to contain no insects. By stomach contents is included
not only what is taken from the crop, but also that taken from the gul-
let and the mouth. I have first given a list of the specimens examined
according to Dr. Merriam’s card catalogue number and including the
insect material examined and identified. Next I have given a succinct
statement of the habits of the insects concerned, arranged according
to orders, and finally a summarization of the results, and a survey of
other work in the same line both in Kurope and America.

‘My method of examination has been, first, to have the material care
fully examined by some one of my assistants according to their special
knowledge, and particularly by Mr. Otto Lugger and Mr. Th. Pergande,
and then to verify their determinations and to study and determine
more closely whatever was questionable or undeterminable. In this
way the accuracy of the determinations has been fully assured, and I
have not been under the necessity of appealing to specialists outside of
the Division. A determination is sometimes based on a mere fragment,
and in all cases where an interrogation still remains.it is because of the
imperfect condition of the specimens, which would make specific refer-
ence little more than guess-work. To the gentlemen mentioned, as also
to Mr. Barrows and Dr. Fisher, of the Division of Ornithology, I take
this occasion to express my thanks for aid and interest shown in the
work. ,

STOMACH CONTENTS.

No. 16.—Young male; July 7, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: 'I'wo chrysomehd
larve (small larve of unrecognizable species).

No. 97.—Adultfemale; July 25,1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: One snout-bectle
(Sphenophorus zew) ; wings of a small Chrysomelid, and jaws of a caterpillar.

No. 123.—Adult female; July 28, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: Remains of a
small hymenopterous insect and pieces of one Aphodius sp.

No. 152.—Young male; August 4, 1885, Sing Sing,N. Y. Contents: Three Hymen-

‘optera (Myzine 6-cincta) ; one large locust (Caloptenus differentialis); two pups of small

locusts (Caloptenus sp.).

No. 195.—Adult male; August 10, 1835, Sing Sing, N. Y., three young Orthoptera,
viz, Xiphidium sp., Cauloptenus sp., Tettix sp., one Colaspis flavida.

No. 196.—Young male; August 10, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: Two snout-
beetles (Sitones sp.).

No. 201.—Adult female; August 10, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: Very small

pieces of a curculionid beetles
ae

112 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.
No. 202.—Young male; August 10, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: Pieces of q

two snout-beetles (Sphenophorus zee).

No. 216.—Female; August 10, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: One Aphodius =

granarius.

No. 289.—Young male; August 20, 1885, Sing Sing,N. Y. Contents: Small pieces
of a hemipterous insect.

No. 1552.—Female; May 9, 1885, Taunton, Mass. Contents: One elytron of Apho-
dius granarius.

No. 1593.—Male; June 16, 1885, Taunton, Mass. Contents: Four large larve of a
Lachnosterna sp. and two small snout-beetles (two heads and tip of one elytron).

No. 2131.—Adult female ; August 3, 1886, Washington, D.C. Contents: One snout
beetle (Sphkenophorus parvulus).

. No. 2132.—Adult female; August 3, 1886, Washington, D. C. Contents: One
aretiid (Hyphantria cwnea) eels eggs; two pairs of sis of cut-worms (fam. Noc-
tuidz). fs

No. 2133.—Adult female; August 3, 1886, Washington, D. c. Contents: One snout-
beetle (Sphenophorus par ney.

No. 3360.—Male; March 19, 1886, Sugar Grove, Ohio. Contents: Broken pieces of
Aphodius fimetarius.

No. 5523.—Adult female; May 2, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Piece of
legs of an Ichneumonid; aie snout-beetle (Sphenophorus parvulus). i

No. 5526.—Young Hes May 16, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Part of the
leg of a Lachnosterna ; a Hemenonerdy (Tiphia sp.).

No. 5528.—Young ae ae ; May 20, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Several
pieces of Lachnosterna, apparently fusca.

No. 5529.—Young male; May 20, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Several
pieces of Lachnosterna, apparently fusca.

No. 5532.—Young male; May 28, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One spider
(Tarentula sp.); one snout-beetle (Sphenophorus parvulus); two ants (Solenopsis sp.);
one Hymenopteron (Tiphiasp.); one minute Hymenopteron (Xylaspis sp.).

No. 5533.—Adult male; May 28, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One snout-
beetle (Sphenovhorus parvulus); one spider (Lycosa scutellata).

No. 5536.—Male; June 2, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One snout-beetle
(Sphenophorus parvulus) ; five flea-beetles (Chatocnema denticulata).

No. 5537.—Female; June 2, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Two spiders
(legs), not recognizable; two snout- beetles (Sphenophorus parvulus) ; two flea- beetles
( Chetocnema Genteilinta |:

No. 5538.—Female; June 2, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Several speci-
mens of Bue brstles (Sphenophorus parvulus).

No. 5542.—Female; June 2, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Two pupe of the
blue-bottle fly (Afusca cesar).

No. 5544.—Female; June 2, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One snout-beetle
(Sphenophorus parvulus); pieces of the larva of a Homopteron, apparently Erythro-
neura.

No. 5545.—Young male; June 3, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Pieces of
numerous spiders; three snout- beetles (Sphenophorus parvulus); one Hymenopteron
(Tiphia sp.).

No. 5548.—Young male; June 7, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Small picces
of a Lachnosterna ; one snoui-beetle (Sphonophoras parvulus).

No. 5549.—Adult female; June 7, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One snout-
beetle (Sphenophorus parvilus).

No. 5636.—April 21, 1887, Rockville, Conn. Contents: Remains of two beetles
(Diplotaxis sp. and Aphodius fimetarius).

No. 5662.—Young female; June 15, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One flea-
beetle (Chatocnema denticulata) ; traces of an Hymenopteron, apparently Tiphia.

~

«RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 3

fl Eorisce domestica), oath numerous eggs. F
po. 5693.—Young female; July 12, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hy-
menopteron (only very small pieces, apparently of Tiphia).
No. 5701.—Aduit female; July 13, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Eleven fiea-
beetles (Chetocnema eigieulatz): one Colaspis flavida.
0. 5705.—Young female; July 13, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Hy-
Bistcron (Myzine 6-cincta).
_ No. 5712.—Young female; July 14, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One leg
‘of a longicorn beetle (Liopus sp.); parts of a Hymenopteron (Myzine 6-cincta); legs
ee a minute Hymenopteron; one leg of a spider.
- No. 5713.—Young female; July 14, 1887, Washington, D. C.. Contents: Very small
P ieces of a Hymenopteron (ar yzine 6-cincta) ; several flea-beetles (Chetocnema denticu-
lata). |
- No. 5720.—Young female; July 15, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Numerous
pieces of Hymenoptera (Myzine 6-cincta) ; traces of a Heteropteron.
4 No. 5916.—Adult female; August 9, 1687, Washington, D.C. Contents: Two snout-
beetles (Sphenophorus parvulus).
_ No. 5917.—Adult female; August 9, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Two snout-
beetles (Sphenophorus par vain). .
No. 5924.—Young male; August 9, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Many flea-
beetles (Chwtocnema euticulata) : legs of a snout-beetle (Sphenophorus parvulus).
No. 5940.—Young male; August 11, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One flea-
Ete (Chetocnema Wiliidalata |: traces of a Hymenopteron (Myzine 6-cincta).
3 _No.5941.—Young male; August 11, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (Myzine 6- Ganeta,
“Xe. 5945.—Young male; August 12, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (Myzine 6- ciel).
No. 5946,— Young female; August 12, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Two small
Noctuid larve; 1 snout-beetle (Sph. parvulus); 5 flea-beetles (Chetocnema denticu-
lata); 1 Myzine 6-cincta.
No. 5951.— Young male; August 12, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One snout-
beetle (Sph. parvulus); 1 Byaieudgtcron (Myzine 6- Pala.
No. 5953.—Adult female; August 12, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Hymen-
pt teron (Myzine 6-cineta).
No. 5954.—Young male; August 12, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One leaf-
h opper (Eryihroneura sp. )
_ No. 5967.—Adult female; August 13, 1887, Washington, D C. Coutents: One leaf-
hopper (Erythoneura sp. ); 2 ants nn ee yrmex heeri, frnaley.
_ No. 5970.—Female; August 13, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Three flea-
Deetles (Ch. denticulata); 3 Hymenoptera (Myzine 6-cincia).
_ No. 5971.—Female; August 13, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Two Hymen- —
optera (Myzine 6-cincta); remains of 1 ant.
3 eno: 5972.—Male; August 13, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Pieces of the leg
' Lachnosterna ; 2 Hymenoptera (Myzine 6- Eaneiny.
x E No. 5973.—Young male; August 13, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One leg of
mole-cricket (Gr igtatoa Sp.).
No . 5975.— Young; August 15, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Four ants (Mo-
” Lomorium pharaonis); several Hymenoptera (Myzine 6-cincta).
No. 5976.—Young; August 15, 1387, Washington, D. C.. Contents: Five ants (Mo-
noi morium pharaonis); 1 Hymenopteron (Myzine 6-cincta).
No. 5977.— Young male; August 15, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Small pieces
of several Hymenoptera EMjeine §-cincta).

8404—Bull. 1——_8

114 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

No. 5982.—Female: August 15, 1887, eee eee D.€. Contents: One Hymen- |
opteron (Myzine 6-cincta).

No. 6000.—Young female; August 16, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One
Hymenopteron (Myzine 6- pinche).

No. 6004.— Adult male; August 17, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Small
pieces of a few ants; species not recognizable.

No. 6007.— Young male; August 17, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Very small
pieces of a Hymenopteron.

No. 601U.— Female; August 17, 1887, Washington, D. ©. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (Myzine 6-cincta).

No. 6012.—Female; August 17, 1857, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (Myzine 6-cincia); and 5 jaws of some cut-worm (Noctuid larva).

No. 6015.—Adult female; August 17, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Lepi-
dopteron (Hyphaniria cunea).

No. 6018.—Female ; August 17, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Two snout-
beetles (Sphenophorus parvulus); tarsus of a Lachnosterna. ; 3

No. 6021.—Male; August 12, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymenop-
teron (Myzine 6-cincta, male).

No. 6025.—Female; August 18, 1887, Washington, D. C. Conteats: Three speci-
mens of bee (Halicius sp.); one Hymenopteron (Myzine 6-cincta).

No. 6026.—Female; August 18, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (Tiphia?).

No. 6087.—Male; August 19, 1687, Washington, D. C. Contents: Legs of Hymen-
opterou Gonreamond ?).
No. 6088.—Young male; August 19, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contenmts: Many

specimens of Hymenoptera (Myzine 6-cincia). .

No. 6089.—Adult female; August 19, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One
snout-beetle (Sphenophorus parvulus); two small jaws of caterpillar?

No. 6090.—-Female; August 19, 1857, Washington, D. C. Contents: Two small
bees ( Halictus sp.).

No. 6091.—Female; August 19, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (Tiphia sp.).

No. 6092.—Female; August 19, 1887, Sing ene D. C. Contents: Two Hymen-
optera (Uyzine 6- lancla),

No. 6093.— Female ; August 19, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteren (Tiphia ay one ant (not recognizable).

No. 6108.—Young female; August 20, 1887, PRIDE D. C. Contents: Three
Noctuid larve (Laphygma frugiperda).

No. 6109.---Young female; August 20, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One
Hymenopteron (Myzuie6-cincta) ; one Psocus sp.

No. 6110.—Young female; Augnst 20, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One
Hyznevopteron; one flea-beetle (Cheiocnema denticulata).

No. 6112.—Female; August 20, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (iyzine 6-cincla>.

No. 6134.—Young female; August 22, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: Remains
of several locusts in pupa state (Caloptenus sp.); remains of one Hymenopteron
{ Myzine 6-cincia).

No. 6141.—Male; August 23, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymenop-
teron (Myzine 6-cincta).

No. 6151.—Male; August 24, 1887, Washington, D. C.. Contents: One flea-beetle
(Chetocnema denticulata).

No. 6153.—Male; August 24, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Hymenop-
teron; very small pieces of elytra of a Heteropteron.

No, 6161.—Female; August 24, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymen-
opteron (Hyzine 6-cincta).

soe a , i at ee nee er i 7 aor :
Perens ‘RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. il 5

No. Bese vainio, August 24, 1887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One lepidopter-

ou s larva (Crambus sp.).

No. 6163.—Female; August 24, 1287, Washington, D. C. Gracie Parts of one

aa Hymenopteron (Myzine 6-cincta).

3 No. 6164.—Female ; August 24, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One Hymen-
= ( Tiphia sp.).

No. 6204.—Young female; August 26, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: One

Noctuid larva (Lamphygma frugiperda) ; One Perlid; one Psocus; four small ants

".. ‘ium pharaonis).

No. 6229.—Female; August 29, i887, Washington, D.C. Contents: One Hymen-

_ opteron (Tiphia sp.); one es eau (Chetocenema denticulata).

No. 6256.—Female; September 3, 1887, Washington, D. C. Contents: Very nu-

- merous specimens of Ret becles Lekuioenana denliculata).

No. 6267.—Female; September 5, 1887, Washington, D. ©. Contents: Remains of

several small locusts, the species not recognizable.

HABITS OF THE INSECTS CONCERNED.
Order HYMENOPTERA.

Hatictus sp.—Contained in Nos. 6025 and 6090.
_ There are numerous species of these small bees (fam. Andrenide) throughout the
United States. They excavate cells in the soil of grassy fields, which cellsare reached
_ by a perpendicular burrow from six to twelve inches in depth. Each cell is filled by
_ a lump of pollen the size and shape of a pea, upon which a single egg is deposited.
_ The transformations take place within thiscell. The mature insects He upon pollen,
are agents in fertilizing flowers, and therefore rather beneficial than harmful to man.
_ As they are quite slow in their motions, especially in early morning or after a rain,
_ they are readily captured.
_ TIPHIA sp., without much doubt inornata Say.—In ten stomachs, viz., Nos. 5526,
_ 5532, 5545, 5662, 5693, 6026, 6091, 6093, 6164, and 6229 occur the remains of a Tiphia,
Pfisnity Scoliide. All the remains are in such a condition that the species can not be
- recognized with certainty, especially as they are separated on very trifling characters.
The life-history of T. inornata is recorded by me (6th Rep. Ins. Mo., 123). The black
and rather hirsute wasp frequents flowers in open places. The females are enabled
by their strong legs to dig into the soil, which they do in search of food for their off-
_ Spring. This food consists of the larve of May-beetles (fam. Scarabzidz), the so-
called “‘white grubs,” that of Lachnosterna fusca being particularly attacked. An
_egg laid upon or near the grub soon produces the wasp larva, which bodily devours
its victim, leaving only the brown and horny head, which is almost invariably found
_ fastened to the outside of a fine silken cocoon of a gold-brown color, and composed of
KE many layers, made by the mature larva for transformation. Tiphiais therefore bene-
ficial to man, and from the fact that it burrowsin open places, such as lawns, gardens,
- and meadows, it is easily discovered by birds.
_ MyzIneE sexcincta Fab.—This brightly colored wasp, a member of the family
Scoliide, occurred in the contents of many of the stomachs. The identification was
- made easy by the fact that the birds had chiefly taken the males which have a pecu-
iar anal armature, consisting of three strong chitinous spines, too hard to be ground
up or broken by the numerous pebbles almost always present in the stomachs. In no
_ less than thirty cases, viz, Nos. 152,5705, 5712, 5713, 5720, 5940, 5941, 5945, 5946, 5951,
4953, 5970, 5971, 5972, 5975, 5976, 5977, 5932, 6000, 6010, 6021, 6025, 6088, 6092, 6109,
GLI, 6134, 6141, 6161, and 6163, either one, two, or several specimens were found.
_ This species of Myzine is very common throughout the Atlantic States and is usually
Bsoen flying low over sandy places. Its life-history has not been recorded, bo we
# may safely infer for it a parasitic habit similar to that of Tiphia.
- One reason why the Sparrows have been able to secure so many specimens of this

eee a en ED
ae ‘ Pie

116 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. —

wasp is to be found in a peculiar habit which the latter possesses. During rainy or
dark days and also towards evening, many specimens congregate and sleep together
upon stems of low herbaceous plana by securely fastening their mandibles into the
_ stems, and in this condition they are easily secured. 2

ANTS.—In eight stomachs specimens of various species of ants were found.

No. 5532 contained 2 ants belonging to the genus Solenopsis, family Myrmicide.
These small ants live in open places, forming nests of various sizes below the surface
of the soil, in which they store food, usually the seeds of various kinds of grasses.

No. 5967 covtained 2 females of the minute Brachymyrmex heeri, Forel, family For-
micide. These ants are always found under stones and the females were probably
caught while swarming and away from their nest.

Nos. 5975, 5976, and 6093 contained, together, thirteen specimens of the very small
yellow ant (Monomorium pharaonis Linn.), family Myrmicide. These ants are very
often troublesome in our houses, but are found as well in open places, in gardens, or
fields. They are almost omnivorous, and eat all kinds of food found in the house and
field, thus causing injury, though more frequently great annoyance, as it is very diffi-
cult to eradicate them if once domiciled.

Nos. 597i, 6004, and 6093 contained each the remains of one ant, too much broken
and distorted to enable identification.

ICHNEUMONIDS.—The stomachs Nos. 5523 and 6087 contained each the broken legs
of a hymenopterous insect apparently belonging to the family of Ichneumonide. The
pieces are too small to enable one to even judge the genus. The Ichneumonide are
well known to check the too rapid increase of plant-feeding insects.

HYLASPIS sp.—In No. 5532 was found one of these very peculiar and minute in-
sects. It is a member of the family Cynipide and of the subfamily Figiting, and is
closely allied to Hylaspis americana Ashi. This little Hymenopteron belongs to the
parasitic Cynipide; it has never been raised from its host, but is very likely parasitic
upon the larve of a Sawfly.

UNDETERMINED HYMENOPTERA.—In the stomachs of Nos. 123, 5665, 5712, 6007,
6110, and 6153 were found the remains of as many Hymenoptera. These remains
consist of very small pieces of the legs or abdominal segments too much broken or
ground up by the accompanying sharp gravel to permit identification.

Order COLEOPTERA.

DrIPLoTAXxis sp.—In stomach No. 5636 were found small pieces of a beetle belong-
ing to this genus, allied to the chafers and destructive to vegetation. The species
of Diplotaxis are never, however, very numerous. Nothingis known of the life-history
of the genus.

APHODIUS FIMETARIUS L.—Three specimens of this beetle were found in stomachs
Nos. 123, 3360, and 5636. The species is common to Europe and North America, and
both larva and perfect beetle feed in the excrement of various animals and may be
thus considered beneficial. The female beetle also stores some of the dung in bur-
rows and deposits an egg upon the same, the larva hatching therefrom developing on
the food thus stored up.

APHODIUS GRANARIUS L.—Two specimens of this beetle were found in stomachs 216
and 1552. This common species also occurs in Europe and North America, and has a
very similar life-history.

LATCHNOSTERNA, evidently FuscA.—In the stomachs of 5526, 5528, 5529, 5548, 5972,
and 6018 were found pieces, usually joints of legs, of the above beetle, and in stomach
1593 occurred four large larvez of this beetle. It is not possible from the character of
the fragments to determine the species of this rather difficult genus, but as some of —
the Sparrows were killed in the grounds of the Department of Agriculture, where
fusca abounded at the time, and the parts otherwise correspond, the probabilities are
all in favor of their belonging to this common species.

These beetles, produced from the well-known White-grubs, are sometimes very inju-

_——s«RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. Se,

r ous to our arose and shade trees, chiefly the oaks, and in certain years strip them
r tirely. The yreater damage, however, is done by the larva to strawberry plants,
da awns, and meadows. As the beetles retire during the day in the ground and are
often but slightly covered with soil, they are easily captured.

_ Laopus sp.—The leg of one specimen of this Longicorn beetle was found in stomach
5712, not sufficient to determine the species. All the species live im the smaller dead
_ branches and twigs of various forest trees, chiefly of hickory andoak They are not
- found in healthy and living wood.:

COLASPIS BRUNNEA Fab.—T wo specimens of this beetle were found in stomachs 195
and 5701. It is very abundant throughout the Atijantic region of the United States
o and extends as far southwest as Arizona. It occurs in various forms, some of which
have been distinguished by namé. The variety flavida is distinctly distinguished by
_ jts bright-yeilow color and prominent elevated ridges between the deeply punctured
3 ‘sutures; costipennis is a southern form and has the ridges tinted with metallic green.
ag riddles the leaves of the wild and cultivated grape-vine, greedily devours the
_ leaves of strawberries, and is found upon a multitude of wild plants such as the Po-
- tentilla. Its life-history is recorded in my Third Annual Report on the Insects of
_ Missouri (1871, pp. 81-84) and Fourth do. (1872, p. 34). The larva feeds on straw-
berry roots, among which it can be fuund all through the fall, winter, and spring
' months; assumes the pupa state in June, and thebeetles appear during that month
and continue to issue in decreasing numbers till toward fall.

CHRYSOMELID. — very young larve, not recognizable with certainty, were found in
ee stomach 16.

_ CH#TOCNEMA DENTICULATA I1l.—Specimens of these beetles (about 40) were found
in 12 different stomachs, viz. 5535, 5537, 5662, 5701, 5713, 5924, 5940, 5946, 5970, 6110,
mK 6151, and 6229.

‘This beetle is very common in grassy places, and is found upon all kinds of low,
Bi herbaceous plants. Its life-history is not known, but we are justified in assuming
_ that the larva is either a leaf-miner or subsists upou roots. From the fact that the
beetle is numerous and that its life-history has not yet been discovered, it can hardly
be classed among noxious insects.

- Wings and legs of a small chrysomelid were found in stomach 97, but not of suffi-
cient size to determine the species.

_ SITONES sp.—Stomach 196 contained two mutilated specimens of a snout-beetle of
_ the above genus too much broken to identify specifically This genus occurs allover
a the Northern Hemisphere, and the species are very difficult to classify if not perfectly
_ fresh. Many of the North American species occur also in Europe, and are, perhaps,
g introduced. The life-history of several of these insects is known in Europe and the
q “larves of some of them are said to make a cocoun like that made by Phytonomus; but
the larve of most of them lead a subterranean life, and chiefly about the roots of
_ elover and allied plants, sometimes doing more or less damage. The life-history of
_ Sitones flavescens Allard is recorded by Mr. Webster in my last Annual Report (for 1886)
= as United States Entomologist (p.580.) It occurs in autumn in the beetle state perfora-
F _ ting the leaves of White Clover. The larva, of the usual Curculionid shape, is found
- among the roots of White Clover, and also bores into the crown, thus checking the
_ growth of the plant or killing it outright. The pupa is found in a snug little cell
_ amongst the roots.

_ SPHENOPHORUS PARVULUS.—Quite a number (at least 25) of the remains of this
_ species were found in 19 different stomachs, viz: Nos. 2131, 2133, 5523, 5532, 5533, 5536,
_ 5537, 5538, 5544, 5545, 5548, 5549, 5916, 5917, 5924, 5946, 5951, 6018, and 6089.

So far as known the species all burrow in the stems or roots of plants and, if nu-
_ merous, do much damage to young corn. The life-history of S. parvulus, according
_ to Mr. Lugger’s observations and my own unpublished notes, is as follows: The
- mother beetie always selects the flower-stem of grasses and lays one or more eges
_ just above the second knot, which at this place is very soft andtender. The slit

118 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

made for the reception of the egg looks as if made with a saw, and particles of the .

torn fiber usually adhere to the spot. The plant becomes dwarfed and usually dries.
The larve feed on and transform to perfect beetles among the matted roots. The
life-history of the larger species, as 8. 13-punctatus and S. sculptilis (stomachs 202 and
97 contained 3 of this species) and S. robustus, are given in my reports (Ins. Mo., ILI,
p. 60, f, and Rep. U.S. Ent. for 1831-82, p. 138, ff).

Unrecognizable pieces of several small snout-beetles were found in stomachs 201 and
1593. In the latter two heads and the tip of one elytron could be recognized; in the
former only small pieces of elytra.

Order LEPIDOPTERA.

HYPHANTRIA CUNFA.—A single specimen of this species was found in each of the
stomachs 2132 and 6015. The caterpillar, usually called the ‘‘ Fall Web-worm,” is one
of the worst defoliators of our city shade trees, and is fully treated of in my last An-
nual Report (for 1886) and in Bulletin No. 10 of the division.

LAPHYGMA FRUGIPERDA.—Larve of this species were found in mec Nos. 6108
(which contained 3) and 6204 (which contained 1).

It is sometimes very abundant, and because of its resemblance to the genuine Army
Worm was named the ‘‘ Fall Army Worm” in my Third Report on the Insects of
Missouri (1870). It is a very general feeder, and in some seasons becomes quite de-
structive. It is fully treated of in my Annual Report to the Department for 1881~82.

CRAMBUS sp.—Stomach No. 6162 contained a larva of a species of Crambus, but not
in a condition to determine the species.

Many species of this genus of moths are found throughout the United States, con-
fining their attacks chiefly to the various kinds of wild and cultivated grasses and
only occasionally proving injurious. The larve subsist upon the roots, and form in
the soil galleries lined with silk. The full life-history of C. vulgivagellus is given in
my Report as United States Entomologist for 1881~82.

PYRALID.—Stomach No. 2132 contained a small female moth belonging to the fam-

ily Pyralide, but the material was insufficient to permit determination even of the

genus. The species of the family feed, as a rule, on vegetation, and some are in-
jurious to cultivated crops.

JAWS OF CATERPILLARS.—The contents of Nos. 97, 2132, 6012, and 6089 show 11
jaws that belong to lepidopterous larve.

Suborder HETEROPTERA.

Very small pieces of the elytra, or thorax, of a species of the suborder Heteroptera —

were found in stomachs 289, 5720, and 6153. It is impossible to even identify the

genus, but the pieces appear to be derived either from a Podisus or a Euschistus, -

both containing useful insects, which destroy numerous caterpillars by sucking them
to death.
Suborder HOMOPTERA.

ERYTHRONEURA sp.—Stomachs Nos. 5954 and 5967 contained two specimens of a
little Leaf-hopper belonging to the above genus.

Species of this genus are very numerous in our meadows, gardens, fields, and vine-
yards, and in the latter case do much damage.

Stomach No. 5544 contained one larva of a Leaf-hopper.

Order DIPTERA.

BLUE-BOTTLE FLy (Musca cwsar Linn.).—The pupe of two, perbaps three, speci-
mens of a Blow-fly occur in stomach No. 5542. They were evidently picked up with
the partially-digested grain found in the droppings of a horse. The species, in rapidly
removing decayed matter, renders good service to man and must be considered bene-

Se, gl Nis 1) ta Sean ar ck Py ee

RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 119

|. Its larve or Teast feed in all kinds of offal and putrid matter, and when
grown contract to coarctate pups which are usually found in the ground, but
frequently in the manure itself.

_ Hous FLY (Musca domestica).—Stomach No. 5676 contained six house flies, and
“numerous more or less mature eggs of the same. The larve or maggots feed entirely
‘upon decaying animal and vegetal matter.

Order ORTHOPTERA.

_ WIPHIDIUM sp.—A single young specimen of a species of the above genus of Meadow
Be choppers was found in stomach No. 195.
The members of this genus of the Locustide are all distinguished by their small size
_and by a nearly straight ovipositor. Like their near relatives, the Katydids, they
- feed chiefly upon leaves of various kinds, but do not refuse succulent insects, as young
- eaterpillars. The genus is common in our fields and gardens, where their shrill nojse
is frequently heard during the late summer or fall. They make longitudinal punct-
ures in the pith of plants for the reception of the slender, elongate eges.
- GRYLLOTALPA sp.—One leg of the Mole-cricket was found in stomach 5973. Mem-
bers of this genus are usually considered noxious, because they raise ridges in con-
structing their subterranean galleries, thus exposing the roots of grass and other
plants. Yet their food consists very largely of other insects. The Mole-erickets are
_ characterized by their enlarged fossorial fore feet, which recall those of the mele in
_ shape, being stout, short, flattened, and armed ite very hard and pointed projections.
CALOP TENUS sp.—Three undoubted pupez of a small species of Caloptenus, proba-
_ bly of femur-rubrum, were found in stomachs Nos. 152and195. Also several unrecogniz-
_ able remains of perhaps the same species in Nos. 6134 and 6267. This species, so closely
allied to its Western relative, the destructive C. spretus, is more or less numerous
every year, though it does but slight damage compared with its Western congener.
Instomach 152 a large specimen of Caloptenus differentialis was found. This is one
_ of the largest of our common locusts. The First and Second Reports of the United
States Entomological Commission are devoted to these destructive locusts.
a TETTIX sp.—The remains of a single specimen of this smali locust were found in
_ stomach 195. This Sparrow had evidently acquired a taste for or thopterous insects,
fons three specimens of three different genera were eaten by it.
_ _ The species of this genus are all relatively small, and thougn common in many le-
calities, are not known to occasion any great damage to our crops. Most of them are
found along the edges of our forests and orchards between the dead leaves, and are
q well protected in such places by their dark brown or gray color, which resembles that
of their surroundings.
Order N#UROPTERA.

“a PERLID.—Stomach No. 6204 contained the remains of a neuropterous inseet which
belongs to the family Perlide.

;.- Members of this family spend their early stages in rivers under stones. The adults
- are frequently found resting on leaves in low damp places. Since the intraduction of
the electric light for illuminating our streets large numbers of these insects are
_ attracted thereto.
Psocus sp.—T wo specimens of Psocus were found in stomachs Nos. 6109 and 6204.
oe _ -Psocus species are numerous and found almost anywhere. They are sometimes very
numerous in our yards and gardens, hiding between and under all kinds of rubbish,
but are esseutially innoxious. The species found can not be determined, owing to
_ its poor condition. It is remarkable that both escaped the grinding action of the
numerous pieces of gravel in the stomach. Some species feed upon dry vegetal sub-
B BD iinces and lichens, while a few are found only in houses, and feed upon dry animal
- matter.

-

120 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMIRICA.

ARACHNIDA.

different stomachs, viz: Nos. 55382, 5533, 5537, 5545, and 5712. The remains of two |

species could be identified.

LYCOSA SCUTELLATA in No, 5533. This spider belongs to the wandering spiders, a

swiftness or by lyingin ambush. It is quite abundant, frequenting fields, meadows,
aud gardens, and hides either under a stone, piece of wood, or any kind of rubbish, or |

dwells in holes made in the ground. Asa general rule the female carries her egg-bag

with her, and the newly-hatched spiders crowd upon the back of their mother until :

able to shift for themselves.

TARENTULA sp. occurred in No. 5532. This species has the same life history as the
Lycosa scutellaia, and occurs abundantly in similar places.

The kabits of both are predaceous.

SUMMARY FROM THE FOREGOING STATEMENTS.

It thus appears that of the one hundred and two stomachs submitted,
ninety-two contained, besides grain, seeds, and gravel, the remains of
insects, 7. €., ninety-two out of a total of five hundred and twenty-two
examined or seventeen and six-tenths per cent. Ten stomachs only of
those examined by me contained no insect remains. As a general rule
the amount of animal food was but small compared with the vegetal
food and gravel.

All of the principal orders of Hexapoda are represented in the re-
mains recognized, as also some Arachnids, as follows:

Stomachs. Stomachs. —
Lig Meno Preldi =< cw cece come se cee 59 | Neuroptera..-. --=--- ¢----eeeeee “aces 3
iepidopterace << esses ce ee access 8 | Orthoptera -... ...-.0..026.0ee= ee 9
ECU HCUAL ee min See ences wince eee ae 6 | Coleoptera, ..:.<.....<.--2 eee 53

TOUTES) ICS a ac A aR 2 | Arachnida .......---.cse>ee pee +)

All the insects found are species frequenting open lawns, gardens,
parks, and similar places, and almost always found upon or near the:
ground. This may be partly explained, however, by the fact that, as
Mr. Barrows informs me, more than five-sixths of the Sparrows which
contained insects were shot in the Department grounds. They are all
common and abundant and easily caught by the Sparrows whilst seek-
ing vegetal food in their usual haunts.

The presence of a large amount of gravel, composed chiefly of such
hard material as quartzite, and the angular scales of hard-burned brick,
obtained from sidewalks, has the tendency to destroy the softer parts
of the insects. Various seeds, when partly digested, greatly resemble

the chitinous parts of insects, and are apt to mislead when imbedded in ~

the glutinous material derived from the ground-up portion of grains or
when covered by small particles of straw, which are always present, |
and which in course of time become so transparent by constant grind-
ing and digestive action that they look like the wings of small insects.

Pieces of the discolored leaves of the Mullein ( Verbascum thapsus Linn.),

7 a pe? al, Lee . Ae oe i
Wage aoe Ls ol eine an bela =
Vue e J . he ih cadbay = in oe

-——s«RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 121

As may be gathered from the statement of their habits the insects
ken from the Sparrows in question are Be oo most numerously

the Be iaenoptera and the mda, however, are indirectly penenOr
a sare several of the Heteroptera. Even among the Coleoptera ths
“innoxious outnumber the noxious species, and the good done by the
P birds in destroying the few Orthoptera and Lepidoptera is about coun-
balanced by the number of species taken which are directly or indi-
' rectly beneficial to the farmer.

' When it is considered that during the very year in which most of
these birds were shot the shade trees of Washington were suffering
“from several insect defoliators, and that out of the four different species
but two specimens of one of them, viz, Hyphantria cunea, were taken by
the Sparrows, there can be no more eloquent comment on the bird’s
uselessness in protecting vegetation from insect injury. Nota single
‘specimen of the Imported Elm-leaf Beetle, the Bag Worm, or the White-
iim arked Tussock-moth was taken in any stage, and these facts correspond
entirely with what I have stated in Bulletin No. 10, Entomological Divis-
ce published last year. In this connection it may be of interest, as Dr.
Merriam has alluded to the subject at length in his report of last year,
to repeat a letter, bearing on this particular point, which I wrote to Dr.
Elliott Coues in 1878, and which, published, I believe, in one of the
reports of the BNSetct Commissioners; has been lost sight of by natural-
i ists. It shows the replacement of Paleacrita by Orgyia through the Spar-
4 row’s instrumentality, just as, four years earlier, Le Conte had shown,
through Similar agency, the replacement of Hnnomos by Orgyia. Itis

a iS follows : :
a ANENT THE ENGLISH SPARROW.

_ My Dear Dr. Covss: I notice by a recent article in one of our morning papers
at Prof. T. M. Brewer, of Boston, Mass., has addressed a letter to our District Com-
ssioners on the subject of the English cies in which he seems to animadvert
“pretty strongly on the position which you have taken in reference to this sparrow
question. I do not fully know what recommendation with reference to this bird you
have made to the Commissioners, nor do I wish to enter into the controversy that has
been for some time going on between the bird’s condemners and defenders : ; but there
is an entomological phase of the question, which appears to be entirely overlooked by
: ‘the latter class.

_ The English Sparrow was introduced ostensibly as a means of freeing the shade
_ trees of some of our New England cities, and especially the elms, of that rather an-
‘noying pest, the well-known Canker-worm, and, more particularly, the species which
I have designated as the Spring Giahkel- aor ‘eae. iia vernata), to distinguish it
Ff from another species long confounded with it, but occurring later in the season. It
18 well known that this Spring Canker-worm was for many years a grievous nuisance,

ne ot only because of the injury it did to elms and other shade trees, but because it
was continually spinning down upon persons who happened to be passing under
i ed trees. Its annoyances and injuries were, however, confined to some five or

say THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

six weeks of the early part of the growing season, nothing being seen of it during |
summer and fall, as the worm descended into the ground to undergo its transferma- |
tions. On account of the apterous nature of the female moth, the injuries of the _
species are also easily prevented, since tarred bandages or troughs of cil around the
trunk of a tree will prevent her ascent as she issues from the ground in early
spring. Such troughs were, indeed, at one time in such common use for this purpose
in Boston, Cambridge, and Philadelphia that when, some years ago, the elm trees
in Baltimore were found to be defoliated, the authorities at once ordered them to be
similarly treated. The city fathers found out afterwards that they had paid dearly
for their haste and want of special knowledge in that their trees were suffering, not
from the Canker-worm, but from an Imported Elm-leaf Beetle (Galeruca calmariensis),
which, having wings in both sexes, was not affected by the troughs. But, to come
back to the Sparrows. They did, according toreport, accomplish some good in clearing
off the Canker- worm, though during late visits to Cambridge and other cities adorned
with grand old elms, I found the tarred bandages still in use, thus indicating that
our imported ‘‘Spatz” was not a perfect antidote for the evil. The interesting point,
however, to which I wish to call your attention 1s that while the Canker-worm has
been kept more or less in check by the activity of these saucy little birds, another
insect, formerly scarcely noticed, has taken its place. Not only during the spring
months, but throughout the growing season, the people are now annoyed by the hairy
larva of the White-marked Tussock-moth (Orgyia leucostigma), there being several
generations annually. Thisis a prettier creature to look at, but if has the same un-
pleasant faculty of dropping upon passers-by as had the plainer Canker-worm. The
female is also like that of the Canker-worm, wingless, but the transformations of the
species take place above ground, and she lays her eggs upon the outside of her cocoon,
so that there is no such simple and available preventive in this case as in the other.
Moreover, the Tussock-moth is much the more general feeder, and occurs on some
trees which the Canker-worm never affected. As a consequence, this hairy worm has
in many places become a greater scourge than was formerly the Canker-worm. It
not only defoliates the trees, but covers and defaces them with its cocoons, which it
also plasters upon fences, railings, and eyen houses.

I have been quite interested in observing the unprecedented multiplication of this
hairy worm since the English Sparrow became so abundant, and we may well ask, in
the expressive language of the time, ‘‘ does protection protect?” There is nothing
very surprising in these facts, because they are very much what naturalists expected.
You can not encourage the undue multiplication of any one species of animal without
causing a decrease of some other species, and the opposite of this proposition holds
equally true. The hairy larva spoken of is distasteful to the Sparrow. The multipli-
cation of this bird, in causing a decrease in the Canker-worms, presents a wider field
for the Tussock-moth, and diminishes the competition in the struggle for existence
which this last, like all creatures, is subject to. The same increase of the Sparrows
necessitates a decrease of the native birds, some of which, doubtless, fed upon the —
Tussock-moth, and notwithstanding Professor Brewer’s assertion to the contrary, I
think the evidence shows such to have been the case.

Believe me, yours, very truly,
; C. V. RILEY.

WASHINGTON, D. C.,

December 16, 1878.

It were premature to generalize from the study of the material so far
examined, which I hope is but the beginning of a more extended study.
For this purpose it is desirable that stomachs should be obtained from
as many different parts of the country as possible, and especially during —
the spr@g of the year, when the bird prebably takes the largest part of
its insect food. Exact location and date are very essential, as this Spar-

_———s«&RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS 13

is known to vary its habit according to season and circumstance.
17.6 per cent. of the stomachs examined at the Department which
itained insect food is probably larger than it otherwise would be, had
t not been the custom, as Mr. Barrows informs me, of himself and
. Fisher, in shooting the birds, to choose rather those which were not
ing in the road. I do not know of any fact that more strongly in-
ates the relative uselessness in destroying injurious insects of the
arrow as compared with many native birds which it drives away, than
by a comparison of the insect food taken by a single Cuckoo (Coccyzus
an ericanus). The stomach contents of a single female (Dr. Merriam’s
record No. 6333) shot in Washington, June 22, 1887, contained about
250 half.grown Web-worms (Hyphantria cunea) of the first brood, 1 large
Cerambycid beetle (Romaleum atomarium) and its eggs, 1 large plant-
bug (Nezara hilaris), and 1 Snail (Helix alternata), while in bulk the con-
tents in this case rather exceeded the combined insect contents of the
522 Sparrow stomachs examined.

_ Considering how common the bird bas been for centuries in Europe, |
and now is in most parts of the world, it is remarkable that so few
thorough investigations into its insectivorous habits have been made,
by which I mean a proper determination and analysis of the insects
themselves from an agricultural standpoint.

_ The results of studies that have been made by others are somewhat
contradictory, some examiners finding a large percentage of insect re-
mains, others finding none; but in no instance that I am aware of has
there been any attempt to analyze the nature of the insect food from the
‘standpoint of beneficial or injurious to the farmer and fruit. grower.

SURVEY OF LATER WORK DONE IN EUROPE.

_ George Roberts, in Hardwicke’s Science Gossip, 1883 (p. 217), mentions
Mr. A. Willis, of Sandas, as having made a series of examinations of
the stomachs of Sparrows in 1882. In 87 stomachs insects were found
in only 8 cases, and he concludes that the bird is a superabundant and
injurious species, and that it is the bounden duty of mex to take all pos-
sible means to lessen its ever-increasing numbers.
From the “evidence submitted to the select committee on (British)
wild birds protection,” obtained in 1873, many interesting points about
the habits of the House Sparrow can be learned. As far as actual dis.
sections are concerned it seems that comparatively few were made, and
i of the other statements are but vague. The following is a résumé
of the dissections:
‘The statements of Mr. Champion Russell (p. 12) have been published
7 in book form and will be mentioned later.
Prof. Alfred Newton, M. A., F. BR. S., in a prophetic way, thinks that
pe rsons introducing tie Sue Mito new places will soon find out
their mistake.
Bs [r. C. O. Groome Napier thinks them the most objectionable English —

se THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

bird. He nao an ee of 100 Ss of young mee

aecaned only weeetaole aa or a mixture of both. =4

Mr. George Swaysland killed many nestling Sparrows, and cone
found grubs in their stomachs, or little beetles that run across the foot- |
paths. a

Mr. John Cordeaux opened the crops of 35 young Sparrows on
various ages, and on an average found two parts of soft grain and —
one part of insects. 4

Mr. James Pertwee says the Sparrow is utterly bad. His gooseberry
and currant bushes bave their leaves eaten up, notwithstanding the "4
numerous Sparrows in close vicinity. “|

An important European work to be mentioned in this connection is —
‘The House Sparrow,” by an ornithologist, J. H. Gurney, jr., including ~
chapters by “a Friend of the Farmers,” Col. C. Russell; and “The En- |
glish Sparrow in America,” by Dr. Elliott Coues. (London: William ~
Wesley & Son, 1885.) ?

Mr. Gurney gives in a tabular form the results of many dissections
made during a whole year, both of adult and juvenile specimens. He —
writes: ‘To give a summary of this table in a few words, it may be said —
that about 75 per cent. of an adult Sparrow’s food during its life iscorn _
(meaning wheat and small grains) of some kind. The remaining 25 ©
per cent. may be divided as follows:

Per cent. Per cent. —
NEEUS, Ol WeCOS:« - Han cc csc nes soemeas 10 | Caterpillars ...-...----.------------- 2
Greemapeasuaee aoe shai oc oo ens ae Ses 4 | Insects which fly--. 22-2). 22eesneeeee 1@

GCOS Mee erreurs an cnn 3 | Other things ... --) ooo Bee ac 5

“In young Sparrows not more than 40 per cent. is corn, while about _
40 per cent. consists of caterpillars, and 10 per cent. of small beetles. —
This is up to the age of sixteen days. Where green peas abound, as in ©
market gardens, they form a much larger proportion of the Spanramte :
food than the.4 per cent. here stated.” He further states that young —
Sparrows in the nest are generally fed on caterpillars and other insects, E
particularly in August, yet a good many were opened in June and July |
without finding such food. He feels sure that, while very young, their —
diet is quite as much unripe grain and vegetable matter as caterpillars. —

Col. C. Russell collected Sparrows from a wide extent of country to x
examine the contents of their stomachs. He found that the Sparrows —
destroyed even fewer insects than he had supposed. ‘The food in the
old ones was almost all corn during the whole year; green peas were F
also found in them in summer; and in May and June, when corn is —
scarce, a few wild seeds, chiefly of grass. No insect has been found by
mein a Sparrow between Septemberand March. Ihave not often found

--—s« RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 125

ne t any season (par ticularly between June and March) in a Sparrow
ld enough to feed itself, and have very seldom found any number of
msects in one even when corn could scarcely be got.” Speaking
broadly, he continues: ‘‘It may be said that, unless very near houses
and roads, Sparrows take no insects in the fields. Fifty old Sparrows,
ind young ones which could feed themselves, were killed one summer
Bout my buildings and garden, with food in their crops. This food,

03 arefully examined (as in all cases, with a lens), was found to be corn,
milky, green, and ripe, and sometimes green peas from my garden;
only two small insects were found in the whole number. The food in
them has been much the same every year. On the whole, the deduc-
tion from the food test during fifteen years seems to be that the Spar-
rows are useless, and that the insects which would be given to their
young by them if they were ailowed to live in numbers about my prem-
es would be so much food taken, when they most want it, from better
birds which live entirely, or nearly so, on insects, and thus keep them,
especially caterpillars, down so effectively in the absence of Sparrows
th iat, when a chance pair of these come and build, there are few of their
favorite sorts for them.”

Dr. Schleh, of Herford, Germany, in his ‘“‘Nutzen und Schaden des
Sperlings im Houshalte der Natur,” as quoted by E. Ingersoll in Science
(Vol. VII, p. 80, January 22, 1886), says that young Sparrows, while in
the nest eat for a week after having left it, subsist entirely on insects,
grubs, etc. Two weeks after leaving the nest their food still consists of
43 per cent. of animal food; a week later of 31 per cent., and after that
age of only 19 per cent. As soon as independent they prefer seeds.”
He is one of the few authors who believe the Sparrow to be beneficial,
but, so far as I can learn, he assumes all insects to be noxious.

REVIEW OF WORK DONE IN NORTH AMERICA.

_ Peter Henderson, of Bergen City, N. J.,in his book on “ Practical
Fi loriculture,” says (p. 173) that in the summer of 1866 acres of young
rose bushes were attacked by slugs (Selandria) and Aphis, but that in
1868 a whole army of thousands of English Sparrows acted as volunteer
exterminators. Une Sparrow was shot, and his crop contained seeds,
Selandria, and Aphis in great abundance. No one has a higher appre-
ciation of Mr. Henderson’s practical knowledge of gardening and the
nursery business generally, but knowing how often the rose slug and
the rose Aphis disappear suddenly in summer time from natural causes,
my old-time friend will pardon a doubt as to whether the Sparrow de-
se trved the full credit which he gives it. ;

_Ily late friend, Dr. John L. LeConte, in 1874 gave an interesting ac-
eount (see Bec erat Proc: Am. Asso. Adv., vol. 23, p. 44) of the replace-
ment of Hnnomos subsignaria, a span-worm that had been very injurious
to shade trees in Philadelphia and other cities, by Orgyia leucostigma,
through the Sparrows eating the former and avoiding the latter, just as

+, o
ee

{
[ oem

126 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

in the letter already quoted I subsequently showed to be the case with |
Paleacrita and Orgyia through the same agency. |

Dr. John Dixwell dissected the stomachs of 39 Sparrows shot at the
height of the canker-worm season in Boston, with the result (Boston
Daily Advertiser, March 7, 1878) that no insects were found. |

Dr. H. A. Hagen, in an article published in the American A gricult-
urist for May, 1878, fully discusses the question of the bird’s useful-
ness, quoting various old European writers pro and con, as T. F. Bock
in 1784, F. M. Bechstein in 1795, as well as later writers like C. W. L.:
Gloger. Dr. Hagen argues strongly in favor of the bird from a utili-
tarian standpoint, but brings forth no new positive a of an
' original character. _

Dr. C. J. Maynard, in the Scientific Farmer for March, 1879, records
the results of fifty-six dissections made from September 17 to October 10,
all of the birds having been shot in the city of Boston, and including
both young and old. He gives a very full statement, together with a
description with illustrations of the structure of the stomach of the Spar-
row, and it is somewhat sur prising that he found no insect remains in
these fifty-six stomachs.

In Forest and Stream (Vol. XI, p. 424, July 3, 1879) is queiel a state-
ment of the Elizabeth (N. J.) Jour al to the effect that the English Spar-
rows had been observed eating tence numbers of winged ants. It
mentions another observation where a Sparrow had eaten a maimed hor-
net.

The same journal (Vol. X XIX, p. 164, September 22, 1887) states that
web caterpillars (doubtless Pyphantria is meant), having become exceed-
ingly numerous upon a Virginia Creeper in Sing Sing, N. Y., entirely
denuded it and so exposed the roosts of the Sparrows that the birds had
to give way and move their quarters.

In the American Naturalist (Vol. XV, pp. 392-393, 1881), Prof. S. A.
Forbes, of Illinois, who has done the best work of any one in America
on the relation of birds to insects, dissected twenty-five Sparrows killed
during the month of September, in 1879 and 1880. He found the frag-
ments of grain picked up on the streets, the seeds of a few of the com-
monest grasses, and traces of three locusts, the latter perhaps six per
cent. of the food consumed. At the same time thirty per cent. of the
food of the Robin, twenty per cent. of that of the Catbird, and ninety
per cent. of that of the Bluebird consisted of insects.

Dr. B. H. Warren, of West Chester, Pa., in an essay read before the
West Chester Mic. Soc., September 4, 1879, stated that of the autopsies
of seventy-five Sparrows, made in 1878, seventy-three revealed soleiy
grain and vegetable material. In the other two cases, the stomachs,

which were distended with wheat, contained each a 1 OO ae insect
not specifically identified.

To disprove the claim that sparrows are graminivorous only in winter,
when in order to sustain existence they are obliged to live on a grain

RILEY ON 1TS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. TAG

“diet, he examined during the months of March, April, May, and June

‘fifty specimens, of which number forty-seven showed cereal and vegeta-

ble food, one contained a single (unidentified) Coleopterous insect in

conjunction with an abundance of wheat, and the two remaining birds

_ were void of any nutritious matter.

He also examined the stomachs of one hundred and fourteep English

a Sparrows, between March 1, 1879, and June 12,1882. Only five of these

- stomachs contained any traces of insects. These were:

” No. 12, March 3, 1879.—One beetle (undetermined). No. 58, May 23, 1880
=~ (young).—Apterous insects (unidentified). No. 74, September 13, 1880

(male adult).—One potato-beetle (probably Doryphora 10-lineatia). ~ No. 75,

September 3, 1880 (male adult).—Diptera (unidentified). No. 112, June 12,
4 1€82 (female adult).—Two diptera and three aptera (unidentified).

_ Mr. Charles Dury has given in the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, of
_ May 6, 1883, the results of the dissection of over fifty English Sparrows.
- One of the sparrows was killed April 28 in a cherry tree covered with

_ insects; but the distended crop contained nothing but grain, and one
| infinitesimal portion of the skin of a Hemipterous insect. Five spar-
rows were killed by him March 23 in the Zoological Garden; they were

- found filled with grain and seed, and three contained minute portions
of beetles. In all the others no insect remains were found.

_ Mr. Barrows has collected a number of records, of which the follow-

ing have been submitted to me, as among the more reliable:

g Mr. James Fletcher, Ottawa, Canada, examined about a dozen Spar-

_ rows, which were shot in the bans part of March, before the beginning

j of spring weather; none of the specimens oid any food other

_ than bread or Piched grain from horse droppings.

q Dr. W.S. Strode, of Bernadotte, Fulton County, Ill, made a num-
_ ber of dissections during the months of August and Seniennee 1887,

4 the report of which has been sent in to Dr. Merriam. He found no in-

sects. During the first half of August the food was made up almost
entirely of wheat and rye, and occasionally a few weed seeds. In Sep-

_ tember grapes were the principal food; the Sparrows would insert their

- Dills, suck out the juice and pulp, but ahesacd the seeds.

' One other instance, much more recent, of the study of the focd- habits

_ of this bird should be mentioned before I conclude. It is an examina-

- tion of a large number of stomachs by Mr. W. Brodie, the results of
_ which have been presented before the biological section of the Cana-
- dian Institute and published in separate sheet. Mr. Brodie found that
_ out of forty-three stomachs taken from August 20 to September 13,
_ twenty-seven contained remains of locusts, or so-called grasshoppers,

_ and out of three hundred and seven stomachs in all collected from May

m7, 1881, to September 20, 1887, one hundred and thirty-two contained

j insect remains, including for the most part locusts (fifty-eight cases, not

including birds which he fed with them), among which the Gdipoda

carolina and Caloptenus femur-rubrum were recoghized. In four cases

_ Coleoptera were found and referred to Carabidx, and in seven others a

a
aq

128 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. ae

Geometrid larva not identified ; in two others the pupa of a Diptera :
and small Lepidopterous larv = and in two others spiders—none of the 2
species identified.

My assistant, Mr. Otto Lugger, reports to me that during the month®
of May, 1883, in Baltimore, } Mad. , he dissected twelve English Sparrows.
They were all killed in the al of his house, which is situated in the ©
outskirts of the city, and at that time was in the close vicinity of many ~
trees. The climbing roses in this yard, as well as in those of the neigh- 4
boring gardens, were badly infested by one of the rose-slugs (Selandria), |
and the sparrows, which were in the habit of resting upon the bars |
supporting the roses, were killed to ascertain whether or not they had ~ P
eaten any of the slugs. The dissections revealed no trace of these, and — |
only the legs of two flies (Muscide) were discovered. The great bulk |
of food consisted of grain and flower-seeds of various kinds, taken from :
the very same yard. The only large pea eaten by the birds contained, —
snugly inclosed, a pea-weevil (Bruchus pist). a

The above bonstibule all the more reliable dissections that have been 4
made; but Dr. Merriam has gathered together and submitted to me a —
very large number (five hundred and ninety-one) of reports not based
on dissections, and made by persons who in some instances had seen
the Sparrows feeding upon insects; in others not. It is exceedingly —
difficult to analyze these reports, which will be duly published by him.

Of these five hundred and ninety-one reports two hundred and sixty- —
seven are mainly favorable to the Sparrow, in the sense that all insects
eaten are considered injurious; one hundred and thirty eight are un-
favorable; one hundred and eight are indeterminate, and seventy-eight
correspondents believe that insects are only eaten by the bird when
forced to do so.

The following summary, prepared by Mr. Rariows, will convey a very
zood idea of the character of these reports. Only the more definite
reports have been selected, and mainly those in which some attempt
had been made to identify the insects, including also a certain number
of dissections:

Kills canker-worms in large numbers.—A. C. Sheldon, New Haven, Conn.; R. D.
Camp, New Haven, Conn.; W. B. Barrows, Middletown, Conn.

Does not kill cabbage-worms.—W. Holmead, Mount Pleasant, D. C.

Eats moths of fall web-worms.—J. Halley, Washington, D. C.

Feeds upon cabbage-worms, flies, ants, etc.—W. A. Porter, Alpharetta, Ga.

As a destroyer of caterpillars, it is a failure.—Hon. W. A. Harris, Atlanta, Ga.

Prefers Crickets and Grasshoppers.—Th. B. Lumpkin, Buena Vista, Ga.

Never touches Cabbage-worm or Cotton-worm.—J. H. Barnes, Griffin, Ga.

Probably eats many Bot-flies.—Dr. D. Berry, Carmi, Ill. ia

Feeds its young with insects for seven or eight days after hatching.—Jabez Web- |
ster, Centralia, Il. -

Eats an occasional Tobacco-worm and Grasshopper.—G. B. Holmes, Fernwood, III.

Seen to catch Army-worms by the thousand.—Charles Becker, Freeburgh, Ill.

Have not noticed it eating Army-worms or other injurious insects.—A. Gierschner, 2g
New Athens, Ill. bs =

RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 129

Pe ~ Carefully watched, where insects abound, but none eaten. —D. W. Brattin, Brazil,
‘Ind.
- Takes Cabbage-worms for its young.—Edw. Yenowine, Edwardsville, Ind.
Prefers moths to caterpillars.—Dr. W. Weber, Pianwpiliel Ind.
; - Eats Potato-bug iarvee and Cabbage-worms to a small extent.—A. B. Ghere, Frank-
_ fort, Ind.
Eats Tent-cater pars; Fall Web-worm larve, and Cabbage-worms.—W. H. Ragan,
ee savastle, Ind.
Feeds upon Cabbage-worms. J Georve B. Byrum, Laconia, Ind.
Eats Cicada septendecim aud grasshoppers (Melanopus femur- Patani aoe’ M. Web-
ster, La Fayette, Ind. =
Eats caterpillars.—James N. Payton and John B. Mitchell, New Albany, Ind.
~ Cabbage- -worms destroyed, but not more than by other birds.—W. R. Stratford,
reve, Ind.

‘Eats Leaf-rollers and beetles.—Dr. L. Millar, Belleview, Iowa.

‘Destroys large numbers of Codling-worms, larve of beeties and Aphide.—Howard
_ Kingsbury, Burlington, Iowa.
g Attacks a wounded grasshopper.—D. Y. Overton, Burlington, Iowa.
‘ - Destroys immense numbers of insects and worms of all kinds.—Max Kruskopf,
Marshalltown, Iowa.
Eats the Bot-fly, Horse-fly, Melon-bugs, Grasshoppers, etc.—W. E. Dingman, New-
_ ton, Iowa.
_ Eats Canker-worms.—J. S. McCartney, Garnett, Kans.

Destroys Codling-moths and millers.—M. A. Page, Garnett, Kans

- Not seen to eat insects; does not touch the Muple- worm.—B. F. Smith, Lawrence,

cans.
Does not molest Maple-worms, even about its nest.—Dr. Charles P. Blachly, Manhat-
: Bn. Kans.
- Constantly on the ground in que st of insects.—Dr. W. S. Newlon, Oswego, Kans.
_ - Eats Chinch-bugs, Army-worms, Grasshoppers, etc.—H. Heemey, Scartaaneee Kans.
Trees filled with worms which the English Sparrows did not touch.—J. B. Stock-
- ton, Toronto, Kans.
_ Eats larve of every description, except those of Potato-beetle.—J. A. Terrell,
_ Bloomfield, Ky.
Twenty- seven stomachs examined without finding bug or worm.—Postmaster,
g Bowling Green, Ky.
_ Feeds young on moths of hairy caterpillar.—Thomas 8. Kennedy, Crescent Hill, cs
_ Eats Cabbage-worms especially.—E. W. Weathers, Elkton, Ky.
_ Catches Tobacco-moth and other moths and butterflies.—D. L. Adair, Hawesville,
Ky.
_ The white caterpillar on shade trees has been nearly exterminated —J. B. Nall,
“Louisville, Ky.
_ Eats army-worms, Cut-worms, and caterpillars on shade trees in large numbers.—
SA. P. Farnsley, Louisville, Ky.
Have dissected them often, but found no insects.—W. B. Berthoud, Barataria, La.
Does not eat the Cotton-worm.—W. C. Perey, jr., Black Hawk, La.
“Tnsects remain undisturbed in its very roosting trees.”—L. E. Bentley, Donald-
cee le, La.
Eats Orgyia caterpillars and many other insects. —George Fe Berry, North Liver-
a more, Me.
_ Does not eat Orgyia.—Everett Smith, Portland, Me.
_ Fifteen birds dissected, but only two contained animal food, and this was fragments
of spiders.—N. C. Biaeh, Portland, Me.
_ Eats white-ants, flies, Cicadee.—Otto Lugger, Bar mote Md.”
Orgyia and Canker- worms increase.—W. Brewster, Cambridge, Mass.

§404— Bull. 1

£30 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Canker-worms decrease, but not Orgyia. The Sparrow can not eat hairy cater-
pillars.—Dr. H. A. Hagen, Cambridge, Mass.

Canker-worms and spiders eaten in large numbers.—J. W. Pearson, Newton, Mass.

Eats limited numbers of insects all the year.—Elisha Slade, Somerset, Mass.

Eats hundreds of Canker-worms.—Charles H. Andros, Taunton, Mass.

Never seen to eat insects.—Joha C. Cahoon, Taunton, Mass.

Marked benefit by eating Currant and Cabbage-worms.—F. O. Hellier, Grass Lake,
Mich.

Have yet to see .a single instance in which it is beneficial.—O. C. Smith, North
Adams, Mich.

No bird here eats so few insects. —Norman A. Wood, Saline, Mich.

Feeds on Grasshoppers after breeding season is over; also eats Potato-bugs, ete.—
George Stolworthy, Franklin Falls, N. H.

Does not eat Orgyia caterpillars.—David C. Voorhees, Blawenburgh, N. J.

Does not eat Vaporer moth (Orgyia) to any extent, if at all_—Marcus S. Crane,
Caldwell, N. J.

Seven Sparrows dissected where Elm-leaf beetles were abundant contained no in-
sects.—Marcus S. Crane, Caldwell, N. J.

Never touches insects; sixty dissections and not a trace of an insect.—H. B. Bailey,
Orange, N. J.

Moths have their wings pulled off and are then let go. = Wreldan F. Fosdick, Hack-
ensack, N. J.

Many dissections, but not an insect. Canker-worm very prevalent, but not eaten.—
Lloyd McKim, Garrison, Orange, N. J.

Eats Winged ants (Termes flavipes ?).—W. J. Kenyon, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Eats Measuring worms (Znnomos subsignaria) ; not seen to take Orgyia moths or
larve.—Hon. Nicolas Pike, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Eats Bot-flies, caterpillars, White Cabbage butterfly, Cicindela.—Prof. Chas. Lin-
den, Buffalo, N. Y.

Once found a Currant-worm in crop of Sparrow.—Wm. M. McLachlan, Clyde, N. Y.

Army-worms devoured in immense numbers.—J. A. Perry, New York, N. Y.

_ Eats Currant-worms, ants, etc., but no hairy worms.—A. Church, New York, N. Y.

Eats Army-worm.—Henry M. Burtis, Port Washington, N. Y.

“‘ Occasionally it catches a spider, fly, or some other insect.”—Dr. Alfred Hasbrouck,
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Does not eat hairy caterpillars; Orgyia has increased.—H. Roy Gilbert, Rochester,
Ney,

Hundreds seen eating grasshoppers in a dry season.—Thomas Birt, Utica, N. Y.

Plant-lice eaten sometimes.—Prof. E. W. Claypole, Akron, Ohio.

Will not touch tree insects, however abundant.—W. Hubbell Fisher, Cincinnati,
Ohio.

Ephemere eaten; elm-tree worms disregarded.—Dr. E. Sterling, Cleveland, Ohio.

Many dissections in autumn, but no sign of insects; Web-worms not teuched,
although very abundant.—W. B. Alwood, Columbus, Ohio.

Have watched closely, but have never seen one eat an insect.—E. W. Turner, New-
ton Falls, Ohio.

Eats Grasshoppers and seventeen-year Cicada.—R. H. Warder, North Bend, Ohio.

The Currant-worm has appeared since the Sparrow came.—S. Gray, Norwalk, Ohio.

Close observation shows no insects in its stomach.—Thos. Shroyer, Preston, Ohio.

Scale insects are eaten largely.—W. B. Hall, Wakeman, Ohio.

Orgyia abounds; Sparrow eats measuring worms and diurnal lepidoptera.—Thos.
Meehan, Gérmantown, Pa.

Destroys millions of insect eggs and larve.—C. A. Green, Harrisbarg, Pa.

Did not eat Galeruca, Web-worm, Epilachna, or Lecanium, which were abundant.—
Dr. S. 8. Rathvon, Lancaster, Pa.

/

RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 131

Eats moths singed by gas, but fails to touch living Currant-worms close by.—Dr.
R&R. L. Walker, Mansfield, Pa.

- Numerous stomachs examined, but very few insects found.—Dr. H. D. Moore, New
- Lexington, Pa.

Out of 50 dissections in March, April, May and June, no insects but one beetle.—
Dr. B. H. Warren, West Chester, Pa.

Eats young grasshoppers-after oats are harvested.—B. F’. Maxson, Westerly, R. I.

Does not disturb the Cotton-worms.—W. J. Hinson, James Island,S. C.

Eats maggots from dead animals.—W. T. Nixon, Lawrenceburgh, Tenn.

Does not destroy the Codling-moth.—James G. Kenney, Provo City, Utah.

Eats larve of Bot-flies.—Dr. Hiram A. Cutting, Lunenburgh, Vt.

Feeding in large flocks on Grasshoppers.—George M. Neese, New Market, Va.

Does not eat caterpillars on the elm.—Col. Randolph Harrison, Richmond, Va.

: Destroys Cabbage-worms and Tent-caterpillers.—Dr. J. R. Mathers, Buckhannon
me W. Va.

Noticed a few alight on webs of Tent-caterpillars.—John H. Strider, Halltown, W.
Va. :

Very destructive to Cabbage-worms (Pieris rapw).—J. H. Shank, Hickory, W. Va,
Does not eat caterpillars on grape-vines and pear trees close to nest.—G. W. Knapp,
_ Leon, W. Va.

Eats Grasshoppers and Katydids.—Z. L. Welman, Stoughton, Wis.

This list includes quite a number of injurious species, together with a
fair proportion of beneficial and innoxious ones. In the majority of the
- eases, however, the observations are based on seeing the bird capture
- the insect, and this kind of information is always less reliable than that
- obtained from dissections. From a long experience in collecting en-
~ tomological data through cireularization I have learned how unreliable
the reports are, except when the reporter has some special and expert
7 knowledge.

_ Among the more injurious insects captured are instances of Bag
- worms, Itose bugs, Tobacco-worms, Plum Curculio, ‘“* Codling-worm,”
_ Seale insects, Aphididae, Chinch-bugs, and Cabbage-worms. Now these
are in almost all cases isolated instanzes, and granting the observations
Eto be correct, they do no alter the fact, that where any of these insects
have been common within, or in the neighborhood of, a city where the
| Sparrows are abundant, the birds have in no instance affected the power
_ of the insects for harm. Hence such reports, unless they take into con-
" sideration all the facts bearing upon the subject, are misleading.
Four cases are mentioned where the larve of Orgyia and one where
' the larvee of Hyphantria have been eaten. Such cases, even if isolated,
are extremely interesting; but for the present must be disposed of in
the same way as those just instanced. The cases where the bird is re-
q ported as taking Locusts (Acrididz), Grasshoppers (Locustide), and the
| Army-worm and Cut-worms (Noctuid larve) are sufficiently numerous
to show that in these directions the Sparrow in the country, and under
conditions of scarcity of other kinds of food, might prove of considerable
_ benefit. The same may be said of the Canker-worms, and some other
~ smooth Geometrid larve, especially Ennomos subsignaria, which affect
trees and shrubs.

-

2 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA,

One other instauce may be mentioned where the Sparrow is more or —
less useful, because it is in a direction searcely looked for. This is in —
the feeding on bot larve. There is sufficient evidence that in cities the
bird enjoys these larvee, which it picks up from the droppings of horses.
The beneficial bearing of this fact is somewhat néutralized, however, by
the other fact that on the paved streets of our cities the Gastrophilus
larve rarely, if ever, succeed in transforming; but perish from ina-
bility to enter the ground. — |

We are thus justified in concluding that the bird will exceptionally
feed upon almost any insect; but I am strongly inclined to believe that
the deduction made from my own exaininations will hold very generally
true, and that, in cases where injurious insects lave been fed upon, it is
not by virtue of any insectivorous habit or specific preference, but by
mere accident. Except in the cases of Locusts and meadow grasshop- —
pers, some field insects, the Canker-worm, and some few other smooth
worms which affect trees, there is no evidence tbat the bird, notwith-
standing its great numbers, has been instrumental in checking any of
our insect pests.

Two other circumstances for which there is sufficient evidence are
worthy of mention as bearing on the question under discussion, viz,
(1) the bird’s tendency to take insects already damaged or dead; and
(2) the fact that the old birds take insects fer their young rather than
for themselves.

Finally, the examinations, taken as a whole, show how thoroughly
gramibivorous or vegetarian the Sparrow is, as arule, and I need not in
this connection add, from my own experience or from that of others, to
the verdict of ‘“‘ destructive” which Dr. Merriam has already so well es-

tablished in his last report as Ornithologist to the Department of Agri-
culture.

In Australia and New Zealand the farmers have been forced to poison
the birds by wholesale. Their most successtul method is that of plae-
ing poisoned wheat in a bag with chaff, and allowing it to leak over the
tail of the cart along the road. The Sparrows are destroyed by the
bushel, and one paper (Garden and Field, of Adelaide, Nov., 1887, vol.
13, p. 76)-published the following effusion, by the “Adelaide Poet Lau-
reate,” with which I would close this report:

What means this sadly plaintive wail,

Ye men of spades and ploughs and harrows?
Why are your faces wan and pale?

It is the everlasting sparrows.

We may demolish other pests
That devastate the farm and garden;
But spoiled by these voracious guests,
Our prospects are not worth a farden.

We can’t defeat a foe like this

With gunshot or with bows and arrows;
We must resort to artifice

To cope with enemies like sparrows.

'

se

4
q
.
.

Oo of OMe ee Nee, Me

ay

RESULTS OF DISSECTION. j Pa

Our level best we all have tried

With scarecrows, nets, and cunning cages,
Our utmost efforts they deride,

And spoil our fruit in all its stages.

Lift up your heads, your hearts lift up,

Resume your spades, your ploughs and harrows,
And while you drain the genial cup,

V’ll tell you how to lick the sparrows.

No more your wasted fruits bewail,

Your crops destroyed of peas and marrows,
A cure there is that can not fail

To rid you of the hateful sparrows;

The remedy is at your feet,

Slay them and wheel them out in barrows,
‘Poisoned by Faulding’s Phcenix wheat,

The one great antidote to sparrows.

TABLES OF FOOD AS SHOWN BY DISSECTION,

We conclude the discussion of the insect food of the Sparrow with
tables giving the entire contents, so far as it was possible to determine
them, of 522 stomachs dissected at the Department of Agriculture, and
of 114 stomachs dissected at West Chester, Pa.

Of the number dissected at the Department of Agriculture, 338 were
from birds killed in Washington, and many of these were examined
within an hour or two after death. The remaining 184 stomachs were

7 ~ sent to Washington in alcohol. In all cases they were carefully exam-

ined in the Ornithological Division first, by Dr. A. K. Fisher, who
identified and recorded their general contents. Subsequently those

which contained any traces of insect remains, or in which the presence
- of such material was suspected (102 in all), were referred to the Ento-

mological Division for further examination, and 92 were found to con-
tain insect remains in greater or less abundance. From Professor
Riley’s report on this subject the data have been obtained for the in-
sect columns in the following tables, which were prepared by Dr. A. K.
Fisher, assistant ornithologist.

It is only necessary to say, in explanation of these tables, that a cross
In any column indicates that the kind of food specified at the head of
that column was found in the specimen against which the cross stands.

Noattempt was made to estimate the percentages of different kinds of

food in the individual stomachs, except in the ease of the insect. food,
to which reference has been made already.

154

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

TABLES OF FOOD AS SHOWN BY DISSECTION,

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus).

[Examined at the Department of Agriculture. ]

Cereals. a Insect food.
s
ef o
g see Raw Ee ea
@ | Sex, | pate of ~is/3}33
s | and ste ee Locality. a [2s] o a| 2] &
a | age eae ee S|2|SISl2818|—| 2] 8] Kind of insect.
Bs as S|Srela2is |Ais3]3 x
= slalalZlZisie |elslele
2 HlZ\SlE(B(2R [ele Sls
6) FISISOIBIO/F ID lalalala
1886.
4061 | CSim.|Sept. 21] East Hartford, |..-|..- Na eee ese) ee AaP) eee (ee Ee oer
Conn.
4082 Q Oct. 26 AOS 25586 ee ieee Sad oes ees OOS oie al Se fe Eas
4083 2 Be (Eye | eee MO cc seen ee eee x |---[---]--- Mo alaesleecleseiees
4084 | o S220 0 Bee ah 0. Se pace eee Cale eal eee eee re ees eee ees |e
4085 Q BAA IC Rae eee GS ence sq) ee Ise 9 | mo Nig ees)! Sa 4 SSer Saa| oc laak
4086} Q- 22002 efi: do Ss eee ce ees) ea see BES Ee) os ek eos eee bos me
4087 2 7 Oct. 29 a aO ws eeeeweeeee sien -/|se - x *"*leestee x jee le eelewel unre
4(88 | @Q 2 UO Fel dew ect ead eee Ieee eee ig Se ae [os Ck
4089 Q dO. ea dO Ssoc ese ee ee eels x |---]-.-]- Br ses ee tactl se
4990} @Q Sel eee! Weeseaar Vane eee wrens 2 Nh | Poe De Pe ee ac ee foam Rose Pas
4092 Q ING 5 D2 Ons eee ere oe eaeleee Nil oer= ese al ot eed eee
4093 of et ea SO Ses eS eee X [sas eX esc) eo laeeleeelaestece
4094 g S300 esi CO eee ea ee alles |soe Se) BAe NPs |e = A Nek | oe
4099 | of IN OVE C22 ue eed OlL ies ie EASE eee ee eee Kissel 7 lee ene See
4100 | @ 2s Oe: |e Ue bag aen Sool Boalt Saal lea oei|S4 ee kes Rl Ie
4101 2 Selkinees CEeOO se seme ee eee MOleseleeaiaeclese Pan) [esa ee 3) ERA poe
4102 2 RAC eSS LO ee Se a le Seale ex Sf ees ee Se es
4103 | of sUO bees | = 5 Oren sateen aloes ead SoH iooallsoul Gee ee | cena | eres en oe j
4104 ¢ =P 0 EUG eee ee ee Le ah IS oi fe x Al | ee ee
4105 rol os 00 4s. sO eee ae ee ee SM alls = cA Oe lsc aes) art (ae ed fae
4106 | Q pales ote ee i pce ae Ope, hae ie eA ee as eee |S ee :
4107 | of OR HH s ose UO eke an | ooioee Kuleee tenia OSs ae es a
4110 fol Dee. 2 SPIO) SAS eS) Bale leo ee Xana ae Paes) (eee eee
LT Pee Brot. een peer G6 oe eee ee Ee ap ee [ets ee ». F
4112 2 ees i Ks Siegen) Mevethin Viegas ae Se keh TRS BC Oeeliaie Beer Se | eae
AVIS hs 2D e200) 20. 1teeeedg oe ceo eee Se Wea Saxe, WBA i et ee eae
4114 | ERO Se cals STO se ee ee ee ee | ee eee SM ised fer ee ce eee en oe
4115| of Dec G63) Sado ee coe lee eens Hee] crise | sees) oe anya a “
2149 | Q ad.| July 31 | Gainesville,Va..|.. | x ea S| ee eel oe eee |
2327 | @ May 5] Milwaukee, Wis | See Noe | (ae re ie: WA j
2329 Q Maye sil ee doves eee eae Steet , a ed | Sen OS Viola | 9 -
2397 | of May 4] Savannah, Ga...].._|..- Bye [pers (ApS Ms fy ne EI Fe %
2699 | sept. 12 | "Alired-Ceniire, 42 2 2|ox Yale [aoa] ee ee eer eee eS
INE Ws —~
2075 sune 27 | West. Goshen) (2 sede clon loealee] 1 aleeele ee ieeeie
Pa.
solo) (Opa. Ang: 2. | Philadelphia, Pat. .cles-l< -|etelae |eeele ee Nes slee eee
1887. |
4089 | gf ad. Apr. 42.) Washinton, | o|2o_les-|2--le sles) 6 [ace ae eee
DAC.
1885. |
1468} ¢ Nove: at: Oleveland: Ohio. z.| ioc (a eae ES Sees le ee a ee eee
154) /Ojuy ekaliy” 27 UeSinae sSimee Nie We |S Otc ah Se ee eat ea se a ee at ee
40a Seeeade ally eid: |= “dormer eaee asain. 2 arp baa |e pea erie | hae Re FS
ASA nO lime pe live 4s ee al Om eee ee | eae Ses 2 olen | ea ae mt, (Ee hae oa
46 Gcim:|--sd0h-s- FL Gee ne is ea x ale Site
ATW RO sis |S Ges ol SO ho Bee alee eae eee, ee ee OH ty ed Pe oe
49 OsnmMe Ss sdOls--- rity eae Bee es ee Wh al te a ee 3
O82) AP ads| aluly 25 Ie = dow oom cee a ean ik Fe oN tre BS Ae ue |e |
103 a | es Wy oT sek ee ee 5 of eae ell ee eee epee eget el ee
NUGIA Chat red ae (ieee peices Foven ngs eee ek sa ae A | a x re ee ee ee
105 Graal ee dG 22 2 © qo meee eee eee SOS eet eset ree be ed ea eh
LEED Aco cc Pees Ce ee Co a Dal Oe ape | Se Ee [hea FE rae ee Mees es ee
Aran wmiolS.- GO>. == Are GO. ee eas ra ee eee x ae ea eee ems
124 DIT od| Re ye 2S ee Gl Oe eee a | | ae CF AO [Die dle ell cee | he wea ea
toon Gane} Aas... 45) 22 does sss ee. nce ele oa: x |x |...|3 wasps; 2 small
5 grasshoppers.
AOA yd | Ae SAO HE 2G Ue secee tlc x Be eaaliens
d Os ere |". do. cee. Peace 21.7 3k Sl a x [Pesce x |.--| 38 young grasshop-
195 | of ad.|...do ....|.-.. CU a as | Paes beri = oe thera.
beetle.

RESULTS OF

DISSECTION.

135

Pa

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus)—Continued.
aa Ek ae wae
Cereals. 3 Insect food.
$ aie
14) .

5S Sub lal he

re Sex Date of oe 2/8 g 3

5 | and capture. Locality. ey 2 aie oe to) =| 3 |

Bele 8° SIS ISISIEaIS = Se Kind of insect.

ep el lel elanels |Flrs) ee

*” eliolalx# ala|eols

5 FiSio|mi|o|Fip |Alala|a

1885.

Mowers Wn.) Aue. 10 | Sing Sing, N. ¥-|...| x |..-|-.-|--- Sellesce x |---| 2 snout-beetles.

Nome OU ls dos...) 5-4. MOE Stressors pale evel Heellone x 2 “ie

198 | @ ad.|...do A500! Sie sees mee bahar eee lala Salles lead yell teres

Noe Ovad.|-2 dos. ..|:.-. GOs eenaceseale Bore hes lel |e es se eet a a Fiona coe Dae

POOMMERS AC seUOr see a MO oe eens | -2 [sche oficial] os = Se earl sae| ees leee

Pate. GF Thats, | Ale, SU San ee pease Bena ame Se lees St eos eee ete

ae ts AMO TS. | on. MO). -2 52k se.) os ata [Pereeellitoeyeteceli ae ate tere etic = aie, allfers,=

BOOM Orim. | Ame, 29) | .. Ao .tses.a---%| 22]--- el Daelneelees| easel ancllocal esc ea

200 | Gala See Gh aes! eeenceeesss peice lieth) ctealisi- = NUE eee SO, SE

BOVE @ 1m. ||). 0 . ||. --- (OR Saws Meee rye| x ills Sedhiees: er |lerabe dts eel er cilietees

498 6 MIM aos0k Pe eslesbe GO eee eee rye} x Sa [feeete | eect cel ane [merece

499 Gi ins Pea) Seen lases GOr nee as sea HSH SION HS, eR aR | see

500 o im.|...do aeOns Race ae se Ml Ay real PPs es ola | eae fan

501 ORM ye. CO! S.0)|\-4- 2 GO ei eect oleae Jal 3 Bee

502 | o 50 Ove aaieese WON es eeseaisicne Sell Sz )[Se Re alee

690ni Oxad.)| Sept. 12 |-...do.-5-......- x | x E ere eae a ell

orm mead, (Septal, il)... CO} cesses = -| een ef= elie seit he és

728 Of Ail lizc GOSS Aaiscee Mos rae es Sa eee Baal eee

1105 Ss Oct. 16 SCO Weaacoerac se eles s x Alle

1106 | @ Opes hewte COICO (Bs eae a chee Corl (ep Les [a Page MA x AE See

1857
6274 | 9 Sept. 14 Washing ten, 6 ne ea ee Serve oe ae ee
6275 fof SC Opera erase oye Sees. A x “ 3
1885

16| ojuv.| July 7/| Sing Sing, N.Y .|...| x |.- x xi|--a\NOn Taran Gf am alll

48 Ome) iw ANE Sac sarees eanellase Sculpes x alse beetle.

97 2 ad. July 25 ---do Tee ce ingen xX |--- s x x Jaw Ss of several
small caterp il-
lars; 1 snout
beetle; wings and
legs of another
small beetle.

123 2 ad. July 28 ..-.d0 eM EM LT le SC co) WEED | CRY x x -| Xx |-- x Remains of ] small
dung: beetle; re-
mains of 1 small
bee or wasp.

atl ¢ ad.) Aug. 10 |....do.......... ; Traces of a small in-
sect, probably a

: beetle.

202 g im - do a, do SOO ATI OS Cre CeO. Ce cy CO A bit x |---]--- x |-.- Remains of 2 snout:
beetles.

aie | ¢ --do ....J.... do . 1-2-2222 20]---]---]-- ale --| * | Remains see small

: lung-beetle.

Pemeen wAug: 20 |-2 do. 2-2..65.|2<3|--fece|-3 [ees f eo. x ve ee,

esi Ane 29 | don: ‘ rer Remains of 1 bug.

MEE ACES Dt. oe fa. Oe Le Sol se ee oof | ieee e ooh... x é

929 CPU EOC 2) Weed O). oe ect ace x |x x

OOM pa ad: Oct. 26. |22..do..22....26./..-). oo Sy aan ea UE :

IGM lS se (OR ceeulle ees C0 Openers ae x 4

1192 fe) Opera wees CUO 05 oe koe elo sail x x ght

1552 Q May 9] Taunton, Mass..|-_.- x podilleserets 7H | lla A single fragment of
a dung-beetle.

1593 | of UG WG Ae GO! sere ssc ae : Sie [Pe aalises x 4 large grubs of a
May-beetle ; frag-
ments of 2 small
beetles.

1642 WO PATS Se OSM sae |) Pa ry [i x

P 1886.

3360 VENER LO OMT METOMG. Vee cles teo: lle l eal Seal x) lec close nmeclicec Broken parts of 1

(vas Ohio. dung-beetle.

, 1885.

i215 | Oct, 39 | Washin eton,:_.|..-|... hall eee Se

D.C.

1453 roe Septet mvedrords Vinehiee|eec| Shale ee Noe a se clicwutes [Pactoue

1693 | of Oct 19") Calhoun Gay 22.) ) 2) ase -| x -

1949 | Oct. 30} West Chester, Sealtespelle salts 5 BE a|-e-

L3G - THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domcesiices)—Continued.

| 2 ei
| ; | ; | Cereals. S Insect food.
: ; D : ond
= Sex coat esol a
= Date of F : Sere sisi Ss
z oe capture Locality. 3 Seat ae = 2 | 8. 3| 2
~ = e 2 B/Sl/2"\S/a|%| 8] Kind of insect.
: SP eee llesa econ yess H|S | 5)
g elalalelzizis alesis
= SIS/BElallis |Si ale is
= = On Sis pes | = |v lq
5 BI6/Oje|/SIFS jsialaia
1886. é |
306! ad.| Mar. 14 | West Chester, | x |..-|---|.-- aes OR ie oeee| tO Es es
Penn.
3390 | Gad.) May 3), Portland, Conn -|.--| x | x alse Slocse/ eel eee he,
1881.
SADE eos aces Mar. 3 | London, Canada.-}-.--| x Bae eae om ete Soule lasers
Bait eeecene Wipe SD) doe ase. eee ne x Shs jo seleeelees
$ 1886.
3618 Q Mant 26) | hauntonsMiagse=|ess\=e\ee teen eeml Se Pe ese | eet
3614 je) ee CO) se et 8 se LO cee ers gee | eral lene Kole ee SSH ees) (lsealseisilaosliose
3625 Q re Ons 2 hes Osea son seeeeea eenleeal eee lee SER lcs ae ee eee
3616 rot SSO ck 2) coe sO OL eee ae ee Enel eeae eal aera ane Mire ccc| = sal ats ee
3619 ref Apr lo (.82. QO; scene se ele vei tlioeel = © 3 Sead keg ges See |
3620 fof pS lO re eee de Pe te a) eae es OSes Weal eee | eee ee ole selene ees
3621 | Q dob sie| na dor see eee Ieee eee Seal ee aul Se alee
3686 jav.| May 14 Aone Gavecsies ey EES [eee ie ee ee ee Ae ee
BLOW | Reaseee May 24 dograese ees Mae fete se oe | eral nica Soils ees |e
3723 rot same ak ‘Philadelphia. EBV S25 Se Cie eee bee Pe
4671 Q Appin. 6) | New: Wonks City sih.=|icleeslsecieee SSNS, - [esl sae
4672 rot oy Ose es Soe Op soe cle S| ee heme Sill eel eee |e ee Pepsi
4682 | Apr.- 9 | Fort Hamilton,| - .|...|--- Selaesizes hei secre sneer ees
INE Ye
4711 | Q Cpr) 216 Vien | Cortlandt. iiess|eecleee|ses|eecl ee Plies||Sacloosiizsc
NEY
4712 | o SORE les a dO esses Bra S| ees See | eee aes oi EnceeeSaiee ea eer
4713 | seed Omesec| eee Ose os caeee eel ee ol mele Sales lea teme ee Hc Sale| eee
4714 | @ JNA Aor Estee weno hess ellescleooiecslacel! Posilsaaccanls slace
INES :
4749 Q May- 6 | New Work City.|.. | x }---|=-21e.- Heyi|- oxen Nis SSS Eeealmece
4839 Q May 29 BUS (ones oe oe Plex Lees Sees ees
4850 | June 16 ‘Hartsdale, Sf Geen fee Boreal ee. |} sl ecals cere
4851 Ss bee O Sesaleeec GO see ecet seeeie es ae see tee Se a | Ie
1887.
5060 juv.}| June 14 Washing Lex Baseline ese ae Rg | eral ee tet
LG:
5761 Opa eG hes issall NEN CUO NING SAGee we aie ese Sao bl eee spel eee la
5763 of OMle | agp yates [a ee tse ae Seoe| ete bo -|---|-2ee]ee=fe eel egal =
5764 Ora ee (OY ae ae lees ORs cette a ae core ie sana aor teres 20 Bat
5765 OAM see LO ees eee LO: Se ao aeincie x ale bee = Au slieaa| a kee ae at ers isle
5766 OME One. | hess Oreeewees etal ee Sule Z Seok yee cele | epee
5767 OPN BEEUONS a Biles (0s: gaasceie = J) ale eal Moles sleee|eea ee
9768 Guatle | eACpr: WOM Rea Oe seen eee cee | aoe é ah el Bs Bae he
5769 Onouls ACh e2 05 |— =e Ol yeaa eee x Bile Seis eal ceil wee -
5770 (AU eH SEAN Tag 21 uals Sri. ee eye ee Se HN ieyevclt hc se all bests | facet ne a bere eee Bs
5779 Cede | Maven <9 ez Op ese e ee oe See | eaelee 3c Aline Se |e re
18386.
4026 Q Julyestou Haste canttords |e peste aex ake 2
Conn
4030-| of July 26 PUG) eee gat esol leet x |- Sra local ese ae szileas
4031 | of aul SOs akey e458 sncoce tides esc fhe a $e sehetes | ANS ae
4032 g Aug. Sales MO seca tee eee ee Rol Mei hel [Pee eeere, alee Z
4033 Q Aug. Als laa ae Os atte ae eee =selimcel ae ee = er ees
1887.
5023 | Qad.| May 12 | Washington, ---[---|---[---]---] * |-- | * | x |---| Pieces of legs of 1
D.C. ichneumge fly [2];
snout-beetle.
DOA Ls ser be IME ain BUR ccs Opa ered aemelc aes ee eee ona pel | ee oe | el Atha eae
5525 Os atl | SMO: S20 see Oeste eal hee 52 ae Biol Seles aes Sales eee
5526 Zeenys |: IN Gray Calas a SN, eee sella alae S ze E azll 34 x Parts ole
5527 Oya eMiay 20) | do ste eens mela Pa eet elles le Sree SE \\ ote llate Moen
Sire ||) eiellseedkO eaualiaoa. OMe ee ao as ee eee elie --|---|----|---|---| * |---| Pieces of se veral
5529 | dS juv do g ae ae -b
) J Brae (LO Nsrera ero CO SS cesopdecelsscilses|Snelealloosloseilacncll= Salone % || i1eces 0 ay-vbee-
| y
5530 Oyiehya|| uy 2 Easel se seese cee Sales bese el faecal es Salles ae
5681 OVA Oe ee ele slo: kane oe ode Sees Eales |e eee |b ea es See
5682 ee ite eve Ghat e Ales Sarde one Oe, bales esis | aes ee a a ele ma
5683 of SoA Ope ees Se Oa oe eek aorta eee x |- Si] ek ee eee Peano
5684! gf PUG sonia ado Be we Acasa [seslod hea cleat alee lce oe ees

RESULTS OF DISSECTION. 137

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus )--Continued.

Cereals. a Insect food.
s
: Ey : 3 |
a Sex | Date of as 3 s Z| 3
mY ali a Sy 3=)|| = S| Ga
= | and | capture. BOE (a ea i= ed es 2 2
o | age. giS|Sjolasiold|@|a| Kind of insect.
5) ~~ | a RD) rs i=] 3)
2° mst plal[sis sialic ra
=) CN ea ete) iOS! der | ty, IPSS lo) © % “4
s SS ees 2 ta *| cee S
5 EFIO(O|HIO IE ID la ia laa
1886.
5689 Sim.| July 12 ae ont BOAT Ee (ee file Se! | bce sil Scud eH 7a (i g Bele Sallene
a@. ;
5690 | Sim aon RESO Le at arta sity § seilex SW Hosacleoctesssaaifooe
5691 | Cim.|-- do... AON eee hee x SHlooanlosclloasiacsiises
Mesoo2 | im.|...do....|..:.do:.2........ Be et a etl lite |e wae he lee Ni” :
Meoopo |........ Apr. 21 Rockville, Goorin (Ae EX eal ess eS ce | ace x | x |---| Remains of 1 dung-
; beetle; 1 other
- small beetle.
oy a dope dots ee A Sol a Coa Leta ee se ay Be Oe ae
Otte) | eee ERROR al Pe UO bac cee face Soe fps essa | cree sal lees eee er Unies. mel epee
= 5687 juv.| July 4 Ann Aeribore ieee: eA Cae Tea ar [eta eck even ice
; Mich.
5688 Miwa sO ee dO ® eecet St Ea OE een ae | ee sol] $2 jlesslloseliseefece
4 5999 | of Apr. 22 Amherst, WEISS IEe cl eellooalSaaliso a as $8 Wes siocdssalaac
me 5725 | 3 wan, 20'| West Ches'tier. (2.215% j2-<[eocte. 2] x |x 1% fee - [cls
Pa.
1886
me or26 | LCC pol) GOL eae? ae x |---f---]---]---
4 1887
- 5727| ad.| Feb. 20 dO. sees ye contac 50 la x seers
sms | ciad.|.. do....|.... eset etter ee ree x : x cles
; 5729 Sale hae UO! sce sso oe CO sae sete EES lies e x pulls
«8730 CRAG eae GO ee chee COM Rete eee es x x = ee
5731 Cade ee Onsen als edn ek eich 1 a nee. x x Sa paul ee
; 5732 | #ad.|...do..- CMake es ee lead eee ie Se eer feet aes
5733 (OD Gita a tec (CC ea all Ose Sees apee x E Sellesialloe
0734 | Qad.|.--do.. BU MLO Mra ieee aa x > 3
— 9735 Od 2d Or = lO eine eo eo meee x Peles dleeiel eel bse
5736 OD Bob escGlGy oe el LO ene BP le ee x x palleeslice
tm meee sO NP MO). Faking ee Poe de x | HeSolioa aitocloar
Be os | 9 ad.} .-do. EE Ole ae eee UIE x “|e sllaeeiicec
meots9 | =O ad.|...do .- CLO eee eee roa es eee Sn rate | ees ea
Ta |b MOUEN SG Ee iC 0S ies RSS Cc See ee i leacloncl mel soc
Sesto | 2 ad.|.--do.....|:...do ....- x | x SG als eee pias [fs sisi
i 5r42| 9 dd.|...do. Plo ee hrs AU hee Te Sigal aes x ate Sie
olds @ Gigls| Wifaies AUS) | Oe! See caeaaan Sdeliome ael oes x eh es
oi44 | Q ad. OEE POs tO Or ee eyes Sui | acre [hoes cae Sees esl feesed leas eae
Me a0. OO). 22) ido oe fee Sl A ee bay oe
eonies S ad... do... 2!) do - icc... - ck] Ls ial See tie ee alll gs eee lear lhe he
me 0147 OPE eC sh ne CO sae hee ee on 3 eee SAI levee || SARA AS
Mors | 9 ad.|...do ....|:.1, dale irees ts sel 8 al faa aes :
Monies nde). O'. 2} Sa: (LG, ely ee eo Pe ae gl Mier terete Sete | Seeee :
o0 | @ ad. LOW es ai | COs eS see Me se eel tel sel See caer be nee Gee :
eof) | 9 ad.|...do DPE LO ERS e ae ea ee | ees |e (cp | (a Be See eal ip
B O(o2 | ad. Onsale Os rete Sealed als Sear IS Sealer saay LI ae
D103 CE Zio lcdll ME AECCNG eg ere | ERIS 6 ketene et een rode IE se ee Re MS lee halts
5154 | Sad. do .- es OU et ea eho ed EH aS Aline || Sete | Mean eee em | e
5755 J ad. WON sas ae noms 2s eet paek hoo Call cee | || ea x e
5756 | ad. (ilroyes ASG Noor oe x TS : el yaks Meat a é
1885.
BMeNO im) Oct. 29:|..2.do -2.cves J... |052 x elles Ieee ite
1942 Ce UCey ee Onesie lee OURS aats ce ateclmes x
Mots | Oad.| Oct. 380 )..2.do ..22...... x Se | esl ree.
1944) Qad.|...do ROA ae SNe i x : --
ey | of ad. do (BU) ae ee ae ool eel Ge Relics
Meee). cy ad. |.-.do...+-}..2.d0 ...--5.. 22. Be | ane ee Scailfsaearlt sch sl peteh ee Aaa
Meme ail, (2-0 .25c) on MO 2. 2ce ee foe. Sheil scoala lose a Pee eae eal UE ce oR aa | ue
SE Septse Os wAlirediCemiiern (i. | x lezcles (ee. leat ox Jobelecutces aes
NYS
1600 | 9 Aug. 29 ener TAT NSE pelos eect See al eek veces Sea [accra WRT heen es
UG INONWAe20 Bn © Opec ee ee ei ea Fe | OR a eel calles eR Poe ellos
1803 | oad. ae 1 eiisston Cas Tere ara Seana salle gee bese lbp ease ea ke era ae
6;
2029 Q Webelos | Amherst Masa tol 3 \in| aloaeliewell Mo teectoc-| sec! eee
2074 | oijuv.| May 22 ase hon Pell cnet re eet ected eae carl eagle eae
A Oae
2130 Diucdle ted hol lyse: PASTA 6 Salo) eek mee | ee Shalem ere SAI ial eee ee oe a
2131 ra POS QO) gticea coke cles: See hele Me ul yl dosnout-beetle.
%

138 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus )}—Continued.

oe}
Cereals. a Insect food.
g,
é deal ee ea eae
q Sex | Date of ~e|2ls|8| 3
3 | and t Locality. za o8/O})2)9) 2
| age. | capture. li |e eal ee | se
g # a{3ie]SBle"|2ls| 2/8! Kind of insect.
ep ze Ba) ile |e 1 leet
= S| Jo|2/12(Sie ISIS | ols
: AIZ/EIELEISIS [2/5/2812
5 PIS|S|B/S|B ID js lalala
1886. 3
2182) |< Dead | Aare. iS.) Was nan eto aa oar here te ane ee ere ere ee x |---| 1 moth witheggs; 2
D.C. pars of jaws (of
caterpillar ?).
2133 COVES ees Seoclless Oy ahe fos eee sey SG) Wea Wee sl Nee fe, Pel | Pe x |.. | 1 snout-beetle
ZIAB acres sss oul, 3l | Gainesville, Via .|---|---l2--|2-c\e- 21-2 I -acle—c) == |lsec)oa) (Ulm yae
1887.
5693 || 2 ims daly: = 32) |) Wasbin ot om, 25-1 xclealne|o 4] ase eae oe ee eee eee Very small pieces of
D.C. a wasp.
5694 That |loaaGK) ocaollanise UOmensrn ee ees senders Sap | ees oe el eee eer aoe
B605u|) Orme | do siec|eee. iCable eS lke |
5696 OFT da ea ed One =" |pare OOriesee essenleee Xl Seale Sol as aloes cele Bell ae
56970) 2 ads|>--d0 22 --|5-—. CC ee ees Smee rer fe Bs) Bele vee ese |e Slee | ee a5
RON ep eid easCO senaiice- GG 22sec Ses alee Sexe See Sea Seale aes Ssee eee a
MR smelly Ts EC aGie so a Secoecollbeslbouliose Ba seein Sail eae
SOY heh oben SaAcllesoe COP See ate alco pian eres oe eee testa Need fine See atc NS
DOL 6 OsadylineeGlO! sees eae Oy: sain esas St esisorlsscliee saa) laaci= os x | x | 11 flea-beetles; 1 leaf
flea-beetle.
5702 Q -22@O 225s 5 Olnpeecos conane Seales eee sec llceel Saclasceliscs|eate||sesllhe:
Dave 9 @ Inns|--dOy. sae) 2 2c Ogee as aa hae Miles aae| see Killa sect|eea eee
BS arep alti oer OKO Maa alleen i) saeimon socal lees SNe [eee NG) [heel oceans eo alee
S705) Onimay||s 2d 0 22 4|sacc@ O cee eee eels Sees laqeleeaiencilecst ---| x |..-| x | Remains of a wasp.
Boe ere getty Ge CUO sel | gaan citoke 40 45sec alles al ea eal ae ol ee eB ee a
DOO a) GJ WV a2 QO are os ee Ole eee ea ee Sell er ea (eel ar eae ve
5SIOSM eacead.||lalyan 145) aad On eases meres Al eeett See eae Po ERS N= cee | saad | een ae
Hoslale Sead Vive Sula Or seee ae ee cel cee esel one Ba (hs | ews ta ol etal sc ce (fae
5DS2 tl Rea 220 Oars nee OO sear ee taal ears Me leeslno llioell sells ocellos x-| x | x | L spider: “i snomt-
. beetle; 2 ants; 1
bee; 1 small, par-
asitic fly. .
RB eee ilNe) A esa tlt) oo Sopeneneseos se Vest Sal pe descr lence seaje| spider; 1 snont-
beetle. :
5534 | of do: sw hone GO sc sepee sae aleee eae x z mie ae be
5535 So ed ones eeen (Other seme lh SE I fisttes Zool erst pee a everest eee ere
55386 | of et! (0 se ereie Ow ee eee alee x |---|..-|---|---]..--|---|--.| x | x | Lsnout-beetle; 5 flea-
beetles.
ey || © SACO 285) See M0. Fea esas So ere [ee plose|eecils Sec} 21 x | a] | 2 ais prdeisr ae tenant
beetles; 2 flea bee-
tles.
55388 | @ PG Owe seen OE omar sical eee rt SA | opel eae Goce lean | Xr | Several snout: - bee-
tles. : :
5539 | Q Prdovet sales. DO. s a ele Sol eesel| ze
5540 Oe iS Seclaaes Oi sst ee 5aoce soe ee x as
5541 | @ Badon case ey dodge e Bele se NBscdlcae Allee a messi cite el eee [ae
5542 | Q A300" fina|ee GO;Ssceseanee| ee Sey tee | | es tO ea | reall sabe ler 2 PUD OE eee
y-
5543 | POO! Sho] Sa GOue ease eh. bre oes Soa [ Se SE SS | ee ee
5044 | Q Be Cees ee geseere (5 Lo mene arene (er) Sa a | ee ace, Sea Rae les 2 x |.- | lsnout-beetle; pieces
of larva of a leaf-
hopper.
GY) | coqauans || dhwbivey) Gh No SacCl) Se cseadeede| sos) |o4e wo teastees|o--] x7 1cec]ox | x | 2 Ul Nunierousisprdens:ts
: snout - beetles; 1
wasp.
Baek No Cerne mie) CO esacGk) se gocoseccsleod lone soul a cteee | eesouteex
Sidi oO ads) June | ia. dO.f. a2. ce-e bles. (na | are en | ae [ee alee ees | eee
BEALS eyihyalas OW) Sascllacac GO) Sosa eae Ser Boe Seb lees | eae x |....|-- |.-.] x ]...| 1 May beetle; 1 snout-
beetle.
5549 Wades 50. Os |e One acer eal eae Sues sleet alice ...| x |---| 1 snout-beetle.
5550 Cv EVIG IS ule. ey eal) Open eesecealliac seo ies eal eae een eae te :
HH |) — Ojai esaC Omer areola cae oasl ose x mice Sale cal ee cite
5552 OLA Gs | SiMe 19) |r. AO Ws wee lfm | Peep ee eel
Hoos Pacuade oe GOL. 2 2h faa HOt gee coy eae ees aa bes | el tas tel Seal tec ae NS aS oe
5554 aA San Okan il OO, one ete ent ree Heel Mallee Salpeter eee
5555 Sp NCTA | SEU DCO Yie est ee SCG Vay teeet meters) gla Seals Allee See eee ea
AGI |) erie dime I 53-00 ssassosbocsllese x : z
HOGI) opada| dime Wels 40s sea dceslee: Kel. leat Need ae oe Uae Sere |---
HOG Nee CLINE oe Oreee: nee OE eet Santee mera toge x |...| x |.--.[---] ? |..-] « | 1 flea-beetle; traces
| of a bee or wasp. —
BRE) Grin) whwsney I} 5). Saad) Soe ssoeeacollancliosclase Sel ees eal ese Pyeng x | Very small pieces of
| a hymenopteron,

RESULTS OF DISSECTION.

139

Contents of stomachs of Iinglish Sparrows (Passer domesticus )—Continued.

’ ®
: Cereals. re) Insect food.
P S
. eh g,
? 8 3 : Es é 2
& eX | Date of efi : 38|S|8|2| a
- 5 eee capture. ee 2 hea) a 3 &
i 2 ‘a/SiS|S/2"/S\a|@ | a] Kind of insect.
mE | J81818/8i8 (Blala|e
2 s| [£/2)2/212 |Sie els
# Slalale|2i/S\iS |seleol-/s
= = = = 5. = Oo, < a Bis
. = FIO|O|R/OIzP |Alalala
1887.
Qjuv.| June 16 | Washington,|---| x aoo|(Seclle=
DAC:
Paw | une AT {222.00 . 22 ce5. 6 -s|---]--:| <5 = MS lseoleee|!) te
MOVs |= SAO! | )5. JO S.2eeke teoalnct x hs es alpacas S
EEG |= MO!) sel a CGS SLES Wore Red Seal gael see = jisce :
CU) -=-A0 2. = PA Ove ceo ee lee S| [eel ieee oe Sal Seis esol ee
ewe une ZO Or ses eas 5) = eye eS ee Micka ieee Ae i
Gand ac iene sy 73) il eee eee neo noelaer al eisrel cress) Sve ner lleccel ees Sines] oer 6 house flies, with
numerous eggs.
ua EU Ons 5 2 [toa QO so ee eee oe |e pe eres Pee Jats onl apres elh ae
Ouvala =< GO),. 2 2a es Coe sed eees Spe ls leicester ener ee ferowrelliass ee j
Q EAU Se ote (ites Sos eee eee peal peel oes ee Sa heel aeml x
Sve ss OO 2.2/1 - doy ae x Selle Alleocaleeale.
Cte ulys 14 be dO). sec. - x Palen eve ee
OF ade 5. 3dO° sso she 5! GMty Seen eueesallese x - Ei sieveraca | eres | es E
Wamar =| Ox 3). «|< - MOrsssee tes. [ess x elie Ea lee eee
9 im.}..-do ....]...- do -...-.-.---}--- * |---|---]--- x [----|--- x x | Leg of spider; leg
of beetle; part of
wasp; part of an-
other small hy-
‘ menopteron.
Paait|2-- 00.2...) =<. i Beaosee Bs --|--0]-- x |----|-- x |..-| x | 2wasps; several flea-
beetles.
SP thees |e ce Coe (Eee GOs: sence lsiac 5 eel eee Sal cil fecha br eal Nek Le
eadeledulye 1c &. dOrsceccce (sc) Solon ee iets © SES Seyler eel ieee ee
math: |=-dO 2...) .\ =. Ops sees eae dal ee ae Se acs Flector pea cde oe Sal
i Tidal eget A eee eee Ci Ny ee a el oe Mise Slese Soh amo iyetere | eral Melee perce aes
Pia | dO ..2.}.--- Ole ae ems eerie eae hee ceaeliac ee eee [ieee
IE SPS eae eae CO) Cae i Brae lle x Bel teel xl arena ose at eee see] SS
Ptvel =. -1O.2-<.]--- do ..---------|--+|---|---|- S2) peel Se] =cbr\ices|) 4 cae) ee- Numerous wasps;
traces of a bug.
AMA ees A Overalls a a Ol nee serra lee ae | see epee tere 2 Ser ees eee ae z
Chinas -0O}e = = =| 25% COre ea acme alee ellaea a(e ore pel te A
ABE EC Otes = les. UO cache ceealsss eS eae Raves ee ey ee el esis] Nee
MUN ee Oe ote oe ot WG See seoeaee x = alle lao yes stelle cre
Seat eAnes 9) | 82 0: -<<-2-=-2=|-2- x 2A Kars) te Ee ee 2 snout-beetles.
ead. fe. G0... ...|--- UT RAE Oe ales ES (ele Stel ~-|----|---]---] x |---| 2 snout-beetles.
els HP UO Sec soe: COV eee serocallssc Sif ese) Se Soke eae | ewes Peg bs eet
of thare EEC) ees ees AO ee aa ee | Soe alee sess On SSall ec. vell ove, eect sare leie
CARLIE Pea OMe ce Wat OO) Soto a hee TS a tale Siete fle aiken [sete eevee
Rainier Ogee acs CO oc aan cs tae aheics vers feceleee Se lscoolse See
pee e002 00). | Be | ob -< fe el fees eek pc fea ela | ae | Il es
Sf Us| tN el eee Gore soa tee lass eats exe lbesce |i rer se shel ee
ein |=. CO -i2 |= 2. do --«------.:|--- ST es te Wes Nem ers x | x | Many fica - beetles;
legs of snout-bee-
tle.
cg im SECO eee do eseeee x mite katfent =p} smn 0 - - - -
tie AT Os LOal 2 200 ~ <2 cme contest Si fiaee ites es | fs altel aan a Fe FE
MUTT Oe oo | Ot coisa aa Side Shi seit eaoell a oils SNA
Be" Ustig REC Sle Reser 0 eee mae alee | ee lene a foes
EUTI eMOmee ets oa. Oye eee are Afse oll s.a1< Safire eerie ese fete
MLTENen ee WOU: fe ohh oh CO ee ee ee SN eae Sete Mule ne eee ee
? im ANOE Sala Gow. 4. eee x Seale | atiees |e alee
eBUNIE) | ae Or. A27)| 20. = dO 22-20) anes etl ee pou eer (etal [8
eae ANTLO AUT at SECO aL elec. c 5g OTe Geena | Seats | heya Nea Ee
Jo im SOE ec G 0s ones see ae] 2 Bd leretes ast Sees heel :
Apu iets OS sini i. a dota ses SAX eS Heo lela omelets
3¢* TV ep eee UO eee | ee UO escer ae. Re hell ae Se el ae Met ieeel eeal ies
Smelly (sO 2 Sy, |e! 2 (UOTE oe erect tere eee a |leeste eves $2 nll Wiahi leases pal le eh veel ee .
Jo im Bri oe epee | aes CIOs care rat | x Sei Seal) Se z x x | 1 flea-beetle; traces
‘ of a wasp.
Cd ee ee Ons eee ei Sites lees, loarane x Eel iSseaitehrle| eae Remains of a wasp.
Obie ee Oe- acelin.os 2 Ohana eee eae.) epee othe Se ened Nace ces actos al We a
CRU se CO! 22,4 st... (Oeste re eae Rae ee Bre Res || ees Hf sent Sit he a
ORM e On: 2S alecs - FOG ae este eral (ete Dail | il eee | ea Peete hee Meal eretlie one
eam.) Aug. 12 |.-- do .--.-.-----}-.- BS Loeol le cSoelisel||aecall Salleh) Snes) eee Remains of 1 wasp.
AUT Me, A Oie2, 01411 2-0 Oy ee eo Serena: x Pelee canis lx Wee I Le snomt- beetle: wrt

wasp; 2 small eat-
erpillars; flea-bee-
tle.

140 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus)—Continued.

Cereals. Insect food.

2)
2
s
: Ba fe
E gee
2 | Sex | pa , | oslsisiels
Z| and | cpime.| Locality. ee} Ac ashy ale ie
a ge. SS es St eS Se wa | a) 5 . -
2 a(SlelSlisFeieiai=ia Kind of insect.
EL : S12) alee | let Se
= ~ S| @ = = ES =) a
= a! |i |el2iols (SIS) ote
$ 2121 8 eat Sie 1S ea
= eg Be ee Pin eed Sed Hlo|S|¢g
oO FIOCIOIBRIOIF IP IS IQ lala
1887.
5947 | oc im.| Aug. 11 ener ee aa aes eae x | pallersters seal (pee ee
BoAS al spades |j2-dOleseclsase LCS se A es Fs eel (ees) ie x: ise te 325] 2.2.3 eens
5949 Opa. |e dO 2252 | een 0.28 os see] eee SC pose (etal ae ae
59504] sees | dO ea alee ee GO sesee sasen = oe Sinise Bey een see ees peas Sits =
S94, GIB Sedo. ae cence Ooo eee ace) orn] a ete ata Yk (eed eal losis es ---| 1 snout - beetle ; 1
wasp.
59525 | =f aM ced O Se ~ 7] -o oe AG): 22. 52558 5< Peel Cee ee K Needle Cie rel oe
BSS LO sade-sdo Slee | Foo: BOR see: Satis Sal Rafeeeteae ed Nessa eee Gere: bien ces jee Remains of 1 hymen-
| opteron (wasp 2).
5954. log amy. oo’. ee doe eee ee or B00 ee SLE ten omiaheae Seen ax i 1 tree-hopper.
5966 so *Orads | 2 Ameo 1S les. (00 seece ees seeleee tee Pee a ees eles tans os eee cae
S967 4 PP adel edo 55 -<|acee doe eee eeee --]-x [ate]---}---| x |. <-.|.--/-2-] x1). -] 2 teeskeppena
winged ants (fe-—
. males).
5968 |p =o 20s led Osa. taece Ee een Sl ees Prva Bake oe aca | ead Ser eee .
5909 Q BR SdOle 225522 Wy sosscnoneoe Eerie Se ret sal ores eel tel tee ae
597 2 Bae Coeseeny eed TD Soascnsgesal|e es) toets| See Sete Se ee ees bees tea pie | wanes 3 flea-bee-
: tles.
5971 Ouim- eed Ors = =| eae C3 (vege ae nese] oleae [ei | feb gel vara Rea en) oe Beare a aver ics) OYE hk SO -
2 wasps. Z
SUTedleeroi te a ctlt) sae oose dos. ctnansaosteee eee «2 | | X fovclsee-}ee | oc] 3 | 2] Barts ioieonte tava
beetle ; 2 wasps. |
RIVA ii exes wits Poel Mesasioeas So qsodecie sa acs] % Jane]e- [ox s) ete] seen] sale] x te S| lee Omimite heer nae
5974 Os.) Ang. 19.4230 ~<a aes |e, | tees |oe-) ee lee [Saco
5975 jUVel aac dOsee salen dOe see e=s | ee PERI ESS Hera Peale -.-| x | x |...) 4 ants; remains of
several wasps.
5976 jltv.|-< 0. son feees 06 .oece ote 2 wa} x few cbeeclee Jeocleeee| x doe |e 1: 2a een
S977 GS Ae GO. eee GO 2 htc teek Bee a ee (eae eee eer nn ee el me 2S = Very minute re-
: mains of several
wasps.
SOSA. 6 ama |e-- GO eee ieee ay AF aS oasoesl ser el fee (eed (se (ae a oer ene ol
5979 CAMs |== do.4=s2|aas2 GO te schon Sole ee Sa ig cd Nese ee lie |) S| PE, | eas ees .
59804) “Gad: |=2-do =-=2|e==- Ose saeeets = |e Ki PSh Sele Sel esl als cae beeen tees
5981 Ova: |22.200 eae |acee dos: sees ES Fr Sos ae K bossl Sethe sa less
5982 | does alee: QO Riescise as see del (ae oa gel Le eT bree x |2.-]..-| Dowasp.
5983 Q Bai to ere ees dO we sbecece else xilges(eealpealee- Be Ee (eee Se
5987 co ad a Agnes Gs Adore sees eke > 4 [hie Sa Poa (Sess (escalate) ees Sie er es
5988 Guauaiee GO. s282 (e532 MO es ee eee dl vay ete (eee Feta |e Ee Pee = Pe Alee
5989 S G0 ss2elzass Ory Sees Pee Sage: MSS {sc /S Sale heee aes al eee cee
5990 fot ee doretelfec- GO Hae eee oleae x Bile oi 5S al Hep oal seg S| en
5991 rot apr! pees ees (OVO ae Be ew pee eae | es re a [eae [ee ee (See) a eer
HOOF ge Ge ee Ose nee (oY a8 sae eee Seek ees. se Nec ice eet eee Ree eee
5993 Gaim lbs do:2s2.|2 425 NOR eecc soe By sa ae fee | vai ere ol ol lees
HO OU ech, TURN AO sa. |haee dope ceo. eae aa Gos ye oe eee eel eel eee ee
5SO5 a dns | Ae O: Soy [ES se Olas sos Sel al ces|Eoleeeleaeieeec Eee eal eee ee
SIG Goal Med: 20, 8S 2 ll PSE O Ne oe Sets ea le Se eee ag a a al ee | ee ra
5997 Mi sy Pema i Ct aces eames dose. oceosae6 woof SR Bale 2s eet ake, en eet ees
5888 2 im. do Sse k ae do}. sheets 2] Sea SES eee |e alice Ben eee ees
5899 OMNES dO, sees |p eae Ope acs oaeeee Sac Slee [eee Se | Eater alee :
G00 4) = 'OFms 1S sdoulhe ey ae GO scene ses Oe ees ewe ec pee eae eS ase x |..-|.--| Remains of 1 wasp ~
6001 OR aE od OLee oeleeee CO sas es eee xe Sl Poe oy eee cet eee
GU024 2 O-ads=2.do facta MON ese sei ol luse-dl. Clee gil Heal eel epg eae ar sees
6053 Ozime eed Ore ener doje east Sea tele. eS eal ee | aoe cee leeeleeaicee
6102 |. 3 A The. 2014 oseedO Soko tod See oe | ae ale a ee ee
6103 J 20 Se eeleeee Ors aaa eae ae Sam me ate escapes aot tee 3 |p| HY ee ie a
610i) oC dO: 2c 24h AG €o) 32232 a Sena pa ees [ae Rese eral
6105 ref do: B27 e See dos. ois. See XS ee eee a ean oo Sel lScee es
6106 OF |-e ed Out Set ilesee (Caste 5 BEN eis [Ne eae (ees Ses | |s22| Sees Ee ee °:
6107 Ona 0 8a. |eeee GON Fane ae (Rea lv) | res fee HOLS) Bere) es Sil eee a |
S108} Pjuv.|>--do -2..|-- =. Gopfecesss oho ee x |._-|...|---[---le.bh.-| x |-Al Remains of Segue
; worms.
6109 Oifaiys |e CO seer <} e Coa ey wz-| x |..-|.-]---]..-|--.-]-<- Ps |e-c] x | Dowasp;) 1] Pseemaaa
6110 Ojnysie=-00.ms2e es: Os hse seek -o-| X 1 x: [ons|euc]e [oes deeel x | x | Draces efed neem
wasp; 1 flea-bee-
tle.
6111 je) PRECLO Scatter COP eee = Ee ae Seal total Sea Set] Sa ell ee ee eel ee
6112 | @ Pele. 6 ses & done Fe x |..-|..-].--|---|---.]---] |--<1 x» | Remains of 1 wasps
6113! Q Cop. Crepe (ee 5 GOs Soe Sean tet x 4s sales slseeelnealeeeleeale

+

_ RESULTS OF. DISSECTION. | | 141

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus)— Continued.

ah ®
: Cereals. 5 Insect food.
: a“)
- nen bs)
ae Se : =
x0) p. eal eeM ace
Be |. Sex : 5\s\3 | 3\ 2
: 2 and Date = Locality. Es cule|e) ele
= capture. 2 = EIS os eae
- & ae. a Sloigimtes| Oo] “| ele ; :
as res ts le (a ols beet & Kind of insect.
. & , ‘ ailoal|o|O}H Bion | @.}.2 :
«6 : : re ala|a}]2/0 «(S12 ] 0
es . = HEBEL Z(Sleie
we ely Nag | ie) = RS aha i Rm Uo
= elieleialialicle [2(8l=2ls
AS FIO|O|AIO\F IP |AIQ|A\A
ee EEE EEE | £ Bosh (re 8) oe
1887.
6114] Q Aug. 20 | Washington, |---| x x
e WFC:
6115 | @ aan ieee Bee US Sage oe) ee) cal SER) es) FER Sc (eae eae ees| aie
6116} @g (Tene Ses JOUER Spee | ase] OP ec | Roy |e eet eas (Eee ae Hel [ae
6117} Q gi Cee eS Pee LO ae ea [ES ae Ih eS es PSS Wee eos Salen fates
6118} @ Ce eee CO pete eee ey he apeeoex BoC pee. ape ee see. =
— 6034 Ret Ard: LO hss 0 5225 2-55 2x .
Senet chen ae te se PAO ee fo fos |e ix fem e-[ 4 [ose apse
DBE | he 0) ES pe SG Se | EG Pea (eae ae, ee eee eet ym fae ae | ae sas
6u87 | ¢ x |---|-- Legs of Lichneumon
tly 21
_ 6088 Seles Many wasps.
6089 | 9 ad.|..-dO .--.| -- GO ------+-----)--- ---| X |---| 1 snont- beetle; 2

small jaws (of cat-
erpillar ?).

UUU | Yj -- GO ---.|----GO ..---------/--- s|/2== X |---]--- 2 small bees.
GOST : HoOuloos) 2S | sScliose 1 wasp.
‘ is: Boos SDI SSeS I aoe ---| Remains of 2 wasps.
PB Sei A So aaa ae a lant; 1 wasp.
— «GO94 Opes as OF aoe acts A P
0355 3 Tete Bape (SB Si, Pe See eee ea be ok :
— 6096 “2A eee eee st Sees ee é
—- 6097 SO reas a ee ete a |
6098 Core pe S: Pare eae een eel ye cet ee eae 520 eal PR a EB |
Go0L =d. Aug. 17 --d6 - eee ee ee ee-|--- : moll 9 aoe ---|-.-| X | Remains ‘of a few
: sniall ants.

cE

QQ, G44040404040+0+04040 109%,
po
| =o .§
aa ye { i c. we wee Ome e) = OC > i Ca Oe ve
eS
oecoo oo §o°
' Hi al Ue ait
' 1 a t
i FA roan
Li wl J L foe RO
rae. ac cise
oC Ore So o°o eore
z A became i
4 rT 1 bo ed |
i} ’ ) arial pagal |
’ ry | ee! Bea |
‘ , Ey
’ ' pecs
' ' i hSot ay fT
’ ' moot yt
Kio Ke i
*

= ede eee

-|---d0 ----)---. (lo ------+----}--- ee ---|--+-|--+-|---|---|---| * | Very small pieces of
a hymenopteron.

@
oS
[o 8}
Q &
al

. i a CO! Soccer ale oe leet ee
Sar = co av.|--.00 2. -.}.--. One ee eee See se alee fee chen oe [ele tae ole = = 3
6010 PLO com tos CG ssc saws; pe S| Se eee Sp.
6011 5 O) SSBC Tiga races Gitye sea esoee| Se 5a) oi seen oSel el See ere pu igs
6012 | Q Se ier dO! =e ==: -2=|-- -|=- ---| x | * |---| l wasp; 5 jaws of a
: ; : rrassh :
6013 | 9° yous lobe Sele UNUM 2ee-eece Se) See a > ie aac
~660!4 | 9 DEAD osha ie are eee len TEA ee AES Sel
~G015 | Q ad. ab ap oweeeee eens |---]..-]- So) ks] EAB [el (ES x |---| 1 moth (of web-
= worm ?).
—~=6«G01G || D So CS EE ees 3
mails |S - |. .do.-..|.-- wget eee oeee mae Bes SA as ES eae co 2
—=« 6018 || 2 Seal) ene aS es er re ---}-..|----|---|---] x |---| 2snout-beetles ; part
. of leg of May-bee-
mio) of ad.| Aus. 18 |_...do -.......--.|---
6020} ¢ 2 atp ee e eee F : Pane
6021 rot Se eel eee COnsa es coke fee | Gage late sp.
uh22 | oC sleek. |e G0 co SS i Hower
G023 | 9 ad.|-.--do .-.-.|.-.-. MO meester oy =
6024 | Q es AGU te foto ALO soe coger | aa Be [ee | oso eeo [tee lactate opens
6025 | Q Sie gents oe (ieee shee) eee oe Se es (a an ee ee 4bees (of twokinds).
» 6026). 9 es. eee ee Vee ee oe ao se fes fee. ---| x |.--|---] Remains of 1 wasp.
2 Q AS OW Vor oe OO 2 wooo =e a a==|--- el2aelcacpedsleossfe- eX bol XY) Remams-ef Pawvagys
: 1 flea- beetle.
Q ee eee eee ee eee eee er See Sa oe
rol Aug. 30 SU EE i SE SR | Bl El oi el (ae cae baer (ca
oS peador sss s| 4. CT aE ees nn Bees Soe ee
4 ROO espe ONG a ge ie a seas Bee |e
Ss Sy eee | ee oe C0 Bee Se ao aaja|e et alee
Q ES Ota. OSE Senet al ese ae ese
2 S20) SBE SE ares ee 4
2 el Cees aes dnd Sees 2) ae ee
Q oi Uae ae tl ae | Reena] Mee as EAE
2 ee Geen tea ore Spee Fi
Q Sen epee) eee WG! = 3 awwseue [2 = Ea eet meee
S of aes 8 oe eee sae Ee
Sn Reap Tee a Og ogee ee ae

142 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus)—Continued.

>)
Cereals. 3 Insect food.
&
5 2 ae
@ | Sex f RIS |5| 213
= | and Be Locality. 2 zs D 2 5) &
A | age S/3/8/tlee|Slq|& | S| Kind of insect.
5S Sos] Oates |e | a] maln@
ch re S| a)2)] nig 2 eu aes
iS e| .jJr—leleiols Isislelg ;
S ea) ES | cea) tes, eS al pai ae
SB ceta|) Sailicset eam etal cee ace 2is|° S
ts) FIO/OlS (S/F I |mialala
1§87.
6138 | of Aus. 23) Washington, |ryel-=-|--.|2--\% |--2'o = Pao Sas
| OR OF
61389 | ¢ dO sselee dO! eae eis x SeSe\losollyocsleseliace||eoc
6140 ot do = SsaiL es (i aR ee 2 RSA eal lgsesllenol lace =
6141 | 5500 coug|[baseh® asestconcs =: x -| x x |- --| 1 wasp.
6142 2 £2 Ore ale) eee eee : § Noctellaaclk stelfsas||= sc Saalon
6143 fe} ae sOv-y- Saul) Snconcoons Se San ao) eye acl ers at eed (as 5
6144 | oO seOSoecllasacG® sssdcacccac x oS Ne Scijoes|losl[oa: ==) |
6145 Q dor Fs Oem oe ee ee x a Sars flies Se) oa
6146 fe) BO = ae al 25 Oss aaseee ee Xanle x x Wleealleasiisce|les<
6147 oud. | Aug. 24 AG Ove ee es || sce aee Kelis lees Sarina
6143 | Gad. OOF ses he AON ae eee Q wa ea feos dau SF a a
6149 | ¢¥ G0 222 ||. 200) se eeewes cee Realise oe - SE Salle aa| [sos lace
6150 fot 5 eC Oven |e sd OV geese Ba lesalies lacclssel os 36 sos|ledelasalleas
6151 do. ACL OLE ees ets Oe earners See Boel ie oS a) sallow hee Pee rallo la heer ---| X | 1 flea-beetle.
6152 JS Ome Ee | Ore ae eames: Eee (> te Ra [Sa oo eet | Vee | S| a
6153 | Oe |e OO nome eres: Sosa bee Sl hore) (oes ore .-. |---| X |---| X | Remains of a hy-
menopteron, and
very small pieces
of a bug.
6154 | Seed OF es -2e| sec Olen sates nee %|aee lee ea facia|lebaelsea|oAsllsocl[es
6155 | Ops =|, dop-ee ceases > bast S s-SelPsst L F aioe
6156 J doe 42500) case eee eee 2 eee ee (aera ioe ya atest Ie Benlece Soe
6157 | dos. 8a |e nd Onssrenemen ee x ! ro Watery (oe tee |
6158} ¢ doe Pat adore aaa se ee iste | eal goed eee ae zara
6159 | ¢ do Boe Oe serece se Pale ieee eae Soll Se l[Eoeloe —}[ace|ioo<
G60 | a Ole sid Omen seee ee SiS aie ailoas|ibes aN |Eae\|bnellsos|lboc
6161 2 COs 2: hig Onatee ase ee aes Se Silocra|lasellaueslleas roe foo 1 wasp.
6162} 9 Bee Ce ee eet as dO. oseee x ---|---]---|.--.]---]---| * |---| 1 small caterpillar.
6163 | 9 oe ONY ETE Se ARE a Sela Bie SS Se ape eer ate fae Spe\hes eee |a = Remains of 1 wasp.
6164 fe) Hee Olen ee eee dogs ieee Ere Vs oe [eae ge [Es es ns es es Ls eu oslo - Remains of 1 wasp.
6125 | ¢ INU 22 |eoaO) sscecosocise x 4 |lecea- Salleksiloouilse <I =
6126 | ¢ SUC iese re OR eee nese Soe. x z Bee Seclas
6127) ¢ ae Ons ae pee Ove eee sa Be | ete |< | ae ieee |e aealleeclese||aoe||50
6128 | ¢ S2dO Wee: | Fees UN ees seen sere pai (ee seed ewe mai Eee es SHE SI
61295" SS SAGO! co) |) SOM OMmaae ciseemere| se Saisealees ots allessilecelloor
6130 Q SLO) sXe lace Ose aves eal see Xeleee| ean da 2|/350]|s03]/55-
6131 Q Be Ome We OOo estiaee cr: Sot | eal eae Asse tase eee bee este
6132 | 9 RG Ots sake dort = seers | reel eS royal te erest | teers oie BAe
6133 | 9 eRe Aelia ae Ch ee ae =e Ble on fe | eal fae | Pa Se Fer a le es
GISES| 20 fuvet-- 00. loo. dO aac ee BS Fa ME et el (eS x | x |---| Remains of several
grasshoppers and
1 wasp.
6135 2 SSO S88! s0/03 Ota seer asec 23 eS eel Mesa ese Seo ser 58|] 4c
GOOSR crag Ate 20) |p sand Once -neeee ee: n SeHO EX || Erol ces | tore eet) aa eyeee tees | even tere
GIOOG |S adi sa-d Ose oac dO fe sesenss. wale |eioele eee ele aol ell eee ae =a ;
6101 fot Sted Ouas apace OO) eee aerec eae PAW SCE I SE Eo eet Sales aiiae
AML | Oriya! AGS FAB eos soseooase Be em eres | oe aol Se Hecsllssc|loo>
C202" \e-O juve <0!) |r dOc sactepeticine Se (AB (et (PoP a ve rl ng | | PS sip |S | }
6203 Onfbya|eae dO) fea |e (Owes cese ee | ae | eye | epat nem ees ke ete ene ee y
6204 | Qjuv.|-- do .--.|-... does tthe. Bese Lalit eas che eal ae ees alles x |x | Remains of 1 cut-
worm; 1 May-fly ;
1 leaf-hopper, and
4 ants. Z
C205 N Te Give anG Ox =e ner dO eeeekls coe me PN ol pe fe = is LRG S| [bios Hes tae ote
6206 | Q saad Ome -e|c oer dO meee - te saleee BS eee ee Slade! 88 sce sec|loas isc
6207] 9° Send Or ae | cere AO cease casecaenele se Bae) eect a (ee! bao Les = ee
6208 | Q SO Se-e|: see dO: .ccacmeeeen mlb ea ees lists 52) ee cllesealloos|Saellsoclae-
6209 | Q MO) seco] Se O) sete cce eee SSlleociess|losaires | $31 Se Wooelsc||ose
6210 | 2F0/475-. [i CO: seeeeaeieeee mo eae ee | Selle eee Seales
G21 | es So) Bies|leaes Wor eeeee eee well Sez ea ved Syma eel cann | ee een E
6212 rot PERO Ss eel eee dol Z--eheeseee ou See Exe eel oe Xess seleee eee
6213 vo ae QOns2ei| See oe cee 3 ames te ee SITE Hes x | x Iee.)---]---]--
6214] of Bea Onsnee| sche Ore barteaoee® pales Rese (ee oe Se ec eea e eee Sel Se
6215 Jo Ee Oats | eee Gove as oe eet Pea ak x oe aves es Ren Ren
6216 | o ACO OTM eee Osaka ucts eo Saale tee ee x al eae Na es (es
6217 rot Pee Occ |isoe GO ee teen ees Mase aise 32 54 eos: iSeeESsSsulle-
6218 | @ Bens (snes aa dO scala |S als Res el acsearle atl eel ee
6219 Q SPO eee Rei Oeeaae Bs ses ra Meee alee es cleealiscel Agisael eer

RESULTS OF DISSECTION. 143

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus)—Continued.

‘7
. | o
Cereals. 3 Insect food.
' s
> 5
- 3 ape aitatte
a | Sex | Date of we/2|3|3 g
g and capture Locality. + Ze o/o 3 =
2 age. Ss aizly 3 | $ “ = = Kind of insect.
8 s|/S/O2/}/O|nR |AH]Alale
60 43 =a nN Qiao SS gy a
° el], elaljolo |eIBl ols
3 SIZ/ElEleI312 [Bl 8/ 2/3
§ Bloicjslo|E ip jsim jal
1887. |
6220 Q Aug. .27 We neem, Sue oth
. . |
6221! o ATOR OO He A ECOL oa sic cise So |e ae ee es ee 2a SOR Peal Cer
6222} o Pate oe AO (ooo a Be 2 a ee er Med: on ee
6223 | o do. IE) (eens oe ae Caw ht bess oe py Pelee
6224 | o Gop sadee: WOnt i sees Sealex 5 (ey et oe Sees Be altro
6225 s Ca ys eee | fee ORE cone Set) eg Eres eee x Be Ga sect eet oe
6226| oC don seaic RI ewe Seeger Esai |e ue Ss see Hikes lle
6227 Q BOR te cle 22 COwee iar | ee ee x tyate cele se
pe 6228 Qo do. ECO ei tee ae eet lau foe eee x Head Et et Salis
6241 | of Sept. 3 s00> ie aoa = =f 2 sae Seo Se
§242 | of Ors s)25=- CUT Se, See ies [ere | cre eee ||, S4 ea eSBs eS Se
6243 | of aC, Satis eee Got Set eee shes SQ le sels a Eo ee ee
6244 | o Cog alee 00 Reeser at. ee x x |x as =
6245 | ot dom sh SS2k OPS Sas soeesce ace x 3 aoe 3 =
6246 | Co dors Ahocee Ot eee aaeeer x ee Ze
6247] o GOs | 5552 OG). 25. sas 5ee pal Fane BE x seve aie
= 6248; 9 deat: 20 s2ssteeo: - x oe | tested are
6249 Q GT | ees Os eee eee soles SES: Saal ree Sot) 8 nee Ee
6250 | @ eae eee UO CES ec c|besl ee Sal See See Se x Boal seclee
mm 6251) So eae ee ee SEO et e, Gs) tal eee eee eee x aoa i
6252 | Q COves es eee UG aeeeeiescer x x ae
6253 | Q 2 See See CO ei ae x [Fx te ies
6254 | 9 GO cas4[a- == LO Esta eee x é x at
6255 | @ ee ae LO iene ce tones alt x ahzes Ea eed oe
6256 | Q Sie) 6 GREG CONS ee 2 eae ee! See) Bee eee! eee mee a 8c Gael eee x Many leaf flea-bee-
tles.
1253: bole Sept. 5 dOnt esse Ges ss | Cor Melt ete seal hay Salt oe
TL Ses eee do:2e=t) sso CORE jase c coleee tx e a eee Bere eve
Sf. 2a oe dO =. |es-: BOM sees eles S Seo ee a| oss oe alee prt | Me ta |
PUN | eeaeeee eae dors: vex: do 22 Male feo Malseshe se caltetlte-s
mueG267 |-.------}--- domes a25 Ores sea esc fee sl secteeleaclass x --| x |---| Remains of several
q small grasshop-
pets.
meeG2us |.....---|--- desc loc: AO eee ale 2 x eee ies P
me 6269 |........|-.- Chea eS (Re Sesame (eee ete ee) ae 2s ed ie od Ie
2 i es AO tos OO 2G em aise ce | 22-5 fe scressfocs os = a) ESE
DIYS | Cees ee Gos AG (iene Beene ecial eer eee ae x rl fe
7272 ae re Gowers: (25-7 GOK 25-2 as sees pak | x sea eae
[24 eer SGMbeE i seeeC Olen ase. Sree. sole ols 2 Meee lke Se Heres
Bsa UO NOVves 30). o-.00°... 5.tesc--25- By PS ee Sasol fe Se a3
6536 | Q Soi sea emer Ope ee sesae sos eel Sealees| fae x SOM Hse [Seale ese
6564 | oC Weems Messrs. cases sels x Se he OG fee
* 20 oats in crop. 136 oats in crop; 10 in stomach. { 34 oats in crop.
E SUMMARY.

The 522 stomachs examined at the Department of Agriculture gave

_ the following results:

: Wheat was found in 22 stomachs, oats in 327, corn (maize) in 71, fruit
seed (mainly of mulberries) in 57, grass seed in 102, weed seed in 85, unde-
termined vegetable matter in 219, bread, rice, etc., in 19, noxious insects
in 47, beneficial insects in 50, insects of no economic importance in 31.

Doubtless most of the oats found in the stomachs were obtained from
horse droppings, and some of the undetermined vegetable matter was
from the same source, |

144

[Examined at West Chester, Pa., by Dr. B. H. Warren, Prof. C. b. Cochran, and Benj. M. Everhart. | BS

Contents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer demesticus)— Continued.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. |

cS }
: Cereals. rt |
~~
eee 5
SS oo :
5 2 - z
3 Sex Date of = = 8 S| 2 Insect
ate ey k 3 Sh = L se ,
2 ace capture. Loeality. 3 aS aN Ee 3 es = tood. Remarks.
5 8 = S/R Els
oh 3 fAlajaleis |" 1s
< Oda lia Vase les vy soe
3S PISlSlElalSie |E|s
6) JFlClo ls lee (a |e
1879, |
1| og ad.| Mar. 13} Chester Co., Pa Belper |e x | py Cee ame
alee cpecse | IN ate 95 | proc Ole atneneseere: e: — x | \--4q--= .--.| Clover seed.
3 G ally||-2-0 Se tOrS ee eee: Colas Sees eS x | Bees Peet east - Do.
bo = Bi! .do reel o ee Bees, Rol lies Se aes os ates ee x er (eee eee II Blades of grass.
Fl ail -do 210 3-2 Sse | Seas lh Sec Sl cinder aera |e Clover seed.
Gil Oras |= =to = UO Seteacatas x SSF Bey hociel eit iets ca en Do.
7 | —aud.|---do SEO rotrec. cecal os—||se- Le x [2a Se Reet ee eee Blades of grass.
9 sad -do 22.00 Set Seeee PINE Roo el st x REE bees etal hnarkr eee 2 Clover seed.
9 |. —ad.|-_-.do + dO ees Sees Ea le e es| eee SCSI ERS et 3G Sel SR eee 0.
10) | gf ad: en OO noscnccs c= Poke era ea eee --| x {ool Soa eee Small black seed.
80. j
ll Om aiden N les alae sa OO me Serenata ra | ae x x i CMS ie eee White corn and
. small seed.
1a Nees ae Mar 3 dG. Fee 5 ial bes el |e lle alles 1 beetle-| Few small black
seeds.
AS leet ees -do SECO an See NA ees | aa 35 1 sie eae era a Green vegetable
matter. . :
14 Q ad.}...do she dO ges see ee o Se ey tee | Xx ales A eae Blossoms of pear;
: seed of bitter-
weed.
113). | SS Bikes alk = SHO as eee ee > | eat | Uo [ea | |e co tet celts Sell Sc Me eee
Ge) =a Nia 4s |b LO) eee eee ets Bia | a AIK 3e dl 2 AIF oc eee er Small seeds.
17 | ease Mar. al 21 eee CO eereere oe oe 2 | x es ee a fea (em ees Se:
18 -~adl.| Mar. 15 OER ee > eet fell Sh nate Jal hit ARs Se eee
Qe: Sa es Mar. 22 22d On Bessa Seon ae Ee peel at " Bane SO red Wetec Leet Se eS
AAU ieser Wae Mais Sets ee donee eee eae Se Nice Selle eu |e a: al ta circa dl ee eg eee 2
Die ence NTT? Gilles eh eee ee | el ee eae | oe Sal OC Hes ee eee Small black seeds.
ea ete ne EO ese G Be se Seer cess te Se as > ai (eae EE cans cet esr = Small seeds.
eal tee oes Mar! 20is==2d 0% Ss a5 eee a SBS ees begs & KG SAI eo eor cece Small seeds and
1879. | blades of grass.
2a aes Aprs 3 AOR ah ae SCul Sheer he |x | Sot) yl ee eee Seeds of bitter
| weed.
eal! eae ls (AGT a5: | ae COle eee See Sale wee Se eee =| los Sctpaeciee eee Sniall seeds.
OGM ite pe Aspro. Out ss Ot eae eae es in| (eal EO pas ite senra| eeales. Sa et Do.
Zilog | Ree Apter 251 SadO) ee Zaeceec: eles Rl eral eat ae el aml Ce ree -White corn.
71 aes Sec Gi ce, CANS Hoek ot cx lesa a eel! Sa ee Pee Buds of pear.
PALS ae enoRe AGT 26) Sasa Oe. oes ae: ran it BP ee oes oon reas eae Is Clover seed.
S15 Beseteeg PDs 130) \fex 2 OO) Ee ca tayerees pe ee pe P| ce AS Boa] ele ee Pico eaca 5 Buds of haw tree.
0 1 el Ae pee Seu: SEL OO cosseoence OSD eee eal eae ee 5 eel seo |e Sealey 5 Se Small black seeds.
1880.
Bob saaee Apr Li hee sO specs aac ey aes lee | ese ence
oes eee Apr 20 lh2=.dO ee oan. Ayres) [eek eet [ra co (Rese taba | eee lh BX aera ener Seeds. .
Ein poceeece AN DRED tee Cl Sues an eae 3 BS eR Ne aR Ieee (sce ee a Small black seeds.
35 fe) YS Tye ee aes ease eae Bete ee tesa lege, iS ar Nin = 2 SP mek
361 SC acest. |Soe ssesanseensese NTs) RIO S| ee 2 | a ae th sy a White corn. .
3742 O-.-\2..do.-.|) WestiChester,,Pal-.- ae et ee 3 x fee eee Small seeds. _
38] of Aer 29) | a= ad Oise neerc es he cl oett= cal spereal care core x ag EE See ey Small black seeds.
39| o May 2 Git dow coe aa: ae ee ge ee ares We gece, «oY
40 | 9 ECORA 2s =0) 2 lee se Es eal Pa ie a eco Sater
4} fod eed KY Se Oe ee eee ee = Some oleae Se) ey eee. eee Ss So eee ea
42 rot goto Oe eae SE Red eee a a ae fa Bt ke Pee ‘
43 | oS May 7 SdO ae eeemeerecee rs ate eames a= x a MEE eae e- Buds of haw-tree; :
tew black seeds. ¢
44 rot | May. £85. 500 ece- aeeeeale Fall ead ek aN eee eel ail ee ees
45 Q ie MC Oss |e ON eee ere ee Sel ES AE Sodmellon aless tales ls Ml eee
46 rot do. Se Oper seen ceed Oe pec te ah | PCS lta re ea ae oe
47 rot “Ores ON aoe ee PS Waa kp PE acai a Le ae S| eB ee rah ae oa aed
48 fot .do CIC See aay Sella oe eee 2a eee) ees eek ere are Pa eS
Del |3.-do SOO Meee seca Pel yea Pap) ve Pea aaa iy tte || Mees Ry =
50 rot 4.0) Sc S252 Ol eae cet Salles al pel Reena | poten eee eee Z ;
Bal 2 57 cpa PRG (cee as ee oo AY 53 eee hee eee 2 hla eee eee
MI teh HON Taivns es Oise Ol 50 bee Bee OK) 3S em | eg eres Men ae tol eee eee
53 | Q MeO) ce ee On. eee See oe x tues SSR eels ake A eae:
54 BE RMA Oeeei| 22 OG eee es Ae 2 Beye Koss ea Se el oe eens
Dag Seen at Nay 20 era AO) orc cme aaa |e se ae Pe es (en tee fee ge oes ea se Rye bread.
HOw ech BEACO xa ae ene CB Scesenra Seah eas sec | a eee RPS aa Pees eae Do.
TY Gal eee Se BECOMES (eee (ee Sener free Be Ne a eRe pe (iar feet |e | ae ee ‘White corn.
58a youns| May 23 s-5.00) aos fe anti eer l= Bee Sell oer nerd | eae CepLONOtS
. insects.

tents of stomachs of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus)—Continued.

SD
Cereals. # 3 | |
at ee > a
Z | By |=
= Fals|3
. =| 5) oe £2 / Insect
Locality ap Weis Sal Pls ¢ | Remarks.
SiH glo latl sl2| ood. |
BiS10/0/BE!] Oleg!
: ee sie]
+. SS eS eS Sy
Sha 2|$\2|% 3 <\s
Sslse|jxisielols 5|S
Sis B\E lg = = 5
IFIOlOlsigieip lala
| | |
West Chester, Pa}..-| x |---]--- Ee] [ee a ee | Bey eee eee
SOP MO asec cts Soke wee Bad Pes SL cee eye Pa |---| eee scueee
ioe 3 te CL SAECO Ta (te "a ay [=>] ey he aso peee S Soake
ag | Lae ea a ee Sail (eel eel eee Re crate (eRe eel hee PSS
ae Bee Ae Ree Se ed re et ies RR EE as sean
ait) Fe cere a el ies [52 n a Bee Seed See er EE
) iF ee ee
eden Soe} hb - Say tee Pei eal x ie Pate Seta:
Eig: 0) Ose ees See eorex: pee eae Ses Cee ee ey Ber See nd es Stomach empty
SPY Cee eae ae x |x| Be Eee BR Ree, Cote cabee EE UES BAe
eS ee ee Ses eee eel oe ¢ ee ee oe eee. 2 Ginger-bread and
| | : green vegetable
| bry matter. __
Sa Uy eae eel Ca Soe) ee SO) ay (| ek ee Ginger-bread.
Sel ieee oe ee | Secs Rees A ae ees Ree ows pect Perceie maser Green leaves.
Se 2 Set A aoe ey a eae ee ee eee dee soe
isc ees or eee ees Cig BTS 2 (nee a Coes es Pee Sane ee
Tejon SETET, eye a I (ES aes Nae (ee) Pai! aie Pats Re Mees See S eda
2 Ge] ee SE Se Ee, es ee as es ee |...|---] 1 potato |
Hee beetle. |
Pe free G1) aes is Res Sed (eae) ae (ee Rd
Soe tT ey eee eee tee) Bee eee gle nS) eg RS SI eS 8 eee |
Bel BE 3h oe eS Sor <5 LR El Sf) ees eco) bis ao S55)
<i aes Oo ee cs tL SOU Ler Se fee ee boul ee: 2 Ee Seeger Obes nOoxectale
heal | giass.
seas Sone oR LS A Cae tn A Ce a ha denen pa 8
Peering ot x 5 Ot ers Cae ae | Se |----|-- athe: Do.
arth Cea eee am cea SF rs Be A el Fe cee jes jee
aie OT ee eee is x | mS | Reore get aul i-
as ee eee a ES pee ee ae es Pees Sax [-
---€0 ....-.----.}-- ee Bach Bie Pee a
02 0 Cf Se ee te — es Ce eke oe ee
& Yo Oe RE Bel es 2 el ae) 1 ed a heal
On eee ee oe Se eee S| REY) jer ett AW
== do Oy ae aed OS | | eed Bene aoe aS one
=a) eee Hee ee ee FR a el (2h) Cee) ee aes
Cd Meee do een ee ed see Aa SS pale Reta BOG crs
27 Roa erie ee ape 4 es Bees) eee oa
fy ee ae Pee Sie ens By ey ae) eee ee eee | Oats and barley.
Sor eae ee eae - OR A ee peed mee aes Oe | j
Beets oe See st Nee ee Sas) ORS See |- |

pet fs _iat Tyee eee meted Cod gra cog) Pee RS Paes mee ee |

ee, A on KOO oe ee el fee sll Eee ER fe PS

ee hat oe toe ) aseeseeee|---| ra) eee el eo eae eed | apples

ea Ee te are Te obec | ibaa ty eh eset ORME week
See ee Se pee eee rg 258 od Eis oe tee eee) ee
br EH bers-|
aalaa) Ot. seated hither eb. fied. pate. ;
Pa... June 1| West Bradford, x |---| | ~ |. .|..-|.2--1---|--=]----------] 24 grainsef wheat.
a. } | ' |
ee Pe Ce ee = ip ae Lee x |. mised me! eee Pets
a oe Bein eel Sb etek eel, Seafov.|) oe -..02) . i Smaseetie
_. Se ae ee oe Sag a Ae) AS, Fra a ais | x |..-|...|-----..:--| Green vegetable
ned | | | | substance.
-- do Geme e ks Shek eee. sel So -s=]-- iN (tal Beet i CoS a Do.

2c Ee oe IOP 7 Reged Sg il Gk La Pe aL Pg ie ee Reece eee Do.

es) a Sa ee : oe) ee Soe) eee ee X j---)---|--------- Do.

La ae el CF eeahd ets has tal Repel Race) ca) ea fede belie Jase Be ae are Do. i
SE SS Cy eee) eae en ee en |---|--- aa Pees ee foeuben gi =o pooch Saray
eee bs HO 2c. Sk ck (as eS) ei | ai) a A ell 78) ee Cat Do.

2 Oe ae oer Pe wulesih, ebLee shone. oesbaheeeeees yolover ceed

| 2 Syd ee See ee ccd Ney 1 x |...|...|2 flies; 3| Green vegetable

f aptera.| | se eee ;
113 inestling}...do __.|.... Rtas eee cL) ea (SO) Ville) PSs Mes of al aaa Sma mass 0
F ng - | | cooked veef.
nestling}... do ...|._.. 7 ad eS al Ua isi: ja" | Sees Aa tae She | Soe eee Stomach empty.
| at

146 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.
[Notes by Dr. B. H. Warren. ]

The various vegetable materials named in the records given above are,
with a few exceptions, included in the following list:
Oats (dvena sativa).
Wheat (Triticum vulgare).
Rye (Secale cereale).
Corn, maize (Z.a Mays).
Grass seed, Clover seed, Small seeds, etc., refer mainly to the follow-
ny:
Red clover (Trifolium pratense).
White clover (Trifolium repens).
Timothy (Phleum pratense).
LBitter-weed (Ambrosia artemisie/olia,.
Fox-tail grass (Setaria glauca). Seeds of other species of Setaria are also fed
upon.
Buds and blossoms were chiefly of the following kinds:

Pear (Pyrus communis).
Plum (Prunus domestica).
Cherry (Cerasus avium).
Grape ( Vitis).
Maple (Acer).
Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium),
In a few cases remains of the following vegetables were present:

Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus).
String Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).
Garden Pea (Pisum sativum).
Numerous complaints are made by our citizens as to the destruction
caused by Sparrows to growing pea-vines.

MISCELLANEOUS INJURIES.

Aside from the damage which the Sparrow occasions to the agricult-
urist and horticulturist, it is also chargeable with offenses which are
regarded by many people as insignificant, but which, nevertheless,
sometimes become so marked as to demand immediate attention.

Mention has already been made of the damage which the Sparrow
does to foliage by its filthy habits, and this kind of injury extends to
various other classes of objects.

No specific questions as to injury by filth were sent out by the De-
partment, but many observers have contributed notes on the subject,
and even the most superficial observer knows what endless annoyance
and vexation, to say nothing of serious damage, is occasioned by the
soiling of window-casings, cornice-brackets, porches, awnings, and orna-
mental work of every kind about dwelling-houses, business blocks, and
public buildings.

MISCELLANEOUS INJURIES. 147

Wherever the Sparrow nests this trouble is observable in gre ue or
% less degree, but it is by no means limited to nesting-places. Very
slight modifications in architecture will often suffice to prevent the
Sparrows from nesting about a building, but it is impossible to keep
- them from perching and roosting everywhere. Even the plainest and
~ barest brick front is likely to suffer, for wherever a window-cap projects
a few inches the Sparrows are sure to rest, and defacement is equally
sure to follow. In the city of Washington many of the statues and
fountains in the public parks are more or less disfigured by the filth of
the Sparrow, and in some cases the defilement is so extensive that the
statues become positive eye-sores, the filth being conspicuous even at
adistance. Sometimes a heavy rain obliterates the stains for a short
- time, but so long as the cause remains untouched the evil is sure to re-
_ appear at more or less regular intervals. In the spring of 1886.a per-
sonal examination of the statues in the various parks and squares
~ showed that more than half were thus conspicuously defaced, and fur-
ther observation shows that almost all are affected at one time or an-
other. A similar state of things is often found in cemeteries where
- Sparrows are abundant.

A Again, the benches and other resting places in parks and squares are
so befouled that frequently not one is available, and the adventurous
stranger who lingers long in such places is sure to have his apparel, as
- well as‘his pleasure, marred by the omnipresent Sparrow.

- Therapidity with which these birds collect rubbish in places chosen
_ for nesting purposes is well illustrated by the trouble caused in the city
of Washington by their attempts to occupy gas lamps, and even the .
globes of electric lights, with their nests. During a single day they
will almost fill a gas lamp, and although the rubbish is removed regu-
arly they persist in carrying in more.

Capt. Charles Bendire, of this city, has called our attention recently to
cedar trees in the Smithsonian grounds which have been denuded
almost completely of their bark by the Sparrows. The birds have
stripped it off to use for nesting material, and have taken not only the
- rough outer bark, but much of the thin inner layers, leaving the trunks
smooth and shining.

_ Another cause of complaint is the Sparrow’s habit of nesting and
roosting in gutters, pipes, and drains of roofs. Large quantities of
nesting material are carried into such places and subsequently choke
up the pipes, sometimes causing serious overflows. In some cases such
_ trouble is easily remedied, but in most cases the damage is done before
the danger is suspected, and it is only possible to prevent a recurrence
of the mischief. Weappend a few examples of the complaints received.
_ Mr. T. J. Martin, of Waynesborough, Va., writes:

_ During the years 1881 and 1882 I was engaged in the tin trade in Lexington, Va.,
and having considerable roofing and guttering to do, I had a chance to note the dam-

age done by the English Sparrow. Formerly it had been the practice to put heads
or ornamental crown-pieces to the down spouts. These heads formed convenient

148 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

places for the Sparrows to build their nests, and they choked them up so completely S
that water could not pass Gown the spout at all, or only by slow percolation. In
consequence these heads either had to be abandoned or completely covered, so that
there was no room for the birds to get in. Insome cases the Sparrows would fill the
gutter and eave troughs with all manner of trash, seemingly using them for a play-
ground, and not for the purposes of nest-building. They caused much annoyance in
this respect, as the gutters had to be cleaned two or three times during a year. In
fact, I knew one or two persons having groves of trees near their dweilings who kept
ladders continually at hand for this purpose. (December 26, 1887.)

Mr. J. T. Connor, of Rome, Ind., writes:

The greatest trouble the Sparrow gives us here is by nesting about our houses, par-
ticularly in the spouting and pipes, and obstructing the troughs that lead the water
to our cisterns. (November 5, 1886.)

Mr. J. 8. Shade, of McConnellsburgh, Pa., writes:

They are a nuisance here, filling the water spouts with their nests, which they re-
build as fast as destroyed. (November 15, 1886. )

Occasionally this habit of the Sparrow may prove dangerous to the
health of persons who use cistern water for drinking. Cases are not
very infrequent in which severe sickness has resulted from the use of
water collected from roofs frequented by domesticated pigeons, and
such a result is perfectly possible from the use of water contaminated
by filth from Sparrow nests and roosts. ;

Still another danger from the presence of Sparrows about our houses
lies in the possibility of fire resulting from spontaneous combustion
among the masses of rubbish carried into out-of-the-way corners about
frame buildings. Although there is little probability of such fires origi-
nating frequently, yet they are known to have been caused by the
‘material collected by mice, and the following incident, taken from the
Scientific American of February 26, 1887, seems to show that there is
some ground for similar apprehension from the Sparrow:

There is a bar-iron mill situated in a neighboring town, 4 miles from here, that has
been on fire three or four times, in which the English Sparrow might be called the in-
cendiary. These sparrows pick up old pieces of cotton waste, which they build into
their nests among the timbers of the roof of the mill, and in every case of the fires
above mentioned these nests were the cause, either from spontaneous combustion or
from sparks from the bot iron striking and lodging in the nest. (R. W. Kear, Potts-
ville, Pa.)

As au illustration of the capacity of the Sparrow for mischief, we cite
the following statement of Mr. H. H. Miller, of Sandy Spring, Md. He
writes:

It has become useless to thatch roofs with rye straw here, as the Sparrow wears
holes through it, apparently for ‘‘pure devilment.” I know of several roofs that
have been destroyed in this way within the last two or three years. (February 16,
1887.)

Similar injury to thatched roofs is very common in some parts of
England, and has been ascribed, as above, to the Sparrow’s love of
mischief. It seems probable, however, that the injury results froma
natural mistake on the part of the birds; for they are accustomed, after

MISCELLANEOUS: INJURIES. 149

cleaning the grain from the outside of stacks, to dig or eee into the

stacks in search of more, and a thatched roof bears no distant resem-

-pblanee to such a stack stripped of the outside grain.

Among the complaints of miscellaneous injuries from the Sparrow,

one of the most frequent relates to its habit of robbing poultry of their

food. At first sight the loss thus occasioned would seem to be trifling,

but the complaints received show that this is far from being the case.

The Sparrows do not eat what the poultry leave; they eat with the fowls,

~ andsoon become so bold that they not only resist the attempts which -
the fowls make to drive them off, but even make unprovoked attacks

on them, sometimes driving them away from the food. Asa Sparrow

eats more, in proportion to its size, than a hen, and as the Sparrows

- about a farm-yard frequently outnumber the fowls ten to one, the grain

which they thus steal day after day is an item of considerable impor-

tance. ;

Under date of February 27, 1884, Mr. D. C. Beard, of Flushing, N.

Y., wrote:

I know to my sorrow that it lives all winter entirely on grain, for in buying chicken
feed I allow two parts for the Sparrows and one for the chickens.

Another observer says that they are so abundant about his place
that they “rise in clouds” from his hen-yard; while more than one wit-

ness states that when chickens are fed out of doo.s the Sparrows get

more than the fowls. Dr. A. P. Sharp, of Baltimore, states that on his
place in Kent County, Md., the Sparrows have learned by experience
that it is dangerous to eat grain except with the chickens, He says:

_ Formerly I killed a good many of them, but now have tried every means to feed
them. They will eat with the chickens, seeming to know that I will not shoot
thein.

This list of miscellaneous injuries would not be complete without a
_ reference to the voice of the Sparrow. Some notes of the Sparrow are
- not in themselves unmusical, especially if uttered by single birds and
a low key, but even the most enthusiastic of Sparrow admirers will
readily admit that the bird is no singer, and the ceaseless, discordant
chatter of a flock of Sparrows about their nesting or roosting places can
be characterized only as a nuisance. Those who have been compelled
to listen to this noise continually will appreciate the remarks of one of
_ our correspondents who wrote in 1834:

. To many our singing birds form the very poetry of the year; and when they are
replaced, or their music is drowned by these noisy and dirty Sparrows, so that half
_ the charm of spring is gone, no little suffering results. The effect upon sick or nerv-
ous people of their monotonous and peculiarly untuneful cry is very great. I have
- often counted a hundred and more successive chirps by one Sparrow, in exactly the
same key, areal torture to the ear; and I have known more than one invalid whose

_ inorning sleep and necdful out-door walk have been quite spoiled by the presence of
_ these birds.

150 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

SECTION SECOND.—RECOMMENDATIONS,
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATION,

SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE REPEAL OF OLD LAWS AND THE ENACT-
MENT OF NEW ONES.

The following recommendations are respectfully submitted to the
legislative bodies of the various States and Territories :

(1) The immediate repeal of all existing laws which afford protection
to the English Sparrow. Geigy

(2) The enactment of laws legalizing the killing of the English
Sparrow at all seasons of the year, and the destruction of its nests, eggs,
and young.

(3) The enactment of laws making it a misdemeanor, punishable by
fine or imprisonment, or both—(a@) to intentionally give food or shelter
to the English Sparrow, except with a view to its ultimate destruction ;
(b) to introduce or aid in introducing it into new localities; (¢) to in-
terfere with persons, means, or appliances engaged in, or designed for,
its destruction or the destruction of its nests, eggs, or young.

(4) The enactment of laws protecting the Great Northern Shrike or
Butcher Bird, the Sparrow Hawk, and the Screech Owl, which species
feed largely on the English Sparrow.

(5) The enactment of laws providing for the appointment of at least
one person holding civil office, preferably the game constable, where
such officer exists, in each town or village, who shall serve without
additional compensation, and whose duty it shall be to destroy or bring
about the destruction of English Sparrows in the streets, parks, and
other places where the use of fire-arms is not permitted. In the larger
towns and cities this office might be well imposed upon the commission-
ers of public parks.

In relation to the above recommendations a few remarks may not be
out of place. By

By reference to the summary of legislation which follows, it will be
seen that the existing laws which may affect the Sparrow are not suf-
ficiently explicit in most cases.

In only seven States do the laws mention the English Sparrow spe-
cifically. In the State of New York it is a misdemeanor to feed or shelter
the Sparrow, and in Michigan a bounty of one cent per head is paid.
Massachusets, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Olio* sim-
ply except the English Sparrow from the protection afforded most other
small birds.

In twenty-two other States and Territories, which afford more or less
protection to small birds, the English Sparrow stands on the same foot- —

' * Since this was written, an act offering a bounty of ten cents per dozen for Eng-
lish Sparrows has been passed by the Ohio legislature. (See pp. .7i-172.)

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXTERMINATION, 151

ing with harmless or beneficial birds. In the laws of fifteen States the
word “sparrow” is used without qualification, the birds so designated
being entitled to protection, except that in the States of Illinois, Ken-
_ tucky, Louisiana, Missouri, and Nebraska, any person may kill birds on
his own land when they endanger his crops.

In Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wiscon-
sin, most small birds are protected, and Sparrows are not among those
excepted. Eighteen other States and Territories have no laws which

_ have any bearing on the case.

It is evident, therefore, that prompt and vigorous legislation is needed
- inall States where the English Sparrow has become established, and
even those States and Territories not yet infested (if there be any such)
would do well to take measures to keep the pest out. Whatever may
_ have been the intention of the framers of laws which protect native
_ sparrows, there can be no question that many people refrain from tak-
ing active steps against English Sparrows, through the belief that they

are protected under the law. And States whose Jaws are thus open to

- misinterpretation ought at once to define clearly the position of the
_. English Sparrow. Moreover, since the most effective warfare on this
bird can be waged during the breeding season, any act intended to ae-
— complish its destruction should distinctly authorize the destruction of
its nest, eggs, and young.

It will be difficult, doubtless, to enforce strictly a law which makes it
_ amisdemeanor intentionally to feed or shelter the Sparrow, but some
— such law will be found necessary in order to prevent the systematic
- propagation of Sparrows in places where otherwise they might be com-
pletely extirpated, and it will serve also as a wholesome check on those

individuals who do not believe the Sparrow to be injurious, and would

be glad to frustrate any plan for its destruction.

The appointment of at least one person in each town or village, who
shall act as a professional Sparrow-killer, in our opinion is one of the
most imperative necessities of the case. Towns and cities are the nur-
Series of Sparrows, and will serve to replenish the surrounding country,
no matter how industriously the farmer may shoot them.

From the nature of the case the use of fire-arms and poison in towns
and cities must always be restricted to comparatively few individuals,
whose discretion can be depended upon. Other persons can do much
by the destruction of nests and eggs, or by the use of traps and nets, but
the main work of exterminating the Sparrow inside the limits of a town
_ Must fall on persons specially designated for the work. That such per-
_ sons, being already civil officers of some grade, should serve ordinarily
_ without additional pay, is a suggestion which should commend itseif;
for otherwise there would be a natural tendency on the part of the in-
cumbent to make the occupation permanent, while it would be to the
obvious advautage of a non-salaried officer to accomplish the extermina-
_ tion of the Sparrow as quickly as possible.

152 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Circumstances, however, must govern largely the appointment and
compensation of such officers, and it is evident that in many places
where Sparrows are very abundant they should be able to give their —
entire time to them, especially at first, and in such cases should be em-
ployed at a fixed salary, contingent, however, on the killing of a ecrtain
number of Sparrows per week or month, with perhaps a bonus for every
additional hundred or thousand killed during a specified time.

As the Sparrows in a district decreased, the number required from
any one man could be reduced, and the namber of men employed might
be lessened also, until finally the regular game constable, or other officer,
would be able in addition to his other duties to keep down the Spar-
TOWS.

Aside from the numerical strength of the Sparrow, the principal ob-
stacle to its extermination is to be looked for in the opposition of a small
number of persons in each town who see no present necessity for de-
stroying the Sparrows in their neighborhood, and can not appreciate the
importance of simultaneous action over all the country.

It is hoped that the contents of the present volume will do much to
lessen the number of people who take such a stand; and it is believed
that many who now cherish the Sparrows would be perfectly willing to—
have them exterminated if they could be sure that any native birds
would take their places. Except in absolutely treeless cities there is
not the slightest doubt that this replacement by native birds czn be
ettected if reasonable efforts are made; and it is most urgently recom-
inended that, simuJtaneously with the efforts to exterminate the Sparrow,
every possible care be taken to protect and foster our native birds, and
induce them to return to our towns and cities and make their homes in
our parks, shade trees, and gardens.

Wrens, bluebirds, swallows, and martins may be assisted very mate.
rially by closing up the openings of their boxes as soon as they leave
them in the fall; re-opening them only on their return in the spring.
In this way the Sparrow will be unable to appropriate the boxes during
their absence, and if all other breeding places in the vicinity are secured
against them very few will linger to dispute the boxes with the native
birds when they come. _ 3

Boxes intended for the wren may be left open through the winter pro-
vided the entrance be made too small to admit a Sparrow.

In shooting Sparrows about parks or gardens at times when other
birds are present, care should be taken not to alarm the latter, and this
can be effected by using such weapons as are made especially for the
use of bird collectors, since they make very little noise, and the small
amount of powder and fine shot used prevents damage to buildings or
trees. Moreover, such a weapon, while just as effective, is far more
economical than a larger gun.

In winter it may be difficult to keep many native birds in our north-
ern cities, yet there are species of woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches,

INEXPEDIENCY OF BOUNTIES. 153

‘ kinglets, sparrows, and finches which remain in the Northern States in
large numbers every winter, and need only a little food, and the assur-

3 ance that they will not be molested, to bring them regularly about houses
and gardens, even in towns and cities.

There is one plan for the extermination of Sparrows which might give

good results under some conditions, and which might be tried on a small

-seale first and subsequently on a larger one if the results of the ex-

periment should warrantit. A premium might be offered for the largest

number of Sparrows killed in a given district within a specified time.
For example, a township or county might make such an offer, prescrib-

_ ing the conditions, and requiring each contestant for the prize to comply

with them. So far as possible such a contest should be open to every

one residing in the district, but the utmost care should be taken to

prevent the slaughter of other birds than Sparrows, and unless all
participants had perfect confidence in each other, precautions should
be taken to prevent the importation of dead Sparrows from neighbor-

- ing places of greater abundance. Secondary prizes might be offered for

the next largest numbers killed, and if the amounts were large enough
very many people would be tempted to compete forthem. Itis certain

that $500 or $1,000 expended in this way would result in the destruc-
_ tion of very many more Sparrows than if the same amount were paid

outin bounties ; and probably under ordinary circumstances this method

- would yield better results than any other plan of paid extermination.

Sinilar plans, on a smaller scale, might be tried by farmers’ clubs and
Similar organizations, and doubtless would destroy many Sparrows.

*BOUNTIES.
INEXPEDIENCY OF BOUNTIES IN GENERAL.

It is not expedient to offer bounties for the destruction of Sparrows.
In fact, at the present time it is desirable and perfectly feasible to bring
about a great reduction in their ranks by concerted action of the
people, aided by helpful legislatiop, without drawing heavily upon the

public purse.

Bounties offered for the destruction of harmful species seldom accom-
plish the desired end, and if success does finally result, it is only after

_ vastly larger expenditures than were at first thought necessary. After

a harmful species—the wolf, for example—has become rather searee in
any section of country, the offer of a bounty may lead to its complete

extermination ; and to attain such a result it is certainly good economy

to make the bounty large. Obviously, it is better to pay a large sum at
once for the last few pairs of wolves in a district than to offer a bounty
so small that it is little inducement to a hunter to spend his time in
their pursuit. In this latter case the wolves easily hold their own for
many years, or even increase slowly, while the aggregate bounties paid
will far exceed allexpectation. Inorder to be effective a bounty should

154 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

be large enough to assure the destruction of the great majority of the

individuals during the first year, and this is especially true of species
which are very numerous and prolific. And yet the amount of money
required for the payment of bounties in such cases would be so enor-
mous as to make the plan impracticable.

ESTIMATED COST OF EXTERMINATING THE SPARROWS IN OHIO BY MEANS OF BOUNTIES.

A rough estimate of the amount of bounty money which would be re-
quired to exterminate the Sparrows in a single State may put this mat-
ter in a clearer light. Let Obio serve as an illustration, and for the
sake of argument let it be assumed that no Sparrows enter the State
from outside after the payment of bounties begins. Ohio hasan area of
about 40,000 square miles, or 25,500,000 acres, and the entire State is
thickly sprinkled with cities, towns, and villages, separated from each
other only by populous and productive farm lands which constitute at
least three-fourths of the total area of the State. In the larger cities
Sparrows fairly swarm, and it is doubtful if they are entirely absent
from asingle village of athousand inhabitants or upwards; moreover,
the abundant evidence from Ohio shows that Sparrows are found on
almost all the farms in the State, and in grain-growing sections their
numbers are almost incredible.

Mr. Charles Dury, of Avondale, Ohio, says:

In some localities the swarms of Sparrows are prodigious. One flock observed by
me in October, 1837, near Ross Lake, had tens of thousands of birds in it. They rose
in a cloud and settled down on a stubble-field, covering it all over.

It is scarcely possible to do more than guess at the number of Spar-
rows which the State of Ohio supports at present, but keeping in mind
the points already mentioned and the fact that less than one-fiftieth of
the entire area of the State consists of unimproved lands, it will be per-
fectly safe to say that Ohio contains at least 20,000,000 acres of good
Sparrow country, and that, on an average, there are at least two Spar-
rows to the acre, which is 40,000,000 Sparrows for the whole State.

No doubt this estimate is far too low, but it is desirable to keep far
within bounds in making estimates of this kind, and the above figures
are sufficiently large for present purposes.

Supposing all these Sparrows could be killed before any further in-
crease took place, they would still cost the State, at one cent apiece,
$400,000. But it would be absolutely impossible to exterminate all the
Sparrows in the course of a single year by any expenditure of money,
and it is very improbable that so small a bounty as one cent apiece
would effect any perceptible decrease in their numbers, if indeed it even
neutralized the increase. Certainly not one-half the original 40,000,000
would be killed; for although at first fair wages might be made bg kill-
ing them in places of greatest abundance, this could not be continued
long, as the Sparrows are exceeding cunning and very quickly learn
to avoid danger. As soon as Sparrows became so scarce or so shy that

AN IDEAL BOUNTY LAW. 155

a 2 person skilled in shooting or trapping could kill only 100 or less per
“day, the bounty of one cent would cease to be an inducement, and the
- few Sparrows killed by boys and others, who might still follow them up
_ for sport, would be insignificant.
_ Meanwhile, the very means used to destroy them would serve to dis-
tribute the remainder more evenly through the country, and their rapid
rate ot increase would more than counterbalance the losses caused by
the bounty law. At the close of the year, therefore, the State would

; _ have paid out a large sum of money, and there would be just as many

Sparrows as ever, and in all probability more.
3 But suppose that the bounty can be made large enough to insure the
- immediate destruction of a large proportion of the Sparrows. Let it
be assumed that with 40,000,000 Sparrows as a starting point on Jan-

— uary 1, so large a bounty is offered that during the next three months
20,000,000 Sparrows are killed. During this time no young will have

_ been reared, so there will be but 20,000,000 Sparrows left.

If now left undisturbed, these birds would rear at least two broods of
four or five young each during the next three months; that is 10,000,000
pairs would rear about 20,000,000 broods, aggregating upwards of
= §0,000,000 young. But in consequence of the bounty many will be
_ killed before they rear any young, others will be able to rear but a sin-
_ gle brood, while others still will succeed in rearing as many young as
usual. In order not to overstate the increase let us assume the average
number of young hatched during this quarter to be 4 for each pair of
adults, but that two-fifths of the adults and one-half of all the young are
_ killed for bounties during the quarter. Thus, starting with 20,000,000
_ Sparrows (10,000,000 pairs), before July 1, 40,000,000 young will be
hatched, but 20,000,000 will be killed, together with 8,000,000 of the
adults, so that, on July 1, there will remain 12,000,000 old birds and
20,000,000 young, or 32,000,000 in all.

By this time most of the old birds will have become very shy, but as the
full grown young are much more abundant, as well as much less wary, the
jarger part of the Sparrows killed during the next three months will be
- young birds. Most of the adults, however, will succeed in rearing one

more brood; but, allowing for the constant persecution to which they are
subjected, and granting that one-third of the adults are killed during the
quarter, these broods will hardly average more than 2 young to a pair.
Thus, 6,000,000 pairs will hatch 12,000,000 young, 6,000,000 of which
will be killed, together with 4,000,000 of the parents. It may be al-
_ lowed also, in accordance with previous estimates, that one-half the
young birds of the earlier broods are killed during this quarter ; so that,
— on October 1, there would be left 8,000,000 adults, 6,000,000 young of
_ thelast brood, and 10,000,000 from the earlier broods, a total of 24,000,000;
while bounties have been paid on 4,000,000 adults and 16,000,000 young,

or on 20,000,000 in all.

156 7 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

During the next three months no increase will take piace, but the de-
crease from bounties will be rather less than for any previous quarter,
since the birds will have scattered to the country, and constant persecu-
tion will have made them very suspicious and difficult to kill. Perhaps,
however, 40 per cent. will be killed and offered for bounties.

By summing up the results of the year’s work it will be found that
the number of Sparrows in Ohio has been reduced from 40,000,000 to
about 14,500,000, but at the expense of bounties paid on seventy-seven mill-
ion six hundred thousand Sparrows.

The opening of a second year finds the Sparrows reduced to ‘about
one-third of their original numbers, but this very paucity of numbers,
joined to the experience acquired by the Sparrows during one year of
zealous persecution, will make it a difficult matter to keep up the
same rate of destruction during another year. However, by largely in-
creasing the bounty it might be possible, and, provided the natural in-
crease be estimated as heretofore, the end of the second year would
find but 5,184,000 Sparrows left, although bounties would be paid dur-
ing the year on nearly 25,000,000 Sparrows.

If now, by any increase of bounty, this rate of destruction could be
maintained for the third year, about 10,000,000 more Sparrows would
be killed and less than 2,000,000 would be left.

The fourth year at the same rate would reduce the surviving Spar-
rows to about 672,000 at the expense of a heavy bounty on more than
3,000,000, and the fifth year would result in the death of about 1,300,000,
with a living remnant of 241,865 Sparro¥s.

The following table skows in detail the successive steps by which
such a reduction would be made; the entire argument, however, resting
ou the assumption that as the number of Sparrows is lessened the
bounty is increased, so that a fixed rate of reduction is maintained,
Thus the bounty offered at the beginning of each year is assumed to be
large enough to effect the destruction of more than five-sixths (84% per
cent.) of all the Sparrows (original plus increase) in the State during
the year, so that the total number in the State at the beginning of any
year will be but 36 per cent. of the number existing there at the begin-
ning of the previous year.

Quarter.

First year:
Jan. to Mar .
Apr. to June .
July to Sept ....
Oct. to Dec

Second year:
Jan. to Mar

July to Sept --

Third year:

Jan. to Mar

Apr toJune...

Ort to Dee ..--:
Total for year

Fourth year:

Jan. to Mar
Apr. to June
July to Sept --
Oet= to Dec =. ---
Total for year

Fifth year:

* Jan. to Mar
Apr. to June .-.
July to Sept ..-.
Oct do Dee ._.

Total for year.

PROBABLE EFFECTS

a 40, 000, 000! ...-----. Sey ae

Total for year.|

Apr. to June ...|
Oct: to Dec -..-. |

Total for year.|

July to Sept .--.|

| 1,492, 992

| 671, 848
| 335, 94!
{| 587,478

OF AN IDEAL BOUNTY LAW.

Sparrows
in the
State at
the begin. |
ning of
each quar-
ter.

Pairs Young
| breeding. hatched.*

20, 000, 000/10, 000, 000
32, 000, 000| 6, 000, 000:
24, G00, 000)

| SS ee
| i

40, 000, 000)
| 12, 000, 000

beset tet eter (sSsescss=> H
H

|
14, 400, 900] -....-... |
7, 200, 000! 3, 600, 000
| 11, 520, 0u0, 2' 160, 000
8, 610, 000,

14, 400, 000)
4, 320, 000

ece ee ee cee

ips t84 O00 |e ooo: [sige tes: |
2,592, 000
4, 147, 200
3, 110, 400

Te G1 ee Be ee leeds

933,120) 466,560 1, 866, 240
279,936, 959, 872
Ce Ceo es oe eed

167, 962 671, 848
100,777; 201,551
MOSH eh 2. peat ceek.

| |

157

. EB eipothetical lable, showing in detail the probable effects upon the numbers of English Spar-
rows in Ohio, of a high and annually increased bounty during five successive years, under
the most favorable circumstances.

ts

Immature | Total as

S ore Young Spi ined i number of| 2 L

Pelled : killed.! ! anne Sparrows as
quarter.§ | killed. 2k

v2,

+n

20, 000, 000)...--.----. lie actrees | 20, 000, 000; 50
8, 000, 000} 20, 000, 00U .-.........) 28,000,000) 463
4, 000, 000! 6, 000, 000} 10, 000, 000, 20, 000,000, 454

9, 600, 000) bee eee Mere ad eee 9, 600,000, 40

——— — —- — ——- —

ee es Re oe ee £45,

7 200000). 2 Se ie eee ae 7, 200,000) 50
2,880,000) 7,200,000 ...........| 10,080,000 463
1, 440, 000, 2,160, 000) 3, 600,000! 7,200,090 454

S ASG 00iestues =| te [p-==aes-2e | 3,456,000 40
ae | scapinactcce|eumaenescs| 27, SHO UO0 Nets

|

2 592 \0O0ieee kee | paren oie 4* 2,592,000 50
1; 6867 800} ~ 2, '592"000)" 2 28 = 3, 628, 800 462
518,400, 777, 600, 1 286 000) 2,592,000 454

| 1, 244, 160 ba A PN eS ie at ll 1, 244,160, 40
merase’! iSeacaeny caves ie 056, B00 843,

CEE (1 een eae a taal a 6 933,120 50
BIG i248i | M998 MIO. =. kes 1, 306,368 463
186,622 279,936 466,560 933,118 453

AAG: BUS IeR ey eae ease akeace bo SET BOS 40
FSS Pee | ee ane oe | sean ce SHS es by O20; HOA eres

{

SEA 2 eee ae ta Aor es 335, 924) 50
134,370] 335, 924 eee 470,294 462
67,185, 100,777 167, 962| 335,924 453

ODOM BN ee oe face ee 161, 243) 40
POSER. Sie cmntes a Mah OR pee! 813;

§ Equals 50 per cent.

Total number killed during five years, 120,516,849. Living remnant, 241,865.
* Equals four to each pair in second quarter ;
t+ Equals first quarter, 50 per cent. ;
+ Equals 50 per cent. each quarter.

two to each pair in third quarter.
second quarter, 40 per cent. ;

third quarter, 33} per cent.

As to the cost of bounties during such a five years’ war nothing bet-
ter than rough estimates can be given, for itis impossible to know with-
out trial how large a bounty would be necessary to secure the destrue.-

tion of 50 per cent. of all the Sparrows in the State during the first three

months.

It is certain that one or even two cents apiece would not s

fice, and it is doubtful if three cents apiece would secure this end.
-sibly the necessary rate could be ascertained by experiment, and after
this had been maintained for a year, and the Sparrows had decreased to
about one-third of their previous numbers, other experiments could be
made in order to determine the rate necessary to secure a continuance

of the same ratio of decrease.

suf:

Pos-

It is but reasonable to suppose that if

Sparrows are buf one-third as plenty (and three times as shy!) as for-
merly it will be worth at least three times as much to kill them; but,
allowing that it costs only twice as much to maintain the same rate of
decrease, if will be very expensive, nevertheless, to continue this dur-
ing four years.

158

4

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. : 4

The following table shows how costly such an undertaking would be,
even were it certain that the lowest rate, one cent apiece for the first
year, would secure the desired result. It is more than probable, how-
ever, that at least three cents apiece would be necessary to accomplish
the first year’s work, and after this had been doubled for the second

year, it would be found inexpedient to continue so expensive an exper-
iment.

Hypothetical table, showing the amount of money necessary to expend in bounties on English

Sparrows in Ohio for five years, at the rates of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 cents a Sparrow the Hage
year, the rates being doubled each successive year.

[Based on the conditions assumed in the last table, of which it is a corollary.]

1 |
| Sparrows
Year. iilled: Rate. Cost.
: Cents
meesthy gl weer 77,609,000! 1! $776,000.00
Second boy ee 97,936,000 | 21 558,720.00
And sie ee 10,036,960 | 4) 402/278. 40
Higntih footw 3,620,504; 8 | _ 289,640.32
ae ie Rae 1, 303,385 | 16| 208/541. 60
Potal ee ee 120, 516, 849 |...... 3, 235, 180. 32
1S ee nL ee ace ee 77, 600, 000 2 | 1,552, 000. 00.
Second; co ee ee 27,936,000 | 4 | 1,117, 440.00
ANiiaiN) ote Poach oe 10,056,960 | 8 | ' 804,558. 80
Mount ee 3° 620,504 | 16| 579,280.64
Hithhioe eeenee ee 1,303,385! 32] 417,083.20
Petals Mees 120, 516, 849 |...... 4, 470, 360. 64
rs ee eee 77, 600,000 | 3 | 2,328, 000.00
Secon ered oe ee 27,936,000 | 6 | 1,676, 160. 00
Prd ae ee ee 10,036,960 | 12 | 1,206, 835. 20
Fourth. ..-....-.. 3° 620,504 | 24 | 868,920.96
TES fm a pe ei a 1,303,385 | 48| 623,624. 80
sete. eee 120, 516, 849 |...... | 6, 705, 540. 96
Pireieken S teeeae 77,600,000} 4 | 3, 104,000. 00
Secon sso oes. 27,936,000 | 8 | 2,234, 880. 00
hn ee ee 10,056,960 | 16 | 1,609, 113. 60
LGU oe, 2 eel 3,620,504 | 32 | 1,158, 561.28
Wiehe’ ease Sees 1,303,385! 64| 834,166. 40
Otel. -eske eros 120, 516, 849 |....-- 8, 940, 721. 28
ISPS. E acc oe nN eee 77,600,000} 5 | 3, 880,000.00
Spcond Acces hoe 97,936,000 | 10 | 2,793; 600. 00
Gilitd cok, .peeee ee be 10,056,960 | 20 | 2,011, 392. 00
Bout te ee 3,620,504 | 40 | 1,448) 201. 60
Ti eagnemee a omewES 1, 303,385 | 80 | 1,042; 708. 00
Aa taleaess Scie 120, 516, 849 |...... 11, 175, 901. 60

When it is remembered that all the assumptions and estimates upon
which these conclusiens are based have been moderate in the extreme,
and that all the conditions are supposed to have been favorable for the
successful operation of the law, it will be seen how futile would be the
attempt to exterminate the Sparrow in Ohio by the offer of bounties.

Some of the considerations which have not been brought into the cal-
culation at all, but which of necessity must affect the question mate-
rially, are the following :

(1) The expense necessary, even at the moderate estimates submitted,
would be greater than any State could afford.

OBJECTIONS TO BOUNTY LAWS. 159

_ (2) Such a scheme of extermination, to be successful, must be care-
- fully planned, and must be carried on for at least five successive years.
But in all probability the first year’s expenditures would be so heavy,
that animmediate repeal of the law would be demanded. Moreover, as
no accurate census of the Sparrow population of the State could be
made, it would be impossible to tell exactly what proportion of the
q Sparrows had been killed, and this element of uncertainty would be a
_ powerful argument for repeal. Furthermore, the mere continuation of
a fixed bounty would prove wholly inadequate, for, as already shown,
: must be largely increased—probably doubled or trebled—each year
: in order to accomplish any tangible result. This can not be provided
q for in the original bill without in part frustrating the very design of the
Jaw; for if it is known that after January 1 of any year the bounty is
_ to be increased, few people will care to hunt Sparrows during the last
~ weeks or Benths of the preceding year.

(3) The number of Sparrows in the State seas prove to be very
much greater than was supposed.

= (4) In spite of all checks the actual rate of increase might prove to
be much greater than that assumed.

- (5) Unless neighboring States should prosecute equally vigorous cam-
paigns, Sparrows would enter the State in considerable numbers if the
_ warfare were relaxed for a single month.

_ (6) Even admitting the possibility of reducing the Sparrows 50 per
cent. during the first three months of a year, it is very doubtful if the
_ rate of decrease assumed for the remainder of the year could be secured
_ without an increase of bounty,

(7) As soon as Sparrows became somewhat scaice throughout the
State, and the bounty was correspondingly increased, people would
begin to protect and rear them simply for the sake of the bounty, and
so long as the law did not compel a man to rid his land of them his in-
- tentional neglect would give the same result as intentional propagation.

(8) In spite of all precautions many Sparrows killed in States where
_ they were still abundant would be sent into Ohio, and bounties would
_ be collected for them; and this would be done the more frequently as
their number became smaller and smaller in Ohio and the pau! was

made larger and larger.

(9) In order properly and speedily to examine all apiplicniions for
bounties, and to destroy all Sparrows or Sparrow heads on which
bounties had been paid, it would be necessary to appoint one or more
persons in each town or village, who should have the requisite knowl-

edge, to attend to this matter. It would be useless to expect the town
clerk or other town officer to assume this duty without additional com-
pensation, and, moreover, very few such officers would be competent to
discriminate between heads of English Sparrows and those of more
valuable birds; hence,

(10) Hither an additional expense would be put upon the State, or else

|
| |

160 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

many valuable native birds would be destroyed and the State would pay
bounties unwittingly on the heads of some of its best friends.

(11) It must be borne in mind that the money expended in bounties
by no means represents the entire expense of a bounty law. To this
sum must be added not only the cost of incidentals, such as fire-arms,
ammunition, grain for baiting, poison, traps, nets, etc.—items often small
in themselves, but amounting to considerable sums in the aggregate—
but also the cost of advertising the bounty, examining and paying
claims, and destroying heads.

It has been suggested that the bounty money, however great the
amount, might be raised by taxation, and eventually would be returned
to the very people who paid the taxes. But a moment’s thought will
convince any one that this argument is utterly fallacious. The taxes
would be collected necessarily from all citizens, whether they sustained
any injury from Sparrows or not, and yet not one citizen in one hundred
would kill any Sparrows or receive any bounty, since few men could
atford to neglect their business for the sake of securing a few dollars a
week in bounties. Thus the bulk of the money would go to people hav-
ing no regular occupation and little or no taxable property. In this
way it is true the money would be kept in the State, and, provided all
the Sparrows were killed, the State would reap the benefit, but the
money itself would not return to those who contributed it.

The suggestion has been made that, as the bodies of all Sparrows
killed by other means than poison might be utilized for food, a Sparrow-
killer could collect the bounty on the head and realize an additional
profit from the sale of the body; so that the bounty might be very
small and prove effective nevertheless. But in many places there is
absolutely no market for Sparrows at any price; and, if there were, it is
doubtful if the heads alone would be sufficient for identification when
presented for bounty to the proper officer.

Again, it is claimed by some that all destruction of Sparrows, caused
by the offer of a bounty, would be additional to the destruction already
going on without expense to the State; and it is further urged that the
natural checks on the Sparrow’s increase would lessen still further the
number on which bounties could be paid. In regard to the first claim
it need only be said that it is an assumption not only unsupported by
any facts at all, but rendered improbable by all the evidence bearing
on the question. There is every reason to believe that independent,
unpaid persecution of the Sparrows would cease almost entirely as soon
as a bounty law became operative.

The second claim may be couceded without argument, but in the fore-
going estimates due allowance was made for the effects of natural
checks by assuming at the outset an extremely low rate of increase.

To those who sce thousands of Sparrows daily, perching familiarly

on their window-sills or hopping unconcernedly about the streets, it

seems an easy thing to kill them by scores or hundreds, and many peo-
ple believe that any wide-awake boy could trap a thousand a day, and

MONTANA’S BOUNTY LAW. 161

that any man who should give his entire time to the business could
-makea fortune at the rate of a cent apiece. Itis useless to assure such
_ persons that the Sparrow is watchful, suspicious, cunning, and quickly
- becomes so shy that it is one of the most difficult of all birds to kill;
but ordinarily a single day’s experience with trap or gun will convince
~ even the most skeptical.
_ Another point to be considered in connection with the question of
F bounties is the desirability of a premium on the Sparrow’s eggs.
hat the destruction of the eggs is one of the most effective checks
upon increase is unquestionable, but the practical difficulties which
stand in the way of a bounty on eggs are so numerous as to make its
trial a measure of doubtful utility. The discovery of an accessible nest
makes it easy in most cases to kill the parent birds, but if there is a
_ bounty on the eggs the juvenile Sparrow-hunter is tempted to take the
eggs without disturbing the birds, well knowing that a week later he
is almost certain to find another set of eggs in the same nest. By re-
moving apart of the eggs ata time the bird may be induced sometimes
to lay thirty or forty eggs in succession, and such a discovery is a ver-
itable bonanza to an enterprising boy.

Charlie H. Shaw, of West Berlin, Ohio, states that in 1887 a neighbor
took forty eggs in succession from one English Sparrow’s nest; and Dr.
Coues refers to the case of an English Sparrow which laid thirty-five
eggs in as many days. Between April 22 and June 27 (1884) Eli W.
Blake, 3d, of Providence, R. I., took nine hundred and fifty-three Spar-
_row’s eggs from some fifty-five or sixty nests in the ivy on a church, and
nine hundred and seventy eggs were taken at one time from the nests |
on another church in that city.

The eggs of the English Sparrow vary so much in size and markings,
that it is impossible always to distinguish them from eggs of some of
our native birds; hence a bounty on Sparrow’s eggs might lead to the
destruction of the eggs of many valuable birds, while it would be cer-
tain to encourage among boys a habit of nest-robbing, which would be
likely to endure and extend to the nests of native birds after the Spar-
rows had become scarce.

The histories of two recent bounty laws in the United States possess
more than ordinary interest as bearing directly on the questions dis-
cussed here.

ie wre

a —. “sae ee

ere vs se ea ij i ee a. lied

MONTANA’S BOUNTY LAW ON PRAIRIE DOGS AND GROUND SQUIRRELS,

Ss ee
re z

Karly in 1837 the Territory of Montana offered a bounty of 10 cents each
on prairie dogs and 5cents each on ground squirrels. The act went into
_ effect March 5, 1887, and the bounties paid during the next six months
_ amounted to more than $50,000. On September 12, 1887, the record of
_ payments stood as follows:

‘ Bemenraitie dows, af 10 cents each... 2-6-2. .viees pccece ene ees sense $15, 370. 90
f0ve,971 ground squirrels, at 5 cents each..............-....-.--- Bet So vest, Omar
REI hos oe Bees hes Sv 50, 319, 45

8404—Bull, 1—— 11

162 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

It is stated that up to this time the number of prairie dogs and ground
squirrels killed had had no perceptible effect on their abundance in the
Territory, and as the money in the treasury was exhausted,the Govern-
or, with the permission of the President, called a special session of the
legislature and the act was repealed.

MICHIGAN’S BOUNTY LAW ON ENGLISH SPARROWS.

Ip 1887 the State of Michigan offered a bounty of 1 cent apiece for
English Sparrows in lots of not less than 25. (A copy of the act wil]
be found on page 169 of this Bulletin.)

Any claim for this bounty must be submitted to the clerk of the town-
ship, village, or city in which the Sparrows were killed, and, if allowed,
the clerk issues a certificate for the proper amount, payable by the
county treasurer, from the contingent fund of the county. This act
went into effect March 15, 1887, but for various reasons it does not ap-
pear to answer the purpose intended.

Unquestionably, the law itself is defective in some respects. Thus,
in Wayne County, of which Detroit is the county seat, no bounties have
been paid, owing to the fact that the county treasurer has ‘‘no author-
ity to pay anything except on the warrant of the board of auditors,”
and the bounty act provides only for payment on certificates issued by
the clerk of a township, village, or city. The act provides, furthermore,
that the bounties shall be paid from the contingent fund of the county,
and in some cases tne county supervisors have failed to make any pro-
vision for such payment. The proviso that not less than 25 heads can
be presented at once, and the necessity of going or sending to the
county seat, are features which deter many persons from availing them-
selves of the act, but, even were all these obstacles removed, it seems
probable that the offer of 1 cent a head would not be large enough to
tempt many persons to engage in the business of killing Sparrows.

In reply to requests sent to the county treasurers throughout the
State, reports have been received to date from forty-one counties.
These reports cover a large part of the areain which Sparrows are
most numerous, and may be taken, therefore, as a fair sample of the
whole State; yet in twenty-two of these counties no Sparrows what-
ever have been presented for bounty. The largest number reported
thus far from any one county is 1,638 from Kent County, between Jan-
uary 1, 1888, and March 30, 1888. The number on which bounties
were paid in this county prior to January 1, 1888, is not reported, but
on the above basis it would have been nearly 5,200, or about 6,800 Spar-
rows for the first year in which the law was operative. The reports
from two other counties are similarly incomplete, giving returns for
only a small part of the time, but by estimating as above, an approxi-
mation to the actual number has been obtained, and the total number
of Sparrows killed, for tounties in these forty-one counties is about

MICHIGAN'S BOUNTY LAW. 163

15,500, or an average of 378 for a county. As there are eighty-two
counties in Michigan, this gives 31,000 Sparrows, a number utterly in-
significant, in fact not more than were actually trapped by a single en-
terprising man in Indianapolis, Ind., during the past two years. (See
Report of W. T. Hull, page 181 of this Bulletin.

No data are at hand on which to base even an approximate estimate of
the total number of Sparrows in the State of Michigan, but as there
must he many millions at least, it is evident that the present bounty
law not only fails to lessen the total at all, but probably does not effect
the destruction of one per cent. of the annual increase. Doubtless the
entire thirty-one thousand might have been killed within the city limits
of Detroit without making any noticeable difference in the number of
Sparrows in that city.

In this connection we desire to acknowledge the receipt of valuable
information from the following county officers in Michigan:

Name and address. County. Name and address. County.

S. J. McNally, treasurer, Harris- B. W. Wright, assistant treas-

Will® pe cecRee eee ee aSseee eee Alcona. urer, Marquette ...........--. Marquette.
qe. Lankheet, treasurer, Alle- J. C. Gardner, treasurer, Big

cpt oye eS eee eee eee Allegan. Rapids. .....----...-.--.------| Mecosta,

Feet S. Abbott, treasurer, Bel- Stod EH. Drew, treasurer, Mid- :

APEC een esac 8 ois ae Sannin ie oe Antrim. lami scs ono deeaue aces seen Midland.
C. A. Hough, treasurer, Hastings.| Barry. Orville F. Mason, treasurer
W. J. Pettitt, treasurer, Benzonia| Benzie. SUANtOM seer nce aoe ee eee Montcalm.
Edmund B. Storms, treasurer, Martin Waalkes, treasurer, Mus

BELvien Springs ..--.-.-...----- Berrien. KO OM joi Seca ae cles os sien ae Muskegon.
J. W. Wood, treasurer, Marshall.| Calhoun. Hiram L. Brace, treasurer.-.-... Newaygo.
J .K. Cueny, treasurer, Cheboy- J. Allen Bigelow, treasurer,

G0)) se Se Se eee ee Cheboygan. BOntiaes 22> josh pats teen sees Oakland.
James H.-Conn, treasurer, St. John F. Widoe, deputy treas-

UCLIIG) an aee ea neee eee ee eres Clinton. Mer watt he eee he ee ee Oceana.
John Campbell, treasurer, Flint..| Genesee. W. M. MecCrassen, treasurer,
K. H. Foster, treasurer, Traverse Wrest (branches ess: 29: o: Ogemaw.

Wilivartere near foes oc tesa aide Grand Traverse.|| J. = ase aie treasurer, Her-
Walhom Brice, treasurer, Ithaca.| Gratiot. >= ‘||_ S@Y 222-2202 2. eens eee wee a Osceola.
James Beattie, treasurer, Hills- E. “D. Gibbs, treasurer, Grand

US 2 2205 ee eee Hillsdale. Elaivenet ss 25 Ss shares tabi ee eee: Ottawa.
William D. Longyear, treasurer, Hermann Hoeft, treasurer, Rog-

NASON = Peers ests Sok esos Ingham. ens Oity jer 3- 3-4 i306 .\e soe oues Presque Isle.
J. Warren Peake, treasurer, William Burns, treasurer, Port

emia seses esas sew ee Tonia. VU TOM ciscedes Sees oes ree Saint Clair.
B. snow, treasurer, Kalamazoo.-.| Kalamazoo. Chris. Murphy, treasurer, San-
Charles D. Stebbins, treasurer, CUTS ee Ae A OF Eee fa Sanilac.

Grandpaplds) < 22 .22)/2-562< =-.<2 Kent. Geo. H. Orr, treasurer, Manis-
Robert J. Matthews, treasurer, UIQUOre eae: Sec eee see cee Schoolcraft.

IAG WANs Stee aioe cit ol Gc ances Lake. G. D. Mason, deputy treasurer,
Peter Stiver, treasurer, Lapeer..| Lapeer. WOLmnmay 5.2 on sea ceecce scares Shiawassee.
John J. Miller, deputy treasurer, Charles H. Butler, treasurer.

GUAM Oe ine cea elec S 2 ace: Seca + Leelanaw. IRawaPawecceces tenis scte seen Van Buren.
William C. Moran, treasurer, Ralph Phelps, jr., treasurer,

ASCITES yal saree ae Lenawee. Detratt ese e-em ot oes Wayne.
Robert Johnson, treasurer, Man Ezra Harger, treasurer, Cardil

ESCO Cee eine ct ica tae s aic.cieS eles Manistee. LEO Reis Sel ens Neves MeN AIA ee ae = Wexford.

_—~

164 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PEOPLE.
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS.

The English Sparrow is a curse of such virulence that it ought to be
systematically attacked and destroyed before it becomes necessary to
deplete the public treasury for the purpose, as has been done in other
countries. By concerted action, and by taking advantage of its gre-
garious habits, much good may be accomplished with little or no ex-
penditure of money.

If the people can be led to appreciate the undeniable facts with regard
to the Sparrow, the danger to be apprehended from its continued in-
crease will soon be realized, and a vigorous campaign against the bird
will follow. Too much assistance must not be expected from legislative
action. Under ordinary circumstances the repeal of all unnecessary
restrictions on Sparrow-killing and the legalization of all safe methods
of extermination are all that can be demanded, and the rest must be
accomplished by the intelligent, persistent, united efforts of the peo-

ple.
USE OF FIRE-ARMS, TRAPS, AND POISON.

The Sparrow is a cunning, wary bird, and soon learns to avoid the
meaus devised by man for its destruction. Hence much sagacity must
be displayed in the warfare against it. In the winter-time, if food is
placed in some convenient spot at the same hour each day for a week,
the Sparrows will gather in dense flocks to feed, and large numbers
may be killed at one time by firing upon them with small shot. By
spreading the food along a narrow strip of ground which can be raked
conveniently from some hiding-place, the best results may be obtained.
When shooting Sparrows which are collected in flocks, especially in and
about grain fields, an ordinary gun, heavily loaded with small shot,
should be used, but for regular work on single birds, about houses, and
particularly in cities and towns, a different weapon ts desirable. Al.
most any “collecting gun” of small caliber will be convenient, and very
small charges in a 22-caliber shell are perfectly effective at short range.

Such charges do not frighten the remaining Sparrows badly, and do
not alarm other birds. Moreover, the cost of ammunition is compara-
tively small. Probably the most effective weapon is what is known as
an ‘auxiliary barrel,” 7. ¢., a small-caliber barrel {from six to eight inches
long, which can be slipped inside the barrel of an ordinary breech-load-
ing shot-gun. Such a barrel using No. 22 shells, which are exploded
and ejected precisely like the larger ones, is not only almost as noise-
less and economical as the regular collecting guns, but is effective at
greater distances and permits greater accuracy of aim. Such a weapon,
in proper hands, may be freely used even in the streets and parks of a
large city without damage to anything except Sparrows.

RESTRICTION AND PREVENTION. 165

Sometimes Sparrows may be successfully netted or trapped, but this
requires considerable skill, and except under favorable conditions at
night, one must be content to catch them singly, or at most in twos or
threes. They are so suspicious, and learn so quickly from experience,
that it is almost impossible to catch many in succession at the same
place and by the same means. Much valuable information on this sub-
ject will be found in Mr. Hill’s report in another part of this volume.

Sparrows may be poisoned by grain soaked in solutions of arsenic or
strychnine, or by meal mixed with the poison in powder, but poisoning
is attended with some danger and should be attempted only by official
Sparrow-killers. Full directions for the preparation and administra-
tion of poisoned food will be found in the chapter on this subject by
Dr. A. K. Fisher. (See page 174).

DESTRUCTION OF NESTS AND DISTURBANCE AT ROOSTING PLACES.

Large numbers may be destroyed and increase prevented by the sys-
tematic destruction of their nests, eggs, and young. By the aid of an
iron rod and hook, set in the end of along pole, most of their nests
can be reached and brought down. This method promises most satis-
factory results.

They may be easily driven from their roosting places by disturbing
them on several successive nights. A very efficacious method is to
throw water upon them when at roost. In cities where hose-pipe is
available the process is simple and certain. They may be kept out of
ornamental vines in the same manner, particularly in the breeding
season, when a thorough soaking not only disconcerts the old birds and
kills their young, but at the same time does much good by wetting the
vines and washing out their filth.

lf a part of the birds are shot or caught each time they are disturbed
at their roosting places, the remainder are much less likely to return.

In every town will be found a few persons unwilling to cd-operate in

efforts to exterminate Sparrows; but if such persons continue to har-
bor them about their own houses when they are driven away from most
other places about the town, the Sparrows will probably become so
humerous and offensive eventually that their defenders will be foreed
in self-defense to take some steps against them. Or it may be possi-
ble, by municipal authority, to compel such persons either to drive the
Sparrows away or to permit others to do so.
It is important to prevent Sparrows from establishing themselves in
new places throughout the country, and if the first comers are kiiled
or frightened away it will be comparatively easy to do this, unless they
are allowed to increase without check in the surrounding country or
towns.

Therefore, farmers everywhere should be on the lookout for Sparrows
and should not allow a single new pair to nest on their farms, while

166 PHE ENGLISIL SPARROW IN AMERICA.

every possible means should be tried to reduce the numbers in the ad-
joining towns and villages.

SPARROW CLUBS AND SHOOTING MATCHES.

In many parts of Europe, where a constant warfare is waged against
this bird, clabs are formed for the purpose of killing Sparrows. In
some cases each member of such a club is bound to present to the seere-
tary the heads of acertain number of Sparrows each year or to pay a
fine, and the fines thus collected (sometimes augmented by voluntary
contributions) are used as bounties or prizes for the members killing
the most Sparrows. The following item, clipped from a recent paper,
shows the interest now taken in Sparrows by the people of Stratford-
upon-Avon, an Hnoglish town of less than 8,000 inhabitants:

The honorary secretary of the Stratford-upon-Avon Sparrow Club, reports that during
the past vear [1887] over 19,000 birds have been killed. The club pays 3d. per dozen
for neads of all Sparrows destroyed, and over £23 has been paid in this way during
the year. ‘The common Sparrow is held to be destructive to farmers’ crops, and the
club was furmed for the purpose of keeping down the number of these birds. About
20,000 a year is the average number destroyed in the neighborhood of Stratford-upon-
Avon.

Similar clubs have been formed in some parts of the United States,
and if every agricultural or horticultural society, or farmer’s club, would
adopt some such plan of concerted action against the Sparrow a vast
amount of good might be accomplished. Even without any cash prizes
such clubs would accomplish something, while an occasional revival of the
old-time shooting match, in which the day’s hunt should be devoted ex-
clusively to Sparro ws, would yield a large amount of sport and materi-
ally lessen the Sparrows in the district. In one such hunt in Wads-
worth, Ohio, recently, twenty-six men took part, and 980 Sparrows were
killed.

THE SPARROW AS AN ARTICLE OF FOOD.

In this connection it should not be forgotton that the Hnglish Spar-
row is an excellent article of food, equaling many of the smaller game
birds. In fact, at restaurants it is commonly sold under the name of
‘¢ Rice-bird,” even at times of the year when there are no Rice-birds in
the country.

When the Sparrow has been feeding on grain fields or in the wild rice
marshes its flesh is especially good, and if caught alive in the city the
quality of the flesh can be much improved by feeding it for a few days
with oatmeal, corn-meal, or wheat.

(See also in this connection pages 38 and 39.)

167

SECTION THIRD.—LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE ENGLISH SPARROW
IN THE UNITED STATES,

{n order to obtain trustworthy information as to all legislation affect-
ing the Sparrow in the United States, a letter was sent inthe fall of
1887 to the Secretary of State of each State and Territory of the Union,
asking for copies of all laws in force in that State relating to game, to
birds or mammals, and especially to the English Sparrow. ‘To date,
replies have been received from a majority of the States and Territo-
ries, most of the secretaries sending the desired documents or giving
references to the volumes in which they could be found. In cases where
no response was made, recourse was had to the latest revised statutes
on file in the libraries, but it is feared that in this way some of the

‘latest acts have escaped notice. By combining the information received

from all sources, however, the following epitome of legislation affecting
the Sparrow has been compiled, and may be assumed to be measurably
complete, except for such changes as may have occurred within the last
few months. :

It should be noted that the appearance in this place of any law which
merely mentions ‘ sparrows,” ‘‘song-birds,” ‘insectivorous birds,”
‘‘undomesticated birds,” and the like, must not be construed as evi-
dence that we believe such law to affect the English Sparrow; such
points must be determined by the courts, and the attempt made here is
sinply to show what laws may have a bearing on the case. A brief
discussion of these laws will be found in a previous section under the
head of recommendatious for legislation. (See page 150.)

LAWS AFFECTING THE ENGLISH SPARROW.

Alabama.—No law bearing on the question.

Alaska.—No law bearing ou the question.

Arizona.—No law bearing on the question.

Arkansas.—lt shall be unlawful to destroy, disturb, or rob, the nests of any wild
birds whatsoever, except those of crows, blackbirds, hawks, owls, eagles, and birds
of prey. * * * Any person violating any of the provisions of this act shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any
sum * * * not less than three dollars, nor more than ten, for each nest of eggs
destroyed as aforesaid, together with the costs of prosecution. (Act of February 23,
1885, sections 3 and 6.)

California.—No law bearing on the question.

Colorado.—No person shall kill, ensnare, net, or trap, within this State, any *
* * sparrow * * * or other insectivorous birds. * * * Any person who
shall violate any of the provisions of the first section of this act shall be guilty
of amisdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in a sum not less than

; five dollars, nor more than fifty dollars, with costs of suit, and shall be prosecuted and

» J ee oe

punished in the same manner as in other casesof misdemeanor. One-half of the fine
in such eases shall be pail to the person informing against such offender, and the
other half to the treasurer of the county in which the offense was committed, and be-
gome apart of the schoo] fund, * * * (Laws, chap. XLV, sections 1 and 2,)

168 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Connect.cut.—Every person who shall kill, cage, or trap any * * * sparrow
* * * between the first days of February and September in any year, shall forfeit
one dollar for each bird so killed, caged, or trapped, to him who shall sue therefor.
(G. S., 1875, 229, section 4.)

Hahei. —No law bearing on the question.

_ Delaware.—If any person within either of the counties of this State shall
kill, take, or destroy, upon lands not owned by himself, any of the following birds,
viz: * * * sparrow * * * or other insectivorous bird, or shall willfully take
or destroy the eggs or nest of any of the aforesaid birds, such person shall be deemed
guilty of a common nuisance, and, upon conviction thereof before any justice of the
peace in this State,shall be fined one dollar for each bird so killed, taken, or destroyed,
or for each nest of birds’-eggs take nor destroyed as aforesaid ; and every person having
such bird in lis possession shall be deemed to have taken, killed, or destroyed the
same in violation of the provisions of this section, unless the contrary be proved ; and
if such person shall fail or refuse to pay such fine and all costs immediately, the said
justice shall forthwith commit him to the custody of the sheriff until the same are
paid; one-half of said fine for the use of the State, and the other half for the in-
former.

If any person or persons shall enter upon any Jands not owned by himself, with
gun and dog, or with gun alone, for the purpose of shooting any kind of birds or
game, without first obtaining permission to do so by the owner or occupant, he shall
forfeit and pay a fine of five dollars. * * * (Laws of 1874, chapter 55, sections
155165)

District of Columbia.—No person shall kill or expose for sale, or have in his or her
possession dead, at any time any * * * sparrow * * * or any other insec-
tivorous bird, save as herein provided, under a penalty of two dollars for each bird
killed or in possession dead. (Act of June 15, 1878.)

Florida.—No law bearing on the question.

Georgia.—No law bearing on the question.

Idaho.—No law bearing on the question.

Illinois.—No person shall at any time within this State kill, or attempt to trap, net,
ensuare, destroy orkill,any * * * sparrow * * * nor rob or destroy the nests of
such birds or either or any of them. And any person so offending shall, on convic- —
tion, be fined the sum of five dollars for each and every bird so killed, and for each
and every nest robbed or destroyed: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent the owner or occupant of lands from destroying any of the birds
herein named on the same, when deemed necessary for the protection of fruits o1
property. (Revised Statutes, 1874, chapter 61, section 3.)

Indiana.—Whoever kills or injures, or pursues with intent todo so, any * * *%
sparrow * * ™* or wantonly destroys or disturbs the eggs of any Sop birds, shall
be fined not nore than ten dollars nor less than one dollar. (Revised Statutes, 1281,
section 2108.)

Indian Territory.—No law bearing on ths question.

Towa.—If any person kill, trap, ensnare, or in any manner destroy, any of the birds
of this State, excepting birds of prey, the migratory aquatic birds, and those which
are useful for food, and the killing of which at certain seasons of the year is now
permitted by law, or in any manner destroy the eggs of such birds as are hereby in-
tended to be protected from destruction, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than five nor more than twenty-five
dollars. * * * (Statutes, 1880, section 4063.)

Kansas.—It shall be unlawful for any person or persons at any time, excepting as
hereinafter provided, to catch, kill, trap, shoot, or ensnare, or to pursue with such
intent, any wild bird except the wild goose, duck, hawk, excepting the harrier, crow,
bluejay, snipe, curlew, plover, piper, bittern, heron, crane, and woodpecker. * * *
Any person found guilty of violation of any of the provisions of this act shall be

LAWS IN FORCE AT PRESENT TIME. 169

deemed cuilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before a justice of the
peace shall be fined in a sum not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars for
each and every offense, and costs, together with attorney’s fee of ten dollars, and
shall be committed until paid. * * * (Lawsof 1885, chapter 45, sections 1 and 5.)

Kentucky.—That no person shall at any time catch, kill, or pursue with such intent
or have in possession after the same has been caught or killed, any * * * spar-
row * * * orother song or insectivorous bird, except where the same shall be
destructive to the fruit or grain crops, under a penalty of three dollars for each of-
fense.

- That no person shall rob or destroy the nests or eggs of any wild bird whatsoever,
save only those of a predatory nature and destructive of game or insectivorous birds,
under a penalty of five dollars for each offense. (Act of March 11, 1876, sections 9, 10.)

Lowisiana.—No person shall catch, kill, or pursue with such intent, or have in pos-
session after the samc has been caught or killed,any * * * sparrow * * * ex-
cept when the same shall be destructive to the fruit or grain crop, under a penalty
of not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars for each oftense.

No person shall rob or destroy the nest or eggs of any wild bird whatsoever, save
only those of a predatory nature, aud destructive of game or insectivorous birds, un-
der a penalty of not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars for each offense.
(Laws of 1877.)

Maine.—Wboever kills or has in his possession, except alive, any birds, commonly
known as * * * sparrows * * * or other insectivorous birds, crows -and
hawks excepted, forfeits not less than one dollar, nor more than five dollars, for each
such bird killed, and the possession by any person of such dead bird is prima facie
- evidence that he killed such bird.

Whoever at any time wantonly takes or destroys the nest, eggs, or unfledged young
of any wild bird, except crows, hawks, and owls, or takes any eggs or young from
such nests, except for the purpose of preserving the same as specimens, or of rearing
said young alive, forfeits not less than one dollar nor more than ten dollars for each
nest, egg, or young so taken or destroyed. (Revised Statutes, chapter 30, sections
23, 24.)

Maryland.—No law bearing on the question.

Massachusetts.— Whoever takes or killsany wild or undomesticated bird
except English Sparrows * * * or willfully destroys, disturbs, or takes a nest
or eggs of any wild or undomesticated birds, except of the birds herein exempt from
protection, shall be punished by a fine of ten dollars. (Laws of 1886, chapter 276,
section 4.)

Michigan.—An act to authorize the killing of ‘‘English Sparrows.” (Act No. 4, Pub-
lic Acts of 1885, p. 4.) :

Src. 1. The people of the State of Michigan enact, That it shall be lawful to kill
_ the birds commonly called ‘‘ English Sparrows.”

Sec. 2. All acts heretofore passed, contrary to the provisions of the preceding sec-
tion, are hereby repealed.

This acié is ordered to take immediate effect. ‘

Approved February 17, 1885.

AN ACT to provide for the payment of bounties for the killing of English Sparrows.
(Act No. 29, Laws of 1887, p. 29.)

Sec. 1. The people of the State of Michigan enact, That every person, being an in-
habitant of this State, who shall kill an English Sparrow, in avy organized town-
ship, village, or city in this State, shall be entitled to receive a bounty of one cent
for each Sparrow thus killed, to be allowed and paid in the manner hereinafter pro-
vided.

SEC. 2. Every person applying for such bounty shall take such Sparrow, or the
head thereof, in lots of not less than twenty-five, to the clerk of the township, vil-
lage, or city within which such Sparrow shall have been killed, who shall thereupon

170 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

decide upon sucn application, and if satisfied of the correctness of such claim, shall
issue a certificate stating the amount of bounty to which such applicant is entitled,
and deliver the same to said applicant, and shall destroy the heads of such Sparrows.

Src. 3. Such certificate may be presented by the claimant or his agent to the
county treasurer of the county in which such Sparrow or Sparrows may have been
killed, who shall pay the same out of the contingent fund of said county.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Approved March 15, 1887.

Minnesota.—No law bearing on the question.

Mississippi.—lf any person shall at any time * * * destroy or rob the nest of
any wild bird whatever, except crows, blackbirds, bluejays, hawks, owls, and other
birds of prey * * * orshall have in his possession, or shall sell or buy, or offer
or expose for sale, or receive for transportation or carriage, or on deposit, or for sale,
or for any other purpose, any of the eggs of any wild bird, except those above ex-
cepted * * * heshall on conviction be fined uot more than one dollar for each

_€gg, and not more than three dollars for each fowl or bird * * * one-half of

which on recovery shall be paid tothe informer * * * (Revised Code, 1880, chap-
ter 29, section 955.)
Missouri.—It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, kill or injure, or attempt

.to catch, kill or injure any wildsong bird, or any * * * insectivorous bird at any

season of the year * * * and it shall be unlawful for any person at any time or
season to disturb, rob or destroy any wild bird’s nest, or take therefrom any egg or
eggs of any wild bird whatsoever.

The provisions of section one shall not apply to any person who shall kill any bird
on his own premises m the act of destroying fruits, grapes, or honey-bees * * *

Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this act, shall, upon convic-
tion, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished by fine not exceeding
twenty dollars for each and every animal and bird caught, killed or injured. * * *
(Act of April 11, 1877, sections 1, 2, and 5.)

Montana.—Any person who shall willfully shoot, or otherwise kill or in any man-
ner whatever cause to be killed, any robin * * * or any other of thé small
birds known as singing birds, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than five nor more than ten
dollars for each offense committed.

Any perscn who shall willfully destroy the nests or carry away the eggs from
the nests of any of the birds or wild fowl mentioned in this act, shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not
less than five dollars, nor more than ten dollars for each offense committed. (Act of
March 8, 1883, sections 7 and 8.)

Nebraska.—It shall be unlawful for any person in the State of Nebraska to know-
ingly and intentionally kill, injure or harm, except upon the lands owned by such
person, any * * * sparrow * * * or other bird or birds of like nature, that

- promote agriculture and horticulture by feeding on noxious worms and insects, or

that-are attractive in appearance or cheerful in song. Any person violating any of
the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than three nor more than ten dol-
lars for each bird killed, injured or harmed. (Compiled Statutes, 1884, chapter 11,
section 83. )

Nevada.—It shall be unlawful for any person or persons at any time to kill or ia-
jure, or to pursue with such intent, any * * * sparrow * * * or to disturb
the nest or eggs of said bird.

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons within this State at any time to
* * * destroy, injure or disturb the nest or eggs of any of the birds protected by
this act. :

Every person or persons offending against any of the provisions of this act shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum
not Jess than twenty-five dollars, nor more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned

LAWS IN FORCE AT PRESENT TIME. ik

in the county jail of the county in which said conviction is had, for any term not ex-
ceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and the prosecuting wit-
ness shall be entitled to receive a fee equal to one-half of the amount of any such fine
imposed on each conviction. (Laws of 1885, chapter 788, sections 1, 3,7.)

New Hampshire.—If any person shall, at any season of the year, take, kill, or de-
stroy any of the birds called * * * sparrows * * * or any other of the song
birds or insectivorous birds, he shall be punished by a fine of five dollars for each and
every such bird so taken, killed, or destroyed, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty
Gays,or both. * * *- *

If any person shall designedly take from the nest and destroy the eggs or young of
any of the birds called * * * sparrows * * * he shall forfeit and pay, for
every egg or young of any of said birds so taken and destroyed, the sum of two dol-
lars, to the use of the prosecutor. (Game Laws, 1886, chapter 2, sections 1, 5.)

New Jersey.—A further supplement to an act entitled ‘‘ An act to amend and con-
solidate the several acts relating to game and game fish, approved March 27, 1874, and
the supplement thereto, approved March 8, 1877.

SECTION 1. That nothing in the act to which this is a supplemeng shall hereafter be
construed as applying to the English Sparrow, and that all said English Sparrows
shall be excluded from any protection whatever.

Sec. 2. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act
be, and the same are hereby, repealed.

Approved March 9, 1885.

(Supplement to Revision of Statutes of New Jersey, 1887, p. 315.)

New Mexico.—No law bearing on the question.

New York.—Laws of 1886, chapter 427.

SECTION 1. No person in any of the counties of this State, shall kill, wound, trap,
net, snare, catch with bird lime, or with any similar substance, poison or drug,
any * * * wild bird, other than agame bird. * * *

Src. 2. No person shall take or needlessly destroy the nest or eggs of any song or
wild bird.

Src. 6. The English or European House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is not included
among the birds protected by this act, and it shall be considered a misdemeanor to
intentionally give food or shelter to thesame. * * * (As amended by chapter 641,
laws of 1887.)

Sec. 7. Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this act shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail or
penitentiary, of not less than five nor more than thirty days, or to a fine of not less
than ten or more than fifty dollars, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Sec. 8. In all actions for the recovery of penalties under this act, one-half of the
recovery shall belong to the plaintiff, and the remainder shall be paid to the county
treasurer of the county where the offense is committed, except if the offense be com-
mitted in the city and county of New York, the remaining one-half shall be paid to
_ the chamberlain of said city.

Sec. 9. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with, or contrary to the provisions of
this act, are hereby repealed.

Sec. 10. This act shall take effect immediately.

North Carolina.—No law bearing on the question.

Ohio. — Whoever, at any time, catches, kills or injures, or pursues with such intent,
any swan, sparrow, other than English Sparrow, robin * * * or disturbs or de-
stroys the eggs of any such birds, shall be fined not more than fifty, nor less than two
dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. (Revised Statutes,
1884, section 6960, as amended by act of April 19, 1883.)

AN ACT to provide for the payment of Bounties for the killing of English Spar-
rows.

Suction 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That every

person, being an inhabitant of this State, shall be entitled to receiye a bounty of ten

Lez THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

cents per dozen for all sparrows, known as the English Sparrow, killed ; to be ae
and paid in the manner hereinafter provided.

Sec. 2. Every person applying for such bounty, shall take such sparrow or the
head thereof in lots of not less than 25 to the clerk of the township, village or city,
within which such sparrow shall have been killed, who shall thereupon decide upon
such application, and if satisfied of the correctness of such claim, shall issue a certif-
icate stating the amount of bounty such applicant is entitled [to], and deliver the
same to such applicant, and shall destroy the heads of such sparrows.

Sec. 3. Such certificate may be presented by the claimant or his agent, to the city
treasurer, or the treasurer of the township in which such sparrows may have been
killed, who shall pay the same out of the township fund of said township.

Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Passed March 30, 1888.

Oregon.—No law bearing on the question.

Pennsylvania.—An act to permit the killing at any season of the year of the small
bird known as the English Sparrow.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted, §c., That from and after the passage of this act, it shall
be lawful, at any season of the year, to kill or in any way destroy the small bird
commonly known as the English Sparrow.

Sec. 2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

opr ved the 4th day of June, A. D. 1383.

Rhode Island.—Public laws passed at the January session, 1887, chapter 642. An
act in amendment of chapter 94 of the public statutes, ‘‘ Of Birds.”

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

Suc. 1. Section 5 of chapter 94 of the public statutes is hereby amended so as to
read as follows:

‘“Sreo.5. All * * * KEnglishSparrows * * * maybekilled, taken or destroyed
at any time of year.”

Sic. 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

South Carolina.—It shall not be lawful for any person in this State to wantonly
shoot, or entrap for the purpose of killing, or in any other manner destroy any bird
whose principal food is insects, or take or destroy the eggs or young of any of the
species or varieties of birds represented by the several families of bats * * * and
all other species and varieties of land birds, whether great or small, of every descrip-
tion, regarded as harmless in their habits, and whose flesh is unfit for food, including
the turkey buzzard * * * andany person violating the provisions of this section
shall on conviction thereof forfeit and pay a fine of ten dollars, which fine, if imposed,
shall go one-half to the informer, and the other half thereof to the use of the county
in which the offense was committed: Provided, That no person shall be prevented
from protecting any crop of fruit or grain on his own lands from the depredations
of any birds herein intended to be protected. (Laws of 1882, section 1695.)

Tennessee.—[No single act affords general protection to the English Sparrow in Ten-
nessee, but there are several sections of the State code which relate to sparrows and .
other birds in certain counties and groups of counties, of a the following are

specimens: |

Sec. 2223. No person shall hunt, capture, or killany * * * bird that feeds on in-
sects which destroy fruit trees, as the sparrow * * * in Robertson, Davidson,
Lincoln, Maury, and Shelby Counties, from the first day of February to the first day
omseprember., —*) *° *

Src. 2224. No person shall at any time destroy the nests or eggs of any of said birds
in any of the counties named in the last section.

SEC. 2225. Any person violating sections 2223, 2224 may be prosecuted therefor be-
fore any justice of the county; and upon conviction fined * * * five dollars for
every * * * of the above-named birds killed, and the same for every bird’s nest
robbed and destroyed. * * * (1884.)

LAWS IN FORCE AT PRESENT TIME. 173

Texas.—If any person shall willfully kill, or in any manner injure, any * * *
sparrow * * * he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
before a justice of the peace, or other court of competent jurisdiction, be shall be fined
a sum of not less than five nor more than fifteen dollars.

(General laws of 1883; amendment of art. 429 of penalcode. Amendments to sub-
sequent articles of the code exempt a large number of counties from the operation of
the law quoted. )

Utah.—No law bearing on the question.

Vermont.—A person who intentionally shoots or otherwise wounds, kills or destroys,
entraps, ensnares, or capturesa * * * sparrow * * * or destroys the nest or
egos of any of said birds, shall forfeit ten dollars, which may be recovered in an ac-

tion of debt, with costs, by any person who sues for the same. (Revised laws of

Vermont, sec. 3896.)

Virginia.—No law bearing on the question.

Washington Terr.—No law bearing on the question.

West Virginia.—It shall be unlawful for any person at any time to catch, kill, or in-
gure, or to pursue with such intent, any * * * sparrow * * *,

And it shall be unlawful for any person to destroy or disturb the eggs ofany of the
birds protected by this chapter; and any person offending against any of the forego-
ing provisions of this chapter shall be fined in any sum not less than two dollars nor
more than twenty-five dollars for each offense on conviction in the proper court, or
be imprisoned in the county jail not more than twenty days, or both, at the discre-
tion of the court, and pay the costs of prosecution.

It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase or offer for sale any of the birds or
game mentioned in this chapter, caught or killed during the time when such catch-
ing, killing, or destroying is made unlawful hereby. Any person offending against
the provisions of this section shall be liable to the same penalty as is provided inthis
chapter for catching, killing, or destroying such birds or game. (Amended Code,
1834, chapter 62, sections 10, 12, 14.)

Wisconsin.—That any person who shall shoot, kill, or catch by means or use of any
ret, snare, trap, gin, or spring-gun any * * * sparrow * * * for millinery
purposes shall be deemed to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction there-
of in any court of competent jurisdiction within this State shall be punished by the
payment of a fine not exceeding the sum of one hundred dollars nor less than five dol-
Jars for each offense, to be collected as provided by the laws of this State for the col-
lection of fines. One-half of such fine when collected shall be paid to the county
treasurer, and by him paid into the school fund; the remaining half shall be paid to
the informer. (Laws of 1887, chapter 413.)

Wyoming.—No law bearing on the question.

174 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

SECTION FOURTH

DESTRUCTION OF THE SPARROW BY POISONS.
By Dr. A. K. FISHER, Assistant Ornithologist.

From time to time numerous letters of inquiry have been received by
the Department asking for detailed instructions in regard to the de-
struction of English Sparrows by poisons. So few reliable facts could
be procured on the subject that it was found necessary to conduct a se-
ries of experiments in order to obtain the desired information. It was
important to determine not only what poison is most efficient and best
adapted for the purpose, but also the most economical poison, the quan-
tity necessary for use, and the simplest practicable method of prepara-
tion. With these objects in view a large number of healthy English
Sparrows were secured and confined in large cages. They were given
an abundance of food and water during the time covered by the experi-

ments, so that they might not be forced from hunger to partake of the
poisoned grain.

THE POISONS USED IN EXPERIMENTS AND THE FORMULA FOR THEIR
PREPARATION.

_ The following poisons were used in the experiments: Strychnine; ar-
seni¢c ; corrosive sublimate.

Of strychnine, two preparations were used: Crystals of strychnine;
tincture of nux vomica.

Of arsenic the following preparations were used: Arsenious oxide
(white arsenic); arsenite of copper (Paris green); arsenite of calcium

(London purple); arseniate of soda; liq. potassii arsenitis (Fowler’s
solution).

The results of these experiments have led to the recommendation of
the following formule as simple, efficacious, and inexpensive:

ARSENIC.—One part by weight of white arsenic to fifteen parts of corn-meal or grain.
Paris green and London purple would be just as valuable as white arsenic except
for their bright color, which arouses the Sparrow’s suspicions.

Directions: If corn-meal is used, the arsenic should be stirred in dry, and the mixt-
ure afterward moistened. It should be fed moist. If whole grain is used, it shouid
be moistened before stirring in the arsenic. It will be found advantageous to add a
little gum arabic to the water used to moisten the grain, as it causes the poison to
adhere more firmly to the kernels. It should be dried before using. Wheat is prefer-
able to all other grain, because the Sparrows feed upon it more eagerly.

STRYCHNINE.—Dissolve 2 grams of strychnine in a liter of hot water. Ordinarily,
strychnine is put up in bottles containing t ounce. Half of the contents of one of
these bottles, dissolved in a quart of hot water, gives a solution of the desired strength.

Directions: To insure the best results it is necessary to soak the grain in the poison
solution at least forty-eight hours. It should then be dried. Grain prepared in this
way may be kept in jars, to be used as required.

POISONS AND THEIR PREPARATION. 175

Corrosive sublimate, cyanide of potassium, phosphorus, and a number
of other poisons, although efficient, can not be recommended on account

of the danger attending their use.

COST OF POISONED GRAIN.

Arsenic costs about seven or eight cents per pound and four pounds
will poison a bushel of wheat (60 pounds), so that a bushel of arsenic-
poisoned wheat would cost from a dollar to a doilar and a quarter, ac-
cording to the price of wheat, and corn-meal poisoned in like manner
would cost about the same. This amount of poison, however, is much
larger than most persons would need to use, and probably would be
sufficient to kill more than twenty-five thousand Sparrows.

Strychnine is mtich more expensive than arsenic, but ordinarily an
ounce of strychnine should not cost more than $2. An ounce of strych-
nine dissolved in four gallons of water suffices to poison a bushel of
wheat, which will cost, therefore, from $2.75 to $3, according to the price
of wheat.

An ounce of average winter wheat contains about seven hundred ker-
nels. A quart (30 ounces) contains about twenty-one thousand kernels.
A bushel (60 pounds) contains about six hundred and seventy-two thou-
sand kernels. Six or seven kernels poisoned as above would be.amply
sufficient to kill a Sparrow, and hence a bushel of strychnine-poisoned
wheat is enough to kill one hundred thousand Sparrows.

GENERAL SUGGESTIONS.

In dealing with as suspicious a bird as the English Sparrow, in cases
where the continued use of the poison is required, a slow poison (such
as arsenic) is preferable to one of rapid action (such as strychnine), for
the reason that the effects of the latter may become apparent in certain
individuals while the birds are still feeding, the peculiar actions of the
affected birds frightening the others away before they have taken enough
of the poisoned grain to insure fatal results. In such eases it has been
observed that the frightened birds never return to the grain.

Before putting out poison for Sparrows, the birds should be baited
to a certain locality. At the same hour each day they should be fed
with the same kind of grain that subsequently is to be used as the ve-
hicle for tiie poison.

PRECAUTIONS.

In the use of poisons the utmost caution is necessary to prevent the
possibility of accident from the poison itself or from the grain employed

asa vehicle for the poison. The following precautions should be ob-

served: (1) All vessels containing poison or poisoned grain, and those in

~ which the same are mixed, should be labeled with the word poison in

large letters; (2) all vessels containing poison or poisoned grain should

_ be kept out of reach of children and domestieated animals ; (3) in pre-

176 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. :

paring and exposing poisoned grain, great care should be taken to
avoid spilling any of it where it might be found by children, farm ani-
mals, or poultry.

Another possible source of danger in the use of poisons, and one
that is much less easy to guard against, arises from the fact that the
bodies of the poisoned birds are liable to fall where they may be picked
up and eaten by man or beast. However, very little real danger is to
be apprehended from this source. =

SYNOPSIS OF EXPERIMENTS.

Following is a brief synopsis of the experiments in poisoning made
by the Division:

EXPERIMENTS WITH STRYCHNINE.

No. 1 (1 bird).—Fed on wheat, soaked one and one-half hoursin asolution of stryech-
nine (.65 of a gram to 30 ¢c. ec. of cold water) and dried. Bird commenced eating at
1.16 p.m. At 1.27 p. m. showed first symptoms. At 3.10 p. m. it had apparently
nearly recovered. Next morning it was dead. Stomach and crop contained 9 kernels
of wheat. ;

No. 2 (1 bird).—Fed on hemp seed soaked twenty-four hours in a solution of strych-
nine (.325 of a gram to 30c. c. of cold water) and dried. Bird commenced eating at
11.35 a. m.; died at 12.20. Crop contained 3 shelled hemp seed; stomach none.

No. 3 (3 birds).—Fed on hemp seed soaked twenty-four hours in a solution of stryeh-
nine (.65 of a gram to 30 ¢c. c. of cold water) and dried. Commenced feeding at 12.15
(it is impossible to say that all three commenced at that time). Bird No. 1died at 12.42.
Crop contained 3 shelled hemp seeds; nonein stomach. Bird No, 2, at about 1 o’clock,
showed first symptoms while eating; at 3.10, however, it had partially recovered.
It was dead the next morning. Stomach and crop contained 4-5 kernels. Bird No.
3 ate the poisoned hemp seed and non-poisoned wheat until 3.10 p. m., seemingly with-
out bad results. It was dead next morning. Three kernels of hemp seed were all
that could be discovered in the stomach and crop, which contained also 10-12 kernels -
of non-poisoned wheat.

No. 4 (2 birds).—Fed on wheat soaked forty-five hours in a solution of strychnine
(.325 of a gram to 30 c.c. of cold water) and dried. Commenced eating at 10.20;
both dead at 11.05. Each had eaten 3 kernels of wheat.

No. 5 (1 bird).—Fed same as above. Commenced eating at 12.30, died at 1.14 p.m.
Stomach contained wheat partially digested; nothing in crop.

No. 6 (1 bird).—Fed on oats soaked twenty hours in a solution of strychnine (.65
of a gram to 30 e. c. of cold water) and not dried. Bird commenced eating about 11
o’clock, but seemed not to relish the food. At 11.20 the bird was unsteady in its
movements, but at 3.45 if was in good condition. Next morning had wholly recoy-
ered; probably did not eat enough of the poisoned grain.

No. 7 (2 birds).—Fed on non-poisoned hemp seed and wheat, and given water to
drink containing .325 of a gram of sulphate strychnine to 30 c. c. of water. Four.
hours afterward they were visited and both were found dead and cold.

No. 8 (5 birds).—Fed on wheat soaked for forty-eight hours in a solution of strych-
nine (.16 of a gram to 30 c. ¢c. water). Commenced eating at1l.15a.m. At1.45p.
m. two were dead. At2p.m. the third was dead. At3 p.m. the fourth was dead.
The last was found dead the next morning.

No. 9 (2 birds).—Fed on wheat soaked for forty-eight hours in solution of stryeh-
nine (.065 of a gram to 30 ¢. c. of water). Commenced eating at 10a.m. First bird
died at 10.45. Its stomach and crop contained 10 kernels of wheat. At 11.10 the
second bird died, Its crop contained 4 kernels; stomach empty,

an

EXPERIMENTS WITH POISONS. fey

No. 10 (5 birds).—Fed on wheat soaked forty-eight hours in solution of strychnine
- (.03 of a gram to 30 c. c. water). Commenced eating at 1 p.m. At 2p. m. the first
bird was dead and another badly affected, but recovered. Two were dead next
morning. The fifth bird was not affected; probably did not eat enough. This sola-

tion would seem to be too weak to give certain results.

EXPERIMENT WITH TINCTURE OF NUX VOMICA.

No. il (3 birds).—Fed on wheat soaked twenty-four hours in tincture of nux
vomica and dried. At 10.30 a.m. one bird eating; at 10.55 affected; at 1.15 p. m.
_ symptoms passing off; recovéred. At1.15 p.m. second bird dead; stomach contained
&Skernels of wheat; crop empty. Another bird commencing to eat at 11a. m. died at
1.10 p.m; stomach contained 4 kernels of wheat; crop none.

EXPERIMENT WITH CORROSIVE CHLORIDE OF MERCURY (CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE).

_ No. 12 (2 birds).—Fed on wheat soaked twenty-four hours in a saturated solution
3 (in water) of corrosive sublimate and dried. Birds commenced to eat at 10.30 a. m.
_ First bird died at 1.15 p. m.; stomach and crop empty. Second bird died at 3 p. m.;
. 2 kernels of wheat in stomach; crop empty.

EXPERIMENTS WITH WHITE ARSENIC.

No. 13 (1 bird).—Fed on Indian meal and white arsenic (15 to 1) mixed with a
little water Commenced to eat immediately (9.45 a.m.). At 3.45 p.m. bird still in
_ good spirits. Dead next morning; stomach and crop empty.

_ No. 14 (1 bird).—Fed same as No. 13. Commenced to eat at 9.30 a. m.; badly
_ affected at 2p. m.; dead at 2.54 p.m. Stomach and crop empty.

_ No. 15 (3 birds).—Fed same as Nos. 13 and 14. Commenced to eat at 8.45 a.m. At
_ 3p. m. two affected, and one seemed in good spirits. «ll were dead next morning.
- Stomachs and crops empty.

No. 16 (2 birds).—Fed on Indian meal and white arsenic (15 to 2), aud moistened.
Commenced to eat at 10.30 a.m. First bird died at 3 p. mu.; stomach and crop empty.
_ Second bird affected at 3.20; dead next morning.

# EXPERIMENTS WITH ARSENIATE OF SODA.

No. 17 (1 bird).—Fed on hemp-seed soaked one and one-half hours in a solution
_ of arseniate of soda (1.56 grams to 30 ¢. c. water) and dried. The bird ate freely, but
_ recovered.

= No. 18 (1 bird).—Fed on hemp-seed soaked one and one-half hours in a solution of
arseniate of soda (2.10 grams to 30 c¢. c. water) and dried. Dead (time not taken):
_ Stomach and crop contained 12 hemp-seed.

No. 19 (2 birds) —Fed on wheat soaked in a solution of arseniate of soda (2.10
- grams to 30 c. c. water) three hours and dried. Commenced to eat at 9.30a.m. First
_ bird dead at 10.35 a. m. ; crop empty ; stomach contained 4 kernels. Second bird dead
- at 2.30 p.m. ; crop and stomach empty.

EXPERIMENT WITH LIQUOR POTASSI ARSENITIS (FOWLER’S SOLUTION).

_ No. 20 (2 birds).—Fed on wheat soaked for seventy-two hours in Fowler’s solution
_ of arsenic (liquor potassi arsenitis). Commenced eating at 10 a.m. ; lively at4 p. m. ;
both dead next morning.

Al

EXPERIMENTS WITH ARSENITE OF CALCIUM (LONDON PURPLE).

No. 21 (1 bird). -One hungry bird exposed to ground hemp-seed and London pur-
ple (15 to 1) for five hours, but wonld not touch it on account of its marked color.

_ Nore.—When mixed with whole grain the color is not so conspicuous (see next ex-
periment). :

8404—Bull, 1-——12

178 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

No, 22 (3 birds).—Fed on wheat and London purple (15 to 1) stirred up with a
little gum-arabic water and then dried. Commenced eating at 9.45 a.m. First one
dead at 3.30 p. m.; stomach and crop empty. Second and third badly affected at
3.30 p. m.; dead next morning; stomach and crop empty.

EXPERIMENTS WITH ARSENITE OF COPPER (PARIS GREEN).

No. 23 (3 birds).—Three hungry birds exposed to ground hemp-seed and Paris
green for four hours, and refused to eat it on account of its bright color.

No. 24 (3 birds).—Fed on wheat and Paris green (15 to 1) stirred up with a little
gum-arabic water and then dried. Commenced to eat at 9.45 a. m. First bird dead
at 3.30 p. m.; stomach and crop empty. Second and third birds badly affected at
3.30 p. m.; dead next morning; stomachs and crops empty.

SECTION FIFTH,
THE TRAPPING OF SPARROWS FOR SPORTING PURPOSES,

By W. T. Hit.
HISTORY AND DETAILS OF THE BUSINESS.

Previous to April of this year (1887), I did not make an exclusive
business of furnishing Sparrows for tra p purposes, and kept no detailed
account of the business dove. Therefore it will be impossible to give
other than approximate numbers taken and Shipped, but for present
purposes this will not matter. The number taken daily or monthly de-
pends upon the season; the average number per day for one man would
be about 100, the largest number taken in one day being 366.

Ihave sent Sparrows to a number of places in Indiana, Ohio, and
Illinois. The farthest I have sent them north was to Hudson, Wis. ;
west, to Kearney, Nebr.; east, to Orange Valley, N. J .; and south, to
Saint Louis, Mo. I have also sent them to several points in Iowa, the
largest shipment made (1,500) being to Burlington, and I have sent them
into the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia,
and Michigan, but to no point so far as I know where Sparrows were
not already established.

My first shipment of Sparrows for sporting purposes consisted of two
lots of two hundred each to Springfield, Ohio, and two lots, one of one
hundred and fifty and one of six hundred and fifty, to Saint Louis, Mo.,
in the fall of 1885, which is less than two years ago, and Sparrows were
very plentiful at both places then. !

The first Sparrows in Indianapolis were two pairs sent to a gentleman
by Richie Brothers, of New York, as a curiosity, which accidentally
escaped from the cage. About the same time (1872) several hundred
were procured and released by private individuals. Soon after this,
when they had become somewhat numerous, it is reported that train —
men would close the doors of empty grain cars, into which the Sparrows
had entered, carry them to a distance on the road, and then release them, —

TRAPPING SPARROWS. la

In 187475 I caught a few (all together perhaps three hundred and
fifty) for propagation elsewhere. Of these I have uo data, for they were
"either disposed of through the medium of the bird-store, or those getting
them of me either took them or sent them away themselves.
Apart from this I do not think I am in anyway responsible for the
distribution of the Sparrow, and from the scores sent me by those who
have used them for trap shooting I find about seventy per cent. are
killed; therefore the escaping birds have added, as it were, but a ‘‘drop
in the bucket” to the number already there.

From observations made in catching them I believe that at the time
when the propagation of the Sparrow was so strongly advocated, they
- were taken by enthusiasts in smal] numbers to this and that place, and
by being unmolested, through the protection of stringent Jaws, they
-inereased in numbers rapidly; their range, in consequence of their

nomadic, gregarious habits, becoming wider each successive year, until
‘in many instances the birds from different points have met.

This feature of their “spreading” I find to be especially true of the

young birds in the summer and fall, and it also applies to the mature
birds in early spring at the approach of the season of nidificaticn. After

every available place is monopolized in cities and towns many retire to
the remote suburbs, or even to the country, following the habitations
of man and the works of civilization.

It is at this season of the year, perhaps, when those who object to the
Sparrow ean the most effectively keep them away, precisely as the Spar-
row keeps the native birds away by monopolizing, prior to their arrival,
such places as would be suitable to them in the work of nidification.
The Sparrow, with its established maternal cares, protects these nesting
places, and the native bird, having less at stake when it first appears,
is naturally enough caused to go further on.

_ My father-in-law, living about eight miles from the city, upon the first
_ appearance of the Sparrow in the spring, at once gets his rifle, and keeps
it handy for about a month or more; also in the fall, with the young
birds he uses his shot-gun, and by ‘‘nipping them inthe bud” in this
_ way he suffers no inconvenience or material loss.
The Sparrow, while it appears brave, is nevertheless extremely cau-
- tious and mistrustful, and’whenever it displays any apparent assurance
it has first learned by cautious approaches that there is no danger. [
live in the suburbs of the city, and close by is a wheat field of some 50
_ acres, of which the Sparrows * took possession” last year, aud for about
two rounds of the machine next the fence it was scarcely worth the cut-
ting. After it was cut the top-sheafs of some of the shocks were in sve
Gases completely ransacked. The renter of the field kindly left me in
| open cleared place ona knoll in one corner, and in six consecutive days
I caught 1,240 Sparrows, and they were still sufficiently plentiful to
make it an object for me to catch them there. I advised this renter, if
_he sowed wheat the following year, to watch the first approach of the

a. Ae be

180 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Sparrows to the field at the time the grain began to ripen, and told him
that, by keeping vigilance for a few mornings, with the aid of a shotgun
they could be caused to turn their attention elsewhere. This was done,
and the consequence was that he suffered no perceptible loss, nor did they
harbor there in sufficient numbers this season to justify me in trying to —
catch them. This may have been partly due, however, to the fact that
the grain ripened very rapidly, and there were several other wheat-fields
within a mile of this one which ripened earlier; yet this particular field
was the nearest to the city, and therefore the first for the birds to reach.
Yet about the same conditions existed the previous year, and it is my
firm opinion that the birds were driven away by this timely interrup-
tion.

The buildings of the stock-yards here cover several acres. Above
the alleys running in the center of each shed, the roof, in the form of
a ventilator, is several feet higher than the sheds proper, and at the
point where the rafters end on each side is a casing, which forms a eav-
ity between the rafters about nine inches high, eighteen inches long,
and cue foot deep, with the front (facing the pens) open. As all the
sheds are built alike, there are necessarily thousands of these cavities,
which seem to precisely suit the Sparrow to build its nestin. <A few
years ago they were so numerous there as to be considered a nuisance,
both dangerous and dirty, and the employés were often detailed to tear
out their nests and destroy all the eggs and young birds possible. But
this afforded little relief, as the birds seemed capable of building them
up again about as fast as they could be torn out. During last winter
I made a net suitable to catch them out of the buildings at night; con-
sequently at the beginning of the breeding season (the first of April) I
commenced operations, and continued uutil the beginning of June. I
went, in all, sixteen evenings, and succeeded in taking one thousand
three hundred and sixty-four breeding birds (often finding eggs on the
floor or shelves of the bird-house after they were put in). These were
not all the birds there, and some few may have gone there after I stopped
netting, but with what I caught and frightened away the number there
this summer has been so strikingly less as to cause no trouble or alarm.

There is an old grave-yard within the city limits which the young
birds heretofore have made their principal’ sleeping-place, and for an
hour or two in the evening they would form one dense, continuous line
approaching it. I ebtained permission from the sexton to eateh them
there at night, but I commenced too soon, for after going there three
times they left, and have not as yet returned. It was so well suited to
their requirements that I scarcely expected their desertion of the place,
for they have frequented it for years, and I have noticed their droppings
under many of the trees so thick as to completely cover the ground.

Ihave mentioned these few things to show in part a peculiar charac-
teristic of the bird which comes directly under my notice in my efforts
to catch it; and if possible to show how the same characteristic may

TRAPPING SPARROWS. 181i

_ be taken advantage of in the interest of agriculture. While I deem the
2 extermination of the Sparrow practically impossible, still I hold that it
~ ean be in a measure suppressed and its devastating pilfering prevented,
4 if the nature of the bird is understood and such efforts are made at the
_ proper time.
4 There are still a few who think the Sparrows do a greater proportion
4 of good than harm, and I am refused the privilege of catching them on
their premises. Some object to the destruction of the Sparrow from the
_ stand-point of religion or humanity, and some (mostly unmarried ladies)
E because they have become attached to them as pets by feeding them
regularly through the winter, and ‘‘don’t like to see the poor little things
hurt.” In my judgment all efforts at extermination would be futile
unless such efforts were simultaneous and universal, as well as persist-
Sg ent and continuous; otherwise the result would be only to drive them
4 from a place of molestation to one of security.
_ Lhave been more or less devoted to bird-catching the whole of my
life, and i must say that I have found the Sparrow, considering its num-
_ bers, to be the most difficult of all birds to catch. No bird has baffled
4 and puzzled me in its movements as has the Sparrow. In keeping with
: my previous remarks I will say here that to be successful oae must use

the utmost care. On one occasion a Sparrow after being caught es-
eaped from the net just as I was about to reach it. It remained near

- me, and on the approach of other birds, by cries of alarm, or by flying

4

_ with them and leading them away, it succeeded in keeping almost every
bird from the net. Icouid not frightenit away, but was interrupted by
_ itin this way for upwards of an hour, when some one passed with a gun
_ and i had them shootit, after which I proceeded as usual.

The net usually used at night is upon two poles, the tops of which are
_ bent over and hinged at the points.

_ After the birds are caught they very readily adapt themselves to the
conditions of confinement, yet never become reconciled to it. Their
_ principal food is feed-meal (corn) and wheat. They are put into a
_ building designed especially for them, capable of holding several thon-
sand, which is provided with innumerable ledges, slats, and perches,
: ‘ which are portable. In caging the birds for shipment, all openings to
the house are closed, and perches removed, when the birds are driven
' to one end into and through a chute, the narrow end of which enters
4 the door of a cage, in which they are temporarily inclosed until counted.
The loss by death, in keeping them, has been about three per cent., and
I have had them on hand, on an average, about three weeks,

_ There are very perceptibly fewer birds in and around the city now
than there were a few years ago, especially in my immediate field of
F operation. I have taken, since the time I first commenced, over 40,000
_ birds, and have pachape driven many times aS many away; besides
_ which there has been a very general warfare upon them by others, which
my efforts seem to have stimulated somewhat. I have been watched

182 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

while at work with no little attention by all classes of people, receiving —
one universal expression, in substance, ‘I wish you’d catch ’em all;
they are a darned nuisance.” .

There is no merchantable value on Sparrows Hera as an article of |
food, but whatever birds are killed at a match are always taken by
some one for this purpose. The flesh of the young bird is very edible, —
and in some parts of England they are sold by poulterers for one shill-
ing a dozen, and by many are considered a delicacy.

As far as the application of the Sparrow to sporting purposes is con-
cerned, I do not think its admirable adaptability can be overdrawn.
The only tangible objection that can be advanced is that its size makes
it hard to hit. Sparrow trap-shooting is not a new thing, but has
been practiced in England for a great many years, in the era of muz-
zle-loading, ‘‘ scatter” guns. Charles Dickens makes mention of it
in one of his works. To-day, with breech-loading, hammerless, close —
patterned guns, the Sparrow, with its grit and cunning, tenacity of life,
and prompt and vigorous flight, affords the sportsman a target involv-
ing the highest type of marksmanship which many are learning to ap-
preciate.

Everywhere I have sent Sparrows (with but one exception, when the
birds were grossly neglected, and were ina dying condition when used)
they have given the greatest possible satisfaction. While my efforts
at introducing them have been attended with considerable expense and
lavor, still it has demonstrated the fact that they can be caught in
sufficient numbers for trap-shooting, and that there will be a growing
demand for them, provided they can be obtained under more favorable
circumstances, and at less price. In many instances, when obtained —
from me, the transportation has entered so largely into their ultimate
cost that they have been even more expensive than pigeons procured
at home, after deducting the amount obtainable for the dead birds.
Besides, there has been a slight dissatisfaction as to their price from
the fact that the average shooter hasn’t even the remotest idea of the
manner in which they are caught, and seems to think I have some
secret way of scooping them up by the thousand, which i won’t divulge,
and that in buying of me he is patronizing a monopoly that is virtually —
robbing him.

I have frequently received letters of inquiry asking (sometimes, per-
haps, from idle curiosity) how I catch them, and the same question has —
been repeatedly asked in the various sporting papers. But it would —
be impossible for me to convey an adequate idea in detail in a single
letter, even if I had time to devote to every one that desired it. I have ©
endeavored to do so, however, but so far as I know no one has sue- —
ceeded. In all probability the system is more extensive than they had —
supposed, and they have refrained from entering into it without a bet- |
ter understanding of it. But itis all easily understood and learned.
Many of the features and appliances embodied in my arrangements are

NT), Se

‘Ss
a

METHOD OF NETTING. 183

| of my own origination and are constructed with a view to simplicity
and convenience, and at the same time are so perfect that the mechan-
ical operation of the nets is within the bounds of a child’s comprehen-
sion. My little boy, nine years old, displays remarkable judgment in
their manipulation. I have several outfits, and it has frequently been
necessary for me to engage inexperienced persons to operate them.
They learn at once, and always succeed in catching a number of birds,
the measure of success depending upon individual intuition and dex-
terity. Of course a great deal depends upon a knowledge of the habits
of the bird, and the when and where to go to catch them; and while
there are some given rules for this, still in most part it is perplexing
even to an expert, and experience alone can teach it.

The nets and other appliances used in trapping Sparrows are figured
and fully described in the accompanying paper.

ENGErShH SPARROW - CATCHINGS-
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS AND METHODS EMPLOYED.

If we wish to catch a bird we must first acquaint ourselves with its
nature and habits, that we may intelligently bring to bear upon it the
proper means to insure success. Many birds, at certain seasons of the
year, are readily caught with simple devices carelessly applied, but the
English Sparrow, at all times, is the same cunning, wary little feliow,
not to be caught with chaif alone, and great care is necessary in
any approach upon it. Considering, however, that we have a vantage
ground in its gregarious, nomadis habits, and following in this direc-
tion, we produce something that appeals directly to its extreme greedi-
ness and curiosity, which shall be life-like and real; and, realizing that
it is quick to take alarm, we so apply it as to cause the bird to act im-
pulsively, and to enable us to take it by surprise as much as possible.

The method used so successfully and almost exclusively by me re-
quires nets, with decoy and braced birds, placed in the line of flight of
the birds to and from their sleeping and feeding places. The wild birds
are influenced by the decoy birds and then directed into the nets by
means of the braced birds, and are invariably caught while on the wing
or in the act of settling. The nets can also be used to great ad-
vantage in places where the birds are known to harbor, in which case
decoy birds are not necessary; but there should be no building, tree,
or other object for the bird to alight upon inside of 50 yards from the
nets, it being best to attract its attention while on the wing, as well as
to prevent it from discerning anything unusual. The skillful operation
of the nets, in the main, consists in properly judging the flight of the

“This article, by Mr. Hill, taken from the American Field of January 14, 1888, is
substituted here for the description of apparatus and methods which accompanied
his original contribution of September 30, 1887.

184 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

bird in connection with the movements of the nets, and to so control
the force of pulling in closing them as to cause the net to strike the
bird when the radius of the semicircle of either wing is at a vertical
point. ‘The irregularity of the flight of the Sparrow makes it difficult

to catch many at one time.

reer: Fig. II.

:
The mechanical operation of these nets is shown in Figs. I and IL 5
Fig. I shows nets open, lying flat upon the ground. By pulling pull- :
line (d) each net is caused to move upward and inward to the comple- :

FEISS

NETS AND ACCESSORIES. 185

tion of a half circle, one net slightly overlapping the other when closed,

as shown in Fig. li. The four points of each net formed by the two
cheeks (f) and two heel-pins (e) are on a Straight line. The nets are
stretched tight over tops of staffs (b) which have socket attachment and
work on wire in cheek as a pivot or hinge. The tension on pull-line
will keep the nets straight and even, except when a strong wind blows
across them, in which case the arm of pull-line is shortened or a pulley
(j) attached.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTS.

The nets should be made of linen material, about the size of No. 35
gilling-thread, of a dark, dirty-green color, the size of mesh being thir-
teen-sixteenths of an inch from knot to knot, or 15 knots to a foot. A
convenient and serviceable size of net would be 30 feet long by 7 feet
deep, to use with 4 foot staffs. They should be provided with an arm-
ing of heavier cord at the top and bottom edges, which the top-line (e,
Fig. I) should be threaded through at top, and to form a stout edging
to permit of pegging to the ground at bottom.

The top-line of net should be a fine linen cord, about one-eighth of an
inch thick, provided at ends with a small wooden clamp (2, ig. I) sim-_
ilar to those used upon tents; and at the place where the net ends on
the top line, one or more loops or eyes should be spliced, to admit the
button on top of staff, and also to fasten the arms of pull-line into.

The pull-line should be of same material as top-line, with diverging
arms atend next the net. It should be about 40 yards long, which is
the average distance to stand from the middle of net while operating it.
A round piece of wood, about 4 inches long, is temporarily fastened to
it to permit of taking a good grip in pulling.

The staffs should be about 4 feet long and three-quarters of an inch in
diameter, of some light, strong wood, with brass socket and eye (a, Fig.

IL) at bottem, and button and ridge (b, Fig. IIL), also of brass, at top.

The cheeks (a, Fig. 1V) are wedge-shaped stakes averaging 9 inches
long, with wire (No. 10) driven in about an inch from top, which at a
projection of an inch is bent upward for about an inch. They should
be made of hickory or other hard wood, and the wire should fit in the
wood so snugly as to barely permit of being moved with the fingers.

The heel-pins (b, Fig. 1V) should also be made of hard wood, about 18
inches long, aud 1 inch in diameter at thickest part, tapering to a point,

with projection at top to prevent cord from slipping off.

The crooks (c, Fig. LV), which are used for staking the bottom edge
of net to the ground, are cut from the branches of some hard wood tree,
the long end being about 6 inches in length.

The bobber (1, Fig. V), whichis used in connection with fly-stick for rais-
ing and flying braced bird, is constructed as follows: ais a piece of hard
wood 24 inches long, half an inch thick, and five-eighths of an inch wide ;
b is a piece of No. 10 wire that when bent so as to form an eye at top
is 9 inches long, and passes through a, leaving a space of half an inch

186 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

between wires, in which the fly-stick moves up and down; ¢ is also of
No. 10 wire, bent as shown, passing through @ horizontally outside of

wey Fi

cn

=

ae

See

aE es

Fig. iv.

perpendicular wire 6; the ends being pointed and bent downward, are
forced into the ground, together with the long ends of b, which keeps

i oe ,
Se ee ase ary ey, gs ae Et a

—“2 > AA,

Se ee OC eee ten

St Oe Se ee ee

4
i
4

NETS AND ACCESSORIES. 187

it firmly in position; @ is also a piece of wood pivoted on wire ec, with
tapering hole in end, into which the fly- stick is inserted. The wires should

Fic. V.—The above cut repre-
sents braced bird, and appliances
for using it; 1, bobber; 2, fly-stick;
3, braced bird; 4, brace-line; 5,
water-cup.

fit snugly in a, so as to permit only of being
moved to suit the conditions of hard and soft
ground, and to regulate the height of raising
bird; d should work more easily on wire ¢ yet
not loosely. To raise fly-stick pass brace-line
through eye in top of wire b, and fasten to stick.

The fly-stick.(2, Fig. V) to which the braced-
bird is attached, and on which it is caused to
sit, is a stiff willow switch about 2 feet long,
with loop about 4$ inches long, made of fish-
ing-line, wrapped on the small end by means
of waxed thread.

The brace (Fig. V1) is composed of four cords
and swivel, to be placed upon bird as a means
of fastening it without injury, and to leave
every movement of the bird free and natural.
The ring should be of German silver wire,
formed over a lead pencil, a common pin com-
pleting the swivel. The cord should be of soft
cotton, which when stretched in a straight
line should measure about
18 inches. To putit on the
bird pass it over its head so
as to appear like two cords
encircling its body with
swivel at breast bone, and
the knot of cords in center
of the back, when it will
only be necessary to put
each wing and leg of the
bird (in the order named)
between the cords on each
side of brace.

The brace-lines should be
of mattress twine, 50 yards
long, and wound upon reel
to prevent twisting.

Blind cages are also necessary to receive the
birds after they are caught. Each consists of
a light frame of wood about 1 foot square by 5
inches high, covered with cloth; a stocking

Fic. V1.

leg at top, in the middle, forming the door. These, together with a re-
ceptacle for carrying them, called a pack (Fig. VII), which is a light
rigid frame, also covered with cloth (the nets and other appliances be-

188 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

ing rolled up on top), and a small hatehet, a sickle, and a camp-stool,

complete the outfit.
HOW TO SET THE NETS.

Having described each part separately, we will now consider how to
put them together. Taking for granted that the place which we have
selected to put the nets down on is perfectly level and clean, and that the
end of the pull line will reach a fence or other slight cover, the pack is
placed upon the ground in the middle of the place where the nets are
to be set, and the nets are laid in a line on each side of it. We now
take two staffs and, lapping them about 9 inches, lay them on the
ground at ends of top lines of nets, nearest where we intend to stand
Taking the hatchet we drive two keel-pins in at the extremes of the
staffs, when the distance between the two pins will be the length of
both staffs, less the 9 inches we lapped them. Having taken each top
line and allowed about a foot of slack by means of clamps, and placed
them over heel pins, taking also an extra turn, we go to the other end
and taking with us two more heel-pins repeat what we have just done,
taking care that the lines are stretched perfectly straight and tight,
and that these pins, upon which so much strain comes, are secure. The
top lines of nets uow form two straight, parallel lines, and care should -
be taken not to move them in any way until after thecheeks are driven
in. These should now be driven in at the points along top line where |
the eyes appear at ends of nets, inclining slightly outvard so that the
wire will project on outside of line sufficiently to cause the net when
stretched on staff and held perpendicularly to have a tendency to fall
inwards. We now pass the socket of staffs over wires in the cheeks,
and let out sufficient of the slack of top lines to permit of their being
stretched over and attached to button on top of staffs. This being done

PIG. Vilis

we proceed to stake down the bottom edges of nets—first the four
corners, and then the hollow places between them. The bobbers and
fly-sticks come next, and if five are nsed they should be placed as shown

189

ACCESSORIES.

Fie. VII

AND
I
|
|
|

NETS

pe ery

gre em erm rere meen eto omee

RG Say seer ee
poms a eee epee Poe
: -

oP Tee eee ae ee Oe ee oN a ee ee ee ee

190 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

in Fig. I, the lines attached, some food for birds placed at ends of fly-
stick and their water-cups put down and filled. Then we can put cn the
pull-line, the ends of the arms entering into the same eyes of top lines the
buttons of staffs have, as shown in Fig. VIII. Now we are all ready
but the braced-birds, which are put on sticks by passing the loop at the
end entirely through the ring of brace, then passing bird through the
loop and pulling tight on ring. We now take the empty pack and
retire to end of pull-line, and when seated upon camp-stool we are
ready for business.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THE BIRDS.

The management and handling of the birds after they are caught is
a very important feature, for if used for trap purposes it will be neces-
sary to keep them in the most vigorous condition possible from the mo-
ment they are caught until used. They should be given a little seed in
the blind cages, as also water in the dips outside, and the cage must be
kept out of the sun, but the sooner they can be liberated into the ulti-
mate place designed for keeping them the better. This can be eithera
room or out-building sufficiently tight to hold them, provided with ledges
and perches, which would be more convenient when catching them out
again if made portable. Their staple food here should be feed-meal
(yellow corn) and wheat, with an occasional change of some other small
grain or seed, or soaked stale bread, and they should be liberally fed
and watered at least once aday. Their water should be given in large,
flat pans, and the floor of the room should be covered with sand. If
the room is not too high the birds can be caught out of it by means of
a long landing net used in fishing. A flat store cage should be used to
convey the birds where they are to be used, and care taken of them by
seeing that they have food and water and are kept in a quiet place out
of the sun, when, if there are any left, they can be returned to the room
withoutinjury. In handling the bird avoid pressure on its body; hold it
firmly, and without tremor, between the forefinger and thumb around
its neck—thumb across its throat, back of bird next the palm of hand—
and when it is necessary to change its position in the hand, always keep
the hands moving when doing so or it may escape.

Now this may all appear too extensive and complicated at first for
some to attempt, but there are members of every club who have suffi-
cient ingenuity and intuition to construct and use their own nets, which
would not only be a gratification of their individual pleasure, but also
a source of profit and advantage to the members in general. With
these nets, and by following the instructions given, the merest tyro
could catch a great many birds in a day—frequently a hundred or more. —
It should always be borne in mind that the method is not inany way to _
be considered as a baited trap, but that the principle involved is to take
the bird unawares—to fool it—and that it is easier to fool one than ten.
The number caught at the end of the day will depend largely on bag-
ging every bird that comes within the scope of the nets. Make it a

‘

EARLY HISTORY AT SAINT LOUIS. 191

rule to be satisfied with one, if no others are in sight, for after the old
adage ‘“‘a bird in the hand,” ete., a Sparrow in the nets is worth seven-

teen on the fence.

As tothe when and where to go, while there are some given rules for
this, still the birds are so quick to take alarm, and so communicative,
that it is not possible at times to account for their movements. Their
vast numbers and nomadic habits, however, will offset this, and by a
little study of the habits of the bird, and by a few practical lessons in
the shape of successes and failures, it will not be difficult to determine
where a good catch can be made.

SECTION SIXTH,

HISTORY OF THE HOUSE SPARROW, PASSER DOMESTICUS, AND THE
EUROPEAN TREE SPARROW, PASSER MONTANUS,
AT SAINT LOUIS, MO.

By Otto WIDMANN.

The first European House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) were intro-
duced at Saint Louis in 1869, when Mr. Cairns received a few pairs
from New York City. They were liberated in the heart of the city,
but were iminediately lost out of sight. The following year the same
party repeated the experiment with the same resuit, that is, the birds
did not remain in the immediate neighborhood, but left for parts un-
known at the time.

Early in 1870 a Saint Louis bird dealer imported, among other birds,
twenty Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) direct from Germany. Mr.
Kleinschmidt, bearing of it, persuaded Mr. Daeunzer, of the Anzeiger des
Westens, who was at that time experimenting with the introduction of
Kuropean singing birds, to contribute to the purchase of these birds.

Accordingly they were bought and taken to tame ette Park, in the then

southwestern part of the city, and liberated April 25,1870. All left
the park immediately, and none were seen again until April 24 of the
following year, when a single bird was seen one mile east of the park.
This discovery was considered worthy of mention in the public press,
Since at that time the introduction of the European Sparrow at Saint
Louis was thought to be a failure. That this was an error became ap-

_ parent during the ensuing summer, when. these discoveries were re-

ported so often, and from parts of the city so widely separated, that.

- success could no longer be doubted.

During the next few years bird dealers had pairs of House Sparrows

4 sent from New York, and well-meaning citizens bought them for libera-
4 tion, but the exact ius ean not be learned, since the principal par-

_ ties Bic died, Both species increased amazingly, and as early as 1875

192 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Passer had spread over the entire 64 square miles which make up
the city of Saint Louis. In the southern part the Tree Sparrows pro-
dominated, and as late as 1877 no House Sparrow was seen on my prem-
ises, one mile south of the arsenal, which latter point they had then
occupied in large numbers. Also during the winter of 187778 all of
my twelve boxes set up for Sparrows were in undisputed possession of ~
the Tree Sparrows.

On March 28, 1878, the first House Sparrow appeared on the scene,
and trouble began. One pair of Tree Sparrows was dislodged and
a pair of House Sparrows began nest-building. .That summer no-
increase in House Sparrows took place in my colony, and the Tree
Sparrows reared their broods in peace, but when the first cold October
nights forced the Sparrows to change their roost from the now nearly
leafless trees to some warm shelter, a whole flock of House Sparrows
took possession of the boxes and the Tree Sparrows had to leave.
Thereafter the weaker Tree Sparrow had little chance to gain a suit-
able nesting site around its old home. Only one pair continued breed
ing forafew years longer,.in a box which, besides hanging lower than
the rest, had an entrance which the bigger House Sparrows found un-
coinfortably smail. It appeared to me that the Tree Sparrow would be
much more of a house sparrow if his stronger cousin did not force him
to be a tree sparrow by robbing him of every suitable nesting and
roosting place about humen habitations.

With the increase of the House Sparrow the Tree Sparrow had to
‘yield the city almost entirely to him and betake himself to the country,
spreading in all directions and resorting to tree-holes and out-of-the-way
places, while the other took the cities and towns.

This Tree Sparrow is a much more acceptable acquisition than the
House Sparrow. Although sharing many of its babits, it lacks the
fighting qualities for which the other is somuch hated. Of course, like
every bird, it defends its home against intruders, but it is not aggress-
ive. It never attacks other birds for mere sport, like its cousin; on the
contrary, it enjoys the company of our native birds, and it is daily seen
associating with our wintering Junco and Canada Tree Sparrow. With
this latter bird it has some notes in common, and it seems that this re-
semblance of the voice led the early European settlers to apply the name
of Tree Sparzow to this otherwise entirely different bird, a misnomer
which in turn gave rise to the equally inappropriate Sele names
“montana” and “ monticola.”

The voice of the European Tree Sparrow, although it can not be called
a song, is really melodious, especially when a number of them, as is
generally the case, join in common concert, much like our bobolinks and |
blackbirds.

Not more than two broods are raised annually, while the House Spar-
row often raises three, but not four to six, as some claim. |

About the bad qualities of the imported Sparrow nothing new can be

SPARROWS AND MARTINS AT SAINT LOUIS. 193

said, and from my own observation I can not even corroborate the state-

ments already published. It is a strange coincidence that with the in-

crease of the Sparrows our peaches became more and more scarce, but

_ Iam not prepared to say that Passer ate them before they were born—

= 2s

that is, in the bud.

IT can say that the martin, the bluebird, and the wren find it hard to
withstand the intruder, but I hope they will learn from him, and
thereby become more efficient in their resistance. I dare to say that
the martin has already learned much within the few years of contact
and contest. The martins have become more carefal in the guarding
of their chosen home, and I might add they have become more coura-
geous in defending this home.

Immediately on arriving in early spring the martin seeks a box—his
old box of last year, if possible. A few days afterwards his mate joins
him, and the pair regard the chosen box as their home long before they
begin nest-building. During this time, in the full enjoyment of their
honeymoon, the pair used to leave home together when going out in
search of focd. Of late they have begun to take turns, one staying at
home to keep the Sparrows out. This is an important strategical prog-
ress, because it is comparatively easy to keep the Sparrow out of a
box, but it is impossible for a martin to dislodge him after he has built
a nest.

Besides being much more intelligent and courageous than the birds
with which it comes in conflict, the House Sparrow has several really

good qualities which are worthy of imitation by our native birds. Its

diligence is marvelous. After removing their nest in the evening, one
is surprised to see the heap of material whieh this single pair has ear-

ried in within a few hours the following morning; and this is done day

after day with wonderful perseverance.
But the most prominent trait of its character, and the one which ex-

_ plains in a great measure the immense multiplication of the species, is
_ the unsurpassed attachment of the parent Sparrows for their offspiring.

A Sparrow never deserts its brood. If one of the parents is killed, the
other will do all the work alone. If a young one happens to fall down
from the lofty nest, it is not lost; the parents feed it, shelter, and de-

fendit. If a young Sparrow is taken from the nest and placed in a
- cage, the mother feeds it for days and weeks, even if she has to enter
aroomto get to it. Many young martins tumble out of their nests,
- and are invariably lost. The parents make much noise about it, and
_ try to make the young fly up, but finding that they can not do it, they
let them perish, and even if placed where they could easily get to them,
_ they do not feedthem. In times of drought many young martins starve
_ to death, being sometimes entirely deserted by the parents.

While from the four to six eggs which the martin lays, on an average

4 only two young are successfully reared, the Sparrow succeeds in bring.
— ing up all the young hatched, which are four or five,

8404— Bull. 1 13

194 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

The Sparrows have traits of character which may set a good exam-
ple to some of our birds, and I hope they will follow it. If they do so,
the dauger of being displaced by the foreigner will be greatly dimin-
ished. (March 10, 1888.)

As a great lover of birds, I am naterally inclined to be mild in cen-
suring their misdeeds, and although I have been living in war with the
House Sparrow since its appearance, I still hoped sometimes that our
native birds would learn to repulse the intruder, and that its presence
might yet be tolerated to a certain degree. It wasin such a spirit of
reconciliation that | wrote last March, but the experience of this spring
has demonstrated more clearly than ever that leniency toward the
House Sparrow would be a crime. A careful watch has revealed the
fact beyond doubt that the House Sparrow destroys the eggs of the
martin by eating them up without leaving even a trace behind. Six
nests were thus destroyed, with from four to six eggs in each. The
martins had defended their nests successfully until the cool period about
the middle of May, when the scarcity of winged insects caused them
to go far from home and to stay away long. This absence from their
nests enabled the Sparrows to enter the boxes and to eat the eggs.

In one case Passer was hindered from proceeding farther than drilling
holes (4 by 2 inch), through which he probably intended to empty the
contents of the eggs and then finish by eating the shells. In the other
cases the eggs disappeared without leaving any traces. Only in one
case did the Sparrows begin to build in the box; in all other cases the
nests were left undisturbed.

The martins watch their treasures well enough during the morning
hours, but in the afternoon, especially in cool or dry weather, they like
to go off for a hunt and to stay away for several hours. This is the
time when the Sparrows sneak into the boxes, and it requires constant
vigilance on our part to keep them off and to save the eggs (eighty-five
contained in the boxes to-day).

As long as eight years ago, seeing that the House Sparrow besa
irrepressible, I tried to compromise with him by putting up separate
boxes for his special use, giving him to understand that he would be
tolerated there, but nowhere else. This plan seemed to work well, but
for a short time only, and I soon found that the only way to deal with
them was to destroy their nests and young ones.

Last spring, being much warmer than this year, was favorable for the
martins; they could stay about home nearly all tbe time, and it really
seemed as if they had learned to be more effective in the defense and
repulse. But this cool spring showed me that the martin is too much
dependent on the weather to be a successful defender of its home, and
the verdict is, therefore, that the House Sparrow will no longer be tol-
erated on my grounds, and that it will be destroyed without mercy, by
any means, and at every time of the year, not merely in spring as here-
tofore, (Saint Louis, Mo,, June 2, 1888.)

eRe V bi N Ci.

=

——.-- ee eS ar eee
- ~ -* ‘ i

‘oolad

Boy Ll Duk NG Eo

SECTION PIRST.—ORIGINAL TESTIMONY IN DETAIL.

Little need be added here to what has been said already in the
introduction to the Bulletin. The majority of the evidence printed here
was received in reply to printed questions contained in a circular and
schedule distributed in the latter half of 1886. These questions were
as follows:

The Department of Agriculture desires facts, from personal observation, in answer
to the following questions concerning the European House Sparrow, commonly called
‘‘English Sparrow,” in this country.

I. Is your locality city, suburb, or country ?

II. Is the English Sparrow present in your vicinity? If not, what is the nearest
point at which you know it to occur? If present, when did it first appear?

III. Is it abundant and on the increase ?

IV. Is it protected by law ?

V. Is it artificially housed and fed ?

VI. How many broods and young does a single pair rear in a season ?

VII. Do any of our non-predatory birds habitually resist encroachments of, or at-
tempt to drive off, the English Sparrow unless themselves first attacked? Ifso, what
kinds and with what success ?

VIII. Which of our native birds attempt to reclaim former nesting sites when these
are occupied by the Sparrows? Give examples.

IX. Has the English Sparrow been observed to molest or drive off any of our native —
birds? If so, what species are so molested or expelled from their former haunts?

X. Does it injure shade, fruit, or ornamental trees or vines? If so, give exam-
ples. .

XI. Does it injure garden fruits and vegetables? Ifso, give examples.

XII. Does it injure grain crops? Ifso, give examples.

XIII. Has any case in which it has been of marked benefit to the farmer or horti-
culturist come under your notice? If so, in what way has the benefit been de-
rived ?

XIV. Under what circumstances does it feed upon insects? What kinds of inju-

* rious or beneficial insects or their larvz does it destroy and to what extent?

XV. What means, if any, have been taken to restrict the increase of the English
Sparrow ? |

XVI. What is the prevailing public sentiment in respect to the bird ?

Information is particularly desired concerning the presence of the English Spar-
row in the Southern States and in the region west of the Mississippi.

A circular issued by the Department of Agriculture in July, 1885,
contained three or four questions on the English Sparrow, but these are

17

198 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

covered by the above circular, except that one question asked for in-
formation as to injury to *“‘ grapes or other fruits.” Repiies to some of
these questions were received from a few persons who did not contribute
information in reply to the later circular. :

About one hundred and ten persons answered a circular sent out in
1883 by a committee of the American Ornithologists’ Union, and these
replies have been incorporated in the evidence now printed. The ques-
tions were similar to those subsequently sent out by the Department of
Agriculture, but made more particular inquiries as to the food of old
and young Sparrows, and the variation in food dependent on season
and location. Replies to these questions will be recognized readily by
the date—1884 or earlier.

The replies fiom all these sources have been grouped under seven
heads, as follows:

(A) Distribution by States.

(B) Rate of increase; checks, natural and artificial.

(C) Injury to buds and foliage.

(D) Injury to fruits, garden seeds, and vegetables.

(IZ) Injury to grain crops.

(F) Relation to native birds.

(G) Relation to insects.

The material under each head has been arranged alphabetically by

States, and under each State aiphabetically by post-offices. Informa-
tion relating to Canada follows that relating to the States.

As already noted in the introduction, every scrap of information rel-
evant to the inquiry will be found here in its appropriate place, under
the name of the person contributing it, and accompanied, whenever pos-
sible, by the exact date and locality to which the information relates.*
Moreover, in most cases each bit of testimony is followed by the num-
ber of years which the Sparrow is believed to have been present at the
point named.

Whenever possible, the replies have been printed in the same form
in which they were received, and when it has been found necessary to
change the form of a reply, either in dismembering a statement relat-

ing to several subjects or in condensing several statements relating to-

the same subject, the utmost care has been taken to preserve the exact
meaning of the observer.

As arule, all statements received in reply to questions have been
printed in full, the main exceptions to this rule being in cases of (a)
evident misapprehension of the question; (b) replies too vague and in-
definite to be of any value; (c) hearsay statements, which could not be
considered as evidence. |

As was to be expected, a large amount of purely negative evidence
was received. Hundreds of observers wrote simply yes or no after

*This plan was reluctantly, but necessarily, adandoned. See foot-mote on page 12,
in introduction.

an) ae ©

fe GT NT a eS nD) ha,

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES. 199.

most of the questions, and when such reports contained nothing to
show that the writers had ever taken pains to notice the Sparrow’s
habits at all, it seemed unadvisable to print these replies. The fact has
been kept constantly in mind, however, that all omissions might be con-
strued by some as evidence of partiality or prejudice, and this is the-
only excuse for retaining many statements which seem to contain noth-
ing of value.

The friends of the Sparrow, as well as its enemies, have been guilty
of numberless intemperate utterances, which have served no useful pur-
pose whatever. The following pages contain sufficient evidence for an
impartial verdict, and no apology is made (and none is deemed neces-
sary) for the omission of mere opinions, unsupported by evidence of any
kind.

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

In ALABAMA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the fol-
lowing places: a

. x 2 417°
Locality. Mapeais Observer. Locality. eee Observer.
Anniston ....... 1883 | A. L. Tyler. Jacksonville. .-. 1883 | G. B. Douthit.
Athens ........- 1880t | Postmaster. INGE, cos aca s. 1880 | M. i. Pruett.
AUDUTM =... <!-- - 1883+ | State Agr 1D: p’t. Montevallo ...-. 1885 | V. A. North.
Brierfield........ 18857 | Jno. F. Bondman. Moulton. ...--. 1835 | J. M. Sandlin.

MO Wena eee s<\2)-)4 5 1884+ | P. LT. Wagner. New Market ... 1886 | Dr. George D. Norris.
Centre ...-... sche 1834 | J.J. B. McElrath. Notasulga ...... 18834 | Sam. Duke.
Clanton....-- ie, / {| ee eRe ee F, A. Hannon. Oxtordea = 1881+ | Fannie Shuford.
Clayton .......- 1883 | E.R. Quellin. Rock Mills ..... 1884 | Postmaster.
Cross Plains... . 1884 | W.A. Wilson. SENG eee see ae 1884 | Sam. W. Burt.
Cullman ......... 1884 | S. H. Herrin. Seottsborough .:|.--..-..--. A. Snodgvass.

Ose teeics Cae 1882 | Dr. W.L.Mangun. || Talladega-...--- 1880: | KR. R. Hunley.
Dadeville........ 1884 | Postmaster. Tuscumbia -.-- 1883 | F. A. Ross.
Edwardsville .... 1886 | W.H. Howle. Tuskegee....... 1884 | Samuel Q. Hale.

Dosteo sacle: 1886 | Postmaster. Union Springs.. 1880 | Henry Harris.
Eufaula ..-.--.-- 1282 | EK. L. Brown. Weaver's Sta- 1885 | Postmaster.
Guntersviile..... 1884 | Postmaster. tion.

Hayneville ...... 1886 | Tom Baine. Wetumpka ..... 1885 | G. A.B. Smith.
+ About.
It was reported not prescut at the following places in Alabama:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
malbettwille=2 22-2... William A. MeCreless. Larkinsville ....-..--. Dr. Andy Boyd.
Blount Springs .....--. Postmaster. inden: Seceeeien ace C. B. Cleveland.
Blountsville ....-...-- Rufus B. Simms. DGiwaIMieston sees ae K. E. Hopkins.
COPING) (eae a J.J. Roach. Monroeville .......-.-. F. A. Seymour.
Carroliton ..:-........- D. C. Hodo. Mount Vernon ...... Christian Becker.
Columbia .............- W.C. Kornce. Oar es ee cad hee Postiwaster.
Wap: so -//cce ee ss Jobn Wilson. Pine Apple ....--.... M. A. Carter.

M. P. Brugh. Prattvillescac2. 2.2... George W. Ward.
Postmaster. Rutledge s2s52-2-- Postmaster.
John A. Weems. Smelleyie eee W. F. Ponder.
Postmaster. Mallasseevcisseasecnee J. A. Dubberly.
Good Water .......... D. B. Brown. Tuscaloosa -.-----.--. W. 4H. Wilds.
Greensborough ........ Dr. W.C. Avery. Wermonboaieacersaat.-5 6 = A. A. Wall.
Lue) US, ona J.F. Haley. Work Station. ..2--. 2-6 k. B. Hightower,

200 THE ENGLISH

SPARROW IN AMERICA.

In ARIZONA, inthe summer of 1886, the Sparrow was known to be present at but one

point.

Lieut. Harry C. Benson states that it wasthen established at Camp Huachuea.

It was reported not present in the autumn of 1886 at the following places in Arizona:

Locality. Observer.
Miaestaii=: 3-0 5. .e<-: J. R. Kilpatrick.
SHIGRON COCs 3 -sie S os a a John Miller.

|

Locality. Observer.
Tueson) 232 22ee ease 3s Herbert Brown.
VU... 2-2 ceeee o>] Se bie Dee

In ARKANSAS the Sparrow was reported presentin the autumn of 1886 at the fol.

lowing places :

Sl First | . First. |
Locality. appeared. Observer. | Locality. appeared. | Observer.
|
IATROEDES eae 1883 | D. D. Ames. IBA I ROE ese ek ks | Carl von Jagersfeld.
errypalle.s cles. [kets . 2s Postmaster. | Bunoke fl 5 on |e eee | A. F. Huntsman.
Gjavendon:....5---- 1:85 | Horace Ward. i) Miarianmnaeesce ac 18857 Postmaster.
Wallasereces =. o: 1876 | T. M. Carder. lie Miamrronysee aes 1882 Do.
Len ieee ser = 1883 | J.O. Bagwell. || Nashville. ...... 1881t | W.J. Lee.
Hot Springs .--- 18807 | Richard d’ Ailly. || (Osceola sae. =: 1880+ ; Dr. D.A. Richardson.
One 1876 | Postmaster. || Poplar Grove 1882 | James R. Turner.
| |
a 7 About

It was reported not present at the following places in Arkansas:

——=—=

Locality. Observer. | Locality. Observer.
| ——

ANRC jSasenedpeeese CharlesJ. Humphreys. || Harrison ---.-...-....--- | J. W. Andrews.
Acad Clip hiamrceam sa vac: B. Cook \eHlarrnsburehte- = sere | M. D. Simmons.
FAMICUStA {sae ee a5 = 21s J.P. Fer gzuson. Hope 2. See ese eens | TY. H. Bayless.
PATIStIN seo ee eee Robert L. Brown. Jacksonport ...--.---. | William A. Monroe.
Batesville-t-->--2255-- F. D. Denton JASPER ES asses sce ees | Postmaster.
IBCODE) = ae ee A oee ec as L. B. Gist. Jonesborough ....---- John W. Owens.
BOONE MINE esas oe wee John M. Oathout. | Lewisville 22225. so-- B. P. Wheat.

IDDs Sed sheccesede J.S. Lambkin. | bitte shoe: se=- ease John Jarr.
Boonsborough ..-....--- Ww D. McBride. Dot ses. 22 see aee S. H. Nowlin.
@amulengar ser cet ee W.F. Avera. | Loeckesburch™ 2222-2. F.C. Flova.

C@anhisle we eos a siete Jaines Hennessey. | Mal vernt22s-2 2 sauaa| tichard d’Ailly.
Centre Point.....-. .---| Postmaster. i Marshallese ensece se | Postmaster.
Charleston=-so.-- sss. A. P. Richardson. | Morriliffonme-scacesese H. 'T. Gordon.
Glaks ville sess. see - =e Postmaster. |! Mountain Home...... J.S. Russell.
OlimvOnsae6 ae oe cero ea W. R. Greeson. | Mountain View..----- Joseph Hixson.
Conlwyille ee see ae J.M. Bench. Mountilida-s3.25-2ses- G. D. Goodner.
WOnwaVer eases -nnisma A. R. Witt. Mul berinygsee se ee J. W. Bailey.
COLMING Ls. ssecice css C. R. Beloate. Murfreesborough..--. Postmaster.
Cotton Plant....... ....| W. TL. Echols. POV Clore eseecs Seen Jno. Berry.
Deon GSS eee le errors Postmaster. Paine: uniie eee erases W.H. Westbrook.
WD GSLATC ea oa a ee kre J.J. Baugh. PRocihontasessee cues S. T. Thompson.
WovallshBbluticsaca- 2 2: Reuben B. Car] Lee. @nifmanes-—sees-se ose W. M. Garne:.
WPOMODe eae cece Us fez H. Kinthof. | Rocky Comfort ......-| Samuel W alters.
mM orado eee a= see M. A. Craig. | TROGORS! cc. oeeee ee Postmaster.
PARTIC rR asene seas se Postmaster. | Russellville. 52525922 W. T. Reynolds.
Eureka Springs........ Jno. H. Hamilton. Sealey yss-Ssseeen sees Jobn C. McCauley. ¥
mayecevillerc=-ccccess Prof. F. L. Harvey. Sheridan. 56-202 J. N. Noll.

DOP set cewcies cise Prof. George D. Puri inton.|| Sulphur Rock... -.-.--- Postmaster.

WOt tase oo oes Postmaster. Toledosseies ees Do.

Fort ph (2) eee ee: Dr. F. W. Johnson. | “Wialdroa= 22 se2es25-- M. M. Beavers.

Bes SET he heres W.J. Fleming. Warren... 3... 25.2-2-.| Postmaster
Gainesviite Fase mace dees Thomas W. Crawfor.l. Washington --2-2---- | Carl von Jagersfeld.
Grecubrier 22 225202522 J. K. Donnell. Witcherville...-...... | S.E. Smith.

GHIETON set 555 Meee aces W. D. Gage. | Wittsburch’ 222ssec 5-7 Postmaster.
HAI pLOR.. 2.5255. -3<- L. G. Tomlinson. |

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

201

q In CALIFORNIA the Sparrow was reported Beenie in the autumn of 1886 at the

followi ing places:

Locality. Cate a Observer. Locality. a a Observer.
Berkeley ......-- 1884 | Dr. M.C.O’Tocle. San Francisco ..| 187% Wim. McK. Heath.
Cloverdale. ...... 1884 | Jobn Ficld, Dorsseaese 1877 George P. Lowell.
JSUT) eee i885 | Charles Fiebig. 1D OR ecpoc ened cease ae J.G. Scoit.
micyavards .<....- 1880 | Dr. J.G. Cooper. DORA seeeoa eons eke Colonel Warren.

pee eee 1880 | W. Otte Emerson. DOL se sece ec. | 1S71t A. H. Webb.

Se tollister......... 1883 | Will Steinbeck. LOOSE a ee nate Gee oe K. J. Wickson.
; Mission San José 1885 | J. W. Musser. DAMROSE) Secor shakes voce F. H. Holmes.
See Napa. City ....... 1884+ Postmaster. IDO Sora E.: 1881t A.L. Parkhurst.
Matcland ......--: 188vt | Walter E. Bryant. Stocktom.....-.. 1883 L. Belding.
Do... Peer eee ress ee. B. Lorin. Doreen teao~ 8 18e0 [2] | Postmaster.
Redwood City - 1874 | H. Jacobson. Viallejom sass oe ce linet seers Fred. T. Bond.
- San Francisco ... 18751 | F. Gruber.

t About.

It was reported not present at the following places in California:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
AUR See Carl C. Marshall. Orovilles soso aie ae on John J. Smith.
Perpnckle.(..0...-.-... Dr. C. H. Gibbons. Pacheco ....-.---..--.| Postmaster.
Rudi. .653 ee eeeee eae A.M. Phiegan. Qeiney- eos osc ee J.H. Pardee.
POUIMAS Ie Sei o Sy cies I. C. Gibson. RAVOESIGG™ haa eine R. P. Chandler.
JOUR cee Bennett A. Pryor. Rohmerville v2: = eae S. H. Crabtree.
meow nieville _..-.-..--. Postmaster. San Buenaventura....; Dr. Stephen Bowers.
meeeDoteh Mat .2......... B. &. Walker. SAN DiGF Oe ceac aces « | G. Holterboff, jr.
meee resno City......------ W. M. Williams. Oe soci Saeees J.H. Orcutt.
_ Grass Walley. v5.5.0... S. G. Lewis. San Luis Obispo ..--... McD. R. Venable.
Sa EK. J. Plummer. Santa Barbara .-...... William Lavies.
EN eee aca Sam cistene e+ K. L. Ballou. Sebastopol..--.......-. John Dougherty.
MowGatos .....-...... C. A. Menefee. Momaleseee sacs cee Postmaster. ~
WLS eT ES a Joseph Palla. WiSQI ae cots cpt as Susman Mitchell.
Mokelumne............ Thomas Peters. Wilmington! < 2-225... A. Laubersheimer
Bee viurply'S ...------.-.- Jobn J. Snyder. Wan GS 0M. Sce< oceans B. F. Bennel.
me Nevada City........... Wallace J. Williams. VEEKS San waeeae once Postmaster.

In COLORADO the Sparrow was reported present only from Denver, and there is

some doubt as to its presence there now. Mr. Edward E. Achert states that he let

They were first seen there about a year earlier.

Observer.

John H. Farrav.
A. Schringer.

I. G. Price.

S. C. Bennett.
James H. Kerwin.
Arthur Lakes.
Jay Thompson.
Guy R. Potter.
Thomas B. Crawford.
O. Howard.

C. W. White.

C. L. McPherson.
T. M. Trippe.
A.XK. Clark, jr.
Postmaster.

H. G. Mosher.
Alex. Iraser.
Joseph J. Topleff.
L. KE. Andrews.

J. W. Seaman.

G. E. Blatchford.

{ . . . ~ 7
loose six pairs in Denver about 1877, but all] subsequently disappeared.
q Mr. W. C. Wynkoop says there were a few there in October, 1886, though their
_ presence was not generally known.
_ Several other residents of Denver are positive that it did not exist there in 1886.
iit was reported not present at the following places in Colorado:
2 Locality. Observer. Locality.
3
3 oo 2 Postmaster. IBVNINS) see a amie cinietsieys =
Seeee a SPeD ----..--..-.-.... James C. Connor. i Diiiel 2) b) gieeeeioe see
7 PERCE. ooo. woe oe J. A. Sewall. | Wort Lewis:.22-2..2 5.
Buena Vista...-...... C. B. Wilson. Georgetown .-..-:.---
. CANGG? ae eee J. E. York. Glenwood Springs .--.
ee Canon City....--...... A. L. Hayes Golden: go. csancmes Jac
: toe G. G. Shayer Gold Hill, .caeae
SAT... 2s. J.M. McClain. Granada... eacmes 2 =
meecwoal Creek ............ G.S. Warner. Grand Junction ....-.
Colorado Springs ....-. Charles E. Aiken. Greeley... eee ae
Ome cmccto: cists Postmaster. WO. as sae stave Sian
Gno}OS-—--...-.----.-.| S. W. Hatch. WeEROM ys, cmerote cael bo
ON Postmaster. Howardsville .........
los A. T. Allen. PUP Os oe engine ae
q BPE tea wir nicl A.W. Anthony. ED Oe ase tases 2a.
DREN Soni wntaices = 0 H. G. Smith. ARBs cities Sore sts, is
j la. ¢ RE SRS Eases Mrs. A. L. Peabody. pelaayGiM nese, aoe eee
LG Seana H. F. Wegener. \sRonemont s.-.-5-s-5-
MICKIGY ...........-.-.. A. W. Voorhees. |, BONIS Willen se. <yfrs-2 = 5.
Beeeizabeth......-......- Jennie R. Pierce. (HO WCRAMGL aes ecsss 5 -
EN ee cieie vere ercc os 5 M.S. Haines. Miatyswille: acces as 2 2 2x

SPARROW IN AMERICA.

202 - THE ENGLISH
Locality. Observer.

Monarch. - ose. aes D. D. Hatfield.

IMONTEOSO/= 2s e 5 ee2 A. E. Buddecke.

INGPeStaiesor sk te ones G. W. McReynolds.

Orchards iacsecce sce J. M. Parrott.

Ouray 22sec Sa: David Frakes.

Poncho Springs ..-..-- C. Eubank.

WUODIO: jo-ce .- ss a= See H. W. Nash.

Oucridais 3255: cesses Postmaster.

Red Mountain ......--. Do.

Rocky Bord 2-222-2-) Do.

SHOMCHE | 12o96 52-0 ee # oa Jon

Sotmdate eee see ne CB. Underhill.

Sedgwick ......... pall 2s A D. Moorhead.

In CONNECTICUT the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the

following places:

. First
Locality. appeared.
|_
Brookield (Cen-|-5..--2.<<
tre.

East Hartford... 18787
illimeton. =< 22s. 18807
Farmington ..... 18787
Gaylordsville ....|...... eee
Haritord: ==... 1874t

1 BY ioe ees ee a re gk

Oe Seocceo: 18787
Jewett City..... 1875 }
Manchester ..... 1872 |
Mansfield.... .. 1885
Meriden 22.22... 1870
Middle Haddam. 1878
Middletown ..... 18707
New Haven...... 1871

In DAKOTA, in the autumn of 1886, the Sparrow was known to be present at but
Mr. O. M. Whaling states thatit appeared at Milltown early in 1835.

one point.

Locality. | Observer.
ay

Silver Cliffe 225-5 seer Postmaster. eu
SHyder ec cere se D. E. Risedorph. wk
South Pueblo s==-.0-—- Postmaster. |
Starkvillesceee sacomere W. R. Smethers. 3
Rellurides .-.0 5st eer H. C. Lay.
MhatiLChorcsxesi-. ese J.M. Thompson.
TinseCuy 2255: 22 eee D.Mawherter. —
Topnehi eee eee E. F. Blain.
rinndcd= 38 seo eee H. Stark.
Willa Groves. eee Postmaster.
Walsenbure: 22. Do.

Observer. Locality. pee. ae d
|
George C. Jones. Bow Eien ta 1876+
O20 US hae eee ere
Willard E. Treat. Dos sates s ee ee ae
S. T. Kimball. INORWiGhyaeees-- 1872
Henry H. Mason. OS schee EE 1866t
E. H. Austin. Piantsville ...-. 1877t
Mrs. W. Seliger. Porvland: ees. 1869
W. G. Talmadge. Ridgefield . eo Sass 1882
Daniel S. Wadsworth|} Rockville -.--.--
Dr. Geo. H. Jennings|| Sharon ..-...... 1875t
| James B. Olcott. || Shelton. — .. 18747
Prof. B. F. Koons. South Wood. |-2..-8
H.C. Hall stock.
Henry L. Stewart. Stratiord —=5.-.- 1872
Walter B. Barrows. || Suffield .--..---. Le ig?
A.C. Sheldon. Windsor.....-. | 1879F-
t About.

was reported not present at the following places in Dakota:

Do.
Nathaniel Sisson.

| S. T. Holbrook.

1882+ | C. D. Tucker.

Observer.

Louis B. Bishop.
Frank S. Platt.
Robert D. Camp.
G. Geduldig.

E. hk. Newell.
John H. Sage.
Edward J. Couch.

George M. Marckres.

aye Tomlinson.

Mrs. G. S. F. Stod-
dard. .

Robert W. Cartiss.

Jesse F. Smith.

Stephen Hills.

It

Locality. Observer. Locality. | Observer.
tae eee

Aiberd@en: . 222.252.5556 Charles A. Fisher. BVKton). 20%. sence eee | Postmaster.
Alexandra ssoae% 2 s2se2 Postmaster. || Pillendaleteees see see | Do.
Aiamont).----=-------- Oo. , Bstelline: 2-2. sees <se | C.P. Gould.
Argusville [1885] .-.-.--. S. M. Edwards. Fairview ...---.------| W.H: Batbbande
JBN E TO 5555555 ose5oe Postmaster. Margo ce dien eee see | Postmaster.
PASTON fae e ce lccem sorted Do. Fort Abraham Lincoln William Cannon.
FAM Ole ree: Soe. oe C. M. Sullivan. Good win)-=2 +2. | G. F. Nelson.
PAT OTA tae ec SS amas Postmaster. Hamilton - eS Se ORe | G. W. Bovlan.
132011 Rin Sess Ae RS Thomas Edwards. Eaolde =. eos ae ' John A. Sigler.
Beresfords a. <2 222: Thomas T. Brady. Henty,..£5.55c2.s5s5=5 E. H. Waldron.
Big Stone City..-...--. L. A. Card Hope. s2sss2i- ses eee Postmaster,
Bismarck eessset sees. Andrew T. Sherwood. Hiwadsonee: .assea sees T. W. Millham.
Blanchard: ..s25-cse=5 Douglas Robertson. uron.282 sss Gees ae ee Dana Duran.
1 BATT eee aes See ae Charles A. Berger. DO eeacec ae George T. Love.
ion Hommes-o2--5 .25= B. D. Graves. Dope2 sae eee George Wilder.
IBTAN CON: Soec sonar see William J. Jones. My deiBark=-se< see James Kyle.
Brinton tees E. Stevenson. ll Proqnewsso se eee Postmaster.
Mx OM ewan s ce ceee eee Postmaster. || Jamestown .---.--.-. Do.
CGunbonys a. +o escent O. A. Rudolph. || KCISO 25326 ato nsent se eo George H. F. Johnson.
WASSOIOR co caw mee =e L. J. Fulton. | Pe Gnit reeG Pees eee ee 2S Postmaster.
Wastlewood:..i20-2-ss5s William Marshall. || dhacMouress-n22s- see N. B. Wilkinson.
WAavOul p= sect = hacsece Andrew J.Sweetser. Wanimiore css 95. sece T. F. Eastgate.
Chamberlain. .......... William Gilman. Ie Bead? a3 snc chee J.J. Jones.
Wlarkrrr ese. eeeseusesce S. D. Jeffries. Lisbon’ ao soe J. Durbin.
Columbia s-sssa.e605552 J.R. James. Madison oacenesee see J.M. Preston.
Orandon@res tcc ose eS: Flora Z. Wagner. Manvel 222 can cscose W.B. Stevenson.
Guamines sess, ce es. D. B. Wilbur. MOAN ES Se acco oaneee H. K. Stearns.
Divaeho eee sec sane S. R. Norris. NATION nso 3 eee John Ryan.
HY FAM Gian micceee eee rece Postmaster. Marviltiscec scene ee: Charles B. Williams.

“ er. AS =
a a ie : ‘
DISTRIBUTION BY STATES. 203
s |
-- Loeality. Observer. | Locality. Observer.
|
MAO oes eck ee C.N. Taylor. Salen io. jscseeu sess Postmaster.
PERM 2 ow ee Sue Postmaster. SAMDOLM 2 oae eee ewes Do.
.- Sep ee ees W. T. Dale. | Sheldon..-.............| James W. Allen.
REeR So. = 5 Charles L. King. Sioux Hallse¢-4525-- Postmaster.
> . eee W. 4H. Kephart. paplneeeld. (oo sc.c. ace M. Griflin.
NS Swe «3 Postmaster. | Steele. ..............-.| Postmaster.
BP Soe woo John Gallagher. PMREGY tee Jeo ee Sees Do.
| See Fred. Twamley. | Vermillion [1885]...-.- Dr. G. 8. Agersborg.
mi Vernon -.-----. Postmaster. PWiermilhon= 222% .. oot 2: C. G@. Shaw.
.., ee Do. | Wahpeton ............| B.C. Wilson.
0) | S.K. Stanles. fo cilisaillvers soon. | T.S. Burley.
ivood ~ =... _...| Postmaster. POV EIET ee sect. le W.P. Kingston.
=e G. W. Baker. | Webster..............| J. B. Prendergast.
2256 es | Alfred :C. Lee. | Wentworth. ..........| Postmaster.
eee. ...--..-| John J. Catter. White take -o-205 255: James McCauley.
Jl ae H. A. Langlie. fWallowSsiee -02<- eee David H. Henman.
MRGnby = 225. ...---- Postmaster. LaWailnOtr er: soe ee Postmaster.
iG = S255 /-— == = - Do. hwWwelsey~. <u ssc Harrie A. Watson.
i eae M.C. Rousseau. WairiGhOHsooe ee 8a L. D. Palmer.

‘In the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA the Sparrow was reported present in the au-
tumn of 1886 at the following places:

aq ee. First ! fa First ‘
; Locality S appeared. Observer. } Locality appeared. Observer.
1! |
t Pleasant 18727 | William Holmead. } Washineten: “2 (e023. 2: _ George Henning.
Shington . --.. 18727 | Michael Durkin. Bor see 2 S. | 18707 | Robert Ridgway.
+ About.

In FLORIDA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the follow-
IL gs places :

‘ |
Locality. | Observer. | | Locality. Observer.
Serro Gordo .......... N.B.O’Donoho. ube Oiye-.. 22-0 2. | Prof. A. -Q. ‘Hoaieasy [182]
mescent City.......... Sidney L. Benham. RADIPS 5-525 = osse5~ x: | W.H.D

* First appeared.

It was reported not present at the following places in Florida:

Locality. Observer. ! Locality. Observer.

fachicola-.-........ Jobn W. Wakefield. i) bake City *. 22-2 2: o: J.J.Thompson.
US ee Postmaster. eesbarthe sons -as== F. C. Childs. -
ee Do. ipMiadisen coco. 5. to. | H.J. McCall.
Se G. W. Ford ) Mand aritusc 222 2.6 08 | W. Y. Merry.
eo wo: R.H. Burr. | Marianna..........---| Q. E. Hearn.
Be ois man we: C. E. Taylor. | Micanopy .----- -----.| Postmaster.
ub 0S Se Postmaster. iM iiviewtn =s-sene ce 25 | Rix M. Robinson.
ee Do. Malone ents | I. M. McGehee.
Water Harbor...| I. K. Munnerlyn. | -NIBHUIBENO? os oy soan _ John W. Garwood.
BHOAIG 5-2 5-- 2 o-- 2: John &. Voss. | Mount Pleasant.-..-... | Postmaster.
eens ns o> C.F. A. Bielby. | New Berlin. ....-.....| A. W. Lawless.
CDI | J. B. Alexander. IN TG wsubkes cy a3 | D. L. Morgan.
gnee Anna .--....... | Postmaster. ROC etee sesee ease ..| L. Dorier.
eueral Point.......... | J. F. Tennly. H Orance: City2<. =-.c2-: | F.C. Austin.
SeMANGING..........-. | Samuel T. Riddell. PpOriindGe-.. <4 secu E. W. Fe
Buinesville ............ | Frank M. Chapman. Hobabewe tae, sec. 5. eee, C.S. Goss.
meen Cove Springs.... Thomas Roberts. i) Pian @rby- 22... 22. .-- E.S. Tyner.
Sealand -..........--- | Postmaster. Guin cystecree toner Postmaster.
Pert S32 Oo Dr. C. T. McMannen. || Rosewood .... .......| C. M. Jacobs.
ee on | Postmaster. | Saint Augustine......| Postmaster.
sonville............ William H. Ashmead. | Soutb Lake Weir.....| William Foster.
Re os | R.J. McKee. ‘Palluhasseess22sc0sc22 | D. W. Gwynn.
Ween s.--2.-- >: | Postmaster. HLwanipe. oo ee eee ee: | H.R. Benjamin.
atler ---......_.| M.C. Levy. He Waltiesiue neue oo. 26: | Samuel J. Kennard.
II

*Repozted present by another observer.

204 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 3 |

C. L. Hopkins (Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.) reports no Englis )
Sparrows seen or heard of at any points in Florida visited by him August 23 to Sep;
tember 10, 1887. The points visited were Jacksonville, Astor, Umatilla, Eustis!

Tavares, Sanford, Orlando, and intermediate points.
In GEORGIA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the fo
lowing places:

Locality. appeared. Observer. | Locality. apne Observer.
JIN oosacesess 1867 | Postmaster. | Isabella-..---<=- 1876 | Postmaster.
Alpharetta .----- 1*84 | William A. Porter. |! Jackson ....-.--. 1881 Do.

VAG ETIGUS= see oie 1884 | M. B. Council. , Jonesborough .-.- 1876+ | J.C. Haws.

DOeoeeeesee 1876+ | W.C. Furlow. Iineston ces | 1884 | Postmaster.
SANTO PD int Oy areas 1886 | Postmaster. | Korox ville. 22s eos eee J. H. Halt.

Avila bate sensei geet mac. Hon. W.A.Harris. |; La Grange..-.-.- J881+ | Thos. H. Whitaker.

Doekee sae sel 18767 | KR. J. Redding. Lawrenceville . 1883} | Postmaster.

DO xisack 3s seul |seee cera Postmaster. Lawtonville .-.- 1880 Do.

INVOMM Ma noaeeecs 1871t | Dr.J.P.H. Brown. |! Lexington ...... 1882t | John VT. M. Hairn.

| Dts ecics 1878 | K.Boyce. - Timp on eee 18817 | A. W. Latimer.
Buena Vista...-- 1884 | Thomas B. Lumpkin. Doveseee: 1883 | J.B. Latimer.

INO Saaosoensoe 1881 | V.E. Walton. Macon =. 3.—-cee= seewce----|| Be eVSRamicrss
Galligan! aces. 18817 | J. M. Harkins. Do..-..-..---|-6...<.-- | Dhomasiilemdenrnman:
Camillayesea----- 1882 | Miss EttaCulpepper. DOe seen sesese 13870t | Prof. J. E. Willet.
Camitonl eees--- 1882 | H.C. Kellogg. Marietta..-..... 1871 | Hugh N. Starnes.
Carnesville ..-.-- 1878 | W.J. Fincher. Martin. .-26.5.55|445 =e Postmaster.
Carrollton --.-.---- 1885t | E. A. Merrell. | Meriwether: --2.|--s5--ee B. H. Myrick.

MW OSs aoeisarser 1882 | M.R. Russell. Midwilles = es = 1886 | Postmaster.
Cartersville ..-.-. 1883+ | William Milner. Milledgeville -.- 1880 Do.
Cedartown.-...-- 1884 | Postmaster. WIORERN. cscsse a 1885 | J. H. Coram.
Clayitenees. s---- 1877 Do. Moulinies=.ssses 18%4 | EK. A. Milligan.
Covington ...--.. 1883 | James M. Levy. Oxfordee eee 1882 | Mary W. Henderson.
Crawford .....-.- 1885 | C.S. Hargrue. Ralimetto ie. oe 1882 | Simeon Zellars.
Cummnnine 22-2 --- 18847 | Paul A. Clement. Inaschalesa-eee 1885t | Postmaster.
Cuthbert ......-- 1880 | J. R. Owen. Perty eee een 1879t | T.M. Killen.
Eatonton ......-- 1876 | §.C. Prudden. Pope’s Ferry ..-- 1880 | W.D.H.Johnson.
OM TSAO Ne saseance 1882 | Postmaster. OMe mee teece ee 18827 | Postmaster.

REMAN UET Sooo so 1883t | George Latham. Savannah..-.-.-..- 1878 | J. N.Jobnson.
Hort Valley------ 1879T | Postmaster. Smithville ....-- 1881 | G. W. Warwick.
Georgetown ...--. 1885 | R.G. Morris. Spavigecsoeoeeee 18g8ut | Postmaster.
Gordon <5 see ic8 | 18s1_ | J.G. Pearson. Summerville. --. 1884 | George D. Hollis.
Greeneville .....- 1882 | Postmaster. Swainsborough .|....------ J.M. Nunez.
Greensborough -- 1878 Do. Talbotton ...-.-. 18767 | O. D. Gorman.
Goran estes) 1880 | J. H. Barnes. Tallapoosa...-.. 1885 | J. H. Davis. |
| DY es Saat a eee ee SAS Abel A. Wright. Thomaston ..... 1879 | J.D. Alexander,
Milamiltonteeeees = 1880+ | Charles L. Dendy. homsonissee see 1¢8lt | J.T. Neal and Dr. G.
Harmony Grove. 1884 | W.W.Jordan. W. Durham.
Hiantweelllse ss s-e-: 1884 | James L. Johnson. rentonke see 1884} | R.S. Rodgers.
Irwinton..... podclooanoo ones A.W. Baum. Wiays Stationy 22 |:ee-eeseee George ibe Appia

tAbout.

It was reported not present at the following places in Georgia:

Locality. Observer. jo). Becalie a Locality. Observer.
Alapaha seccige Sasi James H. Kirby. Hersdan eee Nd OMe sea Joseph B. Jones.
ATM ETON Ga sece- sees Postmaster. InolliyavOodeeeeeeeneeee William H. Hatfield.
ISPRWON saeco qsooadeaoe Do. Homer ise eee J.E. Stephens.
Blakelysic so. ccs bese Hi. C. Fryer. Homervilleeses--eeeee Sherod Smith. —
BOP RY, oaeaceent eine k. H. Chappelear. | Jeffersonville......--- M. E. Solomon.
BOSOM samen emicamiem eae J. W. Carmine. WRC Spee eesaatons seco Postmaster.
Bnapanza snoop eee M. Albertson. Wei@haloupe gets 55: = a aN Do.
BYATUMEAIONS Gaon cosceene Moses Daniel. WW" INieilliy Ss ee oe ee oe N. A. Smith.

Cairort eee eeccce tase S.A. Roddenberg. New tony {a5 ae eeee B. F. Hudspeth.
Cameron = sssen cee W.M. Henderson. "Oconee ss. ao ee ee C. W. Sneil.
Cochran yet -ssisa0s-e Quinn L, Harvard. Quitmans.22c0 eee Hiram Hubert.
CONVERS) jorcee wisercoeae William L. Peek. Rising Fawn ...--..--- Postmaster.
Davisborough -.......- F., M. Francis. Rocky Ford ....--.-- ‘| George Heard.
DAWSON | cases eess se R. G. Jones. Roswellc.. 152 55022 Postmaster.
Dawsonville .-..-- ---. Postmaster. Saint Mary’s ....-.--- 0.

Dillon ye es eegee ae oer I. W. Bryan. Statesborough...-...-- B. E. Tu ner.
Wouclasis =e eeseocee W.R. Googe. Sam Ha ee aoe eee C.D. Thigpen.
Wiablingess- cs. sceceseee Postmasfer, Traders eeuililee sees ee R. Hatcher.
MASbMaANeE eae eee eeeeeer Do. avurs culutniesees eee Postmaster.

JON Eh ee eseceeeeecoee W.A. Cox. Wadley...--- LSC a ee eee James A. Thigpenn.
acevo carats crite oar | W. B. McDaniel. Waresborough. .....-.| Postmaster.

Fort Gaines..........-. | S. E. Lewis. Wialyerosseesn se eee eee A. H. Morgan.
Grahams. peece secs ee Postmaster. Waycesville. ....-...- J.N. Highsmith.
GreensiCute ees se. oo: Do. || WhiteSulphur Springs}; W.A. Gillespie, jr.
Hawkinsville........-.- | E. P. King. lewis hisvallep asec ee James H. Hicks.

—

* Reported abundant six months later.

Ci

ears

-

pen
’

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

Locality.

See ee
Pe
wee eee ee

serene
wee eee ee:
wee ew eee
wae wees

ee ee
sewer eee
seen ee soe:

ee ce ene
ee
cee ee ee
i eo
econ ene
eeeeas eee
meee ee ne
wesc aee

wee eet

wes ee

Observer.

G,S. Himrod.
Kvan G. Jones.
John Stoek.
Postmaster.
Annie Budge.

205

| hi IDAHO, in the autumn of 1886, the Sparrow was known to be present at but one
oi it. Mr. James Oliverson states that it appeared at Franklin in 1884. It was re-
ted not present, in the autumn of 1886 and spring of 1887, at the following places:

Locality. Observer.
Rex Dune eoeceen sce Henry Flamin.
Saint Charles....--..- V.M. Pugmire.
Shoshone......--. --. Will. A. Gilmore.
Silver City ......-... K. H. Moore.
boeen Postmaster.

Weston...:..-..-

First
appeared.

Observer.

George Ferriman.

Charles W. Carter.

J. i. Henderson.

Hon. Wm. McAdams|

John Koch.

John Brady.

Aug. Barthel.

A. K. Jenner.

Dr. W.S. Strode.

Aug. Dudenbostel.

Prot. G. H. French.

William S. Hervey. |

Dr, Daniel Berry.

Jabez Webster.

Postmaster.

H. K. Coale. }

Henry D. Emory. |

Henry De Wald. |

Stiles H. Wirts. |

P. J. Cook.

W.T. Cunningham.

Isom Chesney.

William D. Patterson!

C.F. H. Carrithers.

A. H. Mundt.

George B. Holmes.

A.T. Galbraith.

J.D. Covell.

Charles Becker.

David H. Henman.

Postmaster.

T. W. Parker.

C. B. Rockwell.

Alonzo H. Carter.

A.J. Edwards.

P. J. Edwards and
William Abbott.

P. H. Rucker.

Prof. J. B. Turner.

James S. Daniels.

H. O. Goodrich.

j About,

: First
Locality. appeared. Observer.

Johnsonville. ... 1883 | James J. Johnson.
Knoxville ....-- 1881 | O.L.Campbell.

|| Lenzburgh ..... 1883 | H. Volkening.
Louisville ...... 1880 | Conrad KE. Kaehler.
Marissa......-.. 1884 | James I. Johnson.
Moline. 2. - Baan 1876 | Daniel W. Gould.
Monmouth -.... 18727 ; Dr. S. M. Hamilton.
Mount (‘Canrollts 25-225 2-2 | S. Hall.

ON sees 1881} | Dr. Henry Shimer.
Mount Sterling. 1883 | John J.McDannold.
Mount Vernon.. 1878+ | Johu 8. Bogan.
New Athens.... 1872 | August Gierschner.
Oak Park yy) are. Rev. George B. Pratt.
Ondine 7s poke ae 1881 | W. Ingraham.
O'Fallon Depot - 1869+ | D. D. Gartside.
Q)MNOW seode nods 1874t | J.C. Allen.
Oquawka ......| 1882 | Postmaster.

Raextom ees cectitvee ses sued G. W. Anderson.
Belkan ee L. seN- 1870+ | Postmaster.
IRCOLIaN aces ete oe 1881t | W.S. Cobleigh.
OminGyeeenas-s oe 1876 | T. Butterworth.

Doresssceeeees 1870 | J.H. Richardson.
Roberts..--..---. 1878 | E.O. Newman.
Rockford . ..... 1878 | Dr. F. H. Kimball.
hock Uslande. 22 s\\2.---5-2-- W.H. Hatch.
Rushville....... 1880t | John S. Bagby.
Salem) sassececes 1876 | I. D. Lear.

Dozsoe eee 1880 | Louis O. Vogt.
Sannemin....... 1880 | C.S. Brydia.
Shawneetown... 1881 | George Rearden.
Swanwick ....-. 1883 | M.S. Acheson.
Sycamore....... 188i | L.E. Wyman.
Tamaroa.....--. 1883+ | S. R. Haines.
Mildens.s... 25 .. 18847 | Postmaster.

Mnoyecs teens cal. 1876+ | Robert Williamson.
Warsaw .--..--. 1880+ | Charles K. Worthen.
Watseka ....--. 1880t | L. F. Watson.
Waukegan.-.-.. 1880 | James Moran, jr.
West Belleville |....--.---- George C. Bunsen.
Woodstock ....- 18807 | A.S. Wright.
Wright’s Grove. 1875+ | John Gall.

Ce tea De oe
; ae
206 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. heen’
It was reported not present at the following places in Illinois: ah 4
Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
Eel cca | |
Pete: has ee Pe _E.H. Olas. Hamilton 225.be-eee | W.L. Guthrie.
eon Sinton: Sovtene | k.R. Sale. Hatvel-. == ia eee | Josephine Peebles.
Bilvottene 2: Sense eess 2: Joseph Richmond. Penrcye: s-2e5 eee | Isom Chesney.
|

* Reported present by another observer.

In INDIANA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the fol-
lowing places: ‘

ir : First

Locality ee nee a Observer. Locality. app A a Observer.
PNaroneeea an cae 1882 | F. W. Seaver. JAS Pel eeaeeeesee 1880 J.¥F. Friedman.
IN LOMB eee i= 18807 | Charles M. Clapp. | iaconianaee see 1883} | George B. Byram.
Ame olapeees == —- 1880 | Frank M. Powers. La Fayette...--- 18747 | J. M. Dresser.
Rediordie = ser oe 1879 | Noyes E. Strout. | Dow 2s. aS ee F. M. Webster.
Birdseye=+-=--- - 1883 | Herman Koerner. | har Rorteessse. = 1880 Dr. Geo. L. Andrew.
Bloomington... -. 1878 | C.H. Bollman. | Leavenworth - -- 1875 Postmaster.

MO eee. 1875+ | Prof.B.W.Evermann|| Magnolia ..-.--. 1884 Peter J. Deutsch,
Booneville. ...-.- 18757 | William Swint. | WharenoO see. see= 1863(?]| Postmaster.
razileeeeees ccs: 1879 | D. W. Brattin. | Markland. .....- 1878 Julia B. Brown.
Burlington. .-.-- 1870] | W. A. Wright. | Milltown ...... 18814 | Charles P. Trotter,
Gainnilen seeseenee 18817 | F.C. Groninger. | Mount Vernon.-.| 1876 A. A.Sparks.
Charlestown. .... 1874 | Postmaster. le Vinee te ere 18807 | Granville Cowing.

{DY Ses Sees 1882+ | Dennis F. Wiliey. | Nebraska. ..-...- 1883 J. D. Kuster.
Coqunnae ssseee ee 1881 | W.J. Lanning. | New Albany -.. 1875+ | John B. Mitchell.
@randallien es <2 1885 | G. W. Jenkins. | DON eee 1865[?] | James N. Payton.
Cynthiana ......- 1876 | Joseph L. Blase. | Newberi-cces=. 1883 U.P Ghieks
Deer Creek...-.-. 1877+ | Barnard and Plank. || Newburgh.----- 1874 J.B. McKinney.
Welpliesssss-ss2- son. ae!) John Barnard. || New Harmony..| 1876 Frank D. Bolton.
Duponteecce- sec 1880 | T.S. Williams. || New Washingt’n| 1882 H. F. Work.

East Enterprise. 1882; | William H. Madison.'|| Oakland City -.- 1883 J.H. Meflellan.
Edwardsville .--. 1882 | Edwin Yenowine. || Owensville.----- 1880} | H.L. Strickland.
Evansville -:-...- 18730) Dire swalliam Wieber: || Patokaess sane eo eee William C. Fisher.
Merde eNtG eoscser 1884} | N. W. Wright. patmotueese cece 1884 J.T. Bodkin.
Ferdinand ....--. 1878 | A.J. Fisher. Poseyville .-.--- 1882 Charles Kightly. _
Fort Branch ...-. 1882+ | C. F. Garrison. tichmond ..---- 1869 Joseph C. Ratliff.
Frankfort ------- 1878 | A.B. Ghere. | Rochester = =e) pee eaaee John M. Davis.
Hed ouiape sees 1884+ | S. McFall. HE URGYONW), Aa ee ooceoe 1882 J.T. Connor.
Geornretownieeres| pe asneaeee L. M. Mottwe ler. || Rosewood.-..---. {884 | John H. Calvin.
Goshenuweess-eee: 1880+ | John W. Irwin. |PSEIS I sea sscnoacs 18807 | Thad. Huston.
Greencastle ..... 1872+ | W.H. Ragan. | ‘Scottsburgh7-2..les2sesa=ee Melvin Hubbard.
Harristown-ccees tase eee: KE. G. Berkey. || Stony Point .... 1875 Thos. H. Watlivgton.
Mazletonees peer 18807 | J. H. Briner. WelliCitivererneee 1874 Jobn L. Huber.
Henryville. .----. 1881 | Postmaster. || Lobinsport ...-. 1886 C.C. Whitehead.
Holman Station. - 1882 | W.V. Hardy. || Valparaiso ..--. 1880 E.S. Beach.
GIN bere cee pee 1884 | A.B. Tevis. eWier non a= seeee 1872f | Dalton Hinchman.
lOO Ker aes eter tee se ee Mary Benson. WWAViG Viaiy \s 5 oor 1875+ | William R. Stratford.
Huntingburgh... 1880 Morman Fisher. Wrestvillez-.- =. 1881+ | E. L. Reynolds. ;
Indianapolis -..-. 1876+ | J.G. Kingsbury. Wheatland -..- 1877- Robert Ridgway.
Ireland ass— eee oe 1880+ | Sue E. Williams. HW Meo s5eca5]- 1882 Charles Vetsker.
Miva toneees eee 1870 | Hon. 8. Jobnson.

t+ About.

In INDIAN TERRITORY the Sparrow was reported not present in the autumn of
1886 at the following places:

Locality.

Observer.

|
|
|

Locality.

Observer.

Caddo, Choctaw Nation....| F.C. Meadows.
Muscogee, Creek Nation--| Postmaster.
Oak Lodge,Choctaw Nation C. H. Patterson.

| Okmulgee, Creck Nation. Al
|| Vinita, Cherokee Nation

C. C. Belcher.

.| W.G. Nelnes.

[lg ep me ee

DISTRIBUTION

BY STATES.

207

In IOWA the oe was reported present in the autumn of 1886, at the follow-

f ing places: ‘
3 Locality. ae Coal Observer. Locality. ee ee Observer.
eeeavekley ..---..-. 1886 | W. Francis. Hampton -.-.--- 1886 | J.B. Peck.
eee ENCY-----..-- 1884 | HE. T. Sage. || Independence .. 1883 | David Dorman.
=» Albia......-..-- |.-.--...-. | P.M. Milliken. plowed. C1Cy: S22 2-2 ee ee H. L. Bond.
See erion...-..... 1885 | J.H.Jaques. ONS Poe 18817 | C. C. Nutting.
eee bedrord 2 -....2. 18837 | A.J. Sowers. |; Knoxville. .-...-. 1883+ | George K. Cherrie.
Believue. ...<.-. 1876 | Dr. Lawrence Millar.|| Lenox ....-..--. 1886 | A.C. Brice.
_ Bloomtield...... 188it | H.C. Evans. || Lost Nation..... 1881¢ | F. M. Frazier.
Burlington .--.-. Pea OE Overton. EONS essere oe: 1880+ | M. H. Westbrook.
A Dee 18697 | Howard Kingsbury. |; Maquoketa f 1880 | F. W. Crane.
Cedar Rapids. - - 1874+ | Alex. Charles. || Marengo .. .:.. 1885 | A.J. Morrison.
Biehabicenos..2.- 22. 20..' .... C.C. Simmons. Marshalitown .. 1883. | Max Kruskopf.
a Wen... ---- 18857 | Thomas Spencer. || Monticello...... 1883+ | P.O. Babcock.
Bee O@laringa. ..-.---. 1876 | H.E. Tomlinson. || Montrose...... |..---.....| Thomas Ward.
Bee Oorilyilio.- =~. -- 188 | John Thos. Paintin.|| MorningSun -- 1884. | W. A. McCormick.
meee Corydon ..__..... 1884 | J.S. Whittaker. |PVEoultont= <2 ==. 1884 | J. M. Willett.
| UxKestou-—-.--..-- 18847 S. R. Davis. Muscatine ...... 1878+ | James J. Russell.
fee Davenport. ...--- 1870 | Davenport Academy || Newton ...----- 1884 | W.E. Dingman.
4 | Natural Sciences. || Osage..----- gaz 1886 | F. W. Annis.
mee Denmark -....... 1e8-+ G.B. Brackett. Wares ese 1886+ | S. B. Chase.
BESUNTOINEGS......)...------ | James B. Green. || Oskaloosa ...--. 1884t | B. F. Lindly.
O.35es =e 'e8tt | Dr. E.M. Morrison. -| WOR er ee eas 1881 | Gid. B. McFall.
Ome s Sess /.2. 1885 | George H. Nichols. || Ottumwa.....-. 1880 | D.C. Beaman.
10 2a 1884 | C. R. Keyes. WOpsens soe ke eae aera tee EF. M. Milliken.
We Witt. .. 1882 | J. D.Bourne. | Parkersburgh .. 1886 | N.G. Baker.
Drarbugue ......-. 1876 | Edward ‘T’. Keim. Reds O ake os ete ae eee | Jacob L. Bake.
UGle 1879 | A. F. Hofer. (Ofes emt! 18831 | H. E. Deemer
Pies S-.-= - 1878} | Theo. W. Ruete. Shenandoah 1885 | J. R. Ratekin
VErSVALLG ..-.... 1883 KR. W. Gadsden. WOU \ feces seinea 1881t | G. V. Swearingen.
Midridge....--:.- 1875; | M. H. Calderwood. Solon 5.6.5 24 1884 | C. H. Shircliff.
aglield- .....- =-:- -: | Mhomas C. Ross. Wettlit Saccen ae oe 1884+ | M. J. Casey.
MOVe =... ws. = 1€827 | W. V. Oldridge. Wea GON. eco cen 18827 | S. D. Redfieid.
eee ------|---------.| F. Eveland. ae Wapello:s.. 2... 1882+ | L. M. Jamison.
Glenwood ....... 1€817 | Theo. W. Ivory. He Weenmsome. = 3055 1886 | E. M. Hancock.
Srmell.2-...... 1884 John Houghton. | Wa 2 ee ae 1886 | D. W. Reed.
Wore oi = | pace =- .--.| Lynds Jones. West Liberty .. 1877 | Dr. KE. H. King.
LG) eee 1881 | Carl Kelsey. | Winthrop. =... -- 1885 | M. A. Chamberlain.
BeGrnitenberg.:.... 1880 James Schroeder. fool Colbie. - 222 1882 | L. Bunnewitz.
S- Hamburgh --... 1881 Sidney Moor. i
t Abont.

it was reported not present at the following places in Iowa:

Locality.

eee eee ee ee ee ee eee

er eras

es

BPiooklyn ...c-.-.-.....
4 poutler Centre

wee eee ee ee ee
i
eee ee wee ee ee eee
ed
i
were ee eee ee eee
meee ee ee ee ee eee
ed
i ied
es

ee

Observer. Locality. Observer.
| |
Postmaster. P De Solon asece- coe. sec | E.C. Payne.
H. A: Lieb. Raele Grove ..---=---< | Postmaster.
W. H. Tompkins. RPA RRO een Seton J.H. Kuhl.
Prof. Herbert Osborn. Brae yee ee ec eee caer Postmaster.
C. W. Long. MW Okar sao erctc cco M. W. Moir.
| C.J. Fitzpatrick. Gl BDSG 12) een Sere es ee D.G. Griffith.
Postmaster. EBihwood 22-5 cce- =< .| 8S. H. Clark.
A. P. Cramer. Emmetsburgh .--..-.-- Postmaster.
Postmaster. | Epworth. se ss2.c—.- Do.
Elmer S. Shannon. We BISS ewer a ate ccc Neca Do.
| Mary Salisbury. | Estherville ........-.. Do.
Carrie Applegate. [AEX Acmscciesotas ease Do.
John A. Hall. POA OUIG weir .cci oot or S.J. Beach.
Postmaster. WRCED Gon en Rosette F. Eveland.
W.T. Shar Ww Wletehersace a. -ecte ee W.4H. Mong.
H.N. Walker | Hontanelles--.=-.--c-~ Postmaster.
J.B. Green. LeHoresteCitiy = -<eiese «32. Martin Cooper.
H.C. Haynes. | Bort Dodge. .2...0-6=-- Mr. Rain.
Dr. Joel W. Smith. \ GeprHAVillOs.cdaca ese a= < Theo. J. Krasinsky.
T. A. Hand. PENS Cries ee eee eae J. H.Seages.
Postmaster. | Gilmore City, .--5.---- ¥. E. Beers.
S. V. Wilson. | Grand Junction....-... Tenny Smith.
R. A. Holland. Gre Gl Oyacee sae te eee Postmaster.
Postmaster. Greenfield’: 2 o2-s-: 455. Paul Dowlin.
Do. Guthrie Centre .-.....| Postmaster.
Do. Ebarlan teens oe aie B. L. Kinsey.
John Finn. Hawarden. 25-25.) J.C. Miller.
| Postmaster. Momesteadteesesess<- | William Moershel.
Do, SE oe wine Recraeeoare i <1y's | Edward O. Plnmbe,

208 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.
Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.

Ted AGTOVOs..o0-55-- 52 - > | George 8. Witters. Peterson: _s.2te sees Postmaster.
IGT) aSaneu ssansane | Postmaster. Pocahontas --..-- ==. -- J. F. Harian.
Indianola ..-..----.---- | I. L. Eno. iP OMICLOVes a eee se William T. Ivey.

DOM eee een eee are MesMialliikcene RostwillG er see eae N.J. Beedy.
Tho wey ONS seb nonsencde. | Henry N. Berry. Prestones-s oe aoe N. Godes.
PESO Roe neem oan | Postmaster. Primehar a. 2c J. M. Long.
JER ellie Se ae eRe eee | Do. Randoliph=-sss.ssee-ee Postmaster.
Mellertonesssso-e--) | AC. omlbh: lRembeckeeasene see ee William E. Fallas.
Beaks Mialls >. yee S | Postmaster. Rockford. 26h ee C. F. Myers.
tpg So SeseeaneaRooer J. Ruth. Rock Rapidsts---s5a- Messrs. Pierce & Co.
he N ATS ees oie oe ne N. Redmon. Rock Valley2s=---—-- Postmaster.

DW esastoso-cqococ | J. KE. Vogt. Runnellss----ees-ee a Do.

Gone = 22 ee eee =e Postmaster. Ruthven 2 sseeaeee ee Do.
hey daS ame aetee cee a be | V. M. Conrad. Sac Citiyd=s ee: sa Bees J. W. Garrison.
ApiveLM OL) == - Postmaster. Sanborn! <5 5-2eeeseeees D.R. Phelps.
LORAIN CASS See S csceeoase J.T. Stern. Schaller :..:n2:2eeeeee F.G. Butler.
linvin nyt We SAS eSaaedsone J.S. Kitch. Seymour .-22 52s M.G. Cain.
Macedonia....-.--.---- Postmaster. Sheitield !242 terse seaer W.S. Bowen.
MICGGHRESOD 2-52 ace oi ~ A. W. Hofer. | Shellsbargh) 4 35-e =. Alex. Runyon.
ot eee oes O. A. Kenyon. Shelby<--22 s+ ecee-heee Rk. D. Prouty.
Macksburgh-....------ Jobn D. Love. lesheldoneesssseeseeeer C.S. M. Laury.
MaALWerIG Sees sess ee = R. L. Gidley. \eSibleyereeercee eee A.D. Tinsley.
Marble Rock -....---.-.. C. E. Wood. | Silver Cityeesacsceasee J.C. Christy.
Miapletonijece acs. c= = W. EF. Scott. | Sioux Rapids +-.--..--- A. P. Roberts.
RVING ioe os aia ereieeis nimi Olof. Reimen. aS] OA. s eee seme J.S. McSparran.
Mason City ----.------- H. Keerl. | Smithland ..........-- Postmaster.
HOW Ole sso eco ses soa. = A.H. Grisell. |) Spencersecemo.cseeesee 0.

NOS Rss cee oe R. B. Shaver. ||, ‘Spirit: Lake 222 -.aee John Mosher.
WIGIRD SORES Sse aes cee James Duggan. | Strawberry Point..... | P. W. Keith;
Millersburgh .-..-.... -| Eli Sweet. || ‘Lempletonsto 205222 Peter Neu.
Vena WT eee D.C. Bligh. ||) Wmionivilile/sseece ese A. Hicks.
INIGININYO nee es eee aeee L. W. Hubbard. | Urbannac:ceesessenace | E. Gee.
INSRINTE) Sones saecoumee J. M. Gilliland. | Wien torn are Postmaster.
INGwadaeaaseces es 56 E. D. Fenn. PNAS Les es eos on eee W.L. Eckhard.
Nevinvill ee. S85 sae J.J.Crawtord. WVilliscalsaesn ce ener P. D. Merrick.
New Providence.--..---| O. K. Miller. 1 Wiallli Makerere sees seer R. Pattison.
Northborough ..-....-.- C. P. Greene. | Walnuts) Acces eee | W. Hopper.
Oalkdand ieee eee J.A.T. Bates. | Webster City..-...-.- | Charles Aldrich.
Odeboltsh. 22.3 S555 F. R. Bennett. |: Wesley .asa-meeceenese Postmaster.
OQnawarcsece Sassen tesa I. P. Fisher. | West Point ..........- John Kempker, jr.

lO ae Seeene se C.G. Perkins. Wrestside . 225422622222 L. Scofield.
Oranee City e826... W.H. Cusady. || Whittemore 322.2 <25-2 H. P. Hatch.
TNT een | Postmaster. tL NTO Gen eo eee eee neg A.S. Raber.
IRETSIA ee aes eee | James Laing. li Wioodbines =. eaeeeee= L. W. White.
ELVA. ape cseee ce es = D.C. West. ! Worthing tonlss22o2s- Postmaster.

{|

In KANSAS the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the fol-

lowing places:

|
. ;
. | First 5 ; First

Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. ‘appeared. Observer.

Abilene) 2425 1884 | H.H. Floyd. || Fort Riley ...... 1886+ | John D. Parker.
Dess25955ee8 1875[?]| Prof. Jno.W. Robson.|| Fort Scott .-.--. 1885 | J. F. Cottrell.

ATV ONIA 2225. <1. 1882 Postmaster. Frankfort .....-. 1880 | Postmaster.
172) £62) PSs oe 1883 Do. Hultons--=-eee 1881+ | D.C. Johnston.
Baldwin City . 1885 Do. Garnetie ate 1882 | J.S. McCartney.
Beattie oss. see 1821 Do. DORE? Yes 1885 | M.A. Page.
Blaine’ 2-5 2)25.- 1878; Do. || amecley 5 2< > 2 1886 | Postmaster.
IBLOuSON.. 2225-5 1884 A. Ford. Grenolar-os-noes 1883 | Thos. B. Hatcher.
Burlingame...... 1871 J. Mayberry. || Havensville.... 1883+ | L. W. Dennen.
Burnlinetoneees:<c 1883 Patrick W. Floyd. | Hiawatha ..... 1880 | H.C. Baker.
Cedar Point ..... 1884 | William M. Bipeb ty -|| Highland -._.. -. 1834 | Wesley Trevett.
Chanute ......... 1886 S. H. Scott. | Ell Sboromesese- 1885 | John G. Hill.
Cherryvale ...... 1884 | Postmaster. I Tolae ster 1885 | Altes H. Campbell.
Circleville ....... 1882 M. H. Roller. arene 1883 | P.C.Sweaney.
Oelony.ee. n=: 1884 | Postmaster. Lawrence .. 1877 | B. F. Smith.
Cottonwood Falls} 1885 | W.P. Martin. Lebos.cencses | eee | J.D. Ambrose.
SEO pene =cer a - | 2 --=- .-| Michael Cooke. eeROyieesca eae 1881 | A. V. Coffin.
Doniphan......- 1880+ | Postmaster. Louisburgh .... 1884 | R.A. Wright.
Effingham Pe ae 1884 J.A.Cohoon. McPherson ...- 1883+ | Warren Knaus.
BlDorado ...---. 1883 Postmaster. Manhattan .... 1#82t | Dr. Chas. P. Blachly.
Elmdale rearee oe 18821 James R. Jeffrey. WO seca 1880 | Prof. D. E. Lantz.
Emporia. --..-.. 1883f | Rev. Henry Mackay.| Marion ......-.. 18e4 | Charles Hardeastle.
Enterprise...... 1875} =| Prot. J. \W.Robson. Mislvern! 225-c5: 1880 | R. D. Criss. ~
Eureka emesis ie: 1884 | A. W. Hart. Morantown .... 1885 | P.J. McGlashan.
Fail River ......- 188 William McBrown. Morganville .-.- 1885 | Postmaster.
Woptana .=:.2..- 1886 M.J. Campbell. Morrill) eicoe 1884+ | A. Cottrell,

| About.

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

First

209

fn | ee |

Neosho Falls --- 1882+ | H. D. Dickson.
‘Netawaka ...... 1886 | John H. Johnson.
eC aE 1883 | KE. P. Diehl.

NY Ome ea cintie | eatio=tdcaie.ct. Postmaster, [?]
O)ULO N.S ciae = Say 1885. | Dr.S. P. Morse.
Ome. ..--..).. 188i | Postmasters[?]
Osage Mission... 1885 | John R. Brunt.
Oskaloosa ...... 1880 | A.J. Buck.

« Dt: sane 1881 | M.L. Critchfield.
OSWOSO. = <5 .2- 1885 | D. Doyle.

Dea 1885+ | Dr. W.S. Newlon.
Parkersvillo .-. 1880 | H.S. Day.
IRALSONS........- 1886 | F. W. Frye.
Quenemo .....-- 1882 | Dr. A. R. Bodley.

eo

It was reported not present at the following places in Kansas:

Locality.

PANTOOWMA. aces <aec beewc.

eee e ee este ace ee:

Waldner 2 ees ks ka
Cawker Oity.--..-2---.--
Wedarville:.222 2.00.26. -
Claygpenive.,--..--...-
Dodge City
Dorrance
SPONSE Saree ae ewes ac
Elk Falls
Eudora
HANS WOLGO :--s.+cce0--
Fredonia [1887]
Garden Plain

MOMS C Olen = Hie oa, coe we

(Crean Bend 5 -2..-6:..-.
MGGReeMICAl oc se ce lis = rian 2
Hays City
F@ IGT. = SeecasEe eee
icine well. ..-c..--..-

wee ieee wee eee ewe

se eee wen wee
wut eee eee eee ten
es

Ce ee ad

Observer.

M.S. Ketch.
Matt Thomson.
Postmaster.
M. Moore.
M. Milton Bailey.
Postmaster.
David B. Embree.
Postmaster.
B. W. Flournoy.
K. A. Taylor.
W.H. Litson, jr.
Postmaster.

Do.
O. Beeson.
William Whitney.
T. W. Rea.

Prof. John W.Robson.

H.C. Wilson.

F, M. Reemer.

B. J. Rankin.
D.S. Gardiner.
George Fain.

T. C. Darling.
George H. Haleman.
George B. Brown.
J.S. Gilleest.

M. W. Elder.
H.A. Wasser.
Noah Welch.
He. Bain.

C. E. Howe.
Joseph EK. Wilson.
J.T. Didlake.
J.O. Brewster.
K.M. Yoden.
A. T. Munroe.
Herman Colson.
Postmaster.

S. W. Taylor.

J. W. Winn.

Rk. W. Hill.

James P. Alcorn.
C. HE. Monell.

S. 8. Dickinson.
Henry Booth.

T. J. Gilbert.
A..F. Johnson.

Locality. appeared. Ohserver.
Robinson ...---. 1883+ | James T, Pomeroy.
Severance ....-. 1882 EK. teemey.
Solomon City ..-| 1875[?] | Prof. Jno. W.Robson.
Spring Hill..... 1883 5S. W. Young.
StamtoOnd yeaa 1886 G. R. Cruzen.
SUTNOMO 2 ec oe 1883 J. L. Cochran.
Tonganoxie.... 1886 J.S. Grist.
opeleayse phe 1874 ¥, W. Giles.
AROLONLO) see nee 1885 J.B. Stockton.
Wanlandies- 2252. 1882 Joseph Iliff.
Westmoreland... 1883 J.B. Pierce.
Wetmore .....-.. 1879¢ | D.C. Rising.
Waelitian 2... 1885 DPD. A. Mitchell.
Williamsburgh . 1883 Postmaster.

tAbout,

Locality. Observer.
Eaareolre sa. 2 bo ane os J. B. Goff.
iitehivtel dees a. eee. W. 3B. Dennison.
Enyonst a oee meses s.5: George W. Clark.

iD Opes eae W.'T. Nicholas.
MePherson® 7>--=- = Theodore Boggs.

Oneal Selene oe core B.S. Bonney.
IMamisatO aeons. Bae K. P. Bancroft.
Mapleton sass serie = KH. P. Higby.

IMA (WEBCO | <isrs12 = => J.A. Foster.

NY DEY Nad rere es Se ee Postmaster.
Mallprookese: 5..25-5- W. B. Anderson.
Molimetecs ss csaanaser J.F. Gooch.
Monnoyiaiees sch isaseee Thomas F. Cook.
Nonumenites.-2--se/2- John B. Ennis.
Mound? Valley 22222. 4- Postmaster.
Mulberry Grove...--- Ada L. Miller.
INOGioOnte st seen .| Walter k. Cannon.
Oale Walley Pesece- ni = George R. Sater.
Opolis j222 2 es see ese. Postmaster.
Osborne sete sos see Leroy T. Weeks.
Patisimnmeies = 2.c) Postmaster.
Planmyallie salons eat 0.
Povervalles sass. ssa. W.G. Short.
Brattice oe escceecrs Postmaster.
Test Oblinsee Selo wsceee Do.

RGCCO ie oee. sees baPUne Do.

Rush Centre: = ..----.. E. F. Mullay.
IRISS OU ees ere eae F. E. Jerome.
Scandia see conor William Walker.
SedaMe e283 woweees aoe D. J. Moore.
Shermanville .-...--.- Postmaster.
Smith Centre ..-.-...- L. E. Reese.
Solomon City* ..-.---. D. W. Wilson.
South Haven ......... M. Musgrove.
hen iO a 2h ore Sees J.B. Schlichter.
BRON QCA einie ae) coe ae = A.Swiggett.
Wniowtowns esses. 2 J.U. Moore.
CVAITNO Ses cities eva 2 se Postmaster.

Wa Keeney. -----.---. George M. Ufford.
Wiashimeton: = s.-.s--/. Postmaster.
Waterville. 2eceere2 . George H. Titcomb
Wrathenay cause. e es Postmaster.

AACE Cy) BRR Wine ar J. Morgan, jr.
Westphalia 22.22 2-22. Postmaster.
Wihite Rocks <2... 2. A.B. Warner.
White Cloud :..-..2--. Samuel Flinn.
Wintteldieieessh: Sf sk2 | George C. Pembaugh.

8404—Bull. 1

* Reported present by another observer.

14

210

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.-

In KENTUCKY the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the

following places:
a en Ee eee

. First : : First
Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.
Pd aleviller cece. ace ewes’ A.M. Mosely. Hopkinsville - -. 1881} | John W. McPherson.
JN peneeshese 1884 | W.L.Stouf. IGNGAsacososbeo st 1884 ) N. W. Crum.
ANTI MA DS anbeSeec 1878; | I. O. Perkins. Iinvine ss: a8 1883 | June B. Park.
Augusta .......-- 1880; | J. H. Boude. Jamestown ..--. 1882 | Postmaster.
Bagdad 5 SMO EEE 1879+ | E. P. Denton. La Grange.----- 1879 | J.R. Clark.

Barboursville. ... 1880 | Thomas H. Amis. Lancaster-..----. 18771 | W. Bo Wherents
Bardwell emer 1885 | John W. Tusk. Lexington ..---- 1868+ | Dr. Robert Peter
Bedford ss=. 22-6. 1883 | Leonard G. Peak. Liberty aescesses 1884 | Postmaster.
Bloomfield -.-...- 1868+ | John Allaa Terrell. ondoneas-eeers 1882 | R. M.Jackson.
Booneville. -.-.-..- 1883 | Hon. Green Breeding.|| Louisa.--....--. 1876 | Mrs. C. C. Sullivan.
Bowling Green 1883} | W. Cook. Louisville. .---.- 1874 | J.B. Nall.

[near]. Madisonville. ... 1880 | J. ¥. Dempsey.
Bowling Green. - 1878 | Postmaster. | Miarionwesecesee 1882 | J.G. Rochester.
Brownsville ..... 1884 | Henry E. Smith. Maysville. -..-.-- 18787 |eA.C. Respess
Burkesville....-- 18807 | W. F. Alexander. Moreanfield 2224) ee-s ee B. B. Hughes
Burlington .....-. 1880+ | Postmaster. IME aye eee 1880t | W.T. Scott.
agi eescerscs on 1883 | G. Smith. | New Haven ....! 1874+ | Dr. H. D. Rodman
Carrollton -....-. 1881} | Postmaster. | New Liberty- .-.- 1880+ | John Curtis.
asiksyiee eos ciace 1886 | Frank B.Hanceck. || Newport--.--..-.|---------- P. B. Spence.
Catlettsburgh --. 18797 | J.C. Rardin. | Nicholasville 1878 | Postmaster.
Clinton ..-....--- 1884 | W.C. Porter. 0... -Hakeemee becca De Witt C. Shely.
Columbus -.-.--- 1883 | F. H.Gardner. Paducali2 23-2. elhosee heer W. C. Clark
Crescent Hill.... 1880+ | Thomas 8. Kennedy. |) Paintsville..-... 1884 | Postmaster.
Wanwalle aes. s- ce 1874 | James R. Marrs. | Pikeville s225se= 1884 | F.C. Hatcher.
(WanvysOn = ess=—.5- 1882 | W.D.Halloman. Providence -..... 1881 | J. A. Rudy. :
Elizabethtown. --|---.---~--- Postmaster. Richmond)sseeee 1879+ | Stephen D. Parrish.
ID RIO NS Seeeecesce 18807 | E. W. Weathers. | Sandy Hook .... 1885 | L. Haney.
Eminence......- 1882+ | Postmaster. | Sebree=ce A aeeee 1884+ | John A. Willingham.
Mapa joss - =-'- 1886 | John B. Lewis. | Shelbyville -.-.. 1878t | Dr. Ormsby Gray.
Falmouth........ 1880+ | Mrs. M. A. Clark. | Shepherdsville- - 1883. | C.C. Lee.
Flemingsburgh -. 1881 | H.C. Ashton. | Simpsonyille.-.-. 1879 | R. H. George.
IPA e he sea ee see aoeere C.K. Bowman. | Smithland 222222 1880 | A.J. Bebout.
inennldbingesasasae 1882t | T. M. GoodKnight. Smith’s Grove..- 1882 | Postmaster.
1DmUlliGys Seas aesuae 1883 | H. F. Taylor. Somerset.-----.- 1881+ | John Inman.
Germantown 1880 | J. A. Walton. | South Carrollton 1881 | J.O. Everly.
Ciieminesesao see 1878t | George R. Bowie. iS tanrord esses 1873 | Thomas Richards.
Gray SO s-ss-ce-- 1877. | A.F. Hill. | Taylorsville .--. 1878; | Ruth C. Burton.
Greensburgh ... 1881 | W.J. Taylor. | Tompkinsyille-- 1885 | Postmaster.
Greenville .-.-.--- 1880 | C. W.Short. learentoness==eses 1882+ | L. H. Arnold.
Hardinsbureh-a\\s--2-----= | J. R. Johnson. Vanceburgh ..-. 1879} | J. Sparks.
autor ee=e eer 1880 | A.B. Baird. West Liberty-.-- 1884 | William M. Kendall.
Hawesville .....- 1879+ | D. L. Adair. Williamstown -. 18767 | Postmaster. be
Huickmany cece 1877 | L.O. Pindar.

. t About.

It was reported not present at the following places in Kentucky :

Locality.

Backusburgh
Bandana
Blandville
Crocus

Henry C. Wade.
W.L. Bridgewater.
W.I1. Watson.

J.P. Miller.

Observer.

Locality.

Observer.

Edmonton
Jackson
Salyersville
Young’s Springs

J.P. Van Zant.

W. D. Cardwelt.

S. E. Hager.

William H. Caragan.

In LOUISIANA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the
following places:

(
Fie First ope First
Locality. lappeared. Observer. Locality. lappeared.
Barataria ..-..--. 1883+ | William B. Berthoud.|} Napoleonyiile -. 1884
BayOMtrOnla. 7%. 2) 5222... 2 W..C. Percy, jr. New Orleans. .-.. 18747
WD OMe oe esis 2i<c 1882+ | P. L. Viallon. Plaquemine.-.... 1880
Black Hawk ..... i884 | W.C. Percy, jr. Pointe Coupee-.- 1885
Donaldsonville. -. 1881 | L.E. Bentley. Port Hudson.... 1882
‘Venocie SAOOdol BECO SOnee Charles EK. Nesmith. || Saint Joseph.--.. 1886
Macandis sa. sc.=: 1884 | Postmaster. Scehriever ...-..- 1885
ahniville ss seca. 1881 | Joseph W. Carew. Wrelcome sce es Geers
Lafourche Cross- 1886 | Postmaster.
ing.

Observer.

Dr. Charles Meuville.
W. W. Edwards.
Charles E. Dupuy.
Postmaster.

Do.
A. Bondusant.
Postmaster.
J.A. Burbank.

} About.

~T, & ‘ =

> _- DISTRIBUTION BY STATES. — 211

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
Amite City <...---=--- Postmaster. Mai Hayetten ass elem Postmaster.
{GROPING EAE oeeaeoe J.C. Brice. Lake Providence --.-.. J.G, Oldfield.
ANTEC Ao Seong ee Beer J.M. Hills. IGE St Coen ass EF. H. G. Taylor.
Ti all) Aa eeeeoeeaoeee Charles A. Bibbins. Lamourie Bridge -..--- Postmaster.
IBASULOP ee - see =.= --- J, William Brown. Hheesvillev cesses 2ee =e J.O. Winfree.
Bayou Current ---.-.--. Postmaster. Mamilest) 222 4. 22h eos Rt. B. Hodges.
Bayou Sara....-.-.----- ¥. M. Mumford. Milam ates Wecees eee J.B. Vandagaer.
Bellovue:---.----------- J. H. Cabeen. Marksville.:-.2-2...-. H. Dupuy.
@pmerom = ---..---.--. S. P. Henry. IMindenve te eseee cee <7 J.C. 'T. Chafte,
B@SMELOVING: ------2<-5-- A.B. Etienne. Morgan Citys. ---.22: H. M. Mayo.
Oharch EP oint.<<- 25... <- P.L. Guidry. Mionrotiene seca cance I. Garrett.
Wolltixe noses. +55 >- A. L. Grow. Moumdy.2o.5 go5.02 eee C. H. Lucas.
WOPVENG 2-5-5 s 266. an. Joseph Blandig. Natchitoches .-.---..- E. Suddath.
Coushatta ......-...... J.R. McGoldrick. WNewellton 2-2. 4-0-2 =. Louis Buckner.
glint = Se eae asooeee R. H. Dollerhide. Pattersonville -.....-- Postmaster.

- Dennis Mills...........| Thomas F. Anderson. Port Badess.2 2.0.2. —: W.L. Wright.
English Lookout ..-.-.. D. L. Green. orb Vincente sas. D.C. Leftwich.
Warmersville..-......-- I. Shelsten. BVO wcsece cose acess. Alphonse Duelos.
Jive J. E. Munson. Robelinecst ys. -ese<.2 James M. H. McCook.
Da John A. O’Niell. Ruston’ S2aseosese 22 Postmaster.
Frierson’s Mill..---..-- C.J. Frierson. Saint Martinville.-.... Albert Bienvenu.
Harrisonburgh ........ Jobn H. Carter. SHLEVEPOLbias- sos: aoe George D. Alexander.
SENG OTe a ers cise. sa’ D. W. Harris. SPallaesosmece a sacase H. F. Scheen.
[OQUITTES Gescer Gosceeeeae P. Ulmer. {Wailllmloieeene ees see ct O. P. Hebert.
SICKSOW! -ceeee cases ss; Lee Kiblinger. Migerville: =. 2.52225 Postmaster.
eUWINeS 5.---..--.---. Postmaster. Water? roofs-t22- = = Myles Bonney.
Jewella...-... pees = in 0. Winnsborough .....-. S. Wylie.

ME UCHIG Mee car's = sae = William G. Spilker.

In MAINE the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the follow-
ing places:

é First 3 | ‘ First é
Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.
“ |
Donn) F, P. Briggs. North Livermore 1883 | George H. Berry.
Pani ee ete nic cine Gallic ca e'<icicins George EK. Newman. || Ogunquit .-.-.... 18827 | Daniel W. Perkins.
Belfasi ---.-<.<.. 1883 | George E. Brackett. || Orono .--.-...--. 1881 | Prof. C. H. Fernald.
EEO WEL cos ojn0= = = - 1884+ | Manly Hardy. iRoxntlandess =. == 1858 | Nathan C. Brown.
Calais... -.- <2. - 1883+ | George A. Boardman. WOR aoee cle ceen eee et Charles B. Fuller.
Chink a 1884 | Dr.G. A. Martin. DOtRessseee ce 1876¢ | C. P. Mattoch.
Damariscotta .-.-. 1883 | E. W. Dunbar. | Green ace 1858 | Everett Smith.
D@ssigip See Geese Se oee eae J.D. Cochrane. linbresquertsl@s:--\ce.ces sec John Stewart.
Seebiircield.......-. 1876+ | Jas.O. Whittemore. || Readfield -..---- 1886 | H.O. Nickerson.
Peo harming ton... -. 1880¢ | EK. E. Richards. SaCccarappa snwiee|- seo e sel Arthur H. Norton.
LGN eee ee John Stewart. South Windham |...-...... C.K. Allen.
Lewiston ....--.- 1882 | W.R. Wright. || Waterborough..|.......--- C. W. Costellow.
t+ About.
It was reported not present at the following places in Maine:
Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
ASG WEITY -<--.2secue> Samuel Warson. Skowhegan ....-. -----| A. R. Smiley.

Hudson.....-. Gene soo) FB. DP. Brigss:

212 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. ae

In MARYLAND the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the ai
following places:

Mrs F
Locality. nae ie al Observer. Locality. a oS a Observer.
PATINA OOS tee= este icleelaee se F, K. Steele. Mechanicstown- 1877t | E. L. Boblitz.
SMO dasee sesalsepeeecae Otto Lugger. Middletown ..-. 1878 | E. M. Bowlus.
Boonsborough -..- 1875¢ | Robert Lamar. New Windsor -. 1876+ | J. F. Buttington.
Burkittsville ... 1879+ | William C. Karn. Oakland .:....-. 1875¢ | RP. Hamill.
Clear Spring..-- 18767 | L. Peterman. SMUD BAY = 2556+ 1880 | EH. Stanley Toadvin.
Cumberland -.... 1868 | A. Willison. Sandy Spring ... 1880+ | Henry C. Hallowell.
Emmitsburg .... 1879} | S. N. McNair. DO bss sees 1879t | H. H. Miller.
Frostburgh...-... 1878+ | C. H. Walker. Sharpsburgh.... 1878+ | Henry M. Johnson.
Grantsville ...... 1880 | George P. Thisile. Smithsburgh --. 1876+ | Manoah Metz.
Hagerstown ..... 1876 | W.T. Swartz. Taneytown -..... 1876; | J. A. Briechner.
Migncock: ea-2=2 4: 1865 | S.C. Crown. Union Bridge. -. 1877} | Edward W. Leeds,
Lonaconing....-.. 1878+ | Patrick Carroll. Westminster --. 1876} | Joseph B. Boyle,
Manchester...... 1872+ | Adam Shower. Williamsport... 1870 | S. R. Wolf.
t About.

In MASSACHUSETTS the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886
at the following places:

Locality. eee Observer. _ Locality. Sea Observer.
WAtTOLS 1 a = 2-2. 1872} | Hubert L. Clark. Newton Hig l= |. 2. sa22-2 James F.C. Hyde.
DOStOMP MMe tae ok) oer acres Joseph M, Wade. jands.

Brookline......-. 1868 | N. A. Francis. New Worcester. 1874} | Theo. G. Ball.

ID Oa see wees lipeuee eta Gordon Plummer. INGBIMUK 2655855: 1883t | L.C. Keith.
Cambridge .....-. 1874; | William Brewster. North Adams... 1880 | Nelson Dupuy.

DOS Seat 18737 | Dr. H. A. Hagen. Northampton ..- 1875t | L. C. Ferry.
Cottage City. .--. 18827 | F. P. Vincent. | Rehoboth ....-.- 1879 | F. H. Carpenter.
(OiwiimebNS s-ooasloosamascos Alonzo Daggett. Siasconset -..--- 18807 | P.M. Almy.
IDTIOWI Saescacoos 1883 | Asa Clement. SOMeELSeU 2 2--- =. 1874 | Elisha Slade.

Hast Templeton - 1880 | Charles H. Ingalls. SI NONCHG: osangdoe 1875+ | Clarence L. Cate.
Edgartown .....- 18847 | Henry A. Pease. SHOSLACAIENC, a ndan|looscoacaas J. W. Adams.
Falmouth...-..-.. 1882} | F. J.C. Swift. DOses2 weeaes 18667 | George A.Solly. |
Fitchburg .....--. 18727 | Prof. F.H.L. Beal. || WO ae Dace 1876+ | Dr. P. L. B. Stickney. —
OLY O)O\ == <5 = =< 1870t | Thomas Chalmers. || Taunton........ 18787 | Charles H. Andros.

DOP Ae aetcnce naciee ete William F. Lamb. | Doge ee 1878 | Jobn C. Cahoon.

AD Ona stseuis.|ecitiean Sees ¥. H. Metcalf. | Lynesiborowehes| eae. cscs C. W. Swallow.
JENA Nees enoeaSoee 1873t | Waldo Thompson. Vineyard Haven 18847 | John F. Robinson.

DOT ies sacks ge tele ace John B. Tolman. Wiesitordtaeeeere 1883+ | L. W. Wheeler.
iMeditond te. see-- 1869+ | John Ayres. | West Roxbury... 1876} | C. A. Hewins.
Middleborough -.- 1875} | HK, A. Bowen. West Spring- 18807 | J.N. Bagg.
Nantucket..-..-.. 1882} | J. F. Murphey. field.

INiGiw;LONeeseeac-—e 1877} | J. W. Pearson. | ANAolopa oe ese. 1875} | E. H. Richards.
| Wood’s Holl..-.. 1884 | J. H. Kidder.
t About.

It was reported not present at the following places in Massachusetts:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
(Cay BURG aGoogeeboncoe Wm. A. Vanderhoop. Spencer [country] .-..| H. H. Kingsbury.
Sleeve yt Sea seer eee G. A. Parker. West ctisimisy eee C. W. Nickerson.
INO ay SO SS eecneboocae Miss M. i. Paine.

. : First
Locality. appeared.
AGE eee 1884
Agricultural Col- |" 1885
ege.
LOYD ee el ae eee
PANIDIOM: 25-2 = + =< 1885
AICS ET Oe ee
ANGI aes 187é
ASW OD®: SoMa See ae eee eee
Pees imont.......-.- 1878
Beeraui pena sa. ..c5c. |. ac5 2. --
PARIMEAT DOR so05 05 |%sass022%
pACHWENS 222.25. :. 18767
JB) UNG (0 ea eae 1882
WO ee ee es 1883
Baldwin (1888):-.)..2.-.--<.
Bay City ..-..... 1879
Bear Lake ...---- 1883
ellaimren(1Ss88) 2.) -<so...--
Benzonia ..-.--: - 1885+
Berrien Springs - 1888
Big Rapids ...... 1878}
Boyne City ..-... 1883
Boyne Falls...--- 1885
| Buchanan ....-.. 18717
Burdickville. .-.. 1884
Burlington ...-..- 1883
cet Caledonia Sta- 188+
oe. tion.
- Cassopolis -...--.-. 1881}
Centreville ....-- 1879
Bee@harlopte ....--=% 1875
_ Cheboygan ...... 1882
BAGO sae -non--|...-.----
= Coldwater ......- 1876
Pm oneord 2.27.22 5 1884
Corunna... -2--- 1881
Detroit (1888).--.|...-- ee
LOOP ae Seer 1885
Eaton Rapids.... 188 Lf
Elk Rapids ..---- 1880
Pei semaba.....--- 1876
BeeBivatt-c. 22 ..:.-- 1882
Bimmim eto! os...) .22-- 2 2.5:
See karwell.....-.... 1885
meebite-Lake....... 1883
eee ranktort =.=... 18817
: ROMP Rass <<. 1882
Gaines Station. - 1876
(Salicn Se aeeeeee 1882
Gladwin -....--- 1884
- Grand Haven.... 1871+
Grand Rapids.--. 1883
— IDO sdeaseeaeee 18814
‘Grass Meiieel ese hoo cece < 2
eeeGcayling........- 1882
SeemGorcenville ....-..|....-...-.
_ Harbor Springs. - 1882
mUALERISON!-- =... --. 188k
IDG: ae eee ee
eerisyille Lees: 1880
Dot ee
‘i Wore mca! o= 1882
Seectlartford......... 1879F
i BHashings....-.-.- 1876
Diiiliman ......... 1883
a eMisdale .2...... 1874
meetiolland........ 1882
See tiomer, 20.2 2... 1878
Hopkins’ Sta- _ 1883
tion.
Endsom-.22-..<.. 1875
PEMEOME 2 25. 55.5 1885
Imlay City .....- 1883
1878

DISTRIBUTION BY

ee Z

STATES.

213

iF In MICHIGAN the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the
following places:

Observer.

: First
Observer. Locality. appeared.
Postmaster. RTE VOG ee as ae 1882
A.J, Cook. Jackson (1884) -- 1880t
DOs dove 1876+
Professor of botany Ba) dos 1874f

and forestry. Jonesville ...... 1884
Martin Haven. Kalamazoo..-.-. 1876+
Rev. D. D. Chapin. On. sire 18787
John H. Parish. Kent ee Eee 1882
DEL Kinssley =-.---- 1885
F.C. Andrus. Lansing cee SO eee cee
William Boulton. WA PCCES sails a= 1879}
J.B. Steere. Lenawee Junc- 1871it
J. F. Culp. tion.

Bell Irwin. Lickley Corners. 1885
J.T. Rorick. BOGKO@xs-2- 2.5: 1882
Robert J. Matthews. !! McMillan ..-...-|..-..-....
¥F. W. Grinnell. Manistee (1888)-.|....-.....
John N. Brodie. Manistique -..-. 1884
A.S. Abbott.

Edson Packard. Marquette i-2s|-ssse se:
Fremont D. Nichols. Ore eae ee 1885t
J.T. Escott. Marshatlt sac. = 1880
Walter Ware and || Martin. .-......< 1884

Jas. L. Campbell. IGS Baers conse 1882
Monroe Dickinson. Mears =. <5..nosec 1883
J. L. Richards. Menominee -...-. 1882
ALS: Fritz. Merrill ts. .= 5. 1883
Postmaster. WITONENTO eae ee 1881
Kate Konkle. Dorie eas 1878|?]

| Mille est ost A82. 1884
L. H. Glover. SMomroees—.. 22.2 1873T
J.A. Russell. Morenei<2..-.- 1878
C.S. Barrett. Mount Clemens. 1883
C. A. Gallagher. Muskegon (1888) |.----.---.
A.C. Aldrich. b Nashville 22.22: 1876
David B. Dennis. INO We Eiame@ies seine ose oe
David KE. Haskins. North Adams... 1881
Dr. C. T. Armstrong. |! North Branch...]........-.
Ralph Phelps, jr. | Northville -..... 1880
Frank Sommer. Pe NUNCA esse 2 Se a 1881
S. R. Fuller. Omere = 732 See 1885
James E. Rankin Oscodar =e. =. 1879
T. Killian. Otisnpillere ec. 1880}
W.L. Stoddard. ONvoSsoin- ee: 1876
Frank D. Clark. Paiwveck awe =e -e 1874
Postmaster. Giver Seo eee 1881

Do. Petersburgh .... 18777
Charles Burmeister. | Pinckney...--.-. 1878
Wm. G. Voorheis. IR EShORdie 6 ae eee nee
N. P. Seeland. Plainwell ...... 1874t
G. A. Blakeslee. Plymowthe- = o- =- 1876
Postmaster. (Porélandeo-.. oe 1880t

Do. Reading S224. =. 1831
James Cox. IIRCOSGs aoe te ae | 1878
Charles Wi. Garfield: |! Richmond 22... |:.2---2-<.
Frank O. Hellier. Rogers City 18857
J.O. Hadley. (1888).
J.E. Taylor. Saginaw .....-.-. 1881
Will E. Hampton. Saint Clair..._.. 1876t
William W. Green. SEU at oc OCA aTA a eee ee oes
Postmaster. (1888)

-Do. Saline. ceases 1880
E. T. Mugford. Sand OLS esos oe eee
HK. D. Richmond, Sandusky -...-.- 1883
Edward Finley. Sandusky (1888) .|..----.--.
John Bessmer. SONNE one eene 1879
Postmaster. Saugatuck ...... 1880
ira-Bs Card: Sault de Ste. 1883
William Verbeek. Marie.

C. F. Collins, Schoolcraft -.-.-. 18777

Postmaster. Shelby. -sesee: 18&0
Sherwood....... 1884

A. H. Boies. Sparta. cet 1880

Andrew Shaw. SpPEMe POLhises ele acce essa

E. J. Landers. Stamtonese-ess—s 1881t

O. F. Jackson. Tawas City..--. 1882

t About.

H. Morrison.
William Kk. Gibson
P. B. Loomis.
Grove H. Wolcott.
R. J. Coryell.

Dr. Morris Gibbs.
Frank Little.
Henry H. Wylie.
A.G. Edwards.
Jason E. Nichols.
Fred S. Odle.

M. Graves.

A. H. Carver.
Dr. H. A. Atkins.
D. L. West.
Robert Johnson.
W.H. Hill and Cor-

win Adkins.
W. W. Dent.
Frank E. Wood.
Samuel 8. Lacey.
George Redpath.
O. A. Myers.
George Wyckoff.
J. W. Bird.
Postmaster.
H. L. Fairchild.
Postmaster.
L. EK. Crane.
dames C. Critchett.
Henry 8. Wyman.
John B. Leonardson.
Martin Waalkes.
James M. Pilbeam.
John Leonardson.
O. C. Smith.
R. A. McDougall.
Dean F. Griswold.
J.J. Wiseman.
J. H. Delknap.
H.C. King.
Postmaster.
A. Lee Williams.
Postmaster.

Do.

Jerome Trombley.
Postmaster.

Do.
A.C. Roberts.
W.J. Burrow.
FF. M. Cutcheon.
HOE: Doty:
Joln J. Gies.
K. F. Hunt.
Hermann Hoeft,

F.S. Smith.
T. D.Barron.
James H. Conn.

Norman A. Wood.
Wn. J. Muldragh.
Thomas Doyle.
Chris. Murphy.
M. S. Lord.
Postmaster.
William S. Shaw.

P. D. Miller.
Geo. W. Woodward.
Postmaster.
Ii. Bradford.
J. B. Conklin.
Postmaster.

Do,

214 THE ENGLISH SPARROW
Locality. er Observer. Locality.
Tecumseh -.-.-.- 1879 | C. A. Wright and C.|| Watrousville ...
: A. Story. Wayland .......
ELhomsoneee. nace 1876/?]| RK. B. Wallace. West Bay City..-
Phormvilless-a--- 1882 | Dr. JohnS. Caulkins.|| West Windsor --
Traverse City. -- 1878 | H. D. Campbell. White Cloud....
LOR AKC ass aes 1881 | Samuel P. St. John. Whittemore .-.-.
Wiassanter sac eac es 1876; | Levi H. Emerson. Wixom -
Waterviiet....... 1882 | W.E. Walden. Ypsilanti ...-.-.
t About.

IN AMERICA.

First é
appeared. Observer.

1€82 | H. B. Hayes.

1882 | John Graves.

1881 | Postmaster.

1884 | Mary EK. Tuttle.

1883 | R.S. Trask.

1883 | Frank Duplanty.
Postmaster.

18801 | William Lambie.

lt was reported not present at the following places in Michigan:

Locality. Observer.
Atlantic Mine 22... -.- Postmaster.
Bev yyinvee eis seve ee es Andrew Ozmun.
GniltiimGisacosesosesseae A. 'T. Streeter.
(Canine Ae hops en aeeee J.B. Alward.
Crystal Malls 222 5.5.-.- Postmaster.
JSG 5555 5cn0esnee James B. Looney.
GUO MGON. Se ve se shee = « HK. R. Penbentry.
Iron Mountain.......-. Postmaster.
JDEIKEN Cline Sons meeye Cane ¥. O. Gaffney.
Lake Linden.........-. Postmaster.
HEPAMSO 2 cease eek as esa John Q. McKernan.

Locality.

Michigamme
Munising *
Newberry

Ontonagon
Quinnesec

Republic
Ripley
lives Junction -
Saint Ignace
Saint James

* Reported present in 1887.

erccee

Observer.

Postmaster.

Fostmaster.
John Maguire.
Krank KE. Wood.
John Heffeman.
R. W. Hornbach.
James R. Gibson.

In MINNESOTA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the
following places:

Locality.

Do.
Chatfield ........
Elk River (1887) .
Lanesborough ...
Minneapolis

First : : First

appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.
1886 | H. O. Bayard. redwood Falls - 1881} | J. L. Thompson.
1885 | G. L. Case. tochester .....- 1886 | Samuel De Wolf.
1884 | John R. Jones. Ook aease ont 1836 | W.D. Hurlbut.
1886 | Vernon Bailey. Saint Paul -2-.- 1876 | Dr. Thos. 8. Roberts.
18865 | Dr. J.C. Hvoslef. Wabasha ....--- 1886 | J. H. Evans.
1876 | Dr. P. L. Hatch. WiaSe@Cae. sce. ae- 1886 | D. McLaughlin.
1876 | Dr. Thos. S. Roberts. || Winona...-...-- 1886+ | Prof. J. M.Holsinger.
1882 | William Tubbs. DO Ssse eee 1886 | Postmaster.

} About.

It was reported not present at the following places in Minnesota:

Locality. Observer.

PAU ertilieayeen seen os R. B. Abbott.
FAUT Oa eee geet ce oi J. A. Foote.
PAN Kime cee eee oe on KE. F’. Barrett.
ANN EUIG asic ie eens a eae Marcus Jolinson.
PANU OT een tino ye sic.c George Wendel.
Beaver As awe Be iesinc J. Leon Wieland.
Belle Plaine ........... K. KE. Chatfield.
DESC ae John D. Lyons.
Pirdulisland jo 0 52252 F. L. Puffer.
Blue Earth City ....... J.H. Sprout.
Breckenridge .......... H. Champion.

Ddesongeuaccogones George F. Cook.
Brownsville) 2... )..-, A.L. Darling.
Iie Gy US ee ae J.C. Nugent.
CAL Ot. Weep bese fe.) Charles Johnson.
Centre City esgee cs. Postmaster.
Chaska done tere cones George F. Taber.

Locality. Observer.
Cloquet aaeeee eee Hamilton Curry.
DetroriCiiyesseee see S. N. Horneck.
Duluth esse sae John Flynn.

Miki Riverste seer ecee H. P. Burrell.
LOOENSTOP cos5q55sconce Dr. James R. Walker.
INSRNATNOMG 55s sGo~ceooos A.L. Ward.

ALM Toma: eee see Hamilton H. Judson.
WORD SME. So 555065 Victor Roberson.
Enemy OOGles soaodee sour Thomas Schweiger.
Glyndonpeeeeete aacee J. W. Rodgers.
Granite Falls ......... C. A. Bennett.

IEao cka eee William Thempson.
Mamie see sae eee K. B. Higgins.

PIAS tiNe Si saeeaseee ee Rev. George B. Pratt.
lelenaessame 0s phe George Beekman.
iendersonke saceeeces Adam Buck.
Houston iceermaceene S.B. McIntire.

*Reported present by another observer.

he DISTRIBUTION BY STATES. 215
Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
ee gisreeeaeien fp a ee a aera aie
BOR A. ae Mark Fosket.. OJSC Sia ah a eo ae William Krueger.
. BUI sere aratmysicies «0 era Siete Martin W. Donnell. Owatonna cee sei = see oi L. L. Wheelock.
EPP UAGKSON ..-.-.-+.-.--: John Feildes. OncOndlscracier <1 sare sis Stephen Hewson.
me sdord. Michael Beck. Perma a ters aetarals 2 tole Henry Kemper.
George B. Arnold. JPA NOON ,oaposaeneres D. E. Sweet.
pimibetliys 522-52. - M. F. Showell, Presto joer cso sees Thomas Hall.
Plom@reseent....s..-.... John 8. Harris. PriMCetOMe a2) San ssee Newell A. Ross.
i lOO See o een eeee Thomas Minshall. VIC OMe wa ease ee eee J. N. Richardson.
IEC David O. Irwin. Husk a ety pein cine fate P. McKeon.
pe DOM is sae Sean Se: George Ee Selovers 9 ti Doves. 57 hte se: H. P. Robie.
Bialke Orystal.......... M. W. Kelly. Rushior 0 Las a ee D. F. Murphy.
plmikerPark:.....-.-.24: C. Bjorge. Saint Charles....-..... John Pickert.
Polbaxe vill... 2 - es ne. C. H. French. Saint Cloud........-.-| Postmaster. 4
_ Le Sueur ........-..... I. M. Farmer. Nain Prantl se aes. D. L. Kiehle.
; AD OP rsorysere Se aie'ate sata E. R. Smith. Saint Peter’s.......--- Charles A. Johnson.
memimeld -- 4. sees. A.J. Revill. Sauk Centre --:....-.- Charles F. Hendryx.
moma Lake... ..6-+.6s B. F. Christlieb. Sauk Wapids).22.. 1 Julia A. A. Wood.
IDOL a eee eerie C. O. Hawes. Shakopee eases ssc Charles Bornarth.
Peverdeliai so i2.- 0 s2s5 ee. A. H. Benton. Stillwater) 25s se ee. KH. G. Butts.
meMemikato..s20. 222 ..--'. James Cannon. Taylor's Falls ..-..--. N. W. Humphrey.
Marine Mills -....-.... Charles Westergren. MO WiCL) screw ints saratete ale oats John Anderson.
Miamsnalle = 32.2.2) .4- 2. Squire D. How. Tylers esse J.A. Bigham.
IMieMNdOtA. 22 62.-5 ast T. Fee. Werndalllevesenaeee ace: K. I. Parker.
Merriam Junction..--. Henry Dols. Wiarkem. 2425-20225 5-5 A. P. McIntire.
Minnetonka ........... D. M. Burwell. A\WSISIM QUAN oossdas cos: Frederick Miller.
Montevideo.----.-..-- K. L. Kempe. Wielilis) one lace aoe e. J. W. Polleys.
beMoorhead.-..-..-2..--. K. Fay. White Bear Lake...-. Daniel Geity.
MICE Ss Aee aac eereret Stanton D. Seavey. Wallner seen itis goee O. Selvig.
meNewe Winl..22......2.2- Francis Baasen. \Niann@lovnt pon coccsnoooss S. M. Espey.
INORGKOSS=- «ise. cs ees ce Postmaster. WOR se eee Racca S. B. Stutman.
PiNorth Star......------- John Schrooten. Winnebago ..-........ A. B. Davis.
ma@ale Dale .2..2...2. 225: Joseph Streiff. Worbbine tomes: sass. L B. Bennett.
QUINTET See yaaa See Daniel Haire. Zum proba see eae C. B. Anderson.

*Reported present by another observer.

. In MISSISSIPPI the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the
following places:

First First

Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared Observer.
sAberdeen..-..... 1884} | M. H. Gillespie, Hernando ...... 18721 | D. M. Slocumb.
DO .csecannde de 18838 | A. A. Wall. Holly Springs -- 1882+ | John §S. Finlay.
Booneville ....... 18847 | R. E. Marshall. NET aie ety a sot 3 1884 | A. I. Scruggs.
Coffeevilie....... 1884+ | J. F. Kelly. INatehez 222252. 1886 | R. Holmes.
Ealnmbus SEBCeEe 1&83t | Dayton Hale. Ripley osssck~ 1884 | E. W. Simpson.
IDO. 55 hone eeee 1884} | D. C. Hodo. Senatobia...--.-. 1881} | C. P. Varner.
React Maecisien 2a 1884 | Postmaster. Starlovillte ess oetelliee ees W.B. Stark.
"at DD. 585 Senne MEE eee Dr. RawlingsYoung. || ‘Tupelo ..-...... 1886 | F. M. Goar.
».- Friar’s Point .... 1878} |.I°. D. Robinson. West Point...-. 1880 | J. H. Brinker.
PemeGrenada......- oe 1881t | R. N. Hall. Winona .-....- 1883¢ | D. S. Young.

t About.

216

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

It was reported not present at the following places in Mississippi:

Locality.

Agricultural College --

Binibhw vith soescaskacsose
Belen ...-.- se Sangre he
Bollinger’s Mills (1885) -
Bolton’s Depot
‘Brookhaventer. see 1a:
Camtbomiteecscesaace sae
Carrolltonweessceneeeees
Clintons e See so8 oe.
Columibiaeeesece soe
IOWNCRIISION? oo saGs paoade
BH award Site ctace ee en scene
MGETLPLIS Cassese reece ol
MOneSt Ape eres see 058

GOSteR es asec pee oeiwone
Hattiesburgh.......-..
DAOKSOMMsea ne ease nee
Jobhnsonville.......--..
MONESTONV NY seekers eee.
IRGROHUSI KOS, patos kasece
Wea keswillenee acco se

Observer. Locality. Observer.
W. B. Stark. Maonoliaiee aaa. asseeer E. Safford.
T. W. L. Askew. Mississippi City....-- C. Phelps.
T. B. Stubbs. Monticello2s2-2-)-2-s-- W. ¥. McInnis.
Ella ¥K. Loor. Morton .-.-... SS bay L. R. Moore.
¥. M. Hamflet. Moss) Point eee. see A. Blumer.
Jos. H. Grant. DO: ccsstheSeeeseoas C. H. Wood.
M. Allie Davis. Neu donee esee eee J. C. Cunningham.
V.L. Tyler. Pass Christian........ Howard P. Beeman.
G. W. Thomas. Pontotoce: s-—-eeeeeaes Samuel Miller.
M. E. Love. Poplarville eeseasese R. L. Ratliff.
©. 1G, ikice: Port Gibson), -=-25- 22. Mrs. O. A. Hastings.
Thaddeus Boemer. QOuliman =sceeeeeeeee HK. K. West.
W. FEF. Westcott. Raleigh ye cease eee George W. Currie.
R. H. Smith. Rodneyea-ee-eeiaceee Gideon Mabbett.
M. &. Byrne. Roliime Worleseeeeesse S. W. Langford.
Hi Eastland. Rosedale: : 22 44.432 TR. MeGuin.
Ee Etoutite Summ tes asesee cence R. P. Godbold.
D. M, Carter. Perky sssagessts esses W.-M. Bracey.
Wirt Adam. Ditiea ase s se ae ee H. J. Sarrett.
John R. Baird. Vaelsburess-c. eee William Groome.
C. Barnes. D020 ae eee F. M. Webster.
R. Boyd. Waynesborough...... O. KK. Williams.
Daniel McLeod. IWieSSOM? asc caee eer Kate Bostwick.
Lehman Colin. Williamsburgh -..-.... C. M. Edmonson.
C.S. Kellogg. Wioodvilleseees.ceeeee W. A. Elder.

T. J. Stokes.

In MISSOURI the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the fol-

lowing places:

ae First na Sat : First

Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.
PAUIDAMV esis ae 1883 | F.M. Setzer. Jefferson City -.- 1873+ | William G. McCarty.
Aurora Springs.. 1885+ | M. D. Wright. Kansas City.--. 1883+ | George M. Shelley.
DULIN GS sas Ces sl cetee ees - M. T. Russell. ieanneyaee eee 18857 | P. D. Anderson.
Breckenridge. ... 1886 | J.T. Alexander. Keilksvillleeseeee 1883 | George I’. Spencer.
Brookfield. .....- 1883f | C. W. Freeman, Wa BellLezacaceas 1882t | R. A. Bagby.
Brunswick .-.-.-. 188lf | J.S. Wallace. Lexington ...... 1886 | Dr. J. 3. Alexander.
Burlington Junc. 1886 | S.J. Butcher. Louisiana.....-- 1877+ | Thomas W. Lock.
Butlers ssj-ee ee 1886 | Harvey Clark. Macon City...-. 1885 | EF. A. Dessert.

Doreen. 1882; | Henry Speer. Marshfield.-...-- 1886 |} Oliver Wells.
Cape Girardeau. . 1880 | Henry A. Astholz. Miempliisisesee—- 1883 | J. P. Craig.

JOO cael Ais tere 18817 | S.S. Harris. MexiG¢o-s:-2 ue. 1876 | John Saunders.
Carrollton ....-.. 18841 | M. R. Gittings. Montgomery Cty 1883+ | Irvin P. Powell.
Centraleea peas: 1878+ | H. M. Snow. Mis Carnelian eee ee eee Mrs. M. Musick.
C@ihamois-esssee 1884 | B. L. Hull. INewadaineeeeneen 1884 | Henry Shepley.
Charleston. ...... 1882 | G. W. Martin. New Haven...-- 1880t | C. TL. Murphy.
Chillicothe ..-...- 1876 | B.B. Smith. New London..-. 1884+ | J. D. B. Freeman.
SO MIMGOM Ge «moma iaro = 1885 | 8S. D. Garth. Oregon) 342.602 ee 1882} | William Kaucher.
Columbia ......-- 18827 | Eli Hodge. Palmyra...-.--- 1876 | BH. A. McLeod.
(CI eae eee 18847 | J. A. Williams. Parisien ee 18821 | James 8S. McGee.
Weniyernee. esc: 1885 | Willis Marrs. iRernywalleeesee 1881+ | Joe R. DeLassus.
LO SOD coos Jee 18841 | James W. Clarke. Poplar Bluff --. 18867 | Jesse Reynolds.
Dixon wetete ete 1884 | W. W. Howard. POtOSIeeeceee ee 1884 | John Teasdale.
HMsberry naar == 1885 | J. W. Bibb. Queen City .... 1883 | J. R. Brown.
Fairmont........ 1885 | Henry J. Hewitt. IroGla JSG oeeeoe 18857 | Lee Beall.
Farmington ..... 1885 | Willard Roriden. Rolla shee aces 1884 | H.S. Herbert.
Fayette.......... 1885] | C.J. Walden. Ste. Genevieve - 18837 }| Augustine Menard.
MNGOM sence ooo 18837 | J. E. Watson. Saint Joseph ... 1881 | John C. Evans.
Glenwood........ 1885 | Thomas Peury. Saint uous 7. see se eee Estill McHenry.
Hartville ........ 1880; | Andrew J. Farmer. Sedalia.oca.e sealers Ff, A. Sampson.
ienmanmy. 2.25.2 1874 | Gustav Ettmueller. So. Saint Louis. 1874+ | V. Spindler.
Molden 62032. 2% 18837 | John D. Crisp. Aronibonwee- eas er 1884} | W.O. Garvin.
Independence ... 18817 | William Groesbeak. || Weston ........ 1881 | Edw. J. Breen.
TROBEORI ee) -- 1884; | John F. T. Edwards. || Westport. ...... 1885 | L. A. Goodman.
Jefferson City --. 1883 | W.E. Coleman. West St. Louis - 1876 | John Carroll.

t About.

aS, 5 Fr
rae ee Se

- P Ue

Cs Led

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

217

; Was reported not present at the following places in Missouri:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
Sele ae Sok. David C. Flynn. Granbye setae ee George A. Sweet.
pleton -City......-.. James Hodkins. Green Castle ........- H. T. Jones,
GhIGROVO ics. s-5--- Henry R. Hall. Greenridve —-2.-..... James 8. Ream.
iti Soaeseeea cea William Shields. Indian Springs ..-...-.- R.W. Williams.
. 20d CSS eee M. C. Reynolds. Jamesport............| C. EB. Orcutt.
EP SSeS Ace ashe G. L. Phillips. amar. s-225-5: eo. ees cobn H. Domalas.
3 epg Se ee eee C. W. Furman. Bebanow ss: 2895./4.2% <= R. J. Wickersham.
Poncho ae <5 2 John George. Binney Crebks:22 0 222-.|(C. BP, Churehilk
5 Oa ee George F. Petti grew. mincolneeeesesee eee se Reedeeciie
ORE NEOs G. Blakney. Malden 2a fen0- 2 |e. Eeashelton:
Mesa accion 2 Z. T. Russell. Malta Bend-..........| A.G. Bailey.
ie) Se Sew eae eee T. D. Steele. Marionvaillesse 2.522 R. B. Gillette.
SDS) A.M. Moles. Meiysvillere2 zane. nese Henry E. Glazier.
wieysSbureh .....----- J. R. Cunningham. Moundville .......... L. H. Orndortt.
llege Mound ..-..-... B. D. Singleton. New; Madritesa sss: 5: Charles A. Loforge.
2 ye: Gee ee A. U. Farrow. Purdyisese sos - 322 es | Wash. Bs Smuibh:
Sega Ee Joseph W. Tohim. Richmond ......--.-..| 8. F. Bassett.
neeceee eee J. A. Ferguson. SALeMe eee etee ser sheLostmaster:
El Dorado Springs. .-.- John W. Selby. Sprinetield’ si. 5. 2.22 D.S. Holman,
ioe SSaueaee eee H. C. Everett. WOE Set Ges sce W. H. Pipkin.
edericktown --..---- A, A. Deguire. Wmionwille:esis22..225: Alex. Elson.
aes Fh ate. 8. A. Carr. Versailles ............| James B. Spurlock.
USD a H. D. B. Cutler. Wiest Plains 2.22.22. Samuel Risley.
ealden City /:-).-+-.-.

J. Poore. |

* Reported present by another observer.

In MONTANA, in the autumn of 1886, the Sparrow was known to be present at but
one point. Mr. J. R. Widmyer states that it appeared at Glendive in 1885. It was

Locality. Observer Locality Observer.
Ree aioes teem - P. A. Manix Maidenie-ssec--aeeees-|) Walliam-Mamrer:
J) ae Beals T. Whitney. Miles @ity <2... eee. John McAusland.
eee R. P. Menefee. Missoula..............| Joseph 8. Booth.
01) W. Egbert Smith. Parke Cityecnc. t= faa Alice A. St. John.
Resa sos is P. E. Poindexter. Phillipsburgh .--..-..| John W. Dawson.
ra Port Assinaboine...... R. L. McCullob. Radersbureh ._-.-..-3 E. M. Batchelder.
DRG OMSL . ==... .----- Theodor Borup. sheridan’. 2. o.2% <2. 2 R.P. Bateman.
MSV Wisc - oasis wo ns J.H. McKnight. Townsend? <= 6252... William Wood.
Bees i. o> E. O. Hulszir. Virginia. 2.-.....2-.-| Mary Deimiline
Re Son Sarai 2s Charles D. Curtis. Walkerville ..........| Daniel O'Grady.
eS fs hie nie William Gibbs. WhiteSulphurSprings| J.J. Hennessy.
JO .2eepeeepere FF. W. Wright.

ee. Miollowing places:

ein NEBRASKA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the

ie Locality. Seed, Observer. Locality. ean =f Observer.
Ree eek 1882} | Samuel E. Rigg. ineoln, 2505 1885; | Albert Watkins.
Ssteaeene 1883 | Chas. W. Heffley. Tsouisville ....2.|...-......| Lhomas Washryock
Pee el as 1885 | W.H. Eller. Nebraska City..|.......-..| Thomas mforton.
3 ‘Blas 0 SS eee Edgar Hilton. Omahaw.. 22. 1876+ | Charles K. Coutant.
: Brownville ae 1882+ | R. T. Rainey. Palmiyrar’ 3252 3: 1884] | T. W. Foster. .
Central City..... 1886 | John C. Logue. Papillion’ —ac- <= 1885 | J.P. Spearman.
Grand Island .... 18831 | C. L. Howell. Plattsmouth.... 1874+ | J. N. Wise.
cE Oooo 1886 | William M. Peebler. || Sterling ..-..... 1881 | Charles C. Wilson.
ct 1885 | G.J. Evans. alnrge: -5.<--- 1884 | H. Bord.
umboldt ....... 18847 | J. KF. Walsh. Reecumseh: 224 - 1882 | C.M. Wilson.
Beeiaiioi's 1885 | Prof. C. E. Bessey.
t About.

218

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

It was reported not present at the following places in Nebraska:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.

i Rihiate ose sweets O. B. Ripply. ICANN Cyias cena ee EK. R. Watson.
Mee Homose lopoy incense tes J.L. H. Knight,
Nine pe oases ees C. W. Stewart. | Linwood (1885) .--.--- W. J. Kingsbury.
ACpanOO ence f= c= = = Thomas B. McPherson. Long Pine.--.-..-:--- C. R. Glover
PASO co seeewe oe Willard A. Wheeler. | Loup) Citivsescee asst Cyrus M. Walworth.
ANTERIOR ea aaue pean oee John Tweedy. jeMiadisonesesernencesee Dr. F. A. Long.

Ba ziloeMiills: Seca es G. W. Harper. Minden? res-eee sen eee W.'T. McGinnis.
ISS hys SS Seeneqnees Eugene Shailenberger. DOn 3. Gaetan J.L. McPheely.
Broken BOW-ses=2-e =. I. 1. Merchant. Nelioh: cs 0sscsseeces W.C. Estes.
@orleton .--ceceseseee W.'T.Shawha Nemaha City.--...--. R.J.Skeen.
enteral City *...2--.==- S. iL. Wiser. North Platte ...-.---. Adam Furguson.
Glay enteric. t 2: Mrs. S. Cruickshank. O7 Neill City, asqseteeee James Miller.

ND) OS eee ata clap vane Harry B. Strong. Osceola: k.eeeeeeeee A.C. Shallenberger.
Clearwater wea —eeaso- Marcus N. Palmer. Plain WAC Waseaeeee es -e Ben Stetson.
WolumbuSees ss. t- see = W.N. Hensley. Ponca cs sane seeosen oat I. Conner.

Wozadens Seiceaee access Samuel W.Schooley. DO: 22. cesses J. W. Radford.
Crete: a2 5-%-2 = Pees T. A.C. Beard. RedsC@loudeas.cs-eeaee A.S. Marsh.
(Chilty¥ecyon ecsecesssos B. Cleven. Dain bh) Dau eeeae ae C. E. Forbes.
Dakobamatieceaaoaeses = Henry Herweg. Schiyleriis. sence ee J.F. Woods.
i DEK aull Cilia Sarees ¥. E. Wilson. SCOblA fh. = soem oee L. J. Traynor.
IDIOMA? Saguao saeabS or Will. W. Watson. Seward. .cecssteen ser John 8. Kittle.
Falls City -...--- be W. R. Crook. SidnGyies saeececeees ee William J. Breeman.
Mylerton=secses>—- ce E. G. Cook. Wahoos. 220s tess 2 L. W. Gilchrist.
Genewne ee ests ae W. H. Cooksey. | Where ee ase oe eee M. Dearborn.

OS SE ReSes eae V.C. Sniekley. Wrest Roints .esecceee R. F. Keoke.
SEL himie COM yee see a= = a J.P. Jenal. NOD Ae Sas ee oar F. L. Whedon.
Hioldnes eps eass acceso T. D. Trovis.

* Reported present by another observer.

In NEVADA, in the autumn of 1886, the Sparrow was not known to be present at

any point.

It was reported not present at the following places:

Locality. Observer. Locality. | Observer.
‘Belmont: esse se eh an J. A, Ball. Burekac2e2e0 oes | William J. Smith.
Carsoni@ity2s-2---22--| G. Cs Wihite: Genoa. +. .228 eee W. L. Cox.
@herry Creck=--2-. 52." Daniel R. Collins. Hawthorne -2-22 see F. A. Angell.
WaytOns ee ons Sane ec eo John Lothrop. Paradise Valley =2-e= J.B. Case.

MNKs sae cece seine ae C. H. Sproule. Pioche goss neers John Shier.

In NEW HAMPSHIRE the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at

the following places:

First

Locality. appeared.

>

Observer. Locality.

Franklin Falls -.
1BIENNVOW SPSS aoe

sence eee ee

1879+ | George Stolworthy.

| Lisbon (1884) .-.
Milton ese
| Portsmouth (’84)

Arthur Fairbanks.
I. W. Quimby.

First a
appeared. Observer.
1881+ | Dr. C. H. Boynton.
1876+ | James P. Melzer.
18777 | Sarah H. Foster.

t About.

> Fellowing places:
Fe :

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

2

219

Th NEW JERSEY the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the

First

{
ty Locality. caraie Al Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.
Semwenbureh. ee 1883 | David C. Voorhees. MountHolliya-2-lpessscee: Henry I. Budd.
a Pbrideeton ..2.--. 1868 | Charlés E. Bellows. New Providence 1866+ | H. F. Barreil.
MG@aldwell.....-... 1870+ | Marcus S. Crane. ty Ghee eet fos cide nc |e eects Lloyd McK. Garri-on
mecebatham --...... 1868 | GeorgeM.Swaim. | Ores seme cn| pomaae See Sereno E. Todd. -
_ EK. Orange (1884) - 1877+ | H. B. Bailey. | Passaic Bridge -|.-.... .--: F. M. Carryl.
A. Flemington Beales ects oes J. L. Connst. Pennington..-.. 1881f | H. W. Westwood.
Bee ereehold ......-- 1878 | D. D. Denise. Ridgewood wee 1872 | Henry Hales.
ao. oy 1871 | Weldon F. Fosdick. || Tuckerton.....- 1873+ | S. Jillson.

a eee 18707 | Henry Stewart. ‘trenton: <= 5655-2 1870f | Prof. A. C. Apgar.
meddonficld Beals 1870,?]| Samuel N, Rhoads. Woodstown ..- 1874 | James D. Lausen.
Merchantville -.- 1876+ Edward Burrough.

t About.

In NEW MEXICO, in the autumn of 1586, the Sparrow was not known to be

present at any point.

It was reported not present at the following places:

. Locality. Observer. | Locality. Observer.
fee Blossburgh ............ A. Cox. 1 ye ee ae Rk. K. Vandiver.
Bee @hioride (1885) .....-.-- G. Douglas Robertson. Sabai cwsacs san. We A. Seligman.
» Elizabethtown......... J.¥. Carrington. SilveriCiGye asa -e O. L. Scott.
mebort: Union..2.---..--. Ed. D. Woodbury. SOCORUO as sae Sesaee oe I. E. Leonard.
Fort Wingate ..--..-.-. Dr. R. W. Shufelat. Sprimsersqess- sas Seo se A.J. Howell.
_ Las Vegas Bae be cE T. Labodie.

lowing places:

In NEW YORK the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the fol-

5 aT, 3 TT
Locality. a -e Observer. Locality. es ee Observer.
2 LS 2 L. H. Beach. Meckpors 3. ~/2vqhsa4s 455: Lewis H. Hill.
meAlired Centre. ...)2..026.5.- ¥.S. Place. EnvOnSie Saponcieain- || Sawee See Ss J.S. Roys
Bee ee Ville s—.-2.)2.2.-.---. Andrew Chichester. || Mexico (1884) .-- 1876+ | George A. Davis.
‘f eAncelica .......- 1883 | E. D. Barnum. New York (1884) 18644 | W. A. Conklin.
Atlanticville..... 1880 | Eugene A. Jackson. WOE ya ee 8 Se =: James B. Williams.
mbaldwinsville....)......-.-. Rev.-W. M. Beau- || Northport (1884)|........-. William Crozier.
* champ. | Old Westbury ..|'..2-5. .2-- John D. Hicks.
Vi ae 18717 | Reuben E. Robie. Oswego (1884) .. 1870+ | D. D. Stone.
_ Binghamton ....- 18717 | H.J. Gaylord. Painted Post. --.. 1876+ | A. H. Wood.
x Boonville sion ae A.M. Church. enn Vath S550 a sheee aes G. C. Snow.
WOorcsase 2 2 <- 1874] | Edward Snow. Phenix ease 18st | Benjamin F. Hess.
LCA ee W.J. Kenyon. lePt. Washington |...--..--. Henry M. Burtis.
Ooh Hed) eon. Nicolas Pilca We DOs. cts. <).fennceeks- << Percy Hicks.
Seebutialo .......-.. 1871+ | Dr. W. H. Bergtold. || Po’keepsie (1884) 1864+ | Dr. A. Hasbrouck.
BewEQ 3. ~ 2. = - 1878} | O. I. Schermerhorn. || Rochester (1884) 1869t | H. Roy Gilbert.
Soanaseraga...-=-|......---. E. 8. Gilbert. Rochester ...... 1872 | Henry Harrison.
Chariton -....... 1878} | F. D. Curtis. Rochester (sub- 1875+ | H. M. Jennings.
MOG. <i... --5-5 1877 William MeLachlan. urbs).
Se anscableville Be Slosaeoeces,: S. T. Miller. Rochester -..--- 1865; | P. C. Reynolds.
Constantia ...... 18817 | Wallace D. Rhines. Schuyler’s Lake 1880 | Le G. Southworth.
Bevobbs EET 2... 18667 | Dr. C. B. McQuesten.'| Shelter Island - 1877+ | W. W. Worthington.
ee ee D. A. A. Nichols. || Sing Sing (1887) 1866+ | Dr. George J. Fisher.
East Genoa (1884) 1875; | T. J. Henry. Southampton vee 1875t | G. H. White.
= Setiuching (1884) .. 18747 | D.C. Beard. iensj hens le aml eee see do: Gebel >:
_ Fort Schuyler 3 Bul ie Bee Alexander Ferreira. || Staten Island. ..].....--.--. Thomas Munroe.
‘e Fredonia Bee 1870} | C. E. Bartram. Syracuse -...... 1863+ | EK. M. Hasbrouck.
oct cobe6s |Seeaeeeees C.S. Plumb. Avid hyesecceses 1878 | J. A. Dakin.
=e 1878t | George T. Powell. NOGIGS se c-caete 1861} | Thomas Birt.

Beau on -------.. 1580+ | Howard Burhans Vernon Centre 1878 | Graham Bronson.
ies Falls 1871} | Dr. E. a. Mearns. WStES AW: <5 ne 1877 | James O. McClure.
__ (1884). Watertown .....|........--| Herbert M. Hill.
Meminsdale ........ 1882+ | C.R. Bowen. West Brichtont |<" 2..---- C. M. Raymond.

one ee 18807 Charles W.Snyder. || West Farms.... 1864+ | James Angus.
Mees || A. G. Genung. Westport. ...--- 1876 | George C. Osborne.
eae a shel ds 1883 | Prof.I. P. Roberts. Winfield’... .-<: 1876+ | O. P. Hitchings.
= bere Aen Seep eee Prof. F.M.Comstock.|| Yonkers (1884) .|..--...--.| F.'I. Holder.

as

H.S. Huntley.

ee Se ee ee

+ About,

230) THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

It was reported not present at the following places in New York:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
Centre Mislec..:--- Z2 ale AcoadRieede Sprimnewater 24.4.2 50 D. B. Waite. i
Gilbertsville..........-. J.C. Donaldson.

In NORTH CAROLINA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886
at the following places:

5 Tir | “ ay eX
Locality. Rear Observer. Locality. nese Observer.
— -|}

Albemarle ....--- 1883+ | J. M. Bivins. [UMalitone Ago 58h 1877+ | E. W. Faucette.
Asheville .----... 1884 | J.D. Cameron. Mocksville .-.-- 188i}; | Jane KE. Austin.
iBrevandeen esac en. 18386 | B.C. Lankford. Morganton ..... 18837 | J. A. Claywell.
Carthage ss-cas.-= 18837 | G. C. Graves. Mount Airy .... 1880 | B. ¥. Graves.
WaShiers eee eeeeres| SOS. Sees ee K.J. Bennett. Mount Gilead... 1886 | LL. A. Christian.
Charleston....... 1885 | D.K.Collins. ~ Murfreesboro-.. 1877 | W.B. Spencer.
Chernin essa sese 1884 | W.J.Y. Thurston. New Berne ..... 1876; | M. Manly.
@)imbony yee -e =e. 1884t | C. P. Johnson. | DOr eee cee eee John J). Whitford.
Columbia ....-.-- 1883 | C. KE. Tatem. | New Market. -.. 1882 | H. H. Beeson.
Company’s Shops 1883 | M. M. Shoffner. Oxfords eee 188i | J. A. Taylor.
Concordsses sss 1879 | Mary R. Dusenberg. || Pigeon (1887) -..|...-.-.... Dr. C. Hart Merriam.
Dablaseo.cseeoee: 1883 | Mrs & A. Moore. | Pittsborough ... i88lt | EH. T. Adney and Ivy
Danbury. -2.-=.-- 1883+ | N. ike Martin. il.
Durham ss) ses 1875¢ | J. H. Allen. | Pittsborough ..# 1881} | Laura EK. Horne.
IGentOMe sae 2 18837 | L. L. Brinkley. Plymouth ess-=- 1885+ | J. B. Hilton.
Emme @ises= 25.2 =... 1884 | T. L. Whitaker. Rolktones-ase2 1884 | Rh. B. Gaddy.
Fayetteville ---.. 18837 | G. W. Lawrence. Raleigh.---...-- 1881t | S.A. Ashe.

Dower se As: 18847 | J. B. Smith. DOsc.. Sees 1880+ | Clement 8. Brimley.
Manliness ae = 1885 | John O. Harrison. Doreen see: 18817 | T. C. Williams.
Franklinton ..... 1880+ | H.S. Furman. Rockingham.... 1883+ | P. W.Stausill.
Gatesville ..-.... 1884; | William T. Cross. Rocky, Mounmtees|Ssss--seee S. L. Hart.
Goidsborough. -.. 18797 | John H. Hill. Rutherfordton. - 18857 | Albert L. Grayson.
Cigna (UIE). soslloaacsacso: tobert J. Thompsoun.|| Salisbury -.--.-- 1883t | Postmaster.
lendersOne ences 1877 | Postmaster. SMO weal eee 1882+ | James T. Suge.
Hendersonville - 1883} | J. L. Egerton. Statesville -....- 1881+ | W.S. Lewis.
HAN COI e eee 1883+ | Postmaster. A MDOsmaeeesaee 1880 | Ment. Robbins.
Jackson s222. 5.55 1882 | D. A. Jordan. ‘Lrentoneeeeee ee 1885t | M. C. Giddens:
Uieersom 2.25... 1885 | J. D. Thomas. Washington .... 1883} | Maeon Bonner.
Kenansville...... 18807 | Mary A. Watson. Waynesville. ... 1886 | John M. Davis.
Kernersville ..... 18817 | J. H. Lindsay. Wentworth. . -- 1881+ | Numa I’, Hancock.
King’s Mountain 1gs47 | W. A. Mauney. Wilkesborough. 188it | A. Rousseau.
LIGEAS HONS Re maar 18797 | W.J. Barrett. Williamston .--. 18347 | John R. Lanier.
WGenowes. eee. 1884 | J. R. Widby. Wilmington .... 1883 | Norwood Giles.
Heximocgomms see 1878 | John C. Hunt. WalSOmue sete ae 1876+ | William M. Gay.

t About.

It was reported not present at the foli6wing places in North Carolina:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
|

SALA OME ar eestie ee cteraials dons C.C. Banner. Mann’s Harbor ...---- Julia A. Mann.
Bay porou cht eee. sss W.H. Sawyer. Marchal a2 aes see F.C. Ebbs.
iB eantOntumsseas esse David Pierce. Murphiyice tose Soca oes J. W. King.
ISOOUNG ec ociseyiemc ae eae D. B. Daugherty. INasiivilleseeeeireesre William T. Griffin. a
NS PAW We see ce a ses A. H. Paddison. New Market..-..-.:-. H. H. Beeson.
BIEN valliep eee oes Jule A. Abernathy. Smit lnvwilligee eee ae W.R. Fergerson.
Chapel shiiiiye 22-2252 W.R. Malett. Vineyard). 22-222. 25 sss Otho Walsone
Clarictonesnt a ssce5 2. A. K. Cromastie. Wieleliz. 2. oars cers te T. J. Welch.
aimiVvel Gi eeieeceace ee Rk. L. Young. Yadkinsville --co22-.- N. E. Thomarron.
Wanveweil 22 os/ss- 5 2 Jesse Hargrave.

ae

ee Sle, ee

Fe a ee Se Re PO ee ey ee

_ Carthage

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

pyaly

In OHIO the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at the follow-

ing places;

Locality.

sw ee ewe eee

Augusta......--
Avondale.....--
Bainbridge
Barry. [Reco eee

NGEWASH es cic,cccecs
Brecksville ......
Bridgeport. .-.---

Brookfield

wee emcee ee

Samar NOSC= 6 = ac:
Canal Dover.....
Canton

Castalla
Chagrin Falis. 5

Bn cis
Cincinnati... 2.
Cincinnati (1888)

Cineimnati .....-
Hamilton County
Oimelevaille 3... . -
Clarington. ......
Cleveland........

Coe Ridge
@Woallamer: ........

First ap-
peared.

Collese Hall. a |coee.. hs.

D
Collinwood ......
Columbus (1884) .
Coshocton .....,.

Womikarke 2s... -
East Liverpool

- East Rockport.

Glenville

(1884).
LEGG Sere

3 Gallipolis SC Ae

Garrettsville .

Greenville .......

a Mamilton ......--

EMATIISON..-...-.--

_ Hillsborough ....

Tronton me fn.

fe Mast Rockport...|....-.....

Observer.

Prof. E. W. Claypole.

Ferdinand Schuma-
cher.

W. W. Stratton.

A. McLean.

Charles Dury.

A. 5. Jones.

U. G. Gordon.

Stephen Cramer.

D. W. Cooper.

W.K. Morrison.

Dan C. Stearns.

Georgo A. Wyckoff.

George W. Hollis.

John Cook.

J.D. Clark.

Shannon Clements.

P. W. Parmelee.

D.S. Spriggs.

W. H. H. Mellyas.

S. M. McLean.

J. EF. Niesz.

C.S. Johnson.

F. A. Deighan.

J.J. Stranahan.

Charles Archer.

Fannie Hagen.

William E. Gilmore.

Wim. Hubbell Fisher. |

Dr. F. W. Langdon.
Adolph Lene.

F. G. Skinner.

Dr. Howard Jones.
B, H. Mallory.

L. M. Davies.

W. F. Doertenbach.
S. Rt. Ingersoll.

Dr. E. Sterling.

T. P. Spencer.
James Carlin.
John Brady.

H. O. Carpenter.

L. A. Steele.

H. A. Koch.

W.'T. Southgate.
Chas. L. Gilbreath.
Dr. J. M. Wheaton.
Ti. D. Beach.

John L. H. Frank.
Geo. W. Campbell.
William Oettinger.
N. B. Hurst.
Charles Mahon.
Harry 4. Suils.
Henry W. Elliott,

A. Hall.

S. D. Crites.
Kdward D. Pelton.
Samuel Binns.

8S. F. Neal.

A.J. Smith.
Elizabeth Roth.

Mrs. M. Devanney.

M. W. Miles.

J.N. Lowry.
George Harbron.
D.C. Jones.
Edward L. Warson.
B. F. Ellsberry.
A.C. White.

S. W. Kemp.

N. R. Piper.

Benj. P. Asbury.
Martin A. Jamesen.
Henry Fisher.

C. N. Schmick.

Locality.

MecConnelsville -
Macksburgh. -

Marietta. ..2...-
Martin’s Ferry -
Martinsville ....
Marysville......
Mechanicstown.
Mentors. sabe
Middletown ...

Milnersville ....
Morristown.....

Mount Airy -...
Mount Healthy.
Mount Vernon..
Napoleon .--4:-.-
New Athens...-.
New Lisbon ....
New Philadel-
phia.
Newton Falls...
New Winches-
ter.

North Linndale.
North Royalton
Norwalk

Petersburgh - --
Pilaimvalleieea= ==
IE@UNE KON, se aanose

Salemi eee.

Sandusky.....-.
Sciotoville ......
Sharon Centre. .
Sidney (1887) -..
Soloman sje ac
SORE ashe a Soe
Springfield
Steubenville....
Strongsville .

Sugar. Grove....
Wxbanacecee sso:
W adsworth(1887)
\ealkemam soeece
Wapakoneta. -.
Warren accases =
Warsaw --------

Waverly.---....
W ellston
West Berlin ....

Wiestbommaeeree es
| West Union ...

~ see eee

tAbout.

First ap-
peared,

1881
1881}
1886
1878t
1883
1883+
1882}
1884}
1870}
1882+
1882}
1880

1878
1879+
18797
18807
1880T
1882;
1877
18787
1884

1876
18767
18807
18747

1884
1883

Observer.

R. W. Meily.

A. H. Wilson.

T. W. Blackiston.

George Lantz.

C. H. Morris.

O.5S. hae

Jos. A. Muchmore.

George H. Street.

Dudley S. Nye.

James Y. Patter son.

Thomas B. Gaddis.

a W. Porter.
K.S. Martin.

y M. Keck.

Lewis Lambright.

J.T. Johnson.

John H. Carey.

W. A. Fenton.

Henry Telgheder.

Empson Reeves.

B. L. Swetland.

J. L. Haltes.

T. M. Sewell.

J. FE. Benner.

KK. Fribley.

EK. W. Turner.
Josiah Keiter.

H. H. Mason.

A.D. Lowden.

R. H. Warder and
James B. Matson.

Robert Linn.

Thomas C. Coatz.

S. Gray.

George Lamkin.

J. J. auikart.

2. C. Alexander.

A. Osborn.

L. N. Bonham.

Oliver Emerson.

J. L. Ernst.

A. L, Bodine.

C. Ihle.

S. R. Ross.

Thomas Shroyer.

S. C. Prout.

H. H. Varjohar.

John Davis.

M. M. Murphy.

TT. W. Emerson.

Mrs. L. S. Solberg.

James W. Suliot.

John T. Mack.

J. H. Holman.

F. G. Cottingham.

Edward Russell.

W. W. Richards.

J.C. Swetland.

James Johnson.

George Moore.

J. Gallup.

Dr. 5S. Renshaw.

S. L. PB. Stone.

Dr. J. F. Detweiler.

W.B. Hall.

D. J. Davis.

William Hapgood.

Levi Gamble.

Thomas Mikesell.

H, H. Overman.

Minor R. Potter.

Charles H. Shaw and
J.P. Roloson.

J.O. Avery.

T. W. Ellison.

222 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.
,
Lo valit | First ap- | Observer | Locality ‘First ay Observer.
tye | peared. | é | : | peared.
a |
Weymouth -.--. | 1880+ | Dr. Frank Young. | Wintersville. = 1879 | Rey. F. I. Swaney.
Willow --------- | 1881 | Ethie C. Kingsbury.| | Winton Place SS H. R. Crowl.
Wilmington .-.. 1876 | ue Clevenger. avoatsne’ ioee / pe / Go Dorr.
OSH. See al sence Sen . M. Haynes. Ouseceseaes|| 797 | Jas. K. Morris.
Do oe Se Wipe ere ees Nathan M. Linton. | Wyoming....... 1874+ | C. V. Stephenson.
Wilson’s Mills.- 1883 | D.S. Gilmore. Young Hickory. | 188£ Jas. M. Hutcheson.
Winchester. ---.| 880 | J. Osburn. Youngsville ee 18847 | U. A. Silcott.

7 About.

It was reported not present at the following places in Ohio:

Locality. | Observer.

PASTA NT aoe oe ees

| Dan. J. Sherman.
!

Observer.

Postmaster.

In OREGON, in the autumn of 1886, the Sparrow was not known to be present at

any point.

Loeality. Observer.
ANY SS Se aco eanenenc 8 Thomas J. Jellison.
JAT FE epee eee | BF. T. Harlburt.
JASHID EEA Saban soposeear John C. Bell.
Avs walle sss 5. 25.6322 E.S. Matteson.
Baker Cibysecea. 48-222 C. L. Palmer.

Beaverton (1885)
CanyourGity --=</- 5.5:
Cedar Mill

“Dt eee

A. W. Anthony.

EE. Hall.

William B. Malleis.
N. R. Barber.
James D. Smith.

imnpirer Ory=-s4-~ see J.B Gilbert.
Hucene Citys neo. ee ¥F. W. Osburn.
HGH PACH -ha sek coe es C. G. Sloan.
HAMS DOO. : 22 yokes ates Mary A. Brown.

It was reported not present at the following places:

l

| Locality. | Observer.
Jacksonville.......--- | Max Miller.
ia, Grande! aes s-ceee | J. H. Shambaugh.
hake Wiew <:f2-cl eas | T. W. Calvin
Danks @.8 ee eee | | William A. Wright.
MeMinnville.... =. .<.. J. F. Wisecarver.
OreconCiby; ss: s4-2—-6 J. M. Bacon.
Pendletonessss-- eens Frank B. Clopton.
Portland} 35. 42225-2 | C, W. Roby.
Prineville <:..........| das. BY Moores
Roseburgh=-tocn--eoce | B. Douden.

Alem coos: seek eee | W. H. Odell.

Saint delene cen. eae | F. A. Moore.
Tillamook feeeess ose ae M. LB. Feamside.

In PENNSYLVANIA the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 at

the following places:

rae First

Locality. lappeared. | Observer.
Adbion:=-<-~-,. 2. 1880t | J. A. Robison.
Pe ohenyy ts ccs. 1877 | John Swan.
PAUP OOS — os onse 18787 | T. B. Patton.
Am OO s 2255-522 18767 | Labanah Townsen.
Apolenssse.. ce. — 1876 William D. Doan.
Barnhart’s Mills . i879t | PLA. Rattigan.
Deathy--se6as 1881} | Sarah A.and George

H. Adams.
Beaver Falls..-..- 1871+ | S.S. McFerran.
iellonvernon sss. |e ee cee oe James Hagerty.
Blairsville .--_-.- 18771 | Isabella Campbell.
Bloomsburgh .... 1877 | George A. Clark.
BETA ORG ae tee ee ee eae Jas. A. Teulon. .
{JL ass SS eile 18807 | ©. B. Whitehead.
Bris iol ese2 222 18847 | Dr. J. De Benneville
: Abbott.
Brockwayville aoe 18827 | B. T. Chapin.
Brookville ani 18787 } Laseile R. Erdice.
Brownsville...... 18777 i 3. Holmes Patton.
Bryn aan so. 2 1878; * A. R. Montgomery.
Butler 2623555455: eee Cems | W.P. Roessing.
erattoe SHAS 18787 Charles W. Barkman.
=e 1880 {| G. W. Daugherty.

Tan ee 18727 | Davison Greenawalt.

jAbout.

: First
| Locality appeared.
[fi Sees San eeees Seeieee
| Clarion =e= -eeeee 18777
Clearhield? = 18767
| Colleveville: 2223ihc seco eee
Columbinae-eeee 18741
Conneautville.-.- 18797
Coudersport -.--. 18807
Danvillese-. se. 1880t
Delmont sos 4-5 1884
DarBoisse= soe 1878}
Dan cannon. so. ee eee
East Bethlehem ! 1889
Ebensbargh ..-.| 187it
BikwWiek oS 1882+
Emlentown -...-. 18807
Emporium ....-. 1874
Enon Valley. .--. 1875f |
rie. 4: seca 187Lt
WO Ssee Se eee 18747
| Fayette City-.-- 18807
| Hoxbureh= sess +. 1882
| rapiciin: = 5.02 ele
| Gapeen oss cene nal eseeee eee
| Germantown ..-.|.-....----

Observer.

Miller Beatty.
. B. Weaver.
C. Augustus Ritten-
house.
| C. F. Young.

William A. Hammon.

J.P. Taylor.

; Jos. M. Shatto.
Emma C. Adams.
Jas. G. Hasson.
Silas A. Wagner.
H. A. Hamilton.
J. M. Judd.

John O. Caskey.

T. Dwight ince
Ha, Shannon.

J. M. Barker.
John G. Hager.
D. D. Grant.
John C. Linville.
Thomas Meehan,

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES. Dae

Locality. eee ea Observer. Locality. ee ya d Observer.
Germantown ...-. 1873+ | Witmer Stone. Northumberland 1872+ | J.C. Forsyth.

WO ee Spee cities oe A ale Wm. Rotch Wister. || Osceola Mills..-.. 1877} | Jacob Ritzman.
Getiysburch —..-.)\.2-..-.--- H. L. Benner. Parker’s Landing 1875} | P. Bracken.

Glen Rock ..----. 1880} | L. W. Shafer. Mellon) ona jose mad coe J. Percy Moore.
Greencastle. --...- 1873t | IL. P. Prather. DO Sask aS sae eee seer F. R. Welsh.
Greensborough... 1881} | A. V. Boughner. Phillipsburgh -.. 18s8it | John Gowland.
Greensburgh..... 1874+ | W.C. Loor. Pitts buss tose. 1871t | J.B. Larkin.
Hanover. .....-... 1872t | William Heltzel. Pleasantville .... 1881 | Geo. L. Haworth,
Hare's Valley..-. 1884} | Samuel B. Greene. Pottstown. .----- 1870+ | John H. Steele.
Hollidaysburgh .. 1876+ | James M. Lingafelt. || Punxsntawney..- 1880+ | H.C. Bair.

IDG aSeeeasee 1881t | M. A. Young. IRACKMOE oa Boones 1878} | W. W. Montgomery.
Huntingdon....-. 1878t | Margaret A.Tyhurst.|| Renfrew .--..--. 1837 | F. H. Brown.
GWAR aja ais ie nc 2 1872+ | S. D. Lauffer. Reynoldsville - -- lest | W.C. Schultze.
Jamestown....--. 1878} | M. EH. Gardner. Rideway-:------ 1881i | J. H. Hagerty.
Jobnstown......-. 1878t | Iferman Baumed. Rockwood....-.-. 1883 | Harrison Snyder.
Kthaninie --..---- 1876+ | E. A. Brodhead. Rowsevilles ass: 1876+ | George A. Lyford.
Lancaster...-.... 18707 | Dr.S. 8S. Rathvon. Saegerstown .... 1878 | C.E. Hunter.

Wael ore. +... 2-5. 1882t | Walter Spencer. Saltsburgh ....-- 1878} | Francis Laird.
INOS 2-52 -.-- Ee 1880 | John A. Showalter. Scottdale ......-.. 1880 | J. P. Owens.
Lewisburgh.....-. 1876 | Dr. George G. Groff. || Selin’s Grove... 1876; | George R. Hendricks.
Lewistown .-.---.-.|- HED MERE oe 8 R. W. Palton. Shanon sass ewan eee sees C. W. Ray.
WaISOMICL 22... =<: 18767 | C.F. Marker. Shippensburgh.. 1868f | J. A.C. McCune.
LOCKE IseNiGidsa ence seeeeoe eae William W. Rankin. || Smethport .----. 1881 | M.A. Sprague.
McConnellsburghj 1876, | J.S. Shade. Somerset. .-..-- 1879 | J.K. Coffroth.
MeWonalds = 22... 1880 | P. Hoey. Outer rere 1876 | J. H. Fritz.
MMeiKeesport.- 5...) 25-.-=- J. B. Shale. South Bethlehem}.-........- Robert W. Barrell.
Mansfield .....-.. 1879} | N. A. Elliot. Steelitome seen es ose W. 4H. H. Sieg.
Mansfield Valley. 18827 | Dr. R. L. Walker. Stroudsburgh .-. 1876+ | Darius Dreker.
Marysville ....--- 1874t | W.S. Gault. Taylorstown .-.. 1682} | John Knox.
Meadville =. 620+ |. 2... 5+. E. W. McArthur. Midiouterssaeeeee 1883 | William R. Dawson.
Meyersdale..----- 1874+ | M. A. Rutter. “Dione steisyseee 18sot | Samuel H. Haslet.
Middleburgh..... 1868} | I. G. Barber. eituiswalllemesesee 1871¢ | M.N. Allen.
Middletown ...-.. 1876+ | Eva Ross Wiestling. || Towanda........ 18767 | E. A. Parsons.
Mifflintown -.--.- 1878; | Charles B. Crawford. || Troy ...---.....-. 1875+ | A. K. Linderman.
Miulitiond:= 2 5: ... 1874+ | C. W. Dimmick. AMV ROME}, = paces 1873] ; P. A. Reed.
Monongahela C’y . 1880+ | James H. Moore. LOMMIGINIO WA -Soeeolleccocecanc | M.D. Baker.

Mount Pleasant. - 1879T | John D. McCaleb. Wirsimateeeeresece 1881+ | L. J. Benford.

See MUNeyY ...-.-..... 1874} | J. H. Fulmer. Wear pms J. =. 1882+ | Charles C. Cox.

» New Bedford..... 1881f | Martin Jackson. IWiArreny sso 241-0 1876+ | Postmaster.

_ New Bethlehem... 1877+ | James H. Williams. Washington..-.. 1874 | Jas. Brady.

' New Brighton... 1880f | W.G. Braden. Waynesborough 1878 | E. B. Engle.
New Castle....-.. 1881 ' William T. Butz. Waynesburgh... 1871} | Jas. S. Jennings.

OMe ne 1873 , William Gordon. West Chester ...|.--..----- Dr. B. H. Warren.

New Lexington... 1875+ | Dr. H. D. Moore. West Newton... 1884+ | A. M. Dick.
Newport (1884)... 1872} | KE. L. Knight. Williamsport ..-- 1876+ | W. FE. Logan

me Newville ......-.. 1874} | John M. Woodburn. || Willow Street.-.|...--- -- Dr. I. H. Mayer.
New Wilmington. 1882 | Hugh Wilson. Wrightsville =: = 1867} | Jacob H. Freet.
Noun Hast: -..... 18807 | Isaac Hortan. WOR me saesiae Ses Pee See James Kell and H. L.

IDO) asses 1878} | Harry E. McNichol. Fisher.
1 About.

It was reported not present at the following places in Pennsylvania:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
iSHONG|--.----------. E, A. Strong. Rhorndale eases cece. John H. Steele.
Milledgeville .......... I. Wilson Shaw.

2

Fra THE ENGLISH SPARROW. IN AMERICA.

In RHODE ISLAND the Sparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886 =
the following places:

First | | Wirst %
. 4irs 2 | * 2
Locality. appeared. Observer. | Locality. appeared. Observer.
Conieaaals - oe ae | William H. Lewis. | Peace Dale ..... 1858 | R. G. Hazard, 2d.
Hill’s Grove..--. Reeds 32-5: | Fred. T. Jencks. Providence -.-.- 18667 | Fred. T. Jencks. ; 2
Newport-.--.--- 1875; | Chas. H. Lawton and | Dore. sie eee W. Y. Osterhout. :
John J. Peckham. | Westerly -. : 1874 | B. F. Maxson.
1B eee 1881 | John M. Swap, jr. DO sashes. ose |52552-20e8 Byron J. Peckham. :

Pawiackete ste on eee cree eee | William H. Lewis. West Kingston. 1882; | John G. Clarke.
Peace Dale -.---- [1858] | eres hitney Blake,

|

|

7 About.

In SOUTH CAROLINA theSparrow was reported present in the autumn of 1886
at the following places:

| |
. j | .
Locality. aa oe a Observer. | Locality. ine mre Observer.
} .
AU KED ee ee hea | 1880 James E.Crosland. || Greenville Coun-

_Anderson C.H ..-| 18817 |/Charles™W. Webb. 4) eiyocfen = ee aen 1884 r. M. A. Hunter.
Pampers 2-2 Ss 2|co.- = || a Bepten: || James Island... 1882 | W.1. Hinson.
Bennettsville ...- 1886} T. L. Crosland. || Jonesville .. ..- 1884 R. A. Whitlock.
Camden .-------- 1883 | D.C. Kirkley. || Lancaster C.H - 1884+ | Howell J. Gregory.
Charleston (1884) ;.--. ----| Dr.G. E. Maniganult. || Laurens C. HH... 1883+ | H. W. Anderson. ?
Cheraw .2---- 22-2 18847 | M. W. Duvall. || Meriwether. .... 18817 | J. W. Johnson.
Chester,C. H .-- 1872 | J. K. Henry. || Mount Pleasant. 1885 | J. R. Thomlinson.

Dos. soot eat 1873. | J.N. Youngbleod. || Newberry C. a. 1876} | D. O. Herbert.
Columbia .-....--- 1869+ | W. H. Gibbes. |} Rock Hill. ..._.. 1883+ | Buena V. Wood.
Darlington C. H.. 18837 | B.C. Law. || Seneca.----.... 18837 | Clara K. Livingston.
Ed; gefield Oe: ies 188li | W.H. Brunson. |) Sumber Ciel | tao. sea D.J. Auld.
Gaitney:---225-2- 18817 | N.C. Snead. || Winnsborough - 1881; | D. Egleston.
Greenville _...... | 18767 | S.S. Crittenden.

Greenville Coun- |
hYuso esses 1886 | Joseph Cooper. |
7 About.

It was reported not present at the following places in South Carolina:

Locality. | Observer. | Locality. | Observer.
| :
PNK ON eee oe woes ec S. C. Satterthwait. {| Manning --........... | 8S. J. Bowman.
CARWAyia sa <coee === oe James H. Porter. i Marion © 58s. se need M. Gue Dubois.
Frogmore..--....-...-- | Walter Hoxie. i Port Royale. 925": See | R. E. Jenkins.
Georgetown -..-.-----.--- S. M. Ward. || Walterborough .......| Edward M. Jones.
TEI Dee ee John B. Binnicker. || Waverley Mills....... | W. St. I. Mazyck.

WANE SUCCB eres <1 = John A. Whittemore. |

* Reported present by another observer.

Locality. sip a f Observer. Locality. eae AL Observer.
ANSIMO) = 3 -...<010- 1884} | R. G. Harris. Livingston.....- 1883+ | John Hart, jr.
Andersonville ..- 18837 | J. K.P. Wallace. Woudontse. cee s 18807 | J.T. Simpson.
Ashland City-..-- 1886 | W. W.Sanders. Lynchburgh ... 1884 | J.N. Taylor.
PARHDOHS ono 25 5-5. 1878t | John Q. Strange. McMinnville ..- 18837 | R. Kennedy.
Brownsville ..--- 1879¢ | Jolin Clinton. Madison (U887)e 2 \ ccc .nc-e- Dr. C. Hart Merriam.

AMGEN: .=c--25-- 18st | W.A.Steele, jr. Madisonville. -. 18827 | E. W. Cozatt.
Carthage ....---. 1881 | Callie Merony. Manchester-.... 1€85 | S.N. Burger.
@olimay) 22-2... 1885+ | D. W. Cullom. Maynardville -.. 1881 | A. L. Leinart.
Centrevillo ..---- 1885 | J. H. Russell. Memphis -.-....- 1871 | J.M. Fowlkes.
Chattanooga. ...- 1879+ | George W. Martin. Morristown. .... 1877 | S. W. Shields.

SeGlarksville 2... 1831 | M.B.Johnson. Mountain City. - 1883 | S.D. Jackson.
Cleveland ..=.---- 1881 | Postmaster. Murfreesboro. -- 1882} 7 Frank White.
Wltkton..- 2... 25.5 1885 | W. Y. Montague. Nashville....... 1878 | Mrs. Anna B. Cheat-
Chimvon’ =. ...-5< 1876 | R.S. Kincaid. ham.
Gookville --3..5-. 1884 | Jas. M. Hinds. DOS i eaeeer 1878t | Judge John C. Fer-
Bene ton Saoee 1882 | Jas. Byars. Tiss.

a5 Seen 1882; | W. M. Hall. Doetseenece. 1878} | A.J. McWhirter.
Dindiidise ea 1881; | H.C. Routh. DO scenes ee 1877 ; A. H.Sharp.
IDA ee 1882+ | W.T. Broyles. Newport.-.-....- 1886 | George P. Rises
WME CaHGUT 22%... 2 1883} | I. C. Arrants. Ooltewah ....... 1882t | Z.S. Watkins.
Decaturville....- 1es6t | J. H. Stout. Pat cise se 1883f | Dr. John T. Irion.
Wrelkkson 22-5... 18847 | Engene Kelsey. Pikeville ....... 18827 | Will A. Brown.
MDOWEI == <<.2 coos as 1882 | W.P. Bruton. Pulaski sec. ener 18827 | H. Clay McLaurine.
Wine lstOwi)..-..=|\--=2------ I. J. Stamper. DOess sec se. 1883 | J.B. Stacy.
few yersburch_..... 1885 | M. V.Borum. Purd viese seo. 1884 | W.H. Braden.

Elizabethtown. -- 1882+ | W. M. Shell, jr. Rhea Springs. . 1885 | J.A. Abernathy.

«Ldn eS 18837 | N.O. Thomas. Ripleyscc! sss- 1885 | H.T. Hanks.
Fayetteville ..... 1881} | Wm. B. Douthat. Rogersville ..... 1882t | Samuel P. Powel.
Rranklin..-.....-. 1883+ } Thomas E. Haynes. Savannah....... 1886 | D.T. Street.
Gallatin -<.--.-2 1882 | A.A. Lewis. Sevierville...... 18817 | Pleasant Stafford.
Greeneville ...... 1884} | T. J. Lane. Shelbyville ....- 18847 | Eugene Blakemore.
iarisville ......- 1882+ | John D. Stalker. Sneedville ...... 18847 | G. W. Mareraves.
MNO bias: eas |ncee nc. -s J.H. Koffman. Somerville ...... 18767 | C.L. Dickinson.
Huntingdon .. .- 1€80 | H.C. Brewer. South Pittsburgh 1885+ | Jennie R. Livingston.
Jacksborough . 1883 | J. Henderson Reid. Spartarccecsccs- 1885 | W.L. Dibrell.
Jackson s.=- =... 1883 | R.R. Dashiell. Tate Springs ..- 1885} | Thomas Tomlinson.

D5. 2e- el ee | Prof. E. H. Randle. Tovlors v tlle iscosoecece Dr. C. Hart Merriam.

PANES HONI 2s oo4.|/ a. 5-> 2. S. V. Bowden. (1887). .
Jonesborough 1881; | F. W. Earnest. Tazewell .....- 18837 | R.F. Carr.
Rameston ...--... 1881 | W.H. McNutt. Dern 26.55. 1879 | Thomas P. Graham.
Knoxville... .. 1874+ | J. M. King. Tiptonville .--... 1881 | John D. Arnett.
La Fayette .----- 1883+ | E.G. Cartwright. Tree Hall (S85) leaes-- ase) Eee Wane.
Lawrenceburgh.. 1885 | W.T. Nixon. Prenton. 255~- 18817 | Everett Bell.

Doe... ae ee 1885+ | W. A. Stewart. DOSS ea Pesan cas H. C. Pearce.
ebanon...-..-.- 18847 | J.B. Tolliver. Union City .-.-..- 1883 | W.R. Andrews.
Lewisburgh...... 1884} | R. A. Fergus 59 ee aR 1884 | W.C.McCampbell.
Lexington Soeeate 18847 | W.F. Jones Waverly. :...- << 1883} | R. J. McAdoo.
Mendon .....----- 18867 | J. H. Houssels. Woodbury .-.---- 1883+ | R. H. Preston.

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES. 225

In TENNESSEE the Sparrow was reported present; in the autumn of 1886, at the

following places:

Tt About.

It was reported not present at the following places in Tennessee:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
PICS SNOT «oo 5ceaceee- Trenus Beckwith. Newburgh s.<..)-0.-5- Nancy Grinder.
LIE) Coon Mrs. Lella Howard. Rugby.--------------- Arthur Churchill.
PE Wwitl ..-<.. ae W. T. Davis. Spencer.—-co sige soe: A.M. Clark.
Beenmmary...52..-25..-- A. McDonald. Winchester......----- George D. Brambleet.
HEHAerSON...2--. 0655. J. M. Cunningham.

$404—Bull. 1——-15

226

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. aie

In TEXAS the Sparrow was freported present, in the autumn of 1886 and spriug of

1887, at the following places:

First

First

Locality. appeared. Observer. Logality. appeared.| ° Observer.
Galveston ....--- 1867 | J.M. Brown. ISSO Shes eee 18847 | Robert Burns.

WOssee Siem = = 1877 | Oswald Schindler. Jefferson ..-...- 1882+ | E. Sterm.

NPG eee 1872+ | Arthur Walker. San Saba......-- 1886 | A. B. Hayworth.

t About.
Tt was reported not present at the following places in Texas:

Locality. | Observer. Locality. | Observer.
Wiviene ee 2) | H.H. Harden. Hitchcock’ 7.2!2 5 nt Arthur Walker.
BATE GNShe ae ae ween noes | Thomas M. Matthews. Hockley <=sesonae-nees ’ James Norman.
JTS Fae Sie ea | A.V. Lane. Huntsville. secsteeeee W.H. Woodall.

Doettee aces ee i Dr. Q.C. Smith. Jacksonville.......... J.B. Brittain.

HOSE sete Soas aes Dr. E. P. Stiles. kaudnian see eee J.A. Marshall.
enita ys aeeeeee J. ¥F. Rettig. sciidare Ses eepeeresses C. C. Gallaway.
HyASMOMe eee on vials ned C. R. Haynie Ihantarangte@reoecet caer Arthur Meirscheidt.
RenamOonibesec sss scmse A.J. Ward Warned G2 sae eee H. A. Burbank.
ipeilemelain: 2-5-5. 2. Lucas W. Bellamy. Liberty ese eee O. P. Baillio.
ic SPRUS 2 22~- == 5 40- John Snoddy, ivine stom: 2..esnes Walter D. Willis.
[BOT thes case enaoueeree J. WL. Stinson. UP ate) fees SE ae FVidelia Kilgore.
BONHAM sesso esses eee Jobn W. Duncan. Manorites sae. cee ae John E. Hill.
MROWHO 8 oc no inn wee Barbara E. Cook. | Marionteld a7. 6=kecee John A. Konz.
iBrackettville o22 2. ja. C. A. Gilclea. jTantin jae tees 2 oe on ee T.C. Oltorf.
ISRAANUAN ee = nee ce Mrs. Maria S.Cochran. || Marshall... _2...:-2-: J.H. Riggs.
BTeMhant csc] ae se eee J.M. Byrnes. | ME aSOMleetet see See Ira B. Henry.
‘Brownsville co-sce seo. Benjamin Kinalski. leVataconda=ssse-— ees A.A. Duffy.

TBS AEN Te nee ame eee ole Jobu Q. Tabor. heMerid@amnses 228 sae sese J.H. Johnson.
IT AT ees see M. E. Coffee. Wimeolaw ins eens ocee John W. Cage.
Galdivell o-e ee nos James J. McMillan. Montacue <2 22 -a-- 2 A. H. Palmer.
CRIM CLG nace * = Sees | T.J. McHugh. Mount Pleasant .-...-. B. ¥. Johnson.
Cameron scenery soccer J.M. Barton. Mount Vernon........ C.G. Parker.
Wantowenseee ree ee eae J.B. Hanes. Navasota f=. vss ee ces P. A. Smith.
Warthage eeetere = 2s qe. H. M. Knight. Newlonss-sco5e ees L. B. Clark.
Wastroville..-- =.= ese: Samuel Lytle. Orange 25 eee ee H. T. Davis.

CAG Springs .cesemeceaec August Kinkler. Path lock ae. see William Lloyd.
Wentrovillopeesce saeere Jerry MeDaniel. PalowPintossssccce- oes W.S. Conatser.
Glarkesvillo.. = 22sec... EK. P. Rutherford. Paris (uso. tee ee oes James 'f. Craiyo.
Clear Creek... ...---2-- T. Cooke. Pena Stations... -caee: C. E. Bowers.
CHEDWTNG.S sean ee een S. N. Clark. || Pittsburgh -2-2.-2- = J. A. Derrick.
College Station .--..... George W. Curtis. | iPlano we ecceesce eres John P. Alexander.
Golbins)2 5 27 <i eua= 2 ae Frederick B. Nayer. i Ranger. . Sccssecase. J. M. Davis.

NOR eee ee ea George Hobbs. we fnsi Ose see eee eee L. M. Rogers.
ColoradOeeseceee aascien P. A. Hazzard. lH evie bint one = =a ee D. A. Ferguson.
Comanche <o- eee ens R. M. Garner. Rio Grande City..-.-...| Luciana G. Davis.
WROD ET ae Sees ome J.N. Boyd. ROMA: ees cae ee See Fred H, Hastings.
Corpus Christi......... J. HB. C2 White. HUTS heat ewen eae ee oe N.C. Trimble.
Cotnllinceeesccs tes 52: H. A. Keck. San AMT OnLO! sae aes Gustay Jermy.

PP anneerieldsa... 2... L. M. Allen. Done. ess eee H.P. Howard.
Dallas 2s. ae -| John H. Cochran. San Augustine.....--. B.D. Crocket.

DD) OS eee asta Julien Reverchon. isan Diecossecensenees George Bodet.
Wecstne Se wee A. H. Shoemaker. | Schulenburgh ........ Charles A. Kessler.
IDXSSAUSYO ES See eee ene L. L. Maughs. SOOWMIM< irs gue c eee J. Zorn, jr.

D> Seda Ssesenoe Se | James Nimon. HW Shermamess o.oo eee L.S. McPhersen.
Ment 6 oo oe eases | J. D. Bates. || Smith’s Point.......-. Charles N. Eley.
LOT OC 5 ae ape ee H. E. Brown. SPEMG oe seen ee C. Bender, jr.
LDU Tc re eee nen | W.M. Lindsey. Stephenville ..........| E.B. Jones.

IM ORY eae eee oie ei ce | M.S. Pierson. Strawale see eee T. A. Guthrie.

TOES 1 [Sea ee | M.J. Ellis. Sweet Water ......... A. F. Decker.

Wairhiold aes) oe ese L. G. Sandifed. alone cot oa eee J.O. Frink.
Hareswillessscee2- see A. J. Johnson. Terrell 2223 ae B.S. Martin.

Fort Stockton.......... F. W. Young. “>| “Prinity sos sees ess R. T. Walker, jr.

Botti orth 3. sn. se Julian Feild. Troup ....-262.1.-.5| BR. EL Powell

Franklin eee Ree ee E. Reynolds. =] ST viler s5aJ ase ee ee R. B. Long and ¥F. L. Yoa-
Gallsion Sheren se sonst E. A. Wilson. kum.

Gamesyville ios... 5 T. J. Parrish. Uvalde 222s saese eco N. 1. Stratton.

L)Dn25 Seb boenes Bees George H. Ragsdale. Victoria oho caeeee Thomas R. Cocke.
Georgetown joaekos5oes D. T. Chessher. W800. [oe eee G. B. Gerald.
SSIES Cee we: M. A. Clark. Wallisville....... eeeee ¥F. Wi. Holmes.
Sine ae aS W.F.Shrum. | Waxahachie ._...-.2.. Edwin B. Clark.
Gonzales :>...2-2 12. - W.V. Collins. Do. sce se eee Dr. Thomas W. Florer. °
Groesbeck ==). -.2-.- 5. Drew D. Pender. Welmar 222--e-eeeeee ¥F. A. Hill.

A AMMILOM ss a or ch ale. | A. E. Steeir. Wibarton) oes) secs seeee Postmaster,

ELEN OOM tee a) em 2 M.C. Doyal. Wichita Baills=ses-eees George A. Giddings.
Hemphill ee oe. 5 3 L.C. Whittlesey. Willis 2.2% oo eeeenee Lucy M. Bell.
Mempstead 15. 2225.22 John R. Young. Will’s Point 2 W.F. Weaver.
Henderson 2.22 - <n ese: C. G. Barnett. : Winnsborough ....... A. McBride.
Henrietta. 2.or ges. ces Henry Eddy. | ‘Woodville 22-2323 W. 4H. Stewart.

K

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES.

227

In UTAH the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886, at the follow-

ing places:

It was reported not present at the following places in Utah:

Locality.

Alta
Beaver
Bingham Canyon
Centerville
WrOWUONe coos. .s.5. == -
Cub Hill

Observer.

Henry C. Wallace.
Willson G. Nowers.
Bernard Quinn,
C. M. Clay.

fT. J. Brandon.
Thomas W. Walker.
Samuel J. Allen.

Locality.

: First . Virst
Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.

Alpine City.-...-- 188i | T. J. McCollough. Morcaniecseaes + 1885 | J. Williams.

Call’s Hort= -. 5.2. 1886 | Elmer Loveland. | North Ogden ..- 18527 | Sidnev Stevens. *

Cedar Valley --..-. 1881 | L. B. Rodeback. Oodenk 25. Sas eee ee J.G. Scott.

Wheshena--- +s... ..---| A. W. Candland. (Blain @iuys oa. 1883} | Charles Neal.

Coalville... 2s. -- 1873+ | Mary E. Rhodes. Pleasant Grove . 1878+ | Mrs. P. Sterrett.
BCORMNG 2 . ==. 1883 ! Edward R. Chase. Provo City: .-3.-- 18887 | Daniel Graves.

MPraper =< --..- 1883+ | James Jenson. Dae. seer 1880 | James G. Kenney.

Hecho City.....--. 1883} | F. Hirst. Richmond ..---- 1885+ | Cornelius Travellur.

oirieldc. ...s-<. 1882 ; H.Snyder. Salt Lake City-. 1876+. | W.C. Brown.

Granite City----. 1884+ | Wm. Thompson, jr. NaN Viec- anne sss 1883t | George Marriott.

Hyde Park .....- 1882+ | EB. A. Daine. Santaquin ...-..- 1884 | T.J. Kirkman.

eitmabeas = Se recas, S 1884¢ | Orrawell Williams. Smithfield ...... 1885t | James S. Cantwell.

Log 1885 | M.A. Shirley. South Jordan. -- 1876f | John Holt.

Mendon 22 -<- ==. 188tf | Fred Larsen. Springville .--.. 1884 | H. M. Dougall.

Miall'Creek....-... 1874+ | John Morgan. West Jordan.... 18844 | B. L. Cutler.

NMOna a5 -4-55-- 18817 | W. A. Newton. \p Wallandtees52 27 18817 | Thos. W. Brewerton.

t About.

Observer.

| Fountain Green

Rees R. Lewellyn.

PAN e@phive se sous ee eae James Larsen.
| BRetiersonteee--s- 52> Edwin Willams.
| Salempes. tet coscses se: J.J. Davis.
Scocktonee =. eee nes Alma N. Yaunly.
| (ermaueces 2238 Sakae: : S. H. Cave.
BEE UR Ae aanic eee Jonathan Midgley.

In VERMONT the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886, at the fol-

lowing places:

Observer.

: First
Locality. lappeared.
Burlington (1884) | 1876+
Charlotte (1884)...).-........
Wharlotte-..2- 5s). .--.-...-
East Bethel..--.- 1880+
OVER 22s --25.0 : 1881+
AM GMOKG ek esc |acee sees os
Hydeville........ 1883
_ Keeler’s Bay..--.- 1881
Lunenburgh -.-... 1884
| De 1880

George H. Perkins.
I’. H. Horsford.
Minerva E. Wing.
C.S. Paine.

C. P. Owen.

Allen Hazen.

A. I. Johnson.
Stephen P. Gordon.
W.E. Balch.

Dr. Hiram A. Cut-

ting.

Observer.

gs First
i ‘appeared,
|| Lyndonville .... 1884}
| Montpelier....-- 1874f
| Rutland (1884) -- 18747
Saint Johnsbury 18741
(1884).
Taftsville (1884). ).....-....
West Pawlet.... 18747
W est Pawlet) =:.<..255-
(1884).
Woodstock: 3 ist ae fos:
t About,

>

I. W. Sanborn.

Caleb C. Eaton.

| Jenness Richardson.

Rev. Henry Fair-
banks.

C. O. Tracy.

Dr. Frank H. Bray-
mer.

Albert H. Phelps.

Norman Paul.

228

THE ENGLISH

SPARROW IN AMERICA.

In VIRGINIA the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886, at the fol-

lowing places:

: First : ag First
Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared.
Abinedon =. -55- 1875+ | J. M. Rose. King and Queen 1886+
Accomac C. Hi ==: 1881f | William P. Bell. | C. H.
/NOCOUMINK Sesonoss 18747 | E. KH. Mason. Lawrenceville -. 1876
Amelia C. Hi ..--- 1884+ | G. H. Southall. Lebanon .:------ 188it
Amherst C.H -.- i8s0t | W.H. Wills. Lexington .----- 1876
Appomattox C. 18817 | N. H. Ragland. nicks hue eee ane 1880
jel Lovingston..-.. 1883
AX SME Vem so ane seen aeeeee A.C. Mayo. Lynehburgh .--.- 1876+
Barboursville. .-. 1884 1 G.S. Parker. Madison C. H... 1878t
Berrvvalleyesesse- 1876 | J. N. Shepherd. Mamassas.-....- 1876t
Blacksburgh.-..- 1881+ | A. ‘LT. Keister. Manchester .... 1874
lial On Io Sasa: 1883+ | R.C. Green. Marion mes seree 1877t
Bowling Green .- 18787 | L.J. Baker. Martinsville .... 1880+
sridgewater .... 18797 | M. Strickler. Montrose ......-. 1E84y
Broddway, =.=. 1878 | Mary E. Pugh. New Castle ...-- 18807
Buckingham. i. 1876 | Alex. 7. Moseley. New Kent C.H - 1885+
Burkeville.--...- 1879+ | H. H. W. Crittenden. |} New Market.-..| 18741
Charlottesville - 1g81t | M. H. L. Long. Newport News - 1883
Chase City......- 1881 | I.C. Bacon. INOBONWS oe scoaas 187 Lt
Chatham......-.- 1879t | William B. Hurt. Onamcook=sa45: 18807
Christiausburgh . 1876; | R. M. Gardner. - Orange C: H. ...- 1884}
Clifton Morgess. es. 2-45 i §. M. Butler. Petersburgh ..- 18747
Clover Depot -.-- 1886 | Postmaster. Pocahontbasies. Weeeees seer
Covington ....-.. 1881+ | John B. Pitzer. IPortsmoubheesss| passes
@iekoos. 232-55: 1883 | W.P. Thornton. Powhatan C.H . 18847
Culpeper ss-25-—- 1873+ | Jas. T. Robertson. Pulaski Station. 1883
Cumberland C. H 1883+ | John 8. Taylor. Pun colteaeueysss| pees
Damvyallilleea ey aeee 18744 | T. KR. McDearman. tichmond .-..... 1872
Da GON seen em or 1881t | H.K. Devier. IDO. eo soeacheee 1882
Wulblimes se sc2 1 1878} | W. ¥. Peters. IDO) 32 sos seller non aeee
Rastville ....--..- 1885; | Leonard J. Notting-
ham. Salem. seer cer 1870
Edenburgh ...... 1882+ | Mary M. Calohan. Salling ai eeee ae 1883}
HMOLY eee eee 1886+ | C. B. Akers. Scottsville ....--. 1878+
Fstillville../..... iss2 | W. 1. Edmonds. Smithfield ...... 1881}
Hiamias@. i 2s 1880 ! Jos. W.Whitehead. || Smithville ...... 1881
Farmwell.......- 1880 ; C. A. Arundell. Spottsylvania C. 1876t
imcastlee- esos 1881} | C. B. Camper. 18,
iol Os sh posse 1876 |! William Pendleton. Stafford C. H...- 1882}
OIMOSS IMEOMS 55-55 455.1 Lieut. A. W. Vogdes.|| Stanardsville --- 1881t
roe, (1881) | Staunton’. osesa: 1870t
mamin: bs. se 1875+ | A. M. Brownley. SUING oS ceoGoase 1884
Fredericks. 1878f | Frank T. Forbes. SU Ol eee eee 1874
burgh. SAN SSocasqoce 1878t
Front Royal ....- 1880t | W.C. Weaver. USSexa Clonee 1882
Glen Allen ----.- 1883} | J. Hopkins. Tappahannock . 1880
Gloucester C. H. 18817 | A. P. Davies. Tazewell C. H .. 1882
Goochland C. H.. 1880} | C. H. Powell. Town House.... 1882t
Jalen lninb< (G5 18 joes 1882+ | R. WH. Edmondson. Upperville.-..-- 1875t
amp TON see ee 1881} | Mattie K Chisman. Variety Mills... 1881
Harrisouburgh .-. 1871+ | Wm. H. Ritenour. Warm Springs.- 18841
Hick<stoOrd 2s 255 = 1877i | P. R. Farley. Warrenton -2-.: 18764
AIS valli eer. 1876+ | H. H. Farmer. Waterford. --... 18707
Independence --. 1883} ; J. W. Boyer. Waynesborough.|.--...-----
Jonesville ......- 1881 +» John M. Couk. WiesteBomityaaee 1879+
Ixeswick Depot. . 1882} | H. EK. Magruder. Williamsburgh - 18807
_ DDSE Ata ene 18380¢ | EK. C. Mead. Winchester ....- 18767
King George C. 1882; | H. H. Hunter. Wytheville ....- 18751
Hi. Morktowm 0-00 1878+
t About.

Observer.

W. B. Bird.

W. T. Sledge.

J. F. Amburgey.

John A. R. Varner.

J. LT. Paxton:

William Stephenson.”

Chas. W. Button.

Brittell Krider.

Robert C. Weir.

H. A. Jordan.

R. J. Haller.

C. L. Putzel.

John Goodridge.

John C. Carper.

J.R. Taylor.

George M. Neese.

W. D. Crowell.

M. Glennan.

Stephen Hopkins.

R. C. Macon.

I. R. Patterson.

J. LL. Deaton.

A. H. Lindsay.

A. M. Howard.

R.S. Dudley.

W. T. Mason.

Wim. H.Cullingworth

Hugh L. Davis.

Col. Randolph Har-
rison.

W.S. Oakey.

Herbert L. Smither.

H. G. Harris.

E. A. Morrison.

B. P. Eggleston.

C. M. Ashby.

M. W. Baines.

J.G@. Stephens.
W.A. Burke.

C.R. Martin.
Florine A. Hines.
Peyton A. Cocke. \
John S. Bobbitt.

J. Ih. Henley:

Jas. C. Spotts.

Dr. John S.Apperson.
Jas. M. Kinchelve.
H. Martyn Micklem.
Robert I’. Payne.

L. W. Caldwell.
William T. Bennett.
Rk. G. Wright.

L. 8S. Garrett.

H. D. Cole.

William S. White.
Alex. S. Haller.

FF. M. Sheild.

The Sparrow was reported not present at the following places in Virginia:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
irdsnesha--.sas-2+= >: C. R. Moore. Princess Anne C.H ..| James H. Bonney.
(Chaming he. sanseneosseaee R. C. Beavers. Warsaw ios see see F. A. Shackleford.
Mathew Sicene toes. cee Oe L. M. Garnett.

.

known to be present at any point.

DISTRIBUTION BY

STATES.

229

In WASHINGTON TERRITORY, in the autumn of 1886, the Sparrow was not
It was reported not present at the following

places:
Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.
iam ASC RRR ARES aes Jennie L. Case. Port Townsend -.....-- George G. McNamara. »
Mee Chehalis. ...-.5-..----- William West. Prescotnee sc. se eoeee Jas. S. Haviland.
a Sy O Mesa icis. = ---- > -* J. T. Burns. Puyallup: 2 2ties2- C. C. Field.
See Bilensbargh .......---. Jacob J. Mueller. Sengulows ee eeere Ue | Prof. 0. B. Johnson.
= HA CONMEM =. .0.--. = 62 -- J. F. Dweliey. Splracwetee assess. = se | John J. Burns.
meee Medical Lake.-........ Thomas Campbell. Steilacoom..=..----.-. L. R. Rigney.
moe Montesano ......-..--. W. H. Blair. acomarece: eee coe L. E. Sampson.
a North Yakima... ...-. G. W. Carey. Via Colnvetn 2 eeaees Hattie Dennison.
b? Shymipia =. 2... ---<---- A. D. Glover. Waitsburgh .-./...--- T. H. Jessup.
° ECULOUSC sete 22 o--- = W. D. Irwin. Whatcom? 222572225220 P. M. Isensee.
OO) eee ae C. A. McCabe.
gs In WEST VIRGINIA the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886, at
3 the following places:
‘ . Fi 4 Tips
Locality. ae ae “ Observer. Locality. na ae “4 Observer.
=. PNG CIES) ee eee 18817 | J. N. Alderson. PENT AS OMA mets cr 1882 | Jacob Roush.
a Barboursville.... 1883 | F. M. Farrell. Middlebourne .- 12837 | L. E. Smith.
4 Berkeley Springs 18767 | Thomas H. Hodgson. || Milton -......-. 1880t | A. D. Neal.
4 Bethany -.-...... 18807 | M. E. Brown. Moorefield .----. 1878+ | J. P.Slyer.
* iewerly.- 22... - 1881+ | S.N. Bosworth. Morgantown.... 18807 | A. L. Nye.
a Braxton C.H .... 18837 | Jas. W. Humphreys. |} Moundsville .-.. 18847 | M. L. Gans.
4 Buekhannon...-. 18837 | Tom G. Brady. Newburgh...... 1880 | F. Mortimer Dent.
ig Womens ce 205 1881 | Dr. J. R. Mathers. New Cumberland 18767 | L. R. Smith.
=i el ie J. H. Shank. New Martins-| 1880+ | Ben M. Welch.
Burning Springs. 18847 | R.C. Tucker. Ville.
WAINO 22-55-25 --- 1881¢ | Van A. Zevely. Oceanareaser sot 18847 | F. P. Roach.
Cameron..-...--. 1883 | Jas. C. Crawford. Parkersburgh . 1878+ | A. N. Williams.
Charleston. .-.-.--- 1876; | R.J. Ashby. Petersburgh . 18767 | H. Thalaker.
- Charlestown ..--. 1878 | George H. Flagg. IPD pp 22s ae 1876+ | D. W. Gall.
i Clarksburgh...-.. 1878 | J. Philip Clifford. Piedmont ....... 18827 | P. J. Rogers.
Wie wens. 1873 | Lloyd Reed. Point Pleasant..| ~ 18811 | F. D. Hoy.
Coal Valley.-.--- 1883 | J. W. Montgomery. Princeton..-..--- 18767 | Z. Fellers.
Blizabeth ..-...-. 18837 | S. B. Sayre. Quinnimont . 18827 | T.S. Maloney.
; f DOE speed = 2 1884 | Z. EK. Thorn. | Raleigh C, ree 18857 | J.S. Hull.
ee Lairmont .-...--. 1880; | N.S. Barns. Ravenswood ... 18837 | E.C. Smith.
fee Pranklin ........ 18767 | Caddie Mooman. | Ritchie C.H.... 18847 | Postmaster.
Bee Glenville ........ 1880+ | William W. Johnson. || Romney .-...--.|---------- Jas. Shutz.
ww Grantsville ....-. 1883 | John J. Thomas. Saint George.... 1882+ | William M. Cayton.
Guyandotte...... 18807 | A. E. Smith. Saint Mary’s.-.. 18817 | George Kelsall.
Halitown .-...--- 18797 | John H. Strider. | Shepherdstown. 1866[?]) D.S. Rentch.
Hamlin <2. ..0:2:.- 18847 | L. R. Sweetland. Sistersville ..... 1883+ | Frank D. McCoy.
Harper’s Ferry .. 1875 | C.B. Wentzell. SDENCCRy so ses ao- 18837 | Henry A. Smith.
iniisdale .-.-...- 12847 | A. K. Parker. Terra Alta...... 18807 | Dr. S. M. Scott and
oe Hontington.-.... 1880 | Ira R. Wood. Jos. Adair.
Jackson C.H ..- 18827 | M. D. L. Lewis. Wnione.22 225-2-. 1881 | S. R. Watts.
MeeIMOVSEL .......--. 1876; | E. H. Davis. (Wolean0) =a -eee: 18847 | C. M. Magill.
See Kans wood .._...- 1879 | Jas. E. Murdock. Wellsburgh..... 18837 | Emma L. Ackison.
«6h 18867 | G. W. Knapp Weston... i.2-:-- 1881] | W.H. Aspinall.
> Lewisburgh ..... 1878+ | A. Beirne. Whee hima eas eer ee ee Robert Simpson.
eieean C,H .....- 1884} | J. B. Buskirk. White Sulphur 1880 *| Jobn F. Garing.
Madison ......... 1884 | William C. Hopkins. Springs.
Malden .....:..-. 1878; | Jas. N. Scott. Winfield........ 1832} | Jas. H. Hauly.
Martinsburgh ... 18767 | William B. Colston.
| About.

‘

Locality. Observer.
MeeeeOdiSON .....--..-..-5. Pepa rtoran
ZS O. B. Wills.

4 : Clifton lS Se Postmaster.

J.H. Shank.
J. Frank Johnson.

It was reported not present at the following places in West Virginia:

Locality.

Ronceverte
[ene PUL trea. = 2
Wianytie Co 7be' oases ac

Observer.

J. H. Caraway.
Mrs. M. J. Moss.
Adkins Chapman.
oe hord:

230

In WISCONSIN the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886, at the

following places:

F First
Locality. appeared.
PIMBCEStiA os: ae |e a seose6s
FACT OO eee = cis 0'5= 1883
BEYER Oe aaeeeeeree 1885t
BaAryvvOe =|... - 2. 1880}
Beaver Dam...- 18827
Beloit ase oe 18837
Sei Wien eee 18707
Boscobel. ....:--- 18847
Burkneton 2... - 18807
@irltonece acess 18737
Chippewa Falls. - 1885;
Ghnitonee sce sok: 1879
Cumberland ..... 1886
We Pere o-22 2h. 1870+
Dodgeville .....- 1885+
Dien eee 1886
Haw Claire 2 ys. ~. 18837
ilichorm 4.22: < 18827
Fond du Lae..... 18777
Fort Howard ....!| 1875+
1 W)-64 De ee 18817
Grand Rapids ..- 1885
antsord es. so: 1876
Hillsborough .--. 1886
Janesville ....-- 18767
DOr eee 18807
PUG Asoo clk ae 18817
Ronoshassee cme ot secant:
Kewaunee.....-- 1884+
ge ere ee 18837
ea OLOSSC-<=- a2 18847
Lancaster ....... | 18837
IDNs See is aaa See
MMAdISON: 25..-2% 2s 1873
Manitowoc ...... 1875

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Observer. Locality. ee cee a Observer.
|
| A. J. Smith. | Mazo Manie.... 18787 | L. A. Lincoln.
W. H. Danley. Menasha 4202-5] 22s254-se5 Curtis Reed.
| John Kupp. || Milwaukee (sub- 1880 | Walter B. Hull. |
| Matthew H. Mould. | urb).
| | R. V. Bogert. Milwaukee: 22. |be-eose ee Charles Keeler.
| Clinton Babbitt. Ou Ses 18717 | Geoge H. Paul.
i | D. L. Harkness. | Michicott.-s205 |) sees N. H. Terens.
+ | John Pepper. | Montello ....... 1884 | Ella J. Cogan.
Charles W. Wood. || New London ..- 18827 | M. B. Patchin.
| Jas. W. McCabe. | Oconto. .... $5245 1883+ | F. C. Sharp.
| W. W. Crandall. |} Oshkosh.--.:--. 1876 | A.C. Austin.
| C. N. Crotsenburg. DOs sess es . 18797 | W. I. Webster.
| C.F. Kalk. | 6-23.65 ane 1881+ | A. W. Weisbrod.
E. Van De Casteele. || Peshtigo........ 18797 | Jas. J. O'Leary.
Thomas Rogers. || Pine River -..... 1885; | T. H. Patterson.
KE. L. Brown. Platteville. ..--.- 1881+ | William H. Elgar.
Do. | Port Washing- 18727 | Ulrich Landolt.
W. D. Lyon || ton
S. M. Smead || *Racine@se s-2-2-cc 18747 | Dr. P. R. Hoy.
George Richardson. ID saee Seas 1874+ | Clarence Snyder.
W. H. Keeney. | Randolph....... 18847 | John S. Lightner.
F. L. Tibbits. | Richland Centre) 1880t | J. M. Keys.
J.H. Simon. sitiponseccess 1876 | A. Everhard.
William Lind. || Sauk City ......| 18767 | C. Kuoni.
H. Richardson. | Shawano ....-.. 1880+ | James Miller.
j | H.L.Skavlem. || Sheboygan...... 18787 | Jos. Bast.
Jas. A. Patton. | DOssse eee 1875 | Carl Zillier.
Otis G. King. || Shell Lake.-...-- 185+ | M. D. Gochling.
Ransom A. Moore. || Stevens’ Point... 1874 | G. W. Cate.
M. Riedy. | Stoughton .--.... 1881+ | W. W. Gilman.
Walter Tiliman. y DOs ee. eee 18767 | Z. L. Welman.
S. A. Brow. || Waukesha...... 1876+ | E. Enos.
R. R. Byram. |}) Wausau. cs 1880 | V. Ringle.
William Helm. || West Bend ..... 1872 | Joseph Ott.
A. Piening. || Whitewater .-.-. 1876+ | H. H. McGraw.
+ About.

It was reported not present at the following places in Wisconsin:

Locality. Observer.
WAI, Fenians ciaicEaSichate o> = | M. W. McDonnell.
PAPE AM TA Oe Sao en hs George Mathys.
aS ESS RB ee J. Sullivan.
Cambria ....-..-.....-.| F. B. Ernsperger.
Whetelk: ~se- 2s bases = 2k Postmaster. —
Gleardhake yo. 5252-2 J. L. Warren.
JOE Eee eee A.W. Hammond.
IDO. aesos eae eee Miletus Knight.
Pama late sso. os oe oS C. R. Gleason.
HMO TENCE» aseee eae. ce - W. H. Clark, jr.
Fountain City -..-..-.. John B. Oenning.
TIONSHIP) Joseciassece J.M. Harrison.
DY) Rae eee John B, Keyes.
Grantsbutch .*.....--- Postmaster.
Tanase a2 =. Sc oe ee Malcolm Dobie.
TE CTAG STO es keen S. C. Simonds.
Independence.......--. David Garlick.

| La Crosse*

Locality.

Observer.

C. H. Burroughs.

Medtord 2 j2c 26s s0-/5- M. W. Ryan.
Menomonie ..-.-...-... HE. L. Everts.

) Merrill = 528235 Jo. W. H. Canon.
Neillsvalless -2- 3354-2 Isaac T. Carr.
Phillips: =-2-e-se-m2 ses A. M. Hunt.

RiONee 2 ee eee eee Kennedy Scott.
River WallS\=-ss2e5ss-5 R. McGregor.
Shawano see et aes Mary F. French.

| Stoughton (near)
| Stureeon Bay... 22. s.-

| Tail Point Light Sta-

| Tomah

Superior

tion.

* Reported present by another observer.

Z.L. Welman.
Charles O. Larsen.
John A. Bardon.
George A. Gaylord.

i R. P. Hitcheock.

Wyman.

jai paca ‘DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA. ea 53

E ‘one point. ence A. Bailey states that it appeared at Evanston about 1885; and
Dr. R. W. Shufeldt states that in 1877'he saw a flock of five in the streets of Chey:
enne. Other observers, however, have failed to find it in Cheyenne, and in Octo-
m: _ ber, 1887, therecertainly were none there. It was reported non-present in 1887 at the
- a following places in Wyoming:

Locality. Observer. Locality. ? Observer.
Satisntic City..-..-..-. Robert McAuley. Green River City..... P. J. Hines.
JIU DL ee F. P. Shannon. : Laramie City ..-...... J. H. Donkersley.
Cheyenne City ..-.-.... Frank Bond. RiawihtnSe- 2-22 2 a John C. Friend.
; Gee was ao A. C. Snyder. Rock Springs. .--- 2252 L. L. Daus.
Fort Bridger. ..----.--. M. E. Carter.
+ About.

~ In ONTARIO the Sparrow was poperted present, in the autum of 1886, at the fol-

lowing places: :
De SSS SSS

Locality. ae = Observer. | Locality. ‘ain aes d. Observer.
Belleville (1884) -. 1877 | Prof. James T. Bell. || Ottawa (1884)... 1870+ | H. B. Small.
LbeniiG he 4 es C.J. Tisdall. VO Giana! cee eset ee W.L. Scott.
Migabam = 2.25252 1880 | W.E. Wagstaff. Pembroke ..---- 18747 | E. Odluti.
Dunnville .....-. 18757 | Dr. G. A. McCallum. |) Plover Mills.-... 18817 | R. Elliott.

Su Se See 1886 | George R. Prescott. || Strathroy-....--- 1874 | L. H.Smith.
Hamilton ses) 1874+ | Thomas MclIlwraith. || Toronto (1884) ..| . 18757 | J. B. Williams.
inRyde Park... ---- 1880 | H. Keays. Toronto (1888) --|.--------.- Dr. William Brodie.
iastower..-.--... 1877+ | William L. Kells. ‘ERENtOny-s=-< 2: 1879+ | Charles McLellan.
Mildmay .:-...-. 1878+ | W.A.Schoenau. Worker 's.se.s 2 1877} | John Ewart.
OSE) 2 Saas 1876+ | W. J. Stevenson.

t About.

In QUEBEC the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886, at the fol-
lowing places:

First First

Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.
Godbout... -..-- 1884+ | Napoleon A.Comeau. || Montreal ..----. 1870+ | Ernest D. Wintle.
1 OS ee ee te George J. Bowles. Quebee (1884) -.- 1864+ | Col. Wm. Rhodes.

‘About.

In NEW BRUNSWICK the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886,
‘at the following places:

: | First | é | : First Sao
Locality. | appeared. Observer. | | Locality. | appeared. Observer.
| {| }
fe Ohatham ........ 1880+ | Dr. Jas. Baxter. | Saint John...... | 1883+ Rove Chamber-
Fredericktown .. 18767 | C. W. Beckwith. lain.
| Petitcodeac...... 1886 | Jobn Brittain. Pp wWiielcham -4-5~< 18861 D. W. Pilkington,
Portland. <:...-.- 1883+ | J. W. Banks. | Woodstock -..-. 1884 | John Stewart.
Sackville .....-..- 18857 | T. A. H. Mason.

t About.

It was reported not present at the following places in New Brunswick:

|
Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.

SAINONSIGONW 22... -.c0.-- H. A. Johnson. OalkePourte. 2S 5-522 Gibson Williamson.
_ Eel TENGE J Marshall Reid. Woodland’s Cove .--.- F.S, Cheny.

4

at red

259: THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

In NOVA SCOTIA the Sparrow was reported present, in the autumn of 1886, at the
following places: ;

’ First : First
Locality. appeared. Observer. Locality. appeared. Observer.
Halifax (1884) ..- 18757 | J. Matthew Jones. Two Rivers 25 | cecmeser B. B. Barnhill.
Kentville ....---- 1881 | T. A. H. Mason. :

It was reported not present at one place in Nova Scotia: Prof. A. H. Mackay states
that it was not present at Pictou in the antumn of 1886.

In PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND the Sparrow was reported only from Charlotte-
town, where Francis Bain saw half a dozen January 10, 1887.

It was reported not present at the following place in Prince Edward Island:

Locality. Observer. Locality. Observer.

PAibertOmen ee sce sack ae | James Hunter. AMibertonteaase: one seee J. Hunter Duvar.

In the autum of 1886 the Sparrow was not known to have reached any of the towns
in MANITOBA or NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

It was reported not present at Winnipeg by A. McArthur and L. H. Smith, and at
Qu’ Appelle by George F. Guernsey.

RATE OF INCREASE; CHECKS, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL,

The testimony relating to the rate of increase of the Sparrow and the
checks which affect such increase more or less, is by no means as full
and specific as could be desired, and its character is such as to preclude
the possibility of summarization. The following replies, selected from
upwards of two hunéred received, will serve to show the general char-
acter of the whole.

CALIFORNIA.—San Francisco. F. Gruber: On the average it raises two broods a
year, and five or six youngtoabrood. In some instances three broods are raised, and
rarely seven to eight young. (March 5, 1885.)

CONNECTICUT.—New Haven. Louis B. Bishop: A single pair will rear in a season
four or five broods, aggregating twenty or thirty young. (August 23, 1886.)

New Haven. Robert D. Camp: I have seen four broods raised in a single season.
(April, 1887.)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.— Washington. Walter B. Barrows: On the evening of
August 11, 1887, the city was visited by asbort but severe thunder-storm, which proved
very destructive to English Sparrows. The rain began to fall about an hour before
sunset, and in little more than an hour the precipitation amounted to more than an
inch. It was accompanied by a high wind, which in some parts of the city was strong
enough to twist off or uproot a few shade trees. A second but lighter shower, with-
out much wind, occurred during the night. On the following morning it was found
that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Sparrows had perished in this city alone. A
large proportion of the Sparrows which are not nesting (mainly young ones) pass the
night together in large companies, frequently congregating to the number of five
hundred or a thousand in some large tree or group of trees where they resort reg-
alarly. Under such a group of trees, near the main entrance of the Smithsonian Build-—

ss BYIDENCE.—-INCREASE AND CHECKS. pas

ing, two hundred and fifty-four dead Sparrows were picked up, and later in the day it

was learned that one hundred and twenty were counted beneath another group of

trees near the eastern entrance of the National Museum.

At a large roosting place in the Agricultural Grounds the destruction scems to have
been even greater, but most of the dead birds were carried away before being counted.
Several persons were seen collecting them in baskets or bags, and as the last man ecar-
ried off nearly a peck (probably one hundred or one hundred and twenty-five birds),

there is little doubt that three hundred or four hundred Sparrows were killed at
this roost alone.

Thus far no birds but English Sparrows are known to have been killed by the storm,
but this is easily accounted for by the fact that the English Sparrows in this city
probably outnumber all other birds at least500 to 1. It is also worth noting that the
great majority of those killed were young of the year, although perhaps two or three
per cent. were old birds.

The cause of death is somewhat doubtful: Mr. Bidewsa, ornithologist of the Na.
tional Museum, believes that the Sparrows roost together in such numbers that many -
of them are compelled to put up with tips of branches or small twigs, where they are
whipped about by the wind and finally beaten to the ground and actually drowned.
It seems more probable, however, that while some may be killed in the manner de-
scribed, the majority die from cold; for the feathers once wet, the birds are unable to
keep warm, and the chill, together with the exhaustion caused by the struggle with

-wind and rain, istoo much for them. About ayear ago a similar storm occurred here,
and on the following morning Mr. Ridgway found 50 or 60 dead Sparrows beneath one
tree on the Agricultural grounds. (August 13, 1887.)

Since the above was written, if has been learned that the recent storm was very
destructive to Sparrows both at Baltimore, Md., and Jersey City,N. J. An account of
the destruction at the latter place will be found on page 236, under the head of Jersey
City. (September 14, 1887.)

Washington. Michael Durkin, gardener at the navy-yard: We have used rice and
bread, wet and then sprinkled with arsenic, to feed the Sparrows, and many have
been killed in this way. We have also paid boys to pull down all the nests that
could be reached, but thus far little change seems to have been made in the number
of Sparrows. (August 22, 1887.)

ILLINOIS.—Bernadotie. Dr. W.S8.Strode: The northern shrike has appeared here in
unusual numbers, and seems to be giving its atttention mainly to this Sparrow. I
frequently notice one among the evergreens and shrubbery back of my office, in the
center of the town, in active pursuit of these little vagrants. (December 6, 1887.)

Centralia. Jabez Webster: No means of restriction has been taken, but in cold
weather the boys have killed them by scattering ‘‘ tailings” from a fan-mill and
then shooting into a flock, and have also caught them with a large sieve-trap. (De-
cember 21, 1886.)

Chicago. H.K.Coale: The northern sbhrike (ZLanius borealis) feeds on them all win-
ter. Many Sparrows freeze in very cold winters. (August 21, 1886.)

Monmouth. Dr. 8. M. Hamilton: The jay is one of the Sparrow’s worst enemies
here. It destroys many nests, and kills the young birds or eats the eggs. (Septem-
ber 24, 1886. ) ;

Quincy. J. H. Richardson: In 1870 six pairs were brought to this city, and it is
estimated that the progeny of these few now number tens if not hundreds of thou-
sands. (October 4, 1826.)

Rockford. Dr. F. H. Kimball: I have not observed many Sparrows more than a
mile from the city, although occasionally a few may be seen 4 or 5 miles out. I ob-
served a single pair nesting in the cornice of a building in July, 1878. They raised
two broods that season. During the next three years they multiplied very rapidly,
or we received a fresh importation, for at the beginning of the winter of 188182 there
were hundreds here, but about three-fourths of them were destroyed by the cold

ae

234. THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

weather of that winter. Although many have been destroyed by subsequent win-
ters, the destruction has never been so general since. Whenever we have a hail-
storm large numbers are killed. After one such storm, accompanied by lightning,
this last summer over a haif bushel of dead Sparrows were found under a few trees
in a single yard. I noticed a sparrow-hawk within a few days hunting Sparrows in
a thickly-settled portion of the city. Owing to the many checks, Sparrows do not
seem to have increased during the last two seasons. (September 28, 1886.)

New Albany. James N. Payton: Last winter was an exceedingly cold winter, and
many Sparrows froze to death or were starved out. (September, 1885.)

InDIANA.—Indianapolis. J. G. Kingsbury: No means in a public way has been
taken to restrict its increase. A man living here trapslarge numbers to sell to marks-
men for sporting purposes, but the thousands he takes at the grain elevators make no
perceptible diminution in the crop. (August 18, 1886.)

Towa.—Burlington. Howard Kingsbury: One pair under my observation raised
three broods, aggregating nine birds, and two of the eggs were removed. (December
28, 1886.)

Corydon. J.S. Whittaker: One observer on a farm 5 miles from town says they
are in his barn, get in through a knot-hole, and when outside are sometimes attacked
by his doves and' driven in again. (October, 1886.)

Dubuque. Vdward T. Keim: A petition to the city council, asking for the exter--

mination of the Sparrow, was generally signed. (August 19, 1886.)

Kansas.— Topeka EF. W. Giles: No means has been taken to restrict their increase
here; but, being entirely left to care for themselves, many perish in winter storms,
and many from depredations of the blue jay, while the insufficiency of nesting places
is a great hinderance to their increase. There has been no perceptible increase of
Sparrows in Topeka for the last five years. (October 6, 1886.)

KENTUCKY.—DBowling Green. Postmaster: Some have been shot, and one or two
successful efforts have been made to poison them with strychnine mixed with dough,
but the danger of this method has restricted its use. (October 3, 1886.)

Lancaster. W. H. Wherritt: They were greatly thinned out in this vicinity by
the exceptionally cold winters of 188485, and 1885~’86. (October 11, 1886.)

Taylorsville. Ruth C. Burton: Many perished from the severe cold last winter.
(October 30, 1886. )

Lovistana.—Schriever. Postmaster: No means whatever has been taken to re-

strict the increase of Sparrows here. They are so plentiful that they can not be de- ;

stroyed. (October 8, 1886.)

MAINE.—WNorth Livermore. George H. Berry: To-day I found a thorn bush in
which was a nest of a shrike (species not determined) containing four young. Im-
paled on the thorns were numbers of iarge insects (mostly grasshoppers), a few
mice, a small green snake, and quite a number of birds, among them ared-eyed vireo,
a couple of chipping or bush sparrows, an indigo bunting, and seven English Spar-
rows. Under the tree, or rather clump of trees, were the bodies of three more En-
glish Sparrows. I think the shrike, where found, is fully as good an agentas any in
effecting the destruction of the English Sparrow. (December 20, 1887.)

MARYLAND.—Baltimore. Otto Lugger: The only means taken to restrict its in-
crease is the destruction of its eggs in the parks. (May 10, 1887.)

Battimore. Dr. A. P. Sharp: The rapidity of their increase is wonderful; three to
four broods a season, and the young or spring birds hatch out a brood the same sea-
son, before fully grown. The old birds begin to lay very early in the spring and keep
it up late in the fall. I usually leave the country about October 1, and before doing
so destroy all the eggs, often five in a nest. [I have a number of boxes within easy

reach, and when they build in them I usually wait until the young are nearly ready if,

to leave the nest, and then give my catsa feast of them. I sometimes kill from four
to six birds by baiting for them in my chicken yard with wheat or rye. There ought
to be a law passed to compel every farmer to present to the county clerk a certain

2
4
4
.
_
=
;

.

Pee ee ee pe ee

ok es

t li ai ah ase aa ee ly ee ee

EVIDENCE.—INCREASE AND CHECKS, 235

number every season in part payment of his tax bill, so as to kecp down their rapid
increase. (February 16, 13887.)

The Sparrows know me as wellas my dogs, and I can not get nearthem. They have
the keenest hearing of anything I know.. The cock of the gun drives them in every
direction, even when I cock inside of the house with shutters partly closed. It isim-
possible to get a shot at them outside. I formerly killed a good many, but now

have tried every means to feed them. They will eat with the chickens, seeming

to know that I will notshoot them. (February 29, i887. )

Sandy Spring. UH. H. Miller and other members of county farmers’ club: Ata
meeting of the Montgomery Farmers’ Club held on the 13th instant, the following
resolution was unanimously passed: Resolved, That, in the opinion of this club, the
English Sparrow is an unmitigated evil, and should be fought incessantly until driven
out of the country. (February 16, 1887.)

MASSACHUSETTS.—Cambridge. William Brewster: It rears three broods yearly at
least ; twelve young yearly to a pair would not be anoverestimate. A few are killed
by boys with stones, ‘‘ catapults,” etc., but the number so destroyed is inconsiderable.
Fire-arms can not be used within our city limits, and the Sparrow can not be easily ©
trapped. No bounty has been offered here, but one has been paid this year, I un-
derstand, in the neighboring town of Waltham. (January 30, 1884.)

MIcHIGAN.—Ann Arbor. Israei Hall: Inasmuch as the depredations of these birds
are universal, the effort and expense of their extermination should be national and
simultaneous. The birds being the adjuncts of high civilization, will be found in
cities and villages in about the proportions of their respective populations. There-
fore, I will suggest that you try experiments by feeding wheat that has been satu- —
rated in a solution of arsenic. If this be effectual, procure a commission with power
to purchase and saturate, in every city and village, such quantity of wheat as will
be needed to scatter in the streets during February, when the birds are starved and -
frozen to the least numbers. If this be discreetly done, I think the birds will be ex-
terminated in the course of three winters. (June 10, 1887.)

Flint. John Campbell: So far as Genesee County is concerned, the bounty on
Sparrows has amounted to nothing. Ihave paid for such purposes, since the law
took effect, $1.02 and that to one person, who had killed the birds more for sport than
for the bounty. In my opinion the bounty will have to be increased materially before
it will be much of an inducement for men or boys to spend their time in destroying
the birds. (April 9, 1888.)

Homer. C.¥. Collins: The hard winter of 1885~86 nearly destroyed these birds in
this section. I donot think there are more than about one hundred here now.
(October 8, 1886.) :

Tonia. J. Warren Peake: In my opinion the bounty law of 1887 has been a total
failure in this county. More heroic measures will have to be adopted or the Spar-
rows will continue to increase. (March 30, 1888.)

_ Manistique. W.T. Hill and Corwin Adkins: The winters are very long and cold

_on this upper peninsula, and a good many Sparrows die each winter. (October 238,

1886. )

Mason. W.D. Longyear: It is my opinion that the passing of the act for the pay-
ment of bounties has not reduced the number of Sparrows in this county enough to
be discernible, although there have been some Sparrows killed. One reason why I
think there have not been more killed is that the bounty is so small that any per-
son who undertakes to kill twenty-five Sparrows will give it up before he secures
the required number. (March 30, 1888.)

Port Huron. William Burns: In this county act No. 29 of the laws of 1887 has not
been efficacious in reducing the number of Sparrows. It seems to be generally con-
ceded that the bounties are too small. Also people in the township consider it an
additional annoyance to have to apply to the county for payment. If the bounties

236 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

were increased, and paid by the several townships instead of the county, I think it

would be more of a success. (March 30, 1888.)
Sparta. E. Bradford: No means has been taken for its restriction except that

every one who can, shoots them. One man here has shot about three hundred during

the past summer. (October, 1886.)

Tecumseh. C. A. Wright and C. A. Story: A few farmers have been shooting them,
which drives them away for the time being. (October 11, 1886.)

Traverse City. Charles Burmeister: I learn that at a regular meeting of the village
council of Traverse City, held on February 7, 1887, it was voted that ‘Mr. Morgan and

Mr. Barnes are appointed a committee to exterminate the Sparrows in the village.”

(Frankfort, Mich., February 9, 1887.)

MINNESOTA.— Minneapolis. Dr.Thomas S. Roberts: No means of restriction has been
taken here. The severe winters and late springs seem to have effectually kept them
in check. Although the first flock came here in the fall of 1876, they have increased
very slowly and even now there are but two or three little parties of them in the
city. (November 16, 1886.)

Rochester. W. D. Hurlbut: They first appeared here in November last and seem
to be as much at home as if raised here. This unusually cold winter does not seem
to discourage them, none having died that we know of. The German and English
residents assure me these birds will thrive here as well as anywhere in Europe. Some
people, especially Germans, are inclined to welcome and feed them. (January 27,
1887.)

The English Sparrows, which mutiplied greatly during the past summer, and were
probably re-enforced by fresh colonies, have not appeared to suffer at all from this un-
usually severe winter. No very bad weather is ever observed here after this date, and
I may therefore conclude that they are acclimated and fully established. During the
worst weather they housed in the coal sheds and under the eaves of the grain ware-
houses. (January 31, 1888.)

MIssouRI.—Carrollton. M.R. Gittings: One gentleman who takes quite an interest
in birds says that two years ago he noticed five or six Sparrows here, and now there
are seventy-five or one hundred. (November 19, 1886.)

Dixon. W.W. Howard: In the winter of 1884 I first noticed about four birds, and
they have increased to about forty at the present time. (November 12, 1886.)

Memphis. J. P. Craig: It first appeared here three years ago this fall, and has
multiplied until now there are thousands. (November 12, 1886.)

NEBRASKA.— Blair. W.H. Eller: There were two pairs here in 1885, and as many
as sixteen birds were seen at one time a few weeks ago; but seed soaked in strychnine
was used, and twelve of them were killed. There are four herenow. (November 11,
1886. )

Plattsmouth. J. N. Wise: They have been here about twelve years, but are not
abundant, and not troublesome in this vicinity. Their increase is scarcely percepti-
ble. (November 22, 1886.)

New HAMPSHIRE.—Portsmouth. Sarah H. Foster: No effort has been made to de-
stroy the Sparrow, asit is protected bylaw. Three years ago a petition, numerously
signed, was sent from Portsmouth to Concord, asking to have the game law altered in
this respect, but not being properly presented it was not acted upon. (April 2, 1884.)

New JERSEY.— Caldwell. Marcus S. Crane: Three broods were raised this year
in a box near our house. (September 20, 1884.)

Haddonfield, Samuel N. Rhodes: I think last year the Jaw protecting them was
repealed by the legislature. This is indirectly destructive to the Sparrow, but of no
avail against increase. (September 9, 1886.) .

Jersey City. Jno. T. Bragaw: A storm passed over the city on the evening of the 11th
day of August, accompanied by a severe gale and a great downfallofrain. On the fol-
lowing morning I had occasion to pass by one of the parks of Jersey City, Van Vorst
Square, and was greatly surprised to see a large number of dead Sparrows on the

be th phe * le? Bk Se
ay | vee

Saat

i oe oe ee - ria tl

EVIDENCE.—INCREASE AND CHECKS. 237

_ walks and in the grass of said park. The inclosed article, clipped from the Jersey
_ City Journal of August 12, 1886, gives a more minute description of the great destruc-

tion of Sparrows:

sx * * The sight presented in the pretty park would have delighted those who
are determined to do away with the Sparrow nuisance. Piled in a heap near the
fountain the reporter saw over four hundred dead Sparrows. Constant additions
were being made to the mass by boys who were scouring the lawns in search of dead
birds. The park-keeper stated that two wheelbarrow-loads of dead Sparrows had
already been gathered up and taken away. There must have been nearly one thou-
sand five hundred deaths in the Van Vorst Park Sparrow colony last night.

“Exactly what caused this mortality is unknown. Policeman Sturgis stated that
when he locked the park gates last night hundreds of Sparrows that had been thor-
oughly drenched by the storm were hobbling about the paths. There were a lot of
cats about, and the felines could be seen seizing Sparrows in all directions. When
Sturgis returned to the park this morning dead birds were lying about im all direc-
tions. Under a large willow tree that had lost a big limb in the storm twenty-eight
dead birds were found. The paths and lanes were sprinkled with tiny feathered
carcasses in all directions. * * * There are very few live Sparrows in the park
to-day, and they are unusually quiet and subdued.” (August 23, 1887.)

Passaic Bridge. EF. M. Carryl: 1 manage to kill one or two a day the year round,
but it seems to make no difference. (August 20, 1886.)

Woodstown. Jas. D. Lausen: It breeds monthly. One pair now has three young in
the nest. (August 18, 1886.)

New York.—Highland Falls. Dr. Edgar A. Mearns: They are shot by farmers
and gardeners. Grape producers hire boys to shoot them. (February 27, 1884.)

Northport. William Crozier: I do not allow them to be destroyed on my farm. I
wish we had more of them, for I consider the species a most valuable one. (August
26, 1884.)

Phenix. Benjamin F. Hess: The first Sparrows, a single pair, came to our farm
in the spring of 1884, and to-day undoubtedly one hundred can be seen about the
trees and buildings. (August 25, 1886.)

Rochester. H. Roy Gilbert: It rears three brocds yearly. Eggs can be got at any
time. (August 20, 1884.)

Utica. Thomas Birt: The English Sparrows, which were to be seen in flocks of
hundreds previous to the cold snap, have dwindled down to a dozen or two in a flock,
or even less. Would that the past cold month had exterminated the pest altogether.
(February 4, 188.)

Oul0.—Akron. Ferdinand Schumacher: They have increased a thousandfold dur-
ing the ten years of their presence here. (October 25, 1886.)

Cleveland. Dy. E. Sterling: Outside the city gardeners and fruit-growers shoot
them on sight. (February 25, 1884.)

Columbus. William B. Alwood: They have ‘increased very rapidly for some years,
but I can not see that there has been any noticeable increase during the past year.
No means has been taken to restrict their increase, except shooting when they become
troublesome on wheat-fields. I have been told by different parties that they destroyed
Sparrows very successfully in winter by feeding them poisoned grain. (July 16,
1887.)

New Athens. T.M. Sewell: It first appeared here in 1882, and was most abundant
in 1885. Great numbers were destroyed by hail this present season. (November 11,
18886. )

Newton Falls. E. W. Turner: They are breeding so fast in our large towns that

_ during the last two years they have invaded the country and done incalculable dam-

age. (November 16, 1886.)
North Bend. R. H. Warder: There is constant destruction of nests and eggs here,
(November 27, 1286. )

238 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. ee

Portsmouth. S. R. Ross: About twelve years ago our city council imported two
pairs of Sparrows for our city park, and from these the city is overrun with the in-
crease, and they are also finding their way to the adjoining farms and villages.
(September 2, 1886.)

South Salem. W.N. Irwin: The screech owls are working on them very industri-
ously, and many of the Sparrows have perished by being frozen in the eave-troughs
around buildings, as they will roost in the troughs, and if any water is in the bottom
they freeze and starve. (December 26, 1887.)

Wadsworth. Dr. J. F. Detweiler. No hunting is more acceptable to farmers in
this vicinity than a Sparrow hunt, and these are quite common here, and result in
the destruction of great numbers of Sparrows. Inclosed you will find an account
of one of these hunts. The man that shot three hundred had fed the birds in sheep-
troughs for some time. When the trough was lined on both sides he raked them,
killing at one shot sixty-one birds. (January 11, 1888.)

The item here alluded to is as follows:

“The great Sparrow hunt.—Monday was a cold day for English Sparrows. About
one thousand departed for the ‘sweet by and by.’ The hunt was exciting, and the
‘bang’ of the double-barrel shotgun and old flint-lock could be heard at all times
during the day. Some of the hunters scored goose-eggs, but the scores were gener-
ally creditable. Lewis Heiser was the champion shot, killing three hundred birds.
The boys said he had a Gatling ‘gun and a few dynamite cartridges. Jake Kreider
came next with one hundred and forty-five. Eli Brouse killed one ‘ poor Sparrow.’
Kreider’s side had three hundred and ninety-six of a majority.” * * *

[The grand total was nine hundred and eighty. ]

PENNSYLVANIA.—Allentown. W.B.K. Johnson: I have tried various poisons, and
find that crystallized arsenic is too slow. As soon as they detect anything they dis-
gorge the food from their crops. Strychnine kills them, but it is seldom that I can

get them to take it on account of its bitterness. I have tried seeds, grain, and bread

crumbs with but partial success, and then only when a snow-storm covered up all
other tocd. Some winters I may have killed two hundred or perhaps three hundred,
but this winter I have killed scarcely fifty. They are too cunning to go into traps,
as I have tried that. If you can tell me of the best method of exterminating them
I should be very thankful. (February 7, 1883.)

Collegeville. C. Augustus Rittenhouse: Boxes are being removed wherever oie
Sparrow builds. The bird is a curse to the country, and there should be a reward to
the pe: on killing the most ina year’s time. Perhaps this would be the quicker
way to rid the country of the pest. (August 18, 1886.)

TENNESSEE.—Decatur. I. C. Arrants: About three years ago they were first noticed
in small numbers in the grove surrounding the conrt-house, but now they exist in
swarms all over the town. (November 18, 1886.)

UtTau.—Pleasant Grove. Mrs. P. Sterrett: It has become a great nuisance to farm-
ers and gardeners. Our barns and sheds are filled with nests, and they increase rap-
idly. (November 11, 1886.)

Provo City. Daniel Graves: I jearn that in Salt Lake the city fathers are giving
a premium for its destruction, and the same is being talked of in thiscity. (Novem-
ber 16, 1886.)

VERMONT.—Lunenburgh. Dr. Hiram A. Cutting: There is no law to protect them.
Cats catch them here as fast as they increase. (September 5, 1886.)

Rutland. Jenness Richardson: I have notes of two broods in winter and three in

summer. There are from four to seven young in a brood. They are destroyed mainly
by the northern shrike ; in 1880 they were nearly exterminated by this bird. (Feb-
ruary 8, 1884.)
WEsT VIRGINIA.—Cameron. Jas. C. Crawford: They first appeared here in 1883,
and at present their numbers are estimated in the thousands. (November 12, 1886.)
Halltown. John H. Strider: Our town authorities have given the boys a bounty

EVIDENCE.—INCREASE AND CHECKS. 239

of two cents per head for them, but they are spreading in tbe country, and nothing
but a general war on them simultaneously will do any good. (September 6, 1886.)

WIsCONSIN.—Janesville. H. Richardson: The little birds suffer excessively from
our cold winters, but they increase so fast during the summer that their number
keeps up. (November 12, 1886.)

Kenosha. Otis G. King: The last winter killed off a great many, but this: fall
there is a full supply again. (November 12, 1886.)

Ripon. A. Everhard: At one time it was very abundant here, but a hard winter
killed a great many, and since then they have not increased very fast. (November
18, 1886. )

Sheboygan. Carl Zillier: Three pairs were brought here from Germany in 1875,
and they have multiplied so that now there are millions of them here and in the sur-
rounding country. (November 15, 1886. )

CANADA. OntTaR1I0.—Strathroy. L. H. Smith: The Sparrow stands our winter
well, although I have seen him with the thermometer at 20° to 30° below zero fluffed
out like a ball of feathers, and wishing, no doubt, notwithstanding earthquakes, that
he were in Charleston, S.C. (October 11, 1886.)

Yarker. John Ewart: The winters are too severe here for the Sparrows to become
very numerous. I have never found any myself that were frozen, but another party
found quite a lot which had been frozen in an unused grain storehouse; also some ina
shed attached to the grist-mill in this place. I have also noticed a marked decrease
in their numbers after a cold dip, but of course that may be caused by a move south.
(November 19, 1886.)

New Brunswick.—fredericion. Charles W. Beckwith: The English Sparrows are
not yet a nuisance here, and unless they increase more rapidly than at present are
not likely to become troublesome in the future. They winter here, but each spring
the colony is largely reduced from cold; by autumn, however, they appear to have

increased to the originalnumbers. (October 8, 1886.)

IRELAND.—Dublin. Percy Evans Freke: With regard to the destruction of this
pest, I hope you will allow me to offer a suggestion. In cases where vines are trained
over any flat surface, such as the wall of a house, they afford the best possible Sparrow
traps. Not only in the nesting season, but alsoin winter they will, ifevergreen, become
the roosting place at night of armies of Sparrows. Then a large net spread between
two poles, should be laid against the vines, which should be then beaten with long
rods. Lanterns, raised if necessary on poles, should be held before the net. The
birds fly from the vines toward the light and are caught in the net, or flutter down
to the bottom of it, which should be turned up inward to receive them.

In this way numbers of adult Sparrows may be destroyed. The nests can of course
always be taken. I fear, however, it will be found impossible to get rid of them al-
together. A few will always survive, and will again increase rapidly. (October 1,
1887.)

ENGLAND.—Sparrow clubs are formed in the old country, each member being re-
quired toshow a given quota of heads each week ormonth. Farmers pay their boys so

-much a dozen for eggs, young, and old birds. We used to poison them also with poi-

soned wheat till stopped by law on account of the wholesale destruction of other
birds. Nets and every device were used to take them; afavorite one with myself
and with all boys was, and still is, to take a lantern on a dark night under a thatched
shed where the Sparrows slept. One boy drove them out with a pole, while three or
four others stood round the lantern in a corner, and caught them in their hands.
(David H. Henman, Willows, Griggs County, Dak., December 12, 183%.)

240 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA,

INJURY TO BUDS, BLOSSOMS, AND FOLIAGE OF TREES AND VINES.

In reply to the question, Does the Sparrow injure shade, fruit, or orna-
mental trees or vines? five hundred and eighty-four replies were re-
ceived, of which three hundred and forty-nine were ete brief,
and may be summarized as follows:

Reports. Reports.

MiG peree eoe Solicit et sans ween fae oe 161 | Notas a rule ....-.. 2.3. ee 3
Chink nots believe- not... =. -\i2s22: 56 | Only by driving off other birds. ..-. 2
Notiio my knowledge: - 22. -5.. 25 =. 36 | Only by roosting and nestinginthem. 14
Notso tar 2s Observed:....2...05.-.525- 15 | No complaint heard ..-.. 2332232 =ee 1
Notwhtere’: mob myeb./24 c6 2. See cee 7 | Does not injure trees... 2... -saaaeee 18
WoramaGheads0.-. 0205. 5.52525. shen 5 | Yes... 226 i524. eee 17
Mota enialliy. Ka cet 2c ee ees eae. 3_| To'some extent... _-.\-2225-2eeeeeees 4
PG ESEHIOUS IS 2 6c jo). See eae 2 | Said to do s0....1...4.31 1
Nouioramy.extent'? 22. veo ee 3

The remaining two hundred and thirty-five reports are, for the most
part, much more full and specific. It is impossible to summarize them
satisfactorily, but they may be classified as follows:

Reports.
RVholydavorable to the Sparrow... co: 6... ee selec ec eee scien so nn
Wholly unfavorable to the Sparrow. .... .--2-~---<-s0---0s «+25 20-5 ee 213
Partly fayorable and partly unfavorable.........---. --...2.--- --<s ..s eee

The following examples of these reports will give a fair idea of the
character of the whole:

CALIFORNIA.—Berkeley. C. H. Dwinelle: It is accused in California (and I believe
rightly) of denuding trees of their fruit-buds to a very serious extent. (Brooklyn,
N. Y., December 4, 1886.)

CONNECTICUT.—Widdletown. Walter B. Barrows: A few doors from my house a
colony of Sparrows has taken possesion of an English ivy which covers the entire
north side of a brick house. Upwards of fifty pairs nest in this vine, and although
their nests have been pulled down more than once, several wheelbarrow-loadsat a time,
their numbers still increase. Theivy has become filthy, ragged, and unsightly ; and,
unless some more effective means are taken, its ultimate destruction is only a question
of a year or two more. Theivy on the chapel of the Divinity School has also been
seriously injured, and the building disfigured in the same manner. (July, 1886.)

Norwich. S. T. Holbrook: They build in and deface vines on churches and private
dwellings. I have seen from seventy-five to one hundred nests on one vine, entirely
destruying its appearance. (August 16, 1886.)

Stratford. Robert W. Curtiss: I saw quite a flock at work in a pear tree early last
spring, and shot three of them. I opened their crops and found buds in all, but so
mutilated that I could not tell whether they were fruit-buds or wood-buds. (October
HT SeG2)

District or CoLuMBIA.—Washington. S. M. Clark: My grape-vines are easily
accessible, but I have never noticed the Sparrows among them. They will pick off
peach and pear buds and young blossoms, but they eat only a portion of them, drop-
ping the most on the ground. (January 11,1886.)

GEORGIA.—Lawtonville. Postmaster: It is very destructive to apple trees, feeding
on the bloom in the spring; but as yet it isnot here in sufficient numbers to do much
damage. (October 4, 1886.) :

ILLINOIS.—Chicago. B.T.Gault: For two seasons these pests have almost stripped
our grape-vines of their fruit; first, by eating the fruit-buds in the early spring, and,

‘; bs

eee

EVIDENCE.—INJURY TO TREES AND VINES. 241

1 ter, by eating whatever blossoms may have been put forth after the first raid. (Oc-
tober 29, 18285. ) .

Monmouth. Dr.S.M. Hamilton: I have never seen the least bit of injury done by
_the Sparrow to trees and vines. (September 24, 1886.)

Inpiana.—New Albany. John B. Mitchell: It injures fruit trees by eating the buds,
and disfigures other trees by roosting in them. (October 6, 1886.)

Iowa.—Davenport. Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, per W. H. Pratt,
curator: The fruit-growers are afraid of the Sparrow, but so far as actual knowledge
_ goes here it scarcely seems to do much injury, except by soiling roofs, trees, fruit, and
vines. (April 20, 1887.)

Des Moines. C.R. Keyes: It has been reported from Iowa City as doing injury to
ornamental or shade trees, but I have watched them for the past two winters, and
have had a large flock roost every night in the trees in front of my window, and they
have done no injury whatever. (February 27, 1887.)

Towa City. C.C. Nutting: It is injurious to cedar and pine trees. The injury is
caused by a habit they have of roosting in flocks in some particular tree, often a
pine, and rendering it unsightly by their litter. Their nesting habits result in dis- ~
figuring trees. Although these habits may not seriously injure the vitality of the
tree, they certainly injure its usefulness for ornamental purposes. I am also in-
formed by a trustworthy observer that they eat the buds of the pine. (January 18,
1887.) /
Kansas.—Netawaka. John H. Johnson: I have seen the Sparrow destroy fruit-buds

of both vines and trees. (February 18, 1887.)

KENTUCKY.—Crescent Hill. Thomas 8. Kennedy: It does not injure the trees or
vines, but it plucks the fruit-buds in the spring. (October 5, 1836.)

Louistana.—Donaldsonville. L.E. Bentley: The Sisters of Charity in charge of the
St. Vincent Institute at this place lost an ornamental or shade tree, and attribute
its death to the injury inflicted by a flock of Sparrows which nested or roosted in it.
This is the only instance of the kindof which I have heard. (October 30, 1886.)

MASSACHUSETTS.—LHast Templeton. Charles E. Ingalls: I have seen them in winter
stripping the buds from pear trees, and from ornamental trees along our village
streets. (August 23, 1886. )

Medford. John Ayres: It never, to my knowledge, injures trees in any way.

- (May 29, 1884.)

Mount Auburn. M. Abbott Frazar: It buds pear trees, but in large orchards and
on a bearing year this is to the advantage of the trees, as it removes but a portion of
the surplus fruit which would otherwise have to be picked off. A single tree in acity
back-yard very likely would be stripped, rather overdoing the business. (Autumn,
1885.)

Springfield. Dr. P.L. B. Stickney: It is continually picking at the blossoms and
buds of trees and vines early in the season. (October 18, 1886.)

Taunton. H.G. White: During winter the Sparrow bites off the buds of many trees
and lets them fall to the ground untouched. (February 25, 1886.)

Micuican.—Bay City. F.W. Grinnell: It does not injure trees or vines very much;
in spring it takes buds from apple and pear trees. (December 4, 1886.)

Haton Rapids. §.R.Fuller: It eats the young buds from the maples where it
gathers in large flocks. (October 11, 1836.)

Mount Clemens. Jno. B. Leonardson: It nests in evergreens and deadens their
tops; and it eats the fruit-buds of the grape-vine in early spring, also the buds of the
apricot to a greater extent. (August 29, 1886.)

Springport. J.B. Conklin: It loes not seriously injure trees or vines. Evergreens,
being favorite roosting-places, are left in a filthy condition, especially in winter.
(October 6, 1886.)

New Jersry.—Blawenburgh. David C. Voorhees: It picks the germs from the buds
of fruit trees at the time of blossoming. (December, 1885.)

$404—Bull. 1——16

2A? THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA,

Caldwell. Mareus S. Crane: My friend, Mr. William Davenport, tells me he has
seen it picking to pieces pear and peach blossoms. (February 19, 1884. }

Freehold. D. D. Denise: It picks the blossoms from fruit trees. (September 2,
1886. )

Haddonfield. Samuel N. Rhodes: It injures fruit buds; but on my farm and in
small villages the destruction is slight. (September 9, 1886.) -

Merchantville. Edward Burrough: It injures fruit buds. I have detected it this
spring eating the buds on a Bartlett pear tree, and also on the white elm. I have
frequently heard them charged with this habit, but never caught them at it before.
(May 16, 1887.)

Passaic Bridge. F.M.Carryl: I have seen it take buds of the plum, apple, and
quince trees, and have found them in the stomachs of birds shot. (August 26, 1886.)

New York.— Binghamton. H.J. Gaylord: It destroys everything it comes in contact
with. Itis very destructive in the fruit orchards in the early spring, eating fruit buds”
from the plum and cherry trees. (September 26, 1885.)

Clyde. William M. McLachlan: I have observed it destroying the fruit buds of the
pear, and I have seen it on my currant bushes. (May 15, 1884.)

Dobbs Ferry. Dr. C. B. MeQuesten: They pick off the budding flowers of the ©
apple and pear trees and the budding leaves of the maples. (October 8, 1886.)

Geneva. C.S.Plumb: It picks out the buds of plum and pear trees in early spring, —
before they have started to any extent. (August 28, 1886.)

Rochester, P.C. Reynolds: It sometimes picks off buds of the pear and cherry be-
fore they open in spring. (September 2, 1886.) 2

Ou10.—Akron. Prof. E. W. Claypole: Ihave not observed it to injure trees or vines,
but testimony on this point is contradictory. (December 31, 1886.)

Avondale. Charles Dury: Four Sparrows examined March 25, 1885, were full of
tree buds; these were shot out of a flock in a cherry tree near home. (February 3,
1286. ) ;

Burton. P.W.Parmelee: It injures grape blossoms. (September 1, 1886.)

Cleveland. LL.M. Davies: I have seen it picking buds from an apple tree in our
yard in the spring, and am sure it was not ‘‘ after insects.” (November 1, 1856.)

Marietta. Dudley 8. Nye: Fruit-growers condemn them as injuring fruit buds.
(November 25, 1886.)

Oxford. L.N. Bonham: It eats the first spring buds of fruit trees and vines. (Co-
lumbus, Ohio, November 30, 1886.)

Saint Clairsville. T. W. Emerson: It roosts, and even nests, in climbing vines in
such numbers as to make them nuisances instead of ornaments. (March 2, 1887.

PENNSYLVANIA.—Berwick. Dr. A.B. McCrea: Before the early vegetables are above
ground he will destroy the fruit buds, often doing considerable damage. (September
1, 1885.)

Berwyn. Frank L. Burns: I have seen it pick off buds from the apple trees when
other food was scarce. I have also found buds of plants in its stomach in winter.
(1885. ) 3

Chambersburgh. Davison Greenawalt: The English Sparrow is the only bird I ever
knew to do any damage to buds or foliage. Peach, pear, and apple trees are the ones
most damaged. (February, 1884.)

Lancaster. Dr. 8. S. Rathvon: [ have it from an intelligent fruit-grower and
nurseryman (Mr. Daniel Smeych) in this city, that they destroy the young leaves and
flower buds of fruit trees and grape-vines in early spring. (October 8, 1886.)

Landis Valley. H.K, Landis: It has been observed to feed on the buds and foliage
of trees. It destroys the blossoms of peach trees. (September 8, 1885.)

Waynesborough. KE. B. Engle: I have seen them pull off the buds of peach, plum,
and cherry trees in winter andearly spring. (August 30, 1886.)

Willow Street. Dr. I. H. Mayer: It attacks. and injures the buds of grape-vines
and fruit trees, especially the blossom buds. (January 31, 1885.)

eee eT Te Dt ed ee oe hii!

EVIDENCE.—INJURY TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 243

RuopE IsLanp.— JVesterly. Byron J. Peckham: I have seen it eating fruit buds, but
do not think its ravages are extensive in this line. (February 20,1884.) I observed
it this spring picking off the blossoms of our cultivated cherries to a large extent.
(1885. )

VerMontT.—Lunenburgh. Dr. Hiram A. Cutting: It does not usually injure trees, but
I saw one instance where they nested so abundantly in a hedge that it was injured.
(August 19, 1884.)

Saint Johnsbury. Rev. Henry Fairbanks: H works upon some buds, but probably
does little harm. (February 5, 1884.) A flock this year stripped the currant bushes
of their blossoms. (1885.)

VirGiniA.— Variety Mills. H. Martyn Micklem: It sometimes eats out young buds
of vines and fruit trees. (December 21, 1886.)

WEsT ViRGINIA.— Elizabeth. Z.E. Thorn: It injures grapes and evergreen trees
principally. (November 4, 1886.)

Wisconsin.—Mishicott. N. H. Terens: It injures cherry trees, currant bushes, and
erape-vines. (November 17, 1886.)

CANADA. ONnTaARIO.—Dunnville. Dr. G. A. McCallum: I have frequently seen it
eating the buds of fruit trees, especially the fruit buds. (August 20, 1886.)

Ottawa. W.L. Scott: I can positively affirm that I have seen them eat the buds
of the elm, maple, and other shade trees in the early spring, though I do not think
the damage was ever great enough to be especially noticeable. (January 26, 1886.)

Strathroy. L. H. Smith: I never saw any injury to my trees or vines by the Spar-
row. In one instance a gardener of our town complained to me of the Sparrows
budding one of his trees, a cherry, I think. (October 4, 1886. )

Toronto. Dr. William Brodie: The stomachs of almost all Sparrows taken in March,
April, and May, contained buds of trees, and during these months the birds were
_ repeatedly seen feeding on the buds of elms and maples throughout the city. [See
_ Dr. Brodie’s tables of the food of the Sparrow, page 311 of this Bulletin. ]

New Brunswick.—Saint John. D. W. Pilkington: It eats the buds of the plum,
gooseberry, etc. (Wickham, N. B., September 6, 1836. )

INJURY TO FRUITS, GARDEN SEEDS, AND VEGETABLES.

In response to the question, Does the Sparrow injure garden fruits and
vegetables ? seven hundred and eighty-eight replies have been received.
Of this number 343 are brief, and for the most part unimportant, as
_ they probably represent in most cases only the opinions of the writers,
and afford no clue to the kind or amount of observation on which they
are based. The following summary is a complete list of these three
_ hundred and forty-three replies:

Reports. Reports.

OL ote =. 163 | No complaints heard .....-.:.22. 6
meric Hot; believe not-..-..-...--- Dom peesete sss tot es woe ts we ae cen eee 27
Not to my iow CeO rota as oo fo think so * believe sols 2.0 Lest aoe 2
Web so far as observed .......----.-- Be) Aa tOld SO". 22 2.te7. eos eee 1
Not here; not yet .2.... eu S.4 Hee Se Lo some Extentio. cess eo. e nee oe 9)
Not icc Ee et So a OPP EnyMres (PUlpss2 seco hee sees 6
Not materially ; not seriously. ..-.--- G- Pin res: Smite MES. lee oe ee ce te
Not to any creat extent -.-...-...-- SOM) LEV LVRESS (ei STIS) oe 8 ioe ke eee tg 4
@alyto a limited extent...........- 3 | Destroys garden seeds .........----- 2
But very little; slightly............ 9 | Does not injure fruits........-..---. 4

_ Not more than some other birds. .... 5 | Not observed to injure fruits........ 12

244 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. ’

The remaining four hundred and forty-five reports, containing the
most valuable information on this subject, can not be satisfactorily sum-
marized, but they may be classified as follows:

Reports
Wholly favorable to the Sparrow... .-22/..--- 2256-22-03 - (a2 2.2 - ee eee 24
Wholly unfavorable to the Sparrow -.-...:2-..-.--..---., -----) == 384
Partly favorable and-partly unfavoratle .-.. 2... 2.2 22-22. <2 2 oe = oe 37

A few examples of this evidence have been inserted already in con-
nection with the summary in Part I of this Bulletin, where the various
injuries to fruits, vegetables, and seeds have been tabulated; and these,
in connection with the following reports, will give a fair idea of the
whole. |

ALABAMA.—Eufaula. E. L. Brown: It eats vegetable seeds before they fully ma-
ture. It is impossible to save such seed. (September 17, 1886. Present about four
years. ) 2

Yotasulga. Sam Dake: They fly down on the vines and eat the grapes; they also
scratch up garden seed. (November 2, 1886. Present about three years.)

ARKANSAS.—Clarendon. Horace Ward: It injures grapes and strawberries. (Sep-
tember 20, 1286. Present ‘‘since June.’’)

Little Rock. Carl von Jagerstield: It injures fruits and vegetables to a considera-
ble extent. (Washington, Ark., September 23, 1886.)

Lufra. W. P. Hale: My little vineyard came into bearing in 1836, and was very
well fruited. It was afflicted with rot to some extent, but its worst enemy is the -
English Sparrow, which eats the grapes about as fast as they ripen. (Autumn,1887.)

CALIFORNIA.— Berkeley (suburb). Dr. M.C. O’Toole: It eats every kind of fruit, and
in great quantities considering the size of the bird. (February 17, 1887. Present
about three years.)

Napa City. Postmaster: Itis apt to eat buds and leaves on young and tender gar-
den plants. (January 11, 1887. Present two or three years.)

Stockion. Postmaster: It injnres peas, apples, cherries, peaches, apricots, plums,
prunes, grapes, etc. (November, 1886. Present three years or more.)

CONNECTICUT.—E£llington. S. T. Kimball: It will eat the seeds of turnip, beet, and
cabbage, if they are not well protected. Once in a while it has made a raid on our
peas. (August 20, 1886. Present five or six years. )

Meriden. H.C. Hull: It injures grapes and devours berries. (August 31, 1886.
Present sixteen years.)

New Haven. Frank S. Platt: I have twenty varieties of choice grapes which they
peck and ruin. (September 9, 1886.)

New Haven. Dr. Fred. Sumner Smith: In New Haven the Sparrows used to spoil
our grapes by the bushel, picking the ripest ones and sucking the jnice. (West Hart-
ford, Conn., November, 1885.)

Plantsville. E. R. Newell: It has been observed to feed on grapes and other fruits,
but in this section not to any great extent. * * * Since writing the above I have
seen a row of choice grapes of various kinds entirely ruined by the Sparrow, and find
that they are committing depredatious on all the vines iu this neighborhood. (Sep-
tember 4, 1885.)

South Woodstock (country). Mrs.G.S. F. Stoddard: I have not observed it to feed
upon grapes or other fruit. (January, 1886.)

Stratford. Robt. W. Curtiss: I have seen it eat sweet corn when in the milk. IJt
tears open the husk when in that condition, and, besides what it eats, it lets the
weather and dampness in upon theear, which is apt to mold, though to no very great
extent. (Icbruary 6 and October 11, 1886).

EVIDENCE.—INJURY TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 245

4 District or CoLtumBra.—IVashington. William Saunders, superintendent of gar-
- dens and grounds, U. S. Department of Agriculture: Small fruits do not seem to be
damaged much here in the city. As the boys prevent any of our grapes from ripen-
ing, I do not know how the Sparrows would affect that fruit. (April 13, 1887.)

_ - Washington. Michael Durkin, gardener at the Navy Yard: It is very destructive
to fruit. This season it took all the cherries from the trees on the grounds, so that
not a single one remained. Early grapes, against the wall of the grounds, were at-
tacked as soon as they began to ripen, and we obtained none fit for use. It also at-
tacked the tops of peas as they came through the ground, as well as the tops of
sprouting carrots and beets. (August 22, 1887. Present about fifteen years.)

Washingion. Hawkins Taylor: The cat-bird and other birds eat my cherries and
other fruits, greatly to my disgust, but I am sure the Sparrows have never touched a
_ cherry, grape, or berry, and there are swarms of them about all the time, and no
other birds; and if the Sparrows do not eat my grapes and fruits, why do they eat
other people’s grapes and fruits? (May 18, 1887.)

_ GEoRGIA.—Americus. M. B. Council: It is very destructive to all garden seeds.
(September 2, 1886. Present about two years.)
4s Atlanta. Judge John D. Cunningham, president Georgia Fruit Growers’ Associa-
tion: I have heard no complaint of the English Sparrow. (October 18, 1886.)
Cartersville. William Milner: We observe that they are very destructive to the
_ grape crop and to all berry crops. (October 4, 1886. Present about three years.)

Fairburn. George Latham: It eats English peas, young turnips, and nearly all
young vegetables. (October 16, 1886. Present three or four years. )

Lumpkin. A. W. Latimer: It injures garden fruits and vegetables to a limited
extent; it destroys cabbage and turnip seed. (September 5, 1886. Present about
five years. )

Macon. Prof. J. E. Willet: It injures garden fruits and vegetables to some ex-
tent. It has eaten early lettuce and the leaves of English peasin January, February,
and March. It also eats the seeds of lettuce, and I think of the sunflower. (No-
vember 2, 1886. Present ten or twelve years. )

Milledgeville. Postmaster: There is some complaint by gardeners. When plants
_ are seeding it destroys small seeds to a limited extent. (November 4, 1886. Present
about six years. )

_ Savannah. J. N. Johnson: It injures fruits and vegetables but little; eating
_ grapes and destroying flower seeds in gardens. On the garden farms in the snburbs
_ it destroys to a limited extent various seeds, but it has not gone into the country
_ generally as yet. (October7, 1886. Present about eight years.)

Jxirno1s.—Alton Junction (country). John Koch: It likes peas, and cherries are
- not safe from it; but it is not plenty enough here yet to do muchdamage. (Septem-
_ ber 25, 1886. Present about four years. )

_ SBernadotie. Dr. W. S. Strode: Latterly instead of cereals I have found grape
_ pulp in large quantities in the stomachs, and this crop has been fearfully damaged;
_ fally one-half, or even more, of the grapes on the bunch being eaten, probably one-
_ third of the crop being destroyed. The bird operates by inserting his bill and suck-
ing out the contents, leaving the empty skins on the vine. (September 7, 1887.)
The fact that the English Sparrow seems determined tosample everything that
_ the agriculturist can produce from the soil was illustrated here this fall by its pick-
ing holes into the sides of turnips, damaging many of them even while on every side
there was an abundance of grain and weed seeds. (December 6, 1887. Present two
or three years. )

Collinsville. Henry De Wald: It does not injure fruits or vegetables much ; it eats
q a few berries and cherries. (October 5, 1486. Present about twelve years. )

_ East Wheatland. W.D. Patterson: It injures currants and raspberries, and eats
afew strawberries. It also eats peas. (January 1888. Present about three years. )
_ Hillsborough. A.J. Edwards: It is a constant visitor to our gardens, but I have

246 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

never seen it molest either fruits or vegetables. (October 6, 1886. Present about
seven years. )

Louisville. Conrad E. Kaehler: It injures the cherry crop badly. It also scratches
up garden seeds. (September 27, 1886. Present about Six years. )

Monmouth. Dr. S. M. Hamilton: I have never seen the least bit of injury done to

fruits or vegetables by the Sparrow. (September 24, 1886. Present twelve or four-

teen years. )

Mount Vernon. John S. Bogan: I have two gardens, and I never noticed the
Sparrow interfering with anything but cherries. (September 2, 1886. Present seven
or eight years. )

Shawneetown. George Rearden: It does not eat the vegetables themselves, but de-
stroys nearly all kinds of small seed, such as turnip, radish, lettuce, etc., and scratches
up larger seeds. Italsoinjures cherries. (October 2, 1856. Present about five years.)

INpDIANA.—Albion. Charles M. Clapp: I know of numbers of cases where they have
destroyed peas and many other Be (October 14, 1886. Present five or six
years. )

Charlestown. Dennis F. Wiliey: It injures peas and grapes, and any seeds that
chickens would eat. (September 28, 1886. Present about four years. )

Dupont (country). T.S. Williams: They eat anything in the garden that is left
to mature for seed. They eat or bite and break the skin on grapes, especially the
sweet grapes, causing the bees to swarm after them. (October 6, 186. Present about
six years. ) cs

Farmland (country). N.W. Wright: It eats garden seeds, and a flock of one hun-
dred or more worked on a patch of sweet corn last fall and damaged the ears consid-
erably. (March 7, 1887. Present two or three years. )

Hooker (country). Mary Benson: It injures cherries, but does no damage to vege-
tables. (October 11, 1886.)

Markland. Julia B. Brown. They work on enrrants, strawberries, and grapes ae
some extent. (October 11, 1886. Present about eight years. )

Newbern. U.F. Glick: It does not injure grapes or other fruit to any great extent
here. (October 12, 1885. Present about two years. )

Vevay. William R. Stratford: It is fond of cherries and grapes, and will eat the
fruit of nearly all our ornamental vines or shrubs. (October 7, 1886. Present about
eleven years. )

Iowa.—Burlington. Howard Kingsbury: Itis not nearly as injarions to fruits and
vegetables as some of the migratory species, such as blackbirds, cow-birds, ete. (De-
cember 28, 1886. Present sixteen or seventeen years. )

Davenport. Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, per W. H. Pratt, curator ;
It does not appear to do much injury here to fruits or vegetables. Some gardeners in
the city report it as an expert at shelling peas, and it pecks at some small fruits a
little. (April 20, 1887. Present about seventeen years. )

Dubuque. Edward T. Keim. Some damage to lettuce has been reported in wet sea-
sons. (August 19, 1886. Present about ten years. )

Fairfield. Thos. C. Ross: This year, for the first time, it was seen five miles out in
the country, on corn, in August. (November, 1887.)

Lost Nation. F. M. Frazier: It injured my grape crop this year, and it injures
young plants, such as cabbage, in the spring. (October 16, 1886. Present five or six
years. )

Sidney. G. V.Swearingen: They are destructive to grapes, raspberries, and other
small fruits, and peck nearly everything that is grown in the garden. (October 8,
1886. Present four or five years. )

KansasS.—Blaine. Postmaster: It picks young grapes and currants. (October 6,1886,
Present seven or eight years. )

Doniphan. Postmaster: It injures grapes very bad] y, also cherries and small fruits,
such as raspberries, blackberries, etc. (October 12, 1886. Present five or six years.)

EVIDENCE —INJURY TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 247

Eureka. A.W. Uart: It injures tomatoes and grapes. (September 4, 1886. Present
two or three years. )

Garnett. M.A. Page: It injures leguminous fruit, and eats turnip seed and radish
seed. (September 3, 1886. Present one year.)

Manhattan. Prof. D, E. Lantz: They have been known to injure grapes by punctur-
ing the skin, but have not proved more destructive than some of our native birds.
- (Autumn, 1885. Present about six years.)

KENTUCKY.—Adairville. A. M. Moseley: There is great complaint of the Sparrow
_ from the grape-growers. (Autumn, 1886. )

_ Bagdad. E. P. Denton: Grapes, cherries, and all small fruits are almost entirely
destroyed by the Sparrow. (October 5, 1886. Present six or seven years.)

Bowling Green (country, 3 miles from city). W. Cook: It eats all fruits and
seeds, including those of the sunflower. It also picks off pea-blossoms and young
peas. (September 2, 1886. Present about three years.)

Casky. Frank B. Hancock: It injures grapes, berries, and all small fruits, and
_ promises to be a pest in this way. (August 19, 1836. Present about six months.)

: Ghent. George R. Bowie: It plucks off fruits and pulls up vegetables while ten-
der. (October 8, 1886. Present six or eight years.)

Hartford. A. B. Baird: It destroys cabbage and radish seed as they commence
maturing; but I have not known of its molesting fruits. (October 5, 1886. Present
about six years. )

: Hickman. lL. O. Pindar: It picks off grapes and cherries, and drops half on the
ground. It destroys ten times as muchas it eats. It also injures strawberries, goose-
berries, etc. (February, 1887. Present about ten years. )

Louisville. J.B. Nall: When other food was scarce I have seen it eat grapes, or
_ rather ruin them by sticking its billinto them. (September 8, 1836. Present about
_ twelve years.)

Stanford. Thomas Richards: It injures raspberries and sirawberries to a small
extent, and sunflowers when raised for seed. (October 29, 1886. Present about
» thirteen years.)

__Lovurstana.—Schricrer. Postwaster: It eats the blossoms of English peas, and in-
jures all vegetables bearing flowers. (October 8, 1886. Present one or two years.)

_ Maine.—Brewer. Manly Hardy: It injures grapes to the extent of its capacity to
- doso. It also eats garden seeds. (August 31, 1885. Present about four years.)

_ MaryLanp.—Ballimore. Otto Lugger: Germinating seeds are eaten, and the sun-
flower no longer ripens its seeds, as they are greedily eaten by the Sparrow. (May
» 10, 1887.)

Boonsborough. Robert Lamar: It is a nuisance here, plucking the blossoms of
early vegetables. (November 12, 1886. Present about eleven years.)

” MASSACHUSETTS.—dmherst. Hubert L Clark: In regard to the English Sparrow’s
attacks on fruit, my attention has been called to the fact that it is very injurious to
_ early pears and apples. Ona tree bearing about fifty pears (the variety known as
_ **Beurre Gifford”) more than thirty were destroyed by these birds. They would eat
out a part of one side of the pear before it was ripe, and then leave the work to be
_ finished by ants and other insects. I never saw the birds at their work but once,
and then being at some distance I mistook them for young and dingy orioles, but am
now convinced of my mistake. A friend living in the center of the town reperts the
_ Same thing in regard to early apples, but he has seen the Sparrows at work. (Sep-
_ tember 8, 1887. Present fifteen years. )

Falmouth (country). F. J. C. Swift: They have been known to pick into and de-
_ stroy pears. (Autumn, 1885.)

_ Medford. John Ayres: It was in my garden many years. I cultivated with my
_ own hands and knew every tree and bush and all the fruit, and I never saw it touch
_ either fruit or vegetables, as I have often seen the robin do. (May 29, 1884. Present
twelve to fifteen years.)

248 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Middleborough (country). E. A. Bowen: It destroys much corn, injuring spindle,
silk, and ear. (September 21, 1826. Present ten or eleven years.)

Northampton. L. C. Ferry: It damages the grape crop greatly wher the fraiba 1s
ripening. (September 10, 18e6. Present about eleven years. )

Somerset. Elisha Slade: The Sparrow feeds on grapes, strawberries, cherries, rasp-
berries, and blackberries. It is as bad on cherries as the robin, probably injuring as
many asiteats. (August 20, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

Springfield. George A. Solly: Fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of seeds are de- —
voured by the miserable Sparrow. It will have the first strawberries, cherries, and
grapes; and in a few years we shall have to cover them with nets, as they do in Eng-
land. (October 8, 1886. Present about twenty years.) .

Taunton. H. G. White: It eats a great many grapes, and is partial to pears and 7
strawberries, but is too fond of them to wantonly injure them. Cherries, however,
it bites off and lets fall to the ground untouched. (February 25, i886.)

MIcHIGAN.—Centreville J. A. Russell: It destroys garden seed, and has been known
to injure cabbage by perforating the heads with its bill. (October 8, 1886. Present
about seven years.)

Eaton Rapids. S.R.Fuller: It has done great injury to my vineyard this season.
It can be driven but a few yards at a time, and returns immediately. (October 11,
1886. Present four or five years.)

Hart. E.D.Richmond: It is very destructive to fruits, such as cherries, berries,
and grapes. (September 4, 1836. Present about four years.)

Hastings. John Bessmer: It injures vegetables a little; attacking lettuce, beets,
and the like, in early spring. (October 7, 1886. Present about ten years.)

Hopkins Station (country). Postmaster: They are not injurious in gardens, ex-
cept to hemp and sunflower seed. (October 6, 1886. Present about three years.)

Jackson. Grove H. Wolcott: It iscomplained of as injuring small fruits, but I have
never seen it doing the least injury to them. (August 15, 1884. Present ten years.)

Kalamazoo. Dr. Morris Gibbs: It eats berries and cherries. It also goes into the
garden and tears up vines and digs into apples, and some vegetables. (November 23,
1886. Present nine or ten years.)

Lapeer. Fred.S. Odle: It injures several species of garden fruits; it is fond ofripe
pears. (September 13, 18-6. Present six or seven years. )

Mount Clemens (country). Jno. B. Leonardson: It eats raspberries and grapes
(for the seeds) around the market gardens to considerable extent, and it nearly de-
stroys the whole crop of salsify and turnip seed. (August 29, 1886. Present about
three years).

Saginaw. F.S.Smith: It eats plums, cherries, pears, and almost any soft, sweet
fruit. (October 6, 1886. Present four or five years.)

Saline (country). Norman A. Wood: It eats green peas as fast_as they grow ; also
raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries, Ithink for theseeds. (September 6, 1286.
Present about six years.)

Shelby. George W. Woodward: It gathers in great numbers and eats and destroys
great quantities of cherries, grapes, and all small fruits. It will destroy the small
fruits of a garden very quickly. (November 10, 1886. Present about six years.)

MIssissipp1.— Aberdeen. A.A. Wall: It is troublesome on cherries, strawberries,
currants, raspberries, grapes, and vegetables. It makes havoc with everything going
to seed in gardens. (Vernon, Ala., September 21, 1886.)

Holly Springs. John S. Finlay: It is very destructive to all kinds of fruit. No-
vember, 1886. Present about four years. )

NEw JERSEY.—Caldwell. Marcus S. Crane: Three of my neighbors say it injured
their grapes this fall by picking holes in them. (November 30, 1885. Present about
sixteen years. )

fast Orange. H.B. Bailey: It injures cherries and strawberries to a great extent.
(February 7, 1884. Present about seven vears.)

EVIDENCE.—IN JURY TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 249

Hackensack. Weldon F. Fosdick: Like the robin, it evjoys our cherries and straw-
berries, but does not cause us any loss, as we can not get at the small limbs which
they reach. (August 26, 1886. Present about fifteen years.)

Hackensack. Henry Stewart: It eats strawberries, raspberries, currants, blackber-
ries, and grapes. (February 5, 1884. Present about fourteen years. )

Ridgewood (country). Henry Hales: It destroys grapes with me to a great extent;
it pecks holes in them and leaves them spoiled. (January 18, 1887. Present about
fifteen years. )

New YorKk.—Binghamton (suburbs). H. J. Gaylord: He will pick every pea from
the pod if he once gets a taste of them. He destroys grapes when they get sweet and
Tipe, gashing but never eating them. He takes them all unless you fight him. (Sep-
tember 26,1885. Present about fourteen years. )

Geneva (country). C.S. Plumb: It cats nearly all garden seeds, and is especially de-

structive to lettuce, cabbage, and salsify. (August 2s, 1886.)

Highland Falls, Dr. Edgar A. Mearns: It destroys peas and other tender vegetables
as soon as they appear above the ground, thus doing great damage. It destroys
grapes in large quantities. (February 27, 1884. Present about thirteen years.)

Port Washington (country). Heury M. Bartis: It injures grapes and pears. (Octo-
ber 1, 1826.

Rochester. H. Roy Gilbert: It attacks garden fruits, and I have known it to de-
stroy beds of tulips and other flowers. (August 20, 1884. Present about fifteen years.)

Rochester. Henry Harrison: It picks the small grapes as soon as the blossom falls,
and picks holes in grapes when ripe, as well as in apples and pears. (August 23, 1886.
Present about fourteen years.) ;

Schuyler’s Lake (country). La Grande Southworth: It injures peas and corn, and I
have seen it eating the fruit of the black cherry and choke cherry, but have never
known it to injure any other fruit except the strawberry. (December 2, 1886. Present
about six years.)

Sing Sing. Dr. A. K. Fisher: Young cabbage and cauliflower plants are attacked
just after they are transplanted.

Syracuse (city and country). Edwin M. Hasbrouck: We have had our grape-vines
almost cleaned, the Sparrow pecking the grapes for the seed until scarcely a bunch
remained that was not ruined. It also eats cherries. (August 20, 1886. Present
twenty-two or twenty-three years.)

Watertown. Herbert M. Hill: It injures grapes, berries, apples, and plums. (Janu-
ary 29, 1887.)

West Farms, New York. James Angus: It does some injury to garden fruits and
vegetables, but not a tithe of that done by insects. (February f1, 1884. Present fif-
teen or twenty years.)

Westport. George C. Osborne: It eats all kinds of berries and pecks green corn.
(November 5, 1886. Present about ten years.)

NORTH CAaRrOLINA.—Sayetieville (suburbs). G. W. Lawrence: It pecks young peas
and other early plants just after they come out of the ground. (September 4, 1886.
Present three or four years.)

Morganton. George H. Moran: It is very fond of strawberries. (May 18, 1887.).

New Market (country). H.A.Beeson: It is abundant within ten miles, and pecks
grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, plumis, apples, peaches, and pears, causing them to
decay. It alsoeats mustard, etc. (November 30, 1886. Present four years. )

Oun10.— Bellaire. W. K. Morrison: When the common gooseberry is only a few
days old the Sparrow attacks it and cuts it in two, eating the front and leaving the
other part on the bush. (October 28, 1886.)

Cincinnati (suburbs). Adolph Leue: I have seen it pick at ripe tomatoes. A few
years agol had two cherry trees laden with fruit all taken by this robber. In 1885
it was especially numerous in this locality, and completely devoured the eats of a
whole patch of sugar-corn containing two square rods. (October 12, 1886. Present

-mnore than twelve years. )

250 THE ENGLISIE SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Columbus, Ohio State University (suburbs). William B. Alwood: We have never ob-
served the Sparrows injuring fruits of any kind, although we have taken some care
to notice them. (July 16, 1887. Present more than ten years. )

Hamilton. George Harbron: It injures young peas, radishes, and lettuce. (Sep-
tember 13, 1886. Present about eighteen years. )

Napoleon. J.L.Haltes: It injures cherries and sweet apples. (September 2, 1886.
Present eight or ten years. )

New Lisbon. J.¥. Benner: I know that it injures grapes and mulberries. (August

27,1886. Present about six years.) .
North Bend (suburbs). R. H. Warder: It cats small fruits and is very troublesome
among grapes; it also eats lettuce seed and peas. (November 27, 1836. Present i

about eleven years. )

Norwalk. S.Gray: It will eat almost any fruit, and also garden seeds. It is hard
onripeapples. (April 23,1884. Present about five years.) s

South Salem. W.N.Irwin: Among the forest-tree seeds that I noticed them work-
ing on were sassafras and spice-wood, and the only good I found them at was eating
the rag-weed seed, so abundant in this State. (December 26, 1887.)

Wadsworth. Dr. J. F. Detweiler: They destroyed most of the pea and bean crop
of a neighbor by pecking the young leaves as they appeared above the ground. (De-
cember 10,1887. Present bout thirteen years.)

Weymouth. Dr. Frank Young: It does not injure fruits or vegetables. It injures
flax. (August 20, 1886. Present about six years.)

PENNSYLVANIA.—Berwick. Dr. A. B. McCrea: Lettuce, peas, and beets are its favor-
ite food in the early spring, and often the entire bed is destroyed. It also destroys
grapes to a considerable extent. (September 1, 1885.)

Collegeville. C.A.Rittenhouse: It injures grapes and strawberries to a large ex-
tent. (1885.)

Gap (country). John C. Linville: It scratches out and eats small garden seeds
after they are planted. (November 16, 1886.)

Germantown (suburbs). Thomas Meehan: It injures strawberries and peas, and wild
cedar trees are stripped of their berries as fast as they color. (August 21, 1886.
Present twenty years or more.)

Hollidaysburgh (country). M.A. Young: They have been decidedly injurious here
by pulling up early vegetables. (December 22, 1886. Present four or five years.)

Lancaster. Dr. S. 8. Rathvon: Possibly it may injure garden fruits or vegetables,
but I have not observed it, nor have I been able to positively ascertain that it does
so. (October 8, 1886. Present sixteen years or more.)

Newport. E. L. Knight: It attacks divers vegetables, but does not injure them, ~
or fruits, to any appreciable extent. (April 30, 1884. Present ten or twelve years.)

Philadelphia. J. Percy Moore: I have often seen the Sparrow feeding on cherries,
(July 18, 1885), and several times on wild grapes (October19), but never on cultivated
ones, at least I have no records in my notes of such observations. (October 15,
1885.)

Philadelphia. F.R. Welsh: It feeds on no fruit but cherries, as far as I know, and
the damage to these is very trifling. It seems to eat only the cherries that other
birds or insects have made holesin. (October 6, 1885.)

Pottstown. John H. Steele: It eats the early salad plants and devours the peas.
(May 15, 1884.) I have repeatedly seen it take grapes when ripening, and it also takes —
cherries. It eatsearly lettuce, peas, and other small green vegetables. (August 19,
1886. Present about sixteen years. )

RuopE IsLanp.—Providence. W.V. Osterhout: It is very fond of cherries and
grapes, and when these fruits are ripe it really does a great deal of damage. (May
9, 1887. Present twenty years or more. )

TENNESSEE.—Lawrenceburgh. W.T. Nixon: It does not injure garden vegetables
orsmall fruits. I have observed it feeding on the berries of the honeysuckle when

EVIDENCE.—INJURY TO FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. 251

snow covered the ground but at no other time. (February 21, 1887. Present about
two years. )

Tiptonville. John D. Arnett: It has been very injurious to our fruit crops,
especially grapes. (November 19, 1886. Present five years.)

Texas.—Galveston. Oswald Schindler: What little fruit is grown here is taken
care of by the Sparrow, without permission of owner. (February 12, 1887. Present

- about nineteen years.)

Utan.—WNorth Ogden. Sidney Stevens: It does a deal of damage to fruit and crops.
(November 22, 1886. Present about four years.)

Pleasant Grove. Mrs. P. Sterrett: it has become a great nuisance to gardeners.
(November 11, 1886. Present about eight years. )

Provo City. Jas. G. Kenney: It is commonly reported destructive to fruit. (No-
vember 15, 1886. Present about six years.)

Vireinia.—Lick Run. J. T. Paxton: It eats all the small fruit, currants, rasp-
berries, and strawberries. (March, 1887. Present six or seven years.)

Richmond. Hugh L. Davis: It mutilates strawberries, and destroys raspberries
and cherries. (November 5, 1830. Present about four years.)

Variety Mills (country). H. Martyn Micklem: It eats gooseberries, currants, and
peas (when first sown, when growing, and when in pod), and picks up small seeds gen-
erally. (Decembez 21, 1886. Present about five years.)

WEST VIRGINIA.—Halltown. John H. Strider: It destroys early peas and cabbages,
and later in the season garden seeds. It is very destructive to sunflowerseed. (Sep-
tember 6, 1886. Present about seven years. )

WISCONSIN.—Kewaunee (country). Ramsom A. Moore: It injures small fruits, such
as berries, grapes, cherries, currants, etc. (November 8, 1886. Present about two
years. )

Lena. R. R. Byram: I have known it to injure garden vegetables, such as the
tomato, etc. (August 20, 1886. Present several years.)

Milwaukee (suburb). Walter B. Hull: I have noticed but few examples of in-
jury to fruit or vegetables, but there would be more if the Sparrows were not fright-
ened on their first appearance. (August 23, 1886. Present about six years. )

Oshkosh. W. F. Webster: I saw them after sunflower seeds in my garden this
year for the first time. I think they do not injure fruits or vegetables. (Novem-
ber 16, 1886. Present about seven years.)

CANADA. ONTAIO.—Belleville. James T. Bell: It does not injure garden fruits
and vegetables to any great extent. (August 19, 1886.)

Oshawa. W. J. Stevenson: I have known them ina short time to clean out all
the vegetables, etc., in a whole garden when first coming through the ground. (Au-
gust 21,1886. Present about ten years.)

Strathroy. L. H. Smith: There are several professional gardeners in our town,
but I have heard no complaints of injury to fruits or vegetables. (October 4, 1826.
Present about twelve years. )

Toronto. J. I}. Williams, for committee of the Natural History Society of Toronto:
It injures garden fruits and vegetables. People generally have been very favorable
toward the Sparrow, but those who have gardens are beginning to complain of it.
(August 27, 1884. Present about nine years.)

QUEBEC.—Montreal. George John Bowles: The market gardeners and farmers in
the neighborhood complain greatly of the injury done by the Sparrow to garden fruits
and vegetables. (August 8, 1884.)

New Brunswick.—Portland (suburb of Saint John). J. W. Banks: It is very de-
structive to currants, raspberries, and pea blossoms. (October 10,1886. Present two
or three years. ) :

ENGLAND.—I know from personal observation that in England it is very partial to
small fruits. (Douglas Robertson, Chloride, N. Mex., August 27, 1885.)

In England it is one of the greatest enemies to the fruit and grain crops, and pre-

252 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.
miums for its destruction are given in all the farming districts inthe country. (Dan-
iel Graves, Provo City, Utah, November 16, 1886.) ; ;

Cambridge County. In cherry orchards and gardens, when I was a boy, if was nec-
essary to keep one or more boys with a shotgun from early daylight to dark. (Jabez
Webster, Centralia, I1l., December 21, 1886.)

They operate on fruit, especially grapes, which they seem to wantonly destroy by
boring a hole in every berry, which is then left to rot. (Thomas Birt, Utica, N. Y.,
September 16, 1887.)

GERMANY.—It eats cherries, and in the spring when the cabbage plants come up
picks off the bud at the top, and by so doing uproots the tender plant or spoils it.
(Mrs. W. Seliger, Hartford, Conn. March 13, 1884.)

INJURY TO GRAIN CROPS.

In answer to the question, Does the Sparrow injure grain crops ? seven
hundred and fifty repiies were received. Three hundred and twelve of
these were very brief and may be summarized as follows:

A;
Th
thee

Reports. Reports.
BOR ae pases etl eS... Stee eee eke 96 | Not more than any other bird-....--. 2
ink nots believe: nobec2:. 22. 53. 19 | But slightly...-. ..-......—23eee 5
Noito my knowledge-. 2-5. s.s--2-: 5 | No complaint heard. .-..-2 3e33eeee 9
Not-so: far as observed ..2.. 2-2 -i-55. 16°) Ves 022 Sac ceu ete 31
INethere; not yeb. .. 2222 os 26 ce. 13 | Think so; believe so... ---25seee— ieee
No; confined entirely to cities...... 8 | Is said to; have heard so...--..---- 4
No; not abundant enough..-...----. 15 | Farmers complain that it does...... 3
Not much; confined mainly tocities. 2 | To some extent-.-.-......--= cee 9
Not much; not abundant enough... 11 | Injures all cereals......-..-. 32a 4
Naetanatenaliy <2. 22 2c. woos eeeas- 3 | Injures all small grains-.-.. soe 8
TMOUSSCLIOUST yas 2255. 22 eee me ko eS 10 | It eats grain ........:.. =>. 22226 eee 26
Not dowan yextentess). is... asc 2 408 it

The remaining four hundred and thirty-eight replies are more full and
explicit, often giving illustrations of the damage done and the manner
in which it is inflicted. These replies can not be summarized satisfac-
torily, and, for reasons explained elsewhere, only a portion of them can
be printed. They may be classified roughly as follows:

Reports,
Wholly favorable to the Sparrow -....2.5-. s+) 2-24). 4b 2
Wholly unfavorable to the Sparrow -.-.-..:--.------:+ :2en s5 dea eee 431
Partly favorable and partly unfavorable...2..o22:- <2. ¢-225: 2-222 eee 5

The following exampies, representing less than one quarter of the evi-
dence contained ip these four hundred and thirty-eight replies, will give
Same idea of the character of the whole:

ALABAMA.—Dadeville. Postmaster: It stripped of seed in a short time some cat-
tailed millet which had been left to ripen. (November 30, 1886. Present two or
three years. )

CALIFORNIA.—Berkeley. C. H. Dwinelle: It seems to me that the so-called Engtish
or House Sparrow threatens to become in our mild climate (California) a nuisance of
the first order. It has already made it almost impossible to conduct certain kinds of
field experiments with grains, etc., with any kind of satisfactory results. (Brooklyn,
N. Y., December 4, 1886. )

*

‘
a
c
Ki
;
j i
ae
Z
4

EVIDENCE.—INJURY TO GRAIN CROPS, 2098

CONNECTICUT.—Last Hartford (country). Willard E. Treat: I have often known it
to do considerable damage to a rye crop, making a clean sweep wherever it alighted.
(October 23, 1886. Present about three years.)

Stratford. Robert W. Curtiss: I have seen it eating wheat and oats in the field,
when ripe, doing injury according tothe number in the vicinity. (February 6, 1886.)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.—Washington. Robert Ridgway: In the summer of 1886 I
saw flocks of hundreds feeding on grain in stacks in Prince William County, Va., and
I have also seen the same elsewhere. (February 8, 1887. Present sixteen or seven-
teen years. )

Washington. William Saunders: Seeds of many kinds are eaten greedily. It is
very difficult to start grass anywhere about the grounds, as the seed is eaten as fast
as sown. (April 13, 1887.)

GrORGIA.—Americus. M. B. Council. Country: It picks up the newly-sown seed,
and is very destructive to the unharvested, ripened grain. (September 2, 1886.
Present about two years. )

Hamilion. Charles L. Dendy: One of our citizens, Judge William I. Hudson, in-
forms me that he was trying to mature the seeds of Millo maize from a small plat in
his garden, but it was all destroyed by the Sparrow. (September 8, 1886. Present
five or six years. )

Kingston. Postmaster: It attacks wheat and oats before they are ripe, and eats
all the grain out of the heads. (October 11, 1886. Present about two years.)

La Grange. Thomas H. Whitaker: Like the rice bird, it injures tops of wheat,
oats, rye, and barley. (September 3, 1886. Present about five years.)

ILLINOIs.—Alton Junction. John Kéch: When the wheat stands in shocks I have
seen at some places over twenty Sparrows on one shock. (September 25, 1886. Pres-
ent about four years. )

Bernadotte. Dr. W. 8. Strode: All the small-grain crops are move or less injured
and the ears of new corn are torn open and the grain is bitten in twoandeaten. (Sep-
tember 7, 1887.)

In my daily rides now I often notice small flocks of them out in the country, often
4 or5 miles from any town, and on shooting one and examining the stomach I find it
to contain for the most part wheat or rye, occasionally with bits of corn grains and
weed seeds. (September 20, 1887. Present two or three years. )

Fernwood. George B. Holmes: I do not know that it injures graiu crops, but I
notice that the oat and wheat fields are always filled with flocks of them in the last
of July and early part of August. (August 27,1886. Present about five years. )

Griggsville. T.W. Parker: It has not been observed to feed on cereals until mature
in the fall, when it feeds in flocks on corn and small grain. (September 7, 1885.
Present two or three years. )

Louisville. Conrad E. Kaehler: Where the Sparrow is abundant, thousands of
them take possession of the grain fields and greatly damage them. (September 27,
1886. Present about six years.)

Peoria. W.S.Cobleigh: I have heard farmers say that it attacks oats in the field
and shock, and sometimes destroys a considerable amount. (August 24, 1886. Pres-
ent five years.)

Quincy. T. Butterworth: It eats the wheat and oats in fields near the city, and
threatens to be a greater curse than the grasshopper or locust. (August 19, 1886.
Present about ten years.)

InpiANa.—Angola. Frank M. Powers: They alight on wheat in flocks, pecking the
grain and breaking down the stalks. (November 5, 1886. Present about six years.)

Bedford. Noyes E. Strout: It injures all kinds of small grain; gathering in large
numbers upon it when in the shock and stack. (September 13, 1886. Present seven
or eight years. )

Brookville. Amos W. Butler: It feeds upon corn, wheat, rye, oats, millet, and grass
seed, being most destructive to wheat when “shocked” in the field. (Autumn, 1885.)

PAS Waele THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Camden. F.C. Groninger: In harvest I have seen large flocks in the grain fields,
on the shocks, and they destroyed a large quantity of the grain. (August 20, 1886.
Present about 5 years. ) '

Farmland, N.W.Wright. Country: A flock of one hundred or more worked on —

a patch of sweet corn last fall and damaged the ears considerably ; they also eat other
corn in the same manner. (March 7, 1887. Present two or three years.)

Greencastle. W.H. Ragan: Jt injures wheat in shock and iu field when left for
late harvest, but under our system of husbandry this damage can never amount te
anything serious. (September 28, 1886. Present about fourteen years. )

La Fayette. I. M. Webster: It injures wheat and oats in the field; and, I think,
corn also ; but possibly the injury to corn which I saw was due to blackbirds, which
peck the ears in early fall. (August 25, 1886.)

Markland. Julia B. Brown: It begins on wheat as soon as the grain is formed in
the head, and continues until it is housed or thrashed. (October 11, 1886. Present

about eight years. )

New Albany. John B. Mitchell: In some wheat. fields near the city the outside .

sheaves in the shock are denuded of grain. (October 6, 1886. Present about eleven
years. )

Patriot. J.T. Bodkin: It works on wheat, rye, and oats, and on corn while young
and tender. I have examined one or two dead ones and found their craws filled with
wheat andrye. (May 24, 1887. Present about three years.)

Stony Point. Thomas H. Watlington: Last harvest I noticed small spots, some-
times three or four feet square, on which the grain was taken out of the wheat heads,
and on investigation I found that the Sparrow did it. (September 20, 1886. Present
about eleven years. )

Iowa.—Grinnell. John Houghton: It has been known to flock into wheat fields in
great numbers. (October6, 1886. Present about two years.) ©

Towa City. C.C. Nutting: It is injurious to grain, eating habitually any of our
common cereals growing near town. (October 13, 1886. Present about five years.)

Newton. W.E. Dingman: On July 21, 1886, I saw a flock of Sparrows alight in

a wheat field, and found, on coming closer, that they were eating the grain. (Octo-

ber 15, 1826. Present two or three years. )

Kansas.—Manhattan. Prof. D. E. Lantz: It feeds upon wheat and oats. The
damage observed here has been inconsiderable, but this is due to the fact that the
birds have not been with us long enough to become very numerous. (Autumn,
1885. Present about five years. ) “

Kentucky.—Caskey. Frank B. Hancock: It destroys a great deal of wl.eat, rye, and
oats in shock. After wheat harvest I saw a flock of abont 50 on and among the
wheat and oat shocks, and they ate a great deal of grain. Itis only a question of
time in regard to their being very injurious to grain fields. (August 19, 1856. Pres-
ent less than a year.)

Crescent Hill (suburbs of Louisville). Thomas S. Kennedy It visits wheat fields
in large flocks and feeds on wheat and other grain in the shock, showing what it will
do when it becomes more numerous. (October 5, 1886. Present five or six years.)

Lexington. Dr. Robert Peter: Professor Scovell states that it feloniously spoiled
his experiments in wheat.culture at the State Agricultural station by stealing the
grain from the ear. (November 11, 1886. Present fifteen to eighteen years. )

Madisonville. J. ¥F. Dempsey: It depredates on wheat fields in immense flocks.
(September 3, 1886. Present about six years. )

Nicholasville. Postmaster: I have heard of oat and wheat crops being attacked
by thousands of these birds and to some extent injured. (October 4, 1886. Present
about eight years.)

Vanceburgh. J. Sparks: It congregates in grain fields and devours vast quanti-
ties of the grain. (October 20, 186. Present about seven years:)

LOUISIANA.—Barataria (country). William B. Berthoud. It injures grain crops

Peek

_EVIDENCE.—INJURY TO GRAIN CROPS. 255

largely. Any small seed, such as oats, millet, etc., is eagerly sought after when sowed
and lightly covered. (June 27, 1887. Present about four years.)

Schriever. Postmaster: It injures the ricecrop. (October 8,1886. Present one or
two years.)

Mainu.—North Livermore (country.) George H. Berry. They eat oats and wheat
in the field, working on it in the same manner as the bobolink. As far as observed
rye and barley are not eaten. (August 23, 1886. Present about three years.)

MARYLAND.—Baltimore. Otto Lugger: Wheat and other ripening cereals are eaten,
and the Sparrows injure more by their weight than by their appetite. (May 10, 1887.)

-MASSACHUSETTS.—Cambridge. Dr. H. A. Hagen: Ihave not observed that it injures
grain here, but I have no doubt it will do so in the fall, as it certainly does to a cer-
tain extent in Germany. (April 13, 1884. Present about eleven years. )

Holyoke. Thomas Chalmers: In the grain districts the Sparrow is very destructive
to the grain crop; and in my opinion all the good qualities of the bird will not counter-
balance the damage done in this way. (March 6, 1884. Present about fifteen years. )

Somerset. Elisha Shade: The Sparrow feeds upon all the cereals to as great an ex-
tent as any native bird. He devours Indian corn in the milk, and is as destructive
in this respect as the crow or blackbird, because he stays in the field and will not
easily be driven out. (October 19, 1865. )

MICHIGAN.—Ann Arbor. J. B. Steere: It has already moved out into the country
to some extent, and lives on wheat when standing and nearly ripe, and also when in
the shock. (1885.)

Bad Axe. J.T. Rorick: It gathers newly sown grain from fields, and shells grain
from standing crops. (October 7, 1886. Present about three years. )

Centreville. J. A. Russell: When the grain fields are near the town it injures them
by breaking down the stalk and picking out and destroying the grain. (October 8,
1886. Present about seven years. )

Hartford. Edward Finley: It feeds on grain stacks in the vicinity of the village
in flocks of several hundred. (October 9, 1886. Present about seven years. )

Jackson. P.B. Loomis: I have seen it picking up the sown oats. (July 20, 1881.
Present eight years. )

Kalamazoo. Dr. Morris Gibbs: It injures grain crops, more particularly oats, but
also buckwheat, wheat, and any and all grains excepting corninadry state. It eats
greencorn. (November 23, 1886. Present nine or ten years. )

Lickley Corners (country). A. H. Carver: It is reported to have nearly destroyed
some small fields of wheat 10 or 12 miles north of here. (August 24, 1886. Present
one or two years. )

Marshall. Samuel 8. Lacey: Farmers complain that when it gets a footing it in-
jures wheat both before it is cut and in the shock, and even troubles their stacks.
(November 20, 1886. Present about six years.)

Paw Paw (village and country). Postmaster: They alight on heads of wheat and
oats and break them down; they also pick ont the grains of wheat and oats in the
sheaf. (November 4, 1886. Present twelve years.)

Petersburgh (country). Jerome Trombley : I have seen it feeding largely on standing
crops of oats and wheat, as well as when in the shock and stack. (August 23, 1886.
Present about nine years. )

Schoolcraft. P. D. Miller: Farmers tell me that it worked on their wheat and is
now working on their corn. (October 11, 1886. Present about nine years.)

Tecumseh. C. A. Wright and C. A. Story: The injury is much greater to grain
than to fruit or vegetables. It feeds first on grain, second on fruit, third on insects.
When it is abundant it certainly destroys much grain. (October 11, 1886. Present
seven years. )

Watrousville (country). E. B. Hayes: Large flocks settle down upon standing
wheat when nearly or quite ripe, and not only feed upon it, but shell out the grain.
(October 25, 1886. Present about four vears. )

296 THE ENGLISID SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Ypsilanti (couutry, one aud one-half miles from town). William Lambie: The
Sparrows came out from the city when the wheat was first ripe, and fed on it and
tangled down the straw. The most of them went away after harvest. (September
29, 1886. Present five or six years. )

MIssIssiPpp1.—Columbus. D.C. Hodo: They are injurious to grain, eating all kinds.
(September 21, 1886. Present about two years.)

Missouri.—Oregon. William Kaucher: In August it gathers in large flocks and in-

vades the grain ficlds; but the numbers are not so great as to make these inroads ~

very serious as yet. (September 21, 1886. Present about four years. )

New JERSEY.—Blawenburgh. David C. Voorhees: The Sparrow devours wheat,

corn, and other grains; eating the wheat fron: the head in the field at the time of
ripening, and afterwards in the shock and stack. It strips the husk off the corn at
the small end of the ear and eats the grains when they are in thé soft, milky state.
It is eminently a granivorous bird, and will thrive with no insect food whatever. It
appropriates food thrown out for the chickens, creeps through knot holes in stables,
barns, and store-houses, and devours the grain in the racks and cribs to a very damag-
ing extent. (December, 1885, and August, 1886. Present about three years.)

Caldwell (country). Marcus 8. Crane: A flock gathers about our stacks of wheat,
rye, and oats every season, and feeds on the grain. A pane of glass fell out of a
window in the granary and the Sparrows soon learned to enter and steal wheat from
the bin. Occasionally I have seen them forage in the field. (November 30, 1886.
Present about sixteen years. )

Hackensack. UWenry Stewart: It is very injurious to wheat and corn crops. I have
seen a strip of wheat 10 feet wide laid down level all around the edge of the field.
It injures field corn by tearing open the husks and eating the grain. (February 5,
1884. Present about fourteen years.)

Hackensack. Weldon F. Fosdick: I have seen the Sparrows for weeks in flocks of
300 or 400, eating rye and oats that had been stacked in barracks in the fall of the
year. J have not known them to meddle with grain in the spring when first planted,
(1885. Present about fourteen years. )

New Providence. H. F. Barrell: It feeds only on grain and seeds. J have re-
peatedly seen it in great numbers on fields of wheat and oats, eating the grain from
the head. (1885. Present about twenty years. )

Passaic Bridge (suburbs). F. M. Carry]: It feeds in large flocks in fields of rye,
oats, wheat, and buckwheat, and birds killed were stuffed full of these grains. (Au-
gust 20, 1886. Present many years.)

New York.—Baldwinsville. Rev. W. M. Beauchamp: It feeds largely upon wheat,
and perhaps on other grain, being driven in tlocks just in advance of the reaper.
(October 15, 1885. Present many years. )

Clyde. William M. McLachlan: I have seen great numbers on my grain stacks,
stripping the grain off wherever exposed. (May 15, 1884.)

Constantia. Wallace D. Rhines: It is very injurious to wheat and oats. It does
not eat as much as it wastes by breaking off the stems and shelling out the grain
after being cut. (August 23, 1886. Present four or five years.)

Fredonia (country). C. E. Bartram: Flocks pull down the grain and destroy by
shucking it out and scattering it over the ground. (August 25,1886. Present about
sixteen years. )

Ithaca (suburbs). Prof. I. P. Roberts: It injures wheat, rye, oats, and barley on
the stalk, in shock, and in the barn. (August 24, 1886. Present about three years. )

Le Roy (country). Prof. ¥. M. Comstock: It eats grain in the field before 16 is cu,
and after it is drawn into the barn. It lives in flocks about barns and in straw and
hay stacks. (October 12, 1826.)

Long Island City. W. I’. Hendrickson: I have seen flocks numbering hundreds in
the grain fields in June when the grain was ripening, and believe they did a great
deal ofdamage. (Octoher 22, 1885.)

gag

EVIDENCE —-INJURY TO. GRAIN. CROPS. 254

New York city. Won. Robert B. Roosevelt: It is pretended that he devours enor-
- mous quantities of growing grain and threatens a famine in the land. His diminu-
tive proportions are of themselves a tolerably conclusive reply to that accusation ;
moreover, he does nothing of the kind with us on Long Island, whatever may be his
habits elsewhere. I have never seen a single one in the fields of grain. (August 8,
1326.)

Painted Post. A. H. Wood: It collects in large flocks in the fall, when it attacks
fields of ripe wheat and oats, and is very destructive. (August 22, 1885. Present —
about nine years. )

Penn Yan. G. C. Snow: I have seen flocks of Sparrows alight on heads of wheat
when ripe, or nearly so, eating the grain and breaking it down. (September 6, 1886.)

Rochester (suburbs). H. M. Jennings, gardener and seedsman: I have found it
very destructive to grain crops. (February 12, 1887. Present about twelve years.)

Rochester. P.C. Reynolds: It is very destructive to wheat. (September 2, 1886.
Present about twenty-one years.)

' Sing Sing. Dr. A. K. Fisher: The Sparrows are very destructive to grain, both in
the field and after it is placed in the stack. They prefer wheat, hence in this local-
ity, where little wheat is grown, the loss is comparatively much greater than in
localities where itis a staple crop. (1885. Present about nineteen years. )
Southampton. G. H. White: If grain is shocked up in the lot for a few days, the

Sparrow will shell the tops of the shocks all out. It also shells it in the field some-
what. (August 23, 1886. Present ten or eleven years. )

Syracuse (city and country). Edwin M. Hasbrouck: I have seen large flocks, often
_ numbering hundreds, in the oat, wheat, and buckwheat crops. (August 20, 1886.
Present twenty-two or twenty-three years. )

West Brighton. C. M. Raymond: For two years we had a field of oats, and when
ripe an immense flock of Sparrows would settle onit and feed allday long. (Septem-
ber, 1886.)

Westport. George C. Osborne: I have commonly seen flocks of hundreds settle in
an oat or wheat field and begin their mischief by eating the grain. (November 5, 1886.
Present about ten years. )

Onito.—Avondale. Charles Dury: I endeavored to seed a patch of ground about 50
by 30 feet with a mixture of clover and other seed, but the Sparrows picked up every
seed, and I was obliged to go over the place again and reseed it and cover the seeds
with earth, and though I shot more than one hundred Sparrows from the spot they
persisted in returning to the place as long as a seed remained in sight. (February 3,
1888. )

Canton (country). J. F.Niesz: Some of the fields of wheat are almost stripped for a
distance of several rods from the fences. Oat-fields are likewiseinjured. (September
6, 1886. Present about three years.)

Cleveland. William F. Doertenbach: September 14, 1886, I saw a large flock of
Sparrows in a wheat-field, ard the owner said they did considerable damage. The
only means he had taken to prevent their depredations was shooting them, but this
did not lessen the number. (November 8, 1886. Present about thirteen years.)

Cleveland. S. R. Ingersoll: I have often seen large flocks of these pests settle
down on newly-cut oats and wheat and eat_large quautities of the grain. (September
1, 1886. Present about fourteen years. )

Cleveland. Dr. K. Sterling: About the 25th of July the early broods begin to
gather in flocks of from fifty to four hundred. They go into the country for 5 miles
around, eating every seed and grain that is ripe, and returning at night. They keep
this up untilNovember. (August 18,1886. Present about seventeen yeurs. )

College Hill (6 miles from Cincinnati). H. A. Koch: In the summer of 1884 I
_ noticed a field of wheat along a roadside. A large flock of Sparrows had perched on
_ the fence alongside, and the birds were continually flying in and oat of the wheat,
_ which was just about ripe. I found that for about 15 feet in from the road a large

8404—Bull } 17

958 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

amount of grain was picked from the eaxs, but farther in the wheat became more full
inthe ear. (August 25, 1885. )

East Rockport. A. Hall: I have seen large numbers feeding upon shocks of oats,
and farmers tell me they are very destructive to other grain. (August 26, 1886. Pres-
ent about fifteen years. )

Laurel. Daniel Bohl: When the wheat is ripe one can see how much they eat
anddestroy. I bave seen patches of grain which looked as though some one had
taken the wheat heads and rubbed them between his hands—nothing left but straw
and chaff. (August 6, 1887. )

Mount Vernon. B. L. Swetland: Mr. James Rodgers, who lives in the west part
of this town, owns several acres of gardens and also grows a few acres of wheat each

year. He told me that last year and this the Sparrows destroyed several bushels of

his wheat (each year), and that in a few days they would have destroyed the entire
crop. They worked on it as long as it remained in the field. (November 15, 1886.
Present about ten years.)

South Salen. W.N.Irwin: The Sparrows began on the wheat as soon as it was in
the milk, taking from one to a dozen or more grains from one side of the head. They
worked on one side of the field along a wire fence and for a distance of about 50 feet
into the field, and the entire length, about ©0 rods. The ground was pretty well
covered by the chaft they picked off. I also found them working on my buckwheat.
(December 26, 1887.)

Wadsworth. Dr. J. F. Detweiler: One man in town had about three acres of
wheat last year, and the Sparrows destroyed three-quarters of the crop. I have re-
peatedly seen great droves alight upon a grain-field and begin picking the grain from
the heads. (December 10, 1887. Present about thirteen years. )

Wauseon. Thomas Mikesell: Last summer hundreds of Sparrows gathered on my
wheat shocks, andin a few minutes had taken every grain from the outside of many
shocks. Others tell me of their doing the same way at their places. (April 24, 1886.)

West Berlin. Charles H. Shaw: Some of the farmers in this section have had to
cut their wheat earlier than they otherwise would, asthe Sparrow was taking it badly.
There is a flock at our wheat nearly all the time. (July 7, 1887. Present about four
years. )

PENNSYLVANIA. Berwick. Dr. A. B. McCrea: I have seen wheat and oats materi-
ally injured when standing in the field, A farmer told me he had noticed the Spar-
rows going in and out of his mow, and upon examination found the top sheaves of
the oats entirely husked. (September, 1885.)

Berwyn. Frank L. Burns: The Sparrow docs considerably damage to ripening
grain, principally wheat and vats. On the former it works in large flocks, shelling
out much more than it eats. It is also very troublesome in the barn after the crops
have been harvested, as it is impossible to keep it out. The extent of the damage is
difficult to estimate, but it must be considerable, as it works on the grain about two
weeks before harvest time, and also in the barn until it is thrashed. (1835.)

Chambersburgh (country). Davison Greenawalt: In the fall of 1884 we did not thrash
our grain until November. We had a large mow in the barn filled with wheat.
Large flocks of Sparrows came and soon had every head of wheat as far down as could
be reached by them completely cleaned out. I have also noticed them in the grain-
fields just before harvest. ‘They will pick out the kernels of wheat as soon as they
are sufficiently hard. (February, 1886.)

Lancaster. Dr. 8. S. Rathvon: It does not serionsly injure grain crops. Mr. J,
Duffy, while cultivating a small farm in the vicinity of Lancaster, once reported ta
me that it appeared in flocks of from fifty to one hundred during midsummer and
autumn, and fed on the grain in shock, but mainly on the gleanings. (October 8,
1886. Present sixtcen years or more. )

Philadelphia. J. Percy Moore: On anumber of occasions this year, in early Augus*
when the oats were being harvested, I noted immense flocks in the fields, picking

Oe eT) See OE ae ee Pee FS Re ee ee

a ee
Pigs

EPs ae Soe gee

EVIDENCE.—INJURY TO GRAIN CROPS. 259
large quantities of ripe grain from the hulls, and afterward taking what had fallen
to the ground. ITalso noticed them in the corn, (September 7, 1886.)

On April 26, 1886, they were observed pulling and eating sprouting wheat. (March,

+1887. Present twenty years or more.)

West Chester. Dr. B. H. Warren: They alight on fields of wheat and oats, and
consume a great quantity of the grain, and by swaying to and fro and flapping their
wings they shower the remainder on the ground. (January, 1887.)

SOUTH CAROLINA.—Annandale. Alexander Macbeth: I am informed that last week
a flock of English Sparrows visited Captain Hazzard’s barn-yard near Annandale,
settled on a stack of rice, and commenced eating. They were with difficulty driven

off. (Georgetown, S. C., February 4, 1887.)
VERMONT.— Charlotte. I. H. Horsford: They ruined my field of oats, seeming to

_ prefer it to wheat or barley, though both were raised near by. (February 21, 1884.)

Hydeville. A. I. Johnson: I have observed them in large numbers feeding on
wheat and oats in the fields, and they will subsist there as long as the grain is left in
the field. (August, 1886. Present about three years.)

West Pawlet. Dr. Frank H. Braymer: They alight in oat fields in large numbers,
and injure the crop very much. (August 31, 1886. Present eleven or twelve years. )

VIRGINIA.—A4ccotink (country). E.E.Mason: I have noticed its operations on stand-
ing grain and grain in the shock. (August 23, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

New Market. George M. Neese: They are very destructive to wheat in the garner,
and to sorghnm seed in the field. (December 30, 1885.) After wheat is cut and in
shocks in the field the Sparrows go in flocks and eat the wheat from the shocks. I
heard a farmer say they worked on his oats before it was cut. (August 27,1886. Pres-
ent about twelve years. )

Variety Mills (country). H. Martyn Micklem: Wheat fields just before harvest are
sometimes much injured by the Sparrow, also wheat when first sown. (December
21, 1886. Present about five years.)

WISCONSIN.—Milwaukee. Walter B. Hull: During the fall they move in large flocks
and feed on grain,etc. When frightened they rise with a ‘‘ whir,” like immense
flocks of blackbirds. (August 23, 1&86. Present about six years.)

Racine. Dr.P. R. Hoy: It visits farms and does considerable damage to wheat, oats,
barley, etc. The farmer would be greatly the gainer if the Sparrow were extermi-
nated. (November 17, 1886. Present eleven or twelve years. )

CANADA. OntTARIO.— Belleville. Prof. James T. Bell: They have assembled in
large flocks on the grain fields of Mr. J. W. Ponton and others in the vicinity of the
city, and have destroyed the crops on several acres in the whole. (August 19, 1886.)

Dunnville. Dr. G.A.McCallum: Flocks of them may be seen for miles around this
town frequenting wheat and other fields, but principally the grain fields; and many
farmers kill large numbers during the winter in and about their barns, where they

. feed on the grain insheaf. (August 20,1885. Present nine or ten years. )

Tistowell. William lL. Kells. Large flocks have been seen to settle down on wheat,
standing and in shock, and devour much of it. (August 23, 1886. Present about
nine years. ) ; :
Oshawa. W. J. Stevenson: In the suburbs of the town they can be seen just be-
fore the grain is cut, and when it is in the stook in countless numbers completely de-
stroying the crop. (August 21, 1886. Present about ten years. )

Plover Mills. RK. Elliott: I have shot Sparrows in wheat fields (July 18, 1885) and

% _ found a large percentage of the food at that time to be wheat taken from standing

grain. (September 6, 1886. Present about five years. )
Strathroy. L.H.Smith: What I fear about the English 4 ees is the injury they

may yet do to the farmers by eating their wheat. When wheat is getting ripe they

go out into the country in flocks and feed on it. They.are spreading ont in colonies

amongst the farms, and should they do this to any great extent, I fear the damage
_ they may do will be considerable; still, net more than in England, and I dare say they

260 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

will not consume more than is willfully wasted in the fields by the farmers themselves.
However, it is enough to raise a cry against them by agriculturists. Whether the
bird does enough good to pay for the wheat he consumes when standing ripe in the
field and in the shock is something I can not say. (October 11,1885. Present about
twelve years. )

QuUEBEC.— Montreal. George John Bowles: Farmers in the neighborhood complain
greatly of the injury it does to grain crops. (August 8, 1884.)

Quebec. Col. William Rhodes: It does not injure the grain crop about here. Our
grain ripens so rapidly the-birds have no time to injure it. (February 11,1884. Pres-
ent about twenty years.)

ENGLAND.—Cambridge County. This county is a grain and stock country; most of
it is known as the Fen country. For many years previous to the time I left this
country (1258) the farmers had taxed themselves three pence per acre to exterminate
the Sparrows. They were so numerous that they were a terribly destructive pest to
the grain farmers, in the winter time appearing in very large flocks of from five hund-
red to five thousand. When a lad of ten or twelve years of age, Iwas employed with
a shotgun to keep them from pulling up and destroying the sprouting grain in October,
but in the spring it was often necessary to have two boys in a 30-acre field of rye,
oats, or barley to keep them from carrying off the newly-sown grain. So numerous
and destructive were they that for a full week after the grain was up boys would be
employed to keep them off. (Jabez Webster, Centralia, Ill., December 21, 1886.)

It does great damage to wheat crops. When a boy in Norfolk, England, I have
seen fields where the wheat was destroyed two rods in from the fence by the Sparrow.
The town paid so much per dozen for killingthem. (Henry Harrison, Rechester, N.
Y., August 23, 1886.)

I remember an old farmer in England who claimed that he raised 80 bushels of
wheat to the acre. ‘‘That was a tremendous crop,” said his hearers. ‘‘ Yes,” said
he, ‘‘the way of it was this: All my men told me they were sure the Sparrows ate
half of my wheat, and yet I thrashed 40 bushels to the acre.” I saw the depredations
myself on that particular crop, and they were very great. They generally attack
the corners of fields and the parts along high hedges near a village or farm stack.
(David H. Henman, Wiilows, Griggs County, Dak., December 12, 1886.)

For years previous to 1841, at which time I left England, we saw the grain crops
around Leamington, Warwickshire, devoured by these little gluttons. My grand-
father had to employ from thirty to forty girls and boys to drive the rascals from his
fields of wheat, oats, and barley. My share in the work was simply to knock them
down with the shotgun when the clouds were raised. The people in this country
have no idea of the countless millions of Sparrows on the other side. (Thomas Birt,
Utica, N. Y., September 16, 1887.)

I have seen wheat fields in England, adjoining timber and near towns, with belts
six or eight feet wide totally divested of all grain. (Robert Williamson, Troy, IIl.,
October 2, 1886.)

RELATION TO OTHER BIRDS.

The original testimony on this subject consists of replies to several
distinct questions, and is thus more difficult of analysis than the evi-
dence in the preceding sections.

One thousand and forty-eight observers contributed information, and
in one hundred and fifty-three cases their entire replies are of such a
nature as to be readily summarized, while in three hundred and thirty-
seven other cases only part of the evidence in each report can be treated
thus. The following lists show the character of the evidence so far as
it can be summarized briefly.

EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 261

Among the responses to the question, Does the Sparrow molest or
drive off any of our native birds? the following were received:

Reports. Reports.

eNO... -..-. aaa can eae ie oe = deal NLD a Seal 0, ak SRR eau pm agin ene Ap 2A 7

_ Not abundant enough here yet ....-..- 127) ora. Cert amv Oxtemibo. — 2 0 .ce oe as eee 2
SMMEMPOIU MOL: 225 o5). 0 eee ee eee ee- 1th Mrcauembly soe es eee ee eee ee eee 1
meenoeovserved tO... 2.2 -..2-. eee -8--- MOF CONSUL GLY ta tener. cis ae lets: ae eae ree i
Mor tony knowledge... .0..-..----. WAY LG SeeMIS: Oe an na) epee ce ee 3
No trouble observed .............-. - 9! Am told so; have heard so...-.-...--- 4
Not much trouble observed ....-...-. 4 | Does not drive them away.----..----- 3
OS - coseeie #eeee nro 49 | Not observed to drive away any .....-. 6
PAE SOMENDITOS: 2 65 Lecce pec eee wens 30 | Has driven none away yet..-.-..----- 6

Among the replies to the question, What species are molested or ex-
pelled ? were the following:

Reports. Reports.
PMIEORMerVOIUS No J. lll lll} ele 561 Nearly all'smail birds)..':.2 22.2. 0S 3 ee 21
Reaetyeall other birds:..2-...---..-:. 67: | AM except naw ke! 2) Ola ee eae 2
yearly all species, I think .-.--..:..- 8 | All except the kingbird.........2--.. 3
PAUESOME DINOS 095. Ll yee ee ii PAlPexcept the bluebird ss. - = sees 2
Wearly all song-birds ..........5..--. 140 AG weaker birds" uh.0. tse. s2 eee 2
eismall song-birds ..}.-.......-.-.- 27 small birds..4--. We hh ee eee 6
PRU MS MUMUNOITOS 2 S222 ouy.k 2 cc wee eee Box Many: DIPGSE i c8. noo eioe, ee eereectemee 2

Among the replies to the question, What birds habitually resist the
Sparrow, or attempt to drive it away unless themselves first attacked ? are
a the following :

Reports. Reports.
OC LME 5 2h he ci ea a 15 | Nonciexcept. the blue jay 2252-46 9)
meevone successfully.......-.......---.. 4

a”.

_ The remainder of the testimony relating to the Sparrow’s influence
q on native birds, consisting of reports from more than eight hundred ob-
_ servers, is not only the larger but by far the most valuable part, and it
is with the greatest reluctance that any of it is omitted. Some exam-
% ples of this testimony have been cited in Part I of this Bulletin (pages
_ 82 to 98), and the following additional reports will give some idea of -
the character of the whole.

_ ALABAMA.—Cullman. §S.H. Herrin: The Sparrows usually take possession of the
_ homes of the black martin and bluebird, and in many cases the latter have to give
way tothem. The bluebirds, and sometimes the black martins, try to retake their
nesting sites, but fail. (September 24, 1886. Present about two years. )

— tiufaula, KE. L. Brown: None of our birds molest the Sparrow, but it attacks and
_ drives away mockingbirds. (September 17, 1836. Present about four years.)

a Jacksonville, G. B. Douthit: Mockingbirds are attacked, and are not nearly so
_ numerous here as before the appearance of the Sparrow. (September 22, 1886. Pres-
ent about three years. )

Moulton. J.M. Sandlin: I have known none except the bluebird to attempt to
. reclaim former nesting sites when these were occupied by the Sparrow. I have ob-
_ served no trouble with any othernative birds. (September 21, 1886. Present about
one year.)

Tuskegee. Samuel Q. Hale: The bluebird resists the Sparrow, but is beaten every
_ time. The Sparrow molests and drives off the mockingbird and all others, (Sep-
_ tember 17, 1886. Present about two years. )

262 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

ArkaNnsas.— Hot Springs. Postmaster: The Sparrows fight everything, but mar-_
tins are the principal sufferers. (Sepfember 17, 1886. Present about ten years.)

CALIFORNIA.—Berkeley (suburbs). Dr. M. C. O’Toole: The Sparrow, living almost
exclusively around dwellings, comes in contact with few birds except the house
swallow. In 1884 they took the nests of swallows under the eaves of my house, and
the swallows left. I destroyed the nests, and although the Sparrows visit the place
daily, they have built no nests since. (February 17,1887. Present about three years )

Berkeley. T.S. Palmer: I have known the English Sparrow to take possession of
the nesting site occupied by house finches (Carpodacus frontalis) for several years,
and, after adding to the old nest, use it for the reception ofits own eggs. I havenol
observed that it drives out the house finches by force. Probably the Sparrow is not
abundant enough as yet to do any considerable damage. (December 31, 1887.)

Haywards. Dr. J. G. Cooper: The cliff swallow and bluebird are the only species
which appear to resist the Sparrow, but they are unable to hold possession. (August
25, 1885. Present six or seven years. )

Oakland. Walter E. Bryant: I have noticed that anallene (noticeably one pair of
white-bellied, and several pairs of eave swallows) discontinued building on houses
where the Sparrow nested, although before the advent of the Sparrow they had used
them for several years. (August 28, 18c6. Present five or six years.)

Oakland and San Francisco. E. F. Lorquin: It is driving away most of the indi-
genous birds in the cities. Some, like the cliff swallows, try to resist, but are gen-
erally unsuccessful, as the Sparrows combine and attack them in force. (August,
1887.) eae

San Francisco. F. Gruber: It molests, and to some extent drives away, native
birds, such as blackbirds, house finches, snowbirds, warblers, and some species of
sparrows. (March 5, 1884.)

San Francisco. A. H. Webb: Native birds have simply given place to the Spar-
row. (September 13, 1880. Present about fifteen years. )

CONNECTICUT.—East Hartford. Willard E. Treat: It dces not, to my knowledge,
molest other birds in this locality. I once saw one fighting with the chipping spar-
row, but the latter came off victorious. (November, 1885.)

Purple martins and robins resist the Sparrow, but generally with little success, as
the Sparrow attacks them with superior numbers. I have known of its taking pos-
session of martin boxes in early spring, before the martins arrived, but upon their
coming the martins in two or three cases regained their nests by force. In addition
to the birds already mentioned, bluebirds and barn swallows are attacked. (Octo-
ber 23, 1886. Present about nine years.)

Enfield. Newell A. Parsons: I have several martin-houses around my place, and
in the spring the Sparrows and martins have great battles for possession of the
houses. I frequently shoot several Sparrows, as I do not allow my martins to be mo-
lested by them. (1885.)

Gaylordsville (country). E. H. Austin: The bluebird is driven away, but the wren
has always been successful. If Sparrows were numerous, however, I think the re-
sult might be doubtful. (August 19, 1886.)

Meriden. H.C. Hull: I have ede boxes for both wren and bluebird, and the
Sparrow took possession of both. (August 31, 1886. Present sixteen years. )

Middle Haddam (country). Henry L. Stewart: In the spring of 1885 the Sparrows
had taken possession of the bluebird box in a pear tree, and there was fighting for
three or four days, but the Sparrows conquered. Again, in 1886, the bluebirds were
forced to leave another box. (September 2, 1886. Present eight years.)

Middletown. Walter B. Barrows: In May, 1886, a robin began a nest in a pear
tree in my yard, only 30 or 40 feet from the house. The Sparrows at once attacked
her, not in large numbers, but a few at atime and repeatedly, and although she per-
sisted for several days, and nearly completed the nest, she was finally compelled to
give up the fight and look elsewhere for a nesting site. In this case the Sparrows

-EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 263

i: “not only did their best to pull the nest to pieces during the bird’s absence, but while -
she was sitting on the nest and shaping it, two or three of them would fly at and
peck her until she was forced to take to her wings. (July, 1886. Present about six-
teen years. )
e Middletown. William P. Post: One morning last May I saw an English Sparrow
ae engaged in pulling to pieces the partly finished nest of a robin built in a tree beside
3 the walk. Supposing the Sparrow wanted the materials for its own nest, I stopped
a pete see what turn affairs would take when the owner of the nest should appear. ‘The
_ Sparrow continued to tug at and pull out straws, strings, rags, mud, etc., dropping
_ them to the ground as fast as loosened, until the robin, with a load of‘new material,
q perched on a neighboring tree before flying to ‘the nest. The Sparrow at once left
the nest, and taking up a position on a branch some distance above it, appeared to be
completely absorbed in its own affairs, remaining quiet and unconcerned while the
robin (who did not seem to see him) repaired her damaged nest, arranged the new
material she had brought, and started in search of more. No sooner had .she gone
than the Sparrow returned to his work of demolition, and --:tinued until again in-
___terrupted by the return of the owner, when the same performance was gone through
__ without variation. I saw this exhibition repeated several times in the course of a
few moments, and when I finaliy left the robin wasstiil trying to complete her uest,
-_ and the Sparrow still doing his best to demolish it while she was away. I was sat-
_ isfied that the Sparrow did not intend to use any of the materials of the nest, but
was simply trying to prevent the building of a nest in that place. Later I found the
Sparrow still busy in the same way, and the warfare was kept up for about a week,
- until the ground was covered with the wreckage. Finally the Sparrow gave up the
= attempt, and the robin, not seeming discouraged, raised her little family.
; Again, the same month, while watching a chipping sparrow with its bill full of
-_ ecanker-worms, an English Sparrow appeared and attacked the chippy, which aban-
doned its load of worms and took to its wings. The English Sparrow examined the
worms carefully from all sides, but seemed to conclude that they were not what he
expected, for he refused to touch them, and the chippy afterwards returned and
again took them in charge. (January 25, 1887. Present about sixteen years.)
“” Norwich. S. T. Holbrook: I have never seen an attack by our birds except in
a self-defense. The bluebird and honse martin are driven from their houses, and the
robin and wren are attacked, but the wren is a match for the Sparrow. (August 26,
2 1286. Present twenty years or more. )
‘Portland. +John H. Sage: It drives off the bluebird, house wren, and purple finch,
the latter for some years occupying a balsam-fir tree until expelled by the Sparrow.
I have also seen it drive away the golden-crested kinglet, the redpoll, and the gold-
Jia finch. (August 16, 1886. Present about seventeen years. )
West Hartford. Dr. Fred. Sumner Smith. It has driven off (to a certain extent)
_ bluebirds, purple martins, orioles, warblers, and flycatchers, expelling them from their
nests time after time. (November, 1885.)
Districr oF COoLUMBIA.—/Vashington. Walter B. Barrows: Twice within the past
month I have seen Sparrows acting as escorts for robins. On April 2, while crossing
the Capitol grounds, a robin left a tree near which I passed and flew to another
about 25 yards distant. He was followed at a distance of a couple of yards by five
Sparrows which alighted all about him, and all withiu a very few feet, but did not
attack him, and simply appeared to be waiting for him tomove on. In the meantime
-__ two or three more Sparrows joined the original five, and when the robin flew to the
_ _ next tree all of them followed closely and settled near him again. He seemed uneasy
and yet disinclined to fly again, so I walked up within a few yards and watched for
the next move. The Sparrows chattered a good deal, but did not hop about much,
and the robin looked hopelessly about without uttering a sound or moying from the
_ branch where he had alighted. Presently I took a step toward him, and he flew de-
_ jectedly toward another tree at a little distance, closely attended by his officious

+

264 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

body-guard, which was augmented by several more Sparrows. This was too much
for the robin, and, pausivg but an instant ou this tree, he started off swiftly across
the grounds, as if determined not to stop again until he could stopalone. I watched
lim several hundred yards on his way, and saw one or two Sparrows turn back, but
the majority still followed as he went out of sight.

Again, on April 26, I saw a robin in the Congressional Gardens followed persistently
about in the same way by a single English Sparrow, apparently a female. While
watching to see the outcome of this matter my attention was distracted for a moment
by a yellow warbler, and on looking again both robin and Sparrow had disappeared
and were not seen again.

Many times in this city, and at least twice in Boston, Mass., I have seen domesti-
cated pigeons chased and attacked by single Sparrows, precisely as a kingbird attacks
acrow; the Sparrow trying to strike the pigeon on the head, and following it in every
case several blocks before giving up the chase. I did notin any of these cases see the
origin of the trouble, and so do not know what was the cause of attack. (April
27, 1887.)

More recently I have seen a Sparrow attack and drive off a warbling vireo; and it
is an every-day occurrence to see Sparrows persecuting robins, and snatching from
them the worms and insects which they so carefully search out on the grass gronnd.

Only a few pairs of robins have nested on the Agricultural grounds this season, but
whenever one appears upon the grass he is very soon confronted by from one to five
Sparrows, which watch every motion and attempt to seize everything eatable which
he finds. I have seen the robin lose in this way angle-worms and cut-worms, be-
sides other species too small to identify positively. (June 15, 1887.)

Washington (Smithsonian Institution). Robert Ridgway. In some instances pur-
ple martins successfully resist the encroachments of the Sparrow, and song sparrows,
being of very different habits, hold their own. Bluebirds and wrens resist until they
find the task hopeless. The bluebird, house wren, Bewick’s wren, and purple martin
are affected far more than any other species, for the reascn that their nesting sites
are taken possession of by the Sparrows. (February 8, 1887. Present sixtcen or sev-
enteen years. )

Washington. William Saunders, superintendent of garden and grounds, U. 8. De-
partment of Agriculture: I do not think that native birds have been much affected
in this city by the Sparrows. Birds seem to be aS numerous about the Agricultural
grounds now as-formerly. I have, however, often seen Sparrows watching robins
while hunting earth-worms, and have repeatedly seen them snatch a worm from the
robin as soon as it had been dragged from the ground. (April 13, 1887.)

GroRrGIA.—Alpharetta. William A. Porter: For years past the swallows haveraised
their young in the chimneys and niches of the court-house here, but now for two years
the Sparrows have taken possession of these places. (September 8, 1886. Present
about two years. )

Iairburn. George Latham: The Sparrow molests nearly all of our native birds,
but they simply change their haunts, not going far uniess again attacked. (October
16, 1886. Present three years or more.)

iingston. Postmaster: It drives off all other birds; the mockingbird and blue-
bird fight it very hard, but the Sparrow whips them. (October 11, 1886. Present
about two years.)

Macon. Prof. J. Kk. Willet: I have known it to oust the red-headed woodpecker
from its nest; the catbird, however, raised two broods this year on my lot, where
Sparrows are abundant. (November 2, 1886. Present ten to twelve years. )

Savannah. J. N. Johnson: It has driven off most of our native birds from the
parks and trees within the city. The warblers are seldom seen now, and the absence
of mockingbirds, redbirds, nonpareils, and especially house [chipping] sparrows, is
notable. (October 7, 1886. Present about eight years.)

ILLinois.—Aledv. J. F. Henderson: The blue jay seems to be the only bird which
can resist its encroachinents. (September 29, 1886. Present one or two years.)

~

ae _ -EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 265

Alton. Hon. William McAdams, president State Natural History Society: That
the Sparrew seems to be usurping the place of a number of our domestic birds, or
“rather those we have been used to having in the trees in our yards, seems to be a facet;
art there seldom seems to be actual combats between the Sparrows and other ede
Tadmit that I do not see why the robin, the blue jay, the thrush, the blackbird, oriole
< “ redbird, and otkers should go away, Gut the very common expression and feeling of
2 our people here is that our native birds are now, within the last few years, much
less numerous; and this fact is recognized with a feeling of sorrow by everybody.
/ (August 30, 1886. Present about fourteen years.)
e _ Carbondale. Prof.G. H. French: I have seen martins try to reclaim former nest-
‘ing sites. The bluebirds are all known to have forsaken my premises on account of
the Sparrow. (September 29, 1886. Present about six years.) <
Carmi. Dr. Daniel Berry: Most of our house lots are large, containing fruit and
_ shade trees, and the complaint is general that the Sparrow has driven away the robin,
- eatbird, bluebird, and wren. (October 6, 1886. Present about ten years.)

Centralia. Jabez Webster: It drives away the yellow-bird we call wild canary,
_ the wren, bluebird, swallow, bee-martin, mockingbird, and oriole. I think none of
our native birds except the kingbird attempt to drive it off. The bluebird, robin,
and thrush often have trouble with the Sparrow, I have seensthe red-headed wood-
_ pecker, when four or five of them were together, put to flight a flock of thirty-five or
more Sparrows. (December 21, 1886. Present about seven years.)
Chicago. H. K. Coale: It oe driven away the bluebird, Baltimore oriole, white-
bellied swallow, purple martin, chipping sparrow, kingbird (once common, now rare
in the city), house wren, and red-eyed vireo. All these were once abundant, but
_ have now taken up quarters inthe country. (August 21,1886. Present about twelve
years. )
Collinsville (small city and country). Henry DeWald. I have seen different small
irds, when driven away from their nesting sites, come vack time and again, but the
Sparrow always kept the place. (October 5, 1886. Present about twelve years.)
East Wheatland. W.D. Patterson: The Sones has occupied the nests of swal-
lows, purple martins, and wrens, and usually holds possession. It has driven off
gw early all our small insect-eating birds. (January, 1888. Present abont three years.) |
_ Fernwood. George B. Holmes: In a yard near my house is a martin-box which
was taken possession of by the Sparrows during the winter, and when the martins re-
turned there was quite a fight. The Sparrow conquered, but the box was removed
by the owner and cleaned out. The bluebird and robin are driven away. (August
27,1886. Present about five years.)
* Hillsborough. A. J. Edwards: I have no‘evidence of any trouble between the
Sparrow and other birds. (September 1, 1886. Present about seven years. )
_ Jacksonville. Prof. J. B. Turner: The bluebird and blue jay seem to hold their
own best. Other birds seem to steadily and rapidly diminish, whether from their
dislike to the Sparrow or from its monopoly of the bird food, or from some unknown
_ cause, can not tell. Apparently all the best singing birds retire before it. I have
_ observed no special quarrels. I only observe the apparent, constant, and rapid, in-
_ crease of the one and decrease of the other, to me unexpected and still unaccountable,
from any specific and adequate known cause. (September, 1886.)
Johnsonville. Jas. J. Johnson: A pair of bluebirds had nearly finished a nest
; when the Sparrows came, two at first, then a dozen or more; but the bluebirds kept
_ their position and reared a brood. (March, 1887. Present three or four years.)
Louisville. Conrad E. Kaehler: Martins will fight for their boxes when these are
taken possession of by the Sparrow. (September 27,1836. Present about six years. )
‘A Monmouth. Dr. S. M. Hamilton: There is no more war between Sparrows and
a birds than among birds of the same species, or between Sparrow and Sparrow.
Martins, robins, bluebirds, wrens, and swallows try to reclaim former haunts, but no
more than among themselves. The Sparrow is no match for the bluebird or robin,

4

<7

et ee
266 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

and the little wren holds its own with him. I do not believe the Sparrow drives
away any of our native birds. I speak from careful observation, and they are just as
pientiful here now as before the advent of the Sparrow. I have never seen the Spar-
rows band themselves together for attack, and am satisfied they do not do it; it is
pair against pair. The assertion that they attack other birds in a body is sheer non-
sense; no such thing is known in natural history of any species of bird. (September
24, 1886. Present twelve or fourteen years.)

Odin (suburbs). W. Ingram: The house wren sometimes has trouble with the Spar-
row, but as a general rule they live in harmony. The Sparrow is not known to a
certainty to have driven off any bird, but there is a noticeable decrease in the number
of purple martins since the Sparrows have become numerous. (February 24, 1887.
Present about six years.)

Olney. J.C. Allen: We know of no birds that successfully ceuiatn it. When it be-
comes numerous the bluebird, red-bird, robin, oriole, and chip bird all leave. (Sep-
tember, 1886. Present about twelve years. )

Folin. Postmaster: One or two pairs of robins, catbirds, and brown thrashers
still return and build nests in the court-house yard, but the mockingbird comes to our
city no more to nest. Since the Sparrow was brought here our singing birds have
decreased yearly. The Sparrows make their attacksin squadsof three or more. (Oc-
tober 7, 1886. Present about sixteen years).

Rock Island. W. H. Hatch: It sometimes drives martins from their boxes and
pigeons from their food; it also Crives away the robin. I have seen no resistance on
the part of any bird. (October 25, 1886.)

Shawneetown (country). George Rearden: It has taken the houses from the mar-
tin almost altogether. The martin resists, but with little success. The barn swallow
and bluebird are also driven off. (October 2, 1886. Present about five years. )

Troy. Robert Williamson: I have watched the house swallow, in breeding season,
drive Sparrows away from its nest. (Qctober 2,1886. Present about ten years. )

INDIANA.—Albion. Charles M. Clapp: A few years ago Mrs. A. S. Clapp had lots
of martins, and every spring now they come back to these boxes, but the Sparrows
drive them away. ‘This spring not a martin could be seen near their old nests until
I shot the Sparrows off the boxes for a few days, and then the martins came back.
(October 14, 1886. Present five or six years.)

Bloomington. Prof. B. W. Evermann: I have seen Sparrows molest or drive off
purple martins, house wrens, bluebirds, and a pair of great-crested flycatchers. (Au-
gust 25,1886. Present about eleven years.)

Burlington. W.A.Wright: The purple martin is the only bird that has come un-
der my observation as trying to reclaim former nesting sites. In the spring of 1879 a
pair of martins returning to their old home, a box in my yard, found it occupied by
the Sparrows. They flew away, but soon returned with re-enforcements and took pos-
session. I have noticed the Sparrow nesting in holes excavated by the hairy and
downy woodpeckers, but whether the latter were driven away or not I ean not tell.
(September 21,1€86. Present sixteen years or more. )

Camden. F. C. Groninger: In my lot I constructed quite a number of houses for
the bluebird and house wren. They occupied them and were driven away by the
multitude of Sparrows, but have since reclaimed their abodes through my protection.
I have noticed the wren fight the Sparrow when I was around, and have seen the
Sparrow fly from it. The Sparrow molests the purple martin, bluebird, wren, robin,
chipping-sparrow, and red-winged blackbird, but none are entirely expelled from
their former haunts. (August 20, 1886. Present about five years.)

Crandall. G.W. Jenkins: The martin and Sparrow quarrel for nesting places, but
the one which first builds in the house continues to hold possession. (October 12, 1886.
Present one or two years. )

Delphi (country). John Barnard: It has been known to drive away all kinds of
birds—martins, robins, grosbeaks, warblers, ete. The martin resists, but with no suc-

_ EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 267

z cess, for if one begins to fight he always has five or six Sparrows on him, and there
. "are one hundred Sparrows to one martin. (October 12,1886. Present many years.)
os Ferdinand. A. J. Fisher: The robin, summer martin, and bluebird are most
troubled by the Sparrow. The latter is always the aggressor and nearly always the
: victor. They have furious conflicts. (October 8,1886. Present about eight years.)
_ ‘Fort Branch. C. ¥. Garrison: In one case here the martins had a nest in a box on
-apole and the Sparrows drove them from the box after a fierce fight. The bluebird
is also attacked and driven away. (October 7, 1886. Present three or four years.)
Greencastle. W. H. Ragan: The crow-blackbird, robin, jay, bluebird, and wren
_ will drive it away from the vicinity of nesting places. I think the stories of the pug-
~ nacious character of the Sparrow are greatly Aaa oeiated. The pugnacious boy has
_ probably had more to do with banishing native birds than the Sparrow. Asa rule
the Sparrow occupies a field (streets and populated regions) that other birds are not
_ adapted to, and it holds this territory the yearround. (September 28, 1886. Present
_ about fourteen years. )
Irvington. Sylvester Johnson: It does not attempt to usurp the-rights of other
birds. There are as many birds here now as before the Sparrow came, and all live in
peace and harmony. (September 20,1886. Present about six years.)
_ La Fayette. F. M. Webster: The blue jay is the only bird that will nest in my
_ yard where these birds are abundant. (August 25, 1886. Present about twelve
_ years.)
New Albany. Jas. M. Payton: The Sparrows are good fighters, and attack every
a bird that attempts to nest in boxes where they build. They do not migrate, but re-
main all winter, and when the bluebird and martin return in the spring they find
a8 Sparrows in possesion of their houses and hard to dislodge. The martin is most
! ety successful, but the bluebird usually gives it up. A few years ago when
_ the martins came in the spring and found the Sparrows in their boxes there was hard
= Beecting for several days; then they stopped, and the martins occupied the upper tier
of boxes and the Sparrows the lower, and there was no more fighting that year.
_ (September, 1885, and September 6, 1886. Present since 1867.)
———-Riehmond (an bites). Joseph C. Ratliff: Thave seen the conflict between the blue-
bird and Sparrow, and know of martins that staid about their box for several days
4 after the Sparrows had possession. I think it either drives other birds away, or that
‘s _ vther birds will not stay in its company. Among the birds thus affected may be men-
tioned the robin, field or song sparrow, and woodpecker. (November 5, 1886. Pres-
ent about seventeen years. )
a Stony Point (city and country). Thomas H. Watiington: The bluebird and house-
: un attempt to reclaim their nesting sites. I have seen some fighting, but as yet
a _ the martins appear to hold their boxes against all opposition. I have not noticed
ee. that any other birds are molested as yet. (September 20, 1886. Present about eleven
_ years.)
~ Towa.—Bellevue. Dy. Lawrence Millar: Isaw a pair of chickadees drive a pair of
_ Sparrows from their nesting place in an old apple tree in my garden. Warblers, the
_ chipping sparrow, the bluebird, and yellow finch are molested or driven away by the
_ Sparrow. (October 24, 1886. Present about ten years.)
_ Davenport. Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, per W. H. Pratt, curator;
_ As far as can be determined in this locality, it has had very little influence in driving
4 ‘i off our native birds; it perhaps interferes somewhat with the bluebird. (April 20,
1887. Present about seventeen years. )
7 Grinnell. John Houghton: The wren, bluebird, martin, blue jay, and robin re-
_ sist the Sparrow with varied success. I haveseen battles for nesting places between
the Sparrow and the wren, bluebird, and martin. In addition to the above, the gold-
finch, oriole, and golden-crowned kinglet are molested, but I do not think the Spar-
a ‘row is abundant enough here to expel any native birds yet. (October 6, 1886. ~ Pres-
ent about two years. )

268 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA,

Sidney. G. V. Swearingen: The best and most usefal of our smaller birds in this
country are whipped, and some of them have nearly disappeared. On my own farm
I have seen the pewee, robin, thrush, native sparrows, and others trying to whip
the rascals out, but without help from man they all fail. (October 8, 1886. Present
four or five years.)

West Liberty. Dr. E. H. King: The Baltimore oriole successfully attacks it wher-
ever met. The Sparrow has nearly driven the bluebird, wren, and even the blue
jvy from our village, and, with the exception of the oriole, robin, and catbird, it mo-
Jests all birds which are semi-domestic in their habits. (October 14, 1886. Present
about nine years. )

Kansas.—Burlingame. J. Mayberry: Other birds are less numerous since the ap-
pearance of the Sparrow; the wren and bluebird have very sensibly diminished in
numbers, and the mockingbird, oriole, and robin are molested or driven away. (Octo-
ber 6, 1886. Present about fifteen years.)

Chanute. S. H. Scott: It fights the cliff swallow, and I have seen it take pos-
session of a swallow’s nest about the time it was completed. (October 5, 1886.
Present less than a year.)

Fontana. M. J. Campbell: It molests or drives away the swallow, martin, wren,
and robin. The kingbird resists it, but without success. (October 9, 1886. Present
less than a year. )

Manhattan. Dr. Charles P. Blachty: A few English Sparrows came here two or
three years ago, at which time there were robins, Baltimore orioles, and orchard ori-
oles in considerable numbers. The Sparrows have increased in town, while the
others named have decreased, although the opportunities for the increase of the na-
tives are much better. I have seen the Sparrows drive away robins and martins.
(November, 1885. Present two or three years.)

Manhattan. Prof. D. E. Lantz: The Sparrow has frequent fights with the robin
and some other familiar birds, but is not always victorious, and no birds have been
driven away. (September 27, 1886. Present about six years.)

Morantown. P.J.McGlashan: It has not been known to drive away any of our na-
tive birds. This year a small martin box with four holes was reclaimed by the mar-
tins, except one hole, which was retained and occupied by the Sparrows. (October
15, 1886. Present about eighteen months. )

Quenemo. Dr. A. kh. Bodley: I do not think any bird fears the Sparrow more than,
other birds. It does no more fighting than the jay, kingbird, or crow-blackbird. I
have not known it to molest any of our native birds, and I have the jay, crow-black-
bird, migrating thrush, bluebird, and cardinal grosbeak all about my house in spring
and summer. (October 13, 1386. Present four years. )

Topeka. F.W.Giles: My opportunities for observing the Sparrow’s habits have
been most excellent, and I dispute any man who says he knows better of the habits
of the bird in Kansas than I do. In the twelve years during which I have been a
constant observer of their mingling with native birds I have never seen a case of an-
tagonism. The ridiculous complaint of their being quarrelsome toward native birds
has prevailed here as at the East. I have many times offered $10 reward for proof of
a Sparrow having attacked any other bird, except it were a blue jay or other preda-
tory bird destroying their eggs or young. True we have now very few native birds,
less than we had twelve years ago, but in what city of thirty thousand inhabitants
are native birds abundant? (October 6, 1886. Present twelve years. )

KENTUCKY.—Sowling Green (country, three miles from city). W. Cook: It molests
and drives away all other birds, except, perhaps, the bluebird, which sometimes suc-
cessfully resists it. (September 2, 1886.)

Burkesville. W.¥. Alexander: It molests the redbird, mockingbird, common spar-
row, and snowbird. ‘The bluebird attempts to reclaim its former nesting site. (Oc-
tober 27, 1886. Present five or six years. )

Crescent Hill (suburb of Louisville). Thomas S. Kennedy: The Sparrows same from

EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 269

EVIDENCE.

the city in large flocks and located themselves in outhouses, barns, and about the
dweiling. They have driven away the American sparrows and finches, the titmouse,
wren, catbird, robin, and other birds. (October 5, 1886. Present five or six years.)

Ghent. George R. Bowie: It drives away the bluebird and black martin. It takes
possession of their nesting places during winter and does not allow them to come back.
(October 8, 1886. Present six or eight years. )

Hartford. A. B. Baird: I have witnessed contests between the English Sparrow
and our native birds, in which the Sparrows confederated and soon became the vic-
tors. In attempting to reclaim former nesting places the bluebird appears to hold its
own, but the catbird, which has frequent contests with the Sparrow, is obliged to re-
move. (October 5, 1886. Present about six years.)

Lancaster, W.H.Wherritt: I do not know the cause, but several of our small birds,
among them the wren, common sparrow, and snowbird, have almost disappeared
since the Sparrow came. I think no bird except the martin ever comes in conflict
with the Sparrow. (October i1, 1886. Present eight or nine years.)

Louisville. J.B.Nall: Before the introduction of the Sparrow the bluebird and
pewee were common on every farm; now it isa rare thing to see one. The martin
is also molested. (September 8, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

LovisiaAna.—Barataria (country). William B. Berthoud: The mockingbird resists
the encroachments of the Sparrow, and on rare occasions the tyrant flycatcher, or
kingbird, attacks it with partial success. Warblers and flycatchers are the birds
most commonly molested and driven away, but alsothe wren. (June 27, 1887. Pres-
ent about four years. )

Mainu.—Fairfield. JamesO. Whittemore: I have known but one instance in which
any of our native birds attempted to drive off the Sparrow when not first attacked. A
pair of woodpeckers (yellow-shafted flicker) took possession of a hole formerly occupied
by these birds and successfully held it against a great number. I have known blue-
birds and tree swallows to be driven from holes by the Sparrows, and unable to make
resistance. Jremember an instance of a Baltimore oriole dispersing a large number of
Sparrows, but the case of the flickers was the most positive one I have known. I
have never observed any actual molestation except the above, and do not think the
Sparrows are plenty enough in this locality to diminish the number of other birds.
(August 19, 1886. Present ten years.)

Farmington. KE. E, Richards: It has a habit of attacking nearly all birds coming
in its way, especially about nesting places or feeding ground. I think it is always
the aggressor, except perhaps in-contests for martin houses and nesting places. (Au-
gust 20, 1886. Present about six years.)

North Livermore. George H. Berry: It molests and drives away the robin, blue-
bird, chipping sparrow, red-eyed vireo, and the smaller birds in general. The purple
martin and white-bellied swallow attempt to reclaim former nesting sites. (Angust
23, 1886. Present about three years.)

Portland. Nathan Clifford Brown: I have seen it attack the downy woodpecker,
and molest the robin and Baltinfore oriole. It drives away the white-bellied swal-
low by taking possession of its nests. (1884. Present ten years or more.)

MASSACHUSETTS.— Amherst. Hubert L. Clark: I have noticed that the Baltimore
oriole (Icferus galbula) is almost the only bird which does not seem to be troubled by
the Sparrow. It is the only bird which is to be found breeding in our greets as
abundantly as five or six years ago. This may be an exception, but I thought it
worthy of note. (September 8, 1887. Present about fifteen years. )

Cambridge. William Brewster: Markedly and unmistakably and with appalling

_ rapidity our native birds are leaving. I do not often see the Sparrows actually at-
_ tack them, however. All species, with the exception of robins, blue-jays, and crow-
_ blackbirds, are affected, but house wrens, bluebirds, swalkows, least pewees, and ori-
oles most noticeably. (January 30, 1834. Present eleven years or more.)

Holyoke. W. F. Lamb: It certainly molests and drives away such birds as the

270 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

purple martin, robin, cherry bird, chipping sparrow, white-bellied swallow, gold-
finch, and song sparrow. (February 29, 1884. Present fifteen years or more.)

Holyoke. ¥.H. Metcalf: Bluebirds, wrens, and martins generally attempt to drive
it away from some nesting places, but the Sparrows are too numerous. I have seen
one wren at the door of a bird-house successfully resist the attack of nine Sparrows. —
She then tore the Sparrow’s nest to pieces. Bluebirds generally give in to the Spar-
row. It molests the robin, bluebird, wren, orioles, vireos, song, field, Savanna, and
other sparrows, grass finch, and martin. The latter is becoming extinct, I believe,
from this cause. (August 23, 1886.)

Medford. Joln Ayers: I never saw it assail birds of other varieties, but have often
seen them fight among themselves. I have heard many persons repeat the current
stories of their driving off native birds, but have never geen a person who could name
any kind that sufferel from them. Certainly the robins are as abundant as ever, and
peck and destroy my peaches, pears, and grapes as usual. (May 29, 1884. Present
twelve or fifteen years. )

Rehoboth (country). F.H. Carpenter: A small colony of martins has driven away
three pairs of Sparrows from their box each spring since 1882. The Sparrow has
driven off the white-bellied swallow. (August 21, 1886. Present about seven years. )

Somerset. Elisha Slade: The chipping sparrow, goldfinch, purple finch, bluebird, —
white-bellied swallow, and summer yellowbird have retired before the pugnacious,
quarrelsome exotic, and in some cases have almost entirely disappeared from around
the house, barn, and orchard. (October 19, 1885.)

Ido not know of any non-predatory bird which habitually attacks the Sparrow
unless itself first attacked, and even when attacked the defense is usually unsuccess-
ful. I know of one successful instance, however. A pair of white-bellied swallows
having possession of a box, their nest built and eggs laid, were attacked by a pair of
English Sparrows, and the swallows bravely resisted the attack and compelled the
Sparrows to retreat. In less than half an hour the Sparrows returned, accompanied
with six other Sparrows to aid them,and commenced an assault. Ihe swallows
fought hard in defense of their home and won the battle of the brave, though only
two to eight. (August 20, 1886. Present about twelve years.)

Taunton. H.G. White: It takes possession of all available places in the city, and as
it commences to breed as early as March (March 12, 1834), it has full control of the
boxes put up for the accommodation of bluebirds and white-beilied swallows before
these reach their summer homes. Consequently these birds leave their old haunts to
find new breeding places, and few birds except Sparrows are seen in the city. * * *
For a number of years it has been my habit to place an elevated platform in the
garden, on which the birds might feed when snow covered the ground. Formerly
juncos and tree sparrows were there all day in flocks of twenty or twenty-five, but
for the last three winters their numbers have grown “ beautifully less,” and this year
they have only been in the garden twice, while Sparrows are as abundant as juncos
used to be. (February 25, 1886.)

Tyngsboro (country). C.W. Swallow: I found a.nest of the English Sparrow in a
dead apple-tree limb May 16, 1884. Under the nest was a dead white-bellied swallow,
which had evidently been killed by the Sparrow. The Sparrows are quarrelsome,
especially with bluebirds and white-bellied swallows. (March 29, 1887.)

MicHIGAaN.—Allegan. Rev. D. D. Chapin: The smaller birds generally, which are
wont to nest about houses and yards, are molested or driven away. The goldfinch
suffers in particular. (October 30, 1836.)

Corunna. Dr. C. T. Armstrong: It drives away or kills all song-birds and other
desirable birds—robins, orioles, tanagers, song sparrows, bluebirds, phases, and even
the pugilistic martins. (November 1, lss6. Present about five years. )

“ik Rapids. Jas. BE. Rankin: It has frequent battles with the robin and chippy-
bird, and the biuebird seems to be driven back, but the house martin retains its own
nesting place, (October 18, 1386. Present about six years. )

id a

EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. Ziel

i Frankfort. Charles Burmeister: It molests and drives away the bluebird, chicka-
dee, and wren. It has been observed that four or five Sparrows would attack one
little bluebird, and by force of numbers put the solitary bird to flight. (October 12,
1886. Present about five years. )

Hillsdale. Ira B. Card: The martins return in large numbers once or twice a year
and try to reclaim former nesting sites, but fail ingloriously in every battle. The
Sparrow drives off the robin, bluebird, graybird, blue jay, and all other native birds.
There is nothing left but the filthy Sparrow and his dirt. (October 6, 1885. Present
twelve years.)

Hudson. A. H. Boies: I have observed severe battles between English Sparrows
and bluebirds, martins, and some of our smaller birds. (1885.)

Kalamazoo. Dr. Morris Gibbs: Many species are bothered by the Sparrow, and all
make more or less resistance, but generally with little success. The bluebird, robin,
and martin attempt to reclaim former nesting sites; the bluebird gives the best fight,
and the robin does fairly wel!, but the Sparrow drives all out. (November 23, 1886.
Present nine or ten years. )

Mears (country.) George Wyckoff: It drives off the eave swallow and bluebird.
The latter will fight the Sparrow, but as the odds are always against it, sometimes
five to one, it has to give up. (October 7,1886. Present about three years.)

Mount Clemens (country). Juo. B. Leonardson: My bird-houses contained about
seventy pairs of martins; now all are gone. Bluebirds once lived on my cornice
brackets with the phebe, but they have been driven away, as have also the barn
swallow and ground-bird. (August 29, 1886. Present three years. )

Owosso. A. Lee Williams: It is confined to the city, and as yet does not clash
much with our native birds, except with swallows and martins, which I think it will
in time drive off. (September 2,1886. Present about ten years.)

Petersburg (country). Jerome Trombley: The house wren attacks the Sparrow
and usualiy comes off victorious. (August 23, 1886. Present about nine years.)

Saline (country). Norman A. Wood: I know several instances in which house
wrens and martins have successfully reclaimed their nesting sites. Last spring a
Sparrow had a nest commenced in a bird-house occupied the year before by a bluebird.
The bluebird pitched the nest out, and finally occupied the box. The Sparrow molests
and drives off the Baltimore oriole, robin, chipping sparrow, purple grackle, and yel-
lowbird. (September 6, 1886. Present about six years. )

Saranac. M.S. Lord: I have noticed that flyeatchers and the tree sparrow are
molested and driven away. (October 8, 1886. Present seven years.)

Sault de Ste. Marie. William §. Shaw: I have seen swallows fight with them until
they fell tothe ground. Inone case the swallows drove them off their nest. (October
- 11,1886. Present three years.)

3 Schoolcraft. P.D. Miller: It drives off the robin, bluebird, swallow, wartin, and
_ chippy. Ihave watched their actions with the robin and chippy inmy yards. Three
or four years ago I had a good many nests of the chippy in my yard, but this year I
do not think they were able to nest there at all. The English Sparrows destroy their
_ eggs. (October 11,1886. Present about nine years.) .
‘ Tecumseh. C. A. Wright and C. A. Story: Robins and crow blackbirds seem to be
the only ones that can hold their own against the Sparrow. (October 11,1886. Pres-
ent seven years. )
" Thornville. Dr. John §. Caulkins: A pair of Sparrows last summer drove outa pair
of barn swallows from their nest (occupied by them for two or three previous seasons)
and took it for their own. Theswallows attempted to reclaim their nest, but failed.
The Sparrows returned to the nest again this summer, and raised their young there.
They begin to build and lay sooner than any of our native birds. (August 14, 1886.
Present four years. )
_ Misstssrppi.—Columbus. D.C. Hodo: The bee martin and house martin resist the
encroachments of the Sparrow, and attempt to drive it off, but the Spasrow holds the

22 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

field. The house martins attempt to build in their old nests, but are driven off, as are
also the mockingbirds and bluebirds. (Carrollton, Ala., September 21, 1886. Present
about two years. )

Corinth. Dr. Rawlings Young: It is not yet numerous enough to scatter into the
suburbsand molest other birds. I have seen blue jays and mockingbirds fighting it.
(September 7, 1886. Present about two years.)

MissouriI.—Cape Girardeau. Henry A. Astholz: It has driven away the mocking-
bird, bluebird, and house martin. (September 3, 1886. Present about six years.)

New HaMpsHIRE.—Franklin Falls. George Stolworthy: It occupies nearly all the
artificial nesting places formerly used by the white-bellied swallow, martin, and blue-
bird, and has driven away the robin and Baltimore oriole, which used to build near
these places. The only species I have seen nesting near the Sparrow are the cherry
bird and the pewee. This spring three pairs of Sparrows occupied nesting places that
had been used by bluebirds for three years. The bluebirds tried hard to recover them,
but without success. Purple martins and swallows had no better success. (August
24,1886. Present six or seven years.)

Lisbon. Dr. C. H. Boynton: They have not been here long enough, and are too
few in number to cause a decrease in the number of native birds. (February 4, 1884.
Present about three years. )

Milford. Jas. P. Melzer: The purple martin is successful in reclaiming former
nesting places; the bluebird and white-bellied swallow attempt to reclaim nesting
sites, but are not always successful. I think the bluebird would usually succeed if it
were not easier to find another nesting place than to have a long fight. (August 28,
1886. Present about ten years.)

New JERSEY.—Bridgeton. Charles E. Bellows: It molests the chipping sparrow,
house wren, and summer yellowbird. The purple martin habitually resists the en-
croachments of the Sparrow, and will not let one come within a stone’s-throw of his
house. J have seen the martin fight for former nesting sites, and come off best man
every time. (August 26, 1886. Present eighteen years.)

Caldwell. Marcus 8. Crane: It drives away the bluebird, wren, martin, and chip-
ping sparrow. It has battles every year with bluebirds for the possession of bird-
houses. Last July it drove some martins from their nests under the eaves of my
brother’s barn, and two years ago they drove some from the nests under the eaves of
a neighbor’s house. (February 19, 1884. Present about fourteen years. )

Hackensack. Weldon I, Fosdick: I have never noticed any trouble between the
Sparrow and other birds. (August 26, 1886. Present fifteen years.)

Orange. Lloyd McKim Garrison: City and suburb. It molests and to some extent
drives away the wren, bluebird, downy woodpecker, purple martin, cliff swallow, and
barn swallow. (February 11, 1884. Present many years.)

Plainfield. F.T. Cuthbert: It has been observed to drive away from their former
nesting places the robin, bluebird, thrushes, song sparrow, and catbird. (February,
1887.)

Ridgewood (country). Henry Hales: I have not seen it molest our native birds
except in struggles for nests, and by crowding out from near the buildings bluebirds,
chippies, and wrens, and in winter our tree and song sparrows. I have a number of
nest-boxcs up on trees, intended for bluebirds, wrens, and purple martins. If the
Sparrow occupies them I find no inclination in wrens or bluebirds to dispossess them ;
they would rather go off, and so get crowded out. I have no martins now. I have
not seen any bird reclaim its nest. (January 18, 1887. Present about fifteen years. )

Tuckerton. §. Jillson: It takes possession of all the boxes put up for bluebirds
and martins, and will soon occupy all the hollow trees and woodpecker holes. (Feb-
ruary 10, 1¢e4: Present about eleven years.)

New Yors.—Alfred Centre. F.S. Place: Last spring I saw the Sparrow and house
wrens quarrelling over a hole in the limb of an apple tree. This was kept up for.
several days until the Sparrow finally succeeded in driving away the wrens, when it
nested there. (1885.)

EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 273

a Bay Ridge. J. A. Perry: Itissupposed by many persons that the English Sparrow
is highly destructive to our native songbirds, and the regret has frequently been ex-
_ pressed on that account that they should be suffered to live and accumulate in such
__ yast numbers. But the writer, who has had ample opportunity to observe the habits
of these birds, is confident that the opinion entertained of their destructiveness is a
_- popular prejudice, and is not substantiated by facts. Large numbers have made the
rural residence of the writer their home for many years, as have also some fifteen or
twenty tribes of songsters, and not a single instance has been observed of a conflict
between them. The Sparrows quarrel among themselves, but they do not appear to
interfere, in a belligerent way, with other tribes of birds. (For the Journal of Com-
' merce. New York City, January 24, 1880.)

Bay Ridge. B. C. Townsend: As regards the peaceful relations of the English
Sparrow to other birds, my experience confirms the testimony of my neighbor, Mr.
J. A. Perry, with the exception of a single case. There were certain swallows build-
ing their mud-nests under our front porch, which nests they attacked with great
_ violence and destroyed, driving the birds away. The simple*attempt to destroy the
nest of wrens upon the rear porch was unsuccessful, as the little wrens fought with
great desperation, and finally drove them entirely away, remaining during the season,
and rearing two broods of young. (March 27, 1886.)

Binghamton. H. J. Gaylord: The bluebird, martin, and wren will resist encroach-
ments if in possession, and sometimes with success. I have ou my place ten or twelve
bird-houses for bluebirds, wrens, and martins. If the Sparrow is in possession of a
box it willinvariably hold it, as the other birds will not contest their rights. (Octo-
ber 7, 1886. Present about fifteen years.) 3

Brooklyn. Olive Thorne Miller: I have closely watched the birds around my house
in Brooklyn for four years. The first and second years there were at least two pairs
of robins and one or two pairs of Baltimore orioles which nested in my neighborhood,
_ and which I saw and heard everyday. The third year there was one pair of robins and
- one pair of orioles, and the fourth there have been neither robins nor orioles, except
as rare visitors from some other neighborhood. Ihave noticed also in Prospect Park
_ [Brooklyn] that as the Sparrows penetrate farther in the native birds retreat. From
my windows I have many times seen Sparrows follow a robin or an oriole from tree
_ to tree, flying closely after him, and alighting when he alighted, not attempting to
_ touch him, but evidently annoying him very much, for he always appeared uneasy,
and never staid long. There is near me a bitter-sweet shrub, and every year, in
_ October and November, when it is full of berries there come to it several thrushes,
_ I think the hermit thrush (T. pallasi). Ihave to-day seen Sparrows collecting in the
_ trees near, all violently calling, in their loud, harsh way,-as they do when danger ap-

_ proaches. On looking closely I saw two thrushes, which have been about for a week
_ or more, trying to eat the berries. Every time one of them flew a Sparrow would fly
_ after it. Thethrush was annoyed and would leave the bush where it was eating, and
_ alighton the fence. The Sparrow would alight too, and be ready for instant flight
_ the moment the thrush started.

I once saw Sparrows in the same way attempt to mob a cat-bird, but a cat-bird is
not to ‘be worried, and he easily put to flight the whole party. From what I have
seen of them, I think Sparrows keep away other birds partly by annoying them in
the way I have mentioned, and partly by filling with their nests and noisy broods
every nook and corner in which our own birds could build. I have seen them per-
_ sistently follow and hustle robins, thrushes, and orioles. Cat-birds are not so easily
driven off, and will generally stand their ground. Mobbing is the Sparrow’s favorite
_ method, and I have seen it employed against a solitary red squirrel that had lived for
_ two or three months in the trees of the neighborhood, and even against a cat which
_ climbed a vine where nests were placed. (1884.)

_ Brooklyn. Hon. Nicolas Pike: Though the Sparrow is a most pugnacious bird, I
_ do not think it drives our birds away, for it is my belief most are a match for him.

8404—Bull 1 18

O74 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

It is true they are not plentiful as formerly in Brooklyn, but it is from the increase

of population. Whole streets and avenues of houses are now standing where not
many years ago were thick woods where I went gunning. Our birds have grad-
ually retired to the country, where they find quiet and congenial food; but the Spar-
row has remained, as it rather likes noise and bustle, and can find fitting food, under
almost any conditions, anywhere. .

Go to Prospect Park, where hundreds of pretty songstérs have a secure refuge, and
rear their young in peace. Now,Ido not know any place where Sparrows most do
congregate as they do in this same park. It is a pleasure to me every summer to
watch them bathing, forty or fifty at a time, on the margins of the ponds, and I never
saw them interfere with our charming chats, yellowbirds, robins, catbirds, etce.,
that come down and share the bath with their English cousins. (February 8, 1884.
Present about thirty-four years. )

Canaseraga (country). KE. 8. Gilbert: It has taken the nests of the mud swallow
(Petrochelidon lunifrons), driving away the rightfulowners, (August 23,1886. Pres-
ent one year or less.) *

Constantia. Wallace D. Rhines: I have a martin-house which is claimed by the
martins as soon as they arrive, and is kept. I have never noticed the martins molest
a Sparrow except near their house. The martins arrived May 13, 1886, and found
their house occupied by Sparrows, and containing young and eggs. I saw the mar-
tins drag out the young and kill them, and also carry away the eggs. (August 23,
1886. Present four or five years. )

Gansevoort. * Joseph W. Shurter: I have observed instances in which the blue-
bird resisted the Sparrow, but most of our summer birds yield their ground withont
an effort at defense. In two cases the bluebirds attempted to regain possession of
boxes put up for them, but were unsuccessful until aided by a few charges of shot
sent where they would do the most good. I have observed numerous contests be-
tween Sparrows and various other birds, in which the Sparrows were evidently the
aggressors, and this fact, taken in connection with the decrease of other birds, I think
justifies the statement that the Sparrow molests and drives away most of our song-
birds. (February 4, 1888. Present about eight years.)

Ithaca. George Donaldson: I bave seen it drive the bluebird from its old home and
occupy it; also, downy woodpeckers from their previous abode. (1885.)

Iockport. Lewis H. Hili I have never seen the Sparrow interfere with other
birds. This year we have quite a good many Sparrows and robins, and one nest of
wrens. Formerly we had some bluebirds and orioles. I do not know whether the
Sparrow drove them away or not. (September 3, 1886.)

Long Island City. W.¥. Hendrickson: A few years ago nests of the robin and oriole
were very common along the roads here, and in the gardens were numbers of wood
thrushes, catbirds, and other birds; but now there are hardly any nests of the robin
or oriole to be found on the trees along the roads, and the birds are gradually becom-
ing scarce in the gardens. The Sparrow now builds in the woods also, and I suppose
that in the course of afew years more it will have entirely supplanted the other birds.
(October 22, 1885.)

Lyons. J. 8. Roys: It has been observed to molest and drive off robins and
meadow larks, and other song-birds seem to have decreased since the introduction of
the Sparrow. (October 26, 1886. Present several years.)

New York. A. Church: I have seen them in villages where there was a great va-
riety of other birds, and they did not molest them. I haveseen a robin’s nest within
a few feet of where the Sparrow was nesting, and in one place I saw the bJuebird
occupying one part of a Sparrow house and the Sparrow the other at the same time,
and the entrances to the house within three inches of each other. There was also a
nest of the phebe bird within a few feet of this same house. (March 27, 1884.)

New York. W.A. Conklin: It molests and drives away the indigo bird, bluebird,
yellowbird, and wren, (July 6, 1824. Present twenty years or more.)

Wee

EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 21D

New York. Dr. F. Hollick: I bave a bird house which has now been occupied for

three years in succession by bluebirds, right among a large flock of Sparrows, in my

own garden ; a robin also builds every year in a tree close by, under which the Spar-
rows congregate every day. I believe that it is the small boy and the shotgun that
drive away our native birds from inhabited places, and when they are gone the Spar-
rows, who alone can withstand these enemics, are accused of driving them away.
(September 2, 1884.)

Old Westbury. John D. Hicks: There is no conflict between the Sparrow and the
birds in our locality, except with the bluebird and wren, which compete for nesting
places. The Sparrow by first occupancy gets possession and holds it; consequently
bluebirds are scarce. Wrens ouly succeed.in building in houses with small entrances.
(September 6, 1886. Present about twenty years.)

Painted Post. A. H. Wood: The common house-wren resists the encroachments of
the Sparrow with great success, dumping out the whole business, eggs and all; the
purple grackle also doesso to acertain extent. Barn and cliff swallows and bluebirds
resist with poor success. I have not observed the Sparrow to drive off any of our na-
tive birds. The trouble is that it takes possession of desirable nesting places, and
when other birds arrive the Sparrows are fully established, and the native birds are
compelled to go elsewhere. Formerly bluebirds nested very freely in this village, but
since the Sparrows have besome numerous they have entirely disappeared from their
nesting places. (August 10,1886. Present about ten years.)

Plattsburgh. G.H. Hudson: I have seen six or eight Sparrows follow a robin about,
and seize upon and appropriate each earth-worm which he dragged from the ground.
(1834. )

Rochester. Henry Harrison: I have never seen any of our native birds attempt to
drive away the Sparrow, but it takes possession of any nest it wishes. A robin built
a nest for three seasons in a tree opposite my window, and the Sparrow drove it away,
It also drives away orioles and woodpeckers. (August 23, 1886. Present about four-
teen years. )

Schuylers Lake (country). La Grande Southworth: I have seen the downy wood-
pecker attempt to drive off the Sparrow, but he was always defeated. The Sparrow
also attacks bluebirds and robins, and I have seen it occupying a robin’s nest, but
never saw the robin attempt to reclaim thenest. (December 2, 1886. Present about
six years.)

Sing Sing. Dr. A. K. Fisher: Before the advent of the House Sparrow, and before
he had become fully established, the wood-thrush (Turdus mustelinus), robin (Merula
migratoria), Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), purple martin (Progne subis), house
wren (Troglodytes aédon), catbird (Galeoscoptes carolinensis), and a number of other
species, were common summer residents in the village, building their nests in the

large door yards. For years they have been rarely known to breed except in the out-

skirts of the village. The purple martins have disappeared from the locality, with
the exception of one colony, which still occupies a large martin box at the State
prison.

Once a pair of kingbirds attempted to build a nest in one of the large sycamores
which stood near the old Baptist church in the center of the village. ‘Chey finally
had to abandon this site, for the Sparrows would fly up in the absence of the king-
birds and remove the material as fast as it was deposited.

The habit of the Sparrow in following the robin and snatching particles of food
from its bill was noted by the writer in a letter to Dr. Coues, published in the Ameri-
ean Naturalist for December, 1882, p. 1009. (1885. Present about nineteen years.)

Syracuse (city and country). Edwin M. Hasbrouck: One case has come under my
notice where a robin had partly finished a nest in a,maple tree when the Sparrow
took possession and completed it after his own ideas. This was blown or torn down,
and two years after was occupied by the robin, but the Sparrow has possession now.

_ It molests and drives off warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, orioles, and the goldfinch,

2716 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

wren, bluebird, and purple grackle. (August 20,1886. Present twenty-two or twenty-
three years. ) ;

Tully (country). J. A. Dakin: I have seen the butcher-bird and kingbird drive it
away without being first attacked. The purple martin is the only bird I have noticed
attempting to reclaim former nesting sites. I saw several of these last May fighting
for the possession of a former nesting house which the Sparrow was then occupying.
The robin and eave swallow (lunifrons) have been expelled to a considerable extent.
(September 10, 1886. Present about eight years.)

Watkins. H. C. Griswold: Last spring, when the straw stacks were torn down,
about sixty Sparrows, which were thus deprived of a place to roost, came to the ever-
greens in the front yard and pitched battle with four or five pairs of purple finches.
They drove the finches from the place they had frequented for years, and even whipped
or discouraged a hen so as to make her look elsewhere for shelter. At a neighbor’s,
where seventy or eighty martins build their nests under the eaves, they drove them
away after a few days’ fight, so that now the Sparrows have sole possession. (Sep-
tember 30, 1885.)

West Farms, New York City. Jas. Angus: There is but one serious objection to the
Sparrow, and that is that it annoys and keeps away the wrens and bluebirds; but i
protect the wrens by contracting the opening to their house; if it is made just large
enough fer the wren it is too small for the Sparrow, and there will be no trouble
(February 11, 1884. Present fifteen or twenty years.)

NoRTH CAROLINA.—Graham. Robert J. Thompson: A resident of the town of Gra-
ham told me that he had seen the Sparrow attack and kill all kinds of other birds
and their young; that he had seen as many as a dozen Sparrows attack one bird. The
summer sparrow and wren seem to be the birds which suffer most, but robins and
bluebirds are also attacked. (Rock Creek, N. C., March 7, 1888.)

Raleigh. T. C. Williams: It is driving out our native sparrows, mockingbirds, atta
other small birds that formerly abounded in and around country villages and towns.
(September 2, 1886. Present about five years.)

OnI10.—Aberdeen. George Sibbald: In 1884, when the oats were ripe, I saw a flock
of Sparrows sitting on the fence that inclosed the field—the first I had seen outside
the city or village. In 1885 a few built their nests and hatched their young in and
about my dwelling-house. In the year 1886 they came in large numbers and drove
all the native birds from the trees in the front yard, and built their nests in and about
the house as before. In the spring of 1887 I had all the old nests thrown out and
every hole and crevice stopped up. They came in great numbers, but only one pair
found a place to hatch—the others all left. The native birds returned to the trees
and bushes in my yard and reared their young. A visitor at my house, who had been
traveling much this season, said I had more birds than any place he had seen, and
named four or five different kinds which had nests on the trees. (June 10, 1287.)

Burton (country). P. W. Parmelee: The martin and bluebird have held their own
with the Sparrow, but the robin, swallow, yellowbird, catbird, and phebe have no
show withit, and have almost entirely left this part of the country. All the above-
named birds and the wren have nested on my place, mostly in nests occupied the
previous year, until within a year or two. (September 1, 1886. Present about five
years. )

Cincinnati. William Hubbell Fisher: The only birds to be found in the city now
are the Sparrow and the comestic pigeon. (September 9 1884).

Cincinnati. Dr. F. W. Langdon: It has replaced to a very large extent the blue-
bird, martin, and in some neighborhoods the house and Carolina wrens, that for-
merly bred in boxes put up for them. A bridge within the city limits, formerly oe-
cupied by hundreds of cliff swallows, has for several years past been tenanted almost
exclusively by the Sparrows. (November, 1885. )

Circleville. Dr. Howard Jones: The wrens are not equal to Sparrows in fighting
qualities, so far as I have observed, and the house wren, Bewick’s wren, and the

EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 21

great Carolina wren are molested and driven off. (August 19, 1886. Present about
eight years. )

Cleveland. Dr. E. Sterling: When few in numbers they did not molest our na-
tive birds, but now that they have waxed strong and fat, no native birds are left.
Last spring Isaw a gang of them kill outright arobin on the public square. Ten years
ago I counted 192 nests of native birds on two and one-half miles of Euclid avenue;
this last season you could hardly find a dozen, and there is no other cause for their dis-

- appearance than these little pests. I have seen them tear up the nests of other birds
and break the eggs; have seen them drive an old hen and her brood from their In-
dian-meal food by force of numbers; and even our tomcat had to back out when about
to try his hand on a fledgeling. Tbe kingbird is the only one that holds his own with
them ; he breeds here undisturbed. (February 25, 1884. Present about fourteen years. )

Columbus (suburb, Ohio State University). William B. Alwood: I have never ob-
served a direct conflict between the Sparrow and other species. His lordship simply
appropriates the choice localities, and other species acquiesce in his occupancy. (July
16, 1887.)

Columbus. Dr. J. M. Wheaton: It molests and drives away the house wren, biue-
bird, wood pewee, chipping sparrow, and a few other city birds. Iam satisfied that
in our city fewer birds make their appearance than before the Sparrow was intro-
duced. (April 18, 1884. Present about twelve years.)

Garrettsville. A. J. Smith: Ihave known the martin to hold possession when at- .

ee a eee ee he oO

. tacked by the Sparrow, and the Sparrow to take the lower tier of boxes in the same
: | house with the martin. I have known the Sparrow to take possession of the robin’s
; nest after the robin hadraised one brood in it. (October 27, 1886. Present about

five years. ) :

Laurel. Daniel Bohl: I have seen this pestiferous little bird destroy the nests of
our robins, and this spring I tore its nests out of a martin box which I have set up
four different times, yet it persisted in building; but I never ceased until the mar-
tins had taken full possession. These tronblesome imps drive the martins away-
and I have seen them drive out our native barn swallows and take full possession of
their nests. (August 6, 1887.)

Metamora. H.C. Somes: The English Sparrows are too numerous here. We had
no phebes in their old place last spring except for a few days. My hummingbirds
were all gone last year, and there were no yellow birds or wrens, and but few meadow-
larks and robins. (February 13, 1888.)

New Lisbon. J.F. Benner: It does not drive off any native birds to my knowl-
edge. In the spring a martin-box on my premises is taken possession of by the Spar-
rows; the bluebirds will fight them, and sometimes get possession of a part of it until
the martin comes, when both have to vacatein a hurry. (August 27, 1886. Present
about six years. )

North Bend (suburb). R.H. Warder: The house wren and bluebird are driven off
by the Sparrow. The great crested flycatcher and bluebird sometimes reclaim for-

‘ner nesting places, but rarely. (November 27, 1886. Present about eleven years.)

Oxford (country, 1 mile from village). L.N. Bonham: Jay-birds and robins resist
and attempt to drive off the Sparrow, but it never leaves.. A few years ago the blue-
birds attempted to reclaim their nests, but they have given up the contest, and I
never see them now; they have been driven off my farm entirely by the Sparrow. Mr.
E. P. Wetmore, of the Oxford Farmers’ Clab, tells me of a long contest in his door-
yard between Sparrows aud robins. The barn swallows also have all gone since the
Sparrow came. (Columbus, Ohio, November 29, 1886.)

Wakeman (country). W.B. Hall: It is saucy and aggressive. I have seen it drive
the bluebird, wren, barn swallow, and downy wookpecker from theirnests. It does
not seem to be endowed with individual courage, but moves in flocks and overcomes

by force of numbers. (1885. Present about four years.)
West Berlin (country). C.H.Shaw and J. P. Roloson: We have seen them fight

278 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

bluebirds for weeks at a time, and also fight robins in order to get their nest and build
it over for themselves. Martins, too, are molested and driven away. (September ;
8, 1886. Present about three years.)

PENNSYLVANIA.—Berwyn.. Frank L. Burns: I have frequently seen the Sparrow
fight and conquer native birds, principally the house wren, and take possession of
places formerly occupied by them. The most deplorable work of this pest has been to
drive from their accustomed haunts the black martin (Progne subis). I know of
scarcely a place that is now occupied by the martin where five years ago they were
numerous. (January, 1886.)

Bryn Mawr. A.R.Montgomery; and Radnor. W.W. Montgomery: We have sel-
dom, if ever, seen the Sparrow actually attack other birds, except in a fight for a
nesting place, but have often observed their system of mobbing other birds, such as
the brown thrush and cat-bird. This system seems to consist in sitting in a crowd,
just out of reach of the object of their dislike, and ‘‘insulting” him, following him
when he moves, and giving him no peace until he leaves the neighborhood. The re-
sult of their colonizing the neighborhood of a country house is soon apparent in the
gradual disappearance of the native birds. (November 8, 1886.)

Germantown (suburb). Witmer Stone: Goldfinches (Spinus tristis), as well as rob-
ins, have been frequently driven from the premises by the Sparrows. (November 9,
186. Present thirteen years or more.)

Germantoun. William Rotch Wister: The English Sparrow has not driven away,
and can not drive away, our native birds from their formerhaunts. About Germantown
it abounds in large numbers, but robins, bluebirds, song sparrows, thrusbes, and
wrens are more numerous than they were twenty years ago, owing chiefly to the
ereater amount of protection in the way of shrubbery and the legal protection afforded
to insectivorous birds. JI observed two wrens coutest an earthen crock, intended for
a nest, with a pair of Sparrows which were already in possession when the wrens
arrived. In the struggle the wrens were victorious. (March, 1886.)

Notwithstanding an immense number of Sparrows about Germantown, where I re-
side, it can safely be said that robins, chipping sparrows, song sparrows, wood robins
[ Turdus mustelinus ?], aud small birds generally were never so numerous. Baltimore
and orchard orioles are plenty. * * * JI frequently hear it said that the Sparrows
drive off our native birds, but when cross-questioned no one can give an instance of
it. (November 30, 1886. Present many years.)

Lancaster. Dr. 8. S. Rathvon: I have not seen it in the act of driving off our
native birds. Mr. John C. Linville, an intelligent farmer of Gap, in this county,
stated to me that the barn swallow (Chelidon erythrogaster) had entirely disappeared
from his premises, and that this was also the case with other birds, but that the English
Sparrow is abundant. Mr. Collins, of Colerain, reports the entire absence of swal-
lows and blackbirds. The following species were common in the suburbs of this city
twenty years ago, but have now all disappeared: Purple martin (Progne subis), cat-
bird (Galeoscoptes carolinensis), house wren (Troglodytes aédon), thistle finch (Spinus
tristis), chipping sparrow (Spizella socialis),song sparrow (dJelospiza melodia), Balti-
more oriole (Icterus galbula), orchard oriole (Zcterus spurius), bluebird (Sialia sialis),
robin (Merula migratoria), chimney swift (Cheturuw pelagica), kingbird (Tyrannus
tyrannus). About the time of the introduction of the Sparrow in my locality, there was
said to be some contlict between the English Sparrows, bluebirds, and chipping spar-
rows, but none of the latter two have visited me for fifteen years or more, whatever
the cause may be.

There are coincidental circumstances which have a tendency to discredit the Sparrow.
For instance, fifteen or twenty years ago the swift (Chetura pelagica) was very
abundant every summer in my immediate vicinity, but I have not noticed a single
individual the present year, and they have been gradually disappearing for the past
ten years or more; and yet I can not see how these should ever come in conflict with
the English Sparrow. Again, about the same pericd or later, catbirds were common;

EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 279

indeed, on one occasion I counted fifteen on a single Clinton grape-vine; but for ten
years I have not seen one on the premises. * * * But all this is claimed by
the friends of the Sparrow to be the result ofthe building improvements in the suburbs
of the city. Of course this is worthy of consideration, but in the few walks I have
taken in the ceuntry in the past season I never failed to find Sparrows in flocks of ten,
twenty, or fifty, in the fields and among the trees and shrubbery, but not a native
bird of any species. (October 8, 1886. Present sixteen years or more.)

Mansfield (suburbs of Pittsburgh, two and a half miles from city line). Dr. R. L.
Walker: Ido not know of a single instance of birds nesting in this place that the
Sparrow has not tried to drive away. Alongside my garden a pair of robins built
their nest, and only preserved it by dint of hard and constant fighting; and then
only succeeded, as far as I can see, in rearing one bird. (July, 1887. Present about
five years. )

New Lexington. Dr. H. D. Moore: While I have observed no fighting, yet while
the song sparrow, chipping sparrow, summer yellowbird (Dendroica estiva), swallows,
and other birds formerly nested near buildings, they do not return. (September 13,
1886. Present about eleven years.)

North East. Harry E. McNichol: I have observed it engaged in driving off or
chasing robins, orioles, wrens, bluebirds, and downy woodpeckers, although usually
it seems to be afraid of the wren. (1885. Present six or seven years. )

Philadelphia. J. Percy Moore: I can not say from my own experience that this
species hasactually driven away other species of birds from this neighborhood, but J
have often seen it engaged in fights with our native birds, in which it generaliy
had the advantage. Onone occasion (May 10, 1885) I observed a pair of Spar-
rows drive a pair of bluebirds from. their nearly finished nest in a deserted flicker’s
(Colaptes auratus) hole. The Sparrow took possession, remodeled the nest, and laid
oneege. The nest was robbed, however, and when the Sparrows deserted it the blue-
birds returned, built a new nest, and laid tive eggs. On April 22, 1885, when the
purple martins first arrived in numbers, I witnessed a battle between about twenty
of them and a larger number of Sparrows. The latter had built their nests in several
large bird-houses, in which the martins had been accustomed to breed year after year.
When the martins arrived the Sparrows tried to prevent them from entering the
houses, but after a long battle the martins were victorious, and the two species lived
_ together during the whole summer, each raising its young. (September 7, 1886.
Present twenty years or more. )

Philadeiphia (suburb). F. R. Welsh: Wherever the Sparrow has become very
numerous, other small birds of all kinds have diminished in numbers or disappeared,
often without any apparent cause. On three occasions I have seen from two to four
_ Sparrows defeated by a pair of wrens, and on one occasion a pair was beaten by a
pair of bluebirds. The contest on each occasion was concerning a nesting place. I
know of no other cases of actual hostilities, but have several times seen a robin fly
when a flock of English Sparrows settled near it, though it wouid not have noticed
a flock of crow blackbirds. (October 6, 1885.) |

Robins are often molested. I have seen a Sparrow—always the male—hbop around
after a robin without any apparent reason except to make himself disagreeable. Oc-
casionally the robin would vacate, but more often he would charge the Sparrow,
which would fly away, sometimes returning, to be driven off again. (August 24,
1886.)

RHODE IsLAND.—Newport. John M. Swan, jr.: It drives away the robin and yellow
warbler (Dendroica estiva) frequently. In some instances these have been disturbed
for the purpose of nesting places for the Sparrow; in others merely for the food in
the shape of eggsand young. The blackbird and grackle in every instance snecess-
fully resist the advances of the sparrow. (September, 1886. Present five years.)

SouTH CaRrouina.—Abbeville C. H. J. ¥.C. Du Pré: In this section the Sparrow is
an unmitigated nuisance. Heretofore the old-field sparrow, bluebird, nuthatch, cat-

250 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. — poet.

bird, mockingbird, tomtit, flycatcher, thrush, bobolink, and wren have kept ifjuri-
ous insects down to the minimum, but now you seldom see one of these birds. Here-
tofore I have fed my native birds in the winter time on elevated, covered platforms
with grass seed, millet, sunflower seed, etc., and have frequently had over two hun-
dred of different kinds, but now a dozen or two are about all I can muster. (August
30, 1887.)

Charleston. Theo. D. Jervy: It has driven away from my garden the redbird
(Cardinalis cardinalis) and the mourning dove (Zenaidura macroura). (March 15,
1886.)

Charleston. Dr. G. E. Manigault: It molests and drives away the orchard oriole
(Icterus spurius), painted finch ( Passerina ciris), and Carolina wren. (August 24, 1884.)

TENNESSEE.—Lawrenceburgh. W.T. Nixon: It seems to live in harmony with all
our native birds except the bluebird, and only a chance rencontre is had with that,
and this at nesting time. The bluebird is always victorious, never failing to secure
the old nesting place. With this exception Ihave never seen the English Sparrow
in contest with any of our native birds, although they are almost constantly in close
proximity. (February 21, 1887. Present about two years.)

Paris. Dr. John T. Irion: Birds of value are decreasing as the Sparrow increases.
The mockingbird a few years ago was increasing rapidly, but now it is seldom seen. ~
(November 11, 1886. Present three years or more.)

VERMONT.—Burlington. Charles A. Davis: It drives offthe robin. Inthe Burling-
ton railroad station, where robins used to be plenty, there are now as many as fifty
Sparrows’ nests, and not one robin to be found. (1885.)

Hartford (country). Allen Hazen: I saw it drive away the tree sparrow (Spizella
monticola) on January 21, 1885, and after that. (August 28, 1886.) .

Saint Johnsbury. Rev. Henry Fairbanks: The song sparrow and the savanna
sparrow, which until five years ago were exccedingly abundant here, have greatly
diminished since the English Sparrow came. The latter are not good neighbors to
the robins, thrushes, and vireos, and with fewer robins and thrushes the white grub
and cutworm increase. (1885.)

West Pawlet. Dr. Frank H. Braymer: It molests the chipping sparrow, robin,
martin, brown thrush, goldfinch, yellow warbler, etc. (February 15, 1884.)

I have also known it to drive off the bluebird, song sparrow, purple finch (Carpo-
dacus purpureus), and greenlets (Vireo). * * * It drives away the cedar bird ( 4m-
pelis cedrorum), house wren, and catbird. (August 31,1836. Present elevenor twelve
years. )

VirGINIA.—New Market. George M. Neese: The Sparrow has a bad name here,
worse than it deserves. I donot think it has driven off a single native bird, although
it fights the bluebird and the wren, but only foritsownhome. Itis true it generally
appropriates all the boxes and nesting places in the spring for its own use before the
other birds arrive. Then, when the other birds (the bluebird and the wren) begin to
look about for nesting places the fighting commences, and the Sparrow is always the
victor. But blucbirds aud wrens are quite as plentiful here as they were twenty years
ago. The purple martins are not so-abundant here as formerly; in fact, I have not
seen one this year. Some attribute their disappearance to the Sparrow, but an old
farmer told me that the martin was getting more and more scarce every year before
the Sparrow came here. (December 30, 1885.)

There have been no purple martins here for the last few years, but I do not know
whether or not it is the Sparrow’s fanlt. The Sparrows commence their breeding
season before the wren returus from the south, and appropriate every available nest-
ing place. When the wren comes it generally fights a few days for its old home,
gets whipped in consequence of numbers, and seeks a place the entrance of which is
too small for the Sparrow. Last winter I closed a box in which a pair of wrens had
nested last year, and in the spring when the wrens came I opened it. The Sparrow
took possession of it immediately. The wrens fought nobly, but the Sparrows were

EVIDENCE.—EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. v ASH |

o plentiful that I thought the wrens had a bad show for success, and I closed the box
again, but put a small oyster can, with an opening just large enough to admit the
wren, on atree abcut six feet from the box of contention. The wren built in the oys-
ter can and the Sparrow built on top of the closed box. They had a few fights dur-
ce ing nest-building, but each rearedits brood. (August27,1836. Present about twelve
years.)

WEsT Vireinis.--Bethany. M. E. Brown: It drives other birds away by robbing
_ their nests and fighting them. A whole colony will go to the rescue of one. (Novem-

ber 12, 1886. Present about six years.)

Buckhannon. Dr.J.R.Mathers: The martin, bluebird, robin, wren, and catbird are

all able to drive the Sparrow, but they sometimes have considerable strife before they

- succeed. Every spring the martins can be observed driving the Sparrow from the

~ boxes that they occupied the previous year, and the robin and bluebird do the same.

- (Angust 19, 1886. Present five years.)

_. Llizabeth. Z. KE. Thorn: The wren and bluebird seem to have become overpow-
a ered by the numbers of Sparrows, and have nearly all left this section of country.
é ; They seemed to be a match for the Sparrows until overcome by numbers. None of our
native birds molest the Sparrow unless first attacked. (November 4, 1886. Present

about two years.)

__ -Aalitown (town and country). John H. Strider. The English Sparrow drives off

all other sparrows, the wren, martin, and all insect-eating birds; in fact, all our

small birds, except the kingbird, and perhaps the catbird, which seems to hold his
own against it. (September 6, 1886. Fresent about seven years.)

4 New Martinsville. Ben. M. Welch: It drives almost all other birds away. Whole
flocks will attack one bird, and it is bound to give up. (November 12, 1886. Present
five or six years. )

____-WisconsIn.—Clinton. C.N. Crotsenburg: The yellow-shafted flicker (Colaptes aura-
tus) has been repeatedly attacked and is able to withstand them only just so long as
he stays in his hole; when outside he is obliged to retreat. (April 23, 1887. Present

- about eight years.)

= Janesville. H. L. Skavlem: Ido not know that the Sparrows have taken up the

- nesting places of our native birds. This summer arobin nested in one of my shade

2 trees, and I noticed repeatedly that Sparrows would alight in trees near by, and the
robin would drive them off. I do not believe there are any less native birds here

now than before the Sparrow came. (August 24,1886. Present about ten years.)

_ Kewaunee (country). Ransom A. Moore: In several instances the Sparrows have
attacked other birds, and at such times keep themseives in a body and help each
other. (November 8, 1886. Present about two years. )

Milwaukee. Walter B. Hull: In resisting the Sparrow’s encroachments the king-
bird is the most courageous; a few robins always show fight, but all kinds are out-
_ numbered and almost invariably defeated. (August 23, 18°6. Present about six
‘years. )

Milwaukee. Charles Keeler: The Sparrow has recently found its way into the

- country about here, and the American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) has become quite

_ searce in places frequented by it. The food of the two birds is similar, and if one or

the other must give way it will be the goldfinch. (August 21, 1886. Present about
fifteen years. )

— CANADA. OnTARIO.—Eelleville. Prof. James T. Bell: The robin and grackle are

_ the only birds I have observed which resist or attempt to drive off the Sparrow, and

___ theirsuccess isonly temporary and partial. A Sparrow will summon his fellows to fight

é with arobin, but they appear to be afraid of the grackle, Purple martins defend their
nests against the incursions of the Sparrows, on Front street, Belleville, but these are

‘€ the only birdsI have seen so engaged. The Sparrow molests and drives off the blue-

bird, gold-finch (Spinus tristis), and small finches and warblers in general. (August

19, 1886.)

_ Mr. Thomas Walker, of the township of Rawdon, who resides some 26 miles from

Ea

ee a

282 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

this city, a few days ago gave me the following facts in regard to the English Spar-
row. It first appeared on his farm in 1885, when two couples came early in the spring
and took possession of two swallows’ nests under the eaves of his barn. When the
swallows returned they set upon the intruders, tore down the nests, and threw the
egos of one couple and the four newly-hatched young ones of the other to the ground,
and drove away the parent birds, which appeared no more.

Early in the present year a pair of Sparrows came to the barn, and occupied a nest
as before. On the arrival of the swallows, they again attacked the Sparrows with
rapid evolutions and shrill twitterings. Next morning Mr. Walker found four par-
tially fledged nestlings and the old cock Sparrow lying dead on the ground. The hen
bird took refuge in the porch of the dwelling house, where she was fed by the family
for a few days, when she also disappeared. (October 4, 13886.)

Belleville (country). William L. Ponton: The number of other birds (except black-
birds) has been much diminished of late years here through the ferocity and persecu-
tion of these little marauders, whose pluckiness is worthy of a better cause. eBs
tember 27, 1884.)

Cottam. W.E. Wagstaff: The barn martin alone attempts to reclaim former nest-
ing sites when these are occupied by the Sparrow. I have not observed the Sparrow
to molest or drive off native birds. (August 28,1886. Present about six years.)

Hamilton. Thomas MclIlwraith: No other bird is tolerated where the Sparrows
have settled. I have seen them eject swallows, bluebirds, and house wrens from their
nests. The robin holds his own by superior strength, but should a casual visitor of
smaller size and timid nature appear, the Sparrows leave their own fight unsettled
and unite in driving the stranger off the premises. (March 10, 1884. Present about
10 years. )

London. W.E. Saunders: In four years from its introduction it ousted from our house
and one house on each side three pairs of robins, two pairs of bluebirds, three pairs of
white-bellied swallows, and one pair of wrens. Our city is full of trees, and I haveseen
orioles, high-holders, jays, redheads, and other similar birds close to the business part
of the city before we had this intruder. Now not one isto be seen for every five that
were here seven years ago. Then our city was full of barn, eave, and white-bellied
swallows, chimney swifts, and martius. They were thick among the stores all day;
now ouly the chimney swifts and martins are left, and they in reduced numbers.
The following birds were much more numerous in the city before the advent of the
accursed stranger : The chippy, robin, yellow warbler, warbling vireo, wren, blue-
bird, white-bellied, eave, and barn swallows, and oriole. (December, 1885.)

Pembroke. KE. Odlum: The Sparrows fight fiercely among themselves, but I haye
not seen them attack other birds, and their nesting does not interfere withthem. If
there be any interference with any other bird it is with the robin, as it appears to be
getting scarcer in Sparrow centers and more general about woods. (August 25, 1886.
Present about twelve years.)

Plover Mills. R. Elliott: Ishould say that the Sparrow isinvariably the aggressor,
and all birds molested simply act on the defensive. I have known the pheebe (Say-
ornis fusca) to ight persistently, in two cases unsuccessfully, in one successfully.

Three years ago (1883) a Sparrow, in the month of March, began to remodel a
phoebe’s nest; the second week in April the phcebes came, tore some straw out and
guarded their home. The fight lasted ten days, when the Sparrows (the first pair at
my barn) left. This year, 1886, a pair occupied an old nest of the summer warbler,
close to a window. The warblers had been there for four or five years previously, but
disappeared this year.

The eave swallow (luni/rons) often finds its old nest Senied by domesticus, which
invariably holds the fort in spite of all the attempts made to dislodge him, but the
swallows rebuild, I fancy. The bluebird generally keeps his old quarters. (Septem-
ber 6, 1886. Present about five years. )

EVIDENCE.— RELATION 'TO INSECTS. 283

Strathroy. L. H. Smith: I do not believe he is guilty of driving away our native
irds as badly as represented. I have watched him for twelve years, and but one
¢ ase of fighting with our native birds has come under my notice. On my place of 12
acres I had two or three pairs of cat-birds, one or two pairs of Virginia yellowbirds,
one pair of phoebes, several song and chipping sparrows, orioles, house-wrens, ete.
- Some seasons I wovld miss a pair, and at another season perhaps one kind would not
be represented at all. For instance, after the phoebes’ building under my veranda
wo years and under my cornice one, I missed them. I found how much bird life
aried, what a great percentage of nests were destroyed by their natural enemies.
s well as I could care for them, and as suitable a place as I had—acres of trees and
sbhrubbery—I don’t think on an average more than one pair of birds in five succeeded
in raising a brood each season. Birds for some reason move, sometimes temporarily
and sometimes permanently, from localities, and it is possible in some places they are
fought with and driven away by the English Sparrows, but such an instance never
came under my notice. The whippoorwill, the nighthawk, and the passenger pigeon,
have almost left this part of the country. Surely the Sparrow did not drive them
‘away. (October 11, 1886. Present about twelve years.)
- Toronto. Dr. William Brodie: It is generally admitted that it has driven away
_ from cities, towns, and country villages a few native species, such as the chipping
Sparrow (Spizella socialis), bluebird (Sialia sialis), house-wren (Troglodytes aédon),
yellow warbler (Dendroica astiva), cliff-swallow (Petrochelidon lunifrons), tree-swaliow
(Tachycineta bicolor), and a few others, species which were taking perhaps rather
‘sparingly to our bustling centers. (January, 1888.)
— QuEBEC.—WMontreal. Ernest D. Wintle: Last spring I observed a pair of summer
_warblers (Dendroica estiva) build a nest in a tree, when the Sparrows drove them
_ away and built a nest for themselves right on top of the warbler’s, so that you could
“not see any part of the latter’s nest. (September 20, 1886. Present sixteen years or
Bmore. )
_ NEw Brunswick.—Portland (suburb of St. John). J. W. Banks: A friend of mine

Bowed me a myrtle warbler which he saw killed by the Sparrow. (October 10, 1886.
_ Present two or three years.)
_ Nova Scorra.—Two Rivers. B. B. Barnhill: I have seen it fight with the barn swal-
low and attack crows. (August 20, 1886.)
- ENGLAND.—It always raised my ire as a boy to see them steal the nests of the eave
or window martin. I have many times perforated the piping over such nests with
shot to kill the rogues. Ihave but little acquaintance with them in America. (David
Hi. Henman, Willows, Dak., December 12, 1886.)
_ BERMUDA.—I am informed by a relative who spent Jast winter in Bermuda that
nearly all the beautiful birds of that island have been expelled by Sparrow usurpers,
which are innumerable, and devour fruit and grain, and foul porches, walks, roofs, and
windows. Negro children are there constantly employed to killthem. My informant
4S observant and merciful, but says that once naturalized in a foreign country the
parrow becomes vicious. (W.N. Ponton, M. A., Belleville, Canada, September 27,

RELATION TO INSECTS.

The testimony on this subject came from five hundred and ninety-
‘one observers, of which number one hundred and thirty-six sent replies
of Such a nature as to allow of complete summarization, and in two
hundred and seven other cases a part of each report may be so treated.
The following lists show the character of the evidence which can be
thus condensed.

284 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Among the replies to the question Under what circumstances does the
Sparrow feed on insects ? the following were received :

Reports. Reports.
Under no circumstances whatever.... 10 Mostly in spring.--. .-=22355e==eee 35
Under no circumstances, so far as ob- Mostly in fall...2_. ..22 cee pee!
SOLVEG S25 Joon 5k oe eee eee 50 | In winter and spring..--222 esses 2
Have never known it to eat insects.. 12 | In early spring .__. --2--2 eee eeeeeeee 6
Think not under any circumstances... 5 | Inspring........_..- 2222 4
Hearely, Ui OVer sc 220s See ee eee 9 | Atall times: -._-..... -.22 6
ATC Soe eo oe cere ee ei 10 | At nearly all times... 22 23ee3eeeeee 2
Never 10 any. extentve: 2 cee ee 4 | Whenever it can get them@22s2eoese= 5
Gecasion ally, ss ose eee eee 9 | Under all circumstances. =22 === 5
Onivias a) dash resort. 22-2242 ee oe 2 | It carries insects to its young.-..---- 25
Only when starved to if--..<2<c<. asc 7 | It feeds its young mainly on insects.. 5
In case of extreme necessity .--...---- 4 | It takes a few insects to its young... 7
Dyihen very hunery 4592. jac sees 2 | It takes a very few insects toits young. 2
When Seed 1S,SCATCE. 2 ee ees 4 | It takes insects when feeding its
When erain is scarce .... ...--.-.---- 4 YOUN’ ...... 2... -.---5 rr 24
When it can gel no grain ..-.-. ..--<- 25 | It takes insects only when feeding its
When it can get no grain or fruit.-.. 6 young ..:.-.-..--2-. 34 3
When it c2n get nothing else --...... 22 | It takes insects especially when feed-
MW hen other dood isiseartes | woe oe 10 | ing its young...-......2====eeee 8
When insects are abundant .......--. 3 | It takes insects mainly for the young. 7
MOS y 10 ANID GEESE aaa oe oe eae 2 | It takes insects during the breeding
Mostly in ssuMMIeR 2. seo ese ae 5 SCAaSOR ...... -.+--5 -. - err 13

Among the replies to the question What kind of insects does tt destroy ?
were the following:

Reports. | Reports.
ACiMicinds' <= oot as. See ee ere! eee 9 | Few of any kind. _----. 92322 eae 2
Nearly all Iimd st 2 tits oe ee ce eee 2 | None to any extent..__2s.552==—==== 9

In response to the question Has any case in which it has been of marked
benefit to the farmer or horticulturist come under your notice ? twenty-
seven observers replied in the negative and thirty-nine in the affirma-
tive. The latter in most cases stated the manner in which the benefit
was derived, and almost all such reports have been printed in full.

The remainder of the testimony in relation to the Sparrow’s insectiv-
orous habits consists of reports from about four hundred and fifty ob-
servers, and its character will be fairly shown by an examination of the —
following examples, in connection with the summaries given on pages
101 and 102 of this Bulletin.

ALABAMA.—Centre. J. J. B. McElrath: It eats the caterpillar of fruis trees and
grape vines. (September 20, 1886. Present two years.)

Eufaula. FE. L. Brown: My impression, founded on observation only, is that it does
not feed upon insects at all. (September 17, 1286. Present four or five years. )

ARKANSAS.—Helcna. ' J.O. Bagwell: It will not catch a grasshopper or other insect
as lone as it can get a living in the streets. (September 20, 1886. Present three
years. ) ;

Lonoke. A.¥. Huntsman: It destroys worms, bugs, and insects in the gardens and
fields early in the spring, feeding constantly on almost every kind of insect and larva.
(September 23, 1886.) =

Osceola. Dr. D. A. Richardson: Mr. Bacchus, a druggist in town, tells me that during

EVIDENCE.—RELATION TO INSECTS. 285

the summer he Boewee the English Sparrows picking what he supposes to have been
“eggs of insects from the under side of the leaves of some mulberries near the store.
_ ecember 27, 1886. Present about six years. )
CALIFORNIA.—Berkeley (suburb). Dr.M.C.O’Toole: Spiders and moths are used as
: Pood for the young, but the Sparrow will devour that which is nearat hand. He may
eat insects of any kind if grain can not be had. It will be found that the Sparrow
_ is not of any service to the farmer or any one else. It visits the fields only in harvest
time, and then in flocks. (February 17, 1887. Present about three years.)
_ Eureka (suburb). Charles Fiebig: It eats insects, mostly caterpillars, when feed-
fing its young. (September 28, 1886. Present fifteen months.)
_ Haywards. Dr. J. G. Cooper: It evidently prefers seeds, but is seen to catch flies,
' etc., when feeding its young. (February 22, 1884.)

Oakland and San Francisco. E. F. Lorquin: I have seen it catching flies, of which
itis very fond, but I have never seen it feeding on worms or caterpillars. (August,
P1687.)
7 _ San Francisco. F. Gruber: It eats flies, spiders, moths, butterflies, caterpillars, and
_ the larvze of insects, and feeds its young on the larve of insects, worms, and soft in-
sects. ‘The bird seems to prefer insects or grubs to seeds or grain in the winter sea-
gon. * * * During the last four years I find that insects and garden snails have
_ become remarkably scarce here. (March 5, 1884. Present nine years.)

San Francisco. William McK. Heath: A very few insects are fed to its young.
(May, 1887. Present ten or fifteen years. )
_ San José. A. L. Parkhurst: They feed on various worms, caterpillars, and grass-
hoppers during the breeding season. (August 27,1886. Present about five years. )
_ Connecticut.—Last Hartford. Willard E. Treat: It devours the canker-worm,
goldsmith beetle, and various small moths. It feeds on insects mostly in the spring,
during breeding time. (October 23, 1886. Present about eight years.)
_ Middletown. Walter B. Barrows: During May and early June (1886) the canker-
W orm (Anisopteryx vernata) was extremely abundant throughout the town, and nearly
all the unprotected apple and elm trees were completely stripped of their foliage.
While the worms were very small the Sparrows did not seem to notice them, but when
one-third or one-half grown they began to collect and carry them to their young in
large numbers. I frequently saw a dozen or more Sparrows on a single large elm
ag to the house, all busily collecting the worms, and each carrying away a bunch
in his bill. The adult birds never seemed to eat any of these worms, but they cer-
tainly carried thousands each day to their young in the ivy close by. In spite of this,
however, and the additional fact that many other birds were also feeding constantly
on the worms, the elms were completely stripped of their leaves before the worms
were fully grown, and they were thus compelled to spin down to the ground and
travel off in search of other food. While thus moving off on fences, walks, and the
¥ g ound I never saw the Sparrows touch them, probably because there were still many
trees on which worms were to be found. It should be noticed in this connection that
the canker-worm is a smooth-skinned span-worm, and a favorite food with almost all
birds which habitually eat insects; while its great abundance so near the nests of the
Sparrows will in part account for their feeding their young so largely on it. The
moth of this species is most abundant in early spring, when the wingless female issues
rom the ground late in the-afternoon, ascending the trees to deposit her eggs during
the night. On favorable evenings in March and April of the season in question the
grass and leaves beneath elm and apple trees were fairly alive with these wingless
; Sepia distended with eggs. The robins ate them by hundreds, but I never saw
an English Sparrow take any notice of them, although it occasionally chased the
Ww Binaed males, which were equally abundant and much more conspicuous. (July,
1886. Present about sixteen years.)
te New Haven. Louis B. Bishop: It feeds on insects when no other food is plenty.
A have seen it kill the cicada, canker-worm, and cabbage-worm, but very rarely.
i@: oo 23,1886. Present fifteen years or more.)

286 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

New Haven. Robert D. Camp: I am positive that the Sparrow kills a great num-

ber of the canker-worms which infest our elm trees. I have seen the female bird

alight on the perch of its house in front of my window with seven worms in its beak

at once, and from my observations I should say that it weuld average three worms in
every eight minutes during the day while raising its young. (April,1887. Present
fifteen years or more.) :

New Haven. A.C. Sheldon: When feeding their young I have seen them resting
on our window-shelf with from one to five worms in their mouths at atime. The
worms were alive and wriggling, and were about three thirty-seconds of an inch in
diameter by seven-eighths of an inch in length, and of a clear green color. ‘The Spar-
rows, after resting a moment, flew to their nests, where I have seen them feeding these
worms to their young. (April, 1887. Present fifteen or sixteen years.)

South Woedstock. Mrs. G. 8S. F. Stoddard: I have never seen them feed on insects,
though watching them ofien in different places. (January 22, 1887.)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.—Vount Pleasant. William Holmead: They are of no ben-
efit to the farmer. They will only feed on insects when they can not get grain. Since
the introduction of the Sparrow our gardens and fields have been devastated by in-

sects, especially those which attack the cabbage, and only in the country, where-the —

Sparrows are not numerous and our native birds are, can cabbage be raised. (No-
vember 8, 1886. Present fifteen years or more. ) ee

Washington. §S.M. Clark: They do not feed upon larve, but supply them to their
young; I have watched them closely in this regard. (January 11, 1886.)

Washington, James Halley: For several evenings past I have seen the Sparrows
catching the white moths of the web-worm, eating some and carrying others to their
young. I saw at least twenty carried off by one pair of Sparrows in a short time.
The moths only begin to leave their cocoons toward sunset, and do not fly much until
it begins to grow dark, so that few birds can get them, and the Sparrows are surely
doing some good in destroying them. (May 11, 1887.)

(Specimens of this moth were brought to the Department by Mr. Halley, and proved
to be Hyphantria tector, the moth of the fall web-worm, one of the species which has
been most injurious to the shade trees in Washington. Mr. Alexander McKericher,
assistant gardener at the Department of Agriculture, was with Mr. Halley at the time
the Sparrows were catching the moths, and testifies that he has seen them doing so
at other times, as well as catching seventeen-year locusts and other insects. )

Washington. George Henning: I have seen it carry worms, cicada, May or shad
flies, and other insects to its young. (March 6,1834. Present fourteen or fifteen
years. )

Washington. H. W. Henshaw: In 1885, during the prevalence of the seventeen-
year locusts in this city and vicinity, the English Sparrow was observed to attack
and destroy these insects in very considerable numbers. The same facts were ob-
served by Messrs. R. Ridgway, C. V. Riley, and others.

Frashington. William Saunders, superintendent of garden and grounds, U. §. De-
partment of Agriculture: Some insects are eaten, mainly by the young in the nests,

I have seen the old birds carry caterpillars (not hairy), black beetles, and grasshop-—

pers to theirnests. I donot think they will touch hairy caterpillars. (April 13, 1887.
Present sixteen or seventeen years. )

Washington. Walter B. Barrows: Perhaps twenty times during the present sum-
mer I have seen a Sparrow with an insect of some kind in its bill. The insects which
could be identified were: Cicadx, once or twice ; cut-worms, several times (two speci-

mens identified by the assistant entomologist as Nephelodes violans), once or twice

snatched from robins by the Sparrow; moths of the fall web-worm (Hyphantria), two
or three times, and larger moths twice; three May flies (Hphemere), singly ; one good-
sized grasshopper. Sparrows were also seen to chase butterflies of several species
and frequently appeared to be catching or chasing insects too small to see, (August,
1887.)

ss EVIDENCE.—RELATION TO INSECTS. 287

I ORGIA.— Alpharetta. William A. Porter: It has been of marked benefit from its
rruction of the cabbage-worm, a soft, green worm resembling the tobacco-worm
a nd very destructive to cabbage. It feeds on this worm under ordinary circumstances,

as well as on flies, ants, gnats, and small bugs. (September 8,1886. Present about
_ two years. )
~ _ Allanta. Hon. W. A. Harris: I do not think it fecds on insects. As a destroyer of
he caterpillar it is a failure. (November 11, 1886. Present about ten years.)
Augusta. Dr. J. P. H. Brown: I know of no marked benefit. It destroys insects
ed their larve without stopping to discriminate between the injurious and benefi_
cial. (September 5, 1386. Present about fifteen years.)
ae Buena Vista. fier ci B. Lumpkin: When hungry they go for all kinds of in-
4 Pec, but seem to prefer crickets and grasshoppers. (October 4, 1886. Present about
BEWo years. )
Carrollton. M. R. Russell: In the brooding season it destroys grasshoppers and
if ‘cabbage: worms. (September 28, 1886. Present about four years. )
Grifin. J. H. Barnes: It is of no benefit to the farmer or horticulturist. It feeds
en insects when there is nothing else. It never touches the cabbage-worm or the cot-
ton-worm, the greatest pests of Georgia. (September 17,1886. Present about six
years. )
Lexington. John T. M. Hairn: It has been of marked benefit by eating the cater-
pillars from cabbage and grape-vines. (September 25, 1886. Present four years.)
be Palmetio. Simeon Zellars: It feeds on insects generally, and especially while feed-
ing young. (October 4,1&86. Present about four years.)
‘a Savannah. J. N. Johnson: I have seen it feed upon moths and upon cut-worms
‘on rare occasions. It has been of no marked benefit to farmer or gardener. (October
7,1886. Present about eight years.)
Ir1rNois.— Albion. George Ferriman: It doesconsiderable good by devouring small
insects, moths, ete. I have seen it catching the moth and worms from all kinds of
trees to feed its young. I think at times it destroys all kinds of insects. (September
+3, 1886. Present about fifteen years.)
_ Alton. Hon. William McAdams: It destroys caterpillars and other larve that
are found about the elms and other shade trees in spring? oo 23, 1886. Present
a bout fourteen years.)
_ Bernadotte. Dr. W. 8. Strode: In twenty dissections I have not found a single in-
sect or worm in the crops. (September 7, 1887. Present two or three years.)
_ Carmi. Dr. Daniel Berry : Many years ago it was a common thing for a horse to die
with the botts. This is a rare occurrence now, and I have been led to believe there is
some relation between this immunity from fatal botts on the part of the horse popu-
lation and the advent ofthe Sparrow. The Sparrow isa model provider for a family ;
I me so busy as he when his young are unfledged. At such times his main source of
“Sustenance is the horse dung of the street, and there, I believe, is where he does his
ee ood work in destroying the larve of that fly. But without any positive knowledge
Imake the suggestion of this relation between the Sparrow and the botts. (October
6, 1836. Present about ten years.)
Centralia. Jabez Webster: It feeds its young upon insects for the first seven or
eight days. Ihave not observed it eating any particular kind except small grass-
Been bers 5 it prefers grain or fruit. (December 21, 1886. Present about seven years.)
Collinsville. Henry DeWald: In the spring a the year it feeds its young a great
se ‘deal on caterpillars from trees, not from vegetables. (October 5, 1886. Present about
twelve years. ) :
ee ur ah. Charles Becker: I have seen them catch army-worms by the thousand.
I'wo years ago we had a timothy patch near the Catholic church, where Sparrows are
abundant, which was attacked by the army-worm, but in a short time the Sparrows
des royed them. It was interesting to see the Snemonts fly into the meadow, catcha
pom, and fly back to feed the young ones; and this they did to such an extent that

288 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

the dead army-worms couid be found around their nesting places, as I found by in-
specting the nests with some other persons to whom I communicated my observation. —
When feeding their broods they also catch caterpillars, locusts, butterflies, ete. (Sep-
tember 30, 1886. Present abont nine years.)

Griggsville. T. W. Parker: So far asI have noticed it destroys insects only to a
very limited extent. I have seen it feed on grasshoppers. (September 22, 1886.
Present about four years. ) st

Johnsonville (village). Jas. J. Johnson: In the brooding season it carries to its —
young a great many insects. The larve of the May-beetle seem to be a favorite
food, and any other grub-worm or larva is taken. (March, 1887. Present three or
four years. )

New Athens. August Gierschner: It has been of marked benefit to the farmer. In>
the spring it eats many of all sorts of caterpillars, and even during winter it picks off
many larve wherever it finds them. It also destroys larve of butterflies, moths, and —
bugs. * * * I have not noticed that he destroys any of our most hurtful insects,
such as the army-worm, chinch-bug, Hessian fly, potato-bug, ete. (October 5, 1886.
Present about fourteen years. )

Quincy. J.H. Richardson: It destroys very few insects, ifany. I can find no one
of our farmers who thinks them a benefit; they all tell me they are a great nuisance.
(October 4, 1826. Present about sixteen years. )

Roberts. E. O. Newman: In rearing its young it feeds them on all kinds of worms
and small caterpillars. (September 27, 1886. Present about eight years.)

Rock Island. W.H. Hatch: I have never observed it feeding on insects, nor have
I been able to find any on dissection. (October 25, 1886.)

West Belleville. George C. Bunsen: It will occasionally eat grasshoppers. (Au-
tumn, 1825.) .

InprIANA.—Brazil. D. W. Brattin: I have observed it closely, but never saw it feed-
ing on insects, although the latter were abundant. (September 1, 1886. Present
about seven years. )

Brookville. Amos W. Butler: The army- -wornrand seventeen- -year cicada are more
jargely eaten here by the English Sparrow than by any other bird we have. (Autumn,
18-5.) ;

Edwardsville. Edwin Yenowine: One case of marked benefit to the farmer has
, been noticed, viz, their taking cabbage- worms, I think fortheir young. (September
7, 1886. Present about four years. )

Evansville. Dr. William Weber: It has been of marked benefit to the farmer by
destroying the white miller moth, cabbage-worm, and numerous other worms and ip-
sects when it has young. It does not destroy the common caterpillar so much, but
prefers the moth. (October 15, 1886. Present about thirteen years. )

Greencastle. W. H. Ragan: It certainly feeds on injurious insects at times. I
often observed it feeding on the seventecn-year cicada during their prevalence in’
1885, and have also noticed it feeding on the tent-caterpillar, and in one instance on
the fall web-worm. From good authority Iam persuaded that it also sometimes feeds
on the cabbage-worm (Pieris rape). (September 23, 1886.)

In regard to the fall web-worm, the case referred to occurred in August last. A
single bird, industriously engaged in the midst of a web, seemed to be feeding on the
larve. After observing him for some moments he flew down to the fence near me
with a larva in his beak, and there deliberately devoured it. This is the only instance
of the kind which I have personally observed, but my esteemed friend, Hon. Sylvester
Johnson, of Irvington, this State, president of the Indiana Horticultural Society, has
more than once repor ted having a them in the act. (July 4, 1887. Present
about fifteen years.)

Irvington. Hon. Sylvester Johnson: It destroys the cabbage-worm, and the plum-
curculio when shaken from the tree. (September 20, 1836. Present about sixteen
years. )

EVIDENCE.—RELATION TO INSECTS. 289

La Fayette. J. M. Dresser: It feeds upon insects when it can get nothing else.
t has been seen to eat the cabbage-worm, but only when starved to it. I have never
= or heard of a bug or worm being found in the crop of an English Sparrow. (De-
ember 11, 1886. Present about twelve years.)
hia Sacto. F. M. Webster: I have never seen it feed upon insects to any extent,
= except on the seventeen-year locust (Cicada septemdecem) and a grasshopper (Melano-
pus femur-rubrum). T think it ‘prefers Orthoptera and the larger Hemiptera, and possi-
bly Newroptera. It takes insects when it can get nothing else conveniently. I have
noticed recently that it catches grasshoppers, but this has only been going on since
small fruits and grain have become exhausted. (August 25, 1886. Present about
twelve years. )
on Muncie. Granville Cowing: Its diet seems to be wholly vegetable, and it is re-
garded here asa great and growing curse to agriculture and horticulture. (Novem-
ber 29, 1836. Present about six years. )
‘a New Albany. Jas. N. Payton: In this city and other places in the country, before
itcame we had a caterpillar plague every three or four years. * * * The caterpil-
q lar stripped all our shade trees except the maple and sugar tree of all their leaves.
. - Since the Sparrows have become numerous, we have not had any trouble from cater-
pillars, and I believe the Sparrows did the work. (September, 1885. Present about
twenty years.)
- Richmond (suburb). Joseph C. Ratliff: It does not take insects unless when feed-
, fang its young. (November 5, 1886. Present about seventeen years. )
Tell City. John L. Huber: It has been of marked benefit in the destruction of
ihe army-worm. It also eats the cabbage-worm, and all other worms infesting vege-
tation. It feeds its young upon insects. Routober 8, 1886. Present about twelve years. )
— Vevay. William kh. Stratford: It destroys the cabbage-worm (a great pest in this
locality), but I believe not more effectually than did our other birds before the advent
_ of the Sparrow. (October 7, 1886. Present about ten years.)
Towa. Bellevue. Dr. Lawrence Millar: I have observed it tearing the nests of the
_ leaf-roller, and extracting the larvie. I often see it carrying off beetles. It feeds upon
- insects during the brooding season. (October 27, 1886. Present about ten years.)
‘a Burlington. Howard Kingsbury: It benefits the farmer by destroying countless
_ numbers of codling-worms, larvie of Coleoptera, and many varieties of Aphide. It
* eeds upon insects whenever it can get them—especially while rearing its young. - (De-
ember 28, 1886. Present sixteen or seventeen years. )
Burlington. D. Y. Overton: It appears to be a scavenger, and lives but little upon
a cia. I have seen it attack and destroy a wounded grasshopper, but it exerts little
effect on the worms or insects which infest trees and vegetables in the city. (March,
me reSo. )
- Dubuque. Theo. W. Ruete: It feeds its young almost exclusively upon grubs,
arvx, and small insects. (October 25, 1886. Present eight or ten years.)
— ftowa City. C.C. Nutting: It uses insects for feeding its nestlings, but not to any
~ noteworthy extent. (October 13, 1886. Present about five years.)
q Lenow. A.C. Brice: They certainly fecd apon insects and their larve, especially
they have young. (October 8, 1836. Present less than a year.)
_ Newton. W.E. Dingman: It commonly eats insects in preference to grain. It
Bika been seen to catch and eat the young of the grasshopper or locust, also the com-
_ mon horse-fly. It destroys to a great extent the bot-fly, melon-bugs of all kinds, and
sometimes a honey-bee or wasp. (October 15, 1836. Present two or three years. )
a Wapello. L. M. Jamison: Like other birds it uses insects in feeding its young
_ brood. (October 11, 1886. Present three or four years.)
4 Kansas.—Garnett, M. A. Page: It has destroyed millions of worms. It is a ben-
Ps efit especially to our apple orchards. I know that it destroys the codling-moth and
© miller. (September 3, 1886. Present about one year.)
_ Larkin. P. C. Sweaney: It does not destroy insects or their larve to any great

8404—Bull. 1—~-19

290 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. -

extent. Its food is seeds, and not insects, as formerly supposed. It only feeds its

brood with insects while very young. (October7, 1836. Presentabout three years.) —

Lawrence. B.F. Smith: Ihave never observed it feeding upon insects. It was
brought here to look after the maple-worm, which frequently destroys the foliage of
the maple twice in a season. It does not feed upon that worm nor does any other
bird that I have observed. (January 12, 1887. Present about ten years.)

Manhattan. Dr. Charles P. Blachly: The maple-moth has been very injurious here,
stripping the trees of foliage twice completely and partly athird time, in aseason, and
making it very offensive by their droppings and by covering sidewalks and fences in
countless myriads. The English Sparrow has not been observed to molest them,
though breeding extensively in buildings overshadowed by the maples which were
completely defoliated by the worms. (November, 1885.)

Manhattan. Prof. D. E. Lantz: It feeds upon the Cicada. (Autumn, 1885.)

Tt has not been of any marked benefit. It feeds sparingly upon the maple-worm,

so destructive to the maple inthis locality. During the breeding season it feeds upon —

insects, and, although I have not investigated, I am satisfied that its food is largely
of this kind during the earlysummer months. (September 2, 1856. Present about six
years. )

Toronto. J.B. Stockton: I never saw it touch worm or fly. My trees were filled
with green worms, eating the foilage; but I never saw a Sparrow interfere with one,
while the other birds did. (October 6,1886. Present about one year.)

KENTUCKY.—Bloomfield. John Allen Terrell: It destroys caterpillars, cabbage-
worms, grasshoppers, and larve of every description, except that of the potato-beetle.
It feeds upon insects under all circumstances. (October 5,1886. Present about sev-
enteen years. )

Bowling Green. Postmaster: I have personally examined the crops of twenty-seven

English Sparrows this summer and not found a bug or worm. (October 3, 1886:

Present about eight years. )

Columbus. F.H. Gardener: It does not seem to discriminate, but eats most smal] —

insects thrown in its way. (October 9,1886. Present about three years. )

Crescent Hill. Thomas 8S. Kennedy: I have not seen it interfere with the cab-
bage-worm or its butterfly, with the codling-moth, or any beetles, cut-worms, or
other destructive insects, except the hairy caterpillar. It feeds its young on insects,
especially on the moth of the common hairy caterpillar. (October 5,1886. Present
five or six years.)

Elkton. E.W. Weathers: It seems to catch the worms from the cabbages espec-
ially. It feeds upon insects when rearing its brood, and destroys to a limited extent
such as are common to the garden. (October 4,1886. Present about six years.)

Greenville. C.W.Short: The extent to which it feeds upon insects is not worthy
of notice. (October 11,1886. Present about six years.)

Hartford. A.B. Baird: It feeds upon insects only from sheer necessity. In a very
few instances it has been observed feeding its young on grasshoppers. (October 5,
1885. Present about six years.)

Lancaster. W.H.Wherritt: I think it feeds upon insects only when hard pressed
for food. In a few instances I have known it to destroy the green cabbage-worm.
(October 11,1886. Present eight or nine years. )

Louisville. J. B. Nall: It feeds upon insects whenever it can get them. I have
seen it eat cut-worms, and moths of various kinds. It has nearly exterminated the
white caterpillar that a few years ago threatened to destroy our shade trees. It eats
all kinds of insects to some extent. (September 8,1886. Present about twelve
years. )

Lowisville. A. P. Farnsley, per J. B. Nall: I have seen English Sparrows, blue-
birds, tame pigeons, and blackbirds feeding upon the cut-worm and army-worm. I
am certain these birds saved me more in two seasons than they could possibly injure
me in twenty years. * * * A few years ago I had a barley field infested with

EVIDENCE.—RELATION TO INSECTS. 291

; -army-worms. After I cut the barley the worms commenced moying into an adjacent
corn-field. I thought my corn would be ruined, but to my great delight the English
_ Sparrows, tame pigeons, and blackbirds came to my aid in vast flocks, and picked up
and carried off the worms as fast as they emerged from the barley field. (August 8,
1836.)
Maysville. A.C. Respess: It feeds upon ants and other insects in early spring.
(October 6,1886. Present seven or eight years.)
Shelbyville. Dr. Ormsby Gray: It has been of marked benefit in some cases. It
feeds its young on the millers and butterflies of many destructive caterpillars, there-
by destroying many broods. It destroys insects, however, only when rearing its
young. (October 12,1886. Present about eight years.)
Simpsonville. R.H.George: It eats some caterpillars and some innocent worms,
but has been of no marked benefit. (October 15,1886. Present about seven years.)
Louisitana.—/Harataria (country). William B. Berthoud: I have never known it to
destroy insects. Ihave often killed and dissected them for examination, but never
found anyinsects in them. (June 27,1887. Present about four years. )

Black Hawk (country). W.C.Percy,jr.: It feeds upon insects during winter and
spring, but I do not know upon what kinds. It does not eat the cotton-worm, and I
have seeu but few insects in its stemach. (September 15,1886. Present about two
years. )

Donaldsonville. L.E. Bentley: Ido not know of its destroying any particular in-
_ sect, injurious or otherwise. Insects remain undisturbed in its very roosting trees.
' October 3,1886. Present five years.)

MaAIne.— Brewer. Manly Hardy: They are said at times to eat canker-worms, but
close watching here has failed to see one take any kind of insect. (August 31, 1885.
h: Present about four years. )

; _ North Livermore. George H. Berry: During early spring and summer it eats a few
insects, though rarely. It takes the canker-worm, carabid larve, Coccinellide (lady-
bugs), aud rarely the vaporer moth (Orgyia). (August 28, 1886.)

June 3, 1885, I found a nest of the English Sparrow with three young about half
grown. In the nest were remains of the luna and cecropia moths, and turnus and
antiopa butterflies; also a single dead larva of the vaporer moth. June 12, 1886, the
English Sparrows (in nest just below my window) hatched and the old birds were
feeding them with small green worms. June 14, from 2 to 5 p. m., the Sparrows

_ brought some sixty green worms anda couple of caterpillars of Orgyia leucostigma
4 besides flies, moths, ete. July 10, 1887, there being a nest of Sparrows almost ready
to fly, in a box, I secured nearly twenty larve of Orgyia and placed them on a limb
_ just below the nest. For nearly an hour the old birds paid no attention to them, but
_ finally one of them ate one and carried three to the young ; the remainder were un-
molested. (July 12,1887. Present about four years.)

Portland. Nathan Clifford Brown: Among 15 Sparrows (14 adults and i young)
dissected during the four months ending July 18, 1884, only two contained any ani-
mal food whatever. One of these contained the remains of a small spider, the other
- asingle leg of a small spider, the remainder of the food in both cases consisting of
cracked corn and oats. The food of the 13 remaining birds was made up almost en-
tirely ofoats gleaned from horse droppings, two of the birds, one young, having eaten
in addition a little green vegetable matter, and all containing some gravel, bits of
coal, or brick.

Saccarappa. Arthur H. Norton: It has been observed to feed on red ants and
spiders to a small extent. (October 18, 1856.)

MARYLAND.—Baltimore. Otto Lugger: Early in the spring when it has young tt
_ takes insects. It is very found of winged Termiles (have seen them eating them
within the past week); it catches flies of the family Muscida, but takes beneficial
_ Species as well as indifferent ones. It destroyed (iu 1835) vast numbers of the harm-
q less seventeen-year Cicada. (May 10, 1887.)

*

292 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

MASSACHUSETTS.—Amherst. Hubert L. Clark: It is worse than useless, taking as
it does little or no insect food. (October 2, 1885.)

A few were seen eating canker-worms this year (1886. Present about fourteen
years. )

Cambridge. William Brewster: They are emphatically seed eaters. I think they
eat very few insects. Ido not think it possible that they eat the larve of the va-
porer moth (Orgyia) to any extent, jadging by the fact that the Sparrow boxes in
Boston are often nearly covered with the cocoons of this insect, and trees crowded
with the Sparrows are stripped bare of leaves. * * * I have never made any
adequate dissections. Injurious insects, especially the vaporer moth (only in Boston)
and cauker-worm, have increased rather than lessened since the introduction of the
Sparrow. (January 30, 1884.)

Cambridge. Dr. H. A. Hagen: He eats insects in brooding time and before this
time; in my yard chiefly canker-worms, but before their appearance, eggs and all
small insects on the trees, for which he searches the twigs in the manner of the wood-
pecker. Canker-worms are also carried to the young; I have often seen the male come
with five of them in his mouth when there were five young to be provided for. The
Sparrow never eats the larve of Orgyia leucostigma. It is a great but common error
here to expect him to eat bairy caterpillars; only a few birds (e.g. the cuckoo) eat
them. In Cambridge the canker-worm has certainly been materially lessened in num-
bers by the Sparrow. Since this bird became well established here we have never
had such numbers as were common seven or eight years before. (April 13, 1884. Pres-
ent about eleven years. )

East Templeton. Charles E. Ingalls: It takes insects but rarely, and then while
caring for its young. I have seen it upon only two occasions flying to its young in
the nest with a white grub which Iam unable to name. (August 23, 1886. Present
about six years. )

Holyoke. Thomas Chalmers: Sparrows do not take long flights to procure food for
their young; if insects are abundant in the neighborhood, insects will be found to form
the staple food for the young. When raising their early broods there is no grain or
sced to be had, while soft foods, such as insects, larvee, moths, and grubs are most
abundant. (March 6, 1884. Present about fifteen years.)

Ignn. John B. Tolman: I think it scarcely troubles insects. They have increased
rapidly since the coming of the Sparrow, and my fruit of all kinds is much more in-
fested than it used to be. (#ebruary 15, 1884. Present about eleven years. )

Micuigan.—Sad Axe. Beli Irwin: 1 have known it to gorge itself with angle-
worms, and later on with insects destructive to fruits and vegetables, among them
the cabbage-worm. (September 15, 1886. Present about four years. )

Burlington. Postmaster: It feeds upon flies and grasshoppers. (October 21. 1886.
Present about three years.)

Grass Lake. Frank O. Hellier: It has been of marked benefit by eating currant-
worms, cabbage-worms, etc. (September 7, 1886.)

Hastings. John Bessmer: It has been of marked benefit in the destruction of a
great many insects, especially the cabbage-worm and grasshoppers of the smaller
kinds. Jam satisfied that it feeds its young entirely upon insects. I have watched
it day after day and have placed grain food within easy reach, but it would not
touch it to feed its young.

In the summer I planted some cauliflowers in ny garden and found they were not
attacked by the cabbage-worms, and upon investigation I found that the Sparrows
were feeding their young upon cabbage- worms picked from the cauliflowers. Atter
the young leave the nest I have seen them feed upon grain and insects together,
and when full grown I believe they subsist entirely upon grain. (October 7, 1886.
Present about ten years. )

Hudson. A. H. Boies: As an insect-destroyer, I consider it a failure. (1885.)

I once saw a Sparrow catch a single grasshopper, but that is the only instance of

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EVIDENCE.—RELATION TO INSECTS. 293

its eating insects that I have observed. (August 19, 1886. Present about eleven
years. )

Lansing. Jason E. Nichols: I have known it to feed on insects only once, and
that was on the harmless flies that swarm over the river. [Probably Hphemere. ]
(August 26, 1886. Present several years.)

North Adams. O.C. Smith: From what I have seen, I believe it to be of no value
as an insect exterminator; I have yet to observe a single instance in which it has
been beneficial. (October 8, 1886. Present five years.)

Saline (country). Norman A. Wood: It feeds upon insects only in case of starva-
tion. We have no bird that eats so few insects. I have never seen i*.eat worm or
larva. (September 6, 1886. Present about six years.)

Traverse City. HH. D. Campbell: It feeds upon spiders around dwellings and in
other places. (October, 1886. Present abont eight years. )

Mississippi1.—Columbus. D.C. Hodo: Itisthe most omnivorous of birds, and when
there are no vegetables or grain it eats all kinds of insects and their larve. (Sep-
tember 21, 1886. Present about two years.)

New Hampsuire.—Franklin Falls. George Stolworthy: It is one of our busiest in-
sect-catchers during the breeding season. I have seen it feeding on grasshoppers
after the breeding season was over. Itdestruys potato-bugs, grasshoppers, and many
kinds of small beeties and flies. (August 24,1886. Present six or seven years.)

New Jersry.—Caldwell. Marcus S. Crane: I examined the crops of seven Spar-
rows shot at different times between August 11 and September 12. During this time
our grain was stacked, and the elm-leaf beetle was abundant on the elms. In all

cases the Sparrows’ crops contained grain, and the microscope failed to reveal any

remains of insects. (September 20, 1584. Present fourteen years. )

Chatham. George M. Swaim: It eats insects only when driven to it by lack of other
food. When they first came to this country I saw them eat soft-bodied, winged in-
sects, but have not seen them do so now for a number of years. (August 31, 1886.
Present about eighteen years. ) ;

Kast Orange. H. B. Bailey: 1t is a seed-eater, and never touches insects. I have
never seen a Sparrow touch a cocoon or worm of the vaporer moth (Orgyia), although
trees inhabited by Sparrows are often infested by these worms. I dissected sixty

adult Sparrows in the height of the insect season, and never found a trace of an in-

sect; nor havel ever seen one touch an insect of any kind. (February 7, 1884. Pres-
ent ten years or more. )

Orange. Lloyd McKim Garrison: It is a seed-eater. I have dissected many Spar-
rows, and at all seasons of the year, but have never found a trace of an insect in
them, although I think the young eat insects, mainly caterpillars. The canker-worm
has been unusually prevalent here of late, but I never saw aSparrow eat one. (Feb-
ruary 11, 1884. Present many years.)

fTtidgewood, Henry Hales: In cities I have seen it catch moths of the measure-
worm in spring. Ihave also seen them, when sitting on a fence, fly off one after
ancther and catch flies on the wing like a true flycatcher. (January 18, 1887. Pres-
ent about fifteen years.)

Trenton. Prof. Austin C. Apgar: It is mainly a seed-eater, but if forced to eat in-
sects will devour any kind. My knowledge is derived from observation only. Inju-
rious insects have apparently neither increased nor decreased since the coming of the
Sparrow. (February 25, 1884. Present about fourteen years. )

New York.—Baldwinsville. Rev. W. M. Beauchamp: Twice this year I have seen

it catch insects. (October 15, 1885.)

It rarely cats insects. I have occasionally seen it with insects, and have supposed .
it carried these to its young. (September 13, 1886. Present many years.)

Boonville. Edward Snow: It has been of no benefit except occasionally to catch
afew grasshoppers. (August 18, 1385. Present teu or twelve years.)
Brooklyn. W.J. Kenyon: At times I have seen the Sparrows all collect in one

ZEA THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

spot on the grass and go through what appears to be a wardance. A Sparrow will
dart up about four feet, remain fluttering there an instant, and settle again so quickly
that there are always two or three birds in the air. I found out later that they
were catching small insects something like winged ants. (September 4, 1886. Pres-
ent thirty years or more.)

[The winged insects referred to were doubtless the socalled white ants or Termites].

Brooklyn. J. A. Perry: The army-worm, which has proved to be so destructive to
the grassand grain crops in various parts of the country, suddenly appeared a few
days since near the southern boundary of the Greenwood cemetery, a road called
Martense’s Lane only intervening.

Dreading the ravages which they would commit if they got into Greenwood,
orders were given that, in the event of their attempting to cross the road, the entire
laboring force of the cemetery should be called out to resist them. Their move-
ments were closely watched, and the mode of attack devised. Spades and shovels
were ordered to be used and the great-steam roller of 12 tons weight was to be held
in readiness to crush them.

But an army diminutive in individual power, but mighty in numerical force, soon
appeared as volunteers in the field, an renddered all other precautions unnecessary.
The English Sparrow, which had been encouraged to make its home in Greenwood
some years since, in order to prevent the ravages of the inch-worm, which then
infested the cities of New York and Brooklyn and which it was feared might reach
Greenwood, soon discovered these army-worms, and collecting in some mysterious
way from all parts of the cemetery, in a flock numbering several thousands, sped
their way to the field, swept around its outskirts apparently to observe the extent of
the work before them, landed in the middle of it, and spreading themselves on the
right and on the left, proceeded to devour voraciously all the wornis which they met.
The field being large, some 8 or 10 acres in extent, the attacking hosts were busily
occupied nearly three days, but they did not leave except at night, until their work
was ended in the complete extermination of the dreaded foe. * * * Itis due to
this poor defamed bird, in the opinion of the writer, that these facts should be made
known, that the opprobiam which rests upon it should be removed, and at the same
time credit should be given to it for preventing, in one instance at least, the ravages
of the much-dreaded army-worm. (For the Journal of Commerce.) (January 24, 1880.)

Brooklyn. Hon. Nicolas Pike: In avery short time [after their introduction in
1852] these voracious little birds completely eradicated the ‘“ hanging-worm” or
measuring worm, Hnnomos (Lugonia) subsignaria, which was threatening our fairest
shade trees, and making the sidewalks almost impassable. Now it is difficult to find
one in the city. They have also materially lessened the numbers of one of the clear-
winged flies so destructive to the grape-vine.

The adult Sparrow eats all the arachnoidea, millers, and other small moths and
their larve, the soft larve of almost all insects, and small worms. I have never seen
it take either the moth or larva of Orgyia, nor have I ever found it in the stomach.
It does eat ichneumon flies. The food depends almost entirely on season and temper-
ature. In winter it is found in street droppings, crumbs, or anything obtainable. In
summer if lives mostly on animal food, which I believe it prefers, unless persistently
fed with grain, bread, ete. The young are fed mostly on spiders and soft larvee of
insects. In the nest I believe they are entirely animal feeders, but out of it they
take vegetable and animal food indiscriminately. (February 8, 1884. Present about
thirty-two years.)

Buffalo. Prof. Charles Linden: A liveryman tells me that since the advent of the —
Sparrow he has noticed a gratifying diminution in the number of bot-flies among his
horses. The Sparrow loves caterpillars, and insects of all sorts. Our park superin-
tendent, a good, clear-headed observer, testifies in its favor, and ascribes the fine
condition of the trees in Buffalo Park largely to this insect-destroying capacity of
the Sparrow. I have often seen the Sparrow catching the white cabbage-butterfly,

EVIDENCE.—RELATION TO INSECTS. 295

and while chasing a rare Cincindela [tiger-beetle] in one of our streets, found a
Wy swifter competitor in a Sparrow, which caught the insect on the wing. (1885.)

; 3 Buffalo. Dr. W. H. Bergtold: I have repeatedly seen it catch insects in the same
way the various flycatchers obtain their food. It also feeds its young almost exclu-
= sively on larvee; at least while they are quite young. (August 21, 1886. Present
_ twelve or fifteen years. )

Constantia. Wallace D. Rhines: It feeds on insects when it can not get grain food.
_ [have seen it destroy quite a number of grasshoppers, but no other insects. (August

23, 1886. Present four or five years.)

“Flushing. D. C. Beard: He Yefuses to eat the hairy caterpillars. The canker-
~ worm has diminished about here, but its place is more than filled by the hairy larve.
(Present about ten years. )

Gansevoort. Joseph W. Shurter: Possibly when it can get nothing else it may eat
insects, but I have examined the crops of perhaps twenty Sparrows at different sea--
sons and invariably found nothing but grain or seeds therein. (February 4, 1883.
Present about eight years.)

Lockport. Lewis H. Hill: I have watched them this year on the plum tree, and

_ haye seen them open the leaf that had been rolled and eat the worm that it con-

4 tained. (September 3, 1886.)

; New York. Dr. F. Hollick: The Sparrow’s consumption of insect eggs in winter
is a service which, I think, is overlooked. (September 2, 1884.)

New York. Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt: We must not forget the good the Sparrow

- hasdone. When first imported our city trees were annually denuded of every leaf,

while the measuring or inch worms bung in festoons in our streets, suspended from

_ the boughs by their webs. They had invaded the smaller parks and threatened soon

_ to destroy all hope of verdure and to kill the struggling trees. * * * Thousands

4 eould be counted at one time in Union Square swinging in the breeze and consti-

tuting a net-work of repulsiveness. To-day, thanks to the English Sparrow, and

to him alone, the measuring-worm hardly exists and never causes perceptible dam-

age. That one good action entitles the author of it to protection. I can not tell you

a scientifically what insects the Sparrow eats. I can only give you the outcome of my

4 individual experience, and am well aware that most birds destroy the day millers,

_ when it is the night-flyers which are most injurious. But the Sparrow certainly does
- more good than any other kind—yes, than any dozen kinds we have. (August 8,
1886.)

_ New York. A. Church: Their favorite food, especially that of the young, consists

mostly of ants, worms, flies, and millers, altogether soft food, not grain or seeds. I

also notice that the currant bushes in one place are in a thriving condition, owing to
a mene Sparrow’s eating the worms which had formerly destroyed the leaves and fruit.

_ The Sparrow is very fond of all such worms, but does not like caterpillars which have

hair on them, and these no bird that I know of will eat. On the whole I consider

; the Sparrow a benefit to the country. (March 27, 1854.)

Old Westbury (country). John D. Hicks: It Bees upon insects in the summer,

_ particularly when it has young, but neither more nor less than the song sparrow and

Br allied birds. When the army-worm was abundant, the Sparrow was one of its most

Vigilant and persistent destroyers. (September 6, 1886. Present about twenty
years.)

Phenix. Benjamin F. Hess: During the hay-making season I have seen the males
_ capture a great many small insects for the young. It most commonly destroys grass-
_ hoppers, but only to a smallextent. (August 25,1886. Present about two years.)
— Poughkeepsie. Dr. Alfred Hasbrouck: Occasionally it catches a spider, fly, or some
_ otherinsect The nature of the food has been determined by observation and by dis-
section. I have examined many, and have never found an insect. Idonot think the
" effect on insect life is appreciable. (September9, 1884. Present about twenty years.)
Rochester. H. M. Jennings: [t does not feed upon insects under any circumstances.

296 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

T have examined many, and found not the ‘east indication of their having taken insect
food. (February 12, 1887. Present ten or eleven years. )

Utica. Thomas Birt: It will devour grasshoppers and some kinds of grubs when
it can gct nothing else. Some three years ago, in the latter part of a summer which
had been very hot and dry, I noticed the Sparrows busy in the meadows. Curiosity
compelled me to watch them closely, when, to their credit be it said, I saw hundreds
of them bringing an equal number of grasshoppers, tearing them to pieces and bolt- —
ing them down. Hunger must have compelled them to do this, for I am very sure
nothing else would. (September 16, 1887.)

Westport. Geerge C. Osborne: When it can not get grain it may eat insects, but
Thavenever found an insect in its crop. (November 5, 1486. Present about ten years. )

Outo.—Akron (suburbs). Prof. E.W.Claypole: In nesting time it feeds its young
upon insects; and it picks plant-lice from the trees sometimes. (December 31, 1886.
Present about eleven years.)

Avondale. Charles Dury: April 28, 1882, I began an investigation of the food and
habits of these birds, being desirous of obtaining correct data in regard to them, and
particularly to test their desirability in a general way. In this paper I give a brief
summary of the food I found in them. Where the contents of the stomach was not
recognizable to the unassisted eye, it was examined under a power of about thirty
diameters. The birds secured were both adult and young, though all fully fledged
birds and able to fly. No nestlings were obtainable as I did not allow them to nest on
the place, which consisted of five acres of ground filled with fruit and other trees.
By baiting a spot with oats for several days without molesting the birds, I was able
to kill many at a discharge of a No. 12 gun loaded with an ounce of No. 10 shot.
One day forty-three were killed in several shots, and of these several selected at
random (males, females, and young) were taken to be a fair sample of the entire lot.
Others were shot singly from fruit and shade trees, and still others were killed while
hopping in the grass. -

At intervals as time permitted from April 28,1882, until January, 1888, I examined
about one hundred and ten birds and noted the contents of stomachs. Every month
in the year was represented. The food of these birds was seeds of various kinds,
grain, oats, broken grains of corn, buds of trees, fruit, and bits of bread and table
scraps. I enumerate below the instances where insects were found in any stomach,
with the dates.

April 28, 1882. Male; contained seeds, whole and broken, with small round sand and
part of shell or outer skin of minute hemipterous insect.

March 2, 1883. Two birds had fragments of small beetles, Aphodius (one beetle in
each case), in addition to the seeds and grain with which their stomachs were filled.

April 20, 1883. Male and female shot from house top. Male contained, in addition to
seeds and buds, one head and part of body of small (Staphylinid) beetle.

June 2, 1883. One bird had remains of two small beetles with the broken grains of
corn and oats that its stomach was filled -with.

June 30, 1884. One bird contained the remains of two small beetles (Chrysomelids).

July 5, 1886. In addition to the soft pulp of green oats one bird had the fragments
of a large black ant in its stomach.

The above were all the insects I was able to find in any of them. Iam astonished
at my want of success in finding insects in these birds, as several persons have re-
ported to me instances where they had observed Sparrows catching insects. My —
observation has been mostly confined to the home place, yet it is a very favorable
place for laryze and insects of all kinds, and before the Sparrows came our native
birds were abundant and found plenty of food and shelter in the trees and bushes —
with which the place was covered. (February 3, 1888.)

Cincinnati. William Hubbell Fisher: He is a seed eater, and I have never seen
him take an insect. He will not eat the worms that destroy our trees, though they
are most abundant. My data are derived from direct observation. He has had no
appreciable effect on insect life here. (September 9, 1884.)

ION TO INSECTS. 297

Cincinnati. Dr. F. W. Langdon: I have observed it to be quite expert in catching
moths (Noctuidw) on the wing, about our parks; and the seventeen-year cicada fur-
r nished an abundant repast during the season just gone. (November, 1885.)
Cleveland. Dr. E. Sterling: As for insects, I have only seen it take the Hphemerw
_ [May flies] and other harmless insects. I have seen twenty or more Sparrows on a
- fence alive with elm-tree worms, and utterly disregarding these pests. (February
- 25,1884. Present about fourteen years. )

Columbus (suburb, Ohio State University). William B. Alwood: I have not ob-
_ served closely in regard to its relation to insects; but I have never found an insect
> or any part of one in the stomachs of Sparrows killed and dissected during the harvest
& ‘season. I have never known it to attack insect larvee, though many times very abun-
; Bidanit. Larvie of Hyphantria cunea (web-worm) were espouse abundant during the
month of June, just past, but none were eaten by the Sparrows, so far as we could
— observe. (July 16, 1887. Present ten years or more.)

_ Hamilton. peace Harbron: It feeds upon the measuring worm and cabbage
moth to a limited extent. (September 13, 1886. Present about eighteen years. )

- Jefferson. A.C. White: I have only observed that it follows robins and bluebirds,
q and takes from them the worms and insects which they find. (September 3, 1856.
- Present about seven years. )

Marietta. Dudley 8. Ney: They do not seem to destroy caterpillars, grubs, or in-
sectlarvee. Iam informed by those who have dissected them that they find no in-
_ sects in them. (November 25, 1886. Present about sixteen years.)

Newton Falls. E.W.Turner: I have watched them closely, and have never seen
_ one eat an insect yet. (November 16, 1886. Present five years.)

North Bend (suburbs). Rk. H. Warder: In 1885 it ate the seventeen-year cicada, and
in July, 1886, I found them eating grasshoppers in meadows. (November 27, 1886.
Present about eleven years.)

Ripley. M.M. Murphy: I find the Sparrow of great benefit in my garden, eating
* worms off the cabbages, and the caterpillars, etc., from my persimmon trees.
(November 12, 1886. Present about ten years.)

_ Salem. Mrs. L.8. Solberg: It feeds its young upon insects, and destroys their
larve. (October 13, 1886. Present seven or eight years. )
_ Sharon Centre. F.G. Cottingham: It will eat worms, bugs, and beetles when it can
not get grain. Ihave seen it eat locusts, cut-worms, and white grubs, but to a very
limited extent. The benefit has been very slight. (August 21, 1886. Present about
two years.)
_ Wadsworth. Dr. J. F. Detweiler: I once saw a Sparrow catch and eat a grasshopper,
but this is the only instance I have noted of their eating insects. During the summer
fe dissected a great rwany to see what they had eaten. I found small grain and seeds
in all, but in no single case did I find an insect, nor were any signs of any seen with
"the microscope. (December 10, 1887. Present about thirteen years. )
Wakeman. W.B. Hall: Last winter I cut an old apple tree badly infested with
the scale insect. In trimming the tree I had the brush piled neatly. I soon found
_ the brush pile a resort for the English Sparrows, and by close observation found
them picking the scales off. They completely destroyed the scale insects from the
_ above-mentioned tree so that I could not find a single specimen. I looked thoroughly,
as I wanted to obtain some for microscopic investigation. This is the only time I
: have seen the Sparrow eating insects. (December 24, 1886. Present about five
years. )
Washington C. H. UW.D. Pursell: During the last two years I have been conduct-
3 ing a series of experiments as to the best method of disposing of the English Spar-
row, and during that time I have been a close observer of its habits. J am emphat-
seally of opinion that as an insect destroyer he is a failure. (January 23, 1888.)

_ PENNSYLVANIA. —Chambersburgh (country). Davison Greenawalt: I never saw it
¢ ‘catch anything but a stray grasshopper or two. (September 5, 1886. Present about
for urteen years. )

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298 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. <i

Lancaster. Dr. 8S. 8S. Rathvon. Its benefit to the farmer and horticulturist has
been merely nominal. Two or three Sparrows have been occasionally observed in
conflict about the possession of a cicada, a locust, oralarge larva. Doubtless it feeds
its young on soft insects, but I have not noticed a Sparrow destroying an insect in ten
years. I once saw two of them contending about the possession of an earthworm.

Although, living in a crowded city, I may not be able to say much specifically as to
what insects the English Sparrow destroys, I can bear unqualified testimony as to
what it will not or did not destroy. Three or four years ago all the elm trees in
this city were seriously infested by the elm-leaf beetle (Galeruca xanthomelena),
several large trees being within 100 yards of my business station. There were millions
of the inseots—larva, pupa, and imago—on the leaves, the branches, the trunks, and
on the pavements under the trees, and I visited them often. Midway between my
location and these trees was the dead wall of a large three-story house entirely cov-—
ered by a vigorous ‘‘ trumpet vine,” amid the foliage of which hundreds of Sparrows
roosted, nested, and reared their broods, and many of the birds were flying forth and
returning, from ‘‘early morn to dewy eve,” but I never saw one of them visit the in-
fested trees or appropriate a single insect in any of its forms. At the same time I
saw scores of them in the streets, picking up whatever they could find, and especially
disintegrating and exploring the feces of horses, almost immediately after dropping.

Twenty yards from where Iam now daily occupied (on another premise) stands a
large cherry tree. Early in the season I noticed a small mass of web, about the size
ofa common tea-cup, upon a single branch, and I admonished the proprietor to re-
move it, as it was spun by aspecies of ‘‘ web-worm.” He paid no attention to it, and
now fully one-half the tree is covered and the leaves skeletonized ; and this too, not-
withstanding not 20 yards distant is the gable of a three-story building covered with
another trumpet vine, harboring acolony of an hundred Sparrowsor more. They fly
straight to and from their rookery, but seldom alight or continue long on the cherry
tree.

Again, on my premises is growing a wild cucurbitaceous plant, on which I dis-
covered a small colony of ‘‘ lady-birds” ( Epilachna borealis), and as the plant is value-
less I permitted them to increase merely to ascertain their destructive possibilities.
Although the vine (Zchinocystes lobatus) is a most vigorous grower, the insects have
nearly eaten it up. This vine was also infested by thousands of Lecanium hemispheri-
cum (a species of Coccid@), but the Sparrows did not disturb them. About ten feet
from the plant is a large Wistaria chinensis, harboring from ten to twenty or more
English Sparrows, but they never touched one of the insects to my knowledge, al-
though there hag been no period since the 15th of July last that abundance of
the larvee, pupx, and mature insects were not present. Now, all these insects are of
such a texture as to be edible to even young birds, but the Sparrows have “‘ severely
let them alone.”

Allow me, in conclusion, to say that I have not now, nor have I ever had, any faith
in the English Sparrow as essentially a destroyer of insects, simply because it is a
jinch. At the sametime I would not wantonly traduce the character of the bird.
(October 8, 1886. Present sixteen years or more.)

Mansfield Valley (suburb of Pittsburgh). Dr. R. L. Walker: I notice the Spar_
rows every morning picking up the moths and other insects which get their wings
singed by the natural-gas torch inmy garden. Thisis the only insect-eating I have
ever known them todo. Whenthe currant-worm became sucha pest I put up a num-
ber of boxes for the Sparrows, thinking they would clean out the worms; but the
experiment was a failure, for although the boxes were occupied, I never saw a Sparrow
touch even a single worm. Itore down the boxes and dug up the currant bushes,
and by that means got rid of the worms. I wish I could get rid of the Sparrows as
easily. (July, 1887. Present about five years. )

New Lexington. Dr. H. D. Moore: I have examined a great many stomachs, and
in only a very few have I found any wornis or insects. They eat such of the larve of

EVIDENCE.—RELATION TO INSECTS. 299

ommon house fly as they findin horse and cow manure. I have never observed
them searching for insects. (September 13, 1886. Present about eleven years.)
Philadelphia. A. L. Elwyn: Flies, mosquitoes, etc., if eats in great numbers. I
have noticed the Sparrows on my pear trees with great care. In the blossoming sea-
son they may often be seen plunging their bills deep down into the flowers. I believe
they do this to get at some insect or worm, and am satisfied that the trees were pre-
served and bore largely through these little birds. (October 11, 1885.)

4 Pottstown. John H. Steele: I have very seldom seen it eat insects. Ina very few
instances [ have known it to take grubs of moths and butterflies, when it could find
no fruit. (Angust 19, 1886. Present about sixteen years.)

South. Bethlehem. Robert W. Barrell: I have seen it destroy the seventeen-year
‘locust to quite a large extent, but never saw it feed on any other insect. (September
16, 1885.)

_ West Chester. Dr. B. H. Warren: He is emphatically a seed-eater. In the case of
one hundred dissections, vegetable material was greatly in excess of insects as a mat-
ter of diet. Out of fifty dissections made during March, April, May, and June, forty-
seven showed cereal and vegetable food, while one stomach contained a single éoleone:
erous insect. (January, 1587.)

_ Rnunove Istanp.—Hill’s Grove. Fred T. Jencks: I have seen it feeding upon canker-
ene though very seldom. (November 6, 1886.)

- Newport. Charles H. Lawton and John J. Peckham: It feeds upon insects, spi-
ders, and tree lice to some extent. (November 4, 1836. Present about eleven years.)
Peace Dale. R.G. Hazzard, second: The bird is omnivorous, but feeds its young
chiefly on insect larve. (May 26, 1884. Present about twenty-six years.)

re Westerly (suburb). B.F. Maxon: After oats are harvested it feeds some on young
grasshoppers. (March, 1887. Present about thirteen years. )

— SouTH CARoLiInA.—Charlesion. Dr. G. E. Manigault: It eats both seeds and in-
sects (flies and grasshoppers), but feeds its young chiefly on the grain from horse
droppings. (August 24, 1884.)

_ James Island. W.I1. Hinson: We expected great benefits from its attacks on the
cotton worm, but it does not seem to disturb it. It does not feed upon insects, ex-
cept on the caterpillars on trees around buildings. (November 2, 1886. Present four
; years. )

_ TENNESSEE.—Lawrenceburgh. W.T.Nixon: I have observed the old birds feeding
t their young on white grubs which proved to be maggots from a dead animal. (Feb-
ruary 21, 1887. Present about two years.)

Bias — Provo City. Jas. G. Kenney: It was expected that it would be destruc-
eto the codling moth, butit is not. (November 15, 1886. Present about six years.)
_ VERMONT.—Lunenbugh. Dr. Hiram A. Cutting: It feeds upon both seeds and in-
sects, eating the cabbage-worm and the larve of various flies. It feeds its young

on cabbage-worms and other insect Jarvie, and on seeds. It has taken all the cab-
bage-worms from my cabbage field. The botsin horses have become almost unknown,
and it is the prevailing opinion that the Sparrow eats the larve as they come from
the horses. (August 19, 1284. Present four years. )

_ Saint Johnsbury. Rev. Henry Fairbanks: It is chiefly a seed-eater. I have watched
it: a great deal without seeing it take insects. (February &, 1884. Present eight or
5 ten years. )

West Pawlet.. Dr. Frank H. Braymer: It is a seed-eater, and I think it eats very
few insects, worms, ete. It eats a few small green worms and smali grasshoppers,
and carries them to its young. (February 15, 1884. Present nine or ten years.)

_ VirGINIA.—New Market. George M. Neese: Last summer the Sparrows went in
large flocks to the fields and destroyed a great many of the grasshoppers that were
here in millions devastating every green thing that lay in their path. (December 30,
1985, Present about eleven years. )

Vea
et

300 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Richmond. Col. Randolph Harrison: My belief is that they do not consume in- —
sects to any great extent, though they may destroy larve. I have seen caterpillars —
in elm trees in vast numbers, and the Sparrows, as I believe, did not touch them. I _
saw one with alive butterfly in his mouth—the only instance of its insect-eating I
have known. (August 20, 1886.) . .

Wes? VirGINIA.—Buckhannon. Dr. J. R. Mathers: It has been of marked benefit in
destroying the eggs of the tent caterpillar and eating the green cabbage-worm. (Au- —
gust 19,1886. Present about five years.)

Hickory. J.H.Shank: I have recently learned that they are very destructive to
the cabbage-worm, the larva of Pieris rapa. (November 22, 1886.)

Leon. G.W.Knapp: The Sparrow does not eat caterpillars, for there have been
some on my grape-vines and pear trees not 20 yards from Sparrows’ nests. (Sep-
tember 21, 1887.)

WISCONSIN.— Milwaukee. Walter B. Hull: It feeds upon insects when no grain is
~to be had. I have seen it feed on grasshoppers, but not often, and can not say what
insects it eats. It seldom eats animal food. (August 23,1886. Present about six
years.)

Milwaukee. Charles Keeler: It generally feeds upon caterpillars when they are
plenty. It destroys canker-worms somewhat, but before the Sparrow was introduced —
no complaints were made about canker-worms. Spiders are alsoeaten. (August 21,
1886. Present about fifteen years. )

Stoughton. Z. L. Welman: It has been of marked benefit in the destruction of
grasshoppers and the like, and has been seen feeding upon a species of katydid when
this insect was abundant in the shade trees. (December, 1886. Present about ten
years. )

CANADA. OntTaArIO.—Belleville. Prof. James T. Beil: It benefits the farmer and
horticulturist a little by eating insects. I have noticed it feeding its young with ©
sinall green caterpillars on the apple trees behind my house. It eats the insects it —
finds on thestreets. Ihave noticed it feeding on Harpalus vagans and other Carabidae,
catching ichenumon flies and lace wings on the wing, and attempting to catch butter- —
flies. August 17, 1886.)

In jastice to the little rascal I must state that Mr. Richard Elvins, a rather ex-
tensive market gardener of this city, informs me that some four years ago his eabbages —
were badly infested with the caterpillars of the white cabbage butterfly, and he was
afraid that he should lose the larger part of his crop. One day, however, a company
of Sparrows swooped down upon the plants and cleared the insects completely off
them, so that he cut a remunerative crop in due season. (September 2, 1886.)

Belleville. William N. Ponton: As regards insects, I assert most postively that
when the Sparrow can get grain it will not touch anything else. (September 27,
1884. )

Hamilton. Thomas MclIlwraith: I have seen them take moths, caterpillars, and
spiders, and they also feed their young on them. (March 10, 1884. Present about ten
years. )

Listowei. William L. Kells: We have seen it catching crickets, grasshoppers, and —
May bugs, and carrying green caterpillars to its,yonng. (June 23, 1884, and August
23, 1886. )

Ottawa. H. B. Small: I have seen it carrying the codling moth to its young and —
it also takes them worms and grubs. (May 5, 1884. Present about fourteen years.)

Ottawa. W.L. Scott: [dissected a young Sparrow in August and found him simply
gorged with grasshoppers. Large flocks of these birds, principally young ones, leave
the town for the country in the early autumn, and I have ro doubt they feed largely
on grasshoppers. The decrease of this insect, which used to be a terrible pest on the
Government Square and other lawns about the city, but which during the last few
years has almost entirely disappeared, has becn attributed, and probably with some —
truth, to the increasing abundance of the Sparrows. I have seen the Sparrows chase —

ae

Pee

EVIDENCE.—PUBLISHED TESTIMONY. Sao
» cabbage butterfly in a most determined manner, though I am not sure I hans ever
seen. them catch any of them. (January 26, 1886.)

Strathroy. L. H. Smith: I have watched old birds for hours carrying grasshoppers
to their young ones. These are the only insects I can name, but I have seen them
hunting for insects on my lawn, but do not know what kiuds. (October 4, 1586.
Present about twelve years.)

Toronto. Dr. William Brodie: With us the Sparrows, in the fall season any way,
feed largely o2 grasshoppers. Of forty. three specimens, shot outside city limits, be-
: tween August 20 and September 13, 1886, the gizzards of twenty-seven contained
srasshoppers, Caloptenus femur-rubrum, and Cidipoda carolina, which is surely a very
_ good record for the Sparrow. Noweniver 15, 1887.)

- [See also Dr. Brodie’s reports on the food of the Sparrow, pages 311-314, 327-329,
of this Bulletin. ]

Nova Scotra.—Kentville I was told by Mr. Elihu Woodworth, now of Sackville,
* New Brunswick, formerly of Kentville, Nova Scotia, that when the Sparrow first ap-
4 peared i in Kentville, in 1881, canker-worms were abundant antl everywhere increas-
ing, and the Sparrows never rested until they had utterly exterminated them. (T.
_ A.W. Mason, Sackville, New Brunswick. August 24, 1886.)

oer Two Rivers. B.B. Barnhill: It feeds on insects from the leaves of trees, and de-
_ stroys the little green worm such as is seen on currant and gooseberry bushes. (Au-
% gust 20, 1886. )

ce Ee
“ a

SECTION SECOND—PUBLISHED TESTIMONY.

OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE SPARROW QUESTION,

4 The preparation of a list of books and lesser publications relating to
the Sparrow does not fall within the province of the present Bulletin,
but if may be well brietly to outline the history of the “Sparrow ques-
tion” in other countries as well as in America.
4 The history of the Sparrow begins with the history of man, and there
‘is every reason to believe that this bird was well known to people of
“whom we have no written history; certainly frequent mention of it is
‘made in the histories of the earliest civilizations of Europe. The Spar-
Tow is mentioned repeatedly by Aristotle, and by almost every European
aver on natural history who succeeded him.
Ata meeting of the Boston Society of Natural History, held April
ni, 1867, Dr. Charles Pickering called attention to the recent introduc-
Eeainto the United States of the Hous Sparrow of Europe, stating
that as it threatened great evil preventive measures should be speedily
adopted. The official report of this meeting contains the following:
Proofs of its destructive habits were cited from standard authors, showing that the
bird had been the acknowledged enemy of mankind for more than five thousand years.

When writing was invented the Sparrow was selected for the hieroglyphic charac-
ter Piguifying enemy.

& - Sonnini, in the Dictionaire d’Histoire Naturelle, published in 1817, says:

_ “Sparrows are impudent parasites, living only in society with man, and dividing
_ him his grain, his fruit, and hishome; they attack the first fruit that-ripens, the

a02 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

grain as it approaches maturity, and even that which has been stored in granaries.
Some writers have wrongly supposed that the insects destroyed by them compensated
for their ravages on grain. Highty-two grains of wheat were counted in the craw of a
Sparrow shot by the writer, and Rougier de la Bergerie, to whom we owe excellent
memoirs on rural economy, estimates that the Sparrows of France consume annually
10,000,000 bushels of wheat.”

Valmont de Bomare, in his dictionary, published in 1791, says that ‘‘in Brande-
bourg, Prussia, in order to diminish the ravages committed by Sparrows, a price is
set on their heads, and the peasants are compelied by law to bring in a certain num-
ber yearly. In each village there are Sparrow hunters, who sell the birds to the peas-
ants to enable them to pay their tribute.” (Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., x1, 1867, pp.
157, 158.) :

For more than four centuries the character of the House Sparrow has
been discussed in France, Germany, and Great Britain, and from time
to time, especially during the last hundred years, official investigations
of greater or less magnitude have been undertaken by different states
or provinces, in the hope of settling the question. Among such efforts
in Kurope may be mentioned the commission appointed by the Senate of
France, which, under the direction of M. Florent Prévost, finished its
work in 1861; the Commission on Wild Birds Protection, appointed by
the British Parliament in 1873; more recently (1885), the work of
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jr., and Col. Champion Russell, entitled The House
Sparrow; and the ninth annual report (1885) on Injurious Insects and
Common Farm Pests, by Miss Hleanor A. Ormerod, consulting entomol-
ogist to the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Extracts from
some of these works will be found in the following pages.

The lesser publications on the Sparrow question in Europe are too
numerous to mention, but, unfortunately, as Prof. Alfred Newton re-
marks in the last edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica (art. Sparrow),

No definite result thata fair judge can accept has yet beenreached. * * * Both
friends and foes of the Sparrow write as violent partisans, and the truth will not be
known until a series of experiments, conducted by scientifically- trained investigators,
has been instituted, which, to the shame of numerous agricultural and horticultural
societies, has not yet been done.

In other parts of the Old World much damage has been done by spar-
rows, but frequently other species than the English Sparrow have been
concerned, Thus in Algeria immense injury to grain crops has been
done by sparrows, but the species doing the most harm, if not all of it,
is undoubtedly the Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), a near rela-
tive of the House Sparrow, but a bird which avoids human habitations
and nests in large communities in groves, thickets, sedges, and beds of
tall reeds and grass. The ravages of this species, a detailed account of
which appeared in the French Bulletin de la Société d’Acclimatation
(Vol. ILI, 1876, pp. 460-463, and Vol. IV, 1877, p. 62), have been attrib-
uted by American writers to the House Sparrow, but there is no evidence
that the latter bird had any part in tbe mischief, although it is known
to exist in some of the cities and towns of Algeria.

In Australia and New Zealand, however, the English Sparrow. orig-

i

EVIDENCE.—PUBLISHED TESTIMONY. 303

inally introduced from Europe, has been of late a source of constant
anxiety and apprehension. For the last decade or more the newspapers
have been filled with complaints of injury and petitions for restrictive
legislation, but noimportant works on the subject have been published.
One of the latest contributions to the history of the bird in Australia
is the Draft Progress Report of the Board of Investigation, appointed
by the governor of South Australia in 1881, which has been quoted
nearly entire in the following section of this Bulletin. (See page 348.)
In America the condition of affairs has been similar, except that no
official commissions have been appointed to investigate the subject, and
most of the published material on the Sparrow belongs to what may be
called fugitive literature. Only two works devoted entirely to the Spar-
row have been published in the United States, onein 1878, by T. G. Gentry,
entitled The House Sparrow at Home and Abroad; the other in 1879 by
Dr. Elliot Coues, entitled On the Present Status of Passer domesticus in
America, with Special Reference to the Western States and Territories.
Both these works contain lists of papers relating to the subject, the
bulletin by Dr. Coues consisting almost entirely of such a list, covering
the period from 1867 to 1879, and giving the titles of one hundred and
ninety papers, mainly from newspapers and other periodicals.
Dr. Pickering’s warning against the Sparrow, uttered in 1867, has
been alluded to already; but, although the first, this was not the only
_ expression of apprehension. In a paper published in the American
_ Naturalist for August, 1872, Mr. H.J. Bruce describes the habits of the
Indian House Sparrow (Passer indicus), and after stating that Dr. Jer-
don pronounces this bird one of the greatest pests of India, alludes to
the introduction into the United States of the nearly al European
House Sparrow (P. domesticus) in the following words:

= Se

I confess that I look with some apprehension upon these efforis, which I believe to be
ill-advised and inexpedient. The European House Sparrow does not differ essentially
in its habits from its Indian ally, and, so far as I can learn,it is very generally re-.
garded as a nuisance wherever it abounds. In some parts of England a bounty is
placed upon its head, and considerable sums of money are paid for its destruction.

> R *¥ * * * * *

If the Sparrow is to be introduced into America to devour the larve of insects, it
should be remembered that it is for the most part a feeder on grain, seeds, and buds,
and that it only makes a business of devouring grubs during its breeding season. *
* * J trust that those who have to do in this matter will act advisedly, lest they
should introduce that which will eventually become as great a nuisance in its way as
the curculio and the canker-worm. (American Naturalist, VI, 1872, pp. 468-470.)

ra ae] eee Pe eee ad iil er oy ee

7. 3 er.

a

In 1874 Dr. T. M. Brewer, of Boston, Mass., took up arms in defense
of the Sparrow by replying to an article by Dr. Coues in the American
Naturalist, reflecting on the bird, and during the four or five years fol-
_ lowing a lively controversy was carried on in this journal and the news-
_ papers, by these two naturalists, re-enforced from time to time by various
others.

In 1878 the Nuttall Ornithological Club, of Cambridge, Mass., de-

304 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

voted one of its meetings to the consideration of the Sparrow question,
and the conclusions, which were widely published in the newspapers, —
led to still further discussion. )

Meanwhile the farmers of the country were becoming interested in
the matter; numerous articles of more or less value appeared in the ag-
ricultural press, and occasioual essays and Installments of evidence of
more than usual value were presented before scientific societies and
published in their proceedings. ;

Finally, in September, 1883, a committee was appointed by the Amer-
ican Ornithologists’ Union to investigate the charges against the Spar-
row. A circular was prepared and distributed, and much valuable
information was collected. A report based on this information was
submitted to the council of the American Ornithologists’ Union at a
meeting held in Washington, D. C., April 21, 1885, and was afterward
published in Forest and Stream (X XV, August 6, 1885, pp. 24, 25), and
is now reprinted in this Bulletin (page 315).

Subsequently, all the evidence collected by the committee of the Or-
nithologists’ Union was turned over to the Departinent of Agriculture,
as already stated, and has been used in the preparation of the present
Bulletin.

TESTIMONY RELATING MAINLY TO THE SPARROW IN AMERICA.
{American Naturalist, Vol. XV, pp. 392, 393.]
THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN ILLINOIS.

* * * The thorough examination of the food and food habits of the English Spar-
row, which is certain to result from the intense and universal interest the tittle
stranger has awakened, will give us a mass of valuable facts for comparison with
those accumulated in Europe, where the debate concerning the good and evil of its
life has been vigorous and long-continued. We shall thus be able to trace much
more fully and exactly than has ever yet been done the effects of widely changed con-

ditions upon the alimentary regimen of a bird.

Now that the stage of more or less ignorant and passionate discussions and personal
vituperation seems nearly to have passed, contributions of fact will probably not be
unwelcome. Iadda few notes on the food of twenty-five birds shot in and around
Aurora, Ill., in September of two successive years, 1879 and 1880.

The elements of the food at this time were quite few and simple, consisting almost
wholly of fragments of grain picked up on the streets and of the seeds of afew of the
commonest grasses. Ata time when 30 per cent. of the food of the robin, 20 per cent.
of that of the cathird, and 90 per cent. of that of the bluebird consisted of insects, ne
insects were found in the stomachs of these birds, except traces of three grasshoppers,
making perhaps 6 per cent.of thefood. Fragments of corn, wheat, and oats amounted
to about 40 per cent., and the seeds of grasses to as much more. The common pigeon
grass (Setaria viridis) was much the most abundant species; but S. glauea and Pani-
cum sanguineum occurred quite frequently, and three or four species of Panicum and
Lragrostis, which I did not determine, were. also present in small quantity. One bird
had eaten many hemp seeds, five had taken a very few seeds of ‘*‘ smartweed ” (Poly-
gonum), and two had eaten little else than the seeds of the common garden sunflower.
(S. A. Forbes, Normal, I11.)

EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 305

{American Naturalist, Vol. XVI, p, 1009, December, 1882. ]
HABITS OF THE ENGLISH SPARROW.

“The following interesting note has been received from Dr. A. K. Fisher, of Sing
4 eee. 1 on ae
‘“‘ Knowing your great fondness for Passer domesticus, I send you a brief account of one
of the various ways in which he imposes upon his superiors. The following was re-
lated to me by a friend, who was an eye-witness :
__- *** You well know that when robins are feeding their young they will often collect a
By number of wortns, forming a large billful, before making a trip to the nest. Well,
the Sparrow noticed this, too, and when the robin would alight to pick upsomething
more, he would dash down beside the robin aad snatch whatever might be in his
mouth, then fly a few feet off. The robin would hop after him, when he would make
q ether short fight until the robin would give up and go and hunt fur something
e more.’
_ “My friend saw the Sparrow do this five or six times one stiocnarae ” (Elliott
4 Coues, Washington, D. C.)

(Science, Vol. VII, p. 80, January 22, 1886.]
THE ENGLISH SPARROW.

A European ornithological journal recently contained the following testimony in
_ regard to the Sparrow (Pyrgita domestica), from the pen of Dr. Schleh, professor of
agriculture at the college of agriculture, Herford, Germany. Dr. Schleh has paid a
great deal of attention to this matter, and believes the Sparrow a pest on the Conti-
= nent, voluminous evidence of which he is said to have brought forward in his small
treatise entitled ‘‘ Der Nutze und Schaden des Sperliags (P. domesticus) im Haushalte der
— Natur.”
By examining the crops of a great number of nestling Sparrows sent to him from
different parts of the country, he found that young Sparrows, while in the nest and
i for a week after having left it, subsist entirely on insects, grubs. etc. Two weeks
. _ after leaving the nest their food still consists of 43 per cent. of auimal food; a week
later of 31 per cent., and after that age of only 19 per cent. of animal ingredients.
_ But as soon as they Pepaste independent of their parents they prefer seeds, and sub-
- sist almost entirely on grain, fruit, and the budsof trees. Dr. Schleh, however, men-
2 tions some interesting instances regarding some specimens which seemed to inva &
_ peculiar taste for the seeds of weeds which often become a great plague to the agri-
*culturist. In one crop he found the considerable number of three hundred and
twenty-one whole seeds of Stellaria media (Vill.), in another forty-three seeds of Airi-
plex patulum (L.), in a third sixty-six seeds of Setaria verticillata. Some individuals
also have a special liking for certain insects. Thus he found in one crop ninety
; specimens of Haltica affinis (Gyll.), four other Sparrows had eaten almost nothing
else but a certain kind of beetle, Anisoplia fructicola (F.). (Ernest Ingersoll.)

if q _

{Forest and Stream, Vol. VIII, p. 165.)

As an encouragement to importers of birds, I claim to have imported Sparrows into
~ America at Portland, Me., in 1854, and I had to import them three times at Quebee be-
_ fore they took root. The two first importations were secret. To the latterI gave the
utmost publicity, and the last course was the successful one. * * * Timagineno
live Yankee would wish to be now without the life and animation of the House Spar-
row in his great cities. They are like gas in a town—a sign of progress. I admit the
bird is a little blackguard—fond of low society aud full of fight, stealing, and love-
-making—but he is death on insects, fond of citizen life, and in every way suitable to
be an inhabitant of the New World. * * * (W. Rhodes, Quebec, Canada, April7,

L877.)
$404— Bull. 1——20

306 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

[Forest and Stream, Vol. X, p. 196. April, 1878.]

In regard to the Sparrow’s destroying insects and larve, I am surprised that any
one claiming to be a student of ornithology should deny that the English House Spar-
row feeds on insects and caterpillars. Especially in the breeding season insects are
its principal food, and when it has young almost any caterpillaris greedily sought after,
except those thickly covered with hair. Spiders they are very fond of, and, during
the last few warm days, every nook and corner has been explored in search of them
around my two-story work shop. Inalarge dilanthus tree in my yard I have a number
of boxes, each having atenant. I therefore have a large number constantly under ~
my observation. Many species of Lepidoptera formerly plentiful in Brooklyn have
very nearly disappeared, among these the one which feeds on the Ailanthus, and which
nearly destroyed the foliage of that fine shade tree, has been nearly exterminated
by the Sparrow. I believe the Sparrow to be a very useful little bird, and I should
be very sorry to see him destroyed. Iam now speaking only of the city. If itshould
become very abundant in the country it may do some damage to the grain crops, but
that is the only harm it will do. In regard to its driving away native birds from the
city, we never had any remain in it, excepting a few chipping sparrows, martins,
and swallows, and these are all as plentiful nowas ever. Achippy built its nest last
summer in my tree, within two feet of a Sparrow house. (John Akhurst.)

[Forest and Stream, Vol. XII, page 424.]

* * * Tam no friend of the noisy, dirty pests they [the Sparrows] have become
in our city, but give my evidence in order to show that, probably from local habit,
they do eat insects here. We have a grasshopper, quite common during the summer,
frequenting open places in fields, roads, and streets, fully two inches in length, of a
dirty brown color, and when at rest unattractive-looking, but having the under wings
a rich black, bordered with a wide margin of bright yellow, very conspicuous when
flying. * * * This hopper has a habit of every once in awhile rising on wing three
or four feet from the ground and then remaining nearly at one place (precisely like a
hawk when hovering on the lookout for dinner) fora moment or more, making a
peeuliar cracking noise at the same time, and then alighting again near the place it
started from, where generally there is a female to be found, if searched for. They are
common in the heart of the city as well as country, and I have time and again, when
watching this ‘‘ hovering,” seen a Sparrow dart from a neighboring tree or house,
grab the hopper, sometimes missing it at first, but following it in its flight, and
finally catching it.

We are very much troubled in our house with the small ‘‘croton bug,” and also the ~
large black roach. Their increase is enormous in our climate, and it requires con-
stant war to keep them down. My kitchen opens on the back yard, without step.
Under my hydrant there is a bucket of water always standing with running water
for the dogs. This bucket is the central bathing and watering place for the Sparrows
from, judging from their numbers, a very large circle around. Once a month or more
I am in the habit of thoroughly blowing a full quantity of the commercial insect
powder in all cracks and crevices of kitchen, basement, outhouses, etc., to catch the
young brood of roaches and rout out the new settlers. The croton bugs easily give
up, but the large black roach, with his heavy mail, dies hard, and, though in the end
surely dies, will run for an hour after being well dosed before doing so. A great
many of these roaches run out the kitchen door into the yard, and the Sparrows see-
ing them at once go for them. There is always one or more around the bucket, and
the first roach is the signal for them to get together, and they clean out the last one,
even going into the kitchen after them. They erab one, fly to a neighboring shed
or wall, beat it to death, and either fly off with it or eat it on the spot. Thisisa
regular occurrence whenever I rout out the roaches. * * * (Russell Robinson,
Richmond, Va., May 27, 1879.)

-EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 307

[Forest and Stream, Vol. XXVIII, p. 513, July 7, 1887.]

Zo ‘Two SisEnICes have lately come to my notice illustrating the vicious character of
the imported Sparrow, and, as I think reports of such cases tend to harden the hearts
3 of the people against the bird, I consider it desirable that they should go on the
_ record.
F: _ My attention was called one morning to the excited actions and notes of a pair of
_ white-breasted swallows, which were rearing a brood in a box near my door. Look-
ing at the box Isaw amale English Sparrow at the entrance alternately thrusting his
head inside and facing arcund to ward off the assaults of the swallows. Suspecting
_ mischief, I shot the Sparrow, and my suspicions were confirmed. His bill, covered
__ with blood and down, proved that he was deliberately murdering the young swallows.
The other case is similar. Dr. Adams, of this place, reports as follows: One
morning he observed English Sparrows apparently occupying a box in which he
_ knew swallows were nesting. Investigating, he found in the nest the body of the
mother swallow, with the fresh wounds on the head from the Sparrow’s bill.
Now, this is simply atrocious. I would like to have some friend of this bird—and
I understand there are yet a very few such—set forth a single item in his favor to off-
set the huge pile of indictments against this filthy, noisy, quarrelsome, and blood-
SE thirsty foreigner. Something must be done. How long are we to stand with our
_ hands behind us, saying, ‘‘Too bad! too bad!” Probably until it is too late, if, indeed,
ibi is not so already. It should be ‘‘ war to the knife!” (F.C. Browne. Framing-
~ ham, Mass., June 25.)

ee [Forest and Stream, Vol. XXIX, p. 86.]

In a paper read before the California Academy of Sciences August 1, 1887, Mr. Wal-
_ ter E. Bryant says of the Sparrow:

‘** Since the introduction of this pest into our cities, many birds, hitherto common,
have left fer the suburbs, notably the cliff swallows, whose nests were appropriated
by the Sparrows. In these cases the limited space compelled the latter to dispense
pwith the usual amount of rubbish and carry in only a lining of feathers.”

: [Forest and Stream, Vol. X XIX, p. 105.]

Ned W. Goodwin, of Sharpsville, Pa., says:

Bc I have this season seen, in a fir tree near a residence about two miles out of town,
six nests of the English Sparrow. The branches of the tree, radiating from the
: trunk in series quite closely disposed one above another, droop downward, and, thickly
fringed with long sprays of foliage as they are, afford the nests ample shelter from
the weather. Each of the nests in question was situated upon the drooping portion
ofa branch and upon the convex upper surface of the leafage of the branch. The
: ‘bird had made first a foundation mat of straw, on which it built up astructure nearly
"spherical in form and about one foot in its greatest diameter, of straws quite neatly
_ woven together. Inside this ball is the nest proper, which is thickly lined with the
downy feathers of barn-yard fowls. The entrance to the nest is an ascending cylin-
_ drical tunnel, lying along and directly above thesupporting branch. One of the nests
_ is on a branch the extremity of which is not more than seven feet above the ground.

- Drawing this branch downward I closely examined the nest. It contained six eggs.

Bo. nest was situated about 25 feet above the ground, the others lower down. The
tree affords good shelter at a height considerably greater than 25 feet.”

«5

[Forest and Stream, Vol. X XIX, p. 164,September 22, 1887.]
SPARROWS DRIVEN OUT BY WORMS.

a 4 . x - = - : “ . -
_ Until two or three Gays since a brood of English Sparrows 4iave had their roosting
Place ina Virginia creeper just outside the window of a room whereI am writing.

308 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

This year the web caterpillars have been unusually abundant in the neighborhood

of Sing Sing. They are found crawling everywhere in the village. After they had
stripped a mulberry tree that grows at the end of the piazza, they seized upon this
Virginia creeper. A number of them are now denuding it, and at length have dis-
closed the covered angle of the chimney where the Sparrows had their cosy roosts.
Such behavior on the part of the caterpillars has been too much for the Sparrows.
They have had to give way and move off. This time the Sparrows have been driven
out by the worms.—A. H. G. [Rev. A. H. Gesner], Sing Sing, N. Y.

[Forest and Stream, Vol. XXX, pp. 204-205, April 5, 1888.]
NOTES ON THE ENGLISH SPARROW, PASSER DOMESTICUS.

By ErNesST E. THOMPSON, of Toronto, Canada.

The marvelous rapidity with which the English Sparrow has multiplied and is mul-
tiplying on this continent, its evident capability of spreading still farther, and the

probability of its eventually occupying the whole of agricultural America to the ex-

clusion of many beneficial species of native birds, combined with the -reiterated and
increasing clamor of complaints against the species, have at length induced several
of the State Departments of Agriculture in America, first, to accept the fact that this
bird is a tremendous power in the agricultural economy of the country; second, to
follow with the question, is it a power for good or for evil?

It is worthy of notice that there are still many persons who deny that the Sparrow
can ever make its influence felt in this country in any economic direction. For the
benefit of these I will briefly refer to the depredations of the speciesin England, where
not only the cities but also-the villages and barn-yards are populous with Sparrows;
and in the south of England the farmers are compelled to expend considerable sums
aunually to keep down the hordes of these marauders, for the experience of centuries
has taught the farmer that the Sparrow is an unmitigated nuisance. I myself have
seen acres aad acres of grain fields in southern England that have been so thoroughly
devastated by Sparrows that they were not worth the cutting. All investigations
that have ever been conducted in England have, so far as I can learn, resulted in a
verdict most unequivocally damnatory of the Sparrow ; and yet, in the face of this,
private persons and corporations, swayed not by facts, but by the same foolish sen-
timent which prompted the introduction of the Scottish thistle to Van Dieman’s
Land, have introduced and encouraged this pest in this the greatest of agricultural
countries. What wonder that the English farmer stared in blank amazement when
first he heard of it, or that he failed to account for the action except on the assump-
tion that America had been visited by a wave of temporary insanity.

It has been often argued that, so far as we Canadiaus are concerned, the Sparrow
can never give us much trouble, as the climatic and other conditions are sufficient to
prevent its increasing to the same extent asin England. But unfortunately the facts
are sufficient to entirely dispel this illusion. The first time that I saw the Sparrow

in Toronto was, I think, in 1874, wnen a single pair was observed. Since thenit has ©

gone on increasing until now the natural sources of maintenance are taxed to the ut-
most, and each successive brood as it attains maturity is compelled to migrate to some
distant locality where the struggle for life is less severe. This process of multiplica-
tion and migration has gone on yearly, each of our large cities being centers of supply,
until now every town and nearly every village in Ontario is thoroughly stocked with
Sparrows, and when this occupation is complete they will unquestionably spread over
the intervening farm lands.

The severity of the winter was confidently pointed out as an efficient check, but
there is every evidence to prove that the Sparrow can live as far northward as wheat
can be grown with success. At Bracebridge and Gravenhurst the species has long
been established, and at North Bay, Lake Nipissing, which I visited in January, 1887,

I found the English Sparrow in full force and possession.

EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 309

In response to a request for information Mr. John Bourk sends the following inter-
_ esting note:
— * ¥From all I can learn the English Sparrow came here (North Bay) during the win-
% ter of 1885-86. I think the first of them came in grain cars from the east. The first
_ Inoticed were in a car at the station, and only two of them. They must have bred
here, as they are increasing or have increased during the past summer. There has
; been a flock of about one hundred around our yard all winter, and, as you know, it
has been extremely cold. I missed them for about two weeks in the latter part of

February, but they returned the first part of March. They lived on hay-seeds and
_ pickings from manure piles during the winter. I have not noticed what they live on
_ juthe summer, nor where they nest. They are at Mattawa, and very numerous at
; Pembroke. They have been at the later place, I think, for five years. I have never
known them to die from cold. They seem to be as hardy as the snow-bird.”

This, together with the facts that the Sparrow is each year occupying more exclu-

_ sively the regions between the centers and the advance posts, and that it is dispos-
sessing our native birds, should leave no doubt in any candid mind that ultimately
agricultural Canada will be as completely overrun by the English Sparrow as is
agricultural England at the present time; for if the other birds of England, which
have been subjected to the same long severe process of specialization are unable to
hold their own against the invader, much less can our native species, which have been
_ but recently brought into contact with civilization and its attendant hardships.
Since none but actual personal observations are desired in this connection, I pass
over a multitude of hearsay cases, and state what I have seen of the Sparrow’s en-
croachments.
‘ The only native species which I myself have seen dispossessed by the invader are the
_ pewee (Sayornis phoebe), chipping sparrow (Spizella socialis), white-breasted swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor), house wren (Troglodytes aédon), robin (Merula migratoria), and
bluebird (Sialia sialis). The aggression has never, so far as I have seen, taken the form
of actual onslaught, except in the case of a pair of white-breasted swallows, which
_ were forcibly dispossessed of their completed nest in apole-house. More usually the
native bird is merely ‘‘crowded out” through its inability to compete with the more
highly specialized Sparrow in the struggle for existence. On the other hand, although
_ several native species of predatory birds (as falcons, hawks, shrikes, etc.), are reported
__as preying on the Sparrow, 1 have never seen any but the pigeon falcon (alco columba-
rius)and the sparrow-hawk (F. sparverius) actually engaged in the work of destruc-
_ tion, and as these birds seldom enter or live about the large towns, their influence as
a check isat present but trifling.
From a fuller working out of the lines of argument sketched, if not from the facts
_herein stated, I think that it will be admitted that the species under consideration will
_ very soon make itself felt as an economic power in the country if it has not already
done so. It then les with us to decide, Is it a power for good or for ill? Isit boon
or bane?
Passing over the unanimous and strongly adverse verdict of the agricultural inter-
_ €stin Britain and in other European countries, and the overwhelming body of con-
_ demnatory evidence of our own market gardeners and fruit growers, as well as nat-
uralists, I will add my own observations.
First. We have abundant and conclusive evidence that our own birds, as a whole,
; are eminently beneficial to agriculture, and we have further proof that these birds are
retreating before the Sparrow, which of itself should be sufficient to condemn the in-
_ vader, unless it can be shown that it is even more beneficial than the native birds.
Second. But on the contrary, as above stated, in England, where the species has

_ tax on the already hard-pressed farmers of that country.
_ From my own observation the Sparrow is pre-eminently a grain eater, though, as

310 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

will be seen from the appended tabular statement, it varies its diet in the spring-time s
with buds, in the early summer with insects,—some of them noxious—and in the late —
summer with fruit and grasshoppers. The taste for grasshoppers, however, seems to _
be almost, if not wholly, confined to the young fledgelings. ‘When in the nest they are
fed, I believe, entirely on insect food, so that after having flown they continue tosub- %
sist on the same for a time, ultimately becoming as granivorous as their parents. e

The following list of gizzard contents is, on the whole, the most favorable to the
species of any I have seen; this may be accounted for by the fact that all the birds —
were shot in the suburbs of Toronto, in localities at considerable distances from any _
grain fields, so thata miscellaneous and consequently a creditable diet was inevitable. —
For the identification of the gizzard contents throughout and for other assistance I _
am indebted to the kindness of Dr. William Brodie, of ‘Toronto. a

I affix also an estimate made by the above gentleman of the economic value of the —
gizzard dissections. It is understood that ten points are allowed for each, and when ~
the dissection presented neither good nor bad features it was entered as five on each
side. Whenever the grain found had evidently been taken from manure it was en-
tered as a good feature, for no harm was done, and viewed as a scavenger the bird was
beneficial. The fact, however, that the question of appetite alone is on trial may
make many, like myself, dissent from such a valuation. In many other partienlars—
my opinions differ from those of my friend, but I make no alterations, as he alone is
responsible for the two columns of ‘ points,’

aoe
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FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS.

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-EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. oi
[Forest and Stream, Vol. X XV, No. 2, pp. 24,25. August 6, 1885.]
THE ENGLISH SPARROW.—VERDICT OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

At the meeting of the Council of the American Ornithologists’ Union, held in
Washington, April 21, 1885, the committee appointed in September, 1883, to inquire
into the question of the eligibility or ineligibility of the European House Sparrow in
America, rendered its final report, which was accepted and adopted as the sense of the
Union on the subject, and the committee was discharged with the unanimous thanks
of the Union. The report, which was accompanied by a large quantity of valuable
' data, is here given:

ss Mr. President and members of the Union:

i Your committee, appointed to inquire into the eligibility of the European House
" Sparrow (Passer domesticus) as a naturalized resident in this country, has the honor
herewith to submit its report. After due consideration, your committee adopted the
following form of circular letter, which was framed to elicit information from all

a quarters and from all interested persons:
. ‘The American Ornithologists’ Union, an organization resembling the British as-
sociation of similar name, and including in its active membership the most prominent

s ornithologists of the United States and Canada, purposes, among other objects ai-

: ready engaging its attention, to determine as nearly as possible the true status in
____ America of the European House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), commonly known as the
= English Sparrow, in so far as the relations of this bird to mankind are concerned.
The Union hopes to secure, through the solicited testimony of otbers, as well as the
personal observations of its members, the facts necessary to settle the question of the

___ eligibility or ineligibility of this Sparrow as a naturalized resident of this country.
a The question of the European House Sparrow in America is regarded as one of great
a economic consequence, to be determined primarily by ascertaining whether this bird
= be, upon the whole, directly or indirectly injurious or beneficial to agriculture and

horticulture. Its economic relations depend directly and mainly upon the nature of
its food; indirectly upon the etfect, if any, which its presence may have on useful
a native birds and beneficial insects. The accompanying formula of questions is re-
spectfully submitted to the attention of those who may be able and willing to record
statements of positive facts and value derived from their own experience. Concise
and unquestionable answers returned to the undersigned on inclosed blank, or other-
_ wise, or communicated to any member of the committee, will be appreciated and
prove of high value among the data upon which it is hoped that this vexed question
may be sct at rest. The evidence thus obtained will be carefully considered by the
committee in preparing its report to the Council of the Union, and a digest of the
same, with recommendations, if any, will be submitted by the Council to the mature
judgment of the Union at its next annual meeting. The following-named active
members of the Union were, at the first congress, appointed a committee to investi-
gate and report upon this subject: Dr. J. B. Holder, of New York, chairman; Mr.
Eugene P. Bicknell, of New York; Mr. H. A. Purdie, of Boston, Mass.; Mr. Nathan
Clifford Brown, of Portland, Me.; Mr. Montague Chamberlain, of St. John, New

Brunswick; the committee having the power of increasing its membership at its dis-
cretion. .

Dr. J. B. HOLDER, Chairman.
“AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HIsTorRY,

Central Park, New York City, February 2, 1884.

“Data concerning the European House Sparrow, from

“1. Is the Enropean House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) known in your neighbor-
hood, and, if so, about when did it appear? %. Is your neighborhood city, suburbs,
orcountry? 3.Is this Sparrow abundant? 4. Is it increasing in numbers? 5. How

316 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

many broods and young yearly toa pair? 6. Is this Sparrow protected by law? 7._
Is it artificially fed and housed? 8, Does it molest, drive away, or diminish the

numbers of native birds? 9. If so, what species? 10. Does this Sparrow injure
shade, fruit, or ornamental trees? 11. Does it attack or injure garden fruits and
vegetables? 12. Does it injure grain crops? 13. Isit an insect-eater or a seed-eater ?
14. What insects, if any, are chiefly eaten by this Sparrow? 15. What is the prinei-
pal food it carries to its young? 16. What insects, if any, are carried by it to its
young? 17. Does the food of the old bird vary with the seasons, and if so, in what
way? 18. Does the food of its young vary, and if so, how? 19. If any insects are
eaten, are they beneficial or injurious species? 20. Does the Sparrow eat the larvx
of the vaporer moth (Orgyia lewcostigma)? 21. Does it eat ichueumon flies? 22. Do
you determine the nature of this bird’s food and that furnished by it to its young by
inference, direct observation, or dissection? 23. Have any injurious insects been
exterminated or materially lessened in numbers by this Sparrow? 24. Have any in-
jurious insects increased in numbers, or appeared where unknown before, in conse-
quence of the destruction of other insects by this Sparrow? 25. Have these Spar-
rows in your neighborhood been destroyed systematically or otherwise, and if so, by
what means? 26. What bounty, if any, has been offered for their destruction? 27.
What is the general sentiment or balance of public opinion respecting the European
House Sparrow in your locality? 28. On the whole, in your judgment, is this Spar-
row an eligible or ineligible species in this country ?”

In order to secure a thorough presentation of the subject to those most likely to
respond satisfactorily, each member of the committee assumed the duties of corre-
spondence in his own section of the country, as well as in certain allotted sections of
the entire United States and Canada. Copies of the letter were sent to the agricult-
ural papers, to the various journals having columns devoted to zoological and rural
matters, and to the press at large. The greater part, however, was directed to indi-
viduals believed to possess facts pertinent to the subject. About one thousand copies
were thus sent out.

A large proportion of the answers received are of one import, wetten by persons
having no definite data to communicate, but who, having experienced annoyance
from the bird’s uncleanliness and unmusical notes, desire to see it exterminated.
Under this head belong the numerous petitions which have reached us from several
quarters, notably from Philadelphia. The subject is regarded sufficiently important
by the inhabitants of that city to warrant the issue of printed forms, which, with
long lists of subscribers, have been submitted to the consideration of your committee.
The paucity of replies to many of our questions renders it impossible to report upon
them decisively. Others, however, are fortunately very fully answered.

Returns to the first question give some data of interest in relation to the time of
the Sparrow’s first introduction into this country. The earliest date of importation
known to us is 1858,* when Mr. Thomas A. Deblois liberated a few individuals at Port-
land, Me. These disappeared shortly afterward, and were not successfully replaced
until 1875, In 1858 Sparrows were liberated at Peacedale, R. I., by Mr. Joseph Peace
Hazard. They were first introduced into Central Park, New York City, according to
Mr. Conklin, the superintendent of the menagerie, in the year 1864. In 1860 Mr.
Eugene Shiefflin turned loose twelve birds in Madison Square, New York City. In
1868 the species was first introduced into Boston Common. In 1869 a number were
given the liberty of the parks of Philadelphia. Somewhat later a successful attempt
was made to establish a colony near Great Salt Lake, Utah, and about the same time
the birds became resident at Indianapolis, Ind.

In a period of about ten years the Sparrows reached ae all the large towns and
cities of New England and the Middle States and many of those of the Western States
without artificial assistance. It also made its appearance in suburban towns and

*[This was an error. Two importations at least were known to have been made
at Brooklyn, N. Y., before 1853. See page 17 of this Bulletin.—W. B. B.]

EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. d17

ven country villages. From the Southern States and the Western States beyond the
‘Mississippi River we have received but few returns, and most of these state that the
Sparrow has not been observed. In Canada it has become generally distributed over
the southern sections of Quebec and Ontario (it is abundant in the city of Quebec),
and in 1884 several tlocks invaded New Brunswick.

Few observers have definitely determined the number of broods hatched yearly by
this bird and the number of young to the brood. We have, however, returns from
a several ornithologists. The maximum given by Mr. H. B. Bailey, of Orange, N. J.—
ee . six broods in one season, with from four to five young to a brood—probably indicates

_ the extent of the bird’s dortility 3 in this climate. The usual number of broods in the
4 latitude of New York and southward appears to be four. In more northern districts
ce, three broods yearly would probably be near the average.

“e There is an overwhelming mass of testimony to the effect that the Sparrow molests
and drives away certain of our most valued species of native birds. Many statements
a have been received giving accounts of conflicts provoked by the Sparrow in which it
4 was cruelly victorious. Ii is affirmed that from some localities native species have
been completely banished by the attacks or by the mere presence of the foreigner.
_ We have also evidence of an opposite character declaring the Sparrow’s peaceable
disposition and its association upon amicable terms with other species of birds.
___ Most of our correspondents state that they have never known the Sparrow to com-
Rs mit depredations upon crops, but well-authenticated instances are furnished showing
: its ability and disposition to accomplish great destruction to grain. Mr. Stewart, of
Hackensack, N. J., relates the destruction of a wide margin of wheat in the field.
Hon. G. A. Bicknell, of New Albany, Ind., says: ‘‘ When the grain ripens, the Spar-
rows leave the city and attack the wheat fields inthe suburbs. I have seen hundreds
of them at once in my fields, and they get about half the crop.” Mr. T. G. Gentry,
in his exhaustive work on the Sparrow, gives similar instances. That the bird feeds
upon fruits is amply attested.

Our thirteenth question calls for feepaecn as to the Sparrow’s preference for
food. Is it an insect-cater or aseed-eater? Every reply to this question which is
based upon dissection agrees in attributing to the bird a diet almost wholly vegetable.
The statement of some observers that it devours canker-worms and a variety of in-
4 sects is unaccompanied by reports of examinations of the stomach.

Fo The question as to the food of nestling Sparrows elicited pretty uniform testimony,
3 - animal matter in some form being said to constitute the bulk. Dissections by a com-
Bi petent person, however, show ‘‘barely a trace of insect or animal food, but in lieu
_ fine gravel and vegetable fiber.”

e Responses to questions seventeen to twenty-one inclusive are too meager to be of
value.

It is claimed by several of our correspondents that the measuring-worm, so abun-
4 _ dant at the time of the Sparrow’s introduction into this country, was weil-nigh exter-
- minated by the bird, so that fora considerable period it was unobserved. Since it is
q a well known fact that the worm oceursin very variable numbers in different seasons,
S _ credit for its comparative extermination in this case can hardly be given to the Spar-
row upon the doubtful evidence before us.

The experiment has recently been tried in Philadelphia and elsewhere of substitut-
ing Sparrows for pigeons in trap-shooting, but, of course, without seriously diminish-
— ing their numbers. In other localities the ries have been poisoned or otherwise

- gotten rid of to some extent by indignant citizens in defiance of laws.

4 The balance of public opinion is strongly adverse to the Sparrows. Our returns,
however, show protective laws (usually the same statute which provides for the
security of other small birds) in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island,
_ New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, the District of Columbia, and Canada. The
- Massachusetts law has lately been repealed, and specially exempts the English Spar-
_ row from protection.

7

=

318 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

So much for the evidence. We have learned the capacity and disposition of this
bird to injure grain and fruits, and that when gathered in large numbers it threatens
very seriously the interests of the farmer and horticulturist. Although testimony of |
a certain kind indicates that its young are fed with insects, actual dissection shows
that vegetable substances are mainly employed. The adult birds feed almost ex-
clusively upon seeds and grains. They drive away from their accustomed haunts,
either directly or indirectly, many of our native insectivorous species. It may be
added that they have proved in recent years so destructive of crops in other coun-—
tries as to render it necessary to enact laws looking to their extermination. In view
of these facts, your committee believes that the European Sparrow ( Passer domesticus)
is an ineligible species in this country, and thatit was a mistaken policy to introduce
the bird. And we would respectfully recommend:

(1) That sheltering or otherwise fostering the Sparrow by the public be discouraged,
and that its introduction artificially into new localities and its sale for such purposes
be forbidden by law.

(2) That all existing laws protecting the Sparrow be repealed, and that bounties
be offered for its destruction.

Signed, J. B. HOLDER, ‘
Chairman.

EUGENE P. BICKNELL.
H. A. PURDIE.
NATHAN CLIFFORD BROWN.
MONTAGUE CHAMBERLAIN.

[The Michigan law protecting these birds has been repealed—Ed. F. & 8.]
[New York Tribune, 1885. }

We have here at the New York State Experiment Station [Geneva, N. Y.] many
varieties of cereals on different parts of the grounds, planted for study and compar-
ison. In 1884, upon the wheat heads attaining the milk stage, the European Spar-
rows began feeding on the undeveloped grain. They would alight on the wheat or
oat stalks, bend them to the ground, and ruin the heads or panicles. They almost
spoiled a choice plat of experimental wheat. This year the same thing has been re-
peated in a more pronounced manner; we have had to cover some special wheat
plants with mosquito netting in order to preserve the seed. Tbose plants uncovered
were in a large degree ruined.

We had twenty-six wheat plants near a wooded ravine. Assoon as the heads be- ©

gan to fill, the Sparrows and blackbirds began their pernicious work, eating such
quantities of grain that the result of the experiment will be of no value. It was im-
possible to suppress them, as they worked long ere the sun appeared. Our large -
wheat field was patronized by liberal flocks of blackbirds and Sparrows. I have
been among the wheat fields of this vicinity and seen Sparrows either upon the fence
close by or inthe wheat. I have conversed with many persons visiting the station,
and wherever the Sparrow is well known, and grain fields are common, I am told the
Sparrow does eat the grain.
- Last year I dissected many Sparrows; found a few insects in some, and those
as a ruie the remains of ants, but hardly a stomach was there that did “not contain
wheat or oats. Four days ago I examined nineteen stomachs, and in all but one
was found wheat. In two stomachs were apparently chitinous parts of ants.
Sparrows also patronize in a liberal manner some kinds of garden seeds, especially
lettuce. One large seed-grower pronounces these birds great destroyers of seeds. 1
have noted also in the agricultural press that Sparrows destroy the tender buds of
some ornamental shrubs and trees. At the station we have seen them eating pear
buds, or picking them open. (CharlesS. Plumb.)

-EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 319

[Cincinnati Daily Commercial Gazette, July 2, 1887.]

«= * We have one bit of damaging evidence against the good character of the

Sparrow, which we have notseen mentioned in print anywhere else, in all the array of
evidence against him. Last year we cut a small field of heavy wheat in which afew
hundred Sparrows had camped. Not only around the border, but all through the
muddle of the field, where the wheat was heaviest, if was broken down and tangled,
so that fully one fourth of the crop was lost. As soon as the wheat kernel had
formed the vandalism began.

Here is the damaging point. A close inspection revealed the astounding fact that
the ground was literally covered with mashed kernels of wheat to the extent of sey-
eral bushels to the acre. While the kernel is yet soft they will not swallow it whole.
With their short, powerful beaks they easily press out the milky substance, let the
rest drop, aud go to the next. Let this point be noted for what itis worth. I trust
the prosecuting attorney will dwell upon it, and that the judge will mention it in
his charge to the jury before they retire to deliberate upon a verdict soon to be ren-
dered for or against the English Sparrow. (A. D. Binkerd, M. D., Cochran, Ind.,
June 12.)

[Albany (N. Y.) Express, Friday, October 7, 1887.]

~ * * Sparrows are also noted once more on the stands of the game dealers, and

retail, for chicken pies, at 30 cents per dozen. Joseph Clark, the well-known State-
street fruiterer, yesterday took in 3,000 of the little birds, paying $1 per hundred for
them to the youthful hunters, who have once more resumed the slaughter of the in-
nocents on the outskirts of the city, more especially up in tke west end.

[New York Times, July 20, 1887, ]

Sparrows are being properly appreciated. Hundreds of them are now caught by
enterprising people for sale to certain restaurants where reed birds are in demand.
A German woman on ‘Third avenue has three traps set every day, and she catches
probably seventy-five a week. They are cooked and served to her boarders the same
as reed birds and are declared quite as great a delicacy. This German woman bastes
_ them, leaving the little wooden skewer in the bird when served. They are cooked

- witha bit of bacon. She tempts them with oats, and after the catch they are fed
awhile with boiled caten meal. She sprinkles oaten meal in the back yard also, and
_ thereby fattens the free birds. The females are the choice meat. The males can be
_ told by the circle of white feathers at the neck. Thefemales are as plain as Quaker-
esses. So soon as it becomes known that the Sparrow is a table bird their number
_ will rapidly grow less. People don’t like to experiment, but when it is discovered
_ that the Sparrow has been declared good by those upon whom they have been tried,
_ no boarding-house meal will be deemed in good form unless a dish oS fat Sparrows
_adornsit. Sparrow pie is a delicacy fit to set before a king.

[Cincinnati Weekly Commercial, April 19, 1882.]

H. E. B., of Plymouth, Mich., in the Country Gentleman, narrates his test of the
_ Sparrow as an insect eater. He was in pursuit of the codling moth, which had been
carried into the cellar with the winter supply of apples. He knew the habits of the
_codling moth and expected them to come out of his apple barrels and seek hiding
places. Accordingly he laid two boards together, convenient for the broods to conceal
between and spin the cocoons. As expected, the boards were stuck together with
the cocoons, and in the spring he carried them out and spread the boards and cocoons
_ in sight of the pestiferous Sparrows and hens, hoping to see the much praised insect-
iyorous bird destroy the cocoons with alacrity. We let him tell his own story:

_ Iwas greatly mortified to see the Sparrows run over the cocoons in search of wheat
_ screenings thrown out to call them down.

O20 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

My sorrow was soon turned to joy to behold a pair of bluebirds come down, as it
were out of heaven, and alight on the nearest bird-house, doubtless occupied by them
last season, but which had been appropriated by the Sparrows this winter. No
sooner had they alighted than their bright eyes discovered the cocoons on the boards
and they darted down to secure the prize.

Disgusted with the Sparrows I took a step-ladder and commenced to clean out the
Sparrow’s nest in the bluebirds’ house. I found in the strings that composed their
nest two curculios, three snapping-bugs, one bee-miller, one old female codling moth, _
and two recently hatched moths. Examining the strings, I found webbings of worms
and burnt edges of cloth, and ascertained that they had pulled the strings out of an
old smudge lett near a bee-hive under an apple tree. This led me to examine the
boards placed for the bee-stands (the bee-hives had been carried to the cellarin
the fall). On the boards exposed to the Sparrows all winter were numerous cocoons.

[Cultivator and Country Gentleman (Albany, N. Y.), July 29, 1886.]

* * * The universal testimony of scientists and others, as against these birds,
ought to satisfy the skeptics that this is a bird detrimental to the farmers’ interest.
For three seasons they have assaulted our experimental plats to their material dam-
. age. This year we found it necessary to employ a boy to work from 4 a. m. till nearly
dark, keeping the Sparrows ata distance. i have found them to be destroyers of
grain, injurious to fruit, and early in spring very damaging to fruit buds. Outside
near the window by which I write is a plum tree, where often in the spring, as buds
were starting, I saw the Sparrows pick out the entire bud center. But, in addition
to my own testimony, comes much damaging evidence from farmers in the vicinity,
whose wheat-fields are suffering. Something must be done. Every year the evil be-
comes worse and worse, and even to-day great damage is done by the English Spar-
rows. (C. 8S. Plumb, Geneva, N. Y.)

{Rural World (St.. Louis, Mo.), 1886. ]

The introduction of the Sparrow into America, says the well-known English natu-
ralist, Rev. J. G. Wood, ‘‘ has been distinctly disastrous, as I have personally seen,
and if the bird were exterminated it would be better for the country. Still more dis-
astrous has been its introduction into Australia and New Zealand, especially in the
latter country, where it has abandoned insect-eating altogether, and become a de-
vourer of fruits and grain, eating grapes and figs by the ton.” And we are quite sat-
isfied that the sooner a policy of destruction is inaugurated the better for all con-
cerned on this side of the Atlantic.

{Prairie Farmer (Chicago, I11.), December 25, 1886. ]

At the recent annual meeting of the Indiana State Horticultural Society, some
one mentioned the English Sparrow, and a discussion was precipitated. Mr. Warder,
of North Bend, Ohio, had found them both fruit and grain eaters. They had been ©
very destructive to his grapes. They seldom eat insects, but will feed them to the
young birds in the nest. Professor Troop, of Purdue University, said that a member
of the senior class of that institution had killed one or more Sparrows daily during a
cousiderable portion of the past summer, and examined the contents of their stom- -
achs. In only one bird had he found the remains of an insect. J. C. Ratliff, of
Wayne County, had seen flocks of several hundred alight on his wheat-field, five
miles from any town or city, and eat and waste the grain from large areas. They
beat the ripened grain from the stalk with their wings. They were still more de-
structive to grain in shock. Mr. Folger said that they had entirely driven away 200
martins that formerly sheltered in his barn. Mr. Ohmer formerly had plenty of song-
birds on his place. Now there was only the Sparrow and robin. The time had come
when something must be done. Mr. Webster had recently made an extended visit

EVIDENCE.-—-FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 3821

ey

pe through the agricultural sections of Europe, and found that Sparrows were every-

4q

where regarded as a nuisance. In Germany he saw boys carrying hundreds of them,

er strung on sticks. They were taken to the village authorities, and the boys received
a half cent for each one killed. They were paying for their destruction everywhere.
4 They were becoming very destructive in his locality. He had found their ravages on

his green peas particularly annoying. After further discussion in similar strain, and
some words in their defense by President Johnson and one other member, J. C. Ste-
vens, of Wayne County, introduced a resolution declaring them a nuisance, and urg-

ing extermination, which was passed with but one dissenting voice.

[The Scientific Farmer, Vol. IV, pp. 35, 36. 1879.]

In the February number of the Scientific Farmer for 1878 I had occasion to speak of
the sparrow war which was then raging, and which had then been in progress for
some time. At present the controversy still continues, and has continued at inter-
valsever since. Much has been written upon the subject on both sides by able men;
yet the matter appears to stand just about where it was when the first gun was fired,
or, in other words, when the first article appeared, denouncing the Sparrows as not
only injurious to agricultural interest, but also proclaiming that they were enemies
to our native birds. The latter-named accusation has been made oftener than any
other, and it has been repeatedly stated that the rightful inhabitants of the trees and

_ shrubbery of our parks are being rapidly driven away by the unprovoked attacks of

the pugnacious Sparrows. Altbough this may be a fact, as accumulated testimony
indieates, yet I do not consider that it is the essential point of dispute; for, practi-
cally, it can make but little difference if our native birds are driven away, provided
the Sparrows take their places and devour an equal quantity of insects. This impor-
tant matter up to date has, however, been but slightly touched upon, for no one has
made an extended examination of the contents of the stomachs of the Sparrows, at
least in the vicinity of Boston. As this is absolutely the only method by which we can
ascertain satisfactorily just what the birds do eat, this investigation must be made

4 Defore any one can give a decided opinion upon the subject, that will conclusively

settle a matter which has been so long agitated.
ido not mean to be understood to say that the ornithologists who have written
npon thissubject do not consider it necessary to examine the contents of the stomachs

_ of the Sparrows, for they all see that it must be done sooner or later; but hitherto

no one has done it to any extent. In my article for February, last year, I ventured

to suggest that the legislature of our State appoint proper persons to do this work ;

but as this has not been done, and as I have heard it intimated that this examination

_ is impracticable, I concluded to try and see how it would work. Assisted by some

young friends, I procured a number of English Sparrows each day last autumn, and
made a careful examination of their stomachs. These birds were killed along the
streets from the Watertown arsenal to Winter street, Boston, and therefore I judged
that they were fair representatives of the typical, and now famous, Sparrows of the
“Hub.” Through the kindness of my friends, the birds were given to me fresh, and
thus I could tell exactly what they had in their crops and stomachs. Let me here
state, in order to show that my work has been done accurately, that I have long made

_ aspecialty of ascertaining the contents of the stomachs of various birds, having now

by me notes of the dissections of over five thousand specimens. It has been stated

that it is impossible to detect the presence of any insects, especially of the softer

larvee, after they have been swallowed and partly digested; this is not a fact, how-
ever, and any one who has examined the interior of even a strictly insectivorous
bird, and in summer, will bear me out in this statement®

The wing coverts of beetles, and the harder portions of all other insects, never di-

gest, and thus are always to be seen; while by washing the half-digested mass in
_ Water, the skins of the larvee may be found, even after they have been swallowed for
_ some time, and are always plainly perceptible when first eaten, In every case ex-

8404—Bull. 1— —-21

322

amined where there was the slightest obscurity as to what had been eaten by the
Sparrows, I washed the contents of the stomachs in water, and in all cases used a

lens in determining what they were.

THE ENGLISH

SPARROW IN AMERICA.

In fact, I exercised all the care possible, and

am perfectly satisfied that nothing of importance, least of allan insect or anything
pertaining to au insect, could have escaped my observation.
To show exactly what each bird had eaten, I copy directly from my note-book,

giving the dissections as I made them, with the date.

IT also give the age of the

individual, and, as explanatory, will remark that by-‘“‘ young” I mean birds that
were hatched that year, and by ‘ nestlings,” birds which were not fully grown ;

adult being, of course, perfectly mature birds.

ber 17 [1878].

My record commences with Septem-

which I now ascertain to be

No.| Date. Age Contents of stomach.
| 1878.
| Sept. 17 | Young Seeds and small stones.
2 17 |..-.do....| Seeds, woody fibers, and bits of grass.
3 18 ..do ....| Small, dark-colored seeds.
4 | 18 .do....| Grass-seeds and large, double, tough-skinned seeds.
5 18 |....do....| Remains of dark-colored seeds, woody fibers. and smali stones.
6 19 |.--.do ..-.| Small stones predominating, with some dark-colored seeds and a few lighter-
colored seeds.
7 19 |... do ....| Oats, woody fibers, and small stones.
8 | 20 E=domen Dark-colored seeds, small stones, and woody fibers.
9 20 | .. do..-.| Green seeds, dark-colored seeds, and small stones.
10 20 ..do....| Seeds, small stones, woody fibers, and the remain of oats.
11 | AAD Woseaaln S2 Dark-colored seeds, woody fibers, oats, and small stones.
12 20 |}... do ...| Woody fibers, seeds, and small stones.
lish) AY || 2eGlO- a4 Do.
14 20 | ...do....| Seeds, small stones, and oats.
15 20 5 Gk) see Do.
16 Zn | eed Ober Do.
17 | 26 |....do....| Small stones, seeds, and woody fivers.
18 | AG esGlo) see 0.
19 | 26 | ...do..-.| Oats, seeds, and woody fibers.
20 | AD: Is BAe chee Seeds, stones, woody fibers, and egg shells.
21 | 26 Nestling. Stomach very soft; woody fiber, leay es, and wnat pieces of brick.
22 | AD | esacdOle Seeds, small Stones, small pieces ‘of brick, bits of porcelain, and the remains
of a kernel of corn.
23) 26 |....do ....| Black seeds in quantities, and small stones.
24 | 27 | Young..-| Seeds, stones, and oats.
25 | 27 |....do....| Remains of corn and small stones.
26 | Oct. 1 |....do....| Seeds, stones, and woody fibers.
27 | 1 |....do ....| Black seeds and small stones, but by far the greater portion of the contents
of this stomach consists of woody fibers,
macerated bits of hay from horse manure.
28 | 1 |....do.-...| Black seeds, small stones, but mainly bits of hay from horse manure.
29 | 2 | Adult.--.| Black seeds, with a considerabie quantity of small stones.
30 | 2 | Young Seeds, small stones, and bits of hay.
31 | B loascOO os Woody fibers, small stones, and oats.
32 | 3 | Adult.. Oats, small stones, and seeds.
33 | 3 | Youug..-| Corn, oats, and bits of hay.
34 | 3 |..-.do ....) Oats, seeds, and bits of grass.
35 | 3 | Adult.... Do.
36 | ' 3 | Young-..-| Bits of green leaves, stones, and seeds.
ay 3|....do.-..| Oats, seeds, and small stones.
38 | 3 | --.do....| Seeds and small stones.
B9 | 4 | Adult....| Green seeds, oats, black seeds, and bits of grass.
40 | 4} ...do....} Corn, seeds, and stones.
41 | 4 | ...do....| Black seeds and stones.
42 | 4 sdow Bits of hay, pieces of crockery, and smail stones.
43 4 ‘Young... -.| Oats, seeds, and stones.
44 | 4| Adult....| Bits of hay, oats, and small stones.
45 | 4 |}....do.-...| Seeds, stones, and corn.
46 4 | Young...| Oats, bits of hay, and small stones.
47 4 | Adult..-.| Seeds and small stones.
48 AD 2 AO: a8 Do.
49 4 |..-.do....| Small seeds and sraall yellow stones.
50 4 |....do ....| Seeds, bits of hay,and small stones.
51 4 | Young. Black seeds and small stones.
52 10 |....do ....| Seeds amd small stones.
53 10 |.-..do ....| Seeds, small stones, and bits of hay.
54 10 | Adult... Seeds, small stones, and oats.
55 OR Cd One Do.
56 10 -.do

Seeds, bits of hay, and oats. ‘

EVIDENCE,—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS, 323

As seen, on October 101 discontinued my observations. The entire absence of insect

food is noticeable ; yet this did notin the least surprise me, for although I did expect
to tind a few insects when I first commenced, I ceased to expect them after I saw how
thoroughly granivorous these birds were.

I have found that as a rule our sparrows, finches, and grossbeaks (and I now speak
of these species as they occur in Massachusetts) eat but few insects. Thus out of
two hundred and eighty-four individuals, taken at all seasons, which I have exam-
ined, embracing seventeen species, but eighty-one had taken insects; and if we ex-
clude the rose-breasted grossbeak and the savanna sparrow, which are much more
insectivorous than any others, I find that only about six per cent. of those examined
had eaten insects, and these were taken mainly in spring, summer, and autumn; rarely
in winter. Some species never eat insects when they can get seeds, and their ana-
tomical structure is eminently fitted for gathering and. digesting these latter-named
articles of diet. Thestructure of the English Sparrow is very similar to that of some
of our strictly granivorous birds. Thus the gullet is dilated into a crop, a character
seldom seen in insectivorous birds. The proventriculus is small, but the stomach has

_ very thick and muscular walls, and is lined with a strong, somewhat rugose mem-

brane. The duodenum is long and incloses a large pancreas, which secretes a fluid.
that assists to digest the oily matter from seeds. This kind of food is rudely gathered,
and in many instances crushed by the strong bill. The ceeca are small. All this
shows clearly that we have to deal with a granivorous bird which may possibly at
some seasons eat insects, but certainly not in the autumn, asI have endeavored to
‘show.

At first thought it may appear that I have chosen a time whivh was unfavorable to
the English Sparrows, as seeds are very abundant in the autumn; but neither are in-
sects scarce then, and I chose this time as being one in which the birds would exhibit
their preference; and they certainly have shown no inclination to take insects. If,
however, we turn to some of our native species of sparrows which often take insects

— fandI will, at the suggestion of my friend, Mr. J. A. Allen, select the song sparrow),
__weshall find that they eat some insects all through the autumn, although seeds of
course form the greater portion of their food. Yet the few insects taken show that
they occasionally prefer them.

To my mind it is clear that the English Sparrows are pampered toomuch. They
have access to all the grain that they want, and will then eat nothing else. To make
_ anexceedingly long story shorter, let us have proof that they do or do not eat insects,
and then the matter will be decided beyond a doubt ; and again I would venture to rec-
_. ommend most urgently that the legislature of Massachusetts authorize some one to
_ make a series of dissections of the English Sparrow throughout the entire year, for

in no other way can the matter be decided. I donot consider my proofs as conclusive,
_ but as far as they have gone they are certainly convincing, andI am inclined to look
upon the Sparrows as utterly unworthy of protection ; yet I am still open to convic-
tion in their favor, and if any one will show me one—I ask not ten nor even three,

but only one—English Sparrow from Boston that has voluntarily eaten an insect of any
| sort or kind I will at once modify my opinion respecting them. (C.J. Maynard.)

{Farmer’s Home Journal, Louisville, Ky., October 2, 1886.]

Bowling Green, Ky., September 25, 1886.—The English Sparrow has heretofore been
very destructive upon grains and fruits in and near the towns of this part of the
State, but seems to have been this season three or four times as bad as ever, because,
probably, of increase of number. He is gradually making his way into the country
districts. In the city this year all fruits suffered greatly, and with some of us the
grapes not protected with bags or otherwise were all taken, and whenever the weather
made a hole in the bag covering a variety of grape that, when ripe, was black or red
he has torn off the bags. The rascal has strong jaws and great energy, and will work
industriously until he has made shreds of a bag that he once attacks. It seems that

324 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

the quality of the bags themselves is not as good as formerly, and on all the later
colored grapes the long exposure of them made more holes than usual. All unpro-
tected Clintons, Nortons, Herbemonts, Catawbas, indeed all colored grapes, went as
soon as they began to color well, and even of those that were bagged more than half
were taken, the latter by reason of the opening made by the weather in the bags, and
consequent knowledge to the Sparrow of what was inside. My own loss in this way
was not less than five hundred bags. Some of our grape-growers affirm that having
once found out that the bags had grapes in them the Sparrow did not confine his at-
tacks to the injured ones, but destroyed the perfect bags as well.

Passing on horseback in summer on the outskirts of the city and looking across a va-
cant square in which oats had been grown and were then in the shock, in the direction
of the sun, I noticed a white cloud around the head of the shocks like an aureole. I
rode around to the rear of the square and found that it was the reflection on the oat
chaff thrown out by innumerable Sparrows perched on the shocks and devouring the
grain. It was clear to me then that the farmer would ultimately suffer greatly unless a
remedy is found against the increase of the Sparrow. At the meeting of the Warren
County Horticutural Society this matter has been discussed much recently, and many
schemes have been suggested to accomplish this. Generally such experiments as have
been made seem to demonstrate that some form of poison given with food is about
the most promising.

Opposite my residence, and across the street, is the rear of a square occupied as a —
lumber-yard, and next the fence is a shed 100 feet long and 12 feet wide. I thought
this offered a good opportunity to try the effect of poison on these pests, as it
would be secure from fowls and animals. Accordingly I prepared a mixture of
meal and flour, plentifully sprinkled with strychnine, and put it on the roof. I saw
no dead birds and no evidence of its effect until citizens a square away began to
talk about the fatality among the Sparrows, numbers of them being found dead.
Closer observations showed that after taking the food, and when its first twinges
were felt, they sprang into the air and went with rapid flight until they fell dead.
Very many were killed, as they greedily devoured all the food given. I did not repeat
the experiment, as I was away from home much thereafter, but am mad enough now
over the losses among my grapes to organize a regular campaign of this sort, and
many are like minded with myself. The orioles are very bad, but they are very beau-
tiful, and unlike the poor and the Sparrows, we have them not ‘‘always with us.”
Close observation makes one believe that the robins do comparatively little harm, as
they seldom if ever puncture the grapes, as they take and swallow a whole berry ata
time, and I think three Concords is the maximum fora meal. ([Judge] W. L. Du-
laney.)

[Bulletin No. 10, Division of Entomology, U. 8. Department of Agriculture. }
OUR SHADE TREES AND THEIR INSECT DEFOLIATORS. C. V. RILEY. ~

(p. 31.) The fact that the caterpillar [of the white-marked tussock moth j makes
no effort to conceal itself shows that it enjoys immunity from enemies, and notably
from birds. In fact, the American Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the Baltimore Oriole, and
the Robin are the only birds which have been observed to feed upon the larve.

(p. 62.) All four of these insects [1, elm-leaf beetle, Galeruca; 2, bag-worm, Thy-
ridopteryx; 3, tussock moth, Orgyia; 4, web-worm, Hyphantria] have a certain im-
munity from the attacks of birds—No. 1 by virtue of an offensive odor, No. 2 by the
protection of its bag, Nos. 3 and 4 by the protection afforded by the hairs of the cater- _
pillars, which are also mixed into their cocoons. A few native birds we have seen
occasionally feed upon Nos. 3 and 4; but the English Sparrow, to which, being emphati- |
cally a city bird, we should look for help, has never been known to attack any of
them. In fact, we noticed and announced many years ago that in some of the north-
ern cities (as Boston and Philadelphia) the increase of the Orgyia was indirectly a

_ EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 325

= result of the increase of the English Sparrow, which feeds in the breeding season
upon smooth worms, Jess harmful to our trees, and thus gives better opportunity for
- the rejected Orgyia to increase, a result still further promoted by the habit of driv-
ing away the native birds, which the English Sparrow is known to have. The same
_ reasoning will hold true in respect of the Web-worm; and, putting all sentiment
aside, we may safely aver that this bird is an iaipentnent rather than an aid in pre-
- serving our trees from their worst insect defoliators. There is every reason to believe
_ that the Bag-worm is carried, when young, from tree to tree upon the claws and legs
of the bird, and its dissemination is thus aided and its destruction rendered more
- difficult; while the yellow suspended cocoons of the Meteorus hyphantrie (the most
important of the parasites of the Web-worm) are sought by the Sparrow, probably
being mistaken for grains of wheat.

_ While our feathered friends, owing to the Sparrow’s pugnacity, are now things of
the past, and can only be seen in the spring when they pass through the cities in
their migrations to more peaceable nesting places, yet something might be done to
- encourage their stay. Nesting places might be provided for them not alone by bird
_ boxes, which, good in themselves, are at once occupied by the English Sparrow; they
| paust be afforded safer and natural quarters.

iS iesay read September 4, 1879, before ihe Aig Chester (Pa.) Microscopical Society, by the secretary,
i Dr. B. H. Warren.]

These birds since their introduction in our county (Chester) have elicited consider-
_ able interest and comment. In answer to the common interrogatory: Are the Spar-
_ rows injurious or beneficial to the agriculturist? the following facts are submitted,
as observed by the writer since the transition of the little foreigners.
The autopsies of seventy-five Sparrows, made in 1878, revealed in seventy-three
_ grain and vegetable material solely. Each of the other two had in its stomach, which
_ was distended with wheat, a coleopterous insect (beetle). By this series of examina-
q tions it will be seen that only two seventy-fifths of the birds dissected had any insect
food, and that in a minimum proportion.
_ The vegetable material referred to was buds and blossoms of the grape-vine, the
plum, pear, peach, and haw trees ; also some little grass and a few of the earlier annual
plants.
For wheat they havea great predilection, asreceptacles of sixty odd contained only
_thatcereal. Oats, corn, rye, clover, timothy, and other seeds variously enter into their
_biil of fare. As some have claimed that said Sparrow is granivorous only in winter,
| when i in order to sustain existence he is obliged to live ona grain diet, I have, during
the months of March, April, May, and June of the present year, examined fifty speci-
: mens, of which number forty-seven showed cereal and vegetable food, and one con-
tained a single coleopterous insect in conjunction with an abundance of wheat The
- food receptacles of the two remaining birds were void of any nutritious matter. :
In reference to their distribution, I think it can safely be said they are in by far the
greater part of the towns and villages of our county. In West Chester, and a radius
of five or eight miles, they are found in numbers. Sparrows in the late summer, fall,
and winter congregate in large parties.
: _ Prior to the gathering in of the crops, these birds do a vast deal of damage to the
grains. The sweet or sugar corn, so valued on account of its escalent properties, like-
_ wise satisfies these gormandizing omnivores. They will visit a corn-field, alight on the
ears, tear open the top of the husk, and luxuriate on the half-formed milky grain. The
Botining portions of the ears are left partially nude and necessarily subject to the
ravages of insects and atmospheric changes, wnich frequently result in their complete
eeernction. .
Pe Although considerable damage is done to corn in the way above described, yet the
‘ ieiruction done wheat crops is far inexcess. Of course the quantity of grain eaten
by each is very small, still the amount sufficient to supply a flock of 500 or 1,000

ba

e

326 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

birdsis notinconsiderable. But, gentlemen, bear in mind, if you please, that the grain
devoured is but a tithe of that wasted. For instance, a Sparrow lights on a stalk,
or possibly will grasp twoor more stalks in its claws; the perch, although quite strong
enough to sustain the bird’s weight, will oscillate frome the weight of the foreign body.
Such an unsteady resting place compels the bird, in order to sustain its position, to
almost continually flap is wings. This, in connection with the violent mandibular
action, occasions many pellets of grain son every one eaten to be showered on the
eonnd.

In closing this article, I would earnestly solicit, for the extermination of these -
‘‘white elephants,” the co-operation of the farmer, because to him it is of great
practical utility that they be destroyed. To the practical non-closet naturalist, the
potent need for their immediate eradication is positive. We ask alllovers of birds—
and who among us do not admire, nay love, the native songsters—to lend their aid,
and speedily, too, that some means may be devised for the blotting out of this un-
looked-for bane. ¥

[Essay read March 18, 1880, by Dr. B. H. waren eee the West Chester (Pa.) Microscopical
ociety.

This much talked of and written about bird [ again call your attention to, even at
the risk of tiring the patience of some of my hearers. Among our members there are
not a few who consider the Sparrow a curse to the community and a bird which, if it
ever did do good, has ‘‘ long since outlived its usefulness.”

Some years ago, by a well-disposed, estimable, and well-known resident of this place,
six or seven Sparrows were obtained and conveyed to our borough, which at that
time was the abode of many native song and insectivorous birds. Their arrival was
heralded with joy by our citizens (except a few knowing ones who shook their heads
aud observed, ‘‘ You’ll be sorry for this ina few years”), some of whom forthwith
erected a commodius box in the court-house yard for their protection against inclem-
ent weather, mischievous boys, and prowling cats.

The little ‘* pets” (as they were then called) were confined in this convenience and
regularly fed and watered by their doting admirers for about ten days, when they
were liberated. At irregular intervals after this, for a peried of nearly two months,
they returned to the box for food and shelter. Gradually, however, the visitations
became fewer and fewer, until finally they ceased. These pioneer Sparrows for sev-
eral months displayed marked timidity as well as an eagerness to keep secluded.
They roosted in the evergreen trees in the court-yard. One or two years rolled on
without much authentic information being obtained relative to them. By way of ex-
planation it may be stated that the word ‘‘authentic” before information is used, not
but that it is true many reports, both newspaper and verbal, were current in regard
to the ‘‘new birds,” but the writer is also aware that our migrants and natives, other
than the most common and well-known species, such as the wren, catbird, robin, ete.,
from the size of a sparrow-hawk (F. sparverius) to that of a kinglet (Regulus satrapa
or calendula), were denominated by the uninitiated yet loquacious observer, ‘ En-
glish Sparrow.” After the lapse of the time above specified they were frequently
seen in small parties about the borough. Immediately, to meet the needs of these
insectivorous (?) birds, several of our kind-hearted towns-people built boxes for their
benefit. They were soon followed by others, until many of the shade and fruit trees
of West Chester were ornamented or disfigured by costly bird-box architecture or
rusty tin fruit-cans, pans, and stove-pipes. J

These efforts of our citizens, whether rich or poot, high or low, were lauded by the
press, and so assiduously were the occupants of said domiciles guarded by night as
well as by day that the ubiquitous small boy was put to his utmost to secure the
coveted and at that time marketable egg.

The prolific Sparrows, as residents for four years, began to shuw, even to certain
of their supporters, that they were not as useful as it was said they would be.

_ EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 327

By degrees it became painfully patent to the fruit-grower, the gardener, and the
florist, as well as the practical ornithologist, that the much-cared-for and overrated
i Be zarows were affecting seriously their respective interests.

a The pear, plum, and peach trees, and also the grape-vines, were rifled of their buds.

Be The grapes, strawberries, and, I have been told, raspberries and blackberries, were
taken. The tender herbs, grasses, and coleuses were plucked and devoured ; and last,

but by no means the least, the elose-observing lovers ef native birds proper were forced

= to note a steady diminution, not only yearly but monthly, in the formerly plentiful
denizevs of our town, such as the wren, blue-bird, vireo, and ‘‘chippy ” (S. socialis) ;
even transitory visitors, as certain of the warblers, etc., seemed to avoid West Ches-
ter, and now, at the proper seasons, when the migrants as well as residents enter
this place, they are pursued and driven out by the hosts of ‘‘ usurpers.”

E Our townsman, John F. Ingram, well and favorably known to all, and a gentleman
who, it is universally admitted, ‘‘ thinks twice before he speaks,” was one of the
first to call my attention to the destructive propensities, uncleanly habits, and pug-

a nacious disposition of the Sparrow. He also had noticed Ene material lessening in

visitations of the insect-eating birds.

Like observations of other well-known parties, and disparaging newspaper reports,

- linked with a desire to learn the true state of affairs, led to a series of dissections by

the writer. The result of this work, it will be remembered by some, was given in

detail by me before this society, hence I deem it not necessary to here dwell upon
the minuti:e of anatomical labors; but will state that in upwards of a hundred stom-

__achs lately examined the show of vegetable materials was very gréatly in excess of

the insect dict.

4 It is needless, however, to dwell longer upon the merits or demerits of these birds.
_ Suffice it to say that repeated interviews with many of our leading citizens and res-
idents throughout the country prove conclusively that popular sentiment is against
them because of their injurious traits. Now, the one question is, how shall we get

rid of them?

{From papers read before the Biological Section of the Canadian Institute by W. Brodie. ]
= THE EUROPEAN SPARROW, PASSER DOMESTICUS.

The food of birds has, of late years, become a very important subject of investiga-
_ tion from an economic as well as a scientific stand-point. Mary old and tenaciously
held opinions have been quite overthrown.

It has been shown that birds of prey are nearly all beneficial, many of them emi-
- nently so. It has also been shown that many birds which were formerly considered
entirely beneficial are injurious in some particulars.

4 The rapid increase of the recently introduced European Sparrow, its adaptability
q _ to climatic conditions in Ontario, its food, itsdriving away ofnative species, and the
a ‘general disturbance of bird life in consequence, are subjects which have attracted
4 the attention of ornithologists and elicited some discussion without a very definite
8 settlement of the most important points. This bird may now be said to extend over
_ the whole of Ontario, even over very sparsely settled sections.

: During this last summer it has spread from Nipissing along the line of the C. P. R. to
the north of Lake Superior, and we need not be surprised to hear that it has survived
the forty degrees below zero of Winnipeg. It is generally admitted that it has
a _ drivenaway a few native species from cities, towns, and country villages—species
_ which were taking perhaps rather sparingly to our bustling centers, such asthe chip-
= ping Sparrow (Spizella socialis), bluebird (Sialia sialis), house wren ( Troglodytes aédon),
_ yellow warbler (Dendroica wstiva), cliff swallow (Petrochelidon lunifrons), tree swal-
— low (Tachycineta bicolor), aud afew others. The following extracts from memoranda
covering a period of six years, are submitted with a view of contributing something
_ to what we know of the food habits of this bird.

al

328 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

I fancy the grasshopper-eating habit has been acquired since its advent into Ontario.
I am not aware of its ever having been noticed before either in Europe or in the
United States.

The first record of this habit was by Mr. Bucke, of Ottawa, in 1881, the next by
Mrs. Maria Gardner, a lady of this city, in 1884.

The dissections and examinations of stomachs were made with great care, mostly
on recently killed birds.

My thanks are due to many who rendered valuable assistance in these researches.

In the spring of 1879, Mr. R. Baigent, artist, of this city, reported Sparrows as eat-
ing gooseberry buds in his garden. This, if I mistake not, was published at the time
in one of the city dailies,

May 7, 1881.—One specimen collected in city ; contents of stomach, broken down
vegetable matter, buds of trees.

May 7, 1881.—One specimen collected in York Township; contents of stomach,
coleoptera, carabide, seeds of red clover.

April 10, 1882.—Five specimens collected in city; contents of stomach, pickings
from horse manure, buds of trees.

March 24, 18&2.—Sparrows eating maple buds on Berkeley street.

March 25, 1882.—Sparrows eating maple buds all through city.

April 7, 1884.— Sparrows destroying fruiting buds of maple and elm.

April 7, 1884.—One specimen collected in York Township by Mr. Williams; con-
tents of stomach, fruiting buds of trees.

August 20, 1884.—Sparrows pursuing, killing, and eating grasshoppers on Ontario
street. By Mrs. Maria Gardner.

September 1, 1884.—For some days a small flock of Sparrows frequented a dense
growth of ‘‘ pig weed” (Chenopodium album), growing near to my work-room wingow.
In order to determine what they were doing, I carefully closed the shutters, leaving a
small ocular. When the birds came readily within a distance of about a yard, with
a glass of about ten diameters I quite clearly saw they were eating aphides [plant-
lice] with great relish, as though they were treating themselves to a delicious drink.
These visits were frequently repeated, affording me many opportunities for observa-
tion.

September 20, 1884.—Twenty specimens collected in York Township by Mr. W.
Squires; contents of stomachs, very sharp sand, broken grains of oats, in one, six
whole; elderberries, seeds of amaranthus, larve of geometrid moth three-quarters of
an inch long, three larvee in one crop, coleoptera.

October 31, 1885.—From March 1 to this date two hundred and thirty-seven stom-
achs have been examined; one hundred and four, or about forty-three per cent., con-
tained insects of several orders.

Of eighty-five stemachs examined from September 1 to September 30, the season
of young birds and also the season of migration from the city, sixty-three, or about
seventy-four per cent., contained grasshoppers.

March 15, 1886.—Sparrows destroying elm buds on Ontario street. By Mrs. Maria
Gardner.

March 20, 1886.—Sparrows destroying fruiting buds of maple and elm trees on
Berkeley street.

March 28, 1886.—Sparrows destroying maple buds on Berkeley street.

March 29, 1886.—Sparrows eating maple buds on Ontario street. By Mrs. Maria
Gardner.

April 5, 1886.—Sparrows eating elm buds.

April 12, 1886.—Sparrows eating maple buds on Ontario street. By Mrs. Maria
Gardner.

April 21.—Sparrows eating maple buds on Elizabeth street and Queen’s Park. By
Mr. W. Parks.

Weve Leet, eee
Es § i, :
a

EVIDENCE.—FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. one

August 15, 1886.—Sparrows pursuing “‘ flying grasshoppers,” G. carolina, on Church
street. By Mrs. Maria Gardner.

August 20, 1886.—Three specimens collected in York Township by Mr. Jas. Milne;
stomachs contained road pickings, broken oats, fragments of grasshoppers.

August 25, 1886.—Seven specimens, young, collected on Don Flats, north of Win-
chester street bridge; contents of stomachs, road pickings, broken oats, seeds of
Polygonum aviculare; grasshoppers in all.

August 27, 1836.—Five specimens collected by Mr. W. Squires, east of city; con-
tents of stomachs, very sharp sand; in all broken-down vegetable matter; in one, head
and femora of C. femur-rubrum.

August 29, 1886.—Four specimens, all young, collected by Mr. C. Armstrong in
Rosedale; contents of stomachs in all broken-down vegetable matter and portions of
C. femur-rubrum.

September 3, 1886.—Nine specimens collected on Don Flats, near paper mill; three
stomachs contained fragments of grasshoppers, two contained pups of a dipter, one
contained three small lepidopterous larve.

September 13, 1885.—Fifteen specimens collected in York Township; all contained
the usual broken-down vegetable matter, nine contained portions of grasshoppers, one
contained portions of femora of i. carolina.

Of the forty-three specimens collected from August 20 to September 13, twenty-
seven, or nearly sixty-three per cent., had been eating grasshoprers.

May 27, 1887.—A young Sparrow about a week old fell out of nest and was killed s
stomach contained fragments of eggshell, two spiders, one small moth denuded of
wings; the head and antenne were fairly well preserved.

July 17.—Saw two Sparrows pursuing @, carolina on Berkeley street. When the
grasshopper alighted the Sparrows pounced on him, but he eluded them by darting
up on wing, the Sparrows sitting still watching his down-coming. Four unsuccess-
fulattacks were made. On the fifth mount he got into some shrubbery and escaped.

July 19.—Mrs. Maria Gardner handed me a mutilated GZ. carolina over which two
Sparrows were contending in the normal school grounds; the head, both elytra, one
wing, and three legs were gone and the thorax was badly crushed.

July 20, 1837.—About noon saw a Sparrow breaking legs and wings of C. femur-
rubrum in front of 325 Parliament street.

July 20, 1887.—Saw a Sparrow catch and denude of wings and legs a C. femur-
rubrum on Berkeley street, and then fly away with it, apparently to nest.

August 5, 1887.—Caught four specimens of C. bivittatus on Don Flats, liberated them
on a patch of Polygonum aviculare, Berkeley street, much frequented by Sparrows.
They were immediately attacked by about a dozen Sparrows, and within fifteen min-
utes three were killed, torn to pieces, and devoured.

August 11, 1887.—Two specimens collected by Mr. W. Squires, in the east of the
city ; contents of stomachs in both, road pickings and broken cats; in one, three
pupe of a dipter.

August 31.—Five specimens collected by Mr. D. Cox outside city limits; three
stomachs contained spiders and fragments of coleoptera; one, head and femora of C.
femur-rubrum.

September 12, 1887.—Two specimens collected in city ; contents of stomach, small
Pieces of egg-shell, road pickings, broken oats. :

September 20, 1887.—Four specimens collected on Don Flats, near paper mill;
stomachs all contained small lepidopterous larve and fragments of grasshoppers.

Of the three hundred and seven specimens collected from May 7, 1881, to Septem-
ber 20, 1887, the stomachs of one hundred and thirty-two, or nearly forty-three per
cent., contained insects of several orders, and eighty-five, or nearly twenty-seven per
cent., contained grasshoppers of two species, C. femur-rubrum and CA. carolina. These
two, with C. bivittatus, on which I fed them on August 5, 1887, make three species on
which the Sparrows feed in the neighborhood of Toronto.

330 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. =e

TESTIMONY RELATING MAINLY TO THE SPARROW IN EUROPE.

FROM THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON [BRITISH] WILD :
BIRDS PROTECTION. 1873.

[Mr. Champion Russell, residence near Romford. ]}

[Page 12.] I will give you a history of the course of his life the whole of the year
round in the country. We will begin on the Ist of January. He lives in the farm-
yards, along the roads, yards of any kind near the houses. He gets his food there ;
when the stacks have been threshed, in he goes. As soon as the barley and oats are
sown he leaves the farm-yards and houses, and you see very few there. If you shoot
him in the fields you find his crop full of oats and barley, unless he can get wheat ;
then from that time until after the seed corn has grown, which would be about the
end of April (it depends on the season), through May and June, when he can get the
least corn,* then he destroys insects; the old ones eat scarcely any even at this time, —
but they feed their young more or less with them. Then when the green peas are in
pod, that is about the first thing he takes in the fields. At this time of the year you
may go miles across the country without seeing a Sparrow in the fields at all, except
near hocses and roads. I never see a Sparrow elsewhere until the peas are in pod.
The next is the oats and barley, when they begin to get milky, and the next thing is
the wheat. They get more and more in the fields in flocks, and there they stop, living —
principally in the fields, and many of thein sieeping out in the hedges, until all the —
waste corn on the ground has grown in October. Then they come in clouds round
the stacks, and then they go back to their old occupation, picking up what they can
among the fowls and pigs and on the roads. The chief mischief they do is eating
the green wheat in the ear when the corn just begins to form and there is very little
init. An intelligent farmer told me lately that he sometimes loses £15 or £20 a
year on a field, and that he would give £20 a year to keep them out; he lives near a
village.

This is done particularly in the first half of July, when the grain is imperfect; the
juice runs out of their mouths when shot ; you would think they had been drinking
milk. Some farmersin Norfolk sow a little strip of oats between the farm-yard and the
wheat-field that they may attack them first.. But the great objection which I have
to the Sparrows is, that they are by their increasing numbers exterminating the mar-
tins. They have a habit of dispossessing the martins of their nests, and in our part
of the country the martins have almost disappeared ; consequently, we are subject
to a plague of flies and insects; the Sparrows are the best allies of flying insects.

I see an attempt to dispossess the martins on an average about twice a week when
I am at home; and once or twice I have seen it two or three times in aday. The
martins’ nests are under the eaves. The cock Sparrow comes first and settles on the
eaves, and dodges about; the martins make feeble attempts to drive them away, but
they are usually perfectly heipless; the Sparrow dodges backward and forward per-
haps for an hour; at last he gets in, and once into the nest the cock stops in and
keeps the martins out with his sharp bill, while the hen brings some hay. The Spar-
row once in full possession the martins never meddle. They spend the whole of the
summer in building fresh nests for the Sparrows.

I never knew that they dispossessed any other bird.

I never knew any other bird dispossess the martins.

The Sparrows come in clouds round the stacks when they can get no more out of
the fields, and they then take to the same mode of life that we began with, except.
that they have a turn at the wheat in the fields when it is sowed about November.
The stacks being threshed out in the fields has made a difference to them; they
used to thresh them out in the farm-yard, where they had a struggle with the pigs —
and fowls. Close to my gate at home, though not on my own land, a stack was

*[It should be remembered that the word corn is used in England to denote small
grain of almost any kind; Indian corn is invariably called maize.—W. B. B.]

EVIDENCE.—FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. © 331

-threshed out in April or March; it has furnished clouds of Sparrows with food ever
Ss since; people have been moving the straw occasionally, which gives them fresh
ground to feed upon; these things encourage Sparrows; besides which, I believe
there are more horses in the country and more oats given them, and that is a never-
3 _ failing resource; they will never starve, winter or summer, so long as horses have
uncrushed oats. ;

a They give their young ones insects. I have saved the food of many hundreds of
Sparrows, and got it bottled [producing two bottles], that I may know precisely
what kinds of insects they eat, Ishouldalso like to know what species the martins eat.

I want the assistance of an expert entomologist here, but I can state generally that

out of three hundred and eighty-eight young Sparrows examined last year, of all
ages, from a great variety of places, chiefly from farms. but also from private houses,
wheat and green peas were found in them in considerable quantities; the insects

3 _ were of two clesses—caterpillars and coleopterous insects—but I found very few in-

_ sects that I knew well; I found one earwig, one grasshopper, a few hard-winged
4 beetles, but mostly soft beetles (I suspect they come out of the manure), and cater-

pillars in very variable quantities; the yery small young ones, up to three or four days

BE old, generally have caterpillars and little else, unless they have green peas. When

they get to the size of *‘ large callow,” you will often find that they are full of wheat ;

. the gizzard soon becomes hardened, and there is a great quantity of even ripe wheat.

Sometimes you find hardly any caterpillars, but a kind of black stuff. There are

different-sized insects of the beetle class, but soft. I finda great quantity of cole-

opterous insects also in the droppings under the martins’ nests; not the same species
probably, but the same class of insects. One catches them on the wing, whereas the
others catch them on the ground. One of these bottles holds the contents of the
stomachs of eighty-two young Sparrows taken recently, and this one of fifty-four old

Sparrows obtained last April; of more than one hundred examined at different times

in that month, only one contained an insect; that one, two or three. [have not yet

found an insect in a Sparrow in autumn or winter. They can hardly do much good
to the farmer, for they do not frequent the fields to eat the insects unless they are
close to a house or road. You can see them destroy an acre of wheat sometimes, but

Lam not aware of any counterbalancing advantage in the ground close to the roads
and the houses over places half a mile from a road or house where you never see a
_ Sparrow except about harvest time.

a The food differs very much, according to locality and age to the opportu-

nities. A farmer sent me a lot of young Sparrows, that I might examine the con-
tents of their stomachs; they contained a good deal of wheat, a good deal of green
peas, and a fair sprinkling of insects. Only four days later he sent me another lot;
there was still wheat, but no peas—insects were substituted ; they were caterpillars.

I suppose the green peas had been grubbed up, and they had to hunt the caterpil-
lars; but it was not very conclusive, because the man had two farms a mile apart.

__ He told me that he believed they came from both farms; but that made it a little

| less pointed than it would have been. I could not get at it by inquiry; I did not
get to see the boy who took them, but it looked as if they ate peas as long as they
could get them, and then they got caterpiliars. You will find that there are more

~ caterpillars at the top than at the bottom of this bottle, because the contents of the
youngest birds are at the top.

I do not know how many days after hatching the young begin to eat wheat; when

I was a boy I might have been able to tell you how many days each size of callow

bird represented. What I call a large callow bird generally contains a good deal

_ of wheat. I should say three days old is the date, but it isa mere guess. As their

whole growth is completed in a fortnight, it can not take many days. .The large

; callow birds contain more food than the full-feathered ones; the gizzard alters

_ very curiously in shape and size, aud as they grow to full size it contracts again.

As to breeding, I can not tell exactly, but my recollection of the time when I used to -

e-

By THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN: AMERICA.

look after nests is that they seldom lay before about the 25d or 25th of April. They
breed all through July and August, but you do not find many then; as they get out
onto the wheat fields they seem to leave off the idea of breeding ; there are not many
nests in August; that is the ouly chance the martins have, which saves them from
utter extermination. Occasionally they raise a late brood in September, when the
Sparrows are gone toravage the wheat fields. The poor birds are reduced to great
straits, and they have to wait until the latter part of October, when they are pinched
up with the cold, and they go down the chimneys at night for warmth; but when
they are protected they get their latest broods clear off before the end of September
generally. Tothe best of myrecollection only two nests were reared (on my place) in
1869, one close to a door, and one close to a window, where the Sparrows dared not
come; all the rest were taken by the Sparrows. As, to my indignation, they had
been diminishing in numbers for many years, I thought to do something to protect
the martins. I had been away from home for a month in the year 1870, and I came:
home towards the end of May. Several martins’ nests were built around the pigeon-
house, which is afavorite place of theirs; I found that every nest had been taken by the
Sparrows. I set to work witha young friend, one or other of us watching the martins
nearly all day for a fortnight; we killed about a hundred and fifty Sparrows in the
fortnight around the martins’ nests, and in spite of a great deal of difficulty, we got
seven nests to fly that year. The next year I had twenty nests; last year I had forty-
five, and this year I have more than fifty, I should think; I can not tell exactly how
many there will be, but I expect there will be sixty, for I believe there are fifty-one
now, and they have not all built yet. * * * No bird, inmyopinion, does as much
mischief as the Sparrow, or requires so much to be kept down, partly from the nature
of his food and from the manner of getting it. The Sparrow is not only the greatest
corn-eater, on the whole, of any of the small birds, at all events, but he is not kept
down by a cold winterso much; he ean find his food somehow all the yearround. No
small bird approaches the Sparrow in destructiveness; I will not be so dogmatic as
to say that the Sparrows are of no good at all, but the balance is against them, even
taking a comparative estimate of what they eat; and when you are certain that they
are destroying one of our most beautiful, useful, and interesting birds, the martin,
that condemns them. I like the martin, and his enemies are myenemies. (June 12,
1873.)

| Mr. Champion Russell, in paper handed to the committee. ]

[Page 172.] Mr. Hurrell, farmer, Boreham, near Chelmsford, being questioned
(July 14, 1873) about birds, says that he once measured an acre of early wheat where
Sparrows had eaten it, and another adjoining acre, otherwise of same quality. The
wheat was thrashed out separately, and the loss from Sparrows found to be two
quarters [16 bushels]; value at the time, £6. Does not find the land less valuable
for any crop where Sparrows do not frequent. Says that Sparrows take a few
aphides from the peas, as well as the green peas themselves, but not enough to do
perceptible good where they frequent.

(I find that they sometimes give a few aphides to their young ones.—C. R.)

Martins* and Sparrows.

The decrease in the number of straw-thatched buildings, most likely, has some
effect in making Sparrows more hard on the martins; but many of the former take
the nests of the latter in preference to any other accommodation. I have found,
for instance, that they will not use the ‘‘Sparrow pots” if they can get at martins’
nests.

*[The European martin, Hirundo urbica, must not be confounded with the Ameri-
can martin, Progne subis. The former is much smaller, in size and nesting habits
more nearly resembling the American cliff swallow, Petrochelidon lunifrons.—W- B.B. }

EVIDENCE.—FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. aon

The time that Sparrows prefer to take martins’ nests is when the shell is not quite
finished, as they like a rather large hole to carry in their grass and feathers, of which
they use much more than the martins. If not molested, martins use the same nest
if they have two or more broods. If the Sparrows do not take a martin’s nest before
the young ones are large, they do not meddle with it until the first brood has flown.
This, then, 1s another favorite time for taking the nest. The old martins are away
attending to their fresh flown young for a few days, and there is no attempt at op-
position. I think I could find within a short distance one hundred houses where
martins built in numbers forty years ago, but where, owing to the depredations of
Sparrows and stupid people, there are none now.

White, of Selbourne, wrote that ‘‘ there are few towns or large villages but what
abound with house martins.” This was the case up to some forty years ago. Now,
in most towns and villages, where there were hundreds of these birds, there are now
nove, or only a few pairs. The principal exceptions, in my knowledge, are in moor
or down country, where there is little corn, and consequently but few Sparrows.
Sometimes, but not often, the martins find a place to build, which, for some reason,
the Sparrows do not like.

If people will neither protect the martins from the Sparrows, nor let them build
uear their doors and windows for protection, we shall lose these beautiful and most
useful birds; indeed, we are losing them fast. Unlike most other birds, they will
not make their nests far from our dwellings; if not allowed to build there, they dis-
appear. .

Any law to protect Sparrows, if at all observed, would have precisely the same
effect as offering a reward for the destruction of martins.

As a single instance among many of the banishment of martins by Sparrows, at the
place where I was born and brought up, three miles off, there were a great many mar-
tins nests when Iwasaboy. The Sparrows persecuted them badly then, ard gradually
displaced them, until, for some years past, I do not think that a brood has been raised
there. It is a favorite place for martins; some always resort and feed there, though
none breed within three-quarters of a mile. They constantly try to re-establish
themselves there. This year two nests were begun. Both were taken by Sparrows
before they were finished. A starling afterwards turned the Sparrow out of one, and
eventually broke the nest down by its weight. A starling’s egg was found in the
nest after it fell.

To recover from the martins the other nest, which was under the eaves of the house,
near a window, I offered a servant half a crown to shoot the Sparrows and pull their
nestout. Thiswasdone. The martinscame back, finished their nest, and kept posses-
sion for some time. When the young ones were callow, half of the nest, with its con_
tents, was found one day on the ground. The Sparrows no doubt caused this mischief
by trying to force themselves into the very small hole left by the martins as is their
custom where liable to the attacks of Sparrows. ‘The nest rested on a bar of iron, and
was broken across the middle ; a thing I never knew to be done by the martins them-
selves; no wet could get at the nest. I have before known a nest to be broken by
Sparrows squeezing themselves in; in this way they often break down a nest entirely
and then go and take another.

Three years ago a blacksmith near here saw two Sparrows pull young martins out
of a nest and drop them alive on the ground. He gota ladder and put the birds back
in their nest; in ten minutes he found that the Sparrows had come back and thrown
down the young martins again.

[Page 174 ] I have destroyed Sparrows as closely as possible for the last four years,
and can not find the slightest disadvantage from their absence. It may be said that
my neighbors supply me with enough for useful purposes. If so, this shows that 99
per cent. of their usual numbers might be destroyed without perceptibly bad effect,
go rarely is one to be seen at my place,

334 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

[Page 182.] The House Sparrow stands in aclass alone; it can hardly be considered
a wild bird; it isa parasite, living mainly on our produce. Its mode of life is such, ~
that it requires to be kept down by man far more than any other bird.

Sparrows should have no protection by law; they are bred in great numbers in
towns, villages, and about almost every house and cottage. Living along the roads,
they soon find their way to and swarm in farm-yards, however closely they may have
been killed down there in winterand spring. Farmers, therefore, generally have the
nests taken, but many escape in trees. Were this practice prevented, poisoning would
be thought necessary.

Much has been written in favor of the ‘‘ Sparrows and other small birds.” One con-
sequence is, that many people encourage Sparrows to an extent detrimental to their
neighbors’ crops and to the martins; apvother consequence is, that others, finding the
Sparrows destractive, and taking it fo: granted that all small birds are alike, destroy
all they can. Then, Sparrows being far more wary and cunning, before they are
thinned to any extent almost ail the other birds are destroyed.

Nearly all evidence in favor of Sparrows is founded on partial observation, or
is vitiated by the fact that when they are killed down the other birds are extermi-
nated. The destruction of Sparrows by nets, and particularly by shooting, is almost
always accompanied by great slaughter of harmless and useful birds. Warblersand
other soft-billed birds are much more effective destroyers of caterpillars and other
insects than Sparrows.

One great object of protection laws is to educate people to spare harmless birds.
One of the first practical stepstoward this desirable end is to teach people that, when
it is necessary tothin the Sparrows, other birdsneed not also be destroyed. The indis-
criminate zeal which would protect all birds alike, defeats its own object and spoils
a good cause by going too far.

The moral effect of any legal protection to Sparrows, even if not applied to occu-
piers, would be to keep up the delusion that all small birds are alike, and thus to en-
courage the slaughter of harmless and useful birds with the Sparrows.

Whatever may be thought about the utility of a moderate number of Sparrows,
few practical farmers doubt that in great numbers they are very destructive ; it seems
to me that there is no fear that we shall ever have too few of them; in spite of all
efforts to destroy them, they seem almost everywhere to be greatly increasing in num-
bers.

[Mr. Henry Meyers, market gardener. ]

[Page 20.] I had a Sparrow club once; I thought they were very injurious birds;
we killed them until scarcely one could be found on the premises. After the Spar-
rows became almost extinct we found blight of various kinds very much increase upon
us, and it has done so ever since. JI am glad to say Sparrows are becoming more com-
mon with us now; this year our trees are comparatively free from blight. The com-
mittee will draw their own inference, but those were the facts. We have also suffered
much less from insects, especially this year. To say the Sparrows do no damage would
be wrong, but there is no doubt that they do a larger proportion of good than they do
harm. I can not say that I have gone into details, and made post-mortem examina-
tions of their stomachs, but there is something interesting in one of those bottles I
think. (Bottles produced by last witness.) You will find the larva of one of the
greatest enemies we have—the little green caterpillar that eats up the gooseberry
leaves. We are large growers of gooseberries. The Sparrows will sometimes have
their share, and go and pick off the ends of the blossoms, but they do that over a very
small extent of our plantation near the buildings and near the hedges. My foreman

_at Bedfont said, ‘‘ These Sparrows are stuffing at the gooseberries; what shali we
do?” Tsaid, ‘‘ Let them alone ; they will go to another place soon.” We have now a
very good crop of gooseberries. I think the amount of fruit which we lose from the
birds is comparatively very small indeed. What I mean to be understood by this is,
that for ten months these birds are living very much on what-they ean get, such as

EVIDENCE.—FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. ~ aoD

eds of weeds, self-set corn, and vermin. I have no doubt (althoughI can not prove
it) that the germs of blight are consumed in winter by small birds, and if they were
more common, blight would be less common.

4 - [The following points were brought out by questioning this witness]:

With regard to the blight, it was an increase of blight generally. I can not say as
- a consequence of the destruction of the Sparro ws. I only mentioned that as a coin-
~ eidence; the green caterpillar in the gooseberries was one, and the common cater-
pillar in the apple trees. Ihave had apple trees destroyed by them fortwo years. I
_ have had the green fly in almost all kinds of plants; the only thing that has not
_ suffered hasbeen the raspberries. * * * Ihave not seen Sparrows actually eating
_ the green caterpillars off the gooseberry trees. * * * In addition to the Sparrows I
destroyed the chaffinch and any kind of seed-eating bird, but not blackbirds and
_ thrushes. (June 12, 1873.) .

[Mr. Lewis Fytche, magistrate. }

[Page 25.] Ihave observed Sparrows all my life and I will at least say this, thav
if you watch the Sparrow you will see one of the most beautiful sights in creation ;
that is to say, a cock Sparrow, hawking at the white butterfly in the sun. He goes at
it just like a hawk aftera heron. He kills tens of thousands of the eggs which produce
the cabbage caterpillar; so that instead of taking the caterpillar he takes the evil in
3 the egg. The white butterfly produces the cabbage iarva which does so much harm,

and I think the Sparrow is most useful in that point of view. (June 12, 1873.)

[Lord Lilford. }

[Page 28.] The Sparrow is mischievous in every way, and is very numerous. Of
~ course he does good by destroying grubs and caterpillars; but I think he does de-
- cidedly more harm than good. (June 19, 1873.)

[ Prof. Alfred Newton, M.A., F. R.S.]

[Page 34.] The Sparrow has spread throughout the world, accompanying man in
his migrations; he has taken him out to the United States, the Cape of Good Hope,
_ the [sland of Mauritius, Australia, and almost every part of the world. * * * In
a few years I think some of them will find out their mistake. * * * I think cer-
_ tainly the Sparrow will establish himself, and perhaps any bird that establishes him-
self must do.so more or less at the expense of some other bird. (June 19, 1873.)

| Mr. C. O. Groome Napier, ornithologist. ]

[Page 47.] I think the Sparrow and wood pigeon are the most objectionable birds
we have, on account of their numbers and also because they feed so much, generally
on greencrops. I think the Sparrow does more harm than good. The balance is de-
cidedly against him; I should condemn him. He does not feed his young entirely on
insects even during the first days. Dr. Edward Crisp exhibited before the British
_ Association at Birmingham, in 1855, a hundred stomachs of young Sparrows, and
_ there was not 5 per cent. that contained any insect food; I examined them with a
Jens myself. They were the stomachs of nestlings. The food is almost always a con-
siderable portion of grain; in the case of young Sparrows it is green corn generally.
_ I know from personal observation that the Sparrow takes the place of other and better
birds; I have observed that the warblers and wrens, and those little birds, have been
_ pushed ont of their proper position by the Sparrow. They have been driven away
q from the locality. The Sparrow supplants them in their nesting places. Ihave seen
the Sparrow often supplant both the house martin and the swallow. I once had a
- gwallow’s nest which was usurped after there were eggs in it by a Sparrow; the Spar-
row put in some hay to make the nest rather softer. I believe the Sparrow ate the
eges; they were found broken, at all events, and covered with hay. (June 19, 1873.)

ve

=

336 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.
[Mr. Alfred Ellis (living near Leicestcr). |

[Page 52.] In my neighborhood the House Sparrow is not injurious to any consider-
able extent, except just when the corn begins to harden, or gets sufficiently formed to
enable him to take it from the chaff, then he is very destructive; during the other
part of the year he feeds largely on insects. The Sparrows in our neighborhood re-
main in the fields late in the autumn, much after the gathering in of the harvest, and
a long time after there is an ear of corn in the fields; they feed then in large flocks
entirely on seeds, the seeds of weeds. I may state that I have seen the Sparrow in
contest with the martin for the martin’s nest. He drives the martin from his nest to
some extent, particularly toward the latter part of the summer. I do not recollect
an instance of where a Sparrow dispossessed a martin during the first brood of the
martin, but in a large colony of martins I think I have seen as much as 20 per cent.
of the nests occupied by Sparrows in the second brood of the martins, or rather what
would have been the second brood. I have not observed that other birds are driven
away by the Sparrow.

[Mr, Alfred Ellis. ]

[Page 56.] The Sparrow is certainly powerful enough to turn out the martin, and
he does it. The martin is one of the most useful birds. The Sparrow is mischievous
during the time when the corn is first hardening; on the first ripening of the corn
you will find the Sparrows constantly in the field up to the time of the gathering in
of the harvest, perhaps in the midland counties from the first week in July to the
middle or end of October. * * * IJIdonotthink the Sparrow does very much harm
in the gardens; I have seen destruction caused by it in rad sh beds and young lettuce
beds. (June 26, 1873.)

[Mc. R. Scot-Skirving, gentleman farmer. ]

[Page 63.] I would exempt the House Sparrow (from protection); nine-tenths of
the House Sparrow’s food is insects, particularly caterpillars. As a farmer, I would
not be frightened of the damage they do; the damage they do to farmers is much
more apparent than real, because they eat corn as it ripens along the hedge-side,
generally near the farmsteading; they do not scatter themselves over the fields; they
will utterly destroy a quarter of an acre, perhaps, but they will never touch anything
else. However, they do terrible damage to gardens; they kill off the very young veg-
etables when they first come up from the ground ; they will eat up a whole crop of peas
if they are allowed. I have watched them feeding their young, and I have seen them
coming with green caterpillars from the bushes and trees ; when they were thought
to be doing damage they were killing caterpillars.

[Rev. J. Pemberton Bartlett. Residence at Exbury, in the New Forest. ]

[Page 68.] The Sparrow undoubtedly does harm in gardens; he does a certain
amount of harm, but if he does harm for three months in the year he does good for the
other nine months, w’ ich counterbalances it. I have opened the crops of the young
and I have watched the old birds carrying green caterpillars up to theirnests. Ihave
dissected young birds enough to get a knowledge of what they are fed upon. In the
breeding time they are nearly always full of insects, caterpillars, etc. The majority
of their food for a certain time is insectivorous. I have sometimes found them with-
out any vegetable food, and at other times there has been a mixture of green food, but
the insect food always preponderates decidedly over the vegetable. With regard to
the martins, certainly he does drive them away; I had al! my martins driven away
three years ago by Sparrows. I have known the birds take possession of all their
nests, and drive them away. This year the martins have come back again, and the
Sparrows have not attacked them yet. (June 26, 1873.)

- EVIDENCE.—FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. - 337

[Mr. William Johns, book-seller (residence about a mile from Torquay).]

: - [Page 73.] On June 5 I walked to Babbicombe Hill to wait on a lady ; Isaw a moth

on a flower; I went and took the flower and turned the head down, and the moth flew

away. It was not thconeI wanted. It flew half across the garden. <A bird (Sparrow)

-eame from the hedge, caught it, and took it to its nest. I went to the nest, and there

were five of the top wings of the same moth. It was the large brown cabbage moth,
“one of the greatest enemies of the cabbage plant. (June 26, 1873.)

[Mr. Henry Stevenson, gentleman. }

_ [Page 89.] I have repeatedly seen the Sparrow taking possession of the martins’
nests on the sides of my own house, and I have frequently shot them with a small-
bulleted pistol to turn them out. I have never known them to interfere with the
_ swallows’ nests, but the Sparrows are in the habit of using old martins’ nests in the
_ winter, relining them, and I suppose they think they have a vested right in them
the next spring. Ifthe martins build fresh nests they turn them out of those also.

_ [Page 91.] Isuppose I have sometimes seen ten or twelve pairs of Sparrows ata
_ time all collecting insects from the grass and from the borders for their young, which
: are under the tiles and other parts of the houses; they are doing an immense good at
- that time, but as soon as those young birds have flown and taken themselves to the
- fields, then they certainly do a great deal of injury to the farmers. The earlier broods
_are not fed on grain. Laterin the season, when the corn begins to be soft in the ear,
4 I think the probability is that the old ones feed the young on soft, pulpy grain. I
y have not dissected any Sparrow nestlings.

_ Speaking only as a gardener, I should not destroy the Sparrow. I think rey do me
avery great amount of good. (July 3, 1873.)

4 | Mr. George Swaysland, taxidermist (residence at Brighton). ]

[Page 104.] The Sparrow does a great amount of good; he never feeds his young on
corn at all; you see him in all the footpaths in the comniald he is not in the corn ;
he feeds his young on insects. I never knew him to feed hig later brood on milky
grain; I have killed and examined thousands of them—nestling Sparrows; I have
Eererally found grubs in their stomachs, or those little beetles that run across the
footpaths. As soon as the old bird leaves the young Sparrow then he goes to the corn;
but they bring their young ones up on insects until they are able to fly about and
to look out for themselves. Those things have been my study all my life. I know
whether birds increase or decrease, and what they feed upon; it has been my hobby;
[ have been more in the fields, and I can say it without any boasting, I have lost
more time, as some people waaid say, in the fields, than any other man in Great
ee ain. (July 10, 1873.)

{Mr. John Cordeaux, gentleman farmer (residence in North Lincolnshire). |

P [Page 110.] My opinion is that the good the Sparrow does far counterbalances the
evil. The time of year when the Sparrow commits the most destruction is when the
‘young milky grainisin the plant. Two or three years ago I oyened the crops of
‘t hirty-five young Sparrows of various ages, which I took indiscriminately from the
nests around my own house, and on an average I found in their crops two parts soft
grain and one part insects; so that even at this season they feed partly on insects.
E ome of them were only a few hours out of the shell, but others were fully fledged ;
they were every size and age. I never destroy Searrows except in taking their ies
and I do that because I think the Sparrows increase enormously, and I think they
a ive out other birds. Sparrows about a garden discourage the warblers and other
birds. 1 find when there are a great number of Sparrows, one species turns the other
0 It is by competition for food. * * * Ihave neverseen a case of actual per-
ution, but being a strong and pushing species the Sparrow would naturally eat
the food of weaker and less combative birds. (July 10, 1873.)

- -8409—Bull. 122

> a

me e r , A.
“1 j

338 - ° THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

[Mr. John Cordeaux in paper handed in to the committee. ]

[Page 178.] House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).—Sparrows feed their young in
April, May, and June aimost exclusively on insects; in July, insects and soft grain.
‘“‘The stomachs of thirty-five young Sparrows, taken to-day from nests about my
house, give the following result: One part insects to two parts soft grain. The young
were of all sizes, from a day old to others sufficiently fledged to fly short distances;
some had the stomach filled almost entirely with insects, and others with grain alone ;_
generally, however, there was an admixture in the above proportions. The grain was
not confined to the oldest birds, as the stomachs of two baby Sparrows, from appear-
ances hatched but a few hours, contained nothing but grain. One little bird had its
gizzard filled witha large moth, which unfolded was half the size of its bedy. Where
grain was present there was also a proportionate supply of small stones to assist di-
gestion. Those gizzards containing the largest proportion of grain had invariably the
most stones. The insect remains were principally those of various coleoptera and
many small caterpillars and grubs.” (J. Cordeaux, in ‘‘ Zoologist” for 1870, p. 2287.)
The Sparrow also feeds on the aphides and the weevil of the bean plant; in the au-
tumn and winter, ou grains of wheat, oats, and barley ; also various seeds.

[Mr. William Cratie Angus, picture dealer (residence in Glasgow, but notes relate to Aberdeen-
shire). |

[Page 117.} Sparrows by the end of June or beginning of July congregate into large
flocks, and I have known fields of barley and corn flattened by them, actually broken
down by the weight of Sparrows; they are very destructive to newly-sprouted peas ;
I have known wholerows of peas cropped off by Sparrows. * * * Whenthey have
bent down the corn it has been on the edge of the field generally, not always. The
earliest part of a field is not necessarily the edge of it. They generally go to the ear-
liest part of it, but, when disturbed, prefer the middle to the edge of it. Ihave
shot (firing both barrels) as many as seventy Sparrows feeding in the middle of a
field. Whether they feed in the middle or on the edge of the field depends, I think, —
on the ripeness of the crop and the amount of annoyance they would be subjected to
at the edge. I think that wherever any species becomes very numerous, by force of
numbers it dispossesses other species. Where Sparrows are very numerous in gar-
dens you wil! find that other birds are not so plentiful. (July 10, 1873.)

[Rev. John George Wood, F. L. S.]

[Page 131.] IThavenot done very much with the Sparrow, but I have seen him in
the very early morning doing nothing but eating insects or larve, picking them out
of the grass, the daddy-long-legs especially, which is one of the most dangerous insects
we have. It never struck me that the Sparrow displaced other birds. I think there
is no competition for food. (July 17, 1873.) ;

iMr. James Pertwee, gentleman farmer, residence in Essex. ]

[Page 149.] I can hardly describe the harm the Sparrow does me; he does harm in
every possible way. He is utterly bad; he is no good either; he is not to be frightened
at all. He may dosome good for a day or two while the birds are very small, but di-
rectly he can get soft corn or seed he will take it to his young. They are troublesome
birds in every way; for instance, they destroy the thatch of buildings at an astonish-
ingrate. They make holesin the thatch, and they turn out all the martins. I should
not mind giving £5 a year to be protected from them. They turn martins out of their
nests; that is a very useful bird; but they have decreased very much through the
Sparrows. I do not think I have known the Sparrow to persecute any other bird
besides the martin. This year, Iam sorry to say, I have no martins’ nests, or only
one; sometimes I have had a number under my eaves. The Sparrows would take
every nest they could get if I had not looked after them and kept them away as well

Fd
’ EVIDENCE —FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. 339

asI could. They turn them out sometimes when the nest is half formed, like a cup,
and sometimes when they have had young ones they have turned them out. I have
_ found the young ones thrown out and lying on the ground.

4 I may add that some persons have said that the Sparrows do good inasmuch as
they eat green caterpillars off gooseberry and currant trees. Now, my children told
me yesterday that the caterpillars had eaten up all the currant trees. My garden
joins the farm-yard, and there are plenty of Sparrows in the garden, so I do not see
that they eat the caterpillars at all. (July 17, 1873.)

a
j
4

[Mr. James Pertwee in paper handed in to the committee. ]

[Page 175.] House Sparrows.—It is scarcely possible to say too much against these
obnoxious birds; they live almost entirely upon corn, and will not take insects, grub
or caterpillar, except when their young are very small; begin to attack the corn before
any other bird, and give their young green peas, barley, and wheat as soon as the ker-
nel is formed; do not even eat seeds of weeds or plants, because they are not found in
the fields, except when and after there is corn. I would give £5 a year to be protected
entirely against them. At this time my gooseberry trees are infested with caterpil-
lars, although the garden is very near to the farm-yard, and a gentleman told me
on Tuesday last that his garden joined the stack-yard, yet the green caterpillar was
stripping the leaves off his gooseberry trees.

{[Mr. James Harrison, gardener and bailiff (residence at Heathlands, Hampstead).]

[Page 152.] The Sparrow is a very good insect-catcher at certain seasons, when he
eats caterpillars. The only trouble that gardeners have with him is at the time young
peas are inseason. Then he is inclined to take too much, andonly then. Ihavenever
destroyed a bird during the twenty years that I have had charge of gardens; and I
would not destroy even the Sparrow. (July 17, 1873.)

[ Mr. John Colam, secretary Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ]

[Page 154.] With regard to the Sparrow, I have often seen him devouring large
caterpillars, and this very day I have seen a Sparrow attacking spiders in a most
voracious manner, and clearing them off the copings of the walls at Wandsworth.
(July 17, 1873.)

[Mr. Jesse Willard, gardener to Lady Burdett-Coutts. |

[Page 155.] I know for a fact that the common House Sparrow eats caterpillars, for
I can give an instance of that. The cottage I live inis covered with ivy, and against
the bed-room window is a Sparrow’s nest with young ones init. I have seen the old
Sparrows come in the morning from some pear trees opposite, and alight on the win-
dow-sill with caterpillars in theirmouths. You could see them quite plainly. I should
say in passing, that instances have come under my notice in which, where the cater-
pillars have been rather numerous, they have been passed almost unnoticed by other
birds, and all at once the Sparrow has made a sudden set at them and cleared them
off. lvrecently had a brother of mine come up from the country; he lives in the
Weald of Kent, where they grow a great many filberts ; he was not favorable to birds,
on the whole, but be said this fact had come under his notice: They had some fil-
berts on which there was a large amount of caterpillars ; all at once the Sparrows set
at them and cleared them off; at the same time, for some reason or other, they seemed
| to pass them by for a time quite regardless, butall at once they set at them. I have

seen that apparent caprice myself. (July 17, 1=73.)

{[Mr. James Bell, gardener to the Duke of Wellington, Strathfieldsaye, Hampshire. }

[Page 156.] I have seen a wren carrying green caterpillars off the fruit trees all day
long to her young ones. I have seen a Sparrow going on just in the same way as the
wren, only the Sparrow’s family is not so numerous as the wren’s. The only thing,

340 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

which I know against the Sparrow is that after the peas come in just about this sea- —
son, they are very destructive to the green peas; they peck the pods, and destroy the ©
peas. * * * But notwithstanding the destruction of a few peas, I think the Spar-
rows are of very great advantage to gardeners. (July 17, 1873.)

[Revy. Francis O. Morris. ]

[Page 164.] This is the twentieth year I have been rector of Nunburnholme, and in
the whole of that time I have never but twice, at intervals, known the Sparrows do
me any harm that I should not feel ashamed to complain of. They used to breed in
great numbers in our dilapidated old church; and those two years did certainly take
the peas in my top garden iu a way I did not approve of. But they never did so before
or since to any extent worth speaking of, and I always say, ‘‘ Live, and let live.”
They do sometimes pick up garden seeds, when sown close to the surface, but I be-
lieve are much oftener blamed than they deserve, for what the mice have done. The
rows of peas in the garden * * * are this year almost as perfect and full as it is
possible to be, though it is on that side that the church tower still affords a home to
some of those birds, as Go also some large ivy-covered birch trees, while in the other
garden, out of their way, there are some gaps, but not much to speak of even there,
from whatever cause. ;

It is really the fact that I very seldom see the Sparrows eating anything, and I
often have wondered what they get to keep themselves in such good condition. I
hardly ever go on the road, all the year round, but I see many in the middle of it,
here or there; and when they are down in the garden, they are generally on beds
where there is nothing but grains of earth or sand to pick up. This year they have
picked off the young iteaves of the beet-root in one of our gardens, but I hope the
plants will be none the worse for it in the end. In the other gardens they have not
touched them at all.

With regard to the Sparrow being the cause of the diminution in the numbers of
martins, I have to remark that the two species have gone on together, pari passu, in
alltime past. If, then, the latter have been, within the last few years, as is sug-
gested, expelled by the former, how is it that the like was not done before? How
came the martins to hold their own in such numbers till then ?

This house and the old church near it used to be lined with martins’ nests years
ago. Since then, we have had none till this year, when first one pair built, another
began, but left off; yet some half-dozen pairs are careering morning after morning in
front of my study-window, but nothing has come of it so far. (Since I wrote this
several other nests have been built, and one begun.)

We used to have, too, contemporaneously with them, a cloud of Sparrows in the
old church roof and tower; and‘no doubt they sometimes expelled the martins from
their nests. But these were only the exceptions, and the main body held their own
against all comers. Even those which are now and then dislodged, build over and
over again; the cause, in such cases, of their being late, or over late at the time of
migration. .

This year, as I said, three or four pair only are building here, while of some which
are building again in the village, most, or nearly all, are domiciling without molesta-
tion under the eaves of a farm-house adjoining a fold-yard, the very home of the Spar-
rows, and at some cottages immediately opposite to the adjoining stack-yard.

[Mr. Robert Gray, ornithologist, and late secretary Natural History Society of Glasgow .}

[Page 176.] The Sparrow is very destructive to grain and is able to protect itself. —

It may, therefore, with advantage, be excluded from protection.
[Mr. J. E. Harting. ]

[Page 186.] The Sparrow, although a consumer of grain, feeds itself and young on
insects for many weeks at a time when insects are most injurious.

It therefore deserves protection during the nesting season, or from April 1 to Au-
gust 1 ; :
‘o) e

-EVIDENCE.—FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. 341

[FROM ‘‘'THE HOUSE SPARROW” (PART 1), BY J. H. GURNEY, JR., 1885. ]

The various ways in which Sparrows do harm to crops are well known to agricult-
ists; but perhaps by no one has the sequence of their proceedings in the field been
better put than by the Rev. C. A. Johns (Brit. Birds, p. 202). Sometimes they make
_ descents on the standing corn before the grain has attained fall size, and near the
hedges the busy pilferers are at work, and fly up in a swarm as you approach them,
; ; put when it is quite ripe they do the greatest harm. It is not only what they eat,
but what they knock out.

A gentleman who is a practical farmer in North Lincolnshire—Mr. J. Cordeaux—
tells me he has seen acres which had the appearance of being thrashed with a flail.
. ons this into consideration, the opinion of the Melbourne (Derbyshire) Sparrow
— Club—that Sparrows destroy a quart of corn apiece during the summer (vide Zoolo-
«gist p. 2299)—is probably true. If thirty grains a day is a Sparrow’s ordinary meal
during June, July, and August (and I do not think this is far from the mark, having
_ repeatedly found twenty and twenty-five whole grains, and once, in November, forty,
_ ina Sparrow’s crop), it would have eaten, during those three months, two thousand
seven hundred and sixty grains, which is nearly a third of a pint; or if, take the
_ whole year round, each Sparrow eats, on an average, fifteen grains a day, then each
Sparrow eats in a year five thousand four hundred and seventy-five grains. This is
none too high an estimate, for the quantity which Sparrows eat at stacks in winter-
time equals what they take from the fields in the summer. During the operations
of harvest, I understand they may often be seen sticking to the gradually lessening .
square of corn until all the field is cut. They then transfer their attention to the
- sheaves, ard also divide with the gleaners what is left on the stubble. Finally, when
he farmer has sold his produce, Sparrows take a very large toll out of any portion of
it which a purchaser may give to his poultry, as every breeder of chickens and tur-
_ keys knows very well. At the end of September a marked decrease is to be seen in
_ their numbers, but whether this is caused by real emigration or by local movements
isnotclear. It has often been said that Sparrows come to us over the North Sea in
the autumn; but among the numerous ‘‘ wings” I have had from light-houses and
light-vessels I have never received this species. *

In October Sparrows pack into flocks of from two hundred to three hundred and
eave the homesteads. That month is mostly spent in the fields, and so is November;
and here they find plenty of occupation, sometimes hunting on their own account,
ometimes with other small birds. With the first fall of snow away they go to the
tacks, on the sides of which they may be seen clustering; or, if it is not too deep,
searching on the ground for grain which has been shaken out, with chaffinches and
_yellowhammers. At all times stacks are a great attraction. It is said that prefer-
ence is given to a wheat stack; but Sparrows are not particular so long as they can
get grain. Needless to say, that threshing is a matter of the highest interest to
% ee oarrows. t

February and March are spent ime entirely in the vicinity of houses and farm-
Enis, or any place where corn is to be found, unless, as previously mentioned, they
_ are attracted to a distance by the operation of threshing. I agree in thinking that
_ at this period the opinion of Colonel Russell, who continues the discussion after me,
. that corn forms 90 per cent. of their food is true. At the end of March fields are sown,
_ and Sparrows show not infrequently, by their presence, that they wish to levy the
usual tribute; but it is certain that where a drill is used the grain is deposited too
_ deeply in the soil for any’small birds to reach it, except skylarks, which are said to
% & die itup sometimes ; but Sparrows get the drilled barley and oats when they begin
to sprout.

Ss a
“ _ *But the nearly allied tree-sparrow (Passer montanus) is a well-known migrant.
+ Mr. B. B. Sapwell remarks that when a stack has been threshed ever so far away
from the yard, the Sparrows in the yard have always had their crops full of the
grain (in litt.).

542 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

In addition to the remarks already made on this point—the damage done to corn
by Sparrows—it would be easy to cite many instances of great and unusual harm
caused to tenant farmers by Sparrows, but they are too vague for the purpose; in-
deed, in such a matter it is exceedingly difficult to be precise. In some instances, and
especially near towns, extraordinary estimates have been formed of the damage by
the most competent valuers, but as these valuers were not ornithologists, it is not
clear that some of the damage was not done by greenfinches and chaffinches, Ihave
seen large flocks in the fields in November, which I at first thought were Sparrows,
but which proved on closer inspection to be eutirely composed of the species just
named. : .

The following true story was related to me by Colonet Russell: A farmer at Bore-
ham, near Chelmsford, named Hurrell, had an early field of wheat not far from the
village. ‘The Sparrows attacked it in the corner nearest the village and devoured a
great deal there. Tbe crop was uniform, except from what the Sparrows did. Hur-
rell measured an acre where the Sparrows had been at work, and an adjoining acre.
which they had not meddled with, and thrashed the corn on each of the acres sepa-
rately, looking after the thrashing himself. He found the deficiency to be two quar-
ters (16 bushels); value at the time, £6.

The Food of young Syarrows.

The Sparrow lays five or six grayish-white eggs, spotted with brown and ash color,
_ and has frequently three broods in the year, the first being hatched towards the end
of May. Young Sparrows in the nest are generally fed on caterpillars and other in-
sects,* particularly in August, yet a good many may be opened in June and July
without finding any intbem. The parent Sparrows will begin to feed them on cater- _
pillars when but a day old, but they seem to discontinue the diet a little time before
they leave the nest, though, on the other hand, some young Sparrows which were
quite ready to leave the nest, examined in Norfolk, did contain a few small caterpil-
lars. But of this lam sure that while very young their diet is quite as much unripe
corn and vegetable matter as caterpillars.t [ven at the age of one day a Sparrow
will feed its young one on a grainof ripe corn. Say that a young Sparrow eats four-
teen or fifteen young caterpillars a day, that is probably as good a guess as we can
make. If this only went on for ten days the sum total destroyed would be very vast,
and some of the caterpillars of very injurious kinds, such as Caradrina cubicularis,
the pale mottled willow moth of Curtis (Farm Insects, p. 308), identified for me by
Mr. C. G. Barrett and the Rev. J. Hellins.{

* An instance of young Sparrows being fed on water-beetles occurred at the be-
ginning of August, 1684. My father ordered a pond to be cleaned out, at the bottom
of which were a great many small water-beetles; these, the gardener tells me, were
eagerly collected by Sparrows, ten or twelve at a time, carrying mouthsful of them,
away to feed their young with in the adjoining nests. .

t Colonel Russell says he has known young Sparrows to be fed with ripe wheat,
which he was able to prove the old birds had to go half a mile for.—Field, June 22,
1878.

{ Several continental naturalists include the cockchafer in the Sparrow’s food ; but
Ithink that most likely the chovy (Phyllopertha) is intended as well. Professor New-
ton (Yarrell, British Birds, Part X, p. 92) and Mr. H. Stevenson (Birds of Norfolk, I, p.
211) tell us that the Sparrow eats ‘‘ chovies,” P. horticola, and the former says he has
seen their mouths literally crammed with them; and Mr. John Curtis says that he has
known of Sparrows gorging themselves to such an extent with, ‘‘chovies” as to be
unable to fly (Farm Insects, pp. 220, 510). Professor Newton says it begins to come
out of the ground towards the end of May, and the perfect insect carries on its rav-
ages until July (Professor Newton, in litt.).

a a ae agricultural ponte like Norfolk. Norfolk contains eight hundred
rishes; say that eight hundred young Sparrows are annually latched in each par-
ish, that gives us a total of six hundred and forty thousand Sparrows. If one-fourth
q them are fed on caterpillars, we should have twenty-two million four hundred

~ thousand of these destructive creatures eaten in this one county alone, every year,
_ by Sparrows. So that there isa very nice balance to adjust in a matter which the
- most expert observer might find difficult. On the one hand the young Sparrows are fed
og a great many caterpillars; on the other hand they are fed with grain, but this
gs mixed with weeds and other vegetable matter. Again, there is a side light in which
‘ Br. look at the question. If the Sparrows were dead, how many of these caterpillars
ee be eaten by other small birds? We may be quite sure that a considerable
_ portion of them would not be eaten, unless chaffinches and greenfinches become more
~ numerous than they are now; andif this was so, would not they speedily become much
- more addicted to corn? I think there is not a doubt about it.

Sparrows keep down Weeds.

_ Sparrows do much good to the farmer, in conjunction with many other little birds,
by consuming vast numbers of the seeds of weeds. I think not nearly enough has
_ been made of this by their friends and supporters. The following is a Mee of those
q which have been actually identified, with my authority for each:
— Wild spinach (Chenopodium bonus-henricus), Mr. A. Willis.*
Knot grass (Polygonum aviculare), Mr. IF. A. Lees.*
Black or corn bindweed (P. convolvulus), Mr. F. A. Lees.
— Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
Goosefoot (Chenopodium album), Mr. F. A. Lees.
Field mustard (Sinapis arvensis), Professor Macgillivray.t
_ Chickweed (Stellaria media), Colonel Russell. *
_ Mouse ear (Cerastiwm triviale), Professor Macgillivray.
_ Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), Professor Macgillivray.
— Dock (Rumex crispus), Mr. F. A. Lees.
Pale-flowered persicaria (Polygonum lapathifoliim), Mr. F. A. Lees.
Battercup, Mr. H.N. Slater.
; These seeds will spread from a hedge, the sides of which are not brushed with a
- reaping-hook i in the summer, and make a field very foul; so that every one must ad-
mit that Sparrows and aa birds generally do some amount of good by keeping
_themdown. A remarkable instance was mentioned some years ago in the Times, of
a field sown with grass and clover seeds, over which a luxuriant growth of knot grass
% POP. aviculare) spread. The farmer thought that his crop was ruined, but in Septem-
_ ber such swarms of Sparrows as he had never seen before visited the field and fed on
_ the small shining seeds of the knot grass. I regret that I have neither got the date of
. the letter, nor the name of the writer, the communication, according to a bad prac-
j tice Prevalent among observers, being anonymous.
E _ A Sparrow’s crop ail contain a great many small seeds. Dr. Schleh found three
_ hundred and twenty-one whole seeds of chickweed in the crop of one Sparrow in
_ Germany! In one shot at Northrepps, in Norfolk, one hundred and forty-seven were
actually counted, and many more were ground up into pulp in the gizzard. Diges-
_ tion is rapid, and at this rate a vast number would be consumed ina very short

€ It need hardly be said that the present contribution, including the table which
a follows, does not exhaust the Sparrow controversy. It leaves many interesting
_ points almost untouched.

* In litt. : + “ British Birds,” 1, p. 344.

344 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. ~

The Food of Sparrows during each Month of the Year.

Six hundred and ninety-four dissections have been made in the preparation of the
following table, by various hands, in various places. They have been made at nearly
regular intervals—certainly during every month of the year, and I may almost say
during every week. It is therefore hoped they will give a reliable idea of what the
customary food of Sparrows is and what their occasional food. I confess this latter
phrase is somewhat vague, but have felt the necessity of employing it in default of a
better. The column under this heading might no doubt be further extended.

Maize has unly been entered under two months; but where Sparrows have an oppor-
tunity of obtaining it, maize would be found in their crops at any time of the year.
They will also eat bread, potatoes, rice, pastry, raisins, currants, etc., but as these
things have no bearing on the amount of harm which Sparrows do to agriculture,*
they are not included in the table. Credit must be given tu them as scavengers in a
small way in our crowded cities, where they consume matter such as] have named,
which if left would decay and be injurious to health.

Among those who have assisted in the inquiry my thanks are especially due to my
father, Mr. A. Willis, Mr. B. B. Sapwell, Mr. G. Roberts, Mr. F. Norgate, Mr. C. L. Bux- ~
ton, Mr. T. Southwell, Mr. T. E. Gunn, Mr. F. A. Lees, Mr. C. G. Barrett, Mr. H. H.
Slater, and Colonel Russell. I have further availed myself of sundry notes published
in the Zoologist, by Messrs. Hepburn, Hawley, and Wilson; and some material has
been gathered from other scattered sources, which I have particularized in the table.

‘Food of adult Sparrows.

January.—Customary food: Corn from stacks and from poultry yards; seeds of all
kinds. Occasional food: Refuse corn, such as is scattered in roads and would never
be of use; maize. Capsules of moss (H. H. Slater).

February.—Customary food: Corn from stacks and poultry yards. Occasional food :
Seeds; buds of gooseberries (G. Roberts). .

March.—-Customary food: Corn wherever they can get it: Occasional food: Young
tops of peas, radish, cabbage, and cauliflower; seeds (Wilson); freshly-sown barley
and oats.

April.—Customary food: Corn; vegetable matter. Occasional food: Freshly-sown
barley and oats; oblong green seeds, not identified ; caterpillars.

May.—Customary food: Corn; vegetable matter; seeds. Occasional food: Young
pea-pods and leaves of peas; gooseberry blossoms and young gooseberries; small
beetles; caterpillars of the brimstone moth, and white-cabbage butterflies (J. Haw-
ley) ; Gaenip seed (A. Hepburn and R. Losey hay seed (C. L. Buxton); sprouts of
young barley, half an inch long; pollen of the sycamore tree and applet; mangel-
wurzel leaves (B. B. Sapwell).

June.—Customary food: Corn; vegetable matter; peas; seeds of various sorts.
Occasional food: Gooseberries and other fruits ; lettuce (A. Willis); small beetles;
mangel-wurzel leavest (B. B. Sapwell).

July.—Customary food: Young wheat, barley, and hie: vegetable matter; seeds
of various weeds. Occasional food: Peas; small beetles ; beans (A. Willis); seeds of
wild spinach (A. Willis).

“If the pigs have barley meal they rob them of some of it, as well as any other food
which is given to them.

tIt seems that the actual blossom is not eaten, but rather that a portion of it is
masticated for the drop of nectar at the base of the petals. For the same reason the
crocus and other garden flowers are destroyed. The blossoms of fruit trees seem to
be attacked for the pollen. |

{Mr. R. Lowe has observed them feeding on the young unopened buds of Swede

turnips just bursting into flower for seed.—(Report on Observations on Injurious
Insects, 1883.)

- EVIDENCE —FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. 345

Bi pust —Customary food: Wheat, barley, oats. Occasional food: Seeds of corn,
- i: weed, knot-grass, ete. (see list, page 343) ; aphides, small beetles, daddy-long-legs
(Tipula), caterpillars of Teras contaminana, moth of Crambus culmellus* (E. F. Becher
and F. Norgate).
September.—Customary food: Corn; seeds of many kinds, especially the knot-grass
and corn bind-weed. Occasional food: Caterpillars; berries; seeds of Bones (T.
pPouthwell).

- October.—Customary food: Grain, some of it refuse grain; seeds of many kinds, in-
Beiading knot-grass.
_ November.—Customary food : Grain; seeds of plants. Occasional food : Newly-sown
seeds of wheat; small caterpillars.
; December.—Customary food: Grain, principally obtained fronrstacks. Occasional
food: Seeds; maize; sprouting vean (H. H. Slater).
cs:

a Food of young Sparrows to the Time of léaving the Nest.
May.—Customary food: Grains of last year’s corn; small beetles; caterpillars.
a Occasional food: Buds (F.Norgate); red spider (J. H. G.); hair-worms (J. H. G.) ;
small flies (J. H.G.).

— June.—Customary food: Caterpillars of various kinds up to three-quarters of an
inch in length; young wheat. Occasional food: Beetles; large, brown cabbage-
- moth (W. Johns); wire worms.

_July.—Customary food: Caterpillars; beetles; soft, milky grains of wheat and
Bie, Occasional food: Blue-bottle flies (J. Duff).

_ August.—Customary food: Caterpillars; beetles; young corn. Occasional food:

Small chrysalides.
zy Summary.

2 To give a summary of this table in a few words, it may be said that about seventy-
five per cent. of an adult Sparrow’s food during its life is corn of some kind. The
remaining twenty-five per cent. may be roughly divided as follows:

Per cent.

MERMPRMIEC EC SO ek SES a ate Sh Gu Sce phe aed Dace p~\enx vd Aa dane Rae 10
Green VET oolg S203 56 S28 SE BRIDE Se Crt Ge Misra at Serene cameras Been Sein Set 4
Beetles PE I as t= RRS ON Sy Bae fe ohn in 2 ct Seis a A Sa Soe b Steere Dee 3

; ‘Caterpillars Se te eee ars Bas oie oil Slain wee den semi oaacindte aes 2
pI Rn AmNeRtC inlaw ne ee oe ato Sel yaaa Signa ativan Demi dao ee 1
Other Serna Ras Pee oe als Niet oe ih atid civ os Saud Peo yeU eee ee 5

In young Sparrows not more than forty per cent.is corn, while about forty per cent.
et of caterpillars, and ten per cent. of small beetles. This is up to the age of
sixteen days. Where green peas abound, as in market gardens, they form a much ©
larger proportion of the Sparrow’s food than the four per cent. here stated.

_ Sparrows generally contain in their gizzards a considerable quantity of small stones,
gravel, sand, brick, coal, etc., but these are only intended to grind the real food. In
- default of these substances iter will swallow-small mollusks, fragments of egg-shell,
_ fragments of snail shells, ete.

a Sparrows should be killed for dissection in the afternoon. In adult Sparrows the
_ erop will generally give a far better idea of their day’s meal than the gizzard, in
- which the food is so comminuted as to be with difficulty identified. If the Sparrows
are caught at night they have digested their food in a great measure, and yield much
_ less satisfactory results ; the crops at that time are always empty.

- *Thave notes of Sparrows occasionally feeding on the yellow underwing, ermine
moth, and a few other insects in the perfect state, but the date at which the observa-
tion was made not haying been taken down, it can only be approximately guessed at
from the time at which they usually appear. Everybody must at some time or
a ppehor have observed their clumsy efforts to catch some common butterfly.

oe,

346 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

[FROM “THE HOUSE SPARROW” (PART 2), BY COL. C. RUSSELL. ]

To give one instance, a few years ago, seeing Sparrows about a few martins’ nests
on anew small house near my own, I asked the man who lived there whether he
liked the Sparrows. He said, ‘“‘I hate them, and am throwing stones at them all
day, but can not keep them from the martins’ nests.” I lent hima gun. His son, a
boy about twelve years old, took kindly to shooting the Sparrows, killed, I think,
nearly two hundred in less than a month, and always kept the place free from them.
In two years there were twenty-four martins’ nests on the house. The man then
died, and the next tenant, having no son to shoot the Sparrows, did not trouble
himself about the martins, and the Sparrows cleared them all out in one season,

The martins have often built a few nests, but I do not think that any young ones

have flown there since.
The martins, which feed exclusively on insects, if left in possession of their nests,
would, unlike many other birds, increase with the population of the country and

number of houses. Besides the persecution by Sparrows, there is no condition un-

favorable to the martins except that when, with their natural confidence in man—too
often misplaced—they make their nests close to windows or doors for protection
people commonly destroy them, thus completing the exterminating work of the Spar-

rows. I have heard it said ‘‘ they come there for mischief; they might build any- |

where else.” Few seem to notice that, unless where Sparrows dare not come, the
martins can not keep a nest. The only thing which saves these birds from total ex-
termination in this country seems to be this: they sometimes manage to rear a late
brood after the ‘‘fell adversary to house martins” (as White, of Selborne, rightly
called the Sparrow) has left off nesting and betaken himself to the wheat-fields. But
in this way the martins are kept here too long, and sometimes, before their young
can fly, are caught by sharp frost in October and die. The last numerous colony that
I knew of, within a few miles of my house, was thus cleared out a few years ago,
while my martins, protected from Sparrows, and always getting their young off in
good time, took no harm.

About my premises the martins, formerly numerous, as elsewhere, became fewer and
fewer, until] in 1869 they had nearly disappeared, young ones flying, I think, from only
two nests—one close to a window, the other toa door. Towards the end of May,
1870, several nests, freshly built under the eaves of the pigeon-house, their favorite
place, were all found to be in the possession of Sparrows. The indignation with
which I had seen this persecution all my life at last boiled over, and, resolving that
the martins should have one safe place, I began to protect them by killing down the
Sparrows. It was a hard fight at first; the martins’ nests had to be watched almost
constantly, and, if I remember rightly, one hundred and fifty Sparrows were shot—
mostly about these nests—in about a fortnight. War has been waged against them
ever since. The first year or two we did not take the trouble to kill them in winter,

but this did not answer; a great number lived about the place, many roosting in the —

martins’ nests. When we began shooting the Sparrows in spring they would all go
away for a day or two, but kept coming back again, so that constant watchfulness
for weeks was required to kill them down. The plan was therefore adopted of pay-
ing a penny for shooting each Sparrow as soon as it shows itself all the year round.
They are shot with very small charges of dust shot, mostly from inside doors and
windows, or from loop-holes, made to command the places they generally come to.
They dislike this practice, and do not come much—less and less every year. The

plan has been most successful. The place is wonderfully free from Sparrows—some- —

times we do not see one for weeks together—and the martins have increased in num-
bers, till last year they had one hundred and seventy nests about my house and
buildings, and this year there are two hundred and thirty-seven, and more will be
built yet.

- sx KVIDENCE.—FROM EUROPEAN PUBLICATIONS. 347

In gardens Sparrows do much mischief, as by feeding off young peas, eating green
s from the pods, stripping gooseberry bushes of their fruit-buds, destroying flowers,
The question remains whether they do good enough in gardens to make up for
such misdeeds. Now, to prove that Sparrows are really useful, it is not enough to
_ show that they destroy some injurious insects, it must also be proved that, in their
a ene, other birds would not destroy them, at least as effectually. This can be
found out only in one way—by banishing the Sparrows from a place for some years.
y ly object in letting no Sparrows live about my house, buildings, and gardens, has
seen not only to protect the martins (perhaps it would be enough for this to kill those
crows only which go near their nests), but also to get a better test of the utility
of Sparrows than could otherwise be got by any amount of examination of the food
in them. My placeis a fair specimen of the country, having flower and kitchen gar-
dens, shrubberies, and small orchard, surrounded by meadows, with corn fields within
easy reach allround. All birds except Sparrows have been let alone there.
_ Sparrows having been almost entirely absent for many years, if they took insects
which other birds do not, such insects would have become very numerous, and the
_ food in Sparrows killed there would show this. Now, it has been quite as unusual to
find an insect in an old Sparrow there as elsewhere. Fifty old Sparrows and young
ones which could feed themselves were killed one summer about my buildings and
_garden, with food in their crops. This food, carefully examined (as in all cases with
-a lens), was found to be corn, milky, green, and ripe, and sometimes green peas from
4 my garden; only two small cieocis were found in the whole number. The food in
them has been much the same every year. Examining the old birds, however, is not
test enough, as they eat very few insects anywhere ; but if any were the peculiar
. ‘prey of Sparrows, they would be found in quantity in any young ones bred about my
place. To test this, when a pair or two of Sparrows, as happens most years, contrive,
by keeping clear of the buildings, to escape being shot long enough to build a nest
and hatch young ones, these have been taken (by choice when about half grown),
Band the food in them carefully examined. It has varied greatly, but certainly there
were not more insects among it, I think less than there usually are where Sparrows
abound. In the only nest known of one year the food in the four young ones was
chiefly green peas, with some grains of green wheat, one small beetle, and some half
dozen small insects of species unknown to me. In the only nest the following year
the young ones had little in them except corn—old wheat, if I remember rightly.
‘Some broods have contained small beetles (which, mostly soft ones, I have found in
Sparrows old and young, from all sorts of places, oftener than caterpillars) and a few
wild seeds. One brood had a mixture of beetles and ripe wheat. One grasshopper’s
leg and a very few pieces of earwigs have also been found. Of caterpillars, said to be
3 ent down by Sparrows, only two small ones in eight callow birds, from two nests
taken at the same time, have been found in all the years that these nestlings have
_ been examined, and no tok ofan aphis. The absence of caterpillars is the only dif-
ference that I have noticed in the character of the insect-food in the young Sparrows
_atmy place and elsewhere. On the whole, the deduction from the food-test during
y oe years seems to be that the Sparrows are useless, and that the insects which
would be given to their young by them if they were allowed to live in numbers about
4 “my premises would be so much food taken, when they most want it, from better birds
which live entirely, or nearly so, on eae and thus keep them, cepeeeue caterpil-
_ lars, down so effectively in the absence of Sparrows that, when a chauce pair of these
come and build, there are few of their favorite sorts for them.
4 {The Guardian, Manchester, England, January 30, 1888.]
ENORMOUS DESTRUCTION OF SPARROWS IN CHESHIRE.

a At the annual meeting of the Cheshire Farmers’ Club on Saturday evening, the
F chairman, Mr. John Roberts, the largest tenant-farmer on the Hawarden estate, re-
ferred to the hayoc wrought by the common House Sparrow among grain crops, and

Po.
ty am

o

348 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

said that the Wirral farmers of Cheshire were paying 6d. per dozen for all Sparrow:
killed, and some idea of the fecundity of the pest might be formed from the fact that _
without appreciably affecting their numbers in that district, no less a sum than £14
15s. 6d. had been recently spent in that way, representing the destruction of seven —
thousand one hundred and ninety-two Sparrows. Z

[New England Farmer (Boston, Mass.), 1886.] :

In areport to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, by its consulting entomol-
ogist, Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, the following conclusions are drawn regarding the
habits of this much-discussed little foreigner:

‘‘ With regard to the special item of Sparrows, I feel no doubt that measures should —
be taken to check their enormous increase, and where communication has been sent _
me from districts in which these birds were known to do serious damage to the crops —
in autumn, I have strongly advised that their number should be lessened. We do
not find from examination of their contents that they feed on corn red-maggot, corn
thrips, corn aphis, or any other corn insect, nor have we any observations of fields in-
fested by these huge flocks being freer than other places from insect attack. From
careful observations in different places, extending over a period of from one to fifteen
years, we do not find any diminution of insects round the farm buildings where the
Sparrows greatly resort, but find that they have been observed in many cases to
drive away true insect-feeding birds.”

It should be remembered that the term ‘‘ corn” is applied in England to the small
grains, wheat, oats, barley, etc., and not to our American maize.

TESTIMONY RELATING MAINLY TO THE SPARROW IN AUSTRALIA,

FROM THE DRAFT PROGRESS REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION APPOINTED
BY THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 1881.

[On August 4, 1881, a board of investigation consisting of eight members was ap-
pointed by the governor of the Province of South Australia with ‘‘ fall power and
authority diligently to inquire into and report upon the alleged injuries caused to
fruit-growers, gardeners, farmers, and others by Sparrows, and to consider the desir-
ability of taking steps for their destruction, and to report upon the best means to be
employed therefor.”

On August 31, this board submitted the following progress report : ]

DRAFT PROGRESS REPORT.

To His Excellency, Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, major-general in Her
Majesty’s army, *~ * * governor and commander-in-chief in and over the Proy-
ince of South Australia and the dependencies thereof, ete. :

May it please your Excellency: We, the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the
alleged damages caused by Sparrows to horticulture and agriculture in South Aus-
tralia and into remedial measures and to report thereon, having proof of the evil ex-
isting in great force and over large districts of country, and being convinced that their
destruction is urgent before another fruit season sets in, and before another nesting
season (now beginning) shall swell their numbers, beg to present a Progress Report:
I. We append an analysis of correspondence on the questions of inquiry. ‘This

shows— i
(1) That the Sparrow is established over an area of the colony comprising Adelaide

and its suburbs from the sea-coast eastward well up to the hills ; southwards to Happy

Valley, Coromandel Valley, and Willunga; northwards to ‘Allene sites and far on—

though we hope as yet detached—at Bevin In the southeast, Mount Gambier pos-

sesses a center of its own.

EVIDENCE.—FROM AUSTRALIAN PUBLICATIONS. 349 .

a (2) That the responses of sufferers within the foregoing area cry for relief from
Sparrow depredations as if from a pest, and with what reason, the following state-
ments, as examples, may show: From Mr. John Chambers, of South Richmond: ‘In
_ the short space of ten days the Sparrows took a ton and a half of grapes. They
_ stripped all the figs of five trees, They kept low 15 acres of lucerne during the sum-
mer.” From Mr. Finden, of Salisbury: ‘“‘This season they (the Sparrows) took £30
worth of fruit.” Mr. Wilcox, of Lower Mitcham: ‘‘ Has three times this season sown
"peas, and they have each time been destroyed by Sparrows.”

(3) That the species of Sparrow domiciling in South Australia damages or consumes
"fruits, cereals, and vegetables. Its fecundity is astonishing. <A few to-day are thou-
sands next season. Its workis done on a magnitude despairing to the cultivator, and
under conditions he can not control; for the seed is taken out of the ground, the
_ fruit-bud off the tree, the sprouting wecotaule as fast as it grows, and the fruit ere it
_ is ripe, and therefore before it can be housed and saved.

2 . (4) That the cultivations attacked by Sparrows are as follows: Of fruits: Apri-
; cots, cherries, figs, apples, grapes, peaches, plums, pears, nectarines, loquats, and
_ olives. Of cereals: Wheat and barley. Of Vegetables: Peas, cabbages, cauliflowers,
_ and garden seeds generally. :
(5) That the means of defense tried against the Sparrow depredations have been
_ scare-crows, traps, netting, shooting, poison of phosphorous, arsenic, and strychnine,
_ applied through grain, bread, bran, and sugar. The results are generally stated as
_ having been insufficient, which may be due to the modes of edrinisheanion rather

Behan to defects in the materials employed.

_ (6) To the above expedients the following are suggested by our correspondents,

Be iciy: The tender of rewards for Sparrows’ eggs and heads, the removal of gun

_ licenses for the season, poisoned water in summer, sulphur fumes under roosts atnight,
_ and plaster of Paris mixed with oatmeal and flour. Ivis further declared that the
- united action of all property holders, including the government, in infested districts
_ is essential to effective results.

II. Without reference to ulterior measures, which may be influenced by inquiries
_ the commission have on foot, their object in tendering this progress report is to
submit for the approval of your excellency the propriety of at once setting to work
one useful means applicable to the breeding season now commencing, namely: A
_ system of rew ards for Sparrows’ eggs and heads, through responsible one readily
_ accessible in the various Sparrow districts; and we suggest, as a trial, that the rate
_ of payment should be 6d. per dozen for Sparrows’ heads delivered, and 2s. 6d. per one
hundred for Sparrows’ eggs delivered; each class to be supplemented by a bonus of
4 to any one who aie in one eet eggsor Sparrows.

III. Your committee have not received any evidence in defence of the Sparrow
- counterbalancing the damage he does. They have sought proof of his insectivorous
4 habits, but with little result.

_ [The following are fair samples of the evidence collected and published by the com-
_ mission. These reports all come from points. within a hundred miles of the city of
_ Adelaide, South Australia. }

% [Joseph Barnes, Richmond.]
a ‘Sparrows very numerous; great damage done to fruits—apricots, grapes, figs, and
plums. Has heard that wheat steeped in turpentine will kill them, and intends to
_ try it.
4a {John James Beverly, Chairman Woodville District Council.]

_ Sparrows are in his neighborhood to the number of tens of thousands, and they de-
sg stroy buds of fruit trees to an enormous extent. Has used Pitt’s wheat, but it is not
Successful after the first day or two. Thinks every householder should be compelled
to adopt the means recommended by the commission to destroy them,

a eee
“ae ha yee
350 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. E8

{Henry Broad, Marden.]

Sparrows are plentiful in his neighborhood, and very destructive to fruit, and has
shot some occasionally. Shooting would help to keep them down, but itisa slow
process. Poisoned grain and poisoned water would also be very destructive to them.
Thinks netting them at night-time when roosting in orange and olive and other trees
would be effective in thinning their numbers.

[Beaumont Cole, Adelaide. ]

When a boy he used to destroy Sparrows and small birds by spreading wheat
steeped in a solution of nux vomica. The nux vomica figs were cut into small
pieces and stewed all day, when the hot liquor was poured on as much wheat as it
would cover, and allowed to stand till morning. The wheat was then dried and
spread out, and he used to find many dead birds about, which he buried. Found it
necessary, however, to tempt the birds first of all by feeding them with clean grain.

[Rey. Dr. Craig, Mount Gambier. ]

Sparrows are there in great numbers, and they eat most of the soft fruits and eher-
ries long before they are ripe. Farmers also report that they eat corn both when
sown and when ripe. The Agricultural and Horticultural Society have offered six-
pence per dozen for Sparrow heads and four pence per dozen for Sparrow eggs. Has
tried Faulding’s phosphoric wheat, which killed a few, but thinks phosphorized clo-
ver seed or seed smaller than wheat would be better.

{Hon. John Crozier, Oaklands. ]

There is no doubt that if allowed to go unchecked they will not only destroy
the vineyards and orchards, but also destroy most of the grain in the fields. Sug-
gests that poisoned water should be placed in the neighborhood of their haunts, out
of the reach of domestic animals, and also that diligent search should be made in the
breeding season for nests and eggs. States that two boys in one day obtained one
thousand nine hundred eggs on his property. Hay-stacks and hedges are their fa-
vorite haunts. Is afraid if the gun license is removed that the indiscriminate use of
fire-arms will be a more dangerous nuisance than the Sparrows.

{Henry Douglas, Happy Valley.]

Sparrows have established themselves very firmly in his neighborhood, and the
damage caused by them during last fruit season was very great. In the worst parts
of their haunts the grapes were literally cleared from the vines. Few efforts have
been made to destroy them, as desultory action has been considered to be useless.
Can not suggest a remedy, but is convinced the question of their destruction is of
vital importance, and hopes the united action contemplated by the commission will
be attended with success.

{Anthony Etheridge, Elizabeth street, Norwood.]

Sparrows have established themselves by thousands in Kent Town, Kensington, and
Norwood. Had had his apricot trees stripped by Sparrows, who also destroyed plums,
grapes, and figs.

{Thomas Fairbrother, Fullarton.]

Sparrows are in his neighborhood by thousands and destroy tons of fruit. Shoot-
ing is the only means which has been taken to destroy them. Thinks a reward of,
say, 4d. per dozen for old or young Sparrows would encourage boys to capa them,
and so thin their numbers.

EVIDENCE.—FROM AUSTRALIAN PUBLICATIONS. 351

[Thomas Filmer, Glenelg. ]

Sparrows have fully established themselves at the Sturt and Brighton, and unless
something is done is sure the loss to fruit-growers and corn-growers will be very great.
: Is not aware of anything having been done to destroy them. Incloses the following
-_ recipe from the Melbourne Leader for destroying Sparrows and other birds: ‘‘Take
5s. worth of strychnine, dissolve in half a teacupful of warm vinegar or acetic acid,
add that to four or five quarts of water, and put into that as much wheat as will soak
up the liquid. The wheat to be distributed where the birds will pick it up.”

[W. H. Harrold, Mount Gambier. ]

Sparrows have thoroughly established themselves all round Mount Gambier. Last
) season they destroyed in turn fully one-half of his cherries, plums, apricots, pears,
and apples, and what was saved had to be gathered unripe. Had a nice patch of
wheat completely destroyed by them as it was ripening. Had tried grain-poisoned
with arsenic and strychnia, but it has not proved effective ; the Sparrows eye out the
poisoned grain and avoid it. Thinks large numbers of them might be shot, and their
nests should also be hunted for and destroyed.

{[J. Hobbs, East Marden. ]

Sparrows are established in great numbers in this locality, and they are most in-
- jurious to figs, loquats, apricots, plums, peaches, cherries, nectarines, and grapes.
The latter suffer most.

[S. R. James, Marden. ]

Sparrows have thoroughly established themselves in this neighborhood, and oranges
| are literally whitened with theirdroppings. Loquats, cherries, American plums, and
apricots will in turn be attacked by them as they ripen. Last year trom a crop from
two hundred trees he dare not let any of the fruit ripen for fear of it being pecked
and destroyed by these birds. Although he had a large crop of figs, it was with diffi-
culty that he saved a few for market.

[M. McShene, Campbelltown.]

His neighborhood is very much troubled with Sparrows; they breed in the banks of
the river and swarm over the gardens. They destroyed nearly all the buds on the apri-
cot trees last year and spoiled the fruit which matured. Does not Bae w what to do to
get rid of them; only wishes he did.

[M. A. Price, Gilberton. ]

Se) ee

Is much troubled with Sparrows, which come in flocks of hundreds and destroy the
fruit. Last season did not have one bunch of ripe grapes, except those she covered
with strong bags. Tried several devices, as scarecrows, but they were ineffective.
They seem to eat nothing but fruit and tender vegetables, and hopes something will
be done to destroy them before another fruit season comes on.

Le ee yt Le eee

[H. C. Quick, Shiraz Vineyard, Marden. ]

Sparrows are established in his neighborhood in immense numbers, and are very de-
structive to fruits, especially grapes of the finest kinds. His loss by them is ineal-
culable. Numbers are destroyed by poison and nets, but they are vastly on the in-
crease, and the prospects of fruit-growing are most alarming. Suggests that the
commission should arrange for selling as cheaply as possible ‘‘ ground-nets” and “ bat-
nets” for catching Sparrows,

352 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

[Jokn Rudall, town clerk, Gawler.]

Sparrows are becoming numerous in Gawler, but is not aware of the extent of the —

mischief caused by them, and hasnosuggestion to make for their destruction, although =

it is thought that steps should be taken to prevent their increase. No systematic
means has been used in that neighborhood to destroy Sparrows beyond a persistent
search by boys for their nests. :

_[C. Reeves, Gilbert street, Norwood. ]

Sparrows destroyed all his figs, apricots, and grapes last season. Intends to try
plaster of Paris mixed with oatmeal and flour, but also thinks wheat poisoned with
arsenic will be effective.

[J. B. Scarce, Gilberton. ]

Sparrows have destroyed bushels of pears, apricots, plums, and grapes in his gar-
den. Hasa trellis of vines 80 feet in length, besides other vines, and was not able to
cut a bunch of grapes. Thinks poisoned wheat the only effective means of destroy-
ing them.

[C. A. Stark, Belaloo, Wirrabara. ]

During the last twelve months Sparrows have made their appearance in his garden,
and he has killed sixty-four this year with bran poisoned with strychnia and placed
in asaucer. Has also discovered four nests in his garden, which he purposes to de-
stroy when the young ones have been hatched. Is afraid if they get established in
the neighboring hills they will eat him out of his house and home. Sparrows, he
says, breed twice in the season, and generally lay from four to six eggs each hatching.
Thinks poisoning, netting, and destroying the nests are the best remedies.

[M. Salom, North Adelaide. ]

Sparrows are constantly building in the gutters and down-pipes of the roof of his
house, although he has had their nests frequently removed. The damage done to him
personally, by causing overflow into walls and ceiling, he estimates at forty pounds
during the past twelve months.

[W. F. Thompson, Happy Valley.}

His district is infested with Sparrows. Has 40 or 50 acres of vineyard, and the
Sparrows play destruction with his grapes, and also with his neighbors’ gardens and
vineyards. Believes that if not got rid of they will destroy all the fruit and
grain in the colony in afew years. Su evests, as means of destroying them, poisoning,
netting, and shooting them, and pulling down their nests. Thinks a tax of one far-
thing per acre on all lands under crop south of Blinman should be levied to secure
their destruction, or else let Sparrow districts be formed, the rates collectedin which
for their destruction should be subsidized by Government at the rate of £2 for £1.
is willing to co-operate with the commission by forming a local committee, if thought
Adios.

{William Urlwin, Salisbury.]

Sparrows have established themselves in his district, and are very destructive to
fruit, especially to grapes. Has no doubt, also, that they do great mischief to crops.
of Wheat. Has tried poisoned wheat, but the great difficulty is to get them to take
it, even when mixed with good wheat. Has found fowls dead which have eaten the
poisoned wheat, and also cats, which he presumes had eaten the poisoned birds,
Thinks the offer of head-money for Sparrows would decrease their number, and this
could be paid through district councils and CORpOLADIONS:

’ EVIDENCE.—FROM AUSTRALIAN PUBLICATIONS. 858
[George Wilcox, Lower Mitcham.]

Suffered very considerably last fruit season from theSparrows. They first attacked
3 Boats, then apricots and peaches, amongst which they made sad havoc; then they
_stripped every cherry, and the grapes were fairly demolished. Onatrellis, measuring
three hundred feet long by ten feet high and ten feet wide, he had a splendid crop of
a grapes, but had not one presentable bunch. Tried Pitt’s wheat, obtained from Fauld-
ing & Co., but only killed a few; they soon became too knowing to take the wheat.

Believes fomened water will be the most effective in summer. Has three times sown
_ peas this season, but they have each time been destroyed by Sparrows.

{The Adelaide (Australia) Observer, Saturday, July 9, 1887.]

THE SPARROW NUISANCE, ¥
_ Under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society, a meeting
_ of persons interested in the destruction of Sparrows was called on Monday afternoon,
July 4, in Register Chambers. There wasa representative gathering of about twenty
_ of the principal fruit-growers and others affected by the depredations of the ubiqui-
tous bird, and the feeling in favor of devising some means for reducing the evil was
- unanimous.

_ Mr. Henry Kelly occupied the chair, and said he thought much could be done to
; essen the evil complained of, although he feared that it would be impossible to
eradicate the nuisance altogether, as the Sparrows had increased so much that they ,
had got a complete hold of the country, where they most congregated. He remem-
bered that before the rabbits became so alarmingly numerous there were some at
_ Anlaby, near Kapunda, and were regarded as interesting. They began to increase,
and became a nuisance, but could then have been destroyed with comparatively
little expense. The question of the Sparrows had now become as important and
costly to meet. These birds were extending up North, and he had seen thousands at
-Angaston and other places. They were not confined to the districts in the immedi-
ate neighborhood of Adelaide. They were increasing at a most alarming rate, and it
was practically impossible to grow fruit now without netting over the trees.

_ Mr. Thomas Hardy said he initiated this present movement, and had prepared res-
olutions to deal with the question. This was a most important matter, and really
affected the whole community. Unless the evil were dealt with energetically and
systematically, the wine and fruit growers might as well stop altogether, for it would
not pay to go on in a few years’ time. At the time when the rabbit question was af-
fecting the country the evil had grown to considerable proportions, but if systematic
Steps to eradicate the rabbits had been taken earlier the trouble would have been
stopped. Few people knew the enormous cost of putting down the rabbits. He was
told that in one station in New South Wales £20,000 a year had been paid for the de-
pstruction of rabbits, £15,000 by the Government and £5,000 by the owners. The
Sparrow nuisance would be as great as the rabbit trouble. The great obstacle to
: anything practical being done lay in the fact that the deputations did not propose
any definite scheme as a recommendation to the Government. The members of the
‘Government were not expected to know so much of the means to be adopted as the
Men whose business the Sparrows most injured. But this was not a matter merely
affecting a certain class, but the welfare of the country. He moved therefore that
- ihe Government be requested to bring in a Dill for the destruction of Sparrows, to
e embody the following provisions [see page 355 of this Bulletin].

Isolated efforts went for nothing. A man might be surrounded by neighbors who
“were not injured by the Sparrows, but who had plantations and outhouses in which
they bred in myriads, and therefore it was absolutely necessary that people should
be authorized to go upon private property, under due restrictions, and seek for Spar-
tows. He knew from his traveling experience in the colonies that people who under-

fo ) §409—Bull, 1——23

d54 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

took rabbiting as an occupation got very expert at it, and it would be so in the case
of Sparrow-catchers. As to the rating, it would touch people in their pockets, and —
make them take more interest in the matter. Three parts of the Sparrows were bred —
in the eaves and under the roofs of houses, chapels, public buildings, etc. Some
houses had very small space between the ceiling and the roof, and Sparrows could
breed there unmolested ; butin premises with a greater space between roof and ceiling
men could go and capture the young birds. He had known his boys bring down
‘seventy young Sparrows from under his roof in that way. Netting was an excellent
means. He had known one person at night catch one hundred and fifty Sparrows
with anet. They could be caught easily on orange and other low trees with a net.
Men should not be permitted to go upon private premises without due notice either —
day or night. Poisoned grain when good was effective, and here much might be
done, due care of course being taken to prevent injury to people’s fowls. Some of
the poisoned grain was not good enough, but good grain should be procured by the
district councils. This Sparrow question was of the utmost importance to fruit-
growers and wine-makers, aud the Sparrows did a deal of mischief, especially in the
class of grapes grown for wine and raisins.

Mr. G. F. Ind said there was no doubt that the action taken against the Sparrows
two years ago did a great deal towards abating the nuisance, but the discontinuance
had allowed them to breed as fast as ever. While the Government was paying for —
the heads and eggs the destruction was considerable, but there was no inducement
now to interfere with the birds except on the part of fruit-growers and farmers. It
would be little use a man tilling the soil if the Sparrows were allowed to increase at
the rate they did. Atthe Sparrow club to which he belonged the members put their
money down and distributed poisoned wheat amongst those who would use it, but it
was found to be of no use when the Sparrows were allowed to breed unmolested upon
private and public property in the neighborhood. All must have an interest ir the
matter, aud that could only be secured by a rate on the land-taxation system. That
would raise enough to pay the expenses of exterminating the Sparrows; but until
something uniform was done it would be no use individuals spending money. The
people who were moving in this matter could not be accused of selfishness, for there
was not one who would not put his hand into his pocket and pay his portion towards
it. The citizens themselves would find that they were interested more than they per-
haps imagined, because eventually they would have to pay dearer for their fruit, as
the growers could not afford to carry on their business at the loss occasioned by the
depredations of the Sparrows. He, as an exporter, had to pay pretty heavily, be-
cause he had to pay three people for the work that two could do but for the Spar-
rows. In the end the colony would be the loser, because vignerons and fruit-growers
would get disheartened and find it impossible to carry on business.

Mr. 8. Braund said in the case of one of his farmer tenants in the country the Spar-
rows had been so troublesome that he (the speaker) gave him permission to destroy
a vineyard. He quite favored the idea of district councils taking the matter up, as
it must be a general scheme of destruction, and it should b2 compulsory. No grain
or fruit could be grown in the country to pay until the Sparrows were driven out. In
one case 1,100 Sparrows had been taken from one place, and in another, down Brighton _
way, 1,300 were taken from a chapel. He believed that with the compulsory system
and combined action the nuisance would be reduced to a minimum. He thought the
district council should pay for the eggs.

Mr. C. Pitt added his testimony to the accumulation of Sparrows in the roofs of
houses, and said it would be of no use attempting to do anything to reduce the nui-
sance effectually without legislation and united action.

Mr. Holmes, of Magill, said he had destroyed all the hedges around his premises, —
and some of his neighbors had forest land where the Sparrows bred. They were driven
onto his place and he felt that he could not grow grapes with any success while the
Sparrows were allowed to breed in the plantations. Any man acting by himself

EVIDENCE.—FROM AUSTRALIAN PUBLICATIONS. 305

would be powerless. He was wiiling to be rated for the destruction of the Sparrows
z the work was done systematically.
Mr. John Pitt testified to the havoc committed a the haale upon hard grapes as
i Bell as soft. He had often to destroy a hogshead of damaged bunches out of 200 or
ee cases when picking his grapes for shipment. The birds bred in the trees, and
- solitary efforts to destroy them were useless. He had sent boys over his vineyard
witha kerosene-tin and a stick, and the Sparrows would pass over the lads’ heads
from one end of the vineyard and settle in the other.
Another speaker suggested that other birds destructive to fruit should be included
iu the provisions.
J Mr. A. Molineux said he thoroughly sympathized with the meeting in their desire
to organize some definite movements for the destruction of Sparrows. The farmer
- and agriculturist, as well as the horticulturist, suffered from the depredations of
. those birds, and the damage done by the Sparrow was now admitted by every one.
_ Mr. Hardy said the reason he proposed the rate to be uniform was that unless’ it
were so, some districts might impose so light a rate that the Seer would be
3 allowed to increase to the detriment of another.
A proposal that licensed catchers be allowed to use poisoned wheat under ceriain
restrictions was objected to.
- -Mr. Braund and Mr. Ind thought poisoned grain would not be used because the
"birds might fly away and be lost to the trappers, who would therefore not care to
use it. ;
Mr. Molineux suggested that district councils might issue a proclamation, ap-
- pointing a certain day for laying down good grain to attract the Sparrows and another
period for the free distribution of poisoned grain.
Mr. Hardy did not press the clause, and it was withdrawn.
- 2 With reference to a rate proposed to be fixed by the Government, Mr. Hardy said
the object in allowing the Government to fix the rate was that it should be uniform.
After some discussion, this part of the proposition was struck out on the vote of
IL against 10, the opinion being that the district councils should fix the rate. The
- motion was agreed to. It was decided that a deputation of all interested wait upon
the Government on a day to be fixed.
In accordance with this decision, about thirty or forty gardeners, fruit-growers,
and viguerons, including members of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural So-
ciety, waited on the treasurer (the Hon. T. Playford) on Friday afternoon to present
the resolutions passed at the meeting held on Monday, July 4. Mr. H. Kelly,
~ who was chairman at the meeting, presented the resolutions, which were as follows:
- “(1) That the Government be requested to bring in a bill for the destruction of Spar-
rows, to embody the following provisions; (2) that in all districts where Sparrows
are known to exist the district councils or corporations shall make a special rate for
_ the purpose of paying for the heads and eggs of Sparrows and other expenses incurred
; in their destruction ; (3) that a certain owner of men in each district be licensed
by the councils or omparations to carry on the occupation of Sparrow-catchers, and
that they be empowered to go upon private property upon giving such notice as may
_ be considered necessary during the day time and pursue_their calling, and that they
ee paid at a fixed rate for all heads and eggs that they may obtain ; (4) that owners
_ of property should allow licensed Sparrow-catchers and a sufficient number of assist-
ants to go on their property at night up to 10 o’clock p. m., for the purpose of catch-
4 Bane Sparrows with nets; (5) that each district council or aan shall appoint
_ some one to receive and pay for all Sparrows’ heads and eggs both from licensed and
- unlicensed persons at a uniform fixed rate in all districts ; (6) that all houses and
- buildings be examined by a person to be appointed for the purpose in each district to
_ see that all inaccessible places where Sparrows can breed be effectually closed by
wire netting or otherwise.” He said that they did not desire the Government to
assist them—all they wished was for the Governmeat to briug in a bill to enable

356 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

them not only to destroy Sparrows themselves, but to enforce it upon others. Some- _

thing would have to be done with the Sparrow nuisance, which was as bad as the
rabbits had been at Kapunda some years ago. If the Sparrows increased they would
not be able to produce fruit of such fine quality as to enable them to dispose of it in
tbe English market as well as in the other colonies.

Mr. T. Hardy, J. P., who initiated the resolutions, had taken a great interest in the
matter. He had Bees a member of the royal commission some time ago which recom-
mended the Bray Government to bring in a bill ordering the destruction of Sparrows,
and in the mean time to continue the payment for heads and eggs. The Colton Goy-
ernment put a stop to the payment, and since that the nuisance had increased tenfold.
If they continued to increase at the present rate the growth of soft fruits would not
be particularly profitable. He had advocated fruit-growing to many people, but he
was beginning to think he had made a mistake. They must have prompt, vigorous,
and decisive action. He hoped in the mean time payment for heads and eggs would
be resumed.

Mr. G. F. Ind said there could be no two opinions as to the necessity of checking
the further increase of Sparrows. Individuals had tried various modes in all parts,
but what was the use? If, for instance, he destroyed them on his own property, his
neighbor took no trouble and allowed the birds to breed on his property as fast as they
were killed anywhere else. Personally he had done his best to cope with the pest,
and had paid a man half wages, found him in powder and shot, and, in addition, paid
for the heads he produced, but even that was useless while the birds bred on the ad-
joining land. While eee was awarded for the heads and eggs by the Govern-
ment not only in the city but also in the suburbs, there was a perceptible decrease in
the number of birds; but as soon as payment was stopped and the Sparrows were
not interfered with they multiplied quite ten times, and so great was the pest be-
coming that it was a question now with fruit-growers whether it was advisable to
continue planting ornot. Unless something was done it was of no earthly use inereas-
ing the vineyards or fruit gardens.

Mr. J. Curnow also reminded the treasurer that the deputation did not ask fora
penny towards the work of destruction. The Sparrows were attacking his pears,
about one-tenth of which he had found picked by the birds.

Mr. A. Molineux explained the habits of the birds, which were of the graminivorous
class. They bred six months in the year, and each time had eight, so that the inerease
was enormous. Ifa man had a scabby sheep the whole country was alive to the facet
and the animal was ordered to be destroyed, or perhaps the whole flock; but the
Sparrows were allowed to multiply and do immense injury without anys being
done.

Mr. 8. Braund strongly supported the motion. The farmers, too, suffered immensely
by the Sparrows, and something needed to be done to check the increase or the results
would be ruinous to them.

Mr. H. Laffer said the birds were getting thoroughly established in the hills also.
Whatever was done must be of acompulsory nature. He knew that large sums would
have been laid out in planting but for the Sparrows.

Mr. J. Pitt said he had noticed that day that the Sparrows were now beginning with
the olives. Messrs. Dwyer and J. T. Holmes supported the request. :

The treasurer, in reply, said he was exceedingly pleased with the manner in which
the deputation had brought the matter before him, because they did not, as was the
case with most deputations, ask the Government for assistance with money. All they
desired, he understood, was that power should be given to district councils and cor-
porations to levy a small rate for the purpose of covering the expense of destroying
the birds. He was not going into the modes suggested by the deputation, because he
had to attend a meeting of cabinet and wished to get away. Although at one time
he thought for a considerable period that the fruit-growers would be able to fairly
cope with the trouble themselves, he was perfectly satisfied now of the difficulty of

ewe Cy eee

422
a ss “EVIDENCE. —-FROM NEW ZEALAND PUBLICATIONS 357

g so, Pecans he knew ie were P caraisbstale at the mercy of their neighbors, no
ter what they did and how much money they spent. This year he had noticed
the Sparrows in larger swarms than before. That very morning when coming to
town he had seen some hundreds of thousands of them in a paddock, and was simply
= istonished at the multitude. In his own garden the birds this year had congregated
“Se jn many thousands and he had shot them, but those which escaped went to other
-people’s property where they were undisturbed. He was quite satisfied that not only
- the fruit industry but also that of the farmers would suffer unless some steps were
taken in the matter. Along the Magill road last year there was a slip of wheat
which had been left in a paddock by one of the farmers who wished to save some
seed, but before the wheat was fairly ripe or fit for the Ridley reaper or common
3 ‘reaper the Sparrows attacked it, and more than half of the crop was eaten by them.
Besides that he also observed that the birds quickly lodged on the ears, which conse-
_ quently bert down and broke the straws, so that of course it could not be reaped.
_ He would be able to favorably recommend the proposal of the deputation to his col-
- leagues, but whether it would be dealt with in the district councils bill or put into a
_ small separate bill which could be easily amended he could not then say. For his
_ own part he was convinced the Governm*nt would have to do something. There was
one method for the destruction of the bizds which could be effectively adopted if
‘done-properly. At a certain time of the year, when there was no frait and the birds
had to live upon seed, a little judicious management of poisonous grain would de-
7 stroy large numbers. But the Sparrow was cunning and people must be equally
~ eunning in dealing with him. The way in which the work was accomplished at a
place near Melbourne was as follows: A piece of ground was fixed upon where Spar-
_ rows were numerous, and they were fed regularly for, say a month, so that they
looked for their meals like fowls in a yard. On a certain day poisoned grain was
slipped in, and the result was a wholesale destruction.

He would not detain the deputation, and might say he hoped to be able to persuade
his colleagues that some action required to be taken. The best course in his opinion
_ was to allow a small rate to be levied as suggested.

The deputation then withdrew.

{From the Taranaki (New Zealand) Herald, 1886. |

. ‘Farmers who are putting in crops are experiencing much difficulty in protecting

their seed from the Sparrows, which begin their ravages at daybreak, and need
: “watching until dark. A member of the land board informs us that as he was driv-
ing into town to attend the special meeting of the board, on Monday, his curiosity
_ was aroused by hearing the continual. cracking of a whip in a field close to the road.
On making inquiries he ascert ained that it was a farmer with a stock whip, and he
_ was adopting this method of frightening the birds. He said he had been at this work
about a week, and had to be on the field from early morning until night, or the
_ Sparrows would be down in thousands. The field was about 7 acres in extent, and
as his full time was required in watching it, the crop, it would be thought, would
not be very profitable. However, people who follow dairy farming have to get straw
E- for winter use, and can not abandon cropping altogether simply because the Sparrows
make it expensive.

Py

358 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

SECTION THIRD.—LIST OF ALL PERSONS WHOSE TESTIMONY APPEARS
IN THE BULLETIN,

[ Nortr.—This list contains the names of all persons whose testimony has been util-—
ized in the preparation of the Bulletin, whether such testimony was contributed di-
rectly to the Department, or had been published already elsewhere. Many persons
sent reports, properly signed, but without any indication of their own residence or of
the localities to which their testimony related. Such reports could not be used, and
the names of the senders do not appear in the list. Of course, no anonymous contri-
butions were used. .

The * before the name of a contributor indicates that his testimony was used only,
or mainly, in mapping the distribution of the Sparrow ; such reports usually came

from places which the Sparrow had not then reached. ]

Abbot, William Hillsborough, Il.
Abbott, Albert S., Bellaire, Mich.

Abbott, Dr. J. De Benneville, Bristol, Pa.

*Abbott, R. B., Albert Lea, Minn.
*Abernathy, Jule A., Burnsville, N.C.
Abernathy., J. A., Rhea Springs, Tenn.
Achert, Edward E., Denver, Colo.

- Acheson, M.S8., Swanwick, Ill.
Ackison, Emma, L., Wellsburgh, W. Va.
Adair, D. L., Hawesville, Ky.

Adair, Jos., Terra Alta, W. Va.

*Adam, Wirt, Jackson, Miss.

Adams, Dr. ——, Framingham, Mass.
Adams, Emma C., East Bethlehem, Pa.
Adams, George H., Beatty, Pa.

Adams, J. W., Springfield, Mass.
Adams, Sarah A., Beatty, Pa.

Adkins, Corwin, Manistique, Mich.
Adney, E. T., Pittsborough, N. C.
*Agersborg, Dr. G.S., Vermillion, Dak.

Aiken, Charles E., Colorado Springs,

Colo.
Ailly, Richard d’, Malvern, Ark.
Akers, C. B., Emory, Va.
Akhurst, John, Brooklyn, N. Y.
* Albertson, M., Braganza, Ga.
*Alcorn, James P., Kinsley, Kans.
Alderson, J. N., Alderson, W. Va.
Aldrich, A. C., Clare, Mich.
*Aldrich, Charles, Webster City, Iowa.
*Alexander, George D., Shreveport, La.
*Alexander, John P., Plano, Tex.
Alexander, Dr. J. B., Lexington, Mo.
Alexander, J. C., Oak Hill, Ohio.
Alexander, J. D., Thomaston, Ga.
*Alexander, J. E., Enterprise, Fla.
Alexander, J. T., Breckenridge, Mo..
Alexander, W. F., Burkesville, Ky.
Allen, A. T., Denver, Colo.
Allen, C. K., South Windham, Me.

Allen, Dr. C. P., Leech Lake, Minn.
Allen, J. A., Cambridge, Mass.
*Allen, James W., Sheldon, Dak.
Allen, J. 0.,-Olney. 1:

Allen, J. H., Durham, N. C.

* Allen, L. M., Daingerfield, Tex.
Allen, M. N., Titusville, Pa.

*Allen, Samuel J.,Cub Hill, Utah.
Almy, P. M., Siasconset, Mass.
*Alward, J. B., Camden, Mich.
Alwood, William B., Columbus, Ohio.
Ambrose, J. D., Lebo, Kans.
Amburgey, J. F., Lebanon, Va.

Ames, D. D., Avoca, Ark.

Amis, Thos. H., Barboursville, Ky.

* Anderson, C. B., Zumbrota, Minn.
Anderson, G. W., Paxton, III.
Anderson, H. W., Laurens C.H.,S.C.
*Anderson, John, Tower, Minn.
Anderson, P. D., Kearney, Mo.
Anderson, Thos. F., Dennis Mills, La.
*Anderson, W. B., Millbrooke, Kans.
Andrew, Dr. Geo. L., La Porte, Ind.
*Andrews, J. W., Harrison, Ark.
*Andrews, L. E., Louisville, Colo.
Andrews, W.R., Union City, Tenn.
Andros, Chas. H., Taunton, Mass.
Andrus, F. C., Almont, Mich.

*Angell, F. A., Hawthorne, Nev.
Angus, James, West Farms, N, Y.
Angus, Wm. Cratie, Glasgow, Scotland. |
Annis, F. W., Osage, Iowa.
*Anthony, A. W., Denver, Colo.
Apgar, Prof. Austin C., Trenton, N. J.
Apperson, Dr. Jno. S., Town House, Va.
*Applegate, Carrie, Blairstown, Iowa.
Appleton, Geo. Lyman, Ways Station, Ga.
Archer, Charles, Chester Hill, Ohio.
Armstrong, Dr. C. T., Corunna, Mich.
Arnett, John D., Tiphonyille: Pete:

ld, Geo. B., Kasson, Minn.

ld, I. N., Rickmond, Iowa.

ld, L. H., Trenton, Ky.

Arrants, I. C., Decatur, Tenn.

undell, C. A., Farmwell, Va.

bury, Benj. P., Kingston, Ohio.

hby, C. M., Spottsylvania C. H., Va.
| Ashby, R. J., Charleston, W. Va.
Biche, S. A., Raleigh, N. C.
-*Ashmead, vee H., Jacksonville, Fla.
Ashton, H.C. iieainesburel Ky.
Askew, T. Ww. L., Austin, Miss.
Aspinall, W. He Weaton, W. Va.

_ Atkins, Dr. H. A., Locke, Mich.

_ Auld, D.J., Sumter C.H., 8. C.

_ Austin, A.C., Oshkosh, Wis.

‘ _ Austin, E. H., Gaylordsville, Conn.
“Austin, F.C., Orange City, Fla.

| “Austin, Jane E. , Mocksville, N.C.

me Avera, W.F., Gamten: Ark.

: ‘Avery, J. O. econ, Ohio.

_ Avery, Dr. W.C., Greensborough, Ala.
_ Ayres, John, Medford, Mass.

_ *Baasen, Francis, New Ulm, Minn.
Babbitt, Clinton, Beloit, Wis.

_ Babcock, P. O., Monticello, Iowa.

_ Bacon, I. C., Chase City, Va.

_ *Bacon, J. M., Oregon City, Oregon.
Bagby, John S., Rushville, Ill.

_ Bagby, R. A., La Belle, Mo.

_ Bagg, J. N., West Springfield, Mass.
4 Bagwell, J. O., Helena, Ark.
Bailey, Alanza A., Evanston, Wyo.
_*Bailey, A. B., Malta Bend, Mo.
Bailey, H. B., East Orange, N. J.
*Bailey, J. W., Mulberry, Ark.
*Bailey, M. Milton, Ashland, Kans.
_ Bailey, Vernon, Elk River, Minn.
"Baily, William Th. , Philadelphia, Pa.
*Baillio, O. P. paeie Tex,

ada.

_ *Bain, H. P., Great Bend, Kans.
Baine, Tom, Hayneville, Ala.

_ Baines, M. W., Stafford C. H., Va.
Bair, H.C., Punxsutawney, Pa.
Baird, A. B., Hartford, Ky.

q *Baird, Sohn R., Johnsonville, Miss.
4 Bake, Jacob L., Red Oak, Iowa.

b Pier: Amos C., jr., New Bedfurd, Mass.
-*Baker, G. W., Olivet, Dak.
Baker, H.C., Hiawatha, Kans.
Baker, H.'T., Berlin, Wis.

Baker, James S., Sayville, N. Y.

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Astholz, Henry A.,Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Bain, Francis, North River, P. E.I., Can-

)

359

Baker, L. J., Bowling Green, Va.

Baker, M. D., Uniontown, Pa.

Baker, N. G., Parkersburgh, Iowa.

Baker, W. R., Boonville, Mo.

Balch, W. E., Lunenburgh, Vt.

*Ball, J. A., Belmont, Nev.

Ball, Theo. G., New Worcester,

*Ballon, E. L., Igo, Cal.

Ballou, W. H., Chicago, ILI.

*Bancroft, E. P., Mankato, Kans.

Banks, J. W., Portland, St. John, New
Brunswick, Canada.

*Banner, C.C., Aaron, N.C.

Barber, I. G., Middleburgh, Pa.

*Barber, N. R., Corvallis, Oree.

*Bardon, John A., Superior, Wis.

Barker, J. M., Fayette City, Pa.

Barkman, Chas. W., Carmichael’s, Pa.

Barnard, John, Delphi, Ind.

Barnard & Plank, Deer Creek, Ind.

*Barnes, C., Jonestown, Miss.

Barnes, Joseph, Richmond,
tralia.

Barnes, J. ., Griffin, Ga.

*Barnett, C.G., Henderson, Tex.

Barnhill, B. B.,T wo Rivers, N.8., Can.

Barns, N.S., Fairmount, W. Va.

Barnum, E. D., Angelica, N. Y.

Barrell, H. F., New Providence, N. J.

Barrell, Robert W., South Bethlehem, Pa.

Barrett, C.8., Charlotte, Mich.

*Barrett, E. F., Aitkin, Minn.

Barrett, W.J., Kinston, N.C.

Barron, T. D., Saint Clair, Mich.

Barrows, Morton, Saint Paul, Minn.

Barrows, Walter B., Washington, D.C.

Barthel, Aug., Belleville, Ill.

Bartlet, Rey. J. Pemberton, Exbury,
Hants, Eng.

*Barton, J.M., Cameron, Tex.

Bartram, C. E., Fredonia, N. Y.

“Bassett, S. F'., Richmond, Mo.

Bast, Jos., Sheboygan, Wis.

“Batchelder, E. M., Radersburgh, Mont.

*Bateman, R. P., Sheridan, Mont.

*Bates, J. A. T., Oakland, Iowa.

*Bates, J. D., Denton, Tex

*Baugh, J. J., Des Arc, Ark.

Baum, A. W., Irwinton, Ga.

Baumed, Herman, Johnstown, Pa.

Baxter, Dr. Jas., Chatham, N. B., Can.

Bayard, H.O., Austin, Minn.

*Bayless, T. H., Hope, Ark.

Beach, E.S., Valparaiso, Ind.

Beach, H. D., Coshocton, Olio.

Mass.

South Aus-

360

Beach, L. H., Albion, N. Y.

*Beach, S. J., Farragut, Iowa.

Beal, Prof. F. E. L., Fitchburg, Mass.

Beall, Lee, Rich Hill, Mo.

Beaman, D.C., Ottumwa, Iowa.

Beard, D.C., Flushing, N. Y.

*Beard, T. A. C., Crete, Nebr.

Beattie, James, Hillsdale, Mich.

Beatty, Miller, Clarion, Pa.

Beauchamp, Rev. W. M., Baldwinsville, |
N.Y. |

“Beavers, M. M., Waldron, Ark. |

*Beavers, R. C., Grundy, Va. |

|

THE ENGLISH

Bebout, A. J., Smithland, Ky.

Becher, E. F., England.

*Beck, Michael, Jordan, Minn.

Becker, Charles, Freeburgh, Ill.

*Becker, Christian, Mount Vernon, Ala.

Beckham, Charles W., Nelson County, |
Ky.

Beckwith, Charles W., Fredericton, N. B.,
Can.

*Beckwith, Irenus, Alexandria, Tenn.

*Beedy, N. J., Postville, Iowa.

*Beekman, George, Helena, Minn.

*Beeman, Howard P., Pass Christian,
Miss.

*Beers, F. E., Gilmore City, Iowa.

Beeson, H. H., New Market, N. C.

*Beeson, O., Caldwell, Kans.

Beirne, A., Lewisburgh, W. Va.

*Belcher, C.C., Okmulgee, Ind. T.

Belding, L., Stockton, Cal.

Bell, Everett, Trenton, Tenn.

Bell, James, Strathfieldsaye, Hampshire,
Eng.

Bell, Prof. James T., Belleville, Ont., |
Can.

*Bell, John C., Astoria, Oregon.

Bell, J. G., Sparkhill, N. Y.

*Bell, Lucy M., Willis, Tex.

Bell, William P., Accomack C. H., Va.

*Bellamy, Lucas W., Belle Plaia, Tex.

Bellows, Charles E., Bridgeton, N. J.

*Beloate, C. R., Corning, Ark.

*Bench, J. M., Coal Hill, Ark.

*Bender, C., jr., Spring, Tex.

Bendire, Capt. Chas, E., Washington, D.C.

Benford, L. J., Ursina, Pa.

Benham, Sidney L., Crescent City, Fla.

*Benjamin, H. R., Tampa, Fla.

*Bennel, B. F., Windsor, Cal.

Benner, H, L., Gettysburgh, Pa.

Benner, J. F., New Lisbon, Ohio.

*Bennett, C. A., Granite Falls, Minn.

SPARROW IN AMERICA.

_*Benton, A. H., Madelia, Minn.
| *Berger, Charles A., Blunt, Dak.

_ Beverly, John James, Wvodviile, South

| Bibb, J. W., Elsberry, Mo.
| *Bibbins, Charles A., Baldwin, La.

_ Blakeslee, G. A., Galien, Mich.

| Boardman, George A., Calais, Me.

oe

~

Bennett, E. J., Cashiers, N. C.
*Bennett, F. R., Odebolt, Iowa.
“Bennett, L. B., Worthington, Minn.
“Bennett, S. C., Georgetown, Colo.
Bennett, William T., Waterford, Va.
Benson, George W., Atlanta, Ga. 4
Benson, Lieut. Harry C.,Camp Huachuca,
Ariz. 4
Benson, Mary, Hooker, Ind.
Bentley, L. E., DonaldsonyilJe, La.

Bergtold, Dr. W. H., Buffalo, N. Y.
Berkey, E. G., Harristown, Ind.

Berry, Dr. Daniel, Carmi, Ill.

Berry, George H., North Livermore, Me.
“Berry, Henry N., Iowa City, Iowa.
“Berry, Juo., Ozark, Ark.
Berthoud, William B., Barataria, La.
Bessey, Prof. Charles E., Lincoln, Nebr. ~
Bessmer, John, Hastings, Mich.

Australia.

Bicknell, Eugene P., Riverdale, N. Y.
Bicknell, Hon. G. A., New Albany, Ind.
*Bielby, C. F. A., De Land, Fla.
*Bienvenu, Albert, Saint Martinville, La.
Bigelow, J. Allen, Pontiac, Mich.
*Bigham, J. A., Tyler, Minn.

Binkerd, Dr. A. D., Cochran, Ind.
*Binnicker, Jno. B., Hampton, S. C.
Binns, Samuel, Fayette, Ohio.

Bird, J. W., Menominee, Mich.

Bird, W. B., King and Queen C. H., Va.
Birt, Thomas, Utica, N. Y.

Bishop, Louis B., New Haven, Conn.
Bivins, J. M. Albemarle, N. C.

*Bjorge, C., Lake Park, Minn. 2a)
Blachly, Dr. Charles P., Manhattan, Kans.
*Blain, E. F., Tomichi, Colo.

*Blair, W. H., Montesano, Wash.

Blake, Eli Whitney, 3d, Providence, R.I.
Blakemore, Eugene, Shelbyville, Tenn.

cs
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*
:.

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tf
=
:,

Blakiston, T. W., London, Ohio.
*Blakney, G., Carthage, Mo. |
*Blandig, Joseph, Convent, La.
Blase, Joseph L., Cynthiana, Ind.
*Blatchford, G. E., Maysville, Colo.
*Bligh, D. C., Minburn, Iowa.
*Blumer, A., Moss Point, Miss.

Bobbitt, Jno. 8., Sussex C. H., Va.

Boblitz, E. L., Mechanicstown, Md.
- *Bodet, George, San Diego, Tex.
Bodine, A. L., Plainville, Ohio.

- Bodkin, J. T., Patriot, Ind.
_ Bodley, Dr. A. R., Quenemo, Kans.
*Boemer, Thaddeus, Columbia, Miss.
_ Bogan, John §., Mount Vernon, Ill.
Bogert, R. V., Beaver Dam, Wis.
a *Boggs, mheodors, McPherson, Kans.
4 Bohl, Daniel, Laurel, Ohio.

Boies, A. H., Hodton: Mich.
Bollman, C. a, Bie panineston: Ind.

a Bolton, Frank D., New Harmony, Ind.
Bolton, Dr. Tom, San Francisco, Cal.
j Bolton, W. P., Liberty Square, Pa.

- Bond, Frank, Cheyenne, Wyo.
- Bond, Fred T., Vallejo, Cal.

er - Bond, H. L., Towa City, Iowa.

- Bondman, Ta6. F., Brierfield, Ala.

3 - Bondusant, AG, Saint i See La.
4 - Bonham, ie N., Oxford, Ohio.

4 Bonner, Maeon, Washington, N. C.
_ *Bonney, B. S., McPherson, Kans.

_ *Bonney, James H., Princess Anne C.H.,
Va.

_ *Bonney, Miles, Waterproof, La.
_ *Booth, Henry, Larned, Kans.
*Booth, Joseph 8., Missoula, Mont.
Bord, H., Talmage, Nebr.

- *Bornarth, Charles, Shakopee, Minn.
Borum, M. V., Dyersburgh, Tenn.

~ *Borup, Theodor, Fort Custer, Mont.
*Bostwick, Kate, Wesson, Miss.

_ Bosworth, S. N., Beverly, W. Va.
Boude, J. H., Augusta, Ky.
_ Boughner, A. V., Greensborough, Pa.
- Boulton, William, Alpena, Mich.
_ Bourk, John, North Bay, Lake Nipissing,
Canada.
_ Bourne, J. D., De Witt, Iowa.
_ Bowden, S. V., Jamestown, Tenn.
_ Bowen, C. R., Hinsdale, N. Y.
Bowen, E, A., Middleborough, Mass.
_ *Bowen, W. S., Sheffield, Iowa.
-*Bowers, C. E., Pena Station, Tex.
_ *Bowers, Dr. Stephen, San Buenayen-
tura, Cal.
_ Bowie, George R., Ghent, Ky.
Bowles, George John, Montreal, Quebec,
Canada.
_ Bowlus, E. M., Middletown, Md.
Bowman, C. L., Frankfort, Ky.
y -*Bowman, § oe Manning, S. C.
Boyce, K. intense? Ga.
-*Boyd, Dr. Andy, Larkinsville, Ala.

*G

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

361

*Boyd, J. N., Cooper, Tex.

*Boyd, R., Kosciusko, Miss.

Boyer, J. W., Independence, Va.
*Boylan, G. W., Hamilton, Dak.
Boyle, Joseph B., Westminster, Md.
Boynton, Dr. C. H., Lisbon, N. H.
Brace, Hiram L., Newaygo, Mich.
*Bracey, W. M., Terry, Miss.
Bracken, P., Parker’s Landing, Pa.
Brackett, George E., Belfast, Me.
Brackett, G. B., Denmark, Lowa.
Braden, W. G., New Brighton, Pa.
Braden, W. H., Purdy, Tenn.
Bradford, E., Sparta, Mich.

Brady, Jas, Washington, Pa.

Brady, John, Batavia, IL.

Brady, Jno , Coalton, Ohio.

*Brady, Thomas T., Beresford, Dak.
Brady, Tom G., Buckhannon, W. Va.
Bragaw, Jno. T., Jersey City, N. J.
*Brambleet, George D., Winchester, Tenn.
*Brandon, T.J., Centreville, Utah.

-Brattin, D. W., Brazil, Ind.

Braund, S., Adelaide, South Australia.

Braymer, Dr. Frank H., West Pawlet, Vt.

Breaden, J. C., Butler, Pa.

Breeding, Hon. Green, Booneville, Ky.

*Breeman, William J., Sidney, Nebr.

Breen, Edw. J., Weston, Mo.

Brewer, H.C., Huntingdon, Tenn.

Brewer, Dr. T. M., Boston, Mass.

Brewerton, Thomas W., Willard, Utah.

* Brewster, J.O., Hunnewell, Kans.

Brewster, William, Cambridge, Mass.

Brice, A. C., Lenox, Iowa.

*Brice, J. C., Arcadia, La.

Brice, William, Ithaca, Mich.

*Bridgewater, W. L., Bandana, Ky.

Briechner, J. A., Taneytown, Md.

Briggs, F. P., Hudson, Me.

*Brill, Fred., Lincoln, Mo.

Brimley, Clement 8., Raleigh, N. C.

Briner, J. H., Hazelton, Ind.

Brinker, J. H., West Point, Miss.

Brinkley, L. L., Edenton, N. C.

Brittain, John, Betitedded ss New Bruns-
wick, Canada.

*Brittain, J. B., Jacksonville, Tex.

Broad, Henry, Mander Secuth Australia.

Brodhead, E. A., Kittanning, Pa.

Brodie, John N., Bear Lake, Mich.

Brodie, Dr. William, Toronto, Canada.

Brouson, Graham, Vernon Centre, N.Y.

Brooks, Edward, Boston, Mass.

Brow, 8. A., Lancaster, Wis.

362

' Browe, W. C., Salt Lake City, Utah.
*Brown, D. B., Goodwater, Ala.
Brown, E. L., Durand, Wis.
Brown, E. L., Eufaula, Ala. -
Brown, F. H., Renfrew, Pa.
*Brown, George B., Fredonia, Kans.
*Brown, Herbert, Tucson, Ariz.
Brown, H. E., Dublin, Tex.
Brown, Julia B., Markland, Ind.
Brown, J. M., Galveston, Tex.
Brown, Dr. J. P. H., Augusta, Ga.
Brown, J. R., Queen City, Mo.
*Brown, J. William, Bastrop, La.
*Brown, Mary A., Hillsborough, Oregon.
Brown, M. E., Bethany, W. Va.
Brown, Nathan Clifford, Portland, Me.
*Brown, Robert L., Austin, Ark.
Brown, Will A., Pikeville, Tenn.
Browne, F. C., Framingham, Mass.
Brownley, A. M., Franklin, Va.
Broyles, W. T., Dayton, Tenn.
*Brugh, M. P., Eutaw, Ala.
Brunson, W. H., Edgefield C. H., S. C.
Brunt, John R., Osage Mission, Kans.
Bruton, W. P., Dover, Tenn.
*Bryan, I. W., Dillon, Ga,
Bryant, Walter E., Oakland, Cal.
Brydia, C. S., Sannemin, [1].
*Buck, Adam, Henderson, Minn.
Buck, A. J., Oskaloosa, Kans.
*Buckner, Louis, Newellton, La.
Budd, Henry I., Mount Holly, N. J.
*Buddecke, A. E., Montrose, Colo.
*Budge, Annie, Paris, Idaho.
Buffington, J. F., New Windsor, Md.
Bunnewitz, L., Wolcott, Iowa.
Bunsen, George C., West Belleville, Il.
‘Burbank, H. A., Laredo, Tex.
Burbank, J. A., Welcome, La.
Burger, 8S. N., Manchester, Tenn.
Burhans, Howard, Heath, N. Y.
Burke, W. A., Staunton, Va.
Burleigh, County Commissioner, New
Haven, Conn.
*Burley, T. S., Walhalla, Dak.
Burmeister, Charles, Frankfort, Mich.
Burns, Frank L., Berwyn, Pa.
*Burns, John J , Sprague, Wash.
*Burns, J. T., Dayton, Wash.
Burns, Robert, Houston, Tex.
Burns, William, Port Huron, Mich.
*Burr, R. H., Bartow, Fla.
*Burrell, H. P., Elk River, Minn.
Burrough, Edward, Merchantville, N. J.
*Burroughs, C. H., La Crosse, Wis.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Burrow, W. J., Plymouth, Mich.

Burt, Sam. W., Salem, Ala.

Burtis, Henry M., Port Washington, N. Y.
Burton, Ruth C., Taylorsville, Ky. .
“Burwell, D. M., Minnetonka, Minn.
Buskirk, J. B., Logan C. H., W. Va.
Butcher, 8. J., Burlington Junetion, Mo.
Butler, Amos W., Brookville, Ind.
Butler, Charles H., Paw Paw, Mich.
*Butler, F. G., Schaller, Iowa.

Butler, S. M., Clifton Forge, Va.
Butterworth, T., Quincy, Il.

Button, Charles W., Lynchbureh, Va.
“Butts, E. G., Stillwater, Minn.

Butz, William 'T., New Casile, Pa.
Buxton, C. L., England.

Byars, Jas., Covington, Tenn.

Byram, R.R., Lena, Wis.

“Byrne, M. E., Enterprise, Miss.
*Byrnes, J. M., Brenham, Tex.

Byrum, George B., Laconia, Ind.
*Cabeen, J. H., Belleview, La.

*Cage, John W., Mineola, Tex.

Cahoon, John C., Taunton, Mass.

| *Cain, M.G., Seymour, Iowa.

Calderwood, M. H., Eldridge, Iowa.
Caldwell, L. W., Warrenton, Va.
Calohan, Mary M., Edenburgh, Va.
Calvin, John H., Rosewood, Ind.
*Calvin, T. W., Lake View, Oregon.
Cameron, J. D., Asheville, N.C.
Camp, Robert D., New Haven, Conn.

| Campbell, Altes H., Iola, Kans.

Campbell, George W., Delaware, Ohio.
Campbell, H. D., Traverse City, Mich.
Campbell, Isabella, Blairsville, Pa.
Campbell, James L., Boyne City, Mich.
Campbell, John, Flint, Mich.
Campbeli, M.J., Fontana, Kans.

| Campbell, O. L., Knoxville, IH.
*Campbell, Thomas, Medical Lake, Wash.

Camper, C.B., Fincastle, Va.

Candland, A. W., Chester, Utah.

*Cannon, James, Mankato, Minn.

*Cannon, Walter R., Norton, Kans.

*Cannon, William,Fort Abraham Lincoln,
Dak. :

*Canon, W.H., Merrill, Wis.

Cantwell, James 8., Smithfield, Utah.

*Caragan, William H.,Young’s Spring, Ky.

*Caraway, J. H., Ronceverte, W. Va.

| Card, Ira B., Hillsdale, Mich.

*Card, L. A., Big Stone City, Dak.
Carder, T. M., Dallas, Ark.

| *Cardwelt, W. D., Jackson, Ky.

eae LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

v, Joseph W., Hahnville, La.

rey, G. W., North Yakima, Wash.
ey, John H., Morristown, Ohio.

lin, James, Cleves, Ohio.

mine, J. W., Boston, Ga.
Carpenter, Charles M., Providence, R. I.
C Benton PoE; Retiobotw! Mass.

Cc Carpenter, Hi. O., Coe Ridge, Ohio.
Carper, John C., “New Castle, Va.

*Carr, Isaac T., NeniGville, Wis.

FC arr, R.F., Tavnivell Tenn.

Carr, S. A., Galena, Mo.

Searrinston, J. ¥., Elizabethtown, N.
3 Mex.

Carrithers, C. F. H., Fairbury, Ill.
Carroll, John, West St. Louis, Mo.
Carroll, Patrick, Lonaconing, Md.
‘Carryl, F.M., Passaic Bridge, N. J.
‘Carter, Alonzo H., Hardin, Ill.

Carter, Charles W., Aledo, Ill.

*Carter, D.M., Heltesbursh, Miss.
‘*Carter, John HL. nee La.
“*Carter, M.A., Fine Apple, Ala.
*Carter, M.E., Fort Bridger, Wyo.
Beriwricht, E. G., La Be okt enn *
Carver, A. H., Lickley Corners, Mich.
Case, Geli, thateat: Minn.

ie *Case, Jennie L., Asotin, Wash.

‘Case, Jesse G., peeonat! NY:

eCase, J. B., Papadive Valley, Nev.
‘Casey, M.J., Vail, Iowa.

Caskey, John O., Enon Valley, Pa.
Cate, Clarence L., Spencer, Mass.

Cate, G. W., Stevens’ Point, Wis.
Caulkins, Dr. John §., Thornville, Mich.
; Cave, S. H., Terrance, Utah.

Cayton, William M., Saint George, W. Va.
ScChaite, J.C.T., iiiiden: La.

‘Chalfant, Piiedias Danville, Pa.
Chalmers, oui: Holyoke, Mass.
Be veriain, Montague, St. John, N.B.,
- Canada.

¢ hamberlain, M. A., Winthrop, Iowa.
Chambers, ioh, Sone Richmond, Soath
Australia.

“Champion, H., Breckenridge, Minn.
*Chandler, R. P., Riverside, Cal.
Chapin, B. T. Ppevenwar ville. Pa.
Shapin, Rey. D. D., Allegan, Mich.
*Chapman, Adkins, Wayne C. He W.Va.
*Chapman, Frank M., Gainesville, Fla.
a appelear, R. H., Bene gy. Ga.

Charles, Alex., Gelade Rapids: Towa.
Chase, aaraird R., Corinne, Utah.
Chase, B. B. esas; Iowa.

«4

a>

363

*Chatfield, E. E., Belle Plaine, Minn.

Cheatham, Mrs. Anna B., Nashville,Tenn.

*Cheney, S. F., Woodward’s Cove, Grand
Manan, N. B., Canada.

Cherrie, George K., Knoxville, Iowa.

Chesney, Isom, Percy, Ill.

*Chessher, D. T., Georgetown, Tex.

Chichester, Andrew, Amityville, N. Y.

*Childs, F.C., Leesburg, Fla.

Chisman, Mattie K., Hampton, Va.

Christian, L. A., Mount Gilead, N.C.

*Christlieb, B. F., Long Lake, Minn.

-*Christy, J. C., Silver City, Iowa.

Church, A., New York, N. Y.

Church, A. M., Boonville, N. Y.
*Churchill, Arthur, Rugby, Teun.
*Churchill, C. P., Linn Creek, Mo.
Clapp, Charles M., Albion, Ind.
Clapp, W.C., Dorchester, Mass.
*Clark, A. K.,jr., Hugo, Colo.

*Clark, A. M., Spencer, Tenn.

*Clark, Edwin B., Waxahachie, Tex.
Clark, Frank D., Farmington, Mich.
Clark, George A., Bloomsburgh, Pa.
*Clark, George W., Lyons, Kans.
Clark, Harvey, Butler, Mo.

Clark, Hubert L., Amherst, Mass.
Clark, J. D., Brookfield, Ohio.

Clark, J. R., La Grange, Ky.

*Clark, L. B., Newton, Tex.

Clark, Mrs. M. A., Falmouth, Ky.
*Clark, M. A., Giddings, Tex.

Clark, N., Baltimore, Md.

Clark, W.C., Paducah, Ky.

*Clark, W. H., jr., Florence, Wis.
*Clark, S. H., Elwood, Iowa.

Clark, S. M., Washington, D.C.
*Clark, S. N., Cleburne, Tex.

Clarke, James W., De Soto, Mo.
Clarke, John G., West Kingston, R. I.
*Clay, C. M., Blue, Utah.

Ciaypole, Prof. E. W., Akron, Ohio.
Claywell, J. A., Morganton, N.C.
Clement, Asa, Dracut, Mass.

Clement, Paul A., Cumming, Ga.
Clements, Shannon, Bucyrus, Ohio.
*Cleveland, C. B., Linden, Ala.
Clevenger, William, Wilmington, Obio.
Clifford, J. Philip, Clarksburgh, W. Va.
Clinton, John, Brownsville, Tenn.
*Clopton, Frank B., Pendleton, Oregon.
Coale, H. K., Chicago, Ill.

Coatz, Thomas C., North Royalton, Ohio.
Cobleigh, W.S., Peoria, I.
*Cochran, John H., Dallas, Tex.

364 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. |

Cochran, J. L., Strong, Kans.

*Cochran, Mrs. Maria S., Brazoria, Tex.

Cochrane, J. D., Dexter, Me.

Cocke, Peyton A., Surry Court-House, Va.

*Cocke, Thomas R., Victoria, Tex.

*Coffee, M. E., Burnet, Tex.

Coffin, A. V., Le Roy, Kans.

Coffroth, J. K., Somerset, Pa.

Cogan, Ella J., Montello, Wis.

Cohoon, J. A., Effingham, Kans.

Colam, John, England.

Cole, Beaumont, Adelaide, South Austra-
lia. }

Cole, H. D., Williamsburgh, Va.

Coleman, W. E., Jefferson City, Mo.

*Colin, Lehman, Lee, Miss.

Collins, C. F., Homer, Mich.

*Collins, Daniel R., Cherry Creek, Nev.

Collins, D. K., Charleston, N.C.

*Collins, W. V., Gonzales, Tex.

*Colson, Herman, Ionia, Kans.

Colston, Win. B., Martinsburgh, W. Va. ~

Comeau, Napoleon A., Godbout, Quebec,
Canada.

Comstock, Prof. F. M., Le Roy, N.Y.

*Conatser, W.S., Palo Pinto, Tex.

Conklin, J. B., Springport, Mich.

Conklin, W. A., New York, N.Y.

Conn, James H., Saint John’s, Mich.

*Conner, I., Ponca, Nebr.

*Connor, James C., Aspen, Colo.

Connor, J. T., Rome, Ind.

Connst, J. L., Flemington, N. J.

*Conrad, V. M., Lewis, lowa.

Cook, A. J., Agricultural College, Mich.

*Cook, Barbara E., Bowie, Tex.

*Cook, B., Arkadelphia, Ark.

*Cook, E.G., Fullerton, Nebr.

*Cook, Geo. F., Breckenridge, Minn.

Cook, John, Bridgeport, Ohio.

Cook, P. J., Cullom, Ill.

*Cook, Thos. F., Monrovia, Kans.

- Cook, W., Bowling Green, Ky.

Cooke, Michael, Derby, Kans.

*Cooke, T., Clear Creek, Tex.

*Cooksey, W. H., Geneva, Nebr.

Cooper, D. W., Bellaire, Ohio.

Cooper, Joseph, Greenville County, S.C.

Cooper, Dr. J.G., Haywards, Cal.

*Cooper, Martin, Forest City, Iowa.

Coram, J. H., Morgan, Ga.

Cordeaux, John, Ulceby, North Lincoln-
shire, England.

Corning, Erastus, jr., Albany, N. Y.

Coryell, R.J., Jonesville, Mich.

XN

Costellow, C. W., Waterborough, Me. d.

Cottingham, I’. G., Sharon Centre, Ohio.

Cottrell, A., Morrill, Kans.

Cottrell, J. F., Fort Scott, Kans.

Couch, Edward J., Ridgefield, Conn.

Coues, Dr. Elliott, Washington, D.C.

Couk, John M., Jonesville, Va.

Council, M.B., Americus, Ga.

Coutant, Chas. K., Omaha, Nebr.

Covell, J. D., Forreston, Il.

Cowing, Granville, Muncie, Ind.

*Cox, A., Blossburgh, N. Mex.

Cox, Chas. C., Wampum, Pa.

Cox, Jas., Grand Rapids, Mich.

*Cox, W.A., Ellijay, Ga.

Cox, W.A., Munising, Mich.

*Cox, W.L., Genoa, Nev.

Cozatt, E.W., Madisonville, Tenn.

*Crabtree, S. H., Rohnerville, Cal.

Craig, J. P., Memphis, Mo.

*Craig, M. A., El Dorado, Ark. .

Craig, W. T., San Francisco, Cal.

Craig, Rev. Dr., Mt. Gambier, S. Australia.

*Craiyo, James T., Paris, Tex.

*Cramer, A. P., Avoca, lowa.

Cramer, Stephen, Batavia, Ohio.

Crandall, W. W., Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Crane, F. W., Maquoketa, Iowa.

Crane, L. E., Millet, Mich.

Crane, Marcus S., Caldwell, N. J.

Crawford, Chas. B., Mifflintown, Pa.

Crawford, Jas. C., Cameron, W. Va.

*Crawford, J. J., Nevinville, Iowa.

*Crawford, T. B., Grand Junction, Colo.

*Crawford, Thos. W., Gainesville, Ark.

Crisp, John D., Holden, Mo.

Criss, R. D. Melvern, Kans.

Critchett, Jas. C., Monroe, Mich.

Critchfield, M. L., Oskaloosa, Kans.

Crites, 8. D., Elida, Ohio.

Crittenden, H. H. W., Burkeville, Va.

Crittenden, S.8., Greenville, 8. C.

*Crocket, B. D., San Augustine, Tex.

*Cromastic, A. K., Clarkton, N.C.

*Crook, W.R., Falls City, Nebr.

Crosland, Jas. E., Aiken, 8. C.

Crosland, T. L., Bennettsville, S.C.

Cross, William T., Gatesville, N.C.

Crotsenburg, C.N., Clinton, Wis.

Crowell, W. D., Newport News, Va.

Crowl, H. R., Winton Place, Ohio.

Crown, S. C., Hancock, Md.

Crozier, Hon. John, Oaklands, South
Australia.

Crozier, William, Northport, N.Y.

at
a8
}
*

|

Crum, N. W., Inez, Ky.

Brazen, G. ie Stafford, Kans.

ueny, J. E. Re hietichron' Mich.
Beiiinesorth, William H., Richniond, Va.
feallom, D. W., Celina, Tenn.

Culp, J. F. divans, Mich.

Culpepper, Miss Etta, Camilla, Ga.
Cunningham, Hon. John D., Atlanta, Ga.
Se eeningham, J.C., Muldon, Miss.
~*Cunningham, J. M., Henderson, Tenn.
*Cunningham, J.R., Coffeysburgh, Mo.
Cunningham, W. T., Danville, Il.
Curnow, J., Mdolaide, South Australia.
*Currie, George W., Raleigh, Miss.
-*Curry, Hamilton, Cloquet, Minn.
*Curtis, Charles D., Helena, Mont.
‘Curtis, F. D., Charlton, N. Y.

Curtis, John, New Liberty, Ky.
Curtiss, Robert W., Stratford, Conn.
*Cusaday, W. H., Orange City, Iowa.
-Cutcheon, F. M., Portland, Mich.
Cuthbert, F. T., Minneapolis, Minn.
Cutler, B. L., West Jordan, Utah.

_ *Cutler, H. D. B., Glenwood, Mo.
*Cutter, John J., Parker, Dak.
Cutting, Dr. Hiram A., Lunenburgh, Vt.
Daggett, Alonzo, Cuttyhunk, Mass.
Daine, E. A., Hyde Park, Utah.
Dakin, J. A., Tully, N. Y.

*Dale, W.T., Mellette, Dak.

Dali, W. H., Tampa, Fla.

*Daniel, Moses, Brunswick, Ga.
Daniels, Jas. S., Jerseyville, Il.
Danley, W. H. Renter, Wis.
*Darling, A.L., Brownsville, Minn.
“Darling, T. C., Eudora, Kans.
Dashiell, R. R., Jackson, Tenn.
*Daugherty, D.B., Boone, N.C.
Daugherty, G. W., Carmichaels, Pa.
*Daus, L. L., Rock Springs, Wyo.
Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences,
_ Davenport, Towa.

D avies, A. P., Gloucester C. H., Va.
Davies, L. M. , Cleveland, Ohick
*Davis, A. B., Winnebago, Minn.
Davis, Charles A., Burlington, Vt.
Dz avis, D. J. Dreapeonekn Ohio.

D avis, E. H. , Keyser, W. Va.

D avis, George A., Mexico, N. Y.
Davis, Hugh L., Richmond, Va.
*Davis, H. T., Orange, Tex.

Davis, John, Ridgeway, Ohio.

Davis, John M., Rochester, Ind,

F
- ~
=

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

uickshank, Mrs. 8., Clay Center, Nebr.

-*Curtis, George W., College Station, Tex.

365

Davis, Jno. M., Waynesville, N. C.
Davis, J. H., Tallapoosa, Ga.

*Davis, J. J.,Salem, Utah.

*Davis, J. M., Ranger, Tex.

*Davis, Luciana G., Rio Grande City, Tex.
*Davis, M. Allie, Bolton’s Depot, Miss.
Davis, 8. R., Creston, Iowa.

*Davis, W. T., Erwin, Tenn.
Davison, J. L., Lockport, N. Y.
*Dawson, John W., Phiilipsburgh, Mont.
Dawson, William R., Tidioute, Pa.

Day, H. S., Parkersville, Kans.
*Dearborn, M., Wayne, Nebr.

Deaton, J. L., Pocahontas, Va.

*Decker, A. F., Sweet Water, Tex.
Deemer, H. E., Red Oak, Iowa.
*Deguire, A. A., Fredericktown,
Deighan, F. A., Castalia, Ohio.
*Deimling, Mary, Virginia, Mont.
De Lassus, Joe R., Perryville, Mo.
Delknap, J. H., Omer, Mich.
Dempsey, J. F., Madisonville, Ky.
Dendy, Charles L., Hamilton, Ga.

Mo.

- Denise, D. D., Freehold, N. J.

Dennen, L. W., Havensville, Kans.
Dennis, David B., Coldwater, Mich.
*Dennison, Hattie, Vanconver, Wash.
*Dennison, W. B. Litchfield, Kans.
Dent, F. Mortimer, Newburgh, W. Va.
Dent, W. W., Marquette, Mich. »
Denton, E. P., Bagdad, Ky.

*Denton, F. D., Batesville, Ark.
*Derrick, J. A., Pittsburgh, Tex,
Dessert, F. A., Macon City, Mo.
Detweiler, Dr. J. F., Wadsworth, Chio.
Deutsch, Peter J., Magnolia, Ind.
Davanuey, Mrs. Maria, Glendale, Ohio.
Devier, H. K., Dayton, Va.

De Wald, Henry, Collinsville, Il.

De Wolf, Samuel, Rochester, Minn.
Dibrell, W. L., Sparta, Tenn.

Dick, A. M., West Newton, Pa.
Dickinson, C. L., Somerville, Tenn.
Dickinson, Monroe, Boyne Falls, Mich.
*Dickinson, 8. S., Larned, Kans.
Dickson, H. D., Neosho Falls, Kans.
*Didlake, J. T., Hepler, Kans.

Diehl, E. P., Olathe, Kans.

Dimmick, C. W., Milford, Pa.
Dingman, W. E., Newton, Iowa.
Dixwell, Dr. John, Boston, Mass.
Doan, A. J., Jersey City, N. J.

Doan, W. D., Atglen, Pa.

*Dobie, Malcom, Hayward, Wis.
Doertenbach, William F., Cleveland, Ohio.

366

*Dollerhide, R. H., Delhi, La.
*Dols, Henry, Merriam Junction, Minn.
Donaldson, George, Ithaca, N. Y.
*Donaldson, J. C., Gilbertsville, N. Y.
’ *Donkersley, J. H., Laramie City, Wyo.
*Donnell, J. K., Greenbrier, Ark.
*Donnell, Martin W., Iona, Minn.
*Dorier, L., Ocala, Fla.
Dorman, David, Independence, Iowa.
Dorr, George P., Woodsfield Ohio.
Doty, H. F., Reading, Mich.
*Douden, B., Roseburgh, Oregon.
Dougall, H. M.,Springville, Utah.
*Dougherty, John, Sebastopol, Cal.
Doughty, William M., Cedar Point, Kans.
Douglas, Henry, Happy Valley, South
Australia.
*Douglas, John H., Lamar, Mo.
Douthat, William B., Fayetteville, Tenn.
Douthit, G. B., Jacksonville, Ala.
*Dowlin, Paul, Greenfield, Iowa.
*Doyal, M. C., Harwood, Tex.
Doyle, D., Oswego, Kans.
Doyle, Thomas, Sandusky, Mich.
Dreker, Darius, Stroudsburgh, Pa.
Dresser, J. M., La Fayette, Ind.
Drew, Stod E., Midland, Mich.
*Dubberly, J. A., Tallassee, Ala.
*Dubois, M. Gue, Marion C. H., 8. C.
*Duclos, Alphonse, Rayne, La.
Dudenbostel, Aug. Campbell Hill, Hl.
Dudley, R. S., Pulaski Station, Va.
Duff, J., England.
*Duffy, A. A., Matagorda, Tex.
Daffy, J., Lancaster, Pa.
*Duggan, James, Melrose, Iowa.
Duke, Samuel, Notasulga, Ala.
Dulaney, Hon. W. L., Louisville, Ky.
Dunbar, E. W., Damariscotta, Me.
*Duncan, John W., Bonham, Tex.
Duplanty, Frank, Whittemore, Mich.
Du Pré, J. F. C., Abbeville C. H..8. C.
Dupuy, Charles E., Plaquemine, La.
*Dupuy, H., Marksville, La.
Dupuy, Nelson, North Adams, Mass.
*Duran, Dana, Huron, Dak.
*Durbin, J., Lisbon, Dak.
Durfee, Owen, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Durham, Dr. G. W., Thomson, Ga.
Durkin Michael, Washington, D.C.
Dury, Charles, Avondale, Ohio.
Dusenberg, Mary R., Concord, N. C.
Duvall, M. W., Cheraw, S. C.
*Duvar, J. Hunter, Alberton, Priace Ed-
ward’s Island, Canada.

THE ENGLISH SPAKROW IN AMERICA.

*Dwelley, J. F., La Conner, Wash.
Dwinelle, C.H., Berkeley, Cal.
Eames, Frank M., Bay Ridge, N.Y.
Earnest, F. W., Jonesborough, Tenn.
*Eastgate, T. F., Larimore, Dak.
*Eastland, Hi, Forest, Miss.

Eaton, Caleb C., Montpelier, Vt.

*Ebbs, F.C., Marshall, N.C.

*Echols, W. T., Cotton Plant, Ark.
*Eckhard, W. L., Victor, Lowa.

*Eddy, Henry, Henrietta, Tex.

Edmonds, W.F., Estillville, Va.
*Edmondson, C. M., Williamsburgh, Miss.
Edmondson, R. H., Halifax C. H., Va.
Edwards, A. G., Kingsley, Mich.

| Edwards, A. J., Hillsborough, Ill.

Edwards, John F. T., Ironton, Mo.

Edwards, P. J., Hillsborough, Il.

*Edwards, §.M., Argusville, Dak.

*Edwards, Thomas, Bath, Dak.

Edwards, W. W., New Orleans, La.

Egerton, J. L., Hendersonville, N.C.

Eggleston, B. P., Smithville, Va.

Egleston, D., Winnsborough, 8. C.

*Elder, M. W., Garfield, Kans.

*Elder, W. A., Woodville, Miss.

*Eley, Charles N., Smith’s Point, Tex.

Elgar, William H., Platteville, Wis.

Eller, W. H., Blair, Nebr.

Elliot, N. A., Mansfield, Pa.

Elliott, Henry W., East Rockport, Olio.

Elliott, R., Plover Mills, Ontario, Canada.

Ellis, Alfred, Leicester, England.

*Ellis, M. J., Encinal, Tex.

Ellison, T. W., West Union, Ohio.

Ellsberry, B. F., Ironton, Ohio.

*Elson, Alex., Unionville, Mo. fc

Elvins, Richard, Belleville, Ontario, Can-
ada.

Elwyn, A. L., Philadelphia, Pa.

Ely, T. D., £1ma, Mich.

*Embree, David B., Barclay, Kans.

Emerson, Levi H., Vassar, Mich.

Emerson, Oliver, Parma, Ohio.

Emerson, T: W., Saint Clairsville, Ohio.

Emerson, W. Otto, Haywards, Cal.

Emery, Henry D., Chicago, Ill.

Engle, E. B., Waynesborough, Pa.

Engman, E. J., Concession, La.

*Ennis, John B., Monument, Kans.

*Eno, J. L., Indianola, Iowa.

Enos, E., Waukesha, Wis.

Erdice, Laselle R., Brookville, Pa.

*Ernsperger, F. B., Cambria, Wis.

Ernst, J. L., Petersburgh, Ohio.

a

Escott, J.T., Big Rapids, Mich.

_*Espey, S.M., Windom, Minn.

-*Kstes, W.C., Neligh, Nebr.

Etheridge, Anthony, Norwood,

Australia.

*Etienne, A. B., Centreville, La.

_ Ettmueller, Gustav, Hermann, Mo.

_ *Eubank, C., Poncho Springs, Colo.

_ Evans, G. J., Hastings, Nebr. |

_ Evans, H.C., Bloomfield, Iowa.

_ Evans, John C., Saint Joseph, Mo.

_ Evans, J.H., Wabasha, Minn.

_ Eveland, F., Ferry, Lowa.

' *Everett, H.C., Forsyth, Mo.

_ Everhard, A., Ripon, Wis.

_ Everly, J. O., South Carrollton, Ky.
Evermann, Prof. B. W., Terre Haute, Ind.
*Everts, E.L., Menomonie, Wis.

Ewart, John, Yarker, Ontario, Canada.

_ *Fain, George, Elk Falls, Kans.

Fairbanks, Arthur, Hanover, N. H.

Fairbanks, Rev. Henry, Saint Johnsbury,

15 Sipe
Fairbrother, Thomas, Fuliarton, South
Australia.

Fairchild, H. L., Midland, Mich.

*Fallas, William E., Reinbeck, Iowa.

Farley, P. R., Hicksford, Va.

Farmer, Andrew J., Hartville, Mo.

Farmer, H.H., Hillsville, Va.

*Farmer, I. M., Le Sueur, Minn.

Farnsley, A. P., Louisville, Ky.

*Farrar, John H., Evans, Colo.

Farrell, F. M., Barboursville, W. Va.

*Farrow, A. U., Cuba, Mo.

' Faucette, E. W., Milton, N.C.

*Fay, E., Moorhead, Minn.

_ *Feamside, M. B., Tillamook, Oregon.
*Fee, T., Mendota, Minn.

*Feild, Julian, Fort Worth, Tex.
-*Feildes, John, Jackson, Minn.

Fellers, Z., Princeton, W. Va.

& Fenn., E. D., Nevada, lowa.-

4 Fenton,. W. A., Morristown, Ohio.
*Fergerson, W.R., Smithville, N. C.
Fergus, R. A., Lewisburgh, Tenn.
*Ferguson, D.-A., Richmond, Tex.
*Ferguson, J. A., Doniphan, Mo.
*Ferguson, J. P., Augusta, Ark.

Fernald, Prof. C. H., Orono, Me.

Ferreira, Alexander, Fort Schuyler, New

York Harbor.

Ferriman, George, Albion, Ill.

Ferriss, Hon. John C., Nashville, Tenn.

Ferry, L. C., Northampton, Mass.

South

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

367

Fiebig, Charles, Eureka, Cal.

*Field, C. C., Puyallup, Wash.

Field, John, Cloverdale, Cal.

Filmer, Thomas, Glenelg, South Austra-
lia.

Fincher, W. J., Carnesville, Ga.

Finden, Mr., Salisbury, South Australia.

Finlay, John 8., Holly Springs, Miss.

Finley, Edward, Hartford, Mich.

*Finn, John, Decorah, Iowa.

Fisher, A. J., Ferdinand, Ind.

Fisher, Dr. A. K., Washington, D. C.

*Fisher, Charles A., Aberdeen, Dak.

*Fisher, F. P., Onawa, Lowa.

Fisher, Dr. George J., Sing Sing, N.Y.

Fisher, Henry, Lee, Ohio.

Fisher, H.L., York, Pa.

Fisher, Morman, Huntingburgh, Ind.

Fisher, T. Scott, East Brook, Pa.

Fisher, William C., Patoka, Ind.

Fisher, William Hubbell, Cincinnati, Ohio.

*Fitzpatrick, C. J., Aplington, Iowa.

Flagg, George H., Charlestown, W. Va.

*Flamin, Henry, Rexburg, Idaho.

*Fleming, W. J., Fort Smith, Ark.

*Flinn, Samuel, White Cloud, Kans.

*Florer, Dr. Thomas W., Waxahachie,
Tex.

*Flournoy, B. W., Bennington, Kans.

*Floyd, F.C., Locksburgh, Ark.

Floyd, H. H., Abilene, Kans.

Floyd, Patrick W., Burlington, Kans.

*Flynn, David C,, Advance, Mo.

*Flynn, John, Duluth, Minn.

*Foote, J. A.. Anoka, Minn.

*Forbes, C. E., Saint Paul, Nebr.

Forbes, Frank T., Fredericksburgh, Va.

Forbes, Prof. S. A., Normal, Ill.

Ford, A., Bronson, Kans.

*Ford, F. P., West Union, W. Va.

*Ford, G. W., Baldwin, Fla.

Forsyth, J. C., Northumberland, Pa.

Fosdick, Weldon F , Hackensack, N. J.

*Fosket, Mark, Howard, Minn.

Foster, E. H., Traverse City, Mich.

*Foster, J. A., Marquette, Kans.

Foster, L. 8., New York, N.Y.

Foster, Sarah H., Portsmouth, N. H.

Foster, T. W., Palmyra, Nebr.

*Foster, William, South Lake Weir, Fla.

Fowlkes, J. M., Memphis, Tenn.

*Frakes, David, Ouray, Colo.

Francis, F. M., Davisborough, Ga.

Francis, Nathaniel A., Brookline, Mass.

Francis, W., Ackley, Iowa.

368

Frank, Jno. L. H., Dayton, Ohio.
*Fraser, Alex., Irwin, Colo.
Frazar, M. Abbott, Mount Auburn, Mass.
Frazier, F. M., Lost Nation, Iowa.
Freeman, C. W., Brookfield, Mo.
Freeman, J. D. B., New London, Mo.
Freet, Jacob H., Wrightsville, Pa.
Freke, Percy Evans, Dublin, Ireland.
*French, C. H., Lakeville, Minn.
French, George H., Davenport, Iowa.
French, Prof. G. H., Carbondale, Ill.
*French, Mary F., Shawano, Wis.
Fribley, E., New Philadelphia, Ohio.
Friedman, J. F., Jasper, Ind.
*Friend, Jno. C., Rawlins, Wyo.
*Frierson, C. J., Frierson’s Mill, La.
Frink, Harry A., Bucksport, Me.
*Frink, J. O., Taylor, Tex.
Fritz, A. S., Burdickville, Mich.
Fritz, J. H., Somerset, Pa.
Frye, F. W., Parsons, Kans.
*Pryer, H. C., Blakely, Ga.
Fuller, Charles B., Portland, Me.
Fuller, 8. R., Eaton Rapids, Mich.
Falmer, J. H., Maney, Pa.
*Fulton, L. J., Casselton, Dak,
*Furguson, Adam, North Platte, Nebr.
Furlow, W. C., Americus, Ga.
*Furman, C. W., Bolivar, Mo.
Furman, H. §., Franklinton, N. C.
Fytche, Lewis, Lincolnshire, England.
Gaddis, Thomas B., Martinsville, Ohio.
Gaddy, R. B., Polkton, N.C.
Gadsden, R. W., Dyersville, Iowa.
*Gafiney, F. O., Lake City, Mich.
*Gage, W. D., Gurdon, Ark.
Galbraith, A. T., Flora, Ill.
Gall, D. W., Philippi, W. Va.
Gall, John, Wright’s Grove, II.
Gallagher, C. A., Cheboygan, Mich.
*Gallagher, John, Minto, Dak.
*Gallaway, C. C., Kildare, Tex.
Gallup, J., Strongsville, Ohio.
Gamble, Levi, Warsaw, Ohio.
Gans, M. L., Moundsville, W. Va.
*Gardiner, D. 8., Downs, Kans.
Gardner, F. H., Columbus, Ky.
Gardner, J. C., Big Rapids, Mich.
Gardner, M. E., Jamestown, Pa.
Gardner, R. M., Christiansburgh, Va.
Garfield, Charles W., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Garing, John F., White Sulphur Springs,
W. Va.
*Garlick, David, Independence, Wis,
*Garner, R. M., Comanche, Tex,

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

*Garner, W. M., Quitman, Ark.

*Garnett, L. M., Mathews, Va.

*Garrett, I., Monroe, La.

Garrett, L. S., West Point, Va.

Garrison, C. F., Fort Branch, Ind.

*Garrison, J. W., Sac City, Iowa.

Garrison, Lloyd McKim, Orange, N. J.

Garth, S. D., Clinton, Mo. :

Gartside, D. D., O’Fallon Depot, Il.

Garvin, W.O., Trenton, Mo.

*Garwood, John W., Monticello, Fla.

Gary, T. A., Galveston, Tex.

Gault, B. T., Chicago, Til.

Gault, W.S., Marysville, Pa.

Gay, William M., Wilson, N.C.

*Gaylord, George A., Tail Point Light
Station, Wisconsin. :

Gaylord, H. J., Binghamton, WN. Y.

Geduldig, G., Norwich, Cenn.

*Gee, E., Urbanna, Iowa.

Genung, A.G., Ithaca, N.Y.

*George, John, Buffalo, Mo.

George, R. H., Simpsonville, Ky.

*Gerald, G. B., Waco, Tex.

Gesner, Rey. A. H., Scarborough, N. Y.

*Getty, Daniel, White Bear Lake, Minn.

Ghere, A. B., Frankfort, Ind.

Gibbes, W. H., Columbia, 8. C.

*Gibbons, Dr. C. H., Arbuckle, Cal.

Gibbs, E. P., Grand Haven, Mich.

Gibbs, Dr. Morris, Kalamazoo, Mich.

*Gibbs, William, Helena, Mont.

*Gibson, I. C., Bolinas, Cal.

*Gibson, James R., Saint James, Mich.

Gibson, William K., Jackson, Mich.

Giddens, M.C., Trenton, N.C.

*Giddings, George A., Wichita Falls, Tex,

*Gidley, R. L., Malvern, Iowa.

Gierschner, August, New Athens, Ill.

Gies, John J., Reese, Mich.

Gilbert, E.S., Canaseraga, N. Y.

Gilbert, H. Roy, Rochester, N. Y.

*Gilbert, J. B., Empire City, Oregon.

*Gilbert, T. J., Lenora, Kans.

Gilbreath, Charles L., Collinwood, Ohio.

Gilchriest, O.S., Macksburgh, Ohio.

*Gilchrist, L. W., Wahoo, Nebr.

*Gilelea, C. A., Brackettville, Tex.

Giles, F. W., Topeka, Kans.

Giles, Norwood, Wilmington, N.C.

*Gilleest, J. S., Garden Plain, Kans.

Gillespie, M. H., Aberdeen, Miss.

*Gillespie, W. A., jr., White Sulphur
Springs, Ga.

*Gillette, R, B., Marionville, Mo,

LIST OF

*Gilliland, J.M , Nashua, Iowa.

- *Gilman, William, Chamberlain, Dak.
; iiman, W. W., Stoughton, Wis.

_ Gilmore, D.S., Wilson’s Mills, Ohio.
*Gilmore, Will A., Shosbone, Idaho.

*Gist, L. B., Beebe; Ark.

_ Gittings,M. R., Carrollton, Mo.

g Gladwin, Francis, Akron, Ohio.

4 -*Glazier, Henry E., Maysville, Mo.

_ *Gleason,C.R., Eau Claire, Wis.

_ Glennan, M., Norfolk, Va.

~ Glick, U. F., Newbern, Ind.

_ *Glover, A. D., Olympia, Wash.

- *Glover, C. R., Long Pine, Nebr.

_ Glover, L. H., Cassopolis, Mich.

B Goar, F.M., Tupelo, Miss.

Gochling, M. D., Shell Lake, Wis.

*Godbold, R. P., Summit, Miss.

_ *Godes, N., Preston, Iowa.

*Goff, J.B., Lincoln, Kans.

_ *Gooch, J. F., Moline, Kans.

- Goodknight, T.M., Franklin, Ky.

¥ Goodman, L. A., Westport, Mo.

_ *Goodner, G. D., Mount Ida, Ark.

_ Goodrich, H. O., Jerseyville, Ml.

_ Goodridge, John, Montrose, Va.

Goodwin, Ned W., Sharpsville, Pa,
*Googe, W. R., Douglas, Ga.

- *Gordon, H. T., Morrilltown, Ark.

Gordon, Stephen P., Keeler’s Bay, Vt.

_ Gordon, U.G., Barry, Ohio.

Gordon, William, New Castle, Pa.

a Gorman, O. D., Talbotton, Ga.

_ *Goss, C.S., Palmer, Fla.

_ Goss, Col. N.S. Topeka, Kans.

= Gould, C. P., Estelline, Dak.

~ Gould, Daniel W., Moline, Il).

y Gowland, John, Philipsburgh, Pa.

_ Graham, Thomas P., Tazewell, Tenn.

Grant, D. D., Franklin, Pa.

pee Be ks

‘ oo
Ne eels oe

er

ib

—

*Grant, Jos. H., Bollinger’s Mills, Miss.

_*Graves, B. D., Bon Homme, Dak.
4 Graves, B. Y., Mount Airy, N.C.

_ Graves, Daniel, Provo City, Utah.
_ Graves, G. C., Carthage, N. C.

i Graves, John, Wayland, Mich.

3 ‘| _ Graves, M., Lenawee Junction, Mich.
Gray, aca: Willoughby, Oli:

_ Gray, Dr. Ormsby, Shelbyville, Ky.

- Gray, Robert, Glasgow, Scotland.

_ Gray,S., Norwalk, Ohio.

eeoreen, Dr. ©, A., techistate; Pa.
_ *Green, D. L., English Lookout, La.

8404—Bull. 1 24

- Gilmore, William E., Chillicothe, Ohio.

BGrayson, Albert L., Rutherfordton, N. C.

CONTRIBUTORS.

a
——————

369

Green, Jas. B., Des Moines, Iowa.

*Green, J. B., Cambridge, Iowa.

Green, Morris M., Syracuse, N. Y.

Green, R. C., Bland C. H., Va.

Green, William W., Harrison, Mich.

Greenawalt, Davison, Chambersburgh,
Pa.

“Greene, C. P., Northborough, Iowa.

Greene, Samuel B., Hare’s Valley, Pa.

*“Greeson, W. R., Clinton, Ark.

Gregory, Howell J., Lancaster Court:
House, S. C.

“Griffin, M., Springfield, Dak.

“Griffin, William T., Nashville, N. C.

*Grifftth, D. G., Elkader, Iowa.

*Grinder, Nancy, Newburgh, Tenn.

Grinnell, F. W., Bay City, Mich.

*Grisell, A. H., Menlo, Iowa.

Grist, J. S., Tonganoxie, Kans.

Griswold, Dean F., Northville, Mich.

Griswold, H.C., Watkins, N. Y.

Groesbeak, William, Independence, Mo.

Groff, Dr. George G., Lewisburg, Pa.

Groninger, F. C., Camden, Ind.

“Groome, William, Vicksburg, Miss,

*Grow, A. L., Colfax; La.

Gruber, F., San Francisco, Cal.

“Guernsey, George F., Qu’Appelle, N. W.
T., Canada.

“Guidry, P. L., Church Point, Lu.

*Guthrie, T. A., Strawn, Tex.

*Guthrie, W. L., Hamilton, Ill.

Gurney, J. H., jr., Northrepps, Norwich,
England.

Gustin, Bert H., Bay City, Mich.

*Gwynn, D. W., Tallahassee, Fla.

Hadley, J.O., Grayling, Mich. —

Hagen, Fannie, Cheviot, Ohio.

Hagen, Dr. H. A., Cambridge, Mass.

Hager, John G., Foxburgh, Pa.

*Hager, S. E., Salyersville, Ky.

Hagerty, Jas., Belle Vervon, Pa.

Hagerty, J. H., Ridgway, Pa.

“Haines, M. S., Erie, Colo.

Haines, S. R., Tamaroa, III.

*Haire, Daniel, Olivia, Minn.

Hairn, John T. M., Lexington, Ga.

Hale, Dayton, Columbus, Miss.

Hale, Samuel @., Tuskegee, Ala.

Hale, W. P., Lufra, Ark.

*Haleman, George H., Farnsworth, Kans.

Hales, Henry, Ridgewood, N. J.

Haley, J. F., Jasper, Ala.

Hall, A., East Rockport, Ohio.

*Hall, E., Canyon City, Oregon.

370

*Hall, Henry R., Ash Grove, Mo.

Hall, Israel, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Hall, John A., Boone, Iowa.

Hall, R. N., Grenada, Miss.

Hall,S., Mount Carroll, Il.

*Hall, Thomas, Preston, Minn.

Hall, W. B., Wakeman, Ohio.

Hall, W. M., Covington, Tenn.

Haller, Alex. S, Wytheville, Va.

Haller, R. J., Marion, Va.

Halley, James, Washington, D. C.

Halloman, W. D., Dawson, Ky.

Hallowell, Henry C., Sandy Spring, Md.

Halt, J. H., Knoxville, Ga.

Haltes, J. L., Napoleon, Ohio.

*Hamflet, F. M., Belen, Miss.

Hamill, P., Oakland, Md.

Hamilton, H. A., Emlenton, Pa.

“Hamilton, John H., EurekaSprings, Ark.

Hamilton, Dr. S. M., Monmouth, II].

Hammon, William A., Conneautville, Pa.

“Hammond, A. W., Durand, Wis. —

Hampton, Will E., Harbor Springs, Mich.

Hancock, E. M., Waukon, Iowa.

Hancock, Frank B., Casky, Ky.

Hancock, Numa F., Wentworih, N. C.

*Hand, T. A., Charles City, Iowa.

*Hanes, J. B., Canton, Tex.

Haney, L., Sandy Hook, Ky.

Hanks, H. T., Ripley, Tenn.

Hannon, F. A., Clanton, Ala.

Hapgood, William, Warren, Ohio.

Harbron, George, Hamilton, Ohio.

Hardcastle, Charles, Marion, Kans.

Hardeman, Thomas, Macon, Ga.

*Harden, H. H., Abilene, Tex.

Hardy, Manly, Brewer, Me.

Hardy, Thomas. Adelaide, South Austra-
lia.

Hardy, W. V., Holman Station, Ind.

Harger, Ezra, Cadillac, Mich.

*Hargrave, Jesse, Laurel Hill, N. C.

Hargrue, C.S., Crawford, Ga.

Harkins, J. M., Calhoun, Ga.

Harkness, D. L., Berlin, Wis.

*Harlan, J. F., Pocahontas, Iowa.

*Harper, G. W., Bazile Mills, Nebr.

*Harris, D. W., Homer, La.

Harris, Henry, Union Springs, Ala.

Harris, H. G., Scottsville, Va.

*Harris, John S., La Crescent, Minn.

Harris, R. G., Alamo, Tenn,

Harris, S.S., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Harris, Hon. W. A., Atlanta, Ga.

Harrison, Henry, Rochester, N, Y,

THE ENGLISH

SPARROW IN

AMERICA.

Harrison, James, Heathlands, Hampstead,
England.

Harrison, John O., Franklin, N.C.

*Harrison, J. M., Friendship, Wis.

Harrison, Col. Randolph, Richmond, Va.

Harrold, W. H., Mount Gambier, South
Australia.

Hart, A. W., Eureka, Kans.

Hart, John, jr., Livingston, Tenn.

Hart, S. L., Rocky Mount, N.C.

Harting, James Edmund, London, Eng-
land.

*Harvard, Quinn L., Cochran, Ga.

*Harvey, Prof. F. L., Fayetteville, Ark.

Hasbrouck, Dr. Alfred. Poughkeepsie,
NOY

Hasbrouck, Edwin M., Syracuse, N. Y.

Haskins, David E., Concord, Mich.

Haslet, Samuel H., Tionesta, Pa.

Hasson, James G., Ebensburgh, Pa.

*Hastings, red H., Roma, Tex.

*Hastings, Mrs. O. A., Port Gibson, Miss,

*Hatch, H. P., Whittemore, Iowa.

Hatch, Dr. P. L., Minneapolis, Minn,

*Hatch, 8S. W., Conejos, Colo.

Hatch, W. H., Rock Island, Ill.

Hatcher, F. C., Pikeville, Ky.

*Hatcher, R., Trader’s Hill, Ga.

Hatcher, Thomas B., Grenola, Kans.

*Hatfield, D. D., Monarch, Colo. |

*Hatfield, William H., Hollywood, Ga.

Hauly, Jas. H., Winfield, W. Va.

Haven, Martin, Albion, Mich.

*Haviland, Jas. S., Prescott, Wash.

Hawes, C. O., Luverne, Minn.

Hawley, A. H., Flushing, N. Y.

Hawley, J., England.

Haworth, George L., Pleasantville, Pa. -

Haws, J. C., Jonesborough, Ga. _

*Hayes, A. L., Cation City, Colo.

Hayes, E. B., Watrousville, Mich.

*Haynes. H. C., Centerville, lowa.

Haynes, J. M., Wilmington, Ohio.

Haynes, Thomas E., Franklin, Tenn.

*Haynie, C. R., Bastrop, Tex.

Hayworth, A. B., San Saba, Tex.

Hazard, R. G., 2d, Peace Dale, R. I.

Hazen, Allen, Hartford, Vt.

*Hazzard, P. A., Colorado, Tex.

“Heard, George, Rocky Ford, Ga.

*Hearn, Q. E., Marianna, Fla. :

Heath, William McK., San Francisco, Cal.

*Hebert, O. P., Tallulah, La.

Heemey, E., Severance, Kans.

*Heffeman, John, Rives Junction, Mich,

LIST OF

Heffley, Charles W., Bennet, Nebr.

ese

Hellier, Frank O., Grass Lake, Mich.
Helm, William, Madison, Wis.
_ Heltzel, William, Hanover, Pa.

Henderson, J. F., Aledo, Il.

- Henderson, Mary W., Oxford, Ga.

*Henderson, W. M., Cameron, Ga.
Hendricks, George R., Selin’s Grove, Pa.

_ Hendrickson, W. F., Long Island City,

NS Y.

-*Hendryx, Charles F., Sank Centre, Minn.

Henley, J. L., Tappahannock, Va.

Henman, David H., Willows, Dak.

*Hennessey, James, Carlisle, Ark.

*Hennessy, J. J.. White Sulphur Springs,
Mont.

Henning, George, Washington, D. C.

Henning, G. C., Louisville, Ky.

*Henry, Ira B., Mason, Tex.

Henry, J. K., Chester, S. C.

*Henry, S. P., Cameron, La. ©

Henry, T. J., East Genoa, N. Y.
Henshaw, H. W., Washington, D. C.
*Hensley, W. N., Columbus, Nebr.

Hepburn, A., England.

Herbert, D. O., Newberry C. H., S. C.
Herbert, H. 8., Rolla, Mo.

Herrin, 8. H., Cullman, Ala.

Hervey, William S., Carlyle, Il.

*Herweg, Henry, Dakota, Nebr.
Hess, Benjamin F., Pheenix, N. Y.
Hewins, C. A., West Roxbury, Mass.
Hewitt, Henry J., Fairmont, Mo.

_ *Hewson, Stephen, Oxford, Minn.
*Hicks, A., Unionville, Iowa.
*Hicks, Jas. H., Wrightsville, Ga.

Hicks, John D., Old Westbury, N. Y.

Hicks, Percy, Port Washington, N. Y.
*Higby, E. P., Mapleton, Kans.

*Higgins, E. B., Hamline, Minn.

*Highsmith, J. N., Waynesville, Ga.
*Hightower, R. B., York Station, Ala.

we
‘a
ae

Hill, A. F., Grayson, Ky.

“Hill, F. A., Weimar, Tex.

Hill, Herbert M., Watertown, N. Y.
Hill, Ivy, Pittsborough, N. C.
*Hill, John E., Manor, Tex.

Hill, John G., Hillsboro, Kans.
Hill, John H., Goldsborough, N. C.
Hill, Lewis H., Lockport, N. Y.
*Hill, R. W., Jewell, Kans.

Hill, Will. T., Indianapolis, Ind.

_ Hill, W. H., Manistique, Mich.
4 Hillman, Charles L., Chester County, Pa.
_ *Hills,J.M., Arcola, La.

a

CONTRIBUTORS.

371

Hills, Stephen, Windsor, Conn.

Hilton, Edgar, Blue Hill, Nebr.

Hilton, J. B., Plymouth, N.C.

*Himrod, G.S., Boisé City, Idaho.

Hinchman, Dalton, Vernon, Ind.

Hinds, Jas. M., Cookville, Tenn.

Hines, Florine A., Suffolk, Va.

*Hines, P. J., Green River City, Wyo.

Hinson, W.I., James Island, 8. C.

Hirst, F., Echo City, Utah.

*Hitchcock, R. P., Tomah, Wis.

Hitchings, O. P., Winfield, N. Y.

*Hixson, Joseph, Mountain View, Ark.

Hoadley, Dr. F. H., New York, N. Y.

*Hobbs, George, Collins, Tex.

Hobbs, J., East Marden, South Australia.’

Hodge, Eli, Columbia, Mo.

*Hodges, R. B., Manifest, La.

Hodgson, T. H., Berkeley Springs, W. Va.

*Hodkins, James, Appleton City, Mo.

Hodo, D.C., Carrollton, Ala.

Hoeft, Hermann, Rogers City, Mich.

Hoey, P., McDonald, Pa.

Hofer, A. F., McGregor, Iowa.

*Hoff, T. L., Gloster, Miss.

Holbrook, 8. T., Norwich, Conn.

*Holcomb, Benton, West Granby, Conn.

Holder, F. T., Yonkers, N. Y.

Holder, Dr. J. B., New York, N. Y.

Holladay, Prof. A. Q., Lake City, Fla.

*Holland, R. A., Couwa, Iowa.

Hollick, Dr. F., New York, N.Y.

Hollis, George W., Brecksville, Ohio.

Hollis, George D , Summerville, Ga.

*Holman, D.S., Springfield, Mo.

Holman, J. H., Sciotoville, Ohio.

Holmead, William, Mount Pleasant.,D.C.

Holmes, Dwyer, Adelaide, South Aus-
tralia.

Holmes, F. H., San José, Cal.

*Holmes, F. H., Wallisville, Tex.

Holmes, George B., Fernwood, Ill.

Holmes, J. T., Adelaide, South Australia.

Holmes R., Natchez, Miss.

| Holmes, Mr., Magill, South Australia.

Holsinger, Prof. J. M., Winona, Minn.
Holt, John, South Jordan, Utah.
*Holterhoft, G., jr., San Diego, Cal.
Hooton, D. F., Bamberg, 8. C.
Hopkins, C. L., Washington, D.C.
Hopkins, J., Glen Allen, Va.
*Hopkins, K. E., Livingston, Ala.
Hopkins, Stephen, Onancock, Va.
Hopkins, William C., Madison, W. Va.
“Hopper, W., Walnut, Iowa.

3702

*Horan, T. B., Addison, W. Va.
Hornaday, Wm. T., Washington, D.C.
*Hornbach, R. W., Saint Ignace, Mich.
Horne, Laura E., Pittsborough, N. C.
*Horneck, 8. N., Detroit City, Minn.
Horsford, F. H., Charlotte, Vt.
Hortan, Isaac, North East, Pa.
Hough, C. A., Hastings, Mich.
Houghton, John, Grinnell, Iowa.
Houssels, J. H., Linden, Tenn.

“How, Squire D., Marshall, Minn.
Howard, A. M., Powhatan C.H., Va.
*Howard, H. P., San Antonio, Tex.
*Howard, Mrs. Lella, Dunlap, Tenn.
Howard, L. O., Washington, D. C.
*Howard, O., Greeley, Colo.
Howard, W. W., Dixon, Mo.

*Howe, C. E., Greenleaf, Kans.
*Howell, A. J., Springer, N. Mex.
Howell, C. L., Grand Island, Nebr.
Howle, W. H., Edwardsville, Ala.
*Hoxie, Walter, Frogmore, S.C.

Hoy, F. D., Point Pleasant, W. Va.
Hoy, Dr. P. R., Racine, Wis.

*Hubbard, L. W., Monmouth, Iowa.
Hubbard, Melvin, Scottsburgh, Ind.
Hubbard, Seth R., Bay Shore, N. Y.
*Hubbard, W. H., Fairview, Dak.
Huber, John L., Tell City, Ind.
*Hubert, Hiram, Quitman, Ga.
Hudson, G. H., Plattsburgh, N. Y.
Hudson, Judge Wm. I., Hamilton, Ga.
*Hudspeth, B. F., Newton, Ga.
Hughes, B. B., Morganfield, Ky.

Hull, B. L., Chamois, Mo.

Hull, H. C., Meriden, Conn.

Hull, J.S., Raleigh C. H., W. Va.

Hull, Walter B., Milwaukee, Wis.
*Hulszir, E. O., Glendale, Mont.
*Humphrey, N. W., Taylor’s Falls, Minn. ©

-*Humphreys, Charles J., Argenta, Ark.

Humphreys, Jas. W., Braxton C. H., W.
Va.

Hunley, R. R., Talladega, Ala.

*Hunt, A. M., Phillips, Wis.

Hunt, E. F., Richmond, Mich.

Hunt, John C., Lexington, N.C.

Hunter, C. E., Saegerstown, Pa.

Hunter, H. H., King George C. H., Va.

*Hunter, James, Alberton, P. E. I., Can-
ada.

Hunter, Dr. M. A., Greenville County, S.
CG

Huntley, H.S8., Little Valley, N. Y.

Huntsman, A. F., Lonoke, Ark.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

*Hurlburt, F. T., Arlington, Oregon.

Hurlbut, W. D., Rochester, Minn.

Hurst, N. B., Dover, Ohio.

Hurt, William B., Chatham, Va.

Huston, Thaddeus, Salem, Ind.

Hutcheson, Jas. M., Young Hickory, Ohio.

Hvoslef, Dr. J. C., Lanesboro, Minn.

Hyde, Jas. F. C., Newton Highlands,
Mass.

Ihle, C., Pomeroy, Ohio.

lliff, Joseph, Vinland, Kans.

Ind, G. F., Adelaide, South Australia.

Ingalls,Charles E., East Templeton, Mass.

Ingersoll, Ernest, New Haven, Conn.

Ingersoll, Seymour R., Cleveland, Ohio.

Ingersoll, T. Dwight, Erie, Pa.

Ingram, W., Odin, Ill.

Inman, Joknu, Somerset, Ky.

*Toor, Ella E., Bay Saint Louis, Miss.

Irion, Dr. John T., Paris, Tenn.

Irwin, Bell, Bad Axe, Mich.

“Irwin, David O., Lake City, Minn.

Irwin, John W., Goshen, Ind.

*Irwin, W. D., Palouse, Wash.

Irwin, W. N , South Salem, Ohio.

*Isensee, P. M., Whatcom, Wash.

*Ivey, William T., Pomeroy, Iowa.

Ivory, Theo. W., Glenwood, Iowa.

Jackson, Engene A., Atlanticville, N. Y.

Jackson, Martin, New Bedford, Pa.

Jackson, O. F., Ithaca, Mich.

Jackson, R.M., London, Ky.

Jackson, S. D., Mountain City, Tenn.

*Jacobs, C.M., Rosewood, Fla.

Jacobs, Francis, West Chester, Pa.

Jacobson, H., Redwood City, Cal. |

Jagersfeld, Carl von, Washington, Ark.

*James, J. R., Columbia, Dak.

James, 8. R., Marden, South Australia.

Jameson, Martin A., Lebanon, Ohio.

Jamison, L. M., Wapello, Iowa.

Jaques, J. H., Allerton, Iowa.

Jeffrey, Jas. R., Elmdale, Kans.

* Jeffries, $. D., Clark, Dak.

*Jellison, Thos. J., Amity, Oregon.

*Jenal, J. P., Hartington, Nebr.

Jencks, Fred. T., Hills Grove, R. I.

Jenkins, G. W., Crandall, Ind.

*Jenkins, R. E., Port Royal,S. C.

Jenner, A. E., Belvidere, III.

Jennings, Dr. Geo. H., Jewett City,Conn.

Jennings, H. M., Rochester, N.Y.

Jennings, Jas.S., Waynesburgh, Pa.

Jenson, Jas., Draper, Utah.

*Jermy, Gustav, San Antonio, Tex.

Ne sok Se a , = oe ha ‘
“ Se Galt Sn Ce

be LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. — 88
_*Jerome, F. E., Russell, Kans. *Jones, R. H., Saguache, Colo.

Jervois, Sir William Francis Drummond, | “Jones, William J., Brandon, Dak.
South Australia. Jones, W. F., Lexington, Tenn.

_ Jervy, Theo. D., Charleston, S.C. Jordan, D. A., Jackson, N.C.

_ *Jessup, T. H., Waitsburgh, Wash. Jordan, H. A., Manchester, Va.
a Jillson, s., Tuckerton, N. J: Jordan, W. W., Harmony Grove, Ga.

_ Johns, William, St. Mary Church, Devon- | Judd, J. M., Emporium, Pa.°
shire, England. *Judson, Hamilton H., Farmington, Minn.
_ *Johnson, A. F., Liberty, Kans. Kaehler, Conrad E., Louisville, Il.
_ Johnson, A. I., Hydeville, Vt. Kalk, C. F., Cumberland, Wis.
- *Johnson, A. J., Farrsville, Tex. Karn, William C., Burkittsville, Md.

_ *Johuson, B.I'., Mount Pleasant, Tex. *Karr, John, Little Rock, Ark.

_ *Johnson, Charles, Carver, Minn. Kaucher, William, Oregon, Mo.

_ *Johnson, Charles A., Saint Peter, Minn. | Kear, R. W., Pottsville, Pa.

_ Johnson, C. P., Clinton, N. C. Keays, H., Hyde Park, London, Ontario,
_ Johnson, C. S., Carthage, Ohio. Canada.

_ *Jobnson, Dr. F. W., Fort Smith, Ark. “Keck, H. A., Cotulla, Tex.

_ *Johnson, George, H. F., Kelso, Dak. Keck, J. M., Mentor, Ohio.

_ Johnson, Henry M., Sharpsburgh, Md. Keeler, Charles, Milwaukee, Wis.

_ *Johnson, H. A. Dalhousie, N. B., Canada. | Keeney, W. H., Fox Lake, Wis.

_ Johnson, Jas., Springfield, Ohio. *Keerl, H., Mason City, Iowa.

_ Johnson, James I., Marissa, III. Keim, Edward T., Dubuque, Iowa.

_ Johnson, Jas. J., Johnsonville, Tl. : Keister, A. T., Blacksburgh, Va.

- Johnson, James L., Hartwell, Ga. Keiter, Josiah, New Winchester, Ohio.

_ Johnson, John H., Netawaka, Kans. Keith, L. C., Norfolk, Mass.

_ *Johnson, J. Frank, Peeryville, W. Va. *Keith, P. W., Strawberry Point, Lowa.
_ *Johnson, J. H. Meridian, Tex. Kell, James, York, Pa.

_ Johnson, J. N., Savannah, Ga. *Kellogg, C.S., McComb, Miss.

_ Johnson, J. R., Hardinsburgh, Ky. Kellogg, H. C., Cantan, Ga.

_ Johnson, J. T. Milnersville, Ohio. Kells, Wm. L., Listowel, Ontario, Canada.
Johnson, J. W., Meriwether, S. C. Kelly, Henry, Adelaide, South Australia.
— *Johuson, Marcus, Atwater, Minn. Kelly, J. F., Coffeeville, Miss.

_ Johnson, M. B., Clarksville, Tenn. *Kelly, M. W., Lake Crystal, Minn.

_ *Johnson, Prof. O. B., Seattle, Wash. Kelsall, George, Saint Mary’s, W. Va.

_ Johnson, Robert, Manistee, Mich. Kelsey, Carl, Grinnell, Iowa.

_ Johnson, Hon. Sylvester, Irvington, Ind. | Kelsey, Eugene, Dickson, Tenn.
_ Johnson, William W., Glenville, W. Va. | Kemp, S. W., Kempton, Ohio.

_ Johnson, W. B. K., Allentown, Pa. *Kempe, E. L., Montevideo, Minn.

_ Johnson, W. D. H., Pope’s Ferry, Ga. *Kemper, Henry, Perham, Minn.

_ Johnston, D.C., Fulton, Kans. *Kempker, John, jr., West Point, lowa.
_ Jones, A.S., Bainbridge, Ohio. Kendall, William M., West Liberty, Ky.
_ Jones, D. C., Harrison, Ohio. *Kennard, Samuel J., Waldo, Fla.

4 *Jones, Edward M., Walterborough,§.C. | Kennedy, R., McMinnville, Tenn.
_ *Jones, Evan G., Cherry Creek, Idaho. Kennedy, Thomas S., Crescent Hill, Ky.

*Jones, E. B., Stephenville, Tex. Kenney, Jas. G., Provo City, Utah.
Jones, George C., Brookfield Centre, | “Kenyon, O. A., McGregor, Iowa.

= Conn. Kenyon, W.J., Brooklyn, N.Y.

_ Jones, Dr. Howard, Circleville, Ohio. *Keoke, R. F., West Point, Nebr.
_ *Jones, H. T., Green Castle, Mo. *Kephart, W. H., Miller, Dak.

_ Jones, John R., Chatfield, Minn. *Kerwin, Jas. H., Glenwood Sprivgs,Colo.
_ *Jones, Jos. B., Herndon, Ga. *Kessler, Charles A., Schulenburgh, Tex.
- *Jones, J. J., Le Beau, Dak. *Ketch, M.S., Alamota, Kans.

_ Jones, J. Matthew, Halifax, N.S.,Canada. | Keyes, C. R., Des Moines, Iowa.

_ Jones, Lynds, Grinnell, Iowa. *Keyes, John B., Friendship, Wis.
*Jones, R. G., Dawson, Ga. Keys, J. M., Richland Centre, Wis.

ar
t

374 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

*Kiblinger, Lee, Jackson, La.
Kidder, Dr. J. H., Wocd’s Holl, Mass.
*Kiehle, D. L., Saint Paul, Minn.
Kightly, Charles, Poseyville, Ind.
*Kilgore, Fidelia, Longview, Tex.
Killen, T. M., Perry, Ga.

Killian, T., Escanaba, Mich.
*Kilpatrick, J. R., Flagstaff, Ariz.
Kimball, Dr. F. H., Rockford, I11.
Kimball, 8. T., Ellington, Conn.

*Kinalski, Benjamin, Brownsville, Tex.

Kincaid, R.S., Clinton, Teun.
Kinchelve, Jas. M., Upperville, Va.
*King, Charles L., Millbank, Dak.
King, Dr. E. H., West Liberty, Iowa.
“King, E. P., Hawkinsville, Ga.
King, Prof. F. H., River Falls, Wis.
King, H. C , Oscoda, Mich.

King, J. M., Knoxville, Tenn.
*King, J. W., Murphy, N. C.

King, Otis G., Kenosha, Wis.

King, Richard, Brooklyn, Conn.
King, S. L., Bristol, Tenn.
Kingsbury, Ethie Coe, Willow, Ohio.

Kingsbury, Howard, Burlington, Iowa.

*Kingsbury, H. H., Spencer, Mass.
Kingsbury, J. G., Indianapolis, Ind.
“Kingsbury, W. J., Linwood, Nebr.
“Kingston, W. P., Warner, Dak.
*Kinkler, August, Cat Spring, Tex.
*Kinsey, B. L., Harlan, Iowa.
*Kinthof, H., Dover, Ark.

“Kirby, James H., Allapaha, Ga.
Kirkley, D. C., Camden, S. C.
Kirkman, T. J., Santaquin, Utah.
*Kitch, J. S., Lynnville, Iowa.
“Kittle, John 8., Seward, Nebr.
*Kleven, B., Culbertson, Nebr.
Knapp, G. W., Leon, W. Va.
Knaus, Warren, McPherson, Kans.
Knight, E. L., Newport, Pa.
*Knight, H. M., Carthage, Tex.
*Knight, J. L. H., Lee Park, Nebr.
*Knight, Miletus, Durand, Wis.
Knox, John, Taylorstown, Pa.
Koch, H. A., College Hill, Obio.
Koch, John, Alton Junction, II].
Koerner, Herman, Birdseye, Ind.
Koffman, J. H., Humboldt, Tenn.

Konkle, Kate, Caledonia Station, Mich.

*Konz, John A., Marienfeld, Tex.
Koons, Prof. B. F., Mansfield, Conn.
*Kornce, W. C., Columbia, Ala.

*Krasinsky, Theo. J., Garnaville, Iowa.

Krider, Brittell, Madison C. H., Va.

Krom, S. A., Plainfield, N. J.
*Krueger, William, Osseo, Minn.
Kruskopf, Max, Marshalltown, Iowa. —
*Kuhl, J. H., Earling, Iowa.

Kuoni, C., Sauk City, Wis.

Kupp, John, Bangor, Wis.

Kuster, J. D., Nebraska, Ind.

“Kyle, Jas., Hyde Park, Dak.
*Labodiec,T., Las Vegas, N. Mex.
Lacey, Samuel S., Marshall, Mich.
Laffer, H. Adelaide, South Anstralia.
*Laing, James, Persia, Iowa.

Laird, Francis, Saltsburgh, Pa.
Laird, Mrs. Mary G., Scranton, Miss.
*Lakes, Arthur, Golden, Colo.

Lamar, Robert, Boonsborough, Md.
Lamb, J. C., Williams, Ind.

Lamb, William F., Holyoke, Mass.
Lambie, William, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Lambright, Lewis, Middletown, Ohio.
Lamkin, George, Norwalk, Ohio.
*Lamkin, J. S., Booneville, Ark.
Landers, LE. J., Imlay City, Mich.
Landis, H. K., Landis Valley, Pa.

Landolt, Ulrich, Port Washington, Wis.

*Lane, A. V., Austin, Tex.
Lane, T. J., Greeneville, Tenn.
Langdon, Dr. F. W., Cincinnati, Ohio.
*Langford, S. W., Rolling Fork, Miss.
“Langlie, H. A., Portland, Dak.
Lanier, John R., Williamston, N. C.
Lankford, B. C., Brevard, N. C.
Lankheet, Hein, Allegan, Mich.
Lanning, W. J., Corunna, Ind.
Lantz, Prof. D. E., Manhattan, Kans.
Lantz, George, McArthur, Obio.
Larkin, J. B., Pittsburgh, Pa.

*Larsen, Charles O., Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Larsen, Fred., Mendon, Utah.
*Larsen, James, Nephi, Utah.
Latham, George, Fairburn, Ga.
Latimer, A. W., Lumpkin, Ga.
Latimer, J. B., Lumpkin, Ga.
*Laubersheimer, A., Wilmivgton, Cal.
Lauffer, S. D., Irwin, Pa.

*Laury, C. 8. M., Sheldon, Iowa.
Lausen, Jas. D., Woodstown, N. J.
Lavies, William, Santa Barbara, Cal.
Law, B. C., Darlington C. H., S. C.
*Lawless, A. W., New Berlin, Fla.
Lawrence, G. W., Fayetteville, N. C.
Lawton, Charles H., Newport, WK I.
*Lay, H. C., Telluride, Colo.

Lear, I. D., Salem, IU.

*Lee, Alfred C., Oriska, Dak.

es “Leo, C. C., Shepherdsville, Ky.
a *Lee, Reuben B. Carl, Devall’s
Lee, W. J., Nashville, Ark.

q Leeds, Kitwrard W., Union Bridge, Md.
Lees, F. A., Hagtad:

*Leftwich, D. C., Port Vincent, La.
Leinart, A. L., Maynardville, Tenn.
*Leonard, I. E., Socorro, N. Mex.
-Leonardson, John, New Haven, Mich.

- Leonardson, John B., Mount Clemens,

Mich.
Leue, Adolph, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Levy, James M., Covington, Ga.
*Levy, M.C., Lake Butler, Fla.

“Lewellyn, Rees R., Fountain Green, Utah.
Lewis, A. A., Gallatin, Tenn.

Lewis, John B., Eubank, Ky.

Lewis, M. D. L., Jackson C. H., W. Va.
*Lewis, S. E., Fort Gaines, Ga.
*Lewis, S.G., Grass Valley, Cal.
Lewis, William H., Pawtucket, R. I.
Lewis, W.S., Statesville, N. C.

*Lieb, H. A., Alton, Iowa.

Lightner, John §., Randolph, Wis.

-Lilford, Lord, London, Eng.

Lincoln, L. A., Mazo Manie, Wis.

Lind, William, Hillsborough, Wis.

Linden, Prof. Charles, Buffalo, N. Y.

Linderman, A. K., Troy, Pa.

Lindly, B. F., Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Lindsay, A. H., Portsmouth, Va.

Lindsay, J. H., Kernersville, N.C.

*Lindsey, W. M., Elmo, Tex.

Lingafelt, James M., Hollidaysburgh, Pa.

Linn, Robert, North Linndale, Ohio.

Lintner, Prof. J. A., Albany, N. Y.

Linton, Nathan M., Wilmington, Ohio.

Linville, John C., Gap, Pa

*Litson, W. H., jr., Benton, Kans.

Little, Frank, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Livingston, Clara K., Seneca, S. C.

Livingston, Jennie R., South Pittsburgh,
Tenn.

*Lioyd, William, Paint Rock, Tex.

Lock, Thomas W., Louisiana, Mo.

Lockhart, W. W., Lake George, N. Y.

“Loforge,Charles A., New Madrid County,
Mo.

Logan, W.F., Williamsport, Pa.

Logue, John C., Central City, Nebr.
Lomax, W. P., San Francisco, Cal.
“Long, C. W., Andrew, Iowa.
*Long, Dr. F. A., Madison, Nebr.
*Long, J. M., Primghar, Iowa.

_ Long, M. H. L., Charlottesville, Va.

eas LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Bluff, Ark.

bf

O15

*Long, R. B., Tyler, Tex.

Longyear, William D., Mason, Mich.

Loomis, P. B., Jackson, Mich.

*Looney, James B., Hancock, Mich. |

Loor, W.C., Greensburgh, Pa.

Lord, M.S., Saranac, Mich.

Lorquin, E. F., San Francisco, Cal. ©

*Lothrop, John, Dayton, Nev.

*Love, George T., Huron, Dak.

*Love, John D., Macksburgh, Iowa.

*Love, M.E., Carrollton, Miss.

Loveland, Eimer, Call’s Fort, Utah.

Lovett, J. W., Brandon, Vt.

Lowden, A. D., Noble, Ohio.

Lowe, R., England.

Lowell, George P., San Francisco, Cal.

Lowry, J.N., Greenvale! Chio.

“Lucas, C. Ae Mound, La.

Lucas, Piodenie ASS, Wasi cor D.C.

Lugger, Otto, Baltimore, Md.

Luikart, J. J., Nottingham, Ohio.

Lumpkin, Thomas B., Buena Vista, Ga.

Lyford, George A., Rouseville, Pa.

Lyon, W. D., Elkhorn, Wis.

*Lyons, John D., Benson, Minn.

*Lytle, Samuel, Castroville, Tex.

McAdams, Hon. Wm., Alton, III.

McAdoo, R. J.. Waverly, Tenn.

McArthur, A., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Can-
ada.

McArthur, E. W., Meadville, Pa.

*McAuley, Robt., Atlantic City, Wyo.

*McAusland, John, Miles City, Mont.

*McBride, A., Winusborough, Tex.

*McBride, W. D., Boonsborough, Ark.

McBrown, Wm., Fall River, Kans.

*McCabe, C. A., Pomeroy, Wash.

McCabe, Jas. W., Chilton, Wis.

McCaleb, John D., Mount Pleasant, Pa.

*McCall, H. J., Madison, Fla.

McCallum, Dr. G. A., Dunnville, Ontario,
Canada.

McCaipbell, W. C., Union City, Tenn.

McCartney, J.S., Garnett, Kans.

McCarty, Wm. G., Jefferson City, Mo.

*McCauley, James, White Lake, Dak.

*McCauley, John C., Searcy, Ark.

*McClain, J. M., Catlin, Colo.

McClellan, J. H., Oakland City, Ind.

McClure, James O., Warsaw, N. Y.

McCollough, T. J., Alpine City, Utah.

*McCook, Jas. M. H., Robeline, La.

McCormick, W. A., Morning Sun, Iowa.

McCoy, Frank D., Sistersville, W. Va. —

McCrassen, W. M., West Branch, Mich.

376

McCrea, Dr. A. B.; Berwick, Penn. |
*McCreless, Wm. A., Albertville, Ala. |
*McCulloh, R.L., Fort Assinaboine, Mont. |
McCune, J. A. C., Shippensburgh, Pa.
*McDaniel, Jerry, Centreville, Tex.
*McDaniel, W. B., Faceville, Ga.
MeDannold, John J., Mount Sterling, Ill.
McDearman, T. R., Danville, Va.
*McDonald, A., Glenmary, Tenn.
*McDonnhell, M. W., Alma, Wis.
McDougall, R. A , North Branch, Mich.
McElrath, J. J. B., Centre, Ala.
McFall, Gid. B., Oskaloosa, Iowa.
McFall, S., Fredonia, Ind.
McFerran, 8. S., Beaver Falls, Pa.
McGee, Jas. S., Paris, Mo.
*McGehee, I. M., Milton, Fla.
*McGinnis, W. T., Minden, Nebr.
McGlashan, P. J., Morantown, Kans.
*McGoldrick, J. R., Coushatta, La.
McGraw, H. H., Whitewater, Wis.
*McGregor, R., River Falls, Wis.
*McGuin, T. R., Rosedale, Miss.
McHenry, Estill, Saint Louis, Mo.
McHugh, T. J., Calvert, Tex.
Mellwraith, Thomas, Hamilton, Ontario,
Canada.
Mellyas, W. H. H., Cambridge, Ohio.
*McInness, W. F., Monticello, Miss.
*McIntire, A. P., Warren, Minn.
“McIntire, 8. B., Houston, Minn.
*McKee, R. J., Jasper, Fla.
*McKeon, P., Rush City, Minn.
*McKernan, Jolin Q., L’Anse, Mich.
McKinney, J. B., Newburgh, Ind.
*McKnicht, J. H., Fort Shaw, Mont.
McLachlan, Wm. M., Clyde, N. Y.
McLaughlin, D., Waseca, Minn.
McLaurine, H. Clay, Pulaski, Tenn.
McLean, A., Augusta, Ohio.
McLean, 8. M., Canal Dover, Ohio.
McLellan, Charles, Trenton, Ontario, Can-
ada.
*McLeod, Daniel, Leaksville, Miss.
McLeod, E. A., Palmyra, Mo.
*McMannen, Dr. C. T., Houston, Fla.
*MecMillan, James J., Caldwell, Tex.
MeNair, 8. N., Emmitsburgh, Md.
McNally, S. J., Harrisville, Mich.
*McNamara, Geo. G., Port Townsend,
Wash.
MeNichol, Harry E., North East, Pa.
MeNnutt, W. H., Kingston, Tenn.
*McPheely, J. L., Minden, Nebr.
*McPherson, C. L., Holly, Colo.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

| *McPherson, L. S., Sherman, Tex.

<

McPherson, John W., Hopkinsville, Ky.

*McPherson, Thos. B., Arapahoe, Nebr.
McQuesten, Dr. C. B., Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
*McReynolds, G. W., Nepesta, Colo.
McShene, M., Campbelltown, S. Australia.
*McSparran, J.8., Sloan, Iowa.
McWhirter, A. J., Nashville, Tenn.
*Mabbett, Gideon, Rodney, Miss.
Macbeth, Alex., Georgetown, S. C.
Mack, John T., Sandusky, Ohio.
*Mac Kay, Prof. A. H., Pictou, N. S., Can-
ada.
Mackay, Rev. Henry, Emporia, Kans.
Macon, R. C., Orange C. H ,Va.
Madison, Wm. H., East Enterprise, Ind.
Magill, C. M., Voleano, W. Va. .
Magruder, H. E., Keswick Depot, Va.
*Maguire, John, Republic, Mich.
Mahon, Cliarles, Dunkirk, Ohio.
*Malleis, Wm. B., Cedar Mill, Oregon.
*Mallett, W. R., Chapel Hill, N.C.
Mallory, B.H., Clarington, Ohio.
Maloney, T. S., Quinnimont, W. Va.
Mangum, Dr. W. L., Cullman, Ala.

| Manigault, Dr. G. E., Charleston, S. C.

*Manix, P. A., Augusta, Mont.

Manly, M., New Berne, N. C.

*Mann, Julia A., Mann’s Harbor, N. C.
Manning, Thomas, New York, N. Y.
Marckres, George M., Sharon, Conn.
Margraves, G. W., Sneedville, Tenn.
Marker, C. F., Ligonier, Pa.
Markham, W. G., Rochester, N. Y.
Marriott, George, Sandy, Utah.

Marrs, Jas. R., Danville, Ky.

Mars, Willis, Denver, Mo.

*Marsh, A. S., Red Cloud, Nebr.
*Marshall, Carl C., Arcata, Cal.
*Marshall, J. A., Kaufman, Tex.
Marshall, R. E., Booneville, Miss.
*Marshall, William, Castlewood, Dak.
Martin, C. R., Stuart, Va.

*Martin, B.S., Terrell, Tex.

Martin, E. S., Mechanicstown, Ohio.
Martin, George W., Chattanooga, Tenn.
Martin, Dr. G. A., China, Me.

Martin, G. W., Charleston, Mo.
Martin, N. A., Danbury, N. C.

Martin, T. J., Waynesborough, Va. |
Martin, W. P., Cottonwood Falls, Kans.
Mason, E. E., Accotink, Va.

Mason, G. D., Corunna, Mich.

Mason, Henry H., Farmington, Conn,
Mason, H.H., Niles, Ohio,

es ays A : al st

on, Orville F., Stanton, Mich.
Mason, Prof. Otis T., Washington, Da.
Mason, AEH, SeeRville, N. B., Canada.
“Mason , W.T., Pungoteague, Va.

M Ethers, Dr. jf. R., Buckhannon, W. Va.
-*Mathys, George, ignbacias Wis.
Matson, Jas. B., North Bend, Ohio.
-*Matteson, F. S., Aumsville, Oregon.
‘Matthews, Robert J., Baldwin, Mich.
-*Matthews, Thomas M., Athens, Tex.

- Mattoch, C. P., Portland, Me.
-*Maughs, L. L., Denison, Tex..
_Maaney, W. A., King’s Mountain, N. C.
_ *Maurer, William, Maiden, Mont.
_*Mawherter, D., Tin Cup, Colo:
Maxson, B. F., ueeshStlly 1. De
Mayberry, J., Burlingame, Kans.
Mayer, Dr. I. H., Willow Street, Pa.

a “Maynard, Gee; BEEEOh, Mass.

Mayo, A. C., AGhiand, re

3 -*Mayo, H. M. , Morgan City, La.

Mead, E. C., Reuwviels Depot, Va.
_*Meadows, F. C., Caddo, C. N., Ind. T.

Mechan, Thos., Germantown, Pa.
‘Meigs, General, M.C., Washington, D.C.
y feily, R. W., Lima, Ohio.
Deiciracheidt, Arthur, La Grange, Tex.
Melzer, Jas. P., Milford, N. H.

‘Menard, Maphatine, Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
-*Menefee, C. A., Los Gatos, Cal.
*Menefee, R. P., Bozeman, Mont.
-Menville, Dr. Shares: Napoleonville, La.
P Merchant, I. T., Broken Bow, Nebr.
‘Merony, Callie, Garilace Tenn.
‘Merrell, E. A., Carrollton, Ga.

*Merrick, P. D., Villisca, Iowa.

erritt, W. H., Des Moines, Iowa.
“Merry, W. Y., Mandarin, Fla.

‘Metcalf, F.H., Holyoke, Mass.
‘Metsker, Chas., Yeoman, Ind.

M fetz, Manoah, Smithsburgh, Md.
Micklem, H. Martyn, Variety Mills, Va.
; “Midgley, Jonathan, Wales, Utah.
‘Mikesell, Thos., Wauseon, Ohio.

X Miles, M. W., Glenville, Ohio.

Millar, Dr. ayeatice: Bellevue, Iowa.
*Miller, Ada L., Mulberry Grove, Kans.
- *Miller, Frederick, Washburn, Mivn.
Miller, H. H., Sandy Spring, Mad.
*Miller, James, O’Neill City, Nebr.

4 Miller, John, Florence, Ariz.

Miller, John J., Leland, Mich.

"2

ce.
+

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

»*Mazyck, W. St. IL, Waverley Mills, S. C.

Mearns, Dr. Edg. A., Highland Falls, N. Y.

‘Merriam, Dr. C. Hart, Washington, D.C.

317

| *Miller, J. C., Hawarden, Iowa.
*Miller, J. P., Crocus, Ky.

Miller, Mrs. Olive Thorne, Brooklyn, N. Y.
*Miller, O. E., New Providence, Iowa. |
Miller, P. D., Schoolcraft, Mich.
*Miller, Samuel, Pontotoc, Miss.
Miller, S. T., Constableville, N. Y,
*Millham, T. W., Hudson, Dak.
Milligan, E. A., Moultrie, Ga.
Milliken, F. M., Indianola, Iowa,
Milner, Wm., Cartersville, Ga.

Mines, Geo. P., Newport, Tenn.
*Minnshal!, Thos., La Crescent, Minn.
Mitchell, D. A., Wichita, Kans.
Mitchell, John B., New Albany, Ind.
*Mitchell, Susman, Visalia, Cal.
*Moershel, Wm., Homestead, Iowa.
*Moir, M. W., Eldora, Iowa.

*Moles, A. M., Clarksburgh, Mo.
Molineaux, A., Adelaide, S. Australia.
*Monell, C. E., Kirwin, Kans.

*Mong, W. H., Fletcher, Iowa.
*Monroe, Wm. A., Jacksonport, Ark.
Montague, W.Y., Clifton, Tenn.
Montgomery, A. R., Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Montgomery, J. W.,Coal Valley, W. Va.
Montgomery, W. W., Radnor, Pa.
Mooman, Caddie, Franklin, W. Va.
Moor, Sidney, Hamburg, Iowa.
*Moore, C. R., Birdsnest, Va.

*Moore, D. J., Sedan, Kans.

*Moore, E. H., Silver City, Idaho.
*Moore, F. A., Saint Helen, Oregon.
Moore, George, Steubenville, Ohio.
Moore, Dr. H. D., New Lexington, Pa.
*Moore, Jas. F., Prineville, Oregon.
Moore, James H., Monongahela, Pa.
Moore, J. Percy, Philadelphia, Pa.
*Moore, J. U., Uniontown, Kans.
*Moore, L. R., Morton, Miss.

*Moore, M., Altoona, Kans.

Moore, Ransom A., Kewaunee, Wis.
Moore, Mrs. S. A., Dallas, N. C.
*Moorhead, A. D., Sedgwick, Colo.
Moran, George H., Morganton, N.C.
Moran, James, jr., Waukegan, Ill.
Moran, Wm. C., Adrian, Mich..
*Morgan, A. H., Way Cross, Ga.
*Morgan, D.L., Norwalk, Fla.
Morgan, John, Mill Creek, Utah.
*Morgan, J., jr., Weir, Kans.
Morris, C. H., McCennelsville, Ohio.
Morris, Rev. Francis O., Nunburnholme,

Yorkshire, Eng.
Morris, Jas. R., Woodsfield, Ohio.

3718

Morris, R. G., Georgetown, Ga.

Morrison, A. J.. Marengo, Iowa.

Morrison, E. A., Smithfield, Va.

Morrison, Dr. E. M., Des Moines, Iowa.

Morrison, H., Ithaca, Mich.

Morrison, W. K., Bellaire, Ohio.

Morse, Dr. 8. P., Omio, Kans.

Morse, Martha V., Karns City, Pa.

Morton, Thomas, Nebraska City, Nebr.

Moseley, Alex. T., Buckingham C. H., Va.

Moseley, A. M., Adairville, Ky.

*Mosher, H.G., Iliff, Colo.

*Mosher, John, Spirit Lake, Iowa.

*Moss, Mrs. M. J., Sand Run, W. Va.

Mottweiler, L. M., Georgetown, Ind.

Mould, Matthew’ H., Baraboo, Wis.

Muchmore, Jos. A., Madeira, Ohio.

*Mueller, Jacob J., Ellensburgh, Wash.

Mugford, E. T., Hart, Mich.

Muldragh, William J., Sand Hill, Mich.

*Mullay, E. F., Rush Centre, Kans.

*Miiller, Max, Jacksonville, Oregon.

*Mumford, F.M., Bayou Sara, La.

Mundt, A. H., Fairbury, Ili.

*Munnerlyn, I. K., Clear Water Harbor,
Fla.

*Munroe, A. T., Industry, Kans.

Munroe, Thomas, Staten Island, N. Y.

*Munson, J. E., Foster, La.

Murdock, Jas. E., Kingwood, W. Va.

Murphy, Chris., Sandusky, Mich.

Murphy, C. T., New Haven, Mo.

*Murphy, D.F., Rushford, Minn.

Murphy, J. F., Nantucket, Mass.

Murphy, M.M., Ripley, Ohio.

*Musegrove, M., South Haven, Kans.

Musick, Mrs. M., Mount Carmel, Mo.

Musser, J. W., Mission San José, Cal.

*Myers, C. F., Rockford, Iowa.

Myers, O. A., May, Mich.

Myrick, B. H., Meriweather, Ga.

Nall, J. B., Louisville, Ky.

Napier, C. O. Groome, London, Eng.

*Nash, H. W., Pueblo, Colo.

Natural History Society of Toronto, On-
tario, Canada.

*Nayer, Frederick B., Collins, Tex.

Neal, A. D., Milton, W. Va.

Neal, Charles, Plain City, Ucah.

Neal, J.T., Thomson, Ga.

Neal, S. F., Gallipolis, Ohio.

Neese, George M., New Market, Va.

*Nelnes, W.G., Vinita, Cherokee Nation,
Ind. T.

*Nelson, G. F., Goodwin, Dak.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Nelson, Joel, Davenport, Nebr.

Nesmith, Charles E., Donaldsonville, La.

*Neu, Peter, Templeton, Iowa.

Newell, Mrs. Eva E., Plantsville, Conn.

Newell, E. R., Plantsville, Conn. |

Newlon, Dr. W.S8., Oswego, Kans.

Newman, E. O., Roberts, Ill.

Newman, George E., Bath, Me.

Newton, Prof. Alfred, Magdalen Collez:,
Cambridge, Eng.

Newton, R. H., Rochdale, Mass.

Newton, W.A., Mona, Utah.

“Nicholas, W.T., Lyons, Kans.

Nichols, D. A. A., Dunkirk, N. Y.

Nichols, Fremont D., Berrien Springs,
Mich. é

Nichols, George H., Des Moines, Iowa.

Nichols, Jason E., Lansing, Mich.

*Nickerson, C. W., West Tisbury, Mass.

Nickerson, H. O., Readfield, Me.

Niesz, J. F., Canten, Ohio.

*Ninon, James, Denison, Tex.

Nixon, W. T., Lawrenceburgh, Tenn.

*Noll, J. N., Sheridan, Ark.

Norgate, F., England.

*Norman, James, Hockley, Tex.

Norris, Dr. George D., Newmarket, Ala.

*Norris, 8. R., Dwight, Dak.

North, F. A., Montevallo, Ala.

Norton, Arthur H., Saccarappa, Me.

Nottingham, Leonard J., Eastv.ille, Va.

*Nowers, Willson G., Beaver, Utah.

*Nowlin, 8.H., Little Rock, Ark.

*Nugent, J. C., Buffalo, Minn.

Nunez, J. M., Swainsborough, Ga.

Nutting, C. C., lowa City, Iowa.

Nye, A. L., Morgantown, W. Va.

Nye, Dudley S., Marietta, Ohio.

Oakey, W.S., Salem, Va.

*Oathout, John M., Booneville, Ark.

*Odell, W. H., Salem, Oregon.

Odle, Fred. 8., Lapeer, Mich.

Odlum, E., Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.

O’Donobo, N. B., Cerro Gordo, Fla.

‘Oenning, John B., Fountain City, Wis.

Oettinger, William, Dent, Ohio.

*O’Grady, Daniel, Walkerville, Mont.

*Olas, E. H., Albany, IIl.

Olcott, Jas. B., Manchester, Conn.

*Oldfield, J.G., Lake Providence, La.

Oldridge, W. V.. Farley, Iowa.

O’Leary, Jas. J., Peshtigo, Wis.

Oliverson, James, Franklin, Idaho.

*Oltorf, T. C., Marlin, Tex.

Ong, P. L., Hennepin, I].

“

-*O’Niell, John A., Franklin, La.
*Oreutt, C. E., Jamesport, Mo.
-*Orcutt, J. H., San Diego, Cal.

q + Fox. England.
- *Orndorff, L. H., Moundville, Mo.
Orr, George H., nena. Mich.
Osborn, A., Olmsted, Ohio.
- *Osborn, Prof. Herbert, Ames, Towa.
- Osborne, George C., Westport, N. Y.
- *Osburn, F. W., Eugene City, Oregon.
Osburn, J WncHcater, Ohio.
- Osterhaut, W.J.N., Providence, R. I.
Osterhout, W. V., Providence, R. I.
- O'Toole, Dr. M. C., Berkeley, Cal.
3 ZY Joseph, West Bend, Wis.
~ Overman, H. W., Waverly, Ohio.
~ Overton, D. Y., “online Iowa.
Owen, CoP. Henver: Vt.
~ Owen, J.R., Cuthbert, Ga.
oe Ovens, Tose , Jonesborough, Ark.
/Owens, J.P., Seqtidale, Pats
4 *Ozmun, Andrew, Baldwin, Mich.
~ Packard, Edson, Benzonia, Mich.
| ee H.,. Burgaw, N.C.
_ Page, M. A., Garnett, Kans.
Paily, J.D., Delmont, Pa.
ePaine, C.8. ash Bethel, Vt.
*Paine, Tics Is., Royalston, Mass.

% cto Thiomas, Coralville, Iowa.

*Palla, Joseph, Marshall, Cal.
- *Palmer, A. H., Montague, Tex.
*Palmer, C. L., Baker City, Oregon.
*Palmer, L. D., Yankton, Dak.
- *Palmer, Marcus N., Clearwater, Nebr.
- Palmer, T.S., Berkeley, Cal.
Palton, R. W., Lewiston, Pa.
-*Pardee, J. E., Quincy, Cal.
Parish, John H., Allen, Mich.
Park, JuneB., Irvine, Ky.
**Parker, Asa A., Ontonagon, Mich.
q - Parker, A.K., Hillsdale, W. Va.

_ *Parker, C.G., Mount Vernon, Tex.
_*Parker, E. E., Verndale, Minn.
_ *Parker, G. A., Halifax, Mass.
- Parker, G.S., Pe haarsrile, Va.
_ Parker, John D,, Fort Riley, Kans.
Parker, T. W., Griggsville, Il.
_ Parkhurst, A. L., San José, Cal.
- Parmelee, P. W., Burton, Obio.
‘Parrish, Stephen D., Richmond, Ky.
_ *Parrish, T. J., Gainesville, Tex.
_*Parrott, J.M., Orchard, Colo.
Parsons, E. A., Towanda, Pa.
Parsons, Newell A,, Enfield, Conn.

Ormerod, Miss Eleanor A., Isleworth, Mid-

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. 379

Paschall, S. Edward, Doylestown, Pa.

Patcbin, M. B., New London, Wis.

*Patterson, C. H., Oak Lodge, Choctaw
Nation, Ind. T.

Patterson, I. R., Petersburgh, Va.

Patterson, Jas. Y., Martin’s Ferry, Ohio.

Patterson, T. H., Pine River, Wis.

Patterson, Wm. D., East Wheatland, III.

*Pattison, R., Wall Lake, Iowa.

Paiton, Jas. A., Juda, Wis.

Patton, J. Holmes, Brownsville, Pa.

Patton, T. B., Altoona, Pa.

Paul, Geo. H., Milwaukee, Wis.

Paul, Norman, Woodstock, Vt.

Paxton, J. T., Lick Run, Va.

“Payne, E.C., De Soto, Lowa.

Payne, Robt. T., Warm Springs, Va.

Payton, James N., New Albany, III.

*Peabody, Mrs. A. L., Denver, Colo.

Peak, Leonard G aBedtondk Ky.

Peale, de Wee Ionia, Mich.

Pearce, H.C., Trenton, Tenn.

Pearson, J.G., Gordon, Ga.

Pearson, J. W., Newton, Mass.

Pease, Henry A., Edgartown, Mass.

Peck, J. B., Hampton, Iowa.

- Peckham, Byron J., Westerly, R. I.

Peckham, John J., Newport, R. I.
Peebier, Wm. M., Hardy, Nebr.
*Peebles, Josephine, Harvel, III.
*Peek, William L., Conyers, Ga.
Pelton, Edward D., Euclid, Ohio.
*Pembaugh, Geo. C., Winfield, Kans.
*Penbentry, E. R., Houghton, Mich.
*Pender, Drew D., Groesbeck, Tex.
Pendleton, Wm., Floyd C. H.,Va.
Pepper, John, Boscobel, Wis. ~
Percy, W.C., jr., Black Hawk, La.
*Perkins, C.G., Onawa, Iowa.
Perkins, Daniel W., Ogunquit, Me.
Perkins, Geo. H., Burlington, Vt.
Perkins, I.O., Auburn, Ky.

Perry, Geo. B., Brooklyn, Pa.
Perry, JA, Bay Ridge, NY.
Pertwee, James, Chelmsford, England.
Peter, Dr. Robert, Lexington, Ky.
Peterman, L., Clear Spring, Md.
Peters, Edw. T., Washington, D.C.
*Peters, Thos., Mokelumne Hill, Cal.
Peters, W. F., Dublin, Va.
*Pettigrew, Geo. F., Cabool, Mo.
Pettitt, W.J., Benzonia, Mich.
Peary, Thomas, Glenwood, Mo.
Phelps, Albert H., West Pawlet, Vt.
*Phelps, C., Mississippi City, Miss.

2

380 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

*Phelps, D. R., Sanborn, Iowa. Prather, H. P., Greencastle. Pa.

' Phelps, Ralph, jr., Detroit, Mich. | Pratt, Rev. George B., Oak Park, Ml.
*Phillips, G. L., Bethany, Mo. | Pratt, W. H., Davenport, Iowa.
*Phlegan, A. M., Bodie, Cal. | *Prendergast, J. B., Webster, Dak.
Pickering, Dr. Charles, Boston, Mass. Prescott, George R., Galt, Ontario, Can-
*Pickert, John, Saint Charles, Minn. ada. :
Piening, A., Manitowoc, Wis. *Preston, J. M., Madison, Dak.

*Pierce, David, Beaufort, N.C. Preston, R. H., Woodbury, Tenn.
*Pierce, Jennie R., Elizabeth, Colo. *Price, I. G., Fort Lewis, Colo.
Pierce, J. B., Westmoreland, Kans. Price, M. A., Gilberton, South Australia.
*Pierce & Co., Messrs., Rock Rapids, Iowa. | Pringle, H. N., Thetford, Vt.
*Pierson, M.S., Emory, Tex. Professor of Botany and Forestry, Agri-
Pike, Hon. Nicolas, Brooklyn, N. Y. cultural College, Michigan.
Pilbeam, James M., Nashville, Mich. | Prout, S. C., Prout, Ohio.
Pilkington, D. W., Wickham, New Bruns- | *Prouty, R. D., Shelby. Iowa.

wick, Canada. Prudden, 8. C., Eatonton, Ga.
Pindar, L. O., Hickman, Ky. Pruett, M: E., Midway, Ala.
Piper, N. R., Kenton, Ohio. *Pryor, Bennett A., Colusa, Cal.
*Pipkin, W. H., Springfield, Mo. *Puffer, F. L., Bird Island, Minn.
Pitkin, Mrs. William, Rochester, N. Y. Pugh, Mary E., Broadway, Va.
Pitt, C., Adelaide, South Australia. *Pugmire, V. M., Saint Charles, Idaho.
Pitt, John, Adelaide, South AustraHa. Purdie, H. A., Boston, Mass.
Pitzer, John B., Covington, Va. | *Purinton, Prof. G. D., Fayetteville, Ark.
Place, F.S., Alfred Centre, N.Y. Pursell, H. D., Washington C. H., Ohio.
Platt, Frank S., New Haven, Conn. | Putzell, C. L., Martinsville, Va.
Playfurd, Hon. T., Adelaide, South Aus- | Quellin, E. R., Clayton, Ala.

tralia. | Quick, H. C., Shiraz Vineyard, Marden,
Plumb, C.S., Geneva, N. Y. South Australia.
Plumb, George, Fairport, N. Y. | Quimby, I. W., Lancaster, N. H.
*Plumbe, Edward O., Hull, Iowa. *Quinn, Bernard, Bingham Canyon, Utah.
*Plummer, E.J., Hanford, Cal. ; *Raber, A. S., Wiota, Iowa.
Plummer, Gordon, Brookline, Mass. Radcliffe, J. F., Hersey, Mich.
*Poindexter, P. E., Dillon, Mont. *Radford, J. W., Ponea, Nebr.
*Polleys, J. W., Wells, Minn. Ragan, W. H., Greencastle, Ind.
Pomeroy, Jas. T., Robinson, Kans. Ragland, N. H., Appomattox C. H.,Va. -

*Ponder, W. F., Smelley, Ala. *Ragsdale, George H., Gainesville, Tex.
Ponton, William H., Belleville, Ontario, | *Rain, Mr., Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Canada. *Rainey, R. T., Brownville, Nebr.
*Poore, J., Golden City, Mo. Randle, Prof. E. H., Jackson, Tenn.
Porter, E. W., Marysville, Ohio. *Rankin, B. J., Dorrance, Kans.
*Porter, James H., Conway, S. C. Rankin, James E., Elk Rapids, Mich.
Porter, William A., Alpharetta, Ga. Rankin, William W., Lock Haven, Pa.
Porter, W. C., Clinton, Ky. Rardin, J. C., Catlettsburgh, Ky.
Post, William P., Middletown, Conn. Ratekin, J. R., Shenandoah, Iowa.
Pustmasters at 278 localities (see Distri- | Rathvon, Dr.8.8., Lancaster, Pa.

bution by States). Ratliff, Joseph C., Richmond, Ind.
*Potter, Guy R., Granada, Colo. *Ratliff, R. L., Poplarville, Miss.
Potter, Minor R., Wellston, Ohio. Rattigan, P. A., Barnhart’s Mills, Pa.
Powel, Samuel P., Rogersville, Tenn. Ray, C. W., Sharon, Pa.

Powell, C. H., Goochland C. H., Va. Raymond, C.M., West Brighton, N.Y.
Powell, George T., Ghent, N. Y. *Rea, T. W., Cedarville, Kans.
Powell, Irvin P., Montgomery City, Mo. | *Ream, James S., Greenridge, Mo.
*Powell, 8. E, Troup, Tex. Rearden, Geo., Shawneetown, Ill.
Powers, Frank M., Angola, Ind. Redding, R. J., Atlanta, Ga.

*Powers, 8., Lawtey, Fla. Redfield, S. D., Vinton, Iowa.

ees LISE--OF

R Sa Ti. eisai Bisle: N. Y.
Reed, Curtis, Menasha, Wis.°

Re ed, D. W., Waukon, Iowa.

! Giced, BAloyd, Clarksburgh, W. Va.

Reed, P. A., Tyrone, Pa.

=Reemer, F. M., Dodge City, Kans.

*Reese, L. E., Smith Centre, Kans.

4 Australia.

Reeves. Empson, Mount Healthy, Ohio.
‘Reid, J. Henderson, J acksborough, Tenn.
*Reid, Marshall, Eel River, N. B., Canada.
*Reimen, Olof, Marne, Iowa.
Renshaw, Dr. S., Sugar Grove, Ohio.
-Rentch, D.S., Shepherdstown, W. Va.
Respess, A. C., Maysville, Ky.
*Rettig, J. F., Baird, Tex.
-*Reverchon, Julien, Dallas, Tex.
*Reyill, A. J., Litchfield, Minn.
olds, E., Franklin, Tex.
Reynolds, E.L., Westville, Ind.

Re eynolds, <A Poplar Bluff, Mo.

* Reynolds, M.C., Ava, Mo.
Reynolds, P.C., Rochester, N.Y.
*Reynolds, W. T., Russellville, Ark.
-Rhines, Wallace D., Constantia, N. Y.
Rhoades, Mary E., Coalville, Utah.
Rhoads, Sam’! N., Haddonfield, N. J.
Rhodes, Col. William, Quebec, Canada.
*Rice, H., Albion, Nebr.

*Rice, T. G., Clinton, Miss.

Rich, F. B., South Richland, N. Y.
Richards, E. E., Farmington, Me.
Richards, E. H., Woburn, Mass.
Richards, J.L., Buchanan, Mich.
Richards, Thos., Stanford, Ky.
‘Richards, W. W., Solon, Ohio.
-*Richardson, A.P., Charleston, Ark.
Richardson, Dr. D. A., Osceola, Ark,
Richardson, Geo., Fort Howard, Wis.
Richardson, H., J anesville, Wis.

R Richardson, Sees Eatlandh Vt.
Richardson, J.H., Quincy, Ill.
*Richardson, J. N. , Richfield, Minn.
Richmond, E.D., Hart, Mich.
*Richmond, poets Elliott, Il.
*Riddell, Sam’i T., Fernandina, Fla.

a Ridgway, Robert, Paacansion, D.C.
Riedy, M., Kewaunee, Wis.

Ri a Eiuel E. , Beatrice, Nebr.

Aes we Marshall, ex.

i, 1. R., Steilacoom, Wash.
Riley, Prof. C. V., Washington, D. C.

af

pis Ge: °C gaps a
ers cae \ ae SG Bae ae cal ts malt

CONTRIBUTORS.

Reeves, C., Gilbert-street, Norwood, South |

- a, bl wath
se =. >

as ~ Me

=

asl

Ringle, V., Wausau, Wis.

*Ripply, O. B., Ainsworth, Nebr.
*Risedorph, D. E., Snyder, Cole.

Rising, D. C., Wetmore, Kaus.

*Risley, Samuel, West Plains, Mo.
Ritenour, Wm. H., Harrisouburgh, Va.
Rittenhouse,C. Augustus, Collegeville, Pa.
Ritzman, Jacob, Osceola Mills, Pa.

Roach, F. P., Oceana, W. Va.

*Roach, J.J., Camden, Ala.

Robbins, Mont., Statesville, N. C.
“Roberson, Victor, Fort Snelling, Minn.
Roberts, A. C., Plainwell, Mich.

“Roberts, A. P., Sioux Rapids, Iowa.
Roberts, Geo. A., Shelbyville, Ill.
Roberts, Prof. I. P., Ithaca, N. Y.
Roberts, 8., England.

*Roberts, Thos., Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Roberts, Dr. Thos. S., Minneapolis, Minn.

_ *Robertson, Douglas, Blanchard, Dak.
_ Robertson, G. Douglas, Chloride, N. Mex.

Robertson, Jas. T., Culpeper, Va.
“Robie, H. P., Rush City, Minn.

_ Robie, Reuben E., Bath, N.Y.

Robinson, F. D., Friar’s Point, Miss.

Robinson, John F., Vineyard Haven, Mass.

*Robinson, Rix M., Millview, Fla.
Robinson, Russell, Richmond, Va.

| Robison, J. A., Albion, Pa.

_ Rochester, J. G.,

Abilene, Kans.
Portland: Oregon.
Marion, Ky.

Robson, Prof, John W.,
*Roby, C. W:,

| Rockwell, C. B., Hamilton, I].

*Roddenberg, S. A., Cairo, Ga.
Rodeback, L. B., Cedar Valley, Utah. -
Rodgers, James, Mt. Vernon, Obio.

_*Rodgers, J. W., Glyndon, Minn,

Rodgers, R. S., Trenton, Ga.
Rodman, Dr. Hugh D., New Haven, Ky.

| Roessing, W. P., Butler, Pa.

| *Rogers, L. M., Refugio, Tex.

_ Rogers, P. J., Piedmont, W. Va.

_ Rogers, Thomas, Dodgeville, Wis.
_ Roller, M. H., Circleville, Kans.

Roloson, J. P., West Berlin, Ohio.
Roosevelt, Hon. Robt. B., New York, N. Y

| Rorick, J. T., Bad Axe, Mich.

Roriden, Willard, Farmington, Mo.
Rose, J. M., Abingdon, Va.
Ross, F’. A., Tuscumbia, Ala.

| *Ross, Newell A., Princeton, Minn.
| Ross, S. R., Portsmouth, Ohio.
_ Ross, Thomas C., Fairfield, Iowa.

Roth, Elizabeth, Georgetown, Ohio.
Roush, Jacob, Mason, W. Va.

382

Rousseau, A., Wilkesborough, N. C.

*Rousseau, M. C., Rousseau, Dak.

Routh, H. C., Dandridge, Tenn.

Roys, J.S., Lyons, N. Y.

Rucker, P. H., Jacksonville, Il.

Rudall, John, Gawler, South Australia.

*Rudolph, O. A., Canton, Dak.

Rudy, J. A., Providence, Ky.

Ruete, Theo. W., Dubuque, Iowa.

*Runyon, Alex., Shellsburgh, Iowa.

Russell, Col. Champion, Romford, Essex,
England.

Russell, Edward, Sidney, Ohio.

Russell, Jas. J., Muscatine, Iowa.

Russell, J. A., Centreville, Mich.

Russell, J. H., Centreville, Tenn.

*Russell, J. S., Mountain Home, Ark.

Russell, M. R., Carrollton, Ga.

Russell, M. T., Billings, Mo.

*Russell, Z. T., Carthage, Mo.

*Ruth, J., Lansing, Iowa.

“Rutherford, E. P., Clarksville, Tex.

Rutter, M. A., Meyersdale, Pa.

*Ryan, John, Marion, Dak.

*Ryan, M. W., Medford, Wis.

*Safford, E., Magnolia, Miss.

Sage, E. T., Agency, Iowa.

Sage, John H., Portiand, Conn.

*St. John, Alice A., Park City, Mont.

St. John, Samuel P., Utica, Mich.

*Sale, R. R., Colona Station, Il.

*Salisbury, Mary, Beacon, Iowa.

Salom, M., North Adelaide, S. Australia.

Sampson, F. A., Sedalia, Mo.

*Sampson, L. E., Tacoma, Wash.

Sanborn, I. W., Lyndonville, Vt.

Sanders, W. W., Ashland City, Tenn.

*Sandifed, L. G., Fairfield, Tex.

Sandlin, J. M., Moulton, Ala.

Sapwell, B. B., England.

*Sarrett, H. J., Utica, Miss.

*Sater, George R., Oak Valley, Kans.

*Satterthwait, S.C., Aiken, S.C.

Saunders, John, Mexico, Mo.

Saunders, William, Washington, D.C.

Saunders, W. E., London, Ont., Canada.

*Sawyer, W.H., Bayborough, N.C.

Sayre, 8. B., Elizabeth, W. Va.

Searce, J. B., Gilberion, South Australia.

*Scheen, 11. F., Sparta, La.

Schermerhorn, O. T., Cairo, N.Y.

Schindler, Oswald, Galveston, Tex.

*Schlichter, J. B., Sterling, Kans.

Schmick, C. N., Leetonia, Ohio.

Schoenau, W.A., Mildmay, Ont., Canada.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

*Schooley, Samuel W., Cozad, Nebr.
*Schringer, A., Fair Play, Colo.
Schroeder, James, Guttenberg, Iowa.

| *Schrooten, John, North Star, Minn.

Schultze, W.C., Reynoldsville, Pa.

| Schumacher, Ferdinand, Akron, Ohio.

_ *Schweiger, Thomas, Glenwood, Minn.

_ *Scofield, L., Westside, Iowa.

| Scot-Skirving, R., Edinburgh, Scotland.
Scott, Jas. N., Malden, W. Va.

Scott, J.G., Westfield, Mass.

*Scott, Kennedy, Rio, Wis.

*Scott, O. L., Silver City, N. Mex.
Scott, S. H., Chanute, Kans.

Scott, Dr. S. M., Terra Alta, W. Va.
*Scott, W. F., Mapleton, Iowa.

Scott, W. L., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

| Scott, W. T., Murray, Ky.

Seruces

A.T., Inka, Miss.

aon?

| *Seages, J. H., Gilman, Iowa.
| *Seaman, J. W., Loveland, Colo.

Seaver, F. W., Aaron, Ind.

*Seavey, Stanton D., Mora, Minn.
Seeland, N. P., Gaines Station, Mich.
*Selby, John W., El Dorado Springs, Mo.
Seliger, Mrs. W., Hartford, Conn.
*Seligman, A., Santa Fé, N. Mex.
*Selover, George H., Lake City, Minn.

| *Selvig, O., Willmar, Minn.
Setzer, F. M., Albany, Mo.

_ *Sewall, J. A., Boulder, Colo.

- Sewell, T. M., New Athens, Ohio.

*Seymour, F. A., Monroeville, Ala.

_*Shackleford,F. A., Warsaw, Va.

Shade, J.S., McConnellsburgh, Pa.
Shafer, L. W.. Glen Rock, Pa.
Shale, J. B., McKeesport, Pa.

-*Shailenberger, A.C., Osceola, Nebr.

*Shallenberger, Eugene, Bradshaw, Nebr.

| *Shambaugh, J. H., La Grande, Oregon.
| Shank, J.H., Hickory, W.Va. _
' *Shannon, Elmer S., Bayard, lowa.

*Shannon, F. P., Carbon, Wyo.
Shannon, H.C., Erie, Pa.

Sharp, A. H., Nashville, Tenn.
Sharp, Dr. A. P., Baltimore, Md.
Sharp, F.C., Ocouto, Wis.

Sharp, Kate Dooris, London, Ohio.
*Sharp, W.T., Brooklyn, Iowa.

_ Sbarpless, Philip, West Chester, Pa.

Shatto, Jos. M., Duncannon, Pa.
*Shaver, R. B., Menlo, Iowa.

Shaw, Andrew, Huron, Mich.

Shaw, Charles H., West Berlin, Ohio.
*Shaw, C.G., Vermillion, Dak.

-*Shaw, I. Wilson, Milledgeville, Pa.

_ Shaw, Wm. S., Sault de Ste. Marie, Mich.
_ *Shawhan, W.T., Carleton, Nebr.
_ *Shayer, G. G., Cation City, Colo.
_ Sheild, F.M., Yorktown, Va.
- Sheldon, A.C., New Haven, Conn.

_ Shell, W.M., jr., Elizabethtown, Tenn.
Shelley, George M., Kansas City, Mo.
_ *Shelsten, I., Farmersville, La.
*Shelton, W. H., Malden, Mo.
Shely, De Witt C., Nicholasville, Ky.
_ Shepherd, J.N., Berryville, Va.
Shepley, Henry, Nevada, Mo.
*Sherman, Dan. J., Ashtabula, Ohio.
*Sherwood, Andrew T., Bismarck, Dak.
*Shiekley, V.C., Geneva, Nebr.
Shields, S. W., Morristown, Tenn.
*Shields, William, Austin, Mo.
*Shier, John, Pioche, Nev.
_ Shimer, Dr. Henry, Monnt Carroll, Ill.
- Shircliff, C.H., Solon, Iowa.
Shirley, M.A., Logan, Utah.
*Shoemaker, A. H., Decatur, Tex.
_ Shoemaker, Thomas H., Philadelphia, Pa.
Shoftuer, M. M., Company’s Shops, N.C.
Short, C. W., Greenville, Ky.
*Short, W.G., Potterville, Kans.
Showalter, John A., Latrobe, Pa.
*Showell, M. F., Kimberly, Minn.
Shower, Adam, Manchester, Md.
Shroyer, Thomas, Preston, Ohio.
*Shrum, W.F., Gilmer, Tex.
Shryock, Thomas W., Louisville, Nebr.
*Shufeldt, Dr. R. W., Cheyenne, Wyo.
Shuford, Fannie, Oxford, Ala.
Shurter, Jos. W., Gansevoort, N. Y.
_ Shutz, Jas., Romney, W. Va.

- Sibbald, George, Aberdeen, Ohio.

Sieg, W. H. H., Steelton, Pa.
*Sigler, John A., Harold, Dak.

- Silcott, U. A., Youngsville, Ohio.
*Simms, Rufus B., Blountsville, Ala.
Simmons, C. C., Chariton, Iowa.
*Simmons, M. D., Harrisburgh, Ark.
Simon, J.H., Hartford, Wis.
*Simonds, 8. C., Hudson, Wis.
Simpson, EK. W., Ripley, Miss.

_ Simpson, J.T., Loudon, Tenn. ,

_ Simpson, Robert, Wheeling, W. Va.

- *Singleton, B. D., College Mound, Mo.
_ *Sisson, Nathaniel, Wray, Colo,
Skavlem, H. L., Janesville, Wis.

_ *Skeen, R. J., Nemaha City, Nebr.

_ Skinner, F. G., Hamilton County, Obio,
Slade, Elisha, Somerset, Mass,

; LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

383

Slater, H. H., England.

Slater, H. N., England.

Sledge, W. T., Lawrenceville, Va.
*Sloan, C.G., Heppner, Oregon.
Slocumb, D.M., Hernando, Miss.
Slyer, J. P., Moorefield, W. Va.

Small, H. B., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Smead, S. M., Fond du Lac, Wis.
*Smethers, W. R., Starkville, Colo.
Smeych, Daniel, Lancaster, Pa.
*Smiley, A. R., Skowhegan, Me.

Smith, A. E., Guyandotte, W. Va.
Smith, A. J., Amherst, Wis.

Smith, A. J., Garrettsville, Ohio.
Smith, B. B., Chillicothe, Mo.

Smith, B. F., Lawrence, Kans.

Smith, Everett, Portland, Me.

Smith, E.C., Ravenswood, W. Va.
*Smith, E. R., Le Sueur, Minn.

Smith, Dr. F. S.,West Hartford, Conn.
*Smith, F. C., Kellerton, Iowa.

Smith, F.S., Saginaw, Mich.

Smith, G., Cadiz, Ky.

Smith, G. A. B., Wetumpka, Ala.
Smith, Henry A., Spencer, W.Va.
Smith, Henry E., Brownsville, Ky.
Smith, Herbert C., West Union, Ohio.
*Smith, H.G., jr., Denver, Colo.
*Smith, James D., Dallas, Oregon.
Smith, Jesse F., Suffield, Conn.

*Smith, Dr. Joel W., Charles City, Iowa.
*Smith, John J., Oroville, Cal.

Smith, J. B., Fayetteville, N.C.

Smith, L. E., Middlebourne, W. Va.
Smith, L. H., Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. ~
Smith, L. R., New Cumberland, W. Va.
*Smith, N. A., Neilly, Ga.

Smith, O. C., North Adams, Mich.
*Smith, P. A., Navasota, Tex.

*Smith, Dr. Q. C., Austin, Tex.
*Smith, R. H., Edwards, Miss.

*Smith, Sherod, Homerville, Ga.
*Smith, S. E., Witcherville, Ark.
*Smith, Tenny, Grand Junction, Lowa.
*Smith, Wash. E., Purdy, Mo.

*Smith, William J., Eureka, Nev.
Smith, William R., Washington. D.C.
*Smith, W. Egbert, Butte City, Mont.
Smither, Herbert L., Saluda, Va.
Snead, N.C., Gaffney, 8. C.

*Snell, C. W., Oconee, Ga.

*Snoddy, John, Big Spring, Tex.
Snodgrass, A., Scottsborough, Ala.
Snow, B., Kalamazoo, Mich.

Snow, Edward, Boonville, N. Y.

384 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

Snow, G.C., Penn Yan, N. Y.

Snow, H. M., Central, Mo.

*Snyder, A. C., Cheyenne City, Wyo.

Snyder, Charles W., Hudson, N.Y.

Snyder, Clarence, Racine, Wis.

Snyder, Harrison, Rockwood, Pa.

Snyder, H., Fairfield, Utah.

*Snyder, John J., Murphy’s, Cal.

Solberg, Mrs. L. 8., Salem, Ohio.

Solly, George A., Springfield, Mass.

*Solomon, M. E., Jeffersonville, Ga.

Sommer, Frank, Dorr, Mich.

Southall, G. H., Amelia C. H., Va.

Southgate, W. T., College Hill, Ohio.

Southwell, T., England,

Southworth, La G., Schuyler’s Lake, N. Y.

Sowers, A. J., Bedford, Iowa.

Sparks, A. A., Mount Vernon, Ind.

Sparks, J., Vanceburgh, Ky.

Spearman, J. P., Papillion, Nebr-

Speer, Henry, Butler, Mo.

*Speir, E. W., Orlando, Fla.

Spence, P. B., Newport, Ky.

Spencer, George T., Kirksville, Mo.

Spencer, Miss Letta, Hudson, Mich.

Spencer, Thomas, Chariton, Iowa.

Spencer, T. P., Cleveland, Ohio.

Spencer, Walter, La Porte, Pa.

Spencer, W. B., Murfreesborough, N.C.

*Spilker, William G., Keatchie, La.

Spindler, V., South Saint Louis, Mo.

Spotts, Jas. C., Tazewell C. H., Pa.

Sprague, M. A., Smethport, Pa.

Spriggs, D. 8., Caldwell, Ohio.

*Sproule, C. H., Elko, Nev.

*Sprout, J. H., Blue Earth City, Minn.

*Spurlock, James B., Versailles, Mo.

Stacy, J. B., Pulaski, Tenn.

Stafford, Pleasant, Sevierville, Teun.

Stalker, John D., Hartsville, Tenn.

Stamper, I. J., Ducktown, Tenn.

*Stanles, S. K., Northville, Dak.

Stark, C. A., Belaloo, Wirrabara, South
Australia.

*Stark, H., Trinidad, Colo.

Stark, W.B., Agricultural College, Miss.

Starnes, Hugh N., Marietta, Ga.

State Agricultural Dept., Auburn, Ala.

Stausill, P. W., Rockingham, N.€.

Stearns, Dan C., Berea, Ohio.

*Stearns, H. K., Mapes, Dak.

Stebbins, Charles D., Grand Rapids, Mich. |
| *Streeter, A. T., Calumet, Mich.

*Steeir, A. E., Hamilton, Tex.
Steele, F. K., Annapolis, Md.
Steele, John H., Pottstown, Pa.

Steele, L. A., Collamer, Ohio.

| *Steele, T. D., Cassville, Mo.

Steele, W. A., jr., Camden, Tenn.
Steere, J. B., Ann Arbor, Mich.
Steinbeck, Will, Hollister, Cal.
Stephens, J. E., Homer, Ga.

Stephens, J. G., Stanardsville, Va.
Stephenson, C. V., Wyoming, Ohio.
Stephenson, William, Lovingston, Va.
Sterling, Dr. E., Clevela: d, Ohio.
Sterm, E., Jefferson, Tex.

*Stern, J. T., Logan, Iowa.

Sterrett, Mrs, P., Pleasant Grove, Utah.

| *Stetson, Ben, Plainview, Nebr.

Stevens, Sidney, North Ogden, Utah.

_ *Stevenson, E., Bristol, Dak.

Stevenson, Henry, Norwich, Englasd.
*Stevenson, W.B., Manvel, Dak.
Stevenson, W. J., Oshawa, Ont., Canada.
Stewart, Alonzo H., Washington, D.C.
*Stewart, C. W., Alma, Nebr. .

Stewart, Henry, Hackensack, N. J.
Stewart, Henry L.,Middle Haddam, Conn.
Stewart, John, Woodstock, N. B., Canada. —
*Stewart, T. J.. Newberry, Mich.

Stewart, W. 4., Lawrencebeargh, Tenn.

| *Stewart, W :I., Woodville, Tex.

Stickney, Dr. P. L. B., Springfield, Mass.
*Stiles, Dr. KE. P., Austin, Tex.

| *Stinson, J. M., Bobbin, Tex.

| Stiver, Peter, Lapeer, Mich.

| *Stock, John, Fisb Haven, Idaho.

| Stockton, J. B., Toronto, Kans,

- Stoddard, Mrs. G. S. F.,South Woodstock,

Conn.
Stoddard, W. L., Evart. Mich.

| *Stokes, T. J., Macon, Miss.
| Stolworthy, George, Franklin Falls, N. H.

Stone, D. D., Oswego, N.Y.

| Stone, 8. L. P., Urbana, Ohio.
| Stone, Witmer, Germantown, Pa.
Storms, Edm. B., Berrien Springs, Mich,

Story, C.A., Tecumseh, Micli.

| Stouf, W.L., Albany, Ky.

| Stont, J. H., Decaturville, Tenn.

| Stranahan, J. J., Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
| Strange, John Q., Athens, Tenn.

Stratford, William R., Vevay, Ind.
*Stratton, N. L., Uvalde, Tex.
Stratton, W. W., Ashley, Ohio.
Street, D.T., Savannah, Tenn.
Street, George H., Malta, Ohio.

*Streiff, Joseph, Oakdale, Minn.
Strickland, H. L., Owensville, Ind.

Strickler, M., Bridgewater, Va.

Strider, J. H., Halltown, W. Va.
Strode, Dr. Ww. S., Bernadotte, Ill.

_ *Strong, BE. A. S oncliare, Pa.

-*Strong, Batty B., Clay Center, Nebr.

Ratrout, Noyes E., Bedford, Ind.

. _ *Stubbs, T. B., Baldwyn, Miss.

*Stutman, S.B., Windom, Minn.

" *Suddath, EK. Scechinedhes’ La.

_ Sugg, Jas. T., Snow Hill, N.C.

- Suils, Harry H., East Evento: Ohio.

- Suliot, Jas. W., Salem, Ohio.

Sullivan, Mrs. C. C., Louisa, Ky.

_ *Sullivan, C.M., Athol, Dak.

*Sullivan, J., Ashland, Wis.

_ Swaim, George M., Chatham, N. J.

_ Swallow, C. W., Tyngsborough, Mass.

_ Swan, John, Allegheny, Pa.

_ Swan, John M., jr., Newport, R. I.

Swaney, Rev. F.I., Wintersville, Ohio.

Swartz, W.T., Hagerstown, Md.

a Swaysland, George, Brighton, England.

‘ _ Sweaney, P. C., Larkin, Kans.

r _ Swearingen, G. V., Sidney, Iowa.

4 - *Sweet, D.E. ae sicsiont, Minn.
Sweet, Eli, ieiierdiaresh, Iowa.

_ *Sweet, Eloise A., Granby, Mo.

' Sweetland, L. R., Hamlin, W. Va.

- *Sweetser, Andrew J., easinds, Dak.
- Sweiland, Be Le, Megat Vernon, Ohio,
- Swetland, J.C., Sparta, Ohio.
Swift, 12s a oe Balmouth, Mass.
*Swiggett, A., Towanda, Kans,
-“Swint, rilliara, Booneville, Ind.
_*Taber, George F., Chaska, Minn,
_*Tabor, John Q., Bryan, Tex.

' *Taggart, J. H., Yuma, Ariz.
Talmadge, W. G., Hartford, Conn.
Tatem, C. E., Columbia, N.C.
-*Taylor, C. E., Bronson, Fla.
*Taylor, C.N., Meckling, Dak.
*Taylor, E. A., Beloit, Kans.

- *Taylor, F. H. o> Hake Providence, La.
- Taylor, Eeewkins, Washington, D.C.
‘Taylor, H. F., Fulton, Ky.

Taylor, I. A., Oxford, N.C.

Taylor, ohn 8., Genbemtaidl Ces a;
“Taylor, J. E., Greenville, Mich.
Taylor, J. N., Lynchburgh, Tenn.
Taylor, J. P., Du Bois, Pa.

) Taylor, J. R., New Kent C. H., Va.,
“Taylor, 8S. W., Iuka, Kans.

Taylor, W. J., Greensburgh, Ky.
Teasdale, John, Potosi, Mo
Telgheder, Henry, Mount Airy, Ohio.

8404—Bull. 1—-25

“LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. :

385
*Tennly, J. F., Federal Point, Fla.
Terens, N. H., Mishicott, Wis.

Terrell, John Allen, Bloomfield, Ky.
Teulon, Jas. A., Bradford, Pa.

Tevis, A. B., Home, Ind.

Thalaker, H., Petersburgh, W. Va.
*Thigpen, C. D., Sun Hill, Ga.
*“Thigpenn, James A., Wadley, Ga.
Thistle, George P., Grantsville, Md.
*Thomarron, M. E., Yadkinville, N. C,
*Thomas, G. W., Canton, Miss.

Thomas, John J., Grantsville, W. Va.
Thomas, J. D., Jefferson, N. C.

Thomas, N. O., Erin, Tepn.

Thomlinson, J. R,. Mount Pleasant, S. C,.
Thompson, Ernest E., Toronto, Canada.
*Thompson, Jay, Gold Hill, Colo.
Thompson, J. J., Lake City, Fla.
Thompson, J. L., Redwood Falls, Minn.
*Thompson, J. M., Thatcher, Colo.
Thompson, M. S8., Coudersport, Pa.
Thompson, Robt. J., Holman’s Mills, N.C.
Thompson, 8. T., Pocahontas, Ark.
Thompson, Waldo, Lynn, Mass.
*Thompson, William, Hallock, Minn.
Thompson, W. F., Happy Valley, S. Aus.
*Thomson, Matt, Alma, Kans.

Thomson, Wm., jr., Granite City, Utah.
Thorn, Z. E., Elizabeth, W. Va.
Thornton, W. P., Cuckoo, Va.
Thurston, W. J. Y., Clayton, N. C.
Tibbits, F. L., Grand Rapids, Wis.
Tillman, Walter, La Crosse, Wis.
*Tinsley, A. D., Sibley, Lowa.

Tisdall, C. J., Charlinch, Ont., Canada.
*Titcomb, George H., Waterville, Kans.
Toadvin, E. Stanley, Salisbury, Md.
Todd, Sereno Edwards, Orange, N. J.
*Tohim, Joseph W., Dadeville, Mo.
Tolliver, J. B., Lebanon, Tenn.

Tolman, John B., Lynn, Mass.
‘Tomlinson, H. E., Clarinda, Iowa.
Tomlinson, J., Shelton, Conn.
*Tomlinson, L. G., Hampton, Ark.
Tomlinson, Thomas, Tate Springs, Tenn.
Tompkins, W. H., Altoona, Iowa.
*Topleff, Joseph J., Longmont, Colo.
Townsen, Lebanah, Apollo, Pa.
Townsend, B. C., Bay Ridge, N. Y.
Tracy, C.-O., Taftsville, Vt.
Trappmann, C. M., San Francisco, Cal.
Trask, R. S., White Cloud, Mich.
Traveller, Cornelius, Richmond, Utah.
*Traynor, L. J., Scotia, Nebr.

Treat, Willard E,, East Hartford, Conn,

386

Trevett, Wesley, Highland, Kans.

*Trimble, N. C., Rusk, Tex.

*Trippe, T. M., Howardsville, Colo.

Tristram, Rev. Canon Henry Baker, Hart:
lepool, Durham, England.

Trombley, Jerome, Petersburgh, Mich.

Troop, Prof. James, La Fayette, Ind.

Trotter, Charles P., Milltown, Ind.

“Trovis, 1: D., Holdrege, Nebr:

Tubbs, William, Monticello, Minn.

Tucker, C. D., Rockville, Conn.

Tucker, R. C., Burning Springs, W. Va.

Turner, E. W., Newton Falls, Ohio.

*Turner, B. E., Statesborough, Ga.

Turner, Prof. J. B., Jacksonville, Il.

Turner, Jas. R., Poplar Grove, Ark.

Tusk, John W., Bardwell, Ky.

Tuttle, Mary E., West Windsor, Mich.

*Twamley, Fred, Minto, Dak.

“Tweedy, John, Aurora, Nebr.

Tyhurst, Margaret A., Huntingdon, Pa.

Tyler, A. L., Anniston, Ala.

*Tyler, V. L., Brookhaven, Miss.

“Tyner, E. S., Plant City, Fla.

*Ufford, George M., Wa Keeney, Kans.

*Ulmer, P., Houma, La.

*Underhill, Dr. C. B., Salida, Colo.

Urlwin, William, Salisbury, South Aus-
tralia.

Vail, David A., Atlanticville, N. Y.

Van De Casteele, Edw., De Pere, Wis.

*Vandegaer, J. B., Many, La.

*Vanderhoop, Wm. A., Gay Head, Mass.

*Vandiver, R. K., Eaton, N. Mex.

Van Wye, G. P., Warren, Ohio.

*Van Zant, J. P., Edmonton, Ky.

Varjohar, H. H., Reading, Ohio.

Varner, C.P., Senatobia, Miss.

Varner, John A. R., Lexington, Va.

*Venable, McD. R., San Luis Obispo, Cal.

Verbeek, William, Holland, Mich.

Viallon, P. L., Bayou Goula, La.

Vincent, F. P., Cottage City, Mass.

Vogdes, Lieut. A.W., Fortress Monroe, Va.

*Vogt, J. E., Le Mars, Iowa.

Vogt, Louis O., Salem, Ill.

Voigt, Herman, San Francisco, Cal.

Volkening, H., Lenzburgh, Il.

*Voorhees, A. W., Eckley, Colo.

Voorhees, David C., Blawenburgh, N. J.

Voorheis, Wm. G., South Frankfort, Mich.

*Voss, John E., Cottondale, Fla.

Waalkes, Martin, Muskegon, Mich.

*Wade, Henry C., Backusburgh, Ky.

Wade, Joseph M., Boston, Mass.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

|

Wadsworth, Daniel S., Hartford, Conn.
*Wagner, Flora Z., Crandon, Dak.
Wagener, P. T., Calera, Ala.

Wagner, Silas A., Elk Lick, Pa.
Wagstaff, W. E., Cottam, Ont., Canada.
*Waite, D. B., Springwater, N. Y.
*Wakefield, John W., Apalachicola, Fla.
Walden, C. J., Fayette, Mo.

Walden, W. E., Watervliet, Mich.
*Waldron, E. H., Henry, Dak.

Walker, Arthur, Hitchcock, Tex.
*Walker, B. F., Dutch Flat, Cal.

Walker, C. H., Frostburgh, Md.

*Walker, H.N., Butler Centre, Iowa.
*Walker, Dr. James R., Excelsi.r, Minn.
Walker, Dr. R. L., Mansfield, Pa.

*Walker, R.T:, jr., Trimty; le

Walker, Thomas, Rawdon, Ont., Canada-

| *Wa-ker, Thowas W., Croydon, Utah.
| *Walker, William, Scandia, Kans,

| Wall, A. A., Vernon, Ala.

| *Wallace, Henry C., Alta, Utah.

Wallace, J. K. P., Andersonville, Tenn.
Wallace, J. S., Brunswick, Mo.

| *Wallace, R. B., Thomson, Minn.

Walsh, J. F., Humboldt, Nebr.
*Walters, Samuel, Rocky Comfort, Ark.
Walton, J. A., Germantown, Ky.
Walton, V. E., Byron, Ga.

*Walworth, Cyrus M., Loup City, Nebr.
*Ward, A. J.. Beaumont, Tex.

*Ward, A. L., Fairmont, Minn.

*Ward, George W., Prattville, Ala.
Ward, Horace, Clarendon, Ark.

| *Ward, S. M., Georgetown, S. C.

Ward, Thomas, Montrose, Iowa.
Warder, R. H., North Bend, Ohio.
Ware, Walter, Boyne City, Mich.
*Warner, A. B., White Rock, Kans.
*Warner, G. S., Coai Creek, Colo.

| Warren, Dr. B. H., West Chester, Pa.

*Warren, J. L., Clear Lake, Wis.
Warren, Col., San Francisco, Cal.
Warson, Ed. L., Hillsborough, Ohio.
*Warson, Samuel, East Surry, Me.
Warwick, G. W., Smithville, Ga.

| *Wasser, E. A., Girard, Kans.

Watkins, Albert, Lincoln, Nebr.

Watkins, Z.S., Ooletewah, Tenn.
Watlington, Thomas H., Stony Point, Ind.
*Watson, E. R., Kearney, Nebr.
*Watson, Harrie A., Wolsey, Dak.

Watson, J. E., Fulton, Mo.

| Watson, L. F., Watseka, Ill.

Watson, Mary A., Kenansville, N. C.

_ *Watson, Will W., Fairbury, Nebr.
_ _*Watson, W.1., Blandville, Ky.
_ Watts, George, Perry, Ohio.
' Watts, S. R., Union, W. Va.
_ Weathers, E. W., Elkton, Ky.

Weaver, A. B., Clearfield, Pa.

Weaver, W.C., Front Royal, Va.
*Weaver, W. F., Will’s Point, Tex.
Webb, A. H., San Francisco, Cal.
Webb, Charles W., Anderson C. H.,S.C.
Weber, Dr. William, Evansville, Ind.
Webster, F. M., La Fayette, Ind.
Webster, Fred. S., Washington, D.C.
Webster, Jabez, Centralia, II].
Webster, W. F., Oshkosh, Wis.

Weeks, Rev. Leroy T., Osborne, Kans.
*Weems, John A., Flora, Aja.
*Weeener, H. F., Denver, Colo.

Weir, Robert C., Manassas, Va.
Weisbrod, A. W., Oshkosh, Wis.
Welch, Ben M., New Martinsville, W. Va.
*Welch, Noah, Glasco, Kans.

eWeleh, T..3:;Welch, N.C.

Wells, Oliver, Marshtield, Mo.
Welman, Z. L., Stoughton, Wis.
Welsh, F. R., Philadelphia, Pa.
*Wendel, George, Audubon, Minn.

a - Wentzell, C. B., Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.
_ *Westcott, W. F., Duncansby, Miss.

*West, D.C., Perry, Iowa.

West, D. L., McMillan, Mich.

*West, E. E., Quitman, Miss,

*West, William, Chehalis, Wash.
Westbrook, M. H., Lyons, Iowa.
*Westbrook, W. H., Pine Bluff, Ark.

*Westergren, Charles, Marine Mills, Minn.
Westwood, Herbert W., Pennington, N. J.

Wetmore, E. P., Oxford, Ohio.

_ Whaling, O. M., Milltown, Dak.
_ *Wheat, B. P., Lewisville, Ark.

Wheaton, Dr. J. M., Columbus, Ohio.

ss *Whedon, F. L., York, Nebr.

Wheeler, Leonard W., Westford, Mass.
*Wheeler, Willard A., Atkinson, Nebr.
*Wheelock, L. L., Owatonna, Minn.
Wherritt, W. H., Lancaster, Ky.
Whitaker, Thomas H., La Grange, Ga.
Whitaker, T. L., Enfield, N. C.

White, A. C., Jefferson, Ohio.

*White, C. W., Greeley, Colo.

White, Frank, Murfreesborough, Tenn.
*White, G. C., Carson City, Nev.

F White, G. H., Southampton, N. Y.
_ White, H.G., Taunton, Mass.
‘ *White, J. H.C., Corpus Christi, Tex.

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

387

*White, L. W., Woodbine, Iowa.
White, Wm.S., Winchester, Va.
Whitehead, C. B., Bradford, Pa.
Whitehead, C. C., Tobinsport, Ind.
Whitehead, Jos. W., Fairfax C. H., Va.
Whitehead, Hon. Thomas, Richmond, Va.
Whitford, John D., New Berne, N.C.
Whitlock, R. A., Jonesville, S.C.
*Whitney, T., Billings, Mont.
*Whitney, Wm., Cawker City, Kans.
Whittaker, J.S., Corydon, Iowa,
Whittemore, James O., Fairfield, Me.
*Whittemore, Jno. A., Kingstree, S.C.
*Whittlesey, L.C., Hemphill, Tex.
*Wickersham, R. J., Lebanon, Mo.
Wickson, E. J., San Francisco, Cal.
Widby, J. R., Lenoir, N.C.
Widmann, Otto, Saint Louis, Mo.
Widmyer, J. R., Glendive, Mont.
Widoe, John F., Hart, Mich.
*Wieland, J. Leon; Beaver Falls, Minn.
Wiestling, Eva Ross, Middletown, Pa.
*Wilbur, D. B., Cumings, Dak.
Wilcox, Geo., Lower Mitcham, S. Aus. —
*Wilder, George, Huron, Dak.
*Wilds, W. H., Tuscaloosa, Ala.
*Wilkinson, N. B., La Moure, Dak.
Willard, Jesse, England.
Willet, Prof. J. E.,. Macon, Ga.
Willett, J.M., Moulton, Iowa.
Willey, Dennis F., Charlestown. Ind.
Williams, A. Lee, Owosso, Mich.
Williams, A. N., Parkersburgh, W. Va.
*Williams, Charles B., Marvin, Dak.
* Williams, Edwin, Peterson, Utah.
Williams, Jas. B., New York, N. Y.-
Williams, James E., New Bethlehem, Pa.
Williams, J.,. Morgan, Utah.
Williams, J. B., Toronto, Ont., Canada.
Williams, J. H., Craig, Mo.
Williams, Orrawell, Juab, Utah.
*Williams, O. K., Waynesboro, Miss.
*Williams, R. W., Indian Springs, Mo.
Williams, Sue E., Ireland, Ind.
Williams, T.C., Raleigh, N.C.
Williams, T.S., Dupont, Ind.
*Williams, Wallace, J., Nevada City, Cal.
*Williams, W. M., Fresno City, Cal.
*Williamson, Gibson, Oak Point, N. B.,
Canada.
Williamson, Robt., Troy, Il.
Willingham, Jno. A., Sebree, Ky.
Willis, A., England.
*Willis, Walter D., Livingston, Tex.
Willison, A., Genherlandit Md.

388

*Wills, O. B., Ansted, W. Va. .

Wills, W. H., Amherst C. H., Va.

Wilson, A. H., Logan, Ohio.

*Wilson, B. C., Wahpeton, Dak.

Wilson, Chas. C., Sterling, Nebr.

*Wilson, C. B., Buena Vista, Colo.

Wilson, C. M., Tecumseh, Nebr.

*Wilson, D. W., Solomon City, Kans.

*Wilson, E. A., Gabion, Tex.

*Wilson, E.C., Clay Centre, Kans.

*Wilson,F. E., David City, Nebr.

Wilson, Hugh, New Wilmington, Pa.

*Wilson, John, Daphne, Ala.

*Wilson, Joseph E., Hays City, Kans.

Wilson, J. Harner, Cape May, N. J.

*Wilson, 8. Otho, Vineyard, N.C.

*Wilson, S. V., Colfax, Iowa.

Wilson, W. A., Cross Plains, Ala.

Wine, E. T., Free Hill, Tenn.

*Winfree, J. O., Leesville, La.

Wing, Minerva E., Charlotte, Vt.

*Winn, J. W., Jetmore, Kans.

Wintle, Ernest D., Montreal, Q., Canada.

Wirts, Stiles H., Coultersville, Tl.

Wise, J.N., Plattsmouth, Nebr.

*Wisecarver, J. F., McMinnville, Oregon.

Wiseman, J.J., Nunica, Mich.

*Wiser, S. L., Central City, Nebr.

Wister, William Rotch, Germantown, Pa.

*Witt, A. R., Conway, Ark.

*Witters, George 8., Ida Grove, Iowa.

Wolcott, Grove H., Jackson, Mich.

Wolf, S.R., Williamsport, Md.

Wood, A. H., Painted Post, N. Y.

Wood, Buena V., Rock Hill, 8. C.

Wood, Chas. W. Burlington, Wis.

*Wood, C.E., Marble Rock, Iowa.

*Wood, C. H., Moss Point, Miss.

*Wood, Frank E., Ripley, Mich.

Wood, Ira R., Huntington, W. Va.

Wood, Rev. John George, Belvedere, Lon-
don, England.

*Wood, Julia A. A., Sauk Rapids, Minn.

Wood, J. W., Marshall, Mich.

Wood, M.L., Garden City, N.Y.

Wood, Norman A., Saline, Mich.

*Wood, William, Townsend, Mont.

*Woodall, W.H., Huntsville, Tex.

Woodburn, John M., Newville, Pa.

THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA.

*Woodbury, Ed. D., Fort Union, N. Mex.

*Woods, J. F., Schuyler, Nebr.

Woodward, George W., Shelby, Mich.

Woodworth, Elihu, Kentville, Nova Sco-
tia, Canada.

Work, H. F., New Washington, Ind.

Worthen, Charles K., Warsaw, Ill.

Worthington, W. W., Shelter Island, N. Y.

Wright, B. W., Marquette, Mich.

Wright, Abel A., Griffin, Ga.

Wright, A.S., Woodstock, Il.

Wright, C. A., Tecumseh, Mich.

Wright, Prof. Elizur, Medford, Mass.

*Wright, F. W., Livingston, Mont.

Wright, M. D., Aurora Springs, Mo.

Wright, N. W., Farmland, Ind. ©

Wright, R. A., Louisburgh, Kans,

Wright, R.G., Waynesborough, Va.

*Wright, William A., Linkville, Oregon.

Wright, W.A., Burlington, Ind.

*Wright, W.L., Port Eads, La.

Wright, W.R., Lewiston, Me.

Wyckoff, George, Mears, Mich.

Wyckoff, George A., Bevis, Ohio.

Wylie, Henry H., Kent City, Mich.

| *Wylie, S., Winnsborough, La.

Wyman, Henry S., Morenci, Mich.
Wyman, L. E., Sycamore, ill.
*Wyman, O.B., Viroqua, Wis.
Wynkoop, W.C., Denver, Colo.
*Yaunly, Alma N., Stockton, Utah.
Yenowine, Edwin, Edwardsville, Ind,
*Yoakum, F.L., Tyler, Tex.

*Yoden, E. M., Hutchinson, Kans.
*York, J. E., Caddoa, Colo.

Young, C. F., Columbia, Pa.

Young, D.S., Winona, Miss.

Young, Dr. Frank, Weymouth, Ohio,
*Young, F. W., Fort Stockton, Tex.
*Young, John R., Hempstead, Tex.
Young, M.A., Hollidaysburgh, Pa.

| Young, Dr. Rawlings, Corinth, Miss.

*Young, R.L., Fairfield, N.C.

Young, 8. W., Spring Hill, Kans.
Youngblood, J.N., Chester C. H., 8. C.
Zellars, Simeon, Palmetto, Ga.

Zevely, Van A., Cairo, W. Va.

Zillier, Carl, Sheboygan, Wis.

*Zorn, J., jr., Seguin, Tex.

D Abundance of birds during migration, 97.

_ Acanthis linaria, 80, 263.

- Accidental transportation, 23, 309.

Accipiter cooperi, 32.

3 velox, 32.

Acer, 146.

_ Acknowledgments, 9, 10.

Acridide, 131.

Acts relating to sparrows in the United States,
oe 167-173. .

_ Actual increase, 29.

é Africa, sparrows in, 302.

; - Agelaius phoeniceus, 80, 266.

_ Ailanthus worms, 306.

_ Alabama, no sparrow law in, 167.

1 "Alaska, no sparrow law in, 167.

-Albinism, albinos, 31.

be "Algeria, House Sparrow in, 302.

b Spanish Sparrow in, 302.

_ Amaranthus seeds, 311, 328.

; Ambrosia artemisicfolia, 146.

_ American Naturalist, extracts from, 304, 305.

_ American Ornithologists’ Union, 11, 304, 315-318.
Verdict of, 315-318.

_ Amount of grain consumed in France, 302.

_ Ampelis cedrorum, 80, 270, 272, 280.
Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna, 80, 270, 280,
ie. 323.

_ Ampelopsis veitchii, 41.

_ Ancients, Sparrow known to the, 301. ‘

_ Angleworms, 292. (See Earthworm.)

y _ Anisoplia fructicola, 305.

B _ Anisopteryx (Paleacrita) vernata, 109, 110, 128, 129,
130, 131, 132, 285, 286, 291, 292, 293, 295, 299, 300,
ae a 301.

Annual increase, 29.

- Ant, black, 296.

red, 102, 291.

) Ants, 102, 112, 113, 114, 115, 128, 130, 138, 140, 141,
; 142, 287, 291, 295, 318.

4 winged, 102, 130, 140, 291.

Ants’ eggs eaten, 102.

-Antiopa butierfly, 291.

| Antrostomus vociferus, disappearence of, 283.
Apple, pecked by Sparrow (figure), 58.

Apple buds and blossoms plucked, 45, 46, 47, 240,
241, 242.

Apple buds in stomachs, 242.

Apple pulp in stomachs, 145.

Apple pollen eaten, 344. .

Apple seeds not eaten, 57-58,

*

Apple-tree worms, 102.
Apple-trees and cankerworns, 109, 110.
Apples attacked in America, 48, 54, 57, 58, 59, 244,
247, 248, 249, 250.
Australia, 349, 351.
Aphides, 102, 125, 129, 130, 289, 296, 328, 332, 345,
347, 348.
Aphodius fimetarius, 112, 116.
granarius, 112, 116.
sp., 111, 116, 296.
Apparatus for Sparrow-catching, 183, 191.
Apricots, in America, 48, 244.
In Australia, 349, $50,351, 352, 353.
Apricot buds and blossoms plucked, 45, 241, 351.
Arachnids, 120, 121, 294.
Arctiics, 112.
Area occupied in the United States and Canada,
26-27.
Aristotle mentions the Sparrow, 301.
Arizona, no sparrow law in, 167.
Arkansas bird law, 167.
Arkansas goldfinch, 8v.
Army worm, 99, 102, 128, 129, 130, 131, 287, 288, 289,
290, 294, 295.
Fall, 118.
Arsenie, 174, 175, 177, 253, 285, 238, 349, 351.
Arseniate of soda, 174, 177.
Arsenious oxide, 174.
Arsenite of calcium, 174, 177,
of copper, 174, 178.
Artichoke, 49, 66.
Atriplex patulum, seeds eaten, 305.
Attachment to young, 193.
Attacks, made in squads, 94, 266-267, 269, 270, 271,
276, 277, 279, 280, 281, 282.
Unprovoked, 92-94, 97, 263, 264.
Australia, Sparrow in, 302-303, 320, 348-357.
Grapes damaged in, 55-56.
Poison used in, 132-133.
Auxiliary barrel, 164.
Avena sativa, 146.
Bagworm, 102, 121, 131, 324-325.
Bags torn from grapes, 54, 323-324.
Baltimore Oriole, 60, 80, 81, 108-109, 265, 268, 269,271,
272, 273, 274, 275, 278, 282, 283, 324-325.
Eats cherries and peas, 60.
Eats hairy caterpillars, 108-109.
Bank Swallow, &0.
Barley, in America, 68, 72,73, 74, 253, 255, 256, 259,
260.
In Australia, 349.
389

390

Barley, in England, 330, 344, 345.
Barn Martin, 282.
Barn Swallow, &0, 86, 89, 262, 266, 271, 272, 275, £77,
278, 282, 283.
Bartlett pears, 55, 58.
Buds eaten, 242.
Beans, 48, 250, 344.
Shoots eaten, 250.
Bee-bird, Bee-martin, 80, 265, 271.
Bee-miller*in Sparrow’s nest, 320.
Beef in stomach of young, 145. °
Bees, 102, 114, 115, 135, 138, 140, 141, 289.
Bees and grapes, 49-50, 55, 246.
Bees injure fruit, 50.
Beet, leaves eaten, 48, 63, 64.
Seed eaten, 48, 64, 65, 244.
Sprouts eaten, 245, 248, 250.
Beetle, elm-leaf, 130, 293, 298.
Goldsmith, 102, 285.
Tiger, 102, 130, 295.
Beetles, 102,103, 124, 129, 135, 137, 139, 286, 290, 293,
296, 297, 299, 305, 325, 331, 337, 344, 345, 347.
Beneficial and injurious birds, 81, 327, 334.
Beneficial and injurious insects, 101, 121, 287, 291.
Beneficial insects in stomachs, 134, 135, 136, 137,
138, 189, 140, 141, 142.
Bergerie, Rougier de la, 302.
Bermuda, birds expelled from, 283.
Sparrow in, 283.
Berries, 57, 60, 244, 245, 247, 248, 249, 251, 345.
Bewick’s Wren, 80, 264, 276.
Bibliography, outline of, 301-304.
Bindweed, black or corn, 348, 345.
Seed eaten, 67, 343, 345.
Bird laws in the United States, 167-173.
Bird protection in England, 334,
Birds, in cities, 99, 100.
Killed by Sparrows, 84, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 93,
94, 95, 270, 276, 279, 283, 307, 339.
List of those molested, 80.
Preying on Sparrows, 150.
Birds of prey, beneficial, 327.
Bitter-sweet berries and thrusnes, 273.
Bitterweed seed, 144, 146.
Black ant, 296.
Blackberries, 48, 55, 56, 57, 246, 248, 249, 327.
Black-billed Cuckoo, 108-109.
Blackbird, Boat-tailed, 92.
Crow, 32, 80, 92, 267, 268, 269, 271, 276.
English (Merula), 335.
Red-winged, 80, 266.
Blackbirds, 70, 74, 76, 77, 80, 246, 254, 262, 265, 278,
279, 282, 290-291, 335.
Blackbirds and army-worms, 290-291.
Blackbirds and corn, 254.
Blackbirds and cutworms, 290-291.
Blackbirds and fruit, 246.
Blackbirds and rice, 76, 77.
Blackbirds protected in England, 335.
Black-capped Titmouse, 80.
Black-caps (raspberries), 57.
Black cherries, 249.
Black haw, 146.
Black Martin, 80, 84, 261, 269, 278.
Blades of grass in stomachs, 144, 312, 325.
Blight and Sparrows, 334-335.

INDEX. , cae

’ Blizzard of March, 1888, 33. \

i

|
|
|
|

Blossoms and buds destroyed, 40, 42-48, 240-243,
244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251, 310, 311, 312, 325, 327,
328.

Blow-flies, 102, 118-119.

Blue-backed Swallow (=Tree Swallow), 80.

Bluebird, 80, 81, 82-87, 88, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 126, 261,

262, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273,
274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 297,
320, 327.

Eggs destroyed, 88.

Food of, 126, 290-291, 320.

Nestlings killed, 84, 93.

Robbed of food, 94, 297.

Summary of evidence, 82-83.

Bluebird, Western, 80.

Blae-bottle flies, 112, 118, 138, 348.

Blue-jay, Jay, 31, 32, 80, 233, 234, 264, 265, 267, 268,
269, 271, 272, 277, 282.

| Boat-tailed Blackbird, 92.
| Bobolink, 76, 80, 95, 280.

| Bomare, Valmont de, 302.
| Borers, 102.

Bot-flies, bots, 102,128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 287, 289,
294, 299.
Bounties, amount paid in Michigan, 162-163.
By towns, 235, 288, 239.
Cost of, 154-164.
In Australia, 349, 350.
In England, 98, 303, 348.
In Germany, 321.
In Michigan, 36, 150, 162-163, 235, 236.
In Montana. 161-162.
In Ohio, 150.
Not expedient, 36, 153-164.
Bounties and taxation, 160.
Bounty-law, an ideal, 155.
Bounty-laws, objections to, 158-161.
Box-elder buds, 44.
Box-inhabiters, 82-88.
Boxes for nests, removed, 36.
Brachymyrex heeri, 113, 116.
Bread, rice, ete., in crops, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141;
143, 144, 145.
Breeding age, 28, 30, 311.
Breeding season, 27.
Breeding in winter, 238.
Brewer-Coues controversy, 303.
British estimate of Sparrows, 39.
British evidence, 330-348.
Bronzy cutworm, 102, 286.
Broods, late and early, 27, 36, 238.
Number and size of, 27, 29-30, 232, 233,
934, 238, 317, 342.
Brown Thrasher or Thrush, 80, 266, 278, 280.
Brown Towhee, 20.
Bruchus pisi, 128.
Buckwheat, 68, 77, 255, 256, 257, 258.
Buds, 40, 42-48, 45, 240-248, 244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250,
251, 296, 310. 311, 312, 325, 327, 328.
Partial list of those eaten, 43.
Buds and blossoms, 40, 42-48, 240-248, 244, 245, 246
247, 249, 250, 251, 296, 310, 311, 312, 325, 327.
Buds and insects, 42-43, 242.
Buffalo-moth, 102.
Bugs, 102, 135, 139, 142, 287, 288, 296, 297.

Bunting, Indigo, 274.
Bunting, Painted = Painted Finch, gq. v.

- Butcher-bird, 31, 276.

Buttercup, seed eaten, 343.
Butterflies, 99, 102, 103, 129, 180, 131, 285, 286, 288,
291, 294, 299, 300, 301, 345. :

- Butterfly, Antiopa, 291.

Cabbage, 102, 130, 181, 288, 294, 300, 301,
33D.
Turnus, 102, 291.
Vanessa, 102.
Yellow, 102.
Butterfly larvee, 102, 288, 299.
Cabbage, heads pecked, 248.
Leaves eaten, 48, 61, 63, 249, 251, 25%, 344,
349.
Plants eaten, 63, 249, 251, 252, 344.
Seed eaten, 48, 64, 65, 244, 245, 247, 249.
Cabbage butterfly, 102, 130, 131, 288, 294, 300, 301,
335.
Cabbage moth, 102, 297, 345.
Cabbage worm or caterpillar, 99, 102, 128, 129, 130,
131, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 292, 297,
299, 300, 344.
California, no sparrow law in, 167.
Caloptenus bivittatus, 329...
differentialis, 111, 119.
Semur-rubrum, 119, 127, 301, 318, 329.
spretus, 119.
sp., 111, 114, 119.
Canada Tree Sparrow, 192.
Canadian area occupied by Sparrow, 26.
Canadian climate, 33, 308.
Canary, Wild, 80, 265.
Canker-worm, 99, 102, 109-110, 121-122, 128, 129, 130,
131, 182, 263, 285, 286, 291, 292, 293,
295, 299, 300, 301, 317.
Spring, 121-122.
Canker-worm moth eaten by Robin, 110.
Canker-worms and Chipping Sparrow, 263.
Canker-worms exterminate themselves, 110.
Canker-worms, work of, 109-110.
Cape of Good Hope, Sparrows at, 335.
Oarabidee, 102, 127, 300, 328.
Carabid larve, 102, 291.
Caradrina cubicularis, 342.
Cardinal Grosbeak, Cardinal, 80, 268, 280.
Cardinalis cardinalis, 80, 268, 280.
Carex seeds, 312.
Carolina Dove, 280.
Carolina Wren, 80, 276, 277, 280.
Carpodacus frontalis, 80, 262.
purpureus, 80, 263, 270, 276, 280.
Carrot, seed eaten, 65.
Sprouts eaten, 49, 64, 245.
Catawba grape, 324.
Catbird, 80, 264, 265, 266, 268, 269, 272, 278, 274, 275,
276, 278, 279-280, 281, 283.
Food of, 126.
Mobbed, 278.

Catching Sparrows, 178-191.

Caterpillar, fall, 102.

Grape-vine, 102, 287.
Tent, 102, 129, 131, 288, 300.
Tree, 102, 287.

White, 129, 290.

INDEX.

391

Caterpillars, 96, 102, 124, 128, 129, 180, 131, 135, 139,
142, 284, 285, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 293, 294, 297, 299,
300, 306, 308, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338,
339, 340, 342, 344, 345, 347.

Caterpillars, hairy, 99, 107-109, 129, 130, 286, 290,

292, 295.

Smooth, 99, 102, 131, 285, 286.

In stomachs, 111, 114, 118, 141,

Killed by rain, 108.

Protected by Sparrow, 107-110.
Catkins of poplar eaten, 44.

Cats, effect of, on birds, 31, 95, 238.

Killed by poison, 352.
Mobbed by Sparrows, 273, 277.

Cat-tailed millet, 252.

Cauliflower, 49, 63, 249, 344, 349.

Cecropia moth, 291.

Cedar berries eaten, 250.

Cedar-bird, Cherry-bird, 890, 270, 272, 280.

Cedar trees, injured by filth, 241.

Barked by Sparrows, 147.
Cerambycid beetle in Cuckoo’s stomach, 123.
Cerasus aviwm, 146.

Cerastium triviale, 343.

Cereals, number of reports on, 68. F

Cereals in stomachs, 134, 135, 136, 137, 188, 139, 140,
141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146.

Cheetocnema denticulata, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117.

Cheetura pelagica, 80, 278, 282.

Chaffinch destroyed in England, 333, 348.

Change in nesting habits, 24.

Change of public opinion, 35.

Chats, 274.

Checks on increase, in America, 31-40, 232, 233, 234,

235, 236, 237, 238, 239.
In Europe, 97-98.

Chelidon erythrogaster, 80, 86, 89, 262, 266, 271, 272,
275, 277, 278, 282, 283.

Chenopodium album, 343.

bonus-henricue, 343. . $
Chenopodium seeds, 311, 343.
Cherries, 46, 48, 54, 55, 56,57, 59, 244, 245, 246, 247,
248, 219, 250, 251, 252, 349, 351, 353.
Choke, 249.
Wild, 48, 249.

Cherries and insects, 250.

Cherry-bird, Cedar-bird, 80, 270, 272, 280. f

Cherry-buds and blossoms, 45, 46, 56, 146, 242, 243.

Cherry-buds inclosing insects, 43.

Cherry-tree worms, 102.

Chewink, 80.

Chickadee, Black-capped, 80.

Chickadees, 80, 152-153, 267, 271.

Chicken-corn, 75.

Chickens and Sparrows, 61, 149, 256, 277.

Chickens, mobbed, 277.

Chickweed, 305, 343.

Chimney Swift or Swallow, 80, 278, 282.

Chinch-bug, 102, 129, 131, 288.

Chipping Sparrow, Chippy, 88, 81, 87, 93, 95, 262,

268, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 272, 277, 278,
279, 280, 282, 288, 306, 309, 327.
Eggs destroyed, 271.
Nestlings killed, 93.
Chloride of mercrry, 177.
Choke-cherry eaten, 249.

392

Chordeiles virginianus, 283.

Chovy, 342.

Chrysomelids, 111, 117, 296.

Cicada septemdecim, 102, 129, 130, 286, 288, 289, 291,
297, 299. ;

Cicada, seventeen-year, 102, 129, 130, 286, 288, 289,

291, 297, 299.
Kind not specified, 99, 102, 129, 285, 290, 298.

Cicindela, 102, 130, 295.

Circular of American Ornithologists’ Union, 315-
316.

Circulars of Department of Agricu'ture, 197-198.

Cistern water fouled, 148.

Clear-winged flies, 102, 294.

Cliff Swallow, 80, 88, 89, 262, 268, 272, 273, 274-275,
276, 282, 283, 307, 327.

Climate and increase, 32-34, 308.

Climate of Canada, 308.

Clinton grape, 324.

Clivicola riparia, 80.

Clover, red, 146.

White, 146.

Clover seed, 66, 68, 144, 145, 257, 311, 325, 328.

Coccide, 298.

Coccinellidee, 102, 291.

Coccyzus americanus, 80, 108-109, 123, 324-325.

erythrophthalmus, 108-109.

Cockchafer, 342.

Cocoons of codling-moth, 319-320.

Codling-moth, 102, 129, 131, 289, 290, 299, 300, 319-320.

Codling-moth and Bluebird, 320.

~Codling-worm, 102, 129, 131, 289.
Colaptes aurutus, 80, 269, 281, 282.
Colaspis brunnea, 117.

costipennis, 117.
Aavida, 111, 113, 117.

Cold, etfects of, 32-33, 308.

Coleoptera (beetles), 102, 103, 116-118, 120, 121, 127,
129, 286, 289, 290 293, 296, 297, 299, 311, 328, 331.

Colleetor’s guns, 164.

Colorado bird-law, 167.

Combustion, spontaneous, 148.

Common Sparrow, 80, 88, 269.

Concord grape, 51, 53, 55.

Connecticut bird-law, 168.

Contents of Sparrows stomachs, 100-101, 111, 123-
125, 133-146, 296, 304, 311-314, 318, 320, 321-323, 325,
328-329, 331, 335, 336, 337, 342, 344-345, 347.

Continuous egg-laying, 28.

Contopus virens, 80, 277.

Contributors, list of, 358-288.

Convolvulus seeds, 212.

Cooper’s Hawk, 32.

Corn, Maize, 48, 61, 62, 64, 66, 68, 72, 74, 75, 77, 134,

185, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 148, 144,
145, 146, 244, 246, 248, 249, 253, 254, 255, 256,
259, 312, 322, 325, 344, 345.

Number of reports on, 68.

In the milk, green, 48, 61, 62, 64, 66, 75, 244,
249, 325.

Sprouts eaten, 48, 62.

Corn (grain) in England, 330, 336, 337, 339, 340, 341,
344, 345, 347.

Corn-silk eaten, 62, 64.

Corn insects (7. €., grain insects), not eaten, 348.

Corn-bind weed, 343, 345.

INDEX.

Cornices protected by netting, 36.
Cornell’s Fancy (apples), 57.
Corrosive sublimate, 175, 177.
Corvus americanus, 80, 95, 283.
Cost of bounties, 154-164.

Cost of poison, 175.

Cost of rabbit extermination in Australia, 353.
Cottonwood buds, 44.

Cotton-worm, not touched, 128, 129, 131, 287, 291,299.
Coues-Brewer controversy, 303.

Cowbird, Cow-blackbird, 246.

| Crambus culmellus, 345.

vulgivagellus, 118.
Crested Flycatcher, Great, 80, 266, 277.
Crickets, 102, 128, 287, 300.
Crocus eaten, 344.
Croton-bugs, 306.
Crow attacked, 80, 95, 283.
Crow Blackbird, 32, 80, 92, 267, 268, 269, 271, 276.
Cuckoo, Black-billed. 108-109.
Yellow-billed, 80, 108-109, 324-325.
Food of, 123, 292.
Cucumber blossoms eaten, 64.
Curculios, 102, 111, 131, 288, 328.
Currant buds and blossoms, 45, 46, 47, 242, 243.
Carrant-moth, 102.
Currants, 48, 56, 59, 245, 246, 248, 249, 251, 312.
Currant-worm, 102, 130, 131, 292, 295, 298, 301.
Cutworm, Bronzy, 102,286.
Cutworms, 102, 112, 113, 114, 129, 181, 140, 142, 264,
280, 286, 287, 290, 297.
Stolen from Robin, 264, 286.
Cyanide of potassium, 175.
Cyanocitta cristata, 31-32, 80, 233, 234, 264, 265, 267,
268, 269, 271, 272, 277, 282.
Cynipide, 116.
Daddy long-legs (Tipula), 338, 345.
Dakota, no sparrow law in, 168.
Dandelion seed eaten, 343.
Dangerous poisons, 175.
Data, methods of collecting, 11-12.
Dead insects eaten, 132, 298.
Delaware bird-law, 168.
Delaware grapes, 53, 54, 55.
Dendroica estiva, 80, 81, 270, 272, 279, 280, 282, 283,
387. :
coronata, 80, 283.
Depredations in England, 308, 309, 330-348.
Destruction of Sparrows by poison, 174-178.
Destruction of Sparrows’ nests, eggs, and young,
37, 151, 180, 234, 237.
Diffusion, method of, 23-26.

| Diplotawis, 112, 116.
| Diptera, 118, 120, 128, 313, 329.

Dipterous pupe, 313, 329.

Disappearance of Night-hawk and Whippoorwill,
283.

Disappearance of Passenger Pigeon, 283.

Disappearance of Span-worms, 109-110.

Disease among caterpillars, 109-110.

Disease among Sparrows, 31.

Dissection of stomachs, 100-101, 105-106, 111-115,
123-125, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 133-146, 242, 243,
287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 293, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299,
311-314, 318, 320, 321-323, 325, 328-329, 331, 335,
336, 337, 338, 344-345, 347,

a dyin SENS Say sO liars an a
= 4% a

_ Dissection of stomachs, evidence derived from,
; 100-101. ;
Methods of, 321.
Dissections, showing many insects, 328-329, 331,
336, 337, 338, 344-345.
Showing few insects, 127, 129, 131, 291, 296, 298,
299, 318, 320, 325, 331, 335. 347.
Showing no insects, 126, 127, 129, 180, 287, 288,
289, 290, 291, 293, 295, 296, 297, 321-323.
Tables of, 133-146, 311-314, 321-323, 344-345.
Distribution, by States, 199-2382.
Distribution in America, 308. (Mapat end of Vol.)
District of Columbia bird-law, 168.
- Diurnal lepidoptera, 130.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, 76, 80, 95, 280.
Domesticated doves or pi-eons, 81, 95, 234, 264, 266.
Dove, Carolina or Mourning, 280.
Downy Woodpecker, 80, 266, 269, 272, 274, 275, 277,
279.
Dragon-flies, 102.
Drains choked with nests, 147-148, 352.
Dry peas eaten, 60.
Dryobates pubescens, 80, 266, 269, 272, 274, 275, 277,
279.
villosus, 80, 266.
Dung-beetles, 116, 135, 137.
Dung-insects, 102, 116, 135, 137.
Dutchess grapes, injured by birds, 53.
Early colonies in America, 21.

sa Early history at Saint Louis, 191-192.

Early importations, 316-317.
Earthworms, 86, 94, 102, 264, 275, 292, 298.

Stolen from Robin, 86, 94, 264, 275.
Earwigs, 331, 347.

_ Eave Martin (European), 283.

Eave Swallow (= Cliff Swallow), 88, 89, 262, 271,
276, 282.

Eave troughs filled with nests, 148, 352.

Echinocystes lobatus, 298.

Ectopistes migratorius, 283.

Edges of grain tields suffer most, 179, 256, 257, 258, |

260, 319, 338.
Effects of climate, 32-34, 232-233, 234, 236-237, 239.
Effects of continued shooting, 37.
Effects of legislation, 36.
Effects of storms, 33-34, 232-233, 234, 236-237.

_ Effects of temperature, 32-33, 236, 239.

Effects on birds in Canada, 309.

INDEX.

~——~eae we

Effects on birds in England, 330, 332, 338, 335, 336,
337, 338, 339, 340, 346, 348.

Effects on insects, 98-133.

___ Effects on native birds, 78-79, 82-93, 260-283, 317, 320.
Amount and character of evidence, 78-79.
Synopsis of evidence, 79.

Bluebird, 82-87.
Chipping Sparrow, 93.

House Wren, 87-88.

Martins, 82-87.

Mockingbird, 91.

Robin, 90-91.

Swallows, 89-90.

Vireos, 92.

; Egg-laying, continuous, 28.

_ Eggs of insects eaten, 102, 130, 285, 292, 295, 300.

_ Eggs of native birds destroyed, 83, 84, 90, 194, 271,

277, 279.

3937

Eggs of Sparrow:
Bounty on, 161.
Description of, 161.
Destroyed by native birds, 274, 275, 282.
Methods of destroying, 165.
Number laid, 27, 41, 161.
Eggs and young destroyed, 37, 151, 180, 234, 237.
Egyptian rice, 74, 75.
Elder- berries, 311, 328.
Elm buds and blossoms, 44, 45, 46, 47,48, 242, 243,
328.
Elm-leaf beetle (Galeruca), not destroyed, 121, 122,
130, 293, 298, 324,
Elms stripped by canker-worms and tussock
moth, 108, 109-110.
E]m-tree worms, 297, 300.
Empidonax minimus, 80, 269.
Enemies, natural, 31-32, 97-98.
England, food of Sparrows in, 325, 328-329, 330-332,
335, 336, 337, 338, 342, 344-345, 347, 348.
Habits of Sparrows in, 97-98, 308, 309,
330-348.
English farmers’ opinions, 39, 40, 308.
English ivy, 41, 42, 240.
English peas, 245, 247.
English Skylarks pull grain, 341.
English Sparrow, figure of, 16.
The name a misnomer, 17.
Ennomos subsignaria, 109, 125, 180, 131, 294.
Replaced by Orgyia, 121.
Ephemere, 130, 286, 293, 297.
Epidemics unknown, 31.
Epilachna borealis, 130, 298.
Hragrostis, seeds eaten, 304.
Ermine moth, 345.
Erythroneura, 112, 118, 118.
Huchistus, 118.
European Blackbird, 335.

| European Chaffinch, 333, 343.

European Greenfinch, 343.
European Martins, 98, 330, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 338,
339, 340, 346.
European Skylark, 341.
European Starling, 333.
European Swallow, 335.
European Tree Sparrow, at Saint Louis, 191-194.
European Thrushes, 335.
Evergreens injured, 41, 45, 241, 243.
Evidence, excluded, 12.
In detail, 197-357.
Samples of, how selected, 13.
Summaries of, 17-149.
Summaries, misleading, 13. .
Evidence versus opinion, 12-13, 99.
Examination of stomachs. (See Dissection.)
Experiments with grain, spoiled, 252, 258, 254, 318,
320.
Experiments with poisons, 174-178.
Explanation of omissions, 12, 199.
Explanations relating to evidence, 197-199.
Extension into country, 24-26.
Extermination, recommendations for, 151-153.
Extermination of span-worms in Philadelphia, 109.
Extracts, from American Naturalist, 304-305.
From Science, 305.
From Forest and Stream, 305-318.

304

Extracts from newspapers, 318-319.
From periodicals, 318-324.
Falco columbarius, 32, 309.
sparverius, 32, 309.
Falcons, 309.
Fall army-worm, 118.
Fall caterpillar, 102.
Fall web-worm, 100, 102, 107, 118, 128, 129, 180, 131,
286, 288, 297, 298, 324-325.
Fecundity, 28-29.
Field, the American, 9.
Field corn, 62, 74-75, 253, 254, 255, 256, 259.
Field mustard, 343.
Field Sparrow, 80, 267, 270.
Fig buds or blossoms, 45.
Figitine, 116.
Figs, in America, 48, 59.
In Australia, 349, 350, 351, 352.
In New Zealand, 320.
Filth, injury by, 36, 40, 41, 146-147, 240, 241, 242, 243.
Finch, Grass, 80, 270.
House, 80, 282.
Painted, 80, 264, 280.
Purple, 80, 263, 270, 276, 280.
Western House, 89.
Yellow, 267.
Finches, 80, 152-153, 269, 281.
Food of, 323.
Fines, for bird-killing, 167-173.
For nest-robbing, 167-173.
Fin-leaved ivy, 42.
Fire-arms, forbidden in cities, 37.
Suggestions as to use of, 152, 164-165.
Fisher on Poisons, 174-178.
Flax, flax-seed, 49, 65, 66, 250.
Flea-beetles, 112, 113, 11é, 117, 184, 138, 139, 140, 141,
142, 143.
Flea-bugs, 102.
Flemish Beauty pear, blossoms plucked, 46.
Flicker, Yellow-shafted, 80, 269, 281.
Flies, clear-winged, 102, 294-
Horse, 102, 129, 289.
House, 102, 299.
Ichneumon, 102, 294, 300.
Stable, 102.
Kinds not specified, 102, 103, 128, 129, 180,138,
285, 287, 291, 292, 293, 295, 299.
Florent Prévost, 302.
Florida, no sparrow law in, 168.
Flower-beds destroyed, 249.
Flower-seed eaten, 48, 65, 128, 245.
Flowers eaten, 65.
Flycatcher, Great Crested, 80, 266, 277.
Least, 80, 269.
Tyrant (=King-bird), 269.
Flycatchers, kinds not specified, 80, 88, 263, 269,
271, 275, 280.
Foliage, injury to, 40, 41, 42, 146, 240-243.
Food, Sparrows used for, 38-39, 182, 319.
Food of Bluebird, 126.
Food of Catbird, 126.
Food of native birds, 99, 304, 323.
Food of Robin, 126.
Food of Sparrow:
As shown by dissection, 296, 321-323, 325, 328,
329, 331, 335, 336, 337, 338, 342, 344-345, 347.

INDEX. : a

Food of Sparrow:
By months, 344-345.
In winter, 32-35.
Seasonal variation in, 124-125.
Tables of, 133-146.
Food of young Sparrows, 305, 330, 331, 335, 336, 337,
338, 340, 342-343, 344-345, 347.
Food-habits of Sparrows in England, 330-348.
Food-supply and increase, 32-35.
Forbes on food of native birds, 99, 304.
Forest and Stream, extracts from, 305-318
Formule for poisons, 174-175:
Formicide, 116.
Forsythia viridissima, 44.
Foul cistern water, 148.
Fowler’s solution (of arsenic), 174, 177.
Fowls, killed by poisoned wheat, 352.
Fox-tail grass (Setaria), 67, 145.
France, Sparrows in, 302.
Freezing of Sparrows, 32-33, 233, 234, 238, 239.
Frost grapes, eaten, 55.
Fruit-buds, injury to, 40, 42-48, 240, 241 242, 243,
320, 347.
Fruits, injury to, by Sparrows, 42, 43, 48-60, 243-
252, 255, 310. ;
By wasps and bees, 49-50,
List of those injured, 48.
¥ruit-seed in stomachs, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141,
142, 148, 145. ;
Galeoscoptes carolinensis, 80, 126, 264, 265, 266, 268,
269, 272, 278, 274, 275, 276, 278, 279-280, 281, 2838.
Galeruca calmariensis, 121-122.
xanthomeleena, 130, 293, 298, 324.
Garden corn, 62, 246, 248, 249.
Garden pea, 146.

-

| Garden seeds, injury to, 61-66, 243-251.

List of those injured, 48.
Scratched up, 64.
Garden vegetables, injury to, 60-64, 243-252.
Gas-lamps, nests in, 147.
Gastrophilus larve, 132.
Gentry on House Sparrow, 303.
Geographical distribution, 23, 199-232, 302-303.
In America, 199-232, and map at end of yol-
ume. ?
Geometrid larve, 109, 128, 131, 311, 328.
Georgia, no sparrow law in, 168.
Germany, Sparrows in, 97-98.
Gnats, 102, 287.
Golden-crow ned Kinglet, 80, 94, 263, 267.

' Golden-winged Woodpecker, 80, 269, 281, 282.

Goldfinch, 80, 81, 88, 91, 263, 265, 267, 270, 271, 274,
275, 276, 277, 278, 280, 281.
Arkansas, 80.
Goldsmith beetle, 102, 285.
Gooseberries, 48, 57, 247, 249, 251, 344.
Gooseberry buds and blossoms, 46, 243, 328, 33a,
344, 347.
Gooseberry caterpillar or worm, 334, 339.
Goosefoot, 343.
Grackle, Purple, 32, 80, 92, 267, 268, 269, 271, 276.
Grackles, kind not specified, 80, 279, 281.
Grain, experiments with, spoiled, 252, 253, 254, 318,
320.
In America, 68-78, 252-260.
In Australia, 348, 349, 350, 351.

~ Grain—Continued.

In England, 309, 330-348.
In the milk, 319, 330, 337, 347.
In the stack, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259,
260.
. Injury to, 68-78, 252-260.
- Kinds injured, 68.
List of States reporting greatest loss, 68.
Number of reports on, 68.

Grain-cars transport Sparrews, 178, 309.

Grain-fields, edges injured most, 179, 256, 257, 258,
260, 319, 338.

Grapes, bags torn from, 54, 323-324.

Buds and blossoms of, plucked, 45, 46, 47,
146, 240, 241, 243, 325, 327.

In Australia, 55, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353.

In California, 49.

In New Zealand, 320.

Injury to, 48, 49-56, 57, 53, 59, 244, 245, 246,
247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 320, 323, 327, 349,
350, 301, 352, 353.

Kinds of, most injured, 54, 55.

List of States reporting most damage to,
53.

Seeds and pulp of, taken, 51, 53, 55, 245, 248.

Wild, 55, 250.

Grapes and bees or wasps, 49-50, 55.

Grapes and native birds, 49, 270.

Grape-vine caterpillar, 102, 287.

Grape-vines, effects upon, 41, 42, 43.

Grass in Sparrows’ stomachs, 144, 312, 325.

Grass-bird, 80.

Grass Finch, 80, 270.

Grasshoppers, 78, 99, 102, 103, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131,
182, 134, 141, 142, 143, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 292,
293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 301, 304, 306, 310, 312, 313,
328, 329, 347. ;

Grass seed, consumption of, 64, 65, 66-68, 76, 253,

257.
In stomachs, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139,
140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 311, 312,
322, 320,

Gray bird, 271.

Great Carolina Wren, 277.

Great Crested Flycatcher, 80, 266, 277.

Great Northern Shrike, 31, 150, 233, 238.

Greenfinch (European), 343. .

Greenlets (= Vireos), 280.

Green vegetables destroyed, 61-64.

Grosbeak, Cardinal, 80, 268, 230.

Rose-breasted, 323.

Grosbeaks, 80, 266, 268, 280, 323.

Food of, 323.

Ground bird, 271.

Ground sparrow, 80.

Ground squirrels, 161-162.

Grubs or larvee, 43, 78, 102,103, 129, 130, 135, 285, 286,

287, 288, 289, 290, 292, 293, 294,
295, 296, 297, 298, 299.
In peach buds, 43.

Grub-worms in crop, 78.

Gryllotalpa, 118, 119,

Gun, restriction by, 37-40.

Guns for Sparrow shooting, 164.

Gutters choked by nests, 147-148, 352.

Habia ludoviciana, 323.

INDEX.

395

Habit of insect-eating, 98-99.

Habits of European Tree Sparrow, 192.

Habits of House Sparrow in England, 308, 309, 330-
348.

Habits of insects concerned, 115-120.

Hail storms, effects of, 234, 237.

Hair Sparrow. (See Chipping Sparrow.)

Hair-worms, 345.

Hairy caterpillars and Sparrows, 99, 107-109, 129,
130, 286, 290, 292, 295, 306.

Hairy caterpillars and native birds, 108-109.

Hairy Woodpecker, 80, 266.

Hairy worms, 100, 122, 130, 290.

Halictus, 114, 115.

Haltica affinis, 305.

Hangine-worm (Hnnomos), 294.

Harmless English birds, 334.

Harpalus vagans, 102, 300.

Harporhynchus rufus, 80, 266, 278, 280.

Haw, black, 146.

Buds and blossoms of, 144, 325.

Hawk, Cooper’s, 32.

Pigeon, 32, 309.
Sharp-shinned, 32.
Sparrow, 32, 150, 309.

Hawks, kind not specified, 309.

Hedges injured by filth, 41, 243.

Felix alternata, in Cuckoo's stomach, 123.

Hemiptera, 112, 120, 289, 296.

Hemp, hemp-seed, 49, 65, 248.

Hens attacked by Sparrows, 81, 149, 276, 277.

Hen and chickens driven from food, 149.

Herbemont grape, 324.

Hermit Thrush, 80, 278.

Hessian-fly, not attacked, 288.

Heteroptera, 118, 114, 118, 121.

Hexapoda, 120.

High-holder (= Golden-winged Woodpecker), 282.

Hill on Sparrow-catching, 178-191. ,

Hirundo urbica, 330, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339
340, 346.

Hoadley’s work, 11.

Homoptera, 112, 118.

Honey-bees, 49-50, 102, 289.

Honeysuckle, berries eaten, 250.

Hornets and grapes, 49.

Horse-chestnut, defoliated by Orgyia, 108.

Horsg-droppings, importance of, to Sparrows, 34,
104.

Horse-flies, 102, 129, 289.

House Finch, 80, 262.

Western, 89.
House flies, 102, 113, 119, 189, 299..
House Martin, 267, 270, 271, 272.
European, 98, 330, 332, 333, 335, 336,
337, 338, 339, 340, 346.
House Sparrow = English Sparrow, 17.
European, at Saint Louis, Mo.
191-194.
Indian, 303.

House (Chipping) Sparrow, 93, 264.

House Swallow, 266.

House Wren, 80, 82, 88, 85, 87-88, 93, 96, 97, 262, 263,
264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276,
277, 278, 280, 282, 283, 309, 327.

Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, 80, 95, 277.

396

Hungarian grass, 76.
Hylaspis americana, 116.

Hymenoptera, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115-116, 120, 121,

138, 139, 140, 141, 142.

Hyphantria cunea (textor), 100, 102, 107, 112, 114,
q18, 121, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 286,

288, 297, 298, 324-325.
textor TS Cuckoo’s stomach,
123

Icterus galbula, 80, 81, 108-109, 265, 268, 269, 271,

272, 273, 274, 275, 278, 282, 2838, 324-325.
spurius, 80, 83, 268, 278, 250.
Ichneumonids, 112, 114, 116, 136, 141.
Ichneumon flies, 102, 294, 300.
Idaho, no sparrow law in, 168.
Ideal bounty-law, 155.
Iinois bird-law, 168.
Importation, 17-21, 316-317.
Direct from Europe, 19.
Tables of, 19-21.
Inch-worm (Measuring-worm), 295.
Increase, actual and theoretical, 29.
Annual, 29.
Checks on, 31-41.
Rapidity of, 29-30.

Rate of, 27-31, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 287,

238, 239.

Relation of climate to, 32-34.

Relation of food to, 33-35.
Increase and public opinion, 35.
Increase and storms, 33, 34.
Increase of native birds explained, 96.
Incubation, period of, 27.
Indiana bird-law, 168.
Indian corn, 68, 74, 312, 322,325. (See Corn.)
Indian House Sparrow, 303.
Indian Territory, no sparrow law in, 168.

Indifferent insects in stomachs, 135, 138, 139, 140,

141, 142, 143.
Indigo Bird or Bunting, 80, 274.
Inexpediency of bounties, 153-164.
Injuries, miscellaneous, 146-149.
Injurious and beneficial insects, 101, 287, 291.

Injurious insects in stomachs, 184, 135, 136, 137, 138,

139, 140, 141, 142, 143.
Injury by filth, 36, 46, 41, 146-147, 240, 241, 242, 243.
Injury to buds and blossoms, 40-48, 240-243.
To foliage, 40, 41, 42, 146, 240-243. z
To fruits, 42, 43, 48- 60, 243-252, 255, 310.
To garden seeds, 48, 64-66, 243-251.

To grain, 68-78, 179, 252-260, 309, 316, 319,

320, 330-848, 349, 350, 351.
To trees and vines, 40-48, 240-243.
To vegetables, 48-49, 60-64, 243-252.

Insect contents of stomachs, 111-115, 123-128, 134,
135, 136, 137, 188, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145,

305.
Insect defoliators of shade-trees, 324, 325.

Insect diet of young, 99, 103, 104, 132, 317, 320, 331,

335, 336, 337, 338, 340, 342, 345, 347.
Insect eggs eaten, 102, 130, 285, 292, 295.
Insect food of Sparrow, 98-133, 256, 310.
General summary of evidence, 98-100.
Percentage in stomachs examined, 104,
Seasonal variation in, 105-106.
Table showing variation in, 106.

INDEX.

Insectivorous birds, 43, 80, 348.
Insectivorous habits, 43, 98-133, 255, 256, 283-301
303, 306, 317, 349.
Insects, beneficial and injurious, 99, 101, 287, 291.
Comparative abundance of, at different
seasons, 105.
In Australia, 349.
In buds and blossoms, 42-43, 299.
In cherries, 250.
In England, 330-348.
In wheat, 102
List of those said to be eaten by Spar-
rows, 102.
Stolen from Bluebirds, 94.
Supposed destruction of, 78.
Introduction to America, 17.
Investigation in South Australia, 303.
Towa bird-law, 168.
Israella grape, 53.
Ivy, English, 41, 42, 240.
Fin-leaved, 42.
Japan plum (loquat), 59.
Japanese jessamine, buds eaten, 44.
Jay, Blue-jay, 31-32, £0, 233, 234, 264, 265, 267, 268,
269, 271, 272, 277, 282.
Jug Swallow (=—Cliti Swallow), 88.
Juncos, 80, 262, 269, 270
June-bug, 102.
Kansas bird-law, 168-169.
Katy did, 102, 119, 181, 300.
Kentucky bird-law, 169.
Kekuka Lake vineyards, 52.
Kingbird, 80, 92, 94, 265, 268, 269, 271, 275, 276, 277,
278, 281.
Kinglet, Golden-crowned, 80, 94, 263, 267.
Kinglets, 152, 153.
Knot-grass, 343, 345.
Lace-wing flies, 300.
Lachnosterna fusca, 112, 113, 114, 116
Lady-birds (Zpilachna), 298.
Lady-bugs (Coceinnellide), 102, 291.
Lanius borealis, 31, 233, 238, 276.
Laphygma frugiperda, 114, 115, 118.
Lark, Meadow, 89, 274, 277.
Shore, 80.
Larve or grubs, 102, 103, 129 130, 285, 286, 287, 288,
289, 290, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299.
Lawn-grass, seed and shoots eaten, 67.
Laws, now in force in United States, 167-173.
Repealed, 236.
Repeal of, advocated, 150.
Leaf-hoppers, 113, 118, 138, 142.
Leaf-rollers, 102, 129, 289, 295.
Least Flycatcher, Least Pewee, 80, 269.
Leaves, of trees and vines plucked, 41, 42, 46, 145.
Of vegetables injured, 48, 61, 62, 63, 64.
Lecanium hemisphericum, 130, 298.
Legislation, affecting Sparrows in United States,
150-151, 167-173.
Effects of, 36.
Recommendations for, 150-164.
Summary of, 150-151. P
Lepidoptera, 118, 120, 121, 128, 180, 306.
Lepidopterous larve, 329.
Lettuce, plants or leaves destroyed, 48, 61, 63, 64,
245, 246, 248, 250, 336.

Lettuce seed eaten, 40, 64, 65, 66, 245, 246, 249, 250.
Lilac buds or blossoms, 45, 47.
_Lima-bean, 146.

Linnet, 80.

‘Lintner on caterpillar protection, 107-110.

Liopus, 113, 117.

List of:

Contributors, 358-388.
Fruits injured, 48.
Garden seeds injured, 48.
Grains injured, 68.
Insects said to be eaten, 102.
Native birds molested, 80.
Places where Sparrows were introduced, 19-
21,
States infested by Sparrows, 26.
States reporting most injury to fruits and
vegetables, 48.
States reporting most injury to grain, 68.
States reporting most injury to grapes, 53.
Vegetables injured, 48.
Weed-seeds eaten (in England), 343.
Locust, seventeen-year (Cicada), 286.
Locustide, 119, 131.
Locust-leaves picked off, 41.
Locusts (grasshoppers), 111, 114, 115, 119, 127, 132.
Locusts, kind Dok specified, 102, 131, 132, 288, 297,
298.
London purple, 174, 177, 178.

Longicorn beetles, 113, 117.

Loquats, 59, 349, 351, 353.

Louisiana bird-law, 169.

Lucerne damaged, 349.
Luna moth, 102, 291.
Lycosa scutellata, 112, 120.
Maggots, 102, 119, 131, 299.
Maine bird-law, 169.

a Maize, Corn, injury to, 68, 72, 74-75, 244, 253, 254,

=
=

255, 256,
Number of reports on, 68.
Man, increase checked by, 35-40.
Mangel-wurzel, leaves eaten, 344.
Map. See end of volume.

Maples, buds and blossoms eaten, 44, 45, 146, 241,

242, 243, 311, 328.
Leaves picked off, 41, 290.
Ruined by filth, 41.
Maple-moth, 290.
Maple-worm, 129, 290.
Market, Sparrows in, 39, 319.
Mariin, Barn, 282.
Bee (=Kingbird), 80, 265, 271.
Black, 80, 84, 261, 269, 278.
Eave or Window, 283.
European, 98, 283, 330, 332, 333, 335, 336, 337,
338, 339, 340, 346.
House, 267, 270, 271, 272.
Purple, 80, 82-87, 96, 193-194, 261, 262, 264,

281.
Summer, 267.

_ Martins, kind not specified, 80, 81, 82, 87, 88, 93, 261,

262, 263, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274,
- 276,277, 278, 280, 281, 282, 283, 320.

INDEX.

265, 266, 269, 270, 272, 275, 276, 278, 279, 280,

397

Martins, nests and eggs destroyed, 83, 84, 86, 194,

333.

Nestlings killed, &4, 86.

Sparrows and their young and ogee de.
stroyed by, 274.

Martins and Sparrows in England, 330, 332, 333,
335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 346.

Maryland, no sparrow law in, 168.

Massachusetts bird-law, 169.

Mauritius, Sparrows introduced at, 335.

May-beetles, May-bugs, 102, 115, 135, 136, 138, 141,
288, 300.

May-flies, 102, 130, 142, 286, 293, 297.

Maynard on food of Sparrows, 321-323.

Meadow grasshoppers, 119, 132.

Meadow Lark, 80, 274, 277.

Measuring- -Worms, span-worms, 99, 100, 102, 109,
110, 128, 129, 18C, 181, 132, 285, 286, 291, 292, 293, 294,
295, 297, 300, 301, 311, 317, 328.

Measuring-worm moth, 102, 293.

Megascops asio, 32.

Melanerpes erythrocephalus, 80, 264, 265, 282.

Melanopus femur-rubrum, 129, 289.

Melon-bugs, 102, 129, 289.

Melospiza fasciata, 80,81, 94, 264, 267, 270, 272, 278,
279, 280, 283, 295, 323.

Merula migratoria,80, 86, 88, 90-91, 93-94, 95, 97, 108-
109, 126, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271,
272, 278, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 297,
305, 309, 324-325.

Mespilus, 59.

Meteorus hyphantrie, 325.

Methods of catching Sparrows, 183-191.

Methods of coliecting information, 11-12.

Methods of diffusion of Sparrows, 23-26.

Methods of examining stomachs, 321.

Methods of restriction recommended, 150-166, 174-
178, 354-357.

‘ a De es
259, 312, 322,395, 344, 345. Michigan bounty act, 162-163, 169-170.

Migrating Thrush (=Robin), 268.
Migration, abundance of birds during, 97.
Migration of European Tree Sparrow, 341.
Migration of House Sparrow, not known, 341.
Millers or moths, 102, 103, 129, 130, 131, 138, 141, 285,
286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 294, 295, 297, 299, 300. |
Millet, 68, 75, 76, 253, 254, 255.
Pearl, 75:
Russian, 75, 76.
Millo maize, 68, 75, 76, 253.
Mimus polyglottos, 80, 81, 88, 91-92, 261, 264, 265, 266,
268, 269, 272, 276, 280.
Miner’s seedling (grape), 55.
Minnesota, no sparrow law in, 170.
Minnesota winters, 33.
Miscellaneous injuries, 146-149.
Mississippi bird-law, 170.
Missouri bird-law, 170.
Mobbing native birds, 93-94, 273, 276, 277, 278, 279.
Mocking-bird, 80, 81, 88, 91-92, 261, 264, 265, 266, 268,
269, 272, 276, 280.
Nestlings killed, 91.
Mole-cricket, 113, 119, 140.
Motestation of other birds, 78-98, 260-283, 330, 332,
333, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 346.
Monomorium pharaonis, 113, 115, 116.

398

Montana bird-law, 170.

Montana bounty-law on prairie-dogs and ground-

squirrels, 161-162.
Mosquitoes, 102, 299.
Moth, buffalo, 102. a
Cabbage, 102, 297.
Canker-worm, 110.
Cecropia, 291.
Luna, 102, 291.
Moths or millers, 102, 103, 129, 130, 131, 188, 141, 285,
286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 294, 295, 297, 299,
300.
Eaten after singeing, 131.
Mourning Dove, 280.
Mouse-ear chickweed, 343.
Mud Swallow (= Cliff Swallow), 80, 273, 274.
Mulberries, 48, 250.
Mullein, 120.

Multiplication. (See Increase. )

Musca cesar, 112, 118-119.

domestica, 113,119.
Muscide, 102, 128, 291.
Mustard, 49, 249.
Field, 343.
Mutilated or dead insects eaten, 131, 132.
Myiarchus crinitus, 80, 266, 277.
Myrmicide, 116.
Myrtle Warbler, &0, 283.
Killed by Sparrow, 283.
Myzine 6-cincta, 111, 113, 114, 115.
Native birds, effects on, 78-98, 179, 260-283, 309, 317,
320.
Encouragement of, 152-153.
Food of, 99, 323.
Killed by Sparrows, 84, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 93, 94,
95, 270, 276, 279, 283, 207, 339.
List of those molested, 80.
Neglected, 100.
Native sparrows, 80, 90, 323.
Natural checks, in America, 31-35
In Europe, 97, 98.
Natural enemies, 31-32, 97-98.
Nebraska bird-law, 170.
Nectar from blossoms, 344 (foot-note).
Nectarines in Australia, 349, 351.
Negative evidence, on bird-molestation, 86-87.
On bud-destruction, 42-43.
On fruit destruction, 49-51.
On grain destruction, 77-78.
Neglect of native birds, 100.
Nephelodes violans, 102, 286.
Nesting boxes removed, 36.
Nesting habits, change in, 24.
Nesting places, scarcity of, 34, 95.
Nesting rubbish chokes gutters, spouts, etc., 147-
148, 352.
Nestlings of native birds, killed by Sparrows, 8&4,
86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 93. 276, 279.
Nestlings of Sparrow, killed by native birds, 274,
282.
Food of, 103, 104, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132
287, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297,
299, 300, 395, 331, 337, 338, 340, 342, 344,
345.
Stomach, contents of, 103-104, 124.
Nestlings in August, 237.

INDEX.

Nests of native birds at Cleveland, Ohio, 277.
Nests of Sparrow, in gas-lamps, 147. a
In gutters, spouts, ete , 147-148.
In trees, 24.
Nests and eggs, destruction of, 36, 37, 38, 41, 165.
Nets and their use, 151, 165, 183-191.
Netting, over fruit and vegetables. 47, 65.
Netting Sparrows, 178-191.
-Neuroptera, 119, 120, 289.
Nevada bird-law, 170-i71.
New Hampshire bird-law, 171.
New Jersey bird-law, 171.
New Mexico, no sparrow law in, 171.
New York bird-law, 171
New Zealand, habits of Sparrow in, 302-303, 320,
Sol.
Poison used in, 1382.
New-sown grain damaged, 255, 259.
Newspapers, extracts from, 318-319.
Nezara hilaris, 123.
Niagara grape injured by birds, 53.
Night-hawk, disappearance of, 283.
Noctuide, 112, 297.
Noctuid larve, 113, 114, 115, 131.
Noise of the Sparrow, 149.
Nonpareil, Painted Finch, 80, 264, 280.
North Carolina, no sparrow law in, 171.
Northern Shrike, Butcher Bird, 31, 233, 238, 276.
Norton grape, 324. :
Notes of the Sparrow, 149.
Noxious insects in Sparrows’ stomachs, 134, 135,
136, 187, 188, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143.
Noxious and innoxious insects, 121.
Number of broods and young reared by Sparrow,
Die AG2 193;
Number of eggs laid by Sparrow, 27, 193.
Nuthatch, White-bellied, &0.
Nuthatches, 80, 152-153, 279.
Nuttall Ornithological Club, 303-304.

| Nux vomica, 174, 177, 350.

Oats, injury to, 68, 71, 72, 73-74, 77, 184, 135, 136, 137,
138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 253,
254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260.
In stomachs, 134, 135. 136, 187, 138, 139, 140,
141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146.
Number of reports on, 68.
Objections to bounties, 158-161.
Observation, data derived from, 101.
dipoda carolina, 127, 301, 313, 329.
Official Sparrow-killers, 150, 151-152.
Ohio, bounty-law in, 150, 171-172.
Estimated cost of exterminating Sparrows,
in, 154-161.
Estimated number of Sparrows in, 154.
Old-field Sparrow, 279.
Olives injured, 349.
Omissions explained, 12, 199.
Opinion versus evidence, 12-13, 199.
Orange buds and blossoms injured, 45, 47.
Orange peel in stomach, 145.
Orchard Oriole, 80, 83, 268, 278, 280.
Oregon, no sparrow law in, 172.
Organized attacks on native birds, 86-87.
Orgyia leucostigma, 100, 102, 107, 109, 121, 125-126,
129, 130, 131, 291, 292, 293, 294, 324-325.

399

Percentage of animal matter in food of nestling
Sparrows, 103, 124.

| Percentage of insect food in stomachs exam-
ined, 103, 104, 124, 304, 305, 335, 336, 337, 338, 342,
345, 347.

Percentage of insect food in young Sparrows,
103, 124, 305.

Percentage of insectivorous Sparrows, 314.

Percentage of stomachs containing insects, 314,
328-329.

Period of incubation, 27.

Periodicals, extracts from, 318-324.

Perlids, 115, 119.

Persicaria, pale-flowered, 343.

Persimmon trees, insects eaten from, 297.

Petitions, 236. z

INDEX.

a Orygia leucostigmar eplaces Ennomos and Palela-
_ erita, 109, 121.

Original testimony in detai!, 198-301.

Oriole, Baltimore, 80, £1, 108-109, 265, 268, 269, 271,
272, £738, 274, 275, 278, 282, 283, 324-325.

rE Orchard, 80, 83, 268, 278, 280.

Orioles, kind not specified, 80, 263, 265, 266, 267, 268,
a 269, 270, 273, 274, 275, 279, 282, 283.
Orioles and grapes, 324.

@rnamental trees or vines injured, 40, 41, 42.
Ornithologists’ Union, American, 11, 304.
Orthoptera, 102, 119, 120, 121, 127, 289.
__ Otocoris alpestris, 80.
Outline of Sparrow history, 301-304.
Owl, Mottled or Sereech, 32, 150, 238.
Painted Finch (Nonpareil), 80, 264, 280.

-—

Pairing of young Sparrows, 28.
Pale-flowered persicaria, 343
Paleacrita vernata, 99, 102, 109, 110, 121-122, 126, 128,
199, 130, 131, 132, 285, 286, 291,
292, 293,.295, 299, 300, 301.
Replaced by Orgyta, 121-122.
Panicum sanguineum, 304.
Paper bags and grapes, 55, 323-324.
Papilio turnus, 102, 291.
Parasites of caterpillars, 109-110.
Parasites of Sparrows, 31.
Paris green, 174, 178.
Parkman’s Wren, 80.
Parsnips damaged, 49, 64.
Parus atricapillus, 80.
_ Passenger Pigeon, disappearance of, 283.
Passer domesticus, figure of, 16.
: hispaniolensis, 302.
: indicus, 303.
montanus, in Saint Louis, Mo., i0, 191-194,
Migrant in Europe, 341.
Passevinag ciris, 80,264,280.
cyanea, 80, 274.

Peaceful relations with native birds, 85, 86, 91, 96, |
| Pipilo erythrophthalmus, 80.
Peach buds or blossoms destroyed, 44-45, 46, 47, |

266, 267, 268, 273, 274, 275, 278, 279, 280, 283.

193, 240, 241, 242, 325, 327.
Peach buds with grubs in them, 43.
Peaches, injury to, 48, 58, 244, 249, 270, 349, 353.
Pear buds or blossoms, destroyed, 43, 45-46, 144,

146, 240, 241, 242, 299, |

a 318, 325, 327.
= With insects, 43, 299.
Pearl millet, 75.
Pears, injury to, 48, 54, 55, 58-59, 60, 247, 248, 249,
Be 270, 349, 351, 352.
_ Peas, blossoms eaten, 48, 61, 64, 247, 251.
a Dry, eaten, 60.
English, eaten, 245,
Found in Sparrows’ crops, 61.
Green, eaten, 48,54, 61, 62, 65, 124, 244, 245, 246,
248, 249, 230.
= In Australia, 349, 353.
In England, 330, 331, 332, 336, 339, 340, 344, 345,
347.
Sweet, 64.
Vines eaten, 48, 61, 63, 64, 146, 245, 250, 251.
_ Pennsylvania Sparrow law, 172.
_ Pepper, 49.
4 Blossoms of, 64.

Petrochelidon lunifrons, 80, &8, 89, 262, 268, 272, 273, ;

274, 275, 276, 282, 283, 307, 327.
Pewee, Phoebe, 80, 88, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274,
276, 277, 282, 283, 309.
Pewee, Least, 80, 269.
W 00d, 80, 277.
Phaseolus lunatus, 146.
Phieum pratense, 146.
Phebe, Pewee, 80, 88, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274,
276, 277, 282, 283, 309.
Phosphorized wheat, 350.
Phosphorus, 175, 349.
Phyllopertha horticola, 342.
Phytonomus, 117. 3
Pieris rapee, 294.
Larva of, 131, 288, 300.
Pigeon, domesticated, attacked, 81, 95, 264, 266.
Feeding on army - worms,
etc., 290-291.
Passenger or Wild, disappearance of, 283.
Pigeon grass, 304.
Pigeon Hawk, 82, 309.
Pine buds eaten, 241.
Pines injured by filth, 41, 241.

Pisum sativum, 146.
Plantain seeds eaten, 345.
Plant-lice, 102, 129, 130, 289, 296, 328, 345, 347, 348.
Plum blossoms without insects, 46.
Plum buds and blossoms, 45, 46, 146, 242, 243, 320,
325, 327.
Plum curculio, 102, 131, 288.
Plum, Japan, 59.
Plums eaten, 48, 54, 56, 57, 58, 244, 248, 249, 349, 350,
351, 352.
Podisus, 118.
Poison, administered improperly, 38.
Cost of, 175.
Danger of, to native birds, 239.
Destruction by, 37, 88, 151, 165, 174-178, 233,
234, 235, 236, 238, 239, 324, 349, 350, 351,352,
357.
Suggestions and precautions as to, 151,
165, 175-176.
Use of, forbidden in cities, 37.
Use of, in winter advocated, 38.
Used in Australia, 132, 349, 350, 351, 352, 357.
Used in England, 239.
Poisoned grain, cost of, 175.
Poisoned water, 349, 350.

SR SE

AN INDEX.

Poisoned wheatin Australia, 132-133.
Poisons, formule for preparation of,- 174-175.
Pollen eaten, 344.
Polygonum aviculare, 343.
convolvulus, 348, 345.
lapathifolium, 343.
Polygonum seeds eaten, 67, 304, 312, 348, 345.
Poocetes gramineus, 80, 270.
Poplar buds and catkins, 44.
Potato beetle, Potato bug, 102, 129, 130, 288, 293.
Potentilla, beetle found on, 117.
Poultry robbed of food, 149.
Prairie-dogs, bounty on, 161-162.
Precautions in use of poison, 175-176.
Prefatory letter, 9.
Premiums, advocated, 153, 238.
By clubs, 166.
In Australia, 349, 350.
In England, 239, 251-252, 260.
In Germany, 302, 321.
Prévost, M. Florent, 302.
Prizes for Sparrow-killing, 153.

_ Progne subis, 80, 82-87, 96, 193-194, 261, 262, 264, 265,

266, 269, 270, 272, 275, 276, 278, 279, 280, 281.

Proportion of animal food in Sparrows’ stomachs, |

120.
Proportions of different foods in Sparrows’ stom-
achs, 124.
Protectign of caterpillars by Sparrows, 107-110.
Protective laws, 150-51.
Repeal of, 35-36, 150-151.
Prunes destroyed, 244.
Prunus domestica, 146.
Prussia, premiums in, 302.
Psocus, 114, 115, 119, 140.
Public opinion, change of, 35.
Publications, extracts from various, 324-357.
Partial list of, 301-304.
Published testimony, 301-357.
American, 304-329.
Foreign, 330-357.
Purple Finch, 80, 268, 270, 276, 280.
Mobbed by Sparrows, 276;
Purple Grackle, 32, 80, 92, 267, 268, 269, 271, 276.

Purple Martin, 80, 82--87, 96, 193-194, 261, 262, 264, |

265, 266, 269, 270, 272, 275, 276, 278, 279, 280, 281.
Pyralids, 118.
Pyranga (see Tanager), 80.
Pyrgita [Passer] domestica, 305.
Pyrus communis, 146.
Quatrels, unprovoked, 92-94, 97, 263, 264.
Quince buds and blossoms destroyed, 45, 46, 242.
Quiscalus quiscula, 32, 80, 92, 267, 268, 269, 271, 276.
Rabbits in New South Wales, 353.
Radish, beds destroyed, 336.
Leaves and sprouts eaten, 48, 63, 250, 344.
Seed eaten, 48, 65, 246, 247.
Wild, 343.
Rag-weed seed eaten, 250.
Range of Sparrow in America, 199-232.
Rape-seed caten, 65.
Raphanus raphanistrum, 343.
Rapidity of increase, 29-30.
Raspberries eaten, 48, 54, 55, 56,57, 59, 70, 245, 246,
247, 248, 249, 251, 327.
Raspberry buds destroyed, 46.

Rate of increase, 27-31, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237,
238, 339.
Rate of spread, 26-27, 191-192.
recommendations, for legislation, 150-164.
To the people, 164-166.
Red ants, 102, 291.
Ledbird, 80, 264, 265, 266, 280.
Ned clover, 146.
ted-eved Vireo, 80, 265, 269.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 80, 264, 265, 282.
Ited June apple, 57.
Red maggot on grain, 348.
Redpoll, 80, 263.
Red spider, 345.
Red squirrel mobbed by Sparrows, 273.
Redstart, 80.
Red-winged Blackbird, 80, 266.
Regulus satrapa, 80, 94, 263, 267.
Relation to canker-worms, 109-110.
Relation to caterpillars, 107-109.
Relation to insects, 98-133, 283-301.
Relation to native birds, 78-98, 260-283.

elation to span-worms, 109-110.

Removal of nesting boxes, 36.
Repeal of protective laws, 35-36, 150.
Replacement of Ennomos and Paleacrita by Or-
gyia, 121-122.
Replacement of smooth worms by hairy caterpil-
lars, 121-122.
Replacement of Sparrows by native birds, 152-153.
Report of Sparrow investigation in Australia, 348-
352.
Resolutions adopted in Australia, 355.
Restriction and prevention, 164-166.
Restriction, by shooting, 179, 236.
By trap and gun, 37-40,
In Australia, 354-357.
In England, 334.
Results of dissection, 133-146.
Résumé of dissections in Europe, 123-125.
Rewards for eggs and heads in Australia, 349, 350.
Rhode Island sparrow law, 172.
Rice, attacked in the field, 76, 77.
Eaten from stack, 259.
Injury to, 68, 76-77, 259.
Rice, Egyptian, 74, 75.
Wild (Zizania), 76.
Rice, bread, etc , in stomachs, 136, 187, 138, 139, 140,
141, 148, 144, 145.
Rice-birds and rice, 70, 76, 77.
Riley on insectivorous habits, 9, 111-182.
Ripe cherries fed to young, 56.
Ripe pears eaten, 247, 248.
Roaches eaten, 306.
Robin, 80, 86, 88, 90-91, 93-94, 95, 97, 108-109, 262,
263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273,
274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282. 309, 324—-
325.
Destroys fruit, 60, 270, 324.
‘Eats hairy caterpillars, 108-109.
Eats moth of canker-worm, 110.
Eggs and young destroyed, 90, 279.
Food of, 126.
Killed by Sparrow, 95, 277.
Robbed of insects and worms, 86, 94, 264, 275,
297, 305.

- Robin, Wood (= Wood Thrush), 278.
~Romaleum atomariwm, 123.
Rose aphis, 125.
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak, food of, 323.
Rose-bug, 102, 181.
Rose-slugs, 102, 125, 128.
Roosts and filth, 40.
_ Roosts raided at night, 36.
Rough-winged Swallow, 80.
_ Rougier de la Bergerie, 302.
_ Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 80, 95, 277.
Rumex crispus, 343.
Russian Empire, Sparrows in, 23.
Russian millet, 75; 76.
Rye, injury to, 68, 74, 253, 254, 256, 260, 330.
In Sparrow's craw, 74.
Sagacity of Sparrows, 181, 235.
Saint Louis, House and TreeSparrows at, 191-194.
Salsify, 49, 248, 249.
Samples of evidence, how selected, 13.
Sand Swallow (= Bank Swallow), 80.
Sap-sucker, 80.
Sassafras seeds eaten, 250.
‘Savanna Sparrow, 80, 270, 280.
Food of, 323.
Sayornis phebe, 80, 88, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 274, 276,
277, 282, 283, 309.
Scale insects eaten, 130, 131, 297.
_ Scandinavia, Sparrows in, 23.
_ Scarabeide, 115.
_ Scarcity of nesting places, 34.
_ Science, extracts from, 305.
Scoliide, 115.
_ Scottish thistle in Van Dieman’s Land, 308.
_ Scratching up seed, 64-65, 66, 67, 69, 244, 246, 250, 255.
- Screech Owl, Mottled Owl, 32, 150, 238.
_ Seasonal variation in fuod, 124-125.
Seasonal variation in insect diet, 105-106.
Secale cereale, 146.
Seckel pears, 55.
Sedge (Carex), 312.
- Seed-eaters sometimes inseectivorous, 99.
_ Seed gardens, injury to, 65.
Seed oats injured, 74.
_ Seed pods eaten, 64.
Seeds in stomachs.
_ Selandria, 125, 128.
Setaria glauca, 146, 304.
3 verticillata, 305.
: viridis, 304.
_ Setaria, seed eaten, 67, 76, 145, 146, 304, 305.
_ Setophaga ruticilla, 80.
_ Seventeen-year cicada or locust, 130, 286.
Shad flies, 286.

(See Stomach contents.)

Freed from worms, 43.
a Leaves plucked, 42.
Shade trees and their insect defoliators, 324, 325.

_ Sharp-shinned Hawk, 32.
Shocked grain injured, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258,
259, 260.
_ Shooting, allowed in city, 38.

; Expense of, 38.
On grain-fields, 74.
a Restriction by, 179, 236.
Shooting-clubs, 166.

8404—Bull. 1—_—26

INDEX.

_ Shade trees, buds or blossoms plucked, 45, 241,243.

401

Shooting matches, 166.
Shoots of vegetables, 61, 62, 63, 64, 244, 245, 246, 247,
249, 250, 251.
Shore Lark, 80.
Shrike, Great Northern, 31, 150, 233, 238, 276.
Shrikes, 234, 309.
Sialia mexicana, 80.
sialis, 80, 81, 82-87, 88, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 126,
261, 262, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271,
272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281,
282, 223, 290-291, 297, 320, 327.
Sinapis arvensis, 343.
Singed insects eaten, 131, 298.
Sitones flavescens, 117.
Sitta carolinensis, 80, 279.
Skylark, English, 341.
Slugs on rose-bushes, 102, 125, 128.
Small fruits injured, 48, 56-57, 58.
Small grain, number of reports on, 68.
| Smartweed (Polygonum), 304.
Smooth caterpillars or worms, 99, 102, 131, 132,
285, 286.
Replaced by hairy worms, 121-122.
Snail in Cuckoo's stomach, 123.
Snails, scarcity of, 285.
Snapping-bugs in Sparrow's nest, 320.
Snout-beetles, 111, 112, 117-118, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139
140, 141.
Snow-birds (Junco), 80, 262, 269, 270.
Solenopsis, 112, 116.
Song of the Sparrow, 149.
Song-birds, effects upon, 80, 91, 270, 274, 320.
Song Sparrow, effects upon, 80, 81, 94, 264, 267, 270,
272, 278, 279, 280, 283, 295, 323.
Food of, 295, 323.
Killed by Passer, 94.
Sonnini’s ‘‘Dictionaire,’’ extract from, 301.
Sorghum, injury to, 68, 75-76, 259.
Varieties of, 75.
South Australia, distribution of Sparrow in, 348.
South Carolina bird-law, 172.
Spanish Sparrow in Africa, 302.
Span-worms, measuring-worms, 99, 100, 102, 109,
110, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 285, 286, 291, 292, 293,
294, 295, 297, 299, 300, 301, 311, 328.
Disappearance of, from Philadelphia, 109.
Replacement of, by Orgyia, 121-122.
Sparrow, Canada Tree, 192.
Chipping, 80, 81, 87, 93, 95, 262, 263, 264,
265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 272, 277, 278,
279, 280, 282, 283, 306, 309, 327.
Common, 80, 88, 269.
English, the term a misnomer, 17.
European Tree, 191-194.
European House, the proper name of
Passer domesticus, 17.
Field, 80, 267, 270.
Ground, 80.
House (= English), 17.
House [Chipping], 264.
Indian House, 303.
Native, 80, 90, 276.
Old-field, 279.
Savanna, 80, 270, 280, 323.
Song, 80, 81, 94, 264, 267, 270, 272, 278, 279,
; 280, 283, 295, 323. ;

|

eer aoe INDEX.

Sparrow, Spanish, 302.
Summer, 276.
Tree, 80, 270, 271, 272, 280.
Vesper (= Grass Finch), 80, 270.
Sparrow-clubs, 166, 239, 334.
Sparrow Hawk, 32, 150, 309.
Sparrow huuts, 166, 238.
Sparrow-hunters in Prussia, 302.
Sparrow-killers, official, 150, 151-152.
Sparrow-trapping, 178-191.
Sparrows as food, 38-39, 160, 166, 182.
Sphenophorus parvulus, 112, 113, 114, 117-118.
robustus, 118.
sculptilis, 118.
13-punctatus, 118.
zece, 112.
Sphinx carolina, 102.
Sphyrapicus varius, 95.
Spice-wood seeds eaten, 250.
Spiders, 102, 163, 112, 120, 129, 130, 138, 189, 285, 291,
293, 294, 295, 299, 300, 339, 345.
Spinach, injured, 49, 64.
Wild, 343.
Spinus psaltria, 8).
tristis, 80, 81, 88, 91, 263, 265, 267, 270, 271, 274,
275, 276, 277, 278, 280, 281.
Spizella monticola, 80, 192, 270, 271, 272, 280.
pusilla, 80, 270.
socialis, 80, 81, 87, 93, 95, 262, 263, 265, 266,
267, 269, 270, 271, 272, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282,
283, 306, 309, 327.
Spontaneous combustion in nests, 148.
Sporting purposes, Sparrows for, 178-191.
Spouts choked with nesting rubbish, 147-148, 352.
Spread, into country, 23-26, 259.
Manner of, 18-26.
Rate of, 26-27.
Spring canker-worm, 121-122.
Sprouting grain pulled, 259, 260, 341, 344.
Sprouts of vegetables eaten, 61, 62, 63, 64, 244, 245,
246, 247, 249, 250, 251.
Squads of Sparrows attack other birds, 86, 87, 94,
266-267, 269, 270, 271, 276, 277, 279, 280, 281, 282.
Squash blossoms destroyed, 64.
Squash-bug, 102.
Squirrel mobbed, 273.
Stable flies eaten, 102.
Stacked grain injured, 69, 70, 71, 72, 253, 254, 255,
256, 257, 258, 259, 260.
Staphylinid beetle, 296.
Starling, European, 333.
State laws on bird protection, 167-173.
States, distribution of Sparrow in, 199-232.
States, list of those—
Occupied by Sparrow, 26.
Reporting most injury to fruits and vegeta-
bles, 48.
Reporting most injury to grain, 68.
Reporting most injury to grapes, 53.
Statues defaced by filth, 147. .
Stelgidopteryx serripennis, 80.
Stcllavia media, 305, 343.
Stomach contents of Cuckoo, 123.
Stomach contents of Sparrows, 100-101, 111, 123-
125, 133-146, 296, 304, 311-314, 318, 320, 321-323, 325
328-329, 331, 335, 336, 337, 342, 344-345, 347.

Stomach contents of Sparrows—Continued.
Method of determining, 111, 133, 321-322.
Tables of, 133-146.

Stomachs, number examined, 100-101. ~~

With few insects, 127, 131, 291, 296, 298,
299.
With many insects, 328-329, 331, 336, 337,
338, 344-345.
With no insects, 126, 127, 129, 130, 287,
288, 289, 290, 291, 293, 295, 296, 297.
Storms, effects of, 32-34, 232-233, 234, 236-237.
Strawberries, 48, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 63, 244, 245, 246,
247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 327.

Street refuse, importance of, to the Sparrow, 34.

String-beans, 146.

Strychnine, 174, 175, 176, 177, 234, 236, 238, 324,

349, 351, 342.
Experiments with, 176.

Sturnella magna, 80, 274, 277.

Sugar-corn, 62, 249.

Suggestions as to poisons, 175.

Sulphur fumes at roosts, 349.

Summaries of evidence, 17-149.

Why misleading, 13.

Summary of food in England, 343.

Summary of insects in stomachs, 120.

Summary of reports on insects, 98-110, 128-131.

Summer Martin, 267.

Summer Sparrow, 276.

Summer Warbier, 282, 283.

Summer Yellow-bird (= Yellow Warbler), 270,

272,279.

Sunflower, seed eaten, 48, 64, 65-66, 245, 247, 248,

251, 304.
Wild, seed eaten, 66.

Superabundance of nesting places, 96.

Swallow, Bank, &0.

Barn, 80, 86, 89, 262, 266, 271, 272, 275,
277, 278, 282, 283.

Blue-backed=Tree Swallow, q. v.

Chimney (see Swift), 80, 278.

Cliff, 80, 88, 89, 262, 268, 272, 273, 274,
275, 276, 282, 283, 307, 327.

Eave (=Cliff Swallow), 88, 262, 271, 276,
282.

European, 335.

Fork-tailed (= Barn Swallow), 88.

House, 266.

Jug or Mud (=Cliff), 80, 88, 273, 274.

Rough-winged, 80. i

Sand (=Bank), &0.

Tree, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 88, 90, 96, 97, 262,
265, 269, 270, 272, 282, 283, 327.

Violet-green, 80.

White-bellied or White-breasted. (See
Tree.)

’ Swallows, kind not specified, 80, 81, 86, 88, 89, 90,

262, 264, 265, 266, 268, 269, 271, 272, 273,
276, 278, 279, 282, 307.
Killed by Sparrows, 90, 307.
Sparrows killed by, 282.
Swede turnip buds destroyed, 344.
Sweet apples, 250.
Sweet corn, 62, 66, 244, 246, 249, 254, 255.
Sweet peas, 49, 64.
Swift, Chimney, 80, 278, 282.

|
q
:

Sycamore pollen eaten, 344.

Synopsis of evidence relating to native birds, 261.

Synopsis of replies relating to insectivorous hab-

its, 284.

Synopsis of replies relating to trees and vines,
240.

Synopsis of testimony relating to fruits and veg-
etables, 213-244.

Synopsis of testimony relating to grain crops, 252.

Tables showing—

Approximate spread of the Sparrow, 27.

Cost of bounties, 158.

Distribution of Sparrow in the United States
and Canada, with dates of first appearance,
199-232.

Injury to buds and blossoms, 45.

Injury to fruits and vegetables, 48.

Injury to grain, 68.

Places and dates of introduction, 19-21.

Probable effects of bounties, 157.

Seasonal variation in insect diet, 106.

Stomach contents, 133-146, 311-314, 322, 344-345.

‘ Theoretical increase, 29.

Tachycineta bicolor, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 88, 90, 96, 97,
262, 265, 269, 270, 272, 282, 283, 307,
309, 327.

thalassina, 80.

Tanagers, 80, 270.

Taraxacum officinale, 343.

Tarentula, 112, 120.

Taxes recommended in Australia, 352.

Temperature, effects of, 236, 239.

Tender shoots eaten, 244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 251.

Tennessee bird-law, 172.

Tent caterpillar, 102, 129, 131, 288; 200.

Eggs of, 300.
Teras contaminana, 345.

‘Termes flavipes, 130, 291.

Termites, white-ants, 102, 129, 130, 291, 294.
Testimony, amount of, 12.
Methods of collecting, 11-12.
Original, in detail, 198-301.
Published, American, 304-329.
Foreign, 330-357.
Tettix, 111,119.
Texas bird-law, 173.
Thatched roofs destroyed, 148-149, 338.
Theoretical increase, 29.
Thrasher, Brown, 80, 266, 278, 280.
Thrips, not eaten, 348.
Thrush, Brown, 80, 265, 278, 280.
Hermit, 80, 273.
Migrating (=Robin), 268.
W004, 80, 274, 275, 278.
Thrushes, kind not specified, 80, 265, 268, 272, 273,
275, 278, 280, 335.
Protected in England, 335.
Thryothorus ludovicianus, 80, 276, 277, 2C0.
bewickit, 80, 264, 276.
Thunder-storms, effects of, 33-34, 232-233, 234, 236-
237.
Thyridopteryx, 121, 324-325.
Tiger-beetle (Cicindela), 102, 130, 295.
Timothy, 146, 311, 325.
Tiphia inornata, 112, 113, 114, 115.
Tipula, 338, 345.

INDEX.

403

Titmouse, Black-capped, 89.
Kind not specified, 80, 269.
Tobacco seed, 49.
Tobacco-moth, 129.
Tobacco-worm, 102, 128, 131.
Tomato, injury to, 48, 59, 247, 249, 251.
Tomtit, 80, 280.
Towhee, Chewink, 80.
Towhee, Brown, 80.
Towns forsaken by Sparrows, 70.
Transportation, accidental, in cars, 23, 309.
Trapping Sparrows, 37-40, 178-191.
Traps and nets, suggestions as to use of, 151, 164-'
165.
Trap-shooting with Sparrows,
Tree caterpillar, 102, 287.
Tree hopper, 140.
Tree lice, 102, 299.
Tree Sparrow, 80, 270, 271, 272, 280.
Canada, 192.
European, 191-194.
Tree Swallow (=White-bellied Swallow), 80, 82,
84, 85, 86, 88, 90, 96, 97, 262, 265,
269, 270, 272, 282, 283, 327.
Killed by Sparrow, 270. ~
Trees, injury to, 40-48, 240-243.
Trifolium pratense, 146.
repens, 146.
Triticum vulgare, 146.
Trochilus colubris, 80, 95, 277.
Troglodytes aédon, 80, 82, 83, 85, 87-88, 93, 96, 97, 262,
263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 272,
273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 280, 282, 283,
309, 327.
aedon parkmannii, 80.
Tuberose buds destroyed, 49, 64.
Tulips destroyed, 49, 249.
Turdus aonalaschke pallasii, 80, 273.
mustelinus, 80, 274, 275, 278.
Turnip leaves or sprouts eaten, 48, 63, 245.
Turnip seed eaten, 48, 64, 65, 244, 245, 246, 247, 2418
Turnips pecked, 245.
Turnus butterfly, 102, 291.
Turpentine as poison, 349.
Tussock-moth (Orgy ia), 100, 102, 107-109, 121, 129,
130, 131, 291, 292, 293, 294, 324-325.
Tyrannus tyrannus, 80, 92, 94, 265, 268, 269, 271, 275,
276, 277, 278, 281.
Tyrant Flycatcher (=King-bird), 269.
Ulmus americanus, defoliated by Orgyia, 108.
Undetermined vegetable matter in stomachs, 134,
135, 186, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145.
Unprovoked attacks on native birds, 92-94, 97,
263, 264.
Unusual nests of the Sparrow, 307.
Useful birds in England, 334.
Utah, no sparrow law in, 173.
Valmont de Bomare, 302.
Value of Sparrows for food, 182.
Van Dieman’s Land, Scottish thistle in, 308,
Vanessa antiopa, 102, 291.
Vanessa butterfly, 102, 291.
Vaporer-moth. (See Tussock-moth.)
Vegetables, injury to, 60-66, 243-252.
List of those injured, 48.
Seed eaten, 64-66, 244-252.

78-191,

404 INDEX.

Venango grape, 55.
Verbascum thapsus, 120.
Verbena hastata, seeds of, in stomach, 312.
Verdict of American Ornithologists’ Union, 315-
318.
Vermont bird-law, 173.
Vesper Sparrow (= Grass Finch), 80, 270.
Vines, buds of, eaten, 40-42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 243.
Injury to, 40-42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 240-243.
Vineyards badly damaged, 51, 54.
Vineyards of Western New York, 52-53.
Violet-green Swallow, 80.
Vireo gilvus, 80, 92, 264, 282.
noveboracensis, 80, 92.
olivaceus, 80, 265, 269.
Vireo, Red-eyed, 80, 265, 269.
Warbling, 80, 92, 264, 282.
White-eyed, 80, 92.
Vireos, kind not specified, 80, 81, 88, 92, 270, 327.
Nestlings killed, 92.
Virginia, no sparrow law in, 173.
Virginia Yellow-bird, 283.
Vitis, 146.
Voice of English Sparrow, 149, 192.
Voice of European Tree Sparrow, 192.
Warbler, Myrtle, 80, 283.
Summer, 282, 283.
Yellow, 80, 81, 270, 272, 279, 280, 282, 283,
327.
Yellow-rump (=Mpyrtle), 80, 283.
Warblers, kind not specified, 80, 262, 263, 264, 266,
267, 269, 275, 281, 327.
In England, 335, 337.
Warbling Vireo, 80, 92, 264, 282.
Nestlings killed, 92.
Wariness. (See Sagacity.)
Washington Territory, no sparrow law in, 173.
Wasps, 49-50, 102, 115-116, 134, 135, 186, 138, 139, 140,
141, 142, 289.
Wasps and grapes, 49-50.
Wasps injure over-ripe fiuit, 49-50.
Water-beetles, 342.
Water-pipes choked with nests, 148.
Web caterpillars, 126, 308.
Web-worm, fall web-worm, 100,118, 123, 128, 129,
130, 286, 288, 297, 298, 324-325.
Number eaten by Cuckoo, 123.
Weed seed, destruction of, 52, 65, 66-68, 124, 250,
258, 311, 312, 322, 325, 328, 336, 343, 3.45.
In Sparrows’ stomachs, 52, 136, 137,
138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 146.
List of kinds eaten in England, 343.
Weeds, a protection in vineyards, 52.
Weevils, 102.
Western Bluebird, 80.
Western House Finch, 89.
West Virginia bird-law, 173.
Wheat:
Damaged by Sparrow, 69-73, 74, 76, 253,
254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 323.
Distant from town, 69.
Experiments spoiled, 73.
Found in stomachs, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138,
139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146.
In Australia, 349, 351, 357.

Wheat:
In barns, 71.
In England, 330, 331, 332, Bo 337, 339, 340,
344, 345, 347.
In the milk, 71.
In shock, stack, and crib, 69, 70, 71, 7, 253,
254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260.
Late-sown, 69.
New-sown, 69.
Number of reports on, 68.
‘Scratched up, 69.
Wheat, Clawson, 73.
Diehl Mediterranean, 73.
Martin Amber, 73.

Wheat-fields, edges damaged, 70, 72.

Wheat insects, 102.

Whippoorwill, disappearance of, 283.

White of Selbourne, 333, 346.

White ants, 102, 129, 130, 291, 294.

White arsenic, 174, 177.

White-bellied Nuthatch, 80.

White-bellied Swallow (=Tree Swallow), 80, 82,84,
85, 86, 88, 90, 96, 97, 262, 265, 269, 270, 272, 282, 283,
307, 309, 327.

White-breasted Swallow (=White-bellied Swal-
low), 309, 327, 307.

White cabbage butterfly, 130.

White caterpillar, 129, 290.

White clover, beetles feeding on, 117.

Seed eaten, 146.

White elm, buds eaten, 242.

White-eyed Vireo, 80, 92.

White grubs, 116, 280, 297.

White-marked tussock -moth, 121, 324-325. (Also
see Tussock-moth.)

Widmann on European Sparrows at Saint Louis,
10, 191-194.

Wild Canary (=Goldfinch), 80, 265.

Wild cherries, 48.

Wild grapes, 55, 250.

Wild radish, 343.

Wild rice, 76.

Wild spinach, 343.

Wild sunflower, 66.

Willow-moth, 342.

Window casings soiled, 147.

Windew Martin, European, 283.

Winged ants, i02, 126, 130, 140, 291.

Winter-killed Sparrows, 32-33, 233, 234, 235, 238, 239.

Winter weather, effects of, 38, 308.

Wire-worms, 345.

Wisconsin bird-law, 173.

Wistaria buds eaten, 45.

Woodpecker, Downy, 80, 266, 269, 272, 274, 275, 277,

279.
Golden- winged, 80, 269, 281, 282.
Hairy, 80, 266.

Red-headed, 80, 264, 265, 282.
Yellow-bellied, 80, 95.
Woodpeckers, kind not specified, 80, 91, 152-153,

267275:
Nestlings killed, 91.

Wood Pewee, 80, 277.

Wood Pigeon, harmful in England, 335.

Wood Robin (= Wood Thrush), 278.

Te
hi

‘Wood Thrush, 80, 274, 275, 278.
Worms, apple-tree, 102. s
Hairy, 100, 130, 290.

rind not specified, 102, 129,284,288, 289,

2938, 294, 295, 297, 299, 300, 301.
Sparrows driven out by, 308.
Stolen from Bluebird, 94.
Stolen from Robin, 275, 305.
Wounded grasshoppers eaten, 289.
Wren, Bewicks, 80, 264, 276.
Carolina, 80, 276, 277, 280.
Great Carolina, 277.
House, 80, 82, 88, 85, 87-88, 93, 96, 97, 262,
264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273,
275, 276, 277, 278, 280, 282, 283, 309, 327.
Parkman’s, 80..

‘Wrens, 80, 81, 83, 85, 86, 87-88, 96, 97, 262, 264, 265, 267,
268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277,

279, 280, 281, 282.
Nestlings attacked, 87.
Nestlings killed, 88, 93.
‘Wrens in England, 335.
Wyoming, no sparrow law in, 173.
Xiphidium, 111, 119.
Xylaspis, 112.
Yarrell’s figure of Sparrow, 16.
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, 80, 95.
Killed by Sparrow, 95.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 80, 108-109, 324-325.
Eats hairy caterpillars, 108-109.
Yellow-bird, 66, 80, 88, 91, 265, 267, 270, 271, 274,
276, 277, 278.
Eats sunflower seed, 66.
Nestlings killed by Sparrow, 91.

Summer (—Yellow Warbler), 270, 272, 279.

Virginia, 283.
Yellow butterfly, 102.

290,

INDEX.

405

Yellow Finch, 267.
Yellow-jackets and grapes, 50.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (=Myrtle Warbler), 80,

283.

Yellow-shafted Flicker (=Golden-winged Wood-
pecker, 269, 281, 282.

Yellow Underwing (moth), 345.

Yellow Warbler, 80, 81, 270,272, 279, 280, 282, 283,

327.
Eggs and young destroyed, 327.

Young birds killed by Sparrows, 90, 91, 276, 307, 339.
Young grapes damaged, 47, 249.

263,
274,

278,

275,

Young Martins starve in dry seasons, 193.

Young plants eaten by Sparrows, 244, 245, 246, 247,
249, 250, 251.

Young seed-pods eaten, 64.

Young Sparrows, age at which they begin to

breed, 30, 234, 311.

Date of hatching, 27, 105, 237.

Destruction of, 165, 180.

Food of, 61, 99, 103, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 285,
286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297,
299, 300, 305, 317-318, 320, 328-329, 330, 331, 335,
336, 337, 338, 340, 342, 344,345,

Insect food of, 99, 103, 124, 125, 128, 129, 132, 285,
286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297,
299, 300, 305, 330, 331, 335, 336, 337, 338, 340, 342,
344, 345,.

Killed by Martins, 274.

Number hatched and reared, 27, 30, 232, 233,
234, 236.

Vegetable food of, 61, 331, 337, 345.

Young turnips eaten, 245.

Young vegetables destroyed, 63-64.
Zea mays, 146.

Zenaidura macrowra, 280.

Zizania aquatica, 76.

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REPORT

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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

“UniTEp STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
VISION OF ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY AND MAMMALOGY,
Washington, D. C., July 20, 1887.

: : I aoe the honor to transmit herewith, for publication as a

C. HART MERRIAM,
Ornithologist.

PREFATORY LETTER.

The present report, which has been prepared by Prof. W. W. Cooke,
with the assistance of Mr. Otto Widmann and Prof. D. E. Lantz, is the
first fruit of the co-operative labors of the Division of Economic Or-
nithology of the Department of Agriculture and the Committee on
Bird Migration of the American Ornithologists’ Union. It consists of
two parts: (1) an introductory portion treating of the history and
methods of the work, together with a general study of the subject of
Bird Migration, including the influence of the weather upon the move-

ments of birds, the progression of bird waves and causes affecting the

same, the influence of topography and altitude upon migration, and the
rates of flight in the various species; and (2) a systematic portion in
which the five hundred and sixty species of birds known to occur in the
Mississippi Valley are treated serially, the movements of each during
the seasons of 1884 and 1885 being traced with as much exactness as
the records furnished by the one hundred and seventy cbservers in the
district permit.
The chapters entitled ‘“‘ The Relation of Migration to Barometric Press-
ure and Temperature,” and ‘‘A Study of the Bird Waves which passed
up the Mississippi Valley during the Spring of 1884,” are worthy of the
most careful perusal; and the articles on the Kingbird and Purple
Martin, in the systematic portion of the report, are particularly in-
structive. Indeed, I feel no hesitancy in expressing the belief that the
present report is the most valuable contribution ever made to the sub-
- ject of Bird Migration.
_ __ For the opinions herein expressed, relating to the theoretical questions
involved in the study of Bird Migration, Professor Cooke alone is re-
sponsible. Some of these opinions are diametrically opposed to those
held by the editor, but in a few instances only has the editor taken the
liberty to add his views on the subject; in all such cases the interpo-
lated remarks will be found in bracketed foot notes, over his initials.
In fact, it has not been thought proper to make any changes in the First
Part of the report, save the verbal alterations necessary in preparing it
for the press. In the Second Part, or “Systematic Report,” the case is
entirely different, for this portion of the report deals with fact instead
_ oftheory. Here the editor has deemed it his duty to make the subject-
matter conform to the present state of knowledge on the subject. With

5

6

this end in view, changes have been made freely, and the portions re.
lating to the geographical distribution of the various species and sub-
species have been largely rewritten. In this task the editor has received
invaluable assistance from Mr. Robert Ridgway, Curator of Birds in
the U. S. National Museum.

The nomenclature adopted is that of the new Check List of the
American Ornithologists’ Union, with the additions and corrections
contained in Ridgway’s Manual of North American Birds, which, for-
tunately, became available just as this report was going to press. The
number in brackets following each name is that which the species bears
in Ridgway’s Nomenclature of North American Birds, as published in
Bulletin 21 of the U. 8. National Museum, 1881.

The admirable map which accompanies this report has been prepared
under the supervision of Mr. Henry Gannett, chief geographer of the
U.S. Geological Survey.

My own connection with the report has consisted in bringing together
under the head of each species the matter contributed separately for the
two years; in arranging it in accordance with the nomenclature of the
American Ornithologists’ Union; in revising* the systematie portion
of the report (Part Second); in incorporating the original Appendixt
into the body of the text, and in the editorial revision of the mann-—
seript of the whole report—a labor which, for the past year and a half,
has consumed all of the time not required in the performance of my —
routine official duties.

C. HART MERRIAM,

Hditor.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 20, 1887.

* This revision has consisted in rewriting the habitats of most of the species and
subspecies; in casting out some forms which had been included upon erroneous
identification or insufficient evidence; in correcting statements of fact; in transfer-
ring (in a few cases) the notes sent under a stated species or subspecies to a nearly re-
lated species or subspecies known to inhabit the region under consideration to the
exclusion of the form reported ; in the addition of a number of species and subspecies
now known to inhabit the region; in the insertion of additional matter under species
already given; in the interpolation of authorities for second-hand statements; and
in the omission of matter of questionable reliability. In all of these directions the
editor feels that the report is susceptible of still further improvement, but want of
time and reluctance to longer delay the publication of an already long-delayed and
much-clamored-for document must be his excuse for its incompleteness and imper-
fections.

t The original appendix consisted ofa very briefly annotated list of about one hundred
aud forty birds supposed to inhabit the District, but concerning which no reports had
been received from our observers. Some ofthese have been eliminated, as resting upon
insufficient evidence ; the remainder, for the convenience of those who use this book,
have been incorporated in their proper places in the general text, accompanied by a
statement of their geographical distribution, and such other facts of interest as might
be added without too greatly increasing tie bulk of the report.

BIRD MIGRATION IN THE MISSISSIPPT VALLEY.

By W. W. CooKE.

In the winter of 188182 the attempt was made to secure the assist-

| ance of the ornithologists of Iowa in studying the migrations of birds;
but a change of residence on the part of the author from Iowa to Minn-

esota necessitated a modification of the original scheme, and it was de-

g cided to increase the size of the area to be investigated so as to include
_ the whole Mississippi Valley. All the ornithologists of that district were

invited to co-operate by contributing notes on the winter birds and re-

ta

3 porting dates of the spring arrivals. Answers were received from 26
_ persons who promised to aid in the work, but at the end of the season

4 it was found that but 13 had actually forwarded observations. These
_ 13 were distributed as follows: Arkansas, 1; Missouri, 2; Kansas, 1;
Illinois, 3; Nebraska, 1; Iowa, 2; Minnesota, 2; Wisconsin, 1. Thus

_ it will be seen that a small part only of the Mississippi Valley was rep-

4 resented. The notes contributed were published, without comment
_ or change, in Forest and Stream for October, November, and Decem-

- ber, 1882.

The same work was undertaken for the spring of 1883, and, by a lib-

eral use of the press, a much larger corps of observers was obtained.

_ The names of 42 persons were received, but of these 26 only furnished

F reports. They were distributed as follows: Texas, 1; Mississippi, 2;

_ Tennessee, 1; Kansas, 2; Arkansas, 1; Missouri, 3; Illinois, 7; Iowa,

a 4; EMaeonsin, 2s Masurescea ele ttr a ieaeuis icine: Indian Terri.
. ay. Nebraska, aa Dakota wk no representatives.

The larger part of the hundreds of notes received from these observ-

3 ers was never written up, and for that reason frequent reference will

7 be made to them in the present report.* Some of the species were
_ treated in the Ornithologist and Oolégist for 1883, and the full notes

. from two of the stations appeared in the American Field for December,
_ 1883, and January, 1884, and were afterwards issued as Bulletin No. 1
_ of the Ridgway Ornithological Club of Chicago.

The founding of the American Ornithologists’ Union (in September,

I aaa greatly enlarged the scope of the work, but did not materially

[* Since the above was written most of these notes have been printed in the Orni-

“thologist and Odlogist.—C. H- M.]
9

i

pi

10

alter its character. As is well known, this society was formed of the

most prominent ornithologists of North America, and gathered to itself —

the best of the younger active field workers.
When, therefore, it was announced that, at the first meeting of the

new Union, ‘‘a committee was also appointed on the ‘migration of birds,’ —

to co-operate with Mr. W. W. Cooke in connection with his work on
this subject in the Mississippi Valley, and consists of the following
gentlemen, with power to add to their number: Merriam, Brown, Pur-
die, Wheaton, Chamberlain, Grinnell, Henshaw, Cory, Merrill, Fisher,
_ Bicknell, Mearns, and McelIlwraith,”* a new impulse was given to the
work, and ornithologists all over the district hastened to send their
offers of aid.

Under the efficient management of the chairman of the committee,
Dr. C. Hart Merriam, arrangements for the spring campaign were soon
completed. The whole of the United States, British America, and Alaska
were included in the scheme, and the field was divided into fourteen
districts, each under the charge of its own superintendent. ‘The su-
perintendency of the work in the Mississippi Valley remained in the
same hands as for the two previous years, and the district was made to
include Mississippi, the portions of Kentucky and Tennessee west of
the Tennessee river, Illinois, Wisconsin, the northern peninsula of

Michigan, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, In-

dian Territory, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, and Manitoba.

The work begun in the Mississippi Valley December 1, 1883, under ~

the auspices of the American Ornithologists’ Union, has been carried

on uninterruptedly to the present date. Its progress has been chron-
icled from time to time in The Auk, and in the Ornithologist and Odlo-
gist, in which latter magazine, for May, 1884, appeared a list of the

observers and a rough map of the district, showing the location of the —
stations. Since then the names of many new observers have been added _

until the number at the close of the season of 1884 was 160. Reports
on spring migration in 1884 were received from 109 stations. These
reports may be characterized as follows: Merely a few notes, 25; a
scattered report on the whole or a part of the migration, 50; a full re-
port on the whole migration, 34. These 109 stations were distributed
over the Mississippi Valley as follows: Mississippi, 6; Tennessee, 1;

Illinois, 22; Wisconsin, 14; Louisiana, 2; Arkansas,1; Missouri, 9; ©

Towa, 18; Minnesota, 11; Texas,4; Indian Territory, 2; Kansas, 5;
Nebraska, 3; Dakota, 8, and Manitoba, 3.

Reports were received on the fall migration of 1884 from about halt a
dozen observers. Individually, these reports were of a high grade of
excellence, but their number was too small to allow of any accurate
tracing of the southward movements of the various species. They will
be found incorporated in the body of this report.

* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VIII, 1883, p. 225.

ios |

THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS.

& Before proceeding to treat in detail of the phenomena presented by the
a reccrds of the migration observers, it may be well to glance for a moment
at the general causes of migration, and at some of its more striking
a and interesting features.
Without entering into a discussion of the causes which long ago
started birds on their periodical change of habitation, we shall not be
far out of the way in considering their present migrations the result of
- inherited experience. To be more explicit, the first migrations were
_ doubtless very limited in extent and probably were intelligent move-.
~ ments which through repetition became habitual, and the habit was
transmitted from parent to offspring until it has become, as we see it
now, the governing impulse of the bird’s life. It is undoubtedly true
that love of the nesting ground, which is to them their home, is the
foundation of the desire for migration;* and year after year they find
_ their way thousands of miles back to the same box or tree by the exer-
- cise of memory—not always the memory of the individual, but the
- memory inherited from numberless preceding generations which have
passed and repassed over the same route.
4 In the study of the yearly cycle of migrations there are two movements
4 for which we must seek the cause—the restless pushing northward in
the spring, in spite of cold, rain, sleet, aud snow; and the southward
journey in the fall. We have already stated that the northward move-
ment is caused by a strong home love—an overpowering desire to be
once more among the familiar scenes of the previous summer. The re-
turn movement is obviously the result of two causes—the approach of
_ winter and the failure of the food supply. Of these two, the latter is
_ probably by far the more powerful, since it is well known that single
_ individuals of species which retire far to the south often remain behind,
and, favored by an abundance of food, withstand the most severe
weather. Thus, many Red-headed Woodpeckers remain through the
_ winter in the cold climate of northeastern New York, frequenting the
d heavy timber where there is a great quantity of their favorite food ;t
_ and it is not unusual for a few Robins to spend the winter in north-
central Wisconsin, sheltered in the thick pine forests ; while Ducks and
even Wilson’s Snipe have been known to remain throughout the whole

{*I cannot concur with Professor Cooke in the belief that ‘‘ love of the nesting
ground * * * is the foundation of the desire for migration.” Ina lecture on Bird
Migration which it was my privilege to deliver in the U. 8. National Museum, April

_ 3, 1886, I said: ‘‘ Some ornithologists of note have laid special stress upon the ‘ strong
q home affection’ which prompts birds to leave the South and return to their breeding
grounds. To me this explanation is forced and unnecessary. Birds desert their
winter homes because the food supply fails; because the climatic conditions be-
come unsuited to their needs; because the approach of the breeding season gives rise
to physiological restlessness ; and because they inherit an irresistible impulse to move
at this particular time of the year.”—C. H. M.]
t Merriam, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. III, No.3, July, 1878, pp. 123-124.

+ SSC ys

12

winter in Wyoming, near the hot springs, whose warmth keeps the neigh- 4
boring waters and ground from freezing. Nevertheless, itis as yet un- —
explained why some birds, notably many of the warblers, retire in winter
to such a great distance south, some even crossing the equator and pass-
ing several hundred miles beyond. Certainly neither cold nor hunger —
can be the cause of such wanderings. ;

It has been often noticed that during the fall migration many birds
seem to be able to foretell the approach of storms from the north, and
hurriedly depart southward, before human eyes can detect any signs of
the coming change. There is a large accumulation of evidence on this
point,.all seemingly in support of the proposition which has been for-
mulated by one of our leading ornithologists in the following words: —
‘‘ Birds discern approaching meteorological changes.”* Some ornithol-
ogists deny this, saying that in such cases the birds have out-traveled
the storm, in which they were at first caught, their superior powers of
flight enabling them to pass ahead of it; or that they have been warned
by the hasty approach of more northern birds coming from the area
over which the storm was moving.

If we study fall migration merely, there seems to be no doubt of the
truth of this statement, but if we include spring migration the question
becomes much more involved. If birds discern approaching meteor-
ological changes, why is it that so many thousands perish each year
by being caught in storms and frozen to death? Certainly an approach-
ing storm in spring must give just as plain and early a warning as one
in the fall, yet the same birds which are said to foresee it at the latter
time and escape, rush blindly forward a few months later and are over-
taken, their death paying the penalty of their rashness. The hardy
waterfowl (Ducks and Geese) push northward in the spring, encounter
storms, and are turned back, only to repeat the same thing a dozen
times before they reach their summer quarters, but each time, instead
of avoiding the approaching storm, they do not retreat until its actual
presence drives them back. If they can foresee these changes, then
their love of home and their desire to return to it must be wonderfully
strong.

SPEED AT WHICH BIRDS MIGRATE.

In studying the speed at which birds proceed northward in their mi-
erations one is beset by many difficulties. To determine the compara-
tive speed of the several species is easy enough, but to determine the
absolute rate—the exact number of miles which a particular bird makes
during one day’s journey—is beyond our power. If migration were a
- steady movement northward, with the same individuals always in the
van, numerous careful observations might make it possible to arrive at
an approximation to the truth; but instead of this, migration is per- —
formed something after the manner of a game of leap-frog. While in

*J. A. Allen, in Scribner’s Monthly Magazine for October, 1881, p. 938.

13

e fall migration the younger birds lead,* in the spring they loiter be-
nd, and it is the old birds, those in whom we may suppose the love
home and the desire for procreation are strongest, which press for-
ward so eagerly. Moreover, of these old birds, those which arrive first
at a given place, as a rule, are birds which lived there the previous
‘summer and which will remain there to breed.t Thus the vanguard is
_ constantly arresting itself, and the forward movement must await the
arrival of the next corps, whith may be near at hand or far in the rear.
' The movement of migration, then, is made up of a series of constant
_ overlappings, and the real speed is evidently much greater than the
apparent. Of thisreal speed of transit we can take no account, and our
ealeulated rates, therefore, are of value only in so far as they show the
a _ relative speed of migration of the different species. In the accompany-
ing report the speed of migration is calculated in the following manner:
_ The most southern reliable record is selected for comparison with the
; most northern record of the same character; the distance in miles be-
_ tween these two stations is divided by the ae of days elapsing from
_ the time the species made its appearance at the southern station to the
j B inte at which it was seen by the northern observer. The result gives
_ the average daily rate of migration in miles for the species. For exam-
_ ple: The Baltimore Oriole was seen at Rodney, Miss. (lat. 31° 52’), April
_ 7%. It was not seen at Oak Point, Manitoba (lat. 50° 30’), until May 25,
_ It was therefore 48 days in passing over the 1,298 miles between the
two stations, which gives an average speed of 27 milesa day. This
; subject will be treated as thoroughly as possible, since it has received
4 _ little or no attention heretofore; indeed, there were no data in existence
for its study until the notes ais paleered on which the present report
_is based.
4 The first records published in this country relating directly to the
. at which birds travel appeared in the Ornithologist and Odlogist
for January, 1884 (pp. 1 and 2). These notes were based on the records
_ of six species in the spring of 1833; and though the notes for 1884 are
_ many fold more numerous they do not give grounds for a change in
_ the general rate of speed set forth in that article. It must be kept
_ constantly i in mind, however, that no complete and scientific study of
the subject is as on} possible, and that the present records are given
Bers because they are the best now obtainable, and because they
may furnish some material for the use of the future student.
| . The records of fifty- eight species for the spring of 1883 give an
: average speed of 23 miles a day for an average distance of 420 miles.

= [* The opinion here expressed by Professor Cooke, namely, that in fall young birds
a migrate before their parents, has been long accepted in Europe, but is contrary to
_ the experience of most leading American ornithologists and to the evidence collected
hy the Committee on Migration of the American Ornithologists’ Union, as will appear
in a future publication of the Division. See, also, Mr. Brewster’s recent essay on the
' Be biect, in the Memoirs of the Nuttall Grameen Club,—C. H. M.]

_ [tThis statement needs much qualification.—C. H.M.]

14

A slightly smaller number of species for the spring of 1884 give onion
the same average speed over an average distance of 861 miles. Hence
it is probable that future observations will not materially change this
estimate.

A study of the records for 1883 led to the statement that in spring
birds migrate more rapidly in the northern portion of their routes of
travel than in the southern. As this statement was based on the notes
of one year only, it became a matter of much interest to ascertain
whether the facts observed would hold good in future seasons and thus
admit of formulation as a general law, or whether they had been the
results of specially favorable conditions in the latter part of a single
season. Accordingly, in the spring of 1884, twenty-five species of well-
known birds, concerning which we had full records, were selected for
careful study. The result bears out the foregoing statement. The dis-
tance traveled was divided as nearly as possible into two equal por-
tions and the speed was calculated for each. Some of the records do
not admit of division ; others show an equal speed throughout; while
six Show an increase of 77 per cent. in speed for the northern half, and
three show a decrease of 47 per cent. Thus it will be seen that the
record is strongly in favor of the increase. The same result may be
reached by calculating the average speed of these twenty-five species
separately for each of the different months in which migration is per-
formed; the average speed for March is 19 miles, for April 23 miles,
and for May 26 miles, per day. The record for 1884 also confirms the
statement that the later a bird migrates the higher average speed it
will attain. This would naturally be inferred from the preceding re-
marks.

These calculations are averages which give the rate of speed at which
the bird would travel provided it moved regularly each day. But we
know that many pauses occur, that on many days there is no advance ;
hence, on the days of movement the speed must be much higher than
that given. Thisis clearly seen in the case of the Purple Martin. From
latitude 38° 40’ to 46° its average rate is but 13 miles a day; but we
have good reason to believe that there was a pause from April 3 to
April 14, and another from April 18 to May 3. Taking out the first of
these pauses, the rate is raised between latitude 38° 40’ and latitude
43° 43’ to 35 miles a day, and, not counting the second ae the rate
for the rest of the distance is 28 miles. |

We must also take into consideration the fact that in all probability
the same bird seldom migrates for several nights in succession, but
stops to rest after a flight of a night or two, so that the birds migraine .
one night are not the same individuals that were moving the night be-
fore.

It has been stated above that the average rate for April is greater
than that for March, and is exceeded by that for May; but it cannot
be said that the actual number of miles performed in a night’s journey

rae Ey,

‘is S hercfore greater. This may or may not be the case. The facts
observed will be sufficiently clear if it is remembered that the later in
the season a Species moves the less hindrance it will meet from the ele-
“ments, and the fewer pauses will be necessitated in its journey. Dur-
ing the month of May there are few if any nights in which migration
does not take place; while a bird that migrates in March must expect
to be stopped by storms at least one week in four.
q In regard to the relative speed at which the different species travel,
all that can be said at present is that those which migrate later ae
as arule, the highest rate. Thus the average speed of the Robin, Cow-
bird, and Golden-shafted Flicker is about 12 miles a day, while the aver-
age of the Summer Redbird, Baltimore Oriole, Ruby-throated Hummer,
and Nighthawk is 28 miles. If we try to calculate the relative speed of
the different families, we find that some of the species in a family mi-
_ grate early and slowly, others late and rapidly, bringing the average
of most of the families very close to the general average of all, which,
as already stated, is 23 miles a day.
Birds have Poldon been seen while on their way in undisturbed mi-
« gration at night. The observations given by W. i. D. Scott and J. A.
_ Allen (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VI, 1881, pp. 97-100, and 188) are
- the most important, but in these nothing is said concerning the speed
_ at which the birds were supposed to be moving. It is known that birds
do not move rapidly, as a rule, when migrating in the day-time, but
from the meager material at hand it may be inferred that the speed at
night is considerably greater. During day-migration the smaller land
_ birds rarely fly faster than 15 miles an hour, though the larger birds,
such as Cranes, Geese, Ducks, etc., move much more rapidly. At Red
Rock, Ind. Ter., between August 25 and September 5, 1884, the Cliff
Swallows and Nighthawks were conspicuous every morning and even-
ing, slowly drifting south and southwest in their fall migration. For
an hour and a half parties of birds would pass by in almost unbroken
‘succession. Many hundred Nighthawks were seen during a single even-
‘ing, and the number of Swallows was much greater. The result of
timing them on several occasions gave a rate of about 10 to 14 miles an
hour, the former being the more usual speed. This slow rate was
-eaused by the irregularity of the flight, as the birds captured their
evening and morning meals on the wing. The morning flight lasted an
‘hour only, and was made at about the same speed. . Thus a distance of
about 30 miles would be traveled by each individual during the morn-
‘ing and evening together, but no one can say how much farther, if any,
they traveled during the night. *
_ The advance of the hosts of Warblers, as they move incessantly for-
ward from tree-top to tree-top, is still slower, probably being but a few
Miles during a whole day. Geese in their northward flight along the

3 [* The material gathered from the keepers of light-houses seems to indicate that
neither Swallows nor Nighthawks migrate to any extent after night fall.—C. H. M.]

16

Atlantic coast-traverse great distances, sometimes covering from 300 to
600 miles at a single flight; and it cannot be said positively that the
larger birds do not do the same over the land. Still, the records so far
made seem to indicate that the smaller land birds, such as Warblers,
Finches, and the like, do not perform long journeys at one time when
over land, but their voyages over the Gulf of Mexico prove that even
these small species possess great power of flight.

The preceding discussion shows that we are entirely wanting in exact
knowledge on the subject, and that for some time to come all we can
hope to do is to gather material. In this connection the facts aceumu-
lated by the keepers of light-houses are of the utmost importance, and
the publication of the report containing these data is looked for with
great interest.

THE RELATION OF MIGRATION TO BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AND TEM-
PERATURE.

In studying the spring migration of 1884 use was made of the tri-daily
weather reports of the Signal Service, of which about 50 stations were
in or near the Mississippi Valley. These reports give the temperature,
state of barometer, dew point, direction and force of wind, amount of
rainfall, and character of the sky. The observations on which they are
based were taken at7a.m.,3 p.m.,and11p.m. In the following study
the 11 p. m. records were used for those birds which migrate by night, |
and the 7 a. m. records for such species as Ducks and Geese, which per-
form the bulk of their movements in the forenoon.

To render the study more easy, weather maps were made, one for each
day, based on the 11 p. m. observations. The maps were made as nearly
as possible like those now printed daily by the Signal Service at Wash-
ington; that is, the state of the weather and the direction of the wind
were marked at each station on the map in symbols which are plain and
easily comprehended, so that the eye could take in at a glance the gen-
eral state of the weather in the whole Mississippi Valley. At each
station the temperature, state of barometer, and force of wind were indi-
cated. Dotted lines were then drawn connecting all places having the
same temperature, and solid lines connecting places of equal baromet-
ric pressure. The former, called isothermal lines, were drawn for every
five degrees of Fahrenheit; while the latter, called isobaric lines, were
drawn for every tenth of an inch of pressure. The area of the lowest
pressure is never stationary, but is constantly moving, and in an east-
erly direction. It may be moving northeast, east, or southeast, and
rarely north or south; but never northwest, west, nor southwest. The
usual direction in the Mississippi Valley is a little south of east. It so
happens that the particular wave which we study moves northeast-
ward, but this is an exception to the general rule. Though it may
move south or north for a time, it will surely turn east in the end.
In the body of the report, under the Purple Martin, the relation of

KF

migration to atmospheric cold and warm waves is discussed, and the
statement is there made that the warm waves begin in the northwest
and move toward the southeast. The cause of this lies in the move-
ment of the area of low pressure. It is a law of the movement of winds
that they go toward an area of low pressure, and from an area of high
_ pressure. If, then, an area of low pressure develops, say in southwestern
_ Dakota, it will be but a few hours before a south or southeast wind will
be blowing over Nebraska and Kansas, and a warm wave will be started
in these States. As this area passes eastward to Minnesota its effect
- will begin to be felt in Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas, while by the time
_ it has reached Lake Michigan it will probably have produced southeast
_ winds even to the Gulf of Mexico. But an area of low pressure is fol-
- lowed by one of high pressure, producing an opposite effect, and the
_ isotherms which bent north to welcome the coming of the low area turn
rapidly southward before the icy breath which blows from an area of
high pressure. Thus the cold and warm waves both come from the
same quarter, and both move in the same direction; that is, the direc-
_ tion in which the area of low pressure is advancing. Since it is known
that low pressure is generally accompanied by clouds and rain, while
areas of high pressure are cloudless, it would be naturally supuneea
Ethat migration would take place during high pressure; but, as has
; already been stated, the area of low pressure attracts a south aran and
the increased wartnth more than overbalances the cloudiness. Fully 60
per cent. of the spring migration of 1884 took place in cloudy weather.
_ It is probable, though I am not aware that it has as yet been proved,
_ that in the fall migration the reverse is the case, and the larger move-
_ ment takes place in clear weather.
Following is a full record of the relation of migration to atmospherie
- conditions for the seven days from March 19 to 25, 1884, contrasted with
a week’s migration in May.
_ March 18,1884, at 11 p. m., there was no marked atmospheric dis-
& turbance pispupiont the anata States. The minimum of the cold
wave had occurred the day before and the temperature was gradually
-risin gin the Upper Mississippi Valley. It is this part of the Mississippi
_ Valley (from latitude 39° northward) to which the present study is con-
q fined.. The temperature was quite high (50° at Saint Louis, and 37° at
Saint Paul), but fell rapidly from Saint Paul northward tili it reached
20° at Moorhead, Minn.* The barometer varied only two-tenths of an
inch from 29.9 re in eastern Arkansas and southern Ulinois to 30.1
at Moorhead, Minn. The prevailing winds were very light E. to N.
- The iter. was cloudy, with several light rains. There was little
change toward the morning of March 19, except the shifting of the wind
to N. and NW., while the area of low pressure moved east to Cape
Hatteras. News little migration took place, and the few birds that

*TIt need hardly be said that no one can follow these remarks intelligently without
_ referring to the map accompanying this report,

7365—Bull, 2 2

18

were moving northward may be well called “birds of the first wave,”
that is, Ducks, Geese, Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Robins, and Blue-
birds. These are the birds with which we have to deal in the study of
these seven days. Migration was reported from southern Wisconsin
and northern Illinois. against a northeast wind, with the temperature
but two or three degrees above freezing, and from east-central Kansas -
under slightly warmer conditions. It seems likely that some of these
notes belong to a warm wave which occurred two days before, but it is —
also certain that some Ducks and Geese were migrating in the early
morning hours, straight against the northerly winds.

March 19 at 11 p. m. an area of slightly lower pressure had just passed
over the Upper Mississippi Valley, and the barometer rose steadily
all night. Between “Saint Paul and Saint Louis the temperature re-
mained the same as the day before; northward it was slightly higher;
the winds were light, and were everywhere from NE., NW., and W-
The temperature ranged from 45° at Saint Louis to 24° at Moorhead.
The average barometer, at 11 p. m., was 30.07 inches, and at 7 a. m. of
the 20th, 30.15 inches. Cloudy weather was reported everywhere ex-
cept in the Lake Superior region. In general, the condition may be
said to have been very unfavorable for migration, yet new arrivals were
still noted from the same places as on the day previous, with the ad-
dition of records from southeastern Dakota, eastern lowa, and south-
central Iowa. It would seem that the Ducks and Geese were so desirous
of reaching their breeding grounds that they pushed northward in
spite of the wind and the clouds, as soon as the temperature rose two
. or three degrees above freezing, regardless of the fact that the winter’s
snow still covered the ground, and the lakes and rivers were still bound
with ice. Not until a week later did any streams open in the region
which was now being invaded by the migrating hosts.

March 20 was characterized by very high barometer and by a marked
advance of the isotherm of 30° to points north of Duluth ani Meoor-
head. There was no place in the Upper Mississippi Valley at 11 p. m.,
March 20, where the pressure was less than 30.2, and in western Da-
kota it was30.3. Calm weather orvery light north winds prevailed, with
clear weather along the Mississippi and the Great Lakes, and cloudy
weather with light rains on the Missouri. The minimum tempera-
ture at Saint Lonis was 43°; at La Crosse 37°; at Saint Paul 20°, and
at Moorhead 23°. It was a moderately fair night for migration. The
culmination of the high pressure was reached, and already in the south-
ern Rocky Mountain region the low pressure was developing which
was to bring about the immense movements which took place during
the next three days; already the isotherms in that quarter were begin-
ning to move northward and the wind along the Gulf coast had changed
to SE. The birds seemed to have a foreknowledge of the approaching
change, for twice as many ‘firsts’ were recorded as during the two
previous days. Some of these came from central Missouri, where the

«

a 19

oe

change was at this time slightly felt. The main portion came from the
same districts as on the day previous. There was practically no ad-
_ vance of the van, but a filling up of the country already traversed by
- the scouts.

On the night of March 21, at 11 p. m., an area of low barometer (29.9
_ inches) was passing eastward across the Upper Mississippi Valley and
- was central at North Platte, Nebr. It produced SE. winds of moderate
strength in all the Mississippi Valley except the extreme northern part,
above La Crosse. The temperature rose throughout the district to 56°
at Saint Louis and 35° at Saint Paul; but north of this, beyond the in-
fluence of the SE. wind, it fell rapidly to 18° at Moorhead and 11° at
Saint Vincent. The isotherm of 40° was carried up to La Crosse. As
morning approached, the temperature still rose in the northern part
and the sky became overcast with some local clouds and rain. It was
a night of much migration, owing to the influence of the area of low
pressure, which at 7 a. m., March 22, was central at Omaha and Yank-
ton, where the barometer at 3 p. m. registered 29.74 inches. This was
a fall at Yankton of .32 inch during sixteen hours, while the center of
the low area moved but a few miles; and the necessary result was a
- great rise in temperature and consequently great movements among
birds. But the movements took place only to the east of the Jow press-
ure area; for it is a law of atmospheric circulation that the winds are
attracted from the south, not directly toward the center of the low press-
ure area, but toward places to the east of it in the same direction that
it is moving, while the winds which it attracts from the north move
toward places to the west or behind it. Migration, therefore, would be
looked for in vain to the south, west,or north of Yankton. The whole
of this immense movement, which in number of records was as great as
that of the three previous days together, and in number of individuals
was many times greater, took place to the southeast and east of Yank-
ton. The SE. winds prevailed up to La Crosse, and this place also
marked the limit of the night’s movement in that direction. A map
was made of the migration which took place on this day, and it was
_ found to cover a very nearly circular area, 250 miles in diameter, the
_. center of which was midway between Keokuk and Davenport. Some
idea of the great number of birds which were migrating during this night
may be had from the fact that at Saint Louis twenty-six different species
were noted as having arrived or increased. It is well to bear in mind
that all these birds were migrating on a rapidly falling barometer, hence
in the face of what is usually considered a sign of an approaching storm;
and it may be noted also that all this great movement did not advazce
the van, which remained where it had been before.

March 23, bird migration was at a standstill. The area of low press-
ure, which was central at Yankton in the afternoon of the 22d, had
moved to Saint Paul by 11 p.m., the barometer falling steadily to 29.61
_ inches. During the night it moved NE. to Marquette, Mich., falling

re ee ES On
Fan lerk j Ss Patel
ee >= aS
— ~ *

20

still more to 29.56 inches. In the mean time an area of high pressure
developed at Dodge City, Kans. The effect on the wind was as fol-
lows: From Saint Louis southward the winds began to shift to SW.; to
the northwest of that place they became NW. and N.; while to the
northeast of Saint Louis they shifted to SW. and W. As would be
expected, those places which had W. and NW. winds had clear skies,
while the district from Saint Paul and La Crosse to Chicago and east-
ward was cloudy. The temperature from Saint Paul northwest, north,
and northeast rose. At Saint Paulit was stationary, and thence south-
ward it fell a few degrees, but stillremained warm. The wave of migra-
tion seems to have exhausted itself in a single night. Some forty
‘firsts’? were recorded for this day, but, except at two places, they
seem to have been arrivals of the previous day, which had been over-
looked. These two stations, Waupaca, Wis., and Heron Lake, Minn.
(with its neighborhood), furnished one-half of the forty records, and
both are on the northern edge of the district covered by the preceding
night’s migration. It seems, then, that at these places there was a local,
though, in the case of Heron Lake, a very large migration.

March 24 was marked by cloudy weather after a clear night. South-
erly winds prevailed over the Upper Mississippi Valley, varying from
SH. to SW., and mostly light. The temperature had fallen, on an av-
erage, 5° from Chicago to Bismarck and northward. It had risen
strongly $° to 11° at Yankton and Omaha, this rise probably being the
cause of the arrival of immense numbers of water-fowl during the day
at Heron Lake, Minn., all coming from the west, that is, from the
direction of Yankton, at which place at 7 a. m. aS. wind was blowing.
It was a day of general low pressure. The whole district, from Cairo

_to Moorhead, was included between 29.80 and 29.89 inches. Northward

and eastward, in Manitoba and at Marquette, Mich., the barometer fell
to 29.65; in the southwest, at Fort Smith, Ark., it fell to 29.71; and
westward, at Deadwood, Dak., it rose to 30. An area of low pressure
developed at Fort Smith, Ark., in the early evening of March 23, and
became pronounced during the next twenty-four hours. At 7 a. m. of
the 24th the effect of this area was hardly felt, but by night the wind
had been attracted to it over most of the Upper Mississippi Valley,
bringing from the north colder, clearer weather. This day, therefore,
was the turning point, and the beginning of a cold wave which was
already felt to the northwestward of Cheyenne. The temperature at
11 p. m., March 24, was 47° at Saint Louis, 42° at Chicago, 50° at Des
Moines, 37° at Saint Paul, and 32° at Moorhead.

This was the last day of the warm wave which commenced on the
evening of March 21, and the birds made the most of their opportunity
and advanced a whole degree farther north. The hosts which had
rested during the night of the 22d moved forward and fully occupied
all the country up to latitude 45°, with an innumerable host along the
Mississippi River at 45° 25’, and scouts up even to 47° on the Mis-
souri.

21
‘That this was the culmination is easily seen from the records, which
7 ~ fell from seventy-three notes on the 24th to but seventeen the next day.
Let us now calculate the average conditions under which birds were
migrating during these seven days. A few more than three hundred
records of ‘firsts’ were contributed for these seven days, and the tem-
- perature at which the species were migrating is found to be as follows:
25°, one record (a Goose, in more senses than one) ; 29°, a cousin to the
last; 31°, eighteen firsts; 33°, twelve firsts; 35°, eleven firsts; 37°,
forty firsts; 39°, forty-one firsts; 41°, fifty-two firsts; 43°, sixteen
firsts ; 45°, twenty-five firsts; 479, five firsts; 49°, seventeen firsts; 51°,
nine firsts. Thus it will be seen that the favorite temperature for mi-
eration of “birds of the first wave” ranges from 37° to 41° Fahrenheit.

In cloudy weather there were 143 records; in clear weather 101, or
exactly 60 per cent. cloudy, to 40 per cent. clear.

With reference to the wind, it has been found that with the wind
north there were 29 records; NH., 31; E., 12; SEH., 75; 8., 23; SW.,
27; W., 39; and NW., 9._ It will be noticed that the most unfavorable
winds, namely, the K. and NW., are directly opposite those winds
which have the greatest number of records. Combining, we have for
H. and W., 51 records; for NW., N., and NE., 69; and for SE., 8., and
and SW., 125 records, showing how greatly the birds prefer a southerly
wind to help them on their journey.

The effect of barometric pressure will appear from the following
statement: March 19 there were 24 records with an average pressure
of 30 inches; March 20, 35 records at 30.04inches; March 21, 45 records
at 30.24 inches ; the 22d, 82 records at 30.15 inches ; the 23d, 45 records
at 29.80 inches ; the 24th, 73 records at 29.85; and the 25th, 17 records
at 29.86 inches. These give an average of exactly 30 inches, or the
normal pressure; but it must be remembered that the great wave of
the 22d began when the pressure was very high and took place on a
falling barometer. It is probable that a large number of observations
taken throughout the season would give from 29.93 to 29.95 as the
average pressure at which most birds migrate.

: The above study of the influence of atmospheric conditions upon mi-
gration pertains to a single week in March, when the first wave was
passing over the Upper Mississippi Valley. A similar study will now
be made for a week in May, just before the close of migration for the
spring. The seven daysfrom May 4 to May 10, 1884, have been chosen.
This brief period includes two warm waves and an interim of inde-
terminate nature. Naturally, the birds were migrating under very dif-

_ ferent conditions, and, as a result, a very different set of birds was con-

cerned. One may look in vain for notes on Ducks, Geese, Robins, and
other early species. In their stead the brilliantly-colored Orioles, Gros-
beaks, Indigos, and Tanagers will be found. In the place of the frost
and cold of March, there is a summer temperature with frostless nights,
and swarms of insects are ready for the Warblers, Vireos, and Fly-

22

catchers. But the laws of atmospheric movements remain unchanged,
and their effect on the movements of birds is the same in kind, but
slightly different in degree. A north wind still retards their move-
ments, but it comes with no icy breath, and when the fancy takes them
they move easily against its no longer dreaded force.

May 3, the record began at 11 p. m., at which time there was an area
of low pressure in northeastern Dakota and Manitoba, the barometer
being very low at Qu’Appelle (29.38 inches). Most of the Mississippi
Valley was included between 29.7 inches and 30.0 inches, the latter
being the reading all along our eastern border.

This low area produced southerly winds over most of the district,
there being nothing but S., SE., and SW. winds in the region north of
Saint Louis. The temperature was high (58° to 61°) along the Missis-
sippi and the lower Missouri to Saint Paul and Omaha, falling to 55°
at Saint Vincent and Bismarck, and falling rapidly around the lakes to
42° at Marquette. South of Milwaukee and Omaha the weather was
cloudy; north of these places, clear. During the night the low area
moved south to a point alittle below Bismarck, the south wind still blow-
ing over the Mississippi Valley, with increased cloudiness in the north-
ern part. By 3 p.m. May 4, West Las Animas, Colo., was the center
of the low area, and there was a decided fall in pressure over all the
United States east of the Rocky mountains, causing the south wind to
blow still harder, with clouds and local rains in the Upper Mississippi
Valley. Such was the preparation for the bird wave of the night of
May 4, for after 3 p. m. the low area turned northeastward and passed
directly across the upper part of the district, being central at Yankton
at 11 p. m., with a pressure of 29.64 inches. Thus all the migration
during the nights of May 3 and 4 was on a falling barometer—on the
night of the 4th with cloudiness, and on both nights with warm south-
erly winds.

In the study of migration in May, one must deal almost entirely with
the 11 p. m. weather observations, for towards the latter end of migra-
tion the movement is for the most part by night. It is true that a few
birds, the Warblers for instance, move a little during the daytime, pass-
ing slowly from tree to tree; but short distances only are made in these
journeyings, leaving the bulk of the movement to be performed at night.

During the night of May 3 but few movements took place, and more
than half of these were around Saint Paul and to the northward, where
the influence of the low area in Manitoba was already beginning to be
felt. The full advance was postponed until the next night, which was
one of great movement over most if not all of the country between Saint
Louis and Manitoba. The districts which furnished but nine records —
for the night of May 3, on the next night showed nearly seventy. The
wave seems to have been most pronounced in Iowa, northern Illinois,
southern Wisconsin, and at Saint Louis, with a heavy wave in Mani-
toba and another in northern Texas; but it is not unlikely that this

a er onate to the Tinie and excellence of the observers. It seems
_ probable that to the northeastward the limit of the wave was at Madi-
son, Wis., and thence up the Mississippi to Saint Paul. There is a
striking similarity in the species which were reported from the sta-
tions between Saint Paul and Saint Louis, but while the northern
stations reported the first males, Saint Louis reported the first females
and bulk. Nearly one-half of the record is made up of notes on the
_ Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunt-
ing, Bobolink, Catbird, and Redheaded Woodpecker. No less than
_ twelve records of the Baltimore Oriole were sent from six different
States. These species would now be looked for in vain in the notes
_ from Manitoba. A great bird wave was felt there, it is true, but the
Species composing it were totally different, being those, like the Yellow-
rumped Warbler and White-crowned Sparrow, which passed through
the central district some weeks before. As in the great wave studied in
- March, about half as many notes were reported the day after the wave
had seg (in this case May 6), but these notes came from the same
' places as the day before, and were in ones and twos, indicating that
they treated of species which arrived the day before but escaped notice.
The only exception to this was in nertheastern Wisconsin, where the
- notes indicated a large local wave; but, even here, it seems more likely
_ that the observer was unable to be in the field May 5, and consequently
did not see the arrivais until the next day.
_ The period described above was followed by a north wind. The low
q area had passed east of the Mississippi Valley, and was followed by
colder and at the same time cloudier weather. During May 7 and 8
_ there was not a record of the whole eighty with a S., SE., or SW. wind.
' But the birds did not stop. There seems to have been a regular though
- not rapid advance, for on the night of May 6 there were thirty-six ree-
ords, every one with N. or NW. wind and cloudy sky. Had this state
of things lasted but a single night, one might be inclined to regard the
_ records as mistakes on the part of the observers, but the whole eighty
_ records for the two nights can not be wrong, and the inference is that —
during the latter part of migration there is no night so unfavorable but
- that some migration takes place.
: The least movement of the seven nights under consideration took
place on the night previous to May 9. A low area had developed two
a days before in Manitoba and had passed across Lake Superior, becom-
ing central at Port Huron May 8, at 11 p.m. It had produced a great
rise of temperature (5° to 11°) in the Upper Mississippi Valley —so much
_ so as to make this section actually warmer than the middle portion. At
_ La Crosse the thermometer registered 70°; at Saint Louis, 65°; Omaha,
69°; Little Rock, 66°; Bismarck, 55°; Fort Elliott, 53° ; fa the area
“extended so far Hal that the south aa it caused ae of too short

D4
duration to start migration. The notes received came from places where

the southerly winds were felt, principally in northeastern Illinois, with
the single exception of a batch of records from central lowa, where a

northwest wind prevailed. The weather over the whole of the district —

was clear, with an average barometric pressure of about 30 inches. |

In western Nebraska and eastern Colorado the barometer, though
high, was falling, and during the daytime of May 9 it fell rapidly. At
Yankton, during the sixteen hours previous to 11 p. m., May 9, the press-
ure fell .34 inch to 29.74 inches. Thus the low area developed right in
the Mississippi Valley, and its influence was speedily felt, bringing on
southerly winds and sending northward almost the last great wave of
the spring migration. The temperature did not vary much from that
of the night before, except to rise a little in the immediate vicinity of
the low area and to fall at La Crosse and northeastward; the sky was
mostly clear; the wind variable—the low area not having had time to
fully affect the winds. All the records came from places where the
winds were southerly—consequently from the cloudy places—so that
although the larger part of the Upper Mississippi region was clear, the
cloudy records form 73 per cent. of the whole number. Another thing
was noticeable, namely, that notwithstanding the fact that the sky was
cloudy, yet the dew point was many degrees below the temperature,
showing that the air was very dry. The average of the difference be-
tween the temperature and dew point of the records of May 5 is only
four degrees, with a range from 0° to 8°, showing that the air was al-
most fully saturated with moisture. The records of May 11 show an
average difference of fifteen degrees, with arange from 11° to 33°.
Thus it will be seen that the humidity of the atmosphere has little or
no effect on migration, and can be left out of future investigations.

This wave of the night of May 9, like the one of five days before, was
very extended. Along the western shores of Lake Michigan, where the
weather had been cold and disagreeable for the four days previous, it
was most strongly felt. Then little or no movement was noted until
the Mississippi was crossed. Here, from Keokuk to Moorhead, the
night was marked by great activity, and the movement extended in a
southwesterly direction as far as southern Nebraska and Kansas. No
notes were sent from southern Dakota, and it is probable that almost
no migration took placein that Territory, as certainly none did in Man-
itoba. Nor was the movement of special importance south of Keokuk.
The influence of the low area had not yet extended south of that point,
and it was not until the next night that a full bird wave occurred at
Saint Louis. The above is an excellent example of a bird wave and a
warm wave both working from the north southward.

Recapitulating, in the same manner as was done for the March notes,
it is found that the temperatures at which migration was made are as
follows: At 46° there were 29 records of firsts; at 529,11 records; 55°,
116 records; 59°, 66 records; 63°, 70 records; 67°, 9 records. Thus, in-

25

; stead of a favorite temperature ranging from 37° to 41°, as was the case
in March, it is found that from 55° to 60° is the favorite temperature for
nearly thelast wave. Indeed, 63° is about the average temperature at
_ which the real rear guard, composed of Cuckoos, Whippoorwills, ete.,
usually moves.

In cloudy weather there were 184 records, and in clear weather 113;
or 62 per cent. in cloudy to 38 per cent. in clear weather, as against 60
and 40 per cent., respectively, in March. The records with relation to
the wind are as follows: Wind N., 64 records; NE., 0; E.,6; SE., 47;
S., 49; SW.,42; W., 23; NW., 33; or for N., NE., and NW., 97; with
138 for S., SE., and SW. |

The average barometer for 298 records was 29.88 inches, against 30
inches in March.

A STUDY OF THE ‘BIRD WAVES” WHICH PASSED UP THE MISSIS-
SIPPI VALLEY DURING THE SPRING OF 1884.

The following study, for obvious reasons, must be considered as ar
- experiment, known to be incomplete, and wanting in many essential de-
tails. The project was not thought of until migration had commenced;
no instructions were issued to observers to note bird waves; only a few
sent in any specific notes on the subject, and most of the information
relating to it had to be picked out of a mass of notes not pertaining to
the question, and so intimately connected with other themes as to be
difficult of separation. Under such adverse conditions no attempt
would have been made to study the bird waves were it not for the ex-
treme importance of the subject. It is during the nights of bird waves
that the bulk of migration takes place. This is especially true of fall
migration, though to a large extent of spring also. Tostudy migration
successfully it must be studied when most active. Moreover, it is on
bird waves that the action of the weather is most apparent; hence, these
waves furnish the readiest means of studying the relation between me-
teorology and migration. The greatest drawback is met with in the
difficulty of accurately observing and reporting bird waves. It is by
far the hardest part of the field work in the study of migration, and
requires more time and more constant presence in the field than most
observers can give.
__ -The only station at which the successive bird waves were accurately
and fully noted was that at Saint Louis, Mo, where Mr. Otto Wid-
mann, the most careful, competent, and painstaking observer in the
district, spent nearly the whole time in the field. For the present,
then, all that can be done is to take the bird waves of Saint Louis as a
text and see how far they extended, and how the movements of birds
_ at other places agreed with them. Irom the absence of material, it
will be impossible to study all the waves of the Mississippi Valley.
Those observed at Saint Louis will be given in full, not only to serve

26

as a basis of comparison, but also to serve as a model for observers in
future years.

The expression ‘bird wave” has been used many times. The term
is capable of two interpretations; consequently, two methods of study
are possible.

(1) A “bird wave” may be considered to consist of a very large num-
ber of individuals, of one or many species, which suddenly invade a
certain area. In studying such a wave it is necessary to ascertain the
species of which it is composed and the boundaries of the area over
which it extends.

(2) Certain species, known to be migrating in company on a given
day, may be considered to constitute a “‘ wave,” and their progress may
be watched from day to day and from week to week.

This latter mode of study is applicable to the earliest waves only, for
it is only early in the season, if at all, that the same species which are
together in the south keep together during the entire journey. In all
the later waves the species migrating in company change from day
to day. Hence no attempt will be made to follow waves of this char-
acter; and the first, or bird waves proper, will alone be dealt with.

It is usually believed that all birds reach their winter quarters by
the end of December, but in this respect the winter of 1883~84 was
exceptional. The fall of 1883 was very warm, and from latitude 39°
southward there was no cold weather before Christmas. About this
time, however, the real winter set in, and by January 2 it had extended
southward to latitude 33°. Hence, fall migration did not end until the
first week in January; and since spring migration began in central
Mississippi on January 11, but little time was left between the end of
the southward and beginning of the northward movement. It is to be
observed, however, that the southward movement of January 1 was con-
fined chiefly to the Thrush and Sparrow families, while the northward
movement consisted wholly of water-birds. As examples of this late
staying of birds at the north the following may be selected: Dr. G.S.
Agersborg reported from Vermillion, Dak. (latitude 42° 56’), that ‘‘in
early January birds were few, probably owing to previous mild weather.
On January 5 winter set in, with the thermometer at 344° below zero,
and by the end of the month all our winter residents were here except
the Bohemian Waxwing, the Evening Grosbeak, and the Magpie. Pur-
ple Grakles and Cowbirds did not leave until December 26, a later date
by twenty-seven days than any noted since 1867, when I commenced
to record arrivals and departures.”

At Saint Louis, Mo. (lat. 38° 40’), the cold spell set in with a snow-
storm January 1, causing most of the Bluebirds, Shrikes, Red-tailed
Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, and Gulls to retreat southward, and
bringing down large numbers of Crows. .

From Anna, Ill. (lat. 37° 30’), C. W. Butler reported: ‘Until Janu-
ary 2, I could pick strawberry biossoms growing out of doors and

‘uncovered; and all our winter residents were here in great numbers.
a: ut January 2 a heavy storm set in, and on the 4th the mercury was
_ —21°, the coldest day for twenty years. Ducks and a great majority of
our winter birds left and stayed away during the cold spell, which
- lasted through January.” Still farther south, H. Nehrling, from Pierce
' City, Mo. (lat. 36° 56’), reported that “ilarris’s Sparrow, the Fox
_ Sparrow, the Song Sparrow, and Towhee, after being common in the
_ early winter, all left about January 1.” At Caddo, Ind. Ter. (lat. 34°
_ 11’), the children were barefoot on Christmas Day, and the woods were
fall of birds and bird song; after the cold spell of January 2 the woods
_ were found still and almost tenantless. |
First wave of 1884.—Turning now to northward movements, it is
_ found that the first spring wave occurred at Saint Louis (lat. 38° 40’),
in the latter part of January. Its record is as follows: January 25,
_ @ warm wave set in which continued until February 5; the warmest
day (maximum 67°) was January 30. During this time the creeks were
_ free from ice after the 29th, and the ice broke up in the Mississippi.
; The first wave brought the advance guard of Robins (Merula migrato-
ria), Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius pheniceus), Purple Grackles
(Quiscalus quiscula), Mallards (Anas boschas), Sprig-tails (Dafila
— acuta), and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). The Bluebirds (Sialia
_ sialis), Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus), Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo boreal-
_ 4s), Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus), and Gulls (Larus argen-
tatus smithsonianus), which had left during the coldest term, returned.
- Many Gulls passed, going north, and the vast multitude of Crows
_ (Corvus americanus), whose numbers had swelled to something near
_ 650,000 during the first half of January, decreased rapidly after the 26th.
_ This being the state of affairs at Saint Louis, it remains to deter-
_ mine the boundaries of the wave. As would naturally be expected, a
_ large stretch of country south of Saint Louis was affected. In the
- extreme south, in Mississippi, the same wave of warm weather was
4 found, but since water-fowl and other birds had been passing and re-
passing all the month no special effect on migration was noted. On
_ reaching southern Illinois a state of things exactly similar to that at
_ Saint Louis was found. Thus at Anna, II. (lat. 37° 30’), the “Ducks,
which had left January 2, began to return and remained off and on
during February, which was variable, raining and freezing alternately”
(C. W. Butler). West of Anna, at Pierce City, Mo. (lat. 36° 56’), on
January 30 and 31, the Robins and Bluebirds, which had been sent
- south by the cold of January 2, returned; and large fiocks of Red-
_ winged Blackbirds passed north, followed a day or two afterward by
_ large flocks of Canada Geese, Brant, Snow Geese, Mallards, Pintails,
and Teal. Even as far southwest as Caddo, Ind. Ter. (lat. 34° 11’),
the same wave was felt. It began there January 24, but was not de-
-eidedly felt until the 28th. It entirely obliterated all signs of winter
and started the first spring migration. Ducks and Geese moved a

bef ai

wee ..

al
a Te, s

‘4

i

%

—-28

little, and most of the birds deserted their thick winter coverts, ap- —
pearing in town and on the prairie, while all the songsters burst forth —
in full spring melody. Blackbirds, both Red-winged and Cowbirds,
increased decidedly ; grass started everywhere, and one wild flower —
was found.

Directly east of Saint Louis the wave can be traced to Odin, Ill. (lat. —
38° 39’), where the atmosphere was warm from January 27 to February
4. The snow had all gone, and Geese appeared January 31, followed by
Ducks February 2. West of Saint Louis the migration of Bluebirds
was observed at Mount Carmel, Mo. (lat. 38° 45’), and of Robins and
Geese at Glasgow, Mo. (lat. 39° 14’).

Above are the limits of this wave, which, although of great extent to
the south, east, and west of Saint Louis, proceeded no farther north.
A study of the Signal Service report shows the reason for this. AI-
though the warm wave was felt for several hundred miles north of Saint
Louis, yet its power was not sufficient to produce any marked thaw or
breaking up of the streams. Indeed, even in the latitude of Saint
Louis, no marked effect was observed, except in the lowlands. Stations
in the vicinity of Saint Louis, and only 30 or 40 miles farther north, did.
not feel its influence. And the same is true in the West. In Kansas
there was no movement of birds. At Manhattan (lat. 39° 12’), though
in the same latitude, there was no migration, and the Signal Service
reports show that the nights were cold, and winter reigned until a month
later. An apparently accidental movement was reported from Unadilla,
Nebr. (lat. 40° 53’, I’. C. Kenyon), where Geese arrived January 31, and
Ducks February 2; butit is possible that these birds were driven back
from the north, as both Ducks and Geese had been reported January 11
from Vermillion, Dak. (lat. 42° 56’)—a locality where they had never
before been seen in winter. <A single record of Robins and Bluebirds
came from Carlinville, Ill. (lat. 39° 19’), February 2, with the statement
that no others were seen for two weeks (Chas. W. Robertson).

Second wave.—The second wave began at Saint Louis during the
night of February 18, and was cut short on the 19th at 11.30 a. m. by
a fierce snow-storm from the northwest. On the 18th, in the afternoon,
the temperature rose rapidly with a good breeze from the southeast
which moderated in the evening, but the temperature remained at 50°
all night. The sky was clear in the evening, but cloudy in the morning.
This wave brought more Robins, Bluebirds, and Purple Finches; many
Mallards, Sprigtails, Green-winged Teal, and Canada Geese; it took
off about half the Tree Sparrows (Spizella monticola), and brought the
first migrants of the Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), White-crowned and
White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys and albicollis), Field
Sparrows (Spizella pusilla), Song Sparrows (Melospiza fasciata), Swamp
Sparrows (Melospiza palustris), Fox Sparrows (Passerella iliaca), and
Chewinks (Pipilo erythrophthalmus). It appears to have been a local
wave. No other stations reported any movement whatever on those

29°

ji lates. There were, to be sure, a few records of apparently irregular oc-
-eurrences; asingle Bluebird was seen at Newton, Iowa (lat. 41° 42’), but
none afterwards for three weeks; a few Canada Geese were reported at
Osceola, Ill. (lat. 41° 15’), February 20, and a few Ducks and Geese at
- Linwood, Nebr. (lat. 41° 22’), between February 20 and 25. The weather |
- reports show that this warm wave was felt even beyond latitude 419,
' but such cold weather had preceded it that it could not break the bands
of winter and produce a condition of affairs that should invite birds to
- further migration.

| Third wave—A. sudden rise of temperature at Saint Louis on Feb-
- ruary 25 and 26, again started the migrating hosts northward. There
was not much of a “ bird wave,” but great movements of Geese took
' place on the first day, and of Ducks on the second. Red-winged Black-
birds and Robins increased, and the first Snow Geese appeared, together
q with the first Turkey Buzzard, Sparrow Hawk, Rusty Grackle, and
4 Ruddy Duck. The first frogs and mosquitoes were noted.

_ Although the Signal Service reports show that this warm wave was
quite extended and powerful, yet it was of too short duration to cause
- much movement among birds. The scouts of some of the hardier
_ species moved a little farther northward, keeping mostly along the
4 larger rivers. Robins and Bluebirds advanced up the Mississippi river
- to Quincy, Ill. (lat. 39° 55’); Bluebirds and Canada Geese were seen at
Richmond, Iowa (lat. 41° 26’), while large flocks of Robins and Bluebirds
_ appeared at Hillsborough, Ill. (lat. 39° 12’), and also at Griggsville,
IL (lat. 39° 43’).

Until March 1 winter reigned supreme over all the land north of
latitude 40°, and from February 27 to March 9 its icy fingers again
E closed around Saint Louis, driving all the Ducks south on March 2, and
_ bringing on a “second winter.”

_ ‘The next period has been marked “ Indeterminate” in the record. It
: is neither a stand-still nor a period of much movement. It extends
_ from March 9, when the “second winter” was brought to a close by a
south wind, to March 16. During this time there was a continual
_ though slight northward movement at Saint Louis, and much movement
; in the region just north of it; and, what was of more importance, a gen-
_ eral advance in the line of open water, inviting a forward march and
4 preparing the way for the immense movements of the following week.
a At Saint Louis the arrivals were as follows:

_ March 9 the first Ducks returned and passed north, followed two days
later by large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds (both male and female),
_ Purple and Rusty Grackles, and the first individuals of the Killdeer
q (Aigialitis vocifera), Meadowlark (Sturnella), and Flicker (Colaptes).
_ On March 12 came the first Snipe (Gatlinago), and on the 16th the first
_ Cranes (Grus mexicana).

_ Thus, there was little change in the species present at Saint Louis, —
_ but a great increase in the number of individuals. This increase was

if

less apparent at Saint Louis than at more northern points. The hosts —
of birds sent south by the inclement weather did not halt,on their return, _
at their former resting places, but pushed rapidly forward and spread
over many miles of new country. The onward movement dates from

about March 12, and during the remainder of the “indeterminate” period —
(that is, to March 16) Ducks, Geese, Robins, Bluebirds, Blackbirds,

Meadowlarks, and Killdeer were found over all of northern Illinois

and the southern edge of Wisconsin, all of lowa and eastern Nebraska,

while a few scouts, keeping close to the Mississippi river, followed it

nearly to Saint Paul. The general dispersion of the birds at this time

can be seen from the fact that seventy-two records of the arrival of

Ducks, Geese, Robins, and Blackbirds were received: from the region

indicated.

Fourth wave.—At Saint Louis the first rain of the season occurred
March 17, after a warm night (thermometer 56°), with a light south
wind. Winter ended, and spring began with a sudden start of vegeta-
tion and an awakening of insect life. Many birds arrived during the
night, and others were moving all the morning. The bulk arrived of
the Robin, Flicker, Meadowlark, Bluebird, Chewink, Purple Grackle,
Rusty Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, and Blue-winged
Teal. There was an increase of Wilson’s Snipe, White-crowned, White-
throated, and Field Sparrows. The first arrivals appeared of the Pheebe -
(Sayornis phoebe), Pectoral Sandpiper (Tringa maculata), Cowbird (Mo-
lothrus ater), Field Plover (Bartramia longicauda), and the Little Yellow
Rail (Porzana noveboracensis), while the bulk of the Tree Sparrows (Spit-
zella monticola) departed.

Since the movement in this wave consisted principally in an increase
of those species which had already come in the preceding waves, and
since few of the stations reported more than the first arrival, it is prac-
tically impossible to work up the wave from the notes in hand. There
seem to be intimations that the power of the wave was not great, but
‘that its influence was felt more or less for a hundred miles north of
Saint Louis and for a great distance west and southwest.

Fifth wave.—March 22; this was next to the largest wave of the sea-
son. The night before was warm (thermometer 53°) and cloudy, with
a light southeast wind. The day was cloudy and threatening, with an
increasing southeast wind. Many birds arrived during the night and
others were moving all the forenoon. The following birds attained the
height of the season—that is, the period of greatest abundance: Robin,
Flicker, male Red-winged Blackbird, Purple and Rusty Grackles, Che-
wink, transient Bluebirds, transient Purple Finches, and Song Spar-
rows. The bulk arrived of the Shrike, Phoebe, and Wilson’s Snipe;
and an increase was noted in the White-throated, Field, and Swamp
Sparrows, male Cowbirds, and Red headed Woodpeckers. The first
appeared of the Chippy (Spizella socialis), Brown Thrush (Harporhyn-
chus rufus), Bewick’s Wren (Thryothorus bewicki), Grass Finch (Poo-

ol

_ eetes gramineus), Savanna Sparrow (Ammodramus sandwichensis sa-
— wanna), and the Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macroura). There was

also great movement among the Hawks and Ducks, and among the
Waders of the genus Totanus. To appreciate the fall effect of this
wave, observations must extend over nearly the whole of the Missis-
sippi Valley north of Saint Louis. The warm wave was felt almost to
British America, and everywhere it started the birds northward. Ow-
ing to lack of notes the movements in the immediate vicinity of Saint
Louis cannot be followed. The few stations in that section that have
furnished reports made no mention of any special movement and noticed
but few arrivals, the principal one being that of the Brown Thrush. To
the northward, however, the case was very different. The warm weather
reached Lowa the following day (March 23) and the general character
of the reports from Iowa and southern Wisconsin is well expressed by
the following remarks from the observer at Waukon, lowa (lat. 43° 15’):

‘‘We had a pleasant fall, and a severe winter until the middle of March.
Since then it has been mild and pleasant until about April1. Spring
really began about March 23, and the first wave of birds came then.
That was the greatest day for migration of birds I eversaw. The bulk
of Robins, Bluebirds, Ducks, and Geese came, and hundreds of Black-
birds came also.” (H. M. HANCOCK.)

Between Waukon and Saint Louis most of the reports mention ar-
rivals which agree very closely with the birds of the fourth wave at
Saint Louis. There is not enough uniformity in these reports, however,
to indicate with positiveness that the birds of the fourth wave spread
over this section during the night of March 22, but there is a general
tendency in this direction, so that it may be said that the arrivals re-
ported March 23 over much of lowa and southern Wisconsin were such
as would have been noted had the fourth wave passed over during the
previous night. The principal exceptions occurred along the courses of
the larger rivers, where the arrivals were somewhat earlier (that is,
about March 20). North of Waukon the moveineuts of the first wave
only were recorded. In favored localities the effects began to be no-
ticed March 23, but in the majority of cases the following «!ay witnessed
the great advance. The results of this wave are easily traced to lati-
tude 45°, and in the neighborhood of the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers to latitude 46°. Some idea of the magnitude of the flight of
birds which took place March 23 may be had from the report from Heron
Lake, Minnesota (latitude 43° 48’), with which the report from Storm
Lake, lowa (latitude 42° 37’), agrees almost exactly. It was the first
wave of real migration, and brought Mallards, Pintails, Gadwalls, Wid-
geons, Big and Little Scaups, Golden-eyes, Red-heads, Canvas-backs,

_ Butter-balls, Green-winged Teal, Hooded and American Sheldrakes,

Spoon-billed Ducks or Shovellers, Brant, Herring Gulls, Coots, Killdeer
Plovers, Ravens, large numbers of Blackbirds, and one Meadowlark.
Most of the species appeared in great numbers and some of the Ducks

382

in clouds. Most of the Ducks came from the west, being probably a
part of the Missouri valley flight. By way of comparison, to show how
little can be judged of the migration at one place by that of another,
let us examine the state of affairs at Manhattan, Kans. (directly west
of Saint Louis), in latitude 39° 12’. Here, during the first week of
March, no arrivals were noticed. March 8 the first birds came, namely,
Geese and Ducks—Mallards, Canvas-backs, Red-heads, and Green-
winged Teal were particularly abundant. The first Killdeer were seen
on the 11th; two more on the 13th, at which date Meadowlarks ap-
peared. It seemed as if spring had really come, but on March 13 a
polar wave arrived and all was changed. The fifth wave was not felt
here in the least, the weather being cold and snowy. To the southwest
still another condition of things existed. At Caddo, Ind. Ter. (lat.
34° 11’), on March 22, the weather was hot and dry, with continuous
south winds, more like summer than spring. Fewer birds were present
than at any time since February 1. The commonest species was the
Savanna Sparrow. ‘There were no Juncos, Tree Sparrows, White-
throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Harris’s Sparrows; Cow-
birds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Ducks, or Geese. A few
individuals of each of these species may still have lingered, but the
bulk left some days previously, and none were seen on the 22d. There
was very little vegetation, owing to lack of rain.

The study of this fifth wave leads naturally to the following state-
ments concerning bird waves in general: The movements of bird waves
are governed by those of atmospheric waves. Since a warm wave
takes several days to pass from one end of the Mississippi Valley to
the other, it must not be supposed that the whole of a bird wave is in-
cluded in a single night. In the case of small waves, which are almost
local in character, the whole effect may be felt in one night; but waves
ordinarily occupy the whole of two days, and often three or four. It
must not be supposed that a bird wave consists of the same species of
birds at all places where its effects are felt. Above, when speaking of
the birds of the fourth wave, the species which were moving at Saint
Louis at this time were alone referred to. The ducks which arrived at
Heron Lake, Minnesota, March 24, were as truly a part of the “fifth
wave ” as the Brown Thrushes and Bewick’s Wrens which came to Saint
Louis on the 22d. For further remarks concerning bird waves the
reader is referred to the article on the Kingbird in the systematic por-
tion of this report.

For the instruction of observers, a copy of the ‘ synopsis” of spring
migration (in 1884) at Saint Louis, furnished by Mr. Widmann, is sub-
joined. During the migration season Mr. Widmann sent reports every
few days, but in this synopsis he has presented the substance of the
same in condensed form and in such a graphic manner that the more im-
portant movements of the bird waves can be seen at a glance, together
with their relation to the lesser movements of migration. It is greatly

ite >

33

_ to be desired that at the close of the season each observer should supple-
- ment his regular reports with a synopsis of this sort. In the synopsis
the following abbreviations have been used: F.=the first individual
seen; B. A.=the arrival of the bulk ; B. D.=the departure of the bulk;
_ L.=the last individual seen; H.=the height of the season, or the period
when the species is most abundant; T. V.=transient visitants. Thus
when “ B. A. Catbird T. V.” is spoken of, it means the arrival of the
bul« of Catbirds which do not intend to remain to nest, Dut are passing
through to their more northerly breeding grounds.

Synopsis of Migration at Saint Louis from January 1 to May 27, 1884.

By OTto WIDMANN.

Jan. 1. ) Snow storm. )
2.
3 |
4, |
5. }Coldest period; minimum tem- | wrississippi full of floating ice.
= perature—21° Fahr. on the Sth. | }
A |
: | |
10. j
a di | > Ground covered with snow. |
F a | * Mis ssissippi gorged.
‘ 15. | bw)
j 16.
‘ Moderately cold. } |
19. | J
: 20.
| 39. | Ther. 56° di di; first flock of G |
4 : er. 56°; snow disappeared; first flock of Geese seen. .
23. | Snow Buntings gone. ‘ » oe ssissippi entirely
4 94. frozen.
r 25. ) Crows begin to disperse. |
a 26. ) |
7 27. :
q 28. J
: 29. | Warm wave. Guils return. )
C 30. | Ther. 67°. ( First Ducks (Mallards and Sprigtails) and the first | Creeks free from ice; ice
q 31. Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds go north; Gulls > in the Mississippi break-
: ; go north in migrating wedge; Bluebirds and | ing.
E Shrikes begin to return.
an Feb. 1.
2: First Purple Grackle; Canada Geese go north; Red-tailed Hawks at stand.
8, | 75-85 Herring Gulls go north.
a 4. ) First green shows itself on the ground.
5 5, Large flocks of Ducks go north.
6.
J if
: 8,
k, 9,
z 10. (Cold, dark, damp weather, with rain and snow.
. 11.
12. |
13. |
14, 1
15.
16. |
; il7/4
18. |South wind. Birds move; flocks of Geese go north; also Mallards, Sprigtails, and Green-
winged Teal.
19. ) Increase of Bluebirds, Goldfinches, and Black-capped Chickadees (T. V.).
20. ) First Fox Sparrow, Chewink, White- throated, White-crowned, and Field Sparrows.
; 21. | First Robin at stand. Decrease of old Purple Finches.
F 22. | Ducks and Geese in many fiocks go north.
; 23. (Cold winds. Robins in flocks. Bald-headed Eagle, Song, ana Swamp Sparrow.
5 24, yy Tree Eero have decreased at stands, but are found in large migrating flocks in vhe low-
x lands.
: 25. ) Ther. 58°. A great day for wandering Geese. First Snow Goose. Sudden rise.
a 26. (her. 56°. Great day for wandering Ducks. First Turkey Buzzard, Sparrow Hawk, Rusty
3 Blackbird, and Ruddy Duck; increase of Red-winged Blackbirds and Robins. First frogs
g J and mosquitoes.
: 7365—Bull. 2—3

Feb. 27. Ther. 19°.

Mar. 1. Falling temperature; snow-storm.

32.5 mae

ds

28. Ther. 7°. , Ground bare; Ducks remain in marshes.
29. Slight rise. )@

2.Cold; snowing again. Ducks go south.

} :

Second winter.

OT ip OO

3 | Cold northerly winds, dark, gloomy skies.

. >Sleet; ground covered ; watersheets frozen hard, and the Mississippi full of
| floating ice.

|

+ -

i=r)

on

9. Thawing begins; first Ducks go north again.

10. General thaw; wind high, southeast. Ducks go north.

11. Falling temperature after a warm night. Greatnumbers of Ducks on the marshes. First large
flocks of Purple Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds (both male and female), and Rusty Black-
birds; first Killdeer and Meadowlark; a large flock of Robins with Flickers.

12. Cold west wind.

13. Wind southeast. Ducksmove. First Wilson's Snipe; first song of Robin, Chewink, and Song
Sparrow. The Black Snowbirds (Junco), Purple Finches, and Tree Sparrows are excited ;
Swamp Sparrows increased.

14. Cold north wind.

15. Rising temperature, followed by a mild, clear night with light wind southeast, but no arrivals.
Temperature at Saint Louis, 54°; at Cairo, 47°; wind north.

16. Wind southeast. Geese and Ducks are on the move. First Cranes.

17. First rain of the season, after a warm night. Ther. 56°; wind ligbt, south. Winter ends, and
spring begins with a sudden start of vegetation and awakening of insect life. Birds have
arrived during the night and others were moving all the morning. Bulk arrive of Robin,
Flicker, Meadowlark, Bluebird, Chewink, Purple Grackle, Rusty Blackbird, Red-winged
Blackbird, Song Sparrow, and Blue-winged Teal. An increase of Wilson’s Snipe, White-
crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and Field Sparrow. First Phebe, Pectoral
Sandpiper, Cowbird, Upland Plover, and Little Yellow Rail.

Bulk departure of Tree Sparrow.

18. Rain; wind east. Frogs noisy; turtles on logs.

19. Rain; wind west to northwest. Vegetation progressing rapidly. Cranes go north.

20. Cool; wind northwest to north. Elms and maples open blossoms. Geese go north.

21. Rising temperature ; wind northwest to east. First Swan.

22. Night: warm; thermometer 53°; cloudy; wind light, southeast.

Day: cloudy, threatening; increased southeast wind.

—

GRAND BIRD WAVE.

Many birds arrived during the night, and others were on the move all the forenoon.

H. Robins, Flickers, Red-winged Blackbirds (males), Purple Grackles, Rusty Blackbirds, Che-
winks, Bluebirds (T. V.), Purple Finches (7. V.), and Song Sparrows.

B. A. Shrikes, Phebe, and Wilson’s Snipe.

Increased: White-throated Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Cowbird (male), and
Red-headed Woodpecker.

F. Brown Thrasher, Chippy, Bewick’s Wren, Grass Finch, Sayanna Sparrow, Mourning Dove.

Great movement of Hawks. Ducks, and Yellow-legs.

23. pie wind northwest; clear. First songs of Brown Thrush, Chippy, and White-throated
parrow.

Mating and song of Chewink, Robin, Bluebird, Shrike, Cardinal Grosbeak, Carolina Wren,
Tufted Titmouse, Junco, Purple Finch, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow. Tree
Sparrows are scarce. English Sparrow lays first eggs.

First bat seen; winged insects appear; also ants and worms. mie

24, Rain allthe morning. P. M. clearing; wind shifting to southwest and northwest. Birds do
not move until 5 p.m., when Ducks and Blackbirds go north.

F. White-bellied Swallows go north at 5.30 p. m.

¥F. Purple Martin in sight at 5.45 p. m.

25. Sultry, with showers and hailstones; wind south, turning to west, high during the afternoon,
No arrivals except Martins.

B. D. White-throat-d Sparrow (old), Rusty Blackbird, Mallard, Sprigtail, Baldpate.

Decreased: Robins, Flickers, and Blackbirds.

Numbers of Hawks go straight north. (Bald-headed Eagle, Marsh Hawk, Sparrow Hawk).

No Tree Sparrows seen to-day. F. Butterfly going north.

Early shrubs, such as Ribes and Syringa, put forth leaflets.

26. Beautiful day; wind west to northwest, abating; thermometer 60°, after a windy clearing up
night. No arrivals.
27. Night: clear; wind light, south, warm; thermometer 58°. Birds move.

Day: wind increasing southeast.

B. D. Junco, Purple Finch, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow.

F. Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Golden-crowned King-
let, Large-billed Water Thrush.

Increased: Chippy (male), Brown Thrasher, Brown Creeper.

F. Double-crested Cormorant.

28. Night: stormy.
Day: wind high, west to northwest.
29. Wind north.
30. Wind northeast shifting to southeast; calm. F. Female Purple Martins.
Swans, Cranes, Ducks, and Hawks go north.
31. Night: clear, warm; wind southeast, cloudy toward morning. Birds move.

Day: Cloudy, rainy, warm; wind southeast.

B. D. Robin, Flicker.

B. A. Chippy (male), Bewick’s Wren, Chewink (T. V.), Brown Creeper, and the genera
Numenius, Rallus, and Porzana.

Increased: Brown Thrush, Phebe (T. V.), Cowbird (female).

35

Apr. de Night: Heavy rain; wind southeast. Day: Wind increasing, west, falling temperature.

¥F. Hermit Thrush.
~ 2.Cold blast from northwest; gloomy.
3. Wind light, northwest; clear; vool night; hoar frost.
4. After a cool, frosty night, day clear, with light northwest wind.

F. White-browed Yellow-throated Warbler.

Decrease: Junco, Chewink (T, V.).

L. Fox Sparrow already gone. j

B. A. Cowbird, Kingfisher, Double-crested Cormorant, Yellow-bellied W codpecker.

5. Wind northeast; rain; cloudy.
6. Hazy; wind east. Vegetation progressing rapidly, especially grasses.

Flowering: Populus, Salix, Magnolia, Viola, Trillium.

Leafing: Sambucus, Syringa, Lonicera, Melia, Larix.

7.Cool; cloudy; high west and northwest wind.
8. Cool; cloudy; high west and northwest wind.
9.Cool; cloudy; high west and northwest wind.
10. Cool; cloudy; high west and northwest wind.
11. Cool; wind strong, east. Loons go north.
12. Rain; wind east to southeast.
13, Rising temperature; wind southeast. In afternoon birds begin tomove. Ducks and Geese go
north.
F. Chimney Swift, Pelican.
Increase: Purple Martin.
14. During night light thunder-storm and rain. Birds move.

Day: Sultry: thermometer 72°; wind south.

Departed: Winter Wren, Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.

L. Canada Goose; Snow Goose.

B. A. Brown Thrush, Chippy (T. V.), Hermit Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned
Kinglet.

Increase: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chimney SWift, Mourning Dove, Purple Martin.

F. Cerulean Warbler, Blue-yellow-backed Warbler, Mockingbird.

H. Cowbird, Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Creeper.

15. Night: Warm; wind light, southwest.
Day: Falling temperature; wind shifting to west and northwest.
F. Cliff Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow.

16. Cool; wind northwest, abating in evening.*

17. Night: Clear, calm, with light east wind, Birds move.

A warm day; wind increasing, east.

F. Black and White Creeper, Redstart, White-eyed Vireo, Golden-crowned Thrush, Yellow-
throated Vireo.

B. A. White-throated Sparrow (old ones in high plumage), White-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-
rumped Warbler.

18. Night: Cloudy, rainy, calm. Birds move.

Day: Clearing, sultry ; wind southeast, light.

F. Kingbird, Maryland Yellow-throat, Red-poll Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler.

H. White-throated Sparrow (old). ,

19. Night: Dark, misty, calm, warm. Birds move.

Day: Overcast, sultry ; wind east, light, shifting in afternoon to north, with rain.

F. House Wren, Golden Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Wood Thrush.

H. Brown Thrush, Chippy, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow.

Increased: Golden-crowned Thrush, Blue Yellow-backed Warbler, Coerulean Warbler, Savanna
Sparrow, Chimney Swift, Mourning Dove.

B. D. Hermit Thrush, Robin (female).

L. Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow.

Leafing: Maples, Elms, Poplars, Hickory. The ground in the woods is covered with flowers;
Cherry and Pear trees in full bloom, and Apple buds ready to open.

20.Cold; wind north; dark, misty.

21. Cold; wind north; dark, misty, rainy.

22. Cold; wind north; dark, misty, rainy.

23. Cold; wind north; dark, misty. Abouta dozen strange Martins crowd into the boxes to-night.
They seem to be refugees from the north, looking lean, and some are barely able to fly.

24.Cold; wind north; clearing. In afternoon rising temperature. The strange Martins return
to boxes in the evening.

25. Night: Clear, calm, but cooling off to light hoar frost. Birds leave.

Day: Clear, calm; wind north, light.

No arrivals (except F. Catbird, one, and F. Lark Finch, one), but of departuresmany. The
Martins from the north leave. B.D. Brown Thrush (TL. V.), Chippy (IT. V.), Yellow-rumped
Warbler, White-throated Sparrow (old), Wilson’s Snipe. A Yellow-belliel Woodpecker
(male), which had put up at Laclede Park since the 19th, also disappeared.

26. Night: Warm, clear; thermometer 57°; wind east by south. Lirds arrive.

Day: Fair; increasing south wind; thermometer 75°.

B. A. Lark Finch, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-gray Gnateatcher (T. V.),
Blue Yellow-backed Warbler (female), Golden-crowned Thrush (T. V.), Red-poll Warbler,
Redstart, Coerulean Warbler, Pine-creeping Warbler, Wood Thrush (male), Red-winged
Blackbird (female), Kingbird (male and T. V.).

Increased: Maryland Yellow-throat (male), House Wren (male), Golden Warbler (male).

F. Olive-backed Thrush, Small-billed Water Thrush, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-throated
ae Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-throated Green

arbler.

B. D. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swamp Sparrow.

27. Night: Warm, thermometer 67° ; threatening, with stiong southeast wind.
aes ae wind from southwest; clearing. No change (except first flock of high-dress Gold-
nches).
28. Night: Clear, becoming cloudy; wind light, west, shifting to northeast and southeast. Ther-
momter 60°. Birds move.

¥. Orchard Oriole (male), Kentucky Warbler, Bell’s Vireo, Indigo-bird (male), Maryland Yel-
low-throat (female).

B. A. Maryland Yellow-throat (male), Goldfinch (male), Baltimore Oriole (male), Rases
breasted Grosheak (male), Kingbird, Summer Yellowbird (T. V.), House Wren.

36 ee

=. =<

Apr. 28. es Black-throated Bunting (male), Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-throated Green
Warbler. a
L. Hermit Thrush. =:
29. Night: Clear, becoming cloudy; wind light, southeast; temperature steady at 63°.

First hot day; maximum temperature 82° (77° at6p.m.). The bird wave struck fully. In-
credible number of birds present.

B. A. Catbirds arrived in force (male, female, and T. V.); Black-throated Buntings (male) at
stands, and small parties on the wing going east; Olive-backed Thrush and Small-billed
Water Thrush in flocks; Goldfinch (female), Indigo-bird (male), Orchard Oriole (old males);
Warbling Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo,
Red-headed Woodpecker, Black and White Creeper, White-crowned Sparrow.

F. Scarlet Tanager, Wilson’s Thrush, Nighthawk, Bobolink (male), Wood Pewee, Traill’s Fly-
catcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler,
Black-poll Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-bellied Nuthatch, Great-
crested Flycatcher, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Bank Swallow, Black-crowned Night Heron. Apple
trees in full bloom; oaks open flowers.

Note.—This enormous volume of bird life seems to have resulted from the combined operation of
the following bird wave; the start began in the north, and the warm wave reached Saint Louis the night
of the 24th, at which time many birds left, but none arrived. The same warm wave, progressing from —
the Rocky Mountains eastward, started from El Paso on the 22d, reached Fort Smith and Shreveport
on the 24th, Little Rock on the 25th, and the birds which arrived in Saint Louis on the 26th came
probably from the southwest. The cold wave hovered over Kentucky from the 20th to the 25th, and
no movement can have taken place before that day; but when, on the night of the 28th, the bulk of ©
birds from that quarter (southeast) reached Saint Louis it swelled the number of arrivals (from south
and southwest) to this enormous height.

30. Another warm night; thermometer 70°; clear; wind light, south. Birds, move.

Day: Hot; thermometer 83°; wind soptheast to southwest. More birds left than arrived.

H. Yellow-breasted Chat (T. V.), White-crowned Sparrow, Black-throated Green Warbler,
Savanna Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Goldfinch, White-eyed Vireo (T. V.), Cerulean
Warbler, Chimney Swift.

B. A. Kentucky Warbler, Great-crested Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Maryland Yellow-throat
(female), Redstart (female).

Increased: Bobolink, Bell’s Vireo, Indigo-bird (male), Black-throated Bunting (male), Acadian
Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black-poll Warbler.

F. Yellow-winged Sparrow, Orchard Oriole (two year old male).

L. Shoveller Duck.

May 1. Rain both night and day; clearing in afternoon, with strong west wind.
From May 1 to May 4, a stand-still.
2.Cool; wind northwest; clearing.
3. Cool; wind northeast; in afternoon southeast, with rising temperature.
4. Rain; rising temperature; wind south. Nighthawks move.
eobios ciear; almost calm; wind southeastto south; warm; thermometer 63°. Birds move
ecidedly.

Day: Fair; becoming threatening ; in afternoon a thunder-storm.

H. House Wren, Marylavd Yellow-throat, Summer Yellowbird, Black-throated Bunting (male),
Catbird, Chimney Swift.

B. Continued of Olive-backed Thrush, Small-billed Water Thrush, and White-crowned Sparrow.

B. A. Bank Swallow, Wood Thrush (femaie), Lincoln’s Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (fe-
male), Indigo-bird (male), Baltimore Oriole (female). ;

Increased: Wood Pewee, Traill’s Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole (males two years old) , Tennessee
Warbler, Nashville Warbler.

F. Black-billed Cuckoo, Hummingbird, Black and Yellow Warbler, Pine-creeping Warbler,
Blue-headed Vireo (female), Indigo-bird (female), Orchard Oriole (female), Baltimore Oriole
(birds of last year), Blue Yellow-backed Warbler (T. V.), Solitary Sandpiper.

B. D. Goldfinch (T. V. males), Yellow-breasted Chat (T. V.), White-eyed Vireo (IT. V.), Yel-
low-rumped Warbler (young).

L. Red-bellied Nuthatch, flock of Purple Finch (young), Red-poll Warbler.

6. Night: Partly clear; warm; temperature 62°; wind south to southeast.

New arrivals.

Day: Rainy, dark ; wind shifting to west; falling temperature.

Many T. VY. present.

F. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-poll Warbler (female), Black-capped Flycatching Warbler,
Chestuut-sided Warbler.

Increased: White-throated Sparrow (young).

B. A. Black-poll Warbler (male), Black end Yellow Warbler, Redstart (T. V.).

H. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole (male), Indigo-bird (male).

7. Night and day: Strong west wind; dark.
8. Night: Clear, fair, cool; wind west to northwest.

Day: Clear, beautiful; thermometer 72°; wind northwest. A great day for wandering Bobo-
links.

B. D. Catbird (T. V.), Golden Warbler (T. V.), Goldfinch (female).

F. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

9, Night: clear, bright, full moon; wind northwest; thermometer 64°.

Day: Clear, bright, lovely ; wind northwest.

H. Bobolink (male), Tennessee Warbler (male), Black-poll Warbler (male), Redstart (female).

B. A. Indigo-bird (female and young male), Orchard Oriole (female), Least Flycatcher, Black-
throated Bunting (young males).

F. Orchard Oriole (one-year-old males).

10. Night: Clear, calm; wind northwest; warm ; thermometer 69°.

Day: Fair: wind changing to southeast; rising temperature; thermometer 85°.

Full bloom: Oak, Hickory, Walnut.

Many T. V. Warblers.

F. Blue Golden-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Biue Yellow-backed Warbler
(young).

B. A. Yellow-winged Sparrow, Cuckoo.

H. Chestnut-sided, Black and Yellow, Black-poll, Nashville and Tennessee Warblers.

710. L. Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green Warblers, Blue-headed Vireo, Swamp Sparrow,
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker (female).
11. Night: Clear, calm; wind northwest; warm, thermometer 69° to 64°; moonlight.

Birds arrive.

Day: In forenoon bright, in afternoon overcast, rainy; wind north to northeast.

A great day for migration ; oak woods full of T. V. birds going north all day. Mourning Doves
present in great numbers; White-throated Sparrows (young) in large flocks, and the same of
young Olive-backed Thrushes, Bobolinks, Red-winged Blackbirds (female), and Blue Jays in
flocks going north; Double-crested Cormorants (young), two parties go north; Nighthawks
at great heights; also Waders (species unknown) going north.

T. V. present of Wood Thrash, Warbling Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole,

— Red-headed Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager.

i

H. Wood Pewee, Traill’s Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo.

F. Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Canadian Flycatching Warbler, Summer
Redbird (young).

B. A, Purple Martin (young), Redstart (young, one year old).

12. Night : Cloudy, calm; wind nertheast; foggy. No arrivals, but decrease of many.

Day: Clearing; in afternoon thunder-storm.

B. D. Wood Thrush (T. V.), Olive-backed Thrush, White-throated Sparrow (young), White-
crowned Sparrow, Mourning Dove (T. V.), Red-headed Woodpecker (T. V.), Yellow-breasted
Chat (T. V.), Least Flycatcher.

13. Night: Threatening, calm; wind west; rainy.
Day: Falling temperature; cloudy; wind northwest. Nonew birds. T. V. getting scarce.
‘B.D. Biack-poll, Chestnut-sided, Nashville, and Tennessee Warblers.

14. Cool; wind northwest.

15. Slowly rising temperature; wind west. Yesterday and to-day but few T. V. present.

16. Night: Clear, calm; wind southwest; thermometer 68°.

Day; bright; wind northeast.

17. Night: Clear, calm; wind southeast; thermometer 68°. In these two days birds move and
the rear guard arrives.

B.A. Bobolink (female and young male), Alice’s Thrush, Black-throated Bunting (female),
Mockingbird (young), Barn Swallow (young).

L. Kingbird (T. V.), Traill’s Flycatcher (T. V.), Mourning Dove (T.V.), Black and Yellow
Warbler, Nashville Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Least Fly-
catcher, Black-capped Flycatching Warbler.

18. High south wind; thunder-storm.

19. Strong west wind: cool.

20. North wind. L. Lincoln’s Sparrow, Bobolink.

21. South wind; clear, calm. F.Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler. L. Tennessee Warbler,

Wilson’s Thrush, Canadian Flycatching Warbler.

22. South wind. L. Double-crested Cormorant, Solitary Tattler. =
23. Wind southeast, shifting to northwest.
24. Wind northwest; cool.

- 25. Wind northwest; L. Alice’s Thrusn, Black-poll Warbler.

= 26. Wind northwest; L. Olived-backed Thrush.

Cali tte

27. North wind; L. Nighthawk (fourteen T. V. go north in the evening).

PROGRESS OF VEGETATION AND AWAKENING OF ANIMAL LIFE IN THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DURING THE SPRING OF 1884.

This subject will be treated from the south northward in steps or
sections of two degrees each, beginning with latitude 28° and extending
to latitude 53°, or over 25 degrees of latitude. Thus it will be seen
that the observations cover a tract of country 1,750 miles in length.

_ In studying each section the endeavor has been to make the dates in-

dicate fair averages for the middle of the section. For example, in

_ the section which extends from latitude 38° to latitude 40°, the dates

_are as exact as possible for latitude 39°. For the southern half they

_ would then be a day or two earlier, and for the northern part somewhat

Jater. It is also intended that the dates shall express average time;

_ for instance, in the appearance of flowers, one observer, in a sunny and

well protected nook, finds the “first flower” while the rest of the coun-

_ try is bleak and bare. Another does not consider it proper to record

flowers as present until they can be found almostanywhere. In giving

_ dates of flowering, an average has been taken of the several dates re-
ceived, with a leaning toward the earlier. The same remark applies to

_ the other dates treated in this chapter. The number of observers in
_ the first five sections is so deplorably insufficient for the extent of the
country that the dates must be considered as the merest approxima-

oS

~ a

88 ; i ae oy 45 x
wa Ps

tions; for the next four sections they are quite full and accurate, while Ey

for the last two they are again insufficient. In studying the movements ©

of any species of bird, reference to this part of the report will show
with considerable accuracy the conditions under which it was migrating
and the prospect for a plentiful food supply.

I. This section (extending from latitude 28° to latitude 30°) contains
the extreme southern part of Louisiana and the middle part of south-
ern Texas (the reports from Texas coming from the region of the Rio
Grande). In Louisiana, in the spring of 1884, the earliest leaves be-
gan to show on briar bushes and willows the first week in February,
followed the next week by grass and flowers. This is of course a moist
country, while in southern Texas the climatic conditions are different.
Vegetation there was much later in starting, owing to the lack of rain.
The first rain after September fell March 6, and was followed imme-
diately by the blooming of myriads of plants and the rapid development
- of leaves previously in bud. Frogs in this part of Texas had but a short
winter vacation, being heard both in January and February; while the

first in Louisiana was reported March 13, but they must have croaked |

some time before. The bulk of the insects appeared in both places at
the same time, namely, the middle of March. There was no frost in
this part of Texas, and in Louisiana the last ‘‘ freeze” occurred February
15. In Louisiana the first snakes were not reported. In Texas the
first rattlesnakes were seen March 16, and other snakes much earlier.
The first bat was recorded February 27.*

II. This section (from latitude 30° to latitude 32°) consists of the
southern part of Mississippi, central Louisiana, and central Texas. No
reports were received from Louisiana, and Mississippi sent but few.
In Texas the last frost was recorded February 27, followed, March 3,
by the first rain. As in the more southern part of Texas, the first rain
' immediately started the grass, leaves, and flowers, and by April 1
flowers were in the height of bloom. In Mississippi flowers were plenti-
ful March 25. Rattlesnakes appeared in Texas March 29; and the first
snake of the harmless sorts was seen in Mississippi February 11, which
is rather anearly date. Insects were noted as abundant in Texas March
5, and in Mississippi March 28.

III. This section (from latitude 32° to latitude 34°) includes central
Mississippi, northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and northern Texas.
Of these, Mississippi alone sent reports on vegetation, etc. These re-
ports areas follows: Last frost, February 28; first leaves, February 10;
beginning of real foliage, March 24; first frog, February 4; first toad,
February 8; first snake, March 21; first insect, February 17.

IV. This section (from latitude 34° to latitude 36°) includes west-
erm Tennessee, northern Arkansas, and Indian Territory. Indian Ter-
ritory alone reported, and the dates for latitude 34° 11’ were as follows:

[* In this latitude several species of bats must remain active, except during severe
weather, throughout the entire year.—C. H. M.1

.
4

39

Last snow March 8; ice broke up January 27; frost came out of ground
February 1; last frost March 9; grass started February 1, but stopped
in afew days, not to commence again until March 1. Leaves of small
size could be found on briars February 29, but even April 8 there were
not leaves enough on any tree to make shade. The first flower was
found February 2, but no more until February 25, and by March 20
seven kinds only had bloomed. The first frogs were heard February
93. But few insects were noted before March 13. This is the record of
a strictly prairie country on the eastern edge of the Great Plains.

V. This section (from latitude 36° to latitude 38°) includes western
Kentucky, southern Missouri, and southern Kansas. Only Missouri re-
ported, and as follows: Last snow, April 8; last frost, April 9; first grass,
March 18; grass high enough for pasturing, April1; grass plenty, April
27; first frog, March 2; first snake, March 23; and insects very numer-
ous by April 27. :

VI. This section (from latitude 38° to latitude 40°) includes south-
ern Illinois, central Missouri, and northern Kansas. This section sup-
plied an abundance of notes. The last snow of winter melted the first
week in February, but later snows came in Illinois and Missouri April
Zand April 22. The ice broke in the Mississippi river February 1, and
disappeared from ponds March 15. The first rain occurred March 17.
Grass started March 22, and was pretty well up April 6, on which day
an especially fast growth was made. Flowers appeared in the bot-
tom lands about March 20, and on the prairies March 30; while from
the high, dry lands of western Kansas, none were reported until April 4.
The height of the season, as indicated by the opening of the apple-blos-
soms, was April 29. The first leaves were reported March 25; first foli-
age, April 19; and the opening of the latest leaves May 10. Frogs ap-
peared in Illinois and Missouri March 15, in eastern Kansas March 26,
and in the western part of the State not until the 3ist. Snakes were
reported March 22; toads about the same date, at which date also
clouds of insects suddenly appeared.

VII. This section (from latitude 40° to latitude 42°) includes north-
ern Illinois, southern Iowa, and most of Nebraska. Here, also, snow
fell April 1, 7, and 8, and in the northern part on April 20. Ice left
the streams March 19; frost came out of the ground February 27, and
the last frost was recorded May 3. Grass started during the first week
in April; leaves a few days later (April 10), but real foliage did not
begin to unfold until May 10; the first flowers were seen April 2, and
apple trees were in bloom May 8; the first frogs were heard March 22,
but in Nebraska they were not recorded until April 11, which date prob-

ably is a little late. Snakes were first noted March 27; toads, in the

eastern part, April 20, and in the western part, May 2; insects may be
supposed to have appeared about March 26, but ‘first’? dates were given
all the way from March 17 to May 9. It is to be regretted that fuller
records were not received from the extreme western parts of the dis-

40 ef

trict. Such records would undoubtedly show that in moving west-
ward—in ascending and entering the elevated, treeless, and almost
rainless plains—all of the records would be later. This, indeed, is in-
timated by many of the records of vegetation in hand, and is known to
be the case with birds.

VIII. This section (from latitude 42° to latitude 44°) includes south-
ern Wisconsin, northern lowa, southern Minnesota, and southern Dakota.
The winter’s snow left this section about March 26, but was quickly
succeeded by a severe storm April 1, and by another on the 7th, 8th, and
9th, while the frost kept returning and was heavy even as late as May 29.
Ice broke in streams March 26, and in lakes about April 6. Grass
started April 25, many flowers having already appeared ; apple-blos- -
soms opened May 20; leaves started late (May 2), but grew rapidly,
the foliage proper beginning May 15. Frogs appeared March 26; in-
sects on the 3l1st,.and snakes April 10, while toads were not recorded
till April 26.

IX. This section (from latitude 44° to latitude 46°) includes the cen-
tral portions of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Dakota. The winter’s snow
was all gone, except in sheltered localities, when the storms came the
first week in April. Snow fell over the section April 6, and in most
places also on the 7th. By April 10 the snow had all gone. Ice left
the smaller streams March 26, and passed out of the Mississippi the
30th. April 6 it disappeared from small lakes, but remained in the
larger ones until April 13. Grass started in the west earlier than in
the east. in Dakota it began to be seen April 7, but was a few days
later in Wisconsin. The first leaves appeared May 10, so that here a
larger part of the migration tock place among bare trees than in the
more southern districts. A few flowers, principally the hardy anemone,
or wind flower, were out April 10, but even by May 10 there were not
many to be found. Frogs became musical April 4. Only two observa-
tions were contributed on snakes, one in Minnesota April 2, and the
other in Dakota May 3, giving little clue to the correct dates. A sin-
gle toad was reported April 4, and he must have been a very early in-
dividual. Insects appeared April 3.

X. This section (from latitude 46° to latitude 48°) includes the north-
central portions of Minnesota and Dakota and the northern part of
Wisconsin. The only note contributed is to the effect that the ice left
the large lakes April 20.

XI. This section (from latitude 48° to latitude 50°) includes northern
Minnesota and Dakota and southern Manitoba. The only observations
contributed relate to a few insects seen April 2, and to the revival of
frogs April 15.

From further north than this no notes were received except a single
one, which stated that the ice passed out of Lake Winnipeg Junel. In |
addition to the observations above recorded, a few other data have been
contributed. The ‘‘Gopher”* was first seen at latitude 39°, Mareh 15;

[* Syermophilus tridecemlineaius is here meant.—C. H. M. ]

AI

at latitude 41°, in the west, March 28; in the east, April 1; at latitude
a 43°, in the east, April 12; at latitude 45°, in the west, March 28; and at
latitude 47°, in the west, March 27, showing that on the plains of the
west these animals awakened simultaneously over a district 400 miles
in width; while in the better watered, more thickly wooded, and there-
fore more chilly eastern portion their winter sleep was much prolonged.

Bats were first seen at latitude 29°, February 27; at latitude 39°,
March 23; at latitude 42°, March 28; and at latitude 44°, April 15. Tur-
tles moved their sluggish bodies above water at latitude 39° from March
18 to 21, and at latitude 44° from April 20 to 24. The Tree-toad was
heard about the same time (from April 27 to May 3) over the country
between latitude 40° and latitude 44° 30’.

LIST OF STATIONS AND OBSERVERS FOR 1884.

Name of observer. Station. State. Latitude.

(o) /

C2. Wood .2---.. et awe ee saa ke otamise See oes See eae Moss Point ..-..... Mississippi -...... 30 26
UCONN DOG b eee ae emia ace) s cinta wi se ci ec leyetene ce iale rare Rodney 22-52 5222% Sed Ore: Sees es 31 52
280 Sy GUIS oS 56S SAR a SC nea tire oe a SACKSOM Penta Hes eee GOvesas tea tees 32.17
(ShUPLE Chl SS GG 08 cee a Sek ay See een a EEO Ree ESAS! 28S dora) 2s steeer 32 17
Judge R. B. Mayes Yazoo City -....--. S230 Ssaacen ces 32 50
Maj. nGE. Wounee=: aa. Widiverlyn secant. SSAO” 52 Fosse BSR 33 34
1B) LG JEONG E SSES Be eee eae | eee aR are Water Valley..--. Se SMMOr Res See cee hoe 34 08
Dr. Rawlings Young Corinbhy 2.22 seeee Ae asUOi tes sae. ae 34 45
Dye ds hs Rye Penna seis See RM Lt SpE ie eter Southside. 22... . Mennesseeeeae es 36 81
oy VAY 5 TRUTH ET CS TAS la Og a ec De AINA etek | MM IVOUG oes 22 we ee 37 30
(Ss, 0), JESITRVOI 2 DES eG eS re Se ee A a West Belleville-..|):2:<do - .cscs2 55.522 38 35
AGM’, [OIE 6 Ge Beate lems een egy pe ee pt se Odie Se isrdOscseecenceoce 38 39
Gnas valliiam MeAdams 2222. csohe ck Seshe ae cate awcs Nl tometer Seek ee Onee, Aa eee 88 55
Nat. Hist. and Ant. Society, A.W. Harris, President.| Hillsborough ...-. PeesdO! Pec cee eae 39 12
Wharlesaw RObCEbSON. = 22222 - 2+ Steins cee he oe ae Carlinville.....-- Soh On: Na eee sees 39 19
BEL Tle UG ILGR as se Rea ee ee Se a ei ee Whitehalls- =. |. = Os. Shao hese 39 27
Je. 180, TRinG kia geen eee Se nee CCR eee ea GREG eee hose esol ea GO 2242S 2 ee 39 38
Bun TE, (GHESSINGS, SAR RR ae Sie eee et edit a Rel NS coe Sullivianieesse-ceclace: GO: ce eae acee 39 41
3LL MY, [PED ERG 7 a a ee eee ee ee ee Griggsville. ---.=-|..<. Gene ee bon bse 39 43
Rin NOL ee ean ies tas Coe ce) Sea ce we he oe rae QuinGy ees ee eee CU Eee ec 39 55
(Se, (S), Leaps Se Aer ee eS OT a ORE a ani ae Sa ere Danwillesos.-. ee wased Ore ssekee tec 40 08
PI ARE IS AIINOD MY at 7 ote So teEs See ee eee, kas do ee Se Semin Ors nascar ocean 40 08
coe NAY, GSE TD RG SS ae es pe Aledo eee 22k. Pr esO? aes eee 41 09
EERO LOMIA Saws cate cence ace cme nasa nn Osceola... ---- se AC OWS oo eee eee 41 10
Sma ES OTL Oper et 2 Sitter A ONS Bo SY ee ee ec ot Grand Ridge...... = MO! Ceisessee ieee 41 18
Din. TEs TR: SEI Gye SR aa ES ese ear a OOM) San ogee eee OO 222k. oa 41 28
\Ny Tillie iran, GISy a Ca ne a pea tg Mendota... s.-. 2... mee ONL Ree eee 41 34
12 Ml o(GTSISN YO) ee ee a cRampilCOmeeees ae GIO) SubhSecogabde 41 36
Joseph Be pehony, Jt Petpet te is aint Peowe Sas wid ten ns maf Coleta -he.<-- cus. . doy [iret Reece 41 46
TEy Thy, Qn SSG REARS es ee elation Oa ee a a ae Hennepin.-.... --. EPO seas sheseee 41 47
Jobn Bikae Beas Be EMSS ASS a A ae Stee tr Bap AVIde eee ee Sal ne. css ee eee 41 49
Sebrenee Pee NON OCC. ha ciac<s'.- Le ena ns wae wees Chicago... 2... LJehdO} Mace ees saa ce 41 51
UG PATE SO Se ee ae ee I a Ae | EBS e ee hae Os Peers boos ese 41 51
18), Ke CHOBIIS She SRS eS ae ia i a reedo eieeciek ast re eedOrnsstoe eee ee 41 51
Y 18, IDES ac EE ape ee ie Ate, SP a eer ee ee Oa ced dotere aati Ss Sedor. siete wanes 41 51
Jipinia: Gir eee AS Sete tl ee Rel A rh SEL Reh A Wright’s Grove ..|.--:do ......-.-.--- 41 54
2ess 2c) SONICS Sie EI ea tied i a OlO RS oe Shee das OU Se eee 41 58
F. F. Kleckner DaVISh ieee eee etek tod = OPS Gace eaee 42 05
J. E. Dickinson Rockford -2.2.: 22: MOI Hiss, 28 ERR 42 16
Sn oreet tnt Bei] Ba ae a ee RC Welavan eee =e Wisconsin ....---- 42 37
EPS 1245 TRAUB UCD a IS ae ag a a BD Racine ee Lea diome tee eee 42 45
aan PESTER ee Aen see ec hae eS RNS ta Amini eee ee = VENOMS see aeseeee 42 47
RAV ERE STINE heirs te oe doce oer eee te geee Milwaukee ...-... ape «Ob 222 se ee 43 00
SEE SPAPHICEC LOIN) at oie Pe Ae AR Li halo Oe eee re 43a @l Oc he ee seer 43 00
“De De TEI RST 252 RS a ae a ia ie IE eal ee Jetlerson ...-.-.-- RZ SIO ese 43 01
Mrs. H. M. Lewis......- ee oe ESR AO Te ee Madison -2...2e<t See (0 Renee a Se Pa 43 02
1B. 181, HBSS aE ie iS eae I OS Ra a ae) la ee ee Haley Millg =e)" == 900.2222 see 43 06
ACR DU LMM 25 cee ier oo. too eee ek oe Richland Genter. |{2.-dol- /22.42.2s22- 43 19
2 TBST RYO) COTTE aS oe Pa a i ee es STR Leeds Center ..--. PaO) 2 s323,10 ese 0n8 43 20
SMtiMNO DOM pete elk tee Le ee ea a INorthoRreedomt:.|- 22-00). 222.5 coco. 43 30
US, LBs, MACHA EN eS el a er ae eae ee tee eee Merritt’s Landing. Be hd OV <2 ace eee 43 37
PEPE CHMOOLOIUM Ie er tee aoc eo Sot ooo 22 ache oeeades New Cassel...-.-.-. SEE AUS (Naeger e 43 43
2 IBA SUSTIGy ONS ARS ieee: adel ee ea ata ei Soak 2 Se ai@rosse-.-2.22-e PPO red Atig ek cons 43 45
PEEIlOssee TONG ard ye. fool alo eee ce eee eee Rees Ome ise ed sHUSO soa cee secon 43 45
OPS RG ee ee re a A ae RIPON. chao. fee ous bono se Sa STAG See 43 47

UU SGT 8 We) POI Oshkosh ...2t22s. 22: dO. 5566 He 43 59

42

LIST OF STATIONS AND OBSERVERS FOR 1884—continued.

Name of observer. Station. State. Latitude.

On

OnE Cares. we Se cshabi seat nde aes Leak Ge nee a Wranpacay fesse 2= Wiscousin....._-. 44 22
Sa V PM NOLL TEC cpoare cto a yerovacis a crm areape ahora neers or oN ee West De Pere... |> 2. .do' 23-3 seeeee 44 26
PT Oteh SH esKANS Joh cee oe ce ra aan et sen et Sa | OL VCT ORANG) yan 2.00". ee 14 45
NEA Ar Gc A oe cicede ncee sewer seems ayes eee ee Green Bay.....--. 22200 oe eee 44 30
Dlghape yeu 22s) oo et at Meet eee eee Ee (done aa kee - 200) 2. See 44 30
ARVO aE ss Nie WW DG Outi eee cn De ior aime ca co ee ‘Hancock...--.---. “Michigan SS eee 47 10
CRAMBibbDing =. fetes Bae IDR SES es ee Be Baldwins s-225--" Louisiana_......-. 29 30
VED WaCh CWA S cisco eh etek ee ee A bbewvilllestcs acco laee do 2.23 ceeee 29 57
OreAG Bib bing: hse. os. cecteeee ae se ae hee aoeeeeeee Mermenton......-|..-. do . 0.245522
IVirAE MOnTOO:/ Bai 2 22hiens Sete aaine eset soe oe Newport.......... Arkansas....----- 35 36
note sE slut LLALV GY See sai Soest ee ee ee eae Fayetteville ....-- Modo tS ane eee 36 02
LEY es ENS) NADI es Serene ee See 2 Rn A ees IRIGEGOICibyean eee Missouri eee 36 56
J fig ed BI ieee SRE eas A Se ys abe eee hotel dee a ne peas Ne Reed Sis 2. = hot ee 3.00". 3. ae eee 37 08
RAV VaR Tee Sas eye cia eee tlG, Oop ie eae eae el Saint Louis -~.....-. 2.2.00). ..8t eee 38 40
WARIS OM pPSON sasha see es ele ee eee Sedalianeess-oseeas oot 00'S eee 38 43
Mins Wie MSSiC Kegs ater sistas a ae ee eee eee eee re Mount Carmel!=—. 22. dol) =eeeeeeaen 38 45
Ges till wellis2te seis cause ce clacetpemee ech eee Kansas City .-..--. ac) 0.2 eae eee 39 06
TPTEONE Da Niel SOU CEN HO ere Re eee ao nan een Ses eaoEee Fayette. ..2.52.-.- (62 00" 22 hee eee 39 09
JN) Sd Bis Oh Ap ae ere een te es een tree ot eA Al aie a dome eee es 2. dO See 39 09
One ep posit 9 Set.5-e) cistas eee en eee ee Glascoweesee sae o2 2/00": 6 eee 39 14
Walliams Praeceri at. sca mecemen ek. ae ete oe Keokuk teescees Towa: 2.0% 2a 40 20
TODS VSN CT TGA aM aS es Se ant od Burlington -.--..-.. 5.20%... aes 40 50
ETO TAO OP sOCO UL e me co ciicess hecies o bei eme ae momen mellem do See 2. (0-2 cee 40 50
aalGe Aum LOG =2- 5-3 Fo a be elon tas ER Ree Mount) Pleasant=2|2>"- do) 5.2 eee 41 00
Wis AS PLCSbOr en cmctsiti a tese ao sete ieee eee. aie Morning Sum s2--- |). -d0 see ee 41 05
Srv elan ds aes 2. a ota dae tc eran se oes eereeeeee eee MEG ye qe seeeee 52203222 eee 41 14
Gake Cherrictsn --ss26gic)s 2a cee eee eee So nS Kroxvalless- 2-0. 52. 02 2 eee 41 19
lee Nee ASr nN Ol diss. 5-05: 8s Cie es See Ae Oe Sen Richmond —---.-- Les (QO) scke ae 41 26
HOPES NG ATG oes coe a as pee arena aes ae ie ape e Des Moines. ...... 22 lO ect oo eee 41 36
ChRMKeyes: An2cct 25h ote Loos Sse caw e ei semiayeeeens Nana Ovsees cian wale 2s 0). 22 eee eee 41 36
HELPED CLIC 5 «ithe o\os card asain wnpneiale aie meme reo appa ea Towa City .-...-- soi lO. Se see 41 38
IB RAVAN CON GiGi. oes wee oo sass See eee ao oe eee OM sein Be sso OM 3e4ec eee 41 38
JMAWMEREStON. - .Ssicacseceeioesaesceeeeeae Shae a oe Ox Vase seteeicies POPA Ki ee Eo - 41 38
BVISSPAV Its WolllPaM Gite once Sle cwaracles Meiers cinta amen ee le oe “Coralville......--- ook. .d0b.3c 3 eee 41 40
AN PE POS TOM fo Soo Sia rae i ao coined etevep hapeee aera Seto New bon) \--22 25-22. = GO) 24 ee 41 42
iv nd S\ SONS sen 'cesroecisckis seen mone ce weaseee ee Grinnellieee se 2202 soa Sees 41 44
Prof OSDORN sao se ees Coe ah cae nat wea cles ATES noc aa oe ceek 22 dOas: eee 42 00
Renny) Simi bh): keen ta eee omy aon Beets Grand Junction .-|/..-do . 4. 2seese 42 O1
@harlessHHenniney ©5765. 25s S4a ten a poem ere cee Boone esos = ence 22102 eee 42 08
GMD MPROCK 3a 5 idan. Sages eels cae eee See atene oe Ia; Porte City/2-- 2 |22- -dojess=ase=seeee 42 18
ori@havlos Aldmch:.t, sae. os ae cose ee Wiebster @ity,.-- (|-- = do see 42 27
SH SS SKCOUNO we Se Sewn Bice Sac Ce cise ee SCIne eee: Dubuque .--.-.-- .2.:00 2. eee 42 30
Jal, TGisd Bae os Lmetesme ad We eee an ea Er CINE ie eke ae Storm Lake --..--. E00) eee 42 37
HAG COLL On ara sacs oe re een oe ee Pane Ee aes Williamstown =23|2-=-00)-o-eseeseeee 42 55
Nissi An Mie leery mcssiivcicn os nccic-ceece ee eteaeier Douglas) s<- 22-5. Beer OMe Ree Soc. 43 00
eo ee aN CO C1E a5 actrees ~ < trom te Cie eine eat een ae ae Waukon..-.....- 2.500008. 2235.coe 43 15
Sealing Ops, Sat 2 Sek Boe aches shies ecco aces Mitchell... 22 .2- io ere es SS 43 19
Be uO tUONNte. tac ae. = calc Meee meee .S nea ere ee eee Hairmont. jess. “Minnesota .....--. 43 38
Died ie Os 18 OVO (lee eee om ose Mase oemennotos Lanesboro.....--. 15%,.00% 5h) eee 43 43
homaseMaller 2. -seese cae EG ah es On oa Heron Lake ...... 200! 3322 eee 43 48
Car Selow eres cei 6 Jace ceectesickten ce Reece wees eee Lake City..- .-.-.-. Bee Copeman sof 44 26
WOME Sand eree i asa ans saci lone oe aniek emia see ed Wane sees se =. G04. 3. 44 32
eye GMB SE Tabb css leo case e coe erence eer 8 Hastings ..-.-.--- 2 €O).2 Je eee 44 45
Prem Grin OMNI es 3 ns reek ys Aye emp ar eI Meee een Mages <2 Pine Bend ........ i 07) 22 44 47
Swe DOING. saeo oo heae esecece kee setae eee ee Minneapolis ..---- 222. CON st Sse 45 00
Ole Ss Gre ini ee ae eee een oe oe eel ee eee J MOOR Saas neeee 2 0 34. 45 00
Fea eelamilinG: 2222: —sctincescnemelee cmc See e eee aemce GRO ieak ers saeco el eae dO}... ee 45 00
Drea ale PE ately sc5cGac bec e Mae eceie bases Seater oe ae (MOS eek ae 320... 2 eee 45 00
Court W. Ranslow.......-----.« ee ieee ee ee IMAGINE SS BSc ceacells= do: 2 ae 45 05
WMernon Balle yin «sa. cmeececae Senctseam eee eee ne TKR IVeT ee se eee eee 0.) ek) 2 eee 45 25
Wiss Gentiude Nl Wewis-sces ce sece mseees seen ee Frazee City..---.- 2300) aan oeee eee 46 33
AED TES Shoes) Se VND Se ees a ee cer ay ala Sees Wrhitedarthess e\2 = 2d0)2 ee eee see 47 04
Walter Negley ..........-. BES eee ee ES ee Eagle Pass...-.-..-. Texas sss eae 28 43
Dre oOMmas Wi SCOLb se .c8ee ogee ee ee ere eee DelRio 2.22. Ja. d Ol ae eee 29 20
HEP WAG iWaAtOl :a: kes sac tine noose Sao eee EEE ene San Antonio...--- <2 (Ol Ss ee eee 29 27
TRG GHOSE hee ee ae ok Aa, oye re et ee Sisterdale: 22. 552) 23, do 24 eae 30 00
Rey be a eOnry: 2... cc tiacss cies « eice sece aeeea een mes Masons Aaae so seeclsee (Os 2282 see 30 43
Walliamliloyd. se 22 ssc aucetins che ee ae eee cen San Angelo......|.-- (0: Sees 31 22
Drehos aw. “Mlorer sic cae ssc sce cuckoo eee ees Wiaxahachie sees: (Ou F238 sa eee 32 23
IVI See Ve EL OMGS sss /s abe ves ikl ie ue Ne Ces te ea Decatur Messe. Pa a Ol = ee aol
Gab@Racs dale wattecsa tees oeece bec aseeheee ae eens Gainesville e<-225 |-a- do. een. os eee 33 36
MS UNAS ieee a cee be wee Sacioia oe eae seks mertins pees Denison sss eee 22p OE See se eee 33 43
NWA COOKG cosc% case tas sence ene sean eee teeeean Caddoiseeeeeee eee: Indian Territory... 34 11
Be EEO Cie ASA eye aie a¥eieae nia aia seleiela iso emis Sie einai cee ate INGOECEHEIKIY Sa 550655 llooes GO sats oe eee 34 55
OrWea Coggeshall ou. 5 $2.6 os ante agence sesmeee cee Darlineton essa. See d= eis 35 37
BWA © OOO nee ce ra eis eo Set osc ema ene Bee Red mRO CG kseee ees lees do 3833 ee 36 30
TVA Br tea a tracpueee ce ME ae Rar Eon a NS eg Cimarron...-. -- ACAMIS Sse eee 37 49
TENE oN Cel) CGV AS) en acs ee a eae ete ae ues Looser eR a IHN NOES Seocee san laenc COs ee tee 38 21
James McMastetaseereoe nce ten Oo ee ee See ee eee IDEM ORIN segee seller: ORE ee eee are 38 45
rh WiatSOn’. fs. eae aah Rete See ere aoe Nise hrs ee eles dO: eee 38 55
BO fH VY SUG Wasco Sarai oe ae are ec eee Lawrence {ad Ona: See ae 39 06

LIST OF STATIONS AND OBSERVERS FOR 1884—continued.

Name of observer. Station. State. Latitude.

bore /

SEO ey AA TNL Zpret era cratwhe Sree a(sim mietw <heiabamwardcih ouch ome = Manhattan ......- Kiamsaig2i.55-as- 39 12

Lie Og le. JIE TET NS BoC en Gee nO ROOnne Gone Henan ine COPS atta watecinte nen MOr Rakin ait aete§ 39 12

WG Ib, JECT Olle oA oguonecdoornon cesocobondgosaraad “Waskington Bee -MOVeeeeee te ee ee 39 50

Ji. INN@USO) Te SAAN cOMBEE Oe SoOere cu DECL Crear ooe chooe ter Davenport Seas chee “Nebraska.......-- 40) 21

it, (Ce IXGIN Ol) Sa SS Seer e Cr ObeCDaCE DEO CC Ee nCOtte DOGerer Winadila sss se. 2 sain LOS eae Sek aes 40 47

18. W/o d COWES oe Soe ceD es ee rOprEeOeaC cn ICor ee oeare ANCA psoas totals dela Or 2 222 sin eaters ate 40 53

Wod!, GIES] ONO? Banpnnecdoooeortes CUCOnMOr ao acereee Linwood.........- HO) j2.2 sis sree ees 41 22

Neca See ORS DOLL Sic sts oie wercretwatnraratatalo'me sie wee cin Vermillion. ...0.-. Wakota-w ieee 42 56

: ERE Np GING OMY. 2 ile sin ro Mpsiaieia were fotcnerarer Linde Oe yes aa Sioux Falls ..-...- 520 QO:2 225200 seeee 43 34

r Sm nae CH. tee wien niet ele ewe mctoeatainis Coe Serie see IBATtOMaseele tee BPE (Cee Peete bc 44 15

F (Gr. Sk IBSIIO) Ds RSG AS DALE com SE BPE bAeee apo oaUeeCEeE HMunon ass s255465- on dO-nereso recess 44 21

¥ BIVSE TRIM Gy. Sao sla eclece o0 am wares erp ERECT 4 5 Saint Ansgar..... “a= 0 =i paem eee 46 00

POM MULAN IOs coed wap den siciciec vet wete cb ocee ess secu aw La Moure ..-..--. sina 10) Sorat atari 46 30

Sed wards..ca.cicsceeue eee ey eee Petre ee Argusville........ (3: dO-<s2c.docheeioes 47 08

4 APR ORe Sie Sot) so cde ad sd wc vette tiene Sieeererees 2 Menoken ......... bb. cGlOrs 5s oben aoe 46 58

3 PUPERPMASTOALOeis his ote atte g seen! eater ete ter Bekele Ss Larimore ....-.... see QO: ! -sheeae Saree 47 52

$ Ene WATMOyy ss <0) <1c8 sis dis dajSulera ne wienele es Oriel ee ae rds « Grand Forks ...-. @Ot. 2 coacise Boeee 47 55

le inosy (Gita ey wee ee Leone ieee Ren een eran aa Two Rivers......--. “Manitoba .....--.- 49 28

: Manitoba Historical and Scientific Society (Rev. | Winnipeg ........ je Ore n25 eee 49 30
: George Bryce, president).

y (Ge Wo JGR ee ies Se cs leh eer ae i ae are ml eae Portage Ware rariels. 4-0) sees eseeeeeee 50 00

Peete se 2d cskeeeceto. exacn Ge SEO aOR Me Oak Point... 2. ysido ei. .0 5 eRe 50 30

q During the migration season of 1885 the general character of the

’ work remained the same. Many new observers added their names to

the list, and their reports form a valuabie portion of the material re-
ceived during that year. A great effort was made to fill up those parts
of the district which lacked observers in 1884, but with few exceptions
this attempt proved unsuccessful, the reason being that there are no per-
sons in these areas who are sufficiently acquainted with birds to report
their movements.

A list of the new observers and stations for 1885 was published in
the Ornithologist and Odlogist for August, 1885. Itcontains the names
of sixty-nine new observers, and of several of the observers of 1884
who had changed their residence since the previous list was printed.
Ninety of the observers of 1884 promised to send notes during the fol-
lowing year, making the whole number of observers in 1885 one hun-
dred and fifty-nine.

4

‘
;
4

LIST OF NEW STATIONS AND OBSERVERS FOR THE YEAR 1885.

Name of observer. Station. State. Latitude.
(oe) /

ROP IE TIC T yee e te ep tS pate | he ee Fo ah) a i) Sas ik Shawneetown..... TM hiao1sies eee ea 37 43
CCOTO err Gardenvsaacs ao aj-c cis se saais aes alton ewe ge ckine lad ee Oy: Be Ge ee ergs g RS Ome en he ean, 4ne: 37 43
BEipate See CL iN aeaiN CL Sia rape eee haya as ea, om on m ovo, satya = ayo, n,3.0, Hillsborough. ....- sates Oi3 era's: siaepeiatehe 39 12
DOG AVS Tp wey oh Aes ae Seek ne oe acl epee ae Paar Um PAiSt eee ae Ee UOL ae Soe 39 34
Rie Cobleteht sok. se eie eee ec eee eck, Peorian Ss0i2..8 22. Je GOuE? Aes eee 40 41
AUUICLOMP SL OWill ote ce atse foals Sninisi= acisiniete meine ciels woe oe MamipiG One eee 22 MO" Sas Sa sere ae 41 36
OU Cul pLlOlmneSy22 a2 ~, ce dean sete ocala calnlcisere sow Fernwood...-....-.- Be Komertee sata Getic 41 42
(Oy. Crotsenburg pe pre esis te Re.) Pie bey ey a Clinton 35 2202). o- “Wisconsin reper 42 34
Axe 16, WA ECa Se te a eet el Ne et een en hy aoe mS Pear LO ene raster ene MCL co. = Pee cree 42 34
epee SAW GIM ae se ee tet Me Janesville..... A eerste LOWS «se coite eee 42, 39
UTR N IG HUTEUIN heitre/ o See iai 2S wynscmy oo dhaislaicintacnle «elas gule Stuughton..--...-- Be Ol 2 (ann temas 42 55
MMIC MATE eee re coe e ee ol. Peele ee me rane eM dO calees. a aiee | 42 55
JEL, VEG AVG aS See ke ee es ky ee HoRt eA amSOme 5 psd Obs ean c reales 42 56
“AY ¢, Dine LAUT ce are A See ogee amg Ana Milwaukee........ EON. Nee eels oee 43 00
Piensa ne. Se ena se tiginednn sa as IPortacess 225265. dOraoo. ee 43 31
Dewar MOC AGO gant oo es foeicsic na dewee set aadade Green Bay...... dO. goatans ese 44 30
Pe MDI Cn Ae collec th. <> cine cisdeuea Sao Uisid 2 Ge atic PB dors ae 44 30
Viste, 1 Dic, JBETHCO iT pene aes SS lr Oe Cn are Dutandi wee dos sae 44 36

44

LIST OF NEW STATIONS AND OBSERVERS FOR THE YEAR 1885—continued.
Name of observer. Station. State. Latitude.
fe) i
ORS? dnb iycee = cca kee eee eee eS ae eee ee River Falls ......- Wisconsin......-- 44 45
Hips SING te on See een ee eee ee eeeeaes Roberwisis ese (4 ~.300.662525-55eeee 44 58
eS mnGt DDN = 22 225 oce ones wo betes eeeee eee New Richmond. .-|.-..d0...=.).-23 45 09
SLATES TES SS en ee ee eS F aE B Bye) eo ay oe pee | = 200% 322. oe 45 35
PeMES SU ETINAMN so 5 a5 2 3Sh ccc nes eceeches eee oe ace Bay fieldsy- sec |e =-2d05 2 eee 46 50
Ripe PEW AIT IOW = 252 <2 ces Ja Preah ake eee eee eee Houma. 3-335. es =| Louisiana.-=_ ese 29 34
MSL EMOUCONT 2 52 See obs Se eee ee ee See eee eee New Orleans.....-|. 2 «00, 3 eee 30 00
Si sks RULE ae ee eee ne eee ee Es MRCOG sees oe Wissourl-= 5-2 37 08
Harvey Cink eo ee So ee eee Butderes= is 5.2 ee 22:00) 52 333 88 14
. Meigs Yeats oat ee eye ee ee kek Sa eee eee Keokarkete25 +22 = Towa: 33224 -2.-eee 40 20
Col. GREY Bracketh..2 ee ee Denmark 22 eal: Be eee cc - - 40 43
pT REN TAM SS S22 - . aos ed a ape eee en Barlington.... .-<|...2d0,.-5 5. 40 50
a) RE GRE eee en reer ees ae eT ae ae Des Moines.....--}- 3.200.222 eee 41 36
Hae ONG aoe. ooo. cate es bac eea soo etete oases ase Towa) City.425 222 a=2\- 22.40) 25-.2seeeeeee 41 38
DVM Ol EG oe = aS oe ewe hen cack Sea eM te 8 le =. do; See 41 38
re ACC VCS toe ot. cone i Shscssee cee ta ee See eee Jo Owes dooce esl =-:00.222- eee 41 38
HES AGNES! =. 2-5 2S O_o a we Beek ane ee ae ‘Gunnell Lseptid aoe 2300.22.52 o eer 41 44
era el pW earcOP cae a 58 Skis So el es oe el Gy ee ee == 0012.22 25 ee 41 44
ibsgiry, Si OOK oo oo < siete wer ae a seine See La vere oy soso = 100... see 42 18
WHOTUG RE OG Kees tous anceee pose es Eee ee oe eee SAL SO eee ee eae ale -210d0::t5e. eee 42 18
PMexmider SCOUPRAIO 5.5. .<5-cssc=2--8s ee oceeee SK. Sous City: 2-252. (5 ...005..; 5 eee 42 28
les eV ADIS 5 oc% oo ates assets oan cae ee eee ce ae | State Centre.----. ~--00.coceee5 eee 42 59
EVs Uo Dee © rl eee ee eee See ee eer Aen Se | Emmetsburg..-..-. pee An ane 43 08
MgunVAS WMOSHETS - <.o502 oo o= ee eee eee LES Spirit tke 500) nase eee 43 26
Petes elo AW Obbs shes oan to a eee oe See Albert Lea.......- “Minnesota ioe 43 58
AS Dabs buts: 3 oo2 Sos ok ee Se ieRechestern-se2ee oe 2 dO. ee 44 01
PINS ISOS <a 5 cow's wana apaw agen ces oe eeeee eee ss a Dake Oityss-- 222. -|: 2< @0 a. 5-20 See 44 26
"SL ERG AGT Oe ae ee ee ee eS ee oe Saree ee eee eee | ded. Wang. c2eceee |. seil0-l22232 eee 44 32
POMBN VEIT = 2-2 Sk EET 2 SEN SS 5 ee een ea ee eat S200 cee eats. Slee 00-22 5.2-2- ee 44 32
Han COCK 252. $521 25. 2h eae eel SSO ge 2 eee G0 253 eee 44 32
Bi PEST ANG ome Siw eee ae Ee eee Ee RRO ee eee Hxcelsior cc... ee ec d0:. 522 44 55
AMEN TINORGS: 225.3225 eee ote ee eee ee EE XCCISIOR =... 24.222. [O23 G0; 253. eseeee 44 55
ACPI SAGE LG: 35 oo ae eons ate gape eee ee pease | Saint) Paul. 2=2 5. es 0 5-5 = ee 45 57
Epp ee Heratete. 225025, ws sae Shae ae ante Sea | Minneapolis ......|.---. 0%. sso eee 44 00
1D paired ETDS BYES CF Tey ae ae em ce 8 a ee ee SEO Ohl eee ee ae == <0) 23. eee 45 00
Vis. Mis A Pane ys oo. Ons oe ao encore ame ae See eet Syed ates Seiad BS be do. te5 <2 eee 45 00
Eee AS ET oe Bee a Ae ee eo eee JOG oe eee Se AN aiido =. eee 45 00
ieee PB CRRCULTA cts het. Ok So oe rat BO Bn ee “Saint Cloud22:=.2|: =i =10" S25 See 45 32
UPR RUCOUKG a3 ah. ee es ree wee cee ee eee avieorhead =~ == 245 ~2-G0) 5.5 eee 46 56
Wis PAU NC OOKG <<) 5. secre eee ces OSE eee eee eee White Earth ..... \.2--00) 22. eee 47 04
SPD Se LNT Ce | ee es a a ee San Antonio.....- | Dexas «2255 eae 29 27
Ice ae) CLI = = Se Ss ass eee os cues a eee eee eer | See do: <2 5 2-52 Ae. |S oie ee 29 27
eves MOLE KANON = 2 oo oe ee See Cee cae oN ee Wedor-=.: . 2222 = = | Oy 2= 2 eee 30 20
NCW At Soe Se EE SS ba he. oat ee ee ae Kort Worth..-..2- | lO eee 32 44
PIE ReCer Ser ae hl eee Poe ee oe Bonham... cg. aes leee G0 epi cee 33 34
Wea Ube: 8G) Laren Sore eee aR a ak 2 eet a ae pa tee Pmporia _22552.-. Kansas ..--...222 38 21
“El To Eye aan a ee: eRe poe Rt eee) fT AG G2. 55s. te SIL 00 2522585552 38 21
William S. Smith ee fee aig acon cs 9)! MN pc Wigs ya 5 2 Richmond :..-<- es Q0lS 2. ee 38 34
pipet EN Hl aia Sse ok a Re ee rOpeks fsa. =e ee dO. scstSfeseee 39 03
WNSeAC SReENIAN eS ~.2 6 oS2 5 2 peice eee eae eee BOT os ese oe Nebraska..2s-e ee 40 48
ASSEN os ANGHATE = 92.56 5c eK clans wae gee ee Grand View ..--- Dakota: 2224s" 43 50
CORCORAN eE Se Ss. 5c ae. 52S Soeciee Soe eee Se eee PURO sc ce Ae oe ee cee 00: 25.2. See 44 21
HH: Parkhouse. ...---.--.- Ae a eee eee Valley City--.-.-- -22d002 220 Steen 46 55
pHOMAG TIGSCIL. 2 ee 5. Ges cee beeen eee eee DECClOsss 5 s62dssae 26. G0. 2 noe ee cee 47 O1
IDO EE irl (ey ee Se oe ese eee ees eee ee ee Mintos-..232.62<22|* -=200:2. 2-23 eee 47 58
We DGamn vise B52. Ae sree Bees ee Johnstown...-..-.--|.- Lesdo; 222k tees 48 04
VPC Pe ben G hug 6o2c55 > se os ek ee eee Fort Totten. .-..-=)- 3:0025:3. 25 48 50
Mass ASOibIS NsCOMaAnNS <- >.<... sc ete eee eee Dalienc.-s.228ee Manitoba.<2. 2)
PRS LCI ibe Aer ees Se a ee Shell River .....-. |... -€0 .s-2n.- epee
RCN ROM OTe Sock = oe ah a on oe ee thee Se OSSOWO 2224026 e ee eee 1 Cs ae er (e

[Nore.—All of the stations enumerated in the above lists for 188+ and 1885 will be found on the ac-
companying map of the Mississippi Valley. The exact position of each station is indicated by a black

triangle.

This map is particularly valuable to the student of the migration and distribution of species

because it shows at a glance the altitudes of the several areas embraced in the region of which the

report treats.
in places of the same latitude.—C. H. M.]

Altitude, itis well Known, is the principal factor governing the distribution of species

45

In the spring of 1885 Dr. C. Hart Merriam, chairman of the Commit-
tee on Migration of the American Ornithologists’ Union, prepared and
sent out blank schedules for the use of the observers in reporting their
notes. A copy (on a reduced scale) of the heading of one of these
schedules is here given:

INLAND DIVISION.
1885.

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.
COMMITTEE ON BIRD MIGRATION.

BIRDS OBSERVED AT STATION.

Number of station, Name of station,
Name and P. O. address of observer, ._——— ———..

When was
it first seen,| When When When Is it Does
. and was it did it wasit | common | it breed k
Pere id. about how next become last or near your oo
many were| seen? |common?| seen? rare ? station?
observed ?

On the back of the schedules the following ‘‘ Instructions” were
printed :

INSTRUCTIONS.

In the first column should be stated the exact date when each kind of bird was
first seen. This entry should be made on the day the bird arrives—not from memory
afterwards (general statements, such as “‘late in March,” ‘early in April,” etc., are
of no value). The number observed (approximate) should also be recorded.

In the second column should be stated the date when the same kind of bird was
next seen—whether this happens on the very next day, the next week, or not till a
month later. ae

In the third column should be stated the date when the bird becomes common.
Some birds come in a body and are common from the day of their first arrival, while
others straggle along and are not common for a month or more; and others still are
never common.

In the fourth column should be stated the last date when the bird was observed.
In the spring migration this column will remain vacant in those species which breed
in the neighborhood, as it can be filled only when all the individuals go north. In
the fall migration it should be filled in those species which pass farther south, but
must remain vacant in those which spend the winter in the vicinity of the station.

In the fifth column should be stated whether the species is abundant, common, tol-
erably common, or rare.

In the sixth colunin it is necessary only to say yes or no.

Each schedule contained spaces for noting the movements of 36 spe-
cies of birds.

In 1885, schedules relating to spring migration were received from
87 observers, distributed as follows: One in Mississippi, 12 in Illinois,
16 in Wisconsin, 1 in Louisiana, 6 in Missouri, 19 in Iowa, 11 in Minne-
sota, 5 in Texas, 4 in Kansas, 2 in Nebraska, 6in Dakota, and 4in Man- .

46

itoba. These observers sent reports as follows: Twelve occupied less
than half a schedule, 21 occupied more than half but less than a whole
schedule, 28 sent oae full schedule, 10 sent one and a half schedules, 5
sent two schedules, 4 sent two and a half schedules, and 7 sent three or
nore schedules.

In addition to the schedules several hundred notes were sent in let-
ters. Schedules relating to fall migration were received from 16 ob-
servers, distributed as follows: One in Illinois, 1 in Wisconsin, 2 in Mis-
sourl, 3 in Iowa, 3 in Minnesota, 2 in Texas, 2 in Kansas, 1 in Dakota,
and 1 in Manitoba.

These observers sent reports as follows: Three occupied less than
half a schedule, 1 occupied more than half but less than a whole sched-
ule, 9 sent one full schedule, 2 sent two schedules, and 1, Mr. Otto Wid-
mann, sent the most complete record of fall migration that has ever
been made in the United States.

NOTES ON THE MIGRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EACH SPECIES
REPORTED AS INHABITING THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

In the first circular on migration issued by the American Ornitholo-
gists’ Union, records were called for concerning four movements for
each species of bird, namely, the arrival of the first, the arrival of the
bulk, the departure of the bulk, and the last one seen. The notes con-
tiibuted by observers relate principally to first arrivals. Of a few
species a number of ‘lasts’ were noted, and of still fewer the move-
ments of the bulk are recorded with sufficient fullness to serve as the
basis of intelligent study.

The second circular issued by the American Ornithologists’ Union
contained instructions for the year 1885. It called for records of the
arrival of the first individual of a species, for the date when it was next
seen, when it became common, and when the last one was seen. The
records received under the second and third of these headings are very
disappointing. ‘These records are voluminous, numbering several thou-
sand, but they are almost without value. The records of the second
time the species was seen have served in a few instances as a check on
the date of the first arrival, showing whether the first seen was a
straggler or a regular arrival, but these instances are very much fewer
than had been expected. When the dates of arrival and departure of
bulk were asked for, not many observers gave these records, but the
notes that were sent were usually of value, since in most instances they
indicated a real movement of the species at the date specified.

In my experience the record ‘‘common” can not be so interpreted ;
indeed, it cannot be interpreted in any manner which will throw any
hght on the movements of the species.

The records for 1885 give no intimation of the arrival or departure of
the bulk of the species, but merely furnish notes on the first and the
last, with two additional checks on the record of the first seen. What

ie, AT

has just been said does not apply to Mr. Otto Widmann’s notes for 1885,
‘since, as in former years, he kept a full record of all the movements of
each species.

In preparing this part of the report the chief endeavor has been to
trace the movements of the van of each species, while the more im-
portant part, relating to the movements of the bulk, must be left un-
noticed.

The departure of a bird from any point is necessarily tollowed by its
arrival at some other point; so that when a departure is noted a cor-
responding arrival may be looked for. The record of a typical move-
ment of a species in its northern migration would contain: Ist, the
record of the earliest arrival; 2d, the arrival of the bulk of the species
at a point somewhat farther south; 3d, the departure of the bulk from
a point still farther south; 4th, the departure of the last individual
from the southern limit occupied by the species on the same day.

Such a contemporaneous record would prove that during the previous
night a general movement of the species had taken place.

Were all the records as full as those of the first arrivals many such
typical movements undoubtedly would be found. This, however, would
be too much to expect. What we ought to find recorded is an arrival
of the bulk of a species for each corresponding departure, and when
the stations become sufficiently numerous, and the observers more
thoroughly trained, these important items will be forthcoming in many
if not in most cases. Then and not till then will something definite be
known concerning the distance actually traveled by birds during a
single night’s migration. The computations based on first arrivals will
always be very uncertain, and if accurate information ever is obtained
it must come almost entirely from the movements of the bulk. *

In the systematic portion of this report it has been found impracticable
to give in full all the notes contributed by the different observers, be-

[* Again I am forced to differ with Professor Cooke. There is no evidence to show
that in any species of bird a sufficiently large proportion of the total number of individ-
uals comprising the migratory host move forward together at one time to justify the
description of such a movement as that of “‘ the bulk of the species.” On the con-
trary, migration consists of a series of successive movements or waves, each of which -

brings a variable number of individuals to places a variable distance in advance of
_the point or points from which they started. It was the recognition of these facts

that led me to omit reference to ‘‘ bulk” movements in preparing the circular for 1885,
_and to insert the following statement, of which Professor Cooke makes no mention:
_ “The committee particularly desires exact records of every increase and decrease
in the numbers of a given species over a given area; for it is only by the knowledge
_ of the daily fluctuations of the same species in the same place that the progress and
movements of a ‘flight,’ or ‘bird wave,’ can be traced. Such data can be contrib-
uted by experienced observers only, and in their procurement much time must be
spent in the field. During the progress of the migratory mevement the observer
should go over the same ground day after day, and, if possible, both early in the
morning and late in the afternoon. He should visit woodlands, thickets of dense
undergrowth, and open fields ; and, if possible, both swamp and upland should fall
under his daily scrutiny. ””—C. H. M.]

.
Q
4
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48

cause of their voluminousness ; nor is it necessary to do so in the pres- —

ent connection. The prime object to be attained isa complete knowledge |

of the movements of each species. Such knowledge can be gained only
by the accumulation of the facts noted by many observers over a term
of years. The facts so accumulated will serve as a guide to the time of
the appearance and disappearance of each species, and also will serve
as a check to the observers’ records. By this means the observers will
be enabled to correct many mistakes into which they will fall, and will
be guided to record many interesting facts which otherwise would
escape notice.

The above points have been dwelt upon in order that no observer may
feel slighted should he not find credit given for all his observations.
For example, some 60 or 70 stations scattered over every State in the
district report the White-bellied Nuthatch as a resident. It is enough
for present purposes to say that the species is resident throughout the
Mississippi Valley. Or if, in the records of migration, 5 or 6 stations
situated on the same parallel record the arrival of a species about the
same time, it is more intelligible to say that on that date the van
reached this latitude, than to give the name, latitude, and date for each
of the stations.*

The rule here followed is that the shorter the record the more easily it |
is comprehended, and the supposition is that the student of this report
will always have a map before him. It is useless to attempt to study
migration without this aid.

The remaining or systematic portion of the report aims to be entirely
historical rather than philosophical or theoretical; and it must be re-
membered that it is based upon notes, many of which, through lack of
sufficient ornithological knowledge on the part of the observer, undoubt-
edly are erroneous, but which, since they bear on their face the appear-
ance of truth, have been accepted as facts. Hence, while great care has
been taken to make the statements as accurate as possible, errors un-
doubtedly have crept in, and the author will consider it a special favor
if those who discover such will communicate the fact to hin.

There remains the pleasant duty of acknowledging the assistance
received from various sources. The first acknowledgments are due to
the observers, without whose able and united efforts nothing could have
been accomplished. These persons have given their time and thought
to the work without compensation, stimulated only by their love of
nature and their interest in scientific work; and many bave expressed
the pleasure it afforded them by the statement “the enjoyment we have
derived from the work has more than repaid us.” To Dr. C. Hart Mer-
riam the thanks of all are due for his untiring zealin bringing the work
before the public and enlisting the services of observers, and for the

[*I cannot agree with Professor Cooke in this method of treating records of mi-
gration. Owing to the difference in altitude of stations on the same parallel, and to
the influence of topography and other local conditions, I deem it necessary to give in
full the exact records of each observer.—C. H. M. ]

Ce OWE A ait me a LES any
PUM aae a ited a iad a
y vy wear’.

49
laborious task of editing the manuscript of this report and seeing it
through the press. Mr. Ridgway, both as representing the Smithsonian
Institution, and personally, has aided in settling disputed points of iden-
tification and distribution; and Mr. Allen and Dr. Coues have assisted
Bein the same manner. Norshould the able effortsof Prof. D.E. Lantz, of
- Manhattan, Kans., be forgotten. Not only did he furnish, for two years,
avery full and acceptable set of notes on migration, but when the sick-
ness of the author threatened to prevent the completion of this report,
Professor Lantz came to his assistance, and, although already burdened
_ by his own private work, found time to write nearly one-eighth of the
systematic portion of this report. Last, but not least, should the au-
thor endeavor to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. Otto Widmann,
_ of Saint Louis, Mo. When the work was begun and its future seemed
clouded in doubt, his voluminous and valuable notes turned the scale;
later, when delays and discouragements came, his advice and encour-

agement awoke renewed vigor and interest. Not only does the material

contributed by Mr. Widmann form the most valuable part of the present
_ report, but during its preparation his aid has been so constant that it
4 is perhaps not too much to say that his name should be included as
joint author. |
_ ‘Thanks are due, also, to the U.S. Signal Service for kindly furnishing
weather reports and maps.

7365—Bull. 2——4

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SYSTEMATIC REPORT.

1. Zachmophorus occidentalis (Lawr.). [729.] Western Grebe.

An inhabitant of western North America, coming eastward to Mani-
toba. Twenty years ago Donald Gunn discovered this Grebe breeding
abundantly at Shoal lake and Lake Manitowaba, Manitoba (Smithson-
ian Report for 1867, pp. 429-430). More recently Prof. John Macoun,
botanist to the Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada, found
it breeding ‘‘in thousands” on Waterhen river; and still more recently
Mr. Ernest E. T. Seton (now H. E. Thompson) has recorded specimens
from Long lake, Manitoba (The Auk, Vol. II, 1885, p. 314).

2. Colymbus holbcellii (Reinh.). [731.] Holbell’s Grebe; American Red-necked
Grebe. |
A northern species, coming south in winter irregularly to the northern
half of the Mississippi Valley; has been taken as a rare visitant at
Alda, Nebr. Said to breed in northern Manitoba.

3. Colymbus auritus Linn. [732.] Horned Grebe.

Winters over most of the Mississippi Valley and breeds from northern
Illinois northward; reported by various observers in Missouri, Ne-
braska, and Wisconsin. In 1885 it arrived at Lake City, Minn., April
23.

4. Colymbus nigricollis californicus (Heerm.). [733a.] American Eared Grebe.

Occurs throughout the western row of States in the district; breeds
from Texas northward, and winters from Texas southward; was noted
by observers at Saint Louis, Mo., Manhattan, Kans., Ellis, Kans., and
Vermillion, Dak. In the spring of 1885 it was first reported from Em-
poria, Kans., April 14, and again April 30. At Saint Louis, Mo., the
first, a male, came April 24. In the fall of 1885 it was seen at Emporia
September 8 and at Saint Louis September 22. It remained at Saint
Louis until October 7.

5. Colymbus dominicus Linn. ([(734.] St. Domingo Grebe.

This is a tropical species, coming north to the valley of the lower
Rio Grande in Texas. Near Fort Brown it is a “ rather common resi-
dent” (Merrill, Proc. U. S. N. Mus., 1878, p.172). It occurs at least as
far up the river as Lomita ranch, above Hidalgo (Sennett, Bull. U.S.

Geol. and Geog. Sur. Ter., Vol. V, No. 3, 1879, p. 440).
53

54

6. Podilymbus podiceps (Linn). [735.] Pied-billed Grebe; Hell Diver ; Dabchick. = =
Winters wherever there is open water, from Illinois southward, and

breeds from southern Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and eastern Kansas
northward. The records for 1884 are so irregular that it can only be
said that during the last of April and first of May the Dabchick was
migrating on both sides of the forty-third paralle!, and appeared May
6 at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. In the fall of 1884 it was first seen
at Emporia, Kans., September 20 and was common the same day.

The records for 1885 are scarcely more regular than those for 1884.
Its arrival was noted at Laporte City, Iowa, April1; Lanesboro, Minn.,
April 3; Saint Louis, Mo., April 6; Paris, Ill, April 19; Heron Lake,
Minn., April 9, and Shell River, Manitoba, May 3. In the fall of 1885
the first came to Emporia, Kans., September 16, and to Shawnee-
town, Ill., October 3. The last left Lanesboro, Minn., November 9, and
Saint Louis, Mo., October 27. Mr. Lloyd states that it is tolerably
common in winter in Tom Green and Concho counties, Texas (The Auk,
Vol. IV, 1887, p. 184).

7. Urinator imber (Gunn.). [736.] Joon.

Breeds from northern Illinois and Minnesota northward. Occurs in
winter at suitable localities over most of the Mississippi Valley, even
as far south as San Angelo, Tex. (Lloyd), Corpus Christi bay (Sen-
nett), and Waverly, Miss. (Young). During the first eleven days of
April in 1884 it was recorded at various places from latitude 39° to
latitude 45° 25’, and May 1 it reached Oak Point, Manitoba.

In the spring of 1885 two sets of notes were contributed. The first
was as follows: Laporte City, Iowa (lat. 42° 18’), March 31; New Cassel
Wis. (lat. 43° 40’), April 4; Excelsior, Minn. (lat. 44° 55’), April 5;
Emmetsburg, Iowa (lat. 43° 8’), and Saint Louis, Mo. (lat. 38° 40’),
April 6; Heron Lake, Minn. (lat. 43° 48’), April 8; Lanesboro, Minn.
(lat. 43° 43’), April 9. The second set was: Luck, Wis. (lat. 45° 35’),
April 20; Des Moines, Iowa (lat. 41° 36’), Ferry, Iowa (lat. 41° 14’), and
Lake Mills, Wis. (lat. 43° 6’), April 21, and Sheil River, Manitoba, May
4, The last left Saint Louis, Mo., April 11, and Ferry, lowa, April 29.
In the fall of 1885 the last left Heron Lake, Minn., November 7.

9. Urinator arcticus (Linn.). [738.] Black-throated Diver.

Breeds in the far north, coming south in winter, rarely to the Great
Lakes.

11. Urinator lumme (Gunn.). [740.] MRed-throated Diver.

A northern species; breeding about the larger lakes in Manitoba, and
thence northward; dispersed in winter irregularly over the northern
half of the Mississippi Valley.

21. Synthliboramphus antiquus (Gmel.). [753,759.] Ancient Murrelet; Black-
throated Guillemot. ;

Inhabits the islands and shores of the North Pacific; accidental once
on Lake Koshkonong, Wis. (Sennett, Auk, Vol. I, 1884, p. 98).

55

3 6. Stercorarius pomarinus (Temm.). [697.] Pomarine Jaeger.

Breeds in the far north, coming south to the Great Lakes in winter.
“Winter visitant to Takes Michigan” (Ridgway); ‘twice seen in Ne-
" praska” (Aughey).

Ba. Stercorarius parasiticus (Linn.). [698.] Parasitic Jaeger.
_ Breeds in the far north, coming south in winter to the Great Lakes,
- and even to Illinois PR say).

yy

4 38. Stercorarius longicaudus Vieill. [699.] Long-tailed Jaeger.
Breeds in the Arctic regions, coming south in winter to the northern -
_ States; “casual winter visitant in Illinois” (Ridgway).

_ 40. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.). [658.] Kittiwake.

4 A northern species, coming south in winter to the Great Lakes. It
_ has been noted from Minnesota {Hatch), and Illinois (Nelson); and
_ March 17, 1884, one was seen by Dr. P. R. Hoy at Racine, Wis.

4 42. Larus glaucus Briinn. [660.] Glaucous Gull.

_ Another northern species, appearing as a winter visitant at Lake
Michigan, and once taken as far south as Clay county, Tex. (Ragsdale,

- Bull. N. O. C., Vol. VI, 1881, p. 187). Dr. P. R. Hoy took a fine speci-

4 men at Racine, Wis., March 17, 1884.

3 43. Larus leucopterus Faber. [661.] Iceland Gull.
Breeds in the far north, coming south in winter to the Great Lakes;
_ occurs regularly on Lake Michigan (BE. W. Nelson). .

Sa

_ 47. Larus marinus Linn. [663.] Great Black-backed Gull.
Breeds from the Gulf of St. Lawrence northward, coming south in
_ winter to the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan, Nelson).

, oe Larus argentatus smithsonianus Coues. [666a.] Herring Gull.

Breeds from southern Minnesota northward, and migrates over nearly
_ the whole of the Mississippi Valley. This species was seen at Chicago
in the winter of 1883~’84, and usually a few winter on Lake Michigan.
_ As a ruleit is found in winter throughout Illinois and thence southward
tothe Gulf of Mexico. The severe cold of January, 1884, drove it almost
_ entirely out of Illinois. One was seen at Saint Louis after the river be-
gan to be full of floating ice. It returned to Saint Louis January 29;
_ two days later a party of eighteen went north, and February 3 between
- seventy -five and eighty-five went north Shots the Mississippi. At
_ Heron Lake, Minn., the first came March 24. They breed from Heron
x _ Lake northward. Perot is a record of a large Gull, probably this spe-

“cies, from Oak Point, Manitoba, April 21.

- At Chicago, Ill., Herring Gulls were common Amoushont the winter of
188485, and as de Mississippi river did not freeze over they remained
all winter at Saint Louis,Mo. Their migration at that place in the spring
of 1885 began ehinare 27, and the next day they were seen going north
in regular migration rede, taking their annual overland route just in

the rear of the city, cutting short the great bend which the Mississippi SS
river makes north of Saint Louis. Many old birds in beautiful plumage
were seen all day soaring in majestic gyrations at enormous heights
above the Mississippi. At Saint Louis the last was seen April 12; at
Lake City, Minn., the first April 26, and the last May 10. In the fall
of 1885 the first was seen at Milwaukee, Wis., August 8, and the last
November 21.

53. Larus californicus Lawr. [663.] California Gull.
A rare visitant from the west. Colonel N.S. Goss shot one on the
Arkansas river, in Reno county, Kans., October 20, 1880.

54. Larus delawarensis Ord. [669.] MLing-billed Gull.

Breeds from the northern tier of States northward; occurs in win-
ter as far north as southern Lllinois, and occasionally Saint Louis,
and is a common winter resident along the coast of Texas and Louis-
iana. It was shot in Chicago harbor in the latter part of December,
1883. In 1884 the first migrant was seen at Saint Louis February 26,
and the bulk came to Vermillion, Dak., March 31. The other dates
are more or less irregular.

In the spring of 1885 the only arrivals noted were as follows: Em-
poria, Kans., April 30; Luck, Wis., April17, and Heron Lake, Minn.,
April 9.

In the fall of 1885 it left Heron Lake November 11. According to
Ridgway it is a summer resident in the northern part of [linois, but
is not yet known certainly to breed there.

58. Larus atricilla Linn. [673.] Laughing Gull.

Belongs more particularly to the South Atlantic and Gulf States;
breeds plentifully on the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, and a few pass
up the Mississippi during the summer as far as southern Lllinois. It is
not known from Kansas, but was recorded by Mr. Powell at Alda,
Netr., in July 1880.

59. Larus franklinii Sw. & Rich. [674.] Franklin’s Gull. f

Franklin’s Gull breeds from southern Minnesota and Dakota north-
ward; winters in the Southern States, and migrates principally west of
the Mississippi river. The records of its movements are irregular and
unsatisfactory. In 1884 it arrived at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba,
April 2!. In 1885 it was reported from Emporia, Kans., April 10. It
breeds abundantly in Dakota and western Minnesota, and thence north-
ward. Until within a few years its presence anywhere in the United
States in summer was considered a rare occurrence. In 1879 Roberts
and Benner found it common in the Traverse Lake region in western
Minnesota in Jane (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1880, p. 20). In
1884 Mr. Thomas Miller reported it as an abundant summer resident at
Heron Lake, in southwestern Minnesota; and Mr. J. W. Preston has |
recently found it breeding in numbers in western Minnesota, where it

a said to have arrived April 9, and left September 29, 1885 (Ornithol-
2 - ogist and Odlogist, Vol. XI, No. 4, April, 1886, pp. 54-56). October 22,
1884, Mr. 8S. W. Willard took Lee near the mouth of Fox river, in
- eastern Wisconsin.

a Larus philadelphia (Ord.) [675.] Bonaparte’s Gull.
Breeds from Manitoba northward (and probably in forthern Minne-

—

_ sota as well); winters along the Gulf of Mexico and southward, and
sometimes in Illinois. In the spring of 1884 it was noted from Lanes-
borough, Minn., April 23, and from River Falls, Wis., April 28. In 1885
it arrived at Hennepin, Ill., April 17.

62. Kema sabinii (Sab.). [677.] Sabine's Gull.

Breeds in the Arctic regions, coming south in winter rarely and ir-
regularly to the United States. It is a rare winter visitant at Lake
Michigan (Nelson), and was taken once in Kansas in cee fall (at Hum-
boldt, September 21, 1876, by Col. N. S. Goss).

3 63. Gelochelidon nilotica (Hasselq.). [679.] Gull-billed Tern; Marsh Tern.

a Breeds commonly in suitable places along the coast of Texas; rare
inland, but has been reported irregularly from other parts of the Mis-
sissippi Valley.

64. Sterna tschegrava Lepech. [680.1 Caspian Tern.

a An irregularly distributed species, common in the Gulf of Mexico,
where it breeds at various places along the coasts of Texas and Louisi-
ana. Mr. Hatch gives it in his list of Minnesota birds, and Mr. Preston
has taken it in central Iowa. There is also a record of three that were
shot at Cincinnati October 9, 1882.

_ 65. Sterna maxima Bodd. [681.] Royal Tern.

A southern species, breeding commonly along the coasts of Texas and
Louisiana. A summer visitant in Illinois.

67. Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida (Cabot). [683.] Cabot’s Tern.

An inhabitant of the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, breeding com-
monly along the coast of Texas.

_ 69. Sterna forsteri Nutt. [685.] Forster’s Tern.

The most common Tern of the Mississippi Valley, wintering in the
_ South, and breeding from Texas to Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
_ Manitoba. In 1884 it was noted from Manhattan, Kans., May 1; and
a Tern, probably of this species, was seen at Oak Point, Manitoba,
May 17.

In 1885 it was seen at Emporia, Kans., April 18; and at Heron Lake
Minn., April 21. In the fall of 1885 two birds, young of the year, were
seen at Lanesboro, Minn., August 21, and the species was last seen at
- Heron Lake, October 14.

*

58

70. Sterna hirundo Linn. [686.] Common Tern.
Breeds commonly on the larger lakes in Manitoba, and has been noted

at various places in the Mississippi Valley. It was recorded as a mi-

grant at West De Pere, Wis., and as having been taken by Mr. Preston

in central Iowa.

7%. Sterna antillarum (Less.). [690.] Least Tern.

Chiefly coastwise, but passes up the Mississippi Valley to Dakota and
Minnesota. Breeds abundantly along the Gulf coast in Louisiana and
Texas; also in the interior; known to breed in Kansas and Dakota.

In the fall of 1885 it appeared at Emporia, Kans., August 12; was
last seen at Saint Louis, Mo., August 31, and returned to Bonhan, Tex.,
August 20.

75. Sterna fuliginosa Gmel. [691.] Sooty Tern.
A tropical and subtropical maritime species of wide distribution ;
common along the Gulf coast.

77. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmel.). [693.] Black Tern.

Winters beyond our border, and breeds from southern Illinois and
Kansas, northward. In 1884 it was noticed at Saint Louis April 29,
and at Heron Lake, Minn., May1. May 17 it came to Oak Point, Mani-
toba; May 15 it was passing over Laporte City, Iowa, in large flocks.
In the fall of 1884 the first flock appeared at Emporia, Kans., August 19.

In the spring of 1885 they were seen at Emporia, Kans., and Heron
Lake, Minn., the last day of March and the first day of April. They
arrived at Luck, Wis., April 17; at Huron, Dak., May 14, and May 18
eleven were seen at Shell River, Manitoba, latitude 50°. They were
seen during the whole summer at Emporia, Kans., the extreme western
limit of their breeding range. In the fall of 1885 they were reported
at Richmond, Kans., July 25; again August 4, and common August 12.
The last left Heron Lake, Minn., November 11; a few were seen at
Saint Louis, Mo., October 7, and the last left there October 21. The
first came to Bonham, Tex., August 22. Mr. Lloyd says it is tolerably
common in western Texas in fall migration.

78, Hydrochelidon leucoptera (Temm.). [694.] White-winged Black Tern.

A European species; accidental once at Lake Koshkonong, Wis.
(Kumlien, specimen now in U. 8. National Museum).

79. Anous stolidus (Linn.). [695.] Noddy.

A tropical and subtropical maritime species; reported as breeding
abundantly along the coast of Texas.

80. Rynchops nigra Linn. [656.] Black Skimmer.

A maritime species, breeding abundantly on the islands along the
Gulf coast in Louisiana and Texas.

115. Sula sula (Linn.). [652.] Booby.

A tropical maritime species coming north to the Gulf States; reported
as not common along the coast of Texas.

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! | 59
a Sula bassana (Linn.). [650.] Gannet.
ees maritime species, breeding in the North Atlantic and Gulf of St.

Lawrence, and coming south in winter when it sometimes occurs along
“the coasts of the Gulf States.

us. Anhinga anhinga (Linn.). [649.] Anhinga; Snake Bird.

- Resident in the Southern States, where it is commonly called the
. “ Water Turkey.” In summer it passes north regularly to southern II-
Rinois ; and it has been taken once in western Kansas (in August, 1881).
It was noted by the observers from Mississippi to San Angelo, Tex.
On the south Concho, near the latter place, it is a tolerably common
fall migrant (Lloyd). In eastern Texas it breeds abundantly (Nehrling).
In the fall of 1884 the first migrant appeared at San Angelo, Tex.,
September 19. It was again seen September 21 and September 30.
One was shot and mounted by Mr. Munroe at Newport, Ark. (lat. 35°
36’), during the winter of 1884~’85.

120. Phalacrocorax diiophus (Sw. and Rich.). [643.] Double-crested Cormorant.

- Winters in the Southern States, rarely north to Illinois; breeds from

"Minnesota and Dakota northward. In migration itis common through-
out the Mississippi Valley. In 1884 it arrived at Saint Louis March 27;
at Laporte City, Iowa, March 31, and at Lanesboro, Minn., prebabk
April 4; the bulk arriving just a month later, May 4. The full record
: from Saint Louis is as follows: March 27, first (three) pass north; April .
38 to 5, flocks passing north ; pea 15, height of the season; May 11,
bulk of young go north; May 2 22, last seen.
_ In the spring of 1885 tiie first north-bound troop came to Saint Louis,
Mo., March 31, and the same day a single bird was seen at Emmetsburg,
Towa. They reached Laporte City, Iowa, April 2; Heron Lake, Minn.,
‘April 11; Lanesboro, Minn., April 21; and Shell River, Manitoba, May
13. The last flock’was seen at Saint. Louis, Mo., April 20. This Cor-
morant used to breed abundantly in a few places in northern Iowa,
where Mr. Preston, of Newton, Iowa, says he has taken a great many
sets of eggs. In the fall of 1885 the first came to Lanesboro, Minn.,
September 29, and the last left Heron Lake, Minn., November 16. It
was first seen at Saint Louis, Mo., October 5.

120a. Phalacrocorax dilophus floridanus (Aud.). [643a.] Florida Cormorant.

_ Resident along the Gulf coast; in summer, north to Illinois; some-
times winters in southern Illinois. Has been taken at Saint Louis, Mo.
One was shot in western Texas in the fall of 1880.

12 1. Phalacrocorax mexicanus (Brandt). [644.] Mexican Cormorant.

_ A common resident along the coast of Texas; occurs in the Missis-
sippi Valley as far north as southern Illinois and Kansas. One was
killed near Lawrence, Kans., April 2, 1872, and another in Mitchell
county, Kans., in the spring of 1881.

60
125. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmel. [640.] American White Pelican.
Winters abundantly in the Gulf States, and breeds from southern
Minnesota northward. The records for 1884 show plainly that they are
not those of the real ‘firsts,’ but the dates when the species happened to
be seen, and nothing further can be obtained from them than the gen-
eral statement that during the month of April this species was mi-
grating in Missouri, Illinois, lowa, Nebraska, Dakota, and Minnesota.
At Vermillion, Dak., at least five hundred were seen in a single flock
April 21.
In the spring of 1885 flocks of Pelicans, probably this species, were

geen at Gainesville, Tex., March 7 and April 6. They were reported

from Cimarron, Kans., Marck 9; Mount Pleasant, Iowa, March 18; Grin-
nell, lowa, March 30; and Huron, Dak., April 3. The last were seen at
Linwood, Nebr., April16; Ferry, lowa, April 29; Manhattan, Kans., May
1; and at Heron Lake, Minn., 30 were seen May 10, and 50 May 12.

In the fall of 1885 the first, a flock of 11, came to Grinnell, Lowa,
September 13, and the first was seen at Emporia, Kans., October 13; at
Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen September 14; a large body passed
over October 6, and the last was seen October 7.

126. Pelecanus fuscus Linn. [641.] Brown Pelican.
A southern species ; accidental once in Illinois, where it was seen by
Mr. C. K. Worthen. Itis a common resident along the Gulf coast, and

‘breeds abundantly in eastern and southeastern Texas. Mr.C. W. Beck-

ham states that it is said to breed in the lakes above Bayou Sara, Loui-
siana. (Bull. N. O. C., Vol. VII, 1882, p. 165.)

128. Fregata aquila (Linn.). [639.] Man-o’-War Bird.

Resident along the Gulf coast. The Man-o-War Bird is strictly a
maritime species, hence its occurrence at a distance of 800 miles from
the nearest salt water is a matter of special interest. One was killed
with a stone while sitting on a tree in Osborne county, Kans., August
16,1880. It was mounted by Mr. Frank Lewis, of Downs, Kans. He
has lost track of the specimen, but a photograph of it, taken after
mounting, is now in my possession and identifies it beyond a doubt. ©
A still more remarkable case occurred during the same month (August,
1880) in Wisconsin. A Man-o’-War Bird was killed while flying in the
vicinity of Humboldt, a small village on the Milwaukee river a few
miles north of Milwaukee, Wis. The bird was preserved and is now in
the Milwaukee Public Museum. |

129. Merganser americanus (Cass.). [636.] American Merganser.

A common species, wintering from Kansas and Illinois southward,
and breeding from Minnesota northward. In 1884 the bulk reached
Burlington, Iowa, March 5; Newton, lowa, March 17, and the first
came to Heron Lake, Minn., March 24. :

In the spring of 1885 it was seen at Shawneetown, Ill., February 27,
and was not again seen until it had reached Heron Lake, Minn.,

M aeok 26. it was afterwards noted at Des Moines, Iowa, April 4;
‘Lanesboro, Minn., April 4; and Green Bay, Wis., April 7. It He
been found eae in Shae Iowa by Mr. Preston, of Newton,
Towa. In the fall of 1885 a large flock was seen at Saint Louis No-
vember 12.

130. Merganser serrator (Linn.). [637.] Red-breasted Merganser.

A winter resident in southern Wisconsin, along Lake Michigan,
_ throughout the State of Illinois, and southward. Breeds from north-
ern Illinois and Minnesota northward. In 1884 it was only noticed in
migration at Heron Lake, Minn., where it arrived April 2

_ Inthe spring of 1885 a flock of about 200 was seen at Emporia,
_ Kans., March 7, and at Laporte City, Iowa, March 25. April 1 there
- was a queried note from Lanesboro, Minn., and April 4 they reached
_ Heron Lake, Minn. They were taken also during spring migration at
- Tampico, Il.

s 131. Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.). [638.] Hooded Merganser.

In Illinois the Hooded Merganser is resident throughout the State
and breeds everywhere. in Kansas it is a common winter resident
4 and breeds very rarely. A few breed in Florida. In western Texas it
_ ig common in winter. It is common and breeds in Wisconsin, Minne-
_ sota, Dakota, and Manitoba.

d In the spring of 1884 it reached Burlington, Iowa, March 15; La-
' porte City, Iowa, March 17; Heron Lake, Minn., March 24; Green
' Bay, Wis., March 28; and Red Wing, Minn., April 4. It was known
- once to remain throughout the winter at Lanesboro, Minn., in an open
_ part of the Root river.
In the fall of 1884 the first migrant appeared at Des Moines, Iowa,
- October 24, and the last was seen November 17. It was given as a
very rare bird at San Angelo, Tex., where one was shot in 1884.
: In the spring of 1885 it was Seon at Shawneetown, Ill., February 27;
Heron Lake, Minn., April 4; Des Moines, Iowa, Apa a; Hinpewe
4 | Kans., April 14; Hissnes. Minn., April 13; Menoken, Dak, , May 1.
- A nest with twelve fresh eggs was oad at Peoria, UL, April 20. At
a eraverly, Miss., it is said to nest in March. In the fall of 1885 it was
last seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 30.

132. Anas boschas Linn. [601.] Mallard.

The Mallard occurs in suitable places over the whole of the northern
eee. It is the best known of the Mississippi Valley Dueks, and
_ for this reason is here taken as their type. It is one of the most hardy
species, and is pretty sure to be found among the first that arrive in
E- pomins. When notes have been sent in merely saying that ‘* Ducks”
have been seen, they have been brought under this head, so that the
aiesent discussion is not so much that of the Mallard in particular as
_ of Ducks in general. The Mallard breeds from Indiana and lowa north-

ward, and a few breed as far south as Kansas. In winter they are usu-

62

ally resident in southern Illinois and southern Kansas, but the extrane™
cold of the 1st of January, 1884, froze all ponds, lakes, and rivers, compel-
ling them to move further pout In southern Missouri, consequently,
they were unusually abundant during the winter of 1883-1884, and at
Caddo, Ind. Ter., a few stayed through the winter, but the great majority
moved much further south. Like the Robin and other hardy species,
they remain far north when the conditions are favorable. Given food
and open water no degree of cold seems to affect them. Some habitu-
ally remain on the Illinois river in northern Illinois; seven were seen
January 11, at Vermillion, Dak., where they were never before seen in
winter; and several spent the winter, enduring a temperature of more
than 35° below zero, at Lake Pepin, Miun., and in a small open
ereek near the same place; while they have been often known to winter
around the warm springs in Wyoming. At Moss Point, Miss., only a
few miles from the Gulf, the first Mallards arrived November 15, 1883,
and the bulk from December 1 to December 15. They were present by
thousands during their short “ winter,” and the bulk left the coast about
the middle of January. All were gone February 1, at which date the
bulk had hardly passed north of the Gulf States, so that during the lat- ~
ter part of January and the first half of February the great mass of
the Mallards was gathered between parallels 33° and 37°. In south-
ern Louisiana the movements of Ducks in general began somewhat later,
but they were fairly under way by February. Probably few Mallards
were included in this flight, which was principally composed of the coast
Ducks rather than the river Ducks. Before this, in the latter part of
January, and the first few days of February, the warm wave had caused
ereat movements among the river Ducks. They returned to southern
Illinois, and to those parts of southern Missouri up to Saint Louis, from
which they had been driven early in January. The limit of this move-
ment was at Odin, Ill. (lat. 38° 39’), and, on the Mississippi river, at
Alton, Ill. (lat. 38° 55’). In the West the wave was scarcely felt north
of Caddo, Ind. Ter., and not at all in the northern part of the Territory,
where the moisture which fell in copious rains in the southern portion
was precipitated as snow and sleet. Then followed a month of con-
stant swaying to and fro, the flight advancing one day to be driven
back the next by fierce northern blasts. During the entire month prac-
tically no headway was made. A few stragglers managed to force their
way northward for a short distance, reaching Danville, Ill; Ferry, lowa;
Fayette, Mo.; Unadilla and Linwood, Nebr.; but the bulk made /ittle
movement, scarcely passing beyond the Gulf States; and the struggle
was temporarily terminated about the 1st of March by a “second
winter,” which recongealed the open water and sent the Ducks back to
winter quarters. At Waverly,-Miss., the course of events, according
to Major Young, was as follows:

In both years, 1883 and 1884, Ducks went north at the same time, and under the
same conditions. There was a big overflow of the Tombigbee river in February,

: ih aa ae ee pore v7: ben i «i 4 .
pr. : : oS ny
oe an 63
Peres: :

_ which brought immense numbers of Ducks. On February 12, 1884, they were going

north in large flocks; February 14 they returned, coming back just at the time we

_ hada cold wave from the north. We had fine Duck shooting until the storms of

_ February 22 and 23, when they disappeared. The varieties killed were Pintails, Mal-

lards, Gadwalls, Black Ducks, and Sheldrakes. By March 18 only a few Ducks were

e left.

— At Saint Louis the thaw began March 9, and was fairly under way
on the 10th. Ducks began to return, and the first real advance since
February 1 was made March 10. By the12th and 13th they had moved

to latitude 41° 10’ in Illinois, and 41° 42’ in Iowa. The movement

rapidly gained headway. The Ducks had been held back so much later
than usual that as soon as a movement was possible it was participated

_ in by the whole family. March 15 and 16 were great days for migra-

tion, aided by a warm south wind. The movement was peculiar in that

- the bulk was almost abreast of the van. The first had not yet appeared
in Wisconsin, the most northern record being Polo, Il. (lat. 41° 587),
but the bulk was only a few miles in the rear, being recorded from lati-

tude 41° 36’. In Iowa the van was at latitude 42° and 42° 1’, and the

bulk in all favorable localities from latitude 41° 40’ southward. In the

_ West the van had come to Vermillion, Dak. (lat. 42° 56’), and the bulk

* to Linwood, Nebr. (lat. 41° 22’). 7

From this time on each day was marked by a record of advance.

- Southern Wisconsin was reached March 18; northern Jowa and southern

_ Minnesota on the 20th and 21st. March 23 was the day of an immense
flight of about a dozen species at Heron Lake, Minn., all coming from the
west as if from the Missouri valley, at the nearest point of which they

_ had arrived some days previously. On this day also they reached

_ Waupaca, Wis., latitude 44° 22’. During the next three days the rec-

- ords show advances in Minnesota and Dakota to latitude 45° 25/ in

_ the former, and up the Missouri river to latitude 46° 58’ in the latter.
They were reported at Frazee City, Minn. (lat. 46° 33’), March 31;
at Argusville, Dak. (lat. 47° 08’), the day before; at Two Rivers, Mani-

_toba (49° 28’), April 12, and Oak Point, Manitoba (50° 30’), April 16.

_ There were not many records of the arrival] of the bulk in the North, but

they indicate that the bulk and van kept pretty close together up to

_ about latitude 45°, when the van pressed forward, while the bulk was

- delayed by April storms.

_ Keturning to the South, we find that the bulk left Louisiana and

_ Texas about the middle of March; they left Jatitude 39° the last of

_ March and the first week in April, and latitude 45° about the third week

in April. North of this parallel so many Ducks remained to breed that

no departures were given.

: In the fall of 1884 the first migrant appeared at Des Moines, Iowa,

_ October 1, and at Emporia, Kans., October 9. At the latter place it had

_ become common by the 25th of October, and was last seen December 1.

For the spring of 1885 all notes giving the arrival of ‘‘ Ducks,” with no

specific name have been brought under this head, as was done in treat-

on Sorege

64
ing of spring migration in 1884. No notes were contributed on the
movements of Ducks south of latitude 38°; hence nothing can be said —
of their whereabouts until the first full wave of migration brought them
to Cimarron, Kans., February 26. The next day they were seen at —
Shawneetown, Ill. This was the opening day of spring migration at
Saint Louis, Mo. The advance continued for several days. Ducks were
reported from Griggsville, Ill., February 28; and during the first five
days of March, from Mount Carmel, Mo., and Fayette, Mo. (two observ-
ers); Ferry, lowa; Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Knoxville, lowa; Sioux City,
Iowa; Emporia, Kans.; and Unadilla, Nebr. It will be noticed that this
is the same bird wave which is described under the migration of the
Canada Goose, but while the Geese pushed on into Dakota, no Ducks -
were noted north of Sioux City. Yet, contrary to the usual rule, the van
in the West was farther north than in the East, just as it was with the
Geese, and this difference became still more pronounced when the next
wave (that of March 11) carried the advance guard along the plains to
Heron Lake, Minn., while nearer the Mississippi it pushed forward
but a few miles to Morning Sun, Richmond, Newton, and Grinnell, —
Iowa. Immense numbers of Ducks were on the wing March 11 through- ,
out the country from Griggsville, Ill., to Newton, Iowa; but very little —
northward advance was made. During the spring migration of 1884
it was noted by Mr. Miller that Ducks came to Heron Lake, Minn.,
from the west, as if they were a part of the Missouri river flight. In 1885
they must have come from the same direction, since in the region south
of Heron Lake, in Iowa, at an equally favorable locality (Emmetsburgh),
none were seen until about two weeks iater. There can be no doubt
that in the spring of 1885 the flight of Ducks and Geese along the Mis-
souri river was several days earlier than at corresponding latitudes on
the Mississippi river. Another wave occurred in Iowa March 14. It
was noted at lowa City and Laporte City, Iowa, and by both observers
at Tampico, Il]. The next day the temperature at Saint Vincent, Minn.,
was fourteen degrees below zero, and the hosts of Ducks in central Iowa
returned south, following the example set March 14 by the Ducks at
Heron Lake. They returned March 25, and were noted March 26 at
Emmetsburgh and Williamstown, Iowa, Huron, Dak., and Stoughton,
Wis. March 30 and 31 they appeared at New Cassel, Wis., Fridley,
Minn., and Menoken, Dak. Thus the western fl ght extended still fur-
ther north than the eastern. April 1 they were reported at Argusville,
Dak.; April 5, at Larimore, Dak., and Two Rivers, Manitoba; and April
7 at our most northern station, Oak Point, Manitoba, in latitude 50° 30’.

In the fall of 1885 they were still at Heron Lake, Minn., as late
as December 1. The last one was seen at Lanesboro, Minn., Novem-
ber 22; at Grinnell, Iowa, November 4; and at Fernwood, Ill., No-
vember 7. The first migrant was reported from Grinnell, lowa, Sep-
tember 10; Fernwood, Ill., September 12; Iowa City, lowa, October 6;
Saint Louis, Mo., September 6, with an increase September 22; Shaw-

he 65
town, IL, October 3; Richmond, Kans., October 4; and from Bon-

a am, Tex., October 16. At the last-named place Ducks became common
November 4.

133. Anas obscura Gmel. [602.] Black Duck.

Though principally a bird of the Kastern States the Black Duck is
not rare in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley. In winter it
- occurs in the Gulf States. It is rarein western Manitoba. According
_ to the reports of observers, it is resident in Louisiana and Texas ;* and
it breeds in Iowa and Illinois, but not in Kansas or Nebraska. In 1884
x it arrived at Frazee City, Minn., April 1. In the fall of 1884 the first
_ migrant appeared at San Angelo, Tex., August 3. In 1883 the first was
4q seen there August 8.

In the spring of 1885 it arrived at Fayette, Mo., April 1, and a female
at Gainesville, Tex., April 24. |
In the fall of 1885 the first came to Fernwood, Ill., September 12; it
_ was next seen there October 3, and last, November 7, on which date it
2 was seen also at Shawneetown, Ill.

. = 134. Anas fulvigula Ridgw. [603.] Jlorida Duck.

_ his Duck, originally described from Florida, has been found in Kan-
a sas, and doubtless occurs regularly in Louisiana and eastern Texas, if
not throughout the intermediate region.

Col. N.S. Goss, in his Revised Catalogue of the Birds of Kansas (1886),
_ says of it: ‘‘ Migratory; rare. Arrives about the middle of March. I
- eaptured a female at Neosho Falls, March 11, 1876, and have since shot
one, and observed two others in the State” (p. 6).

Nig mii to

135. Anas strepera Linn. [604.] Gadwall.

- The Gadwall is widely distributed, ranging over most of the northern
_ hemisphere. It winters abundantly in the Gulf States, and sometimes
remainsin Illinois in mild winters; itis also known to winter near a warm
' spring in Wyoming. It breeds locally throughout most of its range.
_ Col. N. S. Goss considers it a rare breeder in Kansas. At Moss Point,
_ Miss., it comes in November and leaves in February. In 1884 it ar-
rived at Ellis, Kans., March 14, Manhattan, Kans., March 19, and Saint
a Louis March 21, furnishing a curious exception to the usual rule that
_ western birds arrive later than eastern. It arrived at Heron Lake,
- Minn., March 23, and remained to breed. In the fall of 1884 the first
_ migrant was seen at Des Moines, Iowa, October 28, and the last No-
_ vember 10. .

In the spring of 1885 it was reported from Emporia, Kans., and Heron
_ Lake, Minn., March 29; from Des Moines and Laporte City, Iowa, April
Al and 3, and from Shell River, Manitoba, May 12. In the fall of 1885
the last was seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 13.

ns

a

= * Probably those which breed in Louisiana and Texas really belong to the next
_ species, A. fulvigula.

Se 7365—Bull. 2——-5

66

136. Anas penelope Linn. [606.] Widgeon. -
_ Aninhabitant of the northern parts of the Old World; accidental .
in eastern North America; frequent in Alaska. Has occa in Wis- ~
consin (Kumlien), and Ques (Nelson).

137. Anas americana Gmel. [607.] Baldpate.

The Baldpate ranges over the whole of North America. In winter
it is common in the Gulf States and lower part of the Mississippi Val-
ley. It breeds chiefly in the North, but is known to breed in Manitoba,
Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska. Kansas, [linois, and Texas. Its move- |
ments in migration resemble those of the Gadwall. In the fall of 1884
it was first seen at Emporia, Kans., October L2.

In the spring of 1885 it reached Emporia, Kans., March 21; Des
Moines, Iowa, March 23; Heron Lake, Minn., March 26; Emmetsburgh,
Towa, April 1, and Menoken, Dak., April 5. In the fall of 1885 it was
last seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 13. ‘The first fall migrant
appeared at Saint Louis, Mo., October 16.

139. Anas carolinensis Gmelin. [612.] Green-winged Teal.

Breeds in Manitoba and along our northern border, and winters in
the Southern States and southward. Like the Mallard, this is a hardy
Duck, and remains in winter just as far north as open water extends,
which is usually to southern Kansas and southern Illinois. In the win-
ter of 188384 it probably did not stay much north of Caddo, Ind. Ter.,
southern Missouri, and northern Mississippi, but moved northward the
last of January. At Moss Point, Miss., it arrived from October 15 to
October 31 and was abundant; it then passed south to return in bulk
during April. In 1884 the real movement began in early March, and
by the 8th it had advanced to Manhattan, Kans., and Danville, IIL,
and also to Vermillion, Dak. March 22 found it at Huron, Dak.; Mareh
24 at Heron Lake, Minn., and the bulk arrived at Two Rivers, Mani-
toba, April17. In the fall of 1884 the bulk arrived at Des Moines, Iowa,
October 25, and the last left there November 17. In 1885 the first
reached San Angelo, Tex., September 20.

In the spring of 1885 the record of its northward migration was too
irregular to be of much value. The following notes will give the gen-
eral outline of its movements in the West: It was recorded from Em-
poria, Kans., March 13; Des Moines, lowa, March 18; Heron Lake,
Minn., March 26; Huron, Dak. (both observers) and Menoken, Dak.,
April 7; Shell River, Manitoba, May 2. It was seen in pairs at Fern-
wood, Ill., May 2, and probably was nesting there. In the fall of 1885
the first was seen at Bonham, Tex., October 4; at San Angelo, Tex.,
September 20; at Des Moines, Iowa, September 10, and at Saint Louis,
Mo., September 22. The last at Heron Lake, Minn., was seen Novem-
ber 13. None were seen at Des Moines, fowa, after November 4.

140. Anas discors Linn. [609.] Blue-winged Teal.

Breeds in Manitoba and the northern part of the Mississippi Valley,
and winters from the Southern States southward. At Moss Point, Miss.,

—.——. =

it is said that this species ‘comes from October 15 to November 1; re-
3 mains only a short time; goes farther south, and passes north in April.”
_ This is true of the bulk of the species, but some flocks can be found

throughout the winter in all the Southern States and north to southern

Illinois. Dr. J. C. Merrill states that at the mouth of the Rio Grande, in

extreme southeastern Texas, ‘a few remain during the winter, but the
great majority go farther south, returning about the middle of March.” |
In 1884 it was reported as breeding in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois,
Minnesota, and Dakota; and it breeds locally throughout most of the
rest of its range. In migration in the spring of 1884 it was the most
abundant Duck passing over Pierce City, Mo., the first of February, but
made no real headway until March. The bulk reached Newton, Iowa,

4 March 17, spreading over the rest of Iowa, and arriving at Heron Lake,

Minn., by April 2. It is not usually found among the first arrivals of
Ducks, but surpasses them all in numbers when the main flight comes. |
It reached Vermillion, Dak., April 11, Menoken, Dak., April 20, and
was reported from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April 16.

In the fall of 1884, at Des Moines, Towa, the last was seen November
10. The first migrant reached Emporia, Kans., August 30; the next

September 22, and it became common October 12. At San Angelo,

Tex., it was first seen August 10, and was common on the 10th and 21st
of September. In 1883 it had appeared there September 1, and became
common by September 20.

In the spring of 1885 the first flight of Ducks over the district be-
tween latitude 39° and latitude 42° was so delayed that the Blue-winged
Teal came with the van; but north of latitude 43° it assumed its usual
position as one of the later migrating Ducks. At Shawneetown, ILL, it
was first seen February 23; at Cimarron, Kans., March 1; Fayette,
Mo., March 10; Emporia, Kans., March 29; Des Moines, Iowa, April
4; Sioux City, lowa, April 5; Heron Lake, Minn., April 11; Huron,
Dak., April 14; Menoken, Dak., April 22; Shell River, Manitoba,
May 2.

The Blue-winged Teal breeds over so much of the Mississippi valley

that it is difficult to trace its southward migration. In the fall of 1885

the first was recorded from Grinnell, lowa, September 10; Ellsworth,
Kans., September 15; Emporia, Kans., September 1; Saint Louis, Mo.,
where it became numerous three days later, September 1; Shawnee-
town, Ill., September 28; Bonham, Tex., October 4; San Angelo, Tex.,
September 4. They were common at Grinnell, Iowa, October 4; Ells-
worth, Kans., October 15; Saint Louis, Mo., September 22, where they
were still numerous October 24; Bonham, Tex., October 23. The last
was seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 9; Milwaukee, Wis., No-
vember 14; and Grinnell, Iowa, November 4.

141. Anas cyanoptera Vieill. [610.] Cinnamon Teal.
This western Teal is not uncommon in middle and western Kansas,
where it probably breeds (Goss). It has been found repeatedly in

68 :
western Texas, where itis a rare fall Taieean ; it occurs in nice in®
eastern Texas, but is not common (Nehrling), and is not rare during mi- —
gration near the mouth of the Rio Grande (Merrill). It is an occa-
sional visitant in Manitoba, Minnesota, Nebraska, ite and Lou-
isiana. In 1883 it reached Emporia, Kans., March 2

142. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). [608.] Shoveller.

Winters from southern Illinois southward; breeds abundantly in the
Northern States and Manitoba, and sparingly in Texas, northern Illi-
nois, and Kansas. Breeds in great numbers at Heron Lake, Minn. Its
time of migration is one or two days behind that of the Gadwall. In
the fall of 1884 the first Shoveller was reported from Des Moines, Iowa,
and San Angelo, Tex., October 28; and from Emporia, Kans., Octo-
ber 24.

In the spring of 1885 an early migrant was seen at Sioux City, Iowa,
March 27. The regular advance was reported March 31 and April 1
from Fayette, Mo., Des Moines, Iowa, Laporte City, Iowa, and Fern-
wood, Ill. The first was seen at Emporia, Kans., April 4; at Lanes- —
boro, Minn., and Menoken, Dak., April 19, and Shell River, Mani-
toba, May 8. In the fall of 1885 the Jast at Heron Lake, Minn., was
seen November 13.

143. Dafila acuta (Linn.) [605.] Pintail; Sprigtail.

Breeds in Manitoba and the northern tier of States, and, like the other
river Ducks, is common during the winter in the Gulf States, and oe-
casionally as far north as Illinois, but it also goes much further south.
It is one of the earliest Ducks to migrate and was one of the most
abundant of those which so strenuously endeavored to work northward
during February in 1884. Itcame to Pierce City and Saint Louis, Mo.,
January 31 and February 1, and February 26 more than 50 flocks,
mostly of this species, passed over Saint Louis. This movement was
checked the last of February, and commenced again March 8 and 9,
bringing the species to Ellis and Manhattan, Kans., Storm Lake, Iowa,
and Vermillion, Dak. Those which wintered south of the United States —
arrived in bulk at Moss Point, Miss., March 15, and remained until
about the middle of April. March 12 to 15 were days of movement in
Illinois, and Pintails spread over the whole of the State; March 23
they arrived at Heron Lake, Minn.; and April 16 they were noted at
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. They breed principally in British Amer-
ica, but also at Spirit Lake, lowa, Heron Lake, Minn., and sparingly in
Illinois.

In the fall of 1884 the first Pintail was seen at Des Moines, Iowa, Oc-
tober 15, and the last November 15. The first was seen at San An.
gelo, Tex., September 19. In 1883 the first reached San Angelo Sep-
tember 12.

A few Ducks of this species spent most of the winter of 188485 at
Shawneetown, Ill. The only record of their wintering further north

than Shawneetown was received from Mr. W. B. Hull, of Milwaukee,
“Wis. Mr. Hall writes:
se For about a week the whole bay was frozen over with ice from 12 to 14 inches
thick. During this time the pot-hunters butchered numbers of Pintail Ducks. The
- Ducks were half starved and would allow a man to approach within 20 feet of them.
rs mecomen were cutting ice close to the shore, and Ducks came right among them to get
to the open water. A friend who was on the ship Oneida during her twenty-five days
‘in the ice, said that the Ducks (Pintails mostly, but a few “northern” ducks, he did
y not recognize), were “frozen in. ” When walking on the ice near the boat he saw hun-
4 dreds of Ducks in a solid casing of ice. In the winter of 1873-’74 they were killed
in the same way.

In the spring of 1885 migration began during the last week of Feb-

‘ruary. Flocks of about 400 birds passed Cimarron, Kans. , February
4 26. he next day several flocks of Pintails, “the first ee of the
season,” passed over Saint Louis, Mo. Large numbers were seen at
- Shawneetown, Il, February 28. Concerning their presence at Saint
_ Louis on that day Mr. Widmann writes:

. From 7 a. m. till noon an almost steady stream of ducks passed over in flocks of
_ from 30 to 60, the larger part being Sprigtails, so far as I could see. There was
_ hardly any time when at least one flock could not be seen in some direction, but
_ oftener half a dozen could be counted at the same time. Many flocks followed tbe
_ Mississippi, but the majority turned off to the west just south of the city, in order to
_ reach the Missouri river, or the large tracts of land between the mouths of the Mis-
_ souri and Illinois rivers. ‘Thousands have passed this city to-day.

As in the case of most of the other ducks, during the spring migra-
tion of 1885, the flight west of the Mississippi was more rapid than on
the east. March 2 flocks were seen at Emporia, Kans., where they
3 were common March 3; March 4 they were seen at Sioux City, Iowa,
and March 8, at Linwood, Nebr. March 11 to 14 they were noted from
_ Aledo, ill.; Tampico, ill; Newton, lowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Laporte
City, Iowa; and Heron Lake, Minn. March 26 there were “ myriads”
of them at Emmetsburgh, Lowa. The first flocks came to Fernwood, IIL,
March 31. The bulk left Des Moines, Iowa, the night of April 2. They
_ were very common at Heron Lake, Minn., March 30. The first came to
Larimore, Dak., April 7; Menoken, Dak. ; and Ossowo, Manitoba, April
7, and they were common all over Manitoba by April 20. In the fall
of 1885 the first were seen at Fernwood, Il, September 12, and at San
_ Angelo, Tex., September 4. The last at Ossowo, Manitoba, was seen
_ November 1, and at Heron Lake, Minn., November 9.

144. Aix sponsa (Linn.). [613.] Wood Duck.

A well-known inhabitant of temperate North America; breeds
throughout the Mississippi Valley, and is resident from southern IIli-
_nois southward. Ta Manitoba it is a rare summer resident.

Mr. Wood writes that at Moss Point, Miss., the young hatch in March,
and he has never seen a male of this species in summer. In the spring
of 1884 it arrived at Saint Louis March 12; at latitude 40° 8’, in Mli-
“nos, March 15; at latitude 41° 40’, in lowa, March 16; in Wisconsin, at
latitude 449 29’, March 23; and in Minnesota, at latitude 44° 32/, April

7

70

3. In the fall of 1884 the first migrant was reported from Des Moines, 2 *
Iowa, October 18. The bulk arrived there October 25, and the last was

seen November 10.

In the spring of 1885 the first Wood Ducks were seen at Shawnee-—

town, Ill., February 27; at Mount Carmel, Mo., March 17; Des Moines,
Towa, March19; Emporia, Kans., March 29; Laporte City, lowa, March
26; and during the first five days of April they were noted from Heron
Lake, Lanesboro, Lake City, Excelsior, Minneapolis, and Elk River,
Minn., and from Durand, Wis. In the fall of 1885 they began to come
out from their breeding places and fly on the river at Shawneetown,
Ill., August 20. The last at Heron Lake, Minn., was seen October
13; at Saint Louis, Mo., the bulk arrived September 22.

146, Aythya americana (Eyt.). [618.] Redhead.

Breeds in Manitoba and the northern tier of States; range much the
same as that of the Canvas-back, but more abundant than it in the
Southern States. At Moss Point, Miss., in 1883, they came about the
middle of November, and were abundant all winter. Mr. Wood, of Moss
Point, says that about March 1 they collect on the islands, load them-
selves with sand, and when a favorable wind comes they go with it.*
They were a common winter resident at San Angelo, Tex., and great
flocks were still present March 5, 1884. March 8 they came to latitude
39° 12’, in Kansas; March 11 they were at latitude 38° 40’, in Missouri;
March 12 at latitude 41° 40’, in lowa; March 14 at latitude 38° 55’, in
Kansas; March 15 at latitude 41° 36’, in Illinois; March 22 at latitude
42° 18’,in Iowa; March 24 at latitude 42° 56’, in Dakota, and at latitude
43° 48’, in Minnesota, at both of which places they breed; March 25
they were at latitude 41° 58’, in Illinois, and April 18 at latitude 44°
32’,in Minnesota. April 16 they came to Portage la Prairie, Mani-
toba.

In the fall of 1884 the first Redhead was seen at Des Moines, lowa,
October 10, and the last November 15. In 1883 the first came to San
Angelo, Tex., where it is common in winter, October 1.

In the spring of 1885 the records were irregular. The species was
recorded from Emporia, Kans., March 2; Heron Lake, Minn., March 29,
and irregularly from intermediate points. The most southern breeding
record came from Clear Lake, Iowa.

In the fall of 1885 the first was seen at Iowa City, Lowa, Octobe 6,
and the last at Heron Lake, Minn., November 26. At Saint Louis,
Mo., the first was seen October 16, and the bulk arrived Ociheee

147. Aythya vallisneria (Wils.). [617.] Canvas-back.
Rather rare away from the coast in winter, but has been known to
occur in southern Illinois. A few breed at Heron Lake, Minn., and

[*I have heard the same habit attributed to Ducks in Newfoundland and other
places, but am not aware that there are any facts on which the notion is based.—
C.H.M. ] 2

«hte aan

a

2 71

thence northward. In the spring of 1884 they appeared at Gainesville,
_ Tex., March 2; Manhattan, Kans., March 8; Saint Louis, March 11;
s and Heron Lake, Minn., March 24. At Waupaca, Wis., they were seen
~ March 29, and at Vermillion, Dak., April 3. April 16 they were re-
_ ported from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

In the spring of 1885 the first were seen at Emporia, Kans., March
_ 18; at Heron Lake, Minn., March 30, where they were common the next
_ day. They were reported from Laporte City and Emmetsburgh, Iowa,
j April 1; and from Menoken, Dak., and Ossowo, Manitoba, April 6
and 7. In the fall of 1885 the last left Heron Lake, Minn., November
27. Mr. Lloyd says that in Tom Green and Concho counties, Tex.,
they are tolerably common in early winter.

148. Aythya marila nearctica Stejn. [614.] Blue-bill; Scaup Duck.

After wintering in the Southern States, especially along the Gulf
coast, the Big Black-head passes over the entire length of the Missis-
sippi Valley, to nest in Manitoba and northward. In 1884 it was re-
ported from Carlinville, Ill., February 13; Laporte City, Iowa, March
22, and the next day reached Heron Lake, Minn., where a few remained
to breed. It arrived at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April 16.

In the spring of 1885 this was the only species of Duck whose record
did not contain an irregular note. It was seen at Laporte City, Iowa,
(lat. 42° 18’), March 27; Emmetsburgh, Lowa (lat. 43° 8’), March 30;
Heron Lake, Minn. (lat. 43° 48’), April1; Huron, Dak., (lat. 44° 21’,
two observers), and Menoken, Dak. (lat. 46° 58’), April 3; and Shell
River, Manitoba (lat. 50°), April 7. The most southern breeding record
_ Of this species was from Clear Lake, Iowa (lat. 43° 26’). In the fall of
_ 1885 the last was seen at Heron Lake, Minn. (lat. 43° 18’), November 27.

149. Aythya affinis (Eyt.) [615.] Little Blue-bill; Lesser Scaup Duck.
Range much the same as that of the last, but known to breed as far -
south as Clear Lake, Iowa. It is an abundant summer resident in
western Manitoba. In 1884 it came to Saint Louis, February 26, and
after being driven away by the cold, returned March 11; advanced to
Burlington, Iowa, March 12, and on the 24th was reported from Ver-
million, Dak., Storm Lake, Iowa, Heron Lake, Minn., and Portage la
Prairie, Manitoba.

In the fall of 1884 the first migrant appeared at Emporia, Kans.,
November 8.

In the spring of 1885 the notes on its migration were too irregular to
be of any value. In the fali of 1885 the last was seen at Heron Lake,
Minn., November 9. The first migrant appeared at Saint Louis, Mo.,
September 22. In western Texas it is tolerably common in winter.

150. Aythya collaris (Donov.). [616.] Ring-necked Duck.
This is known in northern Minnesota as the ‘Fall Duck,” and is very
abundant during fall migration. A few breed in Minnesota, at least as

Fe ig

far south as Minneapolis, where its eggs have been taken by Dr. Thomas
S. Roberts. It was reported as breeding at Clear Lake, Iowa, and thence —
northward. Its range is much the same as that of the Scaup Ducks. |
In 1884 it was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., and Manhattan, Kans., March —
20 and 21, at Green Bay, Wis., March 26, and Red Wing, Minn., April 2. —
In the fall of 1884 the first eee eed at Emporia, Kn -» Octo- ~
ber 24. *

In the spring of 1885 the first was seen at Des Moines, Iowa, Mareh _
19, and at Heron Lake, Minn., April 1. The last was seen at Des
Moines April 9, and-at Heron Lake April 15. In the fall of 1885 the
first was seen at lowa City, lowa, October 3, and at Emporia, Kans.,
October 10. The last record from Heron Lake, Minn., was November
9; and a few were still present at Lanesboro, Minn., November 30.
Mr. Lloyd states that they are common in Concho county, Tex.

151. Glaucionetta clangula americana (Bonap.). [620.] Golden-eye; Whistler.

Breeds in the Northern States. During the winter the Golden-eye is
found wherever there is open water, even as far north as the Great
Lakes. It was seen on Lake Michigan (near Chicago) all winter in
1883-84, and also winters on Lake Hrie. A flock was reported as re-
maining all winter in an open creek near Fridley, Minn., but probably
it was composed of Barrow’s Golden-eye (G. islandica), which has been
found often in Minnesota during the winter. In migration in the spring
of 1884 the common Golden-eye reached Laporte City, lowa, March
16, Heron Lake, Minn., March 23, and Green Bay, Wis., March 28.
The bulk arrived at Green Bay April 15.

During the winter of 188485 many Golden-eyed Ducks remained,
as usual, at the southern part of Lake Michigan, near Chicago.

In the spring of 1885 migrants were noted at Laporte City, lowa,
March 30, Fernwood, Ill., April 4, Heron Lake, Minn., April 1, Green
Bay, Wis., April 10, and Shell River, Manitoba, April 28.

152. Glaucionetta islandica (Gmel.). [619.] Barrow’s Golden-eye.

A northern species, coming south in winter irregularly to Manitoba
and the Upper Mississippi Valley. One was taken at Mount Carmel,
Ill., in December, 1874 (Nelson), and one at Minneapolis, Minn., Jan-
uary 13, 1877 (Roberts). Dr. Roberts states that a few years ago, at —
the falls of Saint Anthony, in Minnesota, “a flock of these ducks used
to spend the winter in the pool below the cataract.”

153. Charitcnetta aibeola (Linn.). [621.] DButterball; Buffle-head.

Breeds at Clear Lake, Iowa, Heron Lake, Minn., and northward,
Winters on Lake Michigan (at Chicago); on the Lower Missouri river,
and southward. In eastern Texas it is abundant in winter near the
coast (Nehrling). In 1884 the buik arrived at Burlington, lowa, March
13, and at Vermillion, Dak., the first were seen the same day. They —
arrived at Storm Lake, Iowa, and at Heron Lake, Miun., March 24,

a ee SS

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- March 25 they were seen at Polo, Ill., and April 4 at Red Wing, Minn.
In the spring of 1885 the first were noted at Shawneetown, Ill., Feb-
_ ruary 27, Emporia, Kans., March 13, Des Moines, Iowa, March 24,
_ Laporte City, Iowa, March 30, Fernwood, Iil., March 31, New Cassel
_ and Luck, Wis, April 4, and Shell River, Manitoba, April 27.

In the fall of 1885 they returned to Fernwood, Ill., September 12,

§ were common there October 3, and ieft Heron Lake, Minn., No-
_ vember 30. Rare in Concho county, Texas, where one was shot in the
_ spring of 1886 (Lloyd).

154. Clangula hyemalis (Linn.). [623.] Old-squaw.
This and the six following species breed in the far North, entering

the Mississippi Valley in winter only, and chiefly in the northern and

middle portions, near the great rivers and lakes. The Old-squaw is
found throughout Illinois in winter, and small flocks are occasionally
seen during the fall migration at Saint Louis, Mo., Vermillion, Dak.,
and in Minnesota.

155. Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.). [622.] Harlequin Duck.

The Harlequin Duck breeds in British America and migrates south-
ward in fall. Itis found throughout Illinois in winter, and has been
taken at Saint Louis, Mo.

160. Somateria dresseri Sharpe. [627a.] American Lider.

Breeds along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Labrador; migrates
south and southwest in winter, often reaching the Great Lakes. Has
been taken in [hinois (Nelson), and Wisconsin (Hoy).

162. Somateria spectabilis (Linn.). [629.] King Eider.

Breeds in the northern portions of the northern hemisphere; in fall
migrates south, occurring on the Great Lakes in winter. There are
records from Illinois (Ridgway), and Wisconsin (Hoy).

163. Oidemia americana Sw. and Rich. [630.] Black Scoter.

Breeds far north, coming south in winter to the United States. It
has been found at Saint Louis, Mo., and Laporte City, Iowa, and
is a rare visitant to Minnesota. Mr. C. W. Butler writes that on May
2, 1883, he saw fifty at Anna, Ill., all busily engaged in picking up
millet seed that had just been sown.

165. Oidemia deglandi Bonap. [632.] White-winged Scoter.
Generally distributed throughout [llinois in winter, but most common

on Lake Michigan. Has been taken once at West DePere, Wis., twice

in Minnesota, and once at Saint Louis, Mo.

166. Oidemia perspicillata (Linn.) [633.] Surf Scoter.

Occurs in winter on all the larger streams in Illinois, as well as on
Lake Michigan. Has been taken at Saint Louis, Mo., and at Laporte
City, Iowa.

74
167. Hrismatura rubida (Wils.). [634.] Ruddy Duck.

The Ruddy Duck breeds over much of the Mississippi Valley, fromm 7
Texas to Minnesota, and winters from southern Illinois southward.

Dr. Watson recorded it from Ellis, Kans., in these words: “A variate ¥
common transient visitor; once a pair nested here.” In the spring of —

1884 the first was seen at Saint Louis February 26, and Vermillion,
Dak., March 28. It was seen at Caddo, Ind. Ter., during fall migra-
tion, but not in the spring. In the fall of 1884 the first was seen at
Emporia, Kans., October 24.

In the spring of 1885 the only note received was the record of its
arrival at Emporia, Kans., April 18. In the fall of 1885 the last was
seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 7

168. Nomonyx dominicus (Linn.). [635.] Masked Duck.
A tropical American species, accidental in the United States; one
specimen taken at Lake Koshkonong in Wisconsin (Kumlien).

Chen czrulescens (Linn.). [590.] Blue Goose.

Breeds on Hudson Bay; migrates through the Mississippi Valley,
and winters along the Gulf coast, in mild winters extending up to
northern Mississippi and southern Lllinois. During migration it was
noticed at Burlington, Iowa, where the bulk arrived March 20, 1884.

169. Chen hyperborea (Pall.). [59la.] Lesser Snow Goose.

Breeds in Alaska; a regular migrant in the Mississippi Valley ; win-
ters abundantly on the Gulf of Mexico. In Kansas it is a common
migrant, and a few sometimes winter. In 1884 it was reported from
West DePere, Wis., and Alda, Nebr. In Tom Green and Concho coun-
ties, Tex., it is tolerably common during spring migration. 7

It migrates early. In 1884 large flocks were seen at Pierce City,
Mo., by the last of January, and one flock had arrived at Saint Louis.
No more wererecorded until after the ‘‘second winter.” At Caddo, Ind.
Ter., it was first seen March 10. March 19 and March 20 it appeared at
Manhattan, Kans., and again came to Saint Louis. March 21 it reached
Vermillion, Dak., and four days later was at Huron, Dak. It was re-
ported from Menoken, Dak., April 12, and the next day at Larimore.
Farther east the bulk reached Burlington, Iowa, April 1, and the first
came to Storm Lake, Iowa, March 25, the bulk following on the 14th,
which was the day that the last was seen at Saint Louis.

In the fall of 1884 the first flock of Snow Geese was seen at Emporia,
Kans., October 20, after which date the species was common there.

In the spring of 1885 it was noted from Richmond, Kans., March 4;
Fayette, Mo., March 10; Unadilla, Nebr., March 11; Linwood, Nebr.,
March 25; Sioux City, lowa, March 30; Huron, Dak., March 31; Grand
View, Dak., April 1; Fernwood, Ill., April 4, and Two Rivers, Mani-
toba, April 14. In the fall of 1885 it returned to Argusville, Dak.,
September 20; to Saint Louis, Mo., October 27, and to Bonham, Tex.,

(3)

“October 3. It was common at Argusyville, October 4, and at Bonham
— October 23.

g 169a. Chen hyperborea nivalis (Forst.). [591.] Greater Snow Goose.

The eastern representative of the preceding ; occurs in winter chiefly
along the Atlantic coast, but sometimes enters the Mississippi Valley.
In western Manitoba it was reported to bean abundant spring migrant,
but less common in the fall (Thompson). Possibly the foregoing was
mistaken for it.

171la. Anser albifrons gambeli (Hartl.). [593a.] White-fronted Goose.

Breeds in the far North; winters in the Gulf States and southward,
in mild winters occurring as far north as southern Lllinois. Migratory
over the rest of the Mississippi Valley. In 1884 the first reached Man-
hattan, Kans., March 8, where they were common March 15. March
20 they arrived at Saint Louis; and April 1 at Vermillion, Dak. The
bulk came to Storm Lake, Iowa, April 14.

In the spring of 1885 the first report of arrival was from Des Moines,
Iowa, April 1. The only other notes were from Menoken, Dak., April

23, and Ossowo, Manitoba, May 11. In the fall of 1885 the last was

seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 2.

Dr. Agersborg says that in southeastern Dakota it is a rare migrant,
‘‘always found associating with the Snow Geese.” Mr. Lloyd states
that in Tom Green and Concho counties, Tex.,it is “ tolerably common
in winter.” Mr. Nehrling states that in eastern Texas, near Houston,
it “is the first Goose to arrive from the North in autumn, but they all
migrate further south.”

172. Branta canadensis (Linn.). [594.] Canada Goose.

Winters in the southern half of the United States, and breeds on both
sides of our northern boundary. It breeds regulariy at Heron Lake,
Minn., and has been known to breed in southern Llinois (Nelson). Such
is a brief statement of its range, but the records in the winter of 1883-84.
furnish material for a more detailed statement. During December
Geese were not uncommon up to latitude 38°, but during the extreme
cold of January only stragglers could be found north of latitude 35°.
January 11 a flock of 25 to 30 was seen at Vermillion, Dak., where
they had never before been seen in winter. January 4 a flock of fifty
passed over Manhattan, Kans., flying east. From Caddo, Ind. Ter.,
southward they were seen all winter, or at least every few days. The
first movement took place in January. January 11 they passed over

_ Yazoo City, Miss., flying north, and when the warm waves came the

last of the month they pressed rapidly forward. They reached Saint
Louis January 22. January 25 was a great day for Geese, many troops
going north. February 1 they passed north over Pierce City, Mo., in
large flocks, and arrived at Glasgow, Mo., Odin, lll, and Unadilla,
Nebr. February 4 the first movement was noticed at Abbeville, La.,

76

among the flocks which had been wintering there. But all this move- 4
ment was cut short by the cold of february and the first week of March.
During the rest of February there was but little movement and no real —

progress. Geese were reported during February from Richmond, Iowa,
Osceola, Ill., and Linwood, Nebr., but were not noted from neighbor-
ing stations, and were not followed by more until March. They must
be considered as irregular migrants possessed of more ambition than
brains.

The real migratory movement dates from February 26. On this day
the regular migrants began to pass over Eagle Pass, Tex., and the great
bulk began to leave southern Louisiana. This wave reached Caddo,

Ind. Ter., March 3; Darlington, Ind. Ter., March 5, and latitude 39° in —

Missouri and Illinois about the 10th. From this parallel northward the
advance will be traced along the three lines of migration: east and
west of the Mississippi, and along the prairie region. March 15 the
flight advanced to latitude 41° 36’ in Nlinois; March 15 to latitude 31°
51’ at Chicago, where a flock of over a thousand was seen flying east,
_ probably aiming for the open waters of the lake; March 16 to latitude

41° 58’ in Illinois, and latitude 42° 37’ in Wisconsin; March 20 and 21°

to latitude 43° 02’, 43° 06’, and 43° 47’ in Wisconsin. West of the Mis-
sissippi the record reads: March 13 the advance was at latitude 41°
05’, and latitude 41° 19’ in Iowa; March 12 it was at latitude 41° 38/
and 41° 42’ in Iowa; March 14 at latitude 41° 40’ and latitude 429° O1’
in Iowa; March 15 at latitude 42° and 42° 55’ in Iowa. Hence it ap-
pears that from the 12th tothe 15th of March many Geese were passing
through central Iowa. March 20 they were reported at latitude 43° 19/
in Iowa; March 22 at latitude 43° 43’ in Minnesota; and March 23 at
latitude 44° 47’, 45° 05’, and 45° 25’ in Minnesota, and at Portage la
Prairie, Manitoba (latitude 50°).

On the prairies the notes indicate arrivals, March 13, at latitude 42°

56’, in Dakota; March 20, at latitude 44° 15’, 44° 21’, and 46°, in Dakota; _

farch 24, at latitude 46° 58’ and 47° 52’, in Dakota; and April 3, at
Two Rivers, Manitoba, latitude 49° 28’.

The bulk passed through northern Illinois about March 19, through
southern Wisconsin March 23, and the middle of the State March 27.
It crossed Iowa from March 20 to March 22, and reached central Min-
nesota about the 1st of April. Still further west the bulk came to
latitude 39°, in Kansas, about the middle of March, passed through Ne-
braska the 18th to 20th, and was uniformly reported in Dakota, up to
latitude 46°, on March 24; and then, as if delayed by the April storms,
was not given at latitude 46° 58’, in Dakota, until April 22. The bull

left southern Wisconsin about April 1, and Kansas the first week of the

month. Wecan not help envying Mr. Powel!, who writes, that April
11 they were gradually leaving Alda, Nebr., after coming all in a bunch,
and that he killed forty in one day over decoys in the Platte river.

PO ee eee ee ae See ee eee, Se eee ee, ee ee ee Ne ee Sm

‘
a a ee ewe ee oe a

ie 7

In the fall of 1884 the first migrant was reported from Mount Carmel,
Mo., November 11. It first appeared at Emporia, Kans., September 25,
-- and the species had become common there by October 20.
| In the spring of 1885 few Geese left their winter home until the
mnigration season had fairly opened; the winter had been too severe to
invite them to remain north of their usual winter range. A flock was
seen at Keokuk, Iowa, January 4, and another at Glasgow, Mo., January
6. At Shawneetown, Ill., they remained in large numbers most of the
winter, though during the blizzards they disappeared for a few days.
A few early migrants were noted at Fayette, Mo., February 2, and at
Sedalia, Mo., February 9, but.no pronounced movement took place un-
til February 28. This was two days later than the movement com-
menced in 1884, and there was no similarity whatever in the order of
advance for the two years, 1884 and 1885. In the spring of 1884 the
van kept very nearly along the same parallel on all three lines of mi-
eration during its advance from latitude 39° to latitude 45°, while in
1885 the migratory movement was peculiar. If, with the eastern ex-
tremity of Lake Superior for a center, segments of circles are drawn
over the Upper Mississippi Valley, the first extending from central Da-
kota to southern Illinois, the next from the northwest corner of Iowa to
east central Illinois, a third passing through northeastern Iowa, and a
fourth ending at Chicago, these lines would represent the progress of
the advance line of Geese during the month of March, 1885. Nothing
similar to this has been noticed in the movement of any other species
during either 1884 or 1885. The records group themselves around four
sets of dates, namely, March 1-5, March 10-12, March 26-27, and March
39-31. On the last day of February large numbers of Geese passed
Saint Louis, and March 1 they were seen at Ellsworth, Kans. During
the first five days of March they were noted at Griggsville, Il., Mount
Pleasant, lowa, Ferry, lowa, Knoxville, Iowa, Richmond, Iowa, Grin-
nell, lowa, Newton, lowa, Emmetsburgh, Lowa, Unadilla, Nebr., Linwood,
Nebr. (a flock had been seen at Linwood as early as February 26), Sioux
City, lowa, and Grand View, Dak. March 6 they came to Paris and
Aledo, fl. March 10-12 they appeared at Tampico, Ill. (two observers),
Morning Sun, Iowa, Iowa City, lowa (two observers), Heron Lake,
Minun., and Saint Cloud, Minn. March 26 and 27 they were noted at
Williamstown, Iowa, Durand Wis., and Elk River, Minn. Not until the
_ last days of March did they arrive at Batavia, Il]l., Fernwood, Il.,
_ Chicago, Ill., Delavan, Wis., and Lake Mills, Wis. The remaining rec-
_ ords are: Menoken, Dak., March 26; Argusville, Dak., and Two Rivers,
Manitoba, April 1, and Oak Point, Manitoba, April 7. In the fall of
1885 the last Goose was seen at Ossowa, Manitoba, November 28; at
_ Heron Lake, Minn., December 1, and at Grinnell, Iowa, December 5.
The first migrant was seen at Grinnell, Iowa, October 20; at Saint
Louis, Mo., September 6; at Richmond, Kans., October 17; at Shaw- |
_ neetown, Ill., September 28; and at Bonham, Tex., November 11. The

a

78?

species became common at Richmond, Kans., November 12, and at to
ham, Tex., November 15.

Dr. Agersborg, writing of the Canada Goose in southeastern Dakota,
states :

Like the Snow Goose, it is becoming less common every year. In spring it arrives’
a week ahead of var. hutchinsi, and ten or twelve days earlier than the Snow Goose.
The same order of migration is also noticed sometimes in the fall. It breeds here oc-
casionally. The young have been hatched under hens and become very tame. I
have several times been shown nests in trees, claimed by settlers to be the nests of
Geese; but the ‘‘Geese” have invariably been found to be Cormorants (Phalacrocorax
dilophus). Of the few nests of the Canada Goose found, the majority have been far
away from any water, out on the prairies; but one nest was built among some large
bowlders, 2 feet from the water’s edge, on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. May not
many, if not all, of the nests seen in trees by other observers have belonged to the
Shag? (The Auk, Vol. II, 1885, pp. 287-288. )

172a. Branta canadensis hutchinsii (Sw. & Rich.). [594a.] Hutchins’s Goose.

Has much the same winter range as the Canada Goose (Branta cana-
densis), but is more common in the Gulf States, and breeds only in the
far North. It was reported as sometimes common at Ellis, Kans. Col-
onel Goss says of it in Kansas: “ Migratory; abundant. A few linger
into winter.” In 1884 the bulk came to Vermillion, Dak., March 28.
In the spring of 1885 one was shot at Gainesville, Tex., April 2.
172c Branta canadensis minima (Ridgway.) [594b.] Cackliny Goose.

The Cackling Goose breeds in Alaska, chiefly along the shores of
Norton Sound and the lower Yukon. In winter it migrates south and
southeast, sometimes reaching the Mississippi Valley. It has been
killed as far east as Wisconsin.

173. Branta bernicla (Linn.). [595.] Brant.

Breeds within the Arctic Circle, coming south in the winter to the
Mississippi Valley. During the winter of 1883~84 this species was
represented from Illinois southward by a few rare visitants. In the —
spring it was rare south of Minnesota, but by the time it reached that
State its numbers had been increased by recruits from the southeast, ©
and it became almost common. |

There is much uncertainty in using the records concerning this spe-
cies, because it is so commonly confounded with the Snow Goose, which
is locally known as Brant all through the West. From the few records
that can be depended on it would seem to have migrated at about the
same time as Branta canadensis. At Oak Point, Manitoba, there was a
large flight of Geese, given as “* Brant,” from May 16, to May 20, 1884.
174. Branta nigricans (Lawr.). [596.] Black Brant.

A bird of western Arctic America, sometimes straggling into the
Mississippi Valley in winter. Mr. Lloyd states that it was abou in Tom
Green county, Tex., in the winter of 1884.

177. Dendrocygna autumnalis (Linn.). [599.] Black-bellied Tree-duck.

A southern Duck whose northern limit is along our southern border.
On the South Concho, in Texas, it is rare in fall (Lloyd). Both Dr,

4
:

<i

19

‘Merrill and Mr. Sennett found it a rather abundant summer resident

; along the lower Rio Grande, in Texas. Dr. Merrill says of it:

This large and handsome bird arrives from the south in April, and is soon found in
abundance on the river banks and lagoons. Migrating at night, it continually utters
a very peculiar chattering whistle, which at once indicates its presence. Called by the
Mexicans patos maizal, or Cornfield Duck, from its habit of frequenting those locali-
ties. It is by no means shy, and largenumbersare offered for sale in the Brownsville
market. Easily domesticated, it becomes very tame, roosting at night in trees with
chickens and turkeys. When the females begin to lay, the males leave them and
gather in large flocks on sand-bars in the river. My knowledge of the breeding hab-
its is derived from Dr. 8. M. Finley, U.S. A., who had ample apportunity of observing
these birds at Hidalgo. The eggs are deposited in hollow trees and branches, often
at a considerable distance from water (2 miles), and from 8 to 30 fect or more from
the ground. The eggs are placed on the bare wood, and are from twelve to sixteen
in number. Two broods are raised, and the parent carries the young to water in her
pill. The birds leave in September, but a few late broods are seen as late as Novem-
ber (Proc. U.S. National Museum, Vol. I, 187%, p. 169).

178. Dendrocygna fulva (Gmel.). [600.] Fulvous Tree-duck.

A tropical and subtropical species, coming north in summer to Texas
and Louisiana. In southwestern Texas itis rather common. Near the
mouth of the Rio Grande it is abundant (Merrill). Mr. Lloyd found it
tolerably common in the winter of 1884 on the North Concho, in Texas.
It was also given as common near the mouth of,the Nueces river.

180. Olor columbianus (Ord). [588.] Whistling Swan.

Breeds in the far North; occurs in winter on the South Atlantic and
Gulf coasts. Sometimes it winters abundantly on Galveston bay,
Texas (Nehrling); and occasionally it winters in Illinois. In migration
it is found in Missouri, Kansas, and northward. At San Angelo, Tex.,
Mr. Lloyd saw seven in January, 1884. The reports on its migration
are very irregular, and all that can safely be said is that the species
passed through the middle district in March, and reached Oak Point,
Manitoba, May 4.

In the spring of 1885 some Swans of this species were shot in the

vicinity of Saint Louis, Mo., March 24. In the fall of 1885 the last were

seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 13.

181. Olor buccinator (Rich.). [589.] Trumpeter Swan.

Winters abundantly and regularly on the Gulf of Mexico, and some-
times north to Illinois. Breeds from lowa and Minnesota northward.
It was reported as breeding near Newton, Iowa, and at Heron Lake,
Minn., as well as along the Red River of the North. In 1884 it reached
Heron Lake, Minn., April 3, and Larimore, Dak., April 15.

In the spring of 1885 Trumpeter Swans were reported from Shawnee-
town, Ill., March 19; Paris, [ll., March 31, and Heron Lake, Minn.,
April 7. A small flock, probably of this species, was seen at Mount
Carmel, Mo., June 4 and 7. In the fall of 1885 it left Heron Lake,
Minn., November 9. In western Texas it is tolerably common in win-
ter (Lloyd).

80

182. Phcenicopterus ruber Linn. [585.] Flamingo. ‘a
Resident along the Gulf coast, whence reported by the most southern

where Mr. Lloyd found it in August, 1881, and July, 1882.
183. Ajaja ajaja (Linn.). [505.] Roseate Spoonbill. 4
A southern species, resident in the Gulf States; used to occur in the —
bottoms opposite Saint Louis. Mr. Nehrling states that it is common
in the breeding season near Houston, in eastern Texas, and “ particu- —
larly common on the prairie ponds in the northern part of Harris —
county.”
184. Guara alba (Linn.). [501.] White Ibis. .
An inhabitant of tropical America, coming north regularly to south- —
ern Indiana and southern Illinois (Ridgway). Dr. Agersborg shot a
Specimen and saw another in southeastern Dakota in May, 1879.

185. Guara rubra (Linn.). [502.] Scarlet Ibis.

A. tropical American species. There is no record of its recent oceur-
rence in the United States. It has been recorded from Florida, Loui-
Siana, and Texas. :

186. Plegadis autumnalis (Hasselq.). [593.] Glossy Ibis.

Strays less often than the last from its southern home; north only to
Illinois. February 27, 1880, one was shot and two others seen at a
small lake in southern Illinois, 7 miles from Saint Louis (Hurter, Bull.
Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VI, 1881, p. 124). Has been seen at Saint
Louis, Mo.

187. Plegadis guarauna (Linn). [504.] White-faced Glossy Ibis.

- A bird of tropical America, coming north regularly to Texas. Mr.
Sennett and Dr. Merrill found a large colony breeding near Browns-
ville, in the valley of the lower Rio Grande, during the middle of May,
1877. It has been shot once in Kansas, near Lawrence (in the fall of
1879, Goss.).

188. Tantalus loculator Linn. [500.] Wood Ibis.

The Wood Ibis is a southern bird, common in all marshy localities
near the Gulf coast. A few ascend the Mississippi Valley, where they
have been taken in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Kansas.
They are rare and irregular, however, and almost nothing is known of
their breeding range north of the Gulf States. Though reported by the
observers as occurring at various times of the year, no Ibises were noted
in actual migration.

189. Mycteria americana Linn. [499.] Jabiru. : .
‘A tropical American bird, occurring as far north as southern Texas. —
190. Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.). [497.] Bittern.
A common summer resident in Manitoba and the Northern States ;
less common farther south. In mild winters the Bittern remains in the
middle portions of the Mississippi Valley, but ordinarily it passes south

81

of latitude 35°. It is among the first of the Herons to migrate, appear-
ing as soon as the frost is fairly out of the marshes. The notes con-
tributed on its northward progress were very irregular. This is due
_ probably to the conditions of observation rather than to any erratic
- movements on the part of the birds. To find them the observer must
- go to their chosen haunts; they will not come to him.

In the spring of 1884 two sets of notes were received. Those in
March gave the extension of the species to southern Minnesota by the
25th; the other set, going over the same ground, gave its arrival
from the middle to the last of April and the first week in May. Itis
possible that both are right, there being asmall flight in the latter half
of March, which, after being checked by the storms of early April, was
followed later by the main body. SBitterns were reported from central
Minnesota May 4, and from Oak Point, Manitoba, May 15. They nest
principally north of latitude 40°, but small numbers have been found
in summer as far south as Mississippi, and probably a few breed through-
out their range. .

In the spring of 1885 thirty-five notes were contributed on the move-
ments of this species, but they are too irregular to be of use. The
extremes were: Tampico, Ill., April 8, and Shell river, Manitoba,
May 4.

In the fall of 1885 the first migrants arrived at Fernwood, Ill., Sep-
tember 13, and were common there the next day. At San Angelo,
Tex., where it is © common fall migrant, the first were observed Sep-
tember 4. The last was seen at Fernwood, Ill., October 10, and at
Heron Lake, Minn., November 3.

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191. Botaurus exilis (Gmelin). [498.] Least Bittern.

The range of the Least Bittern is much the same as that of the Great

Bittern, excepting that it is a more southern species. It breeds from
Louisiana and Texas to Minnesota. In the spring of 1884 it was some-
what later in migration and did not reach the middle districts until the
first week in May.
_ In the spring of 1885 the first was seen at Fernwood, Ill., May 17;
_ Emporia, Kans., and Heron Lake, Minn., May 19, being thus more than
two weeks later than the Great Bittern at the same places. A nest
with eggs was found at Des Moines, Iowa, May 26.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Fernwood, I1l., August 29. In
Tom Green and Concho counties, Tex., it is a common fall migrant
(Lloyd). .

Ardea wuerdemanuni Baird. [486 in part.] Wiirdemann’s Heron.

An inhabitant of southern Florida; accidental in southern Illinois

_ (Mount Carmel, September 11-22, 1876. Ridgway.)
194. Ardea herodias Linn. [487.] Great Blue Heron.
: In summer this Heron occupies suitable localities throughout the

; whole of the Mississi ppi Valley. Itis rare in Manitoba. It is resident
7365—Bull. 2——6

82

and most common in Florida and along the Gulf coast. It winters in the
Southern States, and occasionally, in mild winters, a few stay in south-
ern Illinois. In the winter of 1883~84, there was no record north of lat- -
itude 35°. Three were seen at Caddo, Ind. Ter., February 11, flying —
south, but probably were not winter residents, as a reliable hunter tells —
me that in eight years of residence there he has only once or twice ©
known it to occur in winter, and then in the mildest seasons. The win- —
ter of 1883~84 wasanything but mild. In the spring of 1884theregular —
‘firsts’ were seen at Caddo March 18, about the same time that they ~
began to appear at stations near the Mississippi. On March 12 they —
came to Alton, Ill.; three days later they were noticed at Burlington,
Iowa; March 21 a report came from Ferry, Lowa; they were seen at La-
porte City, lowa, March 24; at Heron Lake, Minn., April3; andon April
6, they reached Lake City, Minn., and Green Bay, Wis.; April 20, they
were reported in the west at Ellis, Kans., and Alda, Nebr. ;

In the spring of 1885 the notes on the Great Blue Heron were much ~
more irregular than in 1884. It was noted March 4, at Paris, Ill, and
March 7 at Shawneetown. Both of these must have been very early
migrants, for, with the exception of March 17 at Richmond, Kans., no
others were recorded until the last two days in March. During the
week from March 30 to April 5, they were noted without any irregu-
larity from Saint Louis, Mo. ; Fayette, Mo.; Sioux City, lowa; Heron
Lake, Minn.; Elk River, Minn. ; Peoria, Ill.; Aledo, Ill. ; Hennepin, U1;
Rockford, Il.; and Durand, Wisconsin. April 15 they reached Huron,
Dak.

In the fall of 1885 the first migrants appeared at Fernwood, UL, July
26; Emporia, Kans., August 2; Mount Carmel, Mo., October 1; and
Bonham, Tex., July 12. None were seen at Fernwood after July 28;
or at Grinnell, Iowa, after September 28. At Mount Carmel, Mo., they
were common October 3, and disappeared October 20. The last left ~
Saint Louis, Mo., October 6. August 21 was the date of the last seen at
Bonham, Tex. Mr. Lloyd states that the species is a resident in Tom
Green and Concho counties, Tex.

196. Ardea egretta Gmelin. [489.] Great White Egret.

A more southern species than the Great Blue Heron; breeds abun-
dantly near the Gulf in swamps and prairie ponds. The few which leave
the vicinity of the sea-coast straggle up the Mississippi, even to Minne-
sota. The greatest wanderers are the young, which in the fall often
stray northward into regions where the species is not known to breed.
Professor Lantz has seen them at Manhattan, Kans., and there are
other records for the State, but they are not known to breed within its
limits. There is one record from southeastern Nebraska. In southern
Illinois it is known to breed. |

In 1885 two of these Egrets were killed, out of a flock of six, at Chi-
cago, Ill., July 27. One was seen at Bonham, Tex., July 12, and eleven

83

at the same place July 15. In the fall of 1885 numbers were present at
- Saint Louis, Mo., on the 15th and 16th of August. At Fernwood, II.
the last were noted August 8; at Emporia, Kans., August 14; Saint

Louis, Mo., September 11; and Bonham, Tex. August 15. ‘ White
Herons” and ‘“‘Snowy Herons” were reported from Peoria, Ill., March
20; from Sioux City, lowa, March 30, common, April 7; and from Rich-
mond, Kans., November 3. Just which species was seen is doubtful.

197. Ardea candidissima Gmelin. [490.] Snowy Heron; Little White Egret.

The range of this species is much the same as that of the last. It is
exceedingly abundant in the marshes near the Gulf coast. In 1884 it
was reported only from Grand Ridge, Il]., where the first was seen
April19. Itis resident in western Texas (Lloyd). Colonel Goss says it
is not uncommon in Kansas, arriving from the south in July and August,

and returning in September.

-198. Ardearufescens Gmelin. [491.] Reddish Egret.

A southern species, breeding in large colonies along the coast of
Texas. ‘A summer visitant to southern Illinois, not known to breed”
(Ridgway).

199. Ardea tricolor ruficollis (Gosse). [492.] Louisiana Heron.

An inhabitant of the Gulf States. Near Houston, in eastern Texas,
it breeds in swampy woods, but is not very common (Nehrling). Along
the lower kio Grande, in Texas, it breeds abundantly (Merrill and Sen-
nett); but Dr. Merrill thinks it passes the winter farther south. It has
been reported once from Indiana (Nelson).

200. Ardea coerulea Linn. [493.] Liltle Blue Heron.

Like the last, this species is exceedingly abundant in the marshes
near the Gulf coast. It is not known to breed in Kansas, though it has
been seen there in July, August, and September. The northward fall
migration spoken of under the White Egret is again seen in this species.
A few breed in southern Illinois, and in the fall large numbers come
there from the South, making it for a time an abundant species. It
rarely, if ever, occurs north of latitude 40°. I made the acquaintance
of this species in the summer of 1884 at Red Rock, Ind. Ter. No nest
was found, but old birds were seen every few days all summer long
near a small stream. This species was not noted in 1885 by any of
the observers except at Bonham, Tex. One in white phase was sent
me, which had been secured there July 16. Ten birds were seen July
21, but whether in white or blue plumage was not stated. The last
was seen August 24. It was recorded by Mr. Lloyd as a resident at
San Angelo, Tex., where it was particularly abundant in fall migration.

201. Ardea virescens Linn. [494.] Green Heron.
The habitat of this Heron agrees closely with that of Ardea herodias, but
in most places it is a more common species. Like the Great Blue Heron

84

it breeds over all of the Mississippi Valley and remains close to the
Gulf coast in winter. It migrates later, and did not appear in the mid-
dle districts until late in April. At Danville, Ill., one was seen April
21; at Saint Louis, Mo., and Des Moines, Iowa, it was noted April
26; at Manhattan, Kans., April 29; and by May 1 it had arrived over —
all of Illinois and Iowa, and had come to Lanesboro, Minn. At Alda, —
Nebr., it was seen May 3. 7

In the fall of 1884 the buik departed from Des Moines, lowa, August
26, and none were seen afterwards.

In the spring of 1885 the records of the arrival of this species were —
very irregular. It was recorded from Saint Louis, Mo., April 28, and ;
Lanesboro, Minn., April 23, with much later dates scattered over the
intervening country. In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Grinnell,
Towa, September 28, and at Saint Louis, Mo., September 14. The first
was seen at Emporia, Kans., October 3.

202. Nycticorax nycticorax nevius (Bodd.). [495.] Black-crowned Night Heron.

The common Night Heron breeds throughout the Mississippi Valley,
and winters both on the Gulf coast and south of it. In mild winters a
few have sometimes been seen in southern Illinois. In the spring of
1884 the first record came from Rodney, Miss., March 22, when they
were heard squawking at night as they passed over the city. On April

5 they appeared at Laporte City, Iowa, and two days later came to— ’

Heron Lake, Minn., which is the summer home of great numbers. They
also breed abundantly in a large marsh in east-central Wisconsin. Col-
onel Goss says they are rare in Kansas.

In the spring of 1885 the records of the Black-crowned Night Heron
were very irregular, as was the case with all the other Herons. Prob-
ably the species is better known at Heron Lake, Minn., than at any
other station; it arrived there April 12, and fifty were seen April 17.
All the rest of the notes came from places south of Heron Lake, and
were of later date, except one from Gainesville, Tex., Aprii 10. The
last was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., April 22. |

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Grinnell, lowa, September 28 ;
none were reported from Richmond, Kaus., after October 15, but the
last did not leave Heron Lake, Minn., until November 14.

203. Nycticorax violaceus (Linn.). [496.] Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

The present species is more southern than the last, finding its north-
ern limit in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and southern Indiana.

Four days after the Black-crowned Night Heron flew over Rodney,
Miss., in the spring of 1884, it was followed by the Yellow-crowned
(March 26).

204. Grus americana (Linn.). [582.] Whooping Crane.
Nests along our northern border, and also in central Illinois; winters
along the Gulf coast and as far north as the central part of Texas,

85

_ where a few flocks were seen at San Angelo by Mr. Lloyd, who tells us
that the Nueces cation is the winter home of countless myriads. ‘ From
j November to the end of March these beautiful birds are exceedingly
_ abundant on all the low prairies in the vicinity of Houston” (Nehrling).
_ In the spring of 1534 migration began in February, and by March 6 all
hadleftSan Angelo. They arrived at Manhattan, Kans., March 18, and
the last week in the month they passed through central Iowa. March
30 a good many came to Heron Lake, Minn., and May 1 they arrived
at Oak Point, Manitoba.

In the spring of 1885 the Whooping Crane appeared at Emporia,
Kans., March 18; Richmond, Kans., March 21; Mount Carmel, Mo.,

March 25; Laporte City, lowa, March 30; Emmetsburgh, Iowa, March

23; Heron Lake, Minn., March 31; Menoken, Dak., April5; Oak Point,
Manitoba, April 15. It was common at Bonham, Tex., March 23; at
Gainesville, Tex., March 31; Emmetsburgh, Iowa, April 1; Heron Lake,
Minn., April 3; Menoken, Dak., April 14; and Oak Point, Manitoba,
April 17. It has been known to breed at Clear Lake, Iowa. In the
fall of 1885 it returned to Bonham, Tex., November 9, and large flocks
were seen November 16.

205. Grus canadensis (Linn.). [584.] Little Brown Crane.

Breeds in the far North, from Hudson bay to Alaska, coming south
in winter to Mexico, migrating over the Great Plains. Mr. Ridgway
informs me that in the National Museum collection there is a specimen
from Texas.

206. Grus mexicana (Miill.). [583.] Sandhill Crane.

The Sandhill Crane is known to breed in Florida, but was not recorded
as a Summer resident in Mississippi. West of the Mississippi River it
breeds in Louisiana and Texas, and thence northward to Manitoba,
though it is not known to breed in Indian Territory or Kansas. But at
Alda, Nebr., it nested in July, 1881; and in 1882 five birds stayed there
all winter. It is known to breed in Iowa, Minnesota, and Dakota. Mr.
Lloyd says that in western Texas it is an abundant spring and fall mi-
erant. Mr. Nehrling says he has “observed flocks of many hundreds
on the low prairies in the western and northern parts of Harris county,”
in eastern Texas.

In winter it is found along the Gulf coast, from Florida to Texas. In
warm winters it is found as far north as Waverly, Miss., and in Texas

SE es, OP ew egy EF ae a ee
’ ;

pass north to higher latitudes, while others remain to breed.

Migration commences very early. At Yazoo City, Miss., they were
seen flying north January 9 and 11; at Caddo, Ind. Ter., the first came
February 26 and more flocks March 3. March 15 they came to Una-
dilla, Nebr.; two days later to Linwood, Nebr.; April7 to Huron, Dak.,
and April 12 to Menoken and Larimore, Dak. They reached Two
_ Rivers, Manitoba, April 15, and April 19 they were at Oak Point,

up to San Angelo, where a few flocks were seen. In the spring some

Manitoba. Thus their record in the West was quite uniform and regu-

lar. Further east they appeared at Saint Louis March 16, and on the ~

21st and 22d were reported from four stations in central lowa. March —
24 they arrived at Storm Lake, Iowa, and the last day of the month ab —
Heron Lake, Minn. The records east of the Mississippi were few and
irregular; between March 20 and March 24 they were seen from Griggs-
ville, Ill., to Merritt’s Landing, Wis.

In the spring of 1885 all but three of the stations on the plains con-

tributed notes on the arrival of the Sandhill Crane, while from theregion

east of the Mississippi river but four stations reported it. The moreregu-
lar of these records are as follows: Richmond, Kans., March 11; Lin-
wood, Nebr., March 14; Grinnell and Newton, Iowa, March 25 and 26.
From March 29 to April 1 it appeared at Des Moines, Laporte City, and
Emmetsburgh, Iowa; Unadilla, Nebr.; and Aledo, Tampico, and Henne-
pin, Ill. April 4 it was seen at EJk River, Minn.; April 7 at New Cas-

sel, Wis.; April12 at Menoken, Dak.; April 15 at Larimore, Dak.,and

Oak Point, Manitoba. In the fall of 1885 the first came to Argusville,
Dak., October 2; Richmond, Kans., October 3; and Bonham, Tex., Oc-
tober 5. The last were seen at Richmond, Kans., November 3; Grin-
nell, Iowa, November 4; and Fayette, Mo., November 20.

208. Rallus elegans Aud. [569.] King Rail.

Winters in the southern States, occasionally north even to southern
Illinois, and in summer passes up the Mississippi Valley to Kansas and
Missouri regularly, and to lowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin occasionally,
It is not common in Nebraska, and is still rarer in southeastern Dakota,
where Dr. Agersborg has found it to be a rare summer resident. As
in all other species of Rails, its migrations are performed at night, and
during the day it keeps so secluded in the thick sedges that, though
not at all uncommon in much of its range, it is rarely seen. In the
spring of 1884 it appeared at Saint Louis April 10; the only other record
came from one of the most northern points at which it has ever been
found: Hastings, Minn., May 9.

In the spring of 1885 the King Rail arrived at Emporia, Kans., April
14, and at Aledo, Ill., April 23. It reached Heron Lake, Minn., about
the middle of May, but the exact date was not recorded. In the fail
of 1885 it was first noticed at Fernwood, Ill., August 29, and again
September 13; the last were seen there October 13. No more congenial
home for Rails can be found than the immense marshes in the vicinity
of this station. Mr. Lloyd states that one was seen in South Concho, —
Tex., in the spring of 18586.

211. Rallus longirostris crepitans (Gmelin). [571.] Clapper Rail.

An inhabitant of the salt marshes of the Atlantic coast, coming
north regularly to Long Island, N. Y. During the first week in June, ~
1886, Dr. A. K. Fisher found this form breeding commonly at Grand ©
Isle. on the coast of Louisiana, and secured an adult male and two

bt tk out able al

lil ee ee

4 young, which have been examined by Mr. Ridgway and pronounced
- typical.

- 2i1i1a. Raillus longirostris saturatus Henshaw. [57la.] Louisiana Clapper Rail.

A southern form found on the brackish marshes near the Gulf coast of
Louisiana (and Texas?).*

212. Rallus virginianus Linn. [572.] Virginia Rail.

Winters from the Southern States southward; breeds from northern
Illinois northward; known to breed in southeastern Dakota, and in
Minnesota and Manitoba. In the spring of 1884 it reached Saint Louis
April 1, and by the middle of the month had reached latitude 48° 43/
in Wisconsin.

In the spring of 1885 the following records of ‘firsts’ were received:
Paris, lll., May 1; Mount Carmel, Mo., May 5; Lanesboro, Minn., May
12; Hennepin, Ill, April 14; Fernwood, Ill., May 10; Milwaukee,
Wis., April 23.

In the fall of 1885 the first returning migrants appeared at Fernwood,
Ill., September 13, and were last seen September 26.

214. Porzana carolina (Linn.). [574.] Sora; Carolina Rail.

Winters over the same area as the last, and also a little further
north. It breeds from Kansas northward, and is an abundant summer
resident in Manitoba. In southern Illinois it can be found throughout
the year. In the spring of 1884 it was seen at Saint Louis April 1, at
Laporte City, Iowa, April 16, and at Heron Lake, Minn., April 29.
April 26 it arrived at Chicago, and the bulk came to Green Bay,
Wis., May 4. The Rails, which ordinarily pass by unobserved, some-
times are suddenly and unexpectedly brought to our notice. For years
they had passed to and fro over the city of Winona, Minn., unmolested
and unnoticed, but in 1884 an electric light stood in their path and
lured them to destruction. On the night of May 21 they were the most
numerous of the many birds that were killed or wounded by striking
the light-tower. Around the light they could be seen by hundreds.

Jn the spring of 1885 the Sora Rail was reported from San Antonio,
Tex., April 5; Emporia, Kans., April 11; Des Moines, Iowa, April 22;
Laporte City, lowa, May 1; Hennepin, Lll., May 5; Fernwood, IL,

~ and Heron Lake, Minn., May 10; Minneapolis, Minn., May 11; and

Shell River, Manitoba, May 12.
In the fall of 1885 the first migrants were seen at Fernwood, IIL,

j August 9; Lanesboro, Minn., August 26; Emporia, Kans., September

1; and San Angelo, Tex., September 4. The last was seen at Fern-
wood, Ill., September 20, and at Saint Louis, Mo., October 5. In
western Texas they are rare in spring and abundant in fall (Lloyd).

[*Mr. Ridgway informs me that he irclines to the opinion that this Rail will prove

to be a distinct species.—C. H. M.]

215. Porzana noveboracensis (Gmelin). [575.] Yellow Rait.

Winters in the Southern States and north to central ince in
summer moves up the valley to Minnesota. Has been recorded from ‘
Manitoba (Seton). Rather rare everywhere. In 1884 the only record ©
was from Saint Louis, where the first was seen March 18. 7

In the spring of 1885 the Yellow Rail was seen at Fernwood, Il., May —
9, and was common the next day. It reached Elk River, Minn., May —
14, A single specimen was seen at White Earth, Minn., in the latter ©
part of June, but the exact date was mislaid. Specimens were taken —
at Lawrence, Kans., April 18, and October 1, 1885, by Prof. L. L. Dyche, —
and it was taken at Emporia, Kans., October1.

216. Porzana jamaicensis (Gmelin). [576.] Black —ail.

Range much the same as that of the preceding, though it does not
occur so far north; has been taken in Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, —
Towa, and Illinois. In 1884 it was reported as breeding at San Angelo, —
Tex., from March 9 to June 26.

In 1885 the northward migration of the Black Rail was unnoticed by
the observers, but on its return the first was seen at Emporia, Kans.,
September 26, and at Iowa City, Lowa., the last, October 11. )

218. Ionornis martinica (Linn.). [578.] Purple Gallinule.

A southern species, occurring throughout the Gulf States and rang- —
ing north in summer to Illinois. It has been taken once at Saint —
Louis, Mo.,and was given as anot common species on the Nueces river
in Texas.

219. Gallinula galeata (Licht.). [579.] Florida Gallinule.

The Florida Gallinule breeds from the Gulf of Mexico to near our
northern border. Its winter range includes all of the Southern States,
where it is resident; and it occurs, according to Ridgway, up to central
illinois, but Mr. C. W. Butler, of Anna, Ill., says: “I have not found
it in winter in fourteen years of collecting in the very places where Mr.
Ridgway says it occurs.” In its migrations it proceeds northward to —
Minnesota and Wisconsin in the East, and Kansas and Nebraska in the
West. Near Ripon, Wis., it outnumbers the Coot, and its breeding —
habits until a few years ago could be studied to the best advantage, —
but persecution has made it wild, and now it hides at the slightest
sound. The only record of its arrival in 1884 came from Saint Louis, —
where it appeared May 11. 4

In 1885 but one record of the Florida Gallinule was received: its ©
arrival at Des Moines, Iowa, May 26.

221. Pulica americana Gmelin. [580.] Coot.

Range in winter the same as that of the Florida Gallinule, but in
summer it goes far into British America. It breeds throughout its
range, and records of breeding in 1884 were received from various —
places, all the way from Eagle Pass and San Angelo, Tex., to Ossowa, —

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89

- Manitoba. It must breed early in southern Texas, for Mr. Negley says
that at Eagle Pass, March 16, he caught a young Water Hen about two

weeks old. AtSan Angelo Mr. Lloyd did not find young until May 18.
In the spring of 1884 migration at Moss Point, Miss., commenced in Feb-
ruary, after which no movement was noted until March 24 to March 26,
when Coots were recorded simultaneously from Saint Louis, Mo., to
Red Wing, Minn. In the West, they were noted from Ellis, Kans.,
and Alda, Nebr., April 4 and 9, and at the same time at Chicago. The
only Wisconsin record was the arrival of the bulk May 4 at Green Bay.
May 6 it came to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and May 9 it appeared
at Oak Point, Manitoba. In the fall of 1884 the first migrants were re-
ported from Eaponis Kans., September 20.

In the spring of 1885 ane more regular of the notes contributed « on
the migration of this species are the following: Fayette, Mo., first seen
March 15; Emporia, Kans., March 17; Fernwood, Il., March 31; Heron
Lake, Minn., April 1; Laporte City, lowa, April 2; Durand, Wis.,
April 20; Ossowa, Manitoba, May 4.

In the fall of 1885 it arrived at Lanesboro, Minn., September 4, and
at Emporia, Kans., September 19. The last was seen at Heron Lake,
Minn., November 9.

222. Crymophilus fulicarius (Linn.). [563.] Red Phalarope.

Breeds in the far North, coming South in winter to the northern half
of the Mississippi Valley. Has been recorded from Illinois (Nelson),
and Minnesota (Hatch).

223. Phalaropus lobatus (Linn.). [564.] Northern Phalarope.

Breeds in the far North, and is a rare migrant through the Missis-
sippi Valley. It is known from Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, and Mani-
toba; and was reported by the observers at Saint Lonis, Mo., and Alda,
Nebr.

224. Phalaropus tricolor (Vieill.). [565.] Wilson’s Phalarope.

This is the most common of the three Phalaropes, and it is more
abundant in the Mississippi Valley than elsewhere. It does not winter
in the Mississippi Valley, but breeds quite commonly in the northern
parts and in Manitoba. In 1884 it was reported as breeding in Illinois,
Iowa, Minnesota, and Dakota; and it has been known to breed in Ne-
braska and in western Kansas. May 8 a pair arrived at Vermillion,
Dak.; May 17 it was already breeding at Polo, Hl.

In the spring of 1885 it was noted during northward migration at
San Angelo, Tex., May 15; at Gainesville, Tex., May 6; Emporia, Kans.,
April 23; Manhattan, Kans., May 9; and Menoken, Dak., May 12.

In the fall of 1885 the first returned to Emporia, Kans., August 31,
and the last was seen at Lanesboro, Minn., September 13. Mr. Lloyd
states that in western Texas it is tolerably common in spring, but is not
found in fall.

225. Recurvirostra americana Gmelin. [566.] Avocet. 3

During migration the Avocet occurs throughout the Mississippi Val- 4
ley. Hast of the Mississippi it breeds from Illinois northward, and in
the West even as far south as Mason, Tex., where Mr. Henry found it
tobe arare summer resideat. Dr. Merrill states that a few pairs remain
to breed along the Lower Rio Grande. It winters along the Gulf coast
and southward. In migration in 1884 it was seen at Emporia, Kans.,
May 11, and at Alda, Nebr., May 2. In the fall of 1854 the first Avocet
appeared at Emporia, Kans., August 25.

In 1885 no notes were received on its spring migration. In the fall
it reached San Angelo, Tex., September 4. In this locality it is a com-
mon fall migrant.

226. Himantosus mexicanus (Miill.). [567.] Black-necked Stilt.

A common resident along the coast of Texas; in summer distributed
locally and rarely over the better watered portions of the Mississippi dis-
trict. Has been taken in Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota, and was re-
corded from Kansas by Col. N. 8. Goss, on the authority of W. H. Gib-
son, who saw three in June, 1881, near the Arkansas river, at Lakin
Kans. |

228. Philohela minor (Gmel.). [525.] Woodcock.

Breeds principally from the middle districts northward, but a few re-
main in summer throughout the Southern States; rare in Manitoba.
It winters wherever it can find unfrozen ground suitable for its wants;
hence it islimited principally to the Gulf States during the cold weather,
but a few usually spend the winter at Corinth, Miss., and in southern
Illinois. Both stations in southern Louisiana report that the number
present in winter depends on the weather to the northward. If the
winter is severe, they arrive in great numbers, but in mild winters are
searce. In the winter of 1883~’84 they were abundant. By the middle
of February almost all had left the State. In the West the Wood-
cock winters in Kansas, Indian Territory, and occasionally in western
Texas. It was reported from San Angelo, Tex., that a few are some
times seen therein winter. In the spring of 1884 it reached Chicago
March 22, and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April 25.

In the fall of 1884, about September 15, I flushed a Woodcock near a
small spring in the central portion of Kansas City, Mo. At Mount
Carmel, Mo., the last was seen October 23.

In the spring of 1885 it was first seen at Shawneetown, Ill., March 4;
Fernwoud, Ill., April 1; Lanesboro, Minn., April 21; and Oak Point,

Manitoba, May 13. At Shawneetown, Ill., numbers were found ina q

low, flat bottom along the Ohio river July 25, and a few were seen after-
wards. In the fall of 1885 the last were seen at Fernwood, I1l., October
10, and at Shawneetown November 14.
230. Gallinago delicata (Ord). [526%.] Wilson’s Snipe.

Breeds chiefly from the Northern States northward; an abundant
migrant in the Mississippi Valley; winter range extending to South

91

America. During the winter of 1883~84 Wilson’s Snipe was not re-
_ ported from farther north than latitude 33°, but in suitable localities,
_ which, of course, are not common, it remains regularly as far north as
_ southern Illinois, and one case is cn record of its wintering in company
_ witk Teal and Mallard on the margin of a hot spring in Wyoming. In
_ the winter of 188384 a few were seen at Ellis, Kans., in December,
after the creek was newly frozen over. They were late migrants. The
_ great bulk breed in British America, but a few have been known to
nest in northern Illinois, and Mr. Lloyd gives it as a resident at San
Angelo, Tex., but says he never has found the nest. A few also breed
_ at Heron Lake, in southwestern Minnesota. In western Manitoba it is
a@common summer resident (Seton).
In the spring of 1884 migration commenced during the latter part of
_ February. February 19 Snipe began to move through Hagle Pass, Tex.,
_ where Mr. Negley says they remained one week only. February 29
they had begun to leave southern Louisiana, though the bulk did not
leave until the second week in March. They arrived at Caddo, Ind. Ter.
(lat. 34° 11’), March 8, and on the 12th and 13th reached Odin, [ll., and
- Saint Louis, Mo. (lat. 38° 40’). During the rest of March there was
no record from Iowa, but in Illinois they were reported up to Chicago.
April 5 to 7 they advanced to central Iowa and southern Wisconsin,
and by April 15 had reached latitude 44° 45’ in Wisconsin, and lati:
tude 44° 15’ in Dakota, but no record came from Minnesota until
the next week. They were recorded from Argusville and Larimore,
Dak. (lat. 47° 52’), during the first week in May. This Snipe is not a
_ rapid migrant. The bulk moves about two weeks behind the van, and
- even in those places where it does not breed it can generally be found
from fear to six weeks. In the fall of 1884 the first migrating Snipe
reached Emporia, Kans., Angust 30. |
In the spring of 1885 it appeared at Corinth, Miss., february 12, and
was seen for the second time Iebruary 20. It reached Shawneetown,
Wil, February 27; Saint Louis, Mo., March 11, and Emporia, Kans.,
March 14. forthe next ten days the cold was too severe for migra-
; tion, and very little progress seems to have been made in the remainder
: of the month. During the first five days of April it was noted from
- Ellsworth, Kans., Fayette, Mo., Des Moines, Iowa; and Paris, Aledo,
Hennepin, and Fernwood, Ill. At Hennepin it had also been noticed
_ March 25. It came to Emmetsburgh, Iowa, April 14; Milwaukee, Wis.,
_ April 15; Heron Lake, Minn., April 19; Luck, Wis., and Ossowo,
_ Manitoba, May 2; and Shell River, Manitoba, May 4. At Corinth,
_ Miss., the last was seen April 9, and at Mount Carmel, Mo., April 20;
while at Bonham, Tex., it did not leave until April 30, and one was

vee Re Or,

taken at San Antonio, Tex., May 27. In the fall of 1885 the last was
seen at Heron Lake, Minn., November 14; Fernwood, Ll., November
13; and at Fayette, Mo., November 1. The first migrant appeared at
Fernwood, Ill., August 29; at Emporia, Kans., September 3; Saint

92 os

Louis, Mo., October 10; and at Bonham, Tex., November 3. The bulk —
arrived at Saint Louis, Mo., October 16, and the species was still there —
November 3, E

231. Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmelin.) [527.] Dowitcher; Red-breasted Snipe.

A bird of eastern North America, breeding far North, and migrating
chiefly in the Atlantic region. A few sometimes migrate through the
Mississippi Valley, where they have been taken in I[llinois. But the
common Dowitcher of the Mississippi Valley is the following species,
Macrorhamphus scolopaceus, under which all the migration records have
been piaced, though it is impossible to say that none of them belong to
the present species.

232. Macrorhampus scolopaceus (Say). [5279.] Long-billed Dowitcher.

Winters from the Gulf coast southward ; migrates through the Missis-
sippi Valley, and breeds in British America. Colonel Goss says it is a
common migrant in Kansas. But few records of its movements were
received. In 1884 its arrival in central Texas was noted March 15, and
in southern Minnesota the last of April, while the bulk reached Ver-
million, Dak., the first week in May.

In the spring of 1885 the only records received were of its arrival at
Paris, Ill., April 5; Mount Carmel, Mo., April 26, and Emporia, Kans.,
May 1.

233. Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.). [528.] Stilt Sandpiper.

Rather a rare bird in the Mississippi Valley, where it occurs during
its passage from its winter home to its breeding grounds in the far
North. It was not noticed during the spring migration in 1884 or 1885.
On its return in 1885 it was shot at Lanesboro, Minn., August 20, and
at San Angelo, Tex., September 3. At the latter place it was common
during the fall migration.

234. Tringa canutus Linn. [529.] Knot; Robin Snipe.

Breeds within the Arctic Circle; in migration abundant along the
Atlantic coast, but rare in the Mississippi Valley. Noted from Mani-
toba, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois; and has been taken once by Dr.
Hvoslef, at Lanesboro, Minn., this being the first record for that State.

235. Tringa maritima Briinn. [530.] Purple Sandpiper.

A northern species, migrating southward in winter, chiefly along the _
Atlantic coast; found rarely on the Great Lakes. It was killed on Lake —
Michigan, near Chicago, November 7,1871. (Nelson, Bull. Essex Inst.,-
Vol] Vil, p. 127.)

239. Tringa maculata Vieill. [534.] Pectoral Sandpiper; Jack Snipe.

Breeds in the far North. A common and well-known migrant, from
the Gulf of Mexico to Manitoba. In the spring of 1884 it seems to have —
been overlooked, since it was reported only from Saint Louis, Mareh
17. A “Jack Snipe” was reported from Oak Point, Manitoba, April 22.

93

7 In the spring of 1885 the Pectoral Sandpiper was common in the

- Saint Louis market March 26. At San Angelo, Tex., the first was scen |
April 27; it was common there the next day, and left May 15. At
Emporia, Kans., the first came May 1, and it became common May 4.
Dr. Langdon states that in West Baton Rouge parish, La., in the spring
of 1881, it was common from March 23 to April 10. (Journ. Cin. Soc.
Nat. Hist., Vol. IV, 1881, p. 154.)

240. Tringa fuscicollis Vieill. [536.] White rwmped Sandpiper.

Breeds in the high North, and occurs in winter from the Gulf of Mex-
ico to southern South America, migrating through the Mississippi Val-
ley. Colonel Goss states that itis a common migrant in Kansas. It
has been seen also in Dakota, though rarely, and was noticed at Des

- Moines, Iowa, March 31, 1884. In Manitoba, large flocks were seen
near Shoal lake, June 4, and on Duck mountain, June 8, 1884 (Seton).

In the spring of 1885 the only note contributed on the migration of
the White-rumped Sandpiper was the record of its arrival at Emporia,
Kans., May 4.

241. Tringa bairdii (Coues). [537.] Baird’s Sandpiper.

Breeds along the Arctic coast and winters in South America; rather
common during migration in Kansas and Nebraska, and has been taken
in former years at West DePere, Wis. At Emporia, Kans., it was seen
March 27, 1884, and was common March 31. In the fall it reappeared
August 25. Inthe spring of 1885 it was scen at San Angelo, Tex., May
15. At this locality it is a common spring and fall migrant.

_ 242. Tringa minutilla Vieill. [538.] Least Sandpiper.
Breeds in the far North and winters from the Gulf of Mexico south-
ward. Oneof the commonest of its family during its migrations through
_ the Mississippi Valley. Mr. Nehrling says itis not uncommon in winter
in eastern Texas, near Houston. In the spring of 1884 it came to
_ Caddo, Ind. Ter., about March 10; passed on to Alda, Nebr., by April
10; and April 25 had appeared at Oak Point, Manitoba, thus averag-
ing more than 25 miles a day.
In the spring of 1885 the record of the northward migration of the
_ Least Sandpiper was regular compared with that of the other shore
birds. It appeared at San Angelo, Tex., April 18; at Gainesville, Tex.,
May 6; Emporia, Kans., May 8; Saint Louis, Mo., May 12; Minneapo-
lis, Minn., May 12, and Huron, Dak., May 13. At San Angelo the last
was seen May 16. In the fall of 1885 the first returned to Emporia,
| Kans., August 6, where it became common August 31. Itreached San
| Angelo, August 25, and was last seen at Saint Louis, Mo., August 31.
_ Dr. Agersborg says he has seen it in southeastern Dakota during the
whole summer, but has not found its nest.

th a:

1 eo wah © v

- 243a. Tringa alpina pacifica (Coues). [539a.] Ited-backed Sandpiper.
Breeds far north; very rare throughout most of the Mississippi Val-
ley during migration. In the. spring of 1884 it was taken at Gaines-

1): oe

ville, Tex., March 15, and was mentioned as common in Minnesoate an d
Manitoba. 4

In 1885 the only record of the Red-backed Sandpiper was a note Be
its appearance at Emmetsburgh, Iowa, April 15. .

Di! Merrill states that near the anonth of che aie Grande, May 16, ©
1877, he “ found the Red-backed Sandpiper rather common about some ~
lagoons in the salt marshes ; the males were in full breeding plumage.” —
(Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., 1878, p. 161.)

246. Hreunetes pusillus (Linn.). [541.] Semipalmated Sandpiper.
A migrant in the Mississippi Valley. In the spring of 1884, it was —
noticed by two observers only; at Ellis, Kans., it was seen April 5, a 4
at lowa City, Iowa, May 3.
In the spring of 1885 the Semipalmated Sandpiper was noticed at 4
Gainesville, Tex., May 6; at Emporia, Kans., May 9, and Huron, Dak., —
May 13. At Emporia the last was seen May 27. Askin of thisspecies —
was sent me for identification from Bonham, Tex., where it had been
taken April 18. :
In the fall of 1885 the first came to Lanesboro, Minn., August 21; to ~
Emporia, Kans., August 31. It was last seen at Saint Louis, Mo.,
August 31.

247. Hreunetes occidentalis Lawr. [541*.] West.rn Sandpiper.

An inhabitant of the western province of North America; breeding
in the far North. Mr. Lloyd states that in Tom Green and Concho ~
counties, Texas, it is ‘common in spring and fall, arriving in spring, —
April 10 to May 12; in the fall, from September 4 to October 20.”

248. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). ~[542.] Sanderling. a

Breeds in the high North; in migration one of the rarest of the family —
in the Mississippi Valley, but common along the sea-coast. Has been —
reported from Lawrence, Kans., and from Missouri, Ilinois, Minnesota, —
and Manitoba. In winter and early spring it is common along the coast —
of Texas (Merrill and Sennett). |

249. Limosa fedoa (Linn.). [543.] Marbled Godwit.

A common summer resident in Manitoba; also breeds within our bor- —

der. In June, 1879, it was found breeding abundantly in the Traverse j
Lake region, in western Minnesota (Roberts and Benner, Bull. N. O.
C., Vol. V, 1880, pp. 13, 18). It was reported by Mr. Preston as breed-

ing at Clear Lake, Iowa, and is known to breed in Nebraska, Dakota, —

and Minnesota (and perhaps also in Texas). It is not known to breed —
in Kansas. In southeastern Texas it is aspring and fall migrant. :

In the spring of 1885 about twenty birds of ‘hits species were seen at —
Huron, Dak., May 3. .

251. Limosa hzemastica (Linn.). [545.] Hudsonian Godwit.
A migrant in our district; has been noted from a few localities only. —
Though generally considered a rarer bird than the preceding, Dr. —

Pi iat

Agersborg gave it as more common—indeed, as an abundant species
during migration in southeastern Dakota. In 1884 the bulk arrived at

4 Vermillion, Dak., May 3. In 1885 a flock of twenty-five was seen at
_ Emporia, Kans., May 8. .

254. Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin). [548.] Greater Yellow-legs.

Breeds from the Northern States northward, and occurs in thousands
along the Gulf coast in winter. In 1884 migration commenced early in
March. March 11it was seen at Caddo, Ind. Ter.; the nextday at Alton,
Ill., and during the last week of March it was reported from Manhattan,
Kans., and Newton and Laporte City, Iowa. During the first week of
April it appeared at Alda, Nebr., and Polo, Ill.; southern Minnesota
was reached April 19, and southeastern Dakota two days later. May
4 it was reported from Menoken, Dak., and about May 12 it reached
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. This species was still abundant in south-
ern Louisiana March 12, but left soon after. It has been seldom found
breeding in the United States, but has been so noted from northern

- Hlinois, and from Heron Lake, Minn., where it is a common summer

resident. In the fall of 1884 the first migrant appeared at Emporia,

_ Kans., October 12. ,

In the spring of 1885 it appeared at Gainesville, Tex., March 11;
Saint Louis, Mo., March 26; Emporia, Kans., March 27; Sioux City,
Towa, April 12; Heron Lake, Minn., April 12; Des Moines, Iowa, April
16; Fernwood, Ill., and Lanesboro, Minn., April 20; and Shell River,
Manitoba, April 24.

In the fall of 1885, ‘ firsts’ were noted from Lanesboro, Minn., Sep-
tember 7; Milwaukee, Wis., August 17; Emporia, Kans., August 12;
and San Angelo, Tex., September 4. At Lanesboro, Minn., the last

was seen October 23.

; 255. Totanus flavipes (Gmelin). [549.] Yellow-legs.

The movements of this species are much the same as those of its

larger congener, with which itis often found. Like the Greater Yellow-

legs, it is a common summer resident at Heron Lake, Minn., and has

been found breeding in northern Dlinois. Its times of migration agree

_ very closely with those of the last.

In the fall of 1884 the first flock of Yellow-legs appeared at Emporia,

Kans., September 13.

In the spring of 1885 but few notes were received on the movements
of this species. It reached Shell River, Manitoba, in company with
the Greater Yellow-legs, April 24. In the fall of 1885 the returning
flocks were first noted at Emporia, Kans., August 12.

256. Totanus solitarius (Wils.). [550.] Solitary Sandpiper.
A common migrant throughout most of the Mississippi Valley; breeds
from Illinois northward, and probably also in Kansas and Nebraska,

_ In 1884 it appeared at Gainesville, Tex., March 14; and at Des Moines,

96

Iowa, April 26. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first record was Mace Be and
the last May 22. | -_

In the spring of 1885 no records were received of the movements of
the Solitary Sandpiper from any point south of Emporia, Kans., where
itarrived April 23. The next day it was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., and
Aledo, Il.; May 2 at Manhattan, Kans.; May 3 at Huron, Dak.; May —
4 at Des Moines, Iowa, and May 9 at Lanesboro, Minn. At Saint Louis, —
Mo., the last was noted May 12. .

In the fall of 1885, it was seen for the last time at Fernwood, IIL, ~
September 26, and at Saint Louis, Mo., September 25. It had appeared —
at San Angelo, Tex., September 7. Dr. Agersborg says itis very rare —
in southeastern Dakota. Mr. Lloyd says that in western Texas.it is 4
tolerably common in September, but rare in spring. :

Symphemia somapaieae inornata Brewster. [552 in part.] Western Willet.

Breeds from the Gulf States northward. Occurs during migration —
throughout the Mississippi Valley, and, unlike the previously mentioned —
members of the family, does not proceed far northward. Near Hous-
ton, in eastern Texas, it is a common resident (Nehrling). It breeds —
throughout Illinois, and Mr. Preston reported it as a rare breeder near
Newton, Iowa. In Kansas and southern Dakota it was marked as a —
rare migrant in the spring of 1884, the bulk arriving at the latter place —
May 3. In northern Dakota and western and northwestern Minnesota
it breeds abundantly. It was seen at Chicago, Ill., May 138, though of
course this record must not be considered that of first arrival.

In the spring of 1885 but two records were received of the movements
ofthe Willet. It arrived at Emporia, Kans., May 2, and at Heron Lake,
Minn., May 10. (For the description of this recently separated sub- —
species, see the Auk, Vol. IV, No. 2, April, 1887, pp. 145-147).

261. Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.). [555.] Bartramian Sandpiper; Tield Plover.

The Upland Plover is common throughout our district, and breeds —
from Kansas and Illinois northward. Usually it is thought not to —
winter in the United States, but Mr. Lloyd shot one at San Angelo,
Tex., in January, 1883. In the spring of 1884 migration commenced
early in March, and the van reached Saint Louis March 17. March ~
25 and 26 it was reported from Ellis, Kans., Storm Lake, Iowa, and —

Tampico, Ill. There was evidently a halt called when the storms of —

April commenced, and no further advance occurred until April 14, with
the exception of some stragglers at Linwood, Nebr. On that day and —
the next it appeared at Polo, Ill, Laporte City, Iowa, and Unadilla,
Nebr. During the rest of April it passed on to latitude 45° in Minne-
sota, and to Vermillion, Dak., latitude 42° 56. Upland Plover were seen —
at Barton and Huron, Dak., May 4 and 5; at Argusville, Dak. (lat. 479 —
8’), May 10; and at Menoken, Dak. (latitude 46° 58’), May 1; these last
must have been stragglers. At Red Rock, Ind.Ter., they were constantly —
seen and heard all summer, so that although no nests were found they —

oF

may be put down as summer residents in the Territory. During the
_ spring thousands passed over, reminding one strongly of the great
flocks of Passenger Pigeons seen in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In the fall of 1884 the first Field Plover appeared at Abbeville, La.,
August 1, where the species became common August 4.

In the spring of 1885 the migration was about two weeks later than
in 1884. The first appeared at Abbeville, La., March 20; at Bonham

and Gainesville, Tex., March 28; at Saint Louis, Mo., and Odin, IIL,

April 2; Hennepin, Il., April 5; Emporia, Kans., April 7; and from
April 10 to 15 at Manhattan, Kans., Unadilla and Linwood, Nebr.,
Grand View, Dak., Newton, Grinnell, and Emmetsburgh, Iowa, and
Aledo, Ill. From April 20 to 231t was seen at Stoughton, Lake Mills,

and Leeds Centre, Wis.; April 27, at Huron, Dak. (two observers);

April 28 at Heron Lake, Minn., and May 4 at Menoken, Dak., and Shell
River, Manitoba.

In fall migration in 1885 it was very common at San Angelo, Tex.,
July 7, and was last seen at Bonham, Tex., September 2.

262. Tryngites subruficollis (Vieill.). [556.] Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

A rather rare and very irregular migrant in the Mississippi Valley.
Dr. Agersborg states that it is an abundant spring migrant in south-
eastern Dakota; and Dr. A. K. Fisher tells me that in August, 1874, he
saw hundreds of Buff-breasted Sandpipers on the dry prairie at May-
wood, Cook county, Ill., only 10 miles from Chicago, and that he shot
numbers of them.

In the spring of 1884 a flock was seen at Gainesville, Tex., May 5.
(For additional remarks on its occurrence in Texas see Bull. Nutt.
Ornith. Club, Vol. VI, 1881, pp. 61, 62.)

263. Actitis macularia (Linn.). [557.] Spotted Sandpiper.

An abundant migrant in most parts of the Mississippi Valley. Breeds
commonly in Manitoba, and many stop to breed all along their course,
after wintering in the southern States. April 23 and April 26 it ap-
peared at Manhattan, Kans., and Saint Louis, Mo. The next two days
it was found in southern Minnesota and northern Llinois. At Alda,
Nebr., it arrived May 2, and at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, May 5.

In the fall of 1884 the last Spotted Sandpiper left Des Moines, Iowa,
September 17.

In the spring of 1885 the notes were very irregular. The first was
seen at San Angelo, Tex., March 9; at Paris, Ill., and Lanesboro, Minn.,
April 23; Des Moines, lowa, April 24; Manhattan, Kans., and Iowa
City, lowa, May 2; and Minneapolis, Minn., May 11.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Lanesboro, Minn., October 22.

264. Numenius longirostris Wils. [558.] JLong-billed Curlew.
Occurs over the whole of the Mississippi Valley, and is known to
breed throughout most of its range. It winters in the southern States,
7365—Bull. 2——7

98 : “oe
+ 2

where it is resident, and occasionally is found in winter in southern —
Illinois. Colonel Goss states that in Kansas it is a rare summer —
resident, but a common migrant. Mr. Lloyd says that in Texas it 3
winters in Concho county, but not in Tom Green county. It migrates —
early, and March 11, 1884, at Darlington, Ind. Ter., hundreds were seen _
in three flocks. For afew days it flew east and northeast at night, —
and in the opposite direction in the morning. April 3 it reached Alda,
Nebr., and two days later Vermillion, Dak.; April 16 it reached Ar-
eusville, Dak., and April 24 Menoken, Dak. By May 4 it had come to
Larimore, Dak.; and May 9 was reported from Oak Point, Manitoba.
It passed Saint Louis April 1, and through central Iowa April 15.

During the winter of 1884—’85 the Long-billed Curlew remained at
Eagle Pass, Tex., where it was seen January 7 and February 9.

In the spring migration of 1885, from April 10 to April 15, it was
noted at Emporia, Kans.; Emmetsburgh, lowa; Heron Lake, Minn. ;
Grand View, Dak.,and Huron, Dak. It reached Larimore, Dak., April
26. In the fall of 1885, the returning flocks appeared at Emporia, Kans.,
August 5, and at San Angelo, Tex., August 20. At Fernwood, Ill., the
last were seen October 13.

265. Numenius hudsonicus Lath. [559.] Hudsonian Curlew.

A common migrant in most parts of the Mississippi Valley, winter.
ing in the Southern States. Rarein Kansas (Goss). It does not breed
within our limits. The only record received came from Heron Lake,
Minn., May 1, 1884.

266. Numenius borealis (Forst.). [560.] Eskimo Curlew. .

The most abundant of the three Curlews. Migrates through the Mis-
sissippi Valley in immense numbers, but does not stay to breed or to
winter. In the spring of 1884 the first came to Saint Louis, Mo., and to
Caddo, Ind. Ter., March 25, and the prairies were fairly alive with them
at Caddo, April 2. On the same day they were noted from Wise county,
Tex., and Alda, Nebr. April 3 found a few at Heron Lake, Minn., and
the bulk arrived at Vermillion, Dak., May 3.

In the spring of 1885 the first Eskimo Curlew appeared at Gaines- —

ville, Tex., March 7; one was found in the Saint Louis market April 6;
they reached Emporia, Kans., April 13, and Heron Lake, Minn., Apri
24. ;
270. Charadrius squatarola (Linn.). [513.] Black-bellied Plover.

This species is more numerous along the coast of the United States
- than it is in the interior, but it has been found throughout the Missis-
sippi Valley and in Manitoba during its migrations. It breeds in the
far North. In most of the State lists it is marked rare, but we have
several records of its occurrence in anything but small numbers. The
most interesting came from Alda, Nebr., whence Mr. Powell writes:
“In southeastern Nebraska it is usually rare, but May 21, 1883, I saw
thousands of them on the Platte river. The weather had been rainy

tat

99

for a few days before I saw them, with the wind from the south, but on

that day the wind blew stiff from the north, with broken clouds flying,
and the air pretty cold. The birds were on the hay-flats on the south
side of the river. I drove up the valley seven or eight mijes, and was
not out of sight of large flocks any of the time. They were wild and I

_ killed only three.”

In the spring of 1884 there was no regularity in the notes on this
species, and probably the fault was in the birds. At Polo, IIL, the first
was seen April 30, and the day before at Heron Lake, Minn., they were
found in flocks which stayed about two weeks. At Alda, Nebr., a good
many passed over during the nights of April 25 and 27. On April 16,
flocks of thousands were seen at Argusville, Dak., and the bulk was
given as arriving at Vermillion, Dak., May 5.

In the spring of 1885 the first Black-bellied Plover was seen at Hen-
nepin, [l., April 2; at Heron Lake, Minn., April 24; and at Huron,
Dak., May 5. The last at Hennepin, Ll., was seen May 3.

272. Charadrius dominicus Mill. [515.] Golden Plover.

Breeds in the Arctic regions, and occurs in migration throughout the
Mississippi Valley and Manitoba. Inthe spring of 1884, at Caddo, Ind.
Ter., the first came about March 11; between March 21 and 27, it was
noted from latitude 39° in Missouri to latitude 41° 42’ in Iowa, and to
Chicago, Ill. Then no more records were made until after the April
storms. About April 16, it began to move again, and April 24 it was
reported from Unadilla, Nebr., and Leeds Centre, Wis.; April 29 it
reached Heron Lake, Minn., and the first week in May was reported
from Argusville and Larimore, Dak. In southeastern Dakota it is very

abundant during migration.

In the fall of 1884 the first Golden Plover was seen at Emporia, Kans.,
October 22; and at San Angelo, Tex., where it was reported as a winter
visitant, flocks of hundreds were seen in November.

In the spring of 1885 the van reached Gainesville, Tex., March 17,
They were found in the Saint Louis market March 26, and the same day
were seen at Odin, IlI., and Richmond, Kans. At Hennepin, II1., a flock
was seen March 31. They came to Des Moines, Iowa, April 16; Fern-
wood, Ill., April 25; Heron Lake, Minn., and Argusville, Dak., May 4.
The last at Richmond, Kans., was seen May 8.

In the fall of 1885 the first was noted from Fernwood, Ill., July 15;
no more until August 3; common August 20; disappeared October 12.

Dr. F. W. Langdon states that in West Baton Rouge parish, La.,
in the spring of 1881, Golden Plover ‘‘frequented the pastures and
stubble-fields from April 2 to 15, in flocks numbering from a dozen to
twenty individuals.” (Jour. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. LV, 1881, p. 154.)

273. 7Ggialitis vocifera (Linn.) [516.] illdeer.

Breeds throughout the Mississippi Valley and Manitoba; an abun-
dant winter resident along the coast, and for 100 miles inland; less com-

100

=
ao

mon north to latitude 35°; and only occasional up to southern Illinois, —
In Texas it does not ordinarily winter north of latitude 33°. This isthe —
first plover to move northward, asually keeping but a few days behind —
the Ducks, Blackbirds, and Robins. In the spring of 1884 Killdeer com- —
menced their journey as usual in the latter part of February, but did —

not make much progress during that month. <A single one was seen at

Caddo, Ind. Ter., February 22, but it was a week later before the general q

advance began. At San Angelo, Tex., Mr. Lloyd’s report states: “ Al-

though many stay here all winter, they have been arriving in great 4

numbers since March 1, and will breed in a week or so.” Fresh eggs

were found at Eagle Pass, Tex., March 18, and at San Angelo from 4

March 9 to June 24. This wave of March 1 reached Gainesville, Tex.,
and Caddo, Ind. Ter., March 5 and 6, making the species quite common ;
but the bulk did not arrive until March 11, by which time the first had
traveled to Saint Louis, Mo.; Odin, Ill.; Ellis, Kans. ; and Manhattan,
Kans. Here then we have the van of migration stretching in an almost
straight line due east and west for 700 miles. The northern limit of the
area over which the Kildeer wintered is a line curving southward as it
passes to the west, but the first spring wave started earlier in the West
than near the Mississippi, and by March 11 they were even all along the
line. From here the advance in Illinois took place March 13, and a cor-
responding advance in lowa March 16 to latitude 42°. March 23 and
24 there was an advance all along the line to latitude 43° 47’ in eastern
Wisconsin; to latitude 45° in Minnesota and western Wisconsin near
the Mississippi ; to latitude 43° 48’ in western Minnesota, and up the Mis-
souri river to latitude 42° 56’in Dakota. Continuing northward in the
West, they were observed at latitude 44° 21’ in Dakota on March 27, and
April 14, had passed on up the Missouri to Menoken, Dak., latitude
46° 58’. April 23 they were at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

In the fall of 1884 the last Kildeer left Des Moines, Iowa, August15.
At Mount Carmel, Mo., the first migrant was seen August 30, and the
last October 1.

In the spring of 1885 the record began with two irregular occurrences:
February 28 it was reported from Richmond, Kans., and Odin, III.
The regular advance was as follows: Corinth, Miss., March 1; Saint
Louis, Mo., and Ellsworth, Kans., March 2; Shawneetown, IIl., March
4; Paris, I]., March 5; Glasgow, Mo., March 10; Unadilla, Nebr.,
March 11; Ferry, lowa, March 12. And on March 14 it appeared at
Des Moines, Laporte City (two observers) and Newton, iowa, and at
Tampico (two observers) and Hennepin, Ill. From March 25 to 26 a
slight advance was made to Batavia, Iil., Delavan, Wis., and Emmets-
burgh,lowa. March31 and April 1 the Kildeer, with thousands of other

birds, made a long journey, appearing at Clinton, Milwaukee, Lake —

Mills, Leeds Centre, New Cassel, and New Richmond, Wis.; Heron
Lake, Minn., and Huron, Dak. (two observers). It was reported April
4 at Argusville, Dak., and April 17 at Oak Point, Manitoba.

|

area tT

101,

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at River Falls, Wis., September
29; at Fernwood, Ill., September 10; at Grinneli, lowa, October 17;
and at Iowa City, lowa, October 24. The first migrant reached Bon-
ham, Tex., November 3; the next, November 4, and it had become com-
mon by the 11th. |
274. Ajgialitis semipalmata Bonap. [517.] Semipalmated Plover.

Winters from the Gulf coast and Texas southward, and passes up the
Mississippi Valley during April and May, to breed in the far North.

No dates of its migration were given in 1884.

In the spring of 1885 the only note on the northward migration of the
Semipalmated Plover was that of its arrival at Emporia, Kans., April
25, at which place it was common April 30. On its return it was noted
at Huron, Dak., September 1, and at Lanesboro, Minn., September 3.

277a. Ajgialitis meloda circumcincta Ridgw. [520a.] Belted Piping Plover.

This is the form of the Piping Plover which inhabits the Missis-
sippi Valley, wintering south of our border, and breeding abundantly
from northern [linois and Nebraska northward to Lake Winnipeg.
It is not yet known from Kansas. It was reported as breeding at Grin-
nell, lowa, but was not noted during migration.

278. Aigialitis nivosa Cass. [521.] Snowy Plover.

A bird of the western province of North America, recently added to
our district by Col. N.S. Goss, who, in June, 1886, found it breeding
plentifully on the salt plains along the Cimarron river in Indian Terri-
tory and southern Kansas. Still more recently, Mr. Sennett has pro-
cured it from southern Texas.

280. Aigialitis wilsonia (Ord). [522.] Wilson’s Plover.

A southern species, breeding along the South Atlantic and Guif
coasts; abundant along the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. Not
known from the interior.

281. Aigialitis montana (Towns.). [523.] -Wountain Plover.

Inhabits the western portion of our district from western Texas to
western Dakota; breeds from Kansas northward. Mr. Lloyd says
that at San Angelo, Tex., it is common in spring and fall, and that
some remain through the winter. Mr. Brown took it at. Boerne, Tex.
At Ellis, Kans., it is a regular summer resident and is common.

283. Arenaria interpres (Linn.). [509.] Turnstone.

A bird of wide distribution. Breeds along the coast of Texas. Its
home is on the sea-coast, but it sometimes wanders into the interior,
and has been taken in Manitoba, Minnesota, and along Lake Michigan.
It was reported as an accidental visitant at West De Pere, Wis.

286. Hzematopus palliatus Temm. [507.] Oyster-catcher.

Breeds plentifally along the Gulf coast, whence reported from Texas.
It is stated that the Oyster-catcher was always observed flying in pairs,
and that not more than two were ever seen together,

102

288. Jacana gymnostoma (Wagl.). [568.] Mexican Jacana. ae
A southern species, coming north to the valley of the Rio Grande, in —
Texas (Merrill).

289. Colinus virginianus (Linn.), [480.] Bob-white; Quail. .
Resident over all of the Mississippi Valley, except in the extreme west
and northwest. In Minnesota it has followed up the settlements, and
in the eastern part of the State has reached the line of the Northern —

Pacific Railroad, about latitude 46°. At latitude 47° I neither saw it
nor heard of it. In southeastern Dakota it is abundant and has ad-
vanced to about latitude 44° 30’. Northwestern Minnesota and most of
Dakota are yet to be occupied by this species.

The question is often asked whether the habit Quail have of “lying
to a dog” is natural or acquired. To get a satisfactory answer one has
only to hunt in different parts of Indian Territory. In the region west
of Fort Sill the Quail never think of stopping when they see a dog,
but run as fast as possible, and upon his near approach they flush im-
mediately, just as we may suppose they do on the approach of a coyote.
In the eastern part of the Territory, near the railroad, the Quail lie quite
well to a dog, and as they are exceedingly abundant, excellent sport
may be had from November to March.

289b. Colinus virginianus texanus (Lawr.). [480).] Texas Bob-white; Texas
Quail.

This is the form which inhabits Texas, where all the stations reported
it as resident and common. Its range extends northward to western
Kansas.

Mr. Atwater writes from San Antonio, Tex.: “These Quails often
come close to the ranch and lay eggs in hens’ nests—I suppose on ac-
count of the protection thus afforded against snakes. I have hardly
ever found nests of any kind of bird on the ground. Lark Finches
always build in trees in this locality. These facts I explain on the
snake theory.” Mr. Lloyd found nests at San Angelo, Tex., May 12
and 14, 1882. These Quails raise two broods a year, nests having been —
found in 1883 as late as August 18. Clutches of 12, 13, 14, 15, 14, and ~
12 eggs have been taken.

293. Callipepla squamata (Vig.). [484.] Scaled Partridge; Blue Quail.

Like the last, the Blue Quail is resident in western Texas. It was
reported as rare at Eagle Pass, and common at San Angeloand Mason. _
Mr. Henry says it is cominon for 75 miles north and west of Mason, Tex.
Mr. Lloyd gives the following information concerning its range: ‘* The
habitat of this bird runs east [of San Angelo] about 30 miles, I shot
both male and female last May near the mouth of the [Concho] river,
and on inquiry found they were the first ever seen beyond the above
limit. The northeastern boundary of their range I believe is Runnels
and Taylor counties, near Abilene, on the Texas and Pacific Railroad.”

103

In 1882 Mr. Lloyd took a nest with 13 eggs at San Angelo, Tex.,
_ April 26, and another, containing 6 eggs, May 13. In 1884 a nest with

_ 12 eggs was taken May 7.
_ Two specimens were shot at Bonham, Tex., latitude 33° 34’, in De-

s

—_- ef.
7 : 7

cember, 1885, from a covey of about a dozen. The species had never
been seen before in that vicinity. |

293a. Callipepla squamata castanogastris Brewst. [—]. Chestnut-bellied Scaled
Partridge.

This beautiful Quail inhabits eastern Mexico and the Lower Rio
Grande valley in Texas. The eastern limit of its range is defined by
the foothills of the Rio Grande, about 100 miles from the coast, below
which it is a rare straggler (Sennett).

295. Callipepla gambeli (Nuttall). [483.] Gambel’s Quail.
An inhabitant of northwestern Mexico and contiguous portions of the
United States; resident in western Texas.

296. Cyrtonyx montezumz (Vig.). [485.] Massena Partridge; Massena Quail.
This species is found from western Texas westward and southwest-
ward. Mr. Henry recorded it as a rare resident at Mason, and Mr.

Lloyd says it is resident in Tom Green county, 20 miles west of San

Angelo.

297. Dendragapus obscurus (Say). [471.] Dusky Grouse.
A Rocky mountain species, recorded from the Black Hills.

298. Dendragapus canadensis (Linn.). [472.] Canada Grouse ; Spruce Partridge.

Principally resident in British America, but in winter occurs as far
south as Racine, Wis. In Minnesota it is resident from Minneap-
olis northward, becoming quite common ip the immense forests of the
northeastern part of the State, and extending westward to the edge
of the prairie at White Earth.

300. Bonasa umbellus (Linn.). [473.] Ruffed Grouse.

Resident over all the Mississippi Valley except the southwestern
quarter. In Nebraska it has been seen in the southeastern portion
only, and though formerly known as a resident in eastern Kansas, is
not now known to occur in the State. It is still reported from Missouri,
and is common in Iowa. It is very scarce in northwestern Arkansas
and is said not to occur in omeiana,.< as it certainly does not in Indian
Territory and Texas.

300a. Bonasa umbellus togata (Linn.). [—.] Canadian Ruffed Grouse.

This sub-species is the form inhabiting the dense evergreen forests
of northern Maine and the British Provinces. It occurs as far west as
eastern Oregon and Washington Territory. Specimens collected by
Mr. Ernest E. Thompson have been sent from Manitoba and Lake of
the Woods to Mr. Ridgway, who pronounces them typical togata.

104 x © eee 7

300b. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides (Dougl.). [473a.] Gray Ruffed Grouse.

This is a bird of the Rocky Mountain region and western British —
America. Mr. Ridgway has examined specimens of it collected near
Carberry, in western Manitoba, by Mr. Ernest E. Thompson. 4

301. Lagopus lagopus (Linn.). [474.] Willow Ptarmigan.

The Willow Grouse has been exterminated or driven away from most —
of its range in the United States. Formerly it visited northern Mlinois —
in winter, but is not known to do so now. A few are still found in ©
Minnesota, where it is so rare that the Indians have no name for it. —
The Willow Grouse was noted during the winter of 1883-1884 at Portage —
la Prairie, Manitoba, by Mr. Nash, who states that it visits Lake Mani- —
toba every winter.

305. Tympanuchus americanus (Reich.). [477.] Prairie Hen; Pinnated Grouse.

The Prairie Hen is common on the prairies of the Mississippi Valley
from southeastern Texas and Louisiana northward as far as our bound- —
ary, which it reached in 1881. In 1883 it began to be common at Pem-
bina. In 1884 it became common at Winnipeg, Manitoba, and appeared
in large numbers at Portage la Prairie, on the Assiniboine River (lati-
tude 50°).* Ithas been gradually spreading westward, and previous to
the great extension of the railroad it kept just about abreast of the set- —
tlements. Dr. Coues, writing in 1874, said that it then inhabited the east-
ern half of Minnesota, but he had no reason to believe that it occurred at
all in northwestern Minnesota or northern Dakota. In June, 1879, Rob-
erts and Benner saw several at Herman, Minn., 40 miles from the Dakota
line.t In 18801 found it abundant in northwestern Minnesota up to
latitude 47° and only 40 miles from the Dakota line. I also heard that
it was then not uncommon across the Red river, at Grand Forks, Dak.
Now it has occupied the whole length of eastern Dakota, covering a strip
from 30 to 60 miles in width. At the same time it has spread from
middle to western Kansas, and from eastern Texas to Colman county,
a little west of the middle of the State. Mr. Nehrling says of it in south-
eastern Texas near Houston: ‘‘ Common resident on all the flat, grassy
prairies. Is becoming scarcer every year.” (Bull. Nut. Ornith. Club,
Vol. VII, 1882, p. 175.) In Indian Territory it is found as far west at
least as the middle of the State.

The following letter from Mr. C. W. Nash, of Portage la Prairie,
Manitoba (latitude 50°), gives an interesting account of the invasion of —
that locality by this species: .

The first information I received of the appearance of the Pinnated Grouse in this 4
Province was from a farmer living about 8 miles north of this town (Portage la Prai-
rie), who had shot one in the fall of 1882. I did not see the bird, but from the descrip-
tion he gave me of it I could not mistake it. I immediately made inquiries among

the hunters of this locality, but no one else had seen it. In the fall of 1883 lagain —
heard of the bird in one or two places, but saw none myself. In the fall of 1884 it

* Ernest E. Thompson in The Auk, Vol. II, 1886, p. 153.
tBull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1880, p. 18.

105

pecame plentiful, comparatively speaking, in this neighborhood and to the eastward,

a

that is to say, between here and Winnipeg. I had the good fortune to secure two
specimens in rather a lucky fashion. I was out with a friend, chicken shooting, Octo-
ber 6, 1884, at Burnside, a settlement 10 miles west of this town, when we saw a large

flock of Grouse alight in a stubble field near us. When we reached the field three

birds got up, of which I killed two with the first barrel, and the other with the sec-
ond barrel. Of the two first killed, one wasa Pinnated Grouse, and the other a Sharp-
tailed Grouse; the one killed with the second barrel was a Pinnated Grouse. I got
no others, but heard of them from nearly all of my acquaintances who hunt. Strange
to say, all that were obtained, except one, appear to have been young birds, and this
one was in full plumage, having on each side of the neck the long, pointed feathers
peculiar to the species. So far as I can learn with any degree of certainty, these
birds are not yet (March, 1885) found much west of the place where I killed mine,
nor farther north than 10 or 12 miles from Portage la Prairie. They are evidently
working in ‘ere from Minnesota and Dakota, and are following the grain. Up tothis
time the Sharp-tailed Grouse has been very abundant, but, as might be expected, it
is getting scarcer in the vicinity of the towns. So far, both birds here associate to-
gether when they pack and find food in the stubbles.

We have here a case of northward migration of young birds in the
fall, similar to that which has been noticed so often in the case ot the
Herons.

At Portage la Prairie none were seen in spring until 1885, when a
few were noticed and its “ booming” was heard for the first time.

The Prairie Chicken is commonly said to be a resident bird, and so it
is in the larger part of its range; but in Iowaa regular though local
migration takes place. This has been mentioned by tormer writers, and
in the spring of 1884 a special study was made of the matter. Many
observers unite in testifying to the facts in the case, and, what is still
more important, there is not a dissenting voice. One of the observers
does not exaggerate when he says: ‘Prairie Chickens migrate as reg-
ularly as the Canada Goose.” Summing up all the information received,
the facts of the case are as follows: In November and December large
flocks of Prairie Chickens come from northern Iowa and southern Min-
nesota, to settle for the winter in northern Missouri and southern Iowa.
This migration varies in bulk with the severity of the winter.

During an early cold snap immense flocks come from the northern
prairies to southern Iowa, while in mild, open winters the migration is
much less pronounced. During a cold, wet spring the northward move-
ment in March and April is largely arrested on the arrival of the flocks
in northern Iowa; but an early spring, with fair weather, finds them
abundant in the southern tier of counties in Minnesota, and many flocks
pass still farther north. The most remarkable feature of this movement
is found in the sex of the migrants. It is the females that migrate,
leaving the males to brave the winter’s cold. Mr. Miller, of Heron Lake,
Minn., fairly states the case when he says: ‘ The females in this lat-
itude migrate south in the fall and come back in the spring about one
or two days after the first Ducks, and they keep coming in flocks of
from ten to thirty for about three days, all flying north. The Grouse
that stay all winter are males.”

10@e a.

In the spring of 1884, at Iowa City, Iowa, the first flocks passed over —
March 10, and the bulk March 22; at Newton, Iowa, the bulk was noted —
March 23. The “ booming” of the species was recorded from March 7, —
at Caddo, Ind. Ter., to March 24, at Barton, Dak. In the spring of 1885, —
the commencement of * booming” was noted at Richmond, Kans., March
1, and at Argusville, Dak., March 27. At Newton, Iowa, the northward
movement was very pronounced March 11. )

Karly nesting was reported at Durand, Wis., March 28; while at Ver-
million, Dak., in 1884, a nest with sixteen fresh eggs was found as late
as June 9.

In the fall of 1885, at Des Moines, Iowa, Pinnated Grouse were moy-
ing south in large numbers October 17.

307. Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (Ridgw.). [477a.] Lesser Prairie Hen.

This Prairie Hen inhabits the eastern border of the Great* Plains,
from southwestern Kansas to western Texas. Colonel Goss records it as
‘resident in southern Kansas; rare.” In Texas Mr. Lloyd states that
itis a winter visitor. He says:

Seen in October and November in Concho county, and also in winter on Middle
Concho, in Tom Green county. Abundant near Colorado City, on the Texas and
Pacific Railroad. I believe this record extends the range to the southwest. West-
ward it was abundant to the foot-hills of the Davis mountains. Said to have been

driven from the Pan Handle counties by the numerous prairie fires. (The Auk, Vol. IV,
1887, p. 187.)

308. Pediocetes phasianellus (Linn.). [478.] Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse.

The typical form is a British-American bird, reaching the United
States only along our northern boundary. It is resident in Manitoba,
and was reported as common at Portage la Prairie. Specimens sent
to Mr. Ridgway from western Manitoba by Mr. EH. E. Thompson are in-
termediate between true phasianellus and phasianellus campestris.

308b. Pediocetes phasianellus campestris Ridgw. [—.] Prairie or Common
Sharp-tailed Grouse.

The home of the Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse is on the plains and prai-
ries of the United States east of the Rocky mountains and south to
New Mexico. Dr. Agersborg states that at Vermillion, Dak., it ‘is get-
ting rarer every year.” I am indebted to Mr. Carr, of Waupaca, Wis.,
for the boundaries of its range in that State. He writes:

Sharp-tailed Grouse are quite abundant on Sisson’s prairie, Portage county, in the
fall of the year, but as soon as cold weather sets in they keep in the edge of the
woods. They are associated with the Prairie Hen (Tympanuchus americanus). They
range in the northwestern portion of the State, from about the center of Waushara
county, but are found most abundant in Waushara, Waupaca, Portage, Shawano,
and Marathon counties, though there are not many in the two latter.

Colonel Goss says they are still resident in middle and western Kan-
sas, but are becoming rare ; while Dr. Watson says that in the vicinity
of Ellis, Kans., they disappeared in 1875 and since then the Prairie
Hen (TZ. americanus) has taken their place. Even in Illinois a few are
still found, according to Mr. Ridgway, on the prairies of the northern

107

part of the State, but are very scarce. They were recorded as rare resi-
dents at Grinnell, Iowa. In Grant and Traverse counties, in western

Minnesota, they are “the common Grouse of the region.” (Roberts and
Benner, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1880, p. 17.)

309. Centrocercus urophasianus (Bonap.). [479.] Sage Grouse; Sage Cock.

In the Mississippi Valley district the Sage Cock is found only along
the extreme western edge of Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota. Colonel
Goss gives it as resident in western Kansas, and cites Mr. Cavanaugh as
having often killed it among the sage brush in the southwestern corner
of the State. The Colonel does not state whether or not there is any
other record of the occurrence of the species in the State. This record
has been called in question by Dr. Watson, of Ellis, Kans., who says
there is not, and never has been, any sage brush in the southwestern
part of the State, and hence no Sage Cock. He suggests that the bird
Mr. Cavanaugh saw was the Chaparral Cock (Geococcyx californianus).
There is no reason to doubt the other records.

310. Meleagris gallopavo Linn. [470a.] Wild Turkey.

Occurs locally throughout the Mississippi Valley, south to eastern
Texas, and west to the plains; resident wherever found. The range of
this “the noblest of American game-birds” has been gradually con-
tracted by its extermination in tne settled parts of the country. In 1874
Dr. Coues gave its northern limit as not far from the southern boundary
of Minnesota. Dr. Agersborg states that it is resident, though not
common, in southeastern Dakota. In 1881 it was common in Knox
county, Ind. (Ridgway). It is still reported from Nebraska, Kansas,
and Illinois, growing more abundant to the southward until in Indian
Territory it is no longer uncommon. That it is abundant around Red
Rock, Indian Territory, I can testify from personal experience. Here
it rivals the Prairie Hen in numbers, and lying well to a dog affords
splendid sport. In the winter of 1883-84 flocks were seen which were
variously estimated as comprising from two hundred to five hundred
individuals. In the southern part of the Territory I have seen the
bottom of a lumber wagon piled up with the results of a single night’s
sport. If one wants Turkey hunting let him come to Indian Territory
from December 1 to the middle of January.

310a. Meleagris gallopavo mexicana (Gould). [470.] Mexican Turkey.

This, the original ancestor of the domesticated Turkey, inhabits the
table-lands of Mexico, western Texas, and Arizona. Specimens referred
to this form were taken by Mr. Atwater at San Antonio, Tex., where
the species is resident; its eggs also were secured. Mr. Lloyd says of
it in western Texas:

Resident. Once very abundant on every creek, but now rarely to be met with. I
flushed a hen from her nest—a depression in a patch of low bushes—May 29, 1882, con-

10

taining eight eggs; but I have frequently heard of them further south with ten to
fourteen eggs. Another brood was raised on a small rushy island in Brady ereek, in —
the eastern part of Concho county, the young running about June 1,1883. (The Auk, —
Vol. IV, 1887, p. 187.)

311. Ortalis vetula maccalli Baird. [469.] Chachalaca.

The Chachalaca is an inhabitant of northeastern Mexico and the —
valley of the Lower Rio Grande in Texas, where it is abundant.

313. Columba flavirostris Wagl. [457.] MLRed-billed Pigeon.
This large Pigeon inhabits Mexico and Central America, coming north
in summer to the Lower Rio Grande valley in Texas, where it breeds

plentifully.

315. Ectopistes migratorius (Linn.). [459.] Passenger Pigeon.

The Pigeonis irregular in all its movements, wandering both in winter
and summer in search of sufficient food to satisfy the hunger of its im-
mense hordes. Mr. Lloyd tells us that the Nueces caiion, in southwestern
Texas, is the winter home of countless myriads of Pigeons, but for the
most part it is not a common species in the West. It winters usually
from latitude 37° and always from latitude 36° southward, though I am
confident that not a bird wintered within 20 miles of Caddo, Ind. Ter., in
the winter of 1883~84, and most of the local gunners claim that it never
occurs in that part of the Territory. I never saw it there either in fall,
winter, or spring.

In the spring of 1884 its northward journey commenced about the
middle of March, and by March 16, stations here and there had noticed
it up to latitude 42°. It was found about the forty-fourth parallel
March 23, and reached Elk River, Minn. (latitude 45° 25’), March 29.
The storms of April evidently delayed its progress, as it was not re-
ported from Barton, Dak., until May 4, and did not reach Oak Point,
Manitoba, until May 20. The bulk was reported from Portage la Prairie,
Manitoba, May 12, a few having been seen Premonelys On May 21
fresh eggs were found

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Passenger Pigeons departed from
Williamstown, Iowa, September 15, and the last was seen there Sep-
tember 27. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the first migrant was seen Septem-
ber 9, and the last September 21.

In the spring of 1885 the northward movement began somewhat
later than in 1884. The only records made previous to April 1 were:
Hennepin, Il., March 26, and Milwaukee, Wis., March 31. During the ~
first half of April migration was rapid though irregular, and April 18
the first arrived at Ossowo, Manitoba. In the fall of 1885 the first —
appeared at Saint Louis, Mo., September 19; Mount Carmel, Mo., Sep- —
tember 27: and at Sifawmneotow mn, Til., October 3. The last at Elk River,
Minn., was recorded September 26, and at Mount Carmel, September 30.

This Pigeon is a common summer resident in I] Mao (Seton).

=

2]

109

316. Zenaidura macroura (Linn.). [460.] Mourning Dove ; Carolina Dove.

A common breeder throughout the Mississippi Valley. From lati-
tude 36° southward this Dove can be found regularly and abundantly
throughout the year. Between latitude 36° and latitude 38° it isa

regular winter resident, occurring in flocks, butis not abundant; north

of latitude 38°, although many are found each winter, they are merely
single birds, that have found exceptionally favorable quarters. In the
winter of 1883~84 it was reported from as far north as southern Wis-
consin (at Delavan). In the West it is not common in winter north of
latitude 33°. In the spring of 1884, during the latter part of February,
slight movements occurred, and a few ‘firsts’ were noted, but probably
these were birds that had wintered not far off and were merely chang-
ing their feeding grounds. No real movement took place until about
a week after the Passenger Pigeons commenced flying. In its north-
ward progress the Carolina Dove averages about one week behind the

Pigeon. March 23 and 24 it appeared at Saint Louis and neighboring

points. March 28 to 30 seem to have been days of much movement, -
the van advancing from latitude 42° on the 28th to latitude 43° 43/ on
the 30th. By April 6 it had reached Elk River, Minn. (latitude 45°
45’), and on the 11th, farther west, was reported from Linwood, Nebr.,
and Vermillion, Dak. The Dove ceases to be common as we approach
our northern boundary, which has been given as the northern limit
of its range. Nevertheless, I always found a few in Minnesota at lat-
itude 47°, arriving the first week in May, and on the last day of May,
in 1884, it appeared at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (latitude 50°), where
the species is common (Nash). At Winnepeg, Manitoba, it is rare
(Seton).

In the fall of 1884 the bulk left Des Moines, Iowa, August 25, and
the last was seen there the next day. During the winter of 1884~85
the Mourning Dove was noted from Glasgow, Mo.; Reeds, Mo.; Shaw-
neetown, Ill.; and Peoria, Ill. At Aledo, Ill, they are said to have
been present durirg all previous winters, but none were seen there in
1885 until April. Migration began at Manhattan, Kans., March 5, and
Paris, Ul., March 23. The birds reached Saint Louis, Mo., and Emporia,
Kans., March 31, with a very early arrival at Leeds Centre, Wis., on
the same date. During the first five days of April they were reported
from Fayette, Mo.; Ferry, lowa; Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Ames, Iowa;
Grinnell, Iowa; Peoria, Il].; Aledo, Ill.; Rockford, Il.; and Durand,
Wis.; but no regular progression can be traced from the first to the fifth
of these days. There was no further advance until April 17 to 20, when
they were noted from Fernwood, Ill.; Delavan, Wis.; New Cassel, Wis.;
Ripon, Wis.; River Falls, Wis.; and Lanesboro, Minn. They were seen
at Huron, Dak., April 23; Hastings, Minn., April 24; Argusville, Dak.,
April 25; and Menoken, Dak., May 10.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Elk River, Minn., October 7;
at Grinnell, lowa, November 4; at Lowa City, Iowa, October 11; and at

110

Des Moines, Iowa, October 24. They began to flock at Shawneetown,
Ill., August 20.

318. Engyptila albifrons (Bonap.). [463.] White-fronted Dove.
This Mexican species comes north in summer as far as the Lower Rio

Grande valley in Texas, where it is not an uncommon breeder (Sennett
and Merrill).

319. Melopelia leucoptera (Linn.). [464.] White-winged Dove.

This tropical American Dove comes north regularly as far as south-
ern Texas, where it breeds abundantly. It was reported as a summer
resident at Eagle Pass.

320. Columbigallina passerina (Linn.). [465.] Ground Dove.

Like the last, this Dove was reported from Eagle Pass only; but it
ranges during the summer through most of the Southern States south
of latitude 32°, being most common near the coast; a straggler was once
taken at Locke, Mich.

321. Scardafella inca (Less.). [466.] Inca Dove.

A Mexican species, coming north to southern Texas. At Laredo,
Tex., itis abundant. (Dr. H. B. Butcher, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila.,
Vol. XX, 1868, p. 150.)

325. Cathartes aura (Linn.). [454.] Turkey Buzzard; Turkey Vulture.

An abundant breeder throughout most of the Mississippi Valley.
Ordinarily it winters from about latitude 39° southward, thongh it was
reported by Dr. Agersborg as usually resident at Vermillion, Dak.,
latitude 42° 56’. A short distance south of latitude 39° it is an abun-
dant resident. Dr. Watson saw it at Ellis, Kans., during the warm
intervals in the winter of 1883~84. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was a
most abundant winter as well as summer resident, and yet so great
was the mortality among the cattle, that all the Buzzards and Carrion
Crows together could not rid the prairies of their carcasses. In the
fall and early winter, when cattle feed was good and dead animals were
few, these two species had hard work to get a living. They could be
seen Sailing overhead in great flocks watching for food, or sitting in long
lines on the fences. An animal killed in the morning would be picked
clean by night, and there was great quarreling and fighting over the
carcass. After the snows and freezing rains came cattle began to die
by the hundred, and before spring more than 15,000 died within 30
miles of Caddo. Then scarcely a Buzzard was ever seen in the air.
They became so particular that they would not touch a careass on the
prairie, but selecting those that had fallen in or near timber, would
gorge themselves, fly heavily to the nearest tree, and stay there until
there was room in their bodies for more of their disgusting food. All
Texas observers except Mr. Lloyd record the Turkey Buzzard as a
winter resident. Mr. Lioyd states that it never winters in Tom Green

Cet

or Concho counties (where it is an abundant summer resident), though
he found it wintering in great numbers at the Nueces cafion, south of
San Angelo. In the spring of 1884 the first reached San Angelo Mareh
11, and the next day they were numerous. A single one had been seen
at Saint Louis February 26, but the general movement commenced there
three weeks later. On March 16 they appeared at Hillsborough, Ill.
(latitude 39° 12’), and at Mount Carmel, Mo. (latitude 38° 45’). By March
27 they had advanced to latitude 40°. April 4 and 5 found them at
latitude 41° and 42° in Iowa, and April 9 at latitude 41° 58/ in Illinois ;
April 12 they were seen at Williamstown, Iowa (latitude 42° 55’), and
April 20, at Huron, Duk. (latitude 44° 21’). This is rather late migra-
tion, for I used to note them at latitude 47° in Minnesota the first week
in April. They were not reported from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba,
until May 23. They are common in summer in the Assiniboine valley
(Seton). Their farthest extension north occurs in our district, where
they have been traced to latitude 53° in Manitoba, while on the Atlan-
tic coast they are rare above latitude 40°.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Turkey Buzzards left Williamstown,
Iowa, September 25; and the last was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., Octo-
ber 22. It is reported to have spent the winter of 1884~’85 at Shaw-
neetown, Ill.

The records of the northward movement in the spring of 1885 are too
irregular for systematic arrangement. The most northern records re-
ceived are: Manhattan, Kans., April 4; Lanesboro, Minn., April 27;
and Hennepin, Ill., April 6. In none of the records for 1883, 1884, or
1885 do the dates of arrival correspond with the times at which I noted the
species at White Earth, Minn., during the three previous years. They
came there with the first large wave of spring migration. In 1880 the
first was seen April 1, just after the arrival of the Robin, Red-winged
Blackbird, and Mallard, which came during the last days of March.
The next year, 1831, spring migration was late, and no Turkey Buzzards
were seen until April 8; the first Robin, April 14; the first Golden-
shafted Flickers, Red- winged Blackbirds, and Mallards, April 17. The
average temperature from April 1 to 6 was 3 degrees below zero. April
2 and 3, 1882, were very different, snow melting rapidly, roads so bare
as to forbid the use of sleighs, and a general feeling of spring every-
where. During these two days the first arrivals were noted of Turkey
Buzzards, Canada Geese, Red-tailed Hawks, Marsh Hawks, Sparrow
Hawks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Killdeer, Meadowlarks, and Ring-
billed Gulls, with the first Robin two days later. During the spring of
1885 I happened to revisit White Earth just as the first wave of migra-
tion arrived. April 4,5, and 6 it brought the Sparrow Hawk, Red-
tailed Hawk, Marsh Hawk, Killdeer, Robin, Red-winged Blackbird,
Brewer’s Blackbird, Meadowlark, and Brown Crane, but not a single
Turkey Buzzard was seen, In the fall of 1885, at lowa City, Iowa, the

: a

last Turkey Buzzard was seen October 3; at Grinnell, lowa, Novem-
ber 4, and at Fayette, Mo., October 28.
326. Catharista atrata (Bartr.). [455.] Black Vulture; Carrion Crow.
This short-winged cousin of the Turkey Buzzard is his constant com- —
panion in the Southern States, but is left far behind in the vernal race —
for the frigid zone. The Carrion Crow is content to remain in or near
his winter home and become common scavenger all the yearround. He
is scarcely migratory, his movements being wanderings rather than —
migrations. As in the case of the Turkey Buzzard, he shuns San An-
gelo during the winter, though he returned there March 19, 1884. Up
the Mississippi Valley he is found resident as far north as southern Illi-
nois, and has been taken once in Ohio. He has been seen twice in
southern Kansas and once nested there. At Hilis, in western Kansas,
Dr. Watson captured one March 27, 1885, the only record for that —
locality. From latitude 36° to 38° he has the mixed character of beth —
resident and summer resident, remaining in some places the whole year
and appearing at others in the summer only.

327. Hlanoides forficatus (Linn.). [426.] Swallow-tailed Kite.

This beautiful and graceful species breeds sparingly throughout the
Mississippi Valley from the Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota and Dakota,
but is most abundant in the Southern States. It winters in Central
and South America, but Mr. Bibbins recorded it as a rare winter vis.
itant at Mermenton, La., and Major Young mentioned it as a winter
bird at Waverly, Miss. A most extraordinary winter record is that
given in the Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club (Vol. III, 1878 p. 147), where the
Species is said to be found in winter and early spring on the James
river, in southeastern Dakota. Again, November 14, 1881, Mr. D. H.
Talbot saw several a short distance west of Jamestown, Dak., and three
days later, about midway between Jamestown and Bismarck, he saw
fifty or more in a flock (Bull. Nutt Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, p. 59).
It is incomprehensible how a bird which so constantly shuns cold
weather could stand the terrible winters of southern Dakota. Itis —
safe to say that none were within the limits of Dakota in January, 1884.

In the spring of 1884 I observed it at Caddo, Ind. Ter., April 1,
and then, changing my residence to Red Rock, in the northern part of

the Territory, I again noted its arrival April12. At Fayette, Mo.,it —

was seen May 9, and at Iowa City, Iowa, May 13. It is in the Missis-
Sippi Valley that the species finds its most northern range. In Min-
nesota it has been traced to Red Lake (latitude 48° 30’), and in Dakota,
to Pembina (latitude 49°). Recently it has been recorded from Mani-
toba (The Auk, Vol. III, 1886, p. 328).

In the spring of 1885 the Swallow-tailed Kite reached Elk River,
Minn., May 4. In the fall of 1885 the first arrival was recorded from
Grinnell, Iowa, September 16. It was last seen at Saint Louis, Mo.,
August 20. Dr. Agersborg states that a few spend the summer at Ver-
million, Dak.

_ $28. Hlanus leucurus (Vieill.). [427.] White-tailed Kite.

113

A southern species, ranging from southern [llinois and Indian Terri-
tory to Chili and Buenos Ayres. In western Texas Mr. Lloyd records
it as a rare fall visitor. In the valley of the Lower Rio Grande it is
rather rare (Merrill and Sennett). In eastern Texas, near Houston,
Mr. Nehrling says of it: ’

This rare and beautiful bird I have seen several times sailing over cotton fields.
Its flight is easy and graceful, but not rapid; sometimes it stops a few moments and

then descends with great velocity to the ground to capture a lizard or asnake. It is
not shy, and is easily recognized by its white tail.

329. Ictinia mississippiensis (Wils.). [428] Mississippi Kite.

Winters from the Southern States southward, and in summer passes
up the Mississippi Valley regularly to Kansas and southern [linois, and
rarely to Wisconsin. At San Angelo, Tex., it is common in fall, and a
few remain through the summer. In the spring of 1884 it arrived at
Gainesville, Tex., April 23, and at Saint Louis, Mo., May 10.

In the fall of 1884, during September and October, it was common in
small flocks at San Angelo, Tex.

In the spring of 1885 it appeared at Gainesville, Tex., May 6. In the
fall of 1885 it was last seen at Saint Louis, Mo., August 18. In eastern
Texas, near Houston, it breeds, but is not common (Nebrling).

331. Circus hudsonius (Linn.). [430.] Marsh Hawk.

Occurs over the whole of Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley in
summer, and from northern Illinois and northern Kansas southward
in winter. In western Texas it is an abundant resident. The most

northern record in the winter of 188384 was from Vermillion, Dak.,

where a few were Seen in January. At Newton, lowa, Mr. Preston says
they usually winter, but: none were seen from the fall of 1883 until

March, 1884. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they were twice as numerous dur-

ing the winter of 1883-’84 as all the other species of hawks together,
and were in the proportion of about three brown-colored to one blue
individual. In the spring of 1884 they came to Saint Louis, Mo.,
and Newton, Iowa, March 10 and 11. March 18 they were seen at
Lanesboro, Minn.; March 24 at Elk River, Minn.; April 11 at Portage
la Prairie, Mentha and April 27 at Oak Point, Manitoba.

During the ee of 188485 the Marsh Hawk was plentiful at
Paris, Ill.

The notes on the spring migration in 1885 were very irregular, and
extended over an entire month, from March 9, when the first was noted
in central Iowa, to April 9, when it arrived at latitude 50° in Manitoba.
In the fall of 1885 the last at Ossowo, Manitoba, was seen November
12; at Grinnell, Iowa, October 11; and November 6 it became common
at Bonham, Tex.

7365—Bull. 2——8

114

332. Accipiter velox (Wils.). [482.] Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Range much the same as that of Cooper’s Hawk, but a little more
northern. In the spring of 1884 very few notes were contributed on
its movements, and they relate to its arrival at latitude 41° 30/ in Ili-
nois and lowa about the middle of March, and at Portage la Prairie,
Manitoba, April 16.

In the spring of 1885 the Sharp-shinned Hawk was noted, without
any regularity, from various stations from Mount Carmel, Mo., Febru-
ary 17 (next one seen April 7), to Minneapolis, Minn., April 9.

In the fall of 1885 the first was seen at Bonham, Tex., October 14,
and the last at Mount Carmel, Mo., October 16. In western Texas it
is “abundant in fall; less so in winter” (Lloyd). |

333. Accipiter cooperi (Bonap.). [431.] Cooper’s Hawk.

Breeds throughout the Mississippi Valley, wintering in the southern
parts. In the winter of 1883~84 there was no record north of lati-
tude 38°. One was caught at Pierce City, Mo., in the latter part of
February, whose feathers were so coated with ice that it could not fly.
In the spring of 1884 it reached Saint Louis March 11; March 25 and 26
was seen at Danville, Ill., and Laporte City, lowa; and was reported
from Fridley, Minn., March i8.

In the spring of 1885 the first Cooper’s Hawk was seen at Mount >
Carmel, Mo., April 5, and the last May 10. The first was noted at Grin-
nell, lowa, March 31; Laporte City, lowa, and Lake City, Minn., April
26. In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Mount Carmel October 30.
In western Texas it is found with the preceding, common in fall and
not rare in winter.

334. Accipiter atricapillus (Wils.) [433.] Goshawk.

A tolerably common fall and winter visitant in Manitoba (Seton), and
a rare Winter visitant to the northern part of the Mississippi Valley,
coming south to Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Given by Mr. Agers-
borg as a winter visitor at Vermillion, Dak., but rare.

In the spring of 1885 a Goshawk was seen at Lanesboro, Minn.,
April 4.
334a. Accipiter atricapillus striatulus Ridgw. [433a.] Western Goshawk.

Mr. Lloyd states that in western Texas, in December, 1885, he shot a
male Western Goshawk and saw its mate several times.
335. Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi (Aud.). [434.] Harris’s Hawk.

The normal range of Harris’s Hawk is from southern Louisiana and
southern Texas southward. In the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, in
Texas, it is an abundantresident. At Eagle Pass, in southwestern
Texas, it was reported as an abundant summer resident.

337. Buteo borealis (Gmel.). [436.] Red-tailed Hawk.

Breeds throughout Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley, and stays
quite far north in winter. During the winter of 188485 it was reported
from Vermillion, Dak., and Chicago, Ill.

bi5

In the spring of 1884 it was reported from varioys parts of Iowa,
about the middle of March; from Lanesboro, Minn., March 2 (two
. being seen during a furious storm, and it was repeatedly seen the next
week). April 3 it appeared at Two Rivers, Manitoba (latitude 49° 28’) ;
and April 12 it reached Oak Point, Manitoba.

In the spring of 1885 the Red-tailed Hawk was seen at Laporte City,
Iowa, March 3, and at Lake City, Minn., March 26. Various irregular
notes were given from intervening places.

In the fall of 1885 the first returning migrants reached Bonham,
- Tex., November 10, and were common there November 19.

4
4
.

“><

_ 337a. Buteo borealis kriderii Hoopes. [436a.] Krider's Hawk.
An inhabitant of the Great Plains, the eastern limit of its range cover-
ing the western part of the Mississippi Valley from Minnesota to Texas.
Has been taken in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, northeastern Illinois,
Kansas, and Texas. Roberts and Benner took a young Krider’s Hawk
from the nest in western Minnesota in June, 1879, and Mr. Ridgway
tells me he has examined two females shot from the nest in Minnesota.

337b. Buteo borealis calurus (Cass.). [436).] Western Red-tail.

The Western Red-tail reaches the western border of the Mississippi
Valley district. Colonel Goss records it as not uncommon in Kansas in
winter. It has been taken also in Illinois, near Chicago (Nelson). The
only observer who has had the good fortune to secure it is Mr. Lloyd,
who finds it an abundant resident in Concho county, Tex., where it
breeds from April 22 to May 22.

338. Buteo harlani(Aud.). [438.] Harlan’s Hawk.

Harlan’s Hawk is an inhabitant of the Gulf States and the lower
Mississippi Valley, and has been found as far north as Kansas, Illinois,
and Iowa. It was reported by one of the observers in former years
from Liter, Ill., and has also been found at Warsaw, Ill., and at Gaines-
ville, Tex. Nothing is known of its movements and breeding habits.
The species was described by Audubon from a specimen killed in
Louisiana.

339. Buteo lineatus (Gmel.). [439.] Med-shouldered Hawk.
_ The movements of this species are similar to those of the Red-tailed
Hawk, with which it is often found during migration, but it does not
go so far north, seldom passing beyond our northern boundary. In
eastern Kansas it is a common resident (Goss). Both it and the
Red-tail intended to spend the winter of 188384, as usual, in the
vicinity of Saint Louis, but the severe cold of the first week in January
proved too much for them, and they migrated, to return with the first
warm wave the last of the month. It was reported as wintering at
Chicago, and as a rare winter resident in southern Missouri. It mi-
grated at the same time as the Red-tail, and at Elk River, Minn., where
the latter was not seen, it arrived March 24,

116

In the spring of 1885 the only record received on the migration of
the Red-shouldered Hawk was a note of its arrival at Mount Carmel,
Mo., April 5. In the fall of 1885 it appeared at Bonham, Tex., Novem-
ber 23. Mr. Lloyd says it is a rare resident in western Texas.

340. Buteo abbreviatus Caban. [440.] Zone-tailed Hawk.

This southwestern Hawk is a fall visitant in Tom Green and Concho
counties, Tex., where it was noted September 10, 1884 (Lloyd). In
Comal county, Tex., it was found breeding in May, 1878, by Mr. W. H.
Werner, who secured a male specimen and a set of eggs. Two pairs
were observed (Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. IV, 1879, p. 80).

341. Buteo albicaudatus Vieill. [441.] White-tailed Hawk. 4
A southwestern species, breeding along the Rio Grande in Texas q
(Sennett and Merrill), and occurring in western Texas in fall and win- E
ter (Lloyd).
7

342. Buteo swainsoni Bonap. [442.] Swainson’s Hawk.

Swainson’s Hawk is common in Manitoba and along the Red River of
the North, and it occurs throughout most of the Mississippi Valley, and
thence west to the Pacific. It remains in the West quite far north dur-
ing cold weather, and is a common resident in western Kansas and
western Texas. Even in eastern Texas, near Houston, it is “‘ not un-
common during the breeding season” (Nehrling). In 1884 a few were
seen in January at Vermillion, Dak. It was not seen in Iowa until migra-
tion commenced. About April 1 it appeared at Newton and Laporte
City.

In the spring of 1885 Swainson’s Hawk was recorded at Newton,
Towa, April 16, and March 23 at Laporte City, lowa. A nest with
three eggs was founda May 13 at San Angelo, Tex.

In the fall of 1885 the first south-bound migrant was seen at Emporia,
Kans., October 10.

343. Buteo latissimus (Wils.). [443.] Broad-winged Hawk.

This is the only distinctively eastern Hawk occurring in the Missis- —
sippi Valley. It is found only rarely so far west as Kansas, the most — =
westerly record being that of Dr. Watson, at Ellis, Kans. It breeds ‘
principally in the northern part of its range, being quite common in
Minnesota (though it has been known to nest even in southern Texas), —
and in winter it passes south to Florida, and even to Central and South
America. In spring migration in 1884 it passed through central lowa
about the middle of April, but only a few notes on it were reported.

In the spring of 1885 the Broad-winged Hawk arrived at Mount Car-
mel, Mo., March 23, at Laporte City, Iowa, March 30, and at Grinnell,
Towa, April 17. In the fall of 1885 none were seen at Mount Carmel,
Mo., after September 12.

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117

346. Asturina plagiata Schlegel. [445.] Mexican Goshawk.

The Mexican Goshawk occurs regularly as far north as the southern
border of the United States, and occasionally up the Mississippi. Valley
to southern Illinois.

347a. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis (Gmel.). [447.] American Rough-legged
Hawk.

The whole army of these Hawks crosses our northern boundary twice

ayear. During the winter they are distributed over most of the Missis-

sippi Valley, the exceptions being the extreme northern and extreme
southern portions. They are most numerous in the middle sections,
thinning out each way. At Elk River, Minn., all had passed south by
December 24, 1883. A little south of this point they remained all
winter. At Vermillion, Dak., ten were seen during a day’s tramp in ~
January, 1884. At Mount Carmel, Mo., they were quite common all win-
ter on the prairies, the bulk leaving March 10, and the last on the 24th.

In the fall of 1884 the first Rough-legged Hawk was seen at Mount
Carmel, Mo., November 7. It used to be abundant there during the
winter, but now is somewhat rare.

In the spring of 1885 the Jast was seen at Mount Carmel March 15.
The first appeared at Oak Point, Manitoba, April 7, and they were
common there April 10. In the fall of 1885 they returned to Mount
Carmel November 10; the next was seen November 12, and by Novem-
ber 20 they were in usual winter numbers.

348. Archibuteo ferrugineus (Licht.). [448.] Ferruginous Rough-leg; Ferruginous
Buzzard.

Chiefly a western species, a few coming east into the Mississippi
Valley. It is resident in western Kansas, where Dr. Watson says it is
tolerably common at Ellis every year. It has also been seen in western
Nebraska, and is abundant in western Texas in winter. It has been
seen once at Rock Island, Ill., and has been found nesting at Vermil-
lion, Dak., and Grinnell, Iowa.

Mr. Balmer writes from Paris, Ill.: *‘OnJanuary 19, 1886, I had the
good fortune to capture what [ consider a rare bird for this State, viz,
Archibuteo ferrugineus. He seems to have got along way out of his lati-
tude. Hecame with a thaw, in a south wind, after our big, big blizzard.
I shot him out of a tree after dark, having marked him down for the
night. The bird is a male, and measured 53 inches in extent.”

349. Aquila chrysaétos (Linn.). [449.] Golden Eagle.

In the western mountains this species comes far south in winter, even
to New Mexico and Arizona, but nearer the Mississippi it comes only
to Kansas. Some years ago one was taken in November at Fayette, in
central Missouri, but it is very rare so far south. Several were seen
and some captured in central and northern Iowa in the winter of

-1883~84, the last ones leaving from March 15 to 22. Most Golden

118 No Ree
Eagles retire in spring to British America to breed, but Mr. Ridgway —
says that a few still breed in Northern Ilinois, and they probably do |
so in northern Minnesota, as I have seen them there about the first of —
June.

In the spring of 1885 a Golden Eagle was reported from Paris, Il.,
March 6; from Laporte City, lowa, March 14; and from Williamstown,
Iowa, March 30. Lven as late as April 19 one was shot at Mount
Carmel, Mo.

350. Thrasaétus harpyia(Linn.). [450.] Harpy Eagle.

A tropical American species, rarely straggling as far north as our
southern border. Said to have been taken once in Texas, at the delta
of the Rio Grande (Oswald, Am. Nat., 1878, p. 151).

352. Halizwétus leucocephalus (Linn.). [451.] Bald Eagle.

Locally distributed throughout the whole of North America. It has
no regular migration, but after breeding throughout the Mississippi
Valley it disappears from some places for the winter, while it remains
at others. Generally speaking, it leaves the North when the freezing
of the waters prevents it from getting its accustomed food, but some-
times it remains through the winter even as far north as latitude 47° in
Minnesota, where, in the heavy pine forests, I have found it throughout
the year, and where it nests quite commonly. In the spring of 1884
it moved back to Summer quarters in northern Iowa about March 20.

In western Texas it is an abundant resident (Lloyd). In the fall of
1885, at Saint Louis, Mo., the first Bald Eagle was seen September 9.
November 7 four were seen, and the next day two more.

354. Falco rusticolus Linn. [41l2a.] Gray Gyrfalcon; Iceland Gyrfalcon.
An accidental winter visitant from the north. A specimen was cap-
tured at Manhattan, Kans., December 1, 1880.

354a. Falco rusticolus gyrfalco (Linn.). [412b.] Gyrfalcon: McFarlane’s Gyr-
falcon. :
Like the last, an accidental visitor in winter. Taken by Dr. Agers-
borg, at Vermillion, Dak., October 21, 1880.

354b. Falco rusticolus obsoletus (Gmel.). [412c.] Black Gyrfalcon; Labrador
Gyrfalcon.
Has been taken in Minnesota a few times as a rare winter visitant;
a specimen has been examined by Mr. Ridgway.

355. Falco mexicanus Schleg. [413.] Prairie Falcon.

This hawk is found principally in the West, but occurs east to the
eastern border of the plains in Texas, Indian Territory, Missouri, Kan-
sas, Nebraska, and Dakota. It winters from Kansas southward, and
passes north in the summer to central Dakota, where it was noted as
being very common in August. Dr. Agersborg gave it as a rare mi-

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grant in southeastern Dakota, but it is known to breed in Kansas, Mis-
_ souri (Goss), and Texas. Mr. Nehrling states that it is resident, but

not common, near Houston, in eastern Texas. It has been found in cen-
tral Iowa, and even as far east as Illinois.

356. Falco peregrinus anatum (Bonap.). [414.] Duck Hawk; Peregrine Falcon.

This species occurs locally throughout the Mississippi Valley. It
breeds more particularly in Manitoba and the northern half of the
United States, but is known to breed also in Kansas, Mississippi, and
Texas. In the fall of 1884 the last Duck Hawk was seen at Mount
Carmel, Mo., November 12.

In the spring of 1885 it was seen April 4 at Lake City, Minn., and
April 25 at Mount Carmel, Mo.

357. Falco columbarius Linn. [417.] Pigeon Hawk. :
Occurs over the whole of the Mississipi Valley, but is nowhere abun-

dant; winters in the Southern States and southward; breeds in Brit-

ish Anierica. A few stragglers were found at San Angelo, Tex., in the
winter of 1883-84, the last of which left February 1, being the first bird
to migrate. Near Houston, in eastern Texas, it is common in fall and
winter (Nehrling). At Heron Lake, Minn., the first was noted March
27; and none were seen at Manhattan, Kans., until April 12. In the
spring of 1885 the Pigeon Hawk was recorded from Ferry, Iowa, March
30; Clinton, Wis., March 31; Delavan, Wis., April 11; and Ossowo,
Manitoba, April 18. In the fall of 1885 the first at Emporia, Kans.,
was noted October 10.

358. Falco richardsonii Ridgw. [418.] Richardson’s Merlin.

Found principally on the Great Plains, and thence westward, but is
most common just east of the Rocky mountains; south to Texas in
winter; has occurred accidently in Michigan, and occasionally in Minne-
sota. Professor Aughey recorded it as rather common, and breeding, in
Nebraska. Dr. Agersborg says it is a migrant in southeastern Dakota.
Mr. Powell reports it from southeastern Nebraska. It probably breeds
in western Kansas, where Colonel Goss saysit isnot uncommon. At
Ellis, Kans., Dr. Watson noted the arrival of the first April 15, 1884.
An accidental visitor has been recorded from Laporte City, Iowa.

359. Falco fusco-ccerulescens Vieill. [419.] Aplomado Falcon.

A tropical American species, breeding in the valley of the Lower
Rio Grande in Texas (Merrill).

360. Falco sparverius Linn. [420.] Sparrow Hawk.

Inhabits the whole of Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley, and breeds
throughout its range; but in Indian Territory and eastern Texas it is
apparently rare and local as a breeder. In Tom Green and Concho
counties, Tex., it is an abundant resident (Lloyd), but the summer
birds pass south in winter and their places are taken by northern birds,

120
so that the species is found all the time, though the same individuals
are not present. Nests containing, respectively, fiveand six eggs were
found near San Angelo March 15 and July 1, indicating two broods.
This Hawk is said to have remained at Chicago the whole of the winter
of 1883-84. With this exception no winter record was received from
any point north of latitude 37°.

In the spring of 1884 a single bird was seen at Saint Louis February
26, and a few days later (March 3) most of the winter residents were
leaving Caddo, Ind. Ter. (latitude 34° 11’). In the case of this species,
as In many others, no records of movement were made during the first
two and one-half weeks of March. March 21 it appeared at Tampico,
Ill. (latitude 41° 36’), and at Ellis, Kans. (latitude 38° 55’). By March
26 it had been seen along the Mississippi river as far north as Blk
River, Minn. (latitude 45° 25’); and almost a month later (April 20) it
appeared at Oak Point, Manitoba (latitude 50° 30’). In northern IIli-
nois and Wisconsin arrivals were recorded until April 2.

In the fall of 1884 the last Sparrow Hawk at Mount Carmel, Mo., was
seen September 27. It was reported as wintering at Shawneetown, IIl.

In the spring of 1885 the records of its northward movement were
very irregular. They fell between the dates of March 14, at Tampico,
Ill., and April 15, at Oak Point, Manitoba. The first was seen at White
Earth, Minn., April 4. In the fall of 1885 the last at Grinnell, Ia., was
recorded October 10, and at Mount Carmel, Mo., October 22.

362. Polyborus cheriway (Jacq.). [423.] Audubon’s Caracara; Caracara Eagle.
Common along the Gulf coast, and abundant in southern Texas. At
Eagle Pass and Mason, Tex., it was recorded as common and resident.
At Hagle Pass it was building March 16, 1884.
Mr. Lloyd says of it: |
Resident in the eastern part of Concho county; a few visit the western half in fall;
none seen in Tom Green county. Breeds. Nest found in live-oak, about 18 feet from
the ground, with three eggs, April 24,1881. The same nest was used for two years

after. Thoughin the southern part of Texas they prey on carrion, in Menard and
Concho counties they hunt prairie dogs in couples. (The Auk, Vol. IV, 1887, p. 189.)

Mr. Nelrling states that in eastern Texas, near Houston, it is regu-
larly distributed, but not so common as in the interior. He says of it:

It is a very showy bird, and the flight is extremely elegant and quick. Although
it is very shy and not easily to be approached, it often builds its nest in trees not far
from farm houses. The farmers say they are as harmless as Turkey Buzzards. The
nest is usually from 25 to 30 feet above the ground, and is built of sticks, sometimes
lined with bits of cotton and Spanish moss; the cavity is shallow. Often the birds,

commonly single individuals, are to be observed with Vultures, feeding together on ~

carrion. (Bull. Nutt. Orinth. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, p. 173.)

364. Pandion haliaétus carolinensis (Gmel.). [425.] Osprey; Fish-Hawk.
Occupies the southern half of our district in winter, and the whole

Mississippi Valley in summer. It migrates rather late. In 1884 it ap-

peared at Newton, Iowa, April 12; at Laporte City, Iowa, April 15;

at Ellis, Kans., April i6; at Lanesboro and Red Wing, Mivn., April
— 18 and 20, and at Alda, Nebr., April 25.

In the fall of 1885 the first southward migrant was seen at Emporia,
Kans., September 30.

121

365. Strix pratincola Bonap. [394.] Barn Owl.

The Barn Owl is most abundant in the Southern States, where it is
resident. It occurs north to Minnesota and Wisconsin (noted from La
Crosse and Ripon), and west to Kansas and Nebraska. In western
Texas it is rare (Lloyd); in eastern Texas common (Nehrling).

366. Asio wilsonianus (Less.). [395.] Long-eared Owl.
A common summer resident in western Manitoba; resident through-
out the Mississippi Valley.

367. Asio accipitrinus (Pall.). [396.] Short-eared Owl.

A common summer resident in western Manitoba and Dakota. It oc-
cupies the whole of the Mississippi Valley; Resident in the northern
half; occurs in the lower half chiefly in fall and winter.

368. Syrnium nebulosum (Forst.). [397.] Barred Owl.

The most common Owl of the Southern States, and found also over
the whole of the Mississippi Valley and Manitoba; resident except in
the extreme northern part of its range. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., the pcilets
thrown up at one time by a Barred Owl contained parts of a Brewer's
Blackbird, a Cardinal Grosbeak, and a Le Conte’s Sparrow.

368a. Syrnium nebulosum alleni Ridgw. (397a.) Florida Barred Ow’.

Recently Mr. Ragsdale has taken this owl, previously known only
from Florida, in Cook County, Tex. A specimen has been examined by
Mr. Ridgway, and is now in the U.S. National Museum.

370. Ulula cinerea (Gmel.). [399.] Great Gray Owl.
A northern species; found occasionally in winter in Minnesota, Wis-
consin, and Lliinois.

371. Nyctala tengmalmi richardsoni (Bonap.). [400.] Richardson’s Owl.
Another northern bird, occurring in winter in Minnesota, Wisconsin,
and lowa.

372. Nyctala acadica (Gmel.). [401.] Saw-whet Owl.
A common resident from northern Illinois northward; south of this
a rare winter visitant.

373. Megascops asio (Linn.). [402.] Screech Owl.

An abundant resident throughout most of the Mississippi Valley, but
said not to be very common in Minnesota. Mr. Carr killed one in the
winter of 1883-84 at Waupaca, Wis., which had nothing in its stomach
but wheat, buckwheat, and miscellaneous seeds.

122 pe Sa eee

373a. Megascops asio floridanus (Ridgw.). [402a.] Florida Screech Owl.

This form of the Screech Owl, previously known only from South
Carolina to Florida, was procured in southern Louisiana by Dr. A. K.
Fisher, who examined several specimens. |

373b. Megascops asio mccallii (Cass.). [402b.] Texas Screech Owl.

Resident in Texas, whence reported from Tom Green and Concho
counties, where it is abundant in winter from about September 10 to
March 10 (Lloyd). In eastern Texas, near Houston, it seems to be com-
mon (Nehrling).

375. Bubo virginianus (Gmel.). [405.] Great Horned Owl.

A common resident over the whole of the Mississippi Valley east of —

the Great Plains.
The following unique owl story was contributed by Mr. H. F. a
of Borham, in northeastern Texas:

On the 10th of March, 1883, I was out hunting in some w sees and flushed a Great
Horned Owl from a eer stump about 20 feet high. I shot at and missed it, but
coming up to the stump I could see an Owl’s head above the top of it. I would not
shoot him there as I did not want to climb for him. It was hard work to make him
leave the stump, but, by nearly hitting him with a stick, he flew off and I killed him.
He was a young Great Horned Owl. When he left the nest I distinctly saw some-
thing move there. Myson climbed up and found two owlets about six or eight days
old. We left them there, and that evening at dusk I killed a female Barred Owl, and
the next morning a male Barred Owl off the top of the same stump where the young
ones were. We then secured the two young owls and kept them a year, until they
grew to be two fine Barred Owls. A few days later I killed two Great Horned Owls
(a male and female) in close proximity to the place. Thus we have a case of two
species of owls breeding at the same time in the same nest, with at least a month’s
difference in ihe ages of the young. The young Horned Owl was barely fledged, and
Iam sure had never been out of the nest until I drove him out. There were bones
and offal around the stump, showing that it had been used for some time as a breed-
ing place.

375a. Bubo virginianus subarcticus (Hoy). [405a in part.] Western Horned Owl.

This is the western representative of the Great Horned Owl. It
breeds from western Manitoba and Dakota southward, over the Great
Plains, to Texas, and even to the tablelands of Mexico. Stragglers
have been taken in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Dr. Agersborg
states that it occurs in southeastern Dakota nearly every winter. In
Tom Green and Concho counties, in western Texas, where it is an
“abundant resident,” Mr. Lloyd says of it :

Breeds from February 20 to end of May in hackberry or mesquit on prairies, and in
holes in the large pecans on rivers. I have rarely found more than two eggs in one
clutch; three, however, occur in about one nest in six. Feeds on poultry, skunks,

and rabbits, and is often on wing during the day. The birds seem to grow lighter
with age. (The Auk, Vol. IV, 1887, p. 190.)

375b. Bubo virginianus arcticus (Swains.). [405b.] Arctic Horned Owl.
Breeds in Arctic America, coming south in winter, irregularly and
rarely te Dakota, Montana, ial Wyoming.

3876. Nyctea nyctea (Linn.). [406.] Snowy Owl. .
A great wanderer in winter, visiting the United States, and appear-
ing without any regularity in all of the northern tier of States, and
southward into Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, and has been taken even
in Texas. It seems to have been less common than usual in the winter
of 1883-84, though Mr. Lindley, at Mitchell, lowa, had the good fortune
to see nine. At Linwood, Nebr., the last seen in 1884 was noted Feb-
ruary 1, but at Heron Lake, Minn., one was seen as late as April3. The
winter of 1876~77 was noted for the great numbers of Snowy Owls
which migrated into the United States. They came November 22, 1876,
and for two weeks afterwards were common as far south as Saint Louis.
At Omaha and Denver they were specially abundant. One taxidermist
in the East had thirty Snowy Owls sent him from this single flight.

In the spring of 1885 a Snowy Owl was seen at Clinton, Wis., Feb-
ruary 23, and at Huron, Dak., March 7. In the fall of 1885 the first
came to Elk River, Minn., October 23. At Chicago. IIl., one was seen in
the city November 3. A magnificent specimen, almost pure white, was
shot at Chrisman, IIL, the latter part of January, 1886.

377a. Surnia ulula caparoch (Miill.). [407.] Hawk Owl.

The Hawk Owl visits the upper Mississippi Valley in winter. It has
been taken in winter in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and once in northern
Illinois. Occasionally in severe winters it has been found in the Hast as
far south as Pennsylvania. It is therefore the more strange that one
should be found so far south as Mississippi. Dr. Rawlings Young, of

: Corinth, Miss., writes: ‘“‘In January, 1882, I was shooting quail over
_ @ brace of setters in a thick sedge grass 300 or 400 yards from the
timber, and while working up a scattered bevy the dogs pointed.
Walking in, a Hawk Owl, much to my astonishment, got up from the
grass right under the dogs’ noses. As he went off I cut him down, and
had no trouble in identifying him from the cuts seen in Wilson.”

In the fall of 1884 a Hawk Owl was reported from Elk River, Minn.,
October 27. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the first was seen December 26.
In January, 1885, about a dozen were reported as wintering at Elk
River, Minn. In the spring of 1885, at Mount Carmel, Mo., the last was
seen March 10. In the fall of 1885 the first returned to Elk River, Minn.,
October 23.

378. Speotyto cunicularia hypogeza (Bonap.). [408.] Burrowing Owl.
Wherever prairie dogs exist Burrowing Owls are also very likely to
be found, so that their range may be said to include most of the open
prairie ground west of the Mississippi river. They are especially
abundant in western Nebraska, middle and western Kansas, and In-
dian Territory; and as I write from Red Rock, in that Territory, I can
look out on a dog town several miles in extent, in which the Burrowing
Owls are usually numerous. Even as far east as Waverly, Miss., Major
Young writes that they were formerly quite common, but have not been

124 | as.

seen for some time. Mr. Nehrling states that near Houston, in eastern __

Texas, they are “every year increasing in numbers.” At San Angelo,
Tex., they have been found breeding from April 1, to May 10.
The Burrowing Owl is resident from southeastern Dakota southward.

By many it is erroneously supposed to hibernate, and it may be that

some of the northernmost colonies change their dwelling places during
the winter so as to disappear from certain localities at this season. Dr.
Agersborg says that it isa permanent resident in southeastern Dakota,
where from seven to nine eggs constitute a full clutch. He further
States :

In the winter as many as twenty of these birds may be found nestling together in
one hole. They are always at such times abundantly supplied with food. I have
found at one time forty-three mice and several Shore Larks scattered along the run
to their common apartment. They forage in fine weather, and retreat to their dirty
abodes when cold weather threatens.

It is possible that those individuals that spend the summer far north
in Dakota actually and regularly migrate. In 1884 Mr. Edwards noted
their return to Argusville, Dak. (latitude 47° 08’), April 30.

380. Glaucidium phalenoides (Dand.). [410.] Jerruginous Pigmy Owl.
A tropical American species, coming nor th to the valley of the Lower
Rio Grande in Texas (Sennett).

382. Conurus carolinensis (Linn.). [392.] Carolina Paroquet or Parakeet.

This beautiful Parrot formerly was resident throughout the Missis-
sippi Valley and the South Atlantic and Gulf States. It no longer ex-
ists in the northern part of its former range, and can scarcely be found
north of latitude 36°. So far as known, it is now confined to isolated
localities in the Gulf States and the lower Mississippi Valley. At Fay-
ette, Mo., it was reported as present, though almost extinct. Formerly
immense flocks were found all over Indian Territory. At present it is
almost extinct in the eastern part of the Territory, though a few are still
found around Caddo, and in the middle and western parts they are
almost aS numerous as ever.

Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha (Swains.). [391.] Thick-billed Parrot.
An abundant inhabitant of the pine forests of central and northern
Mexico, coming north into southwestern Texas.

384. Crotophaga sulcirostris Swains. [390.] Groove-billed Ani.

A middle American species, coming north to Texas. It occurs in the
valley of the Rio Grande (Sennett); and is a fall visitor in Concho and
Tom Green counties, Tex., where one was shot in October, 1885, and
several seen in October, 1886 (Lloyd).

385. Geococcyx californianus (Less.). [335.] Road-runner ; Chapparal Cock.

A southwestern bird, noted by the Texas observers ; resident wher-
ever found. It was reported as abundant at Mason, Tex., and in Concho
and Tom Green counties, breeding in the latter region from March 30

a

125

to May 8. Clutches of five, six, and seven eggs were taken. This spe-
cies has been captured as an accidental visitor in Arkansas, near Fort
Lyons; and was seen by Mr. Trippe in Colorado north at least to latitude
38°, which has led to the surmise that it was the species seen by Mr.

Cavanaugh in southwestern Kansas, and reported by him to Colonel

Goss as the Sage Cock. Colonel Goss, in a recent communication, states
that in September, 1884, Mr. Charles Dyer saw two of these birds in
western Kansas, along the line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé
Railway, about 15 miles east of the western boundary of the State; and
that he “‘ has seen them quite often in Colorado, near the State line.”
Colonel Goss further states :

The birds are known to breed as far east as Las Animas, and I feel confident that
they occasionally breed in the southwestern corner of this State [Kansas], a natural
habitat of the birds, but unsettled and little known, especially as to its bird life,
(The Auk, Vol. III, 1886, p. 114).

386. Coccyzus minor (Gmel.). [386.] Mangrove Cuckoo.

This tropical Cuckoo has been found as far north as the coast of Lou-
isiana.

387. Coccyzus americanus (Linn.). [387.] Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

The range of this species is considerably more southern than that of
the next. It breeds from the Gulf of Mexico to the northern tier of
States. Both species are said to winter in Florida, but the bulk passes

still further south.

In the spring of 1884 the Yellow-billed Cuckoo entered our southern
border the latter part of April, appearing at Rodney, Miss., and at Ma-
son, Tex., April 28 and 29. At San Angelo, Tex., and Saint Louis, Mo.,
it was seen May 5 and 6, and at Burlington, lowa, May 8. At Gaines-
ville, Tex., and Ellis, Kans., it arrived May 12, and at Manhattan,

_Kans., and Iowa City, lowa, May 20. It came to Laporte City, Iowa,

May 27. In Tom Green and Concho counties, Tex., it breeds in June.
At Laporte, Iowa, on June 11, 1884, a female was shot with eggs ready
for the nest.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk was reported as leaving Williamstown,
Iowa, August 15, and the last August 27. The last was reported from
Des Moines, Iowa, October 1; from Mount Carmel, Mo., September 21;
and from San Angelo, Tex., August 15.

For the spring of 1885 the records of the movements of this species
in the West were quite full. It appeared at San Antonio, Tex., April
17; at Mason, Tex., April 22; Bonham, Tex., April 29 (though it had been
noticed April 20 at Gainesville, Tex.). May 14 it reached Manhattan,
Kans. In Missouri it was seen at Saint Louis May 15, and at Mount
Carmel May 17. By May 20 it had reached Des Moines, Iowa, and
Fernwood, Il.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at [Iowa City, Lowa, August 26,
and at Fernwood, Ill., September 11. AtSaint Louis, Mo., it was con-

126 =
spicuous September 22, was present in bulk September 25, and was last
seen September 27.

388. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus (Wils.). [388.] Black-billed Cuckoo.

A common summer resident in Manitoba and most parts of the Mis-
sissippi Valley except the extreme southern portion. In the spring of
1884 no records were received relating to the date when it entered the
United States, but it appeared at Saint Louis, Mo., and at Hennepin,
Tll., May 5. May 12 it was seen at Coralville, lowa; May 16 at Lake
Mills and New Cassel, Wis.; May 22 at Elk River, Minn.; May 31 at
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and June 1 at Oak Point, Manitoba (lati-
tude 50° 30’).

In the fail of 1884 the bulk left Williamstown, Iowa, August 10, and
none were seen there after that date.

In the spring of 1885 no notes were sent but those of ‘firsts,’ and they
are as follows: Saint Louis, Mo., May 15; Des Moines and Grinnell,
Iowa, May 16; Iowa City, Iowa, and Hennepin, Fernwood, and Rock-
ford, IIL, May 17; Heron Lake and Elk River, Minn., May 22; and Shell
River, Manitoba, June 16.

In the fall of 1885, at Elk River, Minn., it was last seen September 7.
At Saint Louis, Mo., it became conspicuous September 22; the bulk
was present September 25, and departed September 29; and the last was
seen October 16. In Concho county, Tex., it is a spring and fall migrant.

389. Trogon ambiguus Gould. [384.] Coppery-tailed Trogon.

The home of this Trogon is in central and northern Mexico. Two
Specimens were killed in southern Texas in the summer of 1877 (Merrill,
Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. I, 1878, p. 118).

390. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.). [382.] Belted Kingfisher.

The Kingfisher is a common summer resident in Manitoba and the
Mississippi Valley. its winter home is bounded on the north by the
southern limit of frozen water. His food is found in the water, and when
eut off from it by the ice he must migrate or perish. The extreme
cold of the winter of 1883-84 sent him much further south than usual.
While often seen in ordinary winters at latitude 39° in Kansas, none |
stayed in this latitude during the winter of 1883~84, nor was there a
record from any point north of latitude 36°, though it is probable that
at favorable places, such as spring-holes, a few may have wintered.
From the nature of the case the northward movement of the Kingfisher
is irregular. Near rivers which open early he will be among the first
birds to arrive, while at neighboring ponds and lakes many days may
pass before he appears. But even the presence or absence of ice fails
to explain a large share of the irregular notes. In Concho and Tom
Green counties, Tex., it is an abundant resident (Lloyd).

In the spring of 1884 a single individual was seen at Saint Louis,
Mo., February 25, but the regular movement did not begin until March

127

P29 and 23, when the species suddenly spread from latitude 39° to lati-
tude 41° 38’ in Iowa, and latitude 41° 36/ in Illinois, with an adven-
turous bird at latitude 42° 18’ in Iowa and another at latitude 43° 43/ in
Minnesota, which latter was reported to have been seen at intervals all
winter. By April 6 the van had reached latitude 44° 47’ in Minnesota,
_ and latitude 44° 22’ in Wisconsin. April 14 they were recorded from
Elk River, Minn. (latitude 45° 25’); April 20 from Frazee City, Minn.
(latitude 46° 33’), and May 5 from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. In the
West, as usual, they were later. At Gainesville, Tex., the first was
heard March 17, and at Manhattan, Kans., two days later. At Ellis,
Kans., none were seen until April3; and April 21 they came to Ver-.
million, Dak. k

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of the Kingfishers left Williamstown,
Iowa, August 28, and the last on the same day. At Des Moines, Iowa,
_ the last was seen September 17, and at Mount Carmel, Mo., October 12.

_ At Lanesboro, Minn., a Kingfisher was seen December 5.

In the spring of 1885 the first noted in migration was seen at Paris,
Ijl., March 5, the next at Shawneetown, [l., March 12; the next at Glas-
- gow, Mo., and the next March 26, at Laporte City, Iowa, and at Mount
_ Carmel, Mo. During the rest of March arrivals were noted from Man-
hattan, Kans.; Emporia, Kans.; Hennepin, Ill.; Saint Louis, Mo.; and —
Grinnell, lowa. During the first two days of April they appeared at
Peoria, Ill.; Knoxville, lowa; Iowa City, Iowa; Aledo, Il].; Tampico,
Ill., and Lanesboro, Minn. From April 4 to April 6 they were reported
from Fernwood, Ill.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Durand, Wis.; Hastings, Minn.;
and Elk River, Minn. They reached Luck, Wis., April 24, and Shell
River, Manitoba, May 1.
3 In the fall of 1885, at Elk River, Minn., the last was seen September

16; at River Falls, Wis., October 9; at Des Moines, Iowa, October 24;
_ while at Lanesboro, Minn., near a rapid stream, which is very late in
freezing, they were still present November 30.

391. Ceryle cabanisi (Tschud.). [383.] Texas Kingfisher.
As its name implies, this bird inhabits Texas, though the center of

_ its distribution is in tropical America. Mr. Lloyd says he has found it
- in Nueces and Frio Cafions, in Edwards county, but not further north.
_ Mr. Henry recorded it as arare summer resident in Mason county, a

_ few miles northeast of Edwards county. In April, 1878, its eggs were
taken in Comal county, Tex., by Mr. W. H. Werner (Bull. Nutt. Ornith.
Club, Vol. IV, 1879, pp. 79, 80). It is probably resident throughout its
range.
392. Campephilus principalis (Linn.). [359.] Jvory-billed Woodpecker.

This is the largest Woodpecker of the Mississippi Valley, to the
_ southern part of which it is limited, as far as our district is concerned.
It is a resident wherever found. Ridgway says it was formerly resident
in southern Illinois, but is now extinct in most parts of that State. At

128

Fayette, Mo., Mr. Lientz marks it as formerly breeding, but not known ;
to do so at present. It is still found in northeastern Arkansas, being
abundant at Newport, and not very wild or wary, and thence westward
to Caddo, Ind. Ter., where a few were seen during the winter of 188384
in the heaviest timber of the bottom lands, together with the Pileated
Woodpecker. <A few have been seen at Kansas City, Mo., during the
past few winters, and it probably still breeds in that vicinity. Mr.
Nehrling states that it is rare and very shy in the northern part of
Harris county, and in Montgomery county, Tex.

393. Dryobates villosus (Linn.). [360.] Hairy Woodpecker.
The whole of the Mississippi Valley, except the Gulf States, is inhab-
ited by this species.

393a. Dryobates villosus leucomelas(Bodd.). [360a.] Northern Hairy Woodpecker.

The northern representative of the preceding. Inhabits British
America, coming south in winter to the northern border of the United
States. Recorded by Mr. Seton (now Thompson) as a common resident
in western Manitoba.

393b. Dryobates villosus audubonii (Swains.). [360,part.] Southern Hairy Wood-
pecker.

An inhabitant of the South Atlantic and Gulf States.

393c. Dryobates villosus harrisii (Aud.). [360b.] Harris’s Woodpecker.

This is the western form of the Hairy Woodpecker, occurring from
the Rocky mountains to the Pacific. Dr. Agersborg says it is common
and resident at Vermillion, Dak., thus bringing it within our district.

394. Drycbates pubescens (Linn.). [361.] Downy Woodpecker.

Like the Hairy Woodpecker, this species is resident in Manitoba and
over the whole of the Mississippi Valley, but is a little more given to
changing its feeding grounds. It has no regular migration, but, like all
the non-migratory Woodpeckers, it roves around during the winter in
searchof food. This causes it to disappear at some places in the winter,
and when it returns again it is supposed by the observers to have been
regularly migrating, whereas it may have been north, east, south, or
west; it may have been in the next county, or it may have wandered a
hundred miles or more away. Itis rare in central Texas, where one was
shot in January, 1883, on the Middle Concho river (Lloyd).

394a. Dryobates pubescens gairdnerii (Aud.). [86la.] Gairdner’s Woodpecker.

A western Woodpecker; rare along the northern half of the western
border of our district. Mr. Allen found it along the Missouri in central
Dakota, and thence westward, but not common.

$95. Dryobates borealis (Vieill.). [862.] ed-cockaded Woodpecker.

A bird of the southern swamps. The most northern record received
from the observers came from Newport, Ark., where it has been found

129

_ _ several timesin the pine timber. Near Houston, in eastern Texas, it is

not rare (Nehrling). It is resident throughout its range.

396. Dryobates scalaris bairdi (Sclater). [363.] Texas Woodpecker.

Residentin Texas; noted from San Angelo as very abundant, breeding
from April 10 to May 15, where clutches of four, five, six, and eight
eggs were taken. Common also in eastern Texas (Nehrling) and in the
valley of the lower Rio Grande (Sennett & Merrill).

400. Picoides arcticus (Swains.). [367.] Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker.
Resident in Manitoba and northern Minnesota. This is one of the

migratory Woodpeckers, but its movements are not extensive. In the

Mississippi Valley these movements are limited to a migration from its
summer home in British America to the United States, where it remains
during the winter, returning in the spring. Even in winter it is more
abundant in Manitoba than in summer. Individuals have been known
to occur in northern Illinois, but are seldom seen south of latitude 40°.
They were reported by Vernon Bailey from Elk River, Minn., and some
years ago I met them at White Harth, Minn., and had the pleasure
of ascertaining that they nested in that State.*

402. Sphyrapicus varius (Linn.). [369.] Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.

A common summer resident in Manitoba and the northern part of the
Mississippi Valley. This is one of the three regularly migratory Wood-
peckers which inhabit the Mississippi Valley, and its migrations are more
extended than are those of either of the others. The extreme limits of
its range are separated by 3,000 miles, for it has been recorded from
Guatemala to Greenland, but of course no single individual has tray-
ersed the whole of this distance. Still, since it seldom breeds south of
latitude 42°, the most unambitious has many a long mile to travel. In
the winter of 1883-’8! it was found as far north as Danville, in Illinois,
and Morning Sun, in Iowa, but was rare at both places. From these
points southward for 300 miles it is a rare winter visitant, but its regu-

lar winter home is south of latitude 379°. Even at Caddo, Ind. Ter. (lat.

34° 11’), it was not common, and its quietness and retired habits made it
seem even less numerous. In the spring of 1884, migration commenced
at Gainesville, Tex. (lat. 33° 36’), March 6, when the bulk of the winter
residents departed; the last followed on the 11th. Migrants had be-
come quite numerous at Pierce City, Mo. (lat. 36° 56’), by March 19,
and this wave brought the first of the migrants to Saint Louis March
26. An accidental bird was seen at Chicago February 16, but the
regular advance did not reach there until about the 8th of April. By
April 10 they had reached Lanesboro, Minn, (lat. 43° 43’). They were
seen at River Falls, Wis. (lat. 449 45’), April 12, and two days later at
Elk River, Minn. (lat. 45° 25’). The bulk rarely falls more than three
*(In July, 1877, Dr. Thomas S. Roberts found this Woodpecker breeding in Carlton
county, Minn. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. IV, 1879, p. 154).—C. H. M. ]
7365—Bull 2——9

130

or four days behind the van, and the last one does not lag far in the
rear. Though rarely breeding south of latitude 42°, it nests regularly
but a short distance farther north. It has been known to breed at La
Porte, Lowa (lat. 42° 18’), and Mr. Munroe states that between July 4

and 10, 1884, he shot several in the hills 50 miles west of Newport, Ark.

where he saw others in June and August, though neither nests nor
young birds were found. At Danville, Ill, they remained all summer,
and two trees were found which contained their nests. No attempt was —
made to secure their eggs.

In the fall of 1884, at Des Moines, Iowa, the Yellow-bellied Wood-
pecker was last seen September 24. At Shawneetown, Ill. (lat. 379 43’)
a few individuals remained during the winter of 188485.

In the spring of 1885 the notes of its northward movement were quite
regular. It appeared at Saint Louis and Mount Carmel, Mo., March
31; Chicago, Ill., April 1; Des Moines, Iowa, April 13; Newton, Iowa,
April17; Green Bay, Wis. (two observers), April 19; Lanesboro, Minn.,
April 21; River Falls, Wis., April 21; Elk River, Minn., April 26; and
Shell River, Manitoba, May 3. In the fall of 1885 the last at both Fern-
wood, Ill., and Des Moines, Iowa, were seen October 3. At Saint
Louis, Mo., the first arrived September 16; there was an increase Sep-
tember 24, and the bulk arrived October 9. The first at Gainesville,
Tex., was seen October 9.

402a. Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis Baird. [369a]. Red-naped Sapsucker,

Inhabits the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, south into
Mexico. It was taken by Colonel Goss at Wallace, Kans., October 12,
1883, this being the first record for that State and probably for our
district. It has since been taken by Mr. Lloyd, at Fort Davis, Teee
where it is a rare winter resident.

404. Sphyrapicus thyroideus (Cass.). |370.] Williamson’s Sapsucker ; Black-breasted -
Woodpecker.

The only Mississippi Valley record of this species was received from
Mr. William Lloyd, who noted it as an irregular winter visitant in
Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., where it was tolerably common
in the winter of 1883~’84._ Mr. Lloyd found it on the North Concho, and
also in Nueces Cafion, in Uvalde County.

405. Ceophlceus pileatus (Linn.). [871.] Pileated Woodpecker.
Resident in Manitoba and over all the Mississippi Valley wherever
there is heavy timber. Reported by many observers.

406. Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn.). [375.] Red-headed Woodpecker.

A tolerably common summer resident in Manitoba and throughout
the Mississippi Valley. Mr. Allen found it abundant in west-central
Dakota in the summer of 1873. Its winter range west of the Missis-
Sippi is much restricted. At Saint Louis it is a rare winter resident;
a Short distance south, in Illinois, Mr. Ridgway says that it is excess-

oS ISB oe |

S ively abundant in the bottom-lands during the winter. Passing west-

ward to Pierce City, Mo., it was recorded as a rare winter resident in
the bottom-lands. Still farther southwest, at Caddo, Ind. Ter.,\ it is
so rare a bird in winter that none of the teat hunters thought one
could be found. A few were seen, however, one at a time, all through
December and January. Near Heston in eastern Texas, it is an
abundant resident (Nehrling). Throughout the greater part of} its
range it is a more or less regular migrant, its movements depending
largely, if not wholly, on the food supply. Though capable of with.
standing great cold when food is plenty (as for instance when it spends

the winter in northeastern New York), * it seems to much prefer a warm,

climate, and when in the south waits until the weather is settled be-\

fore attempting the northward journey. In the spring of 1884, in the |

belt between latitude 39° and latitude 39° 30’ in Illinois and eastern |

Missouri, their winter numbers began to be increased about the middle
of March, and in Illinois the first had advanced to Chicago by the end

of the month. No such advance took place in Iowa. Not a Red-head —
was reported in the State before April 26, nor any further advance in |
Illinois until after May 1. By the Ist of May the advance in Iowa was |

at latitude 41° 38/, and by May 6 those onthe western side of the Mis-

sissippi had overtaken those on the eastern side, and they were both |

together in Wisconsin and Minnesota at latitude 43° 43’. Four days
later they had passed to West Depere, Wis. (latitude 44° 26’); May 15
they were reported from Minneapolis and Green Bay; May 19 from
ilk River, Minn. (latitude 45° 25’), and the last day of the month they
had penetrated to Oak Point, Manitoba (latitude 50° 30’). Near the
Mississippi River the bulk may be looked for about ten or fourteen
days after the arrival of the first.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk left Williamstown, Iowa, August 27, and
Des Moines, Iowa, September 18. At Des Moines the last was reported
September 19; and at Mount Carmel, Mo., November1l. At Shawnee.
town, Ill., it remained through the winter of 1884~’85, and a single pair

_wintered at Saint Louis, Mo. Several early records from points farther
north indicate that the individuals seen had wintered not far from the
localities whence they werereported. These records are: Fayette, Mo.,

- March 10; Sioux City, lowa, Mareh 11; Durand, Wis., March 15; Keo.
kuk, Iowa, Mareh 22; and Lake City, Minn., April 13.

In regular migration in the spring of 1885 it was first noted from
Saint Louis, Mo., April 16; an increase was observed April 21; it con-
tinued arriving slowly from April 22 to 26, and the bulk came from
April 28 to May 1.. As the rest of the notes for 1885 can not be arranged
systematically they will be given in full. The “firsts” recorded were as
follows: Ferry, Iowa, April 24; Williamstown, Iowa,and Lake Mills,
Wis., April 25; Delavan, Wis., April 29; Fayette, Mo., and Grinnell,
Iowa, April 30; Paris, Ill., Manhattan, ee and Milwaukee! Wiss,

* Merriam, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. Ei, 1878, pp. 124-125.

(132

May 1; fernwood, Ill., and Des Moines, Iowa, May 2; Rockford, IIl.,
May 3; Luck, Wis., May 4; Aledo, III, and Ripon, Wis., May 5; Ba-
tavia, Lll., and Rochester, Minn., May 10; New Cassel, Wis., May 13;
Leeds Centre, Wis., and Waukon, lowa, May 14; Ames, Iowa, and Elk
River, Minn, May 15; River Falls, Wis., May 18. It was given as a
very rare visitant near San Angelo, Tex., where one was shot in
August, 1885. In the fall of 1885 the last at Elk River, Minn., was
seem September 4; at River Falls, Wis., September 21; at Grinnell,
Iowa, August 15; at Des Moines, Iowa, September 15; at Fernwood,
Ili., September 26; and at Iowa City, lowa, October 20. Many migrants
were seen at Saint Louis, Mo., October 10, all going southeast.

408. Melanerpes torquatus (Wils.). [376.] Lewis’s Woodpecker.

A western Woodpecker, rare in our district. It has been taken by
Dr. Watson at Ellis, Kans., and is known to breed in the Black Hills
of Dakota (Grinnell). In the fall of 1884 Mr. Lloyd added this spe-
cies to the list of Texas birds. He says: ‘‘Two were here (near San
Angelo) before Christmas, and four arrived after our bad Christmas
norther.” More recently Mr. Lloyd records it as a “ winter visitor,”
tolerably common on Spring Creek.

409. Melanerpes carolinus (Linn.). [372.] Ited-bellied Woodpecker.

South of latitude 35° in the Mississippi Valley the Red-bellied Wood-
pecker is an abundant resident; north of this latitude for about five
degrees it is less common, but still resident; and from latitude 40°
northward to the limit of its range it is more or less migratory. In
IKXansas it is an abundant resident (Goss). Mr. Peck writes from La
Porte, Iowa (latitude 42° 18’), that a few breed, but that most of them
migrate northward. Where they go isa mystery. None of the sta-
tions in northern Iowa reported the bird, and it is unknown in Minne-
sota. Years ago Mr. Trippe made the same observation, namely, that
“during the winter it is exceedingly abundant in southern Iowa, from
which section great numbers migrate on the approach of spring.” In
Nebraska, Prof. Aughey says they are rarely seen north of the Platte,
and Dr. Agersborg states that it is a rare Summer visitor in south-
eastern Dakota. In northern Illinois, Mr. Kline marks it as a rare
resident, and I have found it a rare summer bird at Ripon, Wis.,
but am not aware of its occurrence there in winter. As Ripon is north
of the southern boundary of Minnesota, it is probable the species will
yet be found inthat State. Dr. Hoy reported it from Racine, Wis.,
March 26, 1884. In central Texas, on the main Concho River, it is
tolerably common in winter (Lloyd).

410. Melanerpes aurifrons (Wagl.). [373.] Golden-fronted Woodpecker.

Occurs in our district in Texas only. In the valley of the Lower Rio
Grande it is an abundant resident. It was reported from Tom Green
and Concho Counties, by Mr. Lloyd, who states that it is an abundant
resident. He says it occurs west to the Castle Mountains, near Pecos

133

_ River, and north to the Texas and Pacific Railway. Mr. Brown found
it at Boerne.

412. Colaptes auratus (Linn.). [3878.] Flicker; Yellow-shafted Flicker.

A common summer resident in Manitoba and most of the Mississippi
_ Valley east of the Plains; being replaced, in the west, by the following
species. Along the eastern edge of the Plains all sorts of interme.
diate phases occur.

Few birds are better known or possess more local names than the
present species. Yellow-hammer and Flicker are the names by which
it has been most frequently reported, and the two in about equal pro-
portion. Its winter home in 1883-84 was somewhat farther south
than usual. At Manhattan, Kans., large fiocks remained all winter,
but they were not reported from the rest of the State. In Missouri none
wintered at St. Louis, nor were they mentioned from any station in the
State before March. In Illinois they were found in the extreme south-
ern part only. The species was a full degree, and in most places two
degrees, south of its ordinary limit. Although mixing with C. cafer and
the variety formerly known as Colaptes auratus hybridus in the western
part on the Plains, yet true awratus is found throughout the Mississippi

Valley, even to southwestern Texas, where it was noted from San An-

gelo in the winter of 1883-84. Its spring migration begins early,
being but little behind that of the Robin, and the bulk of these two
Species usually moves together. In 1884 a few individuals were influ-
enced by the warm weather of the last of January and moved slightly,
but no real movement took place until the second week in March. On
_ March 10 and 11 they appeared at Saint Louis and Glasgow, Mo. (lat-
itude 39° 14’). The Flicker, like the Red-headed Woodpecker, migrates
faster on the east than on the west side of the Mississippi River. The

record of its arrival on the east side is as follows: In Illinois it reached

latitude 39° 43’ March 19; March 20 and 21 it reached latitude 41° 36/
and 41° 51’; March 24, latitude 41° 58’; March 26, latitude 43° in Wis-
consin, and March 29, latitude 44° 26’. West of the Mississippi it had
moved to latitude 41° 40’ in Iowa by March 26; to latitude 44° 26/ in
Minnesota by March 28, and March 31 it was seen at latitude 45° and
45° 25’ in Minnesota, having thus overtaken those in Wisconsin-
Farther west the dates were still later. The first was seen at Ellis,
Kans., March 21; at Linwood, Nebr. (latitude 41° 22’), April 2; at Ar-
gusville, Dak. (latitude 47° 08’), April 16; and at Larimore (latitude
47° 52’) April 21. At Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, the first was seen
also April 21, which makes the record irregular as compared with that
from Dakota, but regular when compared with the notes from the region
around the headwaters of the Mississippi. The bulk ordinarily appears
from three to six days behind the first.

The variety formerly known as the Hybrid Flicker (Colaptes auratus
hybridus) [378 a], consisting of those svecimens which are intermediate

134

between auratus and cafer, has been found along the western edge of our
district, running into cafer in the west and auratus in the east. It was
noted in the winter of 1883~-’S4 from Caddo, Ind. Ter., and a second time —
from Texas, this record being from San Angelo. At Caddo it was first —
seen January 11, and was more or less common during the rest of the
winter, though outnumbered by both auratus and cafer. There is little —
to indicate that in its migration it differs from typical auratus.

In the fall of 18&4 the bulk had departed from Elk River, Minn.,
before September 27. At Mount Carmel, Mo., a half dozen were seen
December 10. During the winter of 1884~’85 the range of the Flicker
extended somewhat farther north than in the winter of 188384. More
than the usual number wintered at Saint Louis, where none were seen
the previous winter. Jt was seen also during the winter at Glasgow,
Mo., Keokuk, Iowa, Fayette, Mo., and Griggsville, Ill. At La Porte
City, Iowa, it was more common during the winter of 1884~85 than
ever before; while at Aledo, Ill., this was the only winter for many
years when none were seen.

In the spring of 1885 the northward movement of the Yellow-shafted
Flicker was later than in 1884. No positive records of migration were
made until March 29 and 30, when the bulk reached Saint Louis, and the
first were noted at Aledo, Il!., Ferry, lowa,and Linwood, Nebr. Its prog-
ress for a few days seems to have been more rapid along the Missis-
Sippi River than farther east or west. By April 5 it had been noted
from Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Grinnell, lowa; Ames, Iowa; Clinton, Wis.,
Lake Mills, Wis.; Lanesboro, Minn., and Rochester, Minn. April 7 it
was reported from Chicago, Ill.; Delavan, Wis., and Lake City, Minn.
Then, April 18 to 20 the line of the van reached the same parallel in
Wisconsin and Minnesota, the first being seen at Milwaukee, Wis.;
New Cassel, Wis.; Green Bay, Wis. (two observers); Durand, Wis.;
River Falls, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn. (two observers), and Heron Lake,
Minn. It was seen at Oak Point, Manitoba, April 21.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Elk River, Minn., October 13;
at River Falls, Wis., September 29; at Fernwood, Ill., October 31. The
first migrant reached Fernwood September 12, and they were con-
spicuous at Saint Louis, Mo., September 22. At the latter place many
were seen going south October 5, and two days later migration reached
its height, although the last migrant was not seen until November 11.
At Bonham, Tex., it was first seen October 4; was next seen three days
later, and became common by the-15th.

413. Colaptes cafer (Gmel.). [3878 6.] Red-shafted Flicker.

This is a species which occupies the United States from the Plains
westward. Itis found almost to the eastern boundary of Texas, Indian
Territory, Kansas, and Nebraska, but in Dakota its eastern limit curves
sharply westward, nearly the whole of that Territory being occupied by
Colaptes auratus. There seems to be but little difference between the

|

135

g movements of this species and those of C. awratus, though it is probable
that a greater percentage of C. cafer go farther north to breed. At

Manhattan, Kans., it was recorded as merely a winter bird, arriving
December 8, and it was seen occasionally through the winter. In the
spring of 1884, at Manhattan, the bulk arrived from the south March
15, and April 1 the last was seen. At Caddo, ind. Ter., it was not seen
until January 11, but after that date was common during the rest of the

winter. It was rare near town, staying in or near the bottom-land. I
do not think it ever remained to breed. At San Angelo, Tex., it was

also marked as merely a winter resident, not breeding. Considering the
two species and the variety once known as hybridus as they occur to-
gether at Caddo, Ind. Ter., we find that auratus arrives early in the fall
and is acommon winter resident; few, ifany, breed there. After auratus
has practically completed its fall migration and settled down to winter
numbers, C.cafer and C. auratus hybridus came in together, and during the
coldest weather all three are found in about equal numbers in heavy
timber land, though C. cafer perhaps is the most abundant. It has been
said that il is impossible to distinguish one species from the other with-
out shooting them, but awratus and cafer can be easily distinguished by
the difference in their call notes.

416. Antrostomus carolinensis (Gmel.). [353.] Chuck-will’s-widow.

This is the southern Whippoorwill, and though it occurs as far north
as southern Illinois (in some counties of which it is quite common), itis
more abundant in the Gulf States, from which came all the notes con-
tributed by our observers. In the spring of 1884 it was seen at Rodney,
Miss., April 14, and the next day at Yazoo City. April 13, it came to
Gainesville, Tex. lt was found breeding at Newport, Ark.

In the spring of 1885 the only records received on the migration of
the Chuck-will’s Widow were notes of its appearance at Gainesville
Tex., April 10, and at San Antonio, Tex., April 28.

417. Antrostomus vociferus (Wils.). [354.] Whippoorwill.

A common summer resident in Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley
east of the Plains. In the spring of 1884 it appeared in eastern Concho
County, Tex., where it was a summer resident, March 6. As it was not
seen at Rodney and Yazoo City, Miss., until the last two days of
March, it constitutes an exception to the general rule that species ar-
rive earliest near the Mississippi River. The notes on this species,
though quite numerous, are peculiar in that they do not contain a single
record of the arrival of bulk, departure of bulk, or last. East of the
Mississippi the rest of the record, omitting irregular occurrences, is as
follows: April 15 they reached latitude 33° 34’ in Mississippi and lati-
tude 36° 31’ in Tennessee; April 27 they were recorded at latitude 40°
0S’ in Illinois; April 29 at latitude 41° 10/ in Illinois, and the next day
at Chicago, latitude 41° 51’. They reached latitude 41° 58’ in Illinois
May 1; Milwaukee, Wis., latitude 43°, May 3,and Green Bay, Wis.,

¢ i
136 a

latitude 44° 30’, May 14. West of the Mississippi the record began at |
Reeds, Mo., latitude 37° 08’, April 8, and was carried on by arrivals at
latitude 38° 45’ in Missouri, and latitude 39° 12’ in Kansas, April 17;
at latitude 41° 14’ in Iowa, April 23; latitude 41° 38/ in Iowa, April 25;
latitude 44°47’ in Minnesota, May 2; and May 3, at latitude 45° 05/ and
45° 25’ in Minnesota. May 10, it was reported at Frazee City, Minn.,
(latitude 46°33’), by Miss Gertrude M. Lewis; and another early date
came from Oak Point, Manitoba (latitude 50°30’), where it was seen
May 8, by Mr. A. T. Small. The records on this species cover a stretch
of country about 1,400 miles in length, and the average rate of migra-
tion (whether taken from the records east or from those west of the
Mississippi River) is twenty miles a day. ‘The rarity of the Whippoor-
will over the region of the Great Plains is seen from the fact that not a
single record was received from Nebraska or Dakota.

In the fall of 1884 the last Whippoorwill was seen at Elk River,
Minn., September 23; at Lanesboro, Minn., September 22; and at
Grinnell, lowa, October 10. |

The notes on this species for the spring of 1885 can be arranged with
ease, since nearly all of them belong to one wave. The first records
were: Mason, Tex., March 27; Gainesville, Tex., April 6; Reeds, Mo.,
April 12. The wonderful warm wave which occurred in the Mississippi
Valley from April 19 to 24 induced the Whippoorwill to migrate over
an immense stretch of country. During these days it was noted from
Mount Carmel, Mo.; Peoria, Aledo, and Chicago, Ill.; Morning Sun,
Ferry, Coralville, lowa City, Newton, Grinnell, Ames, La Porte City,
Williamstown, and Waukon, Iowa; Leeds Centre, Durand, River Falls,
New Richmond, and Luck, Wis.; and Elk River, Minn. After suck an
extraordinary wave as the above it is natural that further advance
would be long delayed, and no report came from any station north of
Elk River, Minn., until the extreme limit of the northern range was
reached, at Oak Point, Manitoba, May 12. It was noticed in 1884 that
the Whippoorwill was not reported from Nebraska and Dakota. In
1885 no reports come from these States nor from Kansas. In the fall
of 1885 the last was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., September 20.

418. Phalenoptilus nuttalli (Aud.). [355.] Poor-will.

The scarcity of the preceding species on the Plains has been men-
tioned. Its place there is taken by the present species, which is a rather
common summer resident in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota, pass-
ing eastward, even to Grinnell, Iowa, where an accidental visitant was
taken in 1880. In southeastern Dakota Dr. Agersborg recorded it as
common, but gave no date for its arrival. In the spring of 1884 it was
seen at Mason, Texas, April 8, and at Manhattan, Kans., May 6. It
proceeds north to about latitude 48°, and winters near our southern
border.

In the spring of 1885 the first Poor-will was noted at San Angelo,
Tex., March 26. It arrived at Manhattan, Kans., April 15, but the

137

Z next was not seen there until May 4. In the meantime it had been seen
_ at Emporia, Kans., April 27.
Phalenoptilus nuttalli nitidus Brewster. [——.] Jrosted Poor-will.

This handsome subspecies has been recently described by Mr. Wm.

- Brewster, from specimens taken on the Nueces River, in Texas (Auk.
eS Vol. IV, No. 2, April, 1387, pp. 147-148).
419. Nyctidromus albicollis (Gmel.). [856.] Parauque.

A tropical American species, coming north to the valley of the Lower

Rio Grande, in Texas, where it is a common summer resident (Sennett
& Merrill).
420. Chordeiles virginianus (Gmel.). [357.] Nighthawk.

The Nighthawk winters south of the United States, and breeds

throughout most of the Mississippi Valley east of the Plains, but
principally in the northern portion, very few remaining in summer
- south of the parallel of thirty-seven degrees. It is a common summer
resident-in middle and eastern Kansas (Goss).
_ __ Inthe spring of 1884 the earliest date received of the appearance of the
_ Nighthawk within our borders was April 20, when it was seen at Waverly,
Miss. (latitude 33° 34’). Since it arrived at Oak Point, Manitoba (lati-
tude 50° 30’), May 25, its average speed was very high, reaching 34
miles a day. A computation based on the same rate of speed indicates
that the species reached the Gulf coast of Mississippi about April 14.
The Nighthawk was recorded from latitude 39° in Missouri and Illinois
_ April 29 and 30,"and May 3 from latitude 39° 27 and 40° 0S’ in Tili-
nois. May 6 and 8 it appeared in Illinois and Iowa, in the neighborhood
_ of latitude 41° 30’, with a stray bird at latitude 43° 15’, and also at
_. Manhattan, Kans. (latitude 39° 12’), May 12 and 13 found it at lati-
tude 43° 43’ in Minnesota, and latitude 45° 06’ in Wisconsin, and May
16 and 17 carried it over all the country south of latitude 54° 25’.
_ It reached Argusville, Dak. (latitude 47° 08’), May 23, and was noted
_ from Oak Point, Manitoba (latitude 50° 30’), May 25.

In the fall of 1884 the last Nighthawk was seen at Williamstown,
_ lowa, August 26; at Des Moines, Iowa, September 15; at Mount Car-

mel, Mo., September 27. The bulk left Des Moines September 10, and
Mount Carmel September 21. While the advance of this species in
1884 was quite regular, in 1885 there were unexplainable idiosyncracies.
It reached the southern border of the United States the same day as in
1884, namely, April 14 (at Houma, La.). It was reported from San
Antonio, southern Texas, April 15; from Corinth, Miss., April 22;
Bonham, Tex., April 29; Saint Louis, Mo., April 30; and May 2, 3,
and 4 from Reeds and Mount Carmel, Mo., Odin and Rockford, IIl.,
Keokuk, Iowa, and Ellsworth and Emporia, Kans. Thus far all the
notes were somewhat regular, but four notes were contributed which
certainly are extraordinary. They are: Grinnell, Iowa, first seen

138 Ba
April 21; next, April 22; common, April 26; Iowa City, Iowa, first
seen April 22; Leeds Centre, Wis., first, April 21; next, April 24; —
Luck, Wis,., first, April 28; next, April 30; common, May 11. Thehigh ~
character of the observers, and the commonness and unmistakability —
of the Nighthawk, render it hardly possible that there can be any
mistakes in the observations, which by their very number substantiate
one another. And it must be remembered in this connection that the
temperature during the night of April 21 was high enough to inspire
migration in any of the heat-loving species. At11p.m., April 21, the
thermometer registered 62° F. at Saint Paul and 69° F. at Davenport,
The next warm wave reached the Upper Mississippi Valley April 28.
The rest of the notes are quite regular. The first Nighthawk reached
Peoria, Ill., May 6; Aledo, Ill, May 11; and May 14, 15, and 16 the
first was recorded from Unadilla, Nebr.; Des Moines, lowa; Waukon, —
Iowa; Lake Mills, Wis.; Milwaukee, Wis.; New Cassel, Wis.; La Crosse,
Wis. Durand, Wis.; River Falls, Wis.; Rochester, Minn., and Elk
River, Minn. May 19 it was reported from Heron Lake, Minn.; May
20 from Linwood, Nebr., and Huron, Dak.; May 23 from Argusville, _
Dak.; Menoken, Dak.; Two Rivers, Manitoba, and Oak Point, Mani-
toba, though at this last place it had been first noted May 19.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Elk River, Minn., September
20; at River Falls, Wis., September 15; Lanesboro, Minn., September
18; Grinnell, Iowa, October 10; lowa City, lowa, September 20; and
Fayette, Mo., September 19. The first was seen at Gainesville, Tex.,
October 6, and the last November 27. At Saint Lonis, Mo., migration
began August 17. Great movements were noted during the evenings
of August 21 to 23, and again August 27. Fifty were seen going south-
east at 5 p. m., September 15, and the last passed October 3.

420a. Chordeiles virginianus henryi (Cass.). [357a.] Western Nighthawk.

A common summer resident in western Manitoba and the Great Plains;
common in middle and western Kansas (Goss). The records of this
subspecies, which is the form inhabiting the dry western Plains, indicate
quite a regular migration. In the spring of 1881 it was_reported from
Gainesville, Tex., April 29; Darlington, Ind. Ter., May 4; Ellsworth,
Kans., May 9; Ellis, Kans., May 10; and Menoken, Dak., May 23. These
records indicate that the species performed its northward migration in
the spring of 1884 at the high rate of 34 miles a day for a distance of
upwards of 900 miles. Few species exceed the present in the extent of
its wanderings, its migrations extending nearly 4,000 miles—from Brazil
to the Arctic regions. It is found as far east as Vermillion, in south-
eastern Dakota, where it is a common summer resident, and where the
eastern Nighthawk occurs in migration only. In the spring of 18389
the only record received concerning the Western Nighthawk was its —
arrival at San Angelo, Tex., April 28. Mr. Lloyd saysit probably breeds
on the plains in Texas. Several specimens have been recorded from as
far east as Waukegan, Ill. (Nelson).

—!
ee

.

139

_ 421. Chordeiles texensis Lawr. [358.] Texan Nighthawk.

A southern species, occurring from Texas to southern California and
southward. In1884it arrived at Mason, Tex., April 26. AtSan Angelo,
Tex., five nests were found from May 14 to May 29, each containing two
eggs. In southeastern Texas (near Houston) it is a regular summer
resident (Nehrling).

_ 423. Cheetura pelagica (Linn.). [351.j] Chimney Swift.

A common summer resident in Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley.
From its unknown winter home, somewhere south of the United States,
the Chimney Swallow, in the spring of 1884, crossed our border in

March, arriving at Rodney, Miss., March 13, but it was not noticed at

Abbeville, La., which is on a prairie, until March 25. No records of
it were received while it was performing the next 400 miles of its jour-
ney; but on April 14 it appeared all along the line of latitude 39° in
Illinois and Missouri. April 20 it was reported from latitude 40°, and
May 1 from several stations near latitude 41° 30’. On the same day it
was also reported from Minneapolis, Minn., and Green Bay, Wis. These
latter, however, were doubtless records of impetuous birds that had
flown far ahead of their fellows, and the whole of the next week was
required to distribute the species over the region they had crossed so
hurriedly. The advance reached Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, May
17. An average of all the notes received indicates that the bulk trav-
eled about one week in rear of the van.

In the fall of 1884 the last Chimney Swift was seen at Mount Carmel,
Mo., October 5, while the bulk left September 21.

In the spring of 1885 the first Swift was noted at Houma, La., March
21. It probably reached that point some days before, since it arrived
at Saint Louis, Mo., ten days later (March 31), and this distance of 700
miles is more than this species usually traveis in that time. Six days
elapsed after the first was seen at Saint Louis before it was observed at
any other station, and then at two places on opposite sides of Saint
Louis, and both much farther south, namely, Corinth, Miss., and Bon-
ham, Tex. April 15 to 17 the bulk arrived at Saint Louis, and during
the same period the first was noted from Shawneetown, Paris, and
Griggsville, Ill. The next advance took place April 21 and 22, bring-
ing the species to Emporia and Manhattan, Kans., Linwood, Nebr., Des
Moines, Iowa, Griggsville, Il., and Hennepin, Ill. At the following
places in Iowa, in the same latitude, they were not seen until five days
later: Coralville, Grinnell, and Ames. Then came a long rest, extend-
ing to May 13 and 14, when, with the returning warm weather, they
appeared at Chicago, Ill., Delavan, Wis., Milwaukee, Wis., Stoughton,

_ Wis., Lake Mills, Wis., River Falls, Wis., Lanesboro, Minn, and Elk

River, Minn. Much attention was paid to the movements of this species
at Saint Louis by Mr. Widmann, who counted the number which, at
evening, entered a certain tall chimney that for years has been a favorite
resting place. The whole record from Saint Louis is:

140

March 31, first came two small parties at 6 p. m.; April1, one going north, two
enter the chimney; April 4, four enter; April 5, seven; April 15, thirty; April 17,
one hundred and thirty; April 20, one hundred and fifty; April 26, two hundred and
six; May 8, four hundred; May 12, one hundred and forty; May 15, fifty; May 16,
transients are gone and summer sojourners are building.

In the fall of 1885 the last was reported from Elk River, Minn., Sep-
tember 7; Grinnell, lowa, September 10; lowa City, lowa, September
12; Mount Carmel, Mo., September 20; Saint Louis, Mo., October 17;
Shawneetown, Ill., October 19; and Bonham, Tex., September 26.

The full fall record from Saint Louis is as follows:

Date. Movement. | Date. Movement.
, |
PES oper 2 wi< 3S 311 enter chimney. Oct. eee 100 enter chimney.
*} 19. 2_-..=-| 600 enter chimney. | eee (epee So <2 Many in air.
SS 600 enter chimney. i SS ol) a9 enter chimnes.
ee 0 Nernes Xa 600 enter chimney. (dees Re OS & i 175 enter chimney.
POO tis Se 3 400 enter chimney. | eg b (Des Cope 88 enter chimney.
Sephsugs e222! Atlla. m. large troops gosouth. || “ 17.-...--. Last seen.
Reisee=..-5-1.300) enter chimney. \|

425. Micropus melanoleucus (Baird). [349.] IWhite-throated Swift.

A western species, taken once in Texas by Heermann (B. B. & RB.
Land Birds, Vol. II, p. 425).

428. Trochilus colubris Linn. [335.] Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Breeds from Manitoba to the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds commonly as far
west as Tom Green County, Tex. Itis not probable that the Ruby-throat
is ever found in the United States in winter. A queried reference from
Tlorida has been received, and Mr. Bibbins, of Mermenton, La., states
that he thinks he saw one at that place the last of January or first of
February, 1884. In the spring of 1884 the Hummingbird appears to
have entered the United States during the last week in March, when it
was seen at Rodney, Miss., and Mason, Tex. April 3 and 4 it was re-
ported from Yazoo City and Waverly, Miss., after which, excepting an
irregular occurrence at Danville, Ill, April 28, nothing more was heard
of it until the van reached Saint Louis, May 5. May 13 it had moved
to latitude 43° in Wisconsin, and 43° 15’ in-Iowa. May 18 it was re-
ported from the most northern stations of Wisconsin, and in Minnesota
up to latitude 46° 33’. May 25 it was seen at Oak Point, Manitoba,
And even here these tiny creatures, some of whom spent the winter in
Brazil, had another five hundred miles to go before reaching the north-
ern limit of their range.

In the fall of 1884 the last was seen at Williamstown, Iowa, August
23, and at Des Moines, Iowa, September 27. The last left Mount Car-
mel, Mo., October 5, although the bulk left September 15.

In the spring of 1885 the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird was
recorded from San Antonio, Tex., April 1. This was followed by its
arrival at Bonham, Tex., April 7; Shawneetown, Ill, April 20; Fay-
ette, Mo., April 25; and Odin, Ill., April27. Therest of the notes were
irregular. The first at Iowa City, lowa, was noted May 1; at Pierce

ice £ ys

eee 141

‘City, Mo., May 2; at Paris, Ill., May 3; at Grinnell, Iowa, Saint Louis,
-Mo., and-Hennepin, Il., May 4; at Peoria, Ill., May G; at Waukon, Iowa,
"May 13; at Coleta, Ill., and La Porte City, lowa, May 15; at Keokuk,
Towa, Lake Mills, Wis., and Lanesboro, Minn., May 16; at Rockford,
Ill, and Elk River, Minn., May 17; at Chicago, Ill., New Cassel and
Luck, Wis., May 19 and 20. The arrival of the first at Shell River,
- Manitoba, was noted June 38.
Inthe fall of 1885 the last was reported from Lanesboro, Minn.,
Sepsember 28; Grinnell, lowa, September 16; Iowa City, Iowa, August
11; Fayette, Mo., October 10; and Mount Carmel, Mo., August 2. The
: last female was reported from Bonham, Tex., October 16, while the
males had left some time in August. At Saint Louis, Mo., they were
- numerous September 26; the bulk left September 29, and the last was
seen October 11.

429. Trochilus alexandri Bourc. and Muls. [336.] Black-chinned Hummingbird.

This western Hummer comes east to central Texas, where it was re-
ported to be a common summer resident in Mason, Concho, and Tom
Green Counties. In 1878 it was taken in Gillispie and San Saba Coun-
ties, Tex., by Mr. Ragsdale (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Voi. IV, 1879,
p. 60). And a single male was killed by Mr. N. C. Brown at Boerne,
Tex., April 5, 1883. At San Angelo, in the spring of 1884, it was not
observed till April 16, but since its nest and two eggs were found there
four days later (April 20) the species must have been present for some
- time before it was noticed.
- Inthe spring of 1885 it was reported as arriving at San Angelo
_ April 2; at San Antonio, April 7; and at Mason, April11l. At San An-
- tonio a nest with two eggs was found April 28, and at San Angelo a
nest with five young, May 13.

~ OE he ge eS ET. Tee NL mag Oe
i accra mai SL .

_ 432. Trochilus platycercus Swains. [339.] Broad-tailed Hummingbird.

_ A Rocky Mountain Hummer, migrating south to Guatemala in win-
» ter. It was taken at El Paso, Tex., by Mr. J. H. Clark, in 1851 (B.
' B. & R. Land Birds, Vol. I, p. 463).

435. Trochilus heloisa (Less. & DeLatt.). [342.] Heloise’s Hummingbird.
- This species inhabits eastern Mexico and southern Texas. One
- specimen ( 2 ) was taken at El Paso by Mr. Clark.

: 438. Amazilia fuscicaudata (fraser). [345.] Rieffer’s Hummingbird.

An inhabitant of Central America and eastern Mexico, coming north
to the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, in Texas, where it was taken
by Dr. Merrill.

439. Amazilia cerviniventris Gould. [346.] Buff-bellied Hummingbird.

An inhabitant of eastern Mexico, coming north to the valley of the
Lower Rio Grande, in Texas, where Dr. J. C. Merrill found it acommon
summer resident,

142
442. Milvulus tyrannus (Linn.). [302.] Fork-tailed Flycatcher.

A tropical American species, accidental in the United States. Re- q
corded by Audubon from Mississippi and Kentucky.

443. Milvulus forficatus (Gmel.). [301.] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

The true home of the “Texas Bird of Paradise” is from Texas to
Central America. In summer it occurs regularly in Indian Territory
and Kansas. In southern Kansas it is a tolerably common summer
resident (Goss). Accidental stragglers have been recorded from as far
north as Manitoba and Hudson Bay. In the spring of 1884 the first
arrivals spread over the whole of the northern part of Texas during
the last week of March. In Indian Territory they appeared at Caddo
April 11 and at Darlington April 9. The bulk reached Eagle Pass,
Tex., Aprill, and three days later they were numerous at San Angelo,
where they were breeding from May 6 to July 16. Clutches of four,
five, and six eggs were found.

In the fall of 1884 a flock of transient Scissor-tailed Flycatchers was
seen at San Angelo October 1. The last was seen there October 6.
At Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Mr. Nash found one “lying dead on
the prairie” in October.

In the spring of 1885 none but Texas observers reported its arrival.
It reached San Angelo March 14; Bonham March 28, and Gainesville |
March 31. It was noted also at Eagle Pass, San Antonio, and Mason.
In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Bonham October 5, and at Ma-
son October 11.

444. Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn.). [304.] Kingbird.

A common summer resident throughout Manitoba and the Missis-
sippi Valley. Even as far south as Houston, Tex., it breeds abun-
dantly; but in the valley of the Lower Rio Grande it is a migrant only
(Sennett & Merrill). At Brown’s Valley, on the border between Min-
nesota and Dakota, it is so abundant that Roberts and Benner found
twenty-five nests in one day (June 17, 1879), “all containing full sets
of perfectly fresh eggs.” (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Voi. V, 1880, p. 15.)

This species will be treated with reference to the influence which the
atmospheric warm and cold waves had tponits movements. In study-
ing the weather reports of the Signal Service it is found that a succes-
sion of cold and warm waves pass over the Mississippi Valley. They
begin in the northwest and pass eastward and southward. This is true
of the warm waves as well as the cold. The common idea that a warm
wave begins in the south and passes northward is wrong; it begins in
the north and passes suuthward. For example, on the night of May
15, 1884, a warm wave began at Custer, in the Rocky Mountains. At
11 p. m. the temperature was 70° Fahr., while at Memphis, Tenn., sev.
eral hundred miles farther south and east, it was seven degrees colder
(the mercury standing at 63°). This warm wave reached the Missouri
River at Yankton and Omaha on the night of May 16, the Mississippi

— : 143

"at Keokuk and St. Louis May 17, and by the next night it had ex-
- tended to Cairo and Memphis. The maximum heat did not reach

_ Vicksburg until the night of May 19. Thus this warm wave was four

ae hee

Te Se ee

E
;
|
;
; :

_ days in passing from the Rocky Mountains to Vicksburg. Before it

had reached the Gulf States another cold wave had already started in
the northwest. May 17, at Custer, Mont., the temperature was re-
duced to 53°. This cold wave, also passing south and east, reached
Vicksburg May 20, the next night after the warm wave. In this way

_ waves are constantly passing, and their influence on the mi gration of

birds is very marked.

The Signal Service reports show that a warm wave culminated in the
Lower Mississippi region on the night of March 30. The next day the
first Kingbird noted in the spring of 1884 was seen at Rodney,
Miss., (latitude 31° 52’). (It was reported that a few remained all
winter at latitude 29° 57’ in Louisiana, as indeed they do throughout
most of the Gulf States.) Tor the next ten days there was no general
or widespread atmospheric wave. ‘The northernhalf of the Mississippi
Valley was visited by short snow-storms followed by still shorter
periods of sunshine, while the weather in the southern part was of an
indeterminate character. During tbis period, and after a night when

the temperature was searcely above freezing, the first Kingbird was

noted from latitude 37° 0S’ in Missouri. Thereis noreason for challeng-
ing the record, for in so well-known a bird there is little chance of
erroneous identification. But the probability is that the bird really
arrived the night before, when.the temperature was nearly fifteen
degrees warmer, and escaped detection. However that may be, it is
evident that very little movement took place until the advent of the
warm wave which started in the Rocky Mountains on the 12th of
April and was very pronounced in the Lower Mississippi Valley during
the nights of the 13th and the 15th, the temperature being 29 degrees _
warmer than a few nights before. This renewed the advance and

a brought the first Kingbirds to latitude 33° 34’ in Mississippi on the 15th,

and to latitude 33° 36’ in Texas on the 16th. After a decided but
short cold wave another warm wave passed over most of the Missis-

- sippi Valley on the night of April 17. It brought three males to Saint

Louis, and the next day the bulk was reported from latitude 37° 08! in
Missouri. A few days later two notes were received from Illinois, just
opposite Saint Louis. It may be that the birds came during the slight
rise of temperature during the night of April 21, but it is more proba-
ble that they came on the night of the 17th and were not noticed until
later. The next notein order of latitude is thatfrom latitude 36° 56’ in
Missouri, where the first was not recorded till April 25; but since a
station in latitude 37° 0S’ in Missouri, only a few miles distant, had
previously reported both the first and bulk, it may be considered that
the species was accidentally overlooked until long after it had arrived.

On April 25 a warm wave was at its height at Yankton and Omaha,

144

Seto * +

arriving at Saint Louis the next day. This wave was the culmination
of six days of constantly increasing warmth, and started the birds be- a
fore it had reached its maximum. April 25, first arrivals were reported
from latitude 41° 22’ in Nebraska, and April 26 an increase of summer _
residents, with the first flock of transients, was recorded at Saint Louis—
at both places the day before the maximum of temperature. The night
of the maximum (April 27) brought “ firsts” to latitude 39° 43/ and lati-
tude 40° 08’ in Illinois. A record was made at latitude 42° 16/ in IIli-
nois on April 28, but as this was the day after a quite pronounced polar
wave it is probable that the birds came the day before with the maxi.
mum wave, and had escaped observation. The same remark applies
to two records from latitude 40° 47’ and 40° 53’, April 28 and 29, which
probably belong to April 26. The largest wave of the season began
at Custer, Mont., April 28, passed Yankton and Saint Paul, and ex-
tended down the Mississippi to Saint Louis on the 29th, and reached
the Lower Mississippi Valley on the 30th. As in the case of the previ-
ous wave, a slight bird movement took place the day before, bringing
the first Kingbird to latitude 39° 14’ in Missouri, the bulk to latitude
39° 43/ in Illinois, and flocks of transients to latitude 38° 40/ in Missouri.
But the next night witnessed the grand movement, which carried the
species to latitude 41° 05’, 41° 26’, 41° 38’, 41° 40’, and 42° 37’ in Iowa, x
and latitude 39° 16/, 41° 36’, 41° £6’, 41° 58’, and 42° 37’ in Illinois.
Hence it appears that between darkness and daylight there was a solid
advance of Kingbirds over 200 miles of territory. Who shall say how
many, many thousand were winging their way northward through the
silent watches of that night? The notes of May 1 from latitude 41° 14/
in Iowa undoubtedly also belong tothis wave. The night of May 1 was
eold throughout the northern half of the Mississippi Valley, and was
followed two days later by a warmer period, which marked another ad-
vance of Kingbirds to latitude 43° 06’. In this wave there was no such
uniformity of movement as in the preceding. Indeed, out of the seven
notes which have been apportioned to it, only two hit the maximum |
exactly; but considering them all to pertain to this wave, the advance
is found to be at latitude 43° and 43° 06’ in Wisconsin, and latitude 43°
43’ in Minnesota, with the bulk at latitude 30° 12’ in Illinois and lati-
tude 41° 14’ in Iowa. The culmination of the next weve extended from
May 8 in the northwest to May 10 in the southeast. During the five
days of preparation for this wave there were no notes. On the day
sreceding, the bulk arrived at latitude 42° 56’ in Dakota; the first at
latitude 44° 22/ in Wisconsin and at latitude 45° in Minnesota, while
on the day of the maximum “firsts” were recorded at latitude 43° 43’
and 44° 30’ in Wisconsin, latitude 44° 32’ in Minnesota, latitude 35°

55/ in Kansas, and latitude 47° 08’ in Dakota, with new arrivals of bulk :
at latitude 43° 06’ in Wisconsin and 41° 36/ in Iowa. Thus there was
nearly as much real advance during these nights as during the last
wave of April, the difference being that the April wave spread over all

4
;

e :

the stations during the same night, while the present wave occupied
two nights. For the next three days there were six notes from the Up-
_ per Mississippi Valley, which probably belong to this wave, though the
next two nights after the maximum were also warm and the birds very

145

likely did some migrating. These six do not indicate any advance be-
yond previous records, but are the filling in from stations in the rear
which had not before reported.

Another wave occurred on the night of May 17, but all the notes re-
ceived on Kingbirds were made the previous day, which was also warm.
These records mark the arrival of the bulk at latitude 43° in Wisconsin,
and of the first at latitude 46° 33’ in Minnesota, while—and the fact
is significant—it marked, as it should, the last transients seen at Saint
Louis, for certainly all lasts should be seen just before the maximum of
a warm wave.

_ But few waves remain in which the Kingbird is concerned. One on
May 20 brought the bulk to latitude 43° 48’ and 46° 33/ in Minnesota,
and the first to latitude 46° 53’ in Dakota, and lastly, on June 3, the
first appeared at Oak Point, Manitoba (latitude 509 30’). To recapitu-
late, 76 observations were contributed on the movements of the King-
bird. Of these, 12 were made on the day before the maximum; 10 the day
after the maximum; 9 exactly at the minimum, that is, when the polar

wave was at its height; 4 are evidently mistakes in identification, and

8 occurred at intermediate times when there was no decided wave either
cold or warm. ‘This leaves 33 notes which agree exactly with the max-
imum of the warm waves. It is perfectly natural that when a warm
period is gradually increasing the birds should be influenced by it before
it reaches the maximum, so that the first 12 records spoken of may be
considered correct. Omitting the four mistakes, 72 records remain, of

_which 11 per cent. are indeterminate, 28 per cent. do not agree with

the waves, and 61 per cent. agree exactly.

Considering the lack of experience in noting migration on the part of
most of the observers, this is a very creditable showing.

The average speed at which the Kingbird migrates has been calcu-
lated in the light of the above-mentioned cold and warm waves. It has

been assumed that no movement took place during the nigits of pro-

nounced cold waves, and also that none occurred until at least the day
before the maximum, with the exception of the indeterminate times on
which there were notes. The record began at latitude 31° 52’ in Mis-
sissippi March 31, and ended at latitude 59° 30’ in Manitoba June
3. The species thus passed over 1,286 miles in sixty-four days, which

gives an average of twenty miles a day. Subtracting the nights of

no movement, but retaining all the nights on which there was any
possibility of movement, we find that there were thirty-two nights on
which migration might have taken place, which would give an aver-
age of forty miles a night. That the above estimate of the number of
non-movement nights is not too high may be seen from the records at

7365—Bull 2——10

rac’

Saint Louis, where there were only about twenty-seven nightsfrom March —
31 to June 3 on which migratory movements took place; and it issafe
to assume that the favorable nights as far north. as Minnesota would
have been fewer than at Saint Louis. Hence it is probable that on no
night during which Kingbirds moved did they go less than forty miles,
while on the night of April 29 they traversed over two hundred miles,
and on the nights of May 9 and 10 more than ahundred miles each
night.

If each station had furnished a record (similar to that kept by Mr.
Widmann at Saint Louis) of all the nights when decided bird move-
ments took place, when slight movements took place, and when no
movement occurred, the advance of the various species could be eal-
culated with great accuracy, and a long step forward would have been
made in our knowledge of the phenomena of migration.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk left Williamstown, Iowa, August 20, and
the last was seen there August 28. At Des Moines, Iowa, the last was —
seen August 26.

In the spring of 1885 the earliest record of the presence of the King-
bird in the Mississippi Valley came from Houma, La., where it was
seen March 19. At Gainesville, Tex., 4 degrees farther north, the first |
was seen April 10; at Reeds, Mo., Apri] 13; Shawneetown, Ill., April
16, and Odin, IL, April 19, April 19 was the date of the beginning of
the most pronounced warm wave which occurred in the Mississippi
Valiey during the whole season of migration. The rising temperature
was first felt at Saint Vincent, Minn., the evening of April 18, and
reached the maximum at New Orleans, La., the night of April 22, Its
intensity may be judged from the fact that at La Crosse, Wis., the
temperature at 11 p. m., April 17, was 38°, while the next night it was ©
58°; at Keokuk the temperature rose from 42° on the 17th to 68° dur-
ing the night of the 21st. Of course, this great rising temperature sent
a large bird-wave northward, The Kingbird was prominent in this
wave, traveling in company with the Whippoorwill, Brown Thrasher,
and many others. Now it is a queer fact that, although this bird-wave
was plainly noticed at every station in southern Iowa and central
Illinois, yet each station reported a different set of birds out of the ten
or a dozen well-known species which there is good reason to believe
were then migrating together. Thus, for example, during Spring mi-
gration in 1885 the three birds already mentioned, namely, the King-
bird, Brown Thrasher, and Whippoorwill, were all reported from the
following thirteen stations: Griggsville, Aledo, and Hennepin, Il.,
and Morning Sun, Ferry, Knoxville, Des Moines, lowa City, Coral-_
ville, Newton, Grinnell, Ames, and La Porte City, Iowa. During the
five days from April 19 to April 23 the Kingbird was reported from
six of these stations, the Brown Thrasher from eleven, and the Whip-
poorwill from nine. One station reported the Brown Thrasher only,
and another the Kingbird only. The Kingbird and Brown Thrasher,

147

- without the Whippoorwill, were reported by two stations; the other
two without the Kingbird by six stations, and one station reported the
Kingbird and Whippoorwill without the Brown Thrasher. At two
stations all three were seen. Now what conclusions can be drawn from
these facts? It is evident that the peculiarity of the records must be
due to irregularity of migration or to irregular or incomplete observa-
tion, and it is probable that both causes affect the result. These rec-
ords show also how necessary it is, in studying migration, to have notes
from a large number of stations. The seven of the above mentioned
stations which did not report the Kingbird by April 23 recorded its
arrival the following number of days afterwards, namely, one, fourteen,
nine, six, eight, four, and twenty days, respectively.

Returning again to the regular migration of the Kingbird, the records
show that it was seen at Odin, Ill., April 19; the next day at Saint
Louis and Glasgow, Mo.; April 21 at Mount Carmel, Mo., and Manhattan,
Kans.; April 22 and 23 at Paris and Hennepin, Ill, and Ferry, Coral-
ville, Knoxville, and La Porte City, Lowa.

Although this same warm wave carried the Whippoorwill and the
Brown Thrasher a full hundred miles farther north than any of these
stations, no further adyance of the Kingbird was noted during the rest
of the month. Its advance from the region where the last wave left it
to latitude 45° seems to have taken place in two separate flights, about
a week apart, both passing over the same country. And since the in-
terval between these two flights was oecupied by snow-storms and
freezing weather, it may be inferred that the advance-guard of King-
birds had encountered the cold wave, which delayed the arrival of any
other detachments until the weather moderated. The stations visited
by the scouts on May 4 and 5 were Batavia, Il]., Delavan, Wis. (where
it was first seen May 1), Stoughton, Wis., Lake Mills, Wis., New Cassel,
Wis., Rochester, Minn., Excelsior, Minn. (first seen May 2), and Min-
neapolis, Minn. The second detachment was noted from May 11 to 13
at Batavia, Ill. (common); Rockford, [ll.(common); Lake Mills, Wis-
(bulk arrived); Leeds Centre, Wis. (first); Ripon, Wis. (first); River
Falls, Wis. (first); Ames, Iowa (first); Williamstown, Iowa (first) ;
Waukon, Iowa (first); Lanesboro, Minn. (first); Heron Lake, Minn.
(first); Lake City, Minn. (first), and Huron, Dak. (first). The first at
Elk River, Minn., was seen May 14; at New Richmond, Wis, May 15;
at Menoken, Dak., May 17; Two Rivers, Manitoba, and Oak Point,
Manitoba, May 21. The two notes from Nebraska (Unadilla April 27
and Linwood May 2) agreed very well with records from both Kansas
and Dakota.

In the fall of 1885 the last Kingbird was reported from Elk River,
Minn., September 1; Grinnell, Iowa, August 4; Saint Louis, Mo.,
August 18; Mount Carmel, Mo., September 17; and Bonham, Tex.,
October 17. In Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., it is a rather
rare fall visitant.

)

148

445, Tyrannus dominicensis (Gmel.). [303.] Gray Kingbird.
The Gray Kingbird is a tropical species, a few coming north regularly
to the Gulf States to breed.

a
cs

446. Tyrannus melancholicus couchii (Baird). [3805.] Couch’s Kingbird.

A tropical American species, coming north to southern Texas. Its
nest and eggs have been taken at Lomita Ranch, on the Lower Rio
Grande (Sennett).

447. Tyrannus verticalis Say. [306.] Arkansas Flycatcher ; Western Kingbird.

A western species occurring in the western row of States in our dis-
trict. It was ascertained to breed in western Minnesota by Thomas S.
Roberts and Franklin Benner, who found two of its nests in the Trav-
erse Lake region in June, 1879 (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1880,
pp. 15-16). It is common in middle and western Kansas (Goss); has
been taken in Texas, in Kansas as far east as Fort Hays, and in both
southwestern and southeastern Nebraska; is a rare summer resident in
southeastern Dakota; abundant in central Dakota, and has occurred
accidentally in Iowa, the District of Columbia, Maine, New Jersey, and
New York. In 1884 few notes were contributed relating to its move-
ments during the spring migration. It was seen at San Angelo, Tex.,
and Vermillion, Dak., during the first week in May, and at Ellis, Kans.,
May 22.

In the spring of 1885 the first Arkansas Flycatcher was seen at San
Angelo, Tex., May 6, the next May 8, and the last May 18.

448. Tyrannus vociferans Swains. [307.] Cassin’s Kingbird.
A southwestern species, recorded from western Texas.

449. Pitangus derbianus (Kaup). [308.] Mexican Pitangus ; Derby Flycatcher.

An inhabitant of tropical America, coming north to the Lower Rio
Grande Valley, in Texas, where it was found by Mr. Sennett, who pro-
cured several specimens near Lomita ranch, above Hidalgo.

450. Myiozsetetes tex2nsis (Giraud). [309.] Giraud’s Flycatcher.
An inhabitant of tropical America, coming north to Texas (Giraud).
Giraud’s type is in the U.S. National Museum.

452. Myiarchus crinitus (Linn.). [312]. Great-crested Flycaicher.

A common summer resident of the Mississippi Valley; rare as far
north as Manitoba. Winters extralimitally, entering our district in
April. In the spring of 1884 it was recorded at Gainesville, Tex.,
April 13; Manhattan, Kans., April 26, and Burlington, lowa, April 27.
About the same time it was observed at Pierce City, Mount Carmel,
and Saint Louis, in Missouri. The three stations near the thirty-ninth
parallel reported the arrival of the bulk about May 1. By May 3 the
van had advanced to central Iowa (latitude 41° 36’ and 41° 38’), while
on the 10th, at West Depere, Wis., Mr. S. W. Willard shot the first he
had ever seen in that neighborhood. The species seldom goes farther

149

- north than this. In Minnesota it has been traced up to latitude 45°
and possibly a little further, but at latitude 47° I never saw it. It
breeds throughout its United States range. In the fall of 1884 the last
Great-crested Flycatcher was seen at Des Moines, Iowa, August 26.
At Mount Carmel, Mo., the bulk left August 15 and the last September
9. The last left San Angelo, Tex., September 27,

In the spring of 1885 the earliest record was from Gainesville, Tex.,
_ where the species was seen April 9. It appeared at Saint Louis, Mo.,
April 21; Paris, [l., April 22; Mount Carmel, Mo., April 23; Manhattan,
Kans., May 4; Des Moines, Iowa, May 5, and Elk River, Minn., May
21. In the fall of 1885 the last left Grinnell, lowa, September 26, and
; _ Saint Louis, Mo., September 21.
; In Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., it is a summer resident,
and is particularly abundant in fall migration; and at Houston, in east-
: ern Texas, it is also a common breeder.

453. Myiarchus mexicanus (Kaup). [311.] Mexican Crested Flycatcher.

But one record of this Mexican species was received. Mr. Atwater
found it a summer resident at San Antonio, Tex., where it arrived
about the Ist of April in 1884. This point probably is not far from the
northern limit of its range. Previously it was not known north of the

valley of the Lower Rio Grande, where it is abundant.

454. Myiarchus cinerascens Lawr. [313.] Ash-throated Flycatcher. .

This western Flycatcher reaches our district in Texas, where it is a
summer resident. In the spring of 1884 the first male arrived at San
Angelo March 23, followed three days later by the female; April 7
both sexes were numerous. Three nests were found May 9, May 19,
and June 9. They contained clutches of four, five, and five eggs,
respectively. The last noted in 1883 was on August 30.

In the spring of 1885 the first Ash-throated Flycatcher came to
Mason, Tex., April 5, where they were common by April 10. At San
Angelo, Tex., the first was seen March 15. They appeared at Bon-
| ham, Tex., April 22, and were common April 26. In the fall of 1885,
: at Bonham, Tex., the last was seen October 17.

455. Myiarchus lawrenceii (Gir.). [314.] Lawrence's Fiycatcher.
An inhabitant of eastern Mexico, coming north to the Lower Rio
Grande Valley, in Texas.

456. Sayornis phcebe (Lath.). [315.] Phebe; Pewee.

This familiar bird is a common summer resident in tne Mississippi
Valley. In eastern Texas, near Houston, it is common in winter from
December tiil March, but none remain to breed (Nehrling). In the
spring of 1884 fifty observers reported the date of its first appear-
ance. At the different stations there were great differences in the
number of individuals seen. At one station they were reported as
common, while at another, not far distant, they may have been very

150

rare. Mermenton, La., near the Gulf coast, was the only station report-
ing it to be a permanent resident. Farther west, at San Angelo, Tex.,
a single bird was taken February 1, 1882. <A single bird appeared at.
Gainesville, Tex., as early as February 27, 1884. At Caddo, Ind. Ter.,
one was seen March 8, and eleven days later the first arrived at Saint
Louis, Mo. These were several ma'es and females, the advance guard
of the scattered army that moved northward a few days later.

The appearance of the Pewee at any locality is usually an indication ~
that it will breed there. I have never yet seen a transient visitor in
migration, and the notes received from the different stations confirm
my opinion that they do not linger along the way while migrating.
Whether their flight is maintained for long distances at a very great
height, or whether they stop for rest and food, I do not know, but I
have never seen any arrive in spring whose breeding locality was not
easily found. ‘True, I have known a pair to appear for a few days dur-
ing warm weather and then disappear for a fortnight during a cold
snap. But later the same birds returned and nested under the eaves
of the old barn. They may have sought the shelter of some near forest
or ravine, or may even have gone southward for a time during the cold
weather. From March 20 to March 28, 1884, the great wave of migra-

tion occurred. During those eight days the species spread throughout
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. There does not
seem to have been any regularity in this advance. The birds seem to
have left their winter homes and to have passed directly to their breed-
ing stands, where nesting began within a few days. Thus, at Newton,
Towa (latitude 41° 42’), they were-building March 28.

On the western line of migration there was more delay in the advance.
Thus on March 29 the first was seen at Pierce City (latitude 36° 56’);
April 2 the first appeared at Manhattan, Kans. (latitude 39° 12’), April
7 they became common at Gainesville, Tex.; three days later were com-
mon at Manhattan. April 5 they were first seen at Fridley, Minn. (lati-
tude 45° 05’). The last record of arrival was from Oak Point, Manitoba
(latitude 50° 30’), where they are rare and were first seen May 15.

In the fall of 1884 the last Phoebe left Des Moines, Iowa, September
24. The buik left Mount Carmel, Mo., October 1, while the last was
seen there October 10. At Gainesville, Tex., the first came October 27.

in the spring of 1885 about half of the notes contributed on the Pewee
mention its movements on two consecutive days, so that it evidently
was migrating in great numbers at that time. Previously several dates
were recorded, the earliest of which was its arrival at Fayette, Mo.,
March 4. It reached Shawneetown, Ill., March 5; Saint Louis, Mo.,
March 10 (and on the same date was seen the second time at Fayette);
Richmond, Kans., March 11; Manhattan, Kans., and Glasgow, Mo.,
March 14. sea

During the next nine days no movement was recorded, which may —
be explained by the fact that from Saint Louis northward a second
winter set in with the temperature below freezing almost every night,

15:

~ From March 23 to March 29 the following scattered notes of “firsts”
_ were made: Odin, Ill., March 29; Aledo, Ill., March 23; Keokuk,

Iowa, March 29; Ferry, Iowa, March 28; Knoxville, lowa, March 23;
Des Moines, Iowa, March 24; Newton, Iowa, March 27; Tampico, IL,
March 25; Batavia, Il., March 28; Rockford, Ill., March 23 ; Delavan,
Wis., March 29; Lanesboro, Minn., March 29. The above records in-
dicate that the van was so demoralized by the cold weather that its

- movements, when it did start again, were very irregular. The grand

move, to which allusion has been made already, took place the last
day in March and the first day in April. During these two days the
arrival of the Pewee was recorded at Paris, Ill.; Peoria, Il.; Hennepin,
IL; Chicago, Ill; Morning Sun, lowa; Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Rich-
mond, Iowa; Iowa City, lowa; Coralville, lowa; La Porte City, Iowa;
Stoughton, Wis.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Leeds Centre, Wis., and Lake
Mills, Wis. Following are the only notes contributed for the region
north of the stations just enumerated: the species arrived at New Cas-
sel, Wis., April 4; Lake City, Minn., April 4; Durand, Wis., April 5;
Hastings, Minn., April 6; Elk River, Minn., April 6, and Oak Point,
Manitoba, May 22. |

In the fall of 1885 the last Pewee was reported from Elk River, Minn.,

‘September 28; from River Falls, Wis., September 27; Lanesboro,

Minn., October 7; Grinnell, lowa, October 17; Iowa City, lowa, Octo-
her 3; Mount Carmel, Mo., October 9; and Saint Louis, Mo., October
27. At Gainesville, Texas, the first was seen October 4 and the sec-
ond November 27. In Concho County, Tex., it is rare in summer and
winter, but common in fall (Lloyd).

457. Sayornis saya (Bonap.). [316.] Say’s Phebe.

Like the Pheebe of the east, this western bird is an early migrant.
In our district it winters in Texas, ranging regularly as far east as the
Colorado River (Lloyd). It occurs in eastern Texas, near Houston, in
April (Nehrling). Near Fort Brown, on the Lower Rio Grande, in
Texas, it is not uncommon in winter (Merrill), and Mr. Sennett took it
at Lomita ranch in April. It proceeds north early in the spring. At
Boerne, Tex., Mr. Brown saw several and secured two early in Febru-
ary, 1883, during a severe storm. Both were much emaciated. By

_ March 18, 1884, it had reached Ellis, Kans., where it isa constant sum-

mer resident. Though not recorded by our observers from any station
north of Kansas, yet it does go more than a thousand miles farther
northward. On its southward journey it reached winter quarters at
San Angelo, Tex., December 19, 1883, at which locality the last spring
bird was seen April 22, though a few probably stay to breed in favorable
localities. At Ellis, Kans., the bulk came April18. Toward the east,
in Texas, Mr. Ragsdale found it in Clay County in the spring of 1884,

q but has never seen it at Gainesville, in Cook County. It has been
found by Mr. Powell and by others in southeastern Nebraska, and has

occurred accidentally in northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

152

458. Sayornis nigricans (Swains.). [317.] Black Phebe.
During the summer this southwestern species penetrates a short dis-
tance into western Texas. The only locality at which Mr. Lloyd has
found it is along Spring Creek, in Tom Green County, where it is rare,
but breeds. In the spring of 1885 it arrived at San Angelo, Tex.,
March 14, and was common there March 26. Three eggs were taken
April 3 from a last year’s nest which had been used a second time.

459. Contopus borealis (Swains.). [318.] Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Breeds from northern Minnesota northward and winters below our
southern border. Col. Goss says it breeds in Kansas. Though oceur-
ring throughout the whole of the Mississippi Valley, this species seems
to have almost escaped the notice of the observers. It was seen asa
rare transient at Ellis, Kans., and the first was noticed at Lanesboro,
Minn., June 2, 1884. In the spring of 1885 the first Olive sided Fly-
catcher was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., April 30; at Grinnell, lowa, May
21; and at Lanesboro, Minn., May 18. The last was recorded from
Saint Louis May 15; from Gainesville, Tex., May 21; and from Grin-
nell, lowa, May 30. In the fall of 1885 the first migrant appeared at
Saint Louis, Mo., September 14, and the last was seen there September
25. Mr. Lloyd states that in Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., it
is a fall migrant, tolerably common in September.

461. Contopus virens (Linn.). [320.] Wood Pewee.

A common summer resident in Manitobaand the Mississippi Valley east
of the Plains. This species was said by Audubon to winter in Louisiana,
but has not been found there by late observers; either were any notes
contributed of its presence in the United States as early as the date of
arrival given by Dr. Coues, who says that it enters our district in March.
Still, as it reached Saint Louis April 29, 1884, and its average rate of —
travel is about fifteen miles a day, calculation shows that it ought to
have reached the Gulf coast of Louisiana March 18. In the spring of
1884 our earliest date came from near the extreme western limit of its
range, namely, Mason, Tex., where it was seen April 16. Farther
north in Texas, it was observed at Gainesville, April 29, which is the
same day at which it was seen at Saint Louis, three hundred and fifty-
four miles farther north and still farther east. The average rate from
Mason to Gainesville was about the same as that from Saint Louis to
Waukon, Lowa, so that it is probable that the dates express very nearly
the actual state of affairs, making it evident that migration along the
western part of its habitat is much behind that in the eastern and
middle portions. West of Mason the only record came from San An-
gelo, Tex., where the species was found to be an occasional visitant.
Mr. Ridgway states that specimens sent to the Smithsonian Institu-
tion were not the western form (C. richardsonii), but the true eastern
C. virens.* Central Iowa was reached in migration May 10, northern

*Since the above was written, Mr. Lloyd has taken two specimens of Contopus
richardsoni in Concho County, Tex.

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153

_ Iowa May 20, and southern Minnesota (at Lanesboro) June 2. The

bulk was four or five days behind the van. The Wood Pewee is com-
mon in eastern Kansas and rare in western (Goss).

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Wood Pewees was reported as leaving
Williamstown, Iowa, August 24; Des Moines, Iowa, August 29; and
Mount Carmel, Mo., September 10. The last was reported from Des
Moines, August 29; from Mount Carmel, September 21; and from San
Angelo, Tex., September 21.

In the spring of 1885 the first was recorded from San Angelo, Tex.,
March 14. Several weeks elapsed before the next record was made. .
At Gainesville, Tex., it was seen April 18; at Saint Louis, Mo., April
23; at Chicago, Ill, May 5; Des Moines, Iowa, May 15; Lanesboro,
Minn., May 19; Heron Lake, Minn., May 20; Elk River, Minn., May
22,and Manhattan, Kans., May 16.

In the fall of 1885 the bulk was present at Saint Louis, Mo., September
25, although they were conspicuous September 22. The last was re- .
ported from Grinnell, Iowa, September 16; Fernwood, Lll., October 3;
Saint Louis, October 5, and Bonham, Tex., November 10.

462. Contopus richardsonii (Swains.). [(321.] Western Wood Pewee.

A western species. Common in western Manitoba (Seton); frequently
seen in western Nebraska (Aughey); a rare summer resident in west.
ern Kansas (Goss). In Concho County, Tex., two were shot in the fall
of 1886 (Lloyd).

463. Empidonax flaviventris Baird. [322.] Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Breeds in Manitoba, and doubtless in northern Minnesota also, and
migrates through the entire length of the Mississippi Valley, wintering
in Central America. The Yellow-beilied Flycatcher was not noticed by
any of the observers near the Mississippi south of Saint Louis, though
if must traverse that part of the United States in coming from its
winter home. Inthe spring of 1884, at Saint Louis, it arrived May 8, and
the next day it was seen at Des Moines, Iowa. May 23 it was seen at
Chicago, and May 24 at Lanesboro, Minn. In the southwest the first
female was shot at Gainesville, Tex., May 16.

In the spring of 1885 the first arrived at Saint Louis, Mo., May 13;
Grinnell, lowa, May 21, and Lanesboro, Minn., May 20. The last was
seen at Saint Louis May 15 and at Grinnell May 23.

465. Empidonax acadicus (Gmel.). [524.] Acadian Flycatcher.

A common breeder in all but the northern and western parts of the
Mississippi Valley. In eastern Texas (near Houston) it is the only Em-
pidonax that remains to breed (Nehrling). The same is true of Southern
Louisiana and Alabama (A. K. Fisher). As in the case of many other
species, the earliest record of the Acadian Flycatcher in the spring of
1884 came from Saint Louis, where it arrived April 29. The other rec-
ords are: latitude 39°12’ in Kansas, May 10; latitude 41° 51’ in I-

154

inois, May 21, and latitude 43° 43’ in Minnesota, May 28. The species
is decidedly eastern, and not often found west of the Mississippi. Man-
hattan, Kans., is near the western limit of its range, and it is quite rare
in all parts of Kansas, though it has been traced as far west as Ellis.

In the spring of 1885 the earliest record of the Acadian Flycatcher
came from the extreme western limit of itsrange. It was seen at Gaines-
ville, Tex., April 20. ‘The other records are: Saint Louis, Mo., April 28;
‘Tampico, Ill., May 5; Chicago, Ill., May 9, and Manhattan, Kans., May
20. It was common at Grinnell, Iowa, May 22. It breeds throughout
its range. In the fall of 1885 it was last seen at Saint Louis Septem-
ber 14.

466. Empidonax pusillus (Swains.). [325.] Little Flycatcher.

Specimens taken by Mr. Lloyd and identified by Mr. Ridgway prove
that this western species is a tolerably common breeder at San An-
gelo, Tex.
466a. Empidonax pusillus traillii (Aud.). [325a.] Traill’s Flycatcher.

A common migrant in the Mississippi Valley; breeds from Missouri
and southern Illinois northward. The earliest date of its migration in
the spring of 1884 came from San Angelo, Tex., where it was seen April
27; but in corresponding latitudes near the Mississippi it must have
appeared mucb earlier, since it was seen at Saint Louis, 500 miles far-
ther north, April 29. The rest of the very few notes contributed on this
species refer to its arrival at latitude 41° 51’ in Illinois, May 21; latitude
39° 12/in Kansas, May 22, and latitude 43° 43’ in Minnesota, May 26.

In the fall of 1884 the last Traill’s Flycatcher was seen at Mount Car-
mel, Mo., September 16, and San Angelo, Tex., September 1.

In the spring of 1885 the first was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., May 4,
while at Gainesville, Tex., much farther south and west, none were re-
ported until May 16. The first reached Mount Carmel, Mo., May 8;
Des Moines, Iowa, May 15; Lanesboro, Minn., May 15; Delavan, Wis.,
and River Falls, Wis., May 16.

In the fall of 1885 the first Traill’s Flycatcher noticed at Emporia,
Kans., was seen August 27. The species was still numerous at Saint
Louis, Mo., September 16, and was last seen September 25.

467. Empidonax minimus Baird. [326.] Least Flycatcher.

In the spring of 1884 the Least Flycatcher, like the Wood Pewee,
already mentioned, was reported to have arrived on the same day
(April 29) at Gainesville, Tex., and Saint Louis, Mo. Records were
received from as far north as Oak Point, Manitoba, but they were too
irregular for use.

In the fall of 1884 the last was seen at San Angelo, Tex., Septem-
ber 1. :

In the spring of 1885 the reports of first arrivals were as follows:
San Antonio, Tex., April 14; Gainesville, Tex., April 20; Saint Louis,
Mo., April 30; Des Moines, Iowa, May 5; Hennepin, Il., May 10; Lanes-

a 155

boro, Minn., May 5; Heron Lake, Minn., May 12; White Earth, Minn.,
_ May 16 (about forty seen during the day); Oak Point, Manitoba, May
22. In the fall of 1885 the first was seen at Saint Louis September 14
and the last October 14. The last was seen at Bonham, Tex., Septem-
ber 8.

The facts at present known seem to indicate something phenomenal
in the breeding range of Empidonaxr minimus. It isan abundant sum-
mer resident throughout Manitoba and the northern States. Specimens
(both adult and young) taken by Mr. Lloyd at San Angelo, Tex., dur-
ing the breeding season have been examined by Mr. Ridgway and pro-
nounced typical H. minimus; and Mr. Peters recorded it as breeding
commonly in Bonham, Tex. Prof. Aughey states that it sometimes
breeds in Nebraska. On the other hand, both Col. Goss and Prof.
Lantz give it as a migrant only in Kansas ; and Mr. Widmann positively
states that it does not breed in Saint Louis, Mo., where, in 1885, it was
last seen May 13.

468. Empidonax hammondi (Xantus). [327.] Hammond’s Flycatcher.

The only truly Mississippi Valley record of this western species came
from Dr. Agersborg, who reported it to be a rare summer resident at
Vermillion, Dak. In Texas Mr. Lloyd has found it a tolerably com-
mon fall migrant in Tom Green County and rare in Concho County.

469. Empidonax obscurus (Swains.). [3238.] Wrights Flycatcher.

This alsois a western species, or rather southwestern, coming north-
ward in the Rocky Mountains during the summer as far as latitude 49°.
Mr. Lloyd has taken it twice in fall migration in Tom Green County,
Tex.

470. Empidonax fulvifrons (Giraud). [329.] fulvous Flycatcher.

This species is an inhabitant of eastern Mexico, coming north to Texas
(Giraud). The type is in the U.S. National Museum.
471. Pyrocephalus rubineus mexicanus (Scl.). [330.] Vermilion Flycatcher.

A tropical species coming north to Texas. In the valley of the Lower
Rio Grande it is a tolerably common resident, but more numerous in
summer than in winter (Merrill).

472. Ornithion imberbe (Scl.). [331.] Beardless Flycatcher.

An inhabitant of Central America and eastern Mexico, coming north
to the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, in Texas, where it was taken by
Mr. Sennett.

474. Otocoris alpestris (Linn.). [300.] Horned Lark; Shore Lark.

This species breeds in northeastern North America and Greenland,
wintering in the United States. During its southward journey it ex-
tends westward to the Mississippi Valley, where it is abundant in some
parts of Illinois and rare in Kansas, but the limits of its winter distri-
bution are not known. It visits Manitoba in October.

156 — | ae ees:

474a. Otocoris alpestris leucolema (Cowes). [300a.] Pallid Horned Lark;
White-throated Horned Lark.

Breeds in the interior of British North America and Alaska, coming ;

south in winter to Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and westward. (Known — .

locally as Wheatear and Wheat Bird, and confounded by many with the
Wheatear of Europe.) )

474b. Otocoris alpestris praticola Hensh. [—-.] Prairie Horned Lark.

This subs pecies and the following occur in the Mississippi Valley,
where the present is the prevailing form east of the Plains, breeding
abundantly in the northern half and south, at least as far as Kansas
and Illinois, and wintering from latitude 43° southward even to Texas.
It is abundant in eastern Kansas (Goss) and breeds in Manitoba.

474c. Otocoris alpestris arenicola Hensh. [—-.] Desert Horned Lark.

Inhabits the Rocky Mountain region and the Great Basin, coming
east to Dakota, where it breeds at least as far east as Devil’s Lake. It
is acommon resident in middle and western Kansas (Goss). In winter
it is abundant in Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., arriving late
in October and departing early in March (Lloyd).

474d. Otocoris alpestris giraudi Hensh. [—-.] Texan Horned Lark.
Inhabits eastern and southeastern Texas.

NotTE.—Owing to the want of exact knowledge concerning the breed-
ing and winter ranges of the various subspecies of Horned Larks it is
impossible at present to give their distribution more fully than has
been done above. .

Hither the typical O. alpestris or variety praticola (probably the
former) usually reaches northern Minnesota before the second week
in February, though the mercury sometimes falls to forty degrees
below zero afterwards. The northern limit of the winter range of the
species, taken collectively, varies from latitude 42° to 44°, but a few
individuals usually can be found along latitude 43° even in the cold-
est winters. In the winter of 1883-84 they were unusually scarce in
the north, and on March 1 but few had been seen north of latitude 43°.
During the next two weeks they advanced to latitude 45°, and Mareli
23 they were noticed at Two Rivers, Manitoba, latitude 49° 28’.

In the fall of 1884 the first migrant appeared at San Angelo, Tex.,
September 23, where it had become common by November 3.

In the spring of 1885 Horned Larks appeared at New Cassel, Wis.,
January 28; at River Falls, Wis., February 2; Lake City, Minn., and
Elk River, Minn., February 26. Three individuals were seen at Moor-
head, Minn., after a short spell of south wind, February 12. They
were there continuously after that date. The first came to Larimore,
Dak., March 18, and Oak Point, Manitoba, March 28.

In the fall of 1885 the first returning Lark came to Bonham, Tex.,
November 4, and they were common there by November 10. They
appeared at Gainesville, Tex., November 2.

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157

475. Pica pica hudsonica (Sab.). [286.] Black-billed Magpie.

~ Occurs in the western part of the Mississippi Valley as a rather rare

visitant from the north or northwest. In western Manitoba Mr. Thomp-
son records it as a rare and irregular resident. In western Kansas it
is an occasional fall and winter visitant (Goss). Dr. Agersborg states
that it used to be very common in winter about Vermillion, Dak., but
has recently disappeared. In western Dakota it is still tolerably com-
mon. Robert Kennicott, writing in 1854, stated that the Magpie was
“not uncommon in winter” in Cook County, Ill. (Trans. Ill. State Agi.
Soc. for 1853-1854, 1855, p. 585.)

477. Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). [289.] Blue Jay.

This species is resident throughout all of the Mississippi Valley and
common in all parts except the western plains. In western Manitoba
itis given as a2 Summer resident (Seton). It is usually said to be non-
migratory, because in most localities some individuals are present the
whole year round. The bulk, however, performs quite a regular mi-
gration south in the fall and north late in the spring. In addition to
this imperfect migration it roves somewhat in search of food. The bulk
of its migrations in the spring of 1884 took place during the first two
weeks of May, and the first one reached Oak Point, Manitoba, May
29. The Blue Jay is local in its distribution, requiring an abundance of
acorns or other mast as a prime requisite for a breeding or wintering
place. The following note from Heron Lake, Minn., shows how they
are seen during migration at places where they do not breed: “ May
14, one seen; in a few days they will be quite plenty and then they
will disappear until fall.” The Nueces Cafion in southwestern Texas is
said to be the winter home of countless myriads. In that case they
must migrate to the northeast. for all observers agree that in north-
western Texas they are rather a rare bird. Mr. Lloyd says that its
western limit in Texas ‘“‘ seems to be near the mouth of the main Concho,
where it is tolerably common.” (The Auk, Vol. IV, 1887, p. 290.)

In the spring of 1885 flocks in migration passed Saint Louis, Mo.,
almost every day from April 21 to April 30; and again, May 12, a party
of fifteen or twenty went north. The first returned to Shell River,
Manitoba, May 15, and Oak Point, Manitoba, May 24. In the fall of
1885 the bulk of the flocks were reported from Saint Louis September
26. October 5 one troop was seen going south at 9 a. m.

480. Aphelocoma woodhousei (Baird). [292.] Woodhouse’s Jay.

A bird of the west, occurring in our district in southwestern Texas.
Mr. William Lloyd states that itis tolerably common in Concho and
Tom Green Counties, Tex., where it is “resident wherever there is
skin-oak, at the heads of nearly all the creeks.” (The Auk, Vol. IV,
1887, p. 290.) Two nests were found.

483. Xanthoura luxuosa (Less.). [296.] Green Jay.

The Green Jay is an inhabitant of eastern Mexico, coming north to

the Lower Rio Grande Valley, in Texas, where it is a common resident,

158

484. Perisoreus canadensis (Linn.). [297.] Canada Jay.

This is a northern bird, coming down in winter from the pine forests
of Manitoba, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, where itis abundant. It has
not been known to breed in Wisconsin, but breeds in northern Minne-
sota, where I found it in summer in the tamarack swamps.

486. Corvus corax sinuatus (Wagl.). [280.] American Raven.

A hundred years ago the Raven was found probably all over the
Mississippi Valley, excepting perhaps in the Gulf States. Now civiliza-
tion has driven it from most of the district, but it is still found locally
in almost every State except Mississippi and Louisiana. In western
Kansas it is resident and not uncommon (Goss). The migratory move:
ment is too slight to be studied, and is dependent upon the food rather
than the weather. At the mouth of Devil’s River and the bend of the
Rio Grande, in Texas, immense numbers pass the winter and disperse
again in the spring. In western Texas its nest has been taken by Mr.
Lloyd. In Manitoba it is a resident at some places and a winter visi-
tant at others.

487. Corvus cryptoleucus Couch. [281.] White-necked Raven.

A southwestern species; common in western Texas. Resident in
western Kansas, where it is rare in summer but common in fall and
winter (Goss). Rare in Nebraska. Mr. Lloyd states that it is resident
as far east as Tom Green and Concho Counties, Tex., where it is
abundant at times. He says: “The bulk retire in fall in large flocks
down the Pecos and Devil’s Rivers, where they winter by thousands.
A nest with six eggs was found May 19, 1882, in a low hackberry;
another nest, partly finished, was found May 13, 1883; and a third,
with three eggs, May 5, 1885, in low mesquites.”

488. Corvus americanus Aud. [282.] Common Crow.

Common in name and common by nature, the Crow is a common sum-
mer bird over all of Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley, and common
in winter from northern Iowa southward. In winter it is especially
numerous at Pierce City, Mo., where Mr. Nehrling says that thou-
sands spent the night near his house, and is still more abundant at
Saint Louis, where its numbers, after the increase of the first half of
January, reached near fifty thousand. The most northern record in the
winter of 1883~’84 was at Lanesboro. Minn. In the spring of 1884
migration began about the same time as the real migration of the Pur-
ple Grackle, that is, in the second week in March. Passing irregularly
nerth, crows reached the stations around latitude 45° in Minnesota’
March 13 and 14; Frazee City, Minn. (latitude 46° 33’), March 17%,
and finally arrived at Oak Point, Manitoba, on the last of the month.
They were marked as coming to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, April 4,
which date is said to be later than usual.

During the winter of 1884~’85 (on New Yeai’s day) crows were again

159

seen at Lanesboro, Minn., and either winter residents or very early

migrants were seen at New Cassel, Wis., January 27. From the records
for the spring of 1885 it is easy to trace two routes and times of migra-
tion. The first was along the Mississippi River.. The enormous num-
bers which roosted at Saint Louis, Mo., March 2, began to decrease
rapidly after March 4. At Excelsior, Minn., they arrived March 1; at
Minneapolis, Minn., March 7 and March 9 (two observers); at Elk

River, Minn., March 14; Saint Cloud, Minn., March 11,and White Earth,

:
1

Minn., March 20. The second line of migration was over the prairie
along the valleys of the Missouri River and the Red River of the North.
The first came to Emmetsburgh, Iowa, March 26; Grand View, Dak.,
March 30; Rochester, Minn., March 31; Argusville, Dak., March 31;
Menoken, Dak., March 31; and probably also on the same day to Moor-
head, Minn. (latitude 46° 56’); for although I saw none there until the
next day, yet their abundance then (about two hundred being seen)
would indicate that some of them had come the day before (March 31).
On this same migrating route they reached Two Rivers, Manitoba,
April 2, and Shell River, Manitoba, April 3. They were reported from
Oak Point, Manitoba, March 28, and Ossowo, Manitoba, March 29;
which fact seems to indicate that the crows which appeared at these
two places had come by way of the Mississippi River. Continuing the

comparison between Oak Point and Shell River, we find that although

Shell River is half a degree farther south the average date of arrival
was later than at Oak Point. Out of fourteen of the more common
birds which were reported by both stations, two arrived at both places
the same day, three came to Shell River an average of three days
earlier than to Oak Point, and nine came to Oak Point an average of
five days earlier than to Shell River.

In the fall of 1885 the Crows began to go to roost in numbers at
Saint Louis, Mo., September 24; the bulk arrived October 27, and very
many were present November 1.

Mr. Lloyd states that in the eastern part of Concho County, Tex.,
Crows breed in colonies early in May.

490. Corvus ossifragus Wils. [283.] Jish Crow.

The home of the Fish Crow is in the South Atlantic and Gulf States,
where it is resident, especially along the coast. It is common in south-
ern Louisiana.

‘\

491. Picicorvus columbianus (Wils.). [284.] Clarke's Nutcracker.

Dr. Agersborg furnished the only record from the observers for this
Rocky Mountain bird, he having taken it as an accidental visitant at
Vermillion, Dak., in October, 1883. Professor Aughey saw it once
in Nebraska.

492. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus (Wied). [285.] Maximilian’s Nuteracker ;
Pinon Jay.

A rare visitant from the Rocky Mountain region. October 23, 1875,

three specimens were killed near Lawrence, Kans. (Snow).

160

494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linn.). [257.] Bobolink.

A common migrant in the Mississippi Valley, breeding from Kan-
sas and Iilinois northward. In 1884 fifty-four notes were furnished on -
this species. Studied with relation to the warm and cold atmospheric
waves, in the same way that was done in the case of the Kingbird (see
pages 142-147), it is found that just 50 per cent. of the records are
bad—that is, they agree with the cold wave instead of the warm; 11 -
per cent. are indeterminate, and only 39 per cent. agree with the maxi-
mum of the warm wave. Why it should be thus is not known, though
the fact that the bird frequents marshy meadows, and hence is less easily
noted, may partially account for the difference.

Wintering south of the United States, the earliest record of its ap-
pearance was from Saint Louis, where it arrived April 29. The notes
from [linois are of no value. Bobolinks were noted at latitude 43° 06/
in Wisconsin, May 1; the bulk reached latitude 43° 20’ in Wisconsin
with the next wave, May 5; while with the following wave, May 11,
the first reached latitude 44° 26’, the bulk following on the 18th. West
of the Mississippi the movements agree a little better with atmos-_
pheric waves. After reaching Saint Lonis, April 29, the next wave
brought them at latitude 40° 50’in Iowa, May 3, and latitude 42° 01’ and
latitude 42° 18’ in Iowa, May 5, while arrivals at latitude 43° 48’ and
45° 25’ in Minnesota were noted the day after the maximum wave, on
May 10. The movements of the bulk averaged about ten days in the
rear of those of the van.

On the prairie the maximum wave of the night of May 9 brought
them to latitude 40° 53’ in Nebraska and latitude 41° 21’ in Dakota.
They reached latitude 46° 58’ in Dakota May 17, and May 23 were
noted from latitude 50° 30’ in Manitoba.

In the fall of 1884 the first Bobolink at San Angelo, Tex., was seen
October 2, and at Abbeville, La., one was reported August 4.

In the spring of 1885 the earliest record came from Mount Carmel, Mo.,
April 20, but it was not again seen there until May 1. In the meantime
it had been seen at Saint Louis, Mo., April 28. A few stations in
northern Illinois reported Bobolinks May 5 and 6, but the pronounced
movement did not take place until May 10 to 12, during which three
days the species spread from southern Iowa to latitude 45° in Wiscon:
sin and Minnesota, and to Huron, Dak., latitude 44° 21’. They reached
Argusville, Dak., May 14; Menoken, Dak., May 15, and Shell River,
Manitoba, May 18. In the fall of 1885 the last Bobolink was reported
from Elk River, Minn., September 3; Fernwood, IIll., September 20 and
Grinnell, Iowa, July 27,

494a. Dolichonyx oryzivorus albinucha Ridgw. [—-—] JVestern Bobolink.

The western race of the Bobolink is found from Daketa to Utah and
Nevada, and north into western Manitoba, where it was reported as an
abundant summer resident.

bot

| 495. Molothrus ater (Bodd.). [258.] Cowbird.
i A common breeder throughout the Mississippi Valley and Manitoba, In
winter flocks abound in the Southern States, extending north tosouthern
Ijlinois in the east, and in the west tothe central part of Indian Territory.
- At San Angelo, Tex., it was reported as resident, afew remaining in win-
ter, but most of them going south. Onasking Mr. Lloyd whether he was
sure it was WM. ater that nested there, he replied that its identification as
the typical bird was positive, and that he had found their eggs from May
- 1to June 10 in nests of the Orchard Oriole, Nonpareil, Bell’s Vireo, ete.”
In this he agrees with Mr. Nehrling, who makes the same statement
concerning its breeding at Houston, Tex. In Indian Territory, at
Caddo, they were quite common throughout the winter of 1883-’84, but
all the birds were either females or males in the garb of the female; no
bright males were seen until January 17, and no flocks of males ata
January 19. The bulk of males came J anuary 22; the bulk of the
species left February 22, and the last disappeared March 24. At Saint
Louis, in the spring of 1884, the first came March 17, but only a few
were seen. At Carlinville, Ill., some were seen March 31, and at Bur-
lington, Iowa, April 7. So far the dates probably represent somewhat
nearly the actual movements of the species. Then came the severe and
widespread snow-storms of the early part of April, as a result of which
only one record north of Burlington was made previous to April 16, but
when the records began again they were so thoroughly and hopelessly
contradictory that it is useless to attempt to reconcile them. All that
can be said is that “firsts” came to stations between the parallels of
419 and 45° all the way from April 16 to May 15, being quoted from
latitude 45°, April 16, and from latitude 41°, May 15, with all intermedi-
ate dates between. ‘The first was recorded from Argusville, Dak., May
.9. There seems to be an error in the date (April 14) given from Oak
Point, Manitoba. The female of the Red-winged Blackbird was marked
as coming the same day, and possibly was mistaken for it.
In the fall of 1884 the last migrant was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo.,
September 20.
In the spring of 1885 the records from stations east of the Mississippi
_ River were too irregular for use. From those farther west the follow-
ing may be selected as giving an approximate idea of the time of migra-
tion. The first were noted at San Angelo, Tex., March 6; hundreds
were seen at Bonham, Tex., March 23; the first was reported from Saint
Louis, Mo., March 30; Des Moines, Iowa, April 10; Waukon, Iowa,
April 21; Lanes<oro, Minn., April 23; Heron Lake, Minn., April 28;
Argusville, Dak., May 4; Shell River, Manitoba, May 14. {mn the fall
of 1885 the last Cowbird at Grinnell, Iowa, was seen November 1; at —
Saint Louis, Mo., the last flock was seen October 30; at Bonham, Tex.,
the first migrants appeared October 14. .

3
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ee a ee TS een ee ben Et ee eee Oy

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*In a recent paper on the birds of western Texas Mr. Lloyd gives this species as a
spring and fall migrant, and the Dwarf Cowbird as the form which breeds there,
(The Auk, Vol, LV, 1887,p, 290.)—C. H. M,

7365—Bull 2——1l

162

495a. Molothrus ater obscurus (Gmel.). [258a.] Dwarf Cowbird.
This is the common Cowbird from middle Texas southward and west-
ward. It was noted at San Antonio by Mr. Atwater, breeding there in
company with the typical form. Mr. Lloyd states that it is abundant
in summer in Tom Green and Concho Counties, Tex., and Mr. Nehrling
records it as a common breeder in eastern Texas, near Houston.

496. Molothrus eneus (Wagl.). [259.] Bronzed Cowbird.

A Mexican and Central American species, whose northern limit is in
the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, in Texas. It was found breeding
abundantly at Fort Brown, Brownsville, Hidalgo, and Lometa Ranch,
by Dr. J. C. Merrill and Mr. Geo. B. Sennett. One of our observers,
Mr. Negley, says it is abundant at Eagle Pass.

497. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.). [260.] Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Breeds from Manitoba southward. Though a bird principally of the
Plains and of western North America, it may be found in restricted lo-
calities over most of the Mississippi Valley. It seldom winters as far
north as Illinois, but is found in the Southern States. In eastern Texas
near Houston, it is a common winter resident (Nehrling). In the valley
of the Lower Rio Grande it occurs in winter, but is not common (Sen-
nett & Merrill). It is very abundant in winter at Mermenton, La., and
was reported as a spring visitor at Corinth, in northeastern Mississippi.
Most of the migration takes place in April. In the spring of 1884 the
Yellow-headed Blackbird reached Oak Point, Manitoba, May 5, and the
bulk appeared the next day at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Many
records were received, but they are very irregular. For example, in
Minnesota the first was seen at latitude 45° 05’, June 3; at latitude
47° 25’, May 17, and at latitude 46° 33’, April 8, when it was “common.”
Itis probable that the irregularity in the notes on this species is due to
the restricted localities which the birds visit year after year, their pas-
sage to and fro being unnoticed. Should the observer know these spots
and watch them closely he will find the real first, but if he trusts to
chance to show him the bird his record will be much behind. While
living in Wisconsin there was a spot covering a few acres, 19 miles
distant, where the birds could be found every year; but in over a dozen
years’ residence none were ever seen in the marshes within 5 miles of
town, though during this time they had slightly extended their range.

In the fall of 1884 flocks of Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen at
San Angelo, Tex., September 28, and two days later the last had gone.

In the spring of 1885 the record of no other species showed so plainly
that its migration on the Plains was much later than in corresponding
latitudes nearer the Mississippi River. The Texas records were quite
regular and are as follows: At Eagle Pass, Tex., the first was seen —
April 12; San Antonio, Tex., flocks were seen passing north almost
every day from April 13 to May 25, on which date a flock of several

bousand was seen in a field where oats were being cut. At both Bon-

163

ham, Tex., and Gainesville, Tex., the first were seen April 22. The Kan-
_ sas records also were regular, so far as that single State is concerned.
_ They were: Emporia, Kans., April 11; Richmond, Kans., April 15, and
_ Manhattan, Kans., April 18. The eastern records were much earlier.
a - The first came to Paris, Ill., April 2; to Heron Lake, Minn., April 12

(common there April 16); to Huron, Dak., April 14; to Argusville and
- Menoken, Dak., April 20 and 21; and to Two Rivers and Shell River,
Manitoba, May 1.

498. Agelaius phoeniceus (luinn.). [261.] Red-winged Blackbird.

An abundant summer resident in Manitoba and the Mississippi

Valley. It breeds abundantly in eastern Texas and in the valley of

the Lower Rio Grande. In 1884 sixty-eight observers reported on the

movements of this well known bird. But, as in the case of must other
species, the number of records from the southern part of the district

' were few. Enough, however, were received to confirm the belief that

_ these Blackbirds gather in flocks in winter; that they have regular
roosts, sometimes in company with Grackles or even Crows; that the

_ females do not always retire so far to the south as the males, or so

: early in the winter; and that the males precede the females in spring

migration.

_ At Yazoo City, Miss. (latitude 32° 50’), they were seen “dusting” them-

' selves with snow in January. At Abbeville, La. (latitude 29° 57’), they

are common winter residents. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they were conmon

during the entire winter of 1883~84. At Saint Louis, Mo., a flock of

- females was seen December 29 and again during January. At Manhat-

_ tan, Kans.,a few females were seen during January and February, always

- in warm, cloudy weather. They seem to winter in flocks as far north

~ aS Kansas, Missouri, and southern Ilinois—say up to latitude 40°. Their

accidental occurrence in winter has been noted at various more northern
points. At Alda, Nebr. (latitude 40° 53’), three or four were seen every
few days during the entire winter coming to the cattle yards to feed. At
Lake Mills, Wis. (latitude 43° 06’), an accidental visitor arrived Feb-

- ruary 19 and was fed with corn by a farmer for several weeks.

4 The first northward movement recorded in the spring of 1884 came
from Pierce City, Mo. (latitude 36° 56’), where large flocks passed north
January 29 and 30. At Saint Louis, January 31, a flock of twenty went
north in advance of the Robins. On January 22 they began to increase
in numbers at Caddo, Ind. Ter. The first wave of migration reached
Odin and Carlinville, Ill., February 12, when large flocks arrived. Feb-
ruary 16 additional flocks of migrants arrived at Caddo, Ind. Ter.

No further progress was recorded until March 11, when large flocks
appeared in the lowlands near Saint Louis. On the following day
migrants appeared at Osceola and Polo, Ill. March 15 the first arrived
at Ferry, lowa; Manhattan, Kans. (a flock of young males), and Una-
dilla, Nebr. From this date to the close of the month was but a sue-

_ cession of records of appearance, either of first or of bulk, at the

various stations throughout Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and —
Minnesota. _

At Green Bay, Wis., the first arrived April 6. On the same day the —
first was seen at Pine Bend, Minn. Two days later (April 8) the first —
was seen at Frazee City, Minn. Farther west the progress seems to _
have been less rapid and more irregular. March 20 the first arrived at
Linwood, Nebr., and Vermillion, Dak. (the last were all males); March
30 at Barton, Dak.; April 3 at Two Rivers, Manitoba. April 12 the —
bulk arrived at Manhattan, Kans. April 14 the first arrived at Oak
Point, Manitoba, the most northern point of observation. Ten days —
later, April 24, the first was noted at Ellis, Kans., and at Menoken,
Dak., two points almost 600 miles apart. The limited extent of marshy

country in Kansas will probably account for their late arrival at Ellis. —

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of the Red-shouldered Blackbirds left
Elk River, Minn., November 1, and Des Moines, Iowa, November 8 (nor
were any seen there after this date). At Mount Carmel, Mo., large
numbers passed August 15, and the last was noted November 6. Even
in southern Louisiana many passed southward as early as August 4.

During the winter of 1884~’85 a few irregular notes were contributed.
A Red-shouldered Blackbird was taken in January at Paris, Ill., and a
few were seen at odd times during February at Mount Carmel, Mo., and
Odin, Ul. In the spring of 1885 the first regular northward movement
recorded occurred on the last day of February, when a flock of a hun-
dred passed over Corinth, Miss. The next day they were seen at Pierce
City, Mo., and March 2 at Saint Louis. From March 4 to March 8 a
few scattered flocks visited various parts of northwestern Illinois near
the Mississippi River. They were seen at Aledo, Hennepin, and Tam- —
pico. From March 11 to March 14 the same thing took place along the
valley of the Des Moines River, where flocks were seen at Knoxville,
Des Moines, Newton, and Grinnell, Iowa. The first full wave which
passed over this country (that is to latitude 42° in Llinois and Lowa)
was reported March 25 and March 26 from Mount Pleasant, Iowa, La
Porte City, Iowa, Fernwood, Ill., and Batavia, Ill., with stragglers at
Delavan, Wis., and Heron Lake, Minn. The largest wave of the season
in the migration of this species occurred during the last day of March
and the first day of April. This wave brought “firsts” to Sioux City,
Iowa, Emmetsburgh, lowa, Williamstown, lowa, Rockford, LL, Clinton,
Wis., Milwaukee, Wis., Lake Mills, Wis., Leeds Centre, Wis., and
Ripon, Wis., and to Lanesboro, Minn., with a scout at Luck, Wis.
During the next three days the first were noted at Durand, Wis., and
Lake City, Minneapolis, Fridley, and Elk River, Minn. None were —
noted by the. observers at Green Bay, Wis., until April 17. They ~
reached White Earth, Minn., April 6. On the Plains the movement —
was as follows: Emporia, Kans., was reached March 12, and Manhat-
tan, Kans., March 29. At Unadilla, Nebr., an irregular and very large
flight occurred March 11, but no more were seen until the regular ad.

165

Sy vanee of Apml 1. They were reported from Linwood, Nebr., March 31;
Grand View, Dak , April 10; Huron, Dak., April 12; Two Rivers, Man-
- itoba, April 16; and Oak Point, Manitoba, April 18.

: In the fall of 1885 the last was reported from Green Bay, Wis., Sep-
tember 23; Iowa City, Iowa, October 15; Fayette, Mo., October 20;
and Mount Carmel, Mo., November 15. Stragglers were seen at Grin- |
nell, Iowa, as late as November 21, and at Lanesboro, Minn., Novem-
ber 4. At Saint Louis, Mo., several large flocks were seen October 5;

the height of migration was reached October 11, and many flocks went
south November 8 and 12.

The breeding habits of the Red-wings are well known. They remain
to nest in favorable localities throughout Missouri and eastern Kansas,
Probably not a few breed in Indian Territory. At Saint Louis males
and females were together at breeding stands April 30 (1884), and the
last flock of females passed northward May 11.

501. Sturnella magna (Linn.). [263.] Meadowlark.
The eastern Meadow lark is a common and weil known bird from the
Mississippi eastward; west of the Mississippi it is found with the
western Meadow-lark (S. neglecta) as far as the edge of the Plains, be-
yond which it is almost entirely replaced by that species. In south-
eastern Dakota Dr. Agersborg says the eastern form does not occur;
in Kansas it is common in the vicinity of Lawrence and Topeka; but
at Manhattan, 50 miles farther west, it is almost replaced by 8S. neglecta.
The winter quarters of the eastern Meadowlark do not seem to be
well defined. Apparently it is abundant in the lower valley of the Mis-
sissippi, wherever there are suitable meadows sheltered from the ex-
treme cold; but it seldom winters here so far north as it does in the
Atlantic region. In going westward from the shelter of timber-belts it
seems to retire farther southward. Thus, in Illinois it is common in
sheltered localities as far north as latitude 40°, while farther west, on
the Plains, except in favorable seasons, it retires farther southward,
being rare north of latitude 38° in Kansas and Missouri. It is com-
a ‘mon in winter near Fort Brown, in the valley of the Lower Rio Grande
_ (Merrill). In 1884 sixty-two observers in the Mississippi Valley sent
notes concerning this bird. At Hagle Pass, Tex., on the Rio Grande,
it was reported as plentiful all winter. At San Angelo, Tex., it was
_ reported as resident and abundant in winter. The Nueces Caiion is
. the winter home of countless myriads. At Mermenton, La., near the
Gulf coast, they are resident and much more abundant in winter
than insummer. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they are resident, but not so com-
mon as S. neglecta. At Darlington, Ind. Ter., some remained throughout
the winter of 188384. At Linwood, Nebr., one was seen February 16.
It may have remained there all winter or have been an adventurous
scout of the army that moved from winter quarters in Texas about this
time. At Odin, Ill, they were common February 2, in small flocks,
_ At Danville, Ill, they were reported as resident.

°

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166"

arly in February, 1884, winter quarters were moved from southern

Louisiana and Texas northward, but, except in the case of a fewindi-

viduals, none reached points beyond the usual bounds of their winter
home. By February 26 few were left on the southern border.

About March 8 the first general wave of migration set in. The first

records, too, unlike those of most birds, came from the prairie region.
On March 8 they arrived at Caddo, Ind. Ter.; March 9 at Unadilla,
Nebr.; and March 10 at Des Moines, Iowa. These were the advance-
guard. The great army followed close in the rear, reaching Darling-
ton, Ind. Ter., March 10, and Linwood, Nebr., about the same time.
At Saint Louis the first silent eee on the lowlands was noted
March 11. The bulk followed March 17 in flocks of twenty to twenty-
five, noisy. By this date the advance had spread throughout Illinois
and the greater part of Iowa. From March 8 to the close of the month
there was but one day on which the first appearance of the Meadow-
lark was not reported at some station. There seems to have been no
general interruption in the northward movement. On March 28 the
first arrival was noted at Green Bay, Wis., Lanesboro, Minn., and Red
Wing, Minn. On the same day the bulk reached Barton, Dak., and
was reported at Fridley, Minn. March 27 the first reached Larimore,
Dak., and Elk River, Minn.

As the eastern Meadowlark is known to breed abundantly north
of the United States, it is probable that many of those which arrive at
the different stations in Minnesota and Dakota are but transient vis-
itors. Little has been noted on this point, or as to the time of nesting
at the different stations. At Saint Louis they were noisy and excited
April 14. At Manhattan, Kans., nesting began early in May. The only
record from Manitoba came from Two Rivers, where the first was noted
April 18. From the date at hand it seems that during migration this
species lingers longest in the northern part of the United States. It
seems to move quite rapidly over the greater part of the way, and to
take the last portion leisurely.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk left Elk River, Minn., September 29, and -
the last was seen there October 15. At Des Moines, Iowa, the bulk left
October 20, and the last was seen November 9; at Shawneetown, IIL.,
they were seen in numbers all winter. The first came to San Angelo,
Tex., October 5, and to Mason, Tex., October 11.

The notes on the migration of the eastern Meadowlark in the spring
of 1885 indicate that the species does not migrate by rushes, but travels
a few miles almost every night from the time of starting until the jour-
ney’s end is reached. This starting took place March 3 at Saint Louis,
Mo., and Paris, I]. March 10 brought them to Mount Carmel, Mo., Fay-
etteville, Mo., and Glasgow, Mo., while a couple of scouts had previously
visited Ganaail and Newton, lowe March 13 and March 14a regular ad-
vance was made to Ferry, fom Richmond, Iowa; Tampico, Ill. (both
observers ), and Hennepin, Ill. Nearer the Missieneen River they

toa

were noted March 15 and March 16 at Mount Pleasant and Morning Sun,
Jowa, and Aledo and Peoria, Ill., though it is probable that at all four of
these places the birds actually came Mareh1!. March 25 and March 26
they were found moving in the vicinity of Lake Michigan, at Batavia,
Ill.; Delavan, Wis., and 8S oughton, Wis. March 27 they reached Mil-
waukee, Wis., and Williamstown, Iowa. The last days of March and the
first day of April were days of enormous migration in the Upper Mis-
siss?ppi Vailey, bringing Meadow-larks to Waukon, Iowa; Lanesboro,
Minn.; Lake City, Minn.; Leeds Centre, Wis.; Ripon, Wis.; and New
Cassel, Wis. April 5 they were noted from Durand, Wis.; River Falls,
Wis., and Green Bay, Wis.; and April 6 a half dozen were seen at White
Earth, Minn. In the fall of 1835 the last left River Falls, Wis., Septem-

ber 26; Grinnell and Iowa City, Iowa, October 11; Des Moines, Iowa,

Pa en ae ag gee om ae Te eR Be ee
; J 7 mee, i ba Ec ~

-.

neta

October 18; Fernwood, Il!., October 25; and Mount Carmel, Mo., No-
vember 15. The first migrant reached Bonham, Tex., October 14; the
next October 16; and the species was common there October 20.

501a. Sturneila magna mexicana (Scl.). [263a.] Mexican Meadowlark,

From Mexico this form reaches only a little way into our district,
keeping near the Rio Grande River, where if is common in summer. It
was recorded by Mr. Negley as common at Eagle Pass, Tex.

501 b. Sturnella magna neglecta (Aud.). [2646b.] Western Meadowlark.

Chiefly a bird of the Plains. Breeds from western Manitoba south-
ward. It breeds commonly in western Minnesota (Roberts & Benner,
Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1880, p.15), It is a common resident in
western and middle Kansas (Goss). On the western line of migration,
in the Mississippi Valley, the eastern Meadow-lark is replaced by this
form, which is well marked both in plumage and song. In the eastern
parts of Texas, Indian Territory, Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota the
eastern form predominates, but on the Plains farther west it disap-
pears and is replaced by S. neglecta, which is found as far eastward as
northeastern lowa and northern IVinois.

At San Angelo, Tex., if was reported as resident. Probably the
greater number pass northward to breed, since at Mason, Tex., the
bulk was reported as departing March 31, 1884, though a few remained
as late as April 17. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was reported as resident,
outnumbering the eastern forin. In fall migration it was abundant, in
flocks of 200 to 500; but only a few were seen in the coldest weather.
The first of the transients returned February 16. At Ellis, Kans., the
first arrived March 10; and at Manhattan, Kans., a pair remained all
winter on the farm of the State Agricultural College. The first mi-
grants came March1; the bulk came March 13. On March 18 large
flocks were seen in full song. Some of the eastern form accompanied
them, but they were not numerous. Both magna and neglecta breed
here, but neglecta is much more abundant. Nests were seen as early as
May 9. ‘Two broods are raised in a season. At Vermillion, Dak.,

168

the first was seen March 20; at Argusville, Dak., March 27; at Oak =
Point, Manitoba, May 17.

Dr. Agersborg states that the western Meadowlark breeds abun-
dantly in southeastern Dakota, to the exclusion of the eastern.

In the spring of 1885 no distinction was made in the records of ob-
servers between the eastern and western Meadowlarks, and it was ©
thought that they could not be separated until a decided difference was
discovered in the times of their migration. The general rule holds
good for fully nine-tenths of the migratory birds of the district, that
those which pass over the Plains migrate several days or even weeks
later than their fellows which are traveling nearer the Mississippi River.
Hence, when we find that the Meadowlarks of the Plains move quite
uniformly a week or more in advance of their eastern brethren, it may
be safely concluded that the difference in time is caused by a difference
in the species. These western birds were quite plentiful at Ellsworth,
Kans., during the month of February, and on the 4th of March appeared
at Unadilla and Linwood, Nebr., being common at Linwood by March ~
12. They reached Grand View, Dak., March 21; Sioux City, lowa,
March 22; Huron, Dak., and Kmmetsburgh, Iowa, March 25; Heron
Lake, Minn., March 26; Moorhead, Minn., March 31, where they were
heard and seen over a sheet of snow which had fallen the day before.
At Menoken, Dak., the first was seen April 4; at Larimore, Dak., April
5; at Ossowo, Manitoba, April 6; and at Oak Pvuint, Manitoba, April 9.

503. Icterus audubonii Giraud. [266.1] Audubon’s Oriole.

The home of Audubon’s Oriole is frem central Mexico north to the
Lower Rio Grande Valiey, in Texas, where it is a tolerably common resi-
dent. It is the only Oriole which spends the winter within the United
States.

505. Icterus cucullatus Swains. [269.] Hooded Oriole.

The Hooded Oriole inhabits eastern Mexico, coming north to the
Lower Rio Grande, in Texas, where it is a common summer resident,
and the most abundant of the four Orioles that breed there.

506. Icterus spurius (Linn.). [270.] Orchard Oriole.

The Orchard Oriole is a common summer resident in most parts of
the Mississippi Valley, breeding from southern Texas to central Minne-
sota and Dakota. It is a common breeder at Brown’s Valley, on the
boundary between Dakota and Minnesota (Roberts & Benner, Bull.
Natt. Ornith. Club, Vol. V, 1889, p. 15); and Mr. J. A. Allen found a few
as far west as Heart River, Dak., west of the Missouri (Proc. Bost.
Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. X VII, Oct., 1874). It winters south of the United
States, and crosses our border about the last of March. Its migration
is steady and uniform. Its advance northward occurs at the sime time
on both sides of the Mississippi, and even on the Plains.. Moreover, it ~
is SO conspicuous a bird that it is easily observed. In the spring of 1884

169

- the first male arrived at San Angelo, Tex., April 13, and the first female

_ three days later. At Gainesville, Tex., the first came April 14; at

esa 4

Ie se eC ae ee

Cena Se Oe! oO eee eae ee

a Abbeville, La., April 16. East of the Mississippi they appeared

earlier, the first male being seen at Rodney, Miss., March 31, and the
first female April 9. April 27 they reached Griggsville and Danville,
Ill., and the next day three old males were seen at Saint Louis. April
29 they were seen at Fayette, Mo.; April 30, at Manhattan, Kans., and

‘by May 10 they had advanced to latitude 41° 58’ in Illinois, latitude

41° 40’ in Iowa, and latitude 40° 53’ in Nebraska, though the probability
seems to be that the advance was made simultaneously to all places on
the 7th. May 12 they came to Laporte City and Wankon, Iowa, with
one a little behindhand at Milwaukee, Wis., May 17. At Lanesboro,
Minn., they were seen May 23, three days after they had reached Elk
River, Minn. Elk River is near the northern limit of their range. They
breed commonly in southeastern Dakota. A few have been seen in
central Dakota, and they have been recorded from White Earth, Minn.

_ (latitude 47°). North of this there appears to be no record. The bulk

moves closely behind the first, two or three days only | in the rear. The
full record from Saint Louis is as follows:

The first came April 23, when three old males were in song at their breeding places 5

_ April 29 the bulk of old males arrived; April 30 the first two-years-old male; May 5

the first female and an increase of young males; May 6, conspicuous and noisy. The
height of the season was attained May 5and6. May 8, several old males were mated.
May 9, first one-year-old male arrived; bulk of females arrived; some beginning to
build. May 17, males and females always together. May 31, incubated eggs were

found.

In the fall of 1884 the last old male Orchard Oriole left San Angelo,
Tex., August 31; the last young ue September 10; the last female,
Ee iember 6.

The record of this species was so regular during the spring migration

of 1884 that its movements in 1885 were watched with much interest.
_ About a dozen irregular notes were contributed in 1885, but taken as a

whole its record still stands as that of a species of unusual uniformity
in its migrations. It was first seen, just after its arrival in the United
States, at Houma, La., March 28. At San Angelo, Tex., in the same
latitude as Houma, but farther west, none were seen until April 7,
though they were seen April 10 at Bonham, Tex., and April 11 at
Gainesville, Tex., which latter note agrees very well with the record
from Houma. The probable explanation of the lateness of the record
at San Angelo is found in the altitude of the place, which is nearly
two thousand feet. Saint Louis, Mo., was reached April 21; and,
although the bulk of males was noted Evers the next day, Ae: was
no record from any neighboring station until April 27, when they were
repurted from Odin, Ill. April 28 they were seen at Paris, Lll., and
Fayette, Mo.; and April 30, at Emporia and Manhattan, Kans. The
next advanve was recorded May 5, when they reached Morning Sun,
Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa, Peoria, Ill., and Hennepin, Ill. May 7 one

170

was seen at Sioux City, lowa. May 15 and May 16 a large wave ex- =
tended from latitude 42° to latitude 45°, and carried them to their —
journey’s end. The most northern stations from which records were

received are: New Richmond, Wis., Elk River, Minn., and Huron, Dak.,
though at this last place they were not noted until May 20. The full
record from Saint Louis, Mo., was: “April 21, first; April 22, first fe-
male and bulk of males; Aprij 28, first male of third year; May 5, first
male of second year; May 13, full numbers. The bulk of females ar-
rived the first week in May.”

In the fall of 1885 the last migrant left Grinnell, Iowa, September 10.
The summer residents left Mount Carmel, Mo., June 7. The last mi-
grant left Bonham, Tex., September 15.

507. Icterus galbula (Linn.). [271.] Baltimore Oriole.

The Baltimore Oriole is a common summer resident throughout most
parts of the Mississippi Valley proper, breeding from the Gulf States
to Manitoba. In the spring of 1884 the first record of its migration
was made April 7, when it appeared at Rodney, Miss., and the last May
25, when it reached Oak Point, Manitoba. These dates indicate an
average speed of 27 miles a day. In 1883 it was found that the rate of
its migration was very uniform. Hence it will be interesting to trace
the record for 1884 and see how the two agree. Saint Louis, Mo, was
reached April 26, which indicates a rate of 25 miles a day; but in going
directly north we find a record on the 2dth at Hillsborough, Il., which
would make a speed of just 27 miles a day. About April 29 and April
30 there seems to have been much movement—not so much the ad-
vance of the van as the filling up the country already traversed, bring-
ing the bulk to the region from latitude 39° 30’ southward, and the van
to latitude 41°, and in the west to Manhattan, Kans. (latitude 39° 12’).
Continuing the journey at the rate of 27 miles a day, the species should
have advanced by May 6 to about latitude 43° 30’; and the records
received demonstrate the correctness of this computation. May 5 and

May 6 were days of special movement in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and _

Wisconsin. During these days there were records over all of northern
Illinois and southern Wisconsin to latitude 43° 06’, with a stray one at
latitude 44° 22’; and Minnesota shows good records at latitude 43° 437,
with an extra advance along the Mississippi River to latitude 44° 32’.
May 12 should have found it at latitude 46°, and records were received
of its appearance that day at 45° 25’ and 46° 33’ in Minnesota. Hence
it appears, omitting a few minor local variations which were to be ex-
pected, that the species shows a remarkable uniformity in its rate of
migration throughout this long distance. There was, however, no trace
of the increase of speed from the south northward which was noticed
in 1883, the highest rate being in the middle districts during the first
week in May In the prairie region the records were somewhat later,
the birds reaching latitude 39° 12’ in Kansas, April 30; 40° 53/ in Ne-

mn

| 171 |
br ee, May 9, and 440 OU in Dakota, May 22. Farther west, almost at
the extreme liens of its western dispersion, it was observed at Gaines-

ville, Tex., and Ellis, Kans. The full record from Saint Louis is as fol-
lows:

April 26, first (three males at stands calling); April 23, bulk of males arrived (in
‘al the notes the bulk of the species averaged about four days behind the first); May
3, first females (the average for females was seven days behind the first, and as the
als of the bulk may be separated into two series, one about two or three days in
the rear of the firsts, and the other of seven or eight, it is evident that the first series
indicates the arrival of the bulk of the males, while the second indicates the increase
‘of the species as a whole, caused by the arrival of the females); May 5, bulk of fe-
“males and many transients arrived, making this day the height of the season. (As
has already been stated, this day and the next were the days of special movement of
‘this species, and this seems to have been true over an immense area of country,
“stretching from latitude 34° to latitude 44°.) May 10, the first one-year-old male
arrived; May 11, species very much excited, and transient birds of last year present;
May 31, set found of six incubated eggs.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk and the last individual left Williamstown,
Towa, August 8. The bulk left Des Moines, Iowa, August 26; the last
was seen there August 30. At Mount Carmel, Mo., none were seen after
the middle of the month, and at Cancsrilie, ee they were seen
| ‘August 20.

_ Inthe spring of 1885 the migration of the Baltimore Oriole in the
_ Mississippi Valley, so far as our stations are concerned, began April 15,
when the species was seen at Corinth, Miss. April 20 it reached Shaw-
-neetown, Ti]., and Saint Louis, Mo. Twodays later it appeared at Paris,
“Iil., one degree farther north. April 25 and April 26 it was reported
‘from Aledo, I1].,and Mount Pleasant and Keokuk, Iowa. April 29 and
April 30 the movement extended northeastward up the Rock River Val-
ley to Batavia, [ll., Hennepin, Ll., and Clinton, Wis. On the Iowa River
they appeared at Iowa City and Coralville, lowa, May 1. .At Des Moines,
Iowa, they were not seen until May 3. May 5 a large wave brought
‘them to Williamstown, Iowa, and carried them up the Mississippi River
to Lake City, Minn., and to Ripon and Leeds Centre, Wis. No further
advance was made until after the cold snap; then on the 13th and 14th
of May they appeared at Green Bay and River Falls, Wis., and Elk
River,Minn. Hither they traveled earlier on the Plains (where they were
“noted from Manhattan, Kans., April 21, and Linwood, Nebr., April 24),
r or else they moved very fast in the latter part of futic course, for they
_were reported from Ossowo, Manitoba, May 15; Shell River, Manitoba,
“May 16, and Oak Point, Manitoba, May 19. In the fall of 1885 the
last migrants were panel from Heron Lake, Minn., September 9; |
Grinnell, Iowa, September 16; Fayette, Mo., September 1; and from
Bonham, Tex., September 5

508. Icterus bullocki (Swains.). [272.] Bullock's Oriole.
‘This is a bird of the far west, coming east to the western edge of
our district. In Dakota it seems to be tolerably common from the

172

Missouri westward. Dr. Agersborg recorded it as acommon summer
resident at Vermillion, in southeastern Dakota. It is common in west-
ern Kansas, passing eastward even to Manhattan, where, in 1883, the |
first was seen May 5. In middle Texas it ranges east a little beyond |
the center of the State. Mr. Lloyd states that it isa tolerably common |
summer resident in Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., ‘especially —
on the main streams.” He says: “The ordinary date of arrival is April —
15 to 20, the birds becoming common about April 24. The females —
are very retiring. The males are seen with the family as late as Sep-
tember 30. Breeds on the top branches of the mesquite.” In southern
Texas it ranges farther east. It is an abundant summer resident at —
Laredo (Butcher). In the valley of the Lower Rio Grande it is a com- —
mon Summer resident (Merrill). Inthe spring of 1884 if was seen at
Mason, Tex., April 7, and San Angelo April 29, when the first male —
was noted; the first female came May 1, and by May 3 the species was _
common. This Oriole has been found at Gainesville, Tex., where, in —
1876, the first appeared April 29. It winters in Mexico and breeds —
throughout all its United States range north to British America. At —
San Angelo it was found breeding from May 15 to June 1, with six —
eggs in a clutch. A

In the fall of 1884 the last Bullock’s Oriole was seen at San Angelo, —
Tex., August 31. The preceding year it had been noted much later, 4
the last female being seen September 14 and the last male October 14.

In the spring of 1885 the first was seen at San Antonio, Tex., Aprij
11, and at Mason, Tex., April9. They were common at.Mason April 16. —

509. Scolecophagus carolinus (Miill.). [273.] Rusty Blackbird.

A common migrant through the Mississippi Valley as far west as the
Plains, where it is principally replaced by Brewer’s Blackbird ; breeds —
from Manitoba northward; dispersed in winter over the Southern —
States from southern Illinois and Kansas southward. In the winter of —
188283 its range extended north to Saint Louis. Dr. Coues, in his
‘‘ Birds of the Northwest,” gives some interesting facts concerning the —
migrations of these two species. He says: ‘‘ During the breeding sea- _
son their habitats are entirely separate, but they overlap during the ©
fall migration, if not alsoin winter. In the east, the Rusty Grackle
breeds from northern New England (and perhaps farther south in mount- —
ains) northward, throughout a great part of the British possessions, cs
from Labrador entirely across to Alaska. Now to take an intermediate —
point, say Fort Pembina, on the Red River, the extreme northeast
corner of Dakota. Here, in the spring and summer, the Rusty Grackle
is not known, while Brewer’s Blackbird occurs in great abundance,
breeding. In the fall, however, the Rusty Grackle enters Dakota from
the north on its migration and mixes with the other species” (pp. 198-199).
Now if, as Dr. Cowes states, the Rusty Crackle does not occur in north- —
eastern Dakota in spring, it would be interesting to know by what —
course the representatives of this species—which according to Prof. —

173

: ghey, traverse Nebraska in large numbers every spring—get around
Dakota on their way to Manitoba and Alaska. Colonel Goss records
it as a winter bird in eastern Kansas.

_ The only good record received of the occarrence together of both
_ species in spring is that given by Mr. Nehrling, who noted a few Rusty
- Grackles in March, 1881, in company with the flocks of Brewer’s near
- Houston, Tex.; but that was before the Brewer’s Blackbirds had com-
- menced their migration.

In the spring of 1884 the Rusty Grackle commenced its northward
_ journey about the last of February, appearing at Manhattan, Kans.,
where it usually winters, February 13, and at Saint Louis February
3 26. No further advance was made until after the ‘second winter;”
_ then they moved again, reaching Des Moines, Iowa, March 22; Chicago,
_ March 29; Lanesboro, Minn., March 30; and West Depere, Wis.,
_ April 16. Mapes latitude 39° in Central Meee and Illinois the time
of greatest abundance was March 21. At Saint Louis the bulk left
_ March 25, and the last was seen April 5.

In the fall of 1884 the first Rusty Blackbird was seen at Des Moines,
' Iowa, October 23; the bulk arrived October 28; and the last left No-
vember 8.

In the spring of 1885 regular migration did not commence until
_ March. The species appeared at Reeds, Mo., March 2; Paris, IIL,
_ March 3 (and again March 5); Saint Louis, Mo., March 14, and the
_ same day at Des Moines, Iowa. April 6 they were noted from Lanes-
boro, Minn.; April 22, from Argusville, Dak.; and April 24, from
River Falls, Wis. The last was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., April 14,
and at Lanesboro, Minn., April 22. |
In the fall of 1885 they were present in large flocks at Iowa City,
Towa, October 24; and the last one was seen at River Falls, Wis., Oc-
- tober 23. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen October 9, and large
flocks were going south October 27. A single bird was taken at Gaines-
ville, Tex., in January, 1886.

_ 510. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus (Wagl.). [274.] Brewer's. Blackbird.

As mentioned in speaking of the preceding species, Brewer’s Black-
bird is a western bird, coming east to eastern Kansas and Minnesota
and occasionally to Illinois. Its true home is from the eastern edge of
_ the Plains westward. It winters from western Kansas southward, and
_ breeds over most of its range. In western Manitoba it is an abundant
q summer resident, and a few breed at Vermillion, Dak. At Caddo,
_ Ind. Ter., it was the most abundant Blackbird in the winter of 1883-84.
_ During the spring and fall there were clouds of them, and many flogks
_ Stayed all winter. That they breed there is shown from the fact that a

bird was found which was too young to fly. By March 5 their winter
- numbers had scarcely increased, from which fact it is pretty safe to
conclude that few winter directly south of Caddo, the bulk passing to
the southwest. March 15 they were most numerous, the bulk having

174

come slowly for a week. They are not so abundant in the spring as in
the fall. The bulk depart about March 21. The first arrived at Ellis,
Kans., April 5.

In the spring of 1885 the first Brewer’s Blackbird was seen at Pierce
City, Mo,, March 1; at Richmond, Kans., March 4; Laporte City, Lowa,
March 26; and at White Earth, ae ana 6.

Mr. ne d states that they are a fall migrant in western Texas, occa-
sionally wintering in Tom Green County, and that they are abundant
in winter in the Nueces Cafion. Mr. Nehrling states that they are an
abundant winter resident in eastern Texas, and that a few stop to breed
in Harris County.

They are an abundant winter resident in the Lower Rio Grande Val-
ley, arriving the first week in October and remaining till April (Merrill).

Se Poa os $e 8 te a

511. Quiscalus quiscula (Linn.). [278.] Purple Grachle.

This, the typical form of the Purple Grackle, is a bird of the Atlantic
coast region, from southern New England to Florida. It has been re-
cently recorded as breeding in West Baton Rouge Parish, La, by Dr. F.
W. Langdon, who found it common there from the middle of March to
the middle of April, 1881. He says of it:

A common species during our stay; apparently breeding April 1 to 15. A few
specimens, evidently residents, shot for purposes of identification, proved to be of the

purpureus form, thus considerably extending the known area of its distribution,
(Journ. of the Cincinnati Soc. of Nat. Hist., Vol. IV, 1881, p. 150.)

S5lla. Quiscalus quiscula agleeus. (Baird). [278a.] Florida Grackle.

As itS name implies, the true home of this Grackle is in Florida.
Thence its range extends westward along the Gulf coast to Louisiana,
where it was found by Dr. A. K. Fisher in the spring of 1886,

511b. Quiscalus quiscula zeneus (Ridgw.). [273 b.] Bronzed Grackle,

This Grackle inhabits all of the Mississippi Valley from the Gulf far
into British America, and thence eastward to the Alleghanies, breeding
throughout its range. Itis less common on the Plains. All notes on
Quiscalus will be treated under this head, whether they have been sent
as pertaining to the Purple or Bronzed Grackle, Crow Blackbird, or
Boat-tailed Grackle, as it is practically certain that this is the form that
has really been seen. There is an interesting and as yet unexplained
peculiarity in its winter habitat. Near the Mississippi River it is resi-
dent as far south as southern Illinois, and it is not uncommon in winter
as far north as Minnesota. A fine male was seen at Hastings, Minn.,
December 29, 1883, where it had successfully withstood a temperature
of 30 degrees below zero; and during the whole winter of 1881-82
small flocks stayed at various points in the State. In Louisiana* it was

*Since the taking of typical Quiscalus quiscula in Louisiana by Dr. Langdon, and ~
the discovery of Quiscalus quiscula agleus near New Orleans by Dr. Fisher, considera-
ble doubt attaches to the Louisiana records of the present subspecies. A profitable
field is open to the ambitious student of ornithology who will undertake to ascertain
the exact distribution of these three forms in the Gulf States.—C. H. M.

ted to be more abundant in winter than in summer, but there
seems to be a gap during the winter between this State and Mexico.
It appears to shun the whole State of Texas, passing on to Mexico.
‘Mr. Nebriivg did not find it in southeastern Texas, and distinctly says
thatit “arrives in the spring from its more southern winter home.”
‘Mr. N. C. Brown did not find it at Boerne, Tex.; Mr. Lloyd says that
only a few stragglers are seen at San Angelo in winter; Mr. Henry re-
cords it as a rare winter bird at Mason, and even so far south as Eagle
Pass Mr, Negley gives it as arriving in the spring from the south. The
ease is not without parallel, for much the same thing occurs with the
Phebe (Sayornis phebe) and the Turkey Buzzard (Cathartes aura). At
Caddo, Ind. Ter., two hundred miles south of its ordinary wintering
_ place on the Mississippi, none were seen after November 12.

In the spring of 18384 the first warm wave brought the Crow Black-
birds. back to Saint Louis February 2, and to one or two other places;
‘but winter returned and no real movement took place until after the
Warm weather came again. At Saint Louis the general thaw began
March 10, and March 11 the real migration began. March 12 several
- flocks arrived at Alton, Il; thousands passed over Hillsborough, IL;
many were seen at Carlinville, Ill., and the first arrived next day at
- Mount Carmel, Mo., and at Gainesville, Tex. By March 18 the species
had advanced to a little beyond latitude 42° in southern Wisconsin and

in Iowa, with no irregular notes beyond these points, while in the west
they had not been seen north of latitude 35°. During the next week
(to March 25) great progress was made, and the van was brought fairly
up to latitude 44°45’ in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but in the west it
reached latitude 41° only. In Indian Territory, Kansas, and Nebraska
most of the movement took place March 20 and March 21; but in Min-
-nesota and Wisconsin the Purple Grackles helped to swell the ranks of
the multitudes of birds that were migrating on March 23 and March 24.
This species was reported at Minneapolis and Elk River, Minn., Mareh
28 and March 29, and the bulk about April 1. Thus in the Mississippi
River region it had extended well up toward our northern border before
the storms of early April set in, and since it reached Oak Point, Mani.
—toba, April 10, it may be supposed that some representatives of the
“species were north of the storm center, which was in central Dakota,
and hence were not delayed in their northward journey. In the west
_ the case was different. A single individual had reached Vermillion,
~Dak., April 1, but it was far ahead of its fellows, which had been
caught and stopped by the snow-storms which continued from about
- March 20 to April 10. Then they moved again, and from April 16 to
April 18 were seen as far north as Argusville, Dak. At Larimore,
_Dak., out on the prairie, they were not seen until May 4, and far west,
at Ellis, Kans., they did not come until April 19.

From the early date of the appearance of this species at Oak Point.
Manitoba, and from several other early dates—early as compared with

repo

176

Dakota dates, but not particularly aane when compared with ite aateg
from the region close to the Mississippi—it might be inferred. that, in
many species at least, the line of migration is from central Minnesota —
north and a little westward to the valley of the Red River, but not —
across it, and that they follow this valley, reaching Manitoba in advance —
of those that have come by way of the Plains or the valley of the Mis- —
souri River. z

The bulk of Purple Grackles arrived at about latitude 40° previous —
to March 19, most of the advance occurring on the 12th and 13th. Dur- —
ing the rest of the month, before the advance was stopped by the snow, —
the species occupied two more degrees of latitude (to 42°), and by the —
second week in April it had reached latitude 45°. March 22 was a —
special day for the movement of bulk, which may account for the great —
number of firsts recorded March 23 and March 24.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Bronzed Grackles left Elk River, Minn.,
November 1, and the last was seen November 3; the bulk left Des ©
Moines, lowa, November 8, and the last was seen November 10. At
Mount Carmel, Mo., they were present in large flocks (100 to 200) for the
first three days of August; they disappeared after August 15; re-ap-
peared in flocks September 14; and five or six were seen December 5.

In the winter of 188485 a few Grackles remained north of their —
usual winter range. One was seen all winter at Hennepin, Ill.; and ©
at Paris, Ill., a female remained through all the cold season, feeding at —
a Spring near the house of Mr. Balmer. At Mount Carmel, Mo., one
was seen February 4, which had probably wintered near there, since
no more were seen fora month. In studying the notes on the migra-_
tion of this species many difficulties are encountered. Two distinct sets
of notes were contributed from the region between latitude 38° and
latitude 44°. As they do not harmonize any better by supposing that
the Rusty Grackle had been confounded with the Bronzed in the east,
or the Brewer’s mistaken for it in the west, we can but give the two
sets and let each reader draw his own inferences. The Bronzed Grackle,
under the various names of Purple Grackle, Crow Blackbird, and a —
variety of Latin names, was reported as having been seen at Mount
Carmel, Mo., March 2; Fayette, Mo., March 6; Glasgow, Mo., Mareh
10; Grinnell, lowa, March 9; Knoxville, Iowa, March 10; Unadilla,
Nebr., March 11; Linwood, Nebr., March 10; Bonham, Tex., March —
6; Gainesville, Tex., March 14; and Emporia, Kans., March 23.
East of the Mississippi it was seen at Canton, Miss., February 24; —
Shawneetown, Ill., March 3; Paris, Ill., March5; Aledo, Ill., March —
6; Hennepin, l., March 13; Fernwood, Ill., March 14; Clinton, Wis.,
March 27; Lake City, Minn., March 26; New Richmond and Luck, Wis., —
April 3. orcs going eit over ine same ground again, we cave a
second series of notes. At Saint Louis, Mo., a few scattered Grackles —
were seen March 27; they were the first oot Regular migration set —
in at 5 p.m., March 29, The same date the first was seen at Peoria, Ill, 7

177

bout sunset March 30, March 31, and April 1, thousands and thou-
_ sands passed Saint outs in immense flocks. During these same days

_ they were noted for the first time at Keokuk, Richmond, Des Moines,
~ Morning Sun, Coralville, Newton, and Waukon, in ina. Manhattan,
Kansas; Lanesboro, and Heron Lake, Minn. ; ee ieoud: Wiss and Mil-
_ waukee, Wis. By this time the second wave had overtaken the first,
4 and from stations farther north but one set of notes was received. These
_ show that the first came to Rochester, Minn., April 3; Huron, Dak.,
_ April 4; Delavan, Wis., April 5; and that Anni 6 oe conde ie
- Crosse, Green Bay, and Durand, Wis., and Hastings and Elk River,
Minn. Our northern border was crossed the middle of the month, and
_ April 15 and 16 they appeared at Ossowo, Shell River, and Oak Point,
_ Manitoba.

In the fall of 1885 the last was reported from Ossowo, Manitoba, Oc-
- tober 24; River Falls, Wis., October 10; Grinnell, Iowa, November 21;
Iowa City, Lowa, October 25; Des Moines, Iowa, October 14; Mount
_ Carmel, Mo., November 26; and at Bonham, Tex., none were seen after
August 16. The whole record from Saint Louis, Mo., is as follows:
- “September 17, too many present; October 27, a great day for migra-
tion, large flocks go south ; October 28, another big day, an enormous
flock seen at 9 a. m.; October 30, last flock.”

4 512. Quiscalus macrourus. Swains. [275.] Great-tailed Grackle.

_. This species is an inhabitant of eastern Mexico and southern Texas.
In the valley of the Lower Rio Grande it is an abundant resident. It
was noted at San Antonio, Tex., by Mr. Atwater, who found it there
_ as a summer resident, arriving about the middle of March.

7 513. Quiscalus major Vieill. [277.] Boat-tailed Grackle.
_ A strictly southern species, confined almost exclusively to the country :
near the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts, where it breeds abundantly.
It is common in Texas and Louisiana, near the coast. It was reported
3 _ correctly by a few of the most southern observers, and incorrectly by a
score or more of the northern observers. All the ‘ Boat-tailed Grackles”
“north of latitu:!e 33° are Crow Blackbirds and belong to the preceding
species. The habit which the male Bronzed Grackle has of carrying
his tail “‘boat-shaped” during the breeding season is the common cause
of the mis-identification.

q 514. Coccothraustes vespertina (Cooper). [165.] Evening Grosbeak.
- The home of the Lvening Grosbeak is in the northwestern part of
the United States and British North America, from the Rocky Mountains
ss and while some pass south in winter, even to Mexico, others
- come eastward and are found in Manitoba and all the northern States
as far east as Michigan. They have been found several times ir Iowa
and Nebraska, but so far there is one record only for Kansas, and that
was made in 1877.

7365

Pa

178

The winter of 1883-’84 was marked by an unusual abundance of these —
Grosbeaks. They came early and stayed late. At Minneapolis, which —
has long been known as one of their regular winter resorts, the first —
flock was seen November 7, containing about fifty individuals, and they }
remained all winter.

During the whole of the winter of 1883-84 they were very common
along the Mississippi River, from Minneapolis to the southern border —
of the State. They were reported from Minneapolis, Hastings, Red
Wing, Lake City, and Lanesboro; in northeastern Iowa from Mitchell, —
and in central Iowa from Des Moines and Coralville. At Des Moines
the bulk left the first week in March, and the last was seen March 23.
They came to Lanesboro, Minn., about the middle of February, and by
April 3 were among the most common birds in all the woods down the
valley of the Root River for a few miles below town. These great num-
bers reached their height April 19, and even so late as May 13 the birds
were still making the woods resound with their noisy notes. East of the
Mississippi they were seen at River Falls and Green Bay, Wis. At the
latter place they have been known to stay until May 30. At Portage
La Prairie, Manitoba, the last was seen May 16.

In the fall of 1884 the first Evening Grosbeak, a male, appeared at
Elk River, Minn., October 17; and a flock was seen at Vermillion, Dak.,
December 24.

In the spring of 1885 they were not nearly so common as during the
previous spring. The notes seem to indicate wandering rather than
migration. The records are as follows: Milwaukee, Wis., one seen
March 28; Lanesboro, Minn., many males and females seen for the -
first time April 4 and left again in about a week; Heron Lake, Minn.
seen March 12 and again the next day; Elk River, Minn., scarce during
the winter of 1884~85, two males seen February 25 and one female
March 1. At Shell River, Manitoba, they were seen February 20,
when the temperature was 40° below zero. In the fall of 1885 the first
was seen at Elk River, Minn., October 30. They had previously been
seen at Lanesboro, Minn., October 18, and were still there December 1. —

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515. Pinicola enucleator (Linn.). [166.] Pine Grosbeak.

A winter visitant from the north. All through the winter and spring
of 1883-’84 the newspaper press of the country contained accounts of
the presence of these birds in the Northern States, and occasionally
of the straying of one a little farther south. The comparative rarity
of the species and the bright color of the old males make them favor-
ites among collectors,and wherever they go their ranks are rapidly —
thinned. In the Mississippi Valley they have been found as far south —
as Kansas (one instance) and Illinois. At Alda, in southeastern Ne-—
braska, Mr. Powell took a female in May, 1882. The winter of 188384 |
was not marked by special abundance at any point; in fact, the con- —
trary was true, for they were rather less common than usual. They ~
visited Ripon, Wis., and Mitchell, Iowa, and north of these points were —

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“seen at most of the stations. They left River Falls, Wis., March 15,
and Red Wing, Minn., March 21. At Portage La Prairie, Manitoba,
they. were seen until April 10.

517. Carpodacus purpureus (Gmel.). [168.] Purple Finch.
The Purple Finch breeds in Manitoba and the Upper Mississippi Val-

_ ley, and is a regular wiuter resident in the southern portion. The bulk

pass the winter south of latitude 40°. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., in the win-
ter of 1883—84, they did not arrive until the real cold weather came; the
first flock was seen January 10, and they were still present March 18.
At Gainesville, Tex., an adult male was seen March 20.

The reports show that the species does not movenorthward with much
precision, but arrives at favorite places long before it is seen at neigh-

_ boring stations. For this reason no exact dates of movement can be

given, and it can only be said that the species began to move out of

| _ winter quarters March 20 to 26, and that during the last week of March

and the first week of April it passed up to latitude 45°; but during
March a few individuals were found close to the Mississippi as high as
latitude 44° 30’. On April 21 it appeared at Portage La Prairie, Man-
itoba. It breeds regularly from northern Minnesota and Dakota north-
ward, but has also been found breeding in northern Illinois. Mr. Kline
has taken one set of eggs at Polo, Il.

To show how the composition of the flocks changes from time to time
in the same place, we can do no better than reproduce Mr. Widmann’s
record from Saint Louis:

During the winter of 1883~84 flocks were found at their old stand. There were
not so many asin the winter of 1882-’63, and crimson and plain birds were almost.

equally numerous. In cold weather they keep mostly on the ground, feeding on

seeds of ash; in warm weather they ascend to the tree tops to feed on buds. Feb-
ruary 23 there-was a change in the flocks; they became larger, but there was a
decrease in the number of crimson birds (that is, the old males), 75 per cent. being
brown birds, the balance light crimson. March 17, flocks excited, mostly of brown
birds, but singing. March 27, the bulk departed. April 19, the species still present
in small flocks, mostly brown, but singing much. April 28, last regular migrants.
May 9, an accidental party of eight or ten, all brown; May 7, asingle brown bird seen.

During the winter of 1884~’85 a few Purple Finches were seen at
Saint Louis, Mo., and at Shawneetown, Ill. At Des Moines, Iowa, a
large flock was noted February 25, but no more were observed until
regular migration began in March. The first migrants appeared at

‘Saint Louis, March 3; Des Moines, March 14; Lanesboro, Minn., March

22; Hastings, Minn., March 31; Rockford, Ill., April 1; Green Bay,
Wis., April 2; and Shell River, Manitoba, April 30. The whole record
for 1885 at Saint Louis is:

February 27, three brown individuals seen, winter visitants; March 38, first mi-

grants, five, crimson ; March 11, slight increase, scattered; March 31, first large flock,
many crimson, and in full song; April 6 to April 16, bulk present; April 27, last.

In the fall of 1885 the first came to Green Bay, Wis., September 15;

_ Lanesboro, Minn., October 17; and Mount Carmel, Mo., October 7,

180

The last was seen at Mount Carmel November 2. The first came to 2
Saint Louis, Mo., September 17, and an increase was noticed October
ile

518. Carpodacus cassini Baird. [169.] Cassin’s Purple Finch.
The usual home of this species is in the Rocky Mountain region, but

it occurs in Texas. In the spring of 1884, at ee. Tex., Mr.
Ragsdale saw the first March 13.

521. Loxia curvirostra minor (Brehm). [172.] American Crossbill.

Both the Red and the White-winged Crossbills breed and are resi-
dent in Minnesota, and in winter come a little farther south, occasion-
ally as faras Kansas. Though noted by the observers in their lists, yet
not a single record was made during the winter of 1883~84.

How different therecord for 1885! The winter of 1S84~’85 was marked —
ornithologically, in the Upper Mississippi Valley, by the great abun-
dance of Crossbilis of both species. They arrived at Paris, IIll., the mid-
dle of November (1884); increased daily, and in December the flocks
contained from thirty to fifty birds. None were seen during January
(1885), but they were in good force again February 3. The bulk de-
parted in April, and the last were scen during the first week in May.
At Shawneetown, Ill., the first came December 24, 1854; they were next
seen March 25, and again April 2. No regular migratory movement
can be traced, but they seem to have been most common in Wisconsin
and Illinois the last week of March and the first half of April, ard to
have left early in May. In Milwaukee, thirty-nine birds were brought
to one taxidermist March 28, and they were abundant for the next three
weeks at Lake Mills, Wis. Several hundred were seen during the
spring at Jefferson, Wis., ana they were also noted at Durand, Green
Bay, Ripon, Delavan, and Clinton, in Wisconsin, and at Rockford,
Hennepin, and Odin, in Llinois. In Iowa they stayed all winter at
Coralville, and were seen April 18 at Knoxville (fifty birds) and May 1
at Grinnell. Thelatest records are: Hennepin, Ill., May 18; Coralville,
Iowa, May 21; and Milwaukee, Wis., May 25. Many of both species of
Crossbills were seen at Elk River, Minn., the last week in March. In
the fall of 1885 a flock re-appeared at Milwaukee, Wis., November 7.

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521a. Loxia curvirosira stricklandi Ridgw. (172a.) Mexican Crossbill.

In the fall of 1885 numbers of these southwestern Crossbills invaded
eastern Kansas. November 5 Prof. L. L. Dyche shot several from a
small flock at Lawrence; November 21 Prof. D. BE. Laniz killed thrée
out of a flock of twelve at Manhattan; and December 23 Mr. V. L.
Kellogg shot a pair out of a fiock of twelve at Emporia (Revised Cat. —
Bds. Kansas, Goss, 1886, p. 40). At Lawrence Professor Dyche first
observed the birds November 1 (1885), and he last saw them January
26 (1886). During this period he secured forty specimens, twenty of g
each sex. (The Auk, Vol. III, 1886, pp. 258-259). 3

181

t 522. Loxia leucoptera Gmel. [173.] White-winged Crossbill.

As noted under the Red Crossbill, no White-winged Crossbills were
observed in the Mississippi Valley during the-spring of 1884, but in
: the fall of that year they appeared at Elk River, Minn., and remained
during the winter. In the spring of 1885 they were not so common as
the Red Crossbill, but were noted at Durand, Wis., March 29; at
- Peoria, Ill., March 30; at New Richmond, Wis., April 3, and about a
hundred were seen at Elk River, Minn., March 4. In Kansas it is a
rare and irregular winter visitor (Goss).

524. Leucosticte tephrocotisSwains. [175.] Gray-crowned Leucosticte.

Breeds chiefly in the Rocky Mountain region north of the United
States; south in winter to Colorado. According to Professor Aughey
it is “‘frequently seen in Nebraska in winter, but rarely, if ever, in
summer.”

527 a. Acanthis hornemannii exilipes (Coues). [178a.] Hoary Redpoll.
Another Arctic bird which visits the Mississippi Valley in fall and
winter. Mr. Seton (now Thompson) gave it as a tolerably common fall
visitant to the Big Plain in Western Manitoba. It has been taken in
northern I[llinois.

- §28. Acanthis linaria (Linn.). [179]. Common Redpoll.

A winter visitant from the far north. The winter home of the Red-
pol! in 1883~’84 seems to have been confined principally to the country
between the parallels of 41° and 44°, though the year before it was seen
south to southern [linois (at latitude 37° 30). It is usually a winter
visitor at Elk River, Minn., but Mr. Vernon Bailey writes that he saw
none there from December 25, 1883, to January 17, 1884, when the tem-
perature was 35° below zero. In the latter part of February the flocks
began to grow restless and spread a little, and the first week of March
the southernmost birds were crowding north. By March 10all had gone.
The first was recorded from Frazee City, Minn., on April 19, but proba-

_ bly reached that latitude a few days before. At Elk River, Minn., the
species was numerous and many individuals migrated on April 3, and
on April 7 the last one was seen. In the southern part of the State, at

Lanesboro, the bulk and the last left March 29. At Portage La Prairie,
' Manitoba, the last was seen April 21.

4q In the fall of 1884 the first flock of Redpolls appeared at Elk River,
_ Minn., November 1; the bulk arrived six days later, and they were com-
mon all winter.

In the spring of 1885 the Redpolls remained in the Mississippi Valley
much later than in 1884. They were noted from Mount Carmel, Mo.,
April 1; Grinnell, lowa, April 25; and Leeds Centre, Wis., May 9. In
the fall of 1885 they reached Mount Carmel, Mo., November 4.

528a. Acanthis linaria holbcellii (Brehm). [179a.] Holbeil’s Redpoll.

Another northern species of rare or casual occurrence in the Missis-
sippi Valley. Mr. Ridgway kindly informs me that he has examined
+ Specimens from northern Mlinois.

182 So ae

528b. Acanthis linaria rostrata (Cones). [179a.] Greater Rcdpoll. ee

A northern species, rarely seen in the United States. The only in- a
stance of its capture within the Mississippi Valley is the record of a _
specimen taken November 2, 1878, at Chicago, Ill, by Mr. H. K. Coale.

529. Spinus tristis (Linn.). [181.] American Goldfinch.

The Thistle-bird or American Goldfinch is found in winter over most
of the United States, and breeds throughout the greater part of its
range except in the southernmost portions. In the winter of 1883-84
it was reported from various stations up to northern Illinois, southern
Minnesota, and southeastern Dakota. Considering the severity of the —
winter it is not to be wondered at that it was found no farther north,
but had it been a mild, open winter, like that of 1877-78, it roam
have remained almost at our northern boundary. About a middle
or latter part of March records began to appear at points within their
usual winter range where they had not been seen during the cold
weather, showing that at this date the birds began to spread from their
winter quarters. But it was late before the species began to advance
beyond its ordinary winter limits. It seems not to have made up its
mind to migrate until the last week in April, and then it was two
weeks in getting fairly started. In Wisconsin the first came to West -
Depere May 14; in Minnesota they appeared at Pine Bend May 24.
May 28 the species was seen at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba; the
next day one was seen as far north as Oak Point, Manitoba. By far
the larger part of the movement of this species took place in the last
few days of April and the first days of May. The record from Saint
Louis furnishes a full account of the movements from about the latitude
in which the bulk winters. It was seen all winter in many places—not
in flocks, but as scattered single birds.* These birds were very quiet,
keeping on or near the ground, generally in company with Tree Sparrows,
and allin plain winter dress. Thefirst flock came February 24; they were
in song. They remained in about the same numbers for more than a
month; March 22 a flock of transients was seen going north. April
27 a flock of males in high dress began to arrive; the next day there
was an increase from thé arrival of the bulk of the males of the summer
residents and transients; there were then more males than females.
April 29 they were numerous and noisy, singing males attracting pass-
ing males which were seen descending. Another day and they were
at the height of the season, Goldfinches everywhere, both males and
females. May 5 the bulk of the males left; three days later the bulk
of the females followed, and by May 10 the summer residents were in
pairs and quiet reigned.

In the fall of 1884 the last Thistle-bird was seen at Mount Cannell
Mo., December 10; but none were noted at San Angelo, Tex., after —
September 7. Some of them remained north very late. They were 2

* At Manhattan, Kans., directly west of Saint Louis, a thousand were scen in a sin= *
gle day, January 12,

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: at Pe noapblis Minn., during Weaey. They left ee: latter place in
February and did not return until March 29.

In the spring of 1885 the records were very irregular, doubtless be-
eause of the erratic movements of the birds. Tew, if any, remained
during the entire winter north of latitude 39°; and though they began
_ to move from place to place early in March, the bulk of their migration

was performed in May. They reached Shell River, Manitoba, May 24.
The whole record from Saint Louis is as follows:

3 March 8, first, five in plain dress, silent; March 4, another party of six; March 5,

a very large flock in the lowlands of Illinois, opposite Saint Louis; March 11, a few

in much brighter colors and musical; April 10, still very scarce; only twice met

since March 11; April 20 and 21, increasing, flocks of males in high dress; April 22,

bulk arrived of both males and females; April 29, height of the season, large flocks;

May 4, the bulk of transients departs; May 5, summer residents are scattering and

mating.

In the fall of 1885 the records of “lasts” were: Green Bay, Wis.,

November 2; Milwaukee, Wis., November 26; and Mount Carmel, Mo.,
December 12. At Saint Louis, Mo., the bulk was still present October
10. At Gainesville, Tex., the first was seen August 7.

530. Spinus psaltria (Say). [182.] Grecn-backed Goldfinch; Arkansas Goldfinch.
_ The range of this western species within our district is limited to
western Texas. It was only noted by Mr. Lloyd, who states that at
San Angelo, Tex., it is a rare fall migrant.

530 a. Spinus psaltria arizonz (Coues). [182a.] Arizona Goldfinch.
An inhabitant of northern Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.

_ 530b. Spinus psaltria mexicanus (Sw.). [1820.] Mexican Goldfinch.
More than forty years ago Giraud claimed to have found this species
in Texas. This record has been questioned, but its trustworthiness
has been recently established by the Rev. Ira B. Henry, who re-discov-
ered the species at Mason, Tex., where it is a rather common summer
resident. A specimen sent to the Smithsonian Institution was _ pro-
nounced to agree very closely with Giraud’s type as undoubtedly mevr-
icanus.

533. Spinus pinus (Wils.). [185.] Pine Siskin; Pine Goldfinch.

In Forest and Stream of December 7, 1882, Dr. Coues made the
following statement concerning the habitat of this species:

They breed throughout the British Provinces, northern Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, New York, Michigan, and thence to Washington Territory in all the ever-
green forests, and also breed in the Alpine regions of Oregon, California, Utah, Ne-
vada, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and New and Old Mexico. Some
individuals may be found the year through in their summer abodes, while others
spread in winter over all the United States in suitable places, unless the South At-
lantic and Gulf States are to be excepted.

During the winter and spring of 1883-84 and 1881~85 they were
_ observed at odd times at several of the stations, but their movements

184

were So irregular as to preclude any definite tracing or timing of their _
migration. Colonel Goss shot two from a small flock near Wallace, =
Kans., May 29, 1883; and others were seen at Manhattan, Kans., as
late as May 16, 1885.

Passer domesticus (Linn.). [——.] European House Sparrow; English Sparrow.

In Texas the English Sparrow is abundant at Galveston, Houston,
and other points about Galveston Bay. In Louisiana it is common in
the southeastern part of the State, and extends northward along the
Mississippi as far as Saint Joseph. In Mississippi it is confined to the
northern half of the State, and is said not to occur so far south as
Vicksburg or Jackson. North of this region, and east of the Missis-
Sippi River, it occupies the whole of the Mississippi Valley up to lati-
itude 45°. West of the Mississippi River it occurs in eastern Arkansas,
north of the Arkansas River; is abundant over most of Missouri (ex-
cept in the Ozark Hills), and Lowa (except the northwestern corner),
eastern Kansas, eastern Nebraska, and southeastern Minnesota, and
was reported from a single place in Dakota (Milltown). It generally
appears first in cities and towns, whence it extends its incursions to
the smaller villages and the currounding country, until finally it loeates
apd breeds about farm buildings often many miles from any town. It
is an enemy to agriculture.

Passer montanus (Linn.). [——] Europecen Tree Sparrow.
Successfully naturalized in the vicinity of Saint Louis, Mo., where it
is now abundant and on the increase.

534. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). [186.] Snow Bunting ; Snowflake.

From their breeding places within the Arctic Cirele these warm-
blooded Snowflakes come in countless thousands, beautifying and en-
livening many a dreary winter landscape with the quick flashing of
their wings and their cheery chatter. They commonly invade all of our
district north of latitude 39°, and less often south to latitude 35°,
where they are replaced by the Lapland Longspur. They are rare in
Kansas (Goss). Most of the notes of our observers refer to their de-
parture in the spring. At Saint Louis they have never been seen, and
they are rare in Kansas. At White Hall, Ill., in the spring of 18384,
they stayed until March 24. A little farther north, near latitude 42°
and latitude 43°, they were seen as late as April 17, though the bulk
left the first week in April. At latitude 45° the bulk left about the
same time, but it was nearly May 1 before the last one departed. At
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, they did not disappear until May 29,
and on previous years have been seen as late as June 22 when the
weather was very hot.

In the fall of 1884 the first Snow Bunting appeared at Elk River,
Minn., October 24, and the bulk arrived there November 11. At Lake
_ Mills, Wis., the first was reported December 17. At Mount Carmel,

185

Mo., the first was seen December 22, and the species became common
four days later. A few were seen at Chicago, Ill., December 6.
In the spring of 1885 the last were reported from Chicago, Ill., March
14; Mount Carmel, Mo., March 24; Grinnell, Iowa, April 25, and Ar-
» gusville, Dak., April 29.

In the fall of 1885 they returned to Elk River, Minn., October 9; Ar-
- gusville, Dak., October 19, and Milwaukee, Wis., December 20.

536. Calcarius lapponicus (Linn.). [187.] Lapland Longpsur.

Like the last, a winter visitant from the far north. As has been al-
ready stated, the Mississippi Valley below the range of the Snow Bunt-
ing is occupied by the Longspur. In Kansas itis abundant. The limit
q of its known southern range has been carried south until we now know
_ that it penetrates to Texas, where it has been found at Gainesville,
leaving there in 1884 about March 1. Its mode of occurrence at Caddo,
- Ind. Ter., in the winter of 1883-84 may be taken as a fair example of the
_ way it comes and goes at pleasure. None were seen until a sudden cold
_ snap in February covered everything with frozen rain. Horned Larks,
- Smith’s Longspurs, and Chestuut-collared Buntings became abundant,
and February 13 three Lapland Longspurs were seen. Starting out
the next day to secure some of their skins I suddenly found myself
- surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of them. They fairly swarmed
for a week; but on the night of February 19, taking advantage of a
clear sky and a south wind, they disappeared, in company with all their
_ long-clawed brethren, as suddenly as they had come. In Kansas they
were very numerous about the same time, and a month later Nebraska
_ became the scene of action for the evolutions of their mighty armies.
In northern Minnesota they disappeared during the winter to give
_ place to the Snow Buntings; and the first ones returned to Frazee City
March 9. The last left Manhattan, Kans., March 22, while as late as
: April 19 thousands were seen at Chicago, but they left almost immedi-
ately afterward.

In the spring of 1885 the last flocks of Lapland Longspurs left Man-
_hattan, Kans., February 21. At Newton, Iowa, large flocks moved north
regularly every fine day from March 1 to March 12; and the last were
seen there April 22. A large flock in spring dress was seen in Lanes-
_ boro, Minn., May 2, and the last at Heron Lake, Minn., May 9.

In the fall of 1885 a small flock was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., No-
4 vember 2, and again November 20. The first was seen at Gainesville,
_ Texas, November 14. In northwestern Manitoba the Lapland Longspur
is ‘enormously abundant in May and September. ” (Seton, The Auk,
© Vol. II, 1885, p. 23.)

7 537. Calcarius pictus (Swains.). [188.] Smith’s Longspur.

_ Smith’s Longspur breeds in the far north and winters in the western
part of the Mississippi Valley. It is common in southern Kansas, and
_ its wiuter journeyings have been lately discovered to extend to Texas,

ise ee

where Mr. Ragsdale has found it at Gainesville during several wint

February 19, and the last on the 26th. East of the Mississippi the

species extends in winter to the prairie regions of southern Wisconsin ~

and porthern Illinois, but its true home is in the extensive plains of the

west and northwest. It does not breed within our limits. AtCaddoa —

fine male was shot while sitting on a tree, the only one that was ever
seen to alight elsewhere than on the ground.

In the spring of 1885 a specimen of Smith’s Longspur was shot at
Fayetteville, Ark., February 28, and sent to me for identification. At
Des Moines, Iowa, about 50 were seen April 18. In the fall of 1885 the
known winter range of the species was slightly extended to the south-
eastward by its appearance, November 10, at Bonham, Tex.,; where it
was common November 16. At Gainesville, Tex., the first was seen

November 14. In Manitoba it is abundant during the migrations, par-

ticularly in spring.

538. Calcarius ornatus (Towns.). [189.] Chestnut-collared Longspur.

This is one of the most abundant birds of the western Plains. It is
resident in western Kansas and Nebraska, breeding north to high lati-
tudes in summer, and wandering to southwestern Texas and Mexico in
winter. In Manitoba it isa common breeder, but is somewhat local.
It breeds commonly in Grant and Traverse Counties, in western Minne-
sota (Roberts & Benner). The most southeastern record probably is
that from Warrensburgh, Mo., where it was rather common in April,
1874. (Scott, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. IV, 1879, p. 143.) At Caddo,
Ind. Ter., it was seen in the middle of February, 1884, in company
with C. pictus and C.lapponicus. A question of the use and meaning
of ornithological terms arises in connection with this and the following
species. Mr. N.C. Brown, in his “Reconnaissance in southwestern
Texas” (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, pp. 37-38), says that
these two species, C. ornatusand R. mccownii, do not winter there be-
cause not found until February, and that the latter species is an un-
common migrant, taken between February 11 and 21. In our Missis-
sippi Valley work we would call both of these species winter visitants,
restricting the term “migrant” or “transient,” which two terms are here

used synonymously, to those birds which are found only as they pass ~
through from amore southern to a more northern dwelling-place, or —
vice versa. At Gainesville, Tex., the bulk of the Chestnut-collared —

Longspurs began to leave March 12, and tie last was seen April 24,

ers.
In the spring of 1884 the bulk left Gainesville March 5, and one was p
seen April 1. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., a little to the northeast of Gaines- 4
ville, in a strictly prairie country, they were found to be an abundant —
and apparently regular winter visitor. Two flocks and many scattered —
birds were seen November 17, when there was hardly a sign of ap- ’
proaching winter and the leaves had not ali fallen from the trees. They ~
stayed through heat and cold, ice, snow, and rain, until the bulk lett —

aa

ea ae el ee

ee ier

= In the fall of 1884 a single Chesnut-collared Longspur apnpeared at
Gaivesville, Tex., November 3. |
In thespring of 1885 they were common at Gainesville, Tex., March 5,
- and some may have wintered there. At Huron, Dak., the first were
seen April 2; and at Menoken, Dak., April 15. A single bird was seen
q at Heron Lake, Minn., May 9. Dr. Agersborg states that it breeds
- sparingly in southeastern Dakota and abundantly 150 miles farther
north.
_ 539. Rhynchophanes mccownii. (Lawr.). [190.] McCown’s Longspur.
This Longspur is more emphatically a bird of the western Plains than
Z any of the preceding. There is only one record of its occurrence east of
3 the Mississippi, it having been found accidentally at Champaign, Ill.
_ The ordinary eastern limit of its range is near the edge of the Plains, in
_ Dakota, Nebraska, western Kansas, and Texas. It does not go so far
north as the other species, the Black Hills being near its northern limit.
_ It breeds abundantly in west-central Dakota (Allen). It was found
' at Caddo, Ind. Ter., January 19, 1884. At Gainesville, Tex., it was
- recorded as a winter resident, leaving March 12; a small flock was seen
© March 26, an unusually late date. In western Texas it is an abundant
winter resident (Lloyd). At Ellis, Kans., it was found to be a winter
visitant and abundant in migration, but whether or not it breeds has
not yet been determined.
In the fall of 188! a flock of ten McCown’s Longspurs appeared at
_ Gainesville, Tex., November 5.
In the spring of 1885 two females were shot at Gainesville, April 9,
and were the last seen.
In the fall of 1885 the first returned to Gainesville October 27, and it
was common by November 2. 3

540. Poocetes gramineus (Gmel.). [197.] Vesper Sparrow ; Grass Finch.

A common breeder from eastern Manitoba to southern Illinois, and a
— common migrant throughout the Southern States. In the eastern part
_ of Concho County, Tex., Mr. Lloyd states that it is a tolerably com-
- mon fall migrant. In northeastern Texas, at Gainesville, it was not
_ found in winter; which fact agrees with Mr. Nehrling’s statement, that
none remain, so far as he knows, in the vicinity of Houston, Tex., dur-
» ing the winter. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, p.12.) At
_ Gainesville they arrived March 4, and were seen until April16. Just

north of Gainesville, at Caddo, Ind. Ter., a single bird was seen Feb-
ruary 20, but no more until the bulk came March 11. There is some
doubt whether these Gainesville specimens are typical gramineus or
the western subspecies confinis, but those from Caddo were certainly
_ typical. At Pierce City, Mo., the first came March 17, and March 22 a
_ pair visited Saint Louis. Then there was a pause, and the species appa-
_ rently made no advance until the first week in April. April 10 it was
_ seen at Lanesboro, Minn. It ranges north even to the Saskatchewan

188

River. It was reported as breeding at Newport, Ark., but its normal —
breeding range does not extend much south of sOaiiien Illinois. 3

In the fall of 1884 the last Grass Finch left Des Moines, fowa, August —
12, and the first appeared at Gainesville, Tex., October 8. 7’

In the spring of 1885 a pronounced Hietanon of this species took
place about the Ist of April. It was first noticed at Saint Louis, Mo., —
March 30; at Hennepin, Ill, March 31; Delavan, Wis., April 1; and —
Manhattan, Kans., April 4. The Texas records were later. They are: —
Gainesville, April 6,and San Angelo, April 14. The advance near the
Mississippi River was quite uniform. Newton, lowa, was reached April
9; Leeds Centre, Wis., April 10; Lanesboro, Minn., apa: 16; New
Richmond, Wis., April 14; Nan oee Minn., April 22; and Shell
River, Nesaitabea., April 29. In the fall of 1885 the last one was seen at
Elk River, Minn., October 3; Lanesboro, Minn., October 29; Saint
Louis, Mo., October 21; and at Mount Carmel, Mo., October 28. At
Gainesville, Tex., they were abundant November 17.

540 a. Poocetes gramineus confinis Baird. [197 a.] Western Vesper Sparrow.
This pale form of the Vesper Sparrow occurs on the high dry plains
along our western border, and thence westward. Its eastern limit in
the south is in the neighborhood of Gainesville, Tex., where specimens
-both of this subspecies and of typical gramineus have been taken by
Mr. Ragsdale. Most of the specimens from Gainesville are intermediate
in character, but from the one hundredth meridian westward, in Texas,
typical confinis is the prevailing form. It breeds in western Texas
(Lloyd). It is an abundant summer resident at Devil’s Lake, Dak., and
is the common form in central Dakota, as well as in the Traverse Lake
region in western Minnesota, and throughout western Manitoba.

541. Ammodramus princeps (Mayn.). [192.] Ipswich Sparrow. .
Breeds on Sable Island, off Nova Scotia, and occurs in winter along
the Atlantic coast as far south as Virginia. A single straggler has
been reported from Dallas, Tex., where, according to its label, it was
killed December 10, 1584 (Sennett, The Auk, Vol. III, 1886, p. 135), but
there is reason to suspect that the specimen really came from the coast
of New England, the error having arisen from a transposition of labels.

5§42a. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna (Wils.). [193a.] Savanna Sparrow.

This Sparrow breeds throughout the Mississippi Valley east of the
Plains. It is said to winter from southern Illinois and southern Kan-
sas southward, but none of the observers found it north of latitude 35°.
It was found most abundantly about Caddo, Ind. Ter., and Gainesville,
Tex., at which places both the typical species and the paler form, A.
alaudinus, oceur (one form remains abundant all winter, the other comes
early in the spring). February 14, these Sparrows were very common
at Caddo, Ind. Ter., though not more than five were found in a place.
The morning of March 22 they were truly in the “height of the season.”
It had not been supposed that they ever appeared in such numbers.

489

Ww ithin a half mile from the house there were certainly not less than a
_ thousand, and probably over two thousand, individuals. ‘They could be
- geen and heard on all sides all the time. The next day the numbers
remained the same, while the day following a walk over the same
- ground revealed two birds only. Considering the winter bird to be
3 alaudinus, Mr. Ragsdale did not record savanna from Gainesville until
_ April 7 and the last May 14.
a Nearer the Mississippi they reached Pierce City, Mo., March 19,
and Saint Louis March 22; but this bird was ahead of his mates, for
less than half a dozen were seen before April 19. Des Moines, Iowa,
- was reached April 23, and Lanesboro, Minn., on the last day of the
' month. At Manhattan, Kans., directly north of Gainesville, it arrived:
April 21. The Savanna Sparrow usually breeds from latitude 40°
' northward, but Mr. Ridgway states that it breeds throughout IIli-
nois, and Mr. Nehrling has found it breeding at Pierce City, Mo. Dr.
- Watson thinks that in former years he found it nesting at Ellis, Kans.
In the spring of 1885 not a note on the Savanna Sparrow came from
any station east of the Mississippi River. At Manhattan, Kans., the
first was seen April 1; Saint Louis, Mo., April 7; Grinnell, [owa, April
_ 22; Waukon, Iowa, May 4; Heron Lake, Minn., May 9; Huron, Dak.,
_ May 4, and White Earth, Minn., May 16. In the fall of 1885 the iast
was seen at Grinnell, Iowa, September 27, and the first at Emporia,
_ Kans., October 10.
542 b. Ammodramus sandy ebenels alaudinus (Bp.). [19306.] Western Savanna
. arrow.
; Common on the Great Plains and in western Manitoba. Mr. Rags-
_ dale regards this form as the winter resident at Gainesville, Tex., where
- in 1884 it was most abundant February 26. By April 29 all had gone.
_ In western Texas Mr. Lloyd determined it to be a common resident.
Colonel Goss has taken it in western Kansas.

Pe ee ee

he a 7

d 545. Ammodramus bairdii (Aud.). [191.] Baird’s Bunting.

_ Baird’s Buating breeds in western Manitoba, Dakota, and western
a Minnesota. By what route it goes south is a question. Doctor Coues,
_ writing ten years ago, said that it was extremely abundant in Dakota
- almost to the Red River of the North, and that all left in September.
_ Where did they go? The species is not known to occur in Kansas;
_ and if there is a Nebraska record I have failed to find it. Nevertheless,
_ we are bound to believe that it does occur in both these States. Mr.G.
_ H. Ragsdale shot one at Gainesville, Tex., April 24, 1884, and if it occurs
in central Texas and Dakota it must perforce occur in the intervening
country. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was not found, though I shot upwards
_ of fifty Savanna Sparrows in the vain hope that some one of them
would resolve itself into the wished-for Baird’s. On March 31, among
- alot of Savannas, I heard one singing with the trill at the end which

190.

Doctor Coues says is the note of this species, but I was not able to find
the bird. Its range is from New Mexico to British America, and it
breeds abundantly in Dakota, along the Red River in Minnesota, and — :
in Manitoba (particularly on the Alkaline flats along the Assiniboine —
River.—Seton). y

In the spring of 1885 Baird’s Bunting was not recorded from Kansas %
and Nebraska; but Mr. Lloyd found it to be a common winter resident —
at Fort Davis, Tex. It was noted in migration at Grinnell, Iowa, April —
25; Menoken, Dak., May 12, and White Earth, Minn., May 16—at —
which latter place one was caught alive and kept in confinement for

several days. At Grinnell, Lowa, it occurs in fall as well as spring.

546. Ammodramus savannarum passerinus (Wils.). [198.] Grasshopper Sparrow ; .
Yellow-winged Sparrow.

Uniike most of the true Sparrows this bird does not go far north, —
scarcely reaching our northern boundary, and the great bulk remain :
from lowa and Illinois southward, though it does breed in southeastern
Dakota and western Minnesota. It is an abundant summer residentin —
Kansas. Its winter home is in the Southern States, and it has been
found in winter as far north as southern Illinois. During the winter
months it must be a very rare birdin Texas. Mr. Nehrling found afew —
at Houston. Mr. Brown, at Boerne, did not see one until February 14. —
Mr. Lloyd, at San Angelo, Tex., has never seen it in winter, nor has
Mr. Ragsdale, at Gainesville. It was determined to be a very rare
aud probably accidental winter bird at Caddo, Ind. Ter., where, in
the winter of 188384, it was found in company with Lincoln’s Spar-
row; less than half a dozen individuals were seen previous to March
15, and by April 1 it was just beginning to be common. None were
seen at San Angelo, Tex., until April 7, nor in the latitude of Gaines- —
ville until March 31, although in former years Mr. Ragsdale had found ~
them March 8 to 10. A single straggler was seen at Manhattan, Kans.,
March 22, but the bulk did not come until May 1. April 30 oe were
seen at- Saint Louis, and May 2 brought them to Alda, Nebr. Farther
north than Alda but one record was made. ‘This was at Chicago, IIL,
where it was seen May 21.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of the Yellow-winged Sparrows left Mount —
Carmel, Mo., September 15, while the last was not seen until October —
12. AtSan Angelo, Tex., the first migrant appeared September 28. |

In the spring of 1885 the first at San Angelo, Tex., was seen March —
21; at Knoxville, Iowa, April 5: Des Moines, Iowa, April.13; Manhat-
tan, Kans. Banal 18; Unadilla, Nebr., April 18; Newton, Iowa, April 21;
crmmell, lowed Apa 22; Saint Louis, Mo., April 27, and Lanesboro,
Minn., May 2. ;

In his fall of 1885 the last at Grinnell, ine was seen October 175°
at Des Moines, Iowa, October 24, and at Saint Louis, Mo. _ Septempan a
14, At Gainesville, Tex., the first was seen November 2.

£

191

546 a. Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus Ridgw. [198a.] Western Grass- .
“- hopper Sparrow.

d Pather common on the Great Plains from Dakota southward. Mr.
“Lloyd states that it isa resident in western Texas, and is tolerably com-
mon in fall in Concho County. A single specimen was killed at Boerne,
Tex., by Mr. Brown. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VIT, 1882, p. 127.)
Mr. Ragsdale writes that those taken at Gainesville, Tex., are interme-
diate in character, but nearer this subspecies than the typical form.

5 547. Ammodramus henslowii (Aud.). [199.] Henslow’s Sparrow.

_ This is one of the rarer Sparrows of the Mississippi Valley. Ridgway
_ Says itis a common species on weedy prairies in Illinois, where it breeds,
and in the southern part of which State it sometimes winters. It has
been found in Kansas and Nebraska, and from thence southward. Mr.
- Seott found it breeding in western Missouri. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club,
_ Vol. IV, 1879, p. 143.). The only observer who has had the good for-
- tune to meet it is Mr. Ragsdale, who recorded it as uncommon at

_ Gainesville, Tex., where it was seen February-27, 1876.*

548. Ammodramus leconteii (Aud.). [200.] Le Conte’s Sparrow.

_ ‘This species is common over the western prairies, but is seldom no-
ticed because of its habit of skulking in the grass, where it manages to
_ keep well out of sight. It breeds in the Assiniboine Valley and in Da-
_ kota and Minnesota, and possibly in [llinois. In winter it ranges south
through all the States west of the Mississippi to Texas, and has been
- found in numbers in Illinois, South Carolina, Alabama, and even in
Florida. In the spring of 1884 Caddo, Ind. Ter., was the only station
_ at which it was seen. Here its passage, for it did not winter, was very
3 rapid. February 16 over a dozen were seen; two days afterwards the
pastures were alive with them. <A 640.acre field was as full of them as
northern fence-rows ever are with Chipping Sparrows. Many left the
night of February 19, and by March 1 all had departed. The nest and
eggs of this species have been described by Ernest E. Thompson, from
Manitoba (The Auk, Vol. V, 1885, p. 24), and by Dr. Agersborg, from
_ Vermillion, Dak. (Zbid., Vol. V, p. 280), but the two accounts are so en-
tirely at variance that the question must wait for future settlement.

) In the fall of 1884 the first Le Conte’s Sparrow was seen at Gaines-
me ville, Tex., October 27.

_ _In the spring of 1885 a Le Conte’s Sparrow, which had been impaled
_ byaShrike, was sent me for identification from Fayetteville, Ark., where
- it was found February 28. At Saint Louis, Mo., one was shot April 1;
it had not previously been known from that place. At Newton, Iowa,
one was taken April 20.4

4 ¢
25) eS

*Since the above was written, Mr. Lynds Jones has found Henslow’s Sparrow to
a; be a tolerably common breeder at Grinnell, Iowa.—C. H. M.

tAt Storm Lake, Iowa, during the latter of September, 1887, Dr. A. K. Fisher
found Le Conte’s Sparrow common, and secured specimens not yet wholly out of
_ “first plumage,” showing that they had been hatched in the neighborhood.—C. H. M,

192

In the fall of 1885 the first at Emporia, Kans., was seen October 2.
It was not noticed at Gainesville, Tex., until November 30. It isa |

common fall migrant at Manhattan, Kans.

549. Ammodramus caudacutus (Gmel.). [201.] Sharp-tailed Sparrow.

An inhabitant of the salt marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Mr. Nehrling said of its occurrence in southeastern Texas: ‘Observed
near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. Doubtless
breeds.” (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, p. 12.)

549 a. Ammodramus caudacutus nelsoni Alln. [201 a.] Nelson’s Sharp-tailed
Sparrow.

This bird is known principally from the Mississippi Valley, but is
rareand local. It has been taken as a rare summer resident in eastern
Kansas, and probably breeds in southern Kansas. It breeds in north-
ern Illinois and probably wintersin southern Illinois. It has been taken
at Saint Louis, Mo.*

550. Ammodramus maritimus (V (Wils.). [202.] Seaside Finch; Seaside Sparrow.
An inhabitant of the salt marshes of the Atlantic at Gulf coasts,

from Massachusetts to Texas.

552. Chondestes grammacus (Say). [204.] Lark Finch.

This Sparrow is a prairie bird, and it occurs as far east as the prairies
extend across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas (even to the
neighborhood of Houston in southern Texas, where it breeds abun-
dantly.—Nehrling). Itisrarein Manitoba. Dr. Agersborg states that at

Vermillion, Dak., three broods are often raised in aseason. It winters —

quite far south, being found in Mexico; a few winter in southern Texas.
In Kansas it is an abundant summer resident. Its migration is late but
rapid. In the spring of 1884, at Gainesville, Tex., it appeared April 5.
By April 17 it had covered southern Missouri and southern Illinois to
latitude 39° 19’. April 24 it had reached latitude 42° in Iowa, and
April 30 it was seen at Waukon, Iowa, and Vermillion, Dak. May 3
and May 4 it appeared at Lanesboro, Minn., and West Depere, Wis.,
but north of these points the records were not regular enough to be of
value. Computation based on the above data shows that the species
migrates at an average rate of about 30 miles a day over a distance of
nearly a thousand miles. The average of the records indicate that the
arrival of the bulk is about six days behind that of the first.

in the fall of 1884 the bulk of the Lark Finches left Mount Carmel,
Mo., August 20, and the last were seen there a week later.

In the spring of 1885 no records came from the stations east of the

Mississippi River. The average speed of migration of this species in —

* Mr. Vernon Bailey has recently found it breedin g at Fort Sisseton and Devil’s Lake,
Dak.—C., H. M.

Peels

re vr

193

1885 was even greater than in the previous year. It reached Gaines-
ville, Tex., March 28; Saint Louis, Mo., April 16; Manhattan, Kans.,
and Des Moines, Iowa, April 18. April 20 and 21 it appeared at New-
a ton, lowa; Laporte City, lowa; Lanesboro, Minn., and Lake City, Minn.
- Mr. Atwater says that at San Antonio, Tex., they always nest in
trees, probably for protection against snakes. At Red Rock, Ind. Ter., I
used to find them more often on trees than on the ground, while at Man-
hattan, Kans., Prof. Lantz says they usually nest on the ground, but
occasionally in trees. In the fall of 1885 the last at Grinnell, Lowa,
- was seen September 27, and at Mount Carmel, Mo., October 17. The
first arrived at Bonham, Tex., October 17, and they were common there
October 22.

9 552a. Chondestes grammacus strigatus (Swains.). [204@.] Western Lark Finch.
Mr. Lioyd states that this subspecies is an abundant summer resident
in western Texas, where it raises two broods, nesting in bushes and on
the ground. The most eastern record within our district is from Gaines-
yille, Tex., where Mr. G. H. Ragsdale secured it. But the majority of
~ the specimens from that locality are intermediate in character. At San
Angelo, in 1884, it was first seen April 1, and last seen October 3. In
1885 it reached San Angelo March 24.

- §53. Zonotrichia querula (Nutt.). [205.] Harris’s Sparrow.
: The habitat of this species has lately been determined with much more
~ accuracy than formerly; indeed, the larger part of our knowledge of
Harris’s Finch has been obtained during the last twelve years. Its
eastern limit is well known; there is no Louisiana nor Arkansas record;
~ in western Missouri it is common, and it passes eastward to about the
- middle of the State, the most eastern record being that of Mrs. Musick,
~ at Mount Carmel, Mo., where both the first and the bulk arrived April
_ 8, 1884; hence it is probable that the species will yet be found in north-
western Arkansas. In Iowa it ranges a little farther eastward, being
~ common in western and middle Iowa, and a straggler has been taken at
_ Mitchell, Iowa, near the Wisconsin line. It has even wandered twice
to Illinois. The whole of Minnesota is included in its range, as there
_ are records from the four corners of the State, and in the fall of 1883 it
_ was taken at Trempealeau, Wis. The northern limit of its distribution
3 is not yet known, but it extends far into British America. In the south
7 it has not been found in southeastern Texas, though it is a common
_ winter bird in southwestern Texas. Its range is thus seen to agree in
general outline with that of the Lark Finch, were the latter moved two
degrees to the west. The most western record that has come to notice
is from Ellis, Kans.
_ This is one of the species that did not go into winter quarters in the
4 winter of 1883~84 until the cold weather of the first week in January.
_ Previous to that it had been marked as abundant at Pierce City, Mo.,
and at Manhattan, Kans., but after January 2 none were seen at Pierce
7365—Bull 2 13

~

19 + ae : . 2

City and not many at Manhattan. Its usual winter home is in southern —
Kansas, the whole of Indian Territory, and northern Texas. Mr. Lloyd —
states that it is a rare fall migrant in eastern Concho County, Tex.
In the spring of 1884 the northward movement commenced about the
1st of March, and the bulk left Gainesville, Tex., March12. Three days
later the transients were at their height at Caddo, Ind, Ter. Those which
spent the winter at Caddo left March 10. The bulk arrived at Pierce
City, Mo., March 17, and the next day at Manhattan, Kans. At Alda,
Nebr., they were seen March 23, and then for more than a month there
was no advance. They appeared at Vermillion, Dak., May 3, and just
two weeks later at Argusville, Dak. It had been previously recorded
(May 10) by Miss Gertrude M. Lewis, at I'razee City, Minn. The bulk
seldom moves more than four or five days behind the van. Some very
late migrants were noted. One was seen at Gainesville, Tex., May 5,
and at Manhattan, Kans., May 20. It is surprising that a species which
migrates so late should not stop to breed on this side of the boundary
line. It has never been found breeding in the United States, nor indeed
anywhere, for the nest and eggs are unknown. Mr. Abbott saw a male
at Turtle Creek, in central Dakota, in the latter part of July, 1881, but
saw no signs of breeding, and though Prof. Aughey says he has often
seen young in northeastern Nebraska, it is practically certain that it
does not breed within that State. Ifit breeds anywhere in the United
States it probably does so in northern Minnesota. Dr. Hatch says that
specimens have come under his notice with ovulation so far advanced
that he has no doubt they breed in the northeastern part of that State.
A curious circumstance connected with its migration in the spring of
1584 was its entire absence from the vicinity of Ellis, Kans., where it is
usually present both spring and fall, and sometimes in great abundance.
Dr. Watson Writes that in his study of migration at that point, extend-
ing over several years, nothing has struck him so forcibly as the great
disparity in the numbers of the several species in different years, as if
they visited Ellis merely from caprice; they are abundant one year, few
or wanting the next, common in spring, scarce in the fall, and vice versa.

In the fall of 1884 the first Harris’s Sparrow appeared at Des Moines,
Iowa, October 18; the bulk arrived October 25 and departed on the
same day, and none were seen there afterwards. The first came to
Gainesville, Tex., November 5. A few remained all winter as far north
as Manhattan, Kans. (latitude 39° 27’), and as far south as San Antonio,
Tex. (latitude 29° 27’), these two parallels forming the limits of the
winter range.

In migration in the spring of 1885 it was seen at Mount Carmel,
Mo., April 28; Des Moines, Iowa, April 25; Lanesboro, Minn., May 10;
Heron Lake, Minn., May 12; and Shell River, Manitoba, May 15,
About forty were seen at White Earth, Minn., May 16, the first having
arrived a day or two before. At Gainesville, Tex., the last was seen
May 5; at Mount Carmel, Mo., May3; Des Moines, lowa, May 13; and
Manhattan, Kans,, May 23,

; 195

In the fall of 1885 migrants appeared at Elk River, Minn., Septem-
ber 21, where they remained but one week. They came to Lanesboro,
_ Minn., September 27, and Iowa City, Iowa, October 17, and were not
seen afterwards. They reached Emporia, Kans., October 6, and Gaines-

3 ville, Tex., November 6. At the latter place they became common
"November 14,

q 554. Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forst.). [206.] White-crowned Sparrow.
_ Winters in the Gulf States and southward; migrates through the Mis-
_ sissippi Valley, and breeds in the Rocky Mountains and British America.
- In the spring of 1884 only fifteen observers sent reports concerning the
_ movements of this species. From such limited data but little can be
' learned of its migrations. At San Angelo, Tex., it was reported as an
- abundant winter visitor. It remained abundant on April 8, and did not
_ finally depart before May 19, when the last was seen. At Caddo, Ind.
_ Ter., it appeared from the north November 9, was abundant until the
_ weather became quite cold, and rare afterward ; two were seen February
_ 23, the last March 11.

‘At Saint Louis it was first seen February 24, and perhaps wintered.
_ March 17a party of four adults arrived ; April 17 it was still very scarce,
- one party in a new place; April 18 a new party arrived, singing; Apel
_ 29 the bulk arrived; April 30, height of the season; May 5, bulk con-
tinued, but numbers smaller than in preceding years; May 12, bulk
departed; May 17, last. At Pierce City, Mo., they were abundant in
fall migration; March 17 they were rare; April 16 the bulk departed ;
_ April 20 few were left. At Danville, IL, the first arrival was noticed
April 18; at Chicago, May 3; at Polo, Ill., the bulk came April 28.
_ By May 7 it had appeared at West Depere, Wis.
Farther west, at Morning Sun, Iowa, it arrived April 5; at Red Wing,
q Minn., April 30; at Minneapolis, Minn., May 12. At Manhattan, Kans.,
_ about a dozen were seen April 26, and none afterward. At Vermillion,
- Dak., they arrived in numbers May 3, and by May 5 they reached Oak
~ Point, Manitoba.
: In the fall of 1884 the first White-crowned Sparrow appeared at
~ Mount Carmel, Mo., October 9. It became common there the next day
- and left Uctober 12. At San Angelo, Tex., the first was seen Novem-
ber 30, and at Gainesville, Tex., October 22. They were common all
winter at San Antonio, Tex., and probably wintered near Emporia,
_ Kans., since they were seen there February 14.
In the spring of 1885 the van of migration reached Saint Louis, Mo.,
April 22; Peoria, [l., May 7; Hennepin, Ill., May 8; Lanesboro, Minn.,
May 10; and Heron Lake, Minn., May 16. They remained at San An.
- tonio, Tex., until May 3. At Mason, Tex., they were seen for the last
; 4 time May 4; at Gainesville, Tex., May 7; Pierce City, Mo., May 10;
' Saint Louis, Mo., May 15; and Mount Carmel, Mo., May 18.
In the fall of 1885 the last were seen at Lanesboro, Minn., October
4, They arrived at Saint Louis, Mo., October 6; increased there Octo-

196 | ee

ber 14; were numerous and musical October 26, and left November 1.
At imparts Kans., the first were seen October 6. a

555. Zonotrichia intermedia Ridgw. [207a.] Intermediate Sparrow.

Breeds in the far north, coming south in winter through the Western
States to Mexico. During migration it is not uncommon as far east as |
the eastern edge of the plains. In middle and western Kansas it is —
common. Middle Kansas is not the extreme eastern limit of the range —
of the Intermediate White-crown. A single specimen was reported —
from Iowa years ago, and in 1871 Dr. Hoy took one near Racine, Wis.
Several specimens have been taken, both in spring and fall, as fareast |
as Minneapolis, Minn. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. 1V, 1879, pp. 153,
154). Itis a common winter resident in Tom Green County, Tex., and
must frequently appear at points between Texas and western Kansas.
It seems to prefer localities along the railroads where sunflowers and
weeds have sprung up, Let all our observers be on the lookout for it.
It is the more liable to be overlooked as it arrives after the other, and
without close examination is naturally mistaken for it. In the fall of
1883 the first specimen was taken at Manhattan, Kans., by Prof. D. E. —
Lantz, October 9, at least a week after the ordinary White-crowns had
passed southward. A few days later Col. N. S. Goss found them com-
mon at Wallace, Kans.. much farther west. In the spring of 1854, at ©
Manhattan, two of the same species were found, May7. This was eleven —
days later than the migration of the White-crown. In the spring of
1885 several were seen at Manhattan, May 6.

557. Zonotrichia coronata (Pall.). [208.] Golden-crowned Sparrow.
A bird of the Pacific coast region, coming east in migration to the -
Rocky Mountains. <A straggler was obtained at Racine, Wis., by Dr.
Hoy.
558. Zonotrichia albicollis (Gm.). [209.] MWhile-throated Sparrow. ;
Breeds in Manitoba and the northern part of the Mississippi Valley,
and winters in the southern part. In the spring of 1884 twenty-nine
observers sent reports concerning the movements of the wel!-known
Peabody Bird. These reports seem to show that the species is far less ~
abundant here than farther east. Gainesville, Tex., is the most south- —
ern point from which it was reported. Here a single bird was seen
February 26. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., and a little farther east, it was com- ~
mon all winter, and February 23 it was as numerous as in November and ~
January; Maret 15 a flock was seen; March 25 the last was seen. At
Pierce City, Mo., the first was noted February 20, and the bulk departed —
April 16. At Sarl Louis they were rare during the winter; a flock | 3
was seen December 28, but none were at the same place December |
29. The first migrants arrived February 24, a few only; March 17 the |
numbers had doubled from six in a party to twelve; March 23 they”
had doubled from twelve to twenty-four, a few among them being in |
high plumage, and many in song, April 1 the same numbers were it

cm
the same pepiices: the spring molt was progressing rapidiy and the

plumage was assuming higher colors. April 15 there was no change.

A April 17 birds in high dress arrived; April 18 they were noisy and con-
spicuous. By April 25 the highly pained birds had departed; flocks
remained in plain dress and singing but little. The bulk continued
until May 11, when great numbers of young, mostly plain females, ar-
Tived; song not often heard. May 12 the bulk departed; May 17 the
last was seen.

The first movement northward, about February 24, did not extend
far. Another began about March 10, when the first arrived at Fayette,
Mo.; on the following day a stray one reached Chicago. March 15 the
efi a arrived at Danville, Ill., and about this time the numbers increased
at Saint Louis.

_ A third movement, though not as extensive, began March 27, when
the first arrived at Polo, Ill. April 9 the first was seen at Newton,
Towa. Two days later, April 11, the first arrived at Red Wing, Minn.
April 25 the first and only ones seen in spring migration were observed
‘at Manhattan, Kans. April 28 they appeared at Elk River, Minn.;
A pril 30 at Vermillion, Dak; and May 10 at Frazee City, Minn. At
¢ reen Bay, Wis., the bulk arrived May 4. At Coralville, lowa, the
bulk arrived April 29, and left May 7, and the last was seen May 15.
At Waukon, Iowa, more than a hundred miles farther north, the last
was seen May 17. At Lanesboro, Minn., the bulk arrived April 30; the
height of the season was from April 30 to May 12; the bulk passed
northward May 20; and the last one was seen May 25,

_ Thus the last great movement of this species began about April 25,
3 Bid was at its height during the first week of May. The bulk reached
Minneapolis, Minn., May 1; Elk River, Minn., and Vermillion, Dak.,
‘May 3; and Frazee City, Minn., May 12. At Argusville, Dak., none
were seen in the spring of 1884.

_ The line of migration of this species seems to follow the two great
rivers, the Mississippi and Missouri, and the timber belts along them.
Observers in the prairie regions rar ne see them.

= In the fall of 1884 the first White-throated Sparrow was seen at Elk
River, Minn., September 22, and the bulk arrived September 27; the
last was seen there October 5. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the first was
seen September 27, and the last October 28. The first was seen at
Gainesville, Tex., November 13. A party of four was found March 4,
a 1885, in the Towianite of Illinois, opposite Saint Louis , Mo., where they
had probably wintered. Other individuals, whieh had cpl y wintered
in the vicinity, were seen at Saint Louis March 10 and March 25, and
at Shawneetown, Ill., March 18.

In the spring of 1885 regular migration did not begin until the last
two days of March. The first White-throated Sparrow arrived at
Paris, Ill., April 8, and at Emporia, Kans., April 18. The three days
from April 20 to 22 were days of great movement, and the species was

fe:
‘4

noted from Hennepin, Ill.; Mount Carmel, Mo.; Iowa City, Iowa; Wau- —
kon, Iowa; Lanesboro, Minn.; Chicago, Ill.; Leeds Centre, Wis.; and Elk —
River, Minn. By May 6 it had reached Shell River, Manitoba. None |
were seen at Pierce City, Mo., after May 9; Mount Carmel, Mo., after —

May 10; Saint Louis, Mo., May 2 22; Des Moines, lowa, May 12; Coral-
ville, Thos May 10; Grinnell, lowa, May 10; Waukon, Iowa, May 145
Lake City, Minn., May 15; River Falls, Wis., May 19; and Lanesboro,
Minn., May 25. At Saint Louis, Mo., the bulk of old birds arrived April
20; the height of the season was reached April 29. the bulk of old birds
departed April 30, and the bulk of young birds May 12.

In the fall of 1885 the record of this species was more extended than
that of any other. It appeared at Elk River, Minn., September 2;
Lanesboro, Minn., September 18; River Falls, Wis., September 18;

Grinnell, lowa, September 28; Lowa City, lowa, October3; Des Moines,

Iowa, October 3; Saint Louis, Mo., October 5; Emporia, Kans., Octo-
ber 7; Mount Carmel, Mo., October 8; and Gainesville, Tex., October
31. The last was reported from Elk River, Minn., October 8; River
Falls, Wis., October 14; Lanesboro, Minn., October 18; Iowa City,
Towa, October 17; Des Moines, Iowa, October 26; Grinnell, lowa, Oe-
tober 27; and Mount Camel, Mo., November 4. The full fall record
from Saint Louis is as follows

October 5, first; October 6, numbers in high dress, singing; October 10, bulk ar-
rived; October 12, present in great numbers; October 17, han of the season, all
patterns of color present, song continuously heard; October 20, those in high dress

gone, numbers of plain birds present ; October 27, great numbers in flocks; November
11, still numerous.

559. Spizella monticola (Gmel.). [210.] Tree Sparrow.

The Tree Sparrow breeds in the far north. In the Mississippi Valley
it is one of the most abundant winter birds from latitude 43° south to
latitude 34°. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., in the winter of 1883~84, it outnum-
bered the Junco, or Slate-colored Snow-bird (Junco hyemalis), but in
the heavy timber was less numerous than the White-throated Sparrow.
The first was seen October 31, and it was abundant untii February 26,
when a large number departed; the remainder disappeared March 10.
At Saint Louis it was the most abundant winter bird next to the Junco.
It was not so numerous in January and February as in December;
the flocks seemed to have thinned out, but kept their stands and began
to sing and go up into the trees daeine the warm period of the first
of February. About 50 per cent. left February 24, and the bulk fol-
lowed March 17. Just before this they had been much excited, sing-
ing and mating. March 22, small flocks were still present, but quiet;

the last wasseen March 27. At Manhattan, Kans.,it was anabundant ©
winter visitor, arriving December 1 and remaining in numbers during —

the entire winter. March 8 about two hundred were seen; the height

“>

of migration was noted March 15 and the last a week later. It was ~ a
abundant at Vermillion, Dak., where it began to sing March 24; all |

Loe

had left, apparently, April 30, but a single bird was seen May 3. Dur-
ing the winter it was found, though in smaller numbers, at Heron Lake
-and Lanesboro, Minn. February 23 and February 24 the first pro-
“nounced general movement was felt at Saint Louis and Lanesboro; but
_ while it was a wave of departure at Saint Louis it was one of arrival at
Lanesboro. This movement does not seem to have extended farther
north than Lanesboro, and in many places probably the relative num-
_ ber of birds was left undisturbed. The first arrival at Waupaca, Wis.,
was noted March 24, at which time the species was exceedingly abun-
dant at Iowa City and Lanesboro. By March 29 it had become abun-
dant at Minneapolis and Elk River, Minn, where it arrived in large
numbers on that and the preceding day. April 1 it arrived at West
De Pere and Green Bay, Wis., and April 2 it reached Frazee City, Minn.
It was noted at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April 15. At Milwaukee
it did not appear in large numbers before April 26, ten days after the
bulk had lett Des Moines, Iowa. At West De Pere, Wis., it remained
abundant until May 6.
4 In winter the center of abundance is along latitude 39°, south of which
Pit reaches to latitude 34°, being found but rarely in the Gulf States
east of Texas. Caddo, Ind. Ter. (lat. 34° 11’), is about as far south as
- the species winters in any numbers.
In the fall of 1884 the first Tree Sparrow appeared at Elk River,
- Minn., October 9; while the first was not reported from Hastings, Minn.,
until November 30. At Elk River the bulk arrived October 13 and left
j November 1. The first was reported from Des Moines, lowa, Novem-
- ber 15, and from Mount Carmel, Mo., November 13. The bulk arrived at
Mount Carmel November 11. There can be no doubt about the cold-
enduring powers of this bird. At White Earth, Minn. (lat. 47° 04’), on
_ New Year’s Day, 1885, a flock came around the house seemingly in ex-
cellent health and spirits, though the mercury indicated thirty-five
degrees below zero. There was no other record of its wintering north
of latitude 44°. Many were seen at Lanesboro, Minn., February 6.
Inthe spring of 1885 the bulk of migration took place in the ten days
from March 30 to April 3, but the records were too irregular to admit of
tracing the movements of the van. The first was seen at Elk River,
_Minn., April 2, and at Shell River, Manitoba, April 10. At Saint Louis,
Mo., the last was seen April 2; at Grinnell, Iowa, April 5; Waukon,
Iowa, April 9; Manhattan, Kans., April 12; New Richmond, Wis., April
18; Huron, Dak., April 18; Lanesboro, Minn., April 24; and Elk River,
~Minn., May 11. The Tree Sparrow is not known to breed south of our
‘northern boundary. Inthe fall of 1835 the first returned to River Falls,
- Wis., October 17; Lanesboro, Minn., October 18; Grinnell, lowa, Octo-
ber 27; Des Moines, Iowa, October 29; and Saint Louis, Mo., Novem-
ber 12.
: 559 a. Spizella monticola ochracea Brewst. [210, part.] Western Tree Sparrow.
The Western Tree Sparrow breeds in Alaska and migrates over west-

200

ern North America, coming as far cast as Dakota, western Kansas, and _
middle Texas. It has been taken at Gainesville, Tex., by Mr. Ragsdale.
In Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., it was common in small flocks
in the winter of 1884~’s5 (Lloyd).

560. Spizella socialis (Wils.). [211.] Chipping Sparrow.

Rare in western Manitoba, but a common summer resident in the
Mississippi Valley. The winter home of this Sparrow is in the South-
ern States and Mexico, but Mexico receives the larger number. Mr.
Ridgway queries its occurrence in Illinois in winter, and at Caddo, Ind,
Ter., in the winter of 1883-84, it was a very rare winter bird; less than
half a dozen were observed during the entire cold season. On the north-
ward journey it reached latitude 37° at Pierce City, Mo., March 19; the
next day it was seen at Fayette, Mo., and two days later at Saint Louis.
It seems probable that the normal advance, after being delayed by the
snow-storms of the early partof April, reached latitude 42° about April
15; West De Pere, Wis., April 18; and Hastings and Elk Lake, Minn.,
on the 2Ist. It was also noted from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.
There were many irregular records. Considerable uacertainty attaches
to the records of this species, because it is often confounded with the
Tree Sparrow and the Field Sparrow. The bulk travels about two
weeks in the rear of the advance guard.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk and the last left Des Moines, Iowa, Octo-
ber 9.

In the spring of 1885 about one-half of the records contributed on the
migration of the Chipping Sparrow seem to be mistakes, and most of
the rest are too irregular to be of much value. The following are prob-
ably correct: At Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen March 30; at
Shawneetown, Ill., April 1; Manhattan, Kans., April 4; Lanesboro,
Minn., April 14; and Minneapolis, Minn., April 24. The whole record
from Saint Louis is as follows: “ March 30, first, silent, on ground; March
dl, four males in song; April 1, still increasing; April 2, bulk of males
present, and first females; April 5, bulk of females arrived; Chippies
numerous and noisy; April 17, height of the season; April 23, Chippies
in pairs.”

In the fall of 1885 none were seen at River Falls, Wis., after October
6; nor at Iowa City, Iowa, after October 17. At Saint Louis, Mo.,
migration was in full progress October 7. The last flock was seen Octo-
ber 21, and the last individual October 31. The first arrived at Bonham,
Tex., October 14, where they were common by October 19.

560a. Spizella socialis arizoneze Coues. [2lla.] Western Chipping Sparrow.
This Western sparrow was first taken in Texas by Mr. N. C. Brown,
who found it at Boerne. It comes as far east as Gainesville, Tex.,
where Mr. Ragsdale shot one April 24, 1884, which was molting. The
last was seen there May 15. Mr. Lloyd states that this Sparrow is a
resident of Tom Green County. Tex., where it is *tolerably common

in winter; rare in summer.” In the fall of 1884, at Gainesville, Mr.
Ragsdale found the first November 3.

201

In the spring of 1885 the first returned to Gainesville May 12; but
Mr. Lloyd, at San Angelo, had already (May 8) found a nest with four

well incubated eges.

561. Spizella pallida (Swains.). [212.] Clay-colored Sparrow.

Breeds from northern Nebraska, central Iowa, and northern Illinois
northward, and is very abundant in western Manitoba. Its winter
home seems to be south of central Texas, where Mr. Lloyd states that
itis an abundant spring and fall migrant. Nehrling recorded it as
abundant in winter in eastern Texas, near Houston, and Merrill as an
abundant winter resident in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In the
spring it journeys north to British America aud east to Missouri, Iowa,
Illinois, and Wisconsin, being most abundant on the plains, and thence
west to the Rocky Mountains. In western Kansas it is a common
migrant. All the reliable records in 1884 came from the West, but
they are so irregular as to preclude any timing of the migration. They
show, however, either that the migration was very late, or that Dr.
Coues put the time too early when be said, in his * Birds of the North-
west,” that they arrive in northern Dakota the latter part of April.
In the spring of 1884 the record was as follows: At Gainesville, Tex.,
the first and only one was seen May 13; at Ellis, Kans., it was abun-
dant May 13; at Manhattan, Kans., the first was noted April 30, the
height of the season May 14, the last May 15. At Alda, Nebr., the
first was seen May 3; at Vermillion, Dak., the bulk arrived May 8; at
Des Moines, Iowa, a male was shot May 10. At Minneapolis, Minn.,
one was shot May 12, and May 24 about one hundred and fifty were
seen.

In the fall of 1884 the Clay-colored Sparrows reached Gainesville,
Tex., November 3. |

In the spring of 1885 a flock was seen at San Angelo, Tex., March
26; at Manhattan, Kans., May 4; Heron Lake, Minn., May 9; New
Richmond, Wis., May 11; and more than a hundred and fifty were seen

at White Earth, Minn., May 16. They reached Shell River, Manitoba,

May 18. The record for 1885 thus bears out that of the previous year
in determining that May, and not April, is the month for the arrival
of this species in the Upper Mississippi Valley. At White Earth,
Minn., they breed in great abundance. At San Angelo, Tex., the last
was seen May 1; and at Manhattan, Kans., May 10. In the fall of 1885
the first returned to San Angelo, Tex., October 1.

562. Spizella breweri Cass. [213.] Brewer’s Sparrow.

The Clay-colored Sparrow is represented in the western part of the
United States by a near relative, Brewer’s Sparrow. Mr. Brown took
a single specimen at Boerne, Tex., March 5, 1880. Mr. Lloyd states
that it is tolerably common in fall in Tom Green County, Tex., and

902

winters abundantly in Pecos County. Mr. Ragsdale took a single spee-

imen at Gainesville, Tex., during the spring of 1884.
563. Spizella pusilla (Wilson). [214.] Field Sparrow.

The Field Sparrow breeds from Indian Territory and southern IIli-
nois northward nearly to the boundary, and occurs rarely in Manitoba.

It has been taken in summer in central Mississippi, and may yet be

found to breed far south. In eastern Kansas it is a common summer
resident (Goss). It may be called one of the “ half-hardy” Sparrows.
It easily endures the winters as far north as southern Illinois, and is
common from Illinois southward, but does not undertake to expose it-
self to the rigors of a real northern winter. In the winter of 1883-84,
at Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was one of the common winter residents, in com-
pany with Tree and White-throated Sparrows, and the first of the tran-

sients came February 20 to February 23. At Gainesville, Tex, it was’
marked as abundant February 26. In Ccncho County, Tex., it is —

tolerably common in fall and rare in winter (Lloyd); and in eastern
Texas, rear Houston, it is not uncommon in winter (Nehrling).

In the spring of 1884 a single male was seen at Saint Louis February
19, but no more for a month. Real migration seems to have begun
about the middle of March, and March 17 it was seen at Saint Louis,
Mo., and Griggsville, Hl. It was recorded from southern Iowa April 1,
and reached the northern part April 5. The most norti:ern record was
from Lanesboro, Minn., April 14. On the plains the migration was
later. Manhattan, Kans., and Vermillion, Dak.. reported it April 21
and April 22, but Professor Lantz says it was not common at Manhattan
until May 1.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Field Sparrows left Mount Carmel,
Mo., October 7, and the last was seen October 22

In the spring of 1885 a very early bird was seen at Saint Louis, Mo.,
March 2; the first came to Pierce City, Mo., March 8; and the second
appeared at Saint Louis, March 10. At Manhattan, Kans., the first
was seen March 26. The bulk came to Saint Lovis, Mareh 60 and
March 31. April 4 and April 5 it was recorded from Mount Carmel,
Mo.; Grinnell, lowa; Newton, lowa; Waukon, lowa; and New Cassel,
Wis. As in 1884, so in 1885, its most northern record was Lanesboro,
Minn., where it was seen April 18. It has been known, however, to
range in Wisconsin to latitude 44° 30’.

In the fall of 1885 the last at Grinnell, Iowa, was seen September 28;
at Iowa City, Iowa, October 15; and at Mount Carmel, Mo., November
2. AtSaint Louis, Mo., rrany were seen in flocks October 5; they had
decreased October 20; the bulk left November 11, aud the last was seen
November 12. At Bonham, Tex., the first was seen oul 16, and by
October 19 they had become comer
563 a. Spizella arenacea (Chadbourne). [-—] Western Field Sparrow.

This new Sparrow was described by Mr. Arthur P. Chadbourne from

s fi
‘ a di ath at ero

specimens collected at Laredo, Tex., during the fall and winter of 1885-—
286 (The Auk, Vol. III, 1886, p. 248). More recently Mr. Lloyd has
found itin winter in Tom Green and Concho Counties, Tex., where it
is rare (Ibid., Vol. IV, 1887, p. 292).

-__ It oceurs north, at least to northwestern Dakota, where it breeds.
565. Spizella atrigularis (Cab.). [215.] Black-chinned Sparrow.

| A Mexican species, coming north to the valley of the Upper Rio
Grande, in Texas.

566. Junco aikeni Ridgw. ([216.] White-winged Junco.

This large Junco breeds in the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado, and
Wyoming, and in the Black Hills of western Dakota. In winter it
sometimes straggles east as far as middle Kansas and Indian Territory.
In the winter of 1883-84 it was found again by Dr. Watson at. Eilis,
Kans., so that it may be considered a regular visitant to the plains in
Kansas.

567. Junco hyemalis (Linn.). [217.] Junco; Slate-colored Snowbird.

Breeds from northern Minnesota northward, and winters througheut
the middle belt of the Mississippi Valley. A most abundant and well-
known bird, concerning which so many records were received that its
movements can be traced with some degree of accuracy. In the spring
of 1884 but four notes of its wintering were received from the region north
of latitude 41°. They are as follows: From Morning Sun, Iowa, “ seen
last winter;” from Coralville, lowa, ‘‘ was here last winter;” from
Waukon, Iowa, “ arrived October 15, a few remained all winter;” and
from Heron Lake, Minn., ‘“‘a very few were seen all winter.” In facet,
it was not common at any place north of latitude 41°, and was not
abundant north of latitude 40°. This must be accounted for by the
unusual severity of the winter, as the ordinary winter limit of the spe-
cies is from latitude 42° to latitude 45°, and one hardy individual has
been known to pass the winter in northern Minnesota at latitude 479.
Latitude 39° is just within the true winter home of the Junco. The
great bulk of the species in the winter of 1883~54 remained between
latitude 39° and latitude 36°, being in that section the most numerous
winter resident. They were hardly noticed by any of the Southern ob-
- servers. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they were most conspicuous by their ab-
sence; not a dozen a day were seen in town, and less than thirty in the
timber.

Of their spring movements there were but few irregular notes, from
which it may be inferred that the migration was quite regular and that
the species is an easily noticed bird. The record from Iowa and Minne-
sota is as follows: March 14 the first one was seen at Ferry, lowa;
March 16 at Laporte City, lowa; March 22 at Mitchell, lowa; March
24 at Lanesboro, Pine Bend, and Elk River, Minn. At Minneapolis.
the first was noted March 27, but as the arrival of the bulk was recorded

204
the next day, it is evident that the first came some days sooner, proba-
ably March 24. Hast of the Mississippi, arrivals were noted Mareh 24
at Lake Mills, Wis., and at West De Pere, Wis., so that this must have
been a great day for the migration of Juncos as it was for many other
species. Additional records from the region east of the Mississippi
show that it reached Chicago March 20 and Milwaukee March 22. In
Dakota, arrivals were reported at Argusville and Larimore March 27;
and at Two Rivers, Manitoba, April 15.

The bulk was not very far behind the van, traversing Iowa about
March 25, and arriving in Minnesota up to latitude 45° on the 27th and
28th, while April 20 the main flocks reached Portage la Prairie, Mani-
toba, latitude 50°. In northeastern lowa and southeastern Minnesota,
they were most numerous April 10, Onthe same day they were marked
“innumerable” at Waukon, and at Lanesboro “numerous beyond all
reckoning.” The record of the departure of the bulk was more regular
and extended than that of its arrival. Itis as follows: Texas, latitude
33° 36/, March 13; Indian Territory, latitude 34° 11’, March 10; Indian
Territory, latitude 35° 37’, March 20; Missouri, latitude 38° 40’, March
27; Missouri, latitude 38° 45’, March 31; Kansas, latitude 39° 12’, April
1; lowa, latitude 42° 18’, April 10; Iowa, latitude 43° 15’, April 17;
Dakota, latitude 42° 56’, April 21; Minnesota, latitude 43° 43’, April
2.3; Minnesota, latitude 43° 48’, April 20; Minnesota, latitude 45° 25/,
April 28. The records from latitude 42° 56’, in Dakota, and 43° 48’,
in Minnesota, were a little later than the others from the same latitude
because these stations are farther west. All the irregular notes were
made April 16, and came from latitude 36° 56’, in Missouri, and latitude
41° 36’ and 42° 01’, in Iowa.’ The records of the “last one seen” are
also quite regular, and will be given in full. The last Junco seen at
latitude 33° 36’, in Texas, was April 23; at latitude 38° 40/ and 35° 45’,
in Missouri, April 24; at latitude 39° 19’, in Illinois, April 23; at lat-
itude 40° 50’, in Iowa, April 25; latitude 41° 51’, in Illinois, April 30:
latitude 42° 18’, in Iowa, April 24; latitude 43° 15’, in Iowa, April 30;
latitude 43° 43’, in Minnesota, April 30; latitude 44° 32’, in Minnesota,
May 1; latitude 44° 45’, in Wisconsin, May 4. The irregular dates of
departure are: Latitude 34° 11’, in Indian Territory, March 26; latitude
39° 12/,in Kansas, April 13; latitude 42° 56’, in Dakota, May 3; and
latitude 42° 16’, in Illinois, April 12. The total number of notes sent in
on this species was ninety-eight. The average time given from the arri-
val of the first to the arrival of the bulk was seven days, and from the
departure of the bulk to the date of the last one seen, seventeen days.
Mr. J. A. Balmer sent the following notes from Danville, Ill. (latitude
40° 08’):

Many large flocks wintered here, but the bulk left by the 1st of May. OnJunellI
noticed a male bird; June 7, both male and female; and again, on June 21, I saw a

male bird, always near the same spot. This led me to think the pair might ke nest-
ing here. I have searched pretty thoroughly for their nest, but without success.

205

In the fall of 1884 the first Junco appeared at Elk River, Minn., Sep-
tember 24, and the bulk arrived October1. The bulk departed Novem-
ber 1, and the last four days later. None were reported from Hastings,
Minn., until November 25. At Des Moines, Iowa, the first was re-
ported October 18, the bulk arriving October 22. At Mount Carmel,
Mo., the first appeared October 13, and the bulk arrived November 1.
The first came to Gainesville, Tex., October 22. Mr. Lloyd states that
it is common in winter in Tom Green and Concho Counties, Tex., and
Mr. Nehrling recorded it as an abundant winter resident in south-
eastern Texas.

In the spring of 1885, instead of ninety-eight notes (the number con-
tributed in 1884) but thirty-six were received. The most northern sta-
tions which recorded Juncos during the winter of 1834-85, were
Leeds Centre, Wis., and Lanesboro, Minn. They appeared at Laporte
City, Iowa, and Waukon, Iowa, the middle of March. The last four
days of March and the first three days of April they were reported
from Chicago, Ill.; Clinton, Wis.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Durand, Wis.;
New Richmond, Wis.; Hastings, Minn.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Elk
River, Minn.; Argusville, Dak.; and Oak Point, Manitoba. An im-
mense movement must have occurred during these seven days. Other
stations in Manitoba recorded their arrival Apri] 7 and April 8. The
whole record from Saint Louis is as follows: “During the coldest
weather our Slate colored Snowbirds seatter over the farm-yards, but as
soon as the weather moderates they flock together and then their num-
bers can be judged. It was difficuit to say whether or not the total
number was much smaller than usualin the winter of 1884~85. At
several stands not 50 per cent. were to be found during the last days
of February, while at others they seemed as numerous as ever. April
1, there were great numbers present, excited old birds singing and
chasing one another; April 2, a decrease; April 6, bulk departed;
April 7, several small flocks present, very light-colored birds; April 17,
small flocks; April 19, last.” From other stations the records of *‘lasts”
were somewhat irregular. At Pierce City, Mo., the last was seen May
3 (the position of this station, near the Ozark Mountains, probably ex-
plains the lateness of the date of departure); at Mount Carmel, Vo.,
the last one was seen April 11; Manhattan, Kans., April 5; Chicago,
ill., April 21; Des Moines, Iowa, April 21; Waukon, Iowa, April 24;
Leeds Centre, Wis., April 21; Durand, Wis., April 23; New Rich-
mond, Wis., April 29; Lanesboro, Minn., April 30; Lake City, Minn,
April 27; and Elk River, Minn., May 6.

In the fall of 1885 the arrival of the first at Elk River, Minn., was
recorded September 23; New Richmond, Wis., September 25; Lanes-
boro, Minn., September 27; Milwaukee, Wis., October 3; Grinnell, Iowa,
October 4; Iowa City, lowa, October3; Des Moines, Iowa, October 3;
Saint Louis, Mo., October 10; Mount Carmel, Mo., October 16; and
Bonham, Tex., October 30. At Gainesville, Tex., they were seen for

206

the second time November 7; a straggler had previously been seen =

early in October. At Elk River, Minn., and Milwaukee, Wis., none
were seen after November 12. The bulk arrived at Saint Lonis, Mo.,
October 21, and were still numerous there November 11.

567 a. Junco hyemalis oregonus (Towns.). [218.] Oregon Junco.

All the notes on this species came from the West. The regular home
of this Junco is northwest of our district, but in migration a few come
east far enough to encounter our observers. it occurs in western Mani-
toba, and from Kansas southward it is a winter resident. It was found
at San Angelo, Tex., in company with the White-crowned Sparrow.

At Gainesville, Tex., in 1584, it was seen March 5, but left soon after.

At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it came January 1, and remained through February ;
while at Manhattan, Kans., it came October 27, 1883, with Junco hye-
malis, and “ae a few days later than that species, the latter
leaving April 22. :

The Oregon Junco was common at Manhatta: Kans., throughout
the winter of 188485, and the last departed March 14, 1885. It has
been found accidentally at Chicago and in Michigan.

569. Junco caniceps (Woodh.). [220.] Gray-headed Junco.

The home of this Junco is in the Rocky Mountain region. It has
been recorded from Texas (Woodhouse); the Black Hills (Cones); and
Michigan (Atkins).
570a. Junco cinereus dorsalis Henry. [221.] Red-backed Junco.

Mr. Lloyd has brought this southwestern Junco within our distriet by
finding it a winter resident at Fort Davis, Tex., at an altitude of nearly
5,000 feet.

573. Amphispiza bilineata (Cass.). [224.] Black-throated Sparrow. °

An inhabitant of the Southwestern States and northern Mexico, reach-
ing its eastern limit in the valley of the Lower hio Grande, in Texas,
where it is common (Merrill; Sennett). It was found as a rare winter
resident at Mason, Tex., and as a common resident at San Angelo, Tex.,
where four nests were found during the last week of May in the skirts
of dense chaparral along the edges of ravines. The finding of a nest
with fresh eggs July 13 indicates that the bird raises two broods. Mr.
Llord states that “this species has extended east within the last six
years to the Colorado River.”
574a. Amphispiza belli nevadensis (Ridgw.). [225a.] Sage Sparrow.

Another Western Sparrow. On the eastern slopes of the mountains
in western Texas, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, is the Government
post, Fort Davis. Here are found the Red-naped Woodpecker, the Com-
mon Phebe, the Townsend’s Solitaire, the Swamp Sparrow, the Arizona
Stephens Waited: and Marsh Wrens, which agree exactly with the Pa-
cific coast form; and here, during the winter of 1885-86, Mr, Lloyd
found the Sage Sparrow.

207

575a. Peucea estivalis bachmanii (Aud.). [226a.] Bachman’s Sparrow.
Bachman’s Sparrow is a bird of the Southeastern States, reaching its
‘ western limit in Texas. Although it is rather a common species along
the southern course of the Mississippi, up to southern Indiana and
southern Illinois, if was noted by but few of the observers. It was
found at Pierce City, Mo., as a not common breeder; and at Gaines-
ville, Tex., as a very rare species. At Gainesville, in 1876, the first
came April 10; but in 1884 the first was not noted, and only two speci-
mens were shot. Mr. Lloyd gives it as a breeder in eastern Concho
4 County, Tex. |
577. Peucza mexicana (Lawr.). [——] Mexican Sparrow.

Breeds in the valley of the Lower. Rio Grande, in Texas, and thence

southward and westward. Dr.J. C. Merrill, U. S. Army, found it ‘in

“some abundance on a salt prairie about 9 miles from Fort Brown,
Tex.,” where he took a nest containing four fresh eggs, June 16, 1877.*
578. Peucea cassini (Woodh.). [228.] Cassin’s Sparrow.

In our district this species ranges as a summer resident from south-
eastern Texas to middle and western Kansas. In eastern Texas, near
Houston, Mr. Nehrling recorded it as ‘‘a common summer resident on
the open grassy prairies.” Along the Lower Rio Grande, in the extreme
southeastern corner of the State, both Dr. Merrill and Mr. Sennett
found it breeding. Mr. Lloyd states that it is a common summer resi-
dent in Tom Green County, Tex., and is tolerably common in Concho
County in fall. It was observed at Gainesville, Tex., where the first
arrived May 13, and where it was marked rare.

In the spring of 1885 the first Cassin’s Sparrow arrived at San An-

tonio, Tex., May 11.
| 580a. Peucza ruficeps boucardi (Scl.). [230.] Boucard’s Sparrow.
Occurs from central western Texas westward and southward. Mr.
Ridgway has kindly shown mea specimen, in the collection of the U.S.»
| National Museum, which was killed about the middle of May, 1878,
at Colorado, Mitchell County, Tex., where it was doubtless breeding.
580b. Peucea ruficeps eremceca Brown. [——.] Jock Sparrow. |

Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown described this subspecies from speci-
mens taken by him at Boerne, Tex., in the winter of 1879-80 (Bull.
Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, pp. 38, 39). A male and female
had been previously killed in Gillespie County, Tex. (April 24, 1878), by
Mr. Ragsdale. They were regarded as P. ruficeps (Ibid., Vol. III, 1878,
pp. 188, 189).
581. Melospiza fasciata (Gmel.). [231.] Song Sparrow.

The Song Sparrow breeds in Manitoba and throughout most of the
northern half of the Mississippi Valley, and was reported as a winter

*Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., Vol. I, 1578, p. 127. It was recorded under the name of
Peucea arizone, which Mr. Ridgway now regards as not separable from P. mexicana,
(Manual of North American Birds, 1887, p. 594.) |

208

resident from various points in Illinois, Missouri, eastern Kansas, In- _

dian Territory, and Texas.

Many observers are so situated that their field-work does not take —

them into favorable localities for this species. Its favorite haunts in
winter are the dense weeds and grass along our streams; hence it is
not Strange that it is so often overlooked. Our reports, therefore, are
so incomplete that it is impossible to fix the bounds of its winter resi-
dence, or the extent of its breeding range. Only twenty-five observers
recorded its movements in 1884.

t Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was first seen November 6, 1883. Many must
have wintered south of that point, for the bulk was reported as arriving
Mareh 11, 1854, The last lingered until April 4. At Pierce City, Mo.,
after January 2, only single birds were seen. The bulk arrived from
the south March 29. At Saint Louis, Mo., Mr. Widmiunn reported see-
ing one December 29, at Florisant. February 15 the same small num-
bers as last year were at old stands. March 13 an increase was ob-
served and the first song was heard. March 17 the bulk arrived, and
small parties of highly-colored birds in full song were conspicuous.
Ten days later, March 27, the bulk departed. A single bird in company
with J. georgiana was seen April 14, and again April 17.

At Manhattan, Kans., the species is a rather common winter resi-
dent; it arrived from the north October 13; was seen at intervals
during the entire winter in favorable localities; the bulk arrived March
15, and the last was seen April 5. Manhattan is almost directly north
of Caddo, and 350 miles distant. The bulk reached Manhattan from
the south four days later than it was noted at Caddo, while in the fall
migration the first was seen at the former station twenty-three days
earlier than at the latter.

Apparently the bulk of Song Sparrows moves from winter quarters
all at once. This movement began about March 10, reaching Caddo the
following day. March 13 there was an increase at Saint Louis, and by
March 15 the bulk reached Manhattan. At Saint Louis the bulk arrived
by March 17. March 19 the wave of migration reached Polo, Ill., and
Milwaukee, Wis. March 20 the first arrived at New Cassel, Wis.
March 24 it reached Lake Mills, West De Pere, and Green Bay, Wis.
The bulk seemed to arrive simultaneously with the first, or but a few
hours later.

March 28 the first reached Elk River, Minn., but it was not seen at
Minneapolis until April 5, when it was also seen at Hastings, Minn.
On the plains, out of the line of the river woodlands, it seemed to travel
more slowly.

The bulk arrived at Minneapolis April 11. On the same day the first
reached Oak Point, Manitoba. April 12 the first reached Larimore,
Dak. At this time the last had not departed from Saint Lonis.

Of the breeding habits of this species, or of the localities in which it
breeds, little was reported. It was notedas breeding at Newton, Lowa,

where it arrived April9. Perhaps the most surprising note received
was that from Dr. Watson, at Ellis, Kans., who reported it as a com-
~ monsummer resident. It does not remaiu to breed at Manhattan, which
a is much farther east. Col. N.S. Goss enters it on his *“‘ Catalogue of
Kansas Birds” as ‘resident in eastern Kansas; rare in summer;
— common during the winter in thickets and sheltered lowlands.”

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Song Sparrows left Elk River, Minn.,

October 8, and the last November 11. At Mount Carmel, Mo., they
were first seen October 22.

The most northern record of its wintering during the cold season of
188485 came from Manhattan, Kans., where a few remained.

In migration in the spring of 1885 it arrived at Saint Louis, Mo.,
March 5, the bulk following March 14. The first came to Fernwood,
Ill., March 27, and the next day to Chicago, Ill. By April 1 they had
appeared at Stoughton, Wis.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Lake Mills, Wis.;
_ Leeds Centre, Wis.; and Waukon, Iowa. April 3and 4 they were re-

ported from Lanesboro, Minn.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Green Bay, Wis.;
and Lueck, Wis. They reached Elk Kiver, Minn., April 8, and Oak
Point, Manitoba, Aprii 13. The bulk left Saint Louis, Mo., April 6, and
the last was seen there April12. ‘+ Lasts” were reported from Pierce
_ City, Mo., April1; Houma, La., April 20; Mount Carmel, Mo., May 8;
_ Manhattan, Kans., March 25; and Des Moines, Iowa, May 2. At Fern-
wood, IIl., a nest with five eggs was taken June 1.

In the fall of 1885 the first returned to Saint Louis, Mo., October 6;
Mount Carmel, Mo., Uctober 8; and to Bonham, Tex., October 17.
At Elk River, Minn., the last was seen October 16; at Lanesboro,
Minn., November 8; and at Grinnell, Iowa, November 24. At Saint
Louis they were numerous October 26, in great numbers in flocks Oc-
tober 27, and the bulk left October 11.

581 b. Melospiza fasciata montana Hensh. [23la, part.] Mountain Song Sparrow.
The known habitatof this Western race is in Colorado, Utah, Nevada,

and northward. Some Song Sparrows taken during the fall of 1885, by

Mr. Lloyd, at Fort Davis, Tex., have been identified by Mr. Ridg-

way as this subspecies.

583. Melospiza lincolni (Aud.). [234.] Lincoln’s Sparrow.

Breeds but sparingly in the United States. For a long time Racine,
Wis., was the southernmost point at which it was known to nest; but
recently nests have been found in northern Illinois.

From southern Illinois southward Lincoln’s Sparrow may be found in
winter; but the great bulk of the species winters south of latitude 369.
In Kansas it is a common migrant. In eastern Texas it is common in
winter (Nelrling), as it is in the valley of the Lower Rio Grande (Mer-

rill). At Caddo, Ind. Ter., a few were found during cold weather, and
probably they were more common than they seemed; since, owing to
their shyness, they are not easily observed. The advance movement
7365—Buall 2-14

.
a
+

210

at Caddo in 1884 began the second week in March, and by March 15
they were in force. April 4 .hey were still present in about one-third
of their highest numbers. Latitude 39° 12’, in Kansas, was reached
April 24; latitude 38° 40’, in Missouri, April 29; latitude 41° 36’, in
Jowa, and 41° 51’, in Illinois, May 9; and West De Pere, Wis. (lat-
44° 26’), May 17. The last one left Gainesville, Tex. (lat. 33° 36’), May
14, and Saint Louis (lat. 38° 40’) May 20.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of migrants reached Des Moines, Iowa,
October 25. They left there the same day, and nove were seen after-
ward. The first reached Gainesville, Tex., October 27.

But few records were received of its movements in the spring of 1885.
The first was seen at Gainesville, Tex., March 29; at Bonham, Tex.,
April 3; Manhatian, Kans., April 18; Saint Louis, Mo., April 22; Des
Moines, Iowa, April 25; Newton, Iowa, April 24. The last was noted
at Manhattan, Kans., Apri] 29; Saint Louis, Mo., May 13; and Des
Moines, Iowa, May 12. One was seen at Bonham, Tex., as late as
May 20.

In the fall of 1885 they returned to Lanesboro, Minn., September 18,
where many were present October 2;. and they left October 6.

At Des Moines, Iowa, the last was seen October 10. The first came
to Saint Louis, Mo., October 7; the bulk arrived there October 11, and
the last was seen October 27. The bulk appeared at Gainesville, Tex.,
October 31. .
584. Melospiza georgiana (Lath.). [233.] Swamp Sparrow.

This Sparrow is found throughout Manitoba and the whole of the
Mississippi Valley. It breeds from northern Illinois far into British
America, and winters from Kansas and southern Illinois southward. It
is common near the Mississippi River, but rather rare on the Western
plains. The most western records received from our observers were
from San Angelo, Tex., where it was common in the spring of 1884, and
at Ellis, Kans., where it was a rare transient. Mr. Nehrling gave it as
a rare winter resident at Pierce City, Mo., but says it is more abundant
in the valleys a little distance away. A single bird or two are usually
found during the winter at Saint Louis, but none were seen there in
1884 until February 19. In the latter part of March the numbers at
Saint Louis began to increase, but no migratory advance was made by
the Swamp Sparrow until April 1. On April 3 many came to Burling-
ton, Iowa, and the species reached the center of the State about the
middle of the month. April 26 and April 27 it was reported from Wau-
kon, Iowa, and Lanesboro, Minn. The most northern record was from
Oak Point, Manitoba. Here the first was noted April 24, but, though
the species goes as far north as this, there must be some mistake about
the date, for the ice did not leave the lakes till five weeks afterward.
The bulk arrived at Lanesboro, Minn., April 27; and the same day it
left Saint Louis, where the last was seen May 10.

In the fall of 1884 the first Swamp Sparrow arrived at Elk River,

De

-Minn., September 7, and the bulk five days later. The bulk did not
leave until October 3, and the last was seen October 12. At Mount
- Carmel, Mo., the first and last were reported together October 7.
In the spring of 1885 the first came to Saint Louis, Mo., March 14;
_ Fayette, Mo., March 16; Newton, Lowa, March 28; and Heron Lake,
- Minn., March 29. All of these records are those of a very few birds
that seattered over Missouri and Iowa in March. The bulk of the
¥ species did not follow for nearly a month. April 17 was the height of
a the season at Saint Louis, and the bulk left there April 20. On this
same day they became common at Newton, Iowa; Waukon, Iowa;
_ Lanesboro, Minn.; and the first arrived at Elk River, Minn. None were
seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., after May 2, but as late as May 14 one was
seen at Saint Louis, Mo.
In the fall of 1885 the first was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., Septem-
ber 27, but no more were seen until October 6. At Saint Louis, Mo.,
_ they appeared October 5, and at Emporia, Kans., October 2. ‘‘ Lasts”
' were reported from Elk River, Minn., October 15; Lanesboro, Minn.,
5 October 7; and from Des Moines, Lowa, October 29, at which date about
_ «fifty were seen. Great numbers were present at Saint Louis, October
21, and the bulk departed November 11.

585. Passerella iliaca (Merrem.). [235.] Fox Sparrow.

_ Sreeds north of our northern boundary and winters in the Southern
_ States, usually as far north as eastern Kansas. Few birds migrate more
| rapidly than the Fox Sparrow, and it is not uncommon for the first, the

- bulk, and the last to be noted during the same week. In the spring of

_ 1884 migration was much more prolonged than usual. The cold wave
E of January 1 sent the species into more than ordinarily southern winter
BP iciters. At Manhattan, Kans., it is usually a common winter resi-
dent. In the winter of 1883~84 it was abundant until New Year's,
but disappeared then until March. Only one bird was seen at Saint

7 Louis during the winter; and at Pierce City, Mo., though many
_ had remained the winter before, none were seen after December. South
4 of latitude 37° it was an abundant winter resident. The first slight

movement took place in the latter part of February, bringing a few
' more individuals to Caddo, Ind. Ter., the bulk to Saint Louis, and

the first to Carlinville, [ll., but no real migration occurred until
about the middle of March. Leaving out of account irregular notes,
the regular mov ements appear to have been as follows: March

_ 15 the species arrived at Manhattan, Kans., and Danville, Ill.; March
3 16 at Osceola, Iil.; and March 19 at Iowa City, lowa. Then no move-
- ment was reported until March 27 and March 28, when it appeared over
' the rest of Iowa and over Minnesota up to Elk River. In Wisconsin
4 it appeared along the forty-fifth parallel about April 1, and at Portage

la Prairie, Manitoba, April 22. The bulk came to Gainesville, Tex.,
_ Caddo, Ind. Ter., and Pierce City, Mo., March 17; Mount Carmel, Mo.,
_ March 19; Iowa City, Iowa, March 20; and Lanesboro, Minn., Mareh

29. The bulk left Mount Carmel and Saint Louis, Mo., Marele 26, 5 and

Lanesboro, Minn., April 21. The last left Gainesville, Tex., and Cale
Ind. Ter., about April 1. From Manhattan, Kans., and Saint Louis, Mo.,

they departed April 4 and 6, though at Saint Louis a stray one was —

*

andl

seen April 17 in company with Hermit Thrushes. At Des Moines and —

Waukon, Iowa, the last was marked April 20; at Milwaukee, Wis., the —

day before; at Lanesboro, Minn., April 26, and at Elk River, April 28,
In the fal! of 1884 the first and last Fox Sparrow was seen at Elk

River, Minn., October 6. The first came to Des Moines, Lowa, October

9, ives bulk Oe ‘tober 25, and the last was seen there October 27. At

Mount t Carmel, Mo., the first was seen November 3, and the last No-

vember 8.

During the winter of 1884~85 no Fox Sparrows remained at either

Manhattan, Kans., or Saint Louis, Mo.
In the spring of 1885 one flock was found in the lowlands of Illinois,
opposite Saint Louis, March 5. March 14 the first was seen on the Mis-

souri side of the river, and the same day the first one returned to Man- —
hattan. At Fayette, Mo., about twenty were seen March 15; and a pair
were observed March 24 at Paris, Ill. During the first six days of

April they were noted from Des Moines, Iowa; Coralville, lowa; Grin-
nell, Iowa; Newton, lowa; Waukon, towa; Hennepin, Il. ; Rockford,

Ill.; Leeds Centre, Wis.; Durand, Wis.; Lanesboro, Minn.; and Elk —

River, Minn.

The records of “lasts” were irregular, and ranged between April 12
for Saint Louis and Mount Carmel, and April 23 for Durand and Elk
River.

The fall notes on the Fox Sparrow, in 1885, were more irregular than
those relating to any other species. Fox Sparrows were noted at about
the same time (the first week in October) at various stations from lafi-
tude 45° 25’, in Minnesota, to Central Missouri. At Elk River, Minn.,
the last was seen October 18, and at Grinnell, lowa, October 27, at
which latter date they were very numerous in flocks at Saint Louis.
The bulk left Saint Louis November 11. The last was seen at Mount
Carmel November 14, and the first reached Gainesville, Tex., Novem-

ber 15. Mr. Ernest E. Thompson has recorded this species as breeding —

abundantly at Duck Mountain, Manitoba.

585c. Passerella iliaca schistacea (Baird). [235¢.] Slate-colored Sparrow.

Tue Rocky Mountain representative of the foregoing. In migra-

tion it comes east to the plains, and has been taken in Kansas.

586. Embernagra rufivirgata Lawr. [236.] Texas Sparrow.
The home of this Sparrow is in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, in
Texas, where it is common (Merrill and Sennett).
587. Pipilo erythrophthalmus(Linn.). [237.] Chewink; Towhee.
Breeds in the middle and northern portions of the Mississippi Valley
and Manitoba; winters in the Southern States; a few breed in south-

eastern Texas (Nehrling). In eastern Kansas it is a common resident. 3

_

| 913
it

~ Reports upon its movements in 1884 were received from but forty
observers. None of these came from the region of the Lower Missis-
- sippi. Indeed, but three of them were from stations south of the thirty-
seventh parallel; the result is that little has been added to our knowl-
edge of the winter habits of this well-known bird.
In Texas the Chewink seems to range farther west than in Kansas
and Nebraska. At San Angelo, Tex., it was seen several times dur-
ing the winter, and two were shot in January, 1884. At Gainesville,
‘ Tex., it was a common winter resident, remaining until April 24,
' when the last was heard. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was abundant as
q early as November 29, 1883, and most of the birds were in pairs. On
_ March 8 they began to spread out from winter quarters. In southern
- Kansas and Missouri they frequently remained during the winter. At
Pierce City, Mo., none were seen in 1884 later than the last of Decem-
4 ber, although the preceding winter they were abundant. AtSaint Louis,
_ Mr. Widmann reported two pairs as remaining all winter in company
a with Cardinals. At Manhattan, Kans., none were seen later in the
fall than the latter part of November; but the preceding year they
- remained until the extreme cold of the middle of January drove them
- out. In 1884 the first arrival in migration was reported at Saint Louis,
s February 24; but the movement did not appear to be general. The
arrivals consisted of a few males and females. March 11 a stray mi-
_ grant appeared at Chicago, lil, and on the following day the regular
‘ advance came to Hillsboro and Carlinville, in the same State. March
_ 15 they were reported at Danville, Ill., and Manhattan, Kans.; March
22 at Burlington, lowa; March 23 at Iowa City, Iowa; March 27 and
March 28 at Laporte City, Iowa, at Polo, Ill, and Des Moines, Lowa.
- Along Lake Michigan they seem to have beari a little earlier, arriving
_ at New Cassel and Milwaukee March 24 and March 26. In this species,
- migration along the Mississippi River seems to have been more retarded
' than along the eastern border of the district or along the border of the
B oes in Kansas, which is contrary to the rule among most species.
- How far the food supply and the condition of the weather influenced
_ these movements can only be determined by the most careful observa-
tion. April 4 the first was seen at Lake Mills, Wis.; April 10 at Wau-
cn, Iowa; April 18 at Lanesboro, Minn.; April 24 at Lake City, Minn. ;
April 26 st Waupaca, Wis.; April 27 at hean Bay, Wis.; April 30 at
_ Elk River, Minn.; and May 17 at Frazee City, Minn. At Manhattan,
Bins. ene arrived March 19; at Hillsboro, Il., April 8; at Polo,
| Ill, April 15; at Iowa City, Iowa, April 19; at Lake Mills, Wis., April
_ 28; at Milwaukee May 3; at West De Pere, Wis., May 16; at Frazee
' City, Minn., May 20; at Vermillion, Dak., May 8; at the latter
; place the species was most abundant June 12.
3 From Mr. Widmann, at Saint Louis, the following full report was re-
seeived :

4 February 24, first arrival; March 13, first song-birds still scarce; March 17, arrival

214 Saeed an
of bulk; March 23, many, noisy, conspicuous; March 31, transients in parties of six bs
to eight; April 1, summer residents carrying building material; April 4, last tran-
sient; April 17 to 19, singing, fighting, love making; May 24, first young out of nest.

At Manhattan, Kans., two broods are reared in a season; the first —
young are hatched early in May; the nests are almost invariably built —
upon the ground; the second brood is hatched in June, and the nests
are almost uniformly built in bushes from 2 to 7 feet from the ground. —

In the fall of 1884 the last Chewink was seen at Des Moines, Iowa,
August 29; the bulk left Mount Carmel, Mo., October 20, and the last
October 27; at San Angelo, Tex., the first came September 29, and by
October 9 they were common.

In the spring of 1885 there was almost a double set of notes for this
species. The second record, in at least half the cases, was a week or
more later than the first, instead. of a day or two later, as is the rule
with most birds. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first came March 10, and
the bulk of males on the 14th; and on this latter date the first one was
seen at Shawneetown, Il. Two days before this the second was seen
at Odin, Ill., the first having come long before. The first reached
Paris, Ill., March 27, the day before it was noted at Manhattan, Kans.
Then there was a double movement. The first wave (from April 1 to
April 6) brought large numbers of Chewinks to southern Iowa, and a
sprinkling to various points in northern Illinois. The second occurred
after an interval of two weeks, and brought a second set of “firsts” to —
lowa and Illinois on April 20, April 21, and April 22, and passed on to —
latitude 45°, in Wisconsin and Minnesota. After another pause, Elk
River, Minn., was reached May 6; Menoken, Dak., May 12; White
Earth, Minn., May 16 (many were seen), and Oak Point, Manitoba, May
18. The last left Bonham, Tex., April 14, and Gainesville, Tex., May 12.

In the fall of 1885 the last Chewink was reported from Elk River,
Minn., September 29; from Lanesboro, Minn., November 8; Grinnell,
Iowa, October 17; Iowa City, lowa, October 17; and Des Moines, Iowa,
October 7. AtSaint Louis, Mo., Chewinks were common in large flocks
September 23; the bulk arrived October 5; they were most numerous
from October 6 to October 12; the bulk departed October 20, and the
last transient was seen November 11. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the last ~
was seen December 16. The first migrant reached Bonham, Tex., No-
vember 11, aud they became common November 16.

588. Pipilo maculatus arcticus (Swains.). [238.] Arctic Towhee.

In our district this Towhee occurs in Texas, Indian Territory, Kansas,
Nebraska, and Dakota. In winter it is found from western Kansas
southward. Mr. Lloyd states that it is a tolerably common winter resi-
dentin Tom Green and Concho Counties, Tex. At Hilis, Kans., in 1884,
the first was seen April 27. At Manhattan it was probably heard March
15; the first was seen March 19; the bulk came April 26; the species
was still abundant May 3; the bulk left May 10; and the last was seen -
May 12.

ieee 215

In the spring of 1883 the first Arctic Towhee was seen at Manhattan,
Kans., February 25; the second March 7, and was common April 26.

In migration, at Manhattan, Kans., the Arctic Towhee is much more
abundant than the eastern species. In the autumn they linger until
late in the winter, sometimes remaining with erythrophthalmus during
the entire winter. In the spring they arrive in large numbers after
erythrophthalmus, and remain about two weeks.

590. Pipilo chlorurus (Towns.). [239.] Green-tailed Towhee.

The home of this species is in the interior plateau region of the United
States, from the western border of the plains to the Sierra Nevada,
from about latitude 40° south into Mexico. Several years ago it was
taken in southwestern Texas, and February 25, 1885, Mr. Harry Att-
water took a specimen at San Antonio, Tex. Mr. Lloyd has recently
published the following in regard to its occurrence in Texas:

The bird must be spreading east, as I see it as far east as the head draws of the
Middle Concho. Common on the east side of Pecos River. Probably breeds.

591. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus (Baird). [240.] Canon Towhee.

This Towhee occurs as far north as Colorado, but enters our district
in Texas only, where Mr. Lloyd found it a tolerably common resident in
Tom Green County.

593. Cardinalis cardinalis (Linn.). [242.] Cardinal.

The Cardinal inhabits all of the Mississippi Valley east of the plains
and south of southern Nebraska and southern Iowa, and has been found
occasionally in Minnesota. South of latitude 41° it is stationary,
while north of this parallel some remain in the winter, but most go
south. Dr. Watson gave it as rare at Ellis, Kans., but Mr. Lloyd found
it common at San Angelo, Tex. Mr. Widmann said of its winter habits
at Saint Louis: “It is here one of the most numerous of the winter
birds, occurring in pairs, family groups, and flocks, aud remaining at or
near the breeding grounds all winter. In hard times corn is the chief
attraction.” At Caddo, Ind. Ter., its habits were somewhat different.
During the fall, Cardinals were found among the thick, tall weed
patehes around the cotton fields; they were silent and so shy that they
were seldom seen, sheltering themselves in the almost impenetrable
mass of foliage. During the latter part of November, when most of the
leaves had fallen, they retreated to the thickets along the stream. Here
_ they staid in great numbers until real winter, when they began to flock
into town, and as long as snow lasted they could be found everywhere
around the houses where not one had been seen for several months. A
warm period would find them back in the thickets, only to return with
the next cold snap. The most northern record received was from Iowa
City, lowa, where one was seen April 17, but it may have been an es-
caped cage-bird.

In the spring of 1885 two Cardinals were seen in January at Morning
Sun, lowa, but they were not recorded during the winter of 1884-85

216

Ny

from any other place in Iowa. They returned to Ferry, lowa, March ~
29, and to Denmark, Iowa, April 19. A set of six eggs was taken at
Peoria, [l., May 7. .

In the fall of 1885 a Cardinal was taken at Iowa City, lowa, October
29, being the first one captured in that county that was certainly a wild
bird. At Saint Louis, Mo., large flocks of these birds were present
September 23. They were hos numerous October 6, and Se
Cetober 20.

594. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata Bonap. [243.] Teras Cardinal.

The Texas Cardinal is a southern species resident wherever found.
In 1884 it was noted at San Antonio and Eagle Pass, Tex., and its range
extends thence south and west. It is especially abundant from Eagle
Pass southward. At Boerne, Tex., Mr. Brown secured a pair in 1883—
the female February 2, and the maie April 5.

In the spring of 1885 a male was taken at San Angelo, Tex., April 26.
This I believe to be its most northern record.

Pyrrhuloxia sinuata beckhami Ridgw. [—.] Arizona Pyrrhuloxia.

The type of this newly described subspecies was taken at El Paso,
Pex., by Lieut. J. G. Parks, U.S. A. (Auk, Vol. IV, No. 4, Oeienee
1887, p. 347). It has been found also in southern Arizona and New
Mexico.

595. Habia ludoviciana(Linn.). [244.] Mose-breasted Grosbeak.

Breeds from about latitude 37° northward; tolerably common in
Manitoba. The spring migration of this species is evidently carried on
in anortheasterly direction. Itis found in Mexico and Central America
during the winter; but during the summer it is entirely a bird of the
eastern province, rarely breeding as far west as eastern Kansas (where
it is common during migration). Mr. Ragsdale has never seen it at
Gainesville, in north-central Texas, and Professor Nehrling does not
mention it in his Birds of Southeastern Texas.

The southernmost station reporting the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in
1884 was Saint Loais, Mo., where the first male was noted April 26,
followed two days later by the bulk of the males. April 29 and 30 they
appeared in Illinois up to latitude 39° 43’, with an accidental one at
Waukon, Lowa (lat. 43° 15’); and the first two days of May found
them in Illinois north to latitude 40° 08’, and to latitude 41° 40’, in
lowa. The advance was quite regular over northern Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, and Minnesota, bringing the van of males to latitude 44° 22’, in
Wisconsin, and 44° 32’,in Minnesota, May 8. By May 10 they had
reached Elk River, Minn. (lat. 45° 25’), and May 28 they were noted
at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (lat. 50°), which is nearly as far north
as the species occurs. The average of the data received from seven
stations indicates that the arrival of the first female was about five
days later than that of the first male, while the arrival of the general
bulk of the species was about one day later. In the south the differ.

7 ence in the times of arrival of males, females, and bulk was greater
_ than in the north, the indications being that in approaching the north-
ern limits of its range the females traveled with the bulk, and were only
two or three days behind the van.

In the fall of 1884, at Des Moines, Lowa, the last Kose- prea Gros.
beak was reported August 29.

In the spring of 1885, as usual, the record of the first at Saint Lowts
was considerably earlier than fen corresponding stations farther east
or west. It was seen there April 20; at Mount Carmel, Mo., April 25,
and at Paris, Ill., April 30. This last date is probably a little late,
since on the two preceding days it had been noticed at Peoria, Griggs-
ville, and Aledo, Ill., and also at Des Moines and Keokuk, lowa. A
Second wave passed over this same part of lowa May 1. A few scat-
tering individuals were noted May 6 and May 7 at Lanesboro, Minn.,
Elk River, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis. These were followed, May 11

and May 12, by a heavier advance, which reached Heron Lake, Roches-
ter, Lake City, Hastings, and Elk River (‘‘common”), in Minnesota,
and Ripon and Durand, in Wisconsin. The first in Manitoba was
noted at Shell River, May 16. In Kansas and Nebraska, where this
bird is rarely found, the movement was much delayed, and at Manhat-
tan, Kans., and Unadilla, Nebr., the first was not recorded until May 16.
In the full of 1885 the only regular notes on this species came from
Saint Louis, where it was common September 16, very numerous Sep-
tember 22, bulk present September 25, and bulk departed September
29. At the regular stands the last was seen October 6, and none were
seen after October 11. The notes from other stations were very irreg-
ular. The last was reported from Elk River, Minn., September 9, and’
from Grinnell, Iowa, August 9.

596. Habia melanocephala (Swains.). [245.] Black-headed Grosbeak.

The summer range of this Grosbeak extends from the plains west-
ward; it winters in Mexico. During the spring migration it enters
Arizona and New Mexico in April. The majority pass north in the
Rocky Mountain region, but some ‘move northeastward over the plains
and are found in the valley of the Rio Grande, in western Kansas, in
Nebraska, and in Dakota. In western Kansas it is not uncommon in
summer. Professor Lantz and Dr. Blackly have shot it at Manhattan,
Kans., and July 11, 1884, Colonel Goss saw a male as far east as Topeka,
Kans. Mr. Powell has taken it at Alda, in southeastern Nebraska, and
Dr. Agersborg in southeastern Dakota. It has occurred accidentally
in Michigan. The most eastern record in Texas was from Mason, where
a Single male was secured by the Rev. I. B. Henry. It was reported
also from Colorado City, near the one hundredth meridian, and from
San Saba County (long. 98°), where Mr. Ragsdale took one in 1879.
Mr. Lloyd states that it is a rare summer visitor in Concho County, Tex.

In the spring of 1885 the first Black-headed Grosbeak was seen at.
_ Mason, Tex., May 4, and at Emporia, Kans., May 10.

218

597. Guiraca cerulea (Linn.). [246.] Blue Grosbeak.

The Blue Grosbeak is a southern species. Both it and, the Black-
headed winter in Mexico, but while in spring the bulk of the latter
migrate north to Colorado and Utah, the present species moves a short
distance north and a long distance east, sometimes even to New Eng-
land. In middle and western Kansas it is a common summer resident.
In its migration it reaches southern Illinois and southern Nebraska. In
the spring of 1884 it arrived at Gainesville, Tex., April 25; at Pierce
City, Mo., May 9, and was very common. At Manhattan, Kans., the
first was seen May 10, but it was not common until the last of the
month. It was seen at Hllis, Kans., May 13; at Lawrence, Kans., July
5,1884. Col. N. S. Goss saw a pair of Blue Grosbeaks followed by
three fledged young.

In the spring of 188) the records of the migration of the Blue Gros-
beak were unaccountably irregular. They are as follows: The first was
seen at San Antonio, Tex., May 6; at Mason, Tex., April 20; at Gaines-
ville, Tex., April 18; at Pierce City, Mo., May 9; at Emporia, Kans.,
May 12; and at Manhattan; Kans., May 2. At Manhattan they had
become common by May 12. In Texas if is a “ tolerably common mi-
grant in fall from the Pecos River to the Colorado River; breeds abun-
dantly farther west” (Lloyd). In southeastern Texas it isa “regularly
distributed summer resident, but nowhere abundant” (Nehrling).

598. Passerina cyanea (Linn.). [248.] Indigo Bunting; Indigo Bird.

The Indigo Bird is found all over the Mississippi Valley, east of the
plains. Elk River, Minn., is very near the northern limit of its range;
north of this it only occurs locally (in three years’ residence at latitude
47°, in Minnesota, it was not seen). It usually leaves the United States
in winter Mr. Bibbins says he has seen it as an occasional winter visiI-
tant at Mermenton, La. In the spring of 1884 it had advanced up the
valley to Pierce City and Saint Louis, Mo., by April 29. May 3 it was
seen at Carlinville, [ll., and two days later at Glasgow, Mo., while on
the same day it was noted at Manhattan, Kans. Its presence is thus
very accurately fixed at this date, but for the next two weeks the records
were so at variance that it is probably the nearest approximation to say
that on May 10 the normal van was in northern Illinois and northern
Iowa. May 15 it was reported in Minnesota from Lake City and Pine
Bend; May 23 from Minneapolis, but not until June 2 from Elk River.
It may not be out of place here to give Mr. Widmann’s fall record from
Saint Louis, as showing how many changes take piace in the individ-
uals present at different times. His record reads:

April 28, first, a male in song; April 29, an increase, a small flock of males; April
30, males in song in a few places; May 5, the bulk of the males and the first female
arrived; May 6, males everywhere in noisy flocks and many transients. These two
days (May 5 and 6) were the height of the season for males. May 9, the bulk of

young males and the bulk of females arrived; birds mating; May 21, nest building ;
May 31, they were one of our most industrious songsters.

sigh aed ies aaa 219

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Indigo Buntings left Williamstown,
Iowa, August 19, and the last August 28. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the
last was noted August 29. Mr. Lloyd says that itis a rare fall migrant
in Tom Green County, Tex.; and Mr. Nelirling states that in south-
eastern Texas it was ‘“‘observed only during the migrations.”

In the spring of 1885 it was recorded from San Antonio, Tex., April
16. It reached Gainesville, Tex., April 20; Pierce City, Mo., April 21,
and Saint Louis, Mo., April 23. The notes from stations east of the
Mississippi River were too irregular to be satisfactorily worked up, but
those west of the Mississippi indicate that the species reached latitude
49° May 10and May 11; latitude 43° May 14; latitude 44° May 19, and
latitude 45° May 21. The most northern record was from Elk River,
Minn. (lat. 45° 25’), May 27.

In the fall of 1885 the last Indigo Bunting was reported from Elk
River, Minn., September 7; from Grinnell, Iowa, September 28; Iowa
City, lowa, August 29; Fayette, Mo., October 1, and from Mount Car-
mel, Mo., August 9. At Saint Louis, Mo., they were numerous Sep-
tember 9; they were very common September 22; the bulk was present
September 25; they had decreased by October 6; they were seen in
several places October 11; the last one at their regular stands was seen
October 14, and none were seen after October 17.

599. Passerina amoena (Say). [249.] Lazuli Finch; Lazuli Bunting.

West of our district the Indigo Bunting is replaced by the present
species, which seldom enters the Mississippi Vailey. Its true home is
from the plains westward. It is common on the Missouri, in central
Dakota, and thence westward (Allen). The only records from the ob-
servers came from Dr. Agersborg, who finds a few every summer at
Vermillion, Dak., and from Dr. Watson, who found it a rare summer
resident at Ellis, Kans.

600. Passerina versicolor (Bonap.). [250.] Varied Bunting.

The home of this remarkably colored bird is in eastern Mexico and
the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where it is tolerably common
(Sennett; Merrill). A straggler (or an escaped cage bird has been
taken in Michigan (Dr. H. A. Atkins).

- 601. Passerina ciris (Linn.). [251.] Painted Bunting; Nonpareil.

A southern species whose northern limit barely reaches southern
Kansas and southern Illinois. In the spring of 1884 it crossed our.
southern border after summer was fully here, and did not go far north
It arrived at Mason, Tex., April 25; at Rodney, Miss., the next day,
and two days later at Gainesville, Tex. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was an
abundant breeder. Mr. Lloyd writes that at San Angelo, Pex., the
male of this species is the first summer bird to depart, the female re-
maining six weeks or so later. It breeds from May 2 to July 14, rais-
ing two broods. There is one record in Illinois of its occurrence near
Mount Carmel. In May, 1885, Coil. N.S. Goss found it breeding plenti-

~ - 2, )A rb i OS. Pn

fully in Comanche County, southern Kansas (The Auk, Vol Il, 1885, .

p. 276).

in the fall of 1884 the Jast male Nonpareil was seen at San Angelo,
Tex., July 29, while a female and young were seen September 6. In
1883 they were seen as late as September 14.

In the spring of 1885 the first came to Houma, La., April 1; San An-
gelo, Tex., April 9; Bonham, Tex., April 17; and Gainesville, Tex.,
April 19. The following account of the breeding habits of the Nonpa-
reil, from the pen of Mr. H. F. Peters, of Bonham, Tex., will be interest-
ing to Northern readers who are unacquainted with the bird:

The Nonpareil is one of my pets, and as I have five or six pairs breeding in my yard
every year I have a good opportunity to watch them. They arrive here at Bonham
from the 10th to the 20th of April, the males coming some ten days or more before the
females. The males spend their time playing and frolicking until the arrival of the

females, when the playing turns to courting and fighting. It is both interesting and
amusing to watch the male trying to attract the attention of the female. He will hop

down on the ground, spread his wings and tail, strut around and cut all sorts of

capers. The first time I saw it done I thought he was wounded, and started towards
him to pick him up, but soon learned my mistake. They are not very quarrelsome
birds, and soon commence to pair. At this period the male is very attentive, but
after nest building has commenced he is quite another bird. He helps to find the
place to build, and appears to be very particular about it, but as soon as it is decided
upon he retires from business. He never works; he is a little dude, too finely
dressed to do any labor. I have frequently seen him sitting a few feet above the
nest, singing unconcernedly, while his mate would be struggling with a yard or
two of twine, or a piece of old rag to weave into the nest. I have never seen the
male help in nest building, or in feeding the young while in the nest, but have
seen him feed the young after they were fledged. A cat caught a female when the
young were unfledged, and I watched her mate to see if he would raise the young.
He never fed them once. He let them die, and went off and found another mate who
raised a family of young not more than 6 feet from the other nest. While the female
is very gentle and tame, frequently coming to the door in search of material for the
nest, and food for the young, the male is shy and keeps at a distance. When the
young are full grown he troubles himself no more about them. The middle of August
he leaves wife and family and goes south to his winter home. The female and young
remain until the second week in October.

602. Sporophila morelleti (Bonap.). [252.] Morellet’s Seed-eater.
A tropical American bird, coming north to the Lower Rio Grande
Valley in Texas, where it is not uncommon (Merrill; Sennett).

604. Spiza americana (Gmel.). [254.] Dickcissel; Black-throated Bunting.

A rather southerly species, passing north to latitude 45° in the Mis-
sissippi Valley, and wintering entirely south of the United States. Mr.
J. A. Allen found a few in western Dakota, near latitude 47°, in the
summer of 1873. It breeds abundantly in southeastern and western
Minnesota and eastern and middle Kansas. J.C. Hvoslef writes June
18, 1887, from Lanesbore, Minn., “ Spiza americana is now one of our
most common birds.” In eastern Texas it breeds abundantly in ail
the prairie districts (Nehrling). Im the spring of 1884 the first noted
was seen at Gainesville, Tex., April 15. No more was heard of the

221
species until April 26, when a single breeder and two transients came
to Saint Louis. On the next day the bulk arrived at Newport, Ark.,
and was two days in passing from there to Saint Louis. The same day
the first reached Manhattan, Kans., and the last day of the month they

were noted from latitude 40° 47’ in Nebraska, and from Chicago, Il.

May 5 they were noted from latitude 41° 36’, in Iowa, and latitude 419°
58’, in Illinois, while they reached latitude 42° 01’, inlowa, May 7. They
were now nearing the northern limit of their range and the movement
was slower. Not until May 24 were they seen at latitude 44° 45/ in
Wisconsin; the bulk was recorded from latitude 43° 43’ in Minnesota,
June 4, and from Pine Bend, Minn. (lat. 44° 47’), June 26. The full
report from Saint Louis is subjoined: ‘April 26, the first breeder
and two transients; April 28, still scarce; April 29, bulk of males ar-
rived, many at stands and often seen on the wing going east; April 30,
males noisy at stands; May 5, bulk of females arrived. This was the
height of the mating scason. Several parties were seen on the wing go-
ing east in the morning. May 9, young males arrived; May 20, young
birds were still coming, and the species was usually seen in pairs.” It
breeds abundantly in southeastern Dakota.

In the fall of 1884 the last Black-throated Bunting left Des Moines,
Iowa, August 29. The bulk left Mount Carmel, Mo., September 6, and
the last September 20. At Unadilla, Nebr., none were seen after August
23. At San Angelo, Tex., where itis an abundant migrant, the first ap-
peared November 6, and the last was seen November 23.

In the spring of 1885 the movements of this species differed radically
from the record of them for 1884. In the spring of 1884 the first was
seen at Gainesville, Tex., eleven days before any were seen at Saint
Louis, Mo. In 1885 the first was reported at Saint Louis April 20, the
same day that the first was seen at San Antonio, Tex., and three days
before the first appeared at Gainesville. The other records of ‘firsts’
were: Mount Carmel, Mo., April 24, and Manhattan, Kans., April
29. Irregular and early birds were seen at Newton, Lowa, April 25, and
at Hennepin, Ill., April 26. The van of the regular migration reached
this section during the first five days of May, and was recorded from
Odin, [l.; Peoria, Ill.; Tampico, Ill.; Des Moines, Iowa; Grinnell,
Iowa, and Unadilla, Nebr. May 11 the first was recorded from Hast- —
ings, Minn.; May 16, from Heron Lake, Minn., and during the summer
from Huron, Dak., which is near the northwestern limit of its range.
The whole record from Saint Louis is as follows :

“April 20, first one ia air going east; April 23, second; April 28, many going east
and north; May 4 and May 5, bulk of males arrived ; May 9, males numerous, females
scarce; May 13, bulk of females arrived ; May 14, height of the season, young birds
arrived.”

In the fall of 1885 none were seen at Huron, Dak., after July 7; °
lowa City, lowa, August 29; Mount Carmel, Mo., September 20, and
Saint Louis, Mo., September 26.

228
605. Calamospiza melanocorys Stejn. [256.] Lark Bunting.

This is a bird of the plains, wintering abundantly in central and
southern Texas, even as far east as the prairies about Houston (Nehr-
ling), and thence southward into Mexico. The most southeastern
records are the following: Mr. Nehrling found it abundant in winter
about Houston, Tex. In the valley of the Lower Rio Grande, in
Texas, if is a rather common winter resident (Merrill). In the winter
of 1883~84 if occurred in immense flocks at San Angelo, Tex., remain-
ing until May 17. At Mason, Tex., a few were found in summer. Mr.
Ragsdale says that it is “irregular” at Gainesville, Tex., where it was
seen February 21, 1876. Passing north to middle and western Kansas,
where it is an abundant summer resident, the first arrival was noted
May 10. May 11 Dr. Hvoslef saw one on the high prairie 9 miles
east of Lanesboro, Minn. Since Dr. Hvoslef saw a male near the same
place June 19, 1883, the species probably is a semi-regular visitant to
southern Minnesota. It has been found breeding abundantly in cen-
tral and southeastern Dakota, and also in western Minnesota, along
Traverse Lake and the Red River of the North.

In the fall of 1884, at San Angelo, Tex., the first migrant, a male,
was seen October 23.

In the spring of 1885 the first returning flocks appeared at San
Angelo, Tex., March 26. Birds, probably of this species, came to
Bonham, Tex., April 29; they were common there May 11, and left
May 24. They had previously left San Angelo, May 8, and San Antonio,
Tex., May 9. At Huron, Dak., the first were seen May 13.

606. Euphonia elegantissima (Bonap.). [160.] Blue-headed Euphonia.
This species inhabits Central America’ and eastern Mexico, coming
north to Texas (Giraud).

607. Pirangaludoviciana (Wils.). [162.] Louisiana Tanager.

This beautiful Tanager may be found in suitable localities from the
Great Plains to the Pacific. In the spring of 1886 a specimen was shot
on the South Concho in Texas (Lloyd). It breeds in Black Hills of
Dakota.

608. Piranga erythromelas Vieill. [161.] Scarlet Tanager.

A common summer resident in most parts of the Mississippi Valley
east of the plains, and north of latitude 37° (doubtless breeds still
farther south in some places); rare as far north as Manitoba. mae

Few birds are better known than the gorgeous male of this species,
and its record is correspondingly full. It has been taken once as far
west as E] Paso, Tex. In southeastern Texas, near Houston, it is a
moderately common migrant (Nebrling).

In the spring of 1884 it was reported as arriving at Hagle Pass,
Tex., February 29. No more records were given until April 27, when
it appeared at Keokuk, Iowa, and Danville, Ill. This was several
days earlier than the dates from neighboring stations; but with so
striking and well-known a bird there is small chance for a mistake.

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223

‘The first week in May seems to have marked its general advance. to

latitude 42°. A few were seen along latitude 45° May 10 and 12, but

the van did not reach that latitude until May 24. One was seen May

26 at Oak Point, Manitoba, latitude 50° 30’. The only record in the
West came from close to the western limit of its range: It reached
Manhattan, Kans., April 30, and the bulk was present May 10.

_In the fall of 1884 the bulk and last of the Scarlet Tanagers left Wiil-
iamstown, Iowa, August 4. At Des Moines, lowa, the last was seen
August 1; and at Mount Carmel, Mo., September 11.

In the spriug of 1885 the first note came from St. Louis, Mo., April
22. Farther west, in the same latitude, the first was seen at Mount
Carmel, Mo., April 26, and at Manhattan, Kans., May 1. Latitude 419,
in western Illinois, was reached April 24, and the rest of northern Ili-
nois, the southern edge of Wisconsin, and central Iowa on May 5 and
May 6. There was no more advance until May 14 and May 15, during
which days they passed to Green Bay, Wis., and Elk River, Minn.

In the fall of 1885 the last left Elk River, Minn., August 6. The last
was reported at Fayette, Mo., September 1, and at Saint Louis, Mo.,
September 17.

610. Piranga rubra (Linn.). [164.] Summer Redbird.

Breeds from the middle portion of the Mississippi Valley southward.
A common summer resident in eastern Kansas. Were the movements
of all species as regular as those of the Redbird seem to be, the study
of migration would be simple enough. Records were received from two
lines of migration, and there is not an irregular record among them.
From its winter home it was rather late in entering the United States,
reaching Mason, Tex., April 12, and Gainesville, Tex., April 15. It was

‘reported from Darlin ston. Ind. Ter., May 3; Pierce City, Mo., May 17;

and May 31 it was found near its ordinary northern limit at Manhattan,
Kans. Along a line of migration east of the Mississippi, it came to
Rodney, Miss., April 11; Waverly, Miss., April 20; Saint Louis, Mo.,
April 29; and Carlinville, Ill., the next day. Such a regular record
has never before been contributed, and a duplicate will seldom be found.
The most western station from which it was reported is San Angelo,
Tex., where it is a tolerably common breeder.

In the fall of 1884 the last Summer Redbird left San Angelo, Tex.,
September 19.

In the spring of 1885 no such regularity appeared in the record as
was noted in i884. The first was seen at San Angelo, Tex., April 6;
Corinth, Miss., April 7; Gainesville, Tex., April 10; Shawneetown, UL,
April 19; Saint Louis, Mo., April 27; Mount Carmel, Mo., May 1, and
Hennepin, Ill., May 12. The first females and young birds came to San
Angelo, April 16.

611. Progne subis (Linn.). [152.] Purple Martin.

Breeds locally throughout Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley to the

Gulf of Mexico. There is some doubt whether this bird ever spends

994

the winter in the United States. Mr. Edwards says that he does not
think it occurs in southern Louisiana in winter proper, unless perhaps —
during protracted periods of warm weather, which sometimes occur in
December. Most other writers say decidedly that all leave the United
States in cold weather. Certain it is that none remained in the Mis-
sissippi Valley in the winter of 1883~84. They crossed our border the
last week in February, but seem to have been few and scattered. The
first was noted at Water Valley, Miss., March 1, and March 5 a few
were seen at Gainesville, Tex., and Caddo, Ind. Ter., but no more fol-
lowed for some days, and on this date they were marked at Abbeville,
La., as still remaining in the same numbers as when they arrived ten days
before. March 9 the first male appeared at Rodney, Miss., and was
followed ten days later by the first female. By March 11, they returned
to Caddo, Ind. Ter.; were seen at Newport, Ark., and also at Waverly,
Miss. Still, all these were merely scouts, and it was not until Mareh
13 and March 14 that the species become common in the Gulf States. |
On these days they were marked as numerous at Eagle Pass, Tex., and
as arriving more plentifully at Abbeville, La., and beginning to sing a
little. March 21 this regular advance moved to southern Missouri, at
latitude 36° 56/ and latitude 37° 08’, and March 24 to Saint Louis. The
next day it was noticed at Griggsville, Lli., and Manhattan, Kans.
March 26, more came to Manhattan, and on the same date it was
reported from latitude 39°09’ and latitude 39°14’, in Missouri, and
an irregular scout moved to Tampico, Ill. (lat. 41°36’). Mareh 30
and April 1 a smail company invaded southeastern Iowa, appearing
at four stations, and April 3 some of them even reached latitude 41° 42’,
in Iowa, and letitude 43° 43’, in Minnesota, but this was their last effort
before the April storms drove them southward. We find no records from
April3to April 10. On this latter date they began moving northward,
being seen at places in the rear of the position of the van of April 1.
About Apri! 14 the advance was fairly under way and had proceeded
northward through the rest of Iowa to latitude 43° 43’ in southern Min-
nesota, and through northern Illinois to latitude 43° 06’ in Wisconsin,
with a scout north in Wisconsin to latitude 44° 30’. April 16 marked
an advance to latitude 44° 26’, in Minnesota; April 17 to latitude 449°
o2’/ and latitude 45°; and April 18 to latitude 45° 25’. Then came a
long pause, and it was not until after May 1 that any more movements
were recorded. May 3 the species appeared at latitude 46° 33’ in Min-
nesota, and latitude 47° 52’ in Dakota, though it is probable that the
former of these dates is later than the normal. May 19 they were seen
at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and May 23 at Oak Point, Manitoba.
Mr. Small, the observer at Oak Point, says that they were the first he
ever saw there. Itis probable that in the line of migration from New
Orleans to Lake Winnepeg almost the entire migration tock place dur- — |
ing the following twelve nights: March 10, 20, 25,27; April 11, 12, 13, 17; :
May 3, 9,17, and 19. The distance is 1,440) miles, hence the average

is 225

speed must have been 120 miles a night for every night of movement.

_ To show how much can be learned from the study of the movements of

i single species in a single locality, the full record from Saint Louis is
given. Mr. Widmann had a number of Martin houses set up in his
back yard, and kept a full and accurate account of all the movements
which took place there. His record reads:

- March 24, at 5.45 p. m., the first birds were seen, being three scouts; March 25, at
4.45 p. m., the first of our Martins, one male; March 28, second male arrived; March
29, first transient seen passing; March 30, first female arrived and several tran-
sients went north; March 31, an increase, ten per cent. were now present; April 3
to 13 there was no increase in our colony; April 13 it increased to ten birds, the
next day to sixteen, and April 16 it numbered ecighteen (ten males and eight
females). April 17 added one male and one femaie; April 18 there were nine pairs
and three odd males in the boxes; April 23 about a dozen refugees from the north
crowded into the boxes at night, and among them was the first male of last year ina
half-starved condition ; April 25 all the transient visitors were off again; our colony
now numbered twenty-three birds; April 26, twenty-seven birds; April 27, twenty-
eight birds; April 30, thirty birds. The bulk of the species arrived during these last
five days. During the first week of May the numbers gradually increased to thirty-
four birds. May 10 the last increase of old birds occurred, and now there were
_ eighteen pairs that had taken quarters. May 11 the bulk of last year’s birds were
present, but did not take possession of nor sleep in the boxes. May 12 all old Mar-
tins were building earnestly, and some have been sitting on eggs since about May 9;
May 20 the first pair of young birds took possession of a box and began to build;
May 18 first eggs hatched; May 24 the second pair of young took a box, and June
5 the third pair did likewise.

In the fall of 1884 the last Purple Martin at Williamstown, Iowa, was
seen August 19, and at Unadilla, Nebr., August 13. The bulk left Des
Moines, Iowa, September 1, and the last seen was Septemberll. None
were seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., after August 18.

In the spring of 1885 the Purple Martin did not remain long in its’
winter home, but returned to the United States early in February. It
was seen at Houma, La., February 8, and at San Antonio, Tex., Feb-
ruary 23. Those seen at Houma were probably irregular migrants, for
no more were reported from the other stations in Louisiana until the
last of the month. Those at San Antonio must have been part of the
regular advance, since only two weeks later (March 6 and 7) Martins
were reported from Bonham and Gainesville, Tex. During the month
of March the Martins passed from latitude 30° to latitude 38°. The
exact date of their movements can not be told, for in the year 1885 there
was not a single observer in the country along the Mississippi River
from New Orleans to Saint Louis. Here lies a vast area, 200,000 square
miles in extent—larger than the whole United Kingdom of Great Brit-
ain—and yet the most thorough and painstaking search failed to dis-
cover one person sufficiently interested in the study of ornithology to
make a record of the movements of birds!

The Purple Martins were reported from Emporia, Kans., March 26;
Corinth, Miss., March 28, and a straggler was seen the same day at
Fayette, Mo. The grand wave of migration, the largest of the whole

7365—Bull. 2——15 ;

ae Re
oe

Dag c ort es

season, passed up the Mississippi Valley during the last two days “One
March, and the first day of April. During these three days the arrival
of Martins was noted at Pierce City, Mo.; Reeds, Mo.; St. Louis, -
Mo.; Glasgow, Mo.; Richmond, Kans.; Manhattan, Kans.; Shawnee-
town, Ill. (two observers); Paris, Il].; Peoria, Ill.; Tampico, Ill.; Chi-
cago, Ill.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Knoxville, Iowa; Iowa City, lowa, and
Unadilla, Nebr. <A slight pause followed (on April 2 and 3), but the on-
ward move began again April 4, and by April 5 Martins were reported
from Morning Sun, Iowa; Ferry, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; New-
ton, Iowa; Laporte City, Iowa; Waukon, Iowa; Rochester,
Minn.; Lake City, Minn.; Hastings, Minn.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Lake
Mills, Wis.; and New Richmond, Wis. The boundaries of this move-
ment are pretty clearly defined by the records. It was most pronounced
close to the Mississippi River, where it reached the farthest north. The
northern boundary of the area affected by this wave runs northwest-
ward from latitude 43° on Lake Michigan, to latitude 45° on the Mis-
sissippi River, and then southwestward to latitude 41° on the Missouri.
River. New Cassel and Green Bay, in central Wisconsin, were reached
April 9, but there was no record of a corresponding advance in the
Missouri Valley until April 20, when Huron, Dak., was reached. At
this time the Martins had passed up the Mississippi River to Minneap-
olis and Elk River, Minn., and on this day (April 20) three pairs ap-
peared at Detroit, Minn. No further advance was recorded for nearly
a month. Not until May 18 were any seen at Argusville, Dak. They
reached Oak Point, Manitoba, May 17. No material was received from
which the movements of the bulk could be learned. The full record
from Saint Louis, Mo., is as follows: |

March 30 the first, a male, arrived at 7.40 a. m.; at 8.14 a. m. two males passed
north; 9.25 a. m. another followed, and 5.30 p. m.a party of ten passed, going north.
_ March 31, an increase of summer sojourners; nine were seen at one time in the air;
the first female arrived, and two males selected the boxes which were to be their sam-
~ mer homes; April 1 three pairs and one male took boxes; April 2, further increase;
=“twelve Martins took boxes; April 7 the above number was increased to fourteen;
* April 14 twenty took boxes; April 15 twenty-four took boxes; April 20 thirty took
boxes; April 30 thirty-seven took boxes and nest-building began; May 13, young
. pairs (birds one year old) began nest-building; May 15, young pairs were still in-

creasing.

In the fall of 1885 great numbers of Martins were present at Saint Louis, Mo., Au-
‘gust 9 in the evening; they were also numerous August 12 and 13; August 14 their
“numbers had decreased only to be re-inforced August 17. The bulk had gone August
-26, and but few went to rvost. The last great wave of the migration passed during

September 8 and 9, and none were seen after September 11.

The remainder of the fall notes record the departure of the last from
-.Fernwood, Ill., August 29; Fayette, Mo., August 25; Mount Carmel,
_.Mo., August 9; Shawneetown, Ill, August 13; and from Bonham,
.;-Tex., August 20. It is probable that these early dates of leaving apply
to the summer residents, and that the observers were so situated that
they did not happen to note the last passing migrants.

227

_ 612. Petrochelidon lunifrons (Say). [153.] Cliff Swallow. ;
An abundant breeder over the whole of the Mississippi Valley and
Manitoba. Mr. Lloyd states that it breeds plentifully in Tom Green
and Concho Counties, Tex.; and Dr. Merrill states that it is an abun-
dant summer resident in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, in Texas, where
it is the only Swallow that remains to breed. To see these Swallows in
their glory, one should visit some of the great rivers of the western
plains. Professor Aughey tells us that he counted in one place 2,100
nests. Leaving the United States in winter, it does not re-appear as
soon as the White-bellied Swallow or the Purple Martin. In the spring
of 1884 it began to return about the middle of March, and was very
plentiful at Hagle Pass, Tex., March 27, whence it advanced rapidly to
about latitude 40°, and then came to a halt. One was seen at Saint
Louis April 15, and the species had already been noted from Burlington,
Towa, April 10. There is something singular about these records from
Burlington and Saint Louis. On three species of Swallows the record
at Burlington, though 150 miles farther north, was some days ahead of
that at Saint Louis. The White-bellied was seen at Burlington March
10, at Saint Louis March 24; the Barn Swallow at Burlington April
10, at Saint Louis April 16; the Cliff Swallow at Burlington April 10,
at Saint Louis April 15. After reaching Saint Louis and Burlington
there was a pause in the movements of the Cliff Swallow until April 25,
when it again started northward. By May 1 these Swallows were over
all the country south of latitude 45°; May 17 they reached Portage la
Prairie, Manitoba, and May 22 Oak Point, Manitoba. April 27 seems
to have been a special day of migration in the West. On this day the
species appeared over most of western Missouri and eastern Kansas.
At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was abundant in fall migration, the last leaving
October 9, but none had returned by April 7, though at that time the
Purple Martin had been there about a month. The Cliff Swallow rarely
breeds south of the parallel cf 38°, hence the following note from
Waverly, Miss. (lat. 33° 34’), is particularly interesting. April 10 a
pair of these Swallows appeared and soon commenced house-building.
Two broods were raised, and the nest, which was a great curiosity in
that country, is still preserved. They were also found nesting in May
at San Angelo, Tex. Had one seen the thousands and thousands of.
these birds which, one evening in the latter part of July, were resting
on a marsh near Red Rock, Ind. Ter., he would have been tempted to
believe that Professor Aughey’s two thousand nests had poured out
their entire contents on this particular place.

_ In the fall of 1884 the last Cliff Swallow was reported from Williams.
_ town, lowa, August 28, and from Unadilla, Nebr., September 5. The
bulk left Williamstown July 17.

In the spring of 1885 a comparison of the records of the Cliff and
White-bellied Swallows shows that these two species have been con-

Z founded by several of the observers east of the Mississippi River. The

228 cee

|

earliest record which really belongs to the Cliff Swallow is that of its
arrival, April 12, at Paris, Ill. A single bird was seen at Tampico;
Ill., April 18; and April 19 a few were noticed at a colony near Saint
Louis, Mo. April 20 and 21 they reached Aledo, Ill.; Richmond, Iowa;
Manhattan, Kans.; Clinton, Wis.; Lake Mills, Wis.; and New Cassel,
Wis. They reached Lanesboro, Minn., April 23, and Lake City, Minn.,
April 26. North of these places migration was greatly delayed, appar-
ently by the storms of the early part of May. Not until May 10 were
Cliff Swallows noted from Minneapolis, Minn., and they were not re-
ported from River Falls, Wis., until May 17. At Shell River, Mani-
toba, they arrived May 23.

In the fall of 1885 there was a great migration of Cliff Swallows past
Saint Louis, Mo., September 8 and 9, and they were still present in
numbers September 11. None were seen at Saint Louis after Septem-
ber 14, but one was observed at Grinnell, Iowa, September 16.

613. Chelidon erythrogaster (Bodd.). [154.] Barn Swallow.

A common summer resident throughout the Mississippi Valley, which
it enters from the south very early in the spring; tolerably common in
Manitoba. Mr. Lloyd states that in Tom Green and Concho counties,
Tex., it raises two broods. March 6, 1884, it was found building at
Eagle Pass, Tex. Farther east, and a little north (at Abbeville, La.),
it was not seen until March 27; at Gainesville, Tex., the first one came
April 1, and at Rodney, Miss., one was seen April4. On the same day
one appeared at Reeds, Mo. April 10 they were recorded at Fayette,
Mo., and Burlington, Iowa, but the birds seen must have been strag-
glers, for none were reported from the neighboring stations till some
time later. —

Seven reports were received from Iowa in addition to that from Bur-
lington, and all but one put the date of arrival later than May 1—most
of them in the first week of May—while the records from northern Illi-
nois and southern Wisconsin were all in April, from the 21st to the
27th. At Pine Bend, Minn., the first came May 2, and at Menoken,
Dak., May 12. It must be confessed that this record looks rather mixed,
and yet it is hardly to be wondered at when we consider the remark-
able power of flight of the Swallow. Distance is nothing to it, and
favorable atmospheric conditions for a few hours only might bring cer-
tain individuals north far beyond their fellows. At Saint Louis, Mo.,
Mr. Widmann found old pairs at their breeding places April 28, but
the new pairs came and selected breeding places in May, even as late
as May 22.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Barn Swallows left Williamstown, Iowa,
August 28, and the last was seen September 9. The bulk left Mount
Carmel, Mo., August 26, and the last was seen there September 6.

In the spring of 1885 the records of this species extended from March
1, when it reached Eagle Pass, Tex., to May 30, when it was reported
from Ossowo, Manitoba. Hence it was ninety-one days in traversing

229

1,500 miles. At intermediate points it was noted at Emporia, Kans.,
April 11; Richmond, Kans., April 15; Unadilla, Nebr., April 28, and
Menoken, Dak., May 13. Nearer the Mississippi River it was seen at
Abbeville, La., March 15; Pierce City, Mo., April 9; Saint Louis, Mo.,
April 11; Paris, Ill, April 12; Hennepin, Ill., April 17; the southern
edge of Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and the southern edge of lowa,
April 19; central lowa April 22 and 23; central Wisconsin April 29;
but no part of Minnesota was reached until after the cold wave had left,
about the middle of May. In the fall of 1885, at Milwaukee, Wis., the
jast Barn Swallow was seen August 31. Great numbers passed Saint
Louis, Mo., September 8 and 9, and the last disappeared September 14.

The note which I put into the Ornithologist and Oologist for April,
1884, page 37, concerning the commonness of this species during the
winter in southern Louisiana, was not correct. Mr. Edwards, of Abbe-
ville, La., informs me that it is seldom found there in winter, unless per-
haps when a long period of warm weather occurs, which happens some-
times in December. But, however that may be, it enters the United
States very early.

614. Tachycineta bicolor (Vieill.). [155.] White-bellied Swallow.

Breeds abundantly in Manitoba and most parts of the Mississippi
Valley. This is the only swallow which winters regularly and abun-
-dantly in the United States. From its winter quarters in the Southern
States it spreads north the earliest of its tribe. Indeed, so early is its
migration that it is often overtaken by snow-storms, before which
it usually retreats, though sometimes it remains to brave the elements.
At Gainesville, Tex., in the spring of 1884 it did not arrive until April
30, though in former years it has been known to come by March 3.
Nearer the Mississippi River, migration must have started early in
March, probably when the warm wave set in, March 8and March 9. A
single bird was seen at Burlington, Iowa, March 10, but the regular
advance occurred about two weeks later. If records of first arrivals
are to be relied upon they show that the migration of this swallow took
place much earlier east of the Mississippi than west of it. In Illinois
and Wisconsin the records of “firsts” were: At Tampico and Chicago,
il., March 24 and 26; at Lake Mills, Wis., April4; and at West
DePere and Green Bay, Wis., April 6. West of the Mississippi the
first was reported from Coralville, lowa, April 19, and Lanesboro, Minn.,
April 27. Two days later the first came in hundreds to Heron Lake,
Minn., when the sun shone in the afternoon after a cold rainy forenoon.
The first reached Pine Bend, Minn., May 2, and Frazee City, Minn.,
May 26. Stillfarther west migration was earlier than along the central
ling. At Argusville, Dak., it was seen May 5; and at Oak Point,
Manitoba, May 3.

In the spring of 1855 the same warm wave which brought the Mar-
tins to the Usper Mississippi Valley induced many White-bellied Swal-
lows to visit Missouri and [linois. During the last two days of March

230

and the Ist day of April they appeared at Saint Louis, Mo., Paris, I1.,
and Fernwood, Ill. April 4 they were seen at Milwaukee, Wis.; April
5 at Green Bay, Wis.; April 7 at Lanesboro, Minn.; April 11 at Miane-
apolis, Minn., and April 28 at Oak Point, Manitoba. At Saint Louis,
Mo., the last one was seen April 29; at Mount Carmel, Mo., May 2; and
at Des Moines, Iowa, May 8. Some very late birds were recorded at
Bonham, Tex., May 6, and at Gainesville, Tex., May 12.

In the fall of 1885, at Saint Louis, Mo., the first returned September
8; many passed October 5; they were oe numerous October 9; and
left October 26. They had loft Grinnell, Iowa, September 16. Referring
to these Swallows, Dr. Coues says: ‘‘ They breed independently of lati-
tude, some on the highlands of Mexico, and anywhere in the West; but
in the East their usual breeding range is said to be north of the paral-
lel of 38°” (Birds of the Colorado Valley, 1878, p. 415).

615. Tachycineta thalassina (Swains.). [156.] Violet-green Swallow.

The Violet-green Swallow can hardly claim a place among Mississippi
Valley birds. It breeds, however, in western Nebraska, and Dr. Agers-
borg writes that he has taken it as an accidental visitant in southeast-
ern Dakota. Mr. Lloyd states that it is a fall migrant in Concho County,
Tex. Dr. Hatch includes it in his list of Minnesota birds. It winters
beyond our borders, and passes northward to British America.

616. Clivicola riparia (Linn.). [157.] Bank Swallow.

An abundant summer resident throughout the district, from Mani-
toba southward. A few spend the winter along our southern border,
but the great bulk pass further south—some even to Brazil. In Con-
cho County, Tex., they are arare fall migrant. They re-enter the United
States quite early, but in 1884 none were reported until March 11,
on which day they appeared at latitude 31° 52’ and latitude 33° 34’,
in Mississippi. The records of the advance were not very regular, as
the birds would rarely be seen unless their colonies were visited. About
all that can be said from the notes is that during the last week of April
they spread over the country from latitude 39° to latitude 44° 30’.

In the spring of 1885 the records of the Bank Swallow were even
more irregular than in 1884. The earliest report was from Corinth,
Miss., March 31; the latest from Shell River, Manitoba, April 30.

In the fall of 1885 the last left Milwaukee, Wis., August 14. Many
were migrating at Saint Louis, Mo., August 12 and August 20. August
24 was a day of great migration at Saint Louis, and the last was seen
there September 9.

617. Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Aud.). [158.] Jiough-winged Swallow.

This swallow breeds over most of the Mississippi Valley, even north
to Minnesota, but is most abundant in the Southern States. Jew ob-
servers, however, are able to distinguish it from the Bank Swallow;
hence notes on it are few, and are confined to the notice of its arrival

231

z on the same day, April 15, at Saint Louis, Mo., and Manhattan, Kans.;

-. and its appearance the next week at Des Moines, Iowa, and Lanesboro,

Minn. At Saint Louis it was sitting on eggs May 16.

In the fall of 1884 the last Rough-winged Swallow was. seen at Des
Moines, Iowa, August 19.

In the spring of 1885 the first was seen at Manhattan, Kans., April
11, and the next April 22. It arrived at Saint Louis, Mo., April 14;
- but at Des Moines, lowa, none were seen till April 24. It reached
_ Lanesboro, Minn., April 21; and Lake City, Minn., April 25. A nest
was found at Manhattan, Kans., May 13.

In the fall of 1885 it was last seen at Saint Louis, Mo., September 30.

618. Ampelis garrulus Linn. [150.] Bohemian Waxwing; Northern Waxwing.

We must look to the northern observers for notes on this species.
From its summer home in British America it wanders south in winter
over Manitoba and the Northern States. Any regular study of its mi-
gration is difficult because of the i--egularity of its movements, which
‘seem to depend in part on the food supply. The most southern locality
at which it was seen in the winter of 1883-’84 was Ames, Iowa, where
it was noted during November and December. it has been known in
previous years to reach Kansas and Illinois, and in the Rocky Mount-

- aing has occurred south to latitude 35°. It was seen at Vermillion,

Dak., February 26, 1884; at Waukon, Iowa, in January; at Milwau-
kee; Wis., all through the winter to March 26; at West De Pere, Wis.,
April 8; and at Red Wing, Minn., the last had not left April 1. 3

In the spring of 1885 a few records were contributed of the presence
of this wanderer in the northern Mississippi Valley. They are as fol-
lows: Laporte City, Iowa, January 29; Vermillion, Dak., hundreds of
them March 7; Minneapolis, Minn., March 4 and 9; and Elk River,
Minn., February. 24.

619. Ampelis cedrorum (Vieill.). [151.] Cedar Bird; Cedar Waxwing.

The Cedar Bird is an abundant summer resident in Manitoba and
over much of the Mississippi Valley. It is another irregular wanderer
whose migratory movements can not yet be traced with accuracy. At
any particular place in the Mississippi Valley it may or may not
winter. Some idea of the irregularity of its movements can be obtained
from the records of its appearance in 1884 at different points between
the parallels of latitude 40° and 42°. It was first seen at Fayette,
Mo., February 2; at Danville, Ill, June 3; at Rockford, Ul, April
18; at Chicago, Ill., March 31. The bulk arrived at Burlington, Iowa,
April 20; and the last left Lowa City, Iowa, April 24. Dr. Agers-
borg saw a flock at Vermillion, Dak., during January, and Mr. Lloyd
tells us that the Nueces Cation in southwestern Texas is the winter
home of countless myriads; these two wintering places are over a thou-
sand miles apart. Towards the northern portion of its range the spe-

232

cies is not so common, but it goes far north, even to latitude 549°. At
Oak Point, Manitoba (lat. 50° 30’ N.) it was first seen May 5. One
of the most peculiar characteristics of the species is the late date at
which it begins nest building. Asif enjoying its Bohemian life, and
disinclined to settle down in one place, it loiters around and puts off its
house-keeping affairs until the last moment. It does not even mate, but
lives in flocks, a happy, careless wanderer, until the hot days of the first
half of June warn it that there are other duties to which it must give
its attention.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Cedar Birds left Williamstown, Iowa,
September 15, and the last was seen there September 30. At Des
Moines, Iowa, the bulk and last were seen October 25.

In the spring of 1885, after learning that this bird had been common
at Elk River, Minn., since January 15, it was discouraging to find its
arrival noted a thousand miles farther south in May.

620. Phainopepla nitens (Swains.). [26.] Phainopepla.

An inhabitant of the arid region of Mexico, and contiguous poxtions
of the United States, from western Texas to southern California. If
has been taken at Eagle Pass, Tex.

621. Lanius borealis Vieill. [148.} Great Northern Shrike.

A winter visitant from the north: in Manitoba a spring and fall mi-
grant.

This bird was reported present as usual during the winter of 1883~84
over all of the northern half of the Mississippi Valley, down to latitude
39°. Thelast one at Manhattan, Kans., was seen at the rather late date
of March 29. At Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, it was said not to have
been seen until spring, and the first was recorded April 11, but was
heard of two weeks before.

In the fall of 1884 the first Great Northern Shrikes were reported
from Des Moines, Iowa, and Emporia, Kans., November 8.

In the spring of 1835 the notes received indicate no regularity in its
movements. At Manhattan, Kans., the first and last were reported
February 21, and at Grinnell, Iowa, March 31. At Chicago, Hl, the
first was seen February 8, and the next, March 13. It arrived at Shell
River, Manitoba, March 14.

In the fall of 1885 the first migrant was reported from Milwaukee,
Wis., October 31, and from Grinnell, lowa, October 20.

622. Lanius ludovicianus Linn. [149.] Loggerhead Shrike.

The true home of this species is in the southern Atlantic States, from
which it pushes west and northwest to a greater or less degree. It is
common and resident, according to Mr. Lloyd, at San Angelo, Tex.
in the spring of 1884 I shot a true Loggerherd at Caddo, Ind. Ter.,
where the White-rumped is the common form; and at Saint Leuis, Mo.,

233

Mr. Widmann gives it as the prevailing form, the White-rump rarely
occurring. The full record at Saint Louis is as follows:

First seen January 31, and again February 2; the bulk did not arrive until March
22, and the next day they began mating. Three nests were found April 11, and on May
31 young birds were flying around, led by their parents, which seemed to have under-
gone a bleaching process, looking much lighter than two months before.”
622a. Laniusludovicianusexcubitorides (Swains.). [149a.] White-rumped Shrike.

This is the common Shrike of the Mississippi Valley. It breeds abun-
dantly in western Manitoba, and is resident in the southern part of its
range, but retires in winter from the northern portion. At Caddo, Ind.
Ter., it is a common summer resident, and many remain through the
winter. In western Texas it isan abundant resident. No special migra-
tory movement was observed south of the middle districts. It was
recorded as reaching central Iowa March 24, and the vicinity of Minne-
apolis, Minn., March 31. Mr. 8. W. Willard did not find it at West De
Pere, Wis., until April4. The limit of its northern range is in the neigh-
borhood of latitude 54°.

In the spring of 1885 the White-rumped Shrike was seen at Chicago,
Il]., March 3; and the same species came to Clinton, Wis., April 4;
Grinnell, lowa, April5; Lake City, Minn., April 4, and New Richmond,
Wis., April11. Mr. Lloyd says of its habits in western Texas:

It lives on grasshoppers when it can procure them, and in winter, when the
weather is severe, takes to carrion. I found one in January, 1884, so gorged from
feeding on a dead sheep that it could not fly. In the Davis Mountains it lives in
winter on large coleoptera. In spring it occasionally kills birds. I have seen Spiz-
ella socialis arizone, Vireo belli, Polioptila cerulea, and others amongst its victims,
and in summer it has a fancy for nestlings. It is usually very tame. (The Auk,
Vol. IV, 1887, p. 295.)

624. Vireo olivaceus (Linn.), [135.] ed-eyed Vireo.

Breeds throughout Manitoba and the Mississippi Valley, after win-
tering below our southern border, which, in 1884, it crossed late in
March, appearing at Gainesville, Tex., April 5. It was recorded from
Saint Louis April 26; from latitude 39° 12’, in Kansas, April 30; and
latitude 40° 8’, in Illinois, May 1. A week later, May 8, it was noted
from latitude 40° 50’, in Iowa. It reached Waukon, Iowa, (lat. 43° 15’)
May 18, and the next night several were killed by the electric light at

La Crosse, Wis. (lat. 43° 45’). The bulk was noted from latitude 43° 43’,

in Minnesota, May 25, after the first had come to latitude 44° 26’, in
Wisconsin, May 21.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Red-eyed Vireos left Williamstown,
Iowa, August 28, and none were seen afterward.

In the spring of 1885 the first was seen at San Angelo, Tex., April
9; at Gainesville, Tex., April 17, and at Manhattan, Kans., April 29.
Eastward it came to Saint Louis and Mount Carmel, Mo., April 21, and
the next was seen at, each of these places April 24. At Paris, IIL, it was
reported April 28; Newton, Iowa, May 1; Waukon, Iowa, May 13;
Lanesboro, Minn., May 14, and New Richmond, Wis., May 23.

234
In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Grinnell, Iowa, September 9.
Many were present at Saint Louis, Mo., September 21, and the last was

seen there October 10. Mr. Lloyd says it is an abundant summer resi-
dent in Tom Green County, Tex.

625. Vireo flavoviridis (Cass.). [136.] Yellow-green Vireo.

A bird of Mexico and Central America, coming north to the Lower
Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where a single specimen was taken by
Dr. Merrill, August 23, 1877.

626. Vireo philadelphicus (Cass.). [138.] Philadelphia Vireo.

This is not a common species in the Mississippi Valley, though ap-
parently more common here than in the Eastern States. Littleis known
of its breeding range. A nest was found near Duck Mountain, Mani-
toba, June 9, 1884, by Mr. Ernest E. Thompson (Auk, Vol. II, 1885,
pp. 305, 306). In 1884 it was noted by two observers only—one at
Chicago, May 21, the other at Lanesboro, Minn., May 20. It has not
yet been taken in Kansas.

In the spring of 1885 the first Philadelphia Vireo reached Saint Louis
May 8. The first record from Des Moines, Iowa, was May 14, and the
last was seen there May 20. At Lanesboro, Minn., the first was seen
May 18.

In the fall of 1885 the first migrant returned to Saint Louis Septem- -
ber 21, and the last was seen there September 27.

627. Vireo gilvus. (Vieill.). [139]. Warbling Vireo.

Common in Manitoba and throughout the Mississippi Valley; breeds
throughout its range, and winters beyond our southern border. Inthe
spring of 1884 it arrived at Sait Louis April 19, and the bulk came
April 29. At this latter date the first came to Manhattan, Kans., fol-
lowed the next day by the bulk. This day (April 30) also brought the
first to Coralville, Iowa, though few were seen until May 3. At Wau-
kon, Iowa, the first was recorded May 10, and the bulk May 18. The
first was seen at Lanesboro, Minn., May 18. They had previously been
noted (May 3) from Danville, Ill., and (May 11) West De Pere, Wis.
At San Angelo, Tex., May 5, 1884, Mr. Lloyd took two males, which
pertain to the form then known as V. swainsoni, but which is now con- ~
sidered to be not distinct from the eastern V. gilvus.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Warbling Vireos left Williamstown,
Iowa, August 8, and none were seen after that date.

In the spring of 1885, at Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen April
22, and the bulk of males arrived next day. Their migration north of
Saint Louis was not quite so rapid. The first came to Manhattan,
Kans., April 27; to Paris, Il., April 28; Hennepin, Il., May 1; Waukon,
Iowa, May 13; Lanesboro, Minn., May 15, and Heron Lake, Minn.,
May 19.

in the fall of 1885 none were seen at Saint Louis, Mo., after Septem-
ber 22,

235

628. Vireo flavifrons Vieill. [140.] Yellow-throated Vireo.

In summer this Vireo is dispersed throughout the Mississippi Valley,
but it is rare in Manitoba. In winter it is not found north of Florida.
In 1884 it must have crossed our border very early, as it appeared at
Gainesville, Tex., March 6. Saint Louis was reached April 17. At
Manhattan, Kans., where it is rare, it was seen May 3; at La Porte
City and Waukon, in Iowa, May 5; and Lanesboro, Minn., May 10. It
was first seen at West Depere, Wis., May 7.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Yellow-throated Vireos left Williams-
town, Iowa, August 11, and none were seen there after that date. At
Mount Carmel, Mo., the last was seen September 21.

In the spring of 1885 the first came to Gainesville, Tex., April 6, and
they were commom there April17. At Saint Louis, Mo., they appeared
April 20, They were seen at Chicago, Ill., April 21; at Manhattan,
Kans., April 22; Mount Carmel, Mo., April 23; Rockford, Ill., May 9;
Iowa City, Iowa, May 10; Waukon, Iowa, May 10; and Durand, Wis.,
May 10.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Grinnell, lowa, September 10;
at Mount Carmel, Mo., September 20; and at Saint Louis, where they
were numerous September 26, the last was seen October 12,

629. Vireo solitarius (Wils.). [141.}] Bluwe-headed Vireo.

This Vireo winters below our southern border, and breeds principally
in Manitoba and the Northern States, occasionally as far south as the
40th parallel, and in a few rare instances still farther south.

In 1884 it was reported from Saint Louis April 29; and from no other
station previous to May 10, but on that day it appeared simultaneously
at Burlington and Des Moines, Iowa, and at Minneapolis and Elk River,
Minn. This same day the last one was seen at Saint Louis, making its
stay there only eleven days; so that not only did the van move rapidly,
but the species as a whole must be one of the most rapid migrants in
the Mississippi Valley.

In 1883, when calculating the average speed of migration for more than
a ended Species, it was found that the Solitary Vireo had the highest
rate. It seemed to advance all at once, and its rate of speed was esti-
mated at more than 80 miles a day. In 1884 its rate seemed to have
been much the same.

In the spring of 1885 the record of the migration of the Solitary Vireo
was So irregular that, while its character as a rapid migrant was main-
tained, no average rate of speed can be calculated from it. The whole
record received is as follows: At Mount Carmel, Mo., and La Porte
City, Iowa, the first were noted April26; Paris, Ill., April 28; Saint
Louis, Mo., Apri! 30; Waukon, [owa, May 35 nares Wis., May 7,
and paneer) Minn. , May 7.

The record of «Jasts ” was still more irregular. Itis as follows: La
Porte City, Iowa, April 27; Mount Carmel, Mo., May 3; Des Moines,
Iowa, May 8; Saint Louis, Mo., May 13; Waukon, Iowa, May 15.

236

In the fall of 1885 the first came to Emporia, Kans., September 17,
and to Saint Louis, Mo., September 25. None were seer at Des Moines,
Towa, after September 16, nor at Saint Louis, Mo., after October 3,

630. Vireo atricapillus Woodh. [142.] Black-capped Vireo.

When Coues’s Birds of the Colorado Valley was published, in 1878,
but four specimens of this Vireo were known, and its easternmost record
was western Texas. Mr. Ragsdale has extended its range and brought
it fairly within our district by procuring specimens in Bandera County,
Tex., where it arrived March 19; and, later, by finding it near the
northern boundary of Texas, in Cook County, where he has determined
it to bea rare summer visitant. In 1884 he shot but one specimen. At
Boerne, Tex., Mr. Brown took it March 27, 1880. At San Angelo, Tex.,
Mr. Lloyd was more fortunate, securing four of the eight or ten birds
which hesaw. There, also, it is a Summer resident, occurring along the
borders of the densest thickets in an unfrequented part of the county.
Mr. Lloyd afterwards took several of its nests in Tom Green County.
Recently, Colonel Goss has found it breeding plentifully in Comanche
County, Kans.

In the fall of 1884 the last male Black-capped Vireo was reported
from San Angelo, Tex., September 25; while the last female was seen
there September 6.

In the spring of 1885 a pair was seen at San Angelo April 6, and they
had become common there by April 9. At Gainesville, Tex., the first
was seen April 17.

In the fall of 1885 they were leaving San Angelo September 16.

631. Vireo noveboracensis (Gmel.). [143.] While-eyed Vireo.

Breeds throughout most of the Mississippi Valley, south of Minne-
sota, occasionally reaching westward to the eastern foot-hills of the
Rocky Mountains. ‘

In Kansas it is a common summer resident. In the valley of the
Lower Rio Grande, in Texas, it is a permanent resident (Merrill). The
winter home of this species extends from the Southern States southward.
[In the spring of 1884 its northward migration began the latter part of
March, and it arrived at Gainesville, Tex., just beyond its winter home,
March 24. The next day three were shot and two were heard at Cad-
do, Ind. Ter. It was reported at Saint Louis, April 17; at Danville,
Mll., April 27; at lowa City, Iowa, April 30; and on May 26, probably
many days after it had arrived in that latitude, it was seen at Heron
Lake, Minn., which is near its northern limit.

In the spring of 1885 the first White-eyed Vireo appeared at Gaines-
ville, Tex., March 23; at Corinth, Miss., April 7; and at Saint Louis,
Mo., and Grinnell, Iowa, April 20. At Paris, Ill., the first was not
seen until April 28, and at Pierce City, Mo., not until May 8. It be-
came common at Gainesville, March 31; at Corinth, April 15; and at
Saint Louis, April 23.

X i end ie | eee

237

Mr. Lloyd says it is a fall migrant in western Texas.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Grinnell, lowa, September 28
At Saint Louis the bulk was present September 25; the bulk departed
September 29, and the last was seen October 14.

632a. Vireo huttoni stephensi Brewst. [——.] Stephen’s Vireo.

The known habitat of this western subspecies is in Arizona, western
Mexico, and Lower California. Its presence in our district has been
ascertained by Mr. Lloyd, who took half a dozen specimens at Fort
Davis, Tex., where it was rare in the winter of 188586. The specimens
were identified by Mr. Ridgway.

633. Vireo belli; Aud. [145.] Bell's Vireo.

Though a bird of the western United States, Bell’s Vireo comes east-
ward far enough to invade much of the Mississippi Valley. It has been
found breeding in Illinois, and extends north to Minnesota and Dakota.
Irom Kansas to southeastern Texas it is an abundant summer resident.
Its winter home appears to be in the Southwest, and the birds which
spend the summer in the region along the Mississippi probably reach it
by a northeast and eastward migration. It was found in central and
northern Texas during the middle of April, and was reported as very
common at San Angelo, Tex. The last of April and the 1st of May it
was reported from southern and east-central Missouri, and the middle
of May from central Iowa. By May 11 it had arrived at Saint Louis in
full numbers and was at its breeding places. At the same time the
bulk arrived at Manhattan, Kans., where the first was seen April 27.
At this point it is very abundant, being the characteristic summer
Vireo, and many nests are taken annually. At San Angelo, Tex., the
species breeds from May 1 to July 3, and Mr. Lloyd has taken clutches
of five, six, seven, and two of eight eggs each.

In the fall of 1884 the last Bell’s Vireo was seen at Mount Carmel,
Mo., August 27.

In the spring of 1885 Bell’s Vireo was one of the few species the rec-
ord of whose migration in Texas was regular. It was seen at San An-
tonio, April7; San Angelo, April16; and Gainesville, April 23. It
reached Manhattan, Kans., and Paris, Ill., April 28, and Saint Louis,
Mo., April 29. At Hennepin, Ill., one was seen May 3; and at Grin- -
nell, Iowa, May 14. The bulk arrived at Saint Louis May 3.

In the fall of 1885 the dates of departure of this species from Grin-
nell, lowa, Mount Carmel, Mo., and Saint Louis, Mo., fell within the
five days from August 27 to September 1.

634. Vireo vicinior Coues. [147.] Gray Vireo.

The home of this Vireo is in western Texas, and thence westward to
southern California.
636. Mniotilta varia (Linn.). [74.] Black and White Creeper.

With this species we take up a group of strictly migratory birds, the
greater number of which migrate so late that their tiny forms can hardly

be seen amid the thick foliage. Moreover, the number of different spe-
cies is So great, and the variations of plumage so endless, that the young
student of ornithology is bewildered, and for the first year is 7ompelled
to leave the subject with the single note, “ great numbers of Warblers
came last night, and to-day the woods are full of them.” The Black
and White Creeper is one of the best known of these Warblers, and one
of the few which breed throughout the whole Mississippi Valley and
Manitoba. .

Forsaking this district in winter, it returns late in February or early
in March. In thespring of 1884 they arrived at both Manhattan, Kans.,
and Saint Louis, Mo., April 17—a thing which seldom happens, as West-
ern birds are usually later than Eastern. After a pause of a few days,
they advanced rapidly on April 27 and April 28 to latitude 42°. May
1 found them at latitude 44°, and May 10 at latitude 47° 30’. The
bulk followed some ten or twelve days in the rear. This species has
not yet been traced west to the Rocky Mountains, but it has been found
in Texas as far west as San Angelo, and it was seen April 9 at Gaines-
ville, Tex. ;

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Black and White Creepers ieft Will-
iamstown, Iowa, August 22, and the last September 5. The bulk left
Mount Carmel, Mo., August 25, and the last September 11. At San
Angelo, Tex., the last was seen September 23.

In the spring of 1885 the notes on the Black and White Creeper in-
dicate that it moved earlier in the western part of the district than in
he eastern, or else that it was confounded with some other bird. The
first was recorded at Gainesville, Tex., March 31, and the remark was
made that this date was ten days later than the earliest record of pre-
vious years. It was reported from Corinth, Miss., April 7. The next
note came from Manhattan, Kans., where it was reported April lo. At
Mount Carmel, Mo., it was seen April 18. During the three days from
April 21 to April 23 it was seen at Saint Louis, Mo.; Paris, Ill.; Chi-
cago, Ill.; Fernwood, Ill.; Des Moines, Iowa; Waukon, Iowa, and
Lanesboro, Minn. At Chicago they were marked common April 21.
After a long pause they advanced to Ripon, Wis., May 5, and were
noted from New Richmond, Wis., May 10. One was seen at White
arth, Minn., May 16.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., September
25. It disappeared from River Falls, Wis., September 15. The first
appeared at San Angelo, Tex., September 3.

637. Protonotaria citrea (Bodd.). [75.] Prothonotary Warbler.

Winters beyond our southern border, and advances in spring regu-
larly to southern Indiana, Illinois, lowa, and Nebraska, and occasion-
ally a littie farther, breeding throughout its United States range.

August 16, 1874, Dr. Hvoslef shot a Prothonotary Warbler in west-
ern Wisconsin, opposite the mouth of the Root River. The most north-
ern record of its occurrence is that of F. L. Grundtvig, who procured a

Lear

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239

handsome male at Shiocton, Outagamie County, Wis., May 4, 1882. In
eastern Kansas it is a common summer resident (Goss).

Its earliest record in the spring of 1884 came from Rodney, Miss.,
where it was first seen April 13. [ive days later it was reported from
Saint Louis. Hence it is probable that it really reached Rodney sev-
eral days previous to the 13th. It was seen at Burlington, Iowa, May
3; north of that no dates of arrival were recorded. At Manhattan,
Kans., near the limit of its western range, it was much later in its
movement, not being seen until. May 14. Nor was it reported from
Gainesville, Tex., until May 12, though of course if arrived much
earlier. 3

The Prothonotary Warbler was found as an abundant summer resi- .
dent at Red Rock, Ind. Ter., in 1884.

In the spring of 1885, Gainesville, Tex., was the first station to re-
port its presence. It arrived there April17. Three days later it ap-
peared at Saint Louis, Mo., and April 21 it was seen at Paris, Ul. The
bulk reached Saint Louis April 29.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Bonham, Tex., August 10.

638. Helinaia swainsonii Aud. [76.] Swainson’s Warbler.

A Southern species, until recently one of the rarest of North Ameri-
can birds. It has been taken in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
Louisiana, and Texas, and winters in Cuba and Jamaica. In the spring
of 1886 ‘about three dozen” Swainson’s Warblers were shot near Lake
Pontchartrain, Louisiana, by Mr. Charles 8. Galbraith (Lawrence, The
Auk, Vol. IV, 1887, p. 37). In the spring of 1887 nine additional speci-
mens were secured in the same locality (Ibid., p. 63). Mr. C. W. Beck-
ham considers the bird a common summer resident at Bayou Sara, La.
(Lbid., pp. 304, 305). The only Texas record is that of a specimen
killed in Navarro County, in the east-central part of the State, by Mr. J.
Douglas Ogilby, and recorded by Mr. Ridgway (Bull. Nutt. Ornith.
Club, Vol. VI, 1881, pp. 54, 55).

639. Helmitherus vermivorus (Gmel.). [77.] Worm-eating Warbler.

Winters south of our district and breeds throughout its United States ~
range, which extends in summer to Illinois and Nebraska. Rare in
Kansas (Goss) and in southeastern Texas (Nebrling).

The only note on this species contributed in the spring of 1884 is to
the effect that the first was seen at Saint Louis April, 29.

In the spring of 1885 the Worm-eating Warbler first appeared at
Pierce City, Mo., May 9, and at Saint Louis, May 4. At Mount Carmel,
Mo., the first was reported May 20, and at Paris, Ill, May 3. At Mount
Carmel the last was seen May 24.

640. Helminthophila bachmani (Aud.). [78.] Bachman’s Warbler.
This rare and much-sought-after Warbler occurs in the South At-
lantic and Gulf States from South Carolina to Louisiana. In winter it

* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, vol. viii, April, 1883, p. 68.

240 5 "

has been found in western Cuba. Until very recently (the spring of
1886) more than half a century had elapsed since the publication of
any positive record of its capture in the United States. In the spring
of 1886 a single specimen was shot at Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, by
Charles S. Galbraith, a collector of birds for millinery purposes. For-
tunately it was given to the veteran ornithologist Mr. George N. Law-
rence, who promptly recorded the fact in the Auk (Auk, Vol. IV, 1887,
pp. 35-37.) This was followed by a notice of a specimen which killed
itself against the light-houseat Sombrero Key, Florida, March 21, 1887
(Merriam, Jbid., p. 262), and by a second article by Mr. Lawrence, re-
cording the capture of six additional specimens at Lake Pontchartrain
by Mr. Galbraith. All were killed in the spring of 1887, but the only
exact date given is March 29, when one of the males was shot (Lbid.,
pp. 262-263.) In March, 1888, Mr. Galbraith collected thirty-two speci-
mens on the borders of Lake Pontchartain, La. He considers them mi-
grants and not summer residents, as no specimens were seen after the
latter part of March, although they were diligently sought for up
to the middle of April (Ibid., Vol. V, p. 323.) ‘

641. Helminthophila pinus (Linn.). [79.] Blue-winged Yellow Warbler.

A tolerably common summer resident over most of the Mississippi
Valley except the extreme northern portion. When this beautiful
Warbler entered the United States in 1884 and 1885, or how fast it
journeyed northward, the record does not tell. All the notes came from
the middle district where it is nearly at the limit of its northward range.
It is not yet known from northern Illinois, and the most northern rec-
ord in that state in 1884 was from Carlinville, where it arrived April
30. West of the Mississippi, its northward extension is greater. The
first reached Saint Louis, Mo., April 24; the bulk April 30; and migra-
ting individuals were still passing May 5. It reached latitude 42° May
3. North of this there was no record in 1884, but the species is not
uncommon in southern Minnesota. The most western record came
from Ellis, Kans.

In the fall of 1884 the Blue-winged Yellow Warbler was last seen
at Des Moines, Iowa, August 29.

In the spring of 1885 no records were received of its movements until
it reached Saint Louis, Mo., April 21. Two days later it was seen at
Mount Carmel, Mo. It arrived at Emporia, Kans., April 28, and at
Peoria, Ill., April 29. It was seen at Des Moines, lowa, May 4; at
Iowa City, lowa, May 8. Two records were received of its appearance
May 7 at points near the extreme northern limit of its range. Dr.
Hvoslef secured it for the first time at Lanesboro, Minn., and a few miles
farther east, at La Crosse, Wis., Mr. C. H. Stoddard obtained a speci-
men. ‘This is the first Wisconsin record from any of the observers.

642. Helminthophila chrysoptera (Linn.). [81.] Golden-winged Warbler.

This handsome Warbler breeds in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michi-
gan.. The record of its northward migration in 1854 began at latitude

e
,

a eS a ss re
1

241

37° April 25, and ended at latitude 45° May 14. Dr. Coues says it
breeds throughout its United States range, but Mr. Ridgway says it
does not breed in southern Illinois, and Mr. Widmann noted the last
at Saint Louis, May 11. In southeastern Texas it is common during
the migrations (Nehrling.) Its dispersion in the west is limited. It
has been found a few times in Nebraska, but it is “‘not yet authentic as
a bird of Kansas.”

In the fall of 1884 the Golden-winged Warbler was last seen at Mount
Carmel, Mo., August 24.

In the spring of 1885 the record at Saint Louis was as follows: First,
April 28; bulk arrived May 4; bulk departed May 14; and last, May
22. At Iowa City, lowa, the first was reported May 17; at Fernwood,
Ill, May 18; at Chicago, Ill., May 9; and Durand, Wis., May 17. Dr.
P. R. Hoy has taken two nests at Racine, Wis.

645. Helminthophila ruficapilla (Wils.). [85.] Nashville Warbler.

Although more properly a bird of the east, this Warbler is found in
migration throughout the Mississippi Valley. It breeds from northern
Illinois and Nebraska northward, but is rare in Manitoba. In winter
it is not found within our borders. ‘The earliest record in the spring of
1884 came from Gainesville, Tex., where the first arrival was noted
March 19. This was followed by a long interval without a record, and
the next note came from Saint Louis, the first male arriving there
April 29. The rest of the Saint Louis record is that the bulk arrived

- from April 30 to May 3; bulk left May 12, and the last was seen May

17. Before this, on May 8, it had advanced to latitude 43° 15’ in Iowa;
and May 10 to latitude 44° 26’ in Wisconsin. Many were seen at Lanes-
boro, Minn., May 13.

In the spring of 1885, as in 1884, the earliest record of the migration
of the Nashville Warbler came from Gainesville, Tex., where the first
was seen April 18. This is almost a month later than its arrival at the
same place in 1884. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen April 20,
and the bulk arrived there April 30. On May 6 and 7, Nashville War-
blers were seen at Lanesboro, Minn., Durand, Wis., and River Falls,
Wis. The bulk left Saint Louis May 14, and the last May 22. None
were noted at Waukon, Iowa, after May 19.

In the fall of 1885 the Nashville Warbler was one of several species
of Warblers which appeared very early at San Angelo, Tex. Both this
and the Canadian Flycatching Warbler were seen there before they ap-
peared at Saint Louis, Mo., more than five hundred miles to the north-
eastward. Unless these instances are purely accidental, they would
indicate a breeding range in the Rocky Mountains much farther south
than its breeding range near the Mississippi River. ‘The first was shot
at San Angelo, Tex., September 13, but it was not seen at Saint Louis
till September 17. Many birds in high plumage were present at Saint
Louis, September 22, and the species continued in great numbers until
October 10, when it suddenly disappeared. The last was seen October

1365—Bull 2——16 ;

—
t

242

12, At Emporia, Kans., the first was noticed October 6, and at Gaines- |
ville, Tex., October 11. |

645 a. Helminthophila ruficapilla gutturalis Ridgw. [85, part.] Calaveras
Warbler.

The western United States, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pa-
cific, is the habitat assigned to this sub-species by the A. O. U. Cheek
List. Its known range has been extended lately by Mr. William Lloyd,
who took it in Concho County, Tex., where it is an abundant fall mi-
grant. The specimens were identified by Mr. Ridgway.

646. Helminthophila celata. (Sav). [86.] Orange-crowned Warbler.

The Orange-crowned Warbler breeds north of the United States and
_winters.in the South Atlantic and Gulf States and in eastern Mexico,
It is not a very noticeable Warbler, but seems to occur abundantly at
several points in our district. It has been found occasionally in large
numbers in northwestern Minnesota and Manitoba. Recently Mr.
Lloyd has reported it as an abundant fall migrant in western Texas,
and Colonel Goss says it is a common migrant in Kansas. Mr. Brown
found it the most abundant Warbler in spring migration at Boerne,
Tex. In the valley of the lower Rio Grande in Texas it is rather com-
mon during the colder months (Merrill). In the spring of 1884 it ar-
rived at latitude 37° April 19, and was still present May 1. All the
dates given for the country between latitude 39° and latitude 44° were
in the few days from May 8 to12. It would seem then that the spe-
cies, after pausing or proceeding slowly, accelerated its pace on those
four days, which were great days for movements among Warblers all
over the Mississippi Valley.

In the spring of 1885 the records of the migration of the Orange-
crowned Warbler were very regular. It first appeared at San Angelo,
Tex., April 2; at Gainesville, Tex., April 17; Saint Louis, Mo., April 22; —
Emporia, Kans., April 25; Paris, Ill, May 3; Des Moines, lowa, May
2; Lanesboro, Minn., May 4; New Richmond, Wis., May 13. None
- were seen at Des Moines, Iowa, after May 12, nor at Lanesboro, Minn.,
later than May 25.

The breeding range of the Orange-crowned Warbler extends much
farther south in the West than in the Mississippi Valley. Hence it is
not surprising that in fall migration it appears at San Angelo, Tex.,
nearly three weeks before it reaches Saint Louis.

In the fall of 1885 the arrival of the first at San Angelo, Tex., was
noted September 4; while at Saint Louis, Mo., the first came Septem-
ber 21. The species was abundant at Saint Louis, October 10, and thie
bulk was still present October 17. At Lanesboro, Minn., the last was
seen October 2. |

At Warrensburg, in western Missouri, it is an abundant spring mi-
grant, being common from the latter part of April till the middle of
May (Scott, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. IV, 1879, p. 141).

4

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a
a
°

e

245
647. Helminthophila peregrina (Wils.). [87.] Tennessee Warbler.

From its winter home beyond our borders, the Tennessee Warbler
enters the United States early in April.. It breeds from Minnesota
northward. In Kansas it isa common migrant (Goss). In the spring
of 1884 it had reached Saint Louis, Mo., April 29, and other notes, though
few, indicate pretty regular progress northward. Burlington, Iowa,
was reached May 11; Lanesboro and Heron Lake, Minn., May 13 and
May 16; and West Depere, Wis., May 21. At Saint Louis the bulk
came May 5, and left May 13, just as the first reached Lanesboro, Minn.
May 18 it was the most common bird of the day at Lanesboro, and three
days later the last one left Saint Louis, so that on May 21 the whole of
the species, according to the record, was included between latitude 38°
40’ and latitude 44° 26’.

In the spring of 1885 no record was received of its movements until
the first reached Saint Louis April 28. The bulk arrived there April
30. At Paris, IIL, the first was seen May 3; at Chicago, May 9; at
Delavan, Wis., May 2; at Lanesboro, Minn., May 7, and at White Earth,

_Minn., May 16. The bulk left Saint Louis, Mo., May 16, and the last

was seen there May 22. At Lanesboro the last was noted May 26.

In the fall of 1885 the only station contributing a record of the “Ten-
nessee Warbler was Saint Louis, Mo., where the first arrived Septem-
ber 21. It was numerous by September 26, and increased in abundance
till October 6, when it was. heard and seen everywhere. These great
numbers continued until October 12. The bulk left October 17, and the
last followed October 20. Mr. Lloyd states that in Tom Green County,
Tex., it is an early fall migrant, and is tolerably common; and Mr.
Nehrling says it is not uncommon during migration in southeastern
Texas. | ;

648. Compsothlypis americana (Linn.). [88.] Blue Yellow-backed Warbler; Pa-
rula Warbler.

The large majority of Parula Warblers go to the Northern States and
British America to breed, but a few have been detected rearing their
young in various parts of Nebraska and Illinois, and Mr. Nehrling has
found them in the breeding season as far southas Pierce City, Mo., and
also in southeastern Texas, near Houston. Colonel Goss thinks they
breed in eastern Kansas, where they are a common migrant, and
they have been seen during the whole of the summer in northern Mis-
Sissippi. Dr. Fisher found them quite common in the vicinity of Lake
Pontchartrain, La., in the summer of 1885. They winter just beyond
the southern border of the United States. In the spring of 1884 they
started northward early in March, reaching Caddo, Ind. Ter., March 25.

They were recorded at Saint Louis, Mo., April 14, and at West Depere,

Wis., May 10. The bulk followed closely, not more than three or four
days later than the van, so that from the dates of first arrival the move-
ments of the bulk may be predicted.

z44

In the spring of 1885 the first Blue Yeliow-backed Warblers were
noted as follows: Houma, La., March 28; Gainesville, Tex., April 17;
Saint Louis, Mo., April 17; Chicago, II., May 9, and Milwaukee, Wis.,
May 5. It became common at Houma April 7, and at Saint Louis
April 21.

In the fall of 1885 it was last seen at Saint Louis October 6.

. 649. Compsothlypis nigrilora (Coues). [89a.] Sennett’s Warbler.

This warbler is known only from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in
Texas, where it is a common summer resident (Sennett; Merrill). In
the vicinity of Fort Brown it arrives about the third week in Mareh
(Merrill).

650. Dendroica tigrina (Gmel.). [90.] Cape May Warbler.

The Cape May Warbler winters south of our border and crosses the
United States in its migrations to its northern breeding grounds. A
few years ago the region east of the Mississippi was regarded as its
home, and any record west of it was considered as accidental; but since
more than two-thirds of the notes for 1884 came from the western side,
the question arises whether the species may not be moving westward.
Throughout most of the east it is rather rare, but in east-central Wis-
consin it has been found in great numbers, “hundreds seen in a day”; *
in Minnesota it is stated to be very common in migration, and in west-
ern Manitoba it is not rare. The most southwestern of the records is
that from Pierce City, Mo., where it was found April 27,1884. Itreached
latitude 42° 06’ May 5; was taken at West Depere, Wis., May 11, and
by May 23 had arrived at Elk River, Minn. A female was taken at
Lanesboro, Minn., May 21. It was also taken in Iowa, but the most
interesting record is of its occurrence in Nebraska. Mr. Powell writes
that at Alda, Nebr., May 12, 1883, he took an old male in good plumage,
and a few days later three birds, probably of this species, were seen.

In the spring of 1885 the few notes received on the movements of the
Cape May Warbler indicate that its migration was very regular.
“Firsts” were reported as follows: Saint Louis, Mo., May 12; Delavan,
Wis., May 14; Lanesboro, Minn., May 18; and Elk River, Minn., May
20. A sudden cold snap stopped their migration and they took refuge,
May 18, in the heavy timber near Lanesboro, Minn. Throughout
the day they were exceedingly numerous. The next day not one was
found. In the fall of 1885 they first appeared at Saint Louis, Septem-
ber 9. :

651. Dendroica olivacea (Giraud). [92.] Olive Warbler.

Inhabits the highlands of Mexico and Guatemala, coming north to
Texas (Giraud) and Arizona.

652. Dendroica zstiva (Gmel.). [93.] Yellow Warbler.

After wintering below our southern border this species passes in sum-
mer over the whole of the United States and Manitoba, breeding through-

* Gruntvig, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. VIII, 1883, pp. 67, 70.

245

out its range. Mr. William Lloyd says that in Tom Green and Concho

Counties, Tex., it is more abundant in spring and fall than all the other

' warblers together. In the spring of 1884 it crossed our border late in

March, or early in April, appearing at San Angelo, Tex., April 10. As

usual, the migration eastward was considerably in advance of that in
the west, and the species was seen atSaint Louis April 19; but at latitude
39° 12/ in Kansas not until April 25. East of Saint Louis the time of
arrival was fully as early as at Saint Louis, since Mr. Balmer found the
first at Danville, Ill, April 21. May 5 to May 8 seems to have been the
period of greatest activity with this species, notes coming these days
from northern Illinois, Wisconsin up to latitude 44° 26’ and latitude 44°
30’, the whole of Iowa, the southern edge of Minnesota at 43° 43’, and
north to latitude 42° 56’ in Dakota. Its migration certainly did not be-
come slower in the north, for the first was seen May 10 at latitude 45°
25’ in Minnesota, May 11 at latitude 46° 33’ in Minnesota, May 13 at
latitude 44° 21’ in Dakota, and May 18 at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
(latitude 50°).

The bulk moved about six or seven days behind the van.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Golden Warblers left Williamstown, .
Towa, August 1, and the last August 10. At Des Moines, Iowa, the
last was reported August 29, and at Mount Carmel, Mo., August 7.

- The following note was received from Mr. Wm. Lloyd, of San Angelo,
Pex.:

A peculiar flight of Golden Warblers should be mentioned, which occurred here Au-
gust 15. After being few and far between since May, on the above date they ap-
peared by hundreds all over the country, ranging as far as four miles from water, to
the outer limits of the range of the Catton Finch. I noted in their company on the river
the Black-capped Fly-catching Warbler, and the Black and White Creeping Warbler,
A similar occurrence took place last year (1883), though about a week earlier. I find re-
corded in my notes the sudden abundance of the Golden Warbler, about August 10,
at a place some sixty miles from heie. Already (September 3) they are far less
abundant. I hardly know whether to consider that these are early migrants resting
on their way south, or just a chance visitation caused by the food supply failing in
some other neighborhood.*

It is strange how persistently the Yellow Warbler is confounded with
the American Goldfinch by our observers. Fully 10 per cent. of the
notes sent in under the name ‘Yellow Warbler,” “Summer Yellow
Bird,” ete., were found by comparison of dates to belong to the other
species. This bird crossed our southern border early in April, appear-
ing at Houma, La., and Bonham, Tex., April 9. At each of these
places the species was next seen April 11. At Saint Louis, Mo., the
first was seen April 18, after a very unfavorable night for migration.
Four days later (April 22) an increase was observed, and April 24 the
bulk of males came. The same day they were noted from Mount Car-
mel, Mo,, and Paris, Ill. The southern edge of Iowa was reached
April 25, and latitude 41° in Iowa and Illinois April 29. They arrived

rs

"[ Beyond a doubt they were regular migrants,—C, H. M.]

a ah” ult > i ms
‘i —— .

246—

at Chicago, Il],, May 9, three days after they had reached points on the

Mississippi River, a hundred miles farther north. The last part of the
migration seems to have been more rapid than the first. The birds
were so delayed by the cold of the early part of May that on May 11
there had been no record of arrival at any point north of latitude 449,
yet by May 16 they had been seen over the rest of Wisconsin, all of
Minnesota, central Dakota, and at two stations in Manitoba, up to lati-
tude 50° 30’. More than two hundred were seen at White Earth, Minn.,
May 16.

In the fall of 1885 the last left Saint Louis, Mo., August 13, and Bon-
ham, Tex., September 3; and the first migrant reached San Angelo,
Tex., August 28.

654. Dendroica cerulescens (Gmel.), [94.] Blach-throated Blue Warbler.

_ The movements of this species may be summed up in a few words:
Tt winters from Florida southward, extends west to Texas, Indian Ter-
ritory, Kansas, and Nebraska, and breeds principally in British America,
though a few doubtless nest in northern Minnesota. Itreached latitude
40° May 1, latitude 42° May 6, latitude 44° May 10, and was seen at
Elk River, Minn., May 23, but probably arrived there a few days earlier.
This is one of the birds that is unaccountably rare at Saint Louis, while
it is abundant in the surrounding country. At Pierce City, Mu., May
2, it was, next to the Yellow-rump, the most common Warbler.

In the spring of 1885 the first Black-throated Blue Warbler was seen
at Saint Louis April 30; at Paris, Ill., May 1; at Milwaukee, Wis.,
May 5; at Waukon, lowa, May 14; and at Hastings, Minn., May 19.

In the fall of 1885 it was first seen at Lanesboro, Minn., September
30. At Fernwood, Ill., the first was seen September 6; the bulk left
October 11, anc the last October 14. An albino was taken at Fern-
wood during fall migration.

655. Dendroica coronata (Linn.). [95.] Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Breeds from northern Minnesota northward, and winters from the
middle portion of the Mississippi Valley southward. Dr. J. C. Merrill
states that in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas the Yellow-rump
‘is perhaps the most common of the winter residents, and is found in
the greatest abundance from the latter part of October to April. About
the latter part of March there is an arrival of males from the south in
nearly full breeding plumage.” The species winters over an immense
area, While it is abundant in southern Texas, and great numbers pass

on through Mexico to Central America, as far, even, as Panama, still

it is the hardiest of our Warblers, and unnumbered thousands regu-
larly pass the winter in the lower half of the Mississippi Valley. It
has been known to endure a temperature of 20° below zero with no
apparent inconvenience. With plenty of poison ivy berries to eat, it
seems not to care how the mereury stands. Along latitude 39° it gen-
erally winters almost everywhere, but the unusually severe weather of

a

ytd

247

the first week in January, in 1884, drove it southward from all but the
- most favorable localities. About twenty birds remained through Jan-
-uary at Saint Louis, and not quite so many at Manhattan, Kans. It
' was not until the middle of March that the northward movement com-
' menced. This was marked at Caddo, Ind. Ter., by the return of the

birds from the bottom lands, whither they had been driven by the cold,

tothe edges of the prairie. There was scarcely any increase in numbers

until April 1. Atmore northern localities the first wave was marked
by the arrival of more birds. This wave reached latitude 39° the
last week of March, but was stopped by the heavy snow-storms of the
first week in April and made no further advance until the middle of

‘the month. Out of the nineteen records of arrival at stations between

latitude 39° and latitude 45° but two mentioned any Ycllow-rumps
before April 16. But on that and the two following days they appeared
in large numbers over the whole of these 200,000 square miles. What
an incredible number of Yellow-rumps must have been moving on those
three days! The same wave brought the bulk to the region south of
latitude 39°, and another two weeks carried it up to latitude 45°, mak-
ing the species, for the time being, one of the most numerous birds of
the Upper Mississippi Valley. Having now passed over the land of
spring-time and reached a country still ruled by winter, they checked
the hurriedness of their flight and did not reach Portage La Prairie
Manitoba, until the first week in May. A few breed in northern Min-
nesota, but the bulk pass on to breed in British America. <A curious
incident occurred in the migration of this species at Heron Lake, in
southwestern Minnesota. On March 18 there arrived an immense flight
of Ducks, all coming from the west as if from the Missouri Valley.
Together with them, or at least on the same day, came great flocks of
Blackbirds and ‘a large flight of Yellow-rumps in fine feather and
song.” Where they came from is a mystery. A competent observer
on the Missouri River southwest of Heron Lake did not find the species
common until nearly two months later, and no station south or south-
east reported them at all until three weeks later, nor at Heron Lake
was the arrival of the bulk noted until thirty-three days afterwards.
It would seem to be a case of a flock caught up by some upper-air cur-
rent and carried farther than they intended. While most of the-birds
left central Illinois the first week in May, some very late migrants were
seen at Whitehall May 21.

In the fall of 1884 the first note of the Yellow-rumped Warbler came

from the edge of its breeding-grounds at Elk River, Minn., where the

bulk arrived September 9; the bulk left October 8, and the last Novem-
ber 5. The first was noted from Des Moines, Iowa, October 18; the
bulk October 21, and the last October 25. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the
first was reported September 27; departure of buli October 22, and.
last seen November 3. During the winter of 1884~’85 no reports were
received of irregular Wintering of the Yellow-rumps, except from Man.

248

hattan, Kans., where four birds were seen January 24. No more were
seen there for three months.

In the spring of 4885 the first migrant was noted at San Antonio,
Tex., February 27; at Gainesville, Tex., March 23, and at Saint Louis,
Mo., April 8. The remaining notes are too irregular to be systema-
tized. April 16 the bulk reached Saint Louis; April 18 the first came
in targe numbers to Newton, Iowa, and Lanesboro, Minn. April 3 they
appeared at Minneapolis, Minn., and Elk River, Minn., while they did
not reach Shell River, Manitoba, till the last day of the month. At
Bonham, Tex., the last was seen April 15; at Houma, La., April 20;
Pierce City, Mo., May 6; Saint Louis, Mo., May 12; Manhattan, Kans.,
May 16. Except a single record from Waukon, Iowa, May 19, none
were reported from Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin after May 16, and
most of the Yellow rumps left these States May 11.

In the fall of 1885 the Yellow-rumped Warbler re-appeared at BKlk
River, Minn., September 20; at River Falls, Wis., September 29;
Lanesboro, Minn., September 29; Iowa City, Iowa, October 1; Fern.
wood, Ill, October 5; Mount Carmel, Mo., October 4; Saint Louis, Mo.,
October 5, and Gainesville, Tex., November 13. Thus its record west
of the Mississippi River was very regular. The last were seen at Elk
River, Minn., October 7; River Falls, Wis., October 13; Lanesboro,
Minn., October 18; Iowa City, Iowa, October 12; Fernwood, Ill., Oc-
tober 14; Des Moines, Iowa, October 24; Mount Carmel, Mo., November
11, and on the latter date the Jast transients were seen at Saint Louis,
Their period of greatest abundance at Saint Louis was from October 9 to
October 26. Mr. Lloyd gives it as a spring migrant in Tom Green and
Concho Counties, Tex., while in southeastern Texas it is an abundant
winter resident (Nehrling), as it is at Boerne (Brown).

656. Dendroica auduboni (Towns.). [96.] Audubon’s IVarbler.

This Warbler, which is the western representative of the Yellow-
rump, migrates along the western border of the district from its winter
home in Mexico and southward.. Colonel Goss, in his Catalogue of the
Birds of Kansas, mentions it as a not uncommon migrant in the west-
ern part of that State. In the spring of 1884 it was taken at San An-
gelo, Tex., May 3. Mr. Lloyd states that it isa tolerably common
spring and fall migrant in Tom Green and Concho Counties, Tex., where
he has killed it as late as October 20 (1886).

In the spring of 1885 San Angelo, Tex., was the only station that re-
ported the migration of Audubon’s Warbler. It was first noticed May 3.

In the fall of 1885 it appeared at San Angelo, October 1. Mr. Lloyd
found this species common, November 3, at Fort Davis, Tex.

657. Dendroica maculosa (Gmel.). [97.] Magnolia Warbler; Black and Yellow
Warbler.

This Warbler may breed in northern Minnesota, but no nests have
been found, and the bulk crosses the line. It isarapid migrant. Rush-
ing up the Mississippi Valley in the spring of 1884, from its winter home

249

7 far south of our border, it appeared at Pierce City, Mo., May 2, and at

Elk River, Minn., May 21. This gives an average of thirty-two miles a
day. In 1883 its average rate over nearly the same ground was thirty-

five miles aday. Mr. Widmann’s report from Saint Louis is as follows:

‘May 5, first, one old male, silent; May 7, bulk of males in song, and
first female; May 10, in pairs; May 11, last male; May 17, last female.”
Thus the entire time occupied by this species in passing Saint Louis was
less than two weeks, while the stay of the Yellow-rumped Warbler at the
same station was about seven weeks (March 23 to May 10).

In the fall of 1884 the last Black and Yellow Warbler was reported
from Des Moines, Iowa, August 26.

In the spring of 1885 no records of its movements were received from
the country south of Saint Louis, Mo., at which place the first came
May 4. On the same date it was seen at Peoria, Ill, and the next day
(May 5) at Iowa City, Iowa, Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis. At
Lanesboro, Minn., the first was seen May 10; at Heron Lake, Minn.,
May 14; at Durand, Wis., May 15; and at New Richmond, Wis., May
18. At Saint Louis the bulk was present May 5 to May 14, and both
at Saint Louis and at Des Moines, Iowa, the last was seen May 22.
This is later than the dates noted at any of the more northern stations.

In the fall of 1885 several appeared at Saint Louis, Mo., September

17, but all left in the course of the next ten days.

In Kansas it is a rare migrant (Goss).

658. Dendroica cerulea (Wils.). [98.] Cerulean Warbler.
Little can be said of this Warbler. Though not uncommon in the

Mississippi Valley, its habit of keeping in the tops of the tallest trees

enables it to pass unnoticed. It leaves the United States in the fall,
and in summer is found from the Gulf to Minnesota and west to east-
ern Kansas and Nebraska. In the spring of 1884 the first arrived at
Saint Louis April 14, and the bulk April 26. It was also seen at Bur.
lington, lowa, May 11, and there the record ends.

In the spring of 1885 the record of the Cerulean Warbler at Saint
Louis was as follows:

April 17 the first was seen; April 17 the bulk of the males arrived at the stands;
April 24-27 the bulk of the females arrived, and mating began.

At Hennepin, Ill., the first was seen April 20, and at New Richmond,
Wis., May 25. During the middle of October, 1885, Mr. Lloyd met
with it in small flocks (‘of five to eight”) in western Texas.

659. Dendroica pensylvanica (Linn.). [99.] Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Breeds throughout Manitoba and the Northern States, south to Iowa
and northern and central Illinois. This is another of the well-known
Warblers, but it was not noted by any of the southern observers. In
the spring of 1884 it was not recorded until May 1, when Jatitude 39°
was reached. The 43d parallel was crossed May 10, and latitude 45°
30’ May 18. Sorareisit inthe West that it has been taken but twice in

250

Kansas; although seen quite often in Nebraska, it is not known to nest
there. Its stay at Saint Louis was unusually short, lasting only fron:
May 6 to May 15, while in 1883 it arrived April 27 and left May 24.

In the spring of 1885 the Chestnut-sided Warbler was one of the few
species seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., before its arrival was noted at
Saint Louis. Although Mount Carmel is only afew miles north of
Saint Louis, and not many miles west, yet comparison of an extensive
series of notes from the two places shows that the arrival of birds at
Mount Carmel averages several days later than at Saint Louis. The
cause of this is not difficult to determine. The Mississippi River is the
great highway of travel for the birds as they come from the south, but
when they reach Saint Louis the ranks divide, and those which choose
the valley of the Missouri River move for several days in a westerly
direction, following the course of the river.* At Pierce City, Mo.,
another cause operates to make their arrival still later. Of all the
stations in the Mississippi Valley, this is almost the only one where the
influence of mountains is felt as a factor in the study of migration. The
Ozark Mountains stretch to the south of Pierce City, forming a broad
and bigh barrier to the northward progress of migrating birds.t In
the case of some of the larger birds and those possessing great power
of flight, the retardation due to the mountains is scarcely noticeable,
but with the Warblers a marked effect is perceived. Pierce City is
about 150 miles farther south than Saint Louis, and yet the average
date of the arrival there of fourteen species of Warblers was eleven

days later than at Saint Louis. The Chestnut-sided Warbler reached —

Mount Carmel, Mo., April 23, and Saint Louis, Mo., April 29, and
it was recorded May 4 and 5 at Paris, Ill, Chicago, Il., Grinnell,
Towa, and Ripon, Wis. May 15 and 16 another wave of migration
brought it to Waukon, lowa, Lanesboro, Minn., Lake City, Minn., New
Richmond, Wis., and Elk iver, Minn. A single bird was seen at White
Earth, Minn., May 17. The bulk was present at Saint Louis from May
5 to May 12, and the last departed May 18.

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Grinnell, lowa, September 10.
At Saint Louis, Mo., only a single bird was noted during fall migration,
and that was seen September 23.

660. Dendroica castanea (Wils.). [100.] Bay-breasted Warbler.

Like the Chestnut-sided, this Warbler is an eastern species, which
reaches only to the edge of the plains. it has been found in Nebraska,
but is not yet known asa bird of Kansas. It winters south and breeds
north of the United States, but is common in the Mississippi Valley in
spring and fall, and a few are said to breed at Portage la Prairie, Man-
itoba. Mr. Nehrling states that in southeastern Texas, near Houston, it is

[* Moreover, the altitude of Mount Carmel is considerably greater than that of Saint
Louis.—C. H. M.]

[t Pierce City is in the midst of the Ozark Hills, at an elevation of nearly twelve
hundred feet, while Saint Louis is little over 409 feet,—C, H. M.]

251

q one of the commonest Warblers during spring migration. He recorded
- itas lateas May 5. The record shows that in 1884 the species was
- wbserved at latitude 37°, May 8; latitude 39°, May 11; and latitude

459°, May 26. Females were seen at Chicago May 23. If the observers
knew anything more about the movements of the species they failed to
communicate the fact.

In the spring of 1885 the first Bay-breasted Warbler was reported
from Pierce City, Mo., May 7; Saint Louis, May 15; Lanesboro, Minn.,
May 18; and Elk River, Minn., May 20. One was taken at Tampico,

_Iil., during the spring of 1885.

In the fall of 1885 the first and last was seen at Saint Louis Septem-

eS ber 25.

661. Dendroica striata (Forst.). [101.] Black-poll Warbler.

Breeds north of the United States. Few Warblers perform more ex-
tended migrations than toe Black-poll. The equator and the Arctic
Ocean form the extreme objective points of its periodical movements.
The earliest record of its migration in 1884 came from Danviile, Ill.,
where it was noted April 27—two days earlier than it was seen at
Saint Louis, nearly a hundred miles farther south. This circumstance
taken alone would scarcely call for remark, but in studying migration
in this region it is found that more than twenty species were recorded —
at Danville from two to ten days earlier than at Saint Louis. It is
evident, then, that some species migrate earlier in the valleys of the
Ohio and Wabash than in the same latitude along the Mississippi, al-
though this latter route is usually considered, and not without reason,
as the most favorable in the United States. Stations in extreme east-
ein Illinois are so few that an extended comparison of dates can not be
mace, but the records seem to indicate that migration in favorable lo-
calities along the eighty-eighth meridian is slightly in advance of that
aiong the Mississippi River and the ninety-first meridian up to about
Chicago, where the rate of travel along the two routes seems to be about
the same. North of Chicago migration by the western route is in ad-
vance. This, however, is mainly surmise, and these opinions may be
reversed by future and more extended observations. The subject is
mentioned here merely to call attention to its importance in future in-
vestigations.

Continuing the record north of Saint Louis, it is found that the
Black-poll Warblers arrived at Alda, Nebr., May 3; at Iowa City, Iowa,
May 17; Polo, Ill., May 19; and Lanesboro and Heron Lake, in Minne-
sota, and West De Pere, Wis., May 20 and May 21. The bulk came to
Saint Louis May 7 and stayed six days; to Manhattan, Kans., May 13,
and remained but twodays. Irregular and very early dates are May 5
at latitude 429 18’ in Iowa; May 1 at latitude 44° 32’ in Minnesota; May
4 at latitude 44° 45/ in Wisconsin; and May 18 at latitude 45° 25! in.
Minnesota.

* 252
In the spring of 1885 the Black-poll Warbler arrived at Saint Louis, |
Mo., April 29, several days earlier than it appeared at stations in the
same latitude farther east and west. At Paris, Ill., none were re-
ported until May 4, nor at Manhattan, Kans., before May 12. One was
seen at Des Moines, lowa, May 5. Like many other Warblers, the
Black-poll made a great advance from May 14 to May 16. Between
these dates it was reported from Waukon, Iowa; Lanesboro, Minn., Elk
River, Minn., and even from White Earth, Minn., where as many as
seventy-five were seen May 16. At Saint Louis the bulk arrived May
5; bulk left May 16, and the last one (a female) was seen May 22. It
was not seen after May 20 at any other station from southern Missouri
to southern Minnesota.
In the fall of 1885 the arrival of the Black-poll at Saint Louis, Mo.,
September 21, was the only note received concerning its migration.

662. Dendroica blackburnie (Gmel.). [102.] Blackburnian Warbler.

Few lovers of forests and birds could fail to notice this brilliantly
colored Warbler should they pass near its favorite haunts. It breeds
from the heavy forests of northern Minnesota northward, and winters
south of our southern border. Like the Chestnut-sided, it is rarely
found so far west as Kansas and Nebraska. It is one of the few
Warblers of whose entrance into the United States we have a record.
In the spring of 1884 it appeared at Rodney, Miss., April 13; advanced
to latitude 37° May 2; latitude 39° May 10; latitude 43° May 16; and
the most northern record contributed was latitude 45° May 23. This
gives an average of 23 miles a day for nearly a thousand miles.

In the spring of 1885 the first Blackburnian Warbler was reported
from Pierce City, Mo., May 7; from Saint Louis, Mo., and Hennepin,
ll., May 12; from Lanesboro, Minn., May 16; and from Heron Lake,
Minn., May 19. None were seen at Saint Louis after May 13.

In the fall of 1885 the first was seen at Saint Louis September 19,
and the last September 25.

663 a. Dendroica dominica albilora Baird. [103a.] Sycamore Warbler; White-
browed Yellow-throaied Warbler.

This form of the Yellow-throated Warbler is restricted to the south-
ern portion of the Mississippi Valley, extending up to southern Indiana,
sonthern Illinois, and Kansas. Evidently it does not breed in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, for Dr. Merrill says of it there:
‘One of the first migrants to return in the autumn, when it is not rare.
A few pass the winter.” It is one of the earliest migrants among the
Warblers, and in the spring of 1884 was reported from Saint Louis April
4, and from Gainesville, Tex., April 7, showing how much later these
insect-eating birds move on the plains than farther east. It was noted
at Saint Louis that singing suddenly ceased April 30 and was recom-
menced with great diligence May 31.

In the spring of 1885, at Gainesville, Tex., the first Sycamore War
bler was seen March 22; the next April 9, and the bulk April17. At

gia we

253

- Saint Louis a pair was observed April 6. From April 6 to April 17

these Warblers were conspicuous songsters. May 1 they were almost

- silent.

In the fall of 1885, at Saint Louis, they had all left their summer
stands by October 7, aud none were seen later than October 11.

666. Dendroica chrysoparia Scl. & Salv. [106.] Golden-cheeked Warbler.

A tropical and subtropical species, ranging from central Texas to
Guatemala. The first known specimen from the United States was
killed near San Antonio, Tex., about 1864, by Mr. Dresser. In April,
1878, it was taken in Bosque County, Tex., by Mr. G. H. Ragsdale
(Bull. Nutt. Ornithological Club, Vol. IV, 1879, p. 60). During the
same month (April, 1878) Mr. W. H. Werner found it to be a tolerably
common Warbler in parts of Comal County, where four nests were dis-
covered in May (Ibid., pp. 77-79). In March, 1880, Mr. N. C. Brown
captured seven specimens at Boerne, Kendall County, where the spe-
cies was first seen March 12 (Ibid., Vol. VII, 1882, pp. 36, 37); and in the
spring of 1883 he secured three more in the same locality (The Auk,
Vol. I, 1884, p. 121). Recently Mr. Lloyd, in his list of the birds of
Tom Green and Concho Counties, Tex., says of it: ‘‘One was shot in
a hackberry in April, 1887. Itsstomach contained winged ants.” (The

Auk, Vol. IV, 1887, p. 296.)

667. Dendroica virens (Gmel.). [107.] Black-throated Green Warbler.

Breeds from northern Illinois northward, and leaves the United
States entirelyin winter. Insoutheastern Texas it isabundant during the
migrations (Nehrling). The first note for 1884 came from Saint Louis,
where it arrived April 26. May 1 it was noted at Danville, Ill. By
May 7 it had reached Minneapolis, Minn., and May 10 it was observed at
West De Pere, Wis. In the West it extends to the eastern boundaries
of Nebraska, Kansas, Indian Territory, and Texas, but was not re-
ported in 1884 from any of these States.

In the spring of 1885 the records indicate avery rapid migration.
Seven days after the first came to Saint Louis, Mo., April 30, they had
appeared at Paris, [ll.; Des Moines, lowa; Lanesboro, Minn., and Elk
River, Minn. This would give an average rate of about 70 miles a day.
The bulk was present at Saint Louis, Mo., from May 5 until May 15,
when they suddenly disappeared. Some late records were sent in. It
was reported May 21 at San Antonio, Tex., and June 5 at Des Moines,
Iowa.

In the fall of 1885 this Warbler was found migrating through San
Angelo, Tex., August 25; and Mr. Lloyd states that in Tom Green and
Concho Counties, Tex., it is a common fall migrant from August 1 to
September 20. This fact makes it almost certain that it will be found
to breed occasionally in the middle portion of the Rocky Mountains.
At Saint Louis, Mo., the first came September 17, and the last disap-
peared October 5.

ae 3 ma oe ben 7
254 oe

668. Dendroica townsendi (Nutt.). [108.] Townsend’s Warbler.

No specimen of this species had been taken in the Mississippi Valley
until Mr. Lloyd secured it at San Angelo, Tex. It winters beyond
our limits, and ranges in summer through the Rocky Mountains, even

to Alaska. It is a summer resident in Tom Green County, Tex., though

Mr. Lloyd says that it is rarely secured, as it is found only in the thick-
est underbrush of a very restricted area. Its nest and eggs are un-
known.

In the fall of 1884 Townsend’s Warbler first appeared at San Angelo,
Tex., September 21, and was last seen there September 26.

In the spring of 1885 the first was seen at San Angelo, May 8.

670. Dendroica kirtlandi Baird. [110.] <Kirtland’s Warbler.

The honor of adding this exceedingly rare Warbler to our district
belongs to Mr. Widmann, who captured a specimen at Saint Louis, Mo.,
May 8, 1885.* It is an eastern species and has been taken at various
places from Ohio southward.t

671. Dendroica vigorsii (Aud.). [111.] Pine-creeping Warbler.

A hardy Warbler, sometimes wintering as far north as southern Iili-
nois, and one of the few which remain in large numbers in the United
States through the winter. It breeds throughout its range, but at very
different dates. Those which breed in the Southern States begin nest-

ing in March, while those nesting in Manitoba (where, apparently, it is —

rare) hardly get their housekeeping affairs arranged before the Jatter
part of June. In Kansas it is rare (Goss). Migration usually begins
in March, but it must have been delayed in 1884, as the birds all came at
once. All the notes from latitude 37° to latitude 45° were made in the
first week in May. Information is much desired concerning the breed-
ing habits of this species in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, and Nebraska.

In the spring of 1885, at Saint Louis, the first and only Pine-creeping
Warbler seen was noted April 24. At Hennepin, Ill., the first was
seen April 30, and the next May 1. It first reached Lanesboro, Minn.,
May 7. Mr. Thomas Miller has taken it at Heron Lake, Minn., and
Roberts and Benner killed a female in Grant County, Minn., in June,
1879. Mr. F. L. Grundtvig found it tolerably common in migration at
Shiocton, Wis., during the first half of May, 1882.

672. Dendroica palmarum (Gmel.). [113.] Red-poll Warbler.

From its winter home in the Southern States and southward, this
Warbler migrates through the Mississippi Valley, to breed in the far
north. In the spring of 1884 it reached Saint Louis April 18, and Dan-
ville, Ili., April 21. No farther advance was recorded until April 27

* Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. II, October, 1885, p. 382.

[tOn the night of May 21, 1885, a male Kirtland’s Warbler killed itself by strik- ©
ing the light-house at Spectacle Reef, in the west end of Lake Huron, near the Straits
of Mackinac. (See The Auk, Vol. I], 1885, p. 376.) Mr. Ridgway pete another
specimen, a male, which was killed at Battle Creek, Mich., May 11, 1883. (The
Auk, Vol. I, 1884, p. 389.)—C. H. M.]

255

and April 28, when it was noted all over Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota
up to latitude 43° 43’. Two days later it had reached latitude 44° 32’,
Minnesota, and May 3 was reported from Elk River, Minn. (lat. 45° 25’).
In the east it was a trifle slower, not being noted at West De Pere, Wis.
(lat. 44° 26’), until May 6. ‘The last one left Saint Louis May 9.
In the fall of 1884, at Elk River, Minn., the first and bulk of Red-
poll Warblers appeared September 21, and the last was seen October 1.
In the spring of 1885 the records of its migration were not very reg-
ular. After the first had been seen at Saint Louis, Mo., the next
records were from Rockford, Ill., and Durand, Wis., where it was re-
ported April 26. During the last three days of April it appeared at
Des Moines, Iowa, Coralville, Iowa, Chicago, Ill., Waukon, Iowa, and
Lanesboro, Minn. May 4 it arrived at Elk River, Minn., and May 5 at
New Richmond, Wis. At Saint Louis the bulk was present April 22
to April 29, and the last was noted May 12. At Waukon, Iowa, the
last was seen May 13; at Rockford, Ill, May 16; and at Lanesboro,
Mion., May 18. At White Earth, Minn., it was very abundant May 16.
In the fall of 1885 the first came to-Elk River, Minn., September 28,
and to Lanesboro, Minn., September 30. None were seen at Elk River,
Minn., after September 28; at Lanesboro, Minn., after October 2; nor
at Saint Louis, Mo., after October 26. In Kansas it is a4 rare migrant
(Goss).
672a. Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea Ridgw. [1138a.] Yellow Palm Warbler.
This is the eastern representative of the foregoing. It breeds in the
Atlantic coast region from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to Hudson
Bay, and winters in the South Atlantic and Gulf States as far west as
Louisiana.

673. Dendroica discolor (Vieill.). [114.] Prairie Warbler.

The Prairie Warbler winters in Florida and the West Indies, pro-
ceeds up the Mississippi Valley to Ilinois (and accidentally to Wiscon-
sin), and extends west to eastern Kansas and eastern Nebraska. It is
not yet known from Minnesota, though it has been taken by Dr. King
at West Liberty, lowa. In the spring of 1884 it was observed at one
station only, namely, Pierce City, Mo., where it arrived April 27. It
is quite rare in all the northern portions of its range.

674. Seiurus aurocapillus (Linn.). [115]. Ovenbird; Golden-crowned Thrush.
The Ovenbird is an inhabitant of the eastern United States, ranging
westward to the eastern foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains. It breeds
throughout Manitoba and the northern half of the Mississippi Valley.
It breeds abundantly in central and western Dakota, and in Kansas it
is a common summer resident. This is rather an early migrant for a
Warbler. In the spring of 1884 its record was so thoroughly mixed
that we can only surmise that it reached latitude 37° in the early part
of April, and latitude 39° the middle of the month. In Minnesota it
appeared at Lanesboro April 26, Red Wing April 29, and was re-

256 es

corded from Elk River May 10, but probably arrived there a few days
previously. The bulk reached Pierce City, Mo., April 19, where it was
very numerous, migrating in flocks. Passing on, the bulk reached
latitude 39° about April 26, and latitude 45° May 12.

In the fall of 1884 only one station reported the migration of the
Ovenbird. The bulk left Mount Carmel, Mo., September 1, and the
last September 21. .

In the spring of 1885 it reached Saint Louis, Mo., April 17, and the
bulk came three days later. Then there was no regularity in the ree-
ords until May 5, when it was reported from Chicago; May 6 it reached
northeastern Iowa and Minnesota up to Elk River, and May 7 it at-
tained corresponding latitudes in eastern Wisconsin. At Manhattan,
Kans., the first was reported May 5.

In the fall of 1885 the first migrant reached Fernwood, Ill., Septem-
ber 8, where it was last seen two days later. The last was seen at
Grinnell, Iowa, September 16. At Saint Louis, Mo., it was very
numerous September 17. The bulk had left Saint Louis by September
26, and the last followed September 29. In Concho County, Tex., Mr.
Lloyd shot one and saw another September 10, 1886.

675. Seiurus noveboracensis (Gmel.). [116.] Water-Thrush.

A bird of eastern North America; probably does not occur west of
the Mississippi River. It winters in the Southern States, occasionally
as far north as southern Illinois, and breeds from northern Illinois
northward. The records of its migration are too uncertain to be used.

675a. Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis (Grinn.). [116a.] Grinnell’s Water-Thrush.

Takes the place of the foregoing in the region west of the Mississippi
River. Occurs from Illinois westward to California and north into ~
British America; winters from the southern border of the United
States southward to northern South America, and breeds from northern
Kansas northward. Some uncertainty attaches to @he records of its
migrations.

In the spring of 1884 the most reliable notes received are the following:
Latitude 38° 40’ in Missouri was reached April 26; latitude 41° 38/ in
Iowa May 38; latitude 41° 40’ in Iowa April 30; latitude 43° 15’ in
Iowa April 27; latitude 43° 48’ April 29. It was reported also from
latitude 43° 43’ in Wisconsin April 28, but this record may refer to the
typical form. These scanty notes seem to indicate that the species
spread all at once over the country between latitude 38° 40’ and lati-
tude 43° 50’. On May 12 the last left Saint Louis, but one was seen
at Ellis, Kans., as late as May 25.

In the spring of 1885 the first Water Thrush came to Saint Louis,
Mo., April 27; to Fayette, Mo., May 1; Hennepin, Ill., May 2; Lanes-
boro, Minn., May 7; Manhattan, Kans., May 14; Heron Lake, Minn.,
May 15, and White Earth, Minn., May 16. The bulk reached Saint
Louis, Mo., April 30, departed May 12, was followed by the last May 15.

257

In the fall of 1885 the first returned to Saint Louis, Mo., September
17, and the species was present there just one month.

676. Sciurus motacilla (Vieill.). [117.] Louisiana Water-Thrush; Large-billed
Water-Thrush. .

Essentially a southern bird; rarely found north of latitude 42°. It
winters below the United States, and while abundant in the southern
part of its range is quite rare in the northern. It is quite common in
Kansas and occurs at Newton, Iowa, but is rare in Nebraska, and there
is no record of its occurrence in Minnesota. In 1884 the first reached
Saint Louis March 29 and it was seen again April 4; the bulk came
April 18. At Chicago the first was seen April 19, though it may have
come sooner. On the plains the birds were later. They were heard at
Gainesville, Tex., April 15, and a single one was seen at Manhattan,
Kans., April 18, but no more until the bulk arrived, April 26.

In the spring of 1885 the Large-billed Water Thrush first appeared at
Gainesville, Tex., March 24; and at Saint Louis, Mo., April 6. It was
reported from Mount Carmel, Mo., April 18; from Manhattan, Kans.,
April 15; and from Des Moines, Iowa, April 18. It arrived at Waukon,
Iowa, April 21, and Lanesboro, Minn., April 28. At Heron Lake, Minn.,
only a few miles farther north than the last, but in the western part of
the State, none were seen till May 11. It became common at Man-
hattan April 18; Des Moines, April 24; Waukon, May 8; and at Heron
Lake, May 16. Thus it will be seen that this species has been added to
the list of Minnesota birds. At both Lanesboro and Heron Lake all
three of the Water Thrushes were found in the spring of 1885. In the
fail of 1885 the last left Saint Louis September 29.

677. Geothlypis formosa (Wils.). [119.] Kentucky Warbler.

The Lower Mississippi Valley is the special home of this species, and
iv is more abundant there, particularly in southern Indiana, southern
Illinois, and southeastern Texas, than in any other part of the United
States. In Kansas it is a common summer resident (Goss.). In 1884
the earliest record came from Gainesville, Tex., where it arrived April
15. Both in Kansas and Missouri it reached latitude 39° the last of
April. At Saint Louis the first arrived April 28, and the bulk April 30;
at Manhattan, Kans., the first came April 30, and it was seen daily after
May 1. At Pierce City, Mo., it was common by May 3. May 11 it had
reached almost the limit of its northward advance at Burlington, Iowa,
though it has been found accidentally in Wisconsin. It has not yet
been seen in Minnesota. The species winters outside our limits and
breeds throughout its range. ;

In the spring of 1885 the first Kentucky Warblers came to Gaines-
ville, Tex., April 9, and were common there by April 17. At Saint
_ Louis the first arrived April 21, the bulk April 27, and they were nu-
merous May 4. At Manhattan, Kans., the first were seen May 1.

In the fall of 1885 the last left Bonham, Tex:, August 20.

7365—Bull 2 17

258

678. Geothlypis agilis (Wils.). [118.] Connecticut Warbler.

This is one of the rarest, and hence one of the most interesting War- —

blers of the Mississippi Valley. In 1883 neither the breeding range
nor its winter range was known. In 1884 something was learned of its
summer home, but where it spends the winter is stilla mystery. The
question of its nest and eggs has been answered by Mr. Ernest H. T.
Seton (now Ernest EK. Thompson), who found a nest on a moss mound
in a tamarack swamp near Carberry, Manitoba, concerning which he
published an interesting account in the Auk for April, 1884, page 192.

He afterwards stated that this nest was found June 21, 1883. Not
the least interesting fact in the life history of this little-known species
is its choice of different routes for its spring and fall migrations, pass-
ing northward along the Mississippi Valley and returning by way of
New England. It is almost the latest Warbler to migrate in spring,
coming some time after the Black-polls, which are usually believed to
bring up the rear of the Warbler hosts. The only observer who noted
it in 1884 was Mr. Widmann, who found it at Saint Louis May 21, at
the same spot as in 1882 and 1883. As the birds do not leave latitude
43° until about June 1, it must be very late before they reach their
breeding-grounds in Manitoba.

In the spring of 1885 the first Connecticut Warbler was seen at Saint
Louis, Mo., May 15, and the last one week later.

679. Geothlypis philadelphia (Wils.). [120.] Mourning Warbler.

In much of the Mississippi Valley the Mourning Warbler is a com-
panion of the Connecticut Warbler in migration, and hardly less difficult
to observe. Its life history, however, is well known. It winters south
of our border and breeds from Minnesota and eastern Nebraska north-
ward. It is common in western Manitoba. It has been found nesting
in Illinois, even south of latitude 39°. In 1884 it was noted by none of
the southern observers, the first record being that of its arrival at Saint
Louis May 21. During the next week it was observed at Hlk River,
Minn. At Lanesboro, Minn., May 25, a male was taken with most of
its breast black.

In the spring of 1885 Texas was well represented in the records of the
Mourning Warbler. It was seen atSan Antonio, April 28; at Bonham,
May 14, and at Gainesville at the very late date of May 22. It reached
Saint Louis, May 13; Emporia, Kans., May 15; Des Moines, Iowa, May
15; Lanesboro, Minn., May 18; Elk River, Minn., May 16, and White
Karth, Minn., May 18. Thus it will be seen that in the northern por-
tion of its range itis a very rapid migrant. The last at both Saint
Louis and Des Moines was noted May 22.

In Concho County, Tex., it is a tolerably common fall migrant, but
has not been seen later taan September 1 (Lloyd).

680. Geothlypis macgillivrayi (Aud.). [121.] Macgillivray’s Warbler.
Along the extreme western edge of the Mississippi Valley this Warbler
takes the place of the preceding. An exceptionally eastern record was

259

its occurrence at Gainesville, Tex., where it was taken May 16, 1884.
Mr. Lloyd says it is abundant in Texas from Castle Hill to Pecos River,
and probably breeds. It has not been reported from any other part of
the district, but was taken in Dakota years ago by J. A. Allen. In the
fall of 1884 another specimen was secured at Gainesville, Tex., Septem-
ber 3.

681. Geothlypis trichas (Linn.). [122.] Maryland Yellow-throat.

The typical eastern Maryland Yellow-throat barely reaches the eastern
border of the Mississippi Valley, where the prevailing form is interme-
diate between it and the western.
681a, Geothlypis trichas occidentalis Brewst. [—-.] Western Maryland Yellow-

throat.

This lately-described subspecies is the common Maryland Yellow- throat
of the western part of the Mississippi Valley from western Manitoba to
middle Texas. Throughout the middle and eastern portion of the Mis-
sissippi Valley the prevailing form is intermediate between it and typical
trichas, but, as Mr. Ridgway tells me, is nearer occidentalis than trichas.
Hence all the records relating to Maryland Yeilow-throats have been
brought under the present subspecies.

From its winter home in the Southern States and southward this
Warbler began its pilgrimage in the spring of 1884 early in March. By
March 13 it had appeared at Gainesville, Tex., but nothing more was
heard of it until April 18, when it arrived at Saint Louis. April 27
found it at Danville, Ul., and April 30 was a day of great migration in
Iowa, where it was reported from latitude 41° 38’, latitude 41° 40’, and —
latitude 43° 15’; May 2 it had advanced to latitude 43° 43’ in Minne-
sota; May 10 to latitude 45° 25’; and May 26 it had penetrated even to
Oak Point, Manitoba. The bulk was found eight to twelve days in the
rear of the advance.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Maryland Yellow-throats was reported
as leaving Williamstown, Iowa, August 22, and the last six days later.
At Des Moines, lowa, the last was reported August 11. At Mount
Carmel, Mo., the last one left September 22.

In the spring of 1885 the earliest note came from San Angelo, Tex.,
where the first was seen April 4,and the species was common the next
day. April 20 it appeared at Saint Louis, Mo., and Odin, Ill. April 21
one was noted from Paris, Hl. During the three days from April 23 to
April 25 Maryland Yellow-tiroats were seen at Emporia, Kans.; Iowa
City, Iowa; Newton, lowa; Grinnell, lowa; and Hennepin, 11]. May
3 found them at Unadilla, Nebr., and a further advance (May 8 and 9)
brought them to Huron, Dak.; Coralville, lowa; La Porte City, Iowa;
Waukon, Iowa; and Lanesboro, Minn. The next advance occurred
May 14, bringing them to Delavan, Wis.; River Falls, Wis.; Heron
Lake, Minn.; and Elk River, Minn. May 16 one was seen at White
arth, Minn. The bulk came to Saint Louis April 24, and the species
was most abundant there April 27.

260

% = San

In the fall of 1885 the last migrant left Elk River, Minn., September
24. AtGrinnell, Iowa, the last was seen September 26, and at Mount
Carmel, Mo., September 27. They were numerous at Saint Louis, Mo.,
September 16, but the bulk had departed before September 26. The
last was noted September 29. A very late migrant was seen at Lanes-
boro, Minn., October 3. ,

683. Icteria virens (Linn.). [123.} Yellow-breasted Chat.

A summer resident in all but the northern part of the Mississippi
Valley, east of the plains.

Wintering beyond our southern border, it entered the district in the
spring of 1884 about the Ist of March. March 15 it was reported from
Gainesville, Tex., and April 25 from Manhattan, Kans. The next day
found it at Saint Louis, Mo., but while the bulk was reported as arriv-
ing at that place April 29, the bulk was not recorded from Manhat-
tan, Kans., until May 10. This day, May 10, seems to have been the
day of special movement for the Chat, as on that day it was noted from
latitude 41° 40’ in Lowa; latitude 42° 18’ Iowa; and latitude 40° 08/ in
Illinois. It has been reported in past years from southeastern Dakota
and southwestern Minnesota, but in 18384 the most northern notes were
from central Nebraska and central Iowa. Thus, contrary to the usual
rule, it reached Manhattan, Kans., before it did Saint Louis, Mo.; and,
furthermore, the dates from Illinois were later than those from Missouri
and Iowa. For example, for latitude 39° 19’ in Illinois, the date is May
7; for latitude 40° 08/ in Illinois, May 10; for latitude 42° 16/ in Illinois,
May 13. These observations, coupled with the fact that the species is
not known to winter in the West Indies, though found in Central
America and Mexico, would make it probable that most of the indi-
viduals enter the United States through Mexico, and that the migration
is In a northeasterly direction. |

In the spring of 1885 the earliest recerd of the Yellow-breasted Chat
came from the extreme southwest, where it was seen at San Antonio,
Tex., April 14. It reached Gainesville and Bonham, in northern Texas,
April 17 and April 18. At Saint Louis, Mo., Chats were seen April 21;
at Manhattan, Kans., April 22; at Mount Carmel, Mo., April.30; Cor-
inth, Miss., April 30; Newton, Iowa, April 30; Fayette, Mo., May 1;.
Des Moines, Iowa, May 11; Huron, Dak., May 12; and Grinnell, Iowa,
May 18. Thus the record in 1885 was not so regular as in the previous

ear.
: In the fall of 1885 the last Chats at Grinnell, lowa, and Mount Car-
mel, Mo., were seen July 20. At Saint Louis, Mo., they remained until
August 18. But none were seen at Bonham, Tex., after August 6.
Mr. Lloyd says it is a tolerably common spring migrant in Tom Green
and Concho Counties, Tex.

683 a. Icteria virens longicauda (Lawr.). [123 a.] Long-tailed Chat.

The habitat of this Chat touches the western part of our district along : 4
the edge of the plains. Colonel Goss has found it breeding in western |

261

. , Kansas. In the spring of 1884 it was found at San Angelo, Tex., May

12. Mr. Lioyd says it is an abundant breeder in Tom Green and Concho
Counties, Tex.

In the fall of 1884 the last was heard at San Angelo September 27.

In the spring of 1885 it first arrived at San Angelo April 16, and had
become common there by the 20th. A nest with four eggs was taken
May 5.

In the fall of 1885 it was leaving San Angelo September 16.

684. Sylvania mitrata (Gmel.). [124.] Hooded Warbler.

A Southern bird, scarcely noticed by the observers. Winters south
of the United States, and passes up the Mississippi Valley to breed.
Has been taken in Wisconsin, Lowa, eastern Kansas, and southern Ne-
braska. It breeds in eastern Kansas, but is rare (Goss). Mr. Nehrling
thinks it does not breed in southeastern Texas, where it is a common
migrant. The record from Saint Louis is: * April 24, first, one male
in song; April 30, several males in song; May 9, one of the noisiest
birds in the woods; May 21, sitting on eggs already incubated.” May
3 it was quite common at Pierce City, Mo. ;

In the spring of 1885, at Corinth, Miss., the first migrant was seen
April 8; and it had become common by April 15. At Saint Louis, the
record was: ‘“ April 24, first, two males; April 27, bulk arrived; April
30, height of migrating season, and mating began.” In the fall of 1855
the last left Saint Louis September 29.

685. Sylvania pusilla (Wils.). [125.] Wilson’s Warbler; Black-capped Yellow Warbler.

This is almost the oniy Warbler which is found over the whole of the
United States. Dr. Coues tells us that the bulk pass through the
United States by way of the Rocky Mountains, but there are enough
left to make it a common bird in the Mississippi Valley and most of

Manitoba. It does not winter in the United States, and Minnesota is

the only State of our district in which it has been found breeding. In
southeastern Texas it is a very common migrant (Nelrling; Merrill).
In the spring of 1884 it reached latitude 40° May 1; latitude 43° May
10; and latitude 45° May 20. In the West it was taken at San Angelo,
Tex, May 5. The last one left Saint Louis May 17.

In the fall of 1884 the last Black-capped Yellow Warbler was seen
at Williamstown, Iowa, August 23. At San Angelo, Tex., it was last
reported September 27. The first reached Gainesville, Tex., Septem-
ber 3.

In the spring of 1885 the earliest record came from San Angelo, Tex.,
where it was seen April 16. It reached Saint Louis April 29; Paris,
Ill, May 5; Des Moines, Iowa, May 6; Lanesboro, Minn., May 7; and
Rochester, Minn., May 8. May 16 it was seen at Heron Lake, Minn.,
River Falls, Wis., Elk River, Minn., and White Earth, Minn. At this —
latter place about sixty were seen. At Saint Louis the bulk was
present from May 5 to May 9, and the last was seen May 22, which is
a later date than that given at any other station.

262

In the fall of 1885 the first reappeared at Saint Louis, Mo., Septem-
ber 3; they were scarce September 17, and the last left September 22.
Mr. Lloyd says it is an abundant migrant ‘all over western Texas from
April 2 to May 15, and from September 3 to 30.”

686. Sylvania canadensis (Linn.). [127.] Canadian Warbler.

This handsome Warbler is less common in the Mississippi Valley and
Manitoba than farther east. It does not winter in the United States,
but breeds sparingly in the Northern States, and abundantly in Can-
ada. It has been known to breed in northern Illinois. It extends west-
ward only to the eastern edge of Kansas and Nebraska. It occurs in
southeastern Texas in migration, but is not common (Nehrling). In the
spring of 1884 it arrived at latitude 37° April 29, latitude 39° May 11,
and at Lanesboro, Minn. (lat. 43° 43’) May 24. The last was seen at
Saint Louis May 21.

In the spring of 1885, at Saint Louis, the first was seen May 11, the
bulk was present from May 13 to May 19, and the last left May 22. At
Lanesboro, Minn., the first was reported May 15, and at Elk River,
Minn., May 16. In Wisconsin, it was first reported from Durand May
15; and from New Richmond, May 19.

In the fall of 1885 the first returning migrant was seen at Saint Louis
September 22; while at San Angelo, Tex., one was shot from a flock of
six August 28.

687. Setophaga ruticilla (Linn.). [128.] American Redstart.

The Redstart is a common summer resident of the upper half of the
Mississippi Valley and Manitoba. As far south as Kansas it is a com-
mon breeder. It does not remain inthe United States during the winter,
nor does it cross our boundary before the first of April. In the spring
of 1884 the first record came from. Saint Louis April 17, and the next,
from latitude 40° 08’ in Illinois, April 27. The last day of the month it
was seen at latitude 39° 12’ in Kansas. For the first week of May
there was not a record; May 8 it reached latitude 41° 36’ inIowa; and
May 10, 11, and 12, it spread abundantly over the immense district from
latitude 41° to latitude 45° 25’. By May 28 it had crossed our northern
border and arrived at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (lat. 30°).

The great changes and diversity ir plumage in this species enable
the observant ornithologist to note very fully the arrival of the different
ages and sexes. Thus at Saint Louis the following record was made by
Mr. Widmann:

April 17, first old males; April 26, bulk of old males; April 30, first females; May
7, height of transient old males; May 9, height of transient females; May 11, first
one-year-old male; May 16, young males more conspicuous than old males,

This is one of the species in which the period of arrival at any locality
extends over severai weeks, the bulk coming many days behind the
first. Hence, all notes of first and bulk on the same day are self-evident
mistakes. The bulk never arrives till a week after the first, and ten to
twelve days is the ordinary time. -

263

In the fall of 1884 the last Redstart was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo.,
September 11.

In the spring of 1885 Redstarts were reported from San Antonio,
Tex., April 28; Gainesville, Tex., May 8; Emporia, Kans., May 11; and
Manhattan, Kans., April 22. So much for the regularity of its Western
record. The rest of the notes were scarcely more regular. At Reeds,
Mo., the first was seen April 4; at Saint Louis, Mo., April 20 (with the
bulk of males and first female April 27); Paris, lll., April 28; southern
Iowa, and Chicago, Ill., May 5. The rest of the timbered portion of the
district to latitude 45° was reached May 14 and May 15; and May 18
one was seen at White Earth, Minn. Such are the outlines, but the de-
tails are not arrangeable.

In the fall of 1885, at Grinnell, Iowa, the last Redstart was seen Sep-
tember 28; at Mount Carmel, Mo., September 20; and at Saint Louis,
Mo., where they had been numerous September 17, the last was seen
September 29. The first migrant reached San Angelo, Tex., September
11. In Concho County, Tex., it is an abundant fall migrant.

638. Setophaga picta Swains. [129.] Painted Redstart.

An inhabitant of the highlands of Mexico, coming north to our
southern border in Texas, New Mexico, and Awvizona.
639. Setophaga miniata Swains. [130.] Red-bellied Redstart.

Another inhabitant of the highlands of Mexico, coming north to
southern Texas (Giraud).
690. Cardeilina rubrifrons (Giraud). [131.] Red-faced Warbler.

The home of this bird is in the highlands of Gautemala and Mexico,
extending northward to our southern boider in Texas and Arizona.

691. Hrgaticus ruber (Swains.). [132.] Red Warbler.

Inhabits the highlands of eastern Mexico and thence north to Texas
(Giraud).

692. Basileuterus culicivorus (Licht.). [133.] Brasher’s Warbler.

Another tropical species, coming north to southern Texas (Giraud).
693. Basileuterus belli (Giraud). [134.] Bell’s Warbler.

Like the last, a Mexican species, recorded from Texas by Giraud.
697. Anthus pensilvanicus (Lath.). [71.] American Pipit; Tiilark.

Breeds in the far north, migrates through Manitoba and the Missis-
sippi Valley and winters trom the Southern States southward, some-
times north to southern Illinois. In southeastern Texas it is an abun.
dant winter resident. Although this bird is found over the whole of
North America, all the 1884 notes concerning it came from the region
west of the Mississippi. In the spring of 1884 it arrived at Gainesville,
Tex., March 12; Manhattan, Kans. (where it was common for about a
week), April 13; Vermillion, Dak., April 24; and Elk River, Minn.,
May 4. At Ellis, Kans., the first were taken May 2.

In the fall of 1884 the Titlark was first seen at Gainesville, Tex., a

November 1.

In the spring of 1885 the first migrant was seen at Gainesville Mareh
10; at Manhattan, Kans., April15; at Des Moines, nes April 18; and
at Elk River, Minn. May 6.

Tn the fall a 1885 it was first seen at Gainesville November 13; and
a flock was seen there November 18. Mr. Lloyd states that in western
Texas it is ‘common in fall migration; less common in spring.”

700. Anthus spragueii (Aud.). [73.] Sprague’s Titlark.

Breeds abundantly in the Assinaboine region, and in Dakota and w est-
ern Minnesota. Since Dr. Coues, in his “Birds of the Northwest,”
queried whether Sprague’s Lark left Dakota for the winter, much has
been learned of its movements. We now know thatits winter haunts lie
far from Dakota, and that it penetrates even to the south of south west-
ern Texas. Just where it winters seems not yet determined, but as the
record now stands it appears to winter below the United States.* Mr.
Nehrling found it in small flocks near Houston, Tex., in early Novem-
ber, but it soon disappeared. Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown did not find
it at Boerne, near San Antonio, Tex., until March 16, so that its winter
home must be south of these points. At Gainesville, Tex., it was seen
as late as May 7. While northern Dakota and western Manitoba con-
stitute its special breeding grounds, where it nests in great numbers,
yet it can be found in summer in western Minnesota, in Nebraska (where
it arrives about the middle of May), and probably also in western Kan-
sas. Colonel Goss says of it in his List of the Birds of Kansas: *Mi-
gratory, rare”; but Dr. Watson writes from Ellis, Kans.:

I am in doubt oe to classify this bird, but I think it isasummer resident. During

what should be its breeding season I have seen birds ascend almost to invisibility,
but lost sight of them in the descent, and they were not captured.

As the soaring he describes is confined to the breeding season, the }

birds he saw probably had nests in the vicinity.

In Tom Green County, Tex., on the edge of the plains, one was shot
in January, 1885. In the spring of 1885 Sprague’s Titlark, or Pipit,
was first seen at San Antonio, Tex., February 26. At,Gainesville, Tex.,
the first was seen April 8 and the last May 6.

In the fall of 1885 the first was seen at Gainesville October 12,and —

the next November 2. In Concho County, Tex., a small flock was seen
October 15, 1886 (Lloyd).

701. Cinclus mexicanus Swains. [19.] American Dipper; Water Ouzel.

The home of the Water Ouzel, or Dipper, is along the mountain
streams of western North America. According to Professor Aughey it
is “rare over most of Nebraska, but abundant in Oteo County;” and
Grinnell has recorded it from the Black Hills of Dakota.

[*It has been recorded as wintering in immense flocks in central Arkansas, in com-
pany with Lapland Longspurs (Coues, Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. IV, 1879, p. 238).
—C. Hi. M.]

‘¢

“> flac ate ome Badal

265

702. Oroscoptes montanus (Towns.). [10.] Sage Thrasher.

This is scarcely a bird of the Mississippi Valley, since, as its name
implies, its favorite home is in the sage-covered plains of the Great
Basin. It is introduced here on account of its occurrence in western
Texas, where Mr. Lloyd, at San Angelo, found it an occasional visitant.
The species is also migratory, passing north along the Rocky Mount-
ains, about to the northern boundary of the United States.

In the spring of 1885 the first Sage Thrashers (about 20 in number)
were reported from San Angelo, Tex., April 1; and the last the next
day. They were said to be common there during migration. Recently
Mr. Lloyd has published the following concerning the distribution of
this species in Texas: “'Tolerably common resident in Tom Green
County. Winters in Concho County as far east, at least, as Colorado.
No eggs found, but I have seen scores of nests.”—(The Auk, Vol. IV,
1887, p. 297.)

703. Mimus polyglottos (Linn.). [11.] Mockingbird.

The Mocking-bird is a permanent resident in the southern part of the
Mississippi Valley. Its migrations are not great. In winter it retires
but a short distance south of its northern breeding range, and in spring
is rather late in returning. The Gulf States constitute its true winter

}

home, and there it is found in abundance. Many individuals remain
much farther north, and are to be seen occasionally during cold weather.

In the winter of 1883-’84 at Caddo, Ind. Ter., it was seen about half a

‘dozen times; at Saint Louis, Mo., one was seen January 29, 1884, and

even so far north as Burlington, Iowa, it was twice seen during the
winter. It is possible that these last were escaped cage birds, but there
was nothing in their actions to indicate it. Mocking-birds began to

leave winter quarters about the middle of March, 1884, reaching lati-

tude 37° March 20, and occupying almost a month in their journey from
that point to latitude 39° in Missouri, which they reached April 14. In
Kansas, however, it was long delayed. At Manhattan, ‘in 1883, it ar-
rived April 10, but in 1884 cold rains prevented its early appearance,
and the first was not seen until May 22, and then only two or three
pairs came. Usually it is common.” The normal northern limit was

reached the first week in May. Inthe Southern States the song period

began about March 1, but it was almost June before the northernmost
birds found their voices. North of latitude 40° there are only a few

- records of the birds’ summer residence, and these are in central and

southern Lowa.

In the fall of 1884 the last Mockingbird left Mount Carmel, Mo., Oe-
tober 21, while the bulk left October 10. At Shawneetown, IL, a single
bird was reported as staying all winter, and at Peoria, I, ihe Species
has been seen in midwinter. At Gainesville, Tex., some Mockingbirds
spent the winter of 1884-’85.

In the spring of 1885, at Gainesville, Tex., the number present during
winter was increased March 6 by the arrival of the first migrants, and

266

the species had become common by March 31. WMockingbirds reached
Pierce City, Mo., April17; Peoria, Ill., April19; Griggsville, Il., April
21; Saint Louis, Mo., April 24; Mount Carmel, Mo., May 2, and Man-
hattan, Kans., April 26.

. In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., October 24,
Mr. Lloyd states that it is an abundant resident in Tom Green and
Concho Counties, Tex.

704. Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linn.). [12.] Catbird.

A common summer resident throughout the Mississippi Valley and
Manitoba; rare in southeastern Texas (Nehrling). Inthe spring of 1884
fifty-one observers contributed notes upon the movements of the Cat-
bird. It was reported as a winter resident at Waverly, Miss., and at
San Angelo, Tex. At the latter place it was marked “occasional.”

Its northward movement in migration does not take place until the
weather becomes warm and settled. Curiously enough, its first ap-
appearance in 1884 was reported from Danville, Ill. (lat. 40° 087),
April 3; while at Rodney, Miss. (lat. 31° 52’), it was not reported
until April13. April 18 it was noted at latitude 41° 10’ in Illinois;
and April 20 at latitude 40° 50’ in Iowa. Five days later one was ob-
served at Saint Louis (lat. 38° 40’).

Looking at these few records and knowing little of the state of the
weather during these three weeks of April, one would imagine that the
Catbird was exceedingly erratic in its movements; and a further study
of the records might do little towards dispelling this opinion.

Taking the eastern line of migration, from Mississippi to Wisconsin,
we find a general advance about April 29. On that day and the next
it was reported at various stations in Illinois, from Hillsborough (lat.
39° 12’) to Chicago (lat.41° 51’). By May 7 the van had reached West
Depere, Wis., and tie bulk had arrived at Hillsborough and Polo, Hl.
It was reported as arriving at Green Bay, Wis., May 8, and the bulk
reached the same place May 15. West of the Mississippi the earliest
arrival was reported from Burlington, Iowa, April 20. April 26 the
bulk arrived at Pierce City, Mo. April 28 Catbirds had appeared at
Fayette, Mo., and Manhattan, Kans., while at Saint Louis they were
still scarce. April 29 the bulk appeared at Saint Louis, at which place
both sexes were at breeding stands, and flocks of transients were pres-
ent. April 30 the first was reported from Des Moines and Coralville, —
Towa, while the bulk arrived at Manhattan, Kans. On the same day
they first appeared at Oak Point, Manitoba. This last must be either a
mistake or an extraordinarily early record. A delay of nearly a week
in the general movement followed. May 8 the first was noted at Ames
and La Porte, Lowa, and at Vermillion, Dak.; May 9 at Minneap-
olis, Minn.; May 11 at Elk River, Minn.; and May 17 at Frazee City,
Minn. In all cases the bulk followed within a week after the first in-
dividuals had been seen. “Farther west, on the plains, where fewer in-
dividual of these species are met with, they were reported as arriving

j
a:

267

somewhat later. At Gainesville, Tex., they appeared May 12, and re-

mained about twoweeks. At Alda, Nebr., the first arrival was May 14,
while at Ellis, Kans., farther west, and in latitude 38° 55’, they were
not seen until May 25. The notes received from observers contained
little more than the dates of first appearance and the arrival of the
bulk. The few records from near the southern border of the district
leave us in doubt as to the extent to which Catbirds wintered in that
section; but we know from previous records that they are somewhat
common in the Gulf States east of Texas, and occasionally in mild win-
ters a few have been found in southern Illinois; but in Texas, even
in the southern part, the Catbird is rare during the winter, and not very

common during migration or in summer. The notes from Mr. Wid-

— asd

mann, of Saint Louis, are in striking contrast to those of most observ-
ers. They read:

April 25, first one mewing; April 28, still scarce; April 29, bulk arrived; May 5,
height of season, great numbers present, chasing, singing, mewing, fighting, bulk of
transients present; May 8, buik of transients departed ; May 10, building.

The Catbird is also reported as building at Manhattan, Kans., May 9.

In the fall of 1884 only four notes were coutributed on the migration
of the Catbird. At Williamstown, Iowa, the bulk departed August 28,
and the last was seen September 11. At Unadilla, Nebr., the last was
seen August 9; at Des Moines, Iowa, September 24; and at Mount Car-
mel, Mo., September 22; the bulk having left one week previously.

In the spring of 1885, the earliest record of the movements of this
Species came from the northern edge of its usual winter home. At
Corinth, Miss., the first was seen April 9, but no more until April 14.
By April 17 they were reported at Shawneetown, Ill, probably coming
with the warm wave which culminated there the night before. At
Saint Louis, Mo., they were first seen April 20; and at Paris, Ill., April
22. With the exception of two stragglers seen at Manhattan, Kans.,
April 21, no record of movement at this time was made in the country
west of the Mississippi River. The birds rested until the pronounced
warm wave of the last few days of the month, and then moved forward.
Records were received of its presence, April 28 and April 29, at Pe-
oria, Aledo, and Hennepin, Il].; Keokuk, Iowa; Glasgow, Mo., together
with a note on its second arrival at Manhattan, Kans. The first was
recorded May 1, at Reeds and Mount Carmel, Mo., and by both of the
observers at Fayette, Mo., indicating that there was a special move-
ment in Missouri on that date. The Catbirds did not rest very long
before the next movement. Their advance may be seen from the fol-
lowing dates: They reached Richmond, Iowa, May 2; Mount Pleasant,
Iowa, and Tampico, Ill, May 3; Chicago, IU., Rockford, Ill., and Leeds
Center, Wis., May 4. During the cold weather of the second week of
May odd records were made at Grinnell and Waukon, Iowa; Delavan,
Wis., and Lanesboro, Minn., where Catbirds were seen May 7 and May
8; on May 12 they were reported from Williamstown, Iowa; Rochester,

: 268

Minn., and Stoughton, Wis. Early birds had been seen at Lake City, a

Minn., May 3, and at Elk River, Minn., May 6. The regular advance
did not reach these places until May 15, on which date it was reported
also at Hastings and Minneapolis, Minn., and River Falls, New Rich-
mend, and Green Bay, Wis. The next day (May 16) about twenty were

seen at White Earth, Minn. During the cold period the bulk overtook

the advance guard, so that by the middle of May the van and bulk were
moving almost together. This is shown by the fact that while May 15
marked the arrival of the first at the above-named stations, enough
more came the next night to make the species common May 16. May
20 they were recorded as arriving at Huron, Dak. No reports were
received from the region between latitude 45° and latitude 49°, but May
25 and 26 they occupied the whole of Manitoba to latitude 50° 30’.

In the fall of 1885 the last Catbird left Elk River, Minn., September
12; Des Moines, lowa, September 18; and Mount Carmel, Mo., Sep-
tember 10. At Saint Loais, Mo., they were numerous from September
16 to 26; the bulk left September 29, and the last followed October 6.
Very late migrants were seen at Milwaukee, Wis., October 24, and
Fayette, Mo., November 20; while at Bonham, Tex., where they had
been reported during the three previous winters, not a Catbird was
seen during the winter of 1885-86.

705. Harporhynchus rufus (Linn.). [13.] Brown Thrasher.

The Brown Thrasher is a common summer resident throughout the
Mississippi Valley and Manitoba, and winters in the Gulf States and
southward. In 1884 reports upon its migration were received from 89d
observers. The species is so easily recognized that it is not likely to be
overlooked, but its movements on its first arrival are so stealthy and
retired that it may be present for several days without being observed,
unless the weather is fine. In the winter of 1883-84 it was reported
as a winter resident at Waverly, Miss., Mermenton, La., and Abbe-
ville, La., being abundant at the two last-mentioned places. At Cor-
inth, Miss., a single bird was seen December 28, 1883, and January 10,
1884. The observer adds that they were never seen there before during
thirty years residence. They have been known to winter as far north
as southern Illinois. The first record of its appearance north of Mis-
Sissippi and Louisiana in 1884 was made at Danville, Ill., March 15.

This was probably a straggler. The first general movement took
place about March 22. On that day a single male, in high plumage,
but silent, appeared at Saint Louis. The following day three males

were observed at their old stands, in song. The same day (March 23) —

it was reported from Odin and Carlinville, [ll.; and April 1 from Hills-
borough and Griggsville, I]. April 4 the bulk arrived at Reeds, Mo.,

and April 10 at Mount Carmel, Mo. April 12 the first arrived at Lin- 4
wood, Nebr. Two days later the bulk reached Saint Louis, Mo. April ~

17 the first appeared at Manhattan, Kans., and April 19 at Coleta, Ill.

This date was the height of the season at Saint Louis, Mo., where the 3

.
;

:
4

269

~ number was swelled by the presence of both transients and summer so-

journers. A decided northward impulse was observed during the next
week. April 21 the first arrived at Richmond, lowa; and April 26 at
the following places: Polo, Ill.; Des Moines, lowa; Iowa City, Lowa;
Grand Junction, lowa; and Hastings, Minn. April 27 the first was seen
at Lanesboro, Minn.; April 28 at Lake Mills, Wis.; and April 30 at Red
Wing and Elk River, Minn. On the same day the bulk arrived at
-Grand Junction, lowa; Lanesboro, Minn.; and Manhattan, Kans. ‘These
movements show that the line of heaviest and earliest migration was
along the Mississippi River. Thence it spread up the valleys of the
rivers and streams tributary to it. Migration seemed to be at its
height about the end of April. May 1 the first arrival was noted at
Green Bay, Wis., and the bulk arrived at Elk River, Minn. May 5
Brown Thrashers were seen at Vermillion, Dak.; May 13 at Huron,
Dak.; and May 21 at Oak Point, Manitoba. Only one note of its breed-
ing was recorded. This was at Saint Louis, Mo., where young were
found as early as May 30. At Manhattan, Kans., they were building
May 9.

In the fall of 1884 the following records were received of the south-
ward movements of the Brown Thrasher: At Williamstown, Iowa, the
bulk left August 18, and the last August 29; at Unadilla, Nebr., the last
was seen August 23; at Des Moines, Iowa, September 17. The bulk
left Mount Carmel, Mo., September 20, and the last September 26. The
first reached Gainesville, Tex., September 26.

In the spring of 1885 no notes were contributed on its movements
until it reached southern Illinois. It arrived at Shawneetown March
27. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first came April 2, two days earlier than
it was reported at Paris, Ill., to which place it was carried by a tre-
mendous bird wave, which reached there the afternoon and evening of
April 4. To the westward of Saint Louis the birds waited for the next
warm wave, reaching Glasgow, in north central Missouri, April 6. In
the Ozark Hills, in southwestern Missouri, they were reported as arriv-
ing at Pierce City and Reeds April 4. Still farther west, in east central
Kansas (at Richmond and Manhattan), they did not put in an appear-
ance until April 15. The only station in the vicinity of the Mississippi
River at which they were reported between latitude 39° and latitude
41° was Griggsville, lll., where they were seen April11. As this date
and locality coincided with the maximum of a warm wave, it may be
supposed that this wave carried the van to latitude 40°.

The next movement was quite regular. It began at Ferry and Mount
Pleasant, Iowa, April 19; the next day extended to Iowa City, Iowa,

_ and crossed the river to Aledo, Tampico, and Hennepin, Ill.; while the

third day a great rush brought the birds to Des Moines, Coralville, Grin-
nell, and Newton, Lowa, Rockford, Ill., and Lanesboro and Lake City,
Minn. This was one of the most pronounced movements of the whole

Season of migration, and it was carried still farther forward on April 22

270

and April 23, by the arrival of Brown Thrashers at Milwaukee, Lake —
Mills, Leeds Center, Ripon, and Durand, Wis., and Minneapolis, Minn.
At Elk River, Minn., the first was seen May 1. On the plains the ad-
vance was about two weeks later. Linwood, Nebr., was reached April
24; Huron, Dak., May 15; and Shell River, Manitoba, May 23.

In the fall of 1885 the last Brown Thrasher left Eik River, Minn.,
September 12; Des Moines, Iowa, September 16; Grinnell, Iowa, Sep-
tember 28; and Mount Carmel, Mo., October 10. At Saint Louis, Mo.,
they were numerous from September 16 to 26; the buik left September
29, and the last October 16. At Bonham, Tex., where they are com-
mon winter residents, the first came September 19, and they had be-
come common by November 19.

706. Harporhynchus longirostris (Lafr.). [13a.] Long-billed Thrasher.

An inhabitant of eastern Mexico and the valley of the Lower Rio
Grande in Texas, where it is an abundant resident (Merrill; Sennett).
707. Harporhynchus curvirostris (Swains.). [15.] Curve-billed Thrasher.

The home of this species is on the table-lands of Mexico, and
thence north to the valley of the Rio Grande River in Texas. It is a
common resident on the Lower Rio Grande, and is found as high up as
Eagle Pass, where it breeds abundantly.

713. Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus (Lafr.). [54.] Cactus Wren.

In our district this species is found in western Texas only. At Hagle
Pass it is resident, and began nest-building February 26, 1884.

In the fall of 1885 three specimens were secured at San Angelo, Tex.,
which is a northern locality for the species. In May, 1886, Mr. Lloyd
found young at Saragossa P. O., Tex., which is in approximately the
same latitude as San Angelo, but farther west. He says that it is
probably resident on the plains in Tom Green County.

715. Salpinctes obsoletus (Say). [58.] Rock Wren.

The Rock Wren occurs from the Plains to the Pacific, and is supposed
to breed throughout most of its range. A few notes concerning it
were received from the western part of the district, and it is known
that the species migrates principally west of the 99th meridian. It
has been taken once in Decatur County, Iowa, and there is a record
that a “Cafion Wren,” probably this species, was shot among the
rocky bluffs of the river at Kansas City, Mo. In the western part of
Kansas it is found at Ellis as a common summer resident. At San An-
gelo, Tex., it was given merely as a winter resident, arriving from the
North September 10, in 1883, and leaving May 10, in 1884. Some dis-
tance southeast, near Boerne, a female was shot March 4, 1880 (Brown).

717. Catherpes mexicanus (Swains.). [59.] White-throated Wren.
This Wren is resident in Mexico and southern Texas.
717a. Catherpes mexicanus conspersus Ridgw. [59a.] Canon Wren.
The Cafton Wren inhabits the southwestern United States from west-

» inte al

Pe

ern Texas and Colorado westward. During the winter of 1879~’80 Mr.

N. C. Brown discovered about three pairs in a cation on Cibalo Creek,
near Boerne, Tex.; and Mr. William Lloyd found it common at Fort
Davis, Tex.

718. Thryothorus ludovicianus (Lath.). [60.] Carolina Tren.

An abundant resident in the southern portion of the Mississippi Val-
ley. Its movements in migration are very slight, and are confined to
the northern portion of its range, namely, southern Nebraska, southern
Towa, and northern Illinois. The few individuals that find their way to
these sections retire southward in winter, and a slight decrease in num-
bers during the winter is also discernible south to abcut latitude 38°;
below this there is no change. This species belongs more particularly
to the East, being seldom found west of longitnde 99°. In Kansas,
where it is resident, it is abundant in the eastern but rare in the west-
ern part of the State (Goss).

The form of the species once recognized as Berlandier’s Wren (Thry-
othorus ludovicianus berlandiert), but not now considered distinct, occurs
in southwestern Texas. It was somewhat common at San Angelo during
the winter, and one or two were seen every few days until May 6. It
probably breeds, though Mr. Lloyd has not yet found any nests.

719. Thryothorus bewickii (Aud.). [61.] Bewick’s Wren.

The distribution of this species over the Mississippi Valley is very
irregular. Abundant in some places and rarely or never seen in con-
tiguous territory, it seems to be governed by fancy in the choice of a
dwelling place. Like the Carolina Wren, it is not strictly a migratory
species, but leaves the northern portions of its range and winters from
southern Illinois southward. In summer it is exceedingly abundant in
southern Indiana and some parts of Illinois, being the common ‘ House
Wren” to the exclusion of Troglodytes aédon. 'The same is true of east-

ern Texas, and of some places in Missouri. West and north of these

States itis not common. It is not common in Kansas, and is rare in
Nebraska. Dr. Hatch’s note for Minnesota, stating that it is “common
in summer,” would better express the facts did it read: ‘‘ Not uncom-
mon during summer in a few localities in the southern part of the
State.” Its limited migration is performed in the last week of March
and the first few days of April. ;

In the spring of 1885, at Gainesville, Tex., the first Bewick’s Wren
was reported March 6, and the next March 28. At Pierce City, Mo.,
the first was seen March 31. At Saint Louis the first was seen March
30, and the species became common the next day.
719b. Thryothorus bewickii bairdi (Salv.& Godm.). [61b.] Baird’s Wren; Texas

Bewick’s Wren.

An abundant resident in Texas, and not uncommon in southwestern
Kansas (Goss). At Caddo, Ind. Ter., only 30 miles north of the Texas
line, specimens of Bewick’s Wren killed in December, when the species

272
was most zommon, apparently were typical bewickii. It disappeared in |
the early spring, but the people of town said it would come again and be
the House Wren of the summer. As the Texas form is known to be
abundant only a few miles southward, it seems probable that the winter
birds are typical bewtcktvi and the summer birds bairdi. A change ofres- —
idence on the part of the author prevented. the exact determination of .
the matter. At Caddo, neither Troglodytes aédon nor its western sub-
species has been found. Mr. Lloyd states that Baird’s Wren raises two
broods in western Texas, where it is an abundant resident.

721. Troglodytes aédon Vieill. [63.] House Wren.

The House Wren is a bird of the Eastern States, ranging west to the
Mississippi Valley. In looking over the notes contributed on this —
species it has been found necessary to cut out 35 per cent. as being of
uncertain identity. The House Wren is so commonly confounded
with the Winter Wren that the records of its movements are per-
plexing and not very reliable. Information is needed concerning the :
northern limit of its winter range in the Southern States west of
the Mississippi River. East of the Mississippi it is reported as regu-
larly resident up to latitude 35°, and occasionally still farther north in
heavy bottom lands. In migration, in the spring of 1884, it reached
latitude 37° in Missouri the last week in March; latitude 38° 40/ in
Missouri April 19; latitude 39° 19’ in Illinois April 25; and latitude
39° 12’ in Kansas April 24. After this the advance seems to have been
very rapid, for the species arrived at latitude 46° 33’ in Minnesota May
3, and at Oak Point, Manitoba (latitude 50° 30’), near the limit of its
northward journey, May17. Thereis quite a strong intimation that the
migration through eastern Illinois and Wisconsin took place from a
week to ten days earlier than the movement in corresponding latitudes
west of the Mississippi, but in the present uncertainty as to which
species of Wren was actually seen no positive statement can be made.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of House Wrens left Des Moines, Lowa,
August 28, and none were seen there after that date. At Shawnee-
town, Ill., a single bird was reported as having been seen all winter.

In the spring of 1885 the records of the House Wren and the Winter
Wren in migration were hopelessly mixed. The two Wrens appear to
have migrated more nearly at the same time than usual, thus increasing
the confusion of the records. All that can be safely said of the House —
Wren is that it was one month (from April 17 to May 17) in passing
from Saint Louis, Mo. (latitude 38° 40’), to Oak Point Manitoba (lati-
tude 50° 30’). The A. O. U. Check-list gives the habitat of the typ-
ical House Wren as “Eastern United States and Southern Canada, —
west to Indiana and Louisiana.” The subspecies parkmanii is given as
ranging in “« Western North America, from Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, —
and Manitoba westward; north to Great Slave Lake, south to Jalapa, —
Mexico, and Lower California.” According to these habitats, both of —
the localities mentioned, Saint Louis and Oak Point, belong to the —

273

western subspecies, and the same would be true of most of the records
received under the name of the House Wren. It will be noticed that in
the notes for 1884 it is said that there is an intimation that migration in
Tlinois and Wisconsin was a week or ten days earlier than that west
of the Mississippi River. The same thing, inastill greater degree, ap-
pears in the notes for 1885. The records from eastern Illinois and Wis-
consin, from such reliable observers as Mr. Balmer, Mr. Ingram, and a
half dozen others, are fourteen days earlier than from corresponding
Jatitudes in Missouri and Iowa. Now, if in these records for both years
the House Wren and not the Winter Wren was the bird really seen, it fol-
lows that there is a clearly marked difference in the times of migration
of the eastern and western House Wrens. ‘To fully determine this point
the records of the observers in the district east of the Mississippi Val-
ley would have to be consulted and a careful scries of observations made
with reference to this particular point. The case is quite similar to that
of the eastern and western Meadowlarks, and is well worthy of future
consideration.
In the fall of 1885 the last House Wren was reported from Grinnell,
Iowa, September 27; from Des Moines, Iowa, September 26, and from
Saint Louis, Mo., September 29. The first one reached San Angelo, Tex:
September 11. Dr. Agersborg states that both typical T. aédon and T.
aédon parkmanti breed in southern Dakota.

, "2,

721a. Troglodytes aédon parkmanii (Aud.). [63a.] Western House Wren; Park-
man's Wren.
Parkman’s Wren is a bird of the Western States, coming east to the
Mississippi Valley. After what has been said of the eastern form but
little remains to be said of the western. Its rangeina north and south
direction is about the same as the foregoing, and the dates of its mi-
gration are also much the same—possibly a little later. Concerning its
eastward extension, it may be said to be common in western Texas, and
it was found at Gainesville in north-central Texas in the spring of 1884,
It is a common summer resident in Kansas, and is common in Ne.
braska, Dakota, western Minnesota, and western Manitoba. It has
been taken several times at Chicago, Ill. Thus its course of migration
is seen to tend somewhat in a northeasterly direction.

722. Troglodytes hiemalis Vieill. [65.] JVinter MWren.

Breeds from the Northern States northward. Mr. H. A. Kline tells
us that it nests in the rubbish along the banks of a stream one mile
west of Polo, Ill., and Mr. Preston has found it as a not common breeder
in central Lowa.

This Wren can endure cold many degrees below zero, and is found
during the winter in much of the heavy timber south of latitude 39°.
Most of the birds winter between latitude 34° and latitude 37°. In
the spring of 1884 its migration took place a week or ten days earlier
than in 1883. The migrants reached latitude 39° about March 20, and
| 1365—Bull 2—=18 ;

274
then paused until April 1. From April 5 to April 12 it spread over all —
the country north to latitude 45°. The last left Caddo, Ind. Ter., March
25; and Saint Louis, April 11.

In the fall of 1884 the first Winter Wren appeared at Mount Carmel,
Mo., September 13.

After what has been said under the head ef the House Wren, it is
scarcely necessary to add that the records of the Winter Wren’s move-
ments during the spring of 1885 were largely coufused with those of
that species. All of the notes, with one exception, were very late, and
this exception came from northeastern Illinois, and probably refers to
the eastern House Wren.

In the fall of 1885 the only Winter Wren seen in fall migration at
Elk River, Minn., was September 30. At Mount Carmel, Mo., onewas
seen October 19, while at Grinnell, Lowa, it was twice seen during the
first week of November.

724. Cistothorus stellaris (Licht.). [68.] Short-billed Marsh Wren.

The Short-billed Marsh Wren breeds abundantly in western Man-
itoba, and occasionally throughout the southern part of its range, but
in summer the bulk of the species is north of latitude 46°. Dr. Agers-
borg has recorded it as a rare breeder in southeastern Dakota.

In the Mississippi Valley it is not so common as the following species,
and its winter home averages a little farther north. The notes indi-
cate that it migrated about the same time as the Long-billed.

In the spring of 1885 the first and only Short billed Marsh Wren seen
at Saint Louis was observed April 28. At Fernwood, Ll., the first was
recorded May 10, and at Elk River, Minn., May 16. :

In the fall of 1885 the last left Elk River, Minn., September 3. At
Grinnell, lowa, the first was seen October 22, and the last October 27.

725. Cistothorus palustris (Wils.). [67.] Long-billed Marsh Wren.

Occurs throughout the Mississippi Valley from Manitoba to the Gulf,
wintering in the Southern States, and occasionally in mild winters
even in southern Illinois. It is alate migrant. In the spring of 1884
it reached Ellis, Kans., April 27, where it is a rare summer resident.
Nearer the Mississippi River it arrived somewhat earlier, but it did not
advance to latitude 45° till the middle of May.

Few of the observers have noted this species, since its favorite haunts
are in marshes, more or less inaccessible.

In the spring of 1885 Stoughton, Ill., was the only station that sent
a report on the spring migration of the Long-billed Marsh Wren. It
was first seen there May 12, and next. May 14, at which date it be-
came common. The species breeds throughout its range.

It is a rare spring migrant in western Texas (Lloyd).

In the fall of 1885 the first migrant appeared at Saint Louis, Mo.,
September 19, and the last was seen there October 6. At Emporia,
Kans., the last was seen September 26.

275

726. Certhia familiaris americana (Bonap.). [55.] Brown Creeper.

Breeds chiefly along our northern border. The migratory movements
of this species are peculiar. Dr. Coues says that itis ‘almost station-
ary,” and yet there is probably no individual of the species that re-
mains in the same latitude the whole year, while it is true that a few
individuals may be found far north in winter and an equal number far
south in summer. The bulk of the species migrates with more or less
regularity. In 1885~84 it was found wintering in Indian Territory,
Missouri, Kansas, southern Wisconsin, and ‘very rarely” in southern
Dakota. In previous years it has been found wintering up to latitude
45°, but beyond that point none of the Mississippi Valley observers
have noted if in winter. During cold weather it remains among the
heaviest timber, and hence would be seen by very few of the observers,
but during its migration it can be found almost anywhere. From the
fact that a few individuals wintered all along the Mississippi Valley, it
is very difficult to trace its spring movements with accuracy. Dr.
Coues implies that it breeds throughout its range, but instances of its
breeding south of latitude 41° must be very rare. Indced there is no
such case recorded from the whole State of Illinois, and all observers
south of latitude 41° agree in calling it either a winter resident or a
transient visitor. Mr. T. M. Trippe, in a contribution on the “ Birds of
Colorado,” which appeared in Coues’s “ Birds of the Northwest,” stated
(p. 230):

Abundant during the winter, from 7,000 feet up to 9,000 feet, and probably ranging
considerably higher and lower. Breeds sparingly in the upper woods, within a few
hundred feet of timber-line, Appears at Idaho late in the fall, and becomes very com-

- mon as soon as the weather becomes cold, great numbers coming in from other re-
@1008.

There seems to be little doubt that the bulk of the species breeds in
the heavy forests along our northern boundary, and for a considerable
distance beyond. The spring migration in 1884 began about the middle
of March, and was at its height from April 10 to April 20, at which date
the species was found migrating over all the northern half of the Mis-
sissippi Valley and in British America. It arrived at Oak Point, Mani-
toba, April 17. The migration was completed south of latitude 45°
about the ist of May.

In the fall of 1884 the Brown Creeper was reported as reaching Blk

River, Minnesota, September 25, where it was last seen October 17. It
was first reported from Des Moines, Iowa, November 8; and last from
Mount Carmel, Mo., September 21.
_In the spring of 1885 there was no regularity in the reports of the
northward migration of the Brown Creeper. The records extend from
April 1 at Saint Louis, Mo., to April 15 at Elk River, Minnesota. The
last was seen at Saint Louis April 26, which is a later date than it was
reported from any other station.

In the fall of 1885 the nine records of migration received were irregu-

ta

276

lar. They indicate that the height of migration in the upper half of —
the Mississippi Valley was about October 1. 4

Mr. Lloyd states that in western Texas it is a “tolerably common —
winter visitor.”

727. Sitta carolinensis Lath. [51.] White-bellied Nuthatch.

This non-migratory species belongs more particularly to the eastern
two-thirds of the Mississippi Valley. The 97th meridian very nearly —
bounds its western range, and beyond this line it is only met withasa ~
straggler. It has been found in western Kansas, and was reported —
from San Angelo, Tex., as “resident but rare.” Only a few were seen
at Caddo, Ind. Ter., and fewer still at Gainesville, Tex.

727a. Sitta carolinensis aculeata (Cass.). [5la.] Slender-billed Nuthatch.

This western form of the White-bellied Nuthatch is partially migra-
tory. Mr. Seton (now Thompson) gave it as “a rather rare summer |
resident in western Manitoba.” It occurs in the western part of our
district, has been found in the timbered tracts of eastern Nebraska, and
is a rare resident at Vermillion, in southeastern Dakota.

Mr. Lloyd found it to be the prevailing form at Fort Davis, Tex.,
while at San Angelo, Tex., only the eastern form was noted.

728. Sitta canadensis Linn. [52.] Red-bellied Nuthatch.

This is a truly migratory species, but our knowledge of its move-
ments lacks precision. In the winter-time it is found throughout the
district from the Gulf of Mexico to Minnesota. In summer the bulk
passes beyond our northern border. It is rare in western Manitoba.
It was reported in summer from Polo, in northern Illinois; and at New-
ton, in central Iowa, it was recorded as a resident.*

The few notes contributed upon its movements in the spring of 1884
indicate that its time of migration in the middle districts (between lati-
tude 39° and latitude 42°) was during the last week in April and the
first week in May.

In the spring of 1885 the first Red-bellied Nuthatch was reported
from Paris, ill., May 1. At La Porte City, lowa, one was seen April 19.

-

729. Sitta pusilla Lath. [53.] Brown-headed Nuthatch.

A bird of the southern portion of the Mississippi Valley and eastward;
resident throughout its range. The most northern record in 1884 came
from Newport, Ark. (latitude 35° 36’), but it has been found by Mr.
Widmann as an accidental visitor at Saint Louis, and has been recorded
from Ohio.

730. Sitta pygmza Vig. [54.] Pygmy Nuthatch.

An inhabitant of the western United States and the mountainous
districts of Mexico. According to Professor Aughey it has been found —
once in northern Nebraska, where it must be a rare straggler.

*T am of opinion that these records need verification.—C. H. M.

Deer

731. Parus bicolor Linn. [36.] Tufted Titmouse.

A common resident throughout the southern half of the Mississippi
Valley east of the plains; abundant in eastern Kansas. If this bird
performs any migration, it does so merely from the more open country,
which it inhabits in summer, to the nearest heavy timber. In the late
fall itisa most noisy bird, but in winter the struggle for food gives it
no time for *‘ petoing.” With the first sign of spring, however, it begins
with redoubled energy and keeps the woods full of its clear whistle
until after the young have left the nest. In the Mississippi Valley it is
not common north of southern Iowa, but has been known to wander to
Minnesota. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., it began to leave the bottom-lands
March 3, and by March 25 was spread evenly over the country.

Parus bicolor texensis Sennett. [—.] Texan Tufled Titmouse.
An inhabitant of southern Texas. (For a description of this new
Tit see the Auk, vol. iv, No. 1, Jan., 1887, pp. 29-30.)

732. Parus atricristatus Cass. [37.] Black-crested Titmouse.

Dr. Coues, in his “ Birds of the Colorado Valley,” says of this spe-
cies: ‘‘ Habitat, Valley of the Rio Grande and southward in Mexico,
(p. 116). But the same year (1878) Mr. Ragsdale determined its range
in the United States to be south from latitude 33° and west from longi-
tude 98° 30’. Mr. Lloyd has ascertained that it is a tolerably common
resident in Concho and Tom Green Counties, Tex., and thence to El
Paso is the prevailing species. In April, 1878, its eggs were taken in
Comal County, Tex., by Mr. W. H. Werden (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club,
vol. Iv, 1879, p. 76); and Mr. N. C. Brown found it “a very abundant
resident” at Boerne, Texas, in 1880. (JZbid., vol. Vil, 1882, p. 35.) It
is an abundant resident along the Lower Rio Grande (Merrill; Sen-
nett).

Parus atricristatus castaneifrons Sennett. [—.] Chestnut-fronted Titmouse.

This new subspecies has been recently described by Mr. Sennett,
from specimens taken in Bee County, in southern Texas (Auk, vol. iv,
No. 1, Jan., 1887, pp. 28-29).

734. Parus wollweberi (Bonap.). [39.] Bridled Titmouse.
The home of the Bridled Tit is in western Texas and thence westward.

735. Parus atricapillus Linn. [41.} Black-capped Chickadee. |

This Chickadee is found in the United States from western Iowa and
eastern Kansas eastward, and from southern Illinois northward. Ithas
been claimed that it is not stationary, as has been generally supposed,
but that there is a migratory movement each fall and spring, so that .
the species is not represented in winter at any station by the same in-
dividuals which are found there in summer. Very little material has
ever been collected for the settlement of this point, and the field would
be a fruitful one for some patient and painstaking observer. The only
light furnished on the subject, by the record of 1884, came from Saint

278

Louis, where transient individuals were seen passing from March 20 to E
March 26.* Mr. Lloyd took one in spring migration in eastern Concho
County, Tex.

735a. Parus atricapillus septentrionalis (Harris). [4la.] Long-tailed Chickadee.

This is the western form of the preceding, and similar to it in habits. i
It is found as far east as Missouri, eastern Nebraska, and western Min- —
nesota along the Red River, thus slightly overlapping the hume of
the Black-cap. Dr. Agersborg states that it is the only Chickadee
found in southeastern Dakota, and Colonel Goss says it is common in
western Kansas. In the South it has been found in Texas, where it was
mixed with the southern Chickadee. Professor Lantz took a fine set
of seven eggs April 17, at Manhattan, Kans., and the next day a set of
the eggs of the Eastern form.

736. Parus carolinensis Aud. [42.] Carolina Chickadee.

This is a Southern species, and is supposed to be a resident through-
out its range, which extends southward from southern Illinois and cen-
tral Missouri. It thus overlaps the range of the Black-capped Chicka- —
dee, and in southwestern Missouri (for example, at Pierce City) all
three forms are found. In Concho County, Tex., Mr. Lloyd found it
once in winter, and once in spring migration. It was previously ascer-
tained to be a resident in Comal County, Tex. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club,
vol. rv, 1879, p. 76); ands a common resident in eastern Texas (Nehr-
ling). :

“ al

740. Parus hudsonicus Forst. [45.] Hudsonian Chickadee.

Breeds in British America and is a rare visitant to the northern parts
of our district. It has been recorded from Illinois, Wisconsin, and
Michigan.

: si a’. ceed
ee hes 4 TS Tala Be a ea ES

744. Psaltriparus plumbeus Baird. [48.] Lead-colored Bush-Tit.

Mr. William Lloyd has ascertained that this western Tit ranges east
to our district. He saw an erratic flock of about twenty individuals at
Fort Davis, Tex., during November, 1885.

' 746. Auriparus flaviceps (Sund.). [50.] Verdin; Yellow-headed Tit.

The Verdin or Yetlow-headed Tit has been known for years as a resi-
dent of southern Texas. Its range extends from the valley of the lower
Rio Grande westward to Lower California, and south to northern Mexico.
One of our observers, Mr. H. P. Attwater, has studied its habits at a
place near the extreme northeastern limit of its range. He found it
resident and quite common at San Antonio, Tex. (lat. 29° 27’), where,
during the summer of 1884, his party obtained about thirty skins and
quite a number of nests and eggs. The nest, which is so large as to be —
out of all proportion to the size of the bird, is occupied all winter as a —

* There is no question whatever that this Chickadee is a migrant, however, limited
its migrations may be. In the District of Columbia and neighboring portions of ©
Maryland and Virginia it is a winter visitant, never remaining to breed.—C. H. M.

279

sleeping place. In journeying from San Antonio south westward to the
Rio Grande River, Mr. Attwater found these birds not numerous, but
evenly distributed over all the country.

748. Regulus satrapa Licht. [33.] Golden-crowned Kinglet.

A migrant in the Mississippi Valley, possibly a few breed in north-
ern Minnesota. This species is much less numerous than the Ruby-
crowned Kinglet, and is seldom seen in real flocks. It is, however, a
much hardier bird, and winters over most of the United States south of
latitude 40°, and a little farther north in the mountainous portions of
the East. This of course means in suitable localities, which are heavily
wooded valleys. Unlike the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, it is most numerous
in the middle portion of its winter habitat, but few going as far south
as the Gulf. Still Mr. Lloyd tells us that a few winter in Concho
County, Tex., and that it is tolerably common there in fall migration.
In southeastern Texas it is common in winter (Nehrling). The van
does not start northward many days in advance of the Ruby-crowns,
but the transit of the bulk is much quicker, and the last Golden-crown
usually leaves a locality before the other species even becomes common.
Leaving out of account the very few individuals which wintered there
in 1883-84, the first migrants arrived at latitude 39° about April 1, and
at latitude 45° about the middle of the month. The last left Texas
before March 20, and a month later there were none to be found south
of latitude 40°. Mr. Kline states that a few remain all summer in the
thick swamps near Polo, Ill. (lat. 41° 58’), but that he has never suc-
_ ceeded in finding their nests.

In the spring of 1885 a Golden-crowned Kinglet was shot at Gaines-
ville, Tex., March 24. A bird, probably this species, had also been seen
there three days earlier. At Paris, [ll., the first was seen March 30;
at Saint Louis, Mo., March 31; Chicago, Ill., April 1; Delavan, Wis.,
April 2; Grinnell, Iowa, April 7; Ripon, Wis., April 10; and New
Richmond, Wis., April 14. The records of “lasts” were very irregular.
The latest was May 138, at Durand, Wis.

In the fall of 1886 the record was quite regular. ‘ Firsts” were seen
at Lanesboro, Minn., October 2; Iowa City, Iowa, October 3; Milwau-
kee, Wis., October 4, and Saint Louis, Mo., October 14. The last at
Lanesboro were seen October 18; at Milwaukee, October 26, and at
Saint Louis, October 31.

749. Regulus calendula (Linn.). [30.] Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Breeds chiefly north of the United States, and winters from near our
southern border southward. At one station only, namely, San Angelo,
Tex. (latitude 31° 22’), was this species reported as a winter resident
in 188384, Careful search might have revealed it at a dozen more
Stations, for it has been known to winter in Kansas and in south-
ern Illinois. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., the most diligent search failed to
discover a single individual, although the Golden-crowned Kinglet was

ae
280 mt
common. Mr. Lloyd states that the Nueces cafion, in southwestern
Texas, is the winter home of countless myriads of these birds, and that
they leave very early in the spring, none having been seen after Maren
9, 1884. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., about a hundred were seen March 25,
showing that the first came a few days before. Farther east the migra-
tion began about the middle of March, and proceeded without much
regularity. April 1 found the birds at about latitude 39°, with a few
Stragglers a little beyond. Then the records become irregular, as if the
small size of the birds allowed them to escape the notice of about half
the observers until some days after their arrival. Perhaps the notes
on the migration of this species will give a fair idea of the returns made
by observers with reference to many of the smaller birds. From lati-
tude 40° to latitude 41° 59’ the dates of arrival are: April 19, 21; March
30, 31; April 17, 15, 20; from latitude 42° to latitude 43° 59’: April 22,
27,17, 5,10, May 8; from latitude 44° to latitude 45° 59’: April 12, 21,
May 11. Much of this apparent confusion can be explained by the dif-
ferences in altitude and situation of the stations, while the opportuni-
tieS and experience of the observer must also be taken into account.
The normal arrival of the species at latitude 42° appears to have been
about April 15, and at latitude 45° April 20. May 5 it arrived at Port-
age la Prairie, Manitoba.

Many of the observers were deceived in regard to the time of arrival
of the bulk of this species. It is true that the first arrival often con-
sists of many individuals, and that others come within a day or two, so
that the species appears to be common; but the arrival of the great
multitude, the real bulk, does not take place till two or three weeks
later. If at that time one of its favorite haunts is visited it is found
everywhere. Though scarcely breeding south of latitude 45° in the
Mississippi Valley, yet it was found in Texas as late as May 1, and in
the middle districts even on May 15. On the plains, as usual, it was
later in migrating, reaching Manhattan, Kans., April 30, and Vermill-
ion, Dak., May 8.

In the fall of 1884, Ruby-crowned Kinglets first appeared at Des
Moines, lowa, September 27, and for the next two days were common;
they then left as suddenly as they had come. They were reported as
arriving at San Angelo, Tex., October 8.

In the spring of 1885 the earliest record came from San Antonio,
Tex., February 26, and the next from Gainesville, Tex., March 31.
Saint Louis, Mo., was reached April 1; Paris, Ill., April 4; Mount Car-
mel, Mo., April 5; Iowa City, Iowa, April 6; Grinnell, lowa, April 6;
and Lanesboro, Minn., April 9. Then there seems to have been a long
pause, for nearly two weeks passed before any other records were made,
and these later notes were too irregular for use. At Saint Louis, Mo.,
the bulk was present from April 17 to April 20, and the last was seen
May 5. “Lasts” were reported from Manhattan, Kans., May 6; Des
Moines, Iowa, May 8; Mount Carmel, Mo., May 10; Grinnell, Lowa, —

“ae to (oa
= ey

=e

4 ag ; . . | ss 281
; May 9; Williamstown, Iowa, May 5; Waukon, Iowa, May 12; Durand,

Wis., May 13; while on May 16 about two hundred Ruby-crowns were
seen at White Earth, Minn.

In the fall of 1885 the record was more regular than that for the
spring migration. ‘ Firsts” were seen September 27 at Grinnell, Lowa,
and Mount Carmel, Mo. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen Octo-
ber 5; at Emporia, Kans., October 6; at Bonham, Tex., October 14, and
at San Angelo, Tex., October 17. “Lasts” were reported at Grinnell,
Iowa, October 10; Iowa City, lowa, October 10, and Mount Carmel,
Mo., October 12. At Saint Louis, Mo., where they were most numerous
October 10 and 11, the last was seen October 23.

751. Polioptila cerulea (Linn.). [27.] Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher.

The southern half of the Mississippi Valley is the summer home of
this species, and a few may linger in winter on our extreme southern
border, but the bulk deserts the United States for a warmer climate.
They have been known to occur in Minnesota, but very rarely. The
most northern record received in 1884 was from Laporte City, lowa

(lat. 42°18’). Their dispersion in the West is a little peculiar. In Kan-

sas all the observers gave them as common in migration,.but few re-
maining to breed, while in Nebraska they were considered rather rare.

Where, then, do these abundant migrants breed?

Returning, it enters the eastern part of the Mississippi Valley in early
March, but in western Texas is somewhat later. In the spring of 1834
it was seen at latitude 35° April 1, and the middle of the month at
latitude 39°. The fact that these birds were near their journey’s end

‘ did not occasion any decrease in their speed, for they pushed right on,

and in a few days (by April 28) had reached the limit of their north-—
ward journey in northern Illinois and central Lowa.

In Texas there is a decided difference between their migration in the
eastern and western parts of the State. At Gainesville, Tex., they ap-
peared March 22, and more than a hundred were seen at Caddo, Ind.
Ter., March 25. These two stations are near the valley of the Red
River. Much farther south, in western Texas, they appeared later, ar-
riving at San Angelo and Mason April 6 and 7. In the northern part
of their range the species may be considered as having completed its
migration and settled down to summer work about May 10.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Biue-gray Gnatcatchers was reported
as leaving Des Moines, Iowa, August 26, and the last, three days later.
The last was reported from Mount Carmel, Mo., September 6, and from
San Angelo, Tex., October 5.

In the spring of 1885 it arrived at San Angelo, Tex., March 15;
Gainesville, Tex., March 23; Houma, La., March 31; Corinth, Miss.,
April 7, and Saint Louis, Mo., April 8. An early migrant was seen at
Peoria, Ill., April 13. The bulk reached Saint Louis, Mo., April 17,
and the first was reported from Paris, Ill., the sameday. April 18 they
were seen at Emporia and Manhattan, in Kansas. Between April 20

289

and April 23, they appeared at Des Moines, Newton, and Grinnell, in |
Iowa. At New Richmond, Wis., a locality far north of the usual range
of the species, it was reported May 18. |

In the fall of 1885 the last was seen at Grinnell, lowa, September 26;
and at Saint Louis, Mo., September 25. None were seen at Bonham,
Tex., after September 1. .

752. Polioptila plumbea Baird. [28.] Plumbeous Gnatcatcher.

The home of this Gnatcatcher is in southern Texas and thence west-.
-ward to Lower California.

754. Myadestes townsendii (Aud.). [25.] Townsend’s Solitaire.

A rare stranger from the western United States. The only accounts
of it in the Mississippi district refer to its ocvasional occurrence in win-
ter. Prof. Aughey saw one on the Niobrara River in Nebraska, in 1877;
January 17, 1880, Mr. Powell took a fine male at Alda, Nebr.; and later
Mr. Hall saw it in southeastern Nebraska. Col. N.S. Goss gives it as
‘‘an occasional fall and winter visitant in western Kansas,” where he
saw ten and killed four in October, 1883. One was killed at Waukegan,
Ili., December 16, 1875 (Nelson). Some of the most important of Mr..-
Lloyd’s many ornithological discoveries in western Texas refer to Town-
send’s Solitaire. He not only determined its occurrence there in winter,
by securing three specimens, but in May, 1886, he found its nest at
Saragossa. It breeds in the Black Hills of Dakota. =

755. Turdus mustelinus Gmel. [1.] Wood Thrush.

The several Wood Thrushes (members of the subgenus Hylocichla) are
so commonly and constantly confounded with one another by all but
the practiced ornithologist, that no more hopeless task is encountered
in the whole study of migration than that of attempting to determine
which species were actually seen by each observer. Many notes, be-
lieved by the observers to relate to the present species, evidently refer
to the Hermit Thrush (Turdus pallasit), which is the earliest member oi
this group to migrate, and in other cases it is probable that the bird
actually seen was the Olive-backed Thrush (Turdus. swainsonii). The
Wood Thrush is a common breeder in the middle belt of the Mississippi
Valley. It becomes rare toward our northern boundary. The first au--
thentie record of the Wood Thrush in 1884 came from Saint Louis, Mo.,
where a single one was noted April 19. It was not seen again for a
week, but April 26 the bulk of males appeared at Saint Louis, and soon
after it began to be reported from more northern points. On the last
day of Aprilit was noted in latitude 39° 19/ in Illinois, latitude 38°
45’ in Missouri, and latitude 39° 12’ in Kansas, showing that on that
date the line of advance was pretty nearly coincident with the 39th
parallel. The normal advance seems to have reached latitude 41°
May 5, and the territory between latitude 42° and latitude 43° May
7 and 8. In Wisconsin it was observed at latitude 43° 43’ May 12,
but in Minnesota at about the same latitude none-were seen until May

Py

283

17. There are other records from farther north, but it seems probable
that they belong to the Hermit Thrush. It was reported by Mr. Nash
from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, though it is very scarce in that
region. The records are too indefinite to admit of tracing the move-
ments of the bulk. The species breeds throughout its range in the
district, and winters beyond our border. Dr. Agersborg states that
it is a rare summer resident in southeastern Dakota, and Colonel Goss
records it as abundant in eastern Kansas.

In the fall of 1884, at Des Moines, Iowa, the last Wood Thrush was
geen August 25. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the bulk left Septem 1
and the last was seen September 14.

In the spring of 1885 the following complete records of the movements
of the four species of Thrushes most commonly confounded were re-
ceived, and may be of use as a table of reference.

Mr. Widmann’s record at Saint Louis was as follows:

Hermit Thrush. First, April 1; bulk present from April 6 to April 18; last,
April 24.

Olive-backed Thrush. First, April 17; bulk present from May 4 to May 6;
last, May 20.

Wilson’s Thrush. First, April 22; bulk present from May 5 to May 12; last,
May 12.

Wood Thrush. First, April 19; bulk came April 28; remains to breed.

In the spring of 1834 the movements of these species at Saint Louis
were as follows:

Hermit Thrush. First, April 1; bulk present from April 14 to April 19; last,
April 28.

Olive-backed Thrush. First, April 26; bulk present from April 29 to May 12;
last, May 26.

Wilson’s Thrush. First, April 29; never common; last, May 21.

Wood Thrush. First, April 19; bulk came April 26.

In the spring of 1883 the record was:

Hermit Thrush. First not noted; bulk present April 10 to April 12; last,
April 13.

Olive-backed Thrush. First, April 26; bulk present from May 2 to May 18;
last, May.24.,

Wilsow’s Thrush. First not noted; bulk present from May 15 to May 17°.
last, May 21.

At Jefferson, Wis., in the spring of 1883, I made the following rec-
ord:

Hermit Thrush. First, April 4; bulk present from April 20 to May 6; last,
May 10.

Olive-backed Thrush. Second seen May 3; bulk present from May 12 to May
24; last, May 31.

Wilson’s Thrush. First, May 7; bulk present from May 12 to May 24; last,
May 30.

Wood Thrush. First, May 10; bulk came May 17.

These are the only complete records received. From them it will be

Seen that although the exact dates are somewhat variable, the relative

pike ge a

movements of the first three species remain the same for the three ~
years and in the two widely separated localities, while the Wood Thrush
shows great constancy in the time of its arrival at Saint Louis, without
regard to the weather.

The records of the migration of the Wood Thrush in the spring of
1885 fell between April 19, at Saint Louis, Mo., and May 18, at Lanes-
boro, Minn.

In the fall of 1885, at Grinnell, Iowa, the last was seen September 16, _
and at Saint Louis, Mo. , September 26. :

756. Turdus fuscescens Steph. [2.] Wilson’s Thrush. , r:

This is rather a retired bird and one not often noticed in its late and
hurried migration. It winters principally south of the United States,
though a few stay in the Gulf States and Florida; hence it has a long
journey to perform before reaching its breeding grounds in the north-
ern United States and British America. In the spring of 1884 few
records were made of its movements, and none whatever of its first ap-
pearance along our southern border. No notes were contributed from
any locality south of Saint Louis, Mo., where two birds arrived April
29. Four birds, the highest number seen in one day, were recorded May
17, and May 21 the last one left, but managed to sing a little before its
departure. A little farther up the river, at Burlington, Iowa, the first —
was noticed May 5, though one had bean seen at Chicago, Ill., two 5
days previously. May 11 and May 12 it reached West De Pere, Wis. |
and Lanesboro, Minn. A week later (May 18) it reached Oak Point,
Manitoba. It breeds abundantly in Manitoba and oceasionally in the
Northern States, sometimes as far south as northern Illinois and Iowa.
Mr. Kline took two sets of eggs at Polo, IIL, during the season of 1883;
Dr. Agersborg has found it breeding at Vermillion, in southeastern
Dakota, and its nest and eggs have been taken at Grinnell, Iowa.

In the spring of 1885 the notes on Wilson’s Thrush were more regu-
lar than tbose on the other species of Wood Thrushes. At Saint Louis,
Mo., and Paris, Ill., the first were reported April 22. From May 5 to
May 9 they were noted at Mount Carmel, Mo., Lowa City, Iowa, Grin-
nell, Iowa, Lanesboro and Lake City, Minn., and Durand, Wis. May 13
they encared at River Falls, Wis., and ‘May 16 [ saw a single pird
near White Earth, Minn.

756a. Turdus fuscescens salicicolus (Ridgw.). [—]. Willow Thrush.

This western form of Wilson’s Thrush was described by Mr. Ridgway
from the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. It was taken
by Coues on the Souris River, along our northern boundary, and an
accidental straggler came to Chicago, Iil., where it was taken Septem-
ber 16, 1877, by Mr. H. K. Coale. The specimen was identified by Mr.
Ridgway. Recently it has been killed in Cook County, Tex., by Mr. —
Ragsdale. Specimens were taken at Devil’s Lake and Pembina, Dak.,
by Mr. Vernon Bailey, in the summer of 1887.

285

757. Turdus alicie Baird. [3.] Gray-cheeked Thrush.

Alice’s Thrush winters south and breeds north of our borders. But
few notes were contributed on its movements, because few observers
- distinguish it from the Olive-backed Thrush. It is a common migrant
in western Manitoba. The records received for 1884 can not be consid-
ered as very trustworthy since they give its appearance at about the —
same date (May 7 and May 8) over the region from latitude 38° 40’, in
Missouri, to latitude 42° 56’, in Dakota, and latitude 44° 32’, in Minne-
sota. At Saint Louis the record reads: May 7, first; May 16, bulk;
May 25, last. Thus its transit was more rapid than that of the Olive-
backed, which arrived earlier and remained later.

In the spring of 1885 the Gray-cheeked Thrush was first seen at Gaines-
ville, Tex., May 9. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen April 24,
and the last May 25. At Paris, Ill., it was first seen April 15; at Des
Moines, Iowa, May 8 (where it remained only three days); and at Lanes-
boro, Minn., May 15. In Kansas it is a rare migrant (Goss).

758 a. Turdus ustulatus swainsonii (Caban.). [4a.] Olive-backed Thrush.

A tolerably common summer resident from Manitoba northward. In
' tracing this species along the three routes of migration in the Mississippi
Valley, it is found that the most eastern is the earliest and the most
western the latest. In the spring of 1884, at Danville, Ll., the first came
April 25, and it passed north to latitude 41° 57’ as early at least as April
28. Along the middle route, just west of the Mississippi River, the first |
was reported from latitude 38° 40’, in Missouri, April 26, and the bulk
April 29. Farther up the river, they came to latitude 43° 43’, in Minne-
sota, May 10, and to Minneapolis (lat. 45°) May 17. Farther west, the
bulk came to Manhattan, Kans. (lat. 39° 12’), May 13, were abundant
for two days, and then suddenly disappeared. Mr. Widmann furnished
a very full record from Saint Louis, which is as follows:

April 26, first; April 29, bulk arrived (small dark birds); May 5, height or the sea-
son (song often heard, the birds chasing each other as if mating); May 9, bulk con-
tinued present, dark birds; May 11, arrival of great numbers (lighter birds, probably
one year old); May 13, the bulk of the species departed; May 26, last.

This species winters south of our border, and breeds principally in
British America, but occasionally has been found nesting as far south
as northern Illinois. At Grinnell, Iowa, its nest and eggs have been
taken, and toward the latter part of the season the young are fre-
quently seen with the parents.

In the spring of 1885 but few notes were contributed concerning the
movements of the Olive-backed Thrush. The whole record from Saint
Louis is as follows: “First, April17; second, April 20; increase, April
22; arrival of bulk, May 4; most numerous, May 5; departure of bulk,
May 6; last, May 20.” At Gainesville, Tex., the last was seen May 19,
At Manhattan, Kans., the first was seen May 12 and the last May 16.
At White Earth, Minn., May 16, I saw about thirty of these birds.

286 ae
In the fall of 1885 the first were reported from River Falis, Wis.,

September 5. It isa rare fall migrant in Tom Green Couuty, Tex.
(Lloyd).
759. Turdus aonalaschke Gmel. [5.] Dwarf Hermit Thrush.

The true home-of the Dwarf Hermit Thrush is in the Pacific coast
region. During migration it passes east to Nevada and Arizona, and
recently Mr. Lloyd has discovered it in Concho and Tom Green Counties,
Tex., where 1t is a tolerably common fail migrant. He states that he
has seen it every day from September 20 to October 10.

759a. Turdus aonalaschke auduboni (Baird). [5a.] Rocky Mountain Hermit
Thrush.

This western species was first found within our district by Mr. N. C.
Brown, who procured it at Boerne, Tex. More recently Mr. Lloyd has -
taken two specimens at San Angelo, Tex., and Mr. Ragsdale has ex-
tended its range by securing specimens at Gainesville, Tex.

Mr. Lloyd’s later researches have determined that this form winters
near San Angelo, and that it is a tolerably common spring migrant in
Tom Green County, Tex. At Gainesville, the first was seen March 20.

759b. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii (Caban.). [5)b.] Hermit Thrush.

A common migrant in the Mississippi Vailey, breeding in the north-
ern and wintering in the southern part. The cold of winter has less
effect upon this species than upon any of its brethren. It docs not
mind moderate cold, but dislikes snow and usually manages to keep
just south of the line where snow remains on the ground for weeks at a
time. Sometimes, of course, it is caught in a snow-storm, but when
this happens it seeks a thick covert and endures it. The heavy under-
growth of the Mississippi bottom lands in southern Illinois offers a
favorite wintering place for Hermit Thrushes, but the extreme weather
of January, 1884, proved too severe for them and they left for a
warmer climate. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they remained the whole winter,
but their habits were peculiar. In the May-day of their lives at the
North they are shy, restless birds, ever watching for a tempting morsel,
or from a low branch uttering their clear, liquid, and far-reaching notes.
- But in winter, in Indian Territory, they acted as if life was a burden;
insensible to their surroundings, they sat stupid and silent except for
a short unmusical “chick,” and allowed one to approach within a few
feet; if disturbed they moved but a short distance. The bulk of the
species began to come from the south in the early part of March, but it
is impossible to trace their movements from the notes contributed by
observers. No bird has a more mixed and contradictory record, to say
nothing of the many times it is confounded with the Brown Thrush and
the Olive-backed. It is probable that the larger part of the notes are
true, and indicate that the species is very erratic in its northward
journey. The facts seem to show that during the great migration
movements of the latter half of March, single individuals were scat-

287

tered over much of the Mississippi Valley to latitude 44°. But these
individuals must be considered as forerunners, for the regular occupa-
tion of this territory did not take place till nearly a month later. The
regular migration began April 1, at latitude 39°, and by the beginning
of May had advanced irregularly to latitude 45°. During the last week
of April and the first part of May, the last of these birds left the lower
part of this territory and soon reached their breeding grounds. Com-
paratively few instances have been recorded of the breeding of the
Hermit Thrush within the Mississippi Valley. Outside of the mount-
ains of Colorado the most southern breeding point on record is Alda,
‘Nebr. (Lat. 40° 53’), from which place Mr. F. W. Powell writes that
he found no nest, but saw the old birds feeding young which were too
small to fy. At Grinnell, lowa, the nest was found and identified by.
seeing the bird upon it. The nest and eggs are now in the lowa Col-
lege at Grinnell. At Des Moines, lowa, they have been seen in the
breeding season, but no nest has been found.

In the spring of 1885 Hermit Thrushes came to Saint Louis, Mo., the
Ist day of April, and during the rest of the week were noted from
Paris, Aledo, and Chicago, Ill. Another advance took place April 15
to April 18, bringing them to Newton, Iowa, and Grinnell, Iowa, Hen-
nepin, Ill., and Clinton, Wis. North of these places the records were
unsatisfactory. The only “lasts” reported were from Saint Louis,
April 24, and Chicago, May 5.

In the fall of 1885 the first was observed at Saint rite Mo., Ocito-
ber 5; the bulk was present October 9; and the last was seen Ocisuen
11. At Lanesboro, Minn., the last was noted October 10.

In the eastern part of Concho County, Tex., Mr. Lloyd took one
in spring migration.

761. Merula migratoria (Linn.). [7.] American Robin.

The Robin is a common summer resident in Manitoba and throughout
the Mississippi Valley except in the extreme southern portion. In
winter it is abundant in Louisiana and in eastern and southern Texas,
if also winters irregularly over most of its United States range. It
seems to be the best known bird in the Mississippi Valley, and many
more notes were contributed on it than on any other species. It should
be possible, therefore, to determine its movements with considerable
accuracy. All through December, 1883, it was found in abundance
throughout southern Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, but the extreme
cold of the first week in January, 1884, drove it farther south into its
real winter home. During the larger part of this month the bulk of the
Robins (probably even 90 per cent. of them) were south of the parallel
of 379. This is south of the usual winter limit of the species, the north-
ern boundary for ordinary winters being about latitude 39°. It must
not be supposed, however, that Robins never spend the winter farther
north. The fact has been repeatedly demonstrated that nature has be-
stowed on them strong constitutions, so that if food is plenty they can

288

withstand severe cold. Every year some of the northern observers re- 7
port Robins wintering about their stations, and the winter of 188384
was no exception. One was seen, January 1, in northwestern Indiana ;
another, January 11, at Vermillion, Dak., and finally, at Hastings,
Minn., 500 miles from his brethren, “one was seen December 28, 1883,
with a flock of Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator), apparently athome
and determined to spend the winter. It was seen repeatedly, and 3
actually remained till spring with the same flock of Grosbeaks.” ,

The distribution of the Robin in its winter home depends entirely on
the food supply ; where food is plenty, there the Robin remains, though :
observers a few miles away may not see one all winter. At Manhat-— .
tan, Kans., berries are abundant, and during the winter of 188384, as___
in previous years, flocks of five hundred or more individuals were con-
stantly seen, while observers at stations but a short distance away re-
ported no Robins from December until February. Manhattan, Kans.,
is the most northern station at which flocks of Robins remained during
the winter. So far as can be learned, but few wintered in Indian Ter-
ritory, nor did northern Texas fare much better; but they were reported
as wintering in immense numbers along 300 miles of the cafion of the
Nueces River in southwestern Texas. In Concho and Tom Green Coun-
ties Mr. Lloyd states that they are tolerably common in spring and fall, .
and that a few winter in the river bottoms. They were reported from
all the Southern States, at some points as abundant, at others as rare. 5

In the early spring of 1884, as if disliking winter quarters, the Robins
pushed north at the first breath of warm weather. Regardless of the
certainty of being overtaken by cold, they hurried on, and trom Janu-
ary 31 to February 3 occupied all the country from which they had been
driven by the low temperature of the first of the year. This movement
was confined to comparatively few individuals, and while the scouts had
advanced to latitude 39°, or even a little farther north—single birds
having been seen at Burlington, Iowa, (lat. 40° 50’) and at Lake Mills,
Wis. (lat. 43° 06/)—the main body still remained in camp three or four
hundred miles to the south. Then followed a whole month of waiting,
during which time adventurous birds pressed northward, only to be
driven back by snow and ice; nor was the real advance commenced —
until Mareh 9. From that date until they had passed our northern
boundary their advance was constant and more or less uniform. The —
regular advance of the van appears to have been as follows: From
March 9 to 15 they spread over Illinois and eastern Nebraska to lati. —
tude 41° 51’; March 16, there was a slight advance in Iowa; March 17
and 18, no record; March 19 and 20 an advance to latitude 43° in
Towa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, but not in Nebraska; March 21, a sud-
den spreading over Wisconsin to latitude 45°.

By March 24 the rest of the stations in Wisconsin had reported, and
an equal advance had taken place in Minnesota, so that by this date
the van was at latitude 45° along the whole line. North of this all the

289

stations are in the valley of the Red River of the North. In this valley
the first arrivals reached latitude 47° April 3, and just one week later
appeared at Oak Point, Manitoba (lat. 50° 30’). The fact that the
‘spring migration on the Western plains in 1884 was several days behind
the migration in the same latitude farther east is clearly shown by the
record of the Robin. At Hllis, Kans. (lat. 38° 55’), the first arrived
March 21, but in Illinois it reached that latitude six weeks earlier. At
Menoken, Dak. (lat. 46° 58’), it did rot arrive until April 29, while at
Frazee City, Minn. (lat. 46° 33’), it arrived April 3; and at Larimore,
Dak. (lat. 47° 52’), the high, bleak situation answers to a western posi-
tion, and the Robins did not come until April 21.

The bulk of the species traveled much behind these advance guards
in the lower part of the course, but moving faster than the scouts, by
the time it reached the end of the march was but a few days in the rear.
The bulk reached latitude 39° between March 12 and 17; then moved
to latitude 43° March 23 and 24; to latitude 45° 30’ by March 27 and
28; to latitude 47° April 5, and to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April
20. From the few scattering notes on the subject, we may guess that
the bulk left latitude 35° March 7, latitude 37° March 25, latitude 39°
March 31, and latitude 41° April 10. By the middle of April, in all the
country south of latitude 43°, all Robins had left those places where
they did not intend to breed, and at the other places had settled down
to summer numbers. This is true not oniy of the Robin, but also of
all those species whose records are sufficiently voluminous to afford a
fair guide to their movements. This overtaking of the van by the rear
may be explained in either of two ways, and it is probable that both
eauses have some effect. The individuals forming the van always con-
sist of old birds, and these arriving at the place where they nested the
previous year stop to breed, leaving the advance to be made by those
behind, giving the mais body a chance to come close to the van; and,
secondly, while the van is being constantly retarded by storms and
cold, the rear travels in more settled weather and would naturally move
faster.

In the fall of 1884 the bulk of Robins left Elk River, Minn., Septem-
ber 27, and the last was seen there November 7. At Hastings, Minn.,
none were seen after September 29. At Des Moines, Lowa, the bulk
was recorded as leaving October 25, and at Mount Carmel, Mo., October
15. As already noted, many straggling Robins remain during the win-
ter in sheltered localities much farther north than the regular winter
bome of the species. At Manhattan, Kans., during the winter of 1884—
185, they were as abundant as usual, while a few were noted at various
points for the next 200 miles southward. A single bird was seen at
Morning Sun, lowa, February 6. One remained at Newton, Iowa, all
winter; at La Porte City, lowa, they were common all winter, and even
as far north as Hastings, Minn., 400 miles beyond its ordinary winter
range, two birds were seen February 27. These may have been migrants

7265 Bull 2——19

290

a month ahead of their fellows (the next individuals of which were
seen April 1), but it is more probable that they had wintered in that
vicinity, as the neighboring bluffs along the Mississippi River furnish
numerous well-sheltered spots, suitable for winter quarters. Mr. Alex-
ander Scougal, of Sioux City, Iowa, sent the following interesting note:

Among our winter birds there is one in particular which I wish to mention. It is
the male Robin. Hardly a person will believe that there is a Robin in the State dur-
ing the winter; but on December 23, 1883, I shot a male Robin but took no particular
notice of it except to skin it. Last December (1884), during the holidays, I took my
gun and started for a dense thicket, almost impenetrable by man or dog. There Isaw
a number of Robins, and shot three. One of them was wing-tipped and when caught
began to call, and immediately there were thirty-four Robins sittipg around me, mak-
ing noise enough to deafen one. I held the one in my hand for a long time so I could
look at the rest; all of them were male birds; not a female could be seen. I found
a house in the woods and asked the man about them. He informed me that they had
been there all winter, but he was not able to distinguish males from females. I can
not say positively that the female does not stay here in the winter, but I never have
seen one nor heard of any here during that season; so I think it must be rarely if
ever seen. The day I saw the birds was December 27, and the temperature was 22°
below zero. Again, January 2, 1885, I was there and saw the Robins a second time;
it was then 17° below zero. I found in their stomachs wild grapes and seeds from a
small bush (probably Symphoricarpus). The trees in that part of the woods were
covered to their top with grape-vines, and many other vines grew underneath. The
bir.ls were in good condition, and seemed as lively asin midsummer. Hence it would
seem that these old birds, being the last to migrate, do not go so far south as the rest
of their species, but get into these dense thickets and are unnoticed by most people,
until with the first warm weather they fly out into the open fields. The first day or
two of February were warm, the mercury rising to 46° above zero, and these Robins
were seen by a good many people in the city. A cry went around, ‘‘ Spring is coming,
we have seen a Robin.” But February 5 cold weather returned, and now (February
16) the thermometer ranges from eight to fourteen degrees below zero. The people
wonder where the Robins have gone, but if they would go to the dense thickets of
Walker’s Island, on the Nebraska side of the river, they could find the same Robins
as lively as ever.

The same warm wave of February 2, just spoken of by Mr. Scougal,
caused Robins to appear at Vermillion, Dak., a few miles northwest
of Sioux City. A large flock was seen at the same place February 7.
From points south of latitude 38° records of “firsts” can hardly be
taken as necessarily indicating northward migration; but the dates
given when the Robins became common show when the general north-
ward movement began.

In the spring of 1885 true migration seems to have commenced during
the last two days of February and the first two days of March. Robins
were not marked ‘‘common” before March 3 at any station north of lat-
itude 39° with the exception of Glasgow, Mo., where they were so re-
corded February 25. Out of about twenty species of the most common
birds which had been studied before this bird was taken up, there was
not one whose record could compare in irregularity with that of the Robin.
It is utterly impossible to find any regular movement from the notes for
the first three weeks in March. It may be supposed that something
like this occurred: That during the first week of March the van moved

291

from latitude 39° to latitude 41°, in Missouri, Illinois, lowa, and Ne-
braska; that during the next two weeks of cold, freezing weather, lit-
tle, if any, general advance was made, but that enough adventurous
birds pressed forward to thoroughly confuse the record. During the
two weeks from March 7 to 21, most of the Robins abandoned winter
quarters and appeared in new localities, which caused them to be re-
corded as common throughout the Mississippi Valley south of the par-
allel of 399. On the night of March 21 the weather began to moderate
and the following records of ‘ firsts” were made during the progress of
the warm wave which followed: Robins were reported at Chicago, IIl.,
and Milwaukee, Wis., March 22; Delavan, Wis., and Waukon, Iowa,
March 23; Stoughton and Leeds Centre, Wis., and Rochester and Excel-
sior, Minn., March 26. During the last two days of March and the first
day of April, countless thousands of birds were moving in the Upper
Mississippi Valley. Among them the Robin was not a small factor, and
its arrival was noted in northern and northwestern Iowa at Williams-
town, Sioux City, and Emmetsburgh; at Hastings in eastern Minnesota;
at Heron Lake in southwestern Minnesota, and at Durand, Luck, New
Cassel, and Green Bay, Wis. Just north of these places the following
line of stations reported the first April 3 and 4: Grand View and Huron,
Dak.; Minneapolis (two observers), Fridley and Elk River, Minn.; and
Menoken, Dak., (April 5). A 25-mile ride at White Earth, Minn., found
the country quite well sprinkled with small flocks, more than two hun-
dred in all being seen, where all the previous spring not a Robin had
been found. Two days later the first Robin made its appearance at
Oak Point, Manitoba, where the species was marked as common, April
9. These were probably early birds, since the other records for Mani-
toba are Shell River, April 13; Two Rivers, April 16; and Ossowo,
April 18, and it was not considered common at any of these places
before April 20. The whole record from Saint Louis is as follows:
March 2, first, a summer sojourner at its stand; March 3, small troops
of transients on the wing; March 5, first female at stand; March 10
to 14, the bulk of the summer sojourners arrived at their stands, and
many transients passed in flocks; March 26 to April 2, the most con-
spicuous songster; April 2, the bulk of transients had gone north, light-
colored troops still lingered; April 11 to 16, parties of transients were
still with us; April 17, last flock seen.

Col. G. B, Brackett writes from Denmark, Iowa, that about the mid-
die of April, for the last three years, immense flocks of Robins, num-
bering many thousands, have come to roost at night in the evergreens
on his premises. They usually remained about two weeks.

In the fall of 1885, at Ossowo, Manitoba, the last Robin was seen Octo-
ber 20; at Elk River, Minn., October 21; Rive? Falls, Wis., October
29; Lanesboro, Minn., November 3; Milwaukee, Wis., November 11;
Iowa City, lowa, October 26; Des Moines, Iowa, October 24; Fernwood,
ill, November 21; Fayette, Mo., October 28, and Mount Carmel, Mo.,

292

October 18. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first large flocks going south were —
noted September 9; from October 5 to 27 Robins were numerous; the —
last flock was seen October 30, and the last transient November 11. At
Bouham, Tex., the first migrant came in October; the next was seen
October 28, and they had become common by November. None were
noted at Gainesville, Tex., until November 11.

76l1a. Merula migratoria propinqua Ridgw. [7a.] Western Robin.

October 12, 1883, Colonel Goss killed two out of a flock of seven at
Wallace, Kans.; and Mr. Lloyd found a single flock in winter at San
Angelo, in southwestern Texas. Mr. Lloyd says they are abundant in
winter west of Tom Green County in Texas.

766. Sialia sialis (Linn.). [227] Bluebird.

The Bluebird breeds from the Gulf of Mexico northward to southern
Manitoba. It is another familiar bird whose coming each spring is —
eagerly looked for, and whose movements are closely watched through
the summer. Over the southern part of the United States his admirers
are denied the pleasure of looking for his arrival, for he remains through-
out the year. Hardy by nature, and capable of adapting himself to the
food of the season, he remains at his post winter and summer. Orni-
thologists claim that these winter birds are not the same individuals
which are seen in summer, but that the summer birds have moved south
ward and their places have been supplied by arrivals from the north.
This of course is generally true, and yet it is also a fact that from lati-
tude 37° southward there are occasionally Bluebirds which keep their
summer stations all through the winter, and it is not safe te say that
none do so even up to latitude 39°. While its winter distribution is
quite similar to the Robin’s, and governed likewise by the food supply
rather than the temperature, yet the average winter range of the Blue-
bird is a little more to the north, and it is as plentiful at latitude 39° as
the Robin is at latitude 37°. “Mr. Widmann contributed the following
note from Saint Louis, Mo.: 3

In rough weather they spend much of the time in their holes, that is, Woodpeckers’
holes, which they enlarge for their own use as shelters and roosting places. Novem-
ber 30 (1883) I watched a pair, when the female repeatedly entered the hole, brought
out each time a bit of dead wood and reached it to the male, who carried it off a few
yards and dropped it.

It is fair to conclude that this pair intended to pass the winter at that
locality. Toward the western part of the Mississippi district the species
is not common, giving place to the Rocky Mountain Bluebird (Sialia
arctica). It is not abundant much west of longitude 9:°. Immense
numbers were reported in winter from southwestern Texas; and these
must migrate largely to the northeast. Mr. Lloyd says = species is
resident in portions of Concho County, Tex.

Throughout the winter of 1883-84 Bluebirds remained at suitable
places between latitude 379 and latitude 39°, but were driven from less
favorable localities by the severe weather of January 1. They returned

- ‘ , ene
Ve ee ee ee ee 7 =

2
¢

293

with the first warm wave the last of the month, and by February 1 the
van approximated quite closely to the parallel of 39°. Here it came*to
a full stop, and made no advance until March 9. There were only five
records of Bluebirds north of latitude 39° before March 9, and all these
were from stations near large rivers. Starting then at latitude 39° on
March 9, when the warm south wind was felt, the Bluebirds practically
completed their migration before the 1st of April. To be sure, a few
individuals were moving north during April and May, but the great
bulk of the species stopped between latitude 45° and latitude 46°,
and those which went farther north might almost be called straggiers.
The impetuosity of their migration was checked, and they moved in
small companies, seldom of more than @ pair or two, slowly idling along
as if undecided where to stop. During March their progress was as
follows: By March 16 they had reached latitude 429°, by March 22 lati-
tude 43° 30’, and by March 24 latitude 45°. There is no plainer and
better attested record concerning any bird than that of the arrival of the
Bluebird, March 24, all along the forty-fifth parallel in Wisconsin and
Minnesota. <A great change now took place in their speed. They were
two months and a day in passing from latitude 45° to latitude 479.
They did not appear at Frazee City, Minn. (lat. 46° 33’), until May 25 ;
nor was the record accidental, since the same observation has been sev-
eral times recorded in former years. May 29a pair of stragglers arrived
at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, the first Mr. Nash had ever seen in the

province. They remained, and at last accounts were breeding. This —

is one of the most northern records for the species. Mr. Seton (now
Thompson) states that it is rare in Manitoba, but most common in the
region about Winnipeg.

Again, as in the case of the Robin, the extreme western records are
found to be much later than the eastern. At Ellis (lat. 38° 55/), just
west of Manhattan, Kans. (where the species wintered abundantly),
nove were seen until March 19; and at’ Vermillion, Dak. (lat. 42° 56/),
they did not arrive until March 29. The bulk followed the first very
closely, and in but one or two cases was its arrival more than three or
four days later. 3

In the fall of 1884 at Elk River, Minn., the departure of the bulk and
the last of the Bluebirds was recorded October 10; and at Des Moines,
Iowa, October 25. At Mount Carmel, Mo., the last was seen October 28.

in the spring of 1885 a set of notes was received from about latitude
37°, which can be regarded as indicating either winter residence or very
early spring migration. These refer to the presence of Bluebirds dur-
ing the first week in February in Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. A
little’farther north, at Odin, Il, one was seen February 7. If these
_ records indicate migration, it was at a standstill during the next three

weeks, since no other evidence of movement was reported until the last |

two days of the month.
The bulk of males came to Saint Louis February 28, closely following

“~~

994

the first, which had been seen there February 27. February 28 they
were seen also at Mount Carmel and Fayette, Mo. The next warm —
wave (March 3) brought them to Paris and Griggsville, Ill., and the —

next day they reached Ferry, Iowa, and Aledo, Ill. March 9 was a
great day for the movement of Bluebirds in southeastern Iowa, where
they were reported at Morning Sun, Richmond, and Coralville, though
they had been seen the day before at Des Moines and Newton, in the

center of the State. They were seen also March 9, at Peoria, Ill., but.

the real movement in this part of Illinois took place March 14, at which
date they reached Tampico (both observers), Fernwood, and Chicago,
and also Clinton, Wis. At this time the van rested at latitude 42° 30’,
in Illinois and Iowa, remaining there during more than a week of freez-
ing weather, until March 26, when, according to the testimony of the
reports, they spread to Williamstown, Iowa; Stoughton, Milwaukee,
Leeds Center, and New Cassel, Wis.; and Lake City and Excelsior,
Minn. Hardiy a note was made during the next five days, and then a
strong movement was noted. Mareh 31 they reached Ripon, Wis., and
Hastings, Minneapolis (two observers), and Saint Cloud, Miun. Further
advance in eastern Wisconsin was strangely delayed, and the three
stations in the vicinity of Green Bay did not report a Bluebird until the
last week in April. In the western part of the district migration was
still slower. The first was reported from Linwood, Nebr., April 27;
Huron, Dak., May 16, and Oak Point, Manitoba, May 26, thus showing
the peculiarity already noted in the spring of 1854, namely, that the
Bluebird, after traveling in company with Robins, Blackbirds, Killdeers,
Ducks, and Geese from its winter home to latitude 44°, then drops be-

hindhand and occupies 2 month longer than they in performing the rest

of its journey.

In the fall of 1885 the last Bluebird was reported from Eik River,
Minn., October 16; from River Falls, Wis., October 13; Lanesboro,
Minn., October 23; Milwaukee, Wis., October 10; Grinnell, Iowa, No-
ber 4; Fernwood, Il., October 10; Des Moines, Iowa, October 24:
lowa City, Iowa, October 24, and Mount Carmel, Mo., October 30
Three troops of Bluebirds were seen going south at Sam Louis, ee
September 9, and a flock of over 300, October 7.

767. Sialia mexicana Swains. [23.] Western Bluebird.

A straggler from the Rocky Mountain region. In Concho County,
Tex., it is a rare winter visitor (Lloyd). At Boerne, Tex., Mr. Nathan

Clifford Brown shot two specimens, each from a small flock, January —

28 and March 1, 1883 (The Auk, Vol. I, 1884, p. 121). Stragglers have
been recorded from Minnesota and Iowa.

768. Sialia arctica (Swains.). [24.] Rocky Mountain Bluebird.

This species is seldom found in the Mississippi district except on the

high plains of the West and Southwest. It breeds in the mountains,
from latitude 36° northward far into British America, and winters from

i

—: ee eee ee

295

Kansas southward. It was noted by only two of our observers. At
San Angelo, Tex., an immense flock was seen during the winter, and
at Ellis, Kans., a few were seen during migration. Previously it was
recorded as an abundant winter visitor at Boerne, Tex. (Brown).
Most of the spring movement of this species occurs in the latter part of
February and in March. It was found in Texas as far east as Gaines-
ville, and has also occurred accidentally in Illinois opposite Dubuque,
Iowa. It was also probably seen in the fall of 1883 at Caddo, Ind.
Ter., but was not shot, hence the identification is not complete. In the
fall of 1884, at San Angelo, Tex., the Rocky Mountain Bluebird first
appeared October 8. Mr. Peters writes that at Bonham, Tex., he saw
these birds for three or four winters in succession, the last time being in
1880.

INDEX.

Acadian Flycatcher, 36, 153-154.

Acadian Owl, 121.

Acanthis hornemannii exilipes, 181,
linaria, 181.
linaria holbeellii, 181.

. linaria rostrata, 182.

Accipiter atricapillus, 114.
atricapillus striatulus, 114.
coopeti, 114.
velox, 114.

Actitis macularia, 97.

AXchmophorus occidentalis, 53.

Aigialitis meloda circumcincta, 101.
montana, 101.
nivosa, 101.
semipalmata, 101.
vocifera, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 99-101, 111, 294.
wilsonia, 101.

Agelaius pheeniceus, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37,

111, 161, 163-165.

Aix sponsa, 69.

Ajaja ajaja, 80.

Alice’s Thrush, 37, 285.

Amazilia cerviniventris, 141.
fuscicaudata, 141.

Ammodramus bairdii, 189-190,
caudacutus, 192.
caudacutus nelsoni, 192.
henslowii, 191.
leconteii, 191.
maritimus, 192.
princeps, 188.
sandwichensis alaudinusg, 188, 189.
sandwichensis savanna, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 188-

189.
savannarum passerinus, 36, 190.
savannarum perpallidus, 191.

Ampelis cedrorum, 26, 231-232.
garrulus, 26, 231.

Amphispiza belli nevadensis, 206.
bilineata, 206.

Anas americana, 31, 34, 66.
boschas, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 61-65, 111.
carolinensis, 28, 31, 32, 33, 66.
cyanoptera, 67-68.
discors, 30, 34, 66-67.
fulvigula, 65.
obscura, 63, 65.
penelope, 66.
strepera, 31, 63, 65.

Ancient Murrelet, 54.

Anhinga anhinga, 59.

Ani, Groove-billed, 124.

Anous stolidus, 58.
Anser albifrons gambeli, 75.
Anthus pensilvanicus, 263-264.
spragueil, 264.
Antrostomus carolinensis, 135.
vociferus, 25, 135-136, 146, 147.
Aphelocoma woodhousei, 157.
Aplomado Falcon, 119.
Aquila chrysaétos, 117-118.
Archibuteo ferrugineus, 117.
lagopus sancti-johannis, 117.
Arctic Horned Owl, 122.
Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker, 129.
Arctic Towhee, 214-215.
Ardea candidissima, 83
coerulea, 83.
egretta, 82-83.
herodias, 81-82.
rufescens, 83.
tricolor ruficollis, 83.
virescens, 83-84.
wuerdemanni, 81.
Arenaria interpres, 101.
Arizona Cardinal, 216.
Arizona Goldfinch, 183.
Arizona Pyrrhuloxia, 216.
Arkansas Flycatcher, 148.
Arkansas Goldfinch, 183.
Ash-throated Flycatcher, 149.
Asio accipitrinus, 121.
wilsonianus, 121.
Asturina plagiata, 117.
Audubon’s Caracara, 120.
Audubon’s Oriole, 168.
Audubon’s Warbler, 248.
Auriparus flaviceps, 278-279.
Avocet, 90.
Aythya affinis, 31, 71.
americana, 31, 32, 70.
collaris, 71-72.
marila nearctica, 31, 71s
vallisneria, 31, 32, 70-71.
Bachman’s Finch or Sparrow, 207.
Bachman’s Warbler, 239-240.
Baird’s Sparrow or Bunting, 189-190.
Baird’s Sandpiper, 93.
Baird’s Wren, 271-272.
Bald-headed Eagle, 33, 34, 118.
Baldpate, 31, 34, 66.
Baltimore Oriole, 13, 15, 23, 35, 36, 37, 170-171.
Bark Swallow, 36, 230, 231.
Barn Owl, 121.
Barn Swallow, 36, 37, 227, 228-229.
297

298

Barred Owl, 121.
Florida, 121.

Barrow’s Golden-eye, 72.

Bartrainia longicauda, 30, 34, 96-97.

Rartramian Sandpiper, 30, 34, 96-97.

Basileuterus belli, 263.
culicivorus, 263.

Bay-breasted Warbler, 34, 37, 250-251.

Beardless Flycatcher, 155.

Bell's Vireo, 35, 36, 37, 161, 233, 237.

Bell’s Warbler, 263,

Belted Kingfisher, 35, 126.

Belted Piping Plover, 101.

Berlandier’s Wren, 271.

Bewick’s Wren, 30, 32, 34, 271, 272.

Texas, 271-272.

Bittern, 80-81.
Least, 81.

Black and White Creeper, 35, 36, 237-238, 245.

Black and White Warbler, 35, 36, 237-238, 245.

Black and Yellow Warbler, 36, 37, 248-249.

Black-bellied Plover, 98-99.

Black-bcllied Tree-duck, 78-79.

Black-billed Cuckoo, 36, 126.

Black-billed Magpie, 157.

Blackbird, Brewer’s, 111, 172, 173-174, 176.
Cow, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 161.
Bronzed Cow, 162.

Dwarf Cow, 1641, 162.

Crow 174-177.

Bronzed Crow, 174-177.

Florida Crow, 174.

Red-shouldered, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,
163-165.

Red-winged, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 111,
161, 163-165.

Rusty, 29, 30, 33, 34, 172-178.

Yellow-headed, 162-163.

Black Brant, 78.

Black-breasted Woodpecker, 130.

Blackburnian Warbler, 37, 252.

Black-capped Chickadee, 33, 277-278.

Black-capped Flycatching Warbler, 36, 37, 245, 261-

262.

Black-capped Titmouse, 33, 277-278.

Black-capped Vireo, 236.

Black-capped Yellow Warbler, 36, 37, 245, 261-262.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, 141.

Black-chinned Sparrow, 203.

Black-crested Titmouse, 277.

Black-crowned Night Heron, 34, 36, 84.

Black Duck, 65.

Black Gyrfalcon, 118.

Black-head (Duck), Big, 31, 71.

Little, 31, 71.

Black-headed Grosbeak, 217.

Black Mallard, 65.

Black-necked Stilt, 90.

Black Phebe or Flycatcher, 152.

Black-poll Warbler, 36, 37, 251-252, 258.

Black Rail, 88.

Black Skimnier, 58.

Black Tern, 58.

W hite-winged, 58.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, 246.
Black-throated Bunting, 35, 36, 37, 220-221.

Black-throated Diver or Loon, 54.
Black-throated Guillemot, 54-55.
Black-throated Green Warbler, 35, 36, 37, 253.
Black-throated Sparrow, 206.
Black Vulture, 112.
Blanding’s Finch, 215.
Bluebill (Duck), Big, 31, 71.
Little, 31, 71.
Bluebird, 18, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 292-294,
295.
Rocky Mountain, 292, 294-295.
Western, 294, 295.
Blue Goose, 74.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 35, 233, 281-282.
Blue Grosbeak, 218.
Blue-headed Euphonia, 222.
Blue-headed Vireo, 36, 37, 235-236.
Blue Heron, Great, 81-82.
Little, 83.
Blue Jay, 37, 157.
Blue Quail, 102-103.
Blue-winged Goose, 74.
Blue-winged Teal, 30, 34, 66-67.
Blue-winged Yellow Warbler, 240.
Blue Yellow-backed Warbler, 36, 243-244.
Boat-tailed Grackle, 177.
Bobolink, 28, 36, 37, 160.
Western, 160.
Bob-white, 102.
Texas, 102. 3
Bohemian Waxwing, 26, 231.
Bonaparte’s Gull, 57.
Bonasa umbellus, 103.
umbellus togata, 103.
umbellus umbelloides, 104.
Booby, 58.
Botaurus exilis, 81.
lentiginosus, 80-81.
Boucard’s Sparrow, 207.
Brant, 27, 31, 78.
Black, 78.
Branta bernicla, 27, 31, 78.
canadensis, 27, 28, 29, 33, 35, 64, 75-78, 111.
canadensis hutchinsii, 27, 78.
canadensis minima, 78.
nigricans, 78.
Brasher’s Warbler, 263.
Brewer’s Blackbird, 111, 172, 173-174, 176.
Brewer’s Sparrow, 201-202.
Bridled Titmouse, 277.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird, 141.
Broad-winged Hawk, 116.
Bronzed Cowbird or Cow Blackbird, 162.
Bronzed Crow Blackbird, 174-177.
Bronzed Grackle, 174-177.
Brown Crane, Little, 85, 111.
Brown Creeper, 34, 35, 275-276.
Brown-headed Nuthatch, 276.
Brown Pelican, 60.
Brown Thrasher or Thrush, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 146,
147, 268-270.
Bubo virginianus, 122.
virginianus arcticus, 122.
virginianus subarcticus, 122.
Buff-bellied Hummingbird, 141.
Buff-breastea Sandpiper, 97.

- Bufile-head, 31, 72-73.

Bull-bat (=Nighthawk).

Bullock's Oriole, 171, 172.

Bunting, Baird’s, 189-190.
Black-throated, 35, 36, 37, 220-221.
Chestnut-collared, 185, 186-187.
Henslow’s, 191. ;
Indigo, 23, 35, 36, 218-219.

Bark, 222:

Lazuli, 219.

Le Conte’s, 191-192.
Painted, 161, 219-220.
Snow, 33, 184-185.
Varied, 219.

Burrowing Owl, 123-124.

Bush-Tit, Lead colored, 278.

Buteo abbreviatus, 116.
albicaudatus, 116.
borealis, 26, 27, 33, 111, 114-115.
borealis calurus, 115.
borealis kriderii, 115.
harlani, 115.
latissimus, 116.
lineatus, 26, 27, 115-116.
swainsoni, 116.

Butterball, 31, 72-73.

Buzzard, Ferruginous Rough-leg, 117.
Turkey, 29, 33, 110-112, 175.

Cabanis’s, or Texas, Kingfisher, 127.

Cabot’s Tern, 57.

Cackling Goose, 78.

Cactus Wren, 270.

Calamospiza melanocorys, 222.

Calaveras Warbler, 242.

Calearius lapponicus, 184, 185, 186, 264.
ornatus, 185, 186-187.
pictus, 185-186.

Calidris arenaria, 94.

California Gull, 56.

Callipepla gambeli, 103.
squamata, 102-103.
squamata castanogastris, 103.

Campephilas principalis, 127-128.

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, 270.

Canada Goose, 27, 28, 29, 33, 35, 64, 75-78, 111.

Canada Grouse, 103.

Canada Jay, 158.

Canadian Flycatching Warbler, 37, 241, 262.

Canadian Ruffed Grouse, 103.
Canadian Warbler, 37, 241, 262.
Cation Finch, 245.
Caton Towhee, 215, 245.
Cation Wren, 270-271.
Canvas- back, 31, 32, 70-71.
Cape May Warbler, 244.
Caracara, Audubon’s, 120.
Caracara Eagle, 120.
Cardellina rubrifrons. 263.
Cardinal Grosbeak, 34, 213, 215-216.
Arizona, 216.
Texas, 216.
Cardinalis cardinalis, 34, 213, 215-216,
Carolina Chickadee, 278.
Carolina Dove, 31, 34, 35, 37, 109-110.
Carolina Parrot or Parakeet, 124.
Carolina Rail, 87.

299

Carolina Wren, 34, 271.

Carpodacus cassini, 189.
purpureusg, 28, 30, 33, 34, 36, 179-180.

Carrion Crow, 112.

Caspian Tern, 57.

Cassin’s Kingbird, 148.

Cassin’s Purple Finch, 180.

Cassin’s Sparrow, 207.

Catbird, 23, 35, 36, 266-268.

Catharista atrata, 112.

Cathartes aura, 29, 33, 110-112, 175.

Catherpes mexicanus, 270.
mexicanus conspersus, 270-271.

Cedar Bird, 26, 231-232.

Cedar Waxwing, 26, 231-232.

Centrocercus urophasianus, 107.

Ceophleus pileatus, 130.

Certhia familiaris americana, 34, 35, 275-276.

Cerulean Warbler, 35, 36, 249.

Ceryle aleyon, 35, 126-127.
cabanisi, 127.

Chachalaca, 108.

Chadbourne’s Sparrow, 202-203.

| Chetura pelagica, 35, 36, 139.
| Chaparral Cock, 107, 124-125.

Charadrius dominicus, 99.

squatarola, 98-99.
Charitonetta albeola, 31, 72-73.
Chat, Long-tailed, 260-261.

Yellow-breasted, 35, 36, 37, 260.
Chelidon erythrogaster, 36, 37, 227, 228-229.
Chen czrulescens, 74.

hyperborea, 27, 29, 33, 35, 74-75.

hyperborea nivalis, 75.
Chestnut-bellied Scaled Partridge, 103.
Chestnut-collared Bunting, 185, 186-187.
Chestnut-collared Longspur, 185, 186-187.
Chestnut-fronted Titmouse, 277.
Chestnut-sided Warbler, 36, 37, 249-250.
Chewink,. 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 212-214, 215.
Chickadee, 33, 277-278.

Black-capped, 33, 277-278.

Carolina, 278.

Hudsonian, 278.

Long-tailed, 278.
Chicken, Prairie, 104-106.
Chimney Swift, 35, 36, 1389-140.

| Chipping Sparrow, 30, 34, 35, 200, 233.

Western, 200-201, 233.

- Chondestes grammacus, 35, 192-193.

erammacus strigatus, 193.
Chordeiles virginianus, 15, 36, 37, 187-138.
virginianus henryi, 138.
texensis, 139.
Chuck-will’s Widow, 135.
Cinclus mexicanus, 264.
Cinnamon Teal, 67-68.
Circus hudsonius, 34, 111, 113.
Cistotborus palustris, 274.
stellaris, 274.
Clangula hyemalis, 73.
Clapper Rail, 86-87.
Louisiana, 87.
Clarke’s Crow, 159.
Clarke’s Nutcracker, 159.
Clay-colored Sparrow, 201.

(He

Cliff Swallow, 15, 35, 36, 227-228.
Clivicola riparia, 36, 230, 231.
Coccothraustes vespertina, 26, 177-178.
Coccyzus americanus. 36, 125-126.
erythrophthalmus, 386, 126.
minor, 125.
Cock, Chaparral, 107, 124-125.
Sage, 107.
Colaptes auratus, 15, 29, 30, 34, 111, 133-134, 135,
auratus hybridus, 133, 135.
cafer, 133, 134-135.
Colinus virginianus, 102.
virginianus texanus, 102.
Columba flavirostris, 108.
Columbigallina passerina, 110.

‘Colymbus auritus, 53.

dominicus, 53.

holbeelii, 53.

nigricollis californicus, 53.
Common Crow, 26, 27, 33, 158-159.
Common Redpoll, 181.
Common Tern, 58.
Compsothlypis americana, 35, 36, 243-244.

nigrilora, 244.
Connecticut Warbler, 37, 258.
Contopus borealis, 152.

richardsonii, 152, 153.

virens, 36, 37, 152-153, 154.

_Conurus carolinensis, 124.

Cooper’s Hawk, 114.

Coot, 31, 88-89.

Coppery-tailed Trogon, 126.

Cormorant, Double-crested, 27, 34, 35, 59.
Florida, 59.

Mexican, 59.

Corvus americanus, 26, 27, 33, 158-159.
corax sinuatus, 31, 158.
cryptoleucus, 158.
ossifragus, 159.

Couch’s Kingbird, 148. :

Cowbird, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 161.
Bronzed, 162.

Dwarf, 161, 162.

Cow Blackbird (=Cowbird).

Crane, Little Brown, 85, 111.
Sandhill, 29, 85-86.

Whooping, 84-835.

Creeper, Black and White, 35, 36, 237-238, 245.

Brown, 34, 35, 275-276.
Crested Flycatcher, Mexican, 149.
Crossbill, Red, 180, 181.

Mexican, 180.

W hite-win ged, 181.

Croto phaga sulcirostris, 124.
Crow, 26, 27, 33, 158-159.

Carrion, 112.

Clarke’s, 159.

Common, 26, 27, 33, 158-159.

Fish, 159.

Crow Blackbird, 174-177.

Bronzed, 174-177.

Florida, 174.

Crymophilus fulicarius, 89.

Cuckoo, Black-billed, 36, 126.
Mangrove, 125.
Yellow-billed, 36, 125-126.

| Dickcissel, 35, 36, 37, 220-221.

Downy Woodpecker, 128.

Curlew, Eskimo, 98,
Hudsonian, 98. ae win.
Long-billed, 97-98. ;

Curved-billed Thrasher, 270.

Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus, 159.

Cyanocitta cristata, 37, 157.

Cyrtonyx montezume, 103.

Dabchick, 54.

Dafila acuta, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 68-69.

Dendragapus canadensis, 103,
obscurus, 103.

Dendrocygna autumnalis, 78-79.
fulva, 79.

Dendroica estiva, 35,36, 244-246.
auduboni, 248.
blackburnia, 37, 252.
cerulea, 35, 36, 249.
cerulescens, 246.
castanea, 34, 37, 250-251.
chrysoparia, 253.
coronata, 23, 35, 36, 37, 246--248.
discolor, 255.
dominica albilora, 35, 252-253.
kirtlandi, 254.
maculosa, 36, 37, 248-249.
olivacea, 244.
palmarum, 35, 36, 254-255.
palmarum hypochrysea, 255.
pensylvanica, 36, 37, 249-250.
striata, 36, 37, 251-252, 258.
tigrina, 244.
townsendi, 254.
vigorsii, 35, 36, 254.
virens, 35, 36, 37, 246, 247, 248, 253.

Derby Flycatcher, 148.

Desert Horned Lark, 156.

Dipper, 264.
Diver, Black-throated, 54.
Hell, 54.
Red-throated, 54.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, 23, 36, 37, 160.
oryzivorus albinucha, 160.
Double-crested Cormorant, 34, 35, 37, 59.
Dove, Carolina, 31, 34, 35, 37, 109-110.
Ground, 110.
Inea, 110.
Mourning, 31, 34, 35, 37, 109-110.
W hite-fronted, 110.
White-winged, 110.
Dowiitcher, 92.
Long-billed, 92.

Dryobates borealis, 128-129.
pubescens, 128.
pubescens gairdnerii, 128.
sealaris bairdi, 129.
villosus, 128. .
villosus audubonii, 128.
villosus harrisii, 128.
villosus leucomelas, 128.

Duck, Baldpate, 31, 34, 66.
Barrow’s Golden-eye, 72.
Big Blue-bill or Black-head, 31, 71.
Big Scaup, 31, 71.
Black, 62, 55.

301

Ergaticus ruber, 263.

_- Duck, Black-bellied Tree, 78-79.

¥ Black Mallard, 63, 65. Erismatura rubida, 29, 33, 74.

* Blue-bill, 31, 71. Eskimo Curlew, 98.

_ Blue-winged Teal, 30, 34, 66-67. Euphonia elegantissima, 222.

: ; Bufiie-head, 31, 72-73. Euphonia, Blue-headed, 222.

we Butter-ball, 31, 72-73. European House Sparrow, 34, 184.

Canvas-bavk, 31, 32, 70-71.
Cinnamon Teal, 67-68.

Dusky, 63, 65.

Eider, 73.

Florida, 65.

Fulvous Tree, 79.

Gadwall, 31, 63, 65.

Golden-eye, 3], 72.

Green-winged Teal, 28, 31, 32, 33, 66.
Harlequin, 73.

King Eider, 73.

Little Blue-bill or Black-head, 31, 71.

European Tree Sparrow, 184.

Evening Grosbeak, 26, 177-178.

Falco columbarins, 119.
fusco-ccerulescens, 119.
mexicanus, 118.
peregrinus anatum, 119.
richardsonii, 119.
rusticolus, 118.
rusticolus gyrfalco, 118.
rusticolus obsoletus, 118.
sparverius, 29, 33, 34, 111, 119-120.

Falcon, Aplomado, 119.

Little Scaup, 31, 71.
Long-tailed, 73.

Mallard, 27, 28. 31, 32, 33, 34, 61-65, 111.

Masked, 74.
Old-squaw, 73.

Pintail, 31, 34, 63, 68-€9.
Red-head, 31, 32, 70.
Ring-necked, 71-72.
Ruddy, 29, 33, 74.
Shoveller, 31, 36, 68.
Spoon-bill, 31, 36, 68.

Sprigtail, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 68-69.

Summer, 69-70.
Whistler, 31, 72.
Widgeon, 31, 34, 66.
W ood, 69-70.
Duck Hawk, 119.
Dusky Duck, 63, 65.
Dwari Cowbird, 161, 162.
Dwarf Hermit Thrush, 286.
Eagle, Bald, 33, 34, 118.
Caracara, 120.
Golden, 117-118.
Harpy, 118.
Eared Grebe, 53.
Ectopistes migratorius, 108.
Egret, 82-83.
Great White, 82-83.
Little White, 83.
Louisiana, 83.
Reddish, 83.
Eider, 73.
King, 73.
Elanoides forficatus, 112.
Elanus leucurus, 113. __
Embernagra rufivirgata, 212.
Empidonax acadicus, 36, 153-154.-
flaviventris, 36, 153.
fulvifrons, 155.
hammondi, 155.
minimus, 36, 37, 154-155.
obscurus, 155.
pusillus, 154.
pusillus traillii, 36, 37, 154.
English Sparrow, 34, 184.
Engyptila albifrons, 110.
Ereunetes occidentalis, 94,
pusillus, 94.

Femoral, 119.
Peregrine, 119.
Prairie, 118.
Richardson’s, 119.
Femoral Falcon, 119.
Ferruginous Hawk or Buzzard, 117.
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, 124.
Ferruginous Rough-leg, 117.
Field Plover, 30, 34, 96-97.
Field Sparrow, 28, 30, 33, 34, 202.
Chadbourne’s, 202-203.
Finch, Bachman’s, 207.
Black-throated, 206.
Blanding’s, 215.
Cafion, 245.
Cassin’s Purple, 180.
Gold, 28, 33, 35, 36, 182-183, 245.
Grass, 30, 31, 34, 187-188.
Green, 212.
Lark, 35, 192-193.
Lazuli, 219.
, Painted, 161, 219-220.
Pine, 183-184.
Purple, 28, 30, 33, 34, 36, 179-180.
Seaside, 192.
Sharp-tailed, 192.
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed, 192.
Western Grass, 187, 188.
Western Lark, 193.
Fish Crow, 159.
Fish Hawk, 120-121.
Flamingo, 80.

Flicker, 15, 29, 30, 34, 111, 133-134, 135.
Golden-shafted, 15, 29, 30, 34, 111, 133-134, 135.

Hybrid, 133, 135.
Red-shafted, 133, 134-135.

Yellow-shafted, 15, 29, 30, 34, 111, 133-134, 135.

Florida Barred Owl, 121.
Florida Cormorant, 59.
Florida Crow Blackbird, 174.
Florida Duck, 65.
Florida Gallinule, 88.
Florida Grackle, 174.
Florida Screech Owl, 122.
Flycatcher, Acadian, 36, 153-154.
Arkansas, 148.
Ash-throated, 149.
3eardless, 155.

302

Flycatcher, Derby, 148.
Fork-tailed, 142. ’
Fulvous, 155.
Giraud’s, 148.
Great-crested, 36, 148-149.
Hammond’s, 155.
Lawrence's, 149.
Least, 36, 37, 154-155.
Little, 154.
Mexican Crested, 149.
Olive-sided, 152.
Scissor-tailed, 142.
Traill’s, 36, 37, 154.
Vermilion, 155.
Wright’s, 155.
Yellow-bellied, 36, 153.
Flycatching Warbler, Black-capped, {86, 37, 245,
261-262.
Canadian, 37, 241, 262.
Hooded, 36, 261.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher, 142.
Forster’s Tern, 57.
Fox Sparrow, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 211-212.
Franklin's Gull, 56-57.
Fregata aquila, 60.
Frigate Bird, 60.
Frigate Pelican, 60.
Frosted Poor-will, 137.
Fulica americana, 31, 88-89.
Fulvous Flycatcher, 155.
Fulvous Tree-duck, 79.
Gadwall, 31, 63, 65.
Gairdner’s Woodpecker, 128.
Galeoscoptes carolinensis, 23, 35, 36, 266-268.
Gallinago delicata, 11, 29, 30, 34, 35, 90-92.
Gallinula galeata, 88.
Gallinule, Florida, 88.
Purple, 88.
Gambel’s Quail or Partridge, 103.
Gannet, 59.
Gelochelidon nilotica, 57.
Geococeyx californianus, 124-125.
Geothlypis agilis, 37, 258.
formosa, 35, 36, 257.
macgillivrayi, 258-259.
philadelphia, 37, 258.
trichas, 35, 36, 92, 25.
trichas occidentalis, 259-260.
Giraud’s Flycatcher, 148.
Glaucidium phalznoides, 124.
Glaucionetta clangula americana, 31, 72.
islandica, 72.
Glaucous Gull, 55.
Glossy Ibis, 80.
W hite-faced, 80.
Gnateatcher, Blue-gray, 35, 233, 281-282.
Plumbeous, 282.
Godwit, Hudsonian, 94-95.
Marbled, 94.
Golden-cheeked Warbler, 253.
Golden-crowned Kinglet, 34, 279.
Golden-crowned Sparrow, 196.
Golden-crowned Thrush, 35, 255-256.
Golden Eagle, 117-118.
Golden-eye, 31, 72.
Barrow’s, 72.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker, 132-133.
Golden Plover, 99.
Golden-shafted Flicker, 15, 29, 30, 34, 111, 133-134.
135.
Golden Warbler, 35, 36, 244-246.
Golden-winged Warbler, 36, 240-241. d
Golden-winged Woodpecker, 15, 29, 30, 34, 111, 133-
134, 135.
Goldfinch, 28, 33, 35, 36, 182-183, 245.
Arizona, 183.
Arkansas, 183.
Green-backed, 183-184.
Mexican, 183.
Pine, 183-184.
Goose, Blue, 74.
Blue-winged, 74.
Brant, 27, 31, 78.
Cackling, 78.
Canada, 27, 28, 29, 38, 35, 64, 75-78, 111
Greater Snow, 75.
Hutchin’s, 27, 78.
Lesser Snow, 27, 29, 33, 35, 74-75.
W hite-fronted, 75.
Goshawk, 114.
Mexican, 117.
Western, 114.
Grackle. Boat-tailed, 174, 177.
Bronzed, 174-177.
Florida, 174.
Great-tailed 177.
Purple, 26, 27, 29, 30, 33, 34, 158, 174-177.
Rusty, 29, 30, 172-173, 174, 176.
Grass Finch, 30, 34, 187, 188.
Western, 187, 188.
Grasshopper Sparrow, 36, 190.
Western, 191.
Gray-cheeked Thrush, 37, 285.
Gray-crowned Leucosticte, 181.
Gray Gyrtalcon, 118.
Gray-headed Junco, 206.
Gray Kingbird, 148.
Gray Owl, Great, 121.
Gray Ruffed Grouse, 104.
Gray Vireo, 237.
Great Black-backed Gull, 55.
Great Blue Heron, 81-82.
Great-crested Flycatcher, 36, 148-149.
Great Gray Owl, 121.
Great Horned Owl, 122.
Great Northern Shrike, 232.
Great-tailed Grackle, 177.
Great White Egret, 82.
Greater Redpoll. 182.
Greater Snow Goose, 75.
Greater Yellow-legs, 95.
Grebe, Eared, 53.
Holbeell’s, 53.
Horned, 58.
Pied-billed, 54.
Red-necked, 53.
St. Domingo, 53.
Western, 53.
Green-backed Goldfinch, 183.
Green Finch, 212.
Green Heron, 83-84.
Green Jay, 157.

- Green-tailed Towhee, 215.

Green-winged Teal, 28, 31, 32, 33, 66,
Grinnell’s Water-thrush, 256-257.
Groove-billed Ani, 124.
Grosbeak, Black-headed, 217.
Blue, 218.
- Cardinal, 34, 213, 215-216.
Evening, 26, 177-178.
Pine, 178-179, 288.
-Rose-breasted, 23, 35, 36, 37, 216-217.
Ground Dove, 110.
Grouse, Canada, 103.
Canadian Ruffed, 103.
_ Dusky, 103.
Gray Ruffed, 104.
Northern Sharp-tailed, 106.
Pinnated, 104-106.

Prairie or Common Sharp-tailed, 106-107.

Ruffed, 103.
Sage, 107.

Grus americana, 84-85.
canadensis, 85, 111.
mexicana, 29, 85-86.

Guan, Texas, 108.

Guara alba, 80.
rubra, 80. :

Guillemot, Black-throated, 54-55.

Guiraca czrulea, 218.

Gull, Bonapurte’s, 57.
California, 56.

Franklin’s, 56-57.
Glaucus, 55.
Great Black-backed, 55.
Herring, 27, 31, 33, 55-56.
Iceland, 55.
Kittiwake, 55.
Laughing, 56.
Ring-billed, 56, 111.
Sabine’s, 57.
Gull-billed Tern, 57.
Gyrfalcon, 118.
Black, 118.
Gray, 118.
Iceland, 118.
Labrador, 118.
McFarlane’s, 118.

Habia ludoviciana, 23, 35, 36, 37, 216-217.
mei‘anocephala, 217.

Hematopus palliatus, 101.

Hairy Woodpecker, 128.
Northern, 128.

Southern, 128.

Halizetus leucocephalus, 33, 34, 118,

Hammond’s Flycatcher, 155.

Harlan’s Hawk, 115.

Havlequin Duck, 73.

Harporhynchus curvirostris, 270.
longirostris, 270.

rufus, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 146, 147, 268-270,

Harpy Eagle, 118.
Harris’s Hawk, 114.
Harris’s Sparrow, 27, 32, 193-195.
Harris’s Woodpecker, 128,
Hawk, Broad-winged, 116.
Cooper’s, 114.
Duck, 119.

303

Hawk, Ferruginous Rough-leg, 117.
Fish, 120-121.
Harlan's, 115.
Harris’s, 114.
Krider’s, 115.
Marsh, 34, 111, 118.
Peregrine, 119.
Pigeon, 119.
Red-shouldered, 26, 27, 115-116.
Red-tailed, 26, 27, 33, 111, 114-115.
Richardson’s, 119.
Rough-legged, 117.
Sharp-shinned, 114.
Sparrow, 29, 33, 34, 111, 119-120
Swainson’s, 116.
Western Red-tailed, 115.
White-tailed, 116.
Zone-tailed, 116.
Hawk Owl, 123.
Helinaia swainsonii, 239.
Hell Diver, 54.
Helminthophila bachmani, 239-240.
celata, 36, 242.
chrysoptera, 36, 240-241.
peregrina, 36, 37, 243.
pinus, 240.
ruficapilla, 36, 37, 241-242.
ruficapilla gutturalis, 242...
Helmitherus vermivorus, 36, 239.
Heloise’s Hummingbird, 141.
Hen, Lesser Prairie, 106.
Prairie, 104-106.
Sage, 107.
Henslow’s Sparrow or Bunting, 191.

Hermit Thrush, 35, 36, 212, 282, 283, 286-287.

Dwarf, 286.
Rocky Mountain, 286.

Heron, Black-crowned Night, 34, 36, 84.

Great Blue, 81-82.

Green, 83-84.

Little Blue, 83.

Louisiana, 83.

Reddish, 83.

Snowy, 83,

White, 82.

Wiirdemann’s, 81.

Yellow-crowned Night, 84.
Herring Gull, 27, 31, 33, 55-56.
Himantopus mexicanus, 90.
Histrionicus histrionicus, 73. ~
Hoary Redpoll, 181.
Holbeell’s Grebe, 53.
Holbecell’s Redpoll, 181.
Hooded Merganser, 31, 61.
Hooded Oriole, 168.
Hooded Warbler, 36, 261.
Horned Grebe, 53.
Horned Lark, 155, 156.

Desert, 156.

Pallid, 156.

Prairie, 156, 185.

Texas, 156.

White-throated, 156.
Horned Owl, Arctic, 122.

Great, 122.

Western, 122.

‘House Sparrow, European, 34, 184.
House Wren, 35, 36, 271, 272-273, 274.
Western, 272, 278.
Hudsonian Chickadee, 278.
Hudsonian Curlew. 98.
Hudsonian Godwit,94-95.
Hummingbird, 15, 36, 140-141.
Black-chinned, 141.
Broad-tailed, 141.
Buff-bellied, 141.
Heloise’s, 141.
Rieffer’s, 141.
Ruby-throated, 15, 36, 140-141.
Hutchins’s Goose, 27, 78.
Hybrid Flicker, 133, 185.
Hy drochelidon leucoptera, 58.
nigra surinamensis, 58.
Ibis, Glossy, 80.
Scarlet, 80.
White, 80.
White-faced Glossy, 80.
W ood, &0.
Teeland Gull, 55.
Iceland Gyrfalcon, 118.
Icteria virens, 35, 36, 37, 260.
virens longicauda, 260-261.
Icterus audubonii, 168.
pbullocki, 171-172.
cucullatus, 168.
galbula, 13, 15, 23, 35, 36, 37, 170-171.
spurius, 23, 35, 36, 161, 168-170.
Ictinia mississippiensis, 113.
Inea Dove, 110.

Tndigo Bird or Bunting, 23, 35, 36, 218-219.

Intermediate Sparrow, 196.
Tonornis martinica, 88.
Tpswich Sparrow, 188.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker, 127-128.
Jabiru, 80.
Jacana gymnostoma, 102.
Jack Snipe, 30, 34, 92.
Jaeger, Long-tailed, 55.
Parasitic, 55.
Pomarine, 55.
Jay, Blue, 37, 157.
Canada, 158.
Green, 157.
Pinon or Maximilian’s, 159.
W oodhouse’s, 157.
Junco aikeni, 203.
caniceps, 206.
cinereus dorsalis, 206.
hyemalis, 32, 34, 35, 198, 203-206.
hyemalis oregonus, 206.
Junco, 32, 34, 35, 198, 203-206.
Gray-headed, 206.
Oregon, 206.
Red-backed. 206.
Slate-colored, 32, 34, 35, 198, 203-206.
White-winged, 203.
Kontucky Warbler, 35, 36, 257.

Killdcer, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 99-101, 111, 294.

Kingbird, 35, 37, 142-147, 160.
Jassin’s, 148.
Couch’s, 148.
Gray, 148.

304

Kingbird, Western, 148.
Kizg Hider, 73.

Kingfisher, Belted, 35, 126-127.
Texas (—Cabanis’s), 127.
Kinglet, Golden-crowned, 34, 279.

Ruby-crowned, 34, 35, 279-281.
King Rail, 86.
Kirtland’s Warbler, 254.
Kite, Mississippi, 118.
. Swallow-tailed, 112.
White-tailed, 113.
Kittiwake, 55.
Knot, 92. w
Krider’s Hawk, 115.
Labrador Gyrfaleon, 118.
Lagopus lagopus, 104.
Lanius borealis, 232.
ludovicianus, 27, 30, 33, 232-2338.

ludovicianus excubitorides, 232, 233.

Lapland Longspur, 184, 1&5, 186, 264.
Large-billed Water Thrush, 34, 257.
Lark, Desert Horned,156.

Horned, 155, 156, 185.

Pallid Horned, 156.

Prairie Horned, 156, 185.

Shore, 155.

Sprague’s, 264.

Texas Horned, 156.

White-throated Horned, 156.
Lark Bunting, 222.
Lark Finch, 35, 192.

Western, 193.
Lark Sparrow, 35, 192.

Western, 193.

Larus argentatus smithsonianus, 27, 31, 33, 55-56.

atricilla, 56.
californicus, 56.
delawarensis, 56, 111.
franklinii, 56-57.
glaucus, 55. di
leucopterus, 55.
marinus, 55.
philadelphia, 57.
Laughing Gull, 56.
Lawrence’s Flycatcher, 149.
Lazuli Finch or Bunting, 219.
Lead-colored Bush-Tif, 78.
Least Bittern, 81.
Least Flycatcher, 36, 37, 154-155.
Least Sandpiper, 93.
Least Tern, 58.
Le Conte’s Sparrow, 191-192.
Lesser Prairie Hen, 106. ©
Lesser Scaup Duck, 31, 71.
Lesser Snow Goose, 27, 29, 33, 35, 74, 75.
Lesser Yellow-legs, 34, 95.
Leucosticte tephrocotis, 181.
Leucosticte, Gray-crowned, 181.
Lewis’s Woodpecker, 132.
Limosa fedoa, 94.
heemastica, 94-95.
Lincoln’s Sparrow, 36, 37, 110, 209-210.
Linnet, Pine, 183-184.
Red (=Purple Finch).
Little Black-uead or Blue-bill, 31, 71-
Little Black Rail, 88.

305

_ Little Blue Heron, 83. Melospiza fasciata, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 207-209.
Little Brown Crane, 85, 111. fasciata montana, 209.

Little Flycatcher, 154. . 1 georgiana, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 206, 208, 210-

- Little White Egret, 83. yo aud,

Loggerhead Shrike, 27, 30, 33, 232-233. lincolni, 36, 27, 110, 209-210.

Long-billed Curlew, 97-98. palustris (=georgiana).

Long-billed Dowitcher, 92. Merganser americanus, 31, 60-61.

Long-billed Marsh Wren, 274. serrator, 61.

Long-biJled Thrasher, 270. Merganser, 31, 60-61.

Long-eared Owl, 121. Hooded, 31, 61.

Longspur, Chestnut-collared, 185, 186-187. : Red-breasted, 61.

Lapland, 184, 185, 186, 264. Merlin, Richardson’s, 119.
McCown’s, 186, 187. Merula migratoria, 11, 18, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33,
Smith’s, 185-186. 34, 35, 111, 163, 287-292, 293, 294.

Long-tailed Chat, 260-261. migratoria propinqua, 292.

Long-tailed Chickadee, 278. Mexican Cormorant, 59.

Long-tailed Duck, 73. Mexican Crested Flycatcher, 149.

Long-tailed Jaeger, 55. Mexican Crossbill, 180.

Loon, 35, 54. Mexican Goldfinch, 183.
Black-throated, 54, Mexican Goshawk, 117.
Red-throated, 54, Mexican Jagana, 102.

Lophodytes cucullatus, 31, 61. Mexican Meadowlark, 167.

Louisiana Clapper Rail, 87. Mexican Pitangus, 148. :

~ Louisiana Egret or Heron, 83. Mexican Sparrow, 207.

Louisiana Tanager, 222. Mexican Turkey, 107.

Louisians Water Thrush, 34, 257. Micropalama himantopus, 92.

Loxia curvirostra minor, 180, 181. Micropus melanoleucus, 140.
curvirostra stricklandi, 180. Milvulus forficatus, 142.
leucoptera, 181. ~ tyrannus, 142.

McCown’s Longspur, 186, 187. Mimus polyglottos, 35, 37, 265-266.

MeFarlane’s Gyrfalcon, 118. Mississippi Kite, 113.

Maczillivray’s Warbler, 258-259. Mniotilta varia, 35, 36, 237-238, 245.

Macrorhamphus griseus, $2. Mockingbird, 35, 37, 265-266.
scolopaceus, 92. Moiothrus eneus, 162.

Magnolia Warbler, 36, 37, 248-249. ater, 15, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 161.

Magpie, 26, 157. ater obscurus, 161, 162.
Black-billed, 26, 157. Morellet’s Seed-eater, 220.

Mallard, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 61-65, 111. Mountain Plover, 101.

Black, 63, 65. Mountain Song Sparrow, 209.
Mangrove Cuckoo, 125. Mourning Dove, 31, 34, 35, 37, 109-110.
Man-o’-War Bira, 60. Mourning Warbler, 37, 258.

Marbled Godwit, 94. . Murrelet, Ancient, 54.

Marsh Hawk, 34, 111, 113. Myadestes townsendii, 206, 282.

Marsh Tern, 57. Mycteria americana, 80.

Marsh Wren, Long-billed, 274, Myiarchus cinerascens, 149.
Short-billed, 274. crinitus, 36, 148-149.

Martin, Purple, 14, 16, 34, 35, 37, 223-226, 227,229, lawrenceii, 149.

Maryland Yellow-throat, 35, 36, 92, 259. mexicanus, 149.

Western, 259-260. Myiozetetes texensis, 148.

Masked Duck, 74. Myrtle Warbler, 23, 35, 36, 37, 246-248.

Massena Quail or Partridge, 103. Nashville Warbler, 36, 37, 241-242.

Maximilian’s Jay or Nutcracker, 159. Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, 192.

Meadowlark, 18, 29, 30, 32, 34, 111, 165-167, 168, | Nighthawk, 15, 36, 37, 137-138.

273. Texas, 139.

Mexican, 167. Western, 138.

Western, 165, 167-168, 273. Night Heron. Black-crowned, 34, 36, 84.
Megascops asio, i21. Yellow-crowned, 84.

asio floridanus, 122, Noddy Tern, 58.

asio mecalli, 122. Nomonyx dominicus, 74.
Melanerpes anrifrons, 132-133. Nonpareil, 161, 219-220.

carolinus, 34, 132. Nowthern Hairy Woodpecker, 128.

erythrocephalus, 11, 23, 30, 34, 36, 37, 130-132. Northern Phalarope, 89.

torquatus, 132, Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse, 106.
Meleagris gallopavo, 107-108. : Northern Shrike, Great, 232.

gallopavo mexicana, 107. Northern Waxwing, 26, 231.
Melopelia leucoptera, 110. Numenius berealis, 98.

7365—Bull. 220

a

Numenius hudsonicus, 98.
longirostris, 97-98.
Nutcracker, Clarke’s, 159.
Maximilian’s, 159.
Nuthatch, Brown-headed, 276.
Pygmy, 276.
Red-bellied, 36, 276.
' Slender-billed, 276.
W hite-bellied, 48, 276.
Nyctala acadica, 121.
tengmalmi richardsoni, 121.
Nyctea nyctea, 123.
Nycticorax nycticorax nevius, 34, 36, 84.
violaceus, 84.
Nyctidromus albicollis, 137.
Oidemia americana, 73.
deglandi, 73.
perspicillata, 73.
Old-squaw, 73.

Olive-backed Thrush, 35, 36, 37, 282, 2838, 285-286.

Olive-sided Flycatcher, 152.

Olive Warbler, 244.

Olor buccinator, 79.
columbianus, 79.

Orange-crowned Warbler, 36, 242.

Orchard Oriole, 23, 35, 36, 161, 168-170.

Oregon Junco, 206.

Oriole, Audubon’s, 168.
Baltimore, 18, 15, 23, 35, 36, 37, 170-171.
Bullock’s, 171=172.

Hooded, 168.

Orchard, 23, 35, 36, 161, 168-170.
Ornithion imberbe, 155.
Oroscoptes montanus, 265.
Ortalis vetula macealli, 108.
Osprey, 120-121.

Otocoris alpestris, 155.

alpestris arenicola, 156.
alpestris giraudi, 156.
alpestris leucolema, 156.
alpestris praticola, 156, 185.

Ouzel, Water, 264.

Oven-bird, 35, 255-256.

Owl, Acadian, 121.

Arctic Horned, 122.

Barn, 121.

Barred, 121.

Burrowing, 123-124.

Ferruginous Pygmy, 124,

Florida Barred, 121.

Florida Sereech, 122,

Great Gray, 121.

Great Horned, 122.

Hawk, 123.

Long-eared, 121.

Richardson’s, 121.

Saw-whet, 121,

Screech, 121.

Short-eared, 121.

Snowy, 123.

Texas Screech, 122.

Western Horned, 122.
Oyster-catcher, 101.

Painted Bunting, 161, 219-220.

Painted Redstart, 263.

-Pallid Horned Lark, 156.

806

Palm Warbler, 35, 36, 254-255,
Yellow, 255.
Pandion halizetus carolinensis, 120-121.

-Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi, 114.

Parasitic Jaeger, 55.

Parauque, 187.

Parkman’s Wren, 272-273.

Paroquet or Parakeet, Carolina, 124.

Parrot, Carolina, 124.

Thick-billed, 124.

Partridge, Chestnut-bellied Scaled, 103.

Gambel’s, 103.
Massena, 108.
Scaled, 102-108.
Spruce, 103.

Virginia, 102.

Parula Warbler, 35, 36, 243, 244.

Parus atricapillus, 33, 277-278.
atricapillus septentrionalis, 278.
atricristatus, 277.
atricristatus castaneifrons, 277.
bicolor, 34, 277.
bicolor texensis, 277.
carolinensis, 278.
hudsonicus, 278.
wollweberi, 277.

Passenger Pigeon, 108.

Passer domesticus, 34, 184.
montanus, 184.

Passerella iliaca, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 211-212.
iliaca schistacea, 212.

Passerina amcena, 219.
ciris, 161, 219-220,
cyanea, 23, 35, 36, 218-219.
versicolor, 219.

Pectoral Sandpiper, 30, 34, 92-93.

Pediocetes phasianellus, 106.
phasianellus campestris, 106.

Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, 35, 60.
fuscus, 60.

Pelican, Brown, 60.

White, 35, 60.

Peregrine Falcon, 119.

Perisoreus canadensis, 158.

Petrochelidon Innifrons, 15, 35, 36, 227-228.

Peucea eestivalis bachmanii, 207.
cassini, 207.
mexicana, 207.
ruficeps boucardi, 207.
ruficeps eremeca, 207,

Pewee, 30, 34, 149-151, 175, 206.
Western Wood, 152, 153.

Wood, 36, 37, 152-153, 154.

Phainopepla nitens, 232.

Phainopepla, 232.

Phalacrocorax dilophus, 34, 35, 37, 59.
dilophus floridanus, 59.

mexicanus, 59.

Phalenoptilus nuttalli, 136-137.

nuttaili nitidus, 137.
Phalarope, Northern, 89.

Red, 89.

Wilson’s, 89.

| Phalaropus lobatus, 89.

sricoloz, 89.
Philadelphia Vireo, 234.

Philohela minor, 90.
Pheebe, 30,34, 149-151, 175, 206.
Black, 152.
Say’s, 151.
Pheenicopterus ruber, 80.
Pica pica hudsonica, 26, 157.
Picicorvus columbianus, 159.
Picoides arcticus, 129.
Pied-billed Grebe, 54.
Pigeon, Passenger, 108.
Red-billed, 108.
Wild, 108.
Pigeon Hawk, 119.
Pileated Woodpecker, 130.
Pine-creeping Warbler, 35, 36, 254.
Pine Finch or Linnet, 183-184.
Pine Goldfinch, 183-184.
Pine Grosbeak, 178-179, 288.
Pine Siskin, 183-184.
Pine Warbler, 35, 36, 254.
Pinicola enucleator, 178-179, 288.
Pinnated Grouse, 104-106.
Pinion Jay, 159.
Pintail, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 68-69.
Pipilo chlorurus, 215.

erythrophthalmus, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 212-214,

215:
fuscus mesoleucus, 215, 245.
maculatus arcticus, 214-215.
Piping Plover, Belted, 101.
Pipit, 263-264.
Sprague’s, 264.
Piranga erythromelas, 36, 37, 222-223.
Tudoviciana, 222.
rubra, 15, 37, 223.
Pitangus derbianus, 148.
- Plectrophenax nivalis, 33, 184-185.
Plegadis autumunalis, 80.
guarauna, 80.
Plover, Belted Piping, 101.
Black-bellied, 98-99.
Field, 30, 34, 96-97.
Golden, 99.
Killdeer, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 99-101, 111, 294.
Mountain, 101.
Semipaimated, 101.
Snowy, 101. =
Upland, 30, 34, 96-97.
Wilson’s, 101.
Plumbeous Gnateatcher, 282.
Podilymbus podiceps, 54.
Polioptila czrulea, 35, 233, 281-282.
plumbea, 282. .
Polyborus cheriway, 120.
Pomarine Jaeger, 55.
Poocetes gramineus, 30, 31, 34, 187-188.
gramineus confinis, 187, 188.
Poor-will, 136-137..
Frosted, 137.

* Porzana carolina, 87...
jamaicensis, 88.
noveboracensis, 30, 34, 88.

Prairie Chicken, 104-106.

Prairie Falcon, 118.

Prairie Hen, 104-106.

Lesser, 106.

307 a Soe

Prairie Horned Lark, 156, 185.

Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse, 106.

Prairie Warbler, 255.

Progne subis, 14, 16, 34, 35, 37, 223-226, 227, 229,
Prothonotary Warbler, 35, 238-239.
Protonotaria citrea, 35, 238-239.

Psaltriparus plumbeus, 278.

Ptarmigan, Willow, 104.

Purple Finch, 28, 30, 33, 34, 36, 179-180.

Cassin’s, 180.

Purple Gallinule, 88.

Purple Grackle, 26, 27, 29, 30, 33, 34, 158, 174-177.
Purple Martin, 14, 16, 34, 35, 37, 223-226, 227, 229.
Purple Sandpiper, 92.

Pygmy Nuthatch, 276.

Pygmy Owl, Ferruginous, 124.

Pyrocephalus rubineus mexicanus, 155.
Pyrrhuloxia sinuata, 216.

sinuata beckhami, 216.
Pyrrhuloxia, Arizona, 216.

Quail, 102.

Blue, 102.

Gambel’s, 103.

Massena, 103.

Texas, 102,

Virginia, 102.

Quiscalus macrourus, i77.

major, 174, 177.

quiscula, 26, 27, 29, 30, 33, 34, 158, 174-177,

quiscula seneus, 174-177.

quiscula agleus, 174.

Rail, Black, 88.

Carolina, 87.

Clapper, 86-87.

King, 86.

Little Black, 88.

Louisiana Clapper, 87.

Virginia, 87.

Yellow, 30, 34, 88.

Rallus elegans, 86.

longirostris crepitans, 86-87.

longirostris saturatus, 87.

virginianus, 87.

Raven, 31, 158.

White-necked, 158.
Recurvirostra americana, 90.
Red-backed Junco, 206.

Red-backed Sandpiper, 93-94.
Red-bellied Nuthatch, 36, 276.
Red-bellied Redstart, 263.
Red-bellied Woodpecker, 34, 132.
Red-billed Pigeon, 108.
Redbird, Summer, 15, 37, 223.
Red-breasted Merganser, 61.
Red-breasted Sheldrake, 61.
Red-breasted Snipe, 92.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 128-129.
Red Crossbill, 180, 181.
Reddish Egret or Heron, 83.
Red-eyed Vireo, 35, 36, 37, 233-234.
Red-faced Warbler, 268.
Redhead (Duck), 31, 32, 70.
Red-headed Woodpecker, 11, 23, 30, 34, 36, 37, 130-
132.
Red-naped Sapsucker, 130, 206.
Red-necked Grebe, 53.

a=?

S03

| Sandpiper, Pectoral, 30, 34, 92-93.

Red Phalarope, 89.
Redpoli, Common, 181.
Greater, 182.
Hoary, 181,
Holbeell’s, 181.
Red-poll Warbler, 35, 36, 254-255.
Red-shafted Flicker, 133, 134-135.
Red-shouldered Blackbird, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34,
35, 87, 111, 161, 163-165.
Red-shouldered Hawk, 26, 27, 115-116.
Redstart, 35, 36, 37, 262-263.
Painted, 263.
Red-bellied, 263.
Red-tailed Hawk, 26, 27, 33, 111, 114-115.
Western, 115.
Red-throated Diver or Loon, 54.
Red Warbler, 263.
Red-winged Blackbird, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 34, 35,
37, 111, 161, 163-165.
Regulus calendula, 34, 35, 279-281.
satrapa, 34, 279.
Rhiynchophanes mccownii, 186, 187.
Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha, 124.
Richardson’s Falcon or Merlin, 119.
Richardson’s Owl, 121.
Rieffer’s Hummingbird, 141.
Ring-billed Gull, 56,111.
Ring-necked Duck, 71-72.
Ring-necked Plover, 101.
Rissa tridactyla, 55.
Road-runner, 124-125.
Robin, 11, 18, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 111, 163,
987-292, 293, 294.
Western, 292.
Robin Snipe, 92.
Rock Sparrow, 207.
Rock Wren, 270.
Rocky Mountain Bluebird, 294-295.
Rocky Mountain Hermit Thrush, 286.
Roseate Spoonbill, 80.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 23, 35, 36, 37, 216-217.
Rough-legged Hawk or Buzzard, 117.
Ferruginous, 117.
Rough-winged Swallow, 35, 230-231.
Royal Tern, 57.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 34, 35, 279-281.
Ruby-throated Hummingbira, 15, 36, 140-141.
Ruddy Duck, 29, 33, 74.
Ruffed Grouse, 103.
Canadian, 103.
Gray, 104.
Rusty Blackbird, 29, 30, 38, 34, 172-173.
Rusty Grackle, 29, 30, 33, 34, 172-178.
Rynchops nigra, 58.
Sabine’s Gull, 57.
Sage Cock or Hen, 107.
Sage Sparrow, 206.
Sage Trasher, 265.
Saint Domingo Grebe, 53.
Salpinctes obsoletus, 270.
Sanderling, 94.
Sandhill Crane, 29, 85.
Sandpiper,Bartramian, 30, 34, 96-97.
Baird’s, 93.
Bufft-breasted, 97.
Least, 93.

+ Pee eo ee le Se cee een ee oe,
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Purple, 92.
Red-backed, 93-94.
Semipalmated, 94.
Spotted, 97.

Solitary, 36, 37, 95-96.
Stilt, 92.

Western, 94,

W hite-ramped, 93.

. Sapsucker, Black-breasted, 130.

Red-naped, 130, 206.
Williamson’s, 130.
Yellow-bellied, 34, 35, 37, 129-130.

Savanna Sparrow, 81, 32, 34, 35, 36, 188-189.

Western, 188, 189.

Saw-whet Owl, 121.

Say’s Phebe, 151.

Sayornis pheebe, 30, 34, 149-151, 175, 206.
nigricans, 152. :
saya, 151.

Scaled Partridge, 102.

Scardafella inca, 110.

Scarlet Ibis, 80.

Scarlet Tanager, 36, 37, 222-223.

Scaup Duck, 31, 71.

Lesser or Little, 31, 71.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, 142.

Scolecophagus carolinus, 29, 30, 33, 34, 172-173.

cyanocephalus, 111, 172, 173-174, 176.

Scoter, 73.

American, 73.
Surf, 73.
W hite-winged, 73.

Scotiaptex (=Ulula) cinerea, 121.

Screech Owl, 121
Florida, 122.

Texas, 122.

Seaside Sparrow or Finch, 192.

Seed-eater, Morellet’s, 220.

Seiurus aurocapillus, 35, 255-256.
motacilla, 34, 257.
noveboracensis, 35, 36, 37, 256.
noveboracensis notabilis, 256-257.

Semipalmated Plover, 101.

Semipalmated Sandpiper, 94,

Sennett’s Warbler, 244.

Setophaga miniata, 263.
picta, 263.
ruticilla, 35, 36, 37, 262-263.

Sharp-shinned Hawk, 114.

Sharp-tailed Finch or Sparrow, 192.
Nelson’s, 192.

Sharp-tailed Grouse, 106.

Northern, 106.
Prairie, 106.

| Sheldrake, 31, 60-61.

Red-breasted, 61.

Shore Lark, 155.

Short-billed Marsh Wren, 274.

Short-eared Ow], 121.

Shoveller, 31, 36, 68.

Shrike, Great Northern, 2382.
Loggerhead, 27, 30, 33, 232-2383.
W hite-rumped, 232-233.

Gialia arctica, 292, 294-295.
mexicana, 294, 295.

een en

Sialia sialis, 18, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 292-294,
295.
Sickle-billed curlew, 97.
Sitta canadensis, 36, 276.
carolinensis, 48, 276.
carolinensis aculeata, 276.
pusilla, 276.
pygmea, 276.
Siskin, Pine, 183-184.
Skimmer, Black, 58.

Slate-colored Snowbird or J anco, 32, 34, 35, 198,203- |

206.
Slate-colored Sparrow, 212.
Slender-billed Nuthatch, 276.
Small-billed Water-Thrush, 35, 36, 37, 256.
Smith’s Longspur, 185-186.
Snake Bird, 59.
Snipe, Jack, 30, 34. 92-93.

Red-breasted, 92.

Robin, 92,

Wilson’s, 11, 29, 30, 34, 35, 90-92.
Snowbird, Slate-colored (=Junco).
Snow Bunting, 33, 184-185.
Snowflake, 33, 184-185.

Snow Goose, Greater, 75.

Lesser, 27, 29, 33, 35, 74-75.

Snowy Heron, 83.

Snowy Owl, 123.

Snow Plover, i101.

Solitaire, Townsend’s 206, 282.
Solitary Sandpiper, 36, 37, 95-96.
Solitary Tattler, 36, 37, 95-96.
Solitary Vireo, 235-236.
Somateria dresseri, 73.

spectabilis, 73.

Song Sparrow, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 207-209.

Mountain, 209.

Sooty Tern, 58.

Sora, 87.

Southern Hairy Woodpecker, 128.
Sparrow, Bachman’s, 207.

Baird’s, 189-190.

Black-chinned, 203.

Black-throated, 206.

Boucard’s, 207.

Brewer’s, 201-202.

Cassin’s, 207.

Chadbourne’s, 202-203.

Chipping, 30, 34, 35, 200, 283.

Clay-colored, 201.

English, 34, 184.

European House, 34, 184.

Kuropean Tree, 184.

Field, 28, 30, 33, 34, 202.

Fox, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 211-212,

Golden-crowned, 196.

Grasshopper, 36, 190.

Harris’s, 27, 32, 193-195.

Henslow’s, 191.

Intermediate, 196.

Ipswich, 188.

Lark, 35, 192-193.

Le Conte’s, 191-192.

Lincoln’s, 36, 37, 110, 209-210, .

Mexican, 207.

309

Sparrow, Mountain Song, 209.
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed, 192.
Rock, 207.
Sage, 206.
Savanna, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 188-189.
Seaside, 192.
Sharp-tailed, 192.
Slate-colored, 212.
Song, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 207-209.
Swamp, 28, 30,/33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 206, 208, 210-211.
Texas, 212.
Tree, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 182, 198-199.
Vesper, 30, 31, 34, 187-188.
Western Chipping, 200-201, 233.
Western Grasshopper, 191.
Western Lark, 193.
Western Savanna, 188, 189.
Western Tree, 199-200.
Western Vesper, 187, 188.
White-crowned, 23, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,
195-196.
White-throated, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,
196-198.
Yellow-winged, 36, 190.
Sparrow Hawk, 29, 38, 34, 111, 119-120.
Spatula clypeata, 31, 36, 68.
Speotyto cunicularia hypogza, 123.
Sphyrapicus th yroideus, 130.
varius, 34, 35, 37, 129-130.
varius nuchalis, 130, 206.
Spinus pinus, 183-184,
psaltria, 183.
psaltria arizone, 183.
psaltria mexicanus, 183.
tristis, 28, 33, 35, 36, 182-183, 245.
Spiza americana, 35, 36, 37, 220-221.
Spizella arenacea, 202-203.
atrigularis, 203.
breweri, 201-202.
monticola, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 182, 198-199.
monticola ochracea, 199-200.
pallida, 201.
pusilla, 28, 30, 33, 34, 202.
socialis, 30, 34, 35, 200, 233.
socialis arizonz, 200-201, 233.
Spoon-bill, Roseate, 80.
Spoon-billed Duck, 31, 36, 68.
Sporophila morelleti, 220.
Spotted Sandpiper, 97.
Sprague’s Lark or Pipit, 264.
Sprague’s Titlark, 264.
Sprig-tail, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 68-69.
Spruce Partridge or Grouse, 103.
Stelgidoptervx serripennis, 35, 230-231.
Stephens’s Vireo, 206, 237.
Stercorarius longicaudus, 55.
parasiticus, 55.
pomarinus, 55.
Sterna antillarum, 58.
forsteri, 57.
fuliginosa, 58.
hirundo, 58.
maxima, 57.
gandvicensis acuflavida, 57.
tschegrava, 57.

310 | oe es

Stilt, Black-necked, 90.
Stilt Sandpiper, 92.
Strix pratincola, 121.
Sturnella magna, 18, 29, 30, 32, 34, 111, 165-167, 168,
2738.
magna neglecta, 165, 167-168, 273.
magna mexicana, 167.
Sula bassana, 59.
sula, 58.
Summer Duck, 69.
Summer Redbird, 15, 37, 223.
Summer Tanager, 15. 37, 223.
Summer Yellowbird, 35, 36, 244-246.
Surf Scoter, 73.
Surnia ulula caparoch, 123.
Swainson’s Hawk, 116.
Swainson’s Thrush, 35, 36, 37, 282, 283, 285-286.
Swainson’s Warbler, 239.
Swallow, Bank, 36, 230, 231.
Barn, 36, 37, 227, 228-229.
Cliff, 15, 35, 36, 227-228.
Rough-win ed. 35, 230-231.
Tree, 34, 227, 229-230.
Violet-green, 230.
White-bellied, 34, 227, 229-2380.
Swallow-tailed Kite, 112.
Swamp Sparrow, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 206, 208,
210-211.
Swan, Trumpeter, 79.
Whistling, 79.
Swift, Chimney, 35, 36, 139-140.
W hite-throated, 140.
Sycamore Warbler, 35, 252-253.
Sylvania canadensis, 37, 241, 262.
mitrata, 36, 261.
pusilla, 36, 37, 245, 261-262.
Symphemia semipalmata inornata, 96.
Synthliboramphus antiquus, 54-55.
Syrnium nebulosum, 121.
nebulosum alleni, 121.
Tachycineta bicolor, 34, 227, 229-230.
thalassina, 230.
Tanager, Louisiana, 222.
Scarlet, 36, 37, 222-228.
Summer, 15, 37, 223.
Tantalus loculator, 80.
Tattler, Solitary, 36, 37, 95-96.
Teal, Blue-winged, 30, 34, 66-67.
Cinnamon, 67-68.
Green-winged, 28, 31. 32, 33, 66.
Tennessee Warbler, 36, 37, 243.
Tern, Black, 58.
Cabot’s, 57.
Caspian, 57.
Common, 58.
Forster’s, 57.
Gull-billed, 57.
Least, 58.
Marsh, 57.
Noddy, 58.
Royal, 57.
Sooty, 58.
White-winged Black, 58.
Texas Bewick’s Wren, 271-272.
Texas Bob-white or Quail, 102.
Texas Cardinal, 216.

Texas Guan, 108.

Texas Horned Lark, 156.

Texas Kingfisher, 127.

Texas Nighthawk, 139.

Texas Screech Owl, 122.

Texas Sparrow, 212.

Texas Tufted Titmouse, 277.

Texas Woodpecker, 129.

Thick-billed Parrot, 124.

Thistle Bird, 28, 33, 35, 36, 182-183, 245.

Thrasaétus harpyia, 118.

Thrasher, Brown, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 146, 147, 268-270.
Curved-billed, 270.

Long-billed, 270.

Sage, 265.

Three-toed Woodpecker, Arctic, 129.

Thrush, Alice’s, 37, 285.

Brown, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 146, 147, 268, 269-270.

Dwarf Hermit, 286.

Golden-crowned, 35, 255-256.

Gray-cheeked, 37, 285.

Grinnell’s Water, 256-257.

Hermit, 35, 36, 212, 282, 283, 286-287.
Large-billed Water, 34, 257.
Louisiana Water, 34, 257.

Olive- backed, 35, 36, 37, 282, 288, 285.

Rocky Mountain Hermit, 286.

Small-billed Water, 35, 36, 37, 256.

Swainson’s, 35, 36, 37, 282, 283, 285-286.

Water, 35, 36, 37, 256.

Willow, 284.

Wilson’s, 36, 37, 283, 284.

Wood, 35, 36, 37, 282-284.
Thryothorus bewickii, 30, 32, 34, 271, 272.

bewickii bairdi, 271-272.

ludovicianus, 34, 271.

ludovicianus berlandieri, 271.
Titlark, 263-264.

' S§prague’s, 264.

Titmouse, Black-capped, 33, 277-278.
Black-crested, 277.

“Bridled, 277.

Chestnut-fronted, 277.

Lead-colored Bush, 278, 279.

Texes Tufted, 277.

Tufted, 34, 277.

Yellow-headed, 278-279.

Totanus flavipes, 34, 95.
melanoleucus, 95.
solitarius, 36, 37, 95-96.

Towhee, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 212-214, 215.
Arctic, 214-215. ‘
Caton, 215, 245.

Green-tailed, 215. .
Townsend’s Solitaire, 206, 282.
Townsend’s Warbler, 254.

Traill’s Flycatcher, 36, 37, 154.

Tree-duck, Black-bellied, 78-79.
Fulvous, 79.

Tree Sparrow, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 182, 198-199.
European, 184.

Western, 199-200.

Tree Swallow, 34, 227, 229-230.

Tringa alpina pacifica, 93-94.
bairdii, 93.
canutus, 92.

Tringa fuscicollis, 93.
- maculata, 30, 34, 92-93,
maritima, 92.
minutilla, 93.
Trochilus alexandri, 141.
colubris, 15, 36, 140-141.
heloisa, 141.
platycercus, 141.
Troglodytes aedon, 35, 36, 271, 272-273, 274.
aedon parkmanii, 272, 273.
hiemalis, 34, 35, 272, 273-274.
Trogon ambiguus, 126.
Trogon, Coppery tailed, 126.
Trumpeter Swan, 79.
Tryngites subruficollis, 97,
Tufted Titmouse, 34, 277.
Texas, 277.
Turdus aliciz. 37, 285.
aonalaschke, 286.
aonalaschke auduboni, 286.
aonalaschke pallasii, 35, 36,212, 282, 283, 286-
287.
fuscescens, 36, 37, 283, 284.
fuscescens salicicolus, 284.
mustelinus, 35, 36, 37, 282-284.
ustnlatus swainsonii, 35, 36, 37, 282, 283, 285- |
236.

Turkey, Mexican, 107.

Wild, 107-108.
Turkey Buzzard or Vulture, 29, 33, 110, 175.
Turnstone, 101.

Tympanuchus americanus, 104-106.
pallidicinctus, 106.

Tyrannus dominicensis, 148.
melancholicus couchi, 148.
tyrannus, 35, 37, 142-147, 160.
verticalis, 148.
vociferans, 148.

Ulula (Scotiaptex) cinerea, 121.

Upland Plover, 30, 34, 96-97.

Urinator arcticus, 54.
imber, 35, 54.
lumme, 54.

Varied Bunting, 219.

Verdin, 278-279.

Vermilion Flycatcher, 155.

Vesper Sparrow, 30, 34, 187-188.
Western, 187, 188.

Violet-green Swallow, 230.

Vireo atricapillus, 236.
bellii, 35, 36, 37, 161, 233, 237.

_ flavifrons, 35, 235.
flavoviridis, 234.
gilvus, 35, 36, 37, 234.
huttoni ‘stephensi, 206, 237.
noveboracensis, 35, 36, 236-237.
olivaceus, 35, 36, 37, 233-234.
solitarius, 36, 37, 235-236.

. Swainsoni, 234.
philadelphicus, 234.
vicinior, 237.

Vireo, Bell’s, 35, 36, 37, 161, 233, 237.
Black-capped, 236.
Blue-headed, 36, 37, 235-236.
Gray, 237.

Philadelphia, 234.

ee 311

Vireo, Red-eyed, 35, 36, 37, 233-234.
Solitary, 36, 37, 235-236.
Stephens’s, 206, 237.
Warbling, 35, 36, 37, 234.
Western Warbling, 234.
White-eyed, 35, 36, 236-237.
Yellow-green, 234.
Yellow-throated, 35, 235.

Virginia Partridge or Quail, 102.

Virginia Rail, 87.

Vulture, Black, 112.
Turkey, 29, 33, 110-112, 175.

Warbler, Audubon’s, 248.
Bachman’s, 239-240.
Bay-breasted, 34, 37, 250-251.
Bell’s, 263.
Black and White, 35, 36, 237-238, 245.
Black and Yellow, 36, 37, 248-249.
Blackburnian, 37, 252.
Black-capped Flycatching, 36, 37, 245, 261-262.
Black-capped Yellow, 36, 37, 245, 261-262.
Black-poll, 36, 37, 251-252, 258.
Black-throated Blue, 246.
Black-throated Green, 35, 36, 37, 246, 247, 248,

253.

Blue-winged Yellow, 240.
Blue Yellow-backed, 35, 36, 243-244,
Brasher’s 263.
Calaveras, 242.
Canadian, 37, 241, 262.
Canadian Flycatching, 37, 241, 262.
Cape May, 244.
Cerulean, 35, 36, 249.
Chestnut-sided, 36, 37, 249-250.
Connecticut, 37, 258.
Golden, 35, 36, 244-246.
Golden-cheeked, 253.
Golden-winged, 36, 240-241. &
Hooded, 36, 261. ,
Kentucky, 35, 36, 257.
Kirtland’s, 254,
Macgillivray’s, 258-259.
Magnolia, 36, 37, 248-249. :
Maryland Yellow-throat, 35, 36, 92, 259.
Mourning, 37, 258.
Myrtle, 23, 35, 36, 37, 246-248.
Nashville, 36, 37, 241-242.
Olive, 244.
Orange-crowned, 36, 242.
Palm, 35, 36, 254-255.
Parula, 35, 36, 243-244.
Pine, 35, 36, 254.
Pine-creeping, 35, 36, 254.
Prairie, 255.
Prothonotary, 35, 238-239.
Red, 263.
Red-faced, 263.
Red-poll, 35, 36, 254-255.
Sennett’s, 244.
Swainson’s, 239.
Sycamore, 35, 252-253.
Tennessee, 36, 37, 243.
Townsent’s, 254.
Western Maryland Yellow-throat, 259-260.
Wilson’s, 36, 37, 261-262.
White-browed Yellow-throated, 35, 252-253.

‘

a

312

Warbler, Worm-eating, 36, 239.

Yellow, 35, 36, 244-246.
Yellow Palm, 255.
Yellow Red-poll, 255.
Yellow-rumped, 23, 35, 36, 37, 246-248,
Yellow-throated, 252.

Warbling Vireo, 35, 36, 37, 234.

. Western, 234.

Water Ouzel, 264.

Water-thrush, 35, 36, 37,256.
Grinnell’s, 256-257.
Large-bilied, 34, 257.
Louisiana, 34, 257.
Small-billed, 35, 36, 37, 256.

Waxwing, Bohemian, 26, 231.
Cedar, 26, 231-232.
Northern, 231.

Western Bluebird, 294-295.

_ Western Bobolink, 160.

Western Chipping Sparrow, 200-201, 233.
Western Grass Finch, 187-188.

Western Grebe, 53. , ss
Western Goshawk, 114.

Western Grasshopper Sparrow, 191.
Western Horned Owl, 122.

Western House Wren, 272, 273.

Western Kingbird, 148.

Western Lark Finch, 193.

Western Maryland Yellow-throat, 259-260.
Western Meadowlark, 165, 167-168, 273.
Western Nighthawk, 138.

Western Red-tailed Hawk, 115.
Western Robin, 292.

Western Sandpiper, 94.

Western Savanna Sparrow, 188, 189.
Western Tree Sparrow, 199-200.
Western Vesper Sparrow, 187-188.
Western Warbling Vireo, 234.

Western Willet, 96.

Western Wood Pewee, 152, 153.
Whip-poor-will, 25, 135-136, 146, 147.
Whistler (Duck), 31, 72.

Whistling Swan, 79.

White-bellied Nuthatch, 48, 276.
White-bellied Swallow, 34, 227, 229-230.

W hite-browed Yellow-throated Warbler, 35, 252-

258.

White-crowned Sparrow, 23, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,
37, 195-196.

White-eyed Vireo, 35, 36, 236-237.

White-faced Glossy Ibis, 80.

W hite-fronted Dove, 110.

W hite-fronted Goose, 75.

White Heron, 82.

White Ibis, 80.

White-necked Raven, 158.

White Pelican, 60.

White-rumped Sandpiper, 93.

White-rumped Shrike, 232, 233.

White-tailed Hawk, 116.

White-tailed Kite, 113.

White-throated Horned Lark, 156.

White-throated Sparrow, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,
37, 196-198.

W hite-throated Swift, 140.

White-throated Wren, 270.

White-winged Black Tern, 58.
White-winged Crossbill, 181.
W hite-winged Dove, 110.
White-winged Junco, 203.
White-winged Scoter, 73.
Whooping Crane, 84-85.

W idgeon, 31, 34, 66.

Wild Pigeon, 108.

Wild Turkey, 107.

Mexican, 107-108.
Willet, 96.

Western. 96.
Williamson’s Woodpecker or Sapsucker, 130.
Willow Grouse or Ptarmigan, 104.

Willow Thrush, 284. Z
Wilson’s Phalarope, 89.

Wilson’s Plover, 101.

Wilson’s Snipe, 11, 29, 30, 34, 35, 90-92.

Wilson’s Thrush, 46, 37, 283, 284.

Wilson’s Flycatching Warbler, 36, 37, 245, 261-

262,

Winter Wren, 34, 35, 272, 273-274.
Woodcock, 90.

Wood Duck, 69-70.

Woodhouse’s Jay, 157.

Wood Ibis, 890.

Woodpecker, Arctic Three-toed, 129.

Black-breasted, 130.

Downy, 128.

Gairdner’s, 128.

Golden-fronted, 132-133.

Golden-winged, 15, 29, 30, 34, 111, 183-134, 135.

Hairy, 128.

Harris’s, 128.

Ivory-billed, 127-128.

Lewis’s, 1382.

Northern Hairy, 128.

Pileated, 180.

Red-bellied, 34, 132.

Red-cockaded, 128. :

Red-headed, 11, 23, 30, 34, 36, 37, 130-132.

Red-naped, 130, 206.

Southern Hairy, 128.

Texas, 129.

Williamson’s, 130.

Yellow-bellied, 34, 35, 37, 129--130.

Wood Pewee, 36, 37, 152-153, 154.

Western, 152, 153.

Wood Thrush, 35, 36, 37, 282-284.
Worm-eating Warbler, 36, 239.
Wren, Baird’s, 271-272.

Bewick’s, 30, 32, 34, 271, 272.

Berlandier’s, 271.

Cactus, 270.

Cafion, 270-271.

Carolina, 34, 271.

House, 35, 36, 271, 272-273, 274.

Long-billed Marsh, 274.

Parkman’s, 272, 273.

Rock, 270.

Short-billed Marsh, 274.

Texas Bewick’s, 271-272. Bs

Western House, 272, 273.

W hite-throated, 270.

Winter, 34, 35, 272, 273-274.
Wright’s Flycatcher, 155.

~*

Wiirdemann’s Heron, 81.

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, 162-163.
Xanthoura luxuosa, 157.

Xema sabinii, 57.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 36, 153.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 34, 35, 37, 129-130.

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, 34, 35, 37, 129-130.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 36, 125-126.
Yellowbird, 28, 33, 35, 36, 182-183, 245.

Summer, 35, 36, 244-246.
Yellow-breasted Chat, 35, 36, 37, 260.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron, 84.
Yellow-green Vireo, 234.
Yellow-headed Blackbird, 162-163.
Yellow-headed Tit, 278-279.
Yellow-legs, 34, 95.

Greater, 95.

Lesser, 34, 95.
Yellow Palm Warbler, 255.

7365 Bull 2——21

313

Yellow Rail, 30, 34, 88,

Yellow Red-poll Warbler, 255.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 23, 35, 36, 37, 246-248,
Yellow-shafted Flicker, 29, 34, 133-134, 135.
Yellow-throat, Maryland, 35, 36, 92, 259.
Yellow-throated Vireo, 35, 235
Yellow-throated Warbler, 252.

W hite-browed, 35, 252-253.

Yellow Warbler, 35, 36, 244-246.

Yellow-winged Sparrow, 36, 190.

Zenaidura macroura, 31, 34, 35, 37, 109-110.
Zone-tailed Hawk, 116.

Zonotrichia albicollis, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34,35, 36, 37,

196-198,

coronata, 196.

intermedia, 196.

leucophrys, 23, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 195-
196.

querula, 27, 32, 193-195.

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